I Disclaim

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The Loser's Club Ch.4

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"My god, Brian O'Leary?" In his twenty-seven years he had been called old, but no one had ever called Gabriel Cortez senile, but he had to be because the last time he saw Brian O'Leary he had high tailing it out of Texas as if the hounds of hell were on his heels.

"Hey, Gabe." Brian had a feeling that Gabriel would be running the Cortez Construction the older man was always going for bigger and better. " I see you've made president that must be some kind of record."

"Yeah." Moving from around his desk Gabe looks the visitor up and down, noticing that the man is indeed an older version of Brian O'Leary. Smiling at his good fortune Gabe balls up his left hand and delivers a left cross to Brian chin that knocks the man on bottom.

"What the hell?" Rubbing his chin, and looking up at his attacker and opens in his eyes in surprise when he see the man's smile and his hand extended to help. "What was that?"

"If you remember the reason you left Texas then you remember the reason I had to hit you." Taking his hand he lefts his old friend up and straightens his shirt. "Sorry it was an honor thing."

"Yeah, I remember honor, and just for the record, I'm sorry about what happened in Texas."

"Forget it, we're over it, and Danny got married three years ago to a great guy." Gabe motions for him to sit down as he retakes his seat behind the large oak desk. "So, what brings you to Harmony?"

"It's my hometown."

Gabe waves an arm to the window." This is your sucky hometown, where none thing ever happens, and they make their living gossiping."

Brian laughs as he remembers the one and only time he ever talked about his hometown to anyone other them Sheridan. Gabe had been his only friend the first few months after he left Harmony, and the only one to understand him, until he had met Danielle, but that was whole nother story. "Yeah, this it."

"This is nice little town, but what the hell are you doing here, if I remember correctly you said you never come back what changed your mind?"

"Someone talked me into visiting and then someone else talked me into to staying." Making sure not to look at Gabe, he looked around the office taking in the décor, modern and simple, just the way he could describe Gabe and all the Cortez's. "So, you looking to hire an old friend?"

"Oh." Gabe nods. "You're here for a woman aren't you?" Gabe shakes his head and hits the intercom. "Ms. Haynes come in here please."

Gabe shakes a finger. "Fine, I can get you work, but listen to me." "STAY AWAY FROM WHOEVER IT IS YOU'RE AFTER."

"Calm down, I'm not looking for love, I know how badly I do in that department."

" Good, I don't want to have to help you escape, again. " Gabe stands and shakes Brian hands and leads him over to the middle-aged woman that entered the office. "Ms. Haynes, this Brian O'Leary, he will be our new foreman for Harmony."

"Actually it's Lopez-Fitzgerald." Brian says at his smiles at the woman. " And I was just hoping for a laborer, you don't have to fire anyone, to put me on the payroll."

"Nonsense, I can't stand this guy anyway, I'll just transfer him someplace else." Gabe pats hi on the shoulder and points toward the door. "Now, you get Brian all set up, and send him back here, we'll do lunch."

"Thanks Gabe."

"No problem." Gabe watched as Brain headed out the door following his secretary, and shook his head. "Brian Lopez-Fitzgerald," "Father's lock up your daughters."

"Kay, we've been looking all over for you." Reese walked into the Book Café and spotted his beloved immediately, they had looked all over town searching for her since early this morning. "Where have you been my love?"

Kay looked at up at the sound of Reese's voice reminded her yet again that she needed to break up with her loving "boyfriend", grimacing at the thought her bad mood is further encouraged when she sees him followed by Charity, Simeon, Jessica, Miguel, and her new brother John. "Well, I've been around Reese, why want do you guys need?"

"Oh we were just worried about you Kay, you left so early, and that's not like you." Charity took the seat opposite her cousin and watched her with concerned eyes. Kay had been acting strange at least she thought so, but then again she really couldn't judge, she woken up a few weeks ago not really remembering that last months of her life. Taking her hand cousins hand she rubs it in a loving manner, and giver a weak smile. "Are you okay?"

Fighting the urge to slap her cheery little cousin Kay smiles back. " Yeah, it like I said last night I had things to do." Kay puts her hand over the books she had purchased early that day, not ready to share her plans with any one yet.

Miguel catches the gesture and moves to get a closer look. " So, what have you been up to?"

"I've just been preparing for college, and you know getting stuff in order, September is just around the corner, you know."

"Oh, so Kay when are you headed come Fall?" John keeps the questions causal remembering Jessica's instructions not to push Kay, if he wanted a relationship with he. "That is if you don't mind my asking?"

Kay narrowed her eyes as she caught the small grin that Jessica sent his ways, but decided to let it go. "Castleton College, in fact I signed up for some summer classes." Kay stands and pick sup her books. "In fact I should get home and start my reading."

"Do you have to leave we haven't had a chance to catch up?" Miguel stood and tried to block her path, and sent her his best puppy dog look. "Please stay?"

"I can't guys." Kay sidestepped Miguel and gave the group a lopsided grin as she made her way to the door, before turning back to look at Reese. " But can you come over a little later Reese, I want to talk to you."

Reese brightens at the invitation and missed the look of sadness that crossed Jessica's face. "Of course my love."

"Thanks, bye guys."

"Bye Kay." Kay heard the group say goodbye, but she was focused on the man standing outside the Book Café Brian.

Smiling she stepped behind him and tapped him on his shoulder. "Hey Bri."

"Kay." Brain had known it was her; he had felt her energy, before he had smelt her watermelon scent. " How it's going?"

"I'm doing well, one day at time." Kay shakes her head in the direction of the Book Café, where Brian can see he little brother and his friends staring intently at him and Kay. "How is the newest member of the club?"

"Employed, in fact here comes my new boss." Brian points behind Kay to the young Latino man walking toward him in a black button down suit. As Gabe gets closer Brian makes the introductions" Kay Bennet, this my boss and friend Gabe Cortez, head of Cortez Construction."

"Gabe, this is…" Brian shook his head trying to figure out how to describe Kay, she wasn't really a friend of his yet, and didn't look like she wanted to be associated at a friend of his brother.

"Don't tell me you forget the lovely woman's name so quickly Brain." Gabe took the woman's hands and kissed, noting how young she was and how she was looking at Brian and vice versa.

"NO, I haven't, this is Kay Bennet." Brian pushes Gabe away from Kay not liking the look in his friend's eye. "She's friend of mine."

"Is that true Kay, are you a friend of this, this person?" Gabe looked at Brain with barely contained amusement, he knew immediately that this was the woman that talked Brian into staying. "I find it hard to believe that a woman of your beauty and charm would associate with him?"

"Why not you do." Kay grinned at the playful nature the two men had, Gab was trying really hard to upset Brian and he was doing a great job so far.

"Yes, but I'm his friend as punishment for crimes in another life, alas destined to serves my time."

"What did you do?"

" I loved too much." Gabe delivers the line with raised eyebrows and his hand twirling an imaginary mustache, which sent the young lady into a fit of laughter, and even manages to get a grin out of Brian.

Miguel watched the scene from his seat next to Charity, with narrowed eyes, and began wondering again what was going on between Kay and his brother. He didn't like the way Antonio was constantly around her, and after only hearing a little bit of what happened in Bermuda with him and Sheridan, he didn't trust the man at all. Someone willing to romance a woman with amnesia said very clearly that whatever morals Antonio left Harmony with where no longer in take, and he be damned if he let Kay get taken in by his con. Noticing that everyone had stopped looking outside Miguel looks at Reese, and makes a mental note to warn his friend about his brother.