OK I own no one. Once again any minor characters you see are probably
mine, all mine, no one eles'. I hope you enjoy it. Part 3 is already in the
works.
*-*-*-*-*
I trudged up the stairs. I don't think I had ever been so tired in my whole life. I was looking forward to a cold soda, my bunny slippers and my pillow. To my surprise my apartment door was open. I sometimes forgot to lock it but I have never left it standing open. Instinctively I went into defensive mode. I silently crept into my own living room. After today who ever was in my apartment wasn't coming out alive. I was tired and not in the mood for any shit. I looked around and didn't see anyone. I went to the kitchen and noticed something dark and smudge on the freezer door of my side-by-side. I opened the fridge door for some light and realized that the substance on the other door was blood. I took a deep breath to prepare myself for whoever was in wait for me. Then I smelled it- Bvlgari Extreme, rich tobacco and blood. All my muscles were tense waiting. There was nothing, just the sound of the slow drip of the bathroom faucet. The quiet was killing me. I figured we were on my turf so I had nothing to lose. "Come out Come out wherever you are," I called in a playful tone. No answer just silence and the dripping of the faucet.
I assumed that if someone was there he must be gone so I let my guard down and walked to the bathroom in hopes of stopping the drip. As I turned the corner I noticed the bathroom door was slightly ajar and the light was on. I slowly opened the door and saw red, lots of red in various stages of drying and stopped. Once I regained more of my composure I opened the door a bit wider and saw a pile of black cloth on the floor, a man's suit. Opening the door the rest of the way and stepped into the bathroom, I had to in order to see the tub that is situated behind the door. Lying in the pale pink water of my bathtub was the Thin Man, Anthony. I gulped and bent down to him. He was so still and I take back all the times we had described him as pale before, he was absolutely white now. "Anthony" I said softly. I reached out and touched his black hair which was damp with sweat. I ran my hand gently down his face to his carotid artery and felt for a pulse. It was there but very very weak. "Anthony;" I said again a bit louder this time. His eyes fluttered open and closed again. I felt the water and shivered. It was cold. I knew it had to be to stop the bleeding but he had to get out before he died of hypothermia instead of blood loss.
"Anthony," I said lightly slapping his face, "You need to wake up. You need to help me."
He opened his pale blue eyes again and reached out to touch my face. I placed my hand behind his back, higher than the wound and tried to help him sit. His hand went to my hair and I braced myself for the pull. Instead he pulled me close enough to kiss and whispered, "Help me, angel, please."
I let him put his arm around my neck and he tried to use his right arm which was towards the wall to brace himself but couldn't. He screamed in agony and slid back into the water, silent tears streaming down his face. "Broken" he whispered. I knew he was talking about his arm but he was also talking about himself, however he was a determined man. He placed his legs over the edge of the tub and I pulled him out. He didn't stay up right for long and out of the water he shivered almost convulsively.
I gently dried him off the best I could and grabbed the phone in the bedroom. He needed a hospital. As I began to dial the phone he came up behind me and said "No". "But Anthony you need to go to the hospital. I can't help you with injuries like these." His eyes shone intensely as he looked around for an escape. "Okay," I said relenting, "Ill try."
As Angels we have pretty well stocked medicine chest at home. I looked through and found some suture thread and a needle. "This is going to sting." I told him as I threaded the needle. I placed my hand on his chest to try to push the skin there closer together. He placed his hand on mine, then picked it up and kissed it, tiny kisses on the palm and up each of my fingers. How I wanted him to go on but I could see a small trickle of blood emerging from the wound. "Anthony," I said sharply. He looked up at me his eyes sad. "Id love for you to go on but we have to get this taken care of." He sighed and let my hand go. It took seventy-five stitches for both sides. I wrapped his chest in gauze and he lay down on my bed.
