The Pain and Bitter Taste [Cadence]

[SEBASTIAN DAVENPORT]

DAY 4

The sound of water dripping down from a yellowed, leaky ceiling could only go on for so long before it began to drive a person a little insane. If only someone would fix the damn thing! Four days he'd had to listen to that sound. The constant drip... drip........ drip over and over again, all hours of the day and night. The first night it was just a noise in the background, muted out by much crueler sounds like the cracking of a whip or the sound of his own cries of pain. And all sound vanished during the day when he was stone, his wounds healing over the course of a day in his cold and hard casing.

But the second day.. the second day the torture commenced as he suspected it would. Only when day came he didn't turn to stone. The tension and fear was thick in the room that morning, and because everyone was confused they continued with his punishment. He didn't know what was going on and when his body wouldn't heal and he couldn't turn to stone it was a nightmare. The pain progressively worsened and Sebastian grew weaker. At one point he thought it was all just the same night, not that he could really tell from his location.

He'd been dragged under City Hall. When City Hall was being built a bunker was installed underneath. It was originally suppose to be used in case of a possible nuclear war, it could hold fifty people comfortably deep in its thick walls. But it grew old and worn over the years and managed to find itself in the hands of Gargoyle leaders. Sebastian didn't know how it fell into their hands, but it had been turned into something of a dungeon. That's how he saw it anyway. They had everything you could possibly need to make someone talk, from surgical instruments to whips and chains.

The chains that came out of the walls never seemed to be effective since they could easily be ripped right from the walls by a gargoyle's strength. But as Sebastian grew weaker and because if they tortured him nonstop he'd surely die at this rate, his hands were in the shackles and he was forced to stand there with his back against the wall. Exhaustion had already set in on the fourth day. The gargoyle was beaten black and blue, his body caked in dirt and blood, his shirt was a torn bloody heap on the ground. He looked like shit.

The others didn't need to watch over him while he was chained up since he hardly had the strength to move. So he was left alone in hell with the damn dripping of water from the leaky ceiling. He welcomed death at this point.

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

If there was one person that would want to help her, it was the man who was being tortured under City Hall. She knew going down there was a risk in and of itself, and she knew there was a good chance Robert could find out it was her, but it was a risk she was willing to take. Cadence was smart and she was strong, but she was certainly not match for Robert. Was Sebastian? Not likely, but he was at least a Guardian. Robert could break her in a second and she needed someone to pass the blame onto if things went south to keep her own name clear.

Cadence had been exhausted since the darkness had started. She had gotten some sleeping in, but mostly she was running on sheer exhaustion. She went when she thought the man might be alone. It had taken her some time to pinpoint his whereabouts, but working for the Gargoyle leader had its perks. She was able to dig around and find out where they had taken him, which should have been her first clue. Not all Gargoyles knew of the bunker below City Hall, but having worked with the council for some time, Cadence knew of its existence.

The trek down had been slow since Cadence was watching for any sign of someone coming to catch her. The punishment for that would be worse than anything Robert had ever dished out, and he would want to do it personally, whatever it was. He would be more than happy to hurt her, and her future as his secretary would be at stake.

When she finally got down to where the man shackled up was, she stopped, staring at him all beaten and bruised. She genuinely felt bad for the guy. He screwed up and he'd been a poor example to their kind, but with the lack of sunlight, they were literally torturing him to death. There was no solace come day break where he could heal and rest from his captors.

She began walking towards Sebastian, pulling something out of the bag she was carrying. "Sebastian Davenport, I presume." She greeted, peeling the wrapping on the sandwich she'd brought. "Are you hungry?" She asked coming close to him. He looked like he was knocking on deaths door, but she did her best not to show any true emotion towards him. Instead she lifted the sandwich towards his lips. "It's roast beef." She explained softly, her eyes on his cold, gray blue ones. If it weren't for the bruising, she imagined he would probably be a very attractive man. His torso certainly looked trim and muscular. "Go on.. you need to eat."

