A/N: this chapter is short and it might seem irrelevant but it's very important because of future reasons :o

and I hope it's clear the girl with Joe is not Lauren in this chapter

Song: Something in the way - Nirvana (on youtube /watch?v=rg-yYi8saZY )

XIV. Something in the way

"Come here..." he whispered, smiling, holding her waist. She crossed her arms behind his back and forced him to kiss her. He used this movement to remove her bra. They shared a laugh over as they finished undressing themselves.

"Why so hasty?" she bothered him, and began to feel his thrusts against her. She bit hard her lip. "God, Joe..."

He muttered a few curses against her neck. He put his arms on either side of the thin young body of the woman on his bed, to support himself better. He rammed against her strongly. She moaned softly, catching his hips with her legs.

"Faster..." she begged, whispering in his ear.

He tried to increase the speed to please her, but he found it particularly difficult. He leaned further into his arms, and realized that the simple fact of being in that position required too much effort. It didn't make sense, he trained in the gym every day of the week; he never was physically tired. A burning began to arise from his throat. He slip off her and sat on the edge of the bed, the arcades almost drowning him. She leaned on her elbows, and simply observed him, worried. Joe leaned over his legs, struggling to catch some air.

He waited a few seconds, and the arcades became just a cough attack, and then completely disappeared. His eyes burned and still had a little trouble breathing, but he was better.

"Shit," he breathed, his voice hoarse. He reached out a little shaky up to the glass of whiskey that was lying on the bedside table. He took a few shots, and left the alcohol made effect in his body. Now he was a bit more relaxed.

"You're pale" the woman said; and she got even more worried. She gently stroked his head, and a few hairs got caught between her fingers. She showed him in dismay, but he acted like it wasn't a major obstacle, putting his jeans again "Joe, you need to go to the doctor."

"I'm not going to the doctor!" He snapped, enervated, as if her words seem a complete absurdity. He put on a white shirt and pulled out a cigarette, lighting it. She began to dress, too, but didn't think about quitting the fight so easily.

"You're losing weight."

"Damn it!" He yelled, pulling the cigarette out of his mouth to be capable to take charge of the situation "Don't you want to leave me alone? If I'd like a controlling bitch, I would have stayed with Lauren."

She continued watching him, as if she was going to analyze what was wrong with him. He scared her a bit scared with his shouts, but she was used to it, so her concern was bigger. Joe growled, putting the cigarette back in his mouth:

"Fucking shit-"

And shut the house door. He went to Dylan's house, a few blocks from his, but getting there was costing him a big effort. He had run out of air when he entered the living room. He approached the poker game that had already started, exhaling the smoke from his lungs. Once he could think clearly, he regretted having treated that way to his partner. He regretted having treated that way to Lauren, too. To have dragged her to a hell of life.

"Do you play or not?" Dylan asked, handing him a drink. Joe nodded.

It was the only thing he wasn't too late for.