2019-09-25 - A Little B and E

(TXT to Byron Isabella) Erin: Please check on the Captain. Make sure he's ok. I texted him last night and he never responded.

(TXT to Joey) Erin: Can you do a favor for me.

(TXT to Erin) Joey: Darlin short of driving a bus full of burning nuns into an orpheanage name it

(TXT to Joey) Erin: Careful what you agree to. Come with me to Captain de la Vega's hotel room and if he doesn't answer, help me break inside to check on him?

(TXT to Erin) Isabella: ((Phone call from Isabella's number.))

(TXT to Isabella) Erin: "Hello? Have you heard anything about the Captain?"

(TXT to Joey) Erin: 5 Bayside Road. I'll be waiting outside.

(TXT to Isabella) Erin: "I have a ride coming over. Can I call you back? Do you know Javier's room number at the hotel?"

(TXT to Erin) Isabella: "I haven't heard from him since....yeah call me back. I don't know where he's staying. But yeah do what you need to, I'm not going anywhere." ((That sounds a little dry, and deathly sick.))

(TXT to Isabella) Erin: "Hey. Are you okay?"

(TXT to Erin) Isabella: "It's just the flu but I think it's going around. Almost all of us - me, Alexander, Byron, Lilith, August....I think the Captain also. Try and stay healthy if you're going out there. All I know about the Captain right now was that he was at August Roen's place last night to deliver Alexander to him. So as of last night he's still alive, but I haven't tried to check on him today. I intended to. I'll keep trying him."

(TXT to Isabella) Erin: "Is that why I'm feeling so awful? I'm somewhere not as bad off you guys. You sound terrible. I'll keep you updated. Please let me know if you hear anything."

(TXT to Erin) Isabella: "Oh God, you too? Okay. I'm about to call Hyacinth also about the casket. And Erin, be careful. I heard something weird last night and I'm not quite sure what to make of it. But Alexander flew off the handle a bad way. I told August to check him because Byron was worried Gohl was possessing him and it turns out he found something that feels like him inside him. And August thinks it might not be an isolated incident....that we all could be. Have you been feeling...I don't know? Off? Or uncharacteristically violent?"

(TXT to Isabella) Erin: "Oh my god. Oh god. All of us? You think he went in.. Javier too then? Gohl hated us all. Especially the Addingtons there at the end, he vowed to kill my entire family starting with me. YES. I've been so angry, I was an asshole on the phone last night to the Captain. I was in the hospital, feeling boxed in. I went for a drive. Javier wanted to find me I told him to leave me alone and go home.I texted everyone except him about my Uncle and my Grandmother and I made him feel slighted. I just wanted to protect him. I don't know what to do but I'm going to his hotel room now with a friend and we're breaking in."

Erin is still on the phone at the end of her driveway and she's pacing. In between clearing her throat and holding a handkerchief. Every passing car, not that there's too many, gets a stink eye, waiting for the one person she knows should be here about any time. Could all that be possible? She'd have to warn Joey, just in case...

(TXT to Erin) Isabella: Alexander but August has been nothing but steady and cool through this entire thing, I trust his judgment. If he thinks this isn't isolated, I think we should at least think about the possibility. But....oh god if you're going to do that, please be careful. The Captain is....he's private. He snaps at people for getting too close NORMALLY, I can't imagine what he's like at the moment, tired, possibly sick, possibly infected spiritually. I'm glad you're not going alone but he is armed all the time, Erin. Please promise me you'll give him some warning first before you break in."

(Txt to Isabella) Erin: "I fully plan on knocking. A lot. He may be passed out asleep and I don't want either one of us to get shot I promise we'll be careful. Just let me know if you hear anything. I'll talk to you soon." ~ Erin hurriedly ends the call for her ride which should be by anytime.

Joey leaves his pistol in the car because the dumbest thing he can possibly do is break into a police captain's lodgings and-... actually no. That statement can really be left there. Being armed though sends ENTIRELY the wrong idea and that's how you wind up in pieces in the desert, Charlie Brown.

The black 84 Camaro pulls up and Joey, well, the man looks pretty beat. It's no small guess that he's likely been up all damn night either fretting or working on the gym no doubt. Tired or not Erin asked him for a favor and really as pissed as he kinda was with his frienemy he's had enough bad news. Long sleeve thermal he's moving with a bit of discomfort but he's moving. He's had worse in teh ring. It's fine.

That terminally annoyed look finds Erin and an eyebrow goes up. Annoyed or no there's concern. "Hey... you alright?" The words are quiet but in earnest. Thumbs in back pockets he side nods. "You text em at all?"

Erin runs around the car to get in the passenger side, "No. Not alright at all. Apparently I've got some random flu." Scratchy throat included. And the sniffles. "And I may be possessed by a serial killer. My Uncle Thomas is in the hospital, comatose, my grandmother won't see or talk to me. Things have never been less alright. But the Captain. I texted him last night and even till now there's not a response. He was upset. I was a bitch. He had a bad day apparently. I don't know but I know I have to check on him. I have to. He's at the Seapoint or Seaside hotel Sea View suites , whatever the name of it is. On this. Bayside Road." She sounds agitated and her shoulders are hunched like she's folding in on herself.

Joey holds a very even expression and says plainly, "You you want to commit a minor felony breaking into the home of an armed and badged man uninvited because you have a feeling." Eyebrow arches, "This-" He winces as the burn pulls on his skin and continues, "This ain't storybook landia. I'm sure you and every badge bunny's got their knickers in an uproar because a lot of shit's been going down in the city."

Taking a deep breaththere's something that flashes in his expression that is almost a flinch. Almost. Quiet he mumbles. sifting the car into dear. "I know you just lost everything and you need somethin to hold onto to know everythin ain't fallin apart." He doesn't say why but he knows that damn look and he hates that fucking feeling, "So I'm a do this for you, okay?" He back of his knuckles, scraped and calloused gently tap her shoulder in solidarity and maybe assurance. He might just get shot and have none of this be his problem anymore. Who knows. "Let's go do this."

Joey pauses to send a text out though. "Lemme at least give him fair warning first."

"Badge bunny, Joey?" Erin slinks down into the seat, shaking her head. "I am, aren't I? " Well that's fucking depressing. Crossing her arms beneath her chest, she stews on that awhile. "You know what? I told him that. I told him I hate being the other woman. The home wrecker, whatever. But." she says helplessly, "I don't want to be without him. And that's my two options."

After several moments she looks out the window at the passing scenery. "Maybe it's for the best. I'm not sure he's okay. I just need to find out how he is. Maybe he's just mad and he's not texting back for that reason. I can live with that. I can be fine without him somehow as long as he's.. not dead. And with what I was told, none of us are okay and we may never be again. If I can get my grandmother to talk to me again, I may have her take me to that facility. I am beginning to see where Thomas was coming from. Once you've lost everything what else matters?" There's no self pity in her words, just acceptance. "I see why Thomas lived in alcohol."

Joey presses his lips together and that scruffy mug nods slowly. "Mmmhmm." His hand shifts the car into and out of first again taking off. "Ain't my business." And that it ain't. He is just ripping the damn bad aid off and letting the truth of it air out. Referring to herself as the ''other woman'' gets a faint look of amusement but he's focused on teh road for right now.

"All I can say is dont' delude yourself about who and what you are and make peace with your decisions. Someone very good to me told me that once and honestly? Makes life a fuck ton easier to navigate."

