A/n: Not sure how many people remember this story, but I'll summarize what has happened so far for those that read but forget because I'm a big procrastinator and took forever updating it! So if you forgot, it's my fault! Haha
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Don't own them, wish I did!
Special Thanks: Of course to Cosmic Castaway again. You awesome girl you! And to all my reviewers, who keep my muse alive! Rock on guys!
Previously: Finney finds out that someone is stalking his family. A man posed as a salesman to get into his mother's house. He also confronted Finney in the elevator about it. A group of men are after the Finney family, and Brendan doesn't know why…hence the title What He Doesn't know Will Hurt Him Anyway. Hope that refreshes you on the story a tad bit, if not so sorry for not updating sooner! I'm such a rotten girl! LOL
Anyway I'll Shutup now and let you get to chapter three….
What He Doesn't Know Will Hurt Him Anyway Chapter Three
Finney stayed in the elevator a few seconds more, but finally came to his senses and quickly got out, just in time because the elevator doors began to quickly shut. He looked down the hallway, trying to spot the man that had just threatened his life, but it was so crowded with people.
He made his way to the front exit, walking out onto the steps. Looking down the street he saw nothing, which made him panic. Had he done something to a suspect? He had no clue what was causing this, and why was this man bringing his family into it? So many questions that needed to be answered. He then made his way down the street, hoping maybe the man was going to stick around the neighborhood but of course Finney had no such luck.
His next plan of attack was his mother's house. Maybe the man had said some things to his mother that would be vital to this whole situation. Hopefully the man got careless, and spouted off some information. He could only try and find out.
He got to her house in no time, barging in without even knocking. She was sitting on the couch, a coffee mug in hand. Bryce and his younger sister Jena were sitting on the love seat, and they were watching some old movie that he didn't recognize.
His mother read the concern on his face. "Brendan, what's going on?"
"We need to talk." He grabbed her arm, pulling her out of the living room, and out of earshot of his younger siblings. He knew his intrusion would alarm them, but they didn't have to know why.
He took her upstairs to her bedroom and shut the door where they both sat on the bed. She grabbed his hand, her brow was creased.
"You are scaring me Brendan, what's the matter?"
He took in a deep breath, almost hesitating to tell her. The room seemed to crowd in around him like how he felt on the elevator when the man said the things he did. He stood up, pacing back and forth around her bed before he finally broke the silence.
"Ma, did a salesman come to your door?"
She arched her eyebrow, instantly remembering a man that claimed to sell vacuum cleaners. "Yes, he came by earlier today."
"Shit," he muttered. "Do you remember what he looked like?"
"About 6'1", kind of heavy set. Receding hairline." She studied her son. He wouldn't sit still for two seconds. "How did you know about that?"
Finney finally sat down, looking his mother right in the eyes. "He wasn't a salesman." He ran over his hair that was now moist from him sweating. "I don't have a lot of information, I just know that he's not what he claimed to be."
His mother's eyes widened. "How do you know this?" She had been married to a cop for many years, and she knew better than to question some kind of hunch they got, but this was really freaking her out. "Brendan…"
"Just trust me mom. I'm going to spend the night here again tonight. Don't let Bryce and Jena know yet because I know they'll freak out. Just don't let anyone in the house, make sure every door is locked. Dad showed you how to shoot a gun right?"
Mrs. Finney nodded. "Yes."
"Okay I'm going to go get one of his guns out of his gun closet, you keep it with you at all times in the house. Keep it hidden of course. Anything happens you call me, I don't care what time it is."
"Bryce and Jena will eventually have to know. And me too, I need to know what's going on."
Brendan went to her closet, pulling out one of CT's old 9 millimeters. "I'll tell you when I know myself."
Finney woke up the next morning around 8. He had only slept around 2 hours the entire night. Every sound he heard had woken him up. He was extremely hesitant to leave his family alone in their house, but they knew how to handle things. When his father was alive he made it a point to show them things, 'One good thing my father did for his family.' Finney thought as he walked down the street, keeping his eyes peeled for everything in front of him. 'Maybe they are just after me and they are using my family to distract me.' He shook his head; he needed to stop driving himself so crazy.
The only thing he could think to do next was go to the station house and start up some research. He knew for a fact that looking through mug books was usually a big waste of time, but it was worth a shot. Maybe the guy had a rap sheet a mile long and he'd be really easy to find.
He tried to walk through the entrance unnoticed, thankfully all the people that were there at the moment were part of the morning shift, and knew he was a cop but didn't know him enough to start asking questions. That's the last thing he needed at the moment, someone barging in on him when he didn't even know the full story.
He slowly walked up the stairs; the effects of his sleep patterns were starting to take effect on him because just the mere incline made his legs burn and his lungs hurt. He opened the door to an office where thankfully it was vacant. Sitting down at one of the desks, he let out a heavy sigh as he reached for the first mug book to sift through. Opening the fist page he glared at the pics. Every guy seemed to look the same which made it worse for his attention span, but just thinking about how the bastard brought his family into it made him continue to turn the pages and observe.
