A Funny Thing Happened in Texas

Chapter 20

It was finally cooling down in Texas and Brian was counting down until filming wrapped for the season. They're last week was the second week of November, making sure that everyone could be home for the holidays. Brian still hadn't seen or heard from Gennie since that one night, months ago in the gentleman's club. For a few weeks he'd basically convinced himself that she would reappear quickly. But then the Old Gotham podcast stopped having any updates on the Fitzpatricks.

But this time he wasn't really drinking away his woes. He was letting himself move on. He'd even gone on a couple of dates and while the girls were sweet they just weren't right for him. He'd also spent a lot of time with the guys over the summer. True to his word, Joe's family had enjoyed the pool at Viridian. And the guys took sailing lessons together. Murr was a natural, Sal was terrified of falling overboard, and Joe kept yelling that he was king of the world.

Brian was ready to go back home. Maybe his place was a little smaller and maybe his friends didn't love as close by anymore, but he missed Staten Island and was more than a little homesick. He was pretty sure the cats felt the same way.

It was a blustery day in October, and while it still was warm, technically, it was cooler in the mornings and warmer in the afternoons. That day, though, rain was in the forecast. It was already overcast and windy, Brian hoped that it was chilly, but when we walked outside to his Jeep it was sadly not as cold as he'd thought. He had learned over the last several months that there was a saying in Texas "If you don't like the weather wait five minutes." And on several occasions that was true. But he'd also heard of Texas tornadoes and found out that they were mostly spotted during seasonal changes in spring and fall.

Overall, Brian was feeling much more himself than he had in a while. He was ready to film the challenge for that day. He was really ready for the weather to turn so he could make a fire in his fireplace. And he was ready to get back to normal life in Staten Island.

He turned on his Jeep and turned on the Old Gotham podcast, now just out of habit.

"Hey everyone this is Pete Danes and you're listening to Old Gotham New Batmen. Its been a while since we had any update on the Fitzpatrick family and I gotta say, I wasn't sure if there would be one. Our vigilante must have been deep in it because things had really calmed down. But I found out late yesterday that the kingpin, Patrick Fitzpatrick, was arrested and taken into custody."

Brian smiled and cheered, "Thats my girl!"

The reaction had come completely unconsciously. His girl? He shook it off and continued to listen to the podcast as he drove to the stockyards in Fort Worth. This wasn't going to be one of his favorite challenges because they would be wearing the blacked out glasses but he figured that he'd at least do better than Sal or Murr.

Set up went quickly and the guys got the intro recorded without too much hassle. Everything was going along as normal for a Saturday shoot. When it was time for Brian's turn he headed down to the street inside the stockyards. He could head Murr giggling into the mic and wished that Joe or Sal would take over.

"Okay, Q, go two steps forward. Now turn to the left and say 'hey pretty lady'."

Brian did as he was instructed and when he took his glasses off he was talking to a tall man in a cowboy hat. He put the glasses back on and followed the instructions that his friends gave. Near the end of his turn, Sal took over.

"Okay, Q, go forward. Keep going forward, go forward. Now turn around and stay still."

"Why? Whats gonna happen? If you guys let something kick me I swear to God I'm gonna kick your asses."

Suddenly Brian felt a pair of lips on his.

"Okay that was better than what I thought was gonna happen."

Brian took his glasses off and saw a woman with long, dark hair and brown eyes looking back at him.

"Gennie?!"

He picked her up off the ground in excitement. Tears filled us eyes and they hugged for a long time. He couldn't believe she was standing right there.

"I can't believe you're here!"

"Everything I needed to do is done. The Fitzpatricks won't be bothering me or anyone else I love ever again."

"How do you know?!"

"Because, I'm in charge now. And that means we're safe."

"So you're in charge of a crime family?"

"Well, we're going to do things differently now. We're going to um, rebrand, let's say. No more drugs, no more crime."

He kissed her. He heard the crew clapping as he held the woman he loved in his arms. The guys, in his ear were stating how happy they were for him.

Several weeks later Brian packed up his last bag for the trip back home. He looked around his rent house one last time, making sure he didn't forget anything or anyone. Once he was satisfied he headed out to the Jeep and gotcin the driver's side. He looked around and smiled.

"You ready, babe?"

Gennie smiled at Brian. Now that she wasn't hiding out anymore he was getting to see more of her real personality and style. Apparently that was tight jeans, heels, leather jackets, and aviator glasses. Her hair was still dark brown and usually straight. She looked every bit as tough as she actually was.

"Hey can we stop at Buccee's before we leave Texas? I need one last pulled pork sandwich."

Brian laughed. Here she was, a tough vigilante and all she could think about was stopping at a giant gas station for a pulled pork sandwich. He absolutely loved her.

"I love you, Gennie."

"I love you, Brian."