A/N: Thank you all for the favorites and follows. I appreciate it so much! Hope you enjoy this chapter and please let me know what you think.
Disclaimer: As always, I only own what you don't recognize. Everything else belongs to TNT and the writers of Animal Kingdom.
"What the hell are you doing?" Sophie exclaimed and rushed forward. It was almost like she didn't recognize what she was doing as she took the gloves from Baz and put them on. Craig was either too delirious from pain to argue as she touched his chest but he kept his eyes on her the whole time.
"We got the bullet out but we gotta cauterize it or he'll bleed to death," Baz argued as Sophie stood next to him and held the bandage over the profusely bleeding wound.
Sophie couldn't disagree with that, but it still didn't make it okay. Cauterizing any wound was dangerous.
"You want him to go south?" Sophie mumbled and then saw Baz glare at her. "I'm just saying. Cauterizing a wound is always dangerous and not something that we actually do."
"No, taking him to the emergency room is something we could do. But we can't. So, we have this." Baz argued and shrugged. "And that's the only option we have."
"Because they report gunshot wounds and I guess you can't say he fell on the gun, right?" Sophie snapped back and Baz clenched his jaw as Pope just stayed silent.
"Guys…." Craig mumbled and she looked at him and saw him struggling to keep his eyes open. "If you're done bitching. Could you finish this? I'm not feeling so great."
"You wanna help? Then help. If you don't, then leave." Baz said, and then softened his gaze. "I get it. But we can't let him bleed to death. It's not like I wanna do it."
Sophie sighed and nodded. She knew he was right. Crawling onto the pool table behind Craig, she pulled herself as close as possible and nodded at Baz.
"No…wait…wait…" Craig mumbled when Baz got closer, but the man didn't listen and Sophie closed her eyes tightly when she heard the burning of the skin. Craig yelled out in pain and she pushed against him as he started to fall back against her. Baz continued and then stopped suddenly when they heard footsteps. Sophie looked up and saw J standing there with wide eyes. Baz paused and looked at him and finally, J just backed away and walked down the hall.
"All right, we got him done. Can you?" Baz started to ask, but she just shooed him out of the room. They left and she turned around and started rummaging through the bag. Pulling out bandages and ointments, she turned back to Craig and noticed swaying slightly.
"Hey…" Sophie said gently as she hurried up to him and caught him before he fell off the pool table. Sighing, she let him lean against her and shook her head in annoyance. "You should've gone to the hospital."
"They ask too many questions," Craig mumbled quietly near her ear. "Gunshots are reported."
"Still. This could get infected." Sophie said as she helped him straighten his body up. "I don't want to hurt you."
"Too late…" Craig said almost inaudibly and then raised his head and opened his eyes more. "Just do it."
Sophie pretended that she didn't hear him say that and carried on. She wiped the blood off his skin and tried her best not to look at him. Moving fluidly around the medical supplies she had the bandage on his arm in record time. For precaution, she wrapped another bandage around him and leaned closer as she put her arm around him and looped the white gauze around his arm.
"You need to take it easy for a couple of days," Sophie said as she finished. Backing away from him, she stood awkwardly in the middle of the room as he just nodded, ignoring her completely and attempted to stand up. She rushed forward as he stumbled and wound her arm around his waist as he found his grip.
"I don't need your help." Craig snapped and pulled away from her. She moved away from him and let him walk away slowly before he finally disappeared down the hallway. Sophie started cleaning up what she could and as she turned around, she saw Smurf standing at the opening of the living room.
"Hi baby….thank you for helping." Smurf said and took the trash bag from her. "Sophie…"
"I know. Say nothing," Sophie said as she started to move past Smurf. "I remember. Don't let him get that infected. He'll only have to go down South."
Sophie made it back to her grandmother's house in record time and immediately took a hot shower. She just stood under the shower head and let the hot water flow over her body. Closing her eyes, she just stood still. 12 years later and things still hadn't changed for the Cody family. Did she actually expect it to? Not really. But the reality of it all was still the same. They were dangerous and she was in dangerous territory.
I don't need your help.
The way he had spat those words at her hurt more than she cared to admit. That wasn't the Craig she used to know. But then again, did she expect to be welcomed with open arms? Hell no. She was scared of seeing him. Scared of feeling all those same feelings she felt before. She needed to leave. She needed to get back to her routine of being away from everything again.
But that also included Rosie. She hadn't seen her in over a year and despite talking to her every day on the phone. Sophie still missed her. So much. There wasn't a good bond between Sophie and her own mother, but there was with Rosie.
"Sophie? Are you okay?"
Speaking of such, Sophie jumped out of her reverie and realized the water had gotten much colder to the point of making her shiver. Rosie's voice came through the bathroom door and Sophie quickly shut the water off.
