Pulling Away

Chapter 4

Author's Note: Song by Jack Johnson. Sexual elements in this chapter, probably not suitable for kids under 13. Please review. I get really sad when people don't review and it stunts the creative juices that flow. Please, just so I know that people are reading, thanks.

Disclaimer: I do not own any rights whatsoever associated with 24. Wish I did, but I don't. You know the drill don't own characters, plots, beautiful actors, etc etc.

Tony stood at the door waiting for Michelle to come out of the bathroom so they could go shopping. He reached over to the rack and grabbed a set of keys hanging on a hook. Michelle always took so long in the bathroom he thought. Tony kept busy by looking at the room in more detail. He couldn't remember the last time he looked at the picture of her parents and his parents together. As he was looking at the photograph, and before he had time to develop attachment to the memories it brought, Michelle came out of the bathroom.

"Finally." Tony said in a mock sarcastic voice. He extended his hand and dropped the keys in hers.

"I take it I'm driving." Michelle said. Tony nodded. He was looking her up and down. He thought that she was the most beautiful woman in the world. He had no idea how he had become so lucky. He didn't deserve a wonderful woman like that, but there is no one else he could love nearly as much. They were in the car and Michelle turned on the radio. They started driving in silence while listening to 'Better Together' by Jack Johnson. Tony was bopping along, looking quite foolish when he actually started paying attention to the lyrics.

Love is the answer
At least for most of the questions in my heart
Why are we here and where do we go
And how come it's so hard
It's not always easy and sometimes life can be deceiving
I'll tell you one thing It's always better when we're together.

Tony looked over at Michelle who was concentrating on driving. He assumed she hadn't heard the lyrics. He dropped his head and was looking at his lap. 'It's not always easy.' So true, he thought. He looked up and over to her one more time. He sighed deeply, and this cause Michelle to look over at him. She read his face, and instantly knew he had something to say.

"Tony, is everything alright." Michelle asked. Tony's eyes darted from her to the dash, and then back to her after several seconds.

"Michelle, I'm sorry. I really am. I don't mean to be like this you know, and I know that it hurts you." Tony said. Michelle was surprised. She didn't think that he was going to say that. She swallowed hard, and cleared her throat.

"Thanks. I know things will get better, you just need to find a job and try to go back to the way things were before." She said removing a hand from the wheel and resting it on his knee. "Try not to think about the last two years."

"Not think about it? How could I not think about it. It is a very significant part of my life, don't you think?" He said amazed that she even suggested the idea.

"I didn't mean it like that. You know what I meant. Don't let it get to you." She said trying to clarify, so he wouldn't think she wasn't supporting him.

"Yeah, I guess." Tony said slightly stricter and turning away from her. He turned his head and looked out the window. He took a deep breath, trying not to think about what was just said between the two. A few minutes passed, and he saw that they were coming to a liqueur store. "Hey, pull over. We need beer." Tony said. Michelle noticed a sudden excitement in his voice. She didn't like it but she did what she was told. They were in the lot and Tony got out of the car.

"Hurry up, ok?" Michelle said turning off the engine and waiting for him to come back. She rested her head against the head support and stared at the roof. Why here? She thought. Seven minutes later, Tony emerged from the package store doors carrying 2 thirty packs under his arms. Michelle reached over and opened the door for him. He piled the beer into the backseat, and then got in the car.

"Alright. I'm ready." Tony said all smiles. Michelle just glared at him with a horrified look on her face. Tony looked over and saw her expression. "What?" He asked completely clueless.

"Got enough beer hun?" She said sarcastically. Tony picked up on her undertones; who wouldn't the way she was saying it combined with her expression. Tony hesitated before answering.

"Well, I thought this way we wouldn't have to come back tomorrow." He said casually, as if he did this kind of thing often.

"Tomorrow? How much are you planning on drinking?" She said exasperated.

"Well, I -" Tony stopped talking, knowing he had been defeated. There was no way he was talking himself out of this one. The two drove in silence for the remainder of the trip to the store. The couple walked up and down the aisles mostly in silence, but both their minds talking like crazy. The only words that were exchanged was Michelle asking if he wanted to get this, and Tony would either reply with yes or no. Even other people shopping could sense the tension between them. This was not a good situation. When they got to the checkout, Tony loaded the groceries onto the belt, and Michelle went to go watch the screen to make sure all the priced rang up correctly.

"Hi. How are you today?" The checker asked.

"Fine thanks, and you?" Michelle replied, even though she wasn't fine.

"Good thanks." The checker replied. Michelle handed her the coupons she had used. When everything was rung up, Michelle was slightly shocked at how much they had spent. Michelle wasn't used to buying food for two anymore. "148.34 please." The checker said. Michelle took out her debit card and slid it through the machine. Tony was standing there feeling pitiful. Great, I can't even buy food for my wife, he thought cynically. After everything was paid, Tony pushed the carriage, while Michelle looked for the keys. When she found them, she popped the trunk and the two loaded the groceries in.

On the drive home, they were both afraid to be the first to speak. Tony was still feeling pathetic, and was wallowing in self embarrassment. Michelle was still shocked about how much beer he had bought. She knew that they were going to have to have a serious discussion soon. When they got home, Michelle popped the trunk, and Tony helped carry in the food. He put the bags onto the floor, and then headed back out to bring the beer into the house. Once inside, he put the beer in the fridge. He immediately took one out of the box and sat on the couch. Michelle heard the TV click on and a beer can open.

She was standing in the kitchen when she heard this, and just looked down at the floor. All the groceries were still in bags on the floor. She silently began crying, shocked about everything he had lost. This was not the same person. Michelle put away the groceries, crying the entire time. Once finished, she went into her room and stayed there for the remainder of the day.

By midnight, Michelle was still in her room. She had gotten out of he shower an hour ago and had just finished painting her nails. After they were dry, she went into her drawer and got out her silk nightie. She liked to wear this, because it made her feel sexy. She needed something to do that if Tony wasn't going to be able to. She crawled into bed ready to read her book, and go to sleep. Once she was cozy, she opened to where she had left off. She was reading for 5 minutes, already deeply entertained, when she heard Tony walk up the stairs loudly.

He got into the room and Michelle looked up. He had a big smile on his face, and walked over to the bed. He took off all of his cloths, even his boxers, and climbed into bed. Michelle thought this was strange because the only time he ever slept naked was when they had made love. She finally pieced two and two together, and excitement overtook anything else she was feeling. Finally, she would feel the love of her husband again. He reached over and took her book away. He closed it and threw it on the floor. He reached for her nightie. When he touched it, his lust was thrown over the top. He wanted her right then and there.

He removed her nightie, and pulled her over to him. He positioned her the way he wanted, and without even kissing her, he entered her. He was breathing heavily, and when he went down to kiss her, she became almost sick. His breath reeked of beer. She knew then that he had been drinking all day, and he was so drunk that he needed a release. Tony pulled away from the kiss after a few seconds, and Michelle just kept going along with it. It felt so good to be connected to him again, but at the same time it made her sick to think that he had to get incredibly drunk to do it.

When he was finished, he panted heavily, and rolled off of his wife. He didn't say anything to her, but just rolled over with his back facing her, and fell asleep. Not one word was exchanged between the two. Michelle just stared at him deeply hurt and offended. This was not the way she wanted her life to be. If he could only make love to her when he was hammered, then he wasn't making love at all, and she wasn't going to put up with it. It hurt her so much. If he was going to do that then he mine as well just go and sleep with random women. But the thought of that hurt her also. The only solution was to get him some help, and get it to him fast. Michelle finally fell asleep next to a passed out Tony, after crying for an hour silently.