Chapter 40! Wow. That's a lot of writing. Just saying.

Anyways I'm not going to bore you with my random ramblings. I know this chapter is a little late in coming but it's here now. So, on to it we go.

Enjoy!


Ron had both hands gripped around the neck of a wrench as he struggled to get a nut to comply. It was tightly screwed on, rusted and probably stripped by now. The damn thing wouldn't budge. A half empty can of WD-40 sat nearby and with a curse under his breath he squirted more of the lubricant onto the stubborn bolt. He gave the nut another hard twist but was remiss to feel his wrench come loose, dropping to the ground with a noisy clatter. He cursed under his breath.

A whistle from behind caught the mechanic's attention and he twisted around to see one of his service desk men standing above him at the edge of the truck pit.

"Yo Kevin clocked in. Said for me to come get ya when he did."

The young man had hair greased up by god knows what hair product. Ron would never approve of his own son using that nasty stuff. It smelt like gorilla glue in his opinion and probably stuck like adhesive. He gave the kid a nod and lifted himself out of the pit.

Kevin was standing with his time card beside the old fashion slot, bits of old peeled paint falling off its edges. Darlene had been pestering him to get a new automatic clock in machine, something preferably electronic so she wouldn't have to count card hours every afternoon. Ron however preferred things the old fashion way, always arguing his point of keeping just the way they were. Nothing was wrong with their current system so what was the need to go and fix something that wasn't broken?

He wouldn't know it then, but that thought would occur to him sometime throughout his conversation with his son.

His boy, child, the jewel in his wife's eye and the enormous pain in his ass, wasn't looking at him when Ron approached. Rather his eyes were staring off at something in the distance, the vibrancy in his green orbs uncharacteristically shaded. He seemed lost in thought but the accelerated shift in his eyes told Ron his attention wasn't focused. It was as if Kevin was having trouble concentrating on any one thing and this made Ron curious. Kevin was usually very good at keeping his focus. Since putting him a variety of sports as a kid and having him work at the shop when he was old enough Kevin never really had a problem with distractions. He was a good kid with goals- well as far as he understood, Kevin was still a kid to him anyways and lord knew kids like him got into all kinds of unseen trouble. To the point, this was very unlike him.

Ron didn't let the frown show on his face as he approached, snatching the handkerchief from his back pocket to clean off the oily tool in his hand.

"Hey kid. Nice of you to show up."

Kevin shrugged, not meeting his gaze.

Ron sighed, stuffing the wrench into his back pocket and crossing his arms. "You're an hour late."

"Sorry." Kevin clipped, raking his bangs back beneath his cap.

Ron cocked a brow. Kevin being snippy was nothing out of the ordinary but the kid always looked a man in the eye when he spoke and Kevin seemed dead set on not looking at him directly.

"Sorry ain't gonna cut it." Ron went on to say. "Just because you're my kid and I give you special privilege's doesn't mean to get to take full advantage of me like that. You get paid just like everybody else which means you show up on time."

Ron dropped his hands to his hip, rubbing his mustache and almost cringing at the smell of WD-40 on his blackened fingers.

"I had to push back a work order so we could keep time today. Thank god the inspection was pushed back to this weekend. You're lucky I don't chew you out in front of the guys right now."

Kevin averted his gaze, purposely avoiding the purposeful gaze in his father's eyes.

"Look I said I'm sorry. I'm here now."

Kevin pushed off the counter and made to go to his station but his father stopped him. The man was looking at him with hard hazel eyes, taking in his form from head to toe.

Damn, the man could read him like a book.

Kevin shrugged his father's hand off his shoulder and gripped the motorcycle helmet tucked under his arm even tighter.

"Look pops I'm behind as it is already. I need to get to work."

Ron stiffened but nodded, letting his son pass. "Get caught up. Your lunch is at one."

