Hurrying away from Maximus' room and down the stairs, tears blurring her vision, Laura headed for the front door of the tavern, trying to keep her composure long enough to make it to her room in the hotel without breaking down.
John, standing behind the bar, fixing Lachlan a drink, saw her come rushing down the stairs. He started towards her, realizing, to his horror, that Sid had moved near the door sometime earlier. John came around the bar to stop him, but it was too late.
Sid walked in front of the door, blocking Laura's path. Skidding to a stop, she blanched as he took hold of her wrist, pulling her into an intimate embrace. "Ah, cherie, don't cry," he said, his voice louder than normal, carrying through the bar. He kissed her softly on the cheek. "Maximus was no good for you anyway -- you know you're better off without him. Now that you've *had* the best with *me*, why settle for ordinary anymore?"
The bar went silent, and her face went white. Shock turned to rage as Laura growled, "You bastard!" as she pulled back and slapped him *hard* across the face. The sound echoed briefly in the room, and she looked around to see all the shocked stares and open mouths. "Damn you, Sid," she whispered, more tears slipping down her cheeks as she wrenched away from him and barreled out the door.
Sid, with the imprint of her hand outlined in pale blue on his face, merely chuckled. "Women. Can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em." He sighed. "We were just having a *lover's* quarrel. You know how it is. I should check and see how my *girlfriend* is doing." He moved to follow her, but John's hand, coming down on his shoulder, stopped him, whirling him around.
"Don't you DARE go out that door," John threatened. Then he looked over at the bar where Bud stood, astonished at what he'd just seen. "Bud!" He motioned the cop over. "Shut him up -- now. Stuff him in a closet or something until I get back."
He handed Sid over to Bud, who grabbed him by the lapels on his purple suit. "Sure thing." He looked at John. "What the hell's going on?"
"I'll explain later."
"Or I will," Sid grinned.
"Not another word, Sid," John said menacingly. "Not another fucking word!" He glared at Bud, who caught his drift. He hustled Sid into the back room as John ran out the door.
He ran flat out up the hill towards the hotel, and caught up with Laura three quarters of the way up.
Laura tried to hide her face as tears streamed down her cheeks. "John, please, just leave me alone."
"Geez, honey, I'm sorry; I was trying to keep an eye on Sid so he wouldn't bother you... Damn him!" John cursed. As she put her hand over her eyes, he added, "I take it that it didn't go well."
"No... Max told me to leave; he doesn't want to talk to me anymore." She sobbed, collapsing into his arms when he moved closer. "What am I going to do? I don't think he's going to forgive me for this!"
"Aw, hell." He held her close, patting her gently on the back as she sobbed into his shirt, dampening it. He sighed heavily. "I wish Tina was here to help."
"So do I..." She sniffled. "I don't belong here. I never should have come. I wish I'd never laid eyes on Sid -- I was a fool, and now I'm going to pay dearly for it..." Fresh tears flowed. "Maybe I should just go back home again. I barely unpacked anyway."
"No, don't leave. Give Maximus some time to let the shock wear off."
"I don't think more time's going to make a difference, not after what he said. He hates Sid, and now he hates me for being with him. He thinks I don't care about him or his feelings."
"Well, that's bull, and he knows it. Give him time to think it through -- I told you that before."
"The more time that goes by, the more chances Sid has of rubbing it in his face. Now everyone who was in the bar knows about the whole damn thing." She pulled back, drying her eyes, trying to get control again. "And god knows what Sid's saying right now." She looked down at the
tavern and shook her head. "How can I face everybody again?"
"Nobody's gonna hold it against you. We all know how Sid is."
She took a few deep breaths, settling down. "I hope you're right."
"I know I am. As soon as I'm sure you're okay, I'll go back down and do some 'damage control' -- explain what happened to everybody."
"Are you going to talk to Max too?"
He shook his head emphatically. "No way -- not tonight. He'll be too upset to be reasoned with. But I will talk to him later -- if you want me to."
She paused, then nodded, "Yea, maybe you can make him understand my side of it. I'd really appreciate it if you could. Thanks so much -- you've been great. Again." She managed a smile. "What would I do without you?"
