The Gallagher House.
Tony was still shouting triumphantly outside the front door.
Carl blinked, shifted his body slightly, and looked toward the back door.
Fiona and the others had already run out.
Carl glanced at Debbie again, then with a face full of annoyance, he walked toward the front door and responded, "Coming."
A moment later.
The door opened.
"Tony," Carl greeted irritably.
Tony smiled faintly. "We have to come in."
"Come on in," Carl said, turning and walking back inside.
Tony and his partner entered the house one after another. As soon as they entered, they smelled the very clear and strong scent of weed.
Tony deliberately took a deep breath and smiled at Carl. "Throwing a party, huh? Looks like a lot of weed was smoked."
Carl kept a sullen face, glanced at Tony, and didn't make a sound.
The three of them walked into the living room.
Tony knew the Gallagher house situation all too well. He smiled and headed straight for the back door, arriving outside in a few steps and looking out.
It was summer. Even at night, the light outside was decent enough to allow one to basically see the situation clearly.
Tony didn't see Fiona and her crew, so he decisively looked down at his feet, basically concluding that they were hiding under the stairs.
So, Tony stomped his foot with a brilliant smile and asked Carl without looking back, "Carl, where did Fiona and the others run off to?"
Carl hadn't followed him out. Hearing this, he was silent for a moment before replying, "Don't know. Maybe went to work, haven't come back yet."
Gallaghers were all excellent liars.
Tony was no stranger to this. He said, "Carl, did you know? Fiona does drugs, Frank does drugs. If I catch them, I have an obligation to notify DCFS, let DCFS take you guys away and send you to foster homes."
As soon as these words came out.
Carl was indifferent and didn't say anything.
Debbie's heart tightened. Not for herself—after all, she had to go back to juvie tomorrow—but for Liam, who was right beside her and understood nothing.
Fiona, who was indeed hiding under the stairs, shuddered instantly. She was a mess of panic and regret, terrified at the thought of the kids being taken by DCFS. Her eyes grew moist, and she instinctively bit her lip.
Comrade "Hundred-Men-Slayer" Fiona was exactly this kind of person... thought she was hot sht, felt that doing some wrong things wouldn't lead to trouble. But once trouble hit, she would panic like crazy and regret like hell...
People like this share a common trait: no brains, never considering the consequences beforehand.
Ian watched Fiona with a slightly twisted expression, genuinely feeling that, damn it, he had really had enough of this house.
Tony didn't get a response and didn't care. He continued, "Actually, just based on the smell of weed in this house, I could notify DCFS immediately."
Hearing this, Debbie got anxious. She hurriedly ran up to Tony and pleaded, "Tony, don't do this... Fiona is a bitch, and I understand you hate her."
"We didn't hurt you. Don't do this to us. Liam is still so small, he's innocent."
Tony was actually a good person. If he hadn't been hurt so badly by Fiona, he wouldn't have "turned dark" to this extent.
But even though he had turned dark, Tony hadn't gone completely to the dark side; his conscience was still there.
So, looking at Debbie, Tony thought for a moment. "Debbie, have you ever thought about it? Maybe it would be better for Liam if DCFS sent him to a foster home."
"If Liam continues to live here and is raised by a bitch like Fiona, what will he become in the future?"
"Do you want to see Liam go to juvie, go to prison later on?"
These piercing words drifted into her ears.
Debbie froze, suddenly speechless.
Fiona was mad enough to go crazy, and at the same time, terrified to death.
The very shrewd Frank finally figured out the change in the relationship between Tony and Fiona. Confused, he opened his mouth and whispered, "Fiona, what exactly did you do to Tony?"
Hearing this, Fiona glared at Frank through teary eyes and didn't make a sound.
One second, two seconds, three seconds.
Seeing Debbie remain silent, Tony smiled. "Alright, forget it for tonight. But, you remember to tell Fiona, this is the last time."
"Next time, I will arrest her. I will contact DCFS. I won't be polite again."
Hearing this, Debbie was truly frightened by Tony's tough tone. She nodded hurriedly. "Okay, I will definitely tell her. Thank you."
So, juvenile detention was indeed effective. If it were before, being threatened like this, Debbie absolutely wouldn't have reacted this way.
Tony said no more. He deliberately stomped his foot again, then turned and walked away.
Soon.
Tony and his partner returned to the police car, turned off the sirens, and drove away.
---
Confirming Tony and the other cop were gone.
Debbie's expression was incredibly complex, her round face so dark it looked like it could drip blood. She walked out the back door, then spoke with genuine difficulty, "Tony is gone. You can come back now."
Hearing this.
Frank immediately crawled out from the gap under the stairs with an indifferent look, stretched his muscles, and cursed unhappily, "Damn cops, nothing but fcking trouble..."
Frank cursed non-stop.
Monica, Fiona, and the others walked out one after another.
