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((hahahaha you weirdos...now I HAVE to post. But it's gonna suck cause I'm tired with Scarlet fever *pun used* and am about to pass out...yes...I need spark notes to save me.))

Amma's body was trying desperatly to repear the damage done to it, making her tired and exhausted, she felt as though she could hardly move her hand, much less stand up and walk some where warmer and safer. The feelings that tore at her heart made the tears keep coming, now black stains on her knees and smears over her face and rubbing her eyes constantly.

When she heard Cherokee's voice she was SURE she was dead, heaven maybe. She'd open her eyes and see white clouds and golden castles, people with wings, and Cherokee...maybe not with wings, but in white at least.

However she opened her eyes and saw darkness, snow, and Cherokee, in the same outfit as earlier...depressingly not in white and not surrounded by people with wings and harps.

The fact he was here both made her furious and extremely calm. For nearly a minute she had stopped sobbing and stared at him, eyes that now look like a racoon, thanks to smeared make up tears, watching his face for some sort of anger or hatred that she had seen on Darius. She expected it fully, used to it, somehow wanting it...instead of the complete opposite. It made her feel guilty, stupid, and rash. He had run all this way just to catch up to her, and it was her fault this all had happened. If she had never followed him that night, he wouldn't have to worry about her, worry about being killed, any of that...atleast more than he might had before.

This realization made her start crying again and make a motion like she was about to get up and run again, but her arms fell limply on the cold stone and she leaned over.

"Why are you always following me?!" She finally screamed, but it was broken up by gasping and sobbing...as well as sniffing. "Why?! What is it that you see in me?! I'M A ******** LOSER! I'M NO BETTER THAN HIM!" It was as though she were talking to herself mostly as she beat the ground with a tired fist, which made it look as though she were tapping it. "I should have been the one shot...Enzo shouldn't have missed..." She gave up trying to scream and curled up again, her shoulders trembling.

((Hahaha she is a loser, a real loser. NOW I SERIOUSLY LEAVE! I MUST!))

((OKay, kiddies! I'ma gunna post... And then get back to finishing my damned art homework... blar. SO MUCH SKETCHING!!!!))


Cherokee reguarded her in his quiet manner as he did all things when she finally looked up. Her face was swollen and blotchy with tears and her makeup had smeared around her eyes making her look tired and gave her a certain haunted look. His light blue eyes grew soft and he scoot a little closer drawn in by her misery and pain, but yet he still waited for her to speak... to cry, to be angry, to be anything. He waited.

Though, in a moment her crying continued when it had fell so still, like a lull in a storm that began with rain and ended with a crash of thunder: she began to yell.

Cherokee didn't flinch. He let her rage against him, and then quickly she raged against herself. He remained immobile and soundless, but slowly he eased himself beside her and draped a long comforting arm around her shaking shoulders.

"When you talk like that, it hurts... you know?" He said softly, his breath a gentle frost. Cherokee stared off into the dark, unsure of what reassurance he could have given her to want to live... what sort of phrase could he have said to make her see what she wouldn't, but there was nothing, othwerwise Cherokee wouldn't have been running with a gang...he wouldn't have ruined his life at age 15 due to self hatred and a need to destroy himself.

But there was something now, he realized as his heart thumped hard against his ribcage. There was something that kept him going now. He turned to Amma with his relazation and being a man who spoke so little words, and being a man who believed more in his own actions than those few words he gripped Amma's chin and did the most profound thing he could have said to her. He kissed her with every emotion she made him feel.

He loved her and it was obvious by the way such a powerful man was suddenly so gentle, and by the way he closed his eyes... and by the way he pressed her close to his heart as all men in love do.

((Was that poetry or what? I THOUGHT SO. OH YEAH! *butt wiggle*))

Beatrix listened to Enzo as attentively as anyone should have. She tilted her head in such away and looked him right in the eyes to let him know she was hearing every word and that she cared to hear. One of her hands was resting lightly upon his shoulder to let him know she was still there and she was sure that was all Enzo needed... that was all anyone needed: someone there and someone to listen.

When Enzo finally finished and had pulled away Beatirx smiled with a look of wise sympathy in her yes. She understood.

"There, there now, puss." She remarked with a sly smile. "All dry." She leaned back into her seat again and followed Enzo's dark gaze. "The food? It's on me this time." She stretched as lazily as a feline. "I had a job with a chinese guy and he hooked me up." She said with a quirk in her arched brow. She enjoyed making jokes about her profession. "I showed him sucha good time I'm hooked up for life. Millions of fortune cookies. Just think about it." She laughed.

Though, Enzo grew dark and serious again. Beatrix was not used to being so serious. That wasn't what men wanted, but she became serious then.

