The Gallagher House.
Fiona didn't wake up until late at night, groggy and disoriented. She fumbled for her phone and checked the time.
Seeing it, she instantly snapped awake, terrified. She jumped out of bed and rushed downstairs, worried that Liam had been left unattended for so long and something might have happened.
The first floor was dark and silent.
Fiona turned on the lights. She only saw Frank snoring on the sofa; Liam was nowhere to be seen. Realizing Ian must have taken him to their room when he got back, she quickly turned and headed back upstairs.
Gently pushing open the door to Ian and Lip's room, Fiona immediately spotted Liam sleeping soundly in his crib. She let out a silent sigh of relief.
Then, she looked at Ian.
Ian was fast asleep too.
Fiona glanced at Lip's and Carl's beds.
Both beds were empty. Two familiar faces were gone.
Sadness welled up inside her. She sniffled, held back tears, composed herself, and quietly backed out. Then, she went to Debbie's room.
Everything in Debbie's room was exactly as she left it.
Debbie was gone too...
Three people!
Excluding Frank, half of the six Gallaghers were gone...
Fiona felt dizzy and swayed, struggling to stand.
Then, she thought of Steve...
A few minutes later.
Outside the Gallagher back door.
Fiona, not even knowing how she walked out there, looked up at the starry night sky and gave a despairing smile. Then, she picked up a bottle of cheap liquor and chugged it—glug, glug, glug.
After downing half the bottle in one go, Fiona lit a cigarette and blew out a cloud of smoke.
"Fxxk you!"
"Why are you doing this to me?"
"Fking world!"
"..."
Before long, a drunken Fiona was crying and angrily cursing Steve, cursing Veronica and Kevin, cursing Dexter, cursing God, cursing the world, and railing against all the unfairness.
Next door.
Dexter was woken up by the noise. He opened his eyes and listened, finding it amusing. After a moment's thought, he got out of bed quietly, went downstairs to his own back door, lit a cigarette, and looked over at Fiona.
Fiona was already drunk, still cursing up a storm.
Dexter smoked quietly, watching.
Alcohol...
Frank was a total alcoholic who eventually drank himself to death.
Lip's life was completely ruined, and alcohol played a huge part in that.
Fiona... was actually pretty much the same.
Drank some booze, slept with Mike's brother right under Mike's nose...
What about Carl?
After Carl grew up a bit, he wasn't interested in alcohol—just the occasional beer. He wasn't interested in drugs, and barely even smoked.
So, Carl's life prospered, and he became God Carl.
Alcohol really isn't good stuff.
But, how should I put it?
In America, too many people are alcoholics. And the poorer people are, the more they love to drink, the more they love to numb themselves with alcohol just to get that tiny bit of luxurious happiness.
It's a tragic thing.
Dexter , cigarette dangling from his lips, watched quietly, lost in thought.
Bianca, wearing her pajamas, walked up beside Dexter and gently linked her arm through his. She also looked at Fiona, who was having a drunken breakdown next door.
Bianca didn't know Fiona well; in fact, they had barely interacted.
But Bianca was kind.
So, seeing Fiona like this, she couldn't help but feel some sympathy.
Driven by sympathy, Bianca whispered to Dexter , "What happened to her?"
Dexter smiled faintly. "It's a complicated question, but the answer is probably 'life.'"
Having lived here for a while, Bianca knew a bit about Fiona's life. "She really has it tough, raising five kids alone."
"Yeah, in that regard, she does deserve respect," Dexter said with some emotion, speaking the truth.
Over this period, his occasional tormenting of the Gallagher family didn't mean he denied Fiona's strength in this area.
When it came to taking care of Lip and the other four, he did somewhat admire Fiona.
But when it came to other aspects—character, actions, values... that was a different story.
So, this touched on an interesting question.
If I do whatever it takes to feed my family, regardless of how many others I hurt...
What kind of person am I?
Dexter thought of some situations he had seen back in his hometown.
In that land, women raising several children alone wasn't super common, but it wasn't rare either.
Those women worked from dawn to dusk, endured hardships, and raised their children without complaint.
Those women wouldn't mess around like Fiona did...
Compared to Fiona, those women were truly worthy of respect, truly admirable, truly great.
Listen to Fiona screaming...
God is unfair? The world is unfair? Thinking she has it the hardest?
Heh.
Is this hardship?
