Old Wounds

by Ren Hamilton

  Klee jumped to his feet, eyes widening. “Fuck that!” he said, and ran, heavy footed out of the room.

  Juris and Shep looked at each other. “Not Klee,” Juris said.

  “No,” Shep said. “I guess not.”

  Margol peered around the corner. “Morning. What’s the news?”

  “Going to talk to a Schlarr,” Shep said.

  Margol shook his head and walked away. “Fuck that.”

  Shep sighed and looked at Juris. “They’re both right. This is a crazy idea.”

  Juris nodded. “Yep. But we’re going to do it anyway. I’m going with you.”

  “You don’t have to,” Shep said. “I can handle it, I’m very persuasive when I want to be.”

  “You won’t get help from a Schlarr by verbally abusing it, Shepherd. We need to ask it nicely.”

  Shep laughed. “I can be nice! Watch this.” He dialed Agent Litner, getting his voicemail. “Hey, Agent Fuckhead, it’s Shep. Call me back. It’s time for you to do me a favor.” He hung up and smiled at Juris. “See? Nice.”

  Juris smirked. “I’m going with you for this. When it comes to luring a Schlarr, two invasive energies are better than one. This isn’t up for debate.”

  Shep grabbed his sweatshirt off the couch. “Okay, bossy. Let’s head over to Litner’s now in case he’s home. I have a feeling we should treat time as a luxury we don’t have right now.”

  Juris looked apprehensive. “Wesley is staying at Litner’s place, you realize.”

  “Fuck! He is?”

  “Yeah. At least I think he’s still there.”

  Shep paused, his fists clenching. He gave a quick nod. “I can handle it. Let’s go.”

  Juris moved to the kitchen entryway and called out to Margol and Klee, who sat at the nook eating donuts. “You guys sure you don’t want to come?”

  “Fuck that,” they said in unison.

  He looked back at Shep. “I guess it’s us. Let’s go.”

  “Watch Joey,” Shep yelled to the other brothers as they headed out the door. “Make sure his dumb ass stays in the house till I get back. Do not let him sneak out and go drinking. We could still be in danger.”

  “Can I punch him in the face if he tries to leave?” Margol asked.

  Shep rolled his eyes, and they headed out.

  Chapter Twelve

  Patrick shook his head, growling in frustration. He looked across Litner’s dining table at Wesley, who was annoyingly composed, blond hair neat and combed, not a crumb spilled as he indulged in the spread of junk food like it was a fancy brunch. “Jesus, Wesley, why didn’t you tell me she was coming over? This is gonna be really awkward!”

  “It won’t,” Wesley said, dipping a Dorito in a bowl of salsa. “Because I told Robin we all wanted to see her. She expressed the same concerns that you just did, didn’t want it to be awkward.” He washed the chip down with beer, then wiped his mouth daintily with a napkin. “But I told Robin that you said specifically that she shouldn’t feel awkward, and that you wanted to be friends.”

  “Said that I wanted...I didn’t say that. I didn’t say I wanted to be friends. What are you doing? This is my life, man! You can’t just go…” He twiddled his fingers. “Manipulating shit. You act like an old man, Wesley. A meddling, crusty old man.”

  He widened his pale blue eyes. “Don’t you want to be friends with her?”

  “Of course I wanna be friends with her. I didn’t think she wanted to be friends with me.”

  “She does,” Wesley said. Then slowly, “And she’s coming over. Please be a grownup.”

  Litner spun into the room, his white hair in disarray, twirling a pen in one hand, phone in the other. “I have some more calls to make, you guys still okay?”

  “Fine,” Wesley said. “Robin’s on her way over.”

  “Great. There’s more beer in the cellar if you run out.” He turned and left the room.

  Patrick was amused by Litner in his own environment, moving around his orderly but cozy house in a gray jogging outfit. He looked shockingly normal out of the suit and tie, flitting around his various filing cabinets and computer screens like a buzzing bee. But then again, Litner did have a lot of work on his plate. He was trying to convince a story-hungry press that there was no killer angel down by the park last night. Patrick didn’t envy his job.

  “Steven sure has a lot of beer in his house for a guy that doesn’t drink,” Wesley said, lifting the cover off the Trivial Pursuit game.

