The Churning Wake

Chapter Twelve - Then

Leo stood with his back to the detective, looking at the room around him. Like in my classroom, there were the tape markings where the bodies had lain, but unlike in my classroom, there was nobody there.

"So?" The detective probed. "What happened here?"

Leo turned his head, looking over his shoulder at the man, "You act like you don't already know."

"I don't." The detective shrugged.

"You do," Leo said firmly. "I think you would know better than anyone, being that you're his brother."

"Me?" He looked surprised. "Me? What makes you think that?"

"Well, hm, let's see." Leo's sarcastic look sets into his eyes, which are burning defiantly. "You talk like him, look like him, lived with him, and are born of the same parents."

The detective was stunned speechless. My mom turned to him, "Is this really true?" The detective spluttered in response, and my mom's face hardened into a scowl. "C'mon, Brianna. We're leaving."

Leo seemed to freeze, "Bri..."

"You're coming, too, Leo," I whispered.

"Miss Bennett! Mr. Vergara! It is mandatory that you stay here."

"No," Leo replied. "Actually, you said that it was completely voluntary, and if we felt triggered, we could leave at any time."

"I'm triggered!" I cried.

Leo nodded in agreement, "Me, too, Detective."

I took Leo's free hand and helped him from the lab. Suddenly, he inhaled sharply, and shook free of my grip, "Brianna... My duty is to the police, not him as an individual, but to giving justice to everyone. I can't leave. It's my responsibility."

That word again. "Leo..."

"No, Bri. I'm staying."

"Fine," I said, turning on my heel and running away from him. When I stood with one set of doors to go to be free of the school, I froze. Through the glass, I could see Mom, with Beanie in her arms, laughing as she walked. A hand settled on my shoulder and I spun to see who it was.

"Baby girl, he just wants to help."

"I don't care!" I tugged his hand from my shoulder. "I don't want his help. I want you." I slapped him, hard, across the face, and when his hand rose to touch his check, which was turning pink, I fell against his chest, crying. "I need you back, baby. You. Not nobody else. You."

He chuckled, his laughter rolling in soft waves through my body. They hit a wall inside my heart and stayed there, sitting right in the middle of me. "You just me to get your life started, baby. You're just fine without me."

"No!" I protested. "I'm not fine without you. I will never be fine without you. You're a part of me, Cole. A part of our princess, right? She needs you."

He smiled sadly, running a hand through my hair. "She got you. Best mama ever."

"Whatever."

"I love you," He said, then his eyes left mine and focused on something behind me. "I have to go. I love you, Bri."

"You, too," I said as he turned and darted away. The door behind me swung open, and Mom stood there, her gaze fixed on me.

"I'm coming," I sighed, defensively.

"Okay. You're fine, just not too long, okay? Beanie is waiting."

"I'll be right there," I said, catching the door she dropped, and walking out. The air was humid as I followed in Mom's wake, mentally complaining about how my hair would frizz up.