Relief, of sorts

They're all snuggled up on the bed in varying states of dress, Baby curled up in between Tommy, who is lying on her back near the foot of the bed, and Izzy, who is sitting up at the head of the bed, smiling as she strokes Baby's hair. Tommy can hear a soft snore from Baby, her face covered by the mess of her pink, blue, and black hair, all ruffled by their love-making. Izzy winks at Tommy, grinning as she caresses Baby's head. "You gotta let us know the next time you around, girl," she says. "My Baby, she only sleep like this when she wiped out."

Tommy smiles back, shrugs. "I do have a boyfriend." She pauses, then giggles. "And two girlfriends, kinda."

Izzy's eyes widen. "Damn, girl, I thought we was slutty."

"You are," Tommy agrees. "I'm just-"

She stops as her phone rings, her heart leaping when she sees it's Nick calling, almost light-headed as she answers it. "Nicki, baby, are you okay?"

His voice crackles with static, the connection bad. "I'm okay, baby. Are you okay?"

She wants to be strong for him, so she pauses before she answers. "I'm okay. I'm occupying my time. I played some cards, won a little money."

"Good for you." She can hear traffic in the background. "I will be home as soon as I can. Any word from Bailey and Sarah?"

"I've been letting them have their time," Tommy says. "I don't want to worry them."

"If you need to see them, maybe blow off some steam," he says, concerned for her.

"Well," she starts, then laughs. "I kinda found some other girls." She hears him laugh, the sound of tension releasing. She looks over at Izzy, who has been trying not to interrupt. "I think you'd like them."

"Anybody you like, I'll like."

Tommy pauses, almost afraid to ask. "Are you- safe?"

"As safe as I can be." Nick's not used to giving details on what he's doing, but he know how worried she is. "I'm heading to a hotel with a partner, and we're going to pick up the people we need to, and then we're getting out of here."

"Okay." She feels Izzy touching her shoulder, squeezing it gently. "I love you."

"I love you, too, Tommy," Nick answers, voice tender. "See you soon."

"Yah." She chokes up a little as the line goes quiet, Nick hanging up to go do whatever he's doing.

Izzy doesn't say anything for a bit, just letting Tommy calm down and handle her emotions. After a while, Tommy rises from the bed, starts getting her clothes together. "You don't have to go," Izzy points out. "You can stay here with us 'til your man comes back."

Tommy smiles bravely. "No, I better get home. I wanna be there when he comes in."

Izzy nods, then picks up Tommy's phone, typing something into it. "That's my number," she says, leaning back onto the bed. "You need us, gimme a call." She smiles. "Not just for sex, either, okay?"

Tommy nods gratefully. "Thank you, really. I had a wonderful time. You guys are pretty awesome."

"You know it," Izzy agrees. "Now get your fine ass outta here 'fore my Baby wakes up horny."

"You make it hard to leave when you say things like that," Tommy murmurs, leaning down and kissing Izzy's full brown lips. "Take care of yourself, okay?" She lets herself out and heads toward the elevator and home.