Chapter 13: 'Til Death Do Us Part
Sun peaked in through the curtains of the hotel room, causing the canine to slowly open his eyes. Normally, being woken up by something as annoying as bright sunshine in the face would be enough to really agitate Brian.
Not today, though.
Today was a very special day.
Today was the day he finally came home.
Today was the day that he officially began his new life with Stewie.
The dog sighed happily and rolled over, still able to feel the sun's warmth on his back while no longer having to deal with it shining in his eyes. He couldn't help but to allow his mind to wander back to the previous night. Jesus...it had been quite an emotionally exhausting encounter finally confronting Stewie, but...in the end...it had all been worth it. Getting to be with the kid again… It had been everything he'd ever wanted, and then, afterwards...just being able to lie there and enjoy Stewie's loving presence… That had been better than he had ever thought anything possible.
It had been so hard to pull away from that warm, cozy body, but Brian had figured that he needed to go. He didn't want the family waking up to him suddenly being back home. He didn't want to deal with the questions. No. He'd figured that the best thing to do would be to return to the hotel and then make his official return the next day.
Stewie hadn't been too keen on the idea, but he'd eventually agreed, reluctantly admitting that the dog did make a good point. And, besides, it really was only for a little while. Brian intended to check out and head home just as soon as he worked up the nerve to get out of his comfortable bed.
The dog yawned as he fought to keep his eyes open. It had been such a long and exhausting night. The temptation to go back to sleep was a strong one.
The temptation to get back to Stewie so they could officially start their life together was an even stronger one, though.
He looked at the clock on the nightstand.
8:17
Ok, so it was still pretty early.
The canine yawned again.
It wasn't even the weekend. Stewie wouldn't even be home until later in the afternoon. What was the harm in getting a little more rest, then?
The dog closed his eyes, his heart aglow with the joy of knowing that he was finally going to be with the true love of his life.
He sighed again.
"Stewie…"
...
Stewie.
...
Love you.
...
Need you…
...
Already miss y-
A sharp, piercing dinging sound was suddenly heard, causing the dog's ears to perk up. His eyes slowly fluttered open, a grimace on his face to indicate how annoyed he was by the disturbance.
What was th-
His thought was cut off by the same sound.
He groaned and looked at the clock groggily.
9:32
He blinked in surprise.
Wow. He must have really dozed off there…
Another ding suddenly sounded again. This time, though, Brian quickly realized what he was hearing.
"Oh!"
The dog sat up and rotated before reaching out for his phone which was sitting on the other nightstand. Those had been text notifications, and if he had been sleeping, then there was a chance that he might have missed quite a few by now. After all, whoever was trying to reach him had already sent him three messages in the short amount of time that he had been awake. Was it Stewie? He honestly couldn't think of anyone else it would be, and if so, then whatever the kid was trying to tell him must be important.
Brian grabbed his phone, stopping to rub his eyes for a minute before opening up his texting app.
Any drowsiness he might have still been experiencing immediately left him as panic took its place.
Wh-What…?
The texts had come from...Rachel…
The canine gulped, knowing that whatever Rachel was trying to tell him couldn't be a good thing. He honestly debated on whether or not he should even bother looking at the texts. What good would it honestly do, really? Why not just block the woman's number and move on? Yet another tempting thought.
He didn't consider it for long, though. If Rachel really wanted to find him, she would do it, and from the sounds of things, she was already being very persistent about whatever it was she was texting about, right now. If it really was...important then Brian knew he needed to deal with it right now instead of having the woman track him down and cause a scene wherever that ended up being.
So, it was with a groan that Brian clicked to open up the conversation chain between him and Rachel.
He had missed more than three texts. He had to scroll up to find the first unread one that had been sent almost half an hour ago. This only caused his concern to grow as he read the first message.
Hello Brian. Finally made it back into town. I've been hearing all kinds of crazy things. I feel like you should call me. It's the least you could do after leaving me stranded in Texas after all.
Brian shook his head.
Hearing what? What could she possibly want to talk about?
He moved on to the next message.
Seriously. Call me. I'd prefer to actually speak to you instead of bringing up all this horrid shit over a goddamn text message.
The dog felt his heart beginning to race.
Ok. Fine. You're either asleep or you don't care but I really don't have the patience for this. I heard about David.
He gasped, feeling his mouth starting to go dry.
No… What could she possibly know…?
Better yet, WHY would she know anything? What was this to her?
He kept reading.
Funny coincidence huh. You come back and that man ends up in jail a few days later for apparently possessing pornography of Stewie. You wanna explain that?
He gripped his phone tighter.
I just can't shake this feeling that this has something to do with you.
His breathing became shallow.
Because I've known that there was something funny going on with you involving Stewie and I tried rationalizing it but after what happened on our trip and now this…
He started shaking.
I'm just going to say it. I think you had something to do with David going to jail.
