Title: A Relatively Rough Day.
Rating: M (Language & Situations)
A/N: Dick Wolf owns LOCI characters; all others are mine. NO LINKS BETWEEN THIS CHAPTER & REALITY ARE INTENDED.
WARNING: GRAPHIC EVENTS DEPICTED IN THIS CHAPTER.
Starting two days after Jeremiah insisted on taking lead on Kurt's business sale, Tynie's family discovered their luck with outside hindrances was mostly intact. The first major exclusion, surrounded a potential buyer who thought his desire to personally operate a repair business, meant he didn't have to get the right licensing. When Frank heard that, he shoved Sam and Jeremiah out of the way, glared the guy down, and extracted his shotgun. Seeing it get moved between them, Tynie warned "Leo, that was his way of telling my group: he suspects you're conspiring to brutally murder us all… starting with Sam and ending with me..so you can steal our identities before we're buried, and start living under our names. If you so much as scoff a breath now, I'll swear to the cops and any judge I must: it was your way to confess he's right, so his landing your ass in the morgue for it was a mass welfare defense move." "We all will, Tynie." Sam altered. Standing at Leo's left, a fairly young looking woman appeals "I told him, several times, his plan would blow up in his face. You just proved it, but how you did so, leaves me wondering. Is there any way I can be made an innocent party?" "It depends, Ma'am. Are you willing to give us all consent for first name basis? If so, and you can prove you're married to him, would you jump on my advice to change that over the conspiracy I translated? If so, how fast can you get me a pen and paper so I can write up our deal?" Tynie interrogated. "Tynie, I'm Delila. How you knew I'm his wife is a mystery to me, but I'll need a few minutes to get that stuff from my purse. If you'll give me that, and the guy standing at your right will guard me: I'll call my attorney to get the divorce rolling right now." Delila countered. "Delila, I can do one better. All it'll take is, Russel taking my guy friend Jeremiah's shotgun and assuming a position like Frank's. Of course, it'd mean what I said about Leo and scoffed breaths carries over, and we'll need served to appear at your hearings." Tynie overruled. Looking Russel's way, Jeremiah curtly nodded, causing Russel to urgently obey. Honoring her word in stages, Delila learns her lawyer; Kyle DeLaney; was called by her son Jerry, who feared Leo's attitude would lead to a scene like this one. "He's already paid my retainer, and asked me to get the papers done as soon as possible. I'm on it now, but Jerry wants me to frame any interventions on your behalf as Good Samaritan tactics; to keep everyone on your side safe. Judging by what I just learned, he was right to, yet it leaves me curious. How fast can you get the proof of your written deal destroyed?" Kyle proposed. "Kyle, I'm the Tynie she referenced. I don't think she meant for us to hear you; but we've all had hellacious luck with our speaker buttons being alarmingly sensitive. Here's the thing, clearing your question will take twenty minutes. You see, I'll have to use Kurt Hobarthman's shredder, grill lighter, flame retardant trash can, and fire extinguisher. He's learning now: the split second notice means I'll replace it all, if I'm given a couple weeks." Tynie intervened. "Kyle, if you can hear me; I'm Kurt Hobarthman and I'm refusing her offer. She's been instrumental in saving my business and my retirement, so having her do those replacements, doesn't feel right." Kurt denied. "Alright, guys. I'll need Delila to confirm Tynie's plan went through, so I can make the divorce an urgent one, and get the papers out." Kyle obstructed. "Do you mind holding for that? If not, I'll pay the legal fees on it, as a gift to Delila." Tynie pondered. "Tynie, although your offer's sweet, I can't accept it. Since you weren't on the original client list for this proceeding, state regulations forbid it, but I'll hold for the rest." Kyle declined. "Ok. I'll literally holler when it's done, so our group's security team can focus on their job." Tynie submitted. "Sounds good, Tynie." Kyle condoned. Retaining her end of the newest deal, Tynie made Leo jolt, inspiring Jeremiah to snarl "Leo, after you answer me, you'll have a choice. Leave, or I'll flip Frank off. I know him well enough to know, he won't take the time to get offended by it, because he'll be too busy using lethal force on you. He knows my defending it like Tynie said earlier, is par for the course. Kyle may not have, but I'm aware by law I must ask. Did I make myself abundantly clear to you?!" "Yes." Leo jeered. "It sure doesn't look like you understood, Leo. If you would've, all we'd see is you hauling your greedy, self worshipping, flagrantly unethical, most likely three tier abusive ass out of here! What you may not realize is, it gave me perfect grounds, to change Jeremiah's threat. I can start off, by asking you and Kyle about different things. On his end, I'll need to find out if he can turn my "most likely" into "definitely, and I have enough proof to make a judge blush." If so, I must ask, what he needs from me to do it. After I find that out, I'll need you to tell me, if you need anything cleared up. Once that's covered, I'll need Kurt to time you for exactly three minutes. If you're not away from us by the end of that timeframe, I'll flip Frank off. You've already been warned about what'll happen then, too! Now, all you can do is: wait