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asphaltcowgrrl) wrote2016-10-14 11:06 am
asphaltcowgrrl) wrote2016-10-14 11:06 am
Entry tags:
A to Z Challenge Chapter 13: Murphy
Title: A to Z Challenge Chapter 13: Murphy
Fandom: White Pine original fiction
Pairing: Travis Murphy/Ethan McDowell
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1,439
Summary: Travis and the elder Murphys take a road trip to bring Ethan home.
Author’s Notes: Um, I’d forgotten I had two chapters written in this series that hadn’t been posted. Oops. Now, I need to get on the stick and get the rest of it written.
“Mama,” Travis said, putting his hand on Aracely’s shoulder. “It’s an hour drive, you don’t need to pack us snacks.”
She turned her warm brown eyes on her son and frowned. “I know you, Travis, and I know your father, too. Someone will be hungry before we even hit the highway.”
“Your mother has a point,” Liam said, sneaking in behind his wife and snatching a piece of Dubliner cheese off the cutting board. “Don’t ever argue with a woman whose trying to feed you, Travis.”
“Got it, Pops,” Travis laughed. “How soon until you’re done here, Mama?”
“Sooner if you two go pack the car and leave me alone,” Aracely scolded them both.
“Come, Travis,” Liam said, tugging on his son’s arm.
“She does know that we aren’t staying, right?” Travis looked over his shoulder at the kitchen. “We’re just going in, extracting Ethan, and coming home.”
“Yes, yes,” Liam said. “But you know your mother. If she doesn’t make food, she’ll worry that we’ll all starve by the side of the highway.”
“And if you don’t pack a suitcase, she’s afraid well all wind up naked,” Travis finished. “No offense, Pops, but this is one of those occasions where I’m thankful I’m into men.”
Liam glanced back towards the kitchen and sighed. “This is one of the few times when I understand that attraction, son.”
xx
“The Garret police station is just ahead on the right, Pops,” Travis said, pointing at the building for his father’s reference. Travis had offered to drive, but Aracely had vetoed the idea, insisting that Liam sat behind the wheel for their trip. Knowing that he’d be riding home with Ethan, Travis didn’t argue. Instead, he climbed into the back seat, just like when he was ten. He wished he still had his old Game Boy. It would have made the nostalgia of the trip complete.
Liam turned on his blinker and entered the station’s lot. “This is much bigger than the outfit McCallum runs back home,” he said.
“It’s huge,” Travis agreed. “Ethan says it is bigger than the one in Minden Lake, too.”
“There’s a spot right there, Liam,” Aracely interrupted, pointing to the first open parking slot she found.
As directed, Liam parked the car and they all filed out. Travis wound his way through the station, unerringly finding his way back to where Alex Jordan’s office was hidden. Taking a quick look around, he didn’t see neither hide nor hair of the asshole, Reid Farrow. Feeling like that was a good sign, Travis poked his head into the office, a big smile on his face. “Ethan?”
“Travis,” Ethan said, jumping to his feet. “You’re here.”
“We are,” he said, coming into the office and embracing his husband tightly. “Mama and Pops are here too.”
Ethan untangled himself from Travis, crossing the room to wrap Aracely in an equally smothering hug. Liam clapped him roughly on the back and Ethan pulled his father-in-law into a quick, but loving embrace, knowing the stubborn old Irishman wouldn’t be comfortable with anything more. “Thank you all for coming to get me. I told Travis I was more than capable of making the drive alone.”
“Eh,” Liam said, waving a hand in the air. “This gives us a reason to get out of the house, and out of White Pine, for a little while. We don’t get many opportunities these days.”
“That makes it all worth it,” Ethan agreed. “I have a little bit to finish up here, but I should be done in half an hour. Travis?”
“Yeah, baby?” Travis’ smile faltered a touch, worry creeping into his brain.
“Take your parents to the coffee shop where we had lunch yesterday and get a snack. I’ll meet you there when I’m done. We can run back to the hotel and get my stuff before we head out.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Liam said. “Do they have any good tea?”
