Hmmm

Receiving Jess' reassurance, he manages to give her a small smile and he squeezes her hand. "Thanks, Jess."

Pulling her close, he envelopes her in a hug, resting his head against hers. She thought he was so strong. And sometimes he was. But today he didn't feel like it. "Sometimes a rainbow needs a little extra help to shine brightly."

Kissing the top of her head, he lets her go and moves to the toaster again, trying to get past this topic for a while. He had a couple hours to clear his head and he didn't want to spend his time worrying - at least not while Jess was still here.


Quinn sinks down on his bed again and stares at the phone in his hand. What on earth was he doing? This was all so bizarre. So unexpected. So... like God.

Sighing, he looks at the clock. He had a while yet. Maybe a walk to clear his mind would be best. Then he'd find his way down to the coffee shop again if he didn't get lost.


A couple hours later, Quinn sits at a table at the Coffee Bean, sipping coffee even though he didn't really feel like it. maybe it would help settle his nerves. He was a little early, but that was okay with him. He'd rather be the first one here to at least have the upper hand to start.

Outside, Axel parks his car and fiddles with his keys. Jess had gone to work, he'd dragged his feet getting ready, and he was finally here. He'd opted to come alone... it was better that way. Was Quinn already here? He had no idea. There was an out-of-state car here, but he didn't even know where Quinn lived now.

It was at least another five minutes before he finally got out of his car and went inside. His stomach was in knots and his pulse racing. He hated this feeling. Hated it with a passion. But it would be over soon. Whether good or bad, this meeting wouldn't last forever.

Seeing the front door open, Quinn sits a little straighter, cocking his head slightly to see if it was just another customer, or someone he knew. There was no mistaking Axel. Older... not the kid he'd seen seven years ago... a little broader in the shoulders but still slim and fit. Different haircut but still unmistakeably red. Quinn's stomach lurches as he stands up from the table.

Axel's eyes sweep the room and land on the man who had just stood. His own feet come to a halt and he just stares. Quinn... He looked different with a beard, but Axel still recognized him. His brother seemed a little rougher, at least in appearance. His eyes had a weary glint to them but they were still bright - he was healthy... and just as nervous as Axel was.

Swallowing hard, Axel finally walks closer until he was face-to-face with Quinn. Locking eyes, he slowly extends his hand, willing his fingers not to tremble.

Quinn glances down to his brother's hand, then back up again to meet eyes that matched his own. This man was a convicted rapist. Did he dare shake his hand? Moved by more than his own will, Quinn's hand extends and clasps Axel's. "You look good."

Axel feels the connection only a brother can feel and it makes his pulse race faster. "You too."

Still sizing each other up, they back apart and sit down across from one another at the table. Axel grabs a sugar packet to play with and finally looks back to Quinn. "So... what do you want?"

Quinn's fingers fiddle with his coffee cup. He didn't even know the answer to that. But that wouldn't sound very good, would it? "I have no idea."

Axel blinks. If Quinn was here to cause trouble, he would have already said something to imply as much, right? "Well..." His confusion shows on his face. "Why... why did you want me to call?"

Quinn takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly, his eyes finally lowering. "I... I don't know. I just... I saw your dogtags and... I was shocked. It was the first thing I thought of." He looks back up again. "I thought you were still in prison."

Now it's Axel's turn to sigh. "I was only there for about two years."

"How?"

"Good behavior." Axel swallows hard. The one thing he'd never talked about, even with Jess, was the time he'd spent behind bars. Perhaps because it has been worse than he'd ever wanted to admit. Perhaps because leaving it at good behavior implied that he'd been fine, even if it wasn't the truth.

Quinn quirks an eyebrow. "That's it?"

"Probation... rehabilitation program... for a year. Look, I really don't know why we need to rehash this." Axel's discomfort shows through. These weren't good memories.

"Maybe because I need to hear it," Quinn counters. "You're loose on the streets, I think I have a right to know."

Axel's eyes shoot up in a fiery glare he hadn't used in years. "What do you really want, Quinn? Was I suckered into you wanting to stir up trouble? You're too late - the community has already tried and I'm staying here."

"So the truth got out, huh?"

An all-too familiar anger surged through Axel's veins, brought on by memories of a similar conversation seven years ago. He was tired of defending himself. "Dang it, Quinn." Standing from the table, he looks down at his brother. "You still can't see past the end of your nose. Even after all these years. Please... if you're just passing through, go quietly and quickly. My nightmare ended when I was released."

Quinn's sights jerk up as Axel rises and he can feel his own irritation building. He hadn't intended on starting an argument... the words had just slipped out. His conversation with Anastasia nagged the back of his mind, reminding him that he may have lacked all of the facts. "I wasn't planning on staying," he retorts. "Especially not with this reception."

Axel shakes his head and shrugs lamely. "I really don't know what you want, and if you're not willing to tell me, then there's nothing keeping me here, and there's no reason for me to welcome you with open arms."

"I'm sorry I'm harsh," Quinn replies quickly. "But it's kinda hard not to be with someone like you."

"Someone like me?" Axel scoffs. "You mean a rapist?"

Silence.

Quinn stares up into his brother's eyes, reliving all the mixed emotions that had haunted him for the last seven years. "You said it."

"No." Axel was tired of being the victim. Setting his palms on the table, he leans over Quinn. "You said it. And so did everyone else. You... our mother... our father... our friends. For some reason, no one cared to actually believe the truth. And I am not responsible for your unwillingness to have faith - you'll have to answer for that yourself." Spinning on his heel, he aims for the door.

"Axel!" Quinn stands up, feeling more torn than he ever had before.

Stopping, Axel throws up his arms before turning back around. "I'll ask you again... what do you want?"

"I want... I want the truth."

Axel shakes his head, a wry grin forming on his lips. "No... you just want to feel good."

Quinn watches helplessly as his brother turns back once more and walks out the door...


It wasn't lunchtime. It was later than that. One, maybe two o'clock. Quinn wasn't even sure where he'd been... he'd just been driving. He'd gotten lost a couple of times, but hadn't cared. Somehow he'd found his way back through town again. And this time, his destination wasn't back to the hotel.

Entering the shop just as he had the day before, his eyes glance around the racks and shelves. Today though, his heart was even heavier. He hadn't thought it was possible after yesterday, but today was worse. Maybe because he felt he'd screwed up. He still hadn't learned to control his tongue. Whether he was wrong or right about what he believed, the meeting should have lasted longer.

Wandering back to the classic music again, Quinn runs his hand over the old records, not looking for anything in particular. Or maybe he was. But it wasn't a record.


Clanging around in the auto shop, Leo looks up as he sees Axel's car return to the lot. Watching him park then head around the side to go upstairs, Leo thinks for a moment then shakes his head. Though returning to his work, he looks over his shoulder at Ryan, keeping his voice down so as not to bother the others.

"Darrel said Axel called in sick this morning... but I saw Jess leave his place earlier, then he left, and now he's back and he doesn't look sick at all."

He wasn't trying to accuse Axel of anything, but his actions were definitely peculiar and Leo was fishing, trying to see if Ryan knew anything.