Fanfic: B&S episode 706: part 4/4
Season 7 - Episode 06 - Rescue me
By Marea67
About: Brothers & Sisters
Rate: G
Disclaimer: I don’t own Brothers & Sisters - written with love, not for money.
Summary: Ingredients: Take a couple of Walkers, add a few Wandells, a pinch of Holden and a Caplan formerly known as Harper, a dash of Altamirano and Whitley, a teaspoon of Byrolt, Paresa and Salazar and (for added flavor only) a Barry&McCallister. Mix and shake…and… watch it explode.
Warning: It is my very own season 7, you guys! Go with it! ;) Don’t complain! If YOU can do better, post your own story! (I dare you!)
***** 4/4 *****
“Hi, Julia.” Tommy bends over the desk to give Julia a small kiss on the cheek. She all but recoils, before relaxing and allowing him to kiss her.
“I’m sorry.” She apologizes. “I still…” She waves her hands about unable to form the words that would make it easier for Tommy to understand.
“I know… I just… forgot… I was so happy to see you… and that you wanted to see me. I’m sorry.” Julia can tell that Tommy’s smile is fake. She sighs resignedly.
“How’s Elizabeth?” She asks.
“Fine.” Tommy answers.
“And…. B-b-billy?” Tommy winces at Julia’s incapacity to say his son’s name, but nonetheless he mumbles:
“Fine as well.”
“Good.” Julia nods…
She stares at her hands, not knowing how to start the conversation.
“Why did you call me here, Jules? Was there something in particular you wanted to talk about?” Tommy tries to help her. Julia takes a deep breath to only let the air leave her lungs slowly.
“I wanted to tell you, face-to-face, that I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t come here for a while.” She then says.
“What?” Tommy is flabbergasted and Julia makes herself as little as possible, almost as if she’s afraid of Tommy’s anger.
“It’s painful to see you come here, hoping… against all odds, that I’m .. better? … different?... I feel like such a loser whenever you come by. I can’t be a mother, I can’t be a wife. I’m just a failure….”
“Jules, with everything you’ve been through….” Tommy starts.
“Stop patronizing me!” Julia lashes out, but she immediately raises her hands in surrender. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry, I know you’re not trying to do that, but…. I’m suffocating…I can’t handle your ‘kindness’, it just… makes me so mad, because you deserve better than someone as damaged as me…”
“Jules…” Tommy sighs.
“Don’t ‘Jules’ me, please, I’m aware that I’m out of control… I’m aware of how badly I treated that little boy. I’m aware of the pain I’m causing you and our kids and those who care about us .. and myself…
I’m aware of so many mistake, so many feelings, so many disappointments and so many irritations that I … I don’t know where to begin to clean up the mess. But I do know that you and your … desire for a normal life… they destroy me… Can’t you see that?” Julia cries. “You, Elizabeth and … that boy.. you deserve the best, you deserve to be a family.
And you deserve a wife by your side who's not constantly on the verge of an emotional breakdown. And those kids deserve a mother who’s there for them. But I’m not person. I just can’t … I’m….” She wipes away her tears. “I’m so sorry, I want it so badly, but I just can’t…. And I don’t want to sit here and see the love in your eyes and the hope to see your dream fulfilled…. And just…. Fail.”
Tommy leans back in his chair. Whatever he had expected - and he has no idea what he had expected - this wasn’t it.
“I… I don’t know what to say…”
“Don’t say anything, just go away and don’t come back.”
“But, Julia… You’re young, you’re getting help, you’ll get through this….. You can do this. We can do this…. You’re my wife…. I love you..” Tommy stammers.
“No…. No… It’s over… It’s done.. I don’t want to see you.. You’re only making things worse…”
“But…”
“Tommy!”Julia’s voice is harsher now. “I don’t want that boy. I only want Elizabeth… Half the time I don’t even know if I want you or if you’re just a means to an end…”
“To get Elizabeth back, you mean?” Tommy asks equally sharp. Julia is surprised. She had wondered about her feelings for Tommy, but she is surprised to see that Tommy apparently also got that the most important link between is Elizabeth.“I’m not stupid, Julia. I want Elizabeth back as much as you do.”
