The car stopped, gravel crunching under its wheels. It wasn't a fancy car or anything to write home about. The old Chevy Vega had rattled and gasped as if it were on its death bed. But it served its purpose and got here to where she needed to go. It was a campsite, not unlike the Barlow's or McAverie's. RV's were drawn in a circle, a campfire was constantly being tended by a pair of hands that traveled with the Hatchett's circuit for the sole purpose of tending fires and cooking meals.

There were curious glances in her direction and men were being tapped on their shoulders and arms as they began to walk towards her. Gripping the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles blossomed with white and she bit her lower lip. Now was the time to suck up every scared fiber of her being and face her pending punishment.

Getting out of the car, her sneakers didn't make a sound on the gravel. Her clothing, chosen wisely to present as little a threat as possible, was light and airy, cotton shirt and shorts with a floral pattern. Her hair was tied up into a messy chignon at the back of her head.

The men continued to close in around her. It was to be expected, strangers were always looked upon with suspicion. Even someone as innocent looking at the brunette with the dark blue eyes and waifish figure could present a threat to their way of life. Girls, especially, had big mouths. It was a lesson hard learned only a few years ago.

"Ey! I recognize you!" The man had a crooked nose, one that had been smashed from taking a beating in a bare knuckled fight or ten.

"Yeah! That's Buddy's old girl... what's her name?"

"It's Gwen," she smiled grimly.

"Oi! Yeah! Whatcha doin' round these parts? Old Buddy's up in the lock up fer another five years or so."

"I know. I need to talk to Big Daddy." She lifted her chin and blue eyes went from face to face. Most of the men registered shock and a few started sneering at her.

"'E's right ova there," one of them waved behind him and the group parted to clear a way for her to go. But they stayed with her, intending to make sure that no harm came to Big Daddy. The word had traveled that Gwen's sister had hooked up with the Barlow's so there was a good chance that Gwen had followed her there. And everyone knew the history about her and Barlow's kid, Mark.

She kept her head high, chin pointed in the direction that they were going. Big Daddy was sitting beside an RV, whittling a walking stick. He looked up at the approaching group with his one good eye. "Oi what be bringin' tha slag back inta m'camp?" he spit, literally, upon the ground after speaking.

"Says she wants a word wit ya, Big Daddy," the one with the broken nose sneered and patted Gwen's behind. She jumped, startled and that forced her into the fore front of the group.

"I... well yes," she nodded and then looked around at the men standing and staring at her. She became more aware than ever that her slim waist, curved hips and ample bosom were things that most men wanted in the most carnal of ways. "Privately, please?"

Big Daddy considered her for a moment and then waved the others off. The group dispersed, mutters of disappointment grumbled under their collective breath.

"What is it, girl?" he waved to a chair beside him to offer her a seat.

This was the moment of truth. Gwen sat on the edge of that chair, the metal and plastic cutting into her thighs. Her hands were in her lap, clasped together and twisting with nervousness. "Big Daddy, I came to talk about Buddy," she started.

That one good eye leveled on her with a speed that seemed nearly inhuman. Buddy was his son and this girl's sister was responsible for his incarceration.

She waited for him to speak but when he didn't, she continued. "It wasn't Keirra who blabbed to the police."

"Bullshit! You're here to defend her, after all this time? You're a liar, as much as she is."

"No, Big Daddy," she shook her head and swallowed the bile that was rising in her stomach. "I'm not here to defend her." The guilt and the fear of what the Hatchett circuit might do to her was making her sick. But she had to admit her wrong doings and settle the score for Keirra. Her sister may hate her, but it was the least she could do.

"I'm the one that blabbed," she admitted quietly, hanging her head.

"And you let your sister take the blame, why?" It was amazing how his English had improved with his skepticism.

"I was afraid," she admitted and looked up into that one good hazel colored eye. "I spent so much time between then and now drunk so that I wouldn't feel the guilt, the fear. But I've cleaned up my act and I have to take responsibility for what I've done wrong."

Big Daddy considered her, listening to her speak. "Not much to be done, now is there? Your sister took the heat and now it's mostly blown over."

A hawk screeched high up overhead and they both looked up into the wooded sky.

"What are you going to do then?" She eyed him warily.

"Not up to me to decide," he responded and lowered his chin to look at her. "That's up to your sister. Take me to her."

