(This series is a collaboration with my good friend Sanchez. His ideas, I ran with it. We will see how it evolves. He has a sound concept, and characters, I'm primarily piecing it all together and seeing how it plays out. We hope you enjoy our efforts.)
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Midnight Episode 021: HONEsty
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Tilly Cooper stepped outside the Cordoba General Hospital for the first time in 16 hours. It was good to feel the mid evening air on her face. Joining her husband Sheldon in his sports car as he pulled up on the curb, he took her for a spin around the block as she sipped her milkshake. Sheldon was afraid to leave his car after his tires being slit. With Mordecai Sage mingling with his daughters before sending them home he at least had a brief stress relief. Mordecai although seeming less threatening was like a Doberman Pincher. One wrong move could spark insanity.
"Mordecai tried to apologize to me earlier. I don't buy it for a second."
"Nor do I. Just ignore him, things are looking up for Irene. He will go home to the Rez shortly and we won't have to deal with him."
"Sure, we can go off on vacation to Colorado and leave our house empty?"
"We could let Irene and Midnight stay there while we're gone."
"As long as Esteban doesn't come knocking."
"Restraining order."
"Yeah, as if he'll pay attention to that."
"Somehow I think Nick Sanchez will make certain Esteban keeps his distance."
"He has his plate full Tilly. Harbinger Shoals needs work."
"He does have a beach house they could stay at. I doubt Esteban knows where he lives."
"That's asking a lot of the man Tilly, he's borrowing that place himself. I'm good if they stay at our house until they figure out where they're going. I just don't want our house trashed like Irene's. Wanna postpone Colorado?"
"We have everything paid for. No... we have a week still before our flight. Irene will be released by then, I'm sure. Once we settle them in, we can go enjoy ourselves. We're only going to be gone two weeks."
"Two weeks of bliss. I'm ready for Snow Bunny Matilda." He grinned.
"You would fall asleep in front of the fireplace before I even hopped on you."
"Don't count on that." He winked. Yeah, she was probably right. Three hops and he would be snoring.
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Nick Sanchez pulled up to the parking garage passing Sheldon on another trip around the block. Seeing one another Sheldon turned around following him into the garage. Sheldon wanted to keep Nick's tires safe too so would suggest he stood guard over both vehicles while he was away.
"You see Midnight with him?" Sheldon traversed floors with Tilly holding on for dear life. It was as if he thought he was James Bond in his sports car.
"No, I didn't. Surely she would want to come back for her mother."
Reaching Nick's parking spot Sheldon grits his teeth, "Aww hell! He's parking right next to Anita's car. This can't go well."
"The girls don't know him by appearance, only what their brothers told them about him. They might leave before even seeing... shit! Here they come with Mordecai. Please don't punch my brother again."
"Only if he goes near my tires again. I'm pulling next to Nick. I'll keep an eye on his truck until visiting hours are over. Can we please go sleep in our own bed tonight?"
"Yes Honey! Irene will be fine without me overnight. Although I expected Midnight to be here just in case. Hopefully dressed!"
"I know right! What got into...? Hey Nick!" He slid into the parking spot to Nick's driver's side door. Nick seemed edgy upon seeing him but got out of the truck careful not to ding the sports car's body.
"Irene must be doing better with you two on a date. Is that a milkshake?"
"What's left of it. I told my Mother I'd share, so I'd better leave her a few sips." Tilly smiled, "Where's Midnight?" Tilly got out of the car to walk with him to the bumper.
"In back."
"Backseat taking a nap?"
"No. In back." He winced.
"Oh god forbid. What is going on between you two?"
"You can ask her yourself once she's in Irene's room."
"Aunt Tilly?" Young Nancy Sage ran up to them with a bubbly attitude. Even after her father had ordered her to stay away in seeing Nick. Her sisters were not far behind. Seeing Nick up close Nancy grew shy and hugged Tilly from the side.
"Nick... please wait until..." Tilly pled with her eyes as if saying not in front of the kids. They were all adults but babies to her. Sheldon getting out to stretch tickled Nancy from the side.
"Hey Kiddo! Long time no see."
"Hi Uncle Sheldon." At least one Sage kid was respectful. "Are you the guy who saved Aunt Irene?"
"Something like that."
"My sister Anita is single." She pointed at her eldest sister, her eyes bulging at being put on the spot.
"Oh yeah? She is pretty hot." He winked at both girls; Tilly held in restraint by Sheldon's grip on her shoulders from behind. "Unfortunately, I'm not looking for a girlfriend."
"You would do well to stay away from my entire family." Mordecai had tried to remain calm so that his girls did not see his temper but just the merest wink out of Sanchez tensed his ire's.
"You can lower your blood pressure Mordecai. Your girls are beautiful young women, I can see you've raised them well."
"Alone yes, since their mother passed away." Mordecai grew emotional just that quickly.
"Sorry to hear that." He devoted his thoughts toward everyone with eye contact made to each individual. "I lost my own mother four years ago to cancer. I was overseas at the time so you can imagine how hard that was not even being able to attend her funeral."
"Was that why you risked your life to save Aunt Irene?" Ophelia spoke up eying his tattoos. "Did you even know her?"
"No. Not before that night. I know her daughter."
"How do you know Midnight?" Anita decided to enter the conversation now that he let her off easily, still red in the cheeks but smiling.
"The diner. I eat there a lot to avoid cooking." That was the truth. "Midnight... serves me."
"Ahem!" Tilly was calm but feared he might go darker at any second. "We should get inside." A loud thump heard next to Nick from the 4Runner made everyone jump.
"Do you have anyone with you?" Mordecai winced. He had his suspicions and wanted to humiliate Nick if he were accurate in his assumption. "Midnight, perhaps?"
"Fell asleep."
"I'll wake her." Nancy tried to pull away from Tilly to find herself held at bay.
"Better let me." He moved to the passenger front door first and procured a clean black t-shirt he brought along just in case and whipped it at Midnight. Restrained between the rear and the lowered back seats over her treasure trunk he whispered, "I'll untie your hands. Put the shirt on as fast as you can then untie your own legs. Can you do that?" A nod of certainty he crawled over her just enough to untether her father's shoelace from her wrists. Abandoning her to the blackness of the 4Runner's smoked glass rear windows he ended his visit with a glare. Almost a warning.
"When you're ready you can open the hatch from the inside. Family... so think smart. Oh! And days like this will be rare so don't get used to my kindness." She wiggled her black t-shirt on over her arms, head and chest before contorting to reach for her ankles. Nick left her to her own struggles.
"She's grumpy." He smirked. "Short naps do that to a person." Tilly was pale the entire time but very grateful for those dark windows. Ophelia was trying her best to peer through the glass without success, the 4Runner being a 4x4 only added to that challenge, the height meant tiptoes to see in. Illegal in most states a certain owner of the vehicle by the name of Marcus Jericho had written government permission to as they say in Black Ops... go dark.
"She must be emotionally drained." Anita pouted.
"I like your tattoos." Ophelia gave up spying and moved closer to look over Nick's sleeves. "Japanese?"
"Yep! Comes with the black belts. Honor amongst warriors."
"You have a black belt?" She flared her eyes then peered at her father. "Can I take lessons from him? I've always wanted to learn a martial art."