Chain of Memories: Part 2 - Drowned

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Tensions reach an all time high, and the dark voices in his head have wittled him down and broken his armor. But is Snowball strong enough to fight back?


THe Following Story Series is Adult in nature and may contain themes of sadness, suicide, depression, drug use, alcohol use, and may sometimes contain adult scenes of a sexual nature between two consenting adults that will sometimes go outside the borders of traditional vanilla sexual encounters. If such things offend you as the reader please go back now and do not complain to the Author as i will be ignoring any complaints. You have been warned. Still Here? Enjoy the Story.

Part 2 - Drowned Dekota awoke early in the morning to an empty bed. It was Thanksgiving Morning. Her parents would be arriving soon, unless the storm got worse earlier than predicted. Her sister and her husband were passed out in the guest room and she spied Snowball asleep on the ouch holding their daughter in his arms. It would seem she woke up during the night and he took it upon himself to put her back to sleep. A soft smile crept across her face. For one so buried by life and forcing himself to stick a brave face on, their daughter was almost healing therapy to him. He was happiest when he spent time with his daughter, more so than with her but she never took offend to that. Part of her knew why. She crept out of the living room and slipped into the kitchen to start prepping the meal for the night and almost had heart attack as her sister somehow made it in before her. "Geebus, sis, don't do that." Marylou smirked, "I have no idea wht you could possibly be referring to." But Dekota jut rolled her eyes and she sat down at the table. Almost half burying her face in her hooved hands. "You sure you want to do this, this year? I men no one can blame you if you cancel last minute." But sh just shook her head, "We've been over this hundreds of times, no matter why I do it comes back to dad blaming everything on him. I just don't get why they can't get along. He antagonizes Snowball who goes into a depressed passive-aggressive rage and than he becomes unpredictable I just don't get it." "Than why did you marry him? Why not just divorce him and get dad off your back? Why use a child as an excuse to put up with it?" The anger was starting to build in her, mostly about the last part. She hated it when people brought Lunabelle into the discussion. But she collected herself and calmly said, "Because I do love him. Ever since the day we met, something about him just ..... it just felt right. I know things aren't perfect, I never expected this to bee but why can't dad just accept the faact that he's not going away and why can't Snowball stop bottling himself up, it's going to hurt one really bad one day and I fear there might not be any way to come back from it."

Til Death Do Us Part. In Sickness and In Health.....they weren't just traditional words in a ceremony, not to her. She always knew that he would wander off every time, out off anger and frustration, more so lately with all this loss tht he never knew how to deal with. But he always came home, because she learned in the time between now and when they met to hold onto him. He once said to her 'Be my strength and I'll be your shelter in the storm.' But what she learned is that it would be her being his shelter and when he needed it the most. And for every fight, every argument, every angered disagreement, nothing could tear them apart. Sher knew her father was intolerant o anyone not of their own, and all Snowball did was prove tie and time again why he deserved to be with Dekota, only to get a slap in the face and be told he was nothing more than the runt from an abusive drunk. And that right there was why she never told her parents about both funerals. At least her mom came around a bit and warmed up to her mate.

The two of them looked out the window in the kitchen to notice that with a good layer of snow on the ground, it wasn't too bad, so hopefully her parents made it in today. There would be no texts or what not. Her parents weren't tech illiterate, oh no. They used their smartphones for everything, just not texting or picking up the phone to dial and let her know what was going on.

But early in the snowy morning there was a knock at the door and the two girls went to see who it could be this early in the morning. Standing at the door once Dekota opened it was a six foot German Shepherd, his hear in a Messy11 buzz cut, bundled up in an olive drab winter coat, khaki cargo pnts and a beanie ht on.. "Ohayo! Wheres the fur ball? he said. Dekota smirked, "Asleep like most everyone else, now get your butt in here and don't wake the kiddo." She smirked at her and Snowballs friend. Ace as he was known was the hopeless romantic but it never stopped him. Something Dekota liked to poke fun at. Ace had never met Dekota's sister and he could'nt help but stare at Marylou simply saying with ever bit of charm he could muster,"So going to introduce me to your lovely, fantastic and beautiful friend, my dear ever so sweet Mookota?" All she could do was shake her head, sighing as she rolled her eyes at him and say,"For starters that's my big sister Marylou, second of all cool your jets Romeo, unless you like a blg horn steer shoving one of his horns up your tail hole considering that's her husband." Ace just hung his head as he shrugged, sighing softly, " all the pretty ones are always taken,their loss for thus hunk of a canine." Marylou laughed, "I see where they both get it from.......themselves."

