Chapter 9
Disclaimer: I do not own anything. Everything belongs to their rightful owners and I am not making any profit from this.
AN1: Thank you so much for the support. I've managed to find some time in the last few days to get chapter 12 finished and almost finish chapter 13.
It has been two days since Mike and Neal got high together, and the morning after doing so Neal decided that it is something he's not going to do again, and the day of Edith's funeral has finally arrived.
As Neal has woken up early he has made breakfast for him and Mike and had a shower. After putting breakfast on the table Neal walks over to his brother who is still fast asleep in his bed.
"Mike, time to wake up." Neal says, shaking his brother awake, knowing from experience that just talking to Mike doesn't wake him.
"Neal?" Mike asks confused, still clearly sleepy, looking up to his brother.
"Time to get up, Mikey." Neal says, looking down at his brother, "I've made breakfast." Neal reveals.
"And you're already dressed." Mike notes, as he sits up, as Neal is in dress pants and a shirt, though nothing else.
"Yeah, I woke up early." Neal explains.
"How long we got?" Mike asks, as he throws his legs over the side of his bed and stands up.
"About an hour before we have to leave." Neal tells his brother.
"Okay." Mike says, as he walks over to the table, "You really went all out on breakfast." He notes.
"Like I said, I got up early." Neal explains, as both brothers sit down, and start to have breakfast, both knowing that it is going to be a long, difficult day.
Forty-five minutes later Neal is dressed in a black three-piece suit, with a black tie, and his trademark fedora, while Mike is dressed in another black suit and black tie. While Neal has managed to tie his tie Mike is seemingly having trouble.
"Stupid tie." Mike says, frustrated.
"Here, let me help." Neal says, walking over to his brother, "You know, it's okay not to be okay." Neal assures him.
"I know." Mike says, as Neal starts to do his tie, "When you were in prison I'd visit with Grammy twice, sometimes three times a week." Mike reveals, "And she'd always ask about you, ask if I had gotten a message from you, ask if I knew whether you'd be okay."
"After Mom, after Ellen, I thought all we needed was each other." Neal reveals, feeling touched that Edith asked about him so much as he was never as close to her as Mike, "That we were the only ones we could trust, that we were the only family we could ever want, or need." Neal tells his brother, "And Grams got that. She never tried to tell me what I should or shouldn't be doing with you, she accepted me for what I am. She made It clear that she was there if we needed, but didn't interfere." Neal comments.
"No, she never did." Mike says, "When we left St Louis I thought we would always be the only family each other would have, you and me against the world, but Grammy changed that."
"It's still you and me against the world." Neal comments.
"Yeah." Mike says, looking slightly amused, "But we're not each other's only family anymore. Mozzie became family."
"And Kate." Neal says, sadly.
"Yeah, and Alex, and June." Mike adds.
"Even Peter and Elizabeth in some ways." Neal says, being surprised when he realises that he means that, "Jones and Diana too." He reveals as while they are less so he's starting to see them as such, "And Donna and Harvey for you."
"Yeah." Mike says, with a nod, "But even with all that family. It's still me and you, still the Caffrey Brothers against the world." He says as even though he may mainly go by Ross he still considers himself to be a Caffrey.
"Always." Neal tells his brother, "Done." He says, as he finishes doing his brother tie there is a knock on the door, "Come in." he says and the door opens revealing June and Mozzie, both ready for the funeral.
"Are you boys ready?" June asks.
"As ready as we can be." Neal comments.
"Thank you for coming with us." Mike says, looking between June and Mozzie.
"You never have to thank me for that." Mozzie says.
"You really don't." June adds, "But we should go, you don't want be late." June says.
"No, we don't." Neal confirms, "You ready Mikey?"
"No. but we've got to go." Mike says and the two Caffrey brothers, with June and Mozzie supporting them, head out of the apartment.
Twenty-five minutes later Neal, Mike, Mozzie and June arrive at Edith's nursing home where the funeral is going to take place.
