Double Life

Disclaimer: Don't own Wendell and Vinnie, don't own iCarly

A/N:


Chapter 7 (The AA Meeting)

The Alcoholics Anonymous meeting was that weekend, and Spencer felt insanely uncomfortable. It wasn't as bad as it could have been if Taryn wasn't there with him, but it sure as hell stung. The meeting place was inside a tall building office style room. The room itself was empty with a circle white chairs. Spencer and Taryn were the first to arrive, so he opted to turn to her for advice on the people here. "These people, they're all recovering alcoholics, right?"

"Or well most are trying, some are just here because of the brownies that the group leader brings…One guy here just drives me batty. He clearly comes only for the perks, doesn't appear to make any attempt at recovery-I mean for crying out loud he actually hits on me and asks if I want to go on a date with him to a bar." Spencer raised an eyebrow watching as she crossed her arms and huffed. He wasn't sure what sounded more upsetting, some dumbass kept hitting on Taryn, or someone was asking people at an AA meeting to go to a bar with them.

"He does this during the meetings?"

"Oh yes, but never in front of the group leader!"

"Why don't you speak up about it?"

"Because, it's not like the guy's done anything. It's just annoying, and either way I always remind him I have a friend who is one of LA's most powerful attorneys. So people know damn well, I'm packing." She snapped her fingers in the air and smirked, pointing her finger out in the shape of a gun, causing Spencer to laugh.

"Well, I guess if he causes you anymore trouble, want me to talk to him?" She lowered her hand and hummed as she turned her gaze to the window.

"Or you could just sit there and look intimidating. Small girl with a tall man sitting next to her? Throw on a gruff face and no one will come near." He chuckled and shook his head. There was no way he'd be able to 'look intimidating', but he could certainly try to fend the guy off that Taryn was going on about if he created any problems.

"He isn't like a biker or anything, I hope?"

"No-no, nothing like that." Her hand swept through the air and her gaze turned sweetly upon him. "He's just a five foot six bodybuilder, that's it." He choked and closed his eyes, holding back a chuckle.

"That's it, huh?"

"That is it."

"Oh yeah, bodybuilder, that's not intimidating at all! It isn't like he's a computer programmer or anything nerdy, just a bodybuilder who can lift a hundred pounds." Taryn laughed mercilessly and Spencer grinned, he was glad she was helping him relax. He'd do so much better loose than if he was tense and anxious. "Well if anyone asks, I bench 720."

"Oh dear god. Anyway, bodybuilders are also a major turnoff for me, can't stand men with oversized muscles. Some strength, sure, but not like…an overbearing amount. I also don't like flab on men. If you have a massive beer gut, get away from me."

"Hmm, well I'm skinny and I can truthfully only bench about ninety to one hundred. My strength is in my legs." Taryn rolled her eyes and playfully nudged him without missing a beat.

"I haven't decided if I want to date you yet, anyway. Even if I did, I want to meet your family first." He leaned to the right, laughing as she shot him a cocky smirk. "That's right, trapped you."

"So if I wanted to ask you out on a date, you'd have to meet my family first, huh?"

"If you really want to date me, then yes. That's what I say to all the men, I want to meet their family and they have to meet mine. My family needs to approve of you, also."

"Oh god…"

"One step at a time, Vin, one step at a time. Plus…" She reached up, tapping his nose while holding her smirk. "You have two children. When I say 'meet the family' Only Wilma and Wendell isn't cutting it."

"I have two kids, yes, who don't even know that I'm their father. Why do I feel like I'm about to turn into Darth Vader?"

"Oh yeah, get the costume, dress up and you'd be perfect for the role!" She snickered and Spencer rolled his eyes, smiling at her infectious laugh. "So Spencer, have you gotten an email from Carly yet?"

"No, it's strange…maybe she's busy, but I don't know. She was sending an email almost every day, it's been almost a week now without a word." He was getting worried, especially for the fact that he wasn't able to know what she was going through. "I really wish I hadn't asked Mr. Shay to take her in…"

"You were panicking. You didn't know. Wilma found you, you realized you had a son, and your brother died."