Besides, this hardship was mostly created by Fiona herself.
Thinking of the tragic scenes he'd seen back home, Dexter suddenly lost interest in watching Fiona wail. He looked away. "Go back to sleep. You have work tomorrow."
Bianca blinked, glanced at Fiona one last time. "Okay."
They went back inside and upstairs to rest.
Outside the Gallagher back door.
Fiona's cursing gradually faded until it stopped.
Fiona passed out drunk, snoring loudly.
---
Juvenile Detention Center.
In the dark, Debbie, who had been beaten again during the day, was wide awake. She waited, filled with rage.
She didn't wait long.
The guard finished patrol, and the footsteps faded away.
Confirming this, Debbie didn't hesitate. She got out of bed quietly and crept toward a blonde inmate in the same cell.
This blonde bitch had hit her twice!
She was going to give this bitch a taste of Gallagher justice!
The blonde girl was fast asleep, dreaming sweetly, completely unaware of Debbie's approach.
Debbie reached the blonde's bedside, looked down at her for a few seconds, then clenched her fist with all her strength.
The next second.
Debbie moved, swinging her fist with full force, aiming straight for the blonde's throat!
The punch landed...
The blonde's eyes shot open in pain, unable to breathe.
Debbie didn't waste time. Whoosh. She mounted the blonde, fists flying. Bam, bam, bam. Punches rained down on the blonde girl's face like a storm!
"You bitch! I'll kill you!"
"I'm going to kill you!!"
Debbie went berserk, screaming as she pummeled her.
Hit in the throat, struggling to breathe, consciousness fading, the blonde couldn't fight back at all. She could only take the beating.
One second, two seconds, three seconds...
Because of Debbie's screaming, the other girls in the cell woke up.
Two of them were friends with the blonde. Seeing what was happening through the gloom, they scrambled to move.
Unfortunately, having just woken up, their eyes hadn't adjusted to the darkness. Even if they wanted to be fast, they couldn't be. They could only scream in anger.
Debbie's eyes had long adjusted to the dark. She clearly saw the two girls trying to come over. Ignoring them for now, she continued to beat the blonde frantically.
Another few seconds passed.
Finally, the two girls arrived, roaring as they threw themselves at Debbie!
In an instant, four girls, including Debbie, were brawling on the same narrow bed.
At this moment, Debbie was no different from a mad dog. Using hands, feet, and even teeth...
Moments later.
Inmates in nearby cells were woken up one by one. The whole block was in an uproar.
Soon, inevitably, the lights came on. Several guards rushed in, stormed Debbie's cell, and forcefully separated the four girls.
Now, under the lights.
Although Debbie was grimacing in pain, a clear, triumphant smile was plastered on her large, freckled face.
The blonde girl's face was swollen, her complexion ashen, looking miserable.
The other two girls weren't much better off. They had bloody scratches on their faces and blood on their bodies!
"Gallagher! You're dead!"
"I'm gonna kill you!"
"Bitch! You can't escape!"
"..."
The blonde and her friends screamed hysterically.
Listening to them, Debbie—emboldened by finally winning a fight and believing she would win again—wasn't scared at all. She sneered. "Heh. If you dare mess with me again, I'll beat you all to death! I swear!!"
Still screaming at each other, they were taken away by the guards and thrown into solitary confinement.
The girls' block slowly quieted down, and the inmates went back to sleep.
---
Canada, A Hospital.
Thanks to the medication, the physical pain had been reduced to a bearable level. But Lip had a huge headache over one problem.
What about the medical bill?
If he didn't pay the bill, would the hospital let him leave?
Lip wanted to find a chance to escape.
Problem was, police were guarding the door in shifts, twenty-four hours a day. And he couldn't move easily.
What to do?
There was no way he could pay that much money...
He had to find a way to trick the cops outside into leaving...
In the dark, Lip stared wide-eyed, racking his brain for plans.
He thought for a long time.
A plan emerged.
The Canadians' good temper, in Lip's view, was utter stupidity. It was an advantage he had to exploit.
He even felt that if he didn't take advantage of such stupidity, it would be a waste.
With a plan, Lip relaxed slightly. Then, he thought about how to kill Steve when he got back. After that, he thought of Karen.
Thinking of her, as a sex addict, Lip naturally got aroused and craved fking Karen.
...
Chicago, South Side.
In a decent hotel.
Karen was fking two handsome guys she met last night.