"Neal." Mike says, reaching out to grab his brothers, arm, stopping him before he can follow Mozzie and June inside, "Was Peter really planning on following us or should we be worried?" he asks his brother in a whisper, as he gestures his head to a parked car.
"It's Peter and Diana." Neal reveals, in a whisper, "I called him last night. Diana doesn't know exactly why but they're going to stay out here, and keep an eye on things, to make sure old enemies don't turn up." Neal explains, keeping his voice quiet.
"You mean the reason we were in WITSEC?" Mike asks, keeping his voice just as low as his brothers, "You really think that's a possibility?"
"There is a chance, and I wasn't going to risk your safety by not considering the possibility." Neal explains.
"Makes sense." Mike comments, realising that that means if Trevor is brave enough to show his face that Peter could be able to arrest him before Neal can do anything, "I guess we should head in." Mike realises.
"Yeah, we should." Neal confirms, and he and Mike head into the facility.
Across the road, Peter and Diana are sitting in a car, watching everything.
"So, any idea what those two just talked about?" Diana asks curious.
"I have a few theories." Peter admits, as he suspects that Mike noticed them and Neal explained why they were there.
"What are we doing here Boss? Wouldn't inside be a better place to watch from if we're going to make sure Neal didn't run?" Diana asks curious.
"He won't run, not today. He wouldn't leave his brother like that." Peter says, as he has spent enough time around Neal and his brother to be sure of that.
"Then why'd you ask me to be here?" Diana asks, as she is pretty sure that there is something she is missing.
"To help me keep an eye on things." Peter reveals.
"Are you expecting trouble?" Diana asks, sounding curious, "Causing trouble at a funeral doesn't exactly sound like something Caffrey would do."
"He wouldn't. but there are other people who would." Peter reveals as he notices a man in a suit, and a red haired woman, entering.
Inside the facility Neal, Mike, June, and Mozzie are standing together, all waiting for the funeral to begin.
"I don't know if I can do this." Mike says to his brother, "I know I wanted to, but I don't know if I can." He admits.
"If you don't think you can, I will, but I think it's something you should do, something you need to do." Neal tells his brother.
"Your brothers right. You'll regret it if you don't." June informs Mike.
"It might not be easy Mikey, and you might feel worse afterwards, but you also might feel better." Neal informs him, "Either way, it's your choice." He says.
"Mike, look." Mozzie says, nodding his head towards the door where Harvey and Donna just walked in, Mozzie knowing who they are thanks to when he posed as a janitor.
"I didn't expect him to come." Mike says, looking shocked and amazed.
"Your hansom boss." June notes.
"Yeah." Mike says, "I'll be right back." Mike says, before walking over to Harvey and Donna, "Hey." Mike greats.
"Hey." Harvey responds.
"Thank you both for being here, I wasn't expecting it." Mike says, looking between Harvey and Donna.
"There is no way we wouldn't have come." Donna says, giving Mike a hug, "How you doing?" she asks, as they break apart.
"Ask me that after I speak." Mike admits, as Neal walks over.
"Harvey, Donna. Thank you for being here." Neal greats.
"You don't have to thank us." Harvey assures him.
"Mike, it's time." Neal says.
"Okay." Mike says, taking a deep breath.
"Remember what I said. It's your choice." Neal says, putting a hand on his brothers' shoulder.
"You're not sure you can speak, are you?" Harvey asks Mike, knowing that it would make sense.
"Not entirely." Mike admits.
"You can, I know you can, and you should know that too." Harvey informs Mike.
"Thanks Harvey." Mike says, looking grateful, "I can do this."
"I know." Neal says to his brother, though he shot Harvey a grateful look, "Let's take our seats." He says and Neal, Mike, Harvey and Donna head to the rows of seats.
As they get to the seats Mike and Neal sit in the front row with June and Mozzie while Donna and Harvey sit behind them.
As the funeral begins the funeral director speaks, saying a poem, and telling stories from Edith's time at Prescott.
"Now I would like to invite Edith's youngest grandson Michael up to say a few words." The Celebrant says.
