Out of the blue [and into the black] {Del}

[Dilana Polyak]

By the time Dilana got outside, the boys had done their job as she knew they would. Her boots clicked loudly on the concrete slabs outside as she kept her distance, letting the boys check the bindings were secure. Last thing she needed was for him to slip out upon seeing her, she really didn't want this to get any worse than it already was. He continued his sarcastic comments, her brothers continued roughing him up with every vulgar word that left his lips.

Following the boys inside, Dilana kept her distance, just trying to collect her thoughts, sort out what had happened, make some chronological order from the blur it had become. Her mother would want answers, and Dilana needed to be coherent and precise. This was Hell. Resting on the wall outside the lockdown room, Dilana's head fell back as she slumped slightly. This wasn't him, the words, fine he wasn't the most eloquent with his vocabulary, but the tone wasn't him, not the guy she'd been sat with earlier.

More talk, the boys left the room, setting the locks in place, numerous locks for their more powerful guests. Shuffling around, they drifted off in the direction of the bar, one of them patting the top of her head in a brotherly fashion, giving her a small smile. He asked if she was going to stay, she nodded. At least her silence wouldn't give their latest captive any answer. Following them, her heels clicked against the floor, leading her to the door they'd exited by so she could close and lock that too.

Sliding down the wall nearby, Dilana rested her head on her bent knees, sighing out as she wrapped her arms around her head. Still, even now, she couldn't leave him alone. Her heightened sense of sound heard his bone pop, heard him chuckle in response. What the hell was happening to him? It scared her.

For hours, or so it seemed, Dilana remained there on the floor. Faces appeared at the square window in the door, just checking that she was okay. Once her mother's face had even appeared in there, and Dilana had been preparing for the debrief, but she just nodded and wandered away. The sounds of the bar died out as closing time came and went, and before long, Dilana saw the gentle lightening of the sky outside, dawn was coming.

Unsure if she'd actually slept at all, Dilana had shifted position, now sat outside the locked door that caged the beast. Damn she was tired, she needed coffee. Fingers crossed, in a few hours, breakfast would be started, and the smell of fresh coffee and bacon would filter through the rooms. Then she might have to leave her little vigil for the sake of her stomach and sanity.

[Detective Kevin Slame]

Prison gates won't open up for me
On these hands and knees I'm crawlin'
Oh, I reach for you
Well I'm terrified of these four walls
These iron bars can't hold my soul in
All I need is you
Come please I'm callin'
And oh I scream for you
Hurry I'm fallin', I'm fallin'

[/color]



Just as he had for the past six months, Kevin awoke to the worst hangover he’d ever felt in his goddamn life…which was freaking saying a lot, given his less-than-conventional teenage years. Slowly, he cracked his eyes open slightly, a groan escaping him as the ceiling lights shot through his eyeballs and seared his brain.

Jesus Christ, he felt like he’d been run over by a truck, then used as a football team’s tackling dummy. For a few minutes, he just lay there, doing his best to fight the urge to re-introduce last night’s nachos to the world and stay conscious. Slowly, his brain began to reboot and he managed to open his eyes a little wider. Move his tongue around his mouth and grimace at the taste of blood.

…And then realize that his mouth and cheek was currently smushed up against a concrete floor. Okay then, he’d somehow passed out in a closet somewhere…and he was tied up.

Wonderful. This was definitely how he wanted to wake up. Then again, it was definitely better than that one time when he’d come to in some kind of whorehouse with a dominatrix holding one helluva big—

Yeah, not going there. Why add to the nightmare?

Slowly, he lifted his head and shook it a bit, trying to dislodge sweaty bangs from where they were plastered against his face. Reverting back to cop-mode, he did his best to take in his surroundings. Had he been kidnapped? Was he in a jail cell? Please, for all that’s holy, say that he wasn’t in another dom’s bedroom…thank God, his pants were still on, so probably not.

Squinting against the light, he frowned when he realized that there wasn’t much to see. The walls were bare, the floors concrete, there was some kind of drain in the middle of the room- insert some ‘OH FUCK ME’ when he started picturing himself hanging by his feet like a pig waiting to be butchered- and that was it. He was in some kind of small holding room…and given the bulky set to the door across the way, it had one helluva lock system.

Awesome. All he wanted was to still be in Mama’s, and not some other random stranger’s pad. If he got that, he could officially die happy.

…Which would probably be soon. Mama Jules was going to KICK his ASS when he got out of there. Her and all her sons…wait, scratch that, they already got in their kicks, given the stiffness of his body. Jesus, whoever knocked him had a real good arm on their shoulders.