The drive from the camp site was a long one. No two circuits ever ran close to each other unless there was some big to do like a festival or a gathering for a meeting of the top dogs. Gwen tucked herself into the vinyl seat and kept her back to Big Daddy for most of the trip. She was grateful that Big Daddy didn't seem to be the talkative type. But then, why should he be? There was no reason to trust Gwen, no reason to even be civil. She counted herself lucky to be traveling in the front seat instead of the trunk.

When they pulled up to the camp site, the silence was finally broken. "She won't stick to what she told you to do and yer lucky for that. But ya ain't leaving this camp for a week, and then you can thumb your way back to Barlow."

Gwen sighed and got out of the car. The men who had surrounded her once before were still there, but they seemed to lack interest in her. She was led to a group of ladies who were busy kneading bread and chopping up vegetables for the evening's stew. Resigned to her fate, Gwen set to work. But no matter what she did, the other ladies would not allow her to complete a single task. Each time she picked up a knife, it was ripped from her hands. Every ball of dough that she touched was thrown into the fire. There were scowls and wary glances, but not a single smile or friendly word to be exchanged.

It was only a week. She could do this. Gwen had her phone and that was her lifeline into the world that she knew. And when darkness fell across the camp, she sequestered herself into the hammock that they'd strung up between two trees for her. The first text was from Mark. Her heart ached as she recalled their night together at the bar, skinny dipping in the lake and the love making that had made their long awaited reunion complete. So many things were said, promises in the dark.

Text to Gwen: Where are yah? Campgrounds little wild tonight.

Where was she? Looking around the only word that came to mind was Hell. Ko had made it perfectly clear that she wasn't to see Mark. But that didn't mean that she couldn't respond to his text. She knew it was all semantics, and didn't want to give him too many false hopes.

To Mark: Ask Ko.

She waited on a reply that never came. It broke her heart and she knew that she was to blame. Just the night before she'd pledged that nothing would ever come between them, ever again. And then the dawn broke and Gwen had to start the program over again, one more time. The hardest step of AA was to confess your sins to the ones that were affected the most by it. She'd told Ko and lost her little sister. Now, she'd lost everything.

She was startled when the next text came through and scrambled urgently to get the phone from the folds of the hammock. And though it wasn't from Mark, she was hopeful when she saw it was from Ko.

Text to Mark and Gwen: It doesn't matter what I do. I will always be the bad guy... Mark, I never once thought I was punishing you when I spoke to Gwen, and I'm sorry. Gwen, consider the punishment over. Can't get punished from somebody who doesn't plan on coming back. I don't forgive you. I will never forgive you. You can have my camper, I don't need it anymore. Good luck.

So Ko had told Mark everything. Gwen had never felt such regret as she did in that moment. Because of her lack of self control, her ego, her need to out do and out wit, her bad judgement, every one she ever loved was in pain. Especially her sister. She saw so much of herself in Ko Ko. The running, the booze the wild behavior. She'd been there, and it had nearly cost Gwen her life. Maybe, just maybe, something good could rise from all of this nastiness. Maybe she could coax Ko into getting some help. Sympathy and offered friendship hadn't helped. Perhaps some tough love would.

Text to Ko: Grow up and put on your big girl panties. Doesn't work that way. Big Daddy said I have to stay there for at least a week. He knew you wouldn't enforce your rules. XOXO

Ko's response was immediate and meant to send a dagger straight to Gwen's heart. She saw it for what it was and continued to text back and forth with Ko.

Text to Gwen: One. I grew up a long time ago, without you. Two. I don't wear panties. Three. Is it hard having to put make up on both your faces? Four. Like I said, camper is yours. I'm gone.

To Ko: Snarky much? Stop pitying yourself and maybe the rest of the world will too. XOXO

Text to Gwen: I'm not pitying myself. I'm FINALLY standing up for myself. Good-bye.

To Ko: You're a selfish little bitch. But I love you and always will. XOXO

Gwen:I'd rather be a selfish bitch, than a two-faced Barbie doll whose own sister wouldn't piss on her to put her out if she was one fire... Good-bye, Gwen.

To Ko: I love you, Ko Ko.

There was no response to her last text, she waited an hour with the phone clutched in her hands. She hoped that Ko Ko could see the path of self destruction that she was on. Saying a little prayer, she laid down in the hammock and gazed up at the stars.

"Are you seeing the same stars?" she whispered into the night.

