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Chapter Eighteen #Muse and Jaycobs#

"Mom, Dad, I'm home!" Sara called, half an hour after they left the hospital.

Her parents both came out of the living room and both did a double take at the sight of Nick, who smiled politely.

"Who's this?" her dad frowned.

"My name's Nick Stokes, sir." Nick introduced himself. "Sara and I are friends."

"Oh really?" James Sidle frowned, but Sara could tell that the 'sir' had thawed him slightly. She was so eternally grateful that he wasn't drunk.

"Yes, Mr. Sidle." Nick nodded. "Good friends, nothing more nothing less."

"Oh, Nick, I've heard a lot about you and the others!" Laura smiled. "You're the one from Texas, right?"

"Yes ma'am." Nick nodded.

"What are you doing here?" James asked, though not as impolitely as Sara feared he would.

"I was just by on my way home; I offered to walk Sara home."

"And I thought it was a nice thing to do, so I invited him in for a glass of water and something to eat quickly before he went all the way home." Sara added.

"If that's not okay with you, it's fine, I can go home." Nick insisted.

"It's okay." Laura smiled, and James nodded, impressed with Nick's manners. "Follow me; I'll get you a drink."

As they went into the kitchen, Sara took a deep breath. "Uh, mom, dad?"

"Yes?" James replied quickly.

"There...there was a big fight at school today and I got...involved."

"What?" Laura's mouth dropped.

"She didn't want to. That's the other reason I'm here. It was my fault Sara got involved."

Sara glanced at Nick, surprised. His face was sincerely apologetic.

"What do you mean?" James frowned.

"I was being beat up and I called for help. Sara helped me, stopped another kid from breaking my arm. I'm sorry, it was my fault she was involved." Nick said sadly.

"You're telling me you got my daughter involved in a fight and come here to apologise?" James asked slightly angrily.

"Yes sir. I'm sorry, I can go now..."

"No. Wait." James put his hands on his hips.

Nick met the man's eyes with guilt and apology shining in his own eyes.

"Dad..." Sara frowned.

"I'm impressed, Stokes. Most kids would just let Sara take the fall. Thanks for telling me that, son." James nodded, and Sara looked on in shock.

"I'm so sorry, sir. Everyone involved in the fight got a month of detentions and I got Sara in trouble, I'm so sorry." Nick apologised.

"A month of detention?" James sighed. "Don't get in any more trouble, Sara."

"I won't." Sara nodded.

"Would you like to stay for a while?" Laura asked Nick.

"Only if it's okay with you." Nick smiled.

Sara and Laura looked at James who shrugged. "Sara, why don't you show Nick the forest? I'm working at the moment but I guess he could stay for dinner if it's fine with his parents..."

"I'll ask, thank you. I don't want to be any trouble." Nick grinned slightly sheepishly.

"Good idea." Sara nodded. "Let's go."

She raced out of the house, and Nick followed. As she walked down the road, he frowned. "Forest? We're in Vegas..."

"Dad likes hunting; he made sure that there was a forest nearby when we bought the house. It's about a ten minute walk, can you handle that Nick?" she grinned teasingly at Nick, who smirked.

"I would take over and not let you catch up but I don't know where we're going."

Sara shook her head. "How'd you do that?"

"Do what?" Nick asked absently.

"You just got me out of a load of trouble..." Sara frowned. "My parents are very suspicious of boys that are friends but they trusted you. How'd you do it?"

Nick winked. "By being a gentleman."

Sara snorted. "Sure, sure. Let me guess, Ethan or MJ taught you."

"Actually it was Katie."

"Ah. What number is she?"

"Number Three."

"Right. Got it."

Nick grinned at Sara out of the corner of his eye. "So what do we do in the forest?"

She narrowed her eyes at him and he laughed. She elbowed him in the ribs. "Explore. Walk."

"Oh, and I gotta call my mom. Or Rosa. Do you mind if I..." he pulled his phone out of his pocket.

