Rhage: He couldn’t believe it. Seriously. Could NOT fucking believe it. Was it something he did? Was this some kind of karma that was being served to him rather than FOR him? Was this some kind of cosmic joke? If so, it was so not funny because the last person in the world that he would ever want anything to do with was his best friend. Sorry. Ex- friend. He lost that love and respect when he fucked his daughter. God. His daughter. His Itty-Bitty. His little girl, that no matter how old she gets, she was always going to be his little girl. Always. And his so called friend services her. He was more or less surprised he hadn’t exploded into his alter ego. Then again, when he bonded with Mary, the beast was also bonded to her. When he fell in love at adopting Bitty, the beast fell in love with her as well. He was there throughout her life the minute he and his Mary took her in under their wings and welcomed her into their lives. Yeah. He was still pretty fucking salty.
Salty, and yet, as Rhage stood beside Tohrment who lied on the infirmary bed, shot, bleeding, any second could be the last, some small lining that this could be the last and then he wouldn’t have to worry about the sonofabitch. He could just cut him out of his life. Not have to pay another mind of him. Let him die. Say ‘buh- bye’ and wipe his hands clean of him. Except as Tohrment lied on his back, he only managed to say one little word. Bitty. He called out to Bitty. His Bitty. His Itty-Bitty. The fucker didn’t deserve to call out for his Itty-Bitty and that made him want to slit his throat. And yet, for some reason, he couldn’t. He didn’t. Instead, he knew how much this would mean to her if she was still here. And that was another thing. She went through her needing, the fucker services her and then out of the blue, his baby was gone. Empty. He felt empty all over again. Yes he had his Mary. But his Bitty was what kept him whole. Complete. Without his Bitty, he felt newly raw. Without his heart, he felt like a shell. And yet, the memories of those days and nights that Bitty stayed with the fucker, being babysat while he and his Mary needed some time alone, they were buddy-buddying. Fuck Tohrment. His Bitty would want to know, right? Somehow in his head that seemed to have made sense, which was why he was stepping out into the hall for privacy, going through his phone to bring up her name and hit the green phone icon on the home screen and press it to his ear and waited.
“Bitty. It’s daddy. I uh, I’m here in the infirmary. With Tohrment.” God he hated even saying his name. “He’s hurt real bad, honey. He’d been shot. practically starving himself. Being an asshole, but that’s nothing new. Anyways, I thought I’d let you know.”
Ball was in her court. At least she would know.
Bitty: Sitting at the kitchen table. Her three babies sitting in their high chairs. Each of them eating their mint chocolate chip cookies. They loved them just as much as she did. Their little faces covered in chocolate. Seeing the sweet smiles of her children. Made her happy but she also missed home. Made her miss Tohr, dad, hell everyone. Only one person knew of her little family. That was Uncle Wrath, and he promised that he would let her tell Tohr. Though she didn’t know how she was going to tell Tohr. So much time had passed. Hell even telling dad would be hard. She had kept this from them for so long. It would just end up hurting them even more.
But as she looked at the faces of her children. She wanted to cry, she was robbing of them of a family. A family that would love them more than anything in this world. They had loved her like that. They had treated so very well, and look what she did in return of that love. Lying to them, keeping this from them. She wasn’t raised to be this type of person. But the damage had already been done. It may never be able to be fixed.
Squeals of laughter brought her out of her deep thoughts. Rhacer had thrown some of his cookie and Tohrment, and of course Mayle had to join in with the fun when her brothers had fun. Now they were all messy and in need of a bath. Laughing and shaking her head. “Alright, alright you three have had your fun for the night.” Getting up from her chair, picking up the two boys and putting them down on the ground. Mayle, was last putting her on her hip. She walked the small house they lived in down the hall to the bathroom. Hearing the boys go at one another. Could never leave each other alone. Putting Mayle in a little play pen that she kept in the bathroom. Going back for the boys. Picking them up they held onto her. Back to the bathroom she placed them in the pen with their sister. It was bath time.
Once the bath’s were started for the night. There was no stopping it. But they loved it and Bitty loved taking care of them. They played and splashed each other. Bitty got almost as wet as they did. Hearing her phone go off, letting it go to voicemail. She couldn’t leave the kids right now. She would call if needed after they were in bed.
Bathtime was over she dressed the little wiggle worms. It always took forever to get them dressed and down for the night. Each one laying in the same bed. They had to sleep together or they would cry for each other. Rubbing each of their backs she sang a sweet little song in old tongue. They loved that. Their eyes started to close and they fell off to sleep cuddled close to each other.
Walking out of the room, she started to clean up the kitchen after her kids were through with it. Picking up her phone, washing dishes as she listened to the voicemail. When hearing dad’s voice. Her world stopped. Oh no!! Tohr had been hurt! She dropped the glass in the sink of soapy water. Dishes forgotten she runs to start packing her bag. On the phone with the sitter for the kids. “Yes, I’m so sorry but I need to go back home. Something bad has happened. Yes I know I’m sorry. Oh thank you! Yes at nightfall.”
Hanging up the phone she texted dad. “Daddy, I’m on my way home. Be there as soon as I can. I love you.” Packing her bag she wouldn’t be sleeping to night. Walking to the kids room. She sat down in the rocker. Just to be close to some part of Tohr. She prayed that he was ok, please let him be ok.
Tohr: -Tohr felt like hell. His heart hurt, his chest hurt, his legs hurt. Hell, his whole body fucking hurt. At first he couldn’t think of why, before it hit him. Oh yes a night on rotation, a few bullet chasers, and oh yeah, one real bad wound in his abdomen. Yay, wasn’t life such grand? Hearing shuffling next to him, he seen Rhage out of the corner of his eye. Oh wasn’t this just icing on the fucking cake. Of all people who had to be there, it was Rhage. It couldn’t have been V, Wrath, hell he would even take Zsadist at this point. No, it was Rhage. One of the brothers who would rather see him rot. Yay.
It wasn’t like Tohr could blame the guy, he really couldn’t. Considering three, really long years ago, Rhage’s daughter went into her needing, and slipped into his bed while he slept. That was one part Rhage didn’t need to know. And a few, wham-bam-thank-you-Sir moments, in the time span of twenty-four hours, her needing was satisfied. By Tohr. He couldn’t really remember how Rhage found out, nor did he really care at the time. What he did care about was the guilt that he took advantage of a child he watched grow up since she was fourteen years of age. Inhaling through his nose, he let his head go back. The day after her needing was when everything else crumbled around him. He could still hear Bitty’s confession in his head.
