Consequences and Making Amends
When Katie walked in the door Friday after work, she stopped suddenly, surprised to find Brock, her cute, young husband and tier one Navy SEAL sleeping on his stomach on their couch wearing only his boxer briefs and t-shirt with a bag of frozen corn across his ass.
Walking past him to set her bag on a chair and drop her keys on the nearby table, Katie was not surprised to see him stirring to look up at her when she turned and sat down looking at him confused from her seat on the ottoman.
"What on Earth are you doing, Brock?" she asked, staring at him. "Why aren't you dressed? Do I need to remind you that I've been working all week while you've been sitting around? Did you forget we are meeting my sister and her new boyfriend for drinks at happy hour at that new bar in Norfolk in an hour?"
When Brock just moaned and buried his head in a couch pillow in response, Katie continued with the questions.
"And why is there a bag of corn on your butt?" She started. "Have you lost…"
Katie stopped suddenly silent. Then she covered her mouth, before busting out laughing.
"No way!" Brock's young wife was cracking up now. "Did you get your ass beat like a little kid? Jason actually spanked you?" Katie was shocked.
"I'm glad you find my humiliation amusing," Brock grouched. "But my ass is still sore, and I'm in no way prepared for a night of you and Jenny plastered and dancing while I'm trapped being the designated driver and entertaining the man of the week."
"Too bad, Brock," Katie snorted, standing and grabbing the corn from his butt. "Is this the corn I bought to make that vegetable salsa? You can give me all the details of your confession to the boss which clearly ended badly for you, and hilariously for me, on our way into Norfolk."
"Come on, Katie," Brock whined, sounding like a teenager who just got punished and was in a full pout. "Can you just stop for a minute and reflect on the fact that I'm twenty-four years old, and in the fucking Navy, and my boss beat my ass with a fucking wooden spoon like he was my dad. And it fucking hurt. And you think I'm going to happy hour like nothing happened?"
"Oh, I know you are going to happy hour like nothing happened," Katie said, clearly meaning business. "It's not my fault you got punished like a kid for acting like a kid. Suck it up, and get off that couch. Unless you want to spend the weekend celibate and crying about your sore butt in Trent's spare room. And if you don't get up before I count to three, I'm going to tell your Daddy that you said the F word three times and you will be standing in the corner with a wet bar of soap in your mouth."
Katie was cracking up again.
"Come on, you big baby," Katie teased. "It's probably been awhile, but we both know this isn't the first time you got your cute butt scorched. I think you will live. And if you are sweet and charming as usual tonight, I promise when we get home I'll rub some cold cream on your red tushy before bed."
When Brock didn't appear to be motivated to move and face actual people, Katie decided it was time to play hardball with her young husband.
"Fine," she said brightly, standing and turning to change. "Stay here, pouting and feeling sorry for yourself. I'll just explain to my sister and her boyfriend, who lives in the same dorm you did before we got married, that you are home crying like a little girl because Master Chief Hayes paddled your ass for lying to him. I'm sure they'll both keep that embarrassing little nugget to themselves. And then, when I have Jenny drop me off at my parent's house because I won't be coming back here tonight, I'll be sure to ask Daddy if he ever had to spank his army guys for being naughty or if that is just something that is procedure for Navy SEALS."
"You have a mean streak that I most definitely was not aware of when I proposed," Brock groaned, getting up slowly and trudging back to the bedroom to dress for happy hour.
"And you better never forget it, tough guy. Also, I'd stay away from the jeans and go with some loose-fitting khakis if I was you," Katie chuckled, swatting Brock's sore tail as he walked past her.
"Ow, Katie," Bravo Five yelped, rubbing his sore ass. "Seriously?"
"Sorry," his amused, young wife teased. "But as The Colonel was fond of telling my sisters and I when we were naughty - honey, that hurt me more than it did you."
Across town, Bravo Six was just about as miserable and sorry for ever dreaming up golf club baseball as his big brother.
