Fanfic: B&S episode 707: part 1/4
Season 7 - Episode 07 - Bad day
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!)
*****
PART 1/4
*****
Starring:
also starring
*****
04.07 am
*****
Jason turns over in his bed. His phone beeps again. Another message… It would seem that his whole family, his little circle of friends and his extensive former congregation had by now discovered that Chad had cheated on him. He picks up his phone and checks the caller. His cousin. Yet another picture of Chad and Winnie.
He hides his face in his pillow. Somewhere deep inside he had hoped that it would be a message from Chad. Something that would indicate that things are not what they might seem, but the silence from Chad’s side of the ocean is deafening. He sits up and checks the messages again. Maybe he missed something? But no. No messages from Chad.
He sighs and he realizes that he’s too tired for this. He pulls the cord from the landline out of the socket and then switches off his phone as well. He wants to get some sleep and think about what he will do in the morning. He pulls the blankets tightly around him and closes his eyes, but he has no hope that he will actually catch some sleep.
*****
05.13 am (8.13 am New York time)
*****
“Mr Wandell, I can assure that as soon as I have an available seat on one of the flights to Los Angeles, I will let you know.” The young lady at the desk smiles friendly and Scotty grabs his overnight bag and throws it over his shoulder.
“Thank you. The sooner the better.” He replies.
He buys a few magazines and sits down to have some coffee. It will be a long wait before something will be available, but with a little luck, he’ll be home by tonight. Back in Kevin’s arms. He can’t wait.
“Are you waiting for a place as well?” An woman next to him asks. She’s around 70 years old.
“Yes.”
“These airports are always so busy. I love to look at the people who walk around and imagine what their lives are all about… You have to do something to pass the time.”
“I agree.” Scotty smiles. “Where do you need to go?”
“Seattle. My uncle died. I hope I’ll be in time for the funeral. Or perhaps not. It doesn’t really matter, never liked the old man anyway, but his family is nice…” She tells him. Scotty manages just in time to hide his smile. “You?”
“Los Angeles, Pasadena….”
“Bet you can’t wait to be back with your wife?” She points at his ring and Scotty feels a bit embarrassed. Not sure what he should answer. As if she realizes that she made a mistake, the older woman guesses: “Husband?”
“Yeah.” Scotty wishes he wouldn’t be blushing like a school-girl.
“Don’t matter, hon. Nothing wrong with that…. Being gay, I mean… My second ex-husband was like that…. Gay...” She shrugs. “Nice guy…. Dead however.”
“Really?” Scotty asks, caught between being horrified and amused. She nods slowly and her cheerful face becomes sad.
“They never told us how dangerous it was… In the 80s…. Aids…. He was a good guy… Didn’t deserve the death he got…. Is your husband a good guy?”
“The best.” Scotty answers with a loving smile.”
“Hold on to that one then. Good guys are hard to find.” She nods at her own advice.
“Oh, I plan to hold on to him.” Scotty says.
“I bet that he can’t wait for you to come home.” Her words are kind and Scotty bites his lower lip, before shyly admitting:
“I haven’t told him yet.”
“Oh?”
“I came to New York to make a deal and it fell through. I chose not to go ahead with it. I haven’t had the nerve to tell him yet. He was so looking forward to me getting my own restaurant here. I feel like him let him down. That maybe he will get upset with me, because I’ve wasted so much time on something that just …. It didn’t feel right in the end.”
“Oh, honey, I think if you would tell him, that it just wasn’t right for you, he’d understand.”
“I think I will. I hope he will. He’s more practical than I am, I’m … I’m more the emotional one.” It sounds almost apologetic and the woman gently taps on his knee.
“Honey, don’t let that worry you. I think he knows you better than you think and if you - emotionally - feel that it won’t work, then his practical side will come to the same conclusion.” Scotty laughs quietly. She’s right about that.
“I’m sure that he will forgive me… eventually.”
“How could he not? All you have to do is show him that gorgeous smile of yours.” She gives him a wink and Scotty starts to laugh.
“So, are you going to call him?”
“No…. I’ll think I’ll surprise him… I have no idea when I can take a flight or at what time I’ll be home… I guess, a surprise will be more fun.”
