Just Checking Up! Part Eighteen: The Great Misadventure!

Rip:

Sitting next to Silks in the observatory, coffee and cinnamon made me want her more. Soaking in the decay of the building, her beauty contrasted it in the best way. Chatting away, my stupid ass had friend zoned her. Why did I do that? Every part of me wanted to get to know her better. Such a mission plagued me, her smile yesterday bringing life back into my soul. The evening passed way too fast, dropping her off seemed like a sin. Cal greeted me at the door of our apartment, a sly smirk pissing me off. Must he always do that!

“So did you hook up or what?” He teased mercilessly, a file flipping open on his lap. “Did Miss Silks steal your heart?” Throwing my shoe at him, he caught it with ease. Dropping it on the floor, embarrassment painted my cheeks. Bowing my head in shame, an eye roll told him everything he needed to know.

“Friend zoned her?” He sighed with a shake of his head, the file slamming shut. “Probably for the best. The two of you need time to get to know each other.” Unsure what to do with that last statement, his offer to make dinner didn’t go unanswered. Crashing onto the couch, the file had her name on it. Hesitation lingered in my eyes, a ring of my phone had me leaping into the air. Answering it, my old man began to ask me how Silks was doing. The door blew open, a haggard Silks stumbling in with a backpack on her right shoulder. Shoving the files under the couch cushion, ash and burns covered her arms.

“Someone set fire to my apartment and I can’t tell you why! Do you mind if I crash here for a bit?” She choked out through a wall of tears, her bag hitting the floor. “Let’s just say that people don’t like me. Maybe I should m-” Shouting out no, surprise rounded her eyes. Cal stepped back into the kitchen, fear returning to her features. Crashing onto me, her emotions soaked my shoulder. Hanging up on my dad, he would have to wait. Cupping her face, surface wounds were the only thing to be discovered. Wiping away her tears, Cal shot me a sympathetic smile from around the corner.

“You don’t have to tell me today or ever. Count on me if you ever need help. Don’t ever leave. How about we go apartment hunting tomorrow?” I suggested with my real smile, a shadow of her smile returning. “I meant every word I said when I liked you. Please rely on me and don’t run away.” Lowering my hand gingerly, her wet eyes refused to meet mine.

“Zero out of five stars is all you will ever get from getting to know me. Dating isn’t on my cards right now. Hell, I barely like myself. I have to g-” She began, exhaustion stealing her away. Collapsing into my arms, Cal wandered in cautiously. Scooping her up, a swift tuck had her in my bed. Putting my hand up before he could inform me, a silent agreement passed between us. A slender hand snatched my wrist, her groggy eyes fluttering open.

“Can you lay with me?” She begged adorably, one yank bringing me to the bed. “I don’t want to be alone. Trust, I trust you.” Kicking my shoes off, another yank had me under the covers. Coffee and cinnamon overtook me, sweet slumber stealing me away.

Jerking awake, the lack of a body frightened me. Sitting up, Cal threw an envelope into my face. His shit eating grin wasn’t necessary, a doughnut bouncing off of his palm. Chuckling heartily, a little doodle stole my heart away.

“Romeo, you did it! Keep chipping away at it and you just might get a wife.” He sang with a chipper tone, his smile falling. “She said she found another place to stay while running out with a big apology. Take care of her for me.”

Rolling over, Avery snuggled into Silks’ arms. Her frightened expression spoke of anything but bliss, the panic attacks tripling since we became his guardians. Today didn’t look like it was going to be any different. Fighting another wave of tears, the corner of her lips quivered. Embracing him tighter, the fact she brought him home was a god damn miracle. Having him in our lives had proved to be a treat for me, my old man enjoying his grandfatherly duties. The alarm rang on her phone, dark bags speaking of another sleepless night. Waking up in her arms, his sharp eyes picked up on her anxiety. Breaking into a bright smile, her request for him to get ready to hang out with my dad and Sally Sue not falling on deaf ears. Bouncing out to get dressed, her exhausted features numbed out in my direction.

“I don’t know how to fix this or any of it. How do you make a kid not feel trauma?” She choked out dejectedly, her fingers scratching at her neck. “Am I being a good mother? Lord knows that I didn’t have a good role model until Sally Sue.” Cupping her hand, the layers of scratches were growing, guilt eating at me. Ripping a tissue out of the box with my free hand, a press to her neck did little to slow the bleeding.

“You are doing amazing. He loves you. Hell, I think he loves you more than me. What more do you need to hear?” I comforted her lovingly, a shadow of her smile returning. “What about all the pictures he draws of us together? We have to be doing something right.” Kissing her forehead, a bit of color returned to her cheeks.

