Step by Step/Issue 20

This is Issue #20 of Step by Step. This is the second issue of Volume Four.

Note: UNEDITED AND UNFINISHED AND UNCUT SWAG; PROCEED WITH CAUTION

Limestone and the Rest
Tick, tock. Gordon watched the clock, pacing back and forth in the room. He was clutching his arm, rubbing it intently. The clock read six thirty-five in the morning, but that was useless info. It wasn't even close to morning anymore. The electricity had fried itself, he thought. Plus he was at the top of his game now. Packed full of energy, felt like he could climb the highest mountain.

Leg's gonna be a pain, though. Gordon took a breath, pausing. The blood rushed back into his head, knocking his eyesight over. He could still tell there was another poor sucker in the room with him, resting his broken body near a green table to the side. But he didn't look at the bloody man sitting down and let fine Lilian handle him. Oh, he's got a sprained back? No problemo, senor. Gordon looked over, quickly regretting it.

"You got laid out, right?" Gordon pulled out a seat, didn't care that it was a rolling seat with wheels. He plopped down and scooted to the two, looking interested in the man. What he had to say. But really, Gordon was as sarcastic as they came. And he couldn't help himself. "Go two-to-two with a sumo?"

Jose scrunched up his nose. "What?"

"Well," Gordon started. "It's obvious you got pounded on, Herman."

"My name's not Herman."

"No?" Gordon slouched back, grinning to Lilian who had finished wrapping Jose's hand with gauze. "Y'know, Herman the One-Eyed German. Not assuming anything, but you don't look German. But no one fools Gordon Black."

"Kind of contradicted yourself there, Don." Lilian snickered to herself, realizing her play on words.

"Getting dirty there, Lilian."

Jose sighed. "I don't get what you guys are saying."

Gordon smiled widely, moving in on Jose. He mashed both of his hands together in front of Jose. "Smash, smash. Like the Hulk. Look at these marks, dude. Bruise after bruise, you look like a damn grape."

Jose's eyes grew bigger than a chia pet on steroids. "I get the joke now, so you're saying I was beat up? Yeah, I was."

Lilian set up another gauze around Jose's shoulder, lifting up his tangerine shirt. "Obviously you were."

"Yeah, well, it wasn't really like that."

Gordon put a hand up, "Let's wait for my partner in crime, sound good?" Gordon pulled a faked yawn. "Kinda burnt out now, don't feel like explaining everything to her. You dig me, Jose?"

"How'd you know my name?"

Gordon paused, grabbed his chest, then laughed like his football team had just scored. "Whoa, talk about luck. I guessed your name was Jose. Not that I'm stereotypical or anything."

Lilian dropped Jose's shirt, patting his back. "All good to go." She got up from her seat next to Jose and started for the door. "Sorry for leaving you here with this guy, Jose."

"We'll be fine here, missy," said Gordon as he waved good bye. "And good riddance!" Gordon heard the door open behind him, but then became aware of a different set of footsteps pouring into the room. "Well, well..."

He turned around, still clutching his arm. He didn't want to hold his thigh, even though it still ached. Ached all over and he couldn't stop it. He was running purely off a Gatorade he chugged down before he took on Carter. Otherwise, Gordon would be laying down in one of the cots and crying in his sleep from the brilliant agony in his thigh. It hurt just to move his foot. Everythings connected, Lilian had told him. She assured him that they would find him something to walk with, but he assured her right back that he was fine. Nothing could stop Gordon. Nothing runs like a Deere and nothing runs like a Gordon.

"What's cracka lackin', bacon bits?" He craned his head to the side, aware that Amanda was walking over to them. "Speak of the devil."

"Sure," Amanda said. She stood next to them not because there were no chairs left, but she was to angry to remain seated. "Catch me up to speed?"

"We haven't gossiped a lot, trust me." Gordon looked to Jose, who was holding his head and clenched his cheeks with his fingers. Jose was a pale tan and looked drier than bones. He must've been hungry or something because his stomach growled. "Dude, this isn't the time to pray."