Fire in the Firehouse 13

He put on some of his favorite music, a burned CD and tried to lose himself in the music. He needed to get his mind off things. He began wondering back several years. Where did I go wrong? Did I jump into the relationship with Marie too fast? Was I on the rebound from losing Tori? Maybe it was because I wanted my son to have a Mother. He stopped when a light thought came into his mind, oh, she's a Mother all right. He laughed. He knew laughter and humor to be one of the few things that would get his mind off the stress. 

He thought more. Soon I've got to leave her. Honestly I don't know what the fuck I'm waiting for. She can't get anything out of me. I've no emotional ties left to her. I think since I'm home I should go down next week. Call in to work, say I'm sick and just do it. He had a plan. He couldn't wait to share it with his son.

Meanwhile, at a fork in the road known as "The Y," which the road does just that, takes the shape of the letter "Y," Nick was about to make the turn he needed to get to the casinos. Ironically, the two trucks arrived just at the same time. Colby failed to see his Dad's car right away. As Drake made the turn and they drew closer, something got Colby to read the licensee plate. "FORDSUCK05" He cried out, "Drake, that's Dad! Step on it!" In the meantime he grabbed his cell and called back to the other truck and informed them what was going on. Cole sped up in response. It never occurred to Colby to call his Dad's cell.

Drake got clever and pulled around Nick and honked the horn. Colby yelled out the window, "Dad!" Nick took his eyes off the road long enough to see his son. He waved back, a smile flew across his face seeing his son. 

Nick responded, "I'm going to Harvey's to unwind. Follow me there son." Drake needed no further input from his buddy. He was just as excited to see Nick as his best friend was. It had been far too long. Naturally Colby was quick to call back to Mitch. 

Mitch grew a little nervous knowing he'd be meeting his lover's Dad sooner than expected. He wondered to himself if this meant he'd introduce him properly or wait until another time. He silently hoped for the latter over the former due to the fact he'd just been through so much. He humorously thought, does it ever end?

Cole asked Mitch, "So, that's Colby's Dad. I take it you two've never met. Guessing you're a little nervous, huh?" The other sat silent for a few. Just a few hours ago this very man was about to cost him his lover and now this very man risked his life after the gun shots, not knowing what he'd be walking into.

Mitch replied, "Nope. This will be our first meeting and I'm guessing Colby might introduce me as his lover. Kinda wanted to make a better first impression. You guys are all pretty much cleaned up still. I look like shit." He paused. He undid his seat belt, hoped over the headrest and made his way into the back of his truck. He began explaining, "Luckily I always carry a spare pair of clothes for whatever time of year it is." He also had a water bottle and a rag and wet the rag to wash off as best he could. He cleaned himself up as best he could, even applying some deodorant body-spray.

Cole was laughing, giving him a bad time. "Paranoid, or what? Its only your lover's Dad." Mitch was laughing in response.

"Shut up, Coleslaw." He'd found a funny nickname for the guy and it would stick. "I need to look my best. As it is, I feel like hammered shit." Cole understood where he was coming from. It was fun giving him a hard time.

They soon arrived at Harvey's and found 3 parking spaces next to one another. Colby and Drake flew out of the truck and ran straight to Nick. The other two were soon to follow. They stood there uncertain how to feel or how to react. Colby didn't wait long for the introductions. "Dad, that's Mitch and that's Cole." Nick smiled, nodded, and reached out to shake their hands. All three men did what was common among many men, they evaluated the other based on the handshake. 

Colby piped up, "Let's go inside and go to one of the restaurants. I'm famished." The other four men readily agreed with this idea. They were all in agreeance it sounded good. Colby figured he'd admit to his Dad at the table who he was and what was going on and had been going on as well.

They got inside the casino. Colby suggested one of the cheaper places, but Nick, being a man of good taste opted to go to the "Sage House," the more elegant and nicer establishment inside the casino. He wasn't in the mood for casual dining.

They were seated immediately. There was no line due to the fact it was so late in the evening. They found their way to a nice corner booth with a big table. It was round and it allowed them all the ability and ease of looking at one another face to face. Mitch started growing a bit nervous. Cole saw this and gently gripped his thigh. Not in a sexual manner, but as a way to tell him it was going to be all right.

Colby reintroduced the other two men. Nick, if suspicious showed no signs of it. He went along. Far as anyone could tell, they all seemed to be good friends. Colby felt the need to level with his Dad.

"Dad, I have something to tell you." He paused, looked at his Dad, wondering if the man might have any indication of what might be coming. But Colby knew it to be imperative as he knew Marie had discovered the truth on her own.

Back at Nick's and Marie's posh home, the redheaded bitch was making calls to her men. She was getting no response on either cell phone. She began wondering what this could all be about. "Bastards. If they failed me, I swear...!" She then called the other man, the one that seemed to have more brains. He answered and Marie didn't even give him a chance to speak. "Where the fuck are those two? Why the fuck didn't you accompany them? Those two can barely tie their own shoes without a how-to manual!"

The man finally got a word in edgewise. "Look, lady. Chill the fuck out, OK? I sent my two best men based on the money you paid me. If you wanted more, you needed to come up with more cash." Marie exploded hearing this.

"What the fuck are you talking about? I paid your sorry asses $5,000! How much more fucking cash do you need to get a simple job done?" She paused, waiting to hear what the other had to say.

"Look, lady. I told you at the start, $5,000 would be split between the two and you'll get what you paid for. You opted to be a cheap bitch and not spend the $10,000 I suggested. So now you reap what you sow." Marie's blood was boiling hearing this. She didn't like people telling her such things, especially from people she felt were below her on a social level. Regardless, she paid knowing she might not get what she wanted. The man also told her, "Look, I have my two men to worry about. I can't figure out what's taking so long. But regardless, if you want it done and done right, you can pay the $10,000 and get it done my way." Silence.

Marie was flustered and enraged. She replied, "I'll fucking get back to you later." She had a lot to think about. She was beating herself up knowing she'd now wind up spending $15,000 instead of the $10,000 she could've paid. Was it all worth it? She had a lot to consider.

The angered woman naturally found the need for another drink. She poured one and walked out on the deck. The night air had changed. She noticed in her slightly intoxicated state that there were clouds gathering. She remarked, "Typical fucking weather for here. One fucking extreme to another. In the distance lightning flashed and there were muffled rumblings of thunder. A low pressure system had climbed over the high and was about to bare down on the area. The storm would be met with mixed reactions. In part it would bring temperatures down. On the other hand, it could also be very dangerous if the lightning hit the ground. It'd been so hot and dry that all the brush was just waiting to go up in smoke.

Back at the casino, in the restaurant Colby had been explaining things in detail to his Dad. The other men sort of felt out of place and he realized that and sped up his story. He finally got to a point of no return. "Dad, I've something to tell you." He paused, taking into account the people around. The place was almost deserted, it was perfect. The young man saw the expression on his Dad's face change. He sort of wondered if the man that helped give him life had any reason to suspect what was coming. Mitch even tried to read Nick. Nothing, which was good. He had no previous reservations about what might be coming.