And then the question of What else matters? comes up and while nothing moves in the flinty expression of the boxer the Camaro suddenly cuts across three lanes of traffic and starts making a detour without explanation. There's a dirt road and up front a church and just past the the cemetery across the road. The car drifts to a stop without being abrupt. He doesn't look at her but the doors... yeah they stay closed. He nudges it with his shoulder and opens it manually. Looking across the road he announces in that will not be argued with tone that is firm, but quiet, "Get out. Follow me."

Fuck. Fine. "Women. Women. I'm not delusional alright? I know the score so you can stop laughing," And she hates it. Erin clenches her hands into fists but that's all she does. There's so much more that crosses her mind but she doesn't do anything else but listen.

Until he cuts across the roads and takes the detour. Instinct has her grabbing the Jesus handle. If there is one. When they come to the cemetery she hears the tone. It's one she hears from Ruiz all the time, she recognizes it as an order. There's a moment where she may just be defiant and tell him explicitly how to go to hell in such a way he actually looks forward to the trip! But she gets a glimpse of the cemetery behind him again and looks longingly at it, opening her door, entranced. Climbing out, she walks towards it, but she'll allow Joey's voice to guide her. "It's so peaceful here. I want peace, Joey. I want it."

Joey doesn't seem to validate if he's got an opinion on it at all. He's not one to talk nor is he making any attempt to tell her what or what not to do other than be very fucking honest with herself. He was driving. Now? Now he's walking. Heavy black boots taking the hill into the cemetery into a steady plod. The casual mood on him is gone and there's something brimming on the edge of the perpetual furnace of anger that fuels him waking up at 5 a.m. every morning.

There's an assortment of benches and tall headstones. he doesn't' stop for Erin but walks past it and past a tall oak towards the back. And then in the ground He stops and waits for Erin to eventually wind up over there. or not. She can fucking walk home and thing about it if she really needs to. Having one Joseph Lee Kelly in one's life is an invitation for tough love to exist in its unrefined manner. It's perhaps not a lack of giving a shit but maybe an abundance of shit what to dole out.

He stoops and removes some of the overgrowth from the recessed headstone that reads:

Julianne Kelly
1969 - 2005

He looks to Erin with a long look and says with that gravel in his tone, "36 years old. I want you to take a very good look and think on that for me for a moment, Erin.. Because I'm about to ask you a very difficult question you need to answer for yourself."

Out of the car now, Erin follows him. She's wearing a lightweight jacket with pockets and that's where her hands are tucked, her mothers wedding ring still on her right hand. Her steps are lighter than his but slower and when she meanders through, she doesn't take the time to read any of the names on the headstones.

When she finally gets to where Joey is, she watches as he pulls back the overgrowth and exposes the name and date. "Your mother." It's not a question, not even a hint of the upturn to make it one. It's simply stated and accepted. Lifting her eyes to his, hands clenching inside her pockets, Erin takes a deep breath. "What are you going to ask me? Do I want to be there?"

Joey snorts to Erin murmuring, "Naw. No one wants to fucking be there, Erin. Being dead is boring as shit and that's why they bother the living." It's normal to know that right?! "My question to you is why do you think she's there. Why do you think a 36 year old woman in good health with two pain int he ass kids wound up in the god damned ground." The emotion compresses in his chest like a cement truck churning gravel. Heavy, unrefined, viscous emotion roiling around but not spilling on her. He's pretty decent about keeping his guns going in only very specific directions.

It's not a story Erin had ever been told, nor had she asked. It's not something she had even considered before. Squatting down, she traces idly over the dash between the dates. The part of her life that she had lived. It was a poem read at her own parents funeral and now it sounded in her head almost overwhelmingly. "Did someone kill her?" The obvious conclusion in her life, with everyone being taken away for that very reason. Now she felt compelled to know. "What happened to her?"

Joey watches Erin come around to the reality of this situation and slowly, perhaps, why he has always had the mood with her that he does. The weeds in hand get flicked near the aforementioned oak, not someone's resting place. He doesn't answer for a while. Weight shifts from even to his back foot nudging the sod back a bit with the toe of his other boot. "Yeah. She was."

She asks though the feeling sits deep i his chest and says, "In part? My fault. The truth? Because too many assholes over time made her think she had no options. She... only believed that she was as good as the approval of... whatever fuck she was dating at the time. Her bitch ass coworkers who tried to tell her she was never enough. So she would sit around... for these assholes to treat her like... absolute shit. Until she did what they wanted." A myrthless snort comes from the boxer, "She was a good woman. Cared more than she fuckin should but I dunno why that was never fuckin enough. Two kids you gotta keep food on the table and do what ya gotta do I mean but that? " Those green eyes turn to Erin and squint, "They trained her and kicked her like a damn dog until it never fucking occurred to her to fight back."

Fingers hold in the air and squeeze slightly , and the leaves pull in towards his feet across the ground in some grand coincidence. Hand forms a fist as he finds the words. "Your grandmother has taken... everything from you and while she's given you a roof? Ain't treated you much better. Yeah, not having parents? My mom was all we had, and it feels so un-fucking-believably alone. And people like her? They want you to think that and I'm fucking sorry but that's the god damned truth."

His hand comes out of his pocket to cover his face taking a slow deep breath. He swallows and with an exhale he sighs and says quietly, "You are a pretty fucking amazing person, but you gotta figure out who you are. And if they can't deal? Fuck their approval. Fuck mine. Fuck all of us. You don't need our fucking approval. THAT is why it fucking matters. YOU fucking matter, and I don't want to sit and watch that get thrown away twice. But that? That is between you and yourself. You got the tools to make anything fucking happen. Use them." Because Margaret Addington, fuck you is why.

Erin's hand stills on that dash between the dates, imagining every word he says. It hits home and it hits hard and she finds herself closing her eyes to hold back emotion that's threatening to spill out. Things said now and again by friends in passing, she knows those words he's talking about. Barbed compliments meant as insults. She'd heard them from more than her Grandmother.

Why would Joey blame himself? It confuses her enough to open her eyes and tilt her head enough to look up and over her shoulder at him. That's a mistake. The tears she'd been holding fall. "You can't blame yourself Joey. You were a kid. How could you have known anything about it then?" A sniffle, one that has nothing to do with the stupid flu she'd been warned about, she clears her throat past the lump there that threatened to choke her.

"Sometimes.. sometimes I want to get mad. I want to get angry and just throw things. I want to yell and I want to scream and I want to destroy." More the past couple of days but it's an ongoing thing. "But I musn't upset Grandmother or make her look bad." Erin drops to sit on the ground and wraps her arms around her knees as if she could guard herself completely from anything the outside world had to throw at her. "Never enough," she echoes his words. "That's how I feel. That's what I am. And if I bring it up, somehow I'm the one being dramatic. I'm in the wrong. I don't know where you got the strength to do what you do and say fuck off to anyone that doesn't approve. It does matter. Appearances matter. Especially in this town. I have strangers who think they know me because of my last name."

Joey just takes some long pauses there and really considers the question and lets her mull through the unfriendly reality check from one person growing up told they aren't enough to another. Why blame himself? Shoulders rise and drop. "I wasn't good at picking my fights then. I'd. Fight. everyone. You make a big enough noise then someone's got to listen. Turns out the cops got a place for snot nosed punks that do that shit." He pauses squinting looking up musing, "You'd think I'd have learned then not to fight cops and here we are." About to break into one's house. Uh huh. Yeah learning is sometimes a very slow process. Looking to Erin he says, "He blamed her. There was an 'accident'..." it wasn't an accident.

Another deep breath he takes a couple steps over and crouches next to her. "Shit, get man, woman. That old bag is worried about her, what is convenient for her at the fuck all what she's doing to you. She gonna take things away? They're fucking things. Things can get replaced. Seems she's already in deep shit with the law and a lot of people. That shit will catch up with her." He knows that one all too well too.

