As soon as Anti got far enough away from the convenience store and Jackie, he slowed down a tad as to conserve his strength to get to Schneep's office. The bullet wound in his abdomen wasn't too bad but it didn't just tickle. Luckily, it seemed that the robber was a terrible shot and missed anything vital.

There were some people that stared at him with worry as he held his gut but he wasn't suspicious enough that they noticed his posture whilst walking. Perhaps they just thought he was drunk? 

When he came up to the doctor's office, he noticed something a bit peculiar about the building. It looked just a little off to just be a doctor's office. Sure, it was adapted into being one  but it still rubbed a little wrong. It was attached to other buildings on either side of it and Anti could see windows at the bottom that said there was a basement area and he could just barely see that there was a light on down there.

'Perhaps that's his private office down there?' he wondered.

Wrinkling his nose he finally gave in and walked up the small ramp to get to the door. Through a small window, he could see a few people inside waiting as well but he hoped the good Doctor would see him first. If not, he'd wait.

Anti walked in holding his stomach as if he just felt sick, hiding the blood expertly. He walked up to the secretary who was typing something up on her computer, seemingly busy. He coughed a little to get her attention, "Uh . . .excuse me but is Henrik available? I really need to talk to him about something."

"Hm" the lady looked him up and down and almost snuffed, "Doctor Schneeplestein is a bit busy at the moment taking care of other patients. If there is something wrong or you feel sick, I'm going to have to have you fill this form out" she handed him a long-winded form with tons of information he'd have to fill out, "Or you can come back later when it's less busy."

Anti swallowed, "Mam, I'm sorry, but it's pretty important. I'm his. . . b̷r̴o̴t̴h̴e̴r̷, you see." he hated using that card but it was necessary at the moment, "I really need to see him. Could you just let him know I'm here?"

"Well I figured you were related" The woman scoffed but caved in, "You look a lot like him just like that Jackie brat. Okay, okay, sweetheart. You just go on over there and take a seat and I'll let him know you're here. . .uh. What's your name again, hon?"

 "Um . . . Anti. My name is Anti" he shifted uncomfortably as he quietly said his name but she didn't seem affected and had him go sit and wait. There weren't very many spaces to sit but he chose one on the other side of the kid's area nearest the door to the patient rooms. 

Playing with toys in the kids area was a little boy that looked way too familiar and then he realized why very quickly.

He looked around just to be sure but he didn't see his mother or sister around. Little Sammy was too busy with his toys, too, to notice him. Anti figured his mother was with his sister getting checked over by the Doc.

'Wonder what's wrong? Why come back to town after all this time, especially to see Henrik, just because her kid is sick?' but Anti got to thinking, 'Then again, maybe that's not the only reason? I wonder if Chase knows they're in town? Is that why he got drunk the other day?'

Before he could wonder further, the door to the patient rooms hallway opened. Sammy didn't seem to notice but Henrik peered quietly out, locking eyes with Anti.

He didn't look pleased but made a 'come hither' motion for him to follow. Biting his lip, Anti stood up and followed the doctor. He didn't say anything but quickly let him to an empty room, shutting the door behind them.

"Vhat are you doing here!? Vhat happened? You'd never come to my office like zhis" he glared him down  suspiciously, "I saw the news about something at the local convenience store and a robbery gone wrong. Don't tell me-"

"Hold on, Doc, before you start accusing me" he chuckled, "I was there but I wasn't the robber. Jackie'll be here in a bit and he'll vouch for me. The uh . . .robber guy shot at me"

He looked even more upset, "Vhat!? Where is it!? Let me see, you imbecile!!"

Anti carefully took his hand off the bullet wound and blood oozed out from the hole in his hoodie, "Think you can help me, doc? It's starting to r̸e̸a̷l̵l̸y̶ ̵h̵u̷r̴t̸ now."

Henrik pinched the bridge of his nose, "Zhat is because the adrenaline from the incident is wearing off. You are a trouble magnet, you know? If you're not causing trouble, you are IN trouble!" he sighed, "I'll be back in a snap. We need to get hat bullet out first and zhen patch you up. Don't touch it"

Anti made a face but nodded as the doc left the room for a moment.

