-:BTWD:-

I can't help you when I'm only gonna do you wrong
Oh, I'm going to mess this up
Oh, this is just my luck
Over and over and over again
I'm sorry for everything
Oh, everything I've done
From the second that I was born it seems I had a loaded gun
And then I shot, shot, shot a hole through everything I loved

Imagine Dragons : Shots

Bless This Wayward Daughter

Place Of Dead Roads

Confessions

What fresh hell was this?

Ettie observed the bar the brothers had brought them too. After the brothers had sent their unexpected guest on his way, the family had all but silently celebrated believing their liberation would be next. But as the Geckos directed them towards a lone building off a dirt road more than an hour later, Ettie began to feel they were nowhere near done.

The Titty Twister, as its large neon sign read, seemed to attract only a certain type of clientele. Open from dusk till dawn, it read. It's structure that of an old stone and wood work one might see in a long forgotten ghost town. It appeared to risk collapsing under the blasting sound of music coming from inside.

A plethora of motorcycles and eighteen-wheelers surrounded the makeshift dirt parking lot. Their domestic RV stood out like a sore thumb. All around them leather clad and less than friendly looking bikers roared their bikes.

The center point? A large structure in front of the entrance spewed a roaring fire. The only light outside the bar's neon advertisements and scattered burning barrels. It must have lured men here like a desperate moth to a flame. No other building and no other clear road around as dusty desert stretched as far as the eye could see.

As if to further prove the seediness of the building, the doorman called out for all those to hear. "Come on in! You heard me, devil dogs and bad bitches! Come on in for the all-you-can-lick" His tongue fluttered crassly. "-buffet of the most beautiful, tastiest delicacies south of the border!" He sang as he motioned to his crotch. "We've got only one item on the menu - that's true - but we've got every flavor under the Mexican moon!"

Subtly was not this man's forte. I suppose when you're selling sex it didn't really pay to be. Ettie kept Scott and Kate close as they were forced to keep up with the Gecko's or be run over by the rowdy racing bikers.

When they were clear of the chaos, Jacob motioned for the family to stop. It was time for this madness to end. "I did my part." Jacob cried out to the brothers. They, too, paused in their entrance. "We got you across the border. I'm not taking my children inside. We're done."

Seth didn't seem all the bothered in the least by the announcement. "Fine." And for a short moment the family had hope. "You three stay out here with the devil's rejects, have your own little Altamont." Seth pulled the keys from his pocket and jingled them. They could do whatever the hell they wanted, he thought, but leaving in that RV wasn't an option...

At the prospect of being left along with the hooting and hollering bikers, Kate moved in closer to her sister. Ettie didn't seemed affected by the chaos. She'd stopped at worse places with more questionable people in her dark days. But her calm amongst the chaos didn't mean she was passive. "That wasn't the deal!" She loudly corrected. She wanted her family out of here. She wanted a beach. And after this pitstop definitely a bath...

Seth's attention turned on her. "No, Princess. The deal was that we stick together until Richie and I finish our deal!"

"Need someone to hold your hand through it, pay one of the girls inside." She gestured to the club. "We did our part!"

"You're a real mouthy little thing." Richie stared at her with a coldness. Seth's insanity she could take, but Richie's unpredictability made her pause.

Seth stepped towards her before his brother could. His arms opened in an easy gesture. "In or out, I don't care!" He had to admit he'd been wished dead by many women in his life, but if there was any glare he would remember it was Odette's. It was like a cold cutting laser. Something akin to an ice cube put down the back of his shirt. But all her glowering was for naught, as the keys remained safely tucked in his pocket.

The only thing that made her shift her focus was the boisterous doorman in front of them. "Ooh-aah! You heard me, devil dogs and bad bitches! Come on in! We got pan dulce of every flavor for you and any way you like it, with all the fillings! Come on in and get it!"

The group looked at him with mild curiosity and disgust. Their collective attention drawing his. "Hold it, now. Hold it. A new item has just been added on the à la carte menu!" He stared at the girls lecherously. "Sweet, hot,-" He licked his fingertips as his eyes fell on Kate. "-cherry pie." He began walking down the short stairs and towards the girls. It was enough to raise their already short tempers. And when he stepped in too close to the older Fuller that refused to back away, Seth stepped in.

"Alright. Okay, okay. Easy, Tex." Seth put out his hand in warning, poking his finger into the doorman's chest in warning. "They're not gonna be on the menu."

Licking his lips, the man breathily tried to coax the smaller girl forward. She wisely remained behind her sister. "You leave that up to Cherry." When he reached out to touch Odette, Seth reared back and punched him straight in the nose. In the lull of motorbike roars, they could hear the sickly crunch of the cartilage tearing apart.

The doorman fell back against the stair wall, bracing himself as he tried to regain his sight. Blood leaked on the steps from between his closed fingers. Seth shook out his hand and stared straight at Ettie. Her body stayed rigid and angry but her eyes held an amused gleam as she glanced at the bleeding man. Behind her Kate's brows rose in a bit of awe. "Inside." He ordered them. Odette grabbed Kate and steered her to her other side, away from the now kneeling man as she led them inside.

"Thanks." She coldly told Seth.

"I'm a bastard. I'm not a fucking bastard." He murmured to her as he gently pushed her forward.

"Oh, I'm gonna get you!" The doorman wheezed. Seth glared at the man in challenge before continuing in. He had more important things to deal with. He closed the doors behind him. Excitement and relief filled him the moment he saw the topless dancers and busy bar. It all felt real. Too good to be true, even. And when his eyes focused straight ahead, he was suddenly hit was the nerve tingling feeling it was.

Carved in stone bigger than him, that symbol that seemed to keep haunting him stared right back at him. An eye surrounded by two opposite curves, spiraling at their ends. It was on Richie's knife, in his drawing, in his whatever the fuck you'd like to call his episodes. Seth blinked, a flash of the bank teller's eyes pushed into her slit open palms jumping to his focus.

And like an eye, it seemed to burn straight into his fucking soul.

He was wrong, Odette had the second most effective stare. It was so effective he nearly swung when an arm wrapped around his shoulder. Shaken from his trance, Seth studied his brother briefly wondering if he noticed it, too.

"Well, we made it, brother." Richie looked around the loud and sinful club with equal pleasure. "Welcome to paradise."

He didn't know what paradise felt like but Seth had a feeling it wasn't the urge to tear at your skin. "Yeah." Paradise always seemed like such a dream. So why did Seth feel like he was in something more like a nightmare?

Ettie didn't miss the way Scott glanced from girl to girl while trying to seem disinterested. When one of the women approached him with an offer, their father quickly side-stepped in. As he gently told her to find someone else, Ettie grabbed Scott by the shoulder. She tried to whisper as quietly as she could in the bustling and music playing club. "Can you try to behave? No touching and no staring."

Scott looked at her with frustration. Ettie raised an eyebrow and cocked her head in her father's direction. "You want him to have the talk with you? Because if you thought mine was awkward wait until your reverend father gives it to you." She nearly cringed at the memory. The boy had no idea how lucky he was she got to him first.

"Ex-reverend." He corrected.

"Smartass." She pushed him in jest. Now she kind of hoped their father saw his not so subtle eagerness.