"Yeah, I'm almost done." Sophie called through the glass shower door and slide the door opened and stepped out. Wrapping a towel around her and ringing out her wet hair, she cracked open the bathroom door and smiled at Rosie. "Sorry, I got lost in my thoughts."
"Herbal Essence moment, I understand. Well, get some clothes on. Dinner's ready and Wheel of Fortune will be on in 30 minutes," Rosie said, the worry on her face diminished when Sophie's face appeared. Nodding, Sophie closed the door back and quickly dried her hair and pulled on her pajamas. Walking out into the living room, she paused as she walked by a group of pictures. The one in the direct middle was of her and Rosie at Sophie's high school graduation. She remembered like it was yesterday, Smurf had been the one who had taken the picture and Sophie's own mother hadn't even bothered showing up.
(FLASHBACK)
"Smile!" Smurf said and Sophie felt Rosie's arm tighten around her waist as they both smiled brightly for the camera. Once the shot was taken, Rosie started talking to some people and Sophie looked around the courtyard of the high school. All the kids had their parents and siblings. Sophie didn't. She had Rosie and Smurf. Sophie's mother, Victoria, had contacted her the week before and said she had something come up and wouldn't be there. She did send a card, that was unsigned and promptly burned by Craig when Sophie opened it in front of him and lost it. She hated crying over the woman, but it seemed like all she could do when Victoria Clarke was even mentioned.
"Craig's sorry that he's not here. Mr. Nichols wouldn't grant it. Believe me, I tried." Smurf said almost menacingly and stared at the superintendent over Sophie's shoulder.
"It's okay. I know." Sophie said and then hugged Smurf tightly. "But you're here. That means a lot to me."
"Of course I'm here. I'll always be here." Smurf said and reached over and hugged her again. "You're one of us baby."
(END OF FLASHBACK)
At the time, Sophie hadn't even grasped the depth of what that meant. She felt warmed by the acceptance and in some ways, still did. She knew that the feelings probably weren't the same now. But at one time, she had been a dedicated person to the family.
"All right, let's eat. I'm starving." Rosie announced as she walked into the living room carrying two plates. "I got out the fine china and fancy dinner tables tonight."
Sophie looked and saw paper plates and TV trays and had to laugh. "Thanks, gran, I feel special."
"Anything for my girl," Rosie said and then pointed at the chair. "Sit down and eat."
Sophie did as she was told and they ate in a peaceful silence. Watching an episode of Wheel of Fortune, Sophie looked over at Rosie and took a deep breath. "I need to go back home."
Rosie's hand stilled and then she proceeded and take a bite of her food. "I know."
"Soon," Sophie whispered and Rosie looked over at her. "Something happened tonight."
"Is he okay?" Rosie asked as she paused the television.
"Yeah. I think so." Sophie answered and then pushed her TV tray table away and curled up in the chair. "I just need to go back, you know."
"Are you scared of wanting him again? Or him wanting you?" Rosie asked, surprising Sophie and stacking their empty plates and disappearing for a second before returning and handing a bottle of beer over to Sophie. "Sometimes I just need to have a beer. So do you."
"Gran…." Sophie admonished but took the beer and when Rosie just gave her a pointed look, Sophie relented. "He doesn't want me. Pretty sure he hates me and I don't….no, I know….that I don't need him."
(FLASHBACK)
Sophie jumped slightly when the front door crashed open. Looking up, she gasped when she saw Baz and Pope basically carrying Craig into the house. Moving off the couch, she quickly ran over to them and looked at his bruised face. "What happened?!"
"Just a minor mishap. Don't worry, you should see the other guy." Deran said almost excitedly as he came in after them. To the 17-year-old, this was just a game and by the smile on Craig's face, he too thought the same.
"This isn't funny!" Sophie snapped and surprisingly they all stopped laughing about it and Craig looked up at her with wide eyes. She didn't say anything as she took Pope's spot and Smurf appeared with a medical bag. Baz helped her sit Craig down on the couch and then hovered next to her.
"I got him. Just go." Sophie muttered and Baz took his queue to leave with Pope and Deran as Smurf followed them silently.
"I'm fine.." Craig started to say and then hissed when Sophie rubbed the alcohol pad over his knuckles. "Jesus Soph, that fucking hurts."
"Not fine then, are you?" Sophie said but lessened her aggressiveness when he grimaced. "What happened?"
"You know, the usual," Craig said as he watched her work. "You're good at this."
"I have you to thank for that," Sophie said and then looked up at him and softened her gaze. "He kicks you in the ribs? Possible broken bones?"
"Nah, not on me. Maybe him." Craig said and smirked. "I beat the shit out of him. Can't you be proud of me for that?"
