Title: Jumping

Author: Tu

Rating: Pg 13/R (language)

Disclaimer: Don't own Due South, and I'm broke.

Author's Notes: As usual, this hasn't been betaed. All mistakes are my own. The Introduction of Alex's is the focus of this chapter. For some reason, when writing the restaurant scene the man and woman ended up talking like the Grim Reaper from Billy & Mandy. Reviews are welcome.

Alex skid to a halt and pushed the garbage bin out and slid behind it. She listened as Killington's men called out to each other at the allies opening. None of them had seen her come back here. Alex could only hope that they were too tired to look down the alley too much. A noise off to her left caused Alex to look up. An old man stood in the doorway holding a bag of trash. He looked at Alex, then at the men at the ally's entrance. He walked over to the bin and threw the trash in. He hurried back to the door and entered. Alex noticed as he was shutting the door he left the deadbolt sticking out, causing the door not shut completely. Alex knew he had done this so that if the men came down the alley, she could run through the restaurant. Everyone around here knew that a group of men dressed like THAT meant trouble. And trouble for one person usually meant trouble for everyone on the block.

"You see the kid?" One called out.

"Na, and I'm tired of chasing this damn kid. Lefty should have just put a bullet in her when he had the chance." Another called out.

"A little louder, dumb ass. I don't think all of Chicago heard you."

"Screw you. Let's get out of here."

Alex let out a sigh of relief as the men moved away. For the last four days she had been on the run. Ever since she had heard from the grapevine that James Killington had been arrested. Alex knew coming back to Chicago was the biggest mistake she had made this month. But it wasn't like she could stay in New York. Andrew 'Lefty' Killington had been gunning for her there. After all she was the only witness to just how big the Killington's empire was. Not that it had been her choice. Damn her mother!

Alex slipped in the open door, and locked it behind her. Looking around she realized she had lucked out. The deli she was in was 'unclaimed'. No 'Family' had claimed it as their own. Downside was people who would know who she was were likely to be here. Nobody would be looking for her in here. After all, she wouldn't possible come in here. She slipped into the kitchen. At the sight of her, all the workers suddenly became very interested in the work before them. Alex walked quickly toward the front. A hand darted out and grabbed her arm just as she reached the door.

"Don't wanna go out there, girrlie."

Alex looked over. It was the old man who had left the door open. Alex raised an eyebrow at him in question. He nodded at the window. Alex looked out and about shouted out a curse. It would be just her luck that some of the Underworld's seconds would be out there eating. Alex groaned and backed away from the door. There was no way in hell she was going out there. Not a one of them would bat an eye at turning her in. Alex knew the Killington's had put the word out on her. Damn it all to hell. She needed to get out of her.

"They be leaving in a few minutes. Big ta do over on the Westside," the old man said walking over to the chopping block, "Seems someone is getting to big for their britches over there. Take a seat, girrlie, and let Old Zee get ya something to eat."

Alex slumped on the stool and groaned. She rolled her shoulders and neck to try to get the kinks out of them. Alex jumped right back up as knife slammed into the wood next to her. Spinning, she raised her fist to strike the offender.

"Get out! Ya bring nothen but a heap 'o trouble to me and mine." An old woman said slamming her cane into Alex's leg.

"Ow! Damn it, stop that." Alex said jumping back.

"I knows who ya are girl. Think ya can hide but ya can't. I can smell johnny law and the underworld a mile aways. Ya be the worst kinda trouble, ya be. Stuck between two worlds. Ya mama being a criminal and ya dada being johnny law. Ya ain't no good. Get Out!" The old woman said shaking her cane at Alex.

"Woman, hush. Ya be getten to loud! Them types out there, they be wantin this girrlie's head. Got abigg sack of bills out on her. Damn fools be looking in the wrong place for their answers." Zee said waving his knife at her.

"Don't ya be telling me to hush, you old fool. You be makin nothing but trouble for us, helping this one."

Alex slide behind a steel table, away from the cane. She was a little confused.

"How do you know who I am?" she asked.

"Girrlie, everybody know how you are. That fool boy Killington bein runnin all over town yellin about ya. Sayin ya stole a fortune from him ad the family." Zee said cutting meat, "Him and that rule man of his been telling all who listen about the reward for ya. Seems ya know more than ya should about him and his. "

"God damn it!"

WHACK

"Ow! What the…" Alex said grabbing her head.

"Don't ya be usin the Lord's name like that."

Alex glared at the old woman. Stupid old cow, she thought.

WHACK

"And don't ya be think things like that either. Ms Mandy knows what ya be thinking about her."

"Yes, Mama." Alex said rubbing her head.

Zee laughed and set a sandwich before her.

"Ya best be eating now, girrlie. Your ride 'ill be here in a few minutes. Then ya are gonna get the surprise of your life. But don't ya worry none. Everything 'ill work out in the end. Ya just need to trust." Zee said looking her up and down.

Alex snorted and took a bite. She trusted no one. Everyone was either lying to you, or out to make a buck off of you. Nobody did anything for anybody else unless there was profit in it, or something to be gained. Life had taught her that.

Zee looked over at her. "Ya don't believe me, girrlie, but mark my words. Your da be coming for ya. You and he, girrlie, ya be cut from the same cloth. Just like him, ya won't be likin one of his partners. But the other, ya be thicker then thieves with. The wolf and ya are gonna get along fine. Just remeber, the cold aint always a bad thing." Zee walked off to take out an order.

Alex just stared at his retreating form. She had no idea what the hell he was talking about.

WHACK

"Will you stop that!" Alex said glaring at Ms Mandy.

"Don't ya be cursing in this kitchen! Ya aint nothen but a street rat, Ms Mandy's seen your future, girl. Ya got two roads before ya. You listen to Zee and Ms Mandy and ya be fine. A bit battered and bruised but fine. Ya don't listen to us, and ya be dead!" Ms Mandy said glaring at Alex. "Ya'll be back, soon. Askin Ms Mandy to help ya out. Don't forget to bring me a nice fat chicken. Ya do that, and I'll tell ya what ya want to know."

Alex ate her sandwich and thought about what she had been told.

tbc