Perfect Tommy's eyes snapped open. "Miss James?" he whispered. The world was too dark for him to see anything and, even if didn't hurt so much, he was too cold to move. So, whoever was coming...
"It's just me." the girl whispered back. "And it's Knuckles."
He felt her lay down beside him and pull the blanket over them both. She wrapped an arm over his chest and snuggled close.
Tommy chuckled. "If I didn't hurt so much, I might find this interesting."
"And then you'd find yourself dead." Jessie James mumbled against his arm. "I only have two blankets and we're in the mountains on a November night. if we don't share body heat we could just lose it all. And you're too weak to survive that."
"I appreciate the concern." He couldn't help but grin.
They were silent for a long time. Tommy was judt drifting off to sleep when Knuckles' voice called him back. "I wasn't following you. I was following the Clan."
The Clan? Oran and chubby?" Tommy mumbled, forcing sleep aside.
He felt her head nod against his arm. "Clan Uilc Dochas. I've been after them for a long time, now." She signed and nestled closer, reaching over to tuck the blanket in around them.
"Long time?"
"Ever since that witch murdered my father."
Tommy glanced through the dark at the girl.Hundreds of questions were answered with just one sentence.
Taking a deep breath, Jessie continued. "My adopted father was a Navy JAG Captain. He found evidence of the Clan in an investigation. He was about to expose them when they snatched him." Her voice shook slightly. "They gave him to that witch, their Lady Oran de Nathair. For days, she tortured him for no more reson than for amusement, until he just up and died." She stiffened. "I used my father's files to hunt them down. Then they just disapeared. Until you..." She didn't need to finish.
"At your club... you heard her talking to me." Tommy concluded.
"And now I have her scent again. I'm gonna get her this time. And put the Clan in its grave!" Knuckles swore, her voice strong and determined once more.
There was a long moment of silence before Perfect Tommy slid an arm under and around her shoulders. "Mind if I tag along?"
Jessie wonder if he knew she was smiling. "You can barely sit up! How the hell do you figure on dragging you butt out of my truck?"
Tommy chuckled, his chest shaking, bouncing the girl's head.
"Hey! You mind? I'm tryin' to sleep here." Knuckles snapped.
Buckaroo fully expected to see Perfect Tommy standing in the infirmary, angry and ready to fight. He was prepared for that. he had all the explainations ready. He had thought out all the proper use of force if Tom decided to make a fight of it. He was sure he had the situation in hand even before he opened the door.
Then he opened the door.
The infirmary was empty.
"Buckaroo!" New Jersey called to him as he hurried down the hall. His usual unsure expression had turned into full blown nervousness.
"What is it? Where's Tommy?" Banzai demanded, a sick feeling settling in his gut.
Jersey shook his head. "Rawhide and the boys are still looking for him. But Pinky's missing too."
"What?"
"Our gate keeper is missing and the gate was wide open!" the doctor said each word carefully so there could be no misunderstanding..
"The duece, you say!" Buckaroo Banzai pushed passed and hurried down the hall. "Wake the house! Call in the regulars!"
"Buckaroo, what's going on?" Jersey called after him.
"We're under seige!"
Reno Nevada rested a hand on his .45 automatic. Slowly, cautiously, he pushed open the kitchen door.
Eunice Johnson's head snapped up, her brown curls bouncing around her head. She wore only a night shirt and shorts. Her small hands laid flat on the cutting table.
Reno sighed with relief. "Mrs Johnson." he breathed, letting his hand drop away from his weapon. "You nearly scared..." He stopped, his eyes narrowing.
The usually hyper girl stood motionless, her eyes big with fear. Behind her the back door was wide open, the icy air blowing on her bare legs. Two large, muddy footprints scarred the usually spotless floor.
Reno's hand started for his gun once more, but an unmistakeable metalic click at his ear stopped him.
"That would be a very bad idea, Mex." growled a black clad man who pointed a gun at the Cavalier's head.
Reno slowly raised his hands over his head.
Another man stepped around the door and took his gun. Then he waved to the girl. "Get over here! Into the other room! move it!"
Mrs Johnson quickly stepped around the table and grabbed Reno's arm. "I'm sorry." she whispered.
"No problem." Reno breathed, a low, deep growl to his voice.
"Other room! Now!" The man reached out to shove the girl, but, with lightening moves, Reno grabbed his wrist. Two gun barrels levled with his head.
"No! Don't!" Mrs Johnson cried. She stepped between their captors and Reno, pushing him back into the cafateria. "We're going. You don't need to kill anyone." she assured.
The armed men followed them. One pointed to the outside wall, under the windows. "There! Sit!" he said.
The two captives did as they were told, sitting with their backs to the wall. Reno put a protective arm around the girl's shoulders and, together, they watched as more and more black clad men invaded their sanctuary.
Within moments, they spread through out the house and the sounds of skirmishes and right out battles sounded.
Eunice Johnson burried her face in Reno's chest as the Cavalier sat, muscels tense, eyes hard, a cold rage burning deep in his gut.
