Episode Twelve

Bowen Apartment

"Jamie's over at Maria's studying," Mike explained as he, Rebecca, David, and Jenny entered the apartment. "I think he needed some time of his own, since he's been running around for the past 2 weeks getting boxes, packing material, picking up my tux, taking it back when we discovered it was powder blue..."

"Powder blue?" Jenny asked, making a horrified face.

"I think that's the face I made," Mike replied, winking.

Jenny laughed just as the door opened again.

"Hey," Jamie said as he came in, his face red from the cold. "Theresa managed to set a small fire in the Bodega kitchen, and it called for an evacuation!" he added, laughing slightly.

"Just in time to help with dinner!" Mike replied.

"Sorry Dad, but my history teacher this year is insane and expects us to take a historical event in the world and pretend it happened today, right down to figuring out whether things would turn out the same or different, if the event is a war who would win today, the death toll if it happened today," Jamie said. "This teacher is insane."

"What's his name?" Rebecca asked.

"Mr. Talbot," Jamie replied.

"I had him last year, he didn't do anything like that," David argued.

Jamie glared at him. "Yeah, well, he did this year."

"It doesn't sound like him," David countered.

"What? Are you trying to start an arguement?" Jamie asked, irritated. "Let me repeat, he did this year. I've got 2 weeks to finish the anylasis and Mr. Talbot doesn't care that I've got a million other things to do, so I have to work on it whenever I can. And right now I'd rather work on it than eat dinner with you." he said before turning and going into his room, slamming the door.

Mike narrowed his eyes. "Excuse me a minute," he said.

Jamie's Room

Jamie set his backpack down on his desk and opened it, pulling out the history books he had gotten from the public library. He was tired, and dealing with David always made him feel even more tired. They had once gotten along fairly well, but now he just wanted to avoid him. Laura had at least apologized for ditching him, David hadn't. He grimaced when he heard a soft knock and his bedroom doored opened. "What, dad?"

"What is wrong with you?" Mike asked. "I know you're upset about David and Laura leaving you alone at that party, you have every right to be. But you were just plain rude out there."

"He acts like he knows everything," Jamie responded turning around. "Like.. just because Mr. Talbot didn't do something last year, he won't this year. It's idiotic!"

"That's no excuse to be rude. Especially in front of Jenny and Rebecca."

"Maybe Rebecca needs to realize her son is an idiot!" Jamie snapped. "He doesn't know what the hell is going on around him half the time because he's drugged out of his skull, but he acts like he knows everything! I'm tired of it! He doesn't even care that I got held at knifepoint that night because of him! I'm sorry if I upset Jenny or anything, she's a sweet kid, but David needs to get hit upside the head and Rebecca needs to realize he isn't so great! I'll bet she hasn't even talked to him about the drugs, because he's her perfect son who can do no wrong!"

"That's enough," Mike said, fighting to keep his voice even. "I know you're mad at him, but..."

"This isn't just about him, Dad! This is about you! What do you see when you look at me dad? What?" Jamie demanded, not even thinking as he spoke. "Tell me!"

"I see my son who's acting like something he isn't! You are acting like some spoiled brat who's mad he isn't getting his way!"

"What else?" Jamie asked. "Look at me, Dad. Really look at me and tell me what you see."

"There's something that's bothering you and I want to know what it is."

"Did you ever notice some of my clothes are suddenly missing, dad? How stiff I was when I walked inside that night? How... how I flinched whenever I heard any sound behind me for those first few weeks? Take a wild guess, Dad. Figure it out!" Jamie said, grabbing his backpack again and pushing past his dad and out of the room. He ignored the Harris' as he walked to the front door.

"Jamie, stop!" Mike said, following him.

"Why? It's not like you're even paying attention anymore. You haven't in a long time. You're a good cop, Dad. Do a little looking around, check what your insurance was billed for a few weeks ago. Figure it out from there!" Jamie said as he pulled open the front door and left, slaming it shut behind him.

Mike stood in the center of the livingroom, one hand on the couch, wondering what the hell had just happened. He and Jamie had never gotten into a fight before. Sure they had occasionally argued, but they had never ended up yelling and Jamie had never walked out like this. He looked over at Rebecca and the kids, trying to think of something to say. Finally, he spoke. "Damn."

Brady House

The Bradys, and Nicole, were eating dinner when the phone rang. Janice answered it.

