The Unmistakable Fire

A Rocky IV/Creed II Fanfic

By Auburn Red

VII Tovarich

Viktor Drago knocked on the hotel door and waited patiently as Rocky opened the door. "Hey Kid, the others are inside." He led Viktor to the suite where he greeted Adonis and Bianca while Rocky sat nearby in the kitchen area. "Hey Viktor." Hi, Vik." They greeted at the same time. "How's your dad?" Bianca asked.

Viktor nodded. "He is, he's alright as can be expected. Hasn't eaten in two days, but he sleeps mostly. It is good that he does. He is tired so very tired. In Kiev he does