“I hope so, dear.” She grins.
*****
06.15 am
*****
Tommy enters the kitchen.
“Thanks that I could use your bathroom for a quick shower.” He says to Kevin.
“You’re welcome. Our bathroom is further away from the kids than the family-bathroom, so at least you wouldn’t wake the kids just yet.”
“Elizabeth is asleep, that’s for sure. So is Billy.”
“Good...”
“I will be home in time. Sarah said we should be back by five.”
“Just fine. And then you will take care of the kids….?
“… While you prep your case… I know.” Tommy laughs.”Real big deal, huh?”
“The client was sent to us through Wright & Duprée. Carter and I think, that they think that we can’t win this case. So, if we can, it would certainly give us some more prestige. We now rely on successes and we need them desperately.”
“You think you can win?”
“Well, I don’t think that Wright and Duprée would have sent them to us, if they thought they could win it. No, it’s a tough one. I can’t find the right angle on how to defend the case. The client is such an unpleasant person.”
“But you believe that you can win?”
“I have to believe that.” Kevin grins. “So, I’m going to have to really sink my teeth into this one and … tear everything apart….” He makes a growling noise and Tommy laughs and shakes his head.
“Sounds all very carnivorous to me….. Have you heard from Scotty?”
“No. I suppose he’s still negotiating or just having fun in New York. He texted me that he would go to bed early. Said he had a headache. I suppose he’ll get back to me, when he’s up.”
“Shouldn’t he be up by now?”
“Well, yes, but maybe he doesn’t realize yet, that I am up as well.”
“You wouldn’t happen to have a tie that goes with this shirt, would you? I can’t seem to find the one I was looking for and that the one I have here, has a large stain.”
“Yeah, I might… Here, eat your breakfast, while I have a look.” Kevin disappears and Tommy quickly takes a bite from the sandwich that Kevin prepared for him.
“How’s this one?” Kevin comes back with a beautiful black tie, but also two other ties between his fingers that he tries against Tommy’s shirt.
“No, the black on is the best. Be gentle with it. It was a gift from Scotty.”
“I’ll guard it with my life…” Tommy jokes, but when he tries to tie it, it just doesn’t work. Kevin steps closer and helps him.
“Thanks, I don’t understand why I’m so nervous.” Tommy says.
“It’s been a long time since you’ve done this. Selling the idea of Ojai, trying to bring in a customer, Sarah looking over your shoulder….”
“Don’t remind me. How come that you can stay so calm?”
“I’m not calm. I’m still asleep, just running on automatic pilot.” Kevin jokes.
“Well, that explains a lot.” Tommy grins. “Are you sure you’re going to be alright?”
“Yeah, go. Jordan will come here and take over and then I’ll lock myself in Mateo’s room and get ready for my case.” This reminds Tommy that Kevin can’t work in his own office, because Tommy is sleeping there with Billy.
“I’m sorry.” He says therefore. “For overtaking your office here in your house.”
“Hey, that’s family is for... Do you have everything?”
“I think so. I packed my briefcase last night….. I’m nervous.”
“Don’t be. You’ll do just fine.” Kevin encourages Tommy.
*****
07.02 am
*****
Cleo turns to her other side. Her alarm woke her up half an hour ago, but she can’t find the energy to get out of bed just yet and start her daily routine. In her mind she goes over all the persons working for the June Flower. It bothers her that they can’t catch their thief.
If it’s not the maids and not the clients… Then there’s only Tyler and her… She knows for sure that she’s not a thief and she cannot imagine that Tyler would do it either… But then: Who? … Why? …. How? Why didn’t that person walk into the set traps? How can he or she be interested in a watch, but not a wallet or a necklace?
Have they been too obvious? Did the thief guess and just chose not to take a chance? Frustrated she turns on her back and looks at the ceiling, when an idea hits her. It is too stupid to even consider but… it makes sense. She ignores the fluttering feeling in her stomach. No. She can’t be right.
But … She sits up and thinks it over, fully awake now. It makes sense. It’s not a figment of her imagination. It actually all fits. But it can’t …. Why? She grabs her phone.
