Episode 4 ^2/4: The mob boss has a family.

“I’ll be recording this interview,” Cry’s voice came over the audio feed. She set down her phone, “I really appreciate you coming to meet me.”

She was so cute in a ratted grey-scaled plaid shirt that was too big and her jeans shorts which showed off her great legs. She said that she wanted to give Kurt a relaxed atmosphere to keep him off his guard. Court had no idea if this would work, but he loved the outfit!

“Hey, any chance I can get to clear the air,” there was a lightness in Kurt’s voice they hadn’t ever heard before. “I appreciate you giving me that opportunity. Didn’t think you would after the mall.”

“He’s so full of shit,” Court muttered. He slapped Pey’s hand away. He knew how to control the board.

Pey was at his right and Sam was behind them, working on another sketch. He gave off the air of being completely uninterested.

Crys was continuing with her interview, “it’s actually because of the mall that I wanted to give you the opportunity. Being a reporter is about uncovering the truth, not just what we want to hear. So, it’s only fair if I give you the chance to say your side. If we may, can we jump right to the video?”

“Not a problem,” there was easy assurance. “I know how that video looks, and there really is no excuse for the behavior seen. But what you don’t see is everything that led up to it.”

“Sounds like an excuse to me,” was Sam’s muttered response which revealed that he was listening.

“Every account of Sam is the same; I think rude and cold will sum it up the best,” Crys granted.

He and Pey looked over their shoulder at Sam to find that he was grinning into his sketch. He glanced at Pey. There was an amused shrug that they shared.

Kurt snorted a laugh, “that’s being kind, which I get the sense that you are.”

Was Crys’ hair tuck real? From this distance, at this angle it was impossible to know.

“I just want the truth to come out,” she downplayed her attributes.

“Well, that’s why we’re here,” Kurt agreed smoothly.

“She’s playing it dangerous,” Sam noted with a disapproving note.

“What?” Again the two of them turned to face Sam.

“Seriously?” Sam’s hand holding the pencil dropped with annoyance. With an eyeroll and a shake of his head, Sam moved his attention to his phone. Seemed that they weren’t going to get an explanation.

Crys’ voice pulled their attention back to her, “what was your first encounter with Sam?”

“Um, you know I don’t really remember it that well. But it was how he came at me that I remember. I have a code, a way that I am. You come at me with attitude and how am I going to react. You know?”

“Can you be specific?” She was leaning forward with her chin in her hands and her elbows propped on her knees. He didn’t like their proximity.

“It’s that tone he uses. Gives just enough of a threat but doesn’t really. That attitude has probably worked for him his whole life, because most people aren’t intelligent enough to see through his crap and see how he really is.”

“But you did.”

“It just made me snap. Like there was nothing I could do. He just keeps giving me this attitude. And how much am I supposed to take? It’s not really fair, is it? To just keep coming at me and not expect me to do anything about it. Maybe I shouldn’t have gone off that much, but there’s a reason why I did. And he knows what that reason is.”

Speechless at the shit he was hearing, Court gestured. But a pencil snapping apart had both him and Pey looking back. Darkness covered Sam, having his fingers curl into fists which is what broke the pencil. Pey glanced between Kurt below on stage and Sam.

Crys held her hands loosely before her, “why would a threat from him bother you? Are you scared of him?”

“Shit,” Pey sounded afraid.

Kurt’s angry voice pulled his attention, “there’s nothing there to be afraid of!”

“What is it that Sam has against you? The only thing I think anyone could think of would be what happened in the video.”

Though she couldn’t hear his plea, he was begging her to stop!

Kurt leaned closer, trying to use his body language to intimidate, “that was a misunderstanding and his shitty attitude. He got what he asked for.”

“Seems excessive,” she mused thoughtfully.

“It wasn’t,” Kurt assured with an edge.

“Then, what about Jessica Milner, Stacey Wright, and Tabitha Coarse? Did they also get what they asked for?”

“How the hell?” He nearly revealed recognizing names that they, in the booth, didn’t know. “I have no idea what you’re going on about. I don’t know those people.”

“Where the hell did she get those names? Who are they?” Court stood up, prepared to run down there to her.

