Chapter Ten

The loud thud that came instantly after Tony's inquiry about why Bobby was there at this late hour startles the women. Alex and Cheryl give each other a puzzled look, "What the hell was that?" Alex asks. Cheryl can only shrug her shoulders, moments later they are up and out of the kitchen, curious about the sound. They stand still in the hallway that looks out into the living room. They watch Bobby grab the teenager by his arms pushing him up against the wall. He has to lower his head to look Tony in the eye. "Where the fuck have you been," his booming voice echoes off the walls, causing not only Tony to shiver but the women as well.

"Working, I….I was working."

Bobby releases his hold, stepping back, "How can you stand there and blatantly lie? Your mother called your boss no one was scheduled to work tonight. Alex and I drove to the shop, no one was there." He steps forward running his fingers through his hair.

"Just tell us the truth, whatever it is," Cheryl says trying her best to remain calm. Bobby pauses momentarily then he grabs the front of the boy's shirt. "Tell me where you've been!" He says through clenched teeth.

"Bobby," Alex calls his name. He turns his beet red face in her direction, "Calm down." He releases his hold, brushing the front of Tony's shirt with his hand.

"I….I," Tony says with a shaky voice.

"I….I," Bobby repeats, "Come on, think of a good one."

"I got another job with a cleaning service," Bobby lets out a loud huff as Tony removes a piece of paper from his shirt pocket." Bobby notices his shaking hands, "What are you on?"

Tony places his hands on Bobby's chest, pushing him back, "Nothing," he says as tears well up in his eyes, "Nothing I swear," the teenager sniffles then wipes his eyes. "Come on please, look at the check." He holds the piece of paper in Bobby's eye view. "See it's a check for thirty bucks for the work I did tonight." Bobby slowly takes it from his hand, reading it aloud, "Pay to the order of Anthony Fisher from the Hanson Cleaning Service," he turns toward the women biting his lip. "Why?" he clears his throat, "Why didn't you tell your mother that you had another job?"

"I did." All eyes turn to a red-faced Cheryl.

"Tony," Cheryl steps forward. "You said that Mr. Dobbs wanted you to work late this evening."

"Mr. Dobbs is your supervisor, isn't he?" Bobby asks.

"Yes," Tony nods his head. "Mr. Dobbs has a friend who owns a cleaning service and sometimes he hires extra people for a shift when he needs help. I was asked by Mr. Dobbs if I wanted to make a few extra bucks and work for his friend."

An eerie silence overcomes the living room of the Fisher home, Tony steps forward, "Don't you trust me?"

Cheryl holds out her hand for her son, "Yes Tony, we…."

"No," Bobby says abruptly shaking his head. "No we don't, with your history, how can we? Only a few weeks ago you pulled a stupid stunt."

"I remember, I said I was sorry."

"Sometimes just saying sorry isn't enough." Bobby places his hand on Tony's shoulder patting it gently. "Come on sit down," Tony steps forward with Bobby following close behind. "Remember I told you that if you want people to respect you, you have to show them respect."

Tony nods his head as he sits, "Yes I remember."

"Well the same goes for trust," Bobby remains standing, "Not until you've proven to us that you are trustworthy, can we actually trust you."

"That's not fair," he abruptly stands, Bobby remains in the same position, Tony has to look up. "You ask me to be responsible and when I do you treat me like a baby."

"Yes we do," Bobby steps back. "Look at the way you're acting now."

"Tony," Alex calls his name; his eyes remain focused on Bobby.

"Hey, Alex is talking to you," Bobby says sternly. In a defiant sneer, Tony turns his attention to her.

She takes a few steps closer to the young man. "About five hours ago Bobby and I were in the morgue because a young man got a hold of your wallet."

"We, Alex and I," he stuffs his hands in his pockets, "Thought you were dead."

Cheryl along with Tony frown, "What?" Cheryl asks surprisingly, "Why didn't you say anything to me?"

"If I needed to tell you at the time," Bobby says as he removes an item from his pocket. "I would have but it wasn't necessary." He waves the empty beaten wallet in Tony's face. "Your wallet was found on a dead junkie. And with your background the only conclusion that I could come up with for why he had it, was that you and he had been together getting high."