“Tyler? I’m glad you’re already at work… I Mr Brooks gone already? … Good, keep him there. I think I know who our thief is.”
*****
07.08 am
*****
“Sarah’s here.” Kevin opens the door before Sarah can ring.
“Ah, you guys are up already.” She says, when she sees that Daniel, Elizabeth, Olivia and Mateo are having breakfast. Even though Olivia and Elizabeth don't seem to be too hungry.
Tommy and Kevin give each other a glance. Why wouldn’t they be up on a work-day?
“We had agreed that you’d pick me up at seven, right?” Tommy asks.
“Yes. I just thought that maybe … I don’t know… You’ve been so busy lately, running from place to the other that … Forget it. I don’t know what I was thinking.” She shrugs it off.
“I’ll get my briefcase and we’re out of here.” Tommy answers, ignoring the feeling that somehow Sarah is criticizing him.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if one of these days, Tommy will just collapse or run off again. He’s so tense.”
“He’s trying to do what is best for Julia, Billy and Elizabeth. Those are conflicting interests that he needs to deal with and he has to work as well….”
“Kevin, you should really push him more into becoming more independent. He needs to build up his life again.”
“What do you think he’s doing right now?”
“Leaning on you and Scotty. You’re making things too easy for him.”
“Too easy? I don’t think so. He’s carrying his own weight around here. I’m not going to do all the work for him. And neither is Scotty. We’re just the safety-net.”
Sarah opens her mouth, but then decides not to say anything more, because Tommy comes back. She watches him kiss Elizabeth and she hears how he warns her to be nice to her uncle.
“Billy is waking up, but not quite there yet…” Tommy tells Kevin, who nods that he got the message.
“Jordan will be here in 10 minutes. He’ll help me with Billy and Daniel today.”
“Alright. See you at five.”
“Be on time. I really need you here on time.” Kevin warns.
“Will do.” Tommy promises and then he’s gone.
*****
07.28 am
*****
Kevin gentry rocks Billy in his arms, while he watches the car that picked up Olivia speed away, glad that it wasn’t his turn to drive the kids to school today.
“Well, that was the last of them, time for your bottle.” He tells Billy, placing him back in his crib and giving him his bottle.
He smiles and caresses Billy’s face, who smiles back at him past his bottle.
“Daddy? Socks.” Kevin turns around to help Daniel with his socks.
“We should buy you new ones. You’re growing out of these…”
“I’m a big boy.”
“Yes. You are, sweetheart. Now that Billy is busy for a few minutes, shall we quickly…?” Before Kevin finishes his sentence, his phone starts to beep and Billy picks it up and presses the 'on' button.
“Hello, this is Daniel. Wait please.” He has his words well-rehearsed and then he runs over to his dad to hand him the phone. “Telephone.” He points out and Kevin bites his lip so that he won’t laugh.
“You’re such a Walker.” Kevin compliments his son and ruffles his hair. “Who is it?” He then asks.
“I dunno.” Daniel shrugs. He’s more interested in pushing the button than in finding out who is on the phone. He runs over to Billy to watch him drink his bottle.
“Kevin Walker.” Kevin answers his call with a smile.
“Kev, it’s Jordan.” Jordan’s voice is nothing more than a whisper.
“What’s going on?” Kevin frowns. “You sound terrible.”
“I don’t know. I’ve been up half the night, feeling sick and throwing up. I don’t think it’s wise if I’m around the kids today.”
“No. No. I can see that.” Kevin agrees.
“I’m sorry. I know it’s inconvenient.”
“Don’t be silly. If you’re sick, you’re sick. I’m home all day anyway. Don’t worry about it. Just go back to bed and sleep. Usually the best remedy.” Kevin tells him. Putting his phone down he turns to the two boys.
“Well, uncle Jordan is sick.” Kevin announces. He watches how Daniel gives Billy back the bottle, that had rolled away and he’s surprised by how caring Daniel is towards Billy. “We’re on our own.” He tells his son, who looks up at him and gives him a confident smile as if he expects that his dad will be just fine.
