After the Fire

Jay groaned as he carried a cardboard box full of stuff down the stairs. Seeing this, Claire worriedly said, "Dad. You're going to kill yourself if you keep going like this".

"I got it", Jay placated, "We're on a schedule. I have to go and pick up the truck in a bit".

"Don't worry", Matt said, patting Jay on the back, "We're already ahead of schedule with the boxes".

"Yes Jay", Gloria agreed.

"It's all thanks to Zephyr", Desiree added as she folded a black and white striped t-shirt.

"You know, he's really great at administrative stuff. He made a whole system in like 5 minutes and it's working really well", Claire commented off-handedly, "It's surprising when you think about the fact that he's 14".

"He's not a normal 14-year-old", Matt muttered.

"Exactly my thoughts", Jay continued, taking a brief rest, "What 14-year-old kid is a multi-millionaire?"

"Zephyr is", Desiree said, "I knew he was going to do well because of his games, but I didn't think it'd be this well".

"Ayy Jay", Gloria teased, "If you don't hurry, Zephyr's going to beat you".

Jay rolled his eyes but went to the kitchen to get another box with Matt following right behind him.

"Oh. Take this phone away from me", Phil demanded as he entered the house and held his phone out.

"Why?", Claire inquired, placing a folder shirt in one of the open boxes.

"Two of our best brokers left to start their own agency and the office gossip is flying", Phil answered as he quickly put away his blazer, "But I want today to be about the Rands". Just as he was about to hand Claire his phone, Phil received a message and exclaimed, "Oh, my God. Those guys took two secretaries and the tube dude".

"Who's the tube dude?", Gloria asked.

"You know", Phil said, "The blowy guy who attracts all the attention". Phil mimicked a small dance, and added, "This guy".

"I've seen that guy", Desiree remarked, "He goes like this and then this" as she tried to copy what Phil did.

"I think it was like this", Gloria argued, "He goes down like he's touching his toes and then shakes up".

"Yeah. You've both almost got it", Phil said, carrying his bag to the kitchen.

"Hi. Hi", Mitchell greeted as he and Cam entered, "We would've been here soon but this one had a wardrobe crisis".

"You know, it's a sombre occasion", Cam argued, "And all my tops are too joyful".

"You don't want to hear about our problems", Mitchell interrupted, quickly joining the trio of Moms with folding clothes.

"Here. Jay let me help", Cam said, seeing Jay struggle as he walked into the room while carrying a box.

"No. I got it", Jay argued, walking a few feet forward before dripping the box and yelling, "Argh! My back!"

"Dad!", Claire screamed in worry.

"Quick!", Matt shouted, making his way over to Jay, "Make him lie down on the sofa!".

"Let me help you", Phil said when he saw what happened.

After being laid down on the sofa, Jay tried to get up but was held down by Matt and Phil.

"Leave me alone. I'm fine", Jay argued. "I've got to go pick up the truUUCCCKKKKK!", Jay screamed in pain towards the end as tendrils of pure agony carved through his back.

Seeing his condition and the pain he was in, Cam spoke up, "I'd be delighted to go and pick up the truck".

"I don't think so", Jay argued, "It's a pretty big truck".

"Oh. Is it bigger than the combine I've had to drive since I was 13 years old?", Cam countered, "Or the windrow tractor MacDon header that I drove and parallel pared at my high school prom". Finished with what he said, he strutted away.

"At least something got lower that night", Mitchell muttered under his breath.

"I heard that!", Cam shouted as he walked to the kitchen.

"Son of a bitch!", Jay exclaimed as he tried once again to stand up.

"Where's Zephyr when you need him?", Matt asked, "He's like a mini doctor. He should know what to do".

"I think we should have him take a rest", Desiree said, "He's been working so hard to keep things running and he's helping Haley and Alex at the same time".

"You're right", Claire agreed, "We should have him go with whoever's going to pick up the truck".

"Ohh. We should let Alex go with him as well", Gloria added, "That way they can get some alone time".

