Sacrifices of the Soul, Chapter 39
 

Julian was back in the Library at the Mansion when Sheridan comes in.

" Hi Julian."

" Sheridan. Close the door."

Sheridan does as told and walks over to take a seat. " What's wrong?"

" Chad went with me to see Eve today."

" Isn't that what you wanted?"

" I thought so. I left them alone, but when I was looking down on them from the doctor's office, I saw him in a heated discussion with Eve."

" I thought Eve was unresponsive."

" She is. He was talking, and she was listening. But, the look on his face was intense. I asked him what it was about, but, he refused to tell me. "

" I doubt Chad would do anything to jeopardize Eve's recovery. "

" I want to believe it."

" You can, Julian."

" Time is running out, Sheridan. If Eve doesn't come back to the land of the living soon, whatever she considers her life will be gone."

" You're worried for her."

" Of course I am, Sheridan. I don't want her to lose her life. She's lost so much. Her children need her."

" What about you, Julian? Do you need her?"

Julian looked at Sheridan and shook his head. " Sheridan, whatever happened between Eve and I ended long ago. It was a lifetime ago. I doubt Eve would find me suitable anyways."

'' I guess."

" Sheridan, I've been thinking about something for awhile now, and I wanted to run it by you. You're always telling me that you want to help me bridge the gap with Chad. I believe I've found a way that you can do just that."

" What is it?"

" WHAR."

" The radio station?"

Julian nods. " It's been a loser for years. We keep it for the tax write-off and to be able to control a media outlets around here."

" What do I have to do with a radio station?"

" How about you taking it over?"

Sheridan looked at Julian with a confused face.
 

Chad was at the punching bag, going hard at it, when he heard a voice,

" You do know that they want others to be able to use it."

He turns and faces Ethan.

" Yeah, well, if it breaks, I'll just have old Jules buy them another one.", Chad says sarcastically.

There is a tense silence between them when Chad spoke up, " I didn't think you'd be 'slumming' here, Ethan. Doesn't quite seem like your scene."

" For some reason, I wanted to take up boxing lessons, and this is the only place in town that I can learn."

" Oh. " Chad turns to walk away when Ethan speaks up.

" Chad, you were going pretty hard at the bag, something's bothering you. Need to talk?"

Chad looked at Ethan. Yes, they had been friends once before, but, he was pissed at the way that Ethan had dumped on Theresa and the reasons underneath. But, Ethan was trying to meet him halfway, and Chad thought about it. He nodded slightly, and they both went to get some gatorade, and sat on the benches at the edge of the gym.

" So, what's wrong?", Ethan asked.

" A lot of things, but, namely Simone. I'm new to this Big Brother thing, and trying to protect her when she doesn't want it, is driving me crazy."

" What? Someone doesn't understand your depth of wisdom? See things are you see it? You can't control the Universe? I don't know Brother, are you REALLY a Crane?"

Chad stared at Ethan. It was a tense moment. Ethan, had of course, meant it as a joke, but, he didn't know if Chad would see it that way. Chad gave Ethan a slight smile.

" I dunno. If I didn't have the DNA test, I'd doubt it too."

Chad could see the relief on Ethan's face as he did take it as a joke. His relief turned to concern as he asked, " Is it really bad with Simone?"

" It's at the beginning of a fire. It's small and containable. But, if we don't take action now, the fire will consume the entire house."

" I wish I could help you, but, Cranes the kind of intervention you're talking about, I have no experience with. I mean, if any of us saw anything bad with our siblings, all I had to do was drop a line to Father, and between him and Grandfather, the 'problem' would be handled. "

" Sounds nice."

" I guess so. You love Simone, huh?"

" Yeah. She's my sister."

" What about Whitney?", Ethan said before really thinking. He looked at Chad as if he wanted to die.

" You know what, Man? You're the first person honest enough to ask me about it. Most people know it's an elephant in the room with us, but, they tiptoe around, ever so nicely. I guess it's a fair question. The truth of the matter is, it's still painful to see Whitney. But, it doesn't stab me in the heart like it used to. Now, it's about the pain that I see all over her."

" Yeah, I noticed something different about her too."

" You've seen Whitney?"

" Yes. In the park. She wasn't very happy."

" I don't think she is. Ethan, if you can be a friend to Whitney, I appreciate it. Our relationship, and her friendship with Theresa both blew up. She's hurting, even if she doesn't want to admit it."

" You can count on me. So….how is Theresa?"

" She's doing good. She's loving school, and she's rebuilding her life."

" I'm honestly glad for her. "

" Really?"

" Yes. "

" But, that doesn't mean that things aren't awkward."

" I know.", Ethan admits. " I miss….I miss our friendship, Chad. I didn't know how much until it was gone. I'm very happy that we're brothers, and I hope that we can try and forge a bond like you want with your other siblings."

" Man, it ain't all that. So far, it's one sibling - Simone. There's the minefield of Whitney, and you. Then, there's the sisters by Julian and Ivy. You know that Amanda sent me a letter, a few weeks ago?"

" Yes. She told me that she was going to."

" It was pretty nice. She was nice about it. Introducing herself, telling me that it was a shock to hear about me, and if ever I was in Europe, I should look her up. I take it that she doesn't get along with Julian and Ivy?"

" Actually, it's more her and my mother. They are like oil and water. I'm gonna be blunt. I doubt you'll ever hear from Serena. She's not the family type. If she's like anyone in the family, it's Grandfather."

Chad shook as if he had the shivers. " Thanks for that heads up, and I doubt that she's my type."

" No, She's not."

" How are you doing, Ethan?"

" Pretty good. I've had a hard time sleeping lately."

" Why?"

" The baby."

" Something wrong with it?"

"No…no.. It's just the awesome responsibility that we're diving into. When you have a child, playtime is over."

Chad laughs. " It's supposed to be over, I grant you that. But, I saw enough people from my time on the streets to know that isn't the case. A lot of people continue to play after parenthood. Which is why the children are messed up."

" Chad, I was wondering…..do you want a relationship with Julian?"

Chad had to think about that for awhile. " I honestly don't know. "

" He's not a bad guy, Chad. Ok, so maybe he's a little shady, but, he loves his family."

" Ethan, I didn't grow up with Crane family indoctrination. I know the wrong that they cause other people."

" In business sometimes, you have to be ruthless to succeed."

" There's ruthless, and then there's CRANE. And, man, there IS a world of difference. Julian seems to be leading the pack."

" He's a successful Captain of Industry."

" Very successful."

" Is that wrong? It's businessmen like Julian and Alistair that help keep the world running."

" Ethan, puleeze. Sell it to someone else. The more you sound like a Crane PR shill, the worse it gets."

" Oh."

" Ethan, I'm not against Julian. Not like I used to be. But, it's going to take time. We're going to have to find some common ground. So far, the pickin's have been VERY slim."

" But, you're trying?"

" I'm trying."

" That's all I can ask. You will becoming to the party celebrating my becoming President of Crane Industries, aren't you?"

" You know your mother extended me a personal invitation?"

" This evening is important to me."

" So, why ask the Black Bastard Brother?"

" Because, I told her that it was important."

Chad looked at Ethan, and then burst out into laughter. Ethan didn't understand what Chad thought was so funny.

" You really were raised to rule the Empire. It's as easy as breathing for you."

Ethan thought about it. " I guess it is."

" Hey, we're cool, Ethan. If you want me to be there, then I'm coming. "

" Thanks."

" What are brothers for?"