TAMED

A Long Day Ends

"For the last time!" Vince howled, leaning back further into the plush couch cushions. "I don't want to play anymore games!"

Mark sort of laughed while Jason remained focused on looking through the games.

"Can't I just have some time alone?!" Vince all but begged.

"Nope! The last time we trusted you with that you tried to sneak off out the window, remember? So now you've gotta stay in our line of vision at all times. Sorry kid." Mark explained as he set the playing cards on the table and pushed the cribbage board to the side.

"For real can you stop it with the kid thing..." Vince complained through a tired voice.

"Eh, probably not."

Jason stood and stretched. Even he was getting tired of this. So far they'd played more games than they really knew what to do with. The Sargeant had brought over a huge box full of random games and such to play and entertain the three.

They'd played Parcheesi, which Vince really didn't enjoy. They'd played at least thirty rounds of crib. They'd played a stupidly long game of Disney Monopoly, Vince had been given the Alice piece from Alice in Wonderland. The list of games went on and on.

Trouble.
Risk.
Trivial Pursuit.
Black Jack.
Speed.
Farkl.

And so on.

Vince was more than done. For breakfast they'd ordered sub sandwiches, for lunch they'd ordered Chinese food, and they hadn't decided on dinner yet.

Vince felt like he'd been sentenced to a nursing home. All they did was watch TV, eat food, and play table-top games.

On repeat.

All day.

Still...

"I really didn't mean to cause you guys a bunch of trouble." Vince began quietly, a bit ashamed of his attempt at escape before. "But if someone you loved was facing death row, wouldn't you want to be there with them no matter what?"

The soldiers seemed to take on a melancholy demeanor as they digested his words. It was true, this whole scenario would have been tough for anyone to endure. The waiting game was never easy in life, but especially not in high stakes cases like these.

"Can I at least take a shower alone? There's no window in there so you can babysit the door if you want..." Vince mocked as he stood and stretched, his back giving a good handful of stiff pops and cracks.

Jason shrugged as Mark stood.

"That's fine. I'm gonna step outside for a minute to sit on the deck." Mark said as he too gave a much needed stretch and made his way to the door. "Better behave yourself, Jace isn't as nice as me." He laughed as he opened the door and walked out. Vince was sure he was just teasing but something about the stoic look Jason gave him made him think otherwise.

"Like I said...there's only one way in and out guys. Damn. I'm not a phantom. I'm not gonna just phase through the wall stark naked and run off into the sunset." Vince grumbled as he moved to the bathroom. He heard Mark crack up from the front porch at his comment.

Anyway, he truly needed a shower, and he was tired as hell. The stress had been really taking it out of him. All he could think about was if Ares was okay, and if he'd ever be able to get a good punch on Levi for ditching him there with his nurse maids for three days.

"Damn it..." Vince hissed under his breath as he flung his shirt off and started the shower. "Why the hell couldn't I be there...tch. I'm sorry Ares."

Setting the water temp to where he wanted it, he finally slipped out of the rest of his clothes and stepped into the tub. At least the water would soothe his tense muscles.