• With everything else going on my fictitious land, we get a glimpse at my version of family relationships – be glad you don’t live in my family.
• Check out some of the truly awful nicknames used.
• Initially this started as just several snippets between various brothers, but it grew to include other family members
• I absolutely fabricated each and every family member that we don’t see on TV.  Remember, this is fiction based on characters we see portrayed, nothing to do with reality.
• Huge thanks to Nan for this brand new graphic!  Totally awesome, as always. I give ambiguity for input and she gives me something fantastic.  She amazes me, as always.  Can you guess who is who?
• The title for this one morphed into Family Ties

Feedback: always appreciated!  In other words, yes please. 
end

Daniel my brother you are older than me
Do you still feel the pain of the scars that won't heal
Your eyes have died but you see more than I
Daniel you're a star in the face of the sky
Daniel – Elton John 

“So what’s next,” Kane asked his half brother.  'Taker sighed quietly, knowing that his brother was only looking out for him and he was safe talking about his personal stuff, even the truly shitty stuff. 

“Now Sara gets to sign the decree or waste thousands of dollars fighting the pre-nup,” ‘Taker smirked.  He knew Sara wouldn’t give in so easily even when she was clearly in the wrong.  The paternity tests on Emma proved it.  But she was tenacious when it came to something she wanted, and there was never any doubt what she wanted.  Money.  Lots of it.  He was beginning to doubt if she’d ever loved him or if she’d always been eyeing his money and future earning potential.  Sad but true.  Divorce had a way of making you second guess yourself, even things that you were positive about six months prior.  Hell, he’d been positive he’d be married to Sara well in to old age just a year ago.  Now?  Well, now he was left wondering if all of this, the babies and the horse farm in Kentucky weren’t all part of some much larger plan - and he was only a bit player.   He cracked open the beer he’d retrieved earlier from his ex wife’s fridge.  Taking a quick swig, he was relieved that Carolyn didn’t want to dismember him, anymore.  She let him stay in her house while he visited their boys.  She’d left half an hour ago with a quick word to him to help himself and that she’d be gone for hours.  Taker realized the phone had been strangely silent for the last several moments while he’d been wallowing in his trough of pity. 

“Did I loose ya,” he asked quickly, to cover up the fact that he’d been the one to go quiet. 

“Nah, I’m here.  Is that a beer I heard,” Kane teased, knowing his brother had withdrawn again.  The divorce had hit him hard.  It was a complete shock to many, mostly his brother.  Kane knew, or thought he’d seen this coming but hadn’t wanted to rain on his brother’s parade and happiness.  Now he was kicking himself for not giving him any kind of warning. 

“Yeah, Carolyn left me with a full fridge.  That gal knows me,” ‘Taker said, taking a long pull on his bottle of beer.  Kane chuckled loudly. 

“Yeah she does and you’re still alive.  Must be a fucking miracle of some kind.” 

“Yeah, it’s a miracle all right,” Taker said, thinking about all the years between them.  They’d been married too young and had stayed together too long, for the sake of the boys.  But one thing they’d never lost was their genuine respect for each other.  He loved and cared for her, respecting the way she’d made a life for herself and the boys.  Respecting the way she hadn’t lowered herself to the petty shit that was now happening with Sara.  Too bad they made a horrible husband and wife.  They should’ve just stayed friends when they were in college, but they were young and in love and he was the first to admit his brain turned to mush when he was in love. 

“Speaking of miracles, you’ll never guess who I talked to tonight,” Kane said, wanting to lighten his brother’s growing depression. 

“No idea, Tad.  You gonna make me guess,” ‘Taker asked, using a childhood nickname for his younger half brother. 

“You ass!  Of course not.  You’d never guess in a million years anyway,” Kane teased, knowing he could get a rise out of his brother when no one else could.  Well, almost no one else. 

“Don’t tell me one of your boy toys called,” ‘Taker teased back. 

“Ass!  You know I haven’t done that in years.  I don’t want that shit any more,” Kane said, reminding his brother of his current situation.

“Yeah, yeah, I forgot.  You’ll have to forgive me if I can’t keep up with your current batch of twinks,” ‘Taker said, throwing his insult right back at his baby half brother.   

Kane clamped his lips shut, knowing ‘Taker was just needling him to get a rise out of him, as he’d always done.  It was something that never changed, their arguing and headbutting. Used to drive their mother to distraction.  Thelma spent a hell of a lot of time praying for her boys’ eternal souls when they were growing up.  She took their constant wrangling as a sign that she had failed as a mother and that god was somehow punishing her.  And now, she was still asking god for forgiveness everyday for her sons’ transgressions, real and imagined.  The poor woman would likely have a heart attack and die if she were aware of her younger son’s sexual orientation.  By mutual agreement, neither brother raised the subject of Kane’s unmarried state to their mother.  It was a source of worry for her at is was, they didn’t need to enlighten her to the real reason she’d never see him happily married in a church of her choosing. 

“Ass,” was all Kane grunted in response.  He knew his brother was well aware of his lover and their arraignment.  It worked well for both of them, leaving then free to live their own lives, but enjoying their brief time together every week.  Shane got to play the dutiful husband and father and Kane played the brooding silent monster that shied away from people.  There were a select few that even knew of their liaisons, and he was talking to one of them on the phone.  Speaking of that. 

“Give up yet,” Kane asked. 

“Yeah, I’m too tired to even guess,” ‘Taker admitted.  Kane grinned, thinking about the call and the person behind it.  She was one in a million, a gem.  He loved her like the sister she almost became, in spite of everything. 

“Stretch called me,” Kane said with glee.  ‘Taker frowned, not sure if he heard his brother correctly.  How did they go from him teasing Kane about Shane-O to Min? 

“Are you fucking with me?  Because of you are, I got news for you,” ‘Taker started before Kane cut him off. 

“No, I’m serious.  She called me tonight,” Kane said quickly. 

“Why,” was the angry question.  Why the fuck would Min call his little brother?  It didn’t make a damn bit of sense.  But then, women rarely made sense to him anymore and he knew it. 