Leaning over he nudges her shoulder with his and looks to her quietly murmuring, "Hey... You're gonna get through this. It's gonna be different, and scary, but at least it won't be the fuckin same shit." Taking a deep breath there's a small, optimistic tone that creeps in, "Soooo I'm 16 and they're tryin to figure out whether to put me and my bro into the system for a whole year and a fuckin half. Like what are you gonna do with us and I'm sitting there on the wall outside of the gym and I'm a tell you some advice that helped me out. When people owe you? Don't let them make you pay out." It's a rare thing but the arm comes out and offers a half hug. "Stand up., cause you don't gotta crawl back to no where... and I'm losing blood in my ankles sitting like this."

Getting up he looks around and asks, "Now, in the glove box there's a Little Tykes My First Felony kit. We gonna go look in on the Cap cause his grumpy ass ain't tested me back." Or you want to contact the police department and make them do it?"

Erin can hear it all in his voice, the lessons he'd learned and despite that he was coming along to do this for her. The nudge spurs her to action though and she unwraps her arms from around her legs as if in preparation to get to her feet. With his arm around her she gives him a tentative smile, composing herself somewhat as she pushes herself to her feet at last. "I'm listening, Joey. I hear you. Everything you said. I'm sorry about your mother and what you and Jaime have been through. I understand now why you're doing those classes for self defense, now. And I also know why you sometimes talk to me the way you do."

Wiping off her clothes she gives him a lopsided smile as she wipes away any sort of moisture on her cheeks. "No more crying. Let's go at least knock on the door. He wasn't doing well last night. I don't know what happened but he texted me and I told him to go home. I hope that's what he did and he's sleeping off a bad day." She turns her head away from him and coughs into her sleeve just below her elbow. "Everyone's sick. And now with what I was told about William.. I have to see for myself."

Joey sighs and just gives her a fucking hug. "Alright. let's go get my ass shot and arrested. but you have to bring my car to pick me up okay?" He's resigned with what ever and with that presses two fingers to the bronze plate. "See you at the house, ma." Because, ya know, hauntings. Oh joy. It's not the same but that's a totally different story. Plodding over to the car the keys come out of his pocket and he waits for Erin and they're back on the road.

---

Eventually at the speed of dawdling over life's many great questions they pull the fuck on up to the hotel. The captain gets one more text. It's about now he tosses his keys to Erin. "It sticks coming out of second." And the same plod carrying him to many other bad life choices carries him to this one. He gives teh text a good five minutes before a meaty fist hits with a THUD THUD THUD on the door.

Erin doesn't wait inside the car, she waits outside of it. The keys are in her hand and she watches when Joey goes to the room and pounds on the door. From where she's at she has no idea what is going on, but she does see Joey on his phone. Good news? Nothing more to do than wait and see.

There's a rustle from inside the room, then the clatter of something else, sounds like wood planks clattering. "God damn it." Muffled from within, a female voice. She sounds a bit rough, but with the flu going around, that's probably no surprise. Several things sound like they shoved out of the way, there's some muffled muttering behind the door, and then the lock and security bar disengage.

Sutton pulls open the door about two feet wide, which exposes a glimpse of the interior, and herself of course. "Nobody wants to know about your panties, love." Her voice is roughened by coughing. Her nose is red. Her eyes are glassy and her normally healthy, tanned complexion is a bit pale.

The petite blonde is dressed in an old Seattle PD tee, a little big on her, and a pair of short blue shorts. There are a few new additions to her pretty face, bruises just turning blue. Fresh then. One is her eye, one on her jaw, and various, distinct marks like the print of a hand forming on her upper arm, a scratch across her cheek, and a mottled ring of bruises around her throat.

Behind her, the bed is unmade, tissues everywhere (that's gross), and across the table where Ruiz's laptop usually sits are the components of all three of the weapons he had stashed in the room. Both of the chairs are busted. One lamp was torn out of the wall. Glass fragments still glitter in the carpet by the dresser, and everything that could be thrown has been thrown or broken in some manner. The bathroom door is closed, there's at least one huge dent in the wall.

Sutton brings a tissue to her nose and asks, "Do you have a milkshake? If you don't, you should fuck off and come back when you have one."

No Ruiz in sight.

The text alert in her back pocket chimes that 1 minute 'you missed a text warning'.

Joey waits like he's got nothing better to fucking doo than hold on, which he does not. Sutton showing up doesn't even get an eyebrow raise. She does get a placid, "eh $500 at Cabaret suggests elsewise." Not posturing, just math, and probably more about him than she needed to know. The details he takes in but doesn't comment on. The first unsolicited remark comes back in the form of advice, "Ya know soup'd be better. Milkshake's gonna make you stuffy. Also bring the boys to the yard. Boy tsunami crushing everything in the damn parking lot- and that's on you." He points with a woeful shake of his head. "Strawberry or chocolate?" He gets a glance enough to know that's not necessarily a crime scene and doesn't get worked up over it. "He holdin up alright?"

Standing beside Joey's car, Erin does notice who had come out but she doesn't blatantly stare that direction. Sutton didn't appear to be worried so at least that meant good things. It mean Ruiz was alive. That settles that then. It was still a little too warm to wait inside the car so she just leans a hip against it as she waits in silence. Most of what is said can be heard from where she is. It's Bayside, the road isn't that busy. Not this time of year.

Sutton stands in the doorway. She releases her hold on the knob, reaching up to stick a cigarette in her mouth. That explains the burning smell. Smoking with the flu. Excellent choices all around then. “$500, huh?”

She turns her head and coughs a chest rattling cough, then takes a drag anyway. “He’s alive, as of a half hour ago. He can reach the toilet. We’ve had a slight difference of opinion.” About what? The decor? Room’s definitely trashed. “One of each.” On the milkshakes.

She doesn’t seem to be blocking, neither is she asking Joey to leave. But she hasn’t invited him in either. Probably because of the glass. Or it’s a hostage situation. She seems pretty calm. Could be the flu.

“You want to come back and talk to him when you have the shakes, bring a taser. His ran out of cartridges.” Those words are punctuated by exhaled smoke.

Joey nods sagely. The man is a lot of things, but a liar he is not. Though seeing enough of him at the Gym it's not so far fetched a concept, not the important thing he seems to be focusing on here. Nods slowly, murmuring, "Yeah someone zapped my ass yesterday. I'm good." Sniffing he pulls back from the door and asks, "Nuggets or fries?" hell he's been there and if this is going to be an all day thing might as well go whole hog. He gets his answer and nods slowly. Turning to Erin he can be heard telling her, "He's sick and ain't had coffee yet." Which is as good interpretation as any.

Arriving back at the car he arches an eyebrow to Erin and holds his hand out for his keys. "Food run."

Hearing the response, Erin gets back inside the car and as soon as Joey gets there she drops the keys in his hand. "I can call someone and have it delivered." Grubhub was a thing. "He's alive, that's all I needed to know. I can stop worrying now, he's in good hands.." She didn't want to make it awkward for either one of them. For any of them. "Are you okay with that or would you prefer to deliver it back yourself?" Leaving it up to Joey, she slinks down in the seat for now.

Joey Shakes his head and assures, "No reason to grab stranger s into this. Some unsuspecting soul flipping their shit calling the cops and making everything worse? No one fucking needs that." And he's back to fuck telling the police anything... even though... he's kinda helping a cop?! Eeeeh let's not think too hard on this one. "I got a little time to kill before the guys come help me move shit." He does look tired though. Looking to Erin he stays quiet and just nods slowly. "Can drop food off. Catch up when people are ready to talk. Right now is not the time and I don't think you want to catch whatever is going on around there."