John blushed a bit. "You'd manage... Why don't you go up and get some sleep now?"
"God, I don't think I can sleep, not after this." She pulled a Kleenex out of her pocket and blew her nose.
"You gonna be okay tonight?"
She nodded. "As good as I can be under the circumstances." She wiped at her eyes again. "I'm gonna go up and have a good cry -- and try to think up a reason to get out of bed tomorrow," she joked half-heartedly.
"I'll come check on you in the morning. Maybe once the dust settles from all this, you'll see it won't be so bad after all," he said. She just shrugged. "And maybe Tina will be back tomorrow."
"God, I hope so. Maybe I should send her some email telling her to get over here right away."
"If you do, tell her I said 'hi'... and that I - I miss her." John looked away, his cheeks turning pink.
Laura smiled warmly. "I know you do... I'll be sure to do that." She kissed him on the cheek briefly, then stepped away, backing towards the hotel. "Night, John. Thanks again."
"You're welcome. See you tomorrow." John watched as she continued up to the hotel, waiting until she had gone in the door before turning around and heading back down to the tavern. He shook his head, muttering, "What a day... I'm gonna kill the little bastard, I swear it..."
When John walked in the door of the tavern, conversation stopped as everyone turned to him. They -- Cort, Bud, Wendy, Jeffrey, Michelle, Colin, Peaches, Liz, Loria, Tammy, Lachlan, Trisha, Ilaria, Alex, Stef, Zach and Sy -- were all congregated together at the bar, obviously discussing what had happened. Bud came forward. "I did what you said -- locked him in the storage closet in the back. So what's up? Is there something going on with Sid and Laura -- or did Sid just make it up?"
John paused, pondering his next words. "No... Sid did not make it up." There were glances and whispers all around. "Look, I'm not going into all the details -- I don't even know them myself -- but the condensed version is that something *did* happen between Sid and Laura before she left last time..." He lowered his voice. "Now it's really none of my business -- or anyone else's -- *what* happened, but I know from talking to Laura that she regrets what she did. Especially since Sid's being even more of a pain in the ass that usual, as you just saw for yourself." He sighed. "Needless to say, I would *not* be telling you all this if it weren't for the fact that Sid will surely be spouting off with his own version of the truth... But on top of all that..." He looked up towards the second floor and Max's door. "Laura just told Max about it. Which is the reason why she went flying out of here like that."
Jeffrey shook his head. "I doubt Max took the news too well, considering how much he and Sid despise each other."
"Probably not -- but that's between them, Jeff. Let them work it out themselves." He took a deep breath. "In the meantime though, we're going to have to keep an eye on Sid -- and keep him away from Max as much as possible until this blows over."
"Sid's probably dyin' to rub it in Max's face," Colin said.
"Exactly," John said. "So I really don't think we want this place to turn into a war zone, do we?" People shook their heads. "Then do what you can to keep them away from each other." He looked around. "Anyway, end of speech. I just thought you all needed to know what's happening here..."
He stepped behind the bar, finishing up with the drink he had been fixing for Lachlan before he had been interrupted, and the group broke up, going back to their respective tables, talking quietly amongst themselves. Wendy and Jeffrey started the jukebox back up.
John looked at Bud and caught his eye, motioning him over. "What do you want me to do with Sid?" Bud asked.
"That's exactly what I wanted to talk to you about," John said quietly, so only Bud could hear. "We've got another problem I didn't mention."
Bud sighed. "Now what?"
"Where is he? Back there?" John pointed to the door to the office. Bud nodded, and John motioned for him to follow. They went into the office and closed the door behind them. Now John could hear Sid pounding on the door of the back closet. He spoke quietly. "Every time I think I've seen it all from Sid, he comes up with something new... Just do me a favor and don't go off on me when I tell you this, Bud."
Bud scowled. "That bad?"
"Judge for yourself." He went on to explain what Laura had told him about what Sid had said and done when she'd arrived earlier in the day.
Bud paced angrily. "Son of a bitch... That sounds like -- what do you call 'em now -- stalkers?" John nodded. "That kinda shit is part of his program too, isn't it?" John nodded again. "A girlfriend? Je-sus -- I thought that was a joke when he said it just now..." He started towards the closet. "I'm gonna break his face."
