Sorry for grammar mistakes, guys. I really try to find them, but it's not always easy ^^'

Chapter 21 – Invitations

It was raining again, when Ellie awoke the following morning and it was still pelting down, when she walked from the bus stop, hiding under a large, green umbrella she had borrowed from Mrs. Potter.

But she took no notice of the bad weather; it could just as well have been brilliant sunshine. Her spirit was floating high, like balloons at a birthday party – and at the same time, there was a touch of nervous excitement, a single butterfly flapping in her belly. She found herself peaking in the direction of the parking lot and becoming disappointed, when she didn't spot the red Pontiac, even though she knew, that Brutus wouldn't punch in until 10 o'clock.

Dean and Harry were the only guards on the Mile this morning, when she was locked in.

"Good morning, Dean. Harry."

"'Morning, Miss Brent."

"'Morning, baby," William Wharton echoed from his cell with a devious grin. "How nice 'n wet, you look today."

He stepped up to the cell door, resting his forearms on the bars and Dean frowned at him, his face turning hard; his neck was still vaguely bruised after Whartons attack and Ellie could only imagine how much he must detest the boy, who was still very much alive and grinning like nothing had happened. After all, they could only punish him once…

"Mr. Wharton," Ellie responded calmly and took of her jacket. "Good morning to you too."

She had started to get the hang on some of the ground rules around him: Any vulgar connotations should be ignored and no questions should be asked, because he was able to twist and turn any of your word. In the end, it was all about not giving him anything to grab onto.

"Ya know what I've been thinkin' 'bout all night?" Wharton continued casually. "My last wish."

"Good to hear."

"Yeah, I wanna physical." He glared at Ellie unashamedly. "A real throughout one."

"Well, I'm sure doctor Briscoe would love to do that," Harry responded dryly from behind the desk. "Rectal exam and all. Because that's throughout."

Ellie smirked at the old guard and seized the opportunity to get away from Wharton, before he had time to warm up that filthy mouth of his. She took cover behind her patient's cell.

"Hi, Alice."

"You look cheerful today, my dear."

"Do I?" Ellie responded, even though she knew she was probably smiling from ear to ear. "Well, I guess it's because it's the first day in months, where it doesn't feel like I'm being cooked alive." She motioned towards the rain-streaked windows. "It's like being back in England."

Alice gave her a secretive smile, closing her book and not for the first time, Ellie got the vague feeling, that she was reading her mind.

"How are you today?" she asked the older lady quickly.

"Oh, I can't complain," Alice said calmly. "You think I could get permission for a trip to the yard today?"

Ellie was surprised. "In this weather?"

"Eleanor, I've been stuck in the infirmary for four whole days," Alice said forbearing. "I need to get some fresh air, or I'll lose my marbles."

"Okay, I'll ask, but they are short on staff at the moment, so you will probably have to wait until Paul and the rest of the guards arrive."

Alice patted her book. "Thank God for Jane Eyre, then."

oOo

Ellie spend her morning at the front desk, sharing the newspaper with Harry and Dean, but she found it harder and harder to remember what she was reading. The butterflies seemed to be multiplying rapidly as the morning progressed.

It was a good nervousness, though. The kind you would feel, when your childhood crush finally leans over and gives you the first kiss of your life. Or the kind you would feel, when the man you were yearning for, was about to walk through the door…

Ten minutes to 10, she couldn't bear it anymore and went to Paul's office to heat up some coffee-water, just so she had something to do. She nearly scalded herself, when she finally heard the lock snap open.

The rain lashed through the open door and Paul and Brutus hurried in, dripping from head to toe.

"G'morning." Paul removed his rain coat. "Christ, what'a weather. A proper Monday morning this is."

Someone responded, but to Ellie the words sounded distant. Brutus had just caught her eyes with a affectionate smirk over Pauls shoulder and now it was Ellie's turn to blush as she smiled back spontaneously. Her cheeks were still radiating, when Paul called a meeting and all the guards, expect Harry who had the desk duty, huddled together in the office.

Brutus walked past her in the door, so close she could smell the spicy scent of his cologne and she was overwhelmed by a strong urge to giggle like a middle school girl, when he mumbled a very furtive 'morning' to her.

"Good morning," she responded softly, through the noise of Dean moving his chair into the office. Brutus looked like he was about to say some more, but then his co-workers felt silent and Paul closed the door behind them.

"It won't take long," Paul said, taking a big sip of his coffee. "I just wanted to tell you, what I had in mind for the rehearsal tomorrow."

Ellie's desire to laugh faded like dew before the sun. Hovering on her pink cloud, she has forgotten all about what was happening down in the real world: There were only two days left to Delacroix' execution.

"None of his family has expressed a desire to see him one last time," Paul continued. "But I think I have an idea of how to keep him of the Mile, while we do the rehearsal. If we can get Mr. Jingles to join in on the idea, that is."

Dean's brows disappeared up under his cap. "The mouse?"

