4 Hours later.
Being unsuccessful in trying to fall back in a deep sleep, I begin to shake myself awake. This time as my eyes begin to focus, still harder than usual because of the chemical spray from before.
But what shakes me awake is the sound of machines running.
What greets me when I open my eyes, is even stranger than what greeted me at four this morning.
I saw rope was strung from one wall to another. And not just one, but several separate clotheslines.
And being hung from it…clothes.
Clothes, sheets, and linens.
"What the…"
When I look over to Miley's bed and find she's not there.
I knew this was her doing.
Now what…Oh, don't tell me she's doing what I think she's doing.
Music permeates from a separate, adjacent room. Theo follows it curiously, forgetting he's still only in his boxers. He'll regret this as he quietly opens the door a crack and finds himself watching...
A young and nubile 18 year old cheerfully doing the laundry… in nothing but a tight spaghetti strap undershirt and pink panties…moving and lip syncing to the radio…all while doing laundry in a hidden room that surprisingly has a working washer and dryer.
(A/N: Outside Sources: Beautiful Girls by Sean Kingston)
I stare dumbfounded in shock and amazement. A smirk creeping up to my face. I can't seem to look away.
"No! No! What am I doing?" I scolded myself as I turn away.
Yet much like a Siren's song, I can't help but turn back to watch Miley again.
Just to see if she's okay…I assure you…oh, who'm I kidding.
Theo watches Miley as she begins a mini twerk like dance number along with the final chorus, all while folding laundry…
Yet when the song ended, Miley's face fell as she looked up in the mirror in front and for the first time noticed Theo was watching her all along.
"Eeep" Miley squeaked out.
Miley's POV.
You may be wondering, why on earth I doing this. We'll I had to keep myself busy, I had to forget, if just to kill the boredom, and doing laundry with the radio seemed like fun. Anything to take my mind off of all this. No use being all mopey and everything.
But Teddy saw me. Scratch that…he was watching me?
The look I caught on Teddy's face the instant Teddy realized I knew was too priceless to ever forget. Teddy turned away and dashed away, but all in vain.
The look was like, through the flick of the light switch, Teddy was a naughty little boy who'd been caught with his hand in the cookie jar before dinner.
Okay, I can't be doing this, I know I shouldn't be doing this, but I can't help but break into a very brief smirk and chuckle.
Oh my. I'm nervous and I don't know how to react.
Teddy isn't just anyone. Both in a good and bad…
I slowly turn off the radio and make my way out of the laundry room.
What was I thinking doing this…yet somehow I knew that a small rebellious part of me, for whatever reason I'll never know, wanted Teddy to find me like that. Almost daring him to find me like that. The same rebel that telling me to do this…
Still in my unmentionables, I stick my head out of the laundry room to see Teddy pretending to wash his hands, standing over the sink.
Without looking at me, he then dries his hands and takes a magazine from the table and starts to read as he sits down on a chair. He's wearing the extra clothes he packed for himself. A black cotton muscle shirt highlighting his toned arms as well as his arm injury and jeans that fit just right.
"Teddy…"
"Oh, hey Miley,"
Now I know he saw me, else he wouldn't be so kosher about the clotheslines all over the place. He's trying to cover himself.
"Um, yeah about that song…"
Teddy then sighed and slumped a bit.
"Look, I'm sorry I saw…you know that don't you," Teddy began.
"It's ok"
"No Miley, I mean you…you're a great dancer. You know after all that time with your pops as Hannah's music manager…"
I couldn't help myself but thinking how it was kinda cute how Teddy was going on and on, trying to cover himself. If he wasn't who he really was of course…
But I think that I owe it to both of us to be frank about this…
"Look, please understand, Teddy, I really needed that…you don't know how long it's been since I could sing and dance…"
I'm a performer at heart. Jake never cared about that.
But Theo understood. He was just worried about himself and how he felt when seeing Miley.
But Teddy just looks at me with understanding. Now that was surprising.
It's then I realize that I'm now in Theo's view, giving him the full view of me in my underwear.
