As always thanks kindly for your reviews, you certainly know how to make a girl smile. These last few weeks have been a bit of a rollercoaster for me and I know updates have been rather sporadic. Hopefully the normal schedule will resume, whatever that is.
Skins isn't mine. I'm glad it's not. I could never do it justice.
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Naomi left the shower refreshed, still feeling the effects of the toxin but at least her mind was now somewhat organised, she had a plan or the beginnings of one anyway.
She left the sanctuary of the bathroom clothed in the same attire she had started in, at first she had wrinkled her nose in distaste as she had buttoned her shirt up but right now she had no other option, that was until she looked at Emily who held out a bright blue hoodie to her. Naomi cocked an eyebrow "Not the most discrete of colour choices there." Emily shrugged at her "Sorry the five finger discount didn't stretch to designer stealth wear" before turning her back on Naomi and looking out of the window sipping on what Naomi presumed to be coffee from the smell drifting across the room to her.
"So..." Naomi muttered rather sheepishly as she stripped her shirt off and pulled the hoodie over her bra clad torso secretly glad to be rid of the rather distasteful shirt "Any idea's on how we're getting to the train station?" Emily tuned around just as she tugged the material over the last of her stomach adjusting the hood in the mirror so it sat the way she liked. "Taxi is my best thought, its not like anyone is likely to be driving there we can hitch a lift with" Naomi nodded, it made sense what driver stopped at a service station only to then drive into the city less than twenty minutes away, maybe people that were collecting someone but the chances of that occurring were slim.
"How much money do we have?" Naomi asked, curious as to how this was going to work paying for a taxi and then two train tickets to their destination of choice, where ever that was. She watched as Emily shoved her hand into her trousers pulling out notes and change throwing it on the bed before counting it up. "Just over thirty quid, not enough" Emily admitted sadly, that was a problem, one they would need to sort out if they wanted to get some distance, at least the city was an easy place to steal some cash from an unsuspecting traveller.
"Well I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. The fuzz here yet?" Naomi asked as she joined Emily at the window "Yeah, got here a few minutes ago" Emily replied before taking another sip of her coffee "I guess that's the bat signal then, you called for a taxi I assume" Emily nodded as she walked into the bathroom rinsing the cup out and returning it to the side next to the tiny travel kettle that hotel rooms were kind enough to provide.
"Come on then" Emily threw over her shoulder as she headed for the door. Naomi scooped the cash up and shoved it into her jeans pocket before picking up the carrier bag of food that Emily appeared to have purchased the honest way. She shoved her shirt inside not wanting to leave the evidence behind and pulled up her hood before following the smaller woman and shutting the door behind her.
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The taxi journey was thankfully uneventful, Emily had timed it perfectly so they could walk out the hotel and leave immediately in the waiting taxi, the police still distracted checking the car and talking to the person who had reported it rather than looking for the culprits.
Fifteen minutes later they found themselves approaching the station and decided to bail out early, both saving a little cash and allowing themselves the ability to be lost in the city. If the police had traced their where abouts they would have at least lost them somewhere in the city rather than trace them straight to the station plus a quick stop in a couple of busy looking shops and another five finger discount later both were clean clothed and appropriately disguised in rather less conspicuous clothes which Naomi was more than thankful for.
A few more stops and pinching later and Naomi's blonde yet rather scruffy hair was once again hidden back underneath her hood and Emilys brown locks fully encased in a woolly hat. To top the disguise off Naomi had taken the opportunity to grab a pair of glasses purely for the purpose to cover some of the bruise on her cheek and Emily had snatched them a bag to jam their items in so they didn't look so shifty with their carrier bag of odd miss matched items. Finally a couple of bumps and passes along the way and they once again found themselves with enough for a train ticket to get them a reasonable distance and a little extra for an emergency.
