A/N: I thought this chapter was longer than it was, oh well.

also *blows party horn again* 60 CHAPTERS WOOHOOOO

*ahem* anyway, thank you once again to Kitkatkatester for reviewing the last chapter. :)

Enjoy!

Mal *last name*, 20, was declared legally dead on this date.

Having gone missing from town for 8 years, he is survived only by his brother Michael.

Mal was dead.

The world began to move in slow motion as Mike processed the words he read.

Dead. Dead.

Dead.

His body went suddenly numb. His arms fell away from Mani as he limped to the board to be certain he wasn't just seeing things.

"Mike?" Mani's voice was under water.

He placed a shaking hand against the board underneath the two sentences, fearing he'd fall over without the support, and read them over and over.

Dead.

Dead.

DEAD.

DEAD.

One word he'd never chosen to hear about his brother because it had never been spelled out for all to see, never confirmed or made official. It had been mere rumors before, and he'd refused to believe any of them. How could he when there was still hope left that he was still out there, somewhere, the last remnant of Mike's life before it all went wrong?

Yet here it was. Not on a death certificate handed out by the greasy fingers of Alejandro, as he'd been told to expect, but on a sign in town where everyone but him could have seen it.

The town records were final. Mildred wasn't the type to falsify something like this.

This...was real.

He removed his hand and stepped back from the board, taking a shaky breath. "No, no it's not real, it c-can't be after all this time this is all there is-" He grabbed his head as if it was about to fall off from denial,"-why did no one say anything?!" his voice grew louder and more pained.

"-Mike-" he heard his name again.

Whatever else Mani said didn't reach his ears. He'd already taken several more steps back, each one quicker than the last until he had turned and broken into a run, heading in the direction of home...if he could even call it that.

Mani tried to keep up but it appeared his spent work day was taking its toll. He hadn't thought that Mike could run, let alone at this speed. He pushed his hair back and uplifted his fedora in stress as Mike disappeared past the town center's limits and out of sight. "I shoulda used m' rope and told 'im, why didn't I say nothin'...damnit!" he said to himself in frustration, pressing down on his hat as he reversed direction back into town.

Back in the alleyway, which Mani was nearing, the two brothers had watched in surprise as Mike vanished from town in distress. "The hell? Where's he think he's going?!" Scott said in great confusion and anger. "We coulda had the guy!" Gears were turning in his head, trying to come up with a plan B, but his thoughts were muddled by his suddenly intense emotions.

Vito watched with much more concern. He looked towards the records office, where Mike had run from. "Musta seen somethin' screwy over there, yo," he figured, pointing towards the building.

"I don't care what he saw, it's not as important as the plan!" Scott seethed, his fists tight as he glared at Vito. "He ruined things like always. We just lost our bait! We might as well just go home now." He scoffed and crossed his arms.

"Ey yo, cool it down a second," Vito insisted, putting his hands up. "Maybe we check it out 'fore we go home?" He had no real idea about what that building was; he'd never paid it much mind since he'd never had to go inside.

"Hngh...fine," Scott grumbled. More time to stew in his rage.

The two left the alley and casually walked over to the board, trying to appear normal. Vito had to hide his shock seeing what he could have guessed was what caused Mike to run while Scott was just confused as he had to remember the name from over a year ago. That's not...but he's alive, ain't he still? Vito thought to himself.

"So the servant's jailbird brother finally bit it, huh?" Scott said as he read the notice over again. He let out a short 'ha!' "'Bout time. I'm surprised Dad's said nothin' about it, considerin-"

"Considering what exactly, dingo?" That stupid accent hit Scott's ears from behind, its tone interrogative.

Scott turned around quickly, nearly giving himself whiplash. Manitoba stood tall and straight, looming over Scott moreso than ever before. He couldn't help but eavesdrop after seeing the two sneak out of the alleyway. Recognizing Scott from the last times they'd met made him all the more angry, now that he knew what he'd done to some extent.

"You...what's it your business, huh? This is a private conversation!" Scott snapped at him with a frown. "Gonna trip me up again with that stupid rope?" He almost covered his nose from the stench that was coming off the guy.

Manitoba took a deep breath. "Just tryna make sure my friend's sibling's death ain't talked of so...casually," he lied, voice serious. "Not here to hurt anybody." He shot a glance at Vito, who looked incredibly uncomfortable and still in shock; poor kid. He then looked down again at Scott. "I don't hold no grudges. I suggest you do the same, 'fore something unfortunate happens." He tipped his hat and began to walk towards the repair shop where Duncan worked.

He ought to know that Mike had discovered the official lie.

"Is that a threat?! You wanna go right now, 'cause I'm ready!" Scott yelled after him, his anger resurfacing. He was going to start running towards him when Vito grabbed him by the shoulders. "Let go of me, Vito!" he protested.

"It ain't worth it now, bro…" Vito spoke calmly and quietly. "Let's just go home."

Scott breathed heavily, wiping his face with his hand. Growling he ripped Vito's hands off his shoulders. "Fine... let's go home," he conceded with fury as he turned and started marching homeward.

Vito sighed and followed, glancing at the board one more time before it left view.

*slams chapter like a car roof* this badboy can fit so much stress in it!

Only three quick questions for this milestone.

1. If you could re-title this story, what would you call it? 2. Favorite moment in chapters 51-60? 3. If a character in this AU were to get a spinoff solo story who would you want it to be?(excluding Tyler, he already got one)(y'all should read that if you haven't btw)

We're inching closer to the climax, I can feel it...thank you all for sticking with me through this story so far. :)

Stay safe out there y'all, and I'll see ya next time :)