2020-04-21 - Catching up - Logan, Kurt, Owen and Slaine

Logan Reinhardt’s first day on the job at the Alexandra Fire Department felt almost like his job with the Vancouver Fire Department, except he knew most of the people on his shift, including the Captain/Chief Hank Stanley.  He enjoyed the job and the first day was silent.  But after Vancouver, Logan liked a quiet shift.

He returned home on the morning of Tuesday April 21 after having had a nice and uneventful shift.  He cut behind the firehouse to get home and on his way up the incline got a text message.  Since he didn’t recognise the number, he ignored it until he was back in his apartment.  Then he read it.

Sorry.  My phone got taken.  New number.  Call me?  Slaine.

He looked at the phone and breathed.  “Speak of the Devil and she sends you a text message.”  After a moment’s thought, he sends Owen a text message.  May as well be there to support his brother.

Owen.  Come by my place.  Slaine got in touch.

Then he looks up stairs where he can clearly see Kurt sleeping .. or laying.

Kurt is splayed out on the bed upstairs with his iPad in front of him and headphones on. He doesn't hear the door open but seems to be speaking...in Gaelic along with a language learning program, repeating a phrase. "Suilann an madra.......The dog...walks.....Suilann an madra......The dog walks." Thinking out loud he ponders "Don't WE walk the dog? I don't understand the Irish....."

It was Owen's day off finally and he was up early and planned to spend some of it outside with his bike. He pulled on a hoodie, getting ready and then heard his phone buzz on vibrate. "Oh please don't be work...."  He had been called in a lot as some of his coworkers had fallen ill. He really needed this day. He held his breath as he read the text from Logan and then simply grabbed his phone and ran down the stairs two at a time flew past his father having his last morning coffee and was out the door.

John muttered something like "Rocketboy" as he passed with a chuckle.

Owen knocked at Logan and Kurt's door less than a  full minute after the text was sent.

Logan listened to Kurt’s muttering with a loving smile.  It amazed him how much he loved that strange man.  Barely had he lowered his phone than there was a knock on the door.  Logan was not surprised to see Owen there.  “Come on in.  Have a seat.”  he motions to the small table with 2 chairs by his window.  “I just got a text from Slaine and I thought you may as well be here when I called her….”  he sits and holds the phone in his hand, ready to call.  “Her phone got turned off so she has a new number.  That might explain some of it, eh?”

Kurt continued with his lesson and repeated the phrase "Suilann an madras sios go dti an choirneal." "The dog walks down to the corner." Logan sighs "Poor puppy where are your humans? Are you searching for them? Suilann an madras sios dti an choirmeal....bow wow wow...."

Owen came in and started to head to the chair and then looked quizzically up the stairs before shaking his head around and sitting "My messages just looked like they were going through......Is she ok?"

Logan put Slaine’s number in his contacts.  Slaine Indi.  He grins as he overhears Kurt, but looks at Owen.  “Let me talk to her first and see what’s up. So shush.”  he puts a finger to his lips and sets the phone down.  Then he presses the Call icon.

Slane answered the phone as soon as she saw who the call was from.  As if she’d been hovering.  “Logan?”  she begins.  “Oh god .. Logan?”  and she begins crying as if her heart was breaking.

Logan blinked at the phone when Slaine started crying.  “Yea.  It’s me.  I’ve been trying to get in touch with you.  You just vanished.  Slaine.  What’s wrong?”  it hadn’t occurred to him that the call would go like this.

“Everything!  Xavier took Liam!  Never brought him back from the visitation.  He cut off my phone and .. and …”  she sobs.  “He’s hired a lawyer!  Logan I can’t afford a lawyer.  His family is RICH!  I’m going to lose Liam!”

Owen stays quiet but hangs onto the edge of the table and immediately silently cries when Slaine does. As she goes on, his body slowly slumps forward so his face down on the table, leaning on one arm.

Kurt's language program has a pause in the sound and he hears voices and takes off the headphones. Then he hears Slaine crying and descends the stairs stopping short of the table. Owen's state there confuses him but Kurt being Kurt he leans down and quietly hugs Logan's brother. Whatever it is, a hug will help.

