|
Post by Jordanna on Jun 15, 2007 23:37:45 GMT -5
With a faint shrug, Sid stepped back, turning to head back toward his office. His attitude was not hostile or even unwelcoming, but simply weary and heartbroken.
Once back in his office, he dumped himself back in his deep desk chair and closed his eyes.
"Anyway... it's done."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Jun 15, 2007 23:42:27 GMT -5
"Yeah, it is." Daws sighed and pushed her fedora back. "I'm sorry, Sid. I'm sorry you had to face him and sorry I couldn't do anything about him needling you, and . . ." she trailed off with a humorless half-laugh. "I'm just sorry all around."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Jun 16, 2007 19:56:53 GMT -5
Sid smiled brokenly. "Hey... it's nothin' about you. We all knew what it was gonna be like. I took it."
His brown eyes hardened bitterly. "...But thinkin' about my kids was the only thing kept me from takin' him apart, Daws."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Jun 16, 2007 21:04:42 GMT -5
"I know. Believe me, I know. Most of the time thinking about your kids is the only way I keep from taking him apart." Daws shrugged sadly. "It wouldn't do any good for either one of us to try it. No matter how good it might feel to try."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Jun 16, 2007 22:17:28 GMT -5
Sid grimaced slightly. "Foxy an' the Doc... they've kept tryin' sometimes ta kibbitz me outta bein' part of this fight, ya know. 'Cause of the kids, again. An' sometimes, I've thought..."
He trailed off, and was thoughtfully silent for a moment. Then he went on.
"But now I know. I'm in this thing 'til Tiernan's dead, or I am."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Jun 16, 2007 22:31:44 GMT -5
"You and me both." Daws said vehemently. "And it'll be him -- you've got my word on that. I'm gonna make him pay for what he did to you and your kids." She flexed her claws.
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Jun 16, 2007 22:34:58 GMT -5
Sid smiled weakly. "Thanks, Daws. I believe it when you say it."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Jun 16, 2007 22:46:33 GMT -5
Daws shrugged and glanced away. "It's the least I can do." She hesitated for a moment, then added quietly "It's at least partly my fault, to begin with."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Jun 16, 2007 23:00:46 GMT -5
Sid gave the detective a puzzled frown. "Whataya mean, Daws? Buyin' Lusus Natural was all my idea..."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Jun 16, 2007 23:04:58 GMT -5
"I didn't mean that, Sid." She fidgeted for a minute, examining her claws.
"Look . . . I never told you how me and Alex met. The first time, I mean. Before . . . y'know." She gestured faintly to the framed photo of Caroline.
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Jun 16, 2007 23:16:57 GMT -5
Sid shook his head in vague perplexity. "I don't get it."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Jun 16, 2007 23:27:32 GMT -5
Daws sighed. "Alex hired me to do some snooping around, right after I'd first gotten mixed up with Tiernan -- when Tiernan's mob first leaned on you for protection. And the bat caught wind of it.
"Tiernan was still tryin' to feel out how trustworthy I'd be. He wanted to see how I was gonna handle my . . ." She laughed bitterly, "My 'conflict of interests', he called it. I bluffed him off -- or I thought I did."
She dropped her eyes to the carpet with a miserable shrug. "That was the night Caroline died."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Jun 16, 2007 23:33:58 GMT -5
Sid blinked uncomprehendingly. On top of the upset Tiernan had put him through, his already shaken emotions and mind were not quite up to processing such complex chains of circumstance. At the moment, he looked remarkably childlike and vulnerable.
"I don't understand. You're--you're sayin' the bat--killed her for some kinda test... of you?"
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Jun 16, 2007 23:46:34 GMT -5
Daws shook her head helplessly. "I don't really know for sure. It's . . . not the sort of thing I can exactly ask him about, even if I wanted to. " She shrugged.
"I don't know why he did it. But I felt something wrong when I talked to him that night. I should've warned Alex. I should've done something. I don't know what -- but something. And I didn't."
Daws looked up at Sid, then shook her head. "I'm sorry. I shouldn'tve brought this up . . . after the day it's been for you. It's my problem, not yours. I'm just . . ." she sighed. "I'm just sorry. I'm sorry for all of it."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Jun 17, 2007 19:51:15 GMT -5
Sid was silent a moment, staring down at his hands and blinking in bafflement. At last he spoke in a small voice.
"I don't... don't understand any of it, Daws. But you could never'a wanted ta get anyone hurt."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Jun 17, 2007 22:11:40 GMT -5
Daws gave him a faint, sad smile. "You're right about that. I'd have done anything to keep him from hurting you and your kids -- and I'm never going to let him get away with it again."
She shrugged. "Anyway . . . if we've got any luck at all, you'll never have to go through another meeting like tonight. So here's hoping for some luck."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Jun 17, 2007 22:16:14 GMT -5
Sid's smile widened just a little, into a cold, flat expression that made him for a moment the old enforcer instead of the family man.
"Oh, I want another meetin' with him... when I can watch his heart get cut out. Like ta do it myself, but I guess the odds on that ain't so good. Long as somebody gets him that deserves to."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Jun 17, 2007 22:31:34 GMT -5
Daws flashed him a brief, feral grin. "Hey, you never know. Maybe you'll just get that lucky."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Jun 17, 2007 22:35:57 GMT -5
Sid rolled his shoulders in a somewhat futile shrug, and sprawled back in his chair with a weary sigh.
"I dunno. All I know is, right now, I just... gotta get it outta my head." He gave Daws a humorless look. "Gotta put my dumb happy face on before this joint opens tonight."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Jun 17, 2007 22:44:23 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "And I'd better get gone before the place gets crowded. Wouldn't do for me to be spotted here when the place isn't open, especially considering the meeting we just had."
She shrugged and stood up, reaching out to clasp Sid's hand. "Take care of yourself, okay?"
|
|