Heartlessly Humane

By wired2damoon

Chapter 3: Broken Lives And Broken Doors

A/N: Thanks to all the wonderful reviewers. You really made my day.

This chapter is DEDICATED TO Coffeemecrazy as their review made me giggle, blush and get extremely confused. Lol.

Thanks again, to everyone! Oh and just to let you know, words in italics are the thoughts of that particular person. ~wired2damoon~

- George's POV -

"You know, I always wondered what a bloke with such an obviously high IQ was doing working as a porter," Nina mumbled softly, hugging her knees, her cheek resting on them, her eyes adverted to the floor.

This is the exact position I found her in when I let myself in ten minutes ago…and so far, she hasn't told me why there are tears rolling down her face and she's so suddenly uncharacteristically quiet.

"Nina…" I say softly, trying to prompt her to look at me, but instead she closes her eyes.

"I knew, you know. I knew the moment I met you that there was something…different about you. I-I couldn't place what exactly, I mean, it's not the type of thing any ordinary Joe Soap would guess is it? But I knew…you weren't like any of the men I've ever known George…and that's exactly why I love you so much…"

I gaped at her, my mouth hung unceremoniously open, not so much as an appropriate gasp omitting from it. Never, had I ever, thought - dreamed of thinking, that Nina would say those three little words so quickly into our relationship. Sure, I may have said that to her that I thought something I hated (my condition) and something I loved (her) could coincide together, but I had not blatantly said it.

"Wh-wh-wh-what?" I stuttered, my anxiety getting the better of me.

She looked up then, folding her arms on top of her knees and resting her chin in her palm. "I said, I love you, you lummox. I-I just thought, that you should know…" she muttered, a tear rolling down her cheek.

That was it. That made me bolt off the armchair and fling myself on the couch, enveloping her as gently but as determinedly as I could in my arms. "Nina…I love you too. And what ever it is that's the matter I-I'm sure we can get through it together. You and me. I'm here for you. You have no idea what it means to me that you're still here, on my side after…after everything that's happened."

I paused to cup her cheek and brush a tendril of hair behind her ear. Her glistening eyes bore into mine as she bit her lip, looking cautious.

"George…I-I have something to tell you…"


- Mitchell's POV -

George had been gone half an hour now I was I goin' out of my mind with boredom. Annie had decided to do some cleanin' upstairs, which meant, that left me on me own, watching the day-time television crap. Me and day-time telly? Not a good combination.

I flicked unceremoniously through each channel, my eyes not even focused on the TV screen. It was a Sunday afternoon, so the shows were even more abysmal than usual. Women's talk shows, cookery shows, cartoons, not the classics like Bugs Bunny or Tom and Jerry, mind you, oh no, these were the shitty modern cartoons that I hadn't even bothered to learn the names of.

I could feel my eyes starting to droop. It's not that I particularly need sleep, but I sure can if I want to. I sat forward and shook my head. No, now was not a time for sleepin'. I wanted desperately, to do somethin' productive wit' my time (even though I've endless amounts of it), but I don't think helpin' Annie wit' the house work would help. The last time I tried to do some dustin', she got all 'warrior princess' on my arse, told me I was 'doing it wrong' and banished me from the house. (I mean, how the fuck d'ye dust shelves wrong anyway?)

Maybe some fresh air will do me some good? I thought to myself, leaning forward to put the remote on the coffee table.

Just when I was gettin' off the couch to go for my walk, (despite the sun was beamin' down) I heard a shrill shriek come from upstairs.

I bolted off the couch, listenin' intently to make sure that I'd heard correctly.

"MITCHELL! MITCHELL!" the scream of Annie pierced through me, straight into my non-beating heart and gave me a rush of urgency. I started to panic as I rushed up the stairs as fast as my legs could carry me, racing towards the sound of her continuous shrieks.

"Annie, Annie I'm comin'! What room are ye in?" I yelled desperately bursting through every door in the hallway, only to find them empty.

"T-The b-bathroom," she choked and now, at the sound of her voice, I was feelin' sick with worry. I stormed towards the bathroom door, only to find it locked. Taking as many steps back as I could, I gritted my teeth and threw my body against the door with as much force as I could muster.

The door flung open, breakin' off it's hinges, the wood splintering.

Annie jumped in surprise and looked up at me, tears rolling down her cheeks, her normally chocolate brown eyes speckled with a blue-purple tint as they always did when she was haunting or using her powers.

