And We All Fall Down (Tagged)

[Isla Hudson]

"Guy's in prison, and he can rot there." There was venom in her tone, surprising for her petite appearance, but not so for her character. "I know he'll get out, probably in less than ten years, but I'm not worried about it."

She shrugged and took a sip of coffee. "My brother almost killed him, but I'm glad he didn't, because then it would be him in prison, and he doesn't deserve that just for defending me."

For a moment she was silent, reflecting on that day. "Steven raised us after Dad was killed in the line of duty, and he's been mad before, but I never saw him like that."

It had been scary in a way, but she'd also been proud of him. "Kinda like a Mama Bear protecting her cub." She was back to grinning. "Jerk-Face will know better than trying to slap around another woman, and it taught me good lessons about learning to defend myself."

@fin,

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|| TAG: Isla Hudson,|| WORDS: 0 ||
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Fin was surprised by the venom in her tone when speaking about this ex she was talking about. It hardly went with the image he thought he had of her but then again people could always surprise you. “You’d be surprised sometimes karma has a way of making itself felt so it could be more than ten if he makes a mistake in jail.” He said optimistically, or if someone made him make a mistake it could go just as well.

“Self defence of another but it’s good to have someone that will defend you like that.” Fin said knowing that if anyone messed with his brother Fin would be the first one there fists flying if they needed to be. Not that Fin had any doubt his brother would be unable to handle himself but knowing that family had your back. It meant a lot and he knew for his family they might not approve of his job but they were still his family.

Hearing Isla go silent Fin just smiled trying to work out what to say though he listened once more to her. “Sounds like you have a good brother there but from the sounds of it your brother had ever right to be mad at the guy. People have a way of bring out the worse side of people when they’re hurt. At least protected you.” Fin said smiling though he unsure what her brother was like at all. Maybe it was his normal state of being though by the sound of what Isla said it was unlike the man.

“Guys that do that to women don’t even deserve to be called a guy. I hope it does teach him a lesson and sure if your brother looked after you when your dad passed I get going all mama bear on someone. I looked after my little brother all through school, if you messed with him you got me so you know. Family takes care of each other but good you know how to defend yourself. It’s just sad it took something like that but good you know what to do.” Fin said glad that some good had come out of the experience for her at least. It might not have been great but then he was sure she was a stronger person now for it.

Red☠Frost

[Isla Hudson]

"Yeah, older and wiser, isn't that it?" Shrugging, Isla smiled. "But you're right, I did learn a lot, or maybe 'grew up', but now I mostly know that you can't always trust your heart. I mean, there's all that prattle about love and 'knowing' at first sight, but that can just blind you."

She took a drink of water, then explained, "I mean, I saw the signs, heck, between nursing and court stenographer, I know the stories...sweet guy, caring, considerate, showers you with roses and jewelry...then he gets possessive and over-bearing, starts to isolate her, and the woman just wants to try to write it off as a mood, or stress at work or whatever, then ends up beaten...or worse."

And the signs had all been there for her, too. "I just kept thinking, 'it won't happen to me, I'm too smart for that', and I was embarrassed to have to admit that I'd been stupid, until one night he hit me..."

Well, it was more than that, and she was pretty sure that if Steven hadn't been first on her cell list he would have landed her in jail, if not killed her.

"Anyway, I can tell you, it's going to be a long time before I let someone that close again...not worth the trouble! I'll settle for a dog!" She laughed.

@fin

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|| TAG: Isla Hudson,|| WORDS: 0 ||
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“Something like that.” Fin replied chuckling as he nodded. “There is still the idea though, when you know it’s right you know its right and sure sometimes you can be blinded to it but at least you’re away from that now. Better to know now than to not know at all and still be there.” He offered. Fin was hardly the type to buy into the idea of love at first sight.

That was until he had met Amanda and even then he had no idea when that had happened, there was no waking up one day and knowing it was just a slow realisation that he did. Fin nodded to her listening to the story that he had seen enough times, then again usually he was on the outside of it but people had a tendency to get possessive when he was around. Rightly so but still he hated to see it because there was no need for it at all.

