Open Case File [COMPLETED]

For The Last Time

Okay you have to read the previous chapter for this one to make sense.

Also if you read that title and don't think 'We meet again Buzz Lightyear, for the last time' I'm not sure we can hang out anymore.

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The interior of the house lay dark and silent as Donovan stepped inside. As he reached to flip a light switch, a body slammed into him.

Donovan reacted, elbowing his assailant in the side and flipping him over his back. Another attacker appeared out of nowhere, grabbing hold of Donovan's arm, but Donovan kicked out, hitting the attacker's ribs.

A third assailant tackled Donovan from behind and they both crashed to the floor, the air jerked from Donovan's lungs.

The weight of the third assailant kept Donovan pinned to the ground. When Donovan found his breath, he inhaled sharply. As he did, he stopped struggling.

"James! You idiot!"

Laughter echoed around the room as James jumped up and offered a hand to Donovan. As he stood, he saw Brock and Clint grinning at him. Annoyed, Donovan dusted himself off as if anything were clinging to him.

"What is this all about?" he asked.

"We're taking you out for your bachelor party," Brock announced.

"And it never crossed any of your minds to say that instead of attacking me?"

The brothers exchanged looks and shook their heads. Fighting a smile, Donovan shoved James who was closest. In response, James slung his arm around Donovan's neck, pulling him close and messing up his hair. Donovan punched his older brother until he was released, this time the smile completely free.

"Alright, let's go do something stupid," he said.

His brothers cheered and crowded around him, jostling him as they left the house. The night air blew the scent of the desert and sea around them. The smell of home. A home that Donovan had the feeling wouldn't feel the same after he got married.

The brother's piled into Brock's truck and created a dust storm as they drove off, howling at the moon like they had when they were kids.

When Brock parked the car on a side street in downtown San Diego, Donovan didn't question it. Tonight he would follow his brothers, not caring what they had planned, only aware that it was the four of them once more.

The bar they walked into was crowded, drinks clutched in hands as eyes scanned the place for something interesting to waste the night on. As Clint went to order drinks, the rest of the group claimed a table. Low music sent Donovan's pulse thrumming with a steady bass. Dim lights added a sense of mystery to the bar and threw everyone in shadows.

Clint appeared with a tray of drinks and set it on the table. When four shots were handed out, the brothers clinked the glasses together and downed the liquid. It burned in Donovan's throat and he grimaced, remembering exactly why he rarely drank. Brock clapped his hands together, looking devious.

"Alright, I think it's time that we find out for sure if this girl is worthy of you," Brock said.

"I say we put her through the Deserted House training course."

Clint and James cheered in agreement.

"No," Donovan said, "you're not putting her through that. She doesn't need to prove anything to you. I love her and that's all there is to it."

The brother glanced at each other then back at Donovan, silently putting the subject away.

"Fine, then it's time to get down to the truth of it all," Brock said. "Donovan, we all know you're as dense as a concrete bunker, how long did it take for you to realize Carter was an amazing girl and you shouldn't let her out of your sight?"