FYH (FeedYourHead77) this was inspired by you... I will be working on this until my brain kicks off again.
For those of you who are waiting for updates for my other stories just hang in there. I am having a bit of trouble with that little wrinkly thing between my ears. I think they call it a BRAIN FREEZE! Anywho... FYH gave me a story suggestion and told me to run with it... here goes! Please offer suggestions as you see fit and thanks so much for all the support I know you will give me:-)
FYH... I hope I do you proud!
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"Tommy McQuaid."
Silence.
"Tommy McQuaid!"
Still nothing.
"Has anyone seen Tommy McQuaid this morning?" The frustrated history teacher growled. He adjusted his black horn rimmed spectacles over his eyes. His once light sea green eyes were now rimmed with dark circles of brown and violet. They were deep and stared long and hard like he had seen the earth move more than once through them. The once smooth face was now tired and wrinkled with lines of age and weather. He was around forty-five years old. He had spent twenty years in the military and then moved on to become a teacher of his favorite subject…American History. He was built well with his well buffed frame. He had spent a great deal of time caring for his physique. He stood about six foot three inches tall. He was a bachelor as his wife had left him with their three year old daughter ten years earlier. He sighed loudly as he picked up his red ink pen and began to make a mark in his attendance record book.
"Yo teach!"
The voice echoed loudly in the long narrow hallways that lead into the old part of the school building and the history department. The rattled Mr. Sullivan dropped his ink pen onto the floor as he looked angrily up at his student chomping wildly on his gum standing in the doorway. The students laughed in unison as Tommy McQuaid, aka, Officer Tom Hanson made his way into the room. He walked slowly up to the middle aged teacher and stood eye to eye with the burly man. His blue denim jacket overlapped the red checkered print of his flannel shirt which was tied loosely around his narrow waist. His muscular chest could be seen through the grungy tight fitting white t-shirt. His jeans were faded and ripped out at the knees. On his head he wore a black bandanna to hold his wavy locks out of his face. His deep brown eyes and handsome features were the virtual symbol of the great American bad boy.
"You're late." Mr. Sullivan snarled as he let the boy grate at his nerves.
"Shoot Roger... first period doesn't suit my style." Tom grinned cocking an eyebrow.
"It's MR. SULLIVAN and sit you're as-self down… boy."
Tom clamped down on his gum and thrust his face forward into Mr. Sullivan's face as if mocking the older man.
"I'll sit my… ass down…" Tom winked at Mr. Sullivan spinning around on his heal and heading towards the back of the class room.
The older teacher continued to watch as the anger he felt grew inside on him and began to boil over. He couldn't believe the difference in kids today. They were bold, brazen and downright sassy. He watched in disbelief as Tom made himself comfortable in his desk by kicking his muddy combat boots up onto the desktop. For him the only thing worse than Tommy McQuaid was his older brother Doug… he came in the next period. Mr. Sullivan took a deep breath in and then slowly let it out. He let his mind wonder back to the conversations he had with the principal Bill Trumble.
--
"Roger… you just can't let these little punks get to you like that."
"Bill, I try… they just have no respect and I'm about at the end of my rope. I'm gonna snap if something doesn't give with them soon."
"Calm down Rog… they really are good kids. I'll buy you a cup of coffee from the cafeteria and that'll make it all better… promise."
--
Mr. Sullivan reluctantly finished his role call and then quietly placed the pen back down on his desk. He walked over to the chalk board and began to talk about the days lessons. His struggled to concentrate on the lesson but continued to dwell on the sounds coming from behind him.
"Wow… and I thought that paint drying was boring." Tommy McQuaid jibed. "Who knew that the great gun battles of the American Revolution could be so… stupid?"
"McQuaid!"
"I'm sorry Mr. Sullivan… did my freedom of speech bother you?"
The students in the class room laughed and snickered as they watched Mr. Sullivan slowly came unglued. He tossed the chalk forcefully into the tray shattering it into a thousand tiny pieces. The dust dancing in the early morning sunlight as it filtered between the shades and into the windows. There was a sudden gasp as the students watched the middle aged salt and pepper haired man turn red face and look straight across to where Tom sat. The smug smile on his face accompanied with the constant heckling sent the teacher over the edge.
"McQuaid…"
Tom raised his head as the bell rang signaling the class change. Tom slowly stood up and watched as the teacher made his way back to him. The teacher was fuming as he reached Tom's desk. The officer felt a rush of nervous energy as the much larger man made his way over to the undercover police officer.
"See me after school." Mr. Sullivan grasped a hold of Tom's jacket sleeve.
"Right." Tommy McQuaid snickered.
Mr. Sullivan grasped his fingers around the collar of the blue denim jacket. He forcefully tugged the officer towards him. His words hissed across his lips leaving a trail of spittle across Tom's cheek. His words were uttered in a low passionate voice.
"Don't screw with me you little SHIT! Mark my words boy…I WILL take this up with your truant officer. I'm not putting up with you or your kind anymore little punk. Now you will be here after school… Do I make myself clear?"
