Broken Pieces (closed)

[zydrate]

(closed)

*******
The car hummed low, the lights inside dim and illuminating the radio and gauges with a soft aqua green glow. Jason's hands grip the wheel tensely, flexing as the song on the radio plays--but he cannot hear it. His mind racing, remembering the scene they just left, remembering Sarah... he glances out of the corner of his eyes at her, sitting next to him in the passenger seat, jaw clenching angrily to see that expression on her face in his mind's eye. Letting out a harsh breath, he reaches forward and silences that stupid radio with a quick flick of his wrist on the volume, leaving the inside of the car in silence, nothing but the quiet hum of the engine to give a backdrop to his thoughts.

Smiling a little, humorlessly, he turns to her, keeping an eye on the road. "Did you enjoy yourself tonight?" ignoring her apology, his tone is icy cold, threatening. He grips the wheel harder, the plastic making a small squeak under his hands, his body tensing and filling with heat, as if the broken silence opened the gates and let it all come crashing in. "I can't believe the way you acted in there..." he says through a sneer, his mind numbed with jealous rage, re-visualizing the scene of her hanging on those men--strangers, friends of friends, briefly met at the beginning of the evening--her drunken laughter floating through his mind, and remembering the look he got from Mark and the other people he was speaking to after they glanced her way.

"What the fuck was going through your head? Hm? Flirting with those men...And Mark! Tell me, did the concept of self-control not enter your mind at all?" Jason smacks the steering wheel as a new burst of anger fills him and feels the need to be released, his breath coming out heavily. "Just...tell me, what was going through your head while you flaunted and flirted with those men tonight. Just, please, give me a reason, not to explode right now," there is a threat in his voice, and a chill, his voice soft as he tries to control another flash of rage shooting through him.

The song playing happened to one of Sarah's favorite. She knew something was bothering Jason, or Jase as she called him, but she didn't question it. Usually if it was a work problem, then he wouldn't want to talk about it. That's what had it to be...right?

Sarah didn't look at him, didn't ask him, instead she just stared out the passenger window, watching the water from the rain make little water trails across the window. The night was dark, as was the drive back to their home. It was more than 30 miles from the city, a little farmhouse on a 25 acre spread, something Sarah had wanted for a long time and was finally surprised with by Jason just over two years ago.

Not a neighbor for miles around....

Just then, Jason reached over and angrily punched at the radio, turning it off completely.

'Here we go...' thought Sarah as she sighed loudly, bracing herself.

"Did you enjoy yourself tonight?"

Sarah didn't bother to look at him as she tried to apologize, "Look, Jase... I said I was sorry, you're making a big dea--"

"I can't believe the way you acted in there..."

"Just calm down Jase, damnit, I said I was sorry!" Sarah said, rarely did she ever counter any of Jason's comments...but right now, he didn't know what he was talking about!

"What the fuck was going through your head? Hm? Flirting with those men...And Mark! Tell me, did the concept of self-control not enter your mind at all? Just...tell me, what was going through your head while you flaunted and flirted with those men tonight. Just, please, give me a reason, not to explode right now!!"

That was it. Sarah turned to face Jason, her tears threatening to fall. "I told you Jason, there is nothing going on!!! How many fucking times do I have to tell you that?!"

*-* 2 years later *-*

3 A.M.

Sarah woke up from a cold sweat, the covers kicked off the bed...the sounds of the city still reverberating in the small, one bedroom apartment she rented, located in the middle of L.A.

A far different place than what she had before...

Before that night.

"Damnit.." she muttered and grabbed the blankets from the floor and covered herself again, almost as if hiding from the world. She needed to sleep. If she could have just one night of decent sleep, then perhaps her crummy job as a waitress wouldn't seem so crummy...

 

[silvertongue217]

It was always the gunfire that woke him up

Not the memories of the IED exploding or of his commanding officer shouting out orders to him while they dodged the hail of bullets raining down on them. Instead it was the sound of bullets whizzing through the air and sinking into his fellow soldiers that always brought him out of his horrible nightmare and back into the real world. The first couple of times it happened to him when he was still in the Marine hospital, he liked to keep his eyes closed and imagine it was just a bad dream. It was much easier to think that then admit he lost his fellow marines.

