Choices

Jade MacCarthy Dec 24 2005, 11:30 PM Post #1

She woke with a start, and felt his arm around her sighing softly she snuggled in closer to him. He was so warm and she felt so safe in his arms. She watched him as he slept the rise and fall of his chest, the way his hair was tousled. She turned her head and looked at the alarm clock, it was 4 am. She needed to go, she had doctor’s appointment in New Orleans and needed to shower and change before the appointment.

Slipping out from his arms he stirred and she froze not wanting to wake him. As he settled down she moved off the bed. Finding her clothes she dressed quietly, she planned on showering at home. Walking into the kitchen she looked for something to leave a note on, finding it she wrote:

Jake,
Last night was wonderful and leaving this morning was hard. I didn’t want to wake you since you were sleeping so peacefully. I have a doctor’s appointment this morning. I’ll talk to you later.

Yours,
Jade

She folded the note and walking back into the bedroom placed it on the pillow she had used and leaning over placed a soft kiss on his forehead and left quietly.

Driving home her thoughts were about him, how he made her feel when they were together. She could still feel his touch and a smile played on her lips. It then hit her that she hadn’t really thought that much about Ren and guilt flowed through her. Part of her felt as though she was betraying him, but then she knew he would want her to find happiness. “Ren, I hope you know you will always be in my heart, but, I can’t be alone.”

Pulling into driveway she noticed a light was on in the front room. Parking the car she closed her eyes, this was not a good sign. Turning off the engine she stepped out of the car and made her way to the front door. Taking a deep breath she entered the house. He was there in the front room sitting in his chair.

“Where you been girl?” her father demanded, she could see he had been drinking and she braced herself for what was to come.

“I was out with a friend.” She stood her ground.

“This the same friend you had here? The one who’s jacket I found layin’ on da floor ?” he growled at her.

“Yes”, she wouldn’t lie to him hoping the truth would stave him off.

“Jest what were ya doin’wit a man?” he was trying to stand his voice raising.

‘That’s non of your business, but if you must know it was a date.” She tried to change the subject, ”We had an agreement when I moved back home that you wouldn’t drink.” She looked at him as he moved towards her.

He crossed the room quicker than she had anticipated and grabbed her by the hair twisting it around his fingers. He leaned down and sniffed. “You smell like sex!” He jerked her head to the side.

She cried out, “What if I did have sex there is nothing wrong with that,” He raised his hand slapped her face leaving a welt on her cheek.

“Stop Dad you’re hurting me.” Her hand went to her face as she tried to move away but he tightened his grip in her hair.

“I should have never let ya move to New York, look what it did t’ya.” His hand jerked her head up so he could look into her face. He smelled like stale liquor and cigarettes. “I reckon it’s time you know’d the rules” Her hands were on his hand trying to pry his fingers from her hair.

He raised his free hand, “You are living under mah roof and ya will follow muh rules. Do you hear meh?.” His hand closed into a fist and struck her jaw making her head jerk away from him. She cried out in pain, he had never hit her. “There will be no men in this house, ya will not whore your body and disgrace me.” He pulled her up and hit her in the mouth cutting her lip, blood poured from the opening. He released her hair and she stumbled back wards her eyes wide.

“You tryin’ ta get away from meh girl?” She was speechless as he grabbed her by the neck and hit her over and over. She sunk to the floor and curled up into a ball her arms protecting her face. “No….Stop daddy, please stop.” She kept the tears from her voice, tears only made it worse she remembered her brothers saying. He kicked her once in the side and she saw stars, she stopped moving, looking down at her un-moving body he started muttering and stumbled off leaving her laying in a heap on the floor.

She waited until she could hear him snoring then began to move but had to move slowly. The pain in her side hurt too much to move fast. She made it to her room where she climbed into the shower, letting the hot water pour down her body. Stepping out she toweled off and moved to stand in front of the mirror and looked at her body. There was a dark bruise on her right side near the ribs and when she touched it she winched in pain. She had several bright red welts on her face and a fat lip. Her left eye was swollen and she knew it would be black and blue. Silent tears ran down her face. Turning from the mirror she dressed. A pair of old comfortable jeans and a sweatshirt, carefully she pulled her hair into a ponytail and slipped on a pair of tennis shoes.

As quietly as she could she slipped out the front door. There was no way she could go to her doctor’s appointment now. She got into her car and started to drive, she didn’t know where she was going. When she finally pulled of the road she was at the beach. Sitting in the car she tried to figure out what to do. Pulling out her cell phone she looked at the incoming calls list. She found what she thought was Jakes number and dialed it. She laid her head on the headrest and prayed he would answer.

Jake Steel Dec 25 2005, 06:36 PM Post #2

Jake was sitting in a rather uncomfortable wooden chair, the angular supports digging harshly into the muscles of his upper back. In front of him, sitting on top of the coffee house table was a mocha hazlenut cappuccino, the steamed and frothed milk making a crown of bubbley white atop his morning wake-up. To one side of the mass produced coffee cup was Jake's little black book. Every since he had realised there were memories missing from his mind, he'd taken up the habit of writing down whatever happened to come into his mind.

Currently his pen was scribbling away at something that had occured to him while he strolled down the street to the coffee house. He'd recalled a memory from the time he'd known alot of influential people. He seemed to recognise a familiar face within his mind, the face of a man whom he had worked with. He didn't remember what job he'd done with him, only it had been dangerous.

'Monroe' the pen etched on the paper, though Jake wasn't sure if it was a first name, or last name. It was frustrating, knowing that something was missing, but not knowing what it was.

He felt the vibrations first, the rapid buzzing inside his breast pocket that signalled the incoming call to his cellphone. After a few moments of trying to pull the suit jacket from the grip of the cafe chair, the ringing tone kicked in. It was a curious feature, perhaps error, of his model of phone that the vibration function recognised the incoming call a whole three seconds before the ringtone function.

