Authors Note - Hi, thanks for all the reviews, its true what they say, they have all given me extra incentive to write. Hello to all the new followers, hope I can continue to do the characters justice. Same as always I'm not American so if some of the terminology is wrong I apologise and I do not own any of the characters.
Chapter 11 - The Night of the Living Dead
Breathy screams and panting filled the air.
"Mmmfph" the brunette threw her hands down smacking the head that was currently wedged between her legs.
"ahhhh Ni ...Ni ..Nic"
The wild haired woman smiled up "you enjoying yourself?!"
"Mmmmmmm ... Nic ...phone"
As the words registered Nicky wiped her chin on her arm and crawled up, "you mean to say you stop a master at her work cos you want to ring someone?"
"No, your phone, it's been ringing non stop"
"Ah if it's important they can leave a message" Nicky said before making her way back under the covers
"Nic, no it could be someone it trouble"
Letting out a groan and muttering under her breath Nicky checked her mobile
7 missed calls and 3 voicemails
"Shit"
Diving out of bed she was already dialling her message box as Lorna scrambled out of bed after her.
"What is it?" she said hanging in the blondes arm?
"Well if you'd let me listen I'd know"
The first two the caller had just hung up, leaving no message.
The third however simply stated
"Nicky come sort out your girl"
Simple, to the point and yet highly confusing to the intoxicated cop who knew her girl had been in her bed for a good part of the evening. Following her colleagues lead, Nicky had arranged a meal for Lorna to celebrate her upcoming days off. By arranging a meal this involved calling for take out and picking up some beers but the sentiment was still the same.
Squinting at her phone she checked the time of the missed calls, the last one had registered ten minutes ago. Whilst still trying to piece together what was going on the phone rang again, Nicky answered.
"Finally!" the voice at the other end did not sound amused.
"Boo?"
"Nic get your scrawny ass down her and sort out Vause, she's..." there were some muffled sounds in the background.
"Look ... just get here"
Panic consumed Nicky, she quickly threw on some clothes and shoes, whilst trying to explain to Lorna that she needed to get to Reds. Lorna tried ringing Alex's mobile while Nicky dressed only to reach her voicemail. "Do you want me to come with you?" she enquired, but Nicky was already heading out of the door. "I'll ring you when I know" she shouted over her shoulder.
Once on the street she quickly hailed a cab barking out the address of the bar which had been like a second home to her. Whilst in the cab she tried ringing Alex's phone again without success. Nicky gave the driver a $20 and didn't hang around for the change. Bursting through the doors she didn't know what to expect, was Alex hurt? She'd not seen any paramedics or police, that was good right?
Making her way through the crowd she spotted Boo standing guard at the end of a booth. Slumped up against the wall she saw Alex, beer bottles and shot glasses littered the table, her phone and some crumpled notes also lay scattered there.
"Thank fuck you're here" Boo said grabbing Nicky to the side.
"Red is this far from busting her arse, she's been in here all evening, we've not got any sense out of her for the past hour, the bar stopped serving her ages ago but she's been flirting with any bit of skirt that would buy her a drink. Red dragged her and some woman out of the restroom before they got too far, Red thinks they were going for a quick shag but I'm not so sure" Boo said mimicking snorting a line, "we seem to have had the violent stage shortly after" she said whilst kicking at the remains of a smashed glass on the floor "and now well.." She allowed Nicky to cast her eyes over her friend, her usually immaculate makeup looking decidedly less fresh, tear marks clearly visible down her cheek.
"Just get her home, I'll calm Red"
Still not sure what had reduced her to her current state Nicky slid into the booth next to Alex
"Yo stretch, how's it hanging?"
Alex lifted her head up from her slumped position. Squinting she took in who was next to her. Seeing it was Nicky she let her head fall back, accidentally cracking her head against the wall due to her uncoordinated state.
"I'm just peachy" she slurred "what are you doing her?"
"Ah you know just thought I'd slide by"
Realising that she was not going to divulge the reason for her bender Nicky thought it best for her to get Alex out of there first and ask questions later, especially when she could see Red eyeing her from behind the counter. Grabbing her arm and slinging it over her shoulder Nicky tried to move the much taller woman, their disparity in size made the journey from the back of the bar to the street a comedic scene, fortunately Boo stepped up in full bouncer mode, grabbing her other arm and between them they managed to lurch out on to the sidewalk.
