Roll Away Your Stone 10/18
Jun. 2nd, 2011 09:26 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
whedonistSeries: Secret
Story: Roll Away Your Stone
Chapter: Stars Hide My Fires
Rating: R
Pairing: Nikki/Nora
Disclaimer/Details of Participation/Terms & Conditions: Not mine, no monies are being made and if I were to bill the owners my hourly rate...well...you get the idea.
A/N: G’morning, or ya know good whatever time it is where you happen to be. Nothing major, I just felt the need to share that IT gods have smiled and the filters on our servers are not blocking LJ so I can make this post at work…when really I should working on month end reports…oh, well. As for the chapter, we all knew it was coming…so here we go.
Ch. 10 – Stars Hide My Fires
Nikki casts me a glance over her shoulder, asking, “You gonna be okay?”
I nod. “Yeah, I’ll meet you up there.”
She nods and shuts the passenger door to Bruce. I watch her stride across the walkway to the station and disappear behind its doors. It doesn’t take too long for the door to reopen and Bobby to slip into the cab.
“Hey sis,” he offers.
“Hey yourself.” I offer him and smile.
He’s a goober, but he’s a good goober.
“What’s up?” I wonder.
He shrugs. “Just wanted to check on you before you two start back to work. Nikki getting cleared by the doc finally is good news. We’ve missed you two around here.”
“Yep, she’s going to talk to Dan now. I need to head up. Sign my transfer papers, get settled back in.”
“You talk to mama?”
I glare at him from the corner of my eye. “You know I’ve tried. How is she?”
Bobby shrugs again. “More pissed than anything.”
I sigh.
Of course she is.
“I’m sorry,” I tell him. “I didn’t…”
“Hey, we’re family. Your shit is my shit.” He smiles at me causing me to smile right back at him. “Want to know something funny?”
“What?” I wonder.
“She asked if I was gay too?” He grins.
“What two homo’s in the family aren’t enough for her?” I joke.
“Pffft,” he puffs out his chest. “Gay my ass. I went out with Stevenson the other night and met this nice little red head…”
“Stop,” I warn, holding my hand up, “I don’t need to hear anymore.”
“You shoulda seen her though, Nor.” He cups his hands in front of his chest and jiggles them.
“Oh, just…please, I don’t need that mental image,” I plead.
His laughter shakes the car. “I could invite ma over to my place and let her walk in on me and a girl.”
I shove him against the car door and snort, “Asshole.”
He pushes back and says, “Takes one to know one.”
I can’t argue with that. “When does your shift start?”
“Soon. I need to go and fix up Clive. See if they re-shoed him.” He opens the door and slides out. Leaning back in, he offers me another smile and says, “Call me later, maybe if you guys have some time we can grab a bite?”
“Actually, Jill and Ann are leaving tomorrow. We were going to go out to dinner if you want to join us.”
He nods. “Sounds like fun. Let me know when and where.”
I nod. “Be safe, Robert!” I call after him as he shuts the door.
I let the silence settle back over me before I decide to head in. I slip out of the car, lock him up and head into the station. Bypassing the front desk, I hit the stairs and take them two at a time. As I hit the fourth floor landing, I square my shoulders and head into the bull pen.
I’m surprised when there aren’t any officers wandering around. A few at their desk, but the place is definitely subdued. Dan’s door is closed, but I stride to it and don’t bother knocking.
Dan and Nikki both look at me and I say, “Hey.”
“Delaney, good of you to finally show up,” Dan jokes and I roll my eyes.
“Bite me, boss,” I grin at him and he rolls his eyes. “So, where are we?”
Dan shrugs and extends his hand.
“What?” I ask.
He motions to my hip and I look down at the badge on my hip. Gratefully, I slip it from my hip and slap it in his hand. “This mean I get to come back home?”
“Please,” Dan snorts, “I’m was going to kill one of the other detectives if you two didn’t start back up today.”
“Ah, can’t handle the savages Dan?” Nikki purrs.
Dan’s lips purse as he ignores Nikki’s jibe. “We’re actually a little light so you two can start cleaning up the mess on your desks,” he says, “We’ve got cases coming up in court, but other than that, it’s been quiet. Sometime today, Nora, I’m going to need you to head down to impound and do something with your car.”
“I…” I try to start.
Dan shakes his head. “You two aren’t to ask about the case period. I’ve greased enough wheels that all you need to do is go down there and arrange for whatever you would like for your car.”
