From Being Gone - Chapter 6
Title: From Being Gone
Author: lynders11
Fandom: The Hollows
Summary: Rachel leaves for two weeks to attend her brothers wedding and see her mom settled at her new place. What happens when she gets back after spending more time away from Ivy than ever before? This takes place after WWBC, so some spoilers are included
Disclaimer: All characters and the world they are set in belong to Kim Harrison. I just wanted to write.
Notes: Thanks to Ablatedcrayon for checking this over for me. Your suggestions are awesome and much appreciated. J
Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5
CHAPTER 6
“So did I get the controls right?” I asked, resettling myself on the bike and looking up at Ivy. I really wanted to get home. The sun going down had only slightly lessened the oppressive heat that was gripping the city. It wasn’t so bad wearing the leather jacket and the long sleeve shirt when we were moving at God-knows-how-fast but just sitting here was making me sweat. Even if I hadn’t been playing in the garden before we left I would still have needed another shower by the time we got home.
Nodding distractedly, Ivy took a step back and just looked at me. I could feel her eyes roving over me as she stood there, her helmet trailing from her fingertips like it weighed nothing at all.
“What are you staring at?” She was making me self-conscious. “Did I really screw them up that badly?”
“What? Oh, the controls. No, you got them right. You’re a quick study,” she said, still staring at me with a far off look in her chocolate eyes.
“Then do you mind?” She looked up and gave me a confused blink. “Can we go please?” I rephrased.
“You know, a bike suits you. You look…good.”
“Oh,” I said distractedly, “well, thanks, but I think it suits you more.” You know, with the leather and all…
I sighed to myself as I realized my thoughts were once again getting away from me. It seemed putting off my self-realization wasn’t going to work for much longer. I was going to have to figure out what was going on with me very soon. First though, I needed to get out of this heat.
“Anyway, as great as that was to hear, could you please get on so we could go already? Please, Ivy.” I was whining, and I knew it. Normally I would be disgusted with myself, but it was so incredibly hot out that I forgave my lapse immediately.
Smirking at my whine, she nodded once again before putting her helmet on and sitting behind me on the bike. This time, when I felt her click something on my helmet, I knew full well what it was. Damn speakers. I was thankful for the visor on my helmet as I felt my cheeks start to redden - again - at the thought of Ivy overhearing my moan earlier.
Once she was settled comfortably I heard her voice over the system. “Alright Rache, if you think you’re ready then start her up.”
Grinning I said, “Oh I’m ready, but are you? You do realize that you’re willingly giving me control of your ‘baby’, right?”
Using her greater height to reach around me, she grasped the handles firmly, “Believe me Rachel, I may let you take the lead but I am still very much in control.” Her voice had dropped until it practically rumbled through her chest leaving me scrambling to suppress the shivers running down my spine. Straightening up, her voice went back to normal as she playfully shoved my arm and rolled her eyes. “Yes, I realize what I’m giving you. I thought you were too warm? Let’s go already,” she mimicked in a high falsetto.
Shaking off my earlier reaction I laughed as I engaged the clutch and the brake before starting the bike. “Ready?” I shouted back as I felt the bike rumble to life beneath me. The vibrations from the handle bars travelled up my arms and into my body. I couldn’t help the smile that broke out across my face at the feeling of the machine under me.
My stomach was doing summersaults, and my breath was coming faster than usual. I was nervous about what I was about to do-maybe even a little scared-but I was going to savor the moment. I was an adrenaline junkie. I lived for this feeling. “Hang on.” I told Ivy as I shifted the bike into gear and released the brake.
As I felt her arms slide around me I thought nothing could be more perfect than this. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath as a feeling of absolute freedom washed over me. I felt amazing. I couldn’t remember the last time a run had given me this big of a rush. I felt incredible. I felt invincible. I felt like there was nothing and no one that could stop me from doing whatever I wanted to as I slowly released the clutch…
…except apparently myself. “What did I do wrong?” I asked Ivy after I felt the bike lurch forward and then shudder to a stop when the engine died. The adrenaline and feelings of invincibility washed out of me as fast as they had come.
“You stalled it,” she dead panned. I breathed a sigh of relief that there was to be no screaming or freaking out at my treatment of her bike.
“Oh.” Silence. “How did I do that?” I asked, feeling dumb.
“It’s basically the same as the stick shift in your car. The pedals are in different places but the concept is the same. When you stall your car, what have you done wrong?” She still sounded calm. Actually, she sounded like teacher-Ivy again. Asking me a question that when answered would help me figure out for myself the answer to the question I had asked. I sighed again. Right, well I guess teacher-Ivy is better than pissed-Ivy.
