Thank you for the comments and reviews for the last chapter always means a lot and I love the passion you all have for these two and this story whenever there is angst. Not easy to write either :( Quicker update,hope you enjoy the chapter :) xx
Deny It All You Want
Chapter 25
Brendan hadn't got chance to speak to Ste like he'd wanted to, he was going to go around and explain or try to, what had occurred Friday night. Instead he'd sobered up and had time to think about things properly. And then he was thinking why should he go around and see Ste, he hadn't done anything wrong.
Flirting was a strong word, he was drunk and having a laugh that's it, period.
He was the one who should be apologising he figured, for not giving him the benefit of the doubt and going round to Danny's house even though he had made it clear he was to stay away.
So in reality they hadn't seen each other for a whole weekend now, the longest they'd ever spent away from each other and deep down they were both struggling. Brendan had called to speak to Steph keeping up the 'business trip' excuse going and when she'd handed it back to Ste he'd been left with a dialtone.
He felt heart broken and had to work hard not to show it in front of Steph. The fights they had had in the early days had been easier than this, then they weren't completely in love, married or a family. Back then they had nothing to lose.
It was half term holidays, so Ste had taken some time off from the restaurant; to look after Steph, and didn't want to bump into Brendan either so it was the perfect excuse. Anne and Simon however felt massively torn in their positions as friends.
Brendan was still crashing at their house, between that and the clubs and Simon was getting worried about him,drinking every night, barely speaking, just relying on auto pilot to get him through the days. Simon had gone to find him when he hadn't got back to the house and sat up with him, keeping Brendan company.
Ste had been talking to Anne, asking how he was and constantly hiding the fact he was devastated in front of Steph, then lying awake at night in tears. He didn't know, but Steph had of course noticed the change in her Dad.
One night she'd heard crying and knew it was Ste; climbing out of bed she grabbed the essentials. Her toy rabbit, the three little pigs book, her dressing gown to keep warm and snugly and lastly a photo she had of her Daddies together from the wedding. When she was satisfied Steph put on her slippers.
She crept over the landing quietly making sure she didn't disturb the sleeping bogie man in the attic, and managed to avoid the squeaky floorboard and opened her Dad's bedroom door slowly. Ste saw it open and lifted his head wiping his eyes quickly he opened up the duvet at the side of him to let Steph climb in beside him.
"Hey you, ya meant to be fast asleep" Ste smiled at Steph looking at her arms full.
"I heard you crying, it's because you miss Daddy isn't it?" Steph struggled with the door, but managed to close it behind her and walked over to the bed.
Ste nodded and sniffed up sighing "I really miss him, but we kind of had a silly fight"
"I know" Steph replied confidentially "I have some things to cheer you up" Steph showed Ste all her items that would help. He grabbed the photo of their wedding day and thumbed over the picture smiling.
"Your Dad looks so handsome here, it was a wonderful day, I wish ya could've been there Steph"
"I have all the photo's, and you both looked lovely that day" Steph hugged on to Ste and he kissed her forehead.
"Show me what else ya have then" Ste asked and she beamed wildly.
"My rabbit, cause you can hug it when you miss Daddy" Steph passed Ste the rabbit and he hugged it straight away making her giggle. "And my Three Little Pigs book"
Ste scrunched his nose up puzzled "Hang on, how is that going to help me?"
"It will make you happy when you read it to me!" Steph handed the book to Ste who shook his head smiling.
"Right, I will read this then bed for you OK?" Ste compromised loving her kindness.
"Ok Dad, I promise" Steph looked at him "Will you please speak to Daddy again?"
"Yes, I promise I will" Ste hugged Steph opened the book and did his best wolf impression ever.
Brendan was sat in the office head leant down on the desk lying on his arms. He was trying to work but getting no where fast, his mind or heart wasn't in it at all. He moved to get up and wandered out of the office door walking to the bar where his bottle of Whiskey from the other night had been left.
He grabbed a glass filling it and carried it outside. He looked over at Ste's restaurant and sighed heavy. Then he looked up in the sky and closed his eyes remembering the planes and the sky writing that had once been there and him proposing to him on this very balcony.
Brendan's heart jumped thinking how happy they'd been and how they'd been so consumed in each other they'd almost lost themselves up against the club wall. He smirked and looked at the drink in his hand. If he was ever to work things out with Ste he'd have to stop finding answers in the bottom of a glass from now on. Simon was climbing up the metal stairs and he smiled at him.
