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Chapter 13:
Tuesday 31st January 2012
80 Wakefield Drive, Annadale
Staten Island, NY
0835 Hours
Jameson laid awake on the bed, he only wore his vest and his dark jogging bottoms. Laying in the temporary bed that Antonio provided for him, he still felt he was being invasive staying in his former NCO's house.
Next to Jameson, was a sleeping Spencer. For she looked peaceful and without a doubt beautiful, the way she curled close to him, the way her breath fanned against him.
Jameson stood up and tried his hand at drawing Spencer sleeping, he captured her angelic features and captured her essence. Jameson teasingly smiled watching her nose twitch as she sleepily said, "Did you have to wake me up?"
"In fairness, I didn't wake you up. I was merely trying to draw you, although it might be a poor drawing." Jameson smirked.
Spencer smiled as she asked, "Can I look?" "Not finished yet, darling." Jameson said. Spencer giggled as she said, "Do you know what's wrong with Lena, I asked her if she was willing to come shopping yesterday with me yesterday, she said no."
"No, I haven't noticed anythin' unusual, why have you?" Jameson asked. Spencer then said, "No, but Hanna's acting weird too. I tried askin' Aria but she's too focused on Giuseppe."
Jameson giggled, "You do realise those 2 are incapable of answerin' questions when they are both in the same room making eyes at each other." "Tell you what, I'll speak with Hanna… you try to talk to Lena. If we find out what's goin' on… we have all the answers to our problems." Spencer explained.
"I'll try to fit it in today's schedule." Jameson said getting off the bed.
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Spencer then asked, "Why? What you up to?"
"Meetin' a friend in the city for drink, he's the only man on the council that isn't susceptible to the corruption in this city." Jameson said. Spencer then said, "You know people?"
"In the Bacciarelli family, we have a habit of keepin' friends close but our enemies we never leave our enemies go unchecked." Jameson said as he took off his vest, Spencer looked at his chest evidently taking in the sight before saying, "Uh… how… how do intend… intend to get the eviction notice lifted?"
"Any luck, my friend will try to help us lift it. If he can't, then we might have to prepare for one other option…" Jameson said acknowledging the stunned look of Spencer. Spencer then asked, "What's plan B?" "Persuasion." Jameson said with a killer grin.
Jameson headed to the shower as he showered quickly. Soon afterwards, he was dressed in a white dress shirt, grey trousers, red tie around his collar and a grey jacket. his gun holster across his shoulders as he said, "Good morning, everyone."
Murmured greetings filled the air as Jameson grabbed a pot of coffee, he put it in a thermal flask as he walked out of the door, he headed straight to his car as he started the ignition and drove off for Manhattan.
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RH Rooftop Restaurant, Greenwich Village
Manhattan, New York
1045 Hours
Jameson had arrived in Manhattan in Greenwich Village, he had looked at his watch, he had just seen the friend he was meeting for brunch walk into the restaurant. Jameson got up to follow his friend as he stepped out of the car, he did the buttons on his jacket up.
Jameson had parked some distance away from the restaurant, he walked towards the entrance of the restaurant as he followed on after his friend. Jameson walked through the restaurant as he saw his friend sitting down, his friend was a man in his early 30s, he wore a 3-piece suit.
Jameson slowly walked over to the man as he said, "Am I being rude, Gianni?"
The man looked up as he said, "Jameson Bacciarelli! I wondered if hell still had you in its grasp." "Well the devil and I always got along. Now it seems the devil has stuck a knife in me because of Michel Malevsky." Jameson said.
"I heard the incident of your eviction notice; it isn't long until your house is demolished. I don't know what you're asking of me." Gianni said. Jameson indicated to a seat as Gianni nodded.
Jameson took said seat as he said, "I need you to pull some favours in the council on Staten Island, buy me some time to get the house back…"
"Jameson, I'm not on the council. Not anymore." Gianni said. Jameson then said, "You once were on the council back in the day. If it weren't for me back in Fallujah and Ramadi, you and I wouldn't be here today and you'd be sittin' with a bullet down at Arlington with a bunch those Marines that the Corps lost."