"No. I don't want to catch whatever is going on there." Erin already has the sickness, she can feel it in the lethargy, the runny nose, the scratchy throat. So she certainly doesn't mean that. "I need you to give him a message though. Something someone told me. I need you to pass it along. He's not answering his texts, Tell him it's Gohl. Isabella or Byron or hell if I can remember who. They think Gohl possessed us all. Everyone of us. I don't want to go back there. If you'll just let me out down here, I'll get home, it's not that far from my place. That way I can drive over to the gym."

Fuck, Fuck. Fuck. "Just tell him that, please. There's a sudden inhale of breath and a fury in her eyes that's never been there. White hot anger. Nothing like being possessed by someone who hates your guts. "Let me out." Already she's reaching for the door handle, "Stop the car and let me out or I'm getting out anyway. LET ME OUT!"

Joey is having a day of it. His migraine isn't letting up. Now this. Fucking great.

He pulls over and grabs a hold of her arm at least so she doesn't run the fuck out in traffic because that's where his luck is going. "Erin. Look. at. me. You're okay. You can tell him yourself. DO NOT run out into traffic." He points, "Roll down the window if you need to but do not spaz out and puke in my car. I just lost the gym. Have mercy." The vaguest inkling hits the back of his head noting while it really sucks prison surprisingly had fewer crazy people. At least everyone was on one page there. She did say she was possessed by a ghost though. "Yo, to the whoever that's in there can we tell me what we need here so everyone can chill the fuck out? This an option or something?"

With her hand already reaching for the door, Erin hears Joey's voice as if from a distance. But she hears him. Turning her head she looks at him with wariness, chest rising and falling from the panic attack or whatever it is. But she's herself. Kind of. She was still feeling closed in. The window is mentioned, she looks blankly towards the door panel, looking for the button to push. It's not like she hadn't used manual before but it's been awhile. Reaching for the knob, she rolls it down as fast as she can and sticks her head out like she may really just throw up. Too many variables are stacked against her. "Let's get this over with then." Clinging to the door, she rests her cheek so she's partly hanging her head out. No bugs will hit her though, the mirror blocks that for her at least.

Joey makes sure Erin is alright first. The window seems to help and that's good. He can work with that. "You've had a long day I'll get you your own damn happy meal and everything."

It's not terrifically long to run to McDonalds and return to Project Mayhem, er, the scene of disaster. Eventually they come back around and he texts Ruiz' phone and leaves Sutton the message Food's here. And after that raps on the door again.

There's a call from inside that's simply, "Door's open!" Some phone chimes issue forth too. Sutton's having a merry rapidfire (and not so rapid fire... poor Byron) conversation on Ruiz's phone, her thumbs tapping over the screen. At some point, she popped the security latch off, and the door's unlocked. "Come in."

By now, the room's been cleared of most of the debris. There's still some glass glittering in the carpet. "Joey, babe, how strong are you?"

Erin is just fine, just tired and sick. Leaning her head against the backrest now she closes her eyes, willing herself away from this circumstance at this moment. And to think she was the one who instigated it. Wrapping her arms around herself she shivers a little but she doesn't roll up the window. If Joey offered to buy her food, she declined. She couldn't possibly eat. Her phone is in her pocket and it's been silent since she'd texted Joey earlier and Isabella had called. So she tries to drift off to sleep to try and get this over with.

Joey sets the food down and answers, "What do we need to make happen?" Which is to say generally more than well enough. Joey. Because that's a name or a voice the Captain wants anywhere near him right now he was dead certain. Still it didn't stop him from musing how he knows way too damn much about this guy. Oh the irony. His head turns just enough he can keep an eye on Erin and back to Sutton. "The situation has escalated to 'complicated'. What'chu need help with first? We need t'move em?"

"Somebody has to go in there and let him out of the handcuffs." Sutton says, finally looking up from the phone. She slides it into her pocket. "Did I see Erin out in the lot?" She wasn't really paying attention, but she saw a hot brunette leaning against the car, and it took her brain a while to do the math.

"She can come in. Byron's texting me asking after her. Might be easier if she just answered him so he stop asking me about my sex life." That's not what happened, Sutton. That's not what happened at all.

Joey nods to Sutton getting the gist of it. "Well let B know I'm here. and... yeah. Good plan." That's two people who came around shaking his tree and somehow in 18 hours winds up doing both of them a favor!? The fuck is happening to his life right now.

"Erin, you can come in. Phone's for you." Sliding past Sutton he carefully angles around her to knock on the bathroom door. The tone is casual and there's neither mockery or celebration in it. knock knock You never know when one's dissembled the plumbing to weaponize it, but given the lack of water on the floor he's pretty confident. "Hey, man. Ya look like hell. How you holdin up?"

Oh great. Joey is disappearing inside now too. Grudgingly, she opens the door and walks over to the door. She looks like hell. Probably not as far along in it as the other two are. She steps just inside and gives Sutton a tentative smile. "Sorry for interrupting. I just have to.." she waves towards where Joey went.. a light shrug is given. She doesn't know what else to say.

From inside the bathroom, the sound of silence interspersed with the occasional soft thunk or scrape. With the others talking out in the living area, they might not have heard it. Then the bang on the bathroom door, and there's a loud CLANG in answer like something solid colliding with the wall, followed by harsh panting. No answer, though the door's not locked. How lucky does Joey feel?

Sutton watches Erin for a moment, cigarette hanging from her lips. She plucks it and reaches over to stub it out on the bedside table. "Hey, Erin." The two were neighbors for many months, and though they didn't do a lot of talking, the blonde saw the brunette often enough to know her on sight, and of course she works the gym Sutton sometimes attends. And of course they have other things in common. "Byron's asking after you. He seems concerned for your welfare." Her voice is rough, but that's definitely the flu talking.

"Check on him, love. I know you two have a connection." There's not a hitch in her tone, no double meanings. "You might take him the chocolate milkshake. He's a little cranky just now. Or you can make a call." She leaves the choice to the other woman.

Seems Ruiz is awake in there. She glances toward the door with all the clanging. "That plumbing was a bit dodgy." Helpful tips for Joey, go.

Joey isn't feeling at all lucky. His gym is tore apart, he's feeling run down, he ain't making any money with it closed, and now he's out here. The answer to the luck question is hella low which means that's got to balance out. He'll risk it. he answers Sutton dryly, "Yeah I'm a real likable asshole."

He knocks on the door. "Yo, It's Joe... Comin to check in on ya man." And with that he nudges the door open a little and no he doesn't lead with his head. Ever. That's how you lose it or get thrown up on.

It wasn't really the reception Erin had been expecting. Sutton surprises her and the surprise reflects in her eyes. "Hello, Sutton. I heard you weren't feeling well. I'm sorry you've got the flu. It's going around so bad." Closing the door so that any yelling the others in the bathroom do doesn't carry so far, she gives a wry look. "I will text Byron and let him know I'm okay. There's so many things going on. Thanks for letting me know." She doesn't ask how Sutton knows Byron is looking for her though.

Looking towards the bathroom, Erin looks uncertain. "Are you sure?" She doesn't take the milkshake, but she walks towards the bathroom door, looking back at Sutton. "Are you okay?" a motion to indicate her bruises everywhere. "It looks like you almost lost. Thank God for handcuffs?"

Joey's day could be about to get a whole lot worse. Except, miraculously, it doesn't. There's no crazed cop just waiting for the door to open enough so he can try to strangle the guy with the handcuffs still locked around his wrists. There's just a very exhausted, bruised looking cop slouched against the sink, sweat sheening his swarthy skin and dark, messy curls. He's in a tee shirt and boxers, nothing immodest going on in there. And he's halfway through tearing open a package of tylenol when Joey inches the door open.

