Reached for the Wisdom

by LuckyLadybug

Takes place mostly during episode 152. After little to no communication from Kalin's old friends, Jack comes to Satisfaction Town to duel Kalin as part of his self-imposed training regime. That doesn't endear him to Kalin's new friend.

Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds

Reached for the Wisdom

By Lucky_Ladybug

Notes: The characters are not mine and the story is! This mostly takes place during episode 152, when Jack comes to Satisfaction Town to duel Kalin. The last portion takes place post-series, following my fic And in the Darkness Bind Them. As always, Radley is a nice person, the way I honestly see him. The idea of him possibly developing PTSD from dueling is based on a role-play idea with MoonlightTyger. I'm using prompt #2 - Clear, from the abandoned 5Ds_100 writing community on Livejournal.

It was a clear day when Jack rode in to Satisfaction Town. He looked around, taking in the newly rebuilt establishments along the main street. Kalin had said the people were resourceful and determined. This was certainly the proof of it. There was no longer any trace of the damage caused by Lawton's explosives.

The people, too, looked happy and friendly, smiling and waving to Jack as he drove through. They probably remembered him, although he didn't recall too many of the individual townspeople. They had mostly been a blur to him as he had passed through town.

He parked in front of the saloon and got off his Duel Runner. He hadn't seen any sign of Kalin yet. Where was he?

"Hello," came a smooth, friendly voice.

He looked up. Radley was coming towards him along the wooden sidewalk, looking refreshed and well. He gave Jack a happy smile.

Jack nodded in approval. "You look like you've completely recovered," he noted. Radley was someone he definitely remembered. The last time he had seen Radley had been the morning after he had died from the inhuman torture in the dyne mines. He had been very pale, but happy that Kalin finally cared about him after getting his mind clear.

"I have," Radley said. "You're here to see Kalin?"

"That's right," Jack said. "I'm here to duel him."

Radley quirked an eyebrow. "Duel him?"

"That's right," Jack said. "I'm on a serious training regime to regain my championship title and I want to include Kalin in it."

"Is that the only reason you're here?" Radley sounded like he couldn't believe it.

"That's reason enough!" Jack shot back.

Radley's demeanor changed immediately. "Oh?" Now he sounded very cool. "I thought this was a friendly visit to see how he was doing. You're the first of his old friends to come by, you know."

"I'll see how he's doing," Jack retorted. "But it looks like he's done well."

Radley sneered at him. "Oh yes, very well. The town loves him. As do I. If you want him, he's around here somewhere. Feel free to look to your heart's content."

Jack felt his fuse begin to melt down. "Now look, you - ! You're lucky you're not in the Facility after being mixed up in the gang war in town! Where do you get off being inhospitable to the King?!"

"You know, if this were some more strict backwater town, I could probably have you arrested for talking to the local law enforcement this way," Radley replied. "But because I'm a nice guy, and because Kalin still cares about you, I won't." He turned with a wave and strolled off. "And you're not still the King, you know. That title won't help you here."

Jack fumed. "Get back here, you . . . wait a minute, did he just say he's the law here in town?!" He looked around frantically. "Where's Kalin?!" He tore down the street.

xxxx

Kalin looked up when Radley stormed into his office on the second floor of the diner. "What is it?" he asked in surprise.

Radley shut the door and leaned against it with folded arms. "Kalin . . . Jack's here," hesaid at last.

"Jack?!" Kalin leaped up from the desk. "I thought I heard a Duel Runner! They sound different from regular motorcycles."

It hurt even more to see the excitement in Kalin's eyes. "Kalin . . ." Radley sighed. "He's only here because he wants you to help him train."

Kalin froze. "What?"

"That's what he just told me." Radley walked over and laid a hand on Kalin's shoulder. "I'm sorry."

Kalin stared out the window for a moment, pondering, as he reached up to Radley's hand. Finally he turned back and smiled at his friend. "It's just Jack's way," he decided. "I'm sure he also wanted to see how I was doing in general."

