Chapter 3:
The memories plagued her. She pushed everyone away who tried to console her. She just wanted to be left alone. She hoped she wouldn't ever go through this again. She couldn't take it. It hurt. The memories of the last few weeks of her husband's life swirled around in her head. It was happening again. There was still no word on Barbrady's condition. What was she going to do without him if she lost him? What would she tell her twins when they were old enough to start asking questions? If he slipped away she resolved she would never love again. The pain was too much to bear. Hot and heavy tears stained her cheeks. The press had asked for an update, but Johnson covered for her because she was too worn to follow proper protocol.
What was she going to do about Randy Marsh? He was a threat to the community. He was a threat to her family. She wished she'd never trusted him. She wished she'd never listened to him and she wished she'd believed Barbrady's testimony instead of listening to Randy and firing him for a second time. She'd hurt him and now because she created a monster who was still on a power trip she just might lose him.
XXXX
"What the fuck Stan?" A disdain filled voice approached him from behind. He knew who the voice belonged to and it was one thing he didn't think about after he heard about the events at the police station and what happened to Barbrady.
"Ah crap." Fear overwhelmed him. He knew what this was about. He knew he wouldn't be able to get Pete to listen no matter what he said.
Pete glowered at him as he approached with the other Goth kids. He had been a member of their clique after Wendy broke his heart and left him for Token. He spent a considerable amount of time either at Pete's house or in Henrietta's room writing poems about pain, smoking and drinking coffee. Because he was a former Goth he was one of the few people in town privy to the fact that his Aunt Mary had a secret relationship with Officer Barbrady. He discovered them making out in the kitchen when he was hanging out with the Goth kids in Pete's room and promised not to expose them to the community.
"Do you have any idea what the fuck you've done?" Pete screamed at Stan vehemently. "My Uncle's in the fucking hospital!"
"Dude!" He couldn't believe that Pete thought this was his fault. He didn't know about his father's personality change until he went to the game in his stupid costume and spat gumballs everywhere. "My dad's an asshole, but I didn't think it was this bad."
"Dude!" Kyle interjected. "There's a city council meeting. They're gonna see what they can do about him since they can't keep your dad in a normal jail cell."
"Dude!" Cartman ran over to his friends. "Is it true? Stan's dad's lost it?"
"It's true and this conformist douche is responsible!" Pete shouted enraged.
"I-I didn't do anything." He stammered. He didn't know how he could get Pete to believe him. "I honestly didn't know about my dad. That's not my dad."
"Why don't you tell your PC conformist dad to leave my Aunt alone and stop with the progressive bull shit?" Pete snapped at him.
"How about you get the fuck out of here and take those PC posers with you." Henrietta added disdainfully.
Kenny exchanged glances with the Goth kids and then with Stan. "I don't think Stan knew about this." Kenny mumbled through his hood.
Stan shook his head not knowing what to say. "Honestly dude, that isn't my dad. I've never seen him like this." Stan looked at the floor. He hated that Pete was glowering at him with intense hatred. "I just always thought he was a dumb drunk idiot."
"Me too." Cartman added. Not that his input really helped in that moment.
Pete threw a punch at Stan and his fist collided with his face. Stan swung back and next thing they knew they were on the ground in the mud exchanging blows.
"Get fucked poser!" Pete screamed when he was back on his feet. "You ruined my family. My Aunt's fucking suicidal!"
"That is not my dad!" Stan shouted at Pete even though he wouldn't listen. "This isn't my fault!"
Pete lunged at Stan. "DIE YOU FUCKING POSER!"
XXXX
Relief washed through her. Barbrady was awake and ready for visitors. The only injury he'd sustained was a broken arm. Seeing him limp and unresponsive broke her and her mind automatically thought the worst.
After he was discharged she brought him home and fussed over him. Resolving to spend the rest of her life making it up to him. She spent a considerable amount of time repairing their relationship before this. They even went to the Bahamas and she became pregnant with twins during their romantic getaway.
"You can stop fussing Mary, I'm fine." He whined when she brought him lunch.
"I almost lost you." She was riddled with guilt and almost losing him made it worse. "You know I can't take another loss. I'm glad you're still here." She climbed into bed and wrapped her arms around him. "I love you."
"Ow!" He shifted uncomfortably. "You still don't need to fuss."
A wave of guilt washed through her after she leaned on his injured arm. "I'm sorry George." She wasn't just sorry for leaning on his arm. She was sorry for everything. She was sorry that she trusted Randy, she was sorry for failing to recognise an ad attack, for gentrifying her city when it was the last thing South Park needed, she was sorry she didn't believe him until the children came forward and told her what really happened the night they were playing ninjas at SoDoSoPa. She was sorry for what she did to him. It broke her to see him sleeping in the street. Most of all she was sorry for the things she said. For suggesting that he should leave town, for saying that she didn't want him there.
"I'm sorry for all this mess. I'm sorry for creating a monster. I'm sorry I hurt you, for everything I did. The horrible things I said." She realised a while ago that those were Randy's venomous words out of her mouth. They hurt him more because it wasn't Randy who spoke them. They came from her and even though she wanted to there wasn't anything she could do to take it back.
