What If

Back on Track

Brian walked into the familiarity of his father's recording studio, having made it there in one piece. 

He was unsure that would happen after trying to get Jessie where she needed to go. The look on the teachers face after taking in the little girls mismatched clothes and mis-buttoned sweater was one of horror...A look made worse when Brian asked her if he should get a receipt of a claim number for her.

He was greeted by different people, some he knew...some he had no idea who they were, but everyone seemed to know him. He was the son of Guitar Guy...that was so weird that his father was more famous than him.

A cute blond with big green eyes met him step for step as he approached the door the receptionist had identified as his father's office. "Brian, what are you doing? I've been looking for you everywhere."

Brian had no idea who this girl was but he knew he had to play along. "I was just looking for my dad."

The girl shook her head quickly and began walking down the hall motioning him to follow."He's been waiting for you in studio C for the last hour.  He needs your help on the Parker project. He had two musicians not show up because of the holiday and he's down a guitar player for tracks since he has to do the piano piece. Do you think you can handle it???"

Brian had no idea what she was talking about but he could figure that this tiny creature was an assistant of some sort. "Ummm I'm going have to get back to you on that......."

"No, Bri...you probably need to get your guitar from your office and head down to meet him," she commanded.

"My office?" he asked looking at the doors.

"Did you not have your coffee this morning?" she asked "Seriously Junior, get your ass in gear."

"Um sure..." Whatever your name is.

"Lee, you've got a call on line three," the receptionist said looking around the corner of the hallway.

"Five minutes, Bri...five minutes and you need to be in studio. Am I clear?"

Brian rubbed his eyes to try to massage the oncoming headache away. "Yeah, yeah, yeah."

He blinked and then the blonde was gone. The receptionist stood looking at him and he used it as an open chance. "My office?"

"Christmas must have been rough," she said giving him a smile of pity. "Two doors down."

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Brian opened the door and he realized he missed his own studio at his mansion.

Instead of his Schecter guitars and gold records on the wall, his father's recordings on vinyl hung on the wall. Behind the large desk on the wall a picture of he and Kate smiling widely on what looks like their wedding day. A few more pics surround it- Kat on a pony as a toddler, Jessie on the day she was born, Kate's law school graduation...In each picture, Brian's smile is wide and genuine.

"What the fuck are you so happy about?" He mumbled to himself.

He took a deep breath and was about to pick up the Fender strat in the corner and head out of the room but his attention was brought to a plaque on the wall. He moved closer to read it.

Metal Hammer Break Out Stars of the Year
Synyster Gates and  Zacky Vengeance
2005

"Fuck me,"he said aloud. "I'm Synyster fucking Gates."

As he said it the thought occurred to him...He knew the songs...He knew the music. Why couldn't he make it happen here in this glimpse? There were no rules against...Right? That cursed girl said he had to learn a lesson..And he needed to do it on his own time. Okay..So why not take advantage of what he knew here and now? It could make this existence a little easier if he had the music.

He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and found the number he was looking for. He hit send and after a few rings the deep baritone answered the phone.

"Sup Bri," Matt said jovially.

"Shads, I've been doing some thinking and Im wondering, what do you say we get the band back together?"

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After much convincing, Matt agreed to round Johnny and Zacky up to meet at the studio late in the afternoon. Jimmy would be hard because Leana was so protective and against anything that might trigger a relapse. They'd fix that piece if they could figure out how to make the band work, Matt suggested.

Brian was so excited that he couldn't concentrate on the mundane jazz tracks he was helping his father with. But he did have to admit that it helped the day pass faster.

When he was done, he rushed back to his office and made a short list of songs that he thought might ease the boys back into being Avenged Sevenfold again. He'd have to start with the tracks on City of Evil since that was where they left off but which one first...Hmmm Bat Country  was certainly the most popular but he didn't have a hand in writing that one...Rev and Shadows did. OK so start with Beast and the Harlot he decided. His cell phone began to buzz and he saw Kate's smiling face pop up on his phone.

For the first time since he'd landed in the Twilight Zone, he was excited to talk to her. "Katie!"

"Hey Bri," she said "I just have a minute but I wanted to let you know I'd be out early today. I'll go ahead and get the kids."

"Great," he replied with a bit of relief. That meant he'd have time to get with the guys and really hammer down some music. "Katie, I'm going to be late tonight. I've got the guys coming in and I have an idea for some music."

Her deep breath gave away her hesitation but after a few seconds, she recovered. "That's great, Brian. It's something you've talked about for a while and I'm glad...but Jimmy...."

"I know," he cut in "We agreed to hold off on including him...me an Matt...at least until we figure out if we can even still do this."

"I'm glad you've given it some thought," she said relief clear in her voice.

"I really have," he said earnestly. "So I'm not sure how late I'll be...but I promise I'll call you later."

"Have fun," she said quickly before ending the call.

Was she mad? he asked himself. He didn't want her to be angry. Lord knew he had made her angry more in the last two days since he'd arrived. He'd never learn whatever he was supposed to be learning if he kept Kate in bad mood, he was sure of it. He'd make it up to her...right after getting the guys back on track...

He picked up his pen and grabbed a sheet of paper and began to write:

 This shining city built of gold, a far cry from innocence

There's more than meets the eye round here look to the waters of the deep
A city of evil