Briseis looked at Hal with ill-placed annoyance. She was glad to see him. Estatic even.  If only he wasn't nosy enough to come rushing out with the others to see that she was the one causing the commotion. And that she wasn't alone. Her eyes cut to Micah standing to the right of her then back to Hal's shit-eating grin.  How was she gonna explain her creepy hot friend?

Fuuuuuuuuck.

Hal pushed himself off the door and came over to hug her. "Well, hot damn. The prodigal gal returns to her favorite bar!" He enveloped her in a cloud of warmth as he greeted her. "I should've known it was you out here making trouble, woman." He finally released her and Briseis gently pushed him away.

"Shut up. I don't make trouble." She flashed her eyes filled with agitation at her tall, blonde stalker. "It just follows me."

Micah cleared his throat, vexation evident in his demeanor until Hal turned to notice him. 

"Hey, who's your friend?" Hal spoke eagerly.

Briseis sighed. Great. Either Hal will try to cruise him or think I'm dating him. Neither of those things can happen. She had to think of a lie and fast. Then get Mr. Meet Joe Black the hell outta there before the lie collapses on her. 

"Um, this is Micah." she motioned to the reaper with little enthusiasm. "He...he's um...my"

"Blind date." Micah added in a low, but confident tone. In his peripheral he could see Briseis' eyes balloon in shock, but kept his focus on Hal. "I kinda took her by surprise out here. Kinda a joke gone wrong, you know." His bright blue eyes almost sparkled with amusement.

Briseis watched with wide eyes as she saw Micah take the reigns on delivering the worst lie in the world complete with a stunning, but superficial smile. It was then she couldn't decide what was more impressive; the facade or the gorgeous smile he used to seal it.

Hal chortled a laugh. "No worries. Bree has always been a bit twitchy, and she hates surprises." He winked to Briseis who finally tried to straighten her face. "Right Bree?" 

She chewed her bottom lip in angst as she shared a knowing look with Micah.  A challenge deep in his eyes. "Ummhmm," she grunted in acceptance between clicking her nail between her teeth.

With a warm smile, Hal extended his hand to Micah. "Hi, I'm Hal. I work with Bree as an EMT."

Afraid to be rude to someone who seemed so friendly, Micah finally leaned in to shake his hand. "Nice to meet you." A strange vision flashed in his head as he shook his hand. It felt like static electricity and Hal laughed.

"Sorry dude, I think I've been rubbing my feet on the carpet next to the dart boards." He stepped back to lean against the door. "Well come on in at least. It's freakin' cold out here. I don't wanna cut in on you guy's alone time--"

Briseis whipped her head to Hal. "Oh, no you're not cutting in at all!  Actually, Micah works an early shift tomorrow and should be heading out. Right Micah?"

Micah narrowed his eyes to her.  He knew what she was doing and it wasn't gonna fly tonight.  She wanted nothing more to get away from him and dismiss the topic, but he. "Actually, I'm off tomorrow, so I can definitely stay for a bit." He said with a smirk as he walked along side Briseis. She blew out a frustrated breath as he steamrolled her ploy to get rid of him.  

Hal laughed as they moved through the crowd. "Well, awesome! Let's sit down and I'll buy you guys a round." He stopped at a small wooden table covered with little rings of water stains complete with two chairs. As Hal circled to one chair, Briseis quickly plopped into the other as if they were playing a pissed-off version of musical chairs. Micah looked over to another table with an older lady smoking and talking.  She had an empty chair next to her. 

Micah walked over and put his hand on the chair. "Excuse me ladies," Micah voice managed to interrupt the cackling of the woman, who turned around suddenly to face him. The woman raked him from top to bottom, a smile growing on her magenta lips. Micah gripped his hand tightly on the chair as uneasiness tensed him.  The lady looked ravenous for some reason and the aura made him a bit uncomfortable. Not to mention her friend sitting with her staring as well. "Uh, would you mind if we borrowed this seat?"

