Instinct - Chapter 18 -- Witchblade Karma

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Date Posted: 06:01:30 06/18/02 Tue
Author: moondreamer
Subject: Instinct - Chapter 18
In reply to: moondreamer 's message, "Instinct" on 11:51:56 05/22/02 Wed

Chapter 18.

Gabriel sat on the couch, stunned. He was still trying to recover from the shock of finding two Nottingham�s at Sara�s place. And they were identical! He honestly couldn�t tell which one of them was the one that had been in Sara�s bed, or had pinned him against the wall so effortlessly. He swallowed hard again. Thankful his mouth had just started producing saliva again.

Clearing his throat Gabe attempted to make conversation with the two men busy cooking in the kitchen.

�So, uh Ian. I really hope you are feeling better than you did the last time I saw you.�

Glancing over his shoulder as he whisked the eggs Ian replied. �Why yes, thank you Gabriel. Minus a few bits and pieces I am almost my old self again.�

Luke laughed out loud at Ian�s implication. He gave Ian a nudge with his elbow in approval. Ian passed the eggs over to Luke who poured them into the skillet with the one-handed finesse of a 4 star chef.

�Wow, that was cool. You must be a great cook.� Gabe was impressed, in spite of himself.

�Not particularly. � Luke responded coolly. He still had not forgiven Gabe for putting his arm around Sara. �I just seem to have an affinity with eggs.� He grinned over at Ian who rolled his eyes at the, in his opinion, very bad jest.

Gabe continued to watch them, this time in amazement. He had always considered Ian a bit of a stuffed shirt, if not out and out dangerously strange. To see him relaxed and jovial in Sara�s kitchen was odd to say the least. If he didn�t know better he�d almost think the guy had gotten some. The wheels in his head started turning. Could it be? But which one? Both? Sara? He believed he had finally figured out which one was the new one. There was a different glint in his eye, an expression of unholy joy that seemed to light his face from within. And he did seem to want to rip Gabe in half when Sara touched him�.

Gabe shook his head; this whole thing was just too weird for words. Here he was sitting on Sara�s couch while one of the world�s deadliest assassins and his brother (who was probably in the same line of work � only he seemed like he�d enjoy it more) made him breakfast and Sara was in the shower.

With the food done, Luke plopped the plate on the table while Ian gestured at Gabe to come sit. Gingerly Gabe made his way over and took the first bite.

�Oh man, this is so good.�

After a steady diet of junk Gabe was eating like there was no tomorrow. He didn�t even pause as the two Ians came and sat beside him like bookends, watching approvingly as he ate. He was midway through when there was another knock on the door. Gabe put his arms protectively around his plate and looked at the Ians.

�No way am I sharing guys. This is all mine.�

As Luke and Ian stood the door was pushed open and Sara�s partner Jake came strolling into the apartment.

�Hey Sara? You ok? Your doors unlocked again. What�s up with that?� Jake stood there with his hands on his hips and looked around.

He had just started to focus the group in the kitchen when Luke gave an audible growl and leapt forward at him, crossing the table easily in his rage. Only Ian�s equally fast reflexes allowed him to catch hold of Luke and attempt to hold him fast. Over Luke�s struggles Ian yelled at Gabriel who had picked his plate up off the table and was clutching it to his chest to protect it.

�Get him out of here! Now!�

Not needing to hear it twice Gabe put his plate back on the table, rushed forward and grabbing Jake pulled him out of the apartment and slammed the door shut behind them. They could hear Luke shouting and Ian�s low rumbling answers. Jake looked at Gabe in confusion.

�What the hell was all that about? Who the hell was that?�

�That was Luke, Ian Nottingham�s brother. What the hell did you do to piss him off like that?� Gabe was amazed. He had never seen two people move so fast in his life. Those two guys were definitely dangerous.

�Brother? Nottingham doesn�t have any brother. I�ve researched that guy 8 ways to Sunday. Nothing has ever come up on a brother in any of the databases.� Jake snorted in disgust and put his hand on the door handle.