"Morning, how are you today?" Simon came to rest beside Brendan leaning on the balcony sides.
"My head is a little clearer today, I have been an idiot" Brendan noticed Simon's smug grin and how he glanced back at him, he didn't have to say it out loud, his face spelt 'I told you so' all over it. "And there's no need to rub it in" Brendan added.
Simon held his palms up "I'm not doing, I think you're both as bad as each other" He sighed and folded his arms turning to look at Brendan "Seriously, what are you going to do about Kevin? He is the reason all this happened"
"I let my guard down, I noticed him when I shouldn't have, he reminded me of Steven, and that's why I liked him" Brendan hesitated at his words not quite believing they came out of his mouth in the first place,honesty was a hard thing to admit too.
"Be honest, would you have...you know?" Simon asked seriously and Brendan looked at him like he was some kind of monster. The worst kind.
"Never! Brendan gasped and shook his head at the question "I love Steven, just my mind got clouded. Danny though...I need to sort him out"
"I've been told about him, he's not a nice guy by all accounts" Simon thought a moment and added "I'm in, OK?"
"What? You're in what?" Brendan replied incredulous looking at Simon with raised eyebrows.
"Me, you and Warren, all of us will go sort Danny out"
Brendan laughed and Simon looked a little hurt at the way Brendan showed such little faith in him at times. "How can ye help? Ye a soft arse Simon,couldn't hurt a fly!"
"Listen, I'm sick of you always taking the piss out of me, I'll have you know I'd do anything for my family, and you,Steph and Ste are part of my family" Simon seethed close to Brendan's face and prodded at his chest making him lean backwards in utter shock at his outburst.
Holding his hands up and regretting his quick response Brendan felt remorseful "Wow, Simon, I'm sorry. You're my family too, and OK if you want to help, but Anne?"
"Jesus don't be that cruel, she'd kill him!" Simon joked turning to look over the balcony again, he watched as the village began to get busier as people made their way to work.
"Very funny, I meant she'd go nuts at you for helping out, it's not an easy thing"
Simon held his finger at Brendan's chest and prodded again for clarification "Yeh and Ste won't kill you?"
"Touche"
Just then Warren pulled up in his car and got out waving to them both, climbing up the stairs they both looked at him. "Here's the man who sees my husband more than me!" Brendan drawled and Warren rolled his eyes in response."Whatever Brady, get your arse into gear and go make it up then!"
"How can I do that, he wont let me near the house" His arms folded tightly over his large chest, and muscles stretched the material of the shirt around his biceps. Brendan huffed in sadness looking away from Warren.
"Not true and that kind of talk isn't helping." Warren argued Brendan's retort to the max "Look Ste is taking Steph to feed the ducks at the park, get your arse there and don't come back here till you've made up properly"
"Can you babysit then? Brendan tried puppy dog eyes at them but ended up just looking scary and intimidating "Gonna need some serious make up time to...well make up!"
"Do one Brady! Babysit, have ya heard?" He huffed at Simon who laughed slapping Warren on the back they both went into the club leaving Brendan to fish out his car keys and plan on the best grovelling speech he could muster.
Ste was sat on a bench and watching Steph play on the playground. He had his phone in his hand and it was shaking a little, he wanted to contact Brendan but he was scared too, what if he rejected him? He missed him so much it was tearing his heart out. He brought up Brendan's name when a tap on the shoulder roused him. He turned and his face contorted in anger, getting up he moved a distance away from the playground, enough so no one would hear them but within eye shot of Steph.
Ste grabbed hold of the man's arm and squeezed his fingers hard making him whimper. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"I was sent, by Danny" Kevin prised Ste's fingers off him throwing his hand back at him.
"What? So you are working for Danny? Jesus, I might have known!"
"Look, I'm not proud of what I have done, but I needed the money, and he said he'd pay a lot for you" Kevin looked down at his feet feeling a little embarrassed, then looking around them as a way of distraction.
"He's so delusional! I left years ago, and now because of Terry he has a hold on me yet again" Ste answered and paced the same area over and over, glancing at Steph playing on the swings and at the young girl she'd obviously made friends with. Ste smiled watching them, he wished adults could make friends and get along as easy he thought before turning to Kevin again "How did you know I was here?"