The woman blew out a plume of smoke and grinned. "I sure as hell wouldn't mind at all, darlin'! Hell, you can take my seat, with me in it!" She exploded with laughter and her friend joined in as both looked him over like he was some sort of mirage. 

"Thank you, ladies." Micah quietly replied, feeling Briseis and Hal watching him. Giving a polite, awkward smile, Micah quickly dragged the chair over with him back to their table.

Briseis watched as Micah's face flushed miserably at the older woman's meat market flirting, finally bringing a chair between her and Hal.  She bit down on her lip to stifle a laugh.  She had no idea he could be embarrassed. Wasn't he used to getting looks like that? Maybe he was more human than she thought after all. 

Watching her failing at the snickering, Hal cast a chiding look to her and cleared his throat. "You gotta watch out for these bar babes, Micah. They'll eat you alive in here, especially Lillybelle." He pointed to the older woman's friend. "My ass has been pinched by that one more times than I can count. I keep telling her I like boys, but it doesn't seem to mean shit." He shrugged. "She told me an ass was an ass--how's that for elderly charm?" He laughed at himself and gave Micah a friendly pat on the shoulder. 

Micah turned to look at the women again absolutely terrified. He decided he probably was gonna pass on returning the chair back.

Hal stood up. "Okay, I'm buying. Bree? The usual, I imagine?"

Briseis nodded. "Yep. And double it."

He pointed at her. "Nope, not gonna do that, but thanks for playing." He pointed at Micah. "And what's it to be for you, sir?"

Micah shook his head. "Nothing for me, thanks."

Briseis looked up at Hal with pursed lips. "He'll have what I'm having." She declared as she peered over at a bewildered Micah. She gave him a tight-lipped grin full of smug overtones, similar to what he did earlier.  If he wants to hang around, he's gonna have to play. "And double his."

"Dammit, Bree, you just met the guy. How bout not getting him drunk on the first date?"

"Oh hush and get the drinks, Nurse Nelly. Micah's a big boy, he can handle it."

As soon as Hal was out of earshot, Briseis leaned over to him, trying to whisper in a volume that was barely working for her. "Why are you still here? Get out so I can socialize in peace. Just so you know I don't get to do that very often and seems when I do, disaster strikes." She folded her arms and raised an eyebrow at him. "As you know, my last date didn't work out so well."

"Briseis, I'm not leaving until we finish our conversation."

She scoffed at his determination. "Oh really?"

"Yes." He kept hearing what she said earlier about him not being human enough, and Micah couldn't seem to move past it.  He didn't know why it bothered him, but it did.  It was dismissive as if he couldn't ever understand life the way she did. The way any human did.  I am human, am I?

"Why bother? It's very clear that I'm wrong and you're right.  You don't seem to care how or why I choose to do what I do. You think I play with people's lives and you couldn't be further from the truth. You don't know anything about me or the people I've saved, Micah. You don't understand the good that's been done and whether you just don't know or don't want to be wrong, but maybe the plan your boss has is jacked."

"It's clear that you are defensive about your process and I'm telling you that though it may have worked for you in the past, it's wrong."

"Says the creepy reaper who never spent more than ten minutes in a world he reaps from. Would it kill you to tap into some foreign side of you that used to be human?"

"I'm totally capable of understanding your need to do this, Briseis, despite you think I'm too removed from your world. You're wrong about that."

"Then show me." Her eyes dark and searching just before Hal finally came back to the table.

He paused before setting the drinks in the middle of the table, feeling tension so thick he thought it was fog off the Pontchartrain. "Whoa. Looking pretty intense here. Everything's alright?"

"Sure." Briseis responded in a flat tone. 

Hal set her pint of Guiness in front of her. "Stop the pouty face for heaven's sake. Here, have a drink. It loosens those stubborn face muscles." He slid the glass of whiskey over to her as well. "See? A double Maker's Mark. Neat. Now don't say I'm not an enabler."

Briseis slid the glass closer to her with a grunt. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it. Now, when your migraines kick up, I don't wanna hear your lip." He winked at her, then slid a pint of Guiness and double shot of whiskey over to Micah. He wanted to refuse, but saw the look in Briseis' eyes.  She was challenging him to be a part of a world that he'd be doomed if he succumbed to it. Briseis wanted him to prove her wrong and he wasn't sure what that would mean for him.