More miserable, he silently lamented to himself from his current position, sideways across his bed with his bare feet hanging off one side and his top half hanging off the other. There were no frozen vegetables cooling his red hot bottom. And no dinner in his empty belly. Clay was mad at Brock for forcing him to confess his lie. And he was pouting at his perceived unfairness of Jason taking down his shorts and spanking him butt bare like a kid, while Brock was spared that final humiliation and paddled over his shorts.
And both boys, like all kids getting their backsides heated up, were well aware that a thin piece of cotton most definitely matters when you are across your dad's knee.
When Jason came in holding a wet washcloth and a bottle of water, Clay looked up at the man he loved so much, looking absolutely pitiful with his puffy red eyes and tear-streaked face.
"How about you pause the pity-party long enough to mop up your messy mug and have a cool drink of water, Sunshine," Jason said, sitting down after handing Clay the washcloth and gently rubbing his back. "I'm sorry you are hurting, son. And I hope you know I truly hate having to take the spoon to your tail. But Clay, we both know you earned that spanking all on your own. We've talked about actions and consequences countless times. And sadly for us both, it's a conversation we will continue to have as long as you choose to make bad choices."
"It wasn't Brock's fault," Clay said, softly. Despite his childish anger at being forced to admit his wrongdoing, the boy was truly sorry for badgering his big brother into lying to protect him.
"If you're referring to you lying to me and framing the little thug down the hall when I asked you directly what happened to my club," Jason said, taking back the cloth now that Clay's face was somewhat clean and handing him the water. "You are correct honey, that was not Brock's fault."
"But you still gave him a spanking," Clay said.
"I did," Jason said firmly. "And it is none of your concern, young man. What happens between me and Brock is between him and I. Your big brother is an adult. You are not. It's not up to you to question or be nosey about how I deal with Brock or anyone else on Bravo. Is that clear?"
"Yes sir," Clay said quietly, looking down.
"Good," Jason said with less heat, moving his hand to rest on his head and gently stroke his exhausted boy's forehead with his rough thumb.
"After I lied to you, Brock told me that if I had admitted we broke the putter fooling around, you wouldn't have spanked me," Clay whispered. "Was he right?"
"Yes sweetheart," Jason confirmed. "He was right. You know I only spank you for being disrespectful or doing something reckless that could hurt you or someone else, Clay. You have broken many things - even expensive things. And I have never spanked you for that. All kids are careless and fool around breaking things. I punished you because you lied to me. And that is disrespectful, and absolutely sure to earn you a spanking in our family."
After a few minutes of quiet, Jason continued to talk calmly and gently to his boy.
"So, are you feeling like you want to be alone now honey, or do you think I should stick around for a while until you fall asleep?" he asked. "It's your choice Sunshine. You did something you know is wrong, you were punished, and it's over. I'm not mad at you. Brock's not mad at you. Emma and Mikey know about the putter, and they are not mad at you. Tomorrow is a new day and we are moving on. But tonight, you need to get some sleep. Trent says you are still getting over being sick. So what's it gonna be?"
"Can you stay, please?" Clay said softly, feeling like a little kid, but unable to let his protector and chosen father out of his sight just yet. "I don't like to be alone."
"I know you don't, baby," Jason said, moving to sit at the top of the bed with his back resting against the wall. The older man opened his arms, inviting his kid to join him. "How about you come up here so we can get you settled for the night?"
No longer caring if he was acting like a little kid, since there was no one but his boss and dad to see him, Clay crawled up to the top of the bed and curled up in Jason's arms. Resting his tired head on his dad's chest and holding tight to his t-shirt, Jason's youngest closed his eyes and went to sleep knowing he was safe and loved.
The next day was Saturday, and as promised, Jason was hosting Derrick and his pretty wife in her fancy red dress, Sonny and Trent at Chops for a relaxing dinner and drinks to end their week away from base in style. Clay was pleasantly surprised that his weeklong grounding which started the previous Saturday when Jason left for Colorado was lifted on time. He'd assumed after Brock had forced a face to face with Jason Friday afternoon, and their resulting long lecture and painful punishment, that his lockdown would continue indefinitely. He was relieved to be wrong.
Jason had stopped over to check on Brock early Saturday morning before Katie was even out of bed. He took his older kid out for breakfast at Bravo's regular diner where he and his young dog handler talked seriously and honestly about how Brock was feeling and his role and position on Bravo.
