Running Away
Title: Running Away
Author: Littlestjobo
Rating: Should be fine for anyone!
Spoilers: Season 5, episode 22 ‘For Better or For Worse’
Summary: Companion piece for the episode - the bits you didn’t see! As it was written based on a somewhat hazy memory, the dialogue from Kevin’s perspective differs from that in the series; hopefully that shouldn’t cause any/much confusion or contradict.
Disclaimer: The characters aren’t mine, the premise is one that’s adapted from the show, ergo they are the property of everyone associated with Brothers and Sisters and not mine but please don’t get grumpy, it’s just for fun.
“Are you sure you don’t mind me going tonight?” Kevin Walker asked as he pulled on his jacket, checked the pockets for his car keys, and took a final quick glance in the mirror.
“It’s fine,” Scotty Wandell answered from the kitchen. “Go out and enjoy yourself. Besides, Sarah will kill you if anything happens to Luc and I think Justin has his hands full already!”
“Surely that’s more reason not to go,” Kevin muttered. Scotty came through with a mug of hot coffee and a small bowl of nuts and pretzels. The coffee smelled strong and bitter, tinged with a delicate saltiness from the snacks. He placed them on the coffee table, careful not to spill the contents.
“You’ve had so much on lately you deserve a break. We’ll be fine here. Daniel’s asleep and Olivia’s sulking so I doubt I’ll hear a peep from her. Saul’s got everything covered in the restaurant and that sofa’s got my name on it.”
“Are you sure?”
“Go,” Scotty kissed his husband’s forehead, turned him round and pointed him towards the door. “Go,” he said again softly in Kevin’s ear and gave him a gentle shove.
“If you need me, for anything...”
“I know. But I won’t.”
“Bye Olivia,” Kevin called. There was no response and Kevin raised his eyebrows. “Okay. I love you,”
“Love you too,” Kevin gave Scotty a quick kiss on the cheek and left the apartment.
After Kevin had gone, Scotty went into their room to check on Daniel. He was still asleep in his cot and looked very contented. Scotty smiled and pulled the blanket up a little further over his baby son’s shoulders. He walked back through to Olivia’s door. He listened, but there was no sound from inside. Scotty raised his hand to knock but decided she must be asleep after her outburst and he didn’t want to disturb her and wasn’t sure how he would deal with her alone if she attempted a repeat performance.
Scotty turned back into the sitting room and made his way over to the sofa. He leaned back into the soft cushions. The quiet in the apartment was lovely. With one hand Scotty picked up his mug while the other snagged the remote for the music system. He pointed the remote and selected some soft music to play in the background; it was an album Jonathan had recommended. The artist, Maksim, played a variety of piano pieces, each with a modern twist in the bass. With the volume turned down, Scotty clutched his mug in both hands and settled back on the sofa. He closed his eyes as he drank, letting the music wash over him.
When his coffee was drunk, Scotty took the mug into the kitchen, filled it with water and left it in the sink to soak. Heading back into the living room, he went to the work station and rummaged under all the loose sheets of paper for his glasses. His search was rewarded as he found the small black plastic case under a page of Olivia’s social studies project on the Constitution. The glasses inside were dirty and dusty, festering from a lack of use. The anti-static cloth for cleaning them had been lost long ago, long before he’d last worn them, so Scotty grabbed one of the baby wipes from Daniel’s changing bag and a tissue from the box on the coffee table. With his glasses cleaned, Scotty picked up a scruffy paperback from the bookshelf.
The dog-eared copy of ‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin’ was a book Scotty had picked up in a bookstore on a whim. Ever since that fateful day, Scotty had promised himself that one day he would actually get round to reading it. The pages were yellow and the corners bent, although Scotty felt its condition reflected the book’s journey with him. He had bought the book no long after he moved to California, long before he met Kevin. All through Scotty’s many careers, including that fateful job that took him to Kevin’s office as a key witness to a corporate fraud, the book had sat on a bookcase in his apartment, usually behind a bottle of tequila. When Scotty had been unable to pay the rent on his apartment, the book had travelled with him: in his locker at San Estephe, in his car, even when he was sleeping on Kevin’s floor. Throughout all that, Scotty had been determined that he would read the book, and now was his opportunity to start.
With his glasses resting on his nose, Scotty stretched his legs along the length of the sofa. It felt good to have some time to relax and put his feet up. The children were safely in their rooms and he could enjoy some time alone.
Scotty became absorbed by the book, automatically turning the pages, devouring it as quickly as he could. Scotty was so engrossed that he did not notice it getting dark outside as night set in.
