The Girl in the Middle

What they decide to do

*Tom*

It is a rare thing for all the leaders to be gathered for a normal meeting. Most of us happily send our second in command or someone else in the top of our gang to take care of these things. If there were important matters to be discussed we would be notified beforehand. But still Kattie is the only one without the L tattooed on her neck, the symbol of a leader. She still has her I from she was Clay's second in command.

As always we start by choosing someone to control the discussion and as always when Gerard is present he is chosen. Not even Zombie or Sunny complain about that. Zombie because he know Gerard is honest in these situations and Sunny because he really don't care. He only attend because he has to for The Suns to keep their privileges. And Gerard is the oldest amongst us if you don't count Sunny and no one ever do.

"Okay then. As I know everyone has questions for The Shadows I will let Kattie take the floor first". Gerard say nodding towards Kattie.

Gerard has the opinion that women belong in the kitchen and in the bedroom. An opinion Zac shares with him, which is the reason he has picked him as his second in command I guess. It had taken them both a long time to accept Kattie as an active member with the same rights as the rest of us, but with time she has won even their respect. A couple of well placed kicks and being good with a gun has helped her a lot.

Kattie has never let their condescending tone get to her and she has met every challenge. When we were kids she followed me, Mike and Zac everywhere and if there was something we told her she couldn't do, she made it her mission to prove us wrong. Her gender has never been an excuse for her.

Kattie get up and tell the story from the start. She tell them how they found this girl in the woods, how she looked very much like Amber and what has happened since. There is no sign of the worry or pain I know she is feeling. She describes every wound, mark and scar we have found on Amber's body. And she tells them that KC has recognised her as Sarah Nobel and that she woke up without any memory of who she is. Not before she get to Clay's reaction her voice broke slightly. Before I Can step in KC has gotten up beside her.

"Clay does drugs". KC say. "Again". He adds in a lower voice. "He was still high when she woke up not knowing her name and he offered her the name Amber. She accepted it".

I look at Zombie. His lips is a thin hard line and his normally green/blue eyes is almost completely black. Anger or sorrow ? Maybe a bit of both.

"Clay became himself again and regretted his actions. So he decided to dye her hair darker to remove some of the likeness". KC continue. "But the name stuck and if we should take it away from her now, Clay would have to explain about Amber and he isn't ready for that".

"The underworld isn't ready for a new Amber". Zombie hiss angrily. What he really mean is that he isn't ready.

"Done is done". Kattie say. "Clay has forbidden us all to tell her who she really is and we support him. Not because she don't deserve to know, but because we don't want her to return to the abuse she has been through". All insecurity is gone from Kattie. "There is another detail. She is engaged". Kattie glances at me. "To Toph".

"Toph ?" Zombie lifts his head. "I thought he is long gone". Zombie has no idea why his second in command has left back then. He don't know about the secret me and Kattie has kept all these years.

"We all thought that". Kattie answer him, looking at the floor. "But he is very well on his way to become a member of the Nobel family. Well he was, until his fiance ended up here with us. He goes by the name Christopher now".

"If we know who she is, how come she is still here ?" Sunny ask very hoarsely. He is always hoarse. It tends to happen when you smoke several packets of cigarettes each day. "We have a powerful weapon against Farhill's most powerful family. With her we can control Farhill".

"She has marks from being r***d. Me and Kattie paid a visit to Christopher and according to him it is her own father who has done this. If we show up telling him we have his daughter the chances of him bombing us are far greater than him obeying". I say angrily. I am pissed with Sunny for even suggesting it. I don't believe in using people like that.

"Moreover". Zombie starts a bit hesitant. "We have sworn that anyone can seek refuge and safety with us and never to give up one of our own. If this Sarah or Amber..". It is easy to hear that it pains him to even say the name. ".. wishes to stay here, then she is one of us. Our rules and pledges forces us to protect her against Farhill".

"Precisely !" Kattie grab the straw fast. "Which also means we have to protect her against her own name. She can't know she is a Noble. She deserves the possibility to make her own new identity here".

"And the name Amber ?" Gerard asks. "Are we going to protect her from the truth of that name too ?"

"It is isn't up to us to tell her". Kattie says in a low voice. "Clay should be the one to tell her why she carries that name and why it makes people react the way they do".

"But Clay isn't going to do that is he ?" Zombie say through gritted teeth.

"He will have to, sooner or later". Kattie bow her head, sitting back down again. "But right now he is in jail, and as long as he is there he can't tell her anything".

"And where is she while he is there ?" Zombie ask.

"With me". I shoot him a warning glare. "With Clay gone, I have grabbed the opportunity to start her training. She has a lot to learn if she wants to stay here and carry that name. I am asking you nicely Zombie. Don't turn this innocent girl into a pawn in you and Clay's game".

"To late for that Tom". Zombie answer in an ice cold voice. "Clay has already done that. And even you can't protect her forever".

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The meeting runs late. There were too many things to discuss and it is past noon before I get back. I will have to find some food before I go to find Amber and Mike. Lunch has been taken of the table, but as the leader it isn't hard getting a plate from the kitchen. So I am sitting alone eating, when my second in command Drew sit down across the table from me.

"She isn't stupid". He says. I don't need to ask who he is talking about. "She has noticed the glances coming her way and she has sharp ears too, that keeps catching bits and pieces of gossip about her. She has started asking questions.

Drew is older than me. He would have become Sacha's second in command, if Sacha hasn't been so unlucky as to die before Chark. Sacha would no doubt have picked Drew over me. That is the real reason Drew is my second in command. I felt I had cheated him of his right. We will never become friends, but we respect one another and we make The Eagles work.

"What is she asking about ?" I ask. It is to early she has started asking questions. I am not ready to deal with them.

"Which war people are talking of. Why people whisper her name like she is dying. Why they keep talking about Clay and Zombie". He is shaking his head in resignation. "Sooner or later she will start putting two and two together".

"And she will get three or five". I sigh. She will never be able to guess the truth. "We have to keep her away from the others". It is my best solution for now.

"For ever ?" Drew raise one eyebrow. "She deserves the truth Tom".

"Don't you think I know that ?" I throw out my arms in resignation. "But it isn't my job to give her that truth. I don't have the authorization to do that. I don't want to make an enemy of Clay over this".

"Clay is in jail. It could be months before he is back on the streets. Do you want to keep her in isolation that long ?" Drew say angrily.

"Well then it is up to Kattie". I say, getting up before Drew can become more angry with me about Clay's decision.