By: Nightingale
Rating: PG13
Part 16Morning came and went, as did most of the afternoon with Gin still asleep in her bunk. When she finally opened her eyes the sun poured onto her face and she smiled at the glorious day forgetting for a time of last night.
Gin sat up and noticed that she had somehow managed to be in her bed. She also realized that she was alone. Her mind tried desperately to catch up with what was going on but she felt so confused. After hearing sudden laughter from the floor below she got out of bed and went to the bathroom to fix herself a bit from the night of sleep.
Her eyes were full of puzzlement as she rounded the corner of the stairway. There sitting on a stool was Sage and next to him was an older man finishing the wrap around his chest.
"Sage" she half breathed from the stairs yet somehow he heard and looked up
"It's about time you got up." He commented
She gave a slight scream of joy as she ran to him wrapping her arms around him.
"Watch it." He grunted
"Sorry"
It seemed as if just then she got a decent look at his face. His eye almost completely swollen shut caused a tear to roll down her cheek.
"Now don't start that. It's alright. You'll be fine here." Voiced the old man handing her a handkerchief to dry her eyes
"Thank you, sir"
"Kloppman's the name" he responded to her with a smile
She smiled back sweetly as she wrapped her arm once again around Sage only this time it was much softer.
"You're not hurt at all are you miss" asked Kloppman
"Oh no not at all." Gin looked up to Sage with his beautiful sage green eyes.
"Thanks to my big brother here and Brooklyn. I'm perfectly unharmed."
"That's good to here" chuckled Kloppman
"You're telling me" voiced Sage with a sigh of relief
"Though you wouldn't believe what Doc dragged me through last night." She protested"It's a miracle I survived it."
"You're a tough girl." Sage laughed
Gin and Sage spent the afternoon at the lodging house laughing with the dear old man. Sage eventually did leave to gather some food since Gin was in no way able to leave the shelter.
"I normally don't sleep so late." She explained
"I know. I've heard quite a lot about you."
"Really"
"The girls seem to get their information from all kinds of sources and not a single one is the same." He chuckled again
He reminded her of her father before the gambling days. He was so light and willing to laugh about anything that came up.
"Jack told me about you having trouble sleeping last night and to let you sleep. Now I normally don't take orders from him but after seeing your peaceful face I couldn't bare to wake you." Declared Kloppman
At this Gin laughed as well. It felt so good to laugh. It was during this small fit of laughter that Sage returned with lunch and with Jack as well. They each got a sandwich, which they ate between snips of conversation and laughter. Gin had never had a better lunch and after about an hour of sitting afterwards she began to realize what she would have to give up to remain safe, the outdoors. It may not be the cleanest or the safest but nothing could surpass the feeling out being out of doors.
Gin never knew how her face had turn wistful and her eyes glancing at the window. Kloppman began to clean up the lunch and Sage declared he was heading back to Brooklyn. After a long goodbye to Gin he left. Jack had noticed her stares before and couldn't wait for the possible moment to show her something.
"Come with me"
"What"
"Come on" he pleaded pulling her towards the stairs
Gin got up from the chair, which she had been sitting on and followed him up the stairs.