What now? [Marcus]

[Josephine Harding]

28th May 2009

Josephine was just finishing up at the local bar. The previous hours had been very busy, with the place very much hopping. Now it was getting onto 6am, and Jo was just putting the last of the glasses away. Wiping the bar one more time, she put the cloth in for cleaning, and headed out the back to obtain her pay for that week.

Knocking on the door, the owner said to come in. "Hi Louis. Just finished up cleaning, and now here to pick up my pay." Louis flick through the envelops on his desk, and fished out Jo's. "Here you go. And I will let you know in the next day or two next week's shifts." Jo smiled, "Thanks." Jo left his office, and headed next door to the staff room.

With her bag over her shoulder, Jo pushed open the door, and headed outside. It was a warm day already, and Jo took off the light jacket she had on. Flinging it over her bag, she headed in the direction of the nearest diner. She hadn't had too much time to eat over the last few hours, and was happy to sit down with some food.

Just as she rounded the corner, and guy came out of nowhere, and dragged her into a nearby alley. "Ouch, let me go," Jo began to yell at the guy. "I don't have anything that you want." Then she heard a click, and soon saw him put a knife in front of her face. "Are you sure of that?" Jo, wide eyed looked at the shiny implement, which was now a different matter in the situation.

[marcus]

Since Marcus had arrived in the States his life hadn't been the best. Then again his life hadn't been the best before he'd arrived in the States either. He had come here to find his family, a family he hadn't known existed until his 'parents' had been killed in an airplane crash in which he had been the sole survivor. His parents weren't his parents at all, they were his aunt and uncle and he had parents and a brother and sister he hadn't even known.

Only eleven days earlier he had watched as his sister who he had just tracked down was knocked over by a drunken driver. Of course at first Marcus had blamed himself because he had shouted on her, and she had stopped in the middle of the road. But the real cause of her accident was the driver who was drunk and driving far too fast. Luckily after a couple of operations Emma pulled through, but he knew it would take weeks for her to fully recover from the incident.

He was just coming away from the hospital, having been given keys to Emma's apartment he had gone to get her some clothes, music and magazines for her to read, as she would be in the hospital for at least another week before she'd be allowed home in a wheelchair until the physiotherapy worked enough to allow her to walk again. He had also met his parents, and the reunion was more than he could have expected.

They had embraced him with open arms at the hospital, and for the first time, no, the second time, Marcus cried with being so overcome with emotion. They showed their anger and resentment toward his 'parents' for not telling him the truth as planned when he turned sixteen.

Marcus was almost back at the hospital when his eye caught some movement down an alley as he walked past. He couldn't help but wonder what was going on, and as he looked closer he saw a woman appear to be in trouble. He ran down, and threw the bag with Emma's things inside onto the ground and immediately tackled the guy.

"It best ye let the woman go and not harm her." He said as he inched his way closer, it didn't matter if the guy tried to stab him, his skin was impenetrable, if anything, the knife would snap against him.

[Josephine Harding]

Jo knew that she was going to be stronger than the guy who was holding her right now. But she also knew that if she got stabbed, she would not be able to do anything about it. Jo thought about what she would do, and then she heard another set of footsteps. That person in question had now spoken to her attacker, and she wasn't sure of the situation now.

When this person came forward, Jo finally saw his face in the dimly lit light on the side of the building. He seemed quite tall, and had a kind face. But at this point in time, that was all Jo was able to think, as the knife began to dig into her neck. All she could imagine was the attacker being a smart mouth with the stranger, and then slitting her throat. Jo didn't want to die this way, and hoped that she would be quick, as well as being strong enough to take on this guy.

With eyes wide still, Jo looked at the guy. "It's okay. I am sure that I can handle this situation. Hopefully..." That was all Jo said before she quickly took the mugger's hand, which held the knife, and she felt herself almost crush it as she turned and kicked him as far away as she could. Jo watched the mugger go flying backwards, into an industrial bin. The bang sounded like it echoed throughout the town. She had to cover her ears for a few seconds, so that they wouldn't ring later. Looking back at the mugger, he was certainly out for the count.

As she turned to face the person who tried to intervene, Jo began to pull out her phone to ring the police. "Thanks. But as you could see I was able to take him on." Jo didn't know what this guy was going to think about her ability she had, but she didn't care. She knew about others who had abilities, and knew that they were not any different - they were all human after all.

