It's alright, baby, it's just a little static on the line Who: Demi Rafferty and Isaac Callahan. Where: Their apartment above The Bar. What: Isaac comes home from the hospital and Demi sees for herself the aftermath of the Hellhound attack. When: July 5th, 2019, 6:30PM
The air's crisp Kinda way that it sobers your mind and drives you back home again You lift all the burdens from your shoulders and realize
One word had been the only reason Demi hadn’t marched herself over to the hospital after receiving Isaac’s text. He had said please and made it clear he thought it was a fool's errand. While she hadn’t agreed, she also could admit there was a thread of truth in his words -- if he really wasn’t seriously injured (a fact she still was not positive on) he would have been stitched up long before she could get the crowd of regulars and new faces alike out of The Bar.
She had though, gotten them all out of The Bar that is. Demi was a force to be reckoned with when entirely on an even keel, so with a little bit of anger and worry boiling up underneath the surface she had managed to get even the tipsiest regular out of the bar without much hassle. Once every single soul was gone, Demi had been left with only Hobbes as company while her mind cruelly went through every scenarios Isaac could have faced with that Hellhound -- the worst being death -- and just what condition Isaac would walk through their door in.
The apartment had just begun to feel claustrophobic, the walls kind of pressing in on her as she anxiously waited for his appearance, when finally she heard the small creak the door to their apartment made upon being opened. Demi didn’t even try to pretend like she hadn't been worried and losing her mind as she leapt up from her spot in one of the chairs and rushed to meet him.
“Oh my god,” Demi breathed as she rounded the corner and caught sight of him. In any other situation it would have almost been comical the way she had skid to a stop feet from him. Not in this one though, her sudden stop was full of shock and horror at the bruises that peppered his familiar and handsome face. “Baby,” she stepped towards him and reflexively went to gently touch his face before pulling her hand back, concerned about hurting him further.
His face had had a few hours to really swell up and develop the bruises, so Isaac really wasn’t looking all that great. Thanks to the handiwork of Lita, at least the cut on his forehead should heal up nicely. Isaac still couldn’t believe that not only did that asshole jump him, but he just had to punch him wearing all those goddamn rings.
He didn’t want Demi to know how shitty he felt though so he gave her a sheepish smile and shrugged, “Honey, I’m home.”
Isaac’s sheepish smile couldn’t distract Demi from the aftermath of his encounter with a Hellhound. Which was why she didn’t even pretended like she wasn’t inspecting every inch of his face, noting the bruises, swelling and the stitched up cut on his forehead. A sick feeling began in the pit of her stomach as the realization set in that a man she had once considered family had likely done this to him. Someone she had shared a home with in the Dog Park, even. While she had never been under any illusions as to the veracity of the Hellhounds, it struck her harder now because the victim was someone she loved. A man she didn’t even want to think about losing, the thought was too unsettling and painful.
“I see that,” Demi answered with a faint smile, one that was strained around the edges and conveyed the worry she still felt. “Which I’m happy about, by the way,” she added, reaching out to give his hand a squeeze, hesitant in that moment to attempt a hug because she didn’t know the extent of his injuries. “Now, do I get to know what happened and how you’re feeling?”
Isaac wrapped his arms around her loosely, kissing the top of her head, before shrugging. “Not sure how else to explain that I was walking home after our meeting and some asshole wearing a Hellhound patch decided my face seemed like a good target to punch. I think he might’ve been trying to get further into the city but then I saw him so he tried to take me out. I wasn’t all that far from the Capitol building so some other foot traffic must’ve spooked him. After he punched me with that fucking ring, my head was bleeding like crazy and I couldn’t really see so that’s when he got away.”
Isaac shrugged again. He wished that he’d been able to do more but all he had to show for the encounter was some stitches and a black eye. At least he’d gotten a few punches in himself before the bastard ran away.
Now more sure of herself and where Isaac’s injuries might be, Demi slipped an arm loosely around his waist and rest her head against his shoulder as she listened to his explanation. She supposed there wasn't much more to be said, still, it didn't tell her how he was physically feeling -- though she could make a guess at that. “I don't like that he got away,” she admitted quietly, tipping her head up to look at Isaac. “He needs to pay for what he did.” Surprising words coming from her, considering her staunch loyalty to the Hellhounds, but every word she spoke was true. “Still, I am glad you're okay, baby,” Demi continued, reaching up to gingerly touch the part of Isaac’s face that wasn't swollen and bruised. “I don't like the idea of losing you.”
“We both know it’s going to take a hell of a lot more than a certain group of outlaws to take me away from you,” Isaac said, turning his head to kiss at her hand. While he’d been worried they would get into a fight about the Hellhounds Demi had been associated with before, he was relieved that they seemed to see eye-to-eye on this.
“Despite my earlier fretting and possible overreaction, I know you’re tougher and far more stubborn than that,” said with a smile. Demi knew she had gone off the deep end earlier, knew that her worry was and had been a little overboard for the situation. She would chalk it up to the fact that she knew first hand the kind of damage those men would do to each other sometimes (people they supposedly liked), so even though Isaac was tough, she hadn’t been able to rid herself of her concerns. Demi had spent hours going through all the horrifying outcomes that could have happened, scenarios she would probably never mention to him. If only because they were to heart wrenching to mention aloud. Instead of focusing on that any longer, she let her gaze travel further into their apartment as she asked. “What do you want to do?” A pause. “Lay down? Soak in the bathtub? Eat?”
“I think after the day I’ve had, I need a drink. Please tell me we hid a bottle of the good stuff up here?” Isaac asked.
Pulling Isaac further into the apartment, she motioned him over to one of the chairs while she answered. “You do remember who you’re living with, right?” Demi was already at the makeshift bar they had set up, it wasn’t anything fancy, but it worked for them. “I’m selfish and wasn’t going to let the patrons drink all the good stuff. So yes, we hid a bottle, or two, or three up here.” She continued while she pulled out a couple of bottles of top shelf whiskey, bourbon and scotch. “Now, what would you like, sweetheart?”
It didn’t take more prompting than a vague gesture towards the chair for Isaac to settle himself down and wait for liquor to appear in his hand -- and after verbalizing the request for whiskey -- just that happened.
“Mmm, thanks baby,” he said, a lazy grin appearing on his face. Anything more emotive might’ve hurt his face. After just the first sip, he felt himself relaxing. Being back home and with Demi was probably the biggest factor, though. He didn’t want to think too much about it and certainly didn’t want to talk about it, but his little encounter with the rogue Hellhound could have taken him away from her for good and it was an unbearable thought; a reality that he didn’t even want to consider.
“Can we just sit here for a while?”
As scared as Demi had been and as worried as she had been about him, with Isaac home and relaxing, she finally felt like she could breath again. He was bruised and his stitched up forehead was a stark reminder of what he had endured, but Demi was comforted by the fact he was here and whole. Which was why she wanted very much to ignore the guilt that ate at her, the little voice that wanted to remind her that the men who had done this were the same men she had once defended.
She wasn’t defending them now though. No. Her loyalty was to the man currently giving her a lazy grin and made her heart kind of skip and stutter. “Darling, we can do whatever you want for however long you want,” Demi answered as she wedged herself into the small space that had been left on the chair beside Isaac. “So if you want to sit here for a while, we’ll sit here for a while, love.”
“Thanks,” he said, kissing the side of her head before relaxing against her. Isaac let out a slow exhale, feeling himself finally beginning to truly unwind. As awful as today had been, he was right where he wanted to be now and that was all that mattered.