New chapter up? Why yes, it is...

Notes at the bottom as usual...

Chapter 32: Funhouse

"Hey Tony, hand me that 3/16 socket."

Antony Hogart leaned over into the tool box and dug around. He found the socket and handed it over to Sean Cameron, who was helping him fix up an old beater. Sean took the socket and placed it on the wrench. He slid back under the car and tightened up a couple of bolts. Sean slid back out from under the car. He held the socket wrench out to Tony, to which he placed it back into the tool box. Sean sat up on the dolly and wiped his forehead with the dirty rag.

Tony offered a hand to Sean, that Sean took gratefully. Tony pulled Sean straight up, noticing the pained expression on Sean's face.

"Need the cane, kid." Sean hobbled on his good leg; pain etched on his face. Tony rushed over to where the cane was and tossed it to Sean. Sean caught it easily and used it to get his balance. Tony hustled back to Sean. Tony didn't know much about Sean Cameron's time deployed in Afghanistan. He knew it was before his time. His dad told him and his siblings that Sean was a good man, still was. Jay knew that combat changed his old friend. He was still there for him, after all these years.

"You okay Unc?" Tony looked at his would-be uncle. Sean took a couple of deep breaths, trying to get the pain to subside. Sean nodded as he looked at the younger man.

"Yeah. I worked too long today." He turned to Tony and firmly whacked him with the cane. "Damn it kid; I'm not a motor on a harness getting pulled out of a car." Tony yelped when the cane landed on his shoulder. "You got to take it easy on us old guys. I'm not as young as I once was."

Tony snickered. "Yeah, well maybe you and dad shouldn't have had that pick-up game with Hector and Juan at lunch. Maybe your old grizzled ass would move better."

Sean grinned. "It's called defending one's honor. Of course, you wouldn't know about that."

"That's a low blow Uncle Sean." Tony laughed. "Of course, I could tell Aunt Emma that you were feeling young and pulled that bad knee shooting hoops."

Sean groaned. "That's fighting dirty kid. I wouldn't have pulled that move." Sean moved a bit and headed towards the bathrooms. "Let me clean up and I'll drop you off at home. I'm calling it a day."

"Thanks Uncle Sean, for all of your help on this." Sean merely waved him off as he made it to the locker room. Tony started to push the tool box back into its home. He turned off a couple of lights and was heading to the front office.

"Hello big brother…"

Tony jumped, turning towards the voice. He clutched a hand towards his chest, trying to control his breathing. He looked at his sister; who was sitting cross-legged on top of a fifty-five gallon drum. He hadn't seen her in a couple of months; ever since she was shipped off to that girl's home for attacking Veronica Mason.

Juliette looked different from the last time. When he saw her last, she looked healthy; she looked full of life. Now? She went through a considerable change. She looked healthy still, but her hair was cut; the middle being the longest part. She had styled it in a mohawk. She was wearing her street clothes; a pair of ripped-up jeans, hi-tops, and a thermal shirt. He noticed her duffel bag was at the foot of the barrel.

"You're home early." Tony choked out.

Juliette merely shrugged. "Got out a couple of days early for the holiday. Took a bus home."

She hopped off of the barrel, landing without a noise. She picked up her bag and walked towards her brother. She opened her arms, asking for a hug. He returned the gesture. One thing Tony noticed from the hug was that it felt wrong. He broke from the hug and looked at her face.

"Jules? What happened to your eye? There's a cut there in the corner." Again, Juliette merely shrugged. "Jules?"

"It's nothing. I got into a fight with one of the older girls. She was trying to assert her dominance on me. It's not a big deal."

Tony looked at her in disbelief. "It doesn't look like much. You sure that doing okay?"

Juliette merely nodded. "Just glad to be home."

Tony nodded. "Well, let me get Uncle Sean and we'll head home." He started moving away, but felt a hand on his arm. "What's up?"

"I need your help."

Tony nodded. "Anything."

"I need to know where Gabe is right now."

