I don't care,

No I wouldn't dare,

Fix the twist in you. –All the Same, Sick Puppies

Ch. 2: Not Tonight

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The sounds of the night life kept me awake in my motel room all night leaving me to think of hot hands and angry words from the past. Terror and anguish ripped through me like I was seventeen again lost in a world of drugs and abuse. Every shadow became a man, every noise his laugh cold and cruel, every moment was a different regret. I was weak back then, needed someone to protect me. I needed Daniel to protect me, but he was gone now, dead, and I am stronger. I can protect myself.

I did, I knocked that bastard flat. I still shattered though, I still feel dirty. I still need Daniel, but he's gone. All that's left of him is a scrap of metal with his name on it and my memories. Neither can substitute the real thing.

Rolling over I nearly had a heart attack when I knocked one of my boots off of the bed.

"That's it!" Frustrated at the wreck I had become I threw off the thin, motel blankets and walked straight to the dingy bathroom. Filling the tub with scalding hot water and complementary bubble bath that looked like dish soap I stripped down and got in. Letting the sting of the water over take the memories of burning hands and the sound of sloshing drown out the hateful words. Looking at the scars that decorated my body I remembered everything I had survived. I was so much stronger now.

It hadn't gotten too far, not back when I had Daniel and not tonight.

Sinking down farther into the water I thought about the Colonel with green eyes, "Like Daniel's". He was a good man; he would take care of the bastard… in a far more legal manner than Daniel would have.

For a long time I soaked in the water and as it cooled down so did my nerves. Finally, when I was as wrinkled as a prune, I got out and dried off. Pulling on my old clothes with a new sense of security I slid into the cheap motel bed and went to sleep.

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Colonel Karl Lichen Schubaltz was not known for his temper. He did not yell or punch walls to get to get his point across.

Karl had a much more subtle way of getting things done.

He didn't yell until he was red in the face, but stood tall and silent staring down his opponent until they cracked.

"I… I didn't touch that witch!" the young Private shouted angrily.

When they got defensive he didn't do anything but stare impassively at them. He would wait until they yelled themselves hoarse letting their words hang in the air and suffocate them in self doubt before continuing on, completely unaffected by their speech.

"The surveillance video tells a different story," Karl stated coolly motioning to the monitor in the corner of the room. It turned on and began to play the incriminating scene. The color drained from the Private's face as he watched the video image of himself contradict everything he had just said. Every touch and every plea he tried to deny was played out on the monitor. So enthralled in his damnation the Private didn't notice how Karl never once looked at the video.

"That… that…" the Private stumbled over his words trying to find a way out of the hole he had just fell into.

"Take him away," Karl said before the horrified young man could come up with his excuse. Never once did Karl remove his stare from the young man as he was drug out of the small room and down to the holding cells.

He held in the disgust and the rage replacing it with aloof intimidation. That was how he got things done.

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That's it. That's all you get. I don't want to force this chapter.