Chapter 6: See The Way
"Hello, Rad; how are you today?" Marcus asked, looking at the Red/Blue Heeler mix. "I'm okay, I guess?" Rad replied, looking down. "Yeah? Any more nightmares?" Marcus asked. Rad made his knee bounce up and down while thinking of an answer. A gunshot rang in his ears, and an image of his nephew falling and holding his gunshot wound flashed in his head. Rad shuts his eyes and holds his head. "Yes… tons at night," Rad answered. "Are the pills now helping?" Marcus asked while writing something down. "He… he was in my arms bleeding out," Rad said with tears in his eyes. "Thomas? Have you seen him lately?" Marcus asked, adjusting his glasses. Rad was shaking from fear. *gunshot*
(Flashback)
Thomas falls to the ground as the gunshot is fired. Rad rushed over to his nephew with time, feeling like time slowed down as he fell. "Thomas! No! No! No!" Rad said, panicking while putting pressure on the gunshot wound. Thomas was spitting out blood from his mouth. "Hey, it's gonna be okay, mate," Rad said softly while crying. "T-Tell my dad I-I love him," Thomas said, shaking in pain. "No! You're going to tell him that you hear me!" Rad shouted, still holding the wound. "I-I love you too, Uncle Rad," Thomas said, trying to stay Conscious. "I love you too, mate… stay with me, please, Thomas," Rad said softly, still with tears in his eyes. "Stay With Me!" Rad shouted.
"Rad…"
(End of Flashback)
"Rad?" Marcus said, making Rad lose his train of thought. "Y-yes?" Rad said, now looking at Marcus. "Have you seen Thomas lately? He's doing pretty well and recovering great," Marcus said, putting down his pad. "Not since the welcome home party," Rad answered. "He's also worried about you. Maybe you two could be ready to open up about it," Marcus said, playing with his pen. "Maybe… I don't know," Rad said, looking down again. "It could be something to think about," Marcus said, placing down his pen. "Yeah, maybe," Rad answered. "Something else on your mind?" Marcus asked, tilting his head. "Having this happen… made me feel like losing Charlie all over again even though Thomas isn't mine… he's like my son," Rad explained.
"I see. Have you talked to Bandit about this feeling?" Marcus asked. "No… we have been Distant from each other since it happened," Rad answered. "Do you think Bandit would want to talk to you about it?" Marcus asked. "I don't know, Thomas is his world, along with Bluey and Bingo, and I'm just living in it," Rad explained. "Do you think Bandit would feel the same if the tables were turned and your child was in his arms?" Marcus asked. "Of course! Bandit has always been the loving one! He always had that father figure in him!" Rad said, frustrated. Marcus nodded, writing something down. "Alright, Rad, I'm going to up these meds, and I'll check back with you next week," Marcus said, looking at Rad. "Alright," Rad said with a nod. "And Rad?" Marcus said, still looking at the Heeler. "Yes?" Rad asked, looking at Marcus.
"As your brother's friend and knowing your family well, Talk to Thomas and Bandit; they are essential to you despite the history you share with Bandit; they love you very much," Marcus said with a warm smile. Rad nodded as he stood up. Marcus gave Rad his new prescription, and Rad left the office. Rad sat in his truck and called Frisky. "Hey babe," Rad said. "Hey honey, how was your appointment?" Frisky asked while she was drying some dishes. "It's good, I guess… he's going up the dose of my meds, and I guess go from there," Rad explained while walking out of the building. "Well, that's a start," Frisky said as she placed the last dishes away. "Yeah, it is," Rad said as he got into his truck. "Are you going to see Bandit?" Frisky asked as she looked down at the sink. "I… I don't know," Rad replied with his ears down. "Well, if you do, just let me know," Frisky said softly. "I will," Rad said as he swallowed a lump in his throat.
"I love you," Frisky said, looking out the window. "I love u too, Frisk," Rad said softly. "See you soon; drive safe," Frisky said as she smiled to herself. "See you soon, and I will," Rad said before hanging up the phone. Frisky then hung up the phone and sighed as she stared into space. Rad took a deep breath before he started his truck and went on his way. Bandit was in study catching up on the work he had missed since the tragedy on his happy family. Bandit mainly kept to himself, pushing all his worries and thoughts away. Even though Bandit was strong-minded to keep this all away, it still held him. His seventeen-year-old son, his baby boy, could have been taken away from him forever. Tears started to roll down his cheeks while he kept working.