I clamp my mouth shut and nod.
“Just so you two know, there’s been whispers here and there, but it’s coming from the uniforms. I’m not sure if it’s just locker room chat or if they’re looking to stir the pot. You two need to fly under the radar for a few until things settle back down. Catching up on some desk work wouldn’t be a bad idea, ladies.”
Dan looks pointedly between the two of us.
Nikki and I nod.
“I can do subtle,” Nikki answers, “but, I don’t know about Nora.”
“Muzzle?” Dan asks her.
“I tried that once…she chewed it off,” Nikki comes back quicker than I have time to get the ‘hey’.
“Hey,” I start protest, but shut my mouth when they both grin at me.
Instead I fold my arms across my chest and glare. Them ganging up on me is no fun.
“By the way,” Dan looks at Nikki, “Nice choice.” He points to her hair.
Oh, no.
Nikki’s been whining about her missing patch of hair since she woke up. I shake my head.
Today, she’s decided to just put her hair up in a ponytail and let it go. Her words this morning as we were getting ready were, “I can’t do anything with nearly half my head shaved!”
I tried to remind her that it was only a small patch comparatively. That earned me a serious glare and a swat to my ass.
“Dan,” I try to warn him.
“If you want to keep your manhood intact, Mr. Harney,” Nikki warns, “I suggest you let any comments about my hair fall silent. I’m not sure what I’m going to do with it, but for now, no comments from the peanut gallery.”
Dan grins but clamps his mouth shut.
“We good?” I ask.
Dan nods and tosses me my old badge.
“You ladies have fun.”
It’s a little worse than nails on a chalkboard. The sound of my teeth make as they grind together.
Nikki stands behind me, off to my right.
June Lee sits in front of me. Busted and broken. Bullet holes riddle the left side of my baby – I’ve counted thirty-two holes alone on the rear fender.
My jaw aches and I’ll have bruises on my upper arms from the grip I have on them. Folded across my chest, they ache with tension.
There’s not a window in her that’s intact. Kernels of glass litter the bed and I’m sure that they’re all over the cab too. I just can’t bring myself to look inside just yet.
I remember when my dad brought her home. She was busted up pretty bad. We rebuilt the top half of the engine, restored the interior and took her to a friend of the family’s for the final paint job. When I wasn’t working or in school, Dad and I worked on her. It took us a year and a half, but she was worth it and ready when I finally got my license.
I had looked forward to that day for so long.
It seems like a life time ago.
Dad helped Patrick and Terry with their first cars too. It was a rite of passage for all Delaney children. Pap helped Dad with his first car and then Dad helped us. Dad would tell stories about him and their time together. It was, so he said, the best time he had growing up.
Oddly enough, the time with my dad rebuilding June Lee is some of my most favorite too.
God, I loved him.
I loved June Lee too.
Easing my way up to her, I reach out and run three finger tips along the edge of the bed.
I’m going to miss her.
A lot…
But.
I’m eerily okay with it. What I can’t get over is the amount of damage done.
Nikki was in this.
June Lee, as much as it pains me to say this, is collateral damage.
But Nikki…
It could have been so much worse.
I suck in some air and pull the driver’s door open. I brush off the shredded seat and slip inside.
The dashboard is damaged beyond repair.
I place a hand on it and lean forward, pressing my lips against the steering wheel.
Part of me understands that she’s just a car. The other part feels like I just lost a friend.
An old friend that saved my partner’s life.
“Thank you,” I murmur against the wheel.
“I’m sorry Nora,” Nikki whispers next to me. She’s crouched down in the open doorway.
“You’re okay,” is my reply.
“Yeah, but…”
“No buts, baby. You’re okay and that’s the most important part,” I remind her.
“Okay.” I can hear the urge to argue behind that four letter word, but she doesn’t press the issue. Instead, she asks, “What do you want to do with her?”
I shrug. “There really isn’t much we can do with her. Hell, I’m not even sure if drive-by shootings are covered in our insurance.” Idly, I wonder what kind of…
“Hey, what do you think the insurance claim form would be for this?” She cuts into my thoughts.
This causes the left corner of my mouth to curl upward and look her way. “I was just thinking the same thing.”
She smiles at me, reaches out and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “Why don’t we wait then and tell them to hold on to her for a few more days?
I nod. Better idea than what I could have come up with.
“Hey,” a deep voice barks behind us.