Hanson let his eyes wonder across the bigger ex-military mans muscular frame. His eyes then caught those of the figure standing in the doorway. He then brought his attention back to the subject at hand. He looked squarely into the teachers icy eyes and then answered curtly.
"Sure… why not. Now… get your mitts off of me."
The older man took in a long deep breath and then loosened his grip and finally released what he thought was the student. Hanson breathed heavily as he pulled himself away from the older man. The older man continued to wring his fingers as Tom Hanson craned his neck to the side in an effort to release the tension that was building and took a deep breath in and then out. He watched as the older man continued to shoot daggers from his darkened green eyes.
--
"Hello!" Doug McQuaid shouted as he walked in the door. He watched Hanson and Mr. Sullivan as the tension between them mounted. He watched uncomfortably as the teacher exchanged words and then he released the undercover officer. There was really no resolve as Penhall watched Hanson slowly turn and walk out briskly of the room. Doug looked in the direction of Tom and then at the teacher glaring coldly at him.
"Tom…. Tommy!" Doug darted out the door after his partner
--
Tom Hanson shuddered as he laid his head back against the wall behind him. He could hear Doug running along the hallway shouting his name. He balled his hands into a tight fist and hit the wall down by his thighs. Hanson let out a breath as he continued to stare icily at the ceiling.
"Tommy… what…"
"I guess I got a little mouthy with the teacher." Hanson cocked an eyebrow. "I have to meet him after school. I think I just bought myself a detention." Hanson tried to laugh but it just came off as a cold snicker.
"Hanson… that's not like you... I mean yeah… you're a McQuaid and all but really you're the polite brother. I'm the sarcastic, mouthy…" Penhall lifted his arm and sniffed quickly "stinky brother."
"Yeah… we'd all benefit from your shower Penhall." Hanson replied drily.
"Tommy… what's that supposed to mean?"
"I gotta go. I'll see ya later Doug." Hanson turned and walked in the direction of his next class.
Doug watched the slighter officer walk down the hallway through the mass of students rushing towards their next classes. Hanson didn't look back he just kept going until the tardy bell rang signaling the students onto their next class. He watched Tom make a right and then disappear around a corner. Doug sighed as he heard the loud voice of Mr. Sullivan shouting his assumed identity.
"McQuaid!"
Great… now I'm late.
--
Tom strolled slowly into the cafeteria. He grabbed a tray looked at the food being offered for consumption and then put the tray back down. Hot dogs and sauerkraut just didn't sound good today. He walked over to the refrigerator and grabbed a carton of chocolate milk out. He shook the carton, dropped the handful of change into the cashier's hand and walked over to an empty table. He slowly sat down and looked at the square box full of brown liquid. He unhurriedly lifted the carton and looked at it. A cow on the side sat smiling… laughing at him. What did she have to be so happy about? All she does is stand around and have some farmer jerk at her teats for ten minutes sucking the milk from her. That just sounded like the worst day a person could have. But then again she got her food, water and bedding all provided for her. She didn't have to run around with neglected kids and over bearing teachers all day just to pay the bills.
"Kid… you look too young to be a cop. It's the Jump Street program or a desk until you look old enough to be a cop."
Those discordant words still haunted him today.
--
"Move it dweeb!"
Tom Hanson turned around to see Doug Penhall as Doug McQuaid pushing the poor kid in front of him around. Hanson could feel a slow smile spread across his face as he watched Penhall. The man lived to be Doug McQuaid. Hanson was sure that if he thought about it long enough he could remember when he loved to be a McQuaid. Hell he still loved it… he was just a little burnt out.
Penhall grabbed his food and something off of the kid's tray behind him and walked over to the cashier. He handed her some bills and some change. The oversized ten year old walked over to where his partner sat nursing a carton of milk.
"Little bro… you need more than that to be charming today." Doug announced as he thrust a plate of soggy French fries in front of him.
"Yeah… and if I eat this Ill be dead later." Hanson responded pushing the plate back to Penhall.
"Tommy… you okay?" Penhall asked quietly.
"Yeah… just… not hungry." Hanson mumbled. "Something's wrong here Doug… I don't know what it is."
"My brother… the psychic…" Penhall laughed loudly as Hanson looked up at his partner. He was trying to lighten the mood a bit but it just didn't seem to help
"I gotta go Doug." Hanson forced a smile as he grabbed the carton of milk and walked over to the trashcan. He deposited the carton in the plastic receptacle and walked out of the room.
Penhall raised an eyebrow as Hanson trudged out of the noisy cafeteria back out into the hallway. He watched as the officer stopped to look at the corkboard to the side of the room. He then turned himself back into the direction of the corridor and walked away slowly. Going into a school to bust another teacher running an in school drug ring seemed to be chipping away at Tom's normally calm and easy going persona. Penhall watched the darkened hallway for a few more seconds before he bit into the greasy burger on his tray in front of him. He then turned his attention to the blond and brunette who had just made themselves comfortable next to him.
REVIEWS PLEASE!!!!