"Brock, I already told you that your position on Bravo is secure and I'm not going to risk your career in the Navy over something as ridiculous and childish as what you did with Clay," Jason said, calmly eating his eggs. "But son, if you had lied to me at work or in the field to cover for Clay about anything job related, we would be having a very different conversation."
"Jase," Brock started. "I've told you before that Bravo means everything to me. Katie has a big family nearby, and the sisters like me okay. But, her parents have been hesitant at best since we announced we were getting married right after she finished college. And I don't see me ever really feeling them as my family. Poor Corey continually walks on eggshells with the Colonel, and he's their actual kid."
"Some families are just like that," Jason shrugged. "But Katie clearly loves you, and you love her. Someday you may decide to have your own kids and what her family thinks won't seem so important. Or you may decide to keep it just you and Katie and focus on your relationship and your careers. I love my kids more than anything in the world, and I wouldn't trade them or change my life path for anything, but sometimes I look at Derrick and Catherine and think that in our life, they made a really good choice for them."
"My own family back home is so different from Katie's," Brock admitted, feeling much better about coming clean with his boss and chosen foster dad. Despite his sore ass. "And before you and Ray took me on Bravo, I was seriously thinking about transferring to the teams out west to be closer to home."
"I didn't know that," Jason said, surprised.
"It was before Bravo and marrying Katie," Brock said. "But now, Jase, I never think about that. You guys made me your kid. Especially you and Trent, even before Clay. And I guess I've never told you, but I truly appreciate it and love you guys so much."
Brock stopped to take a breath, and Jason listened quietly. Bravo One could see his kid was trying to pull himself together. He thought, not for the first time, that Brock was really young. Younger than both Emmy and Mikey who he still thought of as kids.
"When Sonny told me you'd have my cage cleaned out by Monday, I literally thought my life was over," Brock said, his eyes watering. "I lost it on him like a little kid. I was so scared. Not even about my career, but believe me telling Katie and her parents I washed out was something I dreaded. But Jason, the thought of losing you guys, my family, was more terrifying than anything I've ever faced in the field. That day I think I realized for the first time how hard it must be for Clay, constantly afraid of being alone and abandoned. And he's still just a kid."
"Brock," Jason said seriously. "I'm going to tell you the same thing I tell Clay everyday. Bravo is your family for life. Even if I moved you back down to SEAL level because I felt you weren't ready for tier one yet, I would never cut you out of my life. And that goes for the rest of the team as well. You couldn't get rid of Trent if you tried. And neither could Clay. You are his boys for life, like it or not."
"And Jase," Brock said, looking down red-faced. "I'm so sorry about the whole stupid putter incident. Trent warned me that I need to keep the lines clear with Clay because he's a child."
"It's over Brock," Jason said honestly. "And I'm confident you got the message that I'm not having immature crap at work or at home."
"I'm not gonna lie, boss," Brock said, still avoiding eye contact. "The last time I had my butt torn up like that I was seventeen and the local cops caught me and my best friend smoking pot we bought from some sleazy dealer the next town over. And it turns out it wasn't even real pot which is the only reason I didn't end up in serious trouble. I never saw my dad so pissed off, and worse, ashamed of what I had done. He had to come get me at the police station. I was like Corey when I was a kid. I had only been spanked a handful of times, but I got it good that night."
Jason chuckled. "And it wasn't even actually pot?"
"Nope," Brock smiled. "I wasn't what you would call street smart when I was a kid."
"When you bent me over and paddled my ass with that spoon like a little kid, I was just as sorry and ashamed of myself as I was with my dad back home," Brock admitted. "I know you must have been pissed off to do that, Jase. And I'm sorry I put you in that position. It will never happen again. I promise. I'm not stupid, and I know you were trying to make a point and teach me a lesson. And I can assure you that the message was received. My days of acting like a dipshit kid are officially over."
"Well son," Jason smiled. "I'm glad to hear that. And I most definitely believe you got the message."
"Boss," Brock hesitated. "I assume Trent told you that I kind of lost it a little with him too the other day."