Now a bad rendition of Gun's and Rose's 'Sweet Child of Mine' was playing insistantly from inside the confines of his pocket. Abandoning the effort of trying to retrieve his phone while seated, he pushed the chair back, snatched the black jacket from the chair, and dug his fingers into the inside pocket.

'Beautiful', the cell display said, Jake having stored the number almost as soon as Jade had given it him, that first night after a drink at her house. He smiled, remembering the note she'd left on his pillow that morning. Taking a seat on the chair again, his thumb squashed the green button, connecting the call.

"Hey baby, how did your appointment go? They say you're fit enough to join the Olympic track and field squad, yet?" He smiled, tossing the cheap ball-point pen atop the converted diary, a blue ink mark gashing the name of the tailor Jake used to use about six years ago.

Jade MacCarthy Dec 25 2005, 11:50 PM Post #3

She heard his voice and the tears she had been holding back started to flow again. Her voice was very soft and shaking.

“Jake” she paused trying to sound like she wasn’t crying. “I didn’t go, something’s happened can you meet me?”
Her side was starting to hurt and she tried to get comfortable sitting up straighter in the seat.
“Please” her voice a mere whisper.

Jake Steel Dec 26 2005, 08:43 AM Post #4

His hand, occupied with the cheap white coffee cup, paused on its route to his mouth, his ears detecting the soft sound of restrained emotion. Peering around the interior of the cafe quickly, certain that nobody was watching, he hunched over his table, shadowing the little converted appointment book.

''Please' she said then, making him seriously wonder what had happened. She hadn't asked him for anything sounding this serious yet.

"Of course I'll meet you, where are you? What's happened?"

Jade MacCarthy Dec 26 2005, 09:50 AM Post #5

"umm", she moved and couldn't help but groan in pain softly. "I'll explain when you get here." She swallowed hard the lump in her throat the size of a watermelon. "I'm at the beach, where my car was the other night." Taking a shaky breath, " I'll wait for you in my car."

She didn't wait for him to respond and ended the call. the tears started flowing and she didn't want him to hear her crying. Dropping the little phone in her lap she wrapped her arms around her waist and waited for him to arrive.

Jake Steel Dec 26 2005, 10:07 AM Post #6

Looking at the disconnected phone with astonishment, Jake frowed slightly. Taking a final gulp of his drink, he collected his notebook of assorted ramblings and pen, tucking them into his suit pocket, along with the phone, before slipping his arms through the sleeves, and shucking it into place with his shoulders. Dropping a five dollar note on the surface of the table, he headed to the cafe exit, stopping by the doors to collect his overcoat, a thick black affair with a faux-fur collar and crimson silk interior lining. Tucking the coat over his arm, he headed out into the chill Volettian morning.. Well, it wasn't -that- cold, but for Jake's permanently warm body, it was freezing.

As he walked down the roads to the beach, he eventually conceeded, slipping the overcoat on also, the dark fabric matching the material of his business suit jacket and pants beautifully. He knew where he was going, having lived on the isle for more years than he liked to remember, he knew exactly where she'd met him the night earlier in the week, and it wasn't far.

Before too long he was at the juncture between the road and the beach, the asphalt running parallel to the crashing surf. Looking up and down the road, he found her car, the red mustang being quite evident along the sparse spattering of other vehicles. Approaching her car, he could see her little figure in the driving seat.

Jade MacCarthy Dec 26 2005, 10:15 AM Post #7

Her eyes scanned the area and seeing a dark figure approaching she knew it was him. She slowly reached up and freed her hair from the ponytail letting it drape around her shoulders. As he approached she carefully leaned over and unlocked the door. Causing pain to course through her body. She gently moved back into sitting position, she shook her hair so that partially covered her face as she looked towards the passenger window.

She motioned him to get in.

Jake Steel Dec 26 2005, 10:28 AM Post #8

Pulling a hand from the warm confines of the coat pocket, he reaches out to pull the door open. Then, quick as he could, he slid into the classic car, closing the door behind him, not wanting to let the heat in the car disipitate too much.

Rubbing his hands together, he looked across at Jade, her beautiful red hair covering most of her face.
"Hey sweet, what's up? You sounded pretty upset on the phone."

Jade MacCarthy Dec 26 2005, 10:46 AM Post #9

A small moved to brush away the tears. “I didn’t go to my doctors appointment today.” She paused her voice soft a shaky. “When I got home my dad was waiting for me….. he was drunk.” She brushed her hair closer to her face.

“He knew you were in the house all night, and then when I didn’t come home at a reasonable hour he waited up.” Her head hung down. “He was so angry Jake.” She shoulders began to shake as the emotion washed over her.

Jake Steel Dec 26 2005, 11:24 AM Post #10

He caught a glimpse of her split lower lip, the dried blood and tender raw flesh on either side of the susceptible torn lip.

"Jesus, Jade, he hit you?" Reaching across her trembling body, he placed a gentle hand on her chin, turning her face up and towards him. His other hand brushed her hair from her face.

Although he wasn't surprised by the ferocity of his apparent attack, he was shocked by the evident motive. Jake had seen the worst of humanity, he'd provoked emotions similar in many people, so he could almost write a script of what had happened when Jade'd gotten home, but it was still a surprise.

"How long have you been sitting here?" The slight healing of the cut on her lip, and the already discolouring of her cheek was evident.

Jade MacCarthy Dec 26 2005, 11:34 AM Post #11

She tried to turn away from him. “About an hour. After he stopped hitting me I stayed where I was until I heard him sleeping. Then I went downstairs and showered.” She sniffed, “He used to beat my brothers but he never hit me.” She lowered her eyes.. “I couldn’t go to my doctors appointment looking like this, I think he broke a rib.” She lowered her eyes, “I don’t know what to do.”

