Patterns	  Patterns

 by Laura Lee aka Snowee

  

 Author's website: http://snowee.50megs.com

 Disclaimer: They belong to Alliance, but I borrowed a lot for Ray's sake.

 Author's Notes: Thanks to Lorraine and Adrienne for their Italian
translation assistance, Tim for beta

 Story Notes: See additional information at
http://snowee.50megs.com/ds/notes.htm

 

 

 Janice asked "One has to wonder a bit about the 'history' they have that
would make Zuko be a bit polite to Ray - what little we are told about it,
Zuko sounds like a bully and this line kinda surprises me. Comments
anyone?" in reference to the lines: "You know, it just blows my mind, how
one guy can pull off a heist of this magnitude!" "You know, I'm ignoring
your tone because we have a history. But don't push it. This may seem
penny-ante to you, Vecchio, but somebody did commit a crime here." 
"Raimondo Vecchio!" the shrill voice of Rosa Vecchio rang through the
house. 

 Ray froze. He thought he'd heard the windows rattle and as he stood in
the open doorway, he wondered if he ran for it, would he be safe? He heard
a footstep behind him and knew that, while he could outrun his mother, he
wouldn't want to return home if he did. He turned slowly, shoving the
Bulls tickets deep into his pocket as he did. "Ma, I'm just going out with
a couple of friends." 

 "You most certainly are not!" the diminutive woman said. "You haven't
cleaned up the mess in the backyard. Where is your brother?" 

 "I don't know, Ma," Ray replied. 

 "Benito!" the voice shrieked again before she looked at her son, her eyes
filled with anger. "You and your brother will clean up that mess and
apologize to the neighbors immediatamente." 

 Ray bowed his head. "Yes, Ma," he replied and walked out the front door,
closing it behind him as his mother ascended the stairs in search of her
older son. 

 As he stood on the step, he glanced up and saw Benito pull up to the curb
in a new car. Well, it wasn't new. It was huge, green, and 6 years old,
but he'd never seen Ben in it before. It clanged and shook and made the
most horrible noises as it spouted dark smoke from the back, but when the
older boy jumped from the car and held his arms up in victory, Ray
grinned. "Isn't it beautiful?" 

 Ray stepped tentatively toward the driveway. "It's the ugliest thing I've
ever seen, Benny." 

 "What?! She's a Buick Riviera! Don't say that about her." his brother
replied. "She just needs a little work, that's all." 

 "A little?" Ray asked, chuckling. "You'll never get those dents out," he
began as he walked around the car. "The tailpipe is hanging by a coat
hanger?" he said incredulous, then walked around to the drivers side.
"Whoa! Look at that side. The whole side looks like it's been hit by a
truck!" 

 "Yeah," Ben continued, "but there's not a spot of rust and she runs."
Benito wrapped an arm around his brother and laughed. "She'll be beautiful
in no time." 

 Ray pulled away. "Yeah, if you get it past Ma. That's not going to be
easy. She's still pretty mad at us about the catapult." 

 Benito waved a hand. "Oh, she'll cool down." 

 "She wants us to apologize to the neighbors," Ray added with disgust. 

 Ben wouldn't be deterred from his mood. "Aw, we'll get it over with and
still have time to make the game," he replied. 

 Ray shrugged. "We have to go in back and clean up the mess, too." 

 Benito's smile faltered. "Now?" 

 Ray nodded. "Maybe we should tell her about the game. Tell her we'll do
it after we go." 

 Ben frowned. "We can't, Ray. If we do that we gotta tell her where we got
the tickets and why." 

 "I know, Benny, but I don't want to miss the game just because we have to
clean up." 

 Ben glanced at his watch. "We can make it. We'll just hide the stuff, get
rid of it tomorrow. We'll make it to the game and Ma'll be none the
wiser." 

 Ray agreed and the two set out. When Ma finally took a moment to look in
the backyard, she saw her two sons handling their mess. She smiled to
herself and turned back to the kitchen. 

 Maria stood beside the stove, stirring a pot of bubbling red liquid as
Francesca took the ingredients from the refrigerator. The younger one
skipped about the room and grabbed a large knife from the knife rack and
headed toward the cutting board. Rosa hurried beside her younger daughter
and took the knife. "Not yet, bambino. You get the ground beef out for
your sister." Rosa took the knife and deftly chopped the green onions into
perfect pieces. 

 "I'm not a bambino," Francesca said quickly, but was interrupted
immediately by her sister. 

