Title: The Good Son
Chapter 12 – Happily Never After?
By the time that Sophie had arrived home, Ed was asleep on the couch, Clark on the phone in the kitchen and Wordy already back home with his family. Clark hears his mother arrive, says goodnight to Amber and then hurries to open the door before she can make noise to wake his father.
"How is he?" Sophie asks in concern as she hugs her son.
"He's um…he's okay."
"I'm fine," Ed interrupts as he slowly approaches his wife and hugs her close. "It's all over now," he tells her seriously.
"What happened?"
"Someone wanting a bit of revenge on an arrest. But its taken care of," Ed tries to assure her.
"What arrest? Where is he? The guy wanting revenge?"
"He's dead. Sam got to him before he could get to me," Ed answers in truth; wanting to leave out the part about Clark shooting him by accident. "Clark and I are fine."
"You have a black eye," Sophie looks at Ed directly.
"I'm fine. Trust me Soph, this...this is nothing."
"Anything else?"
"Nothing else broken."
"But the car's trashed," Clark huffs.
"What?" Sophie asks in haste and Clark cringes.
"It can be fixed," Ed replies in haste. "We'll clean it up tomorrow."
"Ed…"
"Soph it's over now and we're all good," he tells her warmly.
"So much for our big weekend plans," she sighs as he looks at Clark and offers a weak smile. "I'm glad you were here for your father. Are you okay?"
"Clark's an amazing kid," Ed praises. "Called for help and saved my life," he smiles at his son as he hugs him close.
"You were both in that much danger?" Sophie asks in concern.
"Maybe for a few minutes, but that's it," Ed explains with a calm tone. "How was your…well half day?"
"Cut short," she slightly frowns. "What aren't you two telling me?"
"I lost my phone," Clark pipes up.
"Did you at least eat?"
"Yeah Wordy got us some pizza, are you hungry?" Ed wonders.
"No I ate before I got the call, I'm fine. So I guess now you'll actually be forced to take it easy?"
"Looks that way, for at least tomorrow," he tells them both in a tone that said he was going to work on Monday and not to argue. After talking for a few more minutes, the three of them slowly head upstairs and go their separate ways.
"Was Clark really okay Ed?"
Ed looks at his wife and offers a heavy frown. "He was scared but kept his wits and he did fine. He's gonna be just fine."
He didn't want to tell her about the gun and would have a talk with Clark tomorrow just the two of them. Sophie was already paranoid about him having spare guns around but he always had assured her that Clark never knew where they were and it was part of his job to protect his family at all times. After having a shower, Ed slowly eases himself into bed, his body stiff and sore from the trying days events but his mind now wondering if there would be any fallout over this for either Clark or him. Sam had taken the shot, so no one could say that it was a mere revenge killing. Jeremy was dead so Clark was finally at peace and the other two kids would be tried as adults; even if given minor sentences would be away from Clark for at least a few years and by then, he reasons, everyone would have moved on.
Well almost everyone.
And while Clark settles in for the night, happy that the trying ordeal is over and his father is safe, and Ed finally closes his eyes, thankful that his family is in tact and that him and his son were on the mend, another father is trying to come to terms with his son's untimely death.
XXXXXXXX
"Mr. Ryder, I'm sorry for your loss. I understand…"
"You…understand?" Nicholas Ryder asks in contempt. "Really? Do you have kids Detective Ross?"
"No," Detective Duncan Ross answers pointedly. "Sir we are here too…"
"Right so you just show up at my door, tell me my son was basically murdered and…"
"Your son kidnapped a police officer, assaulted him and…"
"Did any of you geniuses try to talk him down before just snuffing out his life?" Ryder asks angrily, the ex-con not really needing any further excuses to hate the police or his mind to already think about revenge.
"Mr. Ryder…" Ross's partner, Detective Carl Simmons tries.
"Look if I want your opinion I'll give it go you," he snaps. "My boy is dead. Now I gather you don't care much because he was arrested by…officer Lane right? Ed Lane? He's the one that arrested him no questions asked and basically sent his life down the toilet. Is he the one that shot my boy? Murdered him because he hated him!" Ryder shouts.
"Sir, Ed Lane was the officer your son kidnapped and.."
"Officer Lane deserved what he got!" Ryder shouts back. "I don't care what else you have to say!"
Detective Ross utters a heavy sigh but lets a very distraught and furious Nicholas Ryder spout off a few more minutes before he finishes his statement about Jeremy being shot and killed by an SRU officer but that he was also implicated in the beating death of Dean Masters and was responsible for the kidnap and assault of Officer Ed Lane.