Radley wasn't sure at all, but he didn't protest. "Well, you know him and I don't," he sighed. He didn't add that now he wasn't so sure he wanted to get to know Jack.

"He's running all up and down the street," Kalin chuckled. "I guess he's trying to find me. Come on, let's go down and see him. Maybe a duel will bring out his better side if he wins."

Radley gave a dark smirk. "I'd rather see him lose."

"He's really not that bad," Kalin said. "And he did save Nico and West."

Radley finally nodded in resigned acknowledgment. "That's true."

Kalin drew an arm around Radley's shoulders and led him out of the office and downstairs. "I'm told he was really upset at how you were abandoned in the mines too," he said, sobering. "He gave the Bunch a stern talking-to, Scotch said later."

"Really?" Radley said in surprise.

"You two just got off on the wrong foot," Kalin said. "Jack's pride is definitely his greatest weakness. Let's try again, okay?"

Radley sighed. "Alright."

Jack was finally getting around to considering checking the diner when they stepped outside. He started, turning to face them. "Kalin!" he exclaimed. "Where have you been?! This . . . biker punk you've adopted wouldn't take me to you and claimed he's the law enforcement in town!"

"He is," Kalin said calmly. "So am I."

Jack huffed. "Really."

Kalin nodded. "Radley tells me you want to duel, Jack?"

"That's right," Jack said. "Is there still a rule around here that we have to wait for sunset?"

"No, we can duel anytime you want," Kalin said. "Let's go to the town square. Radley and anyone else who wants to watch can."

"Hmph," said Jack. "Fine with me."

Radley stood by and watched throughout the duel. It was a long and intense battle, and Radley saw that old familiar spark come into Kalin's eyes. He still loved dueling. Radley had to smile at that. When Kalin's spirit had been dead to all else, dueling had revived him. Radley hadn't objected to Jack wanting to duel Kalin, only that Jack hadn't seemed to want anything else. By the time Jack finally won, it had been a hard-fought victory and Kalin looked pleased with himself despite the loss.

"That was fun," he commented as he straightened. "You're still in top form, Jack."

Jack gave a brief nod. "Every victory brings me closer to the ultimate duel I desire," he said.

"Against Yusei?" Kalin said knowingly.

"Of course," Jack said.

"Well, as long as you're here, why not stay overnight and have dinner at the diner with everyone?" Kalin said.

Jack looked like he was about to refuse. But for one reason or another—maybe Radley's black look, maybe not—he changed his mind. "Maybe I will," he said.

"Great," Kalin said. "Do you still like the usual? I can have them fix it."

"I like the finest gourmet dishes," Jack said.

"Oh, well, I'm sure we can accommodate you," Radley said. "We're really not hicks out here."

"Why do you live out here anyway?" Jack wondered. "You're clearly from an urban environment."

"Aside from the fact that I'm making a lot of money here, my loved ones are here and this is my home," Radley smoothly replied.

Kalin smiled. "And I'm proud to call it my home now too."

"That is obvious," Jack said.

Radley sighed as Jack wandered off ahead to go back to the diner. "Kalin . . . I worried like this about Yusei and you said it wasn't true, but . . . do you think Jack is jealous of me? Or is he really only annoyed about our little tiff today?"

Kalin paused. "I have to admit, I'm not sure," he said. "I know it wouldn't be like Yusei to be jealous, but Jack . . . with him, it is possible."

Radley frowned. "Even though he hasn't even done much with you in a while and outright admitted that the Enforcer days were over the last time he was here?"

"Jealousy doesn't always make sense," Kalin said. "He might not even realize that's what he's feeling . . . if he is."

Radley cringed. "And I thought this situation was awkward enough before."

"I really believe it will be alright," Kalin said. "For all his faults, Jack is a good guy. If he doesn't already recognize that in you, he will."

Radley wasn't at all sure, but he didn't want to push the matter. ". . . I saw how happy you were to duel," he said at last. "I'm glad. I thought you might have too many unhappy memories associated with dueling now."