It got old as the months went on and he abandoned that hope

Alex Hardwin got up wincing as he stepped out of his bed and put some weight on his wounded leg, he paused reaching over and grabbing the simple wooden cane the Marine doctors had given to help him walk and leaning on it. It may be simple but he liked the simple things and any one who offered to buy him a new one was quickly shot down.

He hobbled out of the bed and went to the window pausing to watch the sun peeking over the dessert horizon before he continued into his kitchen and began to make a pot of his favorite coffee. He turned on the morning radio while he brewed using the familiar rock tunes to help drown out the last lingering sounds of his memory/dream. By the time his coffee was done he was in a significantly better mood and he even went out to enjoy the coffee on his deck, after being in Iraq for so long he was having issues being in a normal life and he preferred being outside than being in.

His stomach grumbled alerting him to the fact he was ravenous. He debated about making some thing in the kitchen but he suddenly felt him self-itching to get on his bike and drive into L.A. He usually was as anti social as they came but after spending a few days cooped up with his own addled thoughts some thing would b better than nothing.

He got dressed quickly pulling on his faded jeans grey t-shirt and olive coat. He grabbed his cane last and hobbled outside making sure to lock his house and tuck his gun into the back of his pants. He had a license to carry as a newly minted veteran and even though his doctor said it would be better if he stopped bringing the gun every where he couldn’t stop doing it. It was ingrained in him a part of every thing he wore and it went everywhere with him.

“This is my gun” he murmured hobbling over to his bike a magnificent black Harley that he purchased right out of Iraq. He spent a moment admiring and running a hand over the sleek black flame before he clambered on. He tucked his cane into the saddlebag and kick started the engine taking off and roaring onto the black top of the highway.

He found himself in L.A in a small diner that wasn’t to filled with people. He ignored every one else and stepped in quickly finding himself a spot at the back with a full view of the restaurant. He reached back putting a hand on his pistol to make sure it was there before placing his hands back on the table and taking a deep measured breath.

 

[zydrate]

There was no way Sarah was going back to sleep. She was just too tense and well...those dreams were almost too real for her taste.

That night.

She shuddered and got out of bed before thinking about that night again...no one had touched her since that night...Shaking her head, Sarah got ready for work. It was at least another 2 hours until she had to go in today but sleep had eluded her.

Work. She had given them a fake name at work and it was all because she needed to be safe. It really was easy to get a fake ID and social security card. Only cost her $5K. Which was money she had needed to spend. When she left Jason in the middle of that night, she took everything, even the money he had in his wallet. Earlier in the evening she had drained their bank account and made off with a total of $14K

****

Later that morning, the breakfast rush was just about to start and Sarah was tightening up her apron on and grabbed her notepad. She was late. Despite all that happened that morning, she still ended up late for work. But it wasn't full yet so that was a good thing.

Started off with the first table in her section. She was holding her coffee pot and gave the man, who was seated by himself, a smile as she turned his cup over and poured him coffee. Most of the people that came here were locals of the neighborhood and Sarah recognized some. She could also tell the locals from the tourists but when she looked up from pouring the coffee, her eyes met with the man's and something about him grabbed at her.

She realized she hadn't said anything until an awkward moment passed and she looked down at the pot, "Oh...sorry, I'm Sarah, are you ready to order?"

 

[silvertongue217]

He watched the people coming in mentally checking each on as a potential threat. Some old habits didn’t die h mused as h realized what he was doing to civilians. These were all normal people (for the most part) unlikely to be hidden terrorist or hiding a bomb under their coats. Then again stranger things had happened…….

This was silly he thought to himself snorting and shaking his head. His doctor kept assuring him it was normal especially after the things he went through but that didn’t stop it from being any less silly in his eyes. He felt like a stranger out of his own skin most of the time now watching himself do all these things and trying to figure out why.