 "I've got the beef, Ma. Frannie, get me the Oregano," Maria ordered in
response. 

 "I don't want to," Frannie said as she moved and sat on the table. Ma
threw her a look of daggers as Francesca jumped down and sat on a chair. 

 "One little thing. One little thing I ask you and you can't even do
that," Maria said, frustrated. 

 "I don't want to run around the kitchen getting your spices," Frannie
responded, which sent the two sisters into simultaneous bouts of
temperamental expletives. While neither fought in Italian, their voices
took on an accent apparently picked up from their mother and used when
angry. 

 "Enough!" Rosa snapped, dropping the knife with a clang. "Why do the two
of you have to fight so much. Your brothers, I can't even separate, but
you two are at each other's..." Rosa let out a breath and stormed from the
kitchen. 

 It was quiet a moment before Francesca spoke. "See what you did?" 

 "What I did? What about you?" The accusation sent the two into verbal
assault mode, and Rosa moved upstairs so she wouldn't have to listen. 

 Ma Vecchio was tired. She listened to her girls fight all day, but that
wasn't her concern. Benito had been running with a bad crowd. He was 21,
so stopping him would be next to impossible. As if that weren't enough
trouble, Raimondo adored Benito. What if Ray began to follow the same
crowd as Benito? What would she do when she heard that both of her sons
were in jail, or worse?  

 Ray approached the gates to the fenced area where Benito played
basketball and watched as Frankie Zuko passed him. Ray frowned Frankie,
having never forgiven the boy or himself for what had happened in grade
school. He'd let Zuko bully several kids, beating one to a pulp, but Ray
was too insecure to step in. 

 Frankie gave Ray a challenging look over his shoulder before breaking
into a jog and crossing the street. 

 "Hey, Benny," Ray said quickly, entering the ball area. 

 Benito grinned and tossed the ball to Ray. The younger brother missed the
ball, turned on his heel, and grabbed at it as it bounced again. Benito
bent his knees and held his hands in front of his chest, beckoning the
ball. "Come on, Ray." 

 Ray kept straight and bounced the ball to Benito. "I don't feel like
playing," Ray offered as explanation. 

 "Oh, just a quick game. I'll spot you a few points," Ben suggested. 

 Ray shook his head and looked across the street to where Frank had
disappeared. "Why do you hang out with him?" he asked, a look of distaste
matching his tone. 

 Benito straightened and shrugged. "I dunno." 

 Ray stepped toward his brother. "He's younger than you, you know. He's a
bully." 

 Ben shrugged again. "Yeah, maybe," Ben replied. "He's got connections
though. Everybody knows his dad." Again the older boy bounced the ball to
his brother. 

 "Everybody knows our dad, too," Ray caught the ball and propped it under
his left arm. 

 Benito chuckled. "Yeah, as a liar, a drunk, and a cheat. Nothing to
aspire to." 

 "You want to be like his dad?" Ray's surprise was emphasized by him
dropping the ball and letting it roll away. 

 "I didn't say that," Benito added, quickly. "I just know the man's got
some real power in this town. Come on, Ray. Imagine what it would be like
to be respected. Who wouldn't want the nicest house, the prettiest wife?" 

 "So you do want that?" 

 "I didn't say that." 

 "Did you?" Ray asked. "Come on, Benny. You don't have to be in The Family
to avoiding ending up like Dad." 

 "You're right," Benito replied. "I was just imagining." Benito picked up
the ball and put it under one arm as he used the other to tossle Ray's
hair before putting an arm around the younger brother.	Ray heard the horn
honking incessantly until he finally crawled out of bed and went to the
window. Opening it, he pulled on a robe and leaned the front half of his
body out. There was Benito, standing behind the open car door, reaching
in. He honked again and looked up at Ray. 

 "Come on, Ray! Let's take her for a spin!" 

 Ray groaned. He didn't want to do this today. He wanted to sleep in. It
had been a long week and now, with the weekend finally here, he planned to
make no plans, to do nothing for two days. Disrobing, he sat on his bed
and picked up the clothes he'd worn the night before. Slipping into the
tailored pants and bright button-up shirt, he went in search of fresh
socks. He heard another honk and waved his hand at the air. "I'm coming,"
he added for emphasis before reaching under his bed for the shoes he'd
kicked there the afternoon before. 

 Still, he couldn't argue with Benito. His elder brother had been working
on the car for months now, carefully banging at the dents and referencing
a book to help him with the internal workings when he wasn't familiar.
While Ben had tinkered with cars as a hobby for years, there were still
certain things he could learn. He'd been trying to get a job at a garage,
but instead was forced to stay in the job as a grocery stocker to earn the
money he wanted. 