"It's fine", Phil interrupted. Turning his attention to Jay, he continued, "Your low back is in spasm, Jay. I can massage that out for you".

"I'm fine", Jay stated.

"You don't know what you're missing Dad", Claire said, "Phil's a magician with his hands".

"And a licensed masseur", Phil continued, "Before I heard the siren song of residential real estate, I was bitten by the rub bug".

"He's amazing Dad", Mitchell added, "I had this knot in my leg the other day but two minutes with Phil and it was gone".

"I think you have a higher tolerance for having a man's hands on you than I do", Jay argued, not willing to give in.

"Ayy! Don't be an idiot", Gloria stated, "Just let Phil help you".

"Fine", Jay said, crumbling under the pressure of his wife.

"Great!", Phil exclaimed, "I'll just go and get the room ready".

"Gloria, go and give Cam the keys for the truck", Jay said, groaning in pain, "I don't think I'll be able to handle his stupid farm stories in this state".

"That's good", Gloria said, patting Jya on the shoulder which caused him to scream in agony.

After she finished folding the t-shirt in her hand and placing it in a box, Claire made her way to the stairs and yelled, "Alex! Zephyr! Get down here!".

A few seconds later, Zephyr and Alex came running down the stairs with Zephyr being slightly sluggish. "Yes?", Zephyr asked, yawning after.

"What?", Alex questioned, "I'm almost done with my clothes".

"You two are going with your uncle Cam to pick up the truck", Claire said.

"But I'm not finished with my clothes", Alex argued.

"I haven't finished sorting out the electronics yet", Zephyr added.

"Doesn't matter", Claire firmly argued, "You can do your clothes when you come back. Zephyr, I'm sure that Mitchell will be able to sort it out".

Seeing the look of determination on Claire's face, Alex and Zephyr meekly nodded, receiving a nod of satisfaction from Claire in return.

"Good", Claire said, exhaling, "Cam! You're taking Alex and Zephyr to pick up the truck!"

"Oooh!", Cam exclaimed as he ran towards them from the kitchen. Taking the keys from Claire's hands, he looked at the two and waved at them in excitement, "Let's go!".

[Time Skip]

"Riding in the open road in a big rig like this sure can work up a man's appetite huh?", Cam asked, mimicking a country accent.

"We've gone 5 blocks", Alex deadpanned.

"Do you want those burgers or not?", Cam questioned.

"I know a guy there", Zephyr stated, "Do you want me to call them so we don't have to park this thing to get our food?"

Hearing his words, Cam gasped, "I'll have you know I could park this thing with a blindfold".

"You do drive it surprisingly well", Alex commented, "But I'm not about how well you'd do with a blindfold".

"Yeah", Zephyr agreed, "Who'd have thought you'd be such a great truck driver?"

At his words, Cam just remained in silence. Seeing that there was no response, Zephyr asked, "Should I call the guy or not?".

"No need", Cam answered, raising his nose.

[Time Skip]

"Wow! This place got crowded real fast huh?", Cam commented, looking around the parking lot.

"Ohh. You're really wedged in there", Alex observed.

"You want us to help guide you out?", Zephyr asked.

Instead of replying, Cam strolled over to the truck, opened the door and hopped in. Zephyr and Alex looked at each other for a second, before shrugging and getting into the truck.

As soon as they put on their seatbelts, Cam started the engine and began to reverse, only for a car behind to honk their horn, causing the truck to jolt to a halt. "Sorry!", Cam yelled to the car behind.

"Hey. You're really close to this side", Zephyr commented, looking out of the window.

"I see it", Cam said, nodding and then raising his hand to motion for them to keep quiet.

As he reversed again, Zephyr suddenly shouted, "Careful!".

Cam took a deep breath before replying, "I am being careful". Switching gears, he pressed the throttle and moved the truck forward before suddenly stepping on the brakes, causing Alex to gasp. "Gasping. Really?", Cam asked, turning to look at Alex for a second before reversing. When he suddenly slammed his feet on the brakes, Alex gasped and quickly grabbed hold of Zephyr's hands. "Holding hands? We're not in a nosedive", Cam commented.