“Yet, … you haven’t done anything to get her back…. She’s still with your brother.”
“Yes.” Tommy acknowledges. “Because, at this moment, I don’t have the time or the energy to look after the kids, have a job, run a household and look after you. All by myself.”
“Well, with me no longer a part of your life, you could make the kids your first priority. Which is what they should be… Which is what they deserve to be….” Tommy sits quietly for almost two minutes, while the silence hangs heavily between them.
“Listen, Julia… I get it… You’re hurting and … it hurts to see me…. And to talk about the kids… or even just Elizabeth… I can understand that you might need some distance between us, that you don’t want to see me for a while… but… how about…when you’re ready…. You’ll contact me?…. and we’ll talk?… See how it goes?…. Slowly. Take a few weeks, a month.. or two… just…” He shakes his head and Julia gives him a sad smile.
“Perhaps that, for now anyway, you should leave the negotiating to Kevin?” Her attempt at a joke is a bad one, but Tommy smiles despite himself. “I don’t know… I only know that… right now.. At this moment. I just want you gone from my life… Because it hurts too much to see you and be reminded of how badly I failed at everything.….”
“Fine.” Tommy answers stiffly and he seems to put up a shield and Julia feels sad about that, but she knows him well enough to know that he’s just trying to protect himself. “I’ll be going then…” He gets up, but Julia remains seated. She knows that Tommy would prefer nothing more than just kiss her, but she also knows that she can’t stand the thought of being kissed by him.
She simply sticks out her hand and like two acquaintances they shake hands. Cold. Impersonal. Tommy lets go of her hand and he watches how it falls back loosely on her lap, as if just shaking hands with him had been too much of an effort. He abruptly turns away, suddenly unable to stand being in the same room with her any longer.
Without a word of goodbye, he exits the room and he rushes down the long corridors, with the many doors, all closed and presumably locked. His lungs burn as if he can’t breathe and not even the foggy morning-air outside can give him back some of the oxygen that he feels is slowly squeezed out of him.
He fumbles for his keys, manages to open the door and only once he’s inside, safely in his seat, with the seat-belt in his hand, but not yet clicked in place, does he dare to breathe again…. It turns into a loud gasp and then his façade breaks and the tears start to come…
*****
NEW YORK
*****
“Scotty! It’s so good to see you again. Came here to get me the signed contract?”
“Roy.” Scotty stiffly acknowledges. “I came here because I still have a question or two.”
“Shoot.” Roy jovially opens his arms. Scotty just gives him a sharp look.
“I’ve hearing some things about you that concern me.”
“Well, as long as they don’t speak the truth, right?” Roy winks.
“I hear that you’re underpaying your staff.”
“Underpaying is a big word…” Roy tries to smooth things over.
“You fine them for the smallest mistake…”
“It teaches them to be on their toes.”
“It is like walking on eggshells in the knowledge that you will inevitably break one. Your staff is jumpy and nervous.”
“In this current economy, I only hire the best... I demand the best of everyone.”
“You hire the biggest suck-ups to control those who aren’t financially strong enough to escape their bullying.” Scotty is surprised by how calm he can remain. “You’re not demanding the best, you’re just preying on people who are in a weak position and then make them work with people who have no compassion.”
“Compassion doesn’t pay my bills.”
“Neither does wastage of employees. I want stability in my restaurant, not people dropping out left and right because they are demoralized.”
“That’s easy for you to say….”
“It’s also easily done, if you put your mind to it.” Scotty answers coldly.
“The work-climate in New York is not as laid-back as…”
“Don’t go there. Don’t act like people are lazier in LA, because that isn’t true.” Scotty cuts off Roy, before he can finish his sentence.
“A restaurant in New York will meet a different standard…” Roy tries.
“No. My restaurant. My standard. I don’t care where I put that restaurant, but it will be as I want it to be or not at all.”
“It won’t survive…” Roy warns.
“Well, that’s New York’s loss then..” Scotty shrugs.
“Now, wait, I don’t understand your problem. What do you care about a couple of waiters or kitchen-staff? They’re not exactly irreplaceable and for one person who complains I can find ten who are willing to do the job, for even less money.”
The look of contempt on Scotty’s is so visible that Roy backs away a step.
