Saved

“Who is she?” “She’s the last McLeod in the twenty first century; if we want to save the McLeod clan then she’s the one.” One of the greatest warriors of the sixteenth century glanced across the gazing pool at the fairy, “She’s a woman! How is she the one to save them?” Rolling his eyes the fairy shook his head, “Have you learned nothing from watching the people in the future? She’s a McLeod and she’s one of the strongest humans I know of.” The highlander grunted and folded his muscled arms over his broad chest, speaking in a heavily accented voice, “She’s awfully big for a McLeod isn’t she?” The fairy rolled his eyes again, “She’s right for her time.” The Scottish laird laughed, “She may very well be but will she pass in my time?”

For a long time they sat and watched the woman in the gazing pool as she worked her way across a busy street on foot. “Why does she restrain her hair?” The fairy laughed as the Scot bit his lip, “I hadn’t noticed.” The laird growled and lowered his head; he couldn’t have stopped the words from falling out of his mouth. “That must be the style for the time then,” he growled. “She is a beauty isn’t she?” The Scot shrugged his big shoulders, “I hadn’t noticed that.” The fairy threw back his head and laughed whole heartedly, “You are a piss poor lair McBane.” Another growl was all he got for an answer before the laird got up from his seat and left the room.

Glancing back to the gazing pool once more the fairy watched the woman enter a hospital. He cocked a brow but turned his attentions else where, he had no worry for the woman at the time. In a matter of time he would be meeting the lovely lass and seeing to it that she was safe under his wing. His game was playing out rather nicely now and he couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. McBane was playing right into his hand and the woman was so blissfully unaware of the mess that was about to befall her. The fairy laughed to himself as he waved a hand over the gazing pool, cloaking it with darkness so a maid didn’t fumble across it.

Carefully adjusting the pillows she laid her step-father back against them, “There. That’s better isn’t it?” She kissed his forehead before sitting down in the chair beside the bed, “Well how was your day? I suppose the nurses were hassling you again, they do think you’re rather handsome these days.” With a sad smile she rested her chin on her arms as she leaned forward, “Work was the same. Oh, Rae sends her love.” She brushed hair from his closed eyes and sighed heavily, how much longer could she stand this torture? Closing her eyes she shook her head because she knew she would come here everyday until her step-father was…dead.

Two years ago her mother had died of cancer, breast cancer no less. The breast cancer had come on quickly, spreading to other parts of her body and then it was too late to stop the inevitable. She had been brave to the very end and fought endlessly but it was all for not. The doctors had told them almost instantly Sherry would not last more than six months but the fighter in her gave her almost a year before she finally accepted her defeat. Two years ago pain lanced through Brooklynn and her step father Mark like lightning, even after preparing for it there was still the sudden shock to deal with.

The loss had been almost too much but Mark had pulled her through. Brooklynn had spent many hours in her room, drowning in her own little world. Mark had rescued her from the storms within, telling her he refused to lose her as well as her mother. Between the two of them they managed to get through the heart break and move on as best they could. Brooklynn threw herself into school and work while Mark buried himself in work as well as a relationship as Brooklynn’s father.

Just when things were starting to look up in life Mark had a stroke and was hospitalized. Every now and again he would be conscious enough to talk with her but half the time he didn’t remember her. It broke her heart time again to have to remind him what had happened to her mother, she didn’t know how much longer she could stand under the weight upon her. When he did know who she was he told her repeatedly he loved her like a daughter and he would never forget her, ripping her heart out every time.

Leaning back in her chair she closed her eyes, “Well…I should get home and clean up a few things before heading off to work.” Brooklynn got to her feet and kissed his forehead, “I love you dad.” For a moment she stood over him looking over his face before she sighed and turned to leave. In the door stood the doctor, she narrowed her eyes against the soft light behind him wondering how long he had been standing there. “Oh, doctor Mills, I didn’t notice you were there.” He gave her one of his odd smiles and stepped back into the hallway, “I’m sorry if I startled you. I was just coming to check on him.”

Moving past the doctor with an uneasy feeling passing over her she forced a smile, “He’s asleep right now, had been since I got here.” Mills gave her another smile, “Well it’s good to see you again Brooklynn.” She cringed inwardly, “Yes well I better get going. Work and all that fun stuff.” Moving around him she headed down the hall, there was something about him that she just didn’t care for at all. Brooklynn couldn’t tell just what it was but something about that doctor made her rather uneasy. “We’ll see you tomorrow then Ms. McLeod.”

