Chapter4

Joey had seen the blood on the sheets, and it was setting of warning bells in his head.

Heco frowned as he saw the look on Joey's face, "So?"

"He's just gonna grab a shower, then he'll be out." Joey said, trying not to show his worry.

Bodie and Tommy exchanged a look, "A shower?"

"It's what he said -" they heard the shower being turned on, "- and apparently it's what he's doing." he said and sat down. Worry was eating away at him.

~*~

Twenty minutes later Billy came out of his room, steam following him. He was wearing a simple black top and dark jeans and his beard was...gone...

"Dude...why you shave?" Bodie asked.

Billy just shrugged, "Itchy," he replied and grabbed a slice of pizza.

The gang just stared at him as he walked into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of beer. "Are you okay man? You seem a little stiff." Tommy said.

"I'm fine." Billy said causally and leaned against the table, not sitting down as he opened the cap and chugged it down.

The boys shared a look. Normal Billy would have told them to fuck off and mind their own business. Normal Billy wasn't a chugger - he drank things slowly, taking his sweet time just because he could. "Dude, you're not fine. You look like a fucking ghost." Spink said.

"That's because I've got a fucking mother of a headache, and your nagging ain't helping." Billy shot, getting annoyed.

"Why don't you just fucking tell us what Hume wants?" Bodie watched as Billy twitched and knew that he'd hit the head of the nail. "It's all our faults his kid is six foot deep. We should all be paying the price."

"I killed him," Joey said, "Shouldn't it be me?"

Billy laughed hollowly, "Kid, just be glad you're not swimming with half of B-Street right now."

"Billy - who the hell is this guy?"

"Nicholai Hume was...is not someone you fuck with..." Billy said, "I can't fight this guy. He'll take what he wants...and then he'll leave."

"What if he doesn't fucking leave?"

"He will. Unlike the punks we're dealing with, he's old school - he keeps the code and his honour." Billy sighed, "And so do I."

"What if you don't get what he wants?"

"If I can't get it...then I can't. He knows odds but...it's either this or Joey six feet deep and that's not happening."

"So how long you got?" Heco got.

Billy paused, they hadn't really talked about that "A year." he replied finally "If I there is no results within a year, the deal is off."

Heco sat back in shock, "What the hell is it that is gonna take a year to get? Can we help?"

Billy shook his head, "No you can't and I can't tell you."

"Billy -"

"Shut up Joey." Billy snapped, "And fucking enjoy this year."

"Do you think you can do it?" Joey asked fearfully.

"Gee, do you want the encouraging answer, or the honest one?"

"Encouraging one."

"I've done it before."

"The honest one."

Billy sighed harshly and looked away, "I don't know."

"You just have to do your fucking best man." Tommy said, "Give it all you got -"

"It not about me giving all I've fucking got. Either it happens, or it don't - fucking flip of a coin. He could have asked for fucking anything and he would have gotten it - no questions asked but this...this shit is out of my hands..."

The crew were quiet as their leader spoke, none of them having ever heard Billy talk like this. Headstrong, stubborn and confident Billy Darley. It wasn't like Billy to be anything but 100% sure in his own abilities. If he thought something was out of his hands...it really was.

~*~

A/N Now I know this story is a bit of a required taste, but when 267 people read the last chapter, one review (very much appreciated SlytherinQueen020 ) is a lame show of appreciation. I'm going to have to rework my statistic of 1/25 review rate. :P It only takes 5 seconds. And as always, I'm open for suggestions. There is always something I haven't thought of, that you probably have. take care xxx