'After' - Chapter Five - Haunted
Aug. 8th, 2008 12:42 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
missmara13Another new chapter of this one... I know there's a lot going on in this story, but... lol... when I do action stories, I like to have it be one thing after another... lol
Previous Chapters:
One - Two - Three - Four
Chapter Five - Haunted
"You seem to know a lot about strategic targets," Dean asked Ryan later.
"It's common sense," Ryan replied.
"No one else seems to have considered it," Dean said.
"Including you, apparently," Ryan pointed out. "What kind of Federal Agent doesn't think strategically?"
"The kind that was on vacation when the apocalypse happened," Dean replied tensely.
"Yeah? So you left your brain at the office?"
"Look, I'd been drinking, okay?" Dean said. "I'm still hung over. Hell, I wish I was still drunk with all this shit going on. I don't really wanna think about the fact that everyone I knew and loved is probably dead."
"Are you from one of the confirmed hits?"
"I'm from all over, but... my family was in Montana."
"I'm sorry," Ryan said.
"I'm not entirely giving up hope. My father... he was a Marine, if anyone can survive this... whatever it is... he can."
"My father's an ex-con. He'll probably start an evil army and kill all opposition," Ryan said with a snort.
"Looks like we're both winners," Dean commented with a grin.
"Oh yeah, real winners," Ryan agreed.
"Ryan!" Luke called as he came in. "We went by the house and Kirsten said you left early, had them worrying since, you know, there's the little matter of you getting in a car crash yesterday?"
"Plus, Kirsten said you ate breakfast that she cooked," Kaitlin continued, snorting. "We got really worried then."
Ryan smiled and opened his arms to pull Kaitlin into a hug. "Missed you, runt," he whispered into her hair.
"Yeah, well, I figure we'll survive since our personal super hero is in town," Kaitlin replied.
"You still have that stupid cat?" Ryan asked.
"Yes, I do," Kaitlin said. "And she still despises Marissa."
"Smart cat," Luke said.
"What happened to you being on the 'Marissa and Ryan Forever' bandwagon?" Ryan asked, amused.
"She turned into an even more self-centered bitch," Kaitlin said. "I think it was when she went from calling you her soul mate to calling you a monster is when both of us basically wrote her off."
"I'm a monster?" Ryan said. "She's the one who told me to give Trey a chance. And look what it got me? A dead little brother and the hatred of everyone I knew."
"Except us," Luke pointed out. "And Karen and Deputy Parkman never hated you."
"But everyone else did," Ryan said.
"Not anymore, though, Mr. Hero," Kaitlin said.
"Don't call me that, Kaitlin," Ryan asked. "Please?"
"Okay, I'll stick to calling you the only one of my sister's boyfriends who wasn't a loser," Kaitlin said with a smirk.
"Hey!" Luke protested. "Standing right here, Kait!"
"So? Doesn't make what I said any less true," Kaitlin said.
"Stop it," Ryan told them, amused.
"If you need guns," Kaitlin said suddenly, her gaze locked on the sheriff and deputies as they checked over their weapons across the office. "Bullit's got a big collection, along with ammo for them."
"Keep that quiet for now," Ryan told her. "We don't want people doing anything stupid like trying to arm themselves." He paused and regarded her for a moment. "Do you know how to shoot?"
"Bullit taught me," Kaitlin said, nodding. "I'm a crack shot."
"Good," Ryan said. "I want you to keep one of the guns in your room if your at home, just in case."
"Why?" Kaitlin said.
Ryan glanced over at Dean as he answered. "I'm not joking when I say my father, my biological father, is a dangerous man and he might start an evil army. He's always been good at getting people to do what he told them to do, even if it's completely illegal and immoral. I'm not taking chances."
"You really think he'd attack your hometown? The people you care about?" Dean asked, skeptical.
"The man put my head through the wall of our house because he forgot to pay the electric bill and his beer wasn't cold enough," Ryan said. "What do you think?"
It was early evening when people began to gather in the square, and Brooke arrived early with Haley and Jamie, her hair neatly brushed and dressed in what she'd once told Haley was one of her 'I'm sweet and innocent but still so damn sexy' dresses. It didn't take long to spot Ryan, who was sitting near the grill Karen was cooking at, Lily beside him, watching his every move with wide, adoring, eyes.
"Did you rest at all today?" Haley asked as they approached.