“God, you are so easy, you know that?  It’s not even fun to mess with you,” Kane teased.  Silence met his words, telling him plainly that he’d better explain himself and damn quick.  Kane filed away his brother’s response for future examination, knowing his brother was still in love with the tiny woman if only he’d pull his head out of his ass long enough to realize it.  Maybe one day he would.  Maybe, just maybe, he’d have to give him a shove to get him started. 

“Nice, first I’m an ass, then I’m easy?  What is your problem tonight,” ‘Taker asked, knowing he was the one with the problem, not Kane.  Kane was easier going than him by a long shot.  Always had been, even when they were kids. 

“Do you want to know or not,” Kane asked rhetorically.  Again, silence met his question, which he took for what it was, assent.  "That little lady called to apologize in advance for not being able to go see my movie," Kane said, still full of wonder at her call.  More silence was the only response, so he continued.  "She said she loved me and supported me in everything but she just couldn't sit and watch it, even though she knows its make believe.  You didn't tell me she was squeamish," Kane finished with, hoping to draw his brother out, even if it took talking about the one person besides his kids that was still important to him.

"Yeah, well," Taker said, running his hands through his hair quickly, as his heart pounded.  After a quick debate he continued.  "You remember about her folks?  About her mother," Taker asked.

"Yeah, happened sometime when she was a kid, right," Kane asked, vaguely recalling the conversation from years ago.

"Yeah, and what’s worse is she saw it.  All of it.  She used to have nightmares about it, said she could still hear the sound of the knife as it cut into her dad."

"Jesus!  I never knew.  No wonder she can't sit through my movie.  I never knew," Kane said again, rethinking his opinion of his at one time almost sister in law.

"Yeah, she's been through hell," 'Taker said, reaching for another beer.

"Some of it thanks to you," Kane said quietly.

"I know," was the only response as he cracked open the next bottle of beer.

"Hell with the diet, eh," Kane teased, hearing the second hiss of a beer opening.

"Fuck off," his older brother said good naturedly.

"You talk to her recently," Kane asked, trying to sound innocent.  He was betting a week’s worth of pay that his brother was talking to her on a semi regular basis. He wouldn't be able to stop himself, especially not now.

"Yeah, couple of days ago to see how she was feeling," 'Taker admitted with a grimace, knowing exactly why his brother was asking.  He was too easy to read, too.

"How is she doing?  She looking like she swallowed a watermelon yet," Kane asked.

"Not last time I saw her.  Worries me.  She never did do anything normally.  But her doctors say everything's fine, or at least that's what she tells me," was all he said, preferring to shut up and drink his beer, not wanting to dwell on Min too long.  It was a subject he tried to stay away from for now.  It was something he fucked up long ago and he was still paying the price.

"And you believe her," Kane asked incredulously, knowing how much Stretch didn't like to burden anyone with her own issues, big or small.  At least that was how she used to be and he doubted she'd changed that much, regardless of his brother's dealings with her.

"Yeah, I have to, don't I?  Besides, Hunter's checking in on her frequently.  And if he doesn't like what he hears, he calls her boyfriend for more info.  I'm betting Hunter reams him a new ass occasionally," 'Taker chuckled.  Several moments of silence followed, as both men imagined the hapless man inheriting Hunter for a protector of his girlfriend.  Not fun for anyone, no matter who they were.

"Is she happy," Kane finally asked.  'Taker paused, debating his answer.  He'd been questioning the same thing recently, particularly after his quick visit weeks ago to retrieve his way ward son.  She said she was happy and content, but after that weekend, he wasn't so sure.  Wasn't sure enough to take her word at face value anymore.

"Uh, I dunno," 'Taker admitted quietly, hoping his brother would drop the subject.

"What do you mean?  You talk to her, does she sound happy," Kane pressed, knowing exactly what he was doing to his brother.

"Uh, she sounds happy on the phone.  But she's not gonna tell me shit, especially that." 'Taker admitted.  After his weekend with her and her boyfriend at the condo, he'd been berating himself for helping Dave fix things between the couple months ago.  He knew Min.  He knew she didn't like to be pushed or manipulated and yet he'd gone along with Dave's plan and done it anyhow.  Now he was questioning if he'd done the right thing.  Seeing her with Mike, watching her let her guard slip when she thought no one was looking told him he might have made the biggest mistake of his life.  Again.

"And who's fault is that?," Kane asked.  A growl was the only response, as Kane knew it would be.  He'd opened old wounds before, he knew exactly how his older brother would react, and about this one in particular?  Oh yeah, he was still in love with her. 

"When are you ever gonna talk to her about your situation?  She's gonna find out somehow, you know.  You can't intimidate everyone into silence."  Taker sighed at the truth of Kane's words.

"I know, but I have to try.  I know what Min's like.  She'll want to help me and I can't risk that.  I have to stay away from her until this thing is done or Sara will try to use it somehow to her advantage.  She's got me watched day and night as it is.  I don't need to give her any ammunition.  I'm not the one who decided to be the local door knob, giving everybody a turn."  

Kane could hear the anger and resentment his brother was trying to keep in check in regards to his soon to be ex wife.  The woman had no idea who and what she was playing with, obviously.  If she did, she'd take the deal and run.  But instead she was fighting him tooth and nail for anything she could get above the extremely generous child support.  Stupid woman.  She'd have to learn the hard way.  Too bad too, since Kane had liked her years ago.  But the business had a way of tearing families apart if they weren't prepared for the sacrifices.  It was painfully obvious Sara hadn't been prepared for it after just a few months of his brother being back on the road full time.  If only he's said something at the time.  Sighing at his own blindness, he reached for his coffee.  He was trying to cut down to just a few cups a day but whenever he talked to his brother he had to have a cup before, during and after.

"How much longer," Kane asked, alluding to the entire legal process.

"She's not due until May but I doubt she'll make it that long, with twins and shit.  Plus she's so small," 'Taker added his own worry.  Kane chuckled at him, realizing his brother had Stretch on the brain, whether he wanted to admit it or not.

"Will your divorce be final by then," Kane asked specifically.  'Taker grimaced, knowing the likely scenario to come.

