Blood and Water

Chapter 44: Would?

Would? - Alice in Chains

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Mina heard the front door creak open and then heavy footsteps fall. Hearing the steps, she realized they never locked the front door. She started shaking Chibs.

"Of course the one time he's asleep," she groaned, shaking him harder. "Baby, Chibs. There's someone in the house. Chibs," she whispered. He still wasn't waking up. "Someone is in the house," she said in his ear.

His eyes darted open and he listened. The only thing he could hear was Mina's heart pounding. He crept out of bed and grabbed his boxers, pulling them on.

"Stay here," he whispered.

"Chibs, don't-" Mina started to say, but he put his finger on his lips.

He gripped the handle of the gun tighter as he pulled the door open. Holding the gun in front of him, he walked through the house. In the kitchen, he saw a figure standing next to the counter.

"Turn around, slowly," Chibs said. The figure turned with their hands up. Chibs hit the light switch revealing who was standing there. "The f*ck are ya doin' here, Tig?" Chibs lowered his gun.

"Hoping I could crash here tonight," Tig chuckled.

Chibs walked past him and locked the front door. "So, ya just walk inside? How'd ya know where she lived?"

"Paperwork from TM. Don't forget I worked on her car too, Chibby," he laughed.

"Aye, you can sleep on the couch," Chibs sighed.

Tig smiled, "Thanks, man."

Chibs walked back into the bedroom and saw Mina wasn't in bed. She was standing in the corner next to the door holding a baseball bat. She swung it, hitting Chibs in the chest. The wooden bat made a cracking sound when it made contact with him.

"Ow, sh*te!" he yelled, holding his chest. He grabbed the bat from her and threw it on the ground. "The f*ck ya doin'?"

She was covering her mouth. "I'm sorry! Are you okay?" He looked up at her, gasping for air. "Chibs, are you okay?"

"Where the f*ck did ya learn to hit like that?"

"I'm a gym teacher. Are you okay? Was there someone here?"

Chibs stood up straight and looked down at her. "Aye, it's Tig." He rubbed the center of his chest. "Christ, that f*ckin' hurt."

Mina wrapped her arms around him and kissed the red mark on his chest. "I'm sorry, baby." She reached up and pulled his face down to kiss him. "Why's Tig here?"

"Needed a place to crash."

"He couldn't call first?" Mina chuckled.

Chibs looked down at the alarm clock and saw it was almost five. It was Saturday so neither of them had to be up early. They went back to bed and laid down.

Mina put her head on his chest and her hand where she hit him. "I'm really sorry."

"It's okay, love. 'Least I know you can defend yourself."

Mina laughed and closed her eyes. She fell asleep a few minutes later, letting out small snores as she breathed. Chibs closed his eyes and fell asleep almost immediately.

The door swung open and the man pulled the trigger, sending a bullet into Mina's brain.

Chibs jumped, sitting up. He looked next to him and saw Mina stirring from his sudden movements. The nightmares were getting worse but there was nothing he could do about it. As long as he was next to her, nothing would happen to her.