Nikki and I turn our heads together to see three large men standing behind us.
Trouble is the first word that pops in my head. Two out of the three of them are goons, that much is obvious.
The one on the right is a thick, no neck, no brain white kid that looks like he’s trying way too hard to be one of the boys. The other is an averaged sized black kid that looks four years too young to be strapped and running with the third man that rounds out the trio.
His face looks familiar. To familiar. It’s on the tip of my tongue.
Nikki beats me to it as she stands and says, “Well, this is a surprise. Darren, how have you been?”
That’s Darren Brooks – the prime suspect in the Knox murders and Nikki’s shooting.
I shoot out of June Lee and push Nikki behind me.
Darren holds his hands up and looks me over. “This bitch is what to you Beaumont?” Darren spits.
My heart starts a rapid beat and I answer for Nikki, “This bitch is her partner. Back the fuck up.”
I feel Nikki grip my left hip.
“Hey there boo, I ain’t tryin’ to start nothin’. I just came to see if your partner was all right.” He hooks a thumb behind him and says, “We seen’d what happened in front of Jenny’s house. Called the medics.” His arms fold across his chest as my eyes narrow. “I stopped by the hospital, you was there, passed out in a chair next to her…”
“Oh, bullshit, you’re probably responsible for ordering the hit,” I snarl.
Darren’s weight shifts from his left to right foot, he sighs and rolls his eyes. “Woah, woah, ain’t no one in my crew pull the trigger. Don’t get that twisted, we had nothin’ to do with that bit of insanity.”
“Prove it,” I challenge.
“Your partner came to us the day before she got popped. Made a ruckus at a party. Demandin’ some information. I had one of my boys drop it off to her the next morning ‘cause just in case you didn’t get the info, Jenny and I were a thing. I wanted her shooters caught more than any of you.”
“So you know who did it?” Nikki asks behind me.
Wait, just back the fuck up. When was she at his house? When did she do this? Where the fuck was I?
Darren nods. He looks between the two of us. I’m not sure what he’s trying to figure out, but right now I don’t care. Right now, what I really want is answers from Nikki.
He licks his lips and says, “The day you came in lookin’ to catch a case, I figured it out. You thought it was me. Well, you’re little show rattled a few cages and shook a bird loose. The next day when Taps lil brother dropped you that note, the car that shot you up belonged to a cat.”
I raise an eyebrow as Nikki asks, “You didn’t happen to mention that to any of the cops did you?”
Darren shrugs. “Wouldn’t do no good. Like I said. I just wanted to make sure you were all right. You got a pair on you. I like that. I also take care of my own, you know what I’m sayin’. You won’t have any more trouble, de-tect-ive.” His arms drop and he goes to this relaxed stance. “You need anything else, don’t come creepin’ up my way. We square.”
Him and his two goons back away and disappear around a pile of cars. I start to go after him, but Nikki stops me with a hand on my arm and a shake of her head.
Just what the fuck?
I slam the driver’s side door of Bruce and stalk up our walkway, following Nikki. She won’t answer me and I’m fucking fed up with it.
She pushes our side door open and I slip in, pushing it closed behind me. I hear four people in the living room and know that everyone is home. I roll my eyes.
I can’t deal with this right now.
“Nikki,” I call after her.
She ignores me and starts up the steps.
My jaw flexes and I snap, “Don’t fucking walk away, Nik!”
My tone and volume cause the T.V. and voices in the living room to pause, but it does nothing to stop Nikki.
“Damnit!” I take off up the stairs and ignore Ann calling after me.
The bathroom door slams shut just as I reach the landing and I hear the lock engage. I move quickly through the side sitting room, side step the blow up mattress Ann and Jill have been using and into our bedroom. The other door to the bathroom is locked too.
“Damnit, Nikki,” I growl and smack my hand against the barrier. “What the hell was Brooks talking about?”
“Please, Nora, just let it go,” she whines.
“Nikki, you have two seconds to open this goddamn door or so help me I will bust this fucking thing down!” I step back and take a more firm stance, preparing to kick it in if I have to.
A half second before I’m ready to kick, the door lock clicks and it swings open. Nikki stands in front of my, her arms folded across her chest, hip jutted out to the side. Her eyebrow arcs and disappears under her bangs as she asks, “A little dramatic, don’t you think?”
“Not when I can’t get an answer out of my girlfriend that just took three bullets and got my car shot to holy hell. What the fuck was Brooks talking about Nikki? What did you do?”
