Jetta was not pleased with herself at all. In point of fact, she was downright furious, though she was almost as angry with the stupid drunk as she was with herself. It was his fault as much as it was hers. More, even, because if he weren't so easy to manipulate, cute, and hadn't gotten drunk, she wouldn't be in this fix.

Don't we love the blame game?

And she had to get rid of it. Now. Preferably before Hunter, Darcy, and Alec found out what had happened. She hadn't succeeded in sleeping with any of them yet, and it would be very difficult to convince any of them to remain hers once they found out. If they thought it was theirs, they might be more cooperative.

Might.

And then there was the whole getting fat and ugly thing. And the pain involved at the end of things. She'd just as soon not have to deal with that at all, thanks.

So, here she was. On her way to the abortion clinic, already almost halfway there. And she hadn't even bothered to look for the only man who could be the father.

Self-centered witch.

Jetta might be pleased to know that Teague agreed entirely with her, on the subject of who was to blame. He considered it entirely his fault - he shouldn't have gotten blind drunk. He shouldn't let himself be manipulated. He shouldn't have - well, you get it. He'd heard the results in the same way he got all his news - through the wind. He'd thought it couldn't be true, at first, but the winds never lied. Never.
This was his mistake, and he was damn well going to do something about it.
This time, Jetta wouldn't have her way.

Even if Jetta wasn't looking for him, Teague was looking for her. He wasn't sure where she was headed, but he could make a damn good guess, and he wasn't going to let her reach this destination. He was nearly jogging down the street, an unusually brisk pace for a man who usually ambled and slouched and meandered his way along. He spotted Jetta and redoubled the pace until he caught up with her. He grabbed her shoulder, and, panting a little, said sternly, "Stop. Wait a second. Just - just stop. Not another step, Jetta love."

The term of endearment was just an accident. He certainly didn't mean it.

"What do you want?"

She's had all she wants from him--and more. There's no reason in the world for her to keep up the honey-sweet act around him. (Never mind that he already knows perfectly well that it is indeed an act.)

"Let go of me."

That is an order, delivered in a coldly furious voice and with probably the closest to a scowl that her too-perfect face ever sports.

He didn't let go. In fact, his hold tightened, as if he was afraid she'd bolt.

"What do I want?" he repeated her question, frowning. His eyes no longer held a sleepy look, but it wasn't an angry look either. His eyes were fully open, and his gaze so sharp it could cut. "First, I want to apologize. I'm a bloody idiot and I should never have slept with you. I should have gotten out of that bar the second I knew you were in the room, and I didn't. And I'm sorry for that."

He paused, and took a breath.
"Second, I want to know where you're going. Tell me. And don't you dare lie."

"Fine, you've apologized. And, not that it's any of your business, but I'm going to take care of the little problem that was the result of your stupidity." Yep, now the blame is firmly on Teague's shoulders. Just the way Jetta would prefer it.

"Now let go!"

He's right to tighten his hold. She would be just as pleased to take off running--or almost running, because, well, you can't run in high heels--if he weren't holding on to her and preventing it.

"It is my business."
He didn't let go, but he didn't tighten his hold. He was afraid he would hurt her, and then she'd scream and probably pretend he was going to assault her, and then there would be police and restraining orders... Maybe it was only his imagination, but he was going to try and be cautious about this anyway.

"It's my business - and the 'little problem' as you speak of it-" he felt a chill at her words. He didn't like the situation any more than she did, but she was so cold, "-Yes, a result of my stupidity. I agree. My mistake. And as such,... I've got to take care of it myself. I can't let you do this, Jetta."

"You don't have any right to stop me! Let go!"

Jetta is angry--and getting just a little bit frightened. How'd he know to come looking for her, anyway?

"I'm going to take care of it, and then I'm going to forget it ever happened. Along with you."

Harsh, isn't she.

"No. No you're not," he frowned at her, the dark streak of hair floating in front of his eyes looking like the bars of a cage. Convenient, seeing as he was trying very hard to contain himself. He wasn't quite ready to threaten her. He was going to try reasoning with her for a moment more, then move on to threats.
And, as a last resort, pleading, but he hoped it wouldn't come to that.

"Jetta - you can not do this. I will take care of it. You can't just- terminate something like this. I'll do whatever it takes, d'you understand?"

"If you can carry the thing, you're welcome to it, but unless you can come up with a way to take it out of my body and put it in yours, I'm getting rid of it."

She attempted to jerk away from him and out of his grasp, now scowling in earnest--though somehow she still made it attractive. Call it natural talent, I guess--and considering stamping one of those wicked high heels on his foot.

"Let me go!"

"Ow, shit!" he hissed, pulling away and hopping slightly on one foot. He still refused to let go - in fact, he was leaning on her. "That was so uncalled-for! Reap what you sow, they say..."
A grimace creased his face for a moment, but it quickly vanished under the dark scowl that appeared there. Damn, that had hurt. He squeezed her shoulder, leaning in close. "So riddle me this. I know everything about you, Jetta. I know your friends,... I know where to find your family. I know your secrets. Do you know how easy it would be for me to tell them?"

