Family Above All

7. Uncle Ric

Pairing: Ric/Jeremy (M/m) hand

Mystic Falls Cemetery

Mystic Falls, Virginia

March 23, 2012

Night

Ric parked and walked the short distance to the mausoleums. He and Jenna had found Jeremy here once before when he went missing a few weeks earlier. Vicki, Matt's Donovan's older sister, was passed out from alcohol and Jeremy was cradling her head in his lap.

This time, Ric remembered to get the flashlight from his glovebox. It was dark as some of the lights in this part were burn out or damaged from vandals.

Ric heard voices and saw a small bonfire outside several of the older tombs. As a history buff, Ric loved reading the tombstones and learning about the deceased population of Mystic Falls.

"I had the weird dream last night," Ric heard Vicki say. "Your sister was in it, Jer. I was supposed to kill her so her blood couldn't make these monsters. I had all these super powers. It was so cool. In the dream, I was able to trap her in a car and burn it with fire. The funny thing was the car was Mr. Saltzman's! That's what you get when you flunk me in history," Vicki exclaimed, laughing.

Jeremy slurred, "That's wild. I never dream anymore..."

Another voice said, "Probably because you are always fucked up!"
Ric stomped into the clearing.

"Okay, kids, party is over," Ric hollered. "I already called the cops so I would get your stuff and leave."

Jeremy saw Ric and tried to stumble to his feet.
"Um, Ric, what are you doing here?" Jeremy blurted out.

"Shit, it's Mr. Saltzman!" another boy yelped. He grabbed his backpack and friend and scurried out.

"Still waiting for that essay, Steve!" Ric yelled after him. "And Dave, I'm going to tell the coach you were out here boozing. Go home, guys!"

Vicki just snickered, "Oh, Mr. Saltzman. Don't you have anything better to do?"

"Apparently not," Ric said dryly. "Vicki, does your mom know you are out here?"

"If you can find her, let her know," Vicki guffawed. "Gina, wait! I need a ride."
"Gina, are you okay to drive?" Ric asked.

"Yeah, we ran out of beer two hours ago," Gina replied. "Let's get out of here before we get busted."
Ric grabbed Jeremy before he could run off.

"Not so fast, buddy. You are coming with me," Ric said firmly.

"Ric, you just made me look like an idiot!" Jeremy fumed.

"No, Jeremy, you made yourself look like an idiot. Were you drinking again?" Ric asked, looking around at the discarded beer cans and bottles.

"I had a couple, but like Gina said, we ran out," Jeremy confirmed. "Did you really call the cops?"

Ric picked up a can.

"No, I didn't call the cops, but maybe I should have. This is my brand," Ric said. "Did you take this from the frig?"

"Yeah? So what? That's my house, too," Jeremy fired back. "Don't come here acting like my dad. He never would have embarrassed me like this."

Ric sat down on the ground by Jeremy.

"Jer, I'd never try to replace your dad," Ric started. "But before he passed, you weren't drinking and doing drugs. Right?"

Jeremy stared into the fire, poking it with a stick.
"No, I guess not," Jeremy concurred.