Fiction: Serving Up Trouble (chapter 18)
This is a short chapter. I hope you like it. This story has reached over 50,000 words. How crazy is that? I want to thank everyone that has read and reviewed each chapter. It makes me feel so special that you would take time out to do that for me. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I have wonderful friends.
Title: Serving Up Trouble
Author: Jailynn
Rating: PG-13
Warning: I can't edit to save my life. Please forgive all mistakes. NOT EDITED!! The mistakes will be embarrassing and horrible. Please forgive me...
Disclaimer: Not mine
Fandom: Y&R/GL
Type: Crossover, romance, friendship, humor, drama, angst, AU
Author's Note: *sigh* And Phillip is still not in Chance's life but he is officially in the story now. It just goes to show how Alt-Universe my story really is. *laughing*
Feedback: Please and thank you
Word Count: 2909
-[]-
Marcus grew up Catholic. He knows all the prayers. Can say the Rosary in his sleep, after all his Italian Grandma used to force him to say it with her. He knows some of the Saints, but not all. Not even close to knowing them all. He still believes in what the Catholic religion stands for, even if he hasn't been to church as regularly as he should. A secret he still keeps to himself when he talks with his mama and papa. When he prays at night it's usually about keeping his soul clear of all his sins. Selfish and he sometimes feels bad about that. He peppers in thoughts about his family, friends and the homeless to ease some of his guilt. Got to love the catholic guilt. He never says an extra prayer during the day unless it's for patience because Tommy, his boyfriend, has done something immature or something to piss him off. And of course when traffic is backed up and all he wants to do is get home before his road rage takes control. That's normal for him. These are his normal days.
Today is not normal. He tightens his hands around the handle of the suitcase Mrs. C gave him to get some of Ashlee's things and gulps. He looks left then right, quick movements as he takes in all that is happening in front of him. Anxiety and fear knots together in his stomach and he isn't even at the front door. The feeling of wrong is so strong he can feel it standing by his car in the driveway. Noticing the emptiness of the neighborhood adds to the sense of discord. Shouldn't other people realize something is amiss in this quiet suburb?
Taking another gulping breath he leans the suitcase by the back door of his car and reaches into his back pocket for his cell phone, gripping the plastic to the point of breaking it as he eases as quietly as he can toward the door. The closer he gets, the more Marcus knows that his instincts were correct and the more intensely he prays to the being he has known all his life. There is black dirt on the ground under a hanging plant. Standing on tiptoes, he can see that someone reached in and disturbed the soil. The hairs on the back of his neck stand straight up. A quick and thankfully humorous thought jumps into his mind: My spider sense is tingling. He angles his head to see around the corner and notices the through the ajar front door a mess on the floor. Having been to Ashlee's house before he knows that, while she isn't Felix, she certainly isn't Oscar, and her home is usually in order.
Taking a step back he pulls out his cell phone and dials nine- one- one. He paces waiting for the dispatcher to answer, stealing glances at the door just in case the person that broke in came out ready to kill. He really wishes there were other people outside in the small chance that that thought became a reality. Finally a voice came on the line and he breathes a sigh of relief. “Nine one one emergency, how may I help you?”
“I'm standing outside my friend's house and I think it's been broken into,” Marcus says turning to face the door completely now. His back presses up against the warm metal of his car as he listens both to the person on the phone and for any noises coming from the house. His heart drops a little as his thoughts turn to Ashlee. She's going through so much today and now this... it isn't fair. It isn't right. Out of all the friends and acquaintances he has known, he could think of some that really deserved this, but Ashlee isn't one of them. He sighs. Actually no one deserves this.
“Have you entered the residence?”
“No,” he replies. “I arrived to get some clothes for her and noticed the door is ajar and there looks like some things have been broken. I don't even know if the people or person is still in there.” He really doesn't want to know either. All he wants to do right now is get in his car and drive to Tommy's work and take him in his arms. He wants to be reassured that the man he loves is safe. It doesn't matter to him that this isn't their house. It brings into focus for him how bad things happen too quickly sometimes. The dispatcher asks for Ashlee's address and Marcus quickly rattles off the number and street.
“A squad car should be there shortly. Please stay out of the home and wait for the police to show up,” Marcus agrees and hangs up.