"Thanks for your time," Ross remarks as he turns to leave, Nicholas Ryder giving them both the finger as they turn and head down his walkway the same night. He slams the door and heads back into his quiet home.
"My boy is dead…" he laments as he heads toward his bedroom and leans in the doorway. He looks at a word his son had painted on his bedroom wall, his mind now dwelling on its fateful meaning. He whispers the word over and over, his mind seething as he pictures Ed's face from the news, one fist pounding into the other.
"He will pay for murdering my boy."
XXXXXXXX
Not really expecting much from his sleep, Ed's tired eyes open the following Sunday morning, his frame still weary and his mind in wonder. He looks over at his wife and slightly frowns, uttering a whispered 'I'm sorry' for his tossing and turning keeping her up all night. He carefully removes himself from the warm nest of covers and slowly heads out of his bedroom, wanting to talk to his son before the day got going and he'd be gone to see Amber to really work on their project.
But when he pushes Clark's door open he sees the room empty and just shakes his head as he turns and goes in search of his son. Ed quietly wanders downstairs and then pauses as he enters the kitchen, hearing some laughter coming from the garage. He makes his way toward the door and slowly pushes it open, watching as his son and Amber work at cleaning the car and garage as best they can.
"She did so say that. And you know Whitney…gosh she's such a skank," Amber groans as her and Clark work at cleaning the blood off the floor by the drivers side of the battered car.
"Why'd she say yes anyways? I thought she hated Michael?"
"He bought her a pair of shoes," Amber giggles. "Yeah talk about having some standards."
"Morning," Ed regrettably interrupts, making both teens look up in haste.
"Oh hey dad," Clark quickly greets as he stands up, Amber quickly following suit.
Not caring about his bare feet getting cold on the cement, Ed heads toward his son to give him a good morning hug. "Morning," he warmly greets his son. "But do you wanna tell me what's goin' on?" Ed asks in wonder, looking at Amber and then back to Clark.
"We are merely following orders dad."
"Orders?" Ed arches his brows. "Both of you?"
"Wordy's," Clark answers in truth.
"Wordy's?" Ed counters as he looks at Amber. "This early? He got both of you up this early?"
"He said he got it from you," Clark huffs.
"Amber?"
"Hey I'm a new recruit and just following orders," she confesses as she holds up her hands and laughs.
"Friends help each other right dad?" Clark asks his father with a knowing smile.
"They sure do," Ed agrees as his eyes start to survey the damage and a frown starts to appear.
"Yeah we um…well we couldn't do much with the car itself," Clark confesses with a heavy sigh. "Sorry."
"Not your fault," Ed puts their minds at ease. "Was time to trade up anyways," he slightly smirks. "Any suggestions?"
"Mini's are cool," Amber suggests, garnering a quick glance from both father and son. "Right…okay maybe not."
"He'd never fit," Clark retorts.
"He'd fit the stereotype of big men in small cars."
"That's fat men in small cars."
"He's not fat."
"I know."
"Hey, I'm still right here," Ed deadpans and both teens smile. "Besides I kinda like this one."
"So um…did you want me to go?"
"No. Clark and I can talk later," Ed replies, forcing his son to look at him in wonder. "Its all good. What else did Wordy say?"
"He said you better rest today or he'll send some porter over to give you a sponge bath," Clark shrugs. "Whatever that means."
"It means my best friend knows how to blackmail me very well," Ed chuckles as he turns and heads into the kitchen. He pulls open the cupboard and then gently curses as he remembers they're out of coffee. "Damn it," he groans as he closes the cupboard and Sophie's face appears. "We need coffee."
"I bought some yesterday," she replies with a smile as she retrieves the bag of freshly ground coffee from her purse still on the table. She looks at him with a frown, pausing before she hands it over. "You look rough."
"And I'm going to take it easy all day," Ed answers with a small groan as he snatches the coffee bag from her fingers. "Or else right?"
"Or else."
XXXXXXXX
"So what do you think your dad wants to talk to you about?"
"I don't know," Clark shrugs as they finish up cleaning as best they can and then sit in the back of the car, the hatch open, facing the street. "Probably about the gun and such. He didn't mention it to mom…at least not in front of me. I don't know, maybe I'm grounded."
"Can you still do the project?"