-888888888888888888888888888-

Chase had had it. He had enough. He had wallowed in self-pity, guilt and remorse long enough and he was going to do it.

He was in his car driving around the city for who knows how long convincing himself and trying to motivate himself into going to that house. But he was so scared. What if he said something he'd regret like what he said about Anti? What if his kids hated him now? What if Stacey told them a bunch of shit about him?

He was terrified but he HAD to know. He had to see them again.

He didn't know why he said those things about Anti. He really shouldn't have but he was so so angry in that moment. He wanted to hurt someone for not letting him hurt himself.

He regretted so much. He didn't blame Stacey for leaving.

Chase made up his mind and with a blank mind, he drove to his old house and parked in the driveway. 

'Doesn't look like they're here right now' he mused, 'But they have been. I don't know why she came back but she did. She's been living with her sister since but still kept this house.'

It didn't really make a whole lot of sense but he shoved all logic aside and just sat there waiting. He'd just wait until they got home.

Chase knew it was a weird thing to do but he couldn't bring himself to care. She'd never answer his phone call and she'd probably run if he got into contact with her beforehand. This was the only way.

-88888888888888888888888888-

"So I noticed Sammy in the waiting room" Anti tried making conversation while Henrik was busy taking out the bullet. Anti had been through a lot of pain so it didn't hurt too bad but then again, Henrik did numb the area and give him some pain killers. He felt pretty good at the moment and talkative.

"Yes, yes. You noticed correctly" The doc pulled out the bullet and started to clean him up.

"I figure Stacey and the other b̷r̷a̸t̴ are here then?"

He nodded.

Anti groaned a little, "Come on, doc, ya gotta give me something here. ̶I̴'̷m̶ ̸c̴u̷r̶i̶o̴u̸s̴"

Henrik started to stitch the wound, ignoring the occasional wince from his patient, "I thought you didn't care about zhe brats?" but before Anti could argue anything, Henrik continued, "Although all of us knows zhat is a lie. Don't argue." he chuckled but sighed, "Little Kallie is just a little sick."

"Why did Stacey come to you, though? Why take a flight here for a sick kid?"

"She knows she can trust me. I vould never tell Chase she was around. Tis better if he didn't know, you know? And you better not tell him, either, Anti"

"̷I̶ ̴w̶o̷n̸'̵t̵,̵ ̸I̷ ̵w̶o̶n̵'̷t̵"̵ he wasn't stupid. They all knew Chase might lose his mind otherwise, "But why was she here in town to begin with? I thought she moved in with her sister in the Netherlands? Wouldn't it be easier on Kallie to go to a doctor there then to go through an airport and plane ride?"

Henrik shrugged, "Kallie's little cold is not the only reason. Stacey has come and gone back and forth since Chase has been gone. I told her Chase was back, though, so she's probably going to leave again tonight."

"Hm" Anti hummed, "For the record, I don't hate those kids, you know. I-"

"I know, I know, Anti. I know." he pat his shoulder and suddenly Anti could feel the grief from the doc in a strong wave. But as soon as it appeared, it was gone. But that worried Anti.

"You alright, Doc?" he'd never ask that unless it was important, "I know we've had our differences before but. . .  you seem a bit off today. . . .  want to . . .talk abo-"

"No." The doctor interrupted him, "Do not fuss, Anti. It's none of your concern. Vhere is Jackie by the way? He should be here by-"

There was a knock on the door and the secretary's voice sounded on the other side, "Dr. Schneeplestein, you have another brother here to talk to. Should I let him in?"

He coughed out a bit, "Yes, yes. Let him in. Thank you, Sandra!"

The door opened and Jackie popped in in full uniform as always, "Hey! Before you ask, Schneep, it wasn't Anti's fault this time!"

"I know" Henrik waved it off, "He von't tell me yet but I presumed it was something to do about zhe robbery I heard about"

"Yeah, it was so amazing-!"

"̸S̶h̵u̸t̸ ̵u̸p̵,̵ ̷J̸a̵c̵k̸i̸e̶!̸"̶ ̴he started to glitch out slightly.

"Anti was so brave and selfless for once!"

"Jackie, I swear to god, I̶ ̴w̷i̶l̵l̴ ̵g̶u̷t̴ ̴y̴o̸u̶!̷"̸ ̴But his threats went unnoticed.