He pauses, eyes settling first on the gym boss, then the tall brunette standing somewhere off behind him. He knows Sutton's out there, and he'll deal with her in a moment. "Can you get this open for me? Head feels like someone tried to carve it open with a rusty spoon." He holds the package out.

Sutton remains seated on the bed. She shows no signs of going into the bathroom. "Vaya con dios, amigo," is what she says. She sounds like she means it? Maybe. There's a slight smile, with is a bit incongruous with the current situation. Maybe it's the texts she's sending. If asked, she might tell Erin how she knows what she knows, but when that opportunity passes, she puts the phone down on her thigh.

"Mm. I would let Joey take the litmus test of the room." She means if he reels back out with a fist in his face, maybe not. "You're welcome." There's a pause in which her eyes are hard to read. "... Bruises heal, love." That's not really an answer, but it's the one she gives.

When no immediate yelling a meaty thuds issue forth, she rises to reach for the strawberry shake. "The handcuffs were a precaution so I could sleep."

Joey eyes Ruiz and maybe it's a show of trust or a brazen act of defiance that brings the street soldier over to his long time frenemy and offers, "Yeah, lemme help you with that." And with the safety pin off his coat opens it and in a smooth motion pops the locks on the handcuffs with a disgusting amount of familiarity in doing so. He puts the pin back to, turns and gets the chocolate shake to hand to him.

"Brought some news for you you will want to hear. Ain't good, but it is what it is." He waits for hi to take care of his business. "Hell of a fuckin week."

Erin had seen for herself that Javier was indeed alive. That was a start. Joey could help him out at the moment more than she could so she steps back a little, withdrawing not far, but far enough to speak with Sutton. "Bruises heal, sure. But getting them sure does leave more than an external mark if you let it. I could heal you." Maybe! Her luck with that lately wasn't exceptional.

"I wanted to introduce myself to you when I lived next door so many times. Then when I see you places like the gym and all.." she just shrugs uncertainly. "I've thought about approaching you, but then I wonder what I'd say if I ever did. I'm sorry for intruding on your space here." Her eyes rake over the bruises again before she looks towards the bathroom where Joey and Ruiz are, concerned.

One thing becomes pretty quickly apparent once the pair get a good look at Javier; Sutton gave pretty well as good as she got; he's got a nasty black eye forming, deep scratches running along one side of his face, and a multitude of other bruises barely visible under his half hiked-up shirt. Hard to say whether it was in self defense, or some hanky panky gone horribly wrong. But odds are on the former, particularly considering the fact he's still (mostly) dressed.

The ease with which Joey pops off those cuffs earns him a long look. Not so much surprise as, really? Right in front of me? "Gracias," is mumbled once the things clatter into the sink, and he's afforded the opportunity to rub at his sore, stiff wrists before ripping out what looks like tubing connected to a banana bag, buried in his forearm. His dark eyes settle on Erin for a long moment, then drag back to Joey as he tears open the package of pain meds. "Go on." His voice is raised louder to inform Sutton (whom he can't quie see) that, "I want my fucking phone back."

Sutton considers that for a long moment, Erin's offer of help. Again, her eyes are hard to read, but she doesn't seem particularly closed off in terms of her body language. She clears her throat softly. "What... how would you go about that?" She's never been healed in the mystical way (she has, just not that she's aware of). She turns her attention to Erin fully, her gaze explores the other woman's face, lingering, and then she looks down at her hands.

Sutton reaches over to offer Erin her hand. If the woman takes it, she'll draw her closer. "Sit, love." Her words are soft. She winces slightly when she leans, and it's clear, particularly if spirit senses are engaged, that she's injured beyond what's visible. "Is there something you want to say that you're stopped saying?"

When Javier starts making demands from the bathroom, she finishes with, "You're not intruding. I invited you in. It's Javi's space, at least it is when he's not being an utter cunt." Guess he's gonna wait on that phone then.

For all the bullshit in the world there is odd comfort in knowing that Joey Kelly is exactly as one might expect from the tin. There might be a surprise or two inside, but he's never pretended to be anything other than what he is. "De nada." The funny part is Joey hasn't moved the bulk of himself from that doorway. He might make questionable life choices but being willfully stupid generally isn't one of them. Sometimes (sometimes) that involves protecting people from themselves which seems to be the theme of the last 48 hours.

"Byron was texting and asking for Erin. She's letting him know everything's fine." There's yoru reason. Calmly as if all of this were perfectly fucking normal assures, "You'll get it back man." He pauses and comes to the point of the news, "Whatever is going on with this William ghost assrabbit? Per Erin and apparently other sources from the sound of it, are possessed like he's Lord fucking Voldemort. Making people do some crazy shit." He pauses and asks Erin, "Heeeey Erin? Alexander was involved in all that shit too wasn't he?" Curious to ask but Joey's a bright enough boy. Why is he asking? As per usual his reasons seem to be his own.

Erin returns the look to Ruiz, but it's the IV that sort of gets him the confused look until she remembers Sutton was a paramedic. Well, he was a cop and they beat the hell out of each other. So many lines crossed. The Addington had mostly walked the straight and narrow her grandmother had put her on, except for the parties and drinking and driving once upon a time.

Sutton gains her attention again after a last look to Javier, and Erin does give over her hand to have a seat beside the blonde. "I've been going to nursing school. I'm not without abilities. I could at least make you feel better, even without drugs." Her eyes do hold genuine concern, especially at the wince. "I don't know. I think I should apologize to you but I'm.." There's really a shortage of words for her at the moment. "First, would you give me permission to treat you? At least some?"

There's a brief look to Joey. "Yes, Alexander was. Among several others. Too many others."

Ruiz listens as Joey talks, hands busy trying to get that package of pain medication open. He's looking a bit shaky, possibly out of hunger, or possibly this gross cold that's afflicting just about everyone. He seems to have reached the feverish and coughing phase, which he demonstrates by.. coughing. Probably should cut back on his smoking, might help the sound of that. His eyes come up for a moment when Byron's mentioned, then drop again as he pops the pill and ducks his head under the faucet to wash it down with water. "William Gohl," he corrects, once he comes back up again. Talking seems to make him cringe slightly, and his movements are slow and purposeful; he looks, honestly, like death warmed over. Literally.

"Voldemort?" he queries. "Like Harry Potter Voldemort? Making people.. what? I don't understand." Or he does, and doesn't like what he's hearing. "Can you tell Sutton to give me my fucking phone before I feed it to her? I need to check my messages, and see if I've got anything from the Chief." A beat. "I heard something happened at the gym. You and your niece all right?" His voice is a low murmur, and he looks about an inch from passing back out again, his bulky frame leaned heavily against the sink.

Sutton glances over at Joey when he makes a promise she'll be keeping regarding the phone. At some point. When the former-gym owner (rubble-minder?) mentions he who shall not be named, there's a frown from the paramedic. "That fuck again." He mentions possession. Mentions crazy shit. She glances toward the bathroom. It's funny how her expression doesn't much shift, almost like it didn't occur to her that Ruiz could have been possessed. Hm.

Sutton turns her gaze back to Erin. "Sure. You know." She holds onto Erin's hand, lightly. "I think we're cousins pretty far removed." She looks down at the other woman's hand and then she says, "You have my permission to treat me, yes."

She hears Ruiz. She does. She ignores Ruiz. Well, mostly. "Sutton's busy."

