Chapter 14: Goodbye (Part 1)

"You know something?" Selena frowned and slapped her rag on the counter. "I don't care." She crossed her arms and glared at the man standing before her. "And didn't I tell you that you're on bed rest?"

"You're not the boss of me," Kowalski scoffed, copying her stance, "and you're not a doctor."

"Dag gone it, Mikhail. You're as stubborn as a jackass."

"And so are you, but do I go around accusing you like that? No, no I don't."

Skipper sighed and dropped his head into his hands as Selena replied in a not so decent way.

"Yeah," he looked up at Marlene as the brunette placed two Styrofoam cups and joined the empty seat next to him, "I know. It's annoying."

Skipper gestured to the two fighting by the counter. "Please tell me they're going to stop sometime soon." Marlene had her head propped up on a hand and was looking over at the two before turning back to him.

"Don't count on it." Skipper sighed, picked up the cup and was about to take a sip when he paused, looked down at the black liquid and raised a brow at Marlene.

"What's this?" Marlene looked over at him with a raised brow of her own.

"Don't know what coffee looks like?" Skipper rolled his eyes and lowered the cup from his mouth.

"I mean, what are you doing giving me coffee?"

"I can't give you coffee?"

"Answer me, woman." Marlene frowned, placed her hands on the table and completely turned to him.

"Are you always this demanding?"

"Depends on who I'm speaking to." He shook the cup a bit. "Did you poison this?"

Marlene's jaw dropped in shock before she shook her head. "You're unbelievable." She slapped her hands on the table, picked up both Styrofoam cups and walked away. Skipper got up and grabbed her arm, holding her in place.

"Wait." He took a cup from her and looked up at her. "This is mine." Marlene placed her cup not so gently on the table and crossed her arms. "What's your problem now?" Skipper asked her after taking a sip, watching her tense up and frown.

"My problem? What is your problem? Is it so hard to do something normal for once, Skipper?"

Skipper took another sip before speaking. "What are you talking about?"

"It's simple, really. I offer coffee, you accept it, we sit down and we talk. No assassins, no poison, no missions, no random whatevers. Is that really so hard, Skipper?"

"Is that girl talk for discreetly asking me out on a date?"

"Oh gawd." Marlene groaned and threw her hands down. "You're insufferable!" She marched away angrily with fists by her sides before a chuckle and a hand stopped her.

"I'm kidding!" Skipper pulled her back as he placed his cup on the table and she glared at him moodily. "Come on. I was just kidding." She huffed and looked away. "That's adorable." Marlene's eyebrows furrowed as she turned to him, though a certain shade was crossing over her. "Okay, sorry. This is about last time, isn't it? Let's just say I was in a bad mood back then, okay? Can we forget about that?" Eyes narrowed in suspicion at his claim.

"Bad mood?"

Skipper held up his hands in surrender. "I'm also in no mood to discuss it," he smiled genuinely, dropped a hand to the chair and gestured her into it, "so if you would please join me for breakfast, milady?"

"I don't have a choice, do I?" Marlene murmured under her breath as she settled into the chair and reluctantly picked up her cup.

"Don't think so." Skipper answered with a grin, knowing full well that it wasn't directed to him. He picked up his cup and took another sip before sending Marlene a smile. "Did you make this?"

"Yes." The brunette continued in the same tone, watching her coffee instead of drinking it. The smile faltered on Skipper's face and he watched her.

"Marlene, what's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"You know," Skipper turned away, keeping his eye on her while taking another gulp, "you've been so hostile to me lately."

"Me?" Marlene placed a hand on her chest with an incredulous look on her face. "Hostile? You're talking to me about being hostile?"

"Yes, I believe I am."

Marlene shook her head in disbelief and looked away. "You're unbelievable. Just, unbelievable."

He leaned forward and placed a hand over hers, making sure that he had her complete attention before speaking. "You wanted to talk, so talk. What's bothering you?" She stared at him for a while before sighing and looking over at Selena. Skipper followed her gaze and back to her when she sighed again. "Well?"

