Chapter Text
December 16th 1986... Five years later
Five, goddamn years. That's how long the brothers had to serve their sentence, the rest of the band were let out of Joliet early for good behavior. Which in itself was ironic since the only crime they committed was unknowingly being accomplices in the crimes and laws the brothers broke and committed. Once given their fedoras, suits, and sunglasses they were somewhat acceptable members of society again. Although they were given no jackets despite it being the middle of december, and snowing.
"Jesus, it's freezing." Jake shivered.
After hitchhiking to the nearest used car lot, finding a suitable replacement for the bluesmobile they decided to find somewhere to get some decent food after having the crap they typically serve in prison. Stopping at a small diner in the Heart of Chicago.
Just around the corner, a beat up station wagon pulled behind their car. a young girl climbed out, looking inside as the vehicle pulled away. Leaving her on the sidewalk with nothing but a suitcase, and a five dollar bill. While only having a name and two details to go by;
"𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳'𝘴 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘌𝘭𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘥."
She heard her mother's voice echoed, this was ridiculous. She was left in the city to look for a man with the stupidest description ever. "Thanks for nothing again, mother."
Going inside, we see the two men chatting amongst themselves. Discussing what's next for them. But the bubble of their own little world is popped, and the rest of their lives (Mostly Elwood's) is changed forever. "You seen my dad?" An awkward silence fell, the unwarranted tension became so thick you could cut through it. The brothers looked back at each other, then back at the girl standing in front of them.
"What?" Jake blurted out, the girl rolled her eyes. Already annoyed by even asking anyone the question in the first place.
"I'm looking for my dad." She huffed, Jake straightened out his tie and leaned back against the booth.
"Sorry kid, we don't do lost and found." Elwood simply nodded, that would have been just that had the girl not been more persistent.
"Fine, well have either of you seen my dad? He's wearing sunglasses I guess and I don't know what else... Hopefully clothes."
"And who exactly are you?" Jake asked, eyeing her up and down with suspicion.
"Erin, do you know him or not? I'd rather not be here any longer than I want." Another beat of silence followed, just as Elwood was going to speak again. Jake interjected.
"Ohhh... Could you excuse us short stack?" Erin gave an offended look, as the two men stood up from the booth. Leaning in close to hush the conversation.
"I'm just saying, we don't know what trick she might be playing right now." Jake hushed, not sure how to feel about Erin. Then again he and Elwood weren't exactly innocent themselves at that age either.
"She probably just got lost and needs help looking for her old man."
"El, she's trying to pull a long con. She could be a midget for all we know pretending to be a-" They both look back at Erin. "How old are ya?"
"Fourteen." She answered with very little enthusiasm.
"Thanks." They gave a slight nod of appreciation, before resuming their hushed talking.
"Pretending to be a fucking fourteen year old!" He hushed, though Elwood had his own question.
"Ain't she a little tall to be a dwarf?"
"Come on, we've seen midgets that look seven. She's probably one of the tall ones. Y'know or one that could pass for twelve or something."
While they were talking about whatever it even was about at this point. Erin was feeling herself grow more bored, and like she might lose it listening to them any longer. She had to get out of there, her eyes darted over to the keys on the table. "Screw this." She whispered to herself, turning away from the brothers as she swiftly grabbed the keys.
"Okay, fine. How about we just ask?" Jake whispered as they turned back around. "
Hey, are you one of those tall midgets or something- Where did the kid go?" They looked around the diner, spotting Erin outside In the car... Their car.
"Shit, she's taking the bluesmobile!" Jake exclaimed, as he pushed aside a passing waiter. Causing the poor man to drop the plates and drinks he was carrying, Elwood followed in pursuit. Also leaving a trail of chaos.
Erin hit the steering wheel in frustration, the engine was stalling as if some divine intervention was preventing her from leaving this godforsaken city, her mother dumped her in. "Start, damnit start!" She said through gritted teeth, being caught by surprise as she was yanked out of the driver's seat. "Let me go now!"
"Why, so you can steal our car? Think again." Jake pushed her onto the side.
"Fuck this." Before Erin could make an escape, she was held up from the collar of her jacket by Elwood.
"Let me go, I don't even wanna be here! Especially if the guy my mom told me to look for isn't here!" Erin kicked her legs out, eventually being lifted up and over his shoulder. "Put, me down!"
"Take it easy, and watch your head." Elwood said, after Erin had hit her head in the backseat before he joined Jake in the front.
"Augh, what the hell is your guy's problem? What are you, the F.B.I?" Jake just chuckled at her confusion.
"We're a lot better than those pricks. We're the blues brothers."
Erin just glared back. "Who?" She never heard of them, Jake swore he was about to have a stroke or aneurysm. Elwood's mind was somewhere else. "What, you've never heard of us?"
"No."
Jake had to refrain himself from fancying the idea of possibly hitting a minor. Once. "Alright, missy. Well, where's your old lady?"
"Probably rejoicing in the fact I'm stuck here with your fat ass." Erin snapped back, causing the stout man in front of her to cackle.
"And what's your ma's name?" Jake raised an eye brow. "Linda." Erin responded, keeping her gaze on Elwood.
"God, if you're supposed to be him. I'd rather go back home, so just let me- What the, did you lock me back here?!"
"Let me out, I'm just trying to look for the stupid sperm donor. His name is Elwood!"
Erin's protesting was tuned out while Jake and Elwood discussed what this could mean for them. "Have you even been with anyone named Linda, who popped out that lovely little girl?" Jake asked, draping his arm across the seat.
"No, but there was that one time. Remember?" Jake slowly nodded as he looked back at the good times when they were younger.
"Yeah, that party we went to. You were all over that blonde-" The realization hit them both simultaneously, the mystery now solved on how Elwood wasn't aware of Erin's existence. He was seventeen.
"Oh..."
"Shit." Jake finished after Elwood, as the reality of their situation sunk in.
"Can you open the door already?!"
"Now hold on there, where's your ma at?" They both waited for her answer.
"Tch, I don't know. Probably heading back to Pittsburgh."
"That's in Pennsylvania right?"
"No shit, it's in Pennsylvania" Erin answered Elwood's question.
A beat of silence followed, before Jake announced. "Excuse us for a bit, Erik. Grown-ups gotta chat."
"It's Erin-" They closed the door on her, but leaving the back window cracked for air.
"Don't worry, heating doesn't work but you'll be fine." Elwood assured, despite her frustration. "We can't just let her hitchhike all the way back."
"Unless she tries to nab the car again." Erin's screams of anger can be heard from inside, as people passing through with their items bought for the Christmas season.
"Don't worry, she's just upset she didn't get to see Santa." Jake shouted, before turning his attention back to Elwood.
"So what, we gonna give her a ride back?"
"She's a minor, and a girl. That's enough reason to help her out." Elwood argued, even though there wasn't much to argue about.
"Right, and your kid..." Jake shrugged, adjusting his tie as he leaned against the car's hood. "Alright, let's hit the road." He pushed himself off, almost tripping over Erin's discarded luggage.
"Jesus, almost broke my neck." He picked it up, opening the door on his side as Elwood started the engine. "Forgot something? Don't worry, we'll have you home by Christmas."
He tossed the suitcase at Erin, who grunted in response. "What? I don't need any help getting home."
"Yeah ya do."
Elwood replied. The blues mobile drove off, just as the diners owner yelled at them for the mess they made, and their unpaid meal.
Erin groaned, letting her head fall back against the seat. She turned her head toward the window, getting a somewhat decent view of the falling snow. She doesn't need help, never needed anyone but herself. But now she had no choice. She might die surrounded by the strangest men she's ever seen.