They pulled into a stop & John went back to check on Rose. She jumped when he first touched her, her eyes opened in fright. "Oh…hey.."
"Sorry bout that."
"It's ok I told you to. What time is it?"
"After six…Joe found a local dinner that allows busses. I hope that is ok?"
"It's fine. You should know that by now."
"Yeah, I'll meet you upfront." John turned leaving the sleep compartment. Rose made her way from the bed slipping her sneakers on then joining him.
They headed out & inside the place. They were quickly led to booth & orders placed. She was unsure what to order her stomach still felt in knots.
"Why don't you get something light on your system like a soup or salad?"
"Um…I guess a chef salad…no soup…"
"Oh yeah...ok…"
The waitress came over & they placed they orders. John got a coke & a bacon cheese burger. Rose got her salad & an ice tea. "God now I am sounding like one of the divas."
"Relax will ya?"
She just gave a light sigh trying to smile. "Sorry."
"You been through a lot it's ok." He reached over lightly taking her hand. She jumped at first.
"Um…John…" He looked down with a blush pulling his hand away. "It's ok…I'm reading too much into it."
"Um…yeah…"
"Aren't I?"
John shakes his head a bit. "It doesn't matter does it?"
"Yes it does…"
"You're a nice woman Jadie…you sacrifice so much for others…shit…I just hate seeing you so hurt & scared…." He tilts his head looking. "Speaking of hurt…um…"
Rose lightly bit her bottom lip. "I heal fast."
"Yeah I see that…let me guess another complex story?"
"Um…yeah…." John had no clue she had been drawing energy from the patrons carrying on around them. If she didn't she would have had to also explain her slowly turning into a silver fox.
"You know maybe you can sit down sometime & tell me these stories."
"John if some of the stuff I told you about before sound like a tale of fantasy…you will really think I had you walk into La la land." She reached for her tea that had just being brought. She added some sweetener to it before sipping some of it.
"It's ok I just want you to know you can trust me." He reached over taking her hand again. She slowly shifted her eyes up towards him. "Look I listened to everything you said before…it would be foolish for you to get invested in me because of my past…I have a feeling you would be worried if you did I would become like Wade."
She tried to smile as she finally lowered her eyes from his. "Lets just say I have a feeling somehow…somewhere there is the right match for me…someone unphased by my truths & unswayed by the evils lurking around."
"Jadie." John lifted her hand kissing it. "No offence…that sounds like a fantasy in itself. How is any human incorruptible? I get teased about being a damned boy scout…and well we saw what happened."
Their food was brought over & he let go of her hand. They slowly began to eat.
"Are you really sure you want to head down to Florida? You can be just as safe staying with me…"
"How?"
"If he is around break up with him…have him arrested…" John looks around. "We will talk more after dinner ok?" Jade nods & goes back to eating already know what John was hinting at. They tried to hold a little more small talk before John paid for their meal & they left. Once back on board John took her hand leading her to the back shutting the door.
"What you doing?" She asked as John turned toward her.
"Joe is good at keeping his mouth shut…but I am sure somethings you still don't want being heard."
Rose lowered her head before sitting. John moved sitting next to her. He gently placed his arm across her shoulders. She leaned against him. "Jadie…I know you said he can somehow get out…but if you are around me or at the arena & it is listed he was arrested…he can't get near you." He lightly rubbed her arm. "How can anyone look out for you if you hide off somewhere?"
"I don't know…I just know a jail cell won't stop him…also what about Wade & Sheamus…"
"Even if they didn't touch you…they had a hand in abducting you…you can't let them just get away with it."
"What If they are not to blame?"
"Can you make that call do you know for sure?"
"Well I know Wade tried to help us…"
"I don't know. I wish I did…I know you don't want Krys hurt…but will it help her if Wade stays free?"
"No…but if he is locked away…how can we help free him? How is it different then your own past."
"Shit." John looked down. "So you saying you think they are possessed? But on top of that Drew has some sort of powers?"
"No & yes."
"What?"
Rose gave a sigh as she stood up. "They are not possessed as much as…influenced."
"By what?"
"Sadly Drew…He is beyond possessed…his spirit had been consumed by vile darkness. Unlike you…there is no pulling him back." She lowered her head. "The thing is before that took place to him…he was a lot like I am…he just was not strong enough to fight the things we fight."
