Here we are then, good things and bad things (I'm so sorry Dean!)
xXBalorBabeXx, Roman has been through too much for Dean to let his father ruin things now. Unfortunately though, he might not get much of a say in this chapter. Big drama here!
SkittlezLvr79, Oops, no random gunshots and I'm afraid we haven't seen the last of Dean's old man quite yet. Dean might definitely be having more nightmares soon because I'm cruel!
LHisawesome4ever, Yep, guilty as charged, I'm a total tease but hopefully the teasing for this chapter is worth it because there's some serious (and fluffy) stuff going on in here!
Minnie1015, Had to drop in a 'believe that' somewhere, it wouldn't have felt right if I hadn't! Now, as for the characters hurting and being in trouble...well, okay...your wish is my command!
Mandy, I thought it was about time that Papa Reigns show off his big softie side, because he can't be a rough tough businessman all the time! More cute family stuff here too, well, partly!
Sodapop25, Thanks, I hope you like this one, we're really building up towards the end now, so got to have one final crack at the drama whip before we bow out. I hope you enjoy!
Stingerette1975, If you're annoyed about Dean's dad trying to ruin the last chapter, this one might tip you over the edge! As for Papa Reigns, he was always a soft touch, it was just hidden at times!
Wolfgirl2013, I couldn't resist a sequel, I felt there were still a few things I needed to do with these characters, so hopefully once we finish this one, I'll see you there when I post it up!
June3law, Well, they definitely need to something about Dean's father, as you're going to see. The guy just can't leave well enough alone. Glad you're still enjoying the ride!
Skovko, Dean's dad is going to do more than just mess up in this chapter. But I don't want to totally ruin the surprise so I'm going to zip it and let you read...believe that!
Raze Olympus, Yay! Thank you for calling off the riot, that is very generous. Gonna be a bumpy ride for a little while, but I think when this story ends you'll be wearing a smile!
HannonsPen, Well, you might hate Dean's dad even more after this! But you might also love Roman's dad a little more! This chapter is pretty huge so buckle up!
Again, I'm sorry Dean!
Twenty Eight.
By the time Roman stumbles out of the shower and into some hopefully smart-ish looking threads, Dean has already laid out the table and is waiting by the door rocking impatiently on his feet.
Roman chuckles,
"You look like an expectant father."
Dean frowns,
"M' not, m' just excited about tonight."
Roman snorts and then tramples past him lazily before extracting an ice cold beer from the fridge. He twists the cap off and takes a deep gulp of it before smacking his lips in appreciation,
"That's good."
"Roman?"
"What?"
Dean is looking dead at him, seeming even more antsy than he had been before,
"Don't get – like – drunk or anythin' will you?"
"One beer won't get me drunk Dean."
"That's what he always said."
The sentence is mumbled but still causes shockwaves and in an instant nearly everything seems to make sense. Well, not everything, maybe only the antsy part but it's still crystal clear and Roman curses himself.
Damn.
Of course Dean is going to be anxious around drinking when the person he grew up with is an alcohol sodden sham, when booze is almost the sole reason for all his beatings and the bile he has endured.
Roman puts the bottle down.
"Hey, uce, I didn't – ,"
Dean cuts him off again, attempting to move past it,
"What time they gettin' here again?"
He's talking about their guests for the evening, the very non booze-addled Mama and Papa Reigns,
"Uh, any minute," Roman checks his wristwatch and then compares it against their wall clock, "Probably parking up now."
"Right."
Dean nods and then resumes his nervous bouncing and it makes Roman frown,
"What're you twitchy about?"
"I don't know – ,"
"You sure about that brother?"
Dean's shoulders shrug erratically,
"I just – I just really want it to go well."
Roman snorts,
"They're comin' round for pizza dude, not sure it's even possible to screw that shit up."
Dean shakes his head, deflecting the humor and it's clear that Roman just isn't getting what's wrong. Maybe a few months ago he would have had to keep prodding but now Dean offers the burning issue on his own.
Progress.
"It's just – y' know – they always do so much for us, well, me mostly, but like cookin' an' stuff – ,"
Roman sucks a breath in,
"So you want to repay them by giving them a nice night?"
The teen nods at him,
"Yeah."
"Well in that case then," Roman smiles gently, crossing the space and tousling the scruffy locks, "Better go see if you can find the old scrabble board – oh – and watch out for my dad, that crafty codger makes up words."
Dean rolls his eyes but smiles very mildly which is luckily still the case when Roman's parents arrive. They come clutching wine and a big box of chocolates and although he isn't a big fan of alcohol, Dean likes confectionary and sugar just fine although he manages not to dive into the tray like a truffle pig and simply leaves them on the counter before stretching his arms out,
"Take y' coats?"
"Thank you honey," Mama Reigns coos at him, shrugging off her scarf, "What a good host you are."
Dean beams at her and then shuffles to Roman's father before repeating the process with a very proper sounding,
"Sir?"
"Thank you son, that would be very nice."
With the winter garments safely dumped on Roman's king-size the four of them sit down and start shooting the breeze, passing the takeout pizza menu between them as they catch up on what else has been happening in their week.
Timewise it has been six days since the contest which also means six days since Dean's father last came round. Dean doesn't know – Roman hasn't told him – but it's a lingering worry that stays in his mind and also the reason he buys a few cameras to install outside the gym.
It's always better to be prepared.
"Son?" Roman's father questions from the armchair and Roman jolts a little, "Everything alright?"
On the long brown sofa Dean is helping Roman's mother narrow down pizza options.
