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Chapter 4: Please, don't be stupid

Foggy opened his eyes the next morning, finding himself in a bed that he didn't recognize as his own.

-Good morning sunshine-

A very sweet female voice brought a smile to his face, while memories from the night before came to mind. He had been on some kind of date with Marci (if "come to me and do as I say" could be considered a date).

-'Morning- he answered still lying on the bed.

-It's almost eleven. Time to get up- Marci told him with a smile and a cup of coffee in her hands.

-Is that for me?-

-No way. Yours is waiting for you in the kitchen-

-Mm...ok. Wait...eleven? Why didn't you wake me up?-

-I would have but you were sleeping like a baby. You were so cute-

Matt!

As soon as his brain got connected with the world, memories of the night before had come up to his mind, reminding him to what happened, and, basically, why he had accepted playing a reversed mode of 50 shades of Grey; not that he had read it. Not a chance, but he had woken up in Marci's place suggesting an interesting turn of events.

Foggy stopped listening to her and turned himself toward the night table next to his side of the woman's bed, searching for his phone.

After the dinner with Matt, Foggy had thought about going home and taking a full night of rest after the two days that had passed, with the clients and the visit of that Stick guy, but as soon as he had found himself alone in his house, his mind had begun to show him lot of different images of Matt getting himself in trouble, or worse, getting killed; or again, being forced to kill someone because of that damn blind old man.

He had begun to pace in his own home like a lion in a cage, more worried than he had ever been for his best friend.

A couple of times he had picked up his phone and begun to search for Matt's number before stopping and reminding himself that his friend could take care of himself and also that he could do nothing useful to help him with his nocturnal activities.

So he had gone to bed and tried to get some sleep.

When he realised that was not going to happen, and he'd decided to call Marci for some company. He hadn't exactly meant that kind of company but he was not really going to complain about the two of them having some sex together to forget their problems, even if, right now, he was feeling a little bit guilty about how he had, as a matter of fact, almost used her (or had she used him? He couldn't really tell for sure because as a matter of fact, she had been in charge during the night, since his call, actually, but anyway, he had liked it, mostly because he didn't have to think too much).

-What's up, Foggy Bear?- Marci asked when she saw him searching for his phone as if his life had depended on it, which in the long run, it might. He hated that damn nickname she had found for him when they used to date in college, but right now he had more important things to do than complain about it.

-I have to call Matt- he answered, still looking for his device. He finally found it inside one of his shoes (and he refused to consider how in hell's name it had arrived there).

-Again? I have to ask. Are you two having an affair?-

-What?-

-You two are getting weird lately: morning calls, you always thinking about him... you know. Those kind of weird things...-

-I'm just worried- Foggy tried to defend himself -He's blind-

-That's not something new-

Foggy began to sweat. She was a damn good lawyer, better than him. He had to find a way out, but he didn't see anything that could help.

-Lately he's been...distracted- he tried -He often falls down, so I'm just worried about him-

-That's very kind of you-

Had she believed that? Foggy tried not to sigh in relief. He'd also seen a way to get out of her apartment.

-Yeah... listen, I'm very late and he Karen are probably gonna kill me... so...-

-... you have to go. Understood- she ended quietly, and that made Foggy feeling even worse. She'd lost her job trying to help him, and she couldn't find anything else so far. He could feel the sadness and maybe a little of envy in her voice, and, not for the first time, he really wished they could hire her at their firm, and he knew Matt and Karen did too.

She'd lost everything because of them, and now they could do nothing to help her. That was really frustrating for all of them, but mostly for Foggy. They were in some sort of relationship, and he felt really bad about what was happening to her.

Unfortunately, she was used to being very well paid, not that she didn't deserve it, she was the best in their class, except for Matt. No, wait. She was probably even better than him, only because she had decided to sell her soul and that was a step his best friend didn't want to cross, even in his day job. Meanwhile, they could barely afford to pay Karen, and that was only because she had accepted not being paid very much and maybe not exactly every month.

So he stayed near to the door, one hand on the doorknob, not knowing exactly how to respond to that.

