Chapter 35
"Hey, Dom." Jesse greeted as Dominic stormed in. He waved and headed for the living room. Tempest and some people he didn't know where in there. He noticed a
small plastic baggie
Tempest had in her hand and that was his last straw."Tempest, I need to talk to you." Dominic said, his anger running through his veins.
"See ya guys later." Tempest nodded, putting her money in her pocket. She knew by Dominic's looks that he was not happy.
"What the hell are you doin?" He asked angrily. Tempest stared at him, not knowing what to say. Dominic backed her into a corner, his rage showing in his every
muscle on his body.
"Dom, you better check yourself before you wreck yourself." Tempest warned, not at all intimidated by his huge body.
"Don't start your bullshit with me." Dominic warned, shaking his head.
"You started this conversation, remember?" She asked hotly.
"I got a problem with you..." He started but Tempest interrupted him too quickly.
"Yeah, you've always had a problem with me, so what?" She asked, her temper taking over.
"You have issues with your drugs, Tempest. Not in my house, no more. Do you got that?" Dominic asked, his voice cold.
"I don't think that is the problem, Dominic. I think your problem is me. Cause you don't seem to care about Ice or Tiffany. You are hella naive if you think they aren't
as involved as I am in this." Tempest challenged.
"I think it is your damn attitude." Dominic shot back. "Yu and tiffany keep working her hard and make me look bad." He accused.
"You make your damn self look bad." Tempest shook her head, tossing around the idea to knee him in her head if he didn't move soon.
"How is that, Miss Know it all?" He asked, not moving.
"You're all tripin on her about taking it easy and not letting her work on getting better." Tempest said, knowing she had just struck a nerve.
"Well, you don't gotta worry about me or her anymore cause we're done." Dominic said, walking away.
"Maybe your pity pushed her away." Tempest suggested, not really caring at this point if she hurt him. He was acting like a jackass.
"Maybe. No more drugs in my house. Just cause you have a personal pharmacy doesn't' t mean you have the right to share it." He said.
"Answer me this, then. Why aren't ya trippin on anyone else?" She folded her arms.
"Because it's my house and I can do what I want." He yelled and stormed off upstairs.
"Whatever. That's all kindsa fucked up." She sighed, walking to her car to go for a drive. She thought about it and went back inside, her spirits down. She tried not
to think about all the stuff that was going on and sat down on the couch, exhausted.
"Hey, you okay?" Leon asked, about five hours later, shaking Tempest. She had fallen asleep and was shaking in her sleep.
"I guess." She sighed, closing her eyes again. She wondered how Jordan was doing at the hospital. Then she remembered her discussion with Dominic. Ice would be
pissed at her for slipping up.
"No, you're not. Talk to me." Leon looked at her in the eyes.
"What do you care? You think I am a thief. Why would you even bother to see if I am ok?" She asked, rubbing her eyes. She was on the verge of a breakdown, all
the stress piling up into one big mess.
"Hey, I never said that." He said softly, worried about her and her saddened tone.
"You didn't have to. I got your message loud and clear." Tempest said, not moving from the couch.
"I am sorry, Tempest. I guess I don't trust new people. I can be a jackass of some sorts." He said earnestly, looking into her eyes. He felt his knees go weak as he
stared into them. His face flushed, hoping she couldn't read his thoughts.
"I can tell who you get it from." Tempest said, still not willing to give in.
"Dom's upset. He and J broke up. He is gonna take it out on all of us for a while." Leon said, hoping Tempest wasn't tuning him out. "You're exhausted, aren't you?"
He asked, moving a strand of hair out of her face. She smiled to his surprise. He grinned back at her. "You wanna come lay with me upstairs and get a good night's
sleep?" He asked, keeping his hand on her smooth feeling face.
"I'm okay." She said quietly.
"Come on. No intentions here, I promise. You look like you could use a good message and a good night's sleep." He offered. She shook her head, trying her best not
to give in. He picked her up with no protests and took her to his room. "Just let me give you a message. I'll sleep downstairs if it will make you feel better." He
promised.
"You don't have to do that. It's your room." Tempest laughed at his shyness. He began messaging her shoulders and she relaxed, feeling as though she was in
heaven.