[SEBASTIAN DAVENPORT]

He heard the sound of footsteps coming and then heard the voice. A woman's voice. "Sebastian Davenport, I presume." He tried to straighten up but it was a failed attempt and all that happened was he managed to make the chains clink around a bit. That was as much of a response as she was going to get out of him at the moment. His exhaustion ridden face tilting up a bit and looking to see who it was. He had no idea who the hell this woman was but she looked a little like Alyson and that made him swallow hard. The resemblances between this person and Alyson ended at the blonde hair and the fact that they were female though. He had no idea how long he'd been cooped up down there or why he hadn't turned to stone yet, but it was Alyson he was concerned about. He didn't know if Snow kept his word not to hurt her and there was no way for him to find out.

"Are you hungry?" He looked at her as if she'd just asked him if the sky was blue. "How about asking me how I'm feeling next?" He croaked, his voice raspy from a sore throat. "It's roast beef." Sebastian kept his eyes on the female and when she held out the sandwich he jerked his head away from it as if he expected it to be laced with poison. Was this just another way for them to hurt him? His paranoia was setting in and he stared at her like some mangy beast but she wasn't letting up with the sandwich. "Go on.. you need to eat."

He stared at her, trying to figure out whether this was a trap or not but he didn't have the willpower to say no to the sandwich for long. He would sell his soul for something to eat right now and he had a feeling this wasn't a free handout. Slowly he inched closer to the sandwich and took a small bite. Then another and another. He would have loved to make some comment about the fact that she'd brought him a roast beef sandwich, some dirty little remark, but he didn't have it in him to come up with one. "What do you want?" He whispered with a mouthful of food and then hard to choke it down, coughing his throat which in turn cleared it. "Nobody just comes down here with a sandwich. You want something, what is it?"

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

He was reluctant to take a bite of the sandwich but soon he was nibbling and then devoured it. She had another in her bag, but she wasn't going to tell him that yet. "What do you want?" He croaked, his mouth full of sandwich. The way he looked at her let Cadence know he didn't like or trust her, and truthfully he had no reason to do either. Not yet. "Nobody just comes down here with a sandwich. You want something, what is it?"

"So little faith." She said with a light pout, brushing her hands free of crumbs. Her eyes scanned him. He would be difficult to free, that was for sure. He would need assistance getting out, but she was confident in her ability to get him someplace safe.

"Fine." She said finally. "If you must know there is something I want." She placed her bag on the floor and folded her arms around her back, walking slowly around him. There were small puddles of blood beneath him; Robert certainly had no problem making people suffer. "As it so happens you and I share a common enemy." She began gently. "After seeing you chained like this I'm certain you would be interested in revenge to the one who put you here." She stopped in front of him and kneeled down pulling a small package of wet clothes from within. She extracted one and moved her hand gently to his face. "It just so happens that I have a reason to want Snow gone as well, but I'm too close to him. I require assistance, and that, Mr. Davenport, is where you come in." She gently moved the cloth over his face, wiping away some of the blood and grime that had been caked on since he had been down there.

"Agree to work with me and I'll set you free right now. I'll escort you wherever you think you would be safest and I'll even stop and get you some real food." She smirked at him lightly. "I seek a partnership. You're strong and ruthless and those are qualities I require in a henchman, which I suppose is what you will technically be. What do you say? Freedom for the price of a little vengeance?" She raised a brow, her hand stopping to look into those cold eyes.

How could he possibly say no?

[SEBASTIAN DAVENPORT]

"So little faith." His cold eyes remained fixed on her face, trying to figure out what it was that this woman wanted so he could just get back to dying. "Fine. If you must know there is something I want." He was glad she was just cutting to the chase instead of beating around the bush with small talk. It wasn't that he disliked small talk, but he was a little preoccupied at the moment.

"As it so happens you and I share a common enemy. After seeing you chained like this I'm certain you would be interested in revenge to the one who put you here." There was more than one person who put him there and he didn't know which one of them she was referring to. But he soon found out, "It just so happens that I have a reason to want Snow gone as well, but I'm too close to him. I require assistance, and that, Mr. Davenport, is where you come in."

There was something that didn't sit right with what she said. She wanted Snow gone but what did that mean exactly? Dead or just out of office? If she wanted Snow dead then that would explain why she wanted his help. Sebastian was known for his dirty tactics. He could be shady and fight as dirty as the rest of them when it came time to, and those who knew of him in the Gargoyle community knew him as such.

"Agree to work with me and I'll set you free right now. I'll escort you wherever you think you would be safest and I'll even stop and get you some real food. I seek a partnership. You're strong and ruthless and those are qualities I require in a henchman, which I suppose is what you will technically be. What do you say? Freedom for the price of a little vengeance?"