The ringing of the phone startled him from his literary escape. He reached quickly for the handset as he heard Daniel start to stir and grizzle through the baby monitor.
“Hello,” he said as he went to check on Daniel, “speaking.” He saw Daniel was still asleep but starting to wake up. He hit the musical mobile, which seemed to distract and calm the little boy and stepped just outside the door so he could hear the caller. “What? No, there must be some mistake...” Scotty was on the move again. He knocked on the door to Olivia’s room. “Olivia?” he called, “Olivia!” he returned his attention to the phone: “can you hold on?” He opened the door to find the room empty. Scotty walked inside and looked all around him, as if Olivia might have been hiding behind the door. He still could not see her. He sat on her bed in a shocked daze, completely forgetting the telephone pressed against his ear.
“He was pulled from his stupor by the person on the other end of the phone. “Okay, thank you,” he said, his voice strained with panic. “We’ll be right there. Has she said anything? Okay. Thank you.” Scotty put the phone down on the bed and leaned forward. He dug the heel of his hand into his eyes as he tried to pull himself together.
Scotty could feel a tremor in his hands and a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. He forced himself to his feet, struggling a little to co-ordinate his legs, which were like jelly. He grabbed his cell phone from his pocket and called Kevin as he pulled on his jacket.
“Hey,” Kevin said cheerfully as he stepped away from the group, “how’s everything going?”
“Kev, you need to come...I’m sorry, you’re out. I’m ruining your evening.” Kevin heard Scotty sigh.
“What’s wrong?” Kevin was concerned.
“Olivia’s run away,” Scotty blurted out bluntly.
“Have you...” Scotty could hear the fear and panic in Kevin’s voice and somehow forced himself to take control of the situation as he checked on Daniel, grabbed his keys from the fruit bowl in the kitchen and left the apartment.
“She’s safe. She’s gone back to the group home.”
“What? Why?”
“I don’t know,”
“Is she hurt?”
“Kevin, I don’t know!”
“You’re heading over there?” Scotty was running down the stairs to the restaurant.
“Right now. I’ve just got to get Saul to sit with Daniel.”
“I’ll meet you there. Drive safely.” They ended the call.
“Scotty,” beamed Saul as he saw Scotty in the dining room.
“Saul, thank goodness,” he puffed, a little breathless, “can you watch Daniel for me?”
“Is everything all right?”
“Olivia’s run away...well, back. Olivia’s gone to the group home.”
“Why?”
“I don’t...”
“Go. We’ll talk later,” Saul put his hand on Scotty’s arm. Scotty gave a thin smile and nodded before flying from the restaurant.
X X X
Kevin had driven back with Olivia, while Scotty had driven back home alone. He arrived a few minutes after Kevin, but couldn’t face going in. He sent a text to Kevin: ‘Need fresh air. Home soon. X’
He parked his car at the back of the restaurant and sat in it a moment, resting his head against the steering wheel. After a few minutes, Scotty got out of the car and began to pace accompanied by the clatter of pots and pans that came from the kitchen. He rested his hands on his head and forced himself to breathe. It had started to rain, but he didn’t mind; he didn’t notice.
There were so many emotions that Scotty was experiencing: relief at having Olivia safely back home, he was furious with her for running away in the first place and he was worried sick about what might have happened to her in the time she was missing and whether she would run away again.
Scotty turned and looked at the kitchen. He could hear the muffled shout of orders and smell the aromas of cooked stews and exotic broths. The yellow light that came through the doors seemed incredibly synthetic and jus the thought of the heat inside made Scotty feel like he was suffocating. Leaning forward, bent in two, he rested his hands on his knees. Scotty felt a warm hand on his back. The touch felt electric against his damp t-shirt.
“I wouldn’t call this very fresh,” Kevin surveyed the bins around the yard. “How are you doing?”
“I’m not.” Scotty pulled himself upright.
“I knew you’d be out here.” Scotty shot him a quizzical look. “I saw your car through Olivia’s bedroom window,” Kevin admitted a little sheepishly.
“How is she?”
“She’s fine. Saul’s with her and Daniel. She was a little upset by your spectacular display of fireworks, but I explained that was because you were so worried.”
“Has she said anything?”
“She’s assure med categorically that nothing happened to her while she was gone.”
“Thank goodness,” Scotty’s relief was palpable.
“You know,” Kevin broached gently, “you can’t just run away and hide. For better or worse we’re Olivia’s parents. We’re the grown-ups and it’s our job to make it work.”
