Unlike Yesterday

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters associated with the Roughnecks, if I did I would be finishing the series…

Summary: Jeff Gossard came home like he did everyday, nothing in his life changed very often or very much. Everyday it was the same, up in the elevator into his Park Avenue apartment after a hard day at the office and eating alone as usual but today was different. She was staying with him.

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New York was still bustling with people running everywhere but Gossard had decided that they would drive despite it being highly impractical. As he was thinking about somewhere to take her, they drove past Madison Square Garden. He saw Dizzy shudder violently out of the corner of his eye. He sighed quietly again. Something truly horrendous must have happened to her and he was determined to discover what it was. He also decided that they needed to go somewhere where Baker wouldn't suspect them of going. Considering he lived on Park Avenue, he retreated to the Queens for dinner, hoping that Baker and his team mates chose to look on the Upper East Side instead. He parked the car and got out before racing around and opening the passenger door. Dizzy seemed surprised but pleased none the less.

As they walked down the street together towards the restaurant, he noticed that she seemed very cautious. Always looking around her and staying quite close to him. A large group of men was walking towards them and he tried to see if he recognised any of the as Lakers. As they got closer he could almost feel the fear coming from Dizzy. Suddenly, her hand was in his and she was walking right by his side as the men passed. Some leered eerily at her but she took no notice, looking purposefully ahead. When they had gone past, she made no move to remove her hand from his and he gave it a gentle squeeze of reassurance. She smiled up at him and they walked hand in hand down the street.

They soon reached the restaurant and he allowed her in first, holding the door open for her. It was a small place that served very good steak and was one of the few places he ventured out to eat at. He didn't think to ask for a table up the back, he was quite convinced that they wouldn't be found by Baker or any of the other Lakers. They sat down together and received their menus and he asked her what she would like to drink. She looked at him and just smiled.

"Whatever you get will be just fine I'm sure."

He had smiled back and ordered red wine for both of them. They made small talk while they waited for their drinks. Dizzy asking quietly about the other Roughnecks, mostly about Rico and Carl whom she hadn't spoken to in some time. He happily filled her in on the comings and goings of their squad mates. They ordered their main meals and continued talking. Although he was desperate to find out what had happened before she had fled to the park, he decided not to spoil what was becoming a wonderful evening. He had forgotten how much fun Dizzy could be. She was even cracking jokes, something which she had not done in a very long time.

Dizzy was happy. She felt very safe with Gossard, he was her protector. The one she had always felt she could go to with any problem and he wouldn't judge her for them. She had desperately wanted someone familiar but it had taken her sometime to remember that Goss was a NYC resident. After about thirty seconds of soul searching she had rung him and she was so grateful to him for taking her in. She had no doubt in believing what she had heard him say on the phone earlier. He had always been there for him before, time and time again and respected that she needed space to sort things out in her mind before attempting to get her to talk about her troubles. She loved him dearly for it and believed deep down that it had always been Goss she had loved. She had simply gotten too far into Baker's grasp. She was safe and happy with him now and that was all that mattered.

Their main meal arrived and they shared them with each other. The amount of food that came was like she hadn't seen in a very long time. She hadn't chosen to be quite this thin and she was desperately trying to get away from her weight problems but they were a culmination of stress and a restrictive diet forced on her by Baker. She ate happily, chatting with Goss about everything and anything. After they finished, she quietly excused herself from the table to go to the restroom. As soon as she had gone, a waiter approached the table. He spoke quietly and quickly to Gossard.

"I don't mean to alarm you or your dining companion but I know who you both are. The man appealing for her return has seen you, although we asked him to leave the premises, he may be waiting for you. He will not return to the restaurant but be careful when you leave."

Gossard regarded him carefully.

"you don't believe him, that she was kidnapped and held against her will by myself or one of the others he mentioned."

The waiter smiled at him and shook his head.

"My wife reads the tabloids, this is the happiest she has seemed in a very long time, as well as yourself. I believe that he is the one who has been doing horrible things to her, such a nasty temper he has, yelling at the staff but she seems to have found strength in you."

Gossard nodded as he listened, before smiling.

"Thank you for your kind words of support, another two glasses of wine and the dessert menu if you would."

When Dizzy returned to the table he did not mention what the waiter had said. They ordered dessert, the absolute chocolate platter which they shared and after which he decided that he would never eat chocolate again. Dizzy seemed to have no such problems, ordering hot chocolate from the same kind waiter. While he drank his latte, he pondered their new problem. Baker had found them. Dizzy must have recognised the men earlier but had decided against mentioning it to him. Although he was not angry, he was a little frustrated with her. How could he protect her if she didn't let him know who else was against her?

As he sent his credit card of with the bill, he leant forwards and grasped her hands, which were lying on the table.

"I know you recognised those men earlier. In the future, please tell me because the waiter has informed me that Baker came around asking for us earlier. He may have gone by now but I need you to stick close to me. I am going to give you the car keys, if I tell you to run back to the car, please do it. Promise me that you will and that once you get there, you lock the doors and don't unlock them for anyone."

The tears were coming again. Goss realised that Baker was still there in her life, controlling where she could go, even though she had left him. She took a fortifying breath and picked up her handbag.

"I promise"

He helped her into her coat and grasped her hand. She smiled up at him and walked closer as they left the restaurant. It was quite cold out, he wished he had remembered gloves, at least for her. She didn't seem to mind though. As they walked she withdrew her hand and just as he began to miss the feeling of her tiny hand clasped in his, she put his arm around her shoulder. He smiled inwardly. It just felt so right, as they walked together, she put her arm around his waist. To anyone, they could just be any couple wandering the streets together. At that very moment, Simon Baker chose to appear behind them and ruin their time.

"Well, well, well, what have we here. Seems you are turning into a Roughneck whore again darling. We can fix that though. You are coming back with me."

Dizzy froze and shuddered violently. Gossard however, did not. He swung around to face Baker while pushing Dizzy behind him.

"She isn't going anywhere with you. She is coming with me and you aren't coming near her again"

Baker just laughed, almost like a manic and Gossard thought he should indeed be sent to a mental institution.

"I'll have her and I will make anyone harbouring her suffer most intensely. Imagine what will happen to your sanity as you watch her being tortured and raped in front of you"

He whispered the last part which caused Gossard to lunge for him. Dizzy shrieked and hauled him back.

"No you mustn't fight him. Please Goss, its what he wants. Please no, I need you."

In the time it took for him to turn and look at her, Baker was gone. Swearing under his breath, he brought Dizzy back under his arm and whispered.

"I won't let him get you or hurt you again, I promise".

Dizzy slept the entire ride back to the apartment, leaving Gossard to think. Baker seemed serious and he knew that he wouldn't be able to bear watching Dizzy suffer. Thinking about what pain she must have been through already killed him. He would protect her. He had too.