-3-
THE SIGN
"Okay, kiddo," Tommy said, as he knelt beneath the stars with Stephen. "Time for the big test. What's that one?"
"That's easy," Stephen paused, as he studied the constellations of the heavens above. "The Big Dipper."
Tommy smiled, and rubbed his hand through Stephen's dirty blonde hair, in a gesture of fatherly affection. Ever since he took Stephen stargazing for the first time when he was 6, Stephen had become an immediate astronomy junkie. Thus, almost every Sunday night when the sky was clear, they would drive to the outskirts of town to study the heavens, unhampered by the intrusive glare of the city.
"That's right, kid! But can you tell me its actual scientific name?"
"Um...Ursa Major."
"Which means....?"
"The big bear."
"Check out the big brain on Stephen!" Tommy chuckled, as he raised his hand in a high-five. Stephen laughed and met Tommy's high-five, but then his face furrowed in an expression of puzzlement.
"Daddy, I don't get it."
"You don't get what?"
"I don't get it. It doesn't look like a bear at all. How does that look like a bear?"
Stephen pointed at the Big Dipper, accusingly.
"Well, you see....um..." Tommy started out unevenly. "Uh, well the head is...no wait...the tail's right um uh..." Stephen began to laugh at the sight of his father, as the more his dad tried to sort it out, the sillier he looked.
"Don't ask so many questions, Mr. Smarty-pants!" Tommy began to tickle the child relentlessly, and Stephen squirmed and tried to get away. Stephen laughed convulsively, until he couldn't take it anymore.
"Okay! Ha ha ha...I GIVE! I GIVE!"
"Say Uncle."
"Uncle ha ha ha...UNCLE!!"
"That's BETTER!"
Tommy released the boy, and the two resumed their appreciation of the night's wonders, the father resting his hand on the shoulder of his dear adopted son. Stephen and Tommy were really close, as close as any two could be. Sadly, Tommy wished that he could say the same thing for Danny.
After escaping from Michael and the Thorn Cult in Haddonfield, Danny, whom seemed to form an immediate bond with Tommy when they had first met back during that bad business, had grown steadily distant and angry. Part of it, Tommy assumed, was due to the fact he and Kara had grown to love one another and eventually had wed, and it was only natural for the boy to feel slightly territorial about his mother.
And let's not forget that Danny' s a teenager now, Tommy thought. Hormones flipping out. Unable to like anybody. End of story. Or was it?
Somehow, Tommy didn't think so. Danny's troubles ran deep, and he had never been the same since Wynn had tried to inflict the curse of Thorn upon him, and Michael had attacked. His sleep was always troubled, and he was prone to temperamental outbursts and mood swings. It would seem that no matter how far they had traveled, they couldn't shake the over-looming presence of Haddonfield's shadow.
Tommy was worried about Danny, and many a time tried to reach out to him. Danny, however, seemed to grow more defensive and distant with each of Tommy's attempts, and Tommy came to the conclusion that maybe he was trying too hard. So, he gave Danny space. If Danny needed him he knew where to find him, but if he was going to confide in Tommy, it would have to be Danny's own idea. Tommy wasn't about to pressure him.
But that didn't change the fact that Tommy worried about Danny, and hated himself a little bit for his uselessness in the matter.
"Daddy?" Stephen interrupted Tommy in his deep thoughts. "I don't recognize that constellation. Do you know it?"
Tommy's easy smile disappeared in and expression of dread.
The constellation of Thorn fell to the east, its stars blazing brighter than he had ever seen them.
"No, kid, can't say it rings any bells." Tommy lied bitterly. "Better pack it up. It's getting late."
During the drive home, Stephen fell fast asleep, and Tommy was left to sort out how he was going to handle Kara and Danny when he told them that they had to get out of town for a while. Kara was most assuredly going to tell him that he was being paranoid. And there's a good chance that she was right. Fleeing town on the basis of a warning from the stars really didn't hold much water in the world of logical thinking, but Tommy didn't care. Halloween was just a little more than a month around the corner, and if the Thorn Cult had discovered where they had settled, they were apt to strike soon. Tommy wasn't going to take no for an answer; he would make arrangements with Doctor Loomis, and they would disappear for a few weeks.
