Conventio Custodis Chapter 4, a covenant fanfic

Title: Conventio Custodis

Author: Calex

Rating: T

Disclaimer: Not mine. The Covenant belongs to whoever it belongs to.

A/N: As promised, chapter 4 a little speedier than the last one. And god, you guys make me blush. 24 reviews already, and only on the 3rd chapter, plus within a day of posting chapter three. I adore you guys. Hope I don't disappoint!

To my reviewers, you're all way too good to me. You make writing this worthwhile, let me tell you. Hope you guys like this chapter. I love the reception that this fic is getting. squees And it's nice to see some new names in the reviews list. But to my regular reviewers, thank you also. I'm glad to see that you guys are keeping to this story. Thanks to: Madame Sorceress, xlexisx, LiasonFan2, greyhaven11, greyhaven8, Sliver of Melody, Lexi, Mrs. St. John Allerdyce, sunshine-48, Hollywood-Violet, w1cked angel, ElizabethxAnne, Pop-tarts and Retrochick. And to all of you who reviewed after I've written this, thanks!

And if I thought chapter 3 was long, well. This is longer. Enjoy chapter 4, people!

Chapter 4

Nicky's was exactly what she needed, she decided as she stepped into the crowded, loud bar. She spotted Reid and Tyler at the pool table and waved. Reid grinned at her and motioned her over. Tyler was concentrating too much on his next shot to notice her, she observed in bemusement. With a grin, she walked over to the two guys as Tyler made his shot. Her eyebrows rose as she saw him sink in two balls into the corner pocket. Very nice.

"Hey, guys," she greeted. Reid just slung an arm around her waist in a light hug as he surveyed the table. Tyler actually jumped, spinning around when he heard her. His grin was wide and infectious as he went over and hugged her.

"Hey!" he said, excitedly. Then, without turning around to face Reid as he walked over to the table, Tyler gripped his shoulder. "Don't even think about messing that up." Reid rolled his eyes, but moved away, muttering grumpily to himself. But Taine caught the mischievous gleam in his eyes and couldn't help but grin herself. She had noted that these guys were a complete trip, hadn't she? Because they were. She perched herself on a stool and watched as Tyler make his next shot and sank it in.

"Where're the others?" she asked, curiously, looking around. Reid gestured towards the foosball tables vaguely, his attention caught on Tyler. When Tyler messed up the next shot, Reid crowed and moved to take his space, surveying the table.

"Caleb and Pogue are playing foosball," Tyler answered her as he went over, taking a sip from his glass. "Sarah's not here, yet." Then he levelled a look at her, cupping her chin to make her look at him. "You okay?" She didn't need to ask him what he was talking about, but she did have to sigh. She'd hoped that they would have forgotten about it by now.

"Yeah," she said, finally. "It just threw me off a little, alright?"

"Threw you off?" Reid called out, chortling. "It looked like you were completely on form, to me." Tyler rolled his eyes and smiled wryly.

"Ignore Reid. It seems like he was bypassed when they installed the sensitivity gene."

"Who needs sensitivity?" Reid said, breezily as he sank in a shot, then went on for another. "Besides, I'm not making this up. You did good, Crawford. Badass to the max for the Brit girl. Speaking of which," he looked up from his shot to give her a mock-leering once over. "Lookin' good. Thought you'd be paler, though. Doesn't England, like, not get any sun or something?" Taine laughed, highly amused and relieved. Trust Reid to get her out of a tough situation with Tyler by being his usual brash, jokey self. She needed him tonight, she realised.

"I'm part Brazilian, doofus," she said, punching him lightly on the shoulder. He raised his eyebrow, completely ignoring her previous action. He looked her over once more, a contemplative look on his face.

"Seriously, Brazilian?"

"Yes, though my parents don't really show it," she admitted with a laugh. "I get it from Mum's side, but the genes obviously completely bypassed her. Grandmother Graison has it, though. She's got even darker skin than I do, and she's so beautiful," she sighed, wistfully. "I hope I look like her when I'm in my sixties."

"Brazilian?" Reid repeated, with the same look on his face. Taine laughed again, pinching him in the side. He yelped, then glared at her, whirling around to glare at Tyler when he burst out laughing. Reid shook his head, crowing in triumph as he sank in his last shot. He turned to smile smugly at a quietly cursing Tyler. "I'd like fries with my burger." Tyler shot Reid a dirty look, but went over to the bar to order, anyway. She shook her head, a grin tugging at her lips.

"You guys play pool to see who'd buy?" she asked, incredulously. Reid shrugged, smirking.

"Nah, it's just icing on the cake. But we usually do bet on it, though."

"Guys," she muttered. Then she looked over as Reid began to put everything away. "How long have you guys been playing? You're good."

"Quite a few years," he admitted. "I have a pool table at home. I learnt when I was twelve."

"Who taught you?" she asked, curiously, and watched in confusion as his face became shuttered, his eyes wintry and hard. His hand flexed, then curled into a fist at his side. His face had become an emotionless mask. "Reid? What did I say?" He shook his head, and she saw life bleeding back into him but she could still see strain in the hard set of his mouth, the cool look in his eyes.

"Nothing. Just remembering things, that's all. Not all good memories," he admitted, with a bitter laugh. "My dad taught me." Now she was really confused. Why would thinking about the fact that his father taught him how to play clam him up like that?

"Do you not get along with your dad or something?" she asked, carefully. Reid shrugged, and even while it was a curt gesture, it was still elegant. She suddenly remembered then that despite the scruffy appearance that Reid came from one of the richest families in Ipswich, and in Spencer.

"You could say that," he said, sardonically. "Though it really doesn't matter now anyway, since he's dead." Taine flinched at his tone, and the words. Oh god, that was one can of worms that she didn't expect to find, let alone open. Her and her big mouth, and after he'd been so good at distracting Tyler and everything. She felt immediately bad and got off the stool to come around Reid. He stiffened in surprise when she wrapped her arms around him in a comforting hug, resting her head on his shoulder. Then he relaxed. He let her hold him while he got his emotions under control, resting his hand on hers and taking in her quiet strength and comfort. That was how Pogue found them.