"You got this." Neal tells his brother as Mike feels Harvey squeeze his shoulder from behind.
"Yeah." Mike says, before taking a deep breath, getting up, and heading up to the podium.
"I've thought a lot about what to say, what's the right thing to say, and I'm still not sure." Mike admits, "When my brother and I came to this city, we thought we were alone, and we accepted that, but it turns out we weren't" Mike explains, walking the thin line between truth and lies, "We had been alone for so long when we found Grammy, and after that our family wasn't just the two of us anymore, and it hasn't been since." Mike comments, looking towards Neal, Mozzie, and June, "Grammy understood that my brother and I had our own thing, and she tried to interfere with that, but she was always there if we needed her. She supported us, was there for us, loved us, and I'm going to miss her. I remember things, and I'm going to remember every moment I spent with Grammy, everything she did for me, and my brother, and above all I'll remember how she taught me to open myself up to people." Mike says, "Goodbye Grammy." Mike says, before heading back to his seat.
"You did good." Neal tells his brother once Mike sits back down and he puts a comforting hand on Mike's leg.
"Yeah." Mike responds, and the two of them listen to the rest of the funeral.
The funeral lasts another fifteen minutes and once it is over quite a few people come up to Neal and Mike to offer their condolences.
"Mike." Harvey's voice says, from a little away from where Mike and Neal are being offered their condolences.
"I'll be right back." Mike tells his brother, "Thank you." He tells the person who is offering their condolences, and he walks over to where Harvey and Donna are standing.
"We've got to get back to work." Harvey says to Mike.
"I figured, thank you for coming." Mike comments.
"It's no problem." Donna says, before hugging Mike, "Now you take as much time off you need." She says, as they break apart.
"I've cleared the rest of the week, and next week, with Jessica." Harvey reveals, "If you need more time let me know." Harvey tells Mike.
"What about Hardman?" Mike asks, sounding concerned.
"We're handling him; I don't want you to worry." Harvey informs Mike.
"If something happens, call me, please." Mike requests, looking directly at Harvey.
"I will." Harvey says, not overly sure that he will, "Look after yourself, Mike."
"I will." Mike says, "Or at least Neal will make sure I do."
"Good brother." Harvey says, approvingly.
"We're better go, or you're going to be late for your meeting." Donna tells Harvey.
"Right. See you Mike." Harvey says.
"Bye." Mike says, and while Donna and Harvey head out Mike heads back over to June, Neal, and Mozzie.
"I was just telling your brother, Mike, I have to go." June says, "I'll see you at home, later." June says before hugging Mike.
"Bye June, thank you for coming." Mike says, before hugging June. Once they break apart June leaves.
"So, what now?" Mozzie asks, looking between the brothers.
"We've got to pack up Grams's room." Neal explains.
"Just the kind of thing I like to do, lead the way." Mozzie says, and they head down the corridors, to the correct room, Mike leading the way.
It takes a few minutes but finally Neal, Mike, and Mozzie arrive at the room that belonged to Edith. While Mozzie and Neal enter the room Mike freezes at the door, finding himself not able to enter.
"Mikey?" Neal asks concerned as he notices his brothers action.
"I just need a minute." Mike says, and as he does, he feels his phone starting to vibrate. Pulling his phone out of his pocket Mike notices that it is an unknown number, "Excuse me." Mike says, heading out of the room as he has a suspicion about who it is.
"Should we worry?" Mozzie asks Neal curious.
"I'm not sure yet." Neal admits, looking concerned.
Once he is out of the room that used to belong to his grandmother Mike walks a few steps down the corridor before pressing answer.
"Hello." Mike says.
"Hey." Alex's voice responds.
"Hunter." Mike says, being incredible glad to hear from his friend.
"Kid Caffrey." Alex says, causing Mike to roll his eyes, "I'm sorry about your grandmother. I liked Edith, a lot."
"She liked you too." Mike reveals, "She told me, more than once, that you were a much better friend to me than either Trevor or Jenny, and I should spend more time with you."
