This week's update! Woot!
Be about two weeks before I update again, sorry.
Vacation calls.
Enjoy.
After a truly restless night, Ezra eased himself out of Beth's hold while there still wasn't a hint of sunlight. Near four-thirty that morning. He knew she'd probably be upset but he needed to do something and the only thing he could think of might upset her more. He needed to pay a visit to a woman with whom he had a history.
He was at the town house before five and ringing the doorbell. He didn't care that she'd be pissed because he had the perfect excuse. The perfect reason to wake her up at such an insane hour.
The door opened a few seconds later, almost surprising him with the punctuality. "Ezra." She managed a smile for him. He hadn't talked to Lily Matthews much since they stopped seeing each other and that smile might not have been the best of signs. "Had a feeling I'd be seeing you."
"Why am I not surprised." he muttered, "Can I come in?"
"Yep. " She nodded, standing aside for him to come in. She hugged her robe around her to keep the cold out and shut the door once he passed.
"You never react normal." he pointed out.
"And you still expect me to." she said, moving to sit on her couch.
"Sometimes." he muttered, following her.
"And we both know this isn't a social call." Lily said, hugging a large pillow to her chest. "So please continue."
"No, I need help." He said more quietly, knowing he could communicate with her using only a few words.
She stared at him with a frown. "Cris?"
He nodded, "I need to know if he's safe."
Lily leaned back, hugging the pillow closer. "He's...content." she said after a considerable pause. "I couldn't call it safe. But he's relaxed, and worried over you."
"Idiot. She drugged him, he's reacting okay to that?" Ezra asked before adding quickly, "Can you tell that?"
"I can tell when he's aware of it. But what I'm feeling is more like his withdrawal pains. He's happy to be where he is." Lily said, rubbing the back of her head tiredly. "With a woman, I think. She's a safe place for him."
"How can she be safe." Ezra muttered, "He's never been this wrong about someone before. I don't understand."
Lily shot him a look. "I don't know about that. Cris listens to the world too closely to be wrong. Can you say the same?"
"No." Ezra muttered. "But Beth was there. Its not like there's anything to guess at."
She was quiet for a moment before a deeper frown set in. "Did Cris ever use her name?"
"He wasn't around her very long." Ezra shook his head, "You know him. Some things take a while."
"He called her a name, it just wasn't her given name." Lily muttered, leaning back to look up at the ceiling.
"Yeah, he calls her 'her' and 'you'." he shrugged, "Which he did to you for a month."
"He called her a name, not a pronoun." Lily sighed. "But he sensitive to your feelings. As always. He never did it around you."
"I don't know what you're talking about now." Ezra said, mimicking her sigh.
"Witch." she said simply. "He was terrified before and not so much now."
"That's...not possible. He wouldn't have agreed to stay with her." Ezra raised an eyebrow.
Lily shrugged. "Well he did. He did and he was scared but he's used to being scared. Now someone he trusts took him away and is for the moment, keeping him in a relaxing place. Not safe exactly, but nowhere is really safe, is it?"
"You're twisting shit again, aren't you?" he said in an accusing tone.
"I'm psychic Ezra. I say it how I see it. I don't turn a blind eye to what I see. If its not about Cris then you ignore it." Lily said in a rush before sighing her stress away. "He thinks of your 'current girl' as a witch."
"And you've twisted shit before, many times in fact, when women were involved. Didn't say you made it up, I said you twisted it." Ezra crossed his arms.
"You take it how you want." Lily said instead. "When was the last time you saw Cris? Middle of the night wasn't it?"
"Yeah." Ezra sighed.
"And how was he?" she pressed.
"He was fine, tired because it was the middle of the damn night but fine."
"Cristof. Who hates sleep. The Cristof I know would have jumped up, thrilled to see his little brother. Not fallen asleep on him." Lily frowned. "Didn't that seem odd to you?"
"No. Even he crashes after days of not sleeping." Ezra said.
"Why did you go over there in the middle of the night?" she asked tiredly.
"I got a feeling." he shrugged, "It wasn't even accurate."
"It wasn't accurate or you brushed it off as nothing." Lily accused him now. "You always do that! Even with as many times as your senses have helped you and saved you. You leave it as you find it. You don't dig deep you don't even scratch the surface. He needed you and you ignored it."
"I did not ignore anything!" he snapped, "I went, I looked into it and there was nothing wrong. You have no fucking idea what it's like to have impressions. You see shit clear as day and you think it's as easy for everyone. It's not Lily. It's harder for most of us especially when sometimes I am wrong. Sometimes my dreams are just dreams. Sometimes I'm just having an anxious fucking day and I misinterpret that. It happens Lily and I can't jump the gun and accuse people of murder just because I have a bad feeling that may or may not mean something. Get off my ass."
"You came to me." She snapped back. "So you'll listen to what I have to say or kiss your chances of finding Cris goodbye."
"How about you just tell me how to find him and keep him safe?"
"Keeping him safe is something I'm gonna need to think about for a while." she admitted after a pause. "I could find him if I needed to. Also might take a while. But frankly, you're in no fit state to do that."