"Then don't do it anymore." She said softly. "Just drop it." She chewed at her full lips. "Your big friend seems to be dropping it... maybe you should too." She reached out with a gentle hand and pushed the hair away from his face. A thumb stroked at his cheek soothingly. "It's not healthy, how you are... you know?" She tried to laugh a little. "Sometimes I think I actually worry about you or something. All alone in your room... just... exsisting." She ran a hand through her hairr and with a sigh flopped over onto her side with her head in his lap.

"I don't like to worry. Gives me wrinkles."

((OMG D WORD! *giggles and writes*))

"A chinese guy, huh?" Enzo knew there was some sort of bad pun there, but didn't feel up to it. At least he'd gotten what he had to say out... He wasn't quite sure Beatrix knew just how thankful he was for her. When he'd first called her (the number given to him by way of a bathroom stall, actually) in a moment of painful lonliness, he hadn't expected anything more than what her services offered.

Instead, they'd had simple conversation through the night, sharing bits of themselves in the dark that had nothing to do with physical pleasure. It had been one of the most calming nights of his life. And somehow, she was always willing to come back. Maybe she too needed an escape...

"Drop it?" He asked, and his hand might have come up to rub unnecessarily at his face, had the woman not already taken that job upon herself, in a far more soothing way. "I don't know... I mean, I think he's just... He needed someone. Someone who would care as much as he does."

Enzo sighed, resting a hand on her shoulder, his other fiddling with her hair, which had spilled across his knees. "I don't think I can quit... They'll come after me if I do, I think. Half of 'em think it's my fault the boss is dead. And maybe it is..."

He frowned though, at her statement of him simply existing... That's all he did sometimes. Sat in his bare apartment, sad, alone, and high half the time. Sometimes it seemed that false sense of security and hope the drugs gave him was all he had. And even then, he knew it wasn't worth it... But he had to have it.

"Bee, I don't think you've worried a day in your life." He said with a bit of a laugh, "Because I don't see any wrinkles, ya know?"

After a few moments of silence, Enzo realized he was smelling the food she'd brought. Food that was getting cold. He wasn't hungry... Not at all, but the fact she'd brought him anything was more than he could ask for. So, lightly removing her head from his lap, he retrieved the food and started in on it, offering the woman her share of it. It was surprisingly good, and he really did wish he actually wanted to eat it.

With half of his food gone, he looked over at the woman, not caring that it was now the middle of the night, "Do you wanna go and do something? I dunno what, just... Something. To get my mind off this. I'm sure you know a few good places to go, yeah?"

((d'aww... and maybe somehow they can all meet up again?))

((Hahaha this is probably gonna suck... 'Cause I'm really REALLY tired... So... *Gurgles* HERE GOES!))

Enzo placed a shaking hand on Beatrix's shoulder; an attempt to say without the words he seemed to always have that yeah, that might be nice... But you don't have to sound so lonely, or sad about it.

Unwillingly, he barked out a laugh. She sounded so sure about it... "Just hop a plane..." Oh how he wanted to run away from the city... The gang. His problems. "Start over, yeah?" The young man gave a thoughtful noise, "You know that wouldn't be bad." He almost asked her if she'd want to go with him. Almost.

But what Bee said made him smile, "Ah, but if you do your job, how am I any different than any other client? I pride myself on that very fact." He flashed a faux smile and forced another bite of lo mein into his mouth.

Enzo frowned slightly; Beatrix was right. But the whole point of calling her was to get his mind off those things... To calm himself down... He'd thusfar managed to avoid any more drugs that evening; something for which his body was screaming right now. His shoulder gave a twitch.

"Yeah, we should. I hope he's at his apartment by now... And Emily... She'll be sleeping by now. No point in waking Cherokee's neighbors to get her until tomorrow morning." He hated how he knew they were used to that sort of thing. "And then maybe we can all leave this hell we're in." Enzo raised an eyebrow, "I've always wanted to visit Ohio."

That said, he struggled to his feet, rotating his stiff, injured shoulder, and offering a hand for the slightly taller woman to take. More a gesture than anything. They both knew he probably wasn't strong enough to actually lift her. "C'mon then. I just hope he's there. The cats don't like it when I show up without him."

((Hawhaw. NOTHIN' INTERESTING IN OHIO! WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO GO THERE, ENZO?! WHY?!

Hahaha that probably made no sense. OH WELL. *Gurgles and goes to bed*))

((hahah, desicions... OH THE CHOICES! And Amma is somehow so sweet. *pats her on the head* WHAT A GOOD KITTEN! *is a weirdo, she knows*

and and... it's finally happened. My computer, the one I've had for almost six years... has died. -.-... Well, the internet on it at least... So, I can't garuntee how often I can get on... Probably enough so it's not too much to worry about... but just know if it takes me awhile to respond... that's why.