He felt that instantaneous hit of envy and jealousy stab into him at the sight, and his jaw clenched. But then he saw the lost look still in Reid's eyes and read the scene correctly the second time around, saw it as the comfort that it was meant to be. A little of the envy still lingered, but it was overthrown by the concern he now felt for his friend. He walked towards them quickly.

"Reid, what's wrong? What happened?" The two of them looked up at him, Reid's eyes still so distant and hard and Taine's so filled with compassion. He faltered. There was only one thing that got that look in Reid's eyes, and he should know. All of the Sons knew that look, since they'd seen it so often in the past. But he'd told Taine, at least enough to get her to comfort him? Maybe he was right in his assessment in Math that morning, Taine was good for Reid. This time the thought didn't come with the jealousy.

"Nothin'," Reid said, attempting to get his normal, careless persona back but Pogue knew better. He was really battling to keep his emotions under wraps, there. Careless was Reid's escape mechanism, and also his protective barrier. He showed that face to the world even while he hurt inside. Pogue forgot, sometimes, how strong his friend really was, but then again, all of them had to be strong in some aspect, anyway. "Just remembered some not-so-nice things, that's all." Then he snapped out of it and sent Pogue a smirk. "Did you know that our Golden River here is part Brazilian?" Even while he felt a pang at Reid's casual referral to Taine as theirs, he grinned.

"Brazilian, ay? Interesting genes you have there." Taine blushed hotly under his gaze, burying her face on Reid's shoulder before she stepped back slightly, looking shy. Reid looked incredulously at her, then at Pogue before he threw his hands up in defeat.

"I say even less than that and you pinch me. He says it and you're blushing?" Disgust filled his tone. "I'm going to go find Tyler. Maybe it'll make sense to me later."

"Highly doubtful," she called out to his retreating back, giggling despite herself. Pogue shot her his half grin and she smiled back, even while the butterflies in her stomach felt like they were doing the limbo. "Hey, there."

"Hi," he smiled. "You're early. Sarah won't be here until eight."

"I had nothing to do," she admitted, with a shrug. "Plus I was being all maudlin by myself, and figured correctly that I needed some fun to brighten my day. What's your excuse?"

"I have no life?" Pogue laughed, shrugging carelessly. He held out his hand to her, a gesture which took her completely by surprise. It was nice, though, and she beamed at him as she took his hand, her cheeks feeling warm. His hand was large around hers, so male. Callused from use. No pampering for this rich boy, he was all male. His scent drifted to her as they walked through the crowd, that same captivating scent that had made her mouth water the night before. She felt all of her senses draw down to their clasped hands, the brush of his body against hers as they avoided the crowd of milling bodies. She smiled at some people that she knew, nodded to others. He did the same, but to more. A few people stopped him to say 'hey', clapping him on the back. She saw the contemplating look that they shot the both of them, but she just shrugged it off. They were probably wondering what the hell Pogue's hand was doing holding hers when he'd just broken up with Kate, but then again with guys there was a sense of…dudeness. Or something like that.

Or maybe the girl had told people about her show down with Kate in the halls, earlier today. She winced internally at that thought and prayed that it wasn't it. It would certainly fuel gossip, especially seeing how close she was getting with that group. They were probably wondering who the hell she was, now. So much for a low profile, but hey, maybe her mother would be happy. She'd always wanted Taine to be popular. Not that she wasn't in her old school, but this… this was beyond that. This was everyone knowing her face, her name, her classes, what she did, kind of popular. It was kind of like a paparazzi following, which was slightly freaksome.

They got to where Caleb was sitting, a drink in front of him. He raised his eyebrow at the sight of Pogue still holding Taine's hand, but he let it pass. He was a good friend, like that, and just smiled at her in welcome. She smiled back, tucking her hair behind her ear and feeling slightly self-conscious. Caleb was the only one of the guys that she wasn't completely comfortable around. He was too distant, too cool. She was too much in awe of him, in some way. It was just the fatherly vibes he gave over the guys, the de facto leader of the group. She was still a newbie, and a newbie always fears the head honcho, she supposed.

"Hello, Taine. Reid said you might swing by," he greeted. Pogue sat down, pulling her towards the chair next to him, which she took with a little laugh. "You want a drink?"

"Nah, I'm good at the moment," she said, shrugging. "I'm just soaking up the atmosphere, for now."

"It's something, huh," Caleb agreed, looking over the place, fondly. "Pogue found it, when we were fifteen. We've been here ever since."

"I've always loved having a place I could be a regular to," she confided, with a soft smile. "In London there were a few places, since there's so many places you can go to, but Soar and I always –" she broke off. Her eyes widened as she realised what she had just said. Her hands started trembling. She couldn't believe she just said that, it must have been the fact that she had been thinking about him before she went to Nicky's. Her hands dropped to her lap and twisted, tightening. "- went to a café round the corner from my place. It's quite cool, and we'd gone ever since we first met, so the waiters had taken to knowing our names and our usual drinks."

"It is nice," Caleb smiled, though he looked puzzled by both her mentioning of 'Soar' and her large pause. "Who's Soar? One of your friends back in London?"

"Not quite," she answered, quietly. "Søren was my boyfriend." Caleb actually winced when he heard that, and the tone it was delivered in.

"I'm sorry, I didn't think."

"It's alright," she smiled, but it was strained. Her hands were twisting in her lap. "You didn't know. I don't usually mention him, but today's been…a trip down memory lane."

"We all have those, sometimes," he said and though his words were gentle and meant to be comforting, Caleb's eyes had a faraway look to them. She stared. Did all of them have some sort of dark, painful secrets or something? Pogue she could tell from the start, he was the kind of guy that you'd be disappointed if he didn't have a deep, dark secret. Reid, she'd guessed and what happened earlier only made her believe it to be more real. She hadn't figured it for Tyler or Caleb, and though Caleb was showing signs of it now, she still didn't know about Tyler. But maybe that was why they were so close, despite them being so different. Sure, there were groups within the group: Pogue and Caleb, Reid with Tyler, but that was small stuff. There was always such a sense of closeness when the guys were together and not bitching or fighting with each other, like how Reid had stood up for Pogue last night.

Damn, but she wished she hadn't brought it up, now. Things were awkward between them, one that she didn't know how to break, and she bit her lip. Caleb still seemed slightly lost in thought and Pogue… Pogue sighed, before shaking his head. He turned to Taine with a smile and a quirk of the lips.