Joey agrees amicably enough having so very little input on this situation other than this ghost has become existentialist ex-lax fucking up his shit. "Yeah him. And I guess like that wizard dude making people really fuckin aggressive and apparently homicidal." When Ruiz gets his hackle up about feeding Sutton the phone he relays the message... well he paraphrases, "Yo, Sutton? He's offering to get you dinner in exchange for his phone. Think it over, get back to me?" Looking back to Ruiz calmly he assures, "She's reviewing the offer."

He still owns the Gym!! The ring is missing... the gymmy part is ... a work in progress!

He extends a hand for the damn Tylonel or whatever and opens the damn thing for him. Loud enough for Sutton to hear he answer, "That would be said 'fuck', yeah. Apparently." There is a pause though and the indifferent breaks when his eyes meet Ruiz'. "I got her out. She's alright." He didn't answer for his own condition and maybe it's just better that he doesn't. She's the important part of that equation though he has to admit pretty impressed, "Took a live current across the fuckin chest but, ya know, I'm standing here bitching to you about it so it can't be that bad." (Translation from Joey/Ruiz speech: We're good. Thanks for asking. It's appreciated)

"Erin, how's this ghost... possession bullshit work anyways? You got the deets on that?" Squinting to Ruiz he boggles, almost commiserating (almost), "You really get all the fun cases don't ya?"

Instead of letting Sutton watch her eyes unfocus as she sort of enters her body in a way, Erin closes her eyes. Hands don't have to touch the wounds since she's working from the inside out. What Sutton does feel is relief, it's rapid, and all encompassing. While she may be a touch sore in the worst of places for a little while longer, the cuts and bruises are healing before her eyes, if she happened to look at them. The flu? She doesn't try healing that, she's not even sure she could if she tried. But the wounds, at least the physical wounds, are better.

Opening her eyes, she studies the pretty blonde a moment before offering a smile. "Cousins? I didn't know that. My grandmother isn't actually my grandmother. She's a cousin. Or a second cousin. But she raised me when my parents had better things to do. I owe her a lot. I owe her everything."

The talk of Billy Gohl brings a release of pent up breath. "Isabella or Byron.. one of them thinks everyone involved was possessed. I had a.. bad night last night. I'm sure nowhere near as bad as what happened here. I just went for a drive." It was more than just for a drive. But all was well, so that's good enough.

Ruiz may or may not have some idea of what's going on out in the living room between the two women. He can hear snippets of conversation, but his head is pounding and he can't decide whether he wants brunch, or a refund on last night's dinner. The latter ends up winning; but fortunately for Joey, dinner was already refunded a few hours' prior. So all that's left is a dry heave into the sink. And a groaned curse in Spanish. "Gracias." For the tylenol. His eyes lift when Joey mentions getting the kid out. And hold the other man's for several seconds. Relief washes through his expression, and he gives a short, quick nod.

"Si. So I heard." About the attack. "He turned himself in to me." He doesn't mention a name. Because Joey knows who it is. And Ruiz knows who it is. And Joey now knows Ruiz knows who it is. But no need to start any gossip. All the fun cases. He chuckles hoarsely, and coughs a couple more times on the heels of it. "Is Erin okay?" he asks a little quieter, with a flick of his eyes toward the living area. Sure, Sutton's got her well in hand for the moment. Because that's what Sutton's good at. "Last night, she.. look, I need my goddamned phone." He pushes off the sink and tries to muscle past Joey to get out the door.

With Joey as the trusty go-between, Sutton says, "It's going to have to be rare steak and a Spanish red." Wine. Wine's back on the table now, it seems.

Sutton shifts slightly when the pain eases, particularly in her torso. She winces faintly, but otherwise doesn't say much, just a single soft breath taken. She knows something is happening, and she knows it must be coming from Erin, but it's a diffuse sensation. "Four, five generations back, something like that. I was buzzed when I read the email." Which means her memory is a little bit fuzzy, but she can probably check. "I didn't start getting nervous about the building until you were attacked next door." There's a little roll of her shoulders and she says, "Hm. Thank you. That's very much better."

When Ruiz makes it out and wanders over to her, she'll deal with the phone. Right now she's dealing with being able to take a breath, barring the flu symptoms. She was feeling double-rough, and now she's back to just plain ol' rough. "Thank you, Erin." There's another slight pause and then she looks into those lovely brown eyes. "You can say anything, love. I'm not going to hurt you." Just ignore, for a moment, the injuries she had, the knuckles that must have been bleeding last night, and all the rest.

Joey shakes his head, "Well I ain't pressing charges, and he ain't mentioned for what's clearly a faulty wiring accident." Fucking assaulting him is another story but what's he gonna do, cry about it? It got fucking handled. "If you's asking about the gym? It was just me there." Presumably regarding staff. "Whatever else happened everyone's here. Everyone's in one piece." He can't believe he's fucking assuring the cop this way but he assures, "No one did anything that's gonna cost their job or their next 3-5 yet so there's that."

There's still residual tension lingering around and while he doesn't budge yet his posture stands down. "Everyone's just a lil keyed up right out so. Yannow. We'll work it out." Taking a deep breath he considers the greater implication of fallout. Loud enough he says, "Can I recommend..." This is loud enough to address Erin too, "No one drives til we get this sorted out> Like... I dunno a lot about...whatever this situation is but being a passing expert in ghosts and being pissed alla time? Maybe inviting a situation what for road rage to occur maybe not the greatest. As someone who helps look after a too damn curious four year old I'm sure parents of the world would appreciate maybe...considering that."

Joey ain't here to tell them what to do. He's pretty certain given the reactions he's seen from... well someone he'd absolutely expect it from, someone he'd not, and someone who is long overdue all act on that impulse? Yeah. Maybe suggestions on how to avoid vehicular manslaughter of children and shit.

"I wish there was something I could do about this flu. Not that I can fix anything about myself, but I'd help others if I could." Erin isn't feeling so hot. "I got frightened when my aunt, then my parents died. Then when Rebecca's sister was murdered nearby, I switched apartments for awhile. By the time I was attacked.. that was it. I bought a house and moved out. I knew I couldn't go back there from the hospital."

Erin falls silent a moment before going on. "Do you know why I was attacked?" Assuming she does, she continues anyway. "Because my grandmother didn't like me working at the Gym and complained to my Uncle about it." A shake of her head as she still tries to come to terms with that. "Joey's a good guy. He's showing me how to fight back." A look towards the younger man with a half smile, trying not to look as miserable as she feels.

"You're welcome Sutton. It's the least I could do." Again with the hesitant words. Joey's protest on driving is another welcome reprieve. "I'll only do mandatory driving. Work, home, hospital to see Uncle Thomas. He's still comatose in there."

"None of my fucking business," grumbles the already-cranky cop when lectured about the fact that Joey's not going to press charges against Alexander. The guy already fessed up to him, not that he bothers mentioning this. "Though you tell me if you need a hand with anything, if the Chief comes knocking." Then Joey keeps going, something about not driving. Not like Ruiz is remotely in any shape to leave the hotel room, much less drive right now. He does manage to find some pants though, because damned if he's going to wander around in his boxers while there are people invading his space.

"Where's your grandmother?" he enquires of Erin, hands working slowly and fumblingly with the belt buckle as he regards both women in askance.

Sutton's fingers skim Erin's knee as she drags her turns on the bed, moving more easily. She still sounds like she needs to clear her throat when she speaks, still looks pale and definitely fluey, but there's a beat where she perks up a little bit, before the inevitable crash later. Her injuries have responded to the brush of healing spirit energy. Maybe it'll take some of the salt out of her interaction with Ruiz. Then again, that ring of (soon to fade) bruises around her throat says maybe that steak dinner better come with buttery whipped potatoes and a goddamn appetizer course.

