Scene 5 - Foss and Declan
Foss was driving in Declan's truck, as Declan sat on the passenger's seat quietly.
Declan was thinking about everything that had happened today, especially the gun fight. For the first time, he realised the danger he could get into while protecting Kyle. But also for the first time, he felt a rush he hadn't felt since his basketball career ended. But as much as he knew why Foss was risking his life everyday protecting Kyle and Jessi, he didn't understand why. So he asked just that, "Why?"
Foss had taken a liking to the kid, he had proven himself quite well today, under the pressure. So he started to be more patient with him. "Why what?"
"Why do you choose to spend your whole life protecting Kyle and Jessi? I saw your place, everything you have has something to do with Kyle, other than that picture of your family. I am sorry by the way."
"That's ok, it was a long time ago." Foss said calmly, trying to hide his grief, and guilt.
"I guess I am asking why protecting them is so important to you."
Foss took a moment before answering his question, he could tell Declan is trying to understand his job, and is considering to take this more seriously than just tagging around. He was glad he asked.
"Because they will be worth it, they are already worth it. Like Adam Baylin used to say, Kyle will touch the world. He didn't know about Jessi back then, but I can see how important Jessi is to Kyle, and how powerful the pair of them can be when they work together. The two of them, they will change the world, for the better. I am doing this because I believe that, they are worth it for me to give my life for." Foss said firmly.
Declan nodded slowly, and asked, "What about the isolation? Do you have to live alone? Can't you have a life while protecting Kyle and Jessi?"
"Maybe," Foss said sadly, not really wanting to talk about it, but he knew Declan needs an answer, so he gave him a brief one, still not ready to talk about his family. "I guess I am still grieving for the family I have lost, I chose to stay focused on Adam and Kyle, now Kyle and Jessi."
Declan looked at Foss sympathetically, knowing he didn't want to talk about his family, "I am sorry for your loss."
Foss give him a half smile, "Don't worry about it kid, like I said, it was a long time ago."
After a ten minutes silence, Declan suddenly said, "Train me."
"What?" Foss asked knowing full well what the kid was talking about.
"Kyle is my best friend, like you I too believe they will change the world to a better place. For the first time I felt like I am doing something worthwhile since my basketball career ended. From the look of the situation, you are going to need all the help you can get, and I want to be more useful to you next time. I know you don't think much of me, but…"
Foss cut in before he could carry on. "I am going to stop you there, kid. You have proven yourself to me today, you handled yourself really well for someone who had never been in a firefight before. But the training will be hard, it will take commitment. And as you can see from today, we are not exactly on the right side of the law. Are you sure you are ready to commit yourself to all this?"
Declan thought about it and said firmly. "Yes, it's not like I have anything else going on in my life. This is important, they are important. I am willing to do whatever it takes to protect them, I am ready to learn. Besides, with my basketball scholarship gone, I will be free from school after next year. I can spend more time to train."
Foss thought about it and nodded. "Very well, you asked for it."
"Thank you, I won't let you down." Declan replied.
"You won't be thanking me when we start training." Foss said with a smirk. "But you still have to convince Kyle and Jessi. Kyle will be reluctant to put you in danger, and like me, they won't like the idea of you giving up on college for them."
"You still want me to go to college?" Declan asked, couldn't think of a reason why he should.
"Just because I don't have a life, doesn't mean you shouldn't have one either. If you don't know what to study, just think of the courses that will help you watch over Kyle, such as communications, police procedures. Plus I know Kyle wanted to live as much of a normal life as possible, so I am pretty sure he is going to college. It's easier to explain why Declan is following around Kyle all the time if you are a student, unless you want to get a cover job as a janitor at the college."
Foss's last line did the trick, he had convinced Declan, "Ok I will think about it, I need to get my grades up first though."
Foss smirked, "That's you first step to show how committed you are to Kyle."
A few minutes later, they stopped outside Foss's warehouse.
And they went inside.