He hissed in pain as he tried to roll onto his side, his shoulder seeming to rotate unnaturally in its socket. Fuck him, had he popped it out? Sweat began to bead on his forehead and he gritted his teeth against the urge to scream. He must have struggled after they’d hog tied his ass and the damn thing just came right out. Fuck, fuck, FUCK!

“Hello?” He called out, voice rough from screaming- at least, that’s what it felt like…Jesus, he was SO banned for the rest of his life- and tainted with pain. “Anybody out there? I’m…fuck, somebody get me the fuck untied? I’m normal again.” A hysterical laugh tore at him. “Or as normal as I can get. Anyone out there? Hello?”

[/center]

[Dilana Polyak]

There was sound coming from the cell, Dilana's sensitive ears could pick it up. It was only slight, normal humans wouldn't hear it through the thick door, but she could, he was regaining consciousness. Silently, Dilana thought up a quick prayer to whatever deity would see fit to grant it, please let him be normal again, please let him be -him-, not... that... baddie. She feared few things, her mother was one of them, but she had never feared him. Last night though, something about his turn had shaken her. It wasn't the gropey hands or the leering comments, no, those she was used to from customers, it was the way he reacted to pain. The thought of it churned her stomach, sending her hand up to push her now dishevelled hair from her face so she could take a few cooling breaths.

~Hello?~ The sound made her head snap up, her eyes darting to the side to see the door in her peripheral vision as her heart beat sped up in her chest. Oh god, he really was awake, as in coherantly so. Turning her body around, Dilana crouched on the floor, almost sitting as a wolf would. What should she do? The animal in her was on full alert, her senses reaching out to hear anything. ~Anybody out there? I’m…fuck, somebody get me the fuck untied? I’m normal again. Or as normal as I can get. Anyone out there? Hello?~ Okay, he sounded like he was back, but Dilana knew all too well that that meant nothing. There was every likelihood that the other version of Kevin could well be stood up inside, free from all restraint just putting on an act to get her to open the door. The laugh had sent a shiver through her though, making her place a hand on the door as if trying to comfort him through it.

She had to focus, she had to listen through it all, past his words, his breathing, she had to listen for the sound of the rope fibres straining and stretching against one another. Closing her eyes and pressing her ear to the door, Dilana took a calming breath in, trying to block out every other sound but the one she was looking for. There it was. Amidst the grunts and groans of pain, Dilana could pick out the sound of the ropes against his skin, his body shuffling against the floor... it had to be safe.

Dragging herself to her feet, Dilana's hands hovered by the first of the locks. What was she about to do? How would she explain this to him? 'Ah yes, Detective, this is what we do with all of the people who cause trouble in the bar... oh really? Kidnapping and hostage taking? No, we had no idea that's what it constituted.' Or even better, the truth? 'So guess what! We're actually shifters. This bar is merely a front for a safe house for all supernatural creatures and these rooms are actually for creatures who need to cool off.' Oh yeah, that would go down so well. Ah well, they couldn't keep him there forever. She'd just go in there, untie him, check he was okay and then offer him some breakfast, try and keep him away from the topic of the mini jail they had in the back of the bar.

Fingers nimbly pushed the locks open, some chains, some dead bolts, before she lugged the heavy door open, hearing it scrape against the concrete floor. Peeking her head around, Dilana checked her hearing had been right, seeing him tied up on the floor, looking even worse that she remembered. Ah jeez. Still wearing the clothes from the night before, Dilana sighed, pulling a hair tie from her wrist to throw her hair up into a scruffy bun before she pulled the door too. It didn't need to be locked, as the main door outside was locked too.

Heading over towards him, Dilana bent down onto her knees, running her hand over his busted face, "Hey... I'd ask how you're feeling... but..." Her hands moved to the knots tied behind him, binding his hands and feet, "If you're not you... I'm..." She cut herself off with a deep breath as her fingers began to tug at the knots. She was trying to be gentle but her brothers had done a good job, or his struggling had just tightened them. Every time she had to use a little pressure, she apologised, whether it hurt or not, until he was free. Offering him help to move into a more comfortable position, Dilana chewed on her lip, this was so awkward, she had no idea what to say, "Would you like some water?"

[Detective Kevin Slame]

Ah man, just kill him now. If it wasn’t the headache that was making him think of knocking his skull against the floor until he passed out again, it was the goddamn shame. The blackouts were getting more frequent nowadays, and every single time he woke up in a public place…yeah, maybe if he crawled over to one of the corners over there, he could sink into the floor and die.

