I'll keep this quick with just a quick thank you to the reviewers: Niffer01, CanYouReachTheStars, Twilighterheart, CullensThePackAndMeLove, Steffy-Michelle, Little Miss Bovver & Gladishiva.
As always you lot keep me writing & I do hope you enjoy :)
Bovver awoke in confusion, eyes snapping open to take in the unfamiliar bedroom he was currently in. Rolling over cautiously he saw the slag he'd picked up at the Abbey last night and he cringed at the sight, how fucked was I last night? he thought grimly as he quietly moved out from under the covers and dressed silently. Tossing a slight glare in the direction of the bed he slipped out of the bedroom and taking in the dinginess of the flat he moved across the small living room at lightning speed to escape before the nameless girl woke up.
As he hurried down the stairs and threw open the front door he breathed in the cold February air, thrilled that he'd escaped without detection. He reached into his pocket to pull out a cigarette, lighting it quickly and inhaling a thick drag of smoke. Zipping up his jacket and flipping his collar up to block his neck from the cold wind before beginning to stroll down the street towards his own place.
He walked for a few minutes, smoking casually and keeping his head down against the wind. Just as he rounded a corner he looked up to see a familiar pair walking about ten yards in front of him. Thas interesting, he thought cruelly as he saw Josie link arms with Dave before dragging him into the local coffee shop. Bovver narrowed his eyes at the sight, wondering what the two of them were doing together.
The sight of her caused anger to bubble in his stomach. The appearance of the Yank bird had caused Pete to become a pathetic shell of what he used to be and the second Yank didn't help things. But just what were Josie and Dave doing together? He'd just reached the window of the shop they'd entered and he peered into the dingy window, taking in the sight of Josie laughing on the arm of Dave.
He smirked cruelly, wondering if Pete knew just what his lady was up to. Bovver quickly walked away from the window before he could be spotted, moving with a slight spring in his step due to the discovery. Pete put that girl on a pedestal yet here she was sneakin' about with one of his best mates.
Bovver pulled his phone out of his pocket, quickly dialing Pete's number, "Aye aye, what's up bruv?" Pete answered cheerily and Bovver tried not to smile at the familiarity of it. As frustrated as he'd been with him in the past nine or so months he was still his best mate.
"Owya Dunham? Ready for United away?"
On the other end of the line Pete gave a fanatic grin, "Absolutely, so what's up mate? Figured you'd still be asleep after taming that thing you went 'ome with last night."
Bovver cringed, "Oi, fuck off. What are you up to?"
"Work bruv," Pete sighed, "It's Monday mornin', the boys are out on fifteen minute break. So what's up? Not often I get a Monday mornin' call from ya anymore."
Bovver pulled a face, wondering how to broach the subject and chose his usual bluntness, "Just saw your lady is all."
He was met with silence and he waited awkwardly for Pete to respond. When he did Pete's voice was laced with confusion and a hint of anger, "Erm, ok Bov…so what? Josie's out with Dave gettin' coffee then he's takin' 'er to the museum. I don't want her wanderin' alone now that Tommy knows where she works. Swill's even pickin' her up later," Bovver bit back a disgusted sigh, remembering the run in a month ago with Hatcher that had Pete all out of sorts. Pete continued, "What'd you think was goin' on?"
"Nothin' mate, nothin' at all." Bovver said swiftly, trying to keep the anger from his voice.
He heard a few shouts from the other end up the phone, "Oi, I gotta go – the boys are back from break. See you at mine later?"
"Yeah, laters." Bovver disconnected the phone quickly, anger still running through his veins. He took another cigarette out of his pocket, puffing furiously as he strode down the street. He'd forgotten that Pete had pretty much had one of the boys stationed as a bodyguard at all times around Josie. The man was losing his shit because of this bird.
It had come as no surprise to everyone but Pete that word was spreading that he had a permanent bird and her name had started coming up at meets. This only served to rile Pete up even further causing more damage to other men and the other Firms had taken notice.