He narrowed his eyes at her, wondering what her reasons for wanting Snow gone were. But he didn't think long on it because he liked the way she did business. A little bartering of 'you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours'. Sebastian didn't do things out of the goodness of his heart. He wouldn't do it unless there was something in it for him. And with this, it was freedom that he'd receive. "Get me out of here." He snarled as his reply. He'd help her if it meant he got to get out of this hellhole. "And tell me what it is I'm going to be doing."

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

She could see him thinking it over and she stood patiently. She could easily walk away, and she knew she was going out on a limb with him. He could simply throw it back in her face and say she'd been there to set him free. Then again, who would believe him? Robert didn't suspect her for a second.

"Get me out of here. And tell me what it is I'm going to be doing." He snarled and she knew she'd won. She didn't smile though she won, because Cadence wasn't one to smile often. She kneeled again and pulled a bolt cutter from her bag and brought it back up to where his arms were hanging from the ceiling. "Try to brace your weight on your feet if you can." She warned gently before snipping at the chain. It gave away quickly, dropping half the man. Cadence dropped her arm holding the tool and moved quickly to push her shoulder under his arm to help support him. "Hold onto me." She instructed before she brought the tool back up and cut the other chain, freeing him completely though the shackles remained on his wrists. They would have the worry about those later.

Cadence dropped the tool and hugged Sebastian's torso, holding him up until he could steady himself. "Will you be okay to walk? I can help you but I'm not strong enough to carry you. The darkness..." She realized he probably had no idea about the darkness. "Do you have any idea what's even going on?" She inquired, bending a little to get the bolt cutters into her bag before picking it up and slinging it over her shoulder. She started towards the exit, moving slowly with him even though there was some amount of urgency in getting him out. Last thing she needed was to be caught with the convict carrying a bolt cutter.

"Faster if you can."

[SEBASTIAN DAVENPORT]

"Try to brace your weight on your feet if you can." He heard the chain being cut through and when his arm was free it dropped down to his side like dead weight, which it pretty much was at this point. He grit his teeth and let out a sharp groan as slowly his arm began to tingle, blood rushing back into the limb. "Hold onto me." He had to put a lot of effort into it, but he managed to sling his arm over her shoulder and then braced himself by spacing his feet apart to be sure he wouldn't just topple over when he was freed.

When the second shackle was broken he would have collapsed if it wasn't for her holding onto him and keeping him steady. It took him a moment to get his bearing but once his arms began to regain feeling he grabbed onto the blonde by her shoulders and used them to push himself off of her and stand on his wobbly legs. "Will you be okay to walk? I can help you but I'm not strong enough to carry you. The darkness..."

Darkness?

"Do you have any idea what's even going on?" He'd heard someone else say 'the darkness' but he'd been too busy getting hit to really pay attention to what they were saying. He had to grab hold of her again when they started to walk. His joints clearly forgot how they worked and his body was achingly stiff and of course he was in a lot of pain. He was slow at first, trying to just make his legs work. "Faster if you can."

He picked up his pace a little more but he was staggering and couldn't walk in a straight line. He thought he was walking straight but really he kept curving to the left before sharply to the right again. "What's 'the darkness'? What the hell is going on?" He thought maybe it was just one really long night, but how could that happen? Was he just that bad at keeping track of time down there? "How are we getting out of here? Someone is going to notice if I walk out of here looking like the crucified Jesus Christ."

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

Cadence helped guide Sebastian towards the bunkers exit. "What's 'the darkness'? What the hell is going on?" The girl looked at the man she'd just saved and then continued on. "Mordecai Dietrich was murdered the night of the Masquerade. He was nailed to the tree, his wings removed. Apparently the tree didn't appreciate the sentiment and cracked releasing a dark smoke which has infected the sky, blocking all sunlight. It's having adverse effects on the Guardians. The Therians are shifting every night, the Blurrs can't shift their forms and the Avisaille's are weakened. Us? We're not changing to stone, which of course is making us weak since our bodies can't rest as they're intended to do." She explained as the moved on through the corridors. The coast was clear, at least for now.

