The foot steps came closer. She'd heard him already as he walked in. But she was still not sure if he was really there or if she dreamed it.
He stopped walking and stood in front of her desk as she looked up at him, „Hector?"
It was more a statement than a question but she asked so much.
He quirked an eyebrow, „you've changed."
And she knew how he meant it, „yeah well it's a long story but I have to make a living, ya know?"
He nodded, „where's your...?" but he couldn't finish his question. He was scared of an answer. Most probably she was with a man, living in a house with three children and a dog. Jack was right it had been a stupid idea to look for her.
Then she laughed and stopped his trail of thoughts, „there's no one", she sighed, „not since well, since him, anyways."
They fell silent for a few moments before she spoke, „so what brings you here? Are you still in touch with, with him?", she asked and couldn't say Jack's name.
„Oh yeah well Jackie is over at the Ranger's in a cell. I thought maybe you could, ya know get him out of there?"
Red laughed for a moment and rolled her eyes before she got serious again, „I meant why are you here?"
„I just told you why I'm here", Hector said playfully but knew what she asked for.
„No why are you HERE?", she asked.
„You should better ask him", he said.
As gracefully as she could she got up from her chair but he noticed that something was odd. She used to move so lightly. She had always walked like a feather. Not making any noise. He remembered how she'd always walked like she was dancing on air.
She took a few more steps around her desk and that's when he was sure. He had expierience in it. He had his own pegged leg for years now.
„What happened to your leg?", Hector asked her as they slowly made their way through the house and outside towards the Rangers.
She sighed, „could ask you the same. Long story. Maybe some day we'll have time for that."
He just nodded.
It took them a few more minutes that they walked in silence until they reached their destination.
Hector walked in first. After all he's always been a pirate not a gentleman.
Jack looked up as he heard footsteps and then he saw Hector walking in followed by someone else. Someone female.
She walked out of Hectors shadow and took a step towards the cell.
Moments passed. No one said anything. And they feared to move.
She was the first to blink though and it was him who made fast steps over to her. As far as he could go that is hence he was still in this stupid cell.
„I'll leave the two love birds alone", Hector said and playfully took his hat of before he left the house.
A few seconds passed before she moved towards him. As she was nearly there she streched her arm to the side to get the keys from the wall.
Jack was confused at first but then smiled as he saw what she was doing.
She put the key in and turned it until the door clicked and opened.
Of course Jack had notcied the way she was dressed. And he didn't really like it. Sure he couldn't deny that he didn't like what he saw and she was so much more than stunning but she looked like a professional and that was a thought he didn't want to think about.
He had as well noticed that she was walking in a strange way, „what happened to you, Heather?"
It took her by surprise, „no one has called me that in years", she said, „but let's go somewhere more private to talk."
Jack nodded and together they left the building.
„Let me help", he said as he noticed how much trouble she seemed to have walking.
He put his arm around her waist and tried to stabilise her which made her smile.
Rather silently they walked for about half an hour. Not caring about the strange looks they received.
„Where are we going?", Jack suddenly asked and broke the silence.
„Just over there", Heather said and pointed to a small old stable or house not far from them.
Jack was glad hence the weather didn't really look promising.
And he should be right. Just as they had walked in the house and had made their way up to the upper level he could hear rain and a thunderstorm coming up.
„Right on time", he said as he sat down on the wooden floor and waited for Heather to do so as well.
She sat down next to him and rested her head on the wall behind her. It hadn't been a busy day. It was rather slow. But as usual in the evening her leg started to hurt from walking and sitting and standing all day.
„What's with your leg?", Jack asked. It was the first question he had in mind even though he wanted to ask her so many things.
She bit down on her lip as a small wave of pain hit her, „do you really want to know?", she asked him then and looked into his eyes.
„Just promise me you won't run away", Jack said, „and I want to know everything."
Red laughed as he mentioned her running away, „guess you're safe then I can't run anywhere."
„I'd like to know one other thing first though", he said and looked at the ground, „it's quite personal, I guess and I understand if you don't want to.."
„What is it?", she asked him and lifted his head up with her hand so she could look into his eyes.
„Don't get this wrong... it's just the way you dress. You know, you look like, like … -" he said and as she noticed he couldn't even say it, she cut him off, „I'm not sleeping with anyone for money. Or anyone at all", she said, „I just, you know, I make other people do it."
Now he was curious, „so you haven't slept with anyone since..?"
She shook her head.
„Why?", Jack said more than asked, „I mean why did you want me to leave back then. I don't understand it. Never have."
There were tears in her eyes now and soon after she was crying. He took her face in his hands and kissed her lightly on her lips, „don't cry, just tell me."