"I doubt it.  This is gonna drag out for as long as it takes for her to realize she signed the pre-nup with a fidelity clause in it and I mean to enforce it."  'Taker was aware that the only reason Sara agreed to sign a pre-nup with that clause was she thought he'd stray before her, since he was surrounded by temptation all the time and he was away from home for extended periods.  That might have been true fifteen years ago, but he'd sewn enough to last several lifetimes.  He was looking for a lifelong companion, someone to grow old with.  Someone he'd found once and let go and thought he'd found again with Sara.

"She really that stupid," Kane voiced.

"No, she's not.  She really wants money.  That's all.  I'm beginning to wonder if that was her plan from the start," 'Taker admitted quietly, disgusted with his own blindness for not seeing it sooner.

"I don't know what to say except I hope it gets done soon, so you can move on," Kane said quietly, not pushing his brother anymore tonight.  He'd planted a seed or two maybe.  He'd touch base with him again soon to see if they'd taken root.

"Me too," 'Taker rumbled.  He had a horrible feeling he'd still be going through this shit rolling in to 'Mania, not something he wanted at all.  But his wife was nothing if not tenacious.

***

"Whatcha lookin' for now, Johnny," Steve asked stretching out on the large leather couch in his brother's Tampa area home.  John was nose deep in his ever present car parts paper.  He never went anywhere without one, but he seemed to be looking for something in particular this time, not just scouting.

John lifted his head from his search and frowned, debating on whether his little brother was gonna give him shit if he told him.  He could always beat the hell out of him if he did, he reasoned.  Plus he was dying to tell someone his idea.

" '69 Boss 302," was all he said with a grin, waiting for his brother to muddle through what he was talking about.

"Aren't those kind of rare," Steve asked.

"Yeah, but I am a fan of the vintage muscle.  You know me.  Besides, it's not for me anyway, so that makes it even more worth the hunt."  Steven frowned, trying to think of anyone that'd be interested in such an old, hard to find Mustang.

"Okay, I give.  Who else is a freak about cars.  Old cars," he amended.  John grinned, enjoying the idea more and more as he talked about it.

"Carrie," he said triumphantly.

"Really?  You sure," Steve asked, thinking back to the tiny woman with all the hair and the nose piercing that Johnny’d brought home for Christmas.  She didn't seem the type to him.  She seemed too delicate and feminine to be into cars at all.

"Yeah, but not like me.  It's this car in particular.  I talked to her brother and he told me their dad was restoring one in their garage when they were kids.  It was supposed to be for her when she turned sixteen," John said quietly, imaging his baby in a garage, handing tools to her daddy.  It was a vision that had been with him since he talked to Wease a couple of weeks ago.

"Whatever happened to it," Steve asked, unaware of her history.  John shrugged.

"Dunno, but I figure since she won't let me buy her jewelry I can at least give her this."  John had tried several times to give his baby jewelry only to be told that she didn't need anything like that and he should save his money for other, more important things.  It was one of the few things they argued about.  He wanted to buy her stuff to make her happy but she wasn't very helpful when it came to telling him what she liked.  He'd finally emailed her brother and asked out of desperation. 

"Any luck finding one," Steve asked, knowing they were rare and expensive, neither of which bothered his brother.

"A little, but I gotta do some more research before I buy anything," John grinned.  He loved reading about cars, car parts and anything to do with cars.  So, if he could justify his habit to himself by saying he was shopping for someone else?  Well, that just made it all the better.

"Let me know what you find.  I'm curious to see one, I've only ever seen one in a magazine," Steve admitted.  He was a Chevy man so his knowledge of anything Ford produced was limited.  John jumped up, tossing his paper on the coffee table and grabbed his laptop.  He flipped it on, wanting to show his brother the type of car he was talking about, excited by the idea of surprising his baby with one sometime soon. 

Knowing his laptop took a few minutes to warm up, he stood up asking, “You want a beer?” 

Steve nodded, all too happy to help his oldest brother drink beer.  Steve considered himself lucky in the fact that he had no ties, no job or wife and kids to keep him home.  He could run to Florida and visit his brother anytime he was free.  There’d been a couple of times Johnny needed a house sitter since his travel plans had changed abruptly and Steve was happy to help.  Who wouldn’t be?  Camping out in a massive house, fully equipped with as many toys as his brother could ever want?  He’d spent many happy hours at Johnny’s house, away from all the fuss and stress of his family.  Something drew Steve’s eyes to the laptop screen and he realized he was staring at a grinning little girl as the wall paper.  He didn’t recognize the kid.  Must be one of Johnny’s special fans, he mused.   

John came back with beer for both as he resumed his seat.  He cracked his open, ready to show his brother just exactly the kind of car he was talking about, including all the little details he wanted to make sure he got right.  Nothing was too good for his baby.  And this was too important to go half ass on.  Steve spoke up just before John was ready to hit a key. 

“Cute kid.  Who is she,” he asked.  John flushed, realizing he’d forgotten that the picture was right out in plain sight.  He’d seen it and instantly knew he had to use it on his laptop.  “One of your fans,” Steve asked.  John chuckled.   

“You could say that,” he said wiggling his eye brows at his brother’s denseness.  Steve shook his head, indicating he had no idea.  John finally said, “You dip shit, it’s Carrie.” 

“Really?”   

Steve took a closer look at the picture, seeing the blonde little girl squatting down in a yellow sun dress and ladybug rubber boots.  It looked like she was standing in a puddle or a tide pool somewhere.  The focus of the picture was her grinning for the camera as she pointed at something in the water in front of her.  Steve glanced over to his brother for verification, not wanting to be taken for a fool yet again.  John grinned and nodded at him.  He still loved the picture, even after having it for a couple of weeks.  Every time he looked at it he saw something different.  At first he’d been struck by the blonde little girl with a riot of curls, but today he noticed that even as a tot she crinkled her nose when she smiled.  Wonder if their boys would inherit that?  It was one of her many endearing traits.   

“She give this to you,” Steven asked. 

“Oh, hell no.  She doesn’t even know I have it.  She probably doesn’t know it exists still.  Her brother dug it up for me when I asked what they looked like as kids.  I guess there aren’t too many pictures of them around.” John explained, glancing at the picture again, hoping his boys inherited their mother’s looks as well as smarts. 

