Red Eyes and Tears (For Nolee)

"You need help, and lucky for you I'm off for the night," Nolee smiled, checking her watch. "I have a room over the bar that I share with my friend Sheamus. Lumbering redheaded drunk, but he's a good man with a soft heart."

John sucked in a breath. "L-Look, I've done fine without anyone's help, okay? Because you and I both know that in the next morning, you'll dump me out on the streets. Whether I'll be raped, or murdered, or both... I don't know. Maybe, maybe not if I'm lucky. But I stopped caring a while ago. I can survive well enough, with out you. I don't need your pity or your charity." He hissed, tears clouding his vision.

"Hey," Nolee said, "I'm just trying to be a good person. You don't need to go out there and do things like that. Sheamus can set you up with a job at his bar."

John looked down, slowly calming down. For years he'd been in this life. Having sex with hundreds of men. Not even knowing if he was clean. Not knowing his next meal. Not knowing if one of his clients decided to end his life afterwards. "I...I have no experience. And no one wants a hooker working at their bar." He said quietly.

"Sheamus won't care and you can start out doing something easy," Nolee said. She didn't want this young man back out on the streets where someone could hurt him or someone worse than Cole could arrest him. She had heard charges of corruption in the NYPD and she wasn't sure who was friendly and who was not.

John sighed. "Fine. I just... take me to the clinic before I do any of that." He mumbled. He need to know if he was clean. But he didn't have to time to go get checked, nor did he had the energy. He literally got 4-5 hours of sleep a night.

Nolee nodded, "Just sleep for the night okay man? I'll talk to Sheamus about it."

John sighed. "Fine, whatever." He grumbled and gazed out the window. He was damn tired. Dead on his feet, like always.

Nolee got out of the car, leading him to the bar. "Hey Sheamus!" she smiled.

John looked around and wrapped his jacket righter around him as people in the bar eyed John up and down. "I'm off duty..." He muttered under his breath.

Nolee hugged the red haired pale man behind the bar, "Hey love."

Sheamus smiled, "Whatcha doin with him lassie?"

Nolee smiled, "Giving him a place to stay and to a job. He's working here."

John simply looked the man over. He seemed familiar but he couldn't put his finger on it. He shook the thought out of his head. "Name's John." He said quietly before looking around again in a skittish manor.

Sheamus nodded, cleaning a glass out. "Fine by me. The fella can stay."

Nolee smiled, "You hear that?"

John nodded. "Yeah, that's um.. that's great." He said. He looked at Sheamus. He must have been a client. But one of the few clients who hadn't hit him.But he didn't want to say anything.

Sheamus smiled, "Need a drink?"

"Can't drink, I'm in my uniform." Nolee smiled.

John sat at a stool and leaned over to Sheamus. "Have... have we met?" He asked quietly to the pale man.

Sheamus nodded, "The other night fella."

John nodded. "Right." He said quietly. "You still owe me a tip." He purred quietly.

Sheamus smiled, "Drinks are on me then."

John smiled slightly. "White Russian, please." He breathed.

Sheamus fixed him a drink, "Here."

John murmured a thanks and sipped the liquid. It was much needed, he need had to take the edge off before he exploded. He looked around the bar, hoping no one would realize what he was and ask him for a lay.

Nolee smiled, "So, Shea you get any interesting customers this evening?"

Sheamus looked at John before going back to cleaning glasses. "More or less." He said simply.
John just looked down into his glass, not looking up.

Nolee frowned, "Did I miss something guys?"