Her gaze falls on Joey as he explains it was just him at the gym with the fire, no one's catching charges, it's fine. Her lips twitch at that. Good guy, Joey. She has no idea what the hell is going on half the time, but he does clear up some mysteries. That smile flickers when he mentions ghosts being pissed off all the time. She coughs, and reaches for a fresh tissue to cover her mouth. Goddamn ghosts. The one haunting her is nowhere to be seen in this room at the moment, but that doesn't mean he's not 100% listening.

"This flu is rough, but what you did is enough for me, thank you." Erin felt the extent of the injuries, no doubt, and, plainly, ow. "That's... you were attacked because she was displeased with your decisions. That's... well that's some family. I'm happy to see you've recovered enough to go back to work and get back to it. No one should ever tell you what you can and can't do and fuck them for trying. I'm sorry you went through that."

When Ruiz emerges from the bathroom, she tracks him briefly with her eyes, but doesn't offer him help. She does take his phone out of her back pocket, and tosses it across the bed toward him. It bounces a couple of times, right up to the edge where it teeters without going over.

Well and the tater tot. She was apparently there too but Joey's neither dwelling on the fire, Alexander lighting it on fire, having a man try to murder him, or (possibly especially) Erin painting him as an altruist. Yeah yeah yeah. There's serious problems afoot at the Circle K here, folks.

He stops though at Erin telling them she was attacked because she went to work for him. That is a look Ruiz has seen before. This is Game on. There might be very little stopping him from getting in his car and driving up to Bay St. and making some very ... convenient if not poorly planned out life choices.

The kicker is he's not habitually one to leave a man open either which was great in high school football, and possibly saving Margaret Addington's ass right now. He moves so the cop can put some fucking pants on and just watches the ladies in the room. Lower eyelids pull up. "That so?" His eyebrow arches, "She that afraid of you having free will? She needs to keep you scared into compliance. How fucking Orwell of her."

Erin is certainly one of the duo invading his space, but she had remained out of the bathroom to try and give him as much a modicum of privacy to recoup as possible. Even when he dresses in his pants she doesn't look his way. "Hey, I don't mind helping out when I can." Her lips curve up, feeling better about everything involving her grandmother for the moment. "I guess in the light of day things don't seem that terrible in regards to her. " Two things. Erin hadn't known Joey had been listening and she wasn't aware he didn't know the reason. "I don't know that it was all that intentional. She apologized for it. She said she was upset about it and complained to Thomas about it and that he took the matters into his own hands. She said by that time it was too late and she couldn't do anything about it. So, I don't know." They weren't here for her though..

The question registers from Ruiz and she turns her head to look at him, "I don't know. She's still not talking to me. She's not at the hospital so I assume she's at home. Why do you want to know where grandmother is?" Even as she talks, she allows her gaze to roam over him as if to visually check.. or spiritually check on his condition. "You're awfully surly today," she says as cheerfully as she can manage with the way she is feeling. The phone.. his phone being taken from Sutton's pocket has her eyes widening slightly but she tries to act as nonchalant as possible and she offers nothing further.

Sutton glances from Joey to Erin, then to Ruiz, to Erin and back. There's the faintest of twitches at the corner of her lips. She nods at Joey's observation, her hazel eyes turning back to Erin once she's noted Ruiz isn't headed for the guns, which are still broken down to their component parts across the now-wobbly table in the corner. It's possible the springs are in her pocket so they can't be assembled to fire. Is she paranoid if the ghost of a dead serial killer is possessing people with fiery rage? No. She's practical and not getting shot again. That shit hurts, and her last one was only a graze.

"This fragmentary possession shit is temporary, right?" Some people need no rage dice boost, thank you very much. She looks to Erin, "You ok, pet?" She reaches for the milkshake she put down, and takes a long sip of the melty ice cream.

Joey might be a bit direct on the side of callous, but his intent and interest in the matter are pretty well documented. "She sorry because it's inconvenient to her or she's sorry because of how it affects you and your fucking feelings, Erin? I want you to think back and actually tell yourself when the last time she did something for you or changed something because it was for your betterment by your standards... and not her telling you what you should fucking want or because she's fucking benefiting?"

He might plotz right here but, fortunately for all involved he's trained himself to be too collected for that shit. He looks to Sutton, "I spent three fucking years living next door to a guy in for extortion. Lemme tell you he could learn a few things from her."

"It lasted almost the entirety of my Uncle Thomas' life and as soon as the.. as soon as I severed the bonds between them, my Uncle went comatose and has been that way ever since. I don't know what to do from here. We boxed him, I know we did because he was crying and getting sucked into the box. He must have gotten out somehow. We should all gather again. We've got to speak with everyone involved." Erin does seem concerned about it and she's in one of her more lucid moments currently despite the glassy eyed look from the fever.

Getting to her feet, Erin walks over to Joey and just touches his arm lightly. "I've been thinking about all that Joey. You've got me considering her ulterior motives. I'm not sure what they are yet, her underlying reasons for doing what she does, but I'd like to find out. How do you think she's benefiting from anything she does?"

That's a lot of f-bombs, Joey, but Sutton nods at the end of that as well, obviously in agreement. If there's a guess, it's cleared up when she says, "I don't know your situation, but I know there are people concerned for you. I know there are people here who clearly support you making your choices for yourself. Family is a gift, true, but you don't have to take all the shit they give you." She sips her shake again, swallowing before she says, "Ask for what you need. You may be surprised at who reaches out to give it to you." She's seen the texts to prove it.

"I thought I felt a little jailhouse charm rolling off you, Kelly. I like that about you, love." Maybe not the response a lot of people go to when they learn that particular historical puzzle piece, but it's where Sutton goes. "Simplifies things." She leans back and reaches a hand into the food bag to investigate. If there are fries, she's eating them. Regret comes later. Now is salty joy.

She goes silent for a few beats at the mention of boxing Thomas, thinking about that. Thinking about the escape of a spirit bent on killing people who get in his way. A lot of Addingtons in the mix. Glimmer is new to her, as are ghosts, in the last two months or so. She's looks at Ruiz for a long moment, and then her gaze slides around the room. And then it stops. She leans over to pick up several small items from between the pillows on the bed, crunching a small paper box in her hand. She gets up from the bed to step into the bathroom and dump it in the trash there.

The conversation mostly filters around Javier as he focuses on putting on clothing, and then tracking down his phone. Sutton's shot a bit of a look for nearly launching it off the end of the bed. No answer to Erin's pressing for his reasoning regarding her grandmother. He settles heavily on the edge of the mattress and skims through his messages. Then his face gets a what the fuck look, and he squints at Sutton. Then back at his phone. He's probably not going to yell at her. Mostly because he feels another wave of nausea rolling over him.

Joey can rapid fire f-bombs like a WWI film. The compliment from Sutton regarding his more than questionable life choices garnishes faint amusement enough to tug his shirt back from tearing off a path of running over the Addington matriarch several times. Well played. He disregards interest in the tidying other than to say, "Should be sitting and eating your chickie nuggets." End of concern.

Comfortable that Johnny the Homicidal Maniac is not on the edge of making an appearance his heavy arms fold across his chest and boot hooks over ankle as his shoulder rests to the wall. "What do I think her motive is? Shit could be anything. The least of which seems to be she's decided how to control the world to her liking and woe be to all who fucking threaten her grand play of Breakfast at Tyrannies."

