Chapter 11

Two weeks later
Friday night – at the Pub

Jordan

Jordan sat there, watching as they all filtered into the pub. They thought that they were so close and that nothing could ever touch them. He was hell-bent on getting his revenge, and tonight, he would move forward with his plan. It would just take patience and time.

Heidi never should have called the police, and the rest of the team was going to wish that they hadn't gotten involved. Things weren't finished between Heidi and him.

The Team

Heidi looked at Chase as he chatted with a brunette by the bar. She laughed and shook her head. He was always flirting with someone.

Heidi herself felt pretty settled. She found a place of her own, thanks to Lachie and Chase. Their next door neighbour was moving and wanted to rent out their condo. Lachie and Chase had explained the situation and they had gotten her a good price. She turned back to the table to discover it was just her, Lachie and Vince. She turned and spotted Lara and Dean by the bar getting the next round.

"So Heidi, how is the new place?" Vince asked.

"Great, you know, except for the neighbours." Heidi nudged Lachie and laughed.

Lachie smiled and watched her; enjoying the sound of her laughter. She didn't laugh too often, so when she did, it sounded great.

"Drinks!" Lara exclaimed, putting another cocktail in front of Heidi.

"Thanks Lara!" Heidi grinned. She stood up, straightening her dress. "Be right back – off to the ladies." Heidi walked down the hallway and was happy to find that there was no line-up. Upon exited the washroom, Heidi noticed that the backdoor to the pub was open. Happy to have some fresh air, Heidi approached it.

"Heidi?" She heard a familiar voice say her name.

She whirled around, her breath caught in her throat. "J… Jordan?" She stuttered, surprised to see him there.

"Hey babe."

"Don't you babe me! Stay the hell away from me!" Heidi spun around to leave, but Jordan's grip on her arm stopped her.

"You called the cops. How could you do that to me?" Jordan spat.

Heidi looked into his eyes and knew that he was high on something. "How could I? How could you! How could you do that to me? I took you in when said you needed me!" Heidi started pushing at him, her frustration palpable. The loud music inside covered their conversation.

"You have to call off the cops, Heidi," Jordan pleaded.

"Why should I?" Heidi began to try and pull her arm away, but Jordan's grip grew tighter. He pulled her closer to him and wrapped strong arm around her waist, clamping her against him.

"Because, I am in trouble." Jordan tried to plead with her to no avail.

"That is not my problem, Jordan." Heidi couldn't believe that this was happening.

"I'll make it your problem." Jordan seethed. The smell of alcohol on his breath and the crazy look in his eye told Heidi that this was not going to end well.

In the Pub

Lara stood up. "I wonder where Heidi got to. I'm going to go and check on her."

Chase came back and sat at the table. "Got her number!" He frowned when he saw Lara getting up. "Leaving so soon?"

"Nah, going to check on Heidi."

"Righto, good idea."

Lara made her way down the hall, when she heard the raised voices from outside. "Stay away from me Jordan! Let me go!" Lara turned on her heel and ran back for the table as fast as her heels would allow.

Upon seeing the distressed look on her face and the speed that she approached them at, Dean was the first to speak. "Lara what is it?"

"Jordan's got Heidi cornered in the back alley behind the pub." Lara said in a rush.

The whole team stood and ran for the back door, the Gallagher brothers taking the lead.

Back Alley

"Listen Jordan, I`ve moved on. I've got my life back together, even though you tried to ruin me." Heidi reached up and slapped him across the face. "That's for leaving me with nothing!"

Jordan raised his hand, prepared to strike her when he heard Chase's voice. "I wouldn't do that, mate." Chase practically spat out the word mate.

"Let her go, Jordan." Lachie seethed, slowly advancing on them.

It was then that Jordan did the unthinkable. He pulled a gun out of his pocket. "Don't come any closer to me. Heidi and I were having a nice little chat. She was going to drop the charges."

"I was not!" Heidi snarled at him.

Jordan spun her around so that she was facing the group. Before she knew it, the cold metal of the gun was pressed against her temple. Her hands gripped his forearm, clawing at his hold.

Dean stepped forward with his hands out. "Jordan, you don't want to do this." Dean moved slowly and calmly. "Really, Jordan. It isn't worth it. It isn't worth your time. You're better than this, Jordan. Besides, we don't want to have to hurt you."

Heidi's eyes clamped onto Dean's, hoping that he could negotiate with Jordan. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Lachie slowly back away and run through the crowded bar.