“The one thing never to be is embarrassed, it happens unfortunately and you know it happens to the people we least expect it to.” Fin said smiling, “But I’m glad you’ve managed to come out of the other side, at least now you know to listen to your gut feeling on things. If you think something is off, it usually is.”

It was a rule he had stuck by for years, if the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end then yes whatever it was he was about to do he knew that something was off. Trust what he knew to do the right thing and save his skin. For the most part that worked though there were days when he did think that he was nuts.

Fin could barely contain the laugh as Isla mentioned a dog. “Oh sure a dog would be great and sure men not worth the hassle at all, dogs at better. They are even happy to see you when you get home too, so what more could there be?” He asked chuckling.

Red☠Frost

[Isla Hudson]

"Exactly! Now the trick is not to take it too far...but I'm not actively seeking to fill some void in my life." She grinned. "But the dog...I've wanted one since we were kids and I would badger my brother about it all the time, but he wouldn't let me."

Now that they were grown she understood, and maybe even then she had, but the child Isla hadn't really wanted to understand, and maybe the whole dog thing had been a way to focus her grief at losing their father.

"It really wasn't fair to Steve, though, I know that now, he had so much put on him when Dad was killed, the last thing he needed to worry about was a dog, but you know how kids can be."

She paused as the waitress brought their order, nodding thanks before continuing.

"I have to find a bigger place, though, now that I can afford it...and, of course, a place that allows dogs...we'd trip all over each other in my 'junior studio'! And then you have to walk them every few hours, you can't leave them alone all day, if you leave for a couple days you need to find a sitter..."

She laughed and shook her head. "Maybe I should just settle for a fish! Less complicated!"

@fin

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|| TAG: Isla Hudson,|| WORDS: 0 ||
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“Well a dog works better than a guy, much more loyal too so why not get one now?” Fin asked her knowing a dog was a lot to take on but at the same time. There was no better thing in the world, at least according to his brother. Logan was a vet so sure it was hardly like Fin could say no to puppy dog eyes then again, his brother had a way of wanted to rescue every stray he came across so no became easier the minute he realise the house would be full.

“So let me guess, you kicked and screamed the house down for you and your evil brother never let you have one?” Fin said grinning, his own brother had never understood for a long time, about high school age that a dog would have suffered being part of their family. No one was there long enough to look after one and it was bad enough his parents were barely home long enough to look after their kids. It was there that Fin had stepped in as older brother to make sure that his younger one did everything he should.

Fin thanked the waitress as he smiled, it was turning out not to be such a bad day in the end of it all. “A fish works but they only swim around and forget everything after three seconds.” He said grinning, “A dog would be better but maybe if you found the right neighbour to help you out? Someone to let it out during the day or night when you’re working. That way you can have the best of both?” He said not sure how that would work but he had seen it done a few times.

Red☠Frost

[Isla Hudson]

"Sometimes I wonder if it's not better just to swim in circles and forget everything after three seconds!" Isla laughed to show that she wasn't so serious as to actually want to forget anything in her life. Still, she did think there might be an advantage to just living second to second, no cares of the past or future, but then, nothing to reminisce over and nothing to look forward to...

"But you're right, too, I can find a place with a nice little retired lady across the way who can walk the dog for me, right?" Her grin widened. "Of course, my brother would like that I should move in with him, but I don't know how long that would last before we killed each other!" Again, not really serious! "And there's the dog thing. Nah, I just want a nice one-bedroom place that has room for some furniture."

Looking over at him, she grinned. "I think my parking space is bigger than the place I have now!"

@fin

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|| TAG: Isla Hudson,|| WORDS: 0 ||
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“It could be but then it’s what happens that shapes us I guess. Or can you imagine reading that same book first title over and over again going... oh I haven’t read this before, and the story is... oh I haven’t read this before.” Fin joked grinning though sure living second to second did have it’s advantages. The past, present and future were all relative and really forgetting about certain things would be a great idea at times.

