Thank you so much for the reviews so far :D And, I promise there will be more of Bov, though it might take a few just to really get to him (Don't worry, there's a Bov piece in the next chapter :D ) I hope you're enjoying the new style I'm using - I'm not fond of using present tense, but needed to make it distinctly different to the past tense flash back scenes. So, here's a other chapter for y'all!

The Eleventh Hour

Chapter three

Seeing Red

Ike sits on the sofa, his arm around Laura, who is snuggled into his side. Die Hard 4.0 is on the TV, but Ike's mind is elsewhere. Ned had dropped by the factory earlier, saying how Dave is eager to meet. And surely, it won't hurt, will it? Ike sighs, running a hand over his face, before shifting to look at Laura. 'Would it be so bad to go an' see Dave?' he asks, caution in his tone. Laura's eyes flash angrily.

'No! You think I want you going back to them after what happened? You could 'ave been killed.'

'Not with the firm. We ain't gonna be fighting again,' Ike says hastily. Laura gets to her feet, fists clenched at her sides as she narrows her eyes at him. She's crying.

'Ike, don't go,' she says, voice breaking a little. 'I'm so thankful to 'ave you and if something 'appens… I was scared. I was so scared that day you left, even though I pretended everything was normal and it was just another match.' Laura runs a hand through her blonde hair and Ike gets to his feet, pulling her against his chest. 'I don't want that to 'appen again.'

Ike kisses the top of her head. 'I ain't going anywhere.'

--

'I 'ave five minutes,' Ike says to Dave and Ned, standing outside the back doors of the printing factory he works at, a polystyrene cup of coffee in his hands. 'An' no tellin' Laura. She'll kill me.'

'She really was against you meeting us, wasn't she?' Dave asks. Ike gives a nod, blowing the top of the hot liquid.

'She thinks we gonna reform or something. She don't want me fighting again.'

'Who would? I mean, after what 'appened,' Ned interjects. 'My mum flipped when she found out about it all. Almost missed getting banged up 'cause she wanted to put me in an early grave.'

'How are you, son?' Dave asks, his eyes roving over Ike's face. Ike shrugs.

'Half there. Got a job at this place,' he says, gesturing around. 'Printing factory.'

'What do you print?' Ned asks.

'Leaflets, posters, Christmas cards. Whatever order comes in, we make,' he replies.

'And Laura?'

'Ah, she's alright. Her Gran died a couple of weeks back, so she's been a bit emotional.' Ike then gives a smile. 'I 'eard you've been asking around for Bov?' Dave laughs, rubbing the back of his neck.

'I'm curious, yes. Where the fuck did 'e go after the funeral?' Dave remembers the day like it was yesterday; the people, the tears, the coffin… Ike shrugs.

'I don't know where he went, but best time to see 'im is Saturday nights. He's usually drunk and trying to fight.'

'He still tries to fight?' Ned asks with a laugh. Ike nods, but isn't smiling.

'He doesn't care anymore. He doesn't give a fuck.'

Dave sighs, running a hand over his face. 'Now, why doesn't that surprise me?' Ike nods towards Ned's face.

'What 'appened?'

'Mark's boys got me,' Ned replies grimly. His scar runs across his right cheek, going down from his cheekbone.

'He didn't get sympathy dates from the nurses like Swill did,' Dave grins, punching Ned's shoulder lightly. Ned laughs, shaking his head.

'Fuck did I! All I got was some fat prison bird with tattoos and piercings.' He shudders delicately. 'It was like Christmas one time at my Auntie Mel's. Now that was fucking scary…'

5th March 2004

The music was loud in the club, the base beating and strobe lights flashing. On a table in the corner, Swill was stood, a Happy Birthday banner pinned to the wall above him. There was a party hat on his head and a beer in his hand. 'Well, I would like to thank all you twats for coming to my party,' he said, swaying a little. 'An' for letting me 'ave it in a club with plenty of fit birds.' He raised his glass and winked to a couple of women stood at the bar.

They wrinkled their noses and turned away, disinterested. Swill shrugged, unfazed, before cheering, 'To being twenty-four!'