Even though it was late at night, the three of them were wide awake, full of energy, and having a blast.
Of the three, Karen was having the most fun.
The main reason wasn't the threesome, or the "happiness," but because she had hidden a camera very discreetly in a corner of the room beforehand.
The camera was capturing everything.
Heh.
Karen glanced at the camera and felt even happier, unable to stop imagining piles of cash.
This batch should make a lot.
Maybe I should open a tanning salon. Have my own business.
Then, ask Dexter for help. I can definitely make more money!
Karen didn't really have any future plans, nor did she know these thoughts counted as future planning.
She just purely wanted to make more money and live a good life.
And right now, what she was doing was just her way of making money.
Aside from being pretty, she didn't have other skills.
So, using her only asset to make money—what was wrong with that?
Karen saw no problem with it.
After all, she was getting laid anyway. Why not get paid?
Karen thought of Fiona again and wanted to laugh.
Slept with over a hundred men, didn't get a dime, still living that bitter life. Got fked for nothing. Stupid! Karen recited silently. Fiona's example only solidified her resolve to make money this way.
---
A New Day.
Dawn broke, the sun rose.
After driving all night with a few hours of rest in the car, Tony finally arrived at the hospital parking lot where Lip was.
Parking the car, Tony got out, yawned hugely, and stretched.
Having fked Fiona twice yesterday, his energy was low. After driving all night, Tony was exhausted and desperate for sleep.
Unfortunately, no can do.
For the happiness of his "little brother," business first.
Tony shook himself out, walked into the hospital, found a vending machine, bought a coffee, and walked straight to Lip's ward while sipping it.
It was still early; the hospital was quiet.
At the ward door, Tony politely woke up the sleeping Canadian officer.
They talked.
The Canadian attitude was simple: as long as Lip left Canada quickly, they were good. "Of course, the hospital bill still needs to be paid."
Tony hadn't really thought about the medical bill beforehand. He paused slightly but recovered quickly.
No need to worry.
Fiona had to handle the money anyway. How she handled it wasn't Tony's business or concern.
Moments later.
Tony pushed open the door and saw Lip.
Seeing him, especially Lip's swollen upper and lower lips...
Tony was shocked and wanted to laugh. He held it in and woke Lip up.
Lip woke up, blinked, cleared his head a bit, and greeted Tony. "Tony."
His tone was still arrogant, no different from before.
And no thanks. Not a shred of gratitude shown.
Who the fk would like this attitude?
Tony didn't like it, but thinking of Fiona's pussy, he swallowed his annoyance and smiled. "How are you holding up? Okay?"
"Alright. Nothing major," Lip replied.
They chatted blandly for a bit. With nothing else to say, they got to the point.
Tony said he would go check with the Canadian police immediately, then go to the embassy to ask about the emergency passport.
After that.
"Also, you need to figure out the medical bill for your treatment here," Tony added, handing his phone to Lip. "Call Fiona."
Lip did want to call Fiona, but he had no intention of paying any medical bill. "Don't worry about the bill. Just get the passport, and I can leave."
Tony: "..."
The fact that Gallaghers never paid hospital bills was common knowledge in their South Side neighborhood.
Tony knew it too. So, hearing this, he immediately understood Lip's plan. He panicked, his expression changing to serious. "This isn't Chicago! If you skip the bill, the hospital will call the police. We might get stopped at the border!"
"If that happens, do you know how serious the consequences are?"
Fiona's pussy was nice, but not nice enough for Tony to commit a crime for it.
Tony didn't want to end up like that idiot Steve—arrested and with a record for the Gallaghers.
Hearing this, Lip frowned. He immediately looked down on Tony, feeling that Tony, like that bastard Steve, was a pussy, not a real man!
"Tony, I've thought it through. There will be absolutely no problem!" Lip vowed. "Once I leave here, we go straight to the border."
"The hospital discovering I'm gone, calling the police, the police processing it... all takes time."
"This isn't a major case. The police won't prioritize it. By the time they start looking for me, we'll be back in America."
"Zero risk!"
Tony: "..."
Damn Gallagher logic is ridiculous.
Tony was forced into silence for a moment. Then, without hesitation, he shook his head decisively. "No! I'm a cop. I don't do crimes. The bill must be paid!"
Hearing this.
Lip wanted to curse but held it back. "Do you know how much the bill is?"
