A/N Just wanted to say thanks to Amanda for the compliment. I've tried hard to keep the detail throughout without going into extensive detail. I like to make you all kind of realize after you read it that it was sort of important. That is why there are so many little parts to the conversations that don't seem like they are important, but they are usually plot points. And through out this entire story I've tried to be true to how they all should sound based on their life experiences. Especially Cass, along with Collins and Joanne. If you look, you will see Cass very rarely says "yeah" like everyone else. She was raised and educated differently from the rest of them, and being multi-lingual would affect that as well. Collins and Joanne also speak slightly different from the rest of the group as well. Not much, just a little difference in their speech patterns occasionally. Hopefully, it has shown through.
To em0xstatic(), no you can't have my Roger, I know you'd take good care of him and entertain him (god knows we'd all like to entertain him!) but you can't have him. Sorry.
As for the quote about "...the people we had been talking to asked if Marky was our kid back at home." I loved that line too. I just always felt that would be how Mark would sound to other people if Roger and Cass were out where no one else knew them. But yes, it is one of my favorite lines. I had thought up that line, and had to work a scene around it to fit it in. There were a few lines like that. You know how it is, you get a really good line in your head and you just have to use it!
Anyway, thanks to all my readers and reviews. I should thank you all more often, but sometimes I just want to get the next chapter out there. But know I truly appreciate you all.
~Kelby
Chapter 81
"We're just watching a movie." Cass said into the phone. "Just me, Mark, Maureen and Jen."
"Come on Cass it's ready." Maureen called to her.
"I have to go. You too before Izzy fires you." She laughed for a moment after listening to him. "Whatever you say Roger. Just don't tell Izzy that. I'll see you when you get home. Bye." She hung up the phone and sat down on the couch.
"Finally." Mark told her. "Now can we watch the movie?"
"Wasn't he just bitching about this being a chick flick twenty minutes ago?" Jen joked.
"It's just easier to keep you three happy. Less chance of being attacked by the PMS monster."
"Hey! I so do not have PMS!" Cass told him, kicking her feet onto his lap.
"Oh no, your just hormonally unstable!" Mark laughed until Cass kicked him. "Ow! I'm just kidding, relax."
"Just start the movie." She told him, smiling.
"Okay. Whatever keeps you happy." He teased, starting the movie.
After watching about the first half of the movie, Cass nudged Mark with her foot. "Pause it for a minute. I need to go to the bathroom."
"Shocking." Mark laughed, picking up the remote.
Cass came back a few minutes later. "Anybody want anything?" She asked opening the fridge.
"I'll have a beer." Maureen called back.
"Do we have any pretzels left?" Mark asked as they heard pounding on the front door.
"Uh huh." Cass told him, setting down the bag to answer the door. "Yes?"
"So you're the one he knocked up huh?" The man leered at her from the doorway. "What's the matter sweetness? Aren't you gonna invite your father-in-law in?"
Mark was up and over the back of the couch as soon as the voice registered in his brain. He ran to the door, pushing Cass out of the way and putting himself between her and the doorway. "What do you want?"
"I remember you. Little sissy blonde kid, always running around with him."
"Yeah whatever. What do you want?"
"I wanna see him. Little shit didn't even invite me to his own wedding."
"Well he's not here. He moved out. They moved out."
"Well let me see her. What's her name, Cass?"
"She's not here. I told you."
"Bullshit." He tried to push past Mark, but he stood firm. "She opened the door."
"That's not Cass. That's my girlfriend, Maureen." Mark lied, impressed at how convincing he sounded.
"So just leave."
"Bullshit! That's her and I wanna see her. It's my grandkid."
"Forget it!"
"Dad." Mickey yelled as he made it to the top of the stairs. "Come on, we need to go."
"No! I want to see that little shit!"
"Jack just leave."
"Yeah Dad, let's got." Mickey pulled at his jacket, trying to get him to move.
"I told you he's not here. And even if he was, he doesn't want you around. Not him or Cass so just go."
"Why you no good little shit!" Jack pushed at Mark, knocking him backward into the loft and stepping in after him. "Protecting his sorry ass! That little fuck up needs you to protect him? Sissy boy!" He pushed Mark in the chest again.
"Dad!"
"Get the fuck out Jack!" Mark yelled at him. "Get out and stay out or I'm calling the cops!"
"Oh come on sissy boy. You scared that little fuck up will find out you let me in? He's a no good fuck up. He'll have a no good fuck up kid too. Wait till he sees his kid's a fuck up and treats him like this!"
At that Mark snapped. He'd heard enough. Roger had his problems true, but a lot of those problems stemmed from Jack. And now Jack stood there saying all this crap.
Without even realizing it his arm was back and his fist was flying forward. As he made contact with Jack's face he felt the adrenaline rush kick in.
Jack started to stumble backwards, grabbing his face. "Why you little fuck!"