Gianni looked down at his lap before saying, "Really, you want to play that card?"
"How's your wife, Gianni?" Jameson asked. Gianni looked confused as he said, "My wife's fine, Jameson, why do you ask?"
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Jameson smirked as he pulled out a photo of a younger Gianni in Marine uniform with what looked to be a young girl, she looked to be in her teenage years, he turned it to Gianni who looked at it.
The color from Gianni's face vanished, he looked as white as a ghost as he said, "Where did you get that?"
"Classified." Jameson said. Gianni loosened his tie as he said, "Blackmail, I didn't think you had it in you."
Jameson smiled, "I'm a Bacciarelli. I learned from the best, here's what will happen… if you don't help me regain my house, that picture will be leaked to the press, your campaign to become head of public transport will go up in flames. You'll face court martial. JAG, NCIS and Military Police will poke around… hell even the NYPD will look into you."
"You can't do this." Gianni said. Jameson smirked evilly, "Can't I?"
Gianni then said, "If they find out, my career will go up in flames." "Not my problem. You should have thought about those consequences when you raped that girl." Jameson said.
"I'll make some phone calls; I'll give it all I got. If I can't lift it, then it's all I can do. You keep that picture buried and I'll work for you." Gianni said. Jameson nodded, "I was about to make that same offer to you, you work for me. If you betray me, if you go against me, I'll make life a living hell for you."
Gianni quickly nodded as he said, "We have a deal. We have a deal."
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Jameson clearly wasn't satisfied with the arrangement.
"One final warning, though." Jameson said as he stood straightening his suit as he said, "If you come after me, you come after my sisters, my friends or any family I have… or even the girl you've seen me around with. Don't deny you haven't kept watch on me." Gianni tried to protest but it was useless.
Jameson then continued, "If any of those people end up hurt, they have a scratch on their face or any other wound, you and your people are gonna wind up somewhere and I'll kill you myself."
With that Jameson began to walk, but he stopped short as he said, "I bid you adieu."
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Jameson walked down the stairs, he then saw John Capelli walking next to him who had said, "You and our old Lieutenant playing nice together?"
"Do you always have eyes on your friends?" Jameson asked. John simply shrugged, "I have multiple interests, keeping this city safe, keeping my family safe and making sure that nothin' bad happens."
Jameson nodded, "What you saw, I was merely remindin' our Lieutenant that nobody crosses me and lives. He has agreed to help me with our situation, I can only fear that he will double cross me."
John then said, "Well if he does, what are you goin' to do?" "Remind him of his past." Jameson smirked.
"You never changed, Gunny. You're still the same Marine that I served side-by-side with in the thick of the fightin'. Baghdad, Fallujah and Ramadi… even then, you always knew how to fight, how to survive, you're a survivor, just like I was." John said.
Jameson thought about these words as he solemnly said, "We're all survivors. But our fighting spirit, our confidence, our skills in battle… they were what made us. This is what we do, who we are, right?"
"Right on that count, brother. Right on that count." John said. John then walked away whilst Jameson continued on his journey.
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Onieal's, 174 Grand St, Little Italy
Manhattan, NY
1225 Hours
Jameson found himself outside the diner in Manhattan, he walked in as he saw Lena sitting at a booth by the window as he walked over. As he got close, he could sense her sadness. She looked completely distressed, something was wrong, but he couldn't determine what happened.
Lena looked up as she said, "Hey, take a seat. Thanks for meetin' me." "You asked me if I had time free, this was the only time I could do it." Jameson said as he unbuttoned his jacket and sat down.
Lena smiled as she said, "I take it you met your friend to see about the house?"
"Nothin's set in stone yet, I don't know if it'll work though." Jameson said. Lena nodded, "All we can do is have faith, right?" "Right you are. What's goin' on, Lena?" Jameson asked.
Lena looked down at her plate of lunch, she then said, "Why don't you have somethin' to eat, you'll need it when I'm finished."