He snapped the fingers of his free hand.
"Easy like that. So listen to me."
He fixed her with his most intense look. His voice had taken on a deep, even tone - hypnotic, almost. "You're not to go to that clinic, now or ever. Once the months are up - I'll take care of everything. I'll do everything I can, during those months. Afterwards, you won't ever have to see me again. Agree?"

"Prove it," she hissed. Anybody could say they knew all that stuff, but did he really know it?

(She is fairly frightened, by the way. Teague is intense, and she's suddenly remembering that he knew her name without her telling him the other evening. If he knows that... What's to stop him from... from doing... anything he wants?)

She's still not going to back down without a fight, though.

"Okay. For starters- Hunter. Darcy. Alec,... And once upon a time, Keye. And Dave, but not anymore. Just a few names. You don't love any of them - they're your toys. You took Darcy back to your apartment after he got in a fight. You made out for a while then sent him home. You met Keye on the street with a dog collar on his neck. You abandoned him. Look, you're every kind of bitch there is, and I know of all of them," he said, his voice low and threatening. "And I can make it so everyone knows it. You can say goodbye to any chance you have of ever getting together with anyone. Ever. And I'll do it, too. Don't think I won't."

Pause.

"... you're a fucking stalker..."

Well, he's convinced her that he's serious. Still...

"Who'd believe you, anyway? You're just a hobo."

And she's falling back on bravado. She really doesn't want this baby, you know.

But... he's scary.

"You believe me," he said darkly, "Or you will, if you don't already. Listen. You remember Daniel? Poor bastard who killed himself... Yeah, you remember Daniel. You do."

He glared at her. She hadn't wanted to listen to reason, so he'd moved on to threats. Threats were usually the best way to go, though he didn't like to use them. "So, let me say this again. You're not going to the clinic. I ask for these nine months, and that's all. I will do anything I can for you during that time. Afterwardss, everything will be my responsibility. Like I said -you need never see me again. I won't see you. And it won't be a second too soon, trust me."

She hissed an expletive and glared at him further. However, he was right. She did believe him, and she wasn't about to risk having all her dirty laundry aired where potential toys could see it and get smart.

Sigh.

"Fine. You win. I'll carry this stupid thing to term." A slightly (okay, more than slightly) wicked gleam crept into her eyes.

"And you will do what I say for the next nine months, or so help me, I'll get you into a custody battle if you want to 'take care of everything.'" She could deal with having a baby--which she could always fob off on her mother, who would love to have a granddaughter to spoil--to spite him, if she were angry enough.

"Like I said- whatever you need. Within reason, of course. But I'll do everything withing my power," he said, his expression and tone very neutral, though he'd noticed that odd look in her eyes. He brushed his hair off his face so he could see her more clearly. "Within my power - and within reason. You can't, for example, ask me to go kill myself. But just about anything else - you've got it."

The gleam intensified.

"Don't you know, honey? Pregnant ladies never ask for anything reasonable."

If she's going to be stuck pregnant, she's going to milk it for all that it's worth.

Now she just has to figure out what to do about Alec and Darcy and Hunter. Growl.

"'Reasonable' and 'within reason' are two different things," he said almost teasingly, wagging a finger at her. Now that she'd agreed to keep the 'stupid thing', the most serious part of the discussion was over, and he could allow himself to act a little more like his usual lighthearted self. In a way, Teague won't object to having to submit to Jetta's every whim. He'd consider it a just punishment for being such an idiot as he's been.

Just wait until six months in and he's being sent out for pickles and ice cream at all hours of the night, every day. And Jetta's likely to make up things that she wants, just because she wants to make him miserable.

"Hah. Just wait, honey."

Jetta is vindictive, in a bitchy, petty sort of way.

"Wait? That I will."
I'll be counting the days.

"Well, whenever you need me, just call me," he said, shrugging a shoulder, "I'll be prompt as possible." Which means he's probably going to be hovering around her. He couldn't be at the other end of the city when she was looking for him - it would take too long to reach her. He wasn't going to risk displeasing her, as much as he would like to. He knew perfectly well she was a bitch,.. it was just too bad he'd put himself in her power, so to speak.

"You better be."

Jetta really did mean that she would drag him into a legal battle if he didn't cater to her every whim. I'm sure Teague knows who the courts would award custody, too...

"Ciao, darling."

I wonder which of them dislikes the other more.

"Goodbye, love," he said, staying where he was to watch her leave, and feeling both ill and happy at the same time. Well, look what you've done to yourself now, Eamon... he thought, absently scratching at the back of his hand. That's what happens,... you're just lucky you've got the chance to make the best of your mistake...