I am in the middle of a dream about a redheaded figure in green with gentle hands saving me from a wolf with a mohawk, when the horrible sound of incessant knocking brings me to wakefulness. When I finally, reluctantly open my eyes, I realize two things: I had slept better than I have in a long time and it I am in the bed of woman who is now haunting my dreams.
The knocking starts again, and with a growl I finally get out of bed. As I reach for the door to the bedroom, I hear footsteps move towards the sound of the knocking. I hear the click of the lock as Nicole opens the door. I chance a look out the window, but spot no one. I notice it is still dark outside. Who the hell would be knocking at this hour of the morning? And I thought no one else knew where Nicole lived?
As I move to open the bedroom door, I hear a voice that I immediately recognize. "Nicole! I heard that someone rescued a girl from Bobo again. I knew it could only be you. The person you saved, was it a short brunette woman?" Jeremy fires off rapidly.
Before Nicole can answer, I open the door and run over to my friend "Jeremy! I am so glad you are okay!" I exclaim with glee, embracing him tightly. Jeremy is surprised for a second, but then he enthusiastically returns my hug. "Waverly! I am so very glad you are okay!" He says. The true relief in his tone warms my heart.
Our reunion is interrupted by the sound of someone, no two someones, clearing their throat. The one was Nicole, but the other...I peek around Jeremy to find the drunken man from the tavern looking back at me. What the hell was he doing here?! He looks decidedly much more sober now. "Jer, what is he doing here?"
Jeremy follows my line of sight. "Uh it's kind of a long story. Mind If I come in?" He says looking first at me then at Nicole. "Sure, Jeremy." I tell him. Wait, how did Nicole know Jeremy? I think with a frown. I push the thought to the back of my mind for later.
As Jeremy moves in, Nicole stops him. "Did you blindfold him?" She asks in an authorative tone, which I feel was not necessary. Jeremy seems to feel the same way, because he frowns and lifts the blindfold in question. "Of course, Nicole. You know I would never lead anyone here freely." Nicole relaxes and nods, satisfied with his answer. Then the redhead moves to the side, allowing Jeremy and his companion to enter her small living area.
Jeremy's companion moves to lean against the fireplace, along with Nicole. I move to sit in one of the chairs, indicating for Jeremy to join me. Once Jeremy complies, I turn towards him. "What happened after you left me at the Valdez house?" Jeremy lets out a laugh. "I'd like to know the same about you." Then his smile drops from his face.
"I was waiting for you at the door to the dentist's place like you asked me to, always checking to see if you were okay. I took my eyes off you for a second, and then you were just gone. I ran back to the Valdez property, looking everywhere. All I found was a fallen rose." I smile softly at my attempt at condolences. "Yeah, I put it there."
Jeremy smiles at me. "Yeah, I figured." His face turns serious again. "When I couldn't find you anywhere, I started to panic. I knew you weren't just gonna go off somewhere on your own, when your only lead to Wynonna was a few feet away." I nod at him, happy that he seems to already know me so well.
"So I figured you had to have been taken by Bobo. He has been known to kidnap people when they owe money, or when he has an interested in them for some reason. I saw the way he looked at you in the tavern." Jeremy says with a deep frown. I notice Nicole tighten her fists at his words.
"Oh, but how could you be sure it was Bobo?" I ask, intrigued. Jeremy shifts in his seat. "I went to the one place where everyone always talks once the ale flows in their veins."
"The Pussy Willow." I say, to which Jeremy nods. "Yeah, I went back to the tavern to listen for any info. I waited for a couple of hours before a pair of Bobo's men finally came in, looking very much frazzled. It wasn't soon after they had consumed three pints each that I heard them mention that they were in deep shit for allowing 'the girl" to escape. Then I heard them curse the sparrow for the rescue and I knew it had to be Nicole." He says as he looks up at Nicole.
"The Sparrow?" I ask, looking at Nicole curiously. She looks down, trying to appear nonchalant. But I make out the beginnings of a bashful smile on her lips. Jeremy answers my question.
"Yep. Nicole over here has quite the reputation amongst the town. No one knows her name, but there have been many rumours of a mysterious figure in a hood and green tunic that tends to fluke Bobo's plans regularly. One of Bobo's men became very drunk once and complained to his comrades about the vigilante who keeps attacking their camps at night. He said, and I quote, 'She's so fucking fast. She enters the camp and unlocks the cages before you can even blink. She is like those damn sparrows my kid always annoys me about.' And from that day everyone just knew her as the Sparrow." Jeremy says, looking over at Nicole with pride.
