Part Four
Brandi slowly headed for her room. She knew deep down that what Ronin was
planning was wrong. They shouldn't be going behind their fathers' backs. They
knew nothing about fighting. They were teenager; well at least she, Dani, Todd
and Keene were.
Stopping by her parents' room, she glanced in the open door. Face was sitting in
his chair reading a book, while her mother appeared to be in bed asleep. Brandi
smiled as she looked at them, not wanting to disturb them, but she really needed
to talk to someone. She cleared her throat. Face looked up.
"Dad, can I talk to you?'
Face placed his book down on the night stand and stood up and walked over to his
daughter. "Brandi,you know you can always talk to me. Let's take a walk."
"Thanks, Dad " she replied ,as she followed her dad.
Walking with his daughter, he placed his hand gently on her shoulder. "Hey,
pumpkin, something bothering you?"
Brandi looked at him. "I don't know. Yeah, maybe something." Brandi stared down
at the floor.
Face lifted her chin so he could see her face. "You want to talk about it?"
Brandi felt the warmth of her father's touch and it felt so wonderful, but she
was still unsure. "I want to, but I don't know if I should."
"I see. So you got boy trouble? Well you came to the right person," Face
smiled with a wink.
Brandi's eyes grew wide. "Dad! No, it's not that. Let's say that you know
someone is doing something that you feel isn't right. Would you tell on them?"
Face studied his daughter thoughtfully before he answered, not wanting to say
the wrong thing. "Well, I guess it would depend on what they were doing. Whether
or not I thought it was dangerous or even life threatening."
Brandi sighed. "Yeah, it's dangerous. Or it could be."
Face knew his daughter and knew she was asking for help. "Brandi, whatever's
wrong you can tell your old Dad."
Brandi looked at her father and breathed a heavy sigh, but knew she had to tell
him.
"Ronin wants us to try and stop Robbins."
"Us? You mean you kids?" Face asked .sternly but gently.
"Yeah. Dad, I don't want to do it, I'm not a fighter."
Face studied his daughter's face and kissed the top of her head. "Brandi, you go
to bed. I'll talk to Ronin."
Brandi looked at her father, tears in her eyes. "Dad, please don't tell him I
told you."
"I won't," Face promised, bending down to place another kiss on her forehead.
"Now, you go to bed. And don't you worry. You did the right thing."
"Thanks, Dad. Good night."
"Night, pumpkin."
Face watched Brandi walk away. He sighed a little and went to the room Ronin was
staying in. On his way he stopped and gently opened the door to check on Todd as
well. He saw that Todd was sound asleep and Keene also, in the other bed.
Nodding, he closed the door and continued to Ronin's room. As he stood
outside,he wished Murdock was here to talk to his son. But this couldn't wait.
If Ronin was planning something damgerous, they could easily be hurt because
they had no experience. He knocked on the door.
Ronin was not asleep. He was lying on the bed a plan running through his mind.
"Who is it?"
"It's Face, Ronin, we need to talk."
Ronin swung his feet around and sat up. "Come on in."
Face walked in and looked at Ronin. The person he saw was not a young man
without any worries, but a person who was carrying the weight of the whole
world on his shoulders. Face sighed. A young man like Ronin should be dating and
enjoying life, not spending time worrying. He paused for a moment before he went
over to him and sat down on the bed. "Ronin, I know what you are planning to do
and I can't let you do it."
"Well, I was planning on going to sleep," Ronin said.
Face shook his head. "You know what I mean. I saw you and Brandi talking and I
heard you organizing a meet in the tree house."
"So, we always go to the tree house."
"Ronin, you guys haven't been to the tree house since Todd was twelve. Now,I
didn't just fall of the turnip truck . You're Hannibal's son and Murdock raised
you. Put them together and it spells trouble. I know you're planning on stopping
Robbins from taking the house. And I also know that a piece of paper saying you
own this house most likely won't stop him."
"I have no idea what you are talking about," Ronin tried to defend himself. .
"Ronin, don't try to con a conman. I understand where you're coming from. But in
all honesty, I can't let you do it. If Robbins gives us trouble,then we'll
stop him, but you guys will stay out of it."
"That's not fair," Ronin protested. "Robbins nearly killed my dad tonight. As
far as I'm concerned, I'm part of this even if the others aren't."
Face studied the younger man.a look of concern on his features. He knew Ronin
had a point. "Tell you what.Murdock's getting out tomorrow and then we'll all
have a talk; you, me, Murdock and BA. Maybe we can work something out
The young man stared at Face. "Dad's getting out tomorrow?"
"Ronin, you know your dad hates hospitals. He spent almost half his adult life
in one and then with your Mom's illness and all, I don't think he wants to spend
any more time in one than he has to. And anyway the doctor said it would be
only overnight."
He smiled and ruffled the young man'd head ."Besides, you know what a hard
head your dad has."
That brought a smile to Ronin 's face. "Uncle Face, that would be great. I'm
glad Dad's coming home tomorrow."
"Just know this, we will not let you get you involved in anything life
threatening. And you will need to learn a few things."\line "Yeah, I get you."
"Good. Well, goodnight". Face turned to leave then stopped. "Ronin, promise me
you won't do anything until we all talk about it."
"I promise. "Goodnight ,Uncle Face." Face."
Face nodded and left the room. Ronin climbed into bed ,kind of glad Face was
sharp and had figured out what he was planning. He hoped the talk would help.