#hotels in Green Bay Wisconsin | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

oliverreedmasterass · 7 months

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Words: 8k

Synopsis: Based on a hilarious personal anecdote from the incredible @writingcold about seeing something bizarre at a hotel in Green Bay, the GVF guys find themselves caught in a heap of trouble. The problem is, they can't quite work out what they did.

Warnings: language, drinking, drug use, mentions of theft, drowning, and running into traffic

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“Do you know why you’re here, son?” a graying man dressed in a loose-fitting two-piece suit with a strewn purple tie leaned close to the young man who sat across from him at the aged wooden table.

“No clue,” Jake avoided eye contact while wringing his hands together out of sight of the older man. He snuck a quick glance at the man’s golden nametag pinned to his chest. Doug. “I was just minding my business in my room and then somebody dragged me down here. Am I in trouble?”

“Depends on how much you’re willing to share with me today,” Doug stared back at Jake with his piercing blue eyes. “I’m gonna need you to tell me what you were up to last night.”

Jake’s face pinched as he tried to think back. He made a humming noise to stall, and wiped at his mouth - a nervous tick he had never been able to shake.

“My band and I were out getting drinks,” Jake remembered. “At Ned Kelly’s Pub. Someone recommended the place to us since they’re known for their sour beers. It’s something I’ve been getting into a lot more recently.”

It was a perfectly normal evening. Like, genuinely, nothing crazy was going down. Jake, Josh, Sam, and Danny all squeezed around a tall pub table, leaning over their pints to sip out of the top of the overfilled glasses. Jake wiped his mouth with the back of his hand to clear the foam from his upper lip and craned his neck to look over Josh’s head at the live band. They were playing a Creedence Clearwater Revival song, and it sounded good enough that Jake started to tap his foot to the beat.

“I can’t believe we’re in Green Bay,” Josh called over the music to his friends. Jake took another slurp from his glass and then nodded his head in agreement.

“We had the opportunity to go anywhere in the world, and we settled on Wisconsin.”

“I don’t regret it,” Sam shrugged. “It’s not too far from home and, hey, I’ve always wanted to get my hands on one of those Packers cheese hats.”

Jake gazed at the ridiculous cheese hat that was perched atop Sam’s head and grimaced at how stupid his younger brother looked.

“I’m becoming one with the cheese,” Sam proudly stated.

Jake flicked at Sam’s hat, knocking it just slightly off of his forehead.

“Are you really gonna keep that thing on all night, Sammy?” he asked. He had noticed Sam was earning some strange looks from the other patrons in the bar which gave him serious second-hand embarrassment. Sam let out a loud laugh at Jake’s question and forced the hat back down on his head so it was set in place.

“I know you hate it, Jake. So, yeah.”

Jake faked a scowl, but couldn’t help chuckling into his beer. He took a deep sip and let the taste of the sour beer wash over him. Their Lyft driver had totally been right when she recommended this place. It was by far the best sour beer he had ever had, which was seriously saying something.

Jake took in the bar around him while he worked on his drink. It was classy and pretty packed, which felt just right. He knew he had stepped foot in hundreds of bars like Ned Kelly’s Pub before, but that just made it feel more like home.

When he finished his drink, Jake stepped away from the table and grabbed his glass, motioning back towards the bar that was only getting more crowded. “I’m gonna get a refill. Anyone need anything?”

“Ask if they have peanuts!” Sam shouted with enthusiasm. He enjoyed throwing the peanut shells at Josh and getting them stuck in his curly floof.

“Don’t do that,” Josh firmly told Jake. “It took me two weeks to get them all out of my hair last time. Two weeks!”

Jake looked beyond Josh to Danny, who was mouthing at him to go and get the peanuts. Jake shook his head at his friends and made his way to the bar, where the bartender was finishing up another order for a group of women around his age.

“Just a second,” the bartender held up his finger to Jake, who nodded his head with a smile. While he waited, he bobbed his head along to the live band’s Allman Brothers cover.

“Hey,” a voice said next to Jake. “You look familiar.”

Jake was curious where the conversation would go, so he turned to his left and looked at one of the women who was waiting for her drink. “Do I?” he asked with a cheeky grin. While he usually didn’t like the attention, he sometimes got a kick out of people trying to place his face. The amount of times people had mistaken him for Julien Baker was extraordinary.

“Did we go to high school together?” the woman guessed. Jake had heard that one plenty of times.

“Not unless you grew up in Frankenmuth, Michigan,” Jake replied.

“Really? You don’t sound like you’re from Michigan,” the woman observed. This comment threw Jake off.

“Where would you guess I was from?”

“You’ve got, like, an echo of a British accent. It’s really interesting.”

“What can I get for you?” The bartender’s attention was finally on Jake.

“Fill ‘er up,” Jake motioned down to his glass.

With his glass filled to the brim once more, Jake made a detour over to where the band was playing so he could watch the guitar player. The guy obviously had a lot of experience under his belt, because he was hitting every note in perfect precision. Jake liked to think that he was a pretty talented guitar player, but this guy wasn’t making a single error, and it was blowing his mind.

Once they finished their song, Jake gave them an extra loud whoop in front of the stage. “Bravo!” he added.

“Hey, thanks,” the lead singer grinned at Jake. “Got any requests?”

“Play Cream and I’m never leaving this joint,” Jake beamed wide.

“You better get yourself comfortable then,” the guitarist chuckled before launching into SWLABR. Jake let out a whoop in glee, gave the band a thumbs up, and made his way back to his friends’ table.

“Hey there, social butterfly,” Josh poked fun at Jake.

“I like the vibe of this place,” Jake shrugged. “The band said they would play Cream for me.”

“So what you’re saying is it’s gonna be impossible to get you out of here, right?” Danny stared at Jake.

Jake swigged down more beer, and then nodded in Danny’s direction. “You’re gonna have to drag me out of here kicking and screaming.”

Danny shook his head at Jake with a smile between his pursed lips and Jake stuck his tongue back out at him. He jumped in surprise when he saw the woman from earlier at the side of their table.

“I figured out where I know you from,” she announced, looking proud. Jake arched an eyebrow. “You’re from that rock band!”

“Bingo,” Jake pointed at her. As fun as it was to get misrecognized, there was something gratifying in knowing that they were big enough to get spotted out in public.

“My sister is a huge fan,” the woman continued. “She saw you guys during your last tour and said that your show was literally life changing. She’d die if she knew I was talking to you right now. But, uh, I’m sure you’re used to hearing this, so I’ll keep it brief. I just wanted to bring this over to thank you for making my sister so happy.”

Jake stared at the tall pint that the woman was handing out to him in awe.

“It’s a Copper State Sun Soaked - I overheard you ordering it at the bar,” the woman continued as she slipped the glass into Jake’s hands.

“Thank you,” Jake told her, and he really meant it. The woman waved goodbye to him and made her way across the bar back to her friend group. Jake looked down at the pint in his hands, and set it next to his other glass.

“Water for the rest of the night after this, I promise,” Jake looked around at everyone. “Mark my word.”

“And that’s what I did,” Jake told the older man. “We hung around the bar for about another hour, and then we made our way back to the hotel. I went to my room and crashed almost immediately. Then, when I woke up, I was brought down here.”

“Interesting,” Doug studied Jake. The kid looked like he was being sincere, which threw Doug and his hypothesis in for a loop. He searched Jake’s face for any signs of deceit. “I sent you down here to talk to me because there was vandalism reported in the lobby last night.”

“Really?” Jake’s eyebrows raised. “What happened?”

“Let’s just say that someone tampered with something that’s really important to me and my hotel.”

Jake had no trouble looking Doug in the eyes this time around. “I can promise you, sir, I had nothing to do with it.”

Doug gazed at Jake a few beats longer, and then nodded his head. “You’re free to go.”

“Oh thank god,” Jake heaved out and then rose from his seat.

“But I want you to send in someone else from your party,” Doug continued. Jake frowned at that.

“We have to hit the road soon.”

“Don’t worry, it won’t take long.”

Jake gave a grunt, and left the room in silence. A few minutes later, his twin, Josh, entered into the hotel manager’s office, looking around at the IKEA-inspired decor.

“Love what you’ve done with the place,” Josh greeted Doug. “Fake plants are really in right now.”

“Take a seat,” Doug motioned towards the wooden chair that his brother had just been nervously sitting in. Josh slowly lowered himself into the seat and then folded his hands politely in his lap.

“Is this about the bathrobe I took from the bathroom? Because I thought it was complimentary. If it’s not, I’ll put it back.”

“Don’t worry about that,” Doug shook his head. “It’ll just get charged to your card.”

“Aw man,” Josh pouted.

“I’m trying to fit the pieces of a mystery together, and I need your help. Can you tell me what you did last night?”

Josh gave Doug a look that showed he was surprised by the question, but shrugged. “My pals and I went to this pub right by the river for their tap selection. We wanted to have a celebratory night out before we headed back home to Michigan.”

The night was already exhausting. Jake, Josh, Sam, and Danny all squeezed around a tall pub table, leaning over their pints to sip out of the top of the overfilled glasses. Josh winced at the taste of the sour beer and nudged the drink away from him. The rest of his friends were still hard at work, slurping down the beer with content. Josh folded his hands in front of him and thought about their weekend away from home. Their trip to Green Bay had started on a whim, inspired by a side comment from Sam about how they had never really spent any quality time in Wisconsin. Paired with Danny’s recent That 70s Show obsession, it only seemed right that they would squeeze into the Jeep Truck and hit the road west.

In their 72 hours they had enjoyed some hikes, visited a cool botanical garden, and, of course, hit up as many bars as they could. Josh wasn’t sure what he thought about Ned Kelly’s Pub. Although the massive chandelier made out of glass bottles was pretty impressive, Josh didn’t feel like it outshined the other places they had visited. However, looking around at his friends’ faces, he could tell that they were all enchanted by the bar. They were gonna be there for a while.

After trading some jokes about Sam’s goofy cheese hat that he had picked up at the National Railroad Museum gift shop earlier in the day, Josh noticed that Jake’s big glass was already empty. The guy must have enjoyed that sour beer a whole lot more than he had.

“Pace yourself, tiger,” Josh found himself telling Jake without thinking. Jake had promised that he would drive a leg of their trip back to Michigan the following day, and there was no way he was getting out of it by pulling the hungover card. He had used that one way too many times.

Josh noted that Jake genuinely looked surprised by his alcohol intake, but his shock seemed to last a millisecond since he bounced over to the bar for a refill without hesitation.

“Do you like this shit?” Josh asked Sam and Danny, pointing an unenthusiastic finger down at his sour beer. He was relieved to see Sam and Danny both shrugging.

“It’s okay, I guess,” Danny sounded indifferent.

“I don’t get what the hype is,” Sam chimed in. “This tastes like soap.” Sam then proceeded to take another long chug.

“Jake seems to like it though,” Danny commented. They all turned to watch the guitarist saunter up to the bar, slam his empty glass down on the counter, and grin at the bartender. The three watched with more interest when they noticed a woman peel away from her group of friends to talk to him. Jake seemed to be torn between getting the bartender’s attention to fill his glass and listening to the woman, but he eventually started conversing with her.

“What do you think they’re talking about?” Josh wondered.

Sam snorted. “He’s probably trying to convince her he has a Grammy.”

Josh noted that Jake’s body language was unusually confident as he talked to the stranger. The woman towered over him in her heels, but he seemed at ease as they laughed over something. When he got his drink, he looked like he was coming back to them, but then quickly diverted his path to head to the live band, who was playing Midnight Rambler. Josh couldn’t help but chuckle when he saw Jake move uncomfortably close to the stage, staring at the guitarist with his eyes wide.

