A/N: Well hopefully the site has stopped glitching now! So if you had problems accessing chapter 17 yesterday, then hopefully it's there today, along with this new one too :)

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Tuesday evening.

"Evening, Shepard."

Guess running into Myers like this shouldn't really be such a shock, being as it's not the first time I've ever seen him here. But not like this, looking like he's more than one of the crowd. 'Cause there he is, the boss of the River Kings, sat on the corner of the desk like he fucking owns the place while he idly flicks through the pile of letters and bills on the table top.

Really, really want to punch him right now, and from the smirk on his face I reckon he knows it—same as he's well aware that I won't start anything, not here in front of Leigh or her old man. Not when all Wayne's buddies are only a few feet away, down the hall. I might be a lot of things, but we both know I ain't quite that foolish.

"Wayne." Focus on the second hand of the clock on the wall behind him as it ticks by, try not to think about Curly or Nick, or any of the other shit he's done to me. Instead I push my hands a little deeper into my pockets, remind myself that it's not worth starting something now anyway, because after Thursday night things are gonna be sorted, once and for all. "What the hell you doing in here?"

"Same as you I'd imagine, waiting on Leigh." He pauses, for a second or two, not looking away. "She's a real nice girl."

"So?"

"So it'd be a damn shame if she was to get caught up in any trouble."

Jesus. Thought Myers would have some standards at least, would play by the rules.

"She ain't a part of this, don't know nothing about any of it, so you damn well leave her alone."

He laughs a little. " Seems I touched a nerve there, Tim."

"Just keep her out of it, Myers."

"Or what? What d'you think you're gonna do to me?" he asks, grinning again. "Rumour has it that you've barely got an outfit left these days. So you might as well give it all up and admit defeat right now, realise when you're beaten. Oh, and how's that brother of yours doing? Heard he got himself locked up again?"

But before I can respond to that jibe Leigh walks in, glances back and forth between the pair of us and then smiles quickly at me. "Hi, Tim, thought I saw you come in." She's definitely not so happy to see Myers though, and she frowns at him. "You need some help with something there, Wayne?" she asks, gathering up the paperwork away from him and shoving it in a drawer.

"Just came to settle up, sweetheart," he says, grinning as he slowly gets to his feet, pulls some cash from his pocket and hands it to her.

"This only for you, or are you paying for Pete too?"

"Yeah, for both of us, brothers need to look out for each other, ain't that right, Tim?"

Takes all my strength to ignore him and keep my mouth shut as I watch for what feels an eternity. Leigh takes his money, counts it, then scribbles a note in one of the ledgers, tears a receipt from the small book and hands it back to him.

"Thanks as always, Leigh." She nods, while he turns back to me. "See you around, Shepard."

Can't even trust myself to reply though as everything goes round in my head, all that he said tonight, all that he's done. I glare at him as he strolls out the door until finally her voice and the warmth of her hand on my arm brings me back round to reality.

"...Tim? So how come you're here? Is everything okay, are you feeling alright?"

Try to smile, relax a little. "Yeah, everything's fine, just wanted to see you, thought we could do something."

"Oh. Okay. What was all that with Wayne? I mean it's pretty obvious that you two aren't friends, but was he trying to wind you up or is there something else going on as well?"

"It's nothing, but I don't trust him, Leigh. He ain't a good guy, and I don't like that you have to be around him." I know it sounds ridiculous and I doubt she really believes me 'cause she sure as hell isn't stupid, knows enough about what I do to realise that I'm no saint either. But I really don't want her knowing everything that's been going on, don't want this thing we've got—what's quite possibly the only good thing in my life right now—being tainted by any of that.

"You sure you're okay then, don't have anything more you want to share with me?"

Shake my head, try to hide my distaste at the whole thing, force myself to smile properly. "It's nothing, forget it." Opt instead for trying to change the subject. "So where d'you want to go?"

~oOo~

If anyone had said to me a few months back that I'd have actually missed spending time with some girl and listening to her telling me all the shit that's happened in her day then I'd have flat out laughed. Only as we sit here in Jay's and Leigh hops randomly from subject to subject as she talks about a dozen different things, it hits me how glad I am we sorted this.

So how's the job going?" Although she don't say it outright I know she thinks it's a good thing that I've got some regular work these days, and that I'm managing to stick with it. Not that I got much choice on that front with the way things are at home.

