Threats and failed opportunities.

People are beginning to rise, the evening's events over. Nick hasn't moved from the base of the cross-bars, Pet still curled up under the blanket, her head on his lap, her breath calm and comfortable. His hand is in her hair, protective. He looks up as Tommy slides in next to him, pulling his other arm around her shoulders and nestling her face in the crook of his arm. He looks to her, feeling a tickle of concern. "I'm sorry, babe," he whispers to her. "You mean the world to me, and I would never want to hurt you."

Tommy giggles, and kisses the side of his throat just above his collarbone. "We don't believe in ownership, remember? And besides, that was the hottest thing I've seen in my life." She looks down at the sleeping girl in her boyfriend's lap. "She's so pretty, Nicki," Tommy sighs, wistful. "I'd kill to have tits like that."

"You look cuter without them," Pet whispers, opening her eyes and stretching like a drowsy cat. "You have amazing eyes, too."

Tommy reaches out, and runs her hand down Pet's pale freckled cheek. "Hi, sleepyhead." Impulsively, she bends forward and kisses Pet, a fast peck on the cheek. "I'm Tommy."

"I know," Pet chuckles. "I was blindfolded in the dinner room, not deaf." She stretches again, the blanket shifting down to reveal her breasts. She places her hand on Tommy's thigh, just below the hem of her skirt. "I love the sound of your voice." Rubbing Tommy's thigh, she shuffles slowly to sit in front of them, naked from the waist up. She's displaying herself for them, showing herself. "I'm Bailey."

"Nice to meet you," Nick says in a mock-serious voice. That's enough to cause all three of them to start giggling, looking at each other outside the scene for the first time.

Elizabeth coughs, standing nearby. "Sorry to break into the moment, folks, but we're all done for the night. We're cleaning and stowing stuff, and wrapping up the evening." She taps the tonfa on her thigh, expectantly. While Tommy and Bailey hunt around for something to wrap Bailey in, Elizabeth motions for Aden to follow her to the door.

He leans over and kisses Tommy; when he begins to stand, she stops him and looks at Bailey. "Don't forget her," Tommy demands, her face mock-petulant.

Aden laughs when Bailey exaggerates lifting her face to him, puckering her lips out for a kiss. "Yes, darling," he says, kissing Bailey as well, then turning to follow Elizabeth. They walk out through the front doors and down the hall back toward the dining room. Rick and Anne are standing in the hallway, now dressed in their street clothes. Rick looks pleased with himself, Anne scared; Rick sees Aden coming down the hall and speeds up to confront him.

"Hello, Rick," Aden says, smiling. "Problem?"

"You think you're pretty fucking clever, don't you?" Rick's face is gleeful. "Well, you can suck my dick, bitch. We voted, and you aren't touching this place. So fuck you, fag."

Aden's face goes cold. "Watch yourself, Rick."

Rick laughs at him, poking him in the chest. "You're gunna regret this, I guarantee it. I am gunna fuck your world up."

"I wouldn't recommend that," Aden warns. "I have less to lose than you do."

Rick ignores him, turning to look behind him. Aden looks back to see Tommy and Bailey, now dressed, walking around the corner from the Gym. Aden looks back to Rick, and shakes his head.

"Don't even think about it," he advises. "You hurt either of them, and I will put you in the fucking morgue."

Rick is opening his mouth to respond, considers his words. "Keep her," he says, waving his hand dismissively at Bailey. "She's broken anyway now."

Anne grabs his arm and pulls him toward the front door. "Come on, we need to go now," she says, a begging tone in her voice. Rick scowls, then nods. Without another word, the two of them head out as the other board members file out of the Dining Room. Most of them won't even look at him as they walk by.

Feeling cold, Aden steps into the Dining Room. Inside, Kate and Tara are sitting at the table; Kate's head is down, crying, her shoulders jerking as she sobs. Tara looks up at Aden as he enters. "Just go," she mutters quietly, disappointed. "You've done enough."

For the rest of his life, Aden will wonder if this was the opportunity for redemption he needed, if this is the time it all slipped away once and for all. He never speaks to Kate again, never goes back to the Cambridge. Bailey leaves that night and never calls them back, disappearing somewhere into the lifestyle. He and Tommy stick it out for a while, but things break down as his self-disgust and anger continue to build up. When the call comes to go back to "work," he accepts, heading off for three months. She's not there when he comes back, no note, no explanation. She doesn't take anything from him, but she also doesn't leave any contact info; she's just gone, as if she had never existed. He ends up back in the same flophouse, part of him hoping maybe someday she'll stumble back into his lap. It never happens.