“Think she’ll be pissed if she finds out,” Steve asked.  John shrugged. 

“I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter since she rarely sees my laptop.  She hasn’t ever seen this new one yet.  I don’t care anyway.  The picture is just too cute to pass up, don’t you think,” John asked his brother.   

Steve cocked a brow at his obviously infatuated brother.  It was still official, Johnny had definitely lost it.  They weren’t living together or married, but his brother still loved the woman.  Who would’ve thought? 

“Yeah,” Steve agreed quietly, suddenly a little worried for his brother, knowing he used to be a major player. 

“Anyway, let me show you the differences between the ’70 and the ’69 and then you tell me why the ’69 is the better car,” John said, slipping into his favorite topic of conversation easily. 

“You mean besides the number?  Anything with 69 in it is always better, ain’t it,” Steve teased.  John thumped him on the back of the head as they surveyed pictures of different cars… 

*** 

“You’re not feeling faint again, are you,” Wease teased his older but much smaller sister as he sat down at her dining room table. 

“What the fuck?  I’m getting lip from you too now,” she flipped it right back at him with a smile.  He ignored her rhetorical question and cracked open a beer.  He looked at the label and shook his head.

“This must be Mike’s choosing,” he said, eying the paler than normal liquid.  She glanced at the pale glass with distaste. 

“Yeah, you know I don’t drink that shit.  That shit isn’t good for anything but cleaning the toilet,” she chuckled.  Since she was pregnant she wasn’t drinking beer, her favorite alcoholic beverage of choice, Mike was free to buy nasty tasting mass produced garbage beer and store it in the fridge, much to her annoyance. 

Wease sipped at it and grimaced.   

“I’m spoiled.  I admit it.  This shit is bad.  How does he drink it,” he asked.  Carrie shrugged and flipped open the fat file in front of her.  “You sure you’re up to this,” he asked again. 

“I’m fine, but don’t be offended if I fall asleep on you later,” she warned him.  He nodded.  He remembered how Carla was with their two.  She’d have tons of energy, then all of a sudden shut down and take a nap almost instantly. 

“Does he know,” Wease asked her, alluding to the man that was currently at the gym. 

“No, I didn’t want to even go there with him until we got some of this shit straightened out.  Kris knows and she’s cool with it.  And last I knew you were still cool with it,” she said with a slight question in her voice. 

He set his weak beer down with a frown.  That shit was bad, he might have to run home just to grab some decent stuff. 

“You know I am, Care.  This really isn’t one of the areas I’m very comfortable with.  If we can have someone in the family handle most of the shit, I’m happier anyway.  Besides, didn’t you tell me the last audit turned up some interesting shit,” he asked. 

“Yeah, interesting is one word for it.  Close to embezzling is a better word for it.  I just spent the better part of a week with lawyers and outside accountants.  The primaries will be prosecuted, not sure about the firm.  But we do need to shift that burden elsewhere and I think Mike might like the challenge.  But then, maybe he’ll freak out?  I don’t know.  He gets weird sometimes over the strangest shit,” she admitted.   

Her brother held his tongue.  He was still getting to know Mike.  He knew of him for years but didn’t really start to get to know him until he started seeing his sister.  But he did know that Mike was working on a special surprise for her and he’d been sworn to secrecy.  He just hoped his sister would like it.  He’d been asked for his expertise on some parts of the construction so the functionality would be all that she could want.  Now he just hoped Mike had guessed right and she would be happy.  This whole keeping secrets from his sister felt unnatural to him and he’d caught himself almost spilling Mike’s surprise a few times.  Hell, for the first time since his childhood, he realized he was actually keeping something from both of his sisters.  He was pretty sure Kris had an idea of the house Dave was building for them, but he’d given his word he wouldn’t say anything even though he’d almost slipped a few times with her too. He needed to pay better attention to his mouth around them.  He realized that Carrie was talking and he hadn’t been paying attention at all.  Uh oh, did he miss anything?   

He tuned back in to hear her say, “And they say it will in fact be raining real cats and dogs this time.  Not fake ones, real ones, so you better put on your hip waders folks.” 

“What the fuck are you talking about,” he laughed. 

“Oh, you were listening?  I thought I might be boring you so I thought I’d talk shit until you decided to tune back in,” she giggled.  He laughed at her.  She used to make up the most outrageous stories when they were kids.  Most of them were silly and almost always got a laugh out of him. 

“You got me.  I did space for a minute, sorry.”  He gave her a sheepish grin as he rolled up his sleeves on his shirt.  It was his signal of letting her know he was ready. 

“Okay, here’s the deal,” she said and flipped the pages to the specific fund they were going to be talking about…. 

Two hours later, Wease sat back rubbing his chin in thought, glancing over at his sister.  She had obviously done her homework and knew what she was talking about.  He was pissed at himself for his lack of attention that allowed the almost embezzlement to happen.  But that had since changed.  She’d given him the charge of overseeing that particular branch and he’d spent the last few weeks learning about the ins and outs of their business empire.  To say that he was awed would have been an understatement.  He knew that she had diversified into many other areas, but the fact that she had set up several foundations was surprising too - foundations that seemed set up for the sole purpose of giving money away.  He needed to do more homework on that before he opened his mouth and put his foot in. 

“So, this is the piece you’re gonna let him play with,” Wease asked, waving at the stack of papers in front of him. 

“Eventually,” she said.  “If he doesn’t freak out on me.  First I’ll let him massage one of my accounts.  I don’t really know the scope of what he used to dealing with so I don’t want to scare him.”  Wease nodded, it made some sense and he did know Mike tended to be excitable sometimes.  Just thinking that brought to mind one of the many times Mike had made a frantic phone call because his sister was doing something unexpected, again.  He was so used to her that he tended to forget how different she could be to live with, particularly as you got used to her. 

”Wease,” Mike whispered into the phone. 

“Yeah, what’s up,” he answered, knowing Carrie had done something again. 

“Um, I don’t really know, other than she’s been sitting at her computer for at least a day and hasn’t slept that I can tell,” Mike whispered back. 

