Philophobia

Forty-Seven; Brother

February 24th, 2011
5:41 pm
The Spark's Family Home
Lafayette Parish, Lousiana

Lizzie and Eliza stood by the front door as Reid followed Sammy towards the piano. Eliza watched Reid carefully as he moved.

"When was the last time you saw him?" Eliza asked eventually, tired of silence.

"On his fifth birthday," Lizzie said.

"Five years," Eliza replied, shocked.

"Charlie and I had a fight. It got ugly. I haven't seen either one of them since." Lizzie was quiet for a moment. "Do you think Charlie's going to be ok?"

"I'm hopeful." Eliza smiled, her eyes watching Reid as he approached the empty side of the piano.

"Sammy, would it be all right if I sat here?" Reid took Sammy's nod as a yes and sat down beside the boy. He waited a moment then played a scale. Sammy copied his movements, playing the scale in a higher key. "You've been holding out on me, Sammy!" Reid laughed.

"I didn't know you could play, Spence," Eliza said softly.

"I can't. Well, I never have before, but it's essentially all math," he shrugged. "Sammy, how about you play this note." He played a note on the piano. "For yes, and this note." He played a lower note. "For no. Does that sound like something you could do?" Sammy played the high note. "Yeah, exactly. Just like that," smiled Reid. "Now, Sammy, do you remember when the man came and took your parents away?" Sammy played the key corresponding with yes. There was silence before Sammy hit the note several times, using it as a segue into a piece of music. He played for a few moments, Eliza and Lizzie looking at him."Sammy, I don't understand. Does this song mean something to you?" Reid asked softly.

Sammy removed his hand from the piano, moving it towards Reid's slowly. He lifted Reid's hand, placing it on the piano softly. Sammy then pushed each of Reid's fingers on a key so the genius could play the same melody as the child. Sammy removed his hand, placing it further up the piano. He began plucking the notes to the song's melody in the higher key, his eyes cast towards the ceiling. After a while, Reid took up the same tune, playing in sync with Sammy. Lizzie and Eliza watched for a moment before Lizzie took off, hiding herself in the depths of the house. Eliza watched a minute more, Reid and Sammy connected with an unspoken language.

Noticing Lizzie was gone, she left the room to search for the aunt, eventually finding her in Sammy's room. Lizzie was looking through a flipbook, sniffling as she did. Cautiously, Eliza took a step into the room not wanting to startle Lizzie.

"Everything all right?" she asked softly, sitting on Sammy's bed beside Lizzie.

"I'm a stranger in my own brother's house," Lizzie replied quietly. "My nephew doesn't recognize me. And then I find this. Charlie told Sammy about me. I always assumed that he'd never know who I was."

"He was your brother. He cared about you, even if he wasn't that great at showing it," Eliza said.

"He's gonna make a great dad you know." Lizzie smiled at the agent. Eliza furrowed her eyebrows.

"Who? Spencer?"

"Yeah. I mean, look how much he cares about Sammy. I can't imagine how much love his own kid would get."

"I'm sorry," Eliza said hesitantly. "Why are you telling me this?"

"I, uh, I heard him call you 'babe' earlier. Before we left. I just sort of made an assumption," Lizzie said almost apologetic.

"Oh, don't worry about it." Eliza bit the inside of her cheek slightly, allowing silence to fill the room. "Do you mind my asking what the fight was about?"