Mickey was sitting on his front steps when he saw Rae's van approach. As soon as she stepped out of the van, the little kid in her arms, he cursed.
"Mandy home?" she called as she grabbed a jacket for the kid out of the bag at her feet.
"Yeah," he muttered. "Why?"
"Need to crash a few nights. I have cash, don't worry," she called as she set the kid down on the pavement. Nikki looked up at her sister with a tired expression.
"Not here," Nikki moaned. Nikki was terrified of Mickey's older brothers, Iggy and Colin.
"We don't have much of a choice, kiddo," Rae said with a sigh. She didn't like it any more than her little sister did. Just as Rae was about to move towards the steps, Mandy came outside, a concerned look on her face.
"Lip just called, gave me the heads up that you were coming," she said quickly. "Are you okay? Jesus Christ, here I thought no one could be more ruthless than our ol' man," she added quickly.
"Terry doesn't have anything on my mother," Rae sighed. "I've got a couple hundred bucks on me, that enough to get us a patch of hardwood for a few nights?"
"Don't be stupid," Mandy scoffed. "It's almost winter, I'm not about to let that little cutie freeze to death."
"Momma, please?" Nikki cried as Rae scooped up the petrified toddler.
"Nikola, it's here or we freeze in the van. God knows the heater hasn't worked in years. I kind of like you having ten fingers and toes," she replied gently, kissing the little girl's outstretched fingers. Nikki finally nodded, seeming to sense that it wasn't up for debate.
After Nikki was settled into a pile of blankets that Mandy had dug out for them, Rae stepped out into the cold fall air, her thin coat doing nothing to keep the cold out. Mandy was keeping an eye on the sleeping toddler, sensing that her friend needed a few minutes to wrap her head around everything.
"You look like shit," Mickey mused. He sat down on the step next to Rae, studying her pale, shivering body. "For fucks sake, don't you own anything warmer than that?"
"No," Rae breathed, a puff of smoke freeing itself from her lungs. She held out the joint to Mickey as a peace offering. Mickey shrugged off his jacket and tossed it to her before taking the joint from her outstretched hand.
"Pops is in a mood today, Colin had a run in with him at the Alibi," Mickey murmured. Rae knew what that meant. Terry Milkovich didn't exactly like the outspoken, built brunette. Not after the last time she broke his nose for coming onto her when he was plastered.
"Shit," Rae moaned. She didn't have a choice. Either stay there and take Terry's shit, or freeze in the van.
"Maybe he won't notice you're here?" Mickey suggested, but Rae knew it was unlikely. Terry was a lot of things, but he wasn't stupid.
"What's the worst he can do at this point?" Rae muttered, snatching the joint back from Mickey, letting the smoke fill her lungs before exhaling heavily. "Ain't nothing he can do that my folks haven't already done."
Mickey tensed at her words. He hated to think that her life was just as fucked up as his own. They weren't the sharing type, they always kept their conversations short, pointed, without emotions. He didn't let himself get close to people and she didn't let herself open up to fuck buddies. Hell, Mandy was probably the only person alive who knew everything Rae and her siblings had gone through, all they'd done just to keep a roof over their heads. She was the only person Rae really opened up to, mostly because the two had known each other for more years than they hadn't.
"Fuck," Mickey muttered, rubbing his hands vigorously against his bare arms. Rae shrugged off his coat and tossed it back to him before descending down the stairs.
"Tell Mandy I'll be back in an hour, keep Nikki away from the boys," she called over her shoulder. "Gotta make sure ol' man Ricky doesn't owe anyone anything. Willing to bet the pigs picked him up by now."
"Rick's almost as bad as Frank," Mickey reminded her. "Hell, he probably owes Frank money."
"Frank ain't a problem," Rae said tiredly. "'Member last time he owed your old man cash? Not really looking for that trouble again."
Mickey grunted. The last time Rick Quinn owed Terry money, Terry had Colin and Iggy kidnap Rae and hold her for ransom. It ended with Rae trading in almost everything the family owned, just to buy her life. Mickey still held a grudge against his brothers for that move. Despite everything, Rae didn't deserve to pay back her father's debts.
Rae made her way down to the Alibi Room, knowing full and well Kev wouldn't charge her for her usual drinks. She slid onto her usual stool and waited for him to see her. When he did, he approached with wary eyes.
"Spit it out, Kev," Rae said. Her head was throbbing from the night before, her nerves on edge. "Who's he owe this time?"
"Cops picked him up last night," Kev said hesitantly. "Terry mentioned that the idiot owes him money again."
"Jesus Christ," Rae grumbled. She looked around the bar and saw Terry huddled in the corner by the pool tables. She sighed and downed her glass of beer in two gulps before walking over to the vicious, hateful man. She stood with her arms crossed in front of her, her eyes cold as she nudged his chair with her foot.
"The fuck you want, Quinn?" Terry growled, a cigarette dangling precariously in his mouth.
"How much?" she sighed, running her hands through her hair. "How much this time?"
"Ain't coming after you again," he shrugged, paying her little mind. "Got my boys on the inside working on that."
"You're…" Rae stared at him, a stunned expression on her face. "What?"
"Ain't wasting my time on you again," he shrugged. "You keep my boy in line, I like that. Respect it even. Ain't gonna fuck that up."
Rae didn't know what to say. Instead, she turned on her heel, catching Kev's troubled look as she slid back onto the stool. She shook her head, downing the shot Kev had poured for her, before waving goodbye. She took the long way back to the Milkovich house, in no hurry to return to reality. Instead, she found herself pondering what Terry had said. She had nothing to do with Mickey keeping his shit together. That was all Ian. Rae was one of the few people who knew about the couple and despite her best efforts, she couldn't help but feel happy for them. Ian was good for Mickey. Ian also knew that the two fucked from time to time to keep up appearances, especially since Terry and his older sons were as homophobic as it came.
When she reached the house, she wasn't the least bit surprised to see Mickey sitting on the steps again. From where he sat, he could see the blue tint to her lips, the ashy color to her cheeks.
"Fuck, Rae, are you trying to freeze to death?" he growled as he reached behind him, retrieving the blanket he had brought outside, just in case. Rae hurried up the steps and wrapped it around herself, shivering violently.
"Pretty sure hell froze over," she muttered as she blew into her frozen hands. Mickey watched her for a moment, his eyebrows raised, waiting for her to continue. "The day Terry Milkovich says he respects me is the day hell freezes over."
Mickey stared at her with wide eyes, unsure what to say. He appreciated Rae for helping keep up the impression that they were a thing, even full and well knowing that they weren't, though he never expected his old man to see her that way.
"Said I keep you in line," she forced a laugh, which quickly got cut off by a rough cough.
"Inside," Mickey grumbled, grabbing her by the wrist, pulling her to her feet with little effort. "Before you get sick."
"Yes, mom," she huffed. She wasn't in the mood to argue. The events of the last twenty-four hours had finally caught up with her and she barely made it to Mandy's room before sleep took over. As soon as she landed next to Nikki on the floor, she was sound asleep, her breathing raspy against the toddler's hair.
"What happened?" Mandy asked, throwing a hopeless glare at Mickey, who thumbed his lip, studying her silently.
"Hell froze over."
Mandy stared at him with wide eyes, knowing nothing good could come out of their father's kindness. Terry didn't do kind.
