Aftermath

While Anna was in the middle of her ranting, I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. I thought it was just Travis so I didn't stop her but when she finished, the 'any suggestions on how I get it there?' let both of us know it wasn't Travis who overheard the conversation.

Scott stared down at Anna as he hovered next to her chair. He repeated the question when she didn't answer but it didn't look like she had any intentions on saying anything. "I see," he said finally before turning to me to ask how I was.

Despite feeling like someone beat the shit out of me, I told Scott I was doing fine - I didn't want to talk about how I was feeling. "I just want to get out of here."

Scott nodded, mumbled something about understanding and then told me to drop into his office as soon as I could. "I'll need you to give a full report of what happened," he told me before turning back to Anna to ask her to step into the hallway with him. "

Reluctantly Anna got up from her chair. "I'll be just outside," she told me. "Call me if you need anything."

With Anna gone, there was no one to keep my mind off the pain - I wanted to call her back in just so she would do the endless chatter thing that she did so well. But I didn't because I started to think about how good it was to have her there, caring for me and that got me thinking about Sara.

Sara. I sighed. I didn't know what to think about her behaviour anymore. I really thought she was into me, just a little cautious because of the Bastard but now I wasn't so sure. I hadn't heard from her since the night I went out with Travis. She failed to return my calls. She never answered when I called. Was it time to move on?

"Hey Tanman!" Out of nowhere Travis appeared and after a quick once over, he started to give me shit. "I come to the city to party with you and you check into the hospital? What kind of brother does that?"

"I got into trouble with out you," I joked and attempted to laugh but ended up wincing in pain.

"Anything for the attention," he remarked with a smirk as Anna, who had just returned without Scott, hurried to my side.

"He's alright," Travis stated when Anna asked me how I was feeling. "I told you he would be alright, didn't I?"

Anna gave him a funny look. "Don't you mean, I told you?"

"No," he scoffed. "You were the one freaking out -"

Anna snorted. "Me?"

"...freaking out and lying to the nurses about being his girlfriend -"

I raised a brow.

"Hey, I only said that because they wouldn't let me in otherwise!"

Travis was just grinning as he corrected himself. "Wait, didn't you actually spill some tail a romantic weekend and a proposal?"

My eyes widened as I turned to stare at her the best I could without hurting too much. "What?"

"They wouldn't let me come in," she said defensively. "I was worried."

"So you told them we..." I couldn't even say it.

"Yes!" She exclaimed as she moved to swat at Travis for laughing at her. "You don't know how horrible it was!" She turned to me. "You rolled down over the stairs and there was a loud crack when your head hit the wall! I thought you were really hurt." Lifting her hand, she brushed her hair out of her eyes. "I needed to know you were ok, and I would do it all over again if I had too!"

With that said Anna excused herself. Just as she disappeared, Travis pulled up a chair to my bed. "God she's so hilarious when you get her going."

"You're such an ass," I chuckled before agreeing with him.

"It's so easy to push her buttons," he commented with a grin. "All night I had it going about one thing or another. Why, while we were in her room -"

I stopped laughing and felt a sudden desire to kick my brother's ass. "Why were you in her room?"

"She invited me."

"For what?"

He shrugged.

"What did you do in her room?"

"Hung out."

When I asked him again what he did in her room, he got all defensive and snapped, "I didn't do anything Dad, so lay off."

"How is everyone in here?" An older blond nurse came waltzing into the room so I didn't get to ask him anything else.

"Great," I hissed through clenched teeth as she hit every single sore spot on my body as she checked things off her clipboard.

"Good," she gave me a smile and told me that the doctor would be in to see me soon.

"How soon? I really want to go home."

"Well, he starts his rounds at 5 so..." she glanced at her watch and told me it was 4:20. "Just relax, get some sleep and before you know it you'll be back at the hotel with your fiancee." She flashed me a smile and patted my arm. "Congratulations."

When the nurse left, I groaned. "Not even two hours ago, I was standing at my room door. Why the fuck didn't I go in?"

"You're a Fucker."

"Just shut up."

"Make me, Pussy."

I laughed, "I can still kick your ass Travis."

"Yeah, right!" Travis laughed. "You can't even drag your ass off that bed Tanman."

