Title: Absolute Last Advocacies
Rating: M (Language and Situations)
A/N: Dick Wolf Owns LOCI characters, all others are mine.
Over the next couple months, Tynie's family discovered, mixing living life with helping her cope with her newest restrictions is the best route. As good luck would have it, the main intrusions on their agenda were traffic and weather related. Enjoying most of the rest, Karrigan turned Flo down, because his attorney; Kendra Driesman, advised his store sale not go through customers. Apparently, she's been intercepting threats, from Anti-Second amendment people, since the injunction first came out. Kendra's building a terrorism case against them, which made her restriction a mass-welfare defense tactic. Regrettably, it meant no one in Tynie's family could plan his retirement party, until after the case clears. "Guys, if you want, I'll keep you updated on that." Karrigan offered. "Do you mind using my line for that, man?" Bill asked. "I'll be happy to, man." Karrigan obliged. Shaking hands, Karrigan made a note to update Kendra, as Bill's group exited the store. Driving home, Bill focused on traffic battles, while his wife texted the rest of their family. Nudging her text to speech app "on" in the process, Flo made it so her spouse heard Bobby advise they use the latest news as grounds to stay close to home, once she and Bill got inside theirs. "Thanks, babe. Let him know we have a deal?" Bill requested. Curtly nodding, Flo obliged his wish, which lead into them living out Bobby's advice. About an hour into it; Frank sent out word, Anita preferred they treat this, as an in home vacation. In her mind, it beat risking anyone Kendra's having prosecuted even hearing rumors their tactics negatively affected Karrigan's customers. Agreeing with Anita's logic, the whole family enjoyed peace and relaxation while acting on it. Conversely, Kendra discovered the threats were made by a cult, which made it fairly easy for her to make their case a RICO. Ske kept Karrigan abreast, but told him not to update any of his customers, until the arrests were done. He obeyed, which lead to a nearly monthlong wait, for his patrons.
Of course, when they learned why, they stood by Kendra's decision. Tynie took it a step further, by calling Karrigan, with an offer for Kendra. "Tynie, you have another reason to set up that family honor drink. She told me, she's retiring after my store sells, because her bar card renewal fee's due to triple next year. I don't blame her, but I'll need your OK to explain what honor drinks are, next time I talk to her. You can blame it on how our state's getting on regulations, too." Karrigan conveyed. "As long as you don't do it in a way that'll cost her everything, it's fine. Sorry man, but that'd be perfect grounds for the defense to get this case tossed." Tynie hindered. "I'll wait until we're face to face then, Tynie." Karrigan submitted. "Sounds good, man. If she needs your explanation vouched, call me and put her on the line." Tynie added. "You got it, Tynie." Karrigan ensured. Exchanging well wishes, they mutually ended the call. Blinking back tears, Tynie felt her husband take her phone, and stash it. Deftly taking her into his arms, Bobby compelled "Just let it out, babe." Obeying, Tynie didn't see Anita and Frank hustle closer, yet Bobby did. Kneeling before her, Frank asked "Sis, what can I do?" "Grab my phone, and use it to call Karrigan back. If he asks, you did it, because you learned I'm scared his store won't sell before my luck with my new cardioverter runs out. Then tell him, I insisted you use that as your grounds for advising he have Kendra look into a quick sale, so they can retire at the same time. After you get his answer, lay my phone aside, and let me get a Johnnie Walker Black double." Tynie answered, in tears. "I'll get your round, after I see my hottie has your phone." Anita elicited. "That works, too." Tynie wept.
