Chapter 2 (Episode -1):
"Wherever They Go"
"Some cause happiness wherever they go;
others whenever they go."
-Oscar Wilde
"What the hell do you think you're doin', Jimmy?" Tommy cussed, holding the head of a now unconscious Kevin. He turned his brother's face to the side so his nose could bleed outward. "You tryna kill him?"
"Yeah, that's exactly what I was tryin' to do!" Jimmy growled, massaging his right fist in his left.
Tommy could only manage to roll his eyes and swallow the bit of sick he felt whenever Jimmy became this rampant. "Pass me a towel, would ya?" He commanded, watching blood roll down Kevin's cheek and onto Sean's comforter.
"Aw, here comes Nurse Tommy to the rescue!" Jimmy mocked with an expression of disgust upon his face.
"Shut up, Jimmy." Tommy glanced at Sean who was still lingering in the doorway, fearfully. "Now, Sean! Get me a towel! It's your blanket he's bleedin' on."
Jimmy turned as if he hadn't noticed Sean, though he must've had to push passed him on his way in. "It's okay, Seanie. When Kevin comes to, I'm only gonna beat his ass 'till he learns his lesson."
"What lesson's that?" Sean asked, running a shaking hand through his hair. "You never knocked one of us out before."
Tommy was livid. "Sean, you can tell ma whatever you want about your comforter then, and sleep with a bloody blanket. What do I care?"
"Okay, okay."
Sean left the room and Tommy took that time to pounce on Jimmy.
"I had him pinned! What are you doin' knockin' him out for?" He hissed, knocking Jimmy into a wall.
All Jimmy did was laugh. Laugh and laugh like an insane person, while Tommy wondered if it were really at his expense. "What are you gonna do to me, little brother?"
Tommy let Jimmy go after a minute of glaring at him, suppressing what he truly wanted to do to him: because he's my brother.
He took a few steps toward the middle of the room and turned back around. He held up a finger, determined to make what he was about to say clear. "Kevin's had enough. Get out of here. Ma will kick you out if she finds out. You leave now and I won't tell her." Tommy looked from a growing-conscious Kevin to a scared stiff Sean, who had returned with the cloth. "No one will talk." He assured Jimmy, wishing there was something he could say to keep Jimmy in line all the time.
"Leave? Where am I supposed to go, Tommy?"
"Go to the bar! Come back later. Kevin's stayin' here."
"No, you don't tell me where I go and where I don't!"
Tommy took a breath, preparing to revolt, but a groan from behind him called for another kind of immediate action.
"What the hell happened?" came Kevin's groggy interruption.
"I'm gonna bloody kill you, Kevin! That's what's happenin'!" Jimmy threatened, fighting Tommy who was pushing him toward the door.
"Shit." He heard Kevin mumble, which made Tommy want to stop defending him all together.
"What'd you do, Kevin?" Tommy asked with a tilt of his head, barely needing to ask.
"I'll pay you back, Jimmy! I swear!"
Jimmy stopped fighting. A smile spread across his face that could have been interpreted as sarcastic or even sadistic. "You're gonna pay me back? Really? How you gonna do that, Kevin? Nah, this'll be a lesson to all of you. Nobody steals from me!"
He lunged forward and Sean finally made himself useful, locking his arms around Jimmy's shoulders.
Tommy was pushed back several feet and stumbled over the dresser leg, falling on his ass. Jimmy pressed on, and he and Sean trampled over him. Sean jumped on Jimmy's back, bringing him to the floor, giving Tommy enough time to recover and jump to his feet.
He pulled Sean off Jimmy, but left Jimmy, if not for a second, laying on the floor to catch his breath. "Enough, Jimmy! He's had enough!"
Jimmy pulled himself up and pointed at Kevin. "This ain't over!" He turned to leave but Tommy stepped in his way.
"Nah, this gets worked out right now. Kevin, what'd you take the money for?"
"Nothin'." Came his blunt reply.
"Kevin!"
Kevin got up from Sean's bed and threw his hands up in the air. "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! I owe some money. I was gonna multiply it and give it back. I'm sorry, Jimmy!"
Tommy was having trouble containing his anger, which was nothing compared to the efforts of Jimmy.
Jimmy stepped toward him. "Just say the word 'horse', Kevin. Just say it."
Tommy cringed. "Oh, for the love of God! Jimmy, what do you care? You would've given Kevin the money anyway!"
"No one steals from me!"
Tommy reached for Kevin and grabbed him by the scruff of the neck. "Look at him! He gets it! You get it, Kevin?" He said, exhibiting his swollen and bloody nose.
Kevin looked humiliated, but as he glowered at Tommy, he finally responded. "Yes! I'll get it back!"
"Bullshit!" Jimmy spat, sliding his nails up and down his arm. He looked around the room impatiently before releasing a long sigh. "You ever steal from me again and I swear to God, I'll kill ya, Kevin. Got it?"
"Ya got it, Kevin?" Tommy echoed, angrily.
"Yeah, I got it, Tommy! Thanks."
Jimmy stormed off, knocking Sean out of the way for the sole purpose of slamming the door shut.
Tommy rubbed his eyes, grateful that he, at least for now, had saved his brother's life. He feared the day that he couldn't. "Tell me, what'd you need the money for?"
"I owe some money, Tommy. What do you think?" Then, Kevin walked away before he could be held responsible for answering Tommy's questions.
How much money would you pay for a new episode of the Black Donnellys? 8$/month? I read somewhere that Netflix is bringing back some cancelled shows... Say a prayer, mates!
Please let me know how you like it! I'd really appreciate it :)