“Maybe if you had worked as a waiter for 10-12 hours a day, rather than spending money on your dad’s credit-card, you’d know what ‘my problem’ is. I made long days. I’ve been on my feet for hours and hours.
I know what it’s like to serve the kind and decent people who are grateful for the cup of coffee you bring them. I’ve also dealt with insufferably smug people like you. I did some background checking and I spoke to people around me and those who work for you. The stories are awful…. No Café 429 under your supervision I’m afraid.”
“Wait! Let’s talk about this.”
“Nothing left to talk about. I’m on my way to the airport where I will catch the first available flight back to LA. We’re done.” Scotty doesn’t waste time on more words and leaves Roy’s office without so much as a goodbye.
*****
PASADENA
*****
“Tommy, are you busy tomorrow?” Sarah asks.
“Depends. What do you need me for?”
“I’ve made contact with a man who produces a good quality of grapes and I’ve thinking that it might be a good idea to go have a look.”
“Where will it be?”
“Ojai. So, not that far….” Sarah answers.
“I’ll have to see with Kevin first. He’s working on big case and with Scotty in New York, he needs me to look after the kids…”
“We’ll be back by five. I swear.”
“I want to talk to him first, before I agree to come with you.”
“Fine. Let me know…. By the way, is Scotty really going to open a restaurant in New York?”
“Yes. He’s this close to signing a deal with Roy McGraw, who can help him out on that coast. He’s the person with all the ins and outs and the contacts.”
“Perhaps… we could use him as well?”
“Let’s see what Kevin thinks of the contracts. Besides, we need to grow here first.”
“Well, it won’t harm to think bigger and keep our options open.” Sarah reminds him.
“One thing at a time, sis. We don’t want to implode just yet.” Tommy points out. Sarah merely laughs it away and leaves the office, so Tommy can call Kevin and make the necessary arrangements.
*****
“And that is the last of them.” Nora pushes the last box in place.
“Are you sure?” Saul asks.
“Yes. They are fine in the garage. And if by spring I still don’t want to figure this mess out…. I’ll make a huge fire in the garden and be nice and warm for several evenings on the terrace.”
“But….”
“Sorry, Saul, but all this nonsense around William has cost me too much. I plan to let William rest in peace, whomever he used to be or I think he could have been. I’m done digging up old skeletons from not only the closet, but everywhere else.”
“I hope that you’re making the right decision.”
“Yes, me too.” Nora mumbles, taking one more look at the stashed up boxes. A feeling of defeat comes over her. As if she had given up before she had even started. She takes a deep breath. Perhaps she could….?
With a resolved face she turns her back on the boxes and closes the door to the garage.
“Done! No more looking back.” She tells herself. Saul looks at his sister, wondering if she truly believes her own words. Then he catches the look of doubt on her face and he knows it’s just a question of counting down the days until Nora will bring the boxes back in.
*****
When his phone lets him know that there’s a message for him, Jason clicks on it with no further thought. The “OMG!” at the bottom is something he hardly notices, most messages are preceded with the OMG as if people are really wondering if it some message is actually true.
But this time Jason wishes he had been better prepared for what he would see. It is a picture of Chad, his co-actress Winnie Pagett is in his arms and they kiss in a way that leaves nothing to the imagination while the sensational heading of the article suggests a more than professional relationship between the two…
Jason stares at the picture.
“This isn’t happening….” He whispers, but he switches his computer back on and googles Chad’s name. Search for anything within 24 hours…. And there it is. Even more pictures. Winnie with her arms around Chad, kissing him….
For a moment Jason plays with the idea that it’s just a scene from the movie or something, but the longer he stares at the pictures, the less they look like a scene from a movie. There seems to be five different pictures, in various sizes, circulating on the net, but each of them shows Chad and Winnie locked in a heated kiss…
Jason feels sick to his stomach. He tries to ignore the feeling of betrayal, but it’s already growing inside of him… He licks his lips, unable to say another word, his throat feels dry, He even seems incapable of crying. For a while he just stares at the pictures with big dry eyes and then he closes his laptop, because he can no longer bare to watch.
END OF EPISODE 6
If the Gods will allow it, the next epsiode will be up Sunday 24th February. I don't have a title yet.
