The Long And Winding Road
Note: The usual disclaimers apply, and remember that all episodes that came after "This Charming Man" aren't canon in this story.
Chapter 51 - Finders
Jay left JT's office and shut the door behind him. He then casually left the theater through the front without incident. After another minute, Spinner returned from taking out the trash, coming in via the same back way that he'd used to leave a short while earlier. He stopped walking once he noticed that JT's door was now closed.
"Very funny, JT," he said as he approached the door. "Is this part of that whole door knocking lesson? Seeing if I remember what you tell me?"
He didn't receive any response but thought JT was inside pretending to ignore him.
"Okay," Spinner continued. "Just this once, I'll play along."
He then knocked on the door.
"So, can I come in now or what?"
Once more, he received no response from inside. He knocked again with the same result.
"You're trying to mess with my head, not saying anything. Won't work, JT. There is nothing going on inside my head."
Spinner then realized what he just said.
"Uh…Wait, that didn't come out right."
He still didn't hear anything.
"What? No comeback joke? You know, I think you're just trying to make me look crazy, standing out here talking to a door that doesn't talk back. So I'm coming in."
Spinner grabbed the doorknob and started turning it.
"But at least I tried knocking first this time. Before, you were hiding something in your desk. This time it's all quiet. What's going on in…"
He stopped speaking after opening the door. He saw papers scattered and a stapler on the floor near the desk. Then he noticed the picture of Emma on the ground near the filing cabinet. He didn't, however, see JT.
"What happened in here?" Spinner questioned.
He walked inside the office. He saw that, ahead and to his left, JT's nameplate had landed on the floor near the side of the desk. Beside the nameplate was something red marking the carpet. Spinner walked over to it. He then bent down and touched it.
Blood.
Following the slight blood trail, he walked back behind the desk. There he found JT, sitting on the floor with his back against the desk. JT kept his right hand pressed against his wounds with what strength he still had in an effort to stop the bleeding. Spinner now stood over him, wondering what had happened in the short amount of time after he left the office.
"What…I mean, who…I mean…How did this happen?"
He knelt down, hoping JT would be able to tell him something. JT, however, had trouble focusing and appeared to be growing disoriented. He also didn't say a word.
"Phone!" Spinner suddenly exclaimed. "That's what I need."
He stood up, confused but determined, and started surveying the room.
"What happened to the damn phone?"
After a moment he finally saw it in the corner.
"Hang on!" he said to JT as he scrambled to retrieve the phone. "I'm getting help."
Around this same time, Sean and Manny were sitting together on the couch at his place.
"I still can't believe he had the nerve to show up right there at the shop hoping the two of you could some day team up again and rob the place," Manny commented.
"He was thinking of it as him rescuing me from a life of honest living," Sean explained. "But I think it's more like Jay misses not having an audience to watch him do the rotten things he likes to do. Even if it's just an audience of me. Hard to brag about himself if no one's around to listen. I've told you how he likes to find me every once in awhile."
"And try to guilt you into remembering the not-so-good old days," she added.
"Yeah. It's been a couple of years and he STILL thinks I'm just going through a phase and he can snap me out of it."
"Maybe this time he got the message," Manny offered.
"Maybe. Stranger things have happened. Anyway, talking to you on the phone this afternoon after he left…no more stress."
"I'm glad you know you can call me whenever there's something wrong."
"Yeah. Talking to you after something like that is much better than punching one of the walls at the garage."
"You and your flattery," she teased.
Manny then looked at her watch and gave Sean a nod signaling that it was about time for them to leave. They stood up and walked out to his car in the driveway.
"We'd better hurry," Sean said. "If they get there before we do, JT might try to order for all of us and who knows what we'll end up with."
"Not to worry, Sean. With Emma there to keep an eye on him, he won't have a chance to whisper a request to the waiter about adding anchovies to the pizza."
"You're right. Maybe we should stop on the way and get Emma a thank-you card," he joked.
"How about a sympathy card instead?" a voice said, startling the couple.
They turned to see Jay walking up the driveway toward them.