  “He always stocks up when he knows I’m coming over,” Patrick said. “And just so we’re clear, Wesley, what you did—”

  “What I did is make up with Robin for you. Stop complaining and say thank you.”

  The doorbell rang, and Patrick jumped, knocking the bowl of chips over as his hand reached for one.

  Wesley stood, smiling at him. “I’ll get it.”

  Patrick looked up as Wesley led Robin into the room. She looked beautiful as always, her blonde hair a bit longer than before, casual in jeans and a yellow sweater. To his relief, she smiled at him. “Hey, Irish.”

  He stood and gave her a hug. “Hey, so glad you came over. Wanna beer?”

  She glanced at the table. “You guys are drinking a bit early today.”

  “And we fucking deserve it,” Wesley said, handing her a beer.

  She sat down. “I see Patrick has you swearing.”

  “I know,” Patrick said, retaking his seat. “He just started doing that this morning. I guess almost getting killed loosened his lips a bit.”

  Robin looked back and forth between them. “I missed something huge, didn’t I?”

  Wesley sat beside her and clinked bottles. “You did. And Patrick promised we weren’t going to talk about it today. Today is sanity restoration day.”

  “You’re right, I’m sorry,” Patrick said. “Let’s get this game started.”

  “Where’s Litner?” Robin asked.

  “Trying to save the world,” Wesley said.

  She nodded. “Ah, of course. Can I be pink?”

  “Sure.” Patrick slid a game piece over to her. He could do this. He could be friends. He realized he was being a bit overly friendly, trying to show how okay he was with it all. But he supposed he’d warm up to the situation and his nervousness would subside. Or if that didn’t work, he could get really, really drunk.

  The doorbell rang again, and they all looked up. “Expecting someone else?” Robin asked.

  “Not that I know of,” Wesley said.

  Litner came out of his office. “You guys invite someone else?”

  “No,” Patrick said. “Must be for you.”

  Litner answered it. His fingers tightened on the door frame, his entire body tensing. “Um, what’s up guys?”

  “Did you get my message?”

  Robin froze, her beer halfway to her mouth when they all heard Shep’s voice.

  “No, I’ve been on my phone all morning,” he said, then lower, “I’ve got company as well. What are you doing here?”

  “Need to talk to you, I don’t care if he’s here.”

  Patrick and Wesley exchanged a glance. Shep was obviously referring to Wesley...but he didn’t know the rest of them were there. Then Agent Litner opened the door, and Robin visibly flinched when Shep and Juris stepped into the house.

  Both Juris and Shep stopped dead and stared at her. She quickly looked down, fussing with the game pieces.

  “Hey,” Patrick said, not because he felt he owed either of them a greeting, but because the awkwardness was at Red Alert.

  “My office, right in there,” Litner said, clearly trying to shuttle them away from the crowd at the table.

  Shep gave Patrick a quick nod, then quickly disappeared into Litner’s office. Juris glanced back at the table, then followed. Litner looked over at the crew in the dining room, held his hands out in an I don’t know gesture, then went into his office, shutting the door behind him.

  A loud breath leaked out of Robin and she dropped the cards s
he held.

  “Robin, I am so sorry,” Wesley said. “I swear none of us had any idea he’d be coming by.”

  She held her hands up. “It’s okay,” she said, but her skin was flushed bright red. “Just...wasn’t ready for it.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Wesley said again.

  She stood. “I should leave.”

  “No, come on,” Patrick said. “I’m sure he’ll be gone in a few minutes. Just stay.”

  She widened her eyes at him. “Patrick, it’s Shep.”

  “Yeah, I know. I saw him.”

  “Well, what the hell is...” She glanced toward the office door, then sat down, lowering her voice. “Why is he visiting Litner at his freaking house? What the bloody hell is going on around here? And Wesley, why are you so calm?”

  “I saw him the other night. Got that shock out of the way already. Shep and Litner have been working together,” Wesley said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Litner had no choice.”

  She frowned. “Why?”

  He shook his head. “I don’t know if we’re allowed to tell you. I’m sure Litner will if you ask him, but I don’t want to get him pissed.”