Jake Steel Dec 26 2005, 03:57 PM Post #12

Jake released her chin, turning his gaze out towards the ocean in the distance. He was silent for a long time, his unblinking profile towards her. Finally, he turned his face back towards her, placing his hand on hers. "Get out of the car, we're swapping sides. We're going to the hospital, they can check your rib. And then you're coming home with me."

His tone was decisive, leaving little space for argument.

Jade MacCarthy Dec 26 2005, 04:47 PM Post #13

"Jake, I"... she slowly looked at him through her hair she watched has he started to open the door. Placing her hand on the door handle she opened the door and carefully got out of the car and moved to the other side. She was taking short slow breaths.

Once seated she looked at him glad he was here.

Jake Steel Dec 26 2005, 06:38 PM Post #14

He slid into the drivers seat, turning the key in the ignition, the let the engine roar into life. Giving the engine a moment to idle, he twisted his head, turning to look at Jade. "Whatever you want, I want you to know that I support you, okay?"

Giving her hand a quick squeeze, he reversed the car out of it's spot, directing it towards the hospital.

Jade MacCarthy Dec 26 2005, 07:19 PM Post #15

She held his hand in silence as they drove to the hospital. He parked the car and helped her out, with his hand in the small of her back he guided her to into the emergency room. He talked with a nurse who then ushered them into room and told them a doctor would be in to see her shortly.

The doctor arrived and ushered Jake out while he examined her. He sent her down of x-rays and after what seemed like hours, the results came back that her ribs were bruised. She was taped and given instructions and pain medication.

Jade walked out to the waiting room where Jake was patiently waiting for her.

"They are bruised and I need to see a doctor in two week." She just stood in front of him feeling lost. She whispered to him. "I don't know what to do now."

Jake Steel Dec 26 2005, 07:46 PM Post #16

Jake had been sitting there for what had seemed like years. Hospital waiting rooms had a way of taking a minute of sixty seconds, and changing it into a minute of three hours. Every single tick-tock of the hands on the clock on the wall above the nurses station seemed to take forever.

A cold styrafoam cup of weak coffee, a brown skin developing over the remains that Jake had refused to drink, sat on the floor by his feet. He had managed to pass the time by practising his skills on the passing patients and people seeking medical attention. He'd tried to enter people's minds, but he'd only been able to make it work once in every nine or ten. He regretted the powers he'd lost, but not as much as the memories.

"What, now? Now you come home with me, and you can decide whether to tell me what happened, or not. Either way it must be time for lunch, so you must be famished."

And then, he added silently to himself, I'll go around to your house and see about some quiet revenge. His powers were developing slowly, but they were there for his usage.

Jade MacCarthy Dec 26 2005, 08:01 PM Post #17

"Ok, but can we leave now? I really don't want people seeing me looking like ths." She looked so small standing there.

"I am kinda hungry too."

Jake Steel Dec 26 2005, 08:09 PM Post #18

"Excellent.. Cold chicken sandwiches okay for you? I'm sure I've got chicken in the fridge.. Or maybe it's beef. Or lamb... one of the three, I'm sure." Rising to his feet, he quickly wrapped his arm around her body, holding her tenderly against him. Then, satisfied, he held her hand as they walked out of the hospital, away from the scent of disinfectant and illness.

Jade MacCarthy Dec 26 2005, 08:17 PM Post #19

She let him lead her out, once they were in the car she pulled the visor down and looked in the mirror. "Oh my Lord." Her face looked like it had been used as a punching bag.. Then again it had.

"My brothers told me Dad was drinking again. But we had an agreement that as long as I lived there he wouldn't drink." She was more or less talking to herself.

Jake Steel Dec 26 2005, 08:34 PM Post #20

"Jade, you're still beautiful to me," his tone of voice indicating that he meant it totally, he gave her another gentle squeeze, before pulling the car keys from his pocket. He unlocked the passenger door first, pulling the door open and holding it for her while she got in, as unsteady as she was.

He then walked around to the drivers door, likewise unlocking it and sliding in. Starting the car and heading for his apartment, he began to think about how this would effect their relationship. For good, or bad.

"You know that his drink problems aren't any excuse, don't you?"

Jade MacCarthy Dec 26 2005, 08:45 PM Post #21

"I know it's not.. Jake he called me a whore." She sunk into the seat and looked out the window at the passing houses and trees.

Softly "I'm not a whore, how could he think that?"

Jake Steel Dec 26 2005, 09:03 PM Post #22

"I know you're not, baby. He's just a bitter, twisted old drunk, who resents you having a life."

The 1965 mustang pulled up at the curb to Jake's apartment building, he killed the engine with an angry flick of his twist to the key. Once again, he was out of his door in a flash, opening hers and holding it while she emerged from the confines of the vehicle. Locking it then, he helped her up to the front door of his apartment, unlocking it and pushing the door open.

"Now, you take a seat," he indicated towards the plush sofa. "Lunch'll be a few moments."

Jade MacCarthy Dec 26 2005, 09:14 PM Post #23

She moved slowly to the sofa and sat down. She stared at the blank TV lost in thought.

"He really scared me. My older brothers took the beatings after my mom died. That's why they all moved away." She was rambling now. "I'm not sure what he is capable of and I would hate for anything to happen to you Jake."

Jake Steel Dec 26 2005, 09:34 PM Post #24

He moved into the kitchen once she was safely on the sofa, going straight to the refridgerator and pulling out the plastic wrapped chicken, rather alot of meat left on the remains of the body. He set the plate on the kitchen counter, yanking a sharp knife from the magnetic strip he had attached to the wall. Begining to carve slices of meat onto another plate, he briefly ducked his heda back around the doorway.