It was twice as worse now that he knew he was still in Mama’s. He liked to pride himself on being a cold, mean motherfucker…but hell if he didn’t actually like all the people in this place. Mama really reminded him of his own adopted mother, the brothers were cool when they weren’t doing the bodyguard thing to their sister…man, and Dil? She was the nicest one of all; always giving him free drinks when she saw he was having a bad day, and returning banter when he started flirting. After the first blackout, maybe they could pretend nothing happened.

But after a second? God knew what he’d done, but it was still pretty frikking bad. Banned-from-entrance central, here he came. FUCK.

As the dull sound of locks being thrown sounded, Kevin closed his eyes, steeling himself against the disgust or anger he knew he was going to find on whoever’s face. He didn’t give a fuck, he told himself, tightening his jaw until he was sure his molars were about to pop. He didn’t care if he got kicked out; no fuckin’ way. It was just an ego thing, that’s all. He didn’t actually care…

His body was billboard stiff as she untied him, keeping silent. Yeah, she didn’t need to ask how he was feeling. He probably looked like shit…he always did, after coming out of it. However, he was a bit surprised that she was apologizing so much, as she loosened the knots that held him. He’d have thought she might want to relish every second, given that he probably had been a pretty bad boy, as he’d woken up in a safe room.

Once he was free, he immediately pushed himself to his feet and grimaced at the discomfort. Making sure that she knew he was really back and not going to dive into her boobs, he offered a half-hearted smile and walked over to the wall next to him. He’d have these kinds of aches and pains before, so he knew how to take care of them. Bracing his dislocated shoulder against the wall, he flattened his free palm, braced his feet, and wrenched his body forward.

JESUS FUCKING CHRIST IN FUCKING HEAVEN. God, that always fucking hurt! With a half growl, half relieved sigh, he rested his forehead against the cool concrete as his shoulder popped back into its socket.
“Water would be awesome, Dil…but don’t worry about it. I’m just gonna leave. Whatever I might have done last night…I’m sorry. God, I’m really fuckin’ sorry.”

Keeping his eyes off her face, he pushed himself off of the wall and moved slowly towards the door.

[Dilana Polyak]

Remaining knelt on the floor, Dilana wasn't offended that he hadn't taken her help to get up. She had brothers, she knew what males were like, humans weren't much different in that sense. Males had this ego thing, not accepting help for fear it would make them look weak. Dilana didn't understand it, but she was used to it by now. She'd lost count of the times her brothers had been injured and almost chewed her arm off for trying to be the good, doting sister and nurse them.

His familiar smile reassured her that it was him, and Dilana found herself quietly sighing a relief that she hadn't been met with that grotesque grin he'd had on his face from last night. The thought still sent the hairs on the back of her neck standing to attention.

Her eyes closed as the sound of his shoulder popping back into socket filled the room for a split second, followed by his growl of pain. He was trying to be strong, she couldn't blame him, again with the male macho-ness. What he'd just done would have had her whimpering like a pup! Her hands rested on her thighs as she opened her eyes back up, looking up at him as he began to speak. ~Water would be awesome, Dil…but don’t worry about it. I’m just gonna leave. Whatever I might have done last night…I’m sorry. God, I’m really fuckin’ sorry.~

Oh for Christ's sake! What was it with men!? She actually wanted to punch him, probably would have if her conscience hadn't reminded her that her brothers had already been there, done that. Getting to her feet, Dilana scoffed, feeling her anger rising to boiling point. "Oh fuck off, Slame. Stop the hard man act." She refused to move, she wouldn't chase him like this but boy would she make sure he listened. "You've had one hell of a fucking night, you're probably dehydrated, you need to eat something and get yourself sorted out. So do as you're told for once in your goddamn life and listen to me."

Folding her arms across her chest, Dilana huffed, "I didn't spend all night sat on a cold, concrete floor, wide awake, just to make sure you got untied quickly so you could make a speedy getaway. Now I'm tired, I'm thirsty and I'm fucking starving, so just stop with the dramatics and take me for breakfast, will you? Reggie should be in the kitchen now and all I want is one of his cooked breakfasts, complete with a steaming mug of black, sugary coffee. So shut up and follow me."