until I get most of that situated, then make your move." Tynie condemned. "Tynie, I'll put it to you this way. Your group's intervention, sealed the phrase change, which is another reason I can work with Jerry's requests on this divorce." Kyle signified. "Kyle, how does that affect the last way she changed my threat?" Jeremiah probed. "It doesn't, Jeremiah. As she said, we have to wait on you learning whether or not it'll be enforced, to continue. Either way, conflict of interest by laws, prohibit me from representing anyone in your group in future legal matters." Kyle defies. "I suspected as much." Tynie grumbled. "Kyle, we all did. We know she didn't put it that way, because she hates risking coming off as too controlling with a passion that borders on a federal offense, too. You may not have, but I stand by everything her group's done since Leo first started causing problems on my land." Kurt rebelled. "I would, too. Now all we can do is, learn if this was clear enough for Leo and go from there." Kyle cautioned. "You guys aren't worth my life. Delila can have everything we own, because I'm done fighting her for anything." Leo groused. "Kyle, exactly how fast can you use that against him?!" Delila exclaimed. "After Kurt tells me if he left on his own, or if it'll be in the back of a coroner's van." Kyle hindered. "No problem, Kyle." Kurt ensured.
Exiting in a huff, Leo didn't really hear that promise get kept, yet the other shop occupants did. "Delila's going to need a crew, to help her get everything in Leo's name overhauled. I can't join it, because of my posts in this land sale." Tynie realized. "She already has one, Tynie. Jerry told me to call him or have him called when that time comes, so her children can do that. They never liked Leo, and your group just intervened on a major reason why. I wasn't supposed to say anything by him, unless a judge ordered it, though." Kyle educated. "Damn. Kyle, if it won't mean your career: let them know this ex-bartender's riggin' an honor drink; consisting of coffees, Kirin Ichibans, and Sauvignon Blanc for them after this call. I'll make sure it's done in the privacy of our houses, too. The drink range is an anti-DWI thing, in case new shit goes live when we do that, but they can flip my idea to cover us, if they want." Tynie requisitioned. "Tynie, you guys essentially spared my client's life, so I can do a little more than what you've asked, this time. After I update Jerry, I can do the honor coffee, to celebrate the intervention's success." Kyle rescinded. "Ok. Sorry, I didn't know you had that leeway, in terms of state regulations, until now." Tynie regretted. "It's fine, Tynie. Delila should get served notice of the divorce changes, by the close of court business tomorrow. If Leo causes her or her kids any more problems before the hearing date, I want them to have him arrested immediately, and call me." Kyle redetermined. "You've got it, Kyle." Delila confirmed. Ending the call by sharing well wishes, Delila stored her phone, and smirked. "What's wrong, Delila?" Sam worried. "I feel bad about how far you guys had to go, because of Leo's bullshit." Delila replied. "I know why. He trained you to do that, so he wouldn't have to take responsibility for his actions. I'm a survivor of DV, who's current, amazing husband taught, how to stop using that training. It's easy, because all you have to do now is: obey Kyle, follow Jerry's logic on the overhauls, carry the honor coffee over, and enjoy life as best you can from there. Hell, you can even add hugging everyone except Sam to it, if you want. She may hate the exclusion, but I'm imposing it, so she doesn't lose her professional ass." Tynie interpreted. "Delila, unfortunately, her restriction's justified. The only way I can work around it is, by asking you to shake my hand, after you hug the others. You can blame it on how our state is on regulation changes, too." Sam loathed. "Can't you use that as reason to retire?" Delila prodded. "I plan to, after this sale's done. You didn't know yet, so it's OK." Sam absolved.
Understandably nodding, Delila was a bit stunned, by Frank inquiring "Delila, do you mind texting me when you get the divorce papers?" "No. I'd prefer we agree to keep each other's numbers private, and find out if Sam can do the honor coffee first." Delila interfered. "Delila, the first half's a given with us, unless material evidence warrants enter the equation. We don't believe in offending judges, especially those who believe such a rare warrant is necessary." Frank informed. "Delila, after what just hit, you should carry that over. If you will, I'll text Sam advising she use Kyle's plan for the coffee, to back having it." Jeremiah counseled. "Trust me, ladies. Sam getting that evidence from a retired federal judge, who'd probably agree with my advising she lock it against her phone, will cover her ass like you wouldn't believe." Tynie compelled. "Ladies, I know why she put it that way. She wanted to give you more proof of her views on appearing too controlling, and explain the best move with that evidence. If Sam needs it defended, all she has to do is, call me." Jeremiah rebutted. "Will do." Sam teased. "Sounds like we have a couple new deals, Frank." Delila assured. Shortly nodding, Frank fulfilled his with her, before the hug and contact information deals were honored. Disbanding their meeting, Tynie's group went home, hoping to relax. Succeeding for a while, they all secretly realize, it brought everything current.
