Say Live, Let Die

Chapter 12: "it's like I never been here before"

Beth sat on the oversized bed, atop the brushed cotton duvet, eating a double cheeseburger and fries she had brought in from the kitchen. A music video played on the thirty-five inch television, the sound turned to a low volume. The party had died down in the main part of the house, most of the kids having been turned out while the core family members drifted off to the guest bedrooms or the sleeping bags on the floor of the living room.

The bathroom door finally reopened, David flicking off the light switch as he emerged. Clad in a standard black t-shirt, the black jeans were a bit loose but would do until his leather pants had been cleaned. His hair was still damp and his jaw was darkening as the scruff returned. He felt more like himself with every passing minute.

"Thought maybe you drowned in there." Beth's voice startled him. She took a large bite out of the cheeseburger in her hand, staring at him. David ignored her, looking towards the lounge set, where he'd left his gear. It wasn't in the recliner.

"Where's my stuff? What the hell, Beth!" He roared, his hands balling into fists.

"Chill out, David." She glared at him, pointing at the hook that hung on the wall beside the bathroom door, where Max had hung his suits so they wouldn't wrinkle while he performed his nightly toilette. David turned and found his coat neatly hung on a hanger. His boots were below it, clean and polished.

"You... you cleaned it." David stammered, touching the fabric of the coat.

"Your leather pants are under it, cleaned as well. The medallion is in the left pocket. The spurs are in your boots. We burned the t-shirt."

David turned around and stared at the blonde. "How? I wasn't in the shower that long..."

"You were in there over two hours, David." Beth raised a brow. "Marko took it to the twenty-four hour dry cleaner shop Max bought a few years ago. He had to go out to feed, so it wasn't an extra trip. Pretty sure he threatened them because the coat looks brand new. Well, except for the holes. They offered to patch them but Marko refused."

The vampire brushed his fingers over the leather lapels. "No, no repairs. The holes are badges of honor now."

"Honor, my butt. You got impaled on a pair of horns and died. Nothing courageous about that!"

"Stop!" David bellowed. "I know! I know I'm back due to the efforts of all the family but you did the hardest part, Beth. Stop lording it over me."

The blonde was silent, chewing the cold fries. David turned his attention towards the television screen, unfamiliar with the music video currently airing. It barely held his attention, his thoughts turning over and over about the fact he'd lost two hours in the shower. He could remember standing in the hot spray of water, staring without focus, still trying to regain his mind.

"There was a cheeseburger in my coat pocket..."

A knock, a series of knocks really, interrupted David. He looked towards the door, puzzled. Beth rolled her eyes.

"Door's unlocked, Marko!"

The handle turned, one half of the French doors opening as Marko peaked his head in. "Everybody decent? Not interrupting anything, am I?"

"Marko!" David growled.

"What?" Marko teased, grinning as he entered the master suite. He carried a plate loaded with two double cheeseburgers and a large fry, which he handed to David. "Here, eat something, before you get beyond grumpy."

"I am not grumpy!"

"Says the dude yelling that he's not grumpy!" Marko countered. David half snarled and took a seat in the recliner, attacking the first burger like it was his last meal. "See, you need to eat."