hot_guitarist (hot_guitarist) wrote in btvsal, @ 2009-06-01 20:57:00 |
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Current mood: | depressed |
Touch Decisions to Make
Who: Jack and Pat
Where: Avarice
When: Monday Night
Upon counting, there were probably close to 13 empty beer bottles surrounding Patrick McConnell on the bar at Avarice. Looking like a shadow in black jeans, a black dress shirt, and a black ball cap worn backwards, he stared into yet another bottle, not saying a word.
Jack Delany had racked up more than a few bottles of his own, but he wasn't staring down such an unlucky number of them as he finished off his sixth one and ordered another. He had figured that Pat would be on top of the world with Gwen returning to reality and all, but it seemed that the opposite had happened. "So, are you going to talk, or continue killing your liver as quickly as possible?" he asked.
"I'll keep drinking, but I'm not lucky enough to kill my liver and drop dead." Pat mumbled, throwing back another swig of beer. "It's true what they say, you know... the bad things you do to others? Comes back around to kick you in the ass."
"If you're talking karma, then I'd be a very dead man right now," Jack pointed out to him. "What are you talking about?"
"Remember how badly I hurt Iris, Jack? It's how I feel now. This whole thing with Gwen... I'm glad she's back, don't get me wrong... but..." he sighed. "I was going to marry Skylar, Jack. And be parents. And now... I can't marry her. And when I look at them... they love me, Jack... but they're IN love with each other. They're soul mates. And I'm... just kind of a guy they both love in a different way."
Jack sighed. Once he had seen Pat after Gwen returned, he kind of had a feeling that this was going to happen. "Look, they both do love you, Pat. Plus, you and Skylar now have a baby together. How do you think she's going to react when you say that you're not sure if you all should be together?"
"Shit. I wouldn't be a deadbeat father... I just wonder if it's fair to them to stay in the relationship. I mean, I'm living every guy's dream... but while they'd never admit it, what if I'm in the way of THEIRS?"
"Well, why don't you actually talk to them about this?" Jack asked. "I mean, the three of you are going through a lot of stuff right now. Maybe it's not the best time to be making a decision of any magnitude?"
"Yeah, I know. I don't want to upset Skylar, especially now." Pat shook his head, "Jack, I love her, so much... and the thought of having to share her... it kills me."
"It's amazing how much changed with one person not being around," Jack remarked. He personally didn't know what to think about feeling odd about sharing someone, but that was him.
"It's just... I know what it's like to be with your soul mate. And I know it enough to see it in both of those girls. They're meant to be together. With nobody else hampering them." He sighed, knowing he's right.
Jack shook his head. It seemed like Pat's mind was made up. "If that's how you really feel, than you had better do it soon. The quicker, the better, most likely."
"I'm just afraid that I'm going to ruin everyone's lives. Like I seem to do all the time." Pat looked like he'd just been chewed up and spit out.
"Well, if you feel the way that you say you're feeling, then the best thing to do is to pull away and break it off. They'll both sense that something is wrong if you stick around, and it will end much worse," Jack said.
"I think you're right." He looked at Jack, raising an eyebrow. "You're my best friend Jack... I need to know: am I doing the right thing?"
"I'm no psychic, Pat," Jack answered honestly. "You gotta go with what you're heart's feeling." He groaned. "I sound like a country singer. It's true, though. It'll be better in the long run. You gotta hang around for that kid, though."
"Of course. I just want to do this while I can still salvage our friendship. Because I know.. in the long term, THEY'LL be happier too." He nodded. "I've hurt to many people already."
"Then you've got to do what you've got to do." Jack took a sip of his beer. "What, am I channeling Hank Williams Sr. tonight?"
"Nah. Just doling out the invaluable wisdom of Jack Delany." Pat forced out a chuckle. "This ain't gonna be easy. For any of us."
"Not a bit," Jack said, taking another sip of his beer. "You can crash with us until you get settled, though."
"Thanks. Tell Meredith I said no biting." He said, smirking a little.
Jack shuddered. "No images, please," he said, downing the rest of the beer.