More than meets the Eye

Ch. 4: "Coffee, Tea, or Carmine part 3"

With Carmine and Santino still at the twin towers, everyone else back at the Bing was starting to lose their patience and tempers were flaring. After all, Carmine was making the boss of the family, Tony, wait for him and that just wasn't boding well with anyone, especially Paulie. Having had enough and despite Silvio's warnings, Paulie and Christopher went out to go get Carmine themselves, vowing to bring him to the Bing, kicking and screaming. Meanwhile, Carmine was still having doubts and second thoughts on whether he should whack Santino or not. Now, the million dollar question is: Will Carmine whack Santino or will he spare him? Will Paulie and Christopher be the first ones of Tony's crew to meet the infamous Carmine Dante? Will Carmine Dante and Tony Soprano come face-to-face? Find out!

Author's Note: For the third time, the World Trade Center (1973-2001) is in this chapter and before any of you say a word, this story takes place before the events of 9/11/01. Also, I do not own the Sopranos or any of the Sopranos characters. The only things I own are the characters Santino, Carmine, Mata, Lorenzo, and Matteo. Rated 'T' for language.

(Flashback to Ch. 3)

'I don't know what's taking him so long. I mean why keep me in suspense? If he had any mercy, he would just do it already.' Santino thought to himself, as he took another drag on his cigar.

After a few seconds, Carmine looked over at Santino, every single thought running through his head.

'Come on, Carmine. You've done this before. Why are you taking so long? Just do it. Then again, maybe you don't want to do it. Maybe Santino is very special to you that you can't bring yourself to whack him. Come on, don't get all sentimental. That's one of the worst traits in history.' Carmine thought to himself, as he slowly started to come to terms with his doubts.

*Carmine's POV*

"I guess it is official. I have doubts. I have doubts about whacking Santino, but why? Why?"

I think for a bit.

"Maybe it's, because he and I have a very special relationship? Yeah, that's it. He's like the big brother I never had and unlike the other guys, he made me feel at home."

I shake my head, believing this was all nonsense.

"Oh, get it together Carmine! What are you saying? I mean think about it, family doesn't screw family and along with Matteo and Lorenzo, Santino fucked you in the ass. You love him like a brother and he fucked you in the ass. Very hard, too. You can't be saying that you actually forgive his misgivings, can you?"

I shake my head 'no'.

"No, you can't forgive misgivings. You never have, so why start now?!"

I shrug my shoulders and think for a moment.

"Then again, unlike the other guys, Santino has been your most fierce and loyal ally. He would've never done this had it not been the influence of Matteo and Lorenzo, so you can't hold him solely responsible for actions that were not fully perpetrated by him."

I look over at Santino and frown.

"Am I really going to whack him for something he was talked into doing?"

*Outside of Carmine's mind*

As Carmine struggled with his doubts, Santino finally killed his cigar and was now anticipating Carmine's next move. He was hoping it would be quick. Quick and painless.

"Carmine, I just wanna say thank you for the food, the drinks, and the cigars plus, bringing me up here. I never in my whole life got to be up close and personal with the twin towers. I just wanna take this time and say thank you." Santino took a few deep breaths.

(Now)

Carmine remained silent and just nodded.

"Carmine, didn't ya hear what I said?" Santino nervously asked.

Carmine, not one to tolerate being goaded into anything, still remained silent as ever and nodded his head, again.

'Man, I wish he would stop this whole silent treatment thing and at least talk to me. I mean the man's gonna bump me off in a few moments. The least he can do to make my going out a blissful departure is talk to me. The condemned man is supposed to be granted a final request, right?' Santino thought.

*With Christopher and Paulie*

Paulie, who was very pissed with Carmine for making all of them wait, was driving like a bat out of hell, blowing through traffic signs and streetlights, not having a care in the world if anyone were to stop him and give him a ticket. Christopher, who was always unusually calm when Paulie, Tony, or anyone was pissed, found himself feeling nervous about the whole thing, especially after hearing from Silvio that Carmine had a lethal temper and going out to find him when he was running late was a very risky move. In other words, it wasn't Paulie's reckless driving or anger that made Chris nervous, it was the possibility of facing the wrath of one Carmine Dante. After a few moments of total silence, Chris decided to speak up.

"Paulie, we should probably head back to the Bing and wait for Carmine. I mean Sil said-" Christopher was cut off immediately.

