Just Another Job

Change of Plans

This lack of reads, thanks to the removal of the SYS club, is really discouraging. Still, I'm gonna try to write my best. Here you go! 

Picture is of Jo

I woke around six in the evening when I felt the car come to a stop. 

"Gotta get gas," Ian explained as he opened the car door, letting in a blast of cold air. I sat up in the passenger seat and yawned. I turned while stretching and saw Jo leaning against the window, her legs folded up tightly to her body. 

"Your name is Cobalt?" she asked, all of her earlier fire gone. 

I nodded in reply. 

"That's different," she said quietly. For some reason, I felt compelled to explain. I was really falling apart.

"My name was going to be James, but I was born a white panther, so my parents decided to name me Cobalt. It's a silvery-white kind of metal." I turned to look at her and saw that she was staring out of the window. What the hell. Was I having a chick flick moment with a prisoner? I shook it off and faced forward. I needed to drop her off as soon as possible. 

"Harting is going to kill me," she said, still looking out the window. "And you're just going to hand me over to him." 

I sighed. "Please stop with the dramatics. I already told you. I don't have a choice." 

"Yes you do!" she hissed. "I don't see a leash around your neck. You can do what the hell you want to do. And you know this is wrong." 

"You don't see the leash around my neck, but it's there," I snapped. "And I wish to God that it wasn't, but it is. So I guess we're both going to have to suck it up, huh?" 

"You don't understand," she said in frustration. "Letting me go is in your best interests." 

I almost laughed at that. "Oh really?" I asked scornfully.

Jo opened her mouth to respond when Ian yanked open my car door and said, "Your turn to drive." I glared at him briefly and raised a finger at Jo. "Hold that thought." 

Ian looked at me in bewilderment as I passed him and quickly rounded the front of the car, sliding into the driver's seat. I started the car and drove forward as Jo continued her thought. 

"You're a good-for-nothing, scumbag gun for hire. I get that, all right? But even good-for-nothing scumbag guns for hire have to listen to facts. And the fact is, if I get taken, you'll have a much bigger problem on your hands than an angry boss." 

"Like what?" I challenged. 

"I can't freaking tell you!" she almost screamed, pulling at her blonde hair. 

"Why can't you freaking tell me?" I shouted. What was wrong with me? It was like I wanted to find a reason to let her go. 

"Cobalt, what is wrong with you?" Ian asked, his brow furrowed. 

"I can't even tell you the reason!" she yelled. "Or I would have!" 

I sat back in my seat, completely pissed off. Why was she even making me this conflicted if she wasn't willing to give me damn reasons?

I felt my seat move as she leaned forward. "Cobalt. Please," she pleaded softly. "You know what you have to do. Trust me. You don't want to turn me in. It's for you own good, as well as mine." Her blue eyes were completely sincere, begging with me not to take her to Harting. 

"You shut up," Ian snapped, jabbing a finger at her. 

I gritted my teeth, having enough of this guilt and inner struggle. "You're right; I know what to do." I wrenched the wheel and the mustang did a complete U-turn. 

"Cobalt! What the hell man, are you actually going to listen to her?" Ian roared, sitting up straight in his seat. 

I didn't say anything, which was answer enough for him. 

"You are going to get both of us killed!" 

I slammed on the brakes, bringing the car to a screeching halt. "Get out then," I said, deadly serious. 

"What?" Ian looked baffled, but still furious enough to rip me apart. 

"I'm serious. Get out, hike to the nearest town. Tell Jones that I went rogue, that I took the girl and ran. Tell him exactly what happened. He'll let you off, and you can go back to your life. Moving from town to town, killing faceless people, never standing up for anything that matters. I've had enough. I don't want to be Jones' puppet anymore, I want this leash off of my neck. I want to stand for something, and this is where I draw the line." 

Ian was quite after my little rant. "It just doesn't make sense," he protested. 

"I know. It doesn't make sense to me either. I just know that I have to make a stand somewhere, and this is where I choose. Jones will have his cronies on my ass as soon as he finds out, I know. So get out. Leave while you still can." 

Ian bit his lip. "Drive the damn car," he muttered. 

"Excuse me?" 

"I'm your partner, for God's sake, and I'm not abandoning you that easily. If you're determined to have Jones kill you, someone's gotta be there to have your back, you're a shitty bad guy on your own. And this is my damned car anyway! So drive." He stared straight ahead as he bit off his words, still clearly pissed about this change of events. 

I shifted the car into drive and we eased into the approaching night. I caught a glimpse of Jo's blue eyes in the rearview mirror. 

Thank-you, she mouthed. I turned away, still not sure of my hastily made decision. What had I done?