“She look okay,” Wease asked him.  He was well aware of his sister’s ability to totally focus on a project to the exclusion of everything else, including sleep and food.  He had to use chemicals to achieve the same result, but it was handy if you had a deadline or had a hot idea that you wanted to flesh out. 

“Yeah, she looks normal,” Mike admitted. 

“Have you talked to her,” Wease asked. 

“No, she said she didn’t want to be disturbed,” Mike informed her brother. 

“I think after a day or so you can disturb her.  I think that you’re safe,” Wease said. 

“You sure?  Last time she was pissed that I bugged her,” Mike said quietly, recalling an incident from a few weeks ago and shoved that unpleasant memory aside. 

“Yeah, I’m sure.  Just bring her some food or something and don’t act like it’s a big deal.  You know she hates having people fuss over her.  That’s the quickest way to piss her off,” Wease said, rubbing his hand over his head, noting that he needed to cut it again. 

“Yeah, I learned that lesson.  Okay.  I’ll bring her some lunch or something.  If she kills me, it’s on your head.  I just want it on record now that if I disappear, it’s your fault,” Mike chuckled quietly. 

“Trust me.  She won’t kill you for it,” Wease laughed. 

“Easy for you to say,” Mike flipped back. 

“What’s got you smiling,” Carrie asked her brother.  He shrugged impishly, grinning. 

“Mike.  He cracks me up, I swear.  Some of his phone calls…” Wease said, knowing his sister was aware of most them. 

“You think that’s bad, you should hear some of the calls Hunter’s had with him.  I surprised he manages to contain his temper enough to not reach through the fucking phone.  Those two know exactly how to push each other’s buttons.  Thank god he doesn’t live close.  Not sure Mike would survive it,” Carrie chuckled. 

“You’re bad,” Wease agreed with a grin. 

“I know, but it’s true,” she said, grinning back at him, relieved that another piece of her plan was starting to take shape.  So much to get in place and time was starting to run out. 

*** 

Stretching sinuously, the brunette reached out, expecting to find warm firm skin to tease.  Finding nothing initially, she reached further expecting to come in contact with the body of her spent lover.  Still nothing.  She swept her hand across the sheets, not believing she’d been left after such an exhaustive effort.  She’d guessed they’d both be out for most of the next day due to their night time activities.  Startled at not finding him where she expected, she muttered his name. 

“Joey,” she said, not expecting any answer. 

“Yeah, darlin’,” he answered, lifting his head from his shaking hands. 

“Mmm, you coming back to bed,” she asked, pleased that he hadn’t left her, as she’d started to suspect. 

“In a bit, I just need to chill,” was all he said, not explaining exactly why he couldn’t rest when they should both be exhausted. 

“Mmm, k.  I’ll be waiting,” she mumbled, sleepily.  She stretched again, pulling the covers back up smiling to herself.  Everything was going exactly according to plan and she’d just had her brains fucked out.  Life couldn’t be better. 

Joey turned back to the window, lifting his face to the stars.  He flipped his hair off his face, trying to concentrate enough to focus on anything that looked familiar, but his vision was too blurry to make out anything other than just blotches in the night sky.  He hated this shit.  This side effect.  Soon the tingling and itching of his skin would start and it was enough to make him fucking crazy.  He couldn’t let Steph know.  He never let anyone know.  Except Johnny, he reminded himself bitterly.  Nitro knew.  He’d seen him strung out before.  There were no secrets from his tag team partner and friend, except this one.  The fact that he was sleeping with Stephanie McMahon.  No one knew. 

His head started to pound in time with his racing pulse, signaling to him that the tingling and itching sensations weren’t far behind.   To keep his mind off the upcoming unpleasantries, he replayed the last few weeks with Steph.  She was amazing.  They usually met for dinner, sometimes a movie too.  But they always ended up back at her place.  Sometimes they fucked like bunnies before dessert was served, sometimes they had enough restraint to wait until after the dinner service was cleared.  But they always had time to talk.  Joey had found a willing listener in Steph and surprised himself with his need to talk.  He told her about his workouts, his work, his worries and travel.  She listened intently to all of it.  Sometimes even going so far as to ask him for specifics about his work.  She really seemed interested in his thoughts and opinions regarding the people and events that swirled around the backstage of the WWE.   

The urge to scratch intensified, forcing him to shelve any more thoughts about anything other than not scratching himself raw.  He curled his fingers into tight fists in an attempt to stop himself.  Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t.  He planned to ride it out, climbing back into bed when it was through.  The rush kept getting shorter and the itching always got worse the longer he used.  He knew it but couldn’t have stopped himself, even if he wanted to.  Right now he didn’t want to, even in the midst of the worst of it.  The rush was still worth it.  The feeling of super human strength and endurance was always worth it.  Having a woman to take along for the ride made it even better. 

Several hours later, an exhausted man dragged himself into the bathroom for a quick shower.  For some reason that always seemed to chase away the last of the tingles.  Plus, he knew he stunk.  Not something he was proud of but between the hot sweaty sex and the shakes, he needed to take a shower for himself to say nothing of his voluptuous lover. 

** 

A ringing phone pierced the haze of sleep for Daddy’s Little Princess.  Her well manicure brows frowned in confusion, trying to sort out the source of her irritation.  Realizing it was her personal line, she struggled to reach it behind her.  The man nuzzled against her generous breasts tightened his grip at her movement.  Sighing, she stretched for the phone, knowing it must be important. 

“Hello,” she said quietly before the phone was at her ear.  Her brother’s strident voice cut through the last remaining post coital bliss. 

“You’re playing with fire, Steph,” Shane said quickly.  Steph rolled her eyes to herself.  He could be so over bearing sometimes. 

“What are you talking about,” she said lazily, stroking the top of the fresh smelling head against her breast. 

“I’d thought Dad banishing you from RAW would’ve woke you up to your shit, but no.  Now you jump to SmackDown?  Are you fucking insane?”  Shane’s disbelief was easy to hear. 