Acting on her consent, Frank's kissed on the cheek, as his wife heads to their kitchen. Ironically enough, Kendra came in to Karrigan's store, a few minutes before the second call was made. Allowing Frank to speak with her, Karrigan learns Tynie and his attorney basically shared a mindset. The only difference is, Kendra's reason for the quick sale, surrounds next year's fee spike. Raising his head, Bobby implored "You bumped the speaker button, brother. It's alright, because now I can tell Kendra, there's more to Tynie's fear. She's also afraid, the defendants will find ways to commission violent retaliations before the trial. Kendra just got my consent to use that mix, as the primary reason for the quick sale, too. If she needs it in writing, I'll need her number and an hour to text her." "Mr. Vantman, I've gotten an echo this entire time. He probably just explained why; but the text message isn't necessary. I can just, note your statements as customer's welfare concerns, and update you guys another time." Kendra declined. "We weren't sure, Kendra. Now we know, I'd like to ask, you get my number from Karrigan; and use it to update me. Tynie can get pissed at me all she wants, but I don't want her distressed by this, anymore than she's already been." Frank reprimanded. "You've got it, Mr. Vantman." Kendra accepted. Ending that call like Tynie did the first one, Frank obeyed her directive for her phone's location. Guiding his wife to sit at his side, Bobby kissed her cheek, and rose to help Anita with drinks. Serving their spouses first, those two brought all the recent events, current.
Claiming their seats, Anita looks at her sister, whom smirks. "Don't feel bad, sis. You were true to your emotions; and by the sounds of the last call, it really helped Karrigan and Kendra. He's always been great to us, so it was high time we found another way to return the favor. I found out from Bobby, he'll let our family know, next time we meet up. You know what luck backs his decision, but it's also supported by a system standard alert I got before we met up. We're under another shelter in place order, because ATF agents are shutting down a few of Karrigan's competitors. Two of them for disobeying Her Honor Byersworth's orders, and one, for selling guns to prohibited possessors. The ATF suspects it'll come down to gunfights, or basically illegal gun running, so we've been ordered not to leave, unless we absolutely don't have a choice. We'll be told when the order's lifted, but when I told Bobby about it, he said it's best for us to expect it to be an all day thing." Anita regales. "That would explain why Kendra was so quick about meeting Karrigan in his store, and refuse my Bear's offer on the text message. Shit. I just realized this could fuck up the store sale. Now, I've got to brace myself for defending Karrigan on it, since my medical's involved." Tynie reviles. "No, you don't. You can just as easily let me, and vouch it was so we lower our risks of basically breaking this order." Frank protests. "Come get my phone, brother. That way, you can add using it, to your plan, and flip me off to get it vouched." Tynie instructs. Enacting her directive, he nearly clips the phone to his side, when it rings. Answering on the second one, he winds up having to prove his plan, to Special Agent Marc Wentzler. While that occurs, Anita brings her husband's drink closer, Tynie pointing to the end table at her left. Catching the hint, Anita acts on it, and retakes her seat. As some irony would have it, S.A.C. AJ DeBraun takes over half this call, at the same time. "Frank, you know all you have to do to get my help making the great granddaddy of all civil rights cases against those bastards, literally everyone else who works in their offices, all their family, friends and lovers is flip me off.. Right?" Tynie loudly dares. "Yeah." Frank claims. "Ok. I just wanted to make sure, and clear the one warning they're legally entitled to, in one shot." Tynie justifies. "It's fine." Frank condones. "Retired Major Vantman, now I know I was meant to hear that, I'm curious. How do we avoid you two's legal actions?" S.A.C DeBraun inquires. "You can start off, by calling me Mrs. Vantman. A recent surgery lead me to retire the nickname medically retired J.Y.D. Then, you can fire the fucker who triggered our threat, make it so Kendra and Karrigan split his career's worth 50/50, draw up a statement vowing you'll let those two do their jobs in peace, and call back to let me know they got it all within the next three hours. Before you ask how I'll know when your time's up: I'm having Frank use my phone to time you, starting the literal second after he hangs up. If you're even one minute late, he'll flip me off and all bets will be that way. Get my drift?!" Tynie debases. "Yes, Mrs. Vantman. We'll be in touch." S.A.C. DeBraun forfeits.
