Chapter 1
Waking came slowly to Ren. The first thing she felt was the bone deep ache in her muscles and the tightness in the skin stretching across her right shoulder.
When she opened her eyes she groaned miserably and screwed them shut again quickly. Her head pounded and felt like some punk rockers had one hell of a mosh-pit in there. Taking a deep breath she forced her eyes open again and ever so slowly drug herself into a seated position dangling her legs off the side of her bed.
"Well the pain tells me that it wasn't all a dream." she mumbled as she tried to gain her feet, failing the first two tries.
She cursed a quietly as she finally made it to her feet, struggling on a pair of black yoga pants and a strappy pink tank top before stumbling her way to the kitchen of her small New York apartment. She dug through the cabinets looking for her meager first aid kit and took it to the living area flopping gracelessly on the couch and she started to treat her wounds the best she could.
After wrapping her right wrist with a ace bandage she squeezed some antibacterial ointment and spread it ever so carefully on the the raw skin over her right shoulder. The cold gel nearly took her breath away and she hung her head, shutting her eyes for a second, before clenching her teeth and finishing slathering her shoulder then setting off the find her cell phone. He muscles protested as she rose from the couch but the pain and stiffness seemed to dull to an almost bearable level as she started moving around.
Making her way back to her pile of cloths in her bathroom, she found her phone in her discarded jacket and she sighed a silent 'thank you' that it was scratched but not broken. Turning it on she thumbed through the contacts looking for a number to someone she knew she could trust. Even if she hadn't seen him in over a year she knew he'd always help her out.
-A-
Colt Boyd leaned against the ropes of the boxing ring watching as two men as they pounded away at each other, sometimes shouting instructions here and there. He watched as on of the men hit the mat and when he didn't immediately get up others rushed in to check on him. Seeing that he was only a little dazed but over all fine, Colt let his eyes wander around the gym taking in the all too familiar site of punching bags and weight machines. Over in his office he saw Tommy taking a seat whipping sweat from his face with a towel and drinking from a plastic water bottle.
In the months after SPARTA Colt and Tommy had developed some sort of friendship. Colt wasn't sure what had happened after the military police had arrested him after the final fight, but about 3 months later Tommy showed back up at the gym and Colt could sense that some of his anger and guilt had lifted a little. He was working with a local Physical Therapist for his shoulder and he had come looking for a job which Colt gave him no questions asked. Tommy didn't really talk about what had happened but every now and again he'd see Tommy's father come to the gym and there was still tension there but not as much.
One night, while having beers at Colts place after shutting the gym down, Tommy mentioned that his brother had sent money to his friends family and that they had started talking. Colt was shocked at the admission but clinked his beer to Tommy's giving him a silent pat on the back. He was happy to see things slowly working themselves out. Slowly being the key word there. Tommy was like a safe, if you didn't work on him slowly he'd lock down and you'd never get in. You have to find the right combination to get through the steel doors.
It had been six months from that day and Tommy was fully healed and he has started working on gaining back some of the bulk he had lost during his down time. They both knew Tommy would be fighting again soon. Tommy always came to work out before his closing shift and Colt let him have his run of the place while he was there.
Colt heard the phone in his office ring and he nodded as Tommy looked up at him and Tommy grabbed the phone and then the phone up gesturing that the call was for him. Colt cracked his neck and hopped down from the side of the ring and made his way to his office, pulling open the door.
"Who is it?" he asked flopping down in his office chair pulling off his knit jacket.
"Some chick. Got a southern accent." Tommy stated simply shrugging handing him the phone. Tommy fidgeted in the seat across from him and Colt grinned knowing his friend couldn't sit still for too long.
"Colt." He said into the phone.
"H-hey Colt. It's Ren." her voice was shaky but the very familiar accent came through loud and clear.
"Ren! You bitch! Wow it's good to hear from you!" Tommy looked up at the smile that spread on Colts face curiously. "What's up girl?"
"Well I've gotten in to a tad bit of trouble and I might need to lay low for a little bit. Mind if I come visit you for a while? I know it's been a while... and I'll understand if you say 'no'." He could almost hear her shyly biting her full bottom lip and that made him chuckle a little.