“He’s freaking that guy out,” Josh commented under his breath. Sam and Danny paused their side conversation about how Sam could style his cheese hat to watch Jake take slow steps closer and closer to the stage. “He looks like he’s on the brink of taking the guitar away from that guy.”

“He better not,” Danny frowned. “We’re already banned from a handful of bars because of that.”

They all exhaled in relief when the band broke into a Cream song and Jake, in complete euphoria, returned to the table. Josh watched in horror as Jake guzzled his second glass down in less than 10 seconds like it was nothing. He let out a burp, smiled happily, patted his stomach, and then jolted upright when he realized he had cleared his pint.

“How is that surprising to you?” Josh asked Jake. “You’re the one who drank it all, it’s not like it magically disappeared.”

“These are just going a lot faster than I had anticipated, I guess,” Jake looked troubled.

They made a pact after some arguing that Jake would stick to water for the night, but that quickly went down the drain when the woman approached the table, gave Jake a wink, and placed another tall pint of sour beer in front of him. Josh wanted to scream at the lady to give that beer to literally anyone else in the establishment but Jake, but his mouth remained glued shut. He watched in despair as Jake, once more, threw the entire pint back like it was a shot. Frat guys around the world would be in utter awe of what he was doing.

“Water for the rest of the night. I promise,” Jake promised, starting to slur his words. “Mark my word.”

Jake did not stick to his word.

Over the next 45 minutes, Jake managed to sneak three more pints of the Copper State Sun Soaked. Whether it be bribing someone to bring him a glass in the bathroom, sipping one under the table, or lapping up spills behind the bar, Jake’s BAC was guaranteed to be nearing staggering heights.

When Jake decided to tear off his shirt and jump on stage to play the tambourine with the poor live band that was just trying to get through a Bob Seger song, Josh threw in the towel.

“I can’t do this tonight,” Josh admitted to Danny, who looked equally tired of Jake’s antics. “I’m gonna go back to my room and watch some HGTV to unwind.”

“And I left the bar after that,” Josh concluded his story. “I’m pretty sure I heard them get back to their room around 2am last night. They were a bit loud, but they quieted down pretty fast.”

“Your brother said that he stuck to water last night after his third drink,” Doug tapped his chin.

“Well then, he’s a liar,” Josh shrugged. “I don’t know what to tell you. But what does Jake’s drinking last night have to do with anything?”

“Nothing you have to worry about,” Doug shook his head. Josh looked like he wanted to protest, but Doug quickly motioned for the door. “Please send your brother, Sam, in. I want to talk to him.”

“Fine, but you better take it easy on him. He’s a sensitive guy, it doesn’t take a whole lot to spook him,” Josh warned Doug. He chuckled at Josh’s warning and, once more, pointed for the door.

“No need to worry, I’ll be nice to the little guy.”

Sam entered the room next, still wearing his cheese hat, which he had styled with a pair of black slacks, a yellow button up shirt, and yellow Adidas.

“What’s up, Doc?” Sam greeted the older gentleman as he peeled a large orange and started to slide the slices into his mouth. Doug motioned for Sam to take a seat at his desk and Sam complied after he took a pause to snap a photo of Doug’s bald head with his fancy camera. “I never thought I’d get to chat with a hotel manager one-on-one like this,” Sam continued to chatter while balancing the orange peels on top of the desk.

“Sam,” Doug cleared his throat. “I want you to take this conversation seriously.”

“Are you mad at me?” Sam theatrically called out, his eyes started to well up. Doug started to stumble on his words, panicking over the fact that the curly haired one had been right about his younger brother.

“No, of course not,” Doug assured Sam, using his sweetest tone. “I just need you to tell me about your time last night at Ned Kelly’s Pub.”

“How did you know I was at Ned Kelly’s Pub last night,” Sam squinted his eyes at Doug.

“Your brothers told me.”

“Oh, well, in that case,” Sam chuckled. He grabbed the desk lamp from Doug’s desk and flicked it on so he could hold it under his chin, creating grisly shadows on his face. “It was a cold and dark night in Green Bay, Wisconsin,” Sam started off in a dramatic tone. Doug took a seat across from him and held his head in his hands. This was going to be a long testimony.

“Since you already know that we were at Ned Kelly’s Pub, I’ll spare you the details about Daniel and I stealing a horse downtown beforehand. You don’t need to hear about that.”

“Wait,” Doug tried to interrupt Sam. “I actually do want to hear about that.”

“I was standing at this tall table with my best friend and my brothers, feeling on top of the world with my cheese hat,” Sam cut off Doug, staring into the distance.

It was a bonkers night. Sam and Daniel kept flashing each other excited grins. They had taken something in the parking lot of the bar to really lean into the That 70s Show fantasy that Daniel was trying to live out. Sam had no idea what they had sent into their systems, but it tasted like cherries and made him feel like he was floating.

He could hear what his brothers and Daniel were saying, but his head wasn’t processing any of it. He felt like he was on autopilot as he gave short answers and laughed when everyone else did. When the conversation shifted to Jake’s drinking, Sam found himself staring daggers at the bartender. He couldn’t help it, the guy looked just like Ben Affleck. In fact, the more Sam stared at him, the more certain he was that the guy really was the A-list actor. Sam had hated his portrayal of Bruce Wayne in Batman Vs. Superman; it was a travesty.

He was ready to storm up to the guy to demand who he thought he was, dating J-Lo and being the moody cigarette “it” boy and all, but Jake beat him to it. Sam watched Jake approach the bartender and let his shoulders slump in defeat. That was a fight to pick later. Plus anyways, Sam had a bigger bone to chew: there was a portal opening on the dancefloor. Sam stared at the streaking lights of blue, yellow, and orange that seemed to be flinging out of the portal in every direction and could tell that his eyes were dilating.

“Woah,” he whispered out in awe. Josh gave him a quick glance but shook his head and went back to blabbing about how Jake was weird for liking the sour beer. Sam was pretty sure he had agreed that it tasted bad, but really he didn’t mind it. His sense of taste was heightened to God-levels, so each sip made him feel like he was consuming the elixir of life.

Sam tried to send Daniel morse code messages by batting his eyelashes, but Daniel just winked back at him. He was disappointed that they hadn’t reached the point where they could telepathically communicate with each other, but he knew it was bound to happen eventually.

“How do bus drivers exit the bus and close the door when they’re the last shift?” Sam wondered aloud. Josh didn’t hear him, but Daniel did and widened his eyes, his mouth hung open.

“Dude,” Daniel mumbled in awe. Sam was too hung up on that philosophical question to notice Jake rejoining their table, cradling another pint. He only turned his attention towards his older brother when he saw Jake unhinge his jaw to suck down all of the beer in one animalistic gulp out of the corner of his eye. Sam paled at the sight and started to run through the possibilities.

Was his brother a lizard person? Was that a normal thing that people could do? Or did he and Daniel take some seriously good shit in the parking lot?

Josh started to yell something at Jake, and Sam cupped his head in his hand, focusing on breathing through his ears. He saw a woman with five arms approach Jake and slip another drink in his hand. All over again, Jake’s jaw unhinged and the drink was gone. He chewed the glass and everything.

Sam couldn’t stay silent on the issue anymore, and tried to blink in morse code to Daniel, “BATHROOM” but Daniel fluttered his eyelashes back at Sam, obviously not getting the message. Sam sighed and jutted his thumb in some general direction.

“It’s piss time for me, the piss boy,” he shouted over the music. Josh and Jake both paused from their arguing to stare at Sam, and then Sam scampered away.

He was grateful that Daniel trailed behind him and leaned into his side when they were out of sight of the twins.

“Jake is a lizard person,” Sam shared. Daniel jumped away from Sam and shook his head in disbelief.

“No way. But he doesn’t like the sunlight that much.”

“Did you see him eat that pint glass?”

“No?”

“You must have been distracted by something else.”

“I saw a guy standing in the corner of the room who claimed he was my great-great-grandfather,” Danny remembered. “Wait, what were we talking about?”

Sam tried to think back on what information he had been so desperate to share with Daniel, but came up short. “I think the bartender is Ben Affleck,” he remembered.

“That guy stunk as Batman,” Daniel clenched his fist.

By the time they made it back to their table, Josh looked beyond fed up. He went on a rant about something, but Sam was too busy trying to spot the light molecules coming off the disco ball over the dancefloor to listen. Jake wandered away a few times and, each time he came back, his face looked brighter and happier, until he was a beaming ray of light. Sam squinted to see him.

“I’m going back to my room,” Josh grumbled, tugging on Sam’s arm to get his attention. Sam made a comment that he thought might make sense, and then focused back on Jake, who had magically appeared on top of the bar and was missing his shirt.

Ben Affleck shouted something towards Sam and Daniel, and his face turned tomato red when Sam gave him a thumbs up. Sam wondered if the thumbs up gesture meant something rude in Wisconsin, and made a vow to keep his thumb to himself.

From 10:30pm to 12:30am, Sam stood in the bathroom, gaping at his reflection in the mirror. He could have sworn that his eyes were starting to droop down his cheeks the longer he stared, and the only way he could put them back in place was if he smiled as hard as he could. It was a daunting task but, after 2 committed hours, he finally decided that droopy eyes were actually kind of cool.

He exited from the bathroom and turned in fifteen full circles looking for Jake and Daniel, but they were nowhere to be seen. Sam wanted to sob at the thought of being left alone, but he quickly reasoned with himself that they trusted him on his own, and had given him a quest to make his way back to the hotel in one piece.

So Sam stepped out of the bar and dawdled around the empty Green Bay streets. At one point he shed his shoes and chucked them into the river for the fish to wear. He plodded through the desolate neighborhoods, whistling classical music to himself that his parents had played for him on Baby Einstein CDs as a child. He was everywhere and nowhere at once. It was beautiful.

He couldn’t say for certain what he had accomplished in those hours, but he vaguely recalled something to do with a helicopter, multiple slices of Kraft singles, and a raccoon who wouldn’t stop screaming.

Around 3am, Sam finally stepped foot into their hotel lobby and was struck with a jarring familiarity at the space.

“This is my home,” Sam realized in delight. “I made it home. My journey is complete.”

“And then I fell asleep until literally 20 minutes ago when Josh dragged me out of my room to come down and see you,” Sam finished his tale. Doug looked at him with a twitching eye.

“You’re telling me you were the one who hijacked the helicopter off the top of the Bellin Building and drove down near the interstate to throw cheese slices at cars?”

“Probably,” Sam shrugged. “I still don’t know where the screaming raccoon came in though.”

“Tell me this,” Doug pinched at the bridge of his nose. “Do you remember seeing anything out of the ordinary when you came into the hotel lobby?”

“I was on drugs,” Sam reminded Doug. “Everything I saw was out of the ordinary.”

“This is no use,” Doug grumbled. “Is your friend gonna be any help to me, or was he out tripping balls all night long too?”

“Daniel has a crystal clear memory, inebriated or not,” Sam proudly shared.

“Send him in then,” Doug asked. Sam shrugged, popped up from his seat, took one more photo of Doug’s bald head, and skipped out of the room.

“This is a nightmare,” Doug groaned before taking a couple aspirin.

Danny wandered into the room, looking around him in a panic. When he saw the hotel manager staring at him, he gulped and forced his hands into the front pockets of his jeans.

“Can I help you?” Danny squeaked. Doug’s furrowed brow loosened when he saw how much the poor guy was trembling.