John caught his arm. "I asked you not go off on me. I need your *help*, and that's not gonna help things any."
"Then what's *your* solution?"
John sighed. "I don't know... We can't watch Sid 24 hours a day -- maybe someone should stay with her instead. You, me, Cort or Colin -- whoever."
Bud grinned briefly. "I doubt she'll mind that much."
"She'd mind it a lot less if it were Max."
Bud shook his head. "Yea... Lord, I can just imagine how he took *that* news... Not a pretty picture, I don't think."
"Didn't seem like it. Max is very black and white when it comes to Sid. He just doesn't get it yet... Getting used to Sid wasn't easy for any of us, but it's been even harder for Maximus since Sid's so jealous of him. He hasn't let up on Max since the minute he got here, and now he's going to have a field day with *this*."
"Not if I have anything to say about it..." Bud gestured towards the closet where Sid still pounded on the door, yelling to be let out. "Why don't we just leave him there until this blows over?"
"We can't just lock him up."
"Then somebody better go hide Max's swords."
There was a half-smile from John. "Not a bad idea." His smile faded as Sid's pounding resumed after a brief break. "We have to let him out."
Bud sighed. "I suppose so..." He went to the closet. "You gonna behave yourself if I let you out, Sid?" he said loudly.
"Get me the fuck out of here -- NOW, White!"
"That wasn't the answer I was looking for... Good night, Sid." He started to walk away. The door shook as Sid apparently threw himself at it, cursing again. The doorknob rattled furiously... Then the whole handle fell out onto the floor. But the door stayed locked.
"Damn it, White! Unlock this door!!"
John rolled his eyes. "Great." He got a screwdriver from the office tool box, and went to work on the lock, kneeling in front of the door. After a few minutes of effort, the lock released. John stood up as Sid shoved the door open, barely missing hitting John in the nose.
Sid barely gave the sheriff a second glance as he got in Bud's face. "The hell is your problem?"
John barely suppressed a smile at the blue handprint on Sid's cheek.
"I was about to ask you the same question." Bud grabbed Sid by the collar, shoving him against the wall. "It's not enough that you have to be a royal pain in the ass -- now you gotta start threatening the ladies."
Sid looked confused. "I haven't threatened anybody."
"The hell you haven't -- when you talked to Laura earlier today, you scared her half to death."
Sid pulled away from Bud, stepping forward and straightening his suit. "Obviously you've been misinformed. My conversation with Laura was of a personal nature. You've mistaken my persistence for aggression."
"The woman doesn't want you -- get that through your head. She's with Max."
Sid smiled. "I believe what you saw a few minutes ago disproves that."
"I also saw her slap you -- that disproves your theory."
"Merely a lover's quarrel, as I said. She's just playing hard to get."
Bud was becoming enraged. "SID...!"
John stepped forward. "Let me try... Look, Sid, just listen to me -- "
"No," Sid interrupted, folding his arms across his chest, glaring at them both. "YOU listen to ME... This is my home too, and I have as much right to be here as anyone else. And I'm tired of the rest of you trying to tell me what to do. In case it escaped your notice, John, I did not force Laura into *anything*. She came to me voluntarily, of her own free will." Sid smirked. "Quite voluntarily, actually, so don't bother trying to insinuate I forced my affections on her."
"I'm not," John said. "I agree that whatever went on between you two before she left *is* your business. BUT, Sid -- now listen to this carefully -- " Sid rolled his eyes. "BUT... that does *not* give you the right to harass her now that she's back. She decided to stay solo with Max, so that means she doesn't want to see you anymore. So that means you leave her alone -- do *not* talk to her. Do... you... understand, Sid...?" John said, slowly, enunciating every syllable.
Sid's eyes burned with anger. "Don't patronize me, hockey-boy." John barely reacted to that, and Sid continued, "The double standards you employ are truly amazing."
"And what 'double standard' would that be?" John asked.
"If the situation had been reversed, where she had been with me first, and then slept with Maximus..." He stopped and cocked his head. "Although *that* would never happen," Sid grinned. "Once she'd had the best, she'd never bother with the second string."