I knew he was tired. I was too but his arm needed set. I told him what I was about to do and he shook his head indicating it was alright. I grasped his arm and pulled, then shoved the bone back in place. He didn't make a sound. I didn't have anything for a cast but found an Ace bandage and hoped it would be enough. Soon he was fast asleep. I wasn't sure what I should do. I sat on the bed next to him and stroked his hair. Soon I too was fast asleep.
*-*-*-*-*
I awoke the next morning not quite sure where I was. I heard birds chirping, sun was streaming in the window, and someone was lying snuggled up to my shoulder. I carefully removed the woman and sat up, regretting it. The pain was horrendous. I let a small moan escape. I normally can take a hell of a lot especially during a fight but it's the adrenaline that keeps the pain away. Currently I wasn't pumping the chemical through my body so the pain was intense. I tried to relax and let it pass and it did for the most part. I looked around wondering where I was, and then looked at the woman beside me. She gave a small moan herself and rolled over exposing her beautiful face, it was the angel, Dylan. I must have been in Heaven.
She suddenly opened her eyes and smiled..at me. "Morning," she said. "How are you feeling?" I looked around for something to write on and found nothing. I shrugged to show I was feeling ok but not great. Too bad that shrug pulled the stitches in my chest and made the pain worse. I lay back in the bed. She rolled over and looked at me. "The bandages look ok for now. I'll check and change them after breakfast." The thought of food made my stomach flop. I shook my head "no". "I have to check them silly." I didn't say anything about her misunderstanding. She looked happy. "I'm going to go take a shower and get dressed. You stay there. I have a bottle of Tylenol in the night stand they might help manage the pain."
I heard the shower come on and the phone rang. The answering machine came on "Hi. This is Dylan. I'm not in right now so I'm probably out kicking butt. Leave a message after the beep." Beep went the machine. "Hi Dylan, Its Nat. You seemed pretty down last night. Want to get lunch? We can talk plus I want you to meet Spike. You'll fall in love. Call me."
I cringed; a man named Spike in my opinion wasn't good enough for my angel. She deserved someone with a normal name or at least someone intelligent enough not to call himself Spike. She then pranced into the bedroom wearing a pair of striped boxers and a light pink bra. "Sorry, I forgot to take clothes in the bathroom with me. I'm not use to having men over." I tried to look away but she was so beautiful, perfect smooth skin, her red hair wet, tousled and slightly wavy from the towel she had been drying it with. "Don't gawk." She said laughing. I could feel my face turning bright red with embarrassment. She pulled an Iron Maiden t-shirt over her head and sat on the bed next to me. "I'm sorry," she said softly. I refused to look at her. Her laughter reminded me of the girls through out school, the ones who used to point and laugh at the odd boy who didn't speak. "Anthony." She said and I reluctantly turned to face her. "I shouldn't have laughed. I was uncomfortable." I always seemed to make people feel that way. "I just am not used to being looked at like I am a goddess." Her face was only inches from mine, "An angel" I said softly and leaned in to kiss her. Then the phone rang.
*-*-*-*-*
I felt so bad I didn't mean to hurt him. When I came in he was looking at me as though he was seeing me. He wasn't looking at me like a man who was looking at a semi-naked woman but he was looking at me like he was seeing my soul. I laughed out of nervousness. He took it the wrong way. I should have known he would. Then I apologized and really wanted him to kiss me again. He called me an angel, moved closer, I could feel his breath on my lips, and then the phone rang. Damn it.
I broke away from the kiss ignoring the disappointment in his eyes and answered. "Hello.Oh morning Bos.sure I'll be there..bout half an hour..okay..see you then..bye." It wasn't unusual to have to work on a Saturday and normally I didn't mind since I didn't have a boyfriend but today was different. "I have to go to work in a little bit," I said sadly. He nodded as though he understood and slid down under the blankets. "Are you tired?" Again he nodded. "I'll make you some toast and some tea. I'll try not to be gone too long." I pulled on a pair of jeans, slipped into my old trusty tennis shoes and grabbed my purse and keys. Then I leaned over and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. Kissing him quickly was nearly as good as slow I decided racing for the door. "Bye Anthony," I yelled as I left.