Still, it was going to be hard to convince Kara. And Danny, well, he was just going to be impossible.
It went worse than he thought.
"What is this shit?" Danny roared in protest. "What have you been smokin' Tommy?"
"Danny, listen..."
"No! You've lost your God-damned mind if you think I'm going to give up my date with Terri and the Halloween party to throw fucking snowballs around in fucking September!"
"Danny, watch your mouth."
"Fuck you, Tommy. I got a news flash for you. In case you hadn't noticed, you're not my FUCKING DAD!! Which means you don't tell me what to do."
"Tommy, you're out of line," Kara broke in. "I'm your Mother, and you're being disrespectful. Shut your mouth."
"Oh, come on Mom! This is bullshit! You're not buying into this garbage are you? I swear to God, sometimes I think you're as crazy as he is."
Kara's temper flared, and she brought her hand across Danny's face, in a hard slap. For a moment Danny stood with his jaw hanging open in angry disbelief. Then to Tommy's shock, incredibly, Danny slapped his mother back.
Immediately, Tommy was on him, pinning him against the wall. "Don't you EVER hit your mother again!"
Danny's eyes narrowed in a glare, and he pushed Tommy away, sharply. Danny was rather large and strong for his 17 years, towering above Tommy by three inches. "You think you're a big man, Pretty- boy Doyle? You want to show me how tough you are? Let's see what you've got!"
Pretty-boy Doyle. That was Kara's nickname for him. Joking about their age differences when they were dating, (she was in fact 4 years older) she used to tease him about his soft good looks and his baby-blue eyes, calling him Pretty-Boy Doyle. Tommy, accustomed to feeling awkward and unattractive for most of his life was flattered, although a little embarrassed by the backhanded compliment.
However, right now, Tommy felt anything but flattered. Trying to control his rage, he backed away from Danny. Danny, however, wouldn't let up.
"What's wrong, chicken-shit? Can't play daddy with junior cutting up? Come on! Hit me! I fucking dare you!"
Danny gave Tommy one last hard shove, and Tommy released his rage. He buried his fist in Danny's gut, bringing him to his knees.
It proved to be an act he immediately regretted.
"DANNY!" Kara cried as she ran over to Danny, whom winded from Tommy's blow, was just regaining his breath. "Are you all right?"
Danny flinched from his mother's touch, shamed and humbled. His eyes were red and glossy, as he fought back the tears, defiantly. He stood up abruptly, his breathing heavy and excited. If looks could kill, Tommy would have been a corpse at that moment.
"Fuck you, Tommy," Danny then swung his head to meet his mother's eyes. "No, fuck you BOTH!" And with a hard slam of the door upon his departure, Danny was gone.
Kara rose slowly, and went to the window. She watched Danny leave, her eyes downcast in silent sorrow. Tommy stood silently and watched her, debating whether or not to leave her to herself for a while. Finally, after some deliberation, he went to her.
"Kara, I am so sorry," he began, "It's just that when he struck you, I kind of lost it. You know I'm not normally like that...I promise that..."
Kara put a finger to Tommy's lips, silencing him, while giving him that look of quiet understanding. They kissed gently, and embraced.
"You shouldn't have hit him, Tommy," she said, resting her head on his chest. "And can you really blame him? He just wants to put all that garbage from the past behind him, and he's been looking forward to that party for a week since that girl agreed to go with him." The way she had said "girl" suggested to Tommy that she didn't approve of Danny's choice in women. Tommy tried to conceal his smile.
" The party is even a week before Halloween; on a weekend. Don't you think that maybe we're jumping the gun a little bit here?"
"Maybe, but come on, Kara...after everything we've been through, do you really want to chance it?"
"Well, we could still go...maybe Danny could crash at Mrs. King's for a few weeks. She'd be glad to have the company, and she wouldn't tell a soul. If anyone found the house, they'd think it was deserted, and just ASSUME he's with us. What do you think?"
Tommy shrugged. There was no point in arguing, as when it came to Danny, he was always on unequal ground with Kara. After all, Danny was her son, and he was just the good ol' step-dad. And when you're the kooky step-dad who wants to flee town because he saw some stars in the sky, you just didn't have enough ground to argue on. "I guess that could work."