Naomi found it refreshing, exciting even to be doing something so simple as stealing, it was still a rush and despite the fact that she still felt sluggish and her hands were not completely in her control thanks to the tremors that shook them on occasion she found the whole ordeal rather fun and Emily just heightened the experience. She really was a master thief, her comment about Emily being a 'right little Fagan' couldn't have been more true. She was in her element swiping cash and goods from unsuspecting victims with a devilish glint in her eyes and a smug expression that was both catching and enthralling.
However the fun had to end, and if there was another thing that Anthea had taught her, it was that being greedy more often than not got you into trouble. Take only what you need and walk away, start taking too much and you get caught, or you get attention and either way it leads to getting caught. Potentially they already had enough attention on them, a handful of people and groups that would be looking for them including the Police, Nox, probably Vendetta as well as Katie and probably even Effy if Katie had enlisted her to help find her sister. Definitely time to move on before they got caught Emily however seemed to have other ideas as she grabbed Naomi's arm and dragged her into the cafe they were walking past.
"Sorry I just need to stop for a bit" she told Naomi which took her by surprise "Why don't you grab us that table and I'll get us some drinks" she continued as she pointed to a table right next to a computer towards the back of the shop. Turns out it was an internet cafe as Emily ordered their drinks and then sat down at the computer and began tapping in a website address. Curiosity won over and Naomi moved to the seat closest to the computer as she stirred her coffee, grateful for the warmth it provided as her hands held firmly wrapped around the cup. Normally she was a tea drinker, but she needed the boost the coffee would give her, apart from the water Emily had given her earlier that morning this was the first drink she had all day, she knew she would of course experience a low on the other side but the boost should last long enough to at least get them to the station, hopefully on the train, maybe even further.
Taking a sip she looked up at the screen to view what looked like a dating website she frowned in confusion, were Emily's priorities really that warped?
"Errr Em's I'm not sure we've really got time for you to sort out your love life" she voice a little aggressively which just caused Emily to snort. "I'm not sorting out my love life you idiot, I'm contacting Katie." Naomi's frown deepened "On a dating agency site..." she looked closer "for gay women?" Her voice had increased in pitch towards the end of her sentence, so much for being a super spy when she didn't hide anything in that comment. She knew Emily certainly had interest in women but Katie she seemed as straight as they come.
"You'd be surprised how well it works" Emily joked as she tapped away pulling up a profile of a rather attractive female "No one would ever suspect us of contacting each other using this would they?" Naomi thought about it and she had a point, this was probably the last place she would have thought of checking, probably wouldn't have even considered it at all actually especially considering they were sisters, and even if someone had looked they clearly had rather fake profiles if Katie's picture was anything to go by that and the fact this wasn't the profile for 'Katie Fitch'.
Not able to help her curiosity Naomi took the opportunity to ask "So how does it work?" Emily cocked an eyebrow at her in amusement and instantly Naomi knew what she was getting at "Not the dating. Pervert. The contacting Katie." Emily chuckled and Naomi found herself smiling at the sound. "Basically it's all to do with our likes and dislikes, we have a code we stick to. Before we go on a mission, we change our likes to our 'alert code' so for me that means that I'm into some sort of sports, I usually stick to the common ones, so Katie doesn't miss judge it." She rolled her eyes and Naomi could imagine that Katie could shoot someone whilst driving at high speeds or run after a suspect in the most ridiculous pair of stilettos and yet not be able to recognise the more obscure sporting names. "Then when we're back we update to our safe code, which for me is always something to do with a love for astronomy."
Naomi nodded as she watched Emily update her likes to 'laying on the beach staring at the stars' "Okay, so how do you contact each other?" she asked. Emily pressed save and then moved to the fake Katie profile and went to send a direct message "Simple we just message each other, keep the messages coded still with those things that only Katie and I know, arrange a place to 'meet' which actually corresponds to a place to leave a message, or a number to call, something like that."
Naomi nodded impressed it was actually a fairly sound plan, she herself had no such network because she didn't mix her worlds quite the same way. She had no one that she ever informed of before she went into a mission, the only time they would know was if they were there with her or they hired her.