I look at the quiet redhead in awe. She was a hero to these people. And she did it for no other reason but to help others. She was amazing.
Nicole meets my gaze and seems to be gauging my reaction. I am unable to help the smile forming on my lips. Her eyes scan my face and then she finally lets out a small smile of her own.
I turn back to Jeremy. "Okay so you figured out someone was saved from Bobo and knew it could only be…the sparrow." I say looking at Nicole again briefly.
"Yes, then I rushed over here as soon as I could." I nod at his explanation, but something still doesn't make sense. "All right, but how do you guys know each other?" I ask Jeremy. Then I switch my gaze toward Nicole. "I got the idea that you don't just let anyone in here."
"Well we… " Jeremy starts, but he is cut off by Nicole. "Jeremy... " She says in a warning tone, glaring his way. What the hell was that all about?
Jeremy looks up at the redhead with a frown and shakes his head. Then he looks back at me once again. "Let's just say we have been through a lot of stuff together since we were kids. Stuff that bonded us." Mmm cryptic. But it is enough to stem my curiosity for now. Although I'd really like to know more. Like, what kind of stuff did they go through exactly?
My thoughts are interrupted by the redhead's voice. "Yeah, Jeremy and I have been friends for quite a long time. He is the only one I allow in my house. And you now too, of course." She shoots a smile my way, causing my heartrate to pick up again. I quickly avert my gaze from those dimples, my eyes landing on Jeremy's companion who had just been quietly listening to our conversion this whole time. I realize I still don't know his reason for being here.
Jeremy picks up on my question before I ask. "Waverly, this Is John Henry. Monument's dentist." He explains, introducing the man. The dentist in question tips his hat my way in acknowledgement. "Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Ma'am." He walks over and gently takes my hand in greeting. I shake it with a warm smile. "Nice to meet you too, John Henry. My name is…"
"Waverly Earp, I know." He says with a smile, surprising me. "Jeremy informed me." He quickly explains. "Oh and most people just call me Doc, due to my profession." He then turns towards Nicole.
"And it is quite the honour to meet the great sparrow as well." Nicole gauges him for a second, seemingly searching for any sign of insincerity. Finally satisfied, she takes his hand and gives it a firm shake. I notice her long fingers again. Er, because her hands are big okay. Er..for building and stuff. Shut up.
"Wait, the same drunk man wo stumbled from the Pussy Willow is the dentist we were looking for?" I ask in surprise, looking between Doc and Jeremy. Jeremy nods enthusiastically.
"Yes! When I couldn't find you after you disappeared from the Valdez property, I figured I might as well get a hold of him for you."
"Yeah, this feller damn well knocked me right out of my slumber. I was very much not impressed at being disturbed." Doc huffs indignantly, causing Jeremy to look at him with a sheepish smile.
"And then he had the gall to throw me with a bucket of water!" Doc continues, his features filled with clear annoyance at my friend. I picture the event in my head and am unable to stop the chuckle that escapes my lips, causing the dentist to shoot a glare my way. I quickly stifle my laughter.
"What? He was drunk, okay? I had to sober him up." Jeremy explains with a shrug, like throwing people with buckets of water was something he did on a regular basis.
Doc let's out an indignant huff but then his features soften. "It was more the mention of Wynonna Earp that sobered me up, son." At this I immediately sit upright. "You know Wynonna?" I ask enthusiastically.
Doc let's out a laugh. "Oh, I more than know her. We were lovers." Doc gets a faraway look in his eyes and his moustache twitches at some memory. "One night I had to save this stubborn brown haired and very beautiful woman from being knocked out by Bobo's men, after she beat them at a drinking game." He shakes his head, smiling fondly at the memory. "She was so fearless and stubborn. She always thought she was invincible."
"That's Wynonna all right." I say with a nod, a small smile gracing my features at the thought of my untamed sister.
"She was the most amazing woman I had ever met. I gave her a place to sleep and we took to each other after a while. We never coined it, but there was this thing between us. She never said it, neither did I, but I could feel it in every kiss and night of passion we shared." Doc gets that faraway look in his eyes again. Nicole makes a gagging noise and Jeremy looks down at his boots, trying to hide a smile. I was just glad to hear that Wynonna had found a solid romance, with a man who is really starting to grow on me.
