Chapter Two-Hundred and Seventy-One

John lifted his fists in front of his face, shifting his weight from foot to foot as he attempted to keep his senses sharp. He waited for Toby to make the first move, able to feel his stomach knotting as the echo of a gunshot sounded in the back of his mind.

Finally, Toby took a swing at John, barely catching the change in his eyes as he went back into his memories. "John–" He was cut off as John's fist collided with his chest, barely having time to catch his breath before he had to scramble away from him. "John, snap out of it!" He circled around his friend, grabbing him from the back and holding him to his chest. "John, you're in the gym at school, you're with your teammates in boxing, you're safe, it's a game." He whispered into John's ear as he felt the tension ease out of his muscles, slowly lowering them both to the ground and releasing John as the flashback faded. "There you go…"

"I… killed them…"

He gasped for air, his chest tightening with guilt. "They died because of me."

Coach Lauchner knelt beside the two, regret showing in his eyes with his words. "John, I have to cut you from the team…" He placed a hand on his knee, hating that he had to do this. "I don't want to. You're the best on the team, but with the flashbacks… for your own health, I can't keep you on."

"Coach–"

"I'm sorry John." He sighed, remembering the files on John's health that Clarissa had shown him. "I have to bench you."

Claire grinned as she opened her locker, pulling the bear out and holding it close as John took the new jacket out of his locker. "Happy Valentine's Day, Sugar." She pulled his head down to meet her lips, resting her head against his chest to hear his heart.

He smiled, reading the stitching on the coat. "John Bender, El Jefe, Uncle Johnny." He touched the threads, kissing her hand and swinging her into a slow dance. "I love it."

John kicked a pebble down the street, looking up as he heard Amelia's voice in her school yard.

"Leave me alone!" She shouted, falling on her butt as the boy shoved her.

John picked up his pace, opening his mouth to tell the kid off when Amelia got back up and punched the kid square in the teeth. "Ha!" He laughed, a lop-sided grin falling over his face as blood ran down the kid's chin. "Go Amelia!"

Amelia turned to see him, grinning before she turned back to the boy. "Boys who push and hit women are bitches." She stated, turning back to John and marching away.

John shook his head, picking her up and smirking with pride. "That's my girl." He kissed her cheek, lifting her onto his shoulders and holding onto her ankles. "Don't ever take shit from boys like that."

Dominic's eye twitched as Flynn started crying again, lifting him up and rocking in the recliner that was in the living room of the Clubhouse. "Damnit, Hulk, go to sleep."

Ryan rubbed his eyes yawning as he stepped into the living room. "What's wrong?" He asked, placing his hand on the baby's head.

"I don't know… he won't sleep." Dominic rubbed his temple, worry for his son causing a headache to hit him. "I can't get him to stop crying."

Ryan nodded, taking the child from his father and touching his tummy. "I think he has the croup." He picked up a thermometer, taking Flynn's diaper and onesie off before he took his temperature. "He's running a fever." He listened to his heart and breathing, sighing as he heard the rasp in his lungs. "Yep. Croup."

Dominic groaned, remembering what he'd read in the parenting books about how to help with easing the breath and fever that came with this. "I'll start the car…" He pulled on his jacket, slipping John's slippers on and grabbing his keys.