MC: Pres: Book Four (16 page)

She takes Ben and Steve out to the garage and screams at them for being crazy fuckers.  I try not to laugh.  Doc laughs for me.  When she comes in she tells Ben to get sheets and blankets to make a bed on the couch.  She calls Jess and tells her what Steve did then hands him the phone.  He gives Ben a look, hands Kate the phone, tells me he'll see me tomorrow and leaves.  Doc throws chin and hugs Kate telling her, "good job." 

Ben comes down with the sheets and blanket in his bed pants.  I almost laugh when she says he can sleep in the bed.  She's staying on the couch by me.  He takes down fuckin gangs and the Outlaws but looks like a kicked puppy when she growls at him.  He throws chin and climbs the stairs slow.  I bet he's waiting for her to call him back down.  She doesn't.  I smile at her.  She cracks up.  "Did he really have Ben duct taped to the pole?"  I nod.  "You cut him away?"  I nod.  She moves and leans her face to me, she kisses my lips soft.  "Thank you."  She has tears in her eyes.  I nod.  If she cries I'm going to beat the fuck out of Ben.  She walks into the kitchen and comes back with water.  Putting it where I can reach it she makes a bed on the couch.  When she moves close to me I pull her down to my lap.  "I love you."  She whispers.

"I know you do baby.  I love you."  I pull her head to my chest and fall asleep.  When I open my eyes we're covered with the blanket and Ben is asleep on the couch.  It fuckin hurts but I smile and close my eyes.

Danny

Tiny wakes us up carrying Devan into the living room.  He's dressed and I hear the kids in the kitchen.  Kate moves.  She kisses my chest and smiles.  My Beautiful K.  Opening her eyes she smiles at Devan.  Tiny sits him on Kate.  He puts his head on my shoulder. 

"He missed you."  Tiny says.  I nod.  "Taking the kids to school.  Ben can take Devan to Millie's.  No one knows what happened.  We're keeping it that way until Rich and Patches leave. 

"Thanks."  I say without moving my jaw.  He gives Ben a look and walks out.  Kate moves to kiss my lips then slowly untangles the blanket to get up.  Ben helps her so she doesn't move Devan.  She gives him a look and walks away.  Fuck he's in trouble, not even a peck on the lips.  Devan sits up and touches my bandage.

"Booboos."  He kisses my bandage.  I hug him. 

"Yeah."

Ben goes up the stairs.  Devan lays back against me talking away.  I make sounds letting him know I'm listening.  When Ben comes back Devan lifts his arms for him.  "Da Ben bu byes."  He gives me his wave.  I hold my face and smile at Ben.  He's fuckin shocked, he looks at me.  "I didn't tell him that Danny." 

"You have a problem with it?" I ask him without opening my jaw too wide.

"No, but fuck I didn't tell him to say it."  He's fuckin nervous. 

I smile while he takes Devan.  "To him that's who you are.  Don't take it away from him.  It's his normal."  Fuck it hurts to talk; I put my hand on my face watching him. 

Devan waves to me.  "Bu byes dada." 

"Have fun today big boy."  I tell him waving back.  Ben throws chin and takes him to Millie's. 

Kate blows her nose from the doorway.  "You are an incredible man.  I love you my sexy pirate.  Maybe I can find a way to show you that doesn't require you moving later."

"Fuck!  Not nice to say then leave."  I smile with my hand on my face.

"I have a meeting and training then I'm home.  I'll see you at lunchtime.  I'll get you some soup from Sam."  She leans down to kiss my lips.  "Freakin Ben and Steve.  I've been missing my kisses."  I moan.  Fuckin Kate.  "Ben is here until I get back."  I nod.  She kisses me again and leaves. 

I let out a breath and stand up.  I take a minute to roll through the dizziness then walk to the bathroom.  Fuck, I need to piss.  I wash my hands and the part of my face not covered in bandage.  I'm fuckin starving.  I haven't eaten since breakfast yesterday.  I look for coffee.  Fuck, none left.  Tiny comes in with two cups.  Fuckin love the Brotherhood.  I hold my face and smile.  "Thanks Brother."  He nods and sits at the table. 

