Jason groaned as another vehicle cut him off on the highway. He resisted giving the driver the finger as it sped passed him. He’d memorised the plate number and would turn him into the correct authorities. As a member of the Creed it wasn’t his responsibility to deal with hoons and the like. He had more pressing issues to worry about. None less than the interesting piece of information his brother was just expounding on while they made their way to the TaskerOne’s house.

The movement of instruments from The Locker was forbidden; even the Mayor had to get special dispensation from The Creed to release any items from there. For Matthew to be able to get his hands on an instrument and remove it from the storage place was completely out of character, and a huge concern. If General Eskino found out about it the consequences would be dire. It was one thing for the normal population to have instruments in their possession, and for them to have them confiscated. But for the TaskerOne to flout the law…well it didn’t bear thinking on.

Jason glanced sideways at his brother who was staring out the window a grim expression on his face. His eyes were shuttered and his posture defensive as he watched the buildings as they passed them by.

“Matt?”

Matt Berry lifted a shoulder in acknowledgement, but said nothing.

Jason cleared his throat gruffly before asking, “Did Shads give any indication of what he was thinking?”

“Nada,” his twin murmured. “He’s pretty good at saying a lot without actually saying anything.”

Jason laughed the sound holding no mirth, “Really? Never pegged him for a talker.”

Matt cast a look at him, “Except when he’s really focused on something.”

“True…”

They lapsed into silence, which was only broken by the rustling of chip wrappers from the backseat. Dan was sprawled across the seat methodically working his way through a whole bag of chips while listening to the brothers’ conversation. As he popped a chip into his mouth, he frowned faintly as a dull clunking sound reached his ears.

“Hey, JB?”

“What?” Jason looked back over his shoulder at him.

Dan shifted forward on his seat as he said, “You hear that noise?”

“What noise?”

“Uh, bro…there’s smoke coming from the hood…” Matt prodded Jason on the shoulder and pointed. A tiny wisp of smoke curled up from a gap in the bonnet.

Dan snorted, “Wasn’t this due for service soon?”

Jason groaned, squinting out the windshield before turning sharply onto the side of the road. The smoke, which had been barely noticeable earlier, was now streaming out, while the engine rattled noisily beneath the hood.

“Fu-uck…what the hell, it was fine this morning.”

Dan rolled his eyes, “Like I said…”

“Shut up. Just call Zack, will you?” Jason snapped as he shoved open his door and got out to investigate.

* * * * *
“So…what exactly did you do?” Zacky stood huddled over the open hood, frowning down at the engine. Jason leaned against the side of the vehicle and shook his head. “Nothing? Looks like it hasn’t been to the shop in years…”

“Yeah, like I have time to bring it in.” Jason glowered at the mechanic.

Zacky held a hand up in a placating gesture. “I understand. Boy, do I…”

“Where’d you come from, anyway?” Dan asked as he leaned out of the backseat, forearms folded across the door.

“Shads’.” The mechanic didn’t elaborate.

“Oh? We’re headed that way,” Jason stated then grimaced as he added, “well, we were…” He scowled at the front of the truck. Zacky raised his eyebrows before leaning back over the engine. “How is he?”

“Huh?” the mechanic lifted his head again.

Jason crossed his arms and gave him a pointed look. “Shads. How’s he doing?”

Zacky paused with his hand halfway into his tool belt. A dark expression flickered across his face, before he answered in a casual tone, “I think he’s still not used to not working, he seemed…a bit…” he waved his hand in the air.

“Lost?” Dan suggested.

“Yeah, that’s the word,” Zacky muttered as he leaned over the engine again. He hovered there for a moment then sighed, straightening. “I’ll call my bro; get him to take it over to the shop.”

“Oh?” Jason looked at the truck then back at the man standing in front of him. “Too hard?”

“Yeah, whatever’s wrong with it, I can’t figure it. Better he check it.”

Dan snorted, “You’re a shit mechanic.”

“Thanks for that,” Zacky mumbled as he shut the hood and pulled his cell phone from his back pocket. The stocky male just grinned at him; he rolled his eyes and spoke gruffly into the mouthpiece. After explaining the details of the situation and telling his brother where they were, he hung up and glanced at Jason.

“Want a lift?”

“To Shads’?”

“Yeah,” Zacky shrugged. “I was planning on staying there for a while myself.”

“You just came from there,” Jason pointed out.

“Well, you kinda interrupted us.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, we were getting down to a serious game of poker.” Something, a strained look, passed over the mechanic’s face but it was gone before Jason could even fathom what it was.

“Right,” he said. “Well, thanks. We’d appreciate a ride.”

Zacky smiled as he shut the hood, slapping a palm against it. Then he turned and walked back to his own truck. Jason, Dan and Matt followed him and climbed into the vehicle as he started the engine. He looked out the window at the other truck then raised his eyebrows at Jason.

“Do you need to put in a report for the vehicle?”

“Nah, that’s mine. I don’t drive anything else on my day off.”

“Half day,” Dan interjected.

“Right,” Zacky said. “That’s all you get?”

“Every week. Once a month we get a whole day; and once every three we get a week or two depending on rank.”

“And then some get more than that,” Zack pointed out, obviously thinking about Matthew.

Jason grimaced because he knew who the mechanic was basing that observation on. But he made no comment knowing that if he did he would be tempted to spill all the stuff the General had told him, and he couldn’t risk that without then causing some kind of turmoil between his friends. Or at least having a load of questions tossed his way.

Instead he chuckled and said, “I’m jealous of Shads. Bet he’s taking advantage of it.”

Zacky rolled his eyes as he wound down his windows, cranked up the radio and turned his vehicle back onto the road.

* * * * *

“So, how’s it with Johnny?”

