Skeletons In The Closet

[Artemis]

Two, nearly three months later, Brody was finally back on his feet.

And it had been a turbulent few months at that. Even when Brody had been released from the hospital, he'd been so weak that in the brief spans of time that he wasn't deep in a drug-induced sleep, even the most menial of tasks had him relying on his parents for help.

He wasn't sure what hurt worse. His body from the wounds, his pride at being so goddamned useless, or his heart at seeing the pain on his mother and father's faces at the abysmal shape their son was in.

Nolan, in particular, had gotten far more time off of work to basically be the stay-at-home dad again and had been tirelessly tending to Brody's every need. Watching over him when his son slept, changing the bandages over the raw scars Brody couldn't bear to look at, gripping his hand and holding him until Brody's frantic search for the enemy that lived only in his memory subsided.

It made him feel so very fragile and useless.

Eventually, Brody had gotten strong enough to start making trips back to the hospital to deal with the nightmares, the panic attacks triggered by the most seemingly random things, the overwhelming compulsion to clear the house with his gun drawn at the slightest unfamiliar noise. And it was working, through a combination of therapies, but progress was slow.

Baby steps, the doctor said. Brody wasn't a fan of baby steps.

But they'd declared him healthy enough to return to duty, albeit on extended light duty; Brody had lost a considerable amount of weight, the overwhelming majority of it muscle, and he dreaded to think how long it was going to take to get back into the peak condition he'd been before this whole incident. His coworkers (at least, the ones who didn't mind approaching him) had welcomed him back, congratulated him on his promotion, and went on with their lives.

His saving graces had been Rochelle, who had checked in on him regularly and kept him up to date on work over these past months, and Matthew, who had kept him from going stir-crazy and mad with boredom regaling his life back home with the girl and the kid on the way.

According to Nolan, Mira Aisling Ruze had been born not too long ago. Truth be told, Brody was already iffy around kids. In his current condition, though, he didn't trust himself to be around Kyanite and Mira.

It wouldn't be safe.

He wished for his friend, who in all likelihood had his hands full with the baby, if only for a bit of normalcy. Matthew was one of the only people who, so far, hadn't treated Brody like he was made of spun glass; Brody had wandered to the Career Center at the end of his shift (halved as part of his light duty), searching in vain for the man in question but not particularly optimistic at his chances.

ffffff - Brody O'Rourke
1979 - Matthew Dunham

[Jack Lexington]

On cloud number nine couldn't be much different from what I feel right now. Despite very very short nights, stinky diapers and baby puke I've never been happier in my life. It feels like some things just clicked into place that I didn't even know were out of place.
For the most part I've forgotten about Jins and all the bad stuff likehavig toleave the peace keepers. I almost forgot somebody as well during the craziness of an unexpected baby birth and about a week after Mira arrived it hits me that I haven't seen or talked to Brody.

I make a mental note to get in touch after I've worked out for the first time in ages.

I'm just done with my usual routine (and absolutely spent at the end of it), when I spot him at the training center of all places.
"Hey! Brody!" With long stepsI jog across the yard, still in my sweaty workout attire and give him a brotherly, sweaty hug.

"Man, good to see you! What are you doing here? Hey..." Before he can even open his mouth my face lights up even more as I deliver the news.
"Our baby was born last week. I'm a dad now!" I'm not sure how he feels now that all the pk shit is said and done but maybe he's not as thrilled as I am.

[Artemis]

Brody was about to cut his losses and look elsewhere for his friend, when a very familiar voice called after him.

"Hey! Brody!"

Matthew strode towards him, looking absolutely exhausted but happier by far than anytime Brody had ever seen him; of course, judging by his attire, he had just finished working out. He couldn't help but be jealous at the thought; Brody had spent so long being forbidden from doing much of anything active that, unfortunately, Matthew could probably hand him his ass on a platter if he wanted a rematch for any of their fights.

Brody frequently found himself avoiding the mirror in his barracks; three months of inactivity had slimmed him down considerably, and even with his tattoos and remaining muscle tone he looked far too much like one of those skinny, waify prettyboys of the Capitol for his liking.

