Honey Stone

Sting in the Tail

Honeys feet pounded the ground as she raced through the hospital. Even in her chaotic state of mind, she was aware of the slap of her rubber soles on the linoleum and it somehow soothed her but not enough; still she pushed onwards.

Gasping for breath, she finally charged through the main doors and collapsed to the ground outside, heaving sobs and pummelling the hard ground with her fist in anguish.

'Jesus!' came a rough , familiar voice and she was scooped from the ground and into a hard embrace, that served to keep her on her feet 'Whats happened Honey? Is it Nash? Is he...?'

Honey's head fell back but it was supported against Preach's shoulder. She fought to control her breathing enough to answer. 'He's not there, he's just not there?'

A gasp from her otherside made Honey turn her head in that direction. Viola was stood with her hands covering her mouth and her eyes wide. She was shaking her head slightly and her eyes brimmed with teras. 'Honey, No?'

'Vi!' She cried out and twisted out of Preach's hold and gripped at Viola like her own life depended on it. He's not real. Its like he's something else. I couldn't bare it.' She babbled, trying to make sense of it all. She was feeling suddenly ridiculous but trying to make them understand her pain.

'I know Honey, I know. Its a terrible thing to see. Come get some coffee or something stronger and I'll come back in with you when you're up to it.' Viola said soothingly.

Honey nodded weakly and let Viola lead her away slightly. She stopped ubruptly making Viola turn sharply but Honey was looking at Preach. 'His parents are in there Preach.' she said hesitantly. 'His uncle too. Can you tell them I'm sorry for how I behaved. God knows what they think of me now.' Honeys eyes were brimming.

Preach frowned slightly but his eyes crinkled in one of his rare smiles 'Sure thing Honey Pie. Don't you worry you're little head about his folks. I've known them a long time, they'll understand, trust me.'With that he turned and loped away with an ease of movement that reminded Honey of a cat.

Viola tugged Honeys hand and she followed meakly to the car.

*

It was seveeral hours later when the two girls returned to the hospital. The sun was setting and the first stars were peeping through the dusk. Honey was calmer and more relaxed and Viola gave her strength but all the same as the smell of those endless corridors enveloped her, the fear started to bloom in her chest and a coldness tingled in her finger tips.

Outside Nash's room stood four men. Clay, Albert, Preach and Tommy.

'Theres my little sister!' boomed Tommy's big voice as he heaved himself off the wall and came towards her. He laid his heavy hands on her shoulders, keeping her facing him. 'Feeling better Honey Pie?'

'Yes.' she whispered nervously, looking at the floor, not wanting to meet Alberts eyes.'

'You look a sight better than you did when you collapsed at my feet.' Preach grunted as he pulled Viola to his side. Honey trembled and hunched her shoulders as she chewed on her lips.

'Easy now girl,' Albert said gruffly as he came round from behind Tommy. 'You ready to go back in and see my boy? Reckon he's missing you a whole lot right now.'

'Is he awake?' Honey murmered

'No. But that don't mean he don't know you're missing. Come on, I'll take you in, Clara's already in there and she's been worried about you too.' Albert said as guided Honey firmly through the door, allowing no argument from her. She was scared and comforted at the same time and Albert's strong grip buoyed her.

The four people remaining looked at each other, their faces set in grim expressions. Preach was the first to break the tense silence. 'She ok?'

'I think so.' Vi replied 'She didn't really say much, she feels guilty for over-reacting and running out though.'

'Over-reacting!' Tommy snorted, 'Can anyone blame her?'

'I don't.' said Clay. 'That little girl has had one hell of a run of bad luck in her miserable life and now she has a shot at something good, its looking like it might all end. I tell you something, I hope that no matter what happens here, she never ends up back in Arizona, thats the wrong place to be.'

'What are you saying Clay?' Preach exploded 'She belongs with us. We'll take care of her. If anything happens to Nash, she can move in with me and Vi, or Buzz will take her in, or Hank. Dammit, I reckon even Roxie would have her, anyone of us will take care of her. I know what happened to her in that shithole she called home and I'll be fucked if I'm gonna let her go back to that.'

Tommy laid a hand on his vice presidents shoulder to steady him. Preach's voice was low enough but he was worried that the family on the other side of the door would hear.

'Take it easy buddy.' Tommy growled 'Clay here didn't mean that we wouldn't look after our Honey Pie, but if I read you rightly,' he looked at the older man 'her home town aint a safe place still?'

'No sir it sure ain't'. That bitch mother of hers is crazier than a shithouse rat. Been screaming all sorts of lies around the place. Course no-one pays any mind to her but she's fallen in with some rough types. That Danny was a piece of work but these new fellas make him look like a saint.'

'What fella's' Vi hissed 'you mean there's more than one.'

'Oh yeah, there a whole bunch of them and she's told them all about Honey and all about my James. She thinks they have something to do with Danny going missing too. I'm afraid if she goes back there they'll really hurt her.

'Who's they?' Preach demanded and he and Tommy had identical expressions of fury etched into the hard faces.

'I don't know. They've never been round our way before. They're from Phoenix. You might know them, they're your type, if you know what I mean.'

'Who are they?' Tommy seethed as he repeated Preach's questiom

'The Scorpions Tail.'

'Fuck!' Tommy and Preach said in unison.