Oh, Brother 

by agent myers 

Rating: R, for some bad words 

Keywords: DRR, humor 

Summary: John's hot-head brother Pete drops in for an unexpected visit. Ass-kicking ensues. 

Spoilers: Not really. Luke spoilers, but unless you've been under a rock, you already know about 
'em. 

Disclaimer: They're not mine. Duh. Pete is my own creation, so I take ownership of him. 

Feedback: I live for it. 

Archive: Gossamer, XFMU, yes. All others please ask, I'm sure I'll say yes! 

Author's Notes: At the bottom. 

Recommended listening: "Man Of Constant Sorrow" (SBB version), "I'll Take Care Of You" by The 
Dixie Chicks, "Follow Me" by Uncle Kracker

 

 

Oh, Brother 

by agent myers

 

 

The silence of the office was broken by the sound of the ringing phone. John Doggett picked up the 
receiver and tucked it between his head and shoulder and continued typing.

"Doggett."

Monica Reyes looked up momentarily, but quickly went back to her work. It was Friday and the 
sooner she finished the sooner she could leave.

"Hey, Pete." John said into the phone. Monica looked up at him and determined that it must be a 
personal call. A military friend calling, maybe, but he didn't seem too excited to be hearing from 
him. Not wanting to appear nosy, she looked down at her case files and continued working.

"You are? When?" A pause. "Really."

John stopped typing and held the phone with his hand. "Sure....sure, that's fine. Alright, 
brother...see ya tonight."

And he hung up.

Monica couldn't resist. "One of your Marine buddies?"

John sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Unfortunately, no. That was my brother, Pete. 
Decided to drop in on me."

"Really?" Monica asked. "I guess I didn't know you had a brother."

"Yeah...I don't talk about him too much." He said, closing up a case file and sliding it into a 
drawer.

"Why's that?" Monica asked.

"'Cause he's an asshole."

Monica's mouth turned up in a slight grin and raised an eyebrow. John gave a small smile in 
return.

"Gonna introduce me?" She asked.

John took a sip of his coffee and put it back down on the desk. "If you want to...but I'm warning 
you...he can be a real jerk. I can't count the times I've had to give him an ass-kickin'. I'm sure 
this weekend will be no exception. If you wanna stick around to see that, you're more than 
welcome."

Monica chuckled. "He isn't that bad, is he?"

John nodded his head. "Oh, yeah he is. He's always shooting his mouth off. 'Specially when he's 
drinkin'. He's harmless, but one of these days he's gonna get in serious trouble."

"So...what are your plans for tonight?" Monica asked, curious.

John shrugged. "Probably goin' down to the bar for some drinks. Wanna come along?"

Monica nodded. "Yeah. Sounds like fun."

John shook his head. "You'll probably want to beat his ass before the night's over." He said, 
chuckling a bit.

***

Monica found Spanky's Bar and Grill with no trouble. Walking into the place, she took off her coat 
and scanned the place for John. She found him sitting at the bar. He waved to her and she walked 
over to him.

When Pete turned around, she immediately saw the resemblance. He sprang from his chair. Monica 
held out her hand.

"You must be Pete. Nice to meet you. I'm Monica."

"Hey...nice to meet you too, Monica. John didn't tell me you were gorgeous." He said, flashing a 
mischievous smile. John rolled his eyes.

Monica blushed. "Well...thank you..." she returned, and took a seat at the bar beside Pete.

"So...Monica..." he growled, giving her a once-over. "Whadya drink?"

"Uh...beer's fine." she said. Pete ordered a Coors from the bartender and slid it over to her. 
Pete had completely turned his back on John, forgetting he was even there.

"So...you're an FBI agent. That's cool. I didn't even know there were women in the FBI." He said.

Monica laughed, and immediately knew what John had been talking about. "Yeah, we got the vote." 
she joked. He laughed, but it was pretty obvious that he didn't have a clue what she was talking 
about. Again, John rolled his eyes. Monica flashed a smile at him.

Pete pushed the beer towards Monica. "Well, drink up...let's party." He said enthusiastically. 
John took a large swig from his bottle, emptying it. He pushed the empty bottle back and ordered 
another.

"So, Monica...you married or anything?"

"Uh, no...Pete. Not married."

He nodded his head, and gave her another long glance. His eyes shot back and forth from her face 
to her breasts. "That's great." John glared at Pete's back. Then he got up, tired of being ignored, 
and went to sit beside Monica. She smiled at John, welcoming his presence.

