Chapter Twelve
Lock didn't go sit back down after the song, she was too pissed, and she went out the back exit to cool off. She leaned on the brink wall, cursing herself for not grabbing her jacket, and rubbed her arms for warmth.
Jackie. . .he's done more than hit you, hasn't he? A lot more. . .
She moved and hung on the fence, letting the links numb her hands and face, still lost in thought. She figured it wouldn't be all that difficult luring Kett into a fight, he was a sadistic fuck and he had a "thing" for her. She smirked, knowing she could use that to get close to him, then threaten him.
"Lock?" Jack whispered from right behind her. "Can I talk to you?"
"Jesus!" she yelped and jumped back, into him.
"No, Jack," he snickered. "Sorry about sneakin' up on you. . . Wow, you're freezing!"
"I like being numb," she smiled, feeling his arms go around her. "What did you wanna talk about, Jackie?"
He pulled her close, putting his coat around the both of them, and rested his head on her shoulder. Lock felt panic wash over her, though he meant to only warm her, the gesture made red flags from her past fly up, and before she knew it, her eyes were shut and she was trembling.
"Lock? Oh, shit! I'm sorry!" he tried to pull back, but for some reason she stopped him.
"No, Jack," she forced her voice to stay even. "It's- it's-I'll be fine. . ."
"Are you sure?" he still held her away a little. "I don't want you to feel trapped. . ."
"Jackie," she held still, feeling his arms go back around her gently, "it's you. . .I know you're- -good."
"I won't hurt you, I swear," he murmured. "Let me know if you get too uncomfortable, I'll back off."
I'm too uncomfortable! Get off me, now! her mind screamed, but she forced herself to stay--how else would she learn?
"What did you wanna talk to me about?" she whispered.
"Will you not tell anyone a thing I'm about to tell you?" he asked quietly.
"I'm your diary," she murmured.
"Okay. . .Kett doesn't just hit me, Lock. . . He. . . .aw, hell! This is harder than I thought!"
"I think I know what you can't say, Jackie. . .Can I tell you something?" she muttered.
"Sure, anything," he snuggled a little closer.
"I know you don't want me to do anything to Kett, but I just can't let him get away from this unscathed. He'll just hunt you and haunt you until someone stands up to him and knocks him off his high horse. . ."
"Bobby and Angel already did that," he sighed. "Obviously it didn't work. . ."
"They don't really know how to knock someone down well enough to keep them down," she smirked. "But I do."
"Bobby does. Believe me, he knows how to knock someone down! But. . .with prison as a consequence. . .he can't do what he normally would. . ." his words warmed her neck and ear. "But if you're sure that you can do something about him and avoid trouble yourself. . ."
"Jackie?"
"I want you to!" he said. "Lock, please, make him hurt like I have! Give him just a fucking taste if you can!" he started to cry on her shoulder.
"Jack," she turned and made eye contact with him. "I'll give him more than just a taste, I promise."
"Lock," he sniffed, "he hurt me really bad this time. . ."
She held him at arms length, by his shoulders, and stared at him. He put his hands over his stomach, his chest, and then his lower back--showing where he had his marks. She remembered the bruises on his abdomen, two distinct shoe prints embedded in his flesh, and refused to think of how the rest of his tortured body looked.
His haunted, innocent hazel eyes gazed at her, drying tears on his face, and she wanted to just scream in agony for him. Everything that was walled up inside her own soul was reflected in those eyes: pain, sorrow, demons, and fear. Lock put her hands to his face, using her thumb to wipe his tears away, and he turned into her palm--Jackie never had a problem looking for comfort, unlike herself. She felt her emotion free itself, tears flooding her vision, and she collapsed back against the fence, putting her hands to her face.
"I'm so sorry, Jackie. . .You've been through so much and I knew about it and did nothing!" she cried.
"Lock," he whispered, pulling her hands from her face and wiping her tears, "don't put the blame on you. You tried to talk to me, I refused to listen, but you're here now--when I need you."
She put her hands on his as he held her face, feeling very nervous- yet trusting- and looked into his gentle eyes. She watched him move closer, one of his hands moving to the back of her neck, and he hesitantly moved in for another kiss. Lips brushed her, stopped for a moment, then brushed again. A legion of butterflies infiltrated her stomach, her hands moved to his face- one slowly ventured into his hair- and colors exploded as she kissed back--very carefully, very scared. Jack smiled, making the contact again, and she felt at ease.
No one's ever kissed me like this before, she realized. It's innocent, gentle. . .the others were forceful, demanding. . .deep and terrifying. . . Not Jack's though. . . I could get used to this. . .she smirked.
