Sativa.

35. A Gamble

Present Day.

The irony of accepting Hooter's help is everything is so strictly based on his terms Blaine would almost prefer going back to how they were. At least then she and Travis were working to alleviate any tension ruining their relationship.

Initially staying at a hotel seemed the best plan, public and huge, the perfect cover from another attempted murder. But while Travis works with Hooter to cut a deal with these so-called Knuckle Buzzards Blaine is more and more isolated from him.

The last fight they had, she threw a plate of spaghetti over his head where it smacked against the wall in red chunks. After that Blaine stays in the room across from his. Surviving the day through passive aggressive exchanges before an inevitable blow-up isn't good for her deteriorating health. Alone she has space to process the unfavorable situation.

Before long she aches with missing him again. She longs for the soothing comfort his body spooned next to hers, the gentle encouragements he would make through the day, and his unwavering support regardless of how cranky she gets. Still, it's too much to handle. They've stayed at the hotel nearly three weeks and she feels stagnate as ever.

When Blaine leaves her room Thursday morning for a walk she glances across the hall. Tempting to knock on Travis's door but he's hardly home at this hour. She trusts he could be at work but it's easier to keep walking instead of investigating only to find out otherwise.

Today is a good day. She doesn't wake up to her whole body trembling until she's immobile. Taking her pills is more routine than healing but this morning she's feeling strong. A walk downtown won't completely cripple her.

It's near the end of summer again and Blaine wants to enjoy the heat of the sun blistering her skin while she can. The past few days have been cloudy but today is so bright she actually has to blink a couple times when she steps outside.

A block away is a farmer's market where a small crowd travels from tent to tent, following a trail of grass flattened into a path by the treading of many footsteps. She roams various booths; admiring a strand of necklaces before moving on to another display selling hand-crafted lamps made with rustic looking drift wood.

A steaming food truck accompanied by spicy aroma beckons Blaine next. After ordering a tamale she notices the vegetable cart across the way. She starts to pick up cucumbers and heads of lettuce, wondering if Tina would let her stop by to make supper. With these fresh vegetables she could try to prepare a nice stew because, even with their living in opposing rooms, she's tried to eat dinner with Travis each evening.

A thick cloth, like a pillow case, is thrown over her head making it impossible to see when someone grabs her from behind. Blaine immediately flails her arms and kicks her legs, attempting to free herself, but only succeeding in dropping her tamale in the dirt.

The assault happens too quickly for anyone to come to her aide. Despite all her struggling, his grip is a vice around her waist. Even with her squirming he manages to drag her away. She's pushed down onto the floor in a car, apparent from the following slam of a closing door.

"You bastard! Get off me!"

"I told you to just talk to her." Although the familiar smooth voice doesn't lessen her alarm it at least assures her she's not in fatal danger.

When the hood is removed from over Blaine's eyes she's first faced with a man she doesn't recognize. He's bald and his nose is severely twisted like its been broken one too many times.

Still crouched on the floorboard, Blaine leans against the back of the passenger seat with her legs folded against the bench seat in front of her. Hooter and the kidnapper are sitting in front of her calm despite the public snatching.

She's thrown off balance when the vehicle kicks into gear then peels out of the lot. Blaine is about to turn to get a look at who's driving but Hooter distracts her. "I'm sorry for all the unpleasantness. Wagner here is a bit of a knuckle-head."

If she weren't so squished in this tight space her reaction might have been much different. Instead she freezes and watches Hooter, jaw clenched, as he strikes a match. The stench of sulfur mingles with the smoke of a cigar he lights. He shakes the match out then rolls down a tinted window to throw the waste onto the street.

Blinking through the cloud of smoke Blaine asks, "What do you want from me?"

"I was going to offer you a deal."

Blaine can't help but scoff. Everything with Hooter has to involve a deal in some way. "Why should I trust you after you kidnapped me?"

"This isn't a kidnapping." For good measure he whacks Wagner across the back of his head, displaying his disapproval a second time. "Where do you want to go, Blaine? We'll take you there."

Rather than give away her intended destination she tilts her head to the side, skeptical. "What's the catch?"

"No catch."

The end of his cigar flares bright orange when he takes a long drag. While he's many things dumb isn't one of them. Hooter knows her misgivings towards him and no amount of encouragement from Travis is ever going to change that.

"This town... it's a parasite," he explains. "Now Travis he's always been a good kid. But when you live here you're either oblivious or you're a part of it. No in between. I saw how he wanted to do good by you but a leopard can't change his spots."

His vague way of talking always makes her skin crawl. She's bitter and that hardens her tone considerably when she says, "If that's all you wanted to say I'll be leaving now."

"No." He reaches into the pocket of his leather jacket removing an impressively thick roll of money held together by a rubber band. "He's in too deep and you're the only one who can convince him to skip town. I want you to take this money. Leave here by tonight before the Kings get their hooks back into him."

"I'm not taking your blood money."

Rather than argue he simply tosses the wad of cash where it lands on her lap. "If you love him you'll take it. Because otherwise I can't protect him from the pool he's dipped his toes in. He'll get killed. You will too."

All of it is too surreal to comprehend. Blaine rolls the money between her palms, staring at it and wondering why it took Hooter so long to reach this decision.

A few months ago, before Serenity's death and before they'd become so damaged, she would have leaped at the opportunity to run away with Travis. Now a part of her wonders if the darkness of this life will shadow her regardless of were she flees.

"I leave the choice to you." Hooter pats the back of the drivers seat. "Pull over."

The driver is obedient and the car brakes immediately.

"You sure you don't have anywhere you need to go?"

Although she doesn't have a clue how far off course she's been taken she isn't about to stay longer than she has to. "Here is fine."

Wagner reaches over her with his thick beefy arm to open the door. Even after Blaine stumbles outside the stink of the smoky atmosphere clings to her clothes and lingers thick in the back of her throat. The van pulls away, leaving her on the side of the road at her request.

Dumbfounded by the proposition, she glances down at the roll of money clenched in her fist. It's enough to start a new life. Whether that be on her own or with Travis. The decision should be easy but doubt hinders her terribly. She's never been so uncertain of what to do next.

Hiding the cash in her jacket pocket, Blaine walks back toward the farmers market. From there she might go to see Clark. They won't talk about the thousands of dollars she's stashed away. That will have to be ok because some things aren't meant to be talked about. Maybe by the evening she'll feel like what is meant to be her choice will actually be a choice she won't regret making.