Spades and Angels

I Guess I Have Something To Say....

Maddox

After hanging up with Riv, Lo and I remain silently standing for a few moments. The TV turned mute and finally off the looping police report about last night. Next to me Lo sighs and leans further toward me so her head rests just under my collarbone, eyes closed. Quiet breathing is the only sound until she breaks the otherwise imposed silence.

"We have done it. We've started a turf war." Her voice is soft and I can tell she's upset, even before her eyes meet mine, shining silvery grey with tears. Sighing I hold her tighter, mindful of where she's still injured. "Whatever this is has started a war."

"The war was already started Lo, what we did or didn't do has nothing to do with it. Not like you think," I reply to her, softly. "Same with what Riv did last year. She didn't start it and neither did we. Something or someone else did, we're just not helping it. Or ourselves."

She looks like she wants to say more but doesn't speak, standing stiffly where she's still in pain. Same with me where I know we're both injured, hungry, tired and probably a little cold once the adrenaline wears off and we realise we've stopped. Mentally realise that is. Sighing I let go of her for a second to check the door's locked before placing the key on the nightstand and waving Lo over to me with an outstretched hand.

"What-" She starts to talk before yawning and blinking tiredly. "Mads?"

"Come on we need to figure out how injured we both are and you need those out of your shoulders since I doubt somewhat sexy angel wings were the look you're going for." I point to the daggers in her shoulders and she sighs, rolling her eyes with a sarcastic chuckle. "What? Something I said?"

"Angel wings, really Mads? I've got two daggers stuck out of my shoulder blades and you're making a joke?" She laughs, coming over slowly to where I stand at the bathroom door, "Only you could make a joke like that and I still want to laugh. A special gift I guess."

"Mhmm, maybe,'' I mumble, helping her inside to sit on the edge of the tub, wincing when she does so. "Hey, hey stop that. Here let me help." She bats away my hand the first time but when I try again she sighs and accepts it. "I'll have to pull them out, hopefully, they didn't go too deep."

"Yeah hopefully," In the low light of the room, Lo's complexion looks a little peaky even with the dusky colour but she nods with a determined, almost implacable glint in her eyes. "You do it or I will. They can't stay there. Ok?"

"Fine," I sigh, taking the blanket off from around her shoulders and placing a hand over the left one, not sure if I'm qualified to do this. Nope, screw that I know I'm not qualified to do this. Riv could or Maeve but I'm not. "Are you sure?"

"I told you either you do it or I do," Lo replies, eyes on mine. I pause again and she sighs, "Please mi amor, they can't stay there. I know you know that." reaching around she places a bloody, shaking hand over mine, lacing our fingers. "Please, I-I know I said I'd do it but I don't know if I can."

I sigh, blowing all the air out of my lungs in a useless attempt to stall. "Ok, I'll be quick, it'll make it hurt less." She nods but doesn't move her hand, closing her eyes. Taking a deep breath I tighten my grip around it and pull out the dagger as fast as possible. Lo flinches but keeps her mouth closed. Offering as contrite an expression as I can she lets go of my hand and I drop the bloody dagger into the sink.

Gripping the other one Lo once again places her hand over mine and nods, her eyes locked on mine in the mirror. "Go on, it's ok. I can take it." I offer her a somewhat bemused expression but she just laces our fingers together again. Just like last time. "Please, it hurts and it can't stay there."