He climbs back into his car after putting the suitcase in the backseat and locks his doors. Cranking the car up he turns on the air, only now out of the suffocating heat did he realize he had sweat sliding down his neck, back and arms. He leans his head back and watches the door closely. No matter what the dispatcher told him to do if the creep that broke in came out with a gun, his ass would be gone. He couldn't give an eyewitness account if he is dead. Marcus's eyes start to burn from the strain and the glare of the sun. He wouldn't blink, wouldn't relax, wouldn't look away. His phone rang in his hand and he looks down at the screen for a second then presses the green connect button. “Hello, Mrs. C,” he says as calm as he can. “Um, I'm not going to be able to get Ashlee clothes right now. There's been a break in...”
-[]-
Katherine hangs up the phone and taps her nails against her lips. If there is ever a day when the words, “when it rains, it pours” is true it's this one. She takes a seat on the couch and thinks about what to do next. Ashlee is already on the edge, hell she was almost there before Grady showed up, hearing about this might completely push her over the edge. Kay knows she can't keep the news from her. Bad news is like a band-aid. It hurts, stings like a bitch, when it's first told, but then you can make informed choices. Then you can think with a clear head. She's just not sure right now is the right time. She turns her head when someone comes out of the kitchen. Nina smiles at her, taking a seat next to her and grabbing the script she's been working on.
“How's Ashlee,” Katherine wonders as she sips her hot tea.
Nina pauses, thinking about her answer. “She's dealing, but not really that steady. Chance is in there with her right now and if there is anyone in this world that can help her it's my son.” Katherine smiles at the pride Nina has when speaking of her handsome and noble son. She pushes some hair behind her ears and levels a grin at Kay. “I don't know how I did it or what I did to deserve him, but I definitely got a good boy.”
“You raised him well,” Katherine tells her honestly. “I'm just sorry you had to do it alone. I will always regret not telling you and Jill about Phillip drinking again. If I had...”
Nina holds up her hand. “It doesn't matter and I have never blamed you. If I had been a better wife, I would have seen the signs. Heaven knows looking back on that time I do. Phillip was really good at hiding what he didn't want anyone to see. I just have to believe that when he died, he didn't suffer any. That's the part that haunts me the most. I know we were all in his hospital room, but none of us really knows how much he suffered at the end. I pray every night that he is finally at peace. And for a while I thought he was.”
“You don't believe that anymore?”
“Honestly,” Katherine nods, “I don't know what to believe. I guess knowing where his body was always gave me a sense of relief. I always had a stone and some bones to go and talk to but now...” Nina stands up and walks over to the water pitcher. “Everything is so confused,” water splashes into the glass as she continues to speak. “We don't know who the man I married is. We don't know where he is,” she turns back around and walks over to her seat again. “We don't know if he might have had Huntington's. All the stuff I thought I understood just a few years ago, hell months ago, is being shifted around.”
“It is disconcerting,” Katherine admits. “When will Chance find out about his blood work?”
“He's supposed to hear something within the week.” Nina takes a sip of her water and then places it on the coffee table in front of them on a coaster. “I don't think he has told Ashlee about the medical stuff he is dealing with. And he'll continue to keep it a secret especially now that her past has come back in such a grand fashion.” She rubs her hands over her eyes tiredly. “They are both so young. They shouldn't be dealing with all this stuff.”
“Speaking of that, Jill is going to need to be stopped before anything else happens,” Katherine sighs. “I just called Marcus and he told me that Ashlee's house was broken into. He's there waiting for the police to arrive now.”
“Grady did it,” both women turn to look at Ashlee standing in the doorway with Chance. “He had to have been mad as a rattle snake at being told to leave and Chance holding me didn't help I'm sure.” She runs a hand over her head and Chance places one on her shoulder for comfort. “I'm sorry about being so much trouble. Maybe I should just leave because he isn't going anywhere until I do.”
“No,” Chance says firmly. He twists her around so that they are facing each other. “You're not leaving and you aren't any trouble.”
“This isn't your battle Chance,” she touches the side of his face and shakes her head. “I handled it wrong. I was the coward that would never go to the police when...something happened between us. I'm not going to have you get dragged down this tunnel with me.” She drops her voice for the next part, but both Katherine and Nina can hear it. “I care about you too much to make you a part of this.”
“I am a part of this,” his forehead touches hers. “Whether you want me to be or not, we are in this together.”
