Sin City: A broken dream, and a handful of bullets. (Closed for scarlettnuit)

[CoSurvivor]

It was one of those mid September days in Basin City that made you wish you were somewhere else, it had been hot as fuck, which was always good to see the beautiful woman from old town wearing little to nothing which was half as much of what they would normally wear. Officer Wyatt Cole was a lifer in Basin city, he’d grown up in the projects, one of the worst areas of Basin City to raise a child. If you could call what his parents did ‘raising him’. His father, a mechanic would drink when he was off work. His mother, a nurse at Basin City General was at the center of a scheme that included three doctors writing scripts for oxycodine. She was pressured to do it, then became hooked on it, and eventually died from an overdose. His father who barely raised him would occasionally raise a hand, only to reach for a bottle instead. He studied hard, made every effort to do his best and it eventually paid off. He was able to get a full ride scholarship to Basin City University, and moved into the dorms, and within a few days of moving in, his old man was accosted in the projects and murdered for the 20 bucks he had in his back pocket.


Alone, Wyatt pushed himself to succeed, he wanted to be better than either of his parents, knowing that the only way out was by education, or at least that’s what he believed. And, he wanted to get even with those who’d victimized him as a kid. So, he focused on criminology and forensics. He hoped that he could apply to the Basin City Police Dept and work his way to being a detective. Some day be a hero cop like the revered legend Jack Rafferty. It was mid terms during his sophmore year, he’d been working hard to pass exams, and during one of his sociology courses, one of the students behind him, a rich kid name Anthony King passed his desk a slip of paper dropped out of his note book, fluttering to the floor right next to him. Picking it up, curious what all the writing was, he found it to be a cheat sheet, every answer to the mid term exam was there. King kept walking, and Cole presented it to the professor after terms were over. He believed King would get expelled, or at least punished for cheating. Instead it was Cole who was punished, he received a D on the mid term, which sunk his GPA for the semester. And no matter how perfect his papers were, no matter how much extra credit he did, he never got better than a C- in the class. At the end of the semester, King confronted him, saying that rats get what they deserve, that his daddy had protected him and blackmailed the professor into keeping it under wraps. The professor was also pressured to sink Cole, not flunk him but prevent him from getting high scores. Everything was at risk, his dorm room, his full ride scholarship, everything. He would not let king get away with it, and sought out his own personal vengeance.


The first Saturday night after terms were over, Wyatt sabotaged Anthony King’s car, causing it to run off the road and nearly wrap itself around a tree. King was in a medicated coma for the summer, missed the junior year. It had been two months after the accident, the school year was about to start,, Wyatt was about to leave for class when one very big police officer entered his dorm room.. The man was older, possibly pushing 50, gray hair, a well kept beard and a certain retro style that said he spend more time on his feet than asleep. The detective had proof that the car Anthony King was driving had it's break fluid drained, the evidence was circumstantial, but under the right conditions, the sabotage would have the desired effect. Wyatt was cornered, he'd never had reason to lie to a cop his entire life. so he confessed.

"So I have a decision to make here Mr. Cole... I can ruin two lives.. or I can allow a piece of shit like King get his what he deserves. I hear you are taking criminology, that you hope to one day be a detective. is that correct?"

With all the strength in his body controlling his nerves, Wyatt replied "Yes Sir."

"Well, then here's the deal, You are going to apply yourself Mr. Cole you'll fight tooth and nail to graduate with top honors, you'll graduate, and immediately apply to the Basin City PD. You'll get accepted, because of course, that's the smart thing they'd do. You'll put in your time as a beat cop, and then you'll get your shot. However, Mr. Cole. there will be a day, when I come looking for you. You won't know when. But when I do come looking for you, I will require you to repay me for my leniency."

Without a moment's hesitation, Wyatt replied "You have a deal Detective....?"

"No names, best not to ask your benevolent benefactor's name... I'll remain anonymous, for now. Study hard Mr. Cole." And with that, the man left.

Wyatt applied himself, and never fucked up again in the remaining two years he had at the University. Graduating with near top honors, safe for the C- he'd received his freshman year, he didn't date, had no time for it despite a few of the lovely ladies offering to study with him at any hour of the night. No.. he'd been given a second chance.

Upon graduation he applied and was instantly accepted, he was in great physical shape, so making it through the academy wasn't too much of an issue. He did find out shortly after becoming an officer that being a cop in Basin City meant that your moral compass was... skewed. That in order to get the bad guys, the good guys planted evidence, beat a confession out of a suspect who they knew to be guilty because the bad guy was smart enough to destroy what evidence there was. And... he found out that the police force would look the other way.. if you paid the right price. He couldn't bring himself to take a bribe, but he was given no choice when Senator Roark's kid wrapped his car around a pole. only to find that there was a body in the trunk. That was investigated by an old timer, Hartigan was his name... he broke the case, and as rumor had it, the man was so dedicated that he went too far. Urban legend was that he broke out, and killed the Roark kid then put a bullet in his head. but then again that was just legend.

Wyatt was also introduced to two rules, Cops don't visit old town. less they wanna get shot up, or get sent packing with a squad car filled with holes... No. Cops don't venture into old town.

The second rule, the noble idea of being a good cop was naive, the reality was, Basin City was a pint sized war zone. the cops played referee while the mob and the gangs fought each other. The projects, where he'd grown up became ground zero, Sacred Oaks was the sweet job. But only those who kissed enough ass or had enough bank roll could work it. Sacred Oaks was the only safe district in Basin City.

Wyatt became very familiar with the reasons why Basin City became known simply as 'Sin City' Anything can happen for the right price.

Despite this, the fact that his dream of being a 'good cop' went flying out the window 6 hours past graduation, he stuck with it, and tried to make a difference in whatever way he could. His life would forever alter on a Wednesday. his off day as he worked the night shift, 5 days a week. He'd gone for a ride on the old '95' Harley Davidson "Fatboy" he'd been able to scrape back together. All the hours of being around his old man did impart some technical skills, one being able to fix a car if necessary. He'd gone for a ride that afternoon, winding through the hills trying to take his mind off returning to work the next day when he noticed an old 72 Camaro broken down on the side of the road. Two young women had the hood up on the vehilcle, steam pouring out of the radiator. These two were unusually attractive, and his senses were telling him to ride on, but the chivalry in him won out. Pulling over about twenty feet in front of the broken down car, Wyatt turned off the bike, got off and made it obvious of his presence.

"Excuse me Ladies? Can I be of some help??"

 

[scarlettnuit]

Vivien pushed the old jalopy through the hills, trying to make it back to old town. She didn’t take out of town jobs, so to speak, but she had been asked for by name and paid handsomely. On top of that, it was a “good will” job, keeping the peace between the ladies of old town and politicians that might try to take them down. A screw here and there was a lot better than a river of blood.

Normally the rack of metal she was in was pretty reliable but she feared it was at it’s end. As the car climbed the hills and then down the highway towards Basin City proper, it had started to overheat to the point that she had to pull over.

She certainly wasn’t dressed for the occasion. She was wearing dress made entirely of black fishnet with a tiny black G-string to keep a little to the imagination. The 8-inch spiked leather heels weren’t a help either. She did have on a black trench coat, the one thing that was keeping her warm, but the belt was loose and it occasionally flapped open.

She sighed and got out of the car and called Candy to follow her. She was in pixie of a woman, petite, fine bone structure, green eyes and lilac purple hair, thus her nick name. Vivien told the other woman to get the flashlight as she herself got some tools out of the back.

Growing up with her brother, he had taught her about cars. Having been quite a bit older she had looked to him and he hadn’t seemed to care that he had a little brat following him around. Every time she looked at an engine she thought of him. Now she blinked away those thoughts. He had been killed years ago and she had never really gotten over it, understood it. That was how she ended up in Old Town. She had nowhere else to go.

“Looks like the block is cracked….” She sighed. “We’re screwed…” She added and then looked up as she heard a Harley pull up to them.

She watched carefully as Wyatt approached. While her dress had very little to it, her trench coat was filed with blades and throwing knives, ready to take out anyone who got in their way. She didn’t trust anyone as far as she could throw them, not even the other ladies of old town, but she always played nice.

