by L. Ann Marie
"Digs call into PD, that fuckin car is speeding down the hill again. I thought it would get better with Casper. His fuckin force refuses to work." I'm so fuckin over doing their fuckin job for them.
VP laughs. Digs turns to me, "That's why you're training them. He wants to get rid of the shit he inherited. They're all fuckin union and refuse to leave. With new standards and requirements the old won't be able to keep up with the new and he can get rid of them."
"Thanks Digs. We need to step up the training then. I wonder if we have Brothers with clean enough records to make it through the fuckin academy." They're both looking at me. "What?"
VP pulls his phone. "Later check for Brothers eligible for the PD academy. Fuckin serious. I show there today you better have the fuckin coffin picked. Too fuckin busy to deal today. Yeah." He slides it off and looks at me. "Called a burner phone from New Hampshire."
"He couldn't narrow it down? The whole fuckin state?" I'm pissed, all the fuckin money we spend on fuckin tools and we can't pinpoint a fuckin call.
"Brother relax. He'll narrow it, takes time." VP is smiling.
I move back from the team. "We just spent a fuckin fortune on equipment that the government's been using for four fuckin years. It works faster than what I'm getting here. I have other issues but I don't want to do this here." I look to see no one’s paying attention.
He nods. "You're at Pres' house. I'll have Bob sweep it and see you there tonight at eight." I nod. He walks out. I guess where Pres is sleeping isn't a secret.
Tess
Kate picks me up and brings me to Dunkin. I love iced coffee. She tells me what to expect at the doctors. It sounds like it's worse than anything else I've done but I don't want to give diseases to Rich and Patches. I ask her about diseases in your ass if guys don't use rubbers, she’s going to ask for me.
The nurse takes us through the door. They weigh me, I pee in a cup and the nurse tells me to put a paper robe on. I pull my shirt up. Kate stops me. "What happened to your back? Is that from a whip?"
"Yes. It doesn't hurt anymore." I tell her. It really doesn't.
"How did I not see this when you took a bath?" She's touching my back.
"I don't know. They've been there a long time. They always hit my back hard. Sometimes punch my stomach but it’s mostly my back they hurt." I put the paper on and sit where the nurse said on the bed thing.
The doctor knocks and comes in. She smiles and talks to Kate. When she looks at me she tells me her name, she's nice and smiles a lot.
I lay down like she says. Kate takes my hand. I hold on. The doctor puts things up and puts my feet in them so my knees are bent and open like the Outlaws do. I look at the ceiling. There's a picture with planets and stars. I keep looking up. She puts cold metal in me. I take a deep breath but keep looking up. She's pushing my stomach then says she needs to put her finger somewhere. I squeeze Kate's hand.
She bends close to my ear. "In your ass." I relax. The doctor does and puts my legs down.
"That's the worst of it. The next time you'll know what to expect. I'll do a breast exam next time." She looks at Kate. "We'll talk in my office." She smiles at me. Kate helps me dress giving me tissues to get the goop off my ass.
In the office the doctor tells me everything looks good. I have old tearing that has scar tissue around it but it's nothing to be worried about. She gives me folded paper about self-breast exam and tells me I can do this at home. I read the paper. I can do this. Kate and the doctor talk. She asks if I have any questions.
"Do I have diseases? I don't want to give Rich and Patches diseases."
She smiles. She's so nice. "You have no outward signs of disease. We have to wait for the labs to come back to know for sure. I'll call Kate when I get the results." I nod.
Kate stands, I follow her out. "I thought it was going to be worse." I tell her.
"Sometimes your mind jumps to the worst when it's really nothing even close. I don't love my doctor visits but it's twenty minutes of my legs open for some chick to swab inside me. They tell me I'm healthy and life goes on for another year." She smiles.
"I come back next year? I can do that. Twenty minutes." I nod.
She laughs nodding her head. "We can go to the Bakery if you're hungry."
"No! I can't go there can we just go home?" Please say yes.
"I'll call Patches and see where he is or better yet do you want to come to my work? I have some things to talk to you about anyway." She's not mad so I nod.