"Excuse me?" Ezra frowned hard.
Lily shook her head. "The woman he's with is good to him. You're new chick is not. I'm not gonna let you go get him just to start the cycle over."
"You have lost your damn mind. He is my brother, I wouldn't put him in a bad situation and I at least deserve to hear this from him if its true because you've already proven I can't trust you." Ezra glowered.
"You're so ready to think he's the one that's wrong. He terrified for you, Ezra. He'd brave whatever she put him through if it meant keeping you safe." Lily murmured.
"And if he says that then I'll kill her, but until then I have no intention of believing you." Ezra said.
"So you'll just go back and continued feeding her information about not only yourself but your brother? Thought you were smarter then that." she said.
"I haven't told her shit, stop being a bitch. I want to find my brother, damn it." Ezra snapped again frustratedly.
"And I'm gonna need more time. Cris doesn't know where he is. He doesn't care." Lily said. "Don't cop an attitude with me. I'm trying to keep you from being sold to the highest bidder like your brother. You're only making matters worse for yourself."
"You underestimate my ability to not be overcome by a woman. Sold to the highest bidder. I'm not weak or stupid enough for that. I have an attitude with you because I don't trust you and you make it worse by refusing to help me find by brother until I breakup with my not even girlfriend. I want my brother back." Ezra said, barley biting back his anger.
"Gonna hit you, Ezra. How dare you think I would keep Cris in danger to spite you. I'm not telling you how to find him yet because I'm still working that out. This isn't about us." Lily glared. "And your girlfriend is a bitch who doesn't even know why she was assigned to woo you. I wasn't gonna be mean enough to say it like that, but you're pissing me off. You don't wanna believe me? I don't give a shit. But don't come crying to me when you get a needle to the ass to drug you up."
"A needle comes at me someone's getting a fist in the face, you know I don't play that." Ezra sighed, "I'd be too ticked off to be upset. You said yourself he's not 'safe' safe."
Lily nodded slowly, curling up on the couch. "Not safe but also not immediately threatened. This woman...she's fuzzy, but she's keeping him a secrete."
"Alright." he muttered.
"I'm working in it." She said softly, understanding his pain. "I know you and I have a thing but Cris isn't the one that's gonna pay for that."
"I hoped you'd see it that way." Ezra muttered
"And I trust you might consider this a safe house for you. I don't imaged you talked about your strange ex to your current girlfriends." she said. "Just keep in mind you both would be safe here and I could see things coming if that were to change."
"I'll be fine but.. Cris could use someone." he nodded
"You could use someone too, babe." she sighed. "But I know I'm not that person for you."
"It's not about it not being you, it's about me being okay. I can take care of myself that's all." he said more softly.
"Ezra, I'll be the first to tell you that you're a lot more independent then Cris or even me. Cris has so many abilities that well...I'd be surprised if he was normal. I don't mean to say you can't take care of yourself, I just mean that everyone needs help sometimes." Lily said softly.
"Which is what brings me here. This is what I can't do and I'll own up to it if I can't do something." he muttered.
She nodded slowly. "Sometimes things gotta get worse before they get better, Ezra." she said, saying almost exactly what Cristof had before.
"Why? We shortcut it out all the time." he pointed out.
"Sometimes to get the desired results you need to go through some shit." she shrugged.
"He's been through enough." Ezra ran his hand through his hair.
Lily nodded, agreeing with that. "He knew that at least some of this would happen. I don't know why he really decided to go through it all."
"I'm going to yell at him." Ezra mused.
"Probably." She nodded. "He's still worrying for you now. Something's scaring him for you. I won't comment on it again."
"Yeah." Ezra sighed, "I should go. Just in case she isn't the devil incarnate. Kinda snuck out."
"Have it your way." Lily muttered before looking up at him. "Be careful."
"Always am." he stood, "Thank you for trying. Good to know he's safe at least. Call me if you find out something please?"
"Course." she said softly, watching sadly as he walked out.
Cristof sat on the floor as he ate the lunch Adia had made him. She'd worked a morning shift so she'd been back in time to cook for him. The withdrawal pains were bearable and he was able to eat again. It still didn't keep him from worrying over his little brother but at the moment, no one but Adia knew where he was.
Besides that, the stay with Adia was better than he'd felt in years. She made him food that went down easy and didn't hurt even the first day. She seemed to like company as much as he did so he didn't have to worry about being alone and she even peaked in on him occasionally at night like she used to at the hospital. The times she found him awake she would even sit with him. Adia made him feel at home, something he hadn't had since he was little.
"Dishes done and the rest of the house can wait." She mused as she came into the room with a plate of her own.
"Your house is nice. I like it a lot." Cristof said, looking out the window rather then the TV he had muted.
"You must have a slob for a brother." she laughed, sitting in the recliner next to him. The room was small so everything was positioned close together, he liked that about it too.
He shrugged, neither denying or confirming it. "I like cozy."
