Home Stretch (c)

[Risk]

Risk immediately opened the door and his jaw dropped when he saw her. "Beth, Beth, Beth," he muttered, repeating her name over and over again as he led her inside and closed the door behind him.

"What'd he do to you? What hurts? Shit, Beth, I shouldn't have left you alone..." he mumbled, his face full of worry as he wrapped a blanket around her and pulled her close for a hug. "Beth, say something..."

[Macbeth]

She yelped when he hugged her, but let him keep it up for a moment or two before she pulled away and gave him a sardonic look. "Well, that hurts, for starters. But I'm fine." She sucked on her knuckles and winced. "Eastman's boy ain't, though, and we really gotta get outta here. Now."

[Risk]

"Yeah, let's get outta here," he nodded, taking her hand (and promising himself that he wouldn't let her out of his sight ever again) as they bounded down the steps and out onto the streets.

[Macbeth]

"I knew what I was doing," she informed him, pulling him through a network of alleys--they were taking a shortcut, and she was pretty sure Risk didn't know it. At least, she hoped not, because they weren't headed out of the Points. "Lead pipe in the alley out back...saw it on our way in. I don't think he's dead." She wrinkled her nose. "S'pose that increases the urgency a bit."

[Risk]

"Maybe he could be bleeding to death," muttered Risk hopefully as he followed her through the alleyways. He didn't think he was going to be this happy to see Manhattan once again. "He doesn't know anything, right? He doesn't know your name?"

[Macbeth]

"He don't know nothing, but Eastman does," she pointed out grimly. "Your name, my name, even the fact that we useta live at the lodging house...Sammie must've told him that by now. If Tristan don't take care'a these people fast and get every last one'a them, we're so incredibly dead." At that moment, they emerged from an alley to find themselves...standing right across the street from Eastman's headquarters. And Beth didn't look especially surprised.

[Risk]

"Beth, why are we here?" muttered Risk once he realized where they were. "What're you doing? What're you thinking?" Risk was near panic by now. Normally, he would've been up for a good fight but right now, all he wanted to do was hide and make sure everyone he knew was safe.

[Macbeth]

Macbeth heard the note of panic in his voice and caught his eye, folding his hand between both of hers. "Calm down, all right? I'm fine, you're fine." Her gaze moved to Eastman's headquarters. "That Gypsy girl ain't fine, though, and I thought..." She glanced down at her ruined dress and sighed. "I thought we oughta, y'know, rescue her. For the karma."

[Risk]

Risk looked at Macbeth in amazement. There was no way they were going back in there for that girl. Macbeth was taken advantage of and he couldn't imagine what would happen if Eastman already knew what was going on.

"Fast," he finally said, looking at her straight in the eye. "We have to make this fast and then we're going back. Or else..."

[Macbeth]

"So we'll make it fast." She let go of his hand, all business now. "Assuming that guy ain't woken up yet--and I pride myself on saying that he ain't--Eastman don't know we betrayed him yet. Anyone we pass in there, we just tell 'em we're there to see Eastman, and they oughta leave us alone. The tricky part'll be finding where they're keeping the girl." She was already striding across the street.

[Risk]

"I can go in, Beth. I'll look for her," said Risk, grabbing her hand once they were on the other side of the street. "I mean, no 'fense, but Beth -- you look like shit and someone's going to notice. I know the place better than you, it shouldn't take long."

[Macbeth]

She snorted. "You try struggling with a drunk creep and bashing him over the head, and see how good you look." But it was kind of his turn for a solo mission, so she nodded reluctantly and produced one of her ever-present switchblades. "I dunno if you've got one, but if you do, this one's better," she said with a smirk, handing it over. "Be careful."

[Risk]

Risk nodded, taking the switchblade from her and kissing her on the cheek. "Stay here. Don't go anywhere or I'll be the one who'll kill you." And with that, he turned around and disappeared inside Eastman's headquarters.

He was thankful that he didn't see Sammie once he passed the main entrance. Probably off doing something for Eastman... he thought as he bounded up the stairs. He immediately went to the Prisoners' Room, figuring they'd keep her there. After no luck, he scoured a couple rooms -- ones that he was familiar with when they'd keep people hostage. It wasn't until five minutes in that he found the girl.

"Gypsy, right? C'mon, we're leaving. We're going back," said Risk, wasting no time as he grabbed her hand and led her out into the hallway.

[Gypsy]

((Lurking! And jumping in!))

Gypsy was worse for wear, looking tired and broken. She didn't even argue as Risk grabbed her and led her out. "Where--where are we goin'?"

[Risk]

"Back home," he answered, letting go of her hand once they were outside. "Just follow me. Don't do anything. Don't look at anyone."

He quickly walked down the steps, taking a deep breath before walking out of the headquarters, head held high as he ushered her outside.

((Yay lurking!))