"Oh yeah?" I tried, it hurt like hell but I managed to sit up in the bed. "Better run, I'm going to..." I felt very dizzy suddenly.

"Tanner!" Travis' laughter died as he leapt from the chair. "Don't you dare fall out of that fucking bed!" He helped me lay back down, cursing the entire time.

"What's going on?" Anna reappeared at the side of my bed. "What are you trying to do to him?" She snapped at Travis as she rearranged the sheet over me. "Are you ok Tanner? Do you need me to get the nurse?"

"He needs you to stop smothering him," Travis snapped.

"I'm fine..." I still felt a little light headed to tell the truth.

"Don't." Anna batted Travis' hands away from me as she tried to put some distance between him and my bed.

"Don't tell me what to do," Travis started slapping her hands whenever she touched me. "He's a big boy, he can tell us when he needs something."

This went on for a couple minutes, Anna was getting more and more frustrated but Travis seemed to be enjoying it. "Stop hitting me!" She finally snapped at him.

So what did he do?

"Anna watch -"

SWACK!

Anna yelped and spun around. With one hand rubbing her butt, she gave him the dirtiest look ever. "Don't you ever slap my ass again!"

Travis shrugged nonchalantly. "Ok," he replied but I knew the look in his eye, he was planning his next slap.

"I mean it!" She poked him in the chest. "Don't do it again."

"Ok."

Glaring at him one more time, Anna turned back to me. "Are you sure you're ok?"

"Yeah, I'm just getting tired."

"Oh, then maybe we should...." she glanced over her shoulder. "Don't even think about it!"

Travis held up his hands and tried to look innocent.

"I'm not that stupid."

He just grinned.

"We should let Tanner get some rest."

"Yeah," Travis glanced at me, looking sorry. "Before mom shows up and smothers you even more than Anna."

"You called mom?" I was pissed. I hated having mom worry about me for something so stupid.

He pointed to Anna. "She made me! Told me if I didn't call her, she would and she would let mom know that I didn't think she needed to be bothered."

"Your mom is listed as an emergency contact Tanner, I had to call her." Anna didn't even listen to me when I tried to explain that mom over worried and I didn't want her called unless something serious happened.

"This was serious! You could've broken your neck or worse Tanner. What would've happened if I didn't call her and it turned out differently?"

"Umm," Travis leaned closer to her. "I believe I called her."

"Only because you refused to let me near the phone."

"You were freaking out! That's all I needed mom to hear when she woke up, some crazy chick crying as she told her that her son took a flight down the stairs on his head."

"Guys stop it!" I had enough. "When did you call mom?"

Travis looked at Anna. "Was it 3? 3:30?" She nodded.

"Great," I sighed, closing my eyes. "I'm going to need more sleep before I can deal with her."

"Ok, we'll be quiet." Anna reached for the chair next to the bed.

"No," I glanced back and forth between the two of them. "Can you guys go? I'm alright so there's no need to stick around."

Anna didn't want to leave Travis ended up almost dragging her out of the room. "Call me if you need anything," I heard her call as he pulled her away.

I fell asleep almost immediately.

The doctor came in around 5:30 but I was still half asleep, I had no idea what he said.

My parents showed up 6. My mom cried and ran across the room to give me a hug when she saw I was awake. She squeezed me so hard, it hurt but I didn't really notice because in the doorway, almost hidden from my view by my parents, stood Sara.

Chain Of Events

A door down the hall opened. "You fucking bitch!" A guy yelled as a scantly clad women in her late thirties stumbled backwards out into the hallway.

"It's not -"

"It's not what?" The guy yelled as he shoved the woman backwards again, getting dangerously close to the stairway. "What it looks like?" He asked her but never gave her a chance as he called her a fucking cunt. "I work my ass off to get you everything you want and you repay me by fucking everything that walks? I don't fucking think so Bitch!" He went for her again but was stopped by another guy, in his underwear, from the same room.

"Get the fuck off me!" The first guy took a swing at the second guy as he grabbed him off the woman. "I'll kill you!"

By this time another door opened down the hall - Anna's door.

Oh fuck, I thought as I saw her peek her head out the door. Are you stupid? Go back into....no! Don't come out! I watched Anna take a deep breath and start towards the two guys who were now throwing punches.