Patches
I pick Tess up and take everyone to the cone. The boys hop out, Darren opens Tess' door making me smile. Tess laughs at the building shaped like a cone. He walks her to me lifting her hand to me throwing chin. I bite the inside of my cheek to stop the laugh. They get cones and sit at the table. She sees the plaque and touches the logo. "Like everyone's vests." I nod. She orders a chocolate cone and sits by the kids. I sign the receipt and ask Rena for the total, I pay it off and get the stapled receipts.
Tess watches the whole time. "How come you had to pay so much it should only be $12.45 with the tax?" I look at the receipt for today's total. She's fuckin right.
"How did you know that?" She rolls her eyes. I laugh. "You rolled your eyes at me. Fuckin cute."
She smiles, "I practiced with Ally but didn't try here. It just happened. Did I do it right?" She looks so happy with herself.
The boys laugh, "It was perfect Tess." Little Ben tells her.
She smiles looking proud. "Why did you pay so much?" She goes back for her answer.
I smile. "We charge at the Club businesses. They keep a total for us and I pay it once a month. If the kids come here they can get cones and just sign for them. I'll pay like I did today."
"So if they're hungry they can eat here anytime." She asks her eyes huge.
Jessie takes her hand. "If we're hungry we can eat at the Bakery, the Diner, the Sub shop or the Concession stand. We just get ice cream here. We don't charge much unless an adult is with us. Mostly we get drinks and charge them. Our adults always make sure we eat good and there's always someone's house close, Little Ben's house is right down there." He points to the dock. "Te Jess always has granola bars and fruit. We could just go there if we're hungry."
She looks from him to me. I get it, "If you're out and hungry you tell the person at the register to put it on the LaPonte bill. They will give you your food and have you sign the receipt."
"Tess you can only charge here in the yard. That means the Bakery, the Cone, the Concession stand, the Diner and the Sub shop. You can't charge at other places. They won't know what you're talking about if you try." Little Ben says for Darren. Fuckin kids.
"Good job Darren, I didn't think about that. I'm glad you're watching." I say and sign to Darren. I’m so fuckin proud of these kids.
"We have to take care of our girls Patches. Sometimes it takes all of us." Little Ben says. Tess has tears rolling down her cheeks. They all look at me nervous.
Jessie touches her arm. "Are you happy?" She nods yes, they look at me again.
"What made you so happy you're crying Tess?" I try what Kate said again and just ask.
"They really do learn not to hit girls. I know you didn't lie to me but it's different seeing it." She wipes her face with the napkins Victor ran and got for her. Fuck this gives new meaning to 'it takes a village'.
"We learn from early how special girls are. They're so strong and so fragile like glass. It's up to the Brothers to keep them strong and protect their fragile. We'll always look out for you because you're one of our girls." Jessie says it better than I fuckin can. These fuckin kids have me shaking my head.
She hugs him then pulls Darren in. I laugh as they pile in and do a group hug. Tess laughs that musical sound she has. Fuck this is a good memory for her.
Rich
Patches and Jess are doing laundry. I bring VP and Geek out to the porch grabbing a beer for each of us.
"Steve says you have some concerns about the programs." Geek says
right off.
I look at him, he's been here forever. VP trusts him. "I think someone is hacked into us. We have short freezes on the feeds and it's taking longer than it should for us to get information with the programs we have. I noticed it this morning but as the day went on its happening more frequently."
He looks at VP. "Geek noticed too. Has his own concerns. Kevin at Baxter's will be here tomorrow mornin."
I'm so fuckin relieved to hear that. "Thank fuck. I have another concern. Not one of my fuckin geeks noticed or said anything."
"That was my main concern." Geek says. Fuck.
"I did everything while I was in like VP. I haven't followed code in more than two years. I'm not sure how effective I can be to help with this." Fuck this is the last thing I want to tell them. I should have kept up with this shit.
"You're job isn't sittin behind a screen. You run and train Security. We have Geek to watch the geeks. That's his job. You have no reason to run code. Noticin a problem before I got the call from Geek is a sign that you're fuckin good at your job." VP says. I nod and throw chin. Thank fuck! I've been feeling like I'm one step behind lately.