As quiet as it was that morning with a soft snowfall outside, it wouldn't be lung before Snowball would wander out driven by the call of caffeine. He walked into the kitchen past the three of them, pouring himself cup of coffee before taking a sip and saying, "I thought I smelled a rotten turkey in here." Ace just shook his head and laughed, "Good to see you too bro. you look like complete death, or a Zombified mummy." What Snowball not a morning persons? Typical I know, but he wasn't. It was rather ironic that as the one who always dealt with his daughter this early in the morning that he really wasn't into being wake his early. But he didn't half to work for the holiday so he was a bit less agitated. Sadly, his wake up was interrupted by the baby monitor going off leaving him to go and collect his young spawn. This left the other two recruited to help Dekota prepare the dinner for tonight still wondering when her parents were getting in. The storm outside was beginning to pick up and it was likely everyone was about to be snowed in.

It wasn't ling before Jacob was awake and Snowball was rocking a very tired and cranky young child, clearly not being a morning person like himself. He sang to her softly like he always did, 'i won't give up on us, even if the skies get rough, I'm giving you all I got....' Jacob passed by smirking as he overheard before wandering into Marylou and the others in the kitchen, "He always sing cutely to her like that?" Dekota nodded,"Ever since we brought her home from the hospital. She always seemed to calm down when hearing his voice. She's taken to him for certain now. Daddy's little girl." Snowball came out into the crowded kitchen, Lunabelle in his arms with hers around his neck, eyes closed as she slept in his embrace. "Okay," exclaimed Dekota, "Anyone not supposed to be in here scram or there will be no dinner."

Jacob, Snowball, and Lunabelle spent most of the morning in the living room with the two brother in laws playing with her when she woke up. The smell of good food and laughter and cheer filled the room as the storm worsened. But it was broken up by the sound of an RV pulling up into the yard on the other side of the driveway. Snowball got a sick feeling in his stomach but put on a brave face. ot girl's parents knocked on the door as Dekota opened it, welcoming them into the house. Her father presently greeted everyone one but when Snowball stuck his hand out to shake it was ignored with a stern look and a nod. "How is my granddaughter, still alive I assume.' Snowball sighed, picking Lunabelle up while Dekota got cross as she chastised her father, "Daddy, don't be rude, He's done a fine job raising her.' And before Snowball could retreat in to his inner depressive state she shot him a look that told him to not even go there. The mood went down a notch but Snowball did his best to be a decent host.

