Thirteen:

If seeing his cousin again had taught Phillip Dawson anything, it was that you can change your life. With luck, hard work and meeting the right people. He had spent two days with the Brown's afterwards; meeting Rose properly and he was introduced to the baby who was at the centre of all of this. Elizabeth. She was small, but loud and after the first rigid cuddle, he had sunk into the role of a long-lost uncle and she, in fact, had even giggled once or twice at his stupid faces. Who knew that inside his deep and dark stomach, he had a soul and he had even felt the melting of the ice within. This was his family. Unconventional, yes. Definitely not without complications but, it was still his own flesh and blood and both Dawson cousins had decided to put their pasts behind them...

Phillip wanted to see his cousin again, just because he had felt the pull of his stomach when playing with his daughter. It brought back memories of them as kids and even though he knew he wouldn't be around every day. He wanted to see the kid grow and for her to remember him, she could be the only one to pass on the Dawson name or at least create more of them one day.

Rose, on the other hand, was probably the most beautiful woman he had laid eyes on in his life. If it wasn't for his cousin just marrying her, she would have been in his bed, he had told himself. Hockley had fought good and well for this young girl, but there was no two ways that she only had eyes for Jack. He laughed as he shook his head. Family, huh? It was strange, unsettling and very comforting to know that he had a family now.

He glanced up at the building before him. Before these past few weeks it was a nondescript but now, it was his last drop off on the job before he headed out to wherever called him. Santa Monica had been the destination where Jack and Rose had headed and even though he had declined the invite of going out there, something told him the sea air might just do him some good or at least a place to lay low for a little while. He would think more about it when he had completed this task in hand, allowed himself a decent drink and then, head off to the train station to catch a ride to the next place. Dawson's really were tumbleweeds...

He used the large brass door knocker to alert the insiders of his presence at the door as he held in his hand a large thick envelope. His hands didn't even tremble at all, in fact, the item felt a huge weight on his shoulders about to be released.

''Hello?'' A young maid came to the door.

''Yes, morning.'' Phillip tipped his hat. ''Is Mr. Hockley there?''

''Do you have an appointment, sir?''

Phillip was about to speak when he heard Hockley behind the maid and the door opened wider. ''You may go.'' Hockley dismissed the maid, holding out his hand to shake Phillip's. One gentleman to another.

''Actually, I will shake your hand when I have shared my side of this deal.''

Phillip cockily walked into the house and removed his hat, placing it on the coat stand as though he was a regular visitor.

''Shall we proceed to the office?''

Cal was as smug as ever as he raised his eyebrows in a stunned surprise. Any other person to come into his house and act with such demeanour would have indeed been thrown back out but there was something about this man which he liked. The guy knew what he was doing and had done a huge favour.

''Yes.''

Cal proceeded down the corridor of the hallway into the office, of which they had discussed this entire charade just over a week previous. Once inside, Cal indicated for Phillip to sit but he didn't and he instead leant back against the closed door.

''Actually, last time we were here, you offered me brandy. Is that offer still going?''

Cal nodded, slowly walking around to the drinks cabinet. ''Of course, why the change in heart. I thought a man with your responsibilities didn't touch hard liquor.''

Phillip shrugged. ''Well I have just reconnected with an old family member, so, call it a small celebration.''

''How wonderful.'' Cal couldn't sound less enthusiastic but still he poured a couple of brandies before handing one to Phillip. He hadn't drunk anything other than the couple of beers with Jack two days before in a while and so when he knocked back the brandy and it burned his stomach and chest, he tapped his glass. ''Another?''

Cal followed suit, taking it back in one shot before refilling them both. This time, Phillip nursed it, tracing his finger around the rim of the glass. It was smooth and he noticed that his own fingernails were no longer dirty, he felt clean...happy.

''You know, they're quite a family; this Jack, Rose and the kid.''

''Quite.''

''They were...fun.''

Cal narrowed his eyes at Phillip, not fully grasping his words. ''Excuse me?''

''Well, when I went there and got into the house I was thinking y'know, about this guy and how mentally unwell Rose must be, obviously I knew that was shit you told me but all I wanted was the half a million and to get this guy gone and then I could go spend my money on what I wanted.'' Phillip glanced about the office. It was full of trophies, awards, documents and name plaques all of the things which told an outsider that the man before them were important. Phillip laughed, taking a short sip of his brandy.

''Of course.''

''Then, I saw the guy. I realised, that this whole situation had been twisted around in some way to ensure that you looked like the right guy. There is a child involved in this, a child who if I would have gone through with this whole plan, would have been fatherless. A woman would no longer have a husband.''

Cal's features started to contort into a horrified realisation. He got to his feet, dropping his brandy on the floor with a clatter.