Nevermind the fact that he had 2 new scars, still pink with newness, that he was still loathe to look at; one where the bullet had pierced his abdomen, one where it had exited.

"Man, good to see you! What are you doing here?" Matthew asked, giving him a big (sweaty, disgusting) hug.

Brody hugged him back for a second, then shoved him off jokingly.

"Dude, you reek." He smirked, about to rattle off a sarcastic comment about what Matt reeked like, exactly, when his friend cut him off.

"Our baby was born last week. I'm a dad now!"

His eyebrows rose to his hairline; so the kid had been born. It explained why Matthew, in spite of his obvious exhaustion, was grinning at him so brightly it would shame the sun.

"And you're still alive?" He joked, "I had the feeling, when Cadet Ruze came running up to our front door asking for Dad. What'd you wind up naming her?"

ffffff - Brody O'Rourke
1979 - Matthew Dunham

[Jack Lexington]

It’s really good to see Brody. I have a soft spot for the guy because he’s not only taken me under his wing, put me back on track and even covered my ass but has become a friend. A really good one. To see him suffer so much is almost hurting me. The guy has gone from tough as nails to almost frail.


"Dude, you reek." I hear him joke and push me away, so I just grin.

I tell him about our newborn but he looks far less excited than I am. No wonder- he’s not a kid person- neither was I until recently.
"And you're still alive?" He jokes.
“Sort of. Little thing's got me running around a lot. She's so cute.” I roll my shoulders to stretch a little.
"I had the feeling, when Cadet Ruze came running up to our front door asking for Dad. What'd you wind up naming her?"
“Ruze did, eh? Yeah,he got to see it all first hand. Him and Prize. They’re all living in the old Ruze house now, so they drove us.
Cars are still a rarety around the district so we were pretty lucky.

I can honestly feel a bit of pride wash over me when my friend asks me about the baby’s name.
“We named her after you. Mira Aisling Ruze. I think your dad told Kyanite that Aisling would have been your name if you had been a girl. So I’m not sure why he didn’t name you that?” I tease him a little.
“We wanted to make sure that we honor you for catching a bullet for her.”

Then another slap on the shoulder is dished out before I ask him.
“So are you ready to get bac into shape, you old slacker?”
We both know he’s itching to workout but so far simply couldn’t, which has been weighing him down quite a bit.

[Artemis]

Brody only vaguely remembered his conversation with Matthew when he had visited him in the hospital; in fairness, he'd been drugged to the gills, and it was nearly impossible to differentiate between waking conversations and whatever was said to him in his semi-conscious, drug-induced stupors. The discussion about his name, it seems, had in fact been real.

“We named her after you. Mira Aisling Ruze. I think your dad told Kyanite that Aisling would have been your name if you had been a girl. So I’m not sure why he didn’t name you that?” Matthew smirked.

"Because then you would've had to call her Brody, and that doesn't have the right ring to it." He shot back.

“We wanted to make sure that we honor you for catching a bullet for her.” Matthew went on with a friendly slap on the back.

It wasn't conscious; even if it was, Brody doubted he would've been able to stop himself. At the mention of the bullet, and the impact (however small and harmless) on his back, Brody couldn't help himself but flinch. He still hadn't figured out all of the things that made him uneasy, but Brody did know that being reminded of what had gotten him in this shape to start with didn't help.

Matthew didn't seem to notice, or opted not to comment on the fact, as he asked if Brody was prepared to get back into fighting shape.

"Sort of," Brody shrugged, though he frowned with displeasure that he couldn't give a resounding 'yes'. "My gym routine won't take much to get back up to speed, but I'm not sure how I'll... react to being in a fight."

He looked at Matthew meaningfully, hoping he would understand without Brody having to say it out loud just how broken he was.

"I don't wanna hurt you."

ffffff - Brody O'Rourke
1979 - Matthew Dunham

[Jack Lexington]

Brody's flinch didn't go unnoticed but I choose to ignore it for now. I'm too happy to see him out and about rather than laid up on his couch. It's about time. I guess his injury was more severe than mine but I was back at the academy not even three weeks after getting stabbed. My choice. I knew I wouldn't pass if I didn't pretend I was all healed up, which we both know wasn't the case. Maybe that's why I have so much darn scar tissue in my right lung right now- it dawns on me now.

