THE DRIVE HOME WAS FAIRLY quiet. Neither of us seemed to know what to say. When we get back to the house we find it surrounded by crime scene tape. This wasn't something we didn't expect, seeing as two agents went M.I.A. with no speculation on where they had gone. This seemed to be the talk of the town though, and that meant my cover was blown. This makes me wonder if we're getting relocated. I have to make sure word doesn't spread too far, that's the last thing I need right now. The thought began running through my head of who all knew where we were and how they knew. Right now there are only so many people I can trust, I am not even sure if I can trust my father or The Bureau. We made the decision before we got out of the truck to keep it secret. When we got into the house we realized that the Bureau was looking into our whereabouts. When we were confronted about our whereabouts we made an attempt to stall as much as possible, and were seemingly successful. When we realized that they may have been testing us we began to wonder if they were. There was an agent assigned to each of us in secret. We realized this after there were new people shadowing us. This wasn't anything we didn't expect. Of course they're going to make sure we didn't crack while we were missing. Plus, one bad move and there could be a bullet in our heads. With that in mind we had to keep a careful guard on what we said and keep a close eye on how we acted. One day we managed to shake them while we were out at the mall, but once we lost them there was a man that approached us while we were still making sure that we had lost the agents. The man seemed familiar for some reason then we spotted one of the agents and carefully flagged them down. We started to wonder if The Bureau was actually testing us, or if we were involved in something that we didn't realize yet, because it seemed like we were becoming more and more involved in something that the feds didn't want us to know about. When we noticed a poorly concealed firearm on the man that approached us in the store we began to slightly panic but kept it from showing. We realized that this may be the bullet that we were expecting, but instead of it being from the feds it would be from someone outside of the Bureau. By the time we managed to get the attention of the agents assigned to us, it was just too late because the man had already threatened to kill us if we didn't do as he said, so we complied and when we walked by one of the agents we signaled them as discreetly as possible. All we can do now is hope he noticed. We hear "FBI stop where you are!" Which tells us they saw us. I hear a shot ring out and it goes through my arm. My vision turns spotty red and I pass out.
***
Now that what I do is out, people are more friendly. I am about to walk out onto the field for tryouts when I hear my name being called.
"VonRichter!" I turn around to look for the person the voice belongs to.
He is the captain of the team. He looks at me for a second, blushing a fair amount. Then he slips a note into my hand, which I look at and notice it says to open when I get home. I look at him quizzically.
"Do well out there. I've come to like working alongside you, and would hate for you to be taken off of the first line. With that he walks out onto the field, leaving me standing there. I hurry up so I don't look incompetent.
As practice goes on, the note grows heavier on my mind. I want to read it, but he asked me to wait until I got home, so I am going to respect his wishes. After practice, the coach tells us who's on the first line. I made the first line again, little surprise to anyone. As I walk back to the locker room to shower before I go home, the coach pulls me aside.
"You seemed a little distracted out there son, is everything alright. Normally when you are out on the field, your mind is only on the game. You had to make some pretty quick saves out there," he stated, looking at me with worry evident in his eyes.
"Yes sir, everything is fine. I got some news from my boss right before practice, so I was pondering that. I won't be that distracted out on the field again."
He looks at me with humor dancing in his eyes. "It's alright son, everyone had their off days. Just try to make sure it doesn't happen during a game," with that he turned to go back to his office.
"Hey coach," I stop him before he gets too far away.
"What's up kid?" he asks, turning back around.
"Why did you take me back for the first line if I wasn't performing to the best of my abilities?" I worry about what his answer is going to be.
"As I said earlier, everyone has their off days," he half turns. "Now if you don't mind, I have paperwork." He finishes turning around and walks off. I go to the locker room and grab my towel before going to the showers. When I get out of the shower, my phone is ringing. I run to catch it, and my towel falls, giving the captain a full view of my body. His eyes widen slightly before he turns around so I can rescue my towel. I missed the call, so I got dressed and checked who it was. It was Robins, who normally only calls me on my personal cell if it is important. I grab the note, my backpack, my work gear, and my phone, before running out of the locker room so I can call her back. I call her back and hop into my truck. "Hey Robins, what's so urgent it couldn't wait half an hour for me to get to the office?" I ask, believing it is urgent, or this call wouldn't have occurred.