She pushes past me and stands by the closet. “It’s not important,” she hisses.
My mouth drops open.
“Not important!”
“Yes, Nora, not important.”
“You…” I have no idea what to say to that…
She mistakes my silence for agreement as she steps up to me and reaches out to place her arms around me. I back up and end up bumping into our dresser. The contents on the top rattle and I hear a bottle topple over. “No. No, no you don’t get to tell me it’s not important Nikki. You don’t get to stand here and tell me that sitting by your bedside, while you were comatose, isn’t important,” I seethe.
“Nora, please,” she pleads.
“Shut up. Just shut up or tell me what the hell he was talking about, goddamnit! I nearly fucking lost you! All I could think about for days, for fucking weeks is that you nearly fucking died! I wouldn’t get to hear you laugh or see you smile. I wouldn’t…” my throat closes up and I swallow. “I wouldn’t get to hear you tease me or see…” I choke out before the first tears fall.
“Did you see,” I hiss, “did you see June Lee?” I point behind me, to the general direction I think my car’s in. “Did you see the bullets holes? You nearly fucking died and you’re standing there telling me it’s not fucking important!”
I step up to her and grip her upper arms, willing her to understand what’s rolling through me right now. If she could just feel…
“I’ve been terrified for weeks! The nightmares…the image of you laying in that bed…” I sob finally.
I feel her arms close around me as my knees give out and she lowers us to the floor. It hurts.
I can’t breathe, can’t hear past my sobs and Nikki’s muted voice whispering in my ear. Kisses pepper my face, my head, and her hands stroke up and down my back.
Eventually, I get myself under control and can hear the words she says over and over, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
I curl into her and tighten my hold. She can’t do that. She can’t just apologize and think that that’s it. “What did you do?” I mumble wetly against her neck.
“I was pissed and busted into Brooks’ house party. Said a few things. Demanded information. I was waiting for those answers when the shooting happened. Nora, I’m sorry. I didn’t think. I was just so mad,” she whispers against the top of my head. “I was mad at you, the situation, myself.” She snickers and amends, “I was really mad at you and I wasn’t thinking.”
“You can’t do that,” I state. “You can’t be all apologetic and sweet. I’m still pissed at you,” I whine as I feel her laugh underneath me.
She pulls back and smooths the hair from my face; takes her thumbs and wipes away the tears still leaking. I fucking hate crying. I get all snotty and stuffy and blotchy. I see her give me a watery smile and I just stare back at her. Unable to tear my eyes away from hers.
“I hate you,” I finally say a little thicker than I want.
She smiles at me and leans forward, resting her forehead against mine. Our noses press together, our lips barely touch and she nods. “I know.”
“Promise you won’t get shot at anymore?” I plead. I don’t know why I ask. I can’t expect her to keep that promise. I can’t expect our lives to be danger free, but I need the illusion.
Just for right now.
“Okay,” she says simply.
I know it’s a promise she’s going to break.
My bitter laugh tells her as much.
“I’m glad you won’t hold me to that, sugga,” she mumbles and pecks my lips.
“I still hate you,” I grumble.
“I know. I still love you.”
Christ.
“I’m a fucking mess,” I say.
I feel her shrug before she whispers, “Can I tell you a secret?”
“Always.”
“I am too.” I feel her smile, even with my eyes closed, I feel that smirk playing at her lips and it’s kind of annoying.
I roll my eyes behind my closed lids.
I’m not sure what causes the next words to pour from my lips but I don’t stop them, “Nik, I was just so scared. When I saw June Lee and then Brooks. I can’t lose you. You can’t do shit like that, not without me there.”
“I won’t,” she vows and this time I know that’s a promise she’ll keep.
“I love you,” I say in response.
“I hate you,” she replies and it causes us to dissolve into a fit of giggles.
Somehow we manage to end up on our sides looking at each other. I sober when her hand brushes over my hip and she pulls me to her.
“We okay?” she asks gently, tentatively.
“Yeah,” I sigh.
“Good,” she grins, “Now kiss me. I wanna get to the make-up part of this fight.” She wiggles her eyebrows at me and I smack her arm. I don’t have time for a vocal response before her lips crash into mine.
Story: Roll Away Your Stone
Chapter: Stars Hide My Fires
Rating: R
Pairing: Nikki/Nora
Disclaimer/Details of Participation/Terms & Conditions: Not mine, no monies are being made and if I were to bill the owners my hourly rate...well...you get the idea.
