It was a long ride for CJ. It took him twenty minutes to finally get back to Madd Dogg's mansion. The rain had finally stopped, and it was now 12:10 AM. Madd Dogg had fallen asleep in one of his bedrooms, as were the two Britains, and CJ was lounging back in the sound studio talking to someone on the cellphone.
"I don't care 'how', I care 'when'," CJ answered on the cellphone. "As in 'now'. You hear me?"
Just then, a hand grabbed the phone from behind. "Hey, man, what the– ?" CJ cried angrily as he rose out of his seat and turned to who took the cellphone from him from behind.
He turned to see Mike Toreno staring at him stoically as he set the phone onto the counter and leaned against the sound equipment system.
"Hello, boss man," Toreno said nonchalantly. "Taking care of business, I see."
"Toreno, fuck you," CJ snapped. "I almost lost my life out there for you, and right when I really needed your help, you hung up on me!"
"Hey, I wasn't going to get shredded along with you," Toreno replied dispassionately. "Alright, enough querulous conversations and more listening. I've just got one tiny little thing for you to do, then I'm out of your life forever."
"Ah what is it this time, Toreno?" CJ asked glaring at him. "You gonna have me hijack a moving rocket through the stars? Or have me fly up in space to blow up the moon with a stick of dynamite?! You know, anything that can kill me?! Some shit like that?!"
Toreno just laughed "Come on, Carl," he told CJ. "Don't you know missions like that are impractical? Does the sentence "tiny little thing" mean anything to you? Don't be ridiculous, OK? Hey, I got a little surprise for you here. You ready for this? Huh? Answer it."
He pointed at the cellphone sitting on the counter, which suddenly rang. CJ stared at the phone for several seconds and finally picked it up to answer it
"Hello?" CJ answered.
"Carl, it's me, Sweet," he heard Sweet answer all of a sudden.
CJ was so excited to hear his brother again that his expression quickly altered from peeved to ecstatic. "Aw, Sweet!" CJ said sinking back onto his chair, determined to finally pick up his brother.
"I don't know what happened," Sweet replied. "They just released me. No idea what's going on, but I'm in the square outside the precinct in Commerce."
"Alright you hold tight," CJ told his brother. "I'll be right there."
"Alright," Sweet said.
So CJ hung up and hopped out of his seat to face Toreno.
"So, what was that little job you was talking about, Toreno?
"I just want you to go pick up your brother," Toreno answered. "Get out of here."
"Okay," CJ said.
He started to leave, but Toreno stopped him. "Oh, one last thing, Carl," he added. "If you're wondering why Sweet's still alive, I was the one who called Tenpenny after our little discussion of when I had you sent over the desert to protect the Leviathan that time. I left Tenpenny an anonymous message, telling him that if Sweet were to even have a single facial hair touched on him by him or anyone else in that cell, I will sic the FBI on him to shred the asshole to pieces."
"For real?!" CJ asked.
Toreno nodded. "It's like I said, kid, I need him alive just as much as you do. I told you I would get your brother out of jail, and I stuck with that promise. Also, there's just one question I have to ask you, CJ?"
"Yeah?" CJ asked. "And what's that?"
"Have you come across anyone else in the rehabilitation clinic back over in Las Venturas?" Toreno asked.
"Wait!" CJ cried out. "There was someone else there too? Who?"
"You are familiar with water, are you, Carl?" Toreno asked.
The sheer mention of the word was enough to brighten CJ's mood. He knew exactly what Toreno meant by that. "Ryder!" he cried out all of a sudden. "He there too?!"
"WAS there," Toreno corrected. "I found out his health was exacerbating due to the effects that PCP had on him even after he quit. So I sent a team of paramedics to send him to rehab. He's been out months ago, so he's now a clean, lean, dangerous machine."
"Well you know where he at now?" CJ asked.
"Beats me," Toreno shrugged. "He could be anywhere by now. You know how unpredictable the guy is. You grew up with him. You should know that."
"Ah shit!" CJ muttered.
