Busted (cd piece)

He was finally back home. The house was quiet, all but the ticking of a large grandfather clock that was in the living room. Chevy was sitting outside on the porch swing, smoking a large cigar, while watching the horses run around in the corral. With the exception of some distant moo's, the homestead was pretty quiet this evening. Every so often he'd look away from the horses and look to the west as the sun was setting. The sky was a gorgeous mix of blue, orange and shades of purple. Haley comes walking out through the front door and takes a seat next to her father on the swing. She looks over to her father and says:

"Braddock's coming out. Keep an eye on him? No drinking."

Chevy squints his eyes a little bit while nodding to her.

"I'll try. But he is a grown man, Haley."

"I know that, but he needs us right now."

"And we're here for em. But I ain't gonna babysit the man twenty-four-seven or be your snitch, understand? I think it'll do him some good to dry out and hopefully wake the hell up and realize what's on the horizon for us. Not this bullshit with Raze..."

"So get through to him some how!"

Chevy removes his cigar and looks over Haley. He was aggravated and unsure what she wanted him to do.

"Ever hear the expression you can lead a horse to water but-"

"But you can't make it drink. You're saying Braddock's the horse..."

"Well lately, he's been more of a horse's ass but I guess I'll talk to him about it. I do t know what the hell you're expecting here."

"Thank you, that's all I'm asking."

"It's never all you're asking sweetheart."

Chevy stood up, picking up a nearby ash tray. He put the cigar out and turned his attention to the driveway. Frank was returning from his meeting at the lodge.

"Good luck explaining to that old bastard that this is a dry house for the time being."

"Uncle Frank? Why? You think he'll.."

"I think he's gonna chew your ass down to nothin and crack one open right in front of you."

"He'll do it for me."

"HA! I gotta see this."

The old man approached them, with a brand new case of Pabst in hand. He was whistling an old Dean Martin tune as he came up the steps. Haley stood up to greet him, wrapping her arms around him and a subtle peck to the cheek. Frank smiled and said "Good to see ya kid." Before he stopped on the porch, joining them.

"Alright.. family meeting or what?"

"Uncle Frank, I need a favor from you. It's important to me."

"Sure, but uh, ya mind telling me what it is first?"

"Braddock's coming to stay again and he can't drink anymore. So for the time being the house is gonna be dry."

"WHAT!? Tell em stay somewhere else, the god damn bum! This ain't no rehab or Ronald McDonald house!"

"Uncle Frank, please!"

"Who the hell do you think you are!? Comin in here telling us we can't enjoy a drink after a long day..."

Chevy starts slowly turning his head over to Frank, scowling as the old man carried on.

"I served my country and paid my dues to society to enjoy my damn freedom for a reason young lady!"

"FRANK!" Chevy interrupted "What the hell are you talking about after a long day? You don't do anything but drink and read the paper!"

"What about all the infinite wisdom I share with you all when ya got no idea what to do about somethin? And I get up and do my share of work around this place just as you. Hell who do ya think feeds that dog?"

"Frank.. just hand me the beer."

"No."

"Frank..."

"Kiss my ass. Traitor!"

"God dammit Frank what would Maggie say!?"

"Don't you bring her into this! My Maggie was a good woman, and knew better-"

"Frank, you and I both know-"

"Alright take it. But you owe me! And I ain't cleaning out my room! I won't drink in front of the bastard and if I catch him sniffing around I'll kill em myself for all this!"

Frank relinquishes his case of beer and he looks over to Haley with the meanest look on his face.

"This bum better be worth it!"

"Love you Uncle Frank.."

Frank just grumbles as he walks by them and heads into the house. Chevy stands off to the side of the doorway laughing to himself.

"Yep. That went over about as well as I expected. You know that old bastard-"

"I don't care. Just don't want it around Braddock."

Haley got up and went inside, her father following behind her. Haley picked up her car keys and turned back toward the door.

"I'm gonna go. I'll pick him up."

Sthe passes by her father, stopping only for a quick second to hug him and out the door she went. He shook his head, walking into the hallway and entering into the kitchen with there Frank sat drinking a glass of bourbon. A second glass sat next to the bottle so Cory took a seat across from Frank and poured himself a drink.

"God damn him..."

"Ohhh quit your belly aching! He's not moving in."

"Not yet. But he's part of the family now right so who knows before how God damn long the poor schmuck really lands on hard times and that's no where else to go! I've seen his type before son, cut yer ties now while ya can!"

"You're being awfully dramatic today don't you think?"

"And yer being dumber than usual! He's after her ya know.. ever think about that?"

"Haley says they're friends."

"OH WAKE UP WILL YA!? Of course she says that. Maybe she don't see it yet either but he's after her! What are you gonna do if things get more than friendly? Hm? You want that bum as your son-in-law!?"

Chevy swirled the bourbon in his glass, then raised it taking a drink before he attempted to answer Frank.

"You let me worry about that. Finish your drink. You sound like you need it."

