Chapter 16: Have I got the Guts

Five hours. Five hours since this guy tried to kidnap Tia and threaten Rocket's mother and they still had nothing. Rocket and D'jok had been using every technique they knew but this guy wouldn't say anything. It was like this guy had completely shut down. He hadn't moved an inch since he had been placed in that chair. For someone that didn't act as a professional when he was on a kidnapping spree, he sure knew how to keep his mouth shut. Rocket was trying his best not to kill this guy on the spot. He honestly didn't know how D'jok could do this every day, since interrogations were his speciality. They needed to get this guy to crack but how? D'jok seemed to be reading his mind, since he suddenly changed his tactics.

"You know man I kind of feel sorry for you." D'jok sympathised, making Rocket raise an eyebrow but it quickly disappeared. He was interested to see where D'jok was going with this. "I mean tonight I get to go home see me kid and my fiancé in a nice warm bed, while you get to rust away in a cold little cell; alone." He paused and dragged his chair right beside the man so when he sat down again D'jok face was almost touching the other guys face. "You know what seems strange to me, a married man sleeping in his cell alone." For the first time the man's face actually show some expression. He stared wide eyed at D'jok who looked calmly back at him.

"How... how did you..." He stuttered but was interrupted by D'jok who answered the question that was also in Rockets mind.

"There's a white mark on the left hand of your fourth finger where your wedding band should be." The red headed integrator indicated at the white mark that he had just spoken about. Nervous sweat broke on the man's forehead; a clear sign that they were starting to get to him.

"So my question now is how did you, a married man became a kidnapper." D'jok voice had been a mixer of sympathy and something poisonous when he asked the question, sending goose bumps down Rockets spine. It freak him out sometimes that D'jok could be two different people at the same time. Rocket decided it must have been something he picked up for either his fiancée Mei (seriously that woman seemed to have five personalities at once sometimes but you kind of needed it for the job that she did) or something he just picked up along the way, since neither of his parents were like that. Snapping himself out of his thoughts Rocket watched as their man began shifting in his chair a little. Rocket and D'jok sat patiently, waiting for the man to break it.

"I can't, he has my wife." The man cried, finally breaking down from the pressure that had been magically placed over him by D'jok. Both Rocket and D'jok looked at each other before signalling to the guard to take the man to his cell. They knew they wouldn't be able to get anything out of the man once they knew the man's family was involved; call it years of experience. Well that was a waste of my time, Rocket thought massaging the temples in his head to get rid of the headache that was beginning to form inside his brain. Thankfully he didn't have the need to rip out the man's guts any more, since he would have probably done the same in the guy's situation. They would probably question him again later when they had information that confirmed his story and then send a crew (most likely them) on a rescues mission to save the guys wife, so that way they could get the information they wanted from the bloke.

"So, are you going to the fair tonight?" D'jok questioned randomly, which Rocket was grateful for since he needed to think of something that was off his job otherwise he was sure he would go insane.

"Yeah, promised my cousins I would take them, since Uncle Aarch can't and my parents are busy with the flower shop." Rocket answered. To be honest it didn't really matter if his uncle was able to take his cousins or not because he would always go anyway, it was kind of tradition for him. "So is Tia going?" He asked before he realised what words had just slipped out of his mouth.

"I don't know." D'jok answered honestly, giving his teammate/friend a shrug. "I know dad was meant to ask her but I don't know whether he's done it yet."

"A carnival?" Tia exclaimed after Sonny had asked if she wanted to go, while also trying to help Mary clean up the dishes they had just used for their dinner. As soon as she had got home she instantly put her pj's on, since she knew she wasn't going out anywhere else tonight and she needed something comfortable to change into, since she needed to change out of her one chocolate ice-cream outfit and being held at gun point. Thinking about it, Tia hadn't seen or heard Rocket ever since they let the cafe.

"Yeah, what you never been to one before or something?" Sonny questioned, drying a plate that his wife had just given him. Apparently, Mary was very strict when it came to family unity; that included doing chores together. To answer Sonny's question. No. Tia had never been to a carnival, she had been to parks and other places with roller coasters but never a carnival. She repeated her thoughts to Sonny and answered that she would love to go. "Trust me kid, you'll love it." Sonny smiled with Rosie laughing and shaking her rattle in the background in agreement with her grandfather's statement. All of the adults turned to look at her before turning back to their duty again. They were babysitting tonight, since D'jok and Mei were working late for some reason and Stella was busy looking after her step daughter's three sons; Ouch! Talk about a hand full. Sighing to herself Tia handed Sonny the last dish and stretched her arms to release some of the tension that had built up in her arms. However, a sudden stab of pain made Tia wince. She had forgotten that she was not completely healed from her broken bone in her arm yet.

"Are you ok Tia?" Mary asked, noticing Tia discomfort.

"Uuuummmm, yeah. Just won't be able to lift my arm up for a while." Tia grunted painfully through her teeth, as she gently placed her arm back down and gently cradling it with her other arm. Both Mary and Sonny surrounded her with worry but Tia pushed them away, insuring them that she was fine. Apart from that little scene with Tia's arm in the kitchen the rest of the night went smoothly. They watched a Disney movie with Rosie before Mary took her to bed and once Rosie was settled: Sonny, Mary and Tia sat in the living room to watch an old movie (called Schindler's List) before they went to bed themselves. "Goodnight Sonny, goodnight Mary." Tia yawned, as she walked into her room.

"Goodnight Tia." They both whispered, smiling after her, as they made their way to their own bed for the night.