“Your friend told me that you have a pretty good memory,” Doug sounded out his words. “It would be a massive help to me and my report if I could get a detailed look into everything that happened with you and your friends last night.”

Danny looked pale, but he slowly nodded his head.

“What do you need to know?”

“Tell me what happened from the second you entered the bar, to when you made it back to your hotel room.”

“Okay,” Danny whispered.

The night was frankly a mess. Jake, Josh, Sam, and Danny all squeezed around a tall pub table, leaning over their pints to sip out of the top of the overfilled glasses. Danny was feeling a bit woozy from the LSD he and Sam had taken in the parking lot before entering the bar. It had been Sam’s treat: he wanted Danny to feel like a teen in the 70s as much as he could. Weed probably would have done the trick, but Danny appreciated the gesture.

It was clear that Sam was hallucinating more than Danny, because every glimpse he caught of his friend, Sam looked like he was seeing the world for the first time. Danny, on the other hand, was dealing with a gnarly headache, a rapid heartbeat, and an overall feeling of disorientation. Sure, he kept seeing a guy who kinda looked like him, but dressed in Pilgrim clothing, speaking in a hush about being his ancestor, but that was the only thing that felt out of the ordinary.

He took slow sips of the nasty sour beer that made his stomach groan in even more protest, and listened as Jake and Josh poked fun at Sam’s cheese hat. Danny wanted to stand up for Sam and tell off the twins for not respecting the cheese hat, but he felt so queasy, he didn’t want to risk what would happen when he opened his mouth.

Jake took a long sip from his beer, entirely clearing it of its contents, and Danny was relieved when Josh spoke up.

“Pace yourself, tiger,” Josh warned his brother.

“Oh, geez,” Jake murmured under his breath, staring at his glass in awe. Danny could tell that he was surprised by how fast the beer had gone down; they had hardly been standing at the table for more than five minutes. Danny knew: he could feel every second tick away.

Jake looked conflicted, but eventually opted to take his glass back to the bar for a refill. While he was gone, Josh leaned forward to check and see if Danny and Sam liked the beer at all. Danny let out a burning burp that made him flinch, and then coughed out that it wasn’t great. What really wasn’t great was how his body was reacting to the LSD.

He watched through squinted eyes as Jake chatted with a nice looking woman at the bar, and then meandered over to the live band that was playing the Allman Brothers. Once he got them to play a Cream song, he made his way back to the table, looking proud of himself.

“Hey there, social butterfly,” Josh taunted Jake.

“Fuck you,” Jake growled. "So maybe I like this place."

“So what you’re saying is it’s gonna be impossible to get you out of here, right?” Danny stared at Jake. The last thing he wanted was to be trapped in that bar while he felt like such shit.

“You’re gonna have to drag me out of here kicking and screaming,” Jake chuckled in between drinks.

“Jesus Christ,” Sam gaped at Jake.

“What?” Jake asked, confused once more. Sam, Danny, and Josh all pointed at the tall pint in Jake’s right hand. Jake held it up to his eyeline and paled. It was empty again. “How the hell did I do that?” Jake choked out.

“You drank that thing like it was a watering hole in the middle of the Sahara,” Danny observed. Jake studied his loose black button up top and took in the dark beer stains dotting his chest and collar. His face reddened in embarrassment.

“I’ll tone it down, I promise,” he said. “I know we’re leaving tomorrow.”

“Yeah, and you’re supposed to drive the second leg,” Josh nodded. “I’m not covering for your ass.”

“I’d ask Sam to drive that leg before I asked you,” Jake protested. “You stink at driving.”

“Look who’s talking, Mr. Go-95-On-The-Highway!” Josh exclaimed, waving his hands around in a fury.

“It was late at night, there was hardly anyone on the road!” Jake defended himself.

“Hey, hey,” Danny waved his arms across the table to get the twins to quit bickering. It was really starting to hurt his head. “Let’s not argue over something that isn’t even a problem yet, okay?”

Danny felt like he had gotten the situation under control, until the woman approached their table.

“I figured out where I know you from,” she smiled at Jake, looking proud. Jake arched an eyebrow. “You’re from that rock band!”

“You finally got it,” Jake laughed.

“Here, have this on me," the woman said.

Jake stared at the tall pint that the woman was handing out to him with hungry eyes.

“Oh no,” Danny could hear Josh whisper.

“It’s a Copper State Sun Soaked - I overheard you ordering it at the bar,” the woman continued as she slipped the glass into Jake’s waiting hands.

“Cheers,” Jake told her. The woman waved goodbye to him and made her way across the bar back to her friend group. Jake looked down at the pint in his hands, and then up at his band members.

“Give me that,” Josh motioned at Jake. “Before you do something stupid.”

Jake kept the glass firm in his hands, and tipped it back.

“You’re kidding me,” Danny gaped.

“He did it again,” Sam’s eyes widened.

Jake’s hands shook as he gaped at the third empty glass he had seen in under 20 minutes. “I swear,” he croaked out, “I’m not doing this on purpose.”

“It sure as hell seems like you are,” Josh countered. “You downed that whole thing while making eye contact with me. In fact, it felt really targeted.”

“Water for the rest of the night. I promise,” Jake looked around at everyone. “Mark my word.”

Danny wished they could have just gone back to the hotel at that point, but things never went that smoothly. After having a brief check in with Sam that confirmed Danny’s suspicions that Sam was having the trip of a lifetime, they returned back to their table to find Jake in a much worse state than they had left him.

“He keeps drinking this shit,” Josh grumbled to Danny, motioning at the pile of empty glasses surrounding Jake. “I can’t get him to stop.”

“Can’t stop, won’t stop,” Jake burped out.

“Can stop, should stop,” Josh countered. Jake gave Josh a loud and juicy raspberry, and then tore his shirt over his head.

“No shirt, no service!” the bartender hollered at Jake as he hopped onto the live band’s small makeshift stage and smacked a tambourine against his ass to their Bob Seger song.

“I DON’T NEED SERVICE FROM YEW WANKER!” Jake hollered at the man in between barking laughs. Josh stared at his twin in silence for a few beats, and then shook his head in disappointment.

“I’m not doing this tonight,” Josh spoke in a low grumble. “I’m gonna go back to my room and watch some HGTV to unwind.”

Danny watched him step away from their table, flip off Jake, and silently move out of the bar and down the city street. He desperately wanted to run after Josh, begging for them to leave together, but he remained glued in place. Jake was transforming into Oliver Reed, and that was something you couldn’t leave unsupervised.

“BOB SEGER IS A GENTLEMAN IF I’VE EVER KNOWN ONE!” Oliver Reed hollered from the stage. He took a pause from his incoherent shouting to bash the tambourine a couple of times over the drummer’s head.

“Security!” the guitarist called out in a panic. “Can you get this guy out of here?”

Danny hurried to the stage, climbed up onto the elevated wooden platform, and hoisted Jake over his shoulder. “HOW DARE YEW PUT YER GRIMY HANDS ON ME YEW BIG OLD BUFFOON!” Oliver Reed howled at Danny while trying to scratch him. He got in a few good swipes that slowed Danny down, but he successfully carried his friend out of the bar and was even met with applause as they left.

Once they were a block away from the bar, Danny set Jake down and forced his shirt into his hands.

“Put that back on, dude,” Danny snapped. “It’s, like, 30 degrees outside.”

“ME NIPS KNOW NOTHIN ‘BOUT WEATHER! I’M A MACHINE THAT DOESN’T FEEL COLD, YA TWAT!”

Danny stared at Jake in disbelief. Oliver Reed was being more of a menace than usual.

As if his words weren’t biting enough, Jake leaned forward, kicked Danny in the shin, and then tore in the opposite direction down the street. “I hate my life,” Danny groaned before chasing after Jake.

“RUN RUN RUN AS FAST AS YEW CAN, YEW CAN’T CATCH ME CUZ’ I’M THE BDE MAN!” Oliver Reed cackled over his shoulder at Danny.

Danny wasn’t happy that Jake was outrunning him by so much, but he could blame that on the LSD. It was challenging to run in a straight line when it felt like the night sky was below Danny’s feet. Talk about bad timing for the hallucinations to kick in.

“Jake! Oliver! Whoever you are!” Danny called after his friend in desperation. “Can you please stop? I’m so tired!”

“NO!” Oliver Reed’s voice echoed off in the distance.

Danny huffed and tried to pick up his pace. Jake was edging closer to the waterfront, and it was making Danny nervous. When Oliver Reed came out, he was often motivated to dive into whatever water was closest by to “seduce the mermaids.” Danny knew for a fact that Oliver Reed didn’t know how to swim (the man sank like a stone), so the stakes were higher than ever.

Thank goodness Jake stopped. Danny would have been more relieved if he hadn’t done it in the middle of six lanes of oncoming traffic.

“I PART THEE, RED SEA!” Oliver Reed held a hand up to the cars that were swerving to avoid him. Danny forced back a scream and put his head down to power towards his friend without being smushed into oblivion by an 18-wheeler. How he made it to Jake unscathed, he had no clue. “THE RED SEA! JUST LIKE YER MUM’S PANTIES LAST NIGHT!” Oliver Reed screeched at a cab that just barely missed him.

“OLIVER!” Danny yelled at the top of his lungs. He was surprised that he actually had his attention. Even though Jake had somehow acquired sunglasses and a fake beard since leaving the bar, making it hard to read his facial expressions, he could still see that Jake was listening to him attentively. “Get out of the road!” Danny continued.

Jake stared at him a bit longer, and then started to sprint away from Danny again.

“SKEEDOOSH!” Oliver Reed called over his shoulder with a barking laugh.

Danny chased Jake nearly everywhere in the city, from the downtown area to the less-populated rural areas just outside of town. It was exhausting work, and Danny kept thinking that Jake was bound to flop over, but he wouldn’t stop. Danny was starting to think that the guy really was a machine, until they made it to the front doors of their hotel.

“Best be getting me to bed,” Oliver Reed announced at the most normal volume Danny had heard all night.

“Good,” Danny gasped for breath.

Entirely unaffected by their extensive aerobics, Jake pushed the front door open and made his way into the lobby.

“Wouldn’t turn down a sip or two of the good shit,” he decided. Danny tried to stop Jake, but he was moving on a mission towards the bar area, even though it was closed. Danny nearly tripped over Jake’s feet when he came to an abrupt halt, looking up at something in awe, as if looking into the face of a deity.

“Would yew look at ‘at,” he breathed out as he took in the lifesize statue of Captain Morgan that was standing tall and proud in the middle of the hotel lobby. “The captain of the seven seas, Mr. Cap’n Morgan. I thought he was only a myth, but there he is. Wild shit.”

“Take a picture, it’ll last you longer,” Danny said, trying to move Jake along. Jake stood firm, staring at Captain Morgan with a newfound interest.

“He’s tellin’ me I’m shit,” Oliver Reed suddenly growled. “That old Oliver Fucking Reed himself is no worthy pirate. Well, I’ll show ‘im. I’ll show that bastard.”

“Jake,” Danny’s voice squeaked in shock as he watched Jake jump at the Captain Morgan statue and tear his left hand away like a rabid animal. The sword that was in the statue’s hand loudly clattered to the floor, and Jake was quick to scoop it up.

“WHO’S THE BEST PIRATE NOW, MORGAN? EH? THE BLOKE WITH ONE HAND AND NO SWORD? I DON’T THINK SO!”

“Jake!” Danny cried out once more as Jake swirled the sword around and jabbed it into the statue’s plaster chest.

