What If

Promise

It had been a whirlwind twenty four hours and Brian was sure that whatever lesson he needed to learn was there. It was enough to make him anxious...so anxious that he couldn't help but pace around the house making everyone a bit on edge. 

So when Kate asked him to go to the store for glue, he welcomed the fresh air and distraction. The automatic doors opened to the corner drugstore and he made his way down the Office Supplies section. There were at least 6 different types of glue. Kate hadn't specified so he just grabbed one of each. That should cover it...right...but what if she mean super glue....damn...he took out his cell phone to call her but didn't get a chance to make the call.

"Can I help you find something sir?" the familiar voice asked him.

He registered the voice and looked up slowly. Jamie was standing front of him dressed like a store employee. Brian felt nauseous. "You!" he said loudly. "what are you doing here?"

She looked around "I work here. In my spare time, I mean...gotta make a living somehow...this angel gig doesn't pay a lot in real cash if you know what I mean. Tons of feels...very little money."

"You're not sending me back," Brian said quickly.

"What do you have there?" she asked looking at his supplies. "Glue? Look at you...all domestic and shit. You really figured some things out...am I right?"

Brian ignored her. "I'm not going back."

"Woah...chill out," she said putting hear hands up "Let's not make a scene. Its going to be okay."

Brian shook his head for emphasis "I'm not going back. Do you understand? You can't do this. You can't come into people's lives , messing things up...."

"Brian," she said soothingly as a few customers witnessed his fit. "It's cool."

"I've got kids...I'm going home," he began to walk tot he checkout counter.

She followed "You know what the word glimpse means, Syn? It's not permanent. It's just a quick look."

Brian didn't listen. He showed the cashier his six bottles of glue and threw 20 dollars at her. He turned on Jamie to was close on his heels. "I'm staying."

Jamie couldn't help but feel some pride but even more sadness as he walked out of the door.

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Brian walked into Jessie's room later that evening to find her sleeping soundly. Kate was able to put her to sleep faster than Brian ever could. He couldn't figure out how she did it and now he'd never know.

He leaned in to kiss her gently on the forehead, careful not to wake her. "I love you Jessie. Thank you for loving me."

He knocked on Kat's door next and he found her reading a book, listening to Twenty One Pilots. He smiled at the step up from the music she had been listening to before.

She looked up. "Sorry...is it too loud?"

"Nah," he said standing in the doorway. "Not at all. It's a good song."

"Not as good as new Avenged Sevenfold is going to be," she said excitedly.

He smiled sadly. "I hope so."

"Why aren't you more excited?" she asked "You're going to make a new record. I'm excited to tell my friends...my dad is a rockstar...like literally...not just a old guy that used to be one."

"You tell 'em, okay?" he said hoarsely.

"You okay?" she asked.

"Yeah I'm tired. I just came to say good night...and that I love you."

"I love you too, dad," she smiled before turning her attention back to her book. 

He nodded one more time before closing her door behind him.

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Kate was already in bed as he walked in. She was the mirror image of her daughter, reading a book in bed. 

He approached her slowly, sitting on her side of the bed.

"Katie...I have to talk to you."

"Sure," she said closing her book, sitting up to be closer and giving him her undivided attention. "What's up?"

He breathed in deeply before speaking. "These last few weeks...I know I haven't been myself."

She nodded with a "No shit" expression but remained silent.

"I've been a little out of sorts...trying to get back all the crap I thought was important."

"It's been interesting for sure," she agreed.

"But I've done good things too, haven't I?" he asked, almost pleading for it to be true.

"You've been Brian Haner Jr, and that is always a good thing."

She leaned over to kiss him on the cheek. 

He took her arms in his hands and looked her in the eyes. "I need you to remember, Katie. You have to promise...promise to remember...because if you don't, then it's like it never happened and I don't think I could live with that."

She nodded "I promise."

He didn't deserve this unwavering support from her. She didn't even question. She loved him so much that she promised him whatever he needed. And he knew deep down she'd keep her promise. "Say it again."

A smile spread across her face. "I promise, Bri. Come to bed."

He kissed her lips softly and touched her face with his hand.

She smiled again when he pulled back the covers and climbed in beside her, pulling her close. He wanted to fight against the dark but his desire to have her in his arms one more time was stronger.

Eventually he closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.