“Why would you do this to yourself?” She pushes away from him and Katherine feels bad listening in. This is a private conversation and one they needed to have, but she can't move. A part of her worries that if she draws attention to the fact that Nina and she are still there, Ashlee and Chance will stop. “Chance, I will not let you put yourself through this. Not for me.” She takes his hand in hers and sighs. “Maybe one day,” her voice shakes a little. She swallows and tries again. “Maybe one day, I'll be what you deserve, but right now, I have to deal with Grady. I have to be the one or I'll never be strong enough.”
“Why do you believe you have to be strong by yourself?” He questions and then continues before she can answer. “And I don't need you deciding what I deserve or don't deserve. My grandmother is trying to make decisions for me and I don't appreciate it. I'm not here with you because you're perfect or because I want to be your protector. Having gotten a bruised stomach from a well placed punch by you,” she laughs, “I know you can handle yourself. I'm with you because you make me laugh and I haven't had a lot to laugh about lately. I'm with you because you aren't perfect.” He smiles at her and strokes her cheek with his thumb. “Besides perfect is overrated.”
“Are you sure?” Ashlee asks quietly, but Katherine could hear the hope in her voice.
“Aren't you sick of asking me that yet?”
Ashlee laughs and her eyes beam up at him. “I'm just trying to give you an out. Grady isn't going to make this easy for me or you.”
“Well,” he moves a step closer to her. “I'm not going to make it easy for him either.” He takes her other hand in his and turns to the two women sitting quietly on the couch. “I'm going to take Ashlee out, you don't need her back yet grandmother?”
Katherine smiles, “No go have fun.”
“Oh I plan on it,” Chance says as he leads her out of the room then out the front door. “I'll have my cell if you need us.”
-[]-
Phillip sits at the bar and watches Cane with keen eyes. Cane is working hard at acting like he doesn't know him and for that Phillip is grateful. He isn't sure why he decided to show himself to his friend from Australia but there is no going back now. He looks around the bar, taking in the setting. It's run down in the best sense. The tables are old with dents in them from beer bottles and glasses. The floor has a film of dirt and dust. There is a jukebox in the corner playing a Johnny Cash classic. The rebel crooner is singing about going to Folsom Prison. It feels like a place where someone could go and lose themselves and that's something Phillip has been doing and doing well for over two decades. Cane works his way over to where he is sitting and leans against the bar. A white dish towel hangs loosely from the younger man's hand. “What are you doing here?” He hisses the question at him.
So much for acting like they don't know each other, Phillip thinks. “I wanted to see him and apologize to you.”
Cane shrugs, wiping down the counter. “I made my choices,” his heavy Australian accent is even stronger when he is trying not to speak very loud. “I don't regret my years with your family. I just regret the way it ended. Your wife is very strong willed.”
Phillip smiles a little to himself and runs his hand through his hair. “Nina has had a lot of experience getting to the heart of things. I shouldn't have let you take the fall by yourself. I'm sorry about your marriage.”
“That was my fault entirely,” Cane reaches under the bar and grabs two bottles of water. Phillip gratefully accepts his. “I knew when the truth came out that Lily wouldn't be able to just forgive. I just wasn't expecting the viciousness that came from her. She really had me fooled.” Cane sighs. “You said you wanted to see him. Have you seen your son?”
“Yeah,” he nods. “I saw him at the gym a few weeks ago.”
“And,” Cane prompts. “What did you say?”
Phillip takes a sip of his water and looks down at the ring of condensation on the bar. “Nothing.” He moves his finger through the water and then closes his eyes. “I didn't say anything.”
-[]-
Grady walks up to the no name hotel and waits for the airhead brunette behind the counter to notice him. She smacks her gums as she flips through a tabloid slowly, bouncing her head to the music only she can hear. She pauses and slowly looks up at him. Her jade green eyes and pale skin set off the dark hair in a unique way. He likes what he sees. She smiles politely at him. “What can I do for you?”
“I'd like a room please,” he leans his elbow against the counter.
“Cash or credit,” she ask popping a bubble and typing on the computer.
He pulls out the money he took from Ashlee's drawer and grins, “Cash. I'm paying with cash.”
-[]-
Detective Kenny Mead walks through the mess of broken pictures, overturned furniture and pieces of paper. He rubs the back of his neck. It looks like Armageddon took place. He turns back to the young man that called it in. He hovers at the door, his face white and his hands clenched. “Do you have your friend's phone number?” The other man nods. “I'm going to need her to come and look to see what was taken.” He turns back to look at the couch. “And a list of damages. From the looks of it,” the detective sighs, feeling much older than his forty-seven years. “There is going to be a lot on that list.”
TBC>>>