Title: Tragic Intrusions.
Rating: M (Language & Situations)
A/N: Dick Wolf owns LOCI characters, all others are mine. NO LINKS BETWEEN THIS CHAPTER & REALITY ARE INTENDED.
WARNING: CHARACTER DEATHS REFERENCED IN THIS CHAPTER!
A rundown of events….
After Damian and Tyler's new meeting format was tried, Tynie's family enjoyed an upswing in life, for three years. Unfortunately, Burt having a fatal aneurysm, and Taia's heart failing during separate slumbers, changed that. As a show of reverence to them, Mack and Lori handled funeral arrangements, ensuring the family's elders got top-notch. Devastated by the loss of her parents; Felicia spiraled into a depression, that got dangerously severe really fast. Scared nearly out of his wits, DaJuan called for a family wide code red, at his father in law's house. Initiating it by discussing that terror, he learned it's a universal one, which inspired Kiki. "Tynie, I need your help treating this house's electronics like you did mine, when we lost DonTarius and Dena. If you'll do it, I'll pay Bobby a hundred grand, for taking lead from this point on." She implored. "I'm not taking your money, sis. You're right to have those electronics handled that way, but it'd be safer, if you two got some backup." Bobby protested. "I can get my baby to do that, in a couple minutes, ladies." Clint volunteered. "Lead the way, Kiki." Tia amended.
Obliging her, Kiki wound up spending an hour and a half, sharing the workload on her idea for this household's electronics. Mere moments after rejoining the others, Tynie heard Felicia whimper "Why'd they have to go? Why can't I join them?" "Whoa, sis. We all miss them, but there's another way you can deal with it. Just close your eyes, listen, and picture what I'm saying. All our guardian angels greeted Burt and Taia, in heaven, a few days ago. Big smiles, big hugs, big wings with halos, and the biggest glasses of Tynie's signature drinks anyone's ever seen. They chatted to catch up, and probably laugh at her weirdness. Hopefully, she'll forgive me for that one. Anyway, now I can see them looking down, hoping we'll come to them, when we need divine protection. They know we'll always look out for each other; but we can only do so much down here. I wish it were different, yet the best work around I can think of, entails overtaking control of the kitchen and asking Frank to hijack the grill. If he'll do it, I'll have my baby cut the check Kiki referenced." JT apprised. "I'm not mad about how you segued my weirdness into this, brother. If anything, it helped me realize, there's a bit more I can do. I'd need y'all to understand my decision to back Frank up is grounded in the fact we're all waiting on updated insurance cards, for this to work, though." Tynie balked. "JT, you just learned why I'm about to owe Ted three cases of Sake Kings for helping us." Damian scolded. "Just get me one, next time I'm at your house, brother." Ted rebelled. "JT, that makes it two. Bobby was right, to advise we not run cash debts between each other, since we've had two funerals in less than a week." Frank corrected.
Shrugging, JT heard his wife bring their conversation to arranging the next meal and drinks. Upon arriving at a consensus, on having steaks, burgers and brats, with Anita's Angel Wings drink; Tynie and Frank arose to honor their end of it. Behind their backs, Annalise, Lori and Jack got the coffee table ready, while their remaining relatives waited. Nearly an hour went by, before JT, Ted and Damian got up to make the drinks, affording Tynie a chance to watch the grill as it cooled down. Reassembled in the living room, everyone from Frank to Flo ate in silence, and watched Tia, Anita, and Clint clean up. Snarling a breath, Tynie rubbed her left hand down her face. "Sis, it's sweet you want to make this easier on Felicia, DaJuan, and La'Tario's household. You don't need to risk an ER visit over it, though. We can just as easily handle the rest, and have you guys updated. In fact, if Dean and Annalise will follow me into the study, we can make a plan that should map out how we settle what I mean." Russ imparted. "We're right behind you, brother." Dean goaded.