Those four little words tore at his heart, because he thought she meant as a brother, and she came to him for comforting that night because she was scared. Boy was he wrong. Like a square shape trying to fit in a circle hole. “Bitty…” He mumbled before he turned his head and stared into the wall. Man his whole life, just...sucked. And that was an understatement. First Wellsie, then Autumn and him couldn’t get along to save his fucking life so they separated. Now Bitty, a child he loved more than life itself, and look how that turned out. It felt like a fucking russian roulette game. He could beat Lassiter, he really could. He was almost gone, he could’ve tasted it, but no. That bright ball of girlish light had to save his life. Man all he wanted, was fucking peace. Was that so hard to ask for? Cringing, he turned over to his side and faced the wall, completely, letting a few strands of tears slide down his cheeks.
‘Please Scribe, just let it end...just let this shit end…’
Bitty:The night seemed to drag on. The kids were out like lights. Which gave her too much time to think. When she thought it was never good. All she thought about was Tohr and all that would do was make her heart hurt. Oh how she missed him. He could be here right now, watching their babies sleep. Then they could hold each other. That was the dream that she always had. A little family together. Not apart from one another. But together like she had growing up. She wanted her kids to have that with their father.
Looking over to the babies that lay asleep in their bed. Reaching over and through the slats of the bed. She touched each one of their feet. Laying her head back on the rocker she rocked in. Yeah it was time that they all come together. It was time to come clean and not run anymore. Running never did her any good or her children. She would tell Tohr and dad. Hoping that it wouldn’t be as bad as she feared.
She must have fallen asleep because before she knew it. The kids were awake and grabbing to each other. Smiling and getting up from her rocker. It was time to go. To leave and figure out how Tohr was doing. The babysitter got there on time. She helped getting the kids ready. Kissing them bye. They waved blew kisses to her. She blew them right back to them.
Running and jumping in the car. She called dad just as she left. It went to voicemail. She left him a message. “Daddy I’m just getting on the road. I’ll be there in a few hours. I love you dad, so very much. I’ll see as soon as I get there.” Hanging up the phone she drove in her GTO as fast as she could. She needed to get to Tohr. God please let him be ok.
The hours seemed to tick by slowly. But she got there as fast as she could. She wouldn’t tell anyone how fast she was really going. Dad would kill her knowing the speed. But she wouldn’t tell anyone. Pulling up to the mansion. Parking and jumping out of the car. She slowly walked up to the doors, ringing the bell. God she never thought she would be back here at all.
Rhage: He began to pace in front of the door, his hands resting at his hips. Rubbing his temples, massaging the skin in a circular motion. His head hurt. And not the ‘I’m dehydrated’ or ‘I’m overheating, but it’s definitely not a heat stroke’. Stress. That was it. He was stressed. His best friend and brother at arms serviced his daughter, and his daughter had gone M.I.A for about two years, give or take. Had it really been that long? And with no explanation, just packed her bags and left. As if by some miracle she was going to answer her phone and come back running? And all because of Tohrment? He respected his daughter’s space. If she wanted to have her own space, her own private life, he was okay with it. Yes, he called every now and then to check on her, see how she was doing, what she was doing. Was she safe? Where was she living? Make sure she at least was either underground, that maybe he could stop by and install some shutters to help keep the sun out, because the blackout curtains they sell at Wally-World, aka Walmart, just didn’t make the cut. She’d say she was fine and he took her word for it. As long as she was okay. No matter how much he missed her like hell.. Nothing he knew was what it seemed anymore. He felt so in the dark. Feeling on edge, his skin tight against his bones. ‘What the hell am I going to do,’ he thought. Course, what was he going to do if he did know what to do? Fuck. The woe-is-me. The internal bitching of ‘poor me, poor me. My baby left. My best friend slept with my baby. Mary refuses to talk. I refuse to talk. My relationship is going down the toilet. What do I do? What am I going to do?’ Did he really have to do anything? Did iit even have to be as complicated as he was making it?
He peered through the translucent window, at Tohrment. For a moment he appeared still, his mouth moving. Was the fucker conscience? Another tiny thought, the little voice screaming at him, saying, ‘Don’t you dare!’. The devil on his shoulder chuckling, rubbing its hands together mischievously, ‘No one would know. It’ll take her hours, maybe days, until she gets here. She won’t know. No one will know.’ The voice chiming in once again. ‘Don’t. She’ll never forgive you. No matter how much she loves you. She’ll never forgive you.’ The devil, ‘Don’t listen to that schmuck. He’s a pussy. Do you want to be a pussy? No. So do it. Be a man! Come on!’ Back and forth, back and forth, like an old married couple. Trying to outweigh the good and the bad. And yet, in the blink of an eye, it seemed he had already made up his decision. Fuck it. Pulling one of his black daggers from the straps tapped down to his chest, he pushed open the door and strode to the bedside and stopped. And waited. Fuck it. He was this far. With a surge, he brings the dagger down into Tohr’s abdomen.
Bitty: The mansion haunted her, a nightmare and sweet dream all rolled into one. Sweet memories of growing up, playing all around the mansion. Spending time with Tohr as she grew up. But on the darker side, there was so much pain. That she could feel her heart squeeze in her chest. She prayed someone would open the door, but then she hoped they didn’t. Knowing that it would be hard to come back here. Just not this hard. She was fucked. Running her hand over her face. Tohr was hurt and no matter how much it hurt her. This is what she had to do. Time to put on her big girl panties and do this. Steeling her shoulders ready for whatever was behind the large mansion doors.
The doors opened and there stood Fritz. He bowed to her, “Welcome home.” Smiling at the doggen that had treated her very well. “Hello Fritz, thank you.” Walking into the mansion, without a second thought she hugged him. “It’s good to be home.” He blushed when she embraced him. Stepping away from him, “Sorry, it’s just been so long and..I missed home.” Smiling softly and taking her bag. “Please make yourself at home. I’ll put your bag in your old room.” Nodding in thanks, “Thank you so much.” Bowing to her low. He walked off to put up her bag.
Where was dad? She wondered, thinking that he would be here to greet her. Didn’t he get her voicemail and text? Something nagged in the pit of her stomach. This wasn’t right. After years of being away he would be here to greet her. The nagging bothered her. And she always went with her gut. Because in the past it lead her right. It was her heart and mind that got in the way most of the time.
