(A/N: I know, I've been MIA longer this time than most. And I feel truly bad about keeping all of my readers waiting. 2020 was truly a shitty year and Covid 19 hit my family hard. My aunt and cousin both passed away from it within a matter of days after contracting it, and my uncle is still sick with it. And we've only been able to have funeral's via Zoom, so it's been really tough these past couple of months. With that being said, I haven't forgotten about my stories, but there has been a lot going on in my life. I have missed writing and wanted to try and ease my way back into it, but once I get started it's kind of hard to stop. So I have new updates on three of my stories for you all to read. I hope you all will enjoy them, and thanks for sticking with me through these tough times. I hope everyone stays safe. Also #BlackLivesMatter RIP to Duante Wright. And I hope justice will be served for George Floyd as well. Alright thanks again you guys. Enjoy!)
"Don't Know Why I'm Still Surprised..."
Fitz and Huck were winding down their work day the next day, that Sunday afternoon. Since Monday was a holiday the shop was going to be closed. Which is why Fitz came in to help Huck that morning, even though that was normally his off day. He'd worked on a few cars that were at the shop, but he spent most of his time trying to work on Olivia's car. It looked as if the alternator had been going back for a while now. He wondered why she didn't bring it in much sooner, they might have been able to save it.
Huck noticed that Fitz had been working on Olivia's car, even though she hadn't paid any deposit for service yet. Nor had he charged her for the tow. He just covered both expenses himself. Huck wondered if Fitz was close with Olivia. He knew she tutored his son after school. But he hadn't actually seen them hanging out around town. He'd known her since high school and the only person he'd ever seen her around was her husband. Maybe Fitz knew her from somewhere, or maybe he had a crush on her? He didn't know, but he wanted to find out. For if nothing else, to save his friend from heartache. Olivia wasn't half the person she used to be in high school, before she got with Jake. She now put him above everything, while Jake put everything before her. He'd hate to see Fitz get hurt.
He walked out to the garage, where Fitz was working diligently on Olivia's car, replacing some parts he'd bought for it himself. He had his head under the hood, tightening the screws on a part. When Huck walked in.
He called out to Fitz to get his attention. "Hey man, time to close up in a few."
Fitz finished tightening the part and closed the hood. "Yeah, I was just about done for the day anyway." He wiped his hands with one of the rags he'd kept in his jumpsuit pocket. His face was smudged in car oil and his hands were filthy. Fitz had put a lot of work into her car that day.
But Huck didn't mention it. "So I was gonna head to Lucky's to grab a few beers, you should come. They're having a three dollar special all night."
Fitz wiped the sweat off of his forehead. "I don't know man, I need to spend some time with Teddy you know."
Huck nodded. "Sure," he understood that. "But I'll be there for a while, so just stop by if you want."
Fitz shrugged. "Ok cool, I'll let you know."
"I'm gonna lock up the office, just give me a holler when you're ready for me to close up the garage."
"Sure thing man, thanks."
Thirty minutes later, the two of them were walking to their cars to head out for the day. "Don't forget to text me if you decide to come," said Huck.
Fitz put his bag in the back seat. "I will. Send me the address."
"Okay, see you dude," said Huck getting into his pick up truck.
"See, ya later buddy." Fitz got into his car and drove home.
When he got there, he walked inside and smelled dinner cooking. Teddy was watching cartoons in the den. Verna poked her head out of the kitchen.
"Alright boys wash up, dinner will be ready in twenty minutes."
Fitz walked over to Teddy and ruffled his hair. "How ya doing buddy?"
"Alright daddy," Teddy gave him a quick hug. "Grandma Verna helped me build a fort in the backyard today." He said, grinning up at Fitz happily, his two front teeth missing.
Fitz smiled at him. "That's awesome sport, you'll have to show me after dinner."
"Okay."
Fitz held out his hand. "Come on, let's get washed up for dinner," he told nodded and took his hand as Fitz helped him stand up.
After helping Teddy get ready for dinner, Fitz took a quick shower to get the smell of the garage off of him. He walked downstairs and Verna had set the table. She made Spaghetti and meatballs, Teddy's favorite. A garden salad and some fresh garlic bread.
"Dig in boys," she told them.