"Doc's coming to check you."  He says taking a sip.  I roll my eye.  "You know that doesn't really work when you have only one eye.  Looks like you’re trying to follow a fly or something." 

I bend and hold my fuckin face with two hands.  Fuckin Tiny.  "What the fuck!"  Steve yells. 

"Was just telling him he shouldn't roll his eye cause it looks like he's trying to follow a fly.”  Tiny says making it worse.  I fuckin moan. 

"Noticed that too."  Steve says.  Fuckin Brothers.  "Couple times even had me lookin."  I'm going to fuckin die at my kitchen table.  "Always fuckin laughin.  Think anyone ever died from laughin?"  They're talking like it’s the fuckin weather. 

"What the fuck are you doing?"  Ben yells.  Fuck no, I can't take anymore. 

"Was talking about rollin the eye.  Lookin like he's following flies.  He ain't been up since I got here.  Asked if people died from laughin.  Call Doc Tiny, he'd know."  I can't fuckin breathe.  I moan again.  Fuckin Brothers. 

"What the fuck is wrong with you.  Get out!  Kate is going to fuckin kill me if you kill him from laughing.  She already said she'll cut off my balls if he gets hurt again!  You never seen her fuckin pissed.  She fuckin means it!"  Ben yells at them.  I can't fuckin smile without pain and I got the live version of the three fuckin stooges at my kitchen table.

"You can't kick us out it’s his house.  He dies its Kate's, she wants to cut off your balls. 
You
should get the fuck out!"  Tiny yells at Ben.

Steve grunts, "He's right.  Stay at the Club till she's not pissed.  Stayed there last night.  Jess wants mine too.  Ain't takin fuckin chances.  She's pissed I was goin to blow you up and I hurt her brother." 

I try to get up and sit right the fuck back down, I'm too fuckin dizzy.  Holy fuck my head is going to explode and I can't fuckin breathe.  I'm going to fuckin die right here.

"She should be pissed you can't just go around blowing fuckin people up and I'm not buying anymore C4!  You're not fuckin responsible with it!" 

"OUT!"  Doc yells.  "Fuckin Brothers!  Don't open your fuckin mouths and get the fuck out!"  I hear them moving.  Doc kneels on the floor in front of me.  "Stupid fucks and I only heard part of it."  He pushes me back to sitting up straight.  "Bent over puts pressure.  Just sit for a minute.  He moves away.  My hands are still holding my face and I'm pulling in breath like I ran a fuckin marathon.  Holy fuck!  He puts water in front of me.  "Catch your breath first then drink."  He puts a pill by the water.  "I don't know how fuckin long they were doing the standup routine but you need to rest the fuckin muscles Danny.  The biggest concern yesterday was a piece of the plate getting lodged in your fuckin brain.  The fuckin impact of the blast could have killed you."  He takes a breath.  "You have to watch the pressure right now.  You're swollen.  It needs time to heal before the next stunt that the fuckin Ringling clown crew pull you into.  How come I didn't know that you had the plate adjusted last month?"

"Didn't want Kate to know.  Was from the last billboard blowing up.  Ben wasn't taped to that one though."  I take the pill and drink.  Water runs down my chin.  Fuck.  I wipe it with my arm. 

"He fuckin taped him?"

"Yeah duct tape.  Was in there good.  Had to cut forever to get him out." I put my head back and breathe.

"Fuckin crazy ass Brother.  I'd send him for a psych eval if I thought it would reign him in.  No one cares that he's fuckin dangerous." 

"Needs to be dangerous to do his job.  Government trained him
with
the psych eval.  They used it to make him the best."  I look at him.  My vision is clear now.  Thank fuck.

I reach for my coffee and take a sip.  Fuckin Dunkin knows coffee.  I drink half the cup before I look at him again.  "Came in here to make coffee and find something to eat when they showed one by one.  Thought I was going to die right here at the table.  Thanks Doc."

He watches me then nods.  "You ready for me to check the incision?"

"Yeah."  He gets to checking and the pain is lifting.  My day is looking up.

