Kada & Mash
Location(s): Kada: Kai's Truck outside Ashley's Hotel - Mash: Tinder Family Home
Ashley had no idea what to say or do in that moment. She had no idea what had overcame her but she knew that she didn't regret it. She both did and did not expect the reaction from Marc that he just had but it didn't sting any less to know he couldn't let go of the control he held over himself. If he really felt the way he did, surely he would be feeling the same as she did? Like every last minute counted and they couldn't wait any longer? She stepped back from him as he stepped back from her and she was glad when he answered his ringing phone. His fingers tucking the hair behind her ear made her eyes begin to well and she didn't want him to see her cry because of him. She turned from him and left the room, heading towards the bathroom in silence. He couldn't follow her without interrupting his call and she needed a moment to herself. Marc sighed as he saw her leave and kicked at the ground, he didn't want her to go.
As Kai walked from the hotel with Ada by his side he felt sick. He heard Ada and on some level it did make sense but he wasn't sold.
"I... Maybe. That's possible..." Ada's words definitely made sense but how could such an important detail slip her mind? Why wasn't Ash answering her phone now? Kai wrapped his free arm around Ada and guided her to his truck. Kai breathed a sigh of relief when he heard Marc's voice again, especially after finding that Ash wasn't where she said she was. He opened up the passenger side door of his truck for Ada as he spoke down the phone to Marc.
"Hey man, Ada and I just went to Ash's hotel to pick her up and she isn't here. George says she hasn't been in all night. Did you guys buddy her up with someone or did she change hotels? We spoke to her earlier and she said she was in her hotel room and honestly we're worried god damn sick. Hold up, getting in the truck, going to put you on speaker." He jumped into the truck and switched his phone onto loudspeaker and set it up on the dash. He took Ada's hand and squeezed it.
"Alright man, we're good." Adelaide crawled into the cab and leaned against Kai as he put the phone on speaker, her fingers lacing through Kai's worried.
Listening Marc kept an eye on her and stepped into the hallway, giving her a moment even though he wanted to just tell Kai to leave him alone right then. It wasn't that he was mad at Kai, he knew he was worried but right then his thoughts were on Ashley. He hadn't wanted to hold back the way he did, he just didn't want to cross a line. Hadn't the phone had rung, he probably would have. Taking a breath he looked around, he couldn't lie, it wasn't in him.
"Breath you two, Ashley is fine. She is with me, has been all night," he said as he leaned back against the wall and watched the bathroom door.
"She just wanted some privacy I guess and I wasn't letting her out of my sight with everything going on." Kai's eyes widened and he snorted with laughter involuntarily, his hands slapping up to cover his mouth as he realised that Ashley had lied because she was with Marc! Kai struggled to breath while holding in the laughter and his eyes watered from the effort. It took him a few moments of snickering before he controlled himself again.
"Dude, I thought she was in trouble before but I had no idea just how much until now. Was there really no one else you could trust to keep an eye on her?" He glanced down to Ada, the massive grin lighting up his features as he still relished in the thought of boy scout Marc trying to get back with unavailable Ash. For a minute, he even forgot why everyone was being paired off and then the reality of the situation hit him again and his face was no longer bright.
Adelaide was no help what so ever as she burst out laughing and fell against Kai and then over into the rest of the seat of the truck, slapping her hand on the seat as she chortled and snorted with laughter.
"Oh my fucking god! After the shit they pulled on us yesterday? They are not living this down! Ever!!!!" she said between the laughs and the guffaws.
"No they definitely will not." "Nothing happened last night!" Marc exclaimed into the phone as he placed his hand over his face, god he wished he could lie now. It would have been so much easier.
"Right, it all happened this morning?" Ada tossed back at him as she sat up and curled up against Kai still laughing her Italian ass off. Marc's face went three shades of red and he was very glad they couldn't see it right then. Yeah, nothing physical had happened but emotionally, something did.
Kai smirked as he heard Ada had the same thought but he placed a gentle hand on her thigh and gave it a light squeeze while letting out a light chuckle.
"So did Ash split with her boyfriend and not tell us? What was his name... Alan? Albert? Alistair? Shit, Ada baby, you're closer to Ash than I am, what was the dudes name again? Explains why the hell he isn't here though." "Bro! Nothing happened! She slept, you know, sleep?" Marc exclaimed into the phone as he drug his hand slowly down his face and groaned. He knew he wasn't going to hear the end of this. Ada just couldn't stop laughing over the entire thing despite everything else that was going on, this was just too good. They had been trying to get them back together forever and then ragged them with prank calls the night before. She didn't care if nothing happened, it was just precious to hear how frustrated Marc was getting right then.
"It's Alexander, well Ash calls him Al," she snorted through the laughter.
"That's probably why the Al bit stuck out in my head. Yeah, so since he isn't here considering everything that is going on, I'm assuming they've broken up then?" He glanced down to Ada and gave her a questioning look before running a hand through his hair.
"Listen bud, as much as I don't want to believe you... I do. She slept over, but not in the same bed. Got it." He took a deep breath and realised how relieved he was that she was indeed safe.
