The next day early in the morning, with my body a little sore from the fight the day before, after returning from my daily run and taking a quick shower, I went out ready for breakfast.
In the hallway outside my room heading to the kitchen, Gabe, who the night before had gone back to his room shortly after his idea was popped like a balloon, seemed to be waiting for me nervously checking his back toward where surely the rest of the family was, silently urging me to come closer he moved his hands desperately.
Curious, I approached, although apparently not enough, since Gabe immediately took a step shortening the distance even more, pulling at my shirt.
"How are we going to make mom finally let me train with you?" Gabe asked me in a whisper, anxiously still checking his back.
Immediately, raising an eyebrow. "We?" I asked, amused.
Gabe had only been interested in training twice before, when I had started training and when the fight at school happened, mom immediately cut the idea at the root, flatly denying my brother's request.
Opening his mouth, visibly taken by surprise at my lack of support, Gabe frowned. "Come on, please" he said, apparently forgetting to speak in a low voice.
Honestly, I had no problem helping Gabe at trying to convince mom.
Training any sport was an excellent way to gain discipline and emotional control, arguably this happened much more with martial arts, since there was the added benefit of learning to defend oneself, but it was quite fun to see the expression of absolute betrayal on my brother's face, besides there was the small fact that mom had warned Bob and me that I would be the only one in the house training martial arts... and it scared me a little.
Squinting my eyes, I held my chin as if I was truly doubting my response. "I don't know, what's in it for me?" I asked, crossing my arms.
"What's in it for you?" Gabe repeated, "ah I don't know, you'd be helping your only brother spend more time a day with him" he added obviously, widening his eyes exaggeratedly.
Clicking my teeth, I shook my head. "And that's a good thing... Why?" I asked with exaggerated distaste.
Gabe, exasperated, slapped his hands against his legs. "Oh come on, you don't have to be an ass about it."
Arching my eyebrow. "Don't let Mom hear you talk like that, or no matter how much I or anyone else helps you, nothing will change her mind" I warned him.
"Sorry" Gabe replied, checking again behind us before suddenly returning his attention to me. "Wait, does that mean you're going to help me?"
Sighing deeply, I nodded, making Gabe celebrate silently by pressing his fists. "Great, what are you going to say to mom?" he asked me, smiling broadly.
Snorting, I shook my head. "Ah no" I said slowly, "I'm only going to play support," I added, causing Gabe's smile to immediately fall from his face, "you want to train, you ask, I'm only going to try to make mom change her mind when she indisputably denies the idea, so... Good luck."
Obviously the idea of being the one to try again to talk to mom was not at all in my brother's plans.
Staring at me, Gabe tried to make me feel sorry to change my mind, which wouldn't happen, finally a few seconds later, disappointed, he lowered his head "But what am I supposed to say?" he asked me slightly desperate, "she's just going to say no, same as before."
Seeing the genuine desperation Gabe felt, I gently ruffled his hair. "Think of real reasons why you want to train with me, not just because it looks 'cool' or because you want to know how to fight, mom would only hear that you want to fight someone" I said seriously, "if you manage to give mom a couple of examples of why you should train I'll make sure she gives you the yes" I added offering him a somewhat easier way out.
"Really?" Gabe asked excitedly.
Raising my shoulders, I nodded. "I already said it, don't make me change my mind" I replied.
"Great" said Gabe, smiling broadly, "convincing you was easier than I expected" he added arrogantly, a second later.
Snorting I shook my head, thinking of his previous behavior it was clear he was truly desperate to get my help, but with no intention of taking away his little victory, without commenting anything about it I grabbed his head under my arm. "Let's go have breakfast" I said, dragging him toward the kitchen.
With Gabe trying to free himself from my hold, repeatedly insisting that I let him go while hitting my torso with blows that, although they didn't really have much strength behind them, thanks to the fight the day before, hurt me, not enough to make me release him, but enough to feel it.
Ignoring the pain caused by Gabe's blows, I reached with my brother the end of the hallway where I faced directly the kitchen and, a moment later, something that made me stop abruptly incredulous, causing in turn my grip on Gabe to weaken, allowing him to free himself.
Gabe, now far from my hold, breathing heavily tired from the short time of effort under my arm, looked at me, at first annoyed surely because of my forced hold, and a moment later, puzzled. "What?" he asked me checking what I was seeing.