“Daddy’s just being daddy, he can’t help himself,” she said quietly, irritated at the gall of her brother dictating to her.  The man at her breasts woke up enough to take the tip of one in his mouth and suckle it, causing what little irritation Shane had managed to stir fade quickly.  She sighed quietly, encouraging her lover with her nimble fingers.  Shane was disgusted at his sister’s actions with the SmackDown roster and the sounds that were emanating through the phone.  And people said he had no control? 

“Did you forget?  Are you so desperate for attention from your newest conquest that you miraculously forgot SmackDown is off limits?  Did you forget that,” Shane reminded his irresponsible sister.  If The Undertaker got wind of any perceived manipulations of the talent?  It didn’t bear thinking about.  But his self indulgent sister didn’t give a shit, as usual.  Shane wondered, not for the first time, if he might somehow be adopted. 

“Why,” Steph said quietly, more tuned into her lover’s attention than the voice on the phone.  “I’m not doing anything wrong,” she giggled, causing Joey to chuckle.  Nope, she wasn’t doing a damn thing wrong for him.  Waking up with titties in his face?  Damn, he could get used to it real easy. 

“You are so fucking unbelievable,” Shane shouted, his minimal control slipping.  “Do you want to endanger the company?  All because you can’t keep your legs closed,” he snarled. 

“What a thing to say,” Steph said dreamily, feeling Joey’s kisses trail down her tummy. 

“Stupid!  Bitch,” Shane shouted, slamming down the phone.  It was up to him to make sure his sister’s activities didn’t go any further than her frilly bedroom.  Why his dad thought banishing her from RAW would slow her down he didn’t know.  But he’d heard a whiff of gossip that “someone” was asking a lot of question backstage at SmackDown.  The sick feeling in his stomach was just confirmed by his sister’s willful ignorance.   

His thoughts jumped to the one person he could talk to about this stuff.  Hell, about anything.  Knowing he should feel bad that it wasn’t his wife didn’t slow him down.  He dialed the phone and waited.  His lover would understand the call and his reasons.  He always felt at peace with Kane, even before they’d become lovers.  It was that serenity that urged him to delve deeper.  And now?  Well, now he was in a marriage for the sake of his family and appearances when all he really wanted to do was curl up all day long in the protective embrace of The Big Red Machine. 

*** 

The ringing phone cut through the peaceful dream Josh was having.  He was lying on a beach surrounded by naked beautiful girls.  They had all been arguing about who was gonna get to fuck him first.  Just before they came to blows, which he was really looking forward to, the damn phone rang.  Again.  Shit.  Couldn’t a guy have a decent fucking dream anymore or what? 

“What,” he mumbled into his brother’s phone. 

“Nice.  Real fucking nice way to answer my phone, Josh.  What if it was important,” Randy bitched. 

“It’s not,” Josh said, cracking an eye open since his brother was sounding like he was warming up for an ass chewing.  He looked over at one of the other occupants of the bed, clearly undisturbed by the ringing of the phone or his voice.  He pulled the sheet down to get a better view.  Damn, he bagged that?  Totally fucking awesome.  

“Are you awake or did you put this phone down?  So help me, Josh.  I will kick your ass if-“ Randy was cut off by his younger brother. 

“Just calm down, dude.  You need to just calm the fuck down.  It’s all good,” Josh said, caressing a breast near him.  Oh hell yes it was good. 

“Bull shit.  I know you,” Randy said quickly, his temper slipping more by the second. 

“Yeah, yeah.  That’s what you always say.  Have I disappointed you yet,” Josh said, his hand still working on the delectable breast next to him.  He loved boobs and this chick’s were awesome. 

“Yes, many times,” Randy said, feeling a tension headache start.  Damn it, why did he let his brother make him nuts.  There was no way to change the asshole.  He was what he was.  No, that’s not true.  He used to be just like Josh, in most things.  But recently, he felt a sense of responsibility. 

“I told you, it’s all good.  Just chill out.  What did you call for anyway, besides to bitch at me,” Josh remembered enough to ask.  When Randy called, usually something was up and it usually wasn’t good news for him.  “You get suspended again?” 

“No asshole, I did not.”  Randy took a few deep breaths, reminding himself of the reason he was calling.  Remembering her turquoise eyes, her smile, her soft lips.  Looking around at the airport lounge making sure he hadn’t drawn a crowd, he continued.  “I called to tell you that you need to leave my fucking house by the end of the week.  And it needs to be cleaned, no beer cans, pizza boxes or used condoms left like last time.”  

“I told you I was sorry about that,” Josh said, suddenly sitting up and paying attention more to the phone call than the breasts in bed with him. 

“I don’t give a shit if you’re sorry or not.  You need to get the fuck out of my house.  The free ride is over,” Randy said slowly. 

“What,” Josh almost yelled, but his pounding head moderated him.  “Where the fuck am I supposed to go,” he asked. 

“Back home?  Get your own place, I don’t care where you go but you can’t stay at my house partying anymore,” Randy explained. 

“You sure you didn’t get suspended,” Josh asked, thinking back to last time.  His brother had been so pissed he threw him out then too, but only because he didn’t want anybody around him for a couple of weeks. 

“Yes, I’m positive.  You just need to get the fuck out.  It’s my home, not yours.  I want to be able to know I can come home and not have to wade through the empty cans just to get to my own damn bathroom.  I mean it, Josh.  By the end of this week,” Randy said, waiting for the next excuse. 

“For how long,” Josh asked, sounding suddenly lost and young. 

“For good,” Randy answered. 

“Fine,” Josh snapped at his brother, his Orton temper rearing up in response.  “I don’t fucking need you or anybody!”  The phone was slammed down in Randy’s ear.   

He felt like a complete shit head, but he had to do it, had to force his brother to get a damn job or at least get out of his house.  For an arraignment that was only supposed to last a couple of weeks, it had stretched to over a year and he was tired of it.  He was tied of coming home to god knew what after being beat up on the road.  Tired of coming home to find dozens of people in his house, eating and drinking him out of house and home, time after time.  The worst of it was coming home to find other people in his own bed.  After throwing them out, he’d have to strip the bed and remake it with clean sheets before he could finally crash.  He was extremely particular about a clean bed to sleep in, to say nothing of his own bathroom. 