“I guess.” She mumbled under breath as she leapt out from the bed. “When will this fucking mental mindfuck end?” Tugging on a black and white plaid sweater dress, a couple of tugs had her burgundy tights hugged her bigger bump. Messing with her tighter bra, sizing up would have to happen soon. Kicking on a new pair of combat style boots, her shaking hands struggled to pull out her space buns and bangs. Brushing out the curls, flawless waves softened to life. Putting on her usual face of dark eye shadow and a dark lip, her pale skin stuck out more. Covering up her dark bags with a couple of powders, only Cal would be wise to her strife. Throwing me a suit, today’s task might throw her over the edge. Wondering if she should stay home, a long sigh drew from my lips.

“Don’t make that face.” She snapped irately, her boot tapping incessantly. “Working will keep me distracted and you fucking know that! Avery means the world to me. If I can’t stop them, I don’t know how to fix that mess of a cult! That kid is a younger version of me, lost in a shitty world. Let me work through it!” Chewing on my bottom lip, her working through it was going to leave her with no flesh on her neck. Hell would have to freeze over first before I let that happen.

“Cut the bullshit.” I pointed out in an equally irked tone, her fingers reaching for her neck. “All I have seen you do is fucking panic or scratch the fuck out of your neck! When is enough going to be enough!” Snatching her purse off the worn bureau, her footfalls echoed down the hall. Hurt dimmed my eyes, regret boiling to life in my guts. Rushing around to get dressed, an empty house greeted me. Cold, this felt cold. Stepping out, relief crashed through me upon seeing her talking with Sally Sue. Hiding her neck with a hand, Sally Sue’s eyes flitted between her and me. Mouthing a silent apology, she knew how Silks could be. Crouching down to Avery’s level, pure love shimmered in Silks’ eyes. Fixing his cool skull t-shirt, a fluff of his hair reinforced how wonderful of a mother she was. Pecking the top of his head, it took everything for her to watch them drive away with Avery. Blowing kisses until he was out of sight, her fingers lingered on the cheek Avery pecked. Stiffening up at the sight of me, an unexpected apology shocked me. Unable to respond in time, her voice whipped me back into reality.

“Sorry for snapping at you. Slumber is avoiding me like the plague. I try to sleep but then the nightmares invade my mind. Then I wonder what if I wake up somewhere else and you struggle to find me. Sorry for getting kidnapped.” She sobbed uncontrollably, her forehead crashing into my chest. “How is raising him so natural to you?” Lifting up her chin with my finger, every emotion dripped off of her chin. Did she have to look so damn cute at every second?

“Stop stressing about that. If anything you have this under control. Let’s get you to work to help ease that racing mind of yours.” I assured her gently, her head cocking to the left. “We have a couple of interviews of former cult members. Are you ready for that?” A day out in the field should more than suffice in aiding her increasing anxiety, her hands beginning to tremble by her sides.

“Remember when your idiotic ass friend zoned me, I thought you hated me.” She continued in a busted tone as she got into the hearse tiredly. “Then you fixed that. Most people run like I said before. I slept on a park bench that night instead of sleeping in your arms because I didn’t want to be a burden. People burned down my apartment because of what I did to my mother. People I worked with despised me. No one treated me decently except for your father and you. Why the hell would you marry me? All you took on was more problems. For all my life, my title is doomed to be the brat that murdered her mother. Do you want that?” Bowing her head in shame, her palms rubbed her prominent bump to ground herself.

“Nonsense. Quit spouting it.” I scoffed playfully, my hands cupping her slightly puffier cheeks. “No one else will have my heart. Besides, my reputation is shot as yours. News of my mother’s criminal activities has kind of been leaked. Luckily, my job isn’t gone. Death glares and death threats are all coming my way as well. Together we can work through that. United we stand strong.” Helping her into her seat, a click secured her safety. Sinking into my seat, lingering fears haunted me with Avery. However, the daily interactions of Silks and Avery kept my hope alive. He didn’t run to me first but into her arms. Did she not realize the gravity of his choice? No hurt came from that, a welcome joy birthed a higher level of hope than I had ever dreamed.

“Don’t the freaking idiots realize that you were a child when she was pulling all of that bullshit?” She hissed vehemently, the engine covering the second half of what she had said. Sliding deeper into her seat, a long groan poured from her lips. Discomfort wrote itself into her features, Liz popping up in the back. Jumping into the ceiling, a flurry of curse words escaped our lips. A little bit of warning would have been nice, I thought sarcastically to myself.