"Trouble? What kind of trouble? Your not knocked up are you?" He asked shooting Tommy an amused glance.
"Colt you fucktard, You know me better than that. Just a little rioting at a protest, evading police custody, resisting arrest, and assaulting an officer kind of trouble." she ground out trying to hide the pride in her voice and failing. Colt think he loved her a little bit in that moment.
"Sounds like it was one hell of a party! Can't wait to hear this story."
"So can I crash with you?" She asked hopefully.
"Of course. I live to harbor fugitives." He winked at Tommy who shot him a look that could kill. "I only have the couch though. If that's OK?"
"Oh a couch is fine! Thank you so much!" Tommy could hear her squeal with excitement from the other side of the desk when Colt held the receiver away from his ear. "Oh I knew all those years of clubbing with your drunk grabby ass would come in handy. I'll be there sometime tonight is that OK?"
Colt grinned giving her the address of the gym to come meet him and shakes his head as he says his goodbyes and hangs up the phone.
Tommy raised a brow at him, taking another gulp out of his water bottle. "Who's that? You sound pretty familiar."
"That my friend, is the hottest piece of trouble I know. Met her a few years back in NYC. She was a student relocated from Memphis, TN. She's a scrappy little thing with the bluest eye's you've ever seen and the uncanny ability to get thrown out of bars." Colt smiles remembering some of the "trouble" they had gotten into together.
"You sound whipped." Tommy stated breaking in the a low chuckle at his friends fond far away look.
"I was. But it didn't work out I got friend zoned hard. Now she's like my little sister. My little sister that I'd tap if I had half the chance. Though I think she'd beat me up if tied. But I'd do anything to help her out." Colt absently scratched at his goatee smiling softly.
Tommy only nodded a small grin spreading on his lips.
-A-
Ren swiped the screen on her phone and dropped it next to her before she sat about grabbing bags and shoving cloths in them. She thew on a zip up hoodie and grabbed her toiletries from the bathroom before attempting to tame her long black hair. She scratched a short note to her landlord and dropped a few checks off for her rent and made her way down the front steps of the brownstone, carrying two bags over her good shoulder, clutching her purse on the bad one making her wince.
She walked down the ally next to the building and into the lot behind to claim her car, a older model Hyundai Santa Fe, and she loaded her bags in the back seat. She felt like she was moving through water but she ignored her bodies protested as she slid in the front seat. It was nearly 3pm already and she had to make it to the bank before traffic got to bad.
After cleaning out her savings (only about $2,500) she left her checking alone so that her rent would be paid while she was gone and she started the journey to get off Manhattan island. It was almost 5 pm before she hit open freeway and she settled in for the five hour drive to Pittsburgh, her sore legs already growing stiff.
She flipped through the radio listening for any news of cops being on the look out for a young woman but heard nothing. The thought that she was making a rash decision crossed her mind but after what had happened the night before it really couldn't hurt to lay low for a bit. Plus she hadn't seen Colt sense he started training people for SPARTA and she missed him. She was looking forward to seeing him at the very least.
Stopping only for restrooms, smokes, and snacks she was making good time. She hit the Pittsburgh city limits at about 10 pm and she stopped at a gas station to enter the address of Colt's gym in her phone, mapping out the directions, before heading back on the road.
She followed the directions to a slightly run downed part of town, she'd almost say it was rough but after being in NYC for 6 years parts of the city made this area look like a sandals resort. About half an hour later, and nearly half a pack of smokes, she parked her car a block or so down from the gym. She gripped the steering wheel nervously as she took a deep drag off her smoke before snubbing it in the ash tray. She fought back the feeling of guilt at putting her friend out like this.
Flipping down the visor she took in her appearance for a moment. He large bright blue eyes were still a little blood shot and puffy, a blue bruise was under her left eye and down her nose and her bottom lip was still swollen with a obvious split. Her blunt bangs were a little frayed and she looked pale but she deemed herself as acceptable as the circumstances allowed.
"Ooo what a sexy beast I am." she purred sarcastically turning the car off and grabbing her purse. Her nikes scuffed the concrete as she fought to pick her stiff legs up, making her way slowly down the block. She hissed as she absently pulled her purse onto her injured shoulder and she quickly switched shoulders.