The sun had set; the streets were almost empty now that cold had set in which meant Brooklynn didn’t have to fight her way back to her apartment, but there were still things to worry about. Even though mugging was a threat at all times, night was the worst time. She wasn’t too worried about it, she could protect herself better than most and her biggest advantage was her appearance. Though she was tall she didn’t look like she could amount to much under her heavy jacket. Under the layers of clothing she donned she was pure muscle, years of training had given her a body of steel. Brooklynn hid her body for two reasons: because stupid muggers would get a nasty surprise if they attacked her and because she was rather self-conscious about herself.

“You really think she can handle this?” “McBane you should have learned a little more than that by now. She’s stronger than you might think.” The laird shrugged, “She doesn’t look like…” He trailed off as he watched the gazing pool, Brooklynn had just returned to her bedroom where she was undressing. The fairy watched him closely with a smug smile on his face, “She’s doesn’t look like what McBane?” Stupidly the Scot starred into the pool, unable to fathom why such a body would be covered such in any century. Suddenly McBane waved his hand and blackened the pool, “Gentlemen don’t watch woman undress.” Looking at the fairy he growled, “You knew she would be undressing didn’t you? Damn you Cyrus.” The fairy shrugged and gave him an innocent look, “Would I do something like that?”

They glared at each other for a long time before McBane shook his head, “You are such a child sometimes.” “I didn’t see you turning away now did I? She’s quiet nice to look at isn’t she?” The laird glared over at him, “She’s going to be saving her clan, dragged into a war that isn’t hers to fight, and pulled through time to do it but all you can think about is how she looks.” Cyrus laughed and nodded his head, “I am male after all McBane and you can’t honestly say you weren’t admiring the scenery as well.” Shaking his head the laird refused to dignify that with an answer but secretly he wanted to open the gazing pool again.

Laying herself down on her bed, wearing only her workout clothes, she looked up at the ceiling. Closing her eyes she wiped the back of her hand across her sweaty forehead and sighed. Her usual workout hadn’t cleared her head half as much as she had hoped it would. Usually she could kick the shit out the punching bag and be rid of her frustration and unease but tonight it just wasn’t working. Sitting up she started unwrapping her fists, if she laid there too long she wouldn’t be able to keep back to tears.

Getting up from her bed she tossed the wraps in a bowl on her dresser, heading out to the living room. She clicked on the TV and moved into the kitchen, watching the sitcom that was on through the window between the rooms. “What shall we eat tonight,” she asked herself as she opened the fridge to find that it was bear like always. With a sigh she returned to the living room and sat down, in an hour she would head off to work. Well a shower wouldn’t hurt before she went to the sweat shop as she liked to call it but really it was just a low budget restaurant.

After showering and changing into her uniform she donned her jacket before heading out the door, locking it behind her. Brooklynn didn’t want to come home to a surprise visitor, which was becoming more and more common. She cringed at the thought of someone breaking into her apartment and taking the few things she still had of any value. Well if that happened it would just be the last straw, she didn’t know if she could take that right now.

The night hours passed quickly, work was always hell at Mike’s. With only one other waitress and one cook there was more than enough work to do. Rae was all too use to the hectic pace of things; she had been working here twice as long as Brooklynn. Between the two of them they managed to keep things moving along and there were always the regulars that didn’t mind waiting a few extra minutes. “Did you see those hunks that just came in?”

Giving her a skeptical look she turned and saw two of the most gorgeous men she had ever seen seating themselves at a booth. The taller of the two glanced her way, black hair was tied back from his strong chiseled face. Silvery eyes locked with her ice blue eyes and she could have sworn he recognized her but that couldn’t be she would certainly remember such a man. The other was just a little shorter and black in every sense of the word. Where the first wore grey trouser and a tight white t-shirt under a crimson red button up shirt the second wore black leather pants with a loose fitting shirt, black of course that looked like a poet’s shirt. Both demanded their presences be noticed with their mere appearance.

“You have got to be kidding me. Those two look like they just walked out of time and into this diner of all places,” Rae mused as she set a few plates down on a table. Brooklynn rolled her eyes and picked up the tip from an empty table, “Oh please Rae.” The older woman laughed, “That’s your table Brook.” She groaned and headed over to them, “They’ll bring the house down if they can eat how I think they can.” Rae laughed and turned her attention to another person to take their order.