Kevin looked back awkwardly and wrung his hands tightly the sweat forming there feeling uncomfortable "I followed you...Wait don't look at me like that! I needed to find and speak to you"
"You are crazy,give me one good reason I shouldn't call the police?"
Ste pointed at Kevin reaching for his phone to dial. Kevin stopped him and continued to explain in the hope Ste would listen.
"He wanted Brendan out of the picture, he hired me because he knew I looked similar to you, it was a set up, I flirted with him, Brendan was too drunk to know what was happening" Kevin took a deep breath and moved backwards seeing Ste's face contort into pure anger, he wondered if he should just cut his losses and run.
Ste grabbed at Kevin's shirt and brought him close so he could keep his voice low but still get the message across "I ought to kick your arse all over this park, but there's kids around so instead I'll have to quietly tell you to FUCK OFF"
"It's not over, he's not going to stop, he wants you back working for him" Kevin responded angling his head away from Ste's warm breath that he could feel over his face.
Ste rested his head in his palms and sighed so heavy he almost cleared out his lungs of air. Kevin placed his hand on Ste's back and gently rubbed there, it was an act of comfort, and perhaps a way of apologising for creating such devastation. They had no idea they were being watched, every movement of mouth, gesture of hand had been scrutinised.
Over in the distance Brendan had seen the meeting as he was on his way to see Ste. Brendan tilted his head watching them together a while before turning to leave the park again. Ste jerked his shoulders and moved away from Kevin. "Don't ever touch me, you tried to ruin my relationship"
"I was hired too! And besides, it's pretty obvious you both love each other, no one has ever done that to me for their partner before" Kevin looked under Ste's face and tilted his chin up to look at him, he nodded and smiled a little.
"You've done this kind of thing before then?" Ste sighed looking at Kevin. He brushed his hand away and relaxed a little then, he wasn't sure why, for all he knew Kevin was still lying and playing him.
"You know I have, and you know what Danny is like, don't you?"
"Yeah, yeah I know. And let me give ya some advice, if I were you, I'd get the hell away from him, as far as bloody possible" Ste spoke walking back into the play area, and gestured for Kevin to come with him. They settled on a bench together Ste watching Steph and thinking he really got himself into surreal moments in his life.
"I'm going to" Kevin carried on their conversation "I have enough money saved to go anywhere I want, look let me help you, we can take Danny down together, I know stuff about him, you do too, we could put him away a long time" He turned to look at Ste and rested his hand on his knee and Ste flinched at the contact moving away and crossing his legs.
"Are ya crazy, he's capable of bad things, I have my family to think of!" Ste answered in shock, as if he, they could take down someone as powerful as Danny. Ste's phone vibrated in his pocked and he fished it out licking his lips and then widening his eyes at the phone screen.
Message from Brendan
Ye know, I should call ye a hypocrite right now.
Message from Steven
What? I don't hear off you for two days, and that's what I get?
Message from Brendan
Why are ye with Kevin?
Message from Steven
What's wrong, you jealous?
Message from Brendan
That's low, get rid of him
Message from Steven
Screw you Brendan
Message from Brendan
Only if ye lucky
Ste stood up and looked around him and around the surrounding area of the park, he looked over to a tree and Brendan edged out from behind it and Ste's heart leapt, he'd never been so happy to see him, his beam gave it away and Kevin looked around to see him too and swallowed standing up next to Ste.
"Why didn't you hit me when you saw me,after the other night's reaction I thought..."
"That kind of over reaction has gotten me into too much trouble recently,I guess I need to calm down and think before reacting sometimes" Ste admitted and realised it was the truth.
"Here, this is my number, I was serious, I want him out of my life too" Kevin walked out of the playground and Ste pocketed the card and watched Brendan approach him. Steph ran up and hugged around his waist tightly.
"Hey you look who's come to say hello" Ste picked up Steph and turned her to look at Brendan. Steph squealed and wriggled out of Ste's hands running ahead to Brendan who launched her in his arms. Ste's tummy flipped and he choked back a sob watching them. He walked out of the play area and up to them, never feeling so nervous in his life.
They stopped in front of each other Brendan holding Steph and her hugging on to him tightly. They couldn't take their eyes off each other, Ste heart beat quickened and he actually blushed, and a nice beetroot colour and Brendan couldn't help but smirk over it, however still trying to act mad at him besides.