"Hello?" she said. "No, I don't think so. Hold on, I'll ask," she said. She looked at her kids. "Have any of you heard from Jamie tonight? Apparently he and his father got into a fight and he took off."

"Nope," Matt said.

"I haven't talked to him since he dropped Nicole and me off this afternoon," Summer added.

Janice nodded. 'I'm sorry, Mike, the kids haven't heard anything. Of course, we'll let you know if we do. I'm sure he's fine, he'll probably be home soon. All right. Goodbye."

"He didn't strike me as the fight and run type," Nicole commented.

"He isn't," Matt and Summer said at the same time.

"I'm sure he'll turn up," Janice said as she sat back down at the table.

Grant Mansion

Daniel Grant Sr. sat at the head of the table, looking over the contents of a folder, while the rest of the family slowly entered and took their seats. Richard and Annie were the last to arrive, rushing in and taking their seats just as the cook brought out dinner.

"Have fun this afternoon?" Daniel asked his daughter and stepson, a slight smile on his lips.

"Yup," Annie said, straightening her napkin on her lap.

"Good," Daniel replied, glad to see his 'little girl' happy. He turned his attention to Aaron, who was sulking. "And what's bothering you?"

"Maria didn't wanna go out this afternoon. She had to study with Jamie," Aaron replied, a tinge of bitterness in his voice.

"Grow up, Aaron," Richard said, rolling his eyes.

"It's not immature to have a problem with my girlfriend spending her time with another guy!' Aaron replied.

"It is when the girlfriend is Maria and the other guy is Jamie Bowen!" Annie said. "God, I'm a loon and even I know those two aren't anything but friends!"

"Don't call youself a loon, Annie," Daniel admonished gently. "You're not crazy, you just needed help for a while. And Aaron, for God's sake, if you don't trust the girl don't date her, plain and simple."

"It's not as though she's good enough for you anyway," Miranda spoke up. "We've seen what a disaster it is to be with someone below your station."

Richard clenched his jaw, trying to ignore his mother. He exchanged glances with his stepfather, and was relieved to see the older man was also unhappy with Miranda's comment. "Mother, that was unneccesary," Richard finally said.

"We know it's true. Annie's husband was borderline and even he proved himself unworthy," Miranda replied.

"Are you forgetting the reason you married dad was because you were 6 months pregnant with me and broke?" Richard spit back, angry. "My father was nothing, and so were you. Until you married well! So if there's something wrong with people 'below our station' then there's something wrong with you and with me!"

"Don't yell at her," Daniel Jr said.

"And here I thought you hated her," Richard said sarcastically.

Annie rolled her eyes. "Is there even a vague chance of a peaceful dinner?" she asked.

"Very vague," Daniel replied.

Cabin 10 Minutes From Town

Jamie unlocked the door and entered the Cabin he hadn't been inside of for years. His grandparents, Grandma Ginny and Grandpa Ian, had owned the cabin since they were young, and it had been a Bowen vacation spot for years. Jamie had always loved spending part of the summer there, but he and Mike hadn't gone in 3 years, not since Mike had started dating Rebecca.

Jamie rolled his eyes and pushed thoughts of his soon-to-be stepmother out of his head. Instead he set the grocery bags down on the floor and went back out to the jeep to grab the bundle of firewood he had bought. He soon had a fire started in the fireplace and was hunting out the blankets and sleeping bags from the closet so he could get a bed set up in the livingroom. He didn't have the energy to get the generator started up, so the other rooms of the cabin would be freezing cold.

Soon the livingroom was feeling nice and warm. Jamie brought the grocery bags over and pulled out a loaf of bread, cheese, and a package of lunchmeat. He went into the small kitchen and found a spatula, which he used to hold the sandwhich while it cooked. After a few minutes he had his dinner of a hot ham and cheese, then he opened up his backpack and tried to get some homework done.

He was going to make his dad worry tonight. He was going to make him have to sit, think, and figure things out. Tomorrow he'd wear his jeans and the cheap t-shirt he had bought at the store to go to school, then he'd decide whether to go home or to come back. At this moment, he was thinking of coming back to the cabin the next night, maybe staying away for a few days. He'd call, to let his dad know he was okay, but not go home. Not until he was sure Mike was actually willing to pay attention.

End Of Episode Twelve