“YAR!” Oliver Reed cried in triumph. “VICTORY ONCE MORE FOR THE BRITS! GOD SAVE THE QUEEN! OR WHOEVER THE BLOKE IN POWER IS NOW!”

Danny had to plank to the ground with a yelp when Jake chucked Captain Morgan’s left hand as hard as he could across the lobby. They both watched it soar towards the front doors, which automatically opened for the hand and closed when it had fully passed through. Jake attempted to chop with the sword a couple of times as if he was cutting a head of lettuce, and then lit a large cigar to celebrate his victory.

Danny rose back to his feet and, while Oliver Reed was chuckling to himself about what a great swordsman he was, he lurched forward and forced the sword out of Jake’s grasp.

“BOLLOCKS!” Oliver Reed hollered in despair. “I’VE BEEN ROBBED!”

“You’ve been saved,” Danny corrected Jake, holding the sword under Jake’s chin.

“I’ll call it a draw,” Oliver Reed gulped.

“You’re gonna do what I say, okay?” Danny growled at the troublemaker. Jake nodded, wincing at the feeling of the sword up against his jugular. “We’re gonna take a nice walk up to your room, you’re gonna get in bed, and you’re gonna have the best night’s sleep of your life.”

“That sounds bloody nice,” Oliver Reed thought aloud. “Better than a sword through the heart, I reckon.”

So Danny led Jake upstairs to his room, saw that he made it under his covers, and only left when he heard soft snores coming from the bed. Then he went to the shore of Lake Michigan and chucked the sword as far as he could.

Finally feeling content with where things were at, Danny made his way to his own room and immediately passed out under the covers to sleep off the LSD.

“I’m so sorry, Sir,” Danny told Doug with sincerity. “I tried to keep my friend from messing with your statue, but you should see how fast he moves while intoxicated. He’s like a cat.”

“I should have talked to you first,” Doug gazed at Danny in interest. “That would have saved me a hell of a lot of time and a headache.”

“What are you going to do with us?” Danny looked fearful. “I can promise you all of this was a big mixup, we have nothing against Captain Morgan, his brand, or your hotel partnership.”

“Gather your friends. I want to talk to you all.”

Danny looked on the brink of soiling himself, but he left the room and shortly came back with Jake, Josh and Sam. In his time away, Sam had managed to acquire a cheese board to serve as an accessory with the rest of his outfit.

They all crowded into the cramped office and Jake shot Danny a worried glance. Danny wasn’t sure how much Jake knew or remembered, so he opted to keep his eyes glued to the floor. He hated how awful he was at lying when he was stressed; he should have done more to cover for his friend instead of recounting every part of the night in excruciating detail. Jake was bound to never talk to him again. Probably Josh too. Sam would most likely still be his friend because he thought it was funny when Jake got in trouble.

“You’ve probably pieced together why I brought you all in here today,” Doug shared with the group.

“Nope,” Sam shook his head. “I’m still stumped.”

“My Captain Morgan statue was desecrated last night, and it’s come to my attention that one of you is at fault.”

Danny continued to study the floor.

“Captain Morgan?” Jake’s voice trailed off. His face dropped. The previous night was coming back to him fast. He had not stuck to water after his three pints of beer.

“Oh no!” Josh called out. “I liked that guy! Very nice decor. Very aquatic.”

“Captain Morgan,” Doug looked at Jake. Jake stared back at him with wide eyes. “Son, you really need to tone it down with the sour beers.”

“So I’m not the one who’s in trouble?” Sam asked around. When no one responded to him, he gave the room a peace sign and strolled out the door. “Later skaters,” he called over his shoulder.

“I know,” Jake choked. “Sour beers aren’t good for me.”

“They’re just not good, period,” Josh corrected Jake.

“It’s my fault too,” Danny burst out. “I should have stopped Jake.”

“You tried your best,” Doug gave Danny a sympathetic gaze. “You weren’t the one who tore off the hand.”

“But I did dump the sword in the lake.”

“For the welfare of everyone in the vicinity. I can respect that.”

“Wait, Jake had a sword last night?” Josh looked around at everyone. “And I missed it?”

“I’m going to ask that you cover the charge to fix Captain Morgan,” Doug told Jake. “Whether it was your alter ego or not, you were caught on those security cameras doing the dirty work.”

“So you knew it was me all along?” Jake couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Then why did you make us go through all of that interrogating?”

Doug shrugged. “I mostly just wanted to try to understand why someone would destroy something as sacred as my Captain Morgan statue.”

Jake pondered this and eventually nodded, like he understood where Doug was coming from.

“But now I’m also sitting on a lot of information that the Green Bay police department would find valuable about that horse and helicopter theft that went down last night.”

“You know, it’s been so nice meeting you,” Danny nervously chuckled, pushing on Jake and Josh’s backs to steer them out of the room. “Jake will get that check sent to you as soon as you get us the invoice. Whatever the price, we’ve got it covered. Thank you so much for your hospitality, and we’ll make sure to give this place five stars on Yelp.”

Once they were out of the doorframe, Danny looked between the twins.

“Run,” he hissed. “We’re not getting caught for any more of our crimes today.”

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sneezest · 5 months

Text

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cloudlessly-light · 2 years

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Hello🤗 I have a request.

It's not smut (weird from me lmao)

So they are with an unsub, and this unsub is like "torturing" aaron. it could be something personal like foyet because hotch is like tied up end blah blah.

Emily comes and she is like "shoot me" or she puts a gun to her head to distract the unsub in order to save aaron. the team arrives and shoot the unsub and blah blah and hotch is like "you never point a gun at your head again to save me. i'd rather get shoot twenty times over than ever see you do that again".

It could be something like what happened in season 6 of grey's anatomy but him is awake and not in an OR lol.

I saw it on tiktok and i thought it could be really cool

A/N: I hope that you like this, it was definitely out of my comfort zone but fun to write!

Title: If the world would ever stop Rating: T Summary: "Shoot me." It wasn’t supposed to go down like this. They were supposed to catch a murderer and go home, it was supposed to be a fast case done in a couple of days. He had never been so wrong. Warnings: Violence, canon typical violence, guns, knifes, mentions of blood, swearing

Six days ago

“Alright my friends, you’re all going to Wisconsin.” Penelope turned the screen on as soon as the team had sat down around the table, all reaching for the files in the middle of it. “Green Bay have had five men shot once in the back of the head and disposed of in garbage bags…” She stops like she always does she when a particular detail filled her with horror. “Multiple garbage bags actually.”

“The ME concluded that the dismemberment was done postmortem.” Aaron continued for her. “The rate of the kills have escalated from a month apart between the first two victims, to just one week between victim four and five.” He looks around the team as they nod along, already getting ready to stand up.

“The locals are worried that they won’t catch him until another body drops.” Derek finishes and Aaron nods.

“They want us there as soon as possible, we’ll work on the profile on the plane.” He stands when the rest of his team does. He looks to his left at Emily and lets his hand move to the small of her back. “I’ll call Jessica.”

“Sounds good.” She moves away but not without grabbing his hand and squeezing it, a small gesture of affection before she leaves the room like everybody else.

Five days ago

They had hit the ground running, the profile given as early as the same day thanks to evidence and the police work already done but no one had any idea how to catch the unsub.

“I don’t know honey, something feels off. Like we’re missing something.” He sighs as he lets her into their hotel room.

“So you’ve said.” Emily turns to him as he comes to stand in front of him. “It’s been one day, in the morning things will seem clearer.” She reaches to push some hair that’s fallen over his forehead and he smiles at the gentle gesture.

“You’re right.” He kisses her, lingers against her as they finally give in to the urge of each other. He feels her hand stroke along his jaw, grabs at his suit to push it off his shoulder.

“How about we shower, I show you just how much I love you, and then we’ll try and get some sleep?” She mumbles with an arched eyebrow, her eyes playful as she continues to push at his jacket until it falls to the floor.

“I like the sound of that.”

Four days ago

“There’s no surveillance footage, there’s no car, there’s nothing to go by.” Penelope tells them and the sighs are heard throughout the conference room.

“There’s no pattern to the disposal sites either.” Spencer says as he puts red stickers on the map. “No witnesses, nothing.”

Emily leans on her hand as she looks around at her team, all of them tired, all of them trying to find anything to go by. She looks to Aaron who sits across from her, his eyebrows are furrowing, the lines on his face deeper than she’d seen them in months.

“We’ll catch him.” She says to no one in particular but his eyes find hers. “We always do.”

It was a lie and they all knew it, but it seemed to be enough for them to push through.

Three days ago

Aaron silently puts the takeaway cup of coffee in front of her. They were no closer to catching the unsub than they had been when they got there three days ago. They had a profile, they were sure of it, but it wasn’t enough to go on.

“Thank you.” Emily smiles and takes a sip of the coffee, not caring that it was too hot. “Any leads?”

“Nothing.” Dave says as he sits down beside her while Aaron remains standing.

“It’s like he’s a ghost.” JJ mutters as her forehead rests on the table in front of her.

“No killer is uncatchable.” Dave reassures them. “He will make a mistake.”

“And by the time he does, we’ll have another man dead.” Derek says, the morbid thought having already been on everybody’s mind.

Two days ago

“He clearly has a type, he kills white men between the ages 40 and 50. They must represent someone in his life.” Derek looks through the file for what could possibly be the twentieth time that day as he massages his temples.

“We know that, what we don’t know is why.” Emily feels just as frustrated, what had seemed like an easy case was taking longer than any of them thought. “He kills them execution style, it’s cold, detached even.”

“But then he chops them up and puts them in garbage bags all over the city.”

“That could just be a way to easier dispose of the bodies.” Spencer adds before taking a sip of his coffee.

“I don’t know…” Emily starts as she looks at the crime scene photos from the first scene. “There’s something more to it.”

“What are you thinking?” Aaron asks as he walk into the conference room they were in, Dave and JJ in tow. He sits beside her and immediately sees the tension in her body. He puts his hand on her knee and her leg stops bouncing as she gives him a grateful smile.

“I’m not sure, but I think if we figure that out, we’ll figure him out.”

Yesterday

It was late, almost midnight when the team finally decided to get some rest, all of them frustrated at the lack of progress. They had all gotten back to the hotel, exhaustion etched into all of them as they muttered good night before disappearing into their rooms.

“You’re right, something feels off.” Emily says through a yawn as she pulls her shirt over her head.

“I hate saying this, but if we do get another victim we’ll have more to go on.” He answers as he looks through his pockets. “I forgot my phone in the car.” He sighs heavily, his own enervation clear. “I’ll be right back.”

“Okay honey.” She stamps a quick kiss on his lips, already moving towards the bathroom.

He sighs again as he grabs the keycard and heads back out toward the deserted parking lot. It’s quiet outside, dark and cold from the fall weather and he shivers as he hurries towards the SUV. He’s quick to grab his phone and is about to turn around, wanting to get in the shower with his fiancé. He’s barely able to take two steps before he suddenly feels something hard in the back of the head, and then everything is black.

Emily gets out of the shower and wraps a towel around her body. She had expected Aaron to join her after grabbing his phone but she had seen his exhaustion, she felt it as well and didn’t fault him for going straight to bed. She expects to find him on their bed sound asleep, something that happens sometimes on cases. But then she opens the door and he isn’t there and she immediately knows something is wrong. She reaches for her phone and dials his number and it goes to voicemail, calls again and the same thing happens.