Maybe what Josie needed was to be scared witless…Bovver knew she had only agreed to avoid another meeting with Tommy after Terry intervened. She really had no idea what the GSE was about. If there was only some way to scare the shit out of Josie about who Pete really was that may get rid of her permanently. Then Pete would realize life was better without her and everything would go back to normal. I mean – it's not like he's gonna marry the Yank, Bovver thought, laughing internally about the very idea of Pete proposing to Josie.
Bovver grinned to himself, forming a plan in his mind to get rid of Josie once and for all. After her, he could deal with the other Yank. No outsider was going to screw up this firm.
Josie stood just inside the museum, tapping her foot impatiently and glancing at her watch. According to her "orders" from her boyfriend, she was meant to wait until Swill picked her up and drove her home where she would be met by Ike who would escort her to the library before he returned to Pete's where they had a weekly FIFA tournament. Pete would then pick her up when she called to say she was done studying and he would escort her home. There wasn't a second of her day that she got to spend alone anymore after that stupid run in a month ago.
Overreact much, Pete? She thought bitterly in her head. Glancing again at her watch noting that Swill was a half hour late which was screwing up her carefully laid study plans. Becoming more and more impatient as she thought of the pile of homework she had to do, Josie finally decided she had enough.
Shoving open the door she strode down the steps, hurrying towards the tube station. If she had just left at her normal time it would have still been light out, but now it was nearly dark. Pulling her coat around her tighter, she burrowed her face into the collar blowing hot air out to warm her freezing face up.
As she rounded the corner to the road that the tube stop was on she ran smack dab into a large man, "Oh Jesus," she hissed out, holding a hand over her heart to calm the frantic beating, "I'm so sorry – you scared the hell out of me."
She looked up to see she'd run into a burly man over six feet tall who was currently staring down at her, "No worries love, where you off to in sucha hurry?"
He gave her a grin that made her distinctly wary since she was currently standing on a near deserted street with this hulking man, "Erm, my train – which if you'll excuse me I really don't want to miss."
Josie moved to step around him and he sidestepped with her, blocking her way. She moved to go the other way and he again blocked her way, "Why don't you want to chat with me Yank?"
She felt her face burn red and her heart pounded anxiously at the situation, shit – maybeee Pete didn't overreact, she thought stupidly, "Rather rude Josie to not have a chat with me, rude indeed."
"Ho- how do you know my name?" she stuttered slightly and put her hand in her pocket, gripping the mace that her dad had smuggled in for her and given to her at Christmas. She wasn't sure it was quite legal but at this point in time she didn't quite care as the man was now advancing on her menacingly, pinning her against the wall of the building they were standing near.
Her eyes scanned back and forth frantically in the hopes that she'd see someone who might save her. The huge man looked down at her with an evil grin, "Oh we all know about you now – every Firm in the country knows about little Miss Josie who stole Dunham's heart. Innit that just the sweetest: head of the GSE in love with a Yank."
Her eyes widened in horror that this strange man seemed to know her, deciding she'd had enough she quickly pulled the mace from her pocket, spraying a quick shot directly in his eyes and hearing him drop to the ground.
She sprinted blindly towards the tube station not chancing to look back to see if he was still laid out. She continued to run, straining her ears to hear if she was being followed. She heard nothing but continued to run anyways and just as she thundered down the steps she heard the train pulling in. Fuck, if I miss this and he comes after me I am legit trapped down here, she thought as she picked up her pace. As she rounded the hallway corner she sighed in slight relief to see the train sitting waiting. She ran quickly, throwing herself into the train car just as the doors snapped shut.
Josie heaved a huge sigh of relief and glanced up in time to see the stranger coming into view just as the train started to move. Anger finally hit her at the whole ridiculous encounter and she stuck her tongue out at the man, giving a slight wave of her hand that seemed to incense him further as he began shaking his fist angrily in her direction.