A/N: G’morning, or ya know good whatever time it is where you happen to be. Nothing major, I just felt the need to share that IT gods have smiled and the filters on our servers are not blocking LJ so I can make this post at work…when really I should working on month end reports…oh, well. As for the chapter, we all knew it was coming…so here we go.
Nikki casts me a glance over her shoulder, asking, “You gonna be okay?”
I nod. “Yeah, I’ll meet you up there.”
She nods and shuts the passenger door to Bruce. I watch her stride across the walkway to the station and disappear behind its doors. It doesn’t take too long for the door to reopen and Bobby to slip into the cab.
“Hey sis,” he offers.
“Hey yourself.” I offer him and smile.
He’s a goober, but he’s a good goober.
“What’s up?” I wonder.
He shrugs. “Just wanted to check on you before you two start back to work. Nikki getting cleared by the doc finally is good news. We’ve missed you two around here.”
“Yep, she’s going to talk to Dan now. I need to head up. Sign my transfer papers, get settled back in.”
“You talk to mama?”
I glare at him from the corner of my eye. “You know I’ve tried. How is she?”
Bobby shrugs again. “More pissed than anything.”
I sigh.
Of course she is.
“I’m sorry,” I tell him. “I didn’t…”
“Hey, we’re family. Your shit is my shit.” He smiles at me causing me to smile right back at him. “Want to know something funny?”
“What?” I wonder.
“She asked if I was gay too?” He grins.
“What two homo’s in the family aren’t enough for her?” I joke.
“Pffft,” he puffs out his chest. “Gay my ass. I went out with Stevenson the other night and met this nice little red head…”
“Stop,” I warn, holding my hand up, “I don’t need to hear anymore.”
“You shoulda seen her though, Nor.” He cups his hands in front of his chest and jiggles them.
“Oh, just…please, I don’t need that mental image,” I plead.
His laughter shakes the car. “I could invite ma over to my place and let her walk in on me and a girl.”
I shove him against the car door and snort, “Asshole.”
He pushes back and says, “Takes one to know one.”
I can’t argue with that. “When does your shift start?”
“Soon. I need to go and fix up Clive. See if they re-shoed him.” He opens the door and slides out. Leaning back in, he offers me another smile and says, “Call me later, maybe if you guys have some time we can grab a bite?”
“Actually, Jill and Ann are leaving tomorrow. We were going to go out to dinner if you want to join us.”
He nods. “Sounds like fun. Let me know when and where.”
I nod. “Be safe, Robert!” I call after him as he shuts the door.
I let the silence settle back over me before I decide to head in. I slip out of the car, lock him up and head into the station. Bypassing the front desk, I hit the stairs and take them two at a time. As I hit the fourth floor landing, I square my shoulders and head into the bull pen.
I’m surprised when there aren’t any officers wandering around. A few at their desk, but the place is definitely subdued. Dan’s door is closed, but I stride to it and don’t bother knocking.
Dan and Nikki both look at me and I say, “Hey.”
“Delaney, good of you to finally show up,” Dan jokes and I roll my eyes.
“Bite me, boss,” I grin at him and he rolls his eyes. “So, where are we?”
Dan shrugs and extends his hand.
“What?” I ask.
He motions to my hip and I look down at the badge on my hip. Gratefully, I slip it from my hip and slap it in his hand. “This mean I get to come back home?”
“Please,” Dan snorts, “I’m was going to kill one of the other detectives if you two didn’t start back up today.”
“Ah, can’t handle the savages Dan?” Nikki purrs.
Dan’s lips purse as he ignores Nikki’s jibe. “We’re actually a little light so you two can start cleaning up the mess on your desks,” he says, “We’ve got cases coming up in court, but other than that, it’s been quiet. Sometime today, Nora, I’m going to need you to head down to impound and do something with your car.”
“I…” I try to start.
Dan shakes his head. “You two aren’t to ask about the case period. I’ve greased enough wheels that all you need to do is go down there and arrange for whatever you would like for your car.”
I clamp my mouth shut and nod.
“Just so you two know, there’s been whispers here and there, but it’s coming from the uniforms. I’m not sure if it’s just locker room chat or if they’re looking to stir the pot. You two need to fly under the radar for a few until things settle back down. Catching up on some desk work wouldn’t be a bad idea, ladies.”