That didn't help the fact that the atmosphere and mood had dropped significantly as the tension between son and father in law could be felt. It is no uncommon thing or secret that families watch football religiously on thanksgiving, but not here. it was more of a distraction to try and ease the tension in the room. A sound plan wih very minimal success. But eventually the smell of food filled the air as those that were there gathered at the table, with a spread to tease the senses laid before. Tonight, barring anything, there would be a Thanksgiving Dinner to be beat. And after dealing with the seating arrangements, and giving thanks, the food was passed and the air was still tense. But it wasn't to last. "I see my daughter did the cooking, something that turned out edible." Big mistake. Even bigger as Snowball decided to pick the wrong moment to go on the defense... or was it the attack this time. "Yeah well you would know considering you never come to any of our cookouts and haven't eaten anything I made. Two for Two tonight. Got any more shots? I don't think you got your fill in and We still have the rest of the week to go." That stunned the crowd. Ace couldn't help but smile to himself because he'd been friends with Snowball for years and new he could be pretty quick witted when needed. "....And Highly disrespectful too." Snowball just muttered right back, "You would know being the expert on that..." Dekota put her glass down, the side of it causing silverware to rattle. "Enough. Both of you. Snowball I've told you a thousand times, do not set a bad example in front of lLunabelle. And Dad, in case you forgot despite your attitude, he didn't HAVE to invite you, he chose to. So if the two of you can't get along...." They glared at each other from across the table and no more insults were hurled. The others did their best to keep the mood high. "So," Jacob said, "Snowball tells me he's going claim the rally next spring." Ace nodded, "Yeah, we finished tweaking out the final settings. He's going to need it, last years champion runs a very wicked Subaru. Not to mention the 'Gator.'" Jacob looked puzzled, "What's the Gator?" But Dekota, Ace and Snowball went silent. But Snowball broke the silence. "The Gator is this yellow mustang. It's owned by a this Croc known as Kam. We don't..... We don't get along. Lets leave it at that." "What do you mean you don't get along, what's the deal? Beef on the track?" But Snowball wasn't into brining up more news, "No, nothing, never mind." But Dekota had no plans to leave that hanging in the air, "Kam was the player who deliberately decided to slide cleat first into Snowball's shins during his first season in Cedar Rapids because they were trying to disable one of their star players. They lost that season when his shin was broken. And he was never the same halfway into the second season." Jacob almost looked like he saw a ghost, "Seriously? Why? Why would anyone do that?" Snowball sighed not wanting to drag it up but let it out anyways, "Kam's younger brother was the original catcher they had planned to recruit when they scouted me and liked what they saw during my senior year at Puckett Heights. It's a personal vendetta against me, not the team, not the championship. He blames me for usurping his brother's position in the minors. I wish I would have never done it to be honest." But Dekota smiled regardless, "And if you hadn't we'd have never met. So quit complaining." Her dad however, did not miss an opportunity to get a shot in, "You mean there would have been a happy ending after all?" And that was the straw that broke the husky's back. He got up, slamming his glass down, "Shove off......" and walked out of the room, fuming with the sound of a bedroom door slamming behind him and a very loud audible noise of him locking the door behind him, slumping down against it, "Fuck my life......why take Luna and not me...." was all he could mutter to himself. And yet out at the table the mood soured. "Don't give me that look Dekoka," her father said, "We all know you could have done much better, like your sister. Someone more stable, with a real job." She was getting angry now, "Just shut up, okay, you had one thing to do tonight, get along with him and not ruin dinner. If you can't accept our paths in life, Than get out of our lives." "So what now you're going to throw me out?" "No...just....whatever." Dekota gathered plates up and returned them to the kitchen with Jacob and Ace in tow. "She was on the verge of tears as she got sandwiched between the two of them, "Moo, it's okay, It's gonna be okay." She struggled to smile back at Ace, "I'm scared, Ace. He's going to drive him into a depression so great he might....he...." "Perish the thought. We can handle dessert. Go deal with him. Certainly not innocent, but no one deserves those low blows." Dekota nodded, reluctantly as she slipped down the hallway and knocked on the door.