Probably not the smartest thing to do, she thought as she plopped into a free seat, but these assholes are screwing with the wrong girl. She leaned her head back against the window, letting the rocking motion of the train relax her frantic nerves.
As the train pulled into Waterloo her eyes snapped open and she grabbed for her phone, realizing she'd never heard from Swill. And if that man knew her, he definitely knew Swill. She frantically dialed his number, worried he'd had a run in of his own.
Swill answered half way through the first ring, "Fuck Josie – where are you? I am freaking out, if I lose you Pete's gonna 'ave my head and my bollocks and -"
"Swill! Stop!" she cut in before he could continue to naming parts of him that Pete would destroy, "I'm on the train…" she quickly recounted what had happened and as she finished she heard Swill suck a breath in quickly.
"Jesus Joze, I'm so sorry I was late. I ran into Bovver who just would not shut up for some reason then he was buyin' me pints and thas never 'appened so I just got distracted," Swill sighed guiltily into the phone. He was seated in his car outside the museum and he ran a hand through his hair frantically. Pete will murder me without a doubt, he thought in horror, and if anything had happened to her I would've never been able to forgive myself, "I am so sorry Josie."
"Oh stop, you're being ridiculous," Swill could practically hear the eye roll in her voice, "The fact that I need a protective guard is ridiculous in and of itself. You lot have lives that I'm interrupting."
"Where are you now? I'll come get you."
Josie shook her head at this, even though she knew he couldn't see it, "We're just pullin' into Embankment now and I don't want to wait around."
"I figured as much. You headin' 'ome or to meet Pete?" Swill cringed at the thought of what Pete would say when he heard what happened to her.
Josie paused for a second as the train doors lurched open and she leapt lightly over the gap, "Nah, you boys have your Monday tourney to deal with. Ike is still meeting me at mine. I'm a little shook up but I've still got a ton of shit to do. I'll talk to Pete when he picks me up tonight."
"Josie," Swill replied warningly, "You know he's gonna ask if I got you and I can't lie to 'im."
Blowing out a frustrated puff of air she snapped back, "Fine. I'll call him. You lot are all so petrified of Pete that you're in a panic and are now forced to play babysitter to his girlfriend. You're freaking out becau -"
"Josie -" he cut in swiftly, "Don't be an idiot, we aren't being forced. Yer like our little sister and we want to make sure yer safe. We'd all be devastated if somethin' 'appened to you."
"Ugh," she groaned, "You lot are impossible to be mad at when you're so good to me. I guess I'll just – " she was cut off by a beep, signaling an incoming call. She was still storming toward her next train and she pulled the phone away from her ear to check who it was, "Shit – Pete's callin'. I'm still headin' towards my other train but I'll deal with him. Just go to his place and act normal."
"Joze, I'm a terrible liar," Swill whined into the phone.
She rolled her eyes again, "Well, learn – gotta go." She pressed the call button to answer Pete, "Hi you, what's up?"
"Where have you been?" Pete questioned quickly, hearing her breath coming in rapid spurts caused him to start rambling immediately, "I've been panicking. I can't get a hold of Swill and I'm - " In her mind she could see him frantically pacing back and forth in his flat and she cut him off before he could really get on a roll.
"Pete – relax please. Swill was late so I caught the train…" she trailed off awkwardly, wondering if he could even see through her over the phone.
"Yer a bloody awful liar even over the phone, ya know that?" his voice was laced with concern behind his light comment. Ever since her run in with Hatcher a month ago Pete had become even more overprotective than he'd been before.
A soft smile played on her lips at how well he knew her, "Ugh – you're impossible. Why can't you be one of those boyfriends who is all into football and forgets about their girlfriend's very existence during the season?"
"Josie don't you understand..."
"Yes Pete," she cut in, "I understand how worried you are about me and I get that you think I need a bodyguard everywhere I go but somethings gotta give. I can't live like this."