"You notice more let VP know. I'll wipe your phone tomorrow; you send everything through VP until I get the shield on your phone. I'm not sure that programs safe. VP and Pres are run on satellite separate. I've been trying to watch Security and find the fuckin problem. If you keep watch I can have some breathing room to do my job." Geek says but he's not fuckin happy.
"Got it Geek." I look at them, they don't add anything. "Is there anything I else need to know?"
VP looks at Geek. "Three things. One: Nick is moved to R&R. He'll be gone soon. Sam sent one of his Prospects over to the Bakery so Tess can go there without worry. Two: This is something Digs should have picked up on. He's too fuckin good to have missed this." I know this, which is why I'm so fuckin concerned. I nod. "He's still in Security, his shift ended at five." Fuck! Three: I got something from Jonesy’s locker.” He hands me the bag with a shirt in it.
"Watchin the room and his computer to find out what the fuck he's doin. Geek's headed back to the club. Need a burner phone to get back to you tonight." VP says as he walks to the tv and he pushes a button on the back of it. A section of the fuckin wall lifts, I smile at one of my father's fuckin safe rooms. VP pulls a burner. "Bought on the VA run in Maryland." I take the phone with a laugh. He smiles back. I open the phone and text Geek the number. Fuckin Brotherhood. “Let me know she gets anythin from the shirt.” I nod. “Found the story about her family. The bodies were in the church. She’s 22. Geek got documents coming.” Fuck. I’ll get the therapist to tell her. I have no idea what she's going to feel losing another fuckin year.
I walk them out and find Patches and Tess in the laundry room. We fold our clothes together. Patches teaches her how to hang her shirts with the little plastic strings in them. I smile at them; he's so fuckin patient with her. She's learning quickly. She’s probably done this before but she doesn’t remember or maybe she didn’t have shirts with those things in them.
I tell them about Nick's move. I see her shoulders relax. She was worried. Handing her the bag I tell her I need to know if she feels anything when she holds it. She takes it out and uses both hands to hold it but nothing comes to her. I stick it back in the bag without explaining why I wanted her to touch it. Patches watches her but doesn’t say anything.
As we finish Patches ask what time her class is. She's excited about the self-defense class she starts tomorrow. Kate will be taking her in and Patches will pick her up. Kate has her with one of the shelter women so she'll be comfortable. She asks about going to the Bakery after class for coffee. Patches smiles telling her he can pick her up a little after her class ends so she has time for coffee. She hugs him stunning us both. I laugh at his expression and she hugs me. Fuck if that's not the best fuckin feeling I've had all fuckin day. I look at a smiling Patches.
Geek makes my night better. Digs is trying to follow the programs from the work stations that were hacked. He's pulling him up to the club so they can work together. Fuckin beautiful.
Seven
Patches
Before I open my eyes I register the weight on my chest. I smile, Tess moved on me in her sleep. I promised her breakfast at the Diner. I'm wondering how she's going to handle that. Couple years ago I saw Sam kill a man with his hands, he has a mohawk that changes color every couple of months and his ink covers all but his face. His face has piercings every fuckin where. He's a fuckin awesome manager and his staff loves him. I see him get pissed and I’m fuckin nervous. Lately I don't see him angry. He's got good people and he makes money slinging a spoon. He's a good Brother who would give you the shirt off his back but fuckin scary looking.
Tess moves burrowing closer, her fuckin body is right up against me and my dick notices. Fuck! Like it needs the help first thing in the morning. I think about the kids schedule today. We can take a ride up to Barton's Park and hike this morning. That would keep us away from a crowd and get some energy out of the kids. Tess will love it.
Fuck, I need to get the fuck out of this bed. My mind watches her ass in shorts hiking in front of me. I hold her head and slide out. Putting her head on a pillow I grab clothes and get in the shower before she wakes up. My fuckin hand gets me relief but I know it's short lived. Why the fuck did I say three months. I could go to the club whores but I have no interest in a quick fuck. Shaking my head I dry and dress with a smile, because she's worth it. I have no fuckin idea how I know that, but I do. She's fuckin worth it.