Pointing to the other side of the room. "Am I dreaming?" I asked.
A few steps from us, at the kitchen counter, like the previous days in the cabin the rest of my family was preparing breakfast together, all quite normal... except of course that Teddy, Diane and Meredith were together in the corner of the counter, talking in low voices and laughing.
Teddy, Diane... and Meredith.
The annoying struggle earlier from Gabe had been loud enough to make the rest of the people in the cabin notice our presence, Diane looking at me with a carefree smile, greeted me slightly before immediately leaning toward the other two girls whispering something that made them laugh.
By the way they looked at me while laughing, clearly whatever Diane had told, it was about me, or involved me.
"What are you talking about?" Gabe asked me, still puzzled.
Before I could explain. "Breakfast is going to get cold you two" said mom, who despite talking to us, her gaze never left the three teenagers who were talking in low voices, clearly mom wanted to be part of the group.
Completely surprised by what I was seeing, I moved along with Gabe until we sat each on one of the chairs at the kitchen counter, directly at the opposite end where the three girls continued chatting and laughing.
I had no idea what had caused Meredith to finally allow Diane to get close, but I was quite glad to see the two of them chatting cheerfully, again, by all the looks I received from the other side of the counter during breakfast, probably about me.
Breakfast passed slowly, or at least that's how it felt, because during all that time I was trying to understand how what was happening in front of me had occurred.
Unable to discern anything they were talking about, now with mom added to the group, I could only theorize without much basis what Diane had done to finally have a friendly relationship with Meredith.
Finally after breakfast, after helping to clean, I approached where Diane, Meredith and Teddy were with every intention of talking alone with Diane to find out how she had done it, but before I could get there.
"Mom, Dad, can we talk for a moment?" said Gabe interrupting my train of thought.
Rocking Charlie in her arms. "Of course honey, what do you need?" mom asked immediately.
"It's better if we talk in the living room" said Gabe seriously, urging me with his eyes to accompany them.
Seeing Diane leave along with Teddy and Meredith toward the lake, I sighed defeated.
After all I had made a promise to Gabe.
Walking behind them, I saw how mom looked puzzled at Gabe, who walked at the front of everyone, moving with resolute steps.
Sitting mom and Bob on the biggest couch in the living room, Gabe walked to the front keeping his face completely serious, he looked like he was about to present a case in front of a court.
Which thinking coldly, really he would with mom as the judge. But that didn't change that the sight of my eleven-year-old brother giving little taps with his fingers, nervous, as if he were about to present in front of a jury, was quite funny.
After a couple of seconds in expectant silence, really a 'silence' full of baby noises that Charlie made. "What's going on Gabe?" mom asked worried.
Focusing returning the resolve to his gaze, Gabe took a breath, nodding rigidly. "Mom before you say no, I would like you to listen to me" he said joining his hands in front of his torso.
Tilting her head just a little. "What?" mom let out expectantly, raising an eyebrow.
"I know dad has no problem with the idea, so I'm addressing you mom-" continued Gabe with surprising diction and rhythm in his words, it seemed like he had practiced it several times in his head.
Deducing immediately what Gabe was going to say before he could continue. "I knew it wasn't a good idea to let PJ fight yesterday" said mom, interrupting him while looking at Bob annoyed.
Glancing at me for a second, as if expecting me to take the lead, Gabe frowned sighing heavily, but not before returning his attention to mom with the same resolve on his face as before. "Mom!" exclaimed Gabe stopping mom, "please, just listen to me and I promise that if you still decide no I won't say anything else to change your mind" he added, shifting his eyes just a little toward me.
I was quite surprised with the emotional as well as strategic intelligence my brother was showing, being an eleven-year-old kid, it was incredible how he could ask to be heard without having to resort to emotional blackmail and on top of that, by saying the last part he made sure I remembered my promise, if he didn't succeed and mom still said no, I would have to convince her.
Holding mom's shoulder seriously. "Amy, come on I know how reluctant you are to anyone besides PJ knowing how to fight" said Bob slowly, "but now more than ever, I can see how important it is for all our kids to know how to defend themselves" he added glancing at me.
I could imagine what he was thinking, after all Ryan's actions at the end of the fight, if it had been someone else under him, it would have ended very badly.