My only thought was to stop her; to make her go back to her room. I guess I was so focused on what Anna was doing, I didn't notice that the first guy had gotten away from the nearly naked guy and spotted me heading towards them. "Who the fuck are you?" He demanded, taking me by surprise, as he shoved me. "What? Are you here to fuck her too?" Turning towards the woman again, he called her a dirty fucking whore. "Who else are you fucking?"

This was getting out of hand, I could hear other guests in the hotel calling out for them to shut up and even a couple of them had poked their heads out of their doors. "Please go back into your rooms, this'll all be over soon."

"I called the police," one of the female guests, whose room was right next to the stairs, informed me as her male companion pulled her back into the room. "I also called to complain to the manager."

Just great, I thought.

"You called the police on me?" The irate man spun around and headed towards the room of the 'helpful' female guest. "You fucking little whore, how dare you call the police on me!" He screamed as he banged on their door. "Get out here Bitch!"

"Tanner, do something!" I heard Anna hiss.

"Just go back to your room," I told her as I headed over to the screaming guy. "Listen sir -"

I don't quite remember what was said or what exactly happened. I'm assuming he shoved me because all I really remember is hearing Anna scream my name as I tumbled backwards, down the stairs I was so worried about earlier.

Everything went black.

I don't know how much time passed since I took the flight down the stairs and the moment I came to and heard my brother giving Anna shit for what happened.

"What do you think I could've done Travis?"

"You were supposed to be watching out for him!" Travis snapped at her. "You got him this stupid job, the least you could do is make sure he came back in one piece."

"Came back...Travis he'll be ok, the doctor just told you that!"

"Whatever! Get outta my face, I'm done talking to you."

"What, are you two now?"

"Just....just go away Anna. Go away."

"No," she replied. "I'm staying right here until he wakes up so deal with it."

Travis mumbled something but I didn't quite make it out.

I fell back into the blackness again.

----

The sun was shining through the hospital blinds when I woke again. I needed something to drink but when I tried to roll onto my side to see if there was water around, every single muscle, joint and bone in my body seemed to cry out in pain.

My involuntary wince and the resulting groan must've gotten someone's attention because I heard a chair move. Not even a second later, Anna was peering down at me with concern written all over her face. "Tanner?" She reached out and gently touched my cheek. "Are you ok? Do you need something? Are you in pain?"

"Yes," I wanted to say more but I made the mistake of trying to nod my head at the same time. Stupid idea.

"Do you want me to get the nurse?"

"No...water."

"Ok, sure." She looked around and then told me that she would have to go get some. "I'll be right back," she said as she hurried out of the room.

In no time at all, she reappeared at my side with a small pitcher of ice water and a couple glasses. "The nurse said the doctor will be in soon to check you over and if he's happy with what he sees, you'll get to go home."

"Home?" I stared at her. "How? What about work?"

"Well..." She shrugged as he leaned over and slipping her hand under my head. "This is gonna be a little awkward," she warned me. "But it's the best way to do it...I think."

After a few frustrated sighs and a couple wet spots on my pillow, I managed to sip back enough water to satisfy the need for the moment.

"I'm sorry," she said out of the blue.

"For what?"

"Everything," she sighed and pulled her chair up to my bedside. "I feel that I should've been able to handle the situation without this happening."

"Anna, no. This isn't your fault. If anything it's mine for not thinking it through."

"Your brother is blaming me."

"My brother is a jackass sometimes," I chuckled and then groaned. "Listen, it's not your fault. And...wait a minute," I frowned. "What is Travis doing in the city?"

With a shrug, she told me that she didn't really know. "I got a call from the front desk around 6 last night, telling me that he was down in the lobby. He wanted to talk to you but when they told him you were busy with the banquet, he wanted to be let into your room to wait. They told him they couldn't do that and he got pissed so they called me."

"What did you do?" I asked cautiously, knowing full well they didn't get along the last time Travis showed up.

"I told him the same thing they told hm at the front desk, he told me I was being a bitch. I told him that bitch or not, I couldn't just let him in your room, I would have to talk to you. He told me to go fuck myself and I told him to grow up."

"And then you hung up?"