“I let out the clutch too fast, or I don’t give it enough gas as I let out the clutch.” I sounded like a despondent child. Good lord woman it’s not the end of the world; stop pouting.
“Exactly. In this case it was just not enough gas.” She had raised her visor as she explained what I needed to change for my next attempt at the bike. She gave me an encouraging smile that I couldn’t help but return before lowering her visor and once again wrapping her arms around my waist.
Settling myself again I restarted the bike. Ok this time concentrate on what you're doing Rachel. Don’t let yourself get so carried away on the adrenaline. Being sure to focus on what I was doing, I eased the clutch out at the same time as I gently twisted the throttle. This time the bike stayed running, and I felt a huge grin break out across my face. “I did it!” I shouted. It wasn’t until I felt Ivy wince against my back that I remembered the microphones.
“Sorry,” I whispered as if to make up for my earlier exuberance.
I could hear her chuckling in my ear as she straightened up a bit so she could see over me to give me tips on handling the bike and any situations that might arise.
Not wanting to get in over my head-ok I was lying to myself, I simply didn’t want to break Ivy’s bike-I eased onto the street and into traffic.
“You’re doing great! When the engine pitch gets to about this level it means it’s time to shift up. You remember how, right?” There was no way she could see the tachometer on the dash but I believed her. Ivy’s bike was an extension of herself. She could probably drive it in her sleep.
“Clutch in, foot pedal up, gas and clutch out.” I recited as I went through the process. A bit of a jerk from the bike letting me know I had given a little too much gas.
“Sorry,” I muttered again.
“Rachel, it’s ok. You don’t need to apologize every time it’s not perfectly smooth. That takes practice. A few more times out and you’ll be as good as me.”
“I highly doubt that. Thanks though.”
The trip home was surprisingly tame. I stalled it a few more times and received glares and horn blares from my fellow motorists, but all in all it was uneventful. As I parked the bike I ran through my mental checklist. No damage to Ivy’s bike? Check. All limbs intact? Check. No skin missing? Check. Got home without having myself scared stupid? Check. I grinned, allowing my excitement to come bubbling to the surface.
“That was soo cool! Thank you, Ivy, I had so much fun. That was so awesome.” I couldn’t help it. I was acting like an overexcited child as I got off the bike. I did a little jig right there in the car port as Ivy watched on, amusement clear on her face.
“Well then maybe the next time we do this, you’ll actually get through all the gears,” she teased. That stilled my erratic dance but couldn’t touch the smile still plastered across my face.
“I think it’ll be a few more trips before I’m ready for that.” Despite Ivy’s constant urgings every time we ended up on an empty street, I hadn’t had the nerve to try out the top gear. I kept the speed down even though-or maybe because- I was pretty sure it drove Ivy crazy with impatience. Regardless of the reason, I knew I wasn’t ready for all out racing.
“We’ll see,” she said, turning to wink at me conspiratorially. I groaned. Her wink was clearly saying that until I terrified myself on her bike she wasn’t about to let it rest.
Hanging up my jacket I proceeded through the sanctuary to the couch and dropped myself into it. It wasn’t nearly as stifling in the church as it was outside, but it was still hot. I plucked at the front of my long sleeve shirt where it was stuck to me from the heat.
“Oh thank Tink, you're home.” Jenks came zooming into the sanctuary. There was a resounding crash from somewhere behind him and he whirled in mid-air even as he took in a huge (for a pixy) lungful of air.
“TINK’S KNICKERS! I SAID WAIT OUTSIDE! THERE IS NO DAMN NEED FOR SEVERAL DOZEN PIXY CHILDREN TO BE OUT IN THIS KIND OF WEATHER! GET BACK TO THE FAIRY-LOVIN STUMP WHERE IT’S COOL!” He shouted and was followed by a chorus of tiny voices saying things like “Sorry Dad” and “I didn’t do it”.
Turning back around he let himself deflate. “Please tell me you got a cartoon. They have been impossible since they found out we were all invited to watch with you.” We both nodded, biting our lips to hold in the laughter threatening to burst out at the sight of the frazzled pixie. Relief washed over him. “Thank you,” he breathed. As he turned to fly away we could hear, “Damn kids. They have ears everywhere. Never get a moment of privacy with them all stuck in the stump like this. How is a man …?” I couldn’t hear the rest of what he said; though by the look on Ivy’s face it was definitely something that was not meant for children’s ears.
