Haven’t we been here before?
AJ sat on the toilet as he watched his little brother remove the pipe from underneath the sink, if it was one thing that Nick was good at, it was this stuff. Ever since he was a child, he had a knack for fixing things around the house. He just had the brain to know how things were supposed to work and figure out how to make things better.
“How did you even manage to do this?” The younger one’s voice echoed from under the sink.
“I just did, okay?”
“You must really have skills because that took a special kind of talent getting it to go down the drain. I mean there is barely any room for the thing in here.”
“Does that mean that you found it?” AJ asked eagerly.
Nick emerged from the depths of the sink holding out the ring, covered with sludge but still AJ grabbed it and held it against his chest. “Yes! Nick my boy, you are the greatest!”
“I know, and I hope that you at least wash that before you give it to her.”
Nick disappeared back under the sink to finish his job while AJ ran into the kitchen and washed off the ring. By the time the fireman entered the bathroom, Nick was washing his own hands and face that were now all black.
“I owe you big time for doing that kiddo.”
“Yes, you do.”
“A good brother would have said ‘no it’s okay AJ… being the supportive older brother you are, is enough of a reward.’”
“Well than doesn’t it suck for you that I’m not a good brother?”
“Yes it does indeed suck for me Nicky pooh!”
Nick rolled his eyes as he walked past his brother and headed for the couch, plopping down and picking up the remote as if he owned the place. “Make yourself comfortable why don’t you?” AJ said, sitting down right next to his baby brother and grabbing the remote out of his hands.
“Hey!”
“I’m not watching the Power Rangers.”
“What? Like I watch the Power Rangers, give me a break.”
“I don’t know, what do kids watch these days?”
“AJ, when are you going to get it through your thick skull that I’m not a kid anymore?”
“Oh in about 5 years when you actually aren’t.”
“Shut up dildo!”
“Hey! Watch the mouth…”
“Pfft!”
“Don’t pffft! At me. You would never pffft! At Kevin.”
“Oh please, I pfft! At Kevin all the time.”
“Yeah but behind his back.”
“So what? It still counts as pffting.”
The phone rang just as AJ was about to grab his brother into a headlock. “You are lucky you were saved by the phone.”
He stood up and said a ‘hello’ as Nick once again took control of the television purposely landing on a channel that was showing the Power Rangers. He knew his brother would get a kick out of it but when AJ got off the phone he looked very far from ready to laugh.
“What’s wrong AJ?” Nick put his feet on the floor as a small sense of panic started creeping into his bones.
“We have to go to the hospital, there’s been an accident.”
“What?”
“Come on…” AJ seemed so distracted that Nick almost started hyperventilating.
“AJ what happened? Oh my God tell me please!”
“It’s Brian buddy, he’ll be okay but…”
“NO!” Immediately Nick started balling and shaking. “This can’t happen again!”
AJ looked over to his brother and tried to put a consoling hand on his shoulder but Nick would have no part of it. “Come on…let’s go.” He opened the door and hoped that the teenager would follow him out. He had no time to deal with this now; he had to get to the hospital. Luckily the youngest managed to get his feet to move although with every step flashbacks of coming home from the hospital after his mother’s death rang in his head. He couldn’t do that again.
“Nicky…come on baby. We really need to go. I’m sure he’s going to be fine.” AJ smiled at the baby of the family and that finally got him moving as they took that long drive to the hospital.
When Kevin arrived he was met with Howie sitting out in the chairs waiting. He looked shaken up but other than that fine. “How is he?” He asked frantically looking around for a doctor or nurse he could speak with.
“The doctor said he will be just fine. The bullet nicked him and luckily didn’t penetrate anything.”
Kevin let out a breath he had been holding since Ariana told him about his brother, “Thank God…where is my dad?”
“He’s in there with Brian.”
Kevin shook his head, “Okay good…What happened D?”
“They wrestled for the gun and it went off. I was on the other side of the fence; I couldn’t get to him in time. I’m sorry Kev. By the time I noticed he was going to charge at her it was too late. It all happened so fast.”
“It’s not your fault Howie; he should have never climbed that gate by himself. What about the girl who you were chasing?”
