I had to get this out of my head. It's been floating around since I've first completed the latest Tomb Raider, and after finishing my most recent play through. I had to get this down, it's been blocking my creativity. So here you go, probably just a one shot. Hope you enjoy.
The Nine Bells, was an incredibly popular establishment. An Irish theme bar, with a massive amount of London-Irish patrons. A massive widescreen TV hung on the wall, which was used mostly for the football matches during the season. Almost every night it had a crowd of students, people just off from a hard days work and the people who couldn't think of anything to spend their money on except alcohol. Almost every night.
It was the day after Saint Patrick's day, and a Monday, so the crowd was pretty much nonexistent, as everyone had either spent their money the night before, or was too hungover to leave the house, making empty promises of never drinking again. Several patrons, had showed up but for the most part they had only stopped in for one drink.
A few remained however. There was a girl sitting alone in a corner booth a single glass of wine in front of her, and an old man sat in the middle of the room, nursing a glass of whiskey, only one table was full. Several men aged between 18 and 23, each one of them as obnoxious as the next, all sporting similar, trendy haircuts, and tracksuit bottoms and hoodies, and no personalities outside of their favorite football team. All of them yelling suggestive things at the young barmaid, Who simply ignored them unless they were ordering drinks.
Lara stood behind the bar, in her uniform, a black, short sleeve button up shirt, with the Nine Bells, logo on the, chest pocket, and a name pin on the right side, as well as a pair, of plain black trousers, and a pair of Black converse, her second favourite pair of shoes, behind he boots. She absentmindedly wiped down the counter with a rag. She hated it when it was quiet. Even though she still got paid the full amount, she preferred to feel like she earner her paycheck, as opposed to just showing up. She let out a long exhale. She mentally, thought about the essay she was supposed to hand in the following week. She'd already written it, and revised it twice, but she felt like she needed to fix it.
From the back room, the assistant manager emerged, to his place behind the counter, Declan. He was a a tall man, in his early twenties, he had thick black hair and small stubbly beard, his bight green eyes sparkled he was a man who was almost always in a good mood. He'd been born in London, but he was unmistakably Irish. He had been working in the Nine Bells since he was 15. He had a good relationship with the punters, and would one day take over the business from his father.
He noticed Lara's vacant gaze. She smirked, as he approacher her, grabbing her shoulder, and shaking her.
"Lara, are you alright love?" he asked in his thick Belfast accent. No one knew how he'd gotten the accent, considering he'd never actually lived there, though the suddenness of the move had Lara suddenly crashing back down to earth. She turned to Declan.
"Oh, sorry Declan, I was..." She began to explain her self but Declan cut across her.
"Somewhere more interesting than here." He joked, "Aye, it's one of those boring nights." He looked through the crowd. "Should've called and told ye to stay home."
"And miss a paycheck?" Lara said, causing him to laugh. The sound a of breaking glass followed by cheering from the table full of young men caught her attention.
"Fuck it." Declan grumbled. "That's the third glass those wee bastards broke tonight. I outta put them out."
"I'll get it." She told Declan as she lifted the small dustpan and brush in order to sweep up the broken glass, and slung a cloth over her shoulder in order to wipe the table off. Declan normally would've put chastised someone for breaking a glass, though he seemed to be willing to over look it tonight, due to the lower custom of the evening.
She approached the table, the men wolf whistled as she walked. Lara had gotten used to it. It didn't bother her, especially considering none of them seemed to have any personality besides it. It was kind of sad really.
"Could you move please." She directed at one of them. Given his proximity to the spill, he was the one who caused it. He was the dictionary definition of a chav, the back and sides of his head were shaved, and the top of his head was covered in a ridiculous crop of multicolored spiked hair. He had two diamond earrings, and a silver stud in his eyebrow, and a thick golden chain around his neck, he was wearing an Adidas track suit, which was the height of irony, as he was incredibly overweight. Lara had seen him before a few times. Though he didn't seem to be in good favor with the management, but he never caused enough trouble for them to bar him.