[marcus]

Marcus stood by this guy who was attacking this female, who looked like she was blonde and rather pretty from what he could see in the shadow, he just hoped that she wouldn't think he was some smart ass, trying to act the hero, when in truth, Marcus didn't like to see confrontation and given that he could be physically unharmed he really didn't see what the problem would be that he had indeed intervened.

The girl had said that she would hopefully be able to handle the situation, so Marcus stepped back a little, not wanting to appear too much of an idiot for getting in her way. He stayed close enough though, just in case. However, he soon found out that he wasn't exactly needed as the girl was able to take the attacker on herself. He watched, impressed as she virtually threw him off her and hurled him toward a bin.

He just stood nodding his head silently, as he pursed his lips together thinking that she was his ideal type of woman, tough chick who was bloody gorgeous as well. She then took out her phone and then thanked him, but as he could see she was able to take the attacker on herself. He waited until she was finished with her phone call before speaking again.

"Yeah, I can see that, ye did really good, damned impressed. Although to be honest, I could've taken him meself too." After seeing what she had done, he could see that she clearly had an ability, no girl would have been able to do that otherwise, of that he was sure. "Got meself an ability as well ye see." He said trying to explain why he said he could have taken the attacker on himself so as not to have her think he was some sort of smart ass with a big head.

"Name's Marcus Woods." He then said, holding his hand out, making himself known to the girl he had tried to be the hero to.

[Josephine Harding]

Jo spoke to the cops on the other end of the phone, telling them of the situation that had just unfolded. When they asked for her name, she instantly hung up the phone. No way did Jo want to put any attention on herself, wanting to make the call anonymous. Though now she knew that she had this strangers attention.

She wondered how she was going to explain to a complete stranger about what she was just able to do. Over the years, Jo had confided in only a couple of people, mainly being guys. Though they found out the hard way, what with them coming onto her harshly, letting her true self come into play. They were soon sorry to have met her at all. Those were the good old days of showing the guys who was boss.

After speaking with the police, the mystery guy began to speak. She had to smile when he saw that she could handle herself, and he was damn impressed. Jo liked that compliment, and walked closer to him. But still he hadn't mentioned anything about how she did it, until he finally spoke up, mentioning that he had an ability. "Wow, and I though I was the only one in town with one. What is it? Super-human strength? Persuasion? Because by the looks of ya, I think you could persuade any woman."

Jo loved how she always spoke her mind. Sometimes though she had to stop herself, before she said something she would regrete later. But by the looks of this guy, he could handle anything a woman threw at him. Then when she stopped only inches away from him, he extended his hand, and told her his name. Making not too squeeze too hard, Jo took his hand. "Hey Marcus, Josephine Harding. But you can call me Jo."

Letting go of his hand, Jo walked over to a nearby crate, and sat down. She looked down at her hand, and saw she had broken a nail. Holding up her hand to Marcus, she laughed, "Well that is what happens when I save myself."

[marcus]

Marcus shook his head and couldn't help but laugh at what the girl said when she mentioned if his ability was persuasion. His eyes sparkled as he looked at her. "Nah, me ability isn't persuasion, although am pretty sure I could do well without that as an ability." He replied, not meaning to be too full of himself, but he usually had quite good luck with the females. "Me ability is called Impenetrable Skin. Means I can be physically unharmed, a jeep could hit me, and I'd come out unscathed while the jeep ended up a total wreck." Marcus explained and shook his head again, thinking back to the airplane crash he had been the soul survivor of, that was in many ways rather freaky.

"Well, it's sure nice to meet ya Jo." Marcus said smiling and winking at her slightly, as she shook his extended hand, noticing that it didn't hold a remarkable amount of strength, she must have restrained herself, not that it would have hurt him anyway but he'd have known if she'd gripped his hand tightly.

He then watched Jo sit down on a nearby crate and hold up her hand, showing off a broken nail and laughing, saying that's what happens when she saves herself. "Well to be honest, I think it's best ye got a broken nail then lose your life aye?" Marcus said and then laughed slightly, realising that with the Jo's strength there probably wasn't much chance of her losing her life. She could more than stand up for herself.

