Chapter Fourteen

Dead Man's Party

Tony leaned on the wall of the waiting area outside Walker HQ's medical section, it was designed due to the chain having some questionable medical facilities. This was restricted to high-value Walker personnel only, otherwise it was part of the medical division to help the chain improve its healthcare system. Tam sat on a chair beside him, her thumbs twirling as they both waited for any news.

"You think we'll find out anything?" Tam asked him again

"Nope" Tony answered again, he was wondering if he was going to lose count soon of how many times he had to say that, he also thought maybe he had a stroke and this is all he can remember and he's actually in the hospital. It was a bit of a whirlwind he was woken at two-thirty in the morning and informed that Mr. Walker was starting to fade, the machines were keeping him comfortable at this point, he was becoming unresponsive and the end was maybe finally here it had been a possibility over the last few days but this one from his gut felt like it was near.

He got here as soon as he could, he encountered Tam who was dressed in her PJs and waiting there, he assumed Emmett and Thomas were in the room. Given his clearance and his relationship with Mr. Walker, he could have walked in, but he said his goodbyes a while ago and also had his marching orders. This time right now was more for Thomas, Tam nudged him and pointed to the plate with two coffees on it, he got off the wall walked over grabbed his cup, and started to drink it, the heat didn't bother him. He just wanted black anyway.

Tony grew up as an average kid in Chicago, he went to school with Thomas they met in second grade, people were intimidated by the fact he was in school, the rich kid could have gone to a very expensive school and never had to darken the halls of Chicago public, but his mother and father decided it was better for him to grow up as normal as possible, and also understand his status does not always allow him advantage, and to break bread with those below him, or so his father told Tony. Even at seven Tony was not one to be intimidated and talked to Thomas, he was playing with some super-hero figure and asked if he wanted to play with him.

From there they were almost inseparable when the time came for Thomas to go to the nice schools for high school. Tony still hung with him, he often protected him from bullies and other people who may have eyes for messing with Thomas. This was not out of keeping his meal ticket, but while other people were intimidated by Tony's directness or devil-may-care attitude, Thomas let him be him and never treated him differently. When they graduated Tony elected to go into what was the military, he felt it was more to do good for the world than anything. It was mostly disaster relief and also helping rebuild a little outside the chain.

The few big skirmishes he had he handled with ease, he was given special training and after his six years walked away, his skills sharpened but his personality and attitude unchanged he returned to the familiar. By then Thomas had graduated college and was now going to be moved up the ladder.

Much like in the past, Tony stood beside him. He joined him in the days of being a P.A. of running around with mail carts to other places, they diverged again when Thomas moved up. Tony moved to join the Walker security force. He paid his dues there and soon Mr. Walker asked him to head up his and Thomas's private security. He handled the stupid little things. He also met Tam at this point, like Thomas he welcomed her into their small little circle and also like Thomas became a fierce protector, he would take her home at night when they worked late or just came home from something, he made sure if he was not there an escort or someone discreet would follow her home just in case. She was attractive, the streets of Chicago can at times be a bad place for a woman like her.

Now he sat here with her, she reacted to the hot coffee she ordered not liking how hot it was, and him gulping it down like his days in the army. She looked worried, maybe he should feel more worried, he did not know how to deal with the death of someone close to him. In his mind, you came and went and that was just how it was. He found his thoughts already turning like a page in a book to the next chapter of his work life. A notification came on his PD he slipped up a device and read it, it was a notification of what he and Mr. Walker talked about a few days ago.

"Everything okay?" Tam piped up, he looked over at her and nodded "Is it news?"

"No, it's just some work notes."

Tam nodded at that "So, you gonna be Thomas's security guard again... officially? Move to L.A. and leave me here?"

Tony did not like that tone but he also was not one to beat around a bush "Yeah. but just for a little bit, we'll be back here before you know it" he assured her.

Tam nodded and sipped the coffee happy it finally tasted drinkable "Will my quiet escorts home at night stop?" Tony looked at her with some surprise "I've known since you stopped taking me home, also for your peace of mind I started carrying a taser that next day." She confirmed to him. "For what it's worth, I was always grateful, I sent the guy who followed me a gift every Christmas from a secret Santa he didn't know I made up."

