CHAPTER NINE
One Year After Jeff's Death…
"Gavin, you simply cannot keep this up." Fallon said, trying to remain calm. Her eyes were shut, trying not to fly off the handle at her ten year old son. "You can't keep fighting at school!"
"They started it." Gavin snorted, poking his steak, having zero interest in eating it. "Mom, can I be excused?"
Knowing whatever she said wasn't going to make a difference, Fallon could only nod. When she heard his bedroom door slam a few minutes later, she let out the breath she had been holding. God, would it ever get easier? She blinked away tears, cleaning up the supper table, none of the food touched. That wasn't unusual in this house.
It had been a year, a year since… she couldn't even bring herself to think his name, feeling tears welling in her eyes. She had finally come out of her bedroom, knowing she wasn't helping Gavin by hiding from everything. Though she didn't seem to be able to help her son anyway.
She couldn't bring herself to wear anything but black. She couldn't bear to move anything Jeff had touched. She had left his clothes on the floor of their bedroom, just where he had left them. She had tried, only to find herself hyperventilating.
Fallon couldn't bear to live without Jeff. But she forced herself to go through the motions for their son.
***
Matt had moved again. He couldn't stand to be in that house. It was a constant reminder of Jeff. He had tried roughing it out for Gavin and Fallon but… He couldn't do it. Hearing Fallon's muffled cries in the middle of the night when she thought everyone was asleep was a constant reminder he hadn't done what he promised he always would.
Protect Jeff.
Of course he visited them. Every chance he got. Nothing changed. Gavin was still getting in trouble at school, his darkening red hair now hanging past his ears. Each time Matt looked into is nephews troubled green eyes, he was always jolted into remembering exactly who Gavin's father really was.
Seeing Fallon was even worse if that was possible. He couldn't remember seeing her this way ever. Not even after her marriage to Mark. Pale, gaunt, wispy, papery, hollow, shell. All those words and more described her.
He visited often, the visits were always kept short.
***
Two Years After Jeff's Death…
Nothing had changed. Except maybe Gavin was simmering down. He had been seeing the school's counselor on a weekly basis.
Some progress was made.
Four Years After Jeff's Death…
"Mom's not gettin' any better." Gavin confided, walking with his Uncle Matt. He stooped down to pick up a dead leaf, twirling it between his fingers before letting it flutter down onto the dirt road they were strolling upon. "I think she's gettin' worse."
Matt nodded, not having expected any change in Fallon after all this time. Though to hear she was sinking deeper into her sadness, still mourning Jeff made him worry all the more. He had to smile however at 13 year old Gavin's cracking voice. He was so glad he no longer had to worry about puberty. Though it did fall on him to walk Gavin through it.
"She cut her hair."
Now that was a definite surprise. Fallon had let her hair grow unchecked, last he had seen it hung down past her rear. "How short."
"Bout as short as mine."
Matt studied his nephew. Gavin's hair fell just past his ears, the auburn locks slightly waved, bangs in his eyes. He was instantly reminded of Mark.
Mark!
"Gav, mind if we… if we talk about, well-"
Gavin looked up at Matt, tall for his age, standing about 5'11", three inches shorter than Matt and four inches taller than his mom. Which he teased her about constantly. "Talk about what?"
"Your real father."
Gavin's awkward, large hands clenched into tight fists at his sides.
"Just hear me out, Gav."
***
Jalyssa watcher her husband of two years, noting the way his entire body had gone rigid. And what a body… before she had time to get lost in those dirty thoughts however, she seen Kane approaching, his heavy stride telling the story.
Something was up.
She had joined Steve on the road just a few weeks ago, having no wish to spend the remainder of her pregnancy by herself. That and she had flat out told him she had every intention of killing him if it hurt giving birth.
Steve had taken that seriously.
He had also begun researching various methods of pain management.
Labor hurt. Steve was worried.
Honestly, she was glad he had returned to wrestling. He had been driving her crazy with his constant hounding. Though… it had paid off in the end since she finally agreed to make the attempt to marry him again. Imagine her surprise when this time he showed up.
Not that she hadn't been tempted to leave his ass there by his lonesome.
Tempting but… she obviously hadn't.
Frowning, Jalyssa walked over to stand by him, resting her hand on her overly large stomach. She looked like a fucking giant water balloon. She felt like one too. What had she been thinking? Twins? "What's going on?"
Kane looked at her, blinking.
As always, Jalyssa had to bite back the shock at seeing him without his mask. He had undergone minor surgery to lessen the scars though if you looked closely, you could make them out. With his long, curly brown hair, he was quite the looker, even with the odd eyes.
Steve sighed, running a hand over his bald head, worry lines appearing at the corners of his eyes. "Matt asked Kane a favor." He said, glancing down at his wife.
"Yeah?"
"About Fallon." He wasn't surprised to see the angry flush in Jalyssa's cheeks, she never had forgiven the other woman. "Lyss, it wasn't her fault." He said quietly.
"She could have always walked away."
"No." Kane said, clearing his throat. "She couldn't have. You still do not know my brother."
"Anyways, what's the favor?" Steve asked quickly.
Kane hurriedly relayed it.
"WHAT?" Both Steve and Jalyssa all but shouted.
Kane repeated it, slowly this time.
"You even know where to find him?"
Kane nodded.
Steve whistled, stroking his mustache, disbelief on his face. "Think it'll do any good?"
"I don't know."
"Hell, best of luck with that."
***
Mark -or 'Taker- had changed in the past four years. Kane exchanged a confused look with Chris, both men halting at the head of the porch. He hadn't been seen since Jeff's suicide, officially retiring right after the funeral.
Four years… what a change.
His hair was back to it's natural auburn, though liberally streaked with gray, his goatee and mustache the same way, making him appear older than he was. The lines in his face appeared heavier, more deep and careworn. Physically, his body seemed as strong as ever, though his posture was almost… defeated.
This wasn't the Undertaker.
This was a broken down Mark Callaway.
"What're you doing here?" He asked tiredly, leaning in his open door, arms folded across his chest.
Kane opened his mouth, then closed it, not entirely sure what to say now.
Steve, however, had no problems. "Fallon needs you."
Mark snorted, his weary green eyes closing for a moment.
"Man, she does!"
"You've seen what I do to her, she needs me to stay as far away from her as possible."
"No." Kane shook his head, almost flushing when his brother's stare returned to him, seeing the appraising look Mark was casting his maskless face. "You are exactly what she needs. She's… she's lifeless."
If surprised by this news, he didn't show it.
"Mark," Kane pleaded, extending a hand. "She's wasting away, mourning Jeff." He definitely seen a spark of guilt in those green orbs. "We've all tried to rouse her but… She NEEDS YOU."
"Don't come here again." Mark said, finality in his tone, disappearing into his house, the door slamming behind him.
***
Fallon… Four years and she was STILL haunting him! Mark reached for the smooth glass bottle, the roundness in his palm comforting him. Now, Jeff haunted him as well. He had never wanted the boy to kill himself… Never expected it. Granted, he had done his fair share of helping people on their way to death's door, but Jeff… That was a beacon of light in the darkness he thought would never fade.
Apparently, when it had, Fallon had faded as well.
Sighing, he unscrewed the cap of the bottle, taking a long swallow.
The whiskey would help.
It always helped.