Kara kissed his for-head. "It's settled, then. I think I'm going to turn in early, maybe do a little reading in bed. I'm feeling kind of drained. Good-night."
A half-an-hour later, Danny slipped quietly back in, attempting to pass the living room unnoticed. Tommy, of course, had heard him. No matter how light the footfall, nobody had ever been able to sneak up on him, a learned attribute as a result of constantly looking over his shoulder for 10 years. However, Tommy made no gesture to suggest he noticed, as he knew Danny well enough to know that he was heading upstairs to reconcile with his mother.
At the top of the stairs, Danny rapped gently on the door. "Mom, are you awake?"
"Yes Danny. What is it?"
He opened the door to face his mother, and looked at her with naked regret. He then went over and hugged her. "I'm sorry, Mom. It's just that I've really been looking forward to the next couple of weeks, and he makes me crazy when he starts up about the past. I just want to forget about that shit. I mean, it was a long time ago...if they were coming for us, you'd think they would have done it by now. I just want a life." A tear streamed down his cheek and Kara's heart went out to him.
"I know Danny, I know. But you've got to understand, that Tommy's only looking out for us and trying to do his best. He worries about you, you know."
"I know. I shouldn't have said all of those horrible things. I'm such an ass."
Kara pulled back from her son, and rested her hand on his cheek. She smiled. "Don't tell it to me, tell it to him."
Danny went down the stairs, and found Tommy raiding through the cupboards in the kitchen.
"Tommy, I'm... well, uh I'm..."
Tommy looked up to meet his gaze and smiled. "Yeah. I know. Me too." He then reached into the cupboard, and pulled out a bottle of scotch. "I figure I could use a drink." He paused for a second, and decided to commit his second act of the evening as a dysfunctional father. "Would you like a shot?"
Danny smiled, mischievously, and quite frankly, stunned. "What, are you serious?"
"Sure," Tommy responded, with a wink. "Just don't tell your mom. And don't be getting hung over, or I'm a dead man!"
Danny let out a cheerful laugh. "Start pouring, old man!"
The balance of the night was like old times, and Tommy and Danny stayed up to the odd ends of the morning talking. It was a night that the two were sad to see end.
THE SIGN
"Okay, kiddo," Tommy said, as he knelt beneath the stars with Stephen. "Time for the big test. What's that one?"
"That's easy," Stephen paused, as he studied the constellations of the heavens above. "The Big Dipper."
Tommy smiled, and rubbed his hand through Stephen's dirty blonde hair, in a gesture of fatherly affection. Ever since he took Stephen stargazing for the first time when he was 6, Stephen had become an immediate astronomy junkie. Thus, almost every Sunday night when the sky was clear, they would drive to the outskirts of town to study the heavens, unhampered by the intrusive glare of the city.
"That's right, kid! But can you tell me its actual scientific name?"
"Um...Ursa Major."
"Which means....?"
"The big bear."
"Check out the big brain on Stephen!" Tommy chuckled, as he raised his hand in a high-five. Stephen laughed and met Tommy's high-five, but then his face furrowed in an expression of puzzlement.
"Daddy, I don't get it."
"You don't get what?"
"I don't get it. It doesn't look like a bear at all. How does that look like a bear?"
Stephen pointed at the Big Dipper, accusingly.
"Well, you see....um..." Tommy started out unevenly. "Uh, well the head is...no wait...the tail's right um uh..." Stephen began to laugh at the sight of his father, as the more his dad tried to sort it out, the sillier he looked.
"Don't ask so many questions, Mr. Smarty-pants!" Tommy began to tickle the child relentlessly, and Stephen squirmed and tried to get away. Stephen laughed convulsively, until he couldn't take it anymore.
"Okay! Ha ha ha...I GIVE! I GIVE!"
"Say Uncle."
"Uncle ha ha ha...UNCLE!!"
"That's BETTER!"
Tommy released the boy, and the two resumed their appreciation of the night's wonders, the father resting his hand on the shoulder of his dear adopted son. Stephen and Tommy were really close, as close as any two could be. Sadly, Tommy wished that he could say the same thing for Danny.
After escaping from Michael and the Thorn Cult in Haddonfield, Danny, whom seemed to form an immediate bond with Tommy when they had first met back during that bad business, had grown steadily distant and angry. Part of it, Tommy assumed, was due to the fact he and Kara had grown to love one another and eventually had wed, and it was only natural for the boy to feel slightly territorial about his mother.
