A/N: Thank you all so much for the reviews and faves. I hope you enjoy this chapter as well.

Chapter 4: "Can I Get That to Go?"

She tries not to get annoyed at the looks that the man is getting as he stumbles into her store. Someone outside glares at the cart that's left in front as if it's a personal offence to them.

Toni already has a cup of coffee ready for him as he gets close to the counter. "Good morning, Clive! Coffee?" She places it on the counter in front of him. He can make the choice. "What brings you in today?"

He's muttering under his breath, twitching slightly until the store is empty. Then he straightens slightly and looks at her. "Heard you've had a visitor," he says. "The King wanted us to check up on you. You alright?"

Her smile softens slightly at the genuine concern. "I'm fine. It was nothing I can't handle." She glances over at the vase of flowers that are sitting prominently on her counter. The oleander, trefoil and blackthorn look like a simple arrangement of pink, yellow and white flowers if it wasn't for the meaning they held. The flowers were a warning of revenge with some protection. Riya had harvested them off of the body when Toni called her and Fiona to deal with the intruder's corpse. It was the most efficient way and once Riya and Fiona were done with helping break the organic material down and taking all that they could use, Toni allowed the small remains to sink into the floor and help charge the wards.

Fiona had teased her mercilessly, letting an intruder in because she was distracted by a man. She took it with the good nature it was intended, but it didn't stop her from blushing or from Riya joining in to tease. It wasn't that she was distracted by John. He had just drawn the man here without meaning to. It didn't matter though because this place was hers.

"Can I get you something to eat?" she offers, pulling herself out of her thoughts.

"Always," he grins at her, proudly showing the gap in his teeth.

She checks his aura for a moment before reaching into the right section and drawing out a large savoury bread. It is charmed with the comfort of home and security. It's always bread that brings that out the best. "You want a box?" He shakes his head and she plates it on some wax paper before sliding it over to him.

"We just want you to be safe," he says after taking a bite. "Gotta look out for one of the few decent people around here. 'Sides, anything happens to you and who'd feed us like this?" he takes another bite and she can't help but laugh at the enthusiasm.

"Well, thank you," she says. "I'm glad you enjoy it."

She waits while he eats. There's no rush and if her customers don't want to enter while he's in here, then they don't need the sanctuary she provides. He takes a sip of the coffee, eyes closing as he drinks before he finally wipes his mouth and looks at her.

"Seriously, though. Why was John Wick in your store?"

She's tempted to tease but he looks too serious. She can see the worry around him. "Tell him that John was looking for sanctuary. I welcomed him back."

"He's a dangerous man," Clive says. "At war with the Table, alongside our king."

Now that was interesting news, but she wasn't concerned about the High Table. "We're all dangerous in different ways, aren't we?" she gave a smile. "I am not worried about John or what comes to my door. He's a friend." Maybe. She doesn't say that part though and she doesn't know if they saw the way he left last time after her wards reacted to the threat against him.

Clive leans a bit closer. "I've heard he killed three men with a pencil," he says.

"Impressive but can he call a storm?" Not that she could, not alone. Only a weather witch really had that power. Clive blinks at her and she grins in response. He cracks out a wheezing laugh, accepting her teasing with faux disbelief. "I'll be fine, Clive. Thank you for your concern. Tell your king that I'll come see him soon. I'll bring food, okay?" She turns and grabs the pot of coffee. "Let me refill you before you go."

He holds the cup out and she pours in the coffee, thanking that cups themselves hold small charms to help keep it warm.

She pauses for a moment and looks up to see John standing in the doorway taking stock of the situation before he comes inside.

"Come back if you're cold out there, okay?" she tells Clive. "You want something else before you go? Dessert?"

He smiles again but shakes his head. "I'll be alright. I'll pass it on."

"Thank you," she smiles.

Clive turns to leave and hesitates at the sight of John. "Wick," he greets before shifting back into the persona he kept on for the general public. By the time he passed John and opened the door, he was back to mumbling under his breath and avoiding eye contact with the people walking by.

Toni watches Clive for a moment before she tries to mentally fortify herself and looks at John. She smiles with ease she doesn't entirely feel. "Hi, John! Can I get you anything?"