It was weird. I hardly slept last night but I felt refreshed and well great this morning. I supposed it was because I was in love. I was in love. I tried saying it out loud, "I am in Love. Dylan Sanders is in love," I cried racing though town with the top down. I cranked the radio up and sang along with Springsteen to "Glory Days". I was stopped at a light when a car of hot guys pulled up and revved their engine at me. They were cute enough but they didn't even turn my head. I was definitely in love.
I bounced into the office and jumped on the couch in between Natalie and Alex. They both looked at me as though I had beamed down from Mars. "What" I asked.
"You" said Nat, "You're different."
"Am I," I asked as innocently as I could.
"Yes you," said Alex.
"I'm just well rested."
"Who you rested well with is the question of the hour," said Alex smugly. The voice came from the white speaker box on the desk in front of us.
"Good Morning Angels."
"Good Morning, Charlie," replied the three of us in unison.
"Well angels we seem to have a problem. One of the bodies from last night isn't dead."
"What do you mean," asked Nat.
"Nat gave the statement to the police that the two bodies in the alley could be identified as Seamus O'Grady and the assassin known as Anthony or the Thin Man. The police arriving on the scene last night found only one body. That of the Thin Man. He was identified by the sword through his back."
I was feeling confused. Anthony couldn't have been found by the police he was sleeping in my bed, but Seamus didn't die due to being stabbed. "Are they sure," I asked nervously.
"That is what I asked Angels, and they said there was only the body of a man with a sword through his back in the alley."
"Great," said Nat, "Seamus is still alive. That means Dylan is still in danger."
"I'm afraid so girls. I have to go but wanted to let you know you need to continue to watch your backs. Bye Angels."
"Bye Charlie." We said together.
"Can I tell you all something? And you have to promise not to over react." I asked and waited calmly for my friends' to reply.
*-*-*-*-*
I trudged up the stairs. I don't think I had ever been so tired in my whole life. I was looking forward to a cold soda, my bunny slippers and my pillow. To my surprise my apartment door was open. I sometimes forgot to lock it but I have never left it standing open. Instinctively I went into defensive mode. I silently crept into my own living room. After today who ever was in my apartment wasn't coming out alive. I was tired and not in the mood for any shit. I looked around and didn't see anyone. I went to the kitchen and noticed something dark and smudge on the freezer door of my side-by-side. I opened the fridge door for some light and realized that the substance on the other door was blood. I took a deep breath to prepare myself for whoever was in wait for me. Then I smelled it- Bvlgari Extreme, rich tobacco and blood. All my muscles were tense waiting. There was nothing, just the sound of the slow drip of the bathroom faucet. The quiet was killing me. I figured we were on my turf so I had nothing to lose. "Come out Come out wherever you are," I called in a playful tone. No answer just silence and the dripping of the faucet.
I assumed that if someone was there he must be gone so I let my guard down and walked to the bathroom in hopes of stopping the drip. As I turned the corner I noticed the bathroom door was slightly ajar and the light was on. I slowly opened the door and saw red, lots of red in various stages of drying and stopped. Once I regained more of my composure I opened the door a bit wider and saw a pile of black cloth on the floor, a man's suit. Opening the door the rest of the way and stepped into the bathroom, I had to in order to see the tub that is situated behind the door. Lying in the pale pink water of my bathtub was the Thin Man, Anthony. I gulped and bent down to him. He was so still and I take back all the times we had described him as pale before, he was absolutely white now. "Anthony" I said softly. I reached out and touched his black hair which was damp with sweat. I ran my hand gently down his face to his carotid artery and felt for a pulse. It was there but very very weak. "Anthony;" I said again a bit louder this time. His eyes fluttered open and closed again. I felt the water and shivered. It was cold. I knew it had to be to stop the bleeding but he had to get out before he died of hypothermia instead of blood loss.
