Disclaimer: Hex and its characters do not belong to me. They are the property of SkyOne and the BBC.
A/N: Sorry this took so long, I hit major writer's block last week but it is finished now! Hope you all enjoy!
The taxi rumbled down the wet pavement toward the city, its black body gleaming in the misty droplets falling from the sky. Cassie watched as the mist collected on the glass of the window, slowly obscuring her view of the passing countryside. The mist condensed into drops that rolled down in thing rivulets, looking nothing so much like the tears she felt slowly building behind her eyes. Thelma was leaning against the window on the other side of cab, occasionally shooting comforting glances her way but generally fading into the background as she'd never been able to do when she was alive. Cassie had always been aware of the other girl before her death but now it seemed as though that had gone with the ability to touch her friend. Even in the small space of the cab she felt as though Thelma were worlds away. Maybe once this whole baby thing was over she could try to connect more with her fallen friend.
The baby. If there was ever a topic she wanted to avoid it would be the thing growing inside her. Cassie sniffed as she thought about the coming appointment. What would she do if it turned out she couldn't have the procedure done? The baby was growing so fast, how many days were equivalent to a month when the situation involved a fallen angel and witch? She had to be at least a few months along simply by the size of her stomach. Didn't it normally take about four months for a bump to start showing?
A small sound from the front of the cab drew Cassie's attention toward the cabbie. She hadn't taken much notice of him before now; caring simply for the fact that he provided a way out from the situation with Troy and a ride. She looked through the rear view mirror at him trying to get a better look at his face. He was younger than she would have expected, not much older that her probably. Light grey eyes set under fine sandy brows stared at the road ahead of them. His face was angular with a strong jaw framed by slightly curling strands of dark blonde hair. He seemed to be deep in thought and was nibbling on his lower lip.
"You okay back there?" The cabbie's soft voice broke through her thoughts.
Cassie's attention jumped from his lips to his eyes through the framed glass of the mirror. She nervously played with the ends of her hair as she tried to compose herself.
"That was some argument you were having earlier. Was that your boyfriend?" He asked.
"No!" The response was out of her mouth before she had a chance to think. His eyes widened at the intensity in her voice. Cassie's had flew to her mouth in shock at the strength of her reply.
She sighed in embarrassment before saying, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to shout. He's my ex and he thinks he ought to still have a say in my life."
"That's about what I thought. Is it about this doctor's visit?" He asked.
"Sort of, it's complicated." She looked away from him and stared down at her nails, not sure if she wanted to discuss this with a stranger, even one who'd helped her. He didn't prod her to continue and his silence was what really made her want to open up to him. She had so few people to talk to and while Thelma was great and Cassie wouldn't trade her for anything in the world, sometimes she just wasn't enough. This man was offering to share her burden for not other reason than simple kindness to a distraught girl. He gave off an air of attentiveness even while silent and watching the road, that made her want to pour all her troubles out to him. Perhaps it was the consideration she'd seen in his eyes when he'd asked about her, as though nothing she said would make him think less of her. She's had so little of that feeling in her life that now she wanted to reach out and grab onto it, keep it near and never let go. She felt her nervousness about the topic of her baby fading away. Maybe he could give her some perspective on this whole thing, make it easier for her to deal with this bizarre event that was taking over her life.
"It's not his, this baby." She blurted it before she had a chance to change her mind.
He nodded slowly at her, "But he thinks it is? That's got to be hard. I take it he wants to be a part of your life and the child's?"
Cassie nodded, blue eyes staring inquisitively at him through the mirror. Grey met blue as he glanced back at her offering a tentative smile.
"It's not that complicated then." He winked at her exaggerating that shy smile into a roguish grin. Cassie felt herself smiling in return and suppressed a small giggle at his light flirting.
"I suppose not, when you put it that way. Certainly feels that way though." She looked at Thelma leaning against the window on the seat next to her. It seemed as if she were asleep she looked so peaceful. If only life could be uncomplicated, she'd even take being pregnant and in school if it meant that everything could be as it had been before Azazeal had bounded into her life.
"Can I ask you a question, if it won't upset you?" Cassie pursed her lips but nodded at him anyway.
"Are you going to keep the baby? It's alright if the answer is no, but with that situation back there I just assumed it was a disagreement about that." He glanced at her through the mirror and Cassie felt as though he could see straight through her.
"Well, I am going for a consultation about having a termination." Cassie didn't explain further.
"But does that mean you've decided? I don't mean to pry but you just seem troubled so I thought it might help to talk to someone." He avoided her gaze as he said this, which to Cassie seemed more of a gift than anything else. Normally she'd find it suspicious but it was such an uncomfortable topic that it only seemed natural.
Before she could answer she felt the car roll to a stop. She looked out the window surprised to see the brick walls of the hospital facing her. This was the first time the ride to town had seemed too short. She sighed and reached for her purse, all good things had to end and now it seemed that it was time to go back to the madness that was currently her life. As she pulled out a few bills she felt a hand settle on her shoulder. Looking up, she stared into soulful grey eyes.