"How are we getting out of here? Someone is going to notice if I walk out of here looking like the crucified Jesus Christ." She stopped suddenly, not having thought of that. They would need to go out in public to get to her vehicle. He was a fucking mess. Lips pursed she pulled her coat off and was for a moment truly glad Davenport was a slender man. "Put this on. It's cold outside, and this will keep your torso covered. Keep your head low and don't look at anything but the ground. I'll guide you." Fortunately he was wearing black pants, and though they were caked with blood and dirt, it wouldn't be noticeable outside in the dark.

Cadence reached into her back and pulled out another cloth and handed it to him. "Wipe your face off." She instructed peering around a corner and noting the coast was clear. "Can you climb the steps? You can hold on to me." She said, offering her shoulder once more to him. "We have to get out of here before anyone realizes you're gone."

[SEBASTIAN DAVENPORT]

The woman explained to him what was going on outside of the cold walls of what had become hell for him, and it was almost too crazy to be true. But the woman didn't seem to be smiling and it started to make sense. It wasn't that this was one night that just kept on dragging.. it was that he hadn't been turning to stone. How long had he been down here? He'd be able to figure that out later, find a newspaper or a cell phone, something with the date and he'd be able to do the math from there.

After his comment about being Jesus Christ she stopped walking and looked at him. That's when she pulled off her jacket and handed it over to him. He had to work to get his hands through the sleeves with the shackles around his wrists, and because he was a couple of inches taller than her his arms stuck out. But when he zipped it up and stuck his hands into the pockets it would easily hide the cuffs from view so it would be good enough.

He took the wipe from her and ran it along his face. It stung and was raw in spots but he didn't care. The faster he did it the faster they were getting out of there so he had to suck it up and take the pain and clean up his face. "Can you climb the steps? You can hold on to me." "Of course I can climb the steps," he said almost as if she had insulted him. But when he started to he wasn't expecting it to be as hard as it was and he quickly reached out to grab her arm. "We have to get out of here before anyone realizes you're gone." Did she think he didn't know that?

It was weird not being able to have his wounds heal up but there was no regenerative process without turning to stone so he was screwed. How long did it take a human to heal? It was like an eternity for them. Was that what it was going to be like from now on for him? Was he going to be stuck all battered and bruised for days? Weeks?! He pushed himself and climbed up the stairs, holding onto her arm a few times but as much as he could he did it without her help. He had his pride to take care of, even if everything else was gone.

"You better have a plan," He grumbled mainly under his breath and got ready for when they started moving. His face was a little pink from how hard he'd rubbed at it and although he was banged up in the face he just looked like some idiot who got into a fist fight with someone and had lost. Sebastian brushed his hair forward with his hands, trying to break up some of the blood matted strands and make it cover his forehead. Then with his hands stuffed into the pockets of the jacket he bent his head low and looked to the ground. "Let's go."

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

Cadence didn't bother saying anything when Sebastian grabbed onto her as they climbed the steps. Really, what was the point? She knew what she had gotten into with him when she decided to set him free; he would be angry, tired and cranky. He's managed to evade the council and piss them off enough to want to leave him knocking on deaths door. Of course he would be ornery when she got to him.

Cadence helped him up the steps, taking as much of his weight as he would allow her bear "You better have a plan," He grumbled and she shot him a slightly dirty look. She didn't have much of a plan, but she knew whatever plan she created would involve using Sebastian. In the end she would allow him to take the blame, but she wanted Robert to know before they killed him that she knew about Jude's death and how he was responsible for it.

The very thought of killing Robert sparked a tug of war feeling on her heart. She had grown to like him in many ways. His strong hand made her feel alive and he turned her on like no other man ever had. She had hated him for practically forcing himself on her at first, but over time she learned to not only accept it, but enjoy it and even crave it. It would be hard letting that go. It would be hard to put her brother first, the brother she never met because of Robert, when she had been putting Robert first for so long.

"Don't worry about the plan." She snarled back as the got to the top of the stairs. He urged to move with him and she did just that, escorting him towards her car. "Remember, head down." She reminded, but she didn't really need to. He was doing a fine job of it, and though her coat was slightly feminine, he didn't look terribly out of place.

When they got to her car she opened his door for him and then moved to her side, sliding into the drivers seat and starting the engine. She smiled a little at her success as they started away from City Hall and down the road. "Alright, where to Mr. Davenport?"