Brody tells me he's 'sort of' getting back to the gym.
I can tell he's still not thrilled to be here.
"My gym routine won't take much to get back up to speed, but I'm not sure how I'll... react to being in a fight."
The first part I can't even agree with. The guy has lost so much muscle mass and stamina that it will take him at least a month to build some of it back up, if he's even able to.
The second part- he is very honest. Much more than I ever would be so I'm not sure what to say.
"Hm...maybe we can work on it- just the two of us- you know I won't push you too far." I offer him like I've done it before when he wasn't ready yet.
I vividly remember his 'drown proofing'- he defiently pushed me over the edge but I don't intend to repay the favor.

His expression implies that we're thinking along the same lines here.
"I don't wanna hurt you."
I nod knowingly. " I get what you mean- but don't you worry- you're such a thin towel now- you wouldn't be able to hurt me."
I think I easily outweigh him by 40 pounds now. "So how about we start by feeding you a good homemade meal at the Brady Bunch and you get to meet my daughter?"
It still feels so weird to say these words that are so new to me. 'My daughter' will I ever get used to that?
"C'mon." I wrap my sweaty arm around his shoulder and lead him back through the yard to the changing rooms.
"I'll take a shower, then we can head over to our place."
At this moment I'm totally oblivious to the fact that 'our place' has been the location of the shooting- a fact that all of us had months to come to term with..and I still find myself staring at the spot in horror sometimes.

[Artemis]

"I get what you mean- but don't you worry- you're such a thin towel now- you wouldn't be able to hurt me."

Brody raised an eyebrow; if the sentiment was intended to make him feel better, more than anything it had rubbed it in how far behind he'd fallen during his months confined to the couch and the house. Matthew was right though; he'd already had a solid 15 or so pounds on Brody before the shooting, the discrepancy was probably closer to 30 or more, now.

He had so much work to do.

"So how about we start by feeding you a good homemade meal at the Brady Bunch and you get to meet my daughter?"

Matthew, offering to bring Brody home for once? That was new, but Brody couldn't help the tension in his shoulders at the mention of meeting little Mira. Brody had never been a big fan of children; he took after his mother in that regard, he just didn't have the knack or the paternal instinct for them that his father had. But far more pertinent was the fact that Brody didn't fully trust himself around his friends, let alone a fragile, helpless little thing like Matthew's infant daughter.

Not that he was going to get a say in the matter as Matthew wrapped a (still-sweaty) arm around him, leading him back inside.

"I'll take a shower, then we can head over to our place."

"I don't think that's a good idea." Brody replied lowly, though he didn't resist Matthew steering him towards the locker rooms, "I haven't been treated long enough to have fixed all the, uh... quirks, as the doc calls them."

To say the least. It seemed as though some of the most random things would set off some kind of panic reaction in Brody; he doubted his association with Kyanite and the baby with the shooting would do any of them any favors. Even though he had gotten smaller from being laid up, Brody had no desire to fight his friend.

He was an idiot for ever thinking throwing Matthew back into a pool was a good way to conquer his fear. Waking up frantic from nightmares was bad enough, he couldn't begin to imagine the fear of being caught in a flashback and believing he was under attack.

ffffff - Brody O'Rourke
1979 - Matthew Dunham

[Jack Lexington]

As I head into the locker room I half listen to his objections because I'm not quite sure whyhe's opposed to the idea of a good meal and meeting Mira. It all worked out well, right?
Only two or three other guys are in the showers an changing into training clothes, so I sit down and pull off my sweaty socks and long sleeve before I shoot him a puzzled look after he says.

"I don't think that's a good idea.I haven't been treated long enough to have fixed all the, uh... quirks, as the doc calls them."

