Morning came too quickly for her. When she came down stairs to the bar, Gin was there, setting out the tables for the day. She looked up and smiled brightly, then saw her face. “I suppose it’s not a good morning,” she said, frowning. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” Maddie slid into the seat at the bar. “Mind fixing me a drink?”

“What planet are you on? It’s six in the morning.” Gin said chidingly.

“So?”

“Okay, okay.” She came around to the bar. “What do you want?”

“Scotch sounds nice.”

Gin stared at her, surprised. “That’s too strong, even for you.”

Maddie shrugged. “I’m paying.” She said.

“Fine.” Gin began making the drink. “Did you sleep okay?”

Sleep? She hadn’t even closed her eyes. “Yeah.”

“I guess you didn’t hear the racket downstairs then.” She handed her the drink. Maddie took a sip, feeling the fiery liquid burning down her throat.

“What racket?” She asked.

“Oh, this family came in- I’m not too sure, but there’s a celebrity in there. Pretty famous, but for the life of me I couldn’t remember who he was.”

“Oh?” Maddie took another sip. “A film star?”

“No, I don’t think so- oh, I’ll get it off someone today, I guess.”

“Why would he come here?” Maddie asked, dully curious. She was trying not to think of the note the night before. She was fairly sure where it came from, but…

“I don’t know- that bodyguard just gave me a flat look and told me to get the whole of the top floor blocked off to anybody else.” Gin was saying.

“What, so they rented the whole floor?”

“Yep. A bit weird, but…” Gin shrugged. “He’s paying.”

Maddie smiled a little than put her drink down. “Reckon I’d better go and get cleaned up.” She said, then got up and left.

**************************

“NICK!WAKEUPWAKEUPWAKEUPWAKEUPWAKEUPWAKEUP!!!”

“Aargh!” Nick threw the two bundles off him and sat up in his bed, losing his sheet in the process. He glared at the giggling twins, pushing his hair out of his face. “Damnit, you scared the carp out of me!” he yelled, wincing as he touched his ribs. Man, they were heavy.

“That was sort of the idea,” Angel said, grabbing his arm and pulling him out. Or trying to. “Come on, Nick! Mom said we can go to the beach after breakfast!”

“Alright, alright,” he grumbled, lurching out of bed. “You’re gonna pull my arm out. Stop it.”

Fifteen minutes later, he was coming out of the elevator with the twins bouncing after him. His parents were already finishing their breakfast.

“Morning,” he said, sitting down. “Is everyone up before me?”

“As usual.” BJ said, making a face. “Guess Aaron had to jump on your ribs again?”

“Yeah- I think he broke some too.” He said wryly.

“You want some breakfast, honey?” Jane asked him.

“No, thanks. I’m not that hungry,” he declined.

“Yeah, then you pig out around eleven,” Lesley said pointedly.

“So, what are we doing today?” BJ asked.

“I thought we could go to the beach and hang out. Then hire a boat and go sailing.” Bob said.

“Sounds really interesting,” Angel said dryly. “Can we go surfing?”

“They said the waves aren’t that good today.” Jane said. “You can take the surf board, though.”

“Cool!” Aaron was already racing out of the room. Rob, looking pained, started after him.

“It’s okay, man,” Nick said. “Nobody’s going to be in his way- better not, actually.” He hadn’t said it out loud, but having Rob around was a bit annoying. This was their holiday, and he felt Rob’s presence was a little stifling. Not that he minded having him around. He was great. And he arranged them to be out of sight as much as possible, and got them to this hotel.
He looked around, seeing a few people dotted around the large, pleasant room, having coffees or chatting. He received a few weird looks, but it wasn’t a bother. He was used to it, anyway.

“As soon as Aaron comes back, we can go, I think.” Jane was saying. “Nick? Have you got your stuff?”

He shook his head. “I left it up there. I’ll get it.” He stood up and left the room, headed for his suite. Rob followed him out.

“I’m just going to my room.”

“I know.”

“It’s not that necessary, you know. I’m not going to get shot.”

“You never know.”

“You let Aaron go.”

“You’re a different story.”

Nick sighed and let it go.

When they reached the top floor, a queer sight confronted them. Aaron was standing between a man and a woman, an uncertain look on his face as he looked up into the fat man’s face. The man looked hesitant, like he didn’t know what to do, glancing often at the woman. The lady had her arms crossed, her dark hair hiding her face from this side of the corridor.