"I still love it," Kalin said. "I don't fully know why, but I do." He paused. "But you don't, do you? I've suggested dueling before and you haven't wanted to."

Radley gave him a sad smile. "I've tried to duel sometimes. Even if I'm dueling myself, my hand just shakes so badly trying to draw cards or play them. I hadn't dueled for ages because I wanted to stay in the shadows and be a last defense against Malcolm, if I was needed. But then when I was needed, I failed, and failed hard. Lawton played unfairly, as you know. I didn't even get off one move. What you might not know, since you were inside a coffin at the time, is that his card didn't just deliver effect damage that I felt. I felt like I was being shot over and over with a real Gatling gun. Forty rounds, right into my body." He shut his eyes tightly. "I collapsed unconscious, badly hurt and humiliated in front of the entire town. Then I woke up being sent to the mines, where I was tortured and killed. And . . . I think now I have a phobia about losing a duel. I associate it with pain and fear and death. I can't . . . I just can't make myself duel. I don't know if I ever can again."

Kalin stared at him. "Oh Radley . . . I'm so sorry. . . ."

"It's not your fault I was beat up by a card, no matter what I screamed at you in helpless anger and fear," Radley said.

"I still should've done more," Kalin said. "I wonder what would have happened if I'd won the duel against Yusei?"

"Most likely the same thing," Radley said. "Lawton would have appeared and not played fair. You and I, most likely, would have ended up in the mines. Yusei might have been lucky enough to go to my side of the mountain instead of Malcolm's, and he would have remained determined to save you. Eventually he would have snuck over to Malcolm's side and rescued you."

"You don't think he would have saved you too?" Kalin pondered for a moment. "If he went to your side of the mines, he would have seen everything was different there. Then he would have realized things weren't as cut-and-dry as he'd thought. I think he would have saved you too."

Radley smiled wistfully. "Then maybe it's a pity things didn't work out that way."

"I wish it had, now that I'm thinking about how it could have been. Radley. . . ." Kalin stared sadly at his friend. "You're still hurt about being left behind, aren't you?"

"I understand why it happened," Radley said. "And I guess if both Yusei and you thought I was so terrible, I can't really blame either of you. But . . . all things considered, that doesn't mean I'm not shaken up and saddened by it."

"I'm so sorry." Kalin held him close in a hug, which he thoroughly returned. "I will probably always be haunted by what my negligence caused for you."

"And I'm sorry for that," Radley said. "But . . . I'm glad to be cared about so much that it bothers you."

"We could have been close from the start if I hadn't been so wrapped up in myself," Kalin said. ". . . Like Jack is."

"You were suffering from depression," Radley said. "Jack isn't."

"No, he sure isn't," Kalin chuckled.

"Well," Radley sighed, "speaking of Jack, we'd better see what we can do to make the rest of his visit pleasant."

"I'm starting to think only beating Yusei would make him happy," Kalin said. "But a good meal couldn't hurt."

"What really does he like to eat?" Radley asked.

"I think his interests have changed, so it's probably better if he tells you," Kalin said.

"I suppose once he sees the menu, I'll get an earful," Radley grimaced.

Kalin smirked a bit. "But you can dish it right back. Crow was always the one who matched wits with Jack in the Enforcers. You're just as good, but with your own style."

"I developed it through the years to deal with people who were annoying me," Radley smirked. "But I'm sorry to say that Jack is annoying me greatly. I know he means a lot to you."

"Don't be sorry," Kalin said. "The reason why he's annoying you is because you care so much about me, right?"

"Of course," Radley said.

Kalin smiled. "That kind of annoyance is nice. Actually, you and Jack are alike in some ways. I know he doesn't seem like it now, but he's a very protective person. So are you."

". . . I'll take your word for it," Radley mused.

"Maybe you won't be able to see eye to eye on this trip, but at least I hope that you'll each recognize the other truly cares about me," Kalin said.