The jeep rolled onto the site, and she turned the engine off. A deep breath was taken into her lungs, and she pulled her hood up. Mark was probably going to hate her for this, but she had to do something... She couldn't just wait idly by for them to move in and blindside them. After collecting herself, she shouldered her door open and stepped out. Thick black boots met the ground, and she wore a form-fitting hooded black jacket. Fingers brushed through her hair as she slammed the door shut, walking right into camp and looking around with wolfish eyes.

-

The camp wasn't unlike the Barlow's. There were several RV's circled around, a corral of cars to get around in and a central campfire. People were walking about, talking to one another and just doing what people do when there was an evening meal to prepare. There was an air of normality about it all. Except for one person.


Gwen was on her knees, cleaning potatoes at the small creek nearby. Her foot had been splinted and what cuts she had were bandaged. She had to be careful not to sit on her feet as she usually did. Her cobalt blue eyes were glassy and dull with the pain medication that she'd taken.


The potatoes were dropped one by one into a large stock pot. Plop, plop, plop.


"Oi! You there!" she heard Buddy call across the camp. She frozed, hunching her shoulders to become as small as possible. But, he was going in another direction. "What business do you have here, little lady?" She knew that voice. That was suave and charming Buddy. She sighed and went back to cleaning the potatoes.

-

Those blue fire eyes raised up to him, an eyebrow raising. "Keirra, not little lady. Key-rahh." Sounding it out nice and slow for him as she stepped up to bat. "I'm here to ask you to rethink whatever you're planning against Barlow. You take over, I promise you... You'll lose everything that's good about that camp. I can't speak for everyone, but I will fight every step of the way." Not a threat, a promise as she stared up at him, unblinking. She might have been intimidating, if she weren't tiny. And if the speech sounded planned, it was. She'd practiced it a thousand times on the way over.

-

Eyes the color of steel wool watched the little spit fire as she rose up to say what she'd come to say. There was admiration for her courage and spirit. But he just had to laugh. "I'm sorry, Keirra," he shook his head, eyes dancing with mirth. "We knew that the traitor would tell Barlow all about it, and we also knew that he'd think that she was in on it. Especially the part about her and me taking over." He shook his head again and then extended his hand to her. "I'm Buddy and you're the one that she betrayed the most. My apologies to you for the way things happened."

-

"So... Nobody is taking over anything? It was just some elaborate plot to ruin her?" she asked with narrow eyes. They squeezed shut in almost a wince, "Damn it, that's genius.." Taking his hand, she gave it a firm shake. "...I guess I don't need to introduce myself, then. Kind of already did." A touch of awkwardness sat on her tongue.

-

"Well, couldn't leave it to you. Even though you had more motive than anyone else besides me. You're her sister and family ties have a way of making things more complicated. Are you hungry? Dinner's just about ready and you're more than welcome." He smiled, a warm and welcoming smile to her. "Or did you need to get back to Barlow's?"

-

Normally she'd have turned down food. Lately? She was hungry all the time. "Starving..." she said with a nod. "Thanks," she mumbled. This was...unexpected. She'd half expected to be throwing punches, not handed food. "And.. I didn't let her off the hook for Gwen, I did it for Mark." Keirra mumbled softly.

-

"What is it about that guy?" he chuckled, then dared to touch her shoulder to point her in the direction of the tables. "Has the most gorgeous women just fawning all over him." He led the way, and offered her an empty plate when they got to the tables. "Family style, just take what you want," he explained as he opened up a roll on his plate and smothered it in beef stew.

-

"I'm barely five feet with no boobs and the body of a fourteen year old boy without the fun parts." Keirra said raising an eyebrow. "...and I do not fawn over him. He's a good leader, nothing more, nothing less." Other than that, she didn't seem aggressive, just stern as she allowed him to lead her to the table.

-

"You're one of those kinds of girls, okay." He sat down and started to dig into the evening meal with ferver. The man had a hearty appetite. "Go on, help yourself. There's plenty."


Gwen washed the last of the potatoes and then rang a little bell. Two men walked up behind her. One lifted the pot and the other hauled her to her feet and then helped her to walk. "Thank you," she murmured, keeping her head down. She was wearing what was given to her to wear. A floral print dress with a broad white collar. The ltter T was monogrammed into the collar in bright red thread.

-

Keirra began digging in, making herself a bowl and shoveling the food into her hungry little mouth. "One of what kind of girls?" she asked, her eyes moving to Gwen as she took another bite staring with wide, cold eyes. "...happened to her?"