[/i] Yes, lack of sleep and food made her a little on edge, and his freak out and leave act just wasn't working for her. Dilana wanted answers, but first she wanted food.[/blockquote]

((Sorry!! It's so short but I'm not too with it today ))

[Detective Kevin Slame]

Well, hello Ms. Snarky Pants. With the night he’d just had, HE should be the one snarling, not her. His eyes narrowed as he was told to fuck off and he turned back toward her, lips narrowing into an irritated line. Hell, man, he was giving her an out! Getting out of her and her mother’s hair, so they could get on with their lives without the threat of being attacked by his psycho side. Why the hell was she cursing him out?

Then his brain registered the latter part of what she said…and he had no idea how to reply to it. Was she actually concerned for him? Sure, it was bitchy, ‘I haven’t slept in over 24 hours’ kind of concerned, but hell, man, it was more than what he was used to getting. Not to mention that it was a complete 180 of what he was expecting on receiving when that big ass door had been opened.

Surprise and disbelief flashed onto his face as he watched her, at a loss for words. As if oblivious to his shock, Dilana continued to speak, cutting off every single argument that he had. It was as if she knew what he needed, and what it would take to get his ass in gear and following her orders. As if she knew that, without something cool down his throat, he was going to pass out once he got to the curb…and that, annoying thing that it was, his conscience would see to it that she would be taken cared of.

Because she had sat on the floor…most of the night…for him.
God, there was definitely wrong with this one, because that was just weird. Get all uncomfortable after seeing…fuck, whatever he’d ended up doing? Was she waiting for him to wake up, so that she could poison his ass and stand over him, laughing while he convulsed at her feet.

The sudden image of Dilana in some kind of sexy leather combo made his mouth even drier than it already was. Dammit, now was definitely not the time for any of those thoughts. Definitely not the time.

When the fiery woman started to move, Slame instinctively followed after her, his movements slow and stiff. A muttered ‘yes, ma’am,’ came from his lips as he raised a brow at her, split lips curving in the semblance of a smile. Man, the lady was really bossy when she wanted to be…and hell if she wasn’t goddamn sexy when she was.

Fuck, there went those thoughts again. Tamp it down, Slame, he thought with a mental slap. Tamp it the hell down.

“Maybe I should just stay back here and have you sneak food to me,” He said, once they were back into the main room of the bar. Certain sets of male eyes were glaring at him like he’d just tried to hump their sister- Jesus Christ, he hadn’t, had he? He was so dead- and it didn’t take a genius to notice that identical fists clenching weren’t for knuckle-pumping his ass.

Rubbing the back of his neck, he slid into a stool and looked down at the counter, tense all over as if expecting a blow.

[Dilana Polyak]

She hadn't meant to snap at him, but after everything that had happened, she just wanted to talk, she didn't want him to disappear and for them to just try and carry on like nothing had happened. Something was wrong with him, the guy he'd become last night hadn't been him, it couldn't have been. Sure, she could have worded it differently, acted differently, but it was the wolf in her, as well as her mother's fiesty nature.

If she'd shocked him, she would feel bad once she'd calmed down, she knew she would. Dilana wasn't like her mother in that sense, she didn't thrive on making people feel bad to get her point across.

There wasn't really anything wrong with her, well apart from the obvious point that she was a shifter. She'd stayed outside the room because she'd put herself in his shoes. What if it had been her? What if she came to in a strange room, bound and aching? What if she was confused and scared? Would she have wanted to be alone? Hell no. The first face she'd want to see was someone she knew, and quickly. So that was why she had stayed.

Leading him through numerous corridors that opened up into the bar, ignoring his 'yes, ma'am' comment for fear of verbally ripping him apart again. ~Maybe I should just stay back here and have you sneak food to me,~ Dilana paused long enough to look at him, follow his gaze to her brothers and then snarl a low growl at the lot of them as she moved beside him at the bar, though her face brightened a moment later as an idea crossed her mind. Settling on the stool, she turned to stare at her brother, "You're right, we'll stay here. Airk!" She called out to one of the brothers who had been eyeballing them, "Make yourself useful and get us some breakfasts and coffee... and I swear to the Gods, you spit in it or anything, and I'll sell your balls as earrings."

With the wolf now dashing through the doors, heading for the kitchen, Dilana turned her attention back to the man beside her, ruffling her mane of long curls, "So... we gonna talk? You don't have to... but I have questions."

[Detective Kevin Slame]

God, his fuckin’ head hurt. Warily, he forced half of his attention on the glaring brothers around the bar, while he did his best to massage the tension out of his brain. It was always like this; the grogginess, the soreness in his throat, the feeling as if someone had kicked the living shit out of him while he was down. And, given his past ‘indiscretions,’ he wouldn’t be surprised if he HAD gotten beaten on…not that he’d blame the schmo’s who’d put him down.