"So, ye quite happy to sit there? Or can I take ye somewhere more comfortable?" Marcus asked and then flushed realising how that must have sounded, he shook his head and laughed, with his eyes twinkling, "What I mean is, would ye like to go somewhere for breakfast or something?" He asked, breathing out slowly, hoping he hadn't now scared her off with his bad choice of words.

[Josephine Harding]

As Jo sat there on the crate, she wondered if he was up himself, when he said that he could do well without the ability of persuasion. Just recapping that remark, Jo shook her head. Who was this guy? He seemed to sure of himself for Jo's liking. But that thought soon went when he commented that it was better to have broken a nail then lose her life. Looking at him, she had to agree. "I suppose so. Thoug I like my nails at the moment, and it is rather annoying. But anyway."

Jo was going to talk more, when Marcus asked she was just going to sit there, or could he take her somewhere more comfortable. All Jo could do was raise her eyebrows. This guy was up himself in a major way. Surely he didn't use this pick up line all the time. She finally looked at his face, noticing him flush, and then he shook his head. He then went on about going somewhere for breakfast. Jo smiled, "Sure. And just when I thought you were like other guys, you asked me to breakfast."

Jo got up, dusted herself off, and then picked up her bag. Slinging it over her shoulder, she wondered where they would go for this so called breakfast, but then Jo remembered that there was a place not that far away. "You know Marcus, there is a place just down the road a bit. It does serve up a nice bacon and eggs, if that is what you are into." Just the thought of that made Jo's stomache rumble. Maybe she was hungrier than she thought.

[marcus]

Marcus was royally annoyed with himself, he really hadn't meant to sound like such a prick to the girl. However, that was the way he was coming across. He wasn't sure why either, other than a combination of everything which had been happening recently. The airplane crash, being the soul survivor, finding out his parents weren't who they were, finding his new sister, watching as a car ran her over, after he had stupidly shouted her name while she was crossing the road. Meeting his real parents, and now the slow process of Emma's recovery. Yes, Marcus had been through a lot of shit, it was no wonder really he spoke without thinking half the times.

He was just glad that his stupid words hadn't sent her packing, the comment about her nail, he just smiled at, after all, weren't all women the same when it came to their nails? Marcus didn't get the big deal himself, but then that's because normally men didn't grow their nails.

She said she would go to breakfast with him, which made him smile, causing his eyes to twinkle again. Although she did make a remark about the way he had asked her. "Yeah, am sorry about that, not the best of words I could've used I know, guess that's the Irish in me, but I'm glad your happy to have breakfast with me." He said, as he bent down to pick up the bags with Emma's things in them.

Marcus had no idea where to go, he just thought they could walk until they found somewhere, but then Jo mentioned a place. At the words bacon and eggs Marcus heard his stomach growl. "Sounds perfect Jo, I might be Irish, but I love me English breakfast." He replied with a bit of a laugh and another twinkle of his eyes. "Lead the way then me good woman." Marcus said with a smile, hoping that it wasn't that far, because his stomach was making terrible growling noises now.

[Josephine Harding]

As she waited for Marcus to follow her, she replied to his breakfast comment. "Well I am pretty sure this place that we are going to will have anything your heart desires. But I have no idea, as I always order the same thing when I go there. Most mornings I go there, as I work at a bar nearby till it closes." Looking at her watch, Jo noticed that this place had been opened for at least an hour, so the place will be about half full. "I know that this time of the morning they will have the coffee just right." Jo loved the smell of their coffee for some reason, even though she didn't always drink it.

As they walked in silence for a few paces, Jo thought back on Marcus before they left for this sort walk. His laugh rang in her ears, and his eyes began to make an impression in her brain. He seemed like a person who was happy, but yet might also have been through a lot. He sounded younger than he looked, but that might just be how his life has left him so far. For all Jo knew, he might be a lot wiser then his years.

Not liking silences, Jo decided to speak. "Som Marcus. How long have you been around here. Your accent sounds quite intact if you have been here for sometime in America." Jo was so used to American accents, that she always loved hearing other accents, always trying to depict the unusual ones.

[marcus]

Marcus smiled as Jo mentioned the place they were heading to would likely have what his heart desired. He may have loved his English breakfast, but he would eat anything he was that hungry at that moment. "Am pretty sure what ever I get, I'll enjoy it just the same." He remarked, "And a good coffee to go with it, just perfect in me eyes." He added, as he continued to walk with Jo.