“What’s going on?” Rob muttered, frowning.

They could faintly hear the conversation. “…I wasn’t doing anything, little guy- she and I know each other…”

“It didn’t look like that to me,” Aaron answered, glancing at the lady.

Nick decided to step in then. “Aaron, come on! Mom’s waiting downstairs!” he called.

All three looked at him, then Aaron reluctantly joined his brother. The fat man frowned, knowing his chances weren’t good in the presence of two men- especially the one that looked like a moving wall- and hurriedly left, brushing past the girl. Nick knew she was a girl because she had turned to his direction, studying him silently.

“He was harassing her, Nick,” Aaron told him.

Nick turned away. “Yeah, I know. Now go downstairs. I still have to get my stuff.” Sending him off, he casually sauntered towards his room, which- very coincidentally- was in the girl’s way. “Hey, you okay?” he asked, looking her over briefly. She looked older than he did, maybe two years, he didn’t know. She wasn’t bad looking either.

All he got for his trouble was a withering look and her back as she walked away, her dark hair swaying slightly.

Rob didn’t even bother to hide his grin. “Looks like you just got turned down, man.” He said, chuckling.

Nick made a face and went into his room to his stuff. Turned down. Ha.

**************************

“Since when did you decide to be the knight in shining armor?”

Aaron looked up. “What?” he asked, surprised by his brother’s sour mood.

“I said-”

“No, no, I got you. What’s up?”

“Nothing,” Nick replied flatly. “Except that my brother got an idea in his head that he can just get into any fights and break it up.”

“It wasn’t a fight!” Aaron protested. “I told you, he was-”

“I know what it was, AC. Just don’t go charging into anything like that. Not when you don’t have a security.”

“I could’ve handled him easily, Nick,” The twelve years old retorted. “He was a fat old geezer who thought he could get away with-”

“Look, he may’ve been a fat ole’ geezer but you’re my brother! Just don’t do that again, alright?” Nick nearly shouted.

Aaron stared at him for a moment, then shrugged. “Yeah, whatever.” He muttered and went to join Lesley playing beach volleyball.

Nick leaned back and stared out at the beach moodily. The morning’s event still rankled him, leaving him especially irritated. Some gratitude, he thought sardonically. That’s for helping people out. She probably should have had what was coming for her. And this was supposed to be a great holiday.
Sighing, he put his headphones back on and leaned back, closing his eyes. Might as well get some tan before we go on the boat, he thought drowsily.

***********************

(Okay, I know it’s pretty unrealistic how he’s just relaxing on a public beach with no one swarming over him, but just go along with it, alright? I’ve got a lot on my mind)

Maddie had no idea who the guy was, or what he wanted from her. She was getting pretty fed up with men approaching her, and even though he was just there at the right time, she didn’t feel any particular gratitude towards him, whoever he was. Although, she did feel she had to thank the little guy. The Fatso had caught her quite by surprise- that man was everywhere!- and if he hadn’t been there, she might not have handled the situation.

All that was running through her head while hot sprays rained down on her, and when she stepped out of the shower, she was feeling moderately refreshed and last night’s incident was no more then a nightmare to her. But a real nightmare. Her hand stilled in the middle of a brush-stroke and her gaze drifted to the small note and the knife lying silently on her dresser. A shiver went through her and the dread filled her again. How long would she be hunted for this? When she had got into this deal, she went in practically with her eyes closed. How could she have been so stupid? How could she have fallen for anything as stupid as that?

Slowly she stood up and approached her wardrobe. Kneeling, she opened one of the drawers and lifted out some of her clothes. Her hand shook slightly as she lifted out the clear, plastic package and stared at the gleaming white powder nestled inside. The memory of knife flashing, gun exploding and cold darkness all blurred into one before her eyes. She squeezed them shut, hearing the screams all over again. It was a sound she couldn’t block out. When she opened her eyes, the bag was still there, in her hand, almost jeering her in its deadly perfect whiteness.

Luke died for this, she thought painfully. Was it really worth it? Was it worth her life as well? She looked up at the perfect blue sky and heard the noise of waves crashing against the beach.

Then she looked down at the bag.

She knew what she had to do.