A Little Sane

Chapter 27

Jerome groaned loudly as his eyes opened. He was lying flat on his back. Mercedes was lying on top of him perfectly like a bed. Jerome realized they were still on the roof and his back was in flames. His arms were wrapped tightly around Mercedes. He gently rubbed her back trying to wake her up. She shuffled and turned over. Jerome caught her before she hit the ground. She set up and looked around confused still half asleep. 

"We slept on the roof...?"

Jerome groaned as he set up. Mercedes looked at him concernedly. 

"My back hurts.. you laid on top of me the whole night.."

Mercedes looked at Jerome as if she had done the most horrible thing.

"Oh I'm sorry!" 

An early morning tear fell down her cheek. Jerome quickly wiped it away.

"No I'm okay. Come here."

Jerome pulled her into a hug and wiped away another tear.

"Mercedes why are you crying..? I'll be okay. I just need to do some work outs and get the blood flowing again."

Mercedes didn't understand she was so upset that she made him hurt his back. Jerome wasn't mad or concerned. She buried her face in his shoulder.

"I don't know..."

Jerome hugged her tightly and then rubbed her back. He smiled when he heard her stomach growl.

"Come on. Let's go get some food."

Mercedes looked up with puppy dog eyes.

"Actually you know what I could really go for...?"

Jerome smiled brightly.

"You want to go to The barnyard and buy everything off the breakfast menu don't you?"

Mercedes couldn't hude her smile. Jerome's maniacal laugh caused the birds on the foor to fly away. 

"There's that smile I love so much!"

Abbe walked into the kitchen and froze.

"What the heck is all of this?"

Mercedes smiled brightly.

"Breakfast! Come eat!" 

Abbe laughed and walked towards the table still confused.

"Are we feeding the entire city?"

Mercedes turned to Abbe.

"I couldn't decide between pancakes, french toast, wallfes or crepes. Then I wanted buiscuts and gravy, but I also wanted eggs, bacon and sausage. Jerome wanted some omlets. We got muffins too... One of every flavor they had.."

"You bought everything on the menu... Jesus that must have been so much money..."

Mercedes shook her head and started opening containers. 

"Actually.. they took one look at Jerome and said just take it. I tried to pay."

They finished breakfast and Mercedes's phone rang. Jerome was putting away leftovers and turned to face her. Restricted number.

"Hello... Oh.. good morning.."

Jerome watched his wife with curiousity. Her expression indicated that Diablo needed something.

"Yes sir, we will be on our way just as soon as we finish cleaning up from breakfast... if thats okay.. we're almost done..."

Her expression changed to one of worry. He could visibly see she was nervous. Her breathing got slightly heavy. 

"Um.. yes .. that's okay.. I can do that.."

The line diconnected. Mercedes stared at Jerome. 

"Doll face what's wrong?"

She flickered her eyes towards Abbe who was attending to the kids and then back at Jerome. 

"Diablo.. wants me to come talk to him.. alone..."

Jerome's face visibly showed his anger. He set the container her was holding on the table. He shook his head violently.

"Is he fucking crazy?! You are not going to go talk to him alone! No fucking way! No! Fucking! Way!"

Mercedes sighed and shrugged.

"Jerome we don't have a choice.."

Jerome picked up a knife and threw it across the room. Luckily he aimed where no one else was.

"Jerome!"

He looked at Mercedes with rage.

"Yes we do! I just go with you!"

Abbe set at the table next to the kids with a slightly nervous twitch in the pit of her stomach. She watched Mercedes slowly walk towards Jerome.

"He's going to feel like we might be threatening him... he will definitely be mad that we didn't obey him.. Jerome I can do this. I'll be okay."

Jerome shook his head. His worried expression was completely over dramatized. 

"I don't trust him not to hurt you... He's crazy..."

Mercedes tilted her head and gave Jerome a loving look.

"I can handle myself... It's you I don't trust Diablo with..."

Jerome groaned. Mercedes gently cupped his cheek.

"He just wants to talk.. I'll tell you eveything when I get home. I can do this. I will be fine."

Jerome pulled her into a tight hug.

"I'll kill that motherfucker if he lays a finger on you."

Mercedes smiled into Jerome's chest. She wrapped her arms around him.

"I wouldn't have you react any other way. I'll take every safety measure okay? I'll take my dagger. It's one weapon, so maybe he'll understand and won't feel threatened."

Jerome lifted her chin and gave her a stern, but loving look.

"The first sign of danger, you get out of there. I don't fucking care what he'll say after. You get out of there and you come straight home to me."

Abbe saw the look of pure love on Mercedes's face. Mercedes leaned forward and pecked Jerome on the lips. She smiled.

"Of course."

Mercedes kissed her kids goodbye and headed down the hallway. She set for a few minutes in the car. She stared at herself in the rearview mirror and smiled. She blasted music and started driving. She was not scared of Diablo  anymore. She had a plan.