Midnight Ep. 011: sKIN

(This series is a collaboration with my good friend Sanchez. His ideas, I ran with it. We will see how it evolves. He has a sound concept, and characters, I'm primarily piecing it all together and seeing how it plays out. We hope you enjoy our efforts.)

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MIDNIGHT Episode 011: sKIN

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"I've been trying to call you Young Man!"

Lynette Brewster scolded her son Ronnie as he took up an empty booth in her section of the diner Coastal Waiters. Rolling his eyes at being cornered over it, Ronnie wanted to start the blame game by pointing at Nick Sanchez across the diner but thought better of it. Any other time he would be arrogant and demanding a replacement phone, but the images of a huge alligator mere feet from both he and Sanchez beneath the bridge at Harbinger Shoals haunted him. He wasn't sure which he feared more the reptile or the Man in Black.

"I... dropped it in the water." He caved taking the blame. Before he could begin apologizing his mother's fellow waitress the beautiful but awkward Midnight Amador stepped in to hand Lynette a piece of paper.

"Mister Sanchez asked me to give you this." In a shy smile joined with the most remarkable, unblinking eyes, Midnight was off to do her real job. Lynette paused her scowl toward Ronald to open the small, folded piece of paper torn from his diary and read it. His handwriting was actually pretty easy to read. Surprised by the fact he seemed so rugged it was a breath of fresh air. It read, "Don't blame your boy. I bumped into him, and he lost his phone. Buy him another on me." With it was a check for $500 dollars. Eying the check she simply pocketed it and said, "I'll get you a burger and fries."

With his mom stepping away Ronnie bulged his eyes and looked at his fellow groundskeeper by decree, the nerdy Evan Wolcott. Evan normally wouldn't associate with Ronnie because he used to pick on him but after the video share of Midnight's diner nudity and feel up, the two were getting along. Amazing what a porno would do in uniting friendships. The fact Evan was getting to see the real waitress in person made him brighten up. Drool as well!

"She's hot!" Evan pointed out leaning forward with his hands in his lap, a teetering back in forth almost nerve racking.

"Quit looking at my mom I'll punch you." As if but Ronnie thought it was funny. His mother was nothing to brag about.

"Not your mom...the waitress in your video. I wish I could get her naked."

"You wouldn't know what to do with that. It takes a real man to get that bitch on her knees."

"Can you get her to flash me?"

"I'll think about it. Don't play that video around Sanchez, he might delete it from your phone."

"Right! I'll save it until I get home. Good thing your friend Derek has a copy."

"It pays to have a backup plan." Saying this gave him an idea. For now, he would plot his next move...and Midnight's. Devious bastard!

Across the diner seated at his usual booth, Nick Sanchez sat with Sheriff Dolan Roster waiting on their order. Dolan thought it was good to get to know any new people in his neck of the woods, to keep abreast of what they were like. Especially this particular one whom he was quietly auditioning to be his newest Deputy. Keep dreaming Sheriff!

"Guy like you would make a good law enforcer. Military background and all." Dolan fiddled with his hat then sat it on the bench next to him.

"Like I said I'll consider the offer, but let me get settled in my new home, it needs a lot of work. I just blew into town Sheriff. All I'm concerned with right now is remodeling." A sneaky glance toward Midnight Amador he found his model.

"Dolan. Let's get past the job title. I like you Sanchez you got grit. Chasing a gator away from Lynnie's Rugrat was pretty ballsy." Referring to Lynette and Ronnie. "Me? I'd have rather let that gator take his ass. You didn't hear that though."

"No one deserves to lose their life Dolan, not even a leg. Cellphone maybe!" He smirked, "When you've been in battle like I have you see a lot of missing limbs and lost souls. It's nothing to wish on anyone." Lives were still lost unfortunately, pending on who they were of course. Bad people ofttimes deserved it.

"That why you got out of the military?"

"Part of it. Tired of rat-infested jungles and desert climates. That and some pretty nasty people shooting at you." He pauses, "Shooting back was just as bad."

"I don't need specifics Sanchez; I'm putting a mental picture enough to your adventures. Why you choose Caretaker to settle down in?"

"Friend of mine told me he settled here years ago. Nice people, quiet and good fishing."

"Who's your friend?"

"Marcus Jericho. His beach house is a mile up the way. He let me borrow it until I found a home that suited me."

"I don't believe I've met the man."

"He's rarely here. Career man pretty much, just vacations here nowadays."