"Annie." I mumbled, stumblin' over the broken bits of wood, towards where she sat, curled up on the floor beside the bath. She was whimpering softly, her hands over her ears, biting her lip profoundly, her entire body shakingly uncontrollably.

"Mitch-Mitchell…it-it was h-horrible, they were…they were s-screaming a-and crying," she stuttered as I kneeled down in front of her.

I leaned forward and wrapped my arms around her small waist, pullin' her towards me. She buried her head in my chest and began to openly sob now. I frowned deeply as I felt her shiver against me. I stroked her hair gently as muttered soft words of encouragement in her ear, rockin' her back and forth, tryin' everythin' in my power to calm her down.

"Shh Annie, it's alright…I'm here…it's okay…" I whispered, as she grabbed fistfuls of my T-shirt and clung to me with all her might. I rubbed her back gently with one hand, whilst the other reached up to stroke her cheek. It was as if my hands were actin' on their own accord, and I was just an innocent bystander.

"Annie…please…look at me," I said softly, the back of my knuckle applyin' a little pressure to the small exposed part of her cheek, silently coaxin' her to lift her head up from my chest and look me in the face.

She complied, slowly liftin' her head up and leanin' back a little. Her eyes were still shimmering with unshed tears, and I kept my palm on her cheek, cuppin' it gently. The memory of being in this similar situation only days before when we were sitting on the kitchen floor, came rushin' back to me. My heart wrenched painfully that day, seein' her like that, especially when I knew she was cryin' because of me…because of what I had to do. I'd give anythin' to never see her shed a tear again, to be blissfully happy. To not have to feel pain…

And now…now she was cryin' for reasons unknown…I had to know what upset her…how I could help her…

"Annie…please, tell me what happened. Did you…did you hear the dead again?" I asked attentively as not to scare her.

She nodded softly, a fresh batch of tears rolling down her cheeks. Frowning, I brought my thumb over her cheek, tracing it softly, wiping away the tears.

It only registered to me then, when I felt the dampness of her skin, did I realise that I could feel her crying. In fact, my T-shirt felt damp from where she was cradled into me.

"Annie…I-I can feel your tears…" I mumbled, knowing my eyes were growing wide with this new realisation.

It was her turn to frown then, not really understanding what I had just said.

I didn't know what to make of it either. This was all so…new…

"M-My new s-skills set?" she asked, a flicker of a smile gracin' her reddened, plump lips.

I threw her a small smile, before taking her hand and squeezing it gently. I could feel her lookin' down at our intertwined hands, but didn't dwell on it for too long.

"C'mon, let's go downstairs and watch some crappy TV," I said gently, getting up awkwardly and pulling her to her feet. I led her out of the bathroom, over the splintered bits of wood and down the stairs, her hand still firmly in mine, although neither of us really noticed that at the time.

As soon as we reached the bottom step, we saw the front door open…revealing none other then George.

"Hey George," Annie said with fake cheer, skilfully wipin' her eyes with her other hand whilst he wasn't lookin'. "How's Nina?"

George closed the door, his back still turned, but as soon as he turned around we could both sense there was something very wrong.

His eyes found mine and I felt a tightness in my chest. I'd had some theories about Nina these last two days, but I was never alone with her long enough to tell if any of them were true…my suspicions weren't exactly disregarded by the look on my friend's face.

"George, what's happened?" I asked softly, walking towards him, unbeknownst to the fact that I was draggin' Annie along with me.

His eyes adverted mine then, looking at something with interest.

"W-Why are you and Annie holding hands?"

My eyes widened then, as I whipped my head around and glanced down, seeing that mine and Annie's hands were indeed still clasped together.

"Oh!" Annie exclaimed, obviously not having noticed this fact either, letting go of my hand automatically and takin' about two steps away from me hurriedly.

I wanted desperately to look at her face, to see her expression, but for some reason I couldn't bring myself to do it. Instead, I got serious, and returned to the matter at hand.

"George, what happened?" I repeated, putting on my best, determined face.

George heaved a deep sigh and began walkin' into the kitchen. Frowning, I followed him, Annie already having appeared in there, turnin' on the kettle.

Once we'd all sat down, tea sitting in front of us, George mumbled almost incoherently, "it's Nina…she-she's gone…"

Annie and I snuck a glance at each other, both surprised and yet, not really surprised by what he just said.