*****
End of part 1/4
**** COMMERCIAL BREAK****
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!)
*****
PART 1/4
*****
Starring:
also starring
*****
04.07 am
*****
Jason turns over in his bed. His phone beeps again. Another message… It would seem that his whole family, his little circle of friends and his extensive former congregation had by now discovered that Chad had cheated on him. He picks up his phone and checks the caller. His cousin. Yet another picture of Chad and Winnie.
He hides his face in his pillow. Somewhere deep inside he had hoped that it would be a message from Chad. Something that would indicate that things are not what they might seem, but the silence from Chad’s side of the ocean is deafening. He sits up and checks the messages again. Maybe he missed something? But no. No messages from Chad.
He sighs and he realizes that he’s too tired for this. He pulls the cord from the landline out of the socket and then switches off his phone as well. He wants to get some sleep and think about what he will do in the morning. He pulls the blankets tightly around him and closes his eyes, but he has no hope that he will actually catch some sleep.
*****
05.13 am (8.13 am New York time)
*****
“Mr Wandell, I can assure that as soon as I have an available seat on one of the flights to Los Angeles, I will let you know.” The young lady at the desk smiles friendly and Scotty grabs his overnight bag and throws it over his shoulder.
“Thank you. The sooner the better.” He replies.
He buys a few magazines and sits down to have some coffee. It will be a long wait before something will be available, but with a little luck, he’ll be home by tonight. Back in Kevin’s arms. He can’t wait.
“Are you waiting for a place as well?” An woman next to him asks. She’s around 70 years old.
“Yes.”
“These airports are always so busy. I love to look at the people who walk around and imagine what their lives are all about… You have to do something to pass the time.”
“I agree.” Scotty smiles. “Where do you need to go?”
“Seattle. My uncle died. I hope I’ll be in time for the funeral. Or perhaps not. It doesn’t really matter, never liked the old man anyway, but his family is nice…” She tells him. Scotty manages just in time to hide his smile. “You?”
“Los Angeles, Pasadena….”
“Bet you can’t wait to be back with your wife?” She points at his ring and Scotty feels a bit embarrassed. Not sure what he should answer. As if she realizes that she made a mistake, the older woman guesses: “Husband?”
“Yeah.” Scotty wishes he wouldn’t be blushing like a school-girl.
“Don’t matter, hon. Nothing wrong with that…. Being gay, I mean… My second ex-husband was like that…. Gay...” She shrugs. “Nice guy…. Dead however.”
“Really?” Scotty asks, caught between being horrified and amused. She nods slowly and her cheerful face becomes sad.
“They never told us how dangerous it was… In the 80s…. Aids…. He was a good guy… Didn’t deserve the death he got…. Is your husband a good guy?”
“The best.” Scotty answers with a loving smile.”
“Hold on to that one then. Good guys are hard to find.” She nods at her own advice.
“Oh, I plan to hold on to him.” Scotty says.
“I bet that he can’t wait for you to come home.” Her words are kind and Scotty bites his lower lip, before shyly admitting:
“I haven’t told him yet.”
“Oh?”
“I came to New York to make a deal and it fell through. I chose not to go ahead with it. I haven’t had the nerve to tell him yet. He was so looking forward to me getting my own restaurant here. I feel like him let him down. That maybe he will get upset with me, because I’ve wasted so much time on something that just …. It didn’t feel right in the end.”
“Oh, honey, I think if you would tell him, that it just wasn’t right for you, he’d understand.”
“I think I will. I hope he will. He’s more practical than I am, I’m … I’m more the emotional one.” It sounds almost apologetic and the woman gently taps on his knee.
“Honey, don’t let that worry you. I think he knows you better than you think and if you - emotionally - feel that it won’t work, then his practical side will come to the same conclusion.” Scotty laughs quietly. She’s right about that.
“I’m sure that he will forgive me… eventually.”
“How could he not? All you have to do is show him that gorgeous smile of yours.” She gives him a wink and Scotty starts to laugh.
“So, are you going to call him?”
“No…. I’ll think I’ll surprise him… I have no idea when I can take a flight or at what time I’ll be home… I guess, a surprise will be more fun.”