"You are ridiculously polite. Go ahead." Sara laughed.

Nick winked as he dialled his home number. "You catch more flies with honey... Oh, hi Rosa!"

"What have you done now?"

"Why do you automatically assume I'm in trouble?"

"Because we just got a phone call telling me that you have a month's worth of detention."

"Ah. That trouble. I'll tell you later, can I have dinner at Sara's please?"

"Nick..."

"I know, I know, I'm sorry. But please?"

"Only because I have no idea what to cook tonight. We will talk about this when you get home, you idiot."

"Love you Rosa."

"Yeah, yeah." She laughed and hung up.

"It's a yes." He grinned at Sara.

"I thought you were supposed to be home early."

Nick shrugged. "I thought I was too."

"Okay... Here we are." She led Nick through a gate and into the thickest forest Nick had seen in a while.

"Wow..."

"What, never seen the woods before?"

Nick mock scowled. "Not in a while." His face softened. "I've missed all the trees."

"You lived on a ranch, right?" Sara clarified.

"Yup. It had this awesome orchard at the back."

"Did you have horses?"

Nick looked at her as if she was insane. "Uh, yeah... It was a ranch."

"I'm sorry, I've just. Well. Let's just say I've never actually seen a real horse before."

Nick's eyes bulged. "You're kidding?"

"Only on TV." Sara blushed.

"You can't be serious?" Nick frowned.

"Not all of us have rich parents, Nick." Sara started to get irritated.

"Sorry...Gimme a sec." He flicked open his phone and thought for a moment, before dialling another number. Sara stared at him curiously as he started speaking Spanish.

"Hola, Carlos...Si, es Nick. Si, lo niño de Bill." He rolled his eyes and continued to speak Spanish for a while, before turning to Sara. "What time's your dinner?"

"Home by six thirty, why?"

"Perfecto, Carlos." Nick grinned, ignoring her. "Gracias." He hung up the phone. "Hey, do you think we could do the woods another day?"

She frowned suspiciously. "I guess... Why?"

"Come with me." Nick slipped back out of the gate and raced to a nearby bus stop.

"Nick, I have no money-"

"I'll pay. Trust me."

Sara shrugged and followed Nick onto the bus. Sara grew slightly nervous as the bus left Vegas, driving about ten minutes into the desert before Nick dragged Sara off.

"Okay, one of the old stable hands from our ranch moved to Vegas years ago and opened his own ranch. Rodeos, and stuff. Anyway, Ethan, MJ and I got to keep our horses here."

"You have your own horse?" Sara cried. "Shit, Nicky, how much money do you have?"

He shrugged, blushing slightly. "My horse was born on the ranch. C'mon, I'll show you."

He led her round the back of an old ranch building to a stable, and Sara gasped softly at all the horses. "I've always loved horses. Even though I've never...well."

Nick led her over to a stable towards the back and she gasped again. "This is...your horse?"

He nodded proudly. "He's exactly the same age as me. Born on the same day and everything."

"He's gorgeous..." she breathed as the horse calmly walked over. He was a dark cherry colour, with large, dark eyes and a fairly long dark mane. He stuck his head out over the stall and Sara moved back quickly.

"It's okay." Nick laughed. "He's called Muse. Katie named him after the band, because he often looks thoughtful. Give me your hand."

Sara hesitantly obeyed and Nick held it in front of the horse's nose. She tried to draw away as he came nearer, but Nick firmly placed her hand on Muse's nose.

"There." He said softly.

Within seconds Sara was enchanted, stroking the horse gently and murmuring softly to him. Muse whickered softly and nuzzled Sara.

"He likes you." Nick said softly.

"Wow..." Sara breathed.

"You wanna ride?"

She turned away from Muse for a moment, without taking her hand from his neck. "I can't, Nick."

"Sure you can." Nick scoffed. "Let's take him out. I'll show you."

"Okay..."

Nick hopped into the stall, grabbing hold of a few pieces of gear, and swiftly preparing Muse as Sara watched, entranced.