“I know, but...” Scotty broke off.
“What?” Scotty refused to meet Kevin’s eyes. “Scotty, what?”
“It’s my fault,” Scotty abruptly sat on the wet steps. It was almost like the bones in his legs had vanished.
“It’s not.”
“Kevin, I was supposed to be looking after her.” Scotty closed his eyes. “I’m not fit to be a parent. If I’d gone in to check on her...”
“I think,” Kevin said carefully, “that on that front, we might both be in a lot of trouble.” Scotty blinked in confusion. “She was gone before I even left.” Scotty put a hand to his mouth as he gasped. “She spotted her chance when I was in the shower and you were getting Daniel ready for bed.”
“That’s hours. Where’s she been all this time?” Scotty was starting to whittle again; Kevin crouched down behind him and wrapped his arms around Scotty.
“I don’t think we appreciate how long you have to wait for buses around here. She spent quite a lot of time sitting at the bus station waiting for her connection.”
“Anything could have happened...”
“It could,” Kevin agreed simply. “But it turns out Olivia is smarter than we are. Wherever she went she made sure it was well-lit, stayed in the sightline of CCTV cameras; she’s very self-sufficient.” His final comment was sardonic.
“That worries me even more,” groaned Scotty. Kevin nodded his agreement.
“She’s promised that next time she feels like that, she’ll talk to us, but I think we need to learn from what happened tonight.” Kevin paused, “I’m putting a deadbolt on her door first thing tomorrow morning.” Scotty smiled at Kevin’s humour.
They stayed out there together in silence a few moments more.
“Are you going to come in? I’m starting to get wet and you’re already soaked through.” Kevin held out his hand to pull Scotty to his feet.
“I just need a minute,”
“Take it inside,” Kevin all but ordered. “I’m going back upstairs; come in, dry off, warm up and then go and say goodnight to Olivia.” Scotty smiled; he liked it when his husband took control.
“Since when did you get so smart about stuff, Kevin Walker?” Kevin shrugged nonchalantly and went inside.
Scotty stood there a few moments longer. He looked up at the dark sky and saw the stars. He said a silent prayer for the safe return of his daughter and for the strength to learn and move on, then he turned around and went through the kitchen door and up to the apartment and his waiting family.
THE END
Author: Littlestjobo
Rating: Should be fine for anyone!
Spoilers: Season 5, episode 22 ‘For Better or For Worse’
Summary: Companion piece for the episode - the bits you didn’t see! As it was written based on a somewhat hazy memory, the dialogue from Kevin’s perspective differs from that in the series; hopefully that shouldn’t cause any/much confusion or contradict.
Disclaimer: The characters aren’t mine, the premise is one that’s adapted from the show, ergo they are the property of everyone associated with Brothers and Sisters and not mine but please don’t get grumpy, it’s just for fun.
“Are you sure you don’t mind me going tonight?” Kevin Walker asked as he pulled on his jacket, checked the pockets for his car keys, and took a final quick glance in the mirror.
“It’s fine,” Scotty Wandell answered from the kitchen. “Go out and enjoy yourself. Besides, Sarah will kill you if anything happens to Luc and I think Justin has his hands full already!”
“Surely that’s more reason not to go,” Kevin muttered. Scotty came through with a mug of hot coffee and a small bowl of nuts and pretzels. The coffee smelled strong and bitter, tinged with a delicate saltiness from the snacks. He placed them on the coffee table, careful not to spill the contents.
“You’ve had so much on lately you deserve a break. We’ll be fine here. Daniel’s asleep and Olivia’s sulking so I doubt I’ll hear a peep from her. Saul’s got everything covered in the restaurant and that sofa’s got my name on it.”
“Are you sure?”
“Go,” Scotty kissed his husband’s forehead, turned him round and pointed him towards the door. “Go,” he said again softly in Kevin’s ear and gave him a gentle shove.
“If you need me, for anything...”
“I know. But I won’t.”
“Bye Olivia,” Kevin called. There was no response and Kevin raised his eyebrows. “Okay. I love you,”
“Love you too,” Kevin gave Scotty a quick kiss on the cheek and left the apartment.
After Kevin had gone, Scotty went into their room to check on Daniel. He was still asleep in his cot and looked very contented. Scotty smiled and pulled the blanket up a little further over his baby son’s shoulders. He walked back through to Olivia’s door. He listened, but there was no sound from inside. Scotty raised his hand to knock but decided she must be asleep after her outburst and he didn’t want to disturb her and wasn’t sure how he would deal with her alone if she attempted a repeat performance.