-You'll find something- he took a step away from the door towards her. He took her hands into his owns and looked her in the eyes -I'm sure. You're a damn good lawyer-

-Who gave classified information to the enemy...-

-...in order to take down a killer who was going to tear Hell's Kitchen apart to pursue his project. That was the right thing to do, Marci-

-Yeah. I know- Was that regret in her voice? Regret? Marci? Inconceivable!

-We can hire you, if you want.- he offered, half serious, half joking -The only problem is that we can't pay you, but if you are ok with that, you're in-

Marci laughed at that strange job offer, but Foggy already knew he wouldn't accept that. She was a good person, but she was a lawyer basically for money. She was a shark, a shark with a soul, but still a shark nonetheless.

-I'm sure you will find out a way to pay me without money- she answered with a mischievous smile on her face -but I have bills to pay, Foggy Bear-

Foggy smiled and kissed her again.

-Then I'm going to help you find a new job. I promise-

-Go- she said to him, still smiling -They're waiting for you-

He nodded and left her home. While he was on the street, walking to "Nelson & Murdock", he finally turned on his phone.

He had like twenty missed calls, and all of them were from Karen. Nothing from Matt.

God, she is really gonna kill me.

When he opened the door of their office, all he got as greeting was a beautiful, but absolutely furious Karen Page yelling at him.

-Finally! Where were you, Foggy? And where in the hell is Matt? I had to send away two clients because neither one of you two were here!-

She is going to kill me. Slowly and painfully.

How could happen that such a beautiful woman could also be one of the scariest in the world? And why were Matt and Foggy so talented when it came to pissing her off? Foggy hadn't found an explanation for that, yet-

-Sorry- he tried to apologize, attempting that sad puppy gaze Matt was so good at (failing, of course. Matt was the puppy guy, not him) -I overslept-

Wait.

-Where's Matt?- he asked, suddenly in fear, all his fantasies about how Karen would kill him and how painfully she would do so thrown away in a rush. Matt wasn't in the office.

Calm down, Foggy. Maybe he's just overslept like you. Don't be paranoid.

-I hoped you'd know! I've tried to call him at least fifteen times, but he hasn't answered- she told him in a rough voice, then she ran a hand through her long, blonde hair, while her face moved from anger to concern. -I'm starting to get a little worried about him-

This wasn't the first time Matt hadn't answered his phone in the morning, but since the revelation, Foggy usually knew the real cause of his absence, but not this time. Better than that, he was hoping that his friend were at home, even hurt or bloodied, but at home. And he didn't even feel sick for wishing pain to him.

Please, Matt, be in so much pain you can't move, please don't be dead.

-Did he say something to you?- she asked him, bringing him back to reality.

-I haven't seen or heard from him since last night- he was forced to admit, trying to control his own fear to reassure her -I'm sure he's met some woman and got overslept too-

-Yeah. Maybe- Was that sadness in her voice?

-Listen. You stay here, I'll go to his place, ok?-

She nodded, and he left the office.

Murdock, tell me you haven't done something really stupid, like joining that Stick guy. Please.

It was almost 12am, so Foggy decided to take the subway instead of getting stuck in traffic.

When he finally reached his best friend's house, he ran over the stairs as if his life was in danger.

He began to knock, or better, to punch with all his strength on the door.

-Matt!- he cried while searching for the keys Matt'd given to him (well, actually Foggy had forced him to give) -Are you in there? Are you ok?-

He didn't really wait for the answer. He used the key and opened the door.

Please be on the floor half dead. Please be here.

-Matt?- he called out several times, low at first, then louder. But the house seemed empty, without any sign of his friend or of potential injuries. No blood, no painkillers.

Then he saw the phone left on the couch, and he was caught by a rush of anger. He took it and literally smashed it against the wall.

-Dammit Murdock!-

He'd done it.

-Wake up, kid!-

A wave of icy water fell on him, giving him a rude awakening. He tried to get up, trembling with the cold, but Stick kicked him back against the pillow.

Matt wasn't ready and took the shot with a groan that was a mixture between pain and surprise.

