Popewhit meet-cute with a ton of lore on the side: Part 1
Oceanside was a rotting aching wound that Andrew could not get rid of. It festered and scarred on his skin leaving nothing but the nightmares that came along with it. That night when his mother had ordered him to kill Cath he disobeyed her. He knew that he could not look Lena in the eye again if he took away her mother, he could not bear another sin to stain his hands. So he sent them both out to the airport with enough money to start a new life in another country, he wiped out any trace of them making sure that they were both safe from Smurf’s clutches. Lena held him tightly as they were about to board the plane, he willed himself to not cry in front of her as he kissed her forehead one last time.
“Are you not coming with us, Uncle Pope?”
“No. I have a job to take care of, Lena.” That made a pout appear on her lips and Andrew felt the guilt creeping up on his throat, he wished he could go with them but he knew that he was only going to be a danger to them. They needed a new life away from all of this, and he was the reminder of the old life they had to get rid of, he had to take himself out of the picture.
“Daddy’s not coming too?”
“No, he’s busy with his job. But you have your mom, it’ll be more fun with her in Italy. I’ll try to visit when I can.” That was a lie, but it seemed to cheer up Lena who only hugged him tightly.
“I’ll miss you, Uncle Pope.”
“I’ll miss you too, Lena.”
As he watched them walk away he too had to disappear. Andrew gathered all the money he had stashed and saved up. Threw away all the things that Smurf might have tapped to locate him and packed all the necessities as he drove to Pittsburgh. He had memorized one number and an address that was given to him years ago like a forgotten promise. Andrew didn’t believe in promises anymore but he held this one tight to his chest as he sent one message from his new burner phone.
‘Jack, this is Andrew. I know that you do not want to see me but I am going to the address that you left me. I am heading to Pittsburgh at the moment and I just want to see you.’ He sent the message before he could delete it, taking a deep breath as he gripped the steering wheel of his car. Jack was his half brother whom he met when he was 12, he’s a few years older than him and was in a better family than Andrew was in.
Their mother was in a pinch when she was pregnant with Jack and she was supposed to abort him but her previous partner Jack’s dad really wanted a son although he knows that Smurf won’t be someone permanent. Jack’s dad paid for all the expenses that Smurf needed. When she gave birth to him she immediately fled taking the money that Jack’s dad had paid her leaving her firstborn to his father.
Jack knew who his biological mother was, he had seen pictures of her but he didn’t really want to find her. It was only a coincidence when he found Andrew and Julia in a scuffle and someone had broken Andrew’s skateboard. The look of fury in Andrew’s face was unmistakeable, it was similar to his own that Jack thought he was looking through a mirror, a younger mirror that is. He helped them get out of trouble as Jack put two and two together, they were his half-siblings. Jack became Andrew and Julia’s safe space, often hanging out in his house when they had the time and Jack was there to indulge them. Being an only child had made him quite lonely with just him and his dad in the house so spoiling his brother and sister was a dream come true.
They kept seeing him less when Smurf had found out, wanting her kids away from someone that can influence them. At 15 that was the last time Andrew and Julia saw Jack, he came his way to go to their school to say goodbye, he was heading to Pittsburgh to pursue university then med school and he and his dad were moving there. Jack left his number and his address to Julia and Andrew telling them to call or text him to keep in contact or if they ever need anything and that his house was always open if they want to live with him someday. Now Andrew was older and barely hanging on a lifeline, he hoped that Jack could still remember him, even if he didn’t Andrew just wanted to see him.
Pittsburgh had a laid back ambiance than the fast-paced lifestyle in Oceanside, people were friendlier to him than most perhaps it was the comfort of being new to this place. In Oceanside he was Pope Cody in Pittsburgh he’s just Andrew, someone that he rarely had been. It was the afternoon when he reached Jack’s place, Andrew took a moment to admire Jack’s house with its gabled roof and brick walls. It looked nicer than he thought it would be and it pained him to realize that this what could have welcomed him and Julia if he only took the courage to run away with her.
He stood for a few moments of silent contemplation before he knocked on the door, for a while he thought that he’d been in the wrong house, that Jack didn’t even live here anymore. The door opened as a familiar face greeted him, only it was older, wearier, but still held the same smile that he remembered all those years. Jack stared at Andrew like he was an apparition Andrew only stood there and stared back at him like it could bridge the years that had passed before them.
“Come on in, we have so much to talk about.” Jack clasped his hand on Andrew’s shoulder as he ushered the man inside. The inside of Jack’s house is as nice as the outside, with wooden floors and a rustic type of vibe, there were picture frames scattered around Jack’s living room. They were like stories of Jack’s life and the people that surrounded him, it was a life that he could have been a part of. Andrew sat at the sofa as Jack brought snacks and drinks for him to share, this made Andrew remember all those times where he and Julia would hang out in Jack’s house and the man would spoil them with food that they have never eaten before.
“It’s been so long, I almost forgot how much we look alike. Although you are taller than me.” Jack chuckled asAndrew only nodded in reply.
“So how’s Julia doing, why isn’t she with you? I remember that you two were inseparable.” Andrew stilled, eyes darting down at the table willing himself to relax his body and not tremble from the reminder of his loss, of their loss.
