The Hunt

8

The final two days before they had to leave were spent lazing around Tom's house. August and Wyatt never told anyone else about his disastrous attempt at getting laid, and Charlie strangely trusted them to keep their mouths shut. Wyatt, because under his bravado seemed to actually give a shit and August because he very much didn't- he wouldn't be surprised if the man had already forgotten all about it.

Charlie crashed on Tom's couch even though the man had offered him a room a million times, he didn't want to blur the lines between them. He didn't want Tom to see him as another child he could foster- he was far too old to smile for any family portrait, he was far too broken to help a lonely man pull himself back together.

On the last day before they left, Tom had requested the whole team to meet at the warehouse. He drove a nervous Charlie to Martyn's Hardware and dropped him off round back. The shutters were already up and a small group of people sat inside waiting. Tom disappeared to grab his 'gift' and left Charlie to gingerly walk to the group.

Sherri barely registered him and Jack tried to look at the floor, guilt flooding his chiselled face. Wyatt waved happily and beckoned him to the empty seat beside him that usually contained August.

"Where's the brat?" he asked casually, trying not to remember Wyatt seeing him a mess only two days before.

"Late, he went home. He's always late if he goes home" Jack answered from across the room.

Tom came running back only a few minutes later carrying a large cardboard box. Sherri hopped up to greet him, excitedly clapping her hands.

"Oh but we have to wait for Augie...I haven't told them, have you?" She asked the older man, Tom gestured and zipped his lips up. Sherri hopped up and down around the box as the others watched on curiously.

The sound of squeaking wheels came from the shutters as a man in his 40's came riding in on a push bike with August standing on the back. He wheeled around Tom before letting the short man climb off. August slouched onto the sofa face first, not bothering to shove Charlie out of his space next to Wyatt. A moment later he was snoring between the two men.

"Morning Landry, how's it?" Tom asked cheerily.

"Comme ci, comme ca...eh" the man had the same dirty blonde hair as August, with deep brown eyes. He watched them all for a moment before Wyatt waved and got his attention.

"Bad mornin?" he asked, pointing to the sleeping August.

"Hoo ya. Boy barely able to get on up. He ain't ever left Louisiana, think his brain is fried" Landry eyed Jack from across the small gathering and nodded to the shutters. Jack seemed to understand and left with him.

They stood barely outside and spoke in hushed voices. Charlie watched openly, nudging the sleeping August with his elbow. He woke with a startle and grabbed Charlie's thigh in fright. Charlie laughed and shoved him, hard. Finally getting his attention, he motioned to where his uncle stood with Jack. August's pale face watched with abject indifference. He shrugged by way of his answer and snuggled back into Wyatt's shoulder.

After a few moments, Jack walked back with wide eyes. He shook his head a few times and sat down heavily, as if the weight of the whole world rested upon his broad shoulders. He sighed, rubbed his forehead then pointed to August.

"He just wanted to make sure August takes his meds while he's away and also let me know we need to uh, confiscate a few things"

Sherri nodded, she eyed the small black bag resting at August's feet and motioned for Charlie to hand it over with a finger on her lips. Slowly, ever so slowly, he began to lift the bag from the man's dirty boots as if a snake was sleeping beneath it.