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Warning: Language
For Her Sake
Chapter 16 – Two Days
Just Reminds Me
Le Motel, late that night
Cigar smoke and the hint of pizza, the suggestion of beer, thickened the air in the tackily decorated hotel room. From the radio on the nightstand, Dean Martin sang rapturously about an evening in Rome. Normally, Sammy would be humming along, even singing quietly, though his voice hardly matched Dino's. Tonight, even Dino's dulcet tones hardly reached him. He grimaced at the cards in his hand, then peered over them, across the table at his partner. "So, Carl. We gonna tell Jack?"
Carl frowned, his eyes fixated on his own cards. "Tell Jack what?"
"That we ain't the ones who beat up his daughter."
Carl rolled his eyes and discarded two cards. "Two." Sammy handed him another pair, and he studied them carefully. "Why would we tell him? The job was done, even if it wasn't done by us. He don't need to know. He thinks we did what he wanted, and we'll get our money. Everyone wins."
Sammy shook his head and looked away, right into the orange and yellow patterned curtains. He wanted to open them, to be able to stare out at the dark night, but Carl wouldn't hear of it. He'd tried once before. It didn't matter, tonight, though, because instead of the ugliness, he saw that little girl, Jack's daughter. Jackie. Her face all battered and bruised, bundled in a hospital bed while her father talked so condescendingly to her. He saw the Hyde kid, his face not damaged but twisted with torture, pacing back and forth, pushing around a few people Sammy supposed must be his friends. He heard Jackie's trembling voice, so much like a little girls.
So much like his little girl's voice had sounded so long ago.
His stomach hurt.
He took a resolute breath and tossed his cards down. "I ain't gonna have nothing to do with killing that girl if it comes down to it."
Carl looked up, his lips curling into a sneer. "What, you got some sort of crush on her or something?" He gestured to Sammy's cards. "Pick 'em up. Unless you're gonna fold."
Sammy didn't look at his partner. Sort of friend, in an odd sort of way. "I fold. And I ain't got a crush on her." He looked down. His daughter would have been just as pretty as Jackie. Would have had the same dark hair. Around the same age. Maybe they'd have been friends. "She just reminds me of my little girl, that's all."
Carl stared at Sammy. "You have a daughter?" There was a lot he obviously didn't know about this guy, though they'd been working together for about seven years.
Sammy nodded, shrugging a shoulder. "Yeah. Me and her mom divorced when she was little." He closed his eyes. Even now, it was hell to talk about it. "She got hit by a car ten years ago. Drunk bitch ran my baby over. Killed her." He smiled bitterly and pushed a card around the table. "Funny thing, the bitch paid my wife off. I think she still does. Didn't go to jail or nothing. I never even knew who she was, the ex won't tell me." He looked up, and Carl was looking at him. He forced a grin. He knew Carl had no idea what to say. "Long time ago, though. I just ain't gonna hurt that little girl."
Carl sighed. "Well," he said, his normally harsh voice softening. He felt sympathy for the big lug across from him. He wasn't singing along with the radio, wasn't drinking, wasn't eating. All very odd. It must really be getting to him. "Maybe it won't come to that."
Sammy nodded and gathered the cards. It would come to that. He'd seen Jackie and the Hyde kid. And he knew Jack. Ruthless bastard. "Lets play another hand."
A Surprise For You
Jackie's apartment
It wasn't the most comfortable position for Hyde, but it was the only way he could hold Jackie without her ribs bothering her. Sure, if he fell asleep, he'd have to rest his head against the hard headboard, but he wasn't going to sleep. No way in hell. And so he gently traced circles on her shoulders. He was sitting up, his back against the headboard and his legs spread wide under the blankets, and Jackie lay in between, her head on his thigh. She'd been quiet since they'd gotten into bed, but she wasn't sleeping. Her breathing wasn't steady. He took a breath. "Hey, kitten?"
Funny how it was so easy to call her that. The first time he'd called her that had been a mistake. A slip of the tongue. But of course, she'd latched on to it.
Maybe it wasn't so bad.
Jackie opened her eyes. She wanted to sleep, was so damn tired, yet she couldn't. She gripped her boyfriend's knees. "Yeah, Puddin' Pop?"
Hyde opened, then closed his mouth. He wanted to ask her what he knew the police already had. If she remembered anything. If she could describe the bastard who'd done this to her. He closed his eyes. She didn't. He knew that. She'd told him on the way home, started crying and shaking. When he'd parked the Camino, he'd gotten out of the car and walked around to open her door. By the time she got there, she was screaming. She was so scared.
And she was still shaking.
He crossed his right arm over her upper chest, she snuggled deeper into him.
"Steven?"
He cleared his throat. Had to say something. Anything. "I…uh…it's just that I…I have a surprise for you." What the hell? No he didn't. Where had that come from? "Tomorrow night." Good. Buy him a little time. Damn it, what in the hell had he done? And he couldn't take it back. Not now. Not after she…
He had to work hard to keep the vomit down.
"A surprise? Really?"
It was almost, almost but not quite, a typical Jackie-squeal, and he smiled faintly. He'd have to think of something. Something good. His eyes closed. Something really good.