Emily finished tapping away as Naomi stared into the swirling liquid in her cup losing herself in her thoughts about what it would be like to have someone that she worked with in this way, what it would be like to have someone worry about her. She had Cook, she had Anthea and even Effy to some extent as they had been working together for some time now but they still didn't have that sort of relationship, if Naomi fell off the grid they wouldn't come looking for her and if she were honest that was exactly the way she liked it.
Tie's bind you, they hold you down and stop you from choosing actions, making decisions, from doing what's right and doing what's necessary.
Emily's voice broke through her thoughts "You want this?" she asked as she clicked off the dating site, Naomi shook her head to indicate that she didn't and drowned the last of her drink before standing "Shall we?" she asked Emily as she pulled her hood back up.
They made the rest of the journey without anymore interruptions, Emily seemed somewhat lighter now that she had her own confirmation that Katie was safe, and there was even a little hint to Effy being safe also as she had changed her relationship status and had made comment to her 'brown haired beauty who always knew what she wanted' it was a smooth move and one that Emily had appreciated, Naomi too not that she had said anything.
"So, any preference on a destination then?" Emily asked as they walked the last bit towards the station. "Bristol." Naomi replied absently as her mind churned through her rough plan. "And what's in Bristol?" Emily asked her own curiosity getting the better of her now. "Someone that owes me a favour." Naomi replied cryptically, not giving away any more because it wasn't necessary, the place they were heading was someone that Naomi knew, someone she had worked with a few months back, someone she had got out of a spot of bother. It was always good to have people in your debt, that way you could always cash in when you were down on your luck.
It was both a brave and a dangerous move, but it was the closest place Naomi had that they could go, and seeing that Emily hadn't voiced any similar plans or protest it seemed the only suitable plan other than stealing their way out of trouble. They needed to get out of sight, lay low and the easiest way to do that was to stay with someone else, that way they had no links and they didn't need any cash. A win, win.
They decided to enter the station separately, the police would be looking for two women travelling together so the easiest way to break up any likely trail was to enter on their own, buy their tickets on their own and wait on the platform on their own, only meeting up when they were safely hidden in the carriages and on their way to Bristol.
Naomi hung back watching Emily enter first as she bummed a fag from a couple of guys outside the station, savouring the first bit of nicotine she'd had since Anthea's arrival at Cooks. Splitting up was possibly over kill but it wouldn't hurt and they were only about five minutes apart anyway so there was no real harm.
Walking out onto the platform Naomi kept Emily in her sights as she leaned against the wall waiting for their train, she noticed Emily stifling another yawn and she felt somewhat guilty. She still didn't remember much of the night before, but she imagined that Emily hadn't gotten a lot of sleep if any, and all they had done was hike around and keep moving all day so far except for their brief stop at the cafe. They had about a ten minute trip and then they had to change trains with about a five minute wait in between where again they would split up and then regroup. After that they had about forty minutes to Bristol, forty minutes were Naomi planned on suggesting that Emily got some sleep.
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Their trip was quiet almost peaceful with no disturbances, Emily had managed to grab a quick nap though it quite literally had been that, Naomi hadn't even needed to suggest it Emily had just settled her head on her shoulder and whether she had meant to or not she had drifted off.
Exiting the train they let themselves get separated in the crowd ever so slightly before they met again outside the station where Naomi guided them the familiar route to their destination. It was one she had travelled many times but not for the same reason she travelled it today, today she walked with a purpose and that purpose was purely to get them somewhere safe where they could rest, sleep and plan their next move.
It seemed to take no time before she was stood outside and knocking on the door. Ironically in contrast it seemed to take ages for the door to open and she was met with the brown pools of her associate. Her arms reached out and wrapped Naomi in a rather friendly hug, so perhaps she was more than just an associate.
"Naomi!" the woman proclaimed excitedly as she rocked Naomi in a hug "Didn't fucking expect to see you babe."