Growling a breath, Tynie gives Frank a cue to hang up, which is urgently done. "Baby, why'd you give him so long?" Bobby asks. "I did it, so we could get through any phone updates that come out, honey. After how long it took him to step in, I figured being selfish like that was in order." Tynie replies. "Were you serious about the medically retired J.Y.D. angle?" Frank queries. "Yeah. I had two reasons for it, but I'm worried they'll offend you. The first, is my belief using the retired nickname angle as a segue for my new restrictions, will make basing our legal threats on them carry more weight. The other's a coded way of advising we make the first universal, because it'll probably be made part of firing records anyway. I'm worried you'll be offended, because your gift's the center of those, so now I need to know. How do I make up for it?" Tynie ponders. "You don't, because I'm not offended. I'm aware pending former Special Agent Wentzler kicked that door open, so you're justified in walking through it." Frank debunks. "Cool." Tynie restates. Storing her phone on his left hip, Frank grabs his glass, and rejoins his wife. "Babe, I got you a fresh round, right before all that came out. I know it meant wasting some of your Johnnie Walker Black, but that beat you risking alcohol related sickness." Anita admits. "Good call, baby." Frank brags. Kissing her cheek, he sips his round, as his wife and inlaws finish theirs. "Cleanup's me and Bobby's turf, guys. You can blame it on the deadline in our latest legal threats, too." Tynie notifies. "Ok." Anita concedes. Fulfilling his wife's idea, Bobby's diverted by his phone going off. Intercepting it, Tynie fields a call from Karrigan, who has questions. Settling them, she learns Kendra advised he keep Tynie's line open, because of the deadline in her and Frank's legal threats. "She's right, man. If we gave those bastards any leeway, they'd jump on the first shot to use it against us in court. Yes, I meant that as it came out, because you and Kendra are the main victims. You didn't know, but it's why no one in my house disputed my decisions on ex Special Agent Wentzler. I know that's not his title yet, but I wanted to clear the rest up now. That way, you can update Kendra, while I wait to find out if the legal threats will have to be enforced. If you want to set up a trust fund with your half of the career benefits, call back and ask for me. I'll help you, and bring Frank as a witness, for a few reasons. One, he's half of how it's possible. Two, we don't know what Kendra's schedule's like, so I'm tryin' to cut her a break. Three, my Mazda's in the shop for a brake job, so we have to split the driving on his anyway." Tynie explains. "You've got it, Tynie." Karrigan asserts.
Wishing each other well, they mutually hang up, then Tynie clips her husband's phone to his side. Leaning back in his seat, Frank booms "Nicely done, sis." "Thanks." Tynie peeps. Escorted to her seat, Tynie reclines, as her spouse joins her. Waiting out most of the deadline, both couples share in brief affections, until Tynie's phone rings. Fielding why, Frank learns S.A.C. DeBraun's superior requires he give Kendra or Karrigan written proof of how the legal threats were avoided, then send Frank or Tynie a copy. Arranging to do it over his fax machine, he's distracted while she grabs Bobby's phone. Calling Karrigan back, she asks to speak with Kendra, which entails a brief hold. Recapping the latest, Tynie mandates "If Karrigan doesn't get that proof within the next ten minutes, say "Consider this my way of flipping you off, since I'm not by you, Mrs. Vantman." I'll use it as urgent grounds to enforce my and Frank's legal threat, and have my husband Bobby keep you updated. He's learning now, he'll get a bottle of Dom Perignon for his trouble, after I get my car back from the shop. S.A.C. DeBraun will want to avoid giving Frank's fax number to anyone who doesn't serve him with a material evidence warrant for it, though. If not, or Frank hears he didn't, even as a fucking rumor, I'll have no choice but to jump on enforcing our legal threat. Of course, it'd mean what I said about Dom Perignon and updates carries over." "Tynie, I have to get you in touch with Directing Agent Jill Hagen. She's been here for the past hour, and ordered S.A.C. DeBraun not to provoke you or Frank to rehash your legal threat. Since he did it to you both, everything's delayed until she's done with him." Karrigan cautions. "Go ahead and get her on the line, man." Tynie coaxes.
