"Joe needs to go home, bud. Want to cut it short?"
He didn't want to hear it, but it wasn't unexpected, he knew Joe was feeling horrible.
Turning his back to the mark, he whispered to Murr.
"Shit. He was so excited about this, too. On my way"
Sal turned back towards the man he had been speaking to.
"Thanks man, I have to run"
He knew someone would be buy soon to explain the absurd encounter to the mark.
Rounding the corner, he took in the sight of his beloved friend.
Joe was gaunt, gray, and his blue shirt was strewn with fresh vomit. His tired blue eyes clearly showed the pain and misery he was in. Yet he smiled when he spotted Sal.
"You were going good, buddy. I'm sorry I had to stop you. I should have stayed my ass with the babysitter".
Joe's normally loud voice was quiet and weak.
"Ahhh, we'll get em next time, Joey. Let's just get you home now."
It hurt Sal's heart everytime he really took in Joe's appearance. He seemed to get thinner by the day, Sal hoped this was his imagination.
Q was wiping Joe's face and arms with a warm rag. Sal looked around for Murr. He, Q, and Joe were alone in the small area.
"Where is everyone?"
Q looked up, like he had just noticed his friend had appeared.
"Murr went to his car to get a shirt for Joey. The crew is packing up equipment, but Shay needs us to come to her car for a minute. Something about needing documents signed electronically and her phone is only picking up service in her car. I'm not sure, but she can't come here. So, do you see anyone that can just hang out here with Joe for about ten minutes?"
About that time, Joe retched, reaching out blindly with his hands, tangling his long fingers in Q's arm. Q winced, but immediately placed his hand on Joe's chest.
"It's okay, bud. Just breathe through it. You got this."
Sal took a deep breath, and stepped around the corner of the small area, searching for a crew member. He saw a new guy and called him over.
Stan had been working with the guys for three months. They didn't know him very well, but figuring they would only be gone for ten minutes at the most, he felt it was fine to leave him with Joe.
Stan walked over, stuck his head in.
"What's up?"
"Hey man, Shay needs us for a second. We have to find Murray and go sign something for her real quick. Can you just hang out here with Joe for maybe ten minutes, then we'll be back to get him. We don't want to bring him out until we are ready to go home."
"Yea, go ahead"
Q looked questionably at Sal, not looking this guy's demeanor.
Neither men did not see another option so they told Joe they'd be right back and rushed outside.
Finding Murray at the door, all three men tended to the issue Shay had, and went back in to retrieve their friend. They had been gone less then 10 minutes.
Walking into the small enclosed space, they found Joe covered in his vomit, Stan stood in front of him, lifting him from the chair by his shirt. Vomit ran down his own arm.
"You good for nothing bastard, if you throw up on me one more time I will throw you through this damn wall. Sonofabitch. If I kill you know, nobody will have to worry about taking care of your dying ass."
Q ran into the scene, taking Joe from Stan's grip and gentyl lowering him into the chair. His fist make hard contact with Stan's brow and he went down immediately.