2020-10-19 Kettle of Fish - Bad days at the Lancaster House

 2020-10-19 Kettle of Fish - Bad days at the Lancaster House

Flynn Lancaster had been persistent and charming with Sharon. He had dropped in on Saturday morning with coffees for her and Nolan as Nolan was heading to hockey practice at the community centre. Which meant he got a chat alone with Sharon. By the time Nolan got back his father was set up to be staying with them on the couch. He was sweet as pie the first day and night. But that Sunday evening he had insisted they invite Elise, Nolan’s girlfriend, for supper so he could get to know her. And in this event his facade began to show some cracks.

Nolan had offered to cook, which was common in their home but Flynn took a bit of a shot at Sharon over it as they sat down to eat. “Sharon you used to cook. Why are you letting the boy go all domestic on us?” He was jovial and he actually winked at Elise after he said it.

Sharon defended “Nolan loves to cook and he’s good at it. Should we deny our son something he enjoys because you’re worried it’s not manly enough?” She was teasing back but with an edge.

Elise chimed in “Nolan’s cooking is something we have in common. And do you know how many of the world’s famous chefs are men?”

Nolan was already anxious.  His father was moving right back in, and making himself at home.  He’d been trying to give him a chance, like his mother seemed to be wanting to, but he wasn’t happy about it.  Inviting Elise over also didn’t make him feel any better about it.  He just did not trust his father.  Now his father was taking little swipes about his cooking.  He tried to be chill about it, but he heard a slight bite in his voice.  “Mom works hard and I like my chores.  I got stuck doing it all because Brett wouldn’t, even if he DID take the credit.  Just be happy I decided against bringing my frilly pink ruffled apron and feather duster when we moved here, Dad.”  he dishes himself up a plate of his fish stew and starts eating.

Sharon nods along with Elise and suppresses a grin at Nolan’s little joke about the pink ruffled apron and feather duster. She had heard what he said about Brett but there was nothing she could do to rectify what she realized had been such an imbalance between the responsibility Nolan took versus what Brett had faked. She sighed at Nolan “You are a great help to me Nolan and I really appreciate it.” She takes a bite of her stew and smiles “Mmm…”

Elise grins at Nolan about his apron and duster comment “Now I know what to get you for Christmas. I think pink would be really hot on you.” She’s very much directing her attention at Nolan and avoiding even looking at his father unless he’s directly addressing her. 

Flynn snorts as he chews. He looks down at the stew and then eyes Elise and Nolan “Well hey whatever gets you properly laid I guess.” Then he really eyes Elise “You’re a tiny thing aren’t ya? If you don’t mind my asking….are you Asian?”

Elise almost chokes on her bite of stew and then  sits up straight and looks at Flynn directly and a bit intensely “Metis. Proudly Metis. I’m just short. Runt of the litter I guess.”

Flynn chuckles and looks between Nolan and Elise like his mind is diving into the gutter “Long as he doesn’t break you.”

Then Elise just tenses up and stares ahead of her in disbelief.

Sharon stares at Flynn in shock “Flynn!”

Nolan smiles softly at his mother’s appreciation.  Then he grins at Elise about the Christmas present.  “That would be …”  but then his father starts in on asking what Elise is and he starts at him and telling him about being laid properly.  “Dad, we’re …”  and before he can even suggest that they aren't having sex yet, his father continues … concerned … that he might break Elise.  “Jesus, Dad.”  he sees Elise tensing and moves to touch her hand if he can.  It as looking like this dinner was a very bad idea.

Elise takes Nolan’s hand and squeezes it but doesn’t look up right away until finally she just huffs like she’s letting out steam from her nostrils and looks at Flynn “Look...I don’t know you. But that’s some weird creepy shit to say to your son. And I don’t care if you don’t like me for saying it but Nolan’s a loving kind and decent man and Sharon’s pretty awesome too.” Then she starts eating, almost defiantly.

Sharon can’t help but smile now, she doesn’t even try to hide it. “Elise is right Flynn. That’s not appropriate. And Elise I think you’re pretty awesome too.” She smiles at Elise and then Nolan.

Flynn looks taken aback by Elise but then puts on a humble face “I’m sorry I offended you. I’m still….grieving. We all are..” He looks around. He’s diverting the topic from his taking any responsibility for what he’s just said “What kind of memorial are we planning for Brett?” He asks point blank.

Sharon freezes with her fork full of food in the air “Uh….we’re not….” She admits.

Nolan relaxes slightly as Elise deals with Flynn.  “I’m not like Brett, Dad.”  he says, straightening without realizing it.  Then Flynn asks about a memorial and backs up his mother.  “We remember all we need to about Brett, Dad.  A lot of people in this town do.”  his face is as expressionless as he can.

Elise stays quiet after her big brave moment. Flynn’s apology was bullshit but she didn’t address it. I’m sorry I offended you wasn’t I’m sorry for my words or behaviour. And now he’s trying to play the grief card and ask about a memorial? She loved Nolan’s fish stew but she was having trouble stomaching it tonight.

Flynn frowns “Well we have to do something….we’re his family. I know….he made mistakes. But he was still family. He had friends here too. I met one of them….Brooke Martin. She was devastated. We should at least put an obituary up. His friends don’t even know he’s gone. And what about his remains? There’s a cemetery here. We could at least get him a plot and a stone….somewhere to visit….”

Sharon looked increasingly uncomfortable “Brett caused more harm than good in this town Flynn. I can’t imagine anyone would come to a memorial. I’m not sure I could face it myself. I didn’t request the body be released to us….he’ll be interred in the Burnaby Prison cemetery. I don’t want a plot here.”