"Hey," Toreno told him. "I'm sure you'll be able to find him around eventually. But right now, go pick up your brother."
"Okay," CJ said silently. "Yo, Toreno, despite everything I said, I just wanted to thank you. You put me through all that hell so many times and made it all worth it."
"My pleasure, Carl," Toreno told him. "You've really come a long way since I first met you. You got heart, Carl. I can respect that in you."
"Well thanks," CJ replied.
"Now move along, CJ," Toreno told him. "You wouldn't want to keep your brother waiting outside the precinct."
So CJ complied and left the room. He was very grateful and was very glad he decided to keep his patience with Toreno this time. He may have nearly gotten torn to pieces doing Toreno's jobs, but he couldn't be more thankful to Toreno for keeping his promise, especially since he was already betrayed by one of his childhood friends.
CJ felt his heart beating in excitement. After he finally got his brother out of jail, he could finally get him out of the hood and move up into the mansion right before searching for Big Smoke to get back at him.
As soon as he walked outside, he hopped into a black Washington outside and drove out of the driveway. As he made it onto the road, he rode down the hill and made his way through Temple and Market, where he made a quick left turn on Perishing Square.
He then made a right turn on Commerce and parked his vehicle in front of the precinct. CJ hopped out of the vehicle and walked up to the building, where he took a rest onto the steps. The nocturnal sky was a mix of purple and gray. The wind was silent and smooth. It was a quiet night surprisingly enough. He waited for about fifty seconds until he heard footsteps approaching him.
CJ turned to see that Sweet was fresh out of prison carrying a briefcase. The latter approached the former as he walked down the steps.
"What's up, bro?" Sweet said giving CJ a high five.
"Hey, what's up, man?" CJ said hopping onto his feet and giving Sweet a man hug.
He had never been happier to see his brother's face. He was so excited to tell him about his new life. About how Lisa came back to see the family again. About how he earned so much money with his new business empires.
"How you doin', bro?' Sweet asked.
"I'm alright," CJ told him. "But I thought you were gonna be there for life, bro. What happened?"
"It's hard to explain," Sweet replied scratching the back of his neck. "This guy who approached my cell showed me some paper about some judicial review of cases and shit, and if I sign it, I won't be sued for the damages the Ballas were the ones caused and I would be out if this joint for good. So I signed that shit and they let me out – just like that!"
"For reals?" CJ asked.
"Hell yeah!" Sweet replied. "I couldn't be happier to get another chance."
Aw Toreno, CJ thought grinning. You helpful bastard.
"So I heard you were working to bail me out of here after all these weeks," Sweet said. "What you been up to?"
This was the perfect time for CJ to tell Sweet about everything. He was so excited to let Sweet in on the good news. "Hey, man," he started to tell him, "we off to our new spot!"
"New spot?" Sweet asked. "What you talking about?"
"Well," CJ started to say, "First of all, me and Ryder were put in exile, and we capped Smoke's men carrying his yay. We also got a a mansion, Sweet! We been putting in work, and shit is going well. We got a stake in a casino, we got some insane shit in Fierro, we're getting into the rap game!"
CJ started walking confidently down the steps. "Hey man, let me get you some new clothes, c'mon!" he told Sweet turning to him.
"New clothes?" Sweet asked.
CJ was so excited to get back into Madd Dogg's mansion, so excited to show him each empire in San Fierro and Las Venturas, so excited to show him Lisa's return, that he barely gave time to really see Sweet's full reaction. To CJ's surprise, he turned to see Sweet slam his briefcase on the ground.
"Nigga, what the fuck is this bullshit?!" Sweet snapped looking very sullen all of a sudden.
CJ was visibly shocked by Sweet's reaction. What was wrong with Sweet? Wasn't he happy for his brother for bailing him out of prison after two months? Why was he all of a sudden so upset?
"What you mean, man?" CJ asked him. "What's mine is yours, and you know that."
"You never did get it, did you, Carl?!" Sweet snarled looking far angrier than usual. "I need to check on things in the hood! Man, that's the problem! You always a perpetrator, running from what's real!"