Pey had a different question, “what is she doing?”

“Dammit Pey,” Sam sighed heavily.

Pey defended, “she needed ammo!”

“What did you do?” Court was furious, but this was just as much on him.

Crys was challenging almost sweetly, “maybe you’ve done it too many times to remember names, but they remember. An interesting fact with Tabitha is that you both were on vacation. In another jurisdiction.”

Pey gave a soft whistle, “remind me never to piss Crys off! I hadn’t even thought of that.”

“The key is to let them infer,” Sam noted without looking up. “Their own fears will fuel their imagination, doing the work for you.”

“You both are behind this?” He was pissed! “She was just supposed to get information on whether he was working with Todd.”

“Look, I don’t know what you think you’ve heard,” there was a clear warning note in Kurt’s words.

“Detailed accounts from each of them, including Sam. And video evidence posted repeatedly over social media,” Crys had lost all sweetness in her voice. “Given enough time, a decent prosecutor will look into why charges were never filed. And you’re not the only one with connections.”

“This is starting to feel like a bad idea,” Pey was worried.

“That’s because it is,” Sam was distracted by his artwork giving off a conflicting vibe. He had picked up the broken end of his pencil and was making it work.

“Really, bro?” The dry comment cut across the room.

Sam only grinned without taking his eyes off his work.

“You want to know why Sam got what was coming to him?” Kurt took the phone from her hands, turning off the recording. “Because he overstepped.”

“Nice to know,” Sam put away his work.

The door to the room opened letting Ty and Geo come in. He would have questioned, but his brother was already laying into him, “what the hell is going through your brain?”

“Who the hell told you…” he paused. Turning his head slowly to the right, he found Ty leaning in to kiss Sam. That kiss was returned. “You?”

“Seriously?” Pey was caught off guard as well.

“This is a family problem,” was Sam’s unconcerned stand. Ty’s foot bumped the broken end of the pencil. Glancing down, his eyes moved to Sam in silent question.

“You traitor,” he was pointing at Sam. Sam was holding Ty’s gaze.

“Sam’s right,” Geo’s attention was on him. “And his warning saved our asses.”

“What the hell do you mean?”

Geo snapped back, “what the hell were you thinking taking this on alone?”

Eyes closed, Sam laid his head upon Ty’s stomach. A warm hand held Sam’s head.

“I’m thinking that this is my fault, and I’d like to have evidence before I bring it to you guys,” he wouldn’t back down this time.

But neither would Geo, “by then it’s too late!”

“I don’t like it when our parents fight,” Sam’s soft murmur cut them short, and had them both looking over.

Ty kissed the top of Sam’s head, “well, it is kinda your fault.”

Sam sighed, “so will there be a punishment or a reward later?”

It had Ty grinning, “can you even tell the difference?”

“Can we focus a little?” Geo snapped!

“Pretty sure your girlfriend needs a rescue,” Pey chimed in, his eyes on the scene on stage.

He wasn’t going to waste time looking to see what was going on. This had gone on long enough, and he wouldn’t put Crys in any further danger. Pushing past his brother, he led the way.

She was being herded to a dark corner step by slow step. Her nervous hands wrung together, and her eyes kept glancing to her phone.

“My friends are nearby,” she was walking backwards away from Kurt.

Like a cat stalking their prey, he was moving in on her, “I know where your friends are.”

“And we know where yours are,” though she was backing away, Crys wasn’t backing down. “And we have more of them than you do.”

“What are you getting at?”

Boldly, she pressed Kurt even further, “at first, I thought that you were bullying Todd, or even blackmailing him into doing what you wanted. Then, I realized that you just aren’t smart enough to blackmail someone.”

“You should shut your little whore mouth,” Kurt warned her.

Her back hit the wall, “but then I wondered what someone like Todd could have over someone like you. And frankly, I can’t think of a thing.”

“That little weasel couldn’t touch me,” clearly he was disgusted with even the suggestion.

“The only option left is that he’s manipulating you,” though she hadn’t phrased it as a question, Crys was looking at him with that question clearly written on her face.