"Talk to me. What's goin on?" He asked, working his way down her back.
"Everything. I don't even wanna go there." She sighed, closing her eyes.
"Dom is pissed at me. Not that it matters cause none of you guys liked me anyways." She started to doze off.
"That's not true. We just give you shit cause we can." Leon said, lying beside her. He grinned at her and she returned the grin. Maybe he was a descent guy, she
thought to herself sleepily. "Go to sleep." He said, playing with her hair. She smiled. He slyly put his arm around her and held her close. She smiled, half asleep and
snuggled closer to him. She breathed in his scent of grease, oil, and cologne, and drifted off to sleep happily. He stared at her peaceful expression and smiled to
himself, happy he had the guts to pull her close to him. It just felt so natural.
"Jordan, where are you going?" Tiffany whispered, checking her watch. Jordan was up, on crutches, and on her way out of the room.
"To the therapy room. Go back to sleep, please." She said, having trouble opening the door and getting out. Tiffany stood up and stretched.
"No. Didn't the doctor say no therapy for a week?" She folded her arms. Jordan nodded, hanging her head.
"I have to keep working, Tiff. You know it as well as I do. Please go along with me. I promise I can handle it. Dom and I broke up and if it kills me I am gonna be at
wars." Jordan said so determined Tiffany didn't see how she could argue.
"You are so gonna get me in trouble with Brian and Dom." She shook her head.
"Just Brian and that is if he finds out." Jordan smiled as she hobbled down the hall. She was glad Tiffany was so cool to understand.
"What happened with you and Dom?" Tiffany asked, stopping at the vending machines for a drink. She got Jordan a Pepsi and herself a Dr. Pepper.
"He's trippin out on me. Mad cause I tried to walk without crutches and stuff. Then he threw Tej in there and all hell broke loose." Jordan stopped, taking a deep
breath and fighting back the tears.
"I'm sorry, J. He loves you." Tiffany said as Jordan hobbled into the therapy room. She sat down in her usual place, fighting to stay awake.
"Has a funny way of showing it." Jordan frowned. An attendant walked in, making Jordan dread what was coming next.
"What is your name?" She asked, looking at her clipboard. She didn't look like the normal kind of hospital worker, Jordan noticed. She was tall, had purple blackish
hair and her eyes had purple contacts. She seemed pretty cool.
"I ..." Jordan stammered, wondering what she should say. "Look, I'm not supposed to be in here but I have to be. I need to get my workout and my doctor is being a
jerk." Jordan blurted out. The girl looked shocked, but then smiled.
"It's okay as long as you have an adult around, Girl. I'm Diego. You can call me Di." The girl shook Jordan's hand. "Just don't overdo it." She smiled.
"Thank you." Jordan breathed a sigh of relief. "Are you new here?" She asked, curious. The girl nodded.
"I am a physical therapy assistant. In fact, you're on my list for tomorrow." She said. "You seem to be doing good. Better than what your doctor said, anyway." She
knelt down beside Jordan, watching her knee and leg. Jordan kept staring at her, wondering what it was about her that made her seem so likable. She reminded
her of someone but she couldn't put her finger on it.
"Yeah, I don't think he likes me too much. I think it was ever since he pointed his finger at me and I threatened to bite it off." Jordan grinned, ignoring the pain in her
leg. It was do or die time. She had only a week and a half to get out of the hospital and she was determined she wasn't gong to fail. She would be there whether
Dominic liked it or not. IF he was going to be with some pretty skank that wasn't all scarred, she was going to be there to see it and call him on it.
"You seem a little high strung but I don't think he should be an ass." Diego smiled, changing Jordan's position on her knee. "Does it hurt really bad?" She asked as
Jordan fought to increase herself. She shook her head.
"Crap, J. Brian's here. I am gonna go stall him." Tiffany yawned, looking at her phone that he had text messaged her on. Diego looked at Jordan questioningly.
"Brian is my brother. " Jordan stopped sadly, upset at the events that had happened earlier with Dominic.
"Brian doesn't know you're down here?" Diego asked sympathetically. Jordan nodded, getting back to work. Sweat was pouring down her forehead now, the
workout and the pain trying to dominate her will.