"As you wish." He said. "My name's Paul by the way.
"Is it really?" Lara said in a polite yet disinterested voice. She already knew his name, but he wasn't really concerned. He wasn't the type of person she kept acquaintance with, and had no business with other than taking his drink order.
"I enjoy coming to see you here." He said.
Lara resisted the urge to scoff at his utterly futile attempt at a pick up line. He was the third in the group to try and chat her up while she cleaned their mess. She silently came to the conclusion that they had broken the glasses on purpose to get her to come to the table. She simply brushed the glass into the pan. She was thank full that the dustpan and brush didn't require her to crouch. God only knew what one of them would try if she had to. Especially given the nature of the comments they had been making. Words were one thing. But the thought of a stranger touching her. She shuddered slightly at the thought.
"I'm really sorry about that...Lara." he paused to read he name badge, and stare where his gaze wasn't wanted his voice was dripping with sarcasm.
"Accident's happen, Paul." She said casually, not bothering to make eye contact.
She finished sweeping the floor, she leaned over the table and wipe the spilled drink, She felt her cheeks redden, as she realized the man across, the table was attempting to look down her top. Thankfully she had enough buttons done up to stop him from getting a good look. She finished wiping up the spill and straightened up,
"Try to behave boys." She said, beginning to turn.
"Come on and sit with us a minute." Paul's voice came. "The boys didn't believe me when I said there was, a Posh Barmaid." he raised the pitch of his voice, trying to imitate a posh accent. "They came to meet you. We just want to talk."
"If you want to talk I suggest you don't start by mocking me." Lara directed at him. She turned to make her way back to the bar, but was frozen in place with a loud gasp when she felt someone grab her ass. She turned and seen Paul grinning at
"And here's me thinking that posh birds were tight asses." He sneered as his friends chuckled. "Feels pretty loose to me."
Lara would usually try to talk her way out of a problem. Though she felt violated, and her hand decided, that it knew what was best, acting on autopilot she instinctively slapped him, which echoed through the room, followed by an 'Oooh!' from the other men at the table.
Paul rose from his seat sending the chair tumbling, and grabbed her wrist. They were eye level. He looked furious. Though Lara felt just as angry, even if she didn't show it. Her face remained as neutral as possible.
"That wasn't very nice." His eyes full of rage, he wasn't going to allow himself to be emasculated, by a barmaid, as he rose his fist.
A hand grabbed him by the back of the neck, and another wretched his hand from Lara's wrist. "I've warned you before." Declan's voice was full of contempt. He dragged the smaller man, to the door and pushed him out into the rain. "If you come back, I'll skin you alive you little gobshite!" The door slammed, and he strode over to the table and addressed the rest of the group. "Any one of the rest of you try anything, your getting barred as well."
Lara had made her way back to the bar, with Declan at her heels she was stunned, this was one of those very rare occasions, where Declan was angry. It was kind of scary to see.
"Are you all right there, Lara?"
"Yeah," Lara sighed, "I wouldn't have signed up to this job if I couldn't handle someone grabbing for my ass." She watched as one of the men as the rest of the boy got up from their seats and began to leave yelling obscenities as they left. "I just never expected anyone to actually make contact." Lara could handle the gestures and remarks from men who verbally admitted those who found her attractive. But someone actually touching her, she felt violated.
"You know you can file sexual harassment charges." Declan offered. "You have evidence, he said nodding towards the camera."
"And have him press assault charges?" Lara said. "I'll be fine."
"You're a tough one, I can see why Dad, hired ye." Declan smiled. "You know I've been looking for an excuse to bar that bastard for a while, he's been nothing but a pain in hole since he started coming here."
"Glad I could be an excuse." She smiled weakly. "Hopefully I don't need to do it again."
Declan nodded as he went about his work.
Lara let out a sigh. The old man approached the bar, to get another drink.