She rushes through getting her clothes back on and hurries out to where they had parked the car. When she reaches it she can feel the blood turn to ice in her veins. The door was open, Aaron’s phone on the ground next to a small puddle of blood.

It’s too familiar, felt too much like when she got to his apartment and Foyet had attacked him, the panic feels the same, the worry for the man she loved almost all consuming. She runs back inside the hotel and bangs on the door next to their room.

“Prentiss what the hell… what’s going on?” Derek asks, his irritation quickly turning to concern when he sees the panicked look on his friend’s face.

“It’s Aaron… he’s gone.”

Present day

When he wakes up the first thing he notices is the headache, a sharp pain that made his eyes unfocused. The next thing he realize is that he’s tied to a chair, arms secured behind his back and ancles tied to the legs of the chair with zip ties that cut painfully into his skin.

“He’s a fed that was not the plan.” He hears a voice, male and low, almost a whisper and Aaron looks around. He’s in a warehouse, empty and dirty but the smell of blood prominent, making him nauseous.

“I- I didn’t know.” Another voice sounded form somewhere behind him, this one shaking, scared.

Through the pounding in his head, Aaron realizes that this is what they’ve been missing. There was two of them, a team, and from the sound of it they seemed like a typical dominant submissive partnership. He hears a bang, followed by a whimper and he thinks the first man hit the second one.

“One more fuck up like this and I’m getting rid of you.” The voice is closer now and Aaron can hear the sound his steps coming at him. “Look who’s awake.”

Emily is pretty sure her heartrate won’t ever return to normal, at least not until she sees Aaron. If she ever sees him again, a voice in the back of her head sounds and she does her best to ignore it as they wait for Penelope to hack to the surveillance camera that covered the parking lot.

“Okay here it is!” Penelope pulls up the footage and all of them watch in horror as Aaron is attacked from behind and collapses on the ground. A man dressed in a black hoodie gets him up and pulls him into a car and drives off. It’s little to go on, but it’s something, she thinks as the license plate shimmers under the streetlight.

She feels JJ’s comforting hand on her shoulder and she fights every urge not to shrug it off. She didn’t want their pity of comfort, she wanted her fiancé back.

“Can you track the license plate?” Dave asks as they hear Penelope typing on the other side of the screen.

“Already on that.” She answers and not for the first time, Emily is thankful for the blonde always thinking one step ahead. “Okay the car belongs to a Stewart Smith, not much on him but he has an older brother Nathan Smith and let me tell you he’s a real piece of work…”

As Penelope starts telling them about the Smith brothers, Emily realizes that this was the break they needed to find them. A location to a house and to a warehouse quickly being found as Penelope dug deeper They had made a mistake, and now the team had an address. She just hoped it wasn’t too late.

Aaron groaned as a fist connected to his cheekbone, his head flying back with the force of it.

“They’ll kill you. My team, they’ll find you.” He spat at the floor, blood trailing from his split lip from a previous hit. His body was aching, his head was spinning but he refused to give in to them.

“Your team? Look around, you’re all alone.” Nathan cocked his head to the side. “We’ve gotten away with this for over a month, and we’ll get away with this as well. But we’re going to have some fun first.”

Aaron felt the feeling of the cold steel cutting into his shoulder and he flinched before looking to the other man. He was younger, avoided eye contact as he pulled the knife back to look at the blood covered blade.

“So this is what you do?” He looked to Nathan. “You shoot them and then have him cut up the remains?”

“Stewart here have always enjoyed the blood more.” He looked to his brother who still kept his eyes on his knife. “I enjoy the kill, he likes the cleanup.”

Aaron sucked in a breath as the knife dug itself into the flesh of his arm again, slowly and shallowly. Somewhere in the midst of the pain he realized that this was the first time Stewart had gotten to cut someone while they were still alive and as much as it hurt he knew that this gave his team more time to find him.

“You forget that you messed up tonight. That parking lot has cameras.” He smirks as Nathan’s eyes flashed to the younger mans before he gets out his gun and points it at Aaron.

“You talk too much.” He pulls off the safety. “No one knows we’re here.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.” Emily says as she comes out from the back where she had sneaked in. She held her gun up and aimed it at Nathan while her eyes moved frantically from the unsubs to Aaron. “You messed up taking him. Put the gun down.”

“I swear I’ll shoot his brains out right here.” He pressed the gun to Aaron’s temple and Emily fights everything in her not to shoot him. She knows it’s too big of a risk, that if she shot Nathan he could still pull the trigger or Stewart could use the knife. She looked to the younger man, he looked terrified as he looked between her and his brother.

“You don’t want to do that.” She doesn’t know how her voice doesn’t shake as she walks a few steps closer. “Then I’d shoot you and then Stewart, is that what you want?”

“No, we are getting out of here.” His voice gets louder as she gets closer. “Don’t think I won’t shoot, bitch.” He sees the way Aaron tenses out of the corner of his eye just as Emily lowers her gun.

“How about this, don’t shoot him. Shoot me.” She lets her gun hang loosely from her hand and Nathan raises an eyebrow in surprise.

“Emily don’t!” Aaron yells but she ignores him and keeps her eyes locked on Nathan.

“If you have to shoot anybody, shoot me.”

“Why would you do that?” He asks, gun still pressed to Aaron’s temple.

“Because I love him.” She says as she finally looks at Aaron, her eyes filling with tears as she once again raises her gun and points it at her own head.

Aaron starts fighting the restraints desperately but is stopped when a fist hits him in the stomach, knocking the air out of him.

“Let him go, shoot me.” Emily says again and she sees Nathan slowly lower his gun.

It’s the sound of a gun going off behind them that sets everything off. Derek and JJ are coming up behind Aaron, guns drawn as Derek hits Nathan while JJ keeps her gun on Stewart, the man dropping his knife the moment he sees his brother fall to the floor. He lets out a scream as he hurries to Nathan’s side, all of them knowing that Stewart wouldn’t last long without his older brother to guide him. Derek pulls his arms behind his back and forces them into cuffs while Emily rushes to Aaron.

“Are you okay?” She cuts the zip ties quickly and the moment he’s free he pulls her into his arms, holding her tighter than his body really allowed him to.

“I’m okay.” He whispers as her tears soak through his shirt and mixes with the blood already there.

Emily only pulls back when Derek clears his throat.

“Took you guys long enough.” She huffs and wipes her cheeks. They had entered from different points, figuring that distracting the unsubs would be their best bet and Emily refused not to be the one going in first.

“This place is like a maze.” JJ tells her and she sees the relief on the blonde. “Come on, the ambulance is waiting and I want to get out of here.”

“Give us a minute.” Aaron tells them as Derek starts to lead Stewart out with JJ following close behind. When he turns back to Emily she’s already looking him over for whatever damage they had done to him.

“I’ve never been more scared in my life.” She tells him and he hears the way her voices trembles, sees all the emotion she’s forcing herself to hold back until they’re home, safe behind closed doors.

“I need you to listen to me,” He gently cradles her face to make sure that she’s looking at him. "You will never point a gun at your head again to save me do you hear me? I’d rather get shoot twenty times over than ever see you do that again." Emily tries to shake her head as her eyelids close. “Emily you can’t do that again.”

She looks back at him and she sees the desperation in his eyes, the hurt of having to picture his life without her and she inhales slowly. It had been a distraction, but she knew that in that moment she would have shot herself if it meant saving him.

“I can’t promise that.” She whispers and he sighs. “And I know that’s not something you can promise me either.” Her hands comes to cover his on her cheeks and pulls them away to hold them in hers.

“Emily…”

“Are you saying that you won’t?”

“No, but I…” He stops and takes a breath, trying to calm the lingering anxiety from seeing her hold the gun to her head. “I don’t want to lose you.”

“And hopefully we won’t ever come to that until we’re old and gray sitting in wheelchairs.” She smiles and she sees the corner of his lip tug upwards. “But until then, all we can do is promise to try and keep each other safe.” When he nods she pulls him into a gentle kiss, foregoing the taste of blood in favor of feeling his lips against hers but still careful of his split lip. “Come one, the ambulance is waiting.” She takes his hand and pulls him with her.

“Emily I’m really fine…” He stops speaking when she turns to look at him with stern eyes. He knew there was no point of arguing with her and instead decided to follow along.

Three broken ribs, a concussion and a lot of bruises, that’s what the Smith brothers had done to him. Emily refuses to leave his side, sleeps besides him after forcing him to stay overnight at the hospital, sits next to him on the plane ride home.

“I love you.” She whispers against his ear quietly. The rest of the team asleep on the plane.

“I love you too.” He kisses her, a promise in his kiss as he holds her close.

“Let’s get married when we get home. I don’t want to wait.” She grips his hand tight with excitement.

“Yeah?” He smiles and gently nuzzles her nose. “This isn’t because I almost died?”

“Oh it most certainly is. But I want to be your wife, I want to marry you.” She kisses him, lingers against his lips until they hear someone coughing beside them.

“Did someone say wedding?” Dave asks, already holding the champagne he had hid in the jet months ago.

#hotchniss #hotchniss fanfiction #criminal minds fanfiction #aaron hotchner x emily prentiss smut #hotch x emily #emily prentiss #aaron hotchner

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ruuthshellley · 3 months

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On June 4th, 2024,

I spoke with a woman at the Kenosha Social Security office that informed me that my social security check would be arriving via overnight delivery at my mother's house in Burlington, Wisconsin.

I walked 26+ miles to Burlington over two days (and slept near a baseball field when I got too tired to continue). On horribly blistered feet.

Now... that check never arrived.

So a woman that I trusted, Jammie Orth (my former German teacher from high school), came to pick me up in Burlington. Brought me to her house for two days. Saw my feet.

Jammie offered to sell me a Ford Focus station wagon for $5000. I agreed to purchase the vehicle.

After two nights at Jammie's house, she told me I could no longer stay there, but that I could take the vehicle to sleep in. (Provided I return the next day with a cashier's check for five thousand dollars to pay for the car.)

So I began driving up to Green Bay to camp -- far away from Kenosha County.

I was stopped in a small town south of Green Bay by a particularly cruel police officer, who informed me that Jammie had renegged on her offer to sell the vehicle. He tore apart the car looking for any kind of contraband. Humiliated me. Talked down to me. Then towed the vehicle.

The other officer on the scene was kind enough to drive me a few towns over to a hotel.

I had to pay over $300 in Uber charges to get back to Milwaukee.

Jammie proceeded to drop off everything from the car that I could not carry to the Hope Council. (Including a folding outdoor chair and a brand new car seat that I had purchased for my daughter.)

I was informed by the women at the Hope Council that my ex-husband picked up my personal effects. I did not give him permission to do so.

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rankertopanwar · 4 months

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la reserve hotel

SPX Hotel

In the heart of Green Bay, Wisconsin, nestled amidst the excitement of Lambeau Field and the vibrant city atmosphere, lies SPX Hotel. Whether you're a die-hard Green Bay Packers fan, a business traveler, or a family seeking adventure, SPX Hotel offers the perfect blend of comfort, convenience, and luxury to elevate your stay in this charming city.

SPX Hotel boasts a prime location near Lambeau Field, making it the ideal choice for football enthusiasts looking to catch a game or explore the iconic stadium's attractions. Just a stone's throw away from the hotel, Lambeau Field stands as a beacon of sports history and tradition, offering guided tours, the Packers Hall of Fame, and the immersive Packers Heritage Trail Trolley Tour. After an exhilarating day at the stadium, retreat to the tranquility of SPX Hotel, where modern amenities and exceptional service await.