"That would make a great deal of difference," Radley said. "I haven't seen any indications from Jack that he cares about anything other than getting on top again."

"He does," Kalin assured him. "Sometimes it just gets buried under his pride."

"I also haven't seen that he has any real understanding of my situation," Radley frowned. "He acted like I should have been arrested. I thought he understood that I was trying to protect the town against Malcolm during the gang war."

Kalin sighed. "He does. He shouldn't have said that. Jack says a lot of things he shouldn't, I can't deny that."

". . . I guess I could try to think of him as the Virgil of your old friend group," Radley chuckled. "Virgil also often comes across poorly, as you well know."

Kalin nodded. "That's a good comparison."

"And since I care about Virgil very much, maybe that will help me like Jack a little too," Radley said.

They arrived at the diner, where Jack had already gone inside.

". . . I wonder what Jack will think of the Bunch now," Radley remarked. "I hope he and Virgil won't end up coming to blows over some nonsense or another."

"We'd better go inside and see," Kalin said.

In the diner, Jack had settled into a back booth and seemed to be trying to ignore the chaos of most of the Bunch running around filling orders and Scotch belting out Good Golly Miss Molly at the jukebox for the entertainment of the patrons. Jack hid behind the menu like he would a newspaper, scowling and deep in thought.

Radley chuckled. "Oh my."

Kalin had to smirk. "Welcome to Satisfaction Town, Jack," he said as they went over to the booth.

Jack grunted. "Is it always this . . . lively?"

"Oh, this is mild," Radley said easily. "Wait until you see what happens after dinner."

Jack tried and failed not to look alarmed. "What happens after dinner?!"

"Usually mini concerts and karaoke," Radley said. "Sometimes video game championships. We have an arcade off to the side."

"I see," Jack said. "Well, don't expect me to stick around for any of that."

"We won't," Radley said. "It's . . . an acquired taste." He smirked. "Did you decide yet on your choice of a meal?"

"Like I said, I want gourmet faire," Jack replied. "Something like filet mignon. I'm surprised that's on the menu."

"I think we have many surprises to offer." Radley straightened. "I'll see about your order."

Kalin slipped into the booth with Jack when Radley had gone to the kitchen. "What do you think of Radley, Jack?" he asked.

"I think he's an insufferably obnoxious punk," Jack snorted. "And I don't know why you like him. Is it just because of your guilt over how poorly you treated him in the past?"

Kalin's eyes clouded with the painful memories. "No, it isn't," he insisted. "When I found him lying dead and I realized he had died saving Jordan's life, I also realized that under the depression and self-hatred, I had come to care about him in spite of misunderstanding him. I cared about him . . . and he was gone. And that will never not haunt me. He's a good person, Jack. I hope you can come to see that."

Jack grunted. "I understand all that. What I don't get is how you bonded with him so closely. Your personalities do not match. And don't give me that 'opposites attract' tripe."

"I won't," Kalin said. "I get kind of tired of that myself. You're right, Jack—our personalities are very different. But instead of saying they don't match, I say they complement each other. We keep each other grounded. Radley and the Bunch have shown me how to laugh and have fun again, and Radley tells me I've helped him learn to live with the mistakes he's made in life." He smiled. "I'm truly happy again, and a lot of that is because of everyone here in town. Especially Radley."

". . . You are happier than I've seen you in a long time," Jack admitted, perhaps a bit grudgingly. "You seem completely at peace. Perhaps I am a little jealous that you've found that with someone else, although I know I have no reason to be. We all moved on from the Enforcers, as I told Crow before."

"But that doesn't mean we have to move on from our friendships too," Kalin said.

". . . No, it doesn't. It shouldn't." Jack looked away. "But I've had to set friendship aside again to focus on my dream. I swear, I'm going to become the King again!" He thumped the table with his fist.

"Then I'm sure you will," Kalin said. "You always do what you set out to do. I've rarely met anyone so driven." He paused. "But . . . if you're jealous of Radley, I have to wonder . . . is this path truly the one you want to take? It's awfully lonely at the top."