"Anthony," I said lightly slapping his face, "You need to wake up. You need to help me."
He opened his pale blue eyes again and reached out to touch my face. I placed my hand behind his back, higher than the wound and tried to help him sit. His hand went to my hair and I braced myself for the pull. Instead he pulled me close enough to kiss and whispered, "Help me, angel, please."
I let him put his arm around my neck and he tried to use his right arm which was towards the wall to brace himself but couldn't. He screamed in agony and slid back into the water, silent tears streaming down his face. "Broken" he whispered. I knew he was talking about his arm but he was also talking about himself, however he was a determined man. He placed his legs over the edge of the tub and I pulled him out. He didn't stay up right for long and out of the water he shivered almost convulsively.
I gently dried him off the best I could and grabbed the phone in the bedroom. He needed a hospital. As I began to dial the phone he came up behind me and said "No". "But Anthony you need to go to the hospital. I can't help you with injuries like these." His eyes shone intensely as he looked around for an escape. "Okay," I said relenting, "Ill try."
As Angels we have pretty well stocked medicine chest at home. I looked through and found some suture thread and a needle. "This is going to sting." I told him as I threaded the needle. I placed my hand on his chest to try to push the skin there closer together. He placed his hand on mine, then picked it up and kissed it, tiny kisses on the palm and up each of my fingers. How I wanted him to go on but I could see a small trickle of blood emerging from the wound. "Anthony," I said sharply. He looked up at me his eyes sad. "Id love for you to go on but we have to get this taken care of." He sighed and let my hand go. It took seventy-five stitches for both sides. I wrapped his chest in gauze and he lay down on my bed.
I knew he was tired. I was too but his arm needed set. I told him what I was about to do and he shook his head indicating it was alright. I grasped his arm and pulled, then shoved the bone back in place. He didn't make a sound. I didn't have anything for a cast but found an Ace bandage and hoped it would be enough. Soon he was fast asleep. I wasn't sure what I should do. I sat on the bed next to him and stroked his hair. Soon I too was fast asleep.
*-*-*-*-*
I awoke the next morning not quite sure where I was. I heard birds chirping, sun was streaming in the window, and someone was lying snuggled up to my shoulder. I carefully removed the woman and sat up, regretting it. The pain was horrendous. I let a small moan escape. I normally can take a hell of a lot especially during a fight but it's the adrenaline that keeps the pain away. Currently I wasn't pumping the chemical through my body so the pain was intense. I tried to relax and let it pass and it did for the most part. I looked around wondering where I was, and then looked at the woman beside me. She gave a small moan herself and rolled over exposing her beautiful face, it was the angel, Dylan. I must have been in Heaven.
She suddenly opened her eyes and smiled..at me. "Morning," she said. "How are you feeling?" I looked around for something to write on and found nothing. I shrugged to show I was feeling ok but not great. Too bad that shrug pulled the stitches in my chest and made the pain worse. I lay back in the bed. She rolled over and looked at me. "The bandages look ok for now. I'll check and change them after breakfast." The thought of food made my stomach flop. I shook my head "no". "I have to check them silly." I didn't say anything about her misunderstanding. She looked happy. "I'm going to go take a shower and get dressed. You stay there. I have a bottle of Tylenol in the night stand they might help manage the pain."
I heard the shower come on and the phone rang. The answering machine came on "Hi. This is Dylan. I'm not in right now so I'm probably out kicking butt. Leave a message after the beep." Beep went the machine. "Hi Dylan, Its Nat. You seemed pretty down last night. Want to get lunch? We can talk plus I want you to meet Spike. You'll fall in love. Call me."
