Realistic or Modern Gangs of Birmingham - IC Thread [Open & Accepting]

[ReverseTex]

Walker Residence
- Edgbaston, Birmingham, England-
Misty Gray

Dr. Richard Finley
​

It wasn’t a surprise to see that Robert hunted down a trusty bottle of scotch to keep him company. Had this nightmare not occurred, he’d have more choice words about mixing alcohol with the pain medication for his brother’s injuries. For now, Richard decided to let it lie. The two officers who followed him in to take up the middle of the living room. Instead of sitting, he opted to stand beside his brother with arms crossed.

“‘Fraid we can’t, sir." The first officer declined, opting to maintain his stoic persona. His younger counterpart looked tempted, aware of his coworkers who were on Robert’s payroll. As Robert’s voice escalated, Richard felt the goosebumps rise along his neck. He hated seeing his brother like this, like an animal vying for a fight. Though this wasn’t his place to ask questions, he knew better. His piece was said to the officers outside; he’d handle how Robert would parse through the next step regardless of the attitude he took now.

The second officer’s nerves were written across his face, clearly intimidated by Robert. “I-uh. We weren’t there.” The second officer stammered. The first officer sent an annoyed elbow, an attempt to shake the young lad out of his nerves. “But we spoke to the officers who were at the restaurant!” He flinched from the elbow. The first officer sighed, annoyed that his partner botched the delivery. “As my mate was sayin’, we had officers outside the restaurant on standby per your security team’s request. They haven’t filed any official reports yet, ‘cause ya’ know a bit caught up with the coroner’s office and the whole scene in general. But from what witness accounts say, it was all very sudden.” The first officer took the reins, explaining what he was told.

“Your security team said that up until the food was served, there was no real cause for concern other than genera verball hostilities. The restaurant was cased beforehand, all staff accounted for, and the premises were secure. Once the entrees and wine were served, they told our boys, that’s when your wife reacted…” The first officer trailed, lacking the proper words to describe what occurred. “They were testing for allergens when we left.” The second officer piped in.

Richard removed his glasses from his shirt, sliding them back into place. This was the second mention of allergies, and now he knew he heard it right. Before Robert could blunder in, he opted to take a calmer route. “Caroline didn’t have allergies,” he retorted, leaning against the arm of the couch. “That’s what your boy said too,” the first officer nodded to Robert. “But coroner’s said it couldn’t be anything else as of now.” Out of the corner of his eye, he could see his brother stir again. Before he unleashed on the poor officers, Richard placed a grounding hand on the shoulder closest to him.

“Wait a minute, Harry did mention something else?” The second officer questioned, glancing over to his counterpart. “Yeah, he said something about the wine?” He nodded, assuring himself. “He said what triggered their response besides the sudden commotion was that someone yelled, “Don’t touch the wine.” Was your wife allergic to grapes or anything?” Richard nearly let his scoff erupt into a laugh; the sincere question was extremely ironic. But he also knew a chuckle was in bad taste, so he kept silent to allow Robert a chance to answer for once.

 

[Misty Gray]

The Walker Residence
- Edgbaston, Birmingham, England -

Robert Walker​

Robert simply nodded when the first officer declined the offer of an alcoholic drink. Shame, once the bottle was opened he might as well have had a drink poured for himself. Even in his state of grief, he could see the less experienced officer had a glint of temptation in him. Many of the two officers' colleagues wouldn't have thought twice about accepting the offer, happy to go along with the pleasantries if it meant a deal was made where they would profit. Under other circumstances, Robert would likely have pinpointed the second officer as one he could try bending to his well at some point. But none of that mattered right now.

It was confirmed neither officer had been present at the restaurant. "Makes sense," he simply uttered. Of course none of the officers he'd asked to be at the meeting as part of additional security would dare face him to break the news about Caroline's death. Cowards. Happy to take his money but too scared to look him in the eyes and see his grieve. "Thank you. I expect to be delivered the outcome of the report as a matter of urgency. Assuming they have enough brain cells to scrape together to draw one up," he bitterly commented. He lowered his head and for a time his features softened as he was told his wife's death was sudden. The only saving grace he might be able to take from it was that Caroline hadn't suffered for long. He hoped she hadn't suffered at all.

Robert kept quiet as the officer explained what the security team had told them. General hostilities between his family and the Jones couple was to be expected. Although Caroline had promised not to go into attack mode as she was known to, he knew she couldn't plaster on fake pleasantries and he wouldn't have expected her to. There hadn't been any security issues, so no physical, violent attacks towards Caroline or Alfie. It was being made apparent that the cause of her death seemed to be isolated towards the meal itself, something Robert was certain his security team hadn't accounted for.

With the mention of allergies, Richard spoke up to argue Caroline had none. "My brother is correct. Caroline didn't have any allergies," he firmly interjected. Robert was about to unleash a scathing attack on the competency of the coroner, but instead felt Richard's hand on his shoulder, no doubt a gesture to keep him level. It didn't take Robert long to realise it was probably better not to push the subject. He didn't care either way about getting on the wrong side of the cops nor questioning the coroner's abilities. More that, he would rather not give them reason to think he suspected Aidan had killed her. He didn't want them scrutinising matters and getting in the way of his own justice.

Robert's attention was grabbed when the other men started talking about wine. It seemed security's attention was drawn to Caroline's table when someone yelled not to touch the wine. With all of the talk of allergies and now wine being thrown in as being linked to the commotion, he could only think his wife had been poisoned. That bastard had sat there and watched her fall into his trap. When the officer asked if Caroline had been allergic to grapes, Robert looked at the man as if he had said something completely stupid. Though he didn't outwardly react to it, he picked up on Richard's scoff. He was no doubt thinking the same thing. "No. Caroline was not allergic to grapes," he said as a matter-of-fact. "Wine was one of her favourite drinks," he added.

Not wanting to spend much more time with the two officers who barely knew anything, he let out a deep sigh. "Gentlemen, if that's all," he began, making clear his preference for them to leave. "I would much rather be at my wife's side at this time. Neither you nor the coroner are able to tell me why Caroline is dead yet. And I just..." he fell silent, bringing his hand up to shield his eyes. "I've just lost my wife," he stated, hoping they would take the hint that he needed time to wrap his head around his loss.

The message was clear and Richard was able to see the police officers out of the house. When Robert's brother returned to the living room, he would find him back on his feet as he tended to switching off the fireplace and finishing up a glass of water. "Be a sport and bring me my coat," he asked Richard. "We'll have one of the guards drive us there," he added, not wanting to take any chances and drive into a trap. Clearly, he was set on seeing Caroline.

ReverseTex (Richard)

 

[ReverseTex]

Walker Residence
- Edgbaston, Birmingham, England-
Misty Gray

Dr. Richard Finley
​

Without hesitation, Richard saw to it the officers were seen out once they were finished. There wasn’t anything left to discuss or information to give. The two officers made their way down the stoop, the first officer glancing up to him at the final step. “If you need anything, just ring, yeah?” The officer suggested. He nodded, silently thanking him for his gesture, before the two officers got in the car. Typically, the cops on Robert’s payroll were generally willing to come at a moment’s notice. But these young men somehow remained unscathed by the money and still offered the same kindness. Not to Robert, but to him. The gesture struck him off-guard but nonetheless kind.

By the time he returned to Robert, his brother was in a new sort of vigor. He wanted to go see Caroline. Despite the order to fetch his coat, Richard’s eyes wandered back to the landline. Would it have been better had he not taken the call? This nightmare wouldn’t be a reality had he ignored it. Sure, eventually someone would have had to accept the burden. But at least there would be a second or two longer to enjoy life as it was...