"VonRichter, thank goodness. Don't come to the office. Break the SIM card in your work cell, and break your computer. We have a major breach, no information is safe. I have reason to believe we have a mole, so unless it is me or Josh, don't talk to anyone within the agency. Do you understand what I am saying right now?" She goes through fairly quickly, but I was still able to follow fairly easily.
"Yes ma'am, I am breaking the SIM now," I hop out of my truck after ejecting the SIM card, and crush it under my heel. "Are there any further instructions I need to be aware of?"
"None I can think of VonRichter. Do be safe out there. I don't know who we can trust anymore. Well I have to ditch my phone as well. Remember VonRichter, No one likes an aardvark."
"Wha-" before I can finish, the line disconnects. I look up, and get scared half to death by Julien Capo. "Jesus Julien Capo, way to lose your best Quarterback. Don't sneak up on me. I almost had a heart attack," I am trying to regain my bearings when I realize he's crying. "Hey, what's wrong?" I am truly concerned.
"I am worried how you are going to feel about me after you read that note, I don't have a place to call home, and the coach is talking about cutting me from the team," he listed, crying harder all the time.
"Here, get in my truck, I'll take you back to my place, and we can talk about this there. Whatever is in that note, I am not going to feel anything harsh if that's what you are worrying about. But come on, I have to warn Josh about something, so I really have to go," I hop back into my truck, trusting he'll follow. He hops in after me, and I speed off to the house. The ride was quiet, except for the radio, currently belting out the lyrics to some screamo type song. When I get there, Josh is waiting outside, in full gear, telling me Robins already told him. When me and Julien Capoget out of my truck, Josh draws his weapon and points it square at Julien Capo's chest.
"Woah, easy dad. He's not with us, so to speak. He's a friend from school. I checked him before we left the school. He has no phone, and no weapons unless you count pencils, and we have guns, so it would be dumb for him to consider that. Stand down," I add authority to my voice at that last part, and because I am higher in The Bureau, he has no choice but to stand down. This is the point where Josh speaks up.
"In a time like this, you bring an outsider," he speaks with enough malice in his voice to scare a T-rex silly.
"Well, he has nowhere to stay, and we happen to be on the football team together and I think of him as family because of it. Plus, this will be more convenient for getting to practice, and knowing when it is canceled. But let's get inside, we don't know what information has gotten into the wrong hands," I start walking to the house, with my bag and Julien Capo's.
"VonRichter, stop, and let's talk about this for a second. I don't know this kid from Adam. Can you at least tell me who he is, and why you decided to bring him today of all days?" he asks, looking back and forth between me and Julien Capo." Dad, this is Julien Capo, Julien Capo, this is my dad, Josh. Now, let's get inside before we end up shot or kidnapped again please. I for one don't want to experience that again, and they might see Julien Capoas as nothing more than a loose end," I look at Josh and finish my walk to the house. Julien Capo shuffles uncomfortably. I take our stuff to my room, and go back out to the living room, finding Julien Capo hovering awkwardly in the doorway. "Julien Capo, come and sit down. No one here is going to bite you," "Speak for yourself," Josh mutters. Julien Capo looks around for a second, and makes his way to one of the couches. I go to the safe in my room, and grab one of my guns. Safety first, right? I go back to the living room, tucking the gun into my jeans.
"Now Julien Capo," Josh begins, looking at me to support him. "How did you end up in this situation?" Julien Capo looks at me.
"It is okay Julien Capo, answer his questions and we can go to my room and do some homework or something," he's shaking visibly, so I sit down next to him and grab his hand, squeezing it reassuringly.
"My parents kicked me out of the house," he begins. "I told them I was gay, and they flipped out, saying I was a disgrace to the family, and I should be ashamed of myself for not following God's righteous path. They also went on to tell me that there's a special place in hell for people like me. I was told that I was to leave the house and not return. So I left with my school bag and the clothes on my back..." he pauses. I take this chance to grab his hand and give it a reassuring squeeze. This has to be hard for him to say. He squeezes my hand right back, causing pain in my hand. I don't mind as long as it doesn't affect my life outside of this moment.