She needed to go and see Tohr. To see how he was doing. Her heart dropped at the thought of him being hurt. Laying in a hospital bed. Scribe knew that he wasn’t healing right. He wasn’t feeding like he needed to. He was letting himself die. That pissed her off and cut her deep. Did he really want to leave this world so fast? Did he feel he had nothing to live for? Because he did, he just didn’t know it yet. But that would come when he was healed up and stronger.
Taking a deep breath and letting it out. She walked over to the door that lead to the gym, class rooms and infirmary. Pushing in the code she stepped through the door. Letting it close behind her. God it felt like a lifetime ago that she walked these tunnels. Sneaking down to peek at the guys as they trained. Yeah there was many happy memories here. Her steps echoed around the tunnel as she made her way to infirmary. Her heart beat loud in her ears. Her steps not as fast as they once were. But she needed to get to Tohr. Needed to see that he was ok and at least alive.
Getting to the infirmary doors she stopped. The smell of blood tickled her nose. Why the hell was there blood? Maybe it was from his gun shot. Yeah that had to be it. After all these years and she was going to see him again. With a shaking hand she pushed open the door.
What greeted her, was out of some horror movie. At first she didn’t believe what she was seeing. No, her dad wouldn’t, that couldn’t be him. Standing over Tohr, her love and the father of her her children, with his dagger pushed into his stomach. No, no, no not her dad, not Tohr!
A blood chilling scream falls from her lips. “Dad!! No!!” Without a second thought she ran over to her dad. Trying to pull him off Tohr. “Dad, get the fuck away from him NOW!”A deep growl rolling through her chest. Anger boiled through her veins. Wrapping her arms around his waist she pulled back him. Trying with all her power to pull him away from Tohr. “Fuck dad! You can’t kill him!” He wasn’t even moving as she pulled on him. Letting go of him racing to the other side of the bed. Getting up on the side of the bed on the either side of Tohr. Growling low, “Now back the fuck up…and get away from him.” Her body moving into protect Tohr if her dad tried anything else. “I will rip you apart if you don’t back the fuck up now!” Her voice deadly. Keeping her eyes on her dad. She reaches behind her and into the pocket to grab the picture of the kids. Pushing it to him. Letting him see her, no their young. Praying he wouldn’t say anything. But he owed her so he better not say a damn word.
Rhage: Everything seemed to have happened so fast. He had been standing, silent and still, like an ocean. His resolve unwavering. He felt no remorse. This was right. This was best for him, for Bitty. For everyone. This was right. What wasn’t right? His daughter bursting through the doors, at that exact moment. Karma was a fucking bitch. And the little voice he had been trying to ignore manifesting into that annoying little angel with the stick up its ass. Might as well name the damn thing Lass. Little Lass standing on his shoulder, the devil on the other. Little Lass has his arms crossed, his head shaking in dismay, utter disappointment read on his annoying little face. The look of ‘I told you so, dumbass’. The little devil, Lil Omega. Tiny Megie, the bastard. Smug. ‘Ya did good, son. Ya did good.’ Like dhundh he did good. Did he feel remorseful? For stabbing the sonofabitch? No. But that didn’t mean he was okay with playing theater and have her watch it all happen.
He’d never seen her like this before. Okay. Semantics. She was all living her life whatnot elsewhere, but she’d never become so violent, so pissed off to the point where she was shaking. That’s when a tiny Wrath in his wraparounds and deep widow’s peak comes across his shoulder and shoves Tiny Megie off. Travelling over his other shoulder and punched Little Lass. Both disappear in a puff of white and black smoke. Tiny Wrath leans against his cheek, giving him the ‘Come on, bro. If you can’t make it right with him, make it right with her.’ Rhage had to scowl. This was one of those moments where you have the evil thoughts, the black, evil creature that tempts you to do the bad things. The angel, all that is good and right, the white, pure and tries to persuade you to make the right decisions. Wrath though? The grey area. Huh. Turns out he was listening to Mary go on about the whatcha-ma-call-it. She had actually said something along the lines of something smart, he never got what she was saying, but it was smart. And hot. Okay now wasn’t the time to reminisce.
Taken aback by her sudden change of mood, except it wasn’t really all that surprise…’Focus, Hollywood’, He scolded himself. She had climbed onto the bed and shield him from him. Him, Tohr, being shielded by his daughter, his Itty-Bitty, who has no training, wouldn’t even be able to lift him off his feet much less prevent him from moving his dagger deeper in Tohr’s gooey bits. But the...feral...Bitty was feral. Like a mama bear does with a cub. Protective. She was shielding him. Why the hell was she protecting him? Semantics aside, again. Wait. What was that? What was that that she was holding? Instinctively, he took the thing. It was a photo. Stunned. In silence. He had to look at her. Had to. Maybe this wasn’t some joke, to keep him from killing Tohr? To finish the job? This had to be some kind of sick joke. There, in the photo, was his Itty-Bitty, with three young. Two boys and a girl. Each looked just like her except for the eyes. The eyes were wrong. They were his eyes. Tohr’s eyes. He spent over a hundred years with the dude, he knows what he looked like down to the eyes. He swallowed the mass lump that seemed to have formed in the back of his throat out of nowhere.
“This...this is why, isn’t it? This is why...you’re here.”
Tohr: -Having to close his eyes, he fell back to sleep. Only, that was a bad thing, he kept dreaming of her. Her soft touch, her eyes, her long silky hair. The way they moved, talked, everything just...haunted him. Fucking perfect. Everything haunted him. What felt like all too soon, a sharp pain thrusted into his body, and he shot up, almost headbutting the guy standing over him, before a blood curdling scream shot through his ears and he turned his head. What the hell was she doing here? Blood dripped from his mouth before he blinked only to find her trying to fight off his attacker. “Don’t…” He breathed, coughing on his blood.
The light from the hallway reflected on the black dagger, it was one of his brothers? They tried to kill him? Just when he thought he seen it all. He wondered which brother it was. Closing his eyes softly, giving into the pain, he heard a voice, Rhage’s voice. “This...this is why, isn’t it? This is why...you’re here.”
