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« on: October 09, 2015, 10:35:23 PM »
Tony decided to swing by the rebuilt Hope Medical Hospital in the Pine Creek section where Constantinos was currently residing after his latest beating. As Tony pulled into the Parking Lot, he shook his head, reflecting on just how unlucky Constantinos seemed to be. Getting shot in the guts by Jake back at Bullworth Academy was only just the start of his misery, years ago. Soon after that, in the Summer, Constantinos had hooked up with a skinny new girl named Tiffany and had gotten snared into her twisted Klepto World. Both Constantinos and Tiffany were at the Battle of the Chem Plant, where Tiffany was also shot in the guts, by a Townie named Leon. This resulted in Tiffany being taken away from the Vale Valley, and before the Summer was over, Constantinos also disappeared from Bullworth altogether, though no one much noticed it at the time. Tony didn't know just what had happened to them until they had showed up here in Liberty City. Constantinos, who was about the perfect Chameleon while at School, being able to sneak in and out of places with little or no notice, had fared a bit less effective at Liberty City of late.
Tony parked his new ride and entered the Hospital. The sheer opulence of the place amazed him. Soaring indoor waterfalls, lush indoor gardens, and marble pillars. No wonder health care was so high, he reflected. When it came time for the Baby, he was going to take Karen to the less-expensive Carson General Hospital across on the Staunton Island side of Liberty City. It took a few minutes to find out from a girl at the admittance counter, who looked like a Hooker, just what room Constantinos was in. Armed with the room number, 316, Tony walked down a hall to a bank of elevators and got in one. Punching the 3rd floor button, he settled back to wait. Muzak was playing on his ride up, 'Eye Of The Tiger', in soft muted tones. Just what he needed to hear, Tony groaned, a fight song. He exited the elevator as it mercifully came to a stop and the doors opened. Once in the hallway, he oriented himself, watching for room numbers as he navigated the twisty hallways. Finally, he arrived at room 316 and went in.
Constantinos lay in a bed, his torso swathed in bandages, and he was obviously sedated. Pity, Tony wanted to ask him more about the Lost MC. Maybe another time. At least Constantinos was still breathing. Tony thought that Constantinos should be assigned to be Undercover, that was where his talents lay. Uniformed, he made too much of a target, apparently. Tony turned, and it was then he noticed the girl sitting in a chair by the window. This was Tiffany, he now remembered, though he hadn't seen her in many years. Constantinos never invited others to his home, he always went out alone if he was in company of others from the Police Force, and never mentioned anything about Tiffany or his home life. In the bustle of life, it had long become commonplace, and no one asked him about her. Tony couldn't figure just what Constantinos saw in the girl. She was short, skinny as a crack-whore, and had small tits. Back at Bullworth, she had been one of the 'Reform School Girls' who were brought into the School that summer of 2008. Tony recalled that she had gotten Constantinos in some big-time trouble for stealing a massive amount of books from the Library, and that she had seduced the poor sucker into doing her Klepto fixations by snaring him in weird sex sessions in the attic of the Girl's Dorm. And this was even true after Constantinos had stood up in court for her, absolving her of any blame for attacking a new girl in the Laundry Room with other Reform School girls.
But after Tiffany had been shot in the guts at the Chem Plant, Constantinos had not gotten free of her. Amid the confusion of those first days after the rescue of Karen and Melody from the clutches of the Townie Boys and the death of Omar Romero, Tony hadn't been keeping track of his friend. He learned later that Tiffany had been airlifted from the Vale Valley, never to return. And within a few weeks, Constantinos also disappeared, leaving behind only a cryptic note. It wasn't until years later, when Tony came to Liberty City, that he found Constantinos here, although he was now Officer Brakus, working for the Liberty City Police. It was still later that Constantinos happened to mention Tiffany, and Tony was astounded to learn they were still together.
But that was it. Constantinos never mentioned her again, and Tony didn't ask. Constantinos preformed his job well enough, and was just as moody as an adult as he had been as a teen, although there was a subtle difference....Constantinos was no longer morose. He was a long way from being cheerful, that probably just wasn't in his nature anyway...But he wasn't sad either. Tony could only think that this girl...Correction, young woman...Who sat before him now, was somehow responsible for bringing him back from his brink of madness.
Tony approached her, and stopped. "How is he ?", he asked.
Tiffany looked up at him. "He'll live", she said shortly. Her eyes held a flat look, with just a subtle hint of anger.
"I...Um...Don't know if you remember me, but...", Tony began, feeling awkward.
"I know who you are", Tiffany interrupted. "I was on a mission with you once, in a stinky place, and almost died." The words were spoken in a flat monotone, without apparent emotion.
"Um...Yes, I remember", Tony said. "That was...A real hectic time..."
Tiffany continued as if Tony hadn't spoken. "I woke up, weeks later, in a strange place...If Constantinos hadn't been there..." She trailed off.
The silence spun out for awhile. Tony grew uncomfortable. All he knew of this girl was that she had some serious issues. And that was back then, some seven years ago. Of all he had learned in life, he knew one thing...Crazy people usually always stayed crazy. Finally, he said, "Well, um...If he needs anything, I'll take responsibility for him...I know he hasn't got any family..."
"I'M his family", Tiffany said suddenly. "I'm his Wife. We're the only family each other has."
"Oh", Tony said. He sure hadn't known that. Neither did anyone else, as far as he knew. "Well then...If there's anything he needs...."
"We'll be fine", Tiffany interrupted. "Just fine." She looked up at Tony and arched an eyebrow. "Understand ?"
Tony now felt extremely uncomfortable. "Of Course", he finally said. "I'll...Uh...Check back another time...When he's awake..."
"You do that", Tiffany said in that flat, queer voice. She looked towards the bed. "You just do that."
Tony stood for a few seconds longer, and then gave it up. Turning, he took a last look at Constantinos, and then left the room. On the elevator ride back down, he ran over the encounter with Tiffany in his mind. It seemed so eerie, he reflected. Again, he thought about just how much he knew about Constantinos, and about how much he didn't know. His friend was still a continuing mystery.
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