"We're going to feed the ducks; do you want to join us?" Ste croaked swallowing and trying to wet his now dried mouth. Ste fidgeted in his bag and took out a bottle of water taking a quick gulp and spilling drops down his face. Brendan moved to stroke the drops away but stopped himself awkwardly moving his hand back and letting Ste wipe his mouth with his backhand.
"Oh yes! Please come with us Daddy?" Brendan turned then,finally broke his stare to look at Steph and smile. "Of course I will, have you got any bread, or are we feeding Daddy Steven to the ducks?" Brendan glanced back at Ste with a smirk and Ste huffed walking ahead of them.
"What's the matter Steven, cat got your tongue?" Brendan snapped at Ste who was so obviously pouting.
"Get lost" Ste replied in a huff, he kicked at a stone a good distance ahead of him as it clattered off some railings.
"Call that a comeback? You're losing your touch" Brendan let Steph down so she could run happily ahead of them.
"You're not losing yours though, certainly had Kevin around ya little finger" Ste snapped back cruelty and felt his arm grabbed by Brendan's strong grip and he pulled Ste up to his body hard. Ste gasped and looked up at Brendan slowly through his long lashes, chest heaving and heart practically bursting out of his chest. The way he always felt being so close to Brendan's body, his presence alone made him tremble.
Brendan moved close to his ear and spoke in a firm tone "Ye know nothing happened"
"Yes, I know, I'm sorry I shouldn't have said that" Ste sighed and pushed Brendan away. He walked again and felt Brendan's hot stare course through his body.
"Why was he here?" Brendan saw Ste stop in front of him then and look down at the ground before glancing back at him.
"He came to tell me it was all a set up, Danny is behind it all,he's trying to split us up"
"Why?" Brendan had moved to stand behind Ste he rested his hand on his shoulder and Ste closed his eyes at his touch, moving his face to the side so he could feel his warm hand on his skin. Brendan moved his fingers to lightly brush his cheek before moving his hand completely.
"A long time ago, I once worked for Danny, and I was his 'best' apparently. He took me under his wing, got me away from Terry and all the beatings. It wasn't my greatest idea, but I was free of Terry so I didn't care" Ste spoke walking further ahead and Brendan walked behind listening to him. They could see Steph skipping along in the distance, stopping every now and then to look around and make sure she could still see them.
"What did ye used to do for him Steven?"
"Delivering packages mostly, I didn't know what was in em, didn't even ask. I took them to other bad guys and collected money." Ste looked back at Brendan and prayed he wouldn't see disgust in his eyes.
"You know what was in them now though, don't you?" Brendan winced as Ste nodded in agreement.
Ste found a bench and sat down so Brendan would join him. "Drugs mostly, however I once mixed up a delivery and I..."
Steph came bounding up to them and interrupted their converse."Come on!Brendan and Steven are hungry!"
They looked up at Steph "What?" Ste asked trying to paint on a false smile for her.
"The ducks!" Steph pointed to the lake and they got up and followed her eventually finding two ducks together on the embankment huddled together.
"Duck Brendan and Duck Steven, see?" Steph jumped up and down giddy "They are soo cute! Can I take them home?"
"No" Both Brendan and Ste spoke at the same time and Brendan smirked looking at the ground, Steph however wasn't in the mood for smiling and pouted, a perfect impression of Ste Brendan realised.
"Oh my goodness, they look in love" Ste smiled and looked back at Brendan "Don't they?"
"Yes Steven, they are obviously completely in love" Brendan moved closer to Ste but Steph placed herself in the way again."Bread Daddy?" Ste rummaged into his bag and gave her the bread they'd bought, she gave them each a piece and they threw it at the ducks.
They fed the ducks a while and Steph was happier than ever cooing over the ducks she'd named after her parents. Brendan moved to sit under a tree on the grass and asked Ste to join him. Ste sat far away from Brendan and watched Steph.
"No matter what's happened in the past, I will always love ye Steven" Brendan spoke jolting Ste from his thoughts and he closed his eyes hearing him.
"It's bad though" Ste whispered and Brendan moved closer to him then. Sat next to Ste and felt his warmth again.