"Well," Jason said. "He didn't say you lost it. But Trent shared that you might be feeling a little lost on the team, being so much younger than us grumpy old men as I know you and Clay refer to us. But, not still a literal kid like Clay who we expect to mess up and make immature choices sometimes. We should have recognized that you would feel that way. Twenty-two is crazy young to become tier one, but Ray and I wouldn't have taken you if we didn't think you could handle it."
"And I can handle it, boss," Brock said quickly. "I swear I'm good."
"I don't doubt that you are good, son," Jason said gently. "Everyone knows that you are top-notch in the field. But Brock, it's okay to come to me or Trent or one of your other brothers and admit when you are struggling or feel like an odd man out."
Brock nodded slowly, making eye contact with his hero. "It's hard sometimes because I don't know exactly where I fit in. With you senior guys, I feel like a kid at the table with all the adults. But then, when you have me looking out for Clay, and he's tagging along and yapping like a little kid, I know I need to be the adult in charge. I guess sometimes I'm not sure who I am on the team."
"You are our little brother, Brock," Jason assured him. "Still our rookie, and you will be until us old geezers retire. Clay showing up out of nowhere shook up everything. But he's a whole separate issue because of his age. And I know I depend on you to help out with him because you are the only one anywhere near his age and experience level." Jason reached out and squeezed his kid's forearm. "And I am so grateful for everything you do with him," Jason said sincerely. "Clay adores and looks up to you. To him, you are the big brother. The rest of us are old men. His dad and grouchy uncles. But you, he can relate to. And that's not a requirement of your job, Brock. If it gets too much with Clay, you can most definitely let me or Trent know that you are busy or just not in the mood to be his babysitter."
"It's not a problem, Jase," Brock said honestly. "I legitimately like being with Clay. And Katie loves him too. No offense boss, but pizza and skeeball on the Boardwalk with Clay and Corey is actually a more appealing option than dressing up for fancy food with the grown-ups."
Jason laughed, standing to go pay the bill. "No offense taken, son," he said. "I kind of thought you would feel that way."
A few weeks later, Bravo had just returned from a relatively short mission to Syria. It was mostly intel gathering, a lot of translating for Clay, and sneaking around doing recon for the other guys. They were all tired and relieved to be safely back at home when the plane touched down on base.
Jason had been busy debriefing with Blackburn and Ellis, but Trent and Ray had both noticed with amused confusion that Sonny had spent most of the flight off in a corner whispering like kids in the high school cafeteria with Brock and Clay. Sonny usually avoided the motormouth after a mission, preferring to drink and talk quietly with the adults. And Brock was most often quietly reading in his hammock, or sitting off to the side with Clay and the dog, trying to keep the kid out of the older guy's hair.
"What do you think that's all about?" Ray chuckled, indicating the three man huddle taking place on the other side of the plane.
"No clue," Trent said, handing his brother a beer and taking a sip of his own Bud Light. "But the kids hanging on Uncle Sonny's every word seems suspicious at best."
"True," Ray said. "But our boys have been like two angels at Sunday school since their unfortunate dance with Mr. Spoon. It's hard to believe they would decide to step even an inch out of line and risk finding themselves back in trouble with the boss."
"And Sonny still hasn't recovered from having to punish his favorite naughty brat while Jason was away," Trent shook his head. "So I surely hope he's not encouraging any nonsense. When Jason took us out to dinner the night after he got back from Colorado, Sonny had several drinks and swore on his sainted Grandmother's soul that he would never again dish out a spanking, so it's unlikely he's up to no good."
When Sonny looked over to see Trent and Ray shooting him the stink eye, he just smiled and gave them a thumbs up. So Bravos Two and Four assumed everything was okay.
Clay hid out for most of the night in his room texting with Emma and Mikey. Jason had no idea what they were talking about, but his older kids had gone out of their way to make Clay know he was part of the family. Like everyone on the teams, his new big sister and brother fell in love with him right from the start and saw him as their much younger baby brother who needed to be loved and protected.