Tony gave a partial smile "That won't change, since you will be under Emmett expect a bit more in fact."

Tam nodded at that studying her "A lot is about to change isn't it?" She thought aloud "I don’t know if we are ready for this..."

"We don't have a choice, we have to be ready." He said to her "But, first and most important is"

"Be there for our friend" Tam finished for him and he just nodded "You've seen a lot of death haven't you?'

He thought about it for a moment and sipped his black coffee finishing it "I...saw my share, I haven't lost my parents like you" He caught himself for a moment and she looked at him "Well, I am losing like a close uncle right now."

"That's the one thing Thomas never had to face, he lost his mom I know, but he had a parent, you have yours...suddenly losing them is...it guts you Tony, he's about to get that second stab and..."

"We will be there for him." He reassured her, "Just like how he was when he met you, and how I'm doing things." He comforted her

Tam looked down at the cup pondering the words "I know we will, Just..."

Tony finally sat next to her and sat back putting one leg over the other and resting against the back "Just what?"

"I hate seeing my friends, well him and you hurt"

With that suddenly the medical area got a lot more hectic runs of nurses were moving at a speed faster than physics thought could allow around and doctors scrambled into the private area, Tony stood up he looked the area around, he did not expect anyone to be here to start a fight but his instincts kicked in, he put his hand on the butt of his concealed gun ready to draw, Tam looked around seeing the sudden busy nature.

"I think, we're gonna need to go in soon," Tony answered within a few minutes, Mr. Walker's doctor walked up to Tam and Tony, and they received the dreaded message: Mr. Walker had passed away. Tony took a moment and lowered his head, he reached over to Tam and pulled her close, not cause of him but because he knew she needed a shoulder to cry on, she needed to get it out of her system.

The doctor excused himself and they both knew it and Tony wanted to make sure that she had all the time she needed before they had to do what people as close as they are to one another do. Fifteen minutes passed and Tam had collected herself and used the wipe Tony gave her to clean her makeup, up a little bit. Emmett walked out to them a moment later. Tony instantly straightened up.

"He went as peacefully as he could, Thomas is still in there, he's been sitting silently since it happened," Emmett explained.

"I'm gonna go sit with him," Tam said and Emmett nodded to her as she walked off.

"You ready for this son?" Emmett asked him

Tony pulled out his PD and threw him some information "I already have the security detail for a mile away at the funeral per Mr. Walker's wishes, I also spoke to our media division and they will not release information for about twenty-four hours, give him some time..us time to grieve. I also starting tomorrow will have people checking on the construction of Xanadu and making sure no surprises wait. I also contacted your security team and told them to move to class one, I said that to all security teams." He explained. "Thomas is now at least for security the head of the company and will have the security I hand-picked myself surround him at a respectable distance as he...mourns."

Emmett listened to him and nodded "Good job, go be with your friend...as a friend..." Emmett cautioned him "You walk a fine line, don't forget it."

Tony nodded to him and relaxed a little as he walked away, he put his hands in his pockets and walked down the hallway, he saw Thomas hunched over in the chair crying as Tam sat beside him and comforted him, he put on his indifferent smile and leaned against the wall. "Hey, man." He said his voice was as always relaxed and friendly.

Thomas looked up, he looked rocked to the core, just as Tam said while he always put on a laid-back persona right now all he wanted to do was kill anything and everything to bring his friend's father back. Travel to the pearly gates and grab Saint Peter by the collar and tell him "Not now" maybe with a gun to his head, he was not sure how you'd intimidate an angel, much less the guy who when his number would come due would remember him and probably send him down to the underworld, assuming he did not take the direct route for some reason. He walked over and sat next to him, again landing in the chair like he was about to kick back in a cloud.

"I..." was all he could get out

"I know man, I know" Tony responded "We got you, man, don't forget that."

They all sat in silence at that point, Thomas was trying to keep himself together and the other two at this point just sat with him.