Catching the hint, Russ kissed his wife's cheek, and lead them out of the room. Secluded in the study, those three spent another two hours resolving how Burt and Taia's estate is distributed. Finishing it by locking away print offs, they headed back for the living room, where Annalise updated the others. "Russ didn't know, I don't want my baby, Felicia, or Keisha keeping Burt and Taia's vehicles. It's alright, because I'm pretty sure I can double Damian's original pricetag with Bill to get that changed. Oh, and just so he's clear: I want the vehicles donated to an organization that helps low income veterans." La'Tario contested. "Bill, please tell me…" Anita started. "I understand he wasn't sure Dean's plan change was covered by Bobby's advice, sis. Hopefully, La'Tario realizes it means the most I'll take is: a Sake King, the next two times I'm at his house." Bill finalized. "Deal." La'Tario quipped. "Dad, wouldn't it be safer to prove your end of this, in a few days?" Ted pondered. "I'd very strongly advise it, brother. You just explained half the reason why, but the rest surrounds, those ladies getting a chance to truly grieve." Jeremiah verified. "Bill needs backup, and to have Dean serve as the witness, guys. We don't know if any of those organizations are run by scammers, or if other issues will come up. If this means, his pricetag carries over to my house, so be it." Jenni reckoned. "It doesn't, because we can't predict when our family's luck with packaging conditions will come back around." Jack negated. "I'm not disputing that. Are you, Dean?" Bill compelled. "No. Jeremiah already said why, the earliest I'll have you over is Tuesday at eleven, though." Dean faltered. "You should make it nine, on account of traffic, especially during lunch rush." Bobby counseled. "He merely beat me to insisting on that, by a couple minutes, guys." Flo warned.
Surrendering with nods, Bill and Dean left that topic as it stood, then heard the ladies La'Tario cited, break down crying. Tynie joined them, causing Bobby to quickly embrace her, as Tyler ran their way. Kneeling before her, he asked "What can I do, sis?" "Promise me, you'll be more careful running up on any of us, brother. You nearly faceplanted into the coffee table, and today's not the day we should be risking ER visits." Bobby interrupted. "Tell me you'll cut a deal so everyone that's crying, doesn't have to be armed for a while. If it means I break my honey's decision on cash debts, so fuckin' be it." Tynie wept. "You're not the one risking that, sis. I am, because Russ was right, you really have done enough." Tyler refuted. "Tyler, if you'll agree to Bobby's request, and to share the driving with me: I'll show you how we can settle the deal she wants. We'll need my baby to debrief everyone else later, though." Tia intervened. "I'm good with most of that, guys. My honey didn't know, I'd prefer she act as our witness because of Bobby's ER visit and traffic concerns, yet. It's fine, but it means I owe Jeremiah, Flo, and Liza bottles of Dom Perignon for having them brace themselves to defend this to Rotterdamn and the cops." Clint overruled. "Make it Sapporos, had in a rotation, at future family functions. Trust me brother, it's safest, given our current situation." Angela contradicted. "She's right. Even if that weren't the case, I'd have insisted on the downgrade, so our debts are more on par with each other." Liza admonished. "We know you didn't know yet, so it's OK." Flo sated. "Ok." Clint rasped.
Kissing Tynie's right hand, Tyler whispered "We'll be safe, sis." "Alright." Tynie murmured. Standing tall, he's met by his spouse, who chastely kissed him. Stepping back, Damian sees Tia, Tyler and Clint prepare to leave, the last man locking up. Walking back to his seat, then quietly retaking it, Damian brought today's meeting current.
