Not Expecting to Collide (COMPLETE) - ABP Fanfiction

Chapter 108 - Leverage

This chapter is dedicated to @Patriciachappelle
Twice.
She will understand why when she reads it. I still can't make the Wattpad dedication thingy work. ______________________

Bam's long strides quickened as he neared the heart of Browntown. He had no idea what he would find when he got there. He knew that his wife wasn't stupid. He also knew that she loved Rainy as if she were were own sister and she would protect her as such. He wasn't worried about October. It was his father that he was worried about. Bam didn't know what his intentions were by returning to Browntown, nor did he know what Billy would use as leverage to get what he wanted. If his past behaviour was any indicator, Billy would use anything at his disposal to gain the upper hand over Bam and his brothers. 
As the main cabin came into view, he paused just long enough to take a deep breath and ready himself for the unexpected.
The scene around the firepit actually looked rather civil. Bam saw his parents first, both sitting on the bench facing him. Ami shifted in her seat to get up and greet him with a hug but Billy laid a hand on her knee and gave her a stern look of warning. Ami sank back down onto the wood seat and cast her eyes to her lap.
October was sitting on the bench opposite from Billy and Ami with her back to Bam. She held Isabella in her arms and Rainy was sitting close to her side. Rainy's hands were clutched around October's forearm like a vice. Bam's heart constricted when he realized that Rainy was afraid. Noah stood to the side of the firepit leaning on his cane.
Bam stepped up behind his wife and laid his hands on her shoulders.
"This is unexpected." Bam said flatly, making sure his voice betrayed no emotion.
"Surprise, son." Billy raised his chin to meet Bam's gaze. "You've taken good care of the place while I've been gone."
"We've worked hard to clean up the mess you left behind." Bam replied, emphasizing the word 'we' to make sure Billy understood that it was a family effort. Isabella started to fuss at the sound of Bam's voice. She wanted to be held by her daddy and wondered why he hadn't picked her up yet like he usually did when he got home from work. Matt and Amber, Bear and Gabe arrived just behind Bam. Stilted greetings were murmured back and forth between the two parties. Bam moved one hand to Rainy's shoulder and she jumped at his touch. "Rainy, why don't you take Isabella to the shack?" Rainy, glad to have an excuse to absent herself from the awkwardness, bolted off the bench as if she'd been shocked and gently took the baby from October. October handed Isabella over and gave Rainy's hand a reassuring squeeze.
Ami straightened her back and watched Rainy intently as she carried the fussy baby away from the group.
Amber spoke up. "Would you like to come inside?" Billy was incensed that he was being invited into the home he considered to be his.
Gabe spoke up, looking very much like a lost puppy who wasn't sure where his loyalty should lie. "Are you staying here tonight, Da?"
Billy smiled at his second youngest son. "Not tonight, son. Your mother and I are staying at the lodge in town."
"We just came today to check in on things and see how you are doing."
"Oh, that's so nice of you." Bam sneered. "But you needn't come all this way. As you can see, we're doing just fine."
Billy nodded. "Yes, you've done well for yourself, son. The word around Hoonah is that you've made quite a name for your shipping business."
Bam nodded, proud of his accomplishments. "With my boat." Billy added just to get under Bam's skin.
Bam, already growing tired of the farce, redirected. "Why are you here, Da?"
Billy's eyes swept across his children's faces. "Myra tells me that none of you have signed the contracts for the season. Filming starts in three weeks."
"We haven't decided if we are actually going to sign those contracts, Da." Bear interjected, making his presence known.
Billy's eyebrows shot up. "I assured Myra that our entire family would be reprising our roles for the next instalment of the show."
"You shouldn't make guarantees that you have no control in keeping." Bam quipped. Billy flashed a smile that gave Amber the creeps. "We will see about that, son. You realize that there is only sixteen days left on the lease for this land. A lease that is in my name. You have been allowed to remain on this land only because I have allowed it."
October saw the opportunity that Billy had unknowingly revealed. "Are you telling me that filming is scheduled to commence in three weeks and the network hasn't secured the rights to the land yet?"
Billy sneered at her. "Oh, don't you worry your simple little mind about that. The lease will be signed in time to start filming and I'll be there to make damn sure that it's leased back in my name again."
He turned back to Bear. "I understand that Bambi will not be returning for season five."
