More Than Darkness
22
xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
A little over two hours later, the couple was woken up by a
distressed cry, and then the sound of someone being sick.
“Oh fuck,” Sands
and Jeffrey said simultaneously as Jeffrey pushed out of bed and made his way to
the bathroom while all Sands could do was watch.
reaching the bathroom and seeing the state Salida was in.
not telling the truth when she said she felt fine earlier and reminding himself
that being sick wasn’t her fault. He
knelt down on the tile next to her and just watched, helpless to do anything
but try and comfort her and hold back her hair as he
had before.
Aida took more time
to leave Sands’ room, pulling on her robe over her pajamas before walking down
the small hallway. She came to the
doorway of Jeffrey and Salida’s room just in time to hear Salida say in an
irritable voice, “I was fine.
I’ll probably be fine again.” She pushed
her husband’s arms away as he tried to arrange the pillows behind her
head. “Will you stop fussing like
that? I’m not dying.”
Aida shook her head
and moved into thom.
unnoticed until she pulled Jeffrey away from the bed, reaching over and feeling
Salida’s forehead with the back of one hand.
“Well, you don’t feel like you have a fever.
that disagreed with you last night?”
“What are you doing
here, kitty?” Jeffrey asked, becoming immediately defensive at seeing her with
his wife while Salida was feeling under the weather.>
>
Aida just turned
level eyes on him. “Do you have any
ideas on how to calm an upset stomach?”
Jeffrey opened and
closed his mouth quickly before glaring at her sullenly, knowing that she was
right. He didn’t have a fucking clue as
to what was wrong with Salida let alone how to fix it.
I’ll just fucking sit over there.
But if you do anything to hurt
her, they won’t fucking find a body, savvy?” he
seethed, moving to sit at a chair against one of the walls.
“Don’t you
going to hurt sunrise, and if you’d just fucking calm down a little, you’d
fucking realize that,” Sands seethed back.
Jeffrey didn’t reply, but Sands could feel a cold rage and an extreme
sense of protectiveness at the back of his mind that he knew didn’t belong to
him.
Aida shook her
head, trusting Sands to keep Jeffrey under control for the moment, and turned
back to Salida, waiting for an answer to her original question.
Salida grimaced and
turned her head towards the window, but answered.
have. But I do know that food poisoning
or allergies start acting up sooner than this did.”
“It could just be
intolerant. He could have milk, he’d
just be sorry afterwards.” Brushing some
hair out of her face, she asked, “Is your stomach still upset?”
saw a basket of crackers in the eating area.
Nibble on those and see if it helps.”
“I’ll fucking get
some,” Jeffrey muttered, happy that he could at least do that.
Aida watched him
go, then turned back to the silent woman on the
bed. “Well . . . my work here is done I
suppose.” She turned to leave, but was
stopped by Salida.
“Thank you,” the
other woman said reluctantly in a gruff voice.
“It’s no big deal,”
Aida replied, knowing better than to make
it a big deal. On her way out, she ran
into the men.
“Is she going to be
alright?” Jeffrey asked with reluctance but concern, looking her straight in
the eye.
“As far as I can
tell she just has a bit of a stomach bug.
Without a thermometer I can’t be sure, but she doesn’t feel like she’s
running a temperature. I wouldn’t worry
if I were you.”
“Yeah right,” Sands
muttered under his breath, knowing that Jeffrey would worry until it was proven
beyond a shadow of a doubt that Salida would be
fine. It was what he would do. What he
getting sick.
“Thank you,”
Jeffrey said even more reluctantly than Salida had.
get at this point. It wasn’t enough, but
it was all he had. He wasn’t sorry for
threatening her however, and would make good on it if forced.
he could help it. “She’ll probably fucking kick me out, tell me I’m fucking
hovering, but I need to see her. Alone.”
Aida held up her
hands, indicating that she was innocent of anything he might be thinking her
guilty < cla class=GramE>of.
“Don’t look at me. I had my nap
interrupted and I’m planning on returning to it.”
“Fine.
“Just don’t take
too long. I know she’s sick, but she’ll
be alright,” Sands tried to reassure him a little, feeling more sympathetic
than he might have normally due to the fact that he could currently feel every
emotion running through Jeffrey’s body right now.
so feeling it, it became his own. He
looked at Aida. “I’ll be back soon.”
Jeffrey gave Aida
the briefest of nods and headed back into his room, crackers in hand.
Salida just watched
him come sit next to her, armed with crackers and an
unssmilsmile. “Don’t look at me like
that,” she said, rubbing her arms.
“You’re making me feel guilty for no good reason.”
“How do you want me
to fucking look at you then?” he asked with a sigh, handing her the crackers.
“Like you’re not
expecting me to castrate you if you open your mouth.”
package and taking a small bite. She
chewed slowly and carefully before swallowing reluctantly.
another.
“You’re not,
right?” he asked softly with a small smile, trying to lighten the mood a
little.
“No,” she said,
sticking out her tongue. “I am, however,
going to take a shower if these don’t disagree with me.
He laughed a little
at her actions before nodding. “Ok.
on your own for a little while? Before
you respond to that, remember what you said about not fucking castrating your
husband. I just . . . worry, ok?” he
said with a sigh. “I don’t like fucking
seeing you this way.”
“And I d lik like
being this way. But I think I’ll be
hope so. There’s a lot of stuff to get
done today.”
“Maybe I should just
call the fucking movers and reschedule for tomorrow?
vixen,” he said with a slight smile.
“I don’t know,” she
stalled. “I really want to move out of
his hotel. And it’s not as if I’d be
doing any more than standing around telling them where to put things.”
Jeffrey sighed,
rubbing a hand across his face. “You’re
really fucking stubborn sometimes, do you realize that?
But no more than that. Even I
fucking know that exerting yourself while sick only makes it fucking worse so
that’s all you’ll be doing today. Either
Sands and I will do the fucking shopping – who knows maybe even
well – or it can wait until tomorrow.”
“Okay,” Salida
conceded, knowing when to stop asking for more.
If she wasn’t careful, Jeffrey would banish her to the bed altogether.
“Good.
shower. I’m giving Sands a bit more time
with kitty, so that’s where I’ll fucking be.
Wake me up before you leave.”
She nodded, leaning
over to kiss his cheek. When he pressed
for more, she turned her face away.
“Don’t. You wouldn’t find it at all pleasant.”
Jeffrey sighed, but
nodded. “Feel better.
to Sands’ room.
******************************
“Good afternoon, Aida.
How are you feeling today?”
“Hello,
Charlene.” Aida squeezed Sands’ hand reassuringly.
office with her, but he’d refused to stay behind.
should be paying me to advertise their product, but other than that I can’t complain.”
“Who’s your
friend?” the receptionist asked as Aida signed herself in.
“This?
nodded.