And let's not forget that Danny' s a teenager now, Tommy thought. Hormones flipping out. Unable to like anybody. End of story. Or was it?
Somehow, Tommy didn't think so. Danny's troubles ran deep, and he had never been the same since Wynn had tried to inflict the curse of Thorn upon him, and Michael had attacked. His sleep was always troubled, and he was prone to temperamental outbursts and mood swings. It would seem that no matter how far they had traveled, they couldn't shake the over-looming presence of Haddonfield's shadow.
Tommy was worried about Danny, and many a time tried to reach out to him. Danny, however, seemed to grow more defensive and distant with each of Tommy's attempts, and Tommy came to the conclusion that maybe he was trying too hard. So, he gave Danny space. If Danny needed him he knew where to find him, but if he was going to confide in Tommy, it would have to be Danny's own idea. Tommy wasn't about to pressure him.
But that didn't change the fact that Tommy worried about Danny, and hated himself a little bit for his uselessness in the matter.
"Daddy?" Stephen interrupted Tommy in his deep thoughts. "I don't recognize that constellation. Do you know it?"
Tommy's easy smile disappeared in and expression of dread.
The constellation of Thorn fell to the east, its stars blazing brighter than he had ever seen them.
"No, kid, can't say it rings any bells." Tommy lied bitterly. "Better pack it up. It's getting late."
During the drive home, Stephen fell fast asleep, and Tommy was left to sort out how he was going to handle Kara and Danny when he told them that they had to get out of town for a while. Kara was most assuredly going to tell him that he was being paranoid. And there's a good chance that she was right. Fleeing town on the basis of a warning from the stars really didn't hold much water in the world of logical thinking, but Tommy didn't care. Halloween was just a little more than a month around the corner, and if the Thorn Cult had discovered where they had settled, they were apt to strike soon. Tommy wasn't going to take no for an answer; he would make arrangements with Doctor Loomis, and they would disappear for a few weeks.
Still, it was going to be hard to convince Kara. And Danny, well, he was just going to be impossible.
It went worse than he thought.
"What is this shit?" Danny roared in protest. "What have you been smokin' Tommy?"
"Danny, listen..."
"No! You've lost your God-damned mind if you think I'm going to give up my date with Terri and the Halloween party to throw fucking snowballs around in fucking September!"
"Danny, watch your mouth."
"Fuck you, Tommy. I got a news flash for you. In case you hadn't noticed, you're not my FUCKING DAD!! Which means you don't tell me what to do."
"Tommy, you're out of line," Kara broke in. "I'm your Mother, and you're being disrespectful. Shut your mouth."
"Oh, come on Mom! This is bullshit! You're not buying into this garbage are you? I swear to God, sometimes I think you're as crazy as he is."
Kara's temper flared, and she brought her hand across Danny's face, in a hard slap. For a moment Danny stood with his jaw hanging open in angry disbelief. Then to Tommy's shock, incredibly, Danny slapped his mother back.
Immediately, Tommy was on him, pinning him against the wall. "Don't you EVER hit your mother again!"
Danny's eyes narrowed in a glare, and he pushed Tommy away, sharply. Danny was rather large and strong for his 17 years, towering above Tommy by three inches. "You think you're a big man, Pretty- boy Doyle? You want to show me how tough you are? Let's see what you've got!"
Pretty-boy Doyle. That was Kara's nickname for him. Joking about their age differences when they were dating, (she was in fact 4 years older) she used to tease him about his soft good looks and his baby-blue eyes, calling him Pretty-Boy Doyle. Tommy, accustomed to feeling awkward and unattractive for most of his life was flattered, although a little embarrassed by the backhanded compliment.
However, right now, Tommy felt anything but flattered. Trying to control his rage, he backed away from Danny. Danny, however, wouldn't let up.
"What's wrong, chicken-shit? Can't play daddy with junior cutting up? Come on! Hit me! I fucking dare you!"
Danny gave Tommy one last hard shove, and Tommy released his rage. He buried his fist in Danny's gut, bringing him to his knees.
It proved to be an act he immediately regretted.