"What can I get you?" Lara asked, as she offered him a smile.
Half an hour passed without any incident. No-one else had entered the bar, and Lara remained bored. Declan walked over to Lara, who had just finished washing glasses.
"You know Lara I don't think it's gonna pick up tonight, You can go home early if you want. I'll still pay ye for the full day." He said politely.
"Thanks, Declan. But I'm okay." Lara smiled. "I like to use these slow nights to do mental revision." she told him.
"Well you see, Lara...I've got to be honest." Declan grimaced, "I was hoping to close up early, because, I wasn't supposed to be working tonight, only dad got sick, I was supposed takin' your friend out tonight." He indicated to the woman sitting in the corner of the bar. Lara looked over to see Sam, waving her fingers individually.
Lara's jaw slacked, but she managed to stop it from dropping. Declan and Sam were going out? Lara didn't know how to feel. Sure they had flirted casually in the past, but she didn't know they were seeing each other. Her best friend and her coworker...Lara couldn't help but feel something would be awkward about it.
"W-would you excuse me a moment?" Lara excused herself and made her way over to Sam's table.
"Hey Lara." Sam greeted, swirling her wine. "Busy night?" She asked sarcastically.
"How long have you been here?" Lara questioned her friend. She was usually more observant, but she hadn't noticed her.
"Long enough to see you slap that weird guy." She smiled. "Nice hit, I think they heard it in China." she laughed.
"Sam, why didn't you tell me you were dating Declan." Lara asked.
"Well for one we aren't 'Dating'." She punctuated the last word with her fingers, "And second, he's your Boss, I didn't want you to get weird about it."
"Sam, he's not my boss." Lara whispered. "He's my boss' son."
"Oh, I get it." Sam smirked teasingly, "You like him."
"No." Lara said truthfully yet very defensively, "He's a friend."
"Great. Then please let me take me out." Sam pleaded. "Come on Lara, he's really nice and polite, and handsome and..."
"Fine." Lara groaned giving in. Usually Sam just dated people, and Lara had no say, but Sam seemed genuinely intent on making sure Lara was comfortable with it. Lara knew she shouldn't stop them from at least going out, they were both adults after all.
"Thanks, Lara. You're the best." she squealed hugging her around the waist.
"Don't mention it." Lara said as she wrenched herself free from Sam's grip.
"I know that look." Declan quipped. "You're not happy." He laughed.
"No, I'm just...annoyed you didn't tell me." Lara said.
"I'm sorry, I kinda thought you'd feel weird about it." He grimaced.
"I'm sure it's more weird if I act like Sam's mother and tell her that she can't date you." Lara said. "I just can't help but shake the feeling that Sam dating a co-worker would be awkward."
"Well I could just fire you, then it wouldn't be awkward." Declan smirked.
"No, not at all. Instead of Sam dating my coworker, Sam would be dating my ex-coworker who fired me. There's no way that could be awkward." Lara said sarcastically.
"Touché." Declan laughed. "Seriously though Lara...I really like her, and I won't do anything that'll make you regret working here and living with Sam."
"Declan, I'm sure I can handle anything you do with Sam, so long as I don't know the details. Can you just do me a favour and make sure she's home early? She has a test tomorrow." Lara practically begged.
"Aye will do," Declan said as he looked at his watch. "But if it hasn't picked up by eleven I want you to close. And if anything happens, you call me on the spot."
"Deal." Lara said, shaking on their agreement. Declan smirked and headed to the back room. He returned a few moments later, changed out of his work shirt, tugging his coat on. He made his way over to Sam, then the two made their way over to the door. They said a quick good bye and Lara waved as they left. Lara was now alone in the bar save for the old man in the middle of the room still nursing his whiskey.
Lara took a gamble and changed the channel on the widescreen TV, the old man didn't seem to care that the football had been turned off, Lara continued to browse, she settled on a Wildlife documentary, narrated by David Attenborough. So much more interesting than football. She turned the volume up slightly, so that she could hear it easier, and absorb the knowledge that it held.
