CHAPTER FIVE

Tom Chandler

It was bright. The light was hurting his eyes, even though he was pretty certain they were still closed. He was disoriented. His foggy brain was struggling with where he was, when it was, and just…generally being awake. He cracked open his eyes and the light was intensified and pain sliced through his brain.

Tom Chandler groaned aloud, throwing an arm over his face. This was horrible torture. He needed more alcohol his brain fueled. Tom licked at his dry lips. He reached forward for the bottle of whiskey and wrapped his hand around the long neck. He then threw his head back and drank.

When he put the bottle down, he had to close his eyes to stop the vertigo that overtook him. Fuck. He was a mess. He stayed on his couch, he was fairly certain he was sitting on his couch, and leaned his head back, eyes closed. Faces flashed there. He opened his eyes and jumped, as he saw Cossetti and Burk standing on the other side of the room. They both stared at him, expressionless and dull. He closed his eyes and felt the tears building.

He opened his eyes again and Cossetti and Burk were gone, but his dad was standing there now. The tears fell. Fuck. He was a mess. He closed his eyes, willing it all to go away, but when he opened them again his dad was still standing there...staring…judging.

"I'm so fucking sorry, Dad," Tom whispered in a choked voice. His dad didn't reply or move, he just stood there, staring…judging. More tears fell and Tom felt a heavy weight on his chest as he struggled to get the air in and out of his lungs. Guilt was pressing down on him. "It's all my fault."

Tom closed his eyes and cried. He wanted his dad to go away. He wanted to fall into the oblivion of darkness and numbness. He wanted to…stop. His thoughts went down a dark path of ending his life and Tom struggled to breathe. He felt around then remembered Slattery took his Beretta when he took his kids. Fuck Slattery.

Tom opened his eyes, and this time he was greeted by Darien. Pain and grief slammed through his brain and body. How could he have been so close to saving her, yet, mere hours of missing that opportunity. More tears flowed. A hero he was not. Darien stared at him, same lifeless, dull eyes as the others. Because they were all dead…all because of him.

"I'm sorry," Tom whispered as he drank more whiskey.

Ashley Chandler

Ashley sat at the kitchen table in Ms. Garnett's house staring at her bowl of cereal. Sammy was sitting across from her eating slowly. He had been quiet this morning since they woke up. She could tell he was sad and confused and hurting. She knew they had school today, but she wasn't sure if they were going to go. Maybe they shouldn't.

Their lives had been in such turmoil lately. Ashley was feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders for a while. Her childhood stolen since the pandemic started. And now it was up to her to protect her brother. She had no idea how long they were going to have to stay with Uncle Mike…but she knew her dad had some major issues.

She wondered how he was. No one was there now making sure he was okay. But she knew her, and Sammy couldn't stay with him any longer. It was dangerous. She stuffed a mouthful of cereal in her mouth and chewed. Sam finished his bowl and then sat there, staring at the table.

"Do you want to go to school today?" Ashley asked between bites of cereal. Sam shrugged his shoulders gently and stared harder at the table. She could tell he was fighting very hard to keep the tears from falling. "We can skip today. It's been a rough time and I'm sure that Uncle Mike…"

"We should go to school," Sam said in a monotone flat voice. Ashley swallowed.

"Okay. This is going to get better," Ashley said quickly, and Sam laughed a short humorless bark. He started to shake his head slowly back and forth as his brows furrowed, and his eyes squinted.

"No, I don't think it will," Sam said then abruptly pushed up from the table and walked away. Ashley watched him go; shoulders slumped head hanging. She finished her cereal. As she was clearing away the dishes Uncle Mike came in the kitchen.

"Morning," he said, and Ashley looked at him over her shoulder as she shut off the faucet.

"Morning," she said with a small, forced smile. Uncle Mike had a look of pity on his face and Ashley felt a little bit of anger bubble inside. She didn't want their pity. She wanted to fix the situation.

"Do you guys want to stay home today?" Uncle Mike asked quietly. Ashley felt her shoulders slump as she looked at the doorway Sam had disappeared through. She thought about what Sam had said about school.

"No. We should go to school today."

"Okay. I'll drive you."

"Fine. We'll be ready to leave in ten minutes," Ashley said. Uncle Mike nodded at her. She dried her hands then walked away from him and the kitchen going back to the bedroom that was currently hers. She changed into some clothes she had brought and then went over and checked on Sammy.