But now, if all went according to plan, he could finally re-invite Rebecca to his house.  Last time they’d tried to both come out, she had to cancel at the very last minute due to her mom being sick and needing Rebecca’s help at the store.  Understanding that her family needed her more than him, he tried to be graceful about it, even though the anticipation of bringing her home had been and was still killing him.  It had been a good thing she hadn’t been able to make it, since he’d walked in on one of Josh’s raves, paid for out of his own bank account he was sure.  Now, just to get the timing right and ask her again. 

***

Letting the sounds of childish giggles calm her, she slowly let her breath out.  Now was not the time to bitch him out.  Mom would take care of that soon enough, she was sure.  Still reeling from her mother’s information, she’d managed to hold off picking up the phone and reaming him a new ass as soon as she’d learned of it.  But now that the house was clear, her husband was driving her mother to the airport and her kids were occupied killing each other’s in the make believe electronic world compliments of her brother.  She would never have bought her girls the latest wrestling program, but when their uncle buys it for them she certainly couldn’t tell her mother to take it back.  And he knew that.  Damn it. 

Dialing his cell, knowing it was the best way to contact him regardless of time zone, she waited for him to pick up.  Three rings later.  C'mon damn it, little brother pick up.  So help me, if you don't pick this phone up right now- 

"Yeah," said a voice that sounded like he'd been gargling with cut glass. 

"'Bout damn time you picked up this fucking phone," Helen snapped.  Incomprehensible noises carried across the miles. 

"Who the hell is this," he muttered, not bothering to hide his irritation. 

“Don’t you dare take that tone with me, little brother!  You’re not so big that I won’t hesitate to yank your chain,” Helen responded, her fiery temper rising in spite of her intentions.  She heard him mutter some unintelligible noises, making her pause.  Suddenly realizing she might have woken him up if he was in some far off time zone, she shut up for a moment – in part to regain her temper but also to give him time to wake up. 

“What did I do to deserve a call from you,” David finally mumbled, flipping the bedside lamp on.  He glanced at the clock, wincing at the time.  Middle of the fucking night.  Trust his sister to call him now.  Unless there was something wrong.  “Leelee?  Everything okay?  Mom okay,” he asked, his voice still sleep roughened. 

“No, everything is not okay.  Mom is okay, if you call crying to me all week long about how her baby boy has ruined his life and hurt his family.  So yeah, Mom is just fucking peachy!”  David sighed, trying to come to grips with what he was hearing.  He didn’t think Kris would go to his mom to talk about things, she was too private.  Plus she would never want to put his mother in the middle of their shit, not her style at all. 

“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about Leelee, but that’s nothing new,” David groused.  He was still struggling to wake up fully, ignoring the body aches from his exhausting tour. 

“Bullshit!  I know you think you can lie to me about this shit, but I know you.  I know you too well.  And when Mom tells me your wife hasn’t talked to you in weeks, you must have fucked up in a big way Little Brother,” Helen reminded him. 

“Did Kris tell her that,” David asked, trying to make sense of everything at 3am. 

“No, of course not.  Kris has too much class to tattle on you.  You know that.  But your daughter has no problem crying to her gram about everything that’s going on in her life,” Helen reminded Liz’s dad. 

“Shit, what the hell crap did she tell Mom,” David asked, suddenly concerned for both his mother and wife.  Helen’s tactic worked, she knew he’d come clean if she confronted him with his daughter’s issue.  He hadn’t yet, but it was only a matter of time. 

“Only the truth,” Helen said, smiling to herself and waiting.  She knew him; he wouldn’t be able to not say anything.  Several moments of quiet stretched between them.  Helen heard sounds from the other end telling her David was getting up and pacing.  She smiled, continuing to wait him out. 

“Son of a…” was all he said at first, unsure of where to start.  Silence met his effort.  He sighed loudly, flexing his back and shoulders, trying to ease the sudden tightness at his sister’s words.  “It’s not what you think,” he finally said. 

“And what do I think,” Helen asked quietly, proud that she hadn’t crowed in triumph at breaking his silence.  But then that would be petty and she hadn’t been petty since they were kids.  Really. 

“I don’t know what you think, but Liz thinks I cheated on Kris and I didn’t.  I’m not,” he said, disgusted that everything had gotten so out of hand that his sister who lived cross country from him knew all about it.  Women.  They were lining up now, every single one of them in his family.  And they were all against him, no matter what the truth was.  Women always stuck together – fucking sucked. 

“Oh really,” was all Helen said in that vastly superior tone she used to use on him when they were kids. 

“Yeah, really,” David said, disgusted.  “Kris got it in to her pretty blond head somehow that I am cheating on her with someone.  I think her sister told her that shit.  She’s always been jealous of us, of her.  So, what better way to fuck things up than by filling my wife’s head full of lies?  What I don’t get is why my wife suddenly believed her.” 

Helen’s brow was still up at the pretty blond head comment from her predictably dense brother, so she refrained from comment.  The little shit was still dense as a door knob when it came to women, obviously.  She had hoped that his years of marriage to Kris had opened his eyes, but his latest comments proved how far he still had to go. 

“I told her…I told her I was fucking sick and tired of her fucking up my life and that we were through,” David stated, his temper rearing up at the remembered confrontation.  Helen frowned at his words. 

“You told Kris that,” she asked, stunned. 

“What?  No, hell no.  I told the queen of manipulation, her sister, that I was done with her fucking around in my life,” David explained.  Helen frowned, thinking his brother was way off base, yet again.  “It’s her damn fault everything in my life is in the shitter!  I didn’t screw around.  I didn’t lie to my wife or cheat on her and I am sick of everyone thinking I did.  I thought people had more faith in me,” David groused, suddenly feeling like the younger brother he was, whining to his older sister to “fix it” like she used to. 

“Do you blame them, Squirt” Helen asked, using a long forgotten nickname from childhood.  There was only ever one person who used to call him that and she hadn’t for over twenty years, until now.

“Hell yes, I blame them.  I haven’t done anything wrong,” David whined. 