"Don't stop on my account," Kett growled.
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Jack pulled back, turning and keeping himself between Lock and Kett. Lock growled as she glared past his shoulder at Kett, the older man just stood and watched them, arms crossed.
"I shoulda fuckin' seen this," Kett muttered, moving toward them. "First that damn song, now this!" he slapped Jack across the face. "You god damned little slut!"
"You touch him again, Kett," Lock growled. "And you'll regret the day your mother ever spread her whore legs to conceive you."
The girl moved from behind Jack, now taking the protector stance in front of him. Kett's eyes lit up, a sick smile on his mouth, and he looked the teen up and down real slow.
"Yeah, just like I said before, Lock," he closed in on them, Lock held her ground. "So fuckin' adorable when you're pissed! It just makes you all the more fuckable, know that?"
Bobby! his mind screamed. Bobby, come help us, please. . .
"Think so?" Lock toyed with him, backing into Jack.
"I know so," he was so close now, inches from her face.
Jack whimpered, closing his eyes, only opening them again. He had to watch, in case something bad happened. Kett braced himself on either side of them, using the fence, and put his face even closer to Lock's. The teen girl was apparently planning on using his own sex drive against him, her smile confirmed Jack's assumptions. She was shaking slightly, but Kett didn't notice, she was touching his side carefully.
"Jackie," he panted, grinning, "you know how to pick 'em! You kiss her neck."
Lock's back tensed up immediately, but she kept her game face on. Jack shook his head, refusing to do such a thing to her. Kett's hand wove into his hair, yanking him forward, and pushing his face into her neck.
"I told you to do something," he barked. "Now, do it!"
"Kett," Lock came to the rescue, being bold and running her hand up his chest. "I don't want Jack to kiss me."
Lock! Be careful! You have no idea what he's capable of! he wanted to tell her.
"Oh?" Kett had caught on to her trick. "Too bad!"
Lock's head snapped to the right as Kett hit her, blood droplets falling to the snow from her mouth. She slowly turned to face him, a growl in her throat, and glared at him. He pulled Jack from behind her, pushing him away, and backed her into the fence.
"Kett! Leave her the fuck alone!" Jack yelled, moving for him.
Kett sucker punched him, stealing his breath, and then nailed him in the face. Blood filled his mouth, he swallowed some, and stumbled back-stunned. Rage showed on Lock's face and she attacked unexpectedly.
She grabbed the man's shirt with both hands, shoving him into the brick wall on the other side, and slammed him against it a couple of times. Kett's green eyes filled with shock at her actions and Jack grinned at him, spitting more blood out. Normally, he never liked violence, but this was revenge.
"I told you!" Lock snapped, holding him to the wall with one arm, the other drew back and released. "To not fucking touch him again!"
She punched Kett hard, letting him go, and he slid down the wall. She grabbed him and set him straight up again, driving her fist into his stomach. The older man doubled over, gasping and Lock shoved him straight up again.
That was me two nights ago. . .Jack remembered. Except I was pleading for him to stop. . .Don't stop, Lock. . .not yet. . .
The teen brought her knee between his legs, he let out a strangled noise, and she nailed him in the face. Kett fell to the snow covered ground, spitting blood, and tried to crawl away. Lock was on him, just like he had been on Jackie when he kicked the shit out of his ribs and back, and her combat boot nailed him in the thigh.
"Where the fuck do you think you're goin'?" she barked.
"Stop," Kett whined, "Please. . ."
"Jackie?" she asked, putting her foot on his hip, pinning him to the ground. "Did Kett here ever stop the first time you begged?"
"No, never the first time. . . It was usually only after his arms, legs, or dick got tired out. . ."
"Good to know," she said, looking down. "There's your answer."
She rolled Kett on his back, using one foot, and walked a slow circle around him. Her intimidating him was doing more than if she were to actually hit him, and she drew it out. Kett muttered something Jack couldn't hear, but it must have pissed off Lock. She drop kicked him in the ribs, he curled and screamed as they surely broke or at least cracked, and she circled.
"You fucking bitch!" he hissed.
"You're forgetting something, Kett," she snapped, landing a hard kick to his back. "That's 'Fucking Psychotic Bitch' to you!"
"Lock, he's had his taste," Jack felt sick. "Please. . ."
She rolled Kett again, this time driving the heel of her boot into his shoulder, and leaned down. She held eyes with him, jaw clenching, and she spoke.
"Jack never wants to see you again," she growled. "It's over between you two, do you understand?"
"He loves me," Kett grinned.