He stares at her for a moment before he speaks. "You know the Bowery King?" he nods towards the door where Clive just left.

"We've met," she says. "This is going to be a long discussion, isn't it? You want some coffee?"

"No."

She looks at him, trying to decipher his reaction. "I don't know what you're thinking but I haven't done anything to it, aside from charms to keep it fresh and warm."

"Charms?"

"Hold on. Let me close the place before we talk. That way we don't have to worry about people walking in." She moves around the counter, aware of his eyes on her. It doesn't take long to flip the sign and lock the door before she moves back to her counter. "Yes, charms. It's simple magic. Most of the food is charmed to give people a sense of something. Usually, it's like...comfort, belonging...that's why I choose for people. I pick things they need. It's not harmful."

He gives her a look that says he doesn't believe her.

"I know, I know," she says. "I won't do you a disservice and try to pretend you didn't see what happened last time. You asked me once if I had a lot of people come here looking for shelter. The answer is yes. This shop is a sanctuary. I protect those who seek it."

"And the electricity?"

"The wards react to threats when someone is not welcome. I have to protect this place and the people who find sanctuary here. I warned him to leave. He had a chance and didn't take it. That was his choice. You want to sit?" she asks, motioning to one of the small tables. She leaves the seat open that allows him to face the door but sits down and faces him. "What do you want to know, John?"

"How do you choose?" he asks. "You said you know what they need. How?"

"I can see people's auras." She pauses, trying to figure out how to explain. "I've been able to do it since I was a kid and I can't...I can't stop or control it. So I try to put it to good use." She can still see the hesitation in him. "I always ask. People can say no. It's their choice."

He stares at her for a moment, assessing what she just told him.

"Is it just you?"

"No." He looks a bit surprised at that and she can't help but smile. "There's many of us across the world. Not all like me, of course," she says. "But we are guided by our Council." That catches his attention and she's quick to relieve the sudden stress that spikes through his aura. "It's nothing like the High Table," she says. "They have a truce between them but even then, they don't involve each other in their affairs."

"I shouldn't be here."

"You're fine, John. Like I said, this place is a Sanctuary but one of mine. Regardless of why you're running, it's safe here."

"You saying you're not dangerous?"

"Like everyone else you spend time with?" she teases. "As long as you have no plans to harm either me or this place, no harm will come to you. I so swear." She kisses her thumb and shows it to him. It's an old tradition but one that still sticks. It's a sworn promise and one that means she's serious.

John finally sits down across from her. He shifts his seat somewhat so that he has more of an eye line on both exits. "How do I know if I meet...someone like you?"

"A witch?" She shrugs. "You won't. Not unless they reveal themselves to you somehow. Either on purpose or by accident. Most are careful though not to."

"You did."

"I did," she agrees. "Like I said, I protect this place." She carefully glances at his aura, reading the disbelief that traces it but is getting overpowered by curiosity and wariness.

"Did you know who I was when I came in?"

"Nope," she says easily. It's not a lie. "I could tell that you needed help, after all, you did jump my counter. But that's it."

"But you know now."

She shrugs. "I know your name and that you might be in a war with the High Table, but that has nothing to do with me."

"Why do you keep helping me?"

"Have I been helping? I didn't realize." She looks at him carefully for a moment. "You haven't had a lot of people be kind to you, have you?" It's not exactly the right thing to say because she can see hurt lace through his aura at it. "Sorry." She waves a hand in his general direction. "You're a good man. I can tell."

"You wouldn't say that if you knew what I've done?"

"We've all done something, or did you forget you're talking to a woman who killed a man for intruding in her store? He's not the first either. Actions don't always match your heart but as long as you know what you want and you still try, even when limited, you're okay."

He stands up at that. "You don't know."

She leans back in her chair. "Alright, do your dance. It's fine. You're not the first to ignore what I see."

"I'm not?"

"People are uncomfortable with the fact that I know about them just from looking at them. It was worse when I was young but...it doesn't bother me. I have my family and friends and I help people who need it."

John stares at her for a moment before he nods. "Okay." He moves towards the door and she watches him unlock it before he leaves. She sighs but gets up and flips her sign back to open. She isn't too surprised. It's a lot to take in. Still, she hopes he comes back.

[tbc]