 When Ray stepped out the front door, he was surprised by the purr. Benito
had managed to rid the machine of it's shaking and coughing within a
couple weeks, but now she ran smooth and quiet, like a dream. Jumping into
the passenger seat, he watched Ben climb into the driver's seat and slam
it into reverse. 

 "You look terrible, Benny," Ray began as they made their way down the
street. It was true, his hair was ruffled, his face still had a streak of
something thick and dark, and his eyes were bloodshot and swollen. 

 Benito glanced over. "I could say the same about you," he replied.
"What's with those clothes?" 

 "You weren't going to wait for me to shower, were you?" Ray chuckled,
knowing the answer. "How late were you up working on this thing?" 

 "Uh," Ben replied and Ray could fill in the silence. He'd worked through
the night. So close, he must have decided it was more important to finish
than to sleep. "Wasn't it worth it?" 

 Ray smiled and placed his hand on the bone coloured leather seat. It was
definitely worth it. Perhaps it was watching the thing turn from a pile of
well placed bolts into a living machine that made him prejudiced, but he
now agreed with Benito that it was the most beautiful thing he's ever
seen. "She sure is," he said softly. "She sure is." 

 Benito glowed. "Thanks, Ray." He glanced at his brother again and slowly
approached a stop sign before turning onto the main street where all his
friends and enemies could see and envy his ride. Putting his left out the
window and resting his right hand on the steering wheel casually, Benito
looked out the window at the passing store fronts. "You remember cousin
Al?" Ben asked out of the blue. 

 Ray had to think. It took him a moment to remember the man who was,
thought twice removed, related to them. "Yeah, sure." 

 "He told me if I could make this run, he'd give me a job in his garage." 

 "He has a garage?" 

 Benito chuckled. "Of course he does. Told me I could have a shot - if I
could get this old girl in tip top shape." 

 Ray smiled admiringly at his brother. "You sure did that." He wanted to
say more, but couldn't express how proud he was of his brother. Everything
was turning out well. Benito would finally have the job he wanted and a
car he wanted. 

 Coming to a stop light, Benito waved and Ray watched as several young
men, though older than he, approached the car. 

 "Whoa, Benito" and "Nice wheels, Ben!" escaped their lips repeatedly. Ray
smiled and listened to them gush until he looked past someone's shoulder
and saw her. Irene looked gorgeous, as always, as she exited a dress shop
with a friend. He watched as the other girl spoke, then both laughed
heartily. Irene lifted her wrist and looked at her watch, then brushed her
fingers through her hair. She was the most delicate, beautiful creature he
had ever seen, but she was going the wrong direction. 

 Without a word of explanation, Ray jumped from the car and ran across the
street, nearly getting hit. As the car screeched and honked, Ray waved an
apology and Irene turned to see the cause of the commotion. Her friend
turned also when Irene stopped and switched the bag into her other hand.
Ray ran to her and stopped short. Looking into her deep brown eyes, he
didn't know what to say. 

 "Hello," Irene offered, but when she didn't receive a response, she
continued. "This is my cousin, Beth." 

 Ray stuck out his hand. "Uh, nice to meet you," he stumbled. 

 Irene browsed Ray's appearance, then smiled. As soon as Ray noticed it,
he glanced at himself also. "Oh, I was helping my brother with his car,"
he said quickly, motioning toward it while trying to press his shirt
quickly with his other hand. 

 "I see," Irene said, still smiling. "It's a lovely shade of green," she
added, trying to encourage him. 

 Ray put a hand nervously in his pocket and finally let the smile that had
been prodding at his lips escape. "Hey, uh, me and Benny, we're free
tonight. Maybe we could take you ladies out to dinner?" 

 Irene dropped her handbag inside the shopping bag and shifted. "It's
short notice," she said, an apologetic look on her face. 

 Ray's heart sank. His smile faded and he took a step back. "It's ok," he
said quickly, trying to hide his humiliation. "I should go. We are, uh."
Finding himself stuck for a reply, he started to leave. 

 Irene took a couple quick steps and touched his arm. "Maybe if I ask my
father," she said quickly. Ray stopped and she continued. "I'd love to go
if he says it's all right." She paused and turned to Beth. "Beth?" 

 Beth nodded. "Yes," she replied. "I would love to see Chicago at night." 

