As Roger approached the brownstone, Collins stood a couple of door down looking up at him. He was nervous for him. Sure he was big, but he was hardly intimidating. He didn't know what Roger could be thinking, but their friendship had been through so much that he trusted his judgment and had his back no matter what. Roger gave him a nervous look before knocking on the door. After 30 seconds, a large italian man answered the door. "Is he here?" Roger asked looking up at him.
"Hey prety boy. You know, you and your wife are making this way too easy on us." the italian man smiled opening the door wider for him.
"Listen gumbah, I really need to talk to him and I don't have time or patience for your Michael Corleone act." Roger said looking up at him as he entered the brownstone. When the italian guy closed the door, Collins got a bad feeling in his stomach. He moved closer to the brownstone and listened carefully for signs that Roger needed back up.
"Pretty boy. I guess you and your wife don't communicate very much. She didn't tell you I want you dead. Pity really. Looked like she loved you very much." Jake smiled coming down the stairs.
"She told me. I came here to make a little proposal to you. One that will benefit the both of us." Roger said looking up at him shoving his hands into his leather jacket.
"You see, I'm not looking to benefit anyone but myself. That's just the kind of guy I am. Call me crazy." he smiled lifting a cigar to his lips.
"You're gonna want to hear me out before you make any rash decisions." Roger said looking over at him taking out the tape recorder.
"Did wifey tape record me? See, that's one of the things I love about her. She's incredibly resourceful." he laughed lifting the cigar to his lips again.
"Yeah, she's a real smart lady. She got you on this tape making threats that would make your newly obtained freedom short lived. I'm proposing that you leave us alone and you get to stay a free man. It's that simple." Roger said holding the tape player up higher in his hands.
"What makes you think I'm not gonna kill you right now and make it seem like you just simply left her?" he asked looking over at him before pouring himself a drink.
"Because you know how smart Fee is. You know as well as I do that she wouldn't let me come here without police protection. They're outside right now. If I don't come out, they're gonna be swarming this place." he bluffed looking over at him confidently.
"Let you? You're not whipped, are you pretty boy?" he asked looking over at him.
"It's not whipped, it's called being in a relationship. See, had you known that before, you wouldn't have lost her. Oh, that and your little criminal enterprise." he said looking over at him.
"So what are you proposing exactly?" Jake asked looking up at him.
"You leave us alone, this tape never sees the light of day. You get to stay a free man." he said looking over at him.
"You really love her, don't you? I mean you must since you came here risking never walking out of here alive." Jake asked looking over at him.
"She's my life." he said looking up at him.
"You're hers too. I could tell. I've never seen her so worked up over anything before." he said looking over at him.
"Yeah well, she doesn't take kindly to people threatening her family. It's kind of a pet peeve of hers." he said looking up at him.
"Fair enough. Tell Fiona she doesn't have to keep looking over her shoulder. I'll leave her alone." he said setting the cigar down in the ashtray.
"You should quit those things. They'll kill ya." Roger told him starting to leave the brownstone.
"Roger." Jake called out looking up at him.
"Yeah?" he asked turning to look at him.
"Keep taking care of her, or we're gonna have problems." he said looking over at him cracking a smile.
"She's my family Jake. Her and our son are all that matter to me." he smiled before leaving the loft.
"Boss, do you want me to..." the itallian man asked looking over at him.
"No, leave him alone. From this moment on he's off limits." Jake smiled going back up the stairs.
"Rog, you're alive." Collins called out as Roger walked down the stairs.
"Was there any doubt?" he laughed looking down at him.
"So what did he say?" Collins asked curiously.
"He's gonna leave us alone." he said walking down the street.
"Just like that? Are you sure this is for real?" he asked looking over at him.
"You always said I could charm anyone into anything. He's a reasonable business man. It's the smart thing to do." he said smiling over at him.
"Fee is gonna be skeptical. You know she's not gonna believe that it's actually over." he said looking over at him.
"Don't worry. It's over." he smiled as they went home to the loft.
"How do you know he's telling the truth? He lies for a living." Fiona yelled pacing around the bedroom.
"Trust me he's telling the truth. I can tell. I told you he would know a good deal when he heard one." he said looking over at her smiling.
"I don't know if I trust him." she said looking over at him.
"Do you trust me?" he asked getting up to go to her.
"Of course I trust you. Roger, I trust you with my life." she smiled looking up at him.
"So trust me on this. It's over. Jake and I had a talk. Man to man. He's done playing games." he smiled reaching out for her.
"I hope you're right." she said leaning in to hold him in her arms.
"I am Fee. We're done looking over our shoulders." he smiled leaning down to kiss her head.
"So Babygirl, what are you gonna do now without the Godfather chasing after you?" Collins asked smiling up at her as they sat in the Life Cafe.
"I don't know. I guess since I'm done running, I don't need to stay here in bohemia anymore." she laughed looking up at Roger who was taken off guard.
"I'll give you, you don't have to stay in bohemia anymore." he laughed reaching out to hold her in his arms.
"I was thinking maybe me and Roger can start a band. He's been wanting me to sing with him." she laughed looking over at him.
"You're gonna sing? That's great Fee." Mark smiled looking over at her as Caleb slept in his carriage.
"That and get my degree. Finally." she smiled looking up at him.
"Good for you Fee. You've been trying to get that damn degree for what seems like forever." Maureen smiled looking over at her.
"I know. It's been a long road, but I'm finally gonna do it." she smiled looking up at Roger.
"Congratulations Baby." Roger smiled leaning down to kiss her head.
"I have you to thank for it. You not only protected me when I needed it, but you got me my freedom back. I don't have to worry about Jake coming after me or hurting you. You've really been there when I needed you. Through all of this." she smiled looking up at him.
"Well I love you Fee. I'll do anything for you." he smiled caressing her face with his thumbs.
"I love you too Roger." she smiled leaning up to kiss him as they continued to celebrate and hang out with their friends.
A/N: This is the end of Gimme Shelter. I hope you liked it. I look forward to your review on this and my other stories.