Returning the Favor
Chapter 22
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"Okay. You stay put this time. Tell the kids I said hi and that this will all be over soon," Littrell said before hanging up the phone. He turned to walk back toward the couch where Ty sat. Bosco sat in a chair to the side of the couch. He'd been up and around a lot today and it felt pretty good. The therapy was helping and he felt himself getting stronger every day. He always had doubts about his ability to return to the streets with the last injury. Maybe something good would come out of this whole mess with Littrell's sister and Johnny Branson. At least he actually thought he had a shot at getting back out there with Faith since they'd taken that piece of bone out of his back.
"Everyone all settled?" Bosco asked Littrell as he sat down and they watched the ball game on the television.
"Yeah. I think so. I really can't thank you all enough for what you're doing," he said only to be told that it wasn't a problem. They were all family, and family was always there for family.
"Just like when I got shot in that building. You guys were there for me. We're just returning the favor," Bosco told him, looking over at Ty who was agreeing with him.
"Alright. Thanks," Littrell finally said. They watched television for a little while more. Alex came in a little after 11:30 and when the game was over, Bosco said, "Well, I think I've had enough for one day." He tried to move himself out of the chair and grimaced with pain.
"You okay?" Alex asked him, standing up to help him up. Ty joined her.
"Yeah. I think I just sat still for too long," he said as they got on either side and helped him up. He walked off toward the bedroom after thanking them and heard Alex chuckle behind him, joined by Ty and Littrell.
"What is so funny?" he asked, turning around. He caught sight of himself in the mirror and realized that he was bent over and looked like he was about 80. He started to laugh too. "That's a pretty picture," he said as he turned and continued into the bedroom.
"Hey. I'm gonna go for a run, if that's okay with you," Ty said to Bosco and Littrell. "I need to get rid of some energy after being couped up with you guys for the last couple of days."
"Sure. No problem. I've got my gun. If it's okay with you, I'm gonna take the couch tonight instead of you guys. I changed the sheets on the bed earlier, Ty," Bosco told him.
"You don't have to, Bos. We don't mind sleeping out here," Alex assured him.
"Well, it's not only for you. I'm thinking that maybe the hardness of the couch will help my back a little. No offense, but you could use a new mattress," he said jokingly.
"If you're sure," Alex said.
"I'm sure. Let me just get some sweats and stuff out of there first. Have a good run, Ty," he said as he headed off to gather his things.
"Alright. I'll be back in a bit," he said.
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Johnny Branson watched the young man come out the front door of the building and start doing some stretching against the front steps. He watched as he ran off. He waited until he saw him return from his run and enter the building. After a little while, he was sure that no one else was likely to be coming or going from the building. He watched from the street, even as a light rain fell, as the lights in the apartment were turned off, one by one. He waited a little while longer until the flashing light from the television in the front room had been off for about a half hour. He had been watching the windows and shrunk back from the light as he saw Littrell pull the shade in one of the bedrooms before turning out the light. Branson took in the sight of the fire escape leading up to Littrell's window and formed his plan of attack.
"The sooner I get rid of him, the sooner I can get my kids back," he thought to himself. "Nobody takes my kids from me. Not that bitch and not her brother."
Bosco had taken only one of his pain pills, just enough to take the edge off of his aching back. He set the timer on the television and watched the news until he fell asleep. The television shut off shortly after.
Littrell lay awake for a while thinking about how close his sister had come to getting hurt tonight. And how stupid it was for him to take off like that without telling Bosco or Ty what was going on. He just wasn't thinking. He only heard the distress in his sister's voice and remembered the promise he'd made to his mother to watch after his younger sister as she lay in the hospital dying from cancer. Finally, he fell asleep.
Alex and Ty were glad to finally have some quiet time alone. Alex had been exhausted from a busy shift, but not too tired to wait for Ty to return from his run and take his shower. They had made love behind closed doors and were now sleeping soundly in each other's arms.
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Branson made his way slowly and quietly up the fire escape after stacking crates from the alley up to reach it. He didn't want to pull down the stairs because he didn't want to risk the noise waking someone up. He reached the landing outside of Littrell's window and reached in to take his knife out of his pocket. He'd thought about using his gun, but discarded that idea at the thought of waking up anyone else in the apartment.
