Work sucked. Because the intern can do what needs to be done but he can’t work like Thorn could. So in the week she’d been gone, the work had piled up on the corner of her desk. She’d struggled all day, skipping lunch to try and catch up, aware that maybe skipping lunch wasn’t good, since now she wasn’t just eating for her but for a baby too. That’s another thing. She spent a half an hour in Perrie’s office.

“Your pregnant that’s wonderful Thorn!” Grinning, sincere.

“Thanks.”

“Your happy aren’t you?”

I’m very happy, just a little bit tired.”

“If you don’t mind, is it that hansom young man whose always picking you up?”

Thorn just smiled at her, lowered her eyes a little. Thorn and Gunn had already discussed this, they would let people draw there own conclusions. Let people believe that Gunn was the father, because if you remove the technicalities, such as it was Raven who spawned the child, Gunn would be the father. It had taken a big weight off of her shoulders when Perrie squealed in delight and assumed that the smile meant it was Gunn’s child. She then spent an hour while Thorn worked, asking questions about Gunn.

Finally, when the office closed, Thorn rushed to the truck, outrunning more questions and pulled out of the parking lot. Looking at the clock on the dash, she knew that Gunn would be tied up at the Gallery for another hour so she decided to go to the store, pick up whatever would be needed to make enchiladas for tonight dinner. If he didn’t want that, she’d find something else to make, but at this point she was starving. And enchiladas always filled her up.

She crossed the parking lot, two paper bags in her arms, one plastic bag hanging from her fingers, walking towards the truck. She’s dressed in a gray shirt that hands just below the knees in a straight line that compliments her well, makes her look a little taller. Her shirt has a scoop neck and three quarter sleeves. On her wrist is a sports watch, nothing on the other wrist, none of her fingers, nothing around her throat except for that pale thin scar. Her thick, curly hair hangs down her back untied.

Of coarse Viv is lurking out in the parking lot, for multiple reasons. She had meant what she'd told Thorn's brother, she wasn't going to make things easy for him, even if he was the lesser of two evils. She also needed to burst the bubble, so to speak, while she couldn't tell Thorn everything, she could warn the girl that she still wasn't entirely safe.

She's sitting on the hood of her truck with two reciept books reconciling them while she keeps an eye on Thorn. Yes Viv can multi task.

She doesn't even look up from what she's doing as she sits there. She doesn't raise her voice when she speaks either, but she knows she'll have Thorn's undivided attention directly. "You didn't say anything about a baby."

Thorn didn't pause or hesitate when she saw Viv. Had she seen Viv first last time, she might have hesitated, walked away, due to Gunn's warnings not to approach her. Now Thorn had a feeling that while Viv is probably more dangerous then Gunn thinks, she isn't going to hurt them. Someone else maybe, but not them.

So upon reaching the truck, she set down one of the paper bags lifted the plastic bag into the back, paused at Viv's words for a moment of thought. "No. I didn't." Then she lifted both paper bags into the truck bed and walked around to the front to stand in front of Gunn's sister.

"Did you talk to Gunn?" It's the only way she can think that Viv would know she was pregnant. But then...Dan had found out before even her somehow.

"Nope, nice shooting by the way." Viv says. Should clear up who she heard that tidbit from. "But Gatt should call me." she says as an after thought. She sets the receipt books down next to her. They make a soft slap on the hood of the truck. (I must point out so there is no confusion that Viv is sitting on her own truck, not Thorn's)

(ah. There was confusion then. LOL)

Thorn stared at her for a moment through foggy gray eyes. If Viv hadn't had her total attintion before, she certinly had it now. She's not had enough sleep in the past few days and this bit of information was not going to help. He shifted her weight, watched Viv put aside her book.

"I'll tell him to call you. When did you talk to him?" Viv should know which answer was for which comment.

"Few days ago, he was looking for you, good thing you moved. I doubt it will slow him down for long.....I can watch out for you, but two of you, seperate places, and the need for sleep occaisonally, I can't promise to keep him away, I will do my best though."She says. That's just how Viv is, brutally honset. She'd rather have them know then leave them unprepared, Gunn did have a bad habit of being too confident in Viv's abilities at times. She'd discuss that with him later.

"You need anything?" Viv asks with a slight nod towards Thorn's stomach.

He was looking for you.

"Figures." She crossed her arms over her stomach because with a fair chest and a gun under one arm, it was a little difficult to cross them over her chest. She's a little suprised when Viv mentions bassically trying to protect them, her and Gunn. Suprised because she'd known Viv and Dan were following them, she didn't know that either of them was trying to help them. She'd just thought Viv was lurking about too keep close to Gunn.