"It's definitely the path I want to take!" Jack growled.

"You know, though, you don't have to go it alone. I know Carly would go anywhere with you."

Jack looked away. "She should focus on her career. I said I didn't have time for women either. I didn't want her giving up her future to follow me around like a stray puppy."

"She would be happy to," Kalin said. "But she wouldn't have to. She could do a series of articles on your quest for the top. There are definitely ways to work things out between you two . . . if you really want to make it work."

Jack fell silent. "You've gotten a lot wiser. Is that because of Radley too?"

"Let's say it's because of everyone who cares about me," Kalin replied. "Yusei and Radley are both amazing leaders . . . and brother figures. I've learned so much from both of them."

". . . I can see that," Jack said.

"By the way, Jack . . ." Kalin looked Jack in the eyes. "You said Radley wouldn't take you to me when you arrived. Do you understand why?"

"Because he wanted to drive me crazy!?" Jack retorted. "Perhaps he was jealous of me too."

Kalin sighed. "He thought you weren't concerned about or interested in me and that you only cared about what you wanted from me. He was angry thinking I'd be hurt."

Jack frowned. "Are you serious?"

Kalin shook his head. "You really didn't pick up on that?"

". . . He was friendly until I said my only reason for coming was to duel," Jack admitted.

"Exactly," Kalin said. "Radley only acts obnoxious with people if they make him mad or if he likes to push their buttons. He's very protective . . . like you are."

"Hmm." Jack looked down at the table. "I didn't know. That would sound nervy, wouldn't it."

"I was sure you wanted to see how I was doing, even if you didn't admit it," Kalin remarked.

". . . I suppose I did, deep down." Jack frowned more. "I really figured you were doing alright or we would have heard, and . . . I was mostly thinking of myself."

Radley returned with a heavy plate and a mug. "Hmm, well, at least you finally admit it," he quipped.

Jack jumped. Kalin didn't look surprised. "Welcome back," he greeted.

Radley smiled at him. "One filet mignon," he said grandly as he set the plate down. "And Blue-Eyes Mountain Coffee. I know it's your favorite."

Jack blinked in surprise. "You were gone an awfully long time," he noted.

Radley shrugged. "It takes a while to prepare gourmet faire," he said smoothly, slipping into the booth across from Kalin and folding his arms on the table.

Jack stared at him. "You made this?!"

"I'm the top chef as well as the owner," Radley smirked. "For one of Kalin's friends, I wanted to give the order my personal attention."

Jack looked like he wasn't sure what to think. But he lifted his knife and fork and cut into the meat. The first bite was another surprise. "This . . . this is delicious!" Jack gasped.

"Why, thank you," Radley smiled.

Kalin smiled too. Things weren't perfect, but this was a good start. Maybe these two special friends of his could get along yet.

xxxx

Jack stood, staring down at the lifeless body as so many thoughts tumbled through his mind. Radley looked so sad, so still and defeated, as he lay facedown in the grass and sand. The tide moved back and forth over his poor body, as though nudging him to wake up. But he would never wake up again.

Was this anything like how Kalin had felt upon finding Radley in the mines? The poor man had died saving Jordan. This time, he had died saving all of them, and Jack couldn't help feeling somewhat responsible for Radley's death. If only his path had come out close to Lawton. If only he had been the one to duel Lawton instead of Radley. . . .

"Radley, you fool!" he helplessly snarled. "Don't you know that Kalin can't live without you?!"

Radley hadn't had a choice. Jack knew that. But that didn't make anything about this situation any better.

When Kalin ran over, screaming for Radley and wrapping him in a thick quilt, Jack's heart cracked. He had never seen Kalin like this. Kalin held his friend's body close to him, pleading for him to respond, and then laid him down to try in vain to revive him. Water spilled out of Radley's mouth when Kalin pressed on his chest, but then nothing else happened. He was gone. And from the shattered look in Kalin's eyes, he was gone too.