The cold air is chiling my skin and makes a me shiver. Yet I stay seated with a wrinkled brow and ask.
"You're getting treated? By a psychologist?" That reminds me of the two short visits I had there. Maybe more would have been a good idea.
"That's good! I don't understand what the problem is. Kyanite is well, the baby is healthy. It all turned out alright. Thanks to you. Maybe seeing them would show you how much good you've done. Maybe it'll help?"
I really don't understand what his fear is.Maybe it's the location that would make him uncomfortable. That's something I can totally relate to.

"We can meet somewhere else if you want?" I suggest before reaching into my locker and pulling out a towel and some soap.

"I'll be back in a second. I'm getting cold."
With that I leave to rinse the sweat and dirt of my body and warm up under the warm water. It feels nice but I know my friend's waiting so I hurry up, shut off the water and dry myself before returning to him.
While I get dressed in a set of nice warm clothes including a woolen sweater and grey sweat pants to block the cold air.

"So?"
With my bag in hand I take a moment to look at him- the thing facial feautres, the dark circles and unhappy expression. Brody is completely on the other spectrum of emotions than I am, which makes me feel sorry for him.
In a low, much more understanding tone I ask. "Trust me. I know it' hard but it'll get better. Once yu get back into real life. Do you maybe just want to hang out with me?"

[Artemis]

Brody stiffened at Matthew's apparent surprise that he'd been seeing a psychologist for the psychological trauma left over from the shooting; as if it wasn't humiliating enough to have to acknowledge how goddamned broken he was, the last thing he needed was to have it rubbed in his face.

"That's good! I don't understand what the problem is. Kyanite is well, the baby is healthy. It all turned out alright. Thanks to you. Maybe seeing them would show you how much good you've done. Maybe it'll help?"

He sighed heavily and rolled his eyes. Brody would have expected Matthew, of all people, to understand what the 'problem' would be. Granted, putting Matthew in a pool of water was far from Brody's brightest idea, but he knew his friend remembered the fact that he had attempted to drown and strangle him in the throes of his own waking nightmare. Brody dreaded to think what he would do if anything should trigger one of his own episodes.

"I'll be back in a second. I'm getting cold."

And Matthew was off again, before Brody had a chance to protest.

These days, he didn't much care for being left alone with his thoughts; invariably they would always turn back to whether or not jumping in front of that bullet had been such a good idea. There would be no mistake that Brody was relieved to hear Kyanite and Mira were doing well, that it hadn't been in vain, and especially seeing how happy Matthew was.

But at the same time, it felt like an eternity ago that Brody had been invincible, fearless enough that he would even consider doing something as stupid and reckless as letting himself be shot.

Brody's hand rested over where the scar just below his chest had formed; nothing made him feel more fragile, more weak than being afraid of his own shadow (so to speak). He was a Career and a Peacekeeper, he wasn't supposed to be weak; he was supposed to be able to stare fear in the face without blinking.

Of course, what he was supposed to be and what he was now were two entirely different people.

His eyes flicked around the locker room, following the sound of footsteps echoing on the tile floor, his back against the wall; bullet or no, Brody didn't like the idea of anyone being able to sneak up on him. Especially the way Jins had, laying on the ground biding his time holding Brody's gun, how the hell did he get a gun, Kyanite, we need to go--

"So?"

Brody didn't flinch this time, though he only glanced at Matthew to acknowledge he'd even heard him before going back to surveying the locker room; he folded his arms over his chest, suddenly deciding he really didn't like all the blind spots in this place.

Matthew pads a few steps closer, and if it had been anyone else, it might have made Brody uneasy; but he vaguely remembered hearing Matthew's voice as he'd been sliding out of consciousness after the shooting. He'd finished off Jins. Dad had trusted Matthew with Brody's safety when he visited.

His friend hadn't bested him in a fight yet, but if worst came to worst... he'd be better equipped than most people to protect Brody from himself.

"Trust me. I know it's hard but it'll get better. Once you get back into real life. Do you maybe just want to hang out with me?"

Brody sighed shakily, not looking at Matthew still, but nodding in agreement.

