Disclaimer: I own nothing. See all previous chapters.
A/N: I am so sorry that it's been so long since my last update and sorry it's so short, but Christmas has had me very busy that and I've had a really major writers block. I promise I'll update sooner, however to do that I'll need a few more reviews. There are 16 people who have this on alert and 8 have favourited it...however, most of those have never reviewed - if you're one of those people maybe you could review this time? Also, if you're one of the 100 who read and didn't review it would be nice to know what you thought of it, so if you read it this time could you please review?
Constructive criticism is welcome - just thought I'd point that out.
Juice
Dawn was soft, dancing it's way over the skin of the sleeping form of the one sharing my bed. True, the make-up staining my pillowcase wasn't the most welcome of things, but knowing who had left it there put a smile on my face. it wasn't the only thing to make me smile though - there was the way those raven curls spilled over her still lightly tanned skin, like honey but richer and deeper by a tone or two. I knew behind those heavy eyes and long lashes hid eyes I could lose myself in time and again if I let myself. The sheets had slipped ever so slightly, revealing her soft curves and the bandaging - the only only physical blemish she had, but given time it would fade. I didn't know what was going through her head and I didn't want to push her - I wanted her to feel she could tell me what ever it was that was bothering her. I wanted her to tell me the truth about her - Ok, Kip had but I wanted to hear it from her. I wanted to know she trusted me with anything.
Shifting in her sleep, she rolled on to her stomach and complained ever so quietly. One hand came down from abpve her head to rub the one fully exposed eye. As funny as it was, I wasn't going to laugh as the smear of black mascara slid down her face with her hand. I don't know why she didn't take it off...then again, she didn't really get a chance to. Cracking one eye open she looked over at me and rolled her eyes before leaning up on one arm and pushing her hair out of her face.
"What are you looking at?"
"You...is that a crime?"
"Some mornings I wish it was, don't you have work?"
"Did you have to say that word? Yes, but I don't want to go when I could stay in the same bed as you"
"Well, soon enough this bed will be empty"
"But you're not working today"
"Yes I am, just I've got the evening shift instead of the morning shift"
"So I'm not going to see much of my old lady today?"
"Nope, but I'm sure you can cope. It's only one day, then I'm on a morning shifts again for the rest of the week so I'll be free again. Think you can last?"
"I don't want to, but if I have to"
Sliding the sheet off, she wandered into the bathroom, leaving me to listen to the sound of water sloshing around in a bowl. She may not yet be able to get away with a shower, but she was too proud to go with out a wash at the very least. After what felt like a lifetime, though in truth it was probably little more than 10 minutes, if that, she came back through and sat on the bed with her back to me. I wanted to pull her back in to the bed and keep her there for the rest of the day, but I had work as did she. Glancing back over her shoulder, I knew she was smiling to herself.
"You gonna get dressed or not? You're already late, aren't you?"
"Not quite yet, don't want to yet"
"We all have to do things we don't want to. Get dressed or I'll change the locks and not let you back in"
"You wouldn't be that mean...would you?"
"Oh, wouldn't I?"
She had the teasing edge to her voice as she slipped on the first piece of clothing she came across that wasn't going to press too much. here was something different this morning though. She seemed so world weary, so weighed down for someone so young. I didn't know what it was that was bothering her this morning, but something was dragging her back into silence more often than not. With a sigh, I rolled off the bed and dressed. For the most part she kept her back to me fighting with the knotted curls, trying to pull them back under her control. What I was most scared off was her tearing clumps out or making her scalp bleed. I'd seen enough of her blood for years - I didn't want to see it again. Shrugging my cut on, I moved over the bed and took the brush from her grasp sensing her growing agitation.
"Let me, no good you getting all wound up over this"
With a sigh, she relinquished her pride and let me take over. She didn't like anyone doing anything for her - I'd figured that one out quick enough. Her biggest problem was that she was starting at the roots instead of the tips so it was getting almost impossibly tangled about half way down. Despite not having that much hair of my own, I'd got enough practice in at this sort of thing when I was younger. They'd tear me apart if they knew, but I actually found this kind of relaxing and I probably wouldn't ever voice it, but the whole hairdressing route had a little appeal in it. The club would rip me a new one and never let me live it down so that one was never getting aired. I think it was the repetitiveness of the task - the predictability and rhythm that got built up. Cool hands touched mine, taking the brush after a length of time - I hadn't really been paying attention.
"You need to go to work, I'll be fine"
"Promise?"
