Wow, I completely forgot about this story. This chapter's been sitting there, half-done on my hard drive for almost two months, I'd wager. So, I figured I'd update it before school starts on Monday. (Yikes, that's only two days away!!) Sorry for the long wait to those of you who enjoyed this story.
If you like this story, please, check out my other one, Confiscated. It's getting much better feedback than this one.
A Yorkie was lying on the floor, wagging her tail as her teeth tore through a rawhide shoe. She raised her eyes as the door handle turned, her tail's wagging increasing in speed as her human came through the door to the apartment. She hopped to her feet, carrying the shoe in her mouth as she went to greet the girl, who seemed unusually exhausted.
"Hey, Woofers," Tina sighed, bending down to scratch her behind the ears. "I'm gonna get in the shower, 'kay?" Woofers made no response, just wagged her tail, and dropped the rawhide shoe she'd been carrying, tongue lolling out on one side. "Okay." Tina hummed to herself as she selected a towel and new outfit from her closet, nodding her head to a song that she'd heard a few too many times that day to get it out of her head for the moment. After she had entered the bathroom and closed the door –Woofers was a little too curious about the shower, but would scratch and bite if she got wet- she turned on the water, letting it run and get hot while she peeled off her soiled clothing, setting it into the bathroom's trashcan with a forlorn glance.
Tina turned the handle to start the shower, letting out a pleased sigh at the water's temperature. "So, Woofers," she said, raising her voice to speak through the door, "we're gonna have to move again soon. I died today." She paused, pretending the dog had responded with little enthusiasm. "Gee, I'm so glad you care about my well-being. Yeah, I know you like it here. But the next apartment will be even closer to a dog park, I promise. I know how lonely you get." And how lonely I get, Tina amended in her head. She'd made a few 'for the day' friends at this dog park, something she wouldn't mind doing again. "Oh, and I'm gonna look for another one where water's free. I really, really like that." This time the dog actually did respond, letting out a yap. "Yeah, I know you don't like baths. Doesn't mean I can't." She could hear Woofers go back to chewing on her rawhide shoe, apparently through with the conversation.
She sighed through her nose, leaning back to let the water rush over her head, rinsing the blood from her hair, calmly going over the things she would have to do in the next week or so to prepare for the move. Tina had a job at Arby's, so all she had to do was tell the manager she was moving; she worked hard, and the man would recommend her to the manager in the next town she moved to, she was sure. She liked working for chain restaurants; it made moving a lot easier, as the jobs essentially carried over from one establishment to the next. Arby's was her favorite fast food place anyway, so the fifty percent employee discount was a definite bonus.
In fact, now that she thought about it, she'd be able to get some boxes from Arby's, too. The supplies came in decent sized boxes, and they just put the empty ones into the recycling. She'd just rescue three or four, with permission, of course, and recycle them her way: filling them with the few material possessions she and Woofers had accumulated. She'd talk to her boss tomorrow, both about the boxes and the recommendation.
She'd need to take the bed frame back to Goodwill, but she'd wait on that until the last possible time; she hated sleeping on the floor. "I can visit the library tomorrow, too," Tina mumbled to herself, watching the blood-tinged water swirl down the drain. Reaching for the shampoo, she continued her thought. "Get online and search for a new apartment. How does Metropolis sound, Woofers?" The dog yapped happily.
Robin's fingers flew across the keyboard. He was cross-referencing everything he knew about Tina, trying to get a last name and address; he hadn't thanked her properly, and, besides, he knew a handful of people who would like to get in touch with a healer that fast, not all of them good. Using an image the security camera at the bank had snatched, he checked the records on driver's licenses. A few hundred images raced by, until it found a match. "Tina Hawkins. Rolling River Apartments, number 148." Turning the screen off, Robin headed for the door of the commons room, his final destination the garage, his R-Cycle.
Tina had taken off without leaving her last name, very anxious to get out of the bank before an ambulance showed up. She had explained, red in the face, that she had no insurance, and, on a more important note, that the doctors always wanted her to give blood when she did mistakenly get taken to a hospital. The first time this had happened, she'd agreed quickly and given more than once; however, every patient that was given her blood had reacted badly, their cells attacking hers, hers trying to fix theirs as they would in her body. Two of such patients that she knew of, one elderly, one very young, had even died. This explanation had only come with a lot of prodding, and she'd left moments after, rather upset.
Starfire had encouraged his search, and offered her help. Once he had explained to her that it was more of a one-person job, she had wished him luck and floated off to talk to Raven. Robin wanted to warn the girl of the danger she may have placed herself in, the undesirables that would kill, quite literally, to get their hands on a healer, and to offer protection via the Titans. He supposed, if she was interested, she could temporarily live in the Tower; Starfire certainly wouldn't mind having a third girl living among them. He was also worried about shock; she'd seemed fine during their brief talk, but maybe reality was still a little suspended. She had admitted that she'd never been shot, and that sort of thing tended to have negative side effects on people. There was no telling how her mind would deal with the fact that she'd been shot and killed.
Robin revved his engine, tearing off into the hot afternoon, intent on finding Tina Hawkins, resident of apartment 148, Rolling River Apartments.
Disclaimer: Teen Titans is not mine.
Robin is being over-dramactic; something I've noticed happens when someone blames themselves for something that went wrong. Tell me what you thought!