Micah set the alcohol in front of him. "Thank you."

Hal ran his fingers through his hair. "So, Micah late shift, eh? What do you do for a living?"

He looked up at Hal. "I collect dead people."

Briseis choked on her beer in mid-sip. She beat her fist against her chest to clear her throat. Wiping her mouth, she declined the opportunity to look at either of them. 

Hal chuckled at her, clearly oblivious to the reason for her clumsiness. "Geez, Bree. Sip, don't gulp. I can always get you another." He turned to face Micah, amusement still lingering in his voice. "Oh, I see. Mortuary, huh?" He shook his head. "Yeesh. Seems like all of us have tough jobs here at this table. "You know, I'm surprised we haven't met in passing or something.  I know a lot of guys that work for the city morgue."

"I'm fairly new to this area." Micah stared at the near-black beer in front of him.  Still debating and examining the drinks.

"So, what are you doing here, Haligator? I really didn't expect to run into you here." Briseis tried to ignore Micah and his internal debate he had going on.

"I'm celebrating." He looked at her with admiration and nodded. "It's been 4 years today."

Briseis sobered. Her face melting with sincerity as she understood what he meant. "Wow, time flies."

"I know. It's crazy, right?" Hal looked at Micah.  "It's been 4 years today that I survived a car accident."

He raised his glass and Briseis joined him. She looked at Micah with encouraging eyes till he raised his glass as well. "It's good to be alive."

They clinked their glasses and Briseis slammed the whiskey, while Hal took a healthy gulp of his beer. "The world's much brighter with you in it, Haligator." Watching Micah, a sense of uneasiness prompted her to get away. "Excuse me, I need to go to the ladies. Give me another double for when I come back."

Hal watched Micah watch Briseis as she walked away and smiled. It was subtle, but one that hinted at some admiration. He never really met any of Briseis' dates, but this one seemed interesting. "Stubborn, ain't she?"

Micah grunted. That was the understatement of the century. "She's...complicated."

Hal pressed his lips together at Micah's very diplomatic description. "Yeah. She is. But don't let her fool you. She's always got her heart in the right place. Bree's had a tough life, but she'd never tell you. And she's stubborn because no one ever challenges her. Hell, you saw how I had to get her to drink earlier. It's for her own good, trust me. I love her, but she's pretty uptight and can be anti-social. I've discovered that booze tends to make her more pliable."

Micah nodded at Hal's advice. Seemed like he truly believed they were an item, much to Briseis' chagrin. At least he believed it. "So what happened to you?"

"You know, it was a real haze to be honest. I was heading home from class, I think.  I remember getting into some tizzy with some redneck asshole at the gas station. I picked some beer because I wasn't into bars at the time.  Sometime between there and home, this happened." Hal raised his shirt to reveal 3 ghastly jagged and red scar tissue as if he was sewn together. It looked like someone frankensteined him together. But there was something else on his torso that made Micah freeze in disbelief as Hal continued.

"My truck was folded in two against a telephone pole.  I barely remember the picture they showed me, but when they did, I know I wasn't supposed to be standing here right now. Everyone told me I should've been dead. I lived pretty remote back then. Back in Houma. Swamp territory. No one would've found me there. 

Micah looked to Briseis' empty chair. The mark of Azrael on Hal's body told the story. "But someone did."

"Yeah, apparently. Anonymous phone call sent an ambulance to that spot. Not to get too graphic, though you're kinda the right audience--when they found me they said there was blood everywhere, gnarly gashes from steel slicing into me from the wreck.  I don't know who that person was, but just calling the ambulance saved my life."