A small silence fell between them, but it didn't much bother Marcus, as he was used to silences in his life, and usually much longer ones than this one had been, and usually they were god damned awkward as well. There was nothing awkward about this, apart from maybe his wrong choice of words before, but they had already moved on from that.

Jo was the first to break the silence by asking how long he had been around in the States for. "Ah, not long sweetheart, only moved here a couple months back, trying to find me family." Marcus replied, and then gave her a weak smile. "Got a bit of a past on me ye see, the people who brought me up, turned out to be me aunt and uncle, and now am trying to find me real parents." Marcus explained in a very brief story, he didn't want to go into a full history, not yet, he didn't want to bore her, plus he had a feeling if she wanted to know anything more, she would ask him.

[Josephine Harding]

Jo listened as Marcus answered her question. She was surprised at what he told her, and couldn't believe what he had been through. "Well it sounds like my life has been a piece of cake compared to what you have been through Marcus. Have you been able to get some information on your actual parents?" Jo didn't really have any contacts to help, but hoped that he was able to find something on them.

As Jo waited for Marcus to answer, she saw the cafe up ahead. She stopped at the street, and pushed the pedestrian walk button, waiting for the light to be green for them, so they could cross the street. The previous nights work was beginning to catch up with her, and then the attack before was just the icing on the cake. Even though Jo had the strength ability, she did get tired after working several hours at the bar. Jo put her hand on the back of her neck, and rubbed it for a couple of seconds.

Just then the light turned green for them to cross, and Jo began to walk. Soon they were at the cafe, and Jo went in first, scanning the small area for a table. She soon walked over to one which had a window view, and sat down. Jo occassionally came here, mostly for breakfast, and recognised the waiter, who was coming over to serve them. "Hey Jesse. Hows it going?" He smiled at her, "Hey Jo. Not too bad, but ready to go home soon, that's for sure. What will it be today? The usual?" Jo scanned the menu quickly, and then turned back to Jesse. "I think so. Also maybe add a coffee as well thanks."

[marcus]

Marcus gave Jo a weak smile when she said her life sounded far easier than his own had ever been. Although he realised he'd said something silly, he had said he was trying, to find his parents, but he had already found them. For some reason Marcus wasn't thinking straight right at this minute. So naturally when Jo asked if he had managed to find any information on his actual parents, he felt his face burn. "Aye, messed up before Jo, I meant to say I was searching for me real parents, I've actually met them now. It was a bad place for a reunion mind, but they still welcomed me with open arms." Marcus explained, feeling really stupid for having said the wrong word before.

He couldn't wait until Emma got out of that hospital though, every time he went to visit her it reminded him of the night he finally saw her, it was just a tragedy. He could only hope that if his sister was never able to compete in skating again that she wouldn't resent him for it. He didn't think she would somehow, given how she had been with him so far, but he still couldn't help but wonder.

It didn't take too long for them to reach the cafe, and Marcus watched as Jo scanned for a table, finally sitting down at one with a window view. He sat across from her, and then a waiter approached, one whom Jo seemed to know and placed her usual order with him. Marcus looked at Jesse as he was called and smiled.

"Do ye do the full English breakfast, my good man?" Marcus asked, his Irish accent sounding much stronger against Jesse's accent. "We do Sir." Jesse replied, and Marcus grinned. "Aye, I'll have that then please my good man." Marcus said, "And a coffee too thanks." He added, Jesse gave him a smile and wrote down the order. Then Marcus watched as he went back to the counter to get their orders sorted.

"Damn pleased they do the English breakfast Jo, and me stomach is telling me it's starving." Marcus said and laughed a little. It would be good to get some decent food inside him. He was still living at the hotel, but it wasn't anything too luxurious. David and Emily had said he was welcome to stay with them, but he hadn't wanted to impose, not right away, even though they had said it would be far from imposing having their own son living with them. But he'd paid for the room up front, so he said he may as well use it till the time was up.

[Josephine Harding]

"It's okay Marcus. I am glad that you found them, and that they welcomed you into the family. I can't see why they wouldn't. You seem like a pretty level headed guy." What Jo said she meant. She sometimes did come out with sarcasm, but on the whole, she always spoke the truth, and told it like it was.