He owed her.
Two days.
"Yay! Oh, do I get to dress up? Because if I do, I need to go shopping."
He chuckled. She was still Jackie. Bruised. Shaken. Scared, and clinging to him like she would a life preserver in the middle of the ocean. Even so, she was excited about dressing up, And who was he to deny her that, when her pain was his fault?
He closed his eyes. He owed her one night, even if it went against everything he believed in. One night she'd always have.
"Yep, you better dress up."
She clapped her hands and he tried to smile.
Maybe it wouldn't be so bad.
Thanks, Man
The next morning
"Is she still sleeping?"
Hyde nodded as he and Forman sat on Jackie and Fez's couch. The tv wasn't on, radio wasn't on, it was quiet. "So…why didn't Donna come?"
Eric rolled his eyes. "Something about needing to go to karate class. Work off some anger or something." He smiled crookedly, spoke with a bit uncertainty. "I know I'm not Jackie's first choice in a babysitter, but I figured she'd rather me than be alone."
Hyde nodded, looking down at his feet. Remembering the pure panic in her eyes when he'd helped her out of the Camino. Remembering how he'd heard her screaming his name just a few hours ago when he'd taken a shower. Ironic. He'd told everyone not to leave her alone so she wouldn't get hurt. They did, she did, but it was just the same. He couldn't leave her alone. She couldn't be alone. "Uh…well, I hope you don't mind, but you're gonna have to take Jackie shopping."
Eric shrugged. "Eh. It's not so bad. She'll probably just make me hold her purse and give me a Sugar Daddy again." He elbowed Hyde, wondering if there was anything he could say or do that would make this hell any easier for his friend. "I've had worse days."
Hyde stood up, giving Forman a slight grin. "She wants to go dress shopping."
Eric smirked. "Great. She'll probably wanna hold the dress up to me, huh?"
"Yep." Hyde glanced back at the open door to Jackie's bedroom. "All right, I told her I was going to work, but if she freaks out…just…"
Eric stood up. "Don't worry, man. I got it."
Hyde stared at Forman. For years, he'd spent the majority of his time with him. In his house, at school, in the Vista Cruiser. Aside from the hellacious year he'd been away, Forman had always been there. Hyde's stomach twisted with some sort of gratitude. "Thanks, man," he said quietly, meaning so much more than just for watching his chick. Of course, he'd never tell Forman what he really meant.
Though he should. Especially now.
Two days.
"Sure, Hyde. As long as you know that if she kicks me, I'm kicking back."
Hyde chuckled. "Yeah, but don't forget, she's got all those pointy shoes. And they can do some serious damage."
Eric groaned and hung his head. "I'm in for it, aren't I?"
Hyde nodded and reached in his pocket for his keys. "Pretty much, yep!" He began to move past Forman, then stopped.
Two days.
He stopped, and in a moment of extreme weakness, pulled his best friend into a hug. "Thanks, man."
Eric's eyes widened, but he returned the hug. "Sure, Hyde." Oddly, he wanted to say a lot more, that he'd always be there. He'd do whatever he could, whenever he needed to. The words didn't come, but somehow, he thought Hyde probably knew.
A Few More Days
Later that day, the alley behind the Hub
Mackey smiled at Hyde, nodding his approval. "I'm glad you've changed your mind, Hyde. Real glad."
Hyde shifted on his feet, struggling to control the anger in his gut. "Yeah, well, this is all conditional. You never hurt Jackie again, you got it?"
Mackey shrugged. "Hey, man, I told you, I never said I had anything to do with that." He raised an eyebrow. "How's she doing?"
Hyde shook his head. "Just give me the stuff, asshole." He wanted to kill this bastard. Beat him up so that he looked ten times as bad as Jackie. Mackey held out a package wrapped in plain brown paper, and Hyde took it. Only a few more days of this crap.
Two days.
As he left the alley and headed back to his car, hoping he could pawn this stuff on just a few people, he wondered how Jackie was doing. If she was okay. And he wondered just what in the hell he was going to do for her tomorrow night.
He started up the engine and pulled out of the parking lot.
He was obviously distracted, because instead of heading for the outskirts of town, he ended up at home. He pulled in to park, and noticed Mrs. Forman sitting on the porch, a glass of wine in one hand, one of her smutty books in the other. He smiled. His mom.
His eyes closed. He had to tell her. Had to. He couldn't let her think…
He had to tell her. It wouldn't be right not to.
And maybe she'd have some ideas on what he could do for Jackie.
Later
An hour later
Eric pulled the Vista Cruiser into his parent's driveway, and looked over at Jackie. She was wiping away tears from her bruised cheek, her cut lower lip trembling. She looked tiny, yet so old. Worn. Scared. It hadn't been a bad day; in fact, she'd been almost perky when they first arrived at the mall. Now…she was a mess. He cleared his throat. "Hey, we're here." She probably knew that, after all, her eyes worked even though one was still all swollen.
Jackie turned to Eric, unable to muster the glare she so wanted to. Everything was so different and cold and out of control. No matter how many deep breaths she took, it didn't help. She lifted a finger to point at him, but when she noticed how her hand was shaking, dropped it into her lap. "Don't tell Steven."