"I kinda have the same thoughts as Kowalski."

"Which would be?"

Marlene shook her head. "I really shouldn't be saying this. I mean this is my best friend, right? She wouldn't do anything, wrong, would she?"

Skipper stared at her, his face a blank mask. Marlene bit her lip nervously and tapped her fingers on the table, waiting for him to reply. Just when she thought she was gong to break and burst out into random sentences, the man sighed and leaned back. "I'm not sure, Marlene. I mean," he shrugged and looked over at the two still arguing, but quietly now, "I don't know how the female works. It was just a day together after the rescue and then I had her shipped back." She was glad for his honesty, but at the same time a little upset that was all she could get to a solution. "Are you still hung on the desertion?" The woman smirked softly and nodded once. "Look, can we just forget about that and start over?" Without waiting for a reply, Skipper stuck out his hand to her. "Name's Skipper McGrath. You can call me Skipper." She eyed the hand suspiciously and Skipper couldn't help adding something else. "Don't worry, I don't bite."

"Well," she looked away with a pout, "I do."

"Well," he countered in the same tone with a heart melting grin, "I knew you worked at an animal shelter, but I didn't know you were one yourself. Shall I call animal control?"

"Very funny."

"I live for it."

"Yeah right."

"What? I can't be funny?"

"You call that funny? That was just lame."

"Alright, Miss Comedian. What do you have?"

She wriggled her nose and stuck her tongue out at him. "You can't even give me a good nickname."

Skipper sighed and held his hands up. "You're right. I'm horrible. I can't make you laugh. I give."

"Just like that?"

"Yep." He nodded. "What's my punishment?"

"Are you serious?" He nodded again, trying hard not to laugh at the incredulous expression on her face. "Seriously?"

Skipper frowned. "Marlene..." He was about to add something else, possibly regarding his 'soldier's word', when she giggled. He resisted the urge to laugh along with her and put on a confused look. "What's so funny?" She merely shook her head and placed her hands over her mouth in a gesture to contain her laughter. "Marlene?" He called gently, still confused though there was a hint of amusement in it.

"I can't believe it!" She dropped her hands to her stomach and held it. "I did it!"

"Did what?"

"I just did!"

"Uh hmm." He nodded rubbing his jaw before pulling his mouth into a smirk. "You did, did you?" She paused when she saw the look on his face and blinked.

"What just happened?"

"You laughed, dollface."

It took a few seconds before the Californian's eyes grew wide and she gasped. "You tricked me! I really thought..."

"I know." He grinned again, almost making her forget about her humiliation. "But it was worth it. I've never heard you laugh before. It's adorable." He was rewarded with the sight of the blushing female gingerly sipping her coffee with her head bowed.

Selena sighed and ran a hand through her hair, twirling it at the ends. "You are a pacifist. Selena, you are a pacifist. Don't kill him. You can't kill him. A pacifist doesn't kill people."

"Are you alright?"

She snapped up at Kowalski and snarled. "Of course I'm alright, idiot." He shrugged and sat down, causing Selena to slap her face and sit down with a groan.

"You sure you're alright?" She looked up at him slowly, stuck her tongue out and dropped her head to the table. "Alright. If you say so." She mumbled something and hugged her head.

"Some," everyone turned to the door as Kyle stumbled in with Andy leaning into her as he struggled to stand, "somebody help!" The boy looked like a horde of elephants had decided to go through him.

"What the." Selena gasped as she stared at the boy, the same reaction coming from Kowalski.

"Private?" Skipper spoke under his breath, blinked in surprise and got to his feet, along with Marlene, who was equally as shocked as the man. But she was puzzled by what she heard Skipper say. Marlene frowned at this, but she got distracted as Skipper marched over to the two.

