The Fire -1-

-S1, Ep5: Chapter 22-

-Chapter 22: Conflicted- 

"Kate, grab his gun." Scott ordered and Kate looked conflicted.

"Don't do it, Kate." Richie said. "You're not like them."

"Just do it!" Scott said as Seth walked up to him and put a gun against the kid's head.

"I'll put one in your pretty head before you ever touch the grip, sweetheart." Seth promised Kate and looked to Scott. "As for you, you take that gun off my brother before the ounce of forgiveness that I have on reserve goes the way—" Suddenly, Seth turned around, pointing his gun at Jacob, who was about to hit the Gecko in the head with a wrench. "Back up! Back up." But Jacob didn't move. "Back! Back!" Jacob backed up. "Drop it." Jacob dropped the wrench on the couch. "Get in the driver's seat! Drive! Keep moving!" Jacob walked away to the driver's seat as Seth turned back to Scott.

"I told you, Seth." Richie said. "I told you. Just shoot this kid in the head!"

"Richie, Richie, relax." Seth said, trying to calm his brother down. "I got this. Hey, Padre, why don't you talk some sense into your son before I have to take my brother's advice."

"Son, put the gun down!" Jacob ordered from his spot in the driver's seat.

"Dad, this is bullshit!" Scott argued.

"I know how you feel!" Jacob shouted. "You want to protect the family, but this isn't the way!"

"They're bullies and they're assholes, and they don't deserve to win!" Scott shouted back. "As soon as we get across that border, they're gonna bury us in the desert, and I know you think I can't do it..." He cocked the gun. "...but I can."

"Hey, hey, hey, hey." Seth said as Richie put his forehead against the gun. "Now, I know that you thought you could. I do. But that was before you had your finger on the trigger, wasn't it? You see, now that you do, you're worried about the consequences, whereas I am not. That's why your hand's shaking and mine's steady as a rock. Because you're not like me, Scott. And you don't want to be." Anna could see the confliction in Scott's eyes. She knew Scott wanted to protect his family, but this wasn't going to solve the problem.

"Scott." Anna said, getting everyone's attention. "Scott, listen to me." She put her hand on his arm, knowing that he was paying attention to her. "I know you're scared...and tired of this shit you're putting up with today. But you're not alone, okay? You're not alone. And it's gonna be okay. Just...put the gun down, alright? Just put it down." Scott slowly started lowering the gun.

"That's it." Seth said. "That's it. There you go." As soon as Scott lowered the gun, Richie ripped it from the teen's hands, causing Kate to let out a shriek. Scott fell back onto the couch and Anna pulled him closer to her, to protect him from the younger Gecko. "Richie, no!"

"I have to do this, Seth!" Richie said as the two brothers fought over the gun. Suddenly, the RV moved forward and hit the car in front of them. Seth shoved Richie back down on the couch.

"Sit your ass down!" Seth said as Kate gasped. "Give me that!" He ripped the gun from Richie's hands and pointed at his brother, like he was a bad dog. "Stay!" Richie sighed and looked at Scott, who Anna let go of once he was safe. "What the hell did you do?"

"My foot slipped." Jacob answered, getting up. "What'd you expect?"

"Hey!" Seth said, grabbing the man before he could walk away. "Where the hell do you think you're going?"

"Are you gonna go out there?" Jacob asked as a man knocked on their window.

"Okay!" Seth said, waving to the man outside before looking at Jacob again. "You so much as scratch your nose or tug your ear, my brother gets his gun back, okay? Got it?" Jacob nodded. "Move." Seth pushed him towards the door and Jacob left the RV. Anna looked at Scott.

"You okay?" She asked. He nodded.

"Thanks." He said.

"No problem." She said. "If I had a brother, I want him to be as brave and protective as you, Scott." He smiled at her compliment. Suddenly, the grunting from outside, caused Anna to look to Seth. "What's going on?" Seth looked at her.

"Old Testament, Princess." He answered before opening the RV door. He reached out and helped Jacob pull an unconscious man as Richie stood up and walked over to them.

"What a fantastic idea." Richie said, sarcastically. "Let's bring another hostage onboard."

"You're not helping." Seth said. Seth and Jacob put the unconscious man on the couch. "What the hell were you thinking?"

"People are getting angry out there." Kate said as her and Anna stood up and walked over to the men.

"The police are gonna soon take notice." Anna added.

"Really?" Seth asked, sarcastically. "Well, thank you for stating the obvious!"

"Don't yell at them." Richie said. "It's not their fault."

"Everybody shut up!" Jacob yelled, getting everyone's attention. "Now, all we gotta do is move the man's car forward."

"So, you're calling the shots now?" Seth asked.

"Well, I don't see you coming up with any bright ideas." Jacob said.

"I-I'll move his car forward." Kate suggested.

"That won't work." Jacob said.

"Why not?" Kate asked.

"I'm sorry, Katey-Kakes, but lying isn't your strong suit." Jacob answered.

"Well, then maybe you should do it." Kate suggested.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Jacob asked. Kate didn't answer.

"I can do it." Anna said, causing everyone to look at her. "I have my..." She reached into her back pocket but sighed. "Shit."

"What?" Seth asked.

"My license." She answered. "It's gone."

"Oh, great." He said, sarcastically. "Just great."

"I probably dropped it in the liquor store." She said.

"Oh, you mean the liquor store that I had to pull you out of?" He asked and she glared at him, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Scott, you're gonna drive the car." Jacob decided.

"Me?" Scott asked.

"Him?" Seth asked, pointing at the teenager. "Oh, that's fantastic. Why don't we just throw the cuffs on right now, then?"

"It's the only way." Jacob explained. "I have to drive RV or it'll look suspicious, and you two trigger-happy bastards have your faces plastered all over the state, so unless you want to answer the officer's questions, Scott's our guy."