Within a few minutes, the old man finally decided to finish his drink. He left his glass on the counter, he got up and slowly made his way to the door. "Good night, Lara." He said in his thick Scottish accent.
"Good night Malcolm." Lara said. She made her way over to the table, to collect his glass and wipe down the table. Upon arriving at the table she found a neatly folded twenty pound note under his glass.
Lara, was half tempted to charge out after him and make him take back the tip, it was far too much. She decided against it.
Malcolm had spent most nights in the bar over the last month. His wife of sixty years, had died several months back, he had no children or close family to speak of. He instead chose to help people as best he could since then, when he heard Lara, was refusing to use the money her parents left her, choosing to make her own way in life, he decided to pitch in every now and then, it was the kind of self motivation that was lacking in most people that she had, that he admired, about her.
Lara took the money to the til, deposited the note and took the change. She walked around the bar and settled along one of the stools. She watched the documentary intently.
The small bells above the door, rang as someone entered. Lara jumped from her seat and headed back around the counter. She didn't want to give the impression she hadn't been working. Once she was back around the counter, she looked to see who it was.
Alex, was approaching the counter, dripping wet from the rain, as small brown paper bag in his hand. A hand reached to his hood and peeled it backwards revealing his messy and wet hair. Evidently, the rain was heavier than he had prepared for.
"Hey, Lara." He said "I can see you're busy."
"Hi Alex." Said offering him a smile. "What are you doing here?"
"Nice to see you too." He joked. "I was heading home, and thought I'd drop in."
"Alex, you're a terrible liar." she teased.
"No, seriously, I was fixing my friend Dave's computer and I just finished. Thought I'd drop in."
"Alex, I know where Dave lives. Coming here is the opposite way from the tube station." She smirked. "So spill it."
"Okay, you got me." Alex sighed knowing he was beaten. "Sam called and asked me to come check up on you. She knew I was in the area, and she said you were here all alone, and she wanted me to make sure you were okay...and haven't died of boredom.I'm sorry Lara."
"That wasn't so hard was it." Lara chuckled. "That's really sweet of you to go out of your way just to check up on me."
"You're not mad?" He began. "I know I'd probably feeling like...well a kid who can't be left unattended..."
"No it's fine. It was actually getting really bored, since there's nothing on the TV but rubbish at this time. I wish I'd remembered to bring my book. I hate having nothing to do. Anyway, can I get you anything since you're here?"
"Uh...Yeah sure, I'll take a Budweiser." Alex said taking a seat at the bar.
"Coming right up." She reached into the small fridge and withdrew a bottle, she popped the cap off and handed it to him. She took his money inserted it into the til, counted out and handed him his change. "So what's in the bag." she asked.
"What? Oh, Dinner." he had flailing the bag. "A bacon Cheese burger and french fries."
"You do know they're called chips here, right?" She laughed. Lara didn't know why, but she always found it cute the way Alex referred to certain things, even though Sam used many of the same words."
"You do know that they were called French Fries first." He stated matter of factly. "Or to be exact, Pomme Frites."
"Okay, fair point." Lara chuckled. "But where do they originally come from?"
"Umm...France?" Alex replied.
"Trick question. No one knows if it was France or Belgium." Lara smirked.
"Cheater." Alex grumbled taking a sip from his beer.
The pair, chatted about their classes in the few minutes it took for Alex to drink his beer."Well I guess, I should go." Alex said. after finishing his drink.
"No don't." Lara started "I mean. Stay a while. I'm trying to do mental revision but I'd feel better if I could get feedback. Besides you're food will be cold if you wait to get all the way home to eat."
"Okay...sure." Alex said. "Isn't there a rule about no outside food?"
"Don't worry, I won't tell Declan." Lara smiled. "Besides, we have ketchup." Lara said in a pitiful attempt at bribery, hoisting the bottle onto the table.