…Given the bloody knuckles of some of the bouncers, he had a pretty good idea who those particular dudes were, but he kept his face clean of emotion. He’d probably deserved what he’d got, and hell…he was still surprised that Dil hadn’t started to beat his head on the bar. Had he grabbed at her again? Tried something nasty? Dammit, he really hoped not…he kinda liked the girl.

And great, now he was back in the fifth grade. Next thing he knew, he’d be sniffing her for cooties. Jesus.

With a sharp glance in her direction, Slame hesitated for a minute, half off his stool and ready to bolt for the back room. When she started barking orders, however, he found himself slowly relaxing, somehow knowing that as long as she wasn’t growling at him, his ass would stay intact.

When she called out for one of her brothers, he couldn’t help but flinch, the loud noise cutting through his brain like a knife. God, he’d rather be hung over and lying next to a nameless broad than this shit, man! Even so, he couldn’t help but chuckle at her little threat. Balls as earrings? Now, wasn’t that just South Park?

When she turned her attention back to him, however, the detective found himself getting tensed up all over again. She wanted an explanation? What the hell could he tell her, when he didn’t even know himself? Idly, he watched as she did her best to tame the wild frizz of hair, thinking of what he could say.

“I know what you’re gonna ask.” He said finally, weariness in his voice. “And the answer to everything is ‘I don’t fuckin’ know.’ I’ve been to doctors, shrinks and all kinds of other guys, and they can’t tell me anything. I guess you can just go with the fact that I’m just crazy.” Rubbing at his temples again, he turned his attention to the bar under his arms.

“That answer everything?”

[Dilana Polyak]

She could see how tense he was, how his body kept going rigid at the slightest thing. She could see the muscles tensing in his jaw, flickering like something was quivering beneath his skin. Dilana couldn't imagine what it must have been like for him, to have to sit there in the bar with the boys eye balling him. Silently cursing herself, Dilana felt like a complete bitch to have brought him in here, not taken him somewhere more secluded, or left him in the cell. Honestly though? She couldn't do either of the alternatives; her mother would have her hide if she'd taken him to her room, or somewhere quiet and alone, and she couldn't leave him in that cell any more, not with him being normal... and a detective.

In the back of her mind, Dilana knew she'd done the right thing. Her mother would no doubt be made aware of his presence in the bar, and you could bet your ass she would have her own questions for him. She'd been happy when he chuckled, at least he was lightening up. Then she made the mistake of asking him that stupid question. The moment it had left her lips she knew she shouldn't have asked it.

His answer came, though she hadn't expected it, she'd expected to be told to mind her own business, or for him to pull some kind of silent treatment on her. ~I know what you're gonna ask. And the answer to everything is 'I don't fuckin' know.'~ Nodding her head, she rested her head on the hand that had been taming her hair, just watching him as he spoke. So he'd been to see people, they'd been able to do nothing? Well surely shrinks and all of that shit would have been able to denote whether he had a multiple personality disorder.

Frowning at the answer, Dilana let in a breath before sighing out, "Yes... and at the same time a resounding no. I believe you though, apart from the crazy stuff... so you have no idea what happens... when you... you know, black out?" Something seemed familiar about all of this, but the wolf just couldn't figure it out. "I wanna help you, Kev... I really do. I mean, if you want it."

[/b] Her mother had always taught the youngster that whilst they dedicated their livelihoods to helping people, people could only be helped if they wanted it, otherwise, it was just futile. Dilana had always felt like it meant she was some tragic 'Angel Investigations' knock off, expecting to pick up the phone with a 'we help the hopeless' or something just as tacky. She'd never really come across someone in the bar who didn't want their help, but this could be the first.

The coffee was the first thing to be delivered from the kitchen, Airk placing down two mugs of steaming black coffee as Dilana reached over the bar to grab a few single use creamers and sugars. She was a black coffee girl, with two sugars, just the right start to the day. The smell wafted up her nostrils and made her mouth salivate at the thought of its bitter sweet taste. Aw man. Ripping open two sugars, she poured them in, using a wooden stirrer to mix it before she lifted it to her lips.[/blockquote]

[Detective Kevin Slame]

Girl, I break everything I touch
Little girl thats close enough
Seems like every heart I've ever loved
I break everything I touch

I can't look in your eyes and tell you a lie
I'd love to leave here with you
Oh but darling the fact is
I'm always attracted to everything I shouldn't do
Oh so you better know, before I lose control
Before we throw it all to chance
Girl your welcome to stay, but all I've got to say
Before you lay your heart in my hands

[/size][/i]


Kevin kept his eyes on the mirror behind the bar, wincing slightly when he caught sight of his reflection. Man, did he look like some zombie movie reject or what? Absently, he shoved a hand through his hair, doing his best to dislodge some of the craggy dried blood that pasted his bangs to his forehead. Maybe he could request a towel later?

