A/N- Ack! I've been wrestling with this chapter for weeks and its still not as good as I wanted it! * sigh * Anyway, same old, same old. Please review! I still need a beta! Please?
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"Damnit!" Kerry screamed and slammed the off-white plastic phone down on the hook. She cupped her face in her hands and let out a sigh of immense frustration.
Four bartenders had called in sick. Being understaffed was a curse she didn't want to deal with, especially today of all days. This morning, she had woken up a splitting migraine three aspirin had only managed to dull. Her black occasionally defective Lexis had been ticketed outside her loft, before she even reached lunch. The band she spent an hour booking broke up over creative differences two days earlier, neglecting to tell her, leaving her high and dry without entertainment for the night. The backroom freezer broke the night before and she had little pools of water all over the floor, one of which she slipped in, breaking a box of expensive liquor bottles, and nearly spraining her ankle.
The blonde from earlier didn't make it any better. She was dangerous, and determined. People like that didn't give up when they needed information. In her gut, she felt that this would not go away, and that was an unnerving thought.
A warm hand touched her back.
Without hesitation, her body spun, right fist enclosed in her left, elbow jetted out, ready for contact. The split second after she knew she hadn't connected, her right fist exploded from her side. Wrapped around the fingers, an odd bubble distorted the shallow light from the dim fluorescent lamp over ahead.
He caught her forearm just beyond her force field. His neck stretched his head away from the punch, an expression of mild surprise across his face.
"Bad day?"
"You don't know the half of it." She grunted to answer his query. The film over her hand retracted as the slim appendage relocated to her hip. "Can you work tonight? I have Tyler, Matt, Lynette, and Marie all sick."
He shrugged his shoulders. Her agitation was radiating off her and permeated the small stockroom. "I guess. I was going to be here anyway."
"Are you sure?" The question was accented with a hint of aggression, even a little threatening. "I mean, it is your week off."
"Yes, I'm sure." He put his hands on her shoulders, moving his left hand up to cup her ear between his thumb and index finger. "Are you alright? You seem really tense."
She sighed and rubbed her eyes. "It's nothing. I just…" Her voice trailed.
She hadn't told him. She'd never gotten up the nerve to. At first, it wasn't his business. Then, as he slowly became more integrated into her life, it never seemed like the right time. His presences put a new perspective on things, one that she'd never had or even realized before. It made her ashamed and guilty, the kind of guilty that kept you up at night with the horrible images of what you've done playing over and over. It made her nauseous to think about that dark place he had both caused and cured.
"It's been a rough day." Kerry finished quickly.
His lips brushed her forehead. "You're going knock yourself out, you know that, right?"
She nodded, melting into smile at the familiar words. It was her frequent reminder to slow down when her mind was moving too quickly for the world around her. The habitual words escaped her lips before she even thought them. "I thought that was your job."
His sly half grin grew into a large smile as he closed the already small gap between them.
"The patented Mickey Rawlings smile." She chuckled touching his sides lightly, feeling his smooth brown leather jacket. "I must be a very good girl."
"Very"
His lips slid over hers, frictionless, like water over a pebble worn smooth over the years. His kisses always made her heart shiver with an excitement that was both new and familiar. She'd never met anyone that could make her feel so content. She couldn't what it feels like not to either.
"Better?"
She smiled.
Her mind told her 'Nowhere close.'
Her voice told him "Close enough."
* Break *
"Up to Zero, huh…" Emma's voice shouted over the loud, raucous rock/techno mix. "Cool place"
The single room of the bar was dimly lit except for the glowing colored lights buzzing with neon. It centered around the dance floor, which lay out in the middle, closest to the small hallway that led from the door. The neon lights flooded to lace the bar that stood at the far side, elevated on a higher platform two feet from the original dark linoleum ground. A small set of stairs in the middle of the platform's edge lead up to it. Around the dance floor, patrons lounged in red couches or at round tables lined with black tablecloths.
"Don't get any ideas." Shalimar replied irately, eyes darting around the packed room. "I want to get in and get out as quickly as possible."
The redhead latched onto her friend as she began to push through the crowd. She knew the feral's anger was hardly about the noisy mob or the busy bar around them. Her mind was still on other matters. She didn't need her abilities to see the look of far off anger in her eyes or the unnecessary fury in her voice. Silently, she prayed she was not too distracted for the task at hand.
Emma tried her best to keep up with her feline friend as she gracefully bobbed and weaved through the throng of erratic dancers. Not being scientifically blessed with cat-like reflexes and balance, she worked her human dexterity furiously. Charily, the two made their way up to the bar, squeezing up the steps, passing the quasi-drunks.
Leaning over the bar, Shalimar motioned to the closest bartender, a blonde looking to be in her 20s. The woman finished filling two beer glasses and slid them to the waiting customer. Quickly, she jogged over to them.
"What can I get you?" her stare was expectant.
"Kerry Parcell"
The blonde pointed towards the crowd. "On the floor, the one in the blue dancing." Shalimar turned her head towards the direction of her index finger. "And hey, would you mention that we're out of gin?"
"We will." Emma smiled politely. "Thanks." She touched Shalimar's arm and lead her away. "So blue shirt right?"
"Is anyone looking?"
The telempath looked around. "No"
The feral's eyes glowed a firm gold as her head pivoted from left to right in her search.
"Oh my God…" Emma's voice flipped a switch instead her head, blinking her animal eyes off.
Shalimar's face contorted to sudden concern. "What?"