The next few months living with Jack had been a slow adjustment for Andrew. They ought to catch up on all the years that they have missed thus the revelations unfolding of their lives. Jack told him about university days, then med school and his deployment from the military where he met his late wife, and then the tragedy that happened when he lost his leg and had to relearn how to live differently with his disability. How his friend Robby had to pull him back from ending his life when he lost his wife to cancer and how they rekindled the light that was always there and now he was married to him. The place that Jack was living alone for years when his wife passed is now shared together with Robby.
In exchange Andrew told him about the grief that he wanted to forget, how he and Julia were introduced to the family business that made him do unspeakable things, about dear Julia who convinced him to run away with her and the crestfallen look on her face when he refused to leave. Andrew told him about the crimes he had committed and the way he had followed it blindly just to please his mother, on how he couldn’t even properly grieve Julia’s death because he was in prison. All the drugs that his mother had fed into his system without him knowing and the way that his brothers Craig, Derran, and Baz had always treated him so differently like he wasn’t a person but an animal to be tamed. About Cath and Lena and how he had sent them away so they could start a new life, and now he was here hoping on an old promise.
Jack and his husband had a routine that Andrew had memorized, the couple worked at opposite shifts as attendings but they always coordinate their day offs to plan activities that they often involve Andrew in. The couple were blissfully domestic and Andrew ached for that kind of connection too, yet he knew that was quite impossible. Instead he worked on himself to be better, he started seeing the therapist that Jack and Robby recommended and was on meds that made the jumbled thoughts in his head steady not like the random drugs that Smurf would feed him. He’s now working as a mechanic in a repair shop and it was going well, his co-workers didn’t mind his silence and his poor attempt to start conversations, they’d share stories with him and little by little he felt a little less of a stranger and more of a friend.
Dennis had only driven tractors and the occasional truck his father had let him drive when his brothers weren’t around, so when Trinity made him pick up groceries during his day off and made him drive her car, Dennis ended up with a flat tire and a broken engine. He didn’t know what had caused it but now he was walking around trying to find a repair shop to fix Trinity’s car. Dennis finally spotted a small repair shop just besides a bakery, maybe he could hang there while the car is getting fixed. The smell of old oil and diesel made his nose scrunch unconsciously, it was different from the smell of the hospital although it had reminded him of his father who taught him how to fix motorcycles and tinker with things.
“Hello, are you open?” That was a stupid question but there was no one around when he entered the place. At the sound of his voice one of the workers appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
“Yes we are open, sir. What do you need?” The man asked, wiping his hands which were stained in oil from the car that they were currently fixing.
“Uhh, my car’s engine broke and it also has a flat tire, it's parked a couple of minutes from here.”
“Alright sir, can you lead us to your car so we could tow it here. Andrew will check the engine and the tire to see how bad the damage is while we call the tow shop.”
“Yeah, sure. That’s no problem.”
The man whom they called Andrew was a muscled guy that Dennis found pretty intimidating, he had a build that Dennis could only compare to the boxers he and Trinity would sometimes watch cause his roommate wanted to see men beat each other up. But when Dennis finally saw Andrew’s face it's like he’s seeing an apparition, the similarities are too uncanny besides from the fact that he looks younger and has auburn curls instead of the grey he was used to seeing this man completely looks like the night shift attending, Jack Abbot.
Andrew followed Dennis quietly towards his car, it was obvious that the man wasn’t the chatty type so Dennis skipped the small talk and just let the man do his work. Dennis just stood on the sidewalk like an idiot as he stared at Andrew, his parents must be disappointed if they knew that Dennis was checking a man out who looks exactly like his chief attending, watching at how Andrew’s muscles bulges and strains as he checks the tires and engine.
“Do you have any idea what caused this?” Andrew’s voice was rougher and a bit raspy like he rarely uses it, Dennis could only nod as an answer gulping as he scrambles to get his bearings, he was already a doctor so speaking to a man can’t be too hard, right?
“Nope, I was just driving and then that happened. I was about to go and buy some groceries so this is really a hassle.” Dennis would probably have to take the bus while carrying a ton of grocery bags, it's the only option he has since he doesn’t own a car.
“If you’re fine with it I could help you transport your groceries.” Andrew offered, he didn’t know why it came out of him easily. He doesn't just offer random people a ride but looking at Dennis he really doesn’t mind it. The customer would probably find it weird but his offer was genuine. He knew how shitty public transports were, especially hygienic-wise and the fact that Dennis would have to carry multiple bags, it sounded uncomfortable.
“That’s really nice, but you don’t have to. I can just take the bus and you have work so-”
“I’ll be off in an hour if you can wait. And I insist, I just want to help but if you find it uncomfortable I can back off.” He was sweet, it’s a little surprising and Dennis should have been worried about stranger danger like Trinity said but he couldn’t help but smile at the offer.
“I’m not uncomfortable at all, I appreciate the offer. If it's not a bother I’d like the help, I’ll be quick I promise.” Maybe he was too eager, or maybe he just wanted to get over with groceries, perhaps both.
“It’s fine, you can take your time. The damage on your car is only minor, you can fetch it tomorrow.”
“Oh thank God, I will still get an earful from Trin but at least it's not that bad.” Dennis sighed in relief as they started walking back to the shop. “Uhm I’ll just be in the bakery besides the shop, I'll wait for you there. Thank you so much for the help by the way, I can pay you for the lift.”
“No need, I just like to help. See you later, Dennis.” Dennis had to stop himself from reacting like an idiot, the way his name rolled off on Andrew’s lips felt just right that he felt like a pervert for even thinking of it.
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