Bud rolled his eyes. "Get to the point."
Sid ignored the interruption. "If Maximus was in my position, every one of you would be cheering him on -- 'Way to go, Max... Go for it, Max," he said with a mocking voice. "The more outlandish he was in trying to win her over, the more you'd applaud, because you'd think it was 'romantic'... It could be truly sickening, but you wouldn't bat an eye. But *me* -- of course you always assume the worst."
"Given your history, how could we assume anything *but* the worst," Bud quipped.
"I have done nothing but explain to her the benefits of being with me over Maximus."
"Oh, I think you've done a hell of a lot more than that," John said. "You keep bugging her, even though she's told you to stay the hell away from her."
Sid grinned. "I don't put much stock in that, considering she was also telling me that five minutes before she took my pants off and begged me to bang her on the cellar floor."
Bud leaned in, pointing a finger right in his face. "You watch your mouth!"
John moved between them, pushing them apart. "I don't give a damn what happened before. Right *now*, she's telling you stay away, and that's what you're going to do... Besides, your argument would be a hell of a lot more convincing if you didn't have her handprint on your face." He had to force himself not to smile at the bright blue mark across Sid's cheek.
"What?" Sid walked across the room to a small mirror on the wall, and studied his reflection. "Oh... That's easily taken care of... " He raised a hand to his face, running it over the mark. Bud and John watched Sid's face shift for a moment -- then the blue mark vanished, and the normal skin tone returned as if nothing had ever happened. Then he turned back to them. "This is becoming tiresome, gentlemen. Whether Laura wants to be with Maximus or not has become a moot point -- he clearly has *rejected* her -- and, seeing as she is now free, I am perfectly within my rights to pursue her further. And it is not for either one of you to say otherwise."
"The hell it isn't!" Bud argued. "I think the next addition we make around here should be a prison! How'd you like to share a cell with Hando?"
Sid merely laughed. "Amusing thought, Wendell." He pushed past them, moving towards the door.
"Hold on," Bud said, moving to block his way again. "You're not leaving this room until you agree to leave Laura and Max alone!"
"For tonight and tomorrow morning," John added. Bud protested, but John continued, "Sid *is* right -- we all have free run of the place, even him." He turned to Sid. "Just stay clear of them until about noon tomorrow. Max and Laura are off-limits."
Bud grimaced. "What good is that gonna do?"
"It's better than nothing," John sighed. "What else can we do? Whether we like it or not, we can't lock him up." He turned to Sid. "Can you at least abide by *that*?"
Sid glared at Bud. "Even though some people refuse to believe it, I *can* be a reasonable man." He looked back at John and sighed. "I agree -- noon tomorrow."
John looked skeptical. "You'll stay in your room until then?"
"In my room?", Sid scowled, then nodded. "Agreed." He turned back to Bud. "*Now* do I have your permission to leave, Officer?", he said sarcastically. "Or are you going to try to stuff me back in the closet again?"
"Don't tempt me!"
"Bud..." John said quietly, and Bud looked at him. "Let it go -- for now."
Bud stared at Sid for a few moments longer, then sighed heavily. "Fine." He walked towards the door. "But you're going up with an escort. I'm gonna make damn sure you keep your promise and don't go near Max's door."
Sid just glared back, and sauntered towards the door to the bar. He passed Bud without a word, opening the door and heading out into the tavern, Bud and John close behind. The lively conversation that was going on between the many patrons stopped once again as everyone watched Sid and his escorts make their way up to the second floor.
The room was still quite silent a minute later when John and Bud returned. They both went behind the bar, pouring themselves a stiff drink, and Colin asked, "What the hell was that all about?"
John sighed wearily, started to open his mouth... Then closed it again. "I'll explain in the morning," he said, rubbing his throbbing head. Colin raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything, instead turning back to Michelle and resuming their conversation.
But Bud didn't help John's headache at all when he stepped closer, growling, "Noon? What the hell was *that*, John!? Don't you know what the little prick is going to do at 12:01 tomorrow afternoon!?"