"So, anything else in your blood but Brazilian?" Pogue asked, casually. The question caught Caleb's notice and he looked at her in surprise.

"You're Brazilian?" Brilliant, Pogue, she thought, wryly. Use me to get Caleb out of his maudlin mood, why don't you. What about mine

"Part," she admitted. "On mum's side. I think my great Grandmother or something was Brazilian. Father's got Irish blood in him, and he looks the part. Dark hair, pale skin, blue eyes. The only sign of being Brazilian that mum has is that she tans more easily than most, and it's a nice kind of tan. Eric looks like his mum, mostly. I mean, he's pale and has got dark hair like Father, but he's got his mum's green eyes. Apparently he's gorgeous, not that I would really notice. Because that would be ick."

"Eric?" Caleb asked, sounding amused. She smiled, and it was a smile of complete exasperation and affection that only a person with a sibling could have. She thought fondly of her older half-brother, and realised that she missed him. She hoped that he would visit her, some time. She might have to nag him into it, to see if he agreed. Besides, he had promised to do so, after her breakup with Søren, she was just cashing him in on it now.

"My half brother, from Father's first marriage. He's seven years older than I am. We're quite close, though I haven't seen him in a long while. He's been in America while we were in England for the past two years, although this is probably as good a time as any for me to see more of him," she admitted with a laugh. "He's doing a post-grad degree in Harvard. Something to do with Business," she told Caleb, who suddenly looked interested. "I don't know what, that kind of thing doesn't really make sense to me."

"Harvard, huh? So he's close by."

"Yeah, which is why I'm planning on blackmailing him to come up and visit some time." She chatted a while more about her family with Caleb, noticing in a way that Pogue was just sitting back and smiling as he stole Caleb's drink. She turned at one point to smile at him and he smiled back, looking mysterious and hot as usual, and she bit back a sigh before she turned back to Caleb. She really wished she knew what was going on through his head.

The day off from her hadn't helped, Pogue realised as he watched her chatting animatedly to Caleb about family and anecdotes about what she used to get up to with her brother. It wasn't until he saw her again that he realised that he missed her, and when she showed up hanging with Reid and Tyler, Pogue had felt something in himself simultaneously relaxing and tensing up. She had that effect on him, the ability to confuse him, but then again he figured that was a female trait. Girls always knew how to confuse guys, it was just this thing. But he watched her, he couldn't help himself. Couldn't stop himself from taking in the way her eyes sparkled when she laughed, how her hands moved gracefully when she spoke animatedly. The absent-minded way she pushed her hair behind her ear when it fell forward.

God, he was getting so caught up in her, and he knew that it wasn't a good thing. No, it wasn't good at all and yet he couldn't help himself. There was something about her that continually fascinated him. She had seemed so lost when she had mentioned Søren, her ex. So sad. It was too close to the surface. She had been in Spencer, what, two months? So she must've broken up with him before that yet he could see that she was still caught up in her ex. And there he was, two days after breaking up with Kate and he felt no remorse, no guilt in looking at Taine, in taking his fill just staring at her. He could still feel the way she had pressed against his back, how strong her arms were around his waist as she held on to him during the bike ride. Her eyes fascinated him. Lots of things about her fascinated him and most of all, it was her history and her relationship with Søren. It was probably masochistic of him, but he wanted to know more, wanted to know how close they were and how much she had loved the other guy.

It was his competitive streak coming out, the possessiveness that Kate had accused him of. He knew he had a problem, but it had always been so. Pogue Parry didn't share, he was very bad at sharing especially what was his. But that inability to share also saw a fierce loyalty in what he considered to be his: his family, his friends… his loves. Taine was older than him, he knew as much. She'd said that she had turned eighteen before she left England, but that had never bothered him, didn't bother her, he hoped. Because if there was something that he was starting to realise, it was the fact that he wanted to be with her, and all of the Sons knew that what he wanted he was very good at getting. He fought too hard for it not to be so.

When Reid and Tyler showed up, he was irritated to see that Reid immediately dropped down to the seat on the other side of Taine, even more irritated to see her turn around and smile dazzlingly at the blond before she snatched at a chip, chewing triumphantly as he mock-glared at her. He didn't know what to make of their relationship, and it was bothering him. One thing that he'd always held to was that he wouldn't mess with his brothers' interests, he wouldn't go for a girl that another of his friends was interested in. It was a code of honour that all of them held to (mostly). But there was something about Taine that made him want to fight, and that didn't sit too well with him.

"Stop that."

"What, it's not like you bought these," she said, taunting Reid as she snatched another fry. She turned to grin at Tyler. "Thanks for the food, Ty." Tyler, for his part, was shaking his head and laughing at the two. He saw the three doing that far too much. Taine stuck her tongue out at Reid before she took a bite of the fry. He faked diving for her and she shrieked as she moved backwards to get away from him. Except that kind of made her fall back against Pogue and when he said fall back, it meant she was all of spread against him. There was a moment of stillness, then the chair tipped. Both of them were dumped unceremoniously on the ground. He found himself freezing again, because she was sprawled on top of him. As in, she was sort of straddling him, her arms on either side of his head. They stared at each other in stupefaction before Reid's cat calls and wolf whistles penetrated the haze that had been his mind. Then she started blushing and scrambled off of him, apologising profusely. He got up slowly, glaring at Reid.

"Oooh," Reid said, eyebrows waggling. He was about to say something when a look at Taine's face shut him up. He felt a smirk spread across his face and he looked smugly at Reid. He had noted it too and had shut up, watching her warily. There was a too sweet smile on her face as she approached Reid. He got up, slowly, still watching her warily. Then he made a run for it. Pogue watched in admiration as Taine moved after him, his head tilted to the side. She was fast, really fast. And graceful, like a predator going after her prey. He didn't know what made him think of that, but it was true, looking at Taine going after Reid was like watching someone go on a hunt. While Reid looked like an idiot trying to get away, Taine moved subtly, though quickly. He doubted that he would know she was going after the blond if he hadn't seen her move after him. Caleb's chuckle broke through his reverie, and he shot his best friend a questioning look. Caleb was just shaking his head, and grinning. Caleb, grinning. It was a long time since he'd seen his friend do that.