Jameson signalled to a waitress as he ordered a burger and fries. He then said, "Let's not beat around the bush, sis. What's goin' on?"
"I've shamed you; I've shamed our family name. I'm goin' to hell no matter what." Lena cryptically said.
Jameson then asked with fuelling rage in his voice, "Who's upset you? I will find them and I will hurt them."
"Nobody hurt me, I'm in love with someone, but that someone is like me…" Lena said. Jameson was further confused as he asked, "What do you mean like you?" "I'm in love with a girl. I'm gay." Lena said whispering, her voice softly broke, tears spilled from her deep brown eyes.
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Jameson was completely shocked as he heard the very words come out of her mouth, Jameson then stood to sit down next to his sister as he rubbed her back in soothing patterns.
He then spoke to her in Italian as he whispered, "Stai calmo, Lena, calma la mia Lena, sei mia sorella. Ti amerò per sempre, sei amato come sei. Non ascoltare ciò che dicono, non ti conoscono, non ti conosceranno mai. Sei così forte, coraggioso, gentile, nessuno ti ama come la nostra famiglia ti ama. Sei puro, sei fedele nel cuore. Sei ciò che rende tutti orgogliosi di te a prescindere."
Lena softly sniffling a bit, when she asked, "Do you mean it?" "There is not a day that goes by, I would never hang my family out to dry, I love you, baby sister. More than you know, always faithful. Faithful until death." Jameson said whispering in her ear.
"Always faithful, big brother. I love you; I love Natalia, I love you all." Lena as she hugged her brother.
The scene in the restaurant had reduced some of the customers to tears. Seeing the loyalty that brother and sister shared, regardless though, they didn't have the heart to say a word.
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Central Park, Manhattan
New York
1325 Hours
After Lunch, Lena and Jameson drove to Central Park, Jameson hoped to fulfil a promise to Lena about taking her to Central Park Zoo right before Jameson and Stefan enlisted for the Marines.
The duo soon met up with Spencer and Hanna who were there to take pictures. Hanna walked with Lena as Jameson walked with Spencer. Spencer then said, "Did you find out what was botherin' Lena?" "It appears, that young Lena is in love with a girl?"
Spencer was surprised as she said, "I didn't expect her to be gay. How are you feelin'?"
"I'm supportive of my sister. The world before our eyes is changing, if some people can't accept that then to hell with 'em. I'll never be disrespectful to my sister or to the one she loves." Jameson explained.
Spencer smiled before saying, "I'd never turn my back on my friends, I didn't do it to Emily, I'm not doin' it to Lena. I respect her too much."
"You are so loyal, you know that?" Spencer said. Jameson smiled, "You love this side of me, don't cha?"
"It's really you." Spencer said as she leant in close to Jameson as they went around the enclosures seeing all the animals.
The pair watched Hanna and Lena closely, Hanna was laughing at a joke Lena had told her, but the pair could see there was love.
Spencer then said, "Hanna and Lena, I've really gotta stop my friends from hookin' onto your friends and family."
"Thank God, I've only one cousin, 2 sisters. Just promise me that if somethin' bad happens we're pullin' all the stop signs out and sittin' everyone down for an intervention." Jameson said. Spencer chortles, "We're gonna need a miracle."
"We might do." Jameson said just as his phone rang, he then said, "Stay with Lena and Hanna, I'll be back in a few." Spencer nodded as Jameson left.
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Jameson walked a little further as he answered the phone and said, "Who is it?" "Sarge, it's me Lieutenant Gianni!"
"You better have somethin' for me or this conversation ends with your life in the balance." Jameson said. Gianni sighed, "I tried talkin' to the council about not evicting you… bad news is that they put a vote through to have your house bulldozed."
"They WHAT?!" Jameson yelled angrily. Several people looked over in his direction wondering what's going on. Jameson held his hand up in apology for the rude tone he used.
He then said, "What do you mean, the house is being bulldozed?" "Somebody somewhere, decided that it was a brilliant idea to destroy your house. They got the idea from Michel Malevsky." Gianni confessed.