Katie seemed rather fine with the situation, all things considering. She stayed close to their father and focused her attention on the bar and band rather than the lap dances and pole routines happening around them. They were drawing attention standing in the front door like this, but no Fuller was eager to make a move deeper into the pit of lust. So Ettie turned to Seth, catching him check his watch for the fourth time from her peripheral vision.

"Lose something?" She mocked.

Seth seemed genuinely flustered by the fact. "He's not here yet." Ettie couldn't help but peep at him through her lashes in curiosity.

She inhaled a sharp breath between her teeth. "Sure he's coming?"

Seth straightened his suit and stared at her with annoyance. His finger raised towards her in warning. "You-" His jaw ticked as he restrained himself. Her self satisfied little smirk alerting him to her games. She couldn't annoy him into giving up the keys. Maybe into shooting her, he thought wistfully, but not letting them go that easily.

He restrained himself from falling for the bait. "-are severely trying my patience."

"Great! We're on equal ground then." She gave a cheeky close mouthed smile.

Clasping her shoulder, he pushed her harder then before, steering her away from the door and through the crowd. The family followed. Seth quickly came to the conclusion that the Padre may call the shots but the family would followed her anywhere. Good piece of information to keep in mind for later.

"Hey!" He let her go once they reached the bar. Odette stepped back on his foot as she spun out of his way. Seth glared at her from the corner of his eye before focusing on the task at hand. The bartender waited impatiently for the order. "I'm looking for a friend of mine, name of Carlos Madrigal. Said he was gonna meet me here."

The long haired bartender surveyed at the out of place family behind Seth before shaking his head. "Carlos ain't here."

"But he is on his way, right?"

"He comes and goes as he pleases." He shrugged. "It's his place."

"This is his place?" The unexpected information made his stomach curl. You don't close a deal behind enemy lines. Carlos had lead him to believe they would be meeting on neutral ground, as business should always be done. Seth looked to the bar top, hanging his head in annoyance. He'd been rushed and gotten careless.

"You gonna drink or not?" The bartender looked at him with a cold glare, irked at the continuous questioning.

Seth's head raised, contemplating his choices. He had none.

"Yeah." He decided, suddenly in need of it. "Let me get a tall bottle of your best firewater, Cochise." Seth pulled out his wad of cash and took more than enough notes from it. "Hey, do me a favor, all right? When Carlos shows, give me the high sign, all right?" The bartender took the cash but made no promised. His dark brown eyes were intense, never straying from the Gecko as he lead his hostages to an empty table. Once more he was able to make the group follow just by steering Odette. He was soon to become a goddamn Baptist wrangler at this rate.

"You, sit down. Stay in sight." He ordered before leaving.

The family was quiet until Seth was far gone from the table. "I want to go home." Kate stared at the table.

"We're gonna get out of here so-"

"Not out of here. I want to go home." She stressed the word. The day had taken it's toll on her, now she seemed too exhausted to care. What made it worse is the fact her voice held no passion in it as she continued to stare at nothing.

Jacob held her hand and tried to coax her into more hopeful spirits, but Kate pulled back. As Jacob tried to cheer her up Ettie caught Scott hypnotized by a topless dancer high above the crowd. She kicked him under the table.

"Ow!" Kate gaped at her sister like she was insane. Ettie awkwardly apologized before glaring at Scott. The warning was all he needed. He diverted his attention elsewhere.

Silence fell over the table as they each waited for one another to say or do something. They were never a loud family, but by far, never in their life had an uncomfortable silence stretched so long between any of them. If an outsider was asked to summarize the scene a single word they might use was defeated.

They had screamed their fights and thrown their fits. Nothing had made it any better and after four days and a very very long evening, they Fullers were quickly coming to terms their family wouldn't be anywhere close to what it once was.

But in their separation there was unity. Because in the same moment all four of them turned a glare on their captor.

Seth put down five shot glasses and the bottle of tequila. Without looking at any of them, he opened the bottle and filled every glass up. He sat between the girls.

Dread filled their stomachs as their father struggled to look away from the glass. A sad sense of pride emerging when he returned it to Seth. "Not for me." Jacob slammed his filled glass down with determination. "And not for them." He slid the glasses back.

Seth stared at the glasses, his jaw slightly tensing before pointedly grabbing a glass. "Relax, Red Ryder." He picked the shot up and forcefully put it in front of Kate, repeating the same motion with Scott. "These Buckaroos earned their bonus." He grabbed the glass that was once Kate's and made a grand sweeping motion across the table, placing it in front of Ettie. He ignored the stare he felt burning into the side of his face. "So did you." He pushed the last of the gasses back towards the reverend. "Drink up." He encouraged before knocking his shot back.

"Dad, can we?" Scott eagerly asked.

"Absolutely not."

"Aw, come on, pops." Seth poured himself another glass full. "We're a band of brothers now. Crossed the desert. Didn't even need Omar Sharif." His head was thrown back again as he drank.

"As I recall, he killed a man for drinking out of the wrong well." Jacob eyed him in dissatisfaction.

"Yep. I love that scene." Seth ignored the jab and threw back another shot.

"Just how many of these did you have while you were gone." Odette's eyes fell to the glass, gently moving it to watch the amber liquid swirl. She lifted it eye level, trying to determine what the hell it was supposed to be.

"Drink." Seth glowered at her.

"No." She challenged back just as quickly. "You seem to be finishing the bottle just fine."

Jacob stepped in with Seth leaned closer to his daughter, their heated stares uncomfortable. "We're not your brothers. We're not your family. We're your prisoners."

"Dad, don't." Kate tried to make him be silent. Seth seemed to allow Odette's outbursts but rarely allowed others. They were so close to being done...

"It's all right, little lady." Seth dismissed. "You see, papa bears grumble. That's what papa bears do."

"You think you're in control 'cause you got the keys?" Jacob questioned. "You think you're on top of the world. But you're not." He watched Seth's face tense. "You're on the bottom. And you're scared."

"And you think you're better than me." Seth released the hold on his glass to point a finger at the old man. "You too good to have a drink with a common thief? Is that it?" No one answered him. "Now, like it or not, we are a family. A broken, messed up, sad excuse for a family. But, God damn it, we got love for each other, don't we?" He observed the faces around him. Missing the way Kate and Scott glanced at Ettie. A weird choice of words that echoed what she's said to them earlier that day. "Love and forgiveness." He put on a little drawl to mock them. "That's how you get through the day, right?" He challenged them.

Silence remained.

Seth's eyes narrowed, he leaned back in his seat and pulled Kate's chair closer. The sudden jerk and irksome sound made her gasp, not yet off the edge she'd been put on all day.

"Don't." Ettie warned, a new edge to her voice.

She went ignored. "So, here goes, sis." Seth leaned close to her. "I left some bodies on the ground back in Kansas. Now, no doubt they were good men and true, but they were in the wrong place at the wrong time, and they stood between me and my freedom. So I did what I had to do. I did what anybody would do. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?" He asked.

Kate looked to her sister, then father, trying to find a cue as to what to do as she looked anywhere but at their captor. Seth's jaw jumped as he grit his teeth, the silence grating on him. "I can't hear you."