Obliging her consent, Karrigan joins Kendra in going silent, as Frank ends the call with S.A.C. DeBraun. Conversing with Directing Agent Hagen, Tynie strives to make it so Kendra and Karrigan profit off that career, like they will ex-Special Agent Wentzler's. "Mrs. Vantman, this could exacerbate your medical condition. Are you certain, you don't want restitution because of that?" Directing Agent Hagen impedes. "Yeah. I believe, without Karrigan, I wouldn't have had reliable guns to obey Her Honor Daughtry's orders, or survive our area's repeated downfalls. Frankly, it's why I'm hellbent on making our deal my absolute final act as an advocate. Here's the thing, your concern over my medical, gives me perfect grounds to switch my and Frank's roles in the offer for Karrigan's trust fund. Now, if I'm called on that, I'm the witness who's liable for half the driving on Frank's car. We'd use mine, but it's in the shop right now." Tynie vouches. "Speaking of calls Mrs. Vantman, I'm curious. Will you take any, if I need our deal verified to my superiors?" Directing Agent Hagen probes. "It depends, on two things, and the second one has three parts. One, you'll get my consent to get my number from Karrigan, if you understand I expect it to be treated the same way as Frank's fax machine number. Two, you must realize, my consent's only valid until our deal's vouched. The only way I'll change it is, if I'm served with a judge's orders saying I have no choice. If you or any of your superiors even try to change my mind, the next time you'll all hear from me will be in court! Am I clear?!" Tynie intimidates. "Crystal, Mrs. Vantman. You'll get written proof by fax, shortly." Directing Agent Hagen concedes.
Snarling a breath, Tynie hangs up, and puts her husband's phone back in it's holster. "You kicked ass, baby. Now, you can relax until I've checked Frank's fax machine. You'll learn if our plan will change, and how then, too." Bobby abstains. "Deal." Tynie gasps. Just before her sister reacts, Flo calls her phone. Explaining the day's events, Anita's informed they'll lead to a family meeting later this week, because of everyone's luck with speaker buttons. "I'm not sure I was meant to hear your conversation, sis. If not, I'm sorry, but I think Tynie and Frank were right. Considering what caused our shelter in place order, and everything that's happened since, it's safest for us not to keep the original plan for Karrigan's store sale. I know, it may piss Flo off, but that beats us risking a fuckin' funeral." Kiki intrudes. "She just told you, why I stand by Frank and Tynie's plan change. I'm aware she wasn't sure I would, so it's Ok." Flo disregards. "Alright. I'll let my household know you want us all at your house Saturday by eleven, sis. If anyone asks, I set it up so we have plenty of time to clear the trust fund, if Karrigan wants it." Anita conjures. "Sounds good, sis." Flo contends. Finishing this call like any other family one, Anita reclines in her seat, and feels Frank clasp her hand. "What do I owe you for covering that, sis?" Tynie wonders. "A Jack Daniels double, by day's end." Anita names. "If Frank doesn't mind helping me, I'll make it a round for us all, right now." Bobby counters. "I'm right behind you, brother." Frank corrects.
Kissing their wives's cheeks, those men rise to prove that, as silence surrounds them. Drinking together, when it's time to clean up, Tynie and Anita are waved back. Shortly smiling, they see their husbands handle it, before Bobby detours to check Frank's fax machine. As some decent luck would have it, the papers Directing Agent Hagen promised come through at the same time. Perusing them, Bobby learns everything's settled as his wife was promised, and the store sale may not take long. Apparently, Directing Agent Hagen found out a prospective gun store owner, Sean Reikena, is willing to go through Kendra for it. Sean's already got the required licenses, but he had to fire the attorney his wife suggested, because he discovered they're dating. Now, all Kendra has to do is, set a meeting with Sean to settle the papers and wait for his check to clear. On Sean's end, he's filing for divorce, so there will be a delay. Kendra's asked Karrigan to update Tynie's household, because they're how this was possible, but for now; nothing more can be done. Seconds later, his phone goes off, with another system standard text alert. Examining the message which caused it, Bobby discovers that aside from the issues at Karrigan's, the ATF's operation was flawless. As part of it, Directing Agent Hagen authorized the involved agents to essentially transfer custody of those stores to people like Sean. She did it, to avoid accusations of creating "firearms dealer deserts," because this operation affected half the state. Calling Directing Agent Hagen, Bobby asks "Did our area media have your consent to broadcast specifics on this operation?" "No. Why?" Directing Agent Hagen inquires. "I just got a system standard news alert on my phone, that cited Channel 9, who basically said you insisted. The reporter they claimed got your OK is, Katie Muroc, which leaves me curious. Do you mind waiting five minutes to get proof forwarded to you?" Bobby queries. "It depends, Mr. Vantman. Do you mind my calling your line with updates on this situation?" Directing Agent Hagen poses. "I'd prefer you call my line with any updates you get. My wife didn't know I would, but it's due to her medical. I know her well enough to know, she'd agree with me, on it being best to make the fuckers you fired prime suspects on what we're discussing. She's in another room, but if you need this defended to anyone: call me, and it'll be done." Bobby recounts. "We have a new deal, Mr. Vantman." Directing Agent Hagen confirms. "Alright. I'll send over my proof, and let my household know the rest." Bobby reiterates. "Ok." Directing Agent Hagen concurs. Ending the call on that note, Bobby keeps his word. Laying the faxes on an endtable in the process, he gets smirks from his wife and in laws.
