Part 2
~~~~~
In truth, Knuckles was grateful for Peggy's care. She hadn't been feeling very well. There was a nagging pain in her side and she hadn't been eating much (lack of appetite was not the reason; more like the thought of food twisted in her gut until she was playing homage to the porcelain gods). And her sleep had been filled with restless (not to mention breath taking) dreams.
But, still, to be babied was not exactly what Knuckles considered... Knuckles-like.
But, argue with Peggy Simpson Banzai...
"Where's the damn Clan when I need them?" Knuckles grumbled.
"What?" Peggy called from the kitchen.
"Nothing." Knuckles answered. She glanced at Oddity who was tucked behind her legs on the couch.
Thumping his tail in recognition of the glance, he lifted his head from her thigh and wined as if asking if she was alright.
Knuckles leaned back against the heavily pillowed couch arm and sighed. "Really, Peggy, you don't have to do this. I can look after myself." she tried one more time as Peggy returned with a huge cup of something steamy.
Peggy smiled at her. "I'm not just being motherly. By the way, I'm too young to be motherly." she said, sitting on the edge of the coffee table. "Ask you a question?" she asked handing Knuckles the cup.
Sitting up, Knuckles shrugged. She excepted the cup and sniffed the hot liquid. Silently she thanked the gods that it was Red Zinger tea and not some soupy form of food.
"Are you not sleeping well because you're sick? Or are you sick because you're not sleeping well?"
Knuckles glanced at her sharply. Not only was she startled by the question, she was taken back by how serious Peggy suddenly seemed. And then there was the fact that she wasn't sure herself what the answer was.
After a long moment of silence, Peggy sighed. "Just because a question is asked doesn't mean you have to answer it. All it means is that, maybe, it's something you should think about."
Knuckles smiled slightly. "You sound like Bucky." she accused.
Peggy grinned. "Yea, well, you know what they say about ol' married couples." She glanced at Oddity. "Okay, so, you get some sleep. Don't worry about bugging your staff if you need something. One of us will be here most of the night."
"Bankrupting me with your bar tab."
Peggy shrugged. "I'll have Perfect Tommy design you a new beer spicket thingy. What do you call those things anyway?"
"Beer spicket thingy." Knuckles leaned back again and closed her eyes, resting the cup on her chest.
Peggy grinned, rising to her feet. Taking the cup she set it on the coffee table. "You have tea in the kitchen, Soup in the microwave. Here's the TV remote, aspirin, and your go-phone. Call if you need anything." Her eyes narrowed. "I mean it now. Call!"
Knuckles grumbled something.
Peggy chuckled. "Look after her, Oddity." she said patting the dog on the head, then headed for the stairs.
~~~~~
It was one in the morning when Gage locked the doors behind the last of his people. He turned and looked over the remaining Cavalier, Perfect Tommy. "I can't believe they left you." he grumbled.
Perfect Tommy shrugged, taking another sip of his beer. "They know I can be a reasonably responsible person from time to time."
Gage glared at him. "This sure as hell better be one of those times, Tom. I'm not in the habit of leaving the Boss in the care of just anyone." Sure, if it was a fight or a hunt or anything else, Gage knew damn well that the pain-in-the-butt Cavalier would stick to Knuckles' back, cover her 24/7. It was the down time that worried the bouncer.
Perfect Tommy took nothing serious unless it was dead serious. And Knuckles was dead serious about everything including most of which she shouldn't be serious at all about.
Perfect Tommy huffed at him. "You fuss nearly as much as Jersey." He walked around the bar, heading for the circular stair case that went up to Knuckles' apartment. He paused to snatch a bottle of Butterscotch Rum.
"I'm putting that on your tab." Gage informed him.
"Old woman!" Perfect Tommy grumbled as he slowly climbed the stairs.
Gage took one last look (oh, he sure hoped it wasn't going to be the last) look at the Jessie James Club, then headed for the back doors, heading for home.
~~~~~
His eyes never left hers; those intense blue locked with her emerald green. His hands braced on either side of her shoulders, he moved with perfect rhythm, slow and powerful, each stroke bring her to the edge, then pulling her back just in time, drawing out their lovemaking into an indescribable forever.
Her fingers laid on his rib cage, flexing every time he went up, curling, gripping for all she was worth every time he came down deep within her.
When she could stand it no longer, she cried out softly, arching her back up, seeking him out. "Tom... "
His arm wrapped around under her back, holding her to him, tight and secure. His lips caught hers, silencing her gasping by steeling what was left of her breath. smiling against her kiss swollen lips, he whispered "Shhh. Be still...." His eyes left hers just long enough to glance down at the body he held so close to his own. "God, you're beautiful." he gasped. Holding her in place, he continued his rhythm, but faster, striking deeper with each thrust.
"ah." she gasped sharply, grabbing him as ever muscle in her body tensed...
~~~~~
"Knuckles?" Perfect Tommy laid a gentle hand on her hot, flushed cheek, concerned about the sleeping girl.
Suddenly those green eyes snapped open. Blindly, they still managed to lock on him. Her hand snapped out, gabbed him by the shirt front, and yanked him down to her. She caught his mouth with her own, kissing him long, hard, and deep.
Tommy tried to protest, but suddenly couldn't think. Damn, he couldn't do anything. But return the kiss.
Finally, needing to breath, she pulled back and looked at him with eyes filled with love and desire.
Then she frowned. "Tom?" She sat up so quickly she pushed him off the couch. "What the hell...?!"