“She’s in custody back at the office.”
Kevin senior walked out of Brian’s room, holding his jacket over his arm, “He’s going to be okay.” The father said to the agents as he smiled, “Thank God he’s going to be just fine. In fact, he’s coming home today.”
“I want to see him.” Kevin said walking towards the door.
“Okay, but not too long, he’s really tired.”
Kevin nodded and opened the door to his brother’s room. He couldn’t help but feel that all too familiar feeling of dread that walking into a hospital room brought to him. It seemed like everyone Kevin has ever loved ended up being brought here for something relating to his job. Brian’s eyes were closed and his arm in a sling, but other than that he looked good and Kevin couldn’t help but smile.
When he heard the door close, Brian opened his eyes and glanced over at his big brother, “Hey…”
Kevin grabbed a chair right beside his kid brother and grabbed his good hand in his own. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, it missed me I guess.”
“Thank God.”
“Exactly what I was thinking.” Brian said through a smile as he shifted in his bed to get more comfortable.
“What were you thinking anyway? Jumping a fence by yourself in pursuit of an armed person?”
“She was getting away.”
“So, then she gets away, what you don’t do it chase after her by yourself! And then you charged at her, are you insane?”
“I thought she was distracted so I went for it.”
“That was a bad call Brian, you made a lot of bad calls and you’re lucky you didn’t end up getting yourself killed.”
“I’m not really in the mood for a lecture Kev, so if you don’t mind…I’d like to get some sleep.”
“I’m sorry...it’s just that…God Brian, I hated hearing that you were hurt. You have to be more careful! This isn’t a game.”
“Are you serious? Do you think I am under the impression that this is a big game?”
“No…”
“We were taught at the academy to go with your instincts in situations like this and that’s what I did Kev. Howie was behind me, this girl was within my grasp, so I went for it. We didn’t know she had a gun. You would have done the exact same thing.”
Kevin nodded hesitantly, “Yeah, you’re right. But I also would have gotten the same lecture that I’m giving you.”
That made the injured agent smile, “Fine, then we’re even I guess.”
Howie entered the room and smiled at the brothers, “How are you feeling Brian? You know you gave me quite a scare.”
“I’m sorry about that D. I know it was dumb of me to charge at her, I’m glad she wasn’t hurt. Do you know if she talked to anyone yet?”
“No, she’s not saying anything.”
“She will to me, I’ll get her to talk.” Kevin said with a level of certainty in his voice. “Where’s my father?” he added as he got up, readying himself to go back to the office and confront the girl who put his brother in the hospital.
“Outside with AJ and Nicky…your little brother is not doing well.”
Brian and Kevin looked at each other and nodded, “I bet…” Kevin said as he walked out the door. “I’m going to go talk to him. I’m sure dad is not helping the situation any.”
Brian nodded as his big brother left the room and sure enough, like he had predicted there sat Nick rocking in the chairs as he was pushing his father away.
“Nick I told you, he’s going to be okay. There’s no reason to act like this…”
Kevin walked over to Nick and squatted down next to him, “Hey buddy…” He said, gently placing his hands on the blonde’s knees.
“Is he okay Kevin?” Nick asked, sounding like a scared little child.
“He’s going to be just fine buddy. In fact, he’s going home today.”
“Really?”
“I just told you that Nickolas…” The words came out of their father’s mouth like venom. That rubbed Kevin the wrong way.
AJ interrupted, “I’m going to go in and see Brian.” He gave Kevin a nod and got a smile in return.
“I don’t want him to die.” Kevin moved to the chair beside his brother and wrapped an arm around him.
“I know that but he’s going to be okay.”
“Not if he keeps working at the FBI. I want you all to quit.” It’s the same argument Kevin had been hearing ever since Nicky was old enough to talk.
“Nick, we can’t just quit because it gets scary sometimes, we do this to protect people.”
“You weren’t able to protect mom.”
Those words hurt, but Kevin tried to brush them off, he knew his brother didn’t blame him for their mom’s death. At least he hoped that was the case. “Nick, mom died of a heart attack.”
“No she didn’t. She died because he came back.” Nick glared at his father before looking back down at the ground.