John turned and glared. "Whatever it is, we'll deal with it at 12:02. Look, I just wanted to get him to back off. You know Sid -- he doesn't give a damn if it's the middle of the night -- he'd be knocking on Max's door right now if I hadn't gotten him to agree to wait."
"But it's only 12 hours -- what good does that do?"
"It gives Laura and Max time to collect themselves, even if it is a short time. We can't just lock Sid up for the duration, Bud, and you know it."
"But --"
"Can it, Bud!" John snapped, his nerves frayed. "I don't want to hear it. Whatever's going to come of this, we'll deal with it tomorrow." He rubbed his temple again. "Right now I'm going to try to get rid of this damn headache and get some sleep. I suggest you do the same." He threw back a shot of whiskey, then headed off to his room on the second floor...
Late the next morning, there was a knock at the door, and Laura, who was still in bed, staring blankly at the wall, ignored it at first. Then the knock became more insistent, and a voice called through the door. "Laura...? You okay?" It sounded like John, but she wasn't sure. But it definitely was not Maximus. She lay there for a few seconds, then sighed and rolled out of bed. As she stumbled towards the door, there was a louder rap on the door. "Hang on; I'm coming," she said, pausing in front of the mirror. Wincing at her reflection, she roughly combed her hair into place, knowing she looked like hell with her puffy, bloodshot eyes, a result of crying most of the night and morning.
She looked down at herself, deciding that the black nightshirt, which nearly reached her knees and covered her top quite modestly, was okay for company. Then she moved to the door, opening it just enough to peer out at the person in the hallway. "Hello, John."
"Good morning," he smiled, sounding irritatingly cheerful.
"That's a matter of opinion... Frankly, life sucks right now."
He smiled sympathetically. "Yea, I suppose it does... Can I come in?"
She paused briefly, then sighed. "Yea, sure; why not?" She stepped aside, opening the door. John came in, and she closed the door behind him.
"How are you doing?" John asked. "Sid didn't bother you anymore last night, did he?"
"Thankfully, no." She looked at him. "You don't have to do this, you know."
"Do what?" he asked, a bit too innocently.
"Baby-sit. You already went above and beyond the call of duty last night, John. I'm sure you're sick of playing referee between me and Sid and Max. You don't have to hang around."
"I told you before -- Tina would want me to keep an eye on you until she gets back."
"That's sweet of you." She managed a brief smile. "But I don't feel like talking much. I appreciate your concern, but..."
"I know, I know... You just want to be alone and sulk," he said with a slight smile.
"Basically, yea." She rubbed her bloodshot eyes.
John sighed. "I wish there was something I could do.... Were you able to get a hold of Tina?"
She nodded. "By email, yes -- hopefully she'll be coming back later today. And before you ask, yes, I told her that you said you missed her." She managed a smile. "And she said to tell you she misses you too." John beamed at that, and she added, "Well, it's nice to know *somebody's* enjoying themselves around here..." She walked over to the sofa and plopped down onto it. "I need drink."
John's brow furrowed. "It's 9:30 in the morning."
"And your point is...?" She sighed. "You know, I normally never drink, but right now, I just want to get wasted and forget everything that's happened. And forget how badly I screwed up my life."
He sat down beside her on the sofa. "You can't sit here all day and wallow in it."
"Why not...?" She sniffed, rubbing her eye. "I really think I should just go, John -- leave the CrowesNest and not come back. I don't want to stay here if Max won't even speak to me. And I sure as hell don't want to deal with Sid anymore."
John scowled. "Oh, come on. You can't let Sid win." He raised an eyebrow. "So get dressed, and come with me down to the rink; we'll go skating together. It'll take your mind off things."
She grimaced. "Ice skating? I don't think so; I told you, I don't like hockey."
"I'm not asking you to play -- just come out with me and get some exercise."
She shook her head. "Uh, John... I can't skate..."
His eyebrows climbed. "You can't?"
"No, never learned, not even roller skating or roller-blading. And definitely not ice-skating -- I had weak ankles when I was a kid."
"Well, all the more reason to come with -- I'll teach you."
She shook her head again. "I don't think so. Spending the morning falling on my ass is not my idea of fun."
John sighed, folding his arms across his chest. "You need to get out of this room -- I'm not leaving until you say yes."