 Ray didn't notice that the girl had a strong Italian accent. He was too
intent on Irene's tender face.	Ray frowned as he slowly took the pair of
Bulls tickets from Benito's hand. "Where'd you get these?" he asked,
incredulous. 

 "I just did," Benito replied. "Hurry up." 

 Ray didn't move. He kept staring at the tickets. It was the end of the
season, and here he was holding two very real tickets, front row, center
court. It was too good to be true. He looked up at his brother and held
them out. Benito took them back while Ray spoke. "No, really. Where did
you get them?" 

 Benito shrugged. "I got 'em, ok? What is this, the inquisition? I'm not
missing the game so get your shoes on." 

 Ray put on his shoes and bent down to lace them. When he straightened, he
had to run to catch Benito at the door. The two ran out and jumped into
the Riviera. As the car jolted forward after pulling out of the driveway,
Ray rolled up his window and looked at Ben. "I think I'm going to ask
Irene out again." 

 Benito grinned. "Go for it. I think she liked you at dinner last week." 

 "You think so?" Ray asked, imagining her in that beautiful dress she had
worn. 

 "Sure," Ben replied. "You've been sweet on her for years. You should
definitely take her out again." 

 Ray nodded. He was going to do it. He busily worked at convincing his
mind that she would be ecstatic simply by the invitation. His mind was
firmly planted on the subject and as they entered the game, the only thing
on the game was his vision. His mind was elsewhere. 

 The Bulls were often defeated, but Ray and Benito continually hoped for a
comeback. Today they won the game, but Ray didn't care. His mind had
managed to move to the game, but Irene was still in the back of his
thoughts. 

 In a daze he followed his brother to a celebration at the Iceberg Shake
Shack where a group of people were waiting. Ray was still in the car
watching as Benito ran to the group and told them about the game. It took
a moment before the younger brother got out and approached the group. As
he neared, he knew he recognized several members. They were all mob
wannabes who hung around with Zuko in hopes of getting a good word from
his father. Ray was stunned. Was this the crew which Benito sneaked off to
see on a regular basis? He thought it was because they were some drinking
buddies, but he stood in shock behind his brother, barely listening to the
conversation. 

 From behind, a horn honked and Ray spun around. Frank jumped from a brand
new car and ran up to them. He patted Benito's shoulder and chuckled. "You
two use my tickets?" he asked Ben while indicating Ray. 

 Benito glanced at Ray. He could see the disappointment, but quickly
replaced the sullen face with another grin. "Yeah," he said. "Best seats
in the house." 

 "Hey, I only buy the best. Too bad I couldn't go, huh?" Frankie shrugged
and turned to Ray. "Worked out nicely for you, didn't it?" he asked. 

 Ray nodded in a trance. "Uh, Benny? I'm going to go wait in the car," he
said quickly before excusing himself quickly from the crowd. 

 Sitting in the car watching his brother, he began to shake. Frankie was
getting Benito involved in something that was certain to get him killed at
a young age. Benny didn't have the luxury of being the boss or the boss's
son. Who would protect him? 

 'And Irene,' he thought. 'She's Frankie's sister. How can I ever expect
anything when Frankie's her brother? There's not much future for her with
a guy like me.' 

 After several minutes, Benito returned to the car and handed Ray a shake.
"What was that all about? I wanted you to hang out with my friends." He
paused. "You should be glad I'm letting you in." 

 "In? Into that? I don't want to be dead at 25 and I don't want you to be
either." 

 "Oh come on," Benito scoffed. "You worry too much." 

 Ray pleaded the entire ride home for Benito to see his side, to leave
that group before anything bad could happen. Benito didn't listen and, in
the end, he called Ray a stupid kid, kicked him out of the car at the
Vecchio house, and sped away. 

 Ray didn't sleep that night. All he could think about was Benito's
attitude. While Ray thought the elder man was growing up, he now knew his
brother was becoming disrespectful and big headed because of what he was
planning to do with the rest of his short, to be sure, life.  Less than a
week passed before Ray was abruptly awakened by the sounds coming from the
bathroom. When he removed the bed covers, he found himself cold so he put
on slippers and a robe before even looking at the clock. 

 4:17 am. He wouldn't forget the time now. He needed to remember it
forever. Stepping through his doorway, he walked into the bathroom where
he saw a calm Rosa dabbing at a wound on Benito's head. Ray looked at
Benito, who has battered all over, then back to his mother. In her eyes he
saw years of pain, the hurt this caused her, but still she remained calm
as she moved to dab his lip. He didn't know what she was saying, but her
tone was soft and calming. He didn't need to speak Italian to know her
words were those of comfort. 