Looking into the mainroom with a scowl, "Jade, don't you worry about me. Your father wouldn't want to try anything violent with me. And if he did, he'd regret it." His tone suggested that it wasn't a threat, or a promise, what he'd said was simply a fact, a statement of how things would be.

Jade MacCarthy Dec 26 2005, 09:39 PM Post #25

She laid her head back on the sofa and closed her eyes. All she ever wanted was a normal family. But that wasn't to be. Not since her mothers death. She had been alone most of her life. Her brothers didn't have time for her and now her father had gone back to drinking.

Jake must have been sent to her for a reason. She didn't want him to have trouble with her father. She couldn't bare the thought of anything bad happening to him.

"Jake are you an angel?"

Jake Steel Dec 26 2005, 09:48 PM Post #26

The sound of coughing came from the kitchen as he set to work buttering the slices of bread, and garnishing with the select pieces of salad he had available in his fridge. Again his head appeared around the corner of the door.
"Angel, dear?" He smiled beautifically, giving her a wink. "didn't we decide I was more like a genie in a bottle? Woes and troubles are like chuff in the wind to me."

Jade MacCarthy Dec 26 2005, 09:59 PM Post #27

"If you are in fact a genie then I'm hiding your bottle." She ran her fingers through her hair and closed her eyes.

Whispered to herself, "and I wish you could make all this go away." She was certain he hadn't heard her.

Jake Steel Dec 26 2005, 10:12 PM Post #28

Jake emerged from the kitchen, a plate balanced on either hand, loaded with sandwiches, a small side salad, and a bag of chips balancing precariously on the edge, teetering as if to fall off. Noticing that her eyes were closing, he closed his mouth, cutting off the comment about genie's, he had been about to make. Instead, he crept over to the coffee table in front of the sofa, and slid the plates onto it. He then took a seat on the table himself, perched on the edge of the wooden furniture, watching her with a slight smile on his face.

(w) "Jade... Do you want to go to sleep now?"

Jade MacCarthy Dec 26 2005, 10:17 PM Post #29

Opening her eyes she looked at his smiling face. "No, I'm hungry, and you gone to all this trouble for me." She grunted as she sat up in preperation to eat.

"I can't tell you how much this mean to me that you came." She reached for the plate and sat it on her lap. Picking up the sandwhich tooka bite. "mmmm, this is good." said with a mouth full. After chewing she looked at him. Her eyes serious.

"Jake are you sure you want meto stay here? When I called I didn't dream you would suggest I stay here."

Jake Steel Dec 26 2005, 10:30 PM Post #30

"Of course I'm sure I want you to stay here.. We've been together, what, seven days, eight? How many nights have you slept here, rather than in your own bed?" His quirked eyebrow told her he already knew the answer.
Picking up a single chip, he munched on it thoughtfully for a moment. "What would you need to collect from your dad's house?"

Jade MacCarthy Dec 26 2005, 10:42 PM Post #31

Her face grew thoughtful for a moment before she spoke.

"Well, clothes, makeup, brush all my hair care products." then she stopped. "I need to understand is this a temporary thing or are you asking me to stay?"

Jake Steel Dec 26 2005, 10:56 PM Post #32

He was picking at his plate of food again, pulling the slices of chicken from between the bread, then a piece of lettuce. He shifted his body over to the sofa, twisting so he could sit at an angle to her, watching her. His voice was quiet, serious.

"Jade, you can stay however long you like. If it's a week, or a month, or until we've got three kids, and you decide you hate me."

Jade MacCarthy Dec 26 2005, 11:09 PM Post #33

"I have several suite cases maybe dad won't be home when we get there. I can just leave him a note and if I've forgotten anything I can go back later."

She took another bite of her sandwich along with as deep a breath as she could take. "We should go after we finish eating, I would like to get this over with." Her express was crossed with sadness and a bit of fear.

Jake Steel Dec 26 2005, 11:32 PM Post #34

He nodded, then paused for a moment to think about it. Within thirty seconds from then, his plate was empty, and he was nonchalently picking pieces of salad from her's.

"What are you going to say in the note? It's probably better to think about it now, rather than make it up when we're there."

Jade MacCarthy Dec 26 2005, 11:45 PM Post #35

She finished her sandwich and let him have the rest of the salad. "I don't know, I suppose something simple. Like ummmm." she paused for a moment.

Dad,
You won't need to worry about me bringing home guest any more. I've moved out and will come around later to collect my things.

"Something along those lines." She looked at him. "I'm so tired, but I want to get this done."

Jake Steel Dec 27 2005, 07:15 PM Post #36

He nodded silently, piling the one empty plate atop the other, and carrying them through to the kitchen, dumping them unceramonionally into the sink, to be dealt with later. Emerging back into the main room, he considered a thought he'd had earlier.
"Jade.. would you rather just give me a list of stuff you want? You can stay here and rest, I'll go and collect your stuff?"
He didn't say that it'd also give him a chance to be alone with her dad.

Jade MacCarthy Dec 27 2005, 07:33 PM Post #37

“I suppose I could.” She voice was tried the medication starting to work.

“You’ve not met my dad, I’m not sure how he would react to a stranger coming to rummage through his daughters things.” She grinned thinking about what her fathers face would look like. With a snap decision she open her purse and took out a pen and some paper. She listed the items she would need and were they could be found. One of her traits was organization. Putting the pen down she looked towards the kitchen.

“Jake if you really want to do this, I’ve written what I need.” She laid the paper on the coffee table with groan.

Jake Steel Dec 27 2005, 07:48 PM Post #38

He chuckled, moving through to the bedroom to change clothes quickly. What he was wearing at the moment was fine, as far as clothes go, but it wasn't all that impressive.

