II. Safe and Sound

Ivory, Birdie, Spike, and Honor ran through the city without looking back — Leech's blood had stained everyone's clothing; Ivory's wrists and ankles were sore from being restrained, but she kept running. Honor, Spike, and Birdie ran behind Ivory as she turned and ran down the vacant crosswalk. Then, a car came out of nowhere and pulled up.

"Ivory!" Honor, Spike, and Birdie shrieked as Ivory screamed and jumped away and fell to the floor, scraping her knee.

The person got out of the car. "Ivory?" the voice said, headlights blinding her sensitive eyes.

Ivory looked up and saw familiar dyed red hair and hugged him, "Red!" She exclaimed.

Red grabbed her face and held it up so he could look at her, her tears staining his hands because the car lights were bright, "Blue sent me to find you. What happened?" He noticed the red liquid all over her, "And why are you bleeding?"

"I'm fine."

"What happened?"

Ivory explained everything to Red as they were in the middle of the rainy street; eventually, the other three joined them.

Red eyes widened. "That's why Leech took you?"

She nodded. "Leech wanted to leave the state tomorrow — I don't know why. I think it's because my family wronged him."

"Look, Ivory, we'll talk about this later," he opened the passenger seat and pushed her in. "Come on, you three," Red motioned for the other members to enter the vehicle, and he quickly drove off with Ivory in the passenger seat and Spike, Birdie, and Honor sitting in the back. Red took out his gun and handed it to her. "Load my gun; we're going to pay Leech a visit."

"He's dead," Ivory said, and Red stopped the car at a halt, causing them to jerk forward.

He stared at her, "You killed him?"

"No, he tied me to a chair. Birdie, Spike, and Honor came and killed him."

He placed his gun back in the car compartment and began to drive again. "That explains the blood on your pajamas." she nodded. "Well then, we'll go back to base unless you need me to take you to the hospital for a checkup."

"I'm fine," she said but was still shaken up about what happened.

"What about you three?"

"We're okay," Birdie answered as Honor nodded.

Spike stayed silent and peered out the window.

Red was silent as he sped back to the base. Luckily, no one was out, so driving through the city sounded easy.

Ivory watched the sun peek out. She loved sun rises. Ivory checked Red's car clock, seeing that it was 5 a.m.

"I have backup raiding Leech's home," Honor said, reading a text message. "He's alive but stable. Blue wants him in room thirteen for questioning."

Ivory thought for a moment and then realized that the basement layout was most likely the same at all the bases.

"Where's Lily? Is she there?" Red asked.

"No, but she and Harley were outside Leech's house earlier," Honor said. "We'll see her soon; Harley's with her. The two waited outside while we confronted Leech and got what they needed, called some cleaners, and left when we shot Leech."

Red sped back to the base, and the five ran inside and took the elevator to the basement. As the five ran down the hallway to the recovery room, Ivory heard soft moans from the vent but ignored them.

Ivory had no time to listen to spirits and uncover what Blue's secrets were. The five ran into the recovery room and saw that Hawks was in a hospital bed, hooked up to an I.V. line, a heart monitor, and was fully awake, chatting with Lucky and Lily. Blue was in the corner, speaking to someone on the phone.

"Hawks!" The five cheered and ran over.

Hawks smiled. "I'm okay, everyone," he turned to Ivory and frowned at all the blood, "Ivory, are you okay?"

"Yes, it's Leech's blood."

"Honor and I shot him," Birdie explained, and Hawks nodded.

"Yeah, we don't need Ivory getting shot for the third time," Lucky said.

"I see you like making jokes at my expense."

Lucky, Hawks, Honor, Lily, Birdie, and Harley chuckled. Ivory shrugged and gave a small smile. She didn't mind Lucky and his corny jokes.

Spike and Red walked over to Blue and had begun talking. A few minutes passed, and Blue motioned for Ivory to come over, and she did. All Blue did was pick up Ivory and hold her. Spike and Red messed up her hair as she smiled.

Then, Blue set Ivory down and looked at Honor and Birdie, and the two women walked over. Blue hugged them and asked if they were okay. When the two women confirmed that they were indeed fine, Blue told them that they were brave.

Blue turned to Birdie. "I got off the phone with Fox. He and I think that you being a stripper is under your skill set. How would you like to work with me?"

Everyone gasped as Birdie choked on her spit.

"You've helped my gang tremendously and have been a loyal asset. What do you say?"

"Yes, of course. I'd love to help you," Birdie said, and the two shook hands. Ivory and Honor side hugged Birdie, who smiled. "What will my position be?"

"You and Ivory will work together; you and Ivory are very intuitive, and it's a great skill. Plus, you can make sure people don't abduct her."

Everyone laughed.

Then, everyone congratulated Birdie and her comeuppance, and the members stayed in the recovery room, ordered pizza, and hung out. Ivory and Lily sat in the corner, talking and giggling. Ivory felt happy as everything seemed joyful and familiar. Ivory sensed that the gang was her family, and some were her friends.

Ivory felt she had fit in somewhere and had found her tribe.

The Blue Dragons were this gory and tainted but loving and loyal family. Most were not blood-related, but family is not always about blood, but the bonds and connections. There weren't any vents inside the recovery room, so the strange gurgling noises went unheard. Thus, Ivory had forgotten about the noises and enjoyed her time with the gang.