“What can I get you fellas tonight?” She pulled out her order pad and looked into his silver gaze again, unable to pull her eyes away. For a moment they stood there looking at each other before the other cleared his throat and Brooklynn remembered where she was. “Sorry sir. Is there something I can help the two of you with?” The silver eyed one smirked and covered a comment with a cough but Brooklyn caught it, “You can help me with a lot of things.” Clenching her teeth she turned her attention to the black one and waited for his order. They ordered coffee and pie after a long pause and finally she could return to the safety of behind the counter.

Gathering two mugs she filled them with coffee and sliced two large pieces of pie, balancing them carefully in her hands. “Here you are then.” The black one looked up at her with a smoldering smile, “I see you’re name tag says Brook, is that short for Brooklynn?” She narrowed her eyes at him but said nothing, turning she left them to their pie. How could he know her full name, perhaps it was just a coincident but she didn’t think so. The silver eyed one didn’t even glance up at her but she wasn’t complaining.

As soon as she started wiping another table off Rae caught up with her, “So are they as fine as I think they are?” Brook laughed and looked up at her, “You have a very single mindedness about you that focuses on one thing.” She laughed with her and slapped at her shoulder, “So tell me about them?” “There really isn’t anything to tell Rae. They don’t seem American. If I had to guess by the accent they were Scottish most likely.” Rae cooed and Brook almost burst out laughing, “Oh I love foreign men. They’re all so damn sexy.” Standing up straight Brook rolled her eyes again, “You’re hopeless. Don’t get too close to them, there’s something primitive about them that I don’t understand.”
The puzzled look she got from her friend was reassuring; her talent for knowing people hadn’t been lost. “There’s just something about them that’s not quite right, as if they’re…” Rae cut in, “Oh you worry too much. They’re just different from the usual bums we see around here.” Brooklynn gave her a serious look, “Please just promise me you will be careful. I know you’re…free spirited ways and I wish you would be more careful.” “Oh pish posh, you sound like my mother.” With that the woman was off, her blonde hair tied up in a bun on top of her head and her hips swaying as she passed the foreigners.

Sighing Brooklynn turned her attention to the other people in the diner and her job but she frequently felt eyes upon her. Once or twice when she turned she would find those silvery eyes watching her as if she were walking on water. She would merely turn the other way and continue about her job as if he weren’t there. It was damned hard to work knowing he was watching her every move, but she wouldn’t let him know he was effecting her in any way.

“She’s ignoring us completely Cyrus.” The fairy laughed, “If you could read her thoughts you would know she isn’t, she’s just too stubborn to admit what her heart already knows.” McBane cocked a brow at him, “And just what is that?” Lazily he leaned back in his seat and examined his nails, “That I can not tell you.” With a growl McBane shook his head and lowered his gaze to the table top, “Well when do we brouch the subject of taking her back to save them?” Cyrus glared at him, “In time lad…in time. She’s not ready just yet.” Another growl greeted him, “You know we don’t have time for these games and doona be callin’ me lad.”

The night was winding down; there was only a hand few of patrons left in the diner. An old couple sat in the corner speaking ever so softly to each other, one of the usual diners sat drinking coffee and looking out the window, and there was a lonely looking woman watching the people walking passed on the street. Other than those there were the Scots still, milling about over coffee and their fourth piece of pie for the night. Brook watched them carefully, wondering what was going on, if maybe they were waiting for her or Rae to leave tonight. She had dropped more than one subtle hint that they should finish up but obviously they weren’t getting the picture.

“Well if you want them to leave so badly then tell them we’re closing soon,” Rae snapped at her. Brook wasn’t offended, at the end of the night they were both fairly snippy so she merely sighed, “You tell them. I’ve dealt with them all night.” “You seem to be the one their interested in.” Laughing Brook shook her head and looked over at her friend, “Oh really? Is that jealousy I hear in your voice?” Rae shot her a look of disgust and stalked off in the opposite direction, “Oh you kids these days.” Brook laughed again and turned her attention back to cleaning off the counter top.