Fitz helped Teddy make his plate, before making his own. They started eating and Verna asked Fitz about his day at work.
"It was fine gran, I worked on a few cars today," he told her.
"Huck treating you alright?" she asked?
Fitz ate a little before responding. "Yeah, Huck's great. He invited me out to a bar tonight. But I told him no. You've been with Teddy all day, and I've missed my little guy," he said smiling over at his son whose face was messy with spaghetti sauce all over it, as he continued eating without a care in the world.
Verna looked over at Teddy and smiled as well. "He's no bother," she said looking back at Fitz. "And you need to get out more and make some friends. Huck's one of the few good ones around here. You should meet up with him after you finish," she suggested.
"You sure?" He asked? "Just because we've moved in with you, doesn't mean I expect you to watch him all the time," said Fitz motioning to Teddy.
"I love watching him Fitz. And you're still young. I want you to get out there and have some fun. You've spent so much of your younger adult years working, let loose a little. Who knows, maybe you'll meet someone special." she told him.
Fitz smiled. "Okay, grams, I'll head out after I finish. Thanks."
Verna just winked at him in response.
Once they finished dinner, Fitz and Teddy cleared the table. Teddy was a little tired from his playful day with their grandmother, so Fitz tucked him into bed around 7:30 that night. He texted Huck right after he finished eating and asked him if he was still at the bar. Huck texted back and told him, he'd just gotten there about ten minutes ago. So Fitz told him he'd be coming in about thirty minutes. After reading Teddy a bedtime story and helping Verna with the dishes, Fitz headed out to Lucky's.
It looked like your typical dive bar. It was one level with only three stairs to the entrance. The bar had two swinging doors, colorful bright lights hanging around the outside of the place. Loud indie music was blasting outside. A few people were sitting outside the bar, enjoying their Sunday night. It was a nice warm September night, so the bar was probably packed on the inside. Especially since a lot of people didn't have to go to work the next day.
Fitz walked inside and looked for Huck, he was seated at the bar, watching a baseball game. Fitz headed over to him and took the bar stool next to him. Huck passed him a beer.
"Glad you could make it."
Fitz took the beer and sipped from it. "Yeah thanks, me too." Fitz drank a bit more before saying. "My grandmother kind of forced me out of the house." He chuckled and so did Huck. "She says I need to make more friends, since I'm still new here. Feels like I'm in High School or something," he joked.
Huck laughed. "I know what you mean. A lot of people around here never move away after high school. There's still little clicks here, it's honestly kind of annoying."
"So what click were you in?" He asked. Huck grew up here, but never really talked about his home life while they were in the service together.
Huck took another gulp of his beer before answering. "I mostly hung out with motor heads like myself. There was Charlie, he joined the CIA after college. My friend Harrison. He's a big time lawyer in D.C. now, and my high school sweetheart Kim. She moved to California for college and I joined the military. We tried to make it work, but we were just two different people after a while, you know."
Fitz nodded. "Seems like some people did get out of here after high school then."
Huck drained the contents of his glass. "Yeah, not enough people though."
"Did you go to school with Olivia?" he asked.
Huck smiled. He was waiting for this question. So Grant did have a crush on her, poor guy. "Yeah I did, she was a few years below me though. Smart as a whip. She took my twelfth grade history class, while she was just a sophomore. She even ended up tutoring me for a while." Huck laughed.
Fitz laughed a little too. He took another sip of his beer and said. "I saw her wearing a Duke shirt when I picked up her car the other day."
Huck nodded, signaling for the bartender to come their way. "Yeah, I heard she went there for college after high school. Full scholarship and everything."
"Hey Huck, how's the mechanic life treating you?" asked the bartender, as she got to them.
"Hey Luna, not bad at all." Huck clapped Fitz on the back. "This is Fitz, the new mechanic at the shop. Fitz, this is Luna Vargas, her dad owns Lucky's," he said introducing them. Fitz smiled at her and shook her hand.
"Nice to meet you Luna." He said.
"You too Fitz," she shook his hand as well. "Huck here been giving you any trouble," she asked jokingly.
Fitz grinned. "Nothing I can't handle." He nudged Huck playfully.
"Good, someone needs to keep this one in line," she teased.