The night came and went with no sign of Haley and Braddock. Chevy woke up the next day and after getting dressed, he started down the hall until he came to an abrupt stop. They guest room door was shut all the way and he could hear someone moving and shuffling about along with giggling and whispering. Chevy opened the door, and there stood Braddock in his boxers with pants in hand, and in the bed was Haley. Haley first tried to hide herself but it was no use. Braddock on the other hand dropped his pants and looked like a deer caught in they're headlights at first. Then he decided to try and break the tension..

"Chev, I-"

"Wait right there..."

Chevy quickly turned, leaving the room and slamming the door shut behind him. He walked back down the hall to his bedroom. Meanwhile Braddock turned and looked at Haley.

"Mother fucker this is not-"

"Babe shut up and run!"

They both then heard a round chambering from the 12 gauge. Braddock quickly bolted for they door, and went into the hallway. He found himself with a barrel in his face..

"MOTHER FUCKER YOU PUT A GUN IN MY FACE!? CHEV!"

Chevy pushed Braddock back towards the stairs with the barrel still in Braddock's face.

"You dumb son of a bitch, I'd get to runnin'"

"Don't shoot me, look, we were gonna tell ya! We jus-"

Suddenly Braddock began rolling down the stairs backwards. With a loud thud he hit the bottom, now Frank came out from the kitchen with his coffee. Chevy started down the stairs while Braddock scrambled to get back to his feet. Frank looked at Braddock, then up at Cory and a smile etched it's way across the old man's face.

"HA! Ya finally woke up!"

"Move Frank."

"Hell no, I'm watching this!"

Braddock ran out the front door while Chevy was in pursuit. About the time Braddock made it off the porch a loud shot rang out and he felt his backside peppered. Braddock dropped to the ground and began rolling around holding his ass and back of his leg. The checked his hand for blood and there was none. Yet. Chevelle came kicking through the screen door, or what was left of it after firing through it. He chambered another to which Braddock threw his hands up pleading to his partner. Haley then came running out, and placed herself between them.

"DADDY THAT'S ENOUGH! YOU FUCKING SHOT HIM!"

"It wasn't lethal. Now move!"

"No, you're being insane!"

"Sweetheart we'll talk about this later, right now you need to MOVE!"

Braddock gets up and starts doing his best to get away. Cory stands from the top of the porch and takes aim with Haley helplessly watching. Braddock cuts through the yard before Chevy peppers his ass again. Haley screams and lunges at her dad trying to take the gun away.

"You gotta admit Haley this is the first time I ever got to shoot one of em!"

"Give me the damn gun!"

"What!? Honey no, you're being a lil too emotional right now and a gun is the last thing you need."

"YOU FUCKING SHOT ME AGAIN CHEVY! GOD! DAMMIT!"

"Daddy please! Let us explain!"

"Explain what exactly. How ya both lied right to my face? Or how I said don't get involved with the people ya work with Haley!? What exactly do you need to explain sweetheart?"

Chevy chambers another and steps off from the porch. Braddock is laying in the yard hollering and cussing. Frank is by the kitchen window inside just sipping his coffee and watching it all go down. Occasionally chuckling to himself. Chevelle approaches and takes a stance over Braddock with the gun pointing right at Braddock's nuts.

"You lied to me. Partners don't lie to their partners. Understand?"

Braddock nods.

"Is there anything else I should know?"

"No.. look Chev we wanted to tell you but didn't know how man!"

"Words would've been a much easier way than like this. How bad are you hurt?"

"Jesus fuck man, I dunno, my ass feels like it's on fire!"

"Good because I want you to understand what will happen should you break her heart or hurt her. Now get your ass up and get back to the house. Haley can help clean ya up."

"Are you- are you fucking serious man!? I dunno if I can get up let alone walk right now. Christ I feel like I've been pegged by a fucking elephant."

"If you want sympathy from me you'll find none. I welcome you into my home Braddock, treated you as family and you both lied to me! So now I expect you to get up, walk back to the house and when you two are ready we're gonna talk about this."

Chevy walks away from his partner. Haley came running to him, checking if he was truly ok.

"Jesus Christ I'm so sorry! Are you alright!?"

"I dunno, but that shit hurt! Fuck!"

Back inside Cory was met by Frank, who stood in the kitchen with a smile stretching from ear to ear.

"Does this mean the bum goes!?"

"Shut up Frank."

Chevy went up the stairs and back into his room where he set the gun back up on the rack. Then he just stood there in silence. He could still hear Braddock and Haley outside, as Braddock limped through the yard toward the house with her. He walked over to a near by window and looked out at them, the look of disappointment on his face was undeniable. He turned away, leaving the room and headed back downstairs to make breakfast. Haley led Braddock back inside and into the bathroom. She got out a first aid kit and demanded him to turn around. Red welts were all over his backside from his ass down the back of his legs.

"I'm so sorry!"

"Ah! Fuck this is bad! Fuck what do I do!?"

Frank knocked on the door.

"Everything alright in there? Heh! Bet you wish you could have a drink now huh Pig!"

"Oh fuck off ya old bastard!"

"Frank! Not helping! What's Dad doing now?"

"What every psychopath of a father would be doing... Making breakfast!"

End