It's none of your business!
I'll do you one better darling. I KNOW you had something to do with it and if you don't talk to me I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure the truth comes out. So yeah text me when you can dear. We have plenty to discuss.
That was the last message, and it was a good thing, too. Brian couldn't stand to read anymore. He tossed his phone to the side and collapsed back into the mattress, his gaze aimed directly at the ceiling as he thought about how royally fucked he was.
If Rachel comes forward and starts talking about everything she knows...everything that she's heard and seen… Oh, god… If they start investigating me…
"No!"
It was all he could say. This woman...she just might actually be able to ruin his life, and she seemed pretty determined to do it, too.
Tears began to fill the canine's eyes as he balled his paws into fists and began slamming them on the bed repeatedly.
"No. No! NO! NO! God! Dammit! No! Not now! Not after all we've been through!"
He growled loudly and shot back up turning to address his phone directly.
"JUST LEAVE US THE FUCK ALONE! WE'VE BEEN THROUGH ENOUGH ALREADY!"
He sat there, whole body shaking as he just stared at his phone in contempt.
Exhaustion.
Rage.
Desperation.
He was feeling all of these things as he reached back over for his phone.
He couldn't ignore this. There was no running away this time. He had to try and...talk to Rachel. He had to try and convince her to back off.
Because if she didn't…
His free paw gripped the comforter tightly for support.
He couldn't bear the thought…
The dog began to compose a response.
You've got some nerve throwing such accusations around. Fine. Let's talk. Where can I meet you in the next couple hours?
He sent the text and tossed his phone away again. He didn't have it in him to sit there waiting on a reply. He'd check back later.
For now, he was going to try and focus on getting ready for the day.
He took a deep breath and finally hopped out of the bed.
Brian was fidgeting in his seat.
Nothing could have prepared him for this; waiting for his untimely doom. He had reason to believe that Rachel wouldn't want to see him again...not with the way he had treated her and what could have been avoided to begin with. If only he had just been upfront when things really started going to shit.
If only he had the nerve to just speak up and not cause this drama.
Well...really, he wasn't the one bringing the issues forward, it was Rachel this time.
Not to say that he blamed her entirely, but he certainly was annoyed knowing he was here waiting to meet up with Rachel and not at home with Stewie.
He knew the boy was waiting for him at home, too. He probably had himself fixed up in his crib...waiting for the dog to come into the bedroom. There they would fall into each other's embrace and fill the empty voids they had felt for such a long time.
For a moment, Brian felt a grin tug on his lips.
It was a wonderful distraction, imagining the boy sprawled on his mattress...while his eyes looked up to Brian, hungry...and filled with this insatiable and monstrous urge to have the dog over and over again.
Yet...Brian was here.
He sighed, now coming back to reality.
He had to focus.
He had to...somehow keep Rachel quiet and really...try and prevent Stewie from finding this out. After all, the dog didn't tell Stewie that he was meeting up with her. He knew that if he had, there would be a discussion at home as to why the dog was doing such a thing. Plus Brian knew how Stewie's mind worked sometimes...he would jump to conclusions. No matter how perceptive, how incredibly smart the boy was...he was still prone to having a colorful imagination and Brian wouldn't get a word in edgewise.
That was really...the last thing the canine wanted to deal with. He didn't want to start off their new relationship with unneeded bullshit.
Rachel wasn't worth the fuss, anyway.
Brian leaned back in his chair, tapping his foot on the ground. He was growing annoyed.
He had been punctual...he made it to the cafe right on time; actually...10 minutes before they arranged to meet up and Rachel was late.
"How fitting...you were late for our first date. Why not be late for this, too?" The dog groaned to himself and he leaned back, head hanging off the edge of his seat.
He closed his eyes.
He wanted to go home.
Really...why couldn't Rachel just stay out of this? None of this was her business...the dog was willing to move on, give the woman a clean break...but this girl must be stricken with anger and have some kind of vendetta.
She'd keep going, too...she'd continue to haunt Brian until she bled him dry. The same way a succubus would do.
She really was...in a way like Stewie.
Though that would be a compliment, wouldn't it? Brian chuckled a little to himself. No...she wasn't like Stewie entirely. She may have had a few traits, but Stewie was the only Stewie...and he was perfect.
"Brian."
The dog jolted in his seat and he sat upright.
He looked up to see Rachel standing before him. She looked...passive...if that was the correct word to use. Though there was definitely a hidden expression of remorse and anger written in her eyes. Perhaps she was also regretting meeting up with Brian.
Brian tried to force a kind smile, but even then this woman was staring at him with such hard and dangerous eyes. He gulped a little, but he kept grounded and kept a composed face the best he could.
"Hey, Rachel."
Brian stood up from his seat and made his way over to pull out the woman's chair for her, but she quickly took a seat and placed her handbag in front of her...and she clutched it tight. Brian stood there awkwardly before he as well took a seat. He tapped his fingers together, leg bouncing.