Pulling on a pair of black jeans, he threaded a thick leather belt through the loops, tucking the excess through the shiny silver buckle. Then, pulling on a thick knit poloneck sweater, matching the jeans for colour, he rolled the neck down until just the top faction of his throat was visable. Followed by a cunningly tailored business jacket, which he ran a hand over, a small piece of lint being flicked free.

Coming back through to the living room, he went into the kitchen to grab a discarded plastic shopping bag, scrunching it up into his pocket. Going back through into the main room, he paused momentarily the grasp the list Jade had written, before moving over to pull his leather jacket from the back of the sofa.

"You take it easy, okay? Lie down, have a sleep, I'll be back soon."

Jade MacCarthy Dec 27 2005, 08:48 PM Post #39

Her emerald green eyes watching and she nodded. "I am getting sleepy." She said softly. Glancing at her purse, "Oh before you go, you should know that my dad's name is Leland, and just in case he isn't home, here are the keys to the front door."

Pulling the keys out of her purse she held them out to him. "This way you won't have to break in, if he's not home." She gave him a smile.

Jake Steel Dec 27 2005, 09:42 PM Post #40

Taking the set of keys from her, he tucked them into his jacket pocket, slipping his arms and shoulders into the worn leather coat and shrugging it into place.

"Leland.. right. Don't break and enter.. okay."

He gave her a quick wink before leaning in a giving her a soft kiss on the least bruised part of her face.

Jade MacCarthy Dec 27 2005, 10:02 PM Post #41

Smiling at him "Be careful if he's still drinking he can get mean." There was worry in her eyes. "Hurry back ok?"

Leland MacCarthy Dec 27 2005, 10:11 PM Post #42

He woke late in the afternoon and went in search of Jade. She was no where to be found and it didnt' appear she had been home. Anger surge through him as he headed to the fridge for another beer. Cracking it open he stood there and downed it.

"Where is that girl?" he grumbled, "She's supposed to cook mah dinner." But instead of food he grabbed a bottle of whiskey, he then moved into the living room sitting in his chair and turning on the TV.

Jake Steel Dec 27 2005, 10:57 PM Post #43

Jake casually walked to the door, pulled it open, blew Jade a kiss across the room, and then headed down the stairs. His apartment was on the third floor, so he descended the staircases carefully, not fully trusting the architecture of the building.

Exiting the apartment building, he slid into the drivers seat of Jade's car, thinking back to the time when they'd first met, and he'd refused to drive it.. So long ago, that seemed.

It wasn't a long drive to her father's house, but it was uneventful, and soon he was climbing out of the vehicle, looking up at frontage of the house. Coolly, he walked up towards the front door, his eyes peering sideways at the windows, looking for movement from within. His hand rose, formed into a fist, and he pouded hard on the door, three loud raps on the wooden frame.

Leland MacCarthy Dec 27 2005, 11:13 PM Post #44

His head shot up hearing the loud banging. He had drifted off to sleep. Grunting he he stood up, and before moving took a big swig from the bottle.

He was mumbling as he made his way to door. Opening it he saw a tall dark figure standing there.

"Who the hell are you?" he demanded.

Jake Steel Dec 28 2005, 09:20 PM Post #45

In the fraction of the second that it took between the door opening, and Jade's dad opening his mouth, Jake had struck. A tiny piece of his mind and soul had been thrust uneering into the man's head, a spiritual claw that Jake could use to inflict terrible agony upon the man, could make horrific hallucinations, or just take control of his body. All these things were possible, and yet the man had no clue his life was verging so close to the edge of oblivion.

Jake smiled, plastering an obviously fake grin onto his features. His hand darted into the breast pocket of the black suit jacket he was wearing. Grasping his wallet, with a deft flick of his hand he opened the wallet in the same motion as pulling it out. In the same instant as the contents of his wallet were being displayed, Jake's mind created an illusion inside Leland's head. Instead of the Visa card at the front of the wallet, he saw a government identity card, a likeness of Jake's face matching the photograph on the bottom corner of the ID, and in black and gold lettering along the top of the card, it pronouced he was from the Department of Employment Security.

"Mister MacCarthy, I presume? My name is Jake Steel, from the DES, I am here to speak with you about a report I received earlier today regarding your daughter?"

The way he lifted his tone at the end of the sentence turned it into a question. It was an old tried and tested technique, hinting that Leland had full knowledge about the alleged report. Not only that, but that Jake knew he knew, and that he was letting Leland know that he knew he knew... It was complicated to think about it, but it was a beautiful interrogation method.

"I hope you don't mind if I come in a ask you a few questions."

Without waiting for an answer, Jake placed the first three inches of his sturdy shoe through the doorframe, ready incase he decided to say 'no'. That'd be a foolish mistake, and no doubt about it.

Leland MacCarthy Dec 28 2005, 10:09 PM Post #46

His eyes grew wide looking at the ID and then at Jakes face.

"I dunno what you are talking about. What report? "He stammered, fear coursing through his body. He staggered backwards as Jake took his first steps into the house.

"You cain't come in here without a warrant." he bellowed. "I knows my rights." He tried to block him from entering he didnt want the man in his house.

Jake Steel Dec 30 2005, 07:26 PM Post #47

Though the man might try to stop Jake from entering, now that he had taken his first step into the house, it would be a practical impossibility. Pressing one hand flat against the grain of the door, he pushed it back until the entrance was fully open, Jake a dark shadow against the meagre sunlight outside, his black clothing now creating the idea of oppression and darkness. Like a silhouette from hell, his other hand rose, an accusing forefinger jutting out like a rifle, pointing towards Leland's chest.