''You didn't do it? Based on the fact that you found out half way to Denver that you had a heart?!'' Cal's anger vented out, his fists clenched and just as Phillip pulled out an envelope and opened it, he was soon surrounded by half a million dollars in $100 bills floating around his entire office like weightless feathers. Cal watched as the money rained down on him lightly but through it, he saw the smirk on Phillip's face. The smirk which he had seen elsewhere.

''No, I realised that I wouldn't kill my own cousin.''

''Cousin?''

''You never gave me a surname, just ''Jack,'' well, turns out I know the guy a lot more than you ever would.'' Phillip raised his eyebrows. ''A Hell of a lot more.''

As Cal was putting two and two together, Phillp downed the rest of his brandy. It was as though the past few days had given him more clarity than he had ever gained in his entire life. That was what he had needed all along. His business here was done. He was done. He had a life to life; crime free, before his life ended abruptly to one of the cronies he had helped to hurt. His hand rested on the door handle but as he turned to open it, Hockley was coming right at him. His eyes had darkened, narrowed and they were almost threatening. Phillip landed on the wooden floor of Cal Hockley's study with a thud. His head hit the floor, his elbow cracking beneath him but that didn't deter him. He was back on his feet within seconds, launching himself at Cal who had closed the door behind him, well aware of the situation. He pushed Cal backwards but this time he remained on two feet. The anger in his eyes was on fire, Cal clenched his jaw.

''I gave you half a million to do this job!''

''I don't need your money!'' Phillip spat. He was willing and ready this time, for more than fight. Not just for his own freedom but for his family, too. Cal's upper hand was slipping and quickly. Phillips's face was red, angry and from that Cal knew just that he had in fact seen the child. He had met that thing which his ex-fiancée and the gutter rat had created. Phillip Dawson was related, by blood to Jack Dawson. If he had missed the resemblance before, it was uncanny now. Their eyes... Phillip knew about Cal's lies. He knew it all. ''Damnit,'' he cursed, turning to eye up the drinks cabinet in his study, ''I just-''. Out of nowhere, Cal lunged Phillip in the stomach and immediately he crumbled to the ground feeling the pain. He felt as though he was going to be sick, he struggled to breathe for several seconds and his eyes blurred from the unexpected punch. He gritted his teeth, knowing he would more than likely have a fight on his hands. One which wouldn't end easily. Phillip could fight, but he didn't want to. Not anymore. He felt the weakness dissolve from his body.

''If you so much as move, I have a gun in this drawer. One bullet for one life.''

Phillip felt his breathing labour but he knew that he wouldn't lay on the floor like a scolded dog. He would get up and test this theory as far as he could go.

''Is that right?''

Phillip spat out blood, it landed on the polished floor. He felt so very unprepared. Cal watched, disgusted. ''You are just as much as an animal as that damned cousin of yours.''

Cal removed his jacket, pulling his arms roughly out of the expensive material and lunging forward to Phillip. Quickly, he opened the door, to move out of the way but as he did a gunshot sounded so loudly that it caused his entire body to shake and he stilled, waiting for something to happen. Cal jolted back, blood smeared the floor and his leg. He crashed back against the table, wailing in pain as he clutched onto his kneecap.

Phillip took a second to register that Jack had been stood outside of the office door. A handgun in his shaking hands. In that moment, Phil knew that his cousin had never handled a gun before but he had aimed well. The moment was still lingering inside him head and it took him a moment to realise just what had happened. Jack held out his hand to his cousin, their eyes locking together. He helped Phillip to his feet, ensuring that he wasn't too badly hurt.

''You all right?''

Phillip was too stunned to speak. Cal tried to twist his body, to turn and to get to his feet but it was no use. Every moment caused much more pain.

Jack turned to Cal; seeing the agony. ''You'll need a doctor to remove the bullet pretty much right away.'' Jack smirked, watching Hockley struggle. ''You need to listen to me, here. That bullet is in a place where you will live if you are tended to now. If you, or your father come near the Dawson's just once more, the bullet will be in a place where you won't live.'' Jack threw the gun to the floor. ''Is this unclear?''

Cal's vision blurred and even though he had heard Jack's words, he didn't respond.

Phillp stepped forward, he picked up a trophy of which had been sat on Hockley's desk and hovered above Cal with it, threatening him once more.. ''Did you hear the man?''

''Yes!'' Cal shouted, ''I heard.'' He concentrated on breathing through the agony. ''You will not hear from me.''

Phillip slapped Cal's shoulder hard, like he was congratulating a dog. ''Good man.''

Phillip held onto his rib as Jack opened the door of the office.

''Shall we?''

''Yes.''

They closed the door behind them. Leaving Cal bleeding surrounded by his own worthless money.

They would never hear from him again.