Jack started awake, nearly falling off of the couch in his fancy apartment. He breathed heavily, shaken by the chilling dream. Ordinarily, dreams didn't get to him, and he would pretend they didn't even if they did. But . . . that hadn't been a dream. It was a memory.

He cursed the day Lawton had broke out of prison and decided to take over the Duel Monsters' realm. When they had all gone to stop him, he had tried to blow them all up with carefully placed Blast Spheres. The magical pendant he had found controlled them, and only defeating him in a duel would shut them off. Radley had been the one to find him first after he had forcefully separated all of them, and Lawton had forced him into a cruel death duel on an old ledge in the castle he had claimed. It had weakened over the course of their violent duel with real Duel Monsters, and when Radley had delivered the final blow, it had crumbled completely, sending them both to certain doom. Radley was only alive now because of a miracle. Lawton . . . he was alive because of who knew why. He didn't deserve it. But Radley hadn't wanted to kill him, so Jack supposed he was glad the wretch still drew breath.

Really, for all of his tough guy appearance and his faults and his personality rubbing Jack the wrong way, Radley did have a kind heart.

Jack barely gave himself time to have a short breakfast before he rode out on his Duel Runner. At first he wasn't sure where he was going to go; the plan was to aimlessly ride. But before long he found himself leaving the City and driving through the wilderness that separated it from Satisfaction Town.

What was he doing? Being ridiculously foolish and going to check on them to make sure they were alright? Radley had been miraculously healed by God; he was fine. He and Kalin had grown even closer after that experience.

But Jack frowned to himself. He had never really spoken to Radley after that had happened. He had barely seen either of them at all, once again too caught up in his insistent quest to be the best. There were things he wanted to say. Maybe . . . instead of being so prideful, he should say them. And not just to Radley and Kalin, but to Carly. That situation was still unresolved too.

He drove into town. It was still early; there weren't many people out and around yet. It seemed odd to see the place so deserted after it had bustled the last time he came. He went down the main residential street and parked in front of the desired house. As usual, Kalin's and Radley's motorcycles were side by side in the driveway. As he went up to the porch, he caught a glimpse of them through the window where the curtain had pulled away. They were both snuggled on the couch, dozing in strange positions. Radley had slipped down and was using Kalin's hip as a pillow. Kalin had flopped over on his side.

Jack shook his head. Yes, they were even closer, alright. The Enforcers had done a lot of that nonsense as well, albeit usually on a bed. Having only been able to afford two, they had doubled up most nights and strange positions had resulted.

Well, now he saw they were alright. Maybe he would just turn around and leave. This had all been ridiculous, anyway. He shouldn't have come.

He paused when he heard them talking through the screen on the half-open window.

"What are you doing?" Kalin mumbled.

"Mmm . . . it's soft. . . ." Radley snuggled closer.

"Radley, that's my hip," Kalin grunted.

". . . What?! I'm sorry!" Radley sat up, sweeping his hair away from his face. He looked mortified.

Kalin sighed and sat up too. "It's fine. I don't mind. But . . . we're never going to recover, are we? What happened is going to keep haunting us."

Radley gave a dark laugh. "I wondered before if I would ever be able to duel again because of the terrible memories attached with it when I lost. Then I did duel again and I won, but something terrible still happened to me. That really doesn't help me feel like dueling anymore."

"And I don't know if I'll be able to stand watching you duel again after seeing that." Kalin stared into Radley's eyes. "I saw the castle ledge break. I saw you fall into the water. And no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't find you." His voice cracked. "Then you washed up on shore and you were dead, just like I'd feared."

"Oh Kalin . . ." Radley leaned in and hugged him close.

Kalin clutched him, shuddering.

Jack turned away. In the past he might have just barged in anyway, but he could see that this was not the time. Still, there were things he wanted to say, so he would go to the diner and wait for them. They would be by later.

xxxx

Radley and Kalin both stared when they arrived at the diner and Jack was sitting in a front booth, quietly drinking a cup of coffee. Kalin, however, didn't look as surprised.

