Johnny stared hard at the top of the kitchen table jaw set hard as he tried to come to terms with what Matthew had just told him.

“So, you’re telling me I have to go back to the Astor?”

Matthew nodded slowly face expressionless.

“Shit…I can’t…” He shook his head. “I can’t go back there…” He squeezed his left hand into a fist, staring at it then he rocked back on his chair to glare at the bigger male. Matthew sighed, taking the seat opposite. He didn’t say anything, though, just sat there looking back at Johnny.

“Damn it, Shads,” Johnny groaned dropping his head in his hands.

Matthew exhaled roughly. “I’ve been given my orders.” He grimaced. “But…” he paused as he waited for Johnny to lift his head.

“But?” Johnny met his guarded look with a bemused one of his own.

His lips twitched. “I quit yesterday.”

“You quit?” Incredulity seemed to be the order of the day.

“Yeah, I resigned effective today.” Matthew shrugged then smiled softly. Johnny frowned at him not quite understanding why that mattered to him. But when the former Creed commander kept smiling it dawned on him. Like a light bulb flickering to life in his mind it came to him.

“You don’t have to follow orders anymore?” The hint of hope in Johnny’s voice caused Matthew’s smile to broaden. “Wow…so that means…?”

Matthew shook his head and slapped an emphatic hand on the table-top. “Not to say the Creed won’t come after you. But, I’ll not be the one to shunt you back there.”

Johnny seemed to visibly relax as he set the feet of his chair back onto the floor. It felt like he’d dodged a bullet there. He laughed softly but then frowned a little.

“They’ll be expecting me, though…and when I don’t show…”

Matthew growled, “They’ll have to get past me.”

“Shit, Shads…”

“Before you tell me I could get into trouble, I’m already in so fuckin’ deep that this is just a blip in comparison.”

Johnny rolled his eyes but nodded in agreement. “True. Still…”

Matthew’s face hardened. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll deal with the fallout.” He clenched his jaw then mumbled to himself, “You can take the man out of the Creed…but you can’t take the Creed out of the man.” He went to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of Jack. “Drink?”

“Thanks.” Johnny propped his elbows on the table. Matthew set a bottle down in front of him then parked his own arse back on his chair. The younger male took a long drink then said, “So…”

“I’m sending you home.” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Matthew realised he was screwed. Really fucking screwed. He was definitely piling on more and more reasons to charge himself with treason let alone the Creed getting up in his dial, and that was a sobering thought. His actions would have far reaching consequences, but he had weighed up the positives against the negatives and he knew he wouldn’t change what he had done, what he was doing.

Johnny stared at him. “Whoa…don’t you think that’s a bit risky?”

“Risky or not. You need to see your parents again.” Matthew folded his arms. “I owe you that.”

“You don’t owe me shit. The fact that you’d risk everything to keep me out of that hole is enough.”

A dark look crossed Matthew’s face. “Well, I’m going to call them.” He got up and left the kitchen before Johnny could make another protest.

* * * * *

Frank leaned back against his chair eyes fixed on the phone which had been silent for the past half an hour. He couldn’t even begin to explain what he was feeling after Matthew Sanders had called. His son. His youngest son was coming home. It was too hard to even believe.

He glanced over at his wife who was quietly preparing Johnny’s old room. Mary Seward had always been hopeful that her son would come home sooner, rather than later, even though they both new he’d been sentenced to a long stint in jail. Frank was well aware that young Sanders was taking a massive risk in what he was doing. But, he wasn’t going to ask questions.

Johnny was coming home….that was all that mattered.

* * * * *

Matthew slapped a cartridge into his gun and swung it up lining up the sight with the target on the wall. Jimmy raised his eyebrows at his friend watching as he gazed calmly along the length of the barrel.

Zacky grimaced. “Do you really think this necessary?”

“Yes,” Matthew responded tightly. He jerked his head at his friend. “If they come looking for Johnny and find him gone, I need to be prepared.”

“For what? A shoot out?” the mechanic snorted in disgust. “Come on, dude…like that’s going to happen.”

Matthew pegged his friend with a hard look. “You do realise if they find out I’ve disobeyed a direct order they could arrest me.”

“Oh, so you’ll just kill them to prevent that?” Zacky sounded angry now. Jimmy shifted uncomfortably on his feet.

The three of them were at a private shooting range about a mile from Elijah’s residence. Brian had remained behind with the elder male and his father who had finally come around to see how they were going. Jimmy and Zacky had followed an on-edge Matthew to the shooting range where he was putting his Beretta M9 through its paces. The standard military issue firearm had been in his possession since he’d joined the Creed and it was the one weapon he was permitted to keep when he finished. It was for personal use not just official duties.