Kurt responded quickly, “I’m not someone that gets manipulated! We just happen to have a hatred that we share.”

Confusion washed over Crys. With a shake of her head, she asked, “of Ty?”

“And everyone around him,” Kurt laughed harshly.

“That doesn’t make sense,” her brain was working hard to put things together.

Court wished he could be ignorant, but the truth was becoming clear. Stepping up onto the stage, he alerted Crys and Kurt that they were no longer alone, “Todd doesn’t hate everyone around Ty. He hates everyone around me.”

Kurt whipped around at the sound of his voice. Ty’s fist quickly sent him crashing to the floor!

“Interesting. I hadn’t considered Todd being jealous. It’s only cute on you,” Sam replied without inflection.

“You’re so hooked on me,” Ty hungrily devoured Sam with his eyes.

Geo snapped his fingers, “focus!”

Crys had run away from Kurt to put distance between them. His arms were ready when she ran to him. It felt really, really good to have her holding him. She whispered into his chest, “I’m sorry. I didn’t get what we needed.”

She stood up tall, pretending that she wasn’t as scared as she was. But he felt the trembling that shook her shoulders. This confrontation was taking a lot from her. He kissed her forehead in reassurance.

“How the hell are you here?” Kurt snarled, his hand on his throbbing jaw.

“Because Todd said I was busy? Or because your friends were supposed to keep me from finding you?” Ty looked down.

“What they do…”

“Is on you, dipshit,” Ty cut him off sharply. “Your friends aren’t that loyal that they wouldn’t give you up after a few rounds of having their asses kicked.”

“There’s no way you beat them,” Kurt was moving to stand up.

“Because they had weapons? Or because they tried to jump me the way you did my boyfriend?” Ty reached into his back pocket. He tossed a distinctive knife onto the ground between them, “the brass knuckles were a nice touch. Did you know it’s possible to break your own jaw with them?”

Kurt’s wide eyes moved slowly from the knife to Ty.

“You were attacked?” Court was blindsided. He hadn’t thought Kurt would send distractions out just so he could corner Crys.

“You,” Pey pointed at a very calm looking Sam, “knew about that.”

Sam’s left shoulder lifted in the breath of a shrug.

“Talk,” Ty’s directive was aimed at Kurt. “Or I find creative ways to use that knife.”

They would have to figure out what the hell was going on with Sam later.

“Todd,” Kurt glanced at each of them, “would tell us where you guys were. Give us information on you.”

“Like loud noises for me,” Sam stared coldly.

“Yah. After that turned out to be true, we knew he wasn’t lying.”

“And at the mall?” Sam was putting things together they hadn’t.

Kurt nodded minutely, “you weren’t supposed to be there. And that bitch wasn’t supposed to think to record us.”

Before the last few words were properly out, Ty had a hold of Kurt’s neck. He picked him up to slam him into the wall.

Leaning casually against a wall, Sam’s bored stare pierced Kurt, “what did you think Todd was getting out of your deal?”

Kurt sneered, “staying off my list is enough for people to help me.”

Sam breathed a pained laugh, “of course.”

A snarl revealed Ty’s anger, “that’s more than enough for me to knock this piece of shit out.”

“Kick the shit out of him here, you’ll be suspended or expelled,” Pey cautioned.

But Court was with Ty on this, “I’m happy to take this off campus.”

“You leave him unconscious somewhere else he could end up dead,” Geo cautioned with a hand upon Ty’s shoulder.

Ty looked at Kurt, “so?”

There was a laugh from Pey, “twenty-five to life without Sam.”

“Huh,” Ty mulled that one over. His left hook hit Kurt as he dropped his hold. “You’re right, I wouldn’t like that at all.”

Kurt slid down the wall.

“So, what do we do with this trash?” Geo was amused.

“With what we got now, can’t we take this to the police?” Crys looked around.

“He’ll just get his dad to sweep it under the rug, like he always does. I’d really prefer to beat the hell outta him,” Court chose that option.

She was confused, “then what was the point of this?”

“Just to confirm what we suspected,” he silently apologized by running his hand over her arm.

