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1000roughdrafts · 5 years ago

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Family Secrets: Chapter Three

Stuck in the Past

Summary: You decide to give everything a rest and drown your sorrows in whiskey, but you can’t help but reminisce about the past. The past that included your uncle Bobby and papa Rufus, leaving your desperate for answers and revenge.

Warnings: slight angst, eludes to sex but nothing is described

W/C: 2.1k

Masterlist/Schedule

Previous Chapter

The bar is practically empty, as they usually are on weeknights, but somehow that settles you. You don't want to be around a crowd of people, but just the few is enough to keep you from feeling alone. There is an abundance of liquor and a few brews on tap placed in front of a long mirror you can see your reflection in from where you sit.

No matter how hard you try to disguise yourself in a smile, the tears are stained on your cheeks. Wrapped around your shoulders, flowing down your back and hugging your hips is a coat.

There isn't a hood, but folds just behind your neck. The chunky coat embraces your sore arms and the sleeves are long enough to cover just below your wrists and aching thumbs. It has a broken zipper, eight buttons and slips for a tie that has long since disappeared.In no way hidden underneath the tattered and torn piece of cloth is a shirt you'd received as a gift. You close your eyes and let a tear go at the memory.

"My God, you're gettin' old," Rufus laughed as he patted you on the back. You turned to him, eyes gleaming as your whole body lit up into a smile. He matched your eager expression as he danced over to the bar, giving Bobby and Jolie a nod as they sauntered over your way.

Placing his hand on your shoulder, Bobby smiled, "my girl." His forgiving face looked deep into your eyes, "what can I say?" With a faint smile and a tear at the corner of his gleefully green eyes, he turned his body to be in line with yours. "You've grown into such a talented and beautiful young lady and I am more than proud to call you my niece."

As you've never been great with accepting compliments, you blushed and looked at the ground. Before you knew it he was pulling you into a tight hug, and after just a moment he pulled away keeping you close with a gentle grip on each of your arms.Your eyes caught with Jolie's, who was on the verge of tears as well.

"You're coming with me, why are you sad?" you laughed.

"I know, I know. I just get emotional when Bobby does. It's not a sight we see often, you know."

"All right, all right." Rufus returned with four shot glasses filled to the brim and spilling of the sweet caramel colored liquid. "Enough of this sissy shit," he said, holding out his hands.

Bobby was the first to take a glass. You and Jolie exchanged a smile and in unison grabbed yours. "That's it! Now, on the count of three," Rufus smiled, looking at you before your happy little family took down the shots. "Oh! Before I forget." He flipped the glass upside down on the table and bent to grab what looked like a grocery bag. "Now, I know it ain't much, but happy birthday darlin'."

Nearly jumping at the surprise, you sat your empty glass next to his. "Oh, papa," you tilted your head. "You really shouldn't have." You looked over at Bobby who was reassuring you to take the bag, "we don't even know when my actual birthday is."

"Oh, shut up and open it," Jolie chortled.

"It's from both of us by the way," Bobby interjected with a finger in the air.

"Like Hell it is," Rufus scoffed, and shook his head before looking at you, "he practically just signed the damn thing. It was my idea."

"Oh, whatever," Bobby disagreed, but they both quit their bickering when they saw you'd pulled it out; an oceanic blue tank top with straps about half an inch wide, that read "Blue's the name, gankin's the game" in snowy white letters. You couldn't help but laugh at the sight of it, but it had become your new favorite and most cherished item.

"Look at the back," Bobby said with his eyes crinkled into a smile. You let out an even louder cackle at the words "raise 'em Hell, Uncle Bobby & Papa Rufus."

"What was the inspiration behind this?"

Looking at each other, their faces melt as if they'd prepared for any questions except that, "uh, you know." Bobby shrugged, "just a little something to remember us by."

"Woah there Uncle Bobby," Rufus uttered a fidgety laugh, "don't go on scarin' her now."

Bobby focused on you and corrected himself, "you're an adult now, so it's 'bout time you and Jolie run off on your own. You know, raise 'em Hell and all that. Give all them bad guys a run for their money," he smiled, patting your head softly. "You have that badge and all the knowledge we've crammed into that clever little mind of yours. Now it's time to put it to good use."

He dug around in the pocket of his old vest, "here's that FBI card with my number, in case anyone wants to play it tough. Don't be a stranger, darlin'. This ain't goodbye, but we're gettin' older. We ain't gon' be here forever, and you need to know how to make it on your own."

"Speak for your damn self. I'll decided when I'm gettin' old," Rufus grunted. "Another shot anyone?"

You are suddenly ripped from the bittersweet memory by the whisper of a handsome man in front of you, "ma'am? Did you want another drink?"

The bartender's eyes are soft, reminding you a little of home; whatever or wherever that is, and if it even exists.

"Just one please," you sigh. "Oh, and don't call me ma'am," you say with a strained smile.

He chuckles gently, "you doin' okay? You've been staring into that mirror for the past twenty minutes it seems." He flips a tall glass in his hands and begins to pour into it a mixture of soda and a sweet, caramel liquid.

"Just lacking a proper nights sleep is all." You know your lies can be spotted a mile away, but it will never stop you from trying.

With a wink, he slides the glass in front of you, spilling a few droplets onto his hand, "well, let this be your last and go on and get your rest, then."