Pete stood up and emptied his beer. "I'll be back in a minute...gotta hit the head." He said, and 
walked off.

Monica turned to John. He had a scowl on his face. "See what I mean? Asshole. Didn't know women 
were in the FBI."

Monica was grateful to have a minute alone with John. "Aww, c'mon John...he's not that bad."

John shook his head. "I'm tellin' ya...I'm gonna have to kick his ass before the night is over." 
Monica laughed. "He's already had four beers. When he gets drunk he'll really be a handful. If 
anyone ever tells you all Southern guys are gentlemen, tell them they're full of shit."

Monica smiled. About that time, Pete was back.

"So...honey...wanna get out there shake that thang?" He asked, pointing to the dance floor.

"Watch it, Pete." John growled, not looking up.

Monica blushed. "Uh, not right now, Pete. Maybe later." She said, faking a laugh and taking a sip 
of her beer.

"Easy, bro. Just invitin' the lady to dance."

"Yeah...well she's got a name." He said. Monica grinned. John was the ultimate southern gentleman.

An hour later, Monica was still fending off Pete's advances. He *was* starting to get on her 
nerves, and she coped by drinking more. She didn't have to work tomorrow, and she could handle a 
hangover. She just wasn't sure she could handle much more of Pete.

John had remained perfectly gracious to Monica, and tried to make the night enjoyable for her. But 
it never failed - every word that came out of Pete's mouth pissed John off, and bordered on 
offensive for Monica. Pete was obviously drunk by now, so she dismissed it.

"It juss occurred to me, Monica...you haven't danced with me yet." Pete said, putting his hand on 
her leg. She stared down at it, and then back up at him. A song started to play, an unusual 
bluegrass tune that she recognized as "Man Of Constant Sorrow".

"C'mon, let's go dance." Pete said, grabbing Monica up out of her seat. Before she could protest, 
he was dragging her out onto the dance floor. John gritted his teeth, and decided to keep an eye 
on them.

Once out of the floor, Pete scooped Monica up into his arms, pulling her closer than she would 
have liked. If it had been John, she would have been okay, but this guy...sheesh. His eyes looked on 
her seductively as they began to dance to the beat. Monica felt slightly sick as he pulled her 
closer, and his hands began to knead into her back. She looked over at John, who was now standing up, 
watching them like a hawk.

Pete's movements were sloppy, and Monica had a hard time dancing with him. Just one dance, she 
told herself, and she would go back over to John. Maybe she shouldn't have come at all. She hardly 
had the opportunity to talk to John at all since she'd arrived.

Pete finally crossed the line when his hands made her way down to her ass. She started to tell 
him, politely, to get his damn meat hooks off of her behind, but she didn't have to. John was beside 
them in a second. John tore Pete away from Monica, and pushed him.

"What the hell are you doin'?" John shouted to Pete. He backed away, holding his hands up 
innocently.

"What's your problem, Johnny-boy?"

"YOU are the problem. You keep your hands off of her." He growled. People on the dance floor began 
to stare at the situation that was slowly beginning to arise.

Pete smirked. "I get it now. Hey - I didn't know, all right? Shoulda told me you were taggin' 
her."

Monica's mouth dropped open.

John pushed Pete. He stumbled backwards. The look on John's face told Monica that there was indeed 
going to be an ass kicking tonight. A circle had formed around them and everyone was watching.

"Hey." Pete said seriously. "Don't push me, Johnny-boy. I was just tryin' to have a little fun."

"You just don't know when to shut up, do you? You never do." John snarled.

"It's okay, John, really..." Monica said, but he wasn't hearing her. His eyes were fixed on his 
brother.

"You apologize. Now." John threatened.

"For what?"

"For puttin' your slimy hands where they don't belong."

"C'mon, John...let's just go have a beer and..."

"Apologize!" John shouted.

Pete sighed and rolled his eyes. "Fine. Sorry, Monica, for grabbin' your ass."

John didn't look very satisfied, but he nodded. Monica looked tense, but she was melting inside. 
She was touched that John would stand up for her honor. She started to walk back to the bar, and 
was thinking of leaving. As she walked away, she felt a slap on her ass. She whipped around, and 
Pete was grinning at her.

That grin was soon wiped from his face by John's fist. The two men fell to the floor. But Pete 
fought back. He got a punch off, and John fell off of him. The continued to wrestle around until a 
couple of bouncers pulled them apart. They dragged the two breathless men out of the bar and threw 
them out into the street. Monica stood watching, her mouth open. She ran and grabbed her coat, and 
paid for the bill in cash, all eighty-six dollars of it, plus a tip. She ran out of the bar, and 
found John and Pete shouting at each other. They didn't seem to notice her.