There was purpose in the way Sam was walking over. The calm chill radiating stopped everyone, but most especially it had Kurt’s full attention. From the floor where he sat, Kurt’s eyes grew suspicious as he watched Sam kneel before him. Without a word, Sam procured Kurt’s wallet. A cold, unwavering stare was enough to keep Kurt from uttering a single syllable. All he could do was watch as Sam opened the wallet to the ID. It was held up next to Kurt’s face.

Taking a picture with his cell, Sam spoke with a cold edge, “Jessica, Stacey, Tabitha, Geo, Jaz, me. How many more times have you hid behind the power of your dad’s position?”

Court felt Crys’ fingers curling into his arm. He pulled her close, a hand upon her head. But the truth was that he was also a little afraid of Sam right now.

Fear made Kurt’s eyes wide. He shook his head, unable to get a word out.

“Wrong answer,” Sam muttered as he looked to his phone. He was texting, “but there really was no right answer.”

“What are you doing?” When Kurt moved, Ty stepped closer. Plenty of reason for Kurt to pause.

“Here’s my problem,” Sam’s arm now rested upon his bent knee, “I send this picture to Quin, I’m pretty much a murderer.”

The name was silently upon their lips in question.

A question Sam answered without being asked to, “drug dealers aren’t known for their investigative skills.”

“You…you don’t know a drug dealer,” Kurt clearly hoped that was the case!

“Yet you know that name as well as I do.” Sam gave a bitter laugh as the phone within his hand bounced about carelessly, “the Carada family ended a decade ago, but death is the only way out of that life. Unless you know how to cover your ass, which means knowing where the threats are all the time.”

Confusion darkened Pey’s eyes before snapping to Sam in breathless surprise! It had Court wondering just what the hell Pey knew that they didn’t.

Kurt may not be a mastermind, but he could still recognize the threat Sam wasn’t veiling. The color in his cheeks was a forgotten memory, “I have nothing to do with those drugs. I just take a little out of the evidence lockers. It’s just going to be destroyed anyway!”

Sam raised a brow in question. Then, shifting his weight, “you’re profiting off the drug bust your dad is responsible for.”

“It’s not like…”

Sam interrupted, “Quin will wait for the explanation, I’m sure.”

“I’ll do whatever you want. I’ll turn myself in,” Kurt sputtered!

“Where your dad will wash away the stains of your fuckup again. So, what am I supposed to do?”

When Sam lifted his cell, Kurt desperately pleaded, “don’t tag me. Don’t!”

“You know that term?”

Kurt’s lip curled and an attempt to feign bravado erupted, “know a fucking lot more than that, and you better watch…”

“Oops,” Sam’s thumb tapped the phone.

What was left of the colour in Kurt’s face was now gone, “what did you do?”

Sam stood up, “you have about a day. Maybe your dad has time to hide you. Maybe he doesn’t. Either way, your life is over.”

The phone was passed over to Pey, who took it with a malicious grin, “shit man, that is permanent.”

Sam was walking out, leaving the rest of them to follow. Court urged Crys to follow. She’d had more than enough of this. Pey followed his friend.

Geo looked at Ty, “your boyfriend is dark.”

Slowly a smile finally surfaced, “it only makes him hotter!”

“Wait,” Kurt called out. But it seemed his legs weren’t working since he only sat there calling out to them. Kurt was desperately pleading. But it was a plea that came far too late.

They walked away leaving Kurt to the fate it seemed Sam had consigned him to. Outside, the world was deceptively normal as they headed to the cars.

“You don’t actually know a drug dealer, right?” Geo wanted to have this clarified.

“Know of,” Sam cast him a brief glance. There was a verbal shrug, “he overstepped with our family.”

“You sound like a mob boss,” Ty had an arm across Sam’s shoulders. Sam’s right hand rose to lightly toy with Ty’s fingers. Sam didn’t look pleased, but he did look calm.

Geo didn’t have the words with which to challenge Sam’s last statement. Still, his brother looked at Pey, “he didn’t really?”

Pey only shrugged helplessly, “I…Sam’s only ever run. I don’t know how he’d react when he can’t. Or I didn’t.”

“He just orchestrated this whole thing, didn’t he?” Court was impressed!