-

"The kind that's too tough to take a compliment," he grinned and then looked over his shoulder. "She tried to run so we broke her foot," he shrugged and then turned back to his food. "We'll get her a healer before too long but her nose is going to stay the way it is. She was too pretty for her own good, but rotten inside. So she got what she deserved." He sounded bitter, and perhaps he was. "She's a traitor."

-

"I'm fine with compliments... If you want to tell me I'm the best thief out there, I'll take that. I don't like lies." Keirra told him, as she took another bite and pondered over the rest of his speech. "Didn't you just say that she hurt me the worst?"

-

?It's cliche, but beauty really is in the eye of the beholder. So don't be hard on those that think you're beautiful," he shrugged and took another bite before pushing the plate away. He was full. "Yes, she allowed you to take the brunt of the blame for ratting me out to the cops. Blood ties are the most painful when they're pissed on."

-

"That was cliche," she said, taking two more bites. "Yeah, she hurt me bad... But the way I see it? I chose her punishment.. I went back on it, but my punishment was what was agreed upon.. So I've gotta ask, why did you take it upon yourself to break my sister's foot and treat her like a dog?"

-

"She deserves it," he shrugged. "And my dad and I both agree that she won't get what she deserves at Barlow's. Though whatever happened there was a good start." He picked up a cookie from a plate and shoved the entire thing in his mouth, chewed and then swallowed. "Did you know she was my old lady when I got taken in?"

-

?I'm sorry, your... Old lady?" she asked with wide eyes, as she glanced back and forth between Gwen and Buddy.

-

"Well closest thing to it," he shook his head and eyed Keirra thoughtfully. "Was going to put a ring on it. Then she fucks the detective and I'm being read my Miranda rights. Seems kind of messed up, don't you think?"

-

"Yeah, it does..." Keirra agreed as she cleaned out her bowl and set it aside, patting her flat stomach. "That was delicious," she said with a nod. She was having trouble being mean to the man. "If it's all the same, though.. I'd like to take her back."

-

"Take her back?" His dark brows furrowed and knotted as he stared at her. He must not have heard her right. "You just said you want to take her back. Why?" He leaned forward, his gray eyes narrowed and piercing.


Gwen stopped moving when she heard Keirra's voice. What was she doing there? To laugh in your face that Mark is so happy with Molly and that she's so happy with Gerry and that I'm getting my just deserts.. The man who was helping her to walk gave her an impatient look. "I'm not hungry, just take me to my tent?"


"Your funeral," the man grunted and turned them towards her tent.

-

Watching her turn around, she turned her attention back to Buddy and raised an eyebrow. "She's a terrible, sociopathic excuse for a person, and I honestly hate her for what she did to me... That being said, she's my sister. If anyone is going to make her miserable for the rest of her life, I think it should be me."

-

"I don't think you have it in you to keep her miserable," he shrugged and plucked another cookie from the plate. This time he nibbled it. "Seen lots of girls like you. All tough and spitfire on the outside, but soft as mush in the middle. No, I think she should stay with us for a bit longer."

"Quit your crying, Gwen. I don't feel all that sorry for you... You want people to want you around? Change. Start off by not being such a bitch," she said with a shake of her head as she hit the gas a little harder.

-

"Let me hit your skinny little, non-titty ass with a fucking twenty pound sledge hammer and see how much you cry. Stop the fucking car. I want out. Just let me go." She kicked against the door with her good foot. "Let me go Keirra or I swear I'll fuck your shit up!"

-

Eyes slid to her, "You want me to let you out in the middle of nowhere? Fuck you. Make fun of my skinny ass body, I don't fucking care. Gerry loves my body. You're not going to hurt me, Gwen. I'm not stopping the car either.. Stop acting like a child and quiet down!" Keirra yelled as she looked down at the puppy who had curled up on the car's floor.

-

Gwen reached up, intending to grab Keirra's hair. "I don't fucking care! I don't want to go with you, you stupid bitch! I hate you! I hate everything and everybody! Just let me out here and I'll figure things out for myself! I don't need you! I don't need anyone!"

-

The car jolted into the other lane as Keirra fought to keep control. "Knock it off Gwen you're going to fucking kill us!" Keirra growled as she tried to shove her hand away, keeping the car in motion.