He was a thief, not a killer. But after today this was his legacy. Tarnished and stained with a bloody body count, no longer where the Gecko brothers infamous thieves. Now they were just a couple cop killers, no different from the other brute bank robbers of the world. It was demeaning. And while he'd fired many a shot in his time, the past 24 hours had left a bigger body count than he'd evr imagined. It weighed on him. The frustration. The anger.

The guilt…

His words were clocked in sarcasm and anger but they held no lack of meaning.

He wanted to be forgiven.

Odette had seen enough drunks in her time to know the language. He wanted to be forgiven. She nodded when Kate sought her once more, hoping he'd stop once he'd gotten what he wanted.

The younger girl studied Seth's eyes, seeing a pain behind the sharp stare. "Yes." Kate finally answered.

"Yes, what?" He leaned his head in, tilting it as if to hear better. He wanted to hear the words.

"I forgive you." She amended.

Seth slapped the table. "Bingo." He looked to the father before pouring himself another glass. He swallowed it without pause "Good job." He encouraged her. "Now you."

"Now me, what?" Kate asked confused. She was not gonna drink that.

"Confess."

"Well, I've never killed anyone!" Kate almost laughed.

"Well, you must have done something real, real bad, right? Something real, real bad that papa bear here never, ever dreamed of, not even in his late-night cable- TV, soft-core dreams, I bet? Hmm?" He stared at the father.

"I caught her once-" Scott joined in.

Seth snapped his fingers, his gaze remaining on Kate. "Ah!" He silenced the boy with a pointed finger before turning it on her. "Got to come from her." He looked back at Kate. "Show time. We're all waiting. What do you got?"

"I-" Kate turned her eyes to the ceiling, trying to find the courage. "French-kissed Kyle in the back of the church." She got it over with.

"Whoo! Wow! Preacher's daughter playing tongue hockey in the house of the Lord. Did you get religious? Hmm? Don't answer that." He quickly amended. "We'll leave that one a secret."

"Leave them alone." Ettie ordered.

Seth's attention turned back to her. He studied the girl tediously, eyes roaming all over to this discharge of her father. She was beautiful, there was no denying that. From her glossy brown locks to her long shapely legs. He bet the padre had to beat the boys of with sticks. But that wasn't the focus of his dare he say, fascination. She was rebellious. Defiant. Every action, every glance, barbed with a hardened strength he'd met unmatched. He'd underestimated her back at the hotel. He wouldn't make the mistake again.

"And what about you, angel eyes?" He asked her. "If you were a cowboy, I'd bet you'd wear a black goddamn hat." He watched her glower further. "So come on, fess up to the table."

She didn't have the luxury of surprise that Kate did. All her worst points were well known in the family. Hell, in their entire church. She actually hinted a toothy smile, her eyes sparkling as she leaned closer. "I ran away with my druggie boyfriend and got hooked on heroin for five years."

Seth's huffed out a breath of laughter. Her casualness misinterpreted as unimpressive lying. "You're not playing the game right sweetheart." His eyes fell to her arms when she pushed up her sleeves, and dropped her arms onto the table. The circular scars cluttered around the nooks of her elbows stood out again the otherwise flawless skin. Seth amusement faded just a bit, his well practiced smirk still in place as his eyes rose back to hers. She was telling the truth. "Well aren't you full of surprises." His head tilted to the side.

Ettie's only response was flashing terse smile. She pulled down her sleeves once more. Hopefully he was shocked enough to let the game end.

"You think you can tear us apart?" Jacob interrupted, onto his little game. "It won't work."

"Oh, well, that's 'cause they already heard your confession, right, padre? They already heard the gospel according to daddy. Tie it all up in a nice, neat little bow for him. And lo," he mocked in a preaching voice. "the marriage was falling apart, he said. That's why he crashed the car."

"You don't know a thing about it." Jacob snapped.

"Except I never heard a why, padre. Why was mommy and daddy's love on the rocks, huh?" He pestered.

"You better stop right there." Jacob leaned forward as well little space between the table separating them. Seth could see a fraction of his daughter in him.

"Or what? God's judgment is gonna come down on me? That's what you were spewing back at the motel, right? You said you had this coming." Seth reminded as he leaned back. His brown eyes studied the rest of the occupants around the table as he refilled Odette's glass. "Put your glasses up." He ordered. "Up!" They did as told. "Here's to the book of revelations." He swallowed it back. The two children obeyed, immediately starting to cough when they tried to breath after.

"Like angels pissing on my heart." Seth mused.

"So that's what that feels like." Scott's face twisted almost painfully.

"Well, I got to go see a man about a horse." Seth stood. Talk amongst yourselves. Share your, uh, sorrows, your joys. I don't really give a shit. Just remember,-" He put his hand in his inner coat pocket. "I have the keys." He dangled them in front of the family before leaving.

"Go to hell." Jacob said, malice and hatred for that man, sharpened his eyes.

Kate studied him, saddened to see him in such a state. Her eyes fell to the shot glass before him, wondering if he would finally break the promise he'd renewed. His hand grasped around it. But instead of bringing it to his lips he poured it on the floor. Generally well mannered, he did little to hide his anger as he placed the glass upside down on the table. But Kate couldn't help but feel the way he looked at it was a struggle, regretful almost.

Maybe it'd be better if he had.

Seth slid past the group of bikers and strippers to the back, finding his brother easily amongst the fray as the only suit among a sea of leather and skin. A knife throwing competition was cheered on around them.

"Check it out." Richie missed the exasperation on his brother's face. Picking up one of the flat throwing knives, he held it carefully in his palm. He flipped and twirled the knife with ease."When was the last time you saw me do that?" Richard smiled.

"Congratulations." Seth said flippantly. "Now come on."

Richie flipped the blade in his hand once more, eyes returning to the knife throwing game before him. "Seth, I ain't leaving this place."

"Look, that beige monster sticks out like a third tit on a stripper, okay?" Seth pointed towards the door. "Not exactly the best place to keep our money." He harshly whispered. "I need you to keep watch while I stash it somewhere else." Richie shook his head with a quiet laugh. "Oh, I'm sorry. That's funny?" Seth's patience wore thin. "You want to fill me in on the joke?"

"You just sat down to the table." Richard tisked. "It's a little early to fold your hand."

He grew distracted by the start of a new game. Leaving his brother to ponder as he stepped up to bet and play.

Seth followed, stepping in front of him and pushing him back. "Hey! You kept saying somebody was calling you here, right? What did you mean by that?"

"Oh, now you want to know. Forget about it, Seth." Richard shook his head. "You already had your chance." He picked up his knife and pushed past. He had a game to win.

Seth gazed at his brother with tired eyes. He sighed. With no other option and little choice, he headed to the Fuller table. He wasted no time pulling on the back of the chair. "Move it."

Sunset had long passed by the time Seth lead Odette out the bar's doors. As predicted, the only light seemingly for miles was the tower of flames, and the lit barrel fires sparsely scattered around the parking lot.

"What the hell are you doing now?" Ettie stayed a few steps behind Seth. He'd given her no instruction or information after ordering her form the table. Her gaze roamed the now mostly abandoned lot, almost all previous occupants had found themselves inside. She stared at the back of Seth's head with a hesitant curiosity.