Just as they were about to reply, the driver of the car behind them honked the horn of his car and yelled, "Come on man! Move that truck!"

Cam, frustrated by how things were going, popped his head out of the window and yelled, "I hate you!".

"Do you want me to go outside and ask someone for help?", Zephyr asked.

"No! No help!", Cam replied, "I've come too far".

"Have you, though?", Alex asked.

Before she could continue, Zephyr interrupted her, "There's no cars behind us".

"Gun it Uncle Cam!", Alex yelled. In response to her words, Cam slammed his foot down and reversed out of the parking space at full speed. However, due to the speed, he ended up reversing into a large pile of dirt which caused the car to tilt.

"All right! Everybody relax!", Cam screamed, "Everything's fine".

"We're not fine!", Zephyr shouted.

"And we're all smushed and tilted at a 30-degree angle and late!", Alex added.

"Okay, can you please just be quiet?", Cam asked.

"Wouldn't it have been easier to ask for help?", Zephyr questioned.

"Cause I'm trying to teach you two a valuable lesson", Cam explained, "That gay men can do anything gay men can do".

"We knew that!", Zephyr yelled.

"Yeah!", Alex agreed, "Do you think you're the only gay guy we know".

"My soccer coach was gay", Zephyr said.

"My paediatrician", Alex listed, "My Latin tutor. My electrician".

"Then why were you so surprised that I could drive a truck?", Cam asked.

"It's not because you're gay but because you're you", Zephyr explained.

"Yeah. And besides, you can't drive a truck", Alex said.

[Time Skip]

"So glad we're finally out", Zephyr muttered.

"So am I", Alex agreed, sighing in relief.

"Look. I owe you two an apology", Cam remarked, "I'm quite sensitive about stereotypes and I guess I took your comments the wrong way".

"It's fine", Zephyr said, "We're all okay now, right?"

"Yep", Alex nodded, "It's a shame that our burgers got ruined though".

"Don't worry", Cam stated, "I'll order you take out when we get to your house".

As they continued driving in silence, Zephyr suddenly spoke, "Hey. Is that Luke and Manny?"

"Huh?", Cam muttered, "You're right".

"It looks like they're getting bullied by ... nerds?", Alex said.

Stopping the truck, Cam honked the horn and popped his head out of the window, "Is there a problem?"

"Don't worry Cam", Zephyr placated, "I got this". Jumping out of the truck, Zephyr made his way over to the group of nerds who were bullying Luke and Manny.

Seeing him walking over to them, one of the guys shivered and murmured, "Oh God! It's Zephyr Blake".

With each step he took, the group of nerds seemed to get more nervous. "What's the problem here?", Zephyr asked as he silently walked behind Luke and Manny, crossing his arms for extra effect.

"These geeks won't give back the helicopter that we took from Reuben", Luke explained.

Instead of replying, Zephyr stared at the guy holding the helicopter and narrowed his eyes, causing the guy to flinch. "Listen Abraham", Zephyt began, "I don't like you, never have, never will. So how about you give us the helicopter and things don't get bloody", Zephyr finished, making sure to crack his knuckles.

"H-h-here", Abraham stuttered, holding out the helicopter which Luke swiftly took, "W-we d-don't want any trouble".

"Y-yeah", a guy with curly hair agreed, trembling with fear.

Zephyr looked at them for a second, then said, "Scram". Hearing him speak, the geeks ran away from them as though their lives depended on it. Then, turning to look at Manny and Luke, he said, "You guys better run home and put that thing away or I'm going to tell your Mom's what you did. Capisce?"

At his words, Manny and Luke nodded their heads rapidly and ran away in the opposite direction of Abraham and his groups of geeks.

"What just happened?", Alex asked.

"I did what had to be done", Zephyr cryptically answered, hopping back in the truck.