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Chapter 34: Second Wind

Eric leaned forward, resting his elbows on the scrubbed wooden table surrounded by the buzz of clinking glasses, catchy tunes, loud chatter and dizzy laughter. He sat up when a glass of beer was shoved across the table at him and grinned at the dark eyed man with a smug look on his face sliding into the seat across from him. He tipped his glass in salute and took a sip.

This was definitely not one of the loud, high flying clubs that Wes often dragged him to, nor was it one of those swanky, upscale digs that his 'aunt' and Camille frequented. Nestled somewhere along the fringes of the city, in a pretty average neighbourhood, the bar Dillon had brought him to was far from his usual scene. But sitting there in a pair of jeans and a red T-shirt in the dimly lit room with patrons ambling in and out, without a care, he actually felt at ease.

"So are you glad we got out of snobsville or what?" Dillon prodded, taking a sip of his own drink.

"Snobsville?" he repeated.

"What else should I call that place? I mean years of working with you has got me used to the guys in suits but these guys you brought me here to meet are in a league of their own. And that is not a compliment."

A wry smile made its way to Eric's lips as he watched his friend lean back into his chair, his dark hair falling over his face, completely at ease in a black T-shirt over jeans with his leather jacket slung on the chair behind him. When it came to being broody and grumpy, Dillon gave him a run for his money but he was more worked up that usual. Of course sending as much time as they did discussing a business deal old moneyed men who didn't know what they wanted to do with the money they had, would do that to a guy.

Unlike him, Dillon hadn't been raised in corporate luxury, he had worked his way into the business world, trying to give his sister the best he could. And while he learned to adapt to survive, he didn't let anything change who he was. He'd wear the suit to work but refused to tame his hair. And yes, he was a little rough around the edges when it came to talking to people, he had good instincts, making him a formidable player, one he was happy to call his partner and better yet, his friend. He gave Eric a chance to feel normal, reminding him that there was more than one world out there and he was grateful for it.

"I hope you realise that if you're serious about this, we're going to be spending a lot of time in this place," Dillon pointed out.

"I thought you made it a rule that we didn't talk about work when we went out."

"Anywhere else, it stands. Out here, there's no other place I can bring up how insane this whole deal sounds. Every polished surface up there has ears."

"That's true," Eric shrugged. "But we haven't taken any decisions yet so there's nothing to worry about. So long as we don't sign anything, we can still walk away."

Dillon scoffed as he set his beer back on the table. "You think the old hag will let us go that easily? The way she's pushing it, you'd think this kooky scheme was her idea."

"Dill, irrespective of who's involved. We work how we always do and if we decide that it's not for us, we're out."

"So, the fact that she's like your aunt or whatever is not the reason we're wasting our time here? You actually thought this was worth looking into?" Dillon questioned, raising an eyebrow and not looking convinced. "Cause, then I'd be worried."

Eric scowled before taking a sip of his beer. As he set the the glass down Dillon leaned forward on the table expectantly. He assured him that there was nothing to be worried about and explained that his connection to these people was only 10% of why they were there.

"I'll admit that all the facts aren't there. Which is why we're out here without board approval or lawyers. It's just recon… But you know what? I like the no work rule," he insisted, leaning back into his chair and shifting into a slightly more comfortable position.

Dillon smirked as he nodded his head and tipped his glass to him before leaning back as well. "Yeah… me too."

A loud crash startled them and they looked at each other curiously before turning their heads in the direction of the sound. A tall pillar blocked their view of the bar and several other patrons rising out of their seats to get a better look didn't help much either

"Should we…?" Eric began moving to rise from his seat but Dillon shrugged it off."Probably just some guy who had too much to drink."

"Proba…" But before he could finish a woman's voice cut through the hum of whispers surrounding the bar. They shared a curious a look and together slid out of their seats.

"But maybe we should take a look, just in case," said Dillon.