“I’m just glad he’s on our side,” Crys gave a soft giggle. “And I learned a lot from him that’ll make me a better interviewer. I wonder what tagging means.”

“Yah,” he mimicked Ty’s earlier move when he put his arm across Cyrs’ shoulders, “I don’t know if I want you putting yourself in danger like that again.”

“But you’ll be there when I do, right?” Bold and adorable!

How could he refuse? “I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”

“Do we seriously not care?” Geo bit the question behind them.

Being the only one left with Geo, Pey shrugged, “I gotta erase this phone from existence. Just in case.”

Now alone and helpless to affect any change, Geo gave in with a shrug and followed the others.

~~~

They were taking a break as they waited for the family to get together. All of them, since what they’d just done was going to affect them as a family. To pass the time, they picked up a game. On the sidelines Court caught his breath for a moment.

“You saw it, right?” A purple and black stripped hand sock on each hand, Sam was sporting a slightly new look.

Court finished tying his shoe, but he nodded, “I did. I also felt how she trembled when we stepped in to help.”

Tanner had already come by, and then stolen Crys to make a drink run.

“She’s got a lot of courage to stand up to Kurt the way she did.”

“I know,” he nodded.

“You don’t,” Sam interrupted softly.

The soft and firm reproach had him pausing before reacting. His gaze silently questioned.

A covered hand ran through Sam’s hair, “even if she tells you, you don’t know unless you’ve been through it. So when she opens up, be empathetic, but don’t say that you understand unless you really do. Just a piece of friendly advice.”

“Brotherly advice,” he grinned.

“Will you let that go?” Sam snarled.

It got a laugh out of him, “hell no! It’s amusing. But I hear you. Thank you.”

He nodded as though he didn’t care, “and ask her out already. She’s clearly waiting for you to.”

“Were you waiting on Ty to ask you?” He stood up, grabbing the soccer ball.

Sam looked up, “Ty doesn’t ask.”

By the faint smile touching Sam’s lips, he wasn’t disappointed with Ty’s approach. Laughing, Court ran off to the field to join the others.

The game was good. Great really, because it allowed them to vent some of this steam. It was just them; Geo, Ty, and himself. They’d played this game for a long time now, with the score being a hot-topic issue with them.

“I thought we called no hands,” Geo called him out on holding the ball.

“Since when?” He shot back.

With an impatient wave of Geo’s hand, “since last year.”

The game had been on for a long time now.

“Oh, when I made the score 7-3-5.”

“The hell it is,” Ty was arguing this.

The ball was in the air from a wild kick he’d delivered. They were racing to get to it first before it bounced twice. Hands were allowed, in his opinion, so he reached out for it. But Ty’s head sent it flying behind Court. Heels in the grass, he launched back. The other two were ahead. It was a fight to see who would score next. It didn’t matter which goal, since both were open. The only obstacles to overcome were each other.

Ty slammed the ball with his elbow sending it towards the goal. Court was too far back to stop it. But that wasn’t true for Geo. A wild, and impressive kick meant that Geo was the last the touch the ball before it scored. He and Ty glared at the victory dance carrying him to the ball.

Sam’s voice reached out, “you lose tonight Ty, and I sleep in the dorms…with Pey.”

The ball Geo had kicked back onto the field hit Ty in the shoulder rocking him slightly. His sights didn’t waiver from Sam. Pointing at his boyfriend, Ty let him know, “you’ll pay for that.”

Sam was wincing from the hit and trying to stifle a snicker. Geo ran past Ty, getting his attention back on the game. Geo had the speed. Ty had the strength. But Court had the agility. For all their fancy work with the last score, he was capable of more. The ball hit him in the chest. Powered by Ty, it held power. Rather than fight that, he’d shifted his body so that the ball would fly upwards. He continued the momentum he had and rolled it into a backflip with a twist. This allowed him to raise his right leg and kick the ball. It sailed away from the other two. But they were too far from the goal. Now that Geo had scored a goal, they had to alternate the open goals. Another rule that they couldn’t exactly recall when or who had set it, but it was a rule they stuck to.

