From across the hallway

Part 6

The week drifted by, with Wade bumping into Missy and Emily briefly a couple of times, but for no more than a couple of minutes maximum.

After a few polite exchanges of words, the girls had rushed off, leaving Wade beaming after them each and every time.....

The merc knew, of course, that he was enamoured with them, without a doubt! But Missy was hard nut to crack...

Defensive and protective over her tiny daughter. He didn't expect anything less, but that just made Wade more and more bowled over by her.

She was perfect....and she didn't even realise it.

But tonight it was a Saturday night, and two days since the coughing had started.

Despite there being a hallway dividing them, Wade could still hear it, punctuating through the silence.

It was Emily. Wade had seen her looking sniffly and miserable on Thursday, but since then, the sounds that emanated from Missy's apartment had only worsened.

It was just gone 10pm, and even through the noise from his TV, Wade could still hear the bark-like coughs, sounding through the walls.

The merc was sprawled out on his couch after a tiring job.

Two guys who had tried to rob a liquor store. Wade had had a gold card with their names on it. Literally.

The merc knew for a fact that they didn't even have any weapons, but as soon as they had seen him they had run like hell. And Wade, despite him keeping fairly fit, wasn't as young as he used to be, had been winded after about five minutes and had given up. Pffft. Someone else could take the card.

So now, with his day pretty much wasted, Wade was sat, in jeans and a t-shirt, his sneakers still on, watching old re-runs of The Price is Right. His head was propped up on his hand, his face bored, his eyes staring, unmoving, at the TV.

It wasn't until there was a sudden knock on his door, did Wade finally break from his stupor...

He gave a frown, getting hastily to his feet.

Nobody usually called on him this late...and if they did, it was usually people demanding money....or worse, his life...

Grabbing his gun from the top shelf of a kitchen cupboard where he had stashed it, Wade stalked to the door before hurling it open, his eyes flashing dangerously.

But to his surprise, on the other side of the door wasn't a 6 ft7 hulking great man, ready to kill him...instead it was the opposite....

"Missy?" he said, tossing his gun down onto a sideboard, out of sight.

The caramel-haired woman was stood there, her face full of worry and concern. He could see that her eyes were red and tired-looking.

She gave a gulp, glancing back over to her open front-door.

"I'm really sorry....I didn't know who else to ask...." she said, shaking her head, looking close to tears, desperation in her voice. "It's Emily-"

From behind her came a sudden loud, carrying cough...

Again Missy glanced around, before staring back up at him once more.

"She won't stop coughing...it's been like two days...and she's getting worse....she just needs some medicine....but I haven't been able to get out and get some...." said Missy her voice breaking slightly as she spoke. "S-she just won't sleep....I-I've tried anything....medicine will help, but I just-"

Wade shuffled from foot to foot, the concern upon his features mirroring hers.

"You need me to go to the store?" he asked, his hand automatically reaching out and touching her shoulder.