"They're like a couple of kids," he noted, with a chuckle. "Friends from the sandpit. I can almost imagine her in pigtails and skirts but with grazed knees and knuckles. She's good for him."

"They act like me and my brother used to," Tyler agreed, grinning. "It's been a long time since Reid's treated any girl as more than just another skirt to chase, you know?"

And just like that, Pogue felt like the biggest idiot in the world. Friends from the sandpit? Like Tyler and his brother? He'd been so caught up in his jealousy that he hadn't considered the other viable option, so caught up in his own feelings for her that he hadn't realised that Reid might not feel the same way. He treated her like a friend, a really good friend, but still just friends. He felt so stupid, suddenly, and at the same time he also felt a weight drop off of him. All his worry was for nothing, apparently, and he suddenly felt good. Now that Tyler and Caleb had pointed it out all the things that had set his teeth on edge when it came to Reid and Taine made much more sense, in a non-jealous freak kind of way.

But then something else occurred to him and he felt his stomach twisting up again. She didn't think of him in the same terms… did she? Usually, he'd be able to brush that fear aside, he would know, but she confused him. Perhaps the reason why she found it so easy to be friends with Reid was because she didn't want to have a romantic relationship with anyone, which made sense especially since she was still hurt from breaking up with someone else. But he couldn't have that. Sure, he wanted her to think of him as a friend, but not just a friend because his feelings for her were definitely not of the 'just friends' variety.

Then his eye caught movement at the end of Nicky's. It was Aaron and his goons, and they were smiling unpleasantly and heading towards the door, the very door that Reid and Taine had gone through. He felt uneasy all of a sudden, and every instinct in him screamed that he needed to go outside right now. He looked at Tyler and Caleb, and saw that they had similarly tensed. Without vocal agreement, all three got up and went after Aaron's group.

Pogue felt his gut tighten as he saw what was going on outside. They were just in time. Reid had pushed Taine behind him, fists cocked and looking angry, but Aaron and his goons still outnumbered them. There were five of them, and Taine and Reid were only two. He saw Aaron and Reid exchange words, before Reid's face got inexplicably angry and he got in Aaron's face. That was when two of Aaron's goons grabbed him and Aaron himself let his fist fly. Taine screamed at that and before he realised what was happening, he felt himself running. He didn't have to look behind him to know that Caleb and Tyler were fast at his heels but what did surprise him was the sight of Taine jumping on Aaron and yanking his hair in both fists, hard.

Aaron yelled, spinning around to dislodge her, but she jumped away nimbly, absorbing the impact of the fall before rolling back to her feet. She rolled her neck, before cracking her fingers. She had a look that he could only call 'deadly' on her face as she stared down Aaron. He felt fear in him as he quickened his pace. The other two of Aaron's goons went after her, but she dropped, sweeping her leg and tripping one up. While she was down, she lashed out with a foot, kicking the second in the stomach, making him fall backwards, breathless. In the same seamless motion, she got back to her feet, just as Aaron charged her. Pogue yelled out her name as he was sure that Aaron was going to knock her to the ground, but Taine used his own momentum to throw him over her shoulder. He felt admiration battle with fear as he watched her fight. She was good, really good. Martial arts mixed with street fighting made her movements graceful, smooth, controlled and just a bit ruthless. She threw a mean right hook, he noticed, flooring the guy that had gotten up after she tripped him.

Reid, Reid was holding on when he saw that Taine was alright. He would get a black eye, and blood was trickling from the corner of his mouth where his lip split against his teeth. He was ruthlessly fighting against the two, but he had the bigger guys. One guy had succeeded in holding him while the other one punched him the gut, doubling him up just as Pogue got there. He gripped the guy's shoulder, spun him around and let his fist fly, fierce satisfaction travelling in him as he felt the nose break and heard the other guy's howl of pain. Reid scraped his foot hard against the guy's shin, making him drop him before he spun around and punched his face. Tyler was facing off one of Taine's guys, leaving Caleb with Aaron. When Aaron and his goons realised that they were five on five with the fantastic addition of Taine's fighting skill, they got scared looks on their faces. Their pride was on the line, though, so they didn't back down.

Taine's guy rushed for her, but she delivered a beauty of a roundhouse kick that made Pogue momentarily lose concentration with his opponent, which gave the guy an opportunity to punch him in the gut. He was winded immediately, and the guy went for his face but then he stopped. He had a look of shocked pain before he crumpled to the ground, holding himself and moaning. That was when he realised that Taine had kicked him in the balls from behind. He winced, all the guys did as they looked at the fallen guy on the ground, rolling around and holding himself. Taine looked gloriously angry, and actually spat on him.

"I hope that prevents you from populating this world with more jerks like you," she snapped. Then she went to Aaron, all in his face, got between him and Caleb. Her eyes were burning in rage. "You want that we should fight, then step on up you braindead, manwhoring son of a bitch. You think you're so strong and brave, ganging up five to two, where one of the two was a helpless little girl? You want a piece of me now, you little ass? Come and get me. I will be more than happy to deliver your butt back to you. Or maybe I should just castrate you and deliver your pieces to your two girlfriends. You don't mess with me and mine, you got that?" When Aaron made a move, she grabbed his fist, startling everyone. Her face got cold. "I've a black belt in Karate, and I'm proficient in jujitsu, idiot. I'm more than able with a gun. I took up fencing, where I specialised in sabre. You think you can take me? Huh?" Her hand started squeezing his fist, though they could see the tension where she had to fight against his brute strength. "I can break a stack of wooden planks in half, what makes you think I can't beat you?"

"You threatened Kate."

"Well you can go tell the bitch to get off my case and stop threatening me, then maybe I won't do it again," she countered, glaring. Then she twisted his arm behind his back, spinning him around and holding it just high enough that he whimpered. Taine moved closer to his ear, but her anger-filled whisper could be heard by all of them, her voice shaking with her emotions. "I can break you arm like this. I know all the nerves on your body to press to freeze you and I will leave you in the ally with your friends to stay until somebody finds you: unable to speak, unable to move, unable to do anything but just lie there until somebody finds you, if they're able to.

"Now, I don't want to do that, wouldn't do to make a bad impression on new friends and new school and all, but I will if you push me, got it?" When he didn't answer but to whimper, she pressed his arm a little more roughly and he let out a pained cry. "Got it?"

"Y.yes."

