Page 37 of Locke

“I didn’t die, Kiki.”

“You almost did! You can’t go out on a run already. It’s too soon,” I shake my head and sigh.

“It’s my job, Kiki.”

“You were almost killed,” she snaps once more. The guys chuckle, watching her in this angry state.

“But I wasn’t.”

“What the hell is Dad thinking? Why would he send you back out already?” Just as I’m about to speak, Gunner does.

“It’s his job, Kiki, and we need him out there.”

“Are you fucking kidding me? Did you not see what happened last time?”

“Do you have so little faith in your man?” Gunner asks her.

“I didn’t say that. I just know what happened last time. What if it happens again? Or worse?”

“He’ll be fine,” Gunner tries to reassure her.

“Yeah. I’ll be fine, babe. Don’t worry.”

“You know what? Fine. Go on your fucking run but don’t expect me to sit around waiting on you to come back dead!” There’s the fire I love in her.

Fuck me, that was some way of saying goodbye. I know she worries, and I get that.

“Come to the office,” Gunner says. I follow him upstairs.

“You okay with goin’? I get it if you wanna hang back, Locke.”

“Are you fuckin’ kiddin’ me? I’m on this shit, Prez.”

“Figured as much. Kiki isn’t gonna be too happy with us,” he tells me.

“No shit. It’s what we do, though, yeah? You notice Hodge bein’ off lately?”

“Yeah, it is. And yeah, not fuckin’ clue what’s goin’ on with him right now.” A knock on the door calls for his attention, and Gunner answers it.

“Come in.” The door opens, and Hodge walks in, looking pissed off. He has been since we were hurt.

“What’s goin’ on?” he asks.

“You wanna sit this one out?” Gunner asks him. His eyes jerk from mine to his dad’s.

“Why the hell would I do that?”

“Because you’ve been off, Son. I don’t know why or what’s happenin’ in that head of yours, but you’ve been off.”

“I’m fine,” Hodge snaps at him.

“Look, we all get it. It’s a fucked up situation. We all got fucked, but if there’s somethin’ more, let us know, Hodge,” I tell him. His eyes jerk to mine as he smirks at me.

“You know what? Fuck you, Locke. You want me off this one? Fine, I’m fuckin’ off!”

“Don’t do it like this,” Gunner says.

“Like what? You two comin’ at me like this? You two in my goddamn face about it?”

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