Who was he talking about? Tohrment didn’t know, and at the time, he didn’t care. His whole body hurt, and he wasn’t sure if there was enough blood to drain. That’s when he started laughing. Oh the situation this turned out to be. His once-friend, goes all psycho and tries to kill him. Only to be stopped by someone else. Wasn’t he just the loved one? His shoulders shook, and his laughter stayed soft. He couldn’t take this anymore.-
“Just finish it…” -He whispered softly.-
Bit: Her voice low, “I’m here because...you called me, remember?” She wasn’t about to get into everything with him right now. Not with Tohr’s life on the line. When she felt that he wouldn’t step closer to him. Getting off the bed as fast she could. Looking at the black dagger of her father in Tohr’s stomach. God she didn’t know what to do, should she take out the dagger? It wouldn’t heal if she didn’t take it out. He was going to die if she didn’t do something anything.
The damage that her dad had done. She just couldn’t believe it. Pinning a glare at her dad. The man that would have laid his life down for his brother’s and his family. Had done something that she never thought possible. Tohr’s laughing brought her eyes back to him. Cupping his cheek softly, leaning closer to him, “Tohr, stay with me ok? I’m going to make this better.” Tears built in her eyes, pushing them back. Now was not the time to cry she had to save Tohr, all because of her dad. She would deal with her dad later.
Her heart broke at his whispered words, “Just finish it…” He was hurting so bad. She couldn’t let that happen. It would kill her if he wasn’t in this world anymore. Even if she wasn’t able to be with him. But a world without Tohr was a dark world. One that she didn’t want to live in. Their young had a right to know their daddy. And she would make damn sure that they had a daddy to meet and get to know.
Pushing everything from her mind except for the task at hand. She had to get the dagger out and try to stop the bleeding as best she could. Until help was able to get here. Fuck she didn’t even know where Uncle V was. This was on her for now. Wrapping both of her hands around the handle of the dagger. God she prayed that she didn’t do anymore damage than was already down to him. “Tohr I’m going to take out the dagger, ok?” She didn’t wait for his answer. Gripping the dagger as tight as she could, she pulled the dagger from him. It hurt her to hurt him like this. Throwing the dagger on the floor beside her feet. Hurrying and pressing her hand to the wound.
Looking over her shoulder at her dad, she cried out, “Go get Uncle V now!” Turning her back on her dad. She needed to get blood into him. That would at least start him to heal to a point. Bringing her wrist to her mouth, sinking her fangs into her flesh she bit it open. Keeping her other hand on his stomach she pressed her wrist to his mouth. “Tohr please drink, I need you to drink for me.” Leaning down to Tohr so he could hear her better. Her hot tears dripped on his chest. “Please don’t leave me Tohr, I need you to stay with me..please.” She prayed that she had gotten to him in time.
Rhage: Struck stupid. Dumbfounded. What else? A freaking vegetable. The lights were on but nobody's home kind of stupid. He didn’t know what to do except stand there, his hands at his sides, gripping the hem of his shirt because he didn’t know what to be pissed off at. His daughter, for defending the fucker, Tohr, for making him look bad, or himself, which should be a more logical option, for putting his daughter in this situation, because he felt like he had let her down. Deep down he should be choosing door number three. But then he remembered he wasn’t really all that logical. Lethal, yes. But that was war. He could be logical in the field because it wasn’t just his life on the line, it was his brothers who also counted on him to keep it all together. This? Nah. This wasn’t war. Not that kind of war anyways. Yet, as he stood there, his daughter took to Tohr’s side, tending to him. Bitty yelled at him, demanding V. And that’s exactly what he did. And he’d have to explain things to the dude. Damn. This wasn’t going to be good for him.
Rhage bolted through the double doors and down the hall through the infirmary wing, taking steps two at a time up the flight of stairs, making his way to the pit, V’s sanctuary, his playhouse. No one went down there except for V, Doc Jane, and Brian. Seriously, the kind of stuff V keeps down there could give Steve Jobs a hard-on. And he’s very antsy about who can stay around all that hardware. He’d gone down to the pit first, figured V didn’t go anywhere much within the manse except for his crib and quite possibly the pool room. When he couldn’t find him in his room, billiards room had to be it. Coming into the open room, V was down low, lining his shot, cop was up against the wall by a table, a glass of Lagavulin brought to his lips, watching V make his moves, stopping mid-way of another drink before noticing Rhage. V had brought the shooter back and thrusting forward, the balls clacking on impact with one another, knocking a solid in the pocket of one of the corners. Both eyed him expectantly.
“V, I need-Bitty needs you. It’s, uh, Tohr. Tohr’s dying, I think. I dunno. He’s bleeding out. Bitty’s with him right now. She needs you. To help Tohr.” Scribe, could he sound any lamer?
V was on it in a second, dropping the stick, Butch was on him like white on rice, pegging Hollywood with a suspicious glare. As they made their descent back to the infirmary, Butch was the one who asked the million dollar question, “You said he was bleeding? How did he get hurt, my man? What was doing?”
V’s ears perked in interest, stopping just outside Tohr’s room. “That’s what I’d like to know. ‘Cause he wasn’t in any kind of life-threatening situation, yeah? So, Hollywood, what happened? ‘Cause I sure as shit would like to know, how ‘bout you, cop?”
“Yeah, I would.” Butch answered his friend.
Shit. “Look, would you just get in there? Bitty- she asked for you, she needs you. You are pretty good at the surgical stuff like Doc Jane.” They were going to make him say it.
“So if I go in there, there’s not going to be anything that could be tied back to you? ‘Cause listen, Hollywood, I don’t know what your beef is with the guy, but we can see that it ain’t just nothin’. So if I go in there and do my thing and save his skin, there isn’t going to be a bullet or knife that can be traced back to you, true?”
His daughter was in there. She needed him to do this for her. She needs V. She needs him to save the father of her young. Fuck. He had to drag a hand down the sides of his face. “I stabbed him, with one of the Brotherhood daggers. Look, save the asschewing and get in there. Bitty needs you. It’s important. She needs you to save him, he’s already weak, he’s not going to survive much longer with us standing out here with our thumbs up our asses.”
Butch let out a curse, eyeing the ceiling. V’s electric blue eyes glowed a blue that even he hadn’t seen before, a hum from his gloved hand could give him a guess to how V was dealing with this news. He’d taken a step forward and paused, his chest rising and falling, the rises increasing.
