Ain't Shady Baby, I'm Hot

88

"Hey! Your dad is not gonna like that you're back home!" The driver door slammed shut as Rose called out.

"Sarah." I hissed watching Rafe's back. The blonde turned to look at me as my face scrunched in pain. "I tore my stitches."

"Oh shit. Okay, hold on." She was out of the passenger seat and opening the back door offering her arms and body to lean on.

I grabbed my backpack and pulled it over my right shoulder. Using her arm to steady me, I slowly lifted myself out of the truck.

"He told me I could come here."

"Well be didn't tell me." I kept my left hand over my waist as I wrapped the other around Sarah's shoulders.

"I'm sorry." I spoke stopping her from rounding the truck. "I can't imagine what you're feeling and I'm aski-"

"Xena. You need my help. That's more important right now." We started walking again. A laugh wanted to escape me as I thought about how only a few days ago I was leaving this place.

"How'd y'all get me to the guest room?"

"The guys took turns bridal carrying you. JJ was getting up those stairs." A fresh tear made its way down my cheek. The two of us coming to stand by Rafe.

"Why aren't you on the plane? And, Xena, is that blood?" Sarah and I looked at Rose, her face pale.

"Ask Rafe." Sarah ended the conversation before it could get started. A gentle tap had me following her lead as we pushed into the house the door slamming shut behind us.

"Hey. Hey!" We ignored him as we kept walking. Moving towards the main staircase.

"Don't just fucking ignore me." He grabbed my left elbow, yanking me backwards. I yelped in pain at the sudden jerk. My right arm yanked free from Sarah as I let my momentum swing my right fist into him.

"Don't fucking touch me!" I shouted, not caring to think about Wheezie and watching my language if she was here. He let go, shocked I'd hit him. "I'm fucking bleeding, you asshole. So I'm gonna go take care of."

"Did I? Your stitches?" He stuttered out, the anger disappearing.

"I don't know, Rafe." I said exasperated bringing my hand back to my side. "And yes, so I'm gonna go take care of them. Or do I need to ask permission? Or maybe I'm just supposed to bleed out?" His jaw clenched as I stood toe to toe with him.

"Come on, Xena." Sarah mumbled back at my side. Her eyes not meeting Rafe's as I gave him one more glare. Willing myself to find anger and pull it forward.

He shot Peterkin.

And I couldn't do anything to save her.

________•*•*•*•_______

"Sarah." I whispered as I held the blonde in a hug. "The Pogues have gone radio silent. I'd tried to call all of them, left messages. They're not responding." She nodded her head.

Her eyes clamped shut as she slowly fell asleep. She'd asked me to reach out to see if anyone heard from John B. Even asked me to text him myself.

But I got nothing.

I didn't want to leave Sarah by herself here. I could only hope that John B wasn't by himself either.

"Goodnight." I told the ceiling as I felt Sarah completely sag into me. Her breathing even and light as she slept. Her hands holding the other as I wrapped my arms around her shoulders. Her head on my chest as we laid back on her bed.

"Sarah?" The door cracked open, my eyes narrowing on Ward as he popped his head in.

"She's sleeping. I'll take a message." My tone was flat. I wasn't playing games with him.

"That's fine."

"What's your plan, Ward." I jumped in before he could leave. My arms unwrapping around Sarah as I carefully laid her down flat on the bed. "I know you aren't just gonna let me sashay out of here." I was in front of the door, pointing behind him to explain I wanted to talk.

"Look, Xena. What happened tonight was a freak accident." I remained neutral in expression as I closed Sarah's door. "That you weren't there for. You were here, with Rafe, working on the Druthers."

"And why was I, someone without any boat knowledge, working on the Druthers with Rafe of all people?" I crossed my arms, careful of my new wrap around my torso.

Ward dug into his pocket and pulled out a small gold ring. A knot of metal in the center of the spiraling band. It was beautiful, but I knew it came with a price.

"Your cover story won't add up. I came with Peterkin."

"Shoupe said you had ran back inside to talk to her but left alone. I passed your motorcycle outside of Tauti's." I refrained from sighing in relief that it was still there.

He held out the ring for me to grab, I willed my hand to be steady but it twitched as I picked the metal up.

"You snuck around the back, found Rafe working on the Druthers and you've been there ever since."

"And what's this for?" I played dumb.

"Your secret relationship's nine month anniversary." Ward answered. My jaw dropping, my fingers almost doing the same to the little piece of jewelry. Another voice following.

"And a birthday gift." My jaw snapped shut as I looked across the landing to see Rafe all cleaned up. Hair wet, a white shirt on and a pair of dark grey sweats.

"And what happens if we were to breakup?" I stared down Ward trying to ignore his son.

"It would be devastating. For both families involved." My nose twitched as I watched him manipulate his emotions to a remorseful look. My left fist clenched as I held the ring carefully in my right palm.

"I wear the ring, tell the alibi, and continue with my life as normal?" Ward nodded, pausing slightly as he thought about something.

"Well. Except you're gonna need to put some separation with your friend group. For their safety of course."

"You swear you won't touch my mother or Gray or my friends?"

"On my life." Ward stuck out his hand, my own grabbing his firmly.

It's a good thing I didn't put half as much worth in Ward as he did himself.