Sophie sat beside Mick and held his hand gently as his eyes rolled to the back of his head. She knew he must be hurting terribly to actually ask for pain medication. Drugs made him feel weak and powerless and he hated it, Mick always had to be in control and while he was passed out from the drugs it made flashbacks of his past all too real.
It started off with just what looked like a restless sleep, alot of tossing and turning, Mick moving his head from side to side in a disturbed sleep as he muttered under his breath. Sophie gently stroked his hair even though she doubted it would make any difference.
It wasn't long before a light sweat appeared on Micks face and chest. It wasn't a secret to Sophie that Mick had been physically abused by his father and was still haunted by the murder of his sister. And when he was on medication these memories all came flooding back.
"Shhh it's OK Mick" She soothed, even though she had been with him for years, it seemed strange to comfort a serial killer having nightmares.
That's when the flashbacks got worse, Sophie had to take a step back for fear of getting hurt as Mick panicked in his sleep. She knew this was what caused him to kill people, Mick on a one man revenge hunt taking his hate and anger out on tourists paying them back for killing his sister, and torturing people to make them suffer as he had suffered at the hands of his father.
Mick looked like he had ran a marathon and gone to war all in one day once the drugs subsided.
"Hay how you feeling?" Sophie soothed, kissing his sideburn covered cheek. Mick felt too exhausted to protest.
"Never do that to me again" Mick growled in a whisper. No matter how much pain Mick was in, he vowed never to be drugged again.
Gradually Mick was able to find his feet again. It didn't help that to start off with he had to use a walking stick. This made him feel even more old and over the hill. He needed to prove to Sophie that there was still life in the old dog yet.
Mick threw his walking stick in the back of his truck, he'd always walked with a limp anyway. He was sick of the sight of that stick, he was tired of feeling old and weak.
"Mick are you sure you're well enough to go out? You don't need to rush into it you know" Sophie said really worried, knowing he was still limping in abit of pain.
"Stop lecturing me woman, I'm not some old codger you know!" Mick snapped.
"I just don't want you to hurt yourself even more.. I love you Mick I just care about you" Sophie said tiptoeing and kissing him on his sideburn covered cheek.
"Stop with that fluffy stuff girlie I'll be fine" Mick never had been one for romance and public affection.
"OK just be careful" Sophie warned giving him another kiss, Mick grumbled under his breath as he climbed into the truck. He did love it when she kissed him but he couldn't admit it could he?
Mick sat in his truck twiddling his thumbs, waiting for his chosen victim to come out of the tavern. He'd been watching her all night and she was a beauty.
Finally she left the tavern swaying slightly from alcohol and got into her car. She got in and drove off, Mick turned on his truck and followed her, waiting for her car to break down. After all he was doing everyone a favour means she was drinking and driving.
Suddenly the car came to a holt, the woman cursed and hit her hand on the steering wheel, she was in the middle of nowhere now what was she going to do. All of a sudden she was blinded by headlights in her mirror, she squinted as the truck came to a stop behind her and she saw a tall dark figure jump out and walk towards her.
The woman put her window down and Mick stuck his head through.
"Good day Sheila, you alright?"
"No my bloody cars broken down!" She cursed.
"pop your hood up, Let me have a look, see what we can do for ya" She popped the hood of her car up and Mick pretended to look in the bonnet. After all he knew exactly what the problem was.
"Yeah thought so starter motors gone" Mick shouted from inside the bonnet, the woman cursed to herself.
"Do you want the good news or the bad news?" Mick asked sticking his head through the window.
"What's the good news?" the woman sighed.
"the good news is I can fix it, bad news is we'll have to tow you back to my place" The woman sighed with frustration, she didn't want to go off with a complete stranger but what choice did she have? Reluctantly she agreed.
"There's water in my truck if you need some, you get in and I'll hook your car up" Mick said getting his tow rope.
The woman jumped in and started to drink some of the water.
Before long Mick jumped back into the car beside her.
"I didn't even ask your name" The woman said drinking the water.
"Mick Taylor, pig shooter and outback legend" Mick said grinning and laughed. He could see her eyes drooping. "And we're going to spend a nice few days together" Mick laughed as her head fell to the side unconscious. He'd got his next victim! He would show Sophie he'd still got it.