The Ruins of Our Lives Chapter 24

"You Can Never Go Home Again"

Randy's POV

'Like I said before, I just wanted to take a chance to apologize to both of you for being such an ass' Brad says in conclusion of his apology/speech.

'Apology accepted' Mark says. I nod halfheartedly. I'll forgive him for what he did to me, but not for threatening Lauren. No, that'll take some time and work.

Lauren! I haven't even talked to her since we got back to Detroit. Maybe I'll do that after we go over and talk to the Allens.

'You know, we've had a lot of good times in this room guys. All of us have had our rooms in here at one point or another. Ha! Remember the stupid kind of stuff we used to get into fights over?' I reminisce.

'Randy! What did you do with my Roosterman comics?' Brad jokes.

'Why would I want your stupid comics?' I play along.

'Well if I didn't take them, and you didn't take them, then that means…Mark!' we both shout in unison.

'I didn't do anything guys' Mark smiles. Then he jumps up and starts running downstairs. Brad and I chase after him. We go flying down the stairs two at a time, through the kitchen, and out the back door. Mark trips over a stone, and we all three wind up crumpling to the ground laughing our heads off. A foolish and perhaps ridiculous sight to see, three teenagers laying on the ground in a pile, laughing like they're a fourth their age, but it just seems so right to us. We lay there a few seconds longer, then stand up.

'Are you boys about ready to go?' mom hollers from the house.

'As ready as we'll ever be' Brad responds.

Fifteen minutes later, we all pile into the Nomad and take off.

Ten minutes after that, we pull into the long, winding driveway to the residence of the late Tim Allen. We pile out of the car; and walk up to the door, ring the bell, and wait.

Finally someone answers. She appears to be in her mid to late forties, and must be Laura.

'Hi, we're the Taylor family. Your husband was on my husband's show three years ago when the roof collapsed. There's something we really need to speak with you about. Could we come in?' mom explains.

'Yes, please. Right this way' Laura says, leading us to the living room.

'Now, what is it you need to see me about?' Laura asks after all of us have been seated.

'After your Tim left to go to the taping of Tool Time that morning, you never saw him again. We believe that what happened was that your Tim was mistaken for being my Tim' mom explains.

'So it was Tim who…who…' she says, bursting into tears before she can say any more. It would be a lie to say I suddenly want to leave since I didn't want to do this in the first place.

Sitting here, watching this happen reminds me so much of the grief that we went through when we thought dad was dead. It sounds cliché, but I can understand exactly what she's feeling and going through.

'Thank you for coming by to tell me this. It doesn't really change the circumstances much, but at least it provides the family with some closure' Laura says, bringing me from my thoughts back to reality.

When we pull into the driveway ten minutes later, I can't help but think of all the potential memories this entire incident has caused everyone to miss out on. Even doing something so commonplace as this wreaks havoc on my emotions. It just seems like I'm on the outside and looking in, like I shouldn't be here. I don't know, maybe I shouldn't.

I guess, ultimately, you never can go home again. I guess we just get to be stuck where God places us. Not that I'm second guessing Him or anything. Maybe some day we'll all get to go Home.

A/N: I want to start this off by saying two things:

One chapter left now!

One chapter left now :(

Don't worry though, I promise the last chapter will be a happy one, and I hope I leave everyone smiling.

I need to send out a thank you to Baxxie for giving me feedback on part of this story.

And to mischieftheblackwolf: I really wasn't lying when I promised I would have some brotherly fluff in this story before it ended.

Please R&R, you only have one more chance to do so for this story after this.

Thanks for reading.

-Yours truly, Randy Taylor

P.S. I plan on having the last chapter up on Christmas Day, just because I like to end my stories on special days.

-Yours truly again, Randy Taylor