Hell, who was he kidding…he’d be out of there in the next half hour; he was sure of it. Even if Dil was being an angel, there was no way that Mama Jules was going to let his ass slide twice. It didn’t matter that he seemed to blackout more often in this place than anywhere else, or that he was obviously so damn sorry, he’d be more than happy to carve the words onto his forehead. The Roadhouse was known for its ‘no fighting’ policy…and if the glares he was getting was any indication of last night’s fiasco, he went above and beyond the call of duty.

No medal for him this time, though. Goddamn, he really did like the frikken place.

He gave her a sharp look when she spoke next, confusion and disbelief flashing onto his face before he put it on lockdown. Why the hell was she even trying to understand? Just give his ass the boot already...wait, no, scratch that. Feed him, THEN give his ass the boot…

With a shake of his head, he turned his attention back to the bar counter again, running his finger over a strange looking…claw mark? “Nah, I don’t remember anything during the blackout, and believe me, I’ve tried. I even did some kind of memory therapy crap, with a hypnotist and everything…but all that ended up doing was putting me in the hospital for a week.”

He clenched his jaw at the memory. He’d been sitting in that overstuffed leather chair in the shrink’s office, his old partner next to him with a notepad, and the session started. He did the ‘go to sleep at the count of 10’ thing, dimly remembered being asked questions when he was under…then nothing, except for the worst pain he’d ever felt in his life.

And given the way his neurons had been working lately, that said a helluva lot.

A few minutes ticked by as he considered her question, giving her another one of those ‘you just sprouted a second head, just so you know’ looks before catching himself. When the coffee was delivered, he sat back and drank it completely black, looking at her over his mug with a curious expression on his face.

“And how do you think you’re gonna help me, when about two hundred docs just wanted to stick me in a jacket or hop me up on Haldol?”


[/center]

[Dilana Polyak]

He did look like he'd been to Hell, actually he looked like he had travelled the tour of the circles of Hell. The smell of the blood that matted strands of his hair still touched at her senses, he would need a shower. There was every likelihood her mother would send him packing, but even her mother wasn't an idiot. A blood caked homicide detective leaving the bar in broad daylight would not be the best idea.

Watching his reaction as he spoke, Dilana tensed as his fingers brushed the claw marks from a certain incident when a patron let his stress get to him. Luckily it had been after hours, so the bar was empty of naturals... and even more so, it was lucky he didn't question it, because Dil was only coming up with lame excuses for that one. Mental note made: get something done about said claw mark. So he didn't remember anything? Anything at all? A shocked expression claimed her features upon hearing about how he had been hospitalised. This truly couldn't be something as simple as a personality disorder.

The few minutes of silence fell between them, awkward as anything, even her brothers' glares were forgotten whilst she stared at him, racking her brain in hopes she could sort her thoughts out. This was crazy... and damn her lack of sleep affecting her thinking! She needed her coffee to wake her up a little. The look he gave her, the one he hid almost as soon as it showed, semi hurt her feelings, semi made her wonder whether she was wasting her time... but something really wouldn't let her drop this. Something wasn't right.

Averting her eyes, Dilana placed her cup down. Her lips twitched as words wanted to tumble out but stopped themselves, unsure how best to speak to him. Maybe he was one of those who didn't want to be helped, which actually sucked more than Dilana thought it would. It actually hurt her. She prided herself on being able to be the shoulder to cry on, the one that people turned to when they needed help. It wasn't because she liked him... none of this was because of that. She would have done all of this for anyone, she would have curled up outside the lock-down room, not slept, felt guilty... she would have. For anyone. She would. Honestly.

Chewing on her lip, Dilana shrugged her shoulders finally, staring into her coffee cup so she didn't have to look him in the eyes, "It was just an offer..." If only he knew, if only he knew there were things in this world, hell there were things in the very bar, that would have doctors sticking themselves in straight jackets! There were things in this world that most only thought survived in fairy tales and horror movies. But no, doctors wanted to drug him up, so he'd likely want to do the same to her if she recommended a bloody voodoo priestess! Pushing herself up, Dilana murmured a jumble of awkward sounds she knew would thrill her brothers, "I should check what's taking the food so long..."