Dan looks pointedly between the two of us.
Nikki and I nod.
“I can do subtle,” Nikki answers, “but, I don’t know about Nora.”
“Muzzle?” Dan asks her.
“I tried that once…she chewed it off,” Nikki comes back quicker than I have time to get the ‘hey’.
“Hey,” I start protest, but shut my mouth when they both grin at me.
Instead I fold my arms across my chest and glare. Them ganging up on me is no fun.
“By the way,” Dan looks at Nikki, “Nice choice.” He points to her hair.
Oh, no.
Nikki’s been whining about her missing patch of hair since she woke up. I shake my head.
Today, she’s decided to just put her hair up in a ponytail and let it go. Her words this morning as we were getting ready were, “I can’t do anything with nearly half my head shaved!”
I tried to remind her that it was only a small patch comparatively. That earned me a serious glare and a swat to my ass.
“Dan,” I try to warn him.
“If you want to keep your manhood intact, Mr. Harney,” Nikki warns, “I suggest you let any comments about my hair fall silent. I’m not sure what I’m going to do with it, but for now, no comments from the peanut gallery.”
Dan grins but clamps his mouth shut.
“We good?” I ask.
Dan nods and tosses me my old badge.
“You ladies have fun.”
It’s a little worse than nails on a chalkboard. The sound of my teeth make as they grind together.
Nikki stands behind me, off to my right.
June Lee sits in front of me. Busted and broken. Bullet holes riddle the left side of my baby – I’ve counted thirty-two holes alone on the rear fender.
My jaw aches and I’ll have bruises on my upper arms from the grip I have on them. Folded across my chest, they ache with tension.
There’s not a window in her that’s intact. Kernels of glass litter the bed and I’m sure that they’re all over the cab too. I just can’t bring myself to look inside just yet.
I remember when my dad brought her home. She was busted up pretty bad. We rebuilt the top half of the engine, restored the interior and took her to a friend of the family’s for the final paint job. When I wasn’t working or in school, Dad and I worked on her. It took us a year and a half, but she was worth it and ready when I finally got my license.
I had looked forward to that day for so long.
It seems like a life time ago.
Dad helped Patrick and Terry with their first cars too. It was a rite of passage for all Delaney children. Pap helped Dad with his first car and then Dad helped us. Dad would tell stories about him and their time together. It was, so he said, the best time he had growing up.
Oddly enough, the time with my dad rebuilding June Lee is some of my most favorite too.
God, I loved him.
I loved June Lee too.
Easing my way up to her, I reach out and run three finger tips along the edge of the bed.
I’m going to miss her.
A lot…
But.
I’m eerily okay with it. What I can’t get over is the amount of damage done.
Nikki was in this.
June Lee, as much as it pains me to say this, is collateral damage.
But Nikki…
It could have been so much worse.
I suck in some air and pull the driver’s door open. I brush off the shredded seat and slip inside.
The dashboard is damaged beyond repair.
I place a hand on it and lean forward, pressing my lips against the steering wheel.
Part of me understands that she’s just a car. The other part feels like I just lost a friend.
An old friend that saved my partner’s life.
“Thank you,” I murmur against the wheel.
“I’m sorry Nora,” Nikki whispers next to me. She’s crouched down in the open doorway.
“You’re okay,” is my reply.
“Yeah, but…”
“No buts, baby. You’re okay and that’s the most important part,” I remind her.
“Okay.” I can hear the urge to argue behind that four letter word, but she doesn’t press the issue. Instead, she asks, “What do you want to do with her?”
I shrug. “There really isn’t much we can do with her. Hell, I’m not even sure if drive-by shootings are covered in our insurance.” Idly, I wonder what kind of…
“Hey, what do you think the insurance claim form would be for this?” She cuts into my thoughts.
This causes the left corner of my mouth to curl upward and look her way. “I was just thinking the same thing.”
She smiles at me, reaches out and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “Why don’t we wait then and tell them to hold on to her for a few more days?
I nod. Better idea than what I could have come up with.
“Hey,” a deep voice barks behind us.
Nikki and I turn our heads together to see three large men standing behind us.
Trouble is the first word that pops in my head. Two out of the three of them are goons, that much is obvious.
The one on the right is a thick, no neck, no brain white kid that looks like he’s trying way too hard to be one of the boys. The other is an averaged sized black kid that looks four years too young to be strapped and running with the third man that rounds out the trio.