“Okay you know what? That’s it…I’m joining the force again. Maybe you’ll be lucky and I’ll die. You’d love that wouldn’t you? So this way you can have a little thank God my father is dead party.”
“Dad!” Kevin was very angry now.
“No Kevin, I’m tired of his attitude. He is the most ungrateful child ever!”
Kevin pat his brother’s back and softly uttered, “I’ll be right back, I’m going to go have a word with dad and then we can both go in to see Brian, okay?” Nick nodded as he wiped away a tear.
“A word please.” Kevin said, drawing his father away from the waiting room and down the hall where they could speak in private. “Dad…I know what he said was uncalled for, he is an emotional wreck right now, but you need to be there for him. He needs you.”
“He hates me Kevin! And I’m an emotional wreck as well. I thought my son was going to die.”
“I know you aren’t used to this kind of situation because you conveniently were not a part of our lives when we needed you the most, but sometimes things have to stop being about you and start being about the people you love. He hurt your feelings, so what? He just hurt mine too. The fact of the matter is that boy has been through more hell than most people will ever see in their lifetime and I’m sorry for saying this part but it needs to be said. You are the reason for a lot of that hell! So you need to show that kid compassion now. Lecture him later, get mad and ground him for life if you want but right now he needs love!”
The two Kevins stood silently staring at one another for a few minutes while the elder one was soaking in the words his son had just spoken. It looked like he wanted to argue back at one point, even maybe take a swing at the kid who just laid everything out on the table for him, but instead he just nodded, “You’re right. I’m sorry…I don’t know how your mom dealt with this stuff. I stink at it.”
“You are out of practice but mainly because you don’t want to be IN practice. It’s time for that to change dad. He doesn’t only need a disciplinarian, he needs a father. One that will hug him and tell him everything will be okay, even while he’s rolling his eyes.”
“He does that a lot.”
Kevin laughed, “I know he does.”
“Okay, I’ll go talk to him. I told Brian he’s going to come and stay with us until he’s feeling one hundred percent better so I bet knowing that will make Nick feel a whole lot better anyway.”
“That’s a good idea dad.”
Kevin senior nodded at his son and then moved to turn the corner, “Kevin…you are going to make a fine father someday.”
It was a sweet exchange between the two men. Something that would have never happened prior to his father’s so called ‘death.’ Kevin nodded at his father, hoping that one day Nick would come to understand that not everything that happened in the universe was their dad’s fault.
“He’s not sitting there anymore.” Kevin looked over at his dad and then quickly at the ground.
“Maybe he went in to see Brian.” The oldest son said hopeful that he wouldn’t have to search the entire hospital for his kid brother. Sometimes he got so mad at Nick when he disappeared like that but again, he understood as well.
Kevin senior opened the door to his son’s room and then looked over at his eldest and shook his head. Maybe they would be searching the hospital after all. “What should I do?” He asked his son, hoping that he would have the answers.
“Go in and be with Brian, I’ll go look for Nick.”
“That should be my job.” The father said looking disappointed. It seemed like a role reversal the two were constantly playing when it came to dealing with the teenager.
“Yes, but not today. I have a feeling I know where he is.”
Kevin senior nodded and then joined his two sons and Howie as Kevin junior went in search of the youngest Richardson. Luckily he knew where to look; it was the same place the youngest always tended to go when things got too rough for him. So, he got on the elevator and headed outside where on a bench in front of the hospital sat his brother, headphones on and eyes closed.
Kevin sat beside Nick and just tried to soak up the beauty of the day for a second. The smell of freshly laid mulch made him think of horses as it always did. Nick loved being outside, in fact, if he was allowed to, the youngest Richardson, would gladly live outside in a tent. The older brother understood why, out here it was peaceful and wide open. Unlike the hospital or even his father’s house which felt so constricting. That’s why whenever he had the opportunity, Nicky was out the door.
“It’s a nice day out isn’t it?” He finally asked, hoping his brother would answer and not shut him out.
“I guess.”
“You know Nick…you really shouldn’t just leave like that.”
“You knew I’d be out here.”
“I know but that’s besides the point…don’t you want to go see Brian? I know he wants to see you.”