Pete sucked in a sharp breath at her words, "Joze baby, what 'appened?"
Josie's eyes suddenly filled with tears. It seemed the shock was wearing off and the magnitude of what had happened was finally hitting her. She stopped short in the crowded hall of the tube station, rubbing her temple achingly feeling the sudden urge to see him now, "Come meet me?"
"Course," he answered quickly, happy she'd finally stopped being stubborn, "Where are you?"
"Just getting on the train at Embankment – meet me half way?" she bit her lip nervously, knowing how he was going to react once she told him what happened. There goes studying and video games for our night, she thought ruefully.
"Absolutely. You want Indian? We can meet at Aldgate, we'll eat, you'll talk then I'll take you to the library."
Josie started walking again, moving towards the nearest District line train as quickly as she could. She suddenly had the strongest need to be trapped in Pete's arms and nowhere near any other person, "I'll meet you in 15."
"On the way," Pete had already thrown his coat on and was out the door the second she'd agreed, "I love you, k?"
"I know," she grinned in response, "Love you too…I'll see you in a bit."
Pete paced back and forth outside the train stop he was meeting Josie as he peered over the heads of the surrounding crowd. Finally he spotted the familiar mass of curls and he shoved through the throng of people to reach her. He had no idea what happened but he was sure it wasn't good. He finally reached her and dragged her into his arms in a tight hug.
"Omphf," she groaned into his chest, "You're squeezing the life outta me." Pete grinned into her hair, kissing her head before finally placing her back on the ground. He took her face in his hands, kissing her softly and deliberately, reveling in the taste.
He took her hand in his and began leading her down the street, "Talk now?" he questioned lightly, anxious to find out what had happened. He felt her stiffen slightly at his words and he dragged her into his side, forcing her to stop.
He stared deeply into her eyes, concerned with how worried she looked as she replied, "Gimme a minute ok? Let's get some food first then I promise I'll tell you everything."
Pete stared at her face, taking in the painfully familiar gesture as she bit on her lip anxiously, "Fine, food it is Joze. Come on you." He pulled her hand gently as he dragged her towards the first restaurant he saw, hurrying her along so he could hear whatever had happened.
No sooner had she taken a bite of her curry than Pete had grasped her hand tightly, "Alright Josie, time to spill – now."
She blew out a puff of hair, forcing her bangs out of her eyes and stared back at him gravely. She quickly told him what had happened, carefully watching his face as she waited for him to lose it. She was surprised to see he stared back blankly until the very end. Weird, she thought, normally I can read him like a book but with this – nothing.
"Pete?" she reached across the table to take his hand in hers, "Say something." She pled softly, rubbing her thumb across his knuckles.
To her shock he ripped his hand out of her grasp, "Yer right – somethings gotta give," he said stonily.
She raised an eyebrow in surprise at his tone, "Um, I don't quite follow."
Pete sighed, dropping his head into his hands, rubbing them over his blonde hair in anguish, "You don't deserve this. You shouldn't have to be in this world anymore."
Josie felt her heart drop to her stomach, wondering where he was going with this, "Just what are you saying, Pete. Spell it out for me."
"I…" he trailed off slightly before continuing sternly, "I don't think we should be together anymore." As soon as the words left his mouth he regretted them as he watched Josie's face go from shock to pain to anger within a span of fifteen seconds.
Her eyes narrowed into slits, "What do you mean 'you don't think we should be together anymore'?" she said angrily, putting air quotes around the sentence.
"Josie it's not that I don't love you…" he started to explain, trying to make her see that it was for her own good. He couldn't – he wouldn't – keep putting her in danger like this.
"Who the fuck do you think you are?" she whispered venomously causing Pete to physically jump back from her anger, "You're going to sit here and end things with me but claim that 'it's not that you don't love me'? Who are you fooling? If you don't want to be with me anymore, fine. Don't make up some bullshit that you 'just want to keep me safe' so you can't be with me anymore, I'm not stupid." Josie felt her eyes fill with tears and her breath was coming in gasps as she stared into Pete's shocked face.