"Yeah," He said, scanning the area around them once more before turning to look at his friend, "Yeah, that would be better."

ffffff - Brody O'Rourke
1979 - Matthew Dunham

[Jack Lexington]

Studying his face when he replies I know that this is important to him so I nod.
"Okay. We can do that. I don't think Kyanite will mind. She's got some help at home right now and I'm happy to spend some time away. That baby has turned our lifes around."

With my bag slung over my shoulder I step outside into the cold air. Coming from a hot shower I can't instantly feel it but once I do the cold almost bites into my skin.
"Where do you want to go? I have an idea. I'm renovating my grandfathers house. It's pretty cool."

With paced steps I walk along side my friend down the street and then a few blocks to the east until we reach the industrial area.
"GHow are you doing now? Is the injury still giving you trouble. Still sore? I can still feel that spot on my chest sting occassionally and still run out of breath too fast. They said it's permanent. Scar tissue- but you know that."
Maybe if I share some of my issues he will feel better bout his own. After all he can make use of the best medical service in Panem. Use all their magic potions and machines.
I do evny him but am now absolutely convinced that my two girls were worth it.

Down a long road we reach the factory of my fathers company that reads DUNHAM ENGINEERING in bright red letters above the row of windows. Behind a few trees and hedges we finally reach the old small house that I spent three months renovating and am still far from done.

"Come in." I unlock the door. Unfortunately the inside is as cold as the outside but the main room looks homey.

[Artemis]

It was still cold and windy enough outside that it nearly blew right through Brody as they stepped outside; just one of about a thousand things that reminded him of how much work lay ahead of him, being on bedrest for so long had not only reduced his muscle mass, but his metabolism. He was used to having the approximate heat output of a furnace and hardly noticing the cold, now he pulled his coat tighter around him.

"Where do you want to go? I have an idea. I'm renovating my grandfathers house. It's pretty cool."

"That sounds a lot better."

Granted, Brody only had a couple memories of the place and neither of them were particularly pleasant, but those were a far cry from what he'd associate the Ruze residence with. It occurred to him that Mr. Dunham might be there, but really, Brody was too restless for something to do and feeling too much residual cabin fever to care.

Matthew was considerably more talkative than usual, going on about how different his life had become ever since the kid was born (Brody sincerely hoped he wasn't too surprised by that, but then he also knew that if Matthew asked, Nolan would have no problems dispensing all of his fatherly wisdom); it was odd to hear him so chatty, but it was simultaneously a relief that for the amount of shit he'd had to wade through with leaving the Academy, it hadn't been for nothing.

"How are you doing now? Is the injury still giving you trouble. Still sore? I can still feel that spot on my chest sting occasionally and still run out of breath too fast. They said it's permanent. Scar tissue- but you know that."

Brody nodded; he remembered very well, considering he'd nearly had his head bitten off by the officer that had checked Matthew out after the incident in the pool.

"Sometimes," He admitted, "Got a couple of scars out of the deal, but the docs say it's too soon to even consider removing them."

While Brody was more than grateful to be alive, he was no fan of the two scars that he'd been left with; the entry wound wasn't too bad, but the exit wound was particularly ugly. It was unpleasant enough that exit wounds were larger than entry wounds due to the nature of ballistics; the fact that Brody had been shot through the stomach, however, had left its own grotesque reminder in the form of acid burns.

It was a wonder that Mom or Dad had been able to look at them when they'd changed Brody's bandages.

While he might have normally tried to avoid bringing up the CapMed that Matthew no longer had any hope of accessing (and being stuck with his half-functioning lung and the scars on his chest for life), Brody's tact had suffered somewhat along with his physique. Not out of trauma, so much as lack of use (and copious amounts of painkillers whose influence rendered his verbal filter useless, much to the amusement of many of his visitors).

"Come in."

He'd hardly noticed being lost in his own thoughts until Matthew opened the door in front of him; the house clearly hadn't been used for a long time, but it smelled of newness from the various chemicals and sawdust of new wood.

"Your dad isn't going to appear out of the woodwork and tear me a new one, is he?" Brody asked offhandedly, looking around the house.