In a few moments, Nick led out the large horse and Sara scurried out of the way. Nick waved her along, leading both out into a large, quiet paddock at the back.

"This is ours." Nick said softly. "We helped Carlos get the money to set it up; in return we get the horse spaces and a paddock. Plus he paid us back when he earned the money."

"You're parents employ a lot of Spaniards..." she murmured, still staring at the horse.

Nick shrugged. "Mexicans, mainly. We did live in Texas, Sar. They wanted the work; my parents looked at everyone and picked those they thought would do the job best. Didn't matter who they were." Nick patted the horse's face. "We're ready."

Sara frowned. "What, no saddle, no bridle, no anything?"

Nick grinned cheekily. "Don't need one; I'm not planning on going far."

"You ride bareback?" She stared. "Right, ranch."

Nick grinned again and grabbed a handful of the Muse's mane, before jumping on. "Atta boy. It's been a while, hasn't it?"

The horse neighed softly in response, shaking its head as Nick gave a command. Sara watched in awe as the horse trotted, then cantered around the paddock, circling around her.

"I am so jealous, I gotta tell you, Nick." She grinned.

"Well, hop on." Nick rolled his eyes as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, pulling up next to Sara.

"I can't Nick." She shook her head. He rolled his eyes and slid off the horse. He pointed his finger at both of them.

"Stay!"

Sara rolled her own eyes as he ran back into the stable. In a few minutes he emerged, helmet in hand. "Want riding lessons?"

"Are you kidding?"

"Sara, you doodle all the time. Half of the doodles are of animals, half of them horses. You know you want to. I can teach you someday, but for today you can ride with me."

"With you?" Sara stammered as he placed the helmet on her head. He nodded.

"Uh huh." He leapt back onto the horse, before leading Muse to the fence. "Climb on the fence. It's a little hard to get up your first time."

She clambered onto the fence, before biting her lip. "Nick, I don't think I can-"

"Trust me." Nick repeated, holding out his hand. "Hold my hand, I won't let you fall."

She hesitated.

"Sara. You're one of the best friends I've ever had. I'm not gonna let you get hurt. Muse won't hurt you. Come on."

"Will it hurt him with two people?"

Nick looked up at the sky. "Look at the size of him, Sar. He's fine, I promise. It's okay."

She took a deep breath and grabbed Nick's hand, climbing awkwardly onto the horse, who stepped forward. She cried out and grabbed Nick's jacket. He laughed.

"Oh my god!" she whispered. "Oh my god!"

He laughed again. "Hold on, Sidle."

Her fingers wrapped around the fabric of Nick's jacket tightly, but as Muse began to trot forwards she froze.

"Nick, I'm gonna fall off!" she cried.

"Calm down, Sara, you're fine." He insisted, turning his head to look at her.

"Nick look where we're going!" she shouted, but he only turned further.

"Sara, it's okay, we're not going to crash, Muse can see as well. It's okay, Sara. Wrap your arms around me."

She stared at him and he sighed.

"I'm not making a move, Sara. Trust me, if it was Morgan or Tali or Warrick even, I'd tell them to do the same thing, okay?"

Sara narrowed her eyes for a second. "Okay." She wrapped her arms around Nick and Muse sped up slightly.

"Here we go..." Nick murmured, before muttering something to Muse who sped up again.

They spent almost an hour with Muse before Sara glanced at her watch. "Oh, god, Nicky it's six, we really, really need to get back or even you won't be able to talk us out of trouble."

"Okay." Nick agreed. "Sounds like a plan. Let go."

Sara obeyed and Nick slid off the horse, helping her down. She staggered suddenly. "Oh!"

He laughed. "You'll get used to the shaky legs. You should be fine by the time we get home. D'you mind grabbing my bag, I'll put Muse away."

"Sure." Sara nodded, unable to wipe the smile off of her face.

Nick was done in minutes and they ran for the leaving bus, catching it just in time. They ran down the street to Sara's house, tumbling through the door at six thirty exactly.