Eric frowned. "Don't tell him that you panicked and started screaming in the middle of Halverson's?" Her face twisted, she looked down into her lap, and he cringed. Damn it, why was he being sarcastic to her? It wasn't her fault. It was his. "Hey. I'm sorry, Jackie. It was my fault. I shouldn't have wandered off." He hesitantly reached out and touched her hand that rested on her knee. "I shouldn't have left you alone."
Jackie smiled weakly. He shouldn't have. But he had, and when she'd come out of the dressing room, she'd bumped into a man. The man grabbed her shoulders, and all she could do was scream. Her only defense against another attack. "It's okay, Eric," she whispered, her throat ragged from her crying. "I just…I know I'm being really stupid about this whole thing…"
"No. You're not. Jackie, you were attacked. You have the right to be freaked out."
She couldn't stop the tears, much as she wanted to. Her head dropped. "I just want Steven!" she mumbled into her hands. He kept her safe. At least with him, she wasn't scared of every shadow, every stranger, every dark corner.
Eric sighed, but smiled when he noticed Steven on the porch with his mom. "He's on the porch, Jackie. He's right over there." He pointed through the passenger's side window.
She lifted up, looked, and saw her Steven. Without bothering to fix her make up, streaked, she was sure, or straighten her rumpled clothing, or smooth her hair, she shot out of the car and stumbled to the porch. "Steven!"
All she could think of was being in his arms.
Hyde stood up, and immediately his arms were full of Jackie. He frowned. She was shaking again, big time. He hesitated, didn't want to hurt her ribs by holding her too tight, but she pressed herself so close to him, her fingers digging into his flesh as if begging for more from him. He tightened his arms around her and watched over her shoulder as Eric approached. He gave him a questioning look.
Eric shook his head. "Later," he mouthed. Of course he'd tell Hyde. Hyde would want to know.
And more importantly, Jackie needed Hyde to know, even if she thought she didn't.
Two More Days
The Burkhart Mansion
Sammy didn't know he was here, didn't know he was going to ask Jack for a favor. Hell, Carl thought. Jack owed him. Owed both of them. Jack had access to all sorts of things and people. It wouldn't be hard for him to find out just who the bitch was who'd killed Sammy's daughter. Carl walked down the long hallway towards Jack's office. He'd charmed the maid into letting him in, though she'd told him Jack couldn't be disturbed. Nonsense. Jack would make time for him.
As he reached the door, he noticed it was open, and heard Jack's voice. It was raised and tense, and Carl hesitated. Probably should wait until this was done.
Of course, he couldn't help but listen.
"Oh, and you're doing such a stellar job as a parent, right, Pamela? Is that why you can't even come home after your only daughter is attacked and nearly killed."
Carl smiled wryly. He knew how much Jack hated his ex-wife. Though he found it rather ironic that Jack would use that against Pam. Considering he'd actually wanted his daughter attacked.
"And you know why it happened, don't you? Because of you. You and your damned drinking."
Carl furrowed his brow. What the hell was Jack talking about?
"You just had to go out that afternoon. You just had to drive yourself. And you just had to hit that little girl!"
Carl's eyes widened. "No," he whispered. No. No. It couldn't be. Couldn't be. Couldn't possibly be.
"And because of you, I've got to pay that bitch every month. Because of you, I've had to keep him on the payroll. Guess what, Pam? He found out that you were the one who killed his daughter. And guess what? He and his idiot partner attacked your daughter. My daughter. This is all your fault, woman! And what am I supposed to do? I can't fire him, he'll ruin me."
Carl stumbled away from the door, dizzy with anger, dizzy with confusion. Jack was lying. Yeah, he thought he and Sammy had attacked that girl, but not for those reasons. Sammy had no idea…Jack's wife killed his daughter… Jack's wife…Sammy's daughter…
He stood there, a few feet from the door, the sounds and sites around him disappearing as his mind whirled.
"Carl. What in the hell are you doing here?"
Carl looked up, dazed, at his boss. "I…I just wanted to…"
"It doesn't matter." Jack waved his hand dismissively. "I was coming to see you, anyway."
The man seemed flustered, but his eyes were steely cold, and that made Carl nervous.
"In two days, this whole thing will be over. My problem…" Jack rolled his eyes. "Will be fixed. For good." A sinister smile came to his lips.
Carl's stomach clenched.
"After that, I won't be needing your services any longer. Nor will I be needing Sammy's, so if you'll be good enough to pass the message along to him."
Carl stared at Jack, his mouth agape, as the man began to turn. "Wait a damn second! You owe us money, Jack, and if you think we're gonna just…"
"Don't be stupid, Carl." Jack again looked at him with cold, empty eyes. "I know you didn't do the job I gave you to do. So, no. I don't owe you anything." He pointed at Carl. "Remember that."
As he left, Carl stood there. Getting mad. Then angry. Then furious. Heat boiled in his stomach, stirring him to a rage. "Oh, yes, you do, you bastard," he said softly after Jack's office door slammed closed.
He turned and stalked a retreat.
Jack Burkhart would have to pay.
