What Are You Gonna Do?

                                    

                                          


                          
I didn't think it was possible for to sleep that night, every time I closed my eyes I saw Arlen panting underneath the black hood, but I woke up with the noon sun coming through my curtains and Joey sitting at the foot of my bed. 
                          
His back was to me, his red hair sleep mussed and his shirt a wrinkled mess. We hadn't talked much last night, just sat on the porch in silence for awhile. He hadn't asked what it was like, and for that I am grateful. Now he didn't turn his head to look at me as he asked "What are you gonna do?" 
                          
I leaned back against my pillow with a sigh. "My job I suppose."
                          
"You're going back there?" 
                          
I swallowed, thinking somewhat, but mostly remembering the smell that lurked in the lair during the execution. The smell of not quite burning. That feeling of static in the air. 
                          
"Yes..." 
                          
Joey nodded and looked over his shoulder at me. His eyes were sad and worried, but I could tell he had expected nothing less. 
                          
. . . 
                          
When Paul opened the door to the Mile he looked almost comically surprised to see me. I gave him a wane smile and pushed my shoulders up into a small shrug. He nodded as he stepped to the side without a word. There was sympathy in his expression as I stepped onto the green tile. 
                          
Brutal and Dean were standing by the office door, looking confused and then their gazes softened when they saw me. Then Brutal grinned, but it seemed forced, and clapped me on the back. "You're just in time Miss Argonne, apparently Paul's got something we're not gonna believe." 
                          
I raised an eyebrow at the boss man and he started down the mile, the three of us following along behind him. As we got closer to Del's cell we could hear giggling coming from within, Dean and I exchanged confused glances as we all crowded around the bars. 
                          
Del was sitting on his bunk laughing as Steamboat Willy looked up at us from his shoulder with his little eyes. Del's grin got even bigger as he gleeful exclaimed "Look! I done tamed me that mouse." 
                          
"We see that." Paul's expression looked skeptical.
                          
"Watch dis. Watch what he do." 
                          
As we looked on Del raised his arms straight out from his body, and the mouse happily scampered along from one set of fingertips to the other while the owner of the arms chuckled to himself. I felt the corners of my mouth begin to lift at both the mouse's antics and the look of joy on Del's face, despite the fatigue crowding my brain. 
                          
"Ain't he somethin' now? Ain't Mr. Jingles smart?" Del stroked the mouse's peanut sized head. 
                          
Paul's eyebrows lifted. "Mr.Jingles?"
                          
"Dat his name. He whisper it in my ear." 
                          
Brutal crossed his massive arms and scoffed playfully. "No it's not. His name's Steamboat Willy." 
                          
"He done told me his name Mr.Jingles." Del argued. 
                          
"I think Mr. Jingles suites the little guy better." I shrugged as I glanced up at Brutal, and he gave me a small half smile. 
                          
"Cap'n, can I have a box for me mouse so he can sleep in here wi' me?" 
                          
Paul seemed a bit stern as he noted "I notice your English gets better when you want something." 
                          
"Wanna see what else he can do? Watch, watch, watch..." Del grabbed an old and empty wooden spool that might have once held twine, and set his little friend on the ground. "We play fetch Mr.Jingles? We play fetch?" 
                          
Mr. Jingles stood up on his hind legs, eyes locked on the spool, almost like he was getting ready for a treat or maybe a race. Del threw it lightly and it bounced off the wall. The mouse took off like a shot, putting his little front paws on the spool and beginning to roll it back to Del. I crouched down to get a better look, no doubt a silly grin on my face. 
                          
The spool was rolled all the way back to Del until it bumped into the man's toes. "He fetch it ever' time. Smart as hell, ain't he? We do da trick again, watch, watch, watch..."
                          
As they repeated their trick Brutal's incredulous voice came from above me. "Who's training who here?" 
                          
Coffee spoke up from the bars of his cell. "That's some smart mouse, Del. Like he's a circus mouse or something." 
                          
"A circus mouse! Dat jus' what he is, too! A circus mouse! I get outta here, he make me rich, see if he don't!" Del said it with conviction and I felt my stomach drop a little as Arlen's hooded face flashed behind my eyes again, a pang of sadness entering my heart at the thought of Del's same fate. 
                          
The sound of clomping boots behind me made me straighten up, turning just in time to watch in disdain as Percy approached. He ignored me instead looking at Del. The Cajun had picked the mouse and was trying to hold him still as Del shrunk back fearfully. Mr.Jingles wiggled away and scurried to the top of his friend's bald head. Glaring at Percy with those all too intelligent eyes. 
                          
"Well, well. Looks like you found a new friend there, Eddie." Percy's eyes had a strange gleam to them that made my insides squirm. 
                          
Del almost seemed on the verge of tears  "Don' hurt him none, 'kay? 'kay?"
                          
Percy shrugged nonchalantly and turned to Paul. "That the on I chased?" 
                          
Paul's voice was level. "Yes, that's the one. Only Del says his name's Mr.Jingles." 
                          
"Is that so?" 
                          
We all traded glances, each of us seeming to try and guess what was going through Percy's mind. Paul continued, "Del was just asking for a box. He thinks the mouse will sleep in it, I guess. That he might keep it for a pet. What do you think?" 
                          
 "I think it'll shit up his nose some night and run away, but I guess that's Del's lookout." There was a beat of silence and I gave my shoulders a little roll, trying to get the tension out of them.  "We oughtta find a cigar box. Get some cotton batting from he dispensary to line it with. Yeah... that should do real nice." 
                          
Percy walked away, leaving all us glancing at each other with identical dumbstruck expressions. Paul was the first to speak. "Man said get a cigar box" 
                          


                          
A/N- Thank you everyone for reading and for the encouraging comments on the last chapter! It feels so good to get back into writing fanfiction and especially getting back into this story. I've been slowly rewatching the movie and pausing constantly to write. I'm feeling better although I went into a small bought of not being able to leave my bed yesterday but it seems to have passed. Love you all!