"We're back!" Sara called.

"Perfect timing!" Laura sang back happily. "I just finished the lasagne."

Sara led Nick into the dining room and showed him to a place at the table. Her parents joined them as they ate, at first in silence, but it didn't last long.

"So, Nick, why were you invited to Atwater?" Laura asked with interest.

"English and sports." Nick replied automatically. "I write, from time to time and I enjoy sports."

"What do you play?" James asked.

"Um, mainly football and baseball, but I'll have a go at pretty much anything." Nick smiled. Then he paused. "Um, Mr and Mrs Sidle? While we were walking, Sara mentioned how she'd never seen a horse in real life before and how she likes them. I was wondering if it would be okay if I took her to Carlos' Ranch for riding lessons?"

"I'm sorry, Nick, we can't really afford lessons, they're very expensive." Laura said sadly.

"Okay... Maybe I could teach her? I um...I have a horse." Nick admitted.

James' eyes bulged. "You have a...a horse?"

Nick nodded sheepishly. "I grew up on a ranch, sir. We brought some horses with us; we keep them at Carlos' Ranch."

"You want to teach Sara to ride?" Laura frowned.

"I've always wanted to." Sara added softly.

Nick nodded at her. "I've been riding since I could pretty much since I could walk. It just came with the lifestyle. It would be perfectly safe, and wouldn't cost you anything. Plus it would keep Muse happy. I haven't been around as much with school and stuff."

James considered it for a moment, and Sara glanced at the table. She very highly doubted that her dad would let her learn, just out of principle. "That actually sounds like a good idea, if it's okay with your parents."

Nick grinned. "I'm sure it will be, but you can phone them if you want. Thank you, Mr. Sidle."

"I will call them, and please, it's James." He nodded.

"And call me Laura." Sara's mom nodded.

Nick smiled, and Sara marvelled at the way he had smoothly wrapped himself around her parent's fingers.

CSIVCSIVCSIV

"Thanks for the lift!" Greg grinned at Ryan's dad who smiled.

"No problem. I have to get back to work, so stay out of trouble."

"Yes, sir!" Greg saluted, consequently wobbling on his crutch.

Ryan's dad rolled his eyes and left Greg, Warrick, Tali and Archie in Ryan's house. There were only five seats in the car, so Morgan had volunteered to walk with Ryan and Emily.

"So this is where Ryan lives?" Warrick nodded appreciatively. "Small but nice."

Greg nodded. "Trouble is, Ryan's the only OCD among them. His mom likes things tidy so it's not usually too much of a problem, but Emily's always leaving stuff everywhere. Not always her own stuff. It's quite funny, drives him mad."

"I can imagine." Tali giggled slightly, looking around.

"Let's go sit down, we can wait in the living room." Greg decided. A few minutes later, the door flew open.

"We won!" Morgan and Emily sung, dancing into the apartment, Emily on Morgan's back. "We won, we won!"

Ryan staggered into the apartment. "You...stole...a bicycle...I...ran..."

"I did not steal it. I bought it. Someone wanted five dollars for it, so I agreed." Morgan shrugged. "Besides, it was a pretty rubbish bike."

Ryan glared at her, but the playful glint in his eye was fairly evident.

"How'd you get Emily on the bike?" Tali frowned.

"I was a monkey!" Emily cried happily. "Not allowed to let go!"

"You can let go now, if you want." Morgan smiled, and the girl slid around so Morgan was carrying her on the front.

"Who wants to keep us company tonight?" Greg asked.

Ryan shrugged. "We could order pizza, watch a few movies, look after Trouble..."

"Sounds good. I'm in, all I had planned at home was looking after myself anyway, mom and Johnny went to Lake Mead for the day, they won't be back 'til like eleven." Morgan nodded.

"I'll call my grandma but she'll be fine with it." Warrick grinned.

"Already on the phone!" Tali grinned.

"I got family coming over but they don't arrive until like, seven." Archie shrugged. "I'm good until then."

