A/N: I've been asked why Jack didn't let Sam know she was alive and why he let her go through what she did. That'll be explained more as the story goes on but I will say that the stuff messed with his mind so much that he was downright dangerous and homicidal. Plus he didn't want her to see him like that and partially (if wrongly) blamed her for his being caught stealing from the mob factory.
CHAPTER TEN
Eight years later
"Every time we come here we push our luck a little more." Samantha said as they came upon the bridge that led to the Narrows. This was the fourth time in two weeks that they'd come here.
"Yeah I know." Brian answered, not sounding too worried. "Look at it this way. People come here to buy all the time and nothing happens."
"And sometimes things do happen. Things that make people dead."
Brian shrugged. "I'll watch out for ya babe. And you can't really beat the prices this guy has. But if you don't want to mess with it anymore just say the word."
He knew she wouldn't say no to coming here. The prices were good and she liked to get happy a bit too much. Plus they were careful when they made their little runs to the Narrows. Samantha always carried her gun and they kept a watchful eye on their surroundings. It helped that Brian was six foot four and over three hundred pounds. People took one look at his hulking frame and didn't want to mess with him, he looked as if he could throw a grown man like a doll. If they knew Brian like she did they wouldn't feel that way though.
Samantha had known him for years, since he and his wife moved to Gotham from some podunk town in East Tennessee to live with his ailing father. They'd met through mutual friends and having common ground in caring for sick parents and a love for drugs they'd become friends. He had the stereotypical laid back Southerner attitude but when he was angry he was like a cross between a bear and a drunken barbarian. His wife, Melissa, was a tiny woman that ruled him with an iron fist. Samantha thought it was quite funny and cute watching him break his neck to please her.
"At least we don't have to worry about cops here." she muttered as they drove over the bridge. Cops didn't come to the Narrows often and after the mayhem caused by Crane's fear toxin they had nearly abandoned the place altogether. Samantha remembered the shock she'd felt when she'd heard about the fear toxin being released. She'd thought about Jack and what he had done to himself under the influence of the stuff.
"Exactly!" Brian grinned. He was the eternal optimist. Samantha envied him for that.
They pulled into their usual buy spot, a dim little motel tucked away in the Narrow's northernmost corner. It was dingy, reeking of piss and smoke, pretty much like everything else in the Narrows. The riots from the fear toxin mayhem hadn't affected it too much, at least not that Samantha could tell. Most of the place was still singed and battered from that night. No one was in a hurry to rebuild. Some thought it was a shame the whole island hadn't been destroyed.
"Be right back. Anything squirrely happens just honk the car horn." Brian said and got out of the car.
Samantha watched him lumber up the rickety metal steps to the third floor. He stopped at room 312 and knocked. After a few seconds the door opened and he disappeared.
This was always the part that made her nervous. Watching him vanish into the room, leaving her out here alone was disconcerting. If anyone were casing them they'd see her as easy pickings right now. Her hand slipped into her purse, fingers curling around the grip of her .38. Doing that always made her feel better. There was one working street light and it was fairly far away but it cast enough light to alert her if anyone was snooping around. She scanned the area, hoping Brian would come out soon.
A slight movement caught her eye. Her eyes locked onto it, making out a form. It strolled along, closer and closer to her car until it was only a few feet away.
'Great. Just great.' she thought angrily, easing the gun out of her purse, trying to make no obvious movements.
The figure advanced, moving towards the rear of the vehicle. She could tell it was male, in dark clothing and that was it. For a moment the man paused, then began to leisurely make circles around the car, like a vulture circling a carcass.
Samantha narrowed her eyes. Even in the low light he didn't look right, he either had a mask or makeup on. She stifled a laugh. Why were Gotham's criminals so damn theatrical? Was it something in the water?
He came around to her side and abruptly rapped on the window. In spite of herself she jumped.
"Out of the car. Now." he said in a gruff voice.
'Oh shit.' She froze, still not looking at him, hand clamped on the gun. Was he a cop or a thug? It didn't matter, she was not about to leave the car.
She was about to honk the horn when Brian came out of the room.
"Hey fuckhead!" he yelled as soon as he saw what was going on. "Get away from there!" He bounded down the steps and was in the man's face in seconds.
Instantly more figures appeared from the shadows. The door to 312 opened again and two men came out of the room, descending the stairs. It was a set-up. This wasn't good. Not at all.
The man Brian was confronting laughed, not at all intimidated that Brian was a few inches taller than him and probably outweighed him by a over a hundred pounds. Of course he had back-up. Brian only had her.
"Why are you messing around this car? Leave her alone." Brian snapped. He came closer to the figure and for a second Samantha saw his face blanch, as if he'd just seen something deeply disturbing.
The other man's only response was more laughter. Before her mind could register what was happening he grabbed Brian by the back of the head. The other hand held a knife to his throat.
Instantly she was out of the car, gun drawn.
"Let him go." she said, forcing her voice to sound calm.
Brian looked at her with wide eyes, shaking his head sorrowfully. She knew he was angry at her for leaving the car. But what did he expect? For her to just sit there? She shrugged at him apologetically.
A clicking sound drew her attention and she saw one of the men with a particularly large gun leveled at her head. To her other side stood another man pointing a shotgun at her and grinning smugly.
And from the shuffling behind her she just knew there was a gun at her back.
But she still had leverage. She had the presumed leader in her sights and wasn't about to back down. Adrenaline rushed through her, burying any fear she would normally have in a situation like this.
"Just get back in the car and leave. Please Sam." Brian said quietly. He was terrified. She'd never seen him like this and it angered her. They hadn't done anything wrong. All they'd wanted to do was get their stuff......
"Let him go." she repeated, unable to stop the anger from seeping into her voice. "We're not here to cause trouble. If you let him go we'll leave and never come back. Promise."
The leader's head tilted curiously and he finally spoke. "And why are you here? Hm?" His tone was amused. He knew why they were here but evidently felt the need to make her say it.
"Looking for a nice bed and breakfast." she snapped. "We're buying drugs....why else would we be in this shithole?"
He emitted a weird giggle at her words. Shoving Brian away he came towards her. She took a half step back and glanced nervously at Brian. One of the men had him firmly by the arm, a gun against his temple. Her eyes flickered back to the man.
He was close now and the sight of him made her breath stop in her throat. The weirdness of his face was due to make-up, globs of white red and black smeared around carelessly. And that grin, so impossibly wide and crimson.....and now she saw why. His mouth had been cut from the corners to partway through each cheek. Red make-up covered his lips and scars, as if to accentuate them.
Those scars........
Her mind rewound to that awful day, of viewing the tape. The day both she and Jack had been taught a lesson.
'He carved his own face up.'
The sounds of his screams. Black blood spreading around him in a vile pool. She tore her gaze away from his mouth, lifting her eyes to his. What she saw made her knees go weak.
She shook her head and took another step backwards.
No. This thing is not who I think it is.
A low bubbling laugh erupted from his chest, gradually getting higher and higher pitched until it tapered off into silence.
"Oh, uh, hi Sam." he whispered, reaching out to grasp her wrist.
A/N: Thanks to those who reviewed! Sorry, not gonna do individual shout outs today, very tired. Love you all!