When they sat down, Jo ordered, and then Marcus asked Jesse if they had the full English Breakfast. Jo watched as Marcus grinned when Jesse said that they did. They both seemed to watch Jesse go back to the counter to get their orders put in to be cooked. When Marcus spoke and said that he was pleased that they had what he wanted, Jo had to smile. He seemed like a little boy just glad to have what he wanted. But he of cause was not a boy, but a grown man, and still was happy with what he wanted.

"I have to admit, I am looking forward to eating as well. I got some breaks while working during the night, but nothing substancial to keep me going. Can't wait for the bacon and eggs, and especially the coffee. Need a good pick me up, and these guys do serve a good cup of coffee." Jo realised that she was talking a bit, and shut up. She felt herself rambling a bit, which wasn't a lot like her. Normally she spoke, and then shut up, but felt that her mouth was running away with her.

Jo looked around on the table, and the looked at Marcus. "So you were saying before that it was a bad reunion when you met your parents for the first time. Did you want to talk about it? If you don't, you can just tell me to mind my own business." Jo wondered if he would tell her to do just that. If that was the case, she would just tell Jesse to make the breakfast a take away, and would leave Marcus alone.

[marcus]

Marcus gave Jo a winning smile when she said that she was glad he had met his parents and they had welcomed him, especially when she said that he seemed like a level headed guy. Marcus liked to think he was, but at the same time, he didn't like coming over as a person who was full of themselves. "Thanks for the compliment Jo." He replied, "Nice of ye to say so." He added, as his eyes twinkled a little with his smile.

Marcus listened with a smile and twinkling eyes as Jo spoke about having had nothing substantial while she was at work. So he figured she'd be pretty damn hungry just like he was. "Well, it sure looks like we're both going to be having a feast, aye? And enjoying it too I should hope." Marcus said and grinned again, "I've not had an English breakfast since I came over here, so I'll be sure to tell ye what I think of it." Marcus said and laughed, just talking about the food was making him hungry he realised.

Jo then asked him about the bad place for the reunion and did he want to talk about it. He smiled sadly at her, but then brightened the smile, after all Emma was on the mend, so he shouldn't be too sad about it now, should he? "Yeah, sure I can talk to ye about it." He began, "Like I said before I was looking for me family, well I finally tracked down me sister, she was doing a skating competition, and I only reached her by the time it was finished." He started and then stopped for a few seconds to catch his breath before continuing.

"Well, I was across the road from her and I shouted on her, without really thinking what I was doing, and a car came and ran her over. I was blaming myself for ages, but she and her boyfriend snapped me out of it, she was run over by a drunk driver as it happens." Marcus continued with his explanation, "So, ye see, I met me folks at the hospital when they came to visit Emma, me sister, hence the bad place for a reunion."

He finished his little story and took in a deep breath of relief, he had actually managed to tell the full story without cracking, he wasn't sure if he'd have went into tears, because he had been having a few nightmares about the accident, and every time it woke him up and he was in tears.

[Josephine Harding]

Jo didn't give out compliments much, and only did when it was something that was needed to be said, and it needed to be said. When Marcus thanked her, Jo saw his eyes really brighten up, which seemed to be a good thing for her, as sometimes eyes were a thing she noticed on a person.

Jo was kind of expecitng Marcus to reply about her not eating as much before. She did wonder sometimes whether she ever ate when she was supposed to. When those breaks came around, Jo took them, but she always got sidetracked, or she was called off her break early, due to them needing her. "Looks like it Marcus. I can already smell it, but it could just be the other food also being cooked." Jo shook her head, and looked out the window, thinking tha what she just said sounded so stupid.

Jo was glad that Marcus didn't tell her where to go when she asked about the reunion. So she sat quietly, listening to what Marcus told her. It was some story, and just couldn't believe that one person had been through so much. "Wow Marcus. No wonder you are hungry. Everything you have been through must have been rough on you. How is your sister doing now? I hope that she gets better." Then before she forgot, Jo added, "So would I have heard of her name, your sister? Was she a pretty well known skater?"

Just then the breakfast came. Boy did it smell good. Jo kept looking at Marcus as she took her meal off Jesse. She wondered if his sister was doing okay, and that what happened to her wasn't too bad.