By Marea67
About: Brothers & Sisters
Rate: G
Disclaimer: I don’t own Brothers & Sisters - written with love, not for money.
Summary: Ingredients: Take a couple of Walkers, add a few Wandells, a pinch of Holden and a Caplan formerly known as Harper, a dash of Altamirano and Whitley, a teaspoon of Byrolt, Paresa and Salazar and (for added flavor only) a Barry&McCallister. Mix and shake…and… watch it explode.
Warning: It is my very own season 7, you guys! Go with it! ;) Don’t complain! If YOU can do better, post your own story! (I dare you!)
***** 4/4 *****
“Hi, Julia.” Tommy bends over the desk to give Julia a small kiss on the cheek. She all but recoils, before relaxing and allowing him to kiss her.
“I’m sorry.” She apologizes. “I still…” She waves her hands about unable to form the words that would make it easier for Tommy to understand.
“I know… I just… forgot… I was so happy to see you… and that you wanted to see me. I’m sorry.” Julia can tell that Tommy’s smile is fake. She sighs resignedly.
“How’s Elizabeth?” She asks.
“Fine.” Tommy answers.
“And…. B-b-billy?” Tommy winces at Julia’s incapacity to say his son’s name, but nonetheless he mumbles:
“Fine as well.”
“Good.” Julia nods…
She stares at her hands, not knowing how to start the conversation.
“Why did you call me here, Jules? Was there something in particular you wanted to talk about?” Tommy tries to help her. Julia takes a deep breath to only let the air leave her lungs slowly.
“I wanted to tell you, face-to-face, that I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t come here for a while.” She then says.
“What?” Tommy is flabbergasted and Julia makes herself as little as possible, almost as if she’s afraid of Tommy’s anger.
“It’s painful to see you come here, hoping… against all odds, that I’m .. better? … different?... I feel like such a loser whenever you come by. I can’t be a mother, I can’t be a wife. I’m just a failure….”
“Jules, with everything you’ve been through….” Tommy starts.
“Stop patronizing me!” Julia lashes out, but she immediately raises her hands in surrender. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry, I know you’re not trying to do that, but…. I’m suffocating…I can’t handle your ‘kindness’, it just… makes me so mad, because you deserve better than someone as damaged as me…”
“Jules…” Tommy sighs.
“Don’t ‘Jules’ me, please, I’m aware that I’m out of control… I’m aware of how badly I treated that little boy. I’m aware of the pain I’m causing you and our kids and those who care about us .. and myself…
I’m aware of so many mistake, so many feelings, so many disappointments and so many irritations that I … I don’t know where to begin to clean up the mess. But I do know that you and your … desire for a normal life… they destroy me… Can’t you see that?” Julia cries. “You, Elizabeth and … that boy.. you deserve the best, you deserve to be a family.
And you deserve a wife by your side who's not constantly on the verge of an emotional breakdown. And those kids deserve a mother who’s there for them. But I’m not person. I just can’t … I’m….” She wipes away her tears. “I’m so sorry, I want it so badly, but I just can’t…. And I don’t want to sit here and see the love in your eyes and the hope to see your dream fulfilled…. And just…. Fail.”
Tommy leans back in his chair. Whatever he had expected - and he has no idea what he had expected - this wasn’t it.
“I… I don’t know what to say…”
“Don’t say anything, just go away and don’t come back.”
“But, Julia… You’re young, you’re getting help, you’ll get through this….. You can do this. We can do this…. You’re my wife…. I love you..” Tommy stammers.
“No…. No… It’s over… It’s done.. I don’t want to see you.. You’re only making things worse…”
“But…”
“Tommy!”Julia’s voice is harsher now. “I don’t want that boy. I only want Elizabeth… Half the time I don’t even know if I want you or if you’re just a means to an end…”
“To get Elizabeth back, you mean?” Tommy asks equally sharp. Julia is surprised. She had wondered about her feelings for Tommy, but she is surprised to see that Tommy apparently also got that the most important link between is Elizabeth.“I’m not stupid, Julia. I want Elizabeth back as much as you do.”
“Yet, … you haven’t done anything to get her back…. She’s still with your brother.”