Logan listens and pinches the bridge of his nose.  When he removes his hand Kurt is hugging a slumped over Owen.  Well … now they know why she ghosted on all of them.  “I’m sorry, Slaine.”  he tells her.  “Maybe you can get a free lawyer or something?”  even as he says it, he thinks of the old saying ‘You get what you pay for’ and blows out a breath.  “Anyway, you have friends here.”  he glances up.  “Owen’s here too…”

Slane listens, still crying.  At Owen’s name she takes a shuddering breath.  “Owen?  Oh God .. Owen…”  and wails in fresh tears.  “I’m so sorry .  I … oh .. shit…”  and a clunk can be heard, followed by the sound of vomiting, followed by more crying.

Owen accepts the kindness from Kurt and then looks up completely stricken at Slaine's reaction to him. She seemed sorry but he somehow physically made her sick?  He sniffed and then quietly said "Hi Slaine. It's ok if i'm not the person you want to talk to...I'm so sorry about your legal issues...and your kid....."

Kurt just looked worried for them both and pet Owen's head like he was a lost puppy. That Irish dog on the corner had nothing on this.

Logan blinks when Slaine says his brother’s name and proceeds to throw up.  Owen had enough fragile corners.  But … again … this isn’t the Slaine he knows.  “Slaine?”  he calls into the phone.

Slane returns to the phone in time to hear Owen speak.  “No … no Owen .. it’s YOU who probably don’t want to speak to ME.”  she pauses and sniffs.  “I really like you, Owen.  Really REALLY like you.”  she starts crying again.  “I wanted to find you but the ferry doesn’t go to Alexandra anymore.  I found Logan’s number in my Google Contacts after I got out of the hospital this morning.  I wanted to talk to you, Owen.  I just COULDN’T!”  and she is born away on a fresh wave of tears.

Owen sobs audibly when she says she really likes him. He had been wishing for those words forever. Then when she goes on he gasps "Oh god...why were you in the hospital Slaine? Do you have the virus?" He's holding his breath again looking at the phone.

Kurt just left his hand absently on Owen's head looking alarmed between Logan and his phone "Slaine? We're here for you. What is happening to you?"

Logan gapes.  “Hospital?  Slaine, what’s going on?”  he almost demands.

Slane is still crying.  “No.  No … I don’t have … Covid.”  she tells them between sobs.  “I’m not mad.  I’m not sick.  I am sick ... I’m just …  SCARED”  she almost shouts and then cries again.  “Fuck.  I didn’t … want .. to tell … you .. on the phone…”  she cries a little more.  “I fainted.  They took me .. to the .. hospital ….  They said stress … and .. and .. and ….  I’m pregnant.”  and .. another wave.

Owen keeps crying with her. His emotions are very tied to hers. At the last he slumps down again, shrinking into himself and  cupping his head in his hand. He closes his eyes and just barely gets out "Is is Xavier's?" He knows there's another option but he doesn't ask that question. He can't ask that question.

Kurt looks stricken and then confused and then has a look of dawning and turns his head slowly towards Owen as if he finally understands why Owen is there...and crying...with Slaine. He looks up at Logan as if asking for confirmation.

Logan’s eyes grow large as he looks at the phone while Slaine speaks and then at his brother .. and finally at Kurt.  He and Slaine had been friends and Slane had spoken to him on many issues … including her non existant sex life …

Slaine snorts.  “No … not Xavier…”    she sniffs.  “I haven't been with him in more than six months.”  she sniffs and appears to be trying to get herself together.  “I’m sorry.  I’m not making … demands.  I’m just telling you.”  she swallows audibly.  “But I’m keeping the baby .. no matter what you decide.”  It sounds like false bravado.  “You just deserve to know.”

Owen shakes and sobs "Slaine I'm so sorry....and it's not up to me at all but it is my responsibility to and I will honour that. I want to support you. Seriously, whatever you want. I don't think it's mutual....but....I fuckin love you......" He starts crying to hard to even speak. and then works to catch his breath "Just tell me what you need...."

Kurt looks like he's going to fall over from shock. Owen...and Slaine? Are pregnant? What? He looks aghast at Logan and then just rubs Owen's back.