"Actually," you scoot forward, "I was kind of hoping you'd be inclined to spend a little time with me after your shift."

He wipes his hands on a torn cloth without removing his summery eyes from yours. A touch of intrigue sits on his lips that you desperately want to taste. You almost start to regret your forward invitation until he leans onto the counter, dropping his voice to a musical whisper as your faces are inches apart.

"You sure that's something you'd like to do?"The subtle implication of a warning intrigues you further, "why do you think I wouldn't? I asked, didn't I?" You don't lower your voice, nor do you move. You only lift one eyebrow in fascination.

"Do you usually answer a question with another question?"

The air between you gets colder as he steps back to fill another customer's cup.Unable to answer as he speaks with other guests, you ogle over his swift movements. He's got the kind of eyes anyone could fall in love with if they weren't careful, and the kind of arms that carry woes away. Maybe that's why you could find solace in him, even if just for a night.

His eyes flicker to yours and you don't feel the urge to look away, only a warm sensation that radiates from you in a smile. Before long, he's back to wiping the glasses in front of you.With his eyes glued to yours, he speaks out softly, "you seem like the type that doesn't often get rejected. Am I right?"

"Well it doesn't sound like you're rejecting me, though. Am I right?" you smirk.

He lets out a laugh, "I'll tell you, it's difficult to resist that beautiful smile of yours, and not to mention your quick wit."

"So you like a girl with some sass," you joke, flirtatiously resting a hand on his wrist, attracting his attention to your touch.

"You could say that." With a break in between breaths, he places his hand on top of yours. "You also seem like the type to have all the answers. The person people go to when they're in need of a friend."

"I can assure you, I am not that person." You look into your half empty cup and unintentionally contort your face as the rest of the brash liquid slides down your throat. "I'm kind of in need of someone like that."

He laughs to himself while shaking his head, "all these questions and I've failed to ask you the most important one."

"What's that?" You lean back, bracing yourself.

"Your name, darling, what is it?"

"As I know it?" You smile, "Blue."

In the early morning hours as you return to your motel, there is a thick coating of anguish and heartache burning the inside of your eyelids. With blurry vision you scramble for your broken phone and hope for the best.

He answers within seconds. "Howdy, you've reached Garth."

"Hey," your voice cracks through the word. "It's me."

"Why, Blue? I thought I'd never hear from you again. Shoot, none of us did," his tone elevates.

"I know, G. And I'm really sorry about that." You want to explain everything to him, but you struggle to find the words.

"Hey, no bigger than a minnow in a fishin' pond. Glad to hear you're alive. You doin' okay?"

"Not really," you force yourself out of your car and head into the room. "You hear about Bobby?" Of course he has, your thoughts scream. Everyone except for me probably has!

"Yeah, I tried reachin' out, but kept gettin' this older lady," he chuckles gently. "Man was she mighty confused. Some folks at the Roadhouse said you gon' changed your number and skipped town. No one has heard from you since," his voice falling pensive with each word.

“I did and I'm sorry about that, too." You drop yourself onto the bed and try to ignore the aching in your muscles.Your rib cage tightens as you hold back the tears. "I just couldn't do it anymore. After Jolie..." you sigh, "after you told me about Rufus. I - I had to leave and just not think about hunting for a while."

It was a cold night in Whitefish, and even colder after the second phone call. You'd been sitting on the couch for hours waiting for Papa to return. The first call was from him, saying it was just a short thing, "just gotta bury the Okami at Bobby's and he'd be back for dinner."

But nearly two days had passed without any word, and you had begun to worry. All kinds of questions and conclusions were forming in your anxious mind in a way that was difficult to sort through.

When the phone finally rang that rainy night, you scattered to answer it."Garth?" you impatiently spat out.

"Hey there, think we can meet up? I got some... news."

"Just tell me, G. Is it about Rufus? What happened?"

"You at home? I can be there in a flash."

"Seriously, Garth, it's no better in person or on the phone. Just say it," you let out a long breath, "please."

He was choking on the words, struggling to complete a sentence until you heard a faint gasp and then, "he's gone," he said through tears.

"What do you mean 'he's gone'?" You jumped from the couch and began pacing. Anger took over your entire being, from your mind's eye to your words. "He went to bury a damn Okami, so how in the Hell does that turn into 'he's gone'?"

"He went to help with a hunt, and... I'm really sorry. If you need anythi-"You couldn't let him continue. If you heard one more 'I'm sorry' out of anyone you were going to punch a wall.

Coming back to the present, you realize you have more to apologize for that you thought. "I'm so sorry, G."

Giving into the tears, you squeak out, "I dropped everyone because I was so damn selfish. The thought of anyone being in more pain than I was just didn't seem possible. Bobby and Rufus... they were everything to me, my whole life. I thought losing Rufus was bad enough, Bobby's been dead a damn year and I had no idea 'cause I gave up hunting and kept on being selfish."

The words are coming out choppy between the gasps and tears, "I have no one anymore, G."

"That's not true. You're not alone, B. People care 'bout you, been worried sick 'bout you. I'm one of 'em. If you need anything, and I mean it - anything -you just holler and I'll be there."

"Garth, I'm trying to find my family." You sniffle, switching the phone to your other ear, "I want to kill the sons of bitches that took me away from them, but I need your help."

Next Chapter

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