“I can’t see him right now.”
“Nick…”
When hearing his name, the youngest one looked at his big brother and placed a hand on his shoulder, “I know he’s going to be okay but that doesn’t make it any easier for me.”
Kevin nodded and pulled his brother into a hug as they sat, “I know.” He simply said.
Nick pulled away a few seconds later and turned to face Kevin, placing one leg under the other as he sat sideways on the bench. “Kevin, do you think I’m a bad person?”
“What? Why would you ask me that?”
“Because you all decided to help people for a living and I would rather those people you help die, than have you go out and risk your lives. Does that make me a jerk?”
“No Nicky, of course not.”
“And dad thinks I would actually want him to die. I mean does he think I’m that horrible of a person?”
“Nick, he didn’t really mean that.”
“I think he did. He hates me Kev, and I don’t blame him because I know I give him a hard time, but I don’t want him to go back to work at the FBI either. I just can’t lose anybody else, which sounds selfish I know.”
Sometimes Kevin was amazed by how perceptive his baby brother was, how the child could act like a little brat one minute then turn around and have such adult feelings the next.
“I don’t think he will Nick, because he loves you to death. He really does, I know that sometimes that may be hard for you to see, but it’s true and he knows how you feel about him working in the field. I think he will stay home for you.”
“I’m sorry I’m always so difficult Kevin. I don’t mean to be.”
And there he was; another glimpse of the small child that used to fall asleep in his big brother’s arms as he read stories to the boy while rubbing his belly, which always ached from eating too much candy. In so many ways, Nick was still that little boy.
“You aren’t difficult kiddo…” Kevin answered, standing up and looking down at the teenager, “I’m going in and letting them know where you are before I head back to the office. Are you going to be okay alone out here?”
Nick nodded, “I’ll be fine. Kevin…tell Brian I’m sorry I’m being such a jerk.”
“I will and you aren’t being a jerk, okay? You’ll be happy to know that Brian is going to stay with you and dad for a little while, until his arm is out of that sling.”
Instantly, the blonde’s face lit up, “Really?”
“Yes.”
“Awesome! Tell him I’ll be his own private butler.”
“I am sure he already expected that little man. I think they’ll be out here shortly, don’t wander away.”
“I won’t.”
“Good….and we still have to finalize plans with Howie for that weekend getaway.” Nick nodded. Kevin was grateful to see that the boy was gradually calming himself down.
By the time the agent made his way back into Brian’s room, the injured man was already dressed and ready to leave. “You weren’t able to find him?” Brian asked concerned when Kevin walked in alone.
“I found him; he was sitting outside on a bench. He’s going to wait for you guys out there.”
“Well, he might be waiting for awhile because the doctor still hasn’t come back with my damn discharge papers.”
Both Kevin and AJ laughed but Kevin senior still had a worried look on his face. He wasn’t sure how much more of this he could take. Being a parent was all too overwhelming for him and as bad as it might have sounded; if he was given the opportunity to disappear again he would in a second.
“If you guys are going to be okay, Howie and I should head back to the office to interrogate our suspect.”
“Kick her for me…” AJ said nodding, “For hurting my big brother!”
“Sure, no problem, I’ll get right on that one.” Kevin said rolling his eyes, and then he walked over and gave Brian a huge hug, “I’m glad you’re okay buddy. Rest for a few days and I’ll come check up on you tonight.”
Brian nodded and watched as his older brother walked out the door. Once gone, he turned towards AJ, “I hope I didn’t put a damper on your plans to ask Stacey to marry you tonight.”
“No, dude…it wasn’t you, it was the bathroom sink.”
“Is that supposed to make sense?”
“No.”
“Okay then…”
“You’re asking your girlfriend to marry you tonight?” Kevin senior asked a bit surprised.
“Not anymore…but yes I am eventually…well, one of these days if the karma fairy lets me.”
The doctor walked in shortly after that with discharge papers which made the injured agent smile. This time around, there was a happy ending for once. At least that was the thought. They were unaware that the youngest was being watched from a safe distance while his oldest brother once again said his farewell and made his way to the car.
Have a great weekend everybody!