Landing hard on the floor, Perfect Tommy stared up at her, stunned, shocked even. All he could do was sit on the floor and gaze up at her with a stupid, little, dazed smile.
But Knuckles was angry. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!" she yelled. She knew it hadn't been him. She knew it was her. But, embarrassed, she instinctively struck out at him.
Perfect Tommy blinked, as if waking up from a dream. "Me?" He glanced at Oddity to see if the dog could explain anything.
But, wiser than either of his humans, Oddity had already jumped down from the couch and was running for the other room.
Tommy shook his head, looking up the girl again. "What do you mean me? You're the one that did the grabbing! If I remember correctly, most of the kissing too!"
Knuckles swung her feet down, throwing back the blanket. "Well, you remember wrong!" she snapped. "What are you doing here anyway? What time is it?" She glanced around, forgetting where her own clock was in her own living room.
With a growl, Perfect Tommy struggled to his feet. "Three-something in the A.M." he grumbled back, wishing his lips would stop tingling. "And just for your information I'm here to look after you."
"I don't need looking after. Particularly from you!"
Perfect Tommy looked her over. "Yea? So, you normally run 102 temp, eyes all glazy, and shiver as if you're up to your eyeballs in sex?!" He spun away so she wouldn't see him squeeze his eyes close and wincing at his own choice of words.
Knuckles glared at him, again anger rising up. How the hell did he know? How much did he know?
Sighing, Perfect Tommy dropped his chin to his chest. Turning back, he explained "Look, you were crying out in your sleep. You're blanket was all twisted up. I was worried. I was just making sure you were alright."
Knuckles also sighed. "Alright doesn't quite cover it." She put a hand to her aching head, taking note, for the first, of how bad she was feeling. Her limbs felt weak and rubbery. Her head was a continues buzz, making her feel as if she was in motion even while sitting still. Her side was burning. Her stomach twisted and lurched and... "Oh, damn." she mumbled. She struggled to her feet.
Perfect Tommy frowned as he watched her wobble on shaky legs. "Where are you going?"
Again, Knuckles glared at him. "Bathroom. Wanna come?" Her invite filled with sarcasm. Not waiting for an answer she took a step.
Instantly, she began to sink as her legs gave in.
"Woe." Perfect Tommy quickly stepped over catching her just before her knees hit the floor. "Think I just might have to." Wrapping an arm around her waist, he lifted her up and started for the bathroom.
"Ah, gee." Knuckles protested. But her world seemed to fade from that point on.
Until she felt the soft, warm blankets of her bed tucked under her chin.
Coming out of her daze, she recognized Perfect Tommy sitting on the edge of her bed. He leaned over her, gently lifting her head with one hand while adjusting her pillow with the other.
When he leaned back, setting her down again, she wondered "What happened to you?"
Tommy took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Do you mean before I landed on my butt on the floor out there?" He shrugged. "That would of been the rum." He smiled slightly, a comforting _expression. "Or when I was holding your braids back as you emptied your gut into the toilet? By the way, now I know why you ware your hair up."
Knuckles groaned. Closing her eyes, she twisted under the covers, trying to roll away. But the movement sent a sharp pain through her side. She sucked in her breath sharply.
Tommy leaned over her again, pulling the blanket tight. "Shhhh. Be still." he whispered.
Her breath caught in her throat, glancing back at him. "What did you say?"
"I just gave you two aspirin, as to Bucky's instructions." he explained. "I'd like them to stay in your gut for a little while, if you don't mind." Again he smiled.
Knuckles eyes fluttered as if she was fighting sleep. But she asked again "What happened to you? When did you get all soft and warm feeling like?"
Laying a hand on her head, brushing her hair back, Perfect Tommy whispered "Go to sleep, Jessica." He started to rise up, but she grabbed his hand. He sat back down and waited for her to tell him what she wanted.
But she just rolled over, taking his hand with her, tucking it under her arm. A few breaths later and she was asleep.
With an exaggerated sigh, Perfect Tommy, careful not to disturb the sleeping girl, kicked off his shoes and pulled his feet up. Leaning back against the head board, he closed his eyes.
~~~~~
Beep!
Buckaroo Banzai stirred.
Beep!
Peggy shoved her husband slightly.
Beep!
"Yea, yea, I hear ya." Banzai grumbled.
Beep!
Peggy rolled over and away as Banzai grudgingly reached for the comm. "Yea?"
"Doctor Banzai, I'm sorry for waking you up so early." came a voice. It took Banzai a moment to recognize the voice of one of the medical interns.
The doctor yawned, glancing at the clock. "Richi, it is 5:12am. All will be forgiven if there's a good excuse."
"Yes, sir. That blood test you brought in last night, sir? The one marked `James'?"
Banzai sat up, coming alert. "Was there a problem?"
"Yes, sir. Who ever is James has an appendix in serious trouble."
Peggy launched out of the bed, hitting the light and grabbing their clothes.
"Are you sure?" Banzai asked, snatching his pants out of the air when they were tossed at him.
"It was a new, quicker test, Doctor, but accurate. And I ran it twice."
"You're forgiven, Richi." Banzai assured. "Do me a favor? Call the garage? Have them pull a hummer around front for me."
"Us!" Peggy corrected. She was already dressed and heading out the door.
"Yes, sir." the intern answered. "And, sir, I hope everything comes out good."
"Yea.... so do I."
~~~~~