Three Weeks

Ben

Me and Steve get to the Bakery to find Patches beating the fuck out of the Prospect.  We stand back and watch.  He keeps the guy standing with his punches.  He could have been a fuckin pro but doesn't like fighting.  I don't think anyone has ever got a shot in on him.  Steve smiles, "fuckin good hit."  The guys face looks like hamburger.  "Had enough Patches?"  Steve asks him.  Patches hits him hard and he folds.  "Was a good one too."  Steve slaps his back and grabs the guys arm dragging him to the bay door.  He pushes the door open and drops the guy.  Security is there dragging him into a van.  Steve comes back in.  I watch him.  Nothing fazes him.  Patches washes his hands and blots them with paper towels.  He goes into Jess' office.  Steve looks around and calls for a Prospect to come clean up the Bakery.  Tiny sends Derrick; he's at Transport across the lot.  Rich comes in.  "Patches got to him.  Nothin for us."  Steve tells him. 

I'm starting to wonder if he's getting desensitized by all the fuckin violence lately.  The drug wars were brutal but staying fuckin clean is a fuckin full time job for our fuckin army.  Rich goes to see Tess.  I let Peg know what happened and that Derrick is coming to clean up then I tell Tess what's happening.  She's so fuckin cute.  She's excited about Jess giving her a job.  I hug her and she leaves with Patches. 

Kate calls me as I'm walking out the side lot door.  I roll my eyes.  "He's not over here."  I tell her. 

"Ok.  We have the planning dinner tonight."  I can hear her smile. 

"Saw it on my schedule today.  I'll be there baby."  I look around to make sure Danny isn't anywhere around.  "I have to go Kate.  Danny's picking you up with the kids.  I'll meet you there."   She tells me she loves me and lets me go.  I call Danny.  "Stay away from the Bakery for at least an hour." 

"I was just thinking that I need coffee and a piece of meat pie."  He says.  I can hear him smiling.

"Fuck Brother she's finally not pissed at me."  I run my hand through my hair.

"I like the big bed.  When you're not in it I can stretch out." 

"Fuckin sadistical bastard.  I already spent a week on the couch.  I hate the fuckin couch."  I look around and see his fuckin truck at transport.  "Don't even think about coming over here.  I'll have Steve drag you're fuckin ass right out." 

He fuckin laughs.  "Come to Transport.  I got you a grinder from the Sub Shop.  Peg is keeping me updated." 

I walk over deep breathing to calm the fuck down.  He's in Tiny's office.  I sit and open my grinder.  He got my regular.  He always knows this shit.  "How do you know my regular order but not what size Kate is or what she puts on her face?  You see it every day."

He looks at Tiny and laughs.  "It's food Brother.  I know what meal Kate eats at every place we go.  What she wants to drink.  When she'll need my coat so I take one of hers for her.  I know what guys are supposed to know.  Never buy her clothes unless she's with me so I don't need to know her size.  Never buying makeup so I don't care.  I like her without it anyway."

"But you know what I eat too."  I say taking a bite.  I'm glad he does.

"Know Tiny, Patches, Rich, Bob, and Steve's too.  It's food Brother.  Guys stay with the same thing, easy enough to remember."  Fuck he's right. 

"Thanks for staying out of the Bakery.  She called me when she saw trouble.  I just finished telling her you weren't there."  I tell him.  He nods.

"She's still pissed at you?  Fuck that's got to be a record."  Tiny says surprised.

"Doc told her about the first billboard blowing and Danny needing the plate adjusted.  She's pissed at me but not him.  I don't fuckin get it.  He helped Steve run the fuckin wire."  I shake my head.  It wasn't my fault he was too close to that one.

Tiny looks shocked.  "You fuckin ratted him out?" 

Danny laughs.  I give him a look but he ignores it.  "Fuck no!  It wasn't like I dragged his ass there though.  He went on his own.  She blames me for the whole fuckin thing.  She even talked to Steve before she even looked at me.  He's the one that duct taped
me
to the fuckin pole."