"Move it, Princess." He motioned for her to keep up. He knew she wouldn't try to run, not with her family still with his brother. But he didn't expect her to drag her feet so much either.

They came to a stop in front of the beige RV. Seth finally turned around as he opened the door. "Stay here." He pointed to the ground like one would to a dog. "Keep watch."

Ettie examind the desolate area. "For who?" She asked amused. She crossed her arms, looking around for any movement. The only people they'd past were a few bikers fighting outside the door.

"Just watch!" He snipped, leaving the door open as he disappeared into the RV. With an annoyed huff, she sat on the RV's step, staring out into the human-less dirt lot.

Seth pulled the black bag out from below the couch, feeling a short reprieve of relief when he unzipped the bag to see the bonds once more. He put the bag on the kitchenette, rummaging through the blag to roughly count them.

The sound of crickets, barking dogs and distant motorcycles was cut by the clattering of sound inside the RV. "What are you doing?" Ettie leaned back, her eyes leaving the lot to see Seth tear apart the cupboards.

Seeing her he snapped his fingers. "Hey! Mind your business. Eyes forward!" He chastised with pointed finger. With a roll of said eyes, Ettie returned to her post. Her head fell to rest on the cold metal of the doorway.

How did she end up here? She gently hit her head against the door over and over again, her face twisting in closed eyed self loathing as she cursed her stupid standards of hygienics. They should have just stopped at the by-hour fleabag Kate had suggest.

The rummaging continued until it suddenly stopped. Seth sighed. "You got any duct-tape in this beast?" He asked.

"Overhead compartment behind driver's seat." She instructed, opening her eyes to a, shockingly, still empty lot.

Seth bobbed his head in thanks. A taunting silence fell between them, begging to be broken as he moved things around until, finally, he found the role of silver tape.

"Is this my punishment for punching you in face?" She felt like she was in time out.

"Yes." He answered without missing a beat. Ettie's eyes twisted close once more, resuming beating her head on the door. "So now that you don't have to worry about the little one's innocent ears" Seth mocked. "-what's the real story?" He asked as shrugged out of his jacket.

"What story?"

"You're real confession." He clarified, beginning to undo the buttons of his shirt.

"I told you-"

"No." Seth shook his head, his lips pursing in a disappointed grimace. "You gave that up too easily." He argued. "So what the real story?"

Ettie peeked over her shoulder, her brows raising when she found him undressing. She began to understand the importance of the suite. Dressed down to his slacks and undershirt, the tank top did little to hide the stereotypical physique of a freshly escaped convict. Her eyes gave a quick scan of his well muscled body, the dips and crevices of muscles on his stomach still visible below the thin white fabric. But it was his side that demanded her attention. From wrist to collar bone fluid black lines seemed to move up and down his arm in an abstract or tribal design.

Seth looked up from undoing his buttons. "What don't you understand about eyes forward!" He chastised.

"Awe, are you shy?" She turned away. He had no reason to be, she thought. "Tell me your, I'll tell you mine." She bargained. "What's the story behind the tattoo?"

Seth glanced down to the tattoo in question. Considering his option before his mouth opened on it's own accord. "Richie pulled me out of a fire when we were kids." He admitted freely, having no plans to see her ever again.

"Huh." She mused carelessly.

"Huh?" He echoed, wanting her to expand. It as a very loaded 'huh' in his opinion.

"Nothing. It's just...he seemed more the type to start fires then pull someone out of them."

"Well he's not exactly-" Seth cut himself off with a shake of his head. What the hell was he doing defending him to her. "Alright, your turn princess." His words were actuated by the skipping screech of tape being pulled from it's roll. Seth began wrapping the silver adhesive around himself, tapping the bonds to his side.

Odette took a long deep breath through her nose steeling herself. "Nah." She deflated with a shake of her head. "It's not nearly as interesting as that."

She rested her head back on the doorway, practically grinning as she heard his movements freeze. She could feel his dagger glare stab at her.

Fair is fair, she supposed. Not like she could be judged by him anyways, she reasoned. Her grin lowered, as her mouth fell open. The words had only been spoken a few times, each one leaving her tongue feeling heavy and numb. "I had an abortion."

Seth turned, at the change of tone. For the first time she sounded defeated, weak even. Seth shifted, uncomfortable. He wasn't raised to show emotions, or pity, or any form of 'd been beat into him at a young age. But he couldn't help but want to make it better. Seth Gecko: always the rusted white knight. His chin tucked to his chest as he continued wrapping the tape around his torso. "That's not so bad." He softened his own tone, looking from the tape to her.

She shook her head, clearing the image of her parent's faces from her mind. A hint of a smile, more wistful than happy ghosted her face. "Yeah." She hollowly agreed. "I guess it shouldn't be." She blinked away a stinging in her eyes, remembering Kyle's words in the woods.

Murderous whore, he'd spat at her. A sudden rage developing as it had then.

"But try telling that to your pastor father." She grit her teeth.

It didn't matter her reasons, her rights, her own goddamn conscious. In the eyes of her parents she'd done the worst thing she could. Go against god, a take an unborn Fuller down with her.

"Yeah, well...Fuck 'em." Seth attempted to find common ground as he finished buttoning up his shirt. His intentions meant well but his words out of place.

"How about fuck you?" She put her anger on the one person around she could. Any civility was forgotten as she stood up and rounded on him.

Seth slowed in his movements to tuck in his shirt. His brows furrowed at the complete 180 she'd just done. Jesus, she was worse than his ex-wife.

"Why are we here? Still here? I mean, Christ, we played the human shield and the happy family, and the damn get away driver, and still even miles away from the border in the middle of nowhere we're still stuck with you!" She ranted.

Seth had stopped listening half way through, shaking his head as he finished straightening his appearance. Grabbing the now empty bag, he walked towards her; an equally narrowed gaze on his face.

Neither backed away as they met each other on the stairs. Seth braced his hand on the top of the metal doorway, leaning forward to stare her in the eye.

"You are here because until I have two tickets to El Rey in my goddamn hand, this beige beast-" he slapped the RV. "May be our only get away. You are here-" he pointed to their feet. "-because my brother has gone off the deep-end and those baptist bible bastards aren't going anywhere without you, sunshine." Seth's head nudged in the direction of the bar.

Odette gave sharp exhale of breath as she bit her lip. God she'd give anything to slap him. But as he was the reasonable of their captors she dare not take the risk. "You're a real bastard, you know that?"

"Been told once or twice before." He stepped down the stairs, pushing her out of the way with the black bag. Seth surveryed the deserted parking lot, spotting an old volkswagen scirocco sitting at the outer edge. His fingers glided over the top of the car, pulling up a thick layer of dirt and dust. "Bingo." He sighed. He tried the door. Unlocked.

Inside the car, a collection of woven blankets, magazines and stray fast food garbage littered the backseat. Odette bent forward getting a closer look at the rather 'retro' design on what appeared to be a burger wrapper. She picked it up carefully at the edge, studying the old design, faded and worn.

"What's wrong with your face?"

Odette's studious stare shifted to exasperating annoyance as she straightened. He was such the charmer. "This doesn't seem weird to you?" She questioned. Holding up the wrapper before throwing it back in the car. Even the woven mustard yellow blanket appeared dated.

