By: Nightingale
Rating: PG13
Part 14Night came and with it were the tired newies slowly climbing into their bunks. Sling showed Gin a bunk she could use in the girl's bunkroom. Gin smiled her thanks and laid down though she could never sleep.
She lay there for a few hours hearing a few snores from the girl's and a whole chorus from the boys across the hall. Gin tried to get comfortable enough to sleep saying that was the reason, but deep down she knew it was worry.
She was ashamed to put her friends in such a position. Doc returned to Brooklyn hours ago and deep down she hoped he returned to a quiet, safe lodging house. Gin heaved a sigh as she gave up on sleep and threw the blankets off of her and walked to the door.
She was careful as she opened the door and silently closed it behind her. Gin slipped down the hall careful not to make a sound. She sat down on the stairs leaned against the railing. She spent many silent minutes in the dark with just her thoughts.
"You mind if I join you" came a voice from behind her
Her breath caught as she turned to look behind her.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to wake you" she whispered turning back around Jack sat on the step next to her.
"You okay" he whispered back
"No."
"I guess I get to repay the favor. I wasn't expecting to so soon. Well actually I wish I never had to but, you know what I mean."
Gin smiled and nodded her head.
"In order to understand any of it you have to know the full story."
"We have time."
"I've never told anyone the full story not Sage, Sneaks, or even Spot."
"You don't have to tell me"
"I've gotta tell someone"
"Alright"
Gin turned towards him and took a deep breath before she began.
"I knew my father was doing it before even my mother knew. We were middle class for the longest of times then all the sudden one-day he got the jackpot and we became first class citizens. His gambling went on and he kept bring in the money. After a year or so the luck ran out. He became more depressed and barely brought home anything if he did at all. My mother got worried, as did I. He had quit his job long before due to the major money he was bringing in. It wasn't long after that that I saw-he committed suicide."
Gin stopped a moment and let the information sink in. Then she continued.
"I witnessed it and God help me I've never seen anything more terrifying. He didn't know I was there and he was pleading for God to forgive him."
Tears began to fall down her cheeks.
"He was pleading as he pulled the trigger."
The tears were too much and Gin had to stop. In never telling a sole about this incident she never let go the feelings of pain and abandonment she felt due to it.
"You witnessed it" asked Jack after a few minutes
Gin nodded.
"Shortly after that we started receiving the bills. He had so many gambling debts to pay. It took over two thirds of our money to pay them off. Mother began to get desperate and tried her best to get me matched up with any well endowed male. That's how Heptson came in the picture. No matter that he was at least twenty years older than me he had money."
Jack lay his hand over hers and let her continue. The tears had passed and now her faced showed only anger and concern.
"My mother was overjoyed when he asked for my hand and gave him my answer for me. In truth I'd rather live poor than with that man. My mother wouldn't consider a life like that. She never knew the way he acted and if she did she ignored it. I eventually lost my patients with him especially with the way he acted. He treated the poor as his stepping stones. I saw him kick a poor boy in the street one day cause he was sleeping on the sidewalk. The day he let his men attack you was the final straw. I spoke with Sneaks and"
"Wait. What"
"You don't remember? I heard you were pretty messed up and even that day when I looked at you, you didn't look so good."
"I'm confused"
"You came to sell me a paper and I stopped you to talk and the bodyguards attacked you and he let them. Heptson sat and watched. I tried to stop them but what could I do against them? I"
"It was you"
"What"
"I only remember one thing about the attack. Other than the beating itself and that was someone holding me in their arms and calling out to the boys when they were searching for me. It was you. You were my guardian angel that day"
Gin looked down and nodded her head.
"Sneaks offered me the information on her brother and we took off to Brooklyn not long after that day. The rest I'm sure you know." Gin finished
Tears were in her eyes again as he noticed her thoughts change from the subject they were talking.