I quickly reach for a towel to cover myself.
Teddy's really uncomfortable, yet I can tell he can't look away…
"So, you thought of…you know…show biz?" Teddy asked me.
Now that brings me back.
"Sometimes," I reply half honestly.
"You should, you know after all this is over," Teddy responded as he moved away, getting back to his magazine.
"Oh, you have know idea. If you only knew…" I said underneath my breath.
"What?"
"Nothing! Um Teddy…"
"Yeah"
I really don't know whether I should be doing this. But I have to make Teddy as comfortable as possible. To keep him from hurting me. Oh well, here goes. I pray it won't backfire.
"You know, It's ok"
Teddy gives me a look. He quickly catches on.
"You're a minor," Teddy replied with guilt.
"I'm 18!"
"Still a minor, this' California remember."
"Oh come on, I could do porn in San Fernando Valley if I wanted" Miley retorted, causing Theo almost visibly cringe. Something that doesn't go unnoticed by Miley herself.
Theo's POV:
I hope that wasn't too harsh. But I was right. I really didn't have an excuse for doing what I did…I hope Miley understands.
But Miley just shut up and slowly sat down, not knowing whether to cry or forget about it or what.
Fearing she'll tear up again, I try to help her.
"Look, Miley you gotta understand it's not you."
Miley looks up at Theo.
"It's just that…that…we have to keep this clean and simple…"
"I understand," Miley replied dejectedly.
"Look Miley, I bet you're wonderful and any guy would be lucky to…"
Miley looks at Theo with pleasant surprise.
"I mean, what you need right now is just some R&R. Look I know this whole sit(uation) is difficult for you. Just think of this as an unexpected off time. When this' all over you can get some help and get back on your feet. I promise."
I continue to myself.
"Trust me Miley, no straight man of quality would be able to miss you," I said to her while pretending to read.
I then turned to Miley.
"(sigh) look it goes without saying that I thank you for doing the laundry. And just so you know they're some magazines down there and a small TV with satellite I'll hook up for you. Just so you don't get bored after laundry."
"Okay," Miley replied softly yet cheerfully.
"Phew," I sighed to myself, "Glad she's feeling better."
"Look, I have to do a few things. I'll be in the garage, ok?"
Now Miley knew he was uncomfortable as Theo too quickly moved from reading a magazine to running errands.
"Okay…" Miley replied.
I'm about to leave, but as I turn back one more time I see a worried look. After all this, I don't blame her.
"Miley,"
She looks up at me as I walk toward my duffel bag.
I take out a small pager watch and give it to her…
"Miley, this is a one way pager watch, it's got my cell phone programmed to it. Whenever you need me, just presss the big button and I'll…I'll be there"
Miley stops worrying and smiles at this.
"It goes without saying that I'm really grateful for what you've done for me," she says, imitating the tone of what I just said before about the laundry.
Miley warmly smiles and subconsciously lets the towel loose from her body.
I glance down and see enough of her body for me to shake myself back.
"O…ok, I'm gonna be back, don't forget what I said," I stuttered back.
I put a hand to my face. Realizing I'm flushed, I quickly walk away, leaving Miley to rest by herself.
Unfortunately, Miley only now realizes how Theo felt because she had seen the blush on Theo's face. Her eyes widen as she realizes what she did and shakes herself back while Theo is leaving.
Theo's POV
I sigh in relief as I close the door to the apartment. But just before I can go any further, my phone rings.
Seeing who it was, I walk back, open the door again, and told Miley.
"You might wanna cover your ears or turn up the music for a while"
I close the door again and pick up.
"Hello," I answer trying to keep calm.
"Theo, heard you called up our family friends from the supermarket. What happened?" asked Tom.
"Someone compromised our safe house. Threatened Miley's life. I had to take him out."
"The package? So it was true," Tom replied.
"You're DAMN RIGHT its true," I yelled into the phone angrily, "and I still have no idea who this chump was and how he knew, or anything. You know why?"
Rhetorical Question.
"Because you didn't call earlier, you idiot," I finished for Tom.