“Yeah…Cracked engine block I think” she said as the guy approached, though she didn’t expect him to trust her evaluation. Men always knew better it would seem. Her blue eyes watched him carefully as he approached them.

“What brings you out in this weather?” she asked as rain trickled down on them.

 

[CoSurvivor]

"This weather?"
Wyatt put his hand out and could feel the rain getting a little heavier. The tires on the bike were new, about the only thing on it that wasn't a used part, or had been refurbished.

"Insane I guess to be riding a bike in what's coming." Wyatt looked up at the sky and could see the gathering storm clouds, they were in that place between ominous and threatening, as if the sky above was about to let loose and piss on Basin City.

He noticed her attire, she wasn't hiding her figure, and the heels were accentuating the amazing curves she had. The trenchcoat she was wearing billowed, he could see high up on her thigh, the tiny string thong a tease, but that wasn't what got his attention, the glint of steel, the girl was armed.

"well DUH Wyatt..." He said to himself, Girls like her don't go anywhere without some sort of protection. he doubted if the pixie with the purple hair wasn't hiding at least a compact 9 somewhere in her clothes. The trenchcoat certainly gave the stunning woman in front of him enough concealment that she might very well be packing a full sized .357 in its folds. He'd heard the stories of the girls from Old Town carrying the most outlandish firearms in the skimpiest outfits.

"May I take a peek?" He took a few more steps forward and even from the distance he could tell there was a problem that no wrench could fix. Simply too much water was coming out spilling all over the road for it to be anything other than a blown radiator, the water pump had given out or... the block was cracked.

"I'd be happy to give one of you ladies a ride to where ever you were headed so you can call a wrecker. I'd offer to call one, but cell coverage out here is for shit."

 

[scarlettnuit]

Vivien watched with cautious eyes as the man approached. While he looked over the engine she sized him up. Good looking, young, seemed to know his way around an engine. Clearly he wasn’t from Sacred Oaks. She looked over at his back and could see it wasn’t new. It was something he had cobbled together. It was beautiful and the workmanship was too good for it to be anything less than an act of love and devotion.

She looked over his pants and jacked, looking for any outlines that might denote the weapons he was hiding. If he was, it had to be in should holster, for her keen eyes saw nothing.

She looked up at the sky as her honey brown hair billowed in the breeze of an oncoming storm. While she hated to leave Candy alone, it had to be done. Besides, the girl could take care of herself. When he offered the ride she took one more look at him before accepting.

“Sounds like a plan mister”, she smiled, her throaty voice practically purring. She tied her trench coat closed and tossed the car keys to Candy.

“I’ll send someone out as soon as I get to a phone.” She told her and then walked with Wyatt back to his bike.

With an easy grace she mounted the fat boy and then moved to the back of the seat. She patted the spot in front of her and waited for him to get on.

“A knight and his noble steed. To what do I owe this honor?”

 

[CoSurvivor]

“A knight and his noble steed. To what do I owe this honor?”

"Well, the bike is a 95 Fatboy I've been working on for ages. Just got it put back together not long ago. Me, I'm Wyatt, and you owe me nothing miss.. Good deeds are done without thought of benefit or reward. But you could tell me your name?"

Wyatt straddled the bike, made sure she was on safely and started down the road back toward Basin City. He didn't want to assume that she was from Old Town, certainly the fishnet dress and 8 inch heels probably made it obvious but who was he to judge. He'd grown up in the projects and he'd heard the stories.

For his own sake, he had to be careful of what details he gave her. Yes, he was a mechanic, more a home garage mechanic after following in his father's footsteps but beyond that he was a beat cop. Thanks to the updated uniform, most people didn't recognize officers on the street. He still didn't like it but this was the choice he'd made. And, knowing how cops are not welcome in Old Town if that's where he was taking her, he'd be dead if she found out. And if she did, he'd call it an "olive branch" that not all cops were bad.

Finally, when they'd made it within city limits he asked for directions.

"So where am I going?"

 

[scarlettnuit]

It took all the strength in Vivien not to roll her eyes when Wyatt spoke of a good deed. Good deeds in Sin City didn’t exist. If he didn’t want to tell her what the final cost would be, that was fine by her. If he tried anything, she would gut him like a suckling pig.

When he asked her name, she considered her response carefully. Should she give a fake name? She supposed it didn’t matter, it wasn’t like she’s be seeing this cowboy after tonight.

“Vivien. My friends call me Viv.”

One he was on the bike she wrapped her arms around his torso and they were off. It had been a long time since she had been on the back of a bike. She smiled at the feeling of the wind whipping through her hair. He was a good rider and skilled; she could tell by the way he handled the bike on the curves in the rain.

Once they reached civilization she pointed to a gas station a few blocks down the street and he drove her there. Once he parked the bike she hopped off and went inside and used the phone. She was there for several minutes before she came back out and saw Wyatt.

“They’re sending a wrecker out to Candy along with another couple of girls to wait with her. Thanks for the lift. I owe ya one” she grinned at him playfully. She paused and bit her bottom lip for a moment before she continued.

“I don’t suppose you’d be willin’ to give a girl a ride home would you? I’m guessing you know where that is. I understand if you’re not up for it.”

 

[CoSurvivor]

While Vivian walked through the light rain to make her call, Wyatt sat on his bike keeping the engine warm. He'd drop her anywhere she wanted to go, if he was lucky she didn't live in old town, maybe in the projects, or some place that wasn't a hell hole.

“I don’t suppose you’d be willin’ to give a girl a ride home would you? I’m guessing you know where that is. I understand if you’re not up for it.”

At the sound of her question, he wanted to be the chivalrous one, get her home safe in the rain and prove he had the balls to pull it off. The only problem was, in order to be chivalrous, one had to be alive. Dead men didn't save lives, get pretty women out of the rain or help them step over a puddle. They were just dead, and Wyatt liked breathing.

As much as he wanted to see her home, he also knew just having her on the back seat of his bike was putting her at risk. If someone recognized him, if someone even remotely suspected he was a cop inside Old Town he was fucked. Going to Old Town was just not something any cop did for a number of reasons. The girls would kill him, Second if they didn't he'd be out of a job. But they'd have to recognize him first wouldn't they? Part of him didn't give a shit if he got caught, actually most of him could give a fuck, but the small part that was left knew that he shouldn't push it. And if there was a small chance that he had a way to avoid going in there, he should take it.

"I would, but the rain is getting bad. Can I take you to Stan's? Buy you a cup of coffee instead? "

Stan's was what could be called "neutral territory" or in a technical no-man's land just over Woodman's bridge where you could go without venturing into Old Town and getting yourself in deep shit. He remembered going there as a kid with his old man for shakes. One of the only memories as a kid that was positive. He'd take the bus to his dad's work after school, watch him work while he studied, and put his small hands to work at times getting his fingers in tiny places that his father's meat hooks couldn't get into. When he was young, before the drinking...when his mom was still alive. Those were the good times.

"What do you say? Can I buy you a cup of coffee? Warm our bones a little and maybe this mess will pass over?"

 

[scarlettnuit]

She nodded and gave him a bit of a grin. She supposed he was one of those guys that were too shy to buy a woman and to chicken to go to old town to get one. She found humor in the fact this guy, on his big bike, didn’t have the balls to take her home.

“How about a big juicy burger and some pie instead?” She asked as she climbed onto the back of his bike. She wrapped her arms around his torso again and snuggled up to the heat of his body. She took a deep breath and realized that he smelled rather good. Already a step up from most Johns. She wondered if she could talk him into buying some time. Of course, she saw it more as a challenge than an actual job. Something fun to pass the time.

She held on tight as they took off, moving through Basin City, the street lights casting a yellow glow on the rain soaked streets. By the time they reached their destination she was almost sad that the ride was over. He was warm and he smelled delicious. She hadn’t realized how tired she was until he turned off the bike.

She gave him an awkward smile after she released her hold on him and then stepped off the bike. She made her black trench coat was securely fastened with her belt before she walked inside with Wyatt.