"I said get out and stay out! Stay away from Roger and Cass and everybody! You're the fuck up Jack!" Jack moved for Mark and got one quick punch into Mark's face, knocking him sideways and breaking his glasses where the arm and frame connected. Mark regained his balance and rushed at him, swing again, hitting him in the side of the face. This time as he stumbled back Mickey grabbed him. "Nobody wants you around Jack, just stay the fuck away!" Mark yelled at him.
"Come on Dad. We're leaving. Now!" Mickey yelled, grabbing Jack and pushing him towards the stairs.
"Get your hands off me boy! I can walk!" Jack snapped. "You tell my son the fuck up that's it! I'm done with him! He ain't my kid any more!" He yelled, holding his gushing nose.
"Yeah he'll be happy to hear that! Trust me!" Mark yelled back.
Mickey moved him down the steps and turned around after going down a few himself. "Mark I, I'm sorry. Tell him I'm sorry. Really."
Mark just nodded as Mickey headed down the stairs. He closed the door behind him and locked all the locks.
"Mark are you okay?" Cass asked, barely above a whisper.
He realized she was shaking and he pulled her close. "Yeah I'm okay. How about you?"
She nodded as she leaned back, looking at him. "Oh God Mark, you're bleeding." She held a dishtowel to his forehead.
"Marky that was incredible. I've never seen you do anything like that before!" Maureen told him, suddenly by his side, forcing him onto the barstool.
"Cass sit down, I'll get it." Jen told her, talking the bag of frozen vegetables out of her hand. "Where's the your first aid kit?"
Jen cleaned up Mark's face and cleaned his scraped knuckles. She got another bag of frozen peas for his hand.
"Well that went well." Mark sighed, playing with his busted glasses. "Roger's gonna be pissed." He shook his head. Just then they heard a soft knock at the door. All three girls looked at Mark. He stood up and cautiously walked to the door. "Who is it?"
"Mickey. Can I come in? Just for a second? Jack's gone. I promise."
Mark opened the door. "Oh shit Mickey!"
His lip was split and his eye was already starting to swell. He walked through the door and sat down.
"Oh Mickey!" Cass gasp.
"I'm okay."
"No you're not." Jen told him, opening the first aid kit back up and handing him Mark's discarded bag of frozen peas.
"Thanks. Yeah I am. Listen I'm real sorry Cass. Really. And I hate to ask this, but my wallet is in my jacket, in Jack's car. Can I borrow some money for the train, to get home?"
"Yeah, no problem." Mark told him.
"Maybe you should just stay here tonight." Cass said.
"No way! Roger will kill me! I'd be safer with Jack."
"What happened?" Maureen asked him, putting a band-aid on his forehead, above his eye.
"We got downstairs and he was pissed." Mickey shrugged. "He took off in the car, with my wallet and my jacket. I tried to call Patrick, to come get me, but he wasn't home. I'm sorry."
"It's okay Mickey. Look, stay here tonight. You can go home tomorrow morning."
"No way, Roger will kill me when he finds out I brought Jack here."
"Well, maybe we shouldn't mention any of this to Roger." Cass said, biting her lip.
"How are we gonna do that?" Maureen asked, wide eyed.
"Well… he won't be home till late. And unless I wake him up, he'll sleep till noon tomorrow. Mickey can sleep in Mo's room and as long as you leave tomorrow before he gets up, he'll never know."
"But what about Mark's face? And glasses?"
"He'll just have to wear his contacts until we get them fixed. Roger will never notice."
"That's true, but his cheek is all bruised and his forehead is cut."
"I don't know Mo! Tell him you two were screwing around and fell off the couch or something. He'll believe that."
"Great." Mark didn't sound convinced.
"I don't know Cass." Mickey said hesitantly.
"Trust me. Please. Come on, you want some pizza? We got some left over from earlier." She pulled the box out of the oven. "Okay? Just trust me. This will work."
*********************
Roger felt Cass roll over again. He looked at his watch. 9:45. The alarm was going to go off in fifteen minutes. He might as well get up, at least for awhile. Maybe Cass will sleep better then. He got up quietly and went into the bathroom to take his pills. In the other room he could hear Mark talking to somebody but he couldn't tell who. He walked out into the living room, heading toward the kitchen. "Hey. Who were you talking to?"
"Roger!" Mark jumped. "What are you doing up? You're not supposed to be up yet? Why don't you go back to bed."
Roger just looked at him. "What's wrong with you? I just woke up is all. Who were you talking to? Pour me some juice." He sat down at the counter.
"Um, no one. Really. Are you sure you don't want to go back to bed?" Mark asked, looking at his watch.
"No, Cass has been flipping around all night. She okay? She didn't sleep well at all last night."
"Um, yeah, fine. Nothing happened last night. Nothing at all."
Mark's reaction peaked Roger's curiosity. Now he knew something was up. "Uh huh." He watched him for a second. "What happened to your face?"
"Um… Maureen... and we were just… and just an accident."
"Uh huh." Roger didn't buy it. Just then the bathroom door opened and Mickey walked out. Roger looked up at him. "Mickey? What are you doing here and what the hell happened to you?"
