A/N:
I feel like I butchered Brandon's character so bad in this one! Argh! Bu anyways, here's chapter two. A little classic banter between Gage and Wyatt in this one xD
Pleas tell me Brandon wasn't too out of character... Pwease?
~ Ashla
The first thing that he consciously registered was the exploding pain in his head. He then realized he recognized that other feeling... only one couch in the world had a spring that pointy.
"Ow..." Rhett moaned.
"Well, look who's up!"
Hazel eyes opened to meet with brown. Rhett sighed, rubbing his eyes, "What happened?"
"You don't remember?" Gage asked, concern crossing his face, "... Don't tell me you had another concussion..."
That incident from his early childhood, all starting with a concussion, crossed his mind. Rhett shook his head and sat up, throwing his matted blanket off, "I'm sure I'm fine."
After another moment of grogginess, Rhett smiled one of those usual, bright and cheerful smiles, "I'm great!" His smile flew off his face, eyes widening as he suddenly remembered, "Wait, Wyatt!"
"That's the name!"
From the kitchen, the stunt man walked in munching an apple. "Everyone's good, man, no worries!"
Rhett smiled, "Good!... 'Cause that was a close one."
Gage nodded, "This guy's been gritting our nerves for weeks now."
Wyatt sat down on the other side of the couch, "And we don't know nothin' 'bout him." He took another bite of apple, slurping sloppily as juice ran down his hand and towards his elbow.
Gage sighed, "We should have caught him by now, but he somehow - just-..."
"-He keeps getting away and gritting our nerves simultaneously... Really nerve grittin'..."
Rhett, as usual, chose the worst time to crack a joke, "Is that why I found the gym equipment turned over the other day?"
Wyatt stammered, "-But- that was-"
Rhett's grin widened, "I mean, you certainly know how to wrack up a wy-iot."
"WHY, RHETT, WHYYYY!?" Green and Yellow cried at once. Wyatt threw his apple core at the beaming redhead.
Rhett just laughed like a little child. As the youngest fell back in his seat crying, Gage sighed, "Uh, yeah, I think he's okay."
Just then, the sound of a door opening caused all three to turn to see Brandon rushing to the front door, his phone in his hand. The blond teen stuffed his phone in his pocket, grabbing his trench coat, "Gotta go, guys!"
"Where you going?" Gage asked.
Wyatt raised an amused eyebrow at his best friend, "Another long, boring lecture?"
Brandon buttoned up his coat, "You're the one who thinks they're boring. Even if it's from HER, I find the scientifically backed company speeches educating."
Wyatt rolled his eyes, "Not like you work there..."
"Someday I will," Brandon retorted, "Someday... Obviously..."
Wyatt sighed, then saluted him "Well, good luck not 'fallin asleep."
Brandon smirked, "No worries." Then the child wonder noticed Rhett was watching the whole conversation. A brief hint of a smile crossed his face, "You okay, Rhett?"
Rhett just nodded.
Brandon curtly nodded in return and turned to the door, "Good. Gotta go, bye!"
And he left.
A moment of silence swept through the garage.
Gage sighed, "Guess we can't go over the projection board until tomorrow..."
Wyatt let his head fall back, "Fine with me."
Rhett bit his lip, looking at the door in thought. After a moment or so, he then looked at Wyatt, "Hey, bud?"
The southerner looked at him.
Rhett rubbed his neck, "Um, I didn't cause any trouble back there, did I?"
The car chase across the parking lot building crossed their minds. Wyatt smiled and threw his arm, "Nah, if anyone caused trouble it was me. Y'know, falling over the edge like that..."
Rhett smiled shyly, "Thanks, dude."
Gage stood up, "Why don't you guys head home? It's late enough in the day."
"Wait, what time is it?" A clueless Rhett asked.
Wyatt looked up to Gage from the couch, "'Ya sure you don't need any help 'round here?"
The Hispanic teen shook his head, "You guys need your strength. I can handle it."
"You've been pulling these all nighters since Larry left." Rhett pointed out, "C'mon, man, let us help."
Gage stubbornly shook his head, "No. As your leader this is my duty."
Wyatt facepalmed. He stammered for a moment, raised his hands, then just got up and left the room.
