"Hey, babe, it's okay. You're safe," McCoy's reassuring voice called through the door. "Open up," he added when I sat there frozen for a moment.
"Right," I said, taking a deep breath, sliding away from the door, then pulling it open. "What happened?" I asked, voice low, standing in the doorway, trying to shield Belle from whatever McCoy had to say until I was sure it was good news.
"Not much," he admitted with a shrug. "They came around the corner, saw me, and froze. Then retreated. They were peeling out before Huck got here. A few of the guys are driving around, though, trying to catch sight of the car. I got a good look at them, though. Which is good. We can use that to try to build up a sketch of some sort."
"Good," I said, glancing over my shoulder. "Because I'm not sure that Belle is going to be much help on the description front," I told him with a grimace. "She's... she's not doing so hot."
McCoy gave me a knowing look as he moved onto the roof to look over at her. "I'm not surprised. She thought she was safe. She probably didn't expect to ever see them again."
"What now?" I asked, wondering if I was going to have to have McCoy carry Belle back down.
"Now, for the time being, we are going back to the clubhouse. They know I'm alive now. There's no way to protect you here."
"But they know where you live too."
"I know, babe. I'm not saying it is a permanent plan, but we need to head in that direction for right now. We need some time to compare notes. Get a plan together. Then we will likely move you two out to Teddy's place for the time being."
"Okay," I agreed, nodding. "We need to grab the animals then," I told him.
"Remy will be happy to share supplies," he told me, eyes bright. The light dimmed a bit, though, as his hand rose, resting on the side of my neck. "You okay?" he asked.
"I'm fine," I insisted, but heard the weird edge in my voice.
"Babe..."
"I'm worried about Belle."
"Okay. But how about you? That wasn't easy for you either."
"I was actually... is it weird to say I was calm?"
"Not if that was how you felt."
"I expected to freak out. But I was weirdly calm about it. Even as I was sitting here using my body as a wedge."
"It's alright if you don't always feel calm about it," he said. "Like if after you know you and your sister are safe, you freak. That would be okay too."
"Oh, I reserve all rights to freak out about any large or small thing when it comes to being a part of the criminal underbelly in the future. But until then, I'm okay. We should be worrying about Belle."
"I'll get her," McCoy said, tucking his gun away, and making his way over toward Belle, crouching down, and talking in a low voice to her for a minute before looking over his shoulder, giving me a shrug, and reaching down to lift her up, and carry her back toward me. "Che brought his car. He can take Belle back to the clubhouse with the animals," he told me as we made our way back down the stairs.
"Okay," I agreed.
"No backseat, so you will ride with me," he went on.
"Oh, ah, I don't think you want me riding with you."
"Pretty fucking sure I do," he said, matter-of-fact.
"No, see, I have terrible balance. I can trip just standing in place."
"You'll be fine."
"I don't want to make you crash."
"It's pretty simple, babe, you just hold on. I do the rest. Think you can manage that, yeah?"
"I, ah," I started, pressing my lips together. Holding onto him? I was pretty sure I could handle that. "Yeah."
"Good. It's settled. I am going to take Belle down. You throw some shit together for the two of you and get the animals. I will come back up to help."
With that, he made his way down as I moved out to my floor, finding Huck and Seeley waiting for me.
"You good?" Huck asked, sounding genuinely concerned. Which was endearing considering he didn't know me.
"Yeah. Belle is a little, you know, shaken up. But I'm okay. I just have to get the cat and bunny," I told him.
"Oh, for fuck's sake," Huck grumbled, exhaling hard as he shook his head, then turning away.
"Remy found a litter of kittens last night," Seeley informed me with a smirk. "Huck is still adjusting to four more animals in the house."
"And here I come bringing two more," I said with a grimace.
"It's fine," Seeley assured me. "He talks a lot of shit, but he never tells Remy he can't bring anymore home."
"Does he always keep them?" I asked, gathering Franklin's two cat carriers—one soft and one hard plastic—to slip him and Max into.