Now Flynn stabs his fork into his plate almost violently “You would let our boy be buried by strangers….with no one to mourn him! What’s the matter with you Sharon?” He looks menacingly at her and then turns it on Nolan “And you…” He points and it looks eerily like Brett’s point “You fuckin sold him out!”

Elise jumps back a bit in her seat looking frightened of Flynn and also for Nolan and Sharon.

Nolan listens and can hardly believe that his father has met Brooke Martin.  But before he can speak up, his father turns on him,   He notices Elise backing away and he leans forward, holding to shield her from his father by spreading his arms on the table.  “First of all, this isn’t the time or the place.  We have a guest.”  he begins.  “But Brett’s friends can throw him a memorial if they want.  After what Brett did .. Dad he tried to rape a girl just to get control over her boyfriend.  Then we found out he’s raped before.”  he leans forward a bit, trying to keep his temper in check.  “Damn right I called the police on him.  He deserved it.  All of it.  Including the beating he took from Dante.  How can you be surprised he was killed because he raped someone?”

Sharon looks aghast at Flynn and then angry “That’s enough! Leave Nolan alone! He’s in the right. Brett was our son but he became a horrible violent person...I’m sorry Flynn but we want no part of remembering that.”

Flynn stands up roughly and so quickly he knocks his chair to the floor behind him “Rape and murder are different crimes...I don’t have to take this shit from you...either of you. I need some air…” And he storms out the front door leaving it open.

Elise wraps her arms around Nolan’s arm that’s still in front of her and presses her forehead into it “Oh my god…...don’t let him back in...change the locks….come to our house…..anything…”

Sharon is shaking with fear and anger but she gets up after Flynn and screams down the street “Don’t bother coming back here!” And then she slams the door and locks it and puts the chain on before walking back into the dining room “I made a mistake letting him in here...I’m so sorry. Nolan please forgive me…”

Nolan stands when his father does, in case he has to protect Elise, but Flynn storms out and he holds Elise when she hugs his arm.  “I’m so sorry, Elise.  I didn’t think he’d be that bad that fast.”  he looks up at his mother as she returns to the dining room.  “It’s OK, Mom.  No one got hurt.”  and he had thought that he and his father might wind up fighting.  “I guess … this tells you something about the good in him?”  he asks, almost hopefully.

Elise shifts to hug Nolan around the waist as he holds her “You don’t need to be sorry. I’m worried for you two more than anything. Maybe my taking a shot at him was part of what set that off and if so I’m sorry…..” She exhales and looks at Sharon.

Sharon has that look of someone coming off the fight or flight moment and nods as she rolls her head back “Nolan I’ve spent my life trying to find the good in that man….wasted years of it. I’m done. It’s just not there. All he is is a good liar. Elise you did great. It’s not ok for any parent to be making those kinds of remarks to their children or about their children’s significant others and I’m glad you told him so. I just hope he gets to mad he leaves. I mean he could claim Brett’s remains if he wants...do something in Vancouver. Take that Brooke Martin with him if it’s so important to her…..I shouldn’t assume but that young lady has a bit of a …...oh whatever. I can’t even care.”

Nolan sits and pulls Elise into his lap.  “It probably wasn’t you.  It was probably just Dad being Dad.”  he sighs and plays with her long hair a bit.  “Brett was his son.  I mean, he’s said that plenty to me, at least.  So did Brett.  And you did do great, Elise.  I’m proud of you.”  he gives her a quick kiss on the cheek.”  he shrugs.  “If he wants to claim Brett’s body, let him.  And Brooke … Mom … Brooke’s nickname is BJ Brooke.  She and Brett had been … having sex.  She’s 19, but … And dad …”  he cuts himself off.  After all, this was her husband.

Elise is comfortable enough with Sharon that Nolan pulling her into his lap wasn't awkward. Plus she welcomed both his comfort and being able to comfort him right now. She leans into him and caresses the top of his arm. When Nolan talks about Brooke she awkwardly nods “She’s um…..ugh she’s so gross to me I don’t even get why any guys wanna hit that. Awful thing to say. But for the record, remember she was the Covid patient zero? I suspect Covid was one of the milder things someone could catch from her…”

Sharon shudders and then rolls her eyes and throws up her hands “It wouldn’t be the first time for your father. He thought he was discreet….but I knew. Maybe they deserve one another. And yes I remember that girl infecting our home on that awful night when Brett’s violence to Gen almost destroyed it.” She’s happy Elise is here, for Nolan. She knew how much pain Flynn caused him, had always caused him.

Nolan nods about Brooke.  “I mean … Maybe she is one of those free independent women that just enjoys sex but … yuck?  It’s so incredibly not attractive.”  he looks at his mother when she basically admits that her husband had been unfaithful.  “I don’t think Dad will take Brooke anywhere .. well maybe his boat?  But we didn’t get Covid .. thank goodness.  And I never … she offered but … just … no …”  he winces.  Brooke would have had the whole set .. father and both sons.

Sharon just groans “Nolan….I appreciate you trying to be empowering to this young woman but I will say truthfully….some people are in fact sluts. I know it’s not a nice word. But if she’s slept with your brother and father...she might fit it. That does give me hope he’s less likely to come back to our house.”

Elise almost laughs when Sharon calls Brooke a slut. “God what a night. OK you didn’t give Flynn a key or anything Sharon? Like he’d have to break in...break the law to get back in here? Then at least you could call the police?”