Rhett rolled his eyes, but with a smile on his face. Since getting over their rivalry and actually becoming friends, he and Gage were avoiding serious arguments at just about all costs. Rhett looked back at their leader. As much as he was thankful for Gage's protectiveness over the group, especially Wyatt and Rhett who were the two younger members, he was taking it too far this time. Yes, Larry leaving suddenly for some type of top scientist convention (Brandon's uncle had gone too) was stressful when some psycho driver was loose. However, Gage suddenly going crazy with his sudden increase of responsibility worried him. Both as his teammate and as his best friend, Rhett had to talk to him.
"Gage, buddy," Rhett stood up to his level. For a moment, lightheadedness almost threatened to make him fall. Hardheaded and naive though, Rhett got past his moment of nausea. He looked his childhood friend right in the eyes, "You've been doing an incredible job. We need your guidance and it's awesome you're doing so well. But thing is, you shouldn't be pushing yourself too far."
Gage just shrugged. His usual, smug, 'I'm awesome' face was there. He waved his hand, "Nah, man, I'm powered up."
Wyatt shouted from the other room. "-Says the guy who forgot his turning signals three times, passed red lights seven times, accidentally honked from head-butting the steering wheel once, and breaked in an interstate twice!"
"Shut up, man, those were all in the morning! My coffee wasn't settled in!" Gage shouted back.
Rhett interrupted before a fight could break out, "Gage, listen, you're wearing yourself out."
Gage stuffed his hands in his pockets, relaxed, "I'm good, Rhett."
"You've been drinking five mugs a day - of black! You never drink that many cups. And never with black!"
Gage sighed, dropping his cool posture, putting a hand on his buddy's shoulder, "Rhett, don't worry about me. I'm fine."
Rhett sighed, "Fine..."
The sound of another door opening caused them to turn again. Wyatt was throwing his raincoat on, "'Kay, I'm out. Got a pot of coffee started for 'ya, Gage. All 'ya need to do is wait, then put cream and sugar in."
A thankful smile crossed Gage's face, "Thanks, dude."
He smirked and left the building. Gage gave Rhett's shoulder a light swat, "You too, buddy. Go hit the hay."
Rhett just had to try one more time, "You sure you don't need any help?"
Gage nodded, one of his overconfident smirks forming, "Don't worry. I got this."
Rhett felt guilty taking that as an answer, but he knew arguing at this point was futile. "Okay. If you need anything, just ask, bro." And he headed on out.
Another convention was dismissed.
Brandon still worked on his notes. He finished writing down anything he didn't think to back then, checked his mechanics, all that fun stuff. After that, he tucked his notebook between his arm and side and stood up. He looked around the stadium, posters for the LeBay Scientific Institute and Research Lab plastered all over the place. He spotted a young woman in the crowd, talking to a group of people next to the stage. Her long, blond hair and glasses were unforgettable to him. In her mid thirties, she was scrawny yet still healthy. Brandon resisted the nervousness rising in his stomach, reminding himself of mind over matter, and walked towards her.
"... Yes, if the ozone layer depletes any further, I am afraid we will-" She then noticed Brandon watching her. She smiled at the fellow scientists around her, waving her hand, "If you will excuse me, doctors, I must attend to something."
The sharply dressed researchers cleared a path for her instantly, like she was a queen. She nodded to them then walked up to Brandon, "What have you got, kid?"
Brandon forced himself not to flinch away from her gaze. He handed his notebook to her, "The notes, ma'am."
With judgmental eyes she quickly scanned through pages of work. "These paragraphs are incorrectly indented. Not to mention sloppy penmanship on pages three and eight, as well as various grammatical errors on the last two pages. Run on sentences are a problem throughout."
That was it, Brandon winced.
The young woman handed back the notebook, "Do fix these errors, please? You know these notes summarize my lectures for the public. Many people judge books by the cover and this is no exception."
"My apologies, ma'am, I'll have this back to you by tomorrow morning."
"Good." She checked her watch, "Time to leave soon. Be at the car in five minutes, don't eat anything above two hundred calories." With that she left.
Brandon cast a glance at the refreshments table, then turned away. Like he was hungry now... He pulled his notebook up to his chest and squeezed it, mumbling his next words out so low she would never hear it. "Yes, mom..."