“I’m going to go in there, save his ass, and then I’m going to Wrath and you can bet your ass that he will have yours. Cop, stay out here with him. Make sure he doesn’t do anything more stupid.” And that was that. Rhage stayed out in the hall, Cop as his cop. Might as well slap on the cuffs. V had disappeared inside. Time could only tell what was going on in that room. His daughter, a mahmen. He was a grandfather. And the sonofabitch he might have just sent unto the Fade was the father. He nearly cost those young their father, they could grow up not knowing their father. Yeah. That seemed to be a common tune within the Brotherhood. Tohr’s old man was one of them. He was about to do the same to him, running a vicious cycle.
He wasn’t sure why he was praying, he didn’t even deserve to be praying to Her after what he just did, seemed like the only thing he could do now.
Tohr: -So close, oh so close. A soft hand touched his cheek, and was begging to him to let her feed him her blood. To sustain his. He growled and weakly pushed her away. He didn’t want to be saved, not now. Not when he was so close to the fade himself. So close to his Wellsandra. Fuck. Tears burned, as he turned his head from her blood even though his stomach chewed viciously through his insides for another taste of her.- “Leave…me...alone…” -He whispered before closing his eyes, but opened them again when the door swung open and the sound of shitkickers pounded close to him. Inhaling softly, he smelled turkish tobacco. Fuck, it was V.-
“Are...you...here...to….finish?” -He asked weakly.-
As usual, V didn’t answer. Walking close, he gripped Tohr’s johnny and ripped the shit in half, revealing a lot more horrendous sight to Bit. Man couldn’t this get any more embarrassing. Tohr knew he looked bad, the dagger wound made it worse. Cursing V went over to the phone to call Jane. He didn’t pay attention, his tears slowly fell. So close to Wellsie, so close to being done.-
“V...don’t…” -He silently pleaded, knowing V would hear him. And he did, his icy stare turned on him and he growled menacingly before he turned to Bitty.-
“Has he fed? This shit looks bad, but it doesn’t look like it’s healing at all.” -Completely ignoring Tohr, he waited for her answer.-
Bitty: Her heart shattered when he tried to push her away. The rage of seeing her own dad..she couldn’t even thinking about that right now. She would revisit that little bit later. Right now she needed to get Tohr to take some blood. He wouldn’t last if he didn’t. And she couldn’t do that to their young. They needed their dad, fuck she needed him. Even after the years that passed she still needed him. Sighing her wrist was starting to heal some. Damn it! He wasn’t even strong enough to bite into her flesh. She would...
Hearing the door open and Uncle V walk through the door. Oh thank the Scribe he was here. Her tear soaked eyes looked to him. Wanting to protect Tohr, but there was no reason to, not from him. He was here to save Tohr not kill him. Her body relaxed. As he ripped his shirt, her eyes looking to his stomach. Horrified at the site of the wound. Not knowing what was done by the bullet or the dagger. There was so much blood. All she could was stare.
Uncle V’s voice snapped her out of it. Hot tears ran down her cheeks. Whisper, “No...but he will.” Moving as fast as she could. Grabbing dad’s dagger up off the floor. Since he wasn’t able to bite down, well he wouldn’t bite into her flesh. She would get blood into him one way or another. Taking the sharp dagger sunk into her flesh with ease. Starting at the wrist, running down to mid forearm. Pushing as deep as she could. Her blood flowing freely. Not saying a word, grabbing Tohr’s chin. Opening his mouth she pressed her wrist to his mouth. Letting the blood flow into his mouth. At least some of her blood would get into his system.
V watched as she cut into herself. As he talked on the phone to Jane. “I need you down here now.”
His words become a echo to her. This couldn’t be happening. She had lost one to many people in her life. It would break beyond repair if she lost him too. The tears freely falling. All she knew to do was make sure to give him blood, that’s all. And he didn’t even want that from her. Was it so bad to feed from her? To let her help him, just like he had helped her so many times in the past?
Jane hung up the phone as fast as she could. V having told her what happened. Cursing she rushed to get there. This was a mess and it was going to get worse before it even got better. Not long after V called her. Without a word she rushed into Tohr’s room. Slipping into Dr. mode. “V, I need you to ready Tohr for surgery.” Walking over and she starts to clean her hands. Without even looking at back she said to Bitty. “Bitty, I need you to keep your wrist to his mouth until we start. I’ll need you on stand by as well. In case this takes a turn for the worse. While we work on him.”
Bitty nodded her head. There wasn’t anything for her to say. Uncle V rushed around to everything that Aunt Jane needed and ready. Bitty was to scared to move from where she stood. Time seemed to slow down to a crawl. Please Scribe let him come through this. Don’t take him away from me or our kids. She prayed to the Scribe, not knowing if it would do any good. But she would do anything at this point.
Soft hands rested on your shoulders. “Come on Kiddo..” Uncle V was gentle with her, as he tried to get her to move. “Let’s get your arm wrapped up and let Jane do what she needs to.” Letting him lead her away from Tohr. She wouldn’t be any help, not right now anyway. Jane moved in, and Bitty didn’t even see what she was doing. Her eyes locked on Tohr’s face. Not even feeling her blood flow her arm. Leading her away, “His...his..going to be ok...right Uncle V?” Her red rimmed eyes looked to V. “He can’t die Uncle V he just can’t.” Her body shaking like a leaf. “He can’t leave...me...he just..can’t.”
V worked to get her arm wrapped as fast as he could. Not knowing what to say to Bitty. This was all just a fucked up mess. “We will do everything we can, kiddo.”
Looking up to Uncle V as she sat in a chair. Not even remembering having sat down. Seeing concern in his eyes. “Please….save..him.” Her voice breaking each time that she spoke. Tearing her eyes away from him she watched Jane work on Tohr. Not wanting to leave the room. V squeezed her shoulder and went over to help Jane.
This wasn’t happening. No it couldn’t be real, Tohr wasn’t hurt. Her dad wasn’t the reason he was needing to be saved right now. He wouldn’t leave her. She knew deep down, he couldn’t leave her. He promised to always be there for her. He always kept his promises, always.