"No, same bed," Marc let slip as he corrected Kai without even thinking, which only caused Ada to double over choking on her own laughter as it roared back up again.
"Oh, I, uh... Okay. Are you sure nothing happened?" He looked at Ada with an incredulous look on his face and started to laugh again.
"NOTHING FUCKING HAPPENED!!!" he screamed. Ada bolted up right and looked wide eyed at Kai.
Calming himself some, he managed to splutter out some semi-normal response.
"I... oh god, I'm just - just glad we had the wrong end of the stick and that she's all good. Well, as good as you can get during all this shit." Kai knew there was an additional reason why he was calling Marc but couldn't put his finger on it.
"She's fine. We are about to head to the police station." That was it!
"Oh! Right! I don't know if you have Riley Ridgeway's phone number but she texted me about ten minutes ago saying that Trent Laitner is dead." He wrapped an arm around Ada and held her closer to him at the thought.
"God damnit!" he spat. Marc wasn't a cusser and now it was twice in one conversation, Ada looked dumbfounded.
"Keep Ada safe, I have to go," he added before hanging up and kicking at the wall. Ada looked over Kai and sighed. Kai chewed on his tongue and let out a deep breath before firing up the truck and buckling himself in. Walking over to the bathroom door Marc banged on it a few times.
"Ash, baby, we have to go." Ashley jumped at the banging on the door and looked up from her curled up position on the bathroom floor. She wiped her face with some tissues and got up onto her feet. Her eyes were red and puffy and her mascara had ran a bit. So much for waterproof... She swallowed the sticky dryness from her throat and licked her lips, tasting the salt from the tears that had been pouring onto them.
"J-just a second." Her voice was quavering and she moved over to the sink and spotted the mess that she was in. She dabbed at the running make up and did her best to salvage her look but could do nothing for the red puffiness that was there now. It would die down on it's own but the one person she really didn't want to let see her like this was right outside the door.
Bracing herself and happy that she had done all that she could with her make up, Ashley took a deep breath and slowly opened the door, peeking out to see Marc's face. It was clear that something was wrong.
"What is it? Is everything okay? Are Kai and Ada alright? Did something happen?" "They're fine, you aren't from the look of things," he said as he pushed the door open more and stepped closer to her.
"Ash, what's wrong?" he asked her concerned. She half stepped back and let go of the door.
"Nothing. I'm fine. Let's just go to the station." She brushed past him and walked back to the guest room where she picked up her phone from the floor and shoved it into her purse. She stood for a second and tucked her hair back behind her ears before brushing herself down and taking a deep breath. Marc loved her still but wasn't going to act because she was with Al. Shouldn't she be happy that he was so upstanding? Why was she so mad at him?
Stepping back into the hallway, Ashley walked by Marc and began to make her way to the stairs to head out. Marc stepped around her quickly, blocking her path and narrowed his eyes a bit at her.
"Ashley Penelope Olson Cunningham, don't you dare lie to me," he said in a firm tone.
Her eyes narrowed and she puffed her chest out some before crossing her arms.
"Don't you full name me, Tinder. I was upset, I cried. I got it out of my system and now I'm fine." She stepped closer and frowned as she did so. Her voice was firm but quiet.
"Now move." Marc moved but not in the way she wanted, he took a step forward and hovered over her as he rested his hands on her shoulders.
"You're lying, you aren't fine. And you don't cry for no reason. So spit it out," he said, his voice was still firm but it was caring and understanding at the same time.
"I'm not getting out of your way until you do." "That is not what I meant by moving." She looked to the side, away from his face. She shrugged her shoulders as his hands reached out for them and she stepped back.
"There's a serial killer on the loose, of course I'm not fine. I'm terrified about my friends, okay? Is that a good enough reason for my tears for you?" Her voice was laced with anger, not enough for her to explode, but enough for her to bite. She didn't want him to continue being nice to her, not now.
Marc took another step forward and continued to reach out to her, this time they took her hands gently.
"Not like this. Not this type of anger and worry I see bubbling up in those eyes of yours. Who do you think you are trying to fool? Even if I wasn't a trained FBI agent, I know you. If I was blind I would know something was wrong beyond the murders," he said in a calm voice as he curled his fingers against hers.
"NO!" Her voice raised and she jerked her hands downwards, releasing them from his and pulling them away. She stepped back and her face was creased in the largest frown that she could muster in that moment. She pointed a finger at him, her elbow tucked close to her body.
"You do not get to act like this, like you've done nothing wrong! If I don't want to talk then I don't have to god damn talk! Forgive me for not bowing to the power of the almighty and all knowing FBI Agent." She rolled her eyes and then squared up to him again, her jaw tensing as she hissed through her teeth. She stepped forward and poked him in the chest with her finger.
"You do not get to act like the chivalrous, perfect knight." Her chest was heaving as she breathed heavily, not even entirely aware of why she was as angry as she was. All she knew was that right there, right then, she wanted to hit him in his smug, understanding face. She balled her hands up into fists and practically spat her next words at him.
"This. All of this." She motioned up and down her body with her hands before balling them back up into fists again.