"Now are you going to leave us alone, or do I have to hunt you down again?"

"Leave. Alone."

"Good boy," she murmured, then shoved him away from her. He landed in an ungainly heap on the ground, staring at her with wide eyes, rubbing his arm pathetically. She looked at him contemptuously. "You sicken me, Abbot," she said, quietly, but her voice was filled with venom. "It was guys like you that made my father make me take self-defence classes. It is guys like you that make girls afraid to go around alone at night. Guys like you are a waste of space, you take up valuable air. I don't like you. You need to learn that you need more than money and looks to get you through life or you will have the biggest shock of your life when you get into the real world." When he just stared at her, her look turned pitying. "Get up. You look pathetic." With that, she whirled around and went for her car. With a last group at the group, Pogue shot them a grin and a cheery wave, before jogging after Taine. After a look at each other, Caleb, Tyler and Reid shrugged, but went after them.

God, she was fast, he thought as she watched her march away. He could practically see the steam rising out of her ears. Her hands were fisted at her sides, but even though anger fuelled her, even though she was tall, he was taller. He caught up to her, though admittedly with a little trouble. He didn't say anything, just walked with her to the car but when they got there, Taine leaned against it, sighing, her eyes closed. He took the time to look at her face. She'd get some nice bruises in the morning, he noted. There was a cut on her cheekbone from one of the idiots' ring. He felt anger pouring out from him and had to fight the urge to go back there and kick some more ass, but just at that moment her eyes slid open and she shot him a look, a look that said very blatantly that she knew exactly what he was thinking of doing. He shot her a look that was pure innocence, but the scepticism on her face told him she didn't buy it for a second.

"So…" he said, after a moment of silence. "Black belt in karate, huh?" She snorted at that, and started laughing. He smiled, but he was serious. He wanted to know. He wanted to know everything. She intrigued him so much, this girl. She looked like a model, she moved like a dancer, had a fighter's soul. She had impressed him back there, how she had dispatched the guys. Her movements had been economical and except for kicking the one guy in the balls, they were designed to get them down but not to hurt them overly. If he wanted to be honest, her threat to Aaron had scared him a little, but watching her walk away and try to control her anger told him. She had been bluffing, and she was hoping that Aaron's pride would prevent him from calling her bluff. But to what extent the bluff was, he didn't know.

"I would be, if I ever actually went through it all," she admitted, wryly. At his surprised look, she felt a grin tug at her mouth. "Father did make me take self-defence lessons. One of the other ambassadors' daughter got kidnapped for ransom. She was raped. My father didn't want that to happen to me, so he made sure that I knew how to defend myself. My trainer was an old martial arts master, but he incorporated other fighting techniques. I never went for "proper" training though, so while I'm on the level of a black belt, I never actually got the belts. And I suppose saying I was proficient at jujitsu might've been stretching it a bit," she said, as an after thought. "I just started this summer." He laughed out loud. She shot him a quick grin, and he saw the tension leave her. She had been worried about them, he realised in a moment of insight that had completely left him these past few days. Worried about what they might think of her after her performance.

"Reid's probably going to demand to know how you did everything, you know," he said, dryly. "He'll want you to teach him." He laughed again at her horrified look, and a reluctant grin was pulled out of her. "So, guns? Fencing?"

"You live in England, have and old English family, then you end up going shooting in the country," she said, with a sigh. "That wasn't a joke. I can shoot a rifle. But again, after the kidnapping, father wanted me prepared in all ways so after I hit sixteen, he made me get lessons. I have a licence and everything, though it wasn't a full one until after I turned eighteen. I mean, it's not a licence that says I can carry weapons or whatever, but I can actually buy guns if I want to. I still go to the shooting range. It keeps me in practice," she answered, at his look. "Plus, it relieves tension. Shooting at a piece of paper is better than doing something more physical. Though I have to admit that I've missed being in a fight," she sighed. "I need to find another trainer, here. I have too much pent-up aggression."

"You have pent up aggression?" he teased, but was confused as he saw her look away, eyes downcast. A frown was on her face. He cupped her chin in his hand, forcing her to look at him. "Hey," he said, softly. "What's wrong?"

"I dohave problems, Pogue," she said, softly. "You don't know how much. It… It's difficult for me, sometimes. You have no idea how difficult it was for me to walk away from that fight, especially with all the tension I've been feeling lately. You have no idea how much it scares me, what I wanted to do to those guys." She started shaking, and he didn't even think. He wrapped his arms around her and let her cling to him, feeling her tremors. His hands smoothed over her hair, down her back, and he murmured soothingly into her ear. She wasn't crying, he noted, she was just in shock.

"Don't worry about it. All of us had trouble walking away from Aaron and his jerks. It wasn't just you. We all want to do something especially vile to him, not just you."

"You don't understand. It's so hard," she whispered, achingly. "Because the worst thing is… the thing that makes it so difficult is that I can do it. I know that I can do it. It's this constant struggle inside of me, every time I finish a tournament or anything like that, even in practice. After I bring my opponent down, it's always so hard for me to walk away. It's like a voice inside of me, telling me what else I can do, how I can do it, coaxing me to do it. It's so seductive." He stilled against her, in his motions of comforting her. Her words had hit a little too close to comfort, it was almost like she was describing what he felt with the Power. Hell, what all of them felt about the Power. The constant struggle, the fine line. The seduction.

"It's part of you, forever, and there's nothing that you can do about it except not let it control your life," he said, softly. She looked up at him, surprised, but he was no longer paying attention to her. His eyes were locked on his brothers, who had reached them, and had heard her heartfelt confession. They too looked surprised, shocked by how close she had come to what they felt about their Powers. Slowly, they all approached her. Reid was first, wrapping his arms around her from the back. Tyler came after, and even Caleb and the five of them stood in a group hug, with a sense of empathy, though for different reasons. She's not so different from us, Pogue thought, looking down at her. He pressed his lips to her forehead, gently. She's living with her own problems, her own struggle.

"How can you know that?" she asked, so quietly that he almost didn't hear her. "How can you know me so well, know how I feel so well? No one's understood but Sensei, not really. Not even my parents. I'm their golden wild child, they never understood my affinity for fighting, never understood why I went for it further than basic self defence, why I threw myself into it, and in fencing. How can you know that so immediately when it took me so long to understand, when I still have trouble dealing with it, somedays?"

