Ain't Shady Baby, I'm Hot

85

"Where are we going?" Peterkin asked as I hopped into the cruiser. My bike left behind at Tauti's parking lot.

"The private airstrip. I don't know where he's going, but he's taking off within the hour." I spoke glancing at the clock on the dash. The thirty minutes John B had given me quickly dwindling.

"Well then hold on."

Peterkin drove like a race car driver. Her sirens on as she tore through the town and got further away from residential areas.

The airstrip was out on a large mass of land. With the intent only rich people would use it, so it made sense it was as close to Figure Eight as possible.

"There!" I shouted pointing to where several vehicles were leaving from. A large blue and white plane sitting on the runway as Peterkin pulled up to the private gate.

"Officer-"

"Open the gate, Frank." Peterkin gave him an intense look. One that worked in her favor.

"Yes, ma'am." I held back a laugh as I felt myself buzzing. It was adrenaline. The rush of energy sparking in under my skin. It was coming out, no longer hiding as we watched the plane make an abrupt stop.

"You stay in the cruiser." I went to argue but this time I got the look. My jaw closing immediately. "Don't you argue with me. You stay in this car."

"Yes, ma'am." I grumbled, my adrenaline now mocking me as she accelerated to the plane. My eyes widening as I saw what stopped it.

The freaking Twinkie.

"Your buddy John B, is a brave one. Stupid, but brave." Peterkin said as she broke hard.

"Yeah he is." I whispered my eyes taking in the three people before me.

"Stay in the car." She enunciated unbuckling and swinging her door open, not giving me a chance for rebuttal.

"Oh, thank God you're here." Then the door slammed shut. Their voices muffled here on out. So I did my best at reading their lips. "Susan, I told you he lost his goddamn mind."

"Susan?" I shook my head. Her first name is Sheriff for all I cared.

I struggled to hear what she said. But when Ward turned his back, I watched her draw her firearm. My eyes widening as I realized this was it.

Bag and tag.

Peterkin kept talking. My eyes catching Sarah as she fell backwards onto John B.

Everyone watching the interaction between the two adults as I sat holding my breath.

"Are you kidding me, Sue?" I heard him that time.

"Put your hands on your head!" Peterkin was not wavering. She stayed tall, cautious. But she was strong, firm.

It was powerful to watch. Especially as Ward rose his arms. Fingers behind his head. He turned, facing Sarah as she wore her disbelief.

"Drop to your knees!" Ward did as instructed. Peterkin on him in seconds as she started to cuff him.

I jumped as Ward shoved away, Peterkin stepping back as she drew her firearm.

I heard the shot, but never saw it coming.

All that adrenaline, that anticipation. The rush, the feeling of power and inspiration- vanished in a blink of an eye.

I dropped. My heart turning tail and running. My gut wrenched as my soul took all the pain. My head spun as I watched Sheriff Peterkin fall to her knees.

A bullet wound in her left shoulder.

My body was inches away from the comms. But I couldn't think.

I turned, despair taking over my being as I saw who ducked underneath the tail of the plane.

A gun raised in his hand.

It was the Kook Prince.

Hair slicked back. Shirt, shorts. The Country Club combo.

The boy who was constantly pushed aside by his father, now come to save him.

A cry slipped from my lips as my brain comprehended the situation. My tears welling as I went to get the door.

Her head turned, eyes on mine.

Stay.

She mouthed, her hands holding her wound as her eyes rolled back. She wanted to protect me.

You spend so much of your time fighting and protecting others, but what happens when you are in need of protecting.

I can take care of myself.

"No." I choked on the air trapped inside my throat. My body reacting as I let my gut lead.

"I saved you dad."

I grabbed my old shirt from my backpack. My free hand swinging the door wide, my body flying out of the car despite my stitches pulling.

"I saved you." I ran straight to Peterkin as she swayed before dropping onto the asphalt.

Rafe rose his gun pointing it as me as I kept running. My head turning to face him for a second. I saw the tears in his eyes. I didn't bother identifying with what emotion they came from.

The gun clattered to the ground.

My knees mimicking the drop as I turned my back to Rafe. My hands coming up and putting pressure on Peterkin's wound.

"Stupid." She coughed, her hands falling as I pressed the cloth to her wound.

"I know. I know." I hissed, holding back tears as Peterkin grabbed my wrist. The noise around me faded as I tried to calm down.

"Intern file, 13-23. Go to May." She whispered, as I nodded. My head rapidly moving as I looked down and saw her walkie among blurred eyes.

I unclipped the walkie, my brain slowly kicking in as I brought it to my lips.

"Rafe, no!" I jumped as I felt the cool metal of a gun at my temple. The same gun Rafe had just dropped.

I kept the walkie in my hand but lowered it as I turned. My eyes shining as I looked up at Rafe. The barrel now at my forehead.

"Don't! Don't do it." He ordered, his voice shaking just like his hand.

"If we can save her, you won't get booked for killing an officer." I tried to rationalize as I stared up at the blond. My eyes burn as I stared at him. "Rafe, please. Please let me help her."

"You can't. You can't, Xena!" He shouted raising his voice as I saw his conflict clearly through his eyes.