Matthew, ignoring Zacky’s irritated question, replaced his ear protectors and aimed at the target and fired off a round. The pistol kicked in his grip as the bullet buried into the target inches from the bullseye. He swore softly and shifted his stance firing another shot this one finding the centre of the target with a satisfying bang.

“Well?” Zachary snapped as Matthew finished testing his gun and removed his head gear.

Matthew scowled. “Well what?” He took apart his weapon and began to clean it so he didn’t have to look at him.

“You’re willing to go all gung-ho macho soldier man if they try to arrest you?” Jimmy asked his tone unusually sober, speaking before Zacky could continue berating their friend. The mechanic made a disbelieving noise. Jimmy shook his head at him as Matthew lifted cold eyes to them.

“I’ll do what I have to do,” his voice was emotionless. But his face was strained as if he was trying to hold back all his inner feelings.

Jimmy sighed, shaking his head, “And you call me crazy?”

Matthew’s lips twisted in a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Yeah, guess we’re even on that.”

“Dammit, Shads,” Zacky groaned and slapped a hand against the wall. “I can handle this whole band shit…but…the thought of you…”

“The thought of killing anyone shits me too, Zack,” Matthew said weariness in his voice. He tucked his pistol in his holster and hitched up his pants. “But, if I have to do it…”

The mechanic glowered at him. Jimmy sighed and shoved his hands in his pockets. Silence fell between them as Matthew gathered his gear and waved to the security guard who had let them in, indicating that they were ready to leave. They left the building without another word to each other, walking out into the crisp night air.

It was several hours since Matthew had dropped Johnny home to his parents’ place and he could still picture the scene that had unfolded before him. The shock on Frank’s face; the love on Mary’s as she took her son in his arms; the overwhelming sense of relief and joy on Johnny’s. It had made Matthew decidedly uncomfortable but at the same time unbearably happy to see them reunited properly. And now here he was walking out of the shooting range, ensuring he was prepared to face the consequences of his actions.

He sighed and glanced at his friends, realising how grateful he was for them. The fact that they were there humbled him, it truly did. They could have left him to his own devices. Could’ve turned down his offer, told him it was too dangerous. But he knew, in their hearts, they wanted the same thing he did. Of course, Jimmy wasn’t such a hard sell, he had his own dreams. Zacky, though, he was always the one to be more cautious about everything.

As if the mechanic realised his thoughts were on him, Zacky cleared his throat gruffly and said, “I’m on your side, you know that, right?”

Matthew blinked and nodded slightly his hard expression dissolving. “Yeah. I know.” And wasn’t that the theme of the moment. He smiled faintly as he walked over to Zacky’s truck.

“Really,” Zacky muttered, “gonna stick to your side the whole way…”

Jimmy added with a smirk, “You won’t be able to get rid of us.”

Matthew snorted and rolled his eyes. “Oh, I could get rid of you if I needed to.”

“That’s real fucking cold,” Zacky said, but he laughed as he said it. Matthew smirked in response then jumped in the front passenger side. Jimmy squeezed in next to him as Zacky climbed into the driver’s side.

“I could, y’know,” Matthew reiterated as he crossed his arms over his chest. Zacky just pegged him with a ‘what-the-fuck-ever’ look as he started the truck and pulled out of the range’s parking lot.

“You need us too much,” Jimmy pointed out as the truck bellowed and lurched as the tyres hit the asphalt. Matthew couldn’t argue with that one, so he didn’t. He just shrugged and looked out the window.

He did need his friend’s around him. Had always needed them. Even when he was pushing them away. However, those days were over. He had to keep his friend’s close…and his adversaries even closer. He scowled at that last thought.

“Hey, Zack?”

“Yeah?” Zacky was about to make the turn off to Elijah’s property.

Matthew chewed at his bottom lip. “I want to go see Eskino.”

“Excuse me?” Zacky hit the brakes bringing the truck to a jarring halt on the side of the road. He stared at his friend as if he’d grown another head. “What the fuck for?”

Matthew shook his head unsure of how to explain himself. He just knew he had to see the General. “V. Just…hang a left here.”

Jimmy joined the mechanic in staring hard at him, but after several moments of stunned silence, Zacky spun the truck into a U-turn so they were pointed in the direction of the other side of town. Matthew sighed and leaned back in his seat as Zacky drove, the only sound in the cabin that of his friend muttering something about shooting him and funerals. And didn’t that just do wonders for his mood?