He was dressed and sitting on the bed with his backpack on his shoulders. She came into the room slowly and sat down next to him on the bed. They sat there, quietly, staring at the hall for a long moment before Ashley broke the silence.

"We don't have to go if you don't want to," she said softly. A tear slid down Sammy's cheek. His forearm rushed to it and angrily brushed it away.

"I can't sit here all day," Sam mumbled and hunched forward. Ashley wrapped an arm over his shoulders protectively and squeezed her little brother. "I want to go home."

"I know, Sammy," Ashley whispered and squeezed him again. She felt her brother lean into her for a moment, then he shrugged her arm off his shoulders and stood up. He walked out of the room, his footfalls heavy and angry. Ashley was worried about him.

She got up and went back to her room grabbing her school bag then went out into the living room to join Sam and wait for Uncle Mike to take them to school. The drive over was eerily quiet. No one said a word. Ashley felt a tightness in her chest.

She closed the truck door. Neither her nor Sam had said a word when Uncle Mike dropped them off. Ashley could feel the anger steaming off her brother and she worried how his day would go. She knew he was already taking heat from being Tom Chandler's son.

"Sam, I'll eat lunch with you if you want."

"I'll be fine," he said in that eerie monotone voice and Ashley felt her spirits drop just a little bit more. Sammy was spiraling she feared. She was spiraling too she realized.

"Okay. Uncle Mike is going to pick us up today, so we'll meet back here."

"Fine," Sam said as he hitched his backpack into a different spot and then walked away from her without another word. She watched him go for a long moment before she sighed and then turned to head towards her own classroom.

She sat down in her regular chair and the girl that generally sat next to her leaned over. Ashley really wasn't in the mood for socializing, but she knew the girl was in the homeless shelter and didn't have many friends. Ashley crossed her arms and laid her head down on them hoping the girl would get the hint.

"Hi, Ashley. How are you today?" Ginger asked.

"I'm fine," Ashley mumbled against her forearm. Ginger frowned.

"You don't look fine."

"It's a long story and I don't feel like hashing it out…okay?"

"Okay, sorry," Ginger said softly. "I was just going to tell you that I met a new friend at the shelter. She's in the older kid class but she's going to eat lunch with us."

"Okay," Ashley sighed.

Mike Slattery

Mike sat in his pickup truck and watched Tom's kids trudge towards the school that had been reopened. Neither kid had spoken, and it was concerning Mike. Sam seemed to be locked into a dark place, and he wondered how he could help the boy…other than kicking Tom's ass and getting him to come back around.

Once they were both inside the building Mike went to put his truck in gear but stopped when a young lady approached his window. He smiled and wound the window down as she came up. She leaned her arms on the sill of the window.

"Hey, Commander Slattery," Kat Nolan greeted him.

"Hey, Kat. How are things going?"

"Horrid," she breathed out. "That shelter ain't for me."

Mike didn't know what to say to that. "Uh, sorry to hear that."

"No biggie, I'm looking to get released."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, just need someone to vouch for me. I thought maybe someone from the James could?"

"I'll see what I can do for you," Mike said, thinking of a few options, one being Andrea, another being Kara Green. He studied Kat's face. "How are you holding up with everything, Kat?"

"It sucks, Sir," she replied quietly. "I really miss my dad."

"Lot of that going on," Mike mumbled as he glanced back at the school. Kat looked at him curiously, but Mike just shrugged then shook his head.

"Well, I guess I should get to the school. Will you really look into getting someone to sponsor me out of that place?"

"Yes, I will. Tex was crew. We'll take care of you."

"Thanks, Commander," Kat said with a smile of relief. Mike nodded. He glanced at the school again.

"Can I ask you to do something for me?"

"Sure, Sir."

"Can you keep an eye on Sam and Ashley Chandler?" Mike asked. He saw a dark look cross over Kat's face at the mention of the name Chandler.

"I'll see what I can do," Kat said in a rush as she pushed up from the truck window. "Thanks again for helping. I'm ready to be out of that shelter."

"I'll see what I can do," Mike said with a smile. Kat smiled back then nodded and walked off towards the school. Mike sat a moment longer before he put the truck in gear and left the school.

