West Richland Tavern.

[feistyphoenix]

Tess thought carefully before responding. She wanted everything to come out in the right way so she wouldn't be misunderstood.

"You know what I think is beneath me? Someone who offers to be there and then bails when you try to take them up on it because they want a piece of ass," her voice was smooth, measured, with a chilling edge to it, "I doubt you can understand what its like waking up scared out of your mind someone is going to have their hands on your throat. I do, im very familiar with it, as a matter of fact i woke up with that fear every god damn day for almost three years. And you both have the nerve to disrespect Hannah by being late because you're too busy fucking like rabbits to be on time. We had things to do before we opened Alexa, like prep tables, and Rex and I did it all. And what was it you said to me last night, you weren't sleeping with anyone unless they paid you. Isn't that right? So you either lied, which pisses me off, or he paid you and you're keeping Hannah's portion for yourself, which is not only lying but stealing too."

By the time she was done she was more than worked up about everything. So she pushed back her chair and started for her room, leaving the three of them there in stunned silence.

 

[raiguy]

DJ just shook his head. "I did deal with waking up being scared. For 10 years of my life I dealt with that. You ever know what it feels like to be sold into a fighting ring where the only way to survive is to kill people? Where the man who bought you can kill you with a snap of his fingers? I did. I dealt with it for 10 years, so don't think I don't know that. As for bailing on you. You didn't answer me, you just went about doing something. I can't be there if you won't talk to me," he said quietly. He hadn't heard a thing from her, so figured she didn't need him. Instead, he had gone to help Alexa with her ankles, which lead to more.

He shook his head, before watching her walk away. "It was never about a piece of ass either. It was about me going with what felt right in the moment. I'm sorry for doing what I felt was right," he said, more to himself than the other two people, as he walked back to get his equipment, before picking it up and moving back to the bar. He quickly finished his glass of water, before sitting down and waiting for what happened next.

 

[celestialdragon]

Alexa was silent for a few minutes, before nodding. "I have nothing to say, except to apologize and ask for the forgiveness I don't deserve," she said quietly. She removed herself from behind the bar and shrugged. "He did not pay me, except by feeding me, offering me kindness, and teaching me how to defend myself, something I was never taught to do. If that's wrong, then I did wrong, and I apologize for the fact that they happened." She placed the entirety of her tips on the table and pushed them towards Tess. "This is yours, I don't deserve it." Her lower lip wobbled, but she kept her head high.

 

[raiguy]

DJ moved to Alexa, unsure of if she wanted it. He looked at her, letting her know that he was there for her. It had never been about getting a piece of ass from Alexa. It had been about living in the moment like he had learned to do while surviving hell. He took a deep breath, before letting it out slowly, unsure of what would happen now.

 

[feistyphoenix]

Tess continued going upstairs. She was done talking. Her legs were killing her and she was exhausted, all she really wanted was Eric.

She didn't say anything more to anyone, she just went to her room and shut the door.

She leaned aagainst the door and took a deep breath before just getting in bed. Hot tears fell on her cool pillow but not because of any words exchanged, she was just hurting physically and the fresh memory of Mack overpowering her was still too much for her.

 

[FireyIce]

Jack just sat there and listened since he didn't know what went on between the three of them. He decided to wait until they all put their two cents in and watched as Tess stormed off.

Jack got up from his seat at the bar. "We all have our demons but we also all have our obligations, no matter how good or bad they may seem." He looked back and forth between Alexa and DJ as he spoke. "I don't know what happened in your past or what happened the other night, but hopefully it's either resolved or it gets resolved very quickly," he stated.

He headed towards the stairs and looked back. "I'll go check on her and see if she's ok," he stated as he went up the stairs and up to her room.

Jack knocked on the door and waited for a response from her.

 

[feistyphoenix]

"What?" She thought it was DJ and she didn't want to see him. The door was unlocked though and she mentally kicked herself for forgetting to lock it.

She stayed in bed, her body hurt too much to move anymore. Tess wiped her face off with her blanket before the door opened.

 

[FireyIce]

"It's Jack," he stated. "Is it ok if I come in?" he asked as he stood outside patiently. Even though he knew what the place was he knew how to still treat everyone as people and with respect.

 

[feistyphoenix]

"If you want to, yes," she should have told him no but he hadn't done anything wrong and she wasn't upset with him.

She curled her legs up and they hurt, god they fucking hurt. It was probably why she had given DJ and Alexa a really hard time about everything.

 

[FireyIce]

He opened the door and came in. He grabbed the chair and moved it next to her bed and sat down on it. "I'd ask if everything was ok, but anyone that saw that down there knows the answer to the question. Is there anything I can do to help with your legs? Anything at all?" he asked her as he gently moved her hair back and wiped away some of her tears.