"His reputation as a circus mouse has already spread throughout the prison. We could put on a show for some of the guards. It could take Del's mind of the execution for a little while and we would have time to rehearse."

"That's not a bad plan, Paul," Ellie said sincerely. "He would love that."

Paul smiled. "I've been talking to Bill: There's a room in the administration building we can use. We just need someone to usher him."

"Anyone but Percy," Brutus noticed. "The little prick's just gonna ruin it for him."

"No, not Percy," Paul said. "He has to stay here anyway. He's in charge this time."

"He's what?"

Paul sighed. "After all that's happened here lately, I had to promise him to put him out front to get him out of my hair. That's all he wants. Who knows… if he finally get the chance to fry someone alive, he might eventually get bored here and go searching for greener pastures."

"We can always hope, can't we?" Dean said with a dry smile.

Paul nodded and walked around his desk. "Well, I guess that was it, so unless you guys have something, I say we plan out the agenda for the morning."

"Paul, could Alice get permission to go outside today?"

"She has seen the weather, right?" Paul asked in disbelief and Ellie flung her arms wide in a yes-but-what-can-I-do gesture. "Sure, if she really wants to. Dean, would you escort her?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good. And when you're done, you can help Harry and me with the shower-duty. Brutal, you'll be helping in the infirmary all day, right?"

"Mmm-hmm," Brutus hummed, not sounding too pleased.

"Relax, I think it's the only one this week," Paul responded sympathetically. Then someone outside gave the door a quick knock and he called out: "Yes?"

Harry poked his head in.

"Barry's here," he said with a funny look on Brutus, before stepping aside and Ellie noticed how the atmosphere became somewhat strained.

"Barry," Paul greeted the guard, when he walked past Harry. "How can I help you?"

Barry removed his cap and looked in Ellie's direction with half a smile. "Well, to be honest, I came here to see Miss Brent."

Paul frowned a bit and out of the corner of her eyes, Ellie saw Brutus tense up in his full height, like a Doberman sensing trespassers on its property.

"Is something wrong in the infirmary?" she asked Barry concerned.

"Oh, no." He smiled sheepishly. "No, it's nothing like that." He paused, suddenly aware that every man in the room was staring at him. "You see, I was hoping that I could be delighted with your company at the carnival in Baton Rouge this Friday. I mean, if you don't have other plans."

"Oh…" Ellie responded weakly, casting a quick glare in Brutus direction. He was staring at Barry, like the gate guard had just delivered an unexpected blow to his face.

"That is awfully kind of you, Mr. Goodman," she began helplessly. "But, uhm…"

Her mind went blank; she couldn't think of a single excuse, that didn't sound like she tried to avoid him. Then someone on the sideline stepped in to support her – but it wasn't Brutus, as she would expect. It was Paul.

"I'm sorry to tell you this, Barry," he said calmly, like it was the most boring news in the worlds, "but I'm 'fraid Brutus beat you to the punch: He has already asked her out."

If Brutus had seemed shocked before, it was nothing compared the flabbergasted glare he shot Paul, his expression changing from mildly concern to full-grown panic. He looked like a boy, who had been caught with both hands in the cookie jar.

Even Ellie was caught up short, wondering how in the world Paul could possibly know, until the superior threw her a very significant look and it hit her: He didn't. He had instead saved her from having to reject Barry – and perhaps saved his friend too.

"Ah, yes, I'm terribly sorry, Mr. Goodman," Ellie responded quickly, playing along. "But I have already said yes to Bru… to Mr. Howell."

"Oh." Barry looked at Brutus, his stupefied grin so genuine it made Brutus flush. "If I knew you had your eyes on her too, Brute, I would've come over 'ere a lot sooner."

Brutus seemed slightly uncomfortable, but he didn't say anything. Ellie decided to speak up, before the silence could drag out to the border of embarrassment:

"It was sweet of you to ask, though" she said. "But I'm going with Brutus."

Barry nodded and looked to Brutus. "Sure. I hope you'll be treating her like a gentlemen then."

"'Course I will," Brutus responded bluntly.

"And if he doesn't," Barry continued with a smirk to Ellie. "You know where to find me."

Harry whistled quietly, as soon as he had left. "Poor guy. Imagined being rejected in front of four of your co-workers."

His words made Ellie feel kind of bad, but it helped when she told herself, that Barry probably had a handful of promising female admirers outside the prison. After all, with his cheekily handsome appearance he looked like he had just stepped out of a Coca Cola commercial.

Dean was staring wide-eyed at Brutus, whose cheeks were still burning in a weak fade of pink.

"Did you really ask…" he began, before Paul interrupted:

"Dean, go take Alice to the yard. The poor woman's been waiting all morning."

The younger guard left the office reluctantly and just as Ellie walked through the door after him, she could have sworn she heard Paul mutter under his breath to his second-in-command. "And you're welcome by the way."

oOo

It wasn't until Ellie saw Alice's eyes shining with delight, that she realised, that every one of Barry's spoken word and the corresponding answers in the office had been overheard by the inmates through the open door.

Delacroix even looked proud.

