I had so much nervous energy that I was beginning to annoy myself with my twitching. Binkie and Zero both had headsets on and were watching the take down. I was offered to watch and listen with them, but I didn't think I could stomach it. We had commandeered the conference room off on the fifth floor and they had set up laptops. I had been pacing until I hurt too much. Then, I had plopped down in one of the extra-large leather office chairs and tried to play some games on my phone. That had lasted a little over an hour until I got stuck on a level and had to shut it off. I started twirling in the chair until I became dizzy. Now I was curled into the chair with my legs crossed in front of me and shaking while I made tiny mircobraids in my hair.
"Steph, seriously you look like you are going to combust. How about we go and find something to eat?" Binkie slipped his headphones off and tapped Zero letting him know that he was going to be moving away.
"I just can't seem to sit still. I'm trying not to freak out." I smiled weakly and watched as he stood and walked over to me. He smiled down and leaned over the chair, a hand on either arm rest.
"Peanut, there is nothing to worry about. The guys are good at what they do and so far everything has gone off without a hitch." He reached up and tapped my nose before standing back and offering me his hand. "Come on. If we can't find something to eat, we can find something to keep your mind off of it."
I took his hand and he pulled me to my feet. I winced, stretching the sore muscles and my still recovering body. Curling an arm around my waist he led me into the break room. I squeaked as he picked me up and set me on the counter next to the fridge.
"Alright, we have sandwiches, fruit, some weird looking gel shit.." Binkie was bent over the fridge, pulling out a plastic container. He looked at me raising an eyebrow before pulling back the lid enough to smell it. "Holy mother of god…that is NOT edible." He gagged, which made me giggle, and shoved it back into the fridge.
"Junior is on this new organic kick." I laughed as Binkie shivered in disgust. "Remember the Wheat grass tofu kale pudding?"
"That shit was fowl." He laughed again and stood in front of me. "How set are you on staying on five?"
"I don't know." I shrugged, picking at a piece of lint on my shirt. "I just don't want to be far, just in case."
"Want to go down to my apartment?" His eyebrow raised and his lips curled into a playful smirk. "I have pizza and Tastycakes and some new games on my Xbox."
"Binkie, that sounds perfect." I placed a hand on either shoulder and slowly slid off of the counter. "We should let Zero know, just in case."
"Why don't you head towards the elevator and I will run over and let him know." He ruffled my hair and I nodded. I watched, slowly making my way towards the elevator, as he sprinted back towards the conference room. He beat me to the elevators, and was holding the doors open when I stepped on.
"Show off." I teased, poking his side. He laughed and curled me under his arm, kissing the top of my head.
"Zero is going to keep monitoring and will keep us updated." He pulled out his keys as the door opened and we strolled toward his apartment. "Nothing really going on yet. They are all in position and are just waiting for the moment to move in."
I nodded and followed him in, making a beeline to his giant overly plush sofa. I had been in all of the apartments here, and Binkie's was one of my favorite (not counting Ranger's apartment because let's be honest it was insane). His sofa felt like a giant marshmallow covered with soft chocolate suade. He had added giant throw pillows and a mink throw when we were binge watching Supernatural a few months ago. His television was huge and took up the majority of the wall across from the sofa, complete with every game system I have ever seen.
"I'll preheat the oven. Do you want to pick out a game?" He called, walking into the kitchen.
"Okay." I called, pulling myself up and browsing his bookcases filled with games. "Wanna play Minecraft?" I called, pulling the box from the shelf and flipping it over.
"Sure." He smiled and handed me a bottle of water and taking the game from my hands. "Grab your remote. It should be charged up."
My pink xbox controller hung from a hook on the wall surrounded by a dozen or so other controllers. He had gotten it for me when we started playing Halo together and I found that the regular ones didn't fit my hands. Hector had bedazzled and customized a wireless kids' remote. It was mostly pink, with a hand painted pin up girl and the word 'Bombshell' scripted across it. I had tackled Hector when he showed it to me, peppering his face with kisses. The guys were horrified when I had, thinking that he was going to flip out. Instead he had flipped me over and tickled me until I cried Uncle.
"How you feeling?" Binkie patted the seat next to him as he started up the console. I plopped down and curled underneath the throw.
"Sore. Tired." I shrugged and pressed the power switch. "I feel weird, but I can't seem to put my finger on exactly what's different."
"Well, maybe it's the fact that you have a chunk of Diesel inside of you." He laughed and squeezed my knee. I groaned and smacked him with one of the huge throw pillows. "That's not fair." He pouted, tucking the pillow under his arm. "I can't even retaliate."
"In a couple weeks." I winked.
We played Minecraft and ate pizza for a couple hours before Zero called.
"Status." Binkie called out, putting the phone on speaker for both of us to hear.
"They have the Butcher and his machine. No causalities on our end." Zero's voice wafted through the air and immediately my body released the tension it was holding.
"What's their ETA?" Binkie's eyes never left the television screen.
"They have some ends to tie up. Diesel and his friends have to do whatever voodoo shit they do before they can leave the area." I heard Zero tapping away on his laptop, obviously he had put us on speaker as well.
"Is everyone okay?" I tried to make my voice seem strong and steady, but I could hear the fear in it. It must have sounded really bad because Binkie pulled me into his arms and kissed the top of my head.
"There are some injuries, but nothing fatal." It felt like he was hiding something.
"Who?" I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
"Shit, Steph." Zero sighed and I could hear him run a hand over his face. "Santos and Cal have the worst of the injuries. They're being bussed as we speak. Bobby is with them. The rest are fairly superficial and are going to be coming back here for treatment."
My heart seized in my chest.
"We need to go." I whispered, pulling myself from Binkie's arms and standing. "Which hospital?"
"Steph.." Zero started to speak, but I interrupted.
"WHICH HOSPITAL?" I was shocked at the iciness that my tone carried.
"Saint Francis." His voice was dejected.
"Thanks Zero. Keep us posted. We are heading out." Binkie hung up the phone and stood next to me. "They'll be alright, Steph."
He pulled me into a hug. I fisted his shirt in my hands as I took in his strength. After a moment, I took a deep breath and looked up at his face.
"I need to be there for them."
He just smiled and nodded before taking my hand and leading me out of his apartment.
**Thanks for reading…next chapter coming soon.**