"Rosanna." Bear corrected unconsciously. "And no, she's not. She says she is not an actress."
"None of us are." Noah muttered.
Rainy returned at that moment, being unsuccessful at calming Isabella down. "She wants you, Bam." Rainy said apologetically. "You know you have to pick her up as soon as she hears your voice."
Bam took the babe from Rainy and the hard lines on his face softened. He laid her across his chest and patted her back while shushing her quietly. Isabella stopped crying immediately as soon as she felt her daddy's deep voice rumbling in her ears.
"She's beautiful, Bam." Ami smiled wistfully at the tiny Isabella snuggled into the crook of his thick arm. Ami ignored the scowl Billy sent her way
"Do you -" Bam stuttered, feeling very much like a twelve year old child. "Do you want to hold her?"
Ami nodded and her eyes widened as if he had just offered her the most precious gift in the world. Bam walked around the firepit to where his mother stood up. When he laid the sleeping babe in her arms, her misty eyes told him that indeed, to her, this was the most precious gift in the world.
Billy turned his attention to his oldest son. " I see you've taken over the cabin." Matt eyed his father warily, then nodded. "We'll want our bedroom back when filming starts again." He tilted his chin toward Amber. "Unless, of course, she's with child." Matt visibly flinched and Billy raised an eyebrow. "Is she?" Matt shook his head. The corners of Billy's mouth turned up into a condescending smile. "Couldn't close the deal, huh son?"
Bam could count on one hand the amount of times Matt had lost his cool. Usually it was Bam that let his temper take over. Today was the exception.
Matt lost it. He flew over to his father and knocked him to the ground. Amber gasped at the sound of bone meeting flesh as Matt's fist came into contact with Billy's jaw.
Twice.
Bam eventually and ever so calmly pulled Matt off of Billy but not before Matt got his licks in.
(Later Matt would ask Bam why he hadn't pulled him off sooner. Bam just smiled and said "I was making sure you got one in for each of us.")
Billy got to his knees, wiped the blood off his mouth with the back of his sleeve and yelled over his shoulder. "Ami! Get in the car!"
Ami's eyes widened and she reluctantly gave Isabella to Rainy. "Coming." She called meekly and hurried over to stand by her husband.
Billy then looked behind Bam and hollered. "Rainy, get your things. You're coming with us." Rainy's eyes flew to Bam in alarm. Bam, still struggling to keep Matt under control, looked at his wife. October jutted her chin out defiantly and held her hand up in his direction letting him know that she would handle it. To anyone else, including his father, October looked like she was completely at ease. But to Bam, who knew her better than anyone, she looked ready for battle and despite the tension of the moment, Bam couldn't help but smile at the thought of his pretty wife going to war for the sake of his baby sister.
"Rainy's not going anywhere." She levelled at Billy.
He gave her a smile that sent a chill down her spine. "Rainy is my daughter and I want her with me." He ground out through clenched teeth.
October remained calm. "Rainy is no one's possession."
"She wants to be with her parents. We haven't seen her in months." Billy spat at her. His anger was barely under control.
"Rainy has thrived here these past few months, not in spite of your absence, but because of it. But go ahead, ask your daughter where she would rather spend the night tonight." October smiled serenely at Billy.
All eyes turned to Rainy who stood stock still while she held Isabella in her arms. "I'd like to-" she stuttered. "I want to stay here." Rainy replied quietly and dropped her eyes from her father's hard stare.
Billy's eyes glittered with hatred for October. "How dare you? You witch!" He screamed as his eyes bugged out and his face turned even a deeper shade of red. "You've turned my family against me! I should have warned Bam before you got your legs wrapped around him that you'd be his ruin!" Billy cleared his throat and spit at Octobers feet.
Ami put her hand on Billy's chest and spoke softly to him while steering him towards the car. "This isn't over!" He yelled and shook his fist at October before getting into the car. He slammed it into reverse before Ami was even fully inside.
"Not by a long shot." October muttered before turning back toward the main cabin and putting her arms around Rainy. "Are you okay?" She asked gravely. Rainy nodded and leaned into her embrace.
"What's going to happen now?" Rainy asked apprehensively, her voice muffled by October's shoulder.
"I don't know, sweetie." October replied as her eyes met Bam's across the cold firepit.

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Holy Carpe! Things are really starting to heat up! This is my story and even I'm excited to know what happens next! I'll update as soon as I possibly can. New job starts tomorrow!
XOX -PC