Rule(83)

I tossed my pencil at Rome’s head and indicated he could come in if he wanted.  “What’s up?”

He threw the pencil back at me and dropped heavily on the bed.  He stuck his long legs out in front of him and crossed his ankles while reclining back on his elbows making himself right at home.

“Still no word from Shaw?”

I bit back a growl because just thinking about it made me want to hurt things.  “She says she has too much homework due tomorrow so she’s just going to head home after work and do it.”

“Huh.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing just huh.”

“Shut up Rome, your huh never means nothing.”

“Well it’s just odd that she hasn’t been around much the last couple days.  Did you have a fight you didn’t tell me about?”

“No.”

“Are you sure?”

I scowled at him.  “Yes I’m sure we didn’t have a fight.  Did you just come in here to harass me or did you actually want something?”

“Trying to change the subject?”  I called him a nasty name and spun back around in my chair.

“If you’re just going to be annoying I have to finish this back piece I’m working on for a client.”

“I got my medical release today.  The doc from Carson called a little while ago.  That means I’m going wheels up at the beginning of next week.”

I spun back around.  He was trying to look relaxed but I could see the tension around his mouth and eyes.

“Your shoulder is going to be up to it?”

“That’s what they tell me.”

“How about you?  Are you going to be up to going back to it?”

“I guess I don’t really have a choice.  I would feel better leaving if I knew things with you and Shaw were straight and she didn’t have some lunatic stalking her, and that mom had agreed to get some help but I guess miracles only happen in the movies.”

I grunted and rubbed my hands over my hair that seemed to be getting longer by the minute.  I was tempted to shave the mohawk back but for whatever reason in my head Shaw shouldn’t be with a guy rocking hair like that so I was keeping it normal and natural even though she told me on a regular basis how much she missed the hawk.

“Shaw and I are fine so don’t worry about it, as for mom, well there’s nothing I can really do to help you with that.  Promise me that you’re going to be safe.  No more driving over bombs.”

“That wasn’t in the plan the first time.  Look I’m going to tell mom and dad, you know they’re going to want to do something since no one knows when I’ll be back or what condition I’m going to be in.”

“Rome I can’t go through that with mom again.”

“I’ll tell dad to set something up at a restaurant or something.  I’ll make sure he knows it has to be a family event which means you will be there and so will Shaw.  I’m not asking little brother I’m telling you.  I’m about to go back to the desert for who knows how long and I deserve a good family memory to take with me.  Everyone can just suck it up for one night, I deserve that.”

“You saw how well it went last time and that wasn’t even with me provoking her.”

He sighed and pushed to his feet.  “Do this for me Rule, please.”

I didn’t want to, not when things with Shaw were weird and not after my mom had made her feelings about me so clear, but there wasn’t much I would deny my brother and there was nothing I wouldn’t do for him when he asked me to please do it.  I growled a lot of really dirty words and let my head fall backwards.

“Let me know when and where.  I’ll tell Shaw but you can’t get pissed and go back to the war all mad if mom does what she tends to do and makes it ugly.”

“I don’t understand why we can’t all just be a goddamn family for once.  I really don’t feel like that’s too much to ask.”

“You’re right, it’s not and I will do my part.  Okay?”

“Thanks bro, you’re only half as bad as everyone thinks.”

“Shut up.”  I laughed and went back to my drawing.  “Just so you know I’m going to miss having your bossy ass around.”

He walked over to me and put me in a head lock.  I struggled in vain trying to get loose but he was just too big and easily manhandled me.

“I’m going to miss your smart mouth and shitty attitude as well.  Though this hair you have going on is stupid and not at all you so I won’t miss that one bit.”  He finally released me when I got a solid fist into his ribs.  He let me go with a grunt and I pushed the nondescript locks out of my face.

“You’re just worried that when I have normal looking hair that people will start to realize I’m so much better looking than you.”

He lunged for me again and we wrestled around for a little bit like we used to do when we were kids, only now Rome was giant and had a solid fifty pounds on me so it wasn’t much of a fight.  He left with a promise to call and order something for dinner and it gave me a small measure of satisfaction to notice he was rubbing his ribs on his way out.