Title: Outlaws2006 - Chapter Forty-Seven: Seven Days
Rating: T
Author: moonmajik and Tanya
Synopsis: Robin and his gang of outlaws, plus Guy of Gisnborne and the Sheriff, get swept 800 years into the future, to the year 2006, into the ladies bathroom of a Starbucks Coffee House. Follow their journey as they get to grips with their new surroundings. Based on the BBC's 2006 Robin Hood.
Pairings: Robin/OC, Will/OC, Alan/Djaq
Disclaimer: We do not own Robin Hood or any associated comments, such as "We go to Nottingham" or "Not being Funny, but..." Especially do not own the Sheriff. Damn. We do, however, own Charli and Tanya. In the later Chapters, there may be other characters that we own.
"I am so tired," Charli moaned as the group of eight fell through the door of her apartment after finally arriving back in the UK. "I swear to god that's the last trip I take with you lot."
"Agreed." Tanya pointed out as she headed into the living room and dumped her bag. "I'm showering first."
"Me too," Robin grinned as he threw a bag down too.
"Rude." Tanya rolled her eyes at him.
Charli rolled her eyes and picked up Tanya's bag. "You both do that, I'll put these away."
"Thanks." Tanya called as she headed into the bathroom. "Bugger of Locksley." She pushed Robin away and he grinned, choosing to follow Much into the kitchen to get food instead. While Charli headed into her makeshift room, the others went into the living room.
"I want to go back to Disney! Can we go back to Disney? Please?" Alan whined.
Will quickly picked up a cushion and threw it at Alan's head without even looking. "Shut it!"
Djaq and little John had already taken a seat on the sofa together. "No please, send him back. Preferably alone." Djaq deadpanned.
"Hey!" Alan dropped onto the sofa next to her, looking put out, but before he could protest, there was a scream of terror from the bedroom that Charli had walked into moments before.
Will was the first to respond, dropping the bag he held without any hesitation, and sprinting as fast as his legs would carry him to the bedroom. Robin bolted from the kitchen too, hot on his heels followed by Much. The rest of the group joined them as Tanya popped her head out of the bathroom door, half undressed, wearing only a baggy t-shirt.
"What the hell was that?" She called. When no one responded right away, she rolled her eyes and padded quickly across to bedroom, barefoot and entered. "Charli! What the hell are you-OH MY GOD!"
Robin caught her round the waist, unnecessarily stopping her from running full pelt into the room. It had not stopped Tanya from catching sight of her friend in the grasp of Guy of Gisborne, his knife pressed to her throat and a cruel sneer on his face.
"What are they...how did they...I...Charli?" Tanya cried, trying to break free from Robin's hold. The outlaws all stood still, no one daring to move, for Charli's sake.
Will stood solid, his eyes blazing at Gisborne, his jaw set tight, looking ready to kill. "You let her go...now..." He said slowly, but dangerously.
"La de daaaa de daaaa," the Sheriff stepped forward. "Or else what?"
Charli whimpered as Gisborne pulled her hair, jolting her head back. Will made a movement towards her, clenching his teeth, but before he could answer, Robin had pushed Tanya towards Much and Allan, who both seized and held her back, and stepped forward.
"Or else I will kill you," he made the same old warning, a new fierceness in his eyes.
"Was that a threat, Locksley?" Gisborne dug the knife into her neck harder.
"No, that was a promise. Do as Will says. Let her go. Now."
"Promises, promises," Vaysey said in a bored voice. "You wouldn't hurt a fly, Hood."
Will stepped forward. "No, but I would. You have three seconds."
"Bored." Vaysey began to pick at his fingernails. "I don't think you seem to understand how serious I am, Hood."
"And I don't think you understand how serious I am." Robin took another step forward, keeping his cool, his voice dangerously low. "Do not underestimate me, I WILL kill you."
"One..." Will began.
"You've said that, what, how many times?" The Sheriff sneered. "Still standing." He gloated, while Will furiously spat out the word "Two."
"This time I mean it," Robin edged forward again.
"Oh I see how it is," Vaysey grinned sadistically. "This time it's different because you really care for these women and you'd give your lives blah de blah. You know Hood? I already knew that. That is exactly why I am here."
Gisborne snorted and pulled Charli closer. The girl cried out when the blade cut in to her throat causing a small trickle of blood to run down her neck.
"Stop it, just stop it!" Tanya cried out, straining to get away from Much and Allan, who were determinedly holding on to her. "Let her go, please!"
