Picking Up The Pieces: Tommy Quincy- Boyz Attack and Beyond!
Chapter One: Birthday
(Author's Note: Ok... as promised, here it is! The go-there-iest installment in the "Next Generation" series ever! Those of you who don't know me probably expected another little romantic mystery after the way the last story ended. Someday, I just might... But in my proud tradition of unpredictability, I decided to try something different now. Many of you know- and share- my fascination with the workings of Tommy's mind and his mysterious past- especially after the hints we got in season 2. So, since the season is winding down (sob!) and we probably won't hear a lot more about that for a while... I decided to focus on that here. And does it get intense... "Picking Up The Pieces" is all about our favorite guy- his abusive childhood, his "sudden rise to fame" (don't we all wonder what really went on with Boyz Attack...we all know he was a wild thing!) his "failed marriage" and "Frozen" as well as his later involvement with G-Major and of course, Jude.
This installment also follows my tradition of "time travel" in stories. It is told primarily in flashback as Tommy reflects on his life for a book being written about him after his 50th birthday. For those of you who would wonder, that takes place almost two years after "Next Generation" ends.
Anyway... enough "spoilers"- let's get to it! This may be a new story, but the "traditional" disclaimer applies... I don't own IS, it's characters, its music, etc (if I did... we wouldn't be waiting who-knows-how-many-months for season 3, that's for sure!) Oh- and the song in this chapter is called "Birthday" and is a remix of the Sugarcubes hit by someone named "Tommy D"- (yes! for real!) ... that was further "remixed" to better match the story.
Oh- and since this is a new story- please hit that button and review. Seriously, I need to know if this idea is any good...
Special thanks to Caitlin and Petra for being there to help me stay focused.
Chapter One: Birthday
"He lives in this house over there."
"Has his world outside it..."
"Scrapples in the earth with his fingers and his mouth..."
"He is four years old."
"Threads worms on a string."
"Keeps spiders in his pocket..."
"Collects fly-wings in a jar"
"Scrubs house-flies and pinches them on a line..."
"He has one friend; she lives next door..."
"They're listening to the weather."
"He knows how many freckles she's got."
"She scratches his beard..."
"He's painting huge books"
"And glues them together."
"They saw a big raven."
"It glided down the sky."
"He touched it."
"Today is a birthday."
"They're smoking cigars..."
"He's got a chain of flowers."
"And sows a bird in her knickers."
"Today is a birthday."
"They're smoking cigars..."
"They lie in the bathtub..."
"A chain of flowers..."
The sounds of "Birthday" Q-Record's latest punk rock hit faded away, signaling the end of that company's owner's 50th birthday party. After saying his goodbyes and thanking all his guests, Tommy Quincy collapsed gratefully on the plush couch in his living room. Looking through the oversized bay windows, he watched everyone driving away. Voices and clattering noises emanated from the kitchen where his wife supervised the caterers, meticulously cleaning up.
"What a night!" he thought, carefully reviewing everything that happened, especially the shocking proposition made by his best friend's wife.
Suddenly overwhelmed, he reclined, leaning his head back and closing his eyes. A few minutes later, he heard soft footsteps in the room. Carefully, he remained in that exact position, anticipating her next move and responding hungrily when she placed her lips on his.
After several delicious minutes, they sat up, eyes meeting and locking.
"Hi" he whispered hoarsely.
"Hi" Jude smiled back at him.
"You weren't sleeping..." she teasingly reprimanded him.
"No" he admitted, loosening her hair from it's updo and caressing the silken strands as they tumbled down around her face.
"Still sneaky, Quincy..."
"Right..."
"You look so tired."
"Yeah, I am."
"But did you like the party?"
"You know I did. Small... quiet... Just what I like..."
"Well, you should have what you want. You only turn 50 once..."
"Ouch!" Tommy winced, somewhat sensitive now about his age.
Jude's arms tightened around him, as she whispered reassuringly.
"You are still... so hot! And just think of all you've done..."
"We've done." Tommy amended automatically.
"Patrick graduates from high school in four months and already has an early acceptance to MIT in America. Ruby is finishing up her second album and turns 16 in June..."
"Sweet 16..." Tommy smiled proudly, thinking of his children.
"So, we've got two great kids... a thriving business... and each other. That's everything..."
"Yeah, I gotta be happy about all that... There was a time... I never thought any of it would happen..." Tommy mused thoughtfully, reflecting on his tumultuous past yet again.
"You're thinking about Rachel's offer... Aren't you?" Jude guessed easily.
"Yeah... I don't know about this..."
"It's huge... Just imagine... A whole book about you... Your life story..." she enthused, amazed.