"No, I don't want to do this, but you have left me no choice."

"Get lost, Jordan." Heidi spat. She struggled against his hold, but was not successful in getting away.

Jordan shook his head and dragged her backwards a few steps, Heidi kicking back at him as much as she could. She knew that she got him a few times with her heel. When Jordan had passed the dumpsters, and realized that he was near the exit of the alleyway, Jordan pushed her, tossing her to the ground.

Heidi let out a small cry as she landed on her hands and knees, the rocks and gravel biting into her skin. She could hear footsteps as the team ran towards her. Lara stopped at Heidi, but Vince, Dean and Chase ran past.

Lachie had been waiting by the end of the alleyway for Jordan, hoping that he would be alone. Lachie took off after Jordan when he appeared, catching up to him quickly. He let his emotions and his anger get the best of him. "Oi! Jordan!" Lachie shouted. He pushed Jordan into the fence that lined a parking nearby. "How about taking on someone your own size!" Lachie put his arm around Jordan's throat, pulling Jordan back. "Little boys shouldn't be playing with guns, Jordan."

"Get off me! The gun wasn't loaded!" Jordan shouted.

"What; don't you like being manhandled? Don't like being grabbed? How do you think Heidi felt?" Lachie growled, ready to fight. His heart was beating wildly in his chest, and the adrenaline took over.

"Lachie!" Dean and Chase caught up to him rather quickly. Dean was ready to punch Jordan, when Chase stepped in.

"Please, allow me the honor." Chase raised his fist and clocked Jordan right in the nose, the sound of his nose breaking almost satisfying to the brothers. Blood gushed out of Jordan's nose, but no one made a move to help him.

Unbeknownst to them, Heidi followed behind them. "Wait!" She shouted. "He's not worth it," she said. "He's a worthless drunk and druggie." Heidi walked up to him, her steps sure and steady. Despite the abrasions on her knees and hands she approached Jordan with confidence. "You hear that Jordan? You aren't worth it!"

With that, Heidi raised her fist and punched him as hard as she could. "Guess you wish you never taught me to defend myself. Stay away from me, Jordan. Stay away from my friends. Get the hell out of my life for good, because I don't want you in it. Do yourself and society a favour and clean up your act. Go to rehab, get cleaned up, and pay your debts. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger," Heidi shouted at him. She turned on her heel and walked through the wall that Chase, Dean and Vince had made behind her.

Lachie pushed Jordan away from him and watched him stumble. Jordan picked himself up and walked away from them, without looking back. Lachie saw Heidi hugging Lara. He couldn't have been more proud of her. He walked up to his brothers. "Well, that was satisfying."

Chase rubbed his sore knuckles. "Yeah, that felt good."

Dean sighed. "I wanted to punch him, but Heidi beat me to it." Dean looked almost upset at the fact that he didn't get the chance to fight.

"I know. I'm so proud of her." Vince said. The four guys walked back to join Lara and Heidi. "My shout. Let's go get a drink." Vince put his arm around Heidi and Lara's shoulders and led them back to their table.

"Heidi wait up a second," Lachie said jogging over to her.

Heidi turned to face him as he approached. She waited for him to continue speaking.

"You might want to clean your scrapes before you go back in there. I've got a first aid kit in the car, if you want."

Dean and Chase just smiled at each other. They knew that Lachie just wanted time alone with Heidi.

Heidi smiled at him shyly. "Sure, I guess."

Lachie held out his arm for her to take. Heidi slipped her arm into his and walked to his car with him.

Vince, Lara, Dean and Chase watched them walk away and the turned and went into the pub.

Lachie and Heidi

Lachie frowned as Heidi cleaned her scrapes. "I'm sorry about this Heidi. I hope that you don't feel too bad."

Heidi looked as if to be in thought for a few moments. "You know, I feel great. I got a lot of things that I wanted to say to him, and quite frankly, punching him was very therapeutic." She finished up cleaning her hands and knees. "Thanks for your backup out there, Lachie. I couldn't have done it without my four favourite guys around to back me up." Heidi stood and kissed Lachie on the cheek. "Thanks for being such a great friend, Lachie Gallagher."

Lachie's mind had gone blank when she kissed his cheek. "You're welcome." Was all he could think to say. He kicked himself for not saying anything other than you're welcome the entire way back to the pub. Guess I am still just a friend. Lachie thought to himself. I'll just have to wait to talk to her.