"Well I guess it is that at least." she smiled, taking a bite of her sandwich as she noted his distant expression, "You can go out when you're feeling better. Best time to catch pneumonia is when you're already weak from withdrawal. I've done it."
Cristof turned to smile at her. "Yes. I know. I will wait for Ezra anyway. It's still too cold and he's worried enough."
"If you want." she nodded.
He nodded. "Yes. I will wait. It's better that way. Plus, I do not want Adia put out with any trouble. I bring trouble."
"You're fine. Really Cris." Adia said softly.
"No lying Adia. No lying. They are impatient and rude. Adia's work is no fun lately. Grumpy doctors and groggy patients." Cristof said, sipping from his drink.
"Work isn't supposed to be fun. Otherwise it'd be called play." she smiled.
"But Adia liked worked and now not so much." Cristof pouted a little. "Not so much cause of them."
"And it's worth it because you're safe. Okay? I can handle worse things especially for a good reason like this, So no stress." Adia said.
"Adia is nice to me." Cristof mused. "I missed Adia when time passes without a visit. But now I miss Ezra. It's been a while since I got to see Ezra. Worried now."
"I know sweets." Adia said, her voice softer as she watched him sympathetically.
"But Ezra is okay still." Cristof told her with a small smile. "But I dunno for how long. Time is a funny thing."
"I'm sure he can take care of himself." Adia said.
"The spiders hide before they strike. Ezra's vulnerable." Cristof said.
"Well I think your brother is smart and fit and he'll be perfectly fine." Adia tried to sooth. "You shouldn't worry."
"Yes. Maybe." He paused. "Lily?"
"..huh?" Adia stared at him.
He smiled brightly, setting his cup down and clapping once. "Lily is looking for me. That's nice. I'm fine, Lily."
"How do you know that?" Adia raised an eyebrow.
"Cause I do." He said simply. "Now I know and now Lily knows I know. That's nice. Lily wants to make sure I'm okay. Kind. Yes, kind. Thank you, Lily."
"And who is Lily?" Adia asked slowly.
"Lily used to be friendly with Ezra. Not so much anymore but still a little bit. Lily is very kind and Lily's like me but not so much." Cristof explained.
"She's like you or she likes you?" Adia asked.
"Like me." he repeated. "But not so much. Not so strong, not so crazy."
"Oh…You're not crazy, don't say that." Adia mused, catching on to what he was talking about "So she's looking for you?"
"Uh huh. Ezra's worried. Worried enough to talk to Lily." Cristof laughed a little. "That's very good I think."
"Well then he can feel better now, knowing you're safe and taken care of." Adia commented, "Right?"
"No. Ezra is stubborn, and doesn't know who to trust."
"You know things right? So is he going to get hurt or isn't he?" She asked, drawing her legs closer to her. She grabbed the remote to turn the TV off since neither one of them were watching it.
Cristof shook his head. "I don't know what will happen, I do not have foresight. I only know the possibility and what has happened. I know what's already put into motion."
"And one of the possibilities is him getting hurt." she guessed.
"Yes," He nodded simply.
"So another must be him being fine right?" she offered.
"I suppose so." He said, "But one is as likely as the other."
"But which do you have more faith in?" she asked
"Which do I have more fear in. Ezra is my little brother and the only little brother I will ever have. There are times where I let Ezra pretend to be older but this can not be one of those times. I have to keep Ezra safe." Cristof muttered, leaning against the coffee table.
"I understand that but look at it in perspective of which is actually more likely. It would be hard, near impossible for them to capture him in your situation. People would readily stand against it. He is too obviously normal. And he would fight it as anyone who didn't hate violence would." She shrugged.
"She drugs food, drinks..." Cristof paused. "Ezra would get away easily but I'm afraid Ezra won't have the chance. Ezra doesn't know not to trust her. All of the distrust is directed at Adia."
"Even after finding out you're safe with me? Is he stupid..." she muttered
"Lily and Ezra had a thing. Ezra can't bring himself to trust her fully anymore now." Cristof smiled.
"He's stupid." Adia sighed.
"Wary." Cristof said instead.
"Same thing." she smiled lightly.
He frowned. "Don't poke fun at my Ezra. Ezra doesn't know any better."
"Well how else am I going to get you off the topic? You're just going to depress yourself and there's nothing we can do right now. I'll let you know when I think of something that won't get me arrested okay?" Adia muttered.
"Okay." he said. "I'll ask Lily to keep and eye on Ezra. Lily will know."
"You should, so long as it'll make you feel better." Adia nodded.
He nodded. "Maybe so, but that could result in her bringing Ezra here."
"That's fine too. I'm not trying to keep you from him just...out of danger and all that." Adia shrugged slightly.
Cristof seemed to think that over before nodding, a smile curving at his lips. "Kay."
Thanks for reading.
Na'viWolf- There's a simple explanation for that. Cris doesn't like phones…he's afraid of the waves. Lol. But at least Ezra has gotten a warning, right?
Nan- he doesn't really need to be saved yet…lol..give it time.