"J'ai appris Boss Howell tout ce qu'il sait," he confided Ellie through the bars of his cell, Mr. Jingles balancing on his shoulder.

She smiled. "Je suis contens que vous l'avez fait, Del."

Delacroix rolled his eyes. "Dat man têtu like a donkey. I'm s'prised he finally realised what's best for him." He leaned closer to the bars. "I just wan' you to know, dat I'm only letting Boss Howell have you, because I like him tel'ment."

Ellie, unexpectedly touched by his words, didn't quite know what to respond to that. "Thank you, Del."

"I can't believe he at long last did it," Alice whispered gleefully, when they walked out her cell.

"No, me neither," Ellie responded with a restraint smirk and grabbed her borrowed umbrella. Dean followed them outside. The rain was still pouring down and the yard was not sheltered. There was only a narrow eave along the length of the house to take cover under. Ellie opened the umbrella in the doorway.

Alice took a deep breath and sighed. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but what a wonderful weather."

The rain splattered on the tin roof and it sounded like music, as they walked past the building. Alice was stepping lightly and it had been Ellie's intention to talk about Delacroix' execution and how they should cope with it, but somehow she couldn't find it in her heart to talk about death, when it was the first time in days she had seen Alice smile. So she said nothing and kept walking, until Alice gave her arm a squeeze.

"Oh, look – there's your knight in shiny uniform."

Ellie turned around to see Brutus in the doorway next to Dean.

I need to talk to you… he mouthed, with a slight frantic look on his face.

"Go on," Alice said, before Ellie had time to respond and took the umbrella from her. "I can see he wants a word with you. I'll just take a stroll around the fence."

Ellie walked back along the eaves and Brutus led her inside the dark hallway. Dean shot him a suspicious look, as he closed the door behind them.

"Well, I can honestly say that this is the first time, my boss has set me up on a date," Ellie said teasingly, as soon as they were alone.

"I thought you were better than kicking a man, when he was down."

"You are right, I'm sorry."

Brutus shook his head. "No, I should be the one to apologize. I'm not very good at this; I'm a bit out of practice to say the least. I should've asked you out a long time ago, when I found out he had his eyes on you."

"You knew that?"

He rubbed the back of his neck. "Paul told me. When you had left for the infirmary yesterday."

"Oh," Ellie exclaimed, as if a light had unexpectedly dawned on her. "So that explains your sudden courage in the shelter."

"Ellie…"

She smiled mischievously up at him, but it didn't seem to calm him down.

"You know," he said slowly. "For a moment I was actually genuine nervous that you would change your mind and say yes to him."

"Now, why would I do that?" Ellie said with a crooked smile.

"Because you saw his face," Brutus said with a humourless chuckle. "He found the idea of me going on a date with you outright hilarious."

Ellie looked at him silently for a second, wondering how a man with such obvious strength, could possess such fragile confidence in himself.

"Brutus," she said firmly, but gently. "I don't care what Barry Goodman thinks. I meant what I said last night. That wasn't just a moment of insanity or pity, if that's what you believe. You are the only man I want to be with, end of story."

"Even though I'm not the gentleman I should be?" Brutus emphasized, looking embarrassed. "I couldn't even control myself long enough to properly court you."

Ellie couldn't help but laugh. "I don't exactly remember you forcing me. And most important, I'm not a girl anymore; I'm a divorced woman and last night I finally found the benefits that comes with that: Now I don't have to go through month of careful, protracted courtesy, when I already know that I want to be with you. And I do." She smiled. "You had me with the sunflowers. And they mean more to me than anything, because I know that you care about me."

"I'm crazy about you," Brutus corrected her matter-of-factly. Ellie smiled and blushed.

"Well, there you go…"

Brutus smiled too.

"You have no idea, how much I wanna kiss you right now," he blurted out.

"How dare you," Ellie responded with feigned insult. "You haven't even ask me out properly yet."

"No, you're right," he said, taking her hands. "So would you make me the happiest guy in the world and go with me to the carnival in Baton Rouge this Friday?" he asked solemnly.

"Gee, let me think about it," she said thoughtfully. "I mean, Barry's probably still free and there's that charming bloke in the laundry hall…"

Brutus grinned and dragged her closer to him. He knew he probably shouldn't do it here, where the other guards could walk in on them anytime, but he couldn't help it: The urge to kiss her had been heartbreakingly strong all morning and he couldn't resist it anymore. Leaning down, he noticed something funny: Even though he had already kissed her more times than he could count (not to mention the euphoric time in the hay shelter), he felt a pinch of nervousness and his heart skipping a beat, like they were going to share their first kiss all over again.

And then his mouth touched hers and just like last night, the whole world felt silent. There were no nagging voice screaming Do it, do it! It was just her; her lips, her warmth and her tiny, soft hands in his and like last time he was seized by an almost uncontrollably longing for her, like a wave knocking him off his feet.

"Come home with me tonight," he pleaded her in a soft mumble against her lips.

Ellie let out a relieved laugh. "God, I thought you would never ask…"