"Then you're going to be here a while." John stared at her, raising an eyebrow, until she finally said, "Okay, okay -- you win. I'll go. Just so long as you promise not to laugh at me when I ended up spending the whole time polishing the ice with my butt."
John chuckled, then stopped himself. "I promise, I won't."
"Guess I better get dressed." She got up and headed for the bedroom. Then she stopped. "Have... Have you seen him this morning?"
"Max?" Laura nodded. "No, I haven't. Alex said he saw him leave before dawn. Scato is gone from the stables, so we figure he's out riding."
She wandered over to the window, looking out. "I hope he's okay..." She was quiet for a few moments, then turned back. "What about Sid?"
"Don't you worry about Sid -- we'll deal with him."
"How?"
"Whatever way we have to. Don't concern yourself with him." He stood up. "Now are you going to get dressed, or are you just trying to stall?"
"Okay, I'm going," she said with a slight smile, then disappeared into the bedroom.
After a quick shower and a change of clothes, she headed downstairs with John. Before they headed to the rink, John insisted she eat something however. So after a quick bite in the restaurant, they headed out.
Just as they were walking down the front steps of the hotel, Bud was approaching. "Just the person I was looking for," he said, nodding to Laura.
"Are you checking up on me *too*?" she asked.
"Well, uh... Yea, I guess so," Bud admitted, then turned to John. "Everything's okay?"
"I'm still in one piece, if that's what you mean, Bud," she said, smiling slightly. It was difficult *not* to be cheered up by the two of them being so concerned about her. "John talked me into going skating. Actually, *he's* going to skate -- I'm just going to slide around the ice on my butt since I don't know how to skate."
John smiled. "I going to teach her -- and you ought to come too. You never learned either."
Bud scowled. "Some other time."
Laura took his arm. "Oh, come on, Bud; join us. I could use the support -- literally. I'll need someone to hang onto to keep from falling!"
He shook his head. "No way. You're not getting me on a pair of skates."
Laura reached over and took John's arm too, pulling him closer. "I thought you guys were supposed to be cheering me up."
"Yea, Bud; you're supposed to be cheering her up," John grinned, a little too broadly, she thought. "You can't turn the lady down in her hour of need."
"Oh, no," Bud protested. "You're *not* getting me to do this -- that's low, John."
Laura suspected there was more going on here than met the eye, but one thing was certain -- Bud did *not* want to go skating, which seemed to make John more determined to see it happen. Deciding to play along with John, she gave Bud a forlorn look, hanging on his arm. "Bud, *please*... Come with me; I could really use the company. Yesterday was really awful, you know."
Bud grimaced. "Aw, geez, honey..." He looked into her wide, melancholy eyes... And she watched him melt. "Shit..." He sighed heavily. "All right, all right... I'll go."
"Thank you," she smiled, standing up on tiptoe to kiss him on the cheek. "You're a sweetheart, Bud."
As Bud's face flushed, John grinned, adding, "Yea, Bud; you're a sweetheart."
Bud turned a cold eye on John. "Just shut up... I don't want to hear another word outta you about this!"
"Who, me?" John said innocently.
She glanced between the two, brow furrowing. "Did I miss something?"
Bud gave John a dirty look before answering, "Nothin', honey. Don't worry about it." John merely laughed, and led them all down the path towards the ice rink.
A few moments later, they heard the drone of an engine in the distance, and looked skyward towards its source. Along the horizon, they spotted the silhouette of a bi-plane, and watched as it flew towards them. Shielding her eyes against the sun, Laura followed its progress, her eyes widening a bit as the plane swooped down abruptly, heading straight for them. The plane's wheels seemed to be skimming the ground as it neared, and they all ducked, throwing their arms over their heads as the plane whizzed over their heads.
Laura heard Bud mutter a few obscenities as they all stood again, turning to watch the plane fly away, narrowly missing the top of the hotel as it climbed skyward again. The pilot waved to them, waggling the plane's wings before he made a leisurely turn, heading out into the distance.
Bud shook his head and sighed, "I hate it when he does that."
Laura watched as the plane disappeared from view. "Lachlan?"