"Yeah I don't see why not," Clark answers in truth. "But I think schools gonna be very different without Jeremy and Dean…"
"Yeah it'll be better. Gosh I hate to say that because both are dead but it's so true," Amber huffs as she looks away. "Can't believe they are both dead."
"I don't know why Jeremy just couldn't let it go?"
"I guess he learned from his dad," Amber shrugs.
"You met him right? What was he like?"
"A first class dickhead like Jeremy," she frowns. "He was a jerk. Yelling and swearing…hated cops and well law enforcement in general. He had been in jail too you know."
"Yeah I know dad told me right after the arrest. A friend of my dad's who's a beat cop said Jeremy's dad showed up at the precinct and was swearing and yelling and such and then they ran I guess his record and found out about him. I overheard it but um…well I guess you live what you learn right?"
"Yeah but his dad's still alive," Amber ponders. "But at least we won't bug you ever again."
"For that I am glad. Not glad he's dead but…well part of me is but um…I know that sounds harsh but when I saw the picture of my dad it wasn't…well it wasn't real until I was in there and saw Jeremy hitting him. Then I wanted him to die. That's bad right?"
"Kinda natural I would think. I would feel the same way if I saw that happen to my dad," Amber agrees. "I'm just glad he's okay."
"I think he's still hurting from yesterday but he won't admit it," Clark smirks. "He always likes to act tough."
"Now I know where you get it from," Amber teases as she pokes his side.
"I do not," Clark tries to protest in return with a mock pout.
"Oh you do so," she retorts.
Ed listens to the soft laughter coming from the garage and feels his own anxiety start to lessen as he helps Sophie with some breakfast. Amber heads back home for her own breakfast but promises to return in the afternoon so they can work on the project that is due the following day.
After breakfast Ed lets Sophie finish in the kitchen as he goes in search of his son. "You descent?" Ed lightly jokes as he knocks on Clark's bedroom door.
"Of course," Clark smirks in return as he watches his father enter. "Just doing some extra stuff for…you mad at me? Am I grounded?"
"Should you be grounded?"
"Well I went to the library but...I was angry, no excuse right?"
"I was angry too," Ed frowns.
"You okay?"
"Just hurts a bit when I sit down," Ed answers in truth as he bites back the wince.
"So um…what's up?"
"Clark, I just wanna talk to you like…well like we did before that's all. I'm not mad."
"Did you tell mom about the gun?"
"Should I? Will it happen again?"
"No. Dad I'm sorry, I thought it might help."
"Okay I get that but Clark, what might have happened if they had searched you before that and found the gun?"
"It woulda…worked against me," he resigns. "I know...I didn't think."
"I know you thought what you were doing was right but son a gun is only effective in the hands of those that know how to use it properly."
"What about Jeremy? He had one," Clark retorts.
"And he died because of it," Ed insists. "I don't want to have to lock everything up because in the case of a real emergency I might need it in a hurry."
"I'm not gonna go looking for it dad, but um…well I never faced something like this before. And to be honest I never really took what you guys do that seriously. Even the stuff with the kid who's dad you killed and was on the news…we were just met by another officer but to um…well to see the team in action and stuff…was almost unnerving."
"Death and rescue is serious business."
"Why did Sam have to go afterward with those other two cops and the rest of the team didn't?"
"Those were SIU officers and they had to make sure he followed orders and didn't just act recklessly."
"But Jeremy coulda killed you. Is he in trouble?"
"No, Sam's not in trouble," Ed assures his son. "It's just standard procedure. I have had to go with those guys many times. It's never easy but just part of the job."
"I'm not sure I wanna be a cop," Clark states with a downcast expression before he looks back up. "Is that okay?"
"Clark what you want to do with your future is up to you. I hold this job in the highest respect and have the highest regard for the men and women that chose to do this job. But I also respect anyone that takes a job and works at it honestly and gives all they can. Whatever you choose, I know you'll make me proud," Ed concludes with a warm smile, causing his son's face to also break into a relaxed smile.
"So you're not mad at Amber anymore right?"
"I didn't have all the facts and was acting on emotion as well," Ed sighs as he leans back on his son's bed a little. "But throughout all this she told the truth and I respect that. So, how's the project coming?"
Clark starts to tell his father about the rest of his homework, the conversation changing from a tense discussion to light and friendly banter. Ed finally takes his leave, going in search of his wife to discuss getting their son a new phone and them a new family car.
"Hey I thought I got you two helpers for all that," Wordy's voice is heard as he approaches Ed in the garage, the doors open and the SRU team leader half way into his wrecked vehicle.