He was going to lose it. He was absolutely going to lose it. Except, didn’t he already with the whole stabbing thing and nearly killing a Brother? And Wrath was going to find out eventually. Rhage had to sigh at the thought. He was fucked. Why couldn’t he just think things through? In his defense, he’d never been one to be rational and in his defense, this was his daughter, his princess, he was supposed to be her knight in shining armor and protect her from all the weirdos and the boys whose only concern is how they were going to get in her pants. He’d done a damn good job. Until now. Nature had taken it’s course. It was too late now. There’s no way to go back in time no matter how much he wished he could. Help her. Not now. Not currently. He didn’t regret that. Maybe. Dunno. He still had a lot of shit ahead of him. Wrath was going to have his ass and when he was through, Bitty was going to come at him for round two. And then there was that other thing. He hasn’t been able to tell anyone. Even he was still unsure what to make of that. And Mary? Ever since he had had a breakdown and nearly gotten himself killed, a loss of communication happened and Mary, thinking she was fulfilling their promise to each other, went unto the Fade to meet with him. And there was no take backs. She was gone. He hurt like hell, but he would move on eventually, right? He didn’t really feel all that optimistic.
He began to pace again, wiping his mouth occasionally out of nervous habit. He couldn’t stand it. Standing out in the hallway with one of his good friends. Although he might have lost another friend from the way Butch was staring at him. He just couldn’t stand it any longer. Rhage pegged him hard.
“Can I help you, cop? I’m staying here. I’m being a good boy. Could you stop looking at me like that?”
“Like what?” Butch asked.
“Like I’m a convicted felon that you need to persecute.”
“Probably because you should be behind bars who comes to us saying that one of our brothers is bleeding, how am I supposed to look at you, man? What did you do? And tell the friggen truth.”
Rhage sighed, “You want the truth? Fine. Here’s the truth.” He paused to think about his next choice of words, adding on a bit of sarcasm. “I stabbed him because I’m an evil sadistic s.o.b who gets off on hurting others. Hence the sadism. Should I get it framed for you or is that good enough for you? “
Butch crossed his arms over his chest. “Then why don’t I believe you? See, you probably don’t remember it but I used to be an actual detective, and right now my bullshit meter is pegging pretty fucking high. Why is that, Hollywood?”
“I don’t know. That’s your freaking problem. So do what you will.” Reaching into his back pocket and unwrapped a tootsie roll and pop it into his mouth.
Bitty: Watching Aunt Jane work on Tohr. Was something out of the movies. It was something that she never thought she would see. This wasn’t real, it couldn’t be real. But the throbbing in her arm made it real. He was fighting for his life. Not far from where she sat. She wanted to stay, she wanted to go. It was to hard to watch them work on him. Not knowing what would happen to him. All of it made her sick to her stomach. Needing to get out, at least just to breath.
Standing up from her chair. She walked as fast as she could out of the room. But what greeted her as she stepped outside his room. Was the last person that she wanted to see right now. Not after what he did to Tohr. There stood dad, with a damn tootsie pop in his mouth. Like his brother wasn’t in there fighting for his life in the room behind her. A mask fell into place on her face. She was pissed off at him at the moment. Not saying a word to him.
“Thank you for being here Uncle Butch. Its nice to know that Tohr has some brothers that care about him.” Not caring what her dad thought at the moment.
“Anytime Bit.” His accent coming through.
Going over to stand by him, she leaned on him. Needing a little support herself right now. Everything was closing in on her in that room. Not that it was much better out here. But she could breathe a little bit better.
Rhage: What the hell was taking so long? Didn’t they have things well in order now? Fixing Tohr up, whatever. He couldn’t have left that deep of a wound in his abdomen, did he? He honestly didn’t really know, V was the one who made them, their sharpness could pierce their squishy bits and puncture a lung or something. Apparently that made him a bad guy for wanting that to actually happen.
Rhage was up against the hall, his molars working the tootsie. He pushed himself off as a reaction to the doors finally swinging open. Maybe he would finally get some clarity on the status of Tohr and whether or not he was going to dance the mambo all the way down the halls and into the kitchen, through the doggen’s quarters, the twist in Wrath’s study, the running man in the pool area. Yeah. Happy-happy-joy-joy.
It was Bitty who had come through. For a split second he was overcome with joy to see her, forgetting about how pissed she was at him. Stabbing her man. Her baby-daddy. Fuck. Her not even bothering to look at him told him that he was right to assume she was still upset. Rhage kind of deflated, his shoulders sagging. Did he dare to even try to talk to her? His first attempt sucked ass. His mouth gaped open like some fish struggling to breathe. Second attempt, better than the first with a cleared throat and a “Uh. Um.” Which wasn’t really any words, still sounds. The fuck was up with him? Guilt? But he didn’t feel guilty over Tohr. But he hated that now he’s put himself in this situation. He didn’t know how to talk to her now. Time for attempt number three.
“Itty-Bitty. Hey. How,uh, how’s it going? I, uh, I mean I know how it’s going, it’s just - how’s it going for you? Wait. I know that too.” Damn. What the hell was he saying? What was he trying and failing to say?
Taking a deep breath,“How are you holding up? Tohr? What’s going on? Any news?” Like he cared how Tohr was?
“How ‘bout them sox? Want some mint chocolate chip later? Maybe we could sit down and watch some movies? Lay down some blankets in our pj’s? Build a fort? I don’t know.” He fell silent. Almost afraid of what she’ll say.
Bitty: Her eyes fixed on the doors ahead of her. Scared that Uncle V or Aunt Jane would come out and tell them Tohr was lost. But she wanted either one of them to come out. Saying everything was just fine and he was going to be ok. From what she saw in that room. He wasn’t going to be ok. Wanting to cry, scream or fuck even hit something. But she didn’t move from her spot. To scared to move. This was driving her crazy.
When she heard her dad talk, at first she didn’t even look at him. Wanting him to suffer just like she was suffering in this moment. Crossing her arms over her chest. The man that raised her, that loved her when she felt like she had no one else in the world. Had turned into a monster. Hurting the one man that she loved with all her heart and soul. Her dad had become someone that she didn’t know anymore. She tried her best to ignore him. But his third try to talk to her. Broke her heart. So much she wanted to just run into his arms. To have him hold her like he use to. But she kept herself put. As the tears burned the back of her eyes. She fought to keep them at bay.