Robin glanced back at her, upset at the fact that Charli was in the hands of Gisborne, upset over how distressed it made Tanya. Will finished his counting. "Three!" He moved toward the Sheriff, intent on sinking his fist into his smug face. Robin found himself having to restrain his friend as well.
"Will!" He warned, as much as he wanted to hurt the two men himself, they still had Charli.
"Will," Charli whimpered his name this time.
"Oh Will, help me!" Vaysey waved his hands around and mimicked her voice. "Please, save it." He stepped up to Robin and looked him dead in the eye. "Okay Locksley, here is what's going to happen, no questions, nothing. You listen to me now, or your little friend here dies. And then, if you still do not comply, I will move on to the next," his eyes swept briefly over Robin's shoulder and looked at Tanya for a moment before they were back on him again.
Robin bristled. He swallowed his pride, and nodded once. "I'm listening."
Vaysey smirked when he knew he had his attention. "We need to find a way back, Hood. You and your little friends may have become quite comfortable and settled in this horrible place, but Gisborne and I would like to return home some time this century! You Hood, are going to help me do it."
"You could do it." Much snarled from the background, but he was quieted by a glare from Gisborne and a whimper from Charli.
"Now, now Mulch. Gisborne here is quite enjoying having such a girl in his arms, he will need little persuasion from me to take her with us when we leave." The Sheriff gave Will a sly look.
That was all it took for the man to leap forward and attack the Sheriff. Robin lunged forward too, trying desperately to detach his friend from Vaysey. It was Gisborne's words that did the trick. "Stand back, or she dies!" He threatened again.
Vaysey coughed several times, trying to recover from Will trying to throttle him, and straightened his clothes out quickly. "You have seven days to find a way back, Hood. Or there will be trouble in this little paradise you've created here. Be warned." He began to edge to the doorway. Gisborne followed, still not releasing his grip on Charli.
"Let me go…" Charli gasped, almost incoherently. All the outlaws, exclaiming angrily as Gisborne pulled her out of the bedroom and into the living room, echoed her words. Gisborne smiled rather sadistically.
"Robin, stop him!" Tanya managed to shake Much and Alan off as she too moved into the living room. "Please..." she begged.
"You've said you're piece, I'll do what you say. You're done here, now let her go," Robin seethed.
"Oh Locksley, that's where you fell down." The Sheriff grinned. "You see. I always go back on my word. It's what I do." The three had reached the door. Will, still restrained by Robin, was looking both murderous and panicked.
"I swear to GOD!" Tanya charged forward, only to be stopped by Robin again. He struggled to keep a hold on the both of them. "If you do not let her go I'll kill you myself! I won't think twice about changing the course of history, right here, right now!"
"Oooh I'm still shaking." The Sheriff rolled his eyes. "Bored now. Kill her Gisborne and lets get out of here. We can still use the other one if Hood doesn't comply."
There was a cry of protests from the outlaws but it was Tanya that reacted fast. "NO!" She was free of Robin in a second and ran at Gisborne. Before he even had time to think she had kicked him severely in the groin causing him to bend over in pain and momentarily release his grip on Charli. "I warned you! You disgusting excuse of a man! Nobody hurts my friends!" She kicked at him again, this time in the stomach. "GET OUT!"
Gisborne groaned, and fell against the door, which opened as he did so, causing him to roll backwards into the hall. Charli had fallen to the floor, and was seized by Will and Alan who pulled her to safety, while Robin and Much took hold of Tanya and pulled her out of reach of the shocked and furious Sheriff.
"What the...how..." he glared at Tanya. "You'll pay for that!" He said as he too began to back out of the door.
"Oh yeah? I'll be waiting you no good piece of SH'IT!" She yelled, her anger boiling more and more.
Vaysey looked at Robin and sneered one last time. "You'd better watch her, Hood. Remember what I said." And he was gone, Gisborne stumbling after him quickly.
There was a silence in the room as the outlaws tried to absorb what had just happened. The first to react was Charli, who kind of moaned and buried her face in Will's shirt. Which shocked the others into action. "Shall we go after them?" Alan looked at Robin.
He shook his head, the realisation of what had just happened not quite hitting him yet. "No. Just..." He trailed off, words failing him.
Little John stepped forward and patted him on the back. "It's okay. It'll be okay. Let's go sit down."
The outlaw's, minus Will, plus Tanya, who had no choice because Robin had his arms wrapped tightly round her waist, slowly walked towards the sofa, leaving Will and Charli by the open door.