"What are you doing here?"
Finney quickly looked up, the sound of her voice alone made him jump. He tried to hide that she had scared him but she read him like a book.
"Jumpy today are we?"
Finney didn't really know Cruz that well, but he had seen enough of her out on the street and with other officers to know that she wasn't the best person to try and get along with. He leaned back in the chair, flashing her a blank stare.
"Just here looking at some things, doing some research." Just his luck, he didn't want to run into anyone, and here he ran into her. "I'll be out of your way in a little bit."
She sat down across from him, folding her arms over her chest and flashing him the most arrogant grin he had ever seen. "Your shift isn't until 3:00, so I'm going to ask you again, what are you doing here at 8:30?"
"I should ask the same thing for you."
She leaned forward, now placing her hands on the surface of the desk, as she got closer to him. "I'm a sergeant, I do not have to explain myself. Are you trying to hide something Officer Finney?" She sat back again, her inane grin was still held on her lips.
He stared back at her. "No, I'm not hiding shit. I'm just looking through some things, doing a little research on a guy."
"What's his name, maybe I know him."
Finney shook his head no. "Nah, it's ok. You don't know him anyway." She was really starting to get on his nerves, and he was already irritable as it is. "I'm fine Cruz, the sooner you leave me alone the sooner I'll be out of your way." He turned back down to the book, but was disturbed yet again with her hand blocking the page he was looking at. She walked around to his side of the desk.
"Are you doing an unauthorized investigation, because last time I checked beat cops have to turn that kind of stuff over to the big guys?"
Her last comment lit his fuse, and he quickly stood up, causing her to step back from his sudden movements. He gritted his teeth as he continued to walk towards her, but she finally stood her ground, looking him up and down. They both stood there when Finney finally spoke up.
"You know Cruz, I never really got to know you. I've seen you out on the street working, doing your thing, and I've heard people talk about you. Before today I always thought it was just rumors, but you've proven me wrong." He walked back to the desk, standing behind it again. "Now, if you'd shut your damn mouth for a few seconds, I can get this shit done and get out of here." He plopped down hard in the chair; not even believing he had just spoke to her like that. He was stressed though, and stressful times caused him to act that way, even when he didn't try to be.
Cruz stood in the same spot, her mouth practically hanging open from his blow up. Something was going on with Finney. She knew he was a hot head about things but this was a side she never had seen before. She walked out of the room, mad and also wondering what was going on.
Finney decided to give up on the mug books later that day, about an hour before it was time for him to go into work. He needed to find the man's name out, which would make things so much easier for him. He stared in his mirror at his apartment, looking at the image in front of him. He didn't like what he saw. Black circles took over the edges of his eyes; he looked as if he hadn't slept in months. He ran some water over his face, letting the luke-warm drops fall over his skin and drop back into the sink below. He knew he was being watched. They were probably somewhere outside his apartment right now, peeking in, invading his privacy.
He had sat and wondered what the hell it was he had done to this man to make him do this. He would've remembered his face if it were one of the guys he collared, so that was out of the question. Maybe it was a family member of a suspect. Or maybe it was nothing, maybe it was just the guy at the scene of the fire that got pissed, and was playing a joke. Really harsh joke to be playing, but Finney was trying to think up each possibility as best as he could, or making himself insane for that matter.
He glanced at the alarm clock on his nightstand as he walked back into his room, noticing it was 2:30. Grabbing his duffel bag he hurried out the door, not even noticing a different man standing at the end of the hall. Finney was right, they had been watching him, his every move.
The man pulled a cell phone out of his pocket, dialing '3' on his speed dial, and waited patiently for the man on the other end to answer.
"Hey Chase, it's me. Junior is headed to work."
The man on the line smiled. "Okay, begin the plan. Little Junior is going to have a rough night tonight."
"So Finney, Grace keeping you up all night or something?"
Finney quickly jolted his head to the side, glaring at Davis. "What makes you think that?"
"Just taking notice to your physical appearance. You don't look too hot my man."
Finney ran his fingers over his hair, sighing. "Davis, I'm really not in the mood for it today. Let's just lay low and get through the day without any problems." He leaned his head back and closed his eyes, but didn't keep them closed for long, because the image of the man in the elevator flashed into his view, causing him to jump.
"You sure you are okay Finney, you sure are jumpy. Every single sound the car makes, or every person that looks suspicious makes you uneasy."
"It's nothing! Just drive and don't worry about it!" He wondered to himself how long he could do this, hide it from the people he worked with. If it continued, he probably would need to tell someone, but right now the secret stayed buried in his worried mind. It sucked too, because here he was being a jerk to everyone, when he didn't even intend to be.