Pogue felt like cursing. Caleb's eyes were filled with warning as he looked up to meet his gaze. Be careful, they said. Don't reveal too much. Don't break the Covenant. Pogue sighed, running his hand over her hair once more. But it was Reid, surprisingly, that answered her, the one that saved his ass from a tongue lashing from Caleb, and from further questions from Taine.

"Because all of us have something in ourselves that we try to hide," he said, quietly. "And with some that something is harder to resist, darker. It calls to us, constantly. Because he, hell I, know to a certain extent what you mean because it exists in us as well."

"Your pride," she murmured, putting her hand on Reid's, gently. Then her eyes turned to Pogue. "Your need for freedom and your possessiveness. Your heart," she addressed to Tyler. Then she turned to Caleb, frowning. "I never know, for you. I couldn't even tell, but back in Nicky's, it was in the way you said… you understand, but it's more than… it's your need to protect. Your burdens. And with that, with all of you, it's more than that. More than everything. You all have something that you hide, it has to be, it's why you're all so close, even though you're different. It's why you all act like family. I'm not going to pry," she assured Caleb quietly, when she felt all of them stiffen. "I don't have a right. If you can, if you want, you'll tell me yourself, some time. If not, then I'll mind my own business. But thank you. Thank you for understanding." She squeezed Reid's hands again, then hugged Pogue before a shift in her stance made them all back away from the hug, finally.

She made a good point, Pogue thought, as he watched her struggle for control. She made a hell of a good point. It was more than the Power, more than the seduction of over using, more than the addiction. It was all tied with the various things that she noted about them, why some fell and others didn't. Reid's struggle with his pride was what pushed him to use, most. And Tyler's heart was what kept him from doing so, yet it was also his biggest weakness. His need for freedom and his possessiveness… well. It was what had gotten him in trouble with Chase, wasn't it? His possessiveness over Kate. And Caleb, he stopped himself because he was their leader, because he took the burden of being their so-called "role model". His lips quirked. She understood them better than she thought. Caleb realised it too, because he looked at her in consideration, in a new light. He smiled at her faintly.

"You're very astute."

"I've been taught to always trust my instincts," she replied, shrugging. "They haven't failed me, yet." Then she sighed, looking around before pulling a face. "I don't know about you, but I don't feel like going back into Nicky's like this." They all laughed at that, nodding in agreement. They were all filthy, dusty, covered in cuts and bruises. Her hand went up to touch her cheekbone and she winced. "It's going to be hell to explain this tomorrow," she muttered. "I'm so glad I'm a girl."

"Why?" Reid asked, curiously. She grinned at him.

"Duh. Concealer. You guys are going to have to walk around with obvious black eyes and the not. I'm going for the slightly more subtle approach. As much fun as it was to destroy Aaron's pride, I'm not looking forward to school gossip if they see me with bruises. After all, people have already noted that I've been hanging around you guys. They might think that there's trouble in paradise and that we've been involved in an all out fight with each other."

"You forget," Caleb put in, and there was a smirk on his face. "That Aaron's going to be there as well. Similarly bruised and beaten up."

"Oh the joys," she muttered. Then she looked at the guys with a grin. "What say you? Bring this party back to the dorms. We can kidnap Sarah from her work and hang out."

"Where?" Reid already looked as though it was set, to his irritation. "My and Tyler's room is a tip."

"I have a private," she said. At their incredulous looks, she was suddenly defensive. "What? I like my privacy, and father made sure I had it. I'm not the only one!"

"Whatever you say, Crawford," Reid laughed, slinging his arm around her shoulders. "I call dibs on riding in the Jag!"

"C'mon, Pogue, I'll give you a ride," Tyler said, with a grin. "You can leave your bike here and we'll pick it up tomorrow."

"How am I going to get back?" he asked, his eyebrow raised and Reid grinned.

"You can room with Taine. I'm sure she won't mind." Then he yelped as she pinched his arm. Hard. "Ow, Taine, goddamit!"

"Watch it," she said, severely. He scowled and rubbed his sore arm, muttering about harpy females and their love of violence. She just smirked at him, unrepentant. Then she turned to Pogue. "You can crash in my room if you like, I have a futon, just in case Eric did decide to drop in."

"We can share," Tyler offered. "Caleb, you too."

"It's alright, guys," Caleb smiled, though Pogue could see the slight sense of disappointment in his eyes. "I have to get back later, anyway. My mom will be worried. But sure, party in the dorms sounds great." That decided, Reid whooped and grabbed her keys from her pocket, familiarly, and slid into the driver's side of the car. Taine rolled her eyes, open the driver's side and grabbed him by the ear. He yelped.

"You ride shotgun," she said, severely. "My car, I drive."

"I drove yesterday," Reid whined, but the look on her face read 'don't push me' very clearly. He settled into the passenger side with a sulk, but it didn't last long. He ran his hands over the leather upholstery of the car. Taine shot him a smile before she got in.

"See you guys in a few," she said, cheerfully, before she slid in, shutting the door behind her. She revved the engine, and he heard the low purr of it, before she tore out. Reid's whoop and her laughter could be heard as the car blended into the night, the taillights bright. With a shake of his head, Tyler went to his Hummer, Pogue behind him. Caleb into his Mustang. In a few moments, the two cars got out of the lot and towards the dorms.

Taine and Reid were the first to arrive. At Reid's goading, she had driven fast, and put the soft top of the convertible down. She loved the adrenaline, hearing the scream of the engine before she changed gears. He noted that she drove like a race car driver, and she'd just smirked. The good thing about Ipswich was that the roads were long and empty, unlike the busy streets of London. She hadn't had much of a chance to drive her baby in any satisfying speed, there. But fast speed meant that they were the first to arrive, so there they were. She unlocked her door and flipped the switch as she shrugged off her jacket.

"Nice," Reid commented as he looked around. "Feminine, but not over bearingly so." His eyebrow rose at the poster she had on her wall, though. There were elegant prints of paintings: Botticelli's Primavera, Renoir's Umbrellas, he recognised a Van Gogh, and several others. But along with that, there were pictures, large framed pictures a mix of black and white and coloured of people but mostly of landscapes, both urban and otherwise. One picture caught his eye especially. It was a large, formal portrait a distinguished, handsome man and an elegantly beautiful woman seated, Taine and a tall, well built, handsome male behind them. It looked fairly recent, and the backdrop of the picture was an elegant drawing room, the likes of which he was used to seeing both in his home and in the homes of his friends.

