JP - Man to Man : First Kill

Lyle led Cody into a side room so they could talk in private. Sitting down he lit up a joint before offering it to Cody “You know how Tzetiel’s parents were abusive right?”

“Yeah…Tzeitel told me they died in the fire at her place…the one where James saved Ami from them and Canestone.” Cody explained, shaking his head at the joint. He hated smoking anything at all.

“Well my old man would make them look like saints in comparison” He replied taking a puff trying to calm his nerves. Juliet had been the only person he had told about his past. “He was very abusive to me and my mother and the day she found out she was pregnant with my sister she left. I didn’t blame her in fact I was glad my sister wouldn’t grow up like I did. Eventually my dad stopped when I was bigger and stronger than him.”

Putting out the joint he continued “my grandfather passed and left him a large inheritance I found out before I was heading into the army that he was planning to use it to track down my mother and get custody of my sister. I wasn’t about to let that happened so I killed him and burned the house down. Police ruled it that an electrical fire and that he was passed out drunk when it happened.” Catching his breath he looked at Cody “I did it to save my family. Just like you did and you know what Canestone would have done to Klaire, James, Tzetiel if he had gotten away. That person was helping him and would have let it happen. It’s going to weigh on you sometimes and you might feel guilty but never forget why you did it. When I saw my mother and sister again I knew I made the right choice.”

Cody stared at Lyle, taking in all the information and nodded slowly as he stared down at the empty gun still in his hand. Setting it aside, he sighed heavily. “Yeah, but she had a collar on…what if she had just been forced to help him?” He asked.

Lyle gave an understanding nod "then think of it as a mercy kill. Imagine what would have happened to her if she had come back empty handed. "

Juliet would appear across from Lyle and smile at him, Ei next to her. “Tell him she says thank you…” She said to him.

"The girl's name was Ei" Lyle replied looking at the apparitions. "She says thank you."

“Uhm…what?” Cody blinked and looked behind himself, but could not see what Lyle saw.

"I always joke about Juliet being my guardian angel " he chuckled a sad look on his face "it wasn't until after she passed that I found out she was she stopped me from killing myself no matter what I tried. And she still appears to me from time to time."

“Oh,” Cody replied and blushed, thinking of the girl he sometimes talked to online.

“Speaking of, shouldn’t you go keep Anna company, Lyle?” Juliet chided with a smile. “Girl is lonely and stuck watching Annie and Joel cuddle.”

Lyle blushed but gave Juliet a smile “I still miss you” he whispered before turning to Cody “if you ever need to talk I’m here I saw plenty of stuff in the war.” Standing up he made his way to Anna.

“Yeah…” Cody said and finally pulled out his phone, giving someone a call.

Anna was staring at her sister and Joel with jealousy.

Lyle smirked and laid down on the bed next to her before wrapping his arms around her waist. "Miss me?" He whispered before kissing her cheek.

Anna snorted and cuddled up to him.

Lyle smirked and spanked her ass.

Yelping, Anna gave him a look. “Not with my sister in the bed next to us!”

Lyle chuckled but nodded "I love you and how cute you act."

Anna grumbled and pulled him into a deep kiss. “Yeah, yeah, one eye.” She said. “When I’m healed, you’ll be under me for hours.”

Lyle smiled "it's a date but for now focus on resting."

Anna nodded and got some rest…