Write Your Own Song

Chapter 32

"The cavalry has arrived," Jack muttered as he limped through the door, dragging his crutches and duffle bag behind him.

Angel staggered down the stairs, shirtless, rubbing his eyes. "Hey, Jackiepoo. Shoulda called. Would've come and gotten you guys at the airport."

"Taxi was quicker."

Bobby pushed his way in behind Jack. "Little fairy needed his beauty sleep and wanted to get home ASAP. Think he missed his blankie or something ."

Jack just shook his head, his leg and side throbbing from being crammed in a shitty seat in economy, crying kids behind him, snoring old lady next to him, battery dead in his iPod and nothing to do but stare at the back of the seat in front of him. He used the time to plot a surprising number of creative ways to bring about Bobby's demise.

"Get down here, Angel," Bobby said, looking up the stairs at his sleepy brother. "We need to discuss our plans for tomorrow."

Jack sighed and Bobby glared at him.

"What?" Bobby snapped.

"It's one o'clock in the morning," Jack groaned, feeling like he'd walked a thousand miles to Detroit. "Can't that crap wait until daylight? You know nothing you plan will work out anyway."

Bobby jabbed a finger at him. "I'll have you know that my plans work fine."

Angel, still on the stairs, snorted a laugh. "That's open for debate."

"Kid's still breathing, ain't he?"

Jack cleared his throat. "Uh, the kid's back on crutches and has a shitload of stitches in his side."

"Better than dead."

"Day's not over yet," he mumbled and Bobby whirled around on him, nostrils flaring. Jack took a step back, catching himself before he fell backwards over the coffee table.

"That's not fucking funny," Bobby ground out between clenched teeth.

"Bobby," Angel interrupted, "I think Jerry's kids could come up with a better plan than you two after all the shit you've been through. Go to bed, get some sleep."

"Yeah, well I'm starting to think Jerry's kids are bigger men than the two of you will ever be." Bobby stormed up the stairs, pushing Angel against the wall in his haste to be rid of the two of them.

Angel watched him go by, shaking his head. "You guys have a fun trip?" he asked Jack.

"Remember that time we went camping?" Jack balanced on his crutches and pulled a cigarette out of the fresh pack he'd been fantasizing about opening ever since they walked through the doors at the airport.

Angel nodded.

Jack tucked the cigarette between his lips and mumbled, "Jerry got poison ivy, you got a concussion, I got lost for half a day, and Bobby somehow got arrested breaking into the ranger's station?"

Angel nodded again.

Jack pulled out his lighter and spun it around between his fingers. "I would go on that trip again in a heartbeat if it meant I would never have to get in another car with Bobby."

"That good, huh?" Angel laughed.

Jack nodded as he flicked open the lighter and raised the flame to the cigarette.

"Not in the fucking house!" Bobby yelled from somewhere upstairs.

"How the hell does he do that?" Jack asked, squinting up into the empty darkness at the top of the stairs. He awkwardly maneuvered himself and the crutches back outside, settling onto the top step of the stoop, hoping for a few minutes of quiet.