Without responding, mom stared at Bob, surprised by the man's seriousness, until she finally gave in and turned to Gabe, who actually seemed surprised by Bob's support and more than anything by mom's apparent willingness to listen to him.
"Ah" murmured Gabe, apparently having no idea what to say once he had come this far, fortunately his silence lasted only a couple of seconds, nodding. "Mom, I don't want to learn to fight because I want to look for trouble with someone, I want to learn to fight because if someone tries to hurt me, or someone I care about, I don't want to stand still without being able to do anything" he declared with growing confidence, "I know learning to fight is a great power, but a great power comes with great responsibility and that no one ever wins a fight because it's our actions that define us."
Wait... tilting my head I stared at my brother, who after giving his little speech with some parts that, I was sure, he had taken from movies and maybe comics, moved slightly, nervous in silence.
Exhaling slowly through her nose. "I also saw RoadHouse" declared mom monotonously, making Gabe freeze. Keeping silent for a couple of uncomfortable seconds, causing all of us to look at her waiting for her verdict. "I'll think about it" she said, sighing defeated.
Excited, Gabe, who until that moment looked about to faint, pointed at her. "That's not a no" he exclaimed, smiling broadly.
"Neither is it a yes, disappear from my sight before it becomes a no" she ordered, causing Gabe to run out of the cabin, keeping the smile on his face. Looking at me with a frown, "Do you also have something to say?" mom asked me.
"I think it's a good idea that Gabe learns to defend himself" I said, shrugging my shoulders.
Snorting, mom shook her head. "Of course you think so" she declared ironically.
Closing her eyes, mom leaned her head on the back of the couch, exhaling heavily.
"I can't say no, right?" she asked into the air.
"He needs to know how to defend himself, if he gets involved in a fight caused by him we can act then and punish him appropriately" declared Bob softly, "but if he gets involved in a fight not started by him, I'd rather he win than come home hurt" he added.
After another couple of seconds in silence. "I guess you're right" said mom finally.
Hearing enough, I decided to leave the couple of adults on their own, following the same path my brother had taken a moment earlier.
Outside the cabin, on the wide balcony, Gabe intercepted me, clearly anxious to know if there was anything new.
Throwing his hands into the air. "Yes!" my brother celebrated, in a low voice, "now I'll be able to learn to fight like you" he added smiling broadly.
Placing a hand on his shoulder, "yes, you'll train with me" I declared smiling kindly at my brother, who was visibly excited, "well, specifically with Case, who will know beforehand that being my younger brother you have to learn the right way, the certainly somewhat painful way, but the right way" I added, widening my smile much more making an expression that judging by Gabe's change in expression was scary.
Really it was mostly just a way of teasing my brother, an exaggeration... more or less.
Leaving Gabe alone to think about what he had gotten into so eagerly, I went down the stairs toward where Teddy, Meredith and Diane were chatting on the loungers like palapas at the edge of the lake.
Once again, I didn't know exactly what they were talking about, but when they saw me approaching, the three of them stopped talking immediately, Teddy and Meredith laughing quietly. "Diane can we talk for a minute alone?" I asked as I got close enough, causing the two girls to laugh much less focused on hiding it.
I didn't understand what was so funny, but it was strangely uncomfortable to be the one causing that reaction.
Standing up slowly. "Sure" Diane answered stepping carefully with her bare foot on the stones, the small stones at the edge of the lake.
Noticing how slowly Diane moved along the cobbled path. "Are you sure you don't want to wear your sandals?" I asked worried.
"It's fine, it's not very uncomfortable, besides, I had never done this" declared Diane pressing her lips slightly excited while tapping her feet against the small stones on the ground.
Snorting amused. "All right" I murmured, taking off my own sandals, it was only fair.
Biting her lip softly, avoiding laughing as she watched me throw the shoes away. "What's going on?" she asked me interested.
"What's going on?" I repeated incredulous, "Meredith is talking to you, how did you do it?" I asked genuinely interested.
Pressing her lips, causing her nose to move slightly, "well, I stuck to my previous strategy and found common ground with her" she answered looking at me softly.
"What common ground?" I asked interested.
Really by listening to Diane's initial 'explanation' and studying her body language, which to be honest, didn't hide anything, I had been able to deduce a possible answer. Somehow the common ground was me.
