Night Time Saints

Layla woke as the sun warmed her face. Rolling onto her other side, she rubbed her eyes then looked across the room. Caitlin’s bed was still empty. Tossing the blanket aside, Layla stumbled through apartment but Caitlin was nowhere to be found.

“Whose bed did you crawl into?” she muttered, flopping onto the couch

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She woke to the gentle beep of the machines. A pair of warm hands were wrapped around her right hand and what she could only assume was a rosary was pressed into her palm. She took a few moments to take in her surroundings before looking at the person next to her.

“Mac?” she whispered

His head popped up, relief washing over his face. “Catie? Thank God! How are you feeling?”

“Like I got punched in the face. Where am I?”

“St. Anne’s. Oh Catie, I’m so sorry I didn’t find you sooner.”

Caitlin scrunched her swollen eyes, “Mac, you didn’t…”

“I came down for a smoke. Saw the light was burned out again. Heard the bins clatter and found you bleeding to death. Got you here as quick as I could. Doc’s say you’re going to be okay. Catie…what happened?”

“We’re…we’re you alone?”

“Aye.”

Caitlin shook her head, “That doesn’t sound right. You…you weren’t…”

“I was Catie. You’ve got a pretty nasty concussion love. What do you remember from last night?”

“I closed the pub.”

“Where was Carrie?”

“She left. I told her to go home. I ejected the last two and finished closing. I even stayed a little late to do the books. I left…I…I didn’t see them ‘til they had me on the ground.”

“Did they…”

Tears welled up in her eyes, “Aye, but I fought Mac. I fought the whole time.”

Mac kissed her hand and stroked her hair as she cried. “I know you did love. I know you did.”

Turning her face away, Mac continued to stroke her hair. After a few minutes, she turned back to him. “Please don’t tell Layla.”

“Darlin’ I can’t keep this from her. She’s going to know you didn’t come and one look at you she’s going to know something happened.”

“Please Mac, not now. I need a few days without her going on a rampage.”

“What am I supposed to tell her?”

“Mickey. Just tell her Mickey blew into town and I left with him. A few days go by and I get to the pub before her shift. I’ve come back lookin’ like this before.”

He sighed, “Stay with me when they release you and swear to me that you will tell her and I’ll do it.”

“I promise that I’ll tell her, but in my own time.  I…I need to process it all first.” she sniffled, “You know her and what she’ll do. I can’t handle that too.”

“Alright love. Get some rest. I’m going to go find coffee and I’ll be back.”

She nodded but said nothing. He kissed her head then left the room; Noah was waiting by the door.

“I’ll run with story as long as I can.” Said Mac

“Thank you.” Said Noah, “Who’s Mickey?”

“Her father.”

“She’s come back looking like that after visiting him?”

Mac grinned a little, “It’s not what you think. Mickey’s a good man. Caitlin’s always had a hard time staying in one place. Her da’ blows into town and she takes off with him. Once, after being in town for well over a year, she ended up in Tibet. Her and Mickey have gone on benders and gotten into scrapes. That’s what she meant.”

“She’s a tough one.”

“Very, but what happened last night…she’s not going to be the same.”

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Carrie was in the middle of setting up when Layla came in. “Morning!” called Carrie

“Is that fuckin’ Pikey here?”

She laughed, “Haven’t seen her.”

“Did she pick anyone up last night?” she called, dropping her stuff behind the bar

“Not that I saw.”

Layla’s face fell as she tied her apron on, “She didn’t come home.”

“She won’t be home for several days.” said Mac, emerging from the back room

“Fuck me!” exclaimed Carrie, “When did you get here?”

“Twenty minutes ago. You were in the basement.”

“So where the hell is she?”

Mac forced a grin, “I came back after closing. She was sittin’ here with Mickey.”

Layla’s shoulders feel and she rolled her eyes, “Bitch didn’t bother to say goodbye.”

“You can yell at her when she gets home.”

“Oh…I will.”

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Sneaking into her room, Murphy his in the shadows watching as she slept. She whimpered softly as he moved closer to her bed, but didn’t wake up. From his pocket, he pulled out a broken silver chain; a Tree of Life pendant hanging from it. “I believe this is yours.” He whispered, slipping it into her good hand. She moaned softly. Murphy lightly squeezed her hand before leaving again.