"You little bastard...that's my partner AND my friend."

"She didn't seem to mind...she woulda said somethin'." Pete shouted back.

"She was trying to be polite because you're my brother, you idiot. Monica could flatten your sorry 
ass...I'm surprised that she didn't. You certainly deserved it!"

Monica smiled.

Pete went silent for a moment, and the two men caught their breath.

"You're into her." Pete said flatly.

"Huh?"

"That's why you're so pissed off."

John shook his head and gave a mock-laugh. "You really are some piece of work, Pete."

"Admit it. She's more than just your *partner*, isn't she?"

John rolled his eyes. "Just shut up, Pete."

But Pete wasn't shutting up. He nodded his head. "It's true, isn't it? C'mon...you can tell me. If 
it's true and you've got the hots for her, I won't interfere. Just tell me the truth."

Monica slipped out of their view, and ducked behind a car.

John didn't say anything, but his silence spoke volumes to his brother, he knew him quite well. 
John looked around the parking lot for Monica. He didn't see her.

"So, why haven't you told her?" Pete asked.

John hesitated. "'Cause we work together." He admitted. Monica sucked in a breath.

Pete shrugged. "So. Doesn't have to interfere with work."

John just looked at him, not knowing quite what to say. Pete took a couple of steps towards his 
brother.

"Look...after Linda died, I kept hopin' you'd find someone else. And after Luke...Jesus, 
John...not healthy to spend all that time alone. She's a nice girl."

John looked down at the ground. "I don't think she thinks of me that way. She's never said so."

"Well, neither have you, but you'd still like to be with her, right?"

John looked up at Pete, and slowly nodded his head. "Yeah, of course I would."

"Never know 'til ya try." Pete offered, and slapped John on the shoulder.

Monica bit her lip. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. He had no idea that John thought of 
her like that. Butterflies danced in her stomach and she grinned.

"Monica?"

Monica looked up in surprise, to find that John and Pete had walked over to the car she was hiding 
behind, and Pete had found her there.

Monica stood up nervously. Her eyes locked on John's.

"I...think I'll go and find a nice corner to pee in." Pete said, and walked off.

And then, John and Monica were alone. They regarded each other in uncomfortable silence.

"You've been out here the whole time, haven't you?" John asked, cracking a small, nervous smile.

"Yep."

"And...I suppose you...heard our entire conversation."

Monica nodded. "The important part anyway." She looked down at the ground and smiled softly.

Aw, what the hell, John thought, and took a couple of steps closer.

"So...now that you know...got anything you'd like to add?"

Monica smiled at John. She stepped closer to him. "Just this."

She kissed him softly and slowly, her hands finding the right spot on his shoulder and the back of 
his head. John was stunned, but it didn't show. She pulled away from him, and smiled once again.

He couldn't believe this was happening. He beamed.

Monica couldn't wipe the smile from her face.

"I think I'll catch a cab home." she said. "Give you a little time with your brother."

John looked slightly disappointed. "'Kay."

"But call me tomorrow." Monica said. "We'll talk about this."

"I wish you'd come over." John said.

Monica smiled again, and shrugged. "Well...maybe if you can slip away later...you know where to 
find me." she said. A grin crept over John's mouth, and he leaned forward to kiss her again. Monica 
bent her head to meet John's lips.

And then they heard the sound of someone clearing their throat.

John and Monica looked over at Pete, who was smiling like a fool. Monica put her coat on and 
started to walk away.

"Thanks, Pete." she called.

He waved. "Anytime."

The two brothers watched Monica walk up the street a little, until she hailed a cab. Then John and 
Pete began to walk slowly in the same direction.

"See? My ways might be a little unconventional, but everybody's happy."

John snorted. "You're tryin' to tell me you planned that?"

"Of course." Pete said.

"Right." John said, grinning.

"So..." Pete began. "She got a sister?"

 

~end

 

Author's Notes: I really love the song "Man Of Constant Sorrow", from the movie "O Brother Where 
Art Thou." Download it and read this story again. Its kind of fun to dance to. Actually, download 
all the songs, because it sets the mood for the story.

I've wanted to write more light-hearted story for a while, and this just came to me tonight. Could 
be a sequel, but probably not. Pete's not really that bad of a guy, now is he? I may use him again 
sometime. Feedback is appreciated at tred2@yahoo.com.