Seth's brows jumped, missing her point.

"Of course not." Ettie rolled her eyes, her hands raising in surrender before falling to her side. She meandered away as Seth hid the bag in the backseat. The thief gave little thought to her hesitance until he found a newspaper protruding from between the seats. He pulled the folded paper out, glancing over the headline.

Reagan freezes Libyan assets in US.

"Hey."

"What?" He dropped the paper, throwing the woven blanket over the bag.

"Hey." She hit his shoulder.

"What?" He asked, more annoyed this once. He backed out of the car, slamming it closed.

"Whoo!" A victorious cry drew his attention. "Iwepa, wepa, wepa!" The doorman to the club chanted as he stepped forward.

Seth sighed, unintimidated, and unimpressed. "You again?" Seth asked, coming to a stop in the middle of the open lot. "I didn't break your nose back there, did I?"

"Yeah, pendejo, you did." He pointedly sniffed and dabbed at the blood still below it.

"That's terrible," Ettie glanced to Seth hoping he wasn't about to do what she thought he was. "'Cause if you don't get out of my way, I'm gonna break the rest of your face, too." He warned.

Ettie gave a low deflating sigh.

The man laughed. Snorting and bending over.

"Sorry. Is something funny?"

"That look on your face!" His face twisted in a fit of forced giggles.

Seth pointed at his own annoyed expression. "This face?"

"No." The doorman grew serious. He whistled. At the sound, a group of men began to emerge from behind various cars and shadows. Seth gave a low curse. "That one."

"You really know how to make friends, don't you." Ettie sighed.

Seeing the 5 on 1 odds, he turned to Ettie. He knew from first hand experience she had a hell of a punch. "You wanna step in, She-Ra?"

"Sure, give me the keys first."

"Not gonna happen."

"Then I'm gonna go with no." She backed away from the enclosing circle, putting her back against the forgotten car they'd stashed the bag in.

Seth sighed, shaking his head. He was really starting to hate that girl. Pulling the gun from his behind his back, he shot two off the opposing men in the knees. His quick aim was impressive but not enough. A chain was swung and wrapped around his gun, pulling it from his hand and leaving him disarmed.

But Seth was far from defenseless.

The crowd closed in around him still four on one but Seth held his own. His punches were quick and well placed, knocking them back and away while only taking minimal hits of his own. All that changed when his arms were seized by two of the men.

Odette's satisfied smirk fell to troubled worry when he was restrained. He was left wide open to attacked as they landed blow after blow to his ribs and stomach. A few went as far as to uppercut his hung head.

Ettie shifted on her feet her anger at him conflicting with her pity. Her eyes were attracted to a silver glimmer, spotting the discarded and forgotten gun only a few feet away.

Ettie surveyed the gun, the thief, and the bar in which her family was held captive.

Damn her moral integrity.

"Pick him up!" The doorman ordered when Seth began to sag. A flat wooden board in his hands. "This is what we do with pinche interlopers!" He swung the wood but dropped it when it suddenly splintered, a gunshot cracking through the air.

Every man's attention turned to her and the gun in her hand. "Back off." She ordered.

Seth looked at her in slight awe. The American sweetheart all but gone as she aimed the gun at the doorman. Unlike her brother, her hand didn't tremble, her posture still as stone. "I said: Back. Off." She gritted.

The doorman pulled a machete from his side. He wielded it threateningly, turning his attention on her.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Seth tried to call his attention back. He struggled against his captors, feeling that same rush of anxious energy he'd made Ettie feel all afternoon.

The doorman gave a lecherous grin, imagining how sweet it'd be to cut into that cherry pie. He licked his lips. "You gonna shoot me put-"

Another shot split the air followed by a gasping scream as the doorman's dropped the machete. He cradled his now eight fingered and bloodied hand.

Seth turned to Ettie, even more impressed with the shot. But she held the same surprise he did. It didn't come from her. From the darker edge of the parking lot a new group emerged, one of them holstering a gun.

"Aah!" The doorman cried, turning towards where the shot had come from. He was aghast. "You?!" He seemed terrified of the new arrival.

Dressed in all black, from his shoes to his dress shirt, their savior strolled in with a superior ease. A pose of similarly dressed men behind him.

"But- no, no, NO!" He yelled in a pleading manner, arguing with the man who hadn't even said anything. Doorman turned back to Seth, a new hatred in his eyes. "He broke my nose!" His tone went from accusing to begging as he turned back to the intruder. "He broke my nose!" It was a pathetic whine.

"Untie him and go." He was ordered. The group of attackers immediately released Seth and fled. The thief fell to his hands and knees as he tried to catch his breath.

His savior crouched down on his haunches, observing Seth as he tried to catch his breath on all fours. "You're a long way from Kansas City, Mr. Gecko." He extended a hand, helping him up.

"Are you alright?" Ettie was quickly by his side, putting his arm over her shoulders as she helped balance him.

Seth inspected her with guarded eyes and furrowed brows. The cold looks and heated glares replaced with wide eyed concern as she stared back. He felt a warm graze against his chest. His hand caught the offending appendage with it's fingers half into his inner pocket.

"Peachy, sweetheart." He pulled Ettie's hand away from the keys she'd just barely gotten to graze. He watched her worried eyes sharpened and narrowed to the face he was becoming accustomed to.

Ettie ripped her hand out of his. "You're welcome for saving your life."

"Really?!" Seth nearly laughed if not so enraged. "You don't think you could have stepped in sooner?!"

"What? Does the big bad ex convict need help from the little ol' church girl?" Ettie leaned in closer, taunting.

Seth pointed towards the bar a silent demand for her to return. "If I have to see your face for another goddamn second I swear to god-"

"What? You'll shoot me?" Ettie held up the gun still in her hand, extending it behind her back and out of reach when he made a grab for it. Seth's nose nearly brushed hers as he stared her down. He was a man of pride. He wouldn't play the childish game, certainly not with witnessed. When he stepped back she relaxed her own stance. Handing over the gun, she felt pleased with herself as his jaw ticked in a familiar manner.

Seth put the gun back in his waistband. "This close." He held his thumb and finger just slightly apart in warning. Odette rolled her eyes, slapping the hand out of her face.

She returned to the bar, Seth and his new friend following not far behind. When she entered, she spotted her sister moving through the crowd.

Kate tried to move inconspicuously through the crowd. Her eyes searching for the familiar faces of her sister or Richard. It probably wasn't the smartest idea, but she couldn't stay at that table with her faithless father a moment longer. She didn't want to hear about judgment or faith. It was a long and taxing conversation she didn't have time for. She cleared the main crowd, feeling safer off to the side as she scoped the sea of faces. She just wanted to go home.

"Lost your way, little Bo-Peep?"

Kate was stopped in her search of Richie. She turned at the comment that could only have been directed at her. Kate showed no outward expression and meeting the blonde man again. The same one that had tried talking to her when she was ordered out of the bar by her sister. "Then again, I guess there's enough sheep in this place to follow you." He looked her up and down. Kate noted his glasses were gone and his wardrobe choices were more leather centered. "Wait a minute." His brows furrowed. "I know you." He realized.

Yes, but like her sister, Kate was on a mission. "I got to go." She tried to leave.