"I sat down for a while," Ryan said.
"Mommy said he doesn't get any food from her unless he sits still for at least an hour," Lily said. "And it's my job to make sure he does."
"Apparently, I need a babysitter," Ryan said. "Who's 7 years old."
"You always did need someone levelheaded to keep you out of trouble," Haley said.
"Wait a minute," Ryan protested. "Who told me it was okay to beat up Kevin because he made fun of Anna?"
"That was different," Haley said. "Kevin deserved it, and we were 10."
Brooke stared at Haley. "You advocated violence?"
"Kevin Volchak was vile at 10 years old," Haley said. "He just got worse as time goes by, so I really wish Ryan had decked him back then."
"Eat and stop putting ideas into their heads," Karen said, setting several plates on the table.
Ryan immediately turned his attention to the food, digging in and making Haley laughed. 'Never had to tell Ryan twice when it came to your cooking, Karen," she said.
"I can't blame him," Brooke said. "Karen is the best cook ever."
"That plate's yours," Karen said, pointing to the one across from Ryan. "No need to suck up."
"Karen is also the best most amazing mom to the whole town ever," Brooke said, sliding into the seat and smiling across the table at Ryan.
"You are such a suck up," Ryan said, smiling.
"I learned well, my mother is...was... the best at... at..." Brooke said, faltering after her stumble with the tense.
Ryan reached across the table to take one of Brooke's hands. "Hey..." he began, only to have her pull away and run off.
Haley sighed, watching her go. "They hadn't talked since Brooke moved here," she explained. "Victoria Davis wanted Brooke to marry this rich author back in New York, and... something happened that made her call off the wedding and show up on my doorstep with one bag... and Brooke Davis never travels with just one bag." She sighed again. "I should go..."
"No, stay and help Karen," Ryan said. "I'll go find her, make sure she's okay."
"Ry..."
"Hales, you've never lost anyone," Ryan said gently. "I have, I remember when my mom died, and it may be completely different circumstances, but... I have an idea of what she's feeling. So... let me. If I can't help, I'll come find you, okay?"
"Okay," Haley said.
Ryan kissed her cheek, then started weaving through the crowd.
Brooke knew that wandering out at the edge of town probably wasn't her brightest idea, but she had to get away from the people who were smiling and laughing, having fun in the midst of everything that had happened.
"I'm sorry."
Brooke turned, startled, then relaxed when she saw Ryan behind her. "You didn't do..."
"I'm still sorry you lost her," Ryan said. "You know the last thing I ever said to my mom? My biological mom, I mean."
"What?"
"I told her that she was a bitch who deserved to get hit," Ryan said. "I was twelve and it was after I woke up from having my head put through a plaster wall by my biological father while she just sat there. Two days later, he beat her to death."
"Oh my god..."
"Doesn't make it my fault, but... guilt's still there."
"I told her to go to hell, she'd probably feel right at home with the fire and brimstone," Brooke said.
"Ouch," Ryan said, wincing.
"Yeah."
They lapsed into a companionable silence as they walked along the edge of the trees. "I think we gotta let go of the past, and all the baggage that comes with it, if we wanna survive whatever's coming," Ryan said after a few long minutes.
"You may be right," Brooke agreed. "How bad do you think..."
Ryan stopped her by putting out a hand to stop her from both moving and talking as a rustling sounded in the trees ahead of them. "Go, run, back to town and get help," Ryan said, pushing her in the direction of town.
"But..."
"Go!" Ryan ordered as a figure burst out of the trees and staggered towards them. As Brooke took off, the figure collapsed a few feet in front of Ryan, moaning and rolling over so that the dim moonlight lit up his body.
There was a bloody wound in his stomach, probably a gunshot wound, but that wasn't what Ryan's gaze zeroed in on, face white as a sheet. He dropped to his knees beside the body and pulled the other man's head and shoulders into his lap, hands frantically moving to press against the wound. "Come on, hang on..." he whispered.
The man's eyes flickered opened and he smiled, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. "Thought I heard you..." he whispered.
"Shut up and just keep breathing," Ryan snapped. "Hang on, help's coming."
"Didn't think you'd care..."
"Didn't I just tell you to shut up?"
"I killed him, Ry..."
"Shut the fuck up!" Ryan yelled.
"Never was good at doing what I was told, LB."
"Just this once, please, listen to me, Trey," Ryan whispered, hoping his big brother couldn't here the tremor in his voice.