“No.” Richard insisted, though distant in thought. His mind was frantic, clawing for any excuse or opportunity to delay reality. “I don’t think that’s wise.” He reaffirmed, though unsteadily, crossing his arms tightly to his chest. He couldn’t express his concern for his brother, along with his own personal qualms about the venture. All of it was to much. To much happening all at once. “What if it’s worse than we think? Maybe it’ll be better if we wait ‘til morning and they’ve got the full reports back, you know?” He managed. The nicotine had worn off; any semblance of calm or focus dissipated. “W-We could call that girl of Alfie’s to get him? Or maybe Felicity? I don’t know; I'm sure there’s a logical solution to this. If I just had time, more time…”

He wanted to slink down to the ground. His anxiety was ramping—heart palpitating, sweat forming on his brow. He just needed more time to sort this out. Once he had it, they’d all be fine. It would be okay. His hands felt tingly, uncrossing them to flex them for a few moments to hopefully bring them back to life. His chest tightened, the lump in his throat taking full form as an unmannagble weight. “I-” Richard tried to speak, though the weight suffocated any words. His own heartbeat echoed in his mind, drowning out any outburst his brother might be having. Caroline deserved better than them. No wonder she’d left them with this mess; they deserved it.

Richard sank slowly to sit in his chair, his body in full control of his mind, the unbearable weight slowly sagging him down. He had no control. It was as if he was in that damn plane again, in a slow descent to a knowing demise. There wasn’t a way out of this. His breath was quick—lacking any depth—and fast-paced. “M-more time. I-I can sort it.” He managed, staggered through his breath. He buried his head in his shaking hands, succumbing entirely to anxiety. His brain tried to hunt for any solutions or excuses. Injuries, danger, pain. Don't go. Don't let Robert go. Don't cause more pain. But even now it was harder to form a complete thought, his hearbeat completely drowning out all sound. He curled inward in his seat, trying to clutch himself tightly. The shakes were replaced by a slow rock, the only way it seemed to mitigate them.

 

[Misty Gray]

Tony & Julia Fletcher's House
- Aston, Birmingham, England -

Tony Fletcher​

Tony appreciated his sister telling him she didn't blame him for what had happened. He was glad she didn't hold any anger or resentment towards him. He felt enough of that for himself. He should have been quicker to ensure his siblings had security around them. Even if he didn't know of the real Jones threat, the clues had been there. The gala attack had been a clear warning.

When Rory said she was okay, it was clear as day she wasn't and he knew that she knew it. He nodded in understanding when she went on to admit she didn't know how she was. He reached out over the table and gave her hands a reassuring squeeze as she rested them on the tabletop. "Strange, aint it?" he rhetorically asked. "Kinda feels like we should be up and about, showing how grateful we are to be alive, but the grief and pain is holding us down."

Tony hated seeing his youngest sister so extinguished and troubled. His own energy, fire, and fight was often times only outdone by Rory herself. So to see her in this current state was harder to take than his own feeling of emptiness.

When she went on to retell some of her experiences at the warehouse, Tony lowered his head for a moment. Hearing how Aidan had convinced her that Robert had killed him threatened to awaken some of the hate-fuelled fire. It was bad enough she'd had to spend her time alone mourning for him, but then for her to have to instead learn it was Sully who had been killed and have to mourn all over again, he imagined was torture. Tony wanted nothing more than to hunt Aidan down and kill the bastard. "I'm sorry you had to grieve for both of us. And that you had to hear the truth from Robert," he said, followed with a deep sigh.

When his sister went into more detail about the conditions she and Felicity had been kept in, Tony switched seats to sit next to her, placing a comforting arm around her shoulder. The more he heard, the more he felt a rage bubbling within. He'd spent most of his life hating Robert and inclined to go against the Walkers at all costs, but right now, he couldn't help but feel like he needed them. If only to stop Aidan from inflicting more pain and suffering on his family.

A lump formed in his throat upon hearing how a gun had been aimed directly at Rory and despite pulling the trigger, had spared her. He couldn't imagine the fear she'd felt. Even though he'd been shot himself, it had caught him completely unaware. Rory had been forced to look down the barrel of the gun, believing she was about to die. "Come here," he said, wrapping both arms around her and pulling her in close. "You're safe now. Were safe," he assured her, kissing the top of her head. "That bastard will pay for what he did to you. He won't hurt you again," he firmly told her.

Releasing her, but still keeping his hands on her shoulders, he looked her in the eyes. "What do you need from me right now? What do you need?" he softly asked her.

neverbackdown (Rory)

 

[Misty Gray]

The Walker Residence
- Edgbaston, Birmingham, England -

Robert Walker​

"No?!" Robert repeated his brother's words, clearly shocked to hear him refuse to help get his coat so they could head to the mortuary. His jaw tightened as he stared back at his brother. "What part of going to see my wife isn't wise?" he questioned. She may be dead, but Robert still felt like he needed to be with her. She needed him to be with her. "She's dead, Rich. It doesn't get any worse than that," he firmly argued.

Before he could react to the suggestion of Bonnie or Felicity going to the mortuary to get Alfie, Robert was rendered silent a little longer when his brother started saying he needed more time for a logical solution. Robert began to feel irritated and frustrated. He had to stop himself from expressing it at his brother, knowing Richard was grieving and shocked by Caroline's death too.

After a moment to gather his thoughts, he turned away from Richard. "It's hard, I know. I'll call Dean and get him to come here to stay with you. And I'll have Vinny take me to the mortuary," he thought aloud as he physically struggled towards the telephone. As he began dialling Dean's number, he was brought to a quick stop upon hearing his brother breathlessly speak about needing more time again. "I know--" he began, turning to see Richard clearly in a bad way in the armchair. The way his brother was shaking and slowly rocking took him by surprise, immediately drawing concern.

Hanging up the phone before making any calls, Robert carefully walked towards his brother. "Richard," he sternly spoke, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. "Okay. I admit defeat. We'll both stay here a little while longer," he gave in. He sucked in a breath, choking up again as his eyes brimmed with tears. He'd lost his wife and his brother was struggling with it. Robert was sure all that was holding him together right now was knowing Richard needed him, and that his children would soon need him too. He wasn't sure where he would find it, but he knew he had to maintain the strength to get through the evening for their sakes. Even though all he wanted to do was break down and plead with God for some mercy. To let him switch places with Caroline.

"Rich, help me back to the sofa," he asked his brother. Whilst he was sure he could struggle back to his seat himself, he wanted Richard to sit with him. "We'll stay here, but please sit with me. I need you. We need each other. Caroline would want us to admit that, wouldn't she? She'd call us cowards if we didn't admit it."

ReverseTex (Richard)

 

[ReverseTex]

Walker Residence
- Edgbaston, Birmingham, England-
Misty Gray

Dr. Richard Finley
​

Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Richard’s heart raced in his head. Despite his loss of control, he was aware enough to know he was having a panic attack. It had been some time since a serious episode, but with the mounting pressures from work, his family, and now Caroline’s passing, it was all amounting to this. Though he was aware of his state, it didn’t help him put himself back together. If only he had more time, then he could’ve sorted his affairs better. All of this was his fault. He killed Elwyn, which started this chain of events in the first place. Stupid, so, so, stupid! Before his downspiral could continue, something interrupted his thoughts.

A firm but gentle hand landed on his shoulder. Though he knew who it was, his body still flinched at the touch. The rocking stopped, firmly planted in his place by Robert. How long had he been like that? His body was exhausted from the attack, still shaking as if he had a chill. He could finally hear something other than the throbbing again. Finally, a break from the personal onslaught. Robert had spoken to him, it seemed, and now that he was putting himself back together again, he could properly hear it all. With each breath, slowly but surely, the sharp breaths turned deeper. When asked to help his brother to the sofa, Richard nodded, still unable to put words together yet. He was uneasy on his own feet, but without question helped Robert. He wasn’t sure where he found the strength to get them to the sofa, but he knew his brother needed him to lean on now more than ever.

With both men on the couch, Richard rested the back of his head on the softa. For a moment, he closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. “I’m sorry.” Though he knew better than to apologize, it seemed like the only thing he could manage. “I can’t bury someone else; I can’t. Not her.” His tone was raw, aching with decades of pain. From Ava, the innocent Austrian girl from the war, and his first encounter with Death. From Ripley, his mentor, and their commanding officer. From Charles… It was all rushing back.