"It doesn't excuse the fact that I sent my daughter to live in Italy to live with her grandfather. Do you know how that sounds? It sounds like I'm one of those parents on those television shows that send their kid to live with their uncle or grandparents or a boarding school so they don't have to deal with them. And that's exactly what happened! Well…not the part about not wanting to deal with her, I love my daughter, but the part about sending her off with a relative…"

Taryn put her hand to his shoulder and looked to him with strong reassurance."Calm down, I'm sure she's okay, and you're right. It doesn't excuse that fact." He wondered if maybe Mr. Shay told her the truth, in which case, maybe she was angry with him.

"You know Mr. Shay's dad almost had to take her away when some stupid thing happened on the webshow. I don't know how I managed to convince him not to take her but he didn't." Taryn smiled at him and lowered her hands, folding them neatly in her lap as she listened to his story. He had many fond memories, and wished he could have had some of those memories with Wendell growing up. "You know, she was always going on and on about how she never knew her great grandparents and wished that she could have met them? It's funny, because in a way, she did. I mean the guy's still alive too. I guess there are some perks to having a kid at thirteen…terrifying as it is…I think Wilma said all our grandparents are still alive, except for mom's mother. I never really got to be close to her, though."

"I see. Does Wilma talk about the grandparents much? Do you know how they're doing?"

"She doesn't share details with me, thinks I should learn to find out myself."

"Ouch."

"I've earned her judgment, I guess."

"She'll come around soon, I'm sure of it. The one relationship you're always going to have is the one you have with your sibling."

"And I deprived her of that for two decades." He rubbed his palms off on his jeans, grimacing at the clamminess his nerves were causing. "I don't have to share my entire story today, do I? I mean I only just opened up to you, and that was hard as hell. If I wasn't fucking drunk when I even brought it all up…"

"Not if you don't feel comfortable. Just introduce yourself and let everyone else talk, if you don't feel like talking, don't."

"Fair enough." People began filing into the room, including the group leader himself. In all as people took their seats, Spencer counted ten people, excluding himself and Taryn. Just as a well built man with a blonde buzz cut sat on the other side of Taryn, she nudged Spencer. He wasted no time switching seats with her, much to the clear annoyance of the man. Spencer did not feel comfortable next to the guy, but he'd be willing to sit there if Taryn was as uncomfortable as she said. "Hi, I'm Vincent. Good to meet you."

"Chuck. My name is Chuck." The man shifted in his seat and looked down. "Hey, do you mind switching with me? My chair's a little funky."

"Oh?" A look of horror stretched over Taryn's face. Spencer's eyes flew towards a group of chairs in the corner of the room, giving him cause to smile. "There's some chairs over there if that one doesn't work right." He looked to a nearby table where the group leader was standing with brownies baked by his wife. The man was in his late forties with graying hair and wise eyes.

"Hey Grant's got us some brownies. You should go grab some, Vincent."

"Nah, I'm good." He looked away, not missing a beat. "I don't really care for brownies all that much." He pat his stomach and flashed a grin. "Health nut." The man rolled his eyes and Taryn looked away to conceal a growing smirk. "Thanks though, you can go grab some, I'm sure they great."

"But I-"

"Oh enough," Taryn wrapped her arms around Spencer's and leaned onto him, setting her chin on his shoulder, stunning him. Whatever was happening, he didn't want it to end for a minute. "He's with me Chuck, go chow down on some of those brownies." Chuck was horrified at the news and stumbled over his words.

"I-I think I will. Um, I…I've not seen you here before, Vincent was it?" Spencer nodded and watched as Chuck rose up and walked to the brownie table where about three other people were standing. Taryn pulled herself away and released an exasperated sigh. She tucked her hair behind her ear and shook her head.

"My god he was annoying! Thanks for that, Vin."

"No problem. I already don't like the guy." His lips thinned as he remembered the vile curly haired kid in the apartments at Seattle. "There was this kid named Chuck that lived in Seattle, he was always pulling these childish pranks, nonstop."

"Yikes. I have a question…are you really a health nut?"

"Have you ever seen me eat completely healthy?" Taryn raised an eyebrow as he gestured to the brownies. "If there wasn't anyone here, I would be downing every brownie up there." She laughed openly, earning a glance from Chuck at the table.

