I had never been so sick of the color white in my whole life, at least not till spending the last week in the hospital. The doctor tried talking me into going to a rehab to help me get back on my feet, but I wasn't having any of that. The bar had been closed for a week and if I didn't get back to work my customers would surely start going elsewhere if they weren't already. Iris said she could only take another two weeks off from work and I was determined to be completely independent again by the time she had to go back.
Tony and the boys came back down from Seattle to help Iris get me home. Tony just wanted to carry me up the stairs, but my stubborn ass vehemently refused. I needed to be able to get up and down the stairs on my own. It took me fifteen grueling minutes and several rest breaks on the way up but I managed to get up the stairs and onto the couch. Ace was super happy to see me and I cried when I saw him. I collapsed on the couch and hugged him to me. Other than being a little wobbly it was almost like he didn't notice his missing limb as he hobbled around, his tail wagging hard enough to make his whole body shake.
Jack and Ace snuggled up with me on the couch as I flipped through the channels on the TV while Iris and Tony made dinner. Ben sat in the chair listening to music on his walk man. It was nice. Usually we didn't get together unless it was the holidays. Mostly it was Iris bringing the boys down to visit once every month or two or I would drive up to Seattle to see them, but Tony was a welcome addition whenever he could get away from work for a couple hours.
The next day was practically a constant argument between Iris and I, with a few small breaks throughout the day. I needed to get the bar running again while Iris wanted me to take some more time to heal before spending so much time up and moving. Thankfully, Tony had helped deal with the insurance and had fixed the doors and arranged to have the window replaced while I was still in the hospital. Now that I was home, I had to go through and compile a list of everything that had been broken or stolen for the police and for the insurance. Luckily it hadn't been much, only the window, the door to my apartment and the coffee table that been damaged in the break in. All the money from the cash register had been safely locked in the wall safe and hidden behind a painting in the office downstairs along side all my legal documents and the more valuable jewelry that I owned. The only things stolen were the fifty six dollars out of my purse and my gold jewelry, which unfortunately for the bastard that had shot me, was mostly costume jewelry. Nothing that had been stolen was anything that couldn't be replaced or would be missed.
Iris continued to nag as I slowly made my way down the stairs to get ready to open. She was dead set against anything that posed a possible risk to my health though I didn't see how this was going to change anything or risk my health. I had made up a sign that stated that there would be no table service till further notice and I knew that wouldn't be a problem for the majority of my customers, though I was debating on whether to hire a waitress. I'm sure if Iris had her way I'd have a help wanted sign in the window by the end of the week.
"Iris, it's almost one o'clock." I finally said having had enough.
"So?" She says and crossed her arms over her chest.
"It means that you've sat there and bitched about me working for ten hours now. Two more hours and it'll be over. Maybe sooner depending on when the last customer leaves. I think you've driven your point home three times now." I said tiredly and pulled myself onto my stool and propped my leg up on the shelf underneath the bar. She perched her lips, but didn't say anything else and for that I was extremely grateful. I wouldn't admit it to her, but I was beat and my leg had started aching hours ago. The only thing keeping me going right now was the pain meds and the bills that I could imagine piling up on my table from the repairs, the hospital and the vet.
I looked up as the bang of the back door closing and was glad to see Happy and Kozik walking in. I was pleasantly surprised to see Kozik without his kutte though. Ace went running up to them and Happy immediately rubbed his head and gave him a treat before coming to the bar. Kozik took the stool that Tig had once occupied and played with Ace. It was cute, but it was far from the silliness that Tig displayed whenever Ace got within eye sight.
"I gotta tell ya man, you look kinda bad ass." Kozik said to Ace and I smiled as I set Happy's whiskey in front of him.
"What can I get you to drink, Kozik?"
"Beer would be good." He said and I nodded before grabbing one out of the cooler and sliding it to him.
"How you feeling?" Kozik asked as he spun around to grab his beer.
"Sore, but I'll make it." I said with a shrug. Iris snorted, bringing our attention to her.
"She'd be better if she wasn't so worried about this bar. She hasn't given herself a break since she started at three." I glared at Iris while Happy and Kozik looked to me.
"Iris we've talked about this all day. This bar is my livelihood. If I don't run it, then no one will and I'll be out on the streets."
"How many people work here?" Kozik asked looking between Iris and I.
"On any given night? Two people, me and the cook. I have two cooks on rotation Eddy and Pete." I explained and Kozik nodded.
"Why don't you hire another person?" He asked as I groaned and rolled my eyes in exasperation.
"Thank you!" Iris exclaimed.
"Fine! I'll put a sign in the window tomorrow!" I caved, more than through with Iris's insistent comments on how to run my bar.
"I mean it's not like I went to college and got a managerial degree or have been working this bar since I was 18 or been running this bar completely on my own for three years." I snapped. Iris glared at me and I glared back.