To Be Continued...
One - Two - Three - Four
"You seem to know a lot about strategic targets," Dean asked Ryan later.
"It's common sense," Ryan replied.
"No one else seems to have considered it," Dean said.
"Including you, apparently," Ryan pointed out. "What kind of Federal Agent doesn't think strategically?"
"The kind that was on vacation when the apocalypse happened," Dean replied tensely.
"Yeah? So you left your brain at the office?"
"Look, I'd been drinking, okay?" Dean said. "I'm still hung over. Hell, I wish I was still drunk with all this shit going on. I don't really wanna think about the fact that everyone I knew and loved is probably dead."
"Are you from one of the confirmed hits?"
"I'm from all over, but... my family was in Montana."
"I'm sorry," Ryan said.
"I'm not entirely giving up hope. My father... he was a Marine, if anyone can survive this... whatever it is... he can."
"My father's an ex-con. He'll probably start an evil army and kill all opposition," Ryan said with a snort.
"Looks like we're both winners," Dean commented with a grin.
"Oh yeah, real winners," Ryan agreed.
"Ryan!" Luke called as he came in. "We went by the house and Kirsten said you left early, had them worrying since, you know, there's the little matter of you getting in a car crash yesterday?"
"Plus, Kirsten said you ate breakfast that she cooked," Kaitlin continued, snorting. "We got really worried then."
Ryan smiled and opened his arms to pull Kaitlin into a hug. "Missed you, runt," he whispered into her hair.
"Yeah, well, I figure we'll survive since our personal super hero is in town," Kaitlin replied.
"You still have that stupid cat?" Ryan asked.
"Yes, I do," Kaitlin said. "And she still despises Marissa."
"Smart cat," Luke said.
"What happened to you being on the 'Marissa and Ryan Forever' bandwagon?" Ryan asked, amused.
"She turned into an even more self-centered bitch," Kaitlin said. "I think it was when she went from calling you her soul mate to calling you a monster is when both of us basically wrote her off."
"I'm a monster?" Ryan said. "She's the one who told me to give Trey a chance. And look what it got me? A dead little brother and the hatred of everyone I knew."
"Except us," Luke pointed out. "And Karen and Deputy Parkman never hated you."
"But everyone else did," Ryan said.
"Not anymore, though, Mr. Hero," Kaitlin said.
"Don't call me that, Kaitlin," Ryan asked. "Please?"
"Okay, I'll stick to calling you the only one of my sister's boyfriends who wasn't a loser," Kaitlin said with a smirk.
"Hey!" Luke protested. "Standing right here, Kait!"
"So? Doesn't make what I said any less true," Kaitlin said.
"Stop it," Ryan told them, amused.
"If you need guns," Kaitlin said suddenly, her gaze locked on the sheriff and deputies as they checked over their weapons across the office. "Bullit's got a big collection, along with ammo for them."
"Keep that quiet for now," Ryan told her. "We don't want people doing anything stupid like trying to arm themselves." He paused and regarded her for a moment. "Do you know how to shoot?"
"Bullit taught me," Kaitlin said, nodding. "I'm a crack shot."
"Good," Ryan said. "I want you to keep one of the guns in your room if your at home, just in case."
"Why?" Kaitlin said.
Ryan glanced over at Dean as he answered. "I'm not joking when I say my father, my biological father, is a dangerous man and he might start an evil army. He's always been good at getting people to do what he told them to do, even if it's completely illegal and immoral. I'm not taking chances."
"You really think he'd attack your hometown? The people you care about?" Dean asked, skeptical.
"The man put my head through the wall of our house because he forgot to pay the electric bill and his beer wasn't cold enough," Ryan said. "What do you think?"
It was early evening when people began to gather in the square, and Brooke arrived early with Haley and Jamie, her hair neatly brushed and dressed in what she'd once told Haley was one of her 'I'm sweet and innocent but still so damn sexy' dresses. It didn't take long to spot Ryan, who was sitting near the grill Karen was cooking at, Lily beside him, watching his every move with wide, adoring, eyes.
"Did you rest at all today?" Haley asked as they approached.
"I sat down for a while," Ryan said.
"Mommy said he doesn't get any food from her unless he sits still for at least an hour," Lily said. "And it's my job to make sure he does."
"Apparently, I need a babysitter," Ryan said. "Who's 7 years old."