"You want to talk about right, Mister MacCarthy," the sneer he placed on the word 'mister' made it clear what he thought about the words coming from the older man's mouth. Anything Leland said would be treated with contempt, Jake's tone said. "How about the right your daughter had to be safe? To be secure? The right to not be beaten black and blue by her father?"

He followed this by stepping further into the house, his steps heavy and leaden, his forefinger still held like an immutable stone before him. If he didn't retreat, Jade's father would find the finger jabbing him in the sternum before Jake had taken many more steps, such was the conviction of his approach.

"All I know, is that down at the DES, we've got a poor little girl curled up on a makeshift bed, who was lucky to be given the 'all clear' by the doctors. Now, I'm here to ask you some questions, and then collect some of her possessions."

Jade MacCarthy Jan 2 2006, 11:12 AM Post #48

"Water" she said softly before rising to move into the kitchen. She searched the cupboard before finding a glass. The glass was right where it should be near the sink. She looked around opening cabinets, everything was so well organized she thought.

Moving to the sink she filled the glass and then walked back into the living room, taking a drink she sat the glass on a coaster before sitting down. Her thoughts turned to how Jake was doing and wondered if her father was home.

With the medication slowly taking affect she laid down and closed her eyes.

Leland MacCarthy Jan 2 2006, 11:31 AM Post #49

He stepped backwards to avoid being touched by the arrogant man. Beads of sweat appeared on his for head. Could Jade have turned him in? It wasn’t like her, she never talked about family matters.

Licking his dry lips his eyes shifted from side to side before returning to look at Jake. He decided he had better cooperate with this man, no sense in losing his pension, stepping back he motioned him into the living room.

Stammering, “Ppplease come in.”

Jake Steel Jan 2 2006, 12:57 PM Post #50

Jake nodded his head in satisfaction, his dark mahogany coloured eyes never leaving the older mans face. With another swift flick of his wrist, the black leather wallet folded in on itself, he then slid it back into his suit-jacket's breast pocket.

Reversing his grip on the front door, he pushed the portal firmly shut behind himself, the sound of the wooden frame clashing against the door was like a tone of finality, giving a brief impression that it'd never need to be opened again, that the house was empty and deserted, the house of the dead.

With his face in a dread grimace of self-induced amusement, an expression that read as 'I know what's funny, but if you knew, you wouldn't be laughing', Jake stepped ever closer to the man, until he was virtually chest to chest with him. Suddenly his expression changed to one of open appreciation, a wide smile and warm eyes looking down at the slightly shorter man. The change was swift and total, the creases and wrinkles at the corner's of Jake's eyes becoming evident when he smiled.

"I'll take a coffee, my dear sir, black with two sugars."

He tucked his hands into the pockets of his black jeans, he looked around the house as if for the first time, his appreciative gaze slipping item to item, as if admiring the colour-scheme of the walls, the pictures hanging from the walls. His eyes paused momentarily on a photograph of Jade having graduated high school, the sneer of contempt for Leland reappearing on his face briefly.

"While you make that, I'll go through to Miss MacCarthys room and gather the item's she had requested."

Again, it was a statement of fact; he -was- going to do this, and Leland -was- going to do that.

Leland MacCarthy Jan 2 2006, 01:22 PM Post #51

He stood there looking at the man not believing what he had just demanded. A frown crossed he brow who did he think he was coming into his home and demanding he be served and go into HIS daughters room. But he wasn’t going to take any chances.

Taking in a deep breath he stepped back from him.

“Her room is through that door and down the stairs. It’s the pink room on the right.”

He pointed towards the door, and turned to go to the kitchen. Coffee would be good for him, he needed to clear his head he didn’t need any trouble.

The coffee made he poured it into two mugs, mumbling, “Now where did that girl put the tray.”

He did remember some niceties that his wife had instilled him. Pulling out the tray he placed the two mugs on it along with a sugar bowl and two spoons, one for his coffee the other for the sugar. Carrying the tray into the living room he placed it on the coffee table and sat down to wait for his return.

Jake Steel Jan 2 2006, 02:02 PM Post #52

Once the older man had turned for the kitchen, Jake allowed himself a small smile. It was the first show of his true emotions since the door had opened. Despite having been awoken from the coma almost a month ago now, he had been slightly nervous about his first practical testing of his abilities. The illusion had been perfect however, and Jake was reveling in his re-found prowess.

Striding in the familiar direction of Jade's bedroom, he passed through the family room. There he paused, eyes again flicking over the various pictures and photographs of Jade's assorted family. He glanced at the faces of her brothers, before looking around for a clear view of her mother's face.. He nodded, satisfied. Jade certainly didn't have a single gene of her father's in her body, least of all her appearance. Her mother, however, had obviously been a major contributor to Jade's physical appearance.

Continuing onwards through to her bedroom, he plucked the list and the shopping bag from his pocket, glancing down at the list every now and then, moving around the room to pick up items and drop them into the bag.

"Hair spray... hair mousse... hair brush.. jesus!" he muttered to himself, dropping them all in, along with the make-up products and everything else. Moving over to the wardrobe, he began to stuff the bag with items of her clothing. Soon the bag was bulging out at the sides, tee-shirts and jeans nearly overflowing the top. Finished with the list, he made a mental note of the clothing left behind, remembering for later, incase she wanted him to return a second time to collect something he'd forgotten.

He walked back through to the living room, depositing the bag next to a chair, he dropped down into the seat, smiling across at Leland like a best friend.

"So, Mister MacCarthy, would you care to tell me what happened?"

Jade MacCarthy Jan 3 2006, 07:40 AM Post #53

She heard her name being called, it was distant. Turning she tried to see who was calling her name. "Jade" it was just a softest whisper. "Jade".