“Some of the best,” Jordan said from the doorway. “The café is owned by a married couple, one of which is from London. Their scones are amazing.”
“Mama? Papa? This is Detective Alex Jordan, head of so many things here in Garret,” Ethan said by way of introduction. “Jordan, these are Travis’ parents: Liam and Aracely Murphy.”
“It’s a pleasure,” Alex said, sticking his hand out in Liam’s direction. Giving it a firm shake, he released Liam’s fingers and took Aracely’s lightly. “I’ve heard so much about you both from Ethan, that I’m happy to finally put faces to the names. Mind if I come along with you, Travis?”
“Of course not,” Travis said, both wanting to get to know the detective better as well as have backup in case the jerkwad district attorney tried to start shit again. “We’d be happy for your company.”
“Thank you,” Jordan said, turning to give Ethan a hard look. “You said thirty minutes, McDowell. I’m timing you.”
Grinning, Ethan said, “I’ll see you in twenty-nine.”
xx
Checking his watch, Ethan saw that he was even earlier than he’d planned – twenty-six minutes on the dot. Travis would be so proud. He tucked a handful of files into the messenger bag he hadn’t used since leaving Minden Lake and sighed. Travis wouldn’t be happy that he was bringing work home, but it couldn’t be helped. One of Jordan’s detectives had been released to full duty starting on Monday, and Ethan wanted to have as much cleared up as he could so that the rightful detective could take over. But that only accounted for two of the files. The other was one of the first Jordan had given him, the one that was still nagging at his brain. That, he hoped Travis would understand. If some young citizen was attacked leaving White Pine’s country store – it was too small to qualify as a true grocery store – he knew Murphy would push him until he solved it. Hopefully he felt the same way about the residents of Garret.
Either way, he’d find out later tonight.
Slinging his bag over his shoulder, Ethan gave the office one more look to make certain he wasn’t forgetting anything. Assured he had everything he needed in his possession, Ethan flicked the lights off and stepped into the hallway.
And right into Reid’s broad chest.
“Jesus Christ,” Farrow shouted. “Watch where you’re going.”
“Believe me,” Ethan drawled. “Had I known I was going to physically run into you, I’d have paid more damn attention. Excuse me.”
Ethan stepped to the side, preparing to maneuver around the hallway roadblock when Reid took hold of his arm. “Stop,” Farrow said, voice dripping honey. “I didn’t realize it was you.”
“Doesn’t matter, my reaction’s still the same, Reid.” Ethan tugged on his arm causing Farrow to grip him more tightly. “Let go, I have somewhere to be.”
“Right,” Reid said. “You have to run back to that little hole in the wall town you call home. Can’t keep that emotionally fragile writer of yours waiting.”
Jerking roughly on his arm, Ethan managed to free himself from Reid’s grip. “Listen Reid,” he snarled, done with all the parrying and feinting they’d been doing up until this point. “I happen to be very happy with Travis and with White Pine. Happier than I was in Minden Lake, much happier than I’d ever be with you anywhere. I’m not going to say this again: leave me alone. There will never be another ‘us’. God only knows, there was barely an ‘us’ the first time around.”
Reid straightened to his full height and crossed his arms over his chest. “Tell me how you really feel, ducky,” he said, rolling his eyes. “Call me a dreamer, but I still think there’s a chance. Give it time.”
Ethan closed his eyes and counted to ten, praying that he wasn’t going to lose control and launch himself down the hallway at the Garret County District Attorney. Jordan wouldn’t ever let him live that down, even if he might secretly approve. When he’d reached ten four times, he slowly opened his eyes and saw no one but the pretty blonde receptionist eyeing him strangely. Forcing a smile onto his face, he waved, getting an uncertain wave in return.
“Ya gotta get a grip, McDowell,” he chided himself. “Besides, it’s Friday, Jordan’s giving you an early out, and the love of your life is waiting for you just a few blocks down the sidewalk. Focus.”