Eric nodded and followed Dillon through the crowd. As they edged their way to the front they were saw a young woman with wavy blonde hair in a black leather jacket holding the wrist of a disgruntled, beefy man as she glared daggers at him. Beside her was a young waitress whose face was pale as she clutched her tray to her the floor were the shattered remains of beer mugs with their contents splattered in all directions.

For a split second Eric thought of Taylor but the woman standing in front of him clearly wasn't her, though that glare came pretty close. For a moment no one moved until the man had enough and jerked his hand out of her grasp with a vicious growl. He stared her down but she didn't look like she was backing off either. His menacing eyes shifted to the terrified waitress who shivered and backed away but the blonde stepped in front of her drawing his attention back to her with a challenge in her expression as her hands clenched into fists.

Unmoving spectators watched as the man slipped on the bar stool with a grunt and glared down at the woman who still didn't budge. It looked like the beginning of a full blown bar fight and Eric wasn't the only one who thought so. Another blonde in similar attire pushed through the crowd, distinguished by her slightly longer hair and the darker tone. There was also the fact that she was favouring her right arm beneath a black leather jacket with yellow stripes at the elbows.

"Gia stop," she called her friend before facing off against the man. "Just let it go and back off," she said sternly.

"You back off girlie," the man grunted, swinging his muscular arm to push her out of the way.

Caught unaware she took the hit on her injured arm and winced in pain as she stumbled back. Dillon pushed himself out of the crowd and caught her before she could hit the ground there.

"Hey there, you alright?" he asked.

She looked up at him and nodded as he helped her stand upright. For a moment the two of them just stared at each other. But Eric's eyes immediately flew back to the other girl… Gia who did not take kindly to her friend being shoved around. With a fierce growl, she leaned forward and grabbed the collar of his jacket.

"Watch it?" she warned.

But the man was not the least bit shaken. Instead he smirked and grabbed her elbows pushing her back slightly, her slender frame giving caving under sheer brute force.

"Hey! Break it up," echoed the deep voice of the bartender as he edged his way out from behind the bar making a beeline for the warring twosome. But two brutes stepped into his path, closing off the currently warring duo.

"You heard the man, break it up!"

A woman's voice rang loud and clear through the bar and everyone stopped what they were doing as two newcomers walked pushed through the crowd. Another set of blondes, one a man wearing a blue jacket and the other a woman in a yellow jacket. The heels of her boots clicked against the wooden floor as she stalked towards the bar, eyes narrowed in a fierce glare, while her partner turned his attention to the two cronies. His hands casually stuffed into his pockets while his eyes dared them to make a move.

"And why should I listen to you?" said the man pushing past Gia and turning to the other woman.

"Oh I'd listen to her if I were you," Eric interrupted, shaking his head as he stepped into the fray and stood beside her. If she was surprised to see him, she didn't show it. "First of all she packs quite the punch; and secondly your ruining everyone's evening and I can't say that they're too happy about it."

He gestured to the scowling crowd around them, most of which were shooting glares their way. The man's eyes narrowed as he seemed to consider his options, then with a grunt he backed off and slunk back into his seat. However, the bartender was not satisfied and immediately ordered them to get out before barking orders for someone to clean up the mess. He rounded on the remaining six and curtly told them to get the hell out.

The four blondes shared a look and nodded to each other before turning to leave. The girl Dillon had helped offered a quick apology for the trouble while Gia gave the waitress a pat on the shoulder before walking out. The girl ran after her and thanked her before slinking back to work.

As the rest of the patrons went back to whatever it was they were doing earlier Eric turned to Dillon who shrugged and went back to their table to grab their jackets before the two of them walked out the door.

"Well that's one hideout gone out the window," Dillon complained.

"We're sorry about that, but we didn't ask you to get involved."

The duo looked up to see the four blondes standing on the sidewalk. Eric's eyes met two pairs of familiar blue eyes, both mirroring his surprise. They were the last two people he expected to see out here.

"I can't say it's the first time I've been thrown out off a bar but there's usually fists involved. Guess you guys just looked like trouble," Dillon shot back.

"We didn't need your help," Gia countered, glaring at Dillon as she took a step forward. "It's not our fault you couldn't mind your own business."

