Forgotten Pain WHO: Blake Hayward & Michael Sheppard (NPC) WHERE: The Viper's Lounge, Caprica WHEN: Oct 25th, Y2002
The news of a pregnancy was never an easy pill to swallow and for a certain mother to now pregnant Blake Hayward, it was an impossible pill. The rest of the family were delighted at the news while her mother soured the news and made it bitter. An argument ensued the delivery of the news and it was promptly ended with a slap across the face and the words ‘slut’ being uttered. After that, Blake scattered out the family home in a flood of tears and despair. That could have gone better.
Her comfort zone was high in the sky, back on Avalon as Jon had granted her additional time on port leave as a murder was being investigated but now she wished he was here or she was up there. It was a hard thing to know that her mother thought of her as a slut.
Blake had no refuge but an old haunt from her medical school days; and so she hit the road and headed for the sweetest comfort available; liquor. It wasn’t long until she was sitting at the bar drowning her sorrows with a few straight-shots of old spice – the nickname of her favorite brew. Her concerns weren’t with the baby, she was torn a part by the realization that her mother couldn’t and wouldn’t be supporting her in this. It was the final straw to a full stack of issues.
She waved for another but a hand covered her glass, a strong hand at that. Her eyes, half cocked by over-compensation of alcohol tried to coordinate to slap away the hand so she could get her poison. Blake would damn well rid her of this problem right now.
“I think you’ve had enough Haywire.” His voice spoke deep as he seemed to take a seat next door. He grabbed the attention of the waitress; “She’ll have something non-alcoholic thanks” The waitress floated away to work while silence surrounded Blake.
Eventually he broke the silence, Michael J Sheppard. “So what brings a cute girl like you to a rough neighborhood like this huh?” He clasped his hands together and waited an answer knowing he got the general idea.
“Mike…leave me only…please” A crackle of a voice; Blake remained consumed by her feelings of dread. Mike was a friend, an old friend that the family admired. Her father practically raised the kid to be military breed. It had been some time since Michael and Blake were even on the same colony let alone same bar.
“No can do. Only way I’m leaving is if I’m taking you back home.” He waved the bartender away with the drinks deciding it best to move this along to the stage where he escorts her home, honorably.
Blake chuckled to herself, “Home? Guess you didn’t hear then? Today I told my family that I’m pregnant which should be great news for all concerned right? I mean, wouldn’t you be thrilled if your wife told you she was pregnant?” She was blurting out at such a volume that the whole bar could overhear.
Mike’s eyes zoomed around the bar, making sure they all got the idea that this was supposed to be a private matter. He was never overly comfortable dealing with emotional traumatized woman and this only furthered his inability. “Haywire, your dad wants you to come home…” It was very much a father/son relationship between Blake’s father and Mike. Blake was almost a sister to him. They had grown up together, well few years apart.
“Why do you do it Mike? Why do you always play the hero?” She turned to face him, arms flailing all over the place as she gestured with every word spoken. She had no clue where she was in his opinion.
“The old man raised me right; and he raised you right too. This isn’t you Haywire, get a grip of reality and realize that it doesn’t matter what you mother says or does, this isn’t her baby. Just tell her that and move on. Now what are you going to do?” Mike got to his feet rather ceremonially and offered his hand for help up.
Blake hated being made a patient but Mike always knew what to say and when. She looked around the bar, eyes twitching as they all stared openly at her as if she was the main attraction. She reached out, grabbed his hand and pulled herself up, unsteadily. “I hate when you embarrass me like this you know?”
Mike smirked; “I know but you love me for it too. Come on let’s get you home to bed.” He was too much of a gentleman to rush her home; or to leave her alone in this condition, rock bottom of the barrel. She was vulnerable, he was too much a hero to take advantage and besides, if he did then Jill would kick his ass into next month. Or his wife would; one or both. Michael carefully lead Blake back home or at least to the nearest thing possible. Blake quickly fell out of sorts and he carried her the rest of the way home knowing that tomorrow she would be regretting this more so if he left her at the bar.