"Yeah," she chuckled. "I hung up, waited for ten minutes or so before I headed downstairs to see if he was still around or if they kicked him out."

She went on to tell me that he was still there, sitting in the lobby pouting. "Front desk told me that he said he was staying until you came out of the banquet and then they would all get it."

"Get it?" I laughed. "What exactly were they going to get?"

"I don't know," she shrugged. "I figured he realized that he wasn't getting anywhere and didn't have anywhere else to go if he got booted out of the hotel. Anyway," she glanced over her shoulder and then continued. "I went to talk to him, he told me he was bored and wanted to know when you would be finished. I didn't know but he didn't like that at all; he wanted to go out to the bar."

"Did you tell him you'd call him a cab?"

Anna grinned, "I thought about it, I really did but no. I told him that he was out of luck, you were working so he'd either have to sit there all night waiting for you to finish or he could play some pool with me in the lounge."

"What?" I stared at her. "You offered to hang out with him?"

"Yes, I did."

"Why?"

"Because he's your brother?" She offered but I didn't believe that for one minute. "Fine," she sighed. "I offered to hang out with him because it got me away from having to deal with Scott."

It took little to no prompting for Anna to tell me that Scott had been bugging her. "I don't know what to do anymore," she told me. "I told him a long time ago that I wasn't interested in him like that and I thought that he got the message but it seems that he hasn't. Or maybe he refuses to believe that I'm not interested."

"So they rumors are true?"

"Rumors?" She sat up straight in the chair and stared at me. "What rumors?"

"The ones that are going around saying that Scott's relationship with Kim is on the rocks because he's hot for you. The grapevine says that Kim has given him an ultimatum, fire you or she's leaving."

"Oh my God!" She slumped back in her chair. "I should've known," she shook her head slowly. "It makes sense, the looks and comments...."

"I didn't do anything!" She exclaimed. "You have to believe me Tanner, I haven't done a damn thing to make that man think I'm looking for anything from him."

"You have a boyfriend," I stated.

"You're damn right I do!" She jumped out of her chair. "I have a boyfriend, who I love with all my heart." She was pacing, telling me all the great things about her relationship, how happy she was and how she wasn't about to ruin her relationship for something she didn't feel. "Scott can take this job and shove it if that's what he thinks is going to happen."

While Anna was in the middle of her ranting, I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. I thought it was just Travis so I didn't stop her but when she finished, the 'any suggestions on how I get it there?' let both of us know it wasn't Travis who overheard the conversation.

First Time Out

Ten minutes before I had to be down in the banquet area, ready to serve the ridiculously rich guests that occupied the largest banquet room the hotel offered, I was standing outside Anna's door.

"Come on, come on," I whispered impatiently as I tugged at the untied bow tie that was giving me trouble. It wasn't giving me so much trouble a half hour ago, when it was still tied but somehow I managed to untie it. Or maybe the fuck up fairy was visiting me, hoping to get a good laugh.

I was about to knock again when the door flew opened. "It's about time."

Anna rolled her eyes. "What do you want Tanner?"

"I need help," I told her as I walked past her and into her room. "I have to be downstairs in a couple minutes and I can't get this damn thing to cooperate with me."

"And you think I know how to work one?" She snorted. "Do I look like I go around tying -"

"Maybe you should," I grinned when she frowned. "Maybe the boy would like you to tie him up."

Her eyes widened as she gasped, "Tanner!" She lashed out, hitting my in the arm while she told me just how much of a pervert she thought I was.

"Yeah," I smirked. "I know."

Shaking her head, she told me that she didn't know how to help me. "But maybe..." she headed off towards the small table by the window where her laptop was opened.


"Whatcha doing?" Pulling up a chair, I leaned in to see what she was typing but damn, her fingers worked quickly. Before I had a chance to see the screen, she was motioning for me to come closer as she studied something.

"You shouldn't have left this until the last minute," she lectured me a couple minutes later when she had to untie it and try again. "Don't get mad at me because you aren't ready - it's not my responsibility!"

"You should know how to tie this," I snapped.

"Oh?" She shot me a dirty look. "Do I look like the type -"

"You keep telling me you have a guy, you'd think you'd know how to tie a tie!"