"Go away. I'm done being a punching bag." was all she heard from behind the door, muffled, so most likely had his head buried in his knees or a pillow. "Snowy, let me in please." And she got no where, "Maybe he's right, maybe you could have done better." "God dammit, Snowball open this door right now." Her tone made it perfectly clear, and the lock was unlocked as the door creaked open. She slipped into the dark bedroom and shut the door behind her, replacing the lock as she sat down next to him, hugging a pillow on his knees. Though the room was barely lit, she could see the tear stains on his face. Always was an emotional wreck, but unlike most it just meant he had a heart. She wrapped her arms around him and held him close, "If I wanted to do better I wouldn't have let you snake that kiss that night at my door. I wouldn't have gone to dinner with you that night, and I sure as hell wouldn't still have this." She got up and went to the bottom drawer of the bed and under the sheets pulled out the hooded t-shirt he had given her that night when she got pranked. She never gave it back because she kept it all these years. "How the hell do you still... Why... do you..." He was blinking in shock. "As I said because something tugged at me. All night long, from our first encounter to the last tmoment of that night. He's an asshole. Okay. My father's a xenophobic asshole and part of me hopes he burns alive for eternity because all I really want is you. I told you that than, I'm telling you this now, and if I ever lost you.....I don't know what I would do. I don't know what Lunabelle would do." "Why can't I do anything right. Not jsut him, but everything I do goes wrong, goes south. How many times do I have to get knocked down before life lets me get up and stay up!? Why won't anything go right?!" He was swelling with tears again but she did her best to sit down and hold him close, "You got me. And you got two great jobs, and you have a daughter who shadows you everywhere you go because she looks up to you, you can see it in her eyes." But his depression was grabbing stronger and stronger, and neither of them knew it. "Look I'll deal with him, you just take the night off, promise me you won't do anything stupid." He looked up at her and said, "Top right drawer on the dresser." Dekota nodded. It meant he wanted her to take his survival knife far away from him, that he was promising to not do anything rash or stupid. Dekota got up, took the knife and tucked it in her jeans pocket before unlocking the door and walking out. He slunk back down crying softly to himself, "Luna....."

Dekota was furious when she got back into the room. "Marylou, take Lunabelle out of here." "Why?" "Do it." Beware a mother's fury, not just whe nyou mess with her cub, but when you mess with her mate as well. Marylou walked out holding Lunabelle and Ace and Jacob followed suit and than her mother left too. Her mother knew what was coming. Her mom was slightly more accepting and wasn't about to s and in her daughters way or infringe on her daughters right to proect wheat she held dear. "Oh now what? Come to lecture me? The man who raised you, kept a roof on your head, paid for your schooling? What a waste that was, all that education to work in a book shop." "Shut The Fuck Up." she said in a very firm tone. Her father raised an eyebrow and stood to his full height of 6 foot 5. "Excuse me, young lady? I'm still your father...." but she cut him off. "And you're still la guest in MY house. You want to talk about attitudes, you know why he's the way he is around you? Because YOU INSTIGATE IT! YOU MAKE HIM THAT WAY! You go on the attack and all he can do is defend himself the only way he knows how to. For fucks sake dad, the poor guy has lost so much in his life. Walk a mile in his paw prints. How would you turn out being raised by an abusive alcoholic, having your mother tripped from you and being forced to live with your grandfather and protect a sister on top of that?! Think that's easy? It probably isn't. I can't stand here and claim to know exactly what it's like, but for fuck's sake, he's doing the best he can tp pull himself out of the gutter and deal with everything life throws at him. And what do you do? Knock him back down because you can't get over being a xenophobic asshole! " "How da...." But Dekota cut him right off again, she was infuriated. Memories of their first encounter flooded back into her mind, remembering how he stood up for her and took care of her. Now it was her turn to repay him. "I'm not finished. If you don't check your attitude, check your mouth and stop insulting my mate, which by the way also insults your Granddaughter has Lunabelle has his genetics in her too, I'm going to ask you to get in your expensive little house, and get the fuck out of here and if you crash in the blizzard well so be it. Now what's it going to be? Get along or get out?!" She was red in the face, and breathing heavya nd hard. No doubt part of the conversation reached the living room. Marylou looked at her mom, "Not going to get in between them, mom?" But her mother shook her head, "Don't get me wrong dear, I love your father to death, but being a mother, you never get in between one defending her family. Been down that path many times myself. Let them work it out themselves." But back in the dining room, the tension reached a boiling point. Her father raised his voice only to stop and drop it down, "YOU LITTLE UNGRA......sigh. Alright. I'm sorry. I'll TRY to get along with the kid." She tapped her foot crossing her arms, "Try? Not good enough. And he has a name. He's not boy or kid or you. At least show him the same respect he tries to show you." He rolled his eyes at his daughter but somehow he knew she wasn't going to back down. When life handed out genetics, she got her father's stubbornness but she put it to work in the right way. He huffed right back at her, "Fine. I'll get along with Snowball." She started calming down, "Thank you." as she turned to walk into the living room. Leaving her father stunned. Did his daughter just do what she just did? Apparently so.