Sharon shakes her head “He didn't get a key. He was a short lived guest who wore out his welcome.”

Nolan feels a little bit better as he thinks of Brooke as a slut.  “Yea … well … he has his boat, but if he’s like Brett …  he’ll find Brooke.”  he sighs and then looks completely relieved that his father didn’t have a key to the house.  He holds Elise and kisses her cheek again.  “So … think we could have a decent dinner now?”  he wonders.  “I mean … I remember Brett just fine and if I could, I’d say something positive about him.  I just can’t think of anything right now.”

Elise leans into Nolan’s kiss and then gives him a little one on the lips before scooting off his lap back to her spot “I think I will digest this way better now. It’s really good Nolan. Let’s not give those guys any more of our time and energy tonight...or Brooke.”

Sharon grimaces and then agrees with Elise “Yes let’s eat and enjoy….and talk about anything else. Nolan, tell us about hockey?”

Meanwhile Flynn stalks back to his boat and goes into one of the holds and pulls out something wrapped in a rag. He sits on the metal floor of the boat and unwraps the pistol. He was hoping it wouldn’t come to this….but it seemed no one was going to be reasonable…..

The dinner went wonderfully, with talks of hockey and even the new Alexandra Community Center.  Nolan created a last minute dessert of fruit smoothies, which served to cheer everyone up and added to the healing of the night.  After the dinner and during the dessert, the three of them sat and watched a funny movie and by the time Nolan walked Elise home, he was feeling much better about things.  His father would surely get in his boat and sail away.  Maybe he would claim his son's body and give him the funeral and memorial he thought Brett deserved.  It didn’t matter to Nolan, as long as Flynn left him and Sharon alone.

Flynn used his connecion with Brooke to get more than just sex. He used it to get access to the internet that Sunday night. Through tethering to her phone he accessed the community centre’s new website with a google calendar of when all the ice times and hockey practices were. He was still tracking Sharon and Nolan’s movements. The community centre had wifi too but he had discovered they turned off access at night so Brooke was his source. The next morning he was indecisive in his course of action and a bit erratic. He still had a bit of money so he went to the thrift store and bought a new blue hoodie and a different pair of sunglasses. Then he picked some vantage points carefully and watched Sharon go to work and Nolan go to school. Tucked into the back of his jeans was the gun as those days came to an end. In his mind his first target would be Nolan, to hurt Sharon the most. She wasn’t grieving Brett, his favoured son so he would take hers. He watched Nolan on the steps of the school. He kissed Elise goodbye and headed to hockey. Then he saw Gen, the whole reason Brett died in his mind go with Elise and walk off. Now his attention was divided. He could follow Nolan…..or he could follow those girls. But if he really wanted to hurt Nolan, he could do it through Elise. Killing Gen wouldn’t bring Brett back to him. But killing Elise would make Nolan pay, and then killing Nolan would make Sharon pay. They would both suffer what he had, losing everything. He started after Elise and Gen but to his great irritation they kept running into people and were never alone long enough for him to corner them on their way to the Perkatory coffee shop. So he waited them out in the laundromat again with a plan to follow them home. He was still considering Gen as an option if he got the chance too…..but to his absolute annoyance Gen met up with what looked like to be her parents on the street as the girls came out of the coffee shop and the 4 all stood together talking until Elise hugged Gen and broke off to walk home alone. Finally. Flynn managed to get past Gen and her family as they ran into some other people in the street and were distracted. He followed Elise, getting closer and closer as he caught up to her on 3rd Street.

Elise was still coming down from the awful dinner with Nolan’s father the day before but they had turned the night around after he stormed out and she had gone home feeling pretty good. She still wondered if Flynn Lancaster was on the island or had left and that made her feel a little unsettled. As she ended up walking alone she realized it was making her a little jumpy and on instinct she started looking around and then over her shoulder only to notice that a guy in a blue hoodie was behind her and catching up. To her horror he took off his sunglasses and smiled at her and then started walking even faster. It was Flynn and he was definitely following her. She walked faster and took out her phone. Following was creepy but not criminal...well maybe it was but she could never prove it if it was her word against his. She called her parents at the Dive Shop and talked really loudly so Flynn would know she had a witness. “Hi Dad can you come home right now…..Nolan’s father is following me. His name is Flynn Lancaster and he looks like Brett….” 

Her father’s instructions were clear “Baby….run….as fast as you can. And scream your fucking head off if he touches you. We’re coming.”

Flynn heard the call and then engaged with Elise. “You fucking little snitch.” He began to jog after her.

Elise sprinted as she saw him beginning to run. As fast as she could through the community gardens and to her back door, key in hand. She unlocked it and slammed it shut, turning the deadbolt and putting on the chain. She heard a slam against the door like a fist banging into it and sank down with her back against the door shaking as her heart just pounded in terror. She knew Nolan was at hockey but she didn’t know how long the practice was. Now she was on the verge of calling the cops but she didn’t want Nolan to come home to Flynn either so she texted him to warn him:

Your Dad followed me home. Don’t go to your house. He’s still out back behind mine. My parents are on their way. Call your Mom….don’t go home. I love you.

At the Dive shop Andre Girard panicked and yelled to his wife “Suz close the shop...Elise is in trouble! We need a car…..Nolan’s dad followed her home. He was calling Elise back. He had told her to run. He hoped to god she made it into the house. “I’m calling Elise back..”

