Title: Another Family Scramble
Rating: M (Language & Situations)
A/N: Dick Wolf owns LOCI characters, all others are mine. NO LINKS BETWEEN REALITY & THIS CHAPTER ARE INTENDED.
Five months later…...
Convened around Burt's living room, because of a call out from Mack, Tynie's family brings their eyes towards the second man. "I asked you to come here, because of news I got from Dr. Perez. Burt, Taia, Jack and Lori's reflex tests didn't go as well as she hoped. They're slow; which lead her to pull their medical allowance to use guns, and put their driving one on a last-resort in emergencies only status. I have the proof on me if you want to see it, but if not, we'll have to create new systems for it." Mack proclaims. "I may have an easy solution for the guns, brother. If my baby's OK with me using his new Expedition, Jeremiah will split the driving with me, and Damian and Tyler will help me escort those four through the same shit we did when my medical consent to own guns got pulled: I'll buy our meals and tankup." Tynie offers. "I know why she wants it that way, guys. She prefers not to be put on first string for driving those four, since she's lucky not to be in their position in terms of driving. She asked for Jeremiah's help, in case it goes badly enough to justify using his retirement status. They'll need consented access to those papers, to keep that risk down, though." Frank interjects. "I'll do it, if Tynie lets Mack plant those in her purse. I'd use my Padarean on it, but my baby discovered it's zipper is corrupting, last night. She cleared and threw it out, but I don't want it's replacement added to Tynie's plan. I'll do that another time, because we don't know how bad traffic will get." Jeremiah impedes. "Why'd she pick Damian and Tyler?" Alice ponders. "That's easy, sis. I did it, so you guys could put DaJuan, Felicia, and Markus on the same driving string as me. You may want to cuss me out and kick my ass for it, but it's due to a mix of their links to Burt and Taia, and Markus's lifelong weight restriction. Mack's learning now, the only condition to him getting to do what Jeremiah wants is: Mack must tell me if my purse, wallet, or Padarean has issues, right after it's done. Jeremiah may hate this, but I'd rather not risk identity theft, over replacements we can make while we're out." Tynie expounds. "Can't say I blame you, sis." Liza disregards. "I doubt any of us can. None of you knew, I'd use it as half my reason, for asking to be first string on the driving arrangement. It's OK, because the other half, surrounds preferring the younger side of our family, makes it so you elders are the string above hers. I'm aware it may offend you, but it's in the name of your safety." JT renounces. "Guys, he's right. We're best off doing that, and being ready to use our powers of attorney on the insurance end of it. The mains on those accounts may hate that, but at least, now they know how to defend it." Kiki reckons. "Guys, her mentioning the insurance, left me curious. Wouldn't it be easier to expand one of our houses, so they all share it? If so, do you all realize, I'll gladly pay all the necessary fees?" Anita interrogates. "Sis, you have good intentions, but your method's too dangerous. You can blame it on all the scam contractors in our world, but we can discuss a work around, later." Russ disapproves. "Mack, I took that as a code. Roughly translated: I need to find out if Bobby will slide me his keys, if you'll act on my consent, and if Damian, Jeremiah, and Tyler will go with us. Should the last answer be yes, we'll need updated on your plans for Anita's idea, before we go home." Tynie intercedes.
Briefly gazing at his husband, and Jeremiah, Tyler gets two nods. "Bobby, I just found out. If you'll let Tynie use your car for this; she'll have the rest settled." Tyler translates. "She'll get my keys, after Mack clears the deal on her purse." Bobby obstructs. Obliging him, Mack tells Tynie, he's overtaking most of her offers, because her wallet's coming apart. "I'll return the favor, sometime." Tynie demurs. Accepting it with a short nod, Mack retreats to his wife's side, Damian using it as a quiet cue to start their preparations to leave. Trailing his logic, the rest of Tynie's group meets him by the front door, her seeing them out. Using her husband's urgent access key to lock up, she leads them to his car, which is loaded so Jack, Burt, Lori and Taia ride behind tinted windows.