I cringed; a man named Spike in my opinion wasn't good enough for my angel. She deserved someone with a normal name or at least someone intelligent enough not to call himself Spike. She then pranced into the bedroom wearing a pair of striped boxers and a light pink bra. "Sorry, I forgot to take clothes in the bathroom with me. I'm not use to having men over." I tried to look away but she was so beautiful, perfect smooth skin, her red hair wet, tousled and slightly wavy from the towel she had been drying it with. "Don't gawk." She said laughing. I could feel my face turning bright red with embarrassment. She pulled an Iron Maiden t-shirt over her head and sat on the bed next to me. "I'm sorry," she said softly. I refused to look at her. Her laughter reminded me of the girls through out school, the ones who used to point and laugh at the odd boy who didn't speak. "Anthony." She said and I reluctantly turned to face her. "I shouldn't have laughed. I was uncomfortable." I always seemed to make people feel that way. "I just am not used to being looked at like I am a goddess." Her face was only inches from mine, "An angel" I said softly and leaned in to kiss her. Then the phone rang.
*-*-*-*-*
I felt so bad I didn't mean to hurt him. When I came in he was looking at me as though he was seeing me. He wasn't looking at me like a man who was looking at a semi-naked woman but he was looking at me like he was seeing my soul. I laughed out of nervousness. He took it the wrong way. I should have known he would. Then I apologized and really wanted him to kiss me again. He called me an angel, moved closer, I could feel his breath on my lips, and then the phone rang. Damn it.
I broke away from the kiss ignoring the disappointment in his eyes and answered. "Hello.Oh morning Bos.sure I'll be there..bout half an hour..okay..see you then..bye." It wasn't unusual to have to work on a Saturday and normally I didn't mind since I didn't have a boyfriend but today was different. "I have to go to work in a little bit," I said sadly. He nodded as though he understood and slid down under the blankets. "Are you tired?" Again he nodded. "I'll make you some toast and some tea. I'll try not to be gone too long." I pulled on a pair of jeans, slipped into my old trusty tennis shoes and grabbed my purse and keys. Then I leaned over and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. Kissing him quickly was nearly as good as slow I decided racing for the door. "Bye Anthony," I yelled as I left.
It was weird. I hardly slept last night but I felt refreshed and well great this morning. I supposed it was because I was in love. I was in love. I tried saying it out loud, "I am in Love. Dylan Sanders is in love," I cried racing though town with the top down. I cranked the radio up and sang along with Springsteen to "Glory Days". I was stopped at a light when a car of hot guys pulled up and revved their engine at me. They were cute enough but they didn't even turn my head. I was definitely in love.
I bounced into the office and jumped on the couch in between Natalie and Alex. They both looked at me as though I had beamed down from Mars. "What" I asked.
"You" said Nat, "You're different."
"Am I," I asked as innocently as I could.
"Yes you," said Alex.
"I'm just well rested."
"Who you rested well with is the question of the hour," said Alex smugly. The voice came from the white speaker box on the desk in front of us.
"Good Morning Angels."
"Good Morning, Charlie," replied the three of us in unison.
"Well angels we seem to have a problem. One of the bodies from last night isn't dead."
"What do you mean," asked Nat.
"Nat gave the statement to the police that the two bodies in the alley could be identified as Seamus O'Grady and the assassin known as Anthony or the Thin Man. The police arriving on the scene last night found only one body. That of the Thin Man. He was identified by the sword through his back."
I was feeling confused. Anthony couldn't have been found by the police he was sleeping in my bed, but Seamus didn't die due to being stabbed. "Are they sure," I asked nervously.
"That is what I asked Angels, and they said there was only the body of a man with a sword through his back in the alley."
"Great," said Nat, "Seamus is still alive. That means Dylan is still in danger."
"I'm afraid so girls. I have to go but wanted to let you know you need to continue to watch your backs. Bye Angels."
"Bye Charlie." We said together.
"Can I tell you all something? And you have to promise not to over react." I asked and waited calmly for my friends' to reply.