Why the fuck wasn't she saying anything?
Rachel was just staring at the dog...just watching...as though she were analyzing his expressions, his body movement...trying to find a weak point.
Ha! Good luck.
Brian was pretty talented in coughing up a poker face.
"...Okay…" the dog then was the first to speak up and he leaned forward. The silence was just aggravating and clearly Rachel wasn't going to be the first to speak which just added on to his annoyance; there was only so much he could take, "look...I'm sorry for everything that had happened in Texas, but whatever happened to David has nothing to do with me."
He needed to get that point out there. He needed her to hear that...even though it was a lie, he wanted that to be clear.
Brian watched Rachel who continued to sit in her seat, fingers still holding onto the small lavender handbag.
She scoffed.
"Really?"
She refused to let the matter rest. Another annoying habit that Brian was happy to do without.
"I find that very hard to believe, Brian."
Brian sighed and leaned back while he reached to rub his temples with his fingers. He was already exhausted with this conversation and it had barely even started.
"May I ask why you feel this way…?"
Rachel then leaned forward...despite Brian moving back into his seat. Her lips pursed together and she practically clawed her nails into the handbag before her.
"Don't patronize me. You know why I'm suspicious. It's because of that dinner we both went to...and the way you acted towards David. I tried to ignore it, but I knew there was so much more to it than what you were willing to tell me."
Brian remained quiet.
Rachel continued.
"You just seem to have this...I don't know...this strange overly...affectionate and jealous vibe when it comes to Stewie. No normal person would react the way you did when the boy was with David."
Brian frowned and he shook his head. God, this was just getting worse...and he was slowly but surely getting a headache having this discussion. Jesus, why was she so persistent…?
He sighed.
"Rachel...to be fair...none of this is your business."
The woman snarled and she leaned forward just a little more, her voice quiet...but laced with a hissing tone that pierced the dog's ears.
"Excuse me?"
Brian then removed his paw from his face and he caught sight of Rachel before him. That pretty face scrunched in such an unflattering way...her body leaning so much, she was practically hovering over the table, but it was her eyes...the look of hatred in her eyes that really set Brian off.
He didn't give her the satisfaction of appearing intimidated. It would be hysterical if Brian were actually frightened of this beautiful creature.
He just looked on at her, his own eyes devoid of emotion. He actually found himself leaning forward again...getting into her space which made her withdraw just a tad. Though it was satisfying...watching her slither away so to speak.
She just needed to be put in her place and Brian had no objections for playing dirty if need be.
"You heard me." He finally said. Though he continued on. "Listen, I'm sorry. Okay? I am. I wish this...didn't happen the way it did. We just didn't work out and I guess you're bitter over it...which is why you feel the need to accuse me, but you're making this shit up...saying that I had something to do with David being locked up. That's seriously messed up, Rachel."
Rachel grew quiet, but her facial expression certainly changed.
Brian took a mental shot of it...the look of shock and bafflement.
"You did though!" She croaked.
Brian groaned once more, heaving a heavy...heavy sigh.
"How do you know? Where's your proof?"
Rachel slammed her hands onto the table. She was increasingly growing hysterical and Brian wasn't willing to deal with it.
"Because you're obsessed with that boy! You called out his name when we were…"
She stopped herself. She didn't dare continue on. In fact, she looked...defeated in that moment. It was as though she were reliving that night...and she was replaying it in her head over and over, like the very image alone was a haunting memory. Though Brian wasn't concerned...Rachel was beautiful and Rachel was smart. She'd find someone eventually. Someone who would treat her the way she deserved to be treated.
Though hearing her bring that particular memory up...made him snicker a little. He couldn't help it. Though he easily passed it off as just clearing his throat.
Rachel shook her head.
"I know you had something to do with it."
"Sure…"
Brian then rested his cheek in the palm of his hand, using his arm to support himself while his elbow rested on the arm of the chair. Hs eyes never left the woman...who was looking down at her lap now.
Still...regardless of his uncaring and composed features outwardly, he was panicking inside. He didn't want to believe that Rachel had proof of anything and she really didn't, but there was still that slight nervousness in the back of the dog's mind...with how willing she was to come forward and give out the gruesome details.
Especially if she were given the chance to do so.
She'd never pass up that opportunity.
"I will save that boy from you."
Brian's ears perked. How curious...how...detestable. The dog leaned his head up and now he was the one glaring at the woman.
How dare she say such a thing to him.
"You better stay away from Stewie. Keep him out of this." Brian found himself saying to which Rachel lifted her head so she could face the canine head on. She looked completely comfortable...like she had gone through some kind of revelation.
Brian was giving her a warning and Rachel was challenging him.
He didn't like that.