Sharon Lancaster had a meeting that had finished earlier than she anticipated so she decided to embrace the rare opportunity to go home a little early. She had happened upon some of the Beaulieu family chatting and in a sort of slow walk towards their homes with Greyson Page and his girlfriend Lisette. She greeted them all pleasantly and a little awkwardly sine her now deceased son had tried to rape Gen and caused them all so much agony. Then she walked around them at the fire station and turned onto 3rd. She hadn’t seen Flynn today and she hoped that meant he was indeed gone from Alexandra. 

Elise’s phone rings and she sees her Dad’s cell “Dad? I think he’s still out there….” Her father had put on her speaker and she can tell from the ambient noise. “Mom? I love you guys…”

Suzette moves around the shop, hurriedly closing it up.  “Oh baby, we love you too.  Now make sure all the doors are closed and locked .. and the windows in the kitchen and living room and dining room.  Take your phone upstairs and look to see if he’s still around.  We’ll be home in ten minutes.”  she isn’t sure how long it would take for them to walk … probably run … home, but she hoped things would be OK.  From what Elise had told them, Flynn Lancaster sounded super creepy but not … not violent … surely he wasn’t violent.

Nolan had gotten in trouble at hockey practice for being a little too aggressive.  He finally admitted to the coach that he really just couldn’t keep his mind on things and asked to go home.  On his way, he saw his mother as she turned onto 3rd Street.  “Hey Mom. Wait up!”  he jogged to catch up just as his phone chimed with a text message.  He read it and swore.  “Fucking …  Dad is at Elise’s back door.  God damnit!!”  he half said aloud and half told his mother.  Without really speaking to her, he began to run along 3rd, through the community garden and to Elise’s back door.  “What the FUCK, Dad?”

Elise had listened to her mother, calmed by her voice as she always was. She took the advice and checked the windows, double checked the front door and took her phone upstairs, creeping to her own bedroom window to look out and see if he was still out there. He was. Just standing there looking at her house. Elise choked up. What the hell did he want with her? Then all of a sudden she saw Nolan running up behind his father and yelling something. She opened her window so she could hear them, a bit stressed and furious with Nolan and with herself. Of course he hadn’t listened to her and stayed away. She never should have texted him. But the next thing she saw made her scream “Nolan get out of here!” Flynn had turned to face Nolan and take a swing at him. But the back of his hoodie rode up and he had a gun tucked into the back of his pants. Now Elise dialed 911.

Sharon had been pleased to see Nolan and then suddenly alarmed at the news of what Flynn was doing “He’s WHAT?” But her son was much faster in his reactions and she yelled after him “Nolan!!! Nolan!!” She started to run as well but she was slower.

Flynn heard his son's voice and then turned and immediately took a swing at him “Oh you’re little snitch called you too. I’m just going to have to knock you out before I teach her a lesson. You didn’t mourn your brother…..but you’d mourn that pretty little thing…..don’t worry...I’ll make it fun for her….”

Andre ran along with his wife but they had a ways to go. He didn’t like the sounds of Flynn but it did sound like the guy was maybe just scaring Elise. Her safety and feelings were important enough to run for though. 

Suzette was running and, trying to distract herself, realized that it seemed as if they’d make better time if they were underwater.  Occupational hazard, perhaps.  They did, at least take a more straight line approach, taking the long sidewalk that went from the Ice Goddess to the last apartment building on 1st street, then up the hill and to Central street.  But that hill up tp Central was not fun and just slowed them down more.

Nolan could hear his mother behind him and Elise in front of him.  He was distracted enough that he damn near ran into his father’s punch.  It didn’t knock him out but it did knock him down.  He groaned and worked to get back on his feet, not as experienced a fighter as Brett or his father.  But he definitely wanted to get a punch in for that threat to Elise.

Flynn does get hit by Nolan and smiles at him with a mouth full of blood after “There’s man in you yet…..but I don’t have time for this shit. I have plans Nolan….” And with that he reaches behind him and pulls the gun out of the back of his jeans and disengages the safety with a click, pointing it at Nolan. “I can take you out first…..you were never my son….”

Elise sees the gun pointed at Nolan and is bawling in her 911 call “Please….please he has a gun on my boyfriend…….in between the houses, one house past the community gardens…..oh god hurry...please…”

Sharon had cut through their house to possibly surprise Flynn by coming out the back door. She had to protect her boy and Elise...she just didn’t know how...or what Flynn planned to do. As she looked out the back window before walking out she saw Flynn holding a gun on Nolan and gasped. Then she saw red and her rage fueled her as she grabbed a frying pan from the stovetop and ran out the back door. Flynn had his back to her so she wound up and hit him on the back of the head “Nolan run!” she screamed. Flynn staggered and it looked like he might fall but instead he spun, still alert enough to raise the gun and point it at her “Sharon you fucking useless cunt….” He squeezed the trigger and shot, the bullet heading for Sharon’s upper body.

Ryan Yamada was running with Michael from the cruiser. They had already been dispatched “Alexandra Police! Drop your weapon!” He yelled as he drew his own and pointed it at the man in the blue hoodie. But the man had already fired.

Nolan saw the gun and his heart nearly stopped.  A fistfight was one thing … this was very different.  But then his mother came out of nowhere and hit his father with something.  Flynn turned towards Sharon and Nolan knew he was going to shoot her.  “No …”  he screamed and went to tackle his mother out of harm's way, feeling a sharp pain in his side above his hip and below his lowest rib.

