7

"That doesn't make sense." he told her frowning at her words. "Your whole story makes no sense. I think you're making it up as you go along."

"So you think I went and beat myself up then?" she snapped, her white eyes flashing. "And then drug myself to your apartment just to make up stories? Tell me, Slick, why would I do that? What would that accomplish, especially since you hate my guts?"

"Why are you asking me?" he shot back. "How should I know what goes on in that messed up brain of yours? Maybe you have a score to settle with that guy but you don't want to get your hands dirty so you think if you come here with some sob story I'll go and avenge you myself."

"I wouldn't need you avenging me," she was quick to point out. "I could easily take care of him myself once I've recovered."

He laughed. "That is if you had recovered," he reminded her. "You didn't look all that wonderful when you got here, in fact you looked like you would keel over any minute. If it wasn't for me you'd be dead and we'd all be worse off, having to either deal with your idiot boss or we'd all be dead."

"You wouldn't let that happen," she said quietly. "You want to reserve that right for yourself."

"Yeah, if I completely lost my mind."

For some reason that make her smirk. This bothered Slick how her moods shifted from psychotic to smug in minutes. It seemed that Lord English might have knocked her brain out of place while he was using her for a punching bag.

"Admit it, Slick, if I weren't the universe you'd have killed me a long time ago."

"I don't think it matters what I'd want to do or not do," he stated rather impatiently. "It can't happen anyway and I don't have a death wish nor am I suicidal."

Yes, that was true. He wouldn't risk that anyway.

Slick seemed to realize then that the conversation was over. He turned away, shooting a comment back at her that didn't really make much sense, and walked out of the room.

0000

Snowman was relieved Spades Slick left left the bedroom. She wasn't sure she would have been able to deal with him anymore, at least right now. The female carapace looked toward the window, almost as if she expected to see someone looking in at her.

Of course there wasn't anyone and it helped her feel better but not for long.

Mostly because she felt like an idiot. Her actions just then had been that of a weak willed woman. She was surely none of that. She was strong willed and powerful. So why was she being so delicate?

It was so unlike her and she was sickened by her own reaction. It was completely unacceptable for someone like her, as well as horribly out of character. She flopped back onto the bed and stared at the ceiling, mentally beating herself up about it and trying to figure out what she was going to do now.

And as she did so she began to question her own reasons for coming to Slick after what had happened to her. What had been going through her mind when she'd teleported to his apartment? What was the reason? It wasn't for comfort, that was for sure, he wasn't the type of person to do such things. No, not really, but at least he hadn't gloated about it and rubbed it in as she'd expected him to.

His reaction had been both unpredictable and surprising. Had his personality changed? No, matured slightly maybe but not changed.

Was that bad or good? she couldn't help asking herself. In the past he probably would have gone after Lord English right after she'd first told him without a second thought, it seemed now he'd at least learned some self control.

That was a good thing, right?

Or did you want him to do such a stupid thing and get his little rear kicked to kingdom come? a small voice in her head asked. You know if you'd been in better health you'd probably sit back and cackle about the very idea. It would be entertaining to you and if he died you could just rewind time and keep it from happening, or just make it happen over and over and over until you got bored.

Maybe she would have but right now the thought wasn't even the least bit funny.

Snowman rolled on her side, facing away room the window and just let her mind run over these things. Maybe then it would start making some sense.

000

Spades Slick stepped out of his bedroom, more confused about Snowman's story than before. Now she was saying she couldn't have escaped Lord English if she tried, but was she telling him the truth or making up another lie?

But she didn't lie before, he had to remind himself forcefully. He'd jumped to conclusions and took what she'd said out of context. You only thought she had because you wanted it to be a bigger deal than it really was.

She'd acted strangely, he told himself , trying to soften the blow to his own ego. By her words and definitely how she'd acted with her crazy body language. The mobster tried not to think too much about her reaction, he didn't want to have any pity on her, but it was extremely hard.

This is stupid! If the roles were reversed she wouldn't pity me! he thought with disgust, gritting his teeth in frustration. She'd sit there and laugh at me and kick me in the face and mock my manhood!

