To Be Needed
Part 20
The team was gathered in the living room by the time Ashby had come down. They had been waiting on her for at least ten minutes already. She felt bad. "Sorry you guys. These stupid pants were being difficult," she waved a hand at her newly purchased raver pants that she picked up online a couple of weeks ago.
They were baggy and wide at the feet, with straps that criss-crossed in the back and the front. If she tried to run she'd end up flat on her face, but they looked good on her. She wore a black rainbow brite tee-shirt with a white long sleeved tee-shirt underneath so only the white sleeves were visible. Big black chunky boot adorned her feet. She looked around at everyone and frowned slightly when she saw Mia was dressed to go out. What the hell?
Ashby looked at Leon quickly and raised an eyebrow. Leon just shrugged. She looked back at Mia, who smiled at her.
"I asked Leon if he wouldn't mind watching Maria since he was staying home anyway. Isn't he just sweet?" Mia asked Ashby, excited because she hadn't been out in a long time.
Ashby nodded mutely. God damn it!
"All right, let's go," Dom instructed as if it had been his idea to go out in the first place.
As everyone headed out the door, Ashby exited last. She mouthed 'I'm sorry' to Leon. She felt bad. It had been her idea and now it wasn't going to work and he was stuck at home by himself.
Leon just smiled at her. "Have fun, Ash," he told her.
Ashby was pulled quickly away by Vince who led her to his car. She sat silent the whole way to the club. She should have stayed behind so Leon could go. Maybe he could have tried to get together with Mia at the club. She sighed, unaware Vince was watching her in amusement.
"Ash, don't worry. Leon's waited this long, another day is not gonna kill him. Besides it's not your fault. There's no way you could have known that Mia would have wanted to come with us," he told her gently.
Ashby sighed and turned her head to look at him. "I know, but I just feel bad for him. He's been waiting for so long for the right time to ask her. I'm sure he must be beyond frustration by now. I just want to help him," she told him sadly.
Vince loved that about her. She couldn't stand to see anyone she cared about hurting, not if she could help it. She had to do something. "we'll think of something, Ash. Don't worry. Let's just have fun. Think of Mia too. She hasn't been out in a long time. She needs this too."
Ashby nodded. He was right too. "All right. I'll think of something for Leon. We'll just concentrate on making sure Mia has a great time," she told him as she grinned.
Vince laughed. "Good."
At the club entrance Jesse stood impatiently with Dom and Mia. Ashby and Vince still hadn't arrived and he was getting worried. "What's taking them so long?" He asked the others as he stared down the street waiting for Vince's car to appear.
Dom frowned down at him. Something was up with Jesse and he needed to figure out what it was before something happened. Lately he's noticed that Jesse seemed to be walking a thin rope, ready to snap at any moment. The only time he was calm was when Ashby was around. Dom's eyes widened when he thought of something. He looked at Jesse as if he could read his mind by staring at him. He couldn't bring it up now since Ash and Vince finally showed up, but he definitely would find the time to talk to Jesse. And soon. Dom hoped what he thought wasn't true otherwise the pack was going to get really awkward to be around.
"Come big brother, let's go party!" Mia said as she laughingly pulled him inside.
Dom smiled down at her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Aight, let's go!"
As a pack they entered the club.
Leon sat in the living room in the dark, staring at the baby monitor in front of him. He thought about watching TV, but didn't feel like expending the energy to retrieve the remote that rested next to the baby monitor on the coffee table. So he just sat there and thought how lately everything seemed to go wrong. He's tried to ask Mia out for the last two months and nothing. He finally gets the chance to be alone with her for any length of time, but he's denied.
He knew someone up there had some whacked sense of humor. While all sorts of women flocked to him, the one he did want wouldn't even look at him as anything more than a friend and brother.
Leon sighed and ran his hands threw his hair, deciding to give up hope completely. Obviously it wasn't meant to be. If Mia and him had a shot it would have happened by now. They lived in the same house for Christ sakes. No, if it was meant to be it would have happened by now. He would just have to give up and move on.
Leon sighed again, angry that life never seemed to go his way. Not when he really wanted it too.
Fuck, what the hell did I do to deserve this? I just want to ask her out, why can't I do it?
Dom and Vince sat at a booth, both sweaty and too tired to dance any more. Ashby, Mia, and Jesse were still going strong.
Dom picked up his beer and downed it quickly, for it had already started to grow warm.
Vince watched Ashby on the dance floor. She looked so different from all the other women in the club. All the women were dressed similar to Mia. In peasant tops and short skirts, showing off everything as much as possible. Ashby in her black pants and tee-shirt totally clashed, but he loved the way she looked. He loved that she didn't care what others thought of how she was dressed.
The bouncer almost didn't let her in, saying she was dressed too casual. Before Vince could open his mouth Mia latched onto him and managed to convince him to allow Ashby in. Vince smiled remembering how he looked when Mia made him promise to dance with her later.