He watched the woman then get up from her chair and she reached to grab her coat she had flung carelessly over her chair. She pulled it on...doing so with such slow and incentive precision. It drove Brian nuts.
"I will see to it that Stewie never sees you again, Brian. You'll only end up hurting that poor boy. That is...unless..."
She paused briefly, a look of horror coming over her features as she uttered the rest of her sentence under her breath.
"...you already have."
The woman immediately shook head after considering the possibility.
She then grabbed her handbag and she left. Her back retreating farther and farther from Brian until the dog could barely make her out.
He quickly...released the nausea he felt in the pit of his stomach and he gripped his head with his hands. His arms and legs trembled.
He was terrified.
Despite his calm demeanor on the outside, he knew just how bad this situation could end up getting.
There was no way...absolutely no way he could keep this from Stewie.
He had to tell him.
"Brian!"
The Griffin family all cried out in unison as soon as the canine stepped over the threshold and into the house. They were all smiling at him.
He had to force a smile back.
"H-Heeeey, guys…"
He waved awkwardly. Luckily, nobody seemed to be picking up on any weird vibes from him.
Well, except for Stewie, of course. The child was sitting on the floor in front of the couch as he looked at the dog, obviously confused as to why Brian was showing up so much later than he had expected. It was dark out, now, and Brian had said that he would be home in time to see Stewie after he got back from preschool.
...So much for that.
So, yeah, the boy was obviously going to have plenty of questions for him.
As for everyone else, they were all on the couch. They all except for Lois had already turned their attention back to the television.
The woman motioned for him to come on over and join them.
"Come on and have a seat. You must be tired after that long trip. How was it?"
She leaned to look behind him as if she was expecting to see something. Her lips turned down a bit.
"Where's Rachel?"
The canine gulped at the mention of his ex's name.
"Well...you see...that's kind of a long story."
He chuckled before finally shrugging.
"But, basically...we're not together anymore. Some things happened and...it just wasn't going to work out."
The family all turned to look at him again, all wearing matching frowns.
Peter was the first to speak.
"Awwww! I liked that lady! She seemed like a good fit for you, buddy!"
Lois nodded in agreement.
"Yeah. You two seemed to actually click pretty well, which…"
She began snickering before slapping her knee.
"Let's face it, you hardly ever do with the women you bring around here."
She continued to laugh for a moment before looking at the dog a bit sadly.
"I'm sorry, though, Brian. You must be taking it kind of hard."
Another shrug.
"It… It is what it is."
He then turned his gaze towards Stewie who still seemed as confused as ever.
"I'm just gonna head upstairs. Like you said, long trip. I'm completely tuckered out. I'm gonna go crash in Stewie's room."
The dog motioned towards the stairs with his head and began to walk towards them.
It wasn't long before he heard the patter of Stewie's feet behind him. He didn't turn around, though. He just continued on his way, not stopping until he was once more in the security of the baby's bedroom.
It was a small comfort as he slid down the wall with an exasperated sigh, paws coming up to cover his eyes.
Stewie just stared at the odd action before shutting the door and going over to take a seat on the carpet beside the canine.
"Ok… What the hell is going on? What's wrong with you? Why are you getting here so late?"
Brian didn't answer immediately. His mind was still back at the cafe, back at that conversation. It all played over again in his head, and the reality of his predicament began to hit him all over again.
He whimpered, body starting to shake.
Stewie's eyes widened. Now he knew something was SERIOUSLY wrong.
"Brian…"
The infant placed a reassuring hand on his love's back.
"Come on. Talk to me. What's wrong?"
The dog swallowed thickly. His paws finally fell from his face as he looked over at the boy.
"I just don't...understand why it seems like, no matter what, I'm just destined to lose everything that matters to me…"
The child tilted his head. He had no clue what the dog was talking about.
"You're…you're not, though. You…you have more than you realize."
He smiled at the canine and began rubbing his hand through the fur on his back.
"You have me."
Brian offered a small smile back briefly before letting it fall as he redirected his gaze towards the ground.
"I may not have you for very long…"
Stewie's smile fell next.
"What…what do you mean?"
The canine took a deep breath, trying to compose himself as he began to explain the dire situation he was currently in.
"I… I talked to Rachel today."
The baby's frown widened.
"Now, why the bloody hell would you be talking with her?"
He removed his hand from Brian's back and folded his arms over his chest.
"You better explain quickly...or so help m-"
"She's suspicious about what happened to David."
The canine spoke frankly, but the emotions were quickly bubbling up again threatening to shatter his momentary blank stare.
Stewie...wasn't sure what to say. His arms remained crossed as he took in this information, trying to process what Brian had just told him.
Why would she…? How…?
The pair just sat there quietly, thinking to themselves for some time before Brian finally stood up. He began pacing the room, trying to work off some of the energy that was causing his heart to race at, what felt like, a dangerous rate.