Eventually, Bandit stopped working on his laptop and rubbed between his eyes, and sighed. Bandit then looked left to his desk at a picture of his family. Bandit rolled around on his yoga ball while looking at the ceiling. Thought raced into his mind as he looked up. All of these thoughts of his son dying made him angry. He wanted this dog brought to justice for what he did to his son and his family. Bandit grabbed his stress ball and squeezed it tightly before throwing it again the wall. Bandit sighed as he stood from his yoga ball and went downstairs.
Bandit grabbed his keys and went to his car after pulling out of his driveway and going down the road. It was silent to his destination as he pulled up to the cabin where his son and brother were supposed to have a weekend together. Bandit then noticed his brother's truck was also here at the cabin. This made Bandit curious as he exited his car and walked around the property. Bandit then found Rad by the dock, looking down at the water. "Rad?" Bandt said while walking up to his older brother. Rad was a little startled as he turned and faced his brother. "Oh, hey, Bandit, what are you doing here?" Rad asked as Bandit sat down near his brother. "I needed some air, mate, and this was the best place for it," Bandit said, putting his feet in the water. Rad also relaxed and placed his feet in the water. "Yeah, I hear ya mate," Rad said while looking down again at the water.
Both brothers were silent for the most part. Not even looking at each other as the cool Australian hit their fur. "Mate… I… I don't blame you for what happened," Bandit said as he looked at his older brother. Rad then looked at his brother and titled his head. "You don't?" Rad asked while still looking at Bandit. "How can I? Either way, if the bullet hit you… I would have lost a brother, too," Bandit explained. "I was just angry… my son and your nephew almost died and…." Bandit tried to explain, but tears were getting in his explanation. Rad then hugged his brother tightly. "Bandit, I have nightmares every night about it, and I know it tears you apart," Rad said also with tears running down his muzzle.
Bandit then finally broke down. "I DON'T WANT TO LOSE EITHER OF YOU!" Bandit shouted at the top of his lungs while holding onto his brother. "I want him to pay. I want to see this dog rot!" Bandit shouted while choking on his words. "We will get him, I promise," Rad said, rubbing his brother's back. After a while of them both getting their frustrations out. They looked out to the water. "Thomas loves this place, you know," Rad said, wiping his tears from his muzzle. "I know he does, mate. I want to bring him and girls out here more," Bandit replied, wiping his tears. "Dad always made this place fun when we were kids," Rad said, laying back on the dock. "Yeah, all our family trips here were fun," Bandit agreed. "Only when the times you would stop teasing Stripe about everything," Rad said with a slight chuckle.
Bandit chuckled at that. "Yeah, classic Stripe," Bandi said as he laid on the dock. They both looked at the dusk sky and listened to the nature around them. "Have you taken Thomas to the creek yet, mate?" Rad asked as they continued to look at the pink sky. "That's the next thing to do on my list," Bandit said with relief. "He'll like that too, I'm sure of it," Rad said, taking a deep breath. "Bandit?" Rad asked as he turned and looked at his younger brother. "Yeah, mate?" Bandit asked as he turned to look at his older brother. "You're a good dad, mate," Rad said with a soft smile. Bandit smiled slightly before answering. "Thanks, mate, one day. I'll get to say the same thing to you," Bandit replied, taking a deep breath. After the sunset, the two brothers returned to their vehicles before saying their goodbyes. "I'm always here for you, mate," Bandit said while hugging his older brother. "I'm here for you too, Bandit. Anytime you need me, I'm here," Rad said while hugging his little brother.