To hear he was needed, though he knew it, provided him some sense of confidence. As his brother aptly put it, they needed each other. Drawing his head off the sofa, Richard was zapped of his normal vigor. More than anything, he was tired. To exhausted to feel sorrow or pain. He was exhaustively numb. “I wish it were me. It want it to be me.” He lamented. “It was never meant to be you, even if you think you deserve death. God knows you’re to important and stubborn to give up, you git. It was surely not supposed to be her. She’s to stubborn to die too, moreso than you.” He explained. “It should’ve been me. It was always supposed to be me. No wife or children to leave behind. Just a humble savings for your kids.”

Richard, in his exhaustion, let his head fall on Robert’s shoulder. He couldn't sit upright any longer and needed some form of touch to keep his head from floating in the clouds. “But it seems we’re stuck at the end of a cruel joke. We’ve got to keep at it without her; quite rude if you ask me.” Somehow, he managed to cling on to his humor. If only for his brother and his own spirit.

 

[Misty Gray]

The Walker Residence
- Edgbaston, Birmingham, England -

Robert Walker​

Even though he was sure he could get himself to the sofa, Robert was glad when Richard accepted his request for help in doing so. With his brother's help, lightening the load regardless, Robert sat back in his spot and Richard sat beside him. Both men sat back and rested. Hearing his brother apologise, Robert shook his head. "No need," he quietly mumbled. When he went on to say how he couldn't bury someone else, Robert let out a sigh, agreeing with that sentiment. In the space of months Robert had attended his son's funeral, his father-in-law's, and the former Mayor's. Whilst the latter two hadn't been quite as difficult, it still took its toll. Burying his eldest son and soon his wife was too much to bear. Even referring to this as a nightmare didn't do the true pain and severity justice. "I don't know how I can either. I can't say goodbye. It's not her time. It can't be," he trailed off.

When his brother began to wish it had been himself who had died, Robert shook his head. That wasn't acceptable. Neither Caroline nor Richard dying was right. As if knowing his next thoughts, Richard said it wasn't Robert's time either, stopping him from suggesting it and claiming he was too important to give up. "I can't quite agree. Of the three of us, I'm the one who deserves most to have been killed. It's my fault we've lost her," he said in defeat. "You might not have a wife or kids, but you are important. Your life on this earth is not as destructive as mine. You're a positive presence. But you and I..." he began, tightly closing his eyes and shaking his head. "We're likely bloody cockroaches."

When his brother's rested his head rest on his shoulder, he appreciated the feeling as it reassured him that he wasn't alone, as if his eyes and ears alone couldn't be trusted. "Despite knowing Caroline wouldn't want us to give up and that she'd want us to fight, at this moment in time I would rather the earth swallowed me whole."

Robert massaged his forehead, the action transforming to him rubbing his eyes for a moment. "This is the hardest thing I've had to do. I've lost my wife; the love of my life. And I have to tell my kids their mother has passed away, just months after losing Charles. This will destroy them and I'll have to look them in the eyes as I break the news. I should have made sure they wouldn't lose their mother for a very long time yet. I think I'd rather be in that cell in Casablanca than this. At least my kids would still have their mother."

ReverseTex (Richard)

 

[BasDorcha]

The Imperial Restaurant

- Birmingham City Centre, Birmingham, England -​

Alfred Walker

Alfred watched carefully as Aiden and Sarah took in his response. The slight interruption by the waiter barely broke his concentration as he nodded and accepted the drink but didn't touch it. He had no intention of touching alcohol until this was over as he knew he needed all of his facilities. He listened as Aiden responded, his eyes narrowing. There was a hidden threat in there and he heard it, but he wasn't sure what it was about yet. Something was coming. He looked around, nodding to a plainclothes he had discussed plans with before the meeting. He knew that on Alfie's cue he was to make the rounds, outside and in to look for suspicious activity. When he disappeared into the back as if he worked there, Alfie looked back to the table. Instead, his mom was the first to respond, stopping only to take a sip of her wine. He waited patiently, quiet and brooding as he considered what he knew and what he could expect. Aiden was as big a weasel as it came, he would resort to anything and he had no moral compass to stop him. Whatever he had planned, it was going to be bad.

He was focused on Aiden when his mother took her drink of her wine, but Aiden was focused on his mother. Too focused. He didn't look away a person in conversation does between breaks in speaking, almost like he was waiting for something. Alfie, a second before his mother began showing symptoms, opened his mouth to speak, only to be interrupted by Caroline croaking out a panicked call for him. In a flash, Alfie had all attention on her. The next few moments seemed to both speed up and slow down simultaneously. He watched her struggle increase, reaching for her as she fell against him.

"Mom? Mom what's going on?" The glass of water crunched on the ground as Alfie stood, pulling caroline into his arms and trying to examine her. The blood pooled at the corners of her mouth from the coughing and anger and tears formed in Alfie in a way he had never experienced. Everything else happened at a flash forward speed. Suddenly, Caroline was unmoving in his arms, Aiden yelling in the background, the Walker employees rushing to form a protective barrier around them. Alfie growled an animalistic sound, pained and wounded… and angry. So angry. It sounded demonic, unearthly, and for a moment, he didn't know if he even existed. He carried her in his arms to the police, a loud buzz in his ears that blocked out all sound. He turned away from them without a word, to the men he trusted most. "Find every person who touched this table, and those two…" He turned to the police. "I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him. He did something, but you'll probably never find the proof."

The world spun like a top as an ambulance ringed out in the distance, but Alfie knew it was already too late. The hate in his eyes as he looked at Aiden was pure and unadulterated. "I guess we can see what type of man you are, Aiden. I say man loosely. Pretend all you want, but I know this is related to you. And any conversations we may have had to resolve this the right way, you just destroyed. I hope you know what you've done." He whirled his hand around, pointing at Aiden and Sarah as he spun and put his back to them. "Get. Them. Out. You, call my father, tell him to meet us." With that, Alfie ignored Aiden and his wife, letting his men see to his orders as he went with his mother's body and dealt with the aftermath.

Inside he felt like breaking, his heart in pieces, wanting to throw a fit, scream and cry, but there would be time for that later. Right now he had to hold it together. What would his dad do? He wished more than anything right now that Charles was here, or his dad, to deal with this. He wasn't trained like charles. He didn’t know the best way to deal with death in front of him, an enemy behind him, and the eyes of everyone on him. He needed his father. Stopping a man at the door, he also told him to call the mayor. This would be a long night.

 

[BasDorcha]

HM Prison Birmingham

- Winson Green, Birmingham, England -​

Dean Walters

Dean laughed when Marco confirmed he didn't trust him. Smart kid, it was a good thing to be cautious, but Dean was confident enough to take his time in explaining everything and felt certain before this meeting was over they would be on the same side. It seemed Marco was a lot more behind on things then he thought, but that was okay as well, he would get him all caught up. He listened quietly as he took down a few notes and flipped through a few pages refreshing on the details he intended to go over before turning his full attention to Marco.

"The witness in question is actually in your favor, not against it. But we'll get to that. Again, I'm not here on a particular side, despite being old friends with the Walker clan. As for the Fletchers, things have not been great, for either them or the Walkers. Believe it or not, there is actually a small truce between the families at the moment and they are working together. Recently, Felicity and Rory were both kidnapped by a man named Aiden Jones. He eventually let Felicity go, but Robert took her place. While all this was happening, Tony was attacked… that's the same night Sully was killed. It's all linked back to Aiden. There's too much I can't go into details about here, as I'm sure you know, but suffice it to say, there's been a lot going on out there. Tony is okay though, as is the rest of the family, Sully aside. They're going to make it, you just need to focus on making it here."

Dean gave him a steady but kind look. "I know it's hard, but there is nothing you can do for them from in here, so you need to get out first. Now, I want to hear your side of the story, from you. Then I'll tell you about your witness. Also, I know a few people of respectable… rank here. A few owe me favors for helping them. I've put in a good word for you. Things should ease up, on both sides. Notice you haven't got a guard listening into this conversation, so speak freely. Just tell it exactly how it happened."

