Pets

Gut Punches (Gage)

This afternoon I dropped Charlie off with Kat, and then went to do my training session at the gym. This way Charlie can practice more, and she doesn't have to sit here bored. I also don't have to worry about anyone hitting on her either. I was almost done with my training when Nate the gym owner came up to the ring. He talked to my coach and they waved me over. Nate told me someone from Sin has been trying to call me.

"They told me to tell you Jason is back. He is alone with Kat and Charlie." Nate says. He looks confused but I don't have time to explain. Not that I would be able to explain it anyways.

"Fuck!" I yell. I throw the gloves, and other shit off me. Then I take off. I don't say a damn thing to anyone. I grab my bag and my keys. I get in the car, and drive as fast as I can to go get Charlie away from that mother fucker. Texts start lighting up my phone when I pull in the garage from Kat. He had Charlie completely alone now.

If he has touched her I'm going to kill him. I swear to fucking God I will. Shit, It takes me too long to get there. I don't know how long Kat has been trying to call. Fuck! I park the car and storm into the club basement. I finally get to the room and throw the door open.

He has Charlie pinned up against the wall. He has his mouth all over her and her top is not on. My vision tunneled and everything went dark. I don't remember what happened after that. I went on autopilot. I know I punched him in the face. I know I beat the shit out of him but it was a blur.

It took three guys to get me away from him. Then two other guys came and got Jason out Because the other three had to keep holding me back. They made sure he was gone before they would let me go. I settled down enough to look for Charlie. She was sitting on the floor curled up so you couldn't see her face. God Damnit! I jerk my arms out of the other guy's hands and go over to her.

"Charlie, are you ok? I'm sorry, I didn't know he was back. Charlie, please look at me. I'm so sorry." I say. I hate that she's hurt. I feel awful. I failed to protect her. It makes me feel sick. She looked up and wrapped her arms around me tight. I can feel her shaking still and she is sobbing.

"It's ok baby, I won't leave you alone again. I'm so sorry." I hold her as tight as I can without hurting her. I messed up so bad. I shouldn't have left her without someone to watch her. I am supposed to be keeping her safe. I promised I would.

"Hey I'm going to take you home ok?" She just nods her head.

This is my fault. If I had been here he wouldn't have tried anything. My shirt is sweaty but I take it off and help her put it on. I pick her up and carry her out. No one says anything to me. I know they took Jason to the doctor. I should finish what I started but I can't leave Charlie now. She is my main concern.

I got her to the car and put her in the passenger seat. I have a hard time getting her to let go of me. "Charlie, you have to let go so I can drive you home." She finally let go and I drove us out of there.

When we get home I carry her up the stairs. I sit down on the couch and hold her. I brush the hair back so I can make sure she did not get hit. Physically she looks ok. She still hasn't said anything, and that has me worried.

"Did he hit you?" I ask checking her over again. She shakes her head no. What he did was worse. "I should have been there. I could have stopped him. Charlie, this is my fault I'm so sorry. I should have been there. Baby, I'm so sorry." I feel her tiny hands on my cheeks and she smiles at me even though tears are coming down her face. It's like a punch to the gut seeing her like this. Knowing I could have stopped it if I had been there.

"This is not your fault Gage. I should have fought him, but I was scared. I was afraid he'd hurt Kat. I just...I wasn't ready for him." She says in a voice that is so soft. It's been so long since I have heard her like this. I move her hair back behind her ear. "What if he would have hurt you, because I didn't do what he said?" Fuck, Charlie.

"You don't have to worry about me Charlie. I can take care of myself." I squeeze her tight. This could have been so much worse. I hate I wasn't there for her.

"Yeah, if it's a fist fight you'd win, but what if he had a gun? I know he has a knife in his boot. You can't punch a knife, Gage." I kiss her forehead. She's a tough little shit worried about me and Kat instead of herself. She presses her forehead against mine and kisses me.

"I am so glad you showed up. You saved me." She whispers against my lips. I only saved her from getting more fucked up. I could have kept it from happening if I had just been there. Like I was supposed to be.

"Gage, I want to wash and change. I feel gross and need to get rid of his smell. But I don't want to be alone, and I still feel unsteady. Will you please help me?" She sniffles a little, and my heart clenches in my chest. Every fucking tear, every sob, every sniffle, every scared wide eyed look is like a punch to the gut.

"Yeah, you want to take a bath or a shower?" I ask.

She wants a bath. So I carry her to the bathroom and start a bath for her. I help her get out of the clothes she has on and she tells me she wants to throw them away. I help her get in and I see a big bruise starting on her back. "Did he hit you on the back?" I ask again, running my hand over the bruise gently.

"No, it must have been when he stumbled into me after you hit him." She says sliding into the water. Shit, this is my fault too. I can't remember a time that I have been this upset. The closest I can think of was the first fight with my dad. This was different. Charlie was something completely new to me.

I helped her wash her hair, then used her conditioner, and then helped her wash her body. She stopped crying and she wasn't shaking anymore. However she looked far away. Like she was lost in thought but it was all bad. She looked so small. She seemed so breakable right now. I got her a towel, wrapped her up in it, and took her to my room. She asked for a T-shirt. I get it for her and help her put it on. She looks down at it and tells me she does know who "Pink Floyd" is with a tiny smile. I have never been so relieved to see a tiny smile.

"Well thank God, cause I don't know how this is going to work if you didn't." I say with a small smile of my own. She hits me and laughs. This is better. We are going to be ok, right?

"It's not my fault you listen to really old music." She teases. She sniffles a little more but continues to smile up at me.

"I don't just listen to really old music. I listen to newer music as well, just not the same shit you listen to." I say and smile back at her. We are going to be ok. Charlie is going to be ok. She crawled up onto the bed, and is now buried under the covers. We shouldn't have left the bed this morning. I get in after her and hold her close to me. She snuggles up so almost every part of her is touching some part of me.

"Gage what am I going to do about Fuckface?" She asks in a tiny scared voice. Good question. I wasn't sure what to do either. The only thing I can think of to do is beat him to death.

"I don't know yet, but I will figure something out." I promise. I need to figure it out fast. Charlie is mine. He is never going to touch her again.

I try to think of what to do. I can't take Charlie away. We wouldn't be able to go anywhere. She doesn't exist anymore. I can see if I can find someone who can create an identity for her. Get all the papers she would need to get out of here. Maybe one of the guys knows someone who can do that shit. I was seriously thinking of giving up everything. Everything I have worked for...for her. I don't think I would be able to send her on her own. At this point I can't see myself without her. That thought has me shitting myself. I like Charlie. I like more than fucking her. I like hanging out with her, talking with her, and just being around her. What the fuck is happening? My fucking head hurts from all this thinking. Now I am not just thinking of how to help her. I am thinking about our mother fucking relationship. I am in a fucking relationship, and I am not mad about it. I mean I am scared shitless but not mad.

She must have fallen asleep while I was spiraling. Her hair was still wrapped in a towel when she got in bed. Now it's half on half off. I get the rest of it off, and toss the towel over to the floor. Her hair is still damp. It is all over the place. I brush it out of her face. Then gather it up so it's all sitting at the nape of her neck.

She smells so good. She has the softest, smoothest skin. I kiss her neck and inhale the warm vanilla scent of her soap. I need her to stay with me. She makes a noise in her sleep and flips around. Her face is up against my chest and the top of her head is under my chin. I fixed her hair again So she isn't laying on her wet hair. I twirl some of her hair around my finger. Then run my hand through it every once in a while. I'm still trying to figure out what to do but I end up falling asleep instead.