  Robin looked across the table at Patrick. “This is creeping me out. The last time I saw Shep he was screaming in my face with his eyes all...you know. Psycho-glowy.”

  “Eww.” Patrick wrinkled his nose. “I’ve seen him do that.”

  “As have I,” Wesley said, crunching on a Dorito. “It’s not pleasant.”

  Robin rubbed her arms. “I don’t think I can handle this.” She looked at Patrick. “How are you guys handling this?”

  “Well,” Patrick said, “Juris or Shep or both had Klee kill one of Litner’s friends during the raid, remember Agent Rourke? And now Litner’s in there talking to them. So I figure if he can handle it, I should be able to.”

  “Litner’s trained for that shit.” Robin shuffled a deck of playing cards, eyes cast down. “And Juris isn’t in charge; he was following Shep’s orders. Besides, it was Litner who attacked Forest Bluffs. I mean, he had a good reason, but still, it could be argued that everything the brothers did was in self-defense.”

  Patrick scowled at her, and Wesley raised an eyebrow. “You’re defending them?”

  “No!” she said quickly. “Of course not. I’m just saying, a lot of people got hurt on both sides.”

  “Hang on,” Patrick said. “You’re doing a ‘both sides’ argument to Shep trying to take over the world and Litner stopping him? Really?”

  Robin’s cheeks flushed. “We should just be glad it’s over and not dwell.”

  “You think it’s over?” Wesley said. “Try delayed. Shep won’t stop until he has the whole world in his bad little hands.”

  Robin looked at the office door again, cheeks still flushing. She shook her head. “I have to go.” She stood, grabbing her purse. “Sorry guys, can’t do this.”

  “It’s okay,” Patrick said, standing as well. “We’ll do it another time.”

  She smiled at Patrick, then gave Wesley a quick hug. “Sure thing, I’ll be in touch.”

  Robin had almost reached the front door when Juris stepped out of the office. She bumped into his chest, stumbling back.

  “I’m sorry,” Juris said, grabbing her shoulders to steady her. He leaned in close, looking in her eyes. “You all right?”

  Patrick frowned. He’d never seen Juris use manners before.

  “Fine,” she said, keeping her gaze on the floor.

  “Obrien,” Juris said. “Litner wants to know if you have Father Carbone’s phone number. He got a new one and Litner doesn’t have it.”

  “Doesn’t have the number?” Patrick said. “He works for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”

  Juris shrugged. “He doesn’t have it.”

  Patrick noticed that Juris still had a hand placed gently on Robin’s arm, and he frowned at him, narrowing his eyes. “Yeah, all right, tell him I’m texting it to him now.”

  He nodded, gave Robin’s arm a squeeze, then went back into the office, closing the door.

  “Bye,” Robin said, waving to Patrick and Wesley, then she was out the door before they could respond.

  Wesley and Patrick looked at each other. “That was weird,” Patrick said. “You see the way Juris touched her? Was that weird?”

  Wesley raised his eyebrows. “I have nothing to compare it to, I don’t know Juris. But yes. I saw it.”

  Patrick stared at the closed office door, his brow furrowed. He took a long sip of beer. “There’s something weird going on.”

  Wesley laughed. “Weird is normal as far as my life is concerned. I figured you’d feel the same at this point.”

  Patrick set his beer down, shaking his head. “Don’t like the way he looked at her.”

  “She’s not your girlfriend anymore,” Wesley said.

  Patrick’s head whipped up. “Well, she sure as shit isn’t Juris’s!”

  Wesley met Patrick’s eyes for a long moment, then quickly looked away, setting their game pieces on the board.

  “What?”

  “What?” Wesley said, still busying himself.

  “What was that look you just gave me?”

  Wesley waved a hand at him. “Forget it. Let’s play this game.”

  Patrick reached over and stopped Wesley’s hand by grabbing his wrist. Wesley met his eyes, looking conflicted.

  “What is it?” Patrick asked slowly.

  Wesley took a deep breath, then looked down, shrugging. “She smells like him,” he said very softly.

  Patrick leaned in closer. “What?”