Breaking the silence in their living room, Frank's phone goes off, him rushing to find out why. Skimming over a few text messages, he reports "I just got word. Delila's been served, but Leo tried to impede on it, so he's been arrested. Kyle was notified, and he's making it so she wins by default, as we speak. Jerry also learned, his fully licensed neighbor Willie wants to buy Kurt's business, for a quarter million. He can't get the cashier's check until morning, because it's coming from an estate trust account, and that agent's not in his bank today. Jerry arranged for us to be called when it goes through, so we can clear the sale, but there was a catch. I'm supposed to tell Tynie, a medical caffeine restriction, required Jerry to change the coffee to tea. He knows we didn't know, but he felt she deserved to know, if that makes any sense." "It makes total sense, brother. I'll need your help explaining the rest to our loves, though." Tynie impedes. "You can sit back and leave it to me, sis." Frank rebuffs. "Ok." Tynie gasps. Draping his left arm around her, Bobby feels her nestle up, then gazes to his spiritual brother. Sleekly reversing their pose, Frank mixes upholding his most recent word, with periodically glancing at Tynie. Glancing across the room, she catches him in the act, and sates "I'm ok, brother." "Sis, you're not working again today, unless an emergency forces it. I'm aware, it means our men will have to alternate helping me on the difference, but that beats you risking an ER visit." Anita discredits. "Frank, she didn't know I'd have another idea. It's ok, but it means, all you do today is: field phone calls or text messages, keep eyes on my baby, and keep us posted. You've already risked using lethal force, dealing with the cops, getting served to appear, and the ER visit angle. Anita may disagree, but to me, it's fairest." Bobby protests. "Sorry baby, my plan was out of habit. He's right, his is better." Anita regrets. "It's alright, baby. Hopefully Tynie understands, this means, she's not to step in tomorrow like she did today." Frank states. "I do." Tynie verifies. "Sis, I'll need your help on the honor drinks, in a bit." Bobby notifies. "Why don't we do it now, brother?" Anita dares. Accepting that with a nod, he kisses Tynie's cheek, releases her, and trails her eldest sister into the kitchen.
Chatting as they gathered the rounds Tynie named earlier, Bobby learns Anita wants cleanup to segue into their next meal. Leaning his head against the top cushion of his couch seat, Frank divests "You won't have to worry about cooking, guys. I just found a couple texts, that were sent a few minutes ago, saying Markus and Tianna split buying HiroHama's for both our houses. They did it to cut us a break, because of today's meeting turnout, and they got the usual delay. Liza insists on hosting a family meeting so we can discuss the rest, without risking our phone issues revisiting us. We're supposed to be there Friday by two, barring emergencies." "Let them know we have a deal, and I owe them one, brother?" Bobby coaxes. "I'm on it now, brother." Frank garners. Upholding that promise, he learns Liza believes a fifth of Jack Daniels will cover it. "Brother, for once, I hope your speech to text app is acting up. She and Bobby can get pissed at me all they want, but since the emergency angle centers on my risk of landing in St. Lucia's; the least they'll get is: the fifth she named, a bottle of White Zin and a twelve pack of Sapporos. I'll set the delivery up. after our next restock, too." Tynie adjudicates. "Sweetheart, I agree with most of that. You didn't know, I'd make the last line my turf, yet. It's fine, because now Frank can tell Liza, it's because of how your week's turning out." Bobby disallows.