CJ then glared at his brother and looked at him sideways. After everything CJ went through to break Sweet out of jail, where did Sweet gain the temerity to call CJ a perpetrator?! CJ was so steamed over that mere sentence that he was ready to fight his brother. But he abruptly held himself together, since Sweet wasn't there to witness all of what he has done. Plus it was well past midnight at this point, meaning he had no energy to argue with Sweet at this point. So he kept his composure and took a deep breath.
"Hey man, shit's fucked up there," CJ convinced. "You don't want to be in the hood."
"No!" Sweet shouted in CJ's face. "That's exactly where I want to be!" He furiously yanked his briefcase off the ground and turned to face CJ still sustaining the sullen expression on his face. "What you done for our 'hood?" he asked sharply.
"Man, what the 'hood done for me?" CJ retorted. "Always dragging me down. Ever since I got out of the hood shit been cracking. That's everybody's dream, to get out of the hood..."
"Man, you sound just like Smoke right now!" Sweet growled.
The sheer sentence Sweet shot CJ with shocked CJ even more. He sounded just like Smoke? How could Sweet say that?
I know full well that did not come out of Sweet's mouth! CJ thought. I sound like Smoke?! Has he not heard me after I told him over the phone that he was involved with Moms' murder?! That the only green he cares about is that cash?! And I'M the one who sounds like Smoke?! Man I really miss Ryder now!
CJ continued to keep his composure though, and instead of getting into Sweet's face, he decided to demonstrate how messed up the 'hood is.
"Alright, man," CJ said reluctantly calm. "You hard. I'm gonna show you what's going on in the hood."
So CJ guided Sweet to his vehicle and the two hopped inside. CJ started the engine and began to drive away.
"You gotta understand, shit's all fucked up now, dude," CJ tried to convince his brother as he made a left turn on Commerce and drove straight down.
"Yeah," Sweet muttered.
"What you want, it ain't round here no more," CJ continued.
"Just take me to momma's house," Sweet replied.
As CJ drove straight down the road, he looked around to find that Los Santos hasn't changed much since the past two months he has been away. The Ballas were still living in Idlewood. There were hardly any Grove Street Families members around the street, even when CJ finally arrived in Ganton. It seemed as if the Grove Street Families have split up from the Grove at this point.
He parked in front of Sweet's house and the two brothers stepped out of the vehicle. They looked around the street to find that it was the same as they left it for the past two months. The only difference was there were baseheads walking around, with one of them even holding a blender in his hands.
"Yo, man, y'all want to buy a blender?" the basehead asked CJ and Sweet rapidly. "It's really good. It sorta works."
"Man, what the fuck?!" Sweet snapped staring at the blender. "That's Mom's blender!"
The basehead ran off with the blender as CJ and Sweet stared back.
"Looks like some baseheads have took over the spot," CJ said. "Let's go home."
CJ tried to guide Sweet out of Ganton, but Sweet stubbornly persisted and stayed where he was. "This is home, man," Sweet grumbled. "Get these fuckers out of Mom's house! You was born in there. Damn!"
CJ watched as Sweet ran to Beverly's old home. Then he looked around to find that there were more dope dealers inundated around his street. Even though CJ put the hood mentality behind him since his departure from Los Santos, he had to at least take back his home street. If Sweet wasn't leaving the 'hood anytime soon, he had to at least get the dealers out of there.
So without another word, CJ went to trunk of his vehicle and pulled out two AK-47's, handing one to Sweet as the latter came back outside from Beverly's house.
"Okay, Sweet," CJ told him. "Since you won't leave the hood, I'll at least get rid of the dope dealers and take your home street back."
"It's your home too, nigga!" Sweet replied.
"It WAS, my home, Sweet!" CJ protested. "I live in the hills now. Only reason I'm helping you is because you still my brother. Now let's stop arguing and start capping."
CJ and Sweet both confronted each dope dealer around the neighborhood one by one and killed each and every one of them. After the dope dealers were finally iced, it was time for CJ and Sweet to take back Ganton.