"Picking Up The Pieces: Tommy Quincy- Boyz Attack and Beyond! I like the sound of that..."
"It does sound good..." Tommy agreed. "But it's not that easy. You know exactly why..."
"Of course I do..."
"Even our family, our closest friends, don't know everything about me... You're the only one I ever told all that to..."
"Yes"
"Some of it's pretty ugly... stuff I'm not exactly proud of..."
"Yes" Jude repeated thoughtfully. "But that doesn't mean... it's something to hide."
"I'm over it. Dealt with everything... you know I have..." Tommy pleaded.
"I do know that." Jude promised him.
"You really want me to do this?" he asked, reading the message in her eyes.
"No, sweetheart. Not if you don't want to. Never."
"But?" he persisted.
"I just think... well, a lot of people go through stuff like that..."
"Not quite all of it." Tommy snorted. "Not like "Boyz Attack""
"No. Not too many people can claim ex-boyband status." Jude's mouth curved into a small smile, before she continued.
"But the rest? People can relate to a lot of it. Maybe it would help them somehow, if you shared it... Inspire them..."
"But it's up to you." she added quickly. "I'll support you. No matter what you decide."
"I know you will. You always do." he added, kissing her quickly.
"I just gotta think about it..."
Tommy spent a restless night doing just that. Lying besides a peacefully sleeping Jude, he tossed and turned. Images from his past floated aimlessly through his head.
" A house...a school... community theaters... shopping malls... concert arenas, packed with screaming fans... gossip, groupies, wild parties, backstage and in hotel rooms..."
The visions morphed and clarified, until he could distinguish the people in them.
"Mom and Dad... Chaz, Darius and Georgia, Portia..."
A wealth of emotions accompanied the memories, the strongest of which were anger, guilt and fear.
"Katie..." Tommy thought next, feeling the sharpest stab of pain slicing through him. On his long list of mistakes, that was his biggest.
"I'm so sorry." he whispered into the darkness.
Finally, just before dawn, he drifted off into a fitful sleep. However, his edginess and indecision chased him into his dreams, waking him again just a mere three hours later. Automatically, he stretched, reaching besides him, only to find that Jude had already gotten up. Surprised, he quickly threw on the faded denim blue sweatshirt that matched the pants he slept in and headed downstairs.
Predictably, he found Jude seated at the small square table in their sunny kitchen. Wearing another one of his sweatshirts over her faded flannel pajamas, she sipped coffee as she read the newspaper. She lifted her head and turned to him the minute he entered the room.
"Good morning" she greeted him as he moved closer.
"Good morning" he responded, dropping a soft kiss on her lips.
"Want some coffee?" she teasingly asked him.
"Don't I always." he smiled at her, as she handed him a large, steaming mug.
"And..." she added, pausing dramatically, as she removed a plate from the stove and placed it in front of him.
"T-shaped pancakes..." Tommy smiled again.
"So, that's what got you up so early."
"Yeah, well... it is your birthday... our tradition..."
"Yeah... speaking of..." he began, as Jude met his gaze.
"I've decided to do the book..."
"Really? That's great!" Jude squealed happily.
"You sound surprised..."
"Well, I wasn't sure..." she admitted.
"You? Not sure of something about me?" he teased, unable to resist. But his mood sobered quickly.
"I just thought... you are probably right. Doing this could be good for other people... Maybe even for me... But that still doesn't make it easy..."
"I know." Jude agreed, realizing again all the painful experiences her husband would have to recount.
"Rachel wants the real truth... It's all gonna come out... my father's alcoholism and abuse... Boyz Attack- all that went on behind the scenes... the fighting... the wild parties... the drinking... the women... All the stuff... the people that hurt me. All the people I hurt... I was so messed up, Jude. Really out of control for a while..."
She placed her hand over his in support.
"I know that... It's never been easy for you to think about all that, let alone talk about it. But Rachel's been our friend for a long time. You know she won't write anything to hurt you..."
"Yeah... but still..." Tommy's voice trailed off.
"You'll be there, right? For the interviews?" he asked hopefully.
"Of course I will. Every second, if that's what you want."
"It is... I really need you, Jude."
"Then you have me."
Three days later, Rachel Taylor joined Jude and Tommy in their spacious living room. The aspiring biographer turned her chair to face them, and turned on her tape recorder.
"Ok..." she began, easily noting the tension on both their faces.
"I know this is hard for you, Tom. So, we'll start off easy. Tell me, what was your first memory..."
"Our home in Quebec..." Tommy began.
"I was four years old... My mother... playing the piano and singing..."
(Author's Note 2: So? Good start? Anyone have any ideas who "Katie" is yet? And why Tommy feels so badly about her? Go on, take a guess... as Jude once said "You know you want to...")