Right about now

Eli keeps his grip on the chain, not letting Roth go, even when he heard the hoarse response. He was so angry. He'd nearly gotten sick after receiving the call that Ryan was in the hospital. He'd beaten himself up over and over for not spending more time with her, calling her, or just being there for her. He'd thought he would lose his sister. And it was all because of this man right here. This man who was almost completely choked out of air, who would pass out any moment. Eli was in control, and it would be so easy to-

Ryan's words yank him from his angry fog, suddenly making him realize just how close he was doing something he'd regret for the rest of his life. He had no right to kill anyone, no matter how angry he was. Roth was finished. It was over.

Eli slowly releases the chain, letting it slide loose and off Roth's neck. Giving the man a slight shove as a final statement, he takes a step back and looks down at the chain in his hand. Still breathing heavily, he grits his teeth, then lets the chain fall to the ground.

Glancing back to his sister, he just looks at her for a moment before pulling her into a hug. He was a bloody mess, but it didn't seem to matter. He was sorry she had to take the brunt of Roth's ire, and he was sorry that she was here to witness what he'd just done too. His scent is one of leather and car oil as he hugs her close then draws back to see her face again. "I'm sorry. You okay?"

Leo watches the crowd's reaction to Roth's loss, and it's obvious that many are now having second thoughts about the man who had been in control. He saw men scoff and turn away. He saw women take a returning glance at the guys whom they had left to follow Roth. And he saw Roth, beaten at his own game. Leo couldn't deny that it felt good. Had he not had better sense, he would have taken a shot at Roth himself just for the fun of it. But it looked like the bully had had enough.

Just standing back, Leo folds his arms and watches Eli and Ryan. Brother and sister had something special, even though they'd been years apart.


Kip gives a little scoffing laugh and slides off the couch to sit on the floor as he takes the controller. "As if I could beat anybody. I love to play this game just because it gave everybody else a good laugh."

Still grinning, the game began. Laughing, chatting, and laughing some more, Kip didn't realize how quickly the time was slipping by. Several games, a glass of flat pop, and an even score later, Kip leans back against the couch having just lost a level by falling off a cliff. "I'll never get it!" he wails, giving Karla a stupid grin. Glancing to Rin, he holds out the controller. "Hey, Rin, you want a shot? I think you could do better than I could right about now."

My butt

Continuing to watch on Ryan wanted to help her brother. It was in her blood to defend and come to the aid of those in trouble like this. But it was a lost cause to even try. She was still hurt herself and if Roth's goons saw someone else step in it might just make it worse. Her father always told her to pick her battled wisely and there was nothing cowardly about stepping back when you new you couldn't win. So continuing to hold on to Leo's hand was all she could do as her grip tightened a little with every blow her brother took.

Still laughing thinking he had the upper hand Roth was surprised when his feet came out from underneath him. Hitting the ground hard his laughter stoped and a growl came from his throat as his eyes blazed as if they were on fire.

"Why you little...."

Starting to stand again but his words were quickly cut off as the fist meeting his ribs. The loud crack sounded it felt like he had been hit by a truck. Doubling over pain shot through Roth like something he had never felt before. As he started to spit up blood. Not having time to catch his breath or even think about the pain another first comes to his jaw and than his face the pain shooting through his hole body. He had under estimated Eli and now he was paying.

Feeling the cold steel links going around his neck Roth trys to scramble to get the upper hand once again but it was to late. Falling to his knees he could feel the air being sucked out of his lungs as the chain became tighter and tighter. Bringing his hands up to it, to try and pry himself free it was no use Eli had him, the battle was over, and he had lost.

Continuing to watch, Ryan didn't know what to do with every hit to her brother she felt the pain. But as things start to turn around and Ryan see the chain comes into play giving her brother the upper hand she perks up. Some would say it was fighting dirty, or not fair what Eli did but if he hadnt Roth would have.

Not being able to help the small cheers Ryan looks to Leo before looking back to the fight. Fighting was wrong and she didn't agree but her brother was trying to defend her honor and for that she could not hold it against him. Still standing with her one hand in Leo, and her other crossed over her Ryan looks Roth dead in the eye as they become glazed from the loss of air.

Feeling the air slip from him slowly, and having his head jerked up to look at Ryan, Roth couldn't glair, he could hardly talk though her could manage just a few raspy words.

"Yeah....I got it."

Roth's breaths were raspy and shallow his eyes slowly starting to roll back in his head as his friends stared on as Eli hesitated to let go.

"Come on man, let him go."

"He said he wouldn't touch your sister again let him free."

