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“I have, but - well, it’s always been with a but. This time it’s not.”
Biting his lip, Carter weighs his options. Then, “I’m listening…”
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry for keeping secrets. Fuck - I’m sorry for even before then. I’m sorry for accepting this job when I knew you and mom were my responsibility. When I knew it’d put you both in danger. I’m sorry for not being present for you after we lost mom. I’m sorry for not stepping down after she passed to come home to you. To protect you.” His hands curl by his sides. “I'm sorry I didn't break up the auction and save you that first night. I'm sorry for every night after that when I didn't come for you either. And I'm sorry for telling Travis he couldn't tell you the truth."
Carter waits for the but, even though Maison claimed it wouldn't be coming. The but you have to understand. The but it wasn't possible. The but thousands of lives were on the line.
It doesn’t come.
And it makes such a difference. Carter had no idea how much it would.
"Thank you," he whispers, his eyes burning. And then he launches himself at Maison, not caring when his hip digs into the gear shift, hugging his brother like he's wanted to for months now, sobbing in relief and sadness. "Thank you."
The apartment is slightly cramped and smells a little musty. There’s a bedroom on each side of the hall, and a bathroom at the end. The toilet has the slightest tilt to it. The windows are scratched up. A note from the landlord is attached to the fridge - Freezer isn’t working right. Maintenance will be here Monday at 10 AM to fix.
“Well,” Maison says in a strained voice. “It’s…”
“Perfect,” Carter whispers. And it is. Because it’s theirs - his and Casey’s - and they’re free. Finally.
Travis was right. He needed this. God, he really needed this.
Casey must agree, since he echoes, “Perfect.”
“It’ll be better when the furniture we got you guys is delivered,” Jake says with a frown, looking around the place like he’d prefer to take them and run as far away as he can.
Maison looks like he's considering the same.
Carter is staring at the fridge, wondering what Travis would have to say about the place. Wondering if he regrets letting Carter go.
Maison and Jake stay behind - much to their chagrin - to wait for the furniture delivery while Casey and Carter hit some stores for basic essentials and groceries.
It's while they're standing in the cereal at Target that Casey blurts, "Oh my god."
Nearly dropping the box of Frosted Flakes in his hand, Carter turns to his friend. "What?"
Casey is grinning, his eyes wide and bright. "We did it. We won."
Just like they promised Elliot all those months ago.
Just like they promised each other.
"Not quite yet," Carter says, remembering the look on Elliot's face as he was torn away from them. Remembering they haven't saved him yet. Carter grins back. "But we will."
Maison and Jake don't make it back to the safehouse until after midnight, lingering as they help build bookshelves and stock cabinets and remind Carter and Casey how to use the pepper spray they insisted they each have on their key rings. It isn't until they get the boys to promise to call to check in once a night - either one of them, it doesn't matter who - that they finally leave.
Without a word spoken between them, they both enter the safehouse and go straight for a bedroom on the second floor. Maison uses the master key to enter the locked bedroom without being invited. Jake has a bottle of very expensive scotch in his hand.
They find Travis Kenton lying on his bed, eyes unfocused on the ceiling above him like he's been staring at it for a very long time. The room is silent, but a chair is upturned and a loaded gun is on the bedside table.
Maison takes the gun.
Jake pours drinks into plastic cups.
Travis doesn't move or speak or look at them.
"He'll come back," Jake says, breaking the silence.
Travis's eyes fall closed. "Will he?"