"Must be nice. I have an old cabin I hightail it to every month for a weekend. Lake fishing rather than dealing with big water troubles. More relaxing."

"So, your dad does the deep-water fishing then."

"That he does. He used to be a tuna boat owner in his younger days. Went on to be the Sheriff of Caretaker in his 40's but retired when my Momma passed to help me raise Alexis. I took up his slack because I was his deputy. People around here respected us enough to bump me up in rank. Neither of us are doing a very good job, with Alexis that is. As a Sheriff I know I'm the shit's deodorant." He chuckled. "I appreciate you helping me in straightening her up. Her being hogtied in the back of my patrol car sweating it out might be a good start."

"Only way to break a horse is to keep getting back in the saddle until it doesn't have any fight left. Horse has to know who's boss."

"I'm tough Sanchez, but when it comes to raising younguns it's out of my league. That girl can't keep her clothes on for five minutes. To be honest I'm surprised I'm not a grandpa by now."

"Keep her on birth control?"

"I do. Trust me I check daily too. She takes them right in front of me and I check under her tongue." He chuckles, "Sad of me having to do that ain't it?"

"It's called Ownership. You brought her into this world so technically she belongs to you. Your rules, her obedience."

"I reckon there's a ring of truth to that. Kid's a rebel though, but always comes back crying to me or my Pop."

"Which means she's seeking guidance. She's a go getter but wants a place to call home."

"She's got a home." Dolan processes with a wince.

"Not a roof over her head. A shelter of control. She defies you for a reason Dolan. She wants what she considers is missing."

"You're losing me Sanchez."

"Ask your kid what she's missing. If she lowers her eyes, then it's a telltale sign that it's you."

"Ain't that called shyness?" In response Nick scowls and Dolan comprehends, "Yeah, not a shy bone in her...body." For a moment he pictures his daughter hogtied upside down in the backseat of his car. The vision semi arouses him. Grumbling under his breath he changes the subject. "So... merely observation...you got your eyes on Midnight Amador?"

"Haven't decided."

"Me? I like Caprice. Bad news but fire in the hole I hear."

"Not that fiery."

"Wait up! You...tagged Oliver Heavy Feather's ex ole lady?"

"I did. It matter?"

"Reckon not." Dolan looks over to see Caprice cutting up with her booth's dining patrons, two men from the sea. "Those flower and vine tattoos...anywhere 'sides her sleeves?"

"Find out for yourself." He writes in his diary without looking. Merely notes on things he required to get the job done on his new home once the place was cleaned up. Necessities he called them.

Midnight shyly looked his way then thought better of it while taking menu orders from her Uncle Sheldon two booths over. Nick merely fluttered his knuckles next to his left ear in her direction without even looking at her. Perhaps she was being a pest in her fly on the wall snooping. Lesson learned! Work in progress!

In taking Sheldon's order he knowing Nick was buying for everyone, the realtor slash Youth Group Overseer ventured into Prime Rib with all the fixings. He was sitting by himself in order to make phone calls privately to his wife Tilly. He took the lead in finding out what she had learned in calling the Rez about workers to help with the harder stuff at Nick's new property. Sheldon knew that might prove awkward due to an outcast legend at Harbinger Shoals. Forcing the Sage brothers was bad enough with they considered as family by marriage. Tilly and Irene's brother's boys were trouble on and off the reservation so forcing them to overlook those myths were easy enough being young. The elders however might prove more challenging. Although the times they were a changing. So, they say! Who they are was a mixed bag.

"Sweating up a storm My Love." He told Tilly who was staffing their realty office alone. Boring as usual, almost pointless in operating. No money, no buying! "Any luck with Newton Waterfall?"

"I spoke with Newt, he's actually more curious than resilient. I expected him to tell me no instantly, but he also knows our people require money. He told me he would get back to me by day's end so I can give Nick a call to let him know if I've secured any tree cutters and mowers."

"That bridge out there is pretty rotted so maybe just a riding mower or three. Any bigger tractors are going to cave it in until it's structurally sound."

"Did you test it yourself? Hop up and down on it?" She chuckled.

"Calling me fat?"

"If the belt doesn't fit..."

"I can make use of that belt Mrs. Cooper. Been awhile since I bent that beautiful bottom over."

"Is that supposed to turn me on? A belt to my ass?"