"Yeah, it's pretty good."

Can't stand it really, realised a long time ago that I'm not exactly cut out for being told what to do all day, especially when it's something as mindless as what I'm doing, but at least it's guaranteed cash every Friday and Lord knows I need that right now. Turns out Harry didn't get his hours cut this time. Apparently he's been late one time too often 'cause he's been laid off for good and it don't seem like he's in any hurry to find himself anything else either. Although at least him fucking up has given Ma something other than me to focus her attentions on this week.

"That's good." And I'm kind of relieved she don't push no further on that – until I hear what she says next, that is. "Oh, almost forgot, I saw Nick earlier. He was asking me how you were doing, after everything last weekend. You guys still not speaking then?"

Just shrug. "Ain't seen him around in a while."

"Well, from what he said it seems Sylv's still a real mess over it all. He's pretty worried about her. That's why I'm aiming to go see her later."

"Thought she had that new guy these days and didn't care about Winston no more anyway?"

"Well yeah, but I suppose it must still have been a shock and I don't think she even really believed it at first. But don't forget she spent a whole lot of time with Dal, probably still would have been with him if he hadn't acted like such a jerk. Anyways, Nick asked me to go see her. And as I wasn't expecting to see you I said I'd go tonight."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, so I guess I ought to make a move soon. You reckon you could drop me at Sylv's?"

"Sure I can't change your mind? You could go see her tomorrow or something instead?" Slip my arm around her shoulders and kiss her, hold her real close.

"Sounds tempting but I promised, Tim."

"You sure?"

"Sorry. But you know I'm not going to change my mind. She's been my friend forever, and I need to help her out with this. So there's no point in us fighting over it, is there?"

"No, let's get going then." And despite my moody tone, I guess I do get it really, give in and head out the building, hold the door open for her.

"We could always go someplace tomorrow night? And we'll have the whole weekend together as well. That is if you still want to see me?" Leigh asks, then leans in and whispers to me exactly how she might make it worth my while if I agree, before slipping away, smiling, towards the car.

I grin across at her. "Sounds good. And I've got a few things I can finish up tonight anyways."

"Yeah?" She turns and frowns at me now. "Like what?"

Shrug a little, like it's no big deal. Figure that I might as well keep myself busy and that now is maybe as good a time as any to go tap up Merrill, see if he's got any jobs going I can get in on to make a few extra dollars.

"Just stuff."

"Really?"

Clearly she don't believe me, watches me as I drive, while I keep my eyes firmly on the road, don't need her trying to figure out what the hell is going on in my head right now.

"Hey, I'll be careful alright? It's nothing major and you don't need to worry about me, babe."

Leigh rolls her eyes at that. "God, you sound exactly like my Dad now. Don't worry, you don't need to be concerned, I'm alright, everything'll be fine."

"That's 'cause it will be. You know I can take care of myself. So we'll go out tomorrow then?"

"Promise?"

"Yeah, I promise."

Pull up the car close to Nick's place, then turn to her again and kiss her a whole lot more, my hands wandering, and God I wish she was staying, disappointed when she eventually moves away.

"See you tomorrow then, Leigh."

"You sure you don't want to come say hello to Nick before you go?"

"No, don't think I'd be all that welcome."

"Well take care, alright? I'll see you real soon." And she pushes open the car door and steps out onto the street, then walks around, leans in through the open window and kisses me one last time.

~oOo~

Waiting at the traffic signals a few blocks from Buck's I recognise the car that turns out, and all that business from earlier crowds back into my mind. Combines with my anger, my guilt, my hatred of Wayne Myers and all he's ever done to me and the people around me.

Interested in why he's around this part of town and where he's going I find myself ignoring my turning, trailing his motor instead. Because honestly, all I can think of is finishing this. Things have been personal for a while now, even more so after he fitted up Curly, so me seeing him here tonight when I've time on my hands must mean something. It has to, 'cause the chances of actually coming across him without his brother, or Fry, or any the rest his gang is one in a million.

And I guess that's reason enough to convince me to ignore the sensible option, the plan I've got all worked out. The one that's meant to go down two days from now.

Reason enough for me to park up and follow him as he heads along the sidewalk, turns into a side street.

Because one way or another this all ends here, tonight.

A/N: Thanks for reading, I hope you're still enjoying it! There's only one more chapter left to go, which I'll hopefully be able to post up tomorrow :)