Fiona, her face covered in tear streaks, subconsciously glanced at Frank, then looked up, her eyes filled with guilt as she looked toward Debbie.
Their eyes met. Fiona parted her lips, just about to apologize.
Debbie withdrew her gaze, turned straight around, and marched back into the house.
Seeing this scene, the words of apology were stuck in her throat, unable to come out. Fiona felt like she had been slapped hard by Debbie. Instantly, her body shook violently.
Ian saw it clearly, but out of disgust, he said nothing, just walking upstairs on his own.
Lip was closest to Fiona... Although because of the Jimmy incident, Lip temporarily considered Fiona an enemy, in a situation like this, Lip still felt heartache. Because of that heartache, he spoke up, comforting Fiona. "Fi, stop crying. Let's go back in first and talk to Debbie. She'll understand."
Understand?
Probably not.
Fiona's body suddenly shook even more violently.
Seeing this, Monica hurriedly hugged Fiona with a mournful face. "Oh, Fiona, it's not your fault. It's that pig Tony's fault..."
Gallagher House, First Floor Living Room.
Carl sat on the sofa, picked up a bottle of beer from the coffee table, and chugged a few mouthfuls.
At this moment, Debbie, her small face dark, also sat on the sofa.
Carl turned his head to look at Debbie and spoke up. "Is juvie fun?"
Hearing this, Debbie nodded. "More fun than here."
---
A few minutes later.
The five of them returned to the living room.
Fiona, whose eyes were red from crying, immediately shuffled over, her body trembling slightly, and squatted in front of Debbie. "Debbie..."
Debbie stared at Fiona without blinking, having not the slightest interest in hearing Fiona's nonsense. She spoke immediately. "I thought you took our conversation earlier seriously."
"But obviously you didn't."
"Then let me make it even clearer to you now. I don't want to stay in a home like this, and I don't want anything to do with a home like this."
"You drink, you do drugs, that's your business. Don't drag me into it."
saying this in one breath, Debbie got up decisively and marched upstairs.
"Debbie..." Lip got anxious, calling out hurriedly, wanting to stop Debbie from leaving.
Fiona went limp, collapsing on the floor, tears falling like rain. Her lips trembled wildly, but she couldn't say half a word.
Ian looked at Fiona, feeling both heartache and anger. After a brief internal struggle, in the end, he said nothing either and started walking upstairs.
"Ian," at this moment, the heartache for Fiona had triumphed over hate. Seeing Ian leave too, Lip called out, "Don't go. Let's talk."
"Nothing to talk about," Ian didn't look back. "Too much bullshit. Like Debbie, I don't want to be involved."
Debbie was still young and had stayed in juvie for so long. Saying this... Lip could somewhat accept it.
But Ian wasn't young anymore. In this situation, to actually say this... Lip couldn't accept it.
Lip was furious. The anger that had accumulated for years erupted instantly. He roared, "Ian Gallagher!! You are a member of this family! How can you say such things!"
Hearing this, Ian just found it ridiculous. He shook his head, said nothing, and continued upstairs.
Lip was instantly so angry the veins on his forehead popped out. "Ian!"
At this time, Fiona, collapsed on the floor, was already crying so hard she was gasping for air, as if she would pass out at any moment.
Monica was frantic. She hurriedly sat behind Fiona, supporting her with her body. "Fiona, it's okay. Don't be so sad. Debbie and Ian just need to sleep, and they won't be like this..."
Frank was getting a little impatient. He couldn't be bothered with this crap and wanted to go back to the Alibi... But Frank wasn't completely devoid of humanity. Deep down, he actually knew how much Fiona had sacrificed for this family and knew he couldn't leave right now. So he had to suppress his impatience, pulled a joint from his pocket, and lit it.
The sound of the lighter.
Click.
Monica, Lip, and Carl all looked at Frank together.
"Jesus, Frank! What are you doing?" Monica shouted urgently.
"?????" Lip was even more furious, roaring, "Frank, get out!!"
Carl couldn't help but find it too amusing, laughing straight out.
Frank took a fierce drag of the joint, not caring in the slightest. "What? Tony won't come back again."
Hearing this.
"Hehe, hehe, hehe~~~" Fiona suddenly laughed maniacally.
This version of Fiona was truly no different from a lunatic.
Carl watched for two seconds. Honestly, he had had enough and couldn't hold on anymore. He didn't want to stay here, so he stood up. "I'm going back. See you another day."
"Carl..." Lip knew Fiona couldn't handle Carl and the others leaving. He immediately tried to persuade him, "Sit a little longer..."
Before he could finish.
Suddenly.
Fiona spoke, laughing incredibly maniacally, "Leave. Everyone leave. I don't care anymore. I don't care... Hahahaha, hahahaha!"
Fiona laughed loudly.
Laughing and laughing.
Fiona's body tipped over, her eyes closed, and she collapsed to the floor, passing out.