Tony did. "Over six thousand dollars."
Lip frowned tight, taking a silent breath. "Then go deal with the cop outside. I'll call Fiona and figure out a way to get the money."
"Okay," Tony sighed in relief and left the room.
"Fxxking pussy!" Once Tony was gone, Lip cursed viciously under his breath. Then, he slowly moved his body, sat up, and called Fiona.
---
Gallagher House, Back Door.
Fiona, looking almost exactly like a drunken Frank, was still curled up on the floor, sleeping soundly.
Phone rang.
Fiona didn't hear it.
Phone kept ringing...
Ian, who had just gotten up and come downstairs, heard it. He identified the sound and walked puzzledly to the back door. Seeing Fiona on the ground surrounded by empty bottles, he felt a moment of disorientation, thinking he was seeing that scumbag Frank instead of Fiona.
After a few seconds.
Ian snapped out of it, sighed, squatted down, and shook Fiona. "Fiona, wake up. Wake up..."
The ringing stopped.
Then, started again.
Finally, with Ian's shaking, Fiona groggily opened her eyes.
Seeing Ian, Fiona gave a silly smile. "Oh, Ian. Sun's up."
The stench of alcohol hit Ian's face. He frowned instinctively, disgusted. "How much did you drink... Wake up. Someone's calling you. Been ringing for a while."
Reminded by Ian, Fiona realized what the vague noise she heard earlier was. She fished her phone out of her pocket and looked.
Tony's name on the screen...
Instantly, Fiona sobered up halfway. Thinking of Lip, she sat up hurriedly and answered. "Tony, are you there?"
Hearing Fiona's voice, Lip smiled. "Not Tony. It's me."
Hearing Lip's voice again, Fiona smiled instinctively. "Lip, you okay? Ian's here, I'm putting you on speaker."
Speaker on. The three Gallaghers exchanged words, displaying the warmth of Gallagher family affection.
Done. Lip got to the point, briefly explaining the medical bill situation. "That pussy Tony insists I pay the bill. The way he's acting, if I don't pay, he won't take me back."
"Fiona, you were right not to like him!"
At this moment, Fiona was completely sober. Listening to this, she and Ian fell into a tacit silence.
Six thousand dollars. Should they pay?
Actually, yes. The hospital treated Lip. Without it, who knows what state he'd be in.
Was Tony right?
From Tony's perspective, absolutely...
Fiona knew this and understood Tony's insistence.
But compared to six thousand dollars, that understanding was insignificant.
Besides.
Helping kin over reason is a fine Gallagher tradition.
"What do you think we should do?" This problem was too complex. Even without alcohol in her system, Fiona wouldn't know how to handle it immediately.
"We don't have that kind of money," Lip had a plan. "I'll try to persuade Tony. Fiona, you call him later. He's your simp; you convincing him will be more effective."
"Tell him if the police do catch us, he just insists he didn't know anything. He can totally bluff his way through."
"Don't worry. Police efficiency in this shithole Canada is terrible. It's just skipping a bill; I definitely won't get caught."
Lip always looked down on systems and rules, taking pride in challenging them and finding loopholes. He spoke with absolute certainty.
Fiona couldn't decide.
Ian's expression changed. He didn't speak, but suddenly understood a little more why the Gallagher family ended up like this.
"Fiona?" Getting no response, Lip asked.
Fiona snapped back, forced herself to nod. "Okay. I'll call Tony later."
After a few more words, the call ended.
Fiona sighed, stood up slowly, preparing to go inside and shower.
Just then, Ian hesitated, deciding to speak up. Try to persuade her a little. If it didn't work, fine. "Fiona, let's figure out a way to pay that bill."
Hearing this, Fiona looked at Ian, stunned. "????"
"In less than a year, you, me, Lip, Debbie—either jail or juvie," Ian said seriously. "Have you thought about why?"
Fiona was startled. "?????"
"We don't follow the law. Lip even likes to challenge it. Debbie and Carl watch what I do, what you do, what Lip does."
"Why do you think Debbie not only kidnapped a kid but still doesn't think she did anything wrong?"
"Fiona, we really need to live normally, learn to follow the rules. Otherwise, it won't be long before another one of us gets caught and locked up."
Ian's expression grew more serious as he said all this in one breath.
Fiona was dumbfounded. She couldn't help but remember what Steve said on the phone.
Reflect...
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