A few seconds pass, before Tynie gets up, grabs Bobby's phone, and uses it to call Directing Agent Hagen back. Spending the next twenty minutes in conversation, Tynie makes it so the former ATF agents, and Kati are considered co-conspirators in Kendra's RICO case. "As I said, this hit me literally two minutes after my husband admitted what he claimed on my name. He didn't lie, but I didn't want to be rude about it. If you or Kendra needs this vouched, especially in front of a judge; call this line and ask for me. If not, my husband's decision on how we're updated, stands." Tynie concludes. "You've got it, Mrs. Vantman." Directing Agent Hagen allows. "Ok. Hopefully your day gets better, given what's happened so far." Tynie hopes. Wishing the same for her, Directing Agent Hagen hangs up. Laying Bobby's phone on a nearby endtable, Tynie growls a frustrated breath. "Sis, you did right, but now, you can relax. If I can help it, the only times you'll work again today are, if a call for the verifications or an emergency forces it." Anita reconsiders. "We'll be as safe as we can on the difference, baby." Bobby promises. "Alright." Tynie breathes. Deeming it a cue, Frank turns their chat, to how they can continue the day. Arriving at a consensus, which surrounds meals and watching movies, they have no idea it's actually a family wide deal. That is, until Anita's texted by Alice, who also lets her know they'll mainly be in touch between now and Saturday for emergencies; and to share the usual good night text messages. Accepting it, Anita put her phone away, and updated her housemates. "Fuck. I just remembered, we're on call to Karrigan for his trust fund." Tynie grumbles. "I'll call him, to set that for Wednesday, sis." Frank obliges. "Make it Friday, babe. Directing Agent Hagen and Kendra need time to update the papers on her RICO, after how Tynie got it changed." Anita reneges. "Good call." Bobby gleams. Considering that another cue, Frank retains his word, and gets more news. Directing Agent Hagen advised against keeping the trust fund deal, a couple minutes ago, out of respect for Tynie's safety. "She wasn't sure, and we've never broken a deal with Karrigan. Now, what does this mean for our offer on his retirement party?" Frank counterproposes. "Barring dire emergencies, that can stay on course." Directing Agent Hagen absolves. "Alright. If you will, note all our other offers, stand." Frank requisitions. "You've got it, Frank." Karrigan assents. Closing that call out by family norms for business ones, Frank glances to Tynie. "Brother, all you did was kick ass and leave me curious. How do I repay you, for leaping to cover that angle?" Tynie relinquishes. "You don't, because it was a returned favor, for the RICO angle you leapt on." Frank prohibits. "Ok." Tynie sighs.
