Leave the Pieces When You Go
Title: Leave the Pieces When You Go
Author: kerrykhat
Fandom: Mercedes Thompson series
Rating: PG
Summary: I was elbow deep in the engine of a 1983 Mercedes W123 when Gabriel opened the office door and called out, “Mercy, Samuel’s here.”
Disclaimer: Joss Whedon owns "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and related characters; Patricia Briggs owns "The Mercedes Thompson Series" and related characters; I own nothing.
Word Count: 989
Author's Notes: Part of the Breathe Again. Takes place after Rumor Has It.
I was elbow deep in the engine of a 1983 Mercedes W123 when Gabriel opened the office door and called out, “Mercy, Samuel’s here.”
“Tell him to wait a few,” I told him, snagging a rag and doing my best to wipe off some of the grease. I didn’t know why he was here when I’d see him in a few hours once I closed up the shop, since he wasn’t working at the Stop and Rob tonight. Of course, I hadn’t really seen him since yesterday’s incident with his ex…
“Hey, Samuel,” I greeted him, walking into the office and tucking the rag into my coverall’s back pocket. “What’s up?”
“Just wanted to see that everything’s ok,” he answered with a shrug. He didn’t meet my eyes, instead looking at the red BMW currently sitting out front.
Figured.
“Samuel, I’m fine.” It wasn’t the most reassuring thing, but I’d called Buffy Summers about thirty minutes ago letting her know that her car was ready and I wasn’t too keen on a repeat of yesterday, no matter how informative it might be. “You’re overreacting about this entire thing.”
“Am I?” he muttered darkly, finally looking at me. “You don’t know the stories.”
“What stories?” Gabriel asked, curiously, looking between the two of us.
I shook my head at Samuel’s stubbornness. “Nothing. Come on. I need another set of hands to help with this engine. And Samuel? If you stand around with that stormcloud over your head, you’ll scare away my customers.”
Samuel’s scowl deepened and he followed me back into the garage. The weather was nice enough where I had one of the bay doors opened all the way, letting the early summer air in and keeping the garage cool without resorting to fans.
I waited until Gabriel was in the bathroom changing into his coveralls before turning on Samuel.
“While I appreciate the concern, Samuel, you’re overreacting and need to stop,” I told him firmly. “I have a business to run, and you standing here looking like you want to punch someone is just going to make it so I can’t pay my bills.”
“I’m just trying to…”
“What? Piss off your ex and your current roommate in one go? Because if that’s the case, job well done.”
It was a good thing that I didn’t have a wrench in my hand, or I might be tempted to smack him over the head with it like that girl mechanic in that one anime Jessie liked so much. I loved Samuel, but there was only so much of this patronizing bullshit I could tolerate. I wasn’t a confused sixteen year old girl any more. I’d been on my own for long enough to learn how to take care of myself.
“Mercy…” he began before we heard a truck pull in.
Shooting him a warning look, I walked over to the open bay to see who it was. A smile tugged at my lips when I recognized the pick-up, only to pause when I realized who was with him. Damn it. Could she have waited ten more minutes once I hopefully got rid of Samuel?
“…not like Oklahoma, I’m telling you,” Buffy Summers told Warren, getting out of the pickup, snagging the duffel bag by her feet.
“What about that time in Tuscon?”
“One, that whole thing is a wild exaggeration, and two, how the hell did you hear about that?” she asked, hands on her hips.
“I hear things,” Warren retorted with a chuckle.
I watched the scene, Bran’s words from last night making more sense. He’d said to ask Warren about the Slayer if I wanted more information, but had been vague about how he knew her. From the way they were playfully arguing, it was a different situation between the two of them than between Buffy and Samuel.
“Hey, Mercy,” Warren greeted me, walking towards me and ignoring the tongue Buffy stuck out at him.
“Hey.” I turned my attention towards Buffy and gave her a smile. “I have the bill in the office, if you want to follow me.”
She returned my smile, ignoring Samuel’s glowering presence behind me. “Sure thing.”
“Gabriel, can you get started replacing the timing belt on that engine?” I called out to my tool monkey, who’d finally finished changing. Hearing his “yes”, I led Buffy and Warren towards the office.
I quickly explained the problem that I’d fixed while she listened. She paid the bill without a word of complaint, which was nice for a first time customer.
Buffy was tucking her wallet back into her purse when the door to the garage opened and Samuel walked in. Warren shifted slightly, coming more in line with Buffy in an almost protective manner.
“Is that everything?” she asked, ignoring the display of werewolf machismo around her. Well, almost ignoring. It was subtle, but I could see her shoulders tense slightly underneath her shirt.
“Everything’s good to go,” I told her, handing over her keys.
She gave me a bright smile before turning on her heel and walking out the door, Warren trailing her. Samuel looked like he wanted to follow, but I shot him a warning look.
“If you want to get in a two against one brawl with them, do it not by my shop.”
Without waiting for his answer, I went back to my garage and my tool monkey. Things between me and Samuel were already too complicated without the addition of one ex who happened to be friends with one of my best friends. I couldn’t do anything about that and I was going to do my best not to get caught in the middle of that explosion waiting to happen.
“What was that about?” Gabriel asked when I went to join him by the Mercedes.
“Samuel’s misplaced aggression,” I answered with a shrug. “Come on. Let’s see if we can get this fixed by the end of today.”