"DANNY!" Kara cried as she ran over to Danny, whom winded from Tommy's blow, was just regaining his breath. "Are you all right?"
Danny flinched from his mother's touch, shamed and humbled. His eyes were red and glossy, as he fought back the tears, defiantly. He stood up abruptly, his breathing heavy and excited. If looks could kill, Tommy would have been a corpse at that moment.
"Fuck you, Tommy," Danny then swung his head to meet his mother's eyes. "No, fuck you BOTH!" And with a hard slam of the door upon his departure, Danny was gone.
Kara rose slowly, and went to the window. She watched Danny leave, her eyes downcast in silent sorrow. Tommy stood silently and watched her, debating whether or not to leave her to herself for a while. Finally, after some deliberation, he went to her.
"Kara, I am so sorry," he began, "It's just that when he struck you, I kind of lost it. You know I'm not normally like that...I promise that..."
Kara put a finger to Tommy's lips, silencing him, while giving him that look of quiet understanding. They kissed gently, and embraced.
"You shouldn't have hit him, Tommy," she said, resting her head on his chest. "And can you really blame him? He just wants to put all that garbage from the past behind him, and he's been looking forward to that party for a week since that girl agreed to go with him." The way she had said "girl" suggested to Tommy that she didn't approve of Danny's choice in women. Tommy tried to conceal his smile.
" The party is even a week before Halloween; on a weekend. Don't you think that maybe we're jumping the gun a little bit here?"
"Maybe, but come on, Kara...after everything we've been through, do you really want to chance it?"
"Well, we could still go...maybe Danny could crash at Mrs. King's for a few weeks. She'd be glad to have the company, and she wouldn't tell a soul. If anyone found the house, they'd think it was deserted, and just ASSUME he's with us. What do you think?"
Tommy shrugged. There was no point in arguing, as when it came to Danny, he was always on unequal ground with Kara. After all, Danny was her son, and he was just the good ol' step-dad. And when you're the kooky step-dad who wants to flee town because he saw some stars in the sky, you just didn't have enough ground to argue on. "I guess that could work."
Kara kissed his for-head. "It's settled, then. I think I'm going to turn in early, maybe do a little reading in bed. I'm feeling kind of drained. Good-night."
A half-an-hour later, Danny slipped quietly back in, attempting to pass the living room unnoticed. Tommy, of course, had heard him. No matter how light the footfall, nobody had ever been able to sneak up on him, a learned attribute as a result of constantly looking over his shoulder for 10 years. However, Tommy made no gesture to suggest he noticed, as he knew Danny well enough to know that he was heading upstairs to reconcile with his mother.
At the top of the stairs, Danny rapped gently on the door. "Mom, are you awake?"
"Yes Danny. What is it?"
He opened the door to face his mother, and looked at her with naked regret. He then went over and hugged her. "I'm sorry, Mom. It's just that I've really been looking forward to the next couple of weeks, and he makes me crazy when he starts up about the past. I just want to forget about that shit. I mean, it was a long time ago...if they were coming for us, you'd think they would have done it by now. I just want a life." A tear streamed down his cheek and Kara's heart went out to him.
"I know Danny, I know. But you've got to understand, that Tommy's only looking out for us and trying to do his best. He worries about you, you know."
"I know. I shouldn't have said all of those horrible things. I'm such an ass."
Kara pulled back from her son, and rested her hand on his cheek. She smiled. "Don't tell it to me, tell it to him."
Danny went down the stairs, and found Tommy raiding through the cupboards in the kitchen.
"Tommy, I'm... well, uh I'm..."
Tommy looked up to meet his gaze and smiled. "Yeah. I know. Me too." He then reached into the cupboard, and pulled out a bottle of scotch. "I figure I could use a drink." He paused for a second, and decided to commit his second act of the evening as a dysfunctional father. "Would you like a shot?"
Danny smiled, mischievously, and quite frankly, stunned. "What, are you serious?"
"Sure," Tommy responded, with a wink. "Just don't tell your mom. And don't be getting hung over, or I'm a dead man!"
Danny let out a cheerful laugh. "Start pouring, old man!"
The balance of the night was like old times, and Tommy and Danny stayed up to the odd ends of the morning talking. It was a night that the two were sad to see end.