"I am going to help ye, we will sort out Danny, I promise ye"
Ste turned to look at Brendan who was so close their mouths almost touched. "Together, we will do this together, no going in guns blazing, we use out heads in this?"
Their breaths swallowed and Ste wanted to kiss Brendan so badly it ached through his body. Brendan nodded flicking his eyes to Ste's lips "Promise" he whispered tilting his head he moved to bring their lips closer.
"Daddy, look! What are they doing?" Steph folded her arms pointing to Duck Brendan and Duck Steven.
Brendan gasped when Ste turned away and turned to look at Steph instead. "Um...what darling?" Ste swallowed and breathed out again. He looked over to the ducks and smiled nudging back at Brendan.
"Hmm, what do you suppose they're up to Bren?"
Brendan stretched his neck up and laughed but stopped when Steph looked at him in anger."It's OK Stephanie; they're not hurting each other they are..."
"Play fighting" Ste interrupted "It's what two ducks in love do, nothing to worry about"
"OK, they like to play fight a lot though!"
"Don't blame em, that Steven duck looks delicious" Brendan winked at Ste and walked on ahead in front of Ste holding Steph's hand. Ste looked back at them and chuckled he ran to catch up with them.
They'd all agreed to meet at the restaurant, while the kids were all at school. Ste and Simon had closed early after the lunch time rush, and Brendan and Warren had done the same with the club.
Ste was in the kitchen making some sandwiches for them when Brendan leaned up in the doorway watching him, silent and he'd thought Ste hadn't noticed he was there, being as quietly ninja as he'd been.
He was wrong though Ste had felt his presence immediately, that and his aftershave. After all the years they'd known each other, Brendan had always doused himself in too much, it was a long standing joke between them now, in reality Brendan couldn't sneak up on anyone. Ste still didn't let on though,liked him staring at him, he felt the heat crawl up his body and it made him aroused.
It had been a long time since they'd even touched each other and he craved Brendan more than ever, thought about forgetting the sandwiches and everyone in the restaurant and screwing Brendan on the kitchen top, floor, cooker every place they could. Ste held his breath and Brendan realised Ste knew he was stood there now. He straightened out and moved closer before clearing his throat.
You wouldn't have known they'd been married nearly eight years the way they were now acting like they'd barely knew one another, couldn't feel any more nervous. It excited Brendan though, reminded him of those early days he's wanted him so badly, but their arguments had taken up most of their time back then. He'd never been so attracted to Ste right at this moment; his breath quivered the closer proximity he got to him.
Ste felt it the electric spark they created and turned around to look up at Brendan who was close enough to kiss him if he'd wanted too. Ste gazed through his long eyelashes at him, knowing it drove Brendan crazy and lifted the plate of sandwiches towards him.
"Can you take these through to everyone, please?" Ste trembled and swallowed deeply passing him the mountain of butties he'd made.
Brendan hummed grabbing the plate and stroking his fingers along Ste's skin, goose bumps spread over his body and he hitched a breath "Sure I can do that"
Brendan turned to walk out of the kitchen and Ste followed with some drinks "How have you been?"
"How do ye think I've been? Living half a life, that's how I've been" Brendan almost snapped back with his answer but he hadn't meant to though, he was just struggling with their stupid situation.
"Sorry, I miss you too you know" Ste replied and he really meant it, it killed him to not be with Brendan. They had to cut short their talk as they moved to sit down placing the food and beverages on the two tables they were using. There was a knock at the door and Ste stood up to answer it, when Kevin walked in there was a collective gasp and Ste felt his heart sink seeing Brendan's shocked face.
"What the hell is HE doing here?" Brendan stood up in anger and moved to close in on Kevin before Ste stopped him pressing his hands on his chest and his eyes connected with Ste's then, like no one else existed.
"I called him" Ste explained "He's going to help us with Danny; he knows what he is like and has some information to help us nail him to the wall."
"I'm not surprised he has, likes to play dirty our Kevin here" Brendan practically spat in his direction moving back from Ste's hands and sitting down. Ste gestured for Kevin to sit and Ste perched next to Anne for safety in a friendly solace. He didn't keep his eyes of Brendan the whole time, their undeniable tension helped warm the whole restaurant up.
"Right then!" Simon broke the atmosphere and looked at Ste "What's the plan?"