Misty Gray

 

[BasDorcha]

Tony & Julia Fletcher's House

- Aston, Birmingham, England -​

Penny Fletcher

The feeling in the room was just as Penny had expected it to be. A fragile sense of stability, a façade of happiness thinly veiling the pain and stress underneath. Everyone was trying to present their best face. "I'm holding. I know it's going to be okay eventually, so I'm just pushing for that day." She said when they asked her how she was doing. It wouldn't do any good to keep rehashing the same things over and over, and they all equally knew the pain they were all feeling. Penny had always been a forward thinker and she was applying that logic now. The stifling negative had to be overcome.

As Tony took Rory aside, Penny laughed softly at the way Julia got on him. They were such a perfect match, Julia the right amount of sweet to his sour, tempering him. She hoped to have that one day - a love so deep and pure. It gave her heart warm flickers of hope to watch them together, warming the despair hanging in her frame. As Julia thanked her for the work she did in the room Penny smiled, "It's the least I could do. There was no way I was letting you come home to that, you needed to be comfortable and have time to heal. I'm just glad they finished it in time. Thankfully making things look good is my job."

Penny teasingly flipped her hair as if acting hoity, then giggled. "I'm putting together a care package for Marco if anyone wants to include anything - Julia if I forget, tell that husband of yours as well. The place has been on lock down but I'm hoping they let us soon and I can go deliver it. I need to tell him about everything that's happened out here as well. I bet no one has told him that we have this little happy play time going on with the Walkers at the moment. It might make things a little easier for him in there if the Walkers lackies aren't hassling him right now."

Misty Gray neverbackdown

 

[neverbackdown]

Tony & Julia Fletcher's House
- Aston, Birmingham, England -

Victoria "Rory" Fletcher

​

Rory’s lips twitched into a small smile as Tony squeezed her hands, his words a quiet attempt at comfort. “Sully wouldn’t want us sitting around moping,” she said, almost as if convincing herself. But as quickly as the smile had appeared, it faded. “It’s just so hard to keep going like everything is normal,” she admitted, her voice quieter now, raw with the weight of it all. Because nothing was normal. Not anymore. And she wasn’t sure it ever would be again.

When Tony apologized for her grief, Rory’s lips curved into a half-smile, the kind that didn’t quite reach her eyes. Her expression settled into something resigned—it is what it is.

She was relieved Tony was alive. Her eyes could see him sitting in front of her, breathing, talking. But for ten days, she had mourned him. She had accepted his death, cried for him, come to terms with the hole he had left behind. Now, her heart, mind, and eyes couldn’t seem to agree on reality. Some days, she still caught herself thinking it was Tony who was gone, not Sully. Her grief refused to shift, as if her mind was unwilling to rewrite what it had already accepted. She had lost a brother—a best friend. Just not the one she’d first believed. And the worst part? She wasn’t sure the weight of Sully’s death had even fully hit her yet. It lingered in the background, waiting. She worried that one day, when she least expected it, it would crash down and shatter whatever fragile sense of stability she was trying to rebuild. That was, off course, if she ever found peace again.

As Tony sat beside her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, Rory flinched before she even realized what she was doing. Her body just reacted—jerking away instinctively, like it had been burned. The reaction was immediate, beyond her control, and the moment it happened, frustration flickered across her face. She hated that her body still betrayed her like this, still stuck in survival mode even when she knew she was safe. Would this ever go away? Would there ever be a time when a simple touch didn’t set her on edge?

She exhaled slowly, trying to shake it off. It took a second, but she forced herself to lean into him, even if it felt like fighting against everything her body wanted to do. The tension in her muscles didn’t disappear completely, but she stayed there, letting the warmth of his hold remind her that she wasn’t alone. That she was safe. Even if it still didn’t always feel like it.

Rory wrapped her arms around Tony, holding on a little tighter than she meant to. Tears burned at the corners of her eyes as her mind dragged her back to the warehouse. No matter how much she tried to block it out, it was always there, lurking beneath the surface. Even now, she could see Robert’s face—bloodied, terrified—his voice breaking as he spoke to her. She could hear his desperate pleas, feel the weight of helplessness pressing down on her chest. Then came Rhys, steady and unshaken, lifting the gun like it was nothing. The sound of Robert’s anguished cries filled her head, a sound she would never forget.

It was the same memory that ripped her from sleep every night, leaving her breathless, shaking, drowning in the same fear that had gripped her in that moment. No matter how safe she was now, a part of her was still trapped there, still waiting for the gunshot that never came for her.

When Tony let go, Rory sniffled and quickly wiped away the stray tears that had slipped free. She knew he wanted to help—hell, she wanted him to help—but how could he, when even she didn’t know what she needed? She bit her lip, her mind racing through a list of impossible wishes. She needed to stop feeling scared all the time. She needed to sleep without waking up in a panic. She needed to undo everything that had happened. She needed Sully to still be alive. But none of that could be fixed. None of it could be undone.

“To kill Aidan,” she muttered, her voice lacking the usual bite, just flat and worn out. She let the silence stretch between them, the weight of it heavy. Sighing, her shoulders sagged, and she looked down at her hands, her fingers twisting the ring absentmindedly. “I don’t know,” she said after a moment, her voice softer now, unsure. “I don’t know what I need, or how to feel… or even where to start.” Her words were slow, like she was carefully choosing them, testing them out as they left her mouth.

Rory’s gaze lifted to meet Tony’s, and she hesitated for a second before speaking again. Her voice dropped to almost a whisper, fear and vulnerability wrapped in every syllable. "I want to get to know Robert,” she admitted, her voice barely above a murmur. “And I need you to be okay with that.” There was a nervousness there, a quiet hope that her brother wouldn’t judge her, wouldn’t look at her differently.


************
Misty Gray (Tony)

 

[neverbackdown]

The Walker Residence
- Edgbaston, Birmingham, England -

Thomas Walker
​

After the tension of the kidnapping had loomed over the family, it was a relief to see things finally starting to return to some semblance of normalcy. Felicity had moved back to her apartment, his father was home and recovering, and even his mother had managed to loosen up a little, letting go of the tight grip she’d held on everything. The house, once filled with an underlying sense of chaos and worry, was starting to feel like home again. Thomas was grateful that he no longer had to sneak out early in the mornings to avoid the weight of it all, and that he didn’t feel like he needed to hide in his room.

His father was still in recovery, though, and needed help with most things. It was hard for Thomas to see him like that—weak, dependent—but there was a small part of him that felt a twisted sense of comfort in the fact that Robert was still his stubborn self, trying to do everything himself despite clearly struggling. At least his dad wasn’t giving up.

Thomas had offered to help out around the house, to do whatever needed doing. But after a few light-hearted comments about not changing his father’s diaper, Thomas had swiftly been taken off the roster. His mother had even stepped in, telling him he could take the night off and that Richard would look after his father for the evening while she and Alfie were out.

Thomas spent the day hanging out with friends, wandering through Birmingham and soaking in the vibrant energy of the city. The constant presence of security, however, was a different story. It was annoying, a constant reminder that he couldn’t just enjoy the day without being watched. He’d tried losing them a few times, ducking into side streets and slipping through crowds, but they were always just a step behind. He couldn’t blame them—his father’s orders were clear, especially after Felicity and Rory’s kidnapping. Security was tighter than ever.

When it was time to head home and he said goodbye to his friends outside the restaurant, Thomas couldn’t help but admit one thing: the free ride back was actually a pretty nice perk. He wasn’t sure how he felt about being babysat all the time, but he’d definitely learned to appreciate the convenience.

The moment Thomas stepped through the front door, a cold wave of dread washed over him. Something felt off—an unsettling shift in the air that seemed to hang heavily around him. His body tensed, every instinct telling him that something was wrong, though he couldn't place exactly what. Trying to suppress the urge to fidget, he clenched his hands into fists, forcing himself to stay calm as he moved through the house. His gaze scanned every corner, searching for his father or uncle, hoping they might offer some explanation for the strange, suffocating tension in the house.