"Hey I'm right here, ya know," said Huck sarcastically.
Luna smirked. "We know, that's why we said it." Fitz and Luna shared a laugh.
"Hardy-har har," mumbled Huck. "Can we get another round on this guy," said Huck, nudging Fitz back. Fitz laughed again, and shrugged.
"This rounds on me," said Luna, winking at Huck. He blushed as she went off to grab their beers.
"Looks like someone has a crush on the bartender," teased Fitz.
"Shut up."
Fitz laughed again. He glanced down at Luna who looked over at Huck before pouring their beers. "I think she might like you too man," said Fitz, finishing off his first beer.
Huck shook his head. "No way bruh, remember those clicks I told you about." Fitz nodded. "Yeah well Luna was one of the most popular girls in school. Head cheerleader, homecoming and prom queen. Way out of my league," he stated.
Fitz shrugged again. "Maybe that was true back then, but you're not in high school anymore Huck."
Before Huck could respond, Luna brought their drinks back to them. "Alright boys, here you go." Luna put their drinks down in front of them. They thanked her. "Let me know if you guys need anything else," she told them, but she was mainly looking at Huck.
Once she left to go attend to another customer, Fitz leaned over and said. "She totally likes you."
Huck shook his head again in disagreement. He took a sip of his beer. "Naw man, Luna's...well she dated the star quarterback, you know. Followed him to college at Clemson. They got married, had a daughter. Pretty little girl named Maria, she's Teddy's age. I don't know if she's in his class or not. But after Frankie, her ex-husband, made the pro's, he started cheating, they got divorced, and she and her daughter moved back here. She hasn't really dated anyone since, and that was over two years ago," said Huck.
"Maybe she's just waiting for the right guy to ask her out," suggested Fitz.
"Before Frankie," continued Huck, ignoring what Fitz was hinting at. "She dated the captain of the basketball team, who just so happens to be your son's teacher's husband."
"Wait Luna dated Jake Ballard?" asked Fitz in disbelief.
He couldn't see how anyone would ever want to date that asshole. Sure he didn't know him very well. But the impression he'd gotten of him so far wasn't too high.
Huck drank some more beer. "Yep, she broke things off with him before our junior year. They got into some big fight or something over the summer, then she started dating Frankie and he got with Olivia."
"Hold on, Jake's your age?" he asked.
Huck ate some of the bar peanuts. "Yeah, we all graduated together nine years ago. But I wouldn't say we're close. Hell I wouldn't even call us friends. Well not that asshole Ballard."
"What was Jake like in high school?" Fitz wondered out loud.
Huck drank some more of his beer. "Pretty much the same as he is now, a douchebag. He was a mediocre basketball player at best, but because his father was in politics and they were well off, the coach made him basketball captain over some much more talented players." Huck drank some more as he continued his rant. "He only dated the hottest girls in school, and he always got away with every stupid ass thing he's ever did. Just because of who his daddy is."
"What's his dad do now?" asked Fitz?
"He's the fucking mayor," scowled Huck as he ate some more peanuts. "How do you think Jake got to be deputy sheriff? I mean he's only twenty-seven years old." Huck rolled his eyes. "There are cops in this town that have been with the force longer than he's been alive that haven't seen deputy sheriff yet, because daddy's boy gets what daddy's boy wants."
Huck sounded like he held a lot of animosity towards Jake. "What'd he do to you?" asked Fitz?
Huck laughed humorlessly. "It's not what he did to me, it's what he did to a friend of mine."
Fitz looked at him curiously, eager for him to elaborate further.
Huck sighed before he continued. "I grew up with this kid named Gideon Wallace. He was my best friend since we'd met back in the fourth grade," he explained. "Well Gideon, he always wanted to become a journalist, he loved writing articles, even when we were kids." Huck smiled at the thought of the old memories of his friend.
"Anyway," Huck continued. "The basketball team was losing badly when Jake started playing our sophomore year. I don't know what was wrong with him, but he just didn't have his head in it. He sprained his ankle on a fishing trip with some of his friends one weekend and he was out for like three weeks. While he wasn't playing, the team started doing a lot better. But of course you couldn't tell him that."