Jameson balled his fist up in rage as he snarled, "I told you if somethin' happened… your life would be forfeit." "Hold on, I do have some good news though." Gianni said.
"What news?" Jameson asked. Gianni then said, "Appears that they need the demolition equipment brought in. I managed to buy some time, it's about a week until it goes down."
Jameson was angry and rightfully so, "I warned you of the consequences for your actions. Now I have reason to rip your heart out."
"Let me finish, I had to battle hard with the council to prevent your house from being bulldozed straight away. Me buying that week cost me a little support on the council. It was the only thin' I could do." Gianni said. Jameson sighed before saying, "What do I do?"
"Nothin' you can do, everybody in your neighbourhood signed the petition to see your house get demolished except for a few good people." Gianni confessed. Jameson's heart slowly broke as he said, "You might still be of use to me, use this reprieve to not screw with my life. You heard my warning, mess with us…"
"You'll reveal my past. I understand!" Gianni said.
Jameson ended the phone call as he walked back to the girls. Spencer noticed the sadness on Jameson's face as she didn't say anything.
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80 Wakefield Road, Annadale
Staten Island, NY
1625 Hours
Everybody arrives home, Jameson and Lena walk in the door as they see Natalia who had been working at the bakery all day.
Natalia says, "Hey guys, everythin' okay?"
"We need to talk, all three of us. Family matter." Lena said. Natalia nodded, "Let's go outside."
The three siblings walked outside as Jameson put his hands in his pockets as he said, "I heard back from my friend. He couldn't do much for us."
"What do you mean?" Lena asked. Jameson then said, "Council's approved the house to be demolished."
Natalia then shouted, "What?!" "What I said. House has been approved for demolition. Next week, it'll be bulldozed." Jameson explained.
Lena then asked, "Who the hell approved it?" "My understanding was that the council approved the house's demolition through a suggestion on Michel Malevsky's part. Don't worry, he'll get what's comin' to him. There's no loophole, no suggestion and the whole neighbourhood turned against us all."
"Those backstabbin' traitors! Because of this we're shamed!" Natalia shouted.
Jameson then said, "We aren't, we weren't shamed. IA ruled the investigation in our favour, Dad wasn't dirty, Malevsky turned the screws onto us and now we're forced to surrender. This mess rests solely with Malevsky, when those rats are dead… I guarantee you both we will rebuild again. We may be blood, but our loyalty is strong. Everyone of us we have a support system, friends, family. Our beloved ones."
"What's it they say? Out of the fire, rises the phoenix. We're that phoenix." Lena said. Natalia agreed, "Hell yeah!"
"Hell yeah!" Jameson said.
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They headed back into the house, they told everyone the news. Spencer, Hanna, Giuseppe and Aria were shell-shocked to hear the news.
Giuseppe had said, "No matter what, I'm not turnin' my back on my friends. Whatever you need, you got it."
Aria nodded, "Family looks out for one another, right?"
Lena then said, "Right you are. Right now, we need to get the stuff out of the household. I hate this situation." "Remind me to find whoever dropped you in this mess and rip his head off!" Hanna growled.
Lena and Jameson chuckled, "I'm sure we'll find whoever did this and make 'em pay."
Unknown to anyone, Hanna stood by Lena, the pair held each other's hands. The way Lena's brown eyes met Hanna's blue eyes, it was like they were made for each other.
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English to Italian Translation:
1. Be calm, Lena, calm my Lena, you're my sister. I will always love you; you're loved just the way you are. Don't listen to what they say, they do not know you, they'll never know you. You're so strong, brave, kind nobody loves you the way our family loves you.
You're pure, you're faithful at heart. You're what makes all proud of you regardless. - Stai calmo, Lena, calma la mia Lena, sei mia sorella. Ti amerò per sempre, sei amato come sei. Non ascoltare ciò che dicono, non ti conoscono, non ti conosceranno mai. Sei così forte, coraggioso, gentile, nessuno ti ama come la nostra famiglia ti ama.
Sei puro, sei fedele nel cuore. Sei ciò che rende tutti orgogliosi di te a prescindere.
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