[Detective Kevin Slame]

When the words tumbled out of his mouth, Kevin winced, knowing that they were going to do exactly what they were meant to: cut to the bone. It was a defense mechanism, according to all those fancy docs his saved money had bought; the need to kick the crap out of anyone or anything that got too close to his emotional side. Thanks to his past and all the lovely things he’d seen, he hated it when someone poked at his brain, or made him feel things that he didn’t want to feel.

In this case, he didn’t want to know that there was actually someone out there kind enough to want to help him. He wanted to stay in his shitty little world, where everyone was out for themselves and he could be happy and alone, hating everyone and everything. It was so much easier when he could snarl at the world feel safe behind his cold little wall. He didn’t have to feel anything; not guilt, not attraction, and definitely, above all else, not hope.

Because hopes were meant to be dashed, weren’t they? When had hope ever done anything good for him, but make him scream louder when they came crashing down?

But hell, none of that mattered, because he was feeling a whole helluva lot of that damned guilt, despite his best efforts. On any other day, he’d have watched the woman get up and walk away, with a nasty expression on his face. He was a douchebag, a motherfucker, an asshole of the highest order; he knew all that. So why would he care if he’d hurt one woman’s feelings? He’d done it to so many others, for so much less…

And yet, there he was, reaching out to stop her from going. With a muttered curse, Kevin started to take her arm, but stopped himself when a few pairs of angry eyes narrowed as one. Jesus, he really did need to learn how they did that; it was just frikking crazy!

“Dil, wait, I’m sorry,” He said with a sigh, free hand rubbing the back of his head. “The food will come out when it comes out. That thing before, with the doctors…I didn’t mean to offend you, or anything. Stressful night, y’know?”

He offered a humorless smile as he let his hand drift back to his lap. If she left now, he wouldn’t stop her; at least he’d gotten to get in his two cents. Before she could hurry away and no doubt tell her mother that they were housing a douchebag psycho, however, he went on. “It’s just…I dunno how you can help me, without just killing me and getting it over with. Look, I appreciate what you did. Hell, any normal person woulda called the cops on my ass. But you…you didn’t.” He kept his eyes on the counter while he spoke, no emotion on his face. “I…thanks. I mean…just, thanks. For all that.”

[Dilana Polyak]

Knowing she should just dump him off, let her brothers act out the way they wanted to. Any motion, sexual or could-be sexual, was like a homing beacon for them, they could sense it. She'd seen the glare in their eyes, knowing that they were just begging for her to give the word that would let them lash out, drag his ass out of the bar.

But seeing his hand reach out to her arm, the folorn sound of his voice as he cursed, it made her freeze. She still couldn't bring her eyes to meet his, but at least she stopped. Considering she knew Slame quite well, an apology was the last thing she expected. At best, she thought she might get a backward sort of apology, the sort that was, but wasn't at the same time. To actually here the 's' word leave his lips made her relax a little, her hands still on the bar, her knuckles returning to their natural colour. ~The food will come out when it comes out. That thing before, with the doctors…I didn’t mean to offend you, or anything. Stressful night, y’know?~

She did know, she couldn't imagine what it had been like for him, but it was partly the reason she couldn't drop this. He didn't remember what happened, and she couldn't believe that he was that capable of being that... person... he became during the blackouts. Her eyes finally moved to look at him, taking in the sight of his lips pulling into a smile that didn't even touch his eyes.

Then he went on to surprise her even more, thanking her for what she'd done. Her tongue slipped out to wet her lips as she slowly lowered herself back onto the stool. Ignoring the snarls that came from her brothers' direction, she covered his hand with hers, squeezing gently, "I don't know how I'll be able to run this bar one day, how anyone will take me seriously. I don't know how I'll ever get out from my parents' rules and actually be able to live... but it doesn't mean I don't want to. Believe me, we know people, people your doctors would laugh at... but I've seen them do things even I didn't think were possible. Sounds stupid, I know, but..." Sighing, Dilana just wanted to tell him everything, tell him about the types of people she knew, the priestesses, the faes, the vampires, everything. This would be so much simpler, but then he'd go and get those doctors he'd seen and get her put away. "We don't turn those away that want our help... so... if you want it, trust me... we'll do everything to try... you just might have to keep an open mind."