"Gia let it go," the injured girl spoke up, placing her hand on her friend's shoulder before turning to the two of them. "Like I said we're sorry about that, and we appreciate the help, especially me," she said as she raised her injured arm slightly. "We thought we could buy you a drink, to make up for ruining your evening. If you guys are up to it, of course?"

"Do we get any names? Or do I keep referring you as blondes one to four in my head?" Dillon quipped with a smirk.

"Interesting friend you have there."

Eric turned his attention to her, a smirk playing on her lips as she took a step towards him.

"You know them?" Dillon enquired, turning to him curiously.

"Just of two of 'em," he replied with a nod to Sky who returned the gesture. Taylor in the meantime turned to Dillon, offering her hand.

"Hi, I'm Taylor Earhardt, that's Schuyler Cruger, the troublemaker is Gia Moran and Summer Lansdown is the one keeping us in line. Sky and I already, know Myers here, so I guess that just leaves you.

"Dillon, just Dillon," he replied as he shook her hand but Eric didn't miss the look he shot him.

"Well just Dillon, I owe you a thank you," said Summer as she stepped up to them.

"I'm sure you would've been fine without me," Dillon replied with a grin.

"Actually you just saved Summer a couple of more weeks on the bench," Sky added as he joined them and shook Dillon's hand before turning to Eric. "Nice to see you again."

"How do you guys know each other?"Gia piped in, curiously watching the exchange

"Oh right, Gia, Summer this is Eric Myers, Tay and I ran into him at home while we were on leave," Sky explained before turning back to them. "So guys, how about that drink?"

"At the bar we just got kicked out of?" Dillon quipped.

"No, at the one around the corner where we were supposed to be heading in the first place before we got… uh side tracked," Sky finished off with a glance at Gia.

"Whatever," said the blonde in question, as she threw up her hands and started walking down the street. "This is the first time we've been out in a month, I need a drink whether they're coming or not."

"Can't argue with that," Taylor agreed, as she turned away to follow after her.

"So what'll it be boys?" asked Summer turning to join the others as well.

"I'm in no hurry to get back, so why not?" Dillon agreed, as he fell into step beside her.

Eric hesitated, since his little chat with Spencer he had been consciously trying to distract himself from any thoughts concerning Taylor. He had focused on work and Madison and was pretty sure he had shut the door on that subject. That was until she was standing right in front of him again.

"Eric?"

Sky was looking at him expectantly but he turned to watch her laugh at something Dillon said as they walked ahead. He told himself that it was just one evening and he could deal with it. Turning back to Sky, he shrugged and fell into step beside him.

"What are you guys doing all the way out here? And what did Gia mean by not being out for a month?" he asked.

"Occupational hazard," Sky replied instantly. "We were drafted for a new assignment and were transferred here about a month ago. Stage 1 was pretty much a briefing, familiarization, limited contact with the outside world kinda thing. But since we've been cooped up for so long our CO decided to give us the weekend off before we move to Stage 2. But that's a little more relaxed, so we will be able to get off base every now and then."

"So Gia and Summer are pilots too?"

"Sure are. Are you here on work as well?"

"Yes, Dillon and I are here to talk to some people about a potential business deal. But they're mainly old world suits so, we needed to get out of there for a while."

"Sounds like fun," Sky offered making Eric chuckle.

"Occupational hazard."

"Yeah, We all have those, don't we?"

Eric nodded as silence followed. "How are Marcus and Scott doing?" he asked, but regretted it as soon as he said it.

"As far as I know, Marcus is still in a coma and Scott should have started rehab by now. Taylor might know more though."

"Right," Eric mumbled as he backed off, remembering why he wanted to avoid the subject in the first place.

When they got to the bar, the others had already claimed a table and discarded their jackets. One drink soon turned to two and listening to the four pilots toss comments around turned into enjoyable conversation. What surprised Eric most was seeing Dillon let his guard down so easily but he could see why. Summer didn't let him get away with cold brush offs while Taylor responded to his sarcasm with equal mirth. Gia and Sky weren't pushovers either and made things a lot more interesting.