"I'm going to work for Danny" Ste replied "Well, at least he will think that"
"Yeah, then the police are going to turn up and arrest him for drugs possession" Kevin added nervously grabbing a sandwich and nibbling on the corner of it. "He has a room, a stash of them in the house, guns, money"
"Wow, Kevin really is good at this screwing over malarkey huh?" Brendan interrupted scoffing drinking his brew down; he found it hard to swallow, much like the situation they were in.
"Yes, thank you Brendan" Simon laughed nervously placing a heavy hand on his shoulder "So,you have seen this room, it's definitely there?"
Kevin nodded in agreement and hummed "Yep, he uses it a lot, only he and Trevor has a key to the room though"
"I'm gonna get Trevor to help us" Ste thought out loud "Reckon he'd be interested in being in charge of the empire as it were" he turned to Kevin who smiled and nodded back at him.
"Ye both have got it all figured out then, don't even know why you needed us here" Brendan drawled with a poisonous tongue and Ste shot him a look of spite then. He stood up and gestured his hands in the air
"You know what Bren, I am fucking sorry OK? I made a mistake and over reacted, but I'M the one who Danny wants, so yeah, I don't need you here. Go back to your precious club or something" Ste walked back into the kitchen and threw the pans around in anger, the noise deafened him but he didn't care, he was so angry with himself.
"I should leave" Kevin sighed and stood up
"Yeah ye should!" Brendan shouted and Warren moved to stand next to Kevin."Look, we appreciate your help, but I think it would be best if you didn't come back here again" Kevin nodded in agreement adding if Ste needed him to testify to let him know and he'd be there. Warren opened the door and let Kevin leave, then gestured to Anne, and Simon to follow him out.
Anne stayed a moment and looked at Brendan who was worked up."Go and speak to him, he needs you, now more than ever" Anne held Brendan's hand and kissed him on the cheek leaving them too it, the restaurant door closed too.
Brendan moved and sat down at the fish tank in the restaurant, knowing Alan would always be able to calm his mood down, and he wasn't wrong. The little fish who had now recovered from her 'chicken pox' swam out to greet him. Alan swished it's tail around as it circled itself till Brendan was smirking watching, he felt lighter already. And was shocked to see Ste stood there watching him when he'd finally looked up.
"Great minds think alike then" Ste spoke pulling up a chair beside him to look in the tank too.
"Hmm,thick ones seldom differ though"
Ste rolled is eyes then "Shouldn't be so hard on yourself,not your fault you're thick init?" Ste smirked and glanced at Brendan "I always do this when I'm feeling low or stressed, just watch that darned fish, and I always feel better"
"Well, she is magic ye know" Brendan answered honestly and they both chuckled.
"Yeah, she is" Ste turned to face Brendan "What can I do to make things right?"
Brendan sighed "I don't know Steven, this whole situation is crazy"
"You want us to properly split up don't you?" Ste began to shake like he was sitting inside a freezer,even though the heating was on full blast.
"No, I don't want that. Ye said we should take a break, so we did" Brendan turned to look at Ste for the first time then, Alan was still swimming at the front of the tank watching them talk. "I can't believe ye said that to me"
"I did what I thought was right at the time"
Brendan let out a strangled sigh"Let's sort Danny out, and when it's over we can talk about us again"
"You still going to help me? After what I did?"
"We are both as bad as each other, Simon said that, and he's so right it pisses me off" Brendan smirked and looked back at Alan."This fish is spooky, she always helps us out, ye notice that?"
"I have noticed, think it was fate we all met back then, Alan saw us all coming a mile off"
Ste stood up when Brendan moved to leave again.
"You want to pick Steph up from school tomorrow? She misses you being around" Ste walked up close to Brendan's back and whispered "I miss you more"
Brendan closed his eyes and sighed heavy "I will be there Steven, and drop her off at the house." He walked to the door and opened it looking back at Ste "I miss ye too Steven" The door closed and Ste was left colder than ever.
Ste rode round to Danny's again and as usual the gates opened for him and he parked up. Soon as the door had opened he kicked it hard and Trevor fell backwards when the door caught him in the face. He sprawled out on the floor in disbelief looking up at Ste. He pointed to one of the rooms "Danny in there?" And Trevor nodded getting up to his feet and grabbing Ste by the arm hard.