Back at TMD, Spinner waited anxiously for the ambulance to arrive. Struggling to think of what he should do, he hurried out of JT's office and ran down the hall and back to the main entry area of the theater. He scanned the area, not really sure what to look for.
Then he had an idea. He rushed over to the front door where the ticket taker, Stephanie, stood. The 17-year-old girl had been with the theater since the previous summer, working weekends and during school vacations.
"Are you just letting anybody in here tonight?" Spinner asked sharply.
"I know you've only been here a few weeks," she responded, "but there are these things we sell over at that front window called tickets. Anybody who buys one can come right in."
"That's not an answer," he said, having no patience. "How many people are getting in here WITHOUT tickets?"
"You know the boss has people coming in and out of here all the time. People he's got meetings with. Friends showing up from time to time. And of course his girlfriend."
"Anyone in the last ten minutes or so?"
"Why?" she asked, growing curious.
"It's important!"
"Since when are you so tense?" she questioned, becoming concerned about his unusual behavior. "Yeah, there was this one guy."
"Who was it?" Spinner demanded.
"I don't know. He said he had business with JT. He sure didn't look like your normal businessman. But our boss isn't your typical businessman either, so who am I to say?"
"And you just let him in? You didn't have him wait around while you checked it out with JT?"
"I never do. JT's said in the past to just send them on back to his office. Most of the time, that is. Sometimes if he's expecting someone, he's already out here waiting when that person shows up. He keeps it all pretty informal around here."
"I know." Spinner then took a deep breath. "Okay, did you see that person take off or do you think he's still around here?"
"I think I saw him leave. But I was directing a customer, so…"
"Okay," he said, looking at his watch and trying to decide what to do next.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"Tell the guys in the booth not to sell any more tickets."
"Are you kidding?"
"And get ready to let the paramedics in. They're gonna be here soon. Send them back to JT's office."
"Paramedics? What…?"
Spinner didn't answer as he was already headed back toward the office. From behind the refreshment counter, though, Amanda – who had just finished helping the last customer in line – was watching and called to him.
"Gavin, what are you doing?"
"When I figure it out, I'll let you know. But for right now close up your register."
"Okay…First, you don't give me orders. And second, even if you did, why would I do such a thing?"
"We've got trouble. Look, just do it!"
Spinner, not waiting for a response, rushed back to the office.
"Everything's going to be okay," he told JT upon entering the room, though his tone of voice sounded more panicky than reassuring.
Meanwhile in Sean's driveway, Sean and Manny each had a look of annoyance upon seeing this unexpected visitor, while Jay's expression was one of satisfaction and accomplishment – at least by his standards.
"Guess you two were too busy talking to hear me pull up to the curb out front," Jay said.
"Jay, I know you're not too bright," Sean greeted, "but I never knew you had rocks for brains. Didn't you get any of what I was telling you this afternoon?"
"I heard you. Loud and clear. You got the life you think you want. I got mine. But I just couldn't wait to come by. I wanted to say goodbye."
"Oh?" Sean asked. "You mean you're leaving town? And we didn't even have to get Emma to work up a petition to make it happen?"
"Again with the sarcasm…You HAVE been hanging around Yorke too much. As for leaving town? Well, this neighborhood HAS gotten real dull. At least before tonight. But no, I'm not going anywhere. I've just decided you're a lost cause, Cameron. A waste of my time. I wanted to let you know that I'm at a whole new level now. You can't even hope to reach where I'm at."
"Jay, are you on something?"
"You know damn well I never got mixed up with drugs. They'd make it harder to take care of business. Now what happened tonight…Well, it was self-defense. I get pushed, I push back. And then some. But it made for a better high than any drug. And anyway, why would I leave town when business has been going so good?"
"You mean the business of selling stolen goods?" Manny asked sarcastically.
"Was anybody talking to you, babe?" Jay sneered.
"Jay, watch what you say to Manny," Sean warned.
"It's fine, Sean," Manny said in an effort to keep him calm. "You don't need to bother with him. He's not worth your efforts."
"Well Cameron, it looks like you've got all kinds of people in your cheering section."
"What are you talking about now?" Sean asked.