Kevin made a beeline for his station and immediately got to work like he said. He dropped his helmet onto the toolbox that was assigned to him, pulling a stool along with his foot. His tools were in much better condition than Ron's. Where the older man's tools were dirtied with black stains and some even rusted from having been accidently left out in the rain, Kevin's tools looked close to brand new. Most of his tools had scratches and couple of unavoidable dents from having been ill properly used but Kevin never allowed his tools to get too messy. He didn't like how stained his hands would get if the tools were left in such nasty conditions so he made sure to keep them all in tip top shape, even if it took up extra time.

The athlete worked on auto pilot, watching through a hazy like vision rather than feeling his body moving with quick and familiar precision to get the smaller bits of his job done. Tools laid out and the newest motorcycle in need of repairs wheeled in, Kevin got straight to it. He hopped into the pit in order to get a good look at the bottom of the vehicle he was inspecting but rather than get any work done he simply stared at its shadowed underbelly. The bike was a beautiful build, sleek and black with polished silver handle bars. It didn't take a genius to guess what Kevin was thinking about right then.

The tool in his hand fell with a clatter, not a totally out of place thing to happen at a bike shop, but it did draw some of the other employee's attention. Kevin sighed and picked up the tool. He could barely feel it sitting in his hand. He nearly dropped it again but this time his hand squeezed around the handle tight.

The desk-jocky that had gone and fetched Ron was now kneeling beside the pit and grinned down at Kevin. The red-head hadn't noticed his presence until he turned and was greeted with a white toothed smile which immediately put him on edge. The man's greasy black hair looked like it would be incredibly soft under all that hair product. Soft like-

Kevin cursed himself. Damnit. Why can't I stop thinking about him?

"Hey there Kev." The male receptionist grinned. "How you doin'?"

Kevin did his best not to show the roll of his eyes as he tried to make it seem like he was busy, picking through his tools though really didn't need to. The receptionist was as smart as he was annoying. He knew how to keep books but lord was he aggravating to talk to! And He was just not ready for that kind of annoyance just yet.

"Hey Vin." He said halfheartedly. "Look I'm busy so-"

"So have you heard any news about Veronica?" The man immediately inquired, his brown eyes wide with expectation.

Kevin groaned inwardly. He forget how love sick the idiot was over the newest employee. Veronica was a hard working woman with impressive credentials working in a man's environment but she clearly had no interest in Vin. Kevin suspected the woman was already married but it was none of his business and really it shouldn't be Vin's either, but the man was persistent. Why he decided to cling to Kevin while he pinned over her was beyond him. He didn't hate Vin per say; he just very, very annoying.

Vin swung his legs around to sit on the edge of the pit much to Kevin's chagrin.

"Henry from first shift told me he saw her out and about yesterday at the mall. I almost went to the mall but had stuff to do."

Kevin wanted to wail in frustration but was just able to keep a reign on his emotions. He felt like punching something hard but moving as he was painful enough. His sides still ached, the bruises lining his stomach having turned an ugly shade of vomit and blue. They were healing slowly but movement of any kind was making it hard to ignore their presence. He'd rather not think about how or when he got them. He just wanted to work.

"Veronica is so beautiful. I'd take her out on my mustang to a nice secluded area and just talk and talk until we, you know." He wiggled his thick black brows and Kevin tried not to gag. "What do you think Kevin? Do you think Veronica likes late night dates? I like late night dates. I think she would too."

Kevin slammed a socket wrench down into his toolbox drawer. He didn't have time for this shit.

"Vin I'm very busy." He said in a clear warning tone. "Get lost."

Vin's thick brows hit the top of his head. "Yo Kevy what's got your panties knotted? Is it the lace?" He cackled but really only he could ever find a joke as lame as that funny.

Kevin shot Vin a look that made desk-boy zip it.

"Get the fuck out of here. I don't care about your bullshit feelings for Veronica ok? Just get lost you creep."

Vin looked visibly hurt by Kevin's words, his open mouth falling close. "Kev. Why would you say that? I though we-"

"I said GET LOST!" Kevin pointed in a random direction. "I'm not your friend. You're a freak. Now go."