“Why do I find that hard to believe,” Helen asked him, knowing she was needling him.  But she had a purpose and she knew him, too well.  A growl was his only answer for a few minutes, frustrated that even his own sister thought he was a no good cheating son of a bitch.  Damn it. 

“It’s the god’s honest truth, LeeLee.  Why would I ever cheat on the mother of my children, the most beautiful woman in the world?  And who I thought was one of the very few that understood me?” 

“What did you do, you little shit that made her think you cheated?”  At his sounds of protest, Helen continued.  “You must have done something to make your normally intelligent wife think something so off the wall.  Think.  I seriously doubt her sister had anything to do with it.”  At even louder noises, she continued again, knowing he tended to act first, think later.  “Do you honestly think her sister’s word would be enough to make her toss your sorry ass out?  Really?  How many times has Kris run to her sister when you two were arguing?”  Silence met this question because David didn’t have an answer and he was confused about where his sister was going.  Her logic always threw him.  “Don’t know the answer, eh?  I do.  Zero.  She has never run to Carrie when you two argue.” 

“Bullshit,” was David’s weak protest. 

“No, it’s not.  Kris told me herself.  She said she’d never put Carrie in that predicament because her sister thinks you’re a good guy and she wouldn’t want her to have to choose sides.  Think for a minute, Squirt.  Why?  Why does she think you cheated?”  Silence met her words for a few heart beats before he had the wits to say anything.  Finally, he sighed, sitting down on the bed, knowing he wasn’t gonna get to use it any other way tonight. 

“I don’t know.  I’ve been over it and I can’t figure it out.  I tell her how much I love her, I show her every chance I get…”  Helen heard the bare pain in her brother’s voice, making the situation more distressing for both.  David rarely showed weakness to outsiders, but to family?  They were the ones that knew him and allowed him the freedom to be himself, jumbled and confused emotions included.  Taking a deep breath and checking the time to gauge how long she had before her own husband came back, she decided to prod him some more. 

“Most women aren’t stupid, but we don’t want to believe even when there are a few signs that can’t be ignored.”  David scratched his beard, knowing he needed to shave it off today since he was supposed to be going in front of the cameras again today.  Great, just great and he was gonna look like hell. 

“LeeLee, I don’t know what you’re insinuating, but it’s starting to piss me off,” David warned. 

“Oh, just shut up for a minute, will you?  Listen and think.  I know you can, in spite of all that muscle you’ve packed on,” she teased.  David did as she asked and shut up, trying hard to stay focused on what his sister might say.  “Okay, one thing we can not ignore.  And when I say we, I mean wives,” she clarified.  “One thing is when our normally open and honest husband starts becoming secretive.” 

“What do you mean,” David asked, unsure how that related to his situation. 

“Things like late night phone calls, running out to go to errands.  Silly shit like that.  Men think they are so sly, but we do notice that shit.”  David filed that away, not aware of its relevance.  “Also, when money starts disappearing for no reason, in part because they are now spending it on their little piece of ass.  Again, men don’t think we notice.” 

David turned his sister’s words over in his head and didn’t think he’d done either of those things; so far she was off base.  

“But the biggest bell ringer for a cheating spouse is a sudden change in the bedroom, whether it’s lack of interest, a different vibe or doing something so completely outside of the norm for the couple.  Even I didn’t miss that one,” Helen confided. 

“Shit, sorry,” David said, letting her words permeate to his sleep deprived brain. 

“Any of this making any sense to you, Squirt,” Helen asked. 

“Yeah, but I don’t see how it relates to us….” David said quietly.  Helen sighed, knowing his brother must be missing something if Kris suspected him of cheating.  David thought back to that afternoon, in the gym, with Kris doubled over in pain.  The words hit him again, just as painful as the first time.  Then it hit him.  “Son of a bitch!  When I.  When we…oh hell.  Now I get it,” David said, almost relieved at finally figuring out what must have tipped his wife to thinking he was having an affair.  That time he went animalistic on her.  She hadn’t complained, but then he hadn’t given her the option either.  Still it couldn’t be just that.  There had to be other things.  He knew Lil’ Sis was involved somehow.  He knew it in his gut. 

“You finally put all the pieces together, brainiac,” Helen asked. 

“Some.  But I don’t see how one night would make her think,” David said, before realizing what he was about to say to his older sister. 

“I told you.  For me, that was the last straw.  There were other signs too, but I didn’t want to see or admit them until his bedroom attitude changed.  Then there was no denying it any more, no matter how much I wanted to,” she admitted. 

“This is all so fucked up.  It’s gotten totally out of hand.  I need to talk to her.  To make her see.  To make things right.  Mikie tells me she cries at night because of me.  I can’t….” David stopped, afraid he might start blubbering too. 

“You’re right, you do need to make things right.  This is not only hurting Kris, Squirt.  It’s affecting your kids too, to say nothing of Mom.  She was a total mess the entire time she was here.” 

“She never said a word to me,” David said, surprised at the information. 

“Did you expect her to?  C’mon Dave.  You know her.  She won’t do anything to mess up your life or distract you when you’re on the road.  But you need to get this shit straightened out.  Soon,” Helen warned.  David went over the rest of his travel schedule, knowing that it ended with a quick cameo at No Way Out.  Maybe, somehow he could use that.  “Whatever you do, don’t wait too long Little Brother.  Your wife is redecorating the house in preparation for putting it on the market, or so I hear,” she warned. 

“What?  Mikie said she’d done the master bath, but didn’t say anything else,” he worried.  Knowing he needed to come up with some sort of plan to get inside his own house, or else he would be permanently be out of house and home, he decided on a course of action.  Now all he had to do was figure out how to make it work.  “Thanks,” he finally said. 

“For what,” Helen asked, even though she knew. 

“For this wake up call. I obviously needed it,” David admitted, grimacing at the truth. 

“No problem.  Anytime I get to tell my little brother he’s a dumb shit, I’m there.  You know that,” she teased.

“Yeah I know.  I remember.  Thanks anyway and I’ll keep you posted,” David said, in preparation for hanging up. 

“You better,” Helen warned, smiling in spite of the seriousness of the issue. 

***

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