Driving off, she battles traffic, making their agenda take three hours to finish. Parking in Burt's driveway, Jeremiah growls a breath, Tynie insisting "Guys, his reaction's code, for us needing Jack Daniels doubles, as soon as all our asses are situated in the house. If other fuckers wouldn't have forced me to use Bobby's Army-issue wreck avoidance tactics, and Jeremiah to bastardize them, under an emergency spousal consent, it'd be different. I can see us hearing of another pileup before we get updated on everything else, because of it, too." Tynie instills. "So can I." Damian agrees. Seconds pass, before all their phones go off, with system standard text alerts. Checking his, Tyler stalls "Tynie, you should play the lottery. A drunk on a revoked license, just caused why I say that, about ten miles east of here. I'll text our family, to see if any of them were affected. If they ask, I'm claiming you asked me to, because of why we went out." "I was just about to, so it wouldn't technically be a lie." Tynie refers. Halfway shrugging, Tyler enacts his word, and learns the answer's no. "Thank God." Lori howls. "Amen. Now what do you say, to us going inside, and taking today from there?" Damian goads. "I'll lead the way." Tynie challenges. "Ok." Damian replies. Enforcing her promise, she hangs back to lock up, as Jeremiah and Tyler bring the bags from today's purchases into the living room. Detouring to Tynie, Tyler escorts her to a seat by Bobby, while Damian gets the advised drinks. "Guys, I'll put it to you this way. Tynie and Jeremiah aren't to work again today, unless an absolute emergency leaves them no choice. You'll learn why, once we all get drinks, that aren't part of our anti-DWI rules." Burt admonishes. "Flo, Kiki, Keisha, how fast can we meet in the kitchen for that?" Tia asks. Letting actions answer that, the cited ladies rush across the house, leaving Tia to follow their trail. Distributing drinks with Damian's help, those five reclaim their seats, moments before Burt updates everyone. Intently listening, DaJuan waits until his father in law silences, to say "There's more bad news, guys. Willie called me two hours ago, saying HawkFord HomeBuilders is facing a class action lawsuit, for using sub-par products on their projects. Dad didn't know they'd earn that reputation when he had them build my house, but Willie said we'd be safest getting it razed and not joining that case. He based it on how long it's taken for Dad, Mom, Jack, and Lori to heal, and our chances of dealing with the same kind of fuckers Tynie and Jeremiah did in traffic. I don't blame him, but he'll need to meet with Bobby, Russ, and La'Tario, to discuss the particulars of our plan to expand one of our houses soon." "Which one's up for that?" Frank asks. "It depends, brother. If Burt will let us make it this one, I'll have Willie refer us to a much better reputed company; who can frame the expansion around Taia's kitchen. He may not like it, but I don't feel right, basically forcing him to lose clients, over that extensive of a job." Russ hedges. "As long as I'm told how your meeting with Willie goes, it's fine." Burt quantifies.
Rushing to obtain his phone, Bobby uses it, to set that meeting for ten tomorrow morning. Nudging his speaker button in the process, Bobby makes it so everyone by him hears Willie counsel "All the people, and their valuables should be moved out of that house, while we discuss those specifics. Trust me Bobby, it beats you losing them, to that reputation hitting." "Thank God we have a way to temporarily move people, and irreplaceables while that's being done." Kiki ruminates. "DaJuan, do you have a problem with me French kissin' a DWI, and using a certain key, to clear those specifics?" Tynie queries. "Yes. You and Jeremiah barely dodged several wrecks today, and our valuables are heavier than they look. We can use your offer, as grounds to act on their advice before anyone goes home, though." Felicia declines. "Tynie, it's sweet you want those relatives to avoid risking more wrecks, but Felicia was right. You don't need to chance your luck on that running out, or an automatic class 2 Felony by new state laws, when there are other options. I heard about the laws on Channel 22, right before Bobby called, but he may be upset by my next piece of advice. You guys should make deals, so his car is kept out of how you settle the rest." Willie discredits. "Willie, if you can hear me: all you did was back my cousin, and give me perfect grounds to pick Bobby and Russ up for our meeting. You'll be called, if anything arises on our end, so we can reschedule. We'll discuss how else we work with your advice, after this call, too." La'Tario interrupts. "Sounds great, La'Tario." Willie permits.