"No, this will be better. He'll never wake up and no one will find him until the morning. I'll be long gone by then," he said to himself with a smile. He looked at the window and saw that the latch was barely caught. He jiggled the window slightly and watched to make sure that he didn't wake up Littrell who he could see asleep in the bed across the room. Luckily, it was a warm night and Littrell obviously didn't notice any change in the temperature as he entered the room soundlessly.
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Bosco opened his eyes at the feel of the breeze passing by his face. He felt that it was coming from the direction of Littrell's room and looked over to see that the window was opened slightly. He hadn't heard Littrell get up to open it, but figured the only reason he'd woken up was because he felt the breeze. He hated windows open while he was trying to sleep. It reminded him of when his father would sneak into his room through the window and then start smacking his mother around. He looked at the window for a moment, but decided not to get up and shut it. "Besides," he thought to himself. "I don't think I COULD get up and shut it," he finished, rubbing his back and pulling the covers up.
He tried to go back to sleep and forget about it.
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Branson made his way quietly across the bedroom floor, stopping to listen for any sounds from the other rooms in the apartment. Hearing nothing, he continued on toward the bed where an unsuspecting Littrell lay sound asleep.
He reached the bed and stopped to listen again, hearing only the sound of a few cars passing on the street below and the normal creakings of an old building. He readied his knife and reached down to put a hand over Littrell's mouth to prevent him from calling for help in the event that he woke up. He brought his leg up and shoved his knee into Littrell's side to hold him down.
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Littrell's eyes flew open wide at the feel of Johnny Branson's hand over his mouth and nose. His eyes adjusted to the dim light and saw the glint of steel in Johnny's hand from the moonlight. He struggled and saw Johnny's arm raise to bring the knife down upon him.
Littrell reached for something - anything - from the nightstand that he could hit him with or make noise with in order to wake up either Ty or Bosco, but he couldn't reach anything.
He watched as Johnny's arm came down toward him - seemingly in slow motion. Just as he braced himself for the blade to enter his chest he saw a bright flash, followed by a loud bang. He saw the look of surprise on Johnny's face as he fell to the ground.
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Bosco tried to go back to sleep, but was unable to. He managed to get himself up off the couch and was going to go in and shut the window. He was sure Littrell wouldn't mind. He stood up and glanced toward the bedroom. The moonlight fell across the floor and that's when he saw it. There was a wet footprint just inside the window that shone in the moonlight. He reached down to the couch and pulled his off-duty gun from under the cushion.
Slowly and quietly, Bosco walked toward the bedroom, careful to stay out of any light from the window. He finally reached the door despite the spasms in his back and saw Littrell struggling on the bed, reaching for something on the nightstand to fend off his attacker, who had his hand over Littrell's nose and mouth, his knee firmly planted into Littrell's stomach so that he couldn't get up.
He raised his gun and was about to yell for the man to freeze when he saw his arm swing up. He saw the moonlight reflect off the metal of the blade of the large knife and watched as the knife came swinging back down toward Littrell's chest. He squeezed the trigger.
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Ty and Alex both heard the shot and Bosco's cry of pain as the recoil of the handgun was enough to jar his back and bring him to his knees.
"Stay here!" Ty yelled to Alex as he grabbed his gun and ran out of the room. Alex grabbed the phone and dialed 9-1-1 to get the police and ambulance there and then grabbed the box of first aid supplies she always kept in case. She walked to the door and tried to listen to what was going on. She wanted to make sure that Ty was okay, but she didn't want to take his attention away from whatever was going on.
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"Bosco!" Ty shouted from the middle of the darkened room, looking around the room trying to find him.
"Over here, Ty," Bosco called to him. Littrell and Ty reached Bosco at the same time as Bosco kept his gun trained on the fallen man in the bedroom. Littrell flipped on the light as he held his side and looked over at his brother-in-law lying on the floor, a puddle of blood spreading under him.
"Ty?!" he heard Alex call from the other room.
"Yeah, Alex. It's okay. You can come out," Ty called to her as he and Littrell helped Bosco up off the floor and back to the chair. The sound of sirens filled the night as the police units arrived.
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TBC...