Logan doesn’t look much better than Kurt does.  He reaches for Kurt’s hand.  Part of him thinks they should leave these two alone, but part of him doesn’t want to leave his brother in his time of need.

Slaine listens to Owen and .. well the tears had never really stopped.  “I’ve been telling myself its too soon and I’m too old for you and it’s stupid to fall in love so fast.”  she sniffs.  “I love you … but I’m here and you’re there and …”  she blows out a breath.  “I just need you … and if we still feel the same way when this bullshit is over then we’ll talk more then.”  and then she gasps as if she’d been holding her breath for the entire conversation.  “Covid-19 .. oh god … the baby … the baby.”  she hadn’t really thought about it with everything else going on.  “Oh my god what have I done?”  and … yea … more tears.

Owen impulsively picks up the phone and tries to switch over to face time. He's still sobbing so he's clumsy about it "Slaine... I need you too...i need to see you. I thought I just annoyed the fuck out of you and you ghosted me. I had no idea. Pickup please.....I love you so much. I've been losing my mind........we both did this....the baby will be ok....."

Kurt moves to Logan now, giving Owen space but staying near. In Logan's ear he whispers a quiet "Wow...."

Logan blows out a breath and tosses off a quick prayer.  Something he hasn’t done in years.  He nods at Kurt's words and takes his hand.  Standing, he turns and goes to sit on the lounge chair, pulling Kurt down with him.  Beside his chair is his laptop, as he loves doing his homework down here.  He opens it, boots it up and starts searching.

It takes a minute, but Owen will see Slaine’s face appear in the window.  She is of a medium complexion which could be the Celtic or the Asian in her with clear skin, nearly black eyes that show her Asian heritage and straight black hair.  Now, however, her eyes are red and puffy.  Her cheeks are tear stained and her hair is up in an incredibly messy bun.  She looks at him and her hand appears, holding a wad of tissue.  Her face breaks into a tentative smile.  “Hi….”  and then she begins crying … no .. she never stopped.  “It’s good to see you.  I ….  “  she sniffs and wipes her face.  “Honestly I thought I was just .. you know .. a fun time … older woman and all.  Bragging rights, nailing the college woman.”  she leans forward and a fresh tissue appears.  “I thought I was stupid because I knew I was falling .. even before we …”  she sniffs.

Logan finds his answer.  “Hey .. guys … um .. just .. breaking into the conversation here.  Slane …  I just looked it up … it says there's no evidence that Covid-19 will hurt the baby .. just .. stay safe.  You didn’t lose your job, did you?  It’s online, isn’t it?”

Kurt curls up beside Logan, uncommonly quiet and reads the search over his shoulder, leaning on it with his chin.

Owen's eyes are red and her words completely wind him. His long red hair is down and a mess. He hadn't brushed it yet after sleeping on it. he's a bit of a wild man , stubble, ruddy face, flyaway hair. His tears are still falling but quietly and he's trying to find the words. Before they can come Logan shares his and Owen turns the phone towards his brother and boyfriend for a second "Thanks Logan." He's not sure where to begin and inhales "I can't even explain how connected to you I felt....even before. Slaine....you probably noticed some stuff....stuff I reacted to oddly." He wipes at his eyes again "I definitely wasn't looking to nail a college girl or anyone. And I'm not one for casual sex. Truth be told I'm a sexual assault survivor and you were the first and only safe place I've ever been after that. I don't care how old you are...but I was afraid you bailed because I was a kid...to you." He gets practical now after Logan's other question "Do you have a job and a safe place to be? Because I have a...  a job...i'm completely overworked...I can help with stuff.....anything Slaine I'm serious. I really really love you."

Logan is listening to his brother and learning a lot about him.  He leans into Kurt and just takes it all in … processes.