For the most part Eric avoided speaking to Taylor directly and several times caught himself trying to get a better glimpse of her hands and forced himself to look away. He caught Dillon's curious eyes once or twice but luckily Summer proved to be a good enough distraction.

"Anyone fancy a game of pool?" Sky asked as he left his seat, making a beeline for the empty pool table in the corner.

"Sure, why not?" said Gia, as she grabbed her glass as she got out of her seat.

"I'm in," Dillon threw in. "Summer?"

"I would gladly show all of you how the game is played but I'm afraid all I'll be doing is watching," she replied, as he helped her out of her seat.

"Why don't you give them some pointers, I'm sure the guys could use 'em," Taylor suggested, leaning back into her seat.

"I take it you're not joining the game," Dillon prodded.

"Sorry, pool's not my game," she admitted. "But you guys have fun."

Once the four of them had left the table Taylor turned to Eric with a quizzical glance."I thought pool would be right up your street."

"You would think that, wouldn't you?" he replied, avoiding her gaze. "And you'd be right," he conceded when she raised an eyebrow at his reply. "I've been playing since I was ten but I don't really play unless I have to," he finished looking back at the table where Dillon was lining up for a shot.

"I see, so that leaves us with a bit of a situation, doesn't it?"

When he didn't say anything she leaned forward resting her elbows on the table and entwining her fingers so that she could rest her chin over them. "Tell me Mr. Myers, do you think we could manage a conversation without one of us losing our heads?"

Eric's lips twisted into a smirk as he turned, meeting her eyes for the first time that evening. There was a playful confidence in them that banished any awkwardness he had predicted. His eyes traced her fingers, and he felt himself relax just a little when he realised they were bare and the only thing around her neck were her dog tags. For some reason he felt lighter.

"Well our track record does speak for itself, but I suppose we could give it a shot Lieutenant," he replied.

Taylor smiled and nodded making him wonder how she could be so at ease, especially after the way they left things. But he meant what he said, he really wanted to avoid getting into an argument with her and just maybe have an actual conversation.

"You must be happy to be back at work?" he ventured.

Her smile widened and she nodded as she played with the glass in front of her. "I am. I haven't really been able to get in the air since we got here. But that changes soon, so plenty to look forward too. What about you? Dillon's of the opinion that you're wasting his time."

He sipped his drink and set in down at the table and stared at it for a moment before turning to her again. "I probably am. We were supposed to be talking about a proposal but these all people are interested in wining and dining us until we give them the answer they want. I didn't want to turn down the idea without actually understanding it but I'm beginning to think coming here was a bad idea."

"Why arrange a meeting with people who don't want to listen?" she asked, as she leaned back into her chair once again.

"It was a request from my aunt, well she's not really my aunt, just a close family friend, either way, I thought as a courtesy to her I could at least listen to it. Dillon's here to make things more official."

"Is this the infamous Lady Necrolai Pimvare we're talking about?"

Eric's fingers slipped off his glass as his eyes narrowed just a bit. "You've heard of her?"

She nodded as she set her glass down on the table. "Dr. Adler and Cole mentioned her. She's funding their research."

"She is," he nodded. "It's a bit of a deviation from her usual investments but then again Necrolai pretty much does what she wants and always has a reason for doing it whether the rest of us understand it or not."

"She sounds like a dangerous woman," Taylor commented.

"I suppose she is," Eric replied, turning away to watch their friends at the table. Necrolai was not someone he liked to talk about and Taylor seemed to pick up on that as she immediately changed the subject asking about his sister. He offered her a grateful smile before replying.

"Maddie's good. She's back at college and is already as busy as ever."

"I see, she's interested in films, right?"

"Yes, she's pretty much made a documentary out of our lives ever since she got her first camera. She's happy, so I'm not complaining. What about your sisters?"

He was surprised to see her hesitate, turning away as she fidgeted with her fingers. He could tell that she was thinking about what to say. He'd seen how protective she was of them and wondered if all was okay. He was about to ask but she beat him to it.