"He saved a little girl from being shot." Jackie gave him a smug look, "Took the bullet himself"

Anti glared at him but Henrik was genuinely surprised at the news, "Really?" he glanced over at Anti who was pouting now like a child, "Anti, vhy would you be ashamed in zhis? It's a good thing you did"

He looked away, "I . . . . it doesn't matter. Forget it." he sat up but cringed as he did so and Henrik shoved him back down on the patient bed, "Don't get up so quickly! You vill rest here for a few until I say so! Jackie, you vill watch him?"

"Sure thing, doc" he saluted but Anti wasn't pleased.

"Wait, what? A few what? Schneep, a few w̵h̸a̵t̶?̸ A few minutes?"

Before Henrik shut the door, he smirked at the glitch, "Hours"

"̵W̷a̵i̵t̸!̸ ̷Hold on a sec!" but Henrik closed the door and Jackie forced him down again.

"Don't make me get out Marvin's handcuffs, man. Just chill out. You deserve it."

Anti immediately gave in and plopped back down on the bed. It was a few moments of silence but Anti was still talkative from the painkiller, "Did you see Sammy out there in the waiting room?"

"I saw them all as they left. They're growing up fast, huh? You haven't seen them in a few years."

Anti nodded, "How old are they now? Not that I care"

"Shut up, you care" Jackie shoved his shoulder lightly with a small laugh, "They turn six tomorrow."

"Hm"

"If it wasn't for you-"

"None of that. S̴h̴u̸t̴ ̸t̷h̵e̵ ̸f̸o̶o̷k̵ ̷u̷p̸.̶ So I'm guessing everyone but Chase knows that Stacey comes to visit every now and then? Not even I realized that"

"Well you do tend to keep to yourself most of the time. It's no surprise you didn't know. And actually it's only me and Henrik that know. She made us swear not to tell anyone else. Doctor-patient confidentiality, you know"

"But why let y̵o̷u̸ ̸know?"

"I gave her a special alarm." his eyes went downcast, "Honestly, I'm worried. With Chase around lately, it's a bit . . . inconvenient for her. I let her know Chase was back but Henrik told her first."

"Yeah" Anti bit his lip, "Why do you think he did it?"

Jackie suddenly looked uncomfortable, which was rare, but took a breathe, "The driveby, you mean?"

Anti nodded.

"I don't know, man. Love can drive you mad, I guess." he shrugged, "Chase's career was tanking, shit in the family was happening. . . .  disagreements rose and Chase started drinking. Honestly, I don't blame Stacey for leaving. I think she made the right move. If he was able to do what he did to total strangers then who's to say what he could have done to those kids or her?"

Anti nodded, "What do you think of him because of it? I've never asked, I guess. After what happened. You never shoved him to the police"

He snorted, "Well, for one, we're egos of Sean. If someone who looked way too similar to Sean and had the same fingerprints as him went to PRISON, it wouldn't look good for him. As for what I think of him, I'm not sure. He's been gone for a couple of years and then suddenly appears out of nowhere now."

Anti cringed.

"Jameson told me about what happened the other day. Don't think too much on it. Chase DOES care about you, Anti. Never think otherwise. Chase is just still in a bad place. Like you were a few years ago, I guess. . . ." he smiled, "And then the party happened"

"Can we stop talking about that stupid fooking party? F̷o̸o̸k̷i̷n̴g̵ ̵h̴e̷l̴l̴.̷ That's never going to go away, is it?" he mumbled.

"Nope." Jackie laughed and in turn, Anti snorted but smiled lightly as well.

'Ting!' 'Ting!. . . .. 'Ting!' 'Ting!'

Jackie's phone beeped and he pulled it out quickly only to gasp quietly, "Fuck. What a goddamn coincidence! I got to go. It's Stacey"

"Wait, what?!" Anti sat up a bit slower this time, "Why? What happened?"

"I don't know, but I have a guess. Chase might have found out" he growled out, "I got to go. Got to hurry. You stay put, Anti"

He was about to leave but Anti swung off the bed in a hurry, ignoring the pain, U̷r̶g̶!̷ ̵W̵a̴i̷t̵!̸ I can glitch you there! It'll be faster!"

