A Shelter in the Storm (Part 1)

By: Nightingale

Rating: PG

For Cabby…I hope you like it.

Though spring was on it's way it was still cold as ever. Gin made her way to the Brooklyn lodging house. She knocked her boots against the step knocking loose the snow that clung to her shoes before entering the building.

"Goodness it's cold out there," she said rubbing her arms grateful for what little warmth the building offered.

She looked around the empty building amazed at how empty it was. Where was everyone? Gin slipped off the heavy coat that Medda insisted she wear and threw it over a chair.

"Gin?"

She turned at the small voice to see an all too familiar little boy of 10 looking at her. He stood there in his meager clothing with cute hazel eyes looking her up and down as if she wasn't there. As Gin looked at the boy she noticed a rip in the knee of his pants leg.

"Clock, have you been wearing those outside?"

"What else would I wear?"

"You'd think the other boys would have the sense to patch that up or something."

The boy looked down and blushed slightly.

"I'll fix them for you later." She promised as she ruffled his hair playfully.

"Spot said you wouldn't be back till spring." The boy stated

"Medda gave me the week off…" her voice trailed off as the fact that not another soul was in sight became noticable,

"Where is everyone?" she asked as she turned to take off her gloves

"Gin…thank God" came a voice behind her

"Now I never thought I'd ever hear Spot thanking God for anything…seeing as he's the master of the universe." Gin said as she turned to face the leader of Brooklyn.

Spot took the jab as gracefully as he ever had not wanting to really deal with an argument.

"It's nice to see you too Spot." She said as she slipped off her gloves and laid them on top of the coat.

He didn't answer her but instead gave a slight glare and grabbed hold of her arm.

"What happened?" she asked suddenly serious

"It's Cabby…"

Gin stopped…there were very few girls in Brooklyn and those who were there were closer than sisters. In total there were only three of them and Gin traveled a lot between Manhattan and Brooklyn as did Firefly who was spending the night with Race.

"What about her? What happened?" Gin asked

"I just don't know what to do."

"Where is she?"

Spot led her the rest of the way to the girl's room where the girl was sitting up on her bed trying to beat off the two guys trying to help her. Gin hit Spot in the arm for worrying her half to death as she watched the somewhat amusing scene that played out before her.

"I can do it myself" Cabby persisted pushing at one boy's arm and flinching in pain at the motion.

Gin had to admit the girl looked pretty beat up. Her left eye was swollen shut and she had a matching shiner on her right cheek. There was a small amount of blood from a nose Gin suspected had been broken, and Gin was almost certain the girl had at least one bruised rib if it wasn't broken.

"She won't let any of us close enough to bandage her up." Spot said

"Where is everyone…you have enough to hold her down."

Spot turned and looked at her but seeing her joking expression he just shook his head with a smirk making its way to his lips.

"Actually your brother set up a search party for the guy who did this to her."

"So how did this happen?"

"She insisted that she could sell on her own. She wouldn't let any of the guys sell with her saying if they could do it on their own so could she."

Gin started to laugh drawing the attention of the three in the room.

"Oh Gin…tell them to leave me alone." Cabby pleaded

Gin laughed, "Go on boys…I'll take care of her."

The boys left the room and Gin walked over to the bed sitting next to Cabby.

"I'm not a baby." Cabby stated

"Never said you were. No matter how much of a baby you aren't you still need help with this."

"Maybe…but not from one of them. One of them had the nerve to tell me to take my shirt off."

"They wanted to check your ribs. I could tell by the way you were moving you have at least one broken."

"Stop covering for them."

Gin laughed.

When the boys returned Gin had coffee made and awaiting their return. As the guys drifted in one by one Gin handed them a cup to chase away the redness of their hands and cheeks. She ran back and forth washing and filling what few cups she could find in the lodging house.

The light slowly faded from the sky and Gin still awaited for at least one more guy. Her brother Sage had not yet returned from the search that Gin knew would be pointless. Lost in her thoughts she never saw a guy approach her with his coffee cup in hand.

"He'll be home any minute now I'm sure," he said

His voice broke into her thoughts and she turned to face the 5'10'' guy before her. His blonde hair fell in front of his blue eyes but Gin saw past to the depths of concern beneath. Diver had always been there when she needed confidence the most.

"I sure hope you're right."

"I am"

"Don't be too sure of yourself now."

He chuckled a little and wrapped his arm around her shoulders in a brotherly way. "There's the Gin I know."

"It's just so cold out…I'm a little worried is all." She said as her eyes drifted back to the door

"I know but he'll come in when he's too cold. He had a good coat and some gloves…he'll be okay."

Gin nodded not taking her eyes from the door of the lodging house.

"Come on…" he said gently leading her away from the door to distract her mind.