Chapter 22
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Okay. You stay put this time. Tell the kids I said hi and that this will all be over soon," Littrell said before hanging up the phone. He turned to walk back toward the couch where Ty sat. Bosco sat in a chair to the side of the couch. He'd been up and around a lot today and it felt pretty good. The therapy was helping and he felt himself getting stronger every day. He always had doubts about his ability to return to the streets with the last injury. Maybe something good would come out of this whole mess with Littrell's sister and Johnny Branson. At least he actually thought he had a shot at getting back out there with Faith since they'd taken that piece of bone out of his back.
"Everyone all settled?" Bosco asked Littrell as he sat down and they watched the ball game on the television.
"Yeah. I think so. I really can't thank you all enough for what you're doing," he said only to be told that it wasn't a problem. They were all family, and family was always there for family.
"Just like when I got shot in that building. You guys were there for me. We're just returning the favor," Bosco told him, looking over at Ty who was agreeing with him.
"Alright. Thanks," Littrell finally said. They watched television for a little while more. Alex came in a little after 11:30 and when the game was over, Bosco said, "Well, I think I've had enough for one day." He tried to move himself out of the chair and grimaced with pain.
"You okay?" Alex asked him, standing up to help him up. Ty joined her.
"Yeah. I think I just sat still for too long," he said as they got on either side and helped him up. He walked off toward the bedroom after thanking them and heard Alex chuckle behind him, joined by Ty and Littrell.
"What is so funny?" he asked, turning around. He caught sight of himself in the mirror and realized that he was bent over and looked like he was about 80. He started to laugh too. "That's a pretty picture," he said as he turned and continued into the bedroom.
"Hey. I'm gonna go for a run, if that's okay with you," Ty said to Bosco and Littrell. "I need to get rid of some energy after being couped up with you guys for the last couple of days."
"Sure. No problem. I've got my gun. If it's okay with you, I'm gonna take the couch tonight instead of you guys. I changed the sheets on the bed earlier, Ty," Bosco told him.
"You don't have to, Bos. We don't mind sleeping out here," Alex assured him.
"Well, it's not only for you. I'm thinking that maybe the hardness of the couch will help my back a little. No offense, but you could use a new mattress," he said jokingly.
"If you're sure," Alex said.
"I'm sure. Let me just get some sweats and stuff out of there first. Have a good run, Ty," he said as he headed off to gather his things.
"Alright. I'll be back in a bit," he said.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Johnny Branson watched the young man come out the front door of the building and start doing some stretching against the front steps. He watched as he ran off. He waited until he saw him return from his run and enter the building. After a little while, he was sure that no one else was likely to be coming or going from the building. He watched from the street, even as a light rain fell, as the lights in the apartment were turned off, one by one. He waited a little while longer until the flashing light from the television in the front room had been off for about a half hour. He had been watching the windows and shrunk back from the light as he saw Littrell pull the shade in one of the bedrooms before turning out the light. Branson took in the sight of the fire escape leading up to Littrell's window and formed his plan of attack.
"The sooner I get rid of him, the sooner I can get my kids back," he thought to himself. "Nobody takes my kids from me. Not that bitch and not her brother."
Bosco had taken only one of his pain pills, just enough to take the edge off of his aching back. He set the timer on the television and watched the news until he fell asleep. The television shut off shortly after.
Littrell lay awake for a while thinking about how close his sister had come to getting hurt tonight. And how stupid it was for him to take off like that without telling Bosco or Ty what was going on. He just wasn't thinking. He only heard the distress in his sister's voice and remembered the promise he'd made to his mother to watch after his younger sister as she lay in the hospital dying from cancer. Finally, he fell asleep.
Alex and Ty were glad to finally have some quiet time alone. Alex had been exhausted from a busy shift, but not too tired to wait for Ty to return from his run and take his shower. They had made love behind closed doors and were now sleeping soundly in each other's arms.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Branson made his way slowly and quietly up the fire escape after stacking crates from the alley up to reach it. He didn't want to pull down the stairs because he didn't want to risk the noise waking someone up. He reached the landing outside of Littrell's window and reached in to take his knife out of his pocket. He'd thought about using his gun, but discarded that idea at the thought of waking up anyone else in the apartment.