"Get off me" Ste growled looking back at him and yanked his arm free walking to the door and shoving both doors open. They slammed back on the walls and Danny turned around quickly. He was stood at the drinks cabinet pouring a drink."Ah Ste, want a drink?"
"Screw the niceties, give me the package and address and let's get this over with" Ste demanded holding his hand out.
"What no chit chat? Shame, thought we could catch up" Danny smirked taking a drink Ste was up on him quicker than he'd expected throwing Danny against the wall.
"I know you set Brendan up, piece of scum"
"Says you who believed it all!" Danny smirked in Ste's face "It was too easy, you obviously don't have any trust in your marriage at all" Ste winced and loosened his hold of Danny who took advantage kicking under his feet and making him fall on his knees.
"You, I hate you. It didn't work, nothing will ever break us"
"Besides your uncontrollable jealousy of course?" Danny threw a brown parcel at Ste's knees. "Here, take that to this address, and bring back what you're given"
Ste trembled as his fingers traced over the package; he grabbed it placing it in his jacket and stood up to his feet. As he was walking out Danny spoke again."He know you're here?"
Ste closed his eyes and left the room leaving Danny smirking to himself. There was a loud thud outside the door and Danny gulped down his drink with a slight choke. Placing his glass down he moved to leave the room as he reached the doorway a fist came at him knocking him backwards and falling over the leather chair in the lounge. Brendan walked in with Warren and Simon behind him holding Trevor with his arm up behind his back.
Simon threw him down on the chair and dared him to move, but he didn't just held his hands up and glanced at Danny trying to get back up again. Ste walked back in and stood next to Brendan linking their hands together they stood looking at him.
"Well, well well, this is cosy, I'd have baked a cake if I'd known you were coming"
"Debts cleared Daniel" Brendan spoke and nodded to him "Am I making myself clear?"
Danny laughed and pointed at them both. "He told you yet? What he did for me all those years ago?"
Ste let go of Brendan's hand and moved forward a little "Danny, leave it OK,I have told him yes" Ste trembled and wrapped his arms around his body. "I'm not doing any more jobs for you, I can't, I have a family"
"You told him everything Steven?"
"Don't, please"
Brendan moved and held Ste's waist "I don't care what he did for ye, it's in the past"
"Even if he took a life? That be enough for you to care?"
"NO!" Ste cried and turned to look at Brendan whose shocked expression devastated Ste. Both Simon and Warren were speechless and looked at each other not knowing what to do.
"I am going to testify against you, me and others you have screwed over all these years" Ste walked over to Danny "I won't be intimidated any more, and you know I have shit on you that will put you away for good, don't you?" Danny laughed then, he knew he did but didn't believe a word of it.
Ste turned to Trevor "You, help us, I know you will have stuff on him too, we all stick together and we can rid the world of this scum"
Danny moved closer to Ste and Warren intervened as Brendan was still in shock and hadn't moved. "Hey, back off, you take us all on yeah?"
"Trevor, sort them out will you, I have a headache coming on"
Trevor stood up and Simon launched at him again "I won't listen to your demands any more boss" Trevor spoke and Simon released his hold. "Ste is right, I will gain much more taking over your businesses when you go to prison" Trevor smiled and looked at Ste holding his hand out, they shook on it, and Danny seethed grabbing Ste tightly around the collar.
"I will kill you!"
Then everything was a blur, Ste felt himself fall backwards and hit the back of the cabinet with his head and blacked out instantly.
Brendan smiled as Steph came bounding out of school over to him, he instantly lifted her up and onto his shoulders, walking out of the front gate she wafted a piece of paper in front of him and he grabbed it and looked at the picture she had drawn. It was the park, trees and a lake. Two ducks swam in it and feeding the ducks were himself, Ste and Steph all holding hands. It made him smile to look at it, and he squeezed her legs telling her it was his fave picture she'd drawn just like he always told her when she drew one.
Steph giggled and held onto his neck until they had reached the car and she climbed into the back and he fastened her in with the seat belt. They drove a while and Brendan turned on the radio and Cheryl Cole blasted out and he looked at the radio for a moment before watching the road again. As he was about to switch it off Steph began to sing, she knew all the words, of course she did, Ste had played her all the songs,they both knew the words. Brendan's heart sank a little and he glanced through the rear view mirror watching Steph singing away and couldn't help smiling.