"I swear on my mother's grave. Happy?"
"No, but it'll do...for now"
"I'll call you before I leave for work, just so you know I'm still alive"
"You do know we need to talk about the other night"
Placing the brush down, she went almost too quiet as she tied her hair back. She tilted her head back and to the one side, she placed her hands on my arms as they snaked around her waist. Her skin was always so soft under the pressure of lips. Slackening her grip, she moved my arms off her and smiled.
"We will, just not yet. Not today"
"You're not alone, you know that...don't you?"
"Yeah...I know, but just not today"
I made a noise in agreement before leaving her. I would have to break a few speed limits to get to work on time, but I wasn't going to be late. Not today, not again. I knew certain people (who will remain nameless) were still pretty pissy over the once I'd been late last week and I wasn't looking for a repeat of that. Plus, I didn't really want to be made to clean that damn 'office' space again. It was fine - a little chaotic perhaps, but I worked best in organised chaos.
~0~O~0~
Romana
Hours had passed and I was still in agony, but that couldn't be helped. I was glad however that I'd had the sense of mind to order some sort of entertainment for when I was on my own during the day. Just so happened that it was a piano that would've been cut up and put to one side to either be sold or used for something else. It'd been delivered earlier in the day and I wasn't sure of the last time the piano had been played, but it was ever so slightly out of tune suggesting that it had been a while. I probably should have been bored mindless without Juice, but I was glad of the peace for once. I didn't really know why I'd always been so drawn to the piano - it was the only instrument to ever make any sense to me. An even greater mystery was the song I played. I was not usually a fan of playing anything other than classical pieces, but for once I didn't want to play anything predictable. Nothing seemed to match my mood and little could get me to settle for more than a few moments. I didn't really know why I was so bored, only that I was and it was killing me. No work today, Juice was christ knows where and not answering his cell, actually they all seemed to have disappeared into thin air. I'd have to get a tuner out to sort it, but it felt good to have a piano in my own home again.
Opening the windows in a vain attempt to get the air flowing, I settled at the piano once again. I couldn't seem to get this one song out of my head. I didn't know what it was called, but it was achingly familiar. Something reminiscent of the mid 80's rock scene, but I still couldn't place it no matter how hard I tried. Closing the lid, I let the silence fill the room once again. What came next I was not expecting.
"Still not figured that one out Grainne?"
The voice was one that brought back waves of dread. I didn't want to turn and look, but I had to. Rising from the seat, but keeping my head down I worked my gaze up. Battered leathers head to toe. Familiar cut. Greying, but still mostly red hair hanging in that very short braid. Lines were heavier and more obvious. They'd aged considerably in the few short months since I last saw them. How did I not hear the bike coming? I should know that sound any where. Grabbing the nearest heavy object, I half raised it, letting that inner beast that so many feared to the surface.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"Easy kid. I'm not going to hurt you"
"I'm not a kid, haven't been for a long time"
"True. True. Let's talk about this calmly - put that down and this'll go on the ground where neither of us can reach it. Fair deal?"
Opening the cut, he placed the gun down on the coffee table and sat down without permission. Eyeing him suspiciously, I followed suit by placing the object down (a vase as it later turned out) and sitting opposite them. Now more than ever I wanted Juice home with me. Glancing out the window just beyond his head I noted one empty bike and another two occupied having an unspoken pissing match with the neighbours, sat quietly unbothered in their Angel's cuts, despite being in a rival's town. Shit. The neighbours could say something. Jax, Juice, Kip...any body could turn up at any moment. How the hell am I going to explain this? Flickering back to the uninvited guest, they had clearly spotted my discomfort and had that glint that suggested they were going to use it to their full advantage.
"Grainne, when are you coming home?"
"I am home"
"Rich. You belong back in New York, not here. What's here for you? C'mon girl. Why'd you leave?"
"You all know why I left - you just refuse to believe me. I have plenty going for me here; Jobs, my own place, freedom, family, friends, J...just every thing I could ever need"
"What were you going to say - don't lie to me, you never stutter. What else you got here?"
