It's amazing how unable to sleep you can feel yet as soon as your head hits a pillow you're out. Oblivious to a bomb going off or in this case a bar full of drunks.

I sat up in the hide-a-bed at The Wolf's Den the only light was just a faint glow which seeped through the sides of what covered the doorway. My body was feeling the effects of yesterday's abuse which the painkillers Nancy had picked up promised to relieve.

Making my way past the old blanket that was covering the doorway the bar appeared to be deserted in its darkened state. The only lights coming from various beer signs that hung up on the walls.

It wasn't. This ability to sense when Nancy was near still weirded me out. It was like learning you can breath under water exciting but scary at the same time. Maybe it's because I've yet to have a chance to really use it. Suddenly, I had an idea. I suppose the meds could wait a bit longer. I didn't want to risk addiction or something.

I moved as silently as I could knowing she must of fell asleep in one of the booths... but which one? I decided it must be one on this side of the bar. The range hadn't been more than a few feet it seemed, at least not yet. I wondered how much it would increase.

I could barely see which was the norm here but it was darker than normal this helped with the Nancy version of warmer, colder although, the last thing I needed was to trip on something.

As I came up to the back of the first booth I didn't notice much different. Not this one I said to myself as I moved my hand down the back to confirm. Nope. I gave myself a mental pat on the back and moved on the the next.

This time it was a bit stronger and I had to think about how I felt setting next to her to compare it against. It was hard to tell. Maybe a little weaker? Yeah, it must be. Again I checked with my hand and had to fight myself from jumping up and down when again there was nothing.

This will be it! I just knew it i thought to myself as i moved to the third booth. My heart was now about ready to jump out of my chest. Definitely more exciting than trying to sneak up on Dobby which i was about 0-10 or so. All that practice was paying off!

"You think you can sneak up on me?"

I froze as her groggy voice scared the bejezzus out of me. Do something! I screamed trying to find some way to save some dignity.

"Ummm no. I was just... trying to get to the bathroom is all."

Seriously?! The bathroom? That's the best you can do, Crystal? I'm not sure if I should be disappointed or not in having the worlds worst liar for a mate.

She got up and Stood before me not saying anything. I could feel her eyes on me even though I could only just make out her figure.

"You mean to tell me you still don't know where they are?" She said in a sarcastic tone followed by a long sigh. "Don't move."

I stood like a statue as she went and turned on the lights blinding me as my eyes adjusted. "There over there." She pointed to them on the other side with a smirk.

"Okay, okay, you got me! I was trying to tell which one of these booths you were in. And before you get even more smart with me, I'll let you know that I was right. Not bad for a human in my condition if I say so myself so lay off of me!

She folded her arms and leaned against the back wall as if trying not to bust up laughing. "That is very impressive. Your lying could still use some serious work however."

"Whatever! My rib is killing me and you were supposed to be asleep."

"I was. You forget it works both ways. plus I can smell, see, and hear you. Your nails sounded like you were scrapping them on a chalkboard."

"Oh! Yeah, I probably should be cutting them, huh?" I said looking at them. They needed to be redone but I still loved them and it's a miracle they've gotten as long as they were without me breaking them.

"Don't do it on my account." She replied with a grin.

"Your account would be precisely the reason as a matter of fact."

" Ohhh you do know how to make a woman feel special, don't ya? You sure you don't have any experience with us?" She said in a sultry voice as she moved past me rubbing her hand on my shoulder.

Okay, the comment about my nails was a mostly innocent remark. Maybe even seventy percent. I wasn't expecting the conversation to go this way.

"Not really. I sorta dated a few girls before in my other life, but it was nothing serious."

"Sorta? How do you sorta date someone?

I watched her grab the painkillers from behind the bar and grab a Venom. Since when do we have those here?

"Since I told Linnea to pick you up some on her way here earlier." She said answering my unspoken question while handing me my pills.

"Well the first Rachel and Emily. They were twin sisters and I'm not sure what happened. I showed up to school one day and they were like really sweet to me. Emily even kissed my cheek at recess but I guess Rachel wanted to take things slow. I left school that day feeling like a million dollars but the next day neither wanted anything to do with me. Turns out they had moved in to Tommy, the class bully. I don't think I ever got over it.

Then there was Michelle. I guess I was about twelve or so and it lasted a bit longer. She lived a few blocks away so we use to hold hands on the way back from school. One day she was just gone. Her family packed up and left just like that.

My last one if you call it that was, Julie Davis in high school. We were both gay so it wasn't a real relationship just something that kept us from getting beat up and harassed. We're still really good friends. she's living in Seattle now engaged to a cop who had pulled her over for speeding. She was always really good at talking her way out of trouble."

Twin sisters and a lesbian? You are a charmer!"

I wasn't sure what got her in such a playful mood but I was really enjoying this side of her and hoped this would be the norm.

"Well maybe. You did fail to mention my best one..."

"Michelle?"

"You silly." I said knocking down the pills.

——

About an hour later we were back on the interstate returning to my place when I finally was able to get around to checking my phone that Nancy had been holding.

"HOLY SHIT!" I said out loud as I scanned the million messages from JoAnn and Ashley getting a raised brow from Nancy that I didn't even need to see. I'm really starting to get to know her better.