"You know Randy was using you to hurt me?" Barbrady said to her surprise. "He's still on a power trip. He's trying to get rid of me."
"He's hurt a lot of people from you to the McCormick's and damn it to Hell if I'm going to let him get rid of you. He's used me for the last time. I won't let him ruin my city more than he already has." She held his face in her hands and looked him in the eyes. "South Park needs you Chief Barbrady. I need you. I-I'm sorry."
He wiped away the tears that were rolling down her face with his good arm when he noticed she'd started crying. "You gotta stop apologising Mary." He wrapped his good arm around her as she leaned into him and started sobbing uncontrollably. "I know you're sorry. I'm not angry at you anymore."
"I'll always be sorry." She said between muffled sobs. She buried her face in his uninjured shoulder. "I hurt you. I-I fucked it up."
"I know you're sorry." He lifted her chin and kissed her gently on the mouth. "That's why I'm still with you."
"I love you." She said after returning his kiss. He was the one who made her feel whole again. It was Barbrady's kindness that brought her out of the darkness. She would always regret treating him like crap when the only thing he'd done was treat her like a queen. She was glad she still had him, but she hated herself for everything that happened in recent years because it wasn't just Randy who hurt him.
He caressed her cheek with his good hand and kissed her again. "I love you too."
Even though he'd assured her yet again that he'd forgiven her for her part in this mess and despite the love making they enjoyed that afternoon she still couldn't shake the guilt monkey off her back.
XXXX
He felt like he was on top of the world after his narrow escape from the police station. Everything was coming to fruition and he beamed with satisfaction. He was in the mood to strut and he danced down the sidewalk as he headed home. He couldn't wait to hug his children. He couldn't wait to make love to his wife
When he tried his key he realised it didn't fit and then noticed that the door was bolted shut. Hot rage filled him. His wife had never locked him out of the house before. He banged on the door.
"S-Sharon?" He yelled with confusion. "My key doesn't work."
"Go away!" Sharon shouted through the door.
"W-what? Why?" He asked taken aback. He didn't understand why they didn't want to see him. He thought she'd had enough time to cool off.
"Because you ruined everything dad!" Shelly shouted at him with intense hatred.
"I have no friends left." Stan added angrily. His voice filled with resentful embarrassment. "Pete hates me now."
Before he could respond his wife slipped a piece of paper through the door for him to sign. To his surprise they were divorce papers. He'd divorced Sharon twice before, but after they got back together for a second time he didn't think he'd ever get served again. "S-Sharon?"
"Go away Randy!" It was a demand not a request. She sounded like she was trying not to cry. It was hard to tell because she was on the other side of the door.
He pounded on the door again. "Come on Sharon!" He hoped he could talk some sense into her. "Please don't do this. What about the kids?"
"You should've thought of that before you went on a PC ego trip and hurt all our friends." Sharon snapped bitterly. "I can never show my face in public again!"
"Fine!" He backed away from the door. "I don't need you. Let's see how you get along without me. You'll be back. You always come back."
"GO AWAY!" They shouted simultaneously.
Even though his family turned on him and he hated Sharon for it he signed the divorce papers. In doing so he could pursue a woman who was actually worthy of him. He pushed the papers back through the door and would soon begin his pursuit of Mayor McDaniels. A stunningly beautiful woman he felt was more his type. With his smarts and her money and power there was no telling what he could accomplish.
XXXX
They were all there except for one. She spent weeks agonising over what to do. She knew she needed help to deal with him. Most of the council members were friends of Randy Marsh and knew him quite well. She hoped that his best friend and her lawyer Gerald Broflovski would be able to offer insight to Randy's dramatic personality change.
She looked around the room and noticed they were all nervous including Sergeant Yates and Lt. Dawson who she invited to the meeting after they tried to intercept Randy at the police station.
She wished Barbrady would stop nervously fidgeting in his seat. A tidal wave of guilt crushed her and she struggled to speak. This mess was partially her fault.
"Mayor?" Debbie Testaburger asked curiously when she hadn't said anything yet.
It was an emergency city council meeting because they'd already had their regular monthly one. She called them here because they had to do something about Randy Marsh and it really couldn't wait.
"You all know why I called you here." Her legs buckled. She leaned on Johnson for support and he helped her to her seat. "We have to do something, anything about Randy Marsh."
"He butt fucked the police station and several officers are out for the count." Yates noticed Barbrady at the far end of the board table. "Chief, you're supposed to be resting."
Barbrady's arm was still in a sling. She struggled to maintain composure and professionalism.
"Did you know about this?" Linda Stotch asked Gerald.
Gerald shook his head. "I-I. I don't know what got into him."
"What about the family." She wondered about Sharon. They were friends. She wondered if she knew.
"Sharon filed for a divorce." Gerald explained to the council who gaped at this development. "It was after the baseball game, but she was already sick of Randy's shit before then. It's why she didn't bail him out."
Relief washed over her. She knew her friend didn't know about her husband's new or possible real personality that lay hidden beneath layers of stupidity and alcoholism. She would have said something if she did. Sharon liked to bitch about her husband.