"You sure it's okay?" Alex asked, opening the bag and withdrawing the contents."
"Yes, of course." Lara said grabbing a plate for Alex. "As long as you share some of your French Fries." she grinned at him.
"Yeah okay, you can have some chips." Alex smirked as he emptied his food onto the plate. Lara passed him the ketchup.
The next few hours passed, and no one had entered the pub since Alex arrived. Lara turned to look at the clock. It was quarter past eleven.
"Well this place is dead. I told Declan if It hadn't picked up by eleven I'd close." She got up from her seat and headed back around the bar, taking Alex's plate with her to wash it.
"You need any help?" Alex asked.
"No, Everything's pretty much done." Lara said, she dropped Alex's plate into the sink to allow it to steep for a moment. She reached for a bottle of Scotch and two glasses, placing the glasses on the counter, she proceeded to open the bottle.
"What's this?" Alex asked.
"My way of saying Thank you. Johnny Walker Blue Label." Lara said as she poured some of the Scotch into both glasses "Declan Keeps a Bottle behind the counter for special occasions." She pushed the glass towards him.
"Blue Label..? Lara that stuff is like three hundred a bottle." He reached for his wallet.
"Which is why I'm giving it to you. Don't worry, this Bottle is for Staff use, no one gets charged for this."
"Okay." Alex release his grip from his wallet and left it in his back pocket. "You're sure I'm not getting billed for this?"
"Positive." Lara said lifting her own glass.
"Okay, but if I get a bill, I'm sending it to you." He said as he lifted his glass. "Cheers."
Lara smiled. They clinked their glasses together, Both sipped their drinks.
"Good stuff." Alex said, coughing slightly.
"Yeah. Even better than Captain Morgan's" Lara said taking another drink.
"Aye, matey." Alex growled in a low pirate growl. Before draining the last of it. "Well, I know what to get my dad for Christmas."
"Suck up". Lara smirked finishing her drink. "Hey if you don't mind waiting we can head for the tube together."
"Sure, okay. Hey do you mind if I read the bottle." Alex asked, Lara raised her eyebrows questioningly. "I've always liked reading labels."
"Yeah sure." Lara laughed. "I do the same thing." She gathered the glasses off the counter and dropped them in the sink. She then grabbed the floor brush and began to sweep the floor.
"Really?" Alex asked. "I always thought it was nerdy, even for me...Not that you're nerdy...but you're not stupid...I mean...but...um..."
"It's okay Alex, I am a nerd." Lara giggled silently. "I read all the time, I do my assignments on time, I memorize things that could only help on a game show and I have have a collection of video games larger than my wardrobe." she listed off the various facts about herself.
"You game?" Alex asked shocked.
"Doesn't everyone?" Lara stated. Despite the fact Barely any of the floor had seen the bottom of any shoes that night, Lara still insisted on going over whole floor.
"Y-you just never struck me as the type." Alex told her as she returned behind the counter. "I know Sam does but...never really seemed like you'd be into it."
"Well, we all need a way to unwind, and it's better than clubbing." Lara groaned the last word. "And with the way movies are going they're the better choice."
"I have to agree." Alex said. "Sooooo, What platform are you on?"
"PlayStation." Lara said as she was put the brush away. "I've got all three generations, and an old Nintendo and Sega system."
Alex's eyebrow raised. Lara was just full of surprises. "I'm PlayStation as well, for the most part, but I've got most, of the older systems."
"We'll have to get together and play sometime." Lara suggested.
"It's a date." Alex said, his eyes widened when he realized what he said.
"What was that? Lara asked.
"I...said...you pick the date." Alex lied, Lara looked as though she bought it.
Lara began to wash the two glasses, the bell above the door rang. "Sorry but we're closed." Lara called over her shoulder. She heard footsteps indicating someone walking towards the bar. "I said were closed." Lara turned to see Paul striding towards the counter. "You were barred, Paul. Get out!"