"She's gone to her mum's for the week," George continued, still looking solemn.

Okay, now I'm confused I thought to myself, noticing that Annie looked perplexed too.

"But I…I thought you said she'd gone?" she asked, angling her head slightly.

George looked up at her, "oh yeah, she is, for the week. She said her mum's ill and-and she wants to go visit her…"

Annie and I snuck another confused glance, "so…why so glum?" I asked attentively, not wanting him to think I was not sympathetic…but still couldn't stop myself from thinkin', Jesus, here I thought she'd done a runner or…told him somethin' much worse.

George turned his head towards me, "because, it's all so sudden and I-I can't help but think that maybe she's only going away to get away from me. I mean, what if she doesn't come back? What if I've scared her off for good? What if-"

"-George, calm down. Look, she said she'd be back, yeah?" I interrupted, tryin' to calm him.

"Well, yeah, yeah, yeah, she did…she said she'd be back before Friday, but-"

"-But nothing, George, look, after everything Nina is still here for you. Her mother more then likely, is sick, it's just crappy timin' that's all. No need gettin' yerself all worked up over nothin', she'll be back before ye know it. Try and relax…"

That seemed to console him for the moment, he even offered me a small smile and a clap on the back.

"Thanks Mitchell, you're right, I know I'm just being stupid, but, just sometimes I can't help myself…well, I think I'm gonna go have a shower…" he grinned a little stiffly, before walking out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

"Wow. I thought he was going to tell us she'd broke it off or something," Annie mumbled softly, once George was out of ear shot.

"Yeah, I thought it would be something much worse than that," I replied, not lifting my gaze from my cup.

"What do you mean Mitchell?" Annie asked, her eyes boring into me, "something worse like what?"

I lifted my head and looked deeply into her dark eyes, knowing that I'd have to say something to someone sooner or later.

"Annie, I think Nina may have been-"

"-WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO THE BATHROOM DOOR?"

Annie and I whipped around to the sound of the loud screeching coming from upstairs.

I chuckled a little as I saw Annie flash me a coy grin.

"Should you tell him or should I?" she asked devilishly.

"Definitely you," I laughed, wiggling my eyebrows.

With a roll of her eyes, Annie leapt up and disappeared into thin air. Within seconds I could hear her trying to explain to George what had happened.

I chuckled to myself for a moment before I remembered what it was exactly that I was about to tell Annie. I had been sittin' on it for the last few days, but now, now I had to talk it over wit' someone, and that someone definitely couldn't be George.

Before I could further contemplate though, I was interrupted by the loud shrill of my phone. Digging my hand into my pocket, I fished it out and pressed the green button.

"Hello?"

There was a beat of silence, "Mitchell, is that you?" asked a voice I struggled to recognise.

"Eh…yeah…who's this?" I asked suspiciously.

All I could hear was heavy breathing for a moment, as if the person was running, before I heard the voice again, this time a little lower. "It's Nina…is George around?"

I frowned. Why the hell was Nina ringin' me? Maybe she couldn't reach George on his phone…?

"Eh, yeah, he's upstairs, d'ye wanna talk to him?"

"NO! No! Don't put him on the phone!" she half-yelled, startling me so much that I actually jumped and held the phone about a foot away from my ear.

"Uh…okay…listen what the hell is goin' on? Why are you ringin' me?" I asked, figuring it was best to get to the point.

"Look, there are some things I need to talk to you about. I was wondering could you meet me somewhere? To talk?" she rambled, sounding frantic.

Okay this is just a little weird… "Em…okay. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, well…no, ugh look, will you just meet me down the pub in fifteen minutes please? And don't tell George or Annie where you're going alright?" she snapped, talking a mile a minute.

"And how the hell to expect me to do that exactly? I was nearly killed a few days ago, there is no way that they're lettin' me outta their sights," I hissed, listening intently to see if George and Annie were still busy arguin' upstairs.

"I don't care Mitchell, this is important! Just make up something and be at The Slaughtered Lamb in fifteen minutes!" she spat, angry now, before hangin' up on me.

Shakin' my head as I heard the dial tone, I took the phone away from my ear and heaved a deep sigh.

This is not good. What the hell am I goin' to do now?

A/N: Well, there you go! Hoped you enjoyed! ~wired2damoon~ x