Liz Sherman

"I promise Liz," I say, "I don't want to fight with anyone too risky on my end, you know that. And no I didn't meet Manning thank goodness I've had it with government types."

I think about what Abe saw in my head and nod. "He asked for a look and I gave him one."

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"Liz, he's got nothing to worry about just as long as he doesn't," I cut myself off. Telling him what I told her might not be the best idea. Especially considering that he insists on "checking" on me. He beats the hell out of Manning though.

"Once you let Blue look inside your head, he's always going to be wanting another look. Damn guy is too curious for his own good, if you ask me."

I wonder what's in those letters. I never saw them before.

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I look back at Red and scowl a bit. He had better not say anything to Jack like he said to me. This whole thing is so new, I don't even want to put the idea that I worry about things like getting my heart broken into Jack's head. That sort of thinking passes with time, though. I hope it does, anyway.

"Yeah, we should avoid Manning then." I smile at Jack. "He's one of those stuffed shirt, arrogant, thinks-he's-better-than-you types. We just love to hate him, right Red?"

I almost feel like Jack and I should leave, while we're all getting along, not push our good luck. I know one wrong word from any of us and we'll all be right back to that weird awkwardness. Maybe I'm just being paranoid.

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I chuckle. "I've dealt with people like this Manning before, more then I would have liked to, but we did promise our boss we'd be back on the first plane we could get," I say.

I want to put my arm on Liz's shoulder but I decide not to push my luck either, I am still reeling from Abe's little peek into my head.

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"Manning's a cupcake." I laugh. He sure can make my life a living hell though.

"Go then, don't need any trouble from your boss, do ya?" I flick my left hand towards my door, sad to see her go but relieved too. This is getting to be a bit much for me. I love her, I'll always love her. That's never going to change. I hope to hell something gets us called out tonight, I feel like kicking the crap out of something.

"Hey, Jack." I shout when they are almost out of my sight. I really should make sure things are 100% clear about this situation we have found ourselves in.

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"Right, a cupcake that can make sure you stay locked up for the rest of your life." I shoot Red a disapproving glance. "You just behave. I'm not around to talk Manning down if you piss him off anymore."

"We'll see you, Red." Not that I'm eager to get back on a plane, but I do think we've stayed our welcome. Jack was smart, suggesting we fly rather than drive. He knew if I had the option to turn around and run away from doing this, I would. How the hell does he know me so well?

My heart almost stops when I hear Red shout to Jack. I'm scared he's going to say something about Jack not breaking my heart. He wouldn't, would he?

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I hear Hellboy shout my name and I turn around with a warm smile. Either this is going to be the 'Hurt her and I'll kill you conversation,' or something completely different.

"Yes," I say calmly, Hellboy isn't the only one who has a warning to give, but I plan on giving mine without any fist swinging if I can help it.

"If you have something to say go right ahead," I add, "I'm all ears."

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My eyes dart back and forth between the 2 of them. Liz looks like she's afraid I'm going to do something stupid. Part of me really wants to.

"Don't," I want to tell him what will happen if he ever makes her hurt, makes her cry, makes her angry, or breaks her heart. I almost say it, but then think better of it. Hell, I've done that shit to her a thousand times over and I know that it's not intentional. It kills me every time I think that something I said made her feel bad.

"Don't forget to call before you show up next time." I shrug. "Hate to to be out on mission or something."

I'm such a wimp when it come to things regarding Liz. She's always been my greatest weakness. Probably always will be.

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I hold my breath, like waiting for something to explode. If Red says anything to Jack, I just might explode. He doesn't think things through sometimes. No wonder Broom thought he needed someone other than Myers. I don't know what to expect from him. This is like a bad movie; the 2 people I care about most, staring each other down. At least Jack's being a bit more friendly about it.

Oh, thank God!

"I'll make sure Jack has the number, Red." I smile at him. He's really surprising me how mature he's being about all this. His father would be so proud of him. I hope he knows that.

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I smile, I know what he wanted to say and I'm proud of him for not saying it. "I promise next time we visit, we will call ahead," I reply with a nod. Trevor would indeed be proud of how far both Hellboy and I have come.

I smile again and hold the bundle of letters out to him. "Your father would want you to have these, they are all the letters I wrote to him. No reason to keep anymore secrets yeah?"

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I step slowly over to them and take the stack of letters from Jack. "Yeah, no secrets." I say as I glance at them.

I have to laugh as Liz looks at the letters a bit disappointed. 'No secrets' my ass. She'll wear him down, she always does. If she wants to know something, she'll find out. Of course, she seems to have learned how to drop things that need to be dropped too. "You're doin' good, Kid." I reach over and brush a bit of hair out of her eyes. "Keep it up, Father would want you to be happy." I shoot Jack a bit of a look when I say 'happy.'

Can't let him walk out the door without understanding I'm going to worry about her, even if she's got someone else to worry about her now. If he's any kind of a man, he'll understand that.

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Well, that's not fair. I want to see the letters. I glance up at Jack with a slightly annoyed look. I'd really like to know more about the friendship between him and Broom. Of course I could just ask him. For some reason I get scared to ask him too personal questions. I hope that sort of thing passes, too. I trust Jack to tell me the truth, and oddly, I trust him to leave things out that will upset me.

"I'm trying, Red." This is so hard for him, how can it not be? I always felt guilty for the way I flirted with Myers on the ride home from Bellamie. If Red had seen that, he would have been so upset. It's amazing how much he's grown up since his father died. Bringing Jack here is about a million times more awkward than anything having to do with Myers.

"He'd want you to be happy too, Red." I reach out and squeeze his left hand. "So be happy, ok? I am." I can't help but smile at Jack when I say that. It's amazing how one person can impact your life so deeply.

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I look at the odd trifecta our hands have created and smile. "You have a friend in both of us Hellboy," I say softly, "your father would be proud of the man that you have become."

"Please call if you need an extra pair of hands, I really want to help you."

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"Shame he can't see me getting alone with you." I miss father, and Jack saying he would be proud, feels good but it hurts, too. I take a step back and try not to look upset. That's not hard, I always look unpleasant. "Not really my decision to bring in an outside man." I shrug. "That's up to Manning."

"You two better get going, don't want to piss your boss off." I wave them off again and step back to the stack of albums in the back of my room. I hope Liz didn't melt any of them.

(dropping out)

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