Faith

Vengeance

Later that evening, after Sawyer and the Omari's had devoured Louise's home-made lasagne, Jamal stood, placing a hand on Sawyer's shoulder, "Why don't you and I leave the girls to have a coffee and chat in here?  I've got something you may find more exciting than 'a cappuccino'..." 

He winked at Louise, who smiled broadly back at her husband. She didn't know why he seemed to have suddenly started to thaw out, but she was delighted that he was at least trying to make an effort. 

Louise had been watching Sawyer and Ariana's interactions very closely since they arrived; despite appearances she was every bit as wary as Jamal - she was just more subtle about it...  Her own observations, coupled with what Ariana had said to her during their girlie chat earlier today, meant she was feeling much more at ease with the sort of boy her daughter was seeing. 

Louise raised her eyebrows, and Ariana beamed at Sawyer as he followed her dad out of the kitchen.
  Walking out into the hallway, Jamal pushed open a door, gesturing for Sawyer to go inside. Sawyer had assumed it was a storage cupboard when he'd first come into the Omari's house:  he never anticipated the glorious man-cave that lay before him! 

Sawyer let out a low hoot, "Sir, this is quite a place you've got here!"  The man-cave was at least two-thirds of the size of the lounge - there was a big flat screen TV mounted on the wall, a couple of comfortable, if worn looking leather chairs, a signed Celtics jersey in a frame...  As Sawyer scoured the room he started to laugh, "Mr Omari, you have your own bar?!" 

Jamal grinned, "Yep...  What's your poison?" 

Sawyer's eyes shone as he grinned back, "Do you have any bourbon, Sir?" 

Jamal opened the cabinet below the bar, "I don't have any Montana whiskey, but I do have Knob Creek or Woodford Reserve?" 

Sawyer held his hands up graciously, "Whichever you recommend?" 

Jamal grabbed a couple of heavy-bottomed crystal glasses, glugging a good measure of the Woodford into each of them, "You just need one cube of ice in here, it really opens up the flavour...  Makes a world of difference." 

Sawyer chuckled as Jamal ducked around the other side of the counter, where there must have been a mini fridge-freezer. 

Jamal handed him the glass, holding his own up to Sawyer, "Sláinte mhaith." 

Sawyer repeated the old Gaelic toast before sipping the amber nectar, letting the smooth liquor burn as it slid down his throat, feeling  honoured that Ariana's father had brought him in here at all. Jamal inclined his head towards the lounge chairs, "Sit?"     

Sawyer acquiesced as Jamal pulled a wry grin, "So..." 

Sawyer felt like he needed to say something, but really had no idea what, he started, "Mr Omari"

Jamal was shaking his head, gesturing for Sawyer to be quiet, "Sawyer, I haven't exactly been welcoming since you got here yesterday afternoon." 

Sawyer froze, was it a trap? 

Jamal sighed as he continued, knocking back a mouthful of bourbon, "She's my little girl, son.  Do you understand what I'm saying?" 

Sawyer nodded slowly, "Yes, Sir.  You want the best for Ari." 

Jamal suddenly looked weary; Sawyer wondered why he hadn't noticed it before, "How much do you know about her past 'relationship', Sawyer?" 

Sawyer felt himself tense as he locked eyes with the stocky older man, "Enough that I want to kill that piece of shit, Mr Omari." 

Jamal let a low chuckle escape, "Enough of the 'Mr Omari' - it's Jamal..." 

Sawyer nodded, finally feeling like he and Jamal's father were on the same page, "Jamal.  I've never met anyone like Ari.  The idea that anyone could treat her, as less than she is...  I love the bones of your daughter, Sir.  I know it's fast, and I understand why you're wary of me, but please, know that she is my number one priority and I'd do anything to make her happy."