His face looks familiar. To familiar. It’s on the tip of my tongue.
Nikki beats me to it as she stands and says, “Well, this is a surprise. Darren, how have you been?”
That’s Darren Brooks – the prime suspect in the Knox murders and Nikki’s shooting.
I shoot out of June Lee and push Nikki behind me.
Darren holds his hands up and looks me over. “This bitch is what to you Beaumont?” Darren spits.
My heart starts a rapid beat and I answer for Nikki, “This bitch is her partner. Back the fuck up.”
I feel Nikki grip my left hip.
“Hey there boo, I ain’t tryin’ to start nothin’. I just came to see if your partner was all right.” He hooks a thumb behind him and says, “We seen’d what happened in front of Jenny’s house. Called the medics.” His arms fold across his chest as my eyes narrow. “I stopped by the hospital, you was there, passed out in a chair next to her…”
“Oh, bullshit, you’re probably responsible for ordering the hit,” I snarl.
Darren’s weight shifts from his left to right foot, he sighs and rolls his eyes. “Woah, woah, ain’t no one in my crew pull the trigger. Don’t get that twisted, we had nothin’ to do with that bit of insanity.”
“Prove it,” I challenge.
“Your partner came to us the day before she got popped. Made a ruckus at a party. Demandin’ some information. I had one of my boys drop it off to her the next morning ‘cause just in case you didn’t get the info, Jenny and I were a thing. I wanted her shooters caught more than any of you.”
“So you know who did it?” Nikki asks behind me.
Wait, just back the fuck up. When was she at his house? When did she do this? Where the fuck was I?
Darren nods. He looks between the two of us. I’m not sure what he’s trying to figure out, but right now I don’t care. Right now, what I really want is answers from Nikki.
He licks his lips and says, “The day you came in lookin’ to catch a case, I figured it out. You thought it was me. Well, you’re little show rattled a few cages and shook a bird loose. The next day when Taps lil brother dropped you that note, the car that shot you up belonged to a cat.”
I raise an eyebrow as Nikki asks, “You didn’t happen to mention that to any of the cops did you?”
Darren shrugs. “Wouldn’t do no good. Like I said. I just wanted to make sure you were all right. You got a pair on you. I like that. I also take care of my own, you know what I’m sayin’. You won’t have any more trouble, de-tect-ive.” His arms drop and he goes to this relaxed stance. “You need anything else, don’t come creepin’ up my way. We square.”
Him and his two goons back away and disappear around a pile of cars. I start to go after him, but Nikki stops me with a hand on my arm and a shake of her head.
Just what the fuck?
I slam the driver’s side door of Bruce and stalk up our walkway, following Nikki. She won’t answer me and I’m fucking fed up with it.
She pushes our side door open and I slip in, pushing it closed behind me. I hear four people in the living room and know that everyone is home. I roll my eyes.
I can’t deal with this right now.
“Nikki,” I call after her.
She ignores me and starts up the steps.
My jaw flexes and I snap, “Don’t fucking walk away, Nik!”
My tone and volume cause the T.V. and voices in the living room to pause, but it does nothing to stop Nikki.
“Damnit!” I take off up the stairs and ignore Ann calling after me.
The bathroom door slams shut just as I reach the landing and I hear the lock engage. I move quickly through the side sitting room, side step the blow up mattress Ann and Jill have been using and into our bedroom. The other door to the bathroom is locked too.
“Damnit, Nikki,” I growl and smack my hand against the barrier. “What the hell was Brooks talking about?”
“Please, Nora, just let it go,” she whines.
“Nikki, you have two seconds to open this goddamn door or so help me I will bust this fucking thing down!” I step back and take a more firm stance, preparing to kick it in if I have to.
A half second before I’m ready to kick, the door lock clicks and it swings open. Nikki stands in front of my, her arms folded across her chest, hip jutted out to the side. Her eyebrow arcs and disappears under her bangs as she asks, “A little dramatic, don’t you think?”
“Not when I can’t get an answer out of my girlfriend that just took three bullets and got my car shot to holy hell. What the fuck was Brooks talking about Nikki? What did you do?”
She pushes past me and stands by the closet. “It’s not important,” she hisses.
My mouth drops open.
“Not important!”
“Yes, Nora, not important.”
