Chapter 4 - Mere Inches

I began to stir as a sweet aroma filled my nostrils. My eyes began to slowly open, soon shocked at my surroundings. 'Oh my God!' I thought panicking, 'Where's I at?... Oh, okay, dats Spot. A'right, I'se okay.' I then averted my gaze from his sleeping body to the table. There lay a piece of white cake and strawberries on top.

"Mmm! Yummy!" I exclaimed, now realizing how hungry I was. I placed my feet on the floor quietly, and began to attempt to stand up.

"Don' even think 'bout it," Spot's voice was clearly heard, although, his lips barely moved and his eyes remained closed.

"Sawrry!I'se jist gonna look at it. I'se not gonna eat it."

He sat up, placing his hat back on his head, and rolling his eyes at me, "I meant don' try tah stand you dumb shit! I'se bought dat fer ya."

My eyes widened, "Thanks Spot!" I nearly jumped, but was instead lifted and placed onto a chair at the table.

"Now eat!" his voice was stern, like a fathers.

I lifted a fork full of cake to my lips, and suddenly dropped it from the pain. From my hip to my neck, the pain was unbelievable. "Oww! Me sides killin' me."

Spot simply nodded, and to himself thought of the pun, and mumbled, "Yer right, it is."

I ignored it, assuming he was being an jackass again. He placed the fork to my lips and continued until I had to push him away. "Spot dats real good, but I'se can't eat no more."

He stared shocked, "Ya barely ate! Ya gotta eat, ya gonna git sick!"

I shrugged my shoulders, "I'se can't eat. Dats more dan I can evah remember havin'."

"Fine!" Throwing his hands in the air, he grabbed me and tossed me onto the bed, "Roll ovah." To my surprise I did as he said and waited for his return. He soon was removing a bandage from my leg. Something dripped onto my leg, and soon more and more liquid was running all over my leg. "What's dat?"

He didn't answer and instead applied pressure to my leg. Then he poured a cooler liquid onto the cut, and made it burn."OUCH! Make it stop! Please!" Without another word, his lips released a cool breeze and the pain was relieved.Something was then wrapped around my leg, "Roll ovah." His bark was loud but full of concern. Lying there, he sat closer to me. He reached down, and grabbed my top.

"Wha da hell are ya tryin' tah pull?"

He smirked, "Wha? I'se ain' doin' nottin'."

Glaring at him, "Me cut was on me leg! Ya have no business up dere!"

His eyes glistened, "Oh yes I do! Now take yer damn shirt off! I'se gotta git up dere!"

I crossed my arms in front of my chest, "No! Ya above all people aren't allowed up me shirt!"

He stood, obviously pissed, "Fine! I'se go git one o' me boys tah do it! Dey gladly git up yer shirt!" He walked to the door and was about to turn the handle. "SPOT CONLON! GIT YA ASS BACK 'ERE!"

He turned smugly smiling, "I'se knew ya wanted me up yer shirt!"

"Jist git ovah 'ere, Jackass!"

He's smirk turned to a frown, "No one calls me a jackass, 'specially you."

"I'se call ya wha'evah I'se please!"

His face grew closer as our battle continued, "I'se da boss!"

"No, not da boss a me!"

"Yes I am!"

We now were mere inches apart, I could feel his warm breath on my cheek. I closed my eyes, wondering if he was going to kiss me. Once, again I felt his hands undoing my shirt. My eyes fluttered open, my temper was steaming! 'Wha da fuck? 'E's such an ass!' I simply lied there as he undid yet another bandage. My body shook with cold, but on my side was a very hot spot. I moved fingers along my side, wanting to feel the cut to know how bad it was. They finally reached their destination and I was amazed to discover the cut was several inches deep. I whimpered in the thought of what it looked like.

"Git ya hands outta dere!" Spot scolded yanking my hands away, "You'se gonna make it woise!" He poured a clear liquid onto the cut and immediately blew on it, cooling the stinging sensation.

"Is it bad?" He was quick to look away as he answered, "No, nawt too bad."

I lightly laughed, "Liah. So? Is it infected?"

"Nawt yet. You'se jist gotta be careful, can't move too much. You'se got dem damn organs and shit. You'se can't affoid tah git it infected." A tear slipped down my face, but I quickly wiped it away. It wasn't until another and another fell did Spot notice. He bent down wiped them away and kissed my forehead.

"Thank ya," I muttered quietly to him after he fixed my leg and side.

He shrugged his shoulders, re-buttoning my shirt. "Brr!" I shivered as a gust of cool night air blew in. Spot quickly placed the covers on me and went to shut the window.

"G'night Spot," I laid back on the bed and closed my eyes.

"Night," he replied as he perched himself next to the window sill. I, for the third time, drifted into a very restless sleep. Spot sat at the window for awhile, taking everything in.