Brendan pulled up to the house and got out of the car and heldSteph's hand walking her up to the front door he knocked on it. Eventually Ste answered and Steph gave him a big hug and ran into the house leaving Brendan and Ste stood their in an awkward silence. It had been another month since the altercation at Danny's house and they'd still not managed to reconcile. Instead managing to work around their separate lives with Steph alternating school runs and time spent with her.
Brendan had left Danny's home first that day in a world of his own, watching as the police descended on Danny's home and took him away in handcuffs swearing blind he'd seek revenge. The ambulance had pulled up at the same time and Ste had been stretched unconscious out of the house, Brendan looking at him as his heart shattered. Simon and Warren drove behind them in the ambulance, Brendan sat next to Ste and remembered the last time it was like this, Ste vulnerable and hurt while Brendan sat on and watched helpless.
Ste had been shoved by Danny and his head had cracked on the corner of the cabinet, Brendan was on him in seconds punching him in the face, Warren had had to physically drag him off a then bloodied Danny, in fear that Brendan wouldn't have stopped. He rushed to be with Ste stroking over his face gently, and Simon had already called the ambulance when Ste had failed to wake up. Brendan held Ste's had in the back of the ambulance and waited around until he'd been settled into a ward.
Ste was still asleep when Brendan sat next to him, and held over his hand with the drip in it,his thumb lightly stroked around it and he brought up his hand and kissed him.
"Anne is looking after Steph" Brendan told Ste while nurses pottered around the ward. "And ye need to stop ending up in hospital eh?"
He looked up at Ste watched his chest rise and fall."What did ye do Steven? I need ye to tell me, so we can move on, put this behind us" Brendan sighed resting his head down and closed his eyes. He was woken by fingers moving through his hair gently. His eyes flickered open and he saw Ste looking down at him with complete love in his eyes, he smiled and Brendan's heart lost a beat moving up Brendan kissed over Ste's hand when he caressed his cheek.
"Hey" Ste smiled not taking his eyes off Brendan
"Hey baby" Brendan moved up and kissed Ste on the forehead "How's the head?"
"Hmm, banging, a little sore too, but I'll live" Ste smiled again then asked "Where's Steph?"
"Anne has her, I will get her to bring her in now you're awake, I didn't want to scare her, you being unconscious"
"No, you did right; I didn't think you would be here" Ste let out a shaky breath watching Brendan straighten up uncomfortably.
"I have to admit, I need answers Ste, but when he hurt ye, I could've..."
"I know, I feel the same when i defend you, which is at the worst possible moments. I have to apologise, I completely over reacted, again" Ste shook his head, cursing his stupidity."Why the hell you still put up with me I'll never know"
Brendan laughed then and sat on the side of the bed "After all these years you still have to ask?" Ste looked into Brendan's eyes and lifted his hand to his cheek palming over it he tried to move Brendan towards him.
"It's been so long...Kiss me" Ste pleaded and Brendan moved closer to Ste opening his mouth. A doctor came in and interrupted them and Brendan moved back quickly jumping off the bed.
"I'll leave ye to rest, I'll bring Steph with me later"
"Brendan...don't go" Ste was gutted the doctor had come in at such an important moment between them, his body ached for Brendan.
"Ye need to rest, see ye later" Brendan left then and Ste shook his head and punched his fist into the mattress.
Back on the doorstep they could barely string two words together, Ste had been discharged and gone straight home, and they'd never had chance to make up Ste busy recovering and Brendan working full time. Ste was better now and had started back at the restaurant; they'd carried on trying to paper over the cracks with ignorance and throwing themselves into work.
Brendan smiled then turned to leave, he'd made it half way down the path when Ste spoke "Baby, I miss you so much"
Brendan sighed and practically sobbed hearing the pained words, he looked at the ground "Ye think I don't miss ye too? I feel like my heart has been ripped out here"
"Can we sort this out, please?" Ste trembled as he spoke and Brendan turned to answer when Steph appeared hugging Ste holding her arms up. Ste choked out a laugh and lifted her up,a tear rolled down his cheek watching Brendan turn to look back.
"I have to get back to the club" Brendan thumbed behind him to the car and Ste nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, course you do" Ste moved back into the house and Steph waved to Brendan as Ste closed the front door. Brendan threw out a pained sigh and walked back to the car slamming his hands on the steering wheel.
Please review :) xx