Step into our inviting lobby, where contemporary design meets warm hospitality. Our knowledgeable staff is dedicated to ensuring your stay exceeds expectations, from seamless check-in to personalized recommendations for exploring Green Bay's attractions. As you make your way to your spacious room, you'll be greeted by elegant furnishings, plush bedding, and a range of amenities designed to enhance your comfort.

Each of our meticulously designed rooms and suites features modern décor, ergonomic workspaces, and complimentary Wi-Fi, providing the perfect blend of functionality and relaxation. Whether you're here for business or leisure, you'll find everything you need for a comfortable stay. Wake up refreshed and start your day with a complimentary breakfast at our on-site dining venue, where you can indulge in a delicious selection of morning favorites.

For those seeking recreation and relaxation, SPX Hotel offers a range of amenities to cater to your every need. Take a refreshing dip in our indoor pool, unwind in the soothing waters of the hot tub, or maintain your workout routine in our state-of-the-art fitness center. With our 24-hour business center, you can stay productive on the go, while our flexible meeting spaces provide the perfect venue for corporate events and gatherings.

When it comes to dining options, SPX Hotel offers something for every palate. Indulge in delectable cuisine at our on-site restaurant, where expert chefs craft flavorful dishes using locally sourced ingredients. Whether you're craving a hearty meal after a day of exploration or a light bite to enjoy with friends, our restaurant offers a welcoming atmosphere and impeccable service.

Beyond the confines of the hotel, Green Bay beckons with a wealth of attractions and activities to explore. Discover the rich cultural heritage of the city at the Neville Public Museum, stroll along the scenic Fox River Trail, or embark on a brewery tour to sample some of Wisconsin's finest craft beers. With our convenient location near downtown Green Bay, you'll have easy access to shopping, dining, and entertainment options.

For guests attending events at the nearby KI Convention Center or exploring the area's corporate headquarters, SPX Hotel offers a central location and convenient amenities to meet your needs. With complimentary shuttle service to select destinations and ample parking available, getting around Green Bay has never been easier.

Whether you're visiting Green Bay for business or pleasure, SPX Hotel provides the perfect blend of comfort, convenience, and hospitality to ensure a memorable stay. From our stylish accommodations and modern amenities to our prime location near Lambeau Field and downtown attractions, we invite you to experience the best of Green Bay at SPX Hotel. Book your stay with us today and discover why we're the premier choice for travelers seeking excellence in hospitality. Visit for more information - https://www.spxhotel.com/

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qualityinngreenbaywi · 8 months

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Hotels in Green Bay Wisconsin | Hotels near Green Bay Amusement Park

Check out Quality Inn & Suites Downtown FAQ page to book stay Hotels near Green Bay Amusement Park. Select us while looking for an affordable Hotels in Green Bay Wisconsin.

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cheaphotelshub · 11 months

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bash-the-fash · 11 months

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Heads up: Fascists active nationwide on Saturday, 10/21! Gays Against Groomers will be rallying in 75+ cities against gender affirming care. Stay safe out there 🏴

ARIZONA

TEMPE (11am)

Moeur Park

701 N Mill Avenue, Tempe

TUCSON (11am)

Hotel Congress

311 E Congress Street

CALIFORNIA

CASTRO VALLEY (10am)

Redwood Rd & Castro Valley Blvd (corner by Safeway)

LONG BEACH (10am)

4th Street Promenade

350 The Promenade North

NORTHRIDGE (12pm)

CSUN

(corner of Nordhoff St/Lindley)

ORANGE (10am)

Circle of Orange

100 S Glassell Street, Orange

PALM DESERT (11am)

The Shops at Palm Desert (near Buffalo Wild Wings)

72-840 CA-111, Palm Desert

SACRAMENTO (10am)

NEW LOCATION:

6700 Block of Tobia Way, Fair Oaks

SAN DIEGO (11am)

3325 Zoo Drive, San Diego

TEMECULA (1pm)

Temecula Duck Pond (Rancho California Rd & Ynez Rd)

28250 Ynez Road, Temecula

COLORADO

DENVER (10am)

State Capitol (west steps)

200 E Colfax Avenue

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Veterans Plaza (11am)

1 Veterans Place, Silver Spring

FLORIDA

FORT LAUDERDALE (11am)

Freedom Corner

NE corner of Oakland Park & US 1

TAMPA (10am)

5311 E Fowler Avenue, Tampa

GEORGIA

ROME (2:30pm)

Heritage Park Trail Levee

1 Shorter Ave, Rome

IDAHO

PONDERAY (10am)

30640 Highway 200, Ponderay

ILLINOIS

CHICAGO (10am)

Fullerton / Halsted / Lincoln (near old Children's Hospital in Lincoln Park)

IOWA

ANKENY (11am)

Hawkeye Park

400 NW Lakeshore Drive, Ankeny

MASSACHUSETTS

BOSTON (11am)

The Boston Common

139 Tremont Street, Boston

MISSOURI

KANSAS CITY (10am)

JC Nichols Memorial Fountain at the Country Club Plaza

47th Mill Creek Pkwy, Kansas City

NEW JERSEY

TRENTON (10am)

State House Annex

131-137 W State Street, Trenton

NEW YORK

ALBANY (1pm)

East Capitol Park

Eagle Street, Albany

NORTH CAROLINA

MONROE (10am)

Belk Tonawanda Park

217 I B Shive Drive, Monroe

TENNESSEE

FRANKLIN (12pm)

Pinkerton Park

405 Murfreesboro Rd

TEXAS

NEW BRAUNFELS (10am)

500 Main Plaza, New Braunfels

DALLAS (9:30am)

Fair Parks Gate (main entrance)

3809 Grand Avenue, Dallas

HOUSTON (11am)

Discovery Green

1500 McKinney Street, Houston

UTAH

SALT LAKE CITY (11am)

Hutchings Museum Institute

55 N Center Street, Lehi

WASHINGTON

VANCOUVER (12pm)

Esther Short Park

605 Esther Street, Vancouver

WISCONSIN

GREEN BAY (10am)

1265 Lombardi Ave, Green Bay

#bash the fash #gays against groomers #lgbt pride

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enterpoki · 1 year

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ೀ ｡ ⋆ greetings from poki , ATLAS, BLAIRE, NICOLA ! you have 8 HOURS to check into your hotel or you won’t be invited back to the island . CHOI YEONJUN, DIAKIMEKO, & CHOI CHANHEE are now taken .

ೀ 。 ⋆ CHOI YEONJUN , HE/HIM , TWENTY-FOUR — did you hear ATLAS KIM just booked their flight to poki , greece ? this FREE SPIRIT hails all the way from LONDON, ENGLAND , and decided they wanted to get away because THEY LIKE TO TRAVEL . they couldn’t be caught dead without PHONE , but that makes sense because they’re so CONNECTED . the last i’d heard of them they were playing super shy by NEWJEANS roaming the airport . do you think that they have anything to do with the missing people ? B , she/her , kst

ೀ 。 ⋆ DIAKIMEKO , ANY PRONOUNS , TWENTY-FOUR — did you hear BLAIRE SATO just booked their flight to poki , greece ? this BABYDOLL hails all the way from LOS ANGELES , and decided they wanted to get away because THEY JUST GOT OUT OF A TOXIC RELATIONSHIP AND NEED A BREATHER . they couldn’t be caught dead without THEIR NINTENDO SWITCH , but that makes sense because they’re so TEMPERAMENTAL . the last i’d heard of them they were playing SKINNY DIPPING BY SABRINA CARPENTER roaming the airport . do you think that they have anything to do with the missing people ? mars , any prns , cst

ೀ 。 ⋆ CHOI CHANHEE , ANY , TWENTY-FIVE — did you hear NICOLA JEON just booked their flight to poki , greece ? this WORRYWART hails all the way from GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN , and decided they wanted to get away because THEY WANTED TO GET AWAY FROM PEOPLE BACK HOME . they couldn’t be caught dead without AIRPOD MAXES , but that makes sense because they’re so SPACEY . the last i’d heard of them they were playing I Don’t Need BY THE CRANBERRIES roaming the airport . do you think that they have anything to do with the missing people ? prinnce , she/her , pst

#accepted #tysm for applying #twitter rp

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usstatesguide · 1 year

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#IFTTT #Blogger

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aloftgreenbay · 6 months

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5 Reasons to Stay in a Hotel Near Bellin Hospital for Health Related Trips

In times of health-related trips, whether it's for medical procedures, consultations, or visiting loved ones, choosing the right accommodation is crucial. For those heading to Bellin Hospital in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the decision to stay in a hotel nearby can significantly enhance the overall experience. Here are five compelling reasons why opting for accommodation close to Bellin Hospital is the wise choice for health-related journeys.

Top Reasons to Stay in a Hotel Near Bellin Hospital

Convenience in Times of Need:

When facing health-related challenges, convenience becomes paramount. Opting to stay in a hotel near Bellin Hospital eliminates unnecessary travel stress, especially if you have early morning appointments or need to be close to a loved one undergoing treatment. The proximity allows for quick access to medical facilities, reducing travel time and ensuring you can focus on what truly matters – your health or the well-being of your loved one.

Peace of Mind and Comfort:

During health-related trips, comfort and peace of mind are essential for recovery and support. Choosing a hotel near Bellin Hospital provides a sense of security, knowing that assistance is readily available should any unexpected medical needs arise. Additionally, these hotels often offer amenities designed to promote relaxation and well-being, such as comfortable rooms, complimentary breakfast, and fitness facilities, allowing guests to rejuvenate amidst challenging circumstances.

For those seeking a modern and vibrant accommodation option near Bellin Hospital, Aloft Green Bay hotel is an excellent choice. This one of the contemporary hotels in Green Bay, WI combines style with convenience, offering guests a refreshing and comfortable stay. With sleek and spacious rooms featuring plush bedding and modern amenities, Aloft Green Bay provides the perfect retreat for guests needing rest and recuperation during health-related trips.

Access to Support Services:

Hotels near Bellin Hospital often understand the unique needs of guests facing health-related trips. Many establishments offer specialized services to accommodate guests in such situations. From shuttle services to and from the hospital to discounted rates for extended stays, these hotels strive to ease the burden on guests and provide support during challenging times. Such additional services can make a significant difference, allowing guests to focus on their health journey without worrying about logistical details.

Proximity to Dining Options and Local Amenities:

Health-related trips can be emotionally and physically draining, making access to dining options and local amenities invaluable. Hotels near Bellin Hospital are typically situated in areas with a variety of dining establishments, ranging from quick bites to leisurely dining experiences. Having these options nearby ensures that guests can easily find nourishment that suits their preferences and dietary requirements, providing comfort and convenience during their stay. Furthermore, access to local amenities such as pharmacies, grocery stores, and recreational activities allows guests to attend to practical needs and engage in activities that promote relaxation and well-being.

Supportive Environment for Families and Caregivers:

Health-related trips often involve the presence of family members or caregivers providing support and companionship. Choosing accommodation near Bellin Hospital fosters a supportive environment for families and caregivers, enabling them to be close to their loved ones during medical procedures or recovery periods. These hotels understand the importance of family involvement and may offer amenities such as spacious suites, complimentary Wi-Fi, and communal areas where families can gather and support each other through challenging times.

Final Words

In conclusion, opting to stay in a hotel near Bellin Hospital for health-related trips offers numerous benefits that contribute to a more comfortable and stress-free experience. From the convenience of proximity to medical facilities to the peace of mind and comfort provided, these hotels cater to the unique needs of guests facing health challenges. Additionally, access to support services, dining options, and a supportive environment for families and caregivers further enhance the overall experience. When embarking on a health-related journey, choosing accommodation near Bellin Hospital ensures that guests can focus on what matters most – their health and well-being.