McBane watched her, fascinated by the mere movement of her body or the sway of a loose strand of hair as she walked across the room. She was a goddess walking on earth and he couldn’t fathom why she worked in such a grimy place. Her brown hair was all pulled back against her head to keep it out of her way but he was positive it would reach to her waist if she let it down. Her icy blue eyes seemed like they were always searching for something, seas of unrest and sadness that mad him shiver. Her eyes made him want to wrap his arms around her and never let her go, to show her there was warmth in the world.
With a smile Cyrus watched his companion, things were playing out nicely. “What color are her eyes McBane?” Without thinking the Scot answered him, “Blue…ice blue. Almost like there’s never been warmth in her soul.” The fairy’s smile broadened, “Really? I hadn’t noticed all that about them.” Realizing the mistake he had made McBane growled, “Well…that’s what I see. You’re reading my thoughts again aren’t you?” Shrugging the fairy looked back to Brooklynn, “I wouldn’t do that to you.” There was an uneasy silence between them, broken only when Brooklynn returned with their check.
“I’m going to have to ask the two of you to leave. We have to close up for the night. Shop opens at noon if you like the pie that much,” she avoided looked at the one with silver eyes. “We might just do that lass, but first could I ask you where we might find a good place to stay?” Hiding a sigh of exhaust she looked at him and instantly regretted it. His eyes were so warm, so understanding but she couldn’t let herself fall into such eyes or she might never find her way out again. “Place to stay…well? Depends on how much you want to spend.” His Scottish brogue softening her heart of stone, “Money is no object. Where would you suggest lass?”

Stumbling for words she said the first place that came to mind, “Lake side Resort is a nice…inexpensive place. Nice but not the Ritz won’t have to worry about roaches or anything like that.” A hand was offered to her, large and she was positive it would dwarf her own hand in comparison. Cautiously she took hold of his hand, she had guessed right his hand was giant compared to hers’. “McBane…Falcon McBane,” he said to her in a heavy burr. She firmly shook his hand, “Brook…Brooklynn.” Cocking a brow he held her hand longer than necessary, “Just Brooklynn?” He said her name as if it was a prayer on his tongue as if her name was the name of a saint meant only to be whispered.

Slowly she pulled her hand away from him with a little effort because he didn’t seem to want to let go. “Yes…just Brooklynn to you.” She turned away from him, resisting the urge to tell his everything about her life. Why would he care about her pathetic life? He had his own life to worry about and didn’t need her problems added to his own. With a shake of the head she went back to work, wiping spilled sugar from a table and ketchup from another. She didn’t want to get involved right now; there wasn’t time for such foolish things as relationships now.

A man like that would just use her and then leave her if he was interested in her at all, he must have woman falling over themselves to get to him. He was the type of man who knew a lot of woman on an intimate side but never cared enough to settle down. Falcon McBane was the type of man she hated…just like her father and she down right refused to have anything to do with such a man. It was written all over him, in the way he walked and the way he moved, in the way he spoke and the way he ate the cream on his pie.
“Brooklynn,” came his burr over her shoulder. She rolled her eyes and turned right into a wall. She hadn’t judged accurately just how close he had been standing when he had called her name. He didn’t take a step back but remained where he stood and looked down at her, she hated that she had to look up at him but didn’t let it show on her face. “I apologize. I believe we are ready to pay the bill.” Removing her hands from his broad chest she stepped around him and walked along behind the counter to the cash register, “Then let’s take care of that.” He stood with his back to her for a moment before turning and following after her, “The pie was good lass.” She didn’t look up but punched a few buttons on the register.

It didn’t take long for her to ring up their total, when she looked up at him Falcon was confused by the anger he saw in her eyes. He didn’t understand what he could have possibly done to give her reason to be angry with him but apparently he had offended her in someway. There was so much sadness in her eyes he had almost missed the anger but now that he had noticed the anger was more evident, she was really angry with him. Brooklynn looked away from him for a moment and when her eyes returned to his the anger was gone, somehow she had hidden it from him in an instant.

“That’s twenty dollars and fifty three cents Mr. McBane,” she said in a level but cold tone. “Please Falcon is fine,” he corrected as he handed her twenty five dollars. She punched more buttons on the register and handed him back his change, “Thank you for dining with us Mr. McBane.” The woman was pure ice, “Thank you Brooklynn.” With a forced smile she turned away from him and went back to her job, there was work to be done. McBane sighed and returned to collect his coat and wait for Cyrus to return from the bathroom.

After everyone had left it took Rae and Brooklynn a short while to get the place cleaned up. Still stuck on the hunks that had invaded the restaurant Rae rambled on about them and all the things she wanted to do with one or both of them. “You’re shameless Rae,” Brooklynn said over her shoulder as she counted out the nights tips. With a hardy laugh the older woman finished putting the mop away, “You should be less shameless my dear, you’re far too uptight about things these days.” Silence was all she got in return; Brooklynn didn’t want to get into this conversation again.

After finishing up everything that had to be done the women left the restaurant, locking the door behind them, they said their goodbyes and parted ways. Brooklyn watched as Rae got into her car and drove off, only after pestering her about walking the streets at night. Shaking her head Brooklynn headed off towards her apartment, humming an old tune to herself as she went. She wasn’t afraid to walk alone so late at night, hell it was only a few hours before dawn, most muggers had given up long ago.