 Ray was surprised. To see Benito sitting on the edge of the tub bleeding
and bruised, his mind told him Ma should have been screaming Italian and
bringing down the walls. Instead she continued to speak gently and dab. 

 In Ben's left hand, he held a tissue up to his nose. Ray could see the
blood around the edges of his nostrils. After watching the pair for
several seconds, he spoke. "Can I get anything, Ma?" 

 Rosa turned her eyes on her son and it was then that Ray saw the tears in
them. He stepped forward, but she stopped him with a shake of her head. "I
need some bandages from downstairs," she said, handing Ray the cloth in
her hand. 

 "I'll get them," Ray offered, but Rosa simply shook her head and passed
him. Ray stepped toward Benito and stared at the bloodstained cloth.
Benito closed his eyes and Ray put the cloth to a wound he'd noticed on
Ben's ear. "What happened?" 

 "I don't want to talk about it," Benito responded firmly. 

 Ray dabbed more firmly and Benito flinched, grabbed Ray's hand, and took
the cloth to clean up his nose. Rising slowly, Benito made his way to the
mirror and looked over his face and neck. Looking through the tears in his
shirt, Ray could see bloody scabs. He looked at Benito. "Were you with
Zuko and his friends?" 

 Benito grunted. "I said I don't want to talk about it," he said through
gritted teeth in a tone Ray found not at all familiar. 

 Still, Ray didn't back down. "I told you not to hang around with them,
Benny." 

 "You sound like Ma," he snapped. "Go back to bed." 

 Rosa was walking up the stairs when she heard the boys fighting. Her
boys. At least Ray was staying out of trouble for now, but how long could
that last? She couldn't begin to think about the pain in her heart at this
moment. Her husband was off gallivanting and she was here alone to care
for a son who was going along the wrong path, for certain. She stood at
the top of the stairs and held the box of bandages to her chest. She
wanted to let the tears come, the ones ripping at her, but she couldn't
let Benito or Ray see that weakness. She straightened, took a deep breath,
and began walking along the hall. As she neared the door she heard the
sounds that made her heart stop. 

 "Benny!" Ray snapped, then Rosa heard a thud. She rounded the corner to
see Ray squatting beside Benito who was unconscious on the floor. Rosa
grabbed her younger son and with all the strength of a concerned mother,
threw him back and knelt beside Benito. 

 Rosa spouted some Italian, but Ray wasn't sure what she'd said. He hoped
she asked what happened so he told her. "We were talking and... and he
turned white, then he just passed out." Ray paused to get a breath. "He
hit his head on the tub when he went down, Ma," he added, nearly in a
panic. 

 "Call an ambulance!" Rosa replied. 

 Ray turned from the door and saw his two sisters stepping from their
rooms. Hurrying to Francesca first, he told her to go back to bed, then
emphasized it by pushing her back and pulling her door closed. He then
went to Maria and ordered her to bed. "Ma and I will handle it." 

 "No," Maria insisted. 

 "Then stay out of the way," he said before going to the phone in the hall
and dialing.  Maria, Francesca, and Ray rode in the car behind as Rosa
rushed with the ambulance to the hospital. No one said a word. Francesca
was somewhat confused about what was happening. Ma had come back and told
her to put some clothes on only moment after Ray pushed her back into her
bedroom. 

 Rosa wasn't going to take her eyes off her children ever again. She
glanced periodically at her son beside her and daughters through the
rearview mirror. When they arrived at the hospital, Rosa ordered her
children to stay together and wait in the chairs. Ray noticed how cold and
hard they were. Francesca put up her feet and rested her head on Maria's
lap before falling asleep. Ray sat quietly until Maria whispered a
question. 

 "I didn't want to worry Frannie, but she's asleep. What happened?" 

 Ray frowned and let out a breath. "I dunno. He just fainted. He got beat
up." 

 Maria gasped. "Beat up? By who?" 

 "I don't know," Ray reiterated. 

 "Who do you think it might have been?" she asked quietly probing for
details. 

 Ray sighed and considered his options. In the end, he decided not to
point fingers until he knew more. He shook his head and looked down the
hall where Rosa was trying to get the attention of a nurse. 

 Maria rested her head on Ray's shoulder and fell asleep just before Ray
leaned his head onto hers and fell asleep also. 