Before they knew it, the time was around 8:30. Davis did what Finney asked, and they had laid low for most of the day, mainly dealing with simple things like domestics and calls like that. Finney made it a point to call his mother every hour, but hid it from Davis well. Every time he called, he would go to the restroom, or make up some excuse that didn't leave Davis guessing. So far the day had been going good, his mother hadn't seen or heard anything suspicious, and Finney was able to relax a tad bit.
"Squad 55, respond to 2-7-9 Lafayette Street, structure fire in progress."
At first it didn't register to Finney, but when he heard them respond back to verify the address, his stomach sank, making what he had previously eaten come up, but he held it in.
"Davis…" His eyes widened as sweat began to pour down his face.
"What is it man?" Davis didn't recognize the address, he hadn't been at the Finney residence enough.
At first Finney couldn't spit the words out to say it. "That's uh, that's my mom's place."
"Where FDNY got dispatched?"
Finney nodded. "Get us over there, right now." He sat up in his seat, keeping an eye on the speedometer as Davis pulled out into traffic, flying past people. Finney flipped on the lights and sirens, but that didn't help much. People still wouldn't move out of the way, it's as if people forgot what it meant when an emergency vehicle flying by with lights and sirens meant.
All he could think about was his family was still in the house, burning to death, wondering where he was to help them like he said he would. Davis pulled onto the block where the house was located, and the flames were so high you could already see them. The car came to a sudden stop and Finney jumped out, quickly walking up to where all the engines were. He was in awe at the situation, it almost didn't seem real to him. Lieutenant Walsh put his hand up, pushing Finney back.
"Keep back Officer, we've got it under control."
Finney stared at the orange flames, seeing how quickly they ate up his childhood home. "My family is in there."
"What?"
"Did anyone get out?"
Walsh shook his head. "We were told no one was in it."
That's when Finney pushed past them, his anger and fear made him run in, despite how hot and high the flames were. He knew for a fact his mom was there, he had just got done talking to her about 15 minutes earlier. DK ran in after him, but Finney was too fast as he dodged some flying debris. He held his hand over his mouth, the smoke was overwhelming, and already he began to cough. His lungs felt as if they were on fire also, causing him to gag.
"Mom!" Guilt set in on him; he should've been here to get them out.
He heard someone coughing, and quickly picked up what was once their coffee table. He moved some other things he could, but the flames began to grow even higher, causing him to fall backwards. He landed on his back, and to his surprise his mother was right there beside him, half-awake. Her face was covered in suit from being stuck in there.
He tried getting up to lift her, but he could barely move his body. "Mom, can you move for me?"
She could barely hear him over the roaring of the fire that was eating away the walls around them. "Brendan…"
"Stay awake mom, where's Bryce and Jena?"
"They aren't here. Bryce took Jena to the store, they haven't got back…" She could barely talk, each word seemed to take a lot of breath from her lungs as if she had just got done running a marathon.
That's when DK found them, pulling Finney up first, and then Marion. He draped her over his shoulder. "Grab a hold of my jacket Finney, and don't let go." Finney did as he was told, and DK led them out, dodging more falling things as they made it to the front door. Finney let go of him, but still followed as they took Marion to the ambulance.
Grace was there, but Finney ignored her as he watched them begin to work on his mother. She had a gash on her forehead where something had hit her, and she could barely stay awake from the smoke inhalation. "Finney, get over here so we can check you out."
He shook his head no, keeping his eyes on his mother. "Is she going to be okay?"
Carlos looked up from Marion to him. "She's okay, she just needs to get to the hospital. Let Grace check you out, you took in a lot of smoke."
Finney moved back, walking away from the ambulance as he looked at what was left of the house that was still up in flames as the fire department worked to put it out. He looked at Grace who was talking to him, but he couldn't even hear her. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion for him. He knew this was serious now, when someone resorted to arson. He couldn't wait to get face to face with him again, he wouldn't let him slip through his fingers so easily, nope he was going to pay.
"Brendan let me check you out!" Grace grabbed his arm, turning him away from the fire. "I just want to help."
Finney quickly jerked his arm away, flashing her a blank stare. "I don't want your help. Leave me alone! Just leave me alone!" He turned around, walking to the RMP. "C'mon Davis, we are going to the hospital." He got in the driver's seat, slamming the door hard.
Finney stared out of the rearview mirror as they drove off, taking in the last image of the house he'd ever see. That was where he grew up, spent all his childhood, and it was gone just like that, for reasons he didn't even know. He needed to find the man fast and get some questions answered, before someone ended up getting killed…
TBC...
Since I can no longer give you guys individual messages for your reviews I'll just say yet again thanks for your interest in this story! You know who you are if you reviewed or sent me emails, you guys are the best! Take care and go easy, hope you are still into this story!