-A-
Tommy was manning the front desk for his shift and he was getting antsy. He hated sitting still but he had less than an hour to go and he knew it. With a sigh he flexed his left shoulder glad that most of the pain and weakness had faded over the last few months sense his injury. His mind wondered to his father who, to his surprise, and continued to stay sober. They had made some steps to start patching things up but none the less as soon as he had the money Tommy had moved into his own place a few blocks down the street from the gym. It wasn't much but it was his. His brother had come to visit last month and it had been awkward but in the end he was was glad Brendan came. His brother also informed his that he had sent a decent sum of money to his friends family and almost caused a fight but Tommy relented, happy that his friends family has some support even if it hadn't come directly from him. The trip to Philly was rough but Tommy planned to return the visit soon enough. They spoke on occasions before that visit and that had been enough for Tommy. He needed to work out his anger towards the other men on his own. But slowly he found himself growing less angry at them and he wasn't exactly sure how to go about rebuilding their relationships but things for now seem to be alright. He was happy enough.
Tommy's thoughts drifted more as he chewed the end of of a pen and he slouched down in the rolling chair behind the desk, he looked up when the chime on the the door rang out, looking up he froze.
Bright blue eyes met his gray-green and time seemed slowed down. He had a feeling that this was the infamous 'Ren'. She was small, about 5ft 3, with generous curves and a small waist. She had straight black hair falling down her back and blunt bangs that fell into her eyes. And her eyes.. they struck him. They were tired and slightly blood shot but they were the brightest blue he's ever seen. Almost the color of the morning sky on a clear cool day. Tearing his eyes from hers he noticed the pained hitch in her movements and the black eye growing on her left cheek. She approached him with a shy smile, her eyes quickly darting to the floor.
"Hi," she cleared her throat shifting her weight from one foot to the other nervously. "I'm looking for Colt Boyd? He's expecting me." He southern drawl caught his attention and he remembered the voice. She pulled her zip up hoodie close to her body glancing around the gym taking in the sets of eyes that had traveled to her as she entered the door.
"He stepped out for a moment. He should be back in a few minutes." Tommy's voice was low. "Sit" he gestures to the two chairs across from his desk.
Ren mumbled a thanks as she turned gingerly sat in the first chair. He could tell she was uncomfortable with all the eyes in the gym on her and she hunched her shoulders defensively making herself smaller. He noticed the wince when she shifted her right shoulder her face going a little pale.
"Rough night?" he asked trying to sound causal. Who knew why she was messed up. Maybe an abusive boyfriend, Tommy guessed, it would explain the unannounced visit.
" You could say that." Her voice was low as she shifted uncomfortably in the chair. Silence fell over them but Tommy could feel her eyes on him when he looked away. She was studying him closely and he fought to act like he didn't notice. He flickered his eyes up to meet hers again and she averts her eyes quickly her cheeks flushing pink.
Tommy said nothing and grinned a little as he leaned back in his chair, causally taking her in.
-A-
When Ren pulled open then gym door and her heart skipped a beat when she saw the tank of a man behind the desk. Though it wasn't his body that caught her was his eyes. They were a mossy gray-green and there seemed to be so many emotions stirring in their dept. And oh god his lips. They were so full, she just wants to touch them. She realized she must have been staring and lowered her eyes asking for Colt feeling more than a little ridiculous.
When he spoke his voice was smoky and deep. When she took the seat across from him her muscles protested and her right side just plain hurt. She absently twisted her wrapped wrist with a slight wince. She could feel the eyes of the men still mulling around in the gym on her and it was making her feel like she was under a microscope. Ren tried to make herself smaller, easier to ignore, but she couldn't stop her eyes from returning to the man behind the desk. He was dressed simply enough in gray sweatpants and a black hoodie. She felt the twitter of butterflies in her stomach while she took the opportunity to give him a good looking over. When his eyes flickered back to hers she knew she was busted and she turned away quickly feeling herself blush.
"Dumb ass! You look like total shit. Get you mind out of the gutter." she scolded herself.
After a few awkward moments of short conversation the door chimed again and a familiar voice came through the door chatting on his cell phone. When Colt spied her she heard the phone clicked closed and she made an effort to stand. It took two tries to her embarrassment.