 Ray was jolted from his sleep much later when he heard a wail come from
the hallway. He leaned forward and saw his mother on her knees and jumped
to his feet. Maria and Francesca woke, dazed, but followed Ray as he ran
down the hall and knelt beside her. She was sobbing uncontrollably as Ray
stood and faced the doctor. "What happened?" 

 The doctor looked at the young man before him, then to the woman on the
floor. "There was internal hemorrhaging," he began. "I'm afraid we
couldn't stop it in time." The man looked sullen, waiting for it to sink
in. Ray thought for a moment. 'In time.' It only meant one thing. 

 "He's...he's..." 

 "I'm afraid he's gone," the doctor said with the coldness of a man who
had told far too many families that their son, daughter, husband, wife...
was gone.  Ray stood before the door to the Zuko residence with darkened
eyes. He pounded hard and was greeted with silence until Irene opened the
door. "Ray!" she said with a smile. "I didn't expect to see you." 

 Ray pushed past Irene. "Where is he?" 

 "Who?" 

 "Frankie." 

 Irene's smile vanished as she grabbed his arm. "What happened?" Irene
felt it. She'd seen that look in this house many times. 

 Ray froze. "I am not going to talk to you about this," he said quickly. 

 Irene didn't let go. "Tell me," she insisted. 

 Ray pulled away and walked out the door. "I'll find him." 

 Irene ran out the door and grabbed him again. "Did something happen to
Benito?" 

 Ray stopped again and looked at her. "What do you know?" 

 Irene swallowed. "It was the Citino's." 

 "What?!" 

 She wrapped her arms around herself. "It was the Citino's, Ray. I heard
Frank. He forbid Benito to go with them. Frank didn't want anything to
happen to Benito." 

 Ray was reeling. "What are you saying?" 

 Irene took a deep breath. "I told Frankie that I really liked you. I told
him I didn't want to see your family get hurt so he forbid Benito to go
with them to rough up the Citino family yesterday." 

 Yesterday. If Ray had managed to stop Benito as soon as he knew what was
happening, he could have saved him. He'd had until yesterday. "Yesterday?"


 "Yesterday they went out there and today the Citino's got together and
came back into our neighbourhood." 

 "The Citino's beat him up?" 

 "Yes." 

 "The Citino's killed him?" 

 Irene's eyes widened. "Killed? No. Frankie said he got out ok. Frank said
he went home and..." 

 "He was still bleeding. He bled inside until ... until... he died at the
hospital." 

 Irene gasped and put her hand over her mouth. "Oh, Ray, I'm so sorry." 

 "It's Frankie's fault," Ray stated. 

 "No, no it isn't," she insisted. "Frankie didn't let him go. Frankie
didn't make him fight today when the Citino's came back." 

 Ray made a sound between a grunt and a sigh. Irene took him in her arms.
"It's going to be ok, Ray." 

 Ray sniffled and tried not to cry, but responding in words, he knew,
would draw the tears out so he just put his arms around her and held her
close.	It wasn't until the next evening that Ray heard the news. He
played the times in his head from the evening before to help himself make
sense. He had to make sense of everything for his own peace of mind. 

 Leaving Irene after midnight when Frank returned home, the two said
nothing. Ray couldn't face Frank, still confused about his feelings toward
the other boy. Ray had grown up learning to hate Frankie for his tactics
of bullying and manipulation. He couldn't change his feelings about that
so quickly. 

 Everything after that had happened within hours. As soon as Irene told
Frankie about Benito, Frank had put out a contract on Guitano, the man
responsible for Benito's injuries. It took no time at all before one of
his father's men picked up the contract and Guitano was dead. 

 Ray's first feeling was satisfaction at the death, but he was immediately
reminded of reality. This would only continue. There would be more and
more deaths. Benny wasn't the beginning and he wouldn't be the last.  Once
ready to deal with their feelings, the family went through Benito's
belongings, keeping treasures for rembrance. Ray wanted that Buick
Riviera, but Ma was in such a state of pain at the sight of it, they
decided it would be best to sell the vehicle. 

 Ray never told Angie why he wanted a green 1971 Buick Riviera. She would
never understand. After a few years, he avoided mentioning his brother, a
way to keep his heart from breaking all over again. It wasn't until nearly
20 years after his brother's death that he found another brother. It took
him little time to warm up to the man he would give Benito's nickname, but
worth the years of waiting. He never told Constable Benton Fraser where
the nickname Benny came from. It was easier for Ray to not let him know. 

 The End 

End Patterns by Laura Lee aka Snowee: alaskanrose515@hotmail.com

Author and story notes above.