He kept rubbing her arms gently. “It’s okay…” He said surprisingly soft. John scowled when there was talk of taking Christina away.
“We’ll talk about it later… alright? I promise. You really think I would let that trouble maker go so easily?” He gave her a small smile. “As for stopping you from leaving… I’ll make sure he doesn’t follow you out of here… and I’ll make sure he’s well out of the way when we get home… and I’ll do my damn hardest to convince him to leave you alone.. and you know how convincing I can be.” He said the last part quiet enough that only Donna could hear him.
“Now. I’m going to talk to him… see what he’s got to say… send him on his sorry little way… and I’ll personally bring you that drink and go on my break and we can discuss the kid… does that sound alright to you?”
She believed him. If it would have been anyone else, she wouldn’t have. But if John said it was going to be okay. Donna believed him.
Donna only had eyes for him at that moment. “I don’t know what I’d do without you. Me or Christina for that matter,” she told him quietly. She wasn’t sure when that had happened, but in that moment, she was quite certain it was true.
That didn’t stop her smile from turning into a bit of a smirk when John mentioned how convincing he could be. Oh, she had seen that first hand! She secretly wished Chris needed some convincing, but didn’t think she needed to say that for her wish to be known to John.
“All right then,” she agreed, “you’re the Captain after all. Looks like I’m in timeout for a spell,” Donna offered a bit of a smile to show she wasn’t upset by this development and turned to leave the two men to talk, or beat on each other… whichever worked she figured.
She knew which one she was hoping for. She had a good idea who’d win that fight after all.
Of course, that didn’t stop her from shooting Chris one helluva nasty look before she left. Oh hell no!
Chris groaned. “Honestly, I’m sittin’ right bloody here!”
He shifted in his seat so he didn’t have to face the two of them and their little show behind the bar.
“… And you can stop talkin’ about my daughter like I don’t have a bloody say in the matter.” he called over his shoulder. Shaking his head before deciding to just shut up until Donna left. No use in getting her all worked up again after all.
Of course, when she finally did head off, the look she gave him nothing short of dark and nasty. To be honest, he was a bit taken aback by it. Still, he didn’t say anything. He wasn’t trying to punish her, just keep their daughter safe. If she couldn’t see that because she had fallen for some criminal and was too involved in that life now; so be it. Christina had to be his priority now.
He ignored chris and focused on Donna. “I’ll see you in a bit.” He promised, shhoting her a smile as she left. Then immediately turns to chris. “You realize how shoddy your chances of actually getting Christina is right? Your record may be wiped to the public but they’re always going to have you in the data base… one search and if anyone digs hard enough… you and an underage girl? Mmm. That shoots your chances down a 20%… you’re single… another 10% gone… you don’t have a house of your own… that’s another 30% you don’t have a source of in come… no job… 40% right there… so you’re down to 20% of getting her back… ” John said seriously.
“Split that up to two perfect numbers… 10% down because of her adoptive parents probably aren’t going to give her up… so you’ve got 10% of getting her…”
“That may seem like a good shot to you. You still got a chance…” He said quietly a moment. “But for the sake of Donna being happy and simply to piss you off… I’ll toss my hand in there… if we’re all gonna fight for the kid fine. I want her too. Dating Donna and all, I do have a chance. And she certainly likes me more than you…courts do take that into account.”
“Now with that out of the way… are you some idiot who’s idea of a good time is to be slapped? What’s this about not letting Donna leave? Honestly I thought you were smarter than that! What I’d going on with you? I thought we came to SOME sort of understanding”
“Are you honestly standin’ here talkin’ to me about my record or lack of one?!” Chris actually appeared offended. “I’ve done my homework me, I know what I am up against. I don’t think you have a bloody clue!” he scoffed at the bartender. “For one, the data base… I will be given a chance to explain, and seeing as how it was with her mother and we had an ongoing relationship, at least until the likes of you showed up, that isn’t too bad now is it?” he smirked. “As for bein’ single, unless the two of you ran off to the courthouse or my invitation got lost in the post,” he snickered, “she’s single, as are you. The courts don’t acknowledge a couple shakin’ up unless they are common law married and you ain’t been around nearly long enough for that- Thank God.” He groaned at him. He gave his head a little tilt as he went on, staring at the bartender, “As for a job, thought I did have one. That’s actually why I originally went to speak with Donna. I found a flat too. I have money in savings still so while I might not own it, it would still be my own place and nearby. I just need to show proof of employment. Judge isn’t going to care if I own the bloody place, as long as she has a room of her own, which she does, or would at least.”