"No, hold on a second." He seemed concerned. Kate stopped about to assure him she was fine when he ruined the illusion of decency. "Your legs must be tired. You've been walking around my mind all day." He chuckled low in his throat as

Her eyes became hooded in a familiar unimpressed expression. She was tired, she was angry, and she was going home. "Well, I'm gonna keep walking."

He stepped in front of her path ."Well, now, are you here all by your lonesome?"

"No, she's not."

Kate didn't even have to look behind her to know her sister held the same displeased expression. Ettie stepped up behind her sister. "You seem familiar." Her tone was clipped and layered with false interest.

He grinned, stepping closer. The less developed girl forgotten. "We've met."

"I know." Ettie smiled, her voice sang with excitement. "I think last time I told you to back off my sister then, too." Her kind expression belied her angry eyes. It wasn't hard to pick up on the underlying aggression.

"Just looking out for the young lady." He defended. "If any of these hooligans give you a hard time, you just tell them you're with Sex Machine."

"Sex machine?" The duo questioned.

Sex machine gave a sharp thrust of his hips, the leather case over his crotch unlatching to reveal a short gun with two barrels deliberately placed beneath it.

Neither girl was impressed. "Go." Ettie ordered her sister away from the man for a second time that day. Unlike the first time, her voice was calmer. But her rage was deeper. The Fuller girls weren't fans of the male species today.

The younger Fuller glanced from the gun to its holder. "I bet it shoots blanks." Kate walked away.

"It doesn't." He clarified to Ettie with an embarrassed chuckle.

Ettie gave a hum of something like acceptance. "Interesting." She excused. "But I've had bigger pistols in my face all day."

When she tried to walk away she was stopped in a move he'd tried before. "Why don't I buy you a drink?" He offered.

"Why don't you buy yourself a dance?" Her eyelashes fluttered, that American-sweetheart facade shifting to innocent seduction almost effortlessly.

"Even better" Sex Machine grinned lecherously, eying the cleavage peeking from her tank top. He always did prefer the tease. And what a tease he'd caught.

Her hand braced on his chest, leaning forwards with a clear grin. "Great." She drawled sultrily. She gave a hard push, clearing her way. "Dancer's are that way." She pointed in a vague direction as she passed. But before she left she paused and turned around. "Oh, and go near my sister again and I'll de-barrel you."

The professor tried to hide his flinch. "I like 'em feisty!" He called after her, hating to see her go but loving watching her leave.

Odette raised a middle finger behind her as she disappeared into the low lit crowd.

She'd found him in a backroom of sorts. Away from the blaring music on stage, the room was much quieter, despite only being closed off by thin curtains. The blue and purple lights of the club were behind her. The private space more comfortable and inviting with a warm fireplace and low orange lighting. Kate paused in the would be doorway. She was unsure whether to be surprised or not that he wasn't alone.

A woman rolled her hips enticingly, dancing atop of him in fluid, graceful movements that seemed more like an actual dancer than the crass strippers littered around the bar.

Kate crossed her arms, uncomfortable for intruding but too desperate to back out now. Richie's blue eyes left the woman as soon as he spotted company. "That's enough." He told the dancer. "Get up." He braced her seductive hips with his hands, stilling them as he gently pushed her. She removed herself from his lap, and upon seeing Kate gave an indignant sneer and left.

Though she shouldn't, Kate actually felt a bit more comfortable when they were left alone.

"What do you want, Kate?" Richard cut to the chase with a sigh. He leaned back against the couch, making himself comfortable as he crossed one leg and stretched his arm over the back.

Kate daringly stepped closer. "I need you're help."

"With what?"

Richard's head turned when she eagerly took a seat beside him. Her shoulder brushing against his arm as she turned to face him. "I need you to get us out of here."

Richard shook his head. "I'm sorry. It's not up to me."

"You don't need us. You're here to make some stupid deal."

"It's Seth's deal." He tried to explain.

"So, let us go!" Kate tried to reason. "I mean, all you have to do is get the keys from him." Richard turned away, clearly considering it. "Richie-" She tried again.

"I don't want you to leave." He confessed. It silenced her. "I want you to see this place for what it really is. I want you to feel what I'm feeling." His body tilted closer to her. His tone soften when she didn't move away. "You said that you were lost." He brought back her words from the pool. "I was alone, too, and when I had nothing left, she found me. She called to me, and she led me here."

Kate looked from one eye to another, confused by the 'she' he kept mentioning but unwilling to question him.

"You said that your life was upside down." Both their minds drifted to the conversation by the pool. "Well, maybe this is where you're really supposed to be."

Kate's brows furrowed in doubt. "But-" She peeked over she shoulder, peeking past the curtains into the lively and nefarious club. "How could I belong here? I mean, look at this place." Her eyes spotted a dancer shimmying her bottom in, what she assumed to be, a seductive manner as she took off her bra. Kate turned her gaze away when she began showing her flexibility to the group of men surrounding her.

"You're not looking close enough." Richie brushed hair away from her face, tucking it behind her ear. "Under the surface, it's really beautiful." His eyes implored her to see the truth that he saw.

But she just couldn't. "I don't see it." She admitted in a quieter voice. Her cheek felt warm as his hand fell away.

With a slight hint of a smile, he appeared almost boyish behind his glasses. "It's because you aren't looking close enough." A far cry from the cold cunning man who'd repeatedly threatened her family's lives. For a moment, Kate believed he might be right.

"Where's Kate?" Ettie asked the Fuller men when she arrived back at the table. She had assumed when she told her to leave she knew she meant back to their father.

"I don't see her." Her father helped her search the club. "She went to find Richie."

"She what?" Ettie nearly shrieked.

"She wouldn't leave without us." Scott spoke up, the gruffness to his words drawing his sister's attention.

"Are you drinking?!" She asked incredulously, picking up the bottle as Scott down a shot. The ease of which he now managed making her gape. "You have a borderline alcoholic father. A druggie sister. And yet you still think it's a good idea to start your binge drinking career during our kidnapping?!" She was livid.

"Not like I inherited it." He dismissed her worries.

Ettie slapped the back of his head none to gently. "Not the point!" She turned around placing the nearly empty bottle on a stranger's table.

"That's enough." Jacob put his hands up stopping the argument he could sense forming. "Listen to me." He demanded his children's attention. "This whole day has been a horrible mistake. We've been on edge since we've come across those bastards. And because we're all still reeling from the loss of your mother, I said it was judgment, but I was wrong. It's just bad luck. All this talk about judgment? Don't you pay it no mind."

"But it is true." Scott interrupted. "The border-patrol agent told me as much."

Ettie observed her brother with concern. "What are you talking about?"

Scott looked at his now empty shot glass trying to remember exactly what happened. He found no reason for him to know the things he knew about them. "He knew things about us, about me." He turned to Ettie. "I don't think today is a mistake. I think it's all happening for a reason." He confessed.

"Get up." Jacob stopped the nonsense. He grabbed his son under the arm, pulling him to his feet.

"What? Why?" Scott became fearful he'd pushed the line to far.

"'Cause I'm gonna get us out of here."