"I knew I heard a Duel Runner take off!" he declared. "I just didn't think it was you. Jack, how are you?!"

"I'm fine," Jack said gruffly.

"Well, what on earth brings you here?" Radley smiled.

". . . I just wanted to check on you both," Jack admitted. "We went through a dark experience together, but I never said much about it when it was all over. I just wanted to put it behind me. But . . . it's not so easy to do that with some things." He stood. "Radley, you sacrificed yourself for all of us. I owe you a lot for that. We all do. But Kalin needs you! You'd better be aware of that. I saw how he fell apart without you. He can't live without you!"

"I know," Radley said softly. "I feel the same about him."

"And Kalin, I . . . I'm sorry I wasn't more supportive," Jack growled. "Yusei's always been better at that than me. Crow as well. But I saw how you were hurting when you found Radley's body. I should have tried to actually help you instead of just snapping at you to basically get over it. I didn't know what to do and it was very uncomfortable seeing you like that. And maybe I . . . maybe I was really screaming at myself to get over it. I couldn't shake it off and that bothered me." He cleared his throat uncomfortably. "I . . . still haven't been able to shake it off. So I came here to talk to you both."

"It means a lot for you to say this, Jack," Kalin said. He frowned. "I wish I'd realized you were struggling too."

Jack gave an embarrassed shrug. "I was hiding it from myself. Why would you know?"

"I think Yusei or Crow might have picked up on it," Kalin said. "I might not have, it's true. But maybe I would have; I've gotten a lot better at understanding people's feelings lately."

Radley looked completely floored. "You were really upset I died?"

"Yes, I was!" Jack growled. "I still am. It shouldn't have happened. . . . But it did happen." He clenched his fists. "And that's not alright."

"No," Radley said softly. "It's not alright. We'll probably never completely get over it. All wecan do is be grateful we were granted a miracle and try to comfort each other when the pain haunts us again. It's not a perfect solution since the memories don't stop being painful, but being with each other is the best medicine there is."

Kalin nodded. "It's much better than trying to deal with it alone."

Jack grunted, but didn't counter it. Even if he didn't want to acknowledge it, he did have to agree with that assessment. He had learned long ago how he regretted abandoning his friends.

He frowned a bit. Why was it, then, that he had done it again? Maybe Kalin was right that it didn't have to be that way. He could make it to the top but keep his friends too. He didn't want there to be any more tragedies like this, where he lost someone dear to him and couldn't even help his friends who were grieving too.

"Yes," he finally said. "It's better."

"I hope this all means you're planning to be more supportive going forward," Radley bluntly remarked. "Not to mention, to let us help you too."

Jack flushed. "Well, of course I am!" he boomed. "And I'll start by being around more. What's for breakfast?"

Radley chuckled, pleased. "I'll bring the menu."

Kalin smiled and looked to Jack. "This really is a welcome surprise, Jack. What brought it on?"

Jack scowled. "I just realized I haven't been handling matters the way I should. I wanted to clear the air. When I go back to the City, I'm going to see Carly."

Kalin smiled more. "That's wonderful. She'll be really happy."

"I know," Jack said. "And Kalin? I'm not jealous of Radley anymore. I'm just glad you've got him. You really needed him as a rock of stability and support after you decided to live here. We were all busy with problems in the City, but Radley was right here for you."

"Yes, he was," Kalin said fondly.

"And that goes both ways," Radley said grandly as he came back with the menu for Jack. "Kalin is everything to me."

Jack took the menu and opened it. "Yes, that's why you . . . complement each other so well." He tried to hide his gruff smile, but it was clearly visible.

Kalin and Radley looked at each other and smiled.

They settled down at the booth with Jack. As the Bunch trooped in, they also happily joined the gathering. Jack huffed a bit, but then continued to gruffly smile. They were all part of the family too. And now, Jack was happy he was as well.