#green bay hotels #hotels in green bay wi #hotels green bay wi #extended stay hotel #hotels near lambeau field #hotels green bay wisconsin

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ledenews · 1 year

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#belmontcounty #BrookeCounty #capitoltheatre #downtownwheeling #MarshallCounty #ohiocounty #TheClairvoyants #UpperOhioValley #wheeling

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vedavan · 1 year

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Take Me Back Down (where cool water flows)

A 1970's Reylo rock star AU

1/1, 4.7k words

18+, NSFW, explicit sexual content. Mildly dubious consent, somnophilia.

Read on AO3 here

Summary:The year is 1976.

It's the era of Free Love, and of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. And Ben Solo is at the top of his career, as the lead singer of "House of Ren".

And then he meets Rey: but is she a groupie? His number one fan?

Or will she be his salvation?

*****By clicking "Keep Reading" you are 18+ and agree to the tags listed above *****

Green Bay, Wisconsin

June 18th, 1976

"Fuck,” Ben mutters, watching the hotel key slip from his fingers and land on the mud-brown carpeting. He bends to pick it up and finally manages to wedge it into the lock, and swings the door open.

He blinks as his eyes adjust to the low, ambient lighting. It’s not the fanciest suite he’s ever had, but it’s better than he was expecting– spacious, with darkly paneled walls and a large window, covered by heavy gold fabric drapes. Rust-colored shag carpet with a dark brown upholstered couch and easy chair. A twenty-inch TV sits on a dark wood console in the corner, and a large painting of a fruit bowl in muted earth tones hangs on the wall. The room smells clean, like lemon, with only a trace of stale cigarette smoke lingering in the air.

It’s hotter than hell– he must have sweat a bucketful during the show tonight. Who knew Wisconsin in June could be so unbearably hot and humid? He walks over to the air conditioner installed into the wall and cranks it up to full blast, sighing with relief as frigid air immediately starts chugging out of the unit.

There’s an open doorway on the far wall that he knows leads to the bedroom and bathroom. He hopes when Hux booked the room he remembered to request a king bed.

Just the mere thought of his business manager makes Ben’s head start to pound. He flops heavily onto the sofa, stretching out his long frame and closes his eyes. They’re burning with fatigue, and he cracks them open just for a second to glance at the clock hanging on the wall. Three twenty-two. AM. Fuck. He knows he needs to go to bed, snatch at least a few hours of sleep before they head to the airport and fly out to the next leg of the tour. Ohio, he’s pretty certain. But after twelve weeks of non-stop touring, it’s getting harder to keep track of where they’ve been, and where they’re headed.

Where he’s headed, he muses. That’s the twenty-thousand-dollar question, isn’t it. The entire reason he’s still awake at three in the morning, when he should have been in bed hours ago. After the concert ended at ten thirty, instead of his post-show routine of a scalding hot shower and three fingers of Wild Turkey, Hux had insisted that he and the rest of the guys have a meeting to discuss the future of the band.

House of Ren needs to move in a new direction, Hux had said, and the rest of his bandmates agreed. Ben is the lone holdout. And as the lead singer and songwriter, it’s fucking impossible not to be offended. He’s the creative force behind the music. His own brand of rock, influenced by his Southern roots, originates from his very soul. He’s spent the last six years pouring his lifeblood into the band, into the music, catapulting them to fame. They’ve been on Johnny Carson and The Midnight Special a handful of times and have been featured on the cover of Rolling Stone twice. Three gold albums and a dozen of top-ten singles on the Billboard charts under their belts. But suddenly they need to move in a new direction.

We need to move into the future, Ben. The next decade, Hux had insisted. Evolve into something new, something he called arena rock. Like the mega rock band KISS, assigning each of them a distinct identity, with costumes and heavy makeup, making them appear larger than life. Adding sound effects and synthesizers to the music, writing rock anthems instead of ballads.

That’s what the kids want, Ben. Flash and spectacle. No more of this earthy, peace and love sentimental drivel.

The criticism still burns, and Ben tamps down a wave of anger. His music was good enough until now, making them a shit-ton of money and garnering them a level of fame beyond their wildest dreams. Hux has a mansion in LA and a garage full of sports cars because of his sentimental drivel.

Ben covers his face with his hands and sighs. He has to make a decision before the end of the tour. Either continue with the new House of Ren, where he’ll be forced to wear greasepaint and spandex and be re-named something undoubtedly ridiculous like Kylo – or quit. Hux has made it clear that the band will go on in their new incarnation, with or without him. Ben doesn’t own the rights to the name House of Ren, which is fine with him– Hux had renamed them years ago when he discovered them, playing small gigs in their hometown of Greenville, Kentucky. Back when they were known as Butterfly.

What the fuck kind of name is Butterfly? he remembers Hux sneering. Ben can smile at the memory now. It was 1969, and he and the guys had formed the band during college, as an outlet for the wildfire of emotions they were all feeling, the younger generation, triggered by the unending violence and social injustice. They were part of the counterculture, anti-establishment. Protests and rallies were the norm. Anything goes was the prevailing attitude on campus toward sex and sexuality, and Ben fully embraced it: eschewing traditional masculine traits by growing out his hair and wearing leather pants, faux fur vests and beaded necklaces. Emulating his musical idols like Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison.

Besides, he’s secure enough to admit, he's always liked butterflies. Blue ones, especially.

He’s twenty-nine now, and while he’s swapped the fur vests and leather pants for mostly plain t-shirts and faded jeans, he’s retained his long hair and rebellious nature.

He’s not going to go along with something that doesn’t feel right, and House of Ren no longer feels like the place for him. Not where Hux wants to take them, anyway.

So what else is there? He has plenty of money. He supposes he could just do nothing for a while, until he figures out his next move. He’s always liked New York. The fast-paced energy, the city that never sleeps. When he starts feeling low, a few days spent in New York usually does the trick, providing enough distraction to almost convince him he’s not totally alone in the world.

His folks are still in Kentucky, living out their golden years in a sprawling, renovated farmhouse he bought them several years ago, so he has to admit he’s not totally alone. But he's only ever had two relationships in his whole life that lasted more than three months, which is causing him to worry it might be indicative of some fatal personality flaw on his part. It’s something he finds himself dwelling on more and more lately. Thinking about the one, that one special person who will turn his life upside down. That one woman he’ll scorch the earth for, be willing to risk it all just to be with her.

His mother is that woman to his dad. Ben had asked him once, when he was about thirteen, how he knew mom was the one. His dad had smiled, and ruffled his hair with one of his huge, calloused hands.

"The moment I looked into those big, brown eyes I knew I was a goner. I know it sounds crazy, but I knew right then I never wanted to be with anyone else. And even after all these years, and even though we sometimes fight like cats and dogs, at the end of the day there isn’t anyone else I’d rather come home to.

All I can tell you, son, is that when you meet her, you’ll know.”

Ben scrubs his hands down his face, and glances up at the clock again. Three forty. Shit. He really needs to get some sleep. This couch isn’t doing his back any favors, so he gets up and heads to the bedroom. He decides to skip the shower until later and just crash for now.

He flicks on a switch and a table lamp next to the bed illuminates the room in a soft, warm glow.

What the fuck.

There’s a woman on his bed.

An almost naked woman, fast asleep, her chest rising and falling with each slow, steady breath.

His eyes quickly scan the room. Was he given the wrong key by mistake?

But no, he sees his luggage on the floor, placed next to the closet. And a bottle of Wild Turkey as well as a gift basket with local offerings, as is usually customary whenever he and the band check into a hotel.

He approaches the bed slowly, not sure if she’s just pretending to be asleep and is going to pull a knife or a gun on him at the last second.

It’s never happened before, but he supposes there’s a first time for everything.

He gets right up next to the bed, on high alert, his eyes sweeping over her.

She’s beautiful, he realizes immediately. She’s lying on her back, her long, straight chestnut hair spread out on the burnt orange coverlet underneath her. Thick black lashes flutter against the tops of her cheekbones, her eyelids twitching as if she’s dreaming. A light smattering of freckles dusts her dainty nose, and a soft sigh escapes her full, pale pink lips.

Her body is long and slender, all smooth, tanned skin and toned limbs. Ben notices the supple bend of her knees, the way her toes brush the floor at the end of the bed, as if she had been sitting there and grew tired of waiting and decided to lie back and rest at some point.

She’s removed all her clothes, with the exception of a pair of tiny pale yellow bikini briefs and a matching lace bra. The bra is sheer and unlined, making it impossible for him not to notice the outline of her dusky nipples, and his dick twitches in his jeans.

Most people would be shocked to find a half-naked stranger on their bed, but Ben isn't. Fans and groupies have tried breaking into his hotel rooms before, or backstage, or onto tour buses, but security never fails to catch them first. He always shakes his head at hearing their disappointed wails as they’re dragged away, or sometimes their cries of Fuck me, Ben!… but never has one been so stealth and so brazen as to not only successfully break in, but then decide to take off her clothes on top of it and wait for him.

He scans the room again and doesn’t see any evidence of a broken window; she must have schemed her way in somehow and entered right through the hotel room door. He begrudgingly admires her tenacity at pulling it off.

But more than anything he wonders why she did it, as his gaze sweeps over her again. She doesn’t have the look of a starfucker, or even a groupie. She’s got a natural, almost wholesome look about her– he’s met enough fans across the country to know she’s a local, definitely a small-town girl. Probably lives right here in Green Bay, or some other nearby town. He’d hazard to guess she’s never even left Wisconsin; has probably never known anything but cornfields and green grass and lazy rivers, where the summers are blazing hot, and winters are so frigid the air in your lungs freezes the second you step outside and take your first breath.

They’d played a show in Milwaukee in February a few years back– he knows exactly how miserable it is.

Ben thinks her life is probably similar to the simple, country life he’d have if he’d never left Kentucky, if he’d never become famous, and his chest pangs with a strange feeling of kinship.

So, the question of why she’s gone to all this trouble still remains.

He suddenly notices the acoustic guitar leaned up against the far side of the bed. He makes his way over and sees its old, a little beat up but still in good shape– it’s obviously been well loved and cared for. He also finds a composition notebook on the bedside table next to it, and a colorful beaded handbag. Picking up the notebook he quickly flips through it, finding pages and pages of poetry– or maybe song lyrics? – with doodles in the margins. He rifles through the handbag, his conscience twinging with only a fleeting second of guilt– would be pretty hard for her to complain about invading her privacy when she was the one who broke into his hotel room– and finds a small brown leather wallet with a driver’s license.

Rey Janssen

DOB 1/20/1956

He exhales a sigh of relief. She’s not underage. Although he asks himself in the same moment why he’s even concerned about that– it’s not like anything is going to happen. He’s not even going to consider having a one-night stand with a local, no matter how beautiful and intriguing she might be.

And she is quite beautiful, he concedes as he puts the bag down and moves back over to the end of the bed.

While she sleeps on, he scratches his goatee, pondering why she felt the need to remove her clothes. She didn’t have to go that far; she could have easily seduced him wearing a ski suit. Or did she think she had to do that in order to convince him to listen to her, to let her play him a few songs? He frowns at the idea of this girl– Rey – thinking he’s the type of man who would only be moved to give her a chance if she offered up her body first. He knows rock stars are stereotyped as being promiscuous, and maybe a bit decadent, but he’d never use sex as a bargaining chip.