"Okay, Theo, calm down man. What's with you anyways? I mean okay so the location wasn't the most secretive, how bad could it (the breach) have been anyways?"
(A comical, but true moment)
Theo's outburst in response forced Tom to instantly jerk his head and ear away from the ear piece of his phone. Theo had snapped with the loudest, sharpest, most profane retort and rant, as if he had intended to puncture Tom's right ear drum with his vocal outburst.
("WHATTHEF—Kyoumeanhowbad…" continues on and on)
Tom tried several times to bring the phone receiver closer to his ear, but every time had to pull away in order to preserve his ear drums as Theo wasn't yet finished screaming expletives.
Finally after a whole minute, it was safe for Tom to hear again.
"Okay, okay. Look, I know we could have done better."
"Could have? If it wasn't for me, if it wasn't for…," I continued still so angry I wasn't making much sense.
"Look Theo, what matters is that you're both okay"
"No what matters is that Miley's ok, now you gonna find out about this chump," I told him.
"Alright, alright, just don't forget who the older brother is in this family," Tom tried to warn me
Theo's even more pissed.
"I don't give a flying f-k how old you think you are. Secure us, avenge us, or I'll call it all off and let Miley go"
Back to a father who loves her.
"You do, and you'll stay in the business with Pops till the day you die," my brother warned me, shutting me down coldly.
I sighed. It was my turn to relent. Tom was right. After all I've went through, just letting her go would a horrible waste.
"Just get me a safe house that's actually, you know, safe"
"Okay, look there's been an increase in activity in (criminal cyber) space, so I'll check it out. In the meantime just stay put and guard the package. I'll call you first thing tomorrow."
Before I have a chance to reply…
Click
He hung up on me.
Tommorow. Yeah, tomorrow. He wouldn't be saying that if he was the one who had to fight Goliath last night.
As I put down the phone, I take out my rosary in my pocket all along and begin reciting it for today. Believe me, I need it and since Miley's inside she won't see it…
Which reminds me that I have to get to the bottom of her outburst in Gangland.
But right now I'm only thinking about Miley and her safety.
I don't think we can wait till tomorrow.
The afternoon went by surprisingly quickly for both Theo and Miley. Theo had returned after saying his rosary right outside the apartment door and was hooking up the T.V. for Miley, while she flipped through the surprisingly current issues of news magazines.
Miley's POV
"Teddy, what's with the wires?" Miley asked as she watched Theo try to connect and even take apart and splice here and there.
"Gonna give you a satellite box. So you don't get bored"
I then realized something about box. Jackson and Cooper had one just like it.
"An illegal hook up?" I dared to ask.
Theo looked up at Miley.
"Only for you, Miley," Teddy replied only half jokingly.
"But that's stealing…"
But Teddy interrupted me…
"Miley, I think that if the cops came here, satellite burglary would be the least of my problems, don't you think," Teddy replied.
I chuckled silently to myself, but something stopped me.
The thought of the police coming here and taking me away was supposed to be my hope and dream. But I can't imagine that happening. But why, is it because I don't want that to happen?
How can I possibly feel this way…I really don't know. Its just the way I feel. I don't know whether it means I have to get away from Teddy to get my life back or whether Teddy can really help me after Jake.
That night: 6:19 p.m.
Theo's POV
As I put down the phone in the restaurant's back office. I sigh in relief. I had spent the last hour, calling everyone on Tom's list. Up to now, Miley seeing my whole face could've meant 25 to 40 years of being extra careful while showering, to say the least. Now with an alibi all set up, I'm alright.
Theo calls Tom
"Yeah?"
"Hey Tom, any luck yet?"
"I'm getting close…there's definitely something about someone…"
"Look, I'm…sorry about before"
"Yeah...don't sweat it, its no picnic for you either."
"I just want Miley safe so we can finish this deal clean"
"Yeah, yeah, hey what's the deal with you?"
"About what"
"Miley, it just hit me, you called her Miley"
"That's her name," I retorted getting annoyed yet hoping he wouldn't go on to what I think he'll go on with.