I NEED a new computer sooo badly... and I have to buy it myself... so it might take all summer to get this all in order again. I just hope we can fix my old one so it will last me through then ... THIS IS TOOOTURE! *misses her computer*

ANYWAY! ONTO POSTING!!!))

"Hey." Cherokee said back breezily passing under streetlight after streetlight. He regaurded her next statement, however, in silence. I've had worse... He didn't doubt it. He shifted her in his arms gently and stared ahead. His hands gripped her a little tighter: a silent comfort.

"No one gets used to this." He said quietly after her yawn. "You can't be human if you're used to this." He glanced down at her briefly, feeling she had more to say, but she had fallen silent and then said that he wouldn't want to hear.

You wouldn't want to hear about me either, he thought... and thought of Emily.

Cherokee was jerked from his thoughts at her question. He looked down at her, footsteps slowing. "What hurts?" He watched her as she struggled with a tired mouth to explain, but she lost against her own exshaution and fell asleep against him. Somehow he wanted her to wake and to finish just what she was going to say, but looking at her in his arms and her weary form he once more looked ahead into the snowy night and trudged all the way to his apartment.


Once home Cherokee was greeted by many hungry meows. Batting them gently away with his boots he weaved through his possessions on the floor and carefully, and gratefully, relieved Amma's sleeping body onto his matress. He watched her face for a moment to see if he had waken her, and seeing not he shuffled into his kitchen, stepping out of his wet boots as he did so.

Once there he dumped some food into several cat bowls bowls about his counter top and kitchen floor and washed his hands. His cats, whom had been curious about the woman on their bed, quickly ran to the kitchen at the sound of food in their bowls and began to eat. With them out of the way Cherokee went to his bathroom and from the medicine cabinent he pulled out his first aid kit. He then returned to Amma's side and began to work.

It was a tedious hour later that Cherokee had sucessfully cleaned and bandaged Amma's leg... and had shamelessly cut off the leg of her jeans to get to it (though he did place his blanket over her to give her some cover). He figured she wouldn't mind since she had stopped bleeding, and he was grateful she was just resting.

From the kicthen where he had sat down to rest he glanced at her across his small apartment. She was still sleeping. He sighed and leaned his head back. A cat had settled imperiously into his lap, and with one hand stroking its back gently he dozed off in a chair in the kitchen and dreamed.

((TA DAAAH!!!! How pretty. I hope that doesn't ruin your AVAILABLE CHOICES!... But I figured Cherokee should stop the bleeedin'))

Beratrix gave him a look at his laugh. "Don't sound so NEGATIVE. It's so simple... you could just leave." She sighed. "I can't. Not enough cash." She rolled her eyes a little. "I'm pretty stuck... but maybe one day! That idea keeps me going... funny, huh?" She laughed a deep laugh and whole heartedly.

At his next words she felt a smile tug at her lips, and as she faught it it only made it bigger and more geniune. "You... are such... a strange man." She chuckled. "You have a BEAITFUL woman in your..." She paused and looked around. "... Hole... your home? Your hovel." She decided and continued. "And you won't RAVISH me?" She flashed a sly smile and pressed against him a moment with her lips dangerously close to his. "Throw me down on your bed, floor, anyplace! And have your dirty way with me?!"

She flicked her dark hair over her shoulder. "I dunno if I should feel insulted or not!" She huffed jokingly, and then gently kissed him on his cheek. "You're sweet." She remarked. "You must be gay."

She then danced back a few steps iand flopped back into her seat. "Oh Emily... I'd wanted to see her." She said a little regretfully. "She's so sweet." She smiled. "All of us?" She asked, batting her eyelashes. "You'd dooo that for little old me?" She laughed. "It's because I have breasts, isn't it?" She shook her head. "Ohio... bah. Count me out. I wanna go someplace warm.. REALLY warm. I won't go unless its got a beach... got that, sweetie? I want a beach." Beatrix pointed a jokingly demanding finger in his direction.

Enzo then wearily got to his feet and offered her a hand up. She gripped it gently in her fingers and raised herself gracefully to her feet. "Oh. An escort." She grabbed his arm and gripped him to her like a trophy. "All the other women will be so jealous." She grinned, leaning against his shoulder as she lead him out the door and into the snow again.

Though after a moment she looked a little confused. "... That big guy has CATS?" She exclaimed disbelivingly as they marched down the road, her head against his shoulder and his arm twined in hers.

((SHE IS SUCH A TEASE! OHOHOHOHOH. Ho. We'll hafta see how Amma and her get along... *wonders* Who knows... women are CRAZY.))