A couple minutes later, an automated voice says "Tynie's hope came true, brother. It's how you covered that for him, and it's inspired a decision. After we're done with Kurt's business sale, we're meeting up, as a family, to do the phone model move. If Garrett didn't have to fire problematic lower ranks last time I was there, I'd have had us do it sooner." "You were right to cut Garret that break, sis. Godknows, we're among very few people who'd do it, but it means something else. Unless Tynie lands in St. Lucia's before your timeline hits, I'm doing some of the driving for our phone model move." Anita reiterates. "Fair enough." Liza replies. Finishing the chat by family norms, Frank stashes his phone, and moves to check Tynie's heart rate. "You're good, sis." Frank murmurs. Kissing his left cheek, she extolls "That, was my way of thanking you for going from helping me, Russel, and Jeremiah save Delila; right into what you just did." Deftly mimicking her move, Frank whispers "Thank you, for using harrowing parts of your past to her advantage, even though it put you at an escalated risk of the ER visits we prefer to avoid." "It was my honor, brother. We should let Bobby and Anita flip these moves, when situations fit them, though." Tynie implores. "I'll take care of it, sis." Frank reassures. "Cool." Tynie sighs. Heading back to his seat, Frank's met by his wife, whom serves him a glass of Sauvignon Blanc. Joining him with a Kirin Ichiban in hand, Anita explains "We've already discussed why, you two deserve this, babe." "Sugar, thank you. You may not have heard, but Tynie and I modified our deal on kissing each other's cheeks, so it covers events like today's. We felt it was best, so you and Bobby wouldn't worry, if you did it after being lead, when we encounter another shitwart like Leo." Frank intends. "Sounds reasonable to me, honey." Anita pardons. "Same here, brother." Bobby vouches. "Guys, I've reconsidered. You stand to deal with a delivery person, which means you have to leave our house open for a bit. So, I'm about to run a debt with Frank, for him being the armed guard while I get the coffee table ready. He can name his price, but I'm not paying it, until after I clear my debt with Jeremiah's household." Tynie digresses. "Sis, you don't owe me shit. You were absolutely right in changing our plan, but you didn't know, I have another one. We'll work together on getting the coffee table ready, after they clear from our drinks, then use your new plan from there. They may not like it, but it beats them risking injuries over juggling being armed with bringing in our meal." Frank refutes. "Share meal cleanup with me then, Bobby?" Anita goads. "Sure." Bobby dubs. Shrugging, Tynie sips her wine, crafting a chain reaction in the room. Allowing a brief silence to encase them, Bobby and Anita are kissed on the cheek as they rise to handle cleanup. Behind their backs, Tynie's phone goes off, her bustling to field the cause. "Guys, I just found out. Taia saw a weathercast that says we're in for another storm, with severe winds that may down power lines. She's having Burt reschedule our meetings because of it, and the risk we'll have to deal with ConEd and our insurer. I don't blame her, but I'm using it to support me and Frank getting our LED lamps together, right after I put my phone up." Tynie announces. "Good call, sis." Frank praises. "Definitely." Bobby and Anita concur, as one.
Honoring her part of the most recent deals, Tynie's lead to her seat, as her housemates head to meet with the delivery person. Securing the house, Frank's back is turned, while his spiritual sister fields the family's good night messages. Convening around their meal, she explains "Barring emergencies, we won't be contacted again today. Kiki rigged it, so our usual messages were sent now; due to what Taia learned. I'm glad, because God knows if Channel 11 will be right about the power lines." "I hope they aren't, but Kiki was right to err on the side of caution." Frank rejoinders. "I told her you all felt that way, and had me cover it, because of the timing." Tynie blurts. "She didn't lie on my name. How about yours, Bobby?" Anita challenges. "No." Bobby nullifies. Merely nodding, Tynie joins her eldest sister in being served first. As usual, they enjoy the meal, and let it lead into their plans for cleanup. Ironically enough, by the time Bobby and Anita reenter the living room, Frank's answering a text from Jeremiah. "Sis, our meeting with Willie's been moved to Monday at eleven, because of the latest developments. Due to your checkup Wednesday, Liza pushed our family meeting back to Thursday at one. Markus asked for us to get this now, because of how Kiki changed our good night messages, too." Frank educates. "How'd they know I was wondering how we'd work with that?" Tynie inquires. A couple minutes go by, before the same automated voice from earlier relays "We know, and love you, sis. I just got word, Tianna wants this is covered by your prior debt deal, though. She believes, the latest developments are exigent circumstances. I agree, so we"ll be going from meeting at my house straight into doing the phone model move." "Sounds good." Frank recoils.
Doublechecking his phone, he sees that reply get sent, and puts the device away. Wrapping his left arm around Anita, Frank looks to Bobby, whom reverses the move. Nestling up, the ladies hum relaxed breaths, then lean up to kiss their husband's cheeks. Sleekly leaning to give the favor back, Bobby and Frank brace their wives against them, and extend the reclining sections of their couches. Enveloped in a new silence before long, they burn time relaxing in it, completely unaware of the fact it's continued a family wide pattern. Gently disbanding her husband's hold, Tynie exits the room, unwittingly restarting their restroom use trend. Ending it, Frank soon discovers his wife and in laws waited for him, to use their methods of winding a day down when storms are involved.
Secluded in their respective areas, those four secretly pray nothing intrudes on their night. Kissing, both couples in that house bring the day's focus to enjoying passions. Spending unchecked time doing so, Bobby and Frank exchange love vows with their wives, whom cover them up. Cuddling up as well, Tynie and Anita unknowingly conclude one last family wide trend. Eventually forfeiting to slumber, everyone Tynie loves snores through an unmentioned discovery:
Their hope for a peaceful night, after a relatively rough day, came true.