I'm not sure if it was an accident or not but the material tightened around my neck as she informed me that being a guy, I should know how to tie one on myself. "Now shut up, or you'll really be late!"

As it was, I was ten minutes late getting downstairs. And just my luck, Scott was waiting for me. "I did say 5, didn't I Tanner?" He asked as he glanced at his watch. "You should've been here..."

I held up my hands to stop him before he even got started. "Anna already lectured me around being late."

"Anna?" Scott didn't look to happy as he looked around. "Where did you see Anna?"

"Stopped by her room," I threw over my shoulder as I made my way over to Lonna and the rest of the banquet crew. "Good evening ladies." I flashed them, what I like to think is, my sexy 'you know you want me' grin and for the most part, it seemed to work; I got a few whistles and comments on how hot I looked all dressed up.

Except from Lonna, she gave me a dirty look and demanded to know what the hell I was doing there.

"Scott told me to be here," I informed her. "You know, after he found out that you haven't been training me properly."

"I'm training you the best I can," she hissed. "I can't help it you aren't picking it up."

"Not picking..." I trailed off, completely shocked that she would say something like that. It's not like my job was rocket science, any idiot could do what I do. Well, maybe any idiot who is organized and doesn't mind having a million and two little details to worry about.

"You need to leave." Lonna turned, said Scott's name but he was no where to be found. "Where did Scott go?"

Most of the banquet staff just shrugged but Chelsea, who came into the kitchen just after Lonna said I was stupid, mentioned that she thought she saw Scott heading for the elevators as she was leaving the front desk.

Now, I'm not one to repeat gossip but it seems that there have been talk that Scott has the hots for Anna. Rumor has it that Scott's relationship with Kim has been rocky since he hired Anna, there is even talk that Kim gave him an ultimatum - fire Anna or she walks.

If the rumors were about anyone else but Anna, I would've jumped into the conversation, wanting to know more but I considered Anna to be like the annoying little sister I never had, therefore, I felt the need to 'protect' her 'honor'. "Come on guys," I cut off the gossip mill. "This isn't 'old biddy' hour, we have work to do."

As they broke away, I swear I heard someone snidely comment that maybe Scott wasn't the only one who was hot for Anna.

I almost lost my lunch at the suggestion.

Once every one's mind was back on work, Lonna started to shout orders at both the banquet crew and me. At one point, while I was helping one of the younger servers, another more experienced server came over and asked me why I wasn't the one in charge. I told her that, technically, I was just like the rest of them for the banquet.

"That sucks," she stated. "You would be so much better than Lonna. At least you wouldn't treat us like morons."

I didn't reply, I thought it would be better if I just let her say what she needed to say instead of getting in the middle of it. I figured that I would talk to Lonna, or Scott, about her attitude later when I heard a loud crash from the kitchen. "I'll be right back," I told the younger server as I went to check it out.

"Watch where you're going!" Lonna snapped at the only male server working that night. "You were given eyes for a reason! Use them!"

I wanted to slap the bitch for yelling at the kid in front of everyone but instead, I called her name and told her I had a couple questions for her. "What's going on?" I asked her the moment we were out of earshot.

"Don't mess with me Tanner," she warned as she jabbed me in the chest before spinning on her heel to shout a new batch of orders at the staff.

Even now, I'm just shaking my head at that.

Hours later, I was wiped. I wanted to head upstairs, jump in the shower and fall into bed but Lonna decided to cut out and told me that I was in charge. "Remember Tanner," she threw over her shoulder as she was leaving. "I don't have to prove I can do my job, you do. Oh," she paused at the door. "Don't fuck this one up, the hotel can't afford to piss these clients off."

Once Lonna left, I realized that I was really starting to hate that bitch. She thought that me failing had nothing to do with her? Well she was fucking wrong. If I failed, sooner or later, Scott and his father would realize that it wasn't because I'm not qualified, it's because Lonna has some fucking chip on her shoulder.

Things seemed to go far more smoothly after Lonna fucked off. I don't think I could've asked for a better group of servers or a better party. It almost made up for Lonna's bitchy attitude.

When the last guest had finally left and the staff went home, I was finally able to drag my sorry ass to the elevators and down the hallway to my room. As I slid the key card through the slot, I heard a door open down the hall. It was reflex to look but I wish I didn't.