Getting up she moved to towards the voice. Her eyes trying to focus as she moved. "Jade" Her heart started to race she knew that voice but it couldn't be. "Jade"

A figure came into view she try harder she couldn't quite make out the form. "Jade"

"Mom? Is that you?" She asked softly she tried to move closer but couldn't, she struggled "Mom?"

She felt a cold wind wash over her, and her eyes flew open. At first she didn't know where she was, then slowly it came back to her a she looked around the living room. She relaxed back into the soft cushions of sofa. It was only a dream.

Leland MacCarthy Jan 3 2006, 08:04 AM Post #54

Leland was sitting in his favorite chair with the mug in his hand blowing on the hot coffee. His eyes followed the much taller man as he carried he over stuffed bag with his daughter’s belongings in it. Trying to clear his head he had decided to ignoring the question he asked one of his own.

“That’s a bit more than jest a few things, how longs she gonna be gone?”

He knew he was a screw up. Ever since his wife’s death he had done nothing but go down hill and wallow in self-pity. He had driven all of his son’s out of the house and now he was doing it to Jade. He was scared that he would lose what little income he had and the only link to family he had left. He could let this man see how worried he was. Squaring his shoulders the looked at Jake.

Jake Steel Jan 3 2006, 06:38 PM Post #55

Settling into the chair, Jake placed his hands flat on the raised arms of the furniture, gazing across at Jade's father, his expression shifting from friendship to slight annoyance. He didn't like having his questions brushed aside, even if he was pretending to be from a government agency. It was the principle of the thing, and this man had ignored the principles.

For a brief moment Jake considered using the ability of his illusions to fry Leland's brain, creating a heat so intense he would beg for release.. But the whim passed, there would always be time for that later.

"Miss MacCarthy will be staying with an association of the Department for as long as she wishes. Based on her statement, I would hazard a guess to say, indefinitely."

Leland MacCarthy Jan 4 2006, 11:04 PM Post #56

He settled back into his chair resting the coffee mug on the arm, “I see, and jes what did muh daughter have ta say to ya?”

He was trying hard to clear his head, he hardly remembered what happened other than he and Jade had a fight about her bringing men to the house. He didn’t like the fact that his daughter’s things were being removed from his house. But until he knew what she had told them he wasn’t going to give any information.

Jake Steel Jan 5 2006, 01:36 PM Post #57

Reaching across to pick up the mug of coffee, blowing a breath across the rim. Lifting the cup to his lips, he took a slow sip, eyes wincing then shooting Leland an accusing glance. Leaning forward, he spooned a couple of heaps of sugar into the cup, swirling the liquid around with the spoon, then tasting it again.

Satisfied that his drink was acceptable now, he placed the cup on his jean-clad thigh, both hands clasping the hot mug.

"As I'm sure you can appreciate, I am not able to disclose the details of her statement to us. However, as one man to another, I'll tell you something.. Something I heard after we'd called for the services of a support councellor" Pausing for dramatic effect, he took another relaxed and tranquil sip of his drink.

"I believe you should inquire about engaging the services of a lawyer. When we passed her onto the counceller, I overheard talk about charges of grievous assault, perhaps even attempted murder."

Leland MacCarthy Jan 5 2006, 07:32 PM Post #58

Raising the mug to his lips he froze at the mention of getting a lawyer. His eyes blinked several times.

“Surely you are joking?”

His hand began to shake as he lowered the mug back to its original spot. Sitting there he stared at the worn carpet how could he baby girl talk to a lawyer. Moving forward in his chair he sat the mug on the coffee table, he raised his eyes to look at Jake. He was stunned.

“I nevar meant to hurt her. She’s muh baby girl.” A hand raised as his hand rubbed the top of his head, his breathing increased. “I can’t afford a lawyer. I dunno what I’m gonna do Mr. Steel.”

Jake Steel Jan 5 2006, 07:57 PM Post #59

Jake smiled grimly, a look of consternation crossing his face. "I never joke, Mister MacCarthy. As for what you're going to do.. That depends on what you want to achieve." For a while he simply sat there, sipping his coffee and watching the older man over the lip of the cup, his dark eyes hard and penetrating.

"If you want to stop your daughter from filing charges with the authorities, you may be too late, so forget about it. If, however, you want to try a reconcile with her, you should take a long look at your life first. Think about it, if you were her, would you want to live with you?"

Leland MacCarthy Jan 7 2006, 06:34 PM Post #60

His eyes moved to look at the floor and his shoulders dropped, shutting his eyes he shook his head.

“I’m nothin’ but a failure. I’ve driven all my children all way.” His voice was heavy with sadness.

“I wasn’t always a bad man.” Breathing deeply through his nose he sits back in his chair.

“I suppose she doesn’t want to have anything to do with meh.” His eyes slowly moved to look at Jake.

“Can ya get a message to her?”

Jake Steel Jan 7 2006, 09:29 PM Post #61

Tipping the cup, Jake drained the last of the brown liquid and made an approving sound. It was good coffee.. both cups he'd had at this house had been good. It must be the brand they bought, or something.

"That depends what the message is, Mister MacCarthy. I'd hate for Social Services and whatnot to accuse me of 'interferring with a case'."

Holding up his fingers, he symbolised the quotation marks, a grimace of distaste appearing on his face, as if he had some strong personal feelings about the social workers.

"Obviously, I can't go to her and say 'your father doesn't want you to press charges against him', or anything like that.

Leland MacCarthy Jan 8 2006, 12:47 AM Post #62

"No I wouldn't ask you to tell her anything like that.. " his hands were slowly moving up and down this thighs.

"If you can tell her I'm sorry, and that I always loved her even though I wasn't a good faher to her." He looked at Jake a broken man. "Can ya do that fer meh?"

Jake Steel Jan 8 2006, 10:55 PM Post #63

Jake nodded slowly, a small smile spreading across his weathered features. Placing the empty cup on the table, he rose to his feet.