“Poor, Jenks.” She smirked. “He’s had almost no time alone with Matalina since this heat wave started. I think it’s starting to get to him. It can’t be easy having that many bodies tucked into one stump for the majority of the day.” I laughed at the twinkle in her eye. She didn’t actually feel sorry for him at all.
“Well I guess we should go see how expensive the crash was this time.” Sighing, I rolled myself off the couch and headed towards the kitchen. My stomach growled loudly as I entered my favorite room in the church, reminding me that I had skipped lunch and hadn’t eaten anything in…well, a long time anyway.
“Didn’t you eat before your nap?” Ivy asked, coming up behind me without a sound.
“No.” I was too embarrassed to be startled. I hadn’t eaten because after our fight that afternoon I had lost my appetite. “I just went to bed after our fi-after you left today.”
Immediately catching onto what I was about to say, Ivy’s expression darkened momentarily. “Right, ok well why don’t you go hop in the shower, and I’ll order some take out. It’s too hot to cook tonight.”
Relieved at her change of topic and definitely interested in the prospect of food, I forced all thoughts of our fight from my head. “You might actually be the most wonderful person I know,” I said to her.
“Well of course I am. Don’t get too used to it though. I'm sure the novelty of you being back in the church will wear off soon enough and then I‘ll be right back to my usual brooding self.”
Rolling my eyes, I headed back out of the kitchen in search of the much needed shower she had suggested. Hearing my name I stopped to look back at her. “I really am glad you're back.” She looked almost shy as she said it, then she shook her head as if to clear her thoughts and waved me off. “Go shower; you stink.”
My eyes widened at the insult, and she laughed at my expression. “That’s twice in one day, Ivy. Keep it up, and I’ll develop a complex. Your having heightened senses doesn’t give you a free pass to be rude,” I joked, taking my cue from her and ignoring the momentarily somber mood.
Stopping in my bedroom, I quickly unpacked. Clothes ended up on the floor to be washed, knick-knacks that I had picked up stayed in a pile on my bed where they were eyed by Rex who was still curled up in the center of it like she owned the damn thing. I scooped up all of my remaining toiletries to take them back where they belonged. “I’m home now Rex; you're gonna have to give me back my bed whether you like it or not.” Stooping to scratch her head I received a huff and a swat for my troubles. Apparently she didn’t agree with my assessment.
When I finally walked into my bathroom I saw the clothes from earlier piled on the floor. The mud in the back hall! Dammit, I need to clean that up before Ivy does. If I didn’t want to continue my ass-ness from earlier then I needed to make sure Ivy wasn’t cleaning up another one of my messes. Slipping back out of the bathroom I made my way to the kitchen but I stopped abruptly at the threshold and barely contained my bark of laughter as I took in the scene in front of me.
Ivy was turned slightly away from me, head thrown back and eyes closed. One hand was splayed across her chest as though something had just scored a mortal wound to her heart and the other held and upside-down ladle to her lips like it was a microphone. Her cell, which was obviously on speaker, was lying on the center island. She was on hold with whatever restaurant she had called for takeout and their music choice apparently had rather pleased Ivy as she cleaned up the spilled utensils from the hanging rack above, courtesy of some rowdy pixy children.
“Ain’t no particular sign I’m more compatible with, I just want your extra time and your-”
“Kiss” I supplied helpfully. At the sound of my voice her eyes shot open and the ladle slipped from her seemingly nerveless fingers.
“I th-thought y-you were getting in the shower,” she stammered, her face becoming an alarming shade of red.
Ha! I’m not the only one today! “I was going to until I remembered the mess I made that needed to be cleaned up.” I was smirking at her as I spoke though I doubted she could see me through the curtain of hair that had fallen around her face. She was bending down to pick up the fallen ladle, and I wondered at how I had managed to startle her in the first place. Ivy was generally more aware of me than I was.
Deciding that a little ribbing was definitely in order after all the fun she had at my expense today I continued, “Your voice is definitely better, but I think based on pure entertainment value, Julia Roberts’ rendition has you beat, hands down.”
Being caught in an embarrassing situation is bad enough when you are just a regular old witch or human, but to a generally proud and graceful creature such as a vampire it can be downright mortifying. Deciding to end my teasing and give Ivy some time to collect herself and regain her composure, I walked past her to retrieve the mop out of the kitchen closet. Prince was just finishing up his song when I turned back around with the cleaning products in hand.
It was my turn to experience nerveless fingers as I came face to face with the black-eyed, beautiful vampire inches in front of me. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you that it’s not wise to taunt an injured animal, Rachel?”
Ah, crap.