Vin was stunned into silence, hurt coming over his face as he lifted himself from the edge of the pit and made his way back to the front of the shop. He didn't bother to say another word, holding his head up even as other mechanics turned their heads to watch him go. Ron came hustling around the corner, his brows drawn together in concern. He knelt beside Kevin's pit and cleared his throat.

"Boy what the hell is going on?"

Kevin growled, grabbing his tool box and giving it a vicious shake. He just wanted to work. That was all. Was the universe out to get him or something? All he wanted was to work on this bike, to forget about dorks in black hats, and blow off the rage building in him because of said dork and their apparent knights in black leather armor. He kicked at the smaller tool box next to his foot, watching with mild satisfaction as it flew across the pit and smacked the wall, nuts and bolts flying in every directions. Ron's eyes widened as he watched the display, confusion and fury emanating bright in his eyes.

"What the hell was that?!" Ron seethed, knowing full well all eyes in the shop were staring right at his and Kevin's back. "You know what, I don't give a damn. Get out of that pit and get your ass in my office NOW."

Kevin snarled, lifting himself with ease out of the pit and storming his way to his father's office. He shoved a saddened Vin out of his way, nearly throwing the smaller man into the wall in the process. Ron wanted badly to go after him and clock him good for that. This kind of behavior in his shop, or in his family, was unacceptable. He didn't raise his kid to be violent and reckless and Kevin was damn well going to hear it as soon as Ron picked up the mess Kevin made in the pit.

Kevin paced about in his father's office like a wild tiger, muscles shifting fluidly beneath his skin and his eyes glaring ahead of him as if seeking out the nearest unsuspecting prey he could manage to grab. Unfortunately that turned out to be the office chair sitting in front of him. He gave it a kick and watched in spin. He wanted to pick it up and throw it out of a window but Kevin had more control than that, even if the thought seemed mildly entertaining at the moment.

All day every day all he could think about was Edd. Even when he wasn't trying blue eyes seemed to haunt his every thought. That beautiful smile Kevin had grown accustomed to waking to in the morning was gone. His clothes and trinkets Kevin had bought him were still left untouched in his room, the very room he refused to go into, but the boy who left his imprint there and on Kevin's soul was nowhere to be found. Kevin was sure he would never see him again.

"Boy you better have good explanation for this." Ron snapped slamming his office door shut.

Kevin didn't even hear his father come inside and cursed his thoughts for having run away for the umpteenth time that day. Kevin slowly turned, rage flaring like hot embers in his eyes.

Ron took several confident steps to his desk but instead of sitting in his chair sat on the edge of the desk, arms crossed and looking expectedly at his son. He demanded an explanation for Kevin's behavior.

The red-head looked guiltily at the floor, dragging the office chair around to sit on it. He straddled the swivel chair, arms crossed in front of him and rested his elbows on the back of the hair. He glared a head, not really looking at the man in front of him. To Ron it reminded him of a five year old having a temper tantrum. Kevin used to have those all the time as a toddler, throwing toys and screaming until he realized it wasn't going to get him what he wanted. For the first time in a long time Ron had to regard his son as a small child, the feeling nostalgic and yet embarrassing at the same time. Wasn't his son old enough to have out grown tantrums like these?

"Kevin look at me."

Kevin did just that, not because he thought it would help but because he just didn't want to fight anymore. Hazel eyes watched him carefully, reading as much into his own eyes as they could muster.

"What's going on?"

Kevin shook his head and answered curtly. "Vin's annoying."

Ron nodded as if to agree but then shook his head. "You never speak to Vin like that."

Kevin looked away. "I just wanted to do my job and he got in the way. I was doing just fine and then he had to go and walk into my life like some fucking innocent and now-"

"This ain't about Vin." Ron stated, hitting the nail on the head. "Is it?"

Kevin closed his eyes, straining to keep a tight lid on his emotions. It sometimes amazed him how well his father could read him somethings and other times it was just as annoying at Vin. He didn't confirm but his silence was enough of an answer.