Mike drove away and decided to check in on Tom. Maybe having his kids taken away snapped him out of the stupor he had been in. He parked in the driveway and frowned when the house was dark with the drapes drawn shut. He knocked on the front door but there was no answer, and he didn't hear movement in the front room.

He tried the doorknob and the door opened. He sighed and stepped inside. He saw Tom sitting on the couch drinking again. Tom looked over at him and frowned then looked back at the other side of the room.

"Tom?" Mike asked quietly. Tom looked at him curiously again then frowned. Mike stood in the entry way. The cut over Tom's eye was crusted over, streaks of dried blood sat on his skin.

"You're real," he said in a flat voice, then squinted at Mike before taking another drink.

"Umm, yeah," Mike sighed. There was no way he was letting those kids come back anytime soon. "Your kids are hurting," Mike said, unable to keep the bitterness from his voice. Tom glared at him, then averted his eyes back to the other side of the room.

"So am I," he breathed out and shrugged his shoulders. Mike looked down at his feet.

"I'll keep them safe until you get your shit together," Mike replied then stepped out the door and walked back to his truck.

He drove back to Andrea's and found her in the living room reading a book. She looked at him when he came in and her eyes squinted, and she cocked her head to the side.

"What?" she asked. Mike smiled.

"Well, I'm worried about Sam. Ashley, I think can work through the emotions and with a little help can deal with this situation. Sam on the other hand…he's…I don't know."

"I noticed he was withdrawn."

"And very angry and sad."

"What can we do to help him?"

"I'm not sure yet. But I also ran into Kat Nolan today."

"Tex's daughter?"

"Yes. She's apparently been placed at a homeless shelter for kids. She's not happy there and wants to get a sponsor to get released. I figured someone on the crew would be able to do that for her."

"Absolutely. What are you thinking?" Andrea asked. Mike shrugged.

"I don't know yet. But I was thinking maybe you…or the Greens?"

"Cooper maybe?" Andrea added and Mike nodded.

"I'll give Sasha and Kara a call today and see what they say."

"I'd take her, but I don't know how long we'll have Tom's kids so," Andrea said, and Mike took a pause. The way she said that caught him a little off guard. He was staring at her. "What?" she asked.

"Uh…nothing," Mike said as he shook his head. "This is just getting complicated."

"Not…I didn't mean to…I'm sorry."

"No, no, nothing to apologize for. I guess I didn't…I stopped by Chandler's house today. It's not pretty."

"He's in a lot of pain."

"I'm not equipped to help him," Mike admitted and shrugged. "I think I'd harbor to much anger at his…cracking."

"Call Cooper. Talk to her about Kat…and tell her about Tom. Those two have to have a history."

"They do," Mike blew out.

"She's assigned to St. Louis with Green's team."

Mike nodded. Andrea looked tired. He sat down next to her on the couch.

"Are we going to be able to do this?" Mike asked as he thought about what it was going to take to help those kids get through this next ordeal.

"Yes, Mike, we can. We have to take care of them until Tom is able to. Who else is going to? We can't put them in the system…it's overwhelmed and broken right now."

"I know."

"I know you're still looking for your own daughters," Andrea said softly, and Mike looked at her and nodded. "It's going to be a lot…but Sam and Ashley need us right now, and you and I can still look for Hannah and Abbey."

"You don't have to do—" Mike began. Andrea shook her head and cut his speech off.

"I know," she said softly and smiled. Mike nodded.

"Thanks."

"Get this rolling. Call Cooper, ask her to look after Kat, and tell her about Tom. I'd bet money she'd come to Norfolk for him," Andrea said. Mike nodded and pulled his phone out dialing the number he had for Sasha Cooper. It rang and went to voice mail.

"Hey, Sasha, it's Mike Slattery. I've got a couple of…things I'd like to discuss with you. It's kind of time sensitive so if you can call me back as soon as possible, I'd appreciate it. Thanks."

Kat Nolan

Kat walked away from Slattery's truck and hoped the man would help her. She fumed a little over his request to look after Tom Chandler's kids. It still hurt to hear that name. But…his kids didn't have anything to do with it and they had been through a lot. She already had to look out for Ginger so what was two more.

She made her way through the class. She was grouped with the fourteen to sixteen age group and there were about twenty-six of them in the room. She sat in the back and tried to keep her head down. Some of the other girls from the shelter were in her class including the girl from last night.