The boy hobbled in with Kyle in tow, refusing any help from her now, before giving Skipper a meek smile. "'Elo." Even that single word was hard to say as his chest heaved. He looked only moments from collapsing, which happened just as Rico and Barbie ran in after the two. Kyle let out a scream as Andy dropped to the side, caught by Rico.

"Over here!" Selena waved the rag to a booth after clearing the table she and Kowalski were currently at.

"I'm fine." Andy mumbled, annoyed, as he was placed on the table. He tried to move away while ignoring the pain shooting through him but Selena held him down. "I said I'm fine."

"Cold compression, man. A kit too." Selena patted Rico on the chest, and the man dashed off.

"No, wait-" Andy tried getting up again but Selena leaned forward and stared at him.

"You listen here. I know pain when I see it, and I know you're in it. So shut it and lay down."

"But-"

"It's not a suggestion, kid." Andy opened his mouth to retort, but Selena silence him with a glare. He laid his head down and watched quietly as Selena examined his torso and stomach. "I don't see a reason to call the hospital. No signs of internal bleeding, that's for sure. Slight bruising," Selena spoke up, "but otherwise fine."

Andy rolled his eyes. "I'm telling you, I'm fine. Just a little dizzy." Selena raised a brow at him.

"How's that?"

"They were holding me upside down. Not a good feeling."

"I hear you."

"Can I-" Andy sat up but Selena placed a hand on him before he could jump off.

"No, you cannot. I refuse. You look horrible."

"Thank you." The boy replied sarcastically and glared at her. She ignored him, grabbed the kit from Rico and started pulling out the needed supplies.

Skipper was frowning all this time and the carefree man Marlene had talked to minutes was gone. In his place was the authoritarian figure New York had come to respect and fear. "What happened, boy?"

Andy looked over at Kyle, whose gaze dropped in shame. This caught Selena's attention and she glanced at Kyle from the corner of her eyes, though she didn't stop tending to Andy.

The boy turned back to Skipper. "We had a run-in with a few friends..."

"And then what? You had a friendly tussle?"

"Something like that..." The boy muttered and looked away from him.

The man's eyes grew smaller and his expression more firm. "Where?"

Barbie shook her head and crossed her arms. "Don't bother. It's already taken care of." Selena looked up at that but she didn't say anything as she placed the ice pack from Rico on Andy's left eye, which had started to sport a bruise. She placed his hand over it and let go of the pack when she was sure he had a hold on it.

"Kyle." The redhead didn't look up when Marlene placed a hand on her shoulder. "You alright, sweetheart?"

"No," Andy answered for her angrily, gripping the ice pack tightly, "she's not."

"Andy," the girl lifted her head with a sigh and shook her head, "I,"

"They were touching her, those bas," Kyle slapped his arm.

"Andy!"

"Ow..." The boy groaned and held his arm, placing the ice pack there instead.

"I'm sorry..." The girl mumbled softly, blinking her eyes a bit before looking away.

Andy's frown dropped and he turned to her. "Kyle?" His expression softened. "Kyle, are you..."

"I'm s-sorry."

"It's," the boy uncomfortably looked away, "it's fine."

"But it's my fault!"

"Explain, then," the two turned to Selena, who was watching them intently, "how this is your fault."

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have run off. If I didn't, Andy never would have followed me and gotten into the fight with the boys and-"

"Kalina." The redhead blinked up at Kowalski, who had spoken in a stern tone. "That's enough. He's fine and you're here. That's the end of story."

Selena's mouth curled into a low sneer and she looked to the side. "It's the end alright..." Kyle licked her lips and dared a step forward, watching her guardian.

"Are you, are you mad?"

"Oh, I'm not mad." The Asian started off calmly before her eyes darkened. "I'm pissed off."

"I'm sorry."

"I am sick and tired of making sure you're safe, but you don't seem to appreciate it. If you do want to die, please tell me so I can just stop. No more caring, no more looking after you, and best of all, no more," she took a step forward as the coldness of her tone seemed to seep into Kyle, "extra," another step causing her to take one back unconsciously, "baggage."