“Yes.” Tommy acknowledges. “Because, at this moment, I don’t have the time or the energy to look after the kids, have a job, run a household and look after you. All by myself.”
“Well, with me no longer a part of your life, you could make the kids your first priority. Which is what they should be… Which is what they deserve to be….” Tommy sits quietly for almost two minutes, while the silence hangs heavily between them.
“Listen, Julia… I get it… You’re hurting and … it hurts to see me…. And to talk about the kids… or even just Elizabeth… I can understand that you might need some distance between us, that you don’t want to see me for a while… but… how about…when you’re ready…. You’ll contact me?…. and we’ll talk?… See how it goes?…. Slowly. Take a few weeks, a month.. or two… just…” He shakes his head and Julia gives him a sad smile.
“Perhaps that, for now anyway, you should leave the negotiating to Kevin?” Her attempt at a joke is a bad one, but Tommy smiles despite himself. “I don’t know… I only know that… right now.. At this moment. I just want you gone from my life… Because it hurts too much to see you and be reminded of how badly I failed at everything.….”
“Fine.” Tommy answers stiffly and he seems to put up a shield and Julia feels sad about that, but she knows him well enough to know that he’s just trying to protect himself. “I’ll be going then…” He gets up, but Julia remains seated. She knows that Tommy would prefer nothing more than just kiss her, but she also knows that she can’t stand the thought of being kissed by him.
She simply sticks out her hand and like two acquaintances they shake hands. Cold. Impersonal. Tommy lets go of her hand and he watches how it falls back loosely on her lap, as if just shaking hands with him had been too much of an effort. He abruptly turns away, suddenly unable to stand being in the same room with her any longer.
Without a word of goodbye, he exits the room and he rushes down the long corridors, with the many doors, all closed and presumably locked. His lungs burn as if he can’t breathe and not even the foggy morning-air outside can give him back some of the oxygen that he feels is slowly squeezed out of him.
He fumbles for his keys, manages to open the door and only once he’s inside, safely in his seat, with the seat-belt in his hand, but not yet clicked in place, does he dare to breathe again…. It turns into a loud gasp and then his façade breaks and the tears start to come…
*****
NEW YORK
*****
“Scotty! It’s so good to see you again. Came here to get me the signed contract?”
“Roy.” Scotty stiffly acknowledges. “I came here because I still have a question or two.”
“Shoot.” Roy jovially opens his arms. Scotty just gives him a sharp look.
“I’ve hearing some things about you that concern me.”
“Well, as long as they don’t speak the truth, right?” Roy winks.
“I hear that you’re underpaying your staff.”
“Underpaying is a big word…” Roy tries to smooth things over.
“You fine them for the smallest mistake…”
“It teaches them to be on their toes.”
“It is like walking on eggshells in the knowledge that you will inevitably break one. Your staff is jumpy and nervous.”
“In this current economy, I only hire the best... I demand the best of everyone.”
“You hire the biggest suck-ups to control those who aren’t financially strong enough to escape their bullying.” Scotty is surprised by how calm he can remain. “You’re not demanding the best, you’re just preying on people who are in a weak position and then make them work with people who have no compassion.”
“Compassion doesn’t pay my bills.”
“Neither does wastage of employees. I want stability in my restaurant, not people dropping out left and right because they are demoralized.”
“That’s easy for you to say….”
“It’s also easily done, if you put your mind to it.” Scotty answers coldly.
“The work-climate in New York is not as laid-back as…”
“Don’t go there. Don’t act like people are lazier in LA, because that isn’t true.” Scotty cuts off Roy, before he can finish his sentence.
“A restaurant in New York will meet a different standard…” Roy tries.
“No. My restaurant. My standard. I don’t care where I put that restaurant, but it will be as I want it to be or not at all.”
“It won’t survive…” Roy warns.
“Well, that’s New York’s loss then..” Scotty shrugs.
“Now, wait, I don’t understand your problem. What do you care about a couple of waiters or kitchen-staff? They’re not exactly irreplaceable and for one person who complains I can find ten who are willing to do the job, for even less money.”
The look of contempt on Scotty’s is so visible that Roy backs away a step.