He stared at Ashby and was hit again, by how much he loved her. He frowned when he thought about how he hasn't too many moments alone with her, thanks to Jesse and the rest of the team. Well pack now, but still too many people in the house, meant no time for him and Ashby to be just alone. An idea struck Vince so fast he had to blink to sort it all out.
He looked over at Dom who sat next to him. "Hey, bro, I need a favor..."
Dom looked at Vince and nodded without a second thought. "You got it. What you need?" Dominic didn't hesitate to ask.
"I want to take Ashby away. You know just to be by ourselves for a couple of days. Will you tell everyone? I'm taking her tonight," Vince asked his life-long best friend.
Dominic grinned. He knew Vince wanted time alone with Ash, without having everyone interrupting every five seconds. Plus he thought it would be good for Jesse to be separated from Ashby for a bit. He was getting a little too attached and Dom was getting worried about him.
"I got you brother. Don't worry. I'll make sure everyone knows. You know where you're going?" Dom asked.
Vince grinned back. Ten minutes ago, he had no idea he was going to take Ashby away, but now he knew exactly what he wanted to do. He was sure Ashby would love it too.
"Yeah I do..."
Jesse looked down the street anxiously. They had all just pulled up in front of the house. He saw Mia and Dom, but Vince and Ashby weren't right behind them. He hoped nothing happened to them on the way home.
Dom noticed Jesse was standing by his car looking around. He realized it was because Jesse was wondering where Vince and Ashby had gone. Dom remembered what Vince had told him and Dom forgot to tell the others before leaving the club. "Jess, come inside. You don't have to worry about them. They're not coming home tonight. Vince took her away for the weekend. They're gonna drive up to San Francisco," Dom explained as he was following Mia towards the front door.
When Dom turned his attention away Jesse's jaw dropped. WHAT? NO! He can't! Jesse's mind screamed, but wordlessly he followed Dom inside. He went straight to his room downstairs.
Dominic should have known something was wrong when Jesse made no comment, but it never occurred to him that Jesse would be upset.
Jesse paced the floor of the basement. He was too agitated to sleep, let alone sit still. He couldn't let Vince take Ashby away. They would end up together for sure. Jesse couldn't let that happen. What if Vince ended up hurting her like David? No, Jesse had to protect her. She was like a sister to him. He couldn't let anything happen to her.
A plan began to form in Jesse's restless mind. Dom said they were driving to San Francisco. It was too late to drive all the way there now. Vince would be too tired, so would Ash. No they would stop somewhere soon. Jesse paced faster as his plan worked itself out in his head. All he had to do was wait a while to make sure everyone else in the house was asleep first so he could leave without anyone knowing. Jesse knew he could catch up. He wasn't a member of the pack for nothing.
Ashby rested her head against the back of her seat. She watched the houses speed past without really paying attention. She was tired and ready to sleep. Her eyes widened when she finally noticed they weren't headed back to the house. "V, where are you going? Home's the other way," she asked confused. She looked around and then looked at Vince.
Vince just smiled at her and kept his eyes on the road. "I know. I'm kidnapping you. We're going away for the weekend. I told Dom. He'll tell everybody else so they don't worry," he told her confidently.
Ashby gaped at him. She couldn't believe he was taking her away for a weekend with just the two of them. He always said he would because he couldn't get her alone, but never did. He must be feeling neglected, she thought. If he felt ha had to kidnap her just to spend time with her. Ashby realized she needed to make time for Vince too. She really did need to talk to Jesse about coming into her room early. I'll talk to Jesse as soon as we go back, but for now, I'm going to enjoy the next days, Ashby told herself. She smiled at Vince's profile. She leaned over and place a kiss on his cheek.
He turned to look at her. He reached over and grabbed her hand, placing it in his lap.
"I love you," she said. "I'm sorry I'm not making time for you," she added.
Vince looked at her. "Baby, don't. It's not your fault. It's okay. I just want to have you for myself without being interrupted by someone. We can't even sleep in on weekends because somebody always needs you for something. I'm not mad. I love how you there for everybody. I don't know what we would do without you, but we haven't even done anything beside kiss," he told her. His frustration was obvious.
Ashby raised an eyebrow at him.
When Vince glanced at her, he realized what he said and what he was implying. "Damn it! Ash, that's not what I mean. I mean... I want too... But It's... Fuck! I keep fucking this up." Vince growled, angry with himself. He knew what he wanted to say, but couldn't put it in the right words.
Ashby smiled at him. "Vince, drive to my house. It's closer than where ever you're planning on going tonight. We can head out in the morning," she told him. Ashby knew what he was trying to say. They couldn't be intimate because they always got interrupted. No matter where they were, it's was always something or someone putting things to halt.
Vince shook his head. "No if we stop there someone will show up. No way. We're leaving tonight and I ain't stopping until we get there," he protested , hoping his voice was stern.
Ashby grinned and gave his thigh a squeeze. "V, drive to my house," she whispered.
Vince didn't speak, but he shook his head.
Ashby moved her hand higher up, causing Vince growl. "My house," she whispered again.
Vince Turned the car around and headed for her house, displaying racing skills he didn't even know he possessed.
