Broken.
Disclaimer: Don't own any of it.
Scene One.
The whole crew was gathered at Sully's bar to celebrate just another Friday night. Beers all around, smiles cascaded across their faces, the group talked about their week. Eddie walked over to the bar to greet Janet with a kiss on the cheek.
"What was that for?" She asked with a grin.
"Just for being you."
"Aww, that's sweet," she cooed. "But I have zero time for sweet. Now take these dishes back to Rooster, we're completely swamped tonight." She pushed some dirty plates into his hands and hurried away. Eddie shook his head with a smile and walked behind the bar. On his way out from the kitchen, Ray Cataldo swiveled in the bar stool to face Eddie.
"Work at Best Friend Windows that bad, LaTekka? You need to be a busboy on the weekend?"
"Not tonight, Big Cat."
"What? I can't talk to an old friend?"
"Oh you can talk all you want, but I'm not gonna listen. And let's get it straight, we were never friends."
"Yeah, that's what Icky said about you last week."
"Quit trying to rile me up. It's not going to happen." Eddie squeezed past him and walked back to the table where Nick was in a middle of an anecdote.
"…So the Commander slams the pitcher down and refuses to pay." The group erupted in laugher.
"Is this the Raven's Bar incident?" Eddie asks.
"The one and only." The group exchange more tales of drunken glory and then Eddie checks his watch.
"All right, guys. I'm off."
"So soon?" Owen asks. "We haven't even gotten to the knife and fork debacle of '03!"
"Another time. Nick, we have that meeting with the coffeeshop owners tomorrow, don't forget."
"Me? Forget? You're talking to Mr. Responsible, here, guy. I am a window-installing machine."
"Yeah, and you're also drunk," Eddie says as he gives his friend a jovial pat on the back.
"Ronnie, you better drive this one home tonight."
"Will do. You're cut off, mister." he jokingly points to his older brother and the group shares a laugh.
Eddie walks away from the table and gives a wave to Janet, who signals that she was too busy for a proper goodbye. Pushing the door forward, Eddie walked into the brisk night. Turning the corner he was greeted by Ray Cataldo at the entrance to the alley.
Blowing some warm air into his hands, Eddie shook his head in disbelief.
"Seriously, Big Cat? You're stalking me now? Sorry, but I don't swing that way." Eddie moved past his nemesis, but Ray grabbed Eddies shoulder and forced him around.
"What is your deal, Cataldo? Give it up, I'm not fighting you. As much as it would please me to smash your face in, it's not worth my time."
"The only face getting smashed tonight is yours, LaTekka." Suddenly three of Ray's friends appeared from the alley and stood behind their leader. The smile of annoyance disappeared from Eddie's face as he realized it was four on one with a fight being inevitable.
"You thought you'd get away with throwing a punch at my best friend? You really thought that was going to fly?"
"I don't want any trouble here, fellas."
"Wow, if that's not a line out of a 40's flick, I don't know what is. Do people really talk like that?" Ray grinned. "The fact of the matter is, you don't have a choice tonight." Eddie started to back away and put his arms up in surrender.
"Joe? Bobby?" Ray said and his lackies reacted by hurrying toward Eddie and holding his arms behind him. Ray stepped toward him with an eerie nonchalance.
"So this first one, is for my friend." Ray punches Eddie straight in the face. "And this next one? Well, it's just for fun." Another punch, this time to the gut. Eddie lets out a loud gasp, but looks up.
"You know, Big Cat? One of these days, people are going to realize what you really are. And you'll never be able to show your face in this town again." Eddie receives another jab to the eye.
"Then let's make sure that doesn't happen," he pauses and starts to walk away. "Take care of him, boys." His other friend starts toward a pinned back Eddie, but instead of throwing punches, he's wielding a crowbar.