Seemingly with no intention of answering my question, Diane clasped her hands in front of her abdomen, smiling proudly as she seemed to enjoy the fact of knowing something I didn't.
Smiling amusedly. "Are you planning not to answer me?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
Diane once again said nothing, simply tilting her head.
Slowly shaking my head, feigning defeat, I sighed, "Just remember, you made me do this," I said, before quickly moving to lift Diane over my shoulder.
"No!" Diane exclaimed laughing, "put me down, please!" she begged.
"Not until you answer," I said, moving towards the lake. "Looks like you need a little water to organize your thoughts," I added while playfully poking Diane's sides, making her giggle.
"No, wait," Diane urged, trying unsuccessfully to stop my tickling and free herself from my grasp.
Stepping into the lake, the water reaching my knees. "You just have to answer," I said, easily changing the way I carried Diane from holding her on my shoulder to a princess hold with both arms underneath her.
Avoiding at all times that her dress touched the water.
Staring into my eyes softly. "Please don't throw me in the water," Diane said practically whispering.
Proud that Diane was consciously using her eyes for a certain level of emotional manipulation, I completely hid from my expression the fact that I wasn't going to throw her into the water.
Raising my eyebrow, I began to slowly lower myself into the water, wetting my shirt in the process.
Hugging my neck, clearly not intending to get wet. "No wait" Diane said quickly, "you" she answered, "I used you as a connection to Meredith."
Yup, to be honest I expected that answer, but that didn't take away a strange embarrassment hearing it from Diane.
Nodding slowly I stood up completely. "Was that really so difficult?" I asked jokingly, although the mental image of what that conversation was like between Diane, Meredit, and Teddy, who was probably there, was quite embarrassing to me.
Pouting slightly, "It's not fair, I responded under duress" Diane complained, turning her face away from me, never letting go of my neck.
Walking back to the lakeside. "I'm sorry, I was just joking," I said while leaving Diane back on dry land.
Keeping her grip on my neck, causing me to crouch slightly, Diane, still pouting slightly, returned her gaze to mine, softening a second later. "We talked about how your arrival changed our lives," she admitted after a moment of comfortable silence.
Smiling, feeling a little embarrassed, I leaned in a little closer, kissing Diane softly, causing Meredith and Teddy in the distance to scream excitedly, laughing. "Glad to be of use," I said teasingly, a moment after we separated ignoring my sisters.
Pressing her lips into a small smile letting go of my neck, "It doesn't happen very often, but I appreciate it," Diane said, trying hard not to smile broadly.
I was surprised and completely speechless, but despite that, I was extremely proud again.
Deciding to take a walk along the lake shore, Diane and I walked hand in hand. "Like I said, I'm really glad you and Meredith are getting along better now, but I hope nothing too private came out of our conversation," I said after a few seconds of comfortable silence, slightly concerned by Diane's habit to sometimes being completely unashamed.
I quite doubted Diane would be capable of telling aspects of our intimacy, especially in front of Teddy, my sister, and to Meredith, who was also like my sister... but it wasn't bad to make sure.
Tilting her head slightly, apparently not understanding what I considered something 'too private' Diane kept silent for half a second, before comically opening her eyes. "Of course not!" she exclaimed, moving her head quickly as her face blushed immediately.
Snorting I shook my head amused.
The last days at the lake passed without much else, apart from Gabe trying several times to find out how painful I meant training would be and how much Teddy, Diane and Meredith spent much of the day together.
The final day, Sunday, after the day before we had all helped clean what we had messed up, among that the rooms and the kitchen, we left back to Medford shortly after checking that we hadn't forgotten anything, especially Gabe who had to go back inside the cabin a couple of times before being sure not to forget anything.
In my car, this time I no longer had Gabe as a passenger in the back seat, my brother had been forced to travel in Bob's truck, while I drove Teddy and Meredith, who along with Diane, chatted all the way about different topics, from hair products, to the advanced math classes at MIT that Diane attended.
Even though I was relatively excluded from the girls' talk, the trip back home was quite pleasant and in no time, or at least that's how it seemed, I parked my car in front of the house.
Numb from having sat for several hours in the driver's seat, I got out of the car along with the rest of my family, helping almost immediately to Bob unpack the suitcases packed in the trunk of his truck.