As Thomas walked into the living room, his eyes landed on his father and uncle, both crying. Any trace of a smile or comfort he had tried to muster evaporated instantly. He stood frozen for a moment, his mind racing to make sense of what he was seeing. The only conclusion that seemed to make sense was the worst-case scenario: Aidan had taken Felicity again. "Is it Felicity?" Thomas's voice cracked as panic surged through him, his heart pounding. "Is she okay? What happened?" His words tumbled out, desperate for answers, his mind already bracing for the worst.

********
Misty Gray (Robert)
ReverseTex (Richard)

 

[Misty Gray]

Tony & Julia Fletcher's House
- Aston, Birmingham, England -

Tony Fletcher​

Tony hadn't been oblivious to the way Rory had flinched when he put his arm around her, even if he made sure not to react to it. It killed him to see his sister so fragile, even whilst she was in his presence. Aidan and those monsters had a lot to answer for. He couldn't let them get away with taunting and terrorising his baby sister.

He was glad when Rory eventually leaned into him. As much as he felt he'd let her down already, he wanted her to know he was there for her now. He wanted her to feel safe and secure. When she wrapped her arms tightly around him, he sucked in a breath as the gesture caused discomfort to his healing chest, but he rose above it as her warmth outweighed any of the physical pain. "You're safe now. Whether you stay at Mum's place or here, you're not alone anymore," he reassured her.

Releasing each other from the embrace, Tony relaxed back in his seat, keeping his head turned to face Rory next to him. When she said she wanted to kill Aidan, he didn't hesitate to nod his head in understanding. He wanted to do that too. And he was sure they weren't the only ones who did. Still, he didn't verbally respond to her words. He didn't want to encourage her to risk her life by following up on her desire. Even if he wanted to go out and do the same.

When Rory then said she didn't know what she needed or how to feel, Tony lowered his head. He let the silence hang in the air, wanting to give Rory chance to think without him interrupting or putting ideas into her head. He wanted to give her time to search her thoughts in the safety of his presence. He couldn't rush her or push her to open up. Julia had said as much only minutes ago.

Sensing her eyes seeking him, he lifted his head to meet her gaze once again. She hesitated, but it was clear she wanted to say something. His surprise at the fragility of her whisper was only outweighed by the content of what she quietly admitted to him. She said she wanted to get to know Robert. This led to Tony's mouth opening but no words escaping him. She followed up by saying he needed to be on board with that.

Tony diverted his gaze away from Rory, staring towards the patio doors of the dining room. He'd spent most of his life resenting Robert. Recent years had been filled with conflict and competition with the man. Threats by the Walkers met by challenge and arguments from the Fletchers. It had gone far beyond rivalry even if not considered war. The Walkers and the Fletchers had been enemies for a long time. Tony and Robert had rarely had a good word for one another. Now, to be asked to be okay with Rory wanting to get to know Robert seemed like the biggest, wildest request. How could he be okay with that?

Because Rory needed him to be okay with it. Norman was Tony's biological father, there was no doubt about that. Rory had recently found out that Robert was in fact her biological father and he knew he couldn't claim to understand how that felt. Along with that, Tony couldn't deny that Robert had put himself in danger to try save Rory from Aidan's clutches. After the father and daughter had been inflicted with pain and trauma, they were left alone in the warehouse until the emergency services arrived. Tony was aware the two had chance to talk during that alone time. It was clear his sister had softened towards Robert as a result. Given how much anger and hate she had held towards Robert upon learning he was her biological father, he knew she had to be serious now about her change of heart and wanting to get to know him.

He let out a long sigh before looking his sister in the eyes. "I get it. None of us know what this is like for you or how you're feeling. You wanting to get to know him... I'm okay with it, Rory. You need to know more about yourself and that side of your family. He put his life on the line to help you. I can't knock him for that. And, I guess this means I'll get your vote for my plan to ask the Walkers for their help. With Aidan and Russo on our backs, I know us and Robert's lot need to band together to beat 'em." Tony glanced away before deciding to try lighten up a little. "You'll be going 'round to the Walkers' gaff for Sunday dinner before long. I bet Caroline cooks a mean Sunday roast," he remarked.

neverbackdown (Rory)

 

[BeyondDandy]

The Windmill
- City Centre, Birmingham, England -

GRAHAM SMITH
​

Graham finished his last piece of duck confit and neatly arranged his knife and fork next to his plate. The meal was lean, light and filled with flavor. It lives up to Felicity’s description. Graham however was not fully engaged on the plate before him, but had eaten with efficiency before taking a sip of water. He paused for a moment before responding to Felicity’s question.

"My family," he started, as if gathering all of his thoughts before committing to his next words. He inhaled quietly and sat back in his chair. "My father worked in law enforcement. Deputy Commissioner of the Cheltenham Police Force. He was a rough man. Not cruel, but firm. Disciplined. When he entered a room, people sat up straight. He carried himself in that way. Everyone respected him. To be honest, I feared him as well." He gave a slight shrug. "I suppose that's what made him good at his job."

His eyes shifted slightly, as if he were repeating a memory in his head before speaking again. “My mother was different. She was a teacher. Had all the patience in the world, which she certainly needed given my father and I. She had a knack for making everyone feel lighter. When my father was at his lowest, she was the only one able to smooth his edges."

He traced his thumb around the edge of his glass, hesitating momentarily. "I lost them both when I was sixteen. Car accident. One moment they’re there, the next—“ His voice did not falter, yet there was a weight to his words, something suppressed. “Emily—my sister—was younger. Just a kid. I did my best, but I wasn't equipped to parent her. I believe we were both lost in our own way.”

He glanced at Felicity to see how she reacted before continuing. "I joined the military shortly after. I believe she interpreted that as me leaving her behind, and she may have been correct. She wanted a normal life and wanted me to be present. But I wasn't." His fingers drummed idly on the table before he stopped them. "She shaped her own life. Got married and had children. Two boys. We talk on her birthday and some holidays, but not as frequently as we should."

His expression couldn’t be read. He shook his head as if to dismiss an idea, but remained stoic in manner. "She’s happy. That’s what matters."

Letting the weight of his own words settle, he returned Felicity's look. "What about you?" His speech remained calm, but his expression sharper. "I know your father's reputation. But what about your family when the world isn't watching?"

Misty Gray

 

[Misty Gray]

The Imperial Restaurant
- Birmingham City Centre, Birmingham, England -

Aidan Jones and Joseph Worthington​

As he watched Alfie prop up Caroline's lifeless body in his arms, Aidan took no pleasure from the woman's death nor her son's grief. Regardless, he didn't regret his part in it. She had to die if he was ever going to put to rest his need for vengeance for Elwyn's death. Personal feelings had no place in business and now he could finally close that chapter of his life. His only regret was that it was Alfie present this evening. He would have preferred to have witnessed Robert's reaction to Caroline's death. Still, he had seen plenty of that man's turmoil back at the warehouse.

Whilst Alfie carried Caroline to the police and the medic, Aidan didn't make any move to leave the scene of the crime. To flee could suggest guilt. Instead, he turned to Sarah to check how she was holding up, naturally putting his arm around her waist in a show of comfort.

Joseph had been seated at the table closest to the main entrance, keeping close watch on anyone entering or leaving the restaurant. As the events unfolded, it became apparent the real danger had apparently been somewhere inside all along. Alfie commanded the Walker security team to find anyone who had been in contact with the table, along with telling the police to be suspicious of Aidan. Whilst everyone moved to to their part, Joseph made sure to remain by Alfie's side. The man had just lost his mother and there was every chance some danger remained. He wouldn't be letting him out of his sight.

"I can assure you I have nothing to do with this," Aidan confidently assure the police officers. "I will answer any question you have and offer any support in finding out what just happened here. But I saw nothing untoward," he assured everyone. His eyes then fixed on Alfie as the man addressed him, stating any resolutions between them were now destroyed. "I understand the emotional strain you're under, which is why I won't take your accusation to heart..." With Alfie's command for him and Sarah to be escorted out, Aidan chose not to push the matter. Instead, he turned to the officers. "My wife and I will gladly give our witness statements. In fact, we'll head to the station now and give Mr. Walker some needed space."