The waitress, the typical motherly waitress you would find anywhere, brought them both some clean towels to dry off a bit. Vivien went the bathroom to clean up her face and hair and when she returned, she had just walked off a fashion shoot, her make up perfect, her hair try and falling gently down her back.

She sat in the booth across from Wyatt and looked at the menu. She hadn’t been to this plave for ages, not since she was a kid. She laughed sarcastically to herself as she was far from being a kid now. She blinked away the thoughts and looked at the menu.

“I’ll take the double bacon burger with fries and a strawberry milkshake please.” She smiled at the waitress when she returned.

“And you sir?” she waitress asked Wyatt.

 

[CoSurvivor]

The knot in his stomach unwound just a bit. She'd suggested Hurrley's which was well inside the safe zone. He knew of the place but had never been there. "Burger and pie it is.."

Hitting the road again he caught a smell of her perfume, intoxicating, he had no idea what brand it was, or how expensive it was, but Vivian smelled as good as she looked. The shared body heat between them was welcome on the way there, her arms wrapped around his waist, never straying too high, never straying low, although knowing her profession and the fact that the ladies has a reputation for being very forward. He couldn't help but smile, no matter if it was intended or not, Viv was passively seducing him. Or at least that's what it felt like.

While they rode he had to pay extra attention not to put too much throttle into it, he could feel the back tire want to fishtail, so he slowed down just a touch. When they finally arrived, the smell of the place hit him like a warm blanket, welcoming him in. He was happily surprised by the hostess giving them both a fresh towel to dry off with. Wyatt went to the table they'd been directed too while Viv went off to freshen up he figured, dry her hair as much as she could, and sort out her leather jacket. He watched, as from across the room three young men couldn't help but nod to the bounce of her ass while she strode down to the bathrooms. One of them took a good look at Wyatt, to which he gave him a knowing glance, Yes.. she was with him...

The three men were dressed in 80's retro jackets, ones that Michael Jackson had made popular, somehow the 80's style had made it self popular again, and he'd heard of a white supremacist gang called the '88's' making a name for themselves, the calling card of their little band of misfits were old retro 80's jackets. It didn't matter to these morons that a Black man had made the jackets famous. Hell to them by the time Jackson passed away they probably thought he was a white guy. Oh... the benefits of a street education.

The waitress who was serving them was none too happy with their presence. She was an older woman who'd seen it all before. When her counter part approached, another older woman in her mid 50's He politely took the menu from her and Wyatt ended up taking a look at the menu while he waited, keeping an eye on them while also observing the rest of the customers. A number of them were nervous, was something about to go down here? A robbery? Or had they basically made themselves unwelcome by their juvenile behavior?

Ah... there it was, one of them the one who'd made eye contact with Wyatt and started mouthing off about how his fries were cold. But he kept looking over to the kitchen. Not sure what the intent was, but Wyatt took a look in the same direction and tried spotting the cook. Sure enough, the cook, was black. The cook, was an older man, probably in his mid 50's as well, he had a certain look about him as if he'd seen the world and come back again. He went about his business as if he was focused on just the food,

When Viv came out of the restroom he watched her strut.. The woman had curves, she made the leather jacket look like it was painted on her. If she was intending to get Wyatt's attention, she succeeded. Only it also attracted white boy number 2, who gave a near audible groan as she walked past.

Turning his attention to Viv, the waitress finally returned and Viv ordered. Wyatt gave her a playful smirk and smiled to the waitress handing over his menu.

"I'll have what she's having, minus the shake. I'll take water instead."

He gave her a wry grin as the waitress left and said "I'm sure the food is good, but you take me to the most amazing places on a first date. I mean, I offer to buy coffee, you up the ante by going for burgers and fries."

He was teasing of course. then heard a crash from behind them as one of the 88's swept his plate on to the ground throwing everywhere.

"Get the fucking manager you old bitch I wanna see the fucker who put bugs in my food!" Wyatt reached across the table and simply put his hand on hers. "Don't turn.. it's three white boys who spotted you on the way to the restroom."

The kid had gotten up, pushed the old waitress aside and started yelling at the kitchen. Wyatt could see the older man drying his hands on his apron and start for the door.

Moving quickly, Wyatt got out of the booth and made as if he was looking at a few of the pies in the front counter display. He was maybe ten feet away when the cook came through the door. the three 88's had now gotten up and were looking to throw a beat down on the old man. If it had been two of them, he'd probably have held off, but he knew these types. They started arguing, and the cook even offered to make him a new plate on the house. but the kid was having none of it. The old man didn't look phased, and he could see the man was about to ball up his fists ready for a fight. Instead, Wyatt distracted them by coughing...

"What the fuck man, can't you see we're having a discussion?" one of them said. He was about Wyatt's height, but weighed about 30 lbs less. with a shock of bleach blonde hair, he looked like a Billy Idol's step sister's brother cousin. complete reject from the 80's.

"Looks like three against one. just figured I'd even the odds.." Wyatt replied....

"Oh?" the kid whipped out a butterfly knife, did the spin move on it to open it and brandished it at Wyatt.

With less time to see the kid react, Wyatt slapped him, took the knife from him and slowly closed it. He could see the old man getting close to the first 88 who's made eye contact with Wyatt. Handing it back to to him. He made the subtle suggestion. "Do it again..."

This time he tried opening the knife but Wyatt beat him to it, grabbed his wrist turned it side ways and broke his wrist. The kid dropped the knife fell to his knees and writhed in pain. His buddy, closest to the cook was in shock. As the Cook had a VERY firm grip on his shoulder. Wyatt turned to the third 88, this one was a bit taller, and pulled a gun on Wyatt.

"I'm GONNA FUCKING KILL YOU!" he screamed.

Calmly Wyatt looked at him and said... "You've watched too many movies kid... That's a 1911 45 in your hand. It's a single action pistol, not like the Tupperware glocks the bangers on 5th street carry."

"So...What about it man.." The kid was belligerent, and stupid.

"You have to cock it.. to fire it." looking at his own gun the kid didn't realize the hammer was down. He got a frighten look on his face as Wyatt took a step toward him. "For a single action pistol like that, the hammer has to be back in order to fire."

Reaching for it, Wyatt calmly took it out of the kid's hand, and placed it in his own waistband. "Now... get your buddy here... and get the fuck out of here.. The rest of us are trying to eat.."

Stunned, both kids gathered their fallen friend as Wyatt picked up the butterfly knife, closed it and handed it to the cook. All three bailed out of the place scrambling for their car. Once they'd gotten in their car and sped off, Wyatt turned to the cook.

"Are you crazy son?" the cook said.

"Yes... and no.. but I don't like bullies.. and I'm hungry. Besides. I figured I'd save you some repair bills. I saw you fight once on T.V. when my dad was still alive. You had one hell of a right hook."

The cook just laughed.. "That was a long time ago..Go sit down, your food's probably burning up."

Wyatt nodded and went back to his table with Vivian. "Sorry about that...where were we.. Oh yea.. I was going to ask you... Are you from Basin City? "

Wyatt had just done one of the craziest and stupidest thing in his life. He didn't like bullies, but something about thugs brought out a vengeful side of him.

 

[scarlettnuit]

Vivien sipped her milkshake and watched the events that were unfolding as if she were watching tv. She knew if she had stepped in, it would have been quieter, but with a lot more blood. She chuckled as Wyatt had to explain to one of the kids how to work his piece. Part of her wondered how the kid got his mitts on it, she chuckled to herself again as she realized just how fucked up that thought was, given everything that was happening.

Wyatt, however, proved himself to be quite a guy. Before she thought he was just some schmuck that was kind, but weak. She didn’t understand his fear about going to old town. As long as he didn’t cause trouble, no one would touch him. She hated the way her brain worked now. Once upon a time she would have been more open and friendly, but working the streets does things to you.

She smiled at him when he returned, a genuine smile this time. She appreciated that he was looking out for the little guy, even if that little guy was an ex-boxer who would have pounded those kids into beef tartar. She laughed a little as he resumed their conversation as if nothing had happened.

“Yes, I’m from Basin City,” she began with a grin, “no one ends up here unless they were born into it.”