Seeing her brother hesitate to let Roth free Ryan could see in her brothers eyes the anger and adrenaline that was in him. It was possable that it was so strong it was blinding even him of good heart to what he was doing.

Letting go of Leo's hand and taking only a few steps forward Ryan wasn't scared now. Everything would be ok, and if anyone was stupid enough to mess with her now that would be there own fault. Laying a hand on Eli's arm Ryan talks softly. The last thing she wanted was to lose her brother when she just got him back.

"Eli, its ok now. Let him go before you kill him. I don't want to lose you."

Grabbing her own glass of water Karla comes back into the living room setting the glass on the floor next to the couch. Going over to the tv and flipping it on Karal has to bang on the top a few times to get it work till finally this pictures comes on. Turning on the game system and unwrapping both the controllers she hands one to Kip.

"Ok, its been a long time since I played this too, so dont know my butt to bad ok?"

A grin formed on Karla's face and a small sparkle in her eyes as she relaxed a little getting use to Kip being here and seeing he wasnt going anywhere else. They had only been here a few moments but already Karla liked having someone to talk with. Even if they didn't talk just the feeling ok knowing someone was there was nice.

Nobody

Seeing what was happening, and hearing Ryan's cry, Leo is quick to put a protective arm around her, his gaze becoming a glare. His own face still clearly bore the marks from his last run-in with Roth, and he can feel his anger burning once again. "Roth, you swine," he hisses.

Leo wanted to interfere and help Eli, but any man without the aid of a weapon would be helpless in this crowd. Instead, all he can do is tighten his grip on Ryan to keep her from going to her brother.

Eli blinks back a drop of blood, his blurred vision just making out the figure of Ryan as she screams his name. Maybe he'd bit off more than he could chew this time. Maybe he'd been too cocky. Maybe he wasn't as strong as he'd once been. He can feel himself starting to give up as he lies on the ground, taking another kick to the ribs.

Then Roth's words hit his ears. Above the jeering crowd, he could hear Roth's taunting. Eli's blood begins to boil once more. No one talked about his sister like that - no one. His expression of defeat slowly morphs into one of cold steel. Lifting his head a little from the dirt, sweat and blood run down the side of his face. His hand slides forward to feel what had gone overlooked in the dim light until now, and his fingers wrap around the cool links.

Getting another kick in the side, Eli suddenly rolls onto his back, hooking Roth's angles with his feet, and giving them a swift tug to bring the man down to the ground. He knew it hadn't been a hard enough hit to keep Roth down, so he has to take advantage of the quick moment to roll a few feet away and get back to his own feet.

Standing tall once more, his back is to his sister as the ire rages in his eyes, watching Roth get back to his feet. But this time a two-foot chain hangs from his hand. Eli's wrist twists several times, wrapping the cold, hard chain around his fist as he waits for Roth to come at him again. Ducking a blow, he delivers a hard punch right to Roth's ribs, the chain multiplying the impact enough for Eli to hear a crack. But he was far from done. Taking advantage of a slight pause, his fist flies back to Roth's jaw, the steel links slamming into his flesh, then coming back up for another hit to the side of the face.

Adrenaline and pain fuel Eli's rage as he relentlessly attacks Roth's ribcage with his chained fist. He can hear the boos and yelling all around him, but he doesn't care. Bringing Roth low enough, he lets the chain unravel from his hand and snakes it around Roth's neck. Slipping behind his opponent, he kicks Roth hard behind his knee to get him down on the ground, while his hands put a tight hold on the chain noose, cutting off much of Roth's air supply.

"Nobody touches a McKade," Eli threatens, giving a yank to the chain. Blood trickles down from a cut in his head, disappearing into the black of his leather jacket. His right hand was already black and blue from using the chain, but he'd done more damage than that to Roth. "You see Ryan over there?" Eli grips the chain with one hand while yanking at Roth's hair to pull his head up, straight on with Ryan and Leo. "You ever... ever even think about harming her or any of her friends again and this chain will be so tight around your neck that they'll have to bury you with it. Got it?"


Gunner's eyes widen slightly and he can't help a laugh, even though Bree was trying to move on from her unfortunate comment. He was tempted to tease her about it, but this time he lets it slide.

"Yeah... yeah, I'll think about it."

Leaning down to slip his shoes back on, he stands and stretches tall, his hands reaching for the ceiling as he yawns. He was tired... but it was a good tired. "Thanks, Bree." He looks her in the eye, showing he meant it. "For being my friend."


"I'm good." Kip waves off the offer for a drink and he wanders the room for a moment before sinking onto the edge of the couch. "I haven't played mario brothers in ages."

A grin slides across his face as he looks up to Karla. "But there's no way I'm playing by myself."