Glancing around the room, Damian sees La'Tario, DaJuan, and Davin rest their heads on their wives's shoulders, and close their eyes. "Markus, Jack, I need your help. This time, it entails you hugging Davin and Keisha, Jack hugging DaJuan and Felicia, while I hug La'Tario and Alicia." Davin requests. "I have a different idea, brother. You text Tia, saying we've just made it so the only times any of those guys are armed are, in absolute emergencies. Then, say I'll text her or have her texted, when I believe enough grieving time has passed. While you're doing that, Jack and I'll clear the rest of your idea, and we'll go from there." Markus rebuts. "I'm on it now." Damian resounds. Grabbing his phone, Damian aims to prove himself, while Markus's plan change is honored. "We need to lockoff Burt and Taia's room, until Tia gets that update." Tianna grouses. "I'll do it, after Tia, Tyler, and Clint get back, sis. Sorry, but I'd rather not get told we have to haul ass to St. Lucia's when I'm in the middle of that job." Mack hinders. "I'm his spotter, guys. You basically just heard why, too." Russ intercedes. "Tia's been updated, as far as we can, for now. She's grateful we have that covered, because a news story from Channel 33 just came across the radio. Curtis's store is being taken by the IRS, because he's cheated on taxes, two years running. Clint's advised, we pay Jack or Annalise, for using their retirement status on finding us a new lock store because of it." Damian proclaims. "Will you tell him, the most I'll take is a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, next time I'm at his house?" Annalise propositions. "Sure." Damian quips.
Retaining his word, and closing this chat out by family norms for texted ones, Damian puts his phone away. "Damian, stand down. Russ was right, today's definitely not the day we should risk ER visits, and there are other people here who can help. I know, because I'm one of them. Matter of fact, once I get Jack to serve as my witness, I'll prove it, by making it so Tia's crew doesn't have to worry about dealing with DaJuan and Felicia's guns." Anita discourages. "You have it backwards, due to our current insurance status, sis. I know you weren't sure, so it's OK." Jack rescinds. "Ok." Anita sighs. Kissing their spouses on the cheek, those two exit the area, long enough to fulfil their word. Slowly lifting her head, Tynie justifies "Damian, we didn't mean to upset you. I just, can bank it on God's balls, us landing in St. Lucia's right now, would make what caused this call out.. A lot worse. All they're trying to do is, use how they'd tell me to sit back, to avoid it. They didn't know it'd inspire me to call in unowed favors from Russ, Terry, and JT, yet, but it's alright. I hope they'll promise me, they'll call me or have me called, if they need my help getting you to stop slaving around. You know our exclusions to that, but my decision's grounded in a concern on you getting hurt. If this means I violate my honey's debt decision, so be it." Tynie justifies. "Tynie, your intentions are sweet. I just, don't feel right, having you risk another wreck; just to keep your word. If people would fuckin' drive right, instead of driving like they're trying to kill other people or bait them into lawsuits, it'd be different. Sorry, but that's why, my answer is: we'll find another way, and let you know." Terry denies. "Alright." Tynie mutters. "Guys, I think we should leave the business end of this, where it is, for today. We still have to get through to Felicia, that her depression's guiding her down a very scary path. If I knew how to make it blatant, without upsetting her more, I'd do it." Leah restricts. "I didn't mean to scare you guys so much." Felicia pines. "We know, sis. Our fear is based on our love, but Leah was right, in a respect she wasn't entirely clear on. Aside from clearing Mack's plan, and maybe even getting some HiroHama's together, we've handled all we can, business wise, today. I'll call Dean, Bill and Jack, to reschedule the rest, so you, Alicia, Keisha, Davin, DaJuan, and La'Tario get time to really grieve." Frank purports. "Just text me, by next Friday, brother. Sorry, but I'd prefer not to have that clash with Tynie's next appointment with Dr. Perez." Jack rebels. "Beyond it, the HiroHama's is on me. I'll need Ted to cover our tip, though." Bill adheres. "Consider it done, dad." Ted eludes. "I know what inspired that plan change, guys. We agree Terry's concern over Tynie warrants Dean, Bill, and Jack having another witness. Bill just didn't know, I'd use it to back helping them get the HiroHama's brought in, yet. It's alright, because I'm pretty sure I can have Tianna, Kiki, Leah, and Jenni get everything situated so we can eat." Anita recognizes. "I'm in. How about you, ladies?" Leah goads.
