CBC - Origins

Hando  (by: Sue ©05/2005)

The cold spray of sea water on my face brought me around. I pulled the knife from my back, heedless that my action could make me bleed more. A fit of rage gave me the energy boost to force myself up onto my knees. All I could think of was finishing the bastard that did this to me. I was almost to my feet when my arm was grabbed. With a cry of unsuppressed fury I swung around, the knife still grasped in my hand. I bought it down. I thought I'd missed.

"You useless fucking Nazi bastard, I told her you were a waste of space."

A fist smashed into my face and everything went black.

I don't know how long I was out. I wasn't awake, just aware my surroundings smelt of antiseptic, like a hospital and I could hear voices in the distance. Two men.

"Nice work, Terry."

"Fuck off, Dino. He was half dead and I didn't expect the fucker to turn on me with a knife. And take that smug look off your face, it's only a flesh wound."

"Yeah, you were lucky."

The Aussie voice growled something back and I smiled to myself. Next time I'd do the job right. Then there was a rustle of skirts and a scratch at my arm and everything went black again.

The next time I started to wake I felt stronger. I heard footsteps approach so I pretended to be still unconscious.

"There you go, D. One tattooed arsehole."

"T, stop it. He's your Brother he has to be here, I told you."

"He's dangerous."

Her voice dropped low, obviously being conciliatory, at least that's what I thought. "T, he's your Brother, it must have been a mistake."

"A MISTAKE, going for me with a knife? Ya think this hole in my arm was by accident? Bollocks, D. He's gonna be more trouble than he's worth. I should've let him die on the beach." Then he strode off and a door slammed. I opened my eyes to slits taking in the new scenery.

"Not bad, ya gonna play nursie now?" I gave a harsh laugh when she jumped a mile, her eyes were wide open and I could see her trembling. "What's wrong, Miss Bossy? Scared?"

"Y-yes." Then she turned on her tail and ran. I laughed again and sat up intending to stand but I was dizzy and sat heavily back down. I should've known the arsehole would come back after I scared the tart.

"And where d'ya think you're going?"

"Home."

"You have no home. Get used to it, this is it now and there's rules."

"What are you, a fucking copper then? You can't make me stay here."

He grabbed my neck applying pressure on the wound. I grunted in pain, still too weak to fight back.

"Listen to me and make sure you understand. You're only here because it's what she wants. Scare her like that again or take one step out of line and you'll wish you died on that beach."

"Why should I fucking stay here? "

He told me some wild tale about him and me being Brothers and there being more of us, and women wanting to be with us all. He sneered when he said, "...us all."

"What makes you think I believe this crap? I'm out of here as soon as I'm fit."

"You'll stay here, even if I have to lock you up, until I find everyone and D invites her Sisters. Then you can go to hell as far as I'm concerned."

We glared at each other both knowing we had a stalemate. I couldn't get across the room never mind back home. "I'll stay until I'm fit."

He glared at me, then grinned. "No worries, I'll just make sure you aren't fit until everything's in place. D'll see to that."

"That mouse? What'll she do, grow balls so she dare come near me?"

"She doesn't need to come near you to make sure you don't get well too quick." He turned to leave and as he left he asked, "Do you believe in magic?" I could hear him laughing as the door swung closed.

Magic? So he was a prat as well as an arsehole. I'd stick around until I found something better. I picked one of the empty houses and settled down to heal. It was slow going, my strength was coming back slowly, much slower than it should've done.

Everytime Thorne came back with another one he made it his business to check on me. Smirking everytime he made a point of me still not being strong enough to leave. By the time all of my 'Brothers' were here I finally regained full fitness, and by then my resolve had been eaten away. Just like the Lotus Eater, I'd waited too long. Here was safe, no worries about anything. Not even Thorne, Miss Bossy was terrified he'd drive me away and we all had to be here. It was reason enough to stay then.