"Still, she's the package to us. Just don't get caught up in too much if you know what I mean."
"Hey, what do you take me for."
"Just saying."
Theo then sighed. He realized it was probably much too late for that. And that he feared.
"Hey Tom, one last thing."
"Yeah?"
Theo pauses to regain himself.
"You ever pulled a trigger and nothing happened?"
"Uh, yeah…failure to fire…you're probably talking about bad primer."
"Right, right…its just…never mind"
Theo needed to clear up and talk about this with someone. Not sure where Theo was going with this, Tom hung up, but Theo lingered thinking about something he had heard before.
A bullet always tells the truth.
Then what was God trying to tell me with the bullet failure?
I guess only time will tell.
A few minutes later, I throw away both my disassembled handgun and the traumatized fire extinguisher into a nearby bag destined to be disposed of properly later.
I go back downstairs while fingering my Streyr TMP (from the Gangland massacre).
As I begin to open the door slowly, I feel my stomach rumbling.
As I enter the room I find, Miley fast asleep, again. But this time, her face sported a very peaceful look.
Thinking at the very least I owed Miley a meal, I begin to gather some food I brought with me and start.
I felt as if it was my turn to cook, and since Miley cooked me dinner at 4 in the morning, I wouldn't think it to be too unreasonable to cook her breakfast at 7 in the evening.
As I cook, I can't stop thinking about how pleasant Miley looks while she's not trying to find the right words to say to me out of fear.
Not that I had anything against her speaking.
Great, now I can't stop thinking about Miley's accent. Her signature accent was really a non-issue for me yet, while I'm cooking up the bacon, I can't help but notice how different and even adorable her accent really is.
Yo..you know to the other guys in her life. (Theo said trying to catch and cover himself)
Still, by now, Asian girls, and especially Chinese ones, always meant such an unfortunate given in my life that I liked a change. Nothing against Asian girls themselves and certainly not their fault in any way whatsoever, though. Okay maybe just a change of 'scenery', but a change nonetheless.
And Miley seemed to fit perfectly.
After Dinner
Miley's POV:
Considering that I haven't eaten since this morning, this is as good as it gets. Years of Jake's demands made me forget that a man can cook. Dad did it, and Teddy did it. Just for me too. And he really made a really good breakfast…I mean dinner.
Oh well, I guess that's doesn't matter. Dinner went so quickly and neither of us said much. I was just happy to be with somebody who could cook again.
Amazingly, he's like Dad in a lot of ways. Cooks, cares…protects.
But before I know it, Teddy gets up and goes out to the garage. He comes back with, of all things, a guitar case.
"What's in the case?" I ask.
Knowing what I know about Teddy it could be anything. Guns, bombs, knives…
Imagine my surprise when Teddy pulled out a brand new, genuine, acoustic guitar.
"I know what you were thinking. And nope, just a guitar. Just don't look in the trunk of the Escalade."
I couldn't tell whether that was a bad attempt at a joke or a half serious warning.
"Got it today. Have to deliver it to the next safe house"
Just the sight of a guitar bring me back. Back to the good times with Dad and I. Back to Malibu before Jake. Writing songs. Singing hits…
Even though the memories do cheer me up, I can't help but grow sadder at the longing of a guitar.
Theo notices Miley's sadness. He tries to cheer her up. Theo feels he has to test it out for the recipients before giving it to them.
But before I know it, Teddy does the most surprising thing. He picks it up and actually starts playing…
(The guitar intro to 'Stairway to Heaven' by Led Zeppelin, stopping just when the vocal starts).
When Teddy stopped, my eyes were wide. I'd never thought…
"Not bad, huh?" he asked.
"Yeah, you play?"
"A bit"
And as if he had read my mind and sensed my desire.
"I bet you play too. Bet you love to just strum without a care in the world."
I nodded happily. He has no idea how long it's been.
Teddy hands me the guitar.
"Play something…It's been a long day for me and it'll help us both relax."