"Perfect!" Greg grinned.

Then all settled around in Ryan's comfy living room. "Shall we watch a movie?" Ryan asked.

"Oh, Ayal, Ayal!" Emily cried.

"No!" Ryan said firmly. "No."

Emily's face fell to a pout and she huffed dramatically, folding her arms and leaning into Morgan.

"Hmm...how about X-Men?" Greg wondered.

Ryan rolled his eyes. He raised the pitch of his voice. "Mommy, when you left Ryan in charge we watched X-Men!"

"Good point." Greg nodded.

"What about... Shrek the Third?" Morgan asked.

"I don' like Shrek." Emily murmured sadly.

"Okay, not Shrek!" Morgan declared, and Emily grinned up at her adoringly.

"Oh, what about Bolt!" Tali asked.

"Yay!" Emily clapped her hands together. Ryan considered for a moment.

"Fine."

Everyone gave their agreement, Warrick a little reluctantly.

Half-way through the movie Greg called for pizza, and they happily ate and watched.

"I hate this bit." Morgan sniffed. "He thinks she replaced him!"

Greg turned around to 'shush' his girlfriend but instead he blinked. "Are you crying?"

"No! Shh!" Morgan snapped, blushing.

When the screen went black, Warrick grinned. "That was a lot better than I thought it would be."

"Bolt!" Emily murmured sleepily.

"Half six...time to get ready for bed, Ems." Ryan announced.

"I'm not tired!" she protested.

"Can I help you get ready for bed please?" Morgan asked, and Emily considered for a second.

"Yes! This way!" she dragged Morgan towards her bedroom happily.

"Morgan should have a little sister." Tali smiled.

"I gotta go, guys, I'm sorry." Archie sighed.

"Bye!" they chorused.

"B-bye!" Morgan and Emily sang from the bedroom.

"I think I've been cursed." Greg declared.

"You know, I am actually tempted to agree." Warrick grinned.

"You're doomed, Greg. Doomed. And we're doomed to go down with you." Tali added. "All in favour of abandoning Greg before we all die?"

"I!" Ryan put up his hand.

"I!" Warrick nodded.

"I!" Tali added.

"I!" Morgan cried from the bedroom.

"I!" Emily giggled.

"Okay, fine!" Greg scowled. "I'll just hang around with Nick and Sara."

Ryan put on his best Texan accent. "I."

Tali nodded. "In her absence I say 'I' for Sara."

Greg sighed. "Fine. I'll just have to go off myself."

Tali slapped him on the back of the head. "Don't say that!"

"Ow! I did get knocked out today, y'know! Again..." Greg sighed.

"Sorry." Tali said softly.

A little while later Morgan emerged alone from Emily's bedroom. "Her teeth are cleaned, her pyjamas are on, her story has been read, she has had her glass of water and she is asleep."

"How the hell did you do that?" Ryan complained.

"I just asked her." Morgan smiled, before sliding into a seat next to Greg.

He couldn't help but smile at her. "Now can we watch X-Men?"

Ryan shrugged. "All in favour?" A chorus of "I"s flew around the room. "Okay, wait here."

He ran back into the room with a large box about a meter squared and a handful of spoons.

"What is that?" Greg frowned as Ryan prised open the box.

"My birthday present from my dad's brother. He works for an ice cream company..."

The others gaped at the tightly packed stacks of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream tubs.

"I am dreaming..." Morgan murmured.

"Ben and Jerry's? He works for Ben and Jerry's!" Tali cried softly.

"Love you Ryan!" Greg sang sweetly.

Ryan laughed. "I wanna save them, so is two each?"

"That's awesome!" Morgan nodded.

"I only ever get one like, once a year!" Warrick grinned.

Ryan laughed and turned on the TV, before running the leftovers back to the freezer.

"You know the only way this could be any better?" Morgan asked softly as the film played and they ate the ice cream.

"A foot massage?"