"You did," Ed pulls out with a strained smile.
"Seriously…you can't hide that wince," Wordy frowns. "Damn it Ed."
"Hold on," Ed states in haste. "They were in here about nine this morning, cleaning stuff up and now I gotta take out our personal things so that…well we'll decide what to do next. You didn't have to you know."
"I know what woulda happened. You woulda woken up and got started on your own, messing your ribs even further and shooing everyone away, telling them all you're fine."
"Wordy…"
"Seriously they should fine you for using the word fine so often."
"Fine," Ed huffs and both chuckle. "But thanks. It was a nice surprise."
"Actually Clark said he had already thought about it on his own so it didn't take too much persuading."
"The porter?" Ed counters.
"My laugh at your expense," Wordy grins. "And you better take it easy tomorrow or else."
"Trust me I'm sure Greg will stick me in the truck for the day," Ed groans.
"Did you hear from that Detective again?"
"No, I got an early morning text from Greg saying that the case was wrapped up and Jeremy was officially named as Dean's killer. Won't do much because both are dead but…damn what a waste."
"How's Clark with…what are you doing?" Wordy asks in haste as he stops Ed from picking up something heavy and hearing his small gasp of pain.
"Working," Ed huffs as he puts down the item and allows his best friend to just lead him over to the nearby work bench and sit down. "Can't you tell?"
"Yeah working on injuring yourself further," Wordy just shakes his head.
"Clark's okay. He and I talked this morning. He was still kinda shaken up and I doubt he'll forget it for awhile. Said he had nightmares as we both suspected might happen but I think we just both learned that we gotta talk more. We talked about the gun and...and I wanted to ground him but part of it was my fault also and I just couldn't. He acted the best way he knew how to in all this. I was proud of him also and yes...yes I told him. Still...I know this will stay with him for bit."
A few seconds of silence starts to grow before Ed looks over at his best friend and frowns.
"What?"
"Stay with all of us for a bit. This one was too close Ed," Wordy admits in truth. "When I saw that picture…and then when we were hearing what Clark heard…seriously it was hard to take at times."
"Sorry," Ed admits softly.
"I know you didn't plan it that way but um…yeah just sayin'…it was too close a call this time, for all of us."
"I know…trust me, I know," Ed sighs as he leans back on the bench and emits a heavy exhale. "I'm sorry Clark had to get involved in all this. How do I control it though?"
"You couldn't," Wordy assures him. "You never would have known that it would have turned out the way it did. And maybe if you did, you might have gotten someone else to…"
"That's just it Wordy and have that guy pissed enough to kill at someone else?"
"Can't take the world on your personal shoulders my friend," Wordy interrupts in haste. "It's not fair to you or your family…or your friends."
"I know," Ed agrees as he leans forward, stifles another small wince and then quickly straightens back up.
"Seriously you keep wincing and I'll really bring that porter over here."
"You do my friend and you'll be the one needing the wheelchair," Ed jokes.
"You think he had videos?" Wordy asks with a small laugh.
"I don't even wanna go there," Ed groans with a chuckle as he looks over at Wordy who makes a funny face. "You are so gonna pay for that."
"Really?" Wordy stands up and assumes a fighting stance. "Show me watacha got tough guy."
"I have a phone and am not afraid to use it."
"Yeah you really think Greg's gonna send in the team on a hot call to your garage?" Wordy smirks.
"Nope I'll call Shelly instead," Ed retorts.
"Ouch," Wordy makes a mock hurt expression. "The man fights dirty."
"All wives can be scary."
"Speaking of which…" Wordy looks at the car and then nods toward the house.
"Don't even go there," Ed replies with a small smile as Wordy sits back down. "Actually we talked about getting…"
The two best friends and SRU team members continue to talk about the Ed's car options; Clark working on his project with Amber and finally father and son sitting down with Sophie to a nice quiet family dinner, trying to put the weekends trying events behind them but not realizing that the danger wasn't completely gone for either of them.
The end…or not? (see below) :D
A/N: Okay so I was gonna end here and come back with a sequel but think I'll just continue this story so there is continuity. And I hope that's okay. If not then I can end here and everyone has a mostly happy ending lol or I can continue and then bring in Jeremy's father for one final revenge scheme to finish the story. Your reviews will tell me what to do for you! Please let me know and thanks so much for reading and reviewing!
PS: Hope all you Ed fans will have checked out my newest Ed centric one shot 'Choices' and thanks!