Michael ran with Ryan around to the back of the row houses.  Ryan yelled for the man to drop his weapon and Michael’s gun was trained on the suspect when he fired.  Michael fired at the man with the weapon and realized immediately that he had scored a hit.  The man he shot seems to fall in slow motion and he moves forward to keep the suspect covered with his weapon, knowing Ryan will call for the ambulance.

Suzette has been running and it all feels like slow motion.  It feels like she has been running forever when she hears sirens and, near the fire department, sees the garage doors open and an ambulance leave and turn … towards 3rd street.  “No…”  she pants.

Andre sees the ambulance too and screams “ELISE!” as he has a surge of adrenalin and pushes through the pain of how far he and Suzette have already been running. He heard his wife’s no and it spurred him on. Their girl…..

Flynn saw a blur of Nolan pass in front of Sharon and tackle her and he took the shot intended for Sharon. Flynn was about to fire again when he felt an impact in his chest and a momentary burn as the world dimmed into darkness and he slowly fell to meet the earth.

Sharon was momentarily disoriented from being tackled but she had heard two shots. Nolan was on top of her. Had he been shot? Had they both? She looked for Flynn but he was on the ground and then she scrambled out from under her son and saw his shirt with a growing stain of blood. “Nooooo!” She screamed hysterically, hovering over him “No No No….God please no!” She grabbed onto Nolan “Nolan…..why...oh god no…” She was immediately rocking him and crying.

Elise heard shots and then Sharon and dropped her phone and bolted down the stairs and out her back door flying to Nolan’s other side and freezing in horror at the sight of him shot “Oh no no no!” She had on a button up shirt open over a tank top and she whipped off her shirt and balled it up on Nolan’s wound, holding it on and searching Nolan’s face tearfully.

Ryan saw the whole scene before him and had radio immediately for an ambulance and backup. But then it looked like they might only need the ambulance. Mike had shot the perpetrator but the perpetrator….had shot….Ryan had to quickly process the idea that the man had shot a teenager. They all knew the Lancaster family from the Brett Lancaster case. Ryan looked at Mike with a grave nod and then went to kneel by Sharon as she held her son and then a girl flew out the back door of the house across and came to Nolan’s other side. “Help is coming. Hang in there kid…”

Tara Munroe jumped out of the ambulance and grabbed the stretcher from the back with Valentine. They loaded on a med kit and jogged through the community gardens to their patient who was between a middle aged woman and a young woman both very upset and holding onto him. There was a balled up shirt being held to his wound, which was a good thing ….but it wasn’t as blood soaked as she expected it would be. That could be a bad sign for internal bleeding. “Hi there….what’s his name?” She wasn’t sure how aware the victim would be depending on the severity but she and Valentine were basically ready to move him as fast as possible. She began to check him and take vitals quickly.

Sharon croaked out “Nolan, Nolan Lancaster….”

Michael heard the sirens of the ambulance as he inched close enough to the suspect to kick the gun well away from his hand.  Then in another couple of steps, he leaned forward and searched for a carotid pulse at the man's neck.  Nothing.  His eyes were open and glassy.  The suspect was dead.  Looking a bit closer, Michael noticed a nearly uncanny resemblance to Brett Lancaster.  This must be the Flynn Lancaster  Chris and Frank had told them was back in town, trying to reconnect with his remaining family.  This scene suggested that things had not gone to plan … or maybe they had … it was hard to tell.  Michael took in and released a deep breath and looked up at the approaching paramedic.  “He’s dead.” he reported, freeing the EMT to help his partner with Nolan.  He got on his radio to call in one dead suspect.  The Clinic could call in their second ambulance without lights or sirens.

Valentine was headed for the other victim, but the cop declared him dead.  He moved over to the kid, who he didn’t know, and looked at the two women who weren’t his partner.  Getting on the radio, he begins to call into the clinic, getting in touch with Dr Rogers and giving him the patients approximate age and condition.  One gunshot to the left lower abdomen.  No exit would.  He would pass on pulse, BP and respiration as they were given to him.

Nolan blinks, his eyes initially moving from his mother to Elise but then there a lot more people.  One of the cops and … EMT’s?  He is shivering and so cold.  They are all talking and he decides mostly to look between his mother and Elise, because he feels like this may be his last chance to do that.

Suzette comes tearing along 3rd into the Community Garden and into the space between the houses.  Two men are laying on the ground … one of them is Nolan.  “Oh god…”  she heads for her daughter.

Michael has left Flynn Lancaster where he fell.  Another squad car has come to begin collecting evidence and he knows that his own weapon will need to be handed over.  But before he can hand it over two more people converge on his crime scene.  He will try and catch Andre or Suzette, neither of whom he knows well.  “I’m sorry folks, this is a crime scene.  Please step back.”

Andre gets halted by the big redheaded cop who he has seen as a neighbour across the street but doesn’t know well. The man was also a bailiff for Dante’s trial. “That’s our girl holding onto Nolan…..behind our house. Please…” He tries to take on the conversation so Suzette can just go around to Elise. He’s stricken to see Nolan hurt but glad their daughter looks uninjured too.

Tara is calling details over to Valentine as she preps Nolan to be moved onto a stretcher “Not a lot of blood coming out….probable internal. Are you family?” She guesses at the mom by age and emotional reaction. “We need to get him to the clinic...now.”

Sharon nods tearfully, now holding Nolan’s hand as she moved a bit so the EMT could do her work “I’m his mother. That’s his girlfriend. Nolan honey it’s going to be ok…..” She had heard the word internal and it terrified her but she wanted to be present to Nolan.