"Look, I only came to apologize to you and Declan. I was out of Line." Paul stated. If it wasn't for the fact Paul was a known liar, she might have believed him.
"Well I'm not in the habit of just forgiving someone who groped me. And Declan's not here, so if you want to apologize come back tomorrow. Now get out!" Lara hissed at him and pointed to the door.
"It's too bad he's not here, I really wanted to speak to him." He grinned Maliciously.
Alex stepped between Lara and Paul. "You heard the lady, pal. I think you should go." Alex was several inches taller than him, he hoped it would be a good enough deterrent.
"All right. I'll go." He turned on his heel, but suddenly spun back around, his fist making contact with the side of Alex's head. Alex fell to the ground with a heavy bang.
"Alex!" Lara screamed. She was about to rush around to him, when Paul Pulled a revolver from the waistband of his tracksuit bottoms.
"Don't fuckin' move." he roared. "Empty the till. NOW!"
Lara froze in terror. Paul had a gun, and he was the kind of person who would use it for something petty. And with the counter between them there was no way she could attempt to get it from him.
"Paul, this isn't worth it. There's barely been any customers today, the tills practically empty.
"SHUT UP BITCH!" He yelled cocking the hammer of his revolver. "EMPTY THE TILL!"
"Okay, okay." Tears began to stream down her face and her breath began to come short and quick, she felt like she was having an panic attack, something she hadn't felt since she was a child. She pressed the button on the till. the drawer slid open.
"Now fill into that bag." He said indicating the bag Alex had brought his dinner in. She was regretting not throwing it away earlier. Lara reached for the bag on the counter, she began to put the money in the bag. "Faster!" He roared.
"I'm going as fast as I can." She choked.
"NOT FAST ENOUGH YOU WORTHLESS CUN-" His sentence was ended with a dull thud. Paul fell to the ground.
Lara looked, and saw Alex standing with the bottle of Johnny Blue Walker clenched between his fist by the neck.
"Well...nice to see they didn't cheap out on the bottle." he said inspecting the total lack of damage to the bottle of Scotch.
"Alex." Lara Wheezed, she slowly fell to the ground
"LARA!" Alex hopped over the bar and crouched beside Lara, as she breathed quickly. "Lara. Do you have asthma?"
"No...I used to have panic attacks when I was little, but I haven't had one in years. Alex helped her up, and rested her back against the door of the fridge.
Alex started to panic. Not being asthma meant that this probably wasn't life threatening, but seeing Lara in distress...he had to do something. He spotted the paper bag he'd brought his dinner in. He grabbed it and felt the weight. He tipped it over and emptied the contents onto the floor, coins began to roll everywhere, and notes fluttered to the floor.
"Here, breath into this." Lara graciously took the bag and began to breath, attempting to steady herself. "I'm gonna call the police." He pulled his phone out of his pocket.
"Call...Declan..." Lara panted. She took her phone from her pocket and held it up to Alex her hands trembling. As she breathed she could smell the vinegar, and feel it in her throat as is helped to calm her.
"Okay, but Police first." He said dialing, "Come on...come on..."
"Alex...get...the...gun..." Lara said. Alex nodded and vaulted over the counter again, the gun rested several inches from Paul's hand. Deciding not to get his prints on the gun, he kicked it across the room, under one of the booths. Unsure of exactly where it landed, he was satisfied that if Paul came to he wouldn't be able to find it either. he resisted the urge to kick Paul as well.
"Emergency services what's you're emergency." came the calm voice of a woman. Alex felt some of the tension leaving his body her voice, was so smooth, like butter rolling down a hill made of velvet.
"Yeah...I uh...need, the police...and an ambulance." Alex said against his better judgement. "There was a robbery...Well attempted robbery...Look he had a gun...he's unconscious now, but he could wake up at any time."
"Please tell me your location." The woman replied calmly.
"At the Nine Bells...On Lexington Street...number 70...I think..."
"Police and Paramedics are on their way. Please remain calm." the voice came.