"Thanks Boo, I got it from here" Nicky said whilst propping Alex up against the wall
"Tell Ma I'll cover any damage"
Holding Alex upright with one arm Nicky fished in her pocket for her phone so she could call Lorna and update her.
As she did Alex lunged forward unceremoniously emptying her stomach contents over the floor.
"Shit man, watch the boots, ... better out than in I guess"
Happy that she was no longer a vomit risk Nicky once again slung Alex's arm over her shoulder, steadying her with an arm round her waist and set off walking towards Alex's apartment.
The journey was only a few blocks but between stopping for Alex to retch, sway or just stop on the spot for no reason it took close to an hour for Nicky to get Alex back to her apartment building. She could have cried with delight when she saw Lorna pacing worriedly on the pavement outside. The pair of them helped Alex up the stairs, grateful to finally reach her apartment.
"OK Lurch where's your keys?"
Alex fumbled in her pockets and then just looked up blankly.
"Come on I need a piss where are your keys?"
Tiring of the evening Alex sat herself down against the door,
"Jeez Alex if you wanted my hands in your pants you just had to ask" Nicky began rooting through her jeans pockets and then her jacket pockets but to no avail, she then realised there was no phone, no wallet, no keys. Concerned she grabbed Alex by the chin turning her face towards her
"Alex, were you robbed?"
Still remaining silent she shook her head, Nicky recalled seeing the phone and some money on the table at Reds, "shit I'll have to go back, will you be ok here with her?" she asked Lorna, the petite brunette nodded an enthusiastic response "sure we'll be fine, you go"
Nicky spun on her heel and ran back to the bar, sure enough Boo had placed the phone and the money behind the bar for safe keeping along with Alex's work bag.
Lorna was the first to break the silence, her strong Brooklyn accent strangely comforting. She had opted to sit next to Alex on the floor,
"You having a rough day hun?"
Not expecting a response she was startled when Alex replied "like you wouldn't believe" knowing that Nicky had said their shift has been uneventful she figured that it was unrelated to work, she wracked her brain as to the conversation she had with Nicky earlier, "awwww did Sylvie not like your cooking?" Alex held back an involuntary sob at hearing her name "wouldn't know, we've split up" the words had barely left her lips when Nicky appeared in the corridor seemingly having sprinted the entire way back.
Once she had picked up her belongings and left a suitable amount of hers and Alex's money to cover Reds costs she had glanced at Alex's phone, the screen was still intact, which given the fate of the bottle, was a bonus.
17 missed calls
3 text messages
Mom: Hey sweet cheeks hope your shift wasn't too bad, enjoy your days off, I worry, you get tired so rest up! mom xxx
Piper: Hey Alex, was so great to see you earlier, the book is amazing! You'll have to think of a suitable way for me to thank you ;-)
Sylvie: Alex where the fuck are you? and answer your fucking phone
On hearing her friend approaching Alex returned to silence, her head hurt and her throat burned, she just wanted to curl up in a ball and to be left alone.
Nicky found the right key and let them all in, getting her friend a glass of water she handed over her phone, knowing that all items on the home screen were displayed until the phone was unlocked Nicky commented
"I think you need to call your missus, she's been ringing off the hook"
Lorna silenced Nicky with a hand on her arm and a slight shake of her head,
The three sat in silence until Lorna gently ushered Alex to her bed, she managed to wrestle her boots and jeans off her, opting to leave her to sleep in her underwear and t shirt while Nicky searched out some painkillers for the morning and a sick bucket just in case.
"It will all seem better in the morning" Lorna soothed, whilst wiping Alex's face with the flannel Nicky had found.
"I think we should let her get some rest"
"You think she'll be alright?"
"Yeah, we can stay with her if you like?"
"Thanks you guys I'll be fine" Alex croaked out, not quite able to lift her head from the pillow.
"If you're sure? I'll ring you tomorrow" Nicky said punching Alex lightly on the leg.
Closing the door lightly Nicky and Lorna made their way back to Nickys.
"What the fuck happened there? I mean I know Sylvie was being a bitch with her cos of her shifts but shit man I've never seen Alex like that, fuck it shit me up I'm telling you" Nicky rambled on, the gravity of the situation having cleared her head of the alcohol she had consumed hours earlier
"she said they had broken up" Lorna added.
"Fuck man"
Lorna knew this was hard on Nicky, she never referred to Alex by her first name, ever. She also knew that she had introduced Alex to Sylvie. Hugging her girlfriend she again reassured that things would seem better in the morning.