So they saw that Ballas were scattering everywhere and ducked as the rival gang fired multiple shots at them. Without any more allies to back them up, CJ and Sweet knew they were fighting for their lives. So they both took cover behind CJ's vehicle and promptly shot back at the Ballas, who were armed with assault rifles themselves.
Damn, CJ thought. Never thought the Ballas would be strapped that heavily.
CJ and Sweet didn't back down though. They continued shuffling around the streets and fired back at the Ballas. As every member of their rival gang dropped dead, the second wave had precipitated, and more and more gangs were firing shot at CJ and Sweet. The two Johnson brothers fired back at the Ballas, killing each member one by one.
On the final wave, the Ballas were now armed with shotguns along with their assault rifles, and CJ and Sweet continued to fight for their home street. While CJ still wanted to put the 'hood life behind him, the last part of the hood the Ballas would ever take over was his home street in Ganton. So CJ helped his brother take out every last Balla gang member that tried to attack them and killed each member at a time. All of them were dropping like cockroaches sprayed with bug spray.
CJ and Sweet looked around to find the corpses of the Ballas, and CJ looked at Sweet.
"Y'see?" CJ told his brother. "We got baseheads running around the hood, and some Balla Dope Pushers blasting at us with shotguns and assault rifles and shit! Is that what you want to live on for the rest of your life?"
"We were just in a shitty situation this time, CJ," Sweet said trying to hand wave the intensity of the predicament. "That ain't enough to convince me."
"C'mon, man, let's get out of here," CJ told Sweet trying to guide him out of the hood. "Go see Kendl."
But Sweet headed to his house instead. "Kendl can come see me right here, at her home!" he told CJ sharply.
"But it ain't nothing here no more," CJ protested. "Besides, we still have to look for Ryder and the other Grove Street homies."
"Well tell Ryder to come back here in the Grove," Sweet demanded. "He may not be right in the head, but I know his heart's still in the Grove!"
"But no one knows where he is, Sweet," CJ said. "I called LB, and he don't even know where he at."
"Well he's gonna have to show up on his own right here in the Grove!" Sweet declared. "We still have to rebuild the 'hood!"
"The 'hood is all messed up, bro," CJ said. "There ain't nothing to rebuild!"
"Rome wasn't built in a day, niggah!" Sweet replied.
CJ just shook his head. There was just no reasoning with his brother. But despite that, CJ decided to give Sweet some time to think it over. He wasn't around to see all the things CJ did to get him out of jail. So instead of arguing with his brother, CJ decided to just walk away and give Sweet some time to reflect on his old neighborhood.
"My brother can be a real pain in the ass," he said to himself hopping inside his vehicle.
"You'll be back, Carl!" Sweet called as CJ started the engine of his vehicle. "If you do see Ryder, tell that shermhead to get his stoned ass back here in the 'hood!"
As CJ watched as Sweet walked inside his house, he started the drive until he heard his cellphone ring. So CJ pulled it out to answer it. He then heard heavy breathing.
"Hello, Claude, baby," he heard Catalina say over the phone.
This bitch still calling me? CJ thought shaking his head. Man, why won't she leave me the fuck alone?!
"I thought I call to say how much I love you and how well-endowed you are!" Catalina continued to say amorously.
"Yo, Catalina, it's Carl," CJ said. "I think you got the wrong number."
"Oh, Carl!" Catalina cried out in surprise. "So sorry, it is such an easy mistake to make, especially when I am so light-headed with love, and lust."
CJ just shook his head. This woman was definitely too high on lust at the moment. "Yeah, well I– " he started to say.
"No time, byeeee!" Catalina interrupted, and she abruptly hung up.
CJ just put away his cellphone and drove away. He would worry about Sweet later. Right now, he wanted to focus more on getting Madd Dogg back on top in the rap game and finally finding Ryder, who was now fresh out of rehab after all those weeks. So CJ drove back to the mansion to get some shut-eye. It was past midnight, and he had a long night.