'God, she's so beautiful! She reminds me a' Chelsea so much, dats why I'se give 'er dat name. I'se still don' know why'se I left Chels, I'se guess I'se jist scared. Ya know wit 'im lookin fer me. But I'se shouldda brought 'er wit me, now its too late,' Spot stopped thinking about it and sighed heavily, "God, I'se naw gonna let nottin' 'appen tah dis one. I'se don' wanna lose anuddah one.' Spot found his way to the bed, kissed me goodnight and laid down on the couch.

"Stop! Stop! Francis! Ma! No Ma, don' leave me! Git off a me! Stop! Leave me alone! God help me! Francis!" I jolted up, soaked with sweat, shivering, and my face was tear stained. I quietly sobbed and soon moved myself off the bed There was immense pain, but I didn't care. I felt bad waking him, but would feel embarrassed if I just laid down with him. "Spot…" I whispered in his ear hoping to wake him. He started to stir, but my leg gave out first, causing me to fall on top of him.

Spot was wide awake as he found me lying on him, "Chelsea? Vixen, wha's da mattah?"

He could feel me shiver as well as the goose bumps on my legs. "I'se sawrry. Me leg gave out."

He shook his head, "Dats a'ight. C'mon, le's git ya tah bed, den tell me wha's da mattah." He lifted me with both arms, careful of my torn side and leg and laid me down on the bed. And just as before, covered me. It was weird, I thought, how one minute he was the biggest, most conceited ass and the next such a sweetheart.

"Now, why was ya ouddah bed?"

"I'se had a horrible nightmare, it was as if I'se been dere before." I rethought of the dream, and shuddered, "So, I'se got up tah ask if ya would mind sleepin' wit me?"

Spot knew this was serious, but had to lighten the suspense, "I'se knew ya wanted tah sleep wid me. Ya soire ya can handle all a dis?"

"Spot, shuddup and git in 'ere."

"Fiesty and fast, eh? I'se like dat in a goil," he teased as he slid in next to me.I placed some covers on him, and slid over making more room. I turned onto my good side, and settled down.

"What'? I'se do all dis fer ya and no kiss g'night?" He was close and slightly bent over me. When I turned over, our faces were mere inches apart.

"You'se think ya desoive a kiss?" I whispered so softly I wasn't even sure if I had said anything.

He smirked, "Ya, I'se do." His voice too was quiet, as if we might get in to trouble if we were heard. I gazed into his eyes, averting my eyes from his eyes to his lips. I felt him draw closer. I had no idea as to what to do. He placed his arm over me and slid me over so he was on top of me. He gently laid his body on mine in an attempt not to hurt me. I began to breath heavy as his face was right in front of me. Soon, his lips were upon mine, his hand lightly caressed my cheek. I placed one of my hands on his neck and the other was intertwined with his hair. I was surprised when he pulled away, I didn't want it to end. It had lasted only a few short minutes, but it felt like a lifetime. I didn't know how to act when he moved over, "Night."

My eyes were wide with shock, "Goodnight."

Tossing and turning, I slept restlessly for the second time that night. It seemed like when I could finally fall asleep, I couldn't sleep peacefully. The dream ran through my head, and finally I sat up. I looked around the room. Spot wasn't next to me, he wasn't on the couch or by the window, he wasn't anywhere. Wait a minute,
is this the same room I fell asleep in? Abruptly, the door opened and in walked two men. One was tall, largely built. The other was a shorter, skinnier man. Both had something in their hands. One seemed to resemble a large stick, and the other glistened as the moons light struck upon it. I began to tremble as they approached,
I wasn't sure if they knew I was there or not. One began to speak but I couldn't understand, something with the word 'weather.' I was terrified and wished more than ever that Spot was there. The two men continued on, moving closer, and one lifted his hand about to strike with the shiny object...

"Chelsea? Vixen?" Spot was shaking me profusely.

My eyes fluttered open, "What's goin on? Where'd dey go? Where were ya?" I was amazed to see no sign of the two men, they were all too real for me.

"What are ya tawlkin' 'bout? I'se haven' left ya side."

I shook my head, "Those men… they were so real. Oh, Spot.. I'm scarred! Wha' if dey come back?"

Spot gathered me in his arms, "Sweetface, I'se haven' left ya. Its jist a dream. Dey nor anyoddah poison can hoit ya. Okay? I'se won' let no one near ya." I darted my eyes across the room as I nodded my head and drawing closer to Spot. I buried my head then into his chest to discover that he had removed his shirt. His warm, built figure was illuminated by the light seeping in from the window.

"Spot, promise me you'se nevah leave me."

"I promise I'se nevah gonna leave ya." I smiled but was still afraid to move out of his arms. Spot was wrong, those men weren't just a dream. They were real, maybe not now, but someday I know I will meet them again.