He idly scratched the stubble on his chin a blush forming on his cheek as he noticed the pretty waiter eyeing him up and down. He probably looked like a crazy man he mused trying to give her a small smile as she began speaking to him.

“Thank you darling” He said his southern accent coming out a bit as he looked down at his menu “give me whatever’s your favorite” he finally said trying not to blush as h handed her the menu back and placed his hands on the table.

“I’m not so good at making choices” he admitted wincing at how lame it sounded before smiling at her

 

[zydrate]

Sarah took the menu and nodded, "Ohh, OK..." personally she wouldn't eat here but the only thing that was probably edible to her was the scambled eggs with bacon and toast. She jotted down the morning special, mostly what everyone else ordered anyway, "OK, give it a few minutes and it'll be out." She gave him another smile and walked away.

As she checked two other tables in her section, Lorraine nudged Sarah and pointed with her chin, "He looks like trouble... He's been a bit skiddish since walking in and sitting down."

Sarah just shrugged, "He seemed nice. He's not around here, that's for sure."

"How would you know that? You're not even from around here."

Sarah winced, that much was true but she brushed it off. "His accent told me."

"Accent? Like what? Like from England?"

"No, like from the south...or Texas..." Looking at Lorraine, Sarah regarded the other woman, "Why, are you interested?" she said, teasing her.

With that, Lorraine cursed and shook her head as she left Sarah to her morning shift.

About 10 minutes later, his food was ready and Sarah brought it over to him, "Well, here you go, sir.." she stood up straight, "Did you need anything else?"

 

[silvertongue217]

Alex watched the girl leave admiring her backside for a few minutes before shaking his head of such thoughts. He was the last person who needed to be in a relationship. He wok up screaming every night saw things that weren’t there some times and carried a gun every where. His doctor kept assuring him he was just adjusting back and it wasn’t that big of a deal but Alex didn’t think it was at all. He felt damn pathetic most days. When he walked down the street he wondered if the people were looking at him with pity or if they knew just how messed up he was. It was enough to drive him mad most days which was why he rarely went out now.

He suddenly felt hot and uncomfortable, every one seemed to be staring at him inching closer to him. He put a hand on his gun breathing in deeply as he tried to fight the panic attack. The pretty waitress was coming back to him talking as if she was under water.

“B calm soldier” he muttered to himself biting the inside of his lip. The flash of pain was enough to ground him and he ignored the gunfire going off in his head instead focusing on the girl and what she was saying.

“Uh no Ma’am” He said quickly clearing his throat “Thank you so much Sarah darling I hope you have a good morning” he said looking at her with intense blue eyes.

 

[zydrate]

Sarah tried to assess the man as he stared at her. It felt like they were staring at each other for hours when in fact, it was only a matter of seconds. She had wanted to ask if he was OK but decided not to. The last thing she needed was to seem like she cared about someone.

Look what happened last time.

"OK, I'll be back by in a few to see how you're doing."

At her next table, the man sitting there was clearly upset about his order and Sarah did her best to calm him down. But the man wasn't having and was just being a total dick. It took a lot not to lash back at him but Sarah did her best... at least until he started to call her a stupid bitch.

 

[silvertongue217]

He tried to ignore the commotion going on, the pretty waitress was being harassed by some dick. The southern gentleman and the Seal in him was riling up telling him he should b doing some thing about it. H hadn’t been in any sort of fight since becoming a civilian however and he feared losing control in any form. H wasn’t exactly the most stable person which meant he defiantly shouldn’t get involved right? He didn’t want to hurt the man….. Well he did but not to badly.

Then he called her a stupid bitch

The anger rose and he got up grabbing his cane and striding over getting between the two easily. He lashed out with his cane hitting the guy in the knee and causing him to double over which made him easy pray for his chokehold.

“Get out now and leave the lady alone” He said his voice deadly serious before he released him. The man looked startled but promptly ran all but fleeing the restaurant. Alex resisted the urge to smile and turned nodding at the woman before picking his cane back up and moving back to finish his food. He ignored all the eyes on him eating in small precise bites so as to get out of there sooner rather than later.