Accompanying Diane to Meemaw's house, I left her suitcase on her bed, before saying goodbye promising that that night we would go see a movie and... check that her dorm at university was still the same as when she left it a couple of weeks ago.
The next day, in the afternoon after a quiet morning watching cartoons with Gabe, who was nervous about his first day training at the gym, I went to the hospital.
Remembering how I had left the situation at the hospital, with Vogler and the 'fight' with Chase, I sighed heavily before getting out of the car; definitely the couple of weeks away from all the drama at the hospital had helped take some weight off my shoulders, but each step I took toward the entrance doors only made that weight slowly return to my shoulders.
Ignoring the little desire I had to return to tense situations in a place that was supposed to help me improve my medical knowledge, I entered the building, immediately greeting the nurses at reception, who were clearly interested in my vacation.
After answering dozens of questions and having described the lake and the cabin where we had stayed, something I was sure mom would repeat over the phone or on coffee outings with each of them, I continued on my way following my memory like the palm of my hand down the hospital corridors.
Upon arriving at the diagnostic lounge I immediately noticed the apparent emptiness in the general office, something that did not occur in the private office next door.
House, sitting with his feet propped on his desk, was playing with a cloth ball, throwing it very close to the ceiling to catch it a moment later. "Ah, the prodigal son finally returns from his adventure" he said as if he were a strange kind of medieval gentleman, tossing his cloth ball toward me a moment after lifting his head when he heard me enter.
Catching the small ball without much trouble, I bowed following his game. "Here I am" I declared before returning the ball to House and moving a little more to hang my backpack on the office hooks.
Restarting his ball game. "I hope your vacations were very productive" House said exaggeratedly, "because here we had the little visit of a United States senator who is currently in the race who could have used the little you have to offer of help" House commented sarcastically.
Ignoring entirely his comment with clear intentions to make me feel bad. "A senator?" I asked surprised.
Snorting with false modesty. "Oh yeah, an extremely interesting case, clear AIDS markers in a politician who denied it insisting it wasn't possible, and surprisingly he was telling the truth" he said raising his eyebrows exaggeratedly, "you would have liked it a lot, unfortunately you missed it" he added making a small remorseful face.
"I am devastated" I said monotonously, keeping my face completely expressionless.
The case did sound interesting, the markers House spoke of could certainly be the result of false positives, but there were things like T and B cells, along with the white cell count, that could be the result of a couple more diagnoses.
Cutting my train of thought, with an arrogant smile on his face. "Please don't think so highly, all your theories are giving me a headache" he asked rubbing the side of his head.
Shaking my head, I snorted amused; I wouldn't even bother asking more about the case, I could easily read the clinical summary or ask Cameron, who was the only one I was sure I could talk to without problem.
House, intensely studying my face, surely looking for any hint that curiosity was killing me, left his ball on his desk causing my attention to immediately divert to what was on it; among the things that were always there, a fat coil binding immediately caught my eye.
Unable to help myself, I immediately read the logo that occupied half of the cover, it was the same as all the documents, which I had somewhat illegally, from Vogler's company. "What is this?" I asked interested, dragging the book toward me.
Clicking his fingers excitedly, House straightened in his chair. "Ah good you reminded me, I need you to read this and give me ideas to make a speech, it's for Saturday" he said tapping the binder with his knuckles, "apparently I have to do something that touches the hearts of the doctors at the national cardiology conference" he added raising his eyebrows, obviously proud of the bad joke about hearts and cardiologists.
Ignoring House's joke, and deciding to set aside for a moment the reason he needed a speech, I read the first pages of the document.
It was the presentation of a 'new' drug from Vogler's company, an ACE inhibitor; without needing to read the entire study I knew it was identical to the previous ones and, knowing how little I knew Vogler, surely the only new thing in the drug would be the price, more expensive than the previous one.
---
Author Thoughts:
As always, I'm not American, not a doctor, not a fighter, not Magnus Carlsen, not Michael Phelps, not Arsene Lupin, not McLovin, not Elliot, not Capone and not Tiger Woods.
Another chapter has passed, so new thanks are in order. I would like to especially thank:
11332223
RandomPasserby96
Victor_Venegas
I think that's all. As always, if you find any errors, please let me know, and I'll correct them immediately.
Thank you for reading! :D
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