“Well, I’ll just
let Dr. Johansson know you’re here. Go
ahead and have a seat.”
Aida nodded and
pulled Sands over to a row of chairs, sitting down, watching him with some
concern as he did so as well. “Are you
alright?” she asked. “You really don’t
have to be here.”
“Yes I do,” Sands
assured her firmly. “And I’m fine.
doctors.n stn style='mso-spacerun:yes'> I never have.” Sands didn't
tell her that the chief reason he probably didn’t like medical buildings or
their employees was the fear that he could be confined to one someday.
“I don’t like
hospitals either,” she confessed quietly.
“But I’m afraid they’re a necessary evil.
“Aida Grant.”
Aida shrugged as
they were interrupted. “Let’s go,
tiger.”
They followed the
nurse through several corridors before she dropped them off in a small
room. “The doctor will be here
shortly. Your gown’s on the table.”
say anything.
With a sigh, Aida
stripped off her shirt and pulled the shapeless robe on, reaching behind her to
tie it. She didn’t bother removing her
pants – they were far enough from her head that they wouldn’t show up in the
CAT scan or the MRI.
As she concentrated
on tying the small strings, she looked at Sands, becoming concerned when she
saw he was a bit pale. “What is it?”
“N-nothing.
Do you want me to help you?” Sands said slowly, trying to calm
couldn’t deal with one fucking hospital then how the fuck was he going to deal
with Aida when she started getting really sick.
You can do this, he reassured
himself. It didn’t help much
though. He really didn’t like hospitals.
“You can help me
stay warm,” she murmured, walking over to him.
“AC and hospital gowns don’t mix well.”
The room held a stool, a chair, and the examination table.
to seat him, so she pushed him into the chair, settling herself on his
lap. She kissed his temple and smoothed
some of his hair back. “It’s alright,”
she breathed to him. “We’ll be in and
out in less than an hour. I
promise. And then we’ll go grab that
piece of key lime pie. How does that
sound?”
“Sounds like a good
idea to me,” he said softly, giving her a small smile and wrapping his arms
around her and holding her tight as much for her warmth as his peace of mind.
The nurse came The nurse – whose Aida offered an arm “Relax, tiger,” she Sands wanted to “Shh,” she calmed “Alright,” he said Beth finished and Once she heard the “I know you “Aida, I hear you Aida sighed as they “Her fiancé,” Sands Aida felt her heart “You have a lousy sense “Yeah, yeah. Aida looked at the Sands wasn’t going “Well, I’ll admit “Thanks,” Aida whispered “Certainly.” “Sands, are you “Of course I’m “And . . . and we “They got married “Ok.” “I definitely like Aida just grinned Sands gave her a ****************************** Once again dressed, and once again trying to calm her now Sands leaned over Dr. Johansson “If you want to “Aida, I want you Oh, that didn’t “As early as Sands felt as if “No,” she said “Aida . . .” “ Sitting down on a Sands looked up at “Sands.” “Don’t,” he “Don’t what?” she Sands didn’t answer “Fine,” she Once Sands finally Aida felt his arms “I’m sorry,” he an> “I’m sorry, I’m “I don’t want you “I promise,” Sands “Not . . .” she Sands gave watery Aida turned then, “Right about what, “About waiting.” “You’re not a “I never want to “I don’t know Aida reached over “That’s what I was She looked at him “That sounded very ****************************** Sands helped Aida out of the taxi, looking around him as he It was Aida’s turn The couple went to “You ready for “As ready as I’ll “Damn straight,” he She just cocked an “Aida Sands. She wrinkled her “Good day to you “That’s right. “Good to meet you “Hello,” Aida The judge nodded at Aida felt a brief Sands caught the “That’s “Are you The judge sat at “Not yet,” Sands “I wouldn’t be here Judge As the judge gave “Sheldon Jeffrey “I do,” Sands said Judge “As if I could “Then by power Sands deepened the Aida pulled away “And don’t you Judge The newly wedded “Now what, Mrs. “You,” she said, “Oh really?” Sands “Really, although . Sands followed her She shook her /spa/span>“No, I’m not trying Sands raised his ******************************
back, interrupting them. Sands stiffened
when he saw the case she was carrying, so Aida refused to up.
name was Beth – raised an eyebrow, but she’d seen enough nervous husbands, fiancées,
boyfriends, and the like to not raise a fuss.
without being asked to, murmuring to Sands as Beth took her blood pressure, her
temperature, and pulled out several vials for a blood test.
whispered against his head as she felt the tourniquet being tied around her
arm. “Just a little prick.”
herself used, but no smile appeared on her lover’s face.
bolt. He felt like a chickenshit
for the reaction, but he couldn’t help it.
You’re here for Aida, and they’re
not here for you. Remember that and
you’ll be fine. Sands tried to relax
and comfort the woman he loved before him, but he knew that she was probably
doing a better job of comforting him than he was her.
him. “It’s ok.
tests to make sure this pain in the ass hasn’t metastasized.
able to leave Sands alone as she got her brain scanned.
softly, almost convincing himself that he believed it.
insane freaked the hell out of him, and there was nothing he could do to combat
that fear. The fact that it was taking
form now was inconvenient as hell, but there was nothing he could do about that
either. He just knew that he’d rather
eat his own fucking gun or let the fucking cops get him before he’d let himself
be fucking locked up in an institution.
left, leaving the couple alone again.
door shut, Aida told Jeffrey, “You don’t have to stay.
I can handle this.”
can. But I’m staying anyway,” Sands said
with a determined set to his voice. He
had come for her, and he’d be damned if he left now.
brought a guest.”
were interrupted again. Sands was
stubborn, but that wasn’t much of a comfort to her right now.
I did. This is Sands, my . . .”
she paused for a moment as she tried to decide on how to introduce him.
said, not fully intending to tell her yet, but now seemed as good as a time as
any. Perhaps better.
but,” he pulled out the ring box he had bought at the jewelry store he had
shopped at with Jeffrey and opened it, placing it on her lap.
from the other man, but he had managed.
“Aida Grant, will you marry me?
And you’d better not say no or else I’m dumping you to the floor,” he
said with a small smile, completely ignoring the doctor in front of him.
would remember where he was and become tense again, but for now the only thing
that existed in the world was her.
literally stop as time seemed to freeze.
She heard her gasp in her own ears as she looked at the diamond
solitaire in its box of black velvet.
What was this? How?
could meet Sands’ eyes. She saw just how
serious he was. And that the proposal
wasn’t based on pity . . . but something . . . something like love.
of what’s a romantic setting and what’s not,” she murmured, still trying to
calm her suddenly racing heart.
You gave me an opening though, how could I pass that up?” he said with a
slight smirk. “I’ll make it up to you,”
he promised with a smile.
ring, and nodded slowly. “Ok.”
to press for more than that right now.