Emma and Mikey never had any jealousy or reservations about their dad taking in Clay and making the damaged kid their third sibling. They were both young adults, out of college and living their own single lives with new careers and friends when Clay was dropped on Bravo. They were both glad that Jason had someone in his life who needed and loved him so much. And it was a relief to both Emma and Mikey to know their dad wasn't alone in the little apartment.
As happened occasionally, late that night after both he and Clay had gone to bed, Jason was awakened by Clay wandering around the apartment. He lay in bed listening to the sound of the TV going on for a while and then off, and the refrigerator opening and closing in the kitchen. When it went on for almost an hour, Jason recognized that Clay was more restless than usual and wasn't going to be able to settle himself in time to prevent him being tired and grumpy at work the next day.
Pushing himself out of bed, the senior SEAL thought for about the thousandth time that he was too old for this.
Leaning in the doorway of the kitchen rubbing his eyes, Jason spoke quietly to his clearly squirmy kid.
"What's going on, Sunshine?" he asked. "It's almost two. We need to be up early tomorrow."
Clay looked up with a guilty expression from his bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch. "Sorry Jase," he said. "I didn't mean to wake you up. I'll go back to bed."
"You don't need to be sorry, honey," Jason said, joining him at the table. "You haven't done anything wrong. You were hungry?"
Clay shrugged, his leg bouncing in the chair the way his team had come to recognize it did when he was anxious or over-stimulated. Sitting to his boy's right at the table, Jason reached over and gently stilled Clay's leg with his strong hand.
"Are you worried about something?" Jason asked.
Clay shook his head, looking down at his cereal. "No," he said quietly. "I don't think so."
"Okay, then," Jason smiled gently. "How about you finish up your late night snack and come sleep in my bed until morning? I think maybe that will help us both settle. What do you think?"
Clay looked up at his chosen dad and nodded his head. "Thanks Jase," he said, standing to put his empty bowl in the sink after tipping it to drink the end of the sugary milk.
"Anytime sweetheart," Jason said softly, turning out the kitchen light and stepping back to let his boy lead the way back to the bedroom. As expected, Clay curled up against the man he depended on and loved, resting his head on his chest and immediately falling asleep.
The next morning, Jason let Clay get some needed extra sleep. He called Jeff, one of Bravo's support kids, and asked him to come sit with Clay in the apartment and bring him into base when he woke on his own. Jeff was Bravo support's medic. He had stayed at the infirmary in Mexico a few months back to take care of Clay when he was sick with strep and an ear infection and both Bravo and Alpha were called in to work. Clay liked the kid, and Jason was confident he could count on Jeff to get Clay up and moving and into base when he finally woke.
When he arrived with Jeff looking rested around ten, Clay met the team out in the back fields where they were running drills. Trent noticed Sonny off to the side talking to both Brock and Clay for a second time, and the medic knew there was definitely something up. But Trent knew and trusted Sonny not to let either Brock or Clay do anything that would get them in more trouble with the boss.
Clay had set a record with two spankings in less than a week when Jason returned from Colorado to find him and Brock waiting to make a full confession about the missing putter. And Sonny was already feeling guilty about being the one who kicked the week off with a bang by giving Clay the first spanking for his bratty backtalk, so Trent knew whatever was going on wasn't something inappropriate.
The mystery was solved shortly after lunch when Bravo was hanging out in their cage room doing end of the month paperwork. Trent watched with amusement as Clay emerged hesitantly from Sonny's cage with a long, thin box wrapped in blue paper. It had a bow on the top and a card attached.
Clay was looking over at Brock who was nodding his head, silently encouraging the kid to move forward toward Jason who was currently sitting at the table with his back facing his youngest team members. When he got close enough, Clay tapped his boss dad on the shoulder causing him to turn around to see his boy holding the blue box.
Jason recovered from his confusion quickly and smiled at his kid.
"What's this all about?" Bravo One asked. Now all of his team and family had their eyes on the kid.
"It's a present, Jase," Clay said. "For you."
"What's the occasion?" Jason asked. "I haven't gotten senile and forgotten my own birthday I hope."
"Open the card," Clay said, relaxing now that Jason was actually holding the much planned gift and smiling at him.
When he opened the card, Jason smiled, reading it to himself before sharing with the group.