"Don't worry about the fare. It's on me today; you look like you need a break."
"Thank you." Cassie smiled at him before asking, "What about the ride back?"
The skin around his eyes crinkled when he smiled.
"Well, I suppose I could hang around. Just in case. My name's Oz by the way."
"Cassie."
"Well Miss Cassie, I shall await your return." He winked at her and withdrew his hand.
Still smiling Cassie gathered her things and stepped out of the cab. She looked back at Thelma and saw she was still slumped against the window. Gently shaking her head, she let out a quiet hiss.
"Psst. Thelma!" The brunette ghost jerked at the sound of her name and looked around, bewildered. Cassie waved her out of the cab, glancing to make sure Oz wasn't watching before she closed the door. She gave him a little wave before heading into the building.
"So what was that about?" Thelma kept looking back at Oz and then at Cassie. "What did I miss?"
"Nothing, he was just being nice. He's going to wait out there in case Troy shows and give us a ride back."
"Ooh! I see someone's been a little flirt." Her wink softened the mild chastisement in her tone.
"I wasn't flirting, we just talked. I liked it. I forgot for a bit what we were coming here to do." Cassie said as she approached the reception desk.
The redhead behind the desk shot a condescending look at her as though whatever she were doing on her computer screen was more important than doing her job checking in patients.
"Name?" Disdain fairly oozed from the woman. Cassie rolled her eyes; obviously the peaceful cloud that had descended in the cab was gone.
"Cassie Hughes, I've got an appointment with Dr. Surtees."
The look became positively disdainful as the woman thrust a clipboard with several papers attached into Cassie's hands.
"Fill those out and then hand them in when we call your name. You'll be seen shortly." She nodded her head at the small cluster of plastic chairs in the corner and then snapped her gaze back to her computer screen.
"What's got her knickers in a twist? Looks a bit too tightly wound. Bet she doesn't get enough at home." Thelma stuck her tongue out the hateful woman before sidling over to Cassie.
"Do they expect you to write an entire book?" The papers on top of the clipboard she held were fairly thick.
"Writing a book might be easier." She picked up the pen inserted into the clip of the board and began filling in all the blanks. Quiet settled between them as she filled page after page and soon she heard the superior little woman behind the reception clearing her throat loudly.
"Miss Hughes, if you please?" Cassie finished up the last page of questions before approaching the woman and thrusting the clipboard at her. The woman narrowed her eyes and grimaced before pointing to her left. "Go through that door, Dr. Surtees is waiting for you." She snatched the board from Cassie's hand and slapped it down onto the desk beside her.
Cassie drew a deep breath and walked toward the door to what was apparently an office, Thelma on her heels.
A man was sitting at the desk in the room absently leafing through a pile of papers, probably her medical records. He glanced up at her as the stepped through the doorway.
"Ah, Miss Hughes? Welcome. Please, close the door and sit down."
Outside the hospital a black cab was parked, waiting for the girl to come back out. Grey eyes scanned the street approaching the hospital lot, alert for the slightest hint of movement. A knock on the window drew his attention from the wet surroundings. He nodded at the man outside the car and hastily rolled down the glass.
"Should you be here? What if she sees you? That might ruin everything." He glanced up at the tall figure beside his vehicle before returning his attention to the street. The damp mist still falling from the sky settled like diamonds in the dark hair of the figure gazing down at him.
"I take it that it went well then Osias?"
Oz grimaced at the mention of his full name. "When does it not, Azazeal? And don't call me that, I hate it."
"It's your name, and after all it's part of the reason you're here. You should be able to salvage this mess before my personal interference becomes necessary." The warning in that was unmistakable. Oz nodded his acknowledgement of both the threat and the challenge.
"Don't worry, she won't be able to go through with it. Not after we've had a few more little chats. She's starting to trust me already. It's amazing what a gentle smile and a friendly face can do for you in the eyes of the ladies." He darted a wide, doe eyed look toward the other man. He was rewarded with a sneer before being flicked on the nose.
"Just don't get too friendly. Never forget who belongs to whom in this."
"Of course, she's not my type anyway. A fine girl I'm sure but not for me. You of all people should know that."
"I suppose that's true." Azazeal turned looking briefly pensive before smiling. He handed Oz a roll of bills and shot him a tight smile.
"I expect results, and quickly. Every second is precious. Report back to me tomorrow." With that parting order, he strode away quickly becoming shrouded in the grey drizzle that was getting heavier every minute.
A/N: So, here it is. This chapter moved more slowly than I expected (truly told this was only supposed to be beginning of a much larger chapter but I felt this was a decent stopping point). Oz was a major part of my writer's block last week as he wasn't being very talkative when I needed him to be. Hope you all come to like as much as I do. Until next chapter!