Matthew had been right, when he'd said before leaving the Academy that he could work with his hands; obviously this place still had a great deal more that needed to be done, but from what he could tell, his friend was off to a promising start.

ffffff - Brody O'Rourke
1979 - Matthew Dunham

[Jack Lexington]

For a moment I think about what he says about 'removing scars'. I had seen it on the games: Tributes getting baldy injured and then coming back to greet the districts without any visible flaws. "I always thought the lack of scars is just good lighting and make up. I didn't know they can totally get rid of them."
Not that I'd be interested in getting rid of any of mine. They are part ofme, part of the story of my life but I know Kyanite still feels self conscious about hers.
What she would give for that!

Inside I take a brief look around - content with my work, that I've done over the past weeks. It has become livable and even cosy again. At least the main room.
When I turn to Brody he does the same and even expresses some admiration with his expression. He does look a bit worried, too, when he looks around though.
"Your dad isn't going to appear out of the woodwork and tear me a new one, is he?"

"No." I shake my head noticing how tense he still is. "He's gone for the day. Plus he never comes here! This is my place now. I've asked Kyanite to move in here with me because I think our baby shouldn't have to travel back and forth. She said she would. i think she likes that I've started standing up for her."

For some reason I still feel the need to justify why I left the Pks.

"Do you want some water? An apple?" I offer him and pour myself a glas from the taband motion around the room.
"I had to replace the whole piping."

Then I lean against the counter in the kitchen and wonder what's going to happen now.
"What are you keeping yourself busy with these days?"
To be honest I feel really sorry what has become of the man who once seemed strong and adament about things. The guy who pushed me to the limits when I couldn't push myself and kicked my ass each time we sparred. He's no longer existent but I'd love to bring him back.

"You know my offer still stands- I need a sparring partner and it looks like you do, too. I know your story. No need to explain anything to me."

[Artemis]

Brody raised his eyebrows at Matthew's remark; granted, Brody had had access to CapMed for a few years now, and though the miracles of Capitol-grade science still amazed him, he was at least acquainted enough to know that trivial matters like getting rid of scars and deformities were simple procedures.

"You'd be surprised." He said simply.

No use rubbing it in anymore that Brody had access to it while Matthew would have the reminder of his own encounters with Jins for the rest of his life.

The tension in his shoulders finally fell away with the assurance that Mr. Dunham wasn't going to be dropping by unexpectedly; facing an angry father was easy when he was in peak physical condition, armor-clad and packing heat. Much less so in civilian clothes and looking even less intimidating than usual.

"This is my place now. I've asked Kyanite to move in here with me because I think our baby shouldn't have to travel back and forth. She said she would. I think she likes that I've started standing up for her."

"You think?"

Brody looked around a little more as Matthew got himself some water from the sink, going on about replacing the piping himself. So he'd been very busy while Brody had been doing a whole lot of nothing.

"What are you keeping yourself busy with these days?"

Well, not entirely nothing. But it was comparatively far less than he was used to, and Brody had gone stir-crazy with boredom until the doctors had finally allowed him to get off bed rest.

"Therapy," He groused, "And catching up on paperwork. Otherwise the Peacekeepers don't have much for me to do until I'm off light duty. The docs mean well, but god damn if they don't want to do everything at a snail's pace."

Not that he really expected Matthew to understand; the Academy had been a whole lot of rushing to cram in all of the lessons a basically-trained Peacekeeper could need in a certain amount of time. The 'real' military, so to speak, was a lot of what was referred to as 'hurry up and wait'. Medical, in particular, was far too cautious for Brody's liking; patience had never been one of his virtues, he wanted things to be faster and sooner and lets go already!

Physical therapy was nerve-grindingly slow. Psychotherapy was... well, the sessions never seemed to be long enough.

"You know my offer still stands," Matthew said suddenly, his tone becoming rather uncharacteristically gentle, "I need a sparring partner and it looks like you do, too. I know your story. No need to explain anything to me."

Right, Matthew had offered to kick Brody back into shape when he'd first come to visit him. And it was exactly what Brody was looking for; he hadn't thought of asking his father, knowing Nolan would be reluctant to have his son sparring so soon after seeing firsthand the toll his injuries had taken on him. His mother had done her best to keep Brody involved in her own ongoing physical therapy, that Tai Chi stuff, and had informed him that it could be used as a martial art.