Scotty turned back into the sitting room and made his way over to the sofa. He leaned back into the soft cushions. The quiet in the apartment was lovely. With one hand Scotty picked up his mug while the other snagged the remote for the music system. He pointed the remote and selected some soft music to play in the background; it was an album Jonathan had recommended. The artist, Maksim, played a variety of piano pieces, each with a modern twist in the bass. With the volume turned down, Scotty clutched his mug in both hands and settled back on the sofa. He closed his eyes as he drank, letting the music wash over him.
When his coffee was drunk, Scotty took the mug into the kitchen, filled it with water and left it in the sink to soak. Heading back into the living room, he went to the work station and rummaged under all the loose sheets of paper for his glasses. His search was rewarded as he found the small black plastic case under a page of Olivia’s social studies project on the Constitution. The glasses inside were dirty and dusty, festering from a lack of use. The anti-static cloth for cleaning them had been lost long ago, long before he’d last worn them, so Scotty grabbed one of the baby wipes from Daniel’s changing bag and a tissue from the box on the coffee table. With his glasses cleaned, Scotty picked up a scruffy paperback from the bookshelf.
The dog-eared copy of ‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin’ was a book Scotty had picked up in a bookstore on a whim. Ever since that fateful day, Scotty had promised himself that one day he would actually get round to reading it. The pages were yellow and the corners bent, although Scotty felt its condition reflected the book’s journey with him. He had bought the book no long after he moved to California, long before he met Kevin. All through Scotty’s many careers, including that fateful job that took him to Kevin’s office as a key witness to a corporate fraud, the book had sat on a bookcase in his apartment, usually behind a bottle of tequila. When Scotty had been unable to pay the rent on his apartment, the book had travelled with him: in his locker at San Estephe, in his car, even when he was sleeping on Kevin’s floor. Throughout all that, Scotty had been determined that he would read the book, and now was his opportunity to start.
With his glasses resting on his nose, Scotty stretched his legs along the length of the sofa. It felt good to have some time to relax and put his feet up. The children were safely in their rooms and he could enjoy some time alone.
Scotty became absorbed by the book, automatically turning the pages, devouring it as quickly as he could. Scotty was so engrossed that he did not notice it getting dark outside as night set in.
The ringing of the phone startled him from his literary escape. He reached quickly for the handset as he heard Daniel start to stir and grizzle through the baby monitor.
“Hello,” he said as he went to check on Daniel, “speaking.” He saw Daniel was still asleep but starting to wake up. He hit the musical mobile, which seemed to distract and calm the little boy and stepped just outside the door so he could hear the caller. “What? No, there must be some mistake...” Scotty was on the move again. He knocked on the door to Olivia’s room. “Olivia?” he called, “Olivia!” he returned his attention to the phone: “can you hold on?” He opened the door to find the room empty. Scotty walked inside and looked all around him, as if Olivia might have been hiding behind the door. He still could not see her. He sat on her bed in a shocked daze, completely forgetting the telephone pressed against his ear.
“He was pulled from his stupor by the person on the other end of the phone. “Okay, thank you,” he said, his voice strained with panic. “We’ll be right there. Has she said anything? Okay. Thank you.” Scotty put the phone down on the bed and leaned forward. He dug the heel of his hand into his eyes as he tried to pull himself together.
Scotty could feel a tremor in his hands and a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. He forced himself to his feet, struggling a little to co-ordinate his legs, which were like jelly. He grabbed his cell phone from his pocket and called Kevin as he pulled on his jacket.
“Hey,” Kevin said cheerfully as he stepped away from the group, “how’s everything going?”
“Kev, you need to come...I’m sorry, you’re out. I’m ruining your evening.” Kevin heard Scotty sigh.
“What’s wrong?” Kevin was concerned.
“Olivia’s run away,” Scotty blurted out bluntly.
“Have you...” Scotty could hear the fear and panic in Kevin’s voice and somehow forced himself to take control of the situation as he checked on Daniel, grabbed his keys from the fruit bowl in the kitchen and left the apartment.
“She’s safe. She’s gone back to the group home.”
“What? Why?”
“I don’t know,”
“Is she hurt?”
“Kevin, I don’t know!”
“You’re heading over there?” Scotty was running down the stairs to the restaurant.
“Right now. I’ve just got to get Saul to sit with Daniel.”
“I’ll meet you there. Drive safely.” They ended the call.
“Scotty,” beamed Saul as he saw Scotty in the dining room.