Jackie stopped and thought about it for a moment, "Anti, no, there's no time for this! You're injured! Just lay back down and I'll take care of everything!"

"No! F̸o̵o̴k̴ ̶y̸o̴u̸!̵ ̵Let me glitch you there, you moron! By the time you get there on your own, Chase might have done something even more stupid than the driveby!"

Jackie looked stumped but nodded, knowing he was right, "Fine. . . fine. Let's go, then, glitch"

Anti took hold of Jackie's arm and concentrated on his phone to get to the other side.

Meanwhile with Chase, he was sitting on the porch steps just waiting. It was still light out but it would start to get dark soon and the clouds starting to cover the sky made it even darker.

He heard the roll of tires come closer and his heart leapt when he saw Stacey's car. She didn't notice him or his car on the side of the road until she pulled in.

She immediately turned on the child-proof locks as Sammy gasped, "Mommy! Is that daddy?"

"Shh, Sammy" she swallowed, "Daddy isn't supposed to be here." she took out Jackie's special alarm from her pocket and used it. Hopefully he'd be able to get there quickly to defuse the situation if it got scary.

Chase ran up to the car with a smile, completely oblivious to Stacey's fear, "Hey Stace! Sammy! Kallie! It's been a while!"

Stacey remained quiet, however and didn't exit the vehicle. Sammy and Kallie, although excited to see their dad after so long, didn't fuss. Even they felt the tension.

Chase noticed it then, "H-hey. . . what's wrong? Stacey. . .p-please. I just wanted to see you guys is all"

"You need to leave, Chase!" Stacey called from the call, "I don't want to talk to you."

His lip quivered in his emotions, "Please. Please, I just want to see my kids again. Just one more time. Please. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I know you're scared and you have every right to be. But I'd never hurt you, Stace! OR the kids!"

Stacey still didn't get out of the vehicle but Kallie was getting restless, "Mommy, why can't we go out and see daddy? I missed daddy! Please?"

"Sh, Kallie, you heard what uncle Henrik said, remember? No straining your voice" she wanted to wait until Jackie got there. Then she'd feel safer, at least.

"Goddammit, Stacey! Get out of the fooking car!" he was losing it and banged his fists on the hood of the car, making them all flinch and Sammy started to tear up, afraid.

Chase grit his teeth, "No, no, no, please don't be afraid of me! Stacey, I know I fucked up. I know I did something horrible but I'd never hurt you guys. Please! Please, I've changed! I swear it!"

"Chase, just go" Stacey refused, "Maybe I'll call you in the morning and you can talk to them but not like this! Please, Chase! Just GO!"

"NO!" Chase kicked the car and came up to the driver's side door to try and open it but she had it locked.

"Chase, stop it! This is why! Get away!"

"Fooking hell, Stace! Please, just . . . ." he started to cry, "Give me a chance, here! You never give me a chance to talk or explain!"

"Dammit, Chase, this isn't the way to do it, either!" she was about to put the car in reverse to get out of there, ignoring the kid's crying from the situation.

"Stacey, I'm sorry! Please! Jus- GAH!" a pair of arms reached around Chase into a full nelson and pulled him away from the car.

"Get off of me! Who the hell!?" he turned his head slightly, "Jackie, stop it! You don't understand! I'm just trying to talk to them is all!"

"You're so fucking stupid, Chase" he reprimanded, "There are better ways than this, dammit!"

Stacey, relieved Jackie was there finally, got the kids out of the car, "Come on, kids, let's get inside. We need to pack up again to go back home"

"But mom, what about daddy?" Kallie asked, "He looks so sad"

"Come on, kids" she ignored the question.

"Stacey, wait! Please! Sammy! Kallie!" Chase wouldn't give up and tore out of Jackie's grasp angrily to try and run to them but Anti appeared in his way.

"Chase, knock it off" Anti held his arms out, "You have to see this is insane. You're just making them more afraid of you. You're making it w̸o̷r̸s̴e̶!̵"̷

"Get out of my fooking way, Anti!" he tried to go past him but Jackie shoved him away from the house. Stacey must of locked the door by now but they weren't taking chances.

Chase tried pushing his way through them again but it was two against one.

Until Chase pulled out his gun.