"Oww!" I heard Kozik exclaim and I turned to see him rubbing the back of his head and glaring at Happy. Happy was knocking back his shot, acting completely oblivious to his pals pain. I refilled his shot with a smirk, which earned me a smirk in return. Kozik finished his beer and I reached into the cooler to grab him another, but found the cooler empty.
"Shit!" I said and went to get up to figure out a way to bring more up. I had just gotten standing and my crutch under my arm when I noticed that Happy was coming behind the bar.
"Stay." He said before looking to Iris.
"Show me where she keeps it." Iris smiled while I started to protest.
"I can get it." I argued and Happy shot me a look.
"Sit." He said and directed Iris toward the kitchen. Iris gave me a smug smile and led Happy into the kitchen. I looked up to see Kozik smirking behind his empty bottle. I shot him a glare and he looked away quickly, diverting his attention back to Ace. Happy soon came back out carrying the crate of beers and set them on the counter for me like they weighed nothing.
"Thank you." I said grudgingly, but he just nodded and went back to his seat on the other side of the bar. I slid Kozik a new beer and then began stacking the beers into the cooler. By two there were a few stragglers left milling around the pool tables and Happy and Kozik at the bar. Iris was basically asleep where she sat. Her partying days having died not long after marrying Tony 16 years ago.
"Just looks like she can't party with the kids anymore." I joked to Kozik and he smirked.
"Ha ha ha." Iris muttered with a weak glare.
"I've managed to go years on very little sleep. As cute as those two boys may be, they were once terrorists with sleep deprivation being their weapon of choice." I laughed.
"But you wouldn't change a thing." I sing-songed and Iris smiled with a roll of her eyes.
It was a little after last call when the men playing pool decided to call it a night. I rang up their tabs and they paid before heading out into the night. I pulled out the keys and gave them to Iris.
"Lock the doors, I'll get the signs." Iris raised a brow before tilting her head toward Happy and Kozik.
"Bar's not empty yet." She said and I nodded.
"They won't leave till I've shut down." Iris rolled her eyes but went to lock the door like I asked. I grabbed my crutch and started to get up when Happy stood up.
"Don't move." He said and motioned with Kozik to help. The two shut off all the signs, turned off the jukebox and where putting up all the chairs while I set to work on gathering the money out of the register. Iris raised a brow at me with a smirk and I just rolled my eyes. When they finished they walked back to the bar fishing out their wallets, but I shook my head.
"Nope, it's on the house tonight." I said. Happy stared at me hard and I just stared back. Kozik looked like he didn't know what to do. Happy pulled the bills out of his wallet without breaking eye contact and laid them on the bar.
"I said it's on the house. Keep your money." I said pushing his money back toward him.
"Tough shit." Happy said shoving his wallet back into his pocket. Kozik looked to Happy then to me and smirked before putting his own bills on the bar. I sighed and picked up the bills, adding them to the bank bag to be counted.
"Now, up." Happy motioned to the hallway.
"You can't be serious?" I balked. Iris started giggling and I glared at her before turning it to Happy.
"You're awfully bossy tonight, mister." That just earned me a smirk while Kozik was struggling to contain himself. Happy leaned back against the support beam, making it quite clear that he wasn't going anywhere until I was upstairs. I sighed and started gimping my way toward the hall, wanting to get at least a little sleep before Jack woke up bright and early.
Apparently I was taking too long as when I was halfway down the hall I was suddenly scooped up and was being carefully carried. The unexpected action pulled an undignified squeak from me as I clung to the mountain of a man that decided to pick me up like I was nothing more than a sack of potatoes. Ace gave a bark at the noise, but Iris must have grabbed him. Happy gingerly carried me up the stairs and into my apartment before gently setting me down on my living room chair since Ben was sleeping on my couch. I crossed my arms across my chest and glared at him as he stood up, he smirked and nodded before heading back down stairs. I could still hear Iris giggling downstairs.
I heard the door shut as Happy and Kozik exited and then the roar of the bikes as they pulled out. Ace came up the stairs and sat at my feet, nudging my hand with his nose to be pet. I grudgingly pet him.
"Traitor." I mumbled. Iris followed not too far behind and I glared at her stupid smiling face.
"Just let him throw me around why don't you." I whispered, careful not to wake Ben. She giggled again.
"And what was I going to do. Pull you from him arms? I think someone likes you." Iris continued to giggle though I had to admit I was fighting a smile too.
"Well you could have done something." I said exasperated. Iris helped me stand and walk to my bedroom.
"I think he's sweet." Iris said and I raised a brow. She had pretty much been terrified of those very men when they'd come to visit me at the hospital.
"Scary, very scary, but sweet." She added and I rolled my eyes. I was screwed.