Chapter Title: Four Days After

Series Title: Unlikely Brothers

Ages in this chapter: Tanner (53), Dashen, (59), River (29)

POV: Tanner

Chapter Summary: Four days after the death of Virgil Colton, Dashen struggles.


"Hey, big brother. Mind if I slouch with you?"

Dashen moved over an inch. Just enough room for me to squeeze in next to him against the far wall of his bedroom. He was depressed. I was depressed. In fact, every one we knew felt mostly the same way. It would get better… once we got more than four days out.

"Figured it would hurt," Dash admitted,"But kinda hurts more than I anticipated."

"Yeah," I said to him. "You'd think being in our fifties, we'd be past the tragic mourning stages of our lives."

Dashen cleared his throat. "You know, Tanner, there's a memory that keeps sticking in my head. That first time Colton reached out. I was thirteen probably. I couldn't understand why he did it. Why anyone in their right mind would give a damn about a broken kid that was being eaten alive by the streets and his own tragedies. I still see his eyes. Remember them so vividly. They were genuine. Truly, genuine. No games. No pity. And weird thing is, now? I think I finally understand it. After all these years. And it's the simplest thing. Reputation as a stone-faced, hard-edged magnate aside, damn if it didn't do it just because he cared. That's it. It's why he did it. No ulterior motive, nothing."

"That's because he was a big blond softie and we all know it."

"Well, yeah, that too." My brother smiled fondly. "Honestly, it's a moment of my life that will stay with me until my last breath. If you could have only see how horribly broken I was then, Mouse. You've heard me talk about it, you heard Colton talk about it, but to actually see me. I seriously had no right to even exist anymore as a human. Colton thought I did. He absolutely thought I did. He saw something me that I never could. Then he gave me a chance. Stars, Tanner… I just miss him so damned much." Dashen's voice cracked on those last words.

"He was our father, Dash. We were on his last nerve how many times? You especially. And he still protected us and still kept us safe. He called us out when needed, accepted our flaws. Taught us about this adulting thing because we had no real guidance as we moved on. If that's not the true definition of a father, nothing is."

I nudged a shoulder into Dashen's.

He countered with a nudge back until we squabbled into a quick brotherly shoving match that ended in a much needed laugh.

Dashen pushed his black hair out of his eyes. He needed a trim, the last few weeks he'd been less worried about himself than about others.

"Dash, you need a cut."

"Yeah," he said, mussing both hands into his hair, "It is a bit of a mess, right? I'll see about tomorrow. Maybe I'll feel better."

"It's okay if you don't. You know that." My hand set on his knee as I offered him that reminder. "It's only been four days. However long it takes, big brother."

His opposite hand landed on mine. "I know, Mouse. I'm good, I promise you. We have to look after Nyssa. I don't think she's far behind Colt. Between age, broken heart and all. They loved the hell out of each other almost their entire lives."

"Sy said that Kishel has moved into the estate full time. She's got eyes there, but you're right. We'll not abandon Ny. Family is family, no matter. You showed me that. So did Colton."

Dashen stretched his head back to lean against the wall, eyes closed for a extended moment. I set my shoulder firmly against his and stayed there quiet. Calling on the Force, tendrils of warmth stretched in his direction. The best I could offer with my limited Jedi ways. It was enough.

"Maybe I'll just rest here for a while, yeah?" Dashen said to me after a time. "The diner is covered this week. Just need to get my focus back in order and deal with the loss. You feel like hanging out with your big brother for a while, Mouse?"

"Eh, there are other things I could be doing." I joshed. "Like teaching a bunch of sugar-hyped children the difference between a planet, a dwarf planet, a moon and a star."

"You love that and you know it. Your school kids cling to you like sludge on a swamp rat."

Dash wasn't wrong (except for the sludge-swamp rat thing). I loved teaching more than almost anything in the galaxy. It was my life's work and I'd never tired of it, but right now? Right now my brother needing me here at his side to mourn the loss of one of our own… that trumped everything.

"I do love it. Those kids are exhausting, but they give me purpose every single day. They'll handle a few days without me though. Tomorrow, let's grab River and go see the ocean. Sy still has Colton's seaside cottage operational. Mostly it's used for downtime for the crew. We can hang out on the beach and you can tell me again those old tall tales about mutant laser-eyed sharks and giant killer crabs."

Dashen laughed. It was a good sound. "You remember that, huh?"

"I remember you being an idiot."

"Yeah, that too. Okay, lets do it. River can break away from Corym for a few days maybe and it can be just the three of us. Colton would probably approve."

"You know he would."

"Set it up for us, would you, little brother? I'm kinda comfy right here and don't have much energy to get up and pretend to know how to put one foot in front of the other. Toss me a little more of your magic too."

My turn to laugh. Dashen actually asking me to use my Force abilities. That was funny. Never a dull moment. I did it though. Dashen needed sleep and if I could help with a simple push from the Force…

I leaned toward him again and set my hand on his arm. My eyes shut and I drew a little more power than before, a draw that would actually put him into sleep (probably). That power wasn't always successful, but if the opposing mind was in the right state… there. I felt him fade. Breathing even. Mind settling. For a second I went to stand and start on the plans for tomorrow, but Dash moved when I did, so scratch that. I'd just work out the details from my wrist comm and let my brother sleep.

Which he did. Sleeping for long and uninterrupted hours.

And the next day, the two of us, with River tagged along, relaxed into the cottage overlooking the sea. No mutant laser-eyed sharks or giant killer crabs to be found yet… but the day was still young.

We sat on the sand-swept porch, I poured us all a drink. A cold-spiced tea that we'd gotten to love in recent years after Colton and Nyssa had brought it back after an off-planet sojourn.

Three glasses raised and clinked in unison.

"To Colton." I said, breathing deep to keep my voice from wavering. "He kept us sane and safe. We love you, Colton. We miss you."

My voice did crack there. But it was worth it. He was worth it.


END