Elise had shuffled a bit higher up and was stroking Nolan’s hair looking at him as if afraid eh might slip away from her. She looks up at the EMT “Internal?” She shudders and then bends down and kisses Nolan’s cheek, soaking it with tears. When she looks up again she notices her mother and father and cries harder at the comfort of the sight of them right now.

Ryan had backed up from the mother a bit when Tara got in there but he’s standing by ready to redirect the mom and girlfriend as needed and assist. He sees Micheal talking to what he now realizes from overhearing are the girl’s parents and he walks over standing between both scenes to assist either way.

Tara looks at Valentine and is positioning the stretcher to slide it under Nolan. “OK Nolan we’re going to give you a little lift and then a boost up….” She knows Valentine knows the drill.

Suzette realizes that with Andre talking to the red headed cop, she could get to Sharon.  Until the other cop … she couldn’t remember his name right now.  He was …  Chinese .. or Japanese .. or Korean .. he was definitely between herself and her daughter, damn whatever his ethnicity was.  “Please …  it’s our daughter.”  she is almost crying.  Not to be dramatic, but if that worked, she had no problems with it, but out of simple frustration.

Michael could understand where these parents are coming from.  “I understand that ma’am, but we have to keep the scene free for the paramedics.”  he explains  “Once they take Nolan away, you can go to her.”  sometimes just doing his job was frustrating.

Valentine offers Nolan a smile to make him more confident.  Or that’s the plan.  “OK ….  On three …  one … two … three ….”  and Nolan is on the stretcher.  Then begin to wheel him towards the ambulance.  “I’m sorry ma’am.”  he says assuming that Sharon is still on their heels.  “You can ride with him, but you …  I’m afraid you can’t…”  girlfriends didn’t count in the rules.

Nolan nods as he’s told what is happening, and feels himself being lifted.  Then he hears one of the EMT’s say Elise can’t come with him, and he can't help but try and call out to her.  “Elise….”

Sharon climbs into the ambulance beside Nolan as he’s positioned in it and grabs his hand again “It’s ok Nolan. She can follow us.” She looks apologetically at Elise.

Elise looks like being apart from Nolan right now is almost killing her but she sniffs and nods, trying to be strong for Nolan “I’ll be right behind you. I love you.” She got it, but she hated it. Then as they closed the doors she turned and walked to her parents and threw herself into her mother’s arms sobbing loudly for a moment before she planned to run at top speed to the clinic if she had to.

Tara nods at Valentine and once Nolan is in and his mother is too, they’re ready to roll, sirens and lights now blaring again. Half the street has come out of their homes to see what’s going on.

Ryan was sympathetic to the parents as well. “They’re moving quickly…” and then in no time they loaded him up and Elise was with her parents and backup arrived from the APD. He looked at Micheal and then at the Girard family ready to offer them a ride but doing a non verbal check in with his partner…..who had just shot a man. Granted it was the man who shot his own son, but still.

Andre will wrap his arms around both his wife and daughter, patting Elise’s back.

Suzette hugs her daughter and feels like she can sense the eagerness to go.  “Andre .. can you go home and wait for Stefan to come home.  I know he’s with Daniel, but .. they aren't here so I’m guessing they arent home.  Or call him .. it’s not .. it’s not a Stefan emergency.  As a matter of fact, if you could ask his father if Stefan could spend the night…  that would be perfect.”  and she is already leading Elise in the direction of the clinic.

Michael can see that the family is well in hand and he backs off of them.  He moves to the body left behind and kneels searching the body.  He knows who the man is, but he needs a positive identification.  He finds the mans wallet and begins to rifle through it, finding his ID.  “Flynn Lancaster…”  he sighs deeply and looks after the ambulance that contained Nolan Lancaster, his face hard.

Valentine loved how close the clinic was to … well, everything in Alexandra.  “Almost there, Nolan.”  he assures his patient, taking his vitals quickly again.

Nolan is trying to keep calm, but he isn’t.  He’d heard the word internal mentioned earlier while he was still laying on the ground and it concerned him.

Andre nods at Suzette. “Call me with any news. I’ll talk to Stefan. And if he’s at Daniel’s and we know he’s there for the night, I’ll come join you two.” He looks after his wife and daughter walking away and then catches up “Wait.”

Elise goes with her mother. She doesn’t even have her phone and she’s walking around in November in a tank top but she doesn’t care. She looks almost annoyed as she hears her father say wait and she turns “Dad…” He unzips his own hoodie and physically puts it on her. It’s way too big for her but it is warmer. She hadn’t realized she was even cold, which for Elise is something “Thanks. Love you.” And she’s off at a sort of fast walk half job with her Mom to the clinic.

Tara pulls up to the emergency doors and puts the ambulance in park and turns it off. She dashes to the back and helps move Nolan inside. They’d learned and probably both knew Sharon’s name on the way “Sharon, are you and Nolan the same blood type?”

Sharon nods but didn't like the question immediately “O positive, universal….” She goes in with them trying to stay beside Nolan.

Jasper greets the arrival of the patient he’d been radioing about already gloved and ready. “Room …..you know what let’s take a quick look at the wound...Hi Nolan. I’m Dr. Rogers...I’m just going to have a peek ok? Is this your mom here with you?” He already knew who they were but was checking how cognisant Nolan was right now.

Tara interjects “He’s not bleeding out very much Doctor Rogers.”

Ryan stepped beside Micheal and looked at the ID as well and then sighed “He shot his own son…..fuck….” He watched as Andre Girard walked into his house through the back door while talking on his phone.

“No Stef you don’t need to come home…..he’s alive but they took him to the clinic….” Was what could be overheard.