Geo had started to overtake him. The fancy moves he loved did come at a cost of his time. Still, he ran. Ty was now pacing him. Sweat was beginning to bead, yet the chill in the air cut into their lungs. Muscles were begging for a little reprieve. Probably because they hadn’t wasted time with a warmup. Geo was cutting across to get in a touch on the ball. He and Ty put in all their speed. He kicked out hoping to get in enough power to edge the ball his direction. Ty pulled him, using his strength to make sure Court didn’t get that touch in. Geo tried to slip past, but Ty had a plan to use Court to intercept Geo. It worked because Geo had to dodge.

“Cheater,” he called out! But it wasn’t cheating because there was no rule against this move.

Ty gave the kick all he had, and even Geo’s speed wouldn’t be enough to stop this goal.

“That’s what proper motivation does,” Ty turned around with his arms in a mock helpless gesture. Then he lifted his shirt to give his boyfriend a show. On the sidelines, Sam was chewing his bottom lip.

“We’d better wrap up this game before these two forget we’re here,” he laughed.

“Next point can end it,” Geo suggested.

“Let’s do it,” he raced towards the ball.

It was a tossup really, getting to the ball first meant you had control in that moment, but you were also now further from the goal you wanted. With his agility on the field, he could keep the ball close enough to run it far. But he would have to contend with the other two while doing it. He and Geo still ran towards the ball. Geo got to it first, but he’d have to get around his brother first and Ty second. Geo attempted to kick the ball between Court’s feet. A quick snap closed his heels and caught the ball. He began to run.

On the sidelines, Tanner, Crys and Jaz had shown up. He had the motivation to end this game early. He could almost smell the hot chocolate in those takeout cups. He made a feint to give Geo the impression he was shooting forward. But a quick change had the ball going back. Counter to where the goal was, but right in line with his plan. Geo was off ahead giving him a moment alone.

That moment was quickly interrupted by Ty. His feet moved the ball to the left. His plan this time was to let it go that direction while he went right. Hopefully, it would mess Ty up just long enough for Court to weave around and reclaim the ball. That did not work. Though the ball had speed, Ty didn’t hesitate to change its trajectory. It now sailed through the air towards Geo.

“Are you trying to give him the point?”

“Kinda underestimated that kick,” Ty laughed.

They now raced towards Geo who was trying to capture the ball. There were no out of bounds, but it was kind of a pain in the ass getting it back and reclaiming the upper hand. Using his head, Geo kept the ball from going offside.

Along the sidelines, a blanket was offered to Sam who was only wearing Ty’s open hoodie. He declined without interest and kept working. Jaz didn’t hesitate to take a blanket that she and Crys would share.

In the game, they were closing in on the goal. Ty would likely try to block them both to claim the ball. Geo would go for the speed that served him well. So, he decided on a hail Mary play! Coming in hard, the ball was like a focal point for the three of them. He slid in without hesitation, using the light layer of frost to his advantage. There would be stains on his pants and he saw both Ty and Geo barreling towards him, but winning was most important. His foot connected with the ball. It shot forward and he fell back.

“What the hell were you thinking? I almost kicked you, dipshit,” Ty had his hand out to help him up.

“Worth it,” he claimed as he took the hand.

“It would have been worth it if you’d made the goal,” Geo pointed out breathlessly.

“The hell I didn’t,” he looked over. But the goals were not netted, meaning that the line the ball was travelling now wasn’t enough to say whether he’d made the goal or not. “Clearly made it.”

“Clearly did not. You were on your back and saw nothing,” Geo scolded.

Ty gave a single laugh.

“Really?” Was Geo’s dry question.

He was dusting himself off with little effect, and called over, “hey guys, what did you see?”

At the sideline, it was Sam that answered, “I saw my boyfriend’s abs.”