"Sil says a lot of things and if you tell me to head back to the Bing one more fuckin' time, I'll kick your ass the fuck out of my car and you can find your way back to the Bing. Now, shut the fuck up and let me drive." Paulie sternly told him, as he put it pedal to the metal.

"Look, you're going over the speed limit and like I said and I'll say again, Sil said it's wise for us not to go out looking for his brother, because...well, his brother is very dangerous when pissed off." Christopher told him.

"Fuck the speed limit and fuck Carmine's wrath. I'm also very dangerous when pissed off!" Paulie kept on with his fast driving.

Christopher sighed and shook his head.

"This fucking prick has a lot of nerve making T wait like this." Paulie muttered under his breath.

'He may kill us. From what Sil said, this Carmine guy could kill us with one sucker punch or headbutt or something.' Christopher thought.

*Back at the Bing*

Tony was pacing back and forth, every inch of patience leaving him while Silvio and the others were trying to keep their cool.

"Where the fuck could your brother be?" Tony huffed.

"I don't know, Tone. Like I said before, I don't keep tabs on Carmine. I'm not his babysitter." Silvio shrugged.

"Look, I don't expect you to keep tabs on a grown ass man, but that don't excuse him keeping all of us waiting like this! Didn't anyone tell him that it's rude to keep people waiting and be running late?" Tony ran a hand through what hair he had left.

"Oh yes, people have told him it is rude to be late and keep people waiting, but he's Carmine. He has a penchant for being late. In fact, the prick was born late." Silvio took a sip of his beverage.

"Born late? How late?" Bobby asked.

"He was supposed to be born in July, but instead, he was born in September. Kept our mother in agony for another two months." Silvio told him.

"Wow! He wasn't born until September? Did he suffer any birth defects or anything?" Bobby was surprised by this.

"Nope, no birth defects, but he was 14 pounds when he was born and due to an extra gland, he grew to his enormous height. He was 5'10'' in the fourth grade and by the end of junior high, he was 6 feet and kept growing until he reached 6 foot 5, his current height, I think." Silvio sighed.

"He's a big guy, I take it?" Bobby asked again, while trying to mentally picture what Carmine looked like.

"Big? More like gigantic. He has big muscles, is stronger than the average man, and very mean when he wants to be. Oh yes, he can be mean and vicious." Silvio nodded and slightly shuddered at the mere thought of Carmine's mean streak.

"He sounds like a psycho. No offense, Sil." Bobby replied.

"None taken. However, it's pretty foolish for Paulie and Chrissy to be going out and looking for him. I told those two pricks to wait here until Carmine showed up. If it is one thing Carmine hates, it's people looking for him. He said it makes him feel like a wild animal being hunted by the dog catcher." Silvio shook his head.

"Yeah, but when's Carmine gonna show up?" Tony chimed in.

"Eventually. Just give him time, if he doesn't take care of Paulie and Chrissy." Silvio sighed, again.

"Why do you say that?" Bobby asked.

"He's whacked people who have searched for him. Bumped 'em off. Like I said, it makes him feel like an animal being hunted and he hates that feeling, because usually, he is the one who's usually on the hunt." Silvio told him.

Bobby didn't say a word and instead, just nodded. Despite being infuriated, Tony did the same thing and let what Silvio said slowly sink in, so he could process it. Unbeknownst to everyone and maybe even to himself, Tony was a little nervous on meeting Carmine Dante, especially after the stuff Silvio revealed about him. This was a first for the boss. Sure, he suffered panic attacks, anxiety, depression, and the likes, but he was never nervous about meeting people. Ever. It just wasn't in his character to be nervous when meeting others.

*Tony's POV*

"Come on, you're not nervous. You don't get fuckin' nervous when you meet other people, so why are you starting now?!"

I shrug.

"Get it together, Anthony. Get it together! You're the boss of the family! The boss never shows signs of nervousness or anything. You let people know that you mean business!"

I nod.

"Alright fuck face, if you know that then why the hell are you feeling nervous?"

I think for a bit and get an idea.

"Maybe it's because of what Silvio said about his brother Carmine. Mayb-"

I shake my head and get a look of disbelief on my face.

"The fuck are you saying or thinking?! What shit has Carmine done that you, Paulie, Silvio, and all the rest of 'em haven't done before?! What could he have done that none of you have?!"

I shrug, again.

