Ch 20

Same Disclaimer Applies. ::Spins the arrow:: PhebgaMGM! Take it to da house!

Ronnie came back to the hotel later that night.
He tried his darndest to wipe the lipstick off his collar.
Stacey and Kim, damn them, they'll get me in trouble if I do this too often.
Stacey and Kim were two of his old friendsd from college who lived in D.C. Luckily, they BOTH showed interest in him when he came around, to rekindle some old freindships...
He checked his relection in the hall mirror and used his swipe key to open the door. Cassie was standing in the middle of the living area, holding Rae and looking depressed.
Great. What now?
Hey Ron, how were your meetings?
Um, yeah. The meetings. They went well. Hopefully, we'll get more grant money...what's wrong?
I need to get back to the office as fast as possible. Something is terribly wrong with some of the Hork Bajir. They need me to morph Yeerk so that I can get into their brains.
She was a terrible liar Everyone knew that. But luckily, Ronnie didn't pick up on her fibbing this time. Perhaps it was because he was trying to hide his own indiscretions.
Uhh, that's fine, I guess. Just um, give me a call when you get in. I need to stay out here anyway for a couple more days. You know-
Important government work. I understand. Cassie cut him off. We'll give you a call when we get back to the bay. She seemed uninterested, like her mind was focused on something way beyond his grasp.
It's definitely not on me, but that's okay...
He gave her a belated kiss on the cheek.
Take care, and give me a call when you get in.Mom-my! I wanna go out-side!
Not now Rae, we're on a plane. We can't go outside!

Cassie shouted. She rarely, if ever, raised her voice to Rae. The child was a handful, as all two year olds are, but she usually wasn't difficult like this. Maybe it was because they left D.C. in such a hurry, because Rae had way too much energy.
And she wanted to burn it off in the plane.
Already, she smeared Peanut Butter on the plane windows, dumped grape juice on the person in front of them, and threw her pillow across the aisle, hitting an old lady square in the face.
Rae, I'm giving you five seconds to sit DOWN in your seat, or no TV for a week!
Rae gave Cassie her puppy-eyed look, one that Jake perfected so many years ago.
I sowry, Rae got back into her seat.
Cassie sighed and leaned her head back against her seat. Lucky Marco, she should have taken him up on his offer to take his private jet. It was no matter, she was going home.
She stroked her daughter's hair.
Rae muttered to no one in particular.
Yes, baby. We're going home.

Marco met Cassie and Rae at the airport.
Marco greeted both of them with hugs.
How was your flight?
LONG. You try keeping a 2-year-old in line on a transatlantic flight.
Marco chuckled.
Where are Tobias and Ax? Cassie asked.
Bird-boy and Ax-man? They're back in D.C. They said that they needed to work some things out with the government before Ax can leave D.C. You know how the government is.
I certainly do. They shared a knowing glance.
Well, the limo is here to take you to your home. Have you figured out what to do with the baby?
Yes. I've arranged for Katie, our neighbor, to watch her while we try to sort things out with Jake.
Good. Good.
Cassie gave a wan smile as the porters helped put her bags in the limousine.
Hopefully, things will work out. I just, I ...I hope that we can help see that his life isn't over, that there are brighter days ahead.
Marco opened the door to his limo.
As soon as Jake sees he has people in his corner, he'll be fine.
I hope so Marco, I really do.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Marco knocked on Jake's door with authority.
Jake, open the door! It's Marco! Cassie's here with me too. We ALL need to talk!
No answer.
This work s in the movies,
Marco kicked the door open.
The aparrtment was cold and dark. The blinds were drawn shut, so no light could come in.
Cassie flipped the switch to the living room and revealed a pigsty, to put it mildly. Jake left a trail of his old beer bottles around the floor, and one was in shards near the TV. Above it, there was a stain. Boxes were still unpacked in the living room, and there were clothes, old magazines, used tissues, and dirty cups and plates all over the place.
Cassie held a hand to her mouth. She knew Jake was a slob, but this...
This is no way for anyone to live.
 Marco screamed, WHERE ARE YOU?
He was answered by the sound of someone wretching in the bedroom. They tried not to trip over all of the mess on their way there.
When dod you say was the last time you saw him?
Last week...man, that Chinese food container was there when I left, too!
Both of them walked into the bedroom and were shocked to see Jake face up on the flloor, covered in vomit.
Marco, run the shower! Cassie shrieked.
As Marco ran across the hall to the bathroom, Cassie helped Jake sit up.
Oh Jake... Cassie grabbed a extra T-Shirt lying around and started to wipe some of the vomit off of his face.
You bitch, Jake spat , Don't, dont you...you even touch me, He tried to raise a hand and push her away, but he was too drunk and his hand fell.
Jake, you're drunk-
I know...I know I'm drunk, he laughed a bitter laugh. It kills the pain, the pain I'm in from fucking you!
Huh? Jake, what the hell are you talking about?
His eyes narrowed.
Who in the hell do you think you are, huh? Trying to take my daughter away from me?
You know, you had to be Black-
Jake couldn't finish the rest of his sentence, because Cassie blindsided him with a slap to the face. Cassie definitely was not a violent person, by any means. But Ronnie's changing attitude, coupled with a transcontinential flight with a petulant two-year old, and no sleep really caught up to her.

DON'T go there Jake. Don't you EVEN dare.
I will. I wilza.... Jake trailed off. He was too drunk to even form complete sentences.
Cassie, it's nice and cold. Marco came back into the room and saw a furious Cassie and a confused Jake.
Marco, give me a hand here Cassie somehow managed to calm down and she and Marco picked him up.
Here, let me help you get him in the shower.
Jake tried to resist, but he was too weak to fight off both Marco and Cassie.
Get your hands off...what're you doing to me? He tried to fight them off to no avail.
Sobering you up, bud, Marco said as they dumped him into the shower.
Cassie put her hand to her head. Marco, he can't go on like this.
I could have him move in with me, Someone is always around.
Or we could get Tobias to-
Tobias isn't doing shiz- Jake fell flat on his face.
Marco turned the water off.
Cassie, go into his room and give me some clean clothes. We'll have to keep an eye on him all night.
Rachel, I could use some help here,she thought as she colleceted his boxers and some clothes.
Your cousin seems bent on killing himself.
A few hours passed as Cassie and Marco put him on his side in the living room, montioring him. The sun set beyond the bay, and nightfall cast a shadow over the apartment.
Cassie looked at her watch.
Marco, I have to go. I need to go relieve Katie of her babysitting duites. Do you mind watching him for the rest of the night?
Nah, it's cool. I don't think he'll be uttering anyh more racial degradations anytime soon. They both looked at Jake, now asleep on the couch.
You heard?
Yeah, I'm sorry Cass. He should know better.

She was furious as she drove beack to her house. Thier freinds pact hadn't worled at all . Ronnie was too controlling, too protective of her to allow them to have a semi-decent relationship. His jealousy consumed Rae and her. It was becoming too much to deal with. Besides, Ronnie didn't even show any emotion as she told him the lie that allowed her to fly back early.
But it wasn't like Jake was a healthy alternative either. His depression was hard enough to deal with on its own. That's why she left him in the first place. Add to that alocholism, and paralysis....it was enough to defeat the sprirt of anynormal person. Jake was hurting. She knew that. But wasn't it enough? How much pain could one person take?
She gripped the steering wheel hard.
Why did you save him if he has to suffer?