“Exactly, just someone to let the dog in and out for you when you’re working.” Fin said nodding as he laughed wondering just how insane her brother truly was. It would take a lot for him to invite his brother around to live with him, then again if someone had done that had been done to Isla. Fin would have moved in with Logan no issue at all. “Siblings, you have a right to want to kill them all day long but yeah a one bedroomed place means that they cannot get any bright ideas about moving in. Works for me.” He said grinning.

“Ouch that must be some place, I’ve a one bedroomed place that it pretty bare bones to be honest.” Fin said thinking about it, well he had a few more rooms but none of them he could talk much about given most of his property was work related holdings. “Then again as long as you can sleep, cook and eat what more do we need.” He added chuckling wondering what it would be like to be in a whole house again. He was sure he would manage to get himself lost in it.

Red☠Frost

[Isla Hudson]

"Eh, it's a nice studio and Steven got me a sort of bunk-bed thing that has the bed on top with a desk and storage area under it, so it uses the space well. So, yeah, for a student it's fine, but now that I'm a full-fledged nurse I get to move up!"

Not too much, though, she'd still be frugal so that she could save and maybe one day actually own a house.

"As for siblings, you're right, we can fight like cats and dogs, call each other names, do mean things, but god forbid anyone else say anything bad about any of us!" That was something that would always time them together again, one of the good things that had come of the whole Jerk-face thing.

"Of course, I'm actually doing better than I thought I would be after that whole boy-friend thing. It shook me up pretty good and, you know, there's that feeling that things aren't ever going to be right again, that you'll never get back on track..."

She shrugged. "Well, maybe you don't know...I hope you don't, it's not something I'd wish on anyone." Even if it had actually been one of the few events that had had a major positive impact on her life.

"I almost considered moving in with Steven after that, but then I came to my senses!"

@fin

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|| TAG: Isla Hudson,|| WORDS: 0 ||
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“Moving up is what life is all about, never move backwards always up and on or life will eat you alive.” He said grinning; there was really no point with looking too far back to the past. Fin had tried many a time to go back to what he knew but then living ten years ago was great but the present it was far more fun. He never knew what a new day would bring and that was half the battle of life.

“See you’ve got the whole sibling thing down too, sounds like you’ve a pretty great family. You’re right though, I can call my brother an idiot but to anyone else he’s a genius... or well baby steps with it you know.” He added smirking lightly; Fin loved his brother as much as he hated him but only he could kick the guys butt at football and get to brag about it. Anyone else was classed as a cheater or unfair refereeing.

Fin understood the feeling of things never being right again, he had thought that the day he had been told as much. Yes life changed but life was meant to scar and change people, to shape them into the better versions of themselves and there was no challenge that could never be overcome. He had to believe it to believe that one day he might be able to go back to the person he was before ‘life’ happened.

“I’ve not been through anything like you have, but I do get what it’s like to be feel that nothing is the same. I used to be an army medic until my helo flight took a hit and then it was a slow fall out of the sky. The part after that... it was tough to see life the same way after that.” He explained deciding that Isla had shared so he might as well tell her something person about him.

“But moving in with your brother, I’d have sent you for a head CT for even thinking that.” He joked grinning, “Glad you came to your senses, the one thing about family they are great in small doses I’ve found.” He added chuckling.

Red☠Frost

[Isla Hudson]

"Yeah, yeah, there's so many things that change the course of your life." She looked up at him with a sympathetic smile. "I can't even start to imagine going to war, getting shot at..."

She shuddered. "It's funny, but I don't think I'd hesitated to jump in and get in the way if someone was in danger or threatened." It was frightening and daunting to think about, but she shrugged. "Guess that's the difference...I don't think I'd want to voluntarily be in a position where I might get shot at, but...I think I'd do what I had to. Guess that's another good think that came of Jerkface...before all that, I didn't stand up for myself so much, and I'd be the one needing rescuing!"

