11: Parental Explosion

"Your dad has serious, serious issues, Beau." Phil commented, tearing his eyes off the mounted television and turned his gaze onto her. When he seen she was distracted by the cartoons, he poked her in the side. "You hear me?"

"I heard, hush… I wanna watch this." Beau teased, shifting on the narrow hospital bed until she was facing him when he turned off the TV. "Okay, it's time for a serious talk, isn't it?"

He considered that, finally shaking his head. "Nope, just making an observation about your genetic contributor's mental state." His own personal reminder was throbbing on the back of his stitched up skull. Going through a door had hurt, and left him out of action for the rest of the week. He moved over as much as he could, watching as she scooted up until she was sitting next to him and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "I'm going to miss Comic Con with you, Beau." He said quietly, knowing she was supposed to leave for New York tomorrow morning. "I'm going to be stuck here."

She had already figured that, hiding a frown under a playful smirk. "What? No Gambit to my Rogue?"

"As if I would ever go as Gambit." He replied with an eye-roll, smiling for a brief moment. "Too overrated."

"You're just jealous that he can shuffle cards."

"You got me. Seriously, Beau, just… be careful, all right? I know you think I'm paranoid but I don't trust Shane. Your dad doesn't either."

"You just said my dad has issues." She pointed out.

"Yeah, he does. But he's not wrong about Shane either. His methods of getting you to listen to him are what's totally fucked up." Phil shook his head, wondering just where Calaway had picked up his parenting skills at. "If we ever have kids, we're NOT treating them the way he does you, that is- is…" He trailed off when he realized she was staring at him with an open mouth. "I just said when we, didn't I?"

"Uh huh…" Beau was turning red, reaching back to rub her neck and cleared her throat awkwardly. "Bit soon to be thinkin' about that, eh Brooks?"

"It's the drugs talking, ignore me."

She arched an eyebrow skeptically.

"Seriously!"

"Oh no, parentals… God, go away, both of you." Beau ordered later in the night, groaning when she spotted both Mark and Lane leaning in the hall outside her hotel room. Lane looked like she was now on-board the crazy train, not cool. "Seriously guys, it's just a weekend in New York, with other people besides Shane. Get with the program."

"Beau, I'm sorry about Phil, I was overreactin'." Mark said instantly, ignoring the nudge he had gotten from Lane as a prompt. Damn woman, making him apologize… considering the kid had been shooting off his ever-running mouth, he deserved a reminder to mind his tongue. "But that don't change the fact that you ain't go-"

Lane elbowed him again.

"That you shouldn't," He shot her a dark look. "Go."

"I'm going and I'm also going to bed, ya'all mind leavin'?" Beau approached the door, sighing when her dad blocked her from accessing it. "Look, I get it, you don't like Shane, but it's not like I'm going to be there without other people. Evan's going."

"Beau-"

"And Phil would have gone, you know, if he didn't have a wickedly awesome concussion that's keeping him in the hospital." She added scathingly.

"Beau, there are… issues, that you're not aware of." Lane began, knowing Mark was going to muck this all up and drive his daughter right into enemy territory. "Surrounding Shane, and-"

"He's my boss, Lane, you really want me to tell him to fuck off?"

"Yes." Mark said bluntly.

"No! I mean, I-"

"Tellin' him to fuck off is a damn good idea, and you're going to do it."

"Mark…" Beau pinched the bridge of her nose, exhaling through her open mouth. "This is my career, okay? So back off."

"You're not-"

"What he means-"

"Lane, will you shut up and let me talk!"

Lane scowled up at him, not appreciating being hollered at and planted her fists on her hips. "Don't you yell at me, Mark Calaway, or I'll pop you one in the jaw."

Beau was secretly hoping to witness this, watching wide eyed as they started going back and forth. She could not recall, ever, seeing Lane and Mark going at it like they were now. Sure, they had their regular tiffs like any other couple, but nothing like this.

"Don't tell me how to raise her!"

"She's already raised you fool! She's an adult! All you're doing is pushing her away!"

"You're not her damn mother Lane, so quit actin' like it!"

Beau flinched, watching as Lane recoiled like she had just been physically struck. She actually felt bad for the other woman, who was sort of a second mother to her. Definitely much better than her actual mother… that was for damn sure.

Mark seemed to realize what he had just said and paled beneath his tan, reaching out towards the visibly shaken Lane. "Darlin', I-"

Shaking her head, Lane turned and walked away. Before she had even reached the end of the hall, both Beau and Mark could hear the sobs she was trying to repress.

"Smooth, dad, real smooth." Beau muttered, shoving him out of her way so she could get into her room.

Mark watched blankly as she disappeared, wincing when the door slammed shut behind her. He raked a hand through his hair, groaning. He had just royally fucked up.

"Is there going to be an inquiry into the incident?"

Shane had to take a moment to realize what Glenn was asking him, rolling his eyes as he poured himself a tumbler of bourbon. Honestly, he had completely forgotten about Glenn's little 'request' to try to get Mark out of the position he had been offered.

He supposed, in retrospect, he was actually doing a fairly decent job of putting Calaway out of Glenn's misery. Apparently, Beau was the best way to stir things up, and he was very interested in Isabeau, for several reasons.

"Probably, I'm not exactly in that loop, Glenn." He said after a moment, wondering just how many times he had to tell this idiot that. Glenn really was a piece of work. The man was letting his jealousy override his common sense, and Shane idly wondered how that was going to work out for him.

"Hmm." Glenn fell silent for a brief moment. "Leavin' for New York tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"With Beau?"

"And others, it's a group thing, Glenn." He really did feel like he was talking to the village moron, barely hiding his disdain. "Why?"

Glenn hesitated. "She's like a daughter to me, Shane, you know? So… watch it, got me?"

"Loud and clear."