Not Expecting to Collide (COMPLETE) - ABP Fanfiction

Chapter 53 - September's End

Bam stared into the flames of the fire and let his mind wander. A noise behind him snapped him back to the present. He gripped his rifle tighter and squinted into the darkness.
"Relax." He heard Birdie say quietly. "It's just me."
Bam relaxed again. "What are you doing up?" He asked.
Birdie came round the fire and sat on the bench across from him. She shrugged. "I dunno. Can't sleep. What are you doing up? I thought it was Bear's night for the watch."
Bam sighed. "He went into town. You notice him acting a little strange lately?"
Birdie smirked. "It's Bear. He always acts strange."
Bam nodded. "Yeah but just a little stranger than normal?"
Birdie shook her head. "Don't you have enough to worry about without adding Bear to your stress? He's fine. We're all fine. And you don't have to be our parent."
Bam smiled across the fire at her. "I'm still your big brother and it's my job."
Birdie returned his smile. "And as a little sister, I reserve the right to worry about you too."
Bam's eyebrows raised. "Worry about me! What do you have to worry about me for?"
Birdie rolled her eyes. "That you're wasting away from a broken heart. That you're never going to smile again."
Bam did just that. He smiled at her. "I'm smiling at you right now."
Birdie tilted her head. "Not really. A sad smile that doesn't reach to your eyes doesn't count." They both stared into the fire for a bit.
"She won't even take my phone calls." He said quietly.
Birdie rolled her eyes and gave an exasperated sigh. "She doesn't want your words, Bam. She wants you. And," she added, "it's already the end of September."
Bam ran his hand over his beard. "But what about you guys?"
Birdie shrugged. "What about us? Are you worried that if you leave, we will figure out that we don't need you?"
Bam actually laughed at that. "We are all adults, well, except for Rainy but look at what we've accomplished this summer - together! Look at how much we have grown as a family under your leadership. We can handle it, Bam. You need to have enough faith in us to be able to go away and trust that we won't bollox it all up while you are gone. If you can't do that, then you're no better than Da."
Bam audibly gasped. He opened his mouth to lash out at her but managed to check his temper before he gave voice to it. Instead he said quietly, "Ouch, Birdie. That hurt."
She nodded. "It only hurts if it's true." Bam thought about her words in silence for a long while. Eventually, Birdie yawned. "I'm gonna go back to bed. You ok?"
Bam nodded without looking away from the fire. "Yeah. Sleep well, little sister."
Birdie stood and walked towards the main cabin. "More." She called quietly to him before she went inside.
Bam leaned back and looked around him with pride. The shipping season had come to a close. The Brown Bros. Shipping Company had wrapped up a very successful first year with business already on the books for next season.
Matt and Gabe had made several improvements to Browntown in preparation for winter.
Under Amber's careful supervision, Noah and Birdie were overseeing Rainy's homeschool studies. (Ami had sent a letter asking Bam to send Rainy and Birdie back to Seattle for school until Billy was well enough to return to Browntown. Bam had given his sisters the choice of staying with the brothers or returning to their parents. Without hesitation, the girls chose to stay in their home. Bam didn't respond to the letter knowing that his lack of communication would be all the answer needed.)
Bam and Bear had one day's work left and the Integrity would be in storage for the season.
His business was in order. His finances were in the black. His siblings were together and safe and happy at home.

Birdie was right. September was over. Now it was time for October.

~*~

Six times the phone on the other end of the line rang mockingly. Bam told himself he would let the phone ring two more times and then he would hang up. "Hello." A deep, masculine voice answered. Shock that someone had answered was first. Shock that it was a man that answered was second. Bam found his voice. "Is October there?"
The man hesitated. "Uh, she's sleeping."
And of course Bam wondered if she was sleeping alone at two o'clock in the afternoon. He wanted to get angry and ask just who the hell he was speaking with. "Is she sick?"
"Uh, no." The voice hesitated again. "Who's calling please?"
Bam sighed. "It's Bam."
"Bam." There was a hint of recognition and a hint of alarm in the voice. "Uh, hi. It's Robert."
In the background Bam could hear some fumbling and then another voice got on the phone.
"Bam. Hi, it's August."
Bam felt a small sense of relief that it was October's brother and his boyfriend and not, well, not something else.
Bam sighed again. "Is she really asleep or does she just not want to talk to me?" He asked.
"Both." August replied emphatically.
"Is she still mad?"
"Actually, no." August said gently. "She's not really mad anymore, although there are still days when she curses your name like a voodoo priestess."
Bam chuckled at the memory of those few swear-words falling from her pretty lips the day he woke her at the beach. "Look, August. Can you do me a favour? I need to talk to her. She won't answer my calls. Is there any way you can convince her to talk to me?"

~*~

No sooner had August hung up the phone then Robert nearly pounced on him. "What did you just agree to?" He asked, eyes wide.
August circled his arms around Roberts waist and rested his forehead against his shoulder. "I can only be the protective older brother for so long. It's time those two got their stuff sorted out. If I have to meddle a little bit to make that happen then I will."
Robert pressed his lips against August's temple. "She's going to kill you." He murmured.
August nodded. "I know. So...probably gonna have to stay at your house next weekend."
Robert grinned. "I think I'm glad I am an only child."