Answering in a chorus, Kiki, Jenni, and Tianna all say "Yep!" "Slickly done, Anita. I'm not having my baby make the call, until we get a specific area locked off. You know what one, and why I'm not naming it, too." Flo abstains. "Yep." Anita deters. "Baby, I need help on something else. I need you, to find out why so many of our loved ones, aren't crying with us." Alicia desires, with grieving in her tone. "We're shelving it, so we can look out for you. I already know, if Tynie feels I'm taking it too far: she'll have Bobby get the word out, so we can reset our latest deals. You may not have, so it's Ok." Frank stipulates. "Babe, consider this fair warning. If we don't hear from Anita he's grieved by Tuesday or seen it ourselves in the same timeline: you're being sent out in his place; and I'm paying Terry ten grand to watch over us." Tynie reproaches. "I'd rather just be called or texted out to your house, sis. I know you weren't sure, but it's thanks to the fact, some of us will have to contend with bank account access delays. Bobby may get pissy with me for this, but that's why I'd make it Monday if I were him." Terry refuses. "It's half my reason, and the rest surrounds us not knowing if Dr. Perez will have to reschedule with my baby." Bobby counters. Stunning them, Clint interjects "Hey guys, can we do anything else for you?" "How long.." Lori initiates. "About five minutes, but Tyler advised us to come in as quietly as we could, in case you guys were updating deals. He also said, it'd be fairer if Clint or I took over any, that trace back to Tynie's appointments. You can blame it on what she said about our insurance, too." Tia finishes. "Tyler didn't know I'd have a different preference, yet. It's fine, because you're all learning now, our risks of facing wrecks or wreck induced lawsuits are why that takeover falls to me." Flo insists. "Ok. On our way back here, Clint suggested I let Davin and La'Tario know their wives's guns have been moved into their secure room, about fifty feet away from the door. We did it, so they'd have relatively quick access to those firearms, in case theirs need cleaned or replaced." Tyler recalls. "DaJuan, you just learned why Felicia's guns are in the same distance away from the home office's door." Jack confesses. "I want something else understood, guys. If any of you have to deal with Sean before we get today's remaining business settled: I want called out to you, on a code red, so I can take lead on it. If he asks, I'll tell him my decision's meant to make the prospect of Dr. Perez rescheduling, easier on Tynie, Bobby, and Frank." Jeremiah scolds.
Conceding with nods, Tia, Clint and Tyler head to claim seats, as their family mimics the first part of their reaction. A couple minutes later, Mack and Russ delicately kiss their wives's cheeks, on the way to locking off Burt and Taia's area. "Shit. I just realized we need to update Mack's tattoo rig, and our in memoriam ones." DaJuan curses. "That's my turf, brother. None of you knew yet, but I'll need Bill to act as my witness, and to keep you all posted; in case we have issues come up." Alice recoils. "I'll do it, on one condition. You need to realize, the most I'll take for it is: a Sapporo before I go home, the day we get that new rig." Bill obstructs. "Deal." Alice restates. "Honey, now, I'm curious. Would you get pissed if I got anklet tattoos for the memoriam update?" Tynie worries. "Babe, I have the same question for you." Felicia admits. "May Bobby forgive me for lumping him into this, baby. We shouldn't get mad at you ladies for coming up with a beautiful tribute idea. You'd never do it to us, if the roles were reversed. So, as long as we don't leave doing all the tattoos up to Mack, it's fine." DaJuan instills. "I'm not upset by that, brother. If anything, I believe we should make the anklet tattoos an option for all the women in our family, to make that tribute a bit easier. We'd have to come up with another one, for us guys, though." Bobby dissents. "Would any of you land in the doghouse over getting upper armband tattoos?" Clint probes. "As long as Mack's new rig gets a few hours break between tattoo jobs, my answer for Frank is no." Anita quantifies. "We should make that an across the board thing, guys. It's safest, and our best way to cut the risks of insurance claims down." Kiki suggests. Mere seconds pass, before everybody surrounding her swears "Consider it done." Essentially treating it as a cue, Bill retrieves his phone, using it to make the HiroHama's order.