Stewie just watched him with a concerned expression.
"What did she...say? She thinks he's innocent?"
The child had to stop himself after saying that.
Thinks? What an odd way to put it…because David was innocent. Stewie knew that, and if Rachel was convinced of that truth then, in a way, he had to commend her for coming to the right conclusion when Brian had so easily duped everyone else.
An odd feeling was swelling in Stewie's gut, though. On one hand...he knew this was bad news because Brian had framed the man, so if Rachel kept digging into this matter…and if she somehow did figure out what had happened…
His arms fell.
If she managed to convince anyone…Brian would be done.
It would be justice. Sure. The truth would come out. David would have his life back and in a way, Stewie did still hate what had happened to that poor man.
...But if Brian had to be caught in order for him to be free…
"Stewie?"
The baby snapped out of his thoughts as he realized that Brian was no longer pacing but instead staring at him worriedly.
"Did you hear me?"
Brian had been speaking?
He hadn't heard any of it.
The boy shook his head.
"I...I'm sorry...what were you saying?"
A sad chuckle poured out of the canine then.
"I'm kinda dealing with some serious shit, right now, kid! The least you could do is pay a little attention. This affects you, too!"
Brian could feel himself beginning to lose it.
This was so bad.
This was so very VERY bad, even worse than he had initially imagined, probably. Rachel was a smart woman, and if she told anyone about just why she thought he had anything to do with David's arrest…
Jesus...there was so much she could tell…
I'm so screwed!
The dog groaned before beginning to explain what had happened to Stewie again.
"She sent me a text this morning asking to talk."
He took out his phone and opened it before handing it to Stewie so he could see the text chain for himself.
"I was going to ignore her at first, but then, she said something about thinking I had something to do with David, and…"
"Which you did…"
Stewie spoke in monotone as he began scanning the texts.
Brian growled.
"That's...beside the point."
There was a beat of silence before he continued.
"Anyway, after she said that...I had to find out what she knew, so we met up at a cafe. She confronted me about it and told me that she was going to do everything she could to keep me away from you."
The canine began laughing madly.
"She… She thinks I'm some kind of goddamn child molester! And she wants to free David and put me away!"
Stewie continued to not say anything, though he was listening, very intently at that. He finished the texts and set the phone down.
"She wants to take me away from you! I...I can't, Stewie. I can't lose you again. And this time…"
The canine fell to his knees then as he began staring off into space.
"If she succeeds...they'd never let me anywhere near you again…"
Stewie felt his heart sink at the mere mention of the possibility. His expression was vacant, though, as he watched the fear-stricken animal.
He really didn't know what to say.
Did it really have to be one thing after another?
Brian sighed.
"I don't know what to do, Stewie. I just… I don't have the energy anymore."
He looked at the infant, eyes pleading for an answer that Stewie just didn't have for him. Finally, after realizing that the baby was seemingly just as lost on what to do as he was, all Brian felt like he could do was stand up and begin walking towards the crib.
He felt so drained. He just wanted to lie down and pretend that all of his problems could just vanish.
Stewie watched the canine sulk across the room, his body frozen in place as his mind raced.
Brian couldn't lose him.
And, he couldn't lose Brian.
They finally had each other. It was supposed to be alright, now…
"It's just you and me from now on, no matter what. Ok?"
That had been Brian's promise to him. Was it seriously all going to fall apart so soon?
"I...I'm so happy...so please...please let's always be like this."
"We will… We will…"
The infant scoffed.
Always ended up being so much shorter than he had imagined…
"People who come between us...they get what is coming to them."
The baby stared at the dog that was now curled up in his bed. He couldn't help but feeling a little angry. What had happened to that Brian? No crazy schemes to put an end to Rachel's tampering?
What? Can't bring yourself to hurt her the same way you did David!
It all seemed so...hypocritical to Stewie.
But, still, he knew Brian had been through a lot. Maybe he really just didn't have anymore fight left in him.
Because there was a solution here…
A drastic one.
But it was still a solution.
"I did what I felt I had to do."
Brian had ruined someone's life in order to get him back.
"I'd expect you to do the same."
And Stewie wanted to believe that he was willing to do the same.
He and Brian...they had to stay together…
No matter what.
Brian had made a promise to him, a promise to do whatever it took to stay with him. Well, obviously the canine was too distraught to do what so obviously needed to be done here. Maybe Brian would come to the same conclusion eventually, but Stewie didn't want to wait around to find out if the canine really had it in him to do what was necessary. Rachel was already out there, and who knew what all she was saying and who to.
No...this was a matter that needed to be handled swiftly and with efficiency.
...He had to do it...for Brian.
There was only a moment's hesitation before Stewie was grabbing Brian's phone again and looking up Rachel's number so that he could add it into his phone.
"I'd do anything if it meant not losing you…"
Me, too, Brian… Me, too...
