In search of Tucker

[addicted_andrew]

There has never been a movie that put me through the wonderful rollercoaster of emotions that the live video feed from the Initiative base did. Such drama, such humor... oh! Bravo, to all the Scoobies! Amanda and I were very entertained. In the end, as I basked in the afterglow of Warren's genius, I finally had no words to describe what I was

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[bible_beater]

I looked at the little brother, waiting to see what he'd say. Supposin' that he knew more about what in the "holy motherfucking hell" was going on, his answer might be valuable. It'd be good to know what the boy did and didn't keep from Tucker. It was obvious that there was a mutual fondness between them, but there was a level of casual disregard from Tucker to Andrew. Like he knew what he was supposed to do and say and act like, but that he didn't care enough to actually follow through and do it.

Andrew looked queasy for a bit, before giving his brother a semi-encouraging smile and glancing at me.

All right then. I'll answer.

"I ain't gonna touch you, boy," I said, evenly, holding up empty hands to show him that there were no tricks. "I told you yesterday -- that's not my bag. Although, if you call me dirty names again, we might have to resort to fisticuffs. Maybe we ain't friends yet, but there's no need to use words that you can't possibly back up."

Tucker glowered at me. Good lord, what an infant. One can't take the junkie out of the man, but one certainly could take the man out of the junkie.

"As far as what you are doing here, kid -- you got a little out of control last night with the grapa and cooked yourself up a shot. Which I'm pretty sure is against the rules of rehabilitation and contrary to the path of recovery. I found you crumpled and drooling out in the parking lot. You didn't put up much of a fight, so I put you to bed. After your actions at supper, I didn't relish the idea of waking up to an angry junkie who was eager to re-enact any number of trespasses... so I trussed you up for your own protection. And mine."

I shrugged, "And what I wanted with you was akin to a two-bird killing stone -- give you something to do and get some assistance in my impending projects. Wanted, mind you. And that's what I was talking to your brother about. But it ain't like like me to force a man to do somethin' he won't. Breeds disagreeableness. And I'm damned agreeable... so, if you want to hear the pitch, I'll give you the pitch. If you ain't interested, I'll find someone else and you can be free to give your little brother here all the grief he can handle. Which, by the look on his face when I told him what you'd done, isn't likely to be much more. Fine with me, either way."

I lowered my voice and dipped my head to say, "Unless you wanted to call me a few more names? In which case, I'll take you down right now. Not as partners, but as adversaries. I figure I can make it back to the parking lot before the big dog's guards take me out... maybe even to the gate. No shame in dying while protecting my good name."

I went to sit back the wingback chair that I'd just left, taking a sip of water. Looking at Andrew, I winked, "I do go on, don't I?"

[addicted_andrew]

I swallowed hard, listening to what Caleb was saying to Tucker. It was hard... Tucker looked so angry, and I was so scared, and I wasn't sure whether or not I trusted this Caleb guy yet. Tucker obviously wanted me to say something, but I hadn't been there last night and I really didn't know what had happened after I'd gone off to Warren's room.

I hated it when Tucker looked so angry every time I tried to help him. Believe me, if all his drugs weren't going to kill him someday, I'd have left him to them. Why keep him from doing the things that make him happy, so long as he wasn't hurting himself. But... was that selfish of me? I mean, I guess Tucker wanted what he was doing to himself to happen, and because I didn't want him to die, I was trying my best to keep him from doing it. Was I doing the right thing? Or... or did Tucker have the right to kill himself with all his drugs?

My lower lip got a bit quivery, but I tried to hide it. I didn't want Tucker to feel like I was trying to guilt trip him into anything. Besides, that would only make him madder.

"Unless you wanted to call me a few more names? In which case, I'll take you down right now. Not as partners, but as adversaries. I figure I can make it back to the parking lot before the big dog's guards take me out... maybe even to the gate. No shame in dying while protecting my good name."

My eyes opened wide at this threat. Hurt him? Hurt Tucker? He couldn't do that! I mean, sure, Tucker could be really mean sometimes and say some pretty nasty things to me, but that's just the way Tucker was. He was still my brother and I knew, even if he denied it at times, that he still loved me as such. Just because he called me a fucking faggot sometimes didn't mean that he hated me.

So I never even considered hurting Tucker, and I wasn't about to let this Caleb guy hurt him either.

"I do go on, don't I?"

I stood up, taking a few steps closer to Tucker.

"Y-yes, it seems you do... but, uh, I should let you know now that there's no way I can let you hurt Tucker. I-I know we want to help him and all, but I don't think hurting him will help any."

Caleb was big and pretty scary, but I tried my best to give him an intimidating glare as I stood between he and Tucker.