"No, this will be better. He'll never wake up and no one will find him until the morning. I'll be long gone by then," he said to himself with a smile. He looked at the window and saw that the latch was barely caught. He jiggled the window slightly and watched to make sure that he didn't wake up Littrell who he could see asleep in the bed across the room. Luckily, it was a warm night and Littrell obviously didn't notice any change in the temperature as he entered the room soundlessly.
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Bosco opened his eyes at the feel of the breeze passing by his face. He felt that it was coming from the direction of Littrell's room and looked over to see that the window was opened slightly. He hadn't heard Littrell get up to open it, but figured the only reason he'd woken up was because he felt the breeze. He hated windows open while he was trying to sleep. It reminded him of when his father would sneak into his room through the window and then start smacking his mother around. He looked at the window for a moment, but decided not to get up and shut it. "Besides," he thought to himself. "I don't think I COULD get up and shut it," he finished, rubbing his back and pulling the covers up.
He tried to go back to sleep and forget about it.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Branson made his way quietly across the bedroom floor, stopping to listen for any sounds from the other rooms in the apartment. Hearing nothing, he continued on toward the bed where an unsuspecting Littrell lay sound asleep.
He reached the bed and stopped to listen again, hearing only the sound of a few cars passing on the street below and the normal creakings of an old building. He readied his knife and reached down to put a hand over Littrell's mouth to prevent him from calling for help in the event that he woke up. He brought his leg up and shoved his knee into Littrell's side to hold him down.
*^*^*^*^*^**^*^*^**^*
Littrell's eyes flew open wide at the feel of Johnny Branson's hand over his mouth and nose. His eyes adjusted to the dim light and saw the glint of steel in Johnny's hand from the moonlight. He struggled and saw Johnny's arm raise to bring the knife down upon him.
Littrell reached for something - anything - from the nightstand that he could hit him with or make noise with in order to wake up either Ty or Bosco, but he couldn't reach anything.
He watched as Johnny's arm came down toward him - seemingly in slow motion. Just as he braced himself for the blade to enter his chest he saw a bright flash, followed by a loud bang. He saw the look of surprise on Johnny's face as he fell to the ground.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Bosco tried to go back to sleep, but was unable to. He managed to get himself up off the couch and was going to go in and shut the window. He was sure Littrell wouldn't mind. He stood up and glanced toward the bedroom. The moonlight fell across the floor and that's when he saw it. There was a wet footprint just inside the window that shone in the moonlight. He reached down to the couch and pulled his off-duty gun from under the cushion.
Slowly and quietly, Bosco walked toward the bedroom, careful to stay out of any light from the window. He finally reached the door despite the spasms in his back and saw Littrell struggling on the bed, reaching for something on the nightstand to fend off his attacker, who had his hand over Littrell's nose and mouth, his knee firmly planted into Littrell's stomach so that he couldn't get up.
He raised his gun and was about to yell for the man to freeze when he saw his arm swing up. He saw the moonlight reflect off the metal of the blade of the large knife and watched as the knife came swinging back down toward Littrell's chest. He squeezed the trigger.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Ty and Alex both heard the shot and Bosco's cry of pain as the recoil of the handgun was enough to jar his back and bring him to his knees.
"Stay here!" Ty yelled to Alex as he grabbed his gun and ran out of the room. Alex grabbed the phone and dialed 9-1-1 to get the police and ambulance there and then grabbed the box of first aid supplies she always kept in case. She walked to the door and tried to listen to what was going on. She wanted to make sure that Ty was okay, but she didn't want to take his attention away from whatever was going on.
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"Bosco!" Ty shouted from the middle of the darkened room, looking around the room trying to find him.
"Over here, Ty," Bosco called to him. Littrell and Ty reached Bosco at the same time as Bosco kept his gun trained on the fallen man in the bedroom. Littrell flipped on the light as he held his side and looked over at his brother-in-law lying on the floor, a puddle of blood spreading under him.
"Ty?!" he heard Alex call from the other room.
"Yeah, Alex. It's okay. You can come out," Ty called to her as he and Littrell helped Bosco up off the floor and back to the chair. The sound of sirens filled the night as the police units arrived.
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TBC...