Birthday Blues

"We're going to Florida?" Nate asked when he was told to pack a bag.

"Nope, Memphis. We may not even stay overnight so don't bring a bunch of crap you don't need, just a change of clothes and your medications."

"Is it for my birthday?" Nate asked the hope echoing in his words. Raylan tried not flinch as he heard the words but he was sure that Nate had picked up his body language despite his efforts.

"Of course not because you forgot my birthday?"

"No, it just slipped my mind for a moment."

"Yeah just for a moment, whatever," Nate sighed. "What's in Memphis anyway?"

"Well Elvis is in Memphis."

"Not an Elvis fan and I'm well aware that Graceland is in Memphis."

"I'm sure we can find something entertaining," Raylan promised as they prepared to leave.

Nate had been wise enough to bring the car charger for his phone and was busily bouncing from app to app while they drove to find Hot Rod. The DEA Agent riding shotgun was more than a bit mystified that the marshal had brought his son along with him in the hunt for a known drug dealer, but had been assured the boy would stay out of the way.

It quickly became apparent that Nate would indeed need to stay in the car as things at the garage got a little active at their second stop as a shot rang out. "You stay in the car and don't you move," Raylan warned his son before disappearing with his cohort. Nate barely acknowledged his father as he was nearing his high score on his favorite word game.

As Rod sat drinking and reminiscing as he was dying, Raylan shook his head at losing the lead, when he heard some familiar footsteps. "Now death by pencil isn't something you see every day," Nate declared. "That guy doesn't look to be in great health either." He said nodding towards the drug dealer.

"Dammit Nathaniel, I told you to stay in the car!"

"I did—for awhile. But I got bored. I think the big dude just died," the boy pointed out.

"Well, he is quick on the uptake Marshal," agent Miller stated looking from Nate to the fallen dealer.

"Yeah, I've got his uptake right here," Raylan said raising his hand.

"I'll be waiting back in the car. Don't worry, I won't step any blood or anything." Nate said doing a quick U-turn and heading back the way he came as the sounds of sirens began to inch closer.

"How old is he?" Miller asked.

"Just turned twelve," Raylan answered.

"He's going to be a handful."

"Going to be?"

Miller smiled and nodded. "Enjoy him while he's still young. Before you know it he won't want anything to do with you."

Raylan quietly nodded as he watched Nate disappear from sight.

The trail that had begun in Memphis wound its way back north to a very familiar setting as once again Raylan told Nate to stay in the car. "I mean it son, stay here, there are bad guys with guns in there talking to other bad guys undoubtedly with guns— ''

"And you two are the good guys with guns and the ones I should be afraid of if I were to wander in there unexpectedly," Nate said with a smile.

Raylan returned his son's smile. "Yes, exactly."

Nate sighed and plugged his phone into the charger and began to cruise Facebook. He was commenting on a post by a friend of his when once again he heard a gunshot. Despite being somewhat accustomed to the sound his heart still leapt a bit in his chest. His eyes immediately went to the door as he waited, for what, he was still unsure. He knew his father was beyond capable with a gun as well as walking into sticky situations, but now that he was this close to the action he did have the visceral reaction that the shot had landed somewhere too close to home. He waited, keeping his breath even as his eyes monitored the door.

Inside the bar Raylan took a chance and looked back towards the door, relieved to see that remained closed. Agent Miller had gone and shot Roscoe and Jay was now threatening to shatter the peace even further. Nothing ever went well at Audrey's and that trend seemed to continue now. The mood was tense and Raylan prayed that Nate wouldn't walk in and disrupt it even further.

Raylan looked around at the criminal contingency that filled the room and wanted to laugh in disgust at the gathering. If Boyd Crowder wasn't enough he now had to deal with all those damn Crowe's. Dewey was an idiot and needed to be watched but for the most part he was harmless. But the rest of his clan was much more dangerous and took Raylan back to the recent days of Quarles and all the havoc he had brought down.

Raylan once again snuck a look at the door and returned his gaze as Jay finally relented and put his gun down. Another crisis averted for the moment. He looked over at Miller and was relieved that the whole thing hadn't turned into one giant gunfight. Despite the fact they had no issues with the DEA agent he wasn't too saddened as they went their separate ways.

"So, you weren't the one who shot anybody?" Nate tentatively asked.

"Wasn't me this time, I swear."

"I stayed in the car," Nate stated.

"And I'm glad you did, it was a bit hairy in there and your presence wouldn't have helped the circumstances." Nate absentmindedly nodded. "But we still need to talk about you coming in that first time."

"There was only one shot and it happened while we were outside, the action was over."

"And you knew that for sure?"

"I figure I know you well enough that if there was going to be more shooting it would have happened long before I walked in. You don't tend to waste time with those things."

"That's a mighty big assumption to make and one I think we'll need to talk about."

Nate sighed knowing he was in for a lecture.

With everything still fresh in his mind Raylan stopped by the office to start on his paperwork finding Art getting ready to head out.

"Why are you here?" Art asked, his face clearly showing his disgust.

"Just tackling a bit of paperwork before I head home."

"You aren't supposed to be here."

"Well, I am on vacation so since it's my time, I suppose I can spend it where I like."

"I don't believe you have learned anything since you started way back when, you are still the same selfish lawman you always were. I think I'll just pretend that you aren't here."

"The offer I gave before my vacation still stands Art, perhaps you should revisit it," Raylan said.

"Or I'll just pretend you're not here."

"Suit yourself then," Raylan replied.

"Am I here?" Nate asked having walked over during the conversation.

"Yes you are, though I'm not sure why," Art said putting his hand on Nate's head.

"Thanks again for that gift card for my birthday. I got some really cool stuff at the mall."

"You are most welcome," Art said with a smile.

Raylan shuffled some papers as he wondered what they were talking about.

They finally got home and both were exhausted. "We'll talk tomorrow," Raylan said. As they walked up to the front door they noticed a box bearing Raylan's name had been left there by a delivery service.

"What's that?" Nate asked as they finally made it into the house.

"It's yours, open it up and find out," Raylan said handing the box over.

"It's light, Nate remarked as he set it on the table. He grabbed some nearby scissors and slit through the tape holding it closed. He carefully opened the flaps and smiled as he saw its contents. "Whoa, a Here Come The Mummies t-shirt and a water bottle and sticker," Nate exclaimed. "Awesome, this will go with the hat Tim got me."

Raylan furrowed his brows as he thought about his son's words. "What hat?"

"The Here Come The Mummies hat that he got me for my birthday, anyway this stuff is great, thanks a lot Dad."

"See and you thought I forgot your birthday."

Nate put the items back into the box. "Well, actually you did." Nate said quietly.

"But, it's the tenth and today is the tenth."

"Yeah, the tenth of last month," he replied taking the box from the table and walking to his room with it.

Raylan put his head in his hands and took a deep breath. Thank God he was good at dealing with the bad guys as Nate had put it, because he certainly didn't seem to be good with much else.