Okay, I know everything is super sappy right now, minus the NCIS team's unexpected visit, but I promise the action is going to be coming soon! Also, I really love hearing from you guys, yet you've been suspiciously quiet...
ST
I woke up to the sound of talking. It was muffled though, so whoever was talking was probably in the other room.
I opened my eyes and found that Eric was gone, and I was alone in the living room expect for Jason, who was still fast asleep.
I yawned and stretched before jumping up from my position on the couch. I shuffled into the kitchen and muttered a sleepy, "Morning."
I got an amused look from Eric, who was cooking a delicious smelling breakfast. Lucas grinned at me and handed me a mug of coffee, still steaming warm.
I raised an eyebrow at him as I took it, "Thanks. But how did you know I'd wake up?"
He grinned wider, "I'm studying to be a doctor, remember? People do certain things when they're about to wake up. I got in here shortly after you started to wake up so I could make you your coffee. Also, think of it like payment."
I froze mid sip, "Please say you aren't going to make me do what I think you're going to make me do."
Trish nodded with an evil smile, and took the coffee from me only to replace it with two advils and a glass of water.
"Since you are the last one up, you can wake up Jason." She said without an ounce of pity.
I glared at them, "Some friends you are. Why do I have to wake the monster?"
Eric grinned at me, "Because he's nice to you. He won't yell at you in Spanish, probably, he won't hit you, and he doesn't point out everything he can find that is wrong with you on a certain day."
I scowled, "But it's so funny to see all of you get cursed at in Spanish when you, minus Eric, don't have a clue what he's saying." Jason's mother had been Spanish, so he grew up learning it before English. His mother had died at a young age though, leaving him with an abusive father that loved to beat his only child. No one else knew but me, and Eric too I guess, and only because we could understand Spanish.
I walked into the living room and set the glass of water and the pills on the table, then shook Jason gently.
"Hey, Jason, buddy, rise and shine. Come on. Wake up." I murmured gently.
He jerked away from me, and started muttering, "No. Por favor, no me pegues. Lo siento. Lo siento. Papa, lo siento. Lo siento papa. No me pegues."
No. Please, don't hit me. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Father, I'm sorry. I'm sorry father. Don't hit me.
I sighed, I don't know why Jason drank if it brought up these memories the next day. But he drank. Thankfully, unlike his stupid father, he was a happy drunk, not an abusive one.
"Jason, soy yo, Kiley. Estas seguro. Despertarse, por favor. Es de manana. Despertarse, Jason. Soy yo, Kiley. Jason. Estas seguro. Despertarse."
Jason, it's me, Kiley. You are safe. Wake up, please. It is morning. Wake up, Jason. It's me, Kiley. Jason. You are safe. Wake up.
I grabbed his hand and traced patterns on the back of it while I spoke. He calmed down significantly, then rushed upwards whispering urgently, still halfway asleep.
"Kiley! Hay que dejar! Antesde que mi padre…. No! Él no puede hacerte daño demasiado! No lo dejaré mi padre herirte!"
Kiley! We must leave! Before my father… No! He can not hurt you too! I won't let him hurt you!
I sighed and enclosed my hand with his, "Jason, detener. Estas seguro. Estas seguro."
He stopped and opened his eyes. There was still some panic there, but he was calming down quickly. He focused on me, then tugged on my hand, startling me, and sent me crashing into his lap. He encircled his arms around me.
"I thought….. I'm sorry." He said. His Spanish accent was still there, but fading quickly.
I patted his hand, "It's alright. You're fine, Jason. I'm your friend. You're fine."
He sighed and released me, "Toothbrushes still in the same place?"
I nodded and stood up, pressing the pills into his hand, then the glass of water. "Your head must be killing you by now, take these, take a shower," I made a show of pretending that he stank, "Change your clothes, then come join us in the kitchen to have breakfast."
He wiggled his eyebrows at me, "I had no clue you were so bossy, Killey. Sure you aren't someone else pretending to be my friend?"
I huffed, "Sure, pyro, I'm someone completely different, and the real Killey is hiding somewhere because she doesn't want to be lit on fire."
"And that, my friends, is what is called a burn. Would you like some ice water, Jason?" Lucas' voice floated towards us, and we both turned to the doorway.
Lucas was leaning against the doorframe with a small smile on his face, he shook his head as Jason glared at him, "Who's side are you on anyway?!" He hissed.
Lucas raised his hands in surrender, "I'm just saying that you normally lose battles of wit against our dear Killey."
Eric walked into the living room, no doubt to see what was taking me so long, and Jason turned on him, "Are you on Kiley's side or mine?"
Eric looked between us, then shook his head, "Neither. I'm Switzerland."
Jason huffed, but I smirked at the answer. Jason tossed the pills into his mouth and drank the entire glass of water, he pointed a threatening finger at me and said, "I will take you down in our little battle. After this headache goes away and I don't want to vomit."
Lucas and Eric laughed, and I smirked at Jason, "It's nice to dream, isn't it?"
As I passed him on the way to my bedroom, I heard Eric hiss and say, "Need some burn medicine?"
Then Jason cursed, loudly, in Spanish, and Eric gasped, "Bless my soul! How can you bear to stand in the company of civilized gentlemen like us." He was talking in the Louisiana accent again.
I couldn't stop the laugh that erupted as I stepped into my bedroom and closed the door.