"She's not the first one to speak up for you tonight," Jay explained, smiling at the thought of what just happened at the theater. "That loser pal of yours with all the jokes that aren't funny…when he wasn't trying to disrespect me, he was going on and on about what a good person you are. Seems he's got a lot of respect for you, which means he's the real idiot around here."
"Could you try making sense, Jay? Just this once?"
"But it was hearing me talk about the blonde that really set him off. I never knew the little dork had it in him. Almost impressed me. But I still had to teach him a lesson about respect. Joke of the neighborhood, my ass."
"You taught him a lesson?" Manny asked. "What does that mean?"
"Self-defense, just like I said. But it worked out great. Someday maybe you'll even thank me, Cameron. You'll remember the kind of life that works best for you. That I was right all the time and people like him don't want you to be true to yourself. Don't get me wrong. I did it for me, not for you. But you'll be glad I did it."
"Did what?" Sean asked, tired of Jay and this non-specific conversation.
Jay smiled and placed his left hand on his forehead.
"Found me a real good cure for a stabbing headache," Jay answered. "Or should I say 'a good stabbing cure for a real headache?'"
Manny grew nervous as she tried to piece together what Jay was talking about. Sean, however, wasn't buying any of it.
"You're so full of it," Sean told Jay. "I don't think even YOU know what you're talking about."
Jay put his hand back down and laughed.
"Yeah, Cameron. Maybe you're right. Well, I guess this is goodbye."
Jay extended his hand, expecting a handshake, but Sean just stood there staring at him. Jay finally put his arm down.
"Seems like nobody knows how to show proper respect anymore," Jay joked. "What's this world coming to?"
Jay started walking away. Sean remained silent, so Manny finally spoke up.
"Any idea what all that was about?"
"Just Jay being Jay," Sean replied. "He's not only a thief, he's a wannabe badass who likes to think he can put a scare into people, or at least get people to take him seriously. Even people like you and me who know better."
"And all that stuff about dealing with JT?"
"Sounds like he dreamed up some fantasy in his head. One where he convinces JT not to make fun of him. And when JT doesn't think Jay's a joke anymore, that somehow makes me see the light and I decide to team up with Jay again. Look, I let him stress me out this afternoon. He's not doing that to me a second time. The four of us are going to have a fun night. Best thing for us to do is just ignore Jay."
"I don't know, Sean," Manny said, feeling an increased level of concern and uncertainty. "There was something…maybe the tone in his voice…it sounded like he was bragging to us AND warning us. And what did he mean about sympathy cards? I just think there's more going on than we know."
"Which is exactly what Jay is counting on," Sean countered. "If he makes stuff up then gets us all worked up about it, we've just made his night."
"Sean, we're going to pass the movie theater on our way to the pizza place anyway. Maybe JT hasn't left yet. Maybe he knows something about all this. Humor me?"
"Okay, Manny. For you. We'll stop at TMD."
"Thanks."
"But when we finally get to the restaurant," Sean added, "and JT and Emma have been sitting around waiting the whole time, YOU get to do all the explaining."
"Deal."
The couple got into Sean's car and left the house. It didn't take long for them to get within a block of TMD. As Sean drove closer, the pair could see lights flashing. Once they had a clear view of the theater, they saw both an ambulance and a police car in front of the building. They then looked at one another.
Sean quickly parked the car in the lot and the pair hurried up to the door. They were about to enter when an officer stopped them.
"We're good friends of the owner," Manny explained.
"Sorry," the officer responded. "You can't go in there just now."
"What's happening?" Sean asked.
Before the officer could reply, the front doors opened. Sean and Manny were shocked to witness paramedics bringing JT out of the building on a stretcher.
"Dear God," Manny said, distressed upon seeing JT being carried past her.
"Manny…" Sean started speaking, but then found he didn't know what to say.
Spinner was next to come outside and was surprised to find Sean and Manny present.
"What happened in there?" Manny asked.
"JT…He…Stabbed," Spinner answered with difficulty, still having trouble believing what had happened. "Twice. He's alive, but really out of it. I found him in the office. Just a little while ago. Some guy did it. I don't know who. An officer's talking to people inside to find out if they know anything."
