Aubrey/Biebe/Skinner/Thorne:  A Roman Holiday

(with a little of someone else)

by Atonia

Part 9

Toni finished up her meal in the courtyard and John came back from the police station and told her they wanted her to come in and make a statement.

“Well you know, I could be telling them a story they wanna see you since they spent some time asking questions and supposedly running around Rome looking for you.”

“I wouldn’t know what to tell them, John,” she answered.

“I’ll prep you Toni,” John said. “I told them some cock and bull story about amnesia.” He raised his brows.

Dino came out from the lobby, “I got a flight out and a ride to the airport…that is unless you guys need me to stick around for anything…not that I’d get to do anything or go anywhere.”

“Ah now Dino, you just weren’t quick enough, Jack said move and you said duh?” Terry teased him.

“Fuck you Tio.”

“Well you almost did, why the hell did you keep the extra clip?”

“Because it fit my gun too and I thought I was going with you. You wasted a lot of shot.”

“It was dark and I was running, it wasn’t all wasted,” Terry lit a cigarette.

“I imagine they wondered what was coming at them.” Max said.

“His gun was silenced and yes I do think they might have been a little frightened seeing their fellows fall with no apparent cause.” Jack said.

“Hey Dino, don’t get this big guy riled up, he can kick ass.”

“Don’t worry Tio, I’ve got no quarrel with Jack.”

“All right we got the cops to visit then what for the rest of the day?” John asked.

“Well, we’ve seen the Colosseum,” Toni said and smiled, “I’d like to see some other parts of Rome, the Spanish Steps you know tourist stuff.”

“You want to walk all over Rome.” Terry eyed her from across the table.

“What did you want to do?”

“Toni, for the last three days we’ve done nothing but walk over Rome.” Max told her.

“Oh, well…Italian leather then.”

“What?”

“Italian leather, you know boots, jackets and handbags…”

Terry leaned over to Max, “shopping.”

“That we could do,” Max said.

“What’s this we?” Terry asked, “You want to take her shopping have at it.”

“Terry, you don’t want a new leather jacket?” Toni asked.

“Try it on Max if it fits him it will fit me. I really don’t want to go anywhere much today luv. I’ll take the lot of you out to dinner tonight, someplace nice.”

“Oh thanks Tio, good planning.”

“You could cancel your flight.”

“Forget it, I know a nice little Italian place in Miami and they speak Spanish there.” Dino smirked.

“Toni I need you for a little while before we go to the police station.” John said and stood up.

“Okay,” Toni followed him inside and they found a room off the lobby with a sofa to sit on.

“I could have talked to you out there I just wanted to see you alone for a bit. Find out how you really are after your ordeal.”

“I’m fine John, it wasn’t easy for me but I managed to survive. Thank you for all you’ve done.”

“It was nothing, you got to see Maximus…was he okay when you talked to him where was he?”

“He was in the gladiator’s compound, I don’t know what they called it. He was locked in I had to talk to him through the bars on the gate. He’d just had his first battle the one with the chariots…so you know…”

“Yeah…he’s a great guy. I’ll never forget him taking me to you at the House that time when the magic changed. He just called me forth from my movie and said someone was waiting to see me. He has a hard life but an honorable one. You know, I can’t tell you what it did to me when I heard you were missing, Toni. It seems like I’m all caught up in this new life we got and sometimes I forget how important you are to me. Shame on me huh?” He smiled a little, “I’ve had some time to think at night trying to go to sleep and I know if it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t be here at all.”

“John, don’t worry about me…”

“Yeah, well let me worry okay.  I love you Toni, I couldn’t live if something happened to you. Sure I got Donna and the kids but another part of me still has you. I don’t want to lose that part and it seems like I’m always the last guy you know. I mean you and Max and Jack still got something goin’ and I’m out there being somebody else.”

“John you are never the last guy, you were the first and always will be. I don’t love you any less than I ever did and you know how much I loved you. Your situation has been a little different and I never wanted to cause any problems for you. I’ve tried to put a little distance between us because of that and for no other reason. You are as important to me as any of the rest of them don’t ever doubt that. Do you mind if I kiss you, married man with kids that you are?”

John grinned, “I wouldn’t mind at all, let’s see if I remember,” he kissed her slowly and thoroughly.

“Whew, you haven’t lost it John, you still melt my bones.”

“Good, that’s good to know you melt mine too except for one and um…” he looked around the room.

“Not here!”

“No, but I thought about it.” He chuckled, “I guess I’d better prep you for the cop’s interview or else…”

“I like the thought of the or else…”

“One of these days I’m gonna get you by yourself and you won’t be able to run fast enough.”

“You think I’d run?”

“No, you probably wouldn’t, ah Toni.”

“I know sweetie, I know.” She caressed his cheek and kissed him softly on the lips. “Now what kind of lies am I suppose to tell the police?” It had been a long time since she’d been with John or spent any time with him. He just reminded her who he was and why she loved him so. She hadn’t been teasing when she said she wouldn’t run.

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