He lead his children to the bar where he approached a man getting up to leave. Unlike most of the occupants he was Jacob's age, leatherless, and relatively harmless looking. "Could-could I help you, friend?" He was soft spoken with a simple drawl, his eyes gawking over the three as if afraid they were trouble.

"Are you heading out?"

"Yes, sir. Just rolled my last number for the road. This really ain't my scene."

"Yeah, I hear you on that."

"It's lonely at night. I spied that that fire. It's like a beacon. So I pull over, holed up for a while." He glanced at the dancers without much interest. "But I guess it's time for me to go."

"Well, sir, could-could I impose on you for a lift back to Texas? I can pay you." Jacob offered.

He seemed to be contemplating it looked over them before his eyes settled on Scott. He leaned closer to Jacob, dropping his voice. "Listen, friend I'd be willing to give you a lift. If you'd be willing to share." He glanced at Scott again. "We got a deal?"

Realizing the implication Jacob grew disgusted and infuriated. "That's my son."

The man appeared unbothered. His eyebrows rose coyly. His smile predatory. He leaned towards Jacob, whispering in his ears with glee. "I like them young, too." He nearly giggled.

Jacob stepped back, sneering at the man but was stopped by his son. "Dad." They both noticed the gun holstered at the bastard's hip.

"Now how about we talk that payment-" The bastard reached to caress Scott's cheek.

Odette didn't know why but since entering the bar she's felt she'd been on a sharper edge. Maybe it was the itch in her veins. Maybe it was just anger. Or maybe it was fear finally settling in at the idea this night would never end. Whatever it was it was, it felt like a tightly pulled rubber band. And it could only be stretched so far.

And seeing that hand reach for her brother, it snapped.

Odette grabbed the extended arm twisting it as she used his own weight against him. She pinned him to the bar. Uncaring of the consequences. He gave a pathetic whine in shock and pain. Around them, no one looked twice. "I have been kidnapped, pushed around, and treated like a fucking prisoner day all fucking day. I am not to be fucked with tonight." She sneered in his ear the way he's giggled in her father's. "Leave. Now." Pushing off him she watched as his hand went to his gun. Jacob pushed Scott back, ready to beg for no trouble. But Odette stood her grown, a sudden energy of danger around her as she stared the bastard down. He thought twice. He turned and scurried away.

Jacob stared at his daughter in worried wonder.

Her expression remained hardened but her eyes soften. "Look at me. Scott, look at me." She ordered her brother, quickly sobering. "We are here because I did what I do best. I screwed up." She admitted. "I made the wrong call, I picked the wrong hotel. Now I'm gonna do what I do second-best." She declared. "I'm gonna get us out of it." She promised. "Stay here."

"Where are you going?!" Her father asked.

"I'm finding Kate. I am getting those keys. And we are leaving this shit-hole once and for all!" She declared with a rising passion as she left.

He watched his daughter slip into the crowd of bikers, strippers, and drunks. Her posture rigid and her goal set, she parted the crowd with her hell hath no fury stride.

Even as a child she'd never been afraid of the dark. The unknown. The uncertainty.

Nor was she afraid of what awaited her there.

But sometimes… sometimes he'd wish she had been.

"God protect that girl." Knowing her, the time would soon come when she'd need it.

"What does it feel like?"

"What does what feel like?"

"To know that you-" Kate licked her lips, trying to find the words. "To know that you belong, really?"

Richie answered honestly. "It feels like home." It was one of the first times he used the word with meaning since he was a child.

Home, Kate thought wistfully picturing their two story house. She missed home more than anything. Not the house. But the people in it. The people who'd made it. From the slashes on the kitchen doorway where her mother had measured their growing height, to the crooked mailbox Scott had ran into learning to drive. She missed the sound of the squeaky stair that seemed to exist for the sole purpose of catching Odette sneaking in. And the smell of her father barbecuing out back. She missed being able to close her eyes and just listen to the sound of them laughing in the kitchen. Or even arguing from the top of the stairs…

She'd welcome back all the bad parts if it meant keeping just a few of the good.

She wanted to go home. But she had to bring the key parts, at least what remained of them, back with her.

"Please." Kate begged, closing the space between them. "Please let us go. Just let us go." She pressed her lips to his, surprised by the feeling it gave her. She pulled away after a few moments. Looking into his light blue eyes, the words spilled from her mouth. "Set me free."

The choice of words seemed to resonate with Richie. His mouth fell open in an attempt to form words. His eyes narrowed in confusion. "Why did you say that?" He asked breathily.

Kate gave a subtle shake of her head, unsure why the choice of words came out of her mouth.

It was Richard who advanced this time, pressing his lips to hers with the same softness she had to his.

The sound of footsteps on the stone floor broke her haze. Pulling away she looked at Richie with shock at what they'd done. "Oh my god." She touched her lips, feeling how they tingled. A shadow entered her peripheral vision. When she spotted Seth's unreadable expression in the doorway, she blanched.

"Preacher's daughters strike again." Seth cocked his head to the side. It seems he'd underestimated everyone in this family. Who knew Kate could play them as well as her sister...

"Kate?" Richard called for her when she suddenly stood. Pushing past Seth, the teen fled.

"This is what you've been doing?" Seth gave his brother a hard disapproving glare. "Playing "You show me yours, I'll show you mine," huh?" Seth scoffed when Richard passed him to run after her.

"Kate?" Richard called for her again following after.

"Richie, will you listen to me, God damn it?!" Seth's voice rose from both anger and necessity as the music picked up once more.

"Don't even start. I'm not leaving." Richard continued to search for Kate, his height doing little to spot her shorter frame between bodies.

"Yeah, look, I'm sure there's another titty bar somewhere else in this goddamn country, all right?" Seth tried to bargain. " I'll get you a V.I.P. card and a couple of girls just shy of their Quinceañera." He joked as he grabbed Richard's arm.

It was the last straw. Picking up one of throwing knives from the table they passed, he turned on his brother. Blade to throat, Seth was knocked back against the table. "I'm your goddamn brother, and you treat me like I'm the ugly stepkid in the attic." Richard seethed above him. He was tired of being ignored, if not ignored then mocked, and if not mocked treated like he was a fucking kid. "If I say we stay, we stay, and that's it."

Seth glanced from his unhinged brother to the knife at his throat and idea coming to pass. He huffed, trying to steady his breathing. "Why don't we throw for it?" He suggested. When Richard relaxed his grip, Seth pushed him away and straightened to his full height. "Let the knives decide like old times, yeah?" Seth licked his lips, making one last attempt. "I win, we walk. You win, we stay."

Richard didn't even think about it. He twirled the knife in his hand with a grace he hadn't had since Seth'd gone in. It would be an easy win compared to his rusty brother. "Deal."

"Turn around." Ettie ordered when she spotted her sister coming her direction. She didn't slow in her quick steps.

"What?" Kate was caught off guard once more when her sister seemed to emerge from nowhere, clearly on a warpath.

"Turn around." She instructed as she passed. Kate spun on her heel and quickly followed. "We're getting those keys and we're leaving." She was playing this game.

They came across the brother in the middle of a game of their own. Richard threw his knife, the silver blade nicking the hand of the girl who held the bullseye. "Ow!" She dropped the paper board, shaking her hand. With a displeased sneer she walked off.

