At the Bar

Chapter 8 Scent

"Listen, it's Ruby's, she has the same one, you know women," Graham lies. Killian smells the scarf, "Smells like starburst and peppermint tea," Killian said. "That's Regina," Killian glares at him. The others have come down the hallway towards the locker area in the lounge.
Killian sees no one except now an enemy in front of him. "You know what Regina smells like?" Graham asks. "Don't play games with me you wolf," Killian throws the scarf down. "Hey you two!" Regina scolds, seeing that something is clearly going to begin. "Regina is the one who eats candy," Killian steps towards him, "Ruby is the wolf, not you," Graham attempts a joke that just makes Killian clench his fists. "Did you sleep with her!??" Killian demands, they're of equal height but Killian's anger is lifting higher in his stance. "Stop," Regina steps in between the men, facing Killian, she gently touches his chest. "Stop," she says again more firmly. "Did you sleep with him?" Killian asks again, looking in Regina's eyes.
Graham moved a bit away from them, and Killian continued to stare at Regina waiting for an answer. She breathes heavily, yet remains silent. Finally, "Yes," she sighs in confession, almost in an apologetic tone.
He shakes his head, "I can't believe you," he mutters getting angrier. "Me?" Regina asks. "No, YOU!" He snaps and whips around, punching Graham in the jaw. "Stop," Elliot calmly grabs Killian pushing him back gently, Ruby checks Graham's face, as Elliot gently calms Killian backwards. "Everyone out!" Regina yells.
"Elliot I have him," Regina commands, Elliot leaves as Killian holds his knuckles, now bloody. She shuts the door behind Elliot. Ruby puts ice on Graham's jaw, "you knew that would happen," Ruby says. "Yeah well," Graham sighs. "Maybe they'll finally admit how they feel." Lacey says positively.

Regina'a office is still silent, and the other four head to listen, peering around the hallway towards Regina's shut office door.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" She scolds Killian. "Nothing, don't know what came over me," he says. She stares at him, "clearly that's a lie," she insists.
"I don't know what came over me, maybe I need to get laid since he does all the damn time and by every woman he lays eyes on," Killian buries his forehead in his hand. "Why do you care so much about him sleeping with anyone?" Regina asks. "I don't, just ..." he stops himself finishing his sentence. "Nevermind," Killian breathes.
"You're off for the day, go home, cool off, ice your hand, and calm down," she instructs. "You dismissing me for a day or firing me?" He asks. "Why would I fire you?" Regina asks. "Maybe you should," he suggests.
She stares at him, "Do you want me to fire you? I have no idea what the hell your problem is! Is it this girlfriend??" She snaps. "What?" He asks. "I'm dating, what's that your business?" He snaps. "It's not, and I don't give a crap who you screw!" She yelled. "I didn't screw anyone, you did!" He yells at her.

"Since when do you just get into bed with people? And Graham ? He's half the city!" Killian yells, Regina slaps him across the face. She stares at him, as he moved, and his eyes focus downward. "Go home, we both need to cool off," she said.
Killian, frustrated, turns and whips the door open and storms out. The group presses out of sight as he comes down the hallway and stands casually as he passes them. "Where are you going?" Elliot asks, "listen mate, it was a mistake, it wasn't something.. we.." Graham attempts. Killian looks at him. "Get out of my face, or I'll do my left hook this time," Killian warns.

The others watch him leave, and Regina comes out, "he's on a time out, get back to setting up for opening," Regina commands. Ruby and Lacey stare at her and it's obvious she's had tears escape her eyes in the moments after Killian left her office.

The evening passes and Regina has to work the bar mainly since she sent Killian home. She is not remotely chatty, and grits her teeth forcing smiles to still put on a happy face for patrons.
The night slowly comes to an end, and the others begin to leave. Graham is last, "Hey you ok?" He asks. "Yeah, I'll be fine," she says. "I'm sorry he found out," Graham says. "It was going to happen, he's quite perceptive," Regina breathes.
The door closes as Graham leaves, he runs into Killian five steps out the door. Killian blows the smoke into the air of the cigarette before tossing it. Graham looks at him, "Listen," he says. "Why?" Killian asks, "so I can explain?" Graham shrugs. "I mean, why? Why did you do that?" He asks. "I don't know Killian. It didn't mean anything," he said. "Well it's done, hope you used protection, given your experience," Killian said. "Of course we did," Graham says.
"Hey," Graham tugs him as he walks by, Killian halts, and looks at him, "You gotta tell her mate. I may not feel anything, but you do, and you need to tell her how you feel." He said. "Why do you think she didn't want you to know?" Graham asks with his shoulders up. "I don't know," Killian shrugs. "You know exactly why, because of you," Graham says and walks off.
Killian sighs and turns his attention to the bar. He heads inside, "I'm closed," Regina turns and stops, and stares at him. "Can I come in?" He asks. "You have keys and still work here as far as I know," Regina says.
"Feel better?" Regina asks. "Not really," he admits. "Why didn't you want me to know?" Killian asks. "I just.." she searches for an answer, "I know how Graham is a player, and didn't want you to judge that," she said. He scowls, "that's not it," he said. "Ok fine Mr. Perception, I was jealous you had a girlfriend," she shrugs. "I had two dates," he said.
"Yeah well," Regina shrugs. "You banging Graham because I had two dates, doesn't match up, Regina, stop fucking around, and tell me!" Killian scolds, "why don't you tell me!?" She snaps back. "Because you're worth more than just some bed trip with Graham," he said. "Yeah? What am I worth?" She asks commandingly. He stares at her, "everything," he sighs.