The Watchman

Chapter 5-Jesse

I walked back to the hideout using back alleys and rooftops. I figured the police would be searching the whole of London soon. I can see it now, papers put up everywhere, wanted alive the notorious criminals Finn and Jesse, 100 shillings to anyone with information. I chuckled and shoved my hands into my pockets.

I wonder why Finn didn't kill me? He looked strong enough to. Then again he didn't have much protection, considering his burlap sack he wore as clothing. I let the cold London air take my thoughts from me as I neared the hideout entrance. I looked to make sure no one was watching and I knocked a short a quick pattern on the door. Tap tap tap pause tap pause tap. The door opened to reveal our small but nasty looking recruit Zimmer.

"Lovely day." I stated with a fake smile as I passed by him. He looked dumbfounded to see me. I padded down the concrete hallways quietly until I reached Stingers "war" room. Voices floated out from under the door, muffled but legible.

"Face it Stinger, he's gone! The cops probly nabbed 'im ." Said Reed with his thick London accent. I hated Reed and Reed hated me. We had a mutual understanding.

"He is not gone you bag and you know it! Jesse has been through worse things and come out perfectly fine!" Yelled Cliff.

The room exploded into a jumble of yelling and cursing.

"Silence!!" Shouted Stinger at the top of his lungs. "He is no doubt alive," he started once everyone shut up, "and he is no doubt in the London jail. There is a mole in our midst. Someone in the West Side Gang caused us to not only not lose our chance at vengeance for Flea, but the also cost us our best and most trusted Infiltrater__"

I cut him short as I walked in with swagger, "Not so fast Stinger you haven't lost me yet." Cliff's eyes lit up when he saw me and he ran over to check if I was alright.

"Dammit Jesse I told you to be careful, what the hell happened? One moment you were off to patrol the next moment your nowhere to be found and the old Heifer's house is swarming with police!" He smacked me in the back of the head.

"Ow damnit!" I said as I smacked him back.

I walked over to the table and sat down, "I was on the roof patrolling but I must have fallen asleep. I woke up to the sound of footsteps, next thing I know the damn guard hits me in the back of the head and I wake up in a jail cell. There was no way that the officer could have known I was there, not unless someone tipped him off."

Stinger looked at me for a second and then the rest of the group. "Out." When no one moved he yelled louder. I started to get up, "Not you Jesse, you stay." I sat in my chair and waited till everyone was gone.

He sat down, "How'd you escape?"

"I had help...From a South Sider."

"What? A South Sider? Did they want something?" He leaned forward.

"No he didn't know what I was until after we escaped. We agreed not to kill each other and parted ways."

Stinger looked sick. "Stinger, it's okay, I'm fine, I'm back, and that South Sider is gone." I walked around the table and sat in the chair next to him.

He had his head in his hands, "I thought you were hurt or worse, dead."

I put my hand on his leg, "I'm okay. I'm here now, and I'm not going anywhere." He looked up at me.

Stinger suddenly leaned forward and kissed me. I jerked back in surprise.

"Stinger..." I gasped.

"I'm sorry," he said quickly, "I don't know why I did that. I'm sor__" I cut him off with a kiss of my own. I didn't take long for Stinger to respond. He deepened the kiss as he pulled me from my chair and onto his lap. I raked my fingers through his hair as the kiss intensified. He lifted me onto the table, and I wrapped my legs around him. The kiss slowly died down, until it was just he and I breathing hard with our heads together. Stinger chuckled, and moved away.

I had a stupid grin on my face, as I slid from the table. I adjusted my clothes and hair. I looked at Stinger and laughed. I walked over and adjusted his hair and shirt. No doubt we both had swollen lips.

"I should get back to my room, to check on the mates." I said.

"Yeah I need to get back to work as well." He cleared his throat and we both walked away to our quarters.

As soon as the door was closed behind me Cliff ambushed me.

"I always wondered why you never wanted any of the girls at the brothel. But now it makes sense. I never thought that Stinger was...attracted to men though."

"Cliff what are you talking about?" I said confused.

"I saw you...and Stinger in the war room."

I groaned and blushed profusely. I hit my head against the door.

"Hey but it's okay! Jesse I support you always. I just never knew." He held his hands out in front of him.

"I'm not gay!" I yelled.

That's not what that kiss said..." Cliff said with a slightly ill expression.

"Cliff...don't hate me for this but..." I took my hat off, and then started unbuttoning my shirt.

Cliff raced around the bed and held up his hands, "Woah woah woah, what are you doing?!"

"Just trust me."

"Cliff I'm not a guy."  I said as I took my shirt off.

Cliff's eyes widened as he saw my wrapped chest. "Wa....you're a girl!"