“Yah, you did,” Ty was smug about that. He walked towards the others.

This was going to play poorly into their scoring debate. When they approached the others, they were passed a hot drink. Sam was taking off his hoodie to put it on Ty. Not about to let his boyfriend be cold, Ty wrapped himself around Sam.

Jaz offered a blanket to Geo, who declined by telling her to keep herself warm. It wasn’t Geo’s intention to reject her, but that’s what her face said she felt like. Sam was rolling his eyes.

“Did you get your hot chocolate?” Crys walked up to him.

“Yah, thank you!”

“For what?” Tanner pointed out with a laugh, “I bought them.”

“But I said to get you peppermint hot chocolate,” she let him know.

“My favorite, you’re so sweet!”

“Let’s go somewhere warm,” Jaz suggested.

“Guys, I want to apologize,” he began.

“I don’t want to hear it,” Sam remarked. But his tone said that he didn’t care, not that he was upset.

“If he wants to get this off his chest, let him,” Geo argued.

“Why? Do you blame him for what happened?” Sam challenged.

“Guys,” he tried to step in.

But Geo wasn’t listening to him. He’d rather argue, “of course I don’t! Todd and Kurt’s actions are on them only.”

“So why do I want to hear an apology that doesn’t matter?” Sam argued back. “I’ve got better things to do.”

Sam was looking suggestively at Ty with that last line.

“If it makes him feel better, just let him uselessly apologize,” Geo was getting annoyed.

“Taking responsibility for actions that aren’t yours doesn’t make anyone feel better,” Sam let some emotion slip with that remark. He’d caught it only too late. The look Sam gave seemed to put a pause on any remark. Sam bit out, “I don’t accept the apology because it’s not yours to give. Get it?”

He nodded, “but I still wanna give it.”

Sam’s hands rose in frustration. Ty pulled Sam onto his lap as he claimed a seat, his arms acted as a seatbelt.

Grinning, he explained, “because I feel I should have caught on sooner to what Todd was doing.”

“It’s really not on you,” Tanner gave him a pass.

“Geo’s right,” Jaz had her coffee clutched lightly between gloved hands, “their actions are theirs, not yours.”

“But I should have been paying more attention.”

Sam’s rebuttal came with a shrug, “seems more like Geo should have been.”

“Excuse me?” Geo snarled.

But Sam continued without concern, “you didn’t see what Todd was doing either, so you let Court down. Ty’s too focused on his own wants to pick up on what Geo wasn’t able to see. And Tanner’s so busy helping the world that he didn’t have time to see it. Sounds like your family sucks.”

“Really?” Ty’s single question challenged Sam playfully.

There was a shrug, “well not Jaz, clearly.”

“Why does she get a pass?” Geo’s hands turned up in question.

“Why wouldn’t she?” Sam countered.

“Why wouldn’t I?” She echoed.

“You do, I just want to know why he’s so willing,” Geo back-peddled quickly.

There was amusement all around, and even Court was smiling.

“What my boyfriend is so cutely hedging around saying is that none of us saw it. This isn’t just on you,” Ty’s unhindered hands were slowly wandering.

“Sam did,” Crys offered quickly. She got a glare from Sam that made her smile brighter!

Arms unfolding, Geo uttered a single word, “what?”

He nodded to affirm, “Sam saw it first. Crys said she got the same feeling from Todd. And Pey was able to find out some stuff that pointed at Todd. That’s why we wanted to look into it, and why I didn’t want to pull you guys in until I knew for certain. You already didn’t like him, so what if we were wrong?”

“So what if you were?” His brother challenged.

He had a stalled start before explaining, “I know I’m explaining it crappily, but I went with my gut. Or with Sam’s gut, I’m not sure. I just needed time to figure out what was going on.”

Looks moved Sam’s direction.

“It was his problem,” hands trying to reign in Ty’s, Sam shrugged. “I figured he’d want to handle it himself. It’s not my problem how he does it.”

“You went to him before me,” Ty pointed out with a salty tone.

“This is why I told you to keep your mouth shut, Court,” Sam sulked. “He’s so jealous.”

“But you said he’s cute when he’s jealous,” he thought to remind them.

“I’m missing out on all the good stuff,” Jaz stamped her foot!

“I never said he was cute! I said it was…cute when…” But he trailed off, stumbling over an explanation.