Gabe moved swiftly, and stopped Jake from opening the door. �Well, you might have a bit of trouble explaining their lack of relationship to the two of them. Look, man. You just escaped the closest thing to death I�ve ever seen. You might not want to go back in there.�

�But I�m here to see Sara. Where is she anyway? What are those guys doing there?�

�Sara was taking a shower. Those guys were making me breakfast. Apparently, they had just made HER breakfast.�

Jake wasn�t slow on the uptake when it came to that euphemism. �No way. Sara and Nottingham? Naah. Besides, there were two of them in there.�

Gabe just looked at him meaningfully.

�Uh uh. I don�t buy it. Not both of them. Sara wouldn�t do that. Especially not with Nottingham. Besides, I only saw one guy in her bed the other morning.� Jake was shaking his head in disbelief. �Wow, wouldn�t that be cool though. Imagine dating a chick that would�� He was suddenly distracted by his thoughts.

�Frankly, Jake. I�d prefer two chicks rather than a couple of dudes. But, hey, it�s your life, ya know. Still, something about you just about made that dude take you apart. He even gave me the evil eye when she gave me a hug. Why don�t I just have Sara call you?� Gabe started to realize that the best breakfast he had had in ages was in there getting cold, while he was out here with Jake.

�I guess.� Sulkily Jake moved away from the door. He remembered all too well that last time a Nottingham had gotten into it with him physically. He wasn�t going to let this rest though. First thing he�d do is have his contacts see what else they could turn up on this new guy.

�Have Sara call me. Tell her it�s important.� Jake�s tone turned plaintive as he continued. �I just don�t understand why she spends so much time with that guy.�

�Sure Jake. Whatever.�

Gabe darted back into the apartment and made his way back over to his plate. He glanced up at the Nottingham brothers as he started to eat. He was feeling a bit more confident now that the heat had been turned away from him.

�You guys wanna fill me in on what just happened here?�

�He betrayed her!� Luke snarled.

�It�s her battle, Luke.� Ian replied. �She stopped me from killing him once. She would not approve if you killed him now.�

�He doesn�t deserve to live! He doesn�t even deserve to say her name!� Luke was pacing in his agitation.

�Luke, remember what I told you. You must learn to develop control over these emotions.� Ian was sympathetic but firm. He knew all too well where Luke received this anger at and blood lust for Jake.

�This jealously has to be kept in check. I�ve said it before, and I�ll say it again. You can�t kill everyone that touches her.� Unspoken, but plainly audible were Ian�s thoughts � �No matter how they deserve it.� Ian sighed. �Sit back down.�

Gabe happily continued eating as the two joined him once again at the table. As long as they weren�t pissed at him he was willing to listen to them rag on Jake. It was rather disconcerting to hear them discuss killing Jake such a matter of fact manner; but hey, as long as it wasn�t him.

Suddenly the bathroom door opened and Sara came wearing her robe. A towel was wrapped around her wet hair. She cocked quizzical eyebrow at the trio.

�Everything ok out here guys?� She questioned. �I heard some type of commotion.�

�Must have been the water pipes rattling, Sara.� Ian replied quickly. He looked down as he spoke.

�Yeah, you know Sara. These old buildings.� Gabe�s words were rather garbled around the food in his mouth.

Luke just snarled until Gabe nudged him with his elbow. He then quickly rearranged his facial expression to match Gabe and Ian�s.

She cast a piercing glance at the three of them sitting there. Identical expressions of innocence on their faces.

�Hmm�alright then.� I�m going to finish getting dressed.�

As she turned away all three of the dark haired men at the table turned and gave each other relieved glances.. Being a man in Sara Pezzini�s life was shaping up to be a very difficult proposition.

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Replies:

LOL! I can imagine Gabe protecting....his breakfast! -- Spin, 10:40:29 06/18/02 Tue
Stunning -- Miculawitch1, 12:13:17 06/18/02 Tue