"This your family?" he asked, jerking his thumb at the picture. She nodded distractedly as she moved around the room to clean up. The books on her desk cleared up, any dirty clothes on the floor was put into the clothes basket, shoes put on the shoe rack, her bed was made… She stood up, looked around while running her fingers through her hair, then shrugged. It was as good as it would get. So she moved over to Reid and looked at the picture he was gesturing to, smiling warmly.

"Yeah. My father, Reginald Crawford. You can probably make out which one he is. The cigar on the table isn't an affectation, by the way. If it was up to mum, it wouldn't appear, but father always needs to have one at hand. He smokes in between takes. Mum's Danielle Crawford nèe Graison. Mum's some kind of heiress, but I'm not sure of what. I know some Graisons are in the south. Might be something to do with oil. Or not. Grandfather Graison does own Graison Tech Inc. Well, he was the one who founded it. The guy next to me is my step brother, Eric. He's seven years older than me, and he's doing his masters in Harvard."

"You guys look close," he murmured, looking at the picture closely. "Even though you call your dad 'father' all the time, you guys look close."

"We are," she admitted, grinning. "I love them. And I know it might sound a bit stiff, but father's from a very formal and conservative family back in England. I suppose it's rubbed off on me, these last five years. I expect I'll start calling him 'dad' soon enough." The idea of it, though, made her giggle. She could just imagine Reginald Crawford's face at being called 'dad'. But he would get a kick out of it. Grandfather Crawford, though, wouldn't. Reid shrugged, then started walking around. While he did that, she gave another cursory look around the room and saw her laptop. The screensaver showed some pictures of the anime that she watched, her guilty pleasure, along with some of her friends. She might as well check her email before anything started.

Going over, she moved her mouse to get the original page and saw that at the top was GMail. Then she froze. In the hour and a half she had been gone, she'd gotten four emails: Richard, Paul, Sam and… Søren? Her hand started trembling. She couldn't… she… why was he emailing her? It was the first she would have heard from him since the break up, the very first time. And why were the rest of the boys emailing her as well? It was the whole band. It made a lump appear in her throat, but also for a nasty hint of suspicion. It couldn't be that, but… The subjects.

Rich Valentine: Hola chica!

Paul Maddock: I'm flying on a jetplane, baby!

Sam Elliot: Salutations from the Brits to the half-Colonial

Søren Gardner: Taine, don't delete this before you read it.

She had a bad feeling about all of this, a really bad feeling. Reid walked up behind her to look at her computer screen, noting her tensed back and her sheet white face. When he saw the four new emails (all from guys), his eyebrows rose. Still, he didn't see what was so upsetting. Maybe she was afraid of feeling homesick. But the subject on the email from the one named Søren Gardner (what kind of name was Søren?), though, was a little odd. Don't delete this? Sounded like spam.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Open them."

"What?" she sounded dazed. He smirked, putting his hand over hers on the mouse and moving for the one from Søren.

"It's this thing you do with emails. You know, you see it, you click on it, you read it. Maybe you reply to it," he said, easily. Then he clicked. He saw her suck in a breath and her whole body went rigid. Her eyes were screwed shut. What the hell? What kind of reaction was that? It looked like she was waiting for it to explode or something, like the email would contain a bomb, which was just ridiculous. Shrugging, he went on to read because let's face it, his morals didn't extend as far as to prevent him from reading his friends' mail.

Taine,

If you're reading this, I suppose I have to be thankful. After what I've done to you, after how I've treated you, I should be lucky if you didn't delete it right away. You're probably still angry, still hurt, and don't lie. I know you too well for that. We've been together for three years, after all. Look at me. I speak in the present still, when really I should have said: we were together for three years. It's hard, sometimes, to remember that, to remember that you and I aren't you and I anymore but separate beings. That Taine Crawford and Søren Gardner shall no longer be Mrs. Søren and Mrs. Taine, but just…whatever we are. For so long who I am revolved around you so much that after it ended, I found myself dangling. I didn't know, anymore. Important things became impossible and even the trivial became difficult. I didn't even know how to order pizza anymore, because usually, we'd order half-and-half, but you always ended up eating my side and I had to finish yours.

I've lost the taste for Mint Chocolate Chip ice-cream, instead, I eat strawberry because it reminds me of you. I smoke Luckies, because they were the brand that you preferred. I've tried quitting, but the nicotine patches made me irritable. I suppose I don't have as much will power as you, either. I found myself watching a movie that I was unable to enjoy, because you had so thoroughly converted me. I found myself turning to deliver some kind of smart, sarcastic quip with you about the plot, but the seat next to me is either empty or filled with a stranger.

I miss you, my love. I missed you especially today when I turned around in bed and realised that your scent is almost gone from my pillow. I missed you yesterday, when Richard was making a Star Wars joke that no one laughed at, because it was only you and he who did and he, hell we, forgot that. I missed you when I went clubbing with the boys, because you would have dragged us over to places as diverse as Fabric, or KOKO, or The Gardening Club. I missed you when I was in Leicester Square and passed by a comedy club, because we missed the chance of seeing stand up comedy together. I missed you when I saw that Russell Peters is coming to London next week, but you won't be here to watch him with me.

But I'm not doing this to cause you more hurt, cause you more pain. It was cruel of me to have left the way I did, to have not spoken to you at all since then. Cruel of me, but in a way, I did it because I thought it was what was right. I did it because it was the only way I knew how to protect both you and myself. I knew that if I were to continue to be with you, you would finally sway me. You have no idea how close I was, how very near to changing my mind for you, to help you stage a coup and overthrow your parents. I was ready to offer you any help, and I knew that I couldn't. I knew that I had to make you go. I love you, Taine. Even now, even three months down the road that hasn't changed. It has not gone to I loved you, but it remains, and will remain for some time, I love you

The Wasteland had a big break, a really big break. We got a record deal with Mercury, and we have a concert in a few places in America. We're going to New York, but the guys said you're going to school in Massachusetts? We're going to Boston. I want to see you, we all want to see you. Don't lock me out, Taine. Please. I asked you once to find it in your heart to forgive me. I hope you have, or at least I hope that you'll consent to be my friend. I need to see you.