The big man nods,
"Yep, fine."
In the end – after another half hour of deliberation – they go with two extra-large pizzas to share. Roman makes the call while Dean un-bags salad and adds dressing while Roman's mother helps.
"Not too much honey, oh, throw in those croutons, always nice to have a little bit of crunch."
Roman stands and watches them for a second, touched as always by how well they get along. There's something about the two of them that just seems so natural and simple and effortless. Clearly Dean thinks so too because as Roman's mother moves away with the salad bowl, Dean holds up a pepper and calls after her,
"Hey, mom?"
The second it is over his lips he freezes and so too does the rest of the room.
Nobody speaks and the blood runs clean out of him until his features look white and totally numb. Obviously it's not something he's been meaning to say to her and he thinks she might be mad although he couldn't be more wrong. Roman's mother sucks a quick sob in and then calms herself before replying very simply,
"Yes son?"
Roman has to hand it to his mother in that she deals with it perfectly and settles the growing storm. Just one sentence and Dean is accepted as in totally accepted without being overwhelmed.
"Uh – I – um – you – uh – forgot the pepper."
"Silly me."
She laughs and then waltzes back across, sliding in close and dropping a hand around his waistline before cinching him in and briefly squeezing him.
Mom.
As the tension eases off there is a buzz on the intercom and Roman leans towards it grinning and hits the button,
"Come on up."
Family and food.
Does life get any better?
There's a knock and Dean yells across the room,
"Pizza's here."
Roman snorts and moves over to get it but a blur blitzes past as Dean beats him to the punch, practically alive with happy excitement as he swings wide the door –
Then gasps.
"Wha – no."
His shout is at once both anxious and panicky but by the time Roman gets there it's already too late. Dean's asshole father – and where the hell did he come from – has reached in and pulled the boy flush towards his chest, an arm around his neck pinning Dean tight against him with something clenched firm in his other hand.
Shit.
A knife.
Somewhere behind him, Mama Reigns lets a scream out and the noise explodes around the room. Roman steps forward but the knife finds Dean's windpipe and lays against it in warning,
"You stay where y' are."
Fuck.
It's even worse than he realized.
Dean's father is completely and utterly drunk.
Frankly it's a wonder that the man is still standing but he is and he's got Dean in a tight fisted grip. Dean whose eyes are wild with panic and already starting to quiver with tears.
"Let him go."
Roman's voice is a rumble – like the tremor of an earthquake, all threatening and low – but unfortunately it doesn't seem to work on Dean's father who simply snorts and smirks yellow teeth across the room.
"Nah, don' think so. I told ya I'd come get him, he's my boy y' see – he's my boy."
Roman's fists clench up on furious instinct,
"No he's not. Not anymore. You lost that right when you tied him up and put him in the hospital."
"Shut up, this here is my boy."
The yell is loud and makes them all jolt a bit but it shocks Dean the most and he whimpers as well, making a hiccuping sound that Roman hasn't ever heard from him and never ever wants to hear him make again. The whole room freezes and silence falls around them, broken only by the heartbreaking sound of Dean's breaths which are tearing out of him fast and ragged. His eyes are on Roman's but he doesn't have the answers.
What the hell do they do next?
"M' gonna take your car."
The statement is a mumble which initially means it's pretty hard to make out, but as comprehension dawns, Roman's answer is defiant and delivered with curled fists,
"The hell you are."
Not that Roman gives a shit about his pickup but there is no earthly way he will let it drive away Dean.
The drunken man twitches.
"Gimme your car asshole."
Roman hackles rise and he narrows his eyes,
"Fuck you."
The Samoan is more pissed than he would ever have thought imaginable only – sadly – on that front, he's not the only one. Dean's father is practically god damn incandescent and being refused something he wants is almost more than he can take. The knife edge twitches and Dean winces in response to it, sucking in a hiss that makes Roman's heart seize up.
Crap.
Things are getting increasingly deadly but both men have now come too far to go back. Which is why the sound of a very cheery jingling from somewhere in the background makes them both blink. A set of Mercedes keys flash past Roman's vision and he hears his father's voice both firm and even,
"Take mine."
What?
Roman spins round in unadulterated horror, turning towards his father's unrepentant face.
"Dad – ,"
"It's a black Mercedes, parked up on the corner, I just filled her up so there's a full tank as well."
Dean's father bends and scoops the tossed keys up, smiling in victory though he grumbles as well,
"Don't try to follow us, I'll know it, y' hear me?"
Then he starts dragging Dean back across the threshold, as the teenager's hands scrabble desperately to find a hold, to fight and stop what's going to happen even as he calls out for help,
"Roman – ,"
The yell makes the bigger man move on pure instinct although he finds himself firmly held back by a hand. It's weathered and belongs – without a doubt – to his father who is strong and adamant.
"Let him go son, let him go."
Roman struggles,
"What are you doin' pop? We can't let him take him. We gotta get him out."
Dean's plaintive calls are echoing down the corridor and there's a note like the kid can't figure out why he won't come. Roman struggles harder but his father holds him tightly, cupping his son's face as the elevator doors ping outside.
"Roman, son, we are going to get him, but we can't do anything with that knife at his throat."
"You gave him your car– ,"
Roman's father roughly shakes him, willing him to listen,
"There's a tracker inside."
Yep, I know, Dean's dad is an asshole and for writing him that way, quite possibly so am I, but come on, there has to be a grand finale!
Now Roman just needs to find his little bro, will he?