"You know what I mean. Besides no belt I can't keep my pants up. Good timing, I say." He flirted back then snapped a glance at Midnight Amador bending over to pick up a dropped check for another of her tables. That worn out uniform of hers was ready to shred under pressure. Fingers crossed he thought! Not this time, however.

"Phone call Honey!" Tilly heard the office land line ring. "That might be Newton. Although it hasn't been that long since we talked."

"Alright! Let me know I'll be home after Sanchez feeds me and these kids. Gotta drop the boys off at the Rez and get Evan back to his mom."

"Still ringing. Bye Honey."

"Bye Silly Tilly." Call severed. "I wonder if I can get another whip cream pie out of my niece." He recalled how Nick Sanchez got her to whip up her cute little snatch. Problem was he worried about asking that because of his wife being her aunt. "Damn the luck."

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Outdoors on the Youth Captivity Bus...

The brothers Sage were baking in the heat but found it better than associating with the white man or their outcast cousin Midnight Amador. Sweat ringing and dying of thirst they simply drained the huge work thermos of water dry. It was sustaining but their hunger was hitting home. The youngest while not as tradition sanctifying sat in the driver's seat peering out toward Coastal Waiter's diner. He could see Mister Sanchez and Sheriff Roster gabbing away, Mister Cooper on his cell. What troubled him more was where the Sheriff's daughter was, he hadn't seen her since the Shoal's. Although the girl was from the white man's world, he did find her very pretty. Was she in the ladies' room?

"We should just walk home." Curtis Sage the eldest in attendance growled, leaning his head over his forearms which were cradled on a bus seat back.

"That would just get us into more trouble." Middle boy Roland spoke up, "We break away without being released we get more community service. Not only that but Dad would make a scene that they made us walk."

"It would be worth it to put distance between us and the outcast."

"Why are we so against Midnight? Cuz never treated us bad. It's not her fault her dad is a douchebag. Aunt Irene..."

"Do you not get it? Blood runs deep Roland. Mixed breeds taint our culture."

"Well, I like Aunt Irene and Midnight. Even if Midnight barely says anything to us, I can tell she loves us."

"Loves us? Since when does love mean anything?"

Youngest brother Oswald might disagree, no way was Alexis Roster in the bathroom this long. In a bold move he leaves the driver's seat and darts down the steps of the bus leaving his brothers to bicker over tradition and hardcore politics concerning heritage. He didn't really care one way or the other. His brothers didn't bother to go looking for him he was a grown young warrior of the Santee, even if war was long gone. Peace was in the pipe.

Noticing Dolan's patrol car parked distant from the diner out away from everyone else he spotted movement in the backseat. "Feet?" As if drawn to the thrashing about Oswald darted his gaze toward the diner to make certain no one was watching him as he walked across the gravel lot. The closer he got he saw, "Is that a butt?"

Jaw drooping, he just ran up to the car's back window, hugging the trunk to leer up and over as if spying. "It's...her." Another cautious glimpse toward the diner he realized nobody was looking so he eased around to the passenger side where he would not be easily noticed. Looking in he found his missing person. "Holy shit! She's naked and cuffed...why is she upside down and backwards?" A tap on the window drew Alexis into searching for her possible savior until seeing him in her awkward contortion.

"HEY! GET ME OUT OF HERE." She whined upon seeing Oswald. In response he tried the door handle, but it was locked. For ventilation her father had left the two back windows cracked by an inch, but she was gagged so couldn't really yell outside of a muffled scream.

"Fuck you're hot. I mean it's fucking hot." He was awkward in persona himself, never really having a girlfriend let alone being with a naked girl. If you could call it being with her, there was a door in the way. "Look at how shiny her body is sweating in this sweat lodge." He was getting hard and worried for her at the same time. Her cuffed limbs were raw from her thrashing about, so she had to be in pain.

"Why would her ole' man do this? He's a cop!" He didn't know what to do outside of break the window but that could possibly cut that gorgeous flesh with glass. That was not an option. It wasn't like he could call the cops either, her dad was the Sheriff. Tempted to go get his brothers Oswald knew that would be a waste of time she was a white woman, although looking at a hot girl was one thing, touching her another. Helping her? No chance in hell!