“I’ll . . . hold on to it while you do whatever it is you have to do,”
he said softly, wanting to be as happy as the situation warranted, but finding
himself tense up again as he once again realized where they were and took note
of the doctor in front of him, looking straight at her, but not saying a word.
that this is a first,” Dr. Johansson said, “but allow me to be the first to
congratulate you.”
shyly. “Can we have a moment of privacy
before we go shoot more radioactive particles at my eyeballs?”
sure?” She wanted to desperately to
believe this was possible. . .
fucking sure. As sure as I’ve ever been
about anything, spitfire. I love you,
and since I don’t intend to ever let you go ever again, I decided ‘why not just
make it official?’” he said with a small shrug and a smile, more relieved than
he probably should have been to see the doctor leave.
can? I mean . . . I thought . . . well,
Jeffrey and Salida and all . . .” she trailed off, unsure of how to say what
she wanted to.
in Vegas under their own names so it wasn’t exactly legal.
yet,” he said gently. “And they have no
right to object either. So don’t worry
about them.”
brilliant grin, tiltier her head to kiss him soundly on the mouth.
that ‘ok’ better than the last one, spitfire,” he said when they had finally
pulled apart. “And it’s good to see you
smile. Especially in this fucking
place.”
again before standing. “Com’on, let’s
get this over with so we can leave. You
definitely owe me pie now.”
small smile and nodded. “Then you shall
have pie. Better call the fucking doctor
back in then,” he said with a sigh.
hand. He was tense, and she knew that
the sooner they got out of here the better, but her doctor had asko spo speak
to her, so here she was.
treatments next week, she assured herself, falling into a half-trance as
she tried reassure herself.
their calming stroking or that she started staring off into the distance.
to ask what was wrong, but was interrupted by the woman they were waiting for.
gravely shut the door behind her, then walked to her
desk, taking a seat. Aida managed to
rouse herself enough to start paying attention to what was
going to be said.
talk about procedure and such, I think I remember it from last time,” she
started, but Dr. Johansson shook her head.
to consider starting your treatment early.”
sound good. Not at all.
tomorrow. I’m disturbed by the data
we’ve collected.” Linda Johansson
noticed the blank look on her patient’s face, and understood.
half that they’d been tracing the tumor, there’d been proof of growth.
Aida. If we’re going to fight it, then
we need to start as soon as we can.”
What we? “No,” Aida shook her
head slowly. “I’m not ready yet.
Friday. And . . . and . . . no.”
his legs had cut out from under him. The world seemed to spin and lose focus,
the walls becoming more confining than they just had been a few minutes
ago. He had to get out of there,
out how blood splatters looked upon the walls.
But he forced himself to think of Aida.
He grabbed her hand tightly, but for as much as he was attempting to
give comfort, it seemed like he was holding on to her as an anchor to keep him
sane. He brought her hand up to his
chest and held it there, belatedly realizing that her feeling the racing of his
heart probably wasn’t helpmattmatters.
He turned and looked at her straight in the eye, not saying a word, but
sending all the love and support he could give her through his glance.
again, shaking her head. “I know what
you want to do. You want to ease me into
this to keep me from getting as sick as I eventually will.
this week. I need time to let go of my
life for now. To spend time with my
fiancé. To move.
start next week, and you can just give me a stronger dose.” Aida stood, pulling
Sands after her; he needed to get out of here.
That was all she had to say on the matter.
him out of the office, and out of the hospital complex
where Dr. Johansson’s office was.
nearby bus bench, she turned to Sands.
“Com’on, don’t leave me now, tiger.
If you do,romiromise you’ll be eating that ring.”
her, but still didn’t say anything, placing his head in his hands and leaning
over to prop his elbows up on his thighs.
He was fighting to control the all out pure psychotic rage, helplessness
and frustration that were eating their way though him like acid.
battle he couldn’t fucking win.
violence – not towards her, but towards the world in general – and she wanted
to cry. She had to get his
attention. “
on her. Coughing, she turned away from
her fiancé.
whispered, still not looking at her, the battle still raging within his mind.
asked in a hoarse voice. “I’m loosing
you and it hurts. Just because my doctor
chose a hell of a time to be a pessimist doesn’t mean anything.
me. Don’t you dare let it kill me for
at first, trying to get a handle on himself.
“I can’t – just give me a fucking minute, please,” he practically begged her.
His grasp on his sanity was very slippery at the moment, and he needed
time egaiegain himself or all would be lost.
whispered, moving to the other end of the bench.
knees to her chest, resting her chin on them.
She’d wait.
followed by another. She bit them
back. She would not cry on the street. She
would not add to whatever Sands was
feeling . . . because it was about him.
It didn’t matter that she was
feeling lost. She’d dealt with that
before. It could wait.
felt like he wasn’t going to rip the world to shreds any longer –
her, missing her closeness. He needed to
hold her, now.
one thing in this fucked up world was still normal; still there.
more than ever. He moved over to her and
wrapped his arms around her folded body and buried his head in her hair and her
neck, shutting his eyes tightly and concentrating on the warmth of her touch,
the smell and feel of her body. The
beating of her heart.
wrap around her tightly, and she couldn’t help it.
next months . . . “Don’t,” she
whispered. “Don’t make me do this,
because I can’t. I love you so much, but
I can’t.”
whispered into her hair. He wasn’t
trying to put all this added burden on her, he really
wasn’t. He was a selfish man by nature,
and it wasn’t something he could easily turn off.
about supporting you through these months . . . I’d willingly spend my strength
on you. And if you’re going to react
like this every time . . . every time. . .” the lump in her throat was getting
larger and larger. Giving up, she curled
even tighter around herself.
sorry, I’m sorry,” he repeated over and over again, holding her even more
tightly than before. “It wasn’t just the
news though, a pessimistic part of me half expected that to fucking
happen. It was more . . . that and that
fucking place. I just wanted to fucking
get out of there. I reacted . . . badly,” he said softly.
but that I’m sorry.”
coming here with me again,” she gasped.
“I don’t care if you hire a ‘professional’ to take care of me, to drive
me back and forth, but I never want to have to do this again.”
She wanted so much to have him at her side through all this, but it
wasn’t going to be possible. “Promise
me,” she demanded.
said in a voice so small and quiet he was almost afraid she hadn’t heard
him. He wouldn’t say it again though.
even sympathized somewhat – but he couldn’t help a small wave of betrayal from
flooding through him. She was asking
him, no telling him to not be with
her. That clawed at his insides, but he wouldn’t
fucking say anything.
He would do as she asked.
hiccupped. “Not that I plan on spending
a lot of time in the hospital. I’m
demanding home care from you, Mr. Moneybags.
