Rating: Mature (eventually, cause you never know)
Standard disclaimer I own nothing, just borrowing characters and having fun. Not making any money. Characters belong to JE.
Spoilers: One For The Money

Title: Half Past One
November 2006
Author: TammyC

HALF PAST ONE
What should have happened at the end of One For The Money

Chapter 7

He muttered curses under his breath. Rolling on the floor, he grabbed his privates. I grabbed his gun and stepped back, pointing it at him.

A second man sped through the door. Another big man. Dark hair. Tall. A deadly expression on his face. I took aim and fired.

He hit the floor as a picture shattered on the dresser. It was Grandma Bella's picture, no biggie. I remembered her.

"Cupcake!" the second man on the floor yelled. "You almost shot me."

"Joe?" I cried as he stood up.

The big black man crawled up to his knees, still covering his crotch with his hands.

"Go ahead, make my day." I gave my best Dirty Harry impression. He froze. "You got a name, big boy?" I asked.

"Tank," he grunted.

I aimed the gun at him again. "Tank? You were going to tank me? And what, pray tell, does that mean? Keep in mind that I have a gun pointed at you."

He waved a hand in the air. "My name is Tank."

"Tank? What kind of name is that? Your mama not like you?"

"It's a nickname, my street name," Tank answered.

"Cupcake, put the gun down. He's with us," Joe said.

"He's a good guy?" I was confused.

Joe thought for a couple of seconds before answering. "I don't know about a good guy, but he is on our side."

I lowered the gun to my side. "So, Mr. Good Guy Tank, what is your real name?" I asked.

Tank smiled. "I could tell you, but it would cost you."

I frowned and pointed the gun at him again. "Let me explain something to you, Tank. It is not smart to play with me or to piss me off this time of the month," I threatened.

"Something to remember," Mr. Good Guy Tank said.

Joe walked stepped around Tank and over to me.

A third man barrelled through the door. I started to take aim at him, but Joe grabbed the gun from my hand and took aim himself.

"Woah!" Carl said. "Don't shoot, it's just me. I was outside, checking out a noise, and I heard gunshots in here."

"Where were you, by the way?" I asked Joe. "I heard Ramirez calling my name when I woke up, and you were gone."

"I was in the bathroom. I had to pee. I was only gone for a minute, two tops."

"It looks like someone left us a present," Carl pointed to the window. A large white envelope was taped to the outside of the screen.

"Carl and I are going to go outside to check it out. I'll leave you here to protect Stephanie," Joe said to Tank.

Tank was already on his feet. He nodded and grumbled something like who was going to protect him.

Joe and Carl returned with the envelope a few mintues later.

"So, what's king kong doing here, anyway?" I asked Joe.

"Chauffer, and a bodyguard of sorts," Joe said.

"Chauffer?" I asked. "I'm not going anywhere alone with him."

"You won't be alone. I'm going, too." Joe dumped the contents of the envelope onto the bed. We leaved through several photos that had been taken from an instant camera. Photos of Joe and me the day before. Drinking coffee. Wearing our matching shirts. Walking on the sand. Riding the carousel.

"What if I don't want to go?"

"Cupcake, don't make me handcuff you to him."

I picked up a photo from the bed and my heart did a flip flop. It wsa a picture of me, sleeping in Joe's bed. Alone. This morning.

"When do we leave?" I asked. Hey, a girl can change her mind.

"That's my girl," Tank said. "We leave right away."

I wagged my finger under Tank's nose. "Get this straight. I am not, and never will be, your girl."

"Ramirez must have some balls, picking on this one." Tank grinned.

Joe grinned.

Carl grinned.

I didn't grin.

I glanced down at Joe's jeans and momentarily enjoyed the view. "Uh, Joe, you might want to zip your pants first," I said.

Then I grinned.

To Be Continued...