[/i] Oh yes, she'd seen some of the rituals, an open mind was seriously needed.[/blockquote]

[Detective Kevin Slame]

Rubbing at the back of his neck to assuage some of the tension there, Kevin forced himself to stop wondering about his tongue practically burned from those words. On a normal day, he seriously would have thrown an insult at her; let her storm off with a parting jab and snarl at her brothers when they came knockin’ to throw him out. He was used to it, man! He depended on the isolation for comfort. He didn’t do the touchy-feely shit.

Yet, there he was, saying that coveted ‘s’ word and actually meaning it. Goddammit, there was something about this lady that made him soft. Talk about irritating…yeah, yeah, irritating…

He gave her a strange look when she spoke last, brows furrowed in confusion. People that his docs would laugh at? Things that weren’t possible? What the hell was she getting at…voodoo priests or something? His nose wrinkled at the prospect of being danced around by people in headdresses and force fed ‘traditional remedies.’ He’d gotten the last part down pat when his foster mom was alive.

All expression seemed to melt from his face, however, when her hand settled over his. He was NOT going to get anyone killed through that flash of heat that tore through him at the small contact. Nor was he going to make Dil freak out, because he was looking at her like she was a juicy steak.

Concentrate on the steak, Slame, he told himself. Damn, he was hungry; just listen to his stomach sing.

“Well, one thing I know for sure,” He said a bit gruffly, trying not to let her know that it touched him that she cared. God, it TOUCHED HIM? There was only one thing he wanted touched, and it definitely wasn’t his girly side, man! “You’ll definitely be able to take over the bar…and I think you got enough spunk in you to live an exciting life,” And man, he’d love to be there when she decided it was time.

The thought came a bit suddenly, and the detective frowned as he prodded it with a stick. Yeah, he really meant that Dil would be a spectacular nooner, that was all. Jesus, what the hell was wrong with him?

“Wadaya mean by ‘open mind?’” He asked after a minute of trying not to picture the bar owner’s daughter gloriously naked and ready for a one nighter. “If you’re talking witch doctors and voodoo priests…I’m not too sure I’d be down with that, man.”

[Dilana Polyak]

Dilana listened to Kevin speak, smiling slightly. At least he hadn't pulled his hand away from beneath hers, that was an improvement. His compliments meant a lot to her, that someone on the outside had faith in her. Sure, he might have had ulterior motives for acting that way, but from her brothers' reactions, it was pretty obvious those motives were futile. Most guys wouldn't bother, knowing she was unobtainable, they'd just flirt, eye her up, but no one would actually care what she had to say.

Maybe he was right, maybe one day she would be able to run this bar and keep its standards at the same level her mother had. Maybe one day her mother would say 'You know what? I've been wrong. Date, screw around, do whatever'. She could only hope.

~Wadaya mean by 'open mind'? If you're talking witch doctors and voodoo priests... I'm not too sure I'd be down with that, man.~ Dilana pursed her lips before letting a long sigh out, damn, there went that idea. No wait, he said he wasn't too sure he'd be cool with it, it wasn't an outright no. Removing her hand from his, Dilana raised them both in a defensive, 'hear me out' manner', "I'm not gonna lie to you, they are on the list... but trust me, like I said, they've done stuff even I didn't think was possible."

The sound of the door to the kitchen swinging open with a force made Dilana jump slightly, as the chef came wandering out with two large plates piled high with breakfast goods. Pancakes, bacon, sausages, everything that would have a health freak running for the door. God bless her unnatural body, she could devour this in a way that would make those size 0 models gag! Screw the diet of black coffee and cigarettes, no. Dilana was planning on going for a run later on, so this would stave off hunger until she returned, keep her energy up to run longer.

Smiling up at the chef, Dilana excused herself long enough to go and grab some cutlery, napkins, condiments, and whisper a threat to her brothers to back off. She could take care of this, she wasn't a goddamn child anymore!! Okay, so by some standards, she was young, but she was into her maturity now! They needed to stop treating her like they didn't trust her.

Returning to the bar, Dilana's smile turned into a grin as she nudged Kevin, "Seriously, you've not lived til you've eaten one of these famous breakfasts!!" Taking up her knife and fork, Dilana began to tuck in, stabbing a pancake and carving a bit off, before adding a bit of bacon. After a few mouthfuls, she paused, realising the food had made her completely side track from their previous conversation. Alright, so this was better than their depressing talk, but still. "I'm not going to force you, or guilt trip you, into doing anything, though. Just... if I think anyone could help you, it would be one of them. My family, literally every single one of them, would go to these guys before a doctor." She drank down a mouthful of coffee, "But that's it, I'll stop talking about it, okay? Just think about it. Ball's in your court."

[/i][/blockquote]