 

[zydrate]

Sarah had never seen anything like it before. She, along with other customers and waitresses, just watched the entire scene unfold before them. She had wanted to protest when he placed the man in a choke hold but didn't. The particular customer was a regular and well, after today, Sarah didn't think he would be coming back.

As the other man, the one who defended her sat back down, the rest of the crowd went back to what they were doing, eating and talking.

Realizing she was staring at him longer than she should have, Sarah turned away and grabbed the coffee pot and walked over to his table. She poured him another cup and looked at him.

"So...thank you for what you did there..." she said, nodded over at the empty booth that had been cleared up by the bus-boy. "You didn't have to do anything but I appreciate it."

 

[silvertongue217]

“Didn’t want to cause trouble” Alex said sipping his coffee. Of course trouble had a nasty habit of finding him. It always had even as a kid no matter how much he tried to fly below the radar it always seemed to catch up to him in some form or manner. He supposed he had gotten involved this time on his own accord but he was a gentleman through and through.

“I am sorry for the commotion” He said not really knowing why he was apologizing to the pretty girl “I don’t take to kindly to men calling woman names or hurting them in any way being raised by all females can do that to you” he said.

Why was he sharing so much with the girl? Because she was pretty? Usually Alex wasn’t talkative at all much less some one who was good at flirting. Yet…. He really liked her there was just some thing about hre.

Some thing that piqued his interest

 

[zydrate]

"You're apologizing? Why?" Sarah asked, leaning her elbows on the table, regarding him. "Please, don't apologize for what you did. Some assholes deserve what's coming to them, I--"

"Sarah! Get back to work!" The head chef called out from the kitchen.

Smiling, Sarah stood up, picking up the coffee and taking it with her. She was only a few steps away before she turned and nodded toward his food, "Oh, and that's on me."

With that, she got back to work, not realizing that he had left and she didn't get his name. But that was OK, what he did earlier, she was grateful for. He said he didn't like seeing women getting hurt. That was noble. Too bad he wasn't around when she got her ass beat by Jason. Three days in ICU, broken nose, cracked ribs, black eye, swollen lip. And not once did Jason come to see her in the hospital until it was time to go home.

Her best friend Tiffany had insisted Sarah not go home but where else could go?

He had promised not to do it again.

He sort of kept his promise. Only because Sarah had the brains to finally get away.

 

[silvertongue217]

He watched her leave once again admiring her backside. She said his food was on her but he put down enough money to pay for his food and give her a nice tip. He hesitated for a few minutes before pulling out a small notepad and scribbling his number on it along with a small note. He wasn’t sure if it was the best idea but he put the note down leaving it on top of the dollar bills before grabbing his coat. He left making sure to smile at her one more time before hopping on his bike.

“Not sure why you did that” He murmured shaking his head slightly and kick starting his engine “got to many issues to be getting involved with some girl” He murmured to himself leaving the city and going back to his small house. He parked and stepped inside putting his coat and gun down before going into his kitchen. The rest of his day was uneventful he did some work on his bike repaired a section of the house and then worked out. He did these things on auto pilot as his mind thought about th note he had left.

“I’ll come right out and say it I think you’re very pretty and you seem really nice I just got back from deployment and would like to take you out to lunch or dinner if your interested call me”

Alex

 

[zydrate]

Sarah smiled at the note as she collected the payment she told him not to worry about it. She received a few numbers since working here and threw them all away. But this one...this one she would keep.

After her shift was over later that day, Sarah walked to a small grocery store to get some food for dinner that night. Sarah didn't go out. Not since moving to L.A. only because she wasn't ready to. She had been hurt too much by Jason and therefore, didn't trust any man. But it had been more than 6 months since she had left him and now, was she ready?

As she cooked up a small dinner, she pulled the number that Alex had left her. Perhaps she would call it after dinner.

But then what? She had seen him and thought of her co-worker's words about how he seemed a little odd. He did seem out of it when Sarah served his breakfast but hadn't thought anything of it.

