Fighter

Chapter 61: Back In The Ring

I stood in the hotel room waiting for Jade and Tommy to wake up, I couldn't sleep all night. I twirled my dog tags in my fingers, whispering to my brother, saying how much I missed him, I didn't know if he watched over me... But If he did I hoped he would hear me. I was worried about Jade, she was strong, so strong... But if anything happened to her I'd step into the ring myself, and as a military woman, I didn't fight fair.

I heard shuffling from Tommy's room, and then the door slowly opened. I looked at him as he rubbed his eyes tiredly, he looked like he slept well. He sat next to me, we didn't bother waking up Jade, we had time.

"Tommy?" I said quietly, he didn't look at me, his eyes were closed and his head leaned back on the sofa.

"Mm?"

"What did mad dog say to you in the ring?" I asked, remembering when they both looked at me. Tommy's eyes opened, and he looked at me sideways.

"Said 'when' he won that he won you, and that I couldn't 'fuck with you' no more" he laughed "but we all know he wasn't gonna win, but what pissed me off was that he acted like you were some trophy to be won" he kissed his teeth "you're more than that, you know? and I wasn't 'bout to let him touch you again" I blushed a little, didn't know he knew how to say stuff like that.

Jade woke up, fumbling out of her room, she was energized and ready to go. She immediately started eating breakfast, not saying anything to either of us yet. Tommy's hand grabbed mine and he played with my fingers. Jade brought her bowl of cereal to the living room, her eyes widening when she saw him playing with my hand.

"Eeeewwwwwwwwww" she laughed, sitting down and eating, she looked like she was in such a good mood. Tommy threw a crumpled paper at her and moved his hand from mine, turning on the tv.  There was a knock at the door, then someone inserted the key and Brendan walked in.

"WHERES MY CHAMPION?!" He yelled and Jade ran up to hug him so excited. I smiled and looked over at Tommy who mocked Brendan in a high voice. "Shut up, Tommy" the brothers laughed, I've never seen any of them this happy, something about fighting had them going, and Jade was even talking to me about getting me started, but I didn't know, had enough of that in the army.

When the time came, we got to the fight venue, Atlantic city was beautiful, but we'd explore later, the fights were the priority. We stepped into the waiting room, Jade paced around anxiously, but began to use a jumping rope.

"You got this" I spoke, she nodded, now very very focused. Brendan walked in holding a paper, as her trainer, he did all the important stuff that none of us wanted to do.

"Ok, so, looks like you're fighting O'Reilly" he spoke, looking up at Jade, she nodded sternly, not caring who she fought, she just wanted to win.

"That bitch from Washington?!" Tommy laughed, but Brendan stared him down.

"You weren't laughing when you were dating her were you Tommy?" Tommy shut up, his face going blank, I turned to look at him.

"Brendan you wanna go step in that ring again because I'll knock you out this time" Brendan laughed and walked to Jade and held her shoulders.

"Now, this isn't like a normal fight you get money for Jade, this is the big shit, UFC shit. It'll take everything you got"

"Shut up Brendan don't tell her stupid shit" Tommy pushed him outta the way. "You go in there, you knock the bitch out and you get outta there, y'understand?" Brendan pushed him

"Don't listen to him, last time I checked I won Sparta last year" Tommy pushed him harder.

"I woulda won if you didn't decide to be a dick and tear my shoulder" Jade held her hands up to stop the brothers arguing.

"I know what I'm doing guys!"

"Nah, you listen to me, yeah? Everything always goes well when you listen to me." Tommy said.

"IM HER TRAINER TOMMY!"

"fuck outta here Brendan I'm the better fighter" I grabbed Jade and took her away from the brothers that just couldn't stop fighting, Jade and I laughed.

"Look I'm not gonna be like that and tell you how to fight," she had a smile on her face and her eyes were bright as she looked at me. "You go in there, you do what you do best and you show that O'Reilly bitch who deserves that title." She hugged me and we walked back out, Tommy and Brendan still going at it. Tommy was standing on the coffee table and he threw his hat at Brendan's face, who continued yelling at him.

"TOMMY GET DOWN YOURE BEING SUCH A CHILD."

"NOT UNTIL YOU ADMIT I BEAT YOU IN THAT WRESTLING MATCH"

"YEAH YOU FUCKIN WISH YOU DID"

The door swung open and someone came in. Tommy and Brendan froze, and Tommy got off the table. "You ready?" She said looking at Jade. The whole room went silent and we all looked at her, she nodded, the whole mood changed, this wasn't a game.

she pulled her light grey hoodie on and Brendan held her shoulder as we walked out. I could all of a sudden hear Beethoven through the speakers, same music Brendan had coming in, Ode to Joy. Tommy shook her shoulder firmly as both fighters waited to enter. Brendan took her to the side, "you do whatever it takes" she nodded sternly, eyes stone  old as she entered the ring.

Angela had less muscle than Jade, but she was quick. They met in the middle as he ref read the rules, then they walked to their sides. The signal went off and the girls went at it.

They circled around each other, Jade looking like a lion wanting to pounce, and Angela was prey. Brendan stood close to the ring. Angela jabbed quickly at Jade who blocked like it was nothing and brought through a right hook just grazing her, she moved to the side but Jade caught her with a left.

"BREATHE JADE" Brendan screamed, Angela game in with her Muay Thai kicks with her shins, and got some elbow blows to Jades head. I grabbed onto.

"YO KICK THE SHIT OUTTA HER" Tommy yelled. Angela threw another punch but Jade caught it in her hand, decking Angela in the nose. This just made her angry and she managed to take Jade to the floor.

"DONT LET HER TAKE YOUR BACK," Brendan yelled, Tommy crossed his arms across his chest, like he was examining Jades performance. Angela threw punches and got a few into her ribs, but she blocked her face. Jade flipped her over, locking her legs with hers. She threw many punches, left, right, left, right and Angela's nose began to bleed a bit. We watched her struggle as Jade got her into a pace choke, one of the most brutal submissions in MMA.

"Shit..." Tommy mumbled, Brendan was clapping. Angela had tapped out, turns out Jade stopped the rush of blood to her head. Jade stood up, looking at Brendan, then Tommy, then me, then out at the crowd that was cheering for her, she walked from then octagons and Brendan massaged her shoulders as we made it to the back room. Jade was ecstatic, she just beat a professional. I ran and hugged her tightly.

"You were amazing" Brendan said smiling at her, "who taught you a pace choke?" She smirked, looking over at me.

"Two more to go though, don't get so excited" Tommy spoke, the whole room going silent, but we would think of that later, we needed to go back to the hotel room and celebrate.