"Who else?" John said, chuckling.
Smiling, Laura said, "That looks like such fun! I love to fly..."
"Have you mentioned that to Lachlan?" John asked.
"No; it never came up." Her face brightened. "Do you think he'd take me for a ride if I asked?"
Bud laughed. "Try and stop him. He loves to take people up with him -- especially the ones of the female gender -- and show off. Just be careful that he doesn't get too carried away, or you might end up tossing your cookies over the side of the plane," he chuckled.
She shook her head. "I doubt that'll happen to me; I've got a cast-iron stomach."
"You'll need it," Bud chuckled as they set off for the ice rink again...
/Where had John wandered off to?// Michelle wondered as she strode briskly down the gently-sloping path from the hotel, heading over towards the ice rink. He wasn't in the Tavern, and a check of the hotel had revealed he was not there either. But, then, neither was Laura, so she figured it was a pretty good bet John was with her -- particularly since he had said that he was going to keep an eye on Laura for a while, at least until Tina came back.
Michelle sighed, rubbing her bloodshot eyes. She hadn't gotten much sleep last night; no one had, not after what had happened with Sid and Laura and Maximus. They were all still in shock over the turn of events.
Sid had certainly outdone himself *this* time, she thought to herself, shaking her head. With his *very* public announcement last night when he'd accosted Laura -- as she tried to leave the Tavern after her argument with Maximus -- Sid had managed to humiliate both her and the Spaniard in one fell swoop. She still cringed when she thought of the look on Laura's face when Sid had announced to the whole world that she'd slept with him. She wanted to strangle Sid for doing that to her friend right after what had surely been a terrible scene with Maximus.
No one had seen the Spaniard since then, and she could only hope that he was all right. But judging by the tears on Laura's face as she'd left his room, she doubted Maximus was doing very well right now either. He was a proud man, and doubtless the news that Laura had been with Sid had come as a shock. Although she understood why he would be furious, she also understood how it could happen. Sid, although a bit of a snake at times, was also as 'beautiful' as he often boasted he was. Although she was a bit surprised that Laura had slept with Sid, it nonetheless did not come as a shock to her, considering the obvious attraction for Sid that Laura had exhibited when she had first seen 'Virtuosity' that day after their trip to the beach. Sid could be quite the charmer when he wanted to be -- and since it had been Laura's first exposure to the CrowesNest and all it's residents, it was easy to see how she had been overwhelmed by all the delicious temptations here. With all the various incarnations of Russell Crowe practically at her fingertips, the fact that Laura had surrendered to temptation with Sid was almost inevitable.
Unfortunately, she doubted Maximus would see it that way -- and Michelle sighed. She didn't want to think that it was impossible for the two to reconcile, but it certainly would be an uphill climb...
Nearing the ice rink, Michelle entered through a side door. There was a short flight of stairs up to the main level, and she climbed them quietly, then stepped out into the back of building. She looked around, quickly spotting three people at the far end of the ice. There was John, all right, just as she had predicted. And Laura too. But when she realized who the third person was, she clapped her hand over her mouth to keep from crying out in amazement.
It was Bud!
"Oh, my god!" Michelle muttered to herself, laughing quietly. "How the hell did John get *him* out there?" She chuckled as she watched Bud hanging onto the boards, desperately trying to stay upright, angrily waving off John's attempts to help. "Oh, they're never gonna believe this!" she muttered, then dashed back down the stairs and out the door before she was spotted, heading back to the Tavern. She ran all the way, giggling, and burst through the front door.
"You *gotta* come see this!" she announced to the startled group.
"Whoa, love," Colin said, sliding off his barstool to join her. "Where's the fire?"
"Come see what?" Stef said.
"It's Bud," Michelle said with a huge grin. "In the *ice rink*. I think Laura and John talked him into going *skating*...!"
"Damn!" Cort said. "I didn't think that was possible!" He got up from the table where he'd been sitting with Syrena. "This, I *do* have to see!"
"Me too!" came a chorus of voices from Colin, Syrena, Jeff Mitchell, Stef and Trisha. Colin put his arm around Michelle, "Lead on, darlin'," he said as they all headed out the door.
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