"So why don't you go get one?"

"Because the second I get up, the shark over there is going to come over here and sit down. Things will get hell-a awkward after that."

"If it makes you feel any better, I'll get you a brownie afterwards."

"Thanks." He was glad that someone was already sitting on the other side of Taryn and chatting up another attendant. The group leader moved over and sat beside him, greeting him.

"Hello, I haven't seen you here before. I'm Grant." Spencer turned around and nodded politely, shaking the man's hand.

"I'm Vinnie, um, Taryn's neighbor."

"Ah! Well, we're pleased to have you here. Feel free to grab some brownies from the table. We'll get started soon." Spencer saw Chuck eyeballing the seat as well as him, and it was beginning to make him feel incredibly awkward. The woman beside Taryn looked ready to get up, but the second she finished talking to the person she was speaking with, she started to chat with Taryn. The chairs were beginning to fill, most of the empty seats were on the other side of the circle.

"All right. Actually Grant, can you do something for me?"

"Sure?"

"I would feel a lot more comfortable if you stayed in that chair. A lot more comfortable." Grant frowned, mildly concerned. His eyes flicked over to Grant, then back towards Spencer and Taryn.

"Okay, I usually wind up sitting next to our newcomers anyway as a means of crutch. You would be surprised the number of people that feel more comfortable sitting next to a group leader than just anyone."

"Well sure. I mean you are the teacher, or whatever it's called."

Grant leaned to the right some, meeting Taryn's gaze, "Taryn. Is Chuck bothering you?" Taryn shook her head, smiling as she brushed the question off.

"No, not at all."

"I do see how he acts, don't hesitate to talk to me about it. If he's harassing you, I can have him thrown out."

"I don't want to be the reason he gets in trouble, he hasn't done anything at all other than the usual flirting." Grant appeared skeptical, but shrugged it off as everyone still standing moved to their chairs. Chuck was forced to take a seat on the other side of the room. Grant turned towards the others and clapped his hands once.

"All right, we have a new guy with us today. Vinnie." Spencer waved nervously and looked to Taryn for support. She put her hands to his wrist, comforting him with her tender gesture. "Now, let's recap from our meeting last week. Fill in what we're doing. But first…" Grant took a deep breath and slowly looked over, "I don't normally like calling out the new person, but can you at least tell us why you've decided to visit? If you don't want to give details, don't, it's only your first visit. You don't have to discuss what you don't want."

Spencer relaxed his tense muscles and closed his eyes, "I appreciate that. I'm here because I know I have a problem with alcohol. Taryn suggested I come…"

"How do you know her?"

"We met a few months back, I live in the apartment across from hers." There was a funny thought, Taryn was, ironically enough, the literal definition of the girl next door. "I um…" He bowed his head for a second and winced, he had something he did want to get out and share with this group. On the off chance that it made things feel a little better. Maybe they could be a good support group, they were one after all. "You're reserved to alcohol issues aren't you?"

Grant tapped his chin, humming in thought as he studied Spencer's expression. "Well alcoholism has may deeper root causes, so no, we're not a support group reserved to one issue. I'm a licensed counselor for depression, and other factors that people suffer from. If there's anything you have going on, we're here as a support group. Also, if you need a one on one session, I'm happy to help."

"Right. That's what you do…" The surprises just kept on coming. This was something he needed right now, and he had Taryn to thank for him. "Look. I'm here because I have two children that I want to take care of and alcohol will get in the way…of life in general…but I have a lot of other things going on that I'm not sure I'm ready to share with a group of people…"

"All right. Talk to me after this session and we'll set up a time for you to come in for a session."

"Thank you." He reached over to Taryn's hand, squeezing it gently with gratitude. She squeezed back and he looked over, smiling at her.

"He's a great counselor," Taryn concluded with a whisper, "If anyone can listen and give you advice and support, it's Grant."


Lots of fun stuff this chapter. Spencer opens a bit more with Taryn, tricks a creepy guy in a hilarious fashion, and gets to set up his first appointment with a therapist. What are your thoughts?