"Then again, did any of you ever rip someone's limb off with your bare hands before? Have any of you ever struck fear into people before and I don't mean the usual fear you all usually strike into people?"

I shake my head 'no'.

"So, you haven't done that or anything else Sil said that Carmine did, so maybe that could be a reason that you're feeling nervous about meeting this guy."

I slightly nod.

"Then again, showing that I'm nervous does show a weakness and Tony Soprano is NOT a weak fuck! No, I'm not weak at all! Plus, I've never been nervous about meeting people before, so it wouldn't make sense for me to start being all jittery and nervous now. Might as well call me a fuckin' schizo and throw me into a fuckin asylum if that's the case. I mean, I do suffer panic attacks, depression, and anxiety, but I don't get nervous about meeting people. It doesn't make sense on why I'm feeling nervous about meeting Carmine Dante. I mean he is Sil's brother, right?"

I nod, again.

"Exactly. So, cut the crap and don't even show an ounce of nervousness. He's just like anybody else you meet."

*Outside of Tony's mind*

While Silvio kept telling Bobby more and more about Carmine when they were both kids, Tony, who was in between pissed off and nervous, tried his best not to show his nervousness about meeting Carmine, but was having a hard time fighting it, internally of course. However, who could blame him? Anybody would be nervous after hearing the damage Carmine could do to a person.

"I warned Paulie and Chrissy. I warned 'em. Hopefully, they don't face his wrath." Silvio shook his head.

Tony didn't say a word and instead, just looked over at Silvio then down at the ground and slightly nodded his head.

*Back at the World Trade Center*

10:45pm

It was nearing the eleventh hour and still, Carmine continued to have doubts and keep Santino in suspense of what was going to happen to him. On one hand, Carmine knew that if he got rid of Santino, he would be rid of one of the three who double crossed him, but on the other hand, he also knew that Santino would've never double crossed him had Matteo and Lorenzo not talked him into it. It was because of this that Carmine was having a hard time whacking him and that there was a possible chance that he would spare him. Santino, on the other hand, was growing tired of Carmine's deafening silence and hesitation. He just wanted Carmine to 'get it over with' whatever that may be. However, despite wanting it to be done with, Santino was in between being nervous and upset; nervous, because he was unaware of his possible undoing and upset, because he found it unfair and frightening that Carmine was practically toying with him this way and remaining totally silent. After all, the silent treatment was never fun.

"Look Carm, this is no fun. You know I hate the silent treatment." Santino spoke after a few minutes of silence.

Carmine still remained silent and just nodded.

"Whatever you plan to do to me, why don't ya just get it done, huh?" Santino inquired, while trying to hide his nervousness.

Carmine ignored Santino and stared out into the night, still battling his inner conflict on whether he should do away with Santino for good or spare him.

*Back with Paulie and Christopher*

Paulie and Christopher were still driving around looking for Carmine and not finding him anywhere. Paulie was clearly ready to blow his top. Then again, when wasn't he?

"Where the fuck can this guy be? We've been driving everywhere and no fuckin' sight of him." Paulie huffed.

"Who knows, Paulie? Sil didn't show us a picture of him, so as far as we're concerned, he could be anywhere." Christopher shook his head.

"Where? Where? Where?! We've been searching up fucking high and down fucking low and nothing!" Paulie raised his voice.

"The fuck should I know? Let's keep searching." Christopher sighed.

"Did I ever say we were gonna stop searching for this prick?" Paulie asked, very angrily.

"Let's just go, Paulie." Christopher ran a hand through his hair.

"Where?" Paulie asked.

"Anywhere. We're not gonna solve anything by sitting here at a stop sign." Christopher told him.

"I-" Paulie stopped when he saw a sign and read it to himself.

"What're you doin'?" Christopher asked.

"There's a sign for the George Washington Bridge." Paulie pointed at said sign.

"The George Washington Bridge? That's in New York." Christopher pointed out.

"So? Maybe fuckface Carmine went to New York by traveling the bridge as the bridge does connect the Empire State to Jersey." Paulie sounded a bit enthusiastic.

"What makes you think Carmine crossed the George Washington Bridge?" Christopher seemed perplexed.

"Sil said he had friends to meet up with, right? Well, maybe he had some in the big apple which would mean that he crossed the bridge to get there." Paulie put two and two together.

"I suppose. Well, let's give it a try." Christopher shrugged.

