[A/N: I'm BAAAaaack finally. The camp was amazing. Right when I got back I went on a family vacation and I've been busy ever since. So now I actually have an update for you all.]
"I won't bother to mess with lawyers. I can get what I want in my own way," Jeff said over his shoulder to Maureen. He didn't move any further from Mimi who was still trembling on the floor. "After the baby is born she will come to live with me."
"And what if I refuse to let that happen?" Maureen asked with make-believe confidence.
"Then I get to have some fun with your little friend." Jeff nudged Mimi sharply in the ribs with the heel of his shoe. She winced, but didn't make a sound.
Joanne stepped forward. "What do you want with her baby? You have no use for a-"
"I DO have use for a child. You have no idea how perfect it would be. . .it would make it so easy . . ." Jeff swayed on his feet a bit. He seemed to be under the influence of drugs. Maureen remembered what had happened the last time a drunk man was present in the Loft. Mimi looked up at her, eyes wide with fear, and Maureen could sense that she, too, was thinking of that night . . .
"Make what easy?" Maureen tightened her grip on Joanne's hand.
"My business. No, no, not this whole 'agent' persona. Something else. It's hard being a drug dealer when you look like one."
"You . . .I didn't know that you . . ." Maureen struggled to comprehend the words coming from Jeff's sneering mouth. The fact that he was a drug dealer explained a lot, but what this had to do with her unborn child was still partially unknown. "You can't use my baby for that. You can't . . .you won't . . ." She broke out of her daze and turned sharply to Joanne. "Call the police. Now!"
Joanne dove for the phone but Jeff got there first, and in a swift motion he pulled a knife from his back pocket and slashed the wire. The three women stood motionless.
"I'll scream," Maureen said suddenly. "I'll scream so fucking loud that the whole damn city will come running."
Jeff yanked Mimi roughly from the floor and held the knife to her throat. "If you scream it will be too late."
Maureen felt as though she were watching a scene from a bad horror movie. Either her fear or her shock of the situation caused a brief, seemingly pointless memory from several years ago to flash through her mind.
Maureen giggled as Joanne pretended to shield her eyes for the gory images on the screen.
"Pookie, stop! I want to see this!"
Joanne rolled her eyes. "It's disgusting."
"But this is my favorite movie!"
"I don't want to wake up to your screaming at 2 AM. Remember last time . . ."
"THAT was LAST time. This time is different."
Collins entered the Loft. "What are you two arguing about?"
"Joanne won't let me watch scary movies because she think she's my mother," Maureen pouted.
Collins cringed as the hooded man in the movie moved his chainsaw closer the his victim's throat.
"Where were you anyway, Collins?" Joanne asked to distract herself from the movie.
"Meeting a friend."
"A . . . friend?" Maureen snickered.
"Not that kind of friend! His name is Jeff. He's just helping me out for a while."
Maureen was absorbed once again by the movie. "With what?" she asked distractedly.
She never noticed when Collins left the Loft without a reply.
Maureen snapped back into reality, still wondering what this brief memory had to do with anything that was going on. Jeff tightened his grip on Mimi who didn't bother to struggle. Joanne studied him for a moment. His eyes seemed glazed and blood-shot. She leaned closer to Maureen.
"Mimi's cell phone is in her bag on the couch. We can find a way to get it," she said in a tone so low Maureen could just barely make out the words.
Maureen glanced at Jeff and was relieved that he was preoccupied with Mimi and hadn't seen or heard them whispering. She thought of a plan. It was time to put her acting flair to good use.
"Oh . . .owww . . ."she groaned, clutching her stomach. Maureen saw the worry in Joanne's eyes, but she winked at her to just play along. Joanne nodded quickly just as Jeff turned to see what was going on.
"Honey bear! What's wrong?" Joanne exclaimed in a believable tone.
"I . . ." Maureen hadn't thought about this part. "Uh . . .I'm having a contraction! I'm going into labor!"
Jeff looked concerned for a moment, then shook his head. "Relax, Maureen. It's much too early."
"The doctor said that it was a high possibility she would go into premature labor," Joanne said, thinking quickly. Maureen continued groaning dramatically. "We have to call the hospital!"
