Chapter Four - Father's and Son's

"Excuse me?" I asked in mock politeness to the man who had made life a living hell for so many.

He glared at me, contemptuous, hating. "I said, why don't you tell Monroe about you getting your ass kicked like a pansy in the locker room." He chewed his gum hard, popping it and making my nerves twang.

"Ya. You'd like that, wouldn't ya? Although why do I get the feeling that you already knew what happened before I knew what hit me?" I didn't disguise the accusing tone in my voice.

He narrowed his gaze at me and looked around at the rest of my party. "Seems like you're getting my son all mixed up in your way of thinking. I don't like that."

"Why, you afraid he'll turn out to be an honest man?"

"What was that?" His face was turning a nice shade of red. "You want to repeat that? Honest man? Have you told them about Maggie, ya mick prick?"

How dare he mention her name. He knew better. That was the last straw for me. I started to stand, when a hand was thrust forth and caught me in the chest, sitting me back down. "Easy, Cal." Brendan said. He stood up and faced his father. "Dad, what the hell are you doin'?"

C.T. blanched, obviously not used to being talked back to, let alone by his son. "Brendan, just mind your business, son. This has nothing to do with you."

Brendan shook his head. "I don't think so, dad." He said softly but firmly. "Did you come here to embarrass me and my friends?

"Brendan! This has nothing to do with you. You don't know Murphy as well as you think you do and....."

"I don't care. Murphy is a good cop and so is monroe. You should be transferring her, not leaving her here to fend for herself. You're in charge. You have pull. It's dangerous for her to be here." He said.

"Don't talk to me like that! I'll do what I damn well please! And furthermore...." C.T. Thundered, his face turning purple.

Brendan was facing him down and C.T. didn't like it. I suspected that it was the first time he had done that publically, but with all of the rumors and stories flying around about the Captain and the fact that he was responsible for many deaths, I think that Brendan was starting to believe that his father was not who he made himself out to be.

Brendan grabbed his fathers arm and guided him away from the table. He lowered his voice, embarrassed by his father and the situation he had found himself in. "Please go and make yourself useful because you're making an ass out of yourself."

The three of us just stared at the scene. It wouldn't even have been a scene if the elder Finney could have kept his voice down. Nikki was turned so far around in her seat, I thought she may break her neck.

"Wow. He really is an asshole." Nikki muttered under her breath.

"No kidding." Sasha replied. She turned to me. "And who is Maggie?"

"No one. He's just being a bloke." I muttered, hoping she wouldn't press me on it.

C.T. pulled from his hold and walked back to his own table and sat down. Brendan followed him and they exchanged a few more words. We couldn't hear them so Nikki turned around, her eyes open wide, displaying her shock at the Captain's behavior.

"So that's Brendan's dad? I know why he never wanted me to meet him." She mused to herself more than to us. Our waitress made her way over to the table bringing two menu's with her.

"What can I get for you today?" She asked politely, bating her lashes at me. NYPD always had pull with the ladies, especially with waitresses but I wasn't in the mood.

I looked over at Brendan and C.T. who were still talking. Every once in a while, he would look over at me, confusion clearly written in his blue eyes. I knew, just knew that he was hearing stuff that I couldn't control or deny. Damn him! Not wanting to answer any more questions about anything, I decided that I would rather eat shit than sit here another minute and look at that old pricks face.

I stood up and waved at her dismissivly. "Nothin' I changed my mind, miss. Thank you. Let's go Hickox."

I Both Sasha and Nikki looked at me, not having expected my quick departure. "But Cal, I'm hungry and I want to talk to Brendan."

"NOW! I'll go through a drive-thru for you, just get your ass up out of that seat!" I barked at her.

She narrowed her gaze at me, clearly pissed, as she had every right to be, at the way I had spoken.

"Fine!" She snapped and stood up to follow me. She was angry but she also knew I was her superior officer and that I could write her up as fast as she could breathe.

"Monroe. I'll talk to you later." I grumbled and walked toward the door. I passed right by the table where C.T. and Brendan were talking and I saw Brendan trying to catch my eye but I looked right through him. I pushed the door open violently. It slammed against the wall of the building and bounced back almost hitting Nikki. She jumped out of the way.

"Jeez, Caleb! Watch it, would ya?" She snapped at me.

"Don't talk to me."

"What's wrong with you, anyway?" She muttered, only loud enough for me to hear.

"I said, don't talk to me, Hickox! I need to think and I can't do that with you jabbering in my ear!" I snapped meanly at her.

I knew I was in the wrong. I knew that I was being unreasonable and taking my frustrations and my fear out against her, but I was scared and angry and I had so much to lose, that I could hardly do my job. I could hardly breathe.

I kept walking toward the car. I kicked the loose gravel with my shoe. It bounced off of the ground and hit the RMP, scratching the paint off the side. "Oh damn it, could this day get any worse!" I yelled at the sky, my hands in the air.

That old pathetic excuse for a man could ruin everything I had worked for. Everything. My whole life. Maggie.

Oh, how my arms ached to hold her.