[SEBASTIAN DAVENPORT]

The walk to the woman's vehicle wasn't a long one, but it wasn't short either. He had to keep his head down and his hands wedged into the pockets of the jacket to hide the iron cuffs but nobody really noticed them from what he could tell. Sebastian walked trying not to stagger around too much and when they came out the doors of City Hall relief began to flood over him. He wanted to just pass out and celebrate at the same time. But what he really did was just get into the woman's car and slump down into the seat. It felt good to actually sit down and for the first time in what felt like forever, he was able to just relax.

He watched her come around to the driver's side and get in the vehicle. When she started up the car and began to drive he knew he was free of that prison and looked out the window to watch it fade away. Then his cold eyes turned up to see the sky.. she wasn't lying. The black clouds that swirled around in the sky were blocking out everything. There was no moon. No sun. It was just a black and gray haze swirling around.

"Alright, where to Mr. Davenport?" When she spoke it brought his head out of the clouds so to speak and he looked over at her, haggard and scruffed up. "Sebastian." He mumbled and reached for the zipper on the jacket and pulled it down. The fabric was sticking to his blood caked chest and it felt uncomfortable. In fact, it was making him warm and he was going to sweat if he didn't keep it open. "Call me Sebastian. My father was Mr. Davenport." He hated being called by his last name.

Where did Sebastian want to go? He was limited in his options. Home was out of the question, going to the hotel he'd be left alone and trying to sneak up to his floor without being noticed would be too difficult. "Turn left at the third light and take it straight down." He directed and dropped his head back against the headrest and took a deep breath. "You know who I am, so who are you?"

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

"Sebastian. Call me Sebastian. My father was Mr. Davenport." She offered a sidelong glance at him and then turned back to the road, noting the name he preferred to be called. She didn't need to repeat him, she had it all in her head. "Turn left at the third light and take it straight down." She did as he asked as they moved down the streets steadily together, her eyes peaking into the rear view mirror now and then to see if they were being followed but it soon became evident that no one was after them.

"You know who I am, so who are you?"

Cadence was quiet for a beat, staring at the road ahead before she spoke. "My name is Cadence." He didn't need to know her last name. He could find it out easily enough if he wanted. How many Gargoyles were named Cadence? She was quiet again for a moment, focusing on driving, not sure how to approach the subject.

"I work with Snow." She finally offered, her voice soft since he would need to know. "I suspect he's responsible for the death of my brother." It was more information than she had ever told anyone before, but she wanted Sebastian on her side and she knew that at some point he would need to know why she had a personal vendetta against the leader of the Gargoyles. "And therefor I'm interested in ridding him not only from office, but from this world." It was clear what she wanted to do by that statement. "I need someone I can trust, Sebastian. Someone who is interested in letting Robert know what it's like to be on the receiving end of the cruelty he dishes out." She turned and looked at him long and hard as they stopped at a red light. "Do you think you can do that?"

[SEBASTIAN DAVENPORT]

"My name is Cadence." Cadence? The name didn't ring a bell but he was sure if he asked a few questions among the community he'd be able to find someone who would know about this girl. But right now it didn't matter who she was. She was helping him and that was all that he cared about.

"I work with Snow." That was until she said that. He looked at her with a firey hatred in his eyes as if he felt betrayed. Was this a sick game? Was she only pretending to set him free and then she was going to drive him straight to Snow who would laugh at his idiocy? "I suspect he's responsible for the death of my brother." That wasn't what he expected to hear. "And therefor I'm interested in ridding him not only from office, but from this world. I need someone I can trust, Sebastian. Someone who is interested in letting Robert know what it's like to be on the receiving end of the curelty he dishes out." So naturally she picked the person who had been Snow's latest victim, suspecting that he would want revenge. It was smart on her part, finding someone to be the underdog, someone to do all of her dirty work for her. "Do you think you can do that?"

Naturally, Sebastian's sarcastic side had to come out no matter how hurt he was. "I don't know, Snow and I are like family," he told her but he gave her a sidelong look that made it clear he was only being a smartass. "Of course I can do that. But it's not going to be like a walk on the beach, blondie. It's going to be tough." He groaned a bit when she stopped at another red light and had to adjust the way he was seated.