"If I happen to see her, I will pass on the message."

Bending down, his right hand shot downwards, picking up the bag of Jade's belongings , he headed out towards the front door. Once again his eyes were drawn to the pictures of Jade's assorted family. He couldn't help but smile inwardly at the picture's of her at a little girl.

"Now, Mister MacCarthy, you remember what I said. Keep yourself away from her until everything is settled. And think hard about finding someone that might take your case, should it come to criminal prosecution proceedings."

With one hand, he unlatched the front door, stepping out into the afternoon light, a welcome blast of brightness after the dull interior. "And also, I don't want to have to come back here, understand?" His eyes narrowing, he became very solomn suddenly, wanting to get his point across to the old drunk. "If you see me coming to your door again, you'll know it's bad news."

Leland MacCarthy Jan 9 2006, 05:18 PM Post #64

Leland didn’t get up but watched the younger man take his daughters things and as far as he knew her life with him. He had now successfully driven all his children away. It was official he was a failure

Jakes parting words struck a cord deep within him. He knew that this man was more than a government official, it was a feeling that burned deep within him. He merely nodded that he understood and watched as his figure disappeared.

Sitting alone in the room he knew what he had to do. Standing he shut the door and then moving back into the living room flipped on the TV, picking up the mug slowly drank the coffee. He tidied up the room and took the mugs and sugar into the kitchen. He then washed all the dishes, dried them and put them away. He spent the remaining daylight hours puttering around the house putting things in their place. He did not go into Jades room that was a promise he did keep.

Looking at his watch it was 5 pm his thoughts turned to Jade, she should be home any time. Moving to the kitchen he prepared a meal. Spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread, one of her favorites. At 6pm when she didn’t come home he sat down and ate quietly. Again he washed the dishes and put things away, taking care to put the left overs in the fridge should she be hungry when she came home.

10pm she still hadn’t come home, this was the first night in a long time he hadn’t had a drink. Looking at his watch he stood and walked to the window pulling the curtain back hoping her car was in the drive way. But it wasn’t, his shoulders sagged with the weight of his actions as he let the curtain fall back into place. Turing he moved to his bedroom where he hoped sleep would leave him some peace.

Jake Steel Jan 9 2006, 08:44 PM Post #65

Hopping back into the car, he drove home, silently congratulating himself on such a sterling performance. The journey home took a considerably longer time than before, the afternoon traffic building making the roads congested. He kept glancing sideways at the shopping back on the passenger seat beside him, wondering if she -really- needed all those beauty products. It wasn't like they were essentials, or anything. He shrugged, letting a car from a side street pull in front of him, in a moment of good natured driving.

Pulling up outside his apartment building, he jumped out and headed up the stairs. All the while muttering about the hassle of living on the top floor, he trudged upwards, eventually sliding his key into the lock and pushing the door open.

"Honey, I'm home."

Jade MacCarthy Jan 10 2006, 07:41 AM Post #66

Some where in the distance she heard a door open, groggy her eyes opened. It was Jakes voice but where was she. Lying there for a few moments letting her eyes focus the reality of where she was and why she was there slowly came back. Swinging her legs over the edge of the sofa pain flooded her upper torso. Instantly she wrapped her left arm just under her breasts. Her hair was a mess and dark circle under her eyes as she turned to look at him.

“Hi,” she voice soft, “was my dad there?”

Jake Steel Jan 14 2006, 11:22 PM Post #67

Dropping the bag of her possessions just inside the door, he pushed the door shut firmly, before going over to the sofa and sitting down beside her. Wrapping an arm tenderly around her, he let let body sag against his, her exhaustion apparent in her voice.

"Yeah hun, but he must've been drunk, or something. I don't think he even knew I was there."

Smiling softly, he wondered when he'd get the chance to return to Leland's house, and extract some form of penance from the man. His sins were building up, and he was overdue for a punishment.

Jade MacCarthy Jan 15 2006, 05:20 PM Post #68

Slowly she let her body sink into his glad he was there. She was still groggy from the medication and sleep. Trying to wake up her voice deep and soft.

“So he was still drunk? It’s never lasted this long before.” Taking in a shuddering breath and letting it out slowly. “I guess my brothers were right he will never change.” Her voice was filled with sadness not only had she lost her mother years ago, but now she had lost her father as well. She rested her head on in the crook of his shoulder, lost in thought. Had her father really gone so far off the deep end that he was staying drunk? Maybe he didn’t really want her there after all and she was better off with out him.

Blinking several times, “I see you got what I asked for. Thank you.” Taking in another slow breath. “If you are sure you want me to stay, is there place I can put them?”

Jake Steel Jan 17 2006, 08:22 PM Post #69

The side's of his face rose into a grin the spread all the way to his eyes, the humour of her naiveté was charming. "Honey, you can put your stuff anywhere you like. As far as I'm concerned, this is your home as much as it is mine." Giving her body a tiny squeeze, aware of her delicate condition at the moment, he chuckled.

"Besides, there's not a whole lot of storage space around here, so our stuff is bound to get combined, anyway."

Jade MacCarthy Jan 17 2006, 11:06 PM Post #70

She looked at him. His hair starting to gray but he was so handsome, so strong. "Thank you Jake. I just don't want you to think I expect anything. I can't tell you how much this means to me."

She inched closer to the edge of the sofa and slowly stood and walked over to the bag and bending at the knees grabbed it dragging it to the bedroom. The angle of the bag pulled on her side and her free arm moved her rib cage.

Sitting on the edge of the bed she began to pull things out putting them into piles. Looking into the bag she smirked only a man would just pile stuff in a bag. Once things were sorted she began to put things a way.

Jake Can I have a couple of drawers?