"Hey Spash" Naomi spoke softly as she hugged the slender woman back. "Can we come in?" She asked as she gestured to Emily over her shoulder.
"Shit! Sure, come on in." She exclaimed excitedly as she bounced on the balls of her feet like an excited puppy. Stepping back from the door and allowing the two women to step into her home.
Naomi stepped in and instantly headed into the lounge dropping down onto the sofa with a heavy thud as Emily followed somewhat sheepishly behind her, standing in the doorway feeling awkward, it took Naomi a few moments to find her manners before she introduced them to one another "Emily, this is Jessie, Spash, this is Emily." Emily frowned a little at the fact Naomi had referred to Jessie as 'Spash' which obviously Spash had picked up on as she held her hand out to Emily "Jessica Spencer Ashley at your service, but you can call me Spash, everyone else does" she joked with a flourished bow once she had shook Emily's hand gently. "Now why don't you grab a seat and I'll go get us some drinks."
Emily joined Naomi on the sofa and the two of them sat comfortably in silence as they waited for Spash to return, they could relax, finally safe and finally some place they could crash, get a break. It was refreshing after having spent the last day on the run and out of nowhere Naomi felt the exhaustion set deep into her body as she sat there on the sofa. She slipped her boots off and tucked her feet under her, resting her head in her hands as she leaned heavily on the arm of the chair. She looked over at Emily noticing that she didn't seem to be faring much better, her eyes were heavy and her balled fist rubbing at them constantly.
Spash returned with three bottles of beer in her hands and placed one each in front of Emily and Naomi before taking a seat opposite them. "Not that I'm not glad to see you, but to what do I owe the pleasure?" Spash asked as she took a sip from her drink, Naomi reached forward and retrieved her own and took a long swig before she answered "I have a job for you, and I need a favour" she started before taking another swig grateful for the refreshment "You will of course be paid for the job, nothing too complicated I just need you to help me track some people down" she waved a hand to imply it was a walk in the park for Spash. "The favour equally shouldn't be complicated, we need somewhere to crash, just for a while."
Spash picked at the label on her bottle as her posture changed "How deep are you in?" she asked all excitement gone from her voice, replaced with a calculated, even and calm tone "I know you Naomi, you don't call in favours unless you're out of options" Naomi sighed "Deep enough, we had other options but we needed to stay off the radar. You're the perfect choice no one would tie us together, and you owe me." She finished rather commanding yet refraining from being rude or overly bossy and yet she received a snort in reply.
"Can anyone ever tie you to another person? You don't make connections Naomi, you know it, I know it, I bet even Emily here knows it." Spash responded before sinking back into her chair challenging Naomi to contradict her.
"What's your point Spash? You knew what you were getting into, and I don't remember you complaining about my lack of connections when it saved your arse." Naomi's tone turned aggressive, obviously unhappy with where the conversation was heading. Spash held her hands up in defeat not wanting to get into this especially with Emily present. "No fair point, I didn't. You can stay, Emily you too. Anyway I can't very well turf you out, you both look dead on your feet. As for the job I'll think about it, maybe you can fill me in on the details when you're less grumpy smurf and back to being Naomi Campbell." This time it was Naomi's turn to snort as she rolled her eyes.
Spash turned to Emily "Spare room is at the top of the stairs to the right, there's a dresser in there, help yourself to any clothes you need." Naomi looked on as Emily correctly took that as a signal to leave, she didn't waste any time in downing the last of her drink and thanking Spash before heading out the door and upstairs. Naomi watched her sluggish form go and knew she wouldn't be far behind her.
Spash had been right, she was beat and wanted nothing more than to curl up and sleep, but luck wasn't on her side as she watched the slender woman across from her stand and sit down next to her, felt her stroke a hand down her face as she stared into Naomi's eyes.
"I've missed you" she whispered to Naomi who leant away from the touch and rubbed her hands across her face before standing.
"I know." She replied sadly before leaving the room and following in Emily's footsteps.
Definitely both a brave and dangerous decision.