I refuse to stay in the hospital any longer than it takes to get the
treatments.”
smile at that, and nodded. “Whatever you
want, spitfire,” he said softly.
and wrapped her arms around him, clinging to him, trembling slightly.
spitfire?”
fool,” he assured her softly. “As long
as you can manage it. I’ve never had too
much luck with it myself,” he said, his smile a little bolder this time.
wait. I hate waiting.
fucking fell out of the sky if that’s what you wanted.
asked, sniffing a bit.
short laugh.
and tapped the pocket with the ring inside it.
“That.”
talking about,” he said with a smile.
“But now that I think about it again, fuck waiting.
askance. “But . . .”
loved. “Ok.”
her honeymoon. Next week she’d
cope. This week she would forget.
enthused,” Sands said with a slight roll of his eyes.
cell phone he had insisted on buying if he didn’t have a car so he could call a
cab. Less than ten minutes later, they
were on their way to connubial bliss.
did so. It paid to be alert, and he’d be
damned if anything was going to interrupt them.
He was a man on a mission.
to stick close as he pulled her into the courthouse.
here under any other circumstances, but right now it was necessary.
the receptionist, and she handed them a bundle of papers to fill out –
separately and jointly – then accepted them back.
them a marriage license, and buzzed one of the judges that was currently free.
this, spitfire?” he asked with a smile.
“And you’d better say yes, because there’s no way in hell I’m turning
back now,” he promised her firmly.
ever be,” she smiled – a bit weakly – and squeezed his hand.
said with a short laugh. He smirked then
as something occurred to him. “You do
realize that after this you’ll be Mrs.
Moneybags?”
eyebrow at him. “As if I’ll be in any
mood to spend money.” She rose up on her
toes and kissed his cheek. “I’d rather
be Mrs. Sands if it’s all the same to you . . . especially if I got to use your
first name every now and then. Like once
a month or something?”
you’ll be fine,” he said with a smirk.
“And as for the using of . . . my first name . . . we’ll see.”
nose. “My middle name starts with an
'N', and fine. I’ll wear you down
though.” The appearance of a judge
however, interrupted their discussion.
both. I’m Judge Spielman
and I hear that you want to get married?” he asked.
wary, but the man seemed ok enough. He
was a giant of man, topping six foot, with hair as dark as Sands’ own and a
mustache, although they were both tempered with grey.
especially with his height and the black robe he wore, his face seemed open and
kind. But Sands had learned to mistrust
appearances.
gestured to Aida with a smile.
both,” Judge Spielman said, shaking first Aida’s
hand, and then Sands’.
outgoing, and vivacious. And while Sands
knew she was all these things, he also knew she was acting.
Aida’s greeting before speaking. “Now, I
know that since you’re here you’re both serious about this, but I’ve been on
the other end of the process of marriage too many times not to ask.
this? I’m a man who takes ‘until death
do you part’ very seriously. I’m not
saying that your marriage will always been smooth sailing,” he held up his
hand, bearing a slightly tarnished gold wedding band.
almost twenty-five years now and she’ll tell me she’s wanted to kic but butt
out more than once. But she hasn’t.
as well, no matter what. Do you
understand what I’m telling you?” Sands and Aida both nodded.
I’ll trust your own judgments.
Now, what do you say about getting this show on
the road? Have you got your
certificate?” Sands held up the piece of paper.
“Good. Witness?” Aida and Sands
just looked at each other. “Well that’s
alright. We can use Eileen here,” he
said, gesturing to the secretary. “She’s
done it before.”
pang of sadness at not having witnesses she at least knew, if not ones she was
friends with, but she didn’t want to wait.
Most likely they’d try to talk her out of this based on that same
friendship. But still, the dreams of a
little girl, to be married to prince Charming while in a white dress with hundreds
looking on and marveling at the strength of their love. . . .
the years, but it had always included family.
And now she was here alone.
turning her head to look up at her soon to be husband.
look of brief sadness on Aida’s face and guessed at what she was thinking.
court house wasn’t his first choice either, but it was the only available
option at present. He leaned over to
whisper in her ear as the judge led them and the secretary back into his
chambers. “We can always get remarried
in a big fucking church ceremony in front of a hundred people if that’s what
you want, spitfire,” he said with a small smile.
but that didn’t matter for now.
alright. But . . . later, after all
this, when I and everything else is back to normal . . . perhaps a reception or
something. Not that you
kidding? Of course I need presents!
his desk and opened a thick book which apparently had the procedure for
marriage in it. “This is it.
said, putting the engagement ring onto Aida’s finger.
to her. “I’m ready.
if I wasn’t,” she reminded him. She
smiled, feeling excitement building in her.
“Let’s start,” she told the judge, her head held high, her spine
straight.
Aida and Sands to stand in front of him.
“We are gathered here today in the presence of God and these witnesses,
to join together Aida Nicole Grant and Sheldon Jeffrey Sands in wedded
matrimony. Which is an honorable estate
and therefore not to be taken lightly.
If there are any who can show just cause as to why these two should not
be wed, let him speak now or forever hold his peace.”
the required pause, Sands held his breath, fearing somehow that Jeffrey would
wake up and ruin everything. When he
didn’t, Sands was both somewhat surprised and utterly relieved.
speaking to him.
Sands,” Sands just barely held back a wince at the name.
lawful wedded wife? Will you love,
honor, comfort and cherish her, from this day forward, forsaking all others,
keeping only unto her for as long as you both shall live?”
softly but confidently, looking down at Aida with an intense stare, conveying
both his love and affection for her. He
would never leave her. No matter
what.
your lawful wedded husband? Will you
love, honor, comfort and cherish him, from this day forward, forsaking all
others, keeping only onto him for as long as you both shall live?”
avoid it,” she muttered, for Sands’ ears only.
Clearing her throat, she said in a louder voice, “I do.”
vested in me by the great state of
I now pronounce you husband and wife.
You may kiss the bride. But no
tongue,” the judge said with a deep belly laugh.
lasted.
kiss he had been giving Aida on principle.
some seconds later, a dreamy, utterly content look in her eye.
fingers over his face.
forget it. My wife,” he responded,
giving her a full smile.
experience that the sooner they finished up the rest
of the marriage process, the better for the sanctity of his office.
his throat and addressed the newlyweds.
“Mr. and Mrs. Sands, if you could just sign a few things you’ll be free
to enjoy the rest of your lives together without an old fuddy
duddy like me in your hair.”
couple looked at each other one last time before once again approaching the
desk. They signed the necessary papers,
and in a manner of minutes, were sprung from the office into the damp heat of
the bright, New
Sands?” Sands asked with a smirk, bringing her hand up to his lips to kiss her
fingertips as he squinted in the bright sun.
He needed some fucking sunglasses.
poking him in the chest with the hand he held.
“You need a ring. I’m not going
to let you wander around with other women watching you, thinking you’re
unattached.”
drawled with a playful smirk.