None of that compared to an actual sparring partner, and Matthew was right; they had enough history by now that his friend would know what Brody's moves should look like and, hopefully, how to polish his skills back to the point they'd been before this whole fiasco.

"I'm gonna need it. Dad won't fight me and my coworkers treat me like I'm made of glass," He said with a roll of his eyes, "Unless you'd rather take it easy after being at the gym?"

Truth be told, Brody was itching to beat the crap out of something; Jins should never have stood a chance at hand-to-hand with him, should've never been able to disarm him or break his ribs or render him so goddamned helpless.

ffffff - Brody O'Rourke
1979 - Matthew Dunham

[Jack Lexington]

I didn't expect him to actually accept my offer because I've extended it more than once and he never took it. Now things seem different. Maybe he's really ready to come back.

"I'm gonna need it. Dad won't fight me and my coworkers treat me like I'm made of glass," He sounds annoyed but I can only remind him.
"Your dad loves you. He doesn't want to hurt you again. Much better than Kyanites dad who made her train with a broken arm and kicked her out."
I still can't believe her father did that. He's worse than mine. It also makes me wonder what kind of role models she has and how she's going to handle our daughter.

"Unless you'd rather take it easy after being at the gym?" He's trying to tease, I think.

In his state I could take him on after being at the gym all day.
"That's right. Maybe I should tie my hands behind my back after I've only been at the gym for an hour." I reply cockily and then laugh out loud.

"I'm ready when you are. I'm too wired to sit down anyway."
I roll my shoulders and point to the back room.
"I have a heavy bag back there, some weights and a skipping rope, if you want to warm up."

For a moment I pause and then smile. "Let's do it, man."

[Artemis]

"Your dad loves you. He doesn't want to hurt you again. Much better than Kyanite's dad who made her train with a broken arm and kicked her out."

Brody sighed, knowing full well that Matthew was right but still rather unused to his friend making so much sense. Not that Matthew was stupid, far from it, but as Brody had always known him, he tended to open his mouth before he actually thought about what was coming out of it; but, then, there was very little room for immaturity suddenly having a child of your own to care for.

"I know. But I'm not gonna get back into shape being babied and coddled."

He knew if Nolan and McKenna had their way, they'd probably keep him cooped up in the house, in the nest, forever where their baby bird couldn't get hurt again. Both of them were suddenly so afraid to let go of him, knowing that when Brody returned to duty, he'd be back in harm's way. Fortunately for Brody's sanity and unfortunately for their shaken nerves, that wasn't going to happen; of course, that meant he had to find other outlets to get back in shape with Nolan unwilling to even raise his fists to shadow box with him.

And really, he didn't feel like pushing the issue remembering that brief glimpse of Nolan when he'd woken up from his coma; the lines on his face reading of sleepless nights and vulnerability and fear, all looking terribly out of place on the features of the strongest man Brody knew.

"That's right. Maybe I should tie my hands behind my back after I've only been at the gym for an hour." Matthew snarked, laughing.

Brody made a face at him; cocky bastard.

"You do that, see how well it works out for you," He shot back with a smarmy grin, "It's my strength that needs rebuilding, not my technique, you little shit."

The punching bag wasn't of any interest to Brody; he could find one free at any of the facilities offered by the Peacekeepers. Finding someone willing to spar with him while he was still technically on light duty was a bit harder to come by.

"Let's do it, man."

Brody followed him out into the backyard, which thankfully lacked the heavy chemical-and-sawdust smell of the inside of the house; with winter on its way out, the trees were still mostly barren, but the snow was slowly beginning to melt to make way for the first blooms of spring. Brody had had the fortune of being in District 7 when springtime had rolled around; the mountains of 2 were always beautiful, but 7 in bloom was a very close second.

"Alright coach," Brody smirked, "You're in charge this time, what's first?"

ffffff - Brody O'Rourke
1979 - Matthew Dunham