"Um… um… hi Rog." He gave a weak smile and looked at Mark just as they head quiet knocking at the front door. Mickey and Mark looked at each other again before Mickey started to move. "Um, that's my ride. Gotta go. Thanks. Bye!"
"Uh uh. No way." Roger said, standing up and stepping to the door before Mickey could. He opened the door. "Patrick?" Roger turned from him back to Mickey and Mark. "Okay, what the hell's going on?"
"Um, hey Rog, I just came to get Mickey. And we gotta go. So see you later. Let's go Mick."
"Nobody's going anywhere till I find out what's going on." Roger growled.
"What's going on?" Maureen asked, yawning and stretching as she walked out of Mark's room. "If you guys aren't quiet you're gonna wake up Roger."
"Too late, I'm awake."
"Uh oh. I mean, wow, I'm gonna be late for work!" She turned towards the bathroom.
"Freeze Mo. Now what's going on? Mark?"
Mark knew that was it. He was screwed. "Well Mickey was in the city, and he came over and lost his wallet and spent the night and now he's leaving cause Patrick came to pick him up." Mark realized he was babbling.
"Nice try. If that's all, why is it a big secret? And who beat the crap out of him? And what really happened to your face? And your knuckles?"
"Oh crap." Mickey knew they were busted. "It's all my fault. I'm sorry."
"For what? What's going on?" Roger was getting pissed.
Finally Mark and Mickey managed to get the whole story out. To everyone's surprise, including Cass' who got up during the re-telling, Roger didn't get upset. "You actually punched him." He asked Mark in disbelief.
"He not only punched him," Patrick laughed, "he broke his friggin nose. He called me at six this morning after getting out of the emergency room."
Roger and Mickey broke into laughter at that. "You're kidding?" Mickey roared.
"Wow Mark. I'm impressed.
"I'm shocked." Maureen interjected. "I mean I was shocked last night when you hit him, but you broke his nose? Wow. I mean I only ever saw you get into like two fights ever. And in both of those it was somebody else starting with you, and neither of them lasted long." She shrugged. "One Roger just showed up and the other Roger beat the guy up."
"Marky's a lover not a fighter." Cass grinned pouring herself juice. "With a 6'2" body guard." She winked at Roger.
"Well I guess he can take care of himself now." Roger laughed.
"Yeah well, I think my fighting days are over." He looked at his knuckles. "I'll just keep you around as my bodyguard."
"Well now that everybody's up and the big secret was so well kept." Cass glanced around the room. "Anybody want to go to breakfast?" She paused for a second. "Or I can cook something."
"I'll get dressed!" Maureen said.
"Me too." Mark hopped up as Roger started laughing.
"What you don't want me to cook?"
"Not at all Babe." Roger laughed, wrapping his arms around her belly and pulling her close. "We just don't want you to have to go to all that trouble."
"Liar! You're still afraid of my cooking! Fine we go to breakfast." She grinned, walking towards their bedroom to get ready.
Roger followed her a second later. When he was in the room he closed the door behind him. "Hey." He pulled her close again. "Are you okay? I mean was that it, what Mark said? Did anything else happen? He do anything else? Touch you or anything?" He whispered into her hair.
"No. I'm okay. Like Mark said, he came here looking to start trouble. It didn't work. And Mark was amazing. I'm just glad you weren't home, I don't think it would have gone as well." She hugged him close.
"I'm sorry Baby. I'm so sorry. It's all my fault."
"Nothing's your fault. Just because he's a total ass, doesn't make it your fault."
"But…"
"Uh uh. I'm fine. Mark's fine. He came, got his nose broke and kicked out on his butt. Don't worry about it. It's over. I love you no matter what your crazy relatives do. So don't let it bother you." She leaned up and kissed him. "Now get dressed. The kid's hungry!"
"Okay." He smiled at her and pulled on a pair of pants. While Cass was still getting ready, Roger walked back out to the other room. Patrick and Mickey were sitting on the couch, Patrick was giving Mickey a hard time about coming into the city with Jack.
"I know, I know. Leave me alone Pat." Mickey groaned.
"All I'm saying is-"
"Leave him alone." Roger cut him off, walking toward Mark's room. "Mark?"
"Come on in." Mark told him as he pulled on his shoes.
"Hey."
"Hey." He looked up at Roger, trying to read him. Something that was becoming more and more difficult these days.
"Um, about last night…"
"Yeah, I'm sorry Roger. Really."
"No, I mean thanks. You know, for taking care of everything. Of Cass."
"No problem. What else could I do."
"And for sticking up for me. I know he said a bunch of crap."
Mark grinned. "I've been doing that for years."
"No really Mark. I mean it. I know it took a lot for you to actually hit him. I appreciate that. Really."
"You're welcome."
"I still can't believe you hit him." Roger shook his head.
"Well I guess you're finally wearing off on me."
"Yeah I guess." Roger grinned.
"Now if only it worked the other way too." Mark smirked.
"What's that supposed to mean?" He laughed.
"Nothing." Mark laughed back. "Nothing at all. Come on let's go, before Cass threatens to cook again."