Author: kerrykhat
Fandom: Mercedes Thompson series
Rating: PG
Summary: I was elbow deep in the engine of a 1983 Mercedes W123 when Gabriel opened the office door and called out, “Mercy, Samuel’s here.”
Disclaimer: Joss Whedon owns "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and related characters; Patricia Briggs owns "The Mercedes Thompson Series" and related characters; I own nothing.
Word Count: 989
Author's Notes: Part of the Breathe Again. Takes place after Rumor Has It.
I was elbow deep in the engine of a 1983 Mercedes W123 when Gabriel opened the office door and called out, “Mercy, Samuel’s here.”
“Tell him to wait a few,” I told him, snagging a rag and doing my best to wipe off some of the grease. I didn’t know why he was here when I’d see him in a few hours once I closed up the shop, since he wasn’t working at the Stop and Rob tonight. Of course, I hadn’t really seen him since yesterday’s incident with his ex…
“Hey, Samuel,” I greeted him, walking into the office and tucking the rag into my coverall’s back pocket. “What’s up?”
“Just wanted to see that everything’s ok,” he answered with a shrug. He didn’t meet my eyes, instead looking at the red BMW currently sitting out front.
Figured.
“Samuel, I’m fine.” It wasn’t the most reassuring thing, but I’d called Buffy Summers about thirty minutes ago letting her know that her car was ready and I wasn’t too keen on a repeat of yesterday, no matter how informative it might be. “You’re overreacting about this entire thing.”
“Am I?” he muttered darkly, finally looking at me. “You don’t know the stories.”
“What stories?” Gabriel asked, curiously, looking between the two of us.
I shook my head at Samuel’s stubbornness. “Nothing. Come on. I need another set of hands to help with this engine. And Samuel? If you stand around with that stormcloud over your head, you’ll scare away my customers.”
Samuel’s scowl deepened and he followed me back into the garage. The weather was nice enough where I had one of the bay doors opened all the way, letting the early summer air in and keeping the garage cool without resorting to fans.
I waited until Gabriel was in the bathroom changing into his coveralls before turning on Samuel.
“While I appreciate the concern, Samuel, you’re overreacting and need to stop,” I told him firmly. “I have a business to run, and you standing here looking like you want to punch someone is just going to make it so I can’t pay my bills.”
“I’m just trying to…”
“What? Piss off your ex and your current roommate in one go? Because if that’s the case, job well done.”
It was a good thing that I didn’t have a wrench in my hand, or I might be tempted to smack him over the head with it like that girl mechanic in that one anime Jessie liked so much. I loved Samuel, but there was only so much of this patronizing bullshit I could tolerate. I wasn’t a confused sixteen year old girl any more. I’d been on my own for long enough to learn how to take care of myself.
“Mercy…” he began before we heard a truck pull in.
Shooting him a warning look, I walked over to the open bay to see who it was. A smile tugged at my lips when I recognized the pick-up, only to pause when I realized who was with him. Damn it. Could she have waited ten more minutes once I hopefully got rid of Samuel?
“…not like Oklahoma, I’m telling you,” Buffy Summers told Warren, getting out of the pickup, snagging the duffel bag by her feet.
“What about that time in Tuscon?”
“One, that whole thing is a wild exaggeration, and two, how the hell did you hear about that?” she asked, hands on her hips.
“I hear things,” Warren retorted with a chuckle.
I watched the scene, Bran’s words from last night making more sense. He’d said to ask Warren about the Slayer if I wanted more information, but had been vague about how he knew her. From the way they were playfully arguing, it was a different situation between the two of them than between Buffy and Samuel.
“Hey, Mercy,” Warren greeted me, walking towards me and ignoring the tongue Buffy stuck out at him.
“Hey.” I turned my attention towards Buffy and gave her a smile. “I have the bill in the office, if you want to follow me.”
She returned my smile, ignoring Samuel’s glowering presence behind me. “Sure thing.”
“Gabriel, can you get started replacing the timing belt on that engine?” I called out to my tool monkey, who’d finally finished changing. Hearing his “yes”, I led Buffy and Warren towards the office.
I quickly explained the problem that I’d fixed while she listened. She paid the bill without a word of complaint, which was nice for a first time customer.
Buffy was tucking her wallet back into her purse when the door to the garage opened and Samuel walked in. Warren shifted slightly, coming more in line with Buffy in an almost protective manner.
“Is that everything?” she asked, ignoring the display of werewolf machismo around her. Well, almost ignoring. It was subtle, but I could see her shoulders tense slightly underneath her shirt.
“Everything’s good to go,” I told her, handing over her keys.
She gave me a bright smile before turning on her heel and walking out the door, Warren trailing her. Samuel looked like he wanted to follow, but I shot him a warning look.
“If you want to get in a two against one brawl with them, do it not by my shop.”
Without waiting for his answer, I went back to my garage and my tool monkey. Things between me and Samuel were already too complicated without the addition of one ex who happened to be friends with one of my best friends. I couldn’t do anything about that and I was going to do my best not to get caught in the middle of that explosion waiting to happen.
“What was that about?” Gabriel asked when I went to join him by the Mercedes.
“Samuel’s misplaced aggression,” I answered with a shrug. “Come on. Let’s see if we can get this fixed by the end of today.”