"JoAnn took off from Ashley's place I guess right after I left her threatening to use the gun if Ashley or them tried anything. Ashley followed her to where she saw her get into a car with some guy just before town.

I should've known she was up to something. If Jake does anything-"

"He won't. Trust me."

Nancy's hand patted my thigh helping me calm down. It did seem unlikely but I couldn't help but be worried. He was crazy and not in the frame of mind to make rational decisions so there was no telling what he could do.

Scrolling through it became clear that after she left Ashley's she really wanted to reach me. Judging about the time I was probably out cold at the hospital.

I typed a quick reply to her

Ran into Jake at bar. Nancy took me to the hospital where I got a bunch of drugs so ended up falling asleep. Is everything alright? Me and Nancy are coming back now.

"Say... why didn't you bite me last night?"

I asked looking through some CDs

"I do have most of those already digital.

"It looks far too complicated for anything I want to play with right now. " I replied picking out Amaranthe.

Nancy shrugged "I know I might of overreacted at the restaurant."

"You? Overreacting? Naaaaah never!" I said with a laugh.

"Okay, Smartass... You had fallen asleep as soon as you laid down. I just couldn't bring myself to waking you so I just fell laid down in one of the booths. But, i do wanna do it soon especially with everything going on."

She smirked. I found it really sweet of her not to wake me but I'm sure I'd of slept better with her next to me.

"You could've still joined me, you know?Am I going to have to go looking for you every-"

My phone went off and JoAnn's picture popped up. Why the hell didn't she just message me. I wasn't really in the mood to listen to what I was sure I was going to get by answering.

I gave Nancy an uneasy smile as I answered. She already knew my dread as she met mine with a genuine one.

"At least she cares for you. Consider yourself lucky."

"Why didn't you call me when you got out?"

My sisters voice demanded as soon as I answered. She sounded like she'd been crying. This wasn't JoAnn being Joann, something was wrong.

"I told you. Between the medication and staying up with you I was exhausted I guess. Nancy said I fell -

"One of those things killed mom and dad."

Everything started spinning as I tried to process what she said. I could tell she was going about a mile a minute but it sounded far off.

"...Where are you now?"

"I told you I'm at home. Dan from work drove me. I just know it was one of those... "

there was a pause for a about five seconds.

"...I thought I saw something outside but it was nothing.

I noticed Nancy had pulled off the road and was sitting almost sideways looking at me. I should've known she could hear the conversation.

"When did this happen?"

"Friday night or early Saturday morning. Haven't you heard a thing I said?"

Nancy started rubbing my thigh trying to keep me calm but it wasn't working well. I kept wondering what caused Jake to do something like this. Why?

"I'm sorry! I zoned out a bit at first okay."

"I don't know why I'm telling you, you don't care. No telling which one of these did it. It could be Jake, Ashley, or your little girlfriend. I haven't even been able to see them or get inside the house."

She was starting to cry again and that made me feel even worse

"That's enough, JoAnn! I may not of gotten along with them but that doesn't mean I wanted them dead. It wasn't Nancy! She's been with me almost the entire time and wouldn't have any reason. The same goes for Ashley and her pack. Jake is the only one who would do this. He's going to be dealt with but you can't be alone right now. Please! We'll be back in about twenty minutes and pick you up. Just stay put till then."

I hung up the phone and got out lighting a cigarette. It felt to claustrophobic inside at the moment and I needed some fresh air. We were near Rose Lake and probably not far when I threw up before.

"He's going to pay for this. I promise you." Nancy said with gritted teeth.

"I should've dealt with him that night at the bar when I found out about JoAnn. I didn't think he'd do such a thing."

" Me either. Just add that to the long list of things I've been wrong about lately."

I shot back at her as I stepped over the guardrail and started walking towards the lake. I really wasn't in the mood to hear it from her. I just wanted to be left alone for a minute.

The sound of her feet behind me said she wasn't about to do that. I turned around slipping on the dirt and losing my balance. She grabbed me by the shoulders stopping my fall but I wasn't feeling grateful.

I spun around pissed that she'd try this shit now of all times. This was none of her damn business aside from being the wife of the asshole who was responsible.

"Can't I have a min-"

"No, you can't! This isn't a safe place and you're in no condition to be wandering off alone. Then there's the fact that your sister is waiting for us. Did you forget that already? I get that you're hurt and you have every right-

"We never got along. I told you-"

I lashed out interrupting her. I should've known she wasn't going to let me get away with it.

"Oh bullshit! You may be able to convince others of that, Joann of that, maybe even yourself of that, but I know better. My parents and I never got along either and while it was for different reasons, it had the same result. Me pretending I didn't give a shit because it was easier than admitting I did. You don't have to pretend anymore and certainly not with me."

Damn her! Why the hell did she always had to be so fucking stubborn? I didn't want her seeing me fall apart and especially over my parents who... was I'd now never reconcile with. I'd always hoped that maybe someday...

I turned away again breaking her grip as I felt my eyes begin to water. I only got a step away before she grabbed me again this time pulling me close.

I was done resisting. I wrapped my arms around her waist as I buried my face in the cusp of her neck soaking her shirt with my tears.