Ricky looked really upset when he ran off. I got off the bar and started to go after him, knowing he needs comforting. Two nights in a row, he's been attacked by patrons. It's got to be messing with his head. I was always pretty strong when I had to be, but that's just not Ricky's personality.

When I found him, Chris had stopped him outside the entrance to the stairwell. They didn't see me approach, so I ducked behind a wall to listen.

"Another night?" Chris questioned, somewhat annoyed.

"I-I'm sorry, Chris." Ricky muttered.

"It's not your fault." He replied. "But I can't give you the rest of the night off. We are walking on a wire with money right now. I can't be down a dancer."

I took a deep breath and turned around the corner before Ricky could agree to go back on the floor. They both noticed me this time, staring at me.

"I can fill in for him tonight. He didn't sleep well last night anyways." I said.

"Devin-"

"Chris, don't argue, please. Ricky needs some rest." I firmly stood my ground.

He did need a break. I could see it in his beautiful eyes. Ricky has been here months, it's about time he had a break. I've only been back under a week. I can take the stress, he obviously can't.

"He'll be fine." Chris insisted. "You are the one that should be relaxing. It's your only day off."

I grit my teeth. "If you really want to make me happy, let me fill in for him."

He groaned. "Fine. If you insist on him having the night off, I'll give it to him, but I'm not having you fill in. I'll call someone else that has more than one day off a week."

"Whatever works. Thank you." I replied to him. Then I raised my hand and motioned Ricky to come closer. "Come on. I'm going to take you upstairs."

"You really don't have to do this." Ricky muttered.

I stepped forward and grabbed his hand. "Don't be difficult." I snickered.

Chris disappeared but I didn't really care. I was more focused on making Ricky feel better. I'm sure he went to call up someone else to fill in. Whomever it was, I didn't care much.

"You really didn't have to." Ricky murmured.

I leaned in closer, which made him be quiet. He stopped breathing a moment and I chuckled at his naive eyes. "Sweetheart, I don't want you hurt. That means, mentally, emotionally, and physically."

He blushed. "Why do you care so much?"

"I think you deserve it. Let's both go lay down."

I started to walk over to the stairwell entrance, when I heard him mutter behind me, "And hopefully cuddle."

I smirked as I looked back at him. "And hopefully cuddle." I repeated.

Ricky seemed embarrassed. I don't think he meant to say that cuddle comment out loud. It amazes me how shy he is, despite his line of work. Ricky followed me upstairs, where I unlocked our apartment and we both entered.

"I'll make us some dinner." I said. "Any requests?"

"Nothing." He responded quietly. "I'm not hungry."

I sighed. "When did you last eat?"

"I'm just not hungry." He insisted.

"Okay." I simply said.

I wasn't going to argue with him. I've been there before, and the one thing I hated is when people forced things upon me. Ricky is a complete reflection of who I was when I came to Voodoo. And, I know the guys told me his past, but I want to hear it for myself.

"Sit down." I told him, pointing to the stools on the other side of the counter. I was still going to make dinner, because I was hungry. Maybe me eating will help him into it. "Do you want to talk about tonight?"

He shifted nervously in his seat. "There's nothing to talk about."

"It happens to the best of us. You know, we had a few years here where there was gang wars around this area. They'd come into the club and none of us, even myself, wanted to dance for them. We were terrified."

"So what did you do?"

"We all started to set aside money, even worked extra hours to do so, then used it to take self defense classes." I replied. "Chris actually encourages it, but he can't have it on company record that we needed the classes. Otherwise, I'm sure he'd require all of us to do it."

"What's the worst that someone has ever done to you? If you don't mind me asking."

I laughed. "You mean at the club, or just in general?"

"Both, I guess." Ricky shyly said.

"I don't want to tell you. It might scare you more than you already are. Outside of the club though, I've been brought nearly to death." I snickered at the end to make it seem not as bad. It was awful though.

"H-how? Again, if you don't mind me asking."

I leaned forward on the counter, after I had closed the oven. "I don't mind. For you, I'm an open book. Well, I used to be a privately owned slave. I was scared of my own shadow, and that did get me into trouble a lot. Slave owners don't like it if you hesitate."

Ricky looked away, very quietly muttering, "I know."

I gently placed my hand over his. This caught his attention and he looked up at me, so I have him a comforting smile. "You can tell me about it, if you want. I'm always here."

Ricky debated it a moment as he stared into my eyes. Then a knock at our door shocked him and he pulled his hand away from mine. Damn it! I was so close! I knew he was about ready to say something! Fuck!