"We need to play hardball." Yates suggested angrily. Randy had caused so much damage even before his costume change. There was no redeeming him.
"It's that keytar." Barbrady added and to everyone's surprise he was right. "It's the source of his power. He's trying to take out anyone who doesn't fit into his PC progressive standards."
"Someone needs to get his head out of his ass and take a good look at himself M'Kay." Mr. Mackey added sarcastically. Skeeter and Gerald were trying to suppress amused giggles.
"How?" Before she could even finish her question she heard commotion in the hallway. Security shouted at someone to stand down. Soundwaves reverberated around the building. Everything from their drinking glasses to the walls shook violently.
"You can't go in there!" A security guard shouted.
The door blew off its hinges and narrowly missed Johnson as it crashed to the ground. In the doorway stood Randy Marsh. He smirked at everyone as he danced his way into the room. He pushed Johnson out of the way and knocked the aide to the ground as he did so.
Barbrady glowered at him from across the table. "Not this ninny again!"
"Fine day isn't it." He said smugly as he approached her. She backed away when she noticed the hungry look in his eyes. "Hello Mary." He said flirtatiously. "You're looking lovely today."
"W-what are you doing?" She asked apprehensively. She didn't like the way he was staring at her. He looked her up and down undressing her with his eyes. In that moment she felt naked. Her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment and a wave of nausea washed through her. It took effort not to throw up.
Barbrady got up and made his way around the table. Yates and Dawson drew their weapons on Randy.
Randy looked around the room. Everyone was scowling at him. "Guh!" He snapped at them arrogantly. "No need to be so fucking hostile. We're all friends here."
"You're not my friend." Barbrady shouted enraged. They hadn't been friends for a long time.
Randy redirected his attention to her and ignored everyone else in the room. She willed herself to disappear, but it didn't work.
"I'm a free agent." Randy said leaving no room for subtleties. "I like you Mary. I always have. I could use someone like you to help me propel South Park into the 21st century."
Before she even knew what was happening his hands caressed her cheek, her breasts and explored her body in a way that made her cringe and his tongue was in her mouth. Repulse and enraged she pushed him away. Randy fell on the floor and she demanded Yates' whiskey flask to wash the taste out of her mouth. She drained it in one hit.
"Remind me never to piss you off." Yates said as he shook the empty flask.
"The fuck are you doing Marsh?" She could see the anger on Barbrady's face and she knew he wouldn't be able to contain it for long.
"Just think of how great South Park will be if we were together Mary." He looked at Barbrady with resentment. "Totally progressive without useless bumbling fools."
"Why the Hell would I want to be with you?" All the rage directed at Randy that had been building for quite some time exploded and she didn't hold back. "You're the last person I'd ever be with. You're repugnant. I never should've listened to you. I never should've let you bring Wholefoods to town. Because of you South Park is the worst it's ever been. You've ruined everything!"
"Fine!" Randy picked himself up and smoothed out the creases in his purple jumpsuit. "Recall."
"W-what?" She gaped at him. Why was he doing this? They used to be friends.
"Recall?" Linda was horrified and so was everyone else. Then silence in the room was deafening.
"If you won't do this with me then you're not fit for office. South Park needs a more progressive mayor." He smiled at the fear etched on her face. "Stand aside."
"Randy!" Debbie exclaimed horrified. She backed away when Randy poised his keytar at everyone.
Barbrady put himself between them and angled her so she was behind him. As soon as he'd done so Randy lowered his keytar and rummaged in a briefcase he'd brought with him. When he found what he was looking for he waved a yellow envelope in her face. Barbrady maintained his protective stance over her.
"Stand down." Randy demanded.
"What is that?" Barbrady asked while trying to sound formidable.
Randy's smirk became wider. "She resigns and no one will ever know."
"You're not getting my job Marsh." She wouldn't back down. She told herself not to no matter what was in that envelope.
"Are you sure?" He slowly peeled back the seal. "Last chance to resign with dignity."
"Come on Randy." Gerald tried to reason with his friend. "You can't do this."
"Oh, I can't can I?" He glowered at Gerald with intense hatred. "You might want to support me in this."
"I won't." Gerald snapped at Randy defiantly. "It's sick."
"Preach it to the choir Skankhunt42." All eyes turned to Gerald whose face paled as he sunk into his chair. "That's right. Suck that dick bitch." His gaze met hers as he gave her one last chance.
"NO!" She shouted at Randy. Her arms stiffened at her sides and her fists clenched. She wanted to hurt him.
"No?" Randy removed a stack of A4 printed photos from the envelope. He threw them on the table for the other councillors to see.
Her face paled when she realised what the images were. Her legs buckled again and a wave of nausea had her leaning on the table for support.
"M-Mayor? What is this?" Linda asked as she and the other councillors flicked through the photos.
She was finished. Randy had seen to it. The photos damaged her reputation and her career. Not just hers, but Barbrady's as well. The pictures depicted just one of their many love-making ventures in the back of George's squad car. They were naked in almost all of them with passionate love on display for all to see. They could see more of her than of George. She couldn't stand and she stuttered when she spoke.
"I-I. Resign." Moments later everything went black.