"They're fine. Jen was actually in Silver Hills recently visiting our aunt and uncle. But otherwise its business as usual for them."

"Oh… I had no idea. Although, I've either been at the office or at home, being gone for most of the summer left me with a lot of people to appease."

"I can imagine."

"And how is everyone else? Sky mentioned tat Scott's doing a lot better," He prodded.

"Everyone is a little vague, don't you think? But I haven't heard of any major calamities so I assume they're all doing well. Marcus being the exception. According to my dad, his condition has changed at all, as for Scott all I know is that he's started on rehab, but that was a while ago."

Her reply took him by surprise. Sure, the two of them had not behaved like a couple but he had assumed they were close. While she had never spoken about him directly her sisters and Katie had always hinted at them being a couple. And he had definitely heard him propose.

"Aren't you in touch? I thought the two of you were close? Well actually I thought… never mind, it's none of my business."

"What?" she asked, sitting up a little straighter. He hesitated, unsure if he should say anything. But she didn't look like she was letting it go either.

"Well…," she prodded.

"I kind of thought you guys were engaged," he relented.

"Wha… That was you by the door, wasn't it?" she stated more than asking, her wide as she stared him down.

Eric flashed back to meeting her eyes across the room before he backed out to give them their privacy. It all happened so quickly he wasn't sure she saw him, but apparently she did and he wasn't going to deny it either and silently nodded. "Uncle Allan and I came to say goodbye and I might have walked in at the wrong time."

"So you heard him pop the question and didn't stick around for the answer yet assumed we would be engaged," she stated fixing him with an accusatory glare.

"We were in a hurry and it was a private moment, we didn't want to intrude. But yes I did assume because, well everyone always said you two were close."

Once again she surprised him when she laughed. She fiddled with her glass for a moment before looking up at him with a smile. "People need to mind their own business," she grumbled. "We were friends, that's it, at least I thought so. I probably should have taken the teasing a little more seriously and put an end to this a long time ago. But yes Scott proposed and I turned him down. There was just no way I could say yes to that."

"I see. My apologies for jumping to conclusions," he replied, returning her smile.

"You don't have to apologise. Almost everyone thought I'd say yes or at least expected me to. If my mother had her way I'd be Mrs. Truman by now," she shuddered at the thought.

"Complicated situation then?"

"Honestly? I'm not sure it is. But my mother being my mother feels the need to add a little drama to everything. Scott's mad at me of course but the Colonel's pretty sure once he gets a handle over the PTSD he'll come around, but even if he doesn't there is nothing I can do about it."

"I'm sure he will. You two have known each other too long for him to stay too mad at you. He's just reeling at the moment. If he cares about you, and I'm sure he does, he'll respect your decision."

"This from someone who barely knows him?" she quipped. But she was still smiling, so he was at least sure that he hadn't upset her and just shrugged in reply. "Thank you though."

In that moment, something changed, he was definitely more at ease but Taylor too seemed to relax, like she needed to hear that even though she had already made her decision. Whatever it was they were tip toeing around didn't seem to matter anymore and they actually moved on to talking about things that interested them, reminding him just how similar they could be.

By the time the others returned to the table, Eric had moved to the seat beside her and while they were back to throwing snarky remarks at each other but they were both smiling. Something that didn't go unnoticed by their friends.

"You two seem to be having a lot of fun," Dillon interrupted as he sat down.

"Just be glad that they're not trying to kill each other," Sky pointed out, though Eric didn't miss the look the he shot Taylor, which she brushed off with a simple shrug.

"Huh? Why would they want to kill each other?" Gia prodded, looking between them.

Eric turned to Taylor and they both laughed. "Let's just say we have a history of biting each other's heads off," Eric offered, to which Taylor added, "That's putting it lightly."

"Really," said Dillon as he sild into the seat closer to Taylor and leaned forward. "Tell me more."

So Eric and Taylor meet again. How will things pan out this time? Stay tuned to find out.

In the meantime, please do leave a review to share your thoughts.

Till next time...