"Stop Joze, you know I love you I just…I just wouldn't be able to survive if I knew you got hurt because of me. I know you think you can handle me in the GSE but I can't deal with people targeting you." Pete said, trying to make her understand that it was for her own good. The look of fury and pain on her face almost made him say fuck it, they could make it through anything if they were together. But the nightmare of Josie battered and bleeding once again came to mind and forced him to continue, "As long as I'm the head of this firm you'll be in danger."
Josie slumped back in her chair, biting hard on the inside of her cheek to stop the tears that were threatening to pour over, "So that's it – I said I'd never make you choose between me and the GSE but here you are, makin' the choice yourself." A single tear rolled down her cheek and she frantically wiped it away, standing up quickly, "Fine Pete, I can see this is what you want. I won't get between you and the Firm anymore."
Pete stared openmouthed as she threw her jacket on and grabbed her bag before fleeing the table and hurrying from the restaurant. He stared after her retreating form, feeling his stomach churn and his heart clench painfully. He dropped his head into his hands, if this is to protect her why do I feel like I just ripped my heart out and threw it away? he thought bitterly. He threw a few notes down on the table, not even caring if it was way over what the bill would be. He had to get out of here, had to walk, had to think.
This is what's best for her, he swore, I don't care if it kills me, I'll keep 'er safe, even if it means giving her up.
Josie sprinted out of the restaurant, feeling her heart in her throat and a distinct feeling of nausea at what had just occurred. Ducking into an alley she emptied her stomach, grimacing in disgust as she wiped at her mouth. How is this happening? she thought, this is a bad dream – I'll wake up and I'll be cuddled into Pete's side and he'll smirk handsomely and laugh at my ridiculous dream.
She pinched her forearm hard in an attempt to wake herself up, ok – not a dream. Tears poured down her face as she wrapped her coat tightly around her body, trying to keep herself warm. She walked slowly towards the tube station her mind running over the day's course of events. When she woke up this morning trapped against Pete's side she had no idea it would be the last time. At this thought her breath came out ragged, sobs nearly choking her and she vaguely noticed people staring in horror at her.
Her phone trilled in her purse and she ignored it, biting on her cheek to try to stop the tears while she was in public. She'd finally reached the train and joined the rush hour crowd, pointedly avoiding the looks being thrown her way. Her phone rang three more times in the ten minute ride home and as she got off her stop she finally took it out, her heart breaking even more when she realized it wasn't in fact Pete calling to beg forgiveness.
"Hi Swill," she sniffled into the phone, "What's up?"
"Josie? What's goin' on – you ok?" Swill asked in concern. He, Ike and Dave were currently seated in Pete's hallway waiting for him to get back for their Monday tournament when he'd had the great idea to check with Josie as to his whereabouts, "Is Pete with ya? He's late you know."
Josie gave a slight sob causing Swill's eyes to widen in horror, "I dunno where he is. He…he ended things," she managed to whisper out.
Swill nearly laughed at her words, "Ook Joze, 'ow much have you had to drink? Pete'll leave you when pigs fly and cows sing."
Josie gave a watery smile, "I wish that was true. Pete should be home soon, I'm sure you boys'll have a laugh at my expense how the leader of the GSE tricked the poor Yank into thinking he was a stand up bloke," she said bitterly barely acknowledging the horrified gasp that came from Swill.
"Where are you? Are you ok? I'll murder that dumb fuck the second I see 'im," Swill said angrily causing Ike and Dave to stare at him questioningly, "We're comin' over. Fuck Pete."
Josie went to argue that they didn't need to do that but was cut off before she could even start, "No arguments see you at yours," he said with finality as he ended the call.