“I hope so, dear.” She grins.
*****
06.15 am
*****
Tommy enters the kitchen.
“Thanks that I could use your bathroom for a quick shower.” He says to Kevin.
“You’re welcome. Our bathroom is further away from the kids than the family-bathroom, so at least you wouldn’t wake the kids just yet.”
“Elizabeth is asleep, that’s for sure. So is Billy.”
“Good...”
“I will be home in time. Sarah said we should be back by five.”
“Just fine. And then you will take care of the kids….?
“… While you prep your case… I know.” Tommy laughs.”Real big deal, huh?”
“The client was sent to us through Wright & Duprée. Carter and I think, that they think that we can’t win this case. So, if we can, it would certainly give us some more prestige. We now rely on successes and we need them desperately.”
“You think you can win?”
“Well, I don’t think that Wright and Duprée would have sent them to us, if they thought they could win it. No, it’s a tough one. I can’t find the right angle on how to defend the case. The client is such an unpleasant person.”
“But you believe that you can win?”
“I have to believe that.” Kevin grins. “So, I’m going to have to really sink my teeth into this one and … tear everything apart….” He makes a growling noise and Tommy laughs and shakes his head.
“Sounds all very carnivorous to me….. Have you heard from Scotty?”
“No. I suppose he’s still negotiating or just having fun in New York. He texted me that he would go to bed early. Said he had a headache. I suppose he’ll get back to me, when he’s up.”
“Shouldn’t he be up by now?”
“Well, yes, but maybe he doesn’t realize yet, that I am up as well.”
“You wouldn’t happen to have a tie that goes with this shirt, would you? I can’t seem to find the one I was looking for and that the one I have here, has a large stain.”
“Yeah, I might… Here, eat your breakfast, while I have a look.” Kevin disappears and Tommy quickly takes a bite from the sandwich that Kevin prepared for him.
“How’s this one?” Kevin comes back with a beautiful black tie, but also two other ties between his fingers that he tries against Tommy’s shirt.
“No, the black on is the best. Be gentle with it. It was a gift from Scotty.”
“I’ll guard it with my life…” Tommy jokes, but when he tries to tie it, it just doesn’t work. Kevin steps closer and helps him.
“Thanks, I don’t understand why I’m so nervous.” Tommy says.
“It’s been a long time since you’ve done this. Selling the idea of Ojai, trying to bring in a customer, Sarah looking over your shoulder….”
“Don’t remind me. How come that you can stay so calm?”
“I’m not calm. I’m still asleep, just running on automatic pilot.” Kevin jokes.
“Well, that explains a lot.” Tommy grins. “Are you sure you’re going to be alright?”
“Yeah, go. Jordan will come here and take over and then I’ll lock myself in Mateo’s room and get ready for my case.” This reminds Tommy that Kevin can’t work in his own office, because Tommy is sleeping there with Billy.
“I’m sorry.” He says therefore. “For overtaking your office here in your house.”
“Hey, that’s family is for... Do you have everything?”
“I think so. I packed my briefcase last night….. I’m nervous.”
“Don’t be. You’ll do just fine.” Kevin encourages Tommy.
*****
07.02 am
*****
Cleo turns to her other side. Her alarm woke her up half an hour ago, but she can’t find the energy to get out of bed just yet and start her daily routine. In her mind she goes over all the persons working for the June Flower. It bothers her that they can’t catch their thief.
If it’s not the maids and not the clients… Then there’s only Tyler and her… She knows for sure that she’s not a thief and she cannot imagine that Tyler would do it either… But then: Who? … Why? …. How? Why didn’t that person walk into the set traps? How can he or she be interested in a watch, but not a wallet or a necklace?
Have they been too obvious? Did the thief guess and just chose not to take a chance? Frustrated she turns on her back and looks at the ceiling, when an idea hits her. It is too stupid to even consider but… it makes sense. She ignores the fluttering feeling in her stomach. No. She can’t be right.
But … She sits up and thinks it over, fully awake now. It makes sense. It’s not a figment of her imagination. It actually all fits. But it can’t …. Why? She grabs her phone.