“You shouldn’t go.” She warned us desperately, her body floating through the partition. “Trapping is clearly the objective. How the hell do you plan on functioning without sleep?” Ignoring her on purpose, Liz snatched her shoulder. Choosing to hold her tongue, years of insomnia trained her well. Who were we to judge each other? Pulling onto the road, the appointment had to be kept regardless. Determination burned in her eyes, a bit of hope flickered to life in her features.

“Not that I don’t believe you. Insomnia isn’t a big deal, she always finds a way to flare up during times of stress. Mystery calls us there. Join us to keep us safe.” She returned serenely, Liz refusing to buy the abrupt mood shift. “Liz, those bastards can screw themselves. No one is going to hurt my family and that includes you. Although, I am not sure how one hurts a spirit quite like you.” Visibly relaxing, Silks sure had a way of doing that with everyone. A pensive silence hung in the air, both pairs of eyes darting towards the trees flashing by the window. Getting lost in their heads, an odd sense of calm lay beneath it. The deeper the tires crunched into the woods, the heavier the dread felt in the pit of my stomach. Clicking on the radio, heavy metal drowned out the bad thoughts. Minutes blurred into hours, a creepy community crackling into view. Fuck, Liz’s warning proved to be correct. Cracking her neck and then her joints, Silks hopped out. Making her power known, odd looking people in ugly brown robes shot knives in her direction. Well, not literal knives but the one you shoot from your eyes.

“Don’t even pull that bullshit with me! Y’all said you left. Judging by robes, that is no go!” She barked in an irked tone, her hand resting on her hip. “How about I examine your offices and find the criminal activity?” A black SUV pulled up with the rest of the team, Cal hopping out with a search warrant. Winking in Liz’s direction, the fools had no choice but to relent to our demands. Raising her finger in the air, dirt blew up behind each step as she brushed past the bulk of them. Protests fell on deaf ears as she opened up what looked like an underground cellar. Children cried out for help, all hell breaking loose. Promising to help them out later, she closed the rusting metal doors gingerly. Guns clicked in her direction, her hands refusing to raise. Mulling over what to do, determination burned in her eyes.

“Wow, hiding your blood supply. Fuck you for lying.” She reprimanded them, a wave of flames knocking them out. “Please handcuff them and call for back up. Anybody with medical skills will need to help the children. Treat them for malnutrition, those fucking idiots don’t know how to feed their supply.” Opening the door with a bright smile, children climbed out with the biggest looks of relief. Clinging to her legs, the various states of wear and tear visibly tore up the team. Arresting the offenders without a second thought, that amount of power coming without a price impressed me. Crouching down to their level, her sharp eyes scanned them over for any obvious wounds. Comforting them in a motherly manner, my heart skipped a beat. Forever she will be the mother of my children and the keeper of my heart.

“Told you she was flawless on the field.” Cal bragged freely, a white van with our team’s logo pulling up. “How about that? Witnesses will be around for once. What a treat!” His sadistic grin threw me off, a stern cock of my brow shutting it down.

“Keep it legal. Lawsuits muddy things up, bud.” I pointed out calmly, my arms folding across my chest. “Liz tell you all about this place?” Nodding a couple of times, my suspicions had been confirmed. Shifting my attention back to Silks, her presence kept the children calm as a couple of team members began to work on any wounds. Looking in her element, motherhood would always prove natural to her. Laughter twinkled in the air, life returning to her eyes.

“Avery sure is lucky to have her in her life. No wonder he loves her.” Cal commented happily, his orders not falling on deaf ears. “Shall we wait until she is done to raid the homes?” Blasting him an odd look, the corner of his smirk popped up. Cocking his head back, such things didn’t always register in my mind.

“Your wife has a knack for family things. How is that not obvious?” He uttered in disbelief, a scoff deepening that emotion. Going on about something else, her loving gaze met mine. Flushing a deep scarlet, her fingers traced her lips. Mouthing the words I love you, another flutter had my stomach flipping a bit. Approaching the children with caution, shining eyes flitted over to me. Waving with my genuine smile, questions exploded in my direction. Answering them, intrigue rounding out their eyes. Putting on a show, Silks hung back with the shy ones. Ruffling their hair, her compassion knew no bounds. State workers showed up, long sighs drawing from their lips. Hugging them goodbye, loneliness dimmed her eyes upon the last child leaving. Tears shimmered in her eyes, her head bowing to hide her distress. Lifting up her chin, the corner of her lips quivered. Sorrow danced down my arm, shadows of trauma curling around her body. Wanting to shrink back, those damn demonic emotions had a way of sinking their claws into you at the worst moments. Burying her into a bear hug, the dam broke. Soaking my shoulder with every ounce of emotion, her fingers dug into my back. Glancing up at the sky, trauma bit her again. No way to help her, no way to survive the aftermath. Praying the one up above, please grant her a bit of serenity.