Micah watched the emotion run across Hal's face as he gulped his beer. In his eyes there was a gratitude that was deep and purely unshakable. If he could see into his soul, he wondered what would be there. Did he feel lost, confused? Hal's soul had one destination but was given another with no plan to the rest of its existence. But it didn't seem that way with him. He was happy to be alive and Micah was certain who was responsible. He stared at Hal. He had no idea who it was that saved him, but somehow got connected to Briseis anyway. It was just like her cat.  Somehow the souls she saves seems to come back to her. "That's amazing." He said as it served both his internal and external dialogue.

Hal smiled. "It is amazing.  When I was younger, I didn't have any idea what I would do with my life. Nada.  I was the son of a maid and a construction worker. I lived damn near in the swamp and ostracized for everything under the sun. When I was well enough to get back on my feet, I looked into volunteer EMT jobs.  I wanted to be one of those people to saved a life like mine. I love doing what I do. It's thankless, tough and scary, but sometimes that's life." He pat his stomach. "This, reminds me that life is fleeting, so we gotta get on with it."

Briseis slowly came back to the table with another whiskey in hand, and slipped into her seat. "What's going on?"

"Oh nothing. Just telling your friend Micah here, that I had a wake-up call four years ago."

Immediately, she deflected her eyes from both of them and looked at her glass. Her voice suddenly filled with dejection. "Oh." 

"And I see that you got your double without me." Hal frowned as she saw her turn up the glass to her lips. "Well, I'll go get us another round." Hal got up and walked over to the bar.

Briseis slid Micah's beer over to her with a haughty smile. "You keep this up and I'll make you DD. Either that for feed you to Lillybelle over there. I can't say I'm shocked you prefer to be a teetotaler." As she drank from the pint, she noticed he was quiet. It was hard to read his face, but if anything, it was extremely pensive. There was a tic in his jaw that was making her curious of the gears turning in his head. Especially then as his azure eyes examined her.

The sweet warmth of the whiskey was kicking in and made her senses warp and tingle. However, the gaze Micah held on her briefly stabilized her. 

"Why are you staring at me?" Briseis sat across from him, her palms sweaty as he examined her face. It was like he was looking through her. In turn, she found herself staring at him, which to be honest was beginning to become a habit.

"I'm just trying to figure you out, that's all. I don't understand."

"Understand what?" She sipped her beer. "It's not like I wake up every morning , yawn and say, 'Gee, my life isn't' interesting enough, how bout I raise someone from the dead. Like I vow to make it a daily goal or something. That's not it at all."

"Then when do you do it."

She smiled lazily. "When I feel that it's right."

"How do you know that, Briseis?"

"Cause I feel it here." She grabbed his hand and pulled it to her chest, right over her heart. Micah stalled at the gesture and the fierce beating of Briseis' heart right under his palm. "And I feel it in my bones. It starts as a wave of heat through my bones as if my body knows when to bring a soul back. I can't explain it, but it just feels right. It's more than the rules I made. My whole being just knows."

Micah wanted to remove his hand, feeling his hands sweat with the odd feeling of being so close to her, but her hand stayed still over his, locking it in place.   That wave of peace he seemed to get came over him as he touched her. Some safe haven that was calling to him like home. The beating of her heart was hypnotic and the passion in her jeweled eyes, enchanting.  He wished it was just the nature of witches, but the more he knew about her, the less he was convinced it was just bewitching.

He wanted to ask her about Hal, but he couldn't find the words.  As Hal returned, Micah slinked his hand away, realizing he was far too close to her. 

Hal finally came with more drinks. "Okay one more round and I'm calling it." He passed slid everyone a shot of whiskey and raised his glass. "To new friends." Briseis held up her glass and watched in surprise as Micah reluctantly held up his glass.

Briseis nodded. "To new friends." 

They clinked their glasses and slammed the alcohol. Micah winced as the alcohol burned like fire down his throat.  It forced him to cough something wicked. 

Hal tapped Micah's back for a moment as he stifled a laugh. "You alright?"

Briseis shared in the laughter as she watched Micah try alcohol for the first time. She was almost sure getting him to eat would've been easier. The haze falling over her distorted her perception, enjoying the giddiness of buzzed proportions. Perhaps it was that which intensified her amusement. "Micah isn't much of a drinker. I think he did it in your honor."