“Maybe if you had worked as a waiter for 10-12 hours a day, rather than spending money on your dad’s credit-card, you’d know what ‘my problem’ is. I made long days. I’ve been on my feet for hours and hours.
I know what it’s like to serve the kind and decent people who are grateful for the cup of coffee you bring them. I’ve also dealt with insufferably smug people like you. I did some background checking and I spoke to people around me and those who work for you. The stories are awful…. No Café 429 under your supervision I’m afraid.”
“Wait! Let’s talk about this.”
“Nothing left to talk about. I’m on my way to the airport where I will catch the first available flight back to LA. We’re done.” Scotty doesn’t waste time on more words and leaves Roy’s office without so much as a goodbye.
*****
PASADENA
*****
“Tommy, are you busy tomorrow?” Sarah asks.
“Depends. What do you need me for?”
“I’ve made contact with a man who produces a good quality of grapes and I’ve thinking that it might be a good idea to go have a look.”
“Where will it be?”
“Ojai. So, not that far….” Sarah answers.
“I’ll have to see with Kevin first. He’s working on big case and with Scotty in New York, he needs me to look after the kids…”
“We’ll be back by five. I swear.”
“I want to talk to him first, before I agree to come with you.”
“Fine. Let me know…. By the way, is Scotty really going to open a restaurant in New York?”
“Yes. He’s this close to signing a deal with Roy McGraw, who can help him out on that coast. He’s the person with all the ins and outs and the contacts.”
“Perhaps… we could use him as well?”
“Let’s see what Kevin thinks of the contracts. Besides, we need to grow here first.”
“Well, it won’t harm to think bigger and keep our options open.” Sarah reminds him.
“One thing at a time, sis. We don’t want to implode just yet.” Tommy points out. Sarah merely laughs it away and leaves the office, so Tommy can call Kevin and make the necessary arrangements.
*****
“And that is the last of them.” Nora pushes the last box in place.
“Are you sure?” Saul asks.
“Yes. They are fine in the garage. And if by spring I still don’t want to figure this mess out…. I’ll make a huge fire in the garden and be nice and warm for several evenings on the terrace.”
“But….”
“Sorry, Saul, but all this nonsense around William has cost me too much. I plan to let William rest in peace, whomever he used to be or I think he could have been. I’m done digging up old skeletons from not only the closet, but everywhere else.”
“I hope that you’re making the right decision.”
“Yes, me too.” Nora mumbles, taking one more look at the stashed up boxes. A feeling of defeat comes over her. As if she had given up before she had even started. She takes a deep breath. Perhaps she could….?
With a resolved face she turns her back on the boxes and closes the door to the garage.
“Done! No more looking back.” She tells herself. Saul looks at his sister, wondering if she truly believes her own words. Then he catches the look of doubt on her face and he knows it’s just a question of counting down the days until Nora will bring the boxes back in.
*****
When his phone lets him know that there’s a message for him, Jason clicks on it with no further thought. The “OMG!” at the bottom is something he hardly notices, most messages are preceded with the OMG as if people are really wondering if it some message is actually true.
But this time Jason wishes he had been better prepared for what he would see. It is a picture of Chad, his co-actress Winnie Pagett is in his arms and they kiss in a way that leaves nothing to the imagination while the sensational heading of the article suggests a more than professional relationship between the two…
Jason stares at the picture.
“This isn’t happening….” He whispers, but he switches his computer back on and googles Chad’s name. Search for anything within 24 hours…. And there it is. Even more pictures. Winnie with her arms around Chad, kissing him….
For a moment Jason plays with the idea that it’s just a scene from the movie or something, but the longer he stares at the pictures, the less they look like a scene from a movie. There seems to be five different pictures, in various sizes, circulating on the net, but each of them shows Chad and Winnie locked in a heated kiss…
Jason feels sick to his stomach. He tries to ignore the feeling of betrayal, but it’s already growing inside of him… He licks his lips, unable to say another word, his throat feels dry, He even seems incapable of crying. For a while he just stares at the pictures with big dry eyes and then he closes his laptop, because he can no longer bare to watch.
END OF EPISODE 6
If the Gods will allow it, the next epsiode will be up Sunday 24th February. I don't have a title yet.