"I uh...thanks, Viv." What else could she say. Then the nod to her stomach seemed to fluster her slightly too. She isn't really used to people outside of Gunn acknowlegeing she's pregnant yet. "I...no. Not really. I just need to eat soon." She hesitated. "Would you even consider it if I asked you to come to dinner?" She's not giving up on Gunn, still trying to get Viv to see him.

"Don't thank me yet.....thank me If I suceed. Dinner, Not on your life....."She doesn't sound too firm on it, it's tempting for her to say yes, but she's hesitant to lead anyone to their new house inadvetantly.....she's tracked down where it is but not which one.

"Maybe sometime, someplace public, but not yet." Viv says. Non-commital in everyway but not flat out refusals as the first time they'd talked.

"Go home. Eat. Be careful though, I think you know your brother isn't your biggest worry, I'll try and keep him away and let him run interferance with your other problems. " Viv says. Not very comforting, but again, Viv isn't one to molly coddle people. "If there's a problem, call me, whatever time it is." she says.

"Maybe," she replied, smiling just a little, but it didn't reach her eyes. Well, at least this time Viv hadn't flatly turned her offers to meet Gunn down. At least this time it was a possibility for next time right? Then she said what she did about Dan. Yes. She knew he wasn't her only problem, or her biggest problem. He was like a buffer for her though. He kept the biggest problems at bay by doing the dirty work for them.

When she'd been younger she'd hated him because he hit her. Now she actually loved him for it. As long as he is hitting her, her father isn't. And Dan's hard, but Dad's harder.

"I don't want Dannie hurt more then he has to be." Nice way of saying if you mean to hurt him, don't. The bigger problem hurts him enough. I'll try and keep him away. Let him run interferance to the other problem. "I always have." It sounded sad. She'd like to stand up and fix that problem, but she knows it's impossible for her to do.

Dannie.... well now she knows a name.....though she may still call him whipping boy.....she doesn't mean it in a moching way either, just a sad statement of the truth.

"That's why Gatt should call me, I think he needs it broken down itty bitty so he can swallow it." Because the truth is Viv has no plans on hurting Thorn's brother as long as he stays out of her way when she goes after the larger prey and leaves Gunn alone as much as possible in light of the situation.

Viv realizes either Thorn or Dannie standing up to the parents may be an exercise in futility.....she doesn't view her own plans that way though, she's willing to forfeit her life to get it done. She really hasn't anything else to live for.....unless she looked forward to becoming a soulless, heartless, creation of her father. She planned on leaving this life on her own terms. She wasn't about to let anyone know that though. They might try to stop her......she could accept that if there were something left in her to salvage, but she really doesn't believe there is anymore.

"I mean it, though, you call me if you need to. Now go eat, try not to worry too much, I'll look out for your brother as much as I can." she says solemnly.

"Viv."

She said it softly, stood there for a moment, her gray eyes seemeing to be assessing the other woman. Finally she sighed. "You can't take care of everyone. It's just not possible." She dropped her gaze, brought it back with some effort. "Not and not let anyone take care of you too."

"Dannie and Gunn won't let me get hurt. And Dannie's not a kid. He's good at everything he does," including being a lawyer, a killer, and a buffer between her and her parents. "He's been doing it for years. Just...watch out for Gunn. I think....he's distracted. He needs it more then me." At least, so she thought.

When isn't Gattie distracted with soemone else's well being? Viv mused to herself.

"I can take care of Gattie." She said. She always had, if Gatt only knew how much.....Viv hoped he never learned it. Marco knew part of it, and it was why he wouldn't talk to the others.

The simple truth is Viv had always taken care of the others, her lapse in doing so had created all the problems, had she stayed Gatt would have never left, Turner wouldn't have left his family and his tutor job to run off with her, and fewer people would be dead. A lapse in responsibility had caused this, she could fix it though.....that was the only consolation she was free, and had the free will and the means to fix it. The only one who's life wouldn't be changed was Marco.

"Goodnight Thorn." she said getting in her own truck with the receipt books in hand.

She watched her. As long as she could take care of Gunn, Thorn would be happy. That's all she wanted. Or one of the things. Two of which Viv could help. She wanted Gunn safe, and then when her baby was born, she wanted Gunn and the baby safe. That's all. The other thing she wanted was to kill. Raven to be specific.

"Goodnight Viv." She turned and climbed into the truck. Shit. She was going to be late picking Gunn up. Oh well, he'd understand if he wasn't worrying himself sick. And it was worth it to bring him news about Viv again.