Ben decides he needs to wake her up and end this farce now.

But just as he begins to lean down, she begins to stir. He notices her breathing starts to quicken, and her back arches up off the bed. She tips her head back, exposing the long column of her throat. Her eyes are still closed, but they’re fluttering wildly– she must be in the throes of some kind of nightmare. He’s just about to shake her shoulder to wake her when her mouth opens, and she lets out a soft cry.

"Ben,” she gasps.

That’s when he notices her hips are lifting off the mattress in a slow rhythm, her hands clawing tightly at the coverlet.

She’s not having a nightmare.

She’s having a sex dream.

About him, apparently.

The realization makes his head spin, and blood rush to his cock.

He watches her in fascination, her gorgeous features contorting in pleasure. It’s too much for him to resist. Hovering over her, he hooks his thumb in her mouth, and her lips immediately close around it. The inside of her mouth is plush and wet, and she begins sucking him insistently.

Fuck.

He sits back and rakes his hands through his hair, groaning in frustration. This girl is too tempting, too beautiful, and it’s ripping his self-control to shreds. He wants nothing more than to help her out, but how unethical is it to do that when she’s unaware of what’s going on? Even if she did seem to come here with those very intentions.

Her chest is still heaving, her skin glowing with a thin sheen of sweat, and she continues writhing on the bed beneath him.

"Ben,” she groans again, louder.

That does it. Apparently, he’s not as morally upright as he thought he was, because he stands up and immediately begins stripping off his clothes, down to his briefs.

She’s still asleep when he curls over her on the bed, pulling her up gently so her head rests near the pillows. So small, so oblivious to his huge, looming presence over her. It feels almost voyeuristic, and some deep, dark, primitive corner of his mind is howling at the forbidden nature of it all. Her hips are still moving and he reaches down, his hand trembling, and drags his fingers along her center, over her underwear.

She’s fucking drenched.

Her mouth opens again, and she lets out a breathy cry, her delicate brows knit together, a look of ecstasy sweeping over her features. She’s either already coming, or on the very edge of it.

Jesus. He can’t fucking stand it any longer.

Ben pulls the scrap of fabric down from her hips and off her body, flinging it aside. He reaches down again and runs his fingers through her slit, through her wet heat. His thumb finds her clit and he circles it, feeling it pulse under his ministrations, as his fingers curl into a loose fist, one thick knuckle nudging at her entrance.

His heart pounds and his cock throbs heavily as he drops his head down, pressing sloppy, open-mouthed kisses along her jaw and throat. She moans again and he lifts his head to watch her face, and finds her eyes are open, blinking at him in confusion.

His pulse spikes even higher as a wave of panic washes over him, and he pulls his hand away.

"Is this ok?” he murmurs softly.

Rey’s eyes scan over his face, recognition flickering in the hazel irises. He's immediately entranced by them, the most incredible eyes he’s ever seen, a heady mix of greens and browns with golden flecks– it reminds him of looking up in a forest at midday, when the sun is shining down through the canopy of leaves.

"Yes,” she nods quickly. “Fuck, yes, Ben.”

He smiles, liking her filthy mouth. Liking the way his name sounds on her lips. Likes this resourceful, determined, beautiful girl a lot, without quite understanding why.

Moving down her body, he hovers over her center. He looks up to make sure she’s watching, and she is, propped up on her elbows, her eyes heavy-lidded and filled with wonder. He leans down and opens his mouth over her, dragging his broad tongue slowly through her cunt, licking a stripe from her entrance to her swollen, pulsing clit. Her head drops back and she moans, making his already stiff cock throb with aching desire against his stomach. He resolves right then to make her come, again and again, as many times as he can, wanting to wrench those pretty sobs from her throat, and make her body tremble and squirm beneath him.

He’s not sure why he’s so fixated, what it is about this girl that’s making him feel this way, so possessive– but as he draws her clit into his mouth and sucks, she makes the most exquisite, erotic sound he’s ever heard, and his mind whites out, no longer capable of reasonable thought.

She tastes like saltwater and sunshine, and he relishes the task set before him. He wants to make this good for her, make this an experience she’ll never forget.

So she'll never forget him.

The thought makes him inexplicably sad, so he shoves it from his mind, and doubles down on his efforts.

He’s barely got two fingers pushed inside her when he already feels her beginning to come apart, her walls fluttering and tightening around him, her clit pulsating on his tongue. Her thighs bracket his head, and her hands desperately pull at his hair as she grinds her pussy against his mouth.

"Oh my god Ben, yes,” she whines, her voice high and reedy. He keeps up the momentum, keeps curling and sliding his fingers inside her hot, slippery channel even when her clenching muscles make it almost impossible. He's hellbent on wringing out every last bit of pleasure he can from this sweet little cunt, and continues sucking at her hard little pearl until delectable juices dribble down his chin.

He only stops when she furiously tugs at his hair, sobbing and begging, “Please, it’s too much, I can’t take anymore.”

He surges up over her, stopping to mouth at her breasts before kissing her deeply. He wants her to taste herself, to know how fucking good she tastes, to realize how much she’s affecting him. His tongue plunders and ravages her mouth with the same fervor he lavished upon her pussy, and she gives as good as she gets, matching him eagerly, stroke for stroke, and something primitive rumbles low and deep in his chest.

She keeps running her fingers through his hair; she seems to be fascinated by it, twisting and tugging at it while scratching her nails lightly against his scalp, which is more than fine with him. It feels good, and as long as it makes her happy, that’s all that matters to him.

But she shocks the hell out of him when she suddenly grabs his shoulders and pushes him over to the side, on to his back, with an alarming amount of strength. He never would have guessed her to be that strong, but as she smirks down at him triumphantly, Ben realizes he should probably keep expecting this girl, as wild and unpredictable as a summer storm, to be full of surprises.

After tugging his underwear off she straddles him, and he’s graced with an unparalleled view of her body: of her long, lithe torso and the stunning oval of her face. Her skin is flushed, her long silky hair mussed with sweat-damp tendrils curling around her face, tumbling over her shoulders and down her back. She tosses it behind her with an unconscious shake of her head, and reaches behind her back to release her bra, pulling it off and tossing it carelessly across the room. Her breasts are small, but perfect– he imagines sucking those pretty pink nipples, making them shine with his saliva, and his mouth waters while his cock swells to a punishing degree.

Her eyes are luminous as she gazes down at him, full of heat and desire and something, and a mysterious warmth curls in his gut. Ben wonders idly if she’s bewitched him, cast a spell over him, and realizes in the same instant he wouldn’t give a flying fuck if she had.

She’s ruining him, maybe forever, and he couldn't care less.

But then she slides back, running her dripping hot seam over his dick which now presses painfully hard against his stomach, almost reaching his navel, and he thinks he might explode on the spot.

She braces one small hand on his ribcage and lifts up, the other guiding his throbbing length to notch the fat, leaking tip at her entrance, sheathing herself over him ever so slowly.

Ben watches in fascination, watches as his cock disappears into her glistening wet heat and groans, his head dropping back against the pillows.

She’s so fucking tight, so fucking perfect, he can hardly see straight.

Once she’s taken him all in, she gives an experimental roll of her hips, adjusting herself to his girth, finding an angle that feels good. He grits his teeth, resisting the impulse to start rutting up into her and instead settles for stroking his hands up and down her smooth thighs, allowing her to be the one to begin setting the pace.

She sits upright and starts rocking on him slowly at first, just getting used to the stretch, making room for him inside her tight, warm cunt. It's the most delicious form of torture, and his breathing becomes more rapid and shallow, each swirl of her body more sublime than the last. He's wholly captivated, unable to tear his eyes from her face, as he watches her expression change from a frown of concentration to a look of wide-eyed wonder.

But then she leans forward over him, her palms pressing on his chest before she reaches for the headboard and begins riding him– faster, more confidently, and his heart thunders in his chest. Fuck. His cock pulses as the waves of pleasure intensify, balls tightening as she rides him, her soft thighs gripping him like a vise.

Ben can’t hold back any longer; he's too worked up and can’t stop from chasing the orgasm he already feels starting to build, coiling at the base of his spine, so he grabs her hips roughly and begins pulling her faster, harder against him. He bends his knees for better leverage, lifting his hips and starts thrusting upward, their bodies slapping together in a carnal symphony of skin against skin.

After only a dozen or so of hard, rapid thrusts her walls begin to clench around him, and she's so fucking tight, the room filling with the sound of her short, breathy cries... so he moves her hips even faster, thrusts up into her even deeper.

"That's it, that's my gorgeous girl," he rasps, because she's right there and he needs to feel it, needs to know the peak of her pleasure begins and ends with him, "come all over my cock."

His fingers dig deeper into her hips and she nods limply, clutching his wrists, her eyes fluttering shut. “Oh god, keep fucking me Ben, just like that, please,” she babbles, along with a stream of high-pitched moans and obscenities. Above her bouncing tits her lovely face is screwed up tightly, her mouth hanging open, when suddenly her skin blooms pink as a rose, her walls fluttering and pulsing all around him, sucking him deeper inside.

She comes like a fucking dream is the sole thought running feverishly through his mind, and even though it damn near kills him not to let go, he resists; determined to draw this out, needing to stay buried in her lush folds as long as he can, forever if possible.

Finally, Rey sighs blissfully, looking down at him with glassy, unfocused eyes. His thrusts are becoming more stuttered and desperate, and Ben knows he can't stave off his climax for much longer.

"I’m on the pill, you can come inside me,” she breathes, and her low husky voice telling him he can come is what seals his fate.

He closes his eyes and hears a guttural, primal moan, only realizing a few seconds later it came from him. He empties into her, filling her up with his hot juices spurting once, twice, three times.

The release is mind-blowing, better than any substance he's ever tried, and he loses track of how long he lies there, just drifting in calm, sated bliss.

The delicate touch of a cool hand smoothing across his sweaty brow brings him back to the present, and he blinks open his eyes. Rey is still there, kneeling on the bed naked next to him, pushing his damp hair back from his face and looking down at him tenderly, her eyes shining with reverence and awe.

She averts her gaze and bites her plump lower lip somewhat shyly, which he finds both incredibly charming and absurd, considering he was just inside her not more than a few minutes ago.

But then she looks at him again, those extraordinary hazel eyes finding his, and suddenly Ben knows, with a bone-deep flash of clarity, that this is it– his future is Rey, no doubt about it. As much as he hates to admit it, his dad was right. He knows it like he knows his times tables, like he knows how to play chords on his guitar, like he knows he loves strawberries. It’s as if there's something that’s been lying dormant inside him since the day he was born, just waiting for this moment to be unlocked.

He reaches up with one hand and cups her face tenderly, and she leans her cheek into his palm, wrapping both hands around his forearm, and smiles. Her grin is like the sunrise, blinding and miraculous.

"Nice to meet you, Ben. I’m Rey.”

Ben grins back, moving his hand behind her neck and pulling her back down to him, so her cheek rests against his heart, her long hair spilling across his chest, and she giggles softly.

They’ve already been dating for almost five months, and yet Rey never fails to keep him on his toes. This roleplaying stuff began as entirely her idea, but he's the one who can't get enough of it.

"You’re getting much too good at this, sweetheart,” he murmurs lowly as he strokes her hair. “Mind telling me how you were able to get in this time?”

Rey lifts her head and gives him her wide, Cheshire-cat grin he knows so well, the one that sends his pulse racing and his heart stuttering in his chest.

"Babe, you know I’ll never tell.”

*****

#reylo #reylo fic #reylo au #my writing

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