"It was Jay," Sean said, his eyes focused on the paramedics preparing to place JT into the back of the ambulance. "It had to be. He did this. Nobody else."
"Looks like I'm going to need to ask you both some questions regarding this assault," the officer told Sean and Manny.
Several minutes later, Emma was sitting in her kitchen drinking a bottle of water. She put the bottle down and checked her watch. She then heard a rustling noise outside.
The noise soon stopped, but moments later she heard it again. This time it didn't stop and it grew slightly louder, as though the source was moving closer toward the house. She wondered if perhaps JT was coming around to the kitchen door to knock. After moments of waiting, the sounds continued but there was no knock on the door. Curious, she stood up and walked over to the door.
After opening it, she found nobody outside. Then she looked over to her left and laughed when she saw that the cause of the noise was a pair of squirrels chasing one another up close to the house.
Closing the door, she considered calling the theater but decided against it. She was about to sit back down at the kitchen table when she heard the sound of a car stopping out front. She walked into the living room and grabbed her purse off the couch. Moments later there was a rapid series of knocks at the door.
"It's about time you got here, JT," Emma said loud enough to be heard outside, pretending to sound annoyed as she walked toward the front door. "I'm tempted to punish you. Maybe not let you have your first slice of pizza until after you've eaten a big healthy salad."
Emma opened the door and was surprised to find Manny standing outside.
"Manny! Hey! I thought it was going to be JT. This is one of those rare nights when he's running late getting away from work. I'm sure he's on his way. He'd probably call but he was having that problem with his cell this morning. Come on in."
Manny entered the house, searching her mind for the best way to break the news about what happened.
"I thought it was him a minute ago too," Emma continued. "There was some noise outside the kitchen."
"Noise?"
Manny grew alarmed at the possibility that Jay might have considered coming over to brag to Emma about what he'd done.
"Turns out it was a couple of squirrels at play," Emma explained. "Though I'm sure if JT had seen them, he'd say it was foreplay. Then he'd probably ask me whether squirrels multiplied as fast as rabbits but just didn't get the same amount of hype. His mind works in odd ways like that. But I love him for it."
Manny was relieved that the noise wasn't Jay, but also knew that she couldn't wait any longer.
"Emma…"
"Hey," Emma interrupted, "that was Sean's car out front. Why didn't he come in with you? And why are the two of you even here? We were supposed to meet up at the restaurant. Not that it really matters."
"Sean's not with me. He gave me his keys and I drove over here."
"I'm impressed, Manny," Emma said with pride. "Maybe you won't have as much work as we thought convincing him to let you drive the motorcycle for awhile this weekend. But where's he at?"
"Em, is your mom around? Or Mr. Simpson?" Manny felt it would be good to have them in the room at a time like this.
"No, just me. Everyone else has already left for the evening."
Emma finally noticed the troubled look on Manny's face.
"Is something wrong?" Emma asked.
"Emma, everything is going to be all right. I know it."
"What's going to be all right?" Emma asked, growing concerned.
"It's JT," Manny answered gently. "He's been hurt."
Emma studied Manny's face, looking for some sign that her friend was exaggerating. That there was something going on, but nothing nearly as serious as what Manny was indicating. But in her heart, she already knew that this was not an exaggerated moment.
"Hurt?" Emma finally asked, her voice barely able to utter the word. "Where is JT now?"
"In an ambulance on the way to the hospital. If he's not already there by now."
"An…an ambulance?"
With her right hand, Emma slowly grabbed hold of the heart on her necklace. This jewelry was one of the gifts JT presented her last Christmas and she cherished it, putting it on every day.
"Emma, maybe you should sit down."
"No," Emma said firmly. "I'm fine. What happened?"
"Spinner found JT in his office a little while ago. Emma…JT had been stabbed."
Emma's eyes widened and her breathing started to increase.
"No," Emma quietly protested. "That's not right. This is Spinner we're talking about. I don't know how, but he must have made a mistake interpreting what he saw. Someone would have heard something or seen something. Nothing like that could have happened."
"Spinner had been out back doing something for JT. Everyone else was busy working inside. If there was any noise coming from the office, none of them was able to hear it."