“Tyler? I’m glad you’re already at work… I Mr Brooks gone already? … Good, keep him there. I think I know who our thief is.”
*****
07.08 am
*****
“Sarah’s here.” Kevin opens the door before Sarah can ring.
“Ah, you guys are up already.” She says, when she sees that Daniel, Elizabeth, Olivia and Mateo are having breakfast. Even though Olivia and Elizabeth don't seem to be too hungry.
Tommy and Kevin give each other a glance. Why wouldn’t they be up on a work-day?
“We had agreed that you’d pick me up at seven, right?” Tommy asks.
“Yes. I just thought that maybe … I don’t know… You’ve been so busy lately, running from place to the other that … Forget it. I don’t know what I was thinking.” She shrugs it off.
“I’ll get my briefcase and we’re out of here.” Tommy answers, ignoring the feeling that somehow Sarah is criticizing him.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if one of these days, Tommy will just collapse or run off again. He’s so tense.”
“He’s trying to do what is best for Julia, Billy and Elizabeth. Those are conflicting interests that he needs to deal with and he has to work as well….”
“Kevin, you should really push him more into becoming more independent. He needs to build up his life again.”
“What do you think he’s doing right now?”
“Leaning on you and Scotty. You’re making things too easy for him.”
“Too easy? I don’t think so. He’s carrying his own weight around here. I’m not going to do all the work for him. And neither is Scotty. We’re just the safety-net.”
Sarah opens her mouth, but then decides not to say anything more, because Tommy comes back. She watches him kiss Elizabeth and she hears how he warns her to be nice to her uncle.
“Billy is waking up, but not quite there yet…” Tommy tells Kevin, who nods that he got the message.
“Jordan will be here in 10 minutes. He’ll help me with Billy and Daniel today.”
“Alright. See you at five.”
“Be on time. I really need you here on time.” Kevin warns.
“Will do.” Tommy promises and then he’s gone.
*****
07.28 am
*****
Kevin gentry rocks Billy in his arms, while he watches the car that picked up Olivia speed away, glad that it wasn’t his turn to drive the kids to school today.
“Well, that was the last of them, time for your bottle.” He tells Billy, placing him back in his crib and giving him his bottle.
He smiles and caresses Billy’s face, who smiles back at him past his bottle.
“Daddy? Socks.” Kevin turns around to help Daniel with his socks.
“We should buy you new ones. You’re growing out of these…”
“I’m a big boy.”
“Yes. You are, sweetheart. Now that Billy is busy for a few minutes, shall we quickly…?” Before Kevin finishes his sentence, his phone starts to beep and Billy picks it up and presses the 'on' button.
“Hello, this is Daniel. Wait please.” He has his words well-rehearsed and then he runs over to his dad to hand him the phone. “Telephone.” He points out and Kevin bites his lip so that he won’t laugh.
“You’re such a Walker.” Kevin compliments his son and ruffles his hair. “Who is it?” He then asks.
“I dunno.” Daniel shrugs. He’s more interested in pushing the button than in finding out who is on the phone. He runs over to Billy to watch him drink his bottle.
“Kevin Walker.” Kevin answers his call with a smile.
“Kev, it’s Jordan.” Jordan’s voice is nothing more than a whisper.
“What’s going on?” Kevin frowns. “You sound terrible.”
“I don’t know. I’ve been up half the night, feeling sick and throwing up. I don’t think it’s wise if I’m around the kids today.”
“No. No. I can see that.” Kevin agrees.
“I’m sorry. I know it’s inconvenient.”
“Don’t be silly. If you’re sick, you’re sick. I’m home all day anyway. Don’t worry about it. Just go back to bed and sleep. Usually the best remedy.” Kevin tells him. Putting his phone down he turns to the two boys.
“Well, uncle Jordan is sick.” Kevin announces. He watches how Daniel gives Billy back the bottle, that had rolled away and he’s surprised by how caring Daniel is towards Billy. “We’re on our own.” He tells his son, who looks up at him and gives him a confident smile as if he expects that his dad will be just fine.
*****
End of part 1/4
**** COMMERCIAL BREAK****