Suddenly she felt like she was being watched, as if someone were following her. Brooklynn didn’t change her pace or turn to look but listened as closely as she could, someone was following. Clenching her teeth she turned down a street she usually didn’t travel down, she wasn’t about to lead the bastard back to her apartment where he could wait for her in any number of places. As she turned another corner she looked over her shoulder and saw a rather large person, most likely a man, following her.

Slowly her stalker quickened his pace, trying to catch up with her now. She managed to keep her feet from breaking into a run, panicking would do her no good now. She had to stay calm, keep her head clear and she would get out of this with no more than a few bruises. There had to be someway to lose him, maybe if she confused him enough he would lose interest. Taking another turn she heard him hurry his steps again, chewing at her lower lip she concentrated on remaining calm.

Without warning she was bodily hauled off the street and into an alley, lit only by a flashing pink neon light. For a moment she forgot all her training, panic surrounded her and she fought blindly. Elbows flew in every direction, hitting anything that got in the way whether it was the wall he was trying to press her against or his body she did not know. Brooklynn kicked out wildly and using the wall in front of her she pushed as hard as she could. The breath was knocked out of her attacker as he hit the wall behind them; he grip loosened enough for her to slip away from him.

The man growled something in a language she didn’t understand and drew a dagger from somewhere inside his cloak. Brooklynn gasped as she turned to face the man and realized he had and knife. Frantically she looked around for a weapon, anything that she could defend herself with. The closest thing she could find was a broken two by four, it looked like it was maybe three feet long but it was long enough. As soon as the man advanced on her she lunged for the board, wrapped her hands around it as best she could and rolled on to her back.

Above her the man spoke in his own language and then cursed loudly in English, looking down at her with frightening eyes. Instead of the crazed look she had assumed she would find she saw clear and startling sane eyes. This man wasn’t crazy like the drug addicts that were reported around here, he was after something other than her money. Brooklynn gasped again as she watched him stalk towards her, and then growled in anger. How dare this man target her? What right had he to attack her?

Swinging the two by four as hard as she could she struck him right above the knee. The man bellowed in pain and fell forward on top of her, she hadn’t expected that and tried to roll out of the way but he landed on her. Out of breath she pushed at him, realizing he still held the knife and tried to catch her breath. The man covered her body with his own, using his weight to keep her down and pinning her beneath him. She tried to scream but he slapped a hand across her face, pain exploded in her head as blackness threatened to take over her vision.

Still fighting him as best she could he struck her in the face again, growling at her. Brooklynn felt blood trickling down her cheek from her lip and into her hair that had come undone in the tussle. She couldn’t breathe; he was going to crush her if she didn’t do something. Without knowing it her hand had fallen on a brick, fallen out of the wall, and as soon as she realized what she held she used it to her advantage. Fighting back the dizziness and pain she picked up the brick and slammed it against the side of his head.

Suddenly the weight on her chest was lifted and she could breath again, gasping she rolled away from where she had been laying. She could hear voices over her but she couldn’t understand them, yet another language she didn’t understand. Covering her head she winced as a headache spread across her mind, a wave of dizziness threatened to cast her into complete darkness. Squeezing her eyes shut Brooklynn cursed to herself quietly, what a mess she had gotten herself into now. There had to be at least three men now and she couldn’t even pick herself up off the ground, her head was reeling.

Hands touched her arm, causing her to jump and strike her head on the wall behind her. Cursing she held her head with one hand and lashed out with the other, “Get the hell away from me.” A familiar voice spoke softly to her, “Don’t fight lass, we’re here to help you.” Something tickled across her mind and she knew nothing after that, only the darkness of her nightmares. Arms circled her, lifting her from the wet ground and holding her against a hard chest.

“Why the hell did you do that Cyrus,” McBane growled at him as he held Brooklynn in his arms. Shaking his head the fairy rolled his eyes, “She would have kept fighting you fool. She’s in no condition to make rational decisions. We’ll take her back to her apartment and go from there.” Turning Falcon headed down the street, “How do you expect to explain how we found her and then returned her to her home?” “We’ll say we were passing by and saw someone being attacked. She doesn’t need to know what he was really after just yet.” They walked down the street unseen, discussing their options, “But how do we explain returning her to her apartment?”