Pushing through the front doors of the Garret Police Department, Ethan let the warm summer sun soothe his frazzled nerves. Travis waited not far down the road and, after that, home. Finally.
Fandom: White Pine original fiction
Pairing: Travis Murphy/Ethan McDowell
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1,439
Summary: Travis and the elder Murphys take a road trip to bring Ethan home.
Author’s Notes: Um, I’d forgotten I had two chapters written in this series that hadn’t been posted. Oops. Now, I need to get on the stick and get the rest of it written.
“Mama,” Travis said, putting his hand on Aracely’s shoulder. “It’s an hour drive, you don’t need to pack us snacks.”
She turned her warm brown eyes on her son and frowned. “I know you, Travis, and I know your father, too. Someone will be hungry before we even hit the highway.”
“Your mother has a point,” Liam said, sneaking in behind his wife and snatching a piece of Dubliner cheese off the cutting board. “Don’t ever argue with a woman whose trying to feed you, Travis.”
“Got it, Pops,” Travis laughed. “How soon until you’re done here, Mama?”
“Sooner if you two go pack the car and leave me alone,” Aracely scolded them both.
“Come, Travis,” Liam said, tugging on his son’s arm.
“She does know that we aren’t staying, right?” Travis looked over his shoulder at the kitchen. “We’re just going in, extracting Ethan, and coming home.”
“Yes, yes,” Liam said. “But you know your mother. If she doesn’t make food, she’ll worry that we’ll all starve by the side of the highway.”
“And if you don’t pack a suitcase, she’s afraid well all wind up naked,” Travis finished. “No offense, Pops, but this is one of those occasions where I’m thankful I’m into men.”
Liam glanced back towards the kitchen and sighed. “This is one of the few times when I understand that attraction, son.”
xx
“The Garret police station is just ahead on the right, Pops,” Travis said, pointing at the building for his father’s reference. Travis had offered to drive, but Aracely had vetoed the idea, insisting that Liam sat behind the wheel for their trip. Knowing that he’d be riding home with Ethan, Travis didn’t argue. Instead, he climbed into the back seat, just like when he was ten. He wished he still had his old Game Boy. It would have made the nostalgia of the trip complete.
Liam turned on his blinker and entered the station’s lot. “This is much bigger than the outfit McCallum runs back home,” he said.
“It’s huge,” Travis agreed. “Ethan says it is bigger than the one in Minden Lake, too.”
“There’s a spot right there, Liam,” Aracely interrupted, pointing to the first open parking slot she found.
As directed, Liam parked the car and they all filed out. Travis wound his way through the station, unerringly finding his way back to where Alex Jordan’s office was hidden. Taking a quick look around, he didn’t see neither hide nor hair of the asshole, Reid Farrow. Feeling like that was a good sign, Travis poked his head into the office, a big smile on his face. “Ethan?”
“Travis,” Ethan said, jumping to his feet. “You’re here.”
“We are,” he said, coming into the office and embracing his husband tightly. “Mama and Pops are here too.”
Ethan untangled himself from Travis, crossing the room to wrap Aracely in an equally smothering hug. Liam clapped him roughly on the back and Ethan pulled his father-in-law into a quick, but loving embrace, knowing the stubborn old Irishman wouldn’t be comfortable with anything more. “Thank you all for coming to get me. I told Travis I was more than capable of making the drive alone.”
“Eh,” Liam said, waving a hand in the air. “This gives us a reason to get out of the house, and out of White Pine, for a little while. We don’t get many opportunities these days.”
“That makes it all worth it,” Ethan agreed. “I have a little bit to finish up here, but I should be done in half an hour. Travis?”
“Yeah, baby?” Travis’ smile faltered a touch, worry creeping into his brain.
“Take your parents to the coffee shop where we had lunch yesterday and get a snack. I’ll meet you there when I’m done. We can run back to the hotel and get my stuff before we head out.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Liam said. “Do they have any good tea?”
“Some of the best,” Jordan said from the doorway. “The café is owned by a married couple, one of which is from London. Their scones are amazing.”