. .” Aida trailed off as she looked at Sands’ left hand.
the ring tattoo there d bed be a Bad idea, capital ‘B’ and all.
gaze and wiggled the finger with the tattoo on it.
get it. Tattoos on your fingers hurt
like a bitch. “Ahh.
I’ll just wear it on my right hand.
Problem solved,” he said with a smile and a shrug.
mine? We could go back to the place
where I got yours . . . or, we could go somewhere else if you’ve
got a place in mind. You being
the native and all.”
head. “Are you trying to tease?
cost more than five dollars in my life.”
to tease. To Braudelaire’s
it is then,” Sands said with a smile.
“Couldn’t have other women thinking I’m . . . unattached.”
“Unless you want to see your sickly wife fighting in the streets like a
trollop with any woman who shows interest in you, I suggest you not take me
lightly.”
eyebrows at that, and did the only thing a man could do when confronted with
his wife in a situation like this. He
called a cab and got the driver to take them to the store as quickly as
possible.
small jewelry shop. She’d never dared
enter such a place, knowing that anything inside would be much more than she’d
be able to afford. Now that she was
married, she could blow what was left in her savings account and buy something
for her husband.
“Ah, Mr. Sands, how
delightful to see you again,” Jules commented cheerfully before letting out a
slight gasp. “This isn’t the woman you
bought the – yes it is! I can see the
ring on her finger! Congratulations!”
she gushed. “Didn’t I tell you that one
of our rings has never been turned down?”
“Yes you did.
annoyance out of his voice.
“You’re so
welcome. Now, did you come to buy some
wedding bands or are you interested in something else?”
“Yes, wedding
bands,” Aida stepped in. “Or at least
one. I have a ring, but he doesn’t.
inappropriate.” She moved to stand in
front of Sands, leaning back against his chest.
She didn’t worry about blocking his view since he could still see over
her head.
“It’s traditional
for you both to have wedding bands, but that is entirely your decision.
some items you might be interested in,” Jules commented, all traces of girlish
giddiness gone and replaced by a cool-headusinusiness sense.
cases and laid a piece of soft velvet down on the glass so she could lay rings
on top of it. “Do you have any idea what
kind of band you might like?” she directed the question to them both.
Aida looked at
Sands for some hint of what he’d like.
“Something simple.”
“Any particular
metal you have in mind?” Jules asked, sliding open the case.
“Not gold,” Sands
stated firmly. Other than that, he
didn’t say a word. He would let Aida
chose for him beyond that.
Jules nodded and
laid several rings out on the velvet.
“These three here are in silver.
They’re not as fancy as the rest, but they’re still quite nice.”
worked with tiny diamonds throughout, and the third was a Claddaugh.
said, gesturing to the Claddaugh before moving on to
the other two rings she had placed on the counter.
expensive.” Like the rings in silver,
one was completely plain, and the other was worked through with diamonds.
feel free to tell me and I’ll see what I can come up with.”
Aida glanced at the
price tags on the platinum bands, noting that she could afford the more slender
of the two. It also happened to be the
one without the diamonds. But she didn’t
think Sands would have gone for that anyway.
He may have prep-ish tendencies, but she
didn’t think they ran that deep. “I’ll
take that one,” she said pointing at the ring she wanted.
“An excellent
choice,” Jules said with a nod, quickly and efficiently returning all the other
rings and the piece of velvet back to their places.
you can be on your way if that’s all.”
Aida smiled,
following the other woman with Sands trailing behind.
using her maiden name to sign it. It was
a struggle to keep him from seeing how much the ring was – he had to be able to
guess the general neighborhood and that was bad enough – and handed it over.
s gls glanced at
it, asked to see Aida’s driver license – which she only carried as ID – and
printed out the receipt. “Here you are,”
she said, handing over the ring, complete with its own box.
“Thank you.”
the shop.
Aida pulled her husband
into a nearby park – this part of
was riddled with parks, or graveyards at least, and they did double duty as
parks – and sat him down on a tombstone.
Pulling the small box out, she removed the ring and took his hand in
hers. “Well my husband, will you agree
to let me mark you as mine?”
“It’s only fair I
suppose, my wife, since you’re already a marked woman,” he said with a smirk,
gesturing to the ring she wore proudly on her left hand.
“About that,” she
murmured, slipping the ring onto his right hand.
hands to wear our rings on?”
“If you like,
spitfire. You’re still mine regardless, so it makes no difference to me,” Sands
said with a shrug, looking down at the ring on his finger and trying to get
used to its unfamiliar weight.
“Perhaps we should
go back to the hotel and have a changing of the rings ceremony, like the
changing of the guard,” she teased, leaning in to brush her lips again
his. “Now, while the cats are out.”
“Don’t you consider
me one of those cats, spitfire? Me being
your tiger and all.
said with a smirk before ing ing the simple brush of their lips together into a
full-blown passionate kiss.
Aida grinned
against his lips, wrapping her arms around him tightly.
into the cradle of his legs, rubbing against him seductively.
threw a glance over her shoulder and smiled evilly.
“Forget a hotel
room, tiger,” she nodded to turn his
attention to a rather large, above ground sepulcher.
willow. “It’s secluded, shaded,
private,” each word was preceded or followed by a kiss, “and outdoors.”
tell me twice,” Sands said, feeling a thrill of arousal head straight to his
groin at the prospect. “I knew there was
a reason I married you. Always thinking
ahead,” he said with a smirk, standing up from his seat upon the tombstone and
pulling her in between the branches of the willow tree.
them like a curtain, leaving the couple in the tree’s cool and dark
embrace. It was perfect.
Once out of sight,
Aida rose up on her toes and pressed her mouth against Sands’, giggling a
little at the forbiddeness of public fornification.
“Oh, you like this,
do you?” Sands asked with a smirk.
Although he didn’t like the attention as much as he knew Jeffrey did,
the idea of making love to his wife when they could be caught and chased off at
any moment did thrill him enough to make him more than willing to do so.
more passionately before pulling her down on the cool grass.
Aida went
willingly, rolling Sands onto his back.
She quickly straddled his waist, leaning down to kiss him more.
especially since she hadn’t seen him smoke one cigarette yet today.
While she had him
under her, she started popping the buttons on her white shirt, seeing if she
could get it off before he tried to do it himself.
“Hey, that’s
supposed to be my job, spitfire,” Sands said, reaching up to finish unbuttoning
her shirt. She batted his hands away and
unbuttoned the last out out interference.
“Fine,” Sands grumbled softly before pushing her shirt off of her
shoulders and leaning up to reach around with one hand to deftly unhook and
remove her bra. He then moved both of
his hands to her bare breasts, kneading them slowly but firmly, enjoying the
sight of the beautiful half-naked woman above him that he just happened to be
lucky enough to be married to.
