Ain't Shady Baby, I'm Hot

86

"Xena, give me the radio." I kept my gaze on Rafe as I felt Peterkin squeeze my wrist. I tried to hold on but Ward had grabbed my hand.

"Rafe, don't do this. Please." My heart ran faster away. Trying to flee my body as a new pain emerged. "Ward, call for help." I was in near hysterics as I watched Ward walk away from me, pushing Rafe and that stupid gun back with him.

"What are we going to do?" John B asked as him and Sarah dropped down with me.

"Run." Peterkin gasped out as I kept pressure on her wound.

"John B." His head snapped to mine immediately. He knew I was serious. "You have to go. Now!" I ordered through tears. Peterkin's hold on my wrist weakened and I knew it was a loosing battle.

"I'm sorry." John B whispered, rising to his feet. Sarah following.

"Go." Peterkin spoke. My eyes drifting to her glossy ones. "Go." Her voice was a whisper. Her body slowly going slack as she gave me her look.

"Hey, where do you think you're goin'!"

"Run!" Sarah shouted pushing John B behind her as I watch Rafe break free of Ward.

"Where you going, John B?" Rafe roared as he stalked forward. Right to reaching distance.

My adrenaline spiked, and all my pain was overpowered with a goal.

"No!" Sarah cried out attempting to stop her brother, but I knew he wouldn't stop. Not with words.

I was lunging at the blond. My shoulder catching him in the side as I brought us both down. He landed back first as I used him as a landing pad.

Pain flared along my side. Warmth flooding the area. But I pushed it to the back of my mind. I had the element of surprise, and once he got the wind back in his lungs he'd be fighting.

My body moving quickly as I captured the wrist that held the gun and squeezed, putting just enough force to loosen his grasp before using my sleeve to cover my hand and pop the firearm away.

I felt myself being lifted from his hips were I was pinning him. His hands easily tossing me to the side as I threw my hands up to lock behind his head in an attempt to keep him from getting up. A groan slipping from me, my leather jacket only providing some cushion but not enough

"Let go, Xena!" Rafe ordered as I wrapped my legs around his hips, not letting him pry me off as I held on.

I had to give John B time. Even if it meant I paid the price.

"Xena, I don't want to hurt you." He dug his fingers into my hands as I brought my head up to hold on tighter.

"Then don't." I whispered directly in his ear. My words subduing him long enough that I managed to catch him off guard.

I tightened my legs. Letting go of my forearms I brought my elbows down into the inside of his causing his arms to buckle and his body to fall on top of mine. I lifted my hips and moved to the left. My side protesting as I managed to pin him to the ground.

My palms digging into his biceps as I kept pressure on his hips. Applying more anytime he tried to knock me off.

I'd mentioned his conflict.

But now I was caught in my own sea.

I raised my fist. Anger blooming in my chest. This hollow tug pulled at my throat and my heart. A whisper telling me to let go of the pain inside of me.

"You shot her. You--" I was vibrating, shaking. I felt the tears as they slid down my face some running down my cheek to my neck. Some just listened to gravity and fell down on Rafe's peach shirt.

Rafe hadn't looked away from me. His body relaxed as he waited to see what I did. Waited to see if I'd deal the blow. My hand fell. My body rising as I left Rafe on the ground. I was hollow. My feet dragging me to collapse on the other side of Peterkin. Sarah across from me as she sobbed.

"I'm so sorry." Sarah chocked out.

I set my hand on top of Sarah's the blood dried stained my pale skin.

"Sarah. Sarah. I need you to-"

"No!"

"I need you to get up."

"She's dying!"

"Enough!" Ward yelled, my eyes never leaving Peterkin's as she willed herself to stay strong.

"What is wrong with you?" Sarah called after him as he went back to Rafe who had stood back up.

"Get them home. Take them back to the house."

"I'm not going until the medics come!" Sarah was in an uproar. Medics haven't even been called to the scene.

"Get her home!" Ward roars as Rafe came up behind Sarah.

"You heard Dad." He spoke grabbing her arms.

"I'm calling!" Ward tried to subdue his daughter.

"Get your hands off!"

"I'm on the radio! Look!"

"Be careful." Peterkin whispered to me as a grabbed her hand in mine. "You do whatever you need to now. I know you'll do the right thing in the end."

"This is Ward Cameron. I've got an officer down."

"Don't move!" Rafe's voice was full of anger as he shouted to Sarah.

"I promise. I promise I'll make it all right." I whispered cupping her hand with both of mine one last time as Rafe came back from the car.

I stood up before he could grab me. My eyes looking between Ward and him as the reality of the situation sunk in.

"Let me get my bag." The bite had left my voice. Tears stained my skin like the blood on my hands.

"Hurry up." Rafe snapped watching my every move. He wasn't gonna let me out of his sight.

I waited until I was past them to wipe my face with my shirt. An ache forming in my side as I walked to the cruiser and grabbed my bag.

I looked at the console, the car radio sitting patiently. Begging to be used, the cruiser asking to help her driver. The thing I should have hopped on immediately.

"Don't even think about it." He was at my back. His body too close. Mahogany. "Xena."

I grabbed one last thing from the cruiser and stuffed it into my bag before moving backwards. My eyes meeting Rafe's. His jaw clenched as my eyes showed every emotion I was feeling.

The strongest was sorrow.