"Thank you..." he hung up and scrolled through Lara's contacts til he cam across the one listed 'Declan Murphy' he pressed the call button. Alex stood worried that Paul could wake up at any minute. The dial tones seemed to take forever to pass, when finally it ceased and a man, answered.
"Hey, Lara? Something wrong." Declan asked.
"HEY LARA!" Alex could hear Sam's voice, coming through.
"Hi...Declan...This is Alex..." Alex began.
"Alex? Alex who."
"HEY ALEX!" Sam voice came again."
"I-I'm a friend of Lara and Sam's." he stated trying to get to the point.
"Oh aye, you're that American Lad. How's it going?" Declan said cheerfully.
"BAD." Alex yelled, "Look...I'm here with Lara...Someone tried to rob the bar, She told me to call you."
"What? Who?" Declan said Alex could tell he was mad.
"Some guy Paul...fat guy...stupid haircut..." Alex described the would be robber.
"THAT TOERAG!? I'M ON MY WAY BACK! I'LL BE THERE IN TEN MINUTES!" The line went dead indicating Declan had hung up.
Alex made his way back around the bar. Lara's breath had slowed down considerably, but was still faster than it should be.
"Hey. How you holding up?" He asked clearly still concerned.
"I'll Live" She breathed, taking the bag away from her mouth. "I'm so sorry, Alex." She said, wiping her eyes, her eye liner smeard slightly.
"What? You Don't have anything to be sorry about." Alex claimed.
"I asked you to stay." She said. "If I hadn't you wouldn't have got hit."
"And you could be in the hospital...or worse." Alex countered.
Several moments passed and Lara moved her hands to her side, and began to push herself up.
"Hey, you sure you're good to move?"
"I have to get the first aid kit. We need to take care of that cut on your head." Lara said, shakily getting to her feet.
Alex put his hand to the side of his head. He could feel the gash, it was quite big, and the blood felt like it was still pouring out, it was quite sore
"I'm fine. Bastard, sucker punched 's only a flesh wound." He grinned quoting Monty Python.
"Alex, I told you. You're a terrible Liar." Lara chuckled weakly. Bent down to retrieve the first aid kit from the bottom shelf, keeping one hand on the counter to steady herself in the corner of the bar. She padded back across the floor, her legs still felt wobbly. "Take a seat I'll patch you up."
"Fine." Alex surrendered. "But I'll take the stool around here. I saw how wobbly you were walking. Last thing we need is for you trip."
"Deal." Lara agreed. Leaning back against the bar.
Alex made his way around the counter and grabbed the closest stool to him. It took every once of self control he had to not walk over and kick Paul several times. He returned to where, Lara was. He placed the stool in the middle of the area and sat down.
Lara opened the first aid kit and took out some disinfectant, several cotton swabs and a band-aid. She poured the disinfectant, on the swap and addressed Alex.
"This will sting a little." She said.
"Damn. That does sting." Alex winced as she swabbed his cheek.
"Sorry, I did warn you." Lara couldn't help but smirk a little. She paused for a moment. "I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been here, Alex."
"Well." He began. "You certainly wouldn't have got any French fries." he joked.
"Hilarious, Alex." Lara smiled. Alex was able to change the mood in a morgue. He was really funny, he never gave himself enough credit. Lara took out the band-aid, she peeled of the band aid seal, and applied it to his face. Then without warning she gently kissed Alex's cheek. "For being brave, You get a big boy band aid." she laughed.
Alex was reeling from the kiss. "What do you mean, big boy band-aid?"
"Well, we keep the ones with teddy bears and sheep on them for the fights in here to show the boys, just how childish they are." She explained. "But you get to have a Superman band-aid."
Alex laughed a little. Finally the sounds of sirens could be heard growing louder.
"Sounds like our boys are here." Alex stated, Lara nodded. "We're going to need to give statements." Alex said.
Lara nodded. "So much for closing early."