Closing out the call by exchanging well wishes, Bobby puts his phone up, and wraps his right arm around his wife. "Guys, I believe we should find a way to do as Kiki said, in an hour. We're drinking why, there's a delay, but it'll mean we have a longer day than we expected." Annalise recommends. "I may have one for Jack and Lori's end of it, sis. It'd depend on if he minds coming with me and telling me what they can't replace, if Frank and Russ are OK with helping me load it into my car, and if Markus will arrange for him and Tianna to take Jeremiah's basement. We'd have to make a similar plan for DaJuan and Felicia, though." JT purports. "Markus, if your answer's yes: I'll pay Davin and Bill five grand each, to help me with it." Mack advises. "Bill, forgive me for turning him down on your name. We've never taken money for helping on this kind of move before, and I don't feel comfortable with changing it now." Davin prays. "You don't need forgiven, for speaking my mind. I understand you weren't sure, but it means Ted, Kiki, DaJuan and Felicia's moves, will happen while we're gone." Bill denies. "Clint, will you help me with the first part?" La'Tario wonders. "I'd feel better asking Dean to back me on DaJuan's and Felicia with their move, while you do that. You didn't know yet, so it's OK." Tyler reviles. "Leah, I'll need you and Tia's help on cleanup." Damian cautions. "You've got it on my end, brother." Leah ensures. "Same with mine." Tia affirms. Settling it with nods, the others join that trio, in finishing the drinks. Kissing their respective spouses, Damian's cleanup plan is delayed by a few minutes, but no one minds it. Assembling as they've been since Tynie's group got home, albeit briefly, the ones in charge of these moves, wait out the prescribed hour. As it ends, they prepare to leave, Anita locking up behind them. Escorting Taia and Lori to the restroom, out of a new habit, Alicia and Tia reinstate the family's trend for using that area.
Ending it, Bill's away from the others, when his wife takes a hard look at Tynie. "My conscience is beating my ass, sis. I feel like, I'm partly to blame, for what just happened. After all, that house was built on land that was willed to me, and sold under my consent." Tynie rambles. "Sis, it sounds like you have a bad understanding of liability laws. It's fine, because I can fix that, right now. You're not at fault for anything connected to this move, because your responsibility ended, the minute after the land was sold. Burt's in a similar boat, because his liability stopped, once the ink dried on his contract with HawkFord HomeBuilders. If they contact him or Taia saying otherwise, I want called immediately, so I can handle it. They'd be updated, but we'd need another meeting like this one, so they can debrief you guys." Liza debunks. "You've got it, sis." Burt avows. Exhaling a relieved breath, Tynie nods, and nestles up to her spouse. "Guys, Liza didn't know. I'll host that meeting at my house, because of what caused Tynie to get that education." Jenni imparts. Sustaining that decision with nods, most of her family goes quiet, as they wait for the others. Delayed by four hours, JT locks up, before the family fully regroups. Looking over his wife's head, Bobby lets the move groups know what they missed. "I don't want Liza scared awake by calls, I can field. She didn't know, but I know she knows how to use it to our advantage. If she needs it blessed, by someone linked to that house, she can come to me." DaJuan abstains. "Alright, son." Burt concedes. "You've got it, brother." Liza restates. Stunning them, Bobby's phone rings, him rushing to find out why. Fielding a call from Willie, he learns the meeting must be moved, because Willie got word of an out of town family funeral. "I'd like to give you my family's condolences, man. Call me, after you've been back for a couple days, and we'll pick it up from there." Bobby reprises. "Will do, and thanks, man." Willie retorts.