The final chords of the song faded from the speakers into the chatter of the crowd. Abruptly, a new string of notes began with a new beat and a new key.
Her body suddenly pressed against his, bringing her face beside his. "I'm gonna go check on Virgo and Kevin." Kerry shouted into his ear.
"No," He replied, shaking his head. "You stay. I'm the one that's supposed to be working. I need a drink anyway."
Kerry smiled flirtatiously and nodded. "Get me one!"
He left the floor as she began to dance wildly again, mouthed the words to the DJ's music. Watching her with a backwards glance, he smiled. Her self-confidence in the mass of dancers made him marvel. Even dancing alone, she looked like she was having the best time of her life.
Only he knew that she hated large groups of people. Only he knew that she never danced outside her own club. She'd never shared those secrets with anyone but him, because he was different than everyone else. She told him time and time again that he was special to her. It felt good to be special to someone.
Trotting up the steps, he weaved between customers carrying drinks. "Hey Kevin!" He shouted as he neared the swinging door at the end of the bar. "Is everything okay up here?"
"Gin!" The tall Hispanic man cried pouring a shot. "Can you get some?"
"Absolutely! Back in a flash!"
"He didn't even see us." Shalimar spat flatly, twisting a look of disgust on her face.
"That's him alright." Emma's eyes followed him as he disappeared into a room behind the bar. "I'm definitely getting his vibes. What do we do?"
"You get Kerry. I'll get him."
The telempathic's stomach jumped at the almost malicious look in her eye. "Oh no no no no no…. I have a better idea."
He could still hear the muffled thumps of the music outside the smooth painted wood and concrete walls. Carefully, he walked down the side aisle of the numerous supply shelves, quickly scanning the contents of both sides. His pace slowed at the sight of boxes with glass bottlenecks peering over the top.
Squatting, he looked over the boxes closest to the ground. Running his fingers over the labels, he searched for a shipping order with the right liquid he needed.
The rusted hinges creaked in the still air of the back room. Someone was there.
Kerry bobbed along with the dancers around her, thoroughly enjoying the pulsating beat. She loved the wild atmosphere that exuded from the room, the very room that was her own. It was her bar, her mother's brainchild. The comfort of being in a place she loved, the control she had, gave her a new type of self-confidence, a new invigorating high that was better than any drink or drug she'd ever tried.
And then it came crashing down.
A strong hand on her shoulder spun her around.
"Hi there"
A low sinking feeling flooded his stomach and his skin crawled.
Between the box-filled metal compartments, he saw a pair of foreign black-leather high-heeled boots.
He stood up slowly. She wouldn't be able to see him from the angle at the door. There had been no footsteps yet. She had to be just inside the doorframe. In his head, he traced out a floor plan of the backroom.
There was only one real exit, and the assailant was standing right in front of it. One way or the other, he'd have to make a move for it.
Slow solid taps called out across the concrete floor.
"Who the hell are you?" Kerry shouted. Her fist rose to her chest defensively. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"You know what." Her voice was strong, yet passive, even predictably over confident.
But there was something more. A scary determination glowed in the back of her eyes. She didn't want to play games now.
"I don't know anything."
"You know more than you think."
He took in a deep breath. As the air flowed from his lungs in an exhale, he could feel the molecules in his body expanding. The familiar tingling sensation flooded his body as he began to walk, through the metal shelves, cardboard boxes, and glass bottles.
Just two aisles to go and he could make a break for the door, grab Kerry, and get to safety.
She looked around at oblivious patrons around her. They didn't even seem to notice the confrontation right in front of them. "If we do this, not here."
"I just want to talk, Kerry."
The statement seemed genuine, and for a moment she wanted to trust her. Her better judgment kicked in. Don't trust strangers, especially stranger who don't let go. "You're going to keep coming after me, aren't you?"
Shalimar shrugged. "That depends on how much you know, and how much you tell me."
Kerry nodded, crossing her arms over her chest. She took a hesitant step forward, followed by more, each more confident than the last. As she passed her, Kerry shouted clearly over the music. "Fine, but on my terms. Tomorrow morning, eight o'clock sharp."
He caught a glimpse of her as he moved: red hair, black backless top, black knee high skirt. She was creeping up the long passageway perpendicular to the supply aisles. Conveniently, her head was focused in front of her, like what she was looking for was clearly already in her line of sight.
He smirked. She had to be a new recruit to be that dense. He wasn't sure whether to feel insulted or thank his lucky stars.
He reached the aisle across from the door. The breath he'd been holding out rushed in his lungs as the molecules reformed his body. Now all he'd have to do is beat her to the exit.
As he crept along the row, he continued to watch her. She'd stopped, hands on her hips. Suddenly her head cocked, looking towards the ground at an angle. She was listening for him.
He'd reached the end of the shelf. The door was less than 5 feet away.
'On three,' He thought, taking in a large silent breath, readying himself to phase and bolt together. 'One, two…'
"You think you can hide from me?"
Her voice hit his ears like a hammer in the cool quiet, startling him, eyes growing wide in fear. In half a second, he was at the door, forgetting his genetic abilities, fumbling with the doorknob.
His eyes glanced up and his body froze.
"Emma" His voice whispered.
She smiled. Her voice continued with the same familiar softness. "You can't run from me, Jesse."
Blackness
Confusion set in for a small moment of time, no longer than a second.
The smell of stale air…
The low white light…
The hum of computer equipment…
The feel of the smooth plastic…
He knew exactly were he was.