She's up and waiting for the bathroom. I make coffee while she showers trying to think of anything but her bare ass and perfect rack in the fuckin shower. She has therapy at three and an Independent Life class at four. Kate will bring her home. I'm glad Kate is putting her in these classes; she can meet other women and not feel awkward about all she doesn't know.
Passing on coffee she wants to leave right away, she's excited to eat at the Diner. On the way she tells me she rarely went out to eat with her family, like every couple of years. Her father was a pastor; they should have had meals out. When I ask, she says they did go out but they were afraid of her dreams so she stayed at the house. Fuckin family. At the Diner she wants everything. I laugh and get her two kid plates and order french toast so she can try that too. She's bouncing in her seat by the time the food comes. Sam's old lady, Lorna thinks she's cute. Sam brings one of the plates. He put a little bit of everything on it so she can taste what we didn't order. Love the fuckin Brotherhood. She even looked at Sam, not for long but she looked.
Tess
I love the Diner. Everyone is so nice even Sam. Lorna says he's a big teddy bear. I laugh because he's big but doesn't look like any teddy bear I ever saw. He gave me everything though. It's all so good but I can't finish it. I taste every single thing. I like the French toast and veggie omelet best. Patches laughs and slides his plate over, he eats all the food I left on the other plates. He likes everything they make except liver. Yuck, I don't think I'd like that either. I thank him and Sam and Lorna, they smile and tell me to come back and see them for dinner some time. Patches pays at the register.
"How come you didn't sign for the food?" I thought he just paid once a month.
"When I'm with the kids I do. When I'm alone I pay for my meals. The Club would pay but I feel funny charging it if I'm not working." He nods at Lorna.
"You're not supposed to pay because you take care of the Little Brothers. You're just too stubborn." She looks at me. "The Club takes care of their women and children. Patches is one of the guys that make sure they're busy, happy and protected. Because he protects what's important, he's supposed to get everything free."
"Wow you do all that?" I look at him. "Thank you." I'm proud to be with him.
He just nods. He's embarrassed I think. In the truck I ask him why he looked embarrassed. "The Brothers who work Security and High Security, the women who work in the Center. They seem more important than someone like me.
I'm like a nanny and Boy Scout leader. I help at the Bakery and do some Club jobs during the school year but mostly I work with the kids."
"You take care of what the club treasures Patches. That's saying something about you and how they feel about you. I want to do a job like that." I wonder if there is a job like that for me. He just looks at me. "Can I get a job like you? Will people trust me even though I was a slave?"
"When you're ready we can check with Millie, she owns the daycare. I'm sure people will trust you." He says but his voice sounds funny.
I look at him. "I could work with babies. I used to help in the nursery at church." I'm getting excited. I'll be important too.
He finally smiles, "we'll ask." I smile all the way to the house.
The kids go wild when Patches tells them we're going to Barton's. Danny moves me back so I don't get trampled and soaked while they get water bottles ready. I laugh. Danny never scared me even with the eye patch. He's always been nice and he's direct with his words. Like Rich, I always know what he thinks. "Patches is going to see if I can work at the daycare when I'm ready."
He smiles, "I think that's a great idea. You're really good with Devan."
He thinks it's a good idea. "You think people would trust me even though I was a slave?"
"You didn't choose to be a slave and around here we don't judge people by their past. You're awesome with the kids and take very good care of Devan. You're actions are what show us you can be trusted with our kids, not your past. We're very choosy about who we let around our kids and I think you'd be great." He smiles.
"Thank you." I feel the tears but I blink them back. He thinks I'm good enough to watch his kids too. I look at Patches. "I can be important like you."
Danny laughs, "Patches is about as high as you can get for a Brother. Not many men have the patience or blanket of trust that he does. He's proven himself through his actions, whether it's protecting them or shaping them with lessons, he's got the trust of every parent. You'll have an easier time." He smiles at me. "Women are better at caregiving than just about every Brother but Patches and Petey."