Wrapping his left arm around her, Bobby gives his sister in law a quiet cue to turn on the entertainment center. Surrendering the remote to Frank, Anita gently moves his right arm so she's underneath it, as he channel surfs. Finding a comedy channel, with seemingly decent specials on, he lays the remote on the endtable at his left. Humming a calmed breath, Anita unwittingly crafts a chain reaction, that's ended by Tynie. Enjoying themselves, until periodic restroom trips are made, all four of them feel a sense of peace. A couple hours later, Frank discovers a Terry Spanglert marathon's started, leading him to shut the entertainment center off. Adorning his endtable with the remote, he briefly kisses Anita, whom softly vows her love. Swearing his in kind, Frank overhears his spiritual brother and Tynie make a pattern of it. "Babe, what would you say to us cooking my chili recipe with yours for our usual sides?" Tynie asks. "Lead the way, sugar." Bobby goads. Leaving her seat to grant that request, Tynie's diverted as Frank's phone goes off. Answering it, he finds Kiki on the other end of the line, with news. She's ordered them HiroHama's, so they don't have to cook, given how today changed for Tynie. "I'll let them know. Oh, but this means I'm returning the favor the first chance I get." Frank hedges. "Fair enough. Everyone's fine, I had my baby check, so we'll see each other Saturday." Kiki reports. "Thanks, sis." Frank honors. Rushing from the room, Anita bumps into Bobby, who's given a repeat of what she heard. "Slick little shit spared the trouble of trying to cook with frozen steaks. Frank was right to make it a returnable favor, though. He just didn't know I'd ask you two to help me make it cover the whole family, in a rotation. Sis, if you'd do it and let him know, it'd be great." Tynie surmises. "She knows I'll always back her, sis. This is no different, but neither of us want to be rude while Frank's on the phone." Bobby translates. "I wouldn't, either. You guys have a deal, but it means we'll need Sapporos, and help getting the order in." Anita garners. "Sis, the last phrase is my turf. We'll need my bear as an armed guard, because today's events spiked our risks of retaliation. I hated saying it, but Directing Agent Hagen basically vouched me, by pulling the trust fund deal. She may not have realized I caught on; but it means I'll need help on cleanup, and to have Frank updated. You can blame that on the retaliation risks spikin' his chances of having to make insurance claims, too." Tynie chides. "Bobby, do you mind my taking over bringing in our meal and being lead on cleanup?" Anita probes. "I'd prefer it, especially given the insurance angle. She wasn't sure, so it's OK." Bobby ripostes.
Briefly nodding, Tynie sees her sister head back to Frank, to update him. Extracting a couple Sapporos from their fridge, Bobby hands them to his wife, then grabs two more. Shutting the fridge behind himself, Bobby's lead back to the living room, where his in laws are served first. After they've reclaimed their seats, Frank lets Bobby and Tynie know Kiki got their usual delivery wait time, and the good night texts were already done. Annalise advised it, because she didn't know if anyone's phones needed charged. Nodding their understanding, Tynie and Bobby sip their beers, his in laws following suit. As it nears time to clear from them, Frank and Anita rise to do so, letting it lead into getting the coffee table ready. While that's done, Tynie's text alert goes off, Bobby handling why. Kendra's asked Karrigan to message them, thanking them for everything. "You've always been great to us, so this was just another chance, for us to return the favor. You'll learn how else we can do that, when it's closer to time to set up your retirement party." Bobby replies. "Alright, man. Have a good one." Karrigan sends back, getting the regard in kind.
Storing his wife's phone, Bobby updates her and his in laws, whom accept it with more nods. Reclaiming their seats, Frank and Bobby turn to briefly kiss their wives, as a new silence encases them. This time, it's broken by Anita advising "Bobby, we need to get ready for the delivery." Exiting his seat, he winds up leading Anita through that process, and the delivery meeting. Rushing towards them, Tynie waits until their meal's brought in, to lock up.
Aligning it to their coffee table, as Bobby disarms, Anita and Tynie are served first. Enjoying it all; those ladies eventually cleanup, leaving their men to await them. Delayed by a matter of minutes, Bobby and Frank elect to infuse more brief passions into this part of the day. Smiling, no one in Tynie's house knows, it's actually part of another across the family mindset. Reclining from the latest round, they all wind today down, according to the norms. Eventually slumbering, they secretly discover, her absolute last advocacies brought a new peace.