"But…but you also said everything's going to be all right. So that means JT isn't…he's not…" Emma couldn't bear the thought of even finishing the sentence.
"I saw him, Emma. He's still alive."
"Okay. That…that's the main thing. But how did YOU…?"
"We're pretty sure it was Jay," Manny explained. "He came around to Sean's right when we were about to leave for the restaurant. He was saying a lot of things. Bragging. Talking but not really saying anything too specific. But still…something seemed off. Then Sean and I saw the ambulance and squad car out in front of the theater."
Emma's breathing again grew faster and louder.
"I know this is bad, Em. But stay steady. You don't want to start hyperventilating. We need to get to the hospital."
"Is anyone with him?" Emma asked.
"Sean is."
"Because JT shouldn't be alone right now."
"He's not, Em. I promise. I saw the look in Sean's eyes. Angry, but protective. I know there must have been at least a small part of him that wanted to go after Jay and do God knows what. But there was another, much bigger part of him that wanted to stay and keep watch over his friend.
"Sean gave the police some addresses for places where they might find Jay, so they agreed they could talk to him more later on at the hospital. Not that Sean was really giving them much chance to say otherwise. He was able to ride along in the back of the ambulance. I stayed and told the officer what I knew and then came right here."
"Good," Emma responded. Feeling some small relief now that she knew JT wasn't alone, her breathing started slowing down to a more normal rate.
"Let's go," Manny said.
Emma finally released the necklace's heart from her grasp and started looking through her purse. She moved things around quickly, panic again showing in her eyes.
"Where are my keys? Why can't I ever find anything in this purse when I need it?"
She soon felt them.
"Finally. Okay, I'll follow you, Manny."
Emma's hand, however, trembled. She couldn't keep a grip on the keys as she pulled them from her purse and the keychain dropped to the floor.
"Not a chance," Manny told her while reaching down and picking up the keys. "I'll lock the door and then these keys are going back in your purse. You're riding with me."
"I just need to get to him," Emma said softly.
Manny wrapped her arms around Emma and hugged her.
"I know, Em," Manny said, hoping she could be of some comfort to her friend. "I know. We'll get there soon and then I'm sure everything's going to be all right. You'll see."
Comments:
Not having any first-hand experience with such an injury, I did some reading. Reactions seem to vary. Some people are able to speak normally and even walk to get help. Others have greater difficulty getting around and communicating. So JT's behavior in this chapter is merely his own particular reaction and not meant to be seen as the only way a person could respond.
And now, some personal responses to my wonderful reviewers:
Maibe Josie – Regarding Jay, I used Ch. 46 to introduce his willingness to get violent. It was this behavior that served as the final straw in getting Sean to sever ties with him. Jay was only seen a few times in the series up through TCM, but even if this story included episodes beyond that as canon, I could see Jay acting violently if he thought he had a good – or at least interesting – reason to. As always, I appreciate your comments, and I'm especially happy to know you like my writing for JT. I enjoy writing all the characters I've included so far, but for me JT is the most fun to work with.
doowap123 – It's always great to hear from a new reader. I'm glad to hear that you, too, like my take on JT as well as the banter between him and Emma.
YellyBelly – Even though the chapter didn't include a proposal, I'm glad you enjoyed it anyway…and that you were appropriately shocked by the ending. Thanks for the congratulations and for continuing to review each new chapter.
chadslover – Don't worry. I haven't stopped yet.
Angelstargirl – Thanks. Glad you enjoyed the chapter.
luvdegrassi12345 – Thanks for mentioning the flashback. It was fun to write a scene featuring the foursome and the contrast between past and present.
spider-man-fan – Understandable reaction. Thanks for the review.
GlamGlitterRockFabulous – Glad you liked the final scene, as well as JT's joking around with Spinner. Thanks for the congrats…and the "glass".
purplewinx – Glad you're enjoying the story and the pairing. Thanks for the advice. Dialogue is my strength, but I've continually tried to add in more descriptive, non-dialogue elements. Hopefully that's been a noticeable progression over the course of the story.
ValPal4 – Thanks for the comments. Glad you like the pairings in this story.