She rolled her eyes at Greg. "If Sara and Nick were here. And if Archie didn't go home."

"And if we didn't have detention for the rest of our lives, and if I wasn't a cripple, and if we didn't have school tomorrow and-"

"Okay, I get it." Morgan snapped, and Greg bit his lip.

"I'm sorry, I know what you mean."

Morgan looked at him and sighed, leaning against him. She turned and whispered softly into his ear. "I love you."

He smiled at her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her even closer. "I love you, too."

A bloodcurdling scream from Emily's room made everyone jump.

"She probably just had a nightmare. It happens a lot!" Ryan sighed and made his way to the bedroom. He came out with a sobbing Emily attached to his front.

"What happened?" Morgan asked.

Emily looked at Morgan and reached out toward her. Morgan took the crying toddler off of Ryan who sighed.

"Usla was gonna eat me!" she sobbed into Morgan's shoulder.

"Ursula from the little mermaid." Ryan mouthed.

"Oh, baby!" Morgan rocked her for a minute. "It's okay, I've got you. Ryan wouldn't let her eat you, and neither would I, okay?"

The girl hiccupped and settled into Morgan's arms, and within minutes she was asleep.

"Poor thing." Morgan lamented. She glanced at the clock. "It's nine, I have to go."

Warrick and Tali both nodded. "Sorry."

"We'll see you tomorrow." Ryan nodded and Greg took Emily off of Morgan. She smiled and hugged Ryan, before quickly kissing both Emily and Greg on the cheek.

"Great. I get the same action as Ryan's three year old sister!" Greg cried quietly and Morgan rolled her eyes, before kissing him passionately on the lips.

"Better?"

"Much." Greg stared at her with even more adoration that Emily did. "Thank you."

She rolled her eyes and left with Tali and Warrick. The three of them made their way down the dark but relatively busy streets. Warrick and Tali were walking home and Morgan caught the bus outside of Tali's house so they walked together for a while.

"Should we cut down the alley?" Tali asked.

Warrick sighed. "It's a bad idea but it cuts about five minutes off the journey."

Morgan considered. "Looks like there're a few drunks down there, I'd prefer not."

Tali nodded, and Warrick agreed so they continued to walk down the street.

"Oh, that's perfect." Warrick hissed, looking down at the floor.

"What?" Morgan asked.

He closed his eyes but it was too late.

"Hey, Brown!"

"Shit..." he whispered. The two girls looked at him and he mouthed two words that explained everything. "Gene Jaycobs."

Morgan's eyes widened and she took a small step back, whereas Tali's narrowed and her fists flexed slightly, ready to defend herself or her friends if necessary.

"I don't want any trouble tonight, man, I'm just going home." Warrick protested.

"Oh really?"

"Yeah."

"Well then, maybe these two bitches wanna party?" Jaycobs grinned.

"Or maybe not." Morgan responded edgily.

"I could show you the time of your life." Jaycobs grinned as he and his gang started walking in. Warrick's heart fell when he recognised half of them as the older brothers of Gene Jaycobs' gang. The one you really didn't want to cross.

"No thanks." Morgan repeated, stepping slightly closer to Warrick and Tali.

"Aw, come on, babe!" a tall guy who looked about twenty grabbed Morgan's wrist and pulled her towards him.

Despite recognising the guy Warrick snapped into action, wrenching the man's hand off Morgan's and dragging her back towards him. "She said no." He growled.

"How 'bout you?" Gene leered at Tali, who shook her head.

"Go to hell." She scowled.

"Oh, these girls don't wanna play!" the guy who grabbed Morgan lamented with a grin. "Gene, you wanna learn what to do with girls who don't wanna play? You wanna be one of us right?"

"Hell yeah!" Jaycobs laughed.

"James, no!" Warrick scowled.

"Just 'cause you know my name doesn't give you right to say it!" the guy spat. He turned to Morgan with a sickening smile. "But if we're going down that route, my name's Demetrius James. What's yours?"

Warrick's hand remained on her arm as she took another step backwards.