After a short argument they decided she would accept their lie better if they merely got her indoors. McBane carried her to the motel they had checked into earlier and laid her down on the bed. Brushing brown hair from her face he growled to himself, he should have been able to prevent this attack. Blood trickled over her lower lip, across her cheek and disappeared into her hair. He cursed softly to himself as he left to retrieve a cloth to clean her face. Returning he sat down on the edge of the bed, gently wiping at the drying blood. She would have to suffer the discomfort of a split lip for the next fortnight or so before it would heal properly.

“So what exactly did you do to her Cyrus?” Leaning against the door frame the fairy crossed his arms over his chest, “I didn’t hurt her just put her to sleep. She’ll wake up in a little while with nothing more than a headache for the smacks she took.” Falcon growled at him and returned his attention to the woman in his bed, “They shouldn’t have gotten this close Cyrus. We shall have to watch her closer now that we know their here.” Cyrus nodded, “Yes that is true but at least we don’t have to worry about them knowing we’re here. You took care of that quiet nicely.” Falcon glared over at him, “I’ll do the same to anyone who would try to harm her. She doesn’t deserve anymore pain than she’s already suffered.”

Time passed slowly as she slept, tossing as her nightmare held her prisoner. Falcon sat beside her, hold her hand as she groaned in her sleep. He wished for all the world that he could take her away from the nightmares that she was suffering and protect her. Shaking his head he had to wonder why he cared so much, what was it to him if she had nightmares? With a shake of his head he got up from the bed and stood before the window, what was happening to him?

Waking to the feel of an unfamiliar bed Brooklynn remained as still as possible, where in the hell was she? Pushing aside the splitting headache that pounded with every heart beat she listened to her surroundings. Upon discovering she was not bound in any form she relaxed marginally, she had a fighting chance of escape if she wasn’t tied up. From the sound of things there were at least two people in the room next to the one she was in, speaking rather heatedly about something in perhaps…Gaelic. It was a good thing Mark had insisted upon those language classes.

“You know she’s not ready but we don’t have time to wait around. She’ll just have to come with and deal with things as we go,” the voice was so familiar but with the fog around her mind she couldn’t place it directly. It took a moment to translate everything they were saying because it had been so long but she got the general direction of the conversation and she didn’t care for it one bit. “I know but if we do what you say it will be all for not. You can’t expect her to just go along with things when she doesn’t know what’s going on to begin with.” They were planning on kidnapping her, well they’d find out just how difficult it would be.

Rolling to her back she carefully, slowly, opened her eyes. The dim light from the next room was painful but the alternative of staying here might be even worse. Shadows on the wall, the only part of the men she could see, seemed to flicker as if there were candles lit in the room. Slowly she sat up relieved even more to find she still had her clothes on, muddy and bloody as they were. Soundlessly she got up from the bed and moved to the window, peering out she discovered they were rather high up. Cursing under her breath she tried to open the window, if nothing else she could shimmy across the ledge to another window and get away before they even realized she was gone.

Being a newer hotel she managed to get the window open without making too much sound. Poking her head out she sighed, probably five floors up. This wasn’t going to be simple but if it meant getting away from these kidnappers she was all for it. Carefully she got one leg out the window, secured her foot as best she could, and started out with the other. Once she was crouching on the ledge she took a deep breath to clear her head and clam herself before trying to stand upright, almost slipping once. On the second attempt to stand she managed and held on to the wall for dear life.

From within the room behind her she heard someone yelling, well that blows her advantage. She moved as fast as she dared away from the open window towards the next which was more than ten feet away. Those mere ten feet seemed like leagues as she inched her way cross the ledge. To her left a head poked out of the window, “Bloody hell lass. You’ll get yer self killed out there.” It was the silver eyed Scot from the diner looked back at her, she cursed under her breath as she realized her instincts had been right about him and his friend.

In her haste to be away from him her foot slipped and she pitched forward, cursing she tried to catch herself. Throwing her arms out she managed to lean back and stop her forward fall but she went down. Scuffing the inside of her thigh on the ledge and landing rather hard on her fanny she cursed aloud, thankful she hadn’t gone all the way down. Fear took hold of her and she froze, she had come closer to death just now than she ever had in her entire life. It took all her effort not to scream and keep herself reasonably calm but her control was slipping as she realized she would never make it to the next window.

McBane cursed to himself in every language he knew, she was trying to give him a heart attack. He watched her breathlessly as she fell, horrified by his helplessness and stupidity. They should have known she would try to get away, he hadn’t considered the window of a fifth floor hotel room was an option but the lass was brave enough, or stupid enough, to try it anyways. Now that she sat on the ledge he could breathe a little better but she was still in grave danger and how was he going to get to her? With his size he’d be lucky to fit through the window much less against the wall on that ledge. She was much smaller than he, therefore she was able to get out there but from the way she was clutching the ledge beneath her she wasn’t about to come back.

