Chapter 14 – Twelve Black Rainbows
Standing in the kitchen of his filthy home, Vegeta still couldn't believe what was happening.
The two police officers, their faces wearing obvious distaste at their surroundings, had just informed Vegeta that the Mao's were pressing charges.
Swallowing the lump in his throat, Vegeta asked them, not really wanting to hear the answer, what happened now.
"Well," the more senior of the officers said with a frown "It could mean something as simple as a good behaviour bond and a fine. Or it could mean..." here he trailed of looking at Vegeta with pity.
Vegeta, suddenly feeling unreasonably angry, managed to grate out "Just tell me god-damn you."
"Look," the copper said, with a heavy sigh, "I won't lie to you... It could very well mean time in Juvenile Detention."
Vegeta felt the world drop out from underneath him. Jail! I can't be! He thought with despair. How on earth would he survive this?!
Vegeta sat down at the table heavily, and put his face in his hands. Tarble standing beside him, put a hand, gently, on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry... I'm so,so sorry..." he whispered, on the verge of tears. Vegeta looked up at him, his face ashen.
The four males were the only ones in the apartment, Vegeta's father, thankfully, having left earlier on one of his rare excursions out of the house.
It was only to buy more beer, Vegeta was sure, but he was still glad for his fathers absence.
A sullen silence fell over the room, broken only by the dripping of the sink.
Finally one of the police spoke. "You'll have to come to the station with us, you understand, for questioning. It's procedure, you should know, to have a parent or guardian present, as you're still a minor."
Vegeta's head snapped up at this. "No, no that's not a good idea. I can manage it. I am nearly seventeen after all." He desperately wanted to keep this from his father, if possible.
"I don't think that'll work, son..." the older of the two officers said, gently. "The courts wouldn't accept it. At the very least a social worker will be assigned to you. For this and for other obvious reasons..." he finished, looking around their hovel of a home with a expression of thinly veiled disgust.
Vegeta looked at the coppers in shock. No, they didn't want that! That was the last thing he or Tarble needed in their lives. A meddling do-gooder who would only cause them trouble. The first and foremost being that it would send their father berserk!
"No," Vegeta said, firmly. "No, social workers. We can handle this on our own. We've done so in the past."
The older cop looked at him in wonder, spreading his hands helplessly saying "We'll, it's not really up to you, kiddo. The courts will decide the proper course of action. Or we could take it up with your father..."
Vegeta blanched at this. His father! He would be due home soon.
It was the last thing Vegeta wanted, for his father to come home while the police were still here, because he couldn't trust how he would behave.
He could imagine Vegeta Snr.'s reaction to the news one of his boys was in trouble again. The last time he had nearly chocked Vegeta into unconsciousness, until Tarble had pulled him off.
"Look," he said briskly to the police, "Isn't there any way we can settle this with the Mao's and not get the authorities involved?" He wasn't hopeful of this, but it was worth a shot.
The older, more senior cop shook his head. "It's not very likely as they're mad as hell, and want to press charges. Plus," he added folding his arms in front of his chest "It's not the first time your brother's done something like this."
Vegeta felt a surge of anger at the officer's tone, but it was quickly doused with the realisation the he was right, after all. It wasn't the first time Tarble had stolen something.
Vegeta looked helplessly at his brother, having run out of idea's that might spare them further complications.
Tarble look back at him bleakly. His usual belief that his elder brother could save him finally extinguished. He looked as if he was going to faint.
"It's time to go, lad." the police said. They held out a pair of cuffs.
Vegeta bristled instantly. "No, don't do that to him... Please." he begged, mindful of the gawking crowd who was assembled outside their home.
If he couldn't save his brother from his fate, he could at least try to save him the indignity of being handcuffed.
Looking at him, considering, the officer finally nodded putting his cuffs away before saying, "Only if he promises to behave."
Tarble nodded, then he turned to look at his brother, eyes swimming with tears. "I'm sorry 'Geta..." he whispered. Vegeta returned his look, heart breaking.
"It's okay Tarble... I know you didn't mean to..."
Tarble hugged him, starting to cry. Vegeta, feeling helpless beyond compare, patted him on the head gently, which started his brother's crying in earnest.
The police then separated them, taking Tarble by his arms.
Vegeta looked at his brother, and at imaging his little sibling in jail, his mind's eye unwillingly clothed him in one of those old-fashioned prison garbs, the ones with black and white stripes.
Seeing Tarble, in his imagination, dressed in those twelve black rainbows, nearly destroyed Vegeta.
How could I let this happen! His mind screamed at him, I'm supposed to protect him, be a role model for him!
Vegeta knew, in his soul, that he had failed his brother in those two respects, something which now caused him much anguish and despair.
He reached out for Tarble, as the police led him away, out the front door and through the milling crowd, his voice frozen in his throat.
The door closed after them, and they were gone.
Vegeta sank back down into his chair, in the now empty apartment, feeling just as empty inside.
There was nothing he could do, he realised, nothing to be done now, except to wait for his father to come home from the bottle shop.
And wouldn't THAT be something, his mind suddenly reminding him, to have to be the one to break the news of Tarble's apprehension.
He suddenly felt very afraid, of his father's reaction to such information, knowing full well how badly he would take it.
He hoped, so fiercely it hurt, that his father was in a good mood today. His Dad's moods meant the difference between a bruise and a broken bone.
The sound of the front door opening roused Vegeta from his thoughts.
As his Father entered the apartment, arms full of beer slabs, he braced him self for what was to come.