If she did go out with him, was she just setting herself up to date another loser? Even though he said he didn't like seeing others getting hurt, could he still end up hurting her?

 

[silvertongue217]

Alex went about his evening cooking himself a small dinner and sitting down alone as always. He looked around his small dining room and ate slowly savoring every bite as he watched the sun setting from his glass windows. He wondered if the woman was going to call him for the thousandth time. Ever since he had decided to give her his number the soldier was in a constant state of worry. He was hoping she would contact him but he didn’t know if he was ready for it or not. He knew she was the first person he had feelings for since he got back but he also knew he was by no means a stable person.

Could he handle her?

He tried to stay awake as long as possible so he decided to go outside and work on his bike some more. He worked late into the night keeping his phone on his body in case she was a night owl like him.

 

[zydrate]

"Oh, what the hell.." Sarah said as she picked up her phone and dialed the number she had already programmed into her phone. She was like a lovesick teen as she nervous listened to the ringing, silently hoped it would go to voicemail or that maybe it was a fake number.

Nope. On the third ring, she heard the click of the call being answered. She heard him say hello and so she started to babble, "Hi, you gave me your number earlier today and well, I know it's late and I hope I didn't wake you..." she bit her lip before adding on, "This is Sarah by the way...the waitress from the diner from this morning."

 

[silvertongue217]

“Uh hi” Alex said in surprise sitting up on his couch and clearing his throat nervously “no I’d recognize that voice of yours any where darling” He said fighting the urge to blush. He got up nervously pacing as he tried to remember how to flirt and what to do in a social situation. It was only now that he was on the phone with her that he realized just how much he liked her. He felt his breath shortening and sucked in a startled breath before giving a soft smile.

“I’m glad you called” He said sitting on the couch “Really I am sorry about today again I hope you didn’t mind me giving you your number I haven’t been back state side for very long but you’re the first girl I’ve really taken an interest in”

“That’s not to say im like a pervert either!” He said quickly blushing “I just I really thought you were pretty” he finally admitted.

 

[zydrate]

Sarah giggled and smiled as she curled up in bed with her phone, "I don't think you're a pervert besides, if you were, I wouldn't be calling you." She reached over and turned off the light next to her bed and stared up at the ceiling as she continued to talk to him. "But I am glad you left me your number and what you did today, it was very honorable." It was true. No one had ever done that for her and she was grateful.

"So, Alex, your note said you just got back from deployment. What branch?" She asked as she put an arm behind her head, while she listened to him.

 

[silvertongue217]

He chuckled at her words smiling softly as he listened to her voice there was some thing about it that just made him relax and loosen up. He felt unburdened for the first time in a while as if he was just a normal man talking to a hot girl. He stretched out on the bed wondering where she was at and what she was wearing……

“I was in the united states navy” He said idly scratching the back of his head “Working as a Seal in Iraq I just got out a few months ago and moved here for the better hospital which is probably why I look like a cat fish out of water” he said his southern drawl coming out.

“What about you? You from around these parts darling?” He asked smiling softly.

 

[zydrate]

"The hospital huh? So, that explains your limp and the cane. What happened?" Sarah shifted in bed and put the phone on her other ear, "I mean, that is if you want to tell me."

"What about me?" Sarah repeated and thought about it. God, she didn't really think this through. She knew she was going to be asked this question one day but she kept pushing the thought back.

But she had to come up with something, "No..." she answered quietly, "I'm actually from Oregon." She couldn't help but tell him the truth. This would probably not end up turning into anything anyway. "Small town in Oregon. Felt the urge to get away one day and then, what do you know? I find myself in L.A."

 

[silvertongue217]

“Really small town girl huh” Alex said not really noticing the change in her voice “I come form a small town my self out in Texas I know the urge to get away hell I joined the Navy in order to see other countries and get away from the small town life some times I miss it but I don’t think I’ll be ready to go back until im ready to retire” He said speaking fast as he suddenly found himself very willing to share. Sharing was never his style but he found himself doing it easily with her. She was so easy to talk to a fact he was very happy for.