"Well, hell Micah. That's honorable of you. But you don't have to sully your kidneys with this fire water on my occasion. "

Micah finally rebounded from the shot and nodded in acceptance. "Good to know."

Briseis started to giggle warmly and Hal shook his head, recognizing what it meant. "Uh oh." He cut his eyes to Micah. "Looks like it's time to call it a night. Bree's tipsy."

Briseis bit her lip, trying to sober her buzzed disposition. "No, I'm not. And if so, it's your fault. Both of you."

Hal smiled. "Don't you go blaming Micah for your transgressions. He's been a saint this entire time."

With hooded eyes, Briseis wagged her finger at Micah. Poor Hal, so oblivious. "Oh, he's no saint, Haligator. Don't let his dreamy eyes and curly hair fool you." She found herself eyeing Micah who looked confused for some reason. There was a warning in his expression that simply tempted her as she finished the rest of her beer, sliding the empty pint glass over to him. "Beneath that handsome exterior is something much, much darker. I've seen it."

Visibly uncomfortable, Micah suddenly stood up. "Okay" He interrupted with a superficial smile. "I think it's time we take her home."

Closing out the tab Hal joined Micah as he shepherded a lighthearted, inebriated Briseis through the maze of bar patrons. Hal was impressed at the guy's level of patience. And the fact he didn't seem like some weirdo was helpful. "I'll get us a cab. Do you mind sharing? I know she's private about where she lives." Hal started dialing on his phone. 

Micah shook his head. "No, I don't mind."

The night drew to a close as Briseis, Hal and Micah packed in the backseat of a cab which first stop was Briseis' home. It took several tries to get it out of Briseis in her half-sleep, half-drunken state, but ultimately, Hal had to find her wallet with her ID.  

She leaned and rested her head onto Micah's shoulder, no longer guarded on keeping her distance or being afraid of him. Despite her light snoring, it was strangely serene.

When they finally pulled up to her house, Hal and Micah got out and ushered her out of the cab. Seeing that she was barely able to stand, Micah picked her up into his arms. " I got her."

Hal grinned. "That you do, sir.  Tell her to drink caffeine before she passes out. She gets nasty migraines."

Micah nodded. "Was nice meeting you."

"You too, man. Please take care of her. This one saves lives."

Micah gave a small smile at both the comment and the irony of it. "I will."

"Good night."  Hal waited till they got to the door then got into the cab to drive off. 

Micah reached for the door, but froze. Keys. There's gotta be some. He looked down to her in his arms. "Briseis?"

She snuggled against his chest. "Hmm?"

"Where are your keys?"

"Keys?"

"Yes. Where are they?"

"In my bag." Her voice slurred. "Don't you break my lock, He-man, you're costing me a fortune in locksmith services. I'm just a poor civil servant."

He huffed at the situation, as he had no way to get to her bag to rummage through for keys. "Hold on. I'm going to set you down." He slowly released her, letting her clumsily stand on her feet. 

Her eyes partially closed, Micah watched her reach into her bag and stick her hand out waving the bundle of keys. She held a black key specifically, sporting a lopsided smile. "Bam. Are you impressed?"

"Umm hmm." Micah took the keys and hoisted her over his shoulder.

Briseis giggled as she found herself thrown over Micah's shoulder like a cavewoman. It actually felt pretty cool. As she dangled there, she was able to get a great view of his backside. There was no doubt about it--the reaper had an amazing physique. Lillybelle was right to behave the way she did. "Ooooh. None of my Tinder dates treated me like this." She laughed as he finally unlocked the door and brought them in and closed the door behind him.

Briseis sighed. "I think I wanna re-heat that melty goodness. I'm starving."

###

So, what cha think?  I wonder how Micah feels knowing about Hal. And that Bree brought him back.  Do you think that highlights what Bree was saying: that Micah doesn't really know her or the people she's saved. Now that Micah has met Hal, do you think he's starting to understand? 

Even more interesting, Bree is a lot more relaxed now and freely speaking. Let's see how the night goes on in the next chapter!