She let her eyes roam over him for the first time, taking the time to take in his features. He was handsome, too handsome. The kinda handsome that made girls stupid. Tall, dark, and handsome may have been a cliché but this guy had it written all over him and she enjoyed the view. As she was appreciating his eyes, something clicked.

“You’re a cop aren’t you?” she said as she leaned back in the booth and sipped her milkshake. It all made sense now, the chivalry, the kids, his lack of desire to go to old town. She leaned forward and set her milkshake on the table and looked stoned serious.

“You know this means that I gotta leave you marked. We cut off pigs ears so that we know which herd you’re part of. I know just the piece I’m gonna use…”she said, looking as if she were going to murder him. Then, suddenly, she started laughing and leaned back in the booth again, grabbing her milkshake casually.

“I’m just messin’ with ya fuzz! We’re pretty democratic in my neck of the woods. You don’t get messed with unless you mess with us. You don’t need to be scared of visiting, though,” she paused as she let her eyes rake over him again, “I can’t imagine that you would need to be paying for woman. You’re too pretty stud.” She winked at him.

Just then their food arrived, piping hot. She smiled and groaned appreciatively at the big pile of fries and juicy burger. She didn’t even wait for him as she picked it up and took a big bite. She rolled her eyes in pleasure and moaned again.

“This place has always had the best burgers.” She told him after swallowing her first bite. “Tell me about you? You come to this place often? I take it you’re from the Basin as well?”

 

[CoSurvivor]

Wyatt signed... she's spotted him. All at once he felt embarrassed, exposed and naked. None of the three experiences were ones that he enjoyed out in public. His face, mildly red from being exposed as a cop. He nodded, then took the Heinz 57 Ketchup bottle from it's spot on the table and proceeded to use his knife to pull some out of it on to his plate. Swirling a few fries in it he gobbled them and looked over his burger.

"That obvious? I figured it would be hard to explain why I wouldn't take you home without saying it. Or, you'd assume I was some church going moron trying to convert you. Of course, taking a gun off a punk and breaking another one's wrist isn't what a proper church going bible thumper would do. So, I suppose I ratted myself out with my second good deed for the day. I only hope my first, isn't one you'll hold against me. Surely a cop picking up a lady from Old Town is asking for trouble. I was honestly trying to do the right thing." He said it and meant it. But rarely did the 'right thing' get you anywhere.

He was honest, as was Viv, he didn't regret picking her up on the side of the road, he'd do it again in an instant, but now that she knew he was a cop, she might or she might do something more drastic. He almost took her seriously at her threat at cutting parts off him, He worried for a moment that his made the single biggest mistake in his life by trying to be chivalrous on a rainy afternoon. As the old saying goes, "No good deed goes unpunished in Sin City..." But, at her laughter he chuckled as well, her laugh seemed to be genuine, and well, her comments also suited what he'd always heard or really knew about the girls of Old Town.

"I earned that..and nice to know that just because I carry a badge doesn't mean all the ladies think we're all cut from the same cloth. However, from the rumors I've heard too many of those who carry a shield try to make a name for themselves.. and regret it. As well they should."

Biting into his burger, Wyatt took a moment to chew and make eye contact with her. she was right, any one who lived here was born here. So, he nodded in agreement. "Yup, born in the projects, my parents tried like hell to get out. But things never change. This place doesn't change, it just changes you."

He thought about that for a moment, he didn't want to ask her about how she came in to it, figured if this conversation lasted longer than the burger and pie, he'd let her tell the story, but it would be on her terms.

"I didn't always want to be a cop. I wanted to be an astronaut or a firefighter. Don't think I once truly wanted to be a mechanic like my old man was. I think this city just sort of creates a path for you, no matter what you want. Maybe it was reading too many comics, or being the skinny kid trying to stand up to the bullies, but I always wanted to do what was right, but being from the projects, doing the right thing got me beat up. So, I learned the hard way. It wasn't like the comics or T.V. Life sucked for a while, and then I grew up. Thanks to genetics, I survived."

They'd been talking while they were eating, he could tell Viv had no issues that some other women did about eating in front of people. No, she was self assure, Old Town probably tattooed that on her.

"Bout you? Can't imagine anyone who was born here wanting to stay here? Did you ever imagine moving somewhere else?"

Wyatt watched her. the subtle sultriness in her movements... Viv was naturally sexy.. the woman could probably eat a bag of potato chips and give every man in the room a hard on. He was in deep shit, he knew it. There'd be no escaping her...

 

[scarlettnuit]

Vivien tucked back into her burger as he spoke, explaining all the explanations he had come up with to excuse himself from going to old town, how he was trying to do the right thing with the kids. None of it mattered much to her, mattered in the sense that she understood he had his reasons and she was the last one to question them.

She couldn’t help but grin a bit as he finally grinned a bit after he realized she was joking with him. He had a nice smile. She supposed if he wasn’t such a good guy he could have taken up escorting for the ladies. Then again, his heart was probably too soft to go into the kind of work she did. It took a tough exterior, not only to deal with the normal every day John, but to deal with the soft hearted ones that fell in love with the act. Those were always a bit harder to deal with.

She nodded when he said he was born in Basin. It was like a tar pit, it took one hell of a fight to get out and they both seemed firmly stuck here. “What a coincidence! I didn’t always want to be a whore.” She smiled at him, trying to be jovial about it. While she supposed it had some perks, whoring was never anyone’s dream job.

“I wanted to go school. Always wanted to do fashion design. Sometimes I get to put stuff together for the girls, but it’s pretty rare. Only when we have an event for the clout.” She shrugged. “But, blood and tears don’t pay for anything around here so one has to do what they can to survive.”

For a moment she started to feel sad about it all but she quickly pulled herself back up. Lingering on what could have been never helped anyone. She took a deep breath and finished off her burger, smiling at Wyatt. She then poured some ketchup on her plate, hitting the “57” on the bottle to get it to flow out.

She dipped a fry and then munched on it. She rested her head in one of her hands and continued to eat her fries.

“So…if you could do anything right now, without consequences, what would it be?” she asked as she popped another fry between her luscious lips.

 

[CoSurvivor]

It wasn't that he didn't acknowledge her answer about being a 'woman of the night, a 'whore' or a 'pro', his ears weren't too sensitive for the words, but he just couldn't bring himself to say it. He'd never thought of the ladies of old town as whores, but as... oh who was he fooling, Viv was a whore, a very skilled one he was sure. She admitted it openly, maybe not proudly but she didnt hide it. It was his problem, trying to find another word to say it. Wyatt couldnt, so he let her comments fall from their conversation. Did it matter what she did to keep a roof over her head? No, she had called him out being a Cop and stayed. Seemed he was more sensitive to it than she was. Instead, he answered her question.

"Honestly Viv, this is going to sound silly but nobody's ever asked me that question before. I've always been so concerned with what's happening today, or worried about tomorrow than day dreaming about what could be. Maybe that means I gave up on my dreams long ago and settled for what I have. Now I say that and a picture of a 8 year old boy watching GI-Joe playing with his action figures after school comes to mind. I always hope I am doing the right thing despite the fact that cops and robbers was a kids game." With a far off look in his eyes Wyatt remembered the detective, the bargain he made, what penance would he have to make? What ounce of flesh would the scales of justice demand? Wyatt hunched forward and took the last bite of his burger. Looking past Viv, he noticed that the clouds had parted, the sky had opened up and he could see the last rays of the sun as it fell below the skyline of the buildings behind the Diner. The effect draped Viv in a white aura as if Viv was some sort of dark angel, something out of his deepest dreams.

"But, since 'you' asked... what I would do 'right now' without worry or consequence, I think I'd finish dinner, share a piece of pie.. and take you on another ride... Now that the weather has cleared up..." Looking past Viv again he nodded for her to take a look behind her.

"The rain stopped..."

The thought of taking her out, riding beyond the limits of Basin City, and with the city lights as their only witness he'd share a moment of intimacy with this woman who seemed to speak the same internal unspoken language he did.

As if on queue, their waitress appeared with two slices of apple pie covered in whipped cream. "I noticed you eyeing our apple pie earlier. Best in the west, figured you two might enjoy some."