“Beautiful,” he murmured to himself under his breath, a clear smile upon
his face as he watched her.
“Glad you think
so,” she murmured, her back arching into her touch.
they don’t get grass stains, I’ll let you be on top.”
since they both knew she’d stay put or move as Sands wanted.
“Lie back,” Sands
instructed, unbuttoning and unzipping her pants.
her shoes and pull her pants and panties down her legs in this position before
moving out from under her to sit up and take in the view of his wife, the woman
he loved, lying naked and waiting on the grass.
“Youk lik like some kind of nymph,” he said with a short laugh, putting
her shoes and clothes in a neat pile nearby.
“Especially with your red hair,” he reached down to brush his hand
through her slightly tousled curls. He
then leaned back to untuck and unbutton his own
shirt.
Aida smiled at his
comment, but didn’t reply. Instead she
found herself wondering if she should cut her hair to make a wig while it was
still thick and healthy. While her mind
was occupied with this dilemma, her eyes eagerly took in the sight of her
husband stripping his clothes off. He
really was quite beautiful – lean and wiry instead of muscled.
for. His pale skin was interrupted by
numerous tattoos, and she wondered at their significance.
ask later, she decided.
Once he had
stripped himself completely naked – well aware of Aida’s eyes on him the entire
time – he placed his own clothes, shoes, and various weapons next to Aida’s
before leaning down over her. He smirked
before leaning over to kiss at her neck and collarbone, letting his slightly
hardened arousal caress between her thighs.
Each kiss was passionate and forceful, but yet at the same time utterly
gentle. He wanted her –
now his wife both spurred him on and urged him to be gentle and cherish
her. It was an interesting mix of
emotions, but somehow it felt right.
His wife simply
reacted. She tangled her hands in his
hair, trying to pull him either up or down in short bursts of
indecisiveness. The only thing she was
sure of was that she needed this man.
She needed his body, she needed his company, she needed his opinions . .
. she even needed him because in the midst of the chaos her life was becoming,
he was someone she could care for.
Someone she had a reason to struggle for.
strength to support him entirely, it was good to know she was needed. In and out
of bed.
Sands wanted to
tell her to make up her mind with what she wanted him to do, but held back,
letting her pull and push him whichever way she wanted.
for now he’d let do what she liked.
Finally, feeling
her husband grow ever more aroused, Aida managed to make up her mind.
breast as she pulled one of his hands to her face.
pulled his index finger between her lips, a blatant mockery of what they would
soon be doing.
s'> Sands shook his
head slightly as he felt and understood what she was doing, but didn’t
comment. Instead, he focused all of his
attention on her breast, biting and sucking at in varying degrees of gentleness
and forcefulness. He could hear her breath
begin to quicken, and that only aroused him even more.
his finger also had a somewhat arousing affect.
It wasn’t much, but he could certainly feel it.
other to caress the outside of her thigh where he could reach, striving to
bring her as close to arousal as he was right now.
Aida moaned around
the finger in her mouth, increasing the suction enough that she could make his
finger slide in and out of her mouth.
And as much as she enjoyed it, she wasn’t getting the . . .
wanted. An evil thought occurred to her,
and as she shifted her body beneath his to press against his growing arousal,
she nipped harshly at the pad of his finger, managing to draw blood.
The shock of the
sudden pleasurable pain on his finger and the movement of Aida beneath him was
enough for Sands to pull away from her breast and gasp.
his pulse pound in his groin as even more blood rushed between his legs than
before. When Aida started suckling on
that same bloodied fi he he moaned slightly and decided he had had enough of
foreplay for now. He thrust into her
with a singular movement, leaving no time for pretenses.
her warm heat surrounding an enveloping him – and now he was.
She groaned loudly
at the invasion, her body arching and pressing against his.
ready were soothed as she immediately started undulating her hips under and
against him. Abandoning his finger for
his lips, Aida pulled Sands down for an intense kiss that left both of them
battling for control as their bodies writhed against one another.
Sands felt himself
riding the crest of their passion together and loved every moment of it.
with someone you loved; nothing. And he
loved this woman. More than he had ever
thought possible. His mind was tempted
to remember the day they had first met, but he had neither the ability nor the
willingness to think that clearly right now.
Right now the only thing that existed was her.
revolved around. She was his wife.
her neck and chest, wanting to kiss every inch of her that he could; as quickly
as he could. He needed to.
Aida let him go,
moving against him mouth and letting the sounds of her pleasure ring softly in
the warm afternoon air. Her hands
started to restlessly traverse any and all skin she could reach as she felt
herself getting closer and closer to the peak.
As she was driven there by her husband.
It was an extremely erotic thought.
His thrusts became
morecefuceful and sped up considerably as the combination of thoughts of just
who she was and what she meant to him, the taste of her skin, the quiet sounds
of her passion and the feeling of her hands upon him brought him closer and
closer to orgasm. His kisses became
rougher now as he began to lose some of the tight col hel he had been exerting
over himself. He bit, nipped and left
more than his fair share of marks in the wake of his demanding mouth.
“Yes, Sands,” she
moaned before breaking off into a series of sharp whimpers as he started to
force her hips against the ground.
“Tiger, husband, I’m so close.”
As if he couldn’t
tell that from the variety of lovely sounds she was making.
fucking tidal wave and there was absolutely nothing he could do to stop
it. Not that he’d bother to try.
with each, in the attempt to bring them both the release they both wanted.
It was suddenly too
much for Aida to stand. With a long,
loud moan, she came, pulling her husband against her with arms and legs, her
hips bucking up into him to accept and demand everything he had to give her.
With Aida’s entire
body pulling on him to climax, he could do little but give in, and he joined
his wife’s chorus of moans, adding a deep one of his own.
his eyes tightly as he rode out his orgasm breathlessly.
come more and more until he was utterly spent and satiated, slumping against
Aida in a tangle of sweaty and sticky limbs.
Aida simply laid on
the grass, her body being crushed by her husband’s.
but she wouldn’t ask him to move for anything.
Eventually, a nearby
clock – on a street corner, or by some quiet little church – rang the
hour. Aida moaned to hear that it was
five already, but she didn’t bother trying to ignore it.
appearance yet, especially since he’d been so worried for his own wife earlier.
“We should go
back,” she whispered.
“Way to ruin the
mood, spitfire,” Sands joked with a short laugh.
up, and I’d rather we – or at least you – were dressed when that happened.
comes next.”
******************************
Aida and Sands managed to reach the elevator and were
halfway up to the quartet’s room when Jeffrey finally stirred.
The first thing
Jeffrey did was look at the watch on his wrist before exploding.
now!” He began to pace the confined
space of the wall like an encaged panther, willing the elevator to hurry the
fuck up. “Fuck you both,” he hissed, his
eyes blazing. His eyes then focused on
Aida. “And what the fuck are you fucking
cheerful about, kitty? Did you get some
good news at the doctors?” he asked caustically, wanting to lash out at someone
in frustration, and Aida simply falling into his line of fire.