Joseph watched the Jones couple until they'd completely left the restaurant. Knowing what he did about Aidan, he felt Alfie had every right to suspect the man had a hand in Caroline's death. Turning away from the exit, Joseph then caught up to Alfie, standing a little behind him as the man returned to Caroline's body. It was clear he was trying to hold back his feelings and he knew it wasn't his place to question that. Still, he could imagine how alone Alfie felt in that moment, without any family around him to share the shock and grief of the moment.

When Caroline had been wheeled into the back of the ambulance, the body bag zipped closed, the coroner told Alfie to follow to the mortuary to assist with completing the relevant paperwork and to answer questions about what had happened. "Come with me. I'll drive us there," Joseph told Alfie. "You don't need to do anything else right now. Your family is being contacted and the other lads are dealing with security," he assured him.

As they sat in the corridor of the mortuary, Joseph was hit with a unwelcomed sense of familiarity. It had been a few years ago, but he'd been here before. Alone. Waiting whilst those in the room behind him dissected his father's body to seek a cause of death. Only, it had been obvious to Joseph. Finding the man dying on the family's driveway with a dozen stab wounds to the chest had made the cause blatantly obvious to him

"Do you need a drink or anything?" he offered to Alfie, as he sat across from him. "I know what it's like sitting here alone... losing a parent in front of your own eyes." He stopped and let out a deep breath. "You're not alone," he reassured him.

Next: BasDorcha (Alfie)
Mentioned: ReverseTex (Sarah)

 

[Misty Gray]

HM Prison Birmingham
- Winson Green, Birmingham, England -

Marco Alessi​

Marco raised a sceptical eyebrow when Dean said the witness was on his side. It wasn't because he thought the man was lying or that he had no faith in the so-called witness. More, it was because he'd grown up to believe nobody would defend him or fight for him. The Fletchers had managed to open his mind more on that front, but outside of that family, he didn't put much faith in others to have his back.

He was surprised to hear there was a truce between the two families. Ever since he'd rocked up in Birmingham and crossed Tony's path, he'd know the Fletchers and Walkers to be enemies. If he was honest, there were many times he'd wished the feud would be put to an end so they could all focus on their own business ventures. Still, he always had the Fletcher family's back no matter what they needed from him.

When Dean updated him on the kidnappings and Sully's death, Marco sat in a stunned silence for a brief time. "What the fuck?!" he finally spoke up. He couldn't believe Sully was dead. He hadn't heard anything about it, but then again, his whole wing had been on lockdown and so he hadn't spoken to Norman in a while. On top of Sully's death, Rory had been kidnapped and Tony attacked. Whilst he was glad to hear the family, minus Sully, were okay, it was difficult to overcome the shock. "I should be out there supporting them.... Supporting Penny. Is she okay?" he asked, not really thinking Dean likely had no contact with the woman in question. "I hope this Aidan Jones guy is being dealt with before he can do more harm," he bitterly commented. "Sounds like a rotten bastard."

When Dean pushed the subject along to Marco's case, he let out a deep sigh. It was a story he'd gone over two many times by now. "Thanks..." he said upon hearing Dean had some prison guards on side. Between that and Norman's influence, Marco could feel some sense of security for however long that lasted.

"That night I was doing a..." he began. He hadn't been able to tell the cops that he'd been doing a drugs drop for Tony that night. I would bring more trouble everyone's way. "I'd been selling some dodgy gear to a guy. Charles must have been following me and had seen the exchange. I tried to lose him by slipping into the alley but he caught up to me. He dragged me down onto the floor before I could make my escape. He started threatening me and Tony's family. I told Charles to fuck off and he reacted by grabbing my throat so he could pin me against the wall. He had his face right up to mine, threatening me and demanding to know what I'd been doing. I didn't give him an answer and so he carried on."

Marco lowered his head for a short time before looking back up at Dean. "My uncle used to threaten and beat me when I was a kid. So Charles being up in my face took me back to that fear. Charles was a big guy and I thought he was going to kill me right there. I couldn't breathe with his hand around my throat. So I panicked. I stabbed him, multiple times, until he let go of me. Anything so I could fucking breathe. And even then, when he'd released me and was bleeding, he continued to threaten me." Marco shook his head. If he could have gone back, he'd have made a better effort to flee, instead of doing what he'd next done. "He came at me again and I... I lashed out and stabbed him in the neck. I genuinely believed he would still kill me and that he would hurt those I care about. I don't think it was the only choice I could have made, but I didn't have time to think it over. I wish I'd had more time to think. To react differently."

BasDorcha (Dean)

 

[ReverseTex]

Walker Residence
- Edgbaston, Birmingham, England-
Misty Gray
neverbackdown
Dr. Richard Finley
​

Richard scoffed in agreement with his brother’s remarks. They were bloody cockroaches. There was an undeniable irony in the fact he and Robert had achieved so much in their lives yet were forced to live with this dark reality. What was it all for if the fruits of their labor were tainted? At this moment, he didn’t know. Even if his presence, according to his brother, was a positive one, he didn’t feel as though it was his entire life. He had to claw his way out of poverty through war and deal with the consequences of that. He had to stand by his brother’s actions, even if he disagreed how pervasive and violent they were…

At the mention of Casablanca, Richard couldn’t help but agree with his brother. He felt similarly, except for the fact that capture was at the hands of Elwyn Jones. Had he given in years ago, then they wouldn’t be in this predicament. Instead of replying, he softly nodded his head, unable to explain his true thoughts at the moment. “You won’t be alone,” Richard sighed.

Before anything else could be said, Richard’s head snapped off Robert’s shoulder at the sound of the front door. No, it couldn’t be Alfie? Preening his head past the couch, spotting a concerned Thomas approaching. Clearly, the desolation radiated through the home by the boy’s expression. By the time Thomas’s panic settled in, Richard mustered a deep composing breath. "No, lad, it’s not your sister." He started, contemplating going further. “I can’t do it again, Robert.” He sighed. It wasn’t his place to deliver the news to his nephew.

 

[Misty Gray]

The Windmill
- Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, England -

Felicity Walker​

Despite her reservations, by the time her meal was finished, Felicity was glad she'd made it out to the restaurant. It was a welcomed change of scenery and, no doubt with some credit to Graham, she felt comfortable in the busy atmosphere around them.

She listened with interest as the man across from her began to answer her questions about his family. Whilst it was a surprise to hear his father had worked in law enforcement, she supposed it shared some links with Graham's line of work. Perhaps not in a legal sense, but there was some element to enforcing the law of the Walkers. Hearing how his father was firm and disciplined reminded her of Robert. Certainly in business, her father had a commanding presence that naturally demanded people's full attention. But to some extent, especially when she was growing up, Felicity saw her own father as a strict man.

She smiled when he went on to mention how his mother had been a teacher and her more patient demeanour balanced out his father's and lifted his spirits. Felicity thought her mother differed in that sense, given how intense Caroline could be, but still, her own mother had a calming affect on Robert in her own way.

Felicity's smile naturally dropped when Graham revealed both of his parents had died when he was sixteen. "I'm sorry to hear that. I can't imagine how that must have been for you," she sympathised. Once he was finished, she softly smile back at him. "It sounds like things worked out well for your sister. I don't have the full picture of how things are between both of you, but is there a chance you could see more of each other?" she asked. She stopped herself, quickly shaking her head. "I'm sorry. Between my oldest brother dying and my sister moving to London, I miss having everyone here."

As expected, Graham soon directed the question onto her about her family. Of course, he already knew Robert from the perspective as an employee, but he wanted to know what her family was really like. "My family isn't quite what most people assume," she began, taking a sip from her glass. "Growing up, my dad was strict and pushy. He wanted me to pursue a career in ballet, but I grew out of it and I had to fight to prove I could support the family's business. In the end, he got the message. But in return, I've come to realise it wasn't just about control, but he was simply proud of my dancing back then. Most people misjudge him, including myself," she admitted. "No matter what mistakes he's made, I couldn't ask for a better dad." Having had a lot of time to reflect recently, she was beginning to realise just how much she appreciated her father.