Wishing him well, and mutually hanging up, Bobby stores his phone. "You did right, brother." Russ implores. "Guys, I may be able to make that meeting easier. If Bill and Ted are OK with me using their fax machine and computer tomorrow: I'll do some research, print off the results, and ask you guys to have Willie cross reference it." DaJuan intends. "These moves didn't change your access to our property, brother. You know the rules for it, so as long as they're honored, it's fine." Bill declines. "Jack, the same's true for you and Lori at our house." Tianna shortens. "Ok." DaJuan and Jack submit, as one. "DaJuan, neither of you knew I'd have a slightly different idea, yet. It's Ok, but if you'll bookmark your research results and email Bobby a copy: we can print it off with my fax machine, making Bill's a backup, in case mine fucks up. You'll be texted if that happens, or other issues arise on our end, too." Frank overrules. "I'll reverse it on our end, brother." Ted elicits. "Aside from that, we have a new deal." DaJuan assures. "Guys, I believe that settles most of today's business. Urgent shit's exempt, because we can't predict it, of course." Leah guesses. "You guys want me to buy us some HiroHama's to close out our meeting?" Alice inquires. "If so, our tip comes from me." Tia deems. "Ladies, I'd prefer we use your offer another day, because of what today represented. We can still get HiroHama's, but it'd be on me, with the tip coming from one of our family's other men." La'Tario resists. "Make it me, brother. At least that way, I can tie in asking those ladies, and Anita to get the coffee table ready. We'd need to pick who helps bring in the meal, gets drinks, and handles cleanup, though." Clint volunteers. "I'll cover the first angle, guys." Bill obliges. "Keisha, will you and Flo help me on the second one?" Kiki asks. "Yeah." Flo and Keisha reply, in perfect sync. "Damian, will you back me on the third?" Felicia queries. "I'm more comfortable making it a four way split with Russ, asking my baby to help on drinks, and asking Leah to help bring our order in, sis. You guys didn't know yet, but it's because we've been lucky not to end up at St. Lucia's today." JT refutes. "He's got a damn good point, guys. The last thing we need to do is, risk changing that luck, especially considering today's events. You were right, to make it so Tynie and those who are healing, don't risk violating Dr. Perez's orders, too. Felicia, just so you're clear, that means my answer's yes." Damian adjudicates. Smiling through an understanding nod, Felicia sees her cousin grab his phone, from the corner of her eye.
Off the call ten minutes later, La'Tario stashes his phone, then informs his kin he got their usual meal spread and wait time. Alternating who thanks him, the others witness their plan for meal prep come true, and end with the people behind it retaking seats. Waiting out most of the delivery timeline, Tynie's family restarts their trends for dealing with that, when there's about twenty minutes to go. Soon after the house is secured, the men who brought in this meal, start distributing shares. Enjoying it all, cleanup's done in silence, them regrouping the same way. Cuddling up by couple, Tynie's family aims to relax, and let periodic restroom trips be the sole exclusion. They succeed for a while, so Taia quietly decides to carefully infuse short affections, which crafts a new pattern amongst them. Burning some time, Leah eventually kisses Russ's cheek, then gently liberates herself from his embrace.
Exiting her seat, she spurns a new pattern, which ends with everyone meeting by the coffee table. Hugging one another; Tynie's family disbands the gathering, JT securing the house after most of them. True to another norm, Jenni's household waits on word the others arrived home safe, which takes almost two hours. Upon learning traffic, and getting the freshly-recovered family members situated were to blame, she sends understanding and good night wishes to them all. Receiving the latter regard in kind, Jenni begins one of today's last patterns, by storing her phone and leading her housemates across the residence. Closing themselves off, everyone from Tia to Annalise honors most of their regimen for ending a day, yet getting intimate's excluded. No one minds it, because today's pace left them too exhausted to really enjoy that. Nestled up, under the covers as usual, all the couples in Tynie's family succumb to slumber. Snoring as well, they have one question, which went unmentioned, ravage their minds.
Will today's family scramble, end as well as the prior ones?