The group spent the next few days snowed in, Ace letting his family know he wasn't at his place but he was okay with the poor Charger of his getting buried in the show, "Many that's not good for the paint," He'd mutter to himself often. But over those few days things seemed to get calmer. Father-in-Law and Son-In-Law avoided each other as much as possible to keep things calm. But things were eatting snowball alive inside. He felt that Thanksgiving being ruined was his fault. He shouldn't have invited him. And that night they got into a heated argument with each other, him and Dekota. "No it's not your fault, his attitude is his problem not yours." "And if I hadn't invited him things would have been calm and quiet..." "And than he'd blame you for not including him and being an arrogant, selfish, asshole." "As opposed to now? Face it. I'm just a fuck up and he knows it, nothing I do is ever going to be good enough for that man, sometimes i wish it was me that was dead not my sister." But Dekota slapped him hard against the face, "D-Don't you EVER fucking say that again! You hear me?! Don't you ever fucking think about leaving us alone, leaving her alone... leaving me alone!" But he was even more frustrated, that was the first time either laid a hand on the other in anger, not that he didn't deserve it, but he got scared and frightened, used to being beaten as a cub, "Wow. I didn't think my wife would turn into my father." She got even crosser, "Don't you compare me to that drunken fucktard. He didn't have your back I did." "Well maybe you should have bet on the right horse and not the lame one being shipped to the glue factory." But she wasn't happy with him as she spouted back, "So you're going to abandon your family like your father huh?!" Snowball got angry and pelt at her with fangs and fury, holding her shirt as he felt his arm curl back before stopping himself. She was right, he was turning into his father and he didn't like it. This wasn't him, He would never in his right mind attack her like this. After letting go he turned and grabbed his hoodie and reached for the door. "Where the hell do you think you're going?!" "For a walk. To clear my head, because if I don't I'll do something that I'l regret and I refuse to turn into my father!" He was angry mostly at himself that the thought of slapping her right back for her stray comment even dared enter his mind. He left in a huff and out onto the freshly plowed streets and started wandering towards downtown. No one dared asked what it was about but a lot of people knew. Snowball wandered the streets. Even though it had only been three or four days sine the blizzard, the town had it cleaned and managed. A lot of people had plows on their trucks and the city would ask for volunteers to help. And so the Christmas decorations began to appear. They had gotten back from the tree lighting that night in the town center near the river when the fight broke out in their bedroom. He was angry, he was upset, and he was very very suicidal. He lost everything, or so he told himself. It wasn't that he was ungrateful for his wife and daughter, but he was scared, scared of losing them both. It's why he wanted to give Lunabelle up for adoption, afraid life would take her from him, take Dekota from him. Giving into depression is a seriously dark path, and tonight, as he sat there on the railing of the bridge, he gave into temptation, crying to himself as he realized, "They can do so much better than me, I'm just their own dead weight." He swallowed hard and closed his eyes as he fell backwards into the icy cold river, hitting the water as he began to fall further to the bottom, Luna, his mother, His grandfather, Dekota and Lunabelle all on his mind as he began to lose consciousness to the frigid river. And when this was going on, it had been almost an hour and half when Dekota got worried, and told her sister and Ace, that he was missing, he didn't come back, about the fight they had. Everyone, including her parents ran out of the house to try and retrace his steps and find him, leaving Dekota standing in the bedroom, holding Lunabelle close and crying. It had seemed the damage was done, Dekota was angry at herself for even hitting him, even if he deserved the slap and for having the audacity to even bring his father up in the way she did. Her heart was broken, she went after the one person she was trying to protect, to help but further more she didn't know that as he sank to the bottom, as life went out of his eyes. He gave into the greatest fear of all .The stress got to them both, and bot h of them regretted their actions. But all Dekota could do was retrace an old U2 lyric, "A house doesn't make a home, don't leave me here alone......."