Rachel stopped walking to look over the texts again.
Hey...is this Rachel?
Yes. Who is this?
I'm an employee at the daycare center. I was there when David was arrested. Listen, I don't think there's much time for formalities. I was actually at the cafe earlier today, and I couldn't help but overhear your conversation with that dog. I think I have some useful information that you could use to get David out and put Brian behind bars.
What? What kind of information?
I'll explain everything in person. Can you meet me tonight? I know it's late, but time may be of the essence if that animal really is as dastardly as I suspect. At the park would be preferable. There aren't many people after dark. Wouldn't want rumors to start getting spread around before a proper investigation.
Who are you? Why would you be willing to help me?
I...I'm just concerned. I always had a funny feeling about that Brian...the way he acted around Stewie.
I see...
So...do you think we could meet up?
Alright. I'll meet you tonight.
Rachel closed her phone and placed it back into her pocket. She gripped her arms tightly as she waited...her small frame hopping along the grass while her head looked everywhere about her. She didn't want to admit to herself that perhaps this wasn't the best idea.
After all...who would want to meet up in the dead of night?
She sighed and began to pace a little, her arms tightening around herself; it was a chilly night.
Much chillier than what she was used to.
"Mm...I wonder if this is the right place…" she reached into her pocket to pull out her cell phone again, looking at the last message she received from the unknown recipient one more time. ...Yet another little point to add that this...whatever this meeting would be...was rather suspicious.
No...this was the right place.
Rachel sighed to herself.
Surely she would have thought about this logically before she had willingly got into her car and drove practically across town to come to this particular park. Maybe whoever she was meeting up with lived close by?
The woman shook her head and she stuffed her phone into her pocket once more, her fingers gripping the device just in case it buzzed. She began to walk a little, letting her brown locks of hair cascade over her shoulders and she was looking up at the sky now...the clear and beautiful night sky.
"Mm…"
Despite everything that had happened, she didn't want to believe that Brian...would be capable of something of this magnitude, but she...just knew...somehow.
It was just the way the dog acted around Stewie that evening.
The way he looked so devastated when the boy hardly gave him even a glance.
How the boy ignored him...being so callous and forefront about his affections towards David while Brian was there to witness it all. An odd way to view a child, but that had so obviously been how Brian saw it. Something must have snapped that night.
Rachel shook her head.
Both Brian and Stewie...they were strange, but there was something so much more there that she couldn't quite put her finger on, couldn't quite touch.
Oh, but she had her suspicions. She had a vague idea that Brian had been harboring some form of unnatural love towards that boy. That night in the hotel room just confirmed everything.
The way he had moaned out Stewie's name...like he were in such a state of euphoria.
It had been such an ungodly and insane moment that Rachel had no way of reacting.
She just did what felt natural...and this by all means...what she was doing now felt perfectly right.
She had to save Stewie somehow.
Brian was...surely, he was crazy...perhaps even dangerous.
She began to walk briskly, an anger welling up inside of her that captivated her, making her feel her cause for doing all of this was that much more necessary.
Brian had hurt her and by all means, he probably hurt Stewie as well.
She chuckled...with sarcastic mirth as she reached to rub her temples. "You took me for a fool, Brian...but I suppose I should have taken Stewie's warning seriously...I should have listened to that child…"
She paced the small siding perhaps a few times before she stopped. Her fingers were still resting on her temple and she seemed to...slouch, so to speak. It looked as though she were dreadfully decomposed, but most of all…
...vulnerable.
With Rachel not paying attention to her surroundings, it was relatively easy.
Suddenly...Rachel had some sort of cloth go over her nose and her mouth. She quickly began to panic and struggle.
She hadn't heard anyone!
She hadn't heard a single person approach her.
Rachel was thrashing, but the fingers holding onto the cloth held on for dear life...and the woman had no choice but to breathe in…
...what was that?
It was chloroform.
Her sight grew fuzzy and she was losing consciousness fast. She stopped struggling soon after and...her world...became…
Black.
…
…
…
…
…
...
When she came to...she was met with a grim sight.
However long she was out...it must have been quite a while. Wherever she was, it was small, crowded...moist.
"Mm…what…?"
She fluttered her eyes open followed by a stinging sensation that forced her to close her eyes.
"Finally. You're awake."
Rachel stiffened. She...knew that voice. It sounded so familiar, how could she forget it? She slowly lifted her head, squinting her eyes so she could make out whoever it was that was speaking to her.
It didn't dawn on her...until she could barely make out the small child above her...that she realized she was in a deep hole.
She immediately began to breathe heavily, panic even. She braced her hands out, nails digging into...what was that…? Dirt?
She quickly began to put two and two together and she felt herself sink into the earthly mound around her.
Her hand went for her cellphone.
It wasn't there...
"Not going to talk?"
