A/N out of all the chapters, this is the one that needed the most work, so big props to Debbie for that. And this is the end of it, so if you've read the other chapters and still haven't reviewed, please do. Even if you hated it with a passion, tell me so, please?
Time seemed to slow to a grinding halt. No one dared move or even breathe, not wanting to, wanting to stay locked right there and not have to face reality. "Um-I think you three can open your eyes now." A young, rich, baritone voice said quietly from in front of them. The pairs of eyes opened to see a ratty young man standing before them, shifting from foot to foot, knapsack in one hand. The innocent man from the corner had awoken.
"Wha-?" Woody started, trying comprehend what had just gone on. The young man grinned sheepishly and picked up his knapsack, swinging it over one shoulder with a kind of careless ease, trying to remove the indentation that his head had left in the back of it.
"Hey, I've got enough karmic debts already, I didn't need to add a big one, like trying to repay the person that gave their life to me on top of them all." He kicked the man on the floor sharply in the head. "Just got a new skylight in this place though, I guess." He looked up at the ceiling where the bullet had pierced.
"How-" Nigel began and the boy laughed, a rich, hearty laugh, pulling a pocketknife out to save Woody the trouble of having to try and untie Jordan.
"It's called get up, whack crazy guy in the head, save myself more debt, leave." He started walking towards the door. "He might not be out too long, I'm leaving before he wakes up, cause when he does, I don't think he's going to be too happy, and if you guys choose to stick around for that, don't count on me to save y'all again." Woody quickly sprung to action.
"I'll go call for backup." He said, heading out to his car.
"Thanks for that though, Dr-Cavanaugh was it?" She nodded at the young man. "He was right, pretty noble of you. But I don't blame either of your two friends for picking me, I know I would've done the same. Myself first, then my friends, then the random people that are taking naps in the corner." He held out his rough, calloused hand to her and she shook it, smiling at him.
"You're the one that saved the three of us." She said; the young man shrugged.
"What, you thought I was just going to lie there and act like nothing was happening? I may not be a rich man, or even a smart one, but I've got enough common sense to not be around a murder, and I kinda wasn't going to be able to run away from that one. I'm not a hero, just looking out for my own hide, so don't make me out to be one, cause honestly, I don't want to be one." Woody walked back in, looking a bit relieved as they heard the first sirens drawing close.
"There was a guy on patrol two blocks from here, he'll be here in a couple of minutes." The young man grinned and walked back to the door.
"That's my cue to hightail it out of here. I don't do cops." The young man said as he opened the door into the early evening.
"Thank you." Nigel called after him, and he shrugged, pausing and turning around in the door frame before he walked out for good.
"What can I say, sometimes the only way to win is to cheat."