His mind whirled as he tried to think of some way to get out to her and get her back in the room safely. “Lass come back this way. You can’t go anywhere out here.” For a moment he didn’t think she had heard him with when she looked up he knew she had, “I…I can’t” Gritting his teeth he looked out at her, the fear in her eyes told him there was truth in her words. She didn’t think she could make it back and after being that close to falling from this height he didn’t blame her. “Just…scoot across the ledge. You can make it Brooklynn.”

“Isn’t there something you can do Cyrus? Make her forget her fear and move back towards me.” The fairy shook his head, “I can’t do that McBane. She’ll have to get back on her own.” With that the fairy disappeared completely, leaving Falcon cursing in his wake. Poking his head back out the window he tried to calm himself. “Move towards me Brooklynn.” She shook her head, “why should I?” Caught off guard by her question he stared at her blankly for a moment, “Because if you don’t you’ll fall. You’ll be stuck out there until we can call the…fire department to get you down.” She shook her head again, “If I come back in there you and your buddy are just going to take me to where ever you were talking about. How is that any better than where I am now?”

Stunned he shook his head, she had been awake? She knew Gaelic? McBane was surprised by her yet again. “Look you don’t have much of a choice in the matter one way or another. You can sit out there and freeze your arse off or you can crawl back this way and we can discuss this like adults.” The anger he had seen in her eyes before was there again though now it was directed at him and she was furious. “Damn you. What kind of choice is that? Either I stay out here or get kidnapped that’s a hell of a choice if I’ve ever heard one.” “Doona be a fool lass. Come towards me. You don’t understand what’s going on here.” Shivering she cursed under her breath and looked away from him, what choice did she really had away ways…the next window was probably locked anyways.

The anger that had over come the fear was still coursing through her veins when she tried to move towards him. When she had fallen and landed hard on the concrete beneath her she hadn’t realized it had begun to break. Moving caused the ledge to break apart even more and she froze, squeezing her eyes shut for a moment. “I…I can’t move.” The man in the window growled at her, actually growled at her, “Yes you can now get your arse over here.” Her head whipped up and little too quickly, she cursed and glared at him, “You damn idiot the ledge is broken. If I move anymore I will fall.” His eyes widen in realization as he looked at the outcrop of concrete, how could he have missed that?

Taking a deep breath she tried to move again, this time the ledge didn’t just groan in protest to her weight part of it gave way. What a stupid idea this was, she chided herself as she clung to the build as best she could. If the ledge gave out completely there was nothing she could grab on to, there would be no where she could grab to stop her fall. Cursing wildly she looked back at McBane, “Now what the hell am I going to do?” He thought for a moment and then leaned farther out the window, “Jump.” She gave him a look that said she thought the idea was the stupidest thing she had heard, “I’m not suicidal.” He growled a little and clenched his teeth, “Not off the ledge, jump towards me. I’ll catch you.”

“That’s what you’d like wouldn’t you, for me to jump over there and then you can drag me inside. I’m not half as strong as you are so you would man handle me and I would end up tied up,” she growled back at him. He was amazed at her, she was stuck on a crumbling ledge that probably wouldn’t hold her weight for much longer and here she was still worried about being kidnapped. Damnit Cyrus could make all this so much easier but this was part of his game. “Lass if you come back in here I swear on my life that we will talk about this. We’ll figure out a middle ground.”

She seemed to think about that as she clutched the wall and then she closed her eyes with a sigh. “Alright. You’ll be completely honest with me? Tell me what the hell is going on here?” He nodded and when he spoke he sounded exasperated, “Yes Brooklynn! I swear it.” She leaned her head back against the wall and took a deep breath, “On three then.” “One…” “Two…” and on three she jumped towards him, the ledge beneath her feet completely breaking. He grabbed at her arms as she started to fall and she clawed at his arms.

Gravity was working against them and almost got the best of them as she almost slide out of his grip. He caught her wrists finally and held on tightly, she issued a small scream as she jerked to a stop. She slammed against the building and the air was knocked out of her lungs, she gasped and then bit her lower lip. He strained a little to hold on to her, he couldn’t hold on much longer and from this angle it would be difficult to pull her up. Through clenched teeth he spoke, “Come on Brooklynn, work with me here.”
She glared up at him as she took a breath but didn’t say anything. Tightening her grip she started to pull herself up, walking up the wall at the same time. Falcon started leaning back into the room, pulling her up. Together they managed to get her back into the window where she climbed onto the ledge against. With him still pulling her up she was pulled off balance and fell into the room. She hit him in the chest and knocked him backwards, they both tumbled to the floor with a soft thud.