Michael glances up at Ryan when he speaks and sighs.  “Yea … he did.”  he blows out a breath and nods to the other ambulance crew.  He gets Flynn’s hands bagged and then lets them take the body away.  “I … I need to go back and fill out the report.”  he sighs.  “And talk to Greene …”  he realizes he’s been involved in a shooting, but also that the person he shot has died.

Suzette is taller than her daughter and, for good or ill, is in a hurry to get her daughter to the hospital.  As a result Elise is half walked and half pulled on their route.

Valentine stops his motion and lets the doctor do his thing.  He rattles off Nolan’s latest pulse and other vital signs.

Nolan can hear someone asking questions, but its confusing.  Rogers … he knew a Rogers, didn’t he?  “Yea …  my … mom …  where’s Liese?”  he asks, turning his head and trying to look around for his mother and Elise.

Ryan hears Mike doing his work, as he does brilliantly. But there’s gotta be layers going on for him. Their backup is moving in with the evidence kit as Flynn is taken away. Ryan says gently “Mike….you ok man?” He’s stepped off to the side where if Mike wants to….they could step away further, easily.

Elise was holding back on her own speed for her mother’s sake but once she realizes her mother is pulling her she stops holding back and breaks into a full run. With the shortness of her legs, her mom won’t have to run as fast to keep up. 

Tara monitors the compression over the wound but is ready to assist more or back off as needed. She looks between Valentine and Dr. Rogers for cues in what she should be doing to support the patient’s care.

Jasper does a quick assessment and nods at Valentine “No exit wound…” He tries to keep his face impassive as Milo Greegory arrives to assist as well and Jasper shoots him an intense look and says “Prep him for surgery. I need to find Dr. McKinney. Nolan..she’s right here…..just let her come to you and try and relax.”

Sharon hears Nolan calling for her and takes his hand again “It’s ok honey…..I’m right beside you.” She looks tearfully between Dr Rogers and the EMTs “Surgery?”

Jasper is looking around “Yes. We need to get the bullet out immediately.” He sees a health care aid “Stevens can you locate Dr. McKinney please?”

Michael sighs and moves towards Ryan.  "Yea.  I'm fine.  I'm good.``He isn't honestly sure how he is at this moment, but tis is a good stock answer to give.  "Um .. let's .. let's wrap it up here and get back to the shop.  Paperwork.  You know I love it."

Suzette manages to keep up with her daughter and they first try the front doors to find them locked. They go around the back which is bustling with activity.  She can see Nolan on a gurney and lags behind knowing Elise will want to go to him, if she can.

Valentine stands back as the doctors take over.  He taps Tara on the shoulder.  At this point they'll only be in the way and the way things have been this month, they might want to get the ambulance restocked before something sles goes off the rails.  "Lets go."

Nolan looks over at his mother and then begins to look around again.  Hed heard the word surgery and now he feels himself losing to the panic again.  "Lise!"  he calls out.  He wants to see her, but just calling her name has exhausted him.

Susan has come up from her office and claps Stevens on the shoulder.  "I'm right here.  Extra points for efficiency."  she's heard some ... enough to know this young man needs surgery.  He hears him call out a name and looks around the crowded place.  As she silently curses not having a larger hospital she grumbles.  "Any non essential personnel out.  Friends and family, please wait in the waiting room.  I promise someone will come to keep you updated as soon as possible."  she will let a certain amount of hand holding, but there isn't time for emotions.

Ryan gives Mike a pat on the back. He could tell he might not be fine but it’s not the time or place “Paperwork. You can even chew two of my pencils. Drink later?” He steps back and starts to walk off with him to the cruiser.

Tara nods at Valentine and then the doctors and nurse. She gives the boy’s mother a little arm squeeze “He’s in good hands. Take care.” And she steps out of the way as well so it can all happen as it needs to.

Elise was small and she used it to her advantage, worming her way in through the crowd as she heard Dr. McKinney kicking people out. She would obey but she had also heard Nolan calling her and she wanted to let him know she was there. She swoops in quickly with her head hovering over Nolan’s face “They’re asking us to get out of the way but I'm here and I love you.” She quickly kisses his lips and is then backing up before she hears about being in the way.

Sharon squeezes Nolan’s hand and then moves off with Elise “I love you Nolan. Be strong. It’ll be ok…” She leans into Elise “Surgery…” And then she stifles a sob.

Elise looks back for her mother with fear in her eyes.

Jasper nods at Susan, as usual appreciating her abilities with crowd control “Let’s get to the OR!” And now the medical team including doctors, nurse and health care aid rush off with the gurney, whisking Nolan away to surgery. It’s an elevator ride down followed by the chaos of setting up for surgery and then intense scrub up after gowning of the staff in turns so the patient is always cared for. Finally there are two masked faces leaning over Nolan and the sleeping gas is coming down to his face.

Michael snorts.  "Two pencils ..  yum."  but his usua sarcastic sense of humor just isn't with him at the moment.  he can doo his job and does but ... it's a very unusual day.

Valentine heads back to the ambulance and gets in behind the wheel and waits for Tara to get in too.  "You know ...  I think they were right about October being fucking freaky.  Holy hell."  neither of them are natie but he thought it jsut might be people being a little dramatic.  But he couldn't deny ... Alexandra was ... different.

Suzette moves to her daughter as soon as she can. Then she reaches out for Sharon.  "COme on.  We have to wait.  "Have you two eaten yet?"  she asks, effectively taking control  As much as she likes Nolan she isn't his mother or his girlfriend.  She leads them at first to the front of the clinic.

