Chapter 6 – Separation
The snow was already fallen with an inch already covering the cobble stone streets as they exit out of parliament.
"Well," Skinner looks out to the parley visible streets, "nothing that will stop me from going home," Skinner shouts as he walks along side Mina towards the black gates where a member of the Metropolitan Police is standing guard.
"Visiting with a sick auntie," Mina stops next to him in front waiting for the rest of their party.
"No the pub just down the street," Skinner smiles and winks at Mina, "Want to join me?"
Mina rolls her eyes as she turns to Steed with his arms full of wrap folders, suitcase and a traveling case. "Would you mind holding these folders for me," Steed nervously asks not wanting to come across and rub her the wrong way as he did know about her 'unique' quality.
Mina holds the folders as he leaves the case and bag on the snowy ground. He struggles through his pockets looking for something he couldn't find, "Oh my, I seem to have misplaced my ID."
Nemo and Tom reach the group with Henry lagging behind. Henry in defense of the cold wind places his hands in his pockets uses his shoulders as a shield for his head.
"Right here," Tom reaches over and pulls a small leather book out of Steeds front vest pocket that was left to the open after unbutton his coat in his search. While leaning over he rubs up against Mina who held a little smile towards his ability on noticing small details.
"Oh, thank you young man," Steed cheerfully takes it from Tom's hand and shows the guard.
As the gates open, Tom, without notice to anyone else separates from the group and walks towards the main street.
Skinner runs and then purposely stops to slid in the slush while laughing, "see you tomorrow my freaky darlings."
"Sober I hope!" Nemo yells as the carriage they arrived in pulls up. One of his men jumps off from the back to whisper something in his ear. A smile creeps on his face, "It seems we will be making one stop Mr. Steed."
"Oh, very good," Steed takes the folders out of Mina's arms and tried to rebalance himself.
Mina's vision became distract by something further down the street. "Goodbye," her deep voice is heard as she walks away.
As Nemo helps Steed up into the carriage he turns before stepping up himself to see the doctor is nowhere in sight.
Mina enters the carriage waiting for her across the street. Inside Tom greats her with his boyish smile.
As the carriage began to move she instantly leans to the window to give the driver directions.
" I told him already," Tom pulls her down in to his lap,
"Sorry," Mina slips back into her spot next to him, "I'm not used to-"
"-Someone else." One thing Tom had learn about her during their developing relationship in the past six months was their similarities at being a loner that took care of themselves if not everyone else.
"I'm sorry I can't tell you about…that," his punctuation of word was the best he could come out with.
"Will you eventually," Mina asks in a understanding manor. She too held secrets from lovers as she remembering the surprise Dorian carried on his face when she inhaled a man in front of the league.
Tom smiles at her and nods his head for yes as she brings her face to his and kisses him softly.
Skinner walks inside the noisy pub right in time for some drunk to be thrown across the room and be jump by another guy. "Ahhh Home indeed." This was indeed his place, a place even the most unusual characters could have a pint and not be look at…well no one really look at anyone else here.
There are the usuals: over weight men who waste their family wages on beverages and pass out, if lucky on the table if not the floor. Black hearted middle class husbands that were picking up whores to take into the back ally to kinky things that their stuck up wives wouldn't.
Skinner was never one to pick up one but if business were slow for the night, these sweaty and dirty women who have no shame would hit on him.
Tonight he felt like going outside his comfort zone. With the amount of money in his coat pocket from his current status he figures it can be put to good use.
He glances around as he sits on a stool at the cheap worn down bar. Drifting his eyes back to the fight as the man that was thrown earlier took back control. While he was slamming the others head into the wall a pretty white face blond hair woman comes into Skinner's view. Ignoring the violence she leans up against the wall and smiles at him.
The snow quickly turns into a blizzard with cutting winds into the bare face of the gentle doctor. He tries to shield his face with his coat but the only way was to leave it unbuttoning leaving his chest open to the elements. Only a moment at a time is he able to peak through to see his were he is. His memory recognizes what is before him. There peering over the top of a stonewall is the statue of Venus.
Happy Thanksgiving all! I will be in Pittsburgh and not back until Monday. So please pardon the delay until the next chapter!