Huck frowned. "Well Gideon wrote an article for the school paper on how successful the team was at that point. And Jake took it as a personal dig towards him. So he and his asshole friends started bullying Gideon. I mean constantly. They'd get access to his locker somehow and put shaving cream all over his stuff. Messing up his homework assignments and shit. They'd corner him when he was by himself and steal his lunch money. They'd taunt him, make fun of his clothes. I mean they teased him relentlessly. And because of who his dad is, Jake and his friends never received any type of punishment. At least not one that stuck."
"Damn dude." Fitz said. That was truly harsh. Fitz hated bullies.
"Yeah," said Huck as he sipped some. "It really sucked for Gideon." Huck got a dark look on his face. "Well one day Gideon got tired of the unending torment, ya know, like who wouldn't." Fitz nodded in understanding. "Yeah so Gideon told me he was going to challenge Jake to a fight. I told him it was a stupid idea. Even if he won the fight, Jake would find a way to get back at him. But Gideon didn't want to hear it. I offered to walk with him more, you know like home and to class and what not. But Gideon didn't want a personal bodyguard with him for the rest of high school."
Huck shook his head as he finished off his beer. "One day I got sick. I'd caught the flu. But before that happened, even though he didn't want me too; I walked with Gideon everywhere. Jake laid off him when I started walking with him, because he knew that I could fight. I was always in detention because of it, even got suspended a few times. I was a hothead back then." Huck stated as an afterthought.
"Until the military whipped you into shape," joked Fitz.
"Hooah," he said playfully reciting the army chant. Fitz smiled. Then Huck continued. "But since I wasn't in school for the whole week because of the flu; he started taunting him again. After a week of this, Gideon got fed up with it. That Friday he challenged Jake in front of the whole school at lunch in the cafeteria to a fight. I'd never seen Jake fight or even heard of him fighting anyone before. But I didn't imagine he could fight, because he would've teased him still once I started walking with Gideon, you know."
Fitz sipped his beer as he continued to listen to Huck's story.
"Well Jake accepted, because he knew he'd look like a pussy if he didn't. Word got around school, so Jake told him that they couldn't fight there because they'd get suspended or expelled or something if they got caught. He told Gideon if he really wanted to fight him, then they'd have to meet at the abandoned warehouse over on Crawford street. Nobody really hung out there except burnouts, and bums, so they wouldn't get in trouble. Gideon agreed to it just wanting all of this to be over."
Huck sighed deeply before he continued. Fitz could tell by the way his demeanor changed this story did not have a happy ending for his friend Gideon.
Huck finished off his third beer. "They met up there after school, and like at least fifty people from school showed up too. Jake was like the big man on campus next to Frankie, so of course he drew a crowd. Everyone formed a huge circle around the two of them like it was a fight club or something." Huck shook his head. "They danced around each other for a few minutes, both waiting for the other to throw the first punch. After a minute or two Jake started taunting him. He swung at Jake and missed. And the crowd laughed. Jake taunted him some more and Gideon was able to land a punch this time. It caught Jake off guard. People started laughing at Jake, so of course he got angry."
"What happened?" Fitz asked, almost afraid of what the answer would be.
Huck looked down. Fitz could've sworn he saw a tear in his eye. "Umm, they started fighting for real. Jake landed a couple of punches, but Gideon was holding his own. At least that's what my friend Charlie told me, he was there when the fight happened, that's how I know the story. Anyway. Gideon punched Jake in the face like super hard, so hard that he fell down. People were cheering and laughing, and Jake got super embarrassed. Out of nowhere Jake's best friend Tom kicked Gideon in the back and he fell to the ground. Jake got up and kicked Gideon in the face, while he was down on the ground. That's when three more of Jake's friends joined in the fight and they jumped him. They held him down while Jake beat him so bad that he had permanent brain damage. They fractured three of his ribs. Dislocated his shoulder. And fractured his jaw. He was in a coma for two months."
Fitz's eyes widened in shock. "Are you fucking serious!" he hissed.
"Yeah, I was almost glad I wasn't there to see it. Charlie said he looked unrecognizable after all that."
Fitz was still in disbelief. "Why didn't anyone try to stop it?" he asked.