"You mean almost like what happened to you when you helped me? When you were gone for almost that month?"
She slowly raised her hand to her chest lowering her head. "In a way…but I continued to fight it even at the risk to myself…" She lifted her head back up. "Seems his spirit was not as strong & I did not know it till it was too late."
The bus jerked slightly causing her to get thrown off-balance & John quickly reached to steady her. "I got you."
"Yeah I see that." She tried to laugh. He helped her sit back down next to him.
"Jadie…you need to worry about yourself. I'll help you get Drew out of your life…as for Wade & Sheamus…well you can't help what happens. I don't know their story. We can make sure Drew is not a threat anymore to you…or anyone else." He tried not to sigh. "I'll even help you try to find out who your admirer is if you wish." He took a hand to turn her head gently. "I just want you to know he is not the only one that wishes to show you that you deserve to be loved & cared for."
"Thanks John." She tried not to laugh as his thoughts seemed almost screaming. He let go of her face & turned his head away lowering it.
"Um…sorry…"
"You will find the right girl John."
"Yeah…I thought that before…"
"What Krys?" John blushed. "And now Wade is in the way."
"And if not him…seems Jeff is coming back in…"
"OK so wondering…Krys & I are so different…if you still have these feelings about her…how could you have them about me?"
John shake his head. "I don't know…I guess they are not exactly the same…I care about both of you…you both attractive in your own ways…I want to look out for & protect you both even if in most cases you both are quite capable…maybe even better than I could do. I can understand & see why you would not be interested in me…"
"And why is that?"
"Well come on look at your track record hun….well before the current situation…you tend to go for the older guys…surprised people don't think you a gold digger…Taker…Sting…sheesh...OUCH!" He yelped when Rose backhanded him across the chest. He playfully rubbed the spot as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Fucking jerk…" she grumbled.
"Well I wouldn't mind the first part."
"Damned horn dog too." She stood up heading for the door.
"Come on Jadie I'm only joking with you." She stopped a moment. "Come on…sit…please." She looked back at him as he looked on with his big blue eyes so sorrowful.
"Puppy eyes really?"
"Hey they working?"
"I haven't decided yet."
John stood up moving towards her closing the small space between them. "I mean it I will help you find who this guy is sending you gifts…maybe some how find out if he is this mystery fit you are talking about."
He gently wraps his arms around her. "But till then…allow me to be your shelter…know you can come to me for help…for comfort…" He dimples pop slightly as he jokes. "Hey & if you get a certain itch I wouldn't mind scratching it for you."
"God damn you John." She had enough movement in his arms to hit his chest again. "So sweet then you need to turn it into a horn dog moment again. I can't fucking believe you."
John couldn't help but laugh as she didn't have enough space to get a good swing in. She then give a shutter & he wrapped his arms tighter around her.
"It's ok I have you Jadie…I'm joking…I would never force anything on you…poor joke on my part…forgive me…." She lightly nods a she seems to cling to him tighter. "Want to lay back down?" She nods again & she headed for the bed. As she walks around John starts to open the door.
"Stay with me?" She softly asks.
"What?"
"Come on John…you just made passes at me & you scared to share a bed, there is more than enough space, plus I doubt it will be the whole night."
"You sure?" She nods. "Um…shirt on or off?"
She tries not to chuckle. "Off I guess." She kicks her shoes off sliding into the far side of the bed. He sat on the side removing his sneakers before sliding the shirt off. He climbs in next to her & she slowly moves to curl next to him.
He wrapped on arm around her lightly stroking her hair. "I have you…just rest…you can may your final choice later…My sweet Jadie…well…Mine for safe keeping till we find your proper prince…how's that?"
"I guess I can deal with that…" she chuckles. "My faithful guard." She lightly jokes as she rests a hand on his chest.
"Yeah something like that." He tried not to sigh as he leaned down kissing her forehead as she slowly drifted off. He watched her for a bit knowing he was playing with fire…but how long till he got burned? Would he be able to let her leave so easily as he was making it sound if this mystery guy ever made himself known? He wondered would she take his offer to stay, or would she still go down to Florida?