Aida crossed her
arms and looked at him, well aware that she was hiding her ring.
that it’ll matter if he notices Sands’' finger . . . although I doubt he will
in this state. “Did someone wake up
a bastard?” she shot back.
Jeffrey was
centimeters from backhanding Aida hard across the face when his hand was
stopped by Sands’. “Touch her and I’ll
make you regret it,” Sands seethed. “And
you know I’m telling you the truth, so drop it.”
Jeffrey was at a
dilemma. On the one hand, he’d rather
fucking die than do what Sands said, but on the other he believed him.
hand away from Sands’ and punched the elevator waightight beside Aida’s head
hard enough to break at least one of the bones in his hand, leaving a bloodied
dent against the wall. In retrospect, it
hadn’t been the best idea, his hand hurt like a mother fucker, but it had been
almost worth it to see the loo Aid Aida’s face.
The elevator doors opened and with one last looked her he stalked out,
making no movement to show that his hand even bothered him, let alone needed
medical attention.
Aida stayed in the
elevator until the doors started to close.
Moving suddenly, she got out of the elevator and caught up with Jeffrey
and her husband. She didn’t say
anything, and Jeffrey didn’t acknowledge her presence.
anything beyond that.
Together they
approached their room, and Aida waited as the men unlocked the door.
but Sands managed to stop him. Aida
simply sighed and once again followed, waiting for the inevitable talk to
begin.
Not that it started
immediately. Jeffrey was distracted by
pain and the sight of his wife on the couch.
Salida was half-sitting in a fetal position, one arm curled around the
arm of the couch, the other around her waist.
On the table next to her there sat a half empty bottle of ginger ale and
an open box of Triscuts.
Jeffrey rushed
immediately to her side, unaware of the blood dripping down his fingertips and
onto the couch as he focused on his wife.
“Vixen?” he called out softly, a worried frown creasing his features.
“Fuck you,” she
muttered, her eyes screwing shut. “I’m
sleeping.”
Jeffrey winced at
her harsh tone, but continued on anyway, “I’m sorry, vixen.
asked, completely forgetting about Aida standing behind him.
Salida shook her
head. “No.
time. That was a stupid fucking idea.”
Jeffrey
sighed. “I will.
gestured with his hand in question without thinking and gasped in pain.
slightly.
Salida’s eyes
popped open at that. She’d rarely heard
pain in Jeffrey’s voice, and she didn’t like that she was hearing it now.
“Nothing.
I’m fine,” he said through gritted teeth, lowering his hand from her
view slowly as he tried not to cry out.
She had enough problems right now without dealing with his stupid
fuckups.
Salida shook her
head. “If I don’t get to lie, you don’t
either. Let me see.”
reaction to Jeffrey’s injury. The moment
she saw blood, she jumped up off the couch and ran for the bathroom.
making a large mess.
“Fuck,” Jeffrey
muttered before getting up and following her.
If she was going to take a look at his fucking hand, and react like that
every time she saw it, then it would probably be best to be in the bathroom.
Aida watched him
leave, taking a seat on one of the chairs, waiting for one of the two to notice
the ring on Sands’ finger.
Salida was rinsing
her mouth when Jeffrey came in. “Sorry,”
she mumbled, before taking another sip of lukewarm water.
“Not your fault,”
Jeffrey assured her. “Do you still want
to fucking see it?” he asked with a wince and a shiver, leaning against the
doorframe as the world was still slightly shifty from the pain.
and knew that wasn’t a good sign.
“I’d better,” she
whispered, swallowing hard. But if that
brief glimpse she’d caught was any indication, she wasn’t going to be able to
do much. “Come over here where the light
is brighter.”
Jeffrey did as she
asked, and held out his hand for her to see slowly in the brighter light, not
noticing as the ring on his other hand reflected it brightly.
“Not good,” she
winced, examining his hand. “You’ve
broken several bones and I don’t think I could set them right without an
x-ray.” She looked up into his face,
noting the grey case his skin was taking.
“Sit,” she said suddenly, pushing him against the counter.
“I’ll do my best to
fucking not to,” Jeffrey said with a weak smile, sitting down.
That wasn’t the fucking brightest thing I could have done,” he muttered
with another shiver.
“What did you do?”
Salida asked slowly. She couldn’t do
anything for her husband, but she doubted she’d get him to a hospital
either. Stepping out of the room for a
moment, she asked Aida to call the paramedics.
She waited until the other woman picked up the phone before returning to
Jeffrey. “I’m still waiting for an
answer, lover.”
“I fucking got
pissed and punched a wall of the elevator.
like. Kind of like a memento,” he
muttered slowly, not looking up at her.
“He wanted to
fucking hit spitfire, but I wouldn’t let him so he took it out on the wall
instead,” Sands ventured with a wince of his own.
fucking hurts!”
“Don’t,” Jeffrey
said softly. “I can’t fucking deal with
the room acting like I’m on a fucking Tilt-o-Whirl and you fucking arguing with
me at the same time so please shut the fuck up and leave me to my pain.”
Salida shook her
head. “Give me a moment.”
from underneath the sink. Sorting
through it, she pulled out a vial and a syringe.
men, but they shied away. “Ok, which one
of you did that?” Sands, but she wasn’t sure.
“You’re not fucking
sticking me again with that thing, sunrise.
Last time you made me leave and turned Jeffrey into a fucking raging
psychopath. No fucking way.
further away from her, holding up his hand to fend her off.
“Don’t fuck with me
Sands, this is just a shot of Vicodin, and not even a full one at that.
she trailed off. “What’s that on your
finger?”
“A wedding
ring. What the fuck does it look like?”
Sands said defiantly.
“Ex-excuse me?”
Salida stuttered. She could feel the
blood drain from her head, but didn’t bother to reach out for any support.
“A fucking what?!”
Jeffrey yelled, rising to his feet in anger, feeling to need to pace, but
slumping back down again on the counter as the ride operator on the
Tilt-o-Whirl decided to make things more interesting.
“Believe it.
hand on the counter to steady himself as he too felt the room spin again.
“Umm . . . oh
fuck,” Salida muttered as the room slowly went black before her eyes.
floor, losing consciousness after a brief fight.
floor from her limp hand.
For a long second
all Jeffrey and Sands could do was stare at Salida’s limp form on the
floor. “Kitty!
as he pulled himself off of the counter and kneeled down beside his wife.
faint as well, but he had held on to consciousness, barely.
Aida came quickly,
although she didn’t run. She’d heard the
beginning of the anticipated argument from the living area, and didn’t really
want to get involved. There was nothing
she could do to change anything – it was really between her husband and Jeffrey
– but when she saw Salida lying on the floor, she understood why she’d been
summoned. She stood in the doorway to
the bathroom and just took in the scene.