Huck sighed heavily again. "Charlie said that once Jake and his friends started jumping him. People left. It wasn't a fair fight and by the time they were done, only he and like two other people were there when it was all over. Jake paid Charlie two hundred bucks to film the fight. And once they started jumping Gideon, Charlie was too afraid to stop filming,"
"What, why the fuck would he do that?"
"Because it was a setup from the start. Jake planned this all along to make himself look tough. He figured since Gideon hung out with me, I'd taught him how to fight or something. So he got his friends to make sure he didn't lose."
"That's fucking sadistic!" Fitz was still trying to process all of this.
"I'll never forget the first time I went to visit him in the hospital. I'd never seen so many tubes attached to a person in my life," said Huck solemnly.
Fitz shook his head in disbelief still. "So what happened after that? Did Gideon ever get better? What did Charlie do with the video?"
Huck wiped at his eye. "Um..Charlie gave Jake the video he recorded, but he kept a couple of copies that he never told Jake about. He turned the video into the police."
"Well what did they do?" he asked.
Huck sniffed. "Nothing."
"Wait what?" Fitz shook his head in disbelief once more. "What do you mean, nothing?"
Huck looked Fitz in the eye, his own eyes were distant and cold. "I mean they did nothing. The cops were in his fathers pocket. They gave the video to his father, who destroyed it and made Charlie do community service. Then threatened him with other punishments if he were to ever mention the video again."
"What the hell? So what happened to Gideon?" he asked. "Did he ever get better? Did his family ever do anything to try and get justice?"
"His mother tried to press charges against Jake once I told her what Charlie told me, but of course nothing happened. So she went to Raleigh and petitioned the Governor's office, Charlie gave the cops a copy but also gave the one that he kept to her. She wanted the Governor to throw the book at Jake, but Jake's father was able to settle out of court with Gideon's family. As long as they signed a non-disclosure agreement, agreeing to never discuss what happened again. The court case was wiped from Jake's permanent record, and Jake's father paid all of Gideon's medical bills that the insurance wouldn't cover. Plus Jake's father gave Gideon's family a settlement of like three hundred thousand dollars to help keep them quiet."
Fitz drank some of his beer. "That's fucking crazy man. So what happened to Gideon?" he asked?
"Once the doctors said he was well enough to move, and his family received the settlement money; they relocated to California, and I never heard from him again. But that incident made Jake infamous and some of those assholes he calls friends are now cops at the department in town right along with him." Huck sounded tired.
"That's unbelievable." Fitz felt disgusted after hearing this. What kind of person could do this to someone?
"Yeah, I know. But Fitz listen; I didn't just tell you all of this because I wanted you to know about what happened back then. I'm telling you this story because Jake and his family run this town. He's basically untouchable. He's a cop and the law is on his side."
Fitz was still confused by where Huck was trying to go with this. "So what are you saying Huck?"
"You're sweet on Olivia." Huck stated. When it seemed like Fitz was about to protest Huck stopped him before he could. "Look you don't have to explain anything to me," he told him. "I know you're fixing her car for free, and I also know that she's helping your son." Huck paused, trying to carefully choose his next words. "But Jake... he's dangerous. He doesn't like anybody getting close to her. If he even suspects that you are; he'll make your life a living hell, and there won't be anything you can do about it."
Fitz looked at him defiantly. "Are you saying that I should be afraid of him?" he scoffed. "Because I'm not. In case you forgot Huck, I was in the special forces during my time in the Army." Fitz counted his fingers. "I did three tours in Afghanistan and two in Iraq. I've literally had bullets aimed and shot at my face. That punk is the last thing I'd be afraid of." Fitz reminded him.
Huck shook his head. "Not in the least bit bro," he said, waving him off. Huck knew how skilled Fitz was. He was a combat trained killer. Those instincts and experiences don't just disappear after you get out. Huck knew that more than anyone else. "I know your background man. I'm just saying be careful," he warned him. "Around here all that matters is who you know. Not what you know."
Fitz took in this information, but still wasn't the least bit phased. He felt bad for Huck's old friend Gideon, and hoped that he was okay now. But if Jake ever came at him that way, he might not live to regret it. He didn't care who his father was.
"I hear you," said Fitz, finishing off his second beer.