Nolan nods at both his mother and Elise as he is rolled away.  He feels what seems like fresh air on his face, but then he is in an elevator and then he is being told to breathe deeply ... and then there is nothing.

Susan keeps her promise to let the family and girlfriend touch the patient before they roll him out of the building, into the elevator and down to surgery.  She begins to scrub as they prep him in the basement.  "I am SO sick of this Mickey Mouse Lego hospital ...  I swear I'm going to go talk to Adum Brate the second this boy is in recovery."    she growls threateningly.  "What the hell happened, anyway.  Do you know?  Ive never seen this kid before but his mother is familiar .. she runs the credit union .. I started an account there."  she is taking out some of her aggression out on her hands.

Jasper can’t resist a lego joke before they get into the nitty gritty “What if Mayor Brate just gives you one of those jumbo buckets of bricks.” He teases “Maybe the next one will have one of those zoo trains with a giraffe?” Then it’s his last joke because what the EMTs half communicated was just too grim “I treated the other Lancaster boy...the one who went to prison for attempting to rape the Beaulieu girl? I don’t have all the particulars but this smells like something bad on the domestic front. I do know, even though I’m not privy to it officially that Brett Lancaster died in prison.”  Then once the patient is under Jasper examines the wound before he makes the incision and calls to the nurse assisting them “Suction…..OK we have internal bleeding. Susan, I’m going to remove the bullet...I can see it on my scope but then you need to cauterize as fast as you can move. He’s going to need more blood…..” Jasper moves carefully and then looks at Susan “We’ll trade spots on 3?”

Elise deflates into a chair “I can’t think of food Mom. I just need to know he’s ok…..”

Sharon sits down too. “Thank you Suzette but no thank you…..oh my god. He was aiming for me….” She drops her head into her hands “It should have been me…..”

Suzette expected this answer and didn't press them yet.  She sits between Sharon and Elise and rubs Sharon on the back.  "Don't go there, Sharon."  she honestly doesn't know what happened, since it was basically all over when they got there.

Susan snorts.  “Then I’ll stage a sit in or .. something.”  she sighs deeply about Brett Lancaster.  “I remember that, yes.  So he’s dead and … yea ..  I see it.”  she says about the internal bleeding.  “On three …  one … two …  three.”  and she gets to work.

Jasper steps back and drop the bullet into a small metal tray “I’m worried about the perforation to the spleen…..we can look again with the scope once we have the bleeding under control but if it’s too badly damaged we may have to remove it. What do you think Susan?” He peeks a bit at her work and gives a little nod.

Elise realizes her mother was walking into this with not much to go on so she just tells her “Mom...Nolan’s Dad is not a nice guy. He had a gun and he shot Nolan with it. I heard the cops say he was dead.”

Sharon nods “He is. I should have never let him anywhere near Nolan...or you…..I had no idea he’d do this…”

Suzette sighs softly, taping down her own horror that this man was after her daughter.  "I get that.  I really do.  And I'm glad he's dead.  Oh Sharon ... you couldn't have known, could you?"  She has to admit she's not exactly sure how to handle this situation.  It's very new for her.

Susan looks around once the bullet is removed.  "Its hard to see..."  she complains, even as they work to control the bleeding.  "It's damaged ... I hate to have to do it but ... what do you think?  I think we should remove it, but I want your opinion, Jasper."

Jasper steps in beside Susan and uses the scope camera. He looks at the screen “Damage is extensive. If we don’t remove it it might rupture in a week or a month from it’s usual functions. Also there may be infection from the bullet...even the disturbance of what we’ve done here. I think we need to perform the splenectomy. He’s young and healthy. His liver function should be adequate to pick up where the spleen left off. There are other factors but I think the risk here overrides those….let’s do it.” He prepares to assist now since Susan is already the one still really in the cavity.

Sharon leans back a bit and nods at Suzette “I didn’t know. I just hope Nolan survives the surgery. Do you ever get the feeling a doctor is trying to put on a  brave face for you?” She shudders and  rubs at her temple.

Elise nods and silent tears slide down her face “I should never have texted him. I told him NOT to go home…..Nolan you stubborn ass…..I can’t be mad at him either though.” She wipes at her face and looks at her mom “Just so you know Mom, if he lives through this….when he lives through this...he’s it for me. I plan to marry that boy in that operating room.”

Sharon smiles through her stress. She had heard Nolan say the same about Elise. 

Suzette puts her arm around Sharon.  "Well that is their job, but I am sure this doctor is good at her job."  she looks at Elise.  "What exactly did you tell him?  NOT do come running?  Because ... well that is not what you tell men to keep them away."  she then her daughter explains that she wants to marry Nolan and smiles.  "I think your father might make you wait a little bit."  she suggests.  "But I know how you two feel for each other."

Susan nods and blows out a breath. "He doesn't need it and at this point, he's better off without it."  she looks up at him and nods.  "Lets do this.'

Jasper assists and they successfully remove the damaged spleen. It’s a long and delicate process between what they had done and the removal but after he closed up and his vitals are good the doctors scrub up again, remove soiled gowns and gloves and all things surgical and once again become regular looking humans. Nolan is taken to a recovery room for rest and observation. The news of the success of the surgery finds the three ladies on the waiting area full of hope. Nolan’s care is carefully monitored to prevent infection, blood clots and unexpected bleeds. But all goes well. Nolan is fitted with a pair of compression socks and will have a 5 day stay in the hospital. But, he will also survive.