Taking a shaky breath, he continues. "... I haven't told anyone about this yet, so this is very hard for me to say. I told them about me because I thought they'd be supportive, and there's a guy I like, and I was hoping I could bring him to dinner one night," he looks so sad as he finishes, releasing the death grip he had on my hand, but not pulling his hand away.
"Have you told the guy you like him?" Josh asked, taking the chance from me. "No, but I have a feeling it is not a good idea anyway. If he reacts badly, like I feel he might, it is going to cause me to lose one of my best friends and teammates," Julien Capostops talking briefly and I look up quickly, knowing he only talks to about five of the football players, three of whom were dating someone. That would leave me and Jeffery. Oh how I hope it is me. He changes the subject. "If you don't want me here Sir, I can find somewhere else to be," he looks for his backpack like he wants to grab it and go.
"Son, do you have anywhere else where you can definitely stay?" Josh asks, breaking the small silence.
"Honestly Sir, no I don't have anywhere I can definitely stay," Julien Capo looks ashamed to say it.
"Then my house is your house Julien Capo. I hope you will take care of it as my son and I do," I look up at the mention of me, after examining Julien Capo's hand interlocked with mine.
"Well if you'll excuse us father," I start standing up. "There is homework to be done."
"Um, actually VonRichter, if you'd stay here for a second. I would like to talk to you about what's going on with work," Josh looks pointedly at Julien Capo, who suddenly has to pee. "Alright, now that it is just us. They asked us to destroy our work phones, have you done that?" I nod in response. "Alright, good. Another thing is we need to ditch our work vehicles back at the garage. Do you have anything in your car you need to take out?" I nod and grab my keys out of my pocket, going out to my car. Then I go back into the house, without grabbing my stuff. I walk to the bathroom, and find it open. I look into my room before I hear it. The sound of crying. The sound is coming from the closet of the spare bedroom. I want in, and ease the closet door open grabbing Julien Capo in the process. I sit down and he crawls onto my lap, nuzzling his head into my neck as he cries. I pull the note out of my pocket. "Do you want me to read this now or later?" I ask just in case he's not ready for me to know whatever's in the note.
"Later please," he says, sounding so broken it shatters me.
"Right well, I need you and Josh in the living room, so I am going to go find him. Go to the living room, please," I walk out of the room and start searching for Josh. I found him in the kitchen. "Hey, we have to talk in the living room," I tell him while walking in the kitchen.
"Why?" he asked, looking up from his sandwich. I just shake my head and walk back out of the kitchen. He promptly follows, taking his sandwich with him. As he takes a bite, I begin.
"Alright, now I am sure you both want to know what I am thinking, so here it goes. I think we will return the cars to the building, the three of us. Dad, you or myself will take the front. Julien Capo, you will be in the middle, and one of us will take up in the rear. Dad, how do you think we should proceed? Who's taking the front?" I look at him, and he points at me. "Alright, now Julien Capo, you know how to drive right?" I look at him and he nods. "Alright, we should probably suit up. Julien Capo, I have a spare vest for you. Stay here a second while I go grab it," I walk out of the room, going to my room and grabbing my duffel bag and digging through it for the vests. I find my badge and put it on my belt before digging again. I find the vests and place them off to the side, searching in turn for my holster and tactical belt. I find them, still attached from the last mission. I put them on quickly, moving my badge down to my newly reinstalled belt, before putting my vest on and grabbing the spare then going downstairs again. I throw it at Julien Capo, and pretend not to notice as he smells it. I think I know what the letter is about.
"Hey um VonRichter?" he calls out, causing me to turn back around. "Do you have any clothes I can borrow? I um... I don't have any clean clothes for obvious reasons," a blush creeps into his cheeks as he says this.
"Uh, yeah. No problem, let's go find something for you to wear, yeah?" I lead him back to my room, making sure the safe is closed before letting him in. "Do you have anything specific in mind?" I turn back around, looking at him as he forms an answer.
"Something clean?" he asks looking embarrassed. I chuckle and look through my drawers for something that might look good on him.
"Here put this on," I commanded him, throwing a t-shirt at him.
"Uh, can you step outside so I can change?" He asks nervously.
"Oh don't be so full of yourself. I am trying to find you some clothes, not be pervy," I looked at him with a look that said 'seriously'.
"Yeah You are right, he sighs, turning around slightly. This is when I notice something a little weird...