With that, Paulie started the car back up and drove across the George Washington Bridge.

"Let's make this quick. I hate New York." Paulie was in a hurry to get out of New York as fast as he and Christopher got in.

*Back at the North Tower of the World Trade Center*

11:25pm

After what seemed like an eternity of silence and seeing that it was going to be 12 O'Clock midnight before either of them knew it, Carmine finally decided to speak.

"Santino..." Carmine started.

"Finally, you speak! I was getting tired of the whole silent treatment thing!" Santino breathed a sigh of relief while being irritated at the same time.

"I just wanted you to know that I've appreciated your loyalty all these years. You never steered me wrong. You always encouraged me. You were one of the ones who accepted me as family no matter what. You've been like a mentor to me and I...I've been your protege, so to speak. You're one of a few who has been kind to me and has done wonderful things for me. You never gave up on me, even if you felt like it at times and I know that you've felt it at times. You've been extremely loyal to me and I am forever grateful. You see, I-" Carmine paused when he thought he heard something.

"Carm? What is it?" Santino was a bit thrown off by Carmine pausing like he did.

*Down on the ground*

Paulie and Christopher had parked near the towers and were out looking. However, they stopped when Christopher looked up at how magnificent the towers looked.

"What're you doin'?" Paulie asked.

"What does it look like? I'm looking at how neat the towers look." Christopher was clearly in awe of the twin towers.

"What's so great about them? They're just fuckin' towers. You see 'em everywhere." Paulie was unimpressed.

"To you, they're fuckin' towers. To me, they're amazing pieces of architecture." Christopher shot back.

"Sometimes, I really don't know about you, Chrissy." Paulie shook his head, before turning his flashlight on and shining it around.

"Do you really think Carmine is here?" Christopher asked, while still staring at the towers.

"I don't know, but at this point, you never know. Plus, I saw a car parked here, so who knows?" Paulie continued shining his flashlight around.

"Paulie, you did hear what Sil said, right?" Christopher scratched the back of his head.

"For the one millionth time, yes and I don't give a fuck! He says Carmine is dangerous when pissed, well I got news for him, so am I when I'm angered." Paulie rolled his eyes.

"We're gonna piss him off." Christopher looked around.

"Do I give a fuck if I piss Sil off?" Paulie asked.

"I'm not talking about Sil. I'm talking about Carmine." Christopher replied.

"Fuck him! He's disrespecting T!" Paulie shot back.

*Back on top of the North Tower*

Carmine pulled Santino back into a dark spot, trying to keep both Santino and himself hidden.

"Carm, what is it?" Santino whispered.

"I heard voices from down below. I think it is that fuckin' lady cop who arrested me. She's so damned hellbent on keeping me behind bars and said that she would make sure I remained there, even after I served my sentence." Carmine whispered back.

"She must be on a power trip." Santino shook his head.

"What do you think?" Carmine said with a lot of sarcasm in his voice.

*Back down on the ground*

"Should we call out for him?" Christopher asked.

"That's the dumbest question you could ever ask. Of course, we start calling out for him." Paulie fired back.

Christopher shook his head and rolled his eyes.

"CARMINE!" Paulie called out.

"CARMINE!" Christopher also called out.

"CARMINE DANTE!" Paulie yelled out.

"Should we honk our horn? Flash the headlights?" Christopher looked behind himself then back at Paulie.

"Not yet. Let's wait and see if he crawls out of one of these towers." Paulie said, while staring at the door of the north tower.

"What if he comes out and tries to kill us?" Christopher sounded scared, despite trying hard to hide it.

"He wouldn't dare!" Paulie scoffed.

*Back on top of the North Tower*

"Carm, all of that stuff you said about me, is that-is that true?" Santino asked.

To Be Continued...

Author's note: I'm so sorry for keeping y'all waiting. Real life can get to be time consuming. Anyways, there's more to come, so until then, enjoy! Oh and Happy Belated 4th of July!

Christopher: Paulie, Carmine is gonna be pissed.

Paulie: I don't fucking care!

Carmine: If I were you Paulie, I would care!

Paulie: What? Who said that?

Carmine: You'll find out.

Meadow: What's going on?

Carmine: Why is there a teenage girl here?

Paulie: Meadow, go back home.

Bobby: Will we ever meet Carmine?

Silvio: Would you be patient, please! Wait till the next chapter or so, huh?