"Well, I guess I should thank you then, Doc. For saving Wynonna." I mean this in more ways than one, and try to convey it to the dentist as best I can. He must pick up on my sincerity, because he nods with a warm smile.
"Yes well, I don't know if I will be much help to you other than that. I do not know her current whereabouts for sure."
"Why? I thought you were together?" I ask and a sadness passes over the dentist again.
"We were together yes. But I was always worried she might leave me. She mentioned that she wanted to become a guard for a noble. I know she had tried her luck with the Countess, but she was rejected. Wynonna never spoke of what exactly the Countess had told her upon her request, but it had really affected her. I remember finding her at the Pussy Willow that night, intoxicated from drinking a lot more pints of ale than usual. She didn't want to tell me why." Doc explains softly and my heart burns for my sister.
She had always had a protective nature and loved the stories mother told about knights protecting kingdoms. She once told daddy she wanted to become a knight. He just laughed and said 'Don't be ridiculous, child. No woman could ever be a knight.' I remember the look of pure determination on her face when she came to bed that night. No one tells Wynonna Earp she can't do something. I fear that the Countess might have said the very same thing to my sister that my father had.
Doc continues, pulling me from my reverie. "Wynonna became restless after that encounter. My fears grew that she might leave me in search of another noble who would give her a chance as a guard."
Doc's shoulders slump and he lets out a sigh in defeat. "The last time I saw Wynonna was the evening before the Valdez housefire occurred. She just vanished completely after that night. Some even speculate that she had something to do with the heinous act." The dentist looks completely devastated at his words, causing my heart to break for him. He very clearly loved Wynonna.
"Do you think she did it?" I ask him gently. Perhaps that was why Bobo had been hunting her? Because he deemed her a fugitive on the run?
Doc looks at me for a long moment before speaking. "Wynonna Earp is many things, but a murderer she is most certainly not." The pure conviction in Doc's voice takes me aback. He had complete faith in my sister and it warms my heart again to know that Wynonna had been involved with this man.
"Thanks for your faith in my sister, Doc. I am very glad she had you on her side." The dentist looks at me gratefully and gives me a nod in thanks.
I remember the letter I received from Wynonna and get an idea. "I got a letter from Wynonna not too long ago. It came from Purgatory. Do they have any nobles there?" I ask, looking at every face in the room. Nicole speaks first. "Yes. Duke Nedley rules the castle and town there." She says.
"Wynonna must be there!" I shout, jumping up in elation at my epiphany. Too late I remember my injured foot and pain shoots through my leg. Before I can topple over from the sensation, Nicole's strong hands grip me and gently move me back toward the chair.
"Take it easy." She says, looking at me with those warm eyes. "Thanks." I say dumbly. I feel like her eyes are hypnotizing me, and I can do nothing but stare back at them. Doc clears his throat, finally freeing me from this trance. I see Jeremy looking between Nicole and I. Why was he smiling like that? I decide to ignore this turn of events and focus on the task at hand.
"I am going to Purgatory tomorrow and I am going to find my sister." I say determinedly, but all eyes in the room turns toward me. Everyone looks at me like I had gone mad.
"Sorry princess, but you won't be going anywhere for at least a week with that foot of yours." Nicole says, looking at my foot and back at me apologetically.
I sigh in resignation. She was right. I could not go very far with my foot in its current state. "Damn it! I guess you are right." I say in frustration.
"Hey, look you can stay here until your foot heals up…if you want…but it is completely up to you, so you don't have to if you don't want and... " Nicole rambles adorably and it is the first time I have seen her shy. I interrupt her, by placing my hand on her arm gently.
"I would love…er like that." It is my turn to stumble over my words now. "I mean, yes thanks Nicole. I accept your offer." She smiles widely at my words, so wide her dimples appear like beautiful valleys in her face, increasing the beat of my heart again. I pray that she cannot hear my betraying piece of anatomy.
Nicole smirks suddenly, seemingly having found her confidence again. "All right, princess. You can stay. But you are gonna have to earn your keep." Doc and Jeremy smile at our interaction and I am left feeling both intrigued and nervous. What did I just get myself into?