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"Hey Barbra Jean, where you been for the last couple of days, and when you going back?" asked Reba As Barbra Jean walked into the kitchen. Rapped in a blanket, Cole sat at the table.
"Forgive me for not dropping by as much as we both would like, but since the hurricanes I have been swamped with my volunteer duties as head of the Save The Dog campaign, or as I like to call it: STD," said Barbra Jean. Cole cocked his eyebrow at his mother. Granted he wasn't one hundred percent, but he was far better then he was three weeks ago when he had returned from New Orleans. He had needed Van and Brock's help to even get into the house.
"So how's your little foster puppy working out?" asked Barbra Jean.
"He pissed in my boot the other morning," muttered Cole in a muffled voice.
"He's so cute. Jake's been playing with him all morning, and Van's so jealous that he bacon fat behind his ears," said Reba.
"That's how I got Brock," said Barbra Jean with a slight grin. Cole leaned to the side slightly; threaten to fall out of his chair in an effort to ignore them.
"So anyway, the dog's family saw the picture I posted online and after the hurricane they where bussed into Houston so their going to be here in about ten minutes," she said. Cole perked up slightly.
"Hallelujah, I'll drink to that," he said before taking a sip of cough syrup. Reba shot him a look before she sat her cutlery to the side.
"Oh well, I knew I was gonna happen," said Reba as she, Barbra Jean, and Cole headed into the living room.
"I think I'm going to call him Jake Jr. I love him so much I want him to be my son," said Jake before he bent over and hugged the dog as the small trio entered the room.
"Genetics don't quite work that way kid," said Cole as he stumbled to a chair and sat down.
"Oh lord, Reba this is the most painful part of STD," said Barbra Jean. Both Reba and Cole looked at her.
"Which one did you get?" asked Cole. Reba shot him a glance.
"Jake, the dog's family called and they're going to be here to pick him up today," said Reba. Turning in the seat slightly, Cole went to sleep. When he woke up again, he heard people speaking before he was fully awake.
"Does she live here?"
"No."
"Then we'll stay." Jerking awake, Cole shot to his feet, but got dizzy in a hurry as his illness went into effect again. But just before he passed out again, Cole thought he saw a familiar face near the door. After a time he began to come around again.
"Miss. H, do you see them too?" he heard Van ask. Slowly opening his eyes, Cole saw the living room full of people. Blinking a few times, Cole rubbed his eyes before he sat up a little more.
"Hey…. Black people," said Van nervously. Everyone in the room waved before they went back to eating.
"Oh Ruby girl, you so crazy," said Barbra Jean as she walked into the room, her hair in cornrows.
"Yo, Reba, Van, Sup," she said.
"Holy crap," said Cole in a muffled voice. Reba cocked her eyebrow.
"Boy, you said it Cole. Barbra Jean what is going on here?" she asked.
"A miracle. Grandma Ruby finally got in touch with her family, and she was going to meet them at the shelter but I said that's silly, there's plenty of room at Reba's," explained Barbra Jean. Cole slowly stood and started to stumble across the living room, but stopped when someone took his chair.
"Move or I'll gut you and leave you in the Mississippi," he snapped, causing the newcomer to move away quickly.
"You see Mom, this is what happens when you leave Barbra Jean alone with power," said Cole, using one of the side tables for support.
"Yeah, your right Cole," came the reply. Glancing at Barbra Jean, Cole let out a shutter before spoke.
"Did you say Grandma Ruby?" he asked. Barbra Jean nodded.
"Uh huh, she's so good at cooking and everything," she said. Cole nodded, recognition of the name in his eyes before he returned to his chair and sat down again. Slowly, he allowed himself to fall asleep again. When he awoke, night had fallen and several people still crowded the living room. Standing and stumbling, he made his way into the kitchen and filled a glass with water. Light from the full moon streamed into the window. Cole smiled slightly as he remembered the first night he had arrived.
"You gonna set that to the side or are you gonna let me wash that one as well?" came a voice in the dark. He spun around to face where the voice had come from, and was rewarded with a wave of dizziness. The sound of match being struck emanated before a singe flame sprang up and lit a candle on the table, Ruby's face contained a mixture of happiness and worry.
"Ruby?" asked Cole before he let out a long cough. The older woman waited patiently for him to finish before she spoke.
"It's been a long time Cole. Last I heard of you, you where in an orphanage in Seattle, 'course that was about six years ago now," she said. Cole made his way over and sat across the table from.
"That sounds about right," he said. Ruby sighed and shook her head.
"Why did you leave Cole? We were taking care of you just fine, you where happy with us," she said.
"I'm very grateful for you taking me in when you did and I don't know how I'll ever manage to repay you, but this is my family, my real blood related family," he said. Ruby's eyes went wide.
"You mean you finally found them?" she asked. Cole simply nodded. Ruby cocked her eyebrow.
"What about the tall blonde, you related to her too?" Cole laughed before releasing another cough.
"If I was I don't think I'd want to risk reproduction," he gasped. Ruby laughed as well.
"Barbra Jean may be the one of the dullest crayons in the box, but she usually means well," he added. The two stood and embraced in a hug.
"I'm glad you're here Cole, these are some good people," said Ruby. Cole nodded again.
"Yes maim, they sure are."