(Flashback)
Four and seven-year-old Bandit and Rad Heeler were outside near. the creek, running and playing. "I'm going to get you!" Bandit shouted as he ran after his older brother. "Not if I can help it! Bandy! Rad teased while running. "Hey! Only Mum can call me that!" Bandit cried out while still trying to chase his brother. "Bandy, Bandy, Bandy!" Rad teased while running. Bandit growled in frustration as he tried to keep up with his older brother. Suddenly, just as Bandit was about to catch up with Rad. Bandit tripped and fell to the ground. "Ow!" Bandit cried out loud with some tears coming down from his muzzle. Rad quickly turned around and saw that his little brother was on the ground, his knee. "Bandit! Are you okay, mate?" Rad asked as he ran over to his little brother. Bandit looked up at his brother with a glare, still with tears in his eyes. "Here, let me help you up." Rad said, offering his hand to help his younger brother up before his hand got smacked away, "I don't need your help, I'm not a baby!" Bandit grumbled before he got up and walked away from Rad. "Bandit, wait!" Rad called out to him before running after him. "Bandit, talk to me. What's wrong?" He asked, only to be ignored. Rad began to grow frustrated at being ignored before he decided to walk in front of Bandit and stop him from going any further. "Bandit, what's wrong?" Rad asked.
"Why do you always have to be faster than me!" Bandit said, turning to look at his older brother. "But Stripe's a baby!" Bandit said with a sniff before wiping his nose. "I just wish I could be like you," Bandit said looking down with a sad look. "You will Bandit. It just takes time." Rad said before hugging the Light Blue Heeler close to him. "I don't want you to be anything like me, I want you to be just the way you are..." he said, rubbing Bandit's back. "You mean that?" Bandit asked as he started to wag his tail and cheer up.
"Of course, I mean that! You're my little brother, after all. You and Stripe mean the world to me, and nothing is ever gonna change that." Rad said as he looked at Bandit with a soft smile. "Thanks Rad," Bandit said now fully wagging his tail. "No problem mate." Rad replied before ruffling the top of his brothers mullet hairstyle.
(End of Flashback)
Bandit and Rad went back to their separate homes. Bandit walked into his house and went it the playroom and peaked inside. Bandit saw that his son was reading his sisters a story book and making some fun with it just he would when putting the girls to bed. "And then the end!" Thomas said and pretending to fall asleep. "That's not how it ends!" Bingo shouted before both girls started laughing. Bandit chuckled before leaving to see his wife in the kitchen. Bandit went up behind Chilli and cuddled her. "Are you okay honey?" Chilli asked while making dinner. "Yeah babe, I'm fine. In fact..." Bandit replied before he kissed his wife upon her lips and held a hand on her cheek, "Everything's perfect..." he said with a smile as he gazed into his wife's eyes.
Chilli smiled and gave him a kiss before finishing dinner. Meanwhile Rad walked into his apartment and saw Frisky on the couch reading a book. "Hey Frisk," Rad said softly. "Hey babe, are you doing okay?" Frisky asked while looking at her husband. Rad looked at his wife before he gently grabbed her face and kissed her deeply, and passionately, Frisky eyes widened at the surprise action from her husband before they parted their lips and gazed into their eyes, "Where did that come from?" She asked, wiping her mouth with her thumb. "I just wanted to show you how much I love you..." Rad replied with a light smile. "You mean the world to me, Frisky..."
"You mean the world to me too babe," Frisky said with a smile. "Have you Spoken to Bandit?" Frisky asked. "I did, and he said he doesn't blame me." Rad said as he grabbed both of his wife's hands. "I'm glad you worked things out and for Thomas, I hope you two will work things out in time," Frisky said with a nod. "I think so too..." Rad replied with a smile before kissing the British Cocker Spaniel again. "Did you want to go out to eat?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Sounds great babe, I'll go grab my purse," Frisky said before kissing her husband passionately. Frisky then got up and went to grab her purse out of their room. Rad smiled as he watched her leave the living room knowing everything was going to be okay.
Kodiwolf321 A/N hey guys! thanks for the little wait on this chapter. Work and real life has been super crazy and I'm glad to get this out there for you. Chapter 7 will be brand new as I have ran out of chapters that have already been pre written, so bare with me as I try to write this new chapters. I do know what the next chapter contains and I have the titled already prepared. "Chapter 7: Jack" will be out soon and as always guys thanks for reading!
Loyalguard600 A/N: Hey guys, happy to help Kodi out and get this chapter of Sad Faces: Changes out for all of you. And be sure to stay tuned for more from Kodi, Suburban, and me from all our stories on our channels. Also, be sure to check us out on Discord!