Quixotic (2)

13

"She's your kid!" Both men argued, shouting at one another in the driveway as Sal and Joe stood between them. They had been fighting since they arrived, but both of their arguments were unconvincing and pointless.

"Brody, you took the responsibility!" Brian shouted at him, growling, "You and your brother signed the paper!" He exclaimed, asking roughly, "Where is Camden?"

A car pulled into the driveway, but the pair was too invested in their argument to look over their shoulder. Murr paused as he examined the scene, and looked to the young girl sitting beside him, warning her, "Stay in the car."

"I'm done!" Brody exclaimed angrily, telling him, "I'm young, I want to live my life!" He shouted, growling at the older man, "I'm tired of being used as a full time babysitter!"

"Olivia gave up her life to raise you and your brother!" Brian exclaimed angrily, demanding, "She never got a break. You promised her --."

"I did my time!" Brody interrupted as he took a slight step forward, saying, "She's old enough, now you can take your turn." He spat at the older man, exclaiming, "Brian, she is your daughter for crying out loud!"

"I signed all rights to you!" He exclaimed angrily, ignoring the driver's side door swinging open, "She isn't my daughter!"

"What the hell is wrong with you two?" Murr exclaimed as he jogged forward, catching their attention, "This is ridiculous!" He shouted at them and motioned to the car, saying, "There is a ten year old girl in that car who wants nothing more than to be loved!"

He sighed, looking between both men, "You are fighting over how to get rid of her --." His voice trialed to silence and he shook his head, glancing back to see the young girl watching from the passenger seat, "You should be arguing over who gets to keep her!"

"I'm not a father." Brian was quick to say, stuttering over the words as they escaped his lips, "James, you know I can't do this! It's too much at once --."

"Shut up, Brian." He growled as his friend flinched toward him. He ignored the shock that spread across Brian's features, growling, "I've heard enough of your bullshit!" He exclaimed, motioning to the car parked behind him, "That is your daughter!"

"Exactly --." Brody muttered, immediately receiving a glare from Murr.

"You aren't innocent --." James growled at him. Brody's features dropped, then anger flashed through his eyes as Murr asked, "Why is Eliza failing fourth grade? Why haven't you told her about Olivia? Why does she keep running away?" He asked roughly, growling, "You can't blame everything on Brian."

He glared at Brian for a moment, but switched his attention back to Brody, growling, "You could have reached out to us." He sighed, scanning his eyes over Joe and Sal before looking back to Brody, "We could have helped you!"

There was a long pause as the air settled heavily over their shoulders, "She is an amazing kid, yet both of you want nothing to do with her --." He shook his head, sighing, "I don't understand."

A quick sigh escaped Joe's lips and he stepped forward, offering with a shrug, "If you two can't settle this, I'm more than willing to have her in my home for a while."

"No." Murr said roughly, looking to Brian with anger behind his eyes, "She deserves to live with her family --."

"Murr, I can't --." His friend sighed quickly, shaking his head as the guilt of ten years spread across his features.

"I'm not talking about you --!" Brian's brows furrowed, but his eyes widened in a panic when he realized who his friend was referring to.

"Are you kidding?" He asked roughly as he flinched forward, growling, "Murr, I can't do that --!"