'To being twenty- four!' the lads chorused back, chinking glasses and downing their pints, beer sloshing down their chins and shirts. Dave laughed as the music changed to Michael Jackson's Thriller and Swill stumbled towards the dance floor.

'What the fuck is 'e doing?' Bov asked, watching as Swill started to dance.

'He knows the routine. He learnt it as a kid,' Dave laughed.

'Looks like he's got fucking epilepsy,' Pete laughed, before chucking a tenner to Dave. 'Carling, please.' Dave rolled his eyes good-naturedly and got to his feet, moving towards the bar and making his way past Swill, who was singing at the top of his voice, jerking his hips as part of the dance routine. Pete was right. He did look like he was having some sort of fit. Dave got to the bar, standing beside a pretty redhead.

It took him a moment to realize she looked upset and he frowned. 'You alright, love?' he asked. The woman looked up, gave a sniff and braved a smile.

'Yeah, I'm fine,' she said, but it was obvious she didn't look it.

'Can I get you a drink?' he asked.

'Please,' she smiled. 'I'm Michelle. But, everyone calls me Red because I've got ginger hair.' Dave gave a smile.

'Yeah, I can see why. I'm Dave,' he grinned, before waving at the bartender. He came over, raising an eyebrow. 'Two pints of Carling and whatever this pretty lady wants.' Red blushed, giving a shy smile.

'A vodka and coke, please,' she answered, before turning to Dave.

'Now, you gonna tell me why you look so upset?' he asked, with a friendly smile. Red bit her bottom lip, before rolling her eyes.

'It's pathetic really. I got stood up,' she said, looking sad again.

'Who was he?'

'Just this guy I met a couple of weeks ago. He never returned any of my calls, so I don't know why I hoped he'd even turn up now,' Red sighed as the bartender returned with the drinks. She picked hers up, stirring the straw around the glass before looking up at the dancing crowd. She suddenly giggled. 'Look at that man,' she laughed.

Dave looked, knowing exactly who she meant; Swill was doing his finale of the Thriller dance, which meant attempting to break dance. He always said he'd wanted to put his own spin on it. Dave covered his face and groaned. 'That would be my mate, Swill. It's his birthday.'

'Sorry, I shouldn't laugh,' Red grinned, covering her mouth to try and stifle her laughter. Dave laughed and then they were both laughing. After a moment, they were able to pull themselves together and Dave took a gulp of his pint as Pete came over.

'Come on, mate, I'm thirsty,' he said, before noticing Red, a knowing look crossing his face. 'Ah, didn't know you was busy.'

Dave rolled his eyes. 'Red, meet Pete. Pete, this is Red.'

'Nice to meet you,' Pete grinned, shaking her hand. 'He ain't bothering you, is he?' he teased. Red blushed and laughed.

'Nah, he ain't. I actually quite like his company,' she smiled over at Dave, who ducked his head and grinned shyly back.

'Well, why don't you bring your friend back to the table where we can celebrate Swill being alive for a whole twenty four years?' Pete asked. Dave nodded, and then looked at Red.

'You want to?' he asked. Red nodded, eyes on Dave.

'Sure. I want to see if your friends are as cute as you.'

'Don't count on it,' laughed Pete as he led the way.

Now

A scream from downstairs jerks Dave from his nap and he darts off the bed and races downstairs. He stumbles into the kitchen to find Red standing by the sink, his spanner in her hand and water spraying everywhere from the broken tap.

'Help, Dave. Help!' Red squeals, trying to stop the water from hitting her and failing miserably. The water is hitting everywhere; the walls, the floor, Dave and Red, with no mercy. Dave blinks against the water as it splashes him in the face, reaching to try and snag the tap. After a struggle, Dave manages to stop the flow of water from flooding the entire kitchen and he looks at Red.

She's dripping wet, auburn hair sticking to her face and she gives a nervous giggle. 'I told you I'd try to fix it if you didn't,' she reminds him.

Dave laughs, coming forward to kiss her. Red blindly reaches for the table as he pushes her back, before lifting to set her on top. Her legs encircle his waist as she deepens the kiss, hands running through his dark, wet hair and leaving it spiked.

Water drips down the walls.

He runs his tongue across her bottom lip. 'Dave…' she sighs, pressing into him.

--

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