The Other Side Of The Door
FEEDBACK: Good reviews are welcome, flames will be used to make s'mores
and hot dogs.
GEN: OW/Songfic
CHARACTERS: Nathan, JD and Casey
DISCLAIMER: Ain't gonna an' ya cain't make me!
OCs: Does the cat count?
ORIGIN: Blame Taylor Swift for this one. (Or thank her;
she'd likely be flattered. Lyrics to follow.)
DEDICATION: Susan F., Rowdy Tanner and Zarina.
Author's Note: If anyone else would like to run with
the theme of Nathan becoming more and more unraveled, the longer the
rest of The Boys go WITHOUT getting hurt, feel free! (When Nathan's not
worried, he's
worried!)
Four Corners
New Mexico Territory
Saturday 19 April 1879
Nathan crossed the street from the Saloon to Watson's Hardware, stopping
briefly to look around.
It was a beautiful spring day -- sunny, a slight breeze, warm enough
without being so hot a man feared wearing his hat, for concern his brain
would bake inside his skull. Not a thing in the world to be worried
about. The tortoiseshell cat Virgil Watson emphatically denied feeding
took advantage of Nathan's momentary stillness to wind herself around
his ankles, purring loudly enough that he could feel the vibrations
through his boots. Satisfied that she'd greeted him properly, the cat
sauntered back under a nearby chair and settled down to wash her
haunches.
Nathan Jackson was quietly terrified. Damn, why'd Buck have to say
anything last night?
They'd been sitting around their table on the raised dais in the
corner, and Nathan had his back to the door. On a Friday night the
Saloon was packed full, and he hadn't heard Buck come in, until the big
rogue clapped a hand down on his shoulder in passing. Nathan had jumped
straight up out of his chair, much to the amusement of the others.
"Damn, Nate! You're as nervous as a workin' girl in church! Sunday
ain't for another two days!" Buck's cobalt eyes twinkled merrily as he
sat down to Vin's right and tossed back the shot Chris passed across.
"Gentlemen," Ezra drawled as lazy as a hound dog in August. "How
long has it been since one of us required Mr. Jackson's attention?"
Buck looked at JD, Chris looked at Vin, and Josiah looked at Ezra as
they all tried to mentally figure out the answer.
"Damn," Chris breathed, pouring a round of shots for them all.
"Nobody's been hurt since the middle of February -- Vin backed up JD at
the Valentine's Day social, took that knife in the ribs when those three
fools from Royale's all tried to cut in on JD and Casey at once."
Ezra grinned widely enough for the lamplight to gleam on his gold
tooth, and his dimples to drill holes in his face. "Precisely. And
here Easter has come and gone. That's two months. Nervous, Mr.
Wilmington, hardly begins to describe Mr. Jackson's current frame of
mind."
"Seen men goin' ta a firin' squad calmer'n Nate is right now." Vin
had a wicked sense of humor when he wanted to, and he shared evil grins
with Ezra and JD.
"Y'all fools shut up," Nathan groused, slamming back his shot and
passing the glass back to Chris for a reload.
Damn, why'd Buck have to bring it up? Shaking his head, Nate headed
down the sidewalk, determined to reach the livery. He was up for patrol
soon ...
Turning the corner of Watson's, he could see across the street to Miz
Potter's, and the knot of people gathered in front. A sinking feeling
invaded his stomach as he jogged across. From the corner of his eye, a
near-hysterical Buck saw him coming and waved him off.
"It's awright, Nate, g'on, don't need ya!" Then he collapsed into
another gale of laughter. Realizing there was no help coming from that
quarter, Nathan turned his gaze to the long shadow that was Chris,
shocked to see glee glittering in the depths of the green eyes that more
normally resembled two pieces of ice on fire. What could be funny about
JD and Casey both passed out cold on Miz Potter's front porch?
"Go ahead, Nathan, they'll be fine." Chris shook his head. "It's just
these two finally got their wires untangled for once. Shocked them both
so much they passed out."
Only the presence of Nettie, Mary and Gloria saved Nathan from
cussing, but the look he swept them all with spoke volumes. Turning his
back, he stomped off towards the livery.
Damn fools, it was a wonder he wasn't grayer than Josiah!
The Other Side Of The Door
Taylor Swift
Fearless Platinum Edition
Big Machine 2009
In the heat of the fight I walked away
Ignoring words that you were saying
Trying to make me stay
I said This time I've had enough
And you've called a hundred times
But I'm not picking up
'Cause I'm so mad
I might tell you that it's over
But if you look a little closer
I said Leave but all I really want is you
To stand outside my window throwing pebbles
Screaming I'm in love with you
Wait there in the pouring rain coming back for more
And don't you leave cause I know
All I need is on the other side of the door
Me and my stupid pride sitting here alone
Going through the photographs
Staring at the phone
I keep going back over things we both said
And I remember the slamming door
And all the things that I misread
So babe if you know everything
Tell me why you couldn't see
That when I left I wanted you to chase after me
Yeah I said Leave but all I really want is you
To stand outside my window throwing pebbles
Screaming I'm in love with you
Wait there in the pouring rain coming back for more
And don't you leave cause I know
All I need is on the other side of the door
And I'll scream out the window
I can't even look at you
I don't need you but I do I do I do
I say There's nothing you can say
To make this right again
I mean it I mean it what I mean I
I said Leave but baby all I want is you
To stand outside my window throwing pebbles
Screaming I'm in love with you
Wait there in the pouring rain coming back for more
And don't you leave cause I know
All I need is on the other side of the door
With your face and the beautiful eyes
And the conversation with the little white lies
And the faded picture of a beautiful night
You carried me from your car up the stairs
And I broke down crying wish I weren't this mess
After everything and that little black dress
After everything I must confess I need you
