Chapter 9
(This chapter happens at the same time as Chapter 8)
"Do I want to know what happened?" Tej asked as they listened to the ambulance pull away from the house.
Brian gritted his teeth and sat, defeated, on the bottom step of the main staircase.
"Dom and Alex just had their first meeting." he simply answered.
"Ouch." Tej said as he made a trip to his room.
There was a total of three rooms on the second floor as well as a transformed attic with a bathroom. The attic room and attic bathroom belonged to Alex due to his odd shifts and needing the bathroom to get ready. Alex had the room by the attic staircase. Since everyone was usually up and around when Alex was asleep, it was best for Alex to be as far from the living room as possible. Tej's bedroom as well as Brian's were also on the second floor.
"I can see where he gets his temper." Leon remarked, earning him a chuckled from Brian.
"Vince didn't come with you?" Dom asked, relaxing his stance enough to sit on the arm of the couch
"Tej gave him the address and Vince has GPS. I guess he'll get here when he gets here." Leon reported.
He glanced down as Joplin slinked up to him and rubbed against his legs. Leon smiled.
"Dom why don't you show Leon his bedroom choices. I'm gonna go check on Cody." Brian all but ordered. He stood up and followed Tej up the stairs.
He parted ways from Tej's door and continued down the hall to the bedroom across the hall from the bathroom. The door had a few pencil drawings taped to it and a wooden plaque which had Cody's name on it as well as the Japanese characters underneath. It was decorated with different greens which was Cody's favorite color.
The door was cracked open and some light spilled into the hall. Entering the bedroom, Brian smiled as he took in the sight of Cody and Pumba sprawled across the bed.
The boy had changed into his sleepwear but the rest of his clothes were strewn across the room. Brian smiled and sighed. He began picking up articles of clothing and throwing them in the hamper. He also straightened up various areas.
Over the past few years, ever since Cody's accident, his room had changed quite a bit. Gone was the serious aspect of the room and the plain layout. There were now lime green walls with more car pictures. The TV was on the wall rather than on an entertainment system. There was a dresser as well as quite a few bookshelves. Even after his accident, Cody had held onto his vehicle manuals and car books. They were now overflowing on the shelves.
There was an antique desk across the room from the door. It was covered with cups of pencils, pens, highlighters and even some crayons.
The bed had a brown wooden frame and the sides were raised so Cody wouldn't fall out of bed. Brian picked up some clothing that hid Pumba's extravagant dog bed. He chuckled as he could now see the brown carpet of the room.
"Is Alex still here?" someone mumbled. Brian stacked the now folded clothing on top of the cluttered dresser.
"He had to get back to work Cody. Remember he took an extra shift so he could save more people?" he explained.
"Is that why you guys were fighting after Alex sent me to bed?" Cody asked.
Brian hesitated and glanced out the window of the room facing the backyard. He fingered the plastic dinosaurs that lined the window sill.
"Alex and I were just talking kid. Nothing to worry about." he tried to console.
Cody rolled over to face away from Brian.
"Sure didn't sound like it." he murmured, pulling his blanket to his chin.
He hated it when Alex and Brian fought. He felt like they argued about him mostly. To the best of his It was not your fault and no one sees it that way." Brian reassured recollection, they never argued before his injury. He hated being the center of their arguments.
Cody always had the notion that he could take care of himself. He knew his brothers had had their own lives before the accident and the youngest O'Connor felt guilty about taking that away from them.
"Don't you dare feel guilty for your accident. It was not your fault and no one sees it that way." Brian reassured, sitting on the edge of the bed. He pulled the covers away from Cody's face.
"You all would be happier if I was normal." Cody all but complained.
"Normal is over-rated. No one wants to be normal anymore." Cody smirked and hid his face in his pillow to cover up his laughing. Brian rolled his eyes and ruffled Cody's hair.