"Kat, right?" the girl asked as she leaned on Kat's desk during a break. Kat rolled her eyes at the girl and just nodded. "I'm Tess Rawlins. Offer still stands."

"I don't need your protection, Tess," Kat said with a shrug. She looked around at the other kids. She really wanted out of this place. "Won't be around too long anyway."

"Oh really?"

"Don't sweat it. I don't want to be your friend."

The lunch bell sounded, and Kat grabbed her stuff and headed towards the cafeteria. She grabbed a lunch and made a face at it, but at least it was something to eat. She looked around and saw Ashley Chandler and Ginger sitting at a table talking quietly. She walked over and sat down across from Ginger.

"Hey," Kat said as she picked at her food.

"Hey, Kat! This is my friend Ashley," Ginger replied.

"I know who she is. She's Chandler's kid."

"You were on the ship too," Ashley said cocking her head to the side.

"Yeah, it was my dad died saving your dad on the airplane," Kat deadpanned back. Ashley looked down at her hands but didn't say anything. Kat felt bad.

"Oh," Ginger said as she stared wide eyed between the two of them.

"Hey, I'm sorry, it's…sorry," Kat rambled then shoved some food in her mouth to occupy it. Ashley nodded slightly. The three of them sat there eating, no one saying anything more. Kat sighed. This was depressing. Suddenly Ashley sprung to her feet as there was a commotion on the other side of the room.

"Oh, no," she whispered as her eyes got wide and her hand went to her mouth. "Sammy," she breathed out. Kat looked over and saw two boys squared up. One was bigger, obviously older, the other was Sam Chandler, and the boy looked pissed. Kat immediately got to her feet and rushed over, stopping just behind Sam Chandler.

"Go ahead, you big asshole!" Chandler yelled bringing his fists up. "Say that shit to me again!"

"Your dad's a coward and a quitter," the bigger, older boy, sneered at Sam. Kat reached out and gripped Sam's shoulder, but the boy shrugged her off and dove into the bigger kid with his fists flying.

"My dad's a hero," Sam spat out angrily as he let both his fists fly in a flurry of punches. He landed a few before the bigger kid realized what was happening then he reached back and slammed a fist into the side of Sam's head, knocking the boy sideways and then he dropped to his knees.

"Stay down ya little shit," the boy sneered, and Sam Chandler took it as a personal challenge. Kat sighed and just as Chandler leaped at the older boy Kat wrapped her arm around his midsection and rotated him away. She shoved him down then turned and round house kicked the older boy in the head. He dropped hard, as he was not expecting her to jump in. Kat then twirled and caught Sam Chandler around the mid-section again just as he was trying to barrel towards the downed big kid. Kat was thankful the other kid stayed down as she wrestled Sam to the ground.

Then there were shouting adults surrounding them and Kat and Sam were escorted to the office. Kat went willingly and quietly, but Sam was combative and vocal. The other kid was walked down to the office as well, and Kat could feel him staring at her the whole time. They were sat on opposite sides of the room and Kat kept her hand on Sam's shoulder, although the fight had seemed to slowly evaporate from the boy. The older boy stared at Kat the whole time.

"What?" she finally snapped. His eyes widened a little and he brought his hands up.

"That was a helluva kick," he said, shrugging his shoulders. Kat smirked at him and shrugged her shoulders right back. "I think I've got a concussion."

"Had to eliminate the threat and keep the kid safe."

"The fuck you need to protect him for?"

"Yeah, why you need to protect me for?" Sam mumbled as he slumped in the chair and crossed his arms over his chest. Kat looked at him and felt bad for him.

"You shouldn't pick on him. He's…"

"I know who he is. He's Chandler's kid."

"Yeah, he is. And I'm protecting you, Sam, cuz, Commander Slattery asked me too. Besides. Our dads were friends."

"Yeah, I know," Sam said as a tear slid down his cheek. I remember the day…" Sam said, his voice trailing off. Kat felt the emotions well up, but she pushed them back down.

"Don't sweat it, kid, but you also shouldn't be picking fights with bigger kids. And what kind of douche are you for picking on a vulnerable little kid?"

"I'm not a little kid," Sam said angrily. Kat shrugged her shoulders at him.

"Okay," she sighed. It was going to be a long day she thought. She just hoped this little incident didn't stop Commander Slattery from helping her get out of the shelter.

TO BE CONTINUED…