Not able to take it anymore. Pushing off the wall that she had her back pressed against. Stepping out from beside of Uncle Butch. Glaring at him, as anger and tears filled her eyes.”Don’t you dare itty-bitty me, Dad!”Pointing her finger at him. “How do you think he is doing dad?” Her finger pointing back to the doors behind her.Trying to keep her anger in check. “His in there fighting for his life! They are still working on him!” Taking a step to him. “Do you feel better now, dad? Does what you did give you some kind of twisted sense of peace?” The more she talked the more her anger grew. Not even realizing that the tears weren’t stopping. “I never thought in my life you would or could do that to someone you care about! All because you’re pissed at him for whatever reason! Because whatever reason you have it's not good enough to hurt him like you did!!”
Standing in front of him her hands balled into fists. Without even thinking about her arm or that she might not herself. Rearing her bandaged hand back she hits him square in the chest. “Dad how could you!” Pain shooting through her arm but she didn’t give a damn. Hitting him again. Screaming at him, “The man I love wouldn’t have hurt him like that! My dad wouldn’t hurt me like that!” Over and and over again she hit him in the chest.
Pounding on his chest, the anger she had built up started to come down. Falling into him, sobbing as her forehead laid on his chest. Her body shook with her sobs. Not able to fight anymore in this moment.
Rhage: Blink. Blink. Time stood still for him whilst he waited for the storm to pass. It didn’t. It was just getting started. The proverbial skies had darkened, the wind racking the trees this way and that. Lightning shooting across the sky. Her sobs were the booming thunder in the background. He did this. He did this to her. He stood against her onslaught because nothing was better than just taking it like a man. Let her get it out. She was pissed. A few months ago when he’d lost his Mary, he was exactly where she was now. Except then, he might as well have stabbed Mary with his dagger as well. He might as well have killed her. Her, someone whom he thought would be with him forever. His soulmate. The one person he loved. Bitty was no different. She was here, crying for the man she loved. Rhage did this to her. To them both.
She continued to cry and yell and that’s when she really handed it to him what with the hitting. Nevermind that his body was as hard as a rock and tall as a mountain, his heart was taking the punches. It killed him to see her like this. And to bring up the past while Mary was still alive and had finally taken her in when they thought no one else would come claim her, they were eager to take her in and raise her as if she was born from his and Mary’s flesh and blood. He would take it. He would take the pain for her if it meant it would ease her, even for the slightest inch, that this would make her feel better. Dammit. He really wished he was a pre-trans. Than at least his body would be weak and smaller and she could bruise him and cry out of vengeance for wronging her.
He didn’t know what to say. Once again. Dammit! Why couldn’t he muster the words? But he did know, didn’t he? But it was going to hurt her even more. And he couldn’t bear to keep hurting her. Not like this. Not like the rate at which things were spiraling downward. Like Alice jumping down the rabbit hole. Only now he was Alice. And the hell-hole he was in was this cycle of torment he happened to inflict on his daughter. But she wasn’t the one who was supposed to get hurt.
“Why could I do it? You put yourself in my shoes. Try being a member of the Brotherhood, the race’s most strongest elite warriors, you come close to each other, like an actual band of brothers. You stick by one another, shoot the shit, bond over stupid shit, we are best friends. And then, you find out, that one of your best friends, who’s sane, been with you since the beginning, who cleaned your mess, had your back, chewed your ass for doing stupid shit like walk out in the middle of an ambush with no guns. Actually, both V and Tohr did that. Not the point. Your best friend whom you’ve known forever, whom you trust to even watch your daughter when she was just a little girl, and then find out that that little girl whom you’ve promised to never let go of or never let her down because you promised to her dead mother that you would do everything and anything you had in your powers to keep her alive, for her, for Mary, and she grows up and goes into her needing, which is fine, that’s nature, I can’t control that, but your best friend goes behind your back and services her.
And then!” He paused, his voice beginning to rise. “And then, that said daughter runs away. Without telling me where she’s going or why she’s going, only to come back! And springs the news that she left because she was pregnant with said friend’s young! Tell me, Bitty! How the fuck else am I supposed to react! You tell me! Tell me, Bitty. What could I do when the two most important people to me betray me.”
He felt like walking away. Parent yells at the kid, tells them they are disappointed, and walks away. Except deep down, he supposed he had no one to really blame
Bitty: She didn’t know what came over her. Never in her life had she hit someone. She vowed to herself that she would never lay a hand on someone. Not wanting to be like the bastard that donated his sperm to bring her life. And she had went and broke that vow in a moment of anger. What monster had she become? It bothered her on a deep level. She had hit the one man that loved her and raised her to be the woman that she is day. This wasn’t right, nothing about this was right. And she was in the middle of it, the reason for it. It made her sick to her stomach.
When he spoke, she listened. Stepping away from him. It broke her heart to hear what he had to say. Yes, it was hard to hear the words. To see the hurt that she had caused him. What could she do to make it right to him? Was there anything that she could say? She didn’t believe that there was. But this was her dad, even though she was pissed. She knew that she had to make it right or at least give him what he should have had 3 years ago. She owed him that much.
Her voice raw and broken, “I couldn’t...I couldn’t be here. It would have broke my heart over and over again. I ran, I ran as far as I could. It was the only thing I knew to do.” She tried to wipe the tears from her eyes. It didn’t help. “I’m sorry you feel that I did something so horrible. But when you love someone so much. And they don’t love you the same. It kills a part of your soul. So yes I did leave, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. But I...just...couldn’t do it. I wasn’t strong enough, hell I still don’t think I’m strong enough.” Sighing softly, “Dad, I never meant to hurt you. But I was in pain. He did nothing wrong, he didn’t plan on doing that. But as a friend he put me out of pain. And trust me when I say this. It's all on me not him. So you want to be pissed at someone. You be pissed at me for it. He's your brother, as you said. I shouldn’t come between that bond. Because I was stupid and young. Thinking I mattered more than I did.” Placing her throbbing hand over her heart.
“You think I knew before I left! That I just kept something like to myself while I was here?!?!” That pissed her off, “I didn’t know! It was until I ran away, and a month or so later I found out! Do you think so low of me, dad?” That wounded her deeply. “I may have not said a damn word to anyone. And hell forbid I make any damn mistakes in my life. But damn it dad I never wanted to hurt you, hurt Tohr, my children, anyone! So forgive me for being young and stupid, for making mistakes. But that mistake I made. Those children, your grandchildren are a blessing and one blessing that I’ll always, always be grateful for. Never, will I say sorry for having them.”
