OOM: Lady Troubles

[luvs_yogurt]

After dropping Emma off, Michael doesn't go home right away. The Charger cuts through pre-dawn traffic with no particular direction, slowly rolling past palm trees, bodegas, warehouses and nightclubs - none of which he particularly cares to see.

It's not supposed to feel like this. He's not supposed to feel like this. They've known each other all of two weeks - one brush with death and sleeping together shouldn't make it feel like he's been kicked in the chest to watch her walk away. One night stands happen, a physical connection to deal with stress and anxiety and feel close to someone for a little bit before breaking ties.

That wasn't what happened. It wasn't supposed to happen.

Both the fuel tank and his energy running close to empty, when he finally returns to the loft the sun's coming up. He climbs up to the platform overlooking his bed - he can't sleep when the sheets smell like her - and collapses on the sofa until it's too hot to sleep anymore.

When he wakes again, it's almost one and his empty stomach reminds him that he hasn't eaten more than a cup of yogurt in the last two days. As he remedies that with another cup of yogurt over the sink he realizes he's not the only one who's probably not looking their best.

As expected, Sam doesn't answer his phone, but Michael leaves a message anyway; "Hey, uh... Sam. Up for a two mojito lunch? Come by the loft."

Seems like as good a time as any to break out the heavybag and beat the crap out of his fists.

Comments

[hoochedseal]

Sam wakes up when he hears his phone go off about voice mail what can you say he was out till dawn at the swamp. He dials Mikey back waiting on an answer.

[luvs_yogurt]

He's worked up already, grunting and panting as he thrusts everything into the aggression of working his muscles against the bag.

When he answers the phone, it's with a gruff sigh; "Yeah, Sam?"

[hoochedseal]

There is a sleepy yawn as he gets up padding to the bathroom. "What is this rumor of two mojito lunch?"

[luvs_yogurt]

Michael sighs and swabs his discarded undershirt from the night before across his forehead .

"Yeah, I'm buying if you're up for getting away for a while."

[hoochedseal]

"That sounds perfect. Want to meet there or want me to come pick you up or just take a cab?"

He doesn't drive drunk.

[luvs_yogurt]

"Better come get me, the Charger's out of gas and I'm kind of still a little concussed."

Things are blurry, and it's not just the sweat in his eyes - concussion sounds like a better alternative than anything else.

"And I want you to get a look at my head."

[hoochedseal]

"Okay right there buddy. Don't do anything to dumb if you beamed your bean."

He hangs up, dressing driving to Mike's in record time. There is a knock at the door. Then he enters slowly.

"Mikey?"

[luvs_yogurt]

The heavybag is still out and the bed has been striped - the bedding wadded up on the floor. The air smells faintly of sex, but the only sign anyone but Michael might be there is a red leather jacket slung over the end of the counter.

Fresh out of the shower, Michael comes out with a towel around his waist and a big bottle of rubbing alcohol that he sets down beside the medkit on the counter.

"Just in time," he manages a half-smile. "I got the wound mostly clean - feels like it's just a scalp cut but I want to make sure I don't need stitches."

[hoochedseal]

Sam then nods as he looks around, his eyes falling on the red leather as he then nods.

"Okay, sit down and let me look. And when did you trade Armani in for red leather?"

He washes his hands and gets a pair of rubber gloves out of the kit.

[luvs_yogurt]

He sighs and shakes his head, sitting in the low chair with his head slightly down.

"A friend forgot it, I'll take it back by in a few days."

[hoochedseal]

Sam starts to look at his head as he nods. "I think you will be fine with out stitches. If you take it easy and such." there is a snorting sound from behind him.

"Really, Must be from out of town if she wore red leather in Miami."

[luvs_yogurt]

Yeah, taking it easy isn't exactly his usual game.

Michael considers the question for a long moment, rubbing his hands together - they've gone pink and his knuckles are swollen from hitting the bag and raw duct-tape irritation bracelets encircle both wrists.

"Yeah, a long way out of town."

[hoochedseal]

Sam looks down at him.

"What exactly happened, and Why didn't you call me?"


That last part was almost hissed out.

[luvs_yogurt]

"It's a long story, Sam." He frowns, shaking his head.

"Maybe we can talk over lunch? I sort of didn't eat yesterday."

[hoochedseal]

Sam cleans his head and uses alcohol just to sting.

"Okay this is one time when you will be doing a lot of talking."

[luvs_yogurt]

"Yeah, we'll see about that." He offers a half smile against the familiar sting.

"Let's not do Carlito's, all right?"

[hoochedseal]

"Okay, you pick where we go then and I'll drive."

[luvs_yogurt]

Where happens to be a little burger joint not too far from the loft with tables outside in the back where they can spill it with little interruption.

Michael's already halfway through his burger when he finally admits; "So, it's... uh... been an interesting few days, Sam."

[hoochedseal]

"Yeah tell me about it because I will pay for you to eat more man but you have to tell me what the hell is up."

He said leaning back drinking his beer.

[luvs_yogurt]

He licks his lips and then blots his mouth with a napkin before sitting back with his water. After a long moment considering exactly how much to say and where to start, he lays it down.

"A couple days ago I picked up a job; basic kidnapping - some thugs took a patient off the psych ward at Dade County. I did my surveillance and went in alone."

Which may have not been the best idea, but he knows Sam's not in a good place and since Fi took off there's not much he's got to rely on.

"Turns out, I saw four guys... there were six." He reaches back behind his collar and rubs over the two sets of stun gun burn marks. "They jumped me but instead of killing me they hit me with a stun gun, tied me up outside my shirt with duct tape and put me in a Ferrari rigged with explosives."

He lets out a humorless chuckle; "At the time, I took it at face value and when I got out I got out of there to regroup."

By which he means get sloppy drunk at Milliways while he tries to think of a new plan.

[hoochedseal]

Sam then nods.

"I know but you could have called me. I may have been dealing with an emotional woman but that's over with now. And who were these men?"

[luvs_yogurt]

He frowns into his glass.

"Cuban gun runners, leader was a guy named Paco." He leans back further, waiting for a rollerblader to pass before continuing. "Long story short, turns out they were after Barry over some of his clients' bank accounts."

It's easy to skip over the story with Emma, less easy to cut out her part in the finale.

"I found out where they were keeping the bad information Barry gave them and between myself and an associate we took care of it."

[hoochedseal]

"Really who did you get to help you?"

His eyes narrow slightly this does not make a Sam happy.

[luvs_yogurt]

"It doesn't matter," his eyes dart out toward the street behind the amber lenses.

His voice takes on a slightly bitter tone and his fingers tap gently against the cool glass of water.

"It was a one time thing."

[hoochedseal]

"Mike, why are you so evasive talk to me. This is strange even for you."