"How long is this 'darkness' going to last?" He already hated it. He was stiff, sore and he wasn't turning to stone during the day. What was the use of not turning to stone if this was how he was going to feel? And he definitely felt like shit. "Another mile and then go right and drop me off on the second block." He explained the directions since he knew they were going to be getting close. He wondered how Alyson was going to take seeing him. Would she be angry? He didn't much care how she felt just as long as she'd take him in and not hit him.

"How close to Snow are you? When you say you work with him, you don't mean you work for a paycheck and see him once every couple of months do you? You better work pretty close to him if you think we're going to be able to take him down." He would love to be the one to bury Snow. Sebastian may have done some inane things in the past but it didn't warrant the sort of punishment he'd been given. At least he didn't think so. He didn't know Cadence at all, but he'd worked with crazier people in the past. And she was a woman, so if anything went wrong he'd be able to put her in her place. Later, though. When he was feeling better because right now he felt like complete shit.

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

"I don't know, Snow and I are like family," It was clear he was being sarcastic, but Cadence didn't laugh or show even the tiniest hint of amusement. The woman didn't have a sense of humor, that was evident. "Of course I can do that. But it's not going to be like a walk on the beach, blondie. It's going to be tough." She shot him an annoyed look. Did he think this wasn't obvious? Did he think she would assume this task would be a simple one? She gripped the steering wheel tighter before looking forward once more. She was more than aware of the difficulties they faced. On top of Snow being extremely powerful, he had intense security. Bringing him down would be more difficult than the human president. She didn't bother giving a reply. He didn't deserve one.

"How long is this 'darkness' going to last?" She gave him a quick look before continuing on. "No one knows. No one knows what it is, or how to stop it. I suppose once it's run its course." It was the best answer she could offer. They were all suffering from this damn darkness. She was sure Sebastian was suffering worse than most, though. Even Cadence slightly feared the hand of Robert these days. She was weaker, and his strength was sure to hurt her in ways it hadn't in the past. She could handle it, though.

She followed his instructions and turned where he told her to. "How close to Snow are you? When you say you work with him, you don't mean you work for a paycheck and see him once every couple of months do you? You better work pretty close to him if you think we're going to be able to take him down."

Finally Cadence smirked slightly. "I'm his secretary." She told him softly, knowing that would certainly satisfy him. She didn't need to go into any further detail.

She came to the second block and pulled over, putting the car in park. She turned and looked at Sebastian. "My plan isn't secure. Honestly it needs work and I'm open to suggestions. I can get him Snow alone. I can get most information I need as well. I don't suspect he's onto me. I give him plenty reason to be content with my performance." She didn't need Sebastian to know she let him fuck her each and every way he saw fit. Take a couple of days. Heal. Sleep. I need you strong." She reached into the center console and pulled out a piece of paper and a pen, scribbling her number down. "I'd like to hear from you within the week. Please don't make me find you." Her tone was borderline threatening, but quiet.

"Do you have questions?" She asked, assuming he would.

[SEBASTIAN DAVENPORT]

"No one knows. No one knows what it is, or how to stop it. I suppose once it's run its course." Sebastian didn't like the sound of that and his face showed his disdain for her response. But if she didn't know then there was nothing more he was going to get out of her on the subject so he figured he'd just drop it for now. He could go find his sister and see what she knew about it later.. right now he just wanted to see someone else.

"I'm his secretary." His secretary? This hot little blonde was around Snow all the time. If there was anyone who would know a weakness then it would be her, but from the sound of it she didn't have a plan set in place. He could probably help her with that once he had a chance to rest and even she thought so, "Take a couple of days. Heal. Sleep. I need you strong." He wasn't going to argue with her there and looked out the window once they stopped. Alyson's place was just two houses down but he could walk the rest of the way, he didn't need her to pull any closer.

"I'd like to hear from you within the week. Please don't make me find you." He took the slip of paper and stuck it into the jacket pocket. He wasn't planning on giving her the jacket back. Not now anyway, he didn't need to be walking down the street all bloody and crazed looking. "I'll call," he told her firmly, not wanting her to get on his case about it. "Do you have any questions?" He thought about it, knowing he could make some witty retort but instead he just shook his head. "No."

He reached for the door handle, opening the door and stepping out of the car carefully. He had to hold onto the top of the car to hoist him up to his feet and let out a loud groan but he was able to get to his feet. When he did he turned around and looked back in at her with his brows raised. "When I have questions I'll call."