Forever,

Søren.

PS. We'll be in Boston on the 4th of December, and New York on the 7th.

Reid only had the warning of a strangled sound from Taine before he was suddenly covered in sobbing female. His eyes were a little wide as he stared at the still open email. Whoa. That was just…whoa. So much for a spam message, it seemed like the guy knew Taine a little too well. It was just so intense, the way he wrote about her. He talked about love. The big one, he could tell. He seemed really hung up on her and yet, yet looking at Taine, hearing her crying her heart out and making his shirt wet, Reid could tell that it wasn't just one way. Taine really loved this guy, like a whole lot. It explained the look that she got in her eyes, sometimes, that lost and helpless look. But then, it seemed like the guy was a little lost and helpless as well. He was sort of confused, he had never felt that way about a girl before, not in the way Søren seemed to care for Taine. Hell, he doubted that even Caleb or Pogue had ever felt that way about a person. But then, neither of them had ever had a girlfriend for three years. Three years. That was like prison, to Reid. He loved women, too much.

But at that moment, the only woman he was concerned about was Taine, and that in itself was a startling thing. Usually, a woman started crying and he bailed. He just didn't know what to do, and he figured he'd be no help at all. And most of all, it made him damned uncomfortable. But he didn't want to leave Taine, didn't want to leave her alone at any rate. Not that he was suddenly changed by her or anything, he was still so uncomfortable. He didn't really know what to do but she didn't seem to need him to say anything, just to hold her and let her cry her heart out. So he did that. Besides, Taine was the first girl he could honestly call a friend, it disturbed him that she was like that. And most of all, it upset him that she was upset. The feelings confused him, so he pushed them aside. He was good at that. He just lifted her and carried her to her bed, where he sat down. Then he pulled her onto his lap, where she curled up, burying her face in his neck.

He just held her, just ran his hands over her back and making what he thought were soothing noises until sobs trickled down to crying and that trickled down to sniffling until she was silent. Finally. He pulled away slightly and looked at her, concern making his eyes darker. He tipped her chin up to meet his gaze and she sighed, but complied with it.

"You want to tell me what's going on?" And with another sigh, she did. Not noticing, at that time, the three bodies that had just opened her door, looking at the two curled up on her bed. And most of all, not noticing that shape, the very same one of the first night after Nicky's, the shape that held the slightest hint of a face grinning maliciously. The long lost love of her life, eh? Interesting. Pogue's jealousy, almost like a living thing floating towards him, was even more so. Oh this was going to be interesting, this was going to be very interesting. He might be able to use that Søren boy to his own advantage. It gave him about a month to plan, a month to make up the perfect crime. A month would be enough, he'd had less than that, last time. He would exact revenge, and it would be ever so sweet. With a cold laugh that disappeared in the wind, so did he. And through the window, into Taine's room, she told her story slowly, haltingly, and Pogue watched her with a glimmer of pain and determination to win in his eyes.

tbc…

Mwahahahah. God, was this chapter difficult to write. I nearly stopped myself so many times, you know, since it was dragging on a bit, but I thought it would be too evil if I didn't get into Søren's email in this chapter. You want to know what my original chapter ending was going to be?

Now don't you love me? grin Although to be fair, it would have ended better if it did end there. And yet, as it ended here, plot actually moves on a bit. It's a two edge sword.

Now, addressing the reviewers:

Madame Sorceress: All of us needs to be a bit juvenile sometimes.grin Don't worry, I had to stop myself from going all "Pogue and Taine, sitting on a tree. K.I.S.S.I.N.G.". The voice also sounds suspiciously like Reid, in my head.

xlexisx: Thank you. I'm glad that you think that the emotions written don't seem too OTT or something. And yeah, Taine is no doormat, she's been that once in her life and she's not going back to that.

LiasonFan2: blush Thank you. You have no idea what it means to me that you said that. A writer can never hear that her writing is good often enough. I'm glad you like the break up scene, because I was afraid it might've seemed a bit too mushy and OTT. I still think it is, but I'm glad you like it, anyway. Taine's strong, she's not going to back down. And she's too no-nonsense about some things not to do it. She's just a bit ruthless, is Taine, as you'd have seen from this chapter. She tells you to your face if you challenge her, what your mistakes are. I like that about her. grin Thanks. I'm glad you think that I got into their heads well.

greyhaven11: More than the movie? Cool. Thanks so much! I'm glad you like them in this story. The problem with movies, I've always thought, is that you can't get into people's psyches, which is always the fun part about writing. At least, that's what I think.

greyhaven8: Glad you think that it's original, so far! (I have a feeling it's not going to stay that way for long, oh dear). There is going to be supernatural stuff later, but I will try to keep it as unclichéd as possible. And glad that you think Pogue is awesome, he's one of my favourite characters in the movie.

Sliver of Melody: Thanks!

Lexi: Hey, I'm not going to complain that you called my story freakin' awesome. I'm glad you think so. grin Glad that you're going out of your way to read something that isn't to your usual taste.

Mrs. St. John Allerdyce: Thanks!

sunshine-48: bursts out laughing Oh, I like you. Thanks, I'm glad you're liking the story. I couldn't help myself with the email from Søren, especially after I wrote all of their background stuff. I couldn't help myself. It came unexpectedly. Søren's trying to wriggle himself into a bigger part in this story than I first intended for him. You know, I never liked Kate in the movie. She was too easily distracted by Chase from Pogue. And yes, I adore Tyler and Reid. Tyler's such a little cutie.

Hollywood-Violet: Thank you! I was starting to think I was the only one who didn't like Kate in the movie, but yay, someone else agrees with me! Nah, Tyler's too sweet for her. But the Reid thing, well. You'd have seen from this chapter. Not quite what Pogue thought.

w1cked angel: Thank you.

ElizabethxAnne: Thanks. blush Glad you like it. I always loved Pogue, I couldn't help but want to give him someone that was better than Kate. Er, I hope Taine is better than Kate, in any case. And I'm glad how you like the characters' thoughts etc. I had a lot of fun going into their psyches. Pogue's so paranoid. And if you liked the Taine/Kate fight, I hope you liked this one as well.