-

"I don't care! Let me out of here!" she kicked at the door and rocked back and forth to sway the car. "Everybody hates me! Just let me go, Keirra. You'll never hear from me again. Nobody will. I could find my way to a bus station and nobody will ever see me again. You want that, right? Out of your life so that I won't steal anyone from you? Won't flirt with your boyfriend or let him be drunk and confuse me for you? Oops! I wasn't supposed to tell you that."

-

Keirra turned back to yell right back, no longer watching the road. "You think everybody didn't fucking hate me?! You think I didn't want to leave!? I stuck it out! You're going to do the same fucking thing! You're not going to leave me alone agai--" That's when the last thing registered. Her face fell, "...he did what?"

-

?He fucked me. Up against the wall and he loved it!" she sneered. What did she have to lose, right? "His dick felt soooo good, too!" She was wobbling back and forth as the Jeep swerved from left to right without Keirra watching where they were going.

-

Wide eyes stared at her and looked horrified. She might not have believed her, she didn't want to believe her... Up against the wall was Gerry's favorite position though. "He... he didn't..." Keirra whispered softly, just as a honking horn dragged her attention back at the road. "Fuck!" Keirra spat as she over-corrected, sending the vehicle off the road, the jeep flipping a couple of times.

-

Gwen laughed sarcastically at her sister's insecurity. It was so easy to induce. But then she saw the headlights coming straight at them. When the car swerved to miss the truck, she screamed as they went down an embankment. The rolling had her tumbling all over the car, as she had been unrestrained. And when the car came to a rest on it's top, she lay on the roof, blood pooling around her face.

-

Keirra was never one to wear her seat belt, fingers attempted to grip the wheel, slipping away as she tumbled around. Starscream had been mostly protected beneath the dashboard and floor; didn't stop the pup from whining. A soft groan came from Keirra's lips as she attempted to move. Pain radiated through her femur, and she collapsed back down. "Ahnn!" she cried out. The pup hopped down and landed on her, whining away and licking at her owner's face.

-

"The fuck?" Gwen came to in a red haze and then realized that it was blood dripping over her eye. She put her hand to her head and glanced around. "Keirra, you ok?" They were in the middle of no where, the Jeep off of the road and probably not able to be seen from the road.

-

The pup continued to whine and nudge Keirra's foggy head with her nose. Blurry vision focused through the head trauma and she attempted to shake it off. "Leg hurts..." she slurred lightly as she attempted to push herself up again, stubborn as ever.

-

"Where's your phone?" The windows were all busted out and it was so tempting to crawl through them and disappear into the woods. But Keirra was hurt and regardless of how much they hated each other, they were sisters. Gwen wouldn't just leave her there.

-

"Pocket..." Keirra whispered as she attempted to dig out her phone. It was pulled free, and a trembling hand held it up. "Are you okay, Go-Go?" a bit too sweet to be normal for the bitter little rogue.

-

"I'll be ok," she took the phone from her sister. It nearly slipped out of her hand and she had to juggle it before she held it steady enough to call 911.

-

"Don't...no police..." Keirra said in a whisper. "Call Levi... I'm drunk..." In truth, she was not drunk. The pain and head spins just made her feel like she was drunk. The pup pawed at her face, whining softly. She wrapped her arms around it.

-

She hung up before it could ring and searched the contact list. "Ko-Ko, I don't recognize any names on here. Is Levi the asshole lawyer?" She pointed the phone at her sister to show her the crazy names on her contact list.

-

Blinking up at the ceiling as she slowly registered the words, Keirra nodded. "Yeah...need to change that..." Eyes rolled over to Gwen and she smiled softly. "You're pretty..."

-

"You're the pretty one. Hang in there Ko Ko." She punched Levi's number and held the phone to her ear. "Yeah, Levi. It's Gwen. I didn't hijack her phone. We've been in an accident. Not sure how bad she's hurt. Just hurry up and get here. Ok?" She nodded her head and looked down at Keirra. "We're on the road back to the camp, not far. Hurry, please!"

-

Eyes fell shut as she reached out her hand out to bad at Gwen's face. "Hey... Chillax, Go-Go.. 'Cause... Every little thing... Is gonna be alright!" Yeah, she was singing Marley shamelessly. "Rise up this mornin'! Smiled with the risin' sun..!"

-

Hey, if it was keeping her awake, Gwen was all for that. She started to sing with her. She couldn't see Keirra's leg but the rest of her seemed alright. Well except for her head because who sings Marley? "Come on Levi..." she murmured.