Chris leaned in a bit, a cold smile on his face, “Know what else I’ve got? I have got one hell of a story for any judge. A daughter that was kept from me as a baby and put up for adoption without my consent so my rights as her father were completely violated. There are also my years as a decorated member of the police force- that will look good, help my case along. And do I even have to mention your record? Really? Sure, you may have cleaned up yer act for what a few months? But what does that compare to years and years of gettin’ in trouble? The judge is gonna take one look at that and think yer just some ex-con, shackin’ up with some woman, how many years younger than you by the way? And movin’ on when the well runs dry.”
“Plus,” he frowned slightly, “her adoptive dad already gave me his go ahead,” he sounded a bit disgusted. “Seems he doesn’t exactly want her to go, but doesn’t want to be bothered chasin’ after a teenaged girl neither. He’s too busy with his son and his new baby with his new girlfriend. Tells me, she’s a handful, a bit of a wild streak in her,” the corner of his lips turned up slightly. “Personally, I blame her mum for that bit.”
“As for what happened back there, we were talkin’ and I thought for a second there…” He cough a bit awkwardly and then refocused his attention on the bartender, “She lost her temper, shot off her mouth some and went to stomp off. I only wanted to explain. Like that was bloody ever going to happen.”
He moaned more to himself before turning an accusing look at Hart. “You still haven’t told her have you? About this Sam bloke contactin’ you? She doesn’t have a bloody clue does she?” He shook his head, “See, this is why Christina should be with me. I’d keep her safe from yer goddamn mates and you two can go about gettin’ yerselves in all sorts of trouble, won’t bother me none, but I will at least know Christina isn’t goin’ be a casualty. “And now that I know you want my kid, yea, there is a tiny part of me that’ll be really happy to see that not happen, won’t lie. Even if it means hurtin’ Donna.” He shrugged “But that’s not my motive behind this. It’s not payback. It is about protectin’ her above all else. I love her. I won’t let anythin’ happen to her. Isn’t that what we all want?”
“As far as understandings go, I think Donna threatenin’ to kill me back there, was pretty much all the understanding I need. Ta.”
(On my cell phone and it won’t let me tag anything! Sorry!) @johnhartsaxonbartender
“I HAVE TOLD HER.” John snapped at him. “Honestly you think i’d let Donna just walk around blind? If I didn’t tell her she’d have you kicked outta the bloody place and possibly banned mate. She hates you right now.”
“And you know what? Being with you ain’t much sager than being with me. I know about your meds. I snooped around some… ptsd? Really? Can you hear a gun going off without flipping your lid? What are you going to do if sam comes around with a gun? What do you have behind you if he sends people after you? See if she was with her adoptive parents that is what would be best. Shed be out of country… next best thing is with Donna and I. I’m keeping my eyes on Sam. I’m always ready. And I have numbers. Not to mention I don’t have to take medication to keep my head on straight. My place is bigger than a flat with crannies for her to hide if someone did come after me… I would put myself far in the way before I’d let them get to her… she can then go to your place… but she’s less safe with you than she is with me… I told you to handle sam we need numbers! You have … you. And maybe owen. Plus… she isn’t going to want to live with you… she wants to move in with Donna and I anyways. You know she’s going to run away the first chance she gets… ”
“YOU had no bloody BUSINESS…” he stood up and leaned over the bar, his hands gripping the edge of it so hard, his knuckles turned white. He locked his jaw and pushed himself back, “I can handle myself fine. Got a gun of my own and I do have family, something neither of you have,” he pointed out. To be honest, he hadn’t considered what would happen if he had a panic attack in front of his daughter. The idea had him a bit unsettled.
“So, if she were to come live with me, that would be it then? You would wash your hands of the situation? Wouldn’t try to help keep her safe any longer?” he shot him a dirty look. “Yeah, perfect parent figure you’d make.”
Chris blinked when Hart said she’d run away, then shook his head. “You don’t think she’d runaway if we let her mother take her to the states? She doesn’t want to go. She probably likes that new stepfather of hers even less than me right now and who does she have over there? No one. She’d end up alone, on the streets and I don’t see how that fairs much better than what’s goin’ on here. Besides, she’s bound to get over everything… eventually,” he added as an after thought. “She can’t bloody well hate me forever,” he mumbled, “Of course, she does seem to take after Donna quite a bit…” he cocked his head at Hart.
“You’ll have to teach me how you did that someday. Calmed her down so quickly. Never could master that trick. It might come in handy with both of them. Damn gingers and their tempers,” he chuckled quietly, with a little shake of his head.
Chris wasn’t giving up, but he had to admit there were a few things he maybe didn’t think through completely.