Awaiting that result, his family's delayed by several minutes, Russ and Mack using it as a chance to reclaim their seats. "We got the usual wait time, guys." Bill reports. "Russ, do you want me to debrief you and Mack on what you missed?" Liza inquires. "We heard something about a new tattoo rig, and new tattoos. I hope you guys don't mind, arranging the second part so Tynie gets hers around when Bill and Flo get theirs, so Bobby has an easier time resetting her appointment with Dr. Perez." Russ simplifies. "That's Flo's call, brother. Bill can get pissy with me all he wants, but in my book, it's an act of respect towards her elder status." Tynie abstains. "Sis, I'll go with that, on one condition. You need to understand, it means I'm picking you up on the day we get the tattoos, so no one risks issues with the fire marshal." Bill hedges. "If your car acts up before then, call me, and I'll reverse the carpool." Bobby contrives. "Deal." Flo reissues. Carefully amending their poses to sit back, DaJuan, Felicia, Davin, Keisha, Alicia and La'Tario all smirk. "I may know what just crossed all of your minds. You feel bad about letting out your true emotions, when you shouldn't. We'd be given the same respect, so why not take it yourselves?" Annalise pre-empts. "She's right, guys. Besides, I'm pretty sure the men in our houses will insist on us all doing as you did, before our night's done." Leah ascertains. "Hell, I can see it being why we make a deal to only be in contact for emergencies after this meeting." Jenni sustains. "I planned on asking you guys to make it so she's half right, but the rest surrounds needing to reset our future meetings. Had she not spoken up, it would've happened after we got meal cleanup done." JT allocutes. "Now we can consider it settled, and close out the business end of our meeting, with this meal." Terry deems.
Supporting that with nods, Tynie and her family soon experience a solemn rendition of their delivered meal sharing trends. Gathering as they've been for most of today, Tynie takes a hard look at Felicia. "Sis, this time, I'm the one who may be able to read a mind. You're afraid, I won't let you help her if she needs it again, because of your medical restrictions. Don't be, because I have no problem having you called, if she asks for you. If not, I'll get someone in La'Tario's house to carry it over." DaJuan predicts. "I'd rather make it so, we call her if she's asked for, no matter which house is involved." Clint amends. "Even better." Felicia intrudes. "Sounds like we have a new deal, guys." Tynie assumes.
Allowing that to adjourn today's business, Tynie's family lets the area fall silent, Tianna heading to the restroom without breaking that. Unintentionally restarting a family trend by doing so, she sees her father in law end it. Once he gets back into the living room, they meet up by the coffee table. Exchanging tight hugs and "love you's," Tynie's family disperses, with Clint locking up behind most of them. As a sad change of pace, DaJuan's first act as head of this household, is his waiting on word his relatives made it home safely. Thanks to traffic, it doesn't arrive for nearly two hours, yet the people who delivered that news get understanding and love back. Storing his phone, DaJuan receives more hugs like the ones he got before their meeting ended, which spurns a chain in his home. Finishing it, Annalise is lead to her and Dean's area, the other couples who live with her following that trail. Closing themselves off, no one in this house knows, they timed it almost perfectly with everyone else they love.
Aware of why, DaJuan's household's couples briefly kiss, vow love, and enact many of their day-ending routines. Opting not to get intimate, they snuggle up, and take another chance to mourn. Unbeknownst to them, it's part of another family wide mindset, which ends when people fall asleep. As snores echo in all their homes, Tynie's family has one unmentioned discovery cross their minds.
A day that centered on dealing with the aftermath of a couple tragic intrusions, ended without more problems.