Jason leaned against the kitchen counter where he and Matthew had positioned themselves when the Berry’s and Zacky had arrived. Zacky had disappeared with Matt and Dan to the Sanders’ home gym; the clink of barbells could be heard filtered down the corridor. Jason wanted to stay and find out what was going on with his commander, and so was grateful the others had left him alone with the bigger male. Of course, he was a little wary as well, so was also glad that the others were within earshot if things got too tense.

Matthew shrugged as he retrieved two bottles of orange juice from the fridge. “Hmmm, not as bad as I thought it would be.” He popped the lid on them both, passing one to his 2IC. “He keeps to himself. Keeps out of trouble.”

Jason nodded slowly. “Good to hear. And you?”

“Huh?” Matthew chocked his head to the side, one eyebrow lifted ever so little.

“How’re you doing?”

Matthew gave him a weird look as he drank from his bottle. He smeared the back of his hand across his mouth as he asked, “What do you mean?”

“Well, y’know…this week off…” Jason shifted on his feet as he fiddled with his juice bottle.

“I’m good.” Matthew shrugged in a nonchalant manner. Whether what he said was true or not, Jason couldn’t discern; he sounded as casual as anyone could manage when having a forced vacation. Matt smirked as he added, “Taking it easy.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

An uncomfortable silence settled between the two men; Matthew returned to the fridge and stood with the door open gazing in at the contents. Jason finished his drink his eyes fixed on a spot in the middle of the floor. Both of them were unsure how to move the conversation forward. It had been a long time since they’d visited each other on a social level. In fact, since joining the Creed neither man had the time for social calls. At least not to each other. And considering they practically saw each other every day, it wasn’t as if they were missing anything in their joint lives.

“Great. So…” Jason said as he attempted to start the conversation again, “Zack says he was playing Poker with you earlier.”

“Uhuh. We finished without him.” Matthew smirked, “Johnny won.”

Jason chuckled, shaking his head. “Heh, he got into it at The Astor.”

“That would explain it,” Matthew responded in a flat voice. He closed the fridge but didn’t look over at his colleague. Instead he opted to stare out the window onto the front yard. He crossed his arms, brow furrowed.

Jason frowned, noting the lack of emotion in his voice. “Hope you don’t mind my saying, but…”

“But?” Matthew looked over his shoulder, eyebrows arched.

Jason cleared his throat, gruffly, before he said, “You seem a bit…off…”

“Excuse me?” Matthew swung away from the window and glared at him. “I’m fine, Captain.” Jason flinched, recognising the statement for the rebuke it was, and that it was a reminder of who was really in the superior position. Regardless of what Eskino said and regardless that Shads was on a break, he was still TaskerOne and, obviously he wanted to ensure no one forgot that.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean anything by that...”

“No?” Matthew shook his head, as he waved a dismissive hand toward him. “You should go. Can’t be late back to the barracks. The corps will need to be seen to.”

“Gotta wait for the all clear from Baker; killed the truck.”

Matthew snorted, “You shitting me, JB? When did I tell you to put her in for service?”

Jason grimaced, not liking his commander’s tone. “When exactly was I supposed to find time?”

“Make time, Captain,” he retorted. “Anyway, I told you to do it three months ago.”

“God, Shads. You might be my boss, but…telling me when to put the truck into the shop? Is that really in your job description?”

The two men stared at each other in the pause that was generated by that question. Tension was evident between them; it was like a caged animal ready to burst out of its confines. Matthew eventually let out an exasperated groan, shaking his head again.

“Just go, Jason.”

Jason snapped back, “No. You’re on a break. I’ll leave when I decide.”

“Uhuh.” Matthew stared hard at him. “I’m still your commanding officer. And I’m telling you to go.”

“For fuck’s sake. You’re off duty. I don’t have to obey you.”

“Jason,” Matthew sighed as he slumped back against the window sill, “I’m asking you to leave. As a…friend…I’m asking you…. Please?”

Jason blinked hard. M Shadows never pleaded with anyone, for anything. Ever. Something was definitely up. What with the information his brother had unloaded on him; the comments Eskino had made, and now this side of the T-One he had never seen before, it all had to mean something was going on. And Jason wasn’t sure he could understand what it was. However, he did know one thing; pushing his luck with Matthew had never ended up well, so he decided to do the diplomatic thing and let it go, for now, at least.

“Alright…alright…I’ll touch base at the end of the week?” Jason asked, cautiously, unsure whether that was what either of them really wanted.

He knew that personally he would feel better knowing what his commander was up to, but at the same time he was well aware of how much the big man was protective of his privacy. Being in the Creed, it was a luxury not many of them could afford. And Matthew was well known to cherish his personal life. To the point that when, one time, a rookie had questioned him on his family life he had had a complete melt down which ended in the kid getting a bloody nose, and Jason having to drag Matthew out by his belt. That had been an embarrassing situation, one of the many that he had not wanted the General to know about. But, considering the discussion he’d had with him, Eskino probably knew of it.

He sighed and raised his eyebrows at the T-One. “Shads?”

Matthew gave a nonchalant shrug of his shoulders. “Sure, whatever you like.”

Jason nodded sensing he wouldn’t get any better response than that. He looked around the kitchen taking in the large space. Before he returned his attention to his friend.

“Well, I’ll just…go and get Dan and my bro. And we’ll get out of your hair.”

Matthew uncrossed his arms, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans. But, he said nothing, just cocked his head to the side as he glanced toward the door leading out to the hallway. Jason pushed away from the bench and made his way over to the entrance, pausing to look back at him.

“I’ll see you?”

“Yeah, guess you will,” Matt murmured before turning back around to stare out the window. Jason knew a dismissal when he saw one and so with a noncommittal grunt as a rejoinder, he turned and left to rally his brother and colleague.