Lock's boot went to his throat and he choked as she pressed down.
"Pretty hard to love a dead man, Kett," she said calmly. "Now, if I find that you speak to Jackie, try to see him, or touch him ever again--you will be that dead man. . .And they will never find your remains, is that clear?"
"Y-y-yes!" he gasped.
"Good," Lock let him go, "we're done here."
Bobby couldn't have done it better! Jack thought as he followed her inside. Oh shit. . .Bobby. . .
"I'll explain it to Bobby," Lock read his mind.
"Lock," he whispered, "thank you."
"Are you all right?" she looked at his face, them glanced to his stomach. "I want to check those when we get home. . ."
"I'm fine," he smiled. "And I figured you would."
She grinned a little, looking exhausted, and he slipped his hand into hers. She jumped, looked down, then to his face, and laced their fingers together. He tingled, smiled, and bit his lip.
Is this really happening? To me of all people?
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"Jesus Christ!" Bobby was astounded. "Don't tell me you two got into it!"
"No, Bobby," Jack snickered, sitting down. "Lock will explain. . ."
Lock sat on the bench next to Jack, touching her split lip and then looked at the blood on her fingers. She smirked and licked the blood off, she leaned on her elbows, resting them on the table, and looked at Bobby.
"So, Stray," Bobby leaned forward as well. "What the hell went down?"
"Well," she sighed, "if Kett ever drags himself up from the snow, he'll never hurt Jackie again."
"Gotta taste of his own medicine, huh?" Bobby grinned proudly. "Good job, Stray!"
"He only got a dose. . .I don't think he liked it," she muttered.
Jackie sensed that Lock knew that Kett was probably going to put all his focus on her now. She'd succeeded in saving him from his insane ex, but she'd sacrificed herself to do so.
He won't leave her alone, not now. . .not ever. . .She'll be the one who's hunted and haunted by him now. . .I shouldn't have let her do that. . .Jack thought staring at her.
He leaned back against the cushioned bench, but quickly sat forward. He was more battered than he thought, his back throbbed all over, and his ribs ached. He wondered how he'd be able to sleep, if his body was this sensitive.
"Cracker Jack?" Bobby looked at him. "How bad is it?"
"Pretty bad, Bobby," he whispered. "He. . .doesn't just beat me. . . Don't tell Ma, please. . .or anyone else. . .please."
"Shit, Jackie. . ." he muttered.
"I know. . .just like when I was little . . ."
"Not anymore, Jack," Lock said, looking into his soul with ghost eyes.
He looked at the table, tears in his eyes, and slowly let his hand move from his lap to her leg. He gently touched her knee, asking for her hand. She slyly brought her hands from the table, rubbing her thighs, then let him lace their fingers together lightly, acting as if they weren't holding hands under the table. Bobby gave him a knowing look, snickering a little, and Jack begged him with his eyes to not make a big deal of this. His older brother gave a slight nod, lighting a cigarette, and handed it to Jack.
"Thanks," he mumbled, taking it with his left (unoccupied) hand.
"Yup," Bobby said around lighting another smoke.
They sat in silence for a while, Lock listening to the music as well as Jack, and Bobby drinking a Coke. Jack was surprised that Bobby only had one beer, but remembered that he had to drive-and Lock didn't like it when he drank. Jack was tingling from head to toe, Lock's thumb was absently rubbing over his hand, and occasionally her fingers moved to the beat of the music.
We're not dating. he mulled things over. So, this is just innocent flirting. . .Wow, it's been a long time since I've had that! I'm gonna take this slow. . .cherish every single second with her and let her get more comfortable with me. . .
"Holy hell," Bobby said. "Stray, I'm not sure our definition of 'taste' is the same."
Lock turned and saw Kett moving slowly to the door, his hand to his stomach and a grimace on his face. He saw them, Bobby raised his glass with a smile and nod. Lock made eye contact with him, challenging him to think about coming over, and smirked. Kett looked away, hitting the door, and leaving.
"I said 'dose', Bobby," Lock looked at him. "But I never specified the size of the dose."
"I'd say," Bobby grinned. "We should prolly get home soon. . .Jack needs rest. . .so do you."
"Yeah, yeah," she smiled.
Jack hated having to let go of her hand, already missing the feel of her thumb caressing his skin, but let it go anyway. He stood, Bobby already on his way to the door, and held Lock's coat up for her. She smirked, slipping into it, and he quickly and softly pressed his lips to her temple. She zipped up the leather coat, stuffing her hands into the pockets, and gave him a gentle warning look.
Oops. . .he thought. Too soon. . .Slow down, Jackie boy!