"Hey, Bri." Tiffany kissed her boyfriend. He kissed her back, still walking towards Jordan's room. "She is fast asleep. Let's go home. Roman and Tej are on their way
up here." She smiled at him.
"Asleep, huh?" Brian kissed Tiffany again, wishing he could believe her. He knew that the girls covered for each other and he had a feeling this time was no different.
He opened the door to find the empty bed. He looked at Tiffany, waiting for an explanation.
"She is ..." Tiffany tried to stall, for once not knowing how to answer. She could tell by Brian's face that he was a little more than upset.
"Doing something she is not supposed to do?" He asked, looking into his girl friend's eyes. She looked away.
"Why would you understand? You're a guy." She shook her head, becoming defensive. Brian looked at her like she had lost her mind.
"A guy? I don't think that is the reason at all. The point is she should be in bed and on bed rest for a full week." Brian said, his voice almost yelling. He knew he was
going to set Tiffany off.
"Tell that to an O'Connor. They don't listen most of the time." Tiffany said and started to walk off. "She is related to you, ya know." She said and started towards the
room Jordan was in.
"Tiff, wait." Brian said, regretting his words now. Her point had made him think. She held up her hand and kept walking. He jogged to catch up to her. Her pace was
more than a walk by now, her temper controlling it. "I'm sorry. You are right." He said, stopping her and turning her by the shoulders to get her to look at him. He
kissed her. She tried to resist but couldn't.
"You know how bad J wants out of this place. Therapy is the only thing that is holding her to hopes of making it out of here. She is not gonna give in being at Wars,
especially after her and Dom broke up." Tiffany said, trying to stay mad. Brian looked down, his head starting to hurt. "Let's go home and let her do her thing." She
suggested. He nodded, surprising her.
"Who is gonna stay with her?" He asked, hesitating half way out of the exit door.
"I am, Homie." Roman came up behind him, holding a sack of Taco Bell food. Tiffany and Brian both laughed. "Don't laugh at me. A boy has to eat." He shrugged. Tej
came in behind him, taking off his wind suit jacket. He grinned at the sight of Brian hanging on Tiffany, all smiles.
"Don't be giving J any shit, you two." Tiffany instructed, giving them her sternest look. Tej tried to be serious. "She is not happy. Her and Dom broke up and the
doctor is being a major ass." Tiffany warned. Tej's smile disappeared, knowing how upset Jordan would be at the fact they had broken up.
"We'll be good. Is she okay?" Tej asked, truly concerned.
"She is. Just don't be trying to baby her or she is gonna be pissed." Tiffany said, jabbing Brian in the ribs. He looked at her in surprise. "Yeah, you should be listening
too." She laughed at his innocence.
"Let's go." He said, leading her out the door.
"You comfortable?" Diego asked Jordan, helping her into the bed. Jordan nodded, putting the ice she had been given on her leg.
"Thanks, Di." Jordan smiled Tej and Roman walked in. "This is Tej and Roman. Guys, this is Diego. She works here. Be nice." Jordan advised. Roman looked at the girl,
trying not in any way to be subtle. They smiled at each other, making Jordan smile. That was who Diego reminded her of. Roman. Maybe they would hook it up or
something, she thought.
"Nice to meet you. Jordan, you need anything for pain? I would take it now cause in three hours you'll be working out again." She advised, trying to keep her eyes
off of Roman. Tej hit Roman, wondering if he was making the poor girl nervous or uncomftable.
"I guess." Jordan sighed, taking the medicine that was handed to her. She laid back and looked at Tej. "What's wrong, Tej?" She asked, motioning for him to come
over to her.
"Nothin, Baby Girl. Just worried about you." He played with her hair, making her smile.
"Wanna lay beside me? I can't get to sleep." She admitted, scooting over to make room for her. He breathed in the smell of her peach body spray and lotion, and
couldn't turn down her invitation.
"You sure?" He asked, putting his arm around her and holding her close. Jordan smiled and tried to fight the drowsiness. In an instant, she was out.
"Boy, you better watch yourself." Roman advised, after Diego had left, shaking his head. Tej rolled his eyes.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Man." Tej tried not to look guilty. He was doing a poor job of it, though, Roman thought.