The reassurance makes her relax a little.  “Thank you Logan.”  Slane nods, remembering how odd their first time had been.  It makes sense.  When he mentioned that he survived sexual assault, her eyes begin again to leak.  “Oh, that makes so much sense.  Why you didn’t …”  and she cuts herself off.  “Never mind.”  she sighs.  “I’m so sorry about that.”  she laughs for the first time.  “You are NOT a child, Owen Reinhardt.”  and tells him and then nods to herself.  “We’ll figure this all out.” she raises her voice.  “Logan, could you .. or someone .. see if there's a place available there?  I don’t know how I could MOVE right now, but …”  she blows out a breath.  “Staying here and looking at Liam’s empty room …”  she sniffs.  “Yes.  My job is online and very secure.  I put together graphic novels and comics.”  she tells him.  “It makes decent enough money, until the Vancouver life is finished with me.”  she takes in a deep breath and seems to be calming now that she is looking at Owen.  “Don’t worry about money.  Right now I just need friends and … love couldn’t hurt.  There's so much going on, I know I should try not to stress but …  how can I not?”  she sniffs and blinks as if fighting off the next wave of tears.

Kurt was still in stunned silence. Just cuddling up to Logan.

Owen looked at Slaine like his heart was bursting “You wanna move here?” He exhaled smiling “Maybe we can still get Liam back. You could both come. There’s actually a lot of empty places here. We’ve lost people here....long story.... but there’s room....” He looks hopeful for the first time in weeks and pulls out his phone to edit her contact “I need your new number...”

Logan facepalms when Slaine tells Owen that he’s not a child.  Sometimes his imagination was too rich for his own good.  This was his ‘little brother’, after all.  Who was going to be a father.  He leans over his laptop and begins to search for available apartments in Alexandra.  There were actually quite a few.  He opens his mouth to speak and then changes his mind.  Copying and pasting into his web email, he finally speaks.  “Slaine, I'm sending you the ads now.  You can take your time.  We’re closed like everyone else.  But there’s a two bedroom on Water street by the Town Hall and near the clinic.  And a couple more on First Street … that’s in the Bottoms, but not in the Shops area.  Do you have the same email?”  he realizes it may have changed.  He isn’t a huge email guy usually.

Slaine nods.  “I can work anywhere.”  she explains.  “And this apartment is breaking my heart.”  she pauses and looks almost hopeful.  “Maybe.  I can try and get a lawyer, but the Walsh family is so powerful…”  she sighs.  “I want to be close to you.  I mean … if I stay here you wouldn't be able to see the baby as much … and that isn’t fair.  Besides … it’ll give us a chance to see if we are really compatible, if that makes sense.”  she sighs.  “I’m just scared, Owen.  I want to talk to you a lot more.  Oh yea …”  she leans forward and fiddles with something … “I sent you a quick email, Logan.  Send it to that email.  It’s the work one.  I lost my email address too.  That’s what I get for letting Xavier try and keep me under his thumb.”  she clears her throat and nods.  “Logan has it now, I hope.”  but she rattles off her phone number and email aloud for Owen’s benefit.  “You’ll keep in touch?  As much as you can?”  she tries not to sound too hopeful .. or worse .. desperate.

Kurt just keeps listening. It’s unreal.

Owen looks amazed by her lack of confidence but it also mirrors his own. “I’m putting this all in my phone. We’re tying up Logan’s right now but we can switch to mine after.” He sighs “Xavier sounds like a fuckin tool. I’m sorry.” He looks sheepishly grateful at Logan “ I should probably tell my parents...about you and the baby. Do yours know? Are you close to them?”

Logan winces when Owen asks about her parents.  He knows the story.  But it was just another step in their getting to know each other.

Slaine looks tired and yet exhilarated.  Yes .. Thanks Logan.”  she snorts.  “Yea .. another reason I want to take this .. well .. slower than we started.”  she smiles softly, but it fades.  “My parents died  two years ago.  It was a car crash … I’ll tell you more when we talk.  I promise.”  she pauses.  “Thanks again for .. being great.  Let’s do this right … from now on.  And … I hope your parents don’t hate me.  I don’t hate you. I love you .. even if it's fast.”  she shudders.  “I need to head for the bathroom, but if you want we can talk afterwards…”  she looks ready to go .. and like she doesn’t want to.

Owen picks up Her urgency for the bathroom and remembers throwing up earlier “I love you too. I’ll text you so you can call as soon as you feel up to it. I’m off work so anytime...” He talked fast trying not to hold her up and just finished with “I’ll wait for you.”

Kurt got all teary eyed for them and hugged Logan “This is so much better than the story of that Irish dog.”