 

[feistyphoenix]

"No, but thank you for offering," she said softly. She was a little surprised he was so gentle. She shouldn't have been since she was familiar with him. But after everything it almost always surprised her when a man chose to be gentle or nice when he could choose to be cold.

"Im sorry you had to see that. I wasn't going to talk about any of that tonight," she spoke gently as she looked up at him.

 

[FireyIce]

"It's ok," Jack replied. "Having anger stored up for a long period of time isn't the best idea, in my own experience." Jack opened his wallet and pulled out two cards and placed them on her dresser. "There's my own personal one and the other one is for my doctor that will take care of your legs, free of charge. You just tell them that I sent you and all will be taken care of," he told her.

Jack noticed the marks on the back of her neck when he moved her hair back. "I worked in the military before I worked for the police here," he said. "I did a lot of counter-surveillance, human intelligence, etc. I was never special forces or anything like that, though I did help them out from time to time. I'm not an idiot and I know what these markings are and that a new door was installed for a reason." He leaned his head to the side to appear equal to her. "I don't want anyone to get hurt, I hope you know that, Tess," he stated as he pulled out another card for a psychologist. He added it to the small pile that was accumulating on her nightstand.

 

[raiguy]

DJ grabbed a pen and paper, remembering something Alexa had said earlier. Thinking for a minute, he wrote,"Hannah, if you'd like, I'd be more than happy to teach the girls self-defense classes. Alexa suggested the idea, and I would be happy to do that if anyone is interested. I spent 10 years studying different kinds of martial arts and self-defense. Let me know if you'd like that. DJ"

DJ set the pad next to the register for Hannah to see, before pouring himself one more glass of water. He say next to Alexa, lending her strength.

 

[feistyphoenix]

"I'm not angry Jack, I've just been," she paused thinking of the right word," damaged."

Tess pulled her hair forward so it covered the light bruises on her neck. She didn't like them exposed.

"I went to a doctor in Seattle a few years ago but they didn't find anything wrong. I sort of gave up on figuring it out after that," she sounded defeated before she smiled as she thought of Eric, "but I think I found something that's finally working."

 

[FireyIce]

"Well I'm glad you found something that's working," Jack said as he smiled at her. "If you need anything feel free to let me know," he said as he started to stand up. "That goes for anyone here as well. I just want to make sure everyone is safe and that there isn't any worries. I hope everything gets resolved in a positive manner. Just keep in mind sometimes yelling isn't the best approach," he told her as he started to walk towards the door.

 

[celestialdragon]

Alexa smiled at DJ, and looked up at him. "I'm going to go upstairs," she told him, softly. "I'll talk to you tomorrow?" she asked him. She kissed his cheek.

 

[feistyphoenix]

"Well I'm glad you found something that's working," Jack said as he smiled at her. "If you need anything feel free to let me know," he said as he started to stand up. "That goes for anyone here as well. I just want to make sure everyone is safe and that there isn't any worries. I hope everything gets resolved in a positive manner. Just keep in mind sometimes yelling isn't the best approach," he told her as he started to walk towards the door.

"I didn't yell, I just made sure I got my point across but thank you for the offer to help. Can you lock the door on your way out?"

She was a little irked that he said she had yelled but she brushed it off.

 

[FireyIce]

"No problem. I hope you have a good night," Jack replied as he locked the door before closing it. He ran into Alexa as she was heading upstiars.

"Heading to bed also, Alexa?" he asked as he saw her approach.

 

[celestialdragon]

Alexa shrugged, and nodded. "Doubt I'll get much sleep, though," she said softly.

 

[FireyIce]

"Why do you say that?" he asked with a quizzical look on his face.

 

[celestialdragon]

"Just a feeling I have," she replied, shrugging. She gave a small smile. "I should be fine."

 

[FireyIce]

"Is it ok if I give you a hug before I head out?" he asked. He watched as Alexa stopped at her door.

 

[celestialdragon]

Alexa nodded. "Yeah, that's fine," she said quietly.

 

[FireyIce]

Jack reached around her and gave her a hug with a gentle squeeze. He gently kissed her forehead as he let go. "I hope you sleep good," he said before he started to head downstairs. "I'll probably be in soon to see you guys."

 

[raiguy]

DJ looked at Alexa heading up the stairs, before he shook his head slowly. He stood up, before grabbing his equipment and heading up the stairs. He passed the cop on the way up, nodding to him. He stopped in front of Alexa's door, knocking softly.