"My mum gives him a run for his money. She's the strongest person I know. Hell, to put up with five kids and my dad, she has to have a thick skin! She's more caring than people give her credit for too. If I had to hold everything together the way she always has, I'd be the way she is too. And when my parents are beyond reason, there's my uncle, Richard. The Mayor to everyone else, but he's always been Uncle to me," she fondly told him. Before she got to her siblings, she shook her head and blushed a little. "I'm sorry. You didn't ask for my autobiography," she commented. "Somehow, we're a normal family. My brothers and my sister rebel against our parents and we all bicker from time-to-time. Aside from the business, I don't think we're any different to families who aren't in this line of work."

BeyondDandy (Graham)

 

[Misty Gray]

The Walker Residence
- Edgbaston, Birmingham, England -

Robert Walker​

Robert's heart began pounding in his chest when he heard the front door close. A very brief, fleeting, part of him expected Caroline to be entering the house, but he soon remembered that wasn't possible. He already knew it would be one of his kids, and given that Alfie was likely still at the mortuary, he knew he was about to break someone's heart.

He was already staring at the doorway when Thomas stepped into view and entered the living room. There was no way to hide the grief from his face and Robert didn't intend to. He was sure Richard's expression gave off the same visible upset too. It was clear Thomas had picked up on something being wrong and he instantly asked if Felicity was okay. Given her recent kidnap, it made sense concern for her would be at the forefront of the young man's mind.

Robert shook his head at the same time as Richard confirmed it wasn't Felicity he needed to be concerned about. When his brother then said he couldn't do it, Robert turned to him and shook his head. "I don't expect you to," he reassured him.

"Thomas, sit down. Please," Robert firmly told his son, pointing to the armchair directly opposite him - the one Richard usually occupied when at the house. He doubted he would be in his seat for long, but for now he needed to look his son in the eyes as he broke the bad news. "It's your mother. She's..." Robert hesitated for a moment, his eyes brimming with tears. He knew Thomas was aware that Caroline had been out at the restaurant with Alfie, so he didn't need to set up any kind of scene for him. He couldn't grasp at any way to save Thomas from having to grieve. "There's no easy way to tell you this... Alfie was with her the whole time. She wasn't alone... I'm sorry to have to tell you, Thomas, but your mother died this evening, whilst out at - at the the restaurant," Robert found himself choking up, but did everything he could to keep his feelings under control. He had to be strong for his son's sake. Blocking out the discomfort, Robert stood from his seat and approached Thomas, ready to pull him into a tight embrace if his son stood too.

neverbackdown (Thomas) ReverseTex (Richard)

 

[neverbackdown]

Tony & Julia Fletcher's House
- Aston, Birmingham, England -

Victoria "Rory" Fletcher

​

Rory waited in silence, giving Tony the time he needed to process her words. She knew this wasn’t something he could easily accept, hell up until a few weeks ago she wouldn't have accepted it either takeaway ask for it. The war between their families had existed for as long as she could remember, and now here she was, asking her brother—the leader of their family—to be okay with her getting to know the man they had always called the enemy.

As the seconds stretched on, unease settled deep in her chest. She expected resistance, an argument, maybe even anger. Before everything that had happened, Tony would have reacted without hesitation, shutting the idea down immediately. But when he finally spoke, when he simply said, “I get it,” the tension inside her disappeared instantly.

As Tony continued to agree, relief flooded through her. She had already decided, she was going to get to know Robert, with or without her brother’s approval, but having his blessing made it feel a little less like a betrayal. It softened the weight of it, made it easier to breathe. And considering she was constantly under the watchful eyes of Fletcher men, his acceptance meant she wouldn’t have to fight on both fronts. It wasn’t much, but it was something, a step toward healing, or at least, she hoped it was.

Her eyes widened slightly at Tony’s next revelation, unable to hide her reaction of shock. Teaming up with the Walkers? . “Yep, you have my vote on that” she said, nodding as she took it in. “Is that why you called us over today to decide?" she questioned before continuing "I think any help against Aidan is needed, he seemed to have a good few connections"

But before she could fully process the implications, Tony’s next words had her shaking her head in amusement. A smirk tugged at her lips as she played along. “Oh yeah, of course—that’s in the custody agreement. Every other weekend, gotta show up for Sunday roast,” she teased, her tone light as a flicker of amusement played across her expression. "I can't believe I'm saying this but they're honestly not that bad" she mused "even Caroline had the ability to be friendly and joke in the hospital, although it was very awkward when mum arrived as you can imagine"

*******
Misty Gray - Tony

 

[neverbackdown]

The Walker Residence
- Edgbaston, Birmingham, England -

Thomas Walker
​

As his father and uncle turned to face him, their grief-stricken expressions hit Thomas like a gut punch. His stomach twisted, his pulse pounded in his ears. Something was wrong—deeply, terribly wrong. A part of him didn’t want to hear it, didn’t want to know. If he walked out now, pretended everything was fine, could he stop it from being real?

For the briefest moment, relief flickered through him when he heard Felicity was safe. But then Richard’s voice cracked, and the words that followed made Thomas’s chest tighten like a vice. I can’t do this again.

His father spoke next, and Thomas forced himself to sit down, his legs feeling like they might give out beneath him. His hands clenched and unclenched at his sides, fingers twitching with the restless energy of someone drowning in emotions too big to contain. He barely noticed the chair beneath him, barely heard the room around him—until he caught the mention of his mother.

His body reacted before his mind could catch up. "No. No, no—she’s not. She can’t be. You’re lying!" The words came out raw, unfiltered, tumbling past his lips before he could even think. His heart hammered against his ribs, and a wave of nausea rolled over him as he shot to his feet. Tears blurred his vision, hot and relentless, but he couldn’t stop moving. He had to move. His hands dug into his hair, his breath coming fast and shallow. Sitting still wasn’t an option—not when the world had just shattered around him.

He paced, his thoughts looping in frantic, chaotic circles, each step driven by the sheer, unbearable need to fix this. There had to be a way—some explanation, some mistake—anything that could undo the words hanging in the air like a death sentence. His mind raced, grasping at possibilities, searching for something, anything, to make this untrue. But there was nothing.

His steps faltered as he reached his father, and the moment strong arms wrapped around him, the fight drained from his body. Thomas crumbled, barely able to keep himself upright, the weight of reality crushing down on him. He had thought losing Charles was devastating, had thought nothing could be worse than the terror of watching his sister and father be taken by Aidan. But this? This was something else entirely.

A broken, grief-stricken "No" fell from his lips, his head shaking as if sheer denial could rewrite the truth. But no matter how hard he tried to reject it, the pain was already sinking in, carving deep, merciless wounds into his chest. His breath hitched, his body trembling under the force of it.

*****
Int;-
Misty Gray - Robert
ReverseTex -Richard

 

[Misty Gray]

The Walker Residence
- Edgbaston, Birmingham, England -

Robert Walker​

All Robert could do whilst Thomas processed the words the stand ready to react to whatever came next. He sadly shook his head when his son accused him of lying. He knew he didn't need to correct him or assert the truth; it would register soon to Thomas that nobody would lie about such a grave matter.

Robert maintained his gaze on Thomas as the young man stood from his seat. He could see the panic in him as the news sank in. It broke Robert's heart all over again to see Thomas take the news of Caroline's death. "Thomas..." he gently spoke as his son frantically paced on the spot. Then, as soon as he moved close enough, Robert wrapped his arms around him and pulled him in for a tight embrace. The physical pain from his injuries was blocked out, unable to outweigh the grief and the need to console his youngest son. "I'm here. I've got you."

He placed one hand to the back of Thomas's head, making sure he stayed close and focused on one thing, rather than be overwhelmed by his thoughts. Caroline had always been the better at dealing with their son and his ADHD. Robert had already been making steps to try to better connect with Thomas, but now more than ever he knew it was important to be there for him. "I'm sorry, Thomas," he quietly spoke, as his son's ear was close to his mouth.

