'I do not mind the rain sometimes
'Cause that's the only way the roses bloom
In my mind, when I cry, when I cry
That's the only way the roses bloom'
-'Rain' Grandson, Jessie Reyez
| THE BEAR S1-? |
( F!oc x M!oc )
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"WHO'S RICHIE TALKING TO?" BARBIE pondered, glancing through the small window in the door. Having noted Richie speaking to an older woman, his head every so often glancing towards the kitchen with a nervous look in his eyes.
Carmy looked up from cutting vegetables. Furrowing his brows at his older sister. Sydney and Enzo did the same, the two of them having been near enough to hear the blonde Berzatto.
She nodded towards the entrance of The Beef. Carmy's eyes followed her gaze, quickly followed by Sydney and Enzo, all of them looking confused and clearly not knowing who said woman was.
"I have no idea," Carmy muttered, placing his knife down on the cutting board and wiping his hands on the towel that hung over his shoulder. Without another word he headed towards the door.
Barbie glanced at Sydney and Enzo, the three of them silently agreeing to follow after Carmy.
Richie scoffed when he noticed Carmy walking towards him, raising his hand to stop the younger man, "No. I can handle this myself, cousin. I got this," He turned back to the woman, "So...You're not Ron?"
"Ron's gone," The woman clarified, "'Gone' gone."
"Who's Ron?" Barbie asked Enzo in a quiet voice.
He bit his lip and glanced down at her, "Health Inspector."
Barbie grimaced and turned back to look at Richie and the woman. Wincing at the fact that from what she had gathered, they weren't ready for a visit from a Health Inspector just yet. Especially with so many things going wrong in the kitchen – certain stovetops acting up, the water in the washing station not being the right temperature from the get-go, to the fact that some of the older members of the family weren't always wanting to follow Carmy's extreme cleaning schedule.
"Ron's dead?" Richie breathed out, his eyes widening.
"Who's Ron?" Carmy asked, confused, looking between Richie and the unknown woman.
"My partner, Ron Pager," The woman explained, looking at Carmy as she spoke, "He passed away. I'm running his routes now."
Richie groaned, throwing his head back, "Everybody's dying," He muttered bitterly.
"Nancy Chore," The woman finally introduced herself, glancing at Carmy, Sydney, Enzo and Barbie, giving them all a small nod, "Chicago Board of Health. I'm here to inspect the property," She held her hand out for Carmy to shake; him being the closest to her.
Carmy took a small step forward. Shaking her hand, "Hi, Nancy. I'm Carmen Berzatto. I'm the owner."
Barbie shifted her weight from one foot to the other hearing Carmy's introduction. Although she knew he was in charge now that Mikey was...gone. It felt strange to actually hear it out loud. A reminder that Mikey was gone and never coming back. She glanced down at her shoes. Only looking back up when she felt Enzo's palm coming to rest on her back.
She looked up at him through her lashes, sending him a thankful smile as she took a small step to the side, discreetly pressing her body closer to his.
"He's the owner's brother actually," Richie corrected, his eyes cast down to the floor. Hands on hips, "He's also dead."
Nancy looked at Carmy, furrowing her eyebrows and shaking her head, "He doesn't look dead."
Barbie tilted her head.
Carmy shook his head, "No, no. I'm not dead. My brother's dead," He clarified. His voice low and clearly still filled with pain. No matter how much of a front Carmy put up, Barbie could tell that Mikey's death was still affecting him, even though he refused to talk to her about it whenever she tried to. Hoping that talking about it could help the both of them.
She frowned as she thought about her older brother.
She missed him dearly.
Thinking about him everyday, and wondering what life would be like if he was still around.
"I'm very sorry to hear that," Nancy told him.
"Thank you," Carmy nodded.
"Yeah, I'm sorry for your loss, too," Richie said, "Can I, er, see some kind of identification?" He asked, moving the topic away from Mikey and death as quick as he could. He kept shifting his weight from one let to the other, clearly uncomfortable with the topic that had occurred between everyone.
Nancy nodded, "Yeah," She said, reaching into her purse to pull it out and show to Richie. She then turned the badge towards Carmy.
Barbie was able to spot it from where she stood. The badge confirming the woman's identity and job as a Health Inspector.
Richie pursed his lips, "Interesting."
"Is it?" Carmy asked, looking at Richie with a confused and annoyed expression, "W-What's interesting about that?"
"It's an interesting logo on her badge," Richie shrugged, gesturing with his hand towards Nancy.
Barbie bit her lip to not let her amusement slip. She looked up at Enzo, spotting the exact same expression on his face. The pair clearly amused with Richie's behaviour.
Carmy scoffed. He turned back towards the Health Inspector, "Nancy, you need anything, just find us..." He gestured between himself and Barbie, who lifted her hand up in a quick wave, "Make yourself at home, okay?" He told her, walking backwards, "Thank you."
"Thank you," Nancy nodded at him before she turned back to look at Richie, sending him an annoyed glare that made Barbie finally snicker under her breath
"Where's Tina and Ebra?" Carmy asked as he pushed the door to the kitchen open. Sydney following him back inside.
Nancy began to follow them as well, walking much slower as her eyes wandered around the establishment. She sent Enzo and Barbie a quick nod when she walked past the pair.
"No funny business, Ms. Chore," Richie said, sending her a pointed look.
Nancy looked back at him, pointing her finger at him, "You too," She said, then she turned around and walked into the kitchen.
Barbie nudged Enzo's side, "You look nervous," She observed.
He nodded, his eyes focused on the kitchen door for a moment before he looked at Barbie, "Yeah, 'cause I know Mikey used to skim on health and safety."