He turned his head to glare at the closed door of his bedroom. That witch! She must really think he was a gullible chump. She could have even fazed herself out of his room right then and went back to tell Lord English how much of a fool he was. They'd have a good laugh about it.

Then he asked himself why he was being such a paranoid idiot all of a sudden, especially after what had just happened between the two. There was no way she could be doing that, even if it usually was in character for her to do something to make him look dumb. This time he knew it was much different.

But of course realizing that only made him feel angry. She was not trying to make him out to be a fool and that just made him feel even more annoyed with her. The least she could do was insult him for something but no, she was in too delicate a mood at the moment to even do that.

"Stupid woman!" he shouted angrily. "Why do you have to mess with my emotions?!"

Just then the phone rang and he jerked it off the ringer with an annoyed snap. "What?!" he snapped into the receiver.

"So how did your conversation go?" Diamond's Droog's voice spoke up on the phone.

Spades, gritted his teeth in anger. He should have known Droog was going to call up and bother him about it. "None of your business!"

"Let's not get into a shouting match, Slick," he said flatly. "That's not why I called you."

"Then why-"

"Did she tell you the truth?" he cut him off before he could go into an insane tirade. "That is the real reason I called, in case you're wondering."

"Yes, she did!" he shouted. "Are you happy now?!"

"No."

"No?!"

"I'm not happy," Droog told him, using a tone that made him sound like a parent scolding a child.

"Why not?"

"I don't think you got anything out of it." his voice sounded somewhat condescending. "She's got a problem she doesn't want to talk about."

"Then why don't you help her out?" the other carapace asked in a mocking tone.

"Because she came to you," he said slowly and clearly. "This is your responsibility, not mine."

"I don't want to help her! I hate her!"

"Yes, I know." Droog sighed. "But let me ask you something?"

"What now?"

"Now that you know the truth what are you going to do?"

Spades started to respond then yanked on his own leash and said nothing. That was a good question and he had no real answer for it. What was he going to do, now that he knew the full story and wasn't making things up to fill in the pieces? Right now he had no actions planned.

Yet.

"Well?" Droog spoke up after a moment. "are you even there?"

"Yeah, I'm here," he grunted. "I was just thinking."

'That's a first."

"Screw you, Droog!" he snapped. "I don't know what I'm going to do right now! I have to think about it and I don't need your sarcasm!"

"Well you should think of something and soon," Droog responded. "I'm sure Lord English is going to want to take her back in the near future and you'll have a choice to make about that."

"I dare him to come here," he snapped, annoyed. Why was Diamonds Droog trying to make him even more paranoid anyway?! "I don't care what he does. If he appears in my house he'll meet the business end of my knife!"

"You might change your mind about that if he actually does answer your dare."

"Don't count on it," he said stubbornly.

"You never know."

Slick hung up before the conversation continued. He knew if he'd said anymore Droog would have baited him into another argument. He didn't feel like shouting at his comrade right now, especially since he was feeling somewhat worn out from the days issues and he still didn't know what to do about Snowman.

What was there to do anyway? He couldn't kill her. He should probably just send her back to where she came from but that idea wasn't acceptable either. He didn't even know why he was suddenly so confused about the whole thing. It didn't make a lick of sense. It was stupid and he was being stupid allowing it to stay in his mind for so long. Why was he even wasting his time?

Maybe you care? the voice in his head taunted him. Maybe that spade is becoming a heart.

"SHUT UP!"

You got a problem with blind fact? Just admit it.

"There's nothing to admit!" he roared, grabbing the sides of his head as if his brain was going to explode and shatter his carapace."I hate her!"

I believe you, but do you believe yourself?

"You better and yes I do." he got up from the sofa and started to pace. He needed to think and the taunting voice in his mind wasn't making it any easier.

So he grabbed his coat and stormed out of the apartment, locking the door behind himself as if that would make any difference if someone like Lord English decided to break in. If the nasty green cherub wanted Snowman back he would just appear and disappear without even going through the door.

Hopefully when Spades Slick returned from his walk Snowman would be right where he'd left her.

A/N
I have no idea how to continue this so some suggestions would be nice. ^^; Thanks in advance.