“She just . . .
fucking fainted . . . because of you,” Jeffrey said slowly.
her . . . I think you’re going . . . to have to . . . fucking open the door. .
.” With that, Jeffrey’s face paled
dramatically, his eyes rolled up into the back of his head, and he dropped down
onto the floor next to his wife.
******************************
Half an hour later, Jeffrey was arguing with a pair of
paramedics who wanted to haul him away for x-rays.
if she was lying in bed, and denying that anything was wrong – he refused to
leave. Which meant getting patched up
here as well as could be done in the field.
“You’re not fucking
listening to me; I don’t care if I
may have broken all of my fingers. It’s
my fucking hand. Do whatever it is you
people do and get the fuck out of here.
Wait, did you take a look at her first?
My wife? She hasn’t been fucking
feeling well.”
The pair, a man and
a woman, just looked at each other.
They’d seen more than enough of their fair share of stubborn patients,
but these two took the prize for pigheadedness.
“I’m fine,” the
dark-haired woman protested. “I just
wasn’t prepared for the sight of blood.”
She glared at her husband.
“Don’t fucking
listen to her. She was sick before
this,” Jeffrey argued.
“I’m
husband’s hand looking like a side of beef that’s gone through a chipper.
it. So since he refuses to go get x-rays,
please just set the hand as best you can and apply a cast.”
The two paramedics
looked at each other, then at their male patient.
“Whatever.
wince. “Do your fucking worst.
“No kidding,
bastard,” Sands muttered under his breath.
“Stop muttering to
yourself,” Salida warned, a more specific warning in her eyes.
Ready to get out of
the hotel room as fast as they could, the paramedics set and cast Jeffrey’s
hand and arm and left. They didn’t have
the authority to leave any painkillers or a prescription; they felt sorry for
the poor bastard but didn’t say anything beyond, “Call the hospital or your
doctor if there’s any extreme swelling or pain.”
“Well that was no
fucking fun,” Jeffrey said with a groan, lying down on the bed next to Salida
with a wince, clutching at his now cast-enclosed hand.
“Don’t try that
again. Sands come out of hiding, if that’s
what you're doing.” They needed to
settle this matter once and for all. And
then Salida intended on going to sleep.
“You too, Grant,” she called loudly enough to be heard in the other
bedroom.
“Technically it’s
Sands now too . . . and fuck, that’s confusing,” Sands muttered.
curl up and die while those fucking butchers set my/our/whoever’s hand.”
“If you’d just let
me give you the damn Vicodin,” Salida muttered as Aida came to the door.
him.”
“Are you?” Aida
asked blandly.
Salida glared.
my husband shares the same body.”
“Well your fucking husband
says bring on the fucking drugs,” Jeffrey moaned from the bed.
“Fine,” Sands said,
not really in much of a mood to argue any longer.
Salida sighed, but
rose to her feet, still swaying a little.
“One of these days I’m just going to wash my hands of the both of
you. The three of you.
bathroom and back. Sitting back down on
the bed with a sigh of relief, she resisted the urge to vengefully plunge the
needle into them. Instead she gave
Jeffrey the shot in his upper arm, throwing the syringe away in a nearby
wastebasket as she collapsed on the bed.
“Spill.
before I fall asleep,” she muttered.
“We got married at
the local courthouse. I had already bought
the fucking ring. It just seemed like a
good a time as any to actually go through with it,” Sands muttered from the
bed, lifting his head up a little to look at Aida.
“Wait, when did you
buy the fucking ring?” Jeffrey asked with frown, flopping his head back down on
the bed.
“While you were
shopping for sunrise,” Sands responded.
Salida rubbed her
eyes. “Fine.
“What do you mean?”
Sands asked slowly, feeling the painkillers beginning to take effect.
“I mean, does this
change anything. Am I going to have to
fight for custody or something?”
“No.
looking at Aida.
Aida shrugged.
the country or something.”
It’s settled.
For now. But I’m not . . . don’t
talking about this. We’ll fucking talk
again when I can keep a straight thought. . .” Jeffrey said, shutting his eyes
tightly. He couldn’t even feel the pain
anymore, which he supposed was good, but he was having trouble concentrating on
everyone else, including Sands, which was bad.
Salida reached over
and patted her husband’s arm. “Go to
sleep. I know I am.”
Sands looked up at
Aida, “Sorry, spitfire. I don’t think
I’m going anywhere for the moment,” he said wearily.
“That’s
alright. Get some sleep.
Glaring at Salida defiantly, Aida approached the bed and kissed her
husband, deeply and on the mouth. “I’ll
be around when you wake up.”
“Good,” Sands said
with a happy smile before prompting falling asleep, still fully clothed on top
of the sheets.
Jeffrey on the
other hand, wiped his mouth off as he glared at Aida’s retreating back before
sitting ery ery slowly to attempt to remove his shoes at least before he too fell
asleep.
“Lemme help,”
Salida murmured, rolling down the bed and removing his shoes for him.
“Thanks, vixen,”
Jeffrey said with a sleepy grin before attempting his shirt.
undone one-handed before deciding it wasn’t worth it and falling back down on
the bed.
“Want help?” she
asked, weariness showing in her voice.
“Please?” Jeffrey
asked slowly. “I’m fucking hot,” he
murmured.
“Okay.”
way down the rest of the row of buttons, before pulling Jeffrey up.
pressed him back down. “Is that all?”
Jeffrey managed to
remove his belt and drop it off the side of the bed along with all the things
in his pockets, the knife and the gun, before nodding.
“Good.”
nausea, Salida laid at her husband’s side, her temple resting against his
shoulder. They were silent for a long
time before Jeffrey heard her sniff quietly.
“What?
seriously.
“I don’t know.
“Like that’s
possible. Come on, I’m not going
anywhere. Tell me,” he asked
slowly.
“I don’t know,” she
repeated. “I’m . . . I’m just a little
under the weather I guess, and the movers were late and lazy, and then you come
home with a mutilated hand, and then Sands goes and gets married . . .” she
trailed off. “It’s just been a long day
and I don’t know why I’m fucking crying.”
“I’m sorry, vixen,”
he said quietly, wishing he could do something more for her.
“It’s not your
fault,” she whispered. “I just need
sleep I think. Now, before things start
getting too loud in my own head.”
“Can’t have that,”
Jeffrey murmured. “Get some rest,
vixen. Feel better.”
“Okay.”
and fell asleep with her lips against his skin.
Jeffrey laughed
slightly at that, but only had time to lean his head against the top of hers
before he too was asleep, sleeping the deep sleep of one who had been drugged
to the gills. Neither occupant of the
bed moved for a long while after that.