"You always did need someone levelheaded to keep you out of trouble," Haley said.
"Wait a minute," Ryan protested. "Who told me it was okay to beat up Kevin because he made fun of Anna?"
"That was different," Haley said. "Kevin deserved it, and we were 10."
Brooke stared at Haley. "You advocated violence?"
"Kevin Volchak was vile at 10 years old," Haley said. "He just got worse as time goes by, so I really wish Ryan had decked him back then."
"Eat and stop putting ideas into their heads," Karen said, setting several plates on the table.
Ryan immediately turned his attention to the food, digging in and making Haley laughed. 'Never had to tell Ryan twice when it came to your cooking, Karen," she said.
"I can't blame him," Brooke said. "Karen is the best cook ever."
"That plate's yours," Karen said, pointing to the one across from Ryan. "No need to suck up."
"Karen is also the best most amazing mom to the whole town ever," Brooke said, sliding into the seat and smiling across the table at Ryan.
"You are such a suck up," Ryan said, smiling.
"I learned well, my mother is...was... the best at... at..." Brooke said, faltering after her stumble with the tense.
Ryan reached across the table to take one of Brooke's hands. "Hey..." he began, only to have her pull away and run off.
Haley sighed, watching her go. "They hadn't talked since Brooke moved here," she explained. "Victoria Davis wanted Brooke to marry this rich author back in New York, and... something happened that made her call off the wedding and show up on my doorstep with one bag... and Brooke Davis never travels with just one bag." She sighed again. "I should go..."
"No, stay and help Karen," Ryan said. "I'll go find her, make sure she's okay."
"Ry..."
"Hales, you've never lost anyone," Ryan said gently. "I have, I remember when my mom died, and it may be completely different circumstances, but... I have an idea of what she's feeling. So... let me. If I can't help, I'll come find you, okay?"
"Okay," Haley said.
Ryan kissed her cheek, then started weaving through the crowd.
Brooke knew that wandering out at the edge of town probably wasn't her brightest idea, but she had to get away from the people who were smiling and laughing, having fun in the midst of everything that had happened.
"I'm sorry."
Brooke turned, startled, then relaxed when she saw Ryan behind her. "You didn't do..."
"I'm still sorry you lost her," Ryan said. "You know the last thing I ever said to my mom? My biological mom, I mean."
"What?"
"I told her that she was a bitch who deserved to get hit," Ryan said. "I was twelve and it was after I woke up from having my head put through a plaster wall by my biological father while she just sat there. Two days later, he beat her to death."
"Oh my god..."
"Doesn't make it my fault, but... guilt's still there."
"I told her to go to hell, she'd probably feel right at home with the fire and brimstone," Brooke said.
"Ouch," Ryan said, wincing.
"Yeah."
They lapsed into a companionable silence as they walked along the edge of the trees. "I think we gotta let go of the past, and all the baggage that comes with it, if we wanna survive whatever's coming," Ryan said after a few long minutes.
"You may be right," Brooke agreed. "How bad do you think..."
Ryan stopped her by putting out a hand to stop her from both moving and talking as a rustling sounded in the trees ahead of them. "Go, run, back to town and get help," Ryan said, pushing her in the direction of town.
"But..."
"Go!" Ryan ordered as a figure burst out of the trees and staggered towards them. As Brooke took off, the figure collapsed a few feet in front of Ryan, moaning and rolling over so that the dim moonlight lit up his body.
There was a bloody wound in his stomach, probably a gunshot wound, but that wasn't what Ryan's gaze zeroed in on, face white as a sheet. He dropped to his knees beside the body and pulled the other man's head and shoulders into his lap, hands frantically moving to press against the wound. "Come on, hang on..." he whispered.
The man's eyes flickered opened and he smiled, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. "Thought I heard you..." he whispered.
"Shut up and just keep breathing," Ryan snapped. "Hang on, help's coming."
"Didn't think you'd care..."
"Didn't I just tell you to shut up?"
"I killed him, Ry..."
"Shut the fuck up!" Ryan yelled.
"Never was good at doing what I was told, LB."
"Just this once, please, listen to me, Trey," Ryan whispered, hoping his big brother couldn't here the tremor in his voice.
To Be Continued...
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-08-08 07:11 am (UTC)soon I hope! Who'd he kill?
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Date: 2008-08-08 10:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-08 01:50 pm (UTC)