Just as they were about to order another round, the bar doors opened wide, hitting the wall with a loud thud. In walked Jake Ballard, and two other cops, all dressed in uniform. Most of the patrons at the bar greeted them kindly. Asking them how they were and offering to buy them beer. Jake walked through the bar, like he owned the place. Fitz saw Luna shake her head in disgust. Huck just ignored their presence, and went back to watching the baseball game. Fitz watched Jake and his cronies as they spoke with different patrons. One thing was for sure; they had everyone's attention. Fitz didn't know if it were due to popularity or fear.
Jake walked around greeting different people he knew, when his eyes landed on Huck and that new guy. He told his partners to grab a table, while he headed their way. "Luna bring us up a couple brews and put it on my tab." Luna glared at him momentarily, then she walked off without even responding to him. Jake kept a shit-eating grin on his face though.
"Hello boys." He'd gotten to Fitz and Huck at the bar and stood about a foot behind them. Fitz looked at Huck and Huck shook his head motioning for Fitz to ignore him. But Fitz wasn't scared of this asshole. And he was going to show Jake Ballard that nobody would push him around.
Fitz turned to Jake and said. "Evening."
Jake looked towards Huck. "Didn't they teach you any manners in the army boy." Huck balled up his fist and let it lose when he caught Luna's eye. She looked at the other officers that had come in with Jake, they were watching the exchange, with their hands on their pistols. Huck saw a scared look in Luna's eyes and decided not to inflame the situation.
"Ballard," he muttered, without looking at him. Jake chewed on his gum and kept that same stupid grin on his face.
He looked at Fitz with a hint of anger in his eyes. "I heard you boys towed my wife's car to your shop the other night, I wanted to come by and say thank you."
Huck took a deep breath as his whole body shook with anger. But he remained silent. His eyes trained on the game. Fitz looked Jake up and down, wondering what Olivia saw in this arrogant asshole.
"It was no bother," snarled Fitz.
"So it was you that picked up her car huh?" asked Jake. There was still a slight maliciousness in his voice, but he kept his face neutral.
Fitz picked up on it though. During his time in the service with the many different missions he did, he learned how to read people. "I was just trying to be there for her, since you weren't." Fitz all but growled.
Almost everyone in the bar had gone silent, watching their interaction take place. No one ever challenged Jake like this.
Jake raised an eyebrow at this. This guy had balls. But he was sadly mistaken if he thought that he was going to be able to talk to Jake like that and get away with it. Jake decided he would deal with that later though.
"Very well." He said his eyes still trained on Fitz. "Allow me to buy you boys a round on me eh? Just my little way of saying thanks."
Huck ignored him still. But Fitz never backed down from his stare. "No need, I was just doing my job."
"I insist." Jake looked over at Luna and said. "Give these boys a couple rounds on me, as a matter of fact, give everyone in here a round on me!"
There were cheers all around the bar once he announced this.
"Have a good evening boys." Jake tipped his hat to them and smiled. Though the smile never reached his eyes.
Fitz felt Huck calm down once Jake walked away. But he got an eerie feeling about him. There was something very off about Jake Ballard, and Fitz was determined to find out exactly what that was.
Jake walked back to his table where his beer was waiting for him. He laughed and joked with his cop buddies, but his mind was wandering off to his wife Olivia. He knew she'd lied to him about walking home. But he'd deal with her when he got in the house. He gripped his beer tightly as he seethed with anger. His friends continued chatting and drinking. But he wasn't listening to anything they were saying. And even though his attention was focused on the new guy who still sat at the bar watching the game with Huck. He was thinking about all the ways he was going to make his wife pay for lying to him. She'd regret the day she ever laid eyes on that new mechanic. He'd make sure of that.
(A/N: Phew, writing this sent chills up my spine and Olivia wasn't even in this chapter. So you found out a few things about Jake here. He's a sadistic asshole and as I stated at the beginning there will be no redemption for his character. His family pretty much owns the town. Is Fitz in over his head? Up next Fitz and Quinn learn a little more about Olivia's past and the Mayor (Jake's Father) holds a ribbon cutting ceremony that will be explosive to say the least. Thanks for sticking with me. Till next time...)