"Happy Belated Father's Day," he read. "We love you. Emma, Mikey and Clay."
"Open it," Clay said, getting excited now.
Suspecting he knew what was in the box, Jason was stunned silent when he pulled a beautiful, old-fashioned, wooden putter out of the box. It was clearly handcrafted, and the senior Bravo members immediately knew what all the secret whispering was about. Both Brock and Sonny obviously had helped the kid come up with this gift.
Leaning into the man he adored, Clay pointed down to the engraving on the wooden head of the club.
"Brock knows a guy who does freehand tattoos," Clay explained, excited. "He had Emma and Mikey and me write our names out on paper and the guy engraved our signatures into the club."
The engraving read: Love always, from your children, Emma, Mikey and Clay.
Ray recovered the power of speech first. "Wow, Clay," he said, smiling. "That is an awesome gift."
"It's not the same as the one we broke," Clay said. "But Sonny has an uncle who is a carpenter back in Texas. He made it for us."
Jason was not known for losing control of his emotions, but when he looked up at his brothers for life Sonny and Brock, and the kid who was now his own, Bravo One had tears in his eyes.
Never having seen Jason cry, Clay looked up at Trent nervously. The medic smiled reassuringly back at his kid who never had a real parent who loved and cared for him before Jason and was confused by his reaction.
"I'm pretty sure he loves it, honey," Trent said confidently.
Pulling himself together, Jason pulled his boy in tight and held him on his lap like a little boy, kissing his head. "I absolutely love it, Sunshine," he said. "It's the best Father's Day gift anyone has ever gotten."
"I don't think you can actually golf with it," Clay said. "Sonny says you can hang it on the wall."
"Yes," Sonny chimed, sporting his wide Texas grin. "Be sure to secure it tightly so it doesn't fall victim to Golfclub Baseball."
"You're hilarious, Sonny," Brock said with zero emotion.
"Don't pout at me like a little bitch because you learned the hard way that you aren't too big for a spanking after all, Broccoli," Sonny teased, pulling the kid over for a side hug and kissing his head. "I told both you unruly brats back after your last punishment for being sneaky half-truth tellers that what you needed was some quality time dancing at the end of the boss's spanking spoon. You didn't heed your Uncle Sonny's wise warnings. And your little tails paid the price. Don't blame me for your foolishness."
Brock rolled his eyes, ignoring his big brother's teasing. Taking out his phone he told Clay to stand with Jason and hold the putter.
"I promised Emma and Mikey we'd send them a picture," Brock said. "Apparently, in some instances, sneakiness with accomplices is a good thing."
Shortly after the text went through, Jason's phone vibrated, and he was happy to hear the sound of his baby-girl's voice at the other end. Mikey called later that night, and Bravo One had the rare opportunity to talk to all three of his babies in one day.
On his way out to the parking lot that evening after a last minute meeting with Blackburn, Jason caught up with Brock who had stayed late to talk with Cerb's veterinarian on base.
"Son," Jason said sincerely. "You have no idea how much that gift meant to me. And I have no doubt that you and Sonny were behind it. I am truly grateful for everything you do for me, my kid and this team. And I hope you know that I love you like you were my own."
"I do Jase," Brock said quietly. "And I meant it when I said you are my family. When I joined Bravo, I was basically on my own. You took me in and made me your kid. And being Jason Hayes' kid is a really great place to find yourself. And I love you like my own dad."
"I know you boys think that you got lucky, Brock," Jason said seriously. "But I'm the lucky one. When my marriage ended, and then Alana was killed, I had Emma and Mikey to focus my energy and guilt for every stupid mistake I had made with my wife and kids."
Jason took a breath to gather his emotions before continuing.
"Then they both went off to college and moved away, and I was a lonely old guy hanging out in an empty apartment, drinking too much beer and eating too much take-out," he said. "Out of the blue, my wingman Ray, who always knows what I need, shows up with a smart, sweet, great kid barely out of his teens from sunny California. And all of a sudden, I had another kid."
Brock laughed, "Oh yeah, you definitely won the lottery."