@fin,

[Deleted]

|| TAG: Isla Hudson,|| WORDS: 0 ||
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Fin never had to imagine it, he had lived it and loved it mostly. He always thought he would be the good guy but then again the army trained him to do one thing, save people and the skill set was transferable to hurting them just as much. “Nothing like the rush of running into something like that and I miss it now, Chicago is great but not exactly the military.” Fin said smiling, sure there were days he missed the various things he would be doing.

“You never really think about it much to be honest; you’ve a job to do no matter what is going on around you.” Fin stated shrugging, “But sure it would be nice if you never got shot at but where’s the fun in trying to dodge things you cannot see.” He said with a grin, yes he missed those days. The running, the fear, the adrenaline and then the high that came with being in danger, getting a job done and getting out relatively unscathed for the most part.

“Ah and now you’re the queen of the castle and don’t need anyone to rescue you, so sure it maybe was a good thing that came of it. Besides it’s good to stand up for yourself and if you took something good from it then it’s even better.” Fin said smiling glad that something positive had managed to come of it all for her. There was no use in only the bad being taught out of it.

Red☠Frost

[Isla Hudson]

"'Queen of the castle', I like the sound of that!" Isla laughed, knowing that her life had taken a new, better path even though there had been struggle to get there. "Now I need more than one room in my castle...and maybe one of those lance things, so if I have rats I can fight them at a distance."

Then she became a bit more serious. "And you know, what happened to me makes me better at my job. You'd be surprised how many women take a beating and justify it. 'I made him mad'. 'He isn't usually like that'. 'He apologized and won't do it again'." She shrugged. "Some of them don't think they have anywhere to go, a way to live, or they're afraid. And you can talk yourself blue in the face and they won't listen, they don't think you know what you're talking about. But having that happen to me...I can speak from experience so they might listen to me."

She hesitated, then added, "Not that I'm much for counseling or playing the shrink."

@fin,

[Deleted]

|| TAG: Isla Hudson,|| WORDS: 0 ||
|| NOTES: ... ||

“More than one room, are you sure we’re still talking about a castle and not an estate?” Fin asked grinning for a moment nodding about the rats. “Oh sure you’d need several lance’s just to fight off those pesky rats running around. Maybe a dungeon or two to keep them in as well.” It was nice to hold a conversation with a person who could take a joke or two. Maybe it was Amanda rubbing off on him but maybe the general human race was a little better than he might have given others credit for. One or two of them at least.

Fin nodded and listened to Isla, he had seen it many a time on the bases he had been at or the field hospitals and the excuses were elaborate at times. The fact that people blamed themselves just made it worse so sure in his day job if he came across anything like that. Fin was more than happy to dish out some retribution for the behaviour. “Experience is a great thing and I’m sorry it had to happen to you but those kind of people never deserve to get the power in a relationship and karma is always a great thing.” He said smiling a little knowing his version of karma was more a good beating and a few threats.

“Well if it helps one person then its worth it right?” Fin said knowing if he could help out one person then he could repay the balance of karma a little and maybe not get arrested tomorrow. “Everyone can have the offer of help, it’s up to them to take it.” He added knowing not everyone felt that they could take that step right away.

Red☠Frost

[Isla Hudson]

"Right, I guess that's something else to think about...another 'life lesson'." Rolling her eyes, she grinned. "Man, it's just all wrong that we have to learn this stuff as we go. But you're right that it's on a person to accept what's offered to them. I've run into that a couple times...I mean, friends who needed help, and I did what I could and..." she shook her head sadly, "they really did nothing with it. But at least I can say that I tried to help, gave them every chance."

Then she laughed. "Well, I bet if you ask my brother, there were plenty of times when I was a kid that I didn't appreciate the chances that we given to me, and it probably drove my brother nuts! Well, just about anything that was outside his immediate control drove him nuts...still does, and sometimes I can't help but push that. I mean, isn't that what siblings are all about?"

@fin,