"But the phone line . . ." Maureen wailed.
Jeff swallowed. It was easy to tell that this situation was making him very uncomfortable. He dropped Mimi to the floor and made his way over to Maureen.
Mimi had no idea that her friend was merely acting. "Mo . . .oh my god, are you ok?"
"Um, come here. Lie down on the couch for a little while." Jeff pulled Maureen up from her doubled-over position. She sat on the couch holding her side and heaving massive breaths. Joanne sat next to her
She peeked in Mimi's purse and pretended to be surprised. "I forgot about the cell phone! Jeff, please, you have to let us use this phone. We have to call a doctor for Maureen." Jeff hesitated. "Please, Jeff! Something could be wrong with the baby."
This seemed to somewhat convince him. "J-just call . . .but when that baby is born, it's mine."
Joanne seized the phone and went down the hall ("so she could hear above Maureen's moaning" was her excuse) while Jeff went back to threatening Mimi. Maureen wailed as loud as possible to cover up the sound of Joanne's voice while she dialed 911.
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"So you CAN act . . ." Roger mused as he, Mark, Mimi, and Maureen sat in the Loft the next morning brooding over last night's drama. The police had come swiftly after Joanne's call and Jeff was currently behind bars. Maureen gave the police the whole story in dramatic detail, leaving out the part about Jeff being the father of her baby.
"Shut up!" Maureen whacked Roger with a pillow. "I had to do something so he wouldn't murder your girlfriend."
Roger swallowed and pulled Mimi closer to him on his lap. He had been trying to avoid thinking about how Mimi had slipped from death's clutches once again. Mimi rested her head contently on his shoulder, trying to avoid the thought herself.
"It was pretty believable . . .you had me scared, Mo. I thought you were going to give birth in the Loft while a psycho drug dealer had me pinned to the floor." Mimi attempted to giggle quietly, but they all knew that she wasn't kidding.
Joanne entered with Shannan following cautiously behind her. She had her doubts about Maureen being civil with her.
"We've finished unpacking," Joanne said a bit too cheerily, trying to lift their spirits after the havoc that occurred the evening before. She plopped down on the couch, pulling Shannan into her lap.
Everyone glanced nervously from Joanne and Shannan to Maureen wondering if she would have yet another outburst. Maureen said nothing and gave Shannan a shy smile. Mimi looked at Roger and shrugged, unsure of how things had been resolved between the love triangle.
Shannan returned Maureen's smile with a slight look of confusion due to her kindness. "Well, I'm beginning to work on the article about art in the East Village. Roger, I was wondering if you could tell me about your band . . .the Well Hungarians, is that it?"
Roger perked up a bit and was happy to brag about the music they were currently working on.
Kelly trailed in. "Anyone seen Collins?"
They shook their heads. She sighed.
"He hasn't been around . . . he doesn't know about anything that has happened. God, I'm really worried about him . . .and I was so worried about you guys when I heard what happened . . ."
Mark walked over to Kelly and kissed her cheek gently. They were all surprised by his boldness. Usually Mark saved his intimacy until he was out of sight of the others. "They're fine now. And I'm sure Collins is fine. Don't worry so much." He pulled her toward him and she buried her face in his neck.
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The Man was late. Collins paced back and forth through the alley, his fingers twitching. He needed some drugs and he needed them now. The withdrawal was more than he could handle. He remembered Kelly's warnings about turning to drugs . . .but the thoughts couldn't stifle his need. He recognized another man on the other side of the alley who appeared to be waiting as well.
Collins walked over and greeted him. "Have you seen The Man?"
He shook his head. "He got into some trouble with the police. Something about harassing some girls . . .pulled a knife on them."
"Jeff did what?" Collins shuddered. "Maureen . . ."
"What?"
"I have to get back to my apartment. I haven't been home since yesterday afternoon . . .something could have happened . . ." He turned to race back to the Loft.
"Wait." The other man stopped him. "You have the cash?" He pulled a small paper bag from the pocket of his leather jacket. Collins shoved a handful of crumbled bills into his hand. Shoving the bag beneath his shirt, he hurried on his way.