"I get it, ok I get it. I lost my wallet about two weeks ago," Tony removes a brown leather wallet from his back pocket, opening it. "You see I replaced all the items myself."

"I'm not going to apologize to you," Bobby says as he sits down in the leather recliner. "You scared the shit out of us." He scrubs his five o'clock shadow. "I'm gonna get you a cell phone, never again do I want to go through this." Silence overtakes the room, "I'm sorry Tony," Bobby says somberly.

Tony sits back in the couch and props his feet up on the coffee table, "I understand I really do." He places his hands behind his head, "It's alright dude."

Bobby sits up, "Dude?"

Tony immediately drops his arms down, sitting erect. "Sir," the teenager flashes a shy smile as Bobby sits forward in the chair, "It's cool." He smiles and Tony expels a sigh of relief. "Go get some sleep," Bobby says as he stands, "You look exhausted."

Tony rubs his eyes as he stands, "Yeah I am," he walks around the table, "So do you and I'm sorry if it's because of me."

Bobby pats him on his back, "Go on, get out of here."

"I'm going, I'm going," Tony says whimsically. "Goodnight," he catches Alex's eye, "Goodnight Alex."

She nods as he passes her, "Goodnight Tony." He holds out his hand for his mother, "Mom, I'm sorry...." She holds her finger to his lips, "You don't have anything to apologize for." She pulls him in for an embrace, she whispers, "I'm proud of you."

He kisses her cheek, "Thanks Mom, I love you."

"I love you too Tony, goodnight."

"Goodnight, Mom."

The three adults stay silent as they watch the teenager ascend the stairs. "I think," Cheryl wags her finger as she turns to face Bobby and Alex. "I know it; things are going to be different." She says confidently.

Bobby nods his head, "Yes I think you're right."

Cheryl holds out her hands, Bobby takes her left hand Alex her right. "Thank you," she shakes their hands. "Both of you for being here for me, I can't say it any plainer that I don't know what I would have done if you weren't here."

Bobby leans down and kisses her cheek, "Same goes for me," he winks at his partner. They share a sweet smile, "We'll let ourselves out, go get some sleep."

"Goodnight Bobby, Alex."

"Goodnight Cheryl," the partners say in unison.

Bobby and Alex exit the Fisher home walking side by side down the walkway. "I overreacted didn't I?"

"No….maybe a little but I think I would have done the same thing. It shows him how much you really care. He's a very luck young man to have you for a friend."

"You think so?"

"Yes, why? What's the matter?"

"What I did could easily be mistaken and…."

"No Tony, didn't think that way, the one thing that kid doesn't want to do is disappoint you."

"I can see that, but do you think that I've put too much pressure on him?"

"Oh I see where you're going? No, not at all, he needs someone to look up to and he has to look up to you in more ways than one."

"Funny, oh you are funny."

"Bobby ease up…."

"You see," Bobby says as he leans up against the passenger door of her car. "You do think that I'm too hard on him."

"No," she shakes her head. "Ease up on yourself; you've done marvelous by him. Don't ever underestimate what you've done for that kid."

"Thanks," he straightens his back in a proud pose as he turns to reach for the car door handle.

"No problem, you want me to drop you home."

He steps back away from the car, "No….I think I'll walk."

"You sure?"

"Yeah I can walk," he rubs the back of his neck. "Alex thanks for back….thanks for coming with me, you know to the morgue and then here. You didn't have to and…."

She elbows him on his side, "Why? You want to know why?" He nods his head. "Because you needed someone and though I've only known you a little over a year, you appear to me to be someone who has trouble asking people for favors. And when you asked so eloquently, "You coming with me or what?" She winks at him, he smiles, "I mean, how could I pass up an invitation like that."

The only sound in the quiet darkened night is the sound of two partners, friends laughing. Bobby reaches into his pocket and removes a handkerchief, wiping his forehead. "I suppose I should work on my technique, huh?"

"Yeah, maybe just a little."

I'm going to end it here.......Be back soon with an update

A/N: Do you think Bobby was too hard on him?

Later

The Mominator