  His blue eyes met Patrick’s. “One of the effects of Shep’s blood in me is that I can sense...their kind. Because of how strong Shep made his link with me, I in turn can recognize him if he’s close enough. I can even pick him out among his brothers, but they all have a unique signature. I call it a smell, but that’s not really accurate, I don’t smell them with my nose. I mean, I can’t smell you, or Robin, you always just read as human to me. Am I making sense?”

  “No, you’re absolutely not making sense. What do you mean she smells like him? Who?”

  Wesley pursed his lips. “Robin smells of Juris to me. He’s all over her.”

  “Get out of here,” Patrick said. Wesley raised his eyebrows at him, and Patrick stiffened. “You’re serious?”

  He nodded.

  “You don’t think...” Patrick glanced at the office door, then back at Wesley. “No. She would never. You don’t think they...”

  “Yes,” Wesley said. “I’m sorry. But I do.”

  Patrick stood, arm muscles bulging as he started for the office. Wesley grabbed his wrist and tugged him back into his seat. “Patrick!” he hissed. “What are you gonna do, challenge him to a duel? Juris could break you in half with one hand tied behind his back. And also, Robin is a grownup. Even if her judgment is questionable, and I agree it is, believe me. It was most certainly her decision.”

  “Questionable doesn’t cover it!” Patrick whispered. “This can’t be true. Aside from the fact that he’s…him, he’s also Shep’s brother. She wouldn’t risk it.”

  “She went out with you, didn’t she? Shep’s former best friend?”

  “But it’s Juris!” Patrick shouted, then looked up warily as the office door opened. Agent Litner appeared, followed by the two curly topped brothers. Thing One and Thing Two, Patrick thought.

  “I have to go out for a while,” Litner said. “You guys help yourselves to anything, okay?”

  “You’re going out in public wearing those sweatpants, Steven?” Wesley asked. “It must be an emergency. A fashion emergency at the very least.”

  Patrick knew Wesley was jumping in to make small talk so that Patrick wouldn’t have a chance to open his mouth. He glared at Juris but couldn’t find his voice.

  Shep’s lip actually twitched with a smile at Wesley’s comment, then he left the house, his platinum haired brother following with his head down. “Don’t answer the
door for anyone,” Litner said. “Can’t be too careful these days. And if you leave, be very careful and stay together. Lock the house. Key’s by the toaster.”

  “See you later,” Wesley said.

  Once they’d all gone, Patrick stared down at his own hands, mouth hanging open. Wesley nudged him, and Patrick looked up. “You okay?”

  “Are you telling me I got dumped for Juris? Fucking Juris.”

  Wesley shook his head. “I don’t know.”

  “Juris!”

  “Please stop saying his name, over and over.”

  “Holy shit,” Patrick said, hanging his head again. Then he quickly looked up. “Do you think Shep knows?”

  Wesley laughed. “Oh, somehow, I doubt it. It doesn’t seem like something he’d be okay with. Shep’s very possessive, even after he’s ended a relationship, you know that firsthand. And if Juris is smart, which we know he is, he’ll be taking precautions to make sure Shep doesn’t sense anything.”

  Patrick shook his head slowly. “Do you think she’s gone insane?”

  “I think we’ve all gone a little insane, considering what we’ve been through. Let’s not talk about it anymore. I’m sorry I asked her over. I didn’t know any of this was going to happen. Do you want another beer?”

  “I want ten other beers. Why, why, why would she...it’s Juris!”

  “Yes, we’ve established that,” Wesley said. “As to why, who knows? He’s very attractive. And he’s got the same magnetism Shep has. But he’s not nearly as volatile.”

  Patrick leaned back in his seat, crossing his beefy arms. “What, you want to fuck him now too? He’s a maniac! He’s not even human for Christ sakes, how could I get dumped for Juris?”

  Wesley stood up and pulled out his phone.

  “Who are you calling?”

  “A cab. You need a whiskey. Let’s go to that pub you like and play some pool.” Patrick opened his mouth to talk, but Wesley held his finger up. “And you’re not going to talk about this anymore tonight. Deal?”

  Patrick regarded him, then sighed, shaking his head.

  “We might meet some girls,” Wesley said. “Apparently I’m quite enchanting.”

  This got a laugh out of Patrick. He nodded. “Okay, Wesley. Okay.”