"Then a little over a year later, Adam drops Trouble in my lap and I'm cooking dinners and watching ridiculous TV with my boys," Jason said. "For an old guy like me, it doesn't get better than that, Son."
Jason had purposely asked Sonny to take Clay home and feed him some dinner so that he could talk to his brother later once the kid was put to bed.
"I don't say this enough Sonny," Jason said after checking to be sure Clay was asleep and joining his brother at the kitchen table.
"And I do a lot of bitching and complaining at you," Jason continued. "But brother, I know and truly appreciate that you always have my back and have never let me down. You and Trent have been with me so long it's like there never was a time when you weren't my brothers. I let Adam convince me to take Clay because I knew from the second I laid eyes on him that he wouldn't survive without us. It was a huge risk and an insane assumption to make him Bravo, but you guys never questioned me."
"Trent immediately became the only caregiver that baby ever had in his life," Jason said. "And as much as you bitched and grouched, Sonny, you became that boy's pitbull from day one. Even when he was a royal pain in your ass. And there are no words for how grateful I am, or how much I love you guys."
"You've always had my back, Jase," Sonny said simply. "And you can believe, I will always have yours. And that goes for your rag-tag menagerie of babies as well, brother."
"Is Sonny still here?" Jason and Sonny turned to see Clay, standing in the doorway to the kitchen, squinting against the sudden light.
"Right here, runt," Sonny said, standing to put his empty bottle in the sink and reach for his coat. "I'm almost sure when I tucked you in, I said that I would see you tomorrow. Why are you scampering around at this hour?"
"I had to pee," Clay said seriously. "I heard you talking to Jason and I just remembered that I told Corey and JJ I would ask you to teach them Curse Word Scrabble."
"Really Loose Lips McGee?" Sonny said, shaking his head. "What's the first rule of being grounded with Uncle Sonny?"
Clay rolled his eyes and sing-songed, "The first rule of being grounded with Uncle Sonny is you don't talk about being grounded with Uncle Sonny."
"Well," Jason said. "Clearly that rule is out the window. What the hell is Curse Word Scrabble?"
"Exactly what the name says, boss," Sonny looked at him as if he had two heads. "Scrabble, but with only curse words allowed."
"Sonny claims he beat me when you were in Colorado, Jase," Clay reported. "But, I never even heard half of the words he collected points for, so I told JJ I think he made those words up. JJ says he wants to learn and he'll let me know if they're real curse words."
"And JJ is an expert on curse words?" Jason chuckling.
Clay shrugged. "He says he rides the bus and has spent a lot of time in the locker room after football practice, so he knows things."
"Oh, you just bring on that little shit, and Brock's kid too," Sonny snorted. "The school bus and the high school locker room against my years of experience in bars and brothels around the world? That's not even a contest for your Uncle Sonny. Tell Josh I said to load up the soccer mom van and drop all three of you off at my apartment Saturday afternoon. We'll see who knows how to curse. Do you remember what I told you, Shorty?"
"Sonny Quinn has the foulest mouth in the whole state of Texas," Clay laughed when Sonny pulled him in for a hug. "Can I go Jase?"
"Knock yourself out," Jason said, shaking his head. "But you are going to need to run fun with Uncle Sonny past Josh and the Colonel if you are bringing the other two musketeers."
"We will," Clay promised.
"And I'm going to strongly suggest that I not hear any of Uncle Sonny's award winning filthy vocabulary rolling off your tongue," Jason said sternly. "Unless you would like to be sampling Boss Daddy's Irish Spring Buffet. Are we clear?"
"Yes, sir," Clay and Sonny responded in unison.
"You are a special brand of extra special, Sonny Quinn," Jason said, shaking his head and pointing the kid back to his bedroom.
"See you tomorrow, Trouble," Sonny said, heading for the door.
"NIght, Sonny," Clay yawned. "I love you."
Sonny growled, throwing up his hands, "What did I say about the love fest?"
"Sorry," Clay smirked. "I forgot."
"I'll let it slide this time," Sonny grouched, pointing at the kid. "And I love you too, Trouble."
Sonny locked and closed the door as he left. He walked out to the parking lot, shaking his head, smiling and grouching to himself at the same time.