"I think you should leave now." Tali said strongly.

"I don't think you should tell me what to do, bitch!" James growled, walking over to Tali, but she didn't even flinch. "Oh, Brown, you got yourself a tough one. I can fix that..." he put a hand on Tali's wrist but in one short sharp movement she threw him off.

"Don't touch me." She hissed.

"Oh, she can defend herself...that makes this even more fun." James laughed.

"Leave them alone!" Warrick ordered.

"We do what we like, Brown. This isn't Gene's little gang of sophomores, bullies in the playground. This is the real deal."

"What are you doing here; this isn't your part of town." Warrick asked with a frown. James stepped forward.

"I told you. We do what we want." James spat. "So I advise you to let go of your little bitch here before I hurt you."

"No." Warrick said strongly, though inside he had to admit he was more than a little scared. He knew that however much Gene Jaycobs bugged him and bullied him, Demetrius James was twice as bad.

James grabbed Warrick by the neck and shoved him into an alley. Warrick struggled but three other gang members held him back as James walked right up to Morgan. Tali stepped closer to Morgan.

"Leave her alone!"

"Why?"

"We just want to go home!" Tali insisted, her hand in her pocket. "Just let us go."

Gene rushed forwards and shoved his hand into her pocket, wrenching out her phone. "Making a call. Oh, looks like you dialled 911 wrong!" he laughed and showed his friends Tali's phone.

Calling: 912

Morgan's heart fell, and her eyes fell to the floor.

"Well, calling for help, we can't have that, can we?" James hissed. He leered at Morgan. "Get into the alley. Now."

She glanced at Warrick who shook his head.

James sighed angrily, and shoved Morgan into the alley, two other gang members dragging Tali with them.

"Get off me!" Morgan snapped, but her voice shook.

"It's okay to be scared. You should be scared." James laughed. He turned to Gene. "I think you can figure out how it works, but in case you don't..." he pinned Morgan against a wall by her arms.

"NO!" Warrick hollered. "Leave her alone!"

Tali opened her mouth but a large gloved hand shoved over it and she was dragged into a pair of arms twice her strength. She struggled, but however good she was at self defence, she wasn't Ziva.

Jaycobs punched Warrick in the face, sending him to the floor and kicked him once in the ribs. "I want you to watch. Shut the hell up!"

"GET OFF HER! SHE'S NEVER HURT ANYONE, LEAVE HER ALONE! SHE'S JUST A KID!" Warrick roared in anger and fear, but the only response from the gang was to cover his mouth.

"Don't, please!" Morgan whispered but James kissed her on the lips. She turned away but he turned her head back towards him. She tried to push him off with her now free hand but he was too strong. He pulled away and knocked her knees out from beneath her. With a cry she fell to the floor, and James' hands pulled at the top of her skirt.

Morgan screamed bloody murder and kicked both of her legs into James' groin. As he groaned she scrambled to her feet and Tali shook the hand off her mouth.

"MORGAN, RUN! GET HELP, RUN!" she screamed.

Morgan hesitated, but Warrick nodded, managing to get the hand off his own mouth. "Morgan, GO!"

She dodged past several gang members and sprinted for the exit of the alley, but a motorbike pulled up, blocking her way. She tried to dodge around the biker as well, but he stopped her, pulling off his helmet and pulling out a gun. She screamed again but after taking in the scene the biker moved his hand to a gentle grip on her shoulder. He pointed the gun at the gang member covering Tali's mouth.

When he spoke, his voice was hard and cold, with an accent similar to Tali and Ziva's. "No one touches my sister. Get out of here."

"Who'd you think you are, big man?" James asked in anger, pulling out his own gun.

The biker fired one shot directly into the barrel that jammed James' gun completely and another that passed through James' jeans, missing his groin by a centimetre.

"I won't miss again. Let them go, now." He growled.

James shakily told his gang to let go of Tali and Warrick as he stared into the cold eyes of an enraged Ari Haswari.