“Saul, thank goodness,” he puffed, a little breathless, “can you watch Daniel for me?”
“Is everything all right?”
“Olivia’s run away...well, back. Olivia’s gone to the group home.”
“Why?”
“I don’t...”
“Go. We’ll talk later,” Saul put his hand on Scotty’s arm. Scotty gave a thin smile and nodded before flying from the restaurant.
X X X
Kevin had driven back with Olivia, while Scotty had driven back home alone. He arrived a few minutes after Kevin, but couldn’t face going in. He sent a text to Kevin: ‘Need fresh air. Home soon. X’
He parked his car at the back of the restaurant and sat in it a moment, resting his head against the steering wheel. After a few minutes, Scotty got out of the car and began to pace accompanied by the clatter of pots and pans that came from the kitchen. He rested his hands on his head and forced himself to breathe. It had started to rain, but he didn’t mind; he didn’t notice.
There were so many emotions that Scotty was experiencing: relief at having Olivia safely back home, he was furious with her for running away in the first place and he was worried sick about what might have happened to her in the time she was missing and whether she would run away again.
Scotty turned and looked at the kitchen. He could hear the muffled shout of orders and smell the aromas of cooked stews and exotic broths. The yellow light that came through the doors seemed incredibly synthetic and jus the thought of the heat inside made Scotty feel like he was suffocating. Leaning forward, bent in two, he rested his hands on his knees. Scotty felt a warm hand on his back. The touch felt electric against his damp t-shirt.
“I wouldn’t call this very fresh,” Kevin surveyed the bins around the yard. “How are you doing?”
“I’m not.” Scotty pulled himself upright.
“I knew you’d be out here.” Scotty shot him a quizzical look. “I saw your car through Olivia’s bedroom window,” Kevin admitted a little sheepishly.
“How is she?”
“She’s fine. Saul’s with her and Daniel. She was a little upset by your spectacular display of fireworks, but I explained that was because you were so worried.”
“Has she said anything?”
“She’s assure med categorically that nothing happened to her while she was gone.”
“Thank goodness,” Scotty’s relief was palpable.
“You know,” Kevin broached gently, “you can’t just run away and hide. For better or worse we’re Olivia’s parents. We’re the grown-ups and it’s our job to make it work.”
“I know, but...” Scotty broke off.
“What?” Scotty refused to meet Kevin’s eyes. “Scotty, what?”
“It’s my fault,” Scotty abruptly sat on the wet steps. It was almost like the bones in his legs had vanished.
“It’s not.”
“Kevin, I was supposed to be looking after her.” Scotty closed his eyes. “I’m not fit to be a parent. If I’d gone in to check on her...”
“I think,” Kevin said carefully, “that on that front, we might both be in a lot of trouble.” Scotty blinked in confusion. “She was gone before I even left.” Scotty put a hand to his mouth as he gasped. “She spotted her chance when I was in the shower and you were getting Daniel ready for bed.”
“That’s hours. Where’s she been all this time?” Scotty was starting to whittle again; Kevin crouched down behind him and wrapped his arms around Scotty.
“I don’t think we appreciate how long you have to wait for buses around here. She spent quite a lot of time sitting at the bus station waiting for her connection.”
“Anything could have happened...”
“It could,” Kevin agreed simply. “But it turns out Olivia is smarter than we are. Wherever she went she made sure it was well-lit, stayed in the sightline of CCTV cameras; she’s very self-sufficient.” His final comment was sardonic.
“That worries me even more,” groaned Scotty. Kevin nodded his agreement.
“She’s promised that next time she feels like that, she’ll talk to us, but I think we need to learn from what happened tonight.” Kevin paused, “I’m putting a deadbolt on her door first thing tomorrow morning.” Scotty smiled at Kevin’s humour.
They stayed out there together in silence a few moments more.
“Are you going to come in? I’m starting to get wet and you’re already soaked through.” Kevin held out his hand to pull Scotty to his feet.
“I just need a minute,”
“Take it inside,” Kevin all but ordered. “I’m going back upstairs; come in, dry off, warm up and then go and say goodnight to Olivia.” Scotty smiled; he liked it when his husband took control.
“Since when did you get so smart about stuff, Kevin Walker?” Kevin shrugged nonchalantly and went inside.
Scotty stood there a few moments longer. He looked up at the dark sky and saw the stars. He said a silent prayer for the safe return of his daughter and for the strength to learn and move on, then he turned around and went through the kitchen door and up to the apartment and his waiting family.
THE END