Killing Time

A light tapping sounded on the office door moments before I heard it squeak open. "Tanner?" Anna spoke softly as if she was afraid of what she would find. I guess she was ok with what she found because the next thing I know she's coming into the office. "I guess the apron thing wasn't working out."

"Can't hold my weight," I mumbled as the edge of the desk dug into my forehead. "I haven't given up on it though."

"Hmmm," she pulled one of the spare chairs around to my side of the desk and sat down. I know this because I could hear the chair as it was drug over the floor and I saw her shoes out of the corner of my eye. "Maybe you should put it on hold," she placed something on the desk and slid it across to me.

Curious, I lifted my head a little and eyed the heaping plate of fries and gravy I ordered. "Where's my burger?"

Anna had just finished plopping a cheese/gravy covered fry into her mouth so it took a moment for her to tell me that someone accidentally gave out my burger. "They told me to tell you it would only be a couple minutes for a new one."

Grumbling, I sat up and pulled my fries towards me. "Can't get any worse."

"What can't?"

"My week." I stared at my fries, I wasn't even sure I wanted them anymore.

"Been a bad week?"

I nodded. "My brother's marriage is failing apart, I think I fucked up with Sara, Scott is probably thinking he made a bad choice hiring me and now I have to work a split shift because Lonna didn't show me any of the banquet stuff."

Anna popped another fry into her mouth and chewed thoughtfully. "Ok well," she took a sip of her pop before telling me that maybe it wasn't as bad as it seemed. "The state of your brother's marriage isn't something that you can change Tanner; no matter how much you may want to help. This is something that your brother has to deal with and you can only be there for him when it all comes down."

I knew she was right but still, I couldn't help but wish there was something I could do. I loved Shelly, I thought she was great for Travis but I knew she hadn't been happy lately.

Taking another sip of her pop, Anna told me that she didn't know what was going on with Sara and me so she really couldn't offer any advice. "But," she reached out and gave my hand a squeeze. "Don't give up trying, she could just be busy and hadn't had the time to call you back."

"For a whole week?" I shook my head. "No, if I didn't do something dumb the night I went out with Travis, it wouldn't be an issue -"

Anna frowned. "What did you do?" She asked cautiously.

With a shrug, I told her that Sara's friend 'caught' me flirting with another chick. "She made it seem a lot worse than it was though."

"Did you tell Sara that?"

"Yes!" I told her that Sara seemed ok when we got off the phone that night. "She wanted to know if we would talk the next day but she didn't return my calls."

"I don't know what to tell you."

"Have you talked to her this week?" I was hoping for something, some news but Anna just shook her head.

It was a little awkward sitting in silence with Anna as we both ate our lunch. I was starting to wonder if she knew more than she was letting on when she suddenly jumped, making me jump as well.

"Sorry," she chuckled as she went on to explain that she was sitting there trying to remember what else it was I said. "Scott doesn't regret hiring you Tanner, he was just upset that Lonna hadn't done what she said that she would. Plus he -"

"Doesn't like to look like a fool?" She shot me a questioning glance. "He told me so before we went into the restaurant."

"I don't really blame him, it reflects badly on him and -"

I cut her off by asking if he said anything to her before he left. "He seemed pretty pissed that you didn't know anything about it."

"Why didn't you tell me?" She asked while giving me a dirty look. "You just left me wide open and I didn't know what to do."

"Sorry," I said while trying not to smile. "I did go looking for him earlier this week."

"You told me that it was nothing!"

"No," I grinned. "You asked if I needed him to come back and I -"

"Were a jerk and hinted that maybe I needed him for something."

Jokingly, I told her that I couldn't help that it seemed like they were closer than necessary. "You are in his office all the time."

She scoffed. "That's where my office is Tanner, you know that. And you know that I have a boyfriend who I'm crazy about so stop it!"

"Oh, the boyfriend." I nodded knowingly. "The one that I have yet to meet."

"Whatever," she rolled her eyes and stood up, grabbing her empty plate. "Have fun tonight," she threw over her shoulder as she disappeared through the doorway.

My only thought was - where the fuck was my burger??