Colt smiled brightly and pulled her into a tight hug. Ren gasped pushed on his shoulders getting him to loosen his grip a bit before hugging him back.
"Ren, what the hell happened to you?" he pulled back to study her for a minute. "You look like hell."
"Thanks." Ren narrowed her eyes giving him a playful shove. "I feel like it." she grumbled.
He grinned at her his eyes traveling it Tommy who he noticed was covertly examining Ren's backside. He cleared his throat and Tommy jumped slightly averting his eyes.
"Tommy, this is Ren Wright. Ren this is Tommy Riordan."He said giving his friend a knowing look and a not to subtle wink.
"Hi again." she held out his hand. Tommy nodded taking her hand gently noticing that it was wrapped. He raised a brow as he looked from her wrist back to her.
Colt looked her over and cleared his throat. "You look tired. You want to grab a bit to eat and I'll let you crash out?"
"Yeah, that sounds amazing." She smiled looking up at Colt.
"Tommy you should join us!" Colt suggested. "Fenroy can close up on his own."
"Nah I'm not hungry. You two have some catching up to do." Tommy waved a dismissive hand but he did notice the slight drop in the girls face.
"Alright my love. Lets blow this jute joint." Colt shot one more cocky grin over his shoulder at Tommy as held the door for her and she smiled back at Tommy giving him a small wave.
-A-
Colt climbed in the passenger seat of her car looking back over at her as she struggled into the drivers seat. "So when you going to tell me what happened? It looks like someone beat the hell out of you."
"It's a long story. I'll tell you after food." She dug out her keys hissing as she flexed her right shoulder.
"Alright." was all Colt could say but he furrowed his brow and he reached out and pulled her hoodie off her shoulder exposing the area of raw flesh from the center of her shoulder to the top of her right arm. Her shoulder was swollen and he could see the bruise coming up around the red area. "My god. Are you sure your OK? Do you need to go to the hospital?"
"No. I'm fine. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger right?"
"I guess so. Hey, hit that Chinese place. They are great for take out. Well pick up some grub, head to my place and I want you to rest and let me look at that arm." His voice was full of concern.
"Yes dad." she grinned weakly pulling into the restaurant.
-A-
Settling on the kitchen stool Colt directed her to Ren gently pulled off her jacket feeling it cling to her shoulder in places, causing a visible shutter to run through her body. She heard his intake of breath as he turned her shoulder towards him.
"Well I think we have a nice case of road rash." he mutters going for his first aid kit that was much better stocked than hers.
Ren swayed a little feeling like she might get sick as he poked and prodded around the raw flesh. She figured it was just her body's way of saying 'bitch you pushed me too hard'. She sighed as Colt was already well into his mother hen act as he tried to gently clean her shoulder with a warm soft cloth. He sat the cloth on the small kitchen table an started spreading a cold gel over her heated skin and she shivered a little, bright lights flashed under her clenched eyelids as pain flared anew. After taping gauze over the area he checked her nose and eye socket for breaks. He seemed satisfied that nothing was broken and he sat back in his chair with a exhausted sigh.
"Well that seems good." He eyed her sternly. "What else?"
With a huff she held out her right wrist and he started to remove the ace bandage and started flexed her wrist watching her face for signs of pain. As he rolled her wrist back she gasped and and scrunched up her face.
"That might be fractured. You should keep it wrapped and stable for a few weeks." He stated re-wrapping her wrist with more skill than she had.
"Good thing I'm a lefty huh?" she smirked giggling a tiny bit as he pinched her on the belly in warning.
He threw a knowing look at her and with a red face she stood and pulled off her yoga pants standing in front off him in only her pink strappy top and her black boy-shorts. There was a softball sized scrape and bruise on her right hip and her knees were scraped up, nothing a few band-aids wouldn't handle.
"You took a hell of a hit. I think it's time to do some explaining." He insisted.
Ren sighed. "I jumped out of a moving vehicle." she said flatly grabbing her carton of food making her way to the couch not bothering with her pants.
"You what?" He followed her to the couch sitting next to her as she started nibbling at her food. " I think you need to start from the beginning." He stated sternly, crossing his arms over his chest.
She sighed again closing her eyes leaning her head back against the couch. "Where to begin.."