The sweet smell filled his nostrils, the pie was fresh, warm.. With an earnest smile, Wyatt looked up at the older woman and gave an earnest "Thanks..."

"No young man, thank you... Arthur may look like he hasn't missed a step.. but arthritis is killing his hands.. Pie is on the house, and we won't take no for an answer."

Taking a bite, Wyatt turned to Vivian, "What about you? Same question, no consequences, what would you do?"

 

[scarlettnuit]

When the pie came and the waitress explained the gift, she put her hand on the waitress’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze as she smiled at her in thanks. Once he was gone she turned her attention back to the pie. She took a deep breath; it did smell good! Of course, she had known Arthur since she was a kid, not that he let on of course. He knew she didn’t want him to get hurt by the wrong people, and he was one of her weak spots. She hadn’t had his pie in quite a while and the first bite was like being home again.

“Mmmmm….” She moaned softly, closing her eyes as she enjoyed the flavor and texture of the pie. “It’s hard to find anything this good anywhere anymore. People just don’t care about things as much as they used to.”

Once they had finished their pie and Wyatt, unsurprisingly paid their bill, Vivien stood up and stretched a bit, making sure her trench coat stayed closed. She hated the dress she was in and regretted having not brought a change of clothes, but she knew better than anyone that the customer gets what the customer wants. For some reason she felt self-conscious around Wyatt in it.

“Well golden boy, care to take a girl home?” she purred at him, getting back into “character”. It was easier if she pretended to be someone else.

When Wyatt agreed to take her home, she hopped on the back of his bike and wrapped her arms around him one more. He revved the bike and they were off, speeding through the streets of Basin City and down into Old Town.

As they pulled into the first block of old town she saw the ladies on the roofs and gave them a wave to let them know that she was ok. The security that was posted that night watched as they drove to the south end where Viv’s apartment was. When he stopped, she let go of him and stepped off.

“Well cowboy, thanks for the ride. If you ever want to ride me, you know where to find me. Might even give you a discount.” She winked.

She walked into the building and climbed the stairs to the second floor. She felt like the more space she put between herself and Wyatt, the better she’d be. She had just opened the door when she saw her roommates blood painting the back wall, a man in a dark suit wielding the knife. He turned to look at her and she knew he was from city hall. She knew Candy worked the politicians from time to time, but she had no idea why this guy would kill her.

Viv cried out at the bastard and sent a throwing knife flying through the air. It found purchase in the man’s shoulder causing him to grunt in pain. She ran toward him, ready to spill his guts on the floor, when his right hook made contact with her jaw and knocked her out cold.

 

[CoSurvivor]

The pie was by far the best he'd had in years. Viv was right, by her comment,
“It’s hard to find anything this good anywhere anymore. People just don’t care about things as much as they used to.”

"It's the fast food generation Viv, too many people are satisfied with their microwave potpies and frozen Pizza. I'm glad you mentioned this place.." It sucked that their dinner date had to come to an end, he'd have liked to spend more time with her. The idea of paying her for her time was an idea, he'd have to work over time to afford it.. but knowing Viv as he did now, she'd be well worth it. And it wouldn't quite feel like he was buying her, it would feel more like he was helping her pay rent. The idea of fucking Viv for free was out of the subject, not a topic he'd even think of. For a woman like her sex, was a job, and fucking paid well. Why would she do it for free?

Wyatt decided he'd simply just enjoy being with her while it lasted, a memory he'd keep with him of a wonderful single experience. Unfortunately the reality was it would be one that ended up more like two passing boats in the ocean. Like some kids story of two lovers who'd wanted to be together, only to have the fog of the ocean prevent them from reaching each other.

Once they headed out from Hurley's he got used to her hands on him again and didn't want her to leave, he thought, maybe he'd follow her up, make sure she got in her apartment alright. Wyatt was still worried that the girls would gun him down, find out that he was a Cop, and as soon as Vivian hopped off his bike they'd drag his ass through the streets. However, when he felt Viv release his waist and give a wave to the beautiful sentinel guardians who were patrolling the rooftops looking for those who might cause trouble, he instantly sat up straighter, as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He might actually make it out of this place alive.

Once they'd made it past the guardians, there was less worry in his mind, and as they pulled up to her apartment, he looked up and down the street. Deserted, save for a few locals making their way to their favorite watering hole, or to find a willing lady of the night who might indulge them in their kinks. Feeling her light weight get off the bike he turned, caught a glimpse of her long toned legs, his attention was distracted. he heard her comment, and couldn't help but smile and give a good chuckle.

“Well cowboy, thanks for the ride. If you ever want to ride me, you know where to find me. Might even give you a discount.” She winked

"I just might..." He whispered it, he wanted her to hear him say it but he was afraid of his own words.

Wyatt watched her long enough to see that she'd made it through the door. Starting up the bike he pulled away only about ten feet. This was a chance of a life time, money or no, he wasn't going let her go. He'd stay, pay her for her time and see what happened next. Shutting the bike off quickly he made his way to the front door opened it and stood in the dark hallway. "Now.. Which apartment is yours Viv..." He asked the question, and as if on queue he heard a loud thump from above as if someone had dropped, hitting the floor hard...

"No..." Rushing the stairs taking two, three at a time Wyatt made it to the top as he saw a tall suited figure rushing down the opposite stairway. Looking to his left he could see Vivian's crumpled body in the doorway to what Wyatt assumed was her apartment. He rushed now, reached her and felt for a pulse at her neck.. she was breathing.. "No chance asshole.." Wyatt pulled the 45 from his waist and rushed toward the opposite stairway only to see the suited figure rush out the the backdoor.

Jumping now Wyatt leaped down the stairs and could hear the old wood want to give way, he reached the ground level and swung open the door, looking both ways, then immediately blinded by flashes, and the echo of gunshots, LOUD gunshots coming from his right. Ducking back into the building he could see the bullets ricochet off the stone walls, flecks of masonry spattering everywhere.

"Fuck no you don't..." He cocked the hammer knelt and could hear a few additional gunshots come his way. the impact of bullets hit the wall above him, but the shots marked where the shooter was aiming from. Wyatt took quick aim, and pulled the trigger..

"CLICK!"

The hammer fell on an empty chamber.

"Fuck! What moron carries a gun on an empty chamber!"

Quickly he racked the slide of the old 1911, he felt the familiar "Kurchunck" of a 45 caliber round being racked into the chamber. From behind the door he could hear the occupants of the building now becoming aware of a firefight behind their building. With no more time to lose Wyatt swung the pistol out and could hear the loud screech of tires heading in the opposite direction. Racing after it, he fired, the loud report of each round from the 45 echoing through the ally way. He could hear resounding 'thunk' as a number of them hit the car, and even one round seemed to have broken glass. As the car sped off Wyatt captured most of the license plate "ZKY-5.." he repeated to himself...

Racing back inside as people came out of their apartments, Wyatt made it to the second floor ignoring protests and screams. He reached Viv, and wiped her hair away from her face. He could see a bruise forming on her cheek...

"Viv... can you hear me..."

"OH.. she better hear you motherfucker or I'll plaster your brains against the wall... " came a strong female voice from behind him. Raising his hands in surrender, Wyatt prayed Viv would wake up...

"Don't move, Don't even breathe..."

Wyatt groaned inside... he was surely screwed now...

 

[scarlettnuit]

Viv slowly started to come to as she heard her name being said and then someone else talking. Her head lolled up to look towards the other voice. She had barely managed to open her eyes when she saw Gail in the doorway. She was about to speak when the whole world turned upside down.

All of a sudden she could hear a chopper over her apartment building and the sounds of sirens and a swat team crashing through the front door and up the stairs. Gail started to move when she was hit in the back of head with the butt of some swat members pistol. They were yelling at her not to move when they acknowledged Wyatt on his good work.

She heard one of them mention something about Candy having killed some rich boy and how They were finally going to bring the whores down. She looked at Wyatt with of look of anger and betrayal. She started to try and get up when one of the “cops” aimed a gun at her head, telling her not to move.