Exploring her every contour became a temporary obsession even under her stress. While he had seen her flashing out at the Shoal's their Youth Leader Sheldon restrained her in the bus away from the boys. So, minor impressions on him were there but now..."Her nipples are dribbling sweat. God that's sexy." It took her angered mumbles to bring him back to reality. "I can't open the doors they're locked." He told her. "You must be thirsty." Her eye contact alone proved just how parched she was. She was miserable. "I'll go tell your dad you need water. Maybe he will let you loose." It was really his only option outside of damaging a police car. He had enough trouble on his criminal record already without adding to it.

Abandoning her he had to adjust his erection as best he could. No problem losing it over the course of the walk between the car and the diner door. As he prepared to open the front door, he noticed his cousin Midnight bending over yet again to procure a dropped straw, her uniform looking ripped in places. Tilting his head at the lengthy amount of time in her crouch it almost seemed as if she were trying to make her already tight dress tear even more. Yep! Two-inch addition. "She did that on purpose. What the hell Cuz? I can see her ass cheek."

Entering Oswald avoided looking at his cousin due to taming his erection, he found it wrong to get hard over his own flesh...and blood. Swallowing dryly, he stepped around her to let her look up at him. Shocked by seeing her cousin Midnight formed a pouty smile, it had been a while.

"Hey Cuz!"

"Hi." She softly spoke and stood up.

"What's with the torn dress?"

"I... like it."

"Still weird, aren't you?" He frowned, "Just wanted to say hi. Gotta go!" Turning tail and getting the nerve up to approach Sheriff Dolan Roster over his cruelty toward his daughter Alexis he walked right up to his table with the intent to give him hell. Instead, he found the Sheriff putting a hand up to silence the young man. Holding his tongue, it took Nick Sanchez to further the next reaction to his presence. Lifting a small ice water glass with a straw in it he passed it over to Oswald without even looking at him. Dolan then poising his key remote out toward his squad car unlocked the doors.

"Deliver it! Help her drink it then go back to the bus." Dolan spoke, he too not looking at the boy. They knew he was at the car all along. Were they psychic or something? Taking the glass Oswald turned and barged right into Midnight with a tea pitcher for refills. Stumbling slightly, he stared right at her bustling cleavage, buttons missing held little to the imagination, around 45 % of her tits were popping into view. Mumbling, "Jesus!" at her he stepped around Midnight without making eye contact.

Sheldon watching Oswald leave the diner with a glass of water fidgeted and snapped his fingers toward his niece. Venturing closer to her uncle brought on a hesitant stutter, he too seeing another of her buttons undone. Huffing his cheeks, he shook his head free of cobwebs and said, "Sweetheart? When those turkey clubs come out can you walk them out to the bus for the boys? They're too stubborn to come inside."

"It is because of me." She sighed.

"I get it, that whole bullshit about you not being full blooded Santee. Those morons need to get over that crap. It's high time you let them know you are family even if they want to snub you."

"I can try."

"Couple cokes to go with their sandwiches?"

"Okay!"

"Oh...and pull your dress together a little. Don't give them any reason to call you names over your behavior." Hearing Nick clear his throat addled Sheldon mid speech, Midnight knowing in her soul just why Nick coyly intervened. It was obvious he was listening with thoughts of his own on what Sheldon was asking of her. Ignoring her uncle after hearing his order called out by the Cook she stepped away. Bringing Sheldon his steak first, she smiled warmly and patted his hand hoping he might comprehend her decisions. "I get it! Go do your thing."

"His thing." She whispered, "Thank you for understanding Uncle."

Returning to the chef counter for the sandwiches and filling to go cups with coke she paused to look at Nick. While his eye contact was more on Caprice who had stopped at his table to flirt, she somehow sensed that he expected the unexpected of her. Finding a carry out box for the food she told Lynette that she would be back in a minute, informing her of her long-distance delivery. With her back used to open the front door Midnight was on her way across the lot. Halfway to the bus she stopped and crouched without even dropping anything. Knees spreading to tighten her dress up, that unmistakable rip in her behind was heard tearing even higher. She truly hoped Nick had been looking. Upright now she carried on.

Over at the Sheriff's car Oswald had just reached the back door and opened it. Alexis within felt a gust of cool air and actually moaned at its relief, although temporary. "Your dad and Mr. Sanchez told me to bring you ice water. How are you going to hold it with your hands cuffed behind you?" She rolled her eyes and used her head to motion him into the car. Worried over her father getting uptight made him leery, but he defied that reasoning and sat down to her right. With trembling hands, he reached over to remove her gag hearing her gasp and move her jaw around. "Why did your dad do this to you? Isn't it indecent exposure leaving you like this?"