"So proud that on the night you were supposed to be out for Baz's birthday, you got into a fight with a guy whom you beat the shit out of. I'm so proud," she said and this time, he narrowed his eyes.
"Why are you being such a bitch about this….fuck! Jesus Soph, that fucking hurts." Craig snapped, getting angrier now.
"Why am I being such a bitch about this? What happens if you get shot or stabbed? Is it going to be fucking funny then? It doesn't matter how "good" I am at this…..I can't fix those things and you won't go to the hospital. So some night, Baz is gonna come back and tell me that you died in a fucking alleyway." Sophie said and threw the alcohol pad on the floor and rested back on her heels. "For goodness sakes Craig, everything about this is wrong."
"You know what fucking happens around here, all right? And you've never seemed to have a problem with it before." Craig said and took the bandage out of her hand. "I'll just do it myself if you don't want too. I don't need your help."
Sophie watched as he fumbled with the bandage for a minute before finally throwing it to the side in frustration and got up and stormed down the hall. She heard his bedroom door slam and shook her head. Picking up the bandage, she followed and opened the door just in time to watch him snort of a line of cocaine. She watched him move over to his bed and sit down on the edge of it.
"I just don't want anything to happen to you and I don't ever want you to have a problem like this that can't be fixed. I know what happens around here, I get that. I guess. But that still doesn't mean that I'm okay with you getting hurt." Sophie said as she gently shut the door behind her.
"I know," Craig answered honestly and she walked over to him and knelt down and held out her hand. He put his own in hers and she started cleaning it up again.
"I think you broke it," Sophie told him after inspecting his swollen knuckles. "How hard did you hit the guy?"
"Hard enough." Craig gloated and smirked at her. "I'm a big guy."
Rolling her eyes, Sophie just continued to tend to the wounds and finally finished and pushed herself up. As she backed away though, she felt him wrap an arm around her waist and pull her against him.
"I gotta get money. How else are we gonna get to Belize?" Craig asked as he looked at her with the most sincerity she'd ever seen him give. "I promised you we would. I promised you that we would leave."
(END OF FLASHBACK)
A pipe dream was all it was. Belize was always going to be their escape. But, it never happened. It wasn't even a year later, and she was gone. It was all just a faded memory now. Sophie looked over at the clock on the bedside table and saw it was close to 2:30 in the morning. Pushing herself out of bed, she padded over to the bathroom and splashed water on her face. Staring into the mirror, she almost didn't recognize the person she saw anymore. Gone was the carefree nature she used to have. Now? She didn't know what she wanted. A part of her knew that returning to Philadelphia would be safe from the Cody's. Even though, after Craig's reaction to seeing her again didn't give her much thought they would even be worth worrying about.
She was right when she told Rosie she didn't need him anymore. Because she didn't. She had lived 12 years on her own without him and did just fine. Except for the stalker ex-boyfriend, a horrible relationship with her mother and losing her job. But most of that was out of her control. She just drew a bad card. Maybe she could stay in California. San Diego was nice, it would be closer to Rosie. But far enough away that she could also live her own life. It was worth thinking about at least.
(3 days later)
Craig stumbled out of Renn's house and got into the Scout. Pulling back his shirt, he looked at the infected wound on his chest and let out a painful sigh. He hurt. No amount of coke or oxy could even touch the pain. Not to mention earlier that day, he and Deran spent most of their time in some scrap yard destroying the Range Rover and now also had to get rid of the watches. Fucking great. Driving down the street, he drove past Rosie's house and saw a car in the driveway that usually wasn't there. He knew this because, despite everything, he watched over Rosie in his own way. The car had to be Sophie.
He could always have her look at his chest. At this point, he was that desperate. But he just kept driving and finally pulled into Smurf's driveway and got out. Silently walking through the front door, he made his way down to his room and shut the door. Digging through his dresser, he pulled out a bag of coke and started to prepare it to snort when the bedroom opened and he looked over and saw Deran.
"Dude, ever heard of knocking." Craig snapped and turned back to the line of coke and snorted it. He held the bridge of his nose and let out a breath before sluggishly walking over and collapsing on the couch. "What?"
"Maybe you need to see someone about that. Soph….." Deran started to suggest and stopped when Craig glared at him.
"Don't." Craig threatened and leaned back against the back of the couch and closed his eyes. His chest fucking hurt so much.
"Don't be such a pussy about this man. Just go ask her to look at it." Deran said and watched Craig. He had to admit that he was worried. Really worried. When Craig said nothing, Deran just shook his head and walked out of the bedroom. He started into the living room to finish playing the game he had started earlier, but then grabbed his coat and headed for the door.