NCIS
As we waited for the biscuits that Eric was cooking to hurry up and finish already! we talked about anything and everything. But leaned more towards the day we had planned. First, we'd go to the park and walk around, rough house, play tag or whatever. Then we'd go to the mall and the guys would go one way, while the girls went another, and Trish would drag me out shopping.
After that, we'd head to the Chinese restaurant.
And, because they had come so far to be with me on my birthday, even if I didn't believe them, I texted Abby about where we would be, and asked them to join us. Trish pursed her lips, but allowed it. They did save my life after all. Even Trish wouldn't deny that they earned her tolerance.
I got an enthusiastic reply that they would be meet us at the park. I warned them to bring a jacket or a scarf, it would be chilly. Even if it was late April.
When I got up, prepared to leave, Michelle and Trish had cornered me, asking me in horror, "You're wearing that?!"
They then proceeded to drag me to my room and hunt through my closet for something 'decent' to wear.
I had zero say in what they picked out. Trish sighed and began rooting through the closet again, "Something dark would fit you. Like purple or black. I'm not saying you would be a great goth, but dark colors would make your eyes a bit bolder, and make you look more fierce. You can't really play the meek role anymore, Killey."
Michelle nodded and began going through her make up bag. Mine was apparently not good enough, and we would be buying makeup today. Real makeup apparently. What that meant, I didn't know. I wasn't really sure I wanted to know. I had a feeling I'd find out by the end of the day though.
Finally Trish came out with a triumphant, "Ha!" And turned around.
My mouth fell open. I forgot I even owned that.
I shook my head, "Why did you have to pick that?!"
Trish grinned, "Because it would look awesome on you! Change into it!" She ordered as she threw the clothes on my lap. I sighed and retreated to the bathroom to change into it. When I bought it, I had thought that I would be going to a college dance. It was a few days before my dad kicked me out, so I lost interest in the dance shortly after.
But I still had it. Yay me.
I changed and stared at myself in the mirror. Spencer would have a stroke if he saw me, and I hadn't even gone through the torture of having Trish and Michelle attack my hair and face with products.
I wore dark blue skinny jeans that fit snuggly, as my mother would say, it would turn heads. Then the calf high leather boots (With, of course, the knife shoved into one of them) that I had tucked the jeans into. Then the upper body….
I had to wear a black tank top underneath it because the v neck went so low. It was a dark purple v neck that was comfortable, but clingy. It showed off my curves, and I found out that I actually did have curves. But was somehow still lean. My mother had always said that purple was Spencer's (and mine) good color, because it accented our white skin and complemented our eyes. The black tank top really didn't do much, since it was low cut too. But it hid my chest, so yay for that.
However, it barely covered my shoulders, to my collarbones were visible. It was sleeveless, and still managed to be comfortable.
And, because I was still self-conscious about how I looked, a dark blue jean jacket was thrown over the top of everything. Covering enough, but still allowing the outfit to play peek-a-boo to the world.
I'd probably throw a purple scarf on later, just to cover my neck and hopefully not get sick on my birthday.
I walked back out and the previous chatter Trish and Michelle had been maintaining grinded to a halt. They stared up at me with their mouths wide.
"I… um…." Michelle was stuttering. Great.
"I didn't know you had that in you girl!" Trish shouted, leaping to her feet and rushing over to me. "You look like a model or something! Doesn't she Michelle?"
Michelle nodded slowly. They had changed while I was, and now Trish wore a dark green blouse that clung to her every curve, a black leather jacket, black skinny jeans, and combat boots. Her eyeliner was thick and made her green eyes pop out and draw attention. Her red hair hung around her shoulders in waves, and her lips were as red as her hair.
Michelle had on a soft yellow shirt that lit up her face and made her glow, baby blue jeans, converse, and a brown jacket. She had on soft makeup, but it still drew attention to her fair features.
Trish led me over to my desk, which they had made into an impromptu makeup studio, and began attacking me with vigor.
Michelle had control of my hair, and to be honest I was kind of scared of what she was doing to it.
Meanwhile, Trish had control over my face. I was even more scared of what she was doing.
I kept my eyes firmly closed until Trish started applying eyeliner and I had to open them. I avoided looking at the mirror though, and as soon as she was done, closed my eyes again.
Finally, after about 20 minutes of torture, I was yanked to my feet, led over to something, then ordered to open my eyes.
I did, and couldn't stop the sharp intake of breath that escaped me. Just like when Abby got a hold of me, I didn't know the person staring at me in the mirror.
My hair cascaded around my shoulders in soft curls, and was darker than I remember it being. My eyes were bold and striking, thick eyeliner surrounded them and purple eyeshadow either made them black or brought out the blue, I couldn't decide which because they kept shifting. My lips were dark purple, and seemed more pouty than usual. A light purple blush made my cheekbones appear higher. And overall I looked older.
I wore the sapphire blue pendant Spen had gotten me, dark blue earrings dangled from my ears, and a dark blue ring adorned my middle finger that I didn't remember having.
I looked questioningly at Trish and she grinned, "Birthday present. Happy birthday girl!"
She hugged me tightly, and when I returned it, dragged Michelle into it too.
"Thank you guys. I look….. different. A good different, but different." I mumbled. To be honest, I look like someone who commanded attention in a room, who was proud of the way they looked, and embraced it. I looked like a leader, someone who back down from a fight. I looked like a fighter. Trish was right, I really needed to stop the whole 'meek' act. It wasn't me. Ziva had made sure of that.
Plus, with as much trouble as I get into, the look might help me in the long run. Or it could cause more trouble.
Although, I definitely liked the dark blue eyeliner.