"Look Rocket look! I want one." The twins cheered, as the made there way up to stalls with giant toy giraffes hanging from the top. Samantha was staring lovely at a yellow giraffe while Hayley stared at a blue on. Rocket scratched his head in confusion (he never really did understand what girls loved so much about cute stuff animals) as his cousins continued to stare at the prizes their eyes had seek.

"Step right up folks! Try and goal five goals and I will let you take home a prize!" The carnival man cheered. At that moment both of the twins turned to him and gave him their cutest puppy dog faces. Sighing to himself, Rocket walked up to the man in the booth and paid two tokens. He knew his cousins wanted those giraffes, so he was going to get them. Seeing what the game was, Rocket smiled to himself. The point of the game was to kick the balls into the holes, something that was his speciality. Taking the ball from the carnival owner, he played with it for a while before kicking it to one of the high scores which allowed you the highest points, which were then followed by another nine goals. At that moment the carnival mans mouth dropped open and a huge eruption exploded from the crowd that was watching from the time. It would have been impossible to make a roll of goals like that; unless you were an expert aimer like Rocket was.

"Tia did you see that! Wasn't that awesome!" Samantha shouted. Hearing Tia's name Rocket spun around to see the whole Sonny clan had arrived and right in the middle was his sweet Tia. Wait his Tia!

"Yes that was an amazing shoot." Tia replied in agreement. For a moment Rocket couldn't find any air to breath. It seemed that Mei had convinced Tia to wear a yellow summer dress that showed off her nice legs and hugged her curves nicely. She also had a bit of make-up on but not that much so it looked more natural then trashy. In fact his heart was beating so hard in his chest that he couldn't hear anything, not even when the carnival owner tried to hand the two stuff animals he had just won until they were thrown into his face. They were suddenly yanked out of his arms by his younger cousins who were jumping around with joy with their prizes, in fact they were hugging so tightly that Rocket believed if they were real animals; they would be dead by now. His sight re-focused on Tia who was holding Rosie at the time, while Mei and D'jok were having a go at the game as well. Regaining his control, Rocket took a few deep breaths and walked over to Tia.

"Hey, I'm glad to see your here." He greeted with a cheeky smile on his face. Tia turned to him with a smile on her face.

"Hey, you were great back there." Pointing to the place where D'jok and Mei had just won their own stuffed animals and were laughing their heads off.

"Thanks!" He managed to stutter, rubbing the back of his head nervously and trying to keep the blissful explosion inside him contain. She thought I was great; Me! Rocket thought to himself like a love struck teenager; which he kind of was, only a little older. A high pitch laugh made Tia and Rocket look down to see Rosie laughing at Mei and D'joks little play fight with their stuff animals, who were now walking back to them. But suddenly they both stop with looks of horror on their faces, making Rocket hairs stand on edge. D'jok made a few quick symbols towards Rocket which spelt out 'Run man, run!' Just as Rocket was about to confront whatever threat was behind him, he felt something slam into his back.

"Hey Rocket, surprise to see you here." Lori shrieked, nearly bursting Rocket's ear drum and maybe cracked a few mirrors in the process. Rocket had to use all of his might not to flip her into the stand of stuffed animals.

"Hey Lori, what are you doing here? You hate carnivals." He questioned, trying not to sound like he was tempted to kick her head into one of the goals for ruining his moment with Tia. Lori let out another hysterical laugh that made Rocket and the people around him want to cover their ears.

"Don't be silly Baby, I've always loved carnivals." She corrected him, which Rocket found weird since he had known her since they both started school together and ever since that clown came into school one time and scared her shitless she refused to go anywhere near clowns. That was one of the reasons Rocket loved carnivals, she was never here; well, suppose to never be here anyway. "So you want to go in the underground love machine with me?" A shudder went down Rockets back, he and the guys (except D'jok) refused to go on that boat for two reasons: one the ride was lame and dorky and two, they were pretty sure that was where Rosie and been conceived.

"Sorry Lori, I'm afraid I can't." Rocket stuttered out, trying to get the horrible imagines out of his head, especially the ones if he and Lori went down there.

"Why not?" Lori asked, stepping on her tip-toes so that her face was just an inch away from Rocket. Well it might be the fact that you're a crazy woman who scares the life out of me, Rocket thought silently as he tried to think of an excuse to get out of here; fast.

"Because he's with me." Tia injected suddenly, standing by his side and holding his hand which was making his stomach to do flip flops with the skin contact. He looked out of the corner of his eye to see every ones mouth had dropped right open. The death glares that Lori was giving Tia seemed to be able to pierce her skin. Man, if looks could kill, Rocket thought, tightly holding onto Tia's hand in thanks. She squeezed back in reassurance.

"I didn't know you were dating someone Rocket." Lori hissed, trying to keep calm by the looks of it.

"Yeah almost two months now." Tia added before Rocket could reply and Rocket nodded in agreement. However, Lori seemed less then convinced.

"Really? Then prove it." She smirked, making Rocket stiffen. How where they going to get out of this? Rocket deliberated with himself, trying to come up with a plan.

"Sure." Tia answered and before Rocket could ask what she was going to do; Tia stepped on to her tip toes and kissed him. He was in shock for a split second before he realised what was going on and kissed back. This has to be a dream, Rocket considered, as he felt Tia soft mouth rub against his. It was like tasting creamy white chocolate. He was sure that it might have gone further if they didn't hear Sonny cough which reminded them where they were.