"I can't believe you did that!" Robin seethed as he pulled Tanya towards the sofa and pushed her down. "You were playing with fire, don't you know! Gisborne could have killed you!"
Tanya looked up at the man, eyes wide and wild. "I wasn't about to stand there and watch my best friend being murdered! And I didn't see YOU doing anything! So don't you lecture me on what I can and cannot do!"
"You…!" Robin blew out his cheeks. "If it hadn't been so wonderful, I would have no trouble getting very mad right about now!" He grinned ruefully. "And I still am…a little. But well done."
Tanya grinned back up at him. "A woman's gotta do what a woman's gotta do-CHARLI!" She quickly jumped from the sofa and pushed past Robin to get to her friend. Charli was still on the floor by the door in the arms of Will, sobbing. "Oh god...Charli..." She stepped forward, a little warily.
The pair on the floor didn't notice them, Charli too busy trying not to hyperventilate, Will too busy trying to calm her down, stroking her hair and whispering to her. Tanya took another tentative step and crouched down, startled to see that Will was crying as well.
"Charli?" She tried again, this time reaching a hand out to touch her shoulder.
Will was the first to look up, his eyes red and still slightly dangerous. "Are you okay?" He asked her.
Tanya nodded her head, shocked that he was also concerned about her at that particular moment. "I'm fine...is she...how is..." she motioned down to her friend, a lump rising in her throat.
Will shook his head, at a loss. He lifted his hand from around her. It was covered with red blood. Charli's blood, from where the sword had actually cut into her neck. "Oh…" Tanya whispered, reaching out for something to hold on to, and finding Robin's leg. The worried looking man had followed her out of the living room.
"Oh god...I think I need to sit down," Tanya got to her feet, feeling sick suddenly, having every intention of returning to the sofa. She stopped herself, her mind reeling. "No, forget me, I need to get something to clean that wound...some tissue...yeah...I'll just get her some tissue, " she staggered to the bathroom a little unstable on her feet.
"Tanya!" Robin hurried after her and caught her round the waist, lifting her off her feet. "Sit down."
"No - let me get tissue...no the first aid kit." she struggled out of Robin's grasp.
"You're in shock-John!" He shouted over to his friend. "Help me!"
John was over in a matter of second, taking Tanya from Robin's arms and back into the living room. Robin headed straight into the bathroom and picked up the flannel that lay on the sink. He ran it under the water for a moment before dashing out and back to the pair who still sat on the floor. "Here," he handed the wet cloth down to Will.
Will took the cloth from Robin with a nod of thanks, and touched it to Charli's neck. The girl recoiled as the cold water dripped into the wound. "Maybe Djaq?" Robin suggested feeling slightly helpless as he watched Charli cling to Will but hold the flannel away from her neck.
Will nodded his head. Robin headed back to the living room. "Djaq? You have a minute? I need you to have a look at Charli's neck."
Djaq, who was sat on the sofa trying to tend to Tanya, was on her feet in no time. She instructed one of the others, whichever one knew how, to boil some water using the kettle and make her a strong hot drink with plenty of sugar. "It will help with the shock...I think…" Djaq wasn't too sure, her knowledge of sugar being bare minimum, but having a strong suspicion that it would help all the more.
She quickly made her way over and crouched down next to Will, and examined Charli's neck. Taking the cloth from him, she pressed it firmly to Charli's neck, ignoring her cry of pain. "This will clean it and stop the bleeding. Will, take her hands."
Will did as Djaq told him and held her hands in his own. Charli cried out in protest as she felt the sharp pain shoot through her neck. "I'm sorry, we need to do this," Djaq frowned, still angry herself at the events that had unfolded in front of her very own eyes only moments ago. She finished cleaning, and the bleeding had stopped.
Much headed into the kitchen on Djaq's instructions, looking around desperately. "Kettle, kettle! Where is the-AH HA!" He grinned as he grabbed the stainless steel item and headed for the sink. "Um..." he began to fiddle with the lid, quickly trying to remove it, but to no avail.
"What are you doing?" Alan had followed him. "Look, its simple" He grabbed the kettle from Much and began to fiddle with the lid. "You just do – oh…" The lid came off, and water spilt out all over Much and the floor.
"Yeah, real simple, you idiot!" Much glared as he snatched the item back from him. He quickly turned the tap on and began to fill it with water. A few moments later it was on the stand and boiling away. Much began to rummage through the cupboards.
"Please do not tell me you are thinking about feeding your face right now?" Alan said incredulously.
