Double Down Demons (A Ghost Adventures/Zak Bagans Story)

Chapter 86: No secrets

Zak leads me to the car closely followed by Aaron. I protest weakly as he deposits me in the back seat but I know that I am too wiped out to drive.

"You're not looking so crash hot yourself." I tell him sleepily, my tact filter temporarily out of action.

"Gee thanks sweetie." He chuckles as he buckles me in.

"What? I still would!" I smirk, making him laugh harder. "But you shouldn't drive either you look exhausted."

"That's why I'm here!" Aaron grins.

"Oh lord! Please be gentle with my little car." I hide my face in my hands and peek out between my fingers.

"Oh! Oh, I'm so offended." Aaron pouts until I gingerly hand him the keys.

"Where are Jay and Billy, I want to say thank you." I ask Zak.

"They're staying behind to tidy up, we'll see them later sweetie." He strokes my cheek with his palm and I sigh at the sensation of his touch on my skin.

He and Aaron fold themselves awkwardly into the front seats pushing them right back to accommodate their long legs. Luckily I had pulled my own legs up onto the seat and so avoided getting kneecapped in the process.

"Don't forget we drive on the other side here!" I tap Aaron on the shoulder.

"Hey I know, you've seen me drive her already remember? Sheesh woman!"He looks at me through the rear view.

"Oh yeah, sorry sasquatch, just she's my little car!" I stick out my bottom lip and flutter my eyelashes.

"Don't worry I'll treat her like she was my own." He strokes the steering wheel seductively making me giggle. As we pull away from Amber's I yawn loudly, not even trying to hold it in.

'Sweetie get some sleep, we'll get us back home, you take it easy." Zak turns to find me already fast asleep.

I start to come to as we turn into my familiar neighbourhood. I find myself curled up awkwardly and entangled in the seat belt with Zak's hoodie pulled low over my eyes.

"Are you going to tell Tracy?" I hear Aaron ask Zak. I obviously haven't learned my lesson about eavesdropping as I remain motionless and pretend to still be asleep.

"I don't know, how do you think she'll take it? Do you think I should bro?"

"Dude, if it were me I'd be asking not telling! But its up to you, but don't you think that she'll find out anyway? Its hardly something that you can keep a secret." Aaron advises. By now I'm on high alert, what the hell are they talking about? Why would Zak consider keeping it frm me? My mind started working overtime and as was my nature I could only think of worst case scenarios. Was he leaving early? Did he have a secret kid? A secret wife? Did he want an open relationship once he was back home? Did he have some horrible sexually transmitted illness? Did he want to break up with me? Before I get completely lost down that rabbit hole the touch of a hand on my knee startles me back to the present.

"Oh! Sorry sweetie, I didn't mean to make you jump, we're home lets get inside." Zak speaks to me softly as if he's scared I might break if he spoke any louder. I hadn't even realised we had stopped I'd been so lost in my panic driven thoughts. Aaron was already out of the car and letting himself in the front door.

"Oh wow, that was quick and uneventful." I yawned, thankful that Zak hadn't realised that I was privy to part of his conversation I needed some time to figure out how I was going to approach this.

"Well Aaron was driving like we were carrying some precious cargo." Zak chuckled as he closed the car door behind me.

"Ahem, that's because you were!" I pointed my two thumbs at myself and raised an eyebrow at him, as he turned and saw me he erupted into laughter making me laugh along with him. The overheard conversation briefly forgotten, this was the first time I could remember Zak truly letting go and allowing himself to laugh since before we went to the arts centre in Freemantle, I wasn't going to let anything spoil this moment.

"Woah!"I exclaim at the shock of the flying furry fury that barrelled into me as I had turned to follow Aaron inside. "Rufus? Rufus! Oh my god! Did Kate drop you home? I missed you so much buddy! Let me smooch you! Oh yes you're a good boy, I love you too. M'wah, m'wah ,m'wah." I crouch down and fuss over my dog as he wags his tail furiously making his whole body wiggle, he rests his paws on my shoulders and licks my face. Zak grins down at our emotional reunion.

"Hey Rufus, looks like you missed your mom too, remember me buddy?" Zak scritches his ears and gets a two pawed punch to the groin as a thank you as Rufus bounces around in excitement. "Ooof!!" Zak doubles over and shields himself from any further damage, Rufus takes advantage and gives Zak a proper hello licking his face all over. Zak is spluttering, defenceless against the onslaught. In tears of laughter I am no help at all and it is only Aaron calling from inside that saves him from suffocation by dog kisses.

"Oh lordy are you ok?" I finally splutter through my laughter.

"Oh my balls!" Zak groans, I bite my lip trying to stop myself from erupting once more at his discomfort.

"I'm sorry! I'll kiss them better later." I rub his back trying to take his mind off it. He stands up with an evil grin on his face.

"I knew you'd say that." He gives me a wink and saunters into the house as if nothing had happened.

"Bagans! You conniving little shit!" I shout after him as I follow inside. I hear his laugh coming from the bathroom as he washes face free from dog drool. "Aaron your best buddy is in big trouble!" I tell him as I find him in the kitchen already preparing a fresh pot of coffee. "Oh make yourself at home why don'tcha!" I wink at him. He grins but his face soon becomes serous as he looks over my shoulder, seeing that I am alone he puts his finger to his lips and bends towards me. My brow furrows in confusion until he speaks quietly in my ear.

"You should ask Zak about his plans for the knife pompom, I don't know what you'll make of it but I think you should have a say." He looks at me with worried eyes and that makes me nervous.

"Is this what you were talking about in the car?" I ask him.

"You heard that?" His worry only making my nerves worse.

"Just the end of it, come on tell me, what hair brained plan has he come up with?" Aaron goes back to busying himself with the coffee.

"Zak should be the one to tell you." He shakes his head.

"Come on Aaron spit it out, you know I'm only thinking the worst now." I fold my arms across my chest.

"Oh geez I shouldn't have said anything!" He wipes his face down with his hand.

"What shouldn't you have said?" Zak enters the kitchen behind us making us jump guiltily, he has impeccable timing as always. I turn to him as he leans against the counter, trying hard to ignore how hot he is looking now he has changed into his loose track pants and tight long sleeved tee. With my arms still crossed and an eyebrow raised I lookhim dead in the eyes.

"So what's this about the knife?"