"I always knew she had good taste." Alex says, and Mike can hear the smile in her voice, "I'm sorry I wasn't there today, Mike. I wanted to be, but with this target on my head I didn't want trouble, not today. I couldn't do that to you, or Neal."
"I wish you did risk it." Mike admits, "I miss you Alex."
"I miss you too, Kid." Alex admits, telling the truth, "I left something at the apartment for you, I think it could be just what you need right now."
"Oh? You going to give me more than that?" Mike asks, being truly curious.
"You don't want me to ruin the surprise, trust me." Alex responds, "I should go, tell Neal I'm sorry."
"I will." Mike assures her, "Stay safe, Alex."
"You too, Mike." Alex says, before hanging up.
After hanging up with Alex Mike spends about a minute collecting himself before heading back into his grandmother's room where Neal and Mozzie have already gotten started on packing things up.
"Who was that?" Neal asks, once he realises his little brother has come back into the room.
"Alex. She said she's sorry, but she didn't want to risk coming with that Target on her head." Mike explains.
"Oh. That was nice of her." Neal says, meaning that.
"Yeah. I'll get started over here." Mike says, referring to the other side of the room.
"Okay." Neal says, and the two brothers, and Mozzie, get to work.
It has been a while since the funeral ended and Peter, and Diana are both still waiting, and watching, outside.
"The funeral's over. They should have left by now." Diana comments, with a slight frown.
"According to Neal's tracker they are still inside." Peter says, once he checks.
"If you're worried enough to have us out here in the first place then we better go check things out." Diana informs Peter.
"Yeah." Peter says, nodding in agreement, and they both head out of the car and into the facility.
Once they are in the facility Peter, and Diana follows signs to sun room where they know that the funeral was meant to take place. When they walk into the sun room they find someone who works at the facility is packing up the chairs.
"If you're here for Edith's funeral you're late, it's over." The person says.
"We're actually looking for Edith's grandsons." Peter explains, "We're friends."
"Oh, they're packing up Edith's room. Room 210." The person explains.
"Thank you." Diana says, and she and Peter walk away from the person.
"Are we going back outside, or going to check in?" Diana asks, curiously.
"Check in." Peter says, and he starts to follow the signs to where the Caffrey brothers and Mozzie are.
It takes a couple of minutes, but Peter and Diana both get to the room where they find that Neal, Mike, and Mozzie have managed to pack up most the room.
"Peter? Is something wrong?" Neal asks, seeing his boss and friend.
"No, just thought we'd check in." Peter explains.
"We'll we're just cleaning up Grammy's room. So unless you've notice something we haven't there's no reason to check in." Mike says, annoyance in his voice.
"Mike." Neal says, in a warning tone of voice.
"I did it again, didn't I?" Mike asks.
"Yep." Mozzie and Neal say together.
"Sorry." Mike says, looking at Peter and Diana, "Lashing out and pushing people away is an old defence mechanism of mine, haven't quite managed to break it."
"It's okay, Mike." Peter assures him, honestly considering the little he knows about Neal and Mike's childhood he isn't surprised by that habit, "How about we help." Peter offers.
"You don't have to do that." Neal says, looking at his friend.
"I want to." Peter says, figuring that it will be a good idea to help them pack everything up.
"Same." Diana says, though she sounds more confused than Peter, and the two of them start to help Mozzie, Mike, and Neal to clean pack everything up.
An hour later all of Edith's room has been packed up and Mike, Neal, Mozzie, Peter and Diana are taking the boxes of stuff to the moving van that is waiting.
"So, what are you doing with all your grandmothers stuff?" Peter asks, as he and Neal both carry out boxes.
"Most of it's going to storage, some of it is coming back to the apartment with me and Mike." Neal explains.
"How are you really doing?" Peter asks as they walk.
"Okay, I think." Neal answers, "I haven't spent a lot of time with Grams in the last few years, but I still miss her." He reveals.
"That's normal." Peter informs Neal, "Is there anything I can do?"