"Absolutely not!" Much shot back. "I'm looking for those tea thingies they put in their cups."
"That cupboard," Alan pointed.
Much opened it. "How did you know that?"
"I know everything," he shrugged.
Much looked at him wide eyed, actually starting to believe the man. "Do you think Charli will be okay?" He made conversation as he placed about three tea bags into a cup.
"Dunno…" Alan pulled two teabags out, and then caught Much's wrist. "But I don't think Tanya will be if you put that in her drink."
"Djaq said sugar!"
"That's not sugar, that's salt!"
"What's the difference?"
"If you put salt in her drink, you'll practically kill her."
"No! Salt won't kill you," Much argued. "I happen to like it."
"Yeah, but two spoonfuls at a time will!" Alan shook his head.
"But..." Much stuttered. "You make it then, if you know best!" He snapped. Alan raised an eyebrow. "Sorry - I'm just…" Much waved a hand, leaning against the counter.
Alan frowned. He looked around to make sure they were alone before patting him on the back. "It's okay. They'll be okay. We won't let anything happen to them."
"That was horrible, Alan," Much shook his head, his hands still gripping the counter tightly. "I wanted to kill them. I wanted to walk right up to Gisborne and wipe that smug look off his face!"
"I think we all did," Alan nodded. "But..." he trailed off, unsure of how to carry on, and then shrugged. "It will be alright!"
"I hope, Alan, that for their sake, you do know everything." Much managed a smile.
"Hey," Robin appeared in the door. "Tea? For Tanya?" He looked over his shoulder at Charli and frowned. "Make that two."
"Are they okay?" Much busied himself pulling another cup out and putting three teabags in, two of which Alan once again took out. "Water has just boiled." Much muttered and began to pour.
"No, Much, they are not okay," Robin hissed as he headed further into the kitchen. "I can't believe this happened, I can't believe we let them get in here again!"
"We didn't let them do anything!" Alan reasoned. "They were going to find there way back in regardless."
"I know but..." Robin rubbed his eyes tiredly, the events of the past twenty-four hours catching up on him. "They're not safe here now...none of us are."
"We aren't safe anyway." Tanya muttered, walking shakily into the kitchen, despite the protests of Djaq. She went straight to Robin, leaning her head against his chest. "Where do you want us to go? There's no point in moving, we said that when they first broke in."
"She is right," Much shrugged. "Like we said the first time, they must be watching us."
Robin wrapped his arms around Tanya, catching Much's eyes over the top of her head. "It's simple. We do as he requests. We find a way back."
"How?" Alan passed a scolding mug to Tanya. "I mean, not being funny but - we don't know how we got here, how are we going to find a way back?"
"We start at the beginning," Tanya murmured. "Starbucks." Robin pulled back and looked down at her, the realisation that they would finally have to start looking for a way home sinking in. "It's the only way. We have to. We can't let this happen to Charli again, to ANY of us," Tanya shivered.
"Gisborne did seem to have a fixation with her..."Alan lifted the mug he was holding to his lips, before realising he wasn't supposed to be drinking it. "Wonder what that was all about..."
Tanya groaned and Robin glared warningly. "Not now."
"Sorry..." Alan took a sip out of the mug nonetheless. He grimaced at the taste. "Ugh, maybe I should take this to Charli."
"You do that. And Much can help you!"
"Alan doesn't need help carrying a mug!"
"But Much - its a heavy mug and...Oh sod it, just leave!" Much rolled his eyes and stomped out of the kitchen after Alan. Robin chuckled despite himself.
"Idiot," Tanya muttered, though not meaning it. She placed the hot steaming mug back down on the counter and ran her hands through her hair. "What a nightmare."
"Are you okay?" Robin asked her.
"No. But I'm fine."
Robin frowned at the confusing comment. "Are you okay?"
"I'll survive, I've had worse days," she half joked, Robin didn't laugh though.
"You have?" He asked in concern.
"No, I meant-oh just forget it," she let out a small sob and turned away from him. "I'm sorry," she mumbled. "I just feel a little...sick."
"Hey, hey," he took her arm and pulled her back towards him. "Its shock, I think. I mean I don't know very much about these things, but you'll be alright in a little while," he kissed her cheek and wrapped his arms around her again.
"I'm so glad you're here," she whispered into his chest.
Robin sighed, shaking his head. "If I weren't here, Vaysey and Gisborne wouldn't be either. This would not have happened."
"Don't say that. I would rather you be here any day." She sniffed, wiping a small tear away from her cheek.