"I don't get why you didn't just do one or two.  You fucked with him for fuckin months.  You know how fucked his head is when he gets something in it.  You shoulda stopped after the first or second."  He says.  I fuckin take it.  He's fuckin right.  I just eat my sandwich. 

"You're doc cleared you.  Why's Kate calling checkin on you?"  Tiny asks Danny.

"Why the fuck are you smiling?"  I can't believe he finds this funny.

He laughs.  "She never calls me for a check on you.  Your job is the safe one.  King Ben."  They crack up. 

What the fuck?  "She doesn't call you?  Seriously?" 

"Hasn't called me yet.  Don't know why she calls you."  He's fuckin smiling. 

I stand up.  "What the fuck is up with that?" 

"Where you going?"  Tiny asks as I walk out the fuckin door. 

"To find out why the fuck she calls checking on him.  Like I'm his fuckin keeper."  They rush out the door behind me.  "Fuckin Brothers." 

I go right in her office and sit in the chair opposite her.  "How come you call every time something's going on to check on Danny but you never call him to check on me?" 

She fuckin laughs.  "I never ask you about Danny.  You always tell me he's fine or where he is but I never once asked.  I just keep letting you do it.  What happened this time?"  I think about that.  She's right, holy fuck!  Danny and Tiny are laughing hysterically at the door. 

"Fuckin Brothers.  Prospect put hands on Tess."  She jumps up. "She used her moves on him and Patches took her home after beating the fuck out of him."  She sits down. 

"Why do you keep thinking I'm checking on Danny?  Every freakin time I call you give me an update."

"You always call when shits happening."  Is she for real?

"I don't know why you need to tell me.  He calls me if he needs me to know something."

"You already blame me for the billboard blow ups."  Fuckin Danny and Tiny are still laughing.

"Three freakin weeks ago! Everyone's over it Ben.  You feel guilty so you keep putting it on everyone else." 

"You’re not still pissed?" 

She shakes her head no.  Danny tells us he's out.  I don't even look at him.  He's been fuckin with me.  He knew and didn't tell me.  Fuckin Danny.

"I slept on the couch for a fuckin week."  I run my hands through my hair.

"I thought you felt guilty.  I was just waiting for you to be over it."  She says looking right at me.  I shake my head.  Fuck.  "I'm glad you got over it before me or Danny had to talk to you.  He didn't like that idea."  He fuckin knew?  I get up and kiss her. 

Walking back to transport I'm trying to figure out a way to get him back.  When I walk in they look at me.  "Get it right the fuck out of your head.  You almost got me killed trying to save your sorry ass.  We're not even close to being even."  Danny says. 

I drop my shoulders and sit the fuck down, he's fuckin right.  "You could have told me.  I hate the fuckin couch."

"Wasn't my place.  No one told you to sleep there.  Get fuckin Tracy out of your life and start living the new one Brother."  He finishes his sandwich then stands up.  "See you at Sam's."  He throws chin and leaves.  Fuckin Danny.

"Fuckin Brother."  I mutter.

"He gives you time to fix your fuckups before he steps in.  Fix your fuckin mistakes and he won't be part of your solution."  He smiles.  "Saw it on Dr Phil."

Danny

We finally order dinner.  I'm fuckin starving.  Patches and Ben get their fuckin shit together.  The two of them with fuckin lists and books for every-fuckin-thing.  How the fuck didn't I see it before?  I look at Rich.  Poor bastard.  I see Tess freeze.  She has tears running down her face.  Fuck.  Both Rich and Patches notice.  I go around and squat down by her seat.  Rich pulls her out a little so I can see her face. 

"Get who out?"  Rich says softly.  "Jessie, don't let him come back." 

I put my hand on her arm.  "When Tess?"  I ask. 

"I don't know; don't let him come back for Devan."  She starts crying. 

"Where are they?" 

"In the Diner, they have to go into the back."  She's breathing heavy. 

"Can you see the clock Tess?" 

She looks over the counter.  "It's seven forty, he can't come back in, you have to keep him in the back!"  She's shaking. 