“You…” I have no idea what to say to that…
She mistakes my silence for agreement as she steps up to me and reaches out to place her arms around me. I back up and end up bumping into our dresser. The contents on the top rattle and I hear a bottle topple over. “No. No, no you don’t get to tell me it’s not important Nikki. You don’t get to stand here and tell me that sitting by your bedside, while you were comatose, isn’t important,” I seethe.
“Nora, please,” she pleads.
“Shut up. Just shut up or tell me what the hell he was talking about, goddamnit! I nearly fucking lost you! All I could think about for days, for fucking weeks is that you nearly fucking died! I wouldn’t get to hear you laugh or see you smile. I wouldn’t…” my throat closes up and I swallow. “I wouldn’t get to hear you tease me or see…” I choke out before the first tears fall.
“Did you see,” I hiss, “did you see June Lee?” I point behind me, to the general direction I think my car’s in. “Did you see the bullets holes? You nearly fucking died and you’re standing there telling me it’s not fucking important!”
I step up to her and grip her upper arms, willing her to understand what’s rolling through me right now. If she could just feel…
“I’ve been terrified for weeks! The nightmares…the image of you laying in that bed…” I sob finally.
I feel her arms close around me as my knees give out and she lowers us to the floor. It hurts.
I can’t breathe, can’t hear past my sobs and Nikki’s muted voice whispering in my ear. Kisses pepper my face, my head, and her hands stroke up and down my back.
Eventually, I get myself under control and can hear the words she says over and over, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
I curl into her and tighten my hold. She can’t do that. She can’t just apologize and think that that’s it. “What did you do?” I mumble wetly against her neck.
“I was pissed and busted into Brooks’ house party. Said a few things. Demanded information. I was waiting for those answers when the shooting happened. Nora, I’m sorry. I didn’t think. I was just so mad,” she whispers against the top of my head. “I was mad at you, the situation, myself.” She snickers and amends, “I was really mad at you and I wasn’t thinking.”
“You can’t do that,” I state. “You can’t be all apologetic and sweet. I’m still pissed at you,” I whine as I feel her laugh underneath me.
She pulls back and smooths the hair from my face; takes her thumbs and wipes away the tears still leaking. I fucking hate crying. I get all snotty and stuffy and blotchy. I see her give me a watery smile and I just stare back at her. Unable to tear my eyes away from hers.
“I hate you,” I finally say a little thicker than I want.
She smiles at me and leans forward, resting her forehead against mine. Our noses press together, our lips barely touch and she nods. “I know.”
“Promise you won’t get shot at anymore?” I plead. I don’t know why I ask. I can’t expect her to keep that promise. I can’t expect our lives to be danger free, but I need the illusion.
Just for right now.
“Okay,” she says simply.
I know it’s a promise she’s going to break.
My bitter laugh tells her as much.
“I’m glad you won’t hold me to that, sugga,” she mumbles and pecks my lips.
“I still hate you,” I grumble.
“I know. I still love you.”
Christ.
“I’m a fucking mess,” I say.
I feel her shrug before she whispers, “Can I tell you a secret?”
“Always.”
“I am too.” I feel her smile, even with my eyes closed, I feel that smirk playing at her lips and it’s kind of annoying.
I roll my eyes behind my closed lids.
I’m not sure what causes the next words to pour from my lips but I don’t stop them, “Nik, I was just so scared. When I saw June Lee and then Brooks. I can’t lose you. You can’t do shit like that, not without me there.”
“I won’t,” she vows and this time I know that’s a promise she’ll keep.
“I love you,” I say in response.
“I hate you,” she replies and it causes us to dissolve into a fit of giggles.
Somehow we manage to end up on our sides looking at each other. I sober when her hand brushes over my hip and she pulls me to her.
“We okay?” she asks gently, tentatively.
“Yeah,” I sigh.
“Good,” she grins, “Now kiss me. I wanna get to the make-up part of this fight.” She wiggles her eyebrows at me and I smack her arm. I don’t have time for a vocal response before her lips crash into mine.
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no subject
Date: 2011-06-02 10:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-06-09 04:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-06-03 12:05 am (UTC)Sad about June Lee. :(
Happy about the make-up sex! ;)
no subject
Date: 2011-06-09 04:13 am (UTC)Thanks!
no subject
Date: 2011-06-03 06:46 am (UTC)Nora, smack Bobby over the head. ;)
Waiting for more :)
no subject
Date: 2011-06-09 04:13 am (UTC)Thanks!