After a short time, he released Thomas, but kept his hands firmly on his shoulders to keep him grounded. "I wish it wasn't true..." he began, his own bottom lip quivering as he looked his son in the eyes. "You know... your mother was so proud of you. She thought the world of you," he told him, sending a brief glance to Richard. "Just as we all thought the world of her," he sadly added. "I know I haven't been the best dad for you over the years, but I'm here for you now and we'll get through this together. We all will," he said, thinking of Richard and the other kids in that moment. Robert knew he had to put on a strong front, for the sake of his family. They needed him to be in control. Even if all he wanted to do at the moment was break down and give up. He believed he owed it to his family to put them before himself.

Interaction: neverbackdown (Thomas)
Mentioned: ReverseTex (Richard)

 

[BasDorcha]

HM Prison Birmingham

- Winson Green, Birmingham, England -​

Dean Walters

Dean watched as Marco took in everything he was saying. He wanted to give him time to absorb everything and to gauge how he would react. Dean had spoken to a lot of people that knew Marco and the general consensus about him was that he was a good man. Everyone seemed to think that it was a surprise that he had been the one to kill Charles as he had never been one willing to do wet work. Some even called him gentle. It was with this in mind that Dean had set out to get the facts about the situation - no longer in it just for Robert, though he did want answers for his friend. Dean had always had a unique sense of justice. It wasn't particularly loyal to specific people, but to the truth. It was why he became a detective. He had to know the facts. And if someone did wrong, it didn’t matter who it was, they would be guilty in his eyes. Thankfully, Dean had always been very easy to forgive too. He knew that doing something wrong, or bad, didn't mean you should throw away the whole person. Everyone had light and dark within them mixed into various shades of gray. No one was just black and white.

He'd seen a man with more money, more power, than anyone should ever have humbled and crying over a child. He'd seen a woman with everything going for her, people who loved her, a perfect social persona, kill for her own personal satisfaction. Sometimes bad people do good things, and a lot of times, good people mess up and do bad things. It was the way of the world. He put Marco in the category of "good people who were forced to kill". Marco would never had done it if Charles hadn't pushed him to his limits and threatened everything he loved. Dean could tell that just by the way he had acted since they got here - and Dean was always right about people.

It wasn’t until he saw that Marco hadn't heard about Sully's death that Dean winced. He thought the news would have made it inside already and that's what Marco had meant when he said he'd heard talk about Sully. "Sorry I just blurted that part out kid, I thought you knew. Don't worry, Penny is with her family and everyone is helping out. I know you want to be out there with them, but the best way to do that is to focus on getting out of here as quickly - legally - possible. As for Aiden… Everyone, Fletcher's and Walker's included, are working on it."

As Marco finally gave a full accounting of what happened that day, Dean took notes and nodded. "That pretty much lines up with what the girl who saw it happened said. She stated Charles was threatening you, bullying you, getting physical and you tried to leave and he restrained you. She said she thought he was going to kill you, but you suddenly attacked him back and when he finally released you the guy fell and you ran. It is a pretty clear cut case of self-defense, Marco. It would have been better to go to the cops when it happened, but trauma has a way of blocking logical thought and inducing fear, which can easily explain why you ran. Add that to trauma from your childhood of being abused by your uncle and it's understandable that you'd snap into life or death mode."

He looked at Marco and gave him a reassuring smile. "I'll turn all my findings in, as well as have a chat with both Robert and Richard. We'll figure this out. Do you have any request of me? I can come and go from here a bit easier than normal folks, so if you need anything I can bring it to you."

Misty Gray - Marco

 

[BasDorcha]

The Imperial Restaurant

- Birmingham City Centre, Birmingham, England -​

Alfred Walker

People moved around Alfie like a blur. Alfie, covered in his mother's blood, was frozen in place once orders had been shouted. The emotions inside him were like an explosion, crashing in tidal waves of force over him. Anger - the need to drive the nearest sharp object through Aiden's neck and watch him slowly die, the light fading from his eyes the way it had from his mothers. Grief - his mother was gone. The sweetest, best mother one could ask for. Someone who never deserved to have peoples anger vented at her had received the harshest punishment. Pain shot through him in continuous spikes, threatening to take his knees from beneath him. Anxiety over having to tell his family. Shame because he failed her, he failed his whole family. Longing for his brother to come and fix everything. Finally a numbness settled over him, almost as if his brain had overloaded and shut down to protect him. As reality blurred in an out, he recounted his story to the uniformed police officers, handing them pieces of the glass she had drank from. "I don't care what else you do, but I want this tested. Not the bottle, because that piece of filth drank the same wine she did, but this cup. Get as many pieces as you can."

Finally they were moving away, and Alfred stood solemn and still, eyes burning with the image of the bag being zipped over his mothers face before they loaded her and closed the doors. Joseph stepped up from his silent shadow and offered to drive them. Alfred didn't immediately respond, instead staring at the place the ambulance had been. A minute passed in silence, before he nodded his head and forced his feet to move. He would have to remember to thank Joseph later for ensuring nothing was missed at the scene. Alfred's mind replayed what could now be marked as the worst night of his life. In the moment, he didn't remember but he had tried - it was too late, he put the pieces together to slow, and Carolines croak of pain had covered his words as they left him, but he had tried. "Don't touch the wine!" But Caroline had already ingested the poison and he was too late. The entire ride to the morgue his mind replayed it, over and over like a bad movie.

Joseph helped him inside and got him sat down. The minutes crawled by in silence at first. The sounds of the coroner and his team on the other side of the walls were grating and horrifying, bringing tears to his eyes that refused to fall. When the man across from him offered a drink, he looked up with dead eyes, ringed in red. "Don't suppose you have any alcohol tucked away in one of your pockets?" Alfie pulled a cigarette out of his pocket along with a torch and struck it up, uncaring about where he was. He wanted to feel something, but everything had stopped pumping, beating, breathing all at once and he was left empty and cold. "Sorry to hear you've been through this yourself. It's complete shit. I'm going to kill that motherfucker the next time he's within arm's reach. I don't care what it cost me. He better keep to himself and go into hiding if he knows what is good for him." He spit out venomously.


Misty Gray - joseph

 

[BeyondDandy]

The Windmill
- City Centre, Birmingham, England -

GRAHAM SMITH
​

Graham listened intently, his stance controlled but engaged as Felicity discussed her family. As she thought on her father's discipline, her mother's perseverance, and the dynamics of her siblings, he noticed the depth of her understanding—how time and experience had changed her perspective. Graham shook his head slightly as she flustered and apologized for telling so much.

"No need to apologize, I asked,” he told her. "Thank you for answering. I appreciate that. People make impressions about your family based solely on reputation, but few are aware of the facts. It's nice to hear the truth from someone who knows.”

Graham put his glass down gently after sipping a little bit of water. “Our father’s expectations influence us wether we know it or not. But…we have our own ambitions, right? In the end, we have the free will to forge our own path. Make decisions that interest us and hope they live up to what is wanted from us. I think you should do that. It may not be easy, especially in a well-established family like yours, but it’s not hard to see that Robert would be proud of you no matter what path you choose.” His eyes remained locked into hers, his words genuine.

After a brief moment, he tilted his head slightly. "And I understand how you feel about missing your family being together. I may not be in the same situation, but I understand what it feels like to be removed from those who once felt like the cornerstone of your universe." He sighed slowly as he considered his next words. "As for my sister, I remind myself that we have our own lives now and that the distance is necessary. But perhaps that is more of a justification than a fact. I could definitely make more of an effort."

He became serious for a moment. “Your family doesn’t appear to be much different from others despite what some believe. At least, not in the important ways. Every family has tension, expectations, misunderstandings, fights even. But the way you talk about them tells me underlying it all, there’s loyalty. And, in the end, that is what distinguishes a family above everything else."

At that moment, the waitress approached to ask if they enjoyed their lunch and clean off their table. Graham nodded at her and turned back to Felicity as their plates were taken away. “Thank you for having lunch with me. I can’t remember the last time I’ve done something…normal like this,” he said with a smile.

Misty Gray