Ben gets the women and kids out.  I take Devan and hand him to Jess who's just inside the door.   The women made a chain handling the kids and sending them back.  Everyone moves.  I take Tess from Patches and she screams bloody murder.  Holy Fuck!  The windows explode.  Patches tackles me and Tess.  My head hits the floor.  Fuckin great.  Patches is fighting to get Tess in the back.  She's a fuckin hellcat fighting him; finally Sam pulls her in the kitchen doors.  I yell to Patches to keep the kids safe.

"Fuckin Prospect."  Steve says. 

"Who's armed?"  Ben asks.  Steve, Tiny, Rob, Rich, Sam and me.  "If you have a shot take it."   

Everyone is moving.  Rich stands up and walks to the front door.  He shoots and doesn't stop until the Prospect falls.  "Clear!"  Everyone fuckin laughs.

Sam starts yelling at him about the doors.  Then man hugs him.  I'm still shaking my head from hitting the floor.  Steve comes over and pulls my patch.  Oh fuck, not another day like that one.  "Don't fuckin laugh!"  He yells making me smile.  He remembers it too.  He has Sam get the first aid kit and fixes me up before Kate sees.  Sam brings a towel so I can wash the blood off my face.  Thank fuck my shirt is black. 

Kate comes out and watches us.  "You think we could move the dead guy so I can get my kids home and into bed?"  We laugh again.  Fuckin Kate.  "With all the bullet holes in him what the heck happened to his face?" 

"Not what, who.  Patches."  Steve tells her.  She nods, talks to Rich and goes back to the kitchen.  My Beautiful K.  Ben gets transport set up to get the women and kids home. 

"I didn't know what you need.  I called three from the crew and ordered a bunch of shit.  It will be right over."  Ben says.  Fuck.  He doesn't know fuck about building or material. 

I ask, "Did you tell them who you were?"  He nods looking confused. 

"They'll take back anything I don't use if you ordered, they know you down there." I tell him everyone laughs. 

"That was just wrong Brother."  He says looking at me like I kicked him. 

"Ben you ordered enough fuckin clay tiles to do six fuckin McMansion roofs.  We don't even use clay tiles." 

He shrugs.  "Would have looked better than the black shit."

"Can't put solar on the fuckin clay Brother.  It's too fuckin heavy and can't hold the snow load." 

"You didn't tell me that." 

I smile.  "Nope I didn't tell you." 

We're moving wood and tools into the Diner when he asks.  "How come you didn't tell me?" 

"Don't need you doing my job for me.  If I give you a little information you'll try to build a fuckin house.  Better off doing my job before you need it and living without the headache of Kate killing me because I let you die in a collapse."  I watch for his reaction.

He thinks about that.  "Good plan."  He says making us all laugh.  Fuckin Ben.  We get the first door done and finally the morgue picks up the Prospect. 

I think it hits Ben right then.  Jessie could have died if Tess didn't warn us.  I put my hand on his shoulder.  He looks at me.  The guys are talking about Tess.  "She did it though.  She's saved Rich, Ally, Brenda, Amanda, Kellan and Jessie.  Her parents were so fuckin wrong.  They missed out on seeing how sweet she is and how happy she makes everyone.  On top of that, she's like a fuckin angel saving people with her visions.  Thank fuck she's ours.  Our family is ok because she's here and has no fuckin embarrassment over her visions despite what her parents did to her.  Thank fuck she's ours." 

Steve smiles. "Jess on money and bakin.  Kate on the Center and takin in strays.   Nancy on clothes and jewelry.  Mary on cakes.  Peg on every-fuckin-thing.  Kelly on salvage and websites.  And Tess, our own angel.  Strong women beatin the odds, makin life good.  Who's next?  Bob, Geek, Rob, Doc, how many more?  This shit keeps up, tellin Jess to buy into ammo companies.  Maybe ask Tess who the fuck is next."  They all laugh.  I laugh because Ben still won't let him get any C4 and Jess made him promise not to touch it again.  Bet he thinks he can get it that way.

Rich leaves and we finish getting the Diner cleaned up.  I have to send the crew to the storage yard with all the fuckin shit Ben ordered.  We get home after twelve.  Kate's sound asleep.