"You think that's funny huh?" he asked, tickling Cody's sides until the younger male was giggling with tears in his eyes.
"S-stop!" he begged.
Brian laughed and stood up.
"Get some sleep. Alex will be home tomorrow." he said.
Pumba snorted and moved to rest his head on Cody's side. They said their goodnights and Brian pulled the door shut.
He walked back downstairs where Tej had ingredients out to make a sandwich.
"Well Cody seems to think this is all his fault." he told them, slumping into a chair in the kitchen.
Tej pursed his lips.
"He's gotta stop that. None of it has been his fault." he said, finishing making his sandwich and putting the ingredients away.
The room was quiet and Brian glanced at Tej. The man hadn't touched his food.
"You alright man?" he asked.
"I wasn't going to tell you but... when I was driving home I saw Garth." Tej told him reluctantly. Brian's fists clenched.
"Garth?" Leon asked. Brian looked at him.
"Garth Gifford. He's a racer and the older brother of Cole, the teen who caused Cody's accident." Brian's jaw clenched.
"I'm guessing he's not a very good guy." Dom said.
No one said a word.
TF&TF
"I could play the staring game all day Vince. You gonna talk?" Alex asked.
Vince rolled his eyes and glanced around.
"And now you won't look at me. Can't be anything good that you're avoiding." Alex laughed.
"Just trouble with friends. Some buster pulling us apart." Vince told him.
Alex nodded slowly and shifted his papers to his other hand.
"Take it from someone who relies on friends. Don't lose them. Sometimes that's all you have." he told him seriously.
Vince didn't answer.
The conversation died for a few moments until Alex got a glimpse of Vince's ride.
"Nice car by the way. Ford?" he asked.
Vince followed Alex outside the open bay door.
"Ford RS200 to be exact." he said.
Alex nodded.
"Nice. Haven't seen one this nice in a few years." he said, glancing at it appreciatively. Vince reached inside and popped the hood. Alex gave a look of approval.
"Inside matches the outer. This baby gets checked every month. I keep her as perfect as possible." Vince gloated.
Vince was proud of his car. Keeping it running was one of his favorite forms of therapy.
"You do your own tune ups?" Alex asked, slightly mesmerized by the electric engine.
"It's all me. I keep her up to date with all the latest. You never know when you might need something." Vince told him.
Alex stepped away from the car and crossed his arms, trying not to crinkle his paperwork.
"So I'm guessing that you like cars." Vince guessed.
"Used to be. Only thing from that life is my car. My Subaru Impreza STI Sedan." Alex's seemingly good mood disappeared.
Vince noticed this.
"You ask me what I'm running from. But what are you running from?" he asked.
Alex didn't answer the question.
"I've got to get back to work." he said quickly, turning to leave.
"Hey wait!" Vince started, reaching out and grabbing Alex by the elbow.
Vince didn't think it was fair that Alex was able to get answers out of him but the minute he asked the paramedic the same question, Alex clammed up.
"Let go of me!" Alex demanded.
"Get off him." came the tense voice of Rick Newhouse. He walked out of the firehouse quickly and came close enough to shove Vince away. Vince didn't give him time to inflict bodily harm and instead backed up, holding his hands up in defeat.
"We were just talking man." he said.
He had no intention of starting a fight. The usual fight that growled inside him was reduced to that of a small puppy.
Alex sighed tensely and stalked off to the firehouse.
"Look man. I don't know who you are or how you know Alex, but you need to back off or we're going to have an issue." Newhouse warned.
"Dude, I'm not here to cause trouble." Vince tried to convince them. He was in a new town and while years ago he would of jumped right in with a fist, he didn't now.
"Then just go home Vince. Go home." Alex said.
Newhouse and Vince looked back to see Alex just standing there, arms hanging limply by his side. Newhouse glanced back at Vince.
He back stepped to follow his House mate.
Vince gave up. All he could do was watch the two walk back to the firehouse.
TBC
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