Sophie was just about to sit down and watched TV when she heard a knock on the door. What was it with people interrupting her when all she wanted to do was watch Netflix? Putting down her bowl of cereal she walked over to the door and opened it and stared in shock when she saw Deran standing on the other side. "Hi….."
"Look, he's gonna kill me. But Craig needs you. His….problem is a big problem." Deran said and ran a hand through his hair. "Could you come and look at it?"
"Yeah…sure. I mean….yeah." Sophie stammered and quickly grabbed her stuff and followed Deran out the door. She didn't see any vehicle and followed him as they silently walked down the street.
"So..uh…how you been?" Deran asked and looked over at her while lighting a cigarette and holding the pack towards her.
Shaking her head at the offer, Sophie gave him a half smile. "Good. Really good. You?"
"Yeah…same," Deran answered and they continued to walk in an awkward silence until finally reaching the house. She followed Deran in and down the hall. He knocked once on a door and she heard Craig's voice. But he sounded sluggish. Deran opened the door and walked in.
Craig looked up from his spot on the sofa and saw her. "Dude, what the fuck?"
"Just let her look, man," Deran said and motioned to her. "Go ahead, he won't bite."
Sophie cautiously walked around Deran and watched Craig just narrow his eyes at her before finally mumbling a curse word under his breath and laid his arms down at his sides. She took a deep breath and knelt down next to him and reached up and pulled his shirt away. Gently pulling back the tape on the bandage, she immediately knew it was bad without even looking closely. "This is very bad."
"No shit." Craig snapped and then moved away from her. "I already knew that."
"Dude, stop being such an ass," Deran said and leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. "Does he need to go south? Tell him he needs to go south."
"You need to go south. Do you have a fever?" Sophie questioned and received no reply. So, she leaned up and touched his forehead and grimaced. "Craig…"
"What? It's infected. I know that. I'm not going south. I can take care of it myself." Craig said and moved away from her as he got up and moved back over to his dresser. Reaching in, he pulled out a baggie and started to take more pills.
"That is not going to fix the problem," Sophie said and then jumped when he slammed the drawer and turned slowly back to look at her. "I just mean…."
"Why are you even here? It's not like you fucking care. Because if you did….you know what doesn't matter. It doesn't fucking matter anymore." Craig snapped and pointed to the door. "Just get the hell out. Both of you."
"You need help. That is infected, if it gets into your bloodstream…it could kill you." Sophie said and leveled her glare at him. "Saying I don't care isn't fair because I do care. You. Need. A. Hospital."
"And you need to just leave and go back to wherever the hell you were. I don't want you here and I never did." Craig snapped and silence filled the room.
Deran looked at him with wide eyes and started to shake his head. "Dude….come on…."
Sophie felt tears well up in her eyes and pushed them back as she turned around, looking at Deran. "He needs to go south."
Deran nodded and started to say something, but she pushed past him and walked as quickly as she could out of the house. She made it back to her grandma's house in record timing and immediately pulled out her laptop to find the quickest and cheapest flight back to Philadelphia. But before she could do anything, an iMessage popped up and stopped her.
I know where you are at. Stop trying to hide from me.
Slamming the laptop lid, she sunk into the chair and felt hot tears rolling down her cheek before heavy sobs left her body. She was absolutely trapped. She couldn't go back to Philadelphia because it wasn't safe and she couldn't stay in Oceanside because she never belonged anyway.
He felt even more like shit now. Deran had left without saying a word to him, but that didn't bother him. The look on her face did. The minute the words flew out of his mouth, he regretted it. He'd told himself all those years ago that he never wanted to see her look at him like she did today.
He didn't mean what he had said. Dammit, he hadn't meant it. He had wanted her, hell he still did. She was everything to him at one time.
(FLASHBACK)
"Belize. That's where we'll go." Craig said out loud in the dark bedroom. Sophie lay curled up at his side, his arm holding her against his side. "We won't need any of this shit. Just live on the beach."
"I want to go to school," Sophie whispered against his skin and tightened her hold on him. "Then Belize."
"Fine. You'll go to school. Graduate. Then Belize." Craig relented and brushed her hair back when she raised her head up to look at him and smiled. "4-year plan."
"Yeah?" Sophie asked and leaned against him. "You promise?"
Craig nodded and kissed her. "Yeah…I promise."
(END OF FLASHBACK)
She was gone 8 months later. No more Belize. No more escape. Just Oceanside. He fell deeper into drugs and alcohol. The jobs started getting bigger, and because of that….so did the money. Now? He had everything he wanted. Almost everything.
Crushing the pills into powder, Craig leaned down and snorted the line before raising up and pulling the bandage off his chest and looking at the deeply infected wound in the dirty mirror. Grabbing the knife and blowtorch, he sterilizes the blade and touched it to his skin.