What if I was nothing (Tommy Conlon fanfiction)

Part 21

"What do you mean, if you know me. Shani, it's me, T-"
"Shani!" my father came outside and called me. "Shani, Lizzie, go to the house, now."
"But dad," I looked at him and then back at the man, who was clearly very upset. He said my name so intimately, that it felt like he knows me well.
"Shani, go home. Both of you!" father murmured and I turned and ran inside.
"Liz, what is happening? Who's that guy?" I turned, but Liz took me to the living room.
"I believe your father will tell you everything," Liz nervously bit her nails.
"Shani! Shani wait! Please don't go!" Tommy tried to get through Jack, but he said in a low voice: "I've already called the police. I must say, that I am disappointed, that you are already back. I hoped, you'd be away longer. Hmmm, did you let them to shoot you on purpose, so you could come back and bug others people lives?"
"What the hell did you do to her?" Tommy whispered and looked at him with so much hate in his eyes, that Jack took a step back.
"I didn't do anything. Maybe she just pretends, she doesn't know you, so she could get rid of you," Jack smirked wickedly.
"Liar! What have you done!?" Tommy grabbed him by his throat. In that moment Brendad ran to him. He waited not far away from them. And the police car appeared.
"Tommy, let him go! Let him go or you'll be in trouble!" Brendan tried to get Tommy's hand from Jack's throat.
"Police officers! Put your hands behind your head, now!"
Tommy looked behind himself. Two policemen pointed their gun at him.
"It's okay, he.. He's my brother, we're leaving!" Brendan said in a calm voice.
"Tommy, let him go!" he said again and Tommy let Jack from his grip. Tears in his eyes, began to flow over his face. He swiped them and looked Jack in his eyes.
"I'll come for hef, I'll find out, what is going on with her!"
"You can try. Seriously. Do it! And I will gladly shot you to your head," Jack whispered and Brendan, who heard that caught Tommy's hand in the air. Both policemen caught Tommy and all of them tried to stop him. He was like a furious animal, trying to tear up the enemy.
"For fuck sake, Tommy, stop! Stop already!" Brendan yelled and tried to calm down his brother. "This is how he wins, don't you see? This is how he wants it to be!" he whispered and Tommy slowly relaxed.
"Stop touching me," he growled at one police officer and he, all shaken, really let him go.
"You, come with me!" policeman said to Tommy, meanwhile the other one escorted Jack home.

"Let me do the talking," Brendad said and turned to the officer.
"My brother, he just got from the Iraq, he is not feeling well. He's starting a therapy next week. After a year and a half in Iraq, you could loose your nerves easily too, don't you think? Check on him, Tommy Conlon, I am his brother, Brendan."
After like 10 minutes, police men let Tommy go.
"This time it will be just with a reprehension. Next time, you go to the jail. Oh, and don't you eve come back here, okay? One call and we'll lock you."
Tommy was silent, he watched the house, tried to catch at least a hint of a movement, shadow behind the curtain.
"Sir, leave this property, please," one of the police men said in a strict voice.
"Tommy, get to the car," Brendan said all nervous and when Tommy didn't react, he hissed angrily. "Tommy! Get to that fucking car!"
He followed him, like a beaten dog, sat next to him and without a word, they left the area.

"What was this all about? Who was he and how come he knew me?" I immediately started to ask questions, when my father came to the house.
"This, Shani, was one of my former employee, that I had to fire this month. Obviously he has still a problem to accept the fact, that we don't need him anymore. It's hard for some people, you know? Lose their job, economical crisis is terrible, we had to let go many people lately."
"But dad," I looked through the mirror and thought for few seconds, "he said my name. It seemed like he wanted to talk to me, not you."
"Maybe he wanted to get to me through you, earn your sympathies, maybe he wanted to say, Shani, where is your father."
"But how come he knows me?"
"I have your photo on my desk at work and talk about you a lot, almost everybody knows about you, honey."
"No," I shook my head, "it was different, I am sure he wanted something from me, he said..."
"That's enough," my father interupted me. "I am telling you the truth. He is a dangerous man, you saw how he grabbed my neck, tried to attack me. I am just trying to protect you from men like him and what do you do? Instead of listen to me, you are making up theories, that makes no sense."
I looked at Liz. "He's right, Shani, that's why I wanted you to go home quickly, I knew he is a trouble."
"I feel like I can't trust my own instincts. I'm sorry I doubt you, it's been so hard lately," I said softly and Liz hugged me.
"Well, that is why we are here, to help you find your place and set up the chaos inside your head," father caressed me on my hair.
"I'll make a tea," I gave them a smile and vanished in a kitchen. My head full of questions. That guy said my name, but not the way my father thinks. He said my name with a hope, with joy and sadness, he was both happy and sad, when he met me. He said, 'please, don't go.'

"Do you have any idea, what just happened there?" Brendan order two cups of coffee and they sat in the cafe.
"She realy didn't recognize me. She looked at me and I saw nothing," Tommy stared vacantly at the cup, like he tried to find the answer in that black liquid.
"Tommy?" familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Frank! Hey, how are you?"
"Good, good! So, you're back! It's so great to see you, man!" Frank said with the biggest smile.
"What are you doing here? You should be training for the championship next month, huh?"
"No way I can make it there," Tommy showed him his shoulder.
"Wow, that's nothing," Frank punched him a little. "Nah, just kidding!" he laughed.
"I gotta go, but stop by, we have so much to talk about!" Frank took his coffee to go. "You too, Brendan, I haven't seen you in ages," he chuckled. "Hey, come on, what are these sad faces about?"
Tommy sighed. "I just saw Shani and... It didn't go as I expected it would."
"Shani? No way! How is she? Wow, man, I am glad to hear she is alive!"
"What do you mean?" Brendan asked before Tommy was able to open his mouth.
"You don't know that? Wow," Frank took a chair. "She was hit by a car. I swear it was a terrible terrible day, freezing heavy fog, you could barely see the top of your nose. In the morning she came to the gym, we did some training and then she left. Few minutes later we heard an ambulance and we ran to see what has happened. She was lying there on the street, surrounded by people, rescuers quickly got her in and drove away. I tell you man, I'll never forget the blood that was all over her face, covering her hair. I told Mary, when I met her and we went to the hospital. But Shani's daddy didn't let us to see her, talk to her, he didn't even tell us how is she. So, you tell me she is okay, right? Well, I'm glad to hear that."
"She 's alive, yes, but she doesn't remember me at all. And her father called cops, when I came to talk see her," Tommy frowned.
"Yeah, her father is a dickhead, I saw him only once and that's enough for me for the rest of my life," Frank rolled his eyes.
"Do you know, who hit her?" Tommy asked.
"No, man. That coward drove away. Would you believe that? She could die there, if nobody was around. Hey, listen, I have to go. I have a crossfit lesson in like fifteen minutes. Come visit me, okay? We can talk more," he clapped Tommy on his shoulder.
"Yeah, sure Frank. Hey, thanks for telling me this."
"No problem, man. Hey, I'm sorry, she doesn't remember you, must be hard. I know I don't have to tell you this, but she really did miss you. She kept talking about you, asked me to tell stories about you, she trained a lot and she was excited to show you, what she can do. I hope, she'll be fine."
Frank left them. Tommy sat quietly, thinking, Brendan tried to figure out, what to say to make him feel better, but he had nothing.
"Tess still works at the hospital?" Tommy finally talked.
"Yes, she has a shift tomorrow" Brendan nodded.
"Okay, I'd like to visit her then" Tommy and wiped a tears from his face.