"Chase! Stop it!" Jackie shouted at him, "Just calm down, man! Anti, get behind me!"

Chase pointed the gun at Jackie threateningly, "Jackie. . .I don't want to use this. And you know I wouldn't kill you. Of course I wouldn't. But ALL I want. . . .is to just see my kids. That's it. I haven't been drinking. I-"

"You think that makes it better!? You think THIS is the way to do it?!" Anti couldn't stop himself, "You're more of an idiot than I thought, Brody!"

"Fook off, Glitch bitch! You wouldn't understand! Neither of you would! They're my kids! My kids. . .. I haven't seen them in over two fooking years. Please. . . Get out of the way" he took the safety off the gun.

Jackie growled but whispered to Anti, "Can you glitch again?"

Anti nodded and Jackie continued, "I'm gonna stay here and help Stacey. I need you to glitch Chase home, alright? Don't let him leave again"

"Got it" 

Anti suddenly glitched behind Chase and grabbed him, making him shoot the ground before he glitched home through the TV. Anti still didn't let go of him, angering the father. He struggled to get out of Anti's grasp, yelling at him, "Dammit, Anti, you piece of shit! Get the fook off of me you freak! FUCK!"

He suddenly elbowed Anti in the gut, making Anti double-over and fall to the ground, holding his stomach. At the sound of Anti's cry, Chase's mood was shifted dramatically when he saw the blood on him.

Ignoring Marvin and Jameson's presence, Chase finally dropped the gun and stared afraid, "Oh shit! Did I!? Anti, I-"

"Shut up, you bastard" Anti sat up carefully, wiping his face from tears that came out of no where, "This shot wasn't yours. You just opened the stitches a bit I think. D̶u̷m̷b̷a̵s̸s̴"

Chase fell to his knees, crying, "Anti. . . . Fuck, what have I done!? I'm-"

The glitch stared at him but sighed, "Yeah I know. You're sorry. . . . But 'sorry' isn't going to fix this one, B̶r̶o̵d̸y̵. You fucked up, again, man"

Anti wanted to be spiteful but seeing Chase sob on the ground in front of him hurt his heart a little, "Dammit, Brody. Are you gonna help me up, or not?"

Wiping a few tears, Chase quickly clambered to him and helped him up to his feet. Marvin and Jameson were confused but didn't ask questions quite yet.

"How'd you get shot?" Chase sniffled as he asked.

Anti shook his head, "Doesn't matter. Jackie will tell you all later. What were you thinking, Chase?"

The father shook his head, swallowing down his tears and sorrow, "I don't know." he went to the fridge and pulled out a beer, opening it. 

He just stared at it, thought. He didn't take a drink.

"Chase?"

He looked up at Anti, "The kids are fine. Stacey is, too. Henrik said they all seemed happy"

It was a little white lie but it seemed to ease Chase, his shoulder's dropping.

Marvin came over to inspect Anti's wound, pulling up his bloody shirt, "Tut, tut, you're gonna get blood everywhere, you know? Come with me and we'll get you cleaned up, huh?"

"W̷h̶a̷t̵?̶ ̸No, I can't. I have to make sure-"

"I know, I know. I warded the house so no one can get out. No worries. Now come with me. Jameson, get Chase to the living room, will you?"

Anti didn't have a choice as Marvin steered him to his room, helping him up the stairs. Anti didn't like it but kept his mouth shut. Marvin knew what he was doing.

-888888888888888888888888888888888888-

Meanwhile with Schneep, after he left Jackie and Anti on their own, he went back down into the basement of the doctor's office. His private 'lab' so-called.

He had no more patients for the day unless Sandra called him up so he was free to do as he pleased with his real project. 

Henrik fell into his chair with a sigh and stared at his computer screen blankly. 

All the numbers and equations. All the tests and failures.

He was at his breaking point. He couldn't keep doing this.

'But zhere has to be a way' he thought, 'I von't give up on it.' 

He spent years on this project, he wasn't going to give up now. He was so close.

'One day, my little one. I'll see you again.' he stared at the picture on his desk and a fresh tear fell down his cheek. A new light of determination sparked through him and he cleared his desk to start anew.

'Vhatever it takes.' he thought, more grief settling in, 'Even if I have to-'