Ha! Breakfast at Tyrannies. Erin looks amused at that. "Usually I just say lifestyles of the rich and shameless or something similar. Yours is amusing." Leaning back against the wall, she watches Sutton. It's not very difficult to assume what she is doing and what she is throwing away. "Honestly, I don't know what I need. Mostly I just came over to see how the Captain was since he wasn't answering his texts last night. But that's pretty self explanatory now." There's heat in her cheeks that either has everything or nothing at all to do with the fever and flu.

Omg. It was not sex games, guys. Sadly, Sutton only told Byron that, not that he seemed to fully believe her. Who can tell with texts?

The rest of the room is tidied-ish, though missing two chairs and a lamp and several other small items. The coffee pot survived, somehow. Sutton's spiked tea is cold, but she's traded up for a milkshake, slightly melted. She goes back to her spot on the side of the bed farthest from the wall. She pulls her legs up onto the bed, sitting back against the headrest. She pulls her knees up, all the cuts from scattered glass healed thanks to Erin.

Sutton watches Erin blush, sipping her shake and eating fries.

There's a rough-sounding chuckle from the cop, and a murmured repetition of, "Breakfast at Tyrannies," along with a bit more chuckling. And coughing. And then sniffling. He hunts for a box of kleenex, and finds a packet in Sutton's bag (which he shamelessly rifles through). "I'm sorry for worrying you," he tells Erin after a few moments, eyes still on his phone screen. It's safer than looking over at her, anyway. "You didn't seem to want to be found last night, so I.." Well, what did you do, Javier? Sutton knows. He slides the blonde a sidelong look, then returns to his backed up messages. "Are you all right? That hot car of yours still in one piece?"

Joey faintly smirks relenting that, alright that was one of his better ones. Still he stays quiet because not everything needs his damn opinion. He looks to Sutton and checks on her, eyebrow arched. Alright. People are keeping their shit together. Cool.

Oh right, the phone was excellent to hide behind. Erin owed Byron a text anyway. Patting her pockets, she realizes she left it in the car. "No, I understand. It's my fault. I just went for a drive. The car is fine. I'm fine. You don't really look fine though. Looks like you both gave as good as you got."

Taking her cue from Joey she falls silent for several moments before adding more. "That's what we came for anyway, just to make sure everything was fine. Sutton here at least saved us from a B&E charge." Her lips curve crookedly. "It uh, looks like you guys have some talking to do or something." A shoulder nudge to Joey. "Are you ready to get out of here? I left my phone in the car and I have to text Byron otherwise he'll worry."

"Mm." Sutton's attention wanders over to Ruiz, and then back to Erin. She bites a fry in half, and rests the milkshake against the bed between her ankles, her arm draped down her body and between her thighs. "Erin." Just that, softly, her name.

Ruiz must have stumbled across something work-related; he pushes to his feet a little unsteadily and starts dialing a number as he prowls for the patio door. "No es culpa de nadie," he murmurs to Erin, sliding her a brief glance over his shoulder. "Me alegro de que estés bien." Then the phone's at his ear, and he watches her for a long moment before switching his gaze to Sutton. Shoulder against the door for support, and his voice is pitched low, tone about as professional as his gets; which is to say, clipped and a little abrupt, but with approximately 75% less f-bombs.

Nobody's fault. Erin was in the bad habit of blaming herself when things happened in direct correlation to her family. She'd severed the bonds though. Something had gone terribly wrong. With the doubt in her eyes she nods to Ruiz, accepting without truly accepting the clemency. "I'm glad you're alive too." Upon seeing the condition of the room and the two occupants, it very well could have been bodies they'd happened upon.

Once she builds enough internal fortitude, she takes a steadying breath and transfers her dark gaze to Sutton. "Is there anything else I can do for you?" Just trying to hold everything together so the carefully constructed barriers of her world don't crumble around her. All the while, trying not to look fragile while doing it.

Sutton watches the brunette for perhaps four breaths before she speaks, her gaze taking on all the markers of control, the posture, the steady gaze, the quiet strength. When the blonde speaks, it's lightly done. Neither her posture nor expression change. "I've always known and it doesn't change a thing."

She tips up and nods her thanks to Joey, saluting him with a fry. "Thanks for the snacks, my friend." She pops the other half of that fry into her mouth, and chases it with a sip of shake. Those fries were, in fact, a mistake, but she won't find out for another ten minutes or so. So goes the life of flu. Her hazel gaze flicks back to Erin.

"If you ever want to talk, all you have to do is ask." That's offered to the room, but her gaze remains on Erin.

"Now." Sutton rises, reaching out for the wall a little unsteadily. "If you don't mind, I'm going to excuse myself and have a hot shower now that there's no longer a Mexican chained to the sink."

Joey leans off the wall and gives Ruiz one pat on the shoulder as he passes. Hello. Good bye. You're welcome. I'm departing. Call is shit gets hot in a bad way. One gesture goes a long way in silence. He gives Erin a nod though and turns to Sutton murmuring something to her ("You got my number? Call me if You need me to come back to disappear anything.") He steps back to the door and holds it, not wide before adding, "C'mon. We're gonna stop at the CVS and stock up on whiskey and NyQuil. I got a feeling."

"How?" Erin asks Sutton almost immediately, "How do you do it? To be honest, it's the hardest thing I've ever done. I feel so guilty most of the time, like some sort of home wrecker. But I can't let go." At least Ruiz is busy on the phone, there is that. It's all she asks and she walks over to the door with Joey, looking back once for the response as she waits at the door.

Joey arches an eyebrow and murmurs, "Shit I can explain that one." He looks to Sutton and nods. He doesn't though and leaves the gals to talk excusing himself to go sit in the car and feel tired as shit. He gets down there and slouches down in theseat kicking off one text himself and just tries to rest as the world slowly grinds forward like a rusty cog again.

Sutton's hand comes up and she gives Joey's butt an acknowledgement pat as he says something lowly to her and moves away. "Aw, you're sweet, love. Thank you." Body dump offers and all. She can read between the lines, and she genuinely thinks that's sweet.

How does she do it? "I say what I want and if I don't get it, I walk away." Sutton leans against the bathroom door frame. She runs her hand through her hair, sweeping it back out of her eyes, and then it drops, smoothing down her shirt to pause low on her belly. "I ask for honesty, and I give it." In all but criminal proceedings, because nobody should be dumb enough to send themselves to jail. "Feeling guilty gains you nothing but fewer orgasms. So don't be that woman, don't slink, don't hide. Even if your cousin-grandmother tricked you into thinking it's better to disguise what you want when you can just come out and have it." That's a guess, but she's neither a shrink nor all that up on Erin's life.

Her hand drops to her side. "And." She gives a little hiccup. That's a bad sign. Fries. "You're not the only one." There's a couple of beats pause.

Sutton nods to Ruiz. "Neither is he."

"You're a strong woman. I admire that about you, I really do." Erin notices where her hand falls and squints a little, dark eyes holding a brief flash of pain for the blonde. "Thank you. I don't try and hide anything, I just want to be respectful to you, in as much as that is possible to do. Thank you for offering the talk. We'll talk more soon, okay? If you don't mind. I better get out there before Joey leaves." The tentative smile says she knows he won't, but it's an exit. "Take care of yourself."

"I'm available." Sutton smiles. "I know you know where to find my number." She doesn't say anything about respect or hiding things, but watches Erin leave out after Joey. "Be safe." She glances over at Ruiz, still on the phone, shakes her head slightly, and says, "Showering." She moves into the bathroom and flips on the shower. Something about that simple act triggers the Fryvenge and she just drops to her knees in front of the toilet before Fryvenge II: Son of Fryvenge takes his just reward.

At some point, after he's watched the others leave, Ruiz will put down his fucking phone and hold Sutton's hair back for her. Because it's the least he can do.