Letting her hands to fall to her side. “Dad, I love you. I know everything is fucked up. But don’t take it out on Tohr. I’m here now, you can take it out on me. I’m the one, yell and scream at me. Get everything out.” Stepping slowly to him. “I want my dad back. The man that always held my heart first. My very first love, the man that taught me to drive, showed that the world wasn’t a scary place. That when I scared and things became too much for me. My dad would take me away and let me know it's ok. We’ll get through this together. That is my dad, the one I’ve loved first. I’ll always love, forever.”
Standing before him raw and exposed. Opening to him in ways that she never did after her heart was broken. She laid everything bare to him. He now knew what happened. And she felt better and worse for it.
Rhage: This time it was her turn to speak. Working great so far versus the talking over each other bit. They were adults. Well, him was most of the time. God, did it have to hurt this much? Why was it some cosmic joke or whatever where you always hurt the ones you loved? Simple. Because in the end, no matter how much you hurt them, they loved you so much that they forgave you. Still, it was pretty shitty to think about. Think of all the times ‘thing one’ punches ‘thing two’ in the face, and ‘thing two’ says “It’s no big deal. It’s cool.” Because they loved them. His heart felt like it was breaking all over. Re-pieced, and then shattered again with a freakin’ hammer. His chest felt heavy, unaware that his vision had become blurry until he had to rub at his lids and what do ya know? He was crying. Never in a million years did he think that he would be in this moment at this time with her. He never gave it much thought because he didn’t think he had to. Together. They were supposed to be together. Like peas and carrots. Apples and bananas. They were monkey’s in pajamas. Somehow they just fit, ever since she had come into his and Mary’s lives. Something in the universe had finally righted itself, that this was meant to be. Her coming into his life was right. It made him feel whole. And ever since she had left, it hadn’t been the same. Not like he’d ever expect her to stay in Caldwell for the rest of her life, but...not knowing where she was, it killed him. It felt like he had lost Mary all over again.
“And you don’t think mentioning that ‘Hey, dad, I need some time for myself’ or how about a ‘I’m actually expecting’, or jesus Bitty, I don’t know, something along those lines because it’s not like I would have left you to just fucking suffer all by yourself. I know it’s something you’re probably used to, taking care of things by yourself. But I would have thought since your mother and I raised you, that you would learn that you didn’t have to do things by yourself anymore. No, instead, I would have taken you to Havers and he has drugs that can put you at ease during your needing. Ask Marissa. She would be drugged every time she went into it before Beth came into the picture, when she and Wrath were promised.
And I’m not just faulting you, because it takes two to create young, Bitty. But what I’m more disappointed in is the fact that you felt like you couldn’t trust in me to talk to me. Would that have changed my reaction? No, probably not. But then at least I knew what the fuck it was that I was getting myself into. I’m hurt that you couldn’t come to me and tell me what was wrong. How do I know if you were alone trying to bring your young into this world? Were you all alone? Didn’t you want me at all? Was I that bad, or still am I bad enough parent that you didn’t want me in your life? Did I not love you enough or tell you every day or every chance I could to tell you that I loved you?” He had to pause to get in a breath.
“I would have done everything I could for you. I would drop everything at a hat if it meant getting you the best care you deserve. I may not be the perfect father figure, but I’m yours. You may not be a kid in the eyes of those rats without tails, but you are still my kid. You are still a kid to me, whether you are eighty-one or three hundred like Wrath. You will always be my little girl, whether you like it or not. Because after I lost...after I lost my Mary, I think a part of me died. It did. She was my everything. My heart. My soul. My best friend. She was someone I wanted to wake up to in the morning and crawl into bed with at the end of the day. And it’s my stupid mistakes that costed me her life. So you’re not alone there, kiddo. My heart hurts, even still to this day. And ever since my fuck up costed me the love of my life’s life, I made a promise to her. I promised that I wouldn’t let anything happen to you. And I did my damnedest best to do right by you. And still I don’t think it was enough. Because you didn’t trust me enough to let me in.” Exhale. Holy shit, he had held in so much air.
Over across the way, Butch was still up against the wall, arms crossed, same old, same old. Except this time, he was gaping like the fish out of water. His jaw practically unhinged to the floor, eyes slightly widened. Catching a big secret. Or something to that effect. He seemed to have noticed, and Rhage did too, that no one else was speaking. He had a moment to recover himself, trying to slide into his old detective habits, putting on his best poker face which was probably the dumbest thing he could do. Rhage had opened the can of worms and admitted to the whole thing! Right in front of him! Man. If only it was that easy when he had been back at the station, his old life would have jumped for joy. And he didn’t even have to ruffle the guy’s leathers. Now? Sorrow. He knew what this would mean for the asshole. Still, didn’t mean he wasn’t going to tell anyone. People had a right to know and this was the King’s sanctuary. You didn’t piss or shit without him knowing. Wrath was going to want to know about this incident with Rhage stabbing Tohr. And if Butch didn’t tell him, it was going to come bite him on the ass as well. No. He didn’t like having to do this to his friend. But the man of justice grilled inside him needed to see this thing through.
Doing the hardest thing that he never thought he would ever have to do, Butch strode over to Rhage, shuffling so he was behind him, the sound of metal clinking upon impact, brushing against one another. “Rhage, Hollywood, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of...Wrath. Er. You have the right to an attorney, if you don’t have one, one will be appointed for you. Do you understand these rights as I read them to you now?”
Rhage nodded, pinning his arms behind his back for the guy. “Can I say goodbye to Bitty first, cop?”
“Make it quick.” Butch replied back.
Rhage took Bitty’s hands and kissed both before bringing his arms around her, hugging her close as he could, resting his cheek atop her head, not minding the little wisps that would catch in his eyes. “No matter what happens, you will always be my Itty-Bitty. I love you, Lizabette. To the moon and back. I would do anything for you. We all make mistakes. It’s what makes us normal. And no matter what happens to me, I’ll always be with you. This is my mistake. And now I have to face the consequences. Wrath will know eventually. This is for the best. But if I could make a small request? Bring some strawberries and whipped cream. I’m hungry. And I haven’t had a strawberry in forever. Don’t get the ones from Safeway, they’re too expensive. Or Walmart. They always tend to have mold. Okay, Safeway might be my best option.”
Pulling back, he stopped to kiss her forehead and stepped back, resuming the position. The cuffs came around his wrists and he was hauled down the hallway, back towards the entrance, Butch leading him at his heel. All Rhage could think about how this was going to be a long, long, very long night. And it was only getting started.