 

[CoSurvivor]

The sound of the approaching helo overhead made his eyes go wide. "What the fuck is a helo doing in Old Town?" Wyatt thought. "Someone is either planning an invasion or they've lost their god damn mind!" Worse, moments later he could hear the crash of windows breaking from inside Viv's apartment along with a herd of footsteps clamoring up the staircase behind him.. An alarm klaxon went off in his head louder than his heart, this was the worst possible thing that could've happened. THIS was why cops don't come to Old Town. Wyatt turned his head just enough to see an amazon, a leather black clad amazon woman in a dominatrix outfit. She could've been any man's walking wet dream, except she was pointing a hand cannon at his head. She lofted it with both hands, a stainless steel Smith and Wesson 629.. The grand baby of Dirty Harry's service revolver. This... angel of death pointed it at him, with the full intention of turning his head into a canoe. He politely answered her question, while he hoped the footsteps coming up the stairs were other girls.

"I.. I came with Viv, my bike is parked out front...."

"I don't give a shit... you light off a firefight in Old Town? Who the fuck are you?"

"I..I was trying to catch whoever knocked out Viv.."

He looked into the doorway and could see the mess...

"And whoever did that..."

The iron maiden didn't take her eyes of him she yelled, "Bullshit!.I think..."

She started but someone cut her off, when someone clocked her over the head with the butt end of a pistol. When she fell, the hand cannon fell to the floor clattering roughly as it hit Wyatt's left boot. He could see two men in head to toe black outfits carrying rifles and looking the part of a SWAT team standing over the amazon, But they weren't SWAT..Their uniforms were off. the goggles were of a different shape, their helmets were close.. but the BSPD insignia was missing from where it should be...no.. these guys were something else. He could hear two people talking in the apartment discussing a 'bloody mess'...

One started talking, while a second held a pistol on Vivian, it automatically alarmed her, and what the first man said alarmed Wyatt even further.

"Good work Officer, this accomplice here and her roommate killed a rich kid earlier tonight, we figured, surprise them... use the opportunity to take a piece of the pie..." Wyatt stood up, grabbed the hand cannon from where it was on the floor and dragged Vivian up with him, forcing her into doorway of the apartment putting himself between her and the two rent-a rambo's.

"So what's the plan here?" Wyatt said, and how'd you know I was a cop?"

"OH.. that's easy, your bike outside, pulled the plates and knew the owner right away. So, if you'll allow us to do our jobs here, we'll take her in, and you can go about your business Officer."

He surveyed the room from the doorway, looked at the dead body of Vivian's roommate, She'd been beat up, assaulted and her throat slashed, the blood spray on the wall didn't have any shadow marks or, gaps.. which meant whoever killed her was standing behind her. possibly she was running for the door, after she'd taken a beating.

"One problem..." Wyatt said, his hand gripping the massive gun by the barrel, the tendons of his left arm flexing as he tightened his grip.

"What's that?" One of them asked, Both were exchanging looks at each other unsure of where this was going. Wyatt was also watching their two team members, they'd started searching the place, weapons slung. Listening for the helo, it had moved off, the loud noise of the rotors overhead were gone.

"None of you are cops.."

Wyatt quickly swung the massive revolver hitting one of the guys square in the nose, a resounding squishy crunch filled the air as the man immediately collapsed, his partner, tried backing up, but the leather clad dominatrix was getting to her feet and put the man in a headlock. Turning his attention to the two men in the room Wyatt loudly cocked the revolver, getting their attention, neither were facing him, but he knew they were well trained, better than him if their equipment said anything. Instead, Wyatt held them at gun point while the dominatrix entered the room.

"What do you mean they aren't cops?" She accused him..

"They may look like it, but there's no way BSPD would risk a helo in Old Town, last I heard the river was like a DMZ, you go past it and you lose your job. So whoever was flying that thing is connected, whoever killed 'her' is connected and has serious cash to burn. Which means we've got maybe 5 minutes before these two are expected to leave with their friends, or that thing is going to come back
"Mighty assumptive for.... "

"Yea.. a Cop..but I'm the only chance you and Viv have, she goes with me, otherwise they'll be tearing Old Town apart looking for her. And nobody wants that."

"Fuck you buddy.. I won't tell you shit!" said one of the two, he was a bit more stocky than the other.

"I don't expect you to, but don't go for that heater on your hip, or try swinging that rifle. You might be fast, but you are not as fast as a 44mag.. and your vest won't save you.. I fucking guarantee that..."

The leather clad beauty looked between Viv and Wyatt, "You've got balls, Viv, go with him, get the heat on you out of Old Town.."

Not giving Viv a choice and leaving the Iron Maiden with automatic rifles and her own hand cannon, Wyatt headed out to the landing, searched the first rent-a-rambo finding keys, and taking his rifle. Racing to the street, Wyatt spots a blacked out SUV and yells for Viv to get in.

Starting up the massive hulk of a vehicle, Wyatt threw it in gear and immediately slammed his foot to the floor. The massive engine under the hood grumbled and screamed as it unleashed power to tires racing through the streets, putting as much distance as he could between them and the apartment building.

Where they were going he wasn't quite sure. But he was sure of one thing, Viv wasn't pleased..

 

[scarlettnuit]

Her vision was dizzy and her brain was still trying to come to terms with what was going on. It all seemed to be moving so fast, like a kid flicking a view master to fast. Before she knew it, Wyatt had his strong arm around her waist, hauling her up and carrying her with him.

“We didn’t kill anyone!” Vivien yelled as she was pulled around with Wyatt. She was about to break free from him when Gail told her to go with him.

She clenched her jaw but she knew she had to go. Some serious shit was going down and for whatever reason, she was now smack dab in the middle of it. Despite how much she wanted to fight them both on the matter, she managed to hold back her anger and glare at Wyatt. She knew he had something to do with this. He must have kept her out as a distraction so that they could off Candy.

“Fine.” She said between clinched teeth. Wyatt had grabbed her arm and drug her a long as they ran outside. She followed him to the street only to turn and start running towards the man that now chased them.

She ran towards the man, slamming her hands down on his shoulders until she was doing a handstand on his shoulders before she twisted her body down and slicing his throat on the way down to her landing. She then ran over his body, leaping off of the man’s skull and send a knife flying into the throat of another one of the “cops” who had been running towards Wyatt.

She then jumped into the SUV with Wyatt and screamed at him to drive. She rolled down the passenger window and looked in the back seat of the SUV.

“Oh Goodie, presents.” She said with a grin.

She pulled out a Heckler and Koch HK416 and then moved to sit inside the window. She steadied herself, leaning most of her torso out of the window and started shooting at the cars following them. A few swerved, she ducked inside when they returned fire.

“Mother fuckers…” She growled and then leaned back out the window. This time her shots landed and the first car blew up, the second crashing behind it. She then came back inside the SUV and dropped the giant gun in the backseat, barrel still smoking.

“Get us out of the city.”

 

[CoSurvivor]

What do you think I'm doing, not like we're out to go pick up pizza, and this fucking thing is going to be a shit magnet till we get rid of it."

Slamming his hand down on the steering wheel, he had to think, they had to get rid of this oversized beast and get into something a lot less conspicuous.

Wyatt drove and thought fast. if this stretched into tomorrow he'd have to call in. If at the end of the day he wanted to have an actual job then he'd have to explain to his supervisors why he wasn't coming in, He'd been on the job six months, made it through his probation period and now this.. Fuck if he didn't know how to pick'm... For both their sake he should have just rode on.. but he didn't, and now both of them were near neck deep in this bullshit.

He started thinking out loud. "Think Viv... OK we know it's not BSPD, they don't want to upset the balance anymore than you or the Iron Maiden want to. So who's our list of suspects? What was your roommate into? Who were her clients, or who had enough power to snuff her out and make it look like a john followed her home and decided to go Charles Manson in your living room."

"And before you start in on the 'its your fault' those were definitely not cops... they looked the part, but for sure were not.. the guns, the uniforms were too neat. We don't carry HK's, we carry M4's, they look the same but one is far easier to get than the other. Can you search the glove box for any sort of registration, if it's owned by a private security firm then the registration aught to tell us something."

