Noble Deeds || Zaniah & Andy
Andy knew that the woman in front of him had no reason to trust him. Yes he might be who he said he was, but that didn’t mean he was on her side or Em’s side. After what he put together of what happened to Em he was sure a large part of that mistrust was well founded. Though the FBI seemed to think it had to do with money and blackmail there was no doubt in Andy’s mind it was because the judge had become violent and Em was protecting herself. Andy continually kicked himself for not doing more to get Em off the streets. He had failed his sisters and it was one reason why he worked for the justice system, he had to do something, change the course of his karma somehow. Yet here he stood in a grocery store because he had once again failed. The more he thought about it the more he realized there were less and less reasons for these women to trust him and despite the intent of his heart he wasn’t good at saving anyone. In truth he thought, what kind of help am I really?
Andy was also thinking about the fact that though he had asked to meet Zee many times Em never let it happen. Perhaps if they had met she might trust him more, even though now he wasn’t sure he trusted himself. He never understood why she didn’t want it to happen, and always had an excuse as to why it didn’t happen. She was nice about it, but he could she was firmly convinced that it would not happen, because she wouldn’t let it happen. Drawn from his thoughts when Zee started speaking of Em not being there but then using us he tried to slow down the thoughts and words that wanted to escape. Reminding himself that attacking this woman would get him nowhere. Whether he trusted himself or not he was here, he had to at least try. Andy couldn’t help but bite back the smile when she cursed and crinkled her nose, at least she didn’t go on the defensive.
Arching a brow at her question he nodded, “She did, why does that surprise you?” Realizing it was because that was a big part of Em’s life that she didn’t share he gave a small nod. “It’s like she told me in the first session and truthfully it was very recent she felt comfortable enough to even say it, but yes she told me.” Once again he had to bite back a smile when she jutted out her hip. Andy could see why Em loved this woman so much. Letting out a sigh he moved a little closer so she could hear him even though his voice dropped. “I don’t have the FBI here because I don’t think they have her best interest at heart. I know she didn’t do anything wrong. Luckily they let me see the file from the case, and what I saw was self-defense.” Looking around to make sure no-one was watching or listening, “I think Wallace became angry and in that anger he lashed out at her and maybe more than physically, which honestly, then he deserved what he got.” Surprised he had said that he spoke again quickly to cover it up, “Look, I know that you don’t want to believe me, but I am here to help, if I can. I want to at least try.”
He nodded and leaned back into the shelves a little. “I know you have a lot of reasons not to trust me, and considering who Wallace was I can see why and I don’t really have a reason.” Sighing he ran a hand through his hair and looked down. “The only thing I can say is that …” Pausing he looks up at her. “My sisters have a lot in common with Em. They were assaulted by someone they trusted and ran away. I couldn’t save them, couldn’t do anything for them. I need to do something and maybe it’s helping Em.” Standing up he turns to leave, “I’ll go if you want, but I will help if you let me.”
Zaniah was taken aback. Here stood before her seemingly the only person on the planet who figured out where Em had run off too, a man who was a very real threat and yet he appeared so innocent. There was a kindness in his eyes but sadly that only made him scarier because too many times in their pasts had Em and Zee both been burned by people who should have been trustworthy. It never really bothered them that cops and judges used prostitutes. It was those who made not-so-idle threats to get the prostitutes to do what they wanted. How easy would it be for Andy to say let me help you and then say he’d only keep his mouth shut if the girls could be used to fulfill some sick fantasy. It wasn’t beyond the realm of reality and that was a sad, sad truth. Still he seemed so convincing outside of the fact that Zee was feeling pretty confident that the good doctor had a crush on her best friend. He’d denied it but that didn’t change Zee’s perspective.
“I am surprised she told you, yes. It takes a lot for Em to open up about anything. She must really like you.” That statement felt like lead in Zee’s stomach. There was always this small hope in the back of her mind that she or Em would find someone who loved them with all their flaws. It wasn’t that Zaniah thought that should happen to her first only that she knew she’d lose Em in some way if it were her best friend first. Em never did anything half-heartedly and that was a little scary. If Em fell for Zee the way Andy had apparently fallen for her there may not be a need to keep Zee around. She’d have to head back to Long Beach alone and wonder what became of her friend. That idea was rather silly and at the worst possible moment, as Andy was talking about his sisters and the tragedy they survived, Zaniah let out a small snicker.
Eyes widening, Zee’s mouth closed with an audible snap as she tried her best to let Andy see she was not really paying attention to him. “Your what?” Her hand covered her mouth slightly. “I’m so sorry. I wasn’t laughing at what you said. I am just trying to figure this all out.” She realized as she said it that people were starting to gawk. Neither of them were from around there and Zaniah certainly stood out in a crowd. Andy in his nice suit and they probably looked like a parolee being caught by their parole officer doing something she should not have done. Zaniah, of course was the parolee. “Look, let me check out and we can talk outside. We are starting to draw attention that I really don’t want.”
She took a step back and grabbed her cart forgetting about anything else she really wanted to buy and turned toward the registers. “You can follow if you think I am going to run away,” there was a slight smirk on the woman’s face. For Zaniah it was nearly impossible to not flirt, even if she didn’t mean it. That part of her personality was so ingrained it just came naturally as she threw the doctor her best come hither look for him to simply follow and not ask any more questions in the dead center of the foreign supermarket. When she reached the check out she gave a nod to see he had in fact followed her. “How was your drive, Doc?” Hoping to kill any ideas the locals may have been brewing.