I think for just a few moments and start a live, on the spot, acoustic 'candlelight' version of Make some noise by Hannah Montana …
I close my eyes as I sing, I feel the energy come alive in me. I'm in control and my soul is becoming freer and freer. As I sing, I begin to get myself back.
I think about family, friends, loved ones.
Mom, Hannah.
And especially Teddy.
Words could not express how wonderful this offer was.
Several minutes later, Miley finishes up…
I'm done.
I wasn't sure if I would remember all the words, or if I still had the talent in me.
I open my eyes to see Teddy giving me the greatest compliment he could.
He was fast asleep in the armchair he was sitting in.
I had sung it like a comforting lullaby, and the funny thing is, it really was the highest compliment in the world he could give me.
The way he sits reminds me of Beary, with his arms out and small smile a little too much.
Teddy…well what do you know…Teddy bear.
But it's getting late.
I put away the guitar and curl up in the apartment bed, but I wasn't sleepy yet.
So before I turn on the T.V….
"Good night, Teddy," I said softly.
Suddenly Theo bolts awake, he looks up…
"Miley…Miley…," Theo goes on trying to continue with a renewed sense of urgency.
Miley's startled by it all.
"Teddy? What's wrong," Miley asked genuinely concerned.
Theo's POV:
Miley's song was absolutely amazing. And it's just what I need to make my decision about what I had been thinking about since yesterday.
At about this time last night, the courier happened.
Tom told me to stay put and move first thing tomorrow.
But I can't…Miley's too important to me... her safety that is. And I owe it to her to do the right thing. I don't care how much of a pain in the a- it becomes.
The song showed me just how talented and even special she was. And it was something I couldn't afford to risk by staying in this. It'll be a great loss if something happened…
"Miley, we're buggin out tonight. Pack all your stuff up and load it up to the Escalade,"
"But it's getting late…" Miley offered.
"Doesn't matter, you can sleep in the car, I promise. But you have to trust me…"
"But what about you're orders?" Miley asked.
Theo told Miley, Tom's suggestions.
"He's not the boss of me and f—k him on that. He doesn't give a damn about you're well-being. I do"
Miley starts to gather her things. I could tell she's tired and feeling overused.
"Miley," I say very softly and bordering on lovingly, "I'm here for you. But you have to…have to trust me, okay. You'll get through all of this, I promise."
Miley and Theo, again, look at each other. Eyes meeting again. Miley understands and picks up her pace with a higher sense of understanding.
20 Minutes, a near empty basement apartment and a loaded Escalade later…
Miley buckles up, now really tired because of the quick pace of moving everything. She follows Theo's orders and drifts to sleep in the front passenger seat…
Theo is making one last check. He's also cleaning the apartment in a way which would cover it being used my any particular persons.
He walks out shutting the door behind him. His nose picks up the smell of chemicals while walking through the kitchen.
Theo's POV:
"Thank God, Miley and I can leave this drug dump," I remark.
But I just remember that I left the guitar in the apartment.
Going back in a picking it up and walk back out…
I smell the same chemicals, but this time something different catches my nose.
It was amongst the chemical soup smell from a second ago…but something's just not right…
I stop in the kitchen and linger, sniffing away…
I recognize it…
It's…
Nitroglycerine?
Since when do you need high explosive bomb material when shipping China White.
Something's wrong here.
Something's very wrong here.
I walk closer to the counters and ranges and quickly rifle, left to right, through whatever looks out of place.
The last place I look is a package of dog food in the most right side. The smell has to be coming from there.
"Dog Food?"
"Wait, we don't have a dog." Theo thought as his mind briefly goes over what racists would make of dogs being kept in the back rooms of a Chinese restaurant.
But I spot wires coming out the back.
My eyes follow the trail to the adjacent microwave to its right. It's not running at all, but the display...
(The display is counting down…)
8
7
6
A/N: Was the Tom and Theo's convo humorous? Is the relationship moving too fast? Anything else? And I hope this isn't too slow. I'm having a hell of a time trying to pace the relationship.
Anyways, feedback is always appreciated. Thanks.
GFMarshall