The voice was clearly growing annoyed, but she didn't say anything...she didn't want to speak. She just...couldn't understand. What was happening? Why was this happening?
The voice let out a sigh of aggravation before the body approached the makeshift hole just a little more...moonlight illuminating...revealing none other than Stewie. The boy stood over this pathetic woman and he watched her tremble.
"I'm surprised you're so quiet. You seemed to be the kind of person that liked to talk."
Stewie chuckled a little.
Rachel lifted her head again and she stared at the boy, her facial expression written in disbelief. How could…? Why would Stewie do this? How could he do this?
"Stewie...I just…" she finally began, her body trembling even more now that she was growing to understand the situation. Stewie was looking down upon her with such a venomous look.
He was looking down upon her, watching her wither and succumb to the despair she must have felt.
"You just what."
"I was just...trying to help you...I thought..."
She croaked out...voice quivering, stuttering.
Stewie groaned and he knelt at the edge of the hole he had dug himself; he was quite proud of it, honestly. It was fitting...fitting for someone like her.
"Look, Rachel. I really went out of my way here...I really did. Quite frankly...you aren't worth the trouble, but you just wouldn't stop and I know that if I had let this continue on...you'd just keep going...so really...this is entirely your fault and whatever happens to you tonight will be your fault as well."
The boy then reached behind him so he could retrieve a flashlight from his backpack. He turned the light on and shined it into the woman's eyes, making her wince and cower into herself. She reached up with her hands to block the bright light.
Stewie snickered.
"So why couldn't you just leave Brian alone? Hm?"
Rachel quickly began to hyperventilate. Her panic was increasing, her fear growing...Stewie could practically taste it.
"Because I was worried Brian was going to hurt you, Stewie! Can't you understand that?! S-Stewie...please! Just...listen, let me out...please let me out! I promise I'll...I'll go away! You won't ever hear from me again!"
The boy rolled his eyes.
"I'm not an idiot, Rachel. You should really relax...you don't know what I'm going to do. I could just want to talk, but here you are...taking things so drastically already."
He sighed, shaking his head.
The kid watched the woman curl more into her body...her very limbs encircling herself and wrapping tight...like her limbs were the straight jacket and her skin the very prison she longed to escape.
Stewie forced himself to witness her, watching her...with almost a remorseful look, but he had no choice. There was nothing to be done except for this.
This...was the only solution.
"Don't fret too much. I mean...I did make you a nice little tombstone."
Rachel immediately began to wail out, sob...such an ugly sound. Stewie then watched her actually spring to her feet and begin to claw her way up the mound...but it was such a vain attempt. The poor thing slithered down just as fast as she climbed, but for some reason...that didn't stop her and Stewie just continued to witness this odd, yet...quite appropriate behavior.
The behavior that resembled so much that of a wild animal, cornered and trapped.
Stewie sat down on his rump, idly playing with the flashlight in his hand while Rachel kept trying to escape...it was seriously such a sight.
A boy sitting before a deranged woman...legs crossed and patiently speaking with such poise and such a delicate disposition.
Stewie had to imagine it was seriously the very image of how nightmares were made.
It didn't help the matter in any way...how loud and desperate Rachel's cries were.
"STEWIE! PLEASE! I SWEAR TO YOU! I PROMISE, STEWIE!"
The boy shook his head and he shrugged.
He said no more...he just listened to her, listened closely to her pleas.
This...was actually difficult. The boy was feeling something so profound. On one hand, he wanted to keep Brian safe, but a part of him was really bothered by this. It wasn't as though he set out to upfront murder this girl...in fact, he had been more than willing to let her go, but when Brian had come home...that was when everything changed.
Stewie knew this had to be done.
No half measures. All that mattered was keeping Brian and him together.
Forever.
At any cost.
He sat there for a moment more, not saying a word...just engulfing those cries, those desperate sobs.
After all...listening to the cries that no one else would was the very least he could do.
He sat there until he couldn't take it anymore.
He then stood up and he went to his backpack where he grabbed a bottle of gasoline...a small bottle, but it would do the trick. He opened the cap and he poured the pungent liquid onto Rachel and the ground around her.
She began to cough, hacking...her wails growing louder despite being slightly garbled by the gas that had found its way into her mouth.
He deserved to hear them. Let her cry...no one was coming.
It would all be over soon...
"NO! STEWIE, PLEASE!"
Once the container was empty, Stewie went to grab a set of matches.
This would be quick.
It would be okay.
He turned back until he was facing Rachel again and he eyed her closely. He wanted to engrave the look of her face into his memory...the very look of shock, of...acceptance, perhaps...knowing that she was going to die tonight.
Her face said it all, and he wanted to keep it with him, wanted to remember what he was willing to do for that damn dog.
Because no one ever really, truly wants to die.
And Rachel wasn't an exception. She could look forlorn, at peace, but in actuality, she was terrified. She had every right to be so.