“Busted,” Geo laughed mercilessly. “Next time you guys bring stuff to us. We solve problems as a family.”

“You’re right,” Sam sighed. But when they all looked at him in question, he was only looking at Ty as he completed the thought he had, “family is annoying.”

“Then we’re doing it right,” Ty laughed!

“Thank you, guys,” Court let himself be serious for a moment. “I’ll only be serious for a moment, and then let these two go on their date. I didn’t mean to bring trouble, and I’ll be more careful who I let close to our family. I promise.”

“Hey,” Geo nodded his head at him, “it’s not on you to protect us. We protect each other.”

“And we’re not dating. Ty just hits this,” Sam brushed off the accusation with a shake of his head.

“Speaking of hitting this,” Ty’s tone was suggestive.

To which Sam had a bored retort, “you need a shower first.”

“If you insist,” Ty lifted them both up. He quickly had a hold of Sam’s hand and was pulling him away.

“I didn’t mean…”

“Way too late,” Ty laughed as they walked. “We’re having a shower!”

Though Sam was berating Ty, it was amusing to note that he wasn’t pulling his hand back or stopping Ty in any way.

“Let’s get you somewhere warm,” Geo was smiling at Jaz.

“Please,” she took the offer of his hand to help stand up.

“You got time to help out at the theatre? There’s a location change,” Tanner was beginning to explain.

Jaz jumped in, “which means a story revision. I’m in!”

Geo nodded. He’d go where Jaz went.

But Crys declined, “I got to go get Ang. She’s studying with friends, and I didn’t want her to walk home alone.”

Geo looked at him, “wanna take my car? You can drive the girls home and come get us later.”

“I can drive you later,” Tanner offered. “Maybe by then those two will be done with their shower and we can all have a beer.”

Laughter and agreement came easily. A plan was in place. From his bag, Geo pulled out his keys. He put a hand on Court’s shoulder as he passed the keys over, “I mean it, you didn’t do anything wrong. And not everyone is going to be a Todd.”

“Thanks,” he nodded softly.

“Tomorrow morning, we’ll deal with him as a family,” Geo reminded him.

Again, he nodded. He could confront Todd on his own, but they were right. This was a family problem that they would deal with together.

“You smell so good,” Ty took a deep breath in, his fingers grazing over Sam’s shoulders.

“I’m wearing your shirt,” Sam reminded him. “And we used your body wash.”

“I know,” Ty pulled on that shirt to bring them closer. “I smell amazing!”

He laughed, loving the feel of Ty being handsy. They hit the couch wrapped in each other. They didn’t have the energy for another round just yet. He reminded Ty of that, “foreplay in the car, a round in the bed, and another in the shower. I think you’ve had enough for a bit.”

Ty kissed his neck, “but the others will be home soon to ruin our fun.”

He let Ty kiss his neck, but he tamed those exploring hands, “turn on the TV to distract you.”

“Hmm,” Ty was nuzzling, “but nothing could distract me from you.”

He rolled over to face Ty. Ty’s playful eyes sparkled at him, but he searched for something more.

“What’s going on in there?”

His fingers toyed with Ty’s shirt, “what will you do with Todd?”

It hurt to see that sparkle fade. Ty shook his head, “I’m not sure.”

His fingers tapped lightly on Ty’s chest, “what I did to Kurt was real. And I think he knows enough to get far out of town.”

“I know it’s real,” Ty soberly responded.

“That’s why I’m asking what you’ll do with Todd,” he bluntly stated. “If you’re okay with what I did, will you do something like that to Todd?”

“Would you let me?” Ty’s fingers were playing with his hair.

He shook his head, “I don’t want you to do anything you can’t come back from. But I also need to know that you will if I need it.”

“Any particular reason why you’d need it?”

His fingers gripped Ty’s shirt to pull them even closer, “because you made me promise I’d stay, you idiot.”

“I also made you moan upstairs. That was a first for you too,” Ty was so proud of himself!

He was letting Sam hide from a conversation that scared him. Give a little and Ty would protect him, just like he’d promised.

He teased, “rewarding good behavior?”

“Now reward me,” Ty began undressing him.

The front door opened.

He let his frustrated sigh be heard, “I guess you’d better put that away.”

“Oh come on,” Geo groused.

The others found it funny.