That guy who knocked you out, he got in a car with plates that start with letters that are only issued to city or government officials. The helo, this armored car...Fuck... this beast is probably got a tracker on it...." He smashed the accelerator to the floor and hit at least 90 while they screamed out of Old Town.

Regaining his train of thought Wyat continued. "Everything else and the trained rent-a-rambos all say it's a hit.. It all said either money or the mob. But why? Why kill your roommate? If they've got power and money they could pay her to just shut up and have the situation taken care of. No... Your roommate saw something she shouldn't have. That's my guess."

They'd left Old Town, worming their way into an industrial area next to the river. Wyatt pulled over eased the massive vehicle to a stop and put the right side up on the edge of the side walk and got out. He opened the back, pulled out a massive flashlight and started sweeping under the vehicle, looking for something. "Viv, can you hold this??" handing the massive flashlight to her and started reaching underneath at something. Pulling out a knife from his back pocket he pried at something and pulled it out from under the vehicle. Wyatt showed her the small rectangular device "GPS..if we took this thing anywhere they'd track it." With a good pitch, he tossed it off as far as he could with a wet 'sploosh' the small device hit the water and disappeared.


Wyatt turned back and looked at Viv, she was holding a light on him in one hand and a pistol pointed at him in the other. A H&K VP9 from the looks of it, probably another 'goodie' she'd spotted in the vehicle."Ok. Vivian, "

Raising his hands, he surrendered to her. She was obviously really pissed off...

 

[scarlettnuit]

“I should have known that you were just another rotten cop. Just because they were fake cops doesn’t mean you don’t work for ‘em,” she told him, her legs spread, cannon aimed at his head.

Her best friend had been massacred and it had probably happened while this asshole was playing cutesy with her at the diner. She should have known, all the men in this town were alike. She was weighing whether or not he was worth keeping alive, weighing her own feelings about him and everything that had went down.

She had only held the gun on him a minute or so but it felt like an eternity. Finally, she dropped her arms and screamed to no one in particular, spinning around and shooting a few rounds into the water. She then threw the emptied gun into the river and turned back to face Wyatt, doing her best to pull in her unshed tears, one of them escaping despite herself.

She then looked off in the distance behind him and saw an old beat up truck. “We’ll take that…” She said and walked past him, expecting him to follow. “If they’re after me you can damned well bet they’re after you now too.”

She moved to the truck and opened the door. It was almost too easy. The keys were in the visor. She supposed no one though anyone would steal this heap of junk, and even if they did, they would rather have the insurance payment on it than give a fuck.

She turned over the engine, relieved that it started and then pulled up to Wyatt, flinging the passenger door open for him.

 

[CoSurvivor]

Wyatt gave her a shit look while she dumped the magazine into the air, and when she tossed the pistol out into the water he groaned..

"GOD DAMN IT, you want to let everyone know where we we are, why don't you start a fire or something." He was stressed, he'd had guns pointed at him, slapped, kicked shot at, quite an eventful day.

When she stomped off, he called after her, "Now where are you going!"

Watching her strut off, he watched as she got in the old beater of a Ford F100, he heard her start it up and come headed for him. Wyatt was a touch alarmed, she might be heading to run him over, so he quickly moved, just as she reached over and tossed the passenger door open for him.

As quickly as he could, Wyatt searched the back seats, grabbed the rifle, pistol he'd originally taken back at her apartment, the rifle she'd used, and what looked like a heavy range bag along with two rifle cases. The range bag he quickly tossed in the back, her rifle he zipped into one of the two one of the cases. the pistol, and the rifle he'd originally taken he tossed into the cab of the truck.

Looking at the range bag, he noticed there was a flash bang grenade, tucked in a side pocket, pulling the pin, he tossed it in the open window of driver's side.

Getting in quickly he slammed the door shut as Viv sped off.

10 seconds later the interior of the SUV was ingulfed in a flash, the windows blew out, and a fire started somewhere in the cab. As they drove off, Wyatt could see fire consume the vehicle. Turning to Vivian as she drove he rambled, his voice was a garble of frustration and tight emotion.

"This isn't L.A. we're not in a movie and conspiracies are for crime novels... I'm a cop, yes. but I didn't pick you up to spy on you or so someone could kill your roommate. While you were napping on your apartment floor I shot at the guy who killed your roommate and who pasted you on the cheek. Fuck I nearly got shot trying to stop them! So let's get one thing one thing straight. I went up there looking for you.. JUST you.. not trouble and not to get involved with any murder!"

They drove on in silence, Wyatt was frustrated... why did he stop....

"Because she's got a great legs to start... and you are a sucker for beautiful women in high heeled boots.." he thought to himself.

 

[scarlettnuit]

Viv wanted to cry, but the first rule of the streets was to keep your emotions under control. She did listen, however, to what Wyatt had to say. She supposed he was right. Her anger had gotten the better of her and it was only now that she was starting to realize the truth of his words.

“Sorry.” She said, it was all she could manage to get out before tears started flowing more freely than she wanted them to.

They were out of the city now, and far enough away that no one would have followed them or know where they were. She pulled the truck over to the side of the road, her body shaking as she became overwhelmed, the reality of the situation finally washing over her.

“I think you should drive.” She managed to squeak out before she burst into real tears. Candy had been her first friend when she came to Old Town, had shown her the ropes. She was like a sister to her, the only sister she had and now she was gone. Viv was alone. Sure, Gail and the girls looked after each other but it wasn’t the same.

She got out of the truck and wait for him to scoot to the driver’s side before she stepped back in the truck. She buckled her seatbelt and then wrapped her arms around herself as she worked hard to stop the crying.

“I don’t know where anything is outside of the city, wherever you take us will be fine. As for Candy’s,”she had to pause to choke down a sob, “She usually was popular around the rich college kids from Sacred Oaks. I think there was one she liked in particular, but I never got his name.”

 

[CoSurvivor]

"I'm sorry too. I didn't mean to yell... that wasn't ok..." Wyatt turned on the bench seat and pulled Viv into his arms, "It's ok to cry..especially when you lose someone." he'd have droned on, said something else that might sound tright.. They were citizens of Sin City.. emotions came hard for anyone who lived there. "I promise you..we'll find out who did this."

He took her hand, squeezed it. "We'll figure this out. I know we will."

Restarting the truck he pulled back out on to the road and kept driving. Wyatt followed the mile markers for a time, then turned down an old beaten down road, paved but definitely not well maintained, After cresting a hill then another, he could see a light way out in the distance. Another five minutes of driving and they started seeing the high fences of a salvage yard. Eventually they reached the entrance. The sign above was only partially illuminated as one of three lights had burned out. "Amy's Auto Salvage" it read. The massive gates, partially closed were being attended to by and an older woman, about 50 with her hair up in a bun, wearing tatterd old coveralls and a tan carhart jacket. She saw the lights and looked inquisitive at them.

"Wyatt We're closed.. and where the bike??"

"Long story... can we come in...please?"

The older woman took a look at the vehicle, looked at Wyatt and the young woman sitting in the passenger seat. She was about to say something, then walked back to the gate and pulled it open just enough for the truck to pull through.

Once inside he drove the vehicle around a massive warehouse to what looked like a garage. it was massive, two stories at least with a few cars in maintenance bays. Stopping the truck and getting out he waited while the older woman walked into the garage and looked at Wyatt.

"Where'd you get this piece of work?"

"Borrowed it. Someone left it out in the industrial area near the river.

"Hm.. I already have enough heaps of crap rusting out in my place. What do you think I can do with it??"

It was more of a statement than it was a question, the air of their conversation said they had history, went back a ways as nobody is just going to open their business in the middle of the night for someone they barely know."

Hold on to it till I can figure out a way to get it back to where it belongs. Like I said, its... borrowed, not stolen."

The older woman looked them both over for a few seconds then made a suggestion.
"Well.. leave it here. I'll see if i can't figure out who's the owner and get it back to them. But you owe me."

With a quirky smile as if he had been scolded by a family member he nodded. "Won't be the last time " She nodded, looked to the Viv "You'll be alright with him miss... he's harmless, well mostly. Just don't put a lug wrench in his hands, he'll break something. Now his dad.. He could fix almost anything."