"Not that I can think off, but thanks Peter." Neal says, meaning that completely, and the two of them walk and continue to load boxes into the van in silence.
A while later Neal, Mike, and Mozzie have taken what needed to be taken to the storage facility and are arriving back at the apartment.
"I'll open the wine." Mozzie says, as they walk in.
"Looks like someone beat you too it." Neal comments, as he notices what looks to be a bottle of wine with a bow on it has been left on the table, "That's a handwritten label." He notices, walking over to have a better look.
"What does it say?" Mozzie asks curious.
"La Mauvaise Idée, Que Nous Ne Nous Souviendrons Pas Demain." Mike says, even though he isn't close to the bottle.
"The Bad Idea, That We Won't Remember Tomorrow." Neal translates, "How'd you know?" he asks.
"It's from Alex." Mike explains.
"Still doesn't explain the name." Mozzie notes, "I'm guessing you have a story that does explain it?"
"It was the last night of Alex's week long trip. We talked our way into a fancy party, and when it was ending we hid." Mike explains, as he sits down at the table, "The were quite a few bottles of alcohol that only had a bit left in them so we combined them, and some other things together, and we drunk it." Mike reveals.
"How'd it taste?" Mozzie asks curious, as Neal sits down too, and he walks over with glasses and an actual bottle of wine.
"A hell of a lot better than it had any right to taste." Mike says, as he picks up the bottle, and opens it, before taking a sniff, "Smells just like how I remember it." he comments, and as he does Neal takes the bottle off his brother and smells it too.
"That smells horrible." Neal tells his brother.
"Exactly." Mike says, as he takes one off the glasses, and then the bottle, and pours himself a drink, the liquid is dark red, but it is clearly not wine.
"You're seriously going to drink that?" Mozzie asks, sounding surprised, and a little disturbed.
"Yep." Mike confirms, before having a drink, causing Mozzie and Neal to exchange looks, "Wow, still has the kick, and tastes way better than it should." He admits.
"Okay, I'm curious, hand the glass over." Neal tells his brother.
"Seriously?" Mozzie asks, shocked as Mike hands the glass over to his big brother.
"Don't knock it until you try it, Moz." Mike tells him.
As he takes the glass from his brother Neal smells the drink once more, and hesitates for a second, before drinking.
"So?" Mozzie asks, giving his friend a look.
"Wow, you weren't kidding about that kick." Neal says to Mike.
"Told you." Mike informs his brother.
"It also doesn't taste as bad as I was expecting." Neal admits, "It's not bad."
"Okay, I have to try that." Mozzie says, taking the glass from Neal, and taking a quick drink, "Wow, you're both right."
"Told you." Mike says, before pouring two more glasses of the drink.
A while later Mike, Neal, and Mozzie have drunk all of the bottle that Alex left, and because of that they are all feeling pretty tipsy as they lie out on sunbeds on the balcony.
"I didn't think buildings were meant to move." Mike comments, from where he is.
"They're not." Neal informs his brother, "It's your drink that's making them."
"Right, that makes sense." Mike says, "So, Mozzie, you convinced?" Mike asks curious, and he gets no answer.
"Moz?" Neal asks concerned, looking over at his friend, "He's asleep." Neal reveals.
"Right." Mike says, and the two brothers drift into silence, "Do you think they're out there somewhere?" Mike asks curious, breaking the silence after not even a minute.
"Who?" Neal asks, not overly sure who his brother is talking about, though he has a suspicion.
"Mom and Dad." Mike answers.
"Maybe." Neal answers, "Do you want to try and find them?" Neal asks curious, as while he really, really doesn't he will if his brother does so that he can do whatever he can to protect Mike from the full out.
"No." Mike answers, "Are there answers I want, yeah, but seeing her again, meeting him, no I don't want that." Mike says, before taking a drink, "I …. Just, think about them sometimes, and wonder, do they wonder about me, about us?"
"I don't know, Mike, I don't know." Neal admits, and the two brothers drift into silence as they lie and watch the city that they love, the city that is spinning thanks to what they have drunk.