“So do you have a man in your life?” He said before wincing “I am sorry if that’s to bold” he said blushing softly.

 

[zydrate]

This was nice. Talking. Just talking. No pressure with appearances or environments. Sarah listened intently to what he was saying and was easily sucked into his accent, which made her feel, comforted.

He asked if she had a man in her life. Sarah frowned and shrugged to herself, "No, no one special here. Nor back home..." she stifled a yawn, "Hasn't been anyone for a long time." And since he had asked her, she felt it only fair to ask him the same thing but she stopped herself because he was quite frank about it before. He just got back from deployment and was situating himself back into civilian life.

"So, Alex, what was this I remember about lunch or dinner? Are you planning to cook for me or take me somewhere... and just an FYI, I like intimate settings...I don't really do well in a crowd." She remembered how he acted at the diner and so, this was for his benefit more than hers.

 

[silvertongue217]

“I was actually planning on cooking you dinner” Alex said getting up and sitting cross legged “I actually am a pretty good cook and I prefer the intimate setting im not one for big crowds of people” He admitted chuckling a bit.

“If you don’t mind coming to my house” He said getting up and going to look out the window “I can make you dinner tomorrow night if your not busy” he said feeling nervous. He hadn’t asked a person out on a date in so long he couldn’t even remember. He had some interest while he was in the Navy but he had been to busy preparing for deployment…. And he was a bit of a playboy before as well.

“I promise a lovely dinner and pleasant company” He said clearing his throat “and that im not some crazy physco”

That part was debatable

 

[zydrate]

"Wow, you cook too?" She was actually surprised at that. Jason couldn't cook for shit and he always made sure Sarah had a hot meal ready for him...

Fuck, what the hell was she doing?! Comparing that asshole to Alex and they hadn't even gone on their first date yet. She mentally cursed herself and realized she hadn't answered, "I'm not doing anything tomorrow and I would love to have dinner with you."

No, he wasn't a psycho.. but then again, she was a terrible judge of character.

So, a few more minutes of talking and arrangements of how she was going to meet him and then go with him back to his place. Suddenly, she was very nervous.

"Well, thank you again for taking a chance and leaving me your number... I'll see you tomorrow... have a good night."

 

[silvertongue217]

“see you tomorrow” Alex said ending the call and laying back in bed “wow” he mouthed starring up at his ceiling for the first time in a long time he felt excited happy even. He didn’t know what would become of this but he sure as hell was excited to find out. He could feel his heart hammering in his chest and knew he wasn’t going to be getting any sleep any time soon. He was to keyed up so he got up stretching out and going to work out for a while to burn the excess energy. Afterwards he finally got some sleep crashing around four in the morning before getting up around one. He spent the rest of the day getting the things he needed to make his famous beer can chicken and veggie dish. It was always a hit with his unit so he thought she would like it. He lucked out on a good bottle of wine and set up dinner getting it just about ready before going to shower and change.

He put on a nice button down flannel shirt ripped jeans and cowboy boots and waited making sure all his guns were put away and locked up. He didn’t want to freak her out after all he spent the time before she showed up making sure dinner was okay as well as worrying. This would be his first date in who knew how long and he didn’t want to lose control. He ran over every exercise his doctor told him to manage his stress in his head as he waited for her.

 

[zydrate]

Sarah took great care in how she dressed for the evening, choosing a pair of jeans, a brown cami and a black jacket. She had put her red hair in a loose pony tail and applied a minimal amount of make up. She looked at herself in the full length mirror and nodded to herself. She was comfortable yet casual. Both a great combination which didn't reflect her stomach doing flip-flops from nervousness.

It took her a while to get to Alex's place and she had hoped he didn't give up on her as she parked her car. Getting out, she walked up to the door and then knocked, took a step back and waited for him to answer his door.

She didn't have to wait long and the door opened and she smiled, "Hi." She said looking up at hiim, "I hope I'm not late."