Ron pursed his lips. Kevin was obviously not ready to talk about whatever it was that was bothering. It was clear as day that Kevin was affected tremendously by whatever it was and while Ron felt like he deserved an explanation, he was a wise enough man to know when to push and when not to.

"Life ain't fair. That's just a fact of life."

Kevin's lips may have been sealed but his ears were wide open, soaking in every word like a sponge in water.

"Around here a job's a job. You fix it, you get compensated for your time, and you move on; but sometimes it ain't that easy."

Ron pushed up from the edge of his desk and clapped his hand on Kevin's shoulder, squeezing it tight. He stared across through the window and out into the shop, watching his faithful employees as they went about their duties, both smiles and frowns grace every other face.

Kevin took to glaring holes into the floor. He gripped his father's hand in return, feeling his heart stutter. Images of Edd ran through his head untamed, visual after visual metaphorically slapping him across the face. It's only been a day, no not even a day, and already it was like his world was falling apart. When he woke that morning he was alone. When he ate breakfast it was by himself. There was no laughter ringing down the hall like he was used to and the thought of collecting Edd's tiny form into arms and ravishing that willing body now seemed like a far off dream than the reality it was just hours before.

He tried to reason with himself.

Edd had gone out on him. Well… in a manner of speaking. It wasn't like they were together or anything in that regard and yet he felt scorned. He knew this was ridiculous. He shouldn't be feeling as angry about this as he did. Edd had every right to screw another man. They freakin' agreed to that very statement back when he first brought Edd home.

If anything Kevin was acting like a brat. He was spoiled rotten by Edd's attention and took part in all the offerings the dork could give him. His intelligence, his body, his sassiness, it was like it all belonged to him and in some sick twisted way he almost led himself to believe it.

He was ashamed to have acted so irrationally but the thought of another man's hands on Eddward's body, where his own hands had once traveled and worshiped, filled him with blatant and utter disgust. He shouldn't have been one to judge but he did. He made Edd feel worse than dirt and emotionally shoved aside like he no longer mattered; but in truth that was not the case. Especially when that stranger came barging into his home.

The night Edd left, exactly twelve hours and thirteen minutes ago, Kevin had been plagued by nightmares. He tried to will them away. He knew he was dreaming and yet the desperate look in dream Edd's eyes was enough to make him cringe, to make his body want to move after him before the ring of his alarm clock shot him out of bed like a cat out of water.

In the heat of the moment Kevin had attempted to protect Edd but failed.

That guy, Edwin the dork had called him, had taken him and now the sockhead was lost to him. Lord knew where he was. He left no clues behind, only a handful of his clothing, and single digital picture Kevin had taken with his phone some time ago. He couldn't even bring himself to look at it. He wasn't able to protect Edd the way he should have and now…

He thought about calling the police but the fond familiarity in the sockhead's voice had made him pause. Edd somehow knew that dickwad Edwin and even went with him in the end. Perhaps that was what really broke Kevin's heart- never mind the incredible shame he felt for having failed someone who meant so dearly to him. He couldn't tell, and honestly, he didn't care. All that mattered was that Eddward was gone and Kevin was now alone.

Kevin's fingers somehow found their way laced between his father's, squeezing the life out of them. Ron kept his grip steady.

"Kid sometimes you just gotta wash the grease from your hands, bandage your blistered fingers, and get back to it. Even if a job seems impossible there isn't anything in this world that can keep you from fixing your problem except yourself."

Ron squeezed Kevin's shoulder harder and he felt Kevin shudder.

"You want that compensation then you gotta find a way to fix it."


So what did you guys think? I like Ron and his words of wisdom. He seems like a man who's 'been there, done that, got a t-shirt for it'.

So, I hope you guys liked this chapter as much as I did. There is nothing in the world like a bonding moment between a father and his son.

Let me know what you all think. So until next time, ciao!