“Mama? Papa? This is Detective Alex Jordan, head of so many things here in Garret,” Ethan said by way of introduction. “Jordan, these are Travis’ parents: Liam and Aracely Murphy.”
“It’s a pleasure,” Alex said, sticking his hand out in Liam’s direction. Giving it a firm shake, he released Liam’s fingers and took Aracely’s lightly. “I’ve heard so much about you both from Ethan, that I’m happy to finally put faces to the names. Mind if I come along with you, Travis?”
“Of course not,” Travis said, both wanting to get to know the detective better as well as have backup in case the jerkwad district attorney tried to start shit again. “We’d be happy for your company.”
“Thank you,” Jordan said, turning to give Ethan a hard look. “You said thirty minutes, McDowell. I’m timing you.”
Grinning, Ethan said, “I’ll see you in twenty-nine.”
xx
Checking his watch, Ethan saw that he was even earlier than he’d planned – twenty-six minutes on the dot. Travis would be so proud. He tucked a handful of files into the messenger bag he hadn’t used since leaving Minden Lake and sighed. Travis wouldn’t be happy that he was bringing work home, but it couldn’t be helped. One of Jordan’s detectives had been released to full duty starting on Monday, and Ethan wanted to have as much cleared up as he could so that the rightful detective could take over. But that only accounted for two of the files. The other was one of the first Jordan had given him, the one that was still nagging at his brain. That, he hoped Travis would understand. If some young citizen was attacked leaving White Pine’s country store – it was too small to qualify as a true grocery store – he knew Murphy would push him until he solved it. Hopefully he felt the same way about the residents of Garret.
Either way, he’d find out later tonight.
Slinging his bag over his shoulder, Ethan gave the office one more look to make certain he wasn’t forgetting anything. Assured he had everything he needed in his possession, Ethan flicked the lights off and stepped into the hallway.
And right into Reid’s broad chest.
“Jesus Christ,” Farrow shouted. “Watch where you’re going.”
“Believe me,” Ethan drawled. “Had I known I was going to physically run into you, I’d have paid more damn attention. Excuse me.”
Ethan stepped to the side, preparing to maneuver around the hallway roadblock when Reid took hold of his arm. “Stop,” Farrow said, voice dripping honey. “I didn’t realize it was you.”
“Doesn’t matter, my reaction’s still the same, Reid.” Ethan tugged on his arm causing Farrow to grip him more tightly. “Let go, I have somewhere to be.”
“Right,” Reid said. “You have to run back to that little hole in the wall town you call home. Can’t keep that emotionally fragile writer of yours waiting.”
Jerking roughly on his arm, Ethan managed to free himself from Reid’s grip. “Listen Reid,” he snarled, done with all the parrying and feinting they’d been doing up until this point. “I happen to be very happy with Travis and with White Pine. Happier than I was in Minden Lake, much happier than I’d ever be with you anywhere. I’m not going to say this again: leave me alone. There will never be another ‘us’. God only knows, there was barely an ‘us’ the first time around.”
Reid straightened to his full height and crossed his arms over his chest. “Tell me how you really feel, ducky,” he said, rolling his eyes. “Call me a dreamer, but I still think there’s a chance. Give it time.”
Ethan closed his eyes and counted to ten, praying that he wasn’t going to lose control and launch himself down the hallway at the Garret County District Attorney. Jordan wouldn’t ever let him live that down, even if he might secretly approve. When he’d reached ten four times, he slowly opened his eyes and saw no one but the pretty blonde receptionist eyeing him strangely. Forcing a smile onto his face, he waved, getting an uncertain wave in return.
“Ya gotta get a grip, McDowell,” he chided himself. “Besides, it’s Friday, Jordan’s giving you an early out, and the love of your life is waiting for you just a few blocks down the sidewalk. Focus.”
Pushing through the front doors of the Garret Police Department, Ethan let the warm summer sun soothe his frazzled nerves. Travis waited not far down the road and, after that, home. Finally.
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