Falcon held her as they fell to protect her, landing with her on top of him. The air was knocked from his lungs, she was heavier than he would have guessed but that was in part to the momentum of falling. He brushed her hair out of his face and looked up at her, finding her straddling him. Instantly his body reacted and his mind shut down, she was so beautiful and wild in a way. Her hair was unruly about her head from the little adventure she had just been through and her piercing blue eyes were fiery as she looked down at him.

Sitting up his hands found their way to her hair, he fisted his hands in that hair as he pulled her face down to his. She pulled back a little but didn’t fight as much as he thought she would have. His lips met hers and there was a fire that spread through him, from his lips to his toes. Her lips were soft and welcoming, inviting even as he pressed his tongue against them. A hand dropped from her hair to her hip and he pulled her against him, growling huskily into her mouth with a hunger he’d never felt before.
Realizing what she was doing she fought to control herself, cursing a million times in her mind. By shear force she pulled away from him and licked her lips, a hand moving to cover them as she shook her head. Falcon looked at her with a puzzled, star struck glance. “Brooklynn…I shouldn’t have…” She shook her head again and cut him off by getting up, moving away from him into the next room. What the hell was she doing? She knew better than this but he was such a good kisser. Clenching her teeth she wiped the back of her hand across her mouth as if that would be rid of the feeling.

“You have a promise to keep,” she said firmly, trying to get control of herself. He had just come into the room, “I know. What do you want to know?” With a sigh she turned to face him, arms crossed and a look that said she wasn’t in the mood for bullshit, “Who the hell are you for starts and why have you kidnapped me?” Falcon waved to a chair, “Well you already know who I am, we met at that dingy little diner. And I haven’t kidnapped you lass…saved is more what I was thinking.” Brooklynn rolled her eyes as she took a chair and moved it as far away from him as she could possibly be before sitting down, “What’s going on then? Why do you think I need to be saved?” “Well perhaps it’s not saving you but…your blood line.”

Shaking her head she closed her eyes for a moment, “Blood line? My blood line ends with me…I’m the only McLeod left around here unless my father is still roaming around creating more bastards.” Falcon sighed, “It doesn’t have to be that way but that’s none of my business. We didn’t come here to solve all your problems, we just want your help with something.” “And just what do you need my help with?” He thought of the best way to tell her that he wanted to take her back to his time, get her to stop a war, and then send her on her merry way.

“See that’s the thing…you probably wouldn’t believe me if I told you the truth, it’s easier to just show you.” She cocked a brow at him, “Show me? Show me what?” He smiled a little, “Do you trust me?” That wasn’t what she had expected, she hesitated because she wasn’t sure if she did or didn’t. He had gotten her out of trouble…supposedly twice now and other than bruising her ego he hadn’t hurt her in anyway. “To an extent I suppose I do,” she said. Falcon smiled more; at least she was using her head and not jumping into this completely blindly. “Take my hand then.”

Brooklynn hesitated again, wondering how taking his hand was going to show her anything. She took a deep breath and then rolled her eyes, laying her hand in his and still surprised by the size difference. The instant they touched she felt like she was dissolving, like she was fading away. She tried to say something but her voice was gone and as she looked over to Falcon she realized he was fading as well. Fighting to keep calm she tried to tell him to stop but he merely smiled to her and continued to disappear with her. Suddenly she wasn’t in the hotel room anymore; she was falling through some kind of tunnel.

Bright lights zipped passed as she fell, causing her to close her eyes to keep from going blind. Wind roared in her ears, it was extremely hard to hear anything but the wind but in the distance she could hear a voice. The voice grew closer and she realized Falcon was still holding her hand; he was pulling her to him. “Don’t be afraid,” was what he was saying to her. She wanted to laugh in his face but all she could do was cling to him as they fell.

(Notes: I was informed that this isn't how the entry should be formatted but I'm a little unclear as to how I should go about fixing it. Any help would be greatful since this is my first ever showing of my work. Feedback please. Anything is helpful as long as it's not bashing the story completely. And I know it's no where near rated R yet but it'll get there, gotta lead up to that sort of thing. Anyways, if you could take the time and give me a review I would be grateful. Kthanksbye. :P )