"Do you have to tell everyone? I doubt Viv here wants to hear about all this."

"Oh that's not up to you, You bring a visitor and show up on my doorstep in someone else's truck and 'don't' expect some sorta grief? Um... what family are you part of and what did you do with my nephew.."

"I'm sorry Aunt Amy," Wyatt took a step closer and gave her a hug. She patted his shoulder and return the hug lovingly.

"What else do you need?"

"We also.. need a place to crash, and.. I was hoping I could borrow a car."

She grumped for a moment then waved them through the Garage.

"You can have Will's old room."

Following her through the garage, they made their way through an old heavy oak door with a window about eye level, the hallway they entered was old, with wood paneling, black and white photos adorned the walls with racing memorabilia and a hand made steel coco clock. on the wall. The older woman flipped on the light to a large bedroom to their right. it had a weathered leather sofa against the left interior wall, a large queen sized bed against the right side, and a massive old oak desk cleaned off with a large metal articulating lamp on it against the far wall.

"This'll do great, Thanks Aunt Amy."

"Your welcome. There's blankets and a few extra pillows in the closet there next to the sofa."

She then walked out headed down the hallway further into the home.

Wyatt nodded and took a seat on the sofa, waving Vivian to the bed. "I'll take the sofa ok?"

He was about to say something else when his aunt knocked on the door then came into view. She had some folded clothes over a pair of old sneakers, offering them to Vivian.

"Since my nephew has forgotten all his manners, he failed to introduce me to you. I'm his Aunt as you'd probably guessed. These are for you.. Not sure if they'll fit, but you are welcome to them."

With a nod, she left...

For the first time since they'd left Hurley's Wyatt had a chance to look at VIv. All of the action and turmoil had burned him up he was tired.. but now, alone with Viv, he was burning up inside for another entirely different reason.. He pointed to her left boot, and spoke politely...

"Can I help you take those off?"

 

[scarlettnuit]

Had it been any other situation she would have smiled warmly with Wyatt’s Aunt and helped her tease the man. She supposed that was all, at best, a fantasy. People like her didn’t get warm family receptions from anyone, especially when they were accused of murder.

Of course, the whole situation had made her feel numb and the best she could do is smile a little and nod in thanks to Wyatt’s aunt when she brought some clothes into the room. Wyatt kindly offered to take the sofa, offered to help her take off her boots, it was all too much.

“I’m going to take a shower…” She said rather meekly and then tucked into the bathroom that adjoined the room. She shut the door and then set the clothes on the bathroom counter before turning on the water.

She watched herself in the mirror as she took off her trench coat. The fishnet dress she had been wearing a torn and tattered. She let out a small sarcastic laugh at that. There was barely any of it to begin with and it wasn’t her typical style. When she dressed to go to work, she loved to wear satins and silks and corsets. She usually dressed with more elegance and grace but this dress, well this had been a favor to Candy.

She suspected that Candy had been in love with the guy who, for the moment, had been her regular John. Viv had never asked his name but came alone to keep a John’s friend entertained while he and Candy made out like a couple of teenager. Vivien, though worried for her friend’s heart, was warmed by how happy and carefree they seemed to be together. She wished they lived in a different world where no one would question a whore and a rich boy being in love.

She stripped off the trashy dress and the tiny set of panties, and then, finally, unzipped her boots and peeled them off. She then stepped into the shower, the hot stream of water comforting her and covering up the sobs that now wracked from her body. No more Candy. No more hope that life is anything but shit.

She managed to clean up and pull herself together in about 15 minutes. When she emerged from the shower, her hair was up in a towel and she was wearing the t-shirt that and sleep shorts that Amy had given her. She had gone from looking like sultry death vixen to clean and sweet girl next door in a matter or minutes.

She sat down on the edge of the bed and took the towel off her head, letting her damp brunette locks tumble down her shoulder. She used her fingers as a comb to try and detangle them. Eventually, she looked back up at Wyatt. Right now he looked like the most amazing hero she had ever seen. He threw himself into this mess and hadn’t really complained once.

“You don’t have to take the couch you know…the bed is big enough for two…”She said softly. She then bit her bottom lip for a moment as she contemplated her next words. “If…if it’s not too much trouble…I don’t want to sleep alone. Candy used to sleep with me when I got scared or worried…but now…” She squeezed her eyes shut and made the tears go away.

“You can do what you like of course.” She said a bit more bluntly that she had meant to. She neatly hung her towels up in the bathroom and slipped between the sheets of the bed, pulling the blanket up with her, leaving Wyatt’s actions completely up to him.

 

[CoSurvivor]

Wyatt rested his head against the old wood-paneled wall, he took a deep breath, stripped out of his jacket first and tossed it on the chair. He unsnapped his shoulder holster, checked the mag to his personal firearm, a SigP320. made sure there was a round in the chamber and pressed the mag back where it belonged. All day it had sat witness to all the crazy shit they'd gone through and never fired a shot. He'd used the 45 which was tucked into the right pocket of his jacket, and he preferred to use unmarked guns right now versus his own which, if the ballistics were matched from a slug they pulled out of a dirtbag he killed, then there'd be a lot of questions. Putting it back in its holster he unsnapped it from his belt folded the whole contraption up and hid it under his jacket. No need to alarm Viv, although he highly doubted that she'd care one bit that he had it on him.

Wyatt listened to her get undressed, listen to her get into the shower, and heard her cry. It sucked. he'd thought of actually going in there and forcing the issue of letting him help her. he actually tried the door, she'd locked it so the decision was made for him. As he sat there in the quiet of the room with only his heartbeat to keep him company Wyatt pulled off his boots, took off his jeans and folded everything neatly. Stripped down to just his boxer briefs he then checked the closet and pulled a blanket and pillow out tossing them on the sofa. As Viv came out, she looked completely different.

"Wyatt simply nodded at her comments, he'd found it was often a better idea to just let people talk without interruption, let them complete their thought and only then once they were done should he comment. Girls he'd dated in college would be like that, they'd have a rough day, and he'd want to offer advice, but in reality, they just wanted to vent. Wyatt felt this was one of those times. When she was done, he sincerely wanted to pull her into his arms and encourage her to just let go.. he'd hold her through the tears, through the messy sniffles. He wouldn't care if his shirt was soaked from her tears. Right now she needed someone to lean on, and she'd made it very obvious she wanted it to be him.

"I think I'm gonna take a quick one too... Get some sleep Viv."

Wyatt watched her slip under the covers and bury herself in the blankets. he stood up and walked into the bathroom, flipped on the lights, and opened the closet where the blankets were kept, Up there on the top shelf was a small night bag. About a year ago he'd spent some time out here at Amy's place, building the bike which was now lost to him. he'd kept clothes here and occasionally used the shower. Thankfully his Aunt never threw out anything, especially if he'd politely asked her not to. Opening the bag he set out a few things and quickly hopped in. He wanted to think things through, figure out their next move but he thought best to get some sleep and worry about it in the morning. When he was finished getting back to trying to feel human again, he put on boxer briefs that he'd left here, looked at the 3 days of stubble that had grown on his face and decided, fuck it he liked it, and would keep the facial hair. Being sure to keep quiet as he snuck back in the room with the light off, he bumped the sofa, heard it grunt as he stretched out, then looked at Viv while she slept. She was at peace for a moment, he didn't want to disturb that, but he also knew she wanted his company that night.

Wyatt got up, tossed his blanket and pillow back on the sofa and quietly pulled open the covers on the opposite side from her. Wyatt got close scooting in behind her, pulling his pillow closer to her head and smelled her hair. Whatever soap she'd found worked fine. He nuzzled in, wrapped his arm around Viv. Wyatt stopped moving for a moment, then allowed her to move and get comfortable with him next to her. He could feel sleep coming for him, but before he slipped off, he planted one soft kiss on her shoulder and whispered.

"sleep well Viv..."

Wyatt didn't dream that night.. he didn't have to, the reality of sharing a bed with her was better than any dream he'd had lately..With that thought, sleep came easy.

He'd figure out their next move in the morning.