"What 'appened?" Dave questioned frantically as Ike looked on with concern. Swill quickly recounted what Josie had said and both men's eyes flashed with fury. Just as Dave was about to respond the stairwell door swung open to reveal Pete. He opened his mouth to greet them but was stopped when Swill threw a punch, knocking him into the wall.
Pete clenched his fists in anger, "What the fuck was that 'bout?" he said, glaring angrily at Swill.
Swill stood directly in his face, Dave and Ike watching with matching horrified looks, "You ended things with her? For fuckssake Pete are you retarded or sumthin?"
At his words Pete felt his face momentarily twist in pain before he forced it blank, "Fuck off, it aint yer business. This is the only way to keep her safe," he forced his way past the three men, "If I have to kill myself to keep her safe, I will. You lot wouldn't understand."
He turned and stormed into his flat, slamming the door in their faces while the three men just stood there shell shocked. Each one thinking that of all the couples in the world Pete and Josie were meant to be together.
And for the first time in their lives the GSE boys started to doubt their way of life.
Josie lay curled up in a ball on her couch dressed in one of Pete's old sweatshirts and sweatpants, keeping her face buried in the sleeves as she continued to inhale his distinct scent. Tears continued to pour down her face as she her mind replayed the scene at the restaurant. It would have hurt less if Pete had physically ripped her heart out rather than ended things between them.
The pounding on her door interrupted her thoughts and she rolled off the couch slowly, wanting nothing more than to tell the boys to just piss off. She open the door cautiously and was met by the grinning faces of Ike, Swill and Dave, all standing with their hands behind their backs.
"What the hell are you lot so happy about?" she croaked out, her voice sounding like she'd smoked a pack of cigarettes in the span of an hour.
"We brought cheer up Josie presents!" Swill said excitedly, "Show her boys."
Ike stepped into her flat first presenting her with three pints of Ben & Jerry's ice cream – Cookie Dough, Chocolate Fudge Brownie and Phish Food all three being her favorites and a huge bag of Salt and Vinegar crisps, "Ere Joze." He said, giving a quick kiss to her cheek before moving into her living room, settling on her couch and flipping on a football match.
Swill came in next, revealing a handful of canned pints, "What goes with ice cream and heartache? Beer of course!" he grinned into her face, planting another kiss on her cheek and moving around her to join Ike on the couch.
"Might need somethin' a bit stronger than that," she murmured softly which caused Dave to grin down at her and step forward.
"That's where I come in," he said, revealing a bottle of Jameson whiskey, "Ere Joze." Dave planted a final kiss on her cheek then launched himself onto the couch, knocking Swill slightly in the process.
Josie stared at the three of them who were laughing, eating and drinking and it caused her to smile unwillingly. She walked around the couch, sitting on the floor in front of their legs, "Don't think so you, up 'ere." Swill said lifting her up and setting her between the three men.
She smiled softly at them, "You boys didn't have to do this ya know."
"We know but Pete's a fuckin' idiot and we weren't gonna let you think otherwise. Besides," Ike said, poking her side lightly, "Yer much cuter and he's a miserable cunt especially after Swill punched him."
Josie's mouth dropped open in shock, "You hit him?" she smacked Swill lightly, "What'd you do that for?" Even though she was livid with Pete at this point she still didn't like the idea of him in pain.
Swill pulled her into his side, ruffling her hair messily, "He thought he could get away with hurtin' you with no consequences? I don't think sooo," he sang out.
He grinned stupidly at her and she managed to smile back, "He'll straighten his head out soon and come back to his senses. He can't live without ya Joze, don't worry bout it."
Swill kissed her head slightly before turning back to the football highlights that were now playing, God I hope you're right, she prayed as she leaned down to take a swing of whiskey chased by a sip of beer, cause I sure as shit won't survive without him if you're wrong.
Ok pleaseee don't kill me! But of course feel free to tell me what you think.
The road has been a little too smooth for our couple so I had to add some bumps. No worries - I could never keep them apart though :)