Not that he hadn't expected some punishment after the way he had acted the night before, but nothing so sudden as that wake-up call.

-Wha...- this time he "saw" the attack coming and was able to avoid him jumping out of the bed with a spin.

-New rule, kid- Stick said in an angry voice, hitting him again, his movements too fast for a still half-asleep Matthew -When I decide to do something, you don't interfere! Am I understood?-

-You were going to kill that girl! She was innocent!-

-She saw you!-

-Yeah, she saw a man wearing a black mask. So what? She couldn't have recognized me!-

Stick hit him again in his stomach, then he used his body to block him on the ground in a really short time that didn't give Matt the time to react.

He found himself completely unable to move a single muscle, he could feel Stick's face near to his own. He forced himself to relax and stop fighting his mentor. He knew it was useless, besides, that damn water was so cold he wished he could have a hot shower as soon as possible, and that wasn't going to happen if he kept rebelling.

-Good kid- Stick said when he felt Matt surrender, but he didn't leave him -Now listen to me. We've made an agreement you wanted, and which I am respecting. You'd better start doing your part or I'll make you. Understood?-

Foggy. Karen. Danger.

-Stay away from them- the lawyer's voice was dangerously cold and calm, the kind of voice that hides an alarming lever of anger.

-Then obey, boy-

Stick finally let him go. Matt rose to his feet again and without a word closed himself into the bathroom. He was trembling with a dangerous cocktail of cold, fear, and anger.

Two days had passed since he and Stick had left Hell's Kitchen. Since then they'd had very little time to rest and he was beginning to feel really tired, his muscles got heavier hour by hour.

Matt had followed Stick in all his missions around all the New Jersey area, fighting under his orders without asking anything of him. He didn't really care. This wasn't his war.

All he wanted was to finish the job and go back home.

The night before, they prevented a cargo ship that would had taken off with 40 young girls on board.

There were 15 or maybe less; young, innocent children ready to be sent somewhere to be used as sex slaves. Their terror and desperation almost made Matt physically sick.

While Stick was taking care of those responsible of that crime, he'd suddenly heard a scream. He had run toward her, ignoring Stick commanding him to leave her.

From the tone of her scream and her heartbeat, he'd felt she had to be at least 13, she was lying on the ground, surrounded by three man touching her and trying to wrest her clothes off. The lawyer had heard her sobbing, fighting to avoid the violence with all her strength, but she was small. And alone.

Helpless.

Matt turned the water on and waited for it to becoming warm enough, then he let it flow over his tired body. He steadied himself on the wall, his eyes closed, while the hot water did its job. Slowly, he stopped shaking and somehow managed to relax.

-I'll give you the morning off- Stick said to him when he finally got out from the bathroom -We are leaving this city at 1 pm-

Matt nodded. He wasn't really happy about that. Having time to himself meant that he would have time to think about what he had left behind, and that wasn't good.

He needed some fresh air.

He dressed himself and took his cane, then he left the room he was sharing with Stick.

This wasn't New York. He didn't even know the name of this town. Stick hadn't told him and he hadn't asked. Quite simply, he didn't care.

-Did he phone you?-

Karen had started to ask the same damn question every morning since the day Matt had left.

Somehow, Foggy had managed to come up with a decent alibi for his friend's sudden absence.

He had told her Matt had called him while he was reaching his house, that he told him that a nurse from the orphanage was dying. She was one the few people who actually cared about him, so he'd left the town to visit her in Canada as soon as he received the phone call and he was going to stay with her until the end.

-Yeah- he lied (again).

-How is he?-

-You know him. He'd rather die than admit there was something wrong- he answered -I think he's handling the situation quite well. Maybe being Catholic is not so bad for him right now-

-Did you tell him that if he needs help he's just to call?-

-Of course I did. Now, let's get back to work. What do we have?-

But Foggy didn't really listen Karen talking about the agenda of the day. His thoughts were all about Matt since the day he hadn't found him at his place.

He'd watched all the television news and tried to read everything he could on the internet, trying to find out something about them, but whatever he and Stick were doing, they'd kept a very low profile.

Are you ok, buddy? Where are you?