"Nothing"
"You're lying. Look me in the eyes and tell me who it is"
There was that subtle sharpness to their voice that scared me. He was one of the reasons I left - or at least this side of him. His grip had found my wrist and pulled it to him in a painful manner, tightening as he did. As much as I didn't want to, I couldn't help the tumble of a sole tear tracking its way almost merrily down my face. No, I wasn't going to be a victim any more, I wouldn't put up with this shit any longer. I'd taken it for long enough and wasn't about to let it continue. Suck it up Grainne, it's now or never. Grow a pair and control your own damn life. Blinking back the tears that threatened to betray and gathering what strength I could, I pulled their hand counting on them to drag me in further. And being the idiot they were, they played right into my hands. Twisting me round and pinning my arms at my side with one arm, they tried to muffle the high pitched shriek that I let out with their spare hand. That was my aim - make as much damn noise as I could and tear a chunk out of their hand when they tried to silence me. Clamping down hard, I felt the almost comforting snap of his skin splitting under the pressure and the taste of unfamiliar blood filling my mouth.
Cursing, he let me go in surprise and I slipped away into the garage, locking the door that linked the two sections as I went. I found myself for the first time in a long while praising my mothers god that I'd gone for the automatic door that started to rise as I fixed my helmet and slipped my feet into the nearest pair of boots I could find. I think the hired muscle must have thought we were coming out that way as they were still relaxing on their bikes as I tore away and the yells for me to get back faded out. They'd come after me, I knew they would. But where was safe? Mayan's would turn their back on me if those three kept close. I couldn't bring this shit to the Sons, they had enough going on as it was. Nords wouldn't want some dirty skinned quarter latino running to them, not that I would any way. Niners didn't know me, no matter how well they knew the Sons (even if they claimed they didn't). I'd have to run again and keep going until I couldn't go any more. The only other option I had was the church...but that was deep in Mayan territory since some power shift they I hadn't really paid much attention to. Of course, I could always just go with them, but that meant going back to her and I'd sooner put a bullet through my own head.
All that was real at the moment was the roar of the engine below me and the road surface hazy with midday heat. Fighting all better judgement, I found myself taking the road to that little church. It was a blur of a journey with the odd flash of Mayan cuts as I slowed inside town and city boundaries. I didn't know if I had the gas to make it all the way there and I sure as hell didn't have the money to fill up. I was convinced they were still behind me just as the machine started to complian - I was running on fumes and had to lose them. Thing was though, I'd lose myself in these streets. I didn't know them at all.
Ditching the bike, boots and helmet I found myself once again thanking that god of my mother that these were mindless fools following me in the local latino capital. I'd lose them easy enough, but I knew I wouldn't be able to get home easily. I'd have to walk - there was no other way. Dodging and weaving, I didn't dare to stop until I hit a quieter street higher up from where I had been. Glancing back as I slipped into a back alley I spotted them - lily white in a sea of brown. Sighing, I took a moment to regain my breath before slipping out of the alley and wandering through the streets in search of a way back to Charming.
I knew I'd been wandering a long time when the sun started to dip lower, almost blinding me and the shops started to shut up. This had been hopeless. I was stranded in a strange city, with three hells angels trailing me, with not a dime to my name and a bike dumped somewhere. To make the evening far more perfect there was a rumble over head shortly followed by a flash of light and thunder clap. The rain came not long after, slicking down the clothes I had been wearing. If it hadn't been see through before then it was now. Not to mentioned totally ruined. Rain water would stain it for good.
Stepping into the road, not bothering to check, I didn't notice the lights and blaring of the car horn until it was too late. I felt the crunch of glass shattering against skin and bone. There was shouting and the sound of people talking on phones. Rolling to a stop having flown off of the car and back onto the road, I felt hands and an accent I didn't think I'd ever hear again. The voice came wih a hint of leather, tobacco and whiskey. The presence was domineering, but rapidly fading.
"Grey?"
"Da?"
"Aye, feckin eejit whatcha doin in the road? Stay with me girl"
35 years in the states and still as Irish as ever. The touch of those familiar, calloused hands evoked his face from whilst my mother was still around; happy, smiling and so youthful despite what he'd already seen. He'd tuck me in every night and read me a story...provided he wasn't out on run. The sandy brown hair that was forever in a ponytail - a short one, but still a ponytail that I had always loved to play with when I was younger. His Irish white skin that almost glowed in the winters sunlight and inside light. He never tanned, only ever burnt. That was my Da, different but the same man as my father...my father was the bastard who married women who wanted me dead. Despite how much I wanted to see his face and couldn't fight the black. I could hear his voice and wanted to stay with him, but despite how hard I fought I just couldn't do it. Last thing I heard was the break in his voice, his begging for me to stay awake and the rush of worried Spanish cutting into the embrace.
Play-list
Bullet for my Valentine - Road to nowhere
Within Temptation - Our farewell
Hinder - Running in the rain