((Wewt... Fun happenings! *dansu* But alas, I am FREAKING TIRED. And I have an awful headache and my insides hurt and I'm all stuffy and meeeeeh. So, I'm gonna try and sleep. Posting just ain't gonna happen... I WILL post though, tomorrow when I wake up. ^^ I promises! *scuttle*))

((GO AKA GOO!! Aaaand! I AM SO SUSPICIOUS! *wonders wonder* Oh, Amma... SO FULL OF MYSTERY!!!))

When Amma spoke to Cherokee in his sleep, somehow it seemed he must have been listening. He was quiet, even his slow breathing, but the man seemed to have that sort of face of a listener and his very silent demeanor too... it made it seem possible that he heard every word as he slept but he wouldn't remember a thing when he awoke, only remembering strange dreams that he couldn't quite piece together in his mind.

When the dark woman finished and fell asleep, Cherokee breathed deeply and turned a little, but slept on heavily, heavily that is until he heard someone enterting through his front door some hour or so later and the meows of his many stray cats. The cat resting atop his head gave an irritable hiss at being awakened by the intruders and leapt off of his head. Cherokee cracked open an eye a mere slit, his hand instantly found his gun by his thigh.

"I guess not." A deep female voice responded in a sweet whisper to the first. "Who needs beds, though?" She wanted to know. There was the sound of bending knees as the woman crouched to let the cats rub against her hands and knees. "He must have every cat in the whole damned city." She remarked in an awed voice.

There was then a smile in her voice. "Yeah. Fine. It was good we checked though." She paused. "Is that Amma? Daaamn. He scored. Big time. What a babe." She appraised.

Though, the voice fell quiet then and she stood. Cherokee saw an out of focus arm grip a shaking figure about his shoulders. Enzo.

Cherokee released his gun, relief slowing his breath and hammering heart. "Too late about not waking anyone up." He said in his flat tone. He opened both eyes and Enzo and Beatrix came into focus. Several of the cats were weaving around their ankles. "Hey, Beatrix." He remarked to the woman. "Long time, no see."

"Heya, good looking." She replied with a coy smile. "Whatcha been up to?"

"Sleeping." He remarked and looked to Enzo. "You okay?" He asked immiedately and got to his feet. "You didn't get hurt did you?" His tone was as dull and as tired as ever, but his eyes showed his obvious concern. "I didn't know where you were for awhile... I had no way to contact you." He gave a reckless half smile. "Scared the s**t out of me."

Though, he paused as he spotted Amma on the floor. He was wondering just how she got there, but instead of voicing the question aloud he gently laid her down and put a blanket over her. Stepping back and away he left her to the kicthen and closed the door silently behind him.

"You won't wake her up, I'm telling you that right now." He said quietly, but seriously.

Beatrix stopped trying to peer curiouisly around Cherokee's broad shoulders and pouted.

((WAAA LAAA!))

((Haha wow... YAY FOR POSTIES!

Not yay for not being able to taste my food... Or chew it properly... WHY MUST I ME SO DARNED STUFFED UP?! *shakes a fist at the Powers That Be*))

"Hey, Cherokee..." Enzo said, almost guiltily. He nodded at the man's question. "Just a little shaken is all." He almost gave a ridiculous 'haw haw' sort of laugh at his own bad pun, but really hadn't found it that funny. "Yeah, didn't mean to scare you," he said, producing Cherokee's cell from his pocket and tossed it to him in a rather jerky motion. "I didn't know where you were either..."

The man nodded at the sleeping figure of Amma, "She okay?"

"Don't worry, Bee, I'm sure she'll be awake soon enough..." He nudged the woman slightly, and gave a bit of a smile, "Just no cat fights."

And as if on cue, Amma, awake and limping, appeared through the doorway, after obviously having just ignored a call on her cell. She looked... Upset.

Enzo frowned, "This is one hell of a party then," He muttered, trying to figure out why she was being so... Not-Amma. Granted, he hardly knew the girl, but from what he could tell, she'd been rather forward with whatever it was she was feeling. 'Reserved' wasn't the first word that came to mind when Amma's name was said.

"We should all just get out of here," Enzo suddenly blurted out, crossing his arms, then dropping them to his sides, before he finally settled on clutching at his sore shoulder. "I mean, like, not the apartment, but the city, yeah? Get AWAY from all this. I have enough green stashed away to get us some bus tickets... We could go... hell, I dunno, somewhere. Beatrix voted for a beach."

Enzo didn't care WHERE they went... Just out of there. And somewhere private, so he could get his fix. The shakes were really starting to come out, and he knew it'd only be downhill from there.

He looked imploringly to Cherokee and Amma, then Beatrix, wondering why it was he suddenly really DID want to go... Not as just a suggestion, but he realyl REALLY wanted to go.

((HAWHAW SNOT ALL DOWN MY FACE AHHHH LEAKY NOOOOOSE *Runs to get a tissue*))