"Real smooth, Richard." Seth taunted. Picking up the knife, he sniffed and stretched his jaw. "Okay." He whispered to himself. Finding his aim, he put his full focus into the should be friendly game. With a fluid movement of arm and wrist, the knife spun through the air, landing soundly in the eye socket of the wood carving wall. The observing crowd cheered. "Your move, brother."

"Why don't we make it interesting?" Ettie demanded the boys attention as she stepped between them. Kate continued passed, with little time to be questioned she picked up the board and held it above her head.

"What are you doing?" Seth scoffed at the young girl. "What is she doing?!" He turned to Odette, equally as puzzled at what she was trying to pull but much better at hiding it.

Kate steeled herself as she stared them down. She had tried it her way but her polite request had gotten her nowhere. So now she was gonna try it a different way. Ettie's way. She had faith god would protect her. She had faith Richie wouldn't hurt her. In her mind, little could go wrong.

"Richie wins, you give her the keys and let us go." Kate bargained. She shifted on her feet getting comfortable to stand as still as she possibly could.

"And if he loses?" Seth challenged.

"Well, then, I guess I'm stuck here. Literally."

Seth turned to Odette for an explanation. "Oh now you're silent." He criticized the previously protective sister. "No way." He shook his head. "I'm not doing this." He was risking putting a knife in that girl.

"Well, you don't really have a choice. Play or forfeit and hand over the keys." Ettie stretched her hand out. A demanding and awaiting expression mared her face as her fingers waved in a beckoning motion.

Seth stared at the hand, contemplating the offer before looking to the girl. He shrugged and stared at Ettie. He'd call her bluff. "It's her eyeball." He waited or her to back out.

To his dismay she didn't. She walked over to her sister, lowering her voice as her stare burned into her. "What the hell were you thinking?"

"We have to get those keys, right?"

"Right! But this is not - Kate you can't."

"You're just mad because it's something you would have done. You're just pissed for once I stepped up first."

"Well step down." Ettie clipped. "Give me the board. I'll do it then."

"I can't." Kate shook her head. "I know Richie won't hurt me." Ettie laughed at that, the logic stunning her. "You can laugh all you want, but… he cares." She paused, realizing she couldn't tell her about the kiss. Kisses, plural. Kate realized. Her cheeks felt warmer. "He doesn't want to hurt us. Me." She corrected at Ettie's disbelieving glower. "I just...trust me?" Kate pleaded

Ettie sighed, defeated. She covered her face with her hands, trying to calm down this feeling inside her. Her hands fell away from her hardened face. "If you die, I'm going to kill you. If you live, I'm going to kiss you, then kill you!" She hissed.

Kate gave a flash of an understanding smile. Odette could do nothing else as she stepped aside.

Richard picked up the knife, balancing it in his hand as he tried to get a feel for it. The bartender muscled his way through the crowd. "You need to try this one." He presented Richie with an object he never thought he'd see again.

"Thank you." He took the white carved bone. Holding it in his hand he felt the black obsidian blade flick open.

Seth did a double take, clearly alarmed. He'd left that knife in a gas station in Texas. A gas station that had undoubtedly burned to the trucking ground. "Where did you get that?" The black eye carved into the polished wood mocked him. The same symbol that had been haunting them all day.

Eyes find eyes, he heard Richard day in his head as he stared at the ocular carving.

"He just gave it to me."

"No, the-the first time." He clarified. "Where did you get it the first time?"

"I told you. I won it in a contest." Richard's grip tightened on the unusual blade. It fit perfectly in his hand, as if it belonged.

"From who?!"

Richie gave a smug smile, overlooking the urgency on his brother's face. "Don't worry about it, bro, 'cause you're about to go down."

Ettie held her breath as he readied his throw. The blade gave a smooth swish through the hair before landing with a thunk in the wood. Odette's eyes opened. A clear slit through the center of the bulls-eye.

"Keys!" She wasted not a moment before she demanded of Seth. "Game's over."

With pure reluctance, Seth pulled the keys from his suit jacket's inner pocket. Ettie's hand clutched the dangling metal but found when she tried to take them she was met with resistance. She looked to Seth, unamused with his attempt before he let the ring be slid off his finger. "It's been fun, Xena."

"Yeah. Great date. We should do it again sometime." She jeered. She spun the keys around her own finger, getting more satisfaction than she thought possible at the cold metal against her hand.

She kept the keys clutched in a white knuckle grip as she came to her sister's side. "You okay?" She examined her out of habit even though she knew the knife hadn't so much as even grazed her. Kate nodded, wondering if this thundering in her heart and the buzz in her veins was something Ettie was accustomed too. If this is what she felt, she understood why her sister was so careless. It was invigorating in a roller-coast, makes-you-want-to-barf kinda way.

"That's great." Ettie put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Because when we're a ten miles gone, I'm going to kill you." She pushed her younger sister in the direction of the door. "And for the record: Don't try to be like me Kate. Speaking from first hand experience here, it does you no favors." She sighed.

"The show's about to start." The bartender urged when they tried to pass. "You need to sit down."

"We'll catch the next one." Odette tried to step around him.

"Now." His suggestion became an threatening order.

Kate looked to her sister, seeing Ettie's eyes roam the bar. When they settled on their father and brother already at a table, they gave a surrendering sigh.

"What's ten more minutes." She mused to Kate. The two quickly joined their family at the end of a row of tables. Seth sat beside Kate while Richie rounded out the almost catwalk like row of tables at the end.

"Richie, answer the question. Who gave you the knife?" Odette watched Seth pester his brother across from her. Under the table she quietly undid the RV key from the loop.

"What does it matter? It was some guy." Richie brushed it off.

But Seth had no interest in letting it go. "Yeah, who?"

All the lights dimmed as the spotlights converged on the stage. Under the table Ettie slipped the RV into the tight pocket of her jeans.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the time has come! Please take your seats." All direction was refocused to the man on stage. Ettie's brows furrowed as a familiar feeling breezed past her. A combination of discomfort and recognition. He was classically handsome with his dark eyes, golden brown skin, and an easy calm to his fluid accent. "Welcome to the Titty Twister. We have a special performance, for tonight Is a very, very special night." He glimpsed the crowd, stopping at the Gecko and Fuller sister's table.

"That's him." Richie suddenly spoke.

"What?" Ettie and Seth both turned to him in question.

"That's him. That's the guy who gave me the knife." Odette looked to Seth, her brow raising in question at the strange answer to a conversation she'd only heard the end off. Still, for some reason Odette felt on edge. A shiver went up her spine.

Something was coming. Her mind whispered. Ettie had enough experience to know whatever it was, was nothing but trouble.

And trouble had a name.

"Please welcome the mistress of the macabre. The queen of the night: Santanico Pandemonium!"

Please Review :)

Thank you to all the reviewers and new favors / followers! You're encouragement means the world!

Sorry this took so long but this chapter is by far my longest, and so far my favorite but I'd really love to hear your opinions. I'm sorry there's not much wiggle room in the first season but most of it is rather important. It gets more original / expansive in season 2. Until then will you just hang in there with me? :)

PS: For the record I have no plans of my own for the Richie/Kisa/Kate thing, I just go based off what I see in the episode. If you have a preference of how I should lean feel free to share.