Fanfic: Fight or flight

[sylviane]

Fight or Flight

By Marea67
Character: Kevin (Brothers & Sisters) Season 5!
Rate: G
Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to B&S. Written for fun and with love and not for financial gain.
Summary: a new case hits close to home.
Writer's note: Written for the fanfic-competion on Matthew Rhys Online - Assignment: write a fanfic based on one of the characters Matthew Rhys played..



*****

“So, I don’t know what to do.” Mrs Sanchez looks at Kevin.
“I don’t have the answer for you either. If you believe that your husband cheated on you with this… Lorena?… you have to decide for yourself what steps you will take, I am however not a divorce-attorney. I said I’d listen to you, because your sister works for my husband, Scotty. She’s concerned about you and she asked for my help, if only to have a look at your case.”

“I don’t know what to do.” Mrs Sanchez repeats. “One moment I think I will leave him and he can be with her, if that is what he wants . And then I tell myself, that I could never leave him, because I love him…”
“It’s a dilemma.” Kevin acknowledges, thinking back at his own feelings, after he had found out that Scotty had cheated on him. “Do you have any children?”

“No. We couldn’t.” She shakes her head. “… Have children.” She adds. Kevin nods that he understands and carefully asks:
“Was the problem with you or with him? I don’t mean to nosy, just… wondering if perhaps,… if the problem is with you…?” He doesn’t finish his sentence, embarrassed to be asking for this private information.

“I had myself tested… It wasn’t me. There was no reason for me not to have children…” Her answer is painfully honest and again Kevin nods.
“I’m trying to figure out why he would do a thing like cheating you… I’m a gay man and even I think you’re pretty.” Kevin says and to his surprise Mrs Sanchez starts to laugh. She’s obviously amused by Kevin’s words.

“Thank you.” She answers with as quick smile. “… but Lorena is prettier and… younger.”
“Sorry.” Kevin says, inadvertently thinking back at Marcus. “I sometimes don’t see the need either to get groped by a 24-year old.” His words are more to himself than to Mrs Sanchez and obviously she doesn’t understand what he’s talking about.
“Lorena is nineteen…” She corrects Kevin. “I wonder why she would be interested in a 42-year old.” She shrugs.

“How long have you been married?” Kevin tries to come back to planet Earth.
“Nearly 15 years.” Mrs Sanchez answers.
“Did you often fight? Did you have financial problems? Health-problems? I’m trying to understand what’s going on.”

“If you find out, tell me.” Mrs Sanchez answers sharply and, then, more gentler, she continues. “Because I don’t understand what happened either. We never fought over anything. We are not rich, but we have no debts either. We both work. We both have an income. Unless there’s something going on I don’t know, we’re both healthy. I believed we were happy. And suddenly…. My marriage is over…”

She seems surprised when she mentions those last few words. Kevin sighs and leans over the desk, a little closer to her.
“Mrs Sanchez… I don’t know how you feel about gay marriages or relationships… Or how much you’re willing to hear about what I’ve learned…?”
“I … I don’t really care.. gay or straight… I’m willing to listen.” She stammers.

“About a year ago, my husband, out of the blue, decided to confess to me that he had had an one-night affair….” Mrs Sanchez is shocked by Kevin’s words. “I was devastated when I found out. Like you, I felt my marriage was over. It was unforgivable. I was sure, that I could never get over it. I would never be able to forgive and forget. Not infidelity…” Kevin bites his lip, feeling the old anger and pain return.

Mrs Sanchez can see it too and suddenly she feels sorry for this man, who understands her pain maybe better than she had expected.
“What did you do?” She asks softly.

“I sulked. I made a fuss. I ignored him. I… I cried… I got angry. I punched a guy. I… I yelled at Scotty. Blamed him for destroying our marriage… ” He holds nothing back, when he realizes that he has her full attention.
“But you two are still together now?” She now asks.

“We are…. It wasn’t easy… It took a while for me to understand that Scotty was really, really sorry and that he would have done anything to undo what he had done… It was for him to see that his deed had undermined the trust and faith that our relationship was built on and that it would take time and patience to repair it. There was no easy fix, no magic word, no ready solution. We had to go through it and either find ourselves unable to fix the damage or … come out stronger than we were before.”

“And you came out stronger?”
“Yes… I’m not saying that this is what you should do. I’m just offering another option, beside walking away and getting a divorce. You’ve been married for such a long time and, if you truly love your husband, and if you really have the feeling that he’s sorry, and that this other woman is indeed a mistake… then fight. Fight for your marriage. You can always quit if it doesn’t work out after all…” Kevin suggests.

Mrs Sanchez is in deep thought and Kevin doesn’t interrupt her. He knows how hard it must be for her and he doesn’t want her to make a decision one way or the other because he pressured her into it. So, he waits.

*****

“Hi. Can I come in?” Scotty asks.
“Yeah, sure.” Kevin answers.
“I saw mrs Sanchez leave? Did she reach a decision?”
“She’s going to talk to her husband.” Kevin answers.

“And…?”
“She’ll see what happens after that talk.”
“She gave me a bit of a strange look.”
“I told her about us.” Kevin says.

“Why?” Scotty asks, not sure if he appreciates Kevin discussing their love-life with strangers.
“Because she wanted to run out the door, like I did. But I think that, like me, she’ll find out that running away is not the solution.” Kevin explains and Scotty nods at his words. He’s quiet for a few seconds as he watches Kevin makes some notes.
“Are you still angry with me?” Scotty suddenly asks. “About the cheating, I mean.”

Kevin doesn’t answer straightaway, but then he slowly shakes his head.
“No. Not really. It took a long time to get over it, but … I’m fine now. I love you.”
“And that solves everything?” Scotty asks, not entirely persuaded.

“No, it doesn’t. Like I said to Mrs Sanchez, Love is not the magical answer to all problems… but it helps. A lot.” Kevin smiles and he casually lets his hands rest on Scotty’s hips. “I love you and that means that I’m willing to fight.”
“So? No more running away?”
“Never.” Kevin promises and he lets his fore-head rest against Scotty's. “Never again.”

THE END