What a sad way to go out, knowing no one would ever know the truth.
"STEWIE! PLEASE! DON'T DO IT!
The boy opened the match box and he struck a match...a flame boring to life ready to snuff out another.
"STEWIE! YOU DON'T NEED TO DO THIS! YOU DON'T NEED TO DO WHAT BRIAN IS TELLING YOU TO DO!"
Curious…
Stewie slowly removed his eyes from the match to the raving woman down below. What a funny...choice of words. How odd of her to even think that Brian was behind this little diabolical plan to silence her.
How...curious.
He didn't say anything to her, he just watched her...eyes void of sympathy.
"YOU DON'T HAVE TO LISTEN TO HIM!"
This was it…
This...would be it. Everything...it would all end here. Any prospect of getting David out now...it would end here. Any bright future that this woman may have had ahead of her, it would end here.
All so a couple of monsters could stay together.
Stewie shook his head again and he looked down at Rachel like he had been before.
He wanted to apologize for a moment...apologize that this had to happen this way, but what good would that do for her? She was the one dying tonight, not him.
Yet...she had to.
So...with one last sad glance at his victim, Stewie tossed the match into the hole and suddenly...she was enveloped in the angry and hungry flames.
Nothing could have prepared Stewie...hearing such a sound. It was unlike anything he had ever heard. It sent chills down his spine.
She was crying so loud and clawing helplessly at the flames that were drenching her.
Stewie watched on...hands clenching into fists, forcing himself to take it all in.
Because he wasn't like Brian. He accepted his reality. He wouldn't run.
This...had to happen.
There was no way...around this.
He didn't leave, didn't turn away...he stayed for as long as he needed to...he stayed even when Rachel's screams had stopped and all that was left...was a deafening silence that was eventually broken by the sound of a shovel scooping up dirt to fill a hole.
"AHHHHHHHHHHH!"
The baby was standing out in the yard, back leaning against the tree outside his bedroom window as he smoked a cigarette.
He could still hear her...
Even after the screams had actually stopped they had persisted in his head, constant disturbing wails of agony. The last sounds Rachel would ever make.
The child took another long drag from his cig.
He felt...sick. He really did, but he kept telling himself that it had been the only way.
What other choice had he really been left with?
He sighed and shook his head.
We do...what we have to do...for those we truly love.
It was really all he could keep telling himself.
But the screams, though…
When would they finally stop?
The boy put out his cigarette on the tree and stood up straight. He knew he couldn't stay out here much longer. It was cold out, and he had been out in this nippy weather for hours. He was shivering, probably was already going to wake up with a cold in the morning.
His room would be warm.
It would be safe.
Time to move on from this night.
Stewie walked up to the side of the house and began climbing the lattice. He'd made this climb many a time, so it didn't take long at all for him to reach the top where he opened his window and made his way inside his home. After shutting his window and turning back around, the first thing Stewie took notice of was his partner.
Brian was still in his crib, practically curled into a ball, probably still worried out of his mind.
Stewie hadn't told Brian his plan. He had been worried that the dog might have protested, and if that had happened, he really wouldn't have had the nerve to go through with the horrid act he'd just committed.
Now, though...after it was all said and done…Brian needed to know that it was going to be ok.
That they were going to be ok.
He could hear the canine whimpering as he made his way over to the crib. Was the dog asleep? Having a nightmare? Or had he just been lying there awake and crying all night? The boy really couldn't tell, still couldn't tell even when he had reached the bars.
The dog was facing the opposite direction, but his posture was a clear indication of just how...broken he was, right now. The infant frowned, his heart going out to the canine as he reached a hand through the bars to touch his love's back tenderly.
He felt the animal flinch upon feeling his touch, and then, the dog was scooting over as if to make room for Stewie in the bed.
Ah. So you are awake, then.
Stewie decided to accept this silent invitation.
He climbed up the bars and plopped down onto the space beside the canine before lying down and molding his body against the dog's.
Another whimper. Another sound that caused Stewie's heart to feel like it was going to shatter.
"AHHHHH-"
"I took care of Rachel, babe."
Silence.
The whimpers stopped as Brian's body went stiff against the infant's.
The room remained quiet, Stewie waiting to see how Brian would react, to see if he would react at all. After some time, a sad chuckle was heard.
It came from Brian.
The canine shook his head.
"We're...terrible people…"
Not the response Stewie had been expecting.
...But maybe...that was for the best.
The child just sighed again as he nodded, face nuzzling the fur of his lovers back.
"I will do whatever it takes to keep you with me...for as long as I live."
His arms went to wrap around the dog.
Brian placed a paw over one of his hands and squeezed it as he spoke in a whisper.
"So will I."
Stewie squeezed the paw back, tears starting to form in his eyes as he hugged that body as tightly at he could.
"Ahh-"
"I'm all yours, Brian…"