"This is your fault. This anger, this worry, this pain. It's all on you!" Her right fist came hurling up and smacked him on the side of his face. She had no doubts she barely did any damage but
damn it felt good to do it.
Marc saw the slap coming but he just stood there, his face not flinching as she laid into him. Then it came, his hands came up and grabbed her wrists as he stepped forward, pushing her back against the wall. He was rough as he did it but he knew it would not hurt her in his quick movement, he made sure he did not but he was making a point right then and he did not take well to being struck like that. It showed in his eyes as they flared up with pain. Not anger, not physical pain but emotional pain; it was something he never showed. Then he spoke, his voice deepened, nearly growling as the words left his lips.
"Don't you ever mistake me trying to be there for you as weakness again Ashley to the point you think I will let you get away with laying a hand on me out of anger. You want to be mad at me, fine. Be mad. Scream at me, let it out; like you always yelled at me to. I can take it, I'm a big boy. I deserve it, I know. I waited too damn long, trust me. Not strike from you could ever cut me as deep as the regret and guilt I carry every damn day does. But you know what, just because I waited until I was good enough for you doesn't give you a right to hit me." Taking a deep breath he leaned in even closer as his body pressed against hers, keeping her pinned there as his face warmed from the pain and his cheek stung from the hit.
"What do you want from me? To wrap my arms around you and pull you close? Kiss you like every ounce of me wants to? Sweep you off your feet and ask you to marry me? I would, I would in a heart beat if I didn't think you would think less of me if I did. I know you cannot stand for any woman to make a move on your man, what would you think of me if I tried to steal you away from Al? No, I won't do that. Do I think you should be with him? No. You deserve better. He should be here, been here yesterday. You deserve someone that stands by you through the worst. Not someone that calls or text's or shows up late. But it doesn't matter what I think about him, it's what I think of how you look at me," he said in a quiet low voice as he looked her in the eyes, his body trembling as he held her where she was.
Her eyes darted between his and her breathing was shallow as she just stared at him as he went on. She half expected him to hit her back at first then she remembered who she was talking to and felt guilty at even the thought of it. She couldn't move, knew she wouldn't even be able to make him move, not without hurting him again and she didn't want to. Shame flooded her face and her cheeks flushed scarlet as her eyes finally looked away from his and she shifted her head to the side, her chin resting on her left shoulder.
"I don't want anything from you. I deserve what I have..." Her voice was small, barely even a whisper. She closed her eyes and felt the tears rolling down her cheeks again. Her body went entirely limp save for her legs. She was done fighting and right now she couldn't look at Marc save for hating herself even more than she already did.
Her phone began to ring in her purse as it dangled against her leg. She was in no rush to check it. Marc heard her phone but he didn't may attention to it. He just slowly let her wrists go, his hands sliding up her arms as he watched the tears rolling down her cheeks. He hated seeing her like this. His fingers trailed up her to her shoulders until his palms cupped the line of her slender neck; his thumbs stroking away the tears ever so softly as he rested his brow to hers. She swallowed the bile that was threatening to erupt from her. It wasn't that he was making her feel sick, it was just that she didn't want to cause him any more irritation. She was sick of herself.
"Don't lie to me," he whispered as his nose brushed against her own. Closing his eyes, he felt his breath shudder still standing here with her pressed against the wall, half afraid if he moved she would crumple; half not wanting to move.
"Forgive me," he pushed out before his lips pressed against hers. He knew he shouldn't, it was against everything he believed in but he couldn't stop himself. If she felt she deserved less, maybe this one sin would tell her he wasn't perfect.
Ashley whimpered as his lips pressed against hers and she lost all control over the muscles in her body. Her legs quivered as his body held her up. Her hands rested limply at her sides before they reached forward and grabbed the front of his shirt, gripping the fabric between her fingers as she lost herself in the moment. She had missed this. Missed him. More than she had ever allowed herself to admit, this right here made her lose herself for but a moment before she realised what he was doing and she felt her chest constrict.
She pushed the flat of her palms against his chest and pushed him away from her with all the strength she had and bit her lower lip as she did so. Her eyes were closed as she spoke gently to him.
"This isn't you. Don't let me change who you are..." Her phone had stopped ringing during their kiss but it began again near instantly. She would need to answer it eventually. She leaned back against the wall, her hands remaining on his chest as she slowly opened her eyes and looked at him. Worried about what she might see.
Marc finally stepped back but his hands remained there cupping her cheeks gently as his eyes opened and looked into hers.
"You don't get it do you? Everything I am is because of you and I am the better for it," he said quietly before he finally let her go.
"But you do need to decide who you want in your life. If it should ever be me, you know I'll be there but I won't pressure you to chose." Sighing he rubbed the back of his neck a bit before he straightened up and smoothed out his shirt.
"We should go," he said as he finally stepped out of her way.
Nodding silently, Ashley licked her lips and fixed herself as best she could. Today was an au naturale day it seemed. She took a deep breath and walked past Marc and made he way downstairs and out front. She needed to talk to Ada and soon. Her phone continued ringing but she knew who it was. He just had that kind of timing.