"That's twisted," Robin grinned despite himself, his voice muffled in her hair. He winced as she hit his chest lightly. "And that hurt."
"Wimp. And you know I didn't mean it like that." She corrected.
"I know," Robin kissed her forehead. "Let's go see if Charli's okay." He took her hand and led her out of the kitchen.
Tanya stopped short when she saw the pair where no longer on the floor where they had previously been. "Um...where did they go?"
"Will took her in there," Much pointed to Charli's bedroom. "I think they wanted to be alone."
"Screw that!" Tanya muttered, pulling out of Robin's arms and charging over to the door. "Charli, are you ok?" There was no reply. "Charli? Answer me!" Tanya tried not to raise her voice too much as she knocked on the door.
"Maybe you should give them a minute?" Robin stepped up behind her.
"No." Tanya refused, shaking her head. "I need to talk to her, I don't know why, can't explain it, just need to."
Robin, not wanting to argue with the woman, took a step back and watched as she finally opened the door and stepped in. "Charli?" She said, a little cautiously this time.
"Are you alright Tanya?" The girls voice came from the bed, where Charli was lay, her head on Will's shoulder.
"I'm...I'm fine..." she began to stutter, her hands shaking slightly as she made her way over to the bed. "You...what about...is she okay?" She asked Will.
"You can ask me you know." Charli reached out and took her hand. "I've been hurt worse than this you know, when I cracked my spine you just whacked me round the head and told me I was an idiot, same when I broke my ankle. What's brought this on?"
"You...I...this was different!" Tanya's eyes widened in surprise as she fell onto the bed beside her friend. "Gisborne, he-oh god! How can you even compare this?"
"Easy." Charli grinned, although her smile did not reach her eyes. "My brain makes the connection, sends an impulse to my mouth and I tell you about it. You know, I never did get that kiss Wayne promised me..."
"Charli - you never wanted Wayne to kiss you!" Tanya pointed out, slightly worried at her friends rambling.
"Who's Wayne?" Will sat up frowning.
"Relax lover boy." Tanya put her free hand on his shoulder and pushed him back down, as his movement had jolted Charli's head of his shoulder. "Wayne's her trampoline coach. She cracked her spine, it was dead scary, and he promised her a kiss for being brave..."
"I was seven," Charli smirked. "Were you worried then Will?"
"No," he said quickly, looking sideways at Charli as she grinned.
"You so were," she chuckled.
"I can't help it," Will admitted defeat, pulling her closer.
Tanya smiled, and shifted on the bed. "Guys...we need to find a way back, you do know that." Her eyes glanced briefly at the door, knowing Robin was only on the other side. There was a short silence. "Guys?"
"Yes. We know."
"Robin, get in here!" Charli called, having seen her friend's eyes flicker, and knowing exactly who she was looking for.
The door opened, and Robin sidled in. "Are you okay?" He made straight for the bed. "How are you feeling? How is your neck, can I see it?"
"Whoa, whoa, easy tiger." Charli laughed never the less. "I'm fine...ish."
"Less of the fine, more of the ish!" Tanya said, and Charli glared at her. "Believe me, Robin, she's not fine."
"Am too!"
"Am not."
"Am too."
"Girls!" Robin silenced them both. He glanced over at Charli. "Why did you call me in here?"
"We...um..." Charli glanced nervously at Tanya, seeing a pain in her eyes, not sure whether to broach the subject. "Um...we need to talk...about finding a way back..."
Robin nodded, teeth clenched. "But not right now," he muttered. "We can talk about it tomorrow."
"But..."
"Tomorrow!"
"Oh Will! You're going to break my hand!"
"Sorry," he let go quickly, as Robin turned to leave the room.
Tanya jumped off the bed. "Wait! Robin!"
"I said tomorrow!"
"AND I SAY NOW!" Her voice rose dangerously. "My friend was nearly killed, and if I'm not mistaken, it may happen again in a week if we do not find this vortex!"
Will sighed. "She's right. We need to find it..." He paused for a moment, as if in thought. "But no one said WE have to actually go back...yet..."
Robin rubbed his forehead. "No, Will. We have to go too..."
"I do?" Will asked, his eyes darting sideways to Charli.
"Yes," it was Charli who answered him, "you do." She kissed him sadly and climbed to her feet. "And this should be a conversation that we all have together... preferably not in our room."
Robin shook his head, his eyes looking sadly at Tanya's. "This is a conversation I don't want at all."