Tony looked at her strangely. "Gabe Mason? I would think either at his place or at his girlfriend's place." Tony gave her a skeptical look. "I have no clue though. I haven't hung out with him since you left."

"You don't talk to him anymore?" Juliette asked. "I thought you two were close."

Tony shrugged. "I mean we're in a couple of classes together and we talk about school stuff." He shoved his hands into his pockets. "We just went different paths, I guess. I'm here most days and he's either wrestling, extra curriculars or with Alyson."

Juliette sneered at the mention of that other girl. She spit onto the shop floor. She shook her head. "That bitch doesn't deserve him."

Tony flinched when Sean came up behind his sister. Sean put her in a full nelson hold; tightening up his grip behind her. Juliette growled, screaming to be let go.

"What's going on Sean?" Tony asked, slowly moving towards them.

"She escaped!" Sean grunted. "Jay called me and let me know!"

"What?"

"Leggo of me Sean!" Juliette screamed.

"Grab her legs, Tony! I can't hold her forever!"

Tony moved closer to his sister. He had just about grabbed her legs, when she lashed out with her left leg. Her foot caught her elder brother right in the crotch. He went down quickly. Juliette twisted her hips and kicked Sean in his right knee. Sean crumbled to the ground, moaning in severe pain. She brushed off the dust from her clothes and walked over to Sean's cane. She gave it a solid kick; as it skidded across the shop floor. She turned to the two men.

"Well, cat's out of the bag now." Juliette sighed. "Guess I better get a move on. Got some business to finish up." She skipped over to her bag, picked it up and left the garage.

Tony grunted, trying to sit up. He crawled over to Sean. "Hey, you okay Unc?"

"Little shit shattered my bad knee." Sean flinched. "You got anyway to contact that friend of yours? She headed for him."

Tony reached into his coveralls, finding his phone. He opened the lock screen and started to text Gabe until…

Juliette swung a heavy wrench at her brother's head; knocking him out cold. He dropped his phone on the ground.

"What is going on?" Sean called to them. "Why did you come back here?"

Juliette lifted the wrench high above the phone. She let go of the wrench; watching the heavy object drop and shatter the phone. She then bent down again.

"Its actually quite simple." Juliette said, as she stood up holding the wrench. "I've been so patient. It's time for this bitch to roar and take her revenge."

"Revenge? Revenge for what?" Sean asked. Juliette sauntered over to him. She knelt on the ground, looking her would-be uncle in the eyes.

"For someone that wronged me. For someone that cut me out like a cancer." Juliette grinned, which made Sean feel very uncomfortable. "It's time for me to return the favor to them." Juliette stood up, wrench in hand and headed towards the open garage door of the shop. Sean felt the phone in his coveralls and dialed it.

"Jay? Yeah, she was here." Sean grunted into the phone. "No, I wish I could say that she's locked up." Sean dragged himself over to Tony. He placed a finger on his pulse; which was there, but fairly weak.

"Sorry bro; wish I could've stopped her. I think she broke my knee. Tony's out like a light and he's breathing." Sean tried to sit up, but was having difficulty. "Someone better get ahold of Gabriel Mason, because I think some heavy shit is about to go down…"

Some heavy shit? Yeah, I think so...

This has been kind of a fun one for me to write. I've been meaning to follow up on the Hogart kids, since it's been a hot minute.

Poor Tony. A heavy wrench to the head can be fatal. At least he's breathing...

And poor Sean for that matter. Goes off to war, comes back not the same. This is a problem with a lot of Veterans. They don't come back the same.

Some don't even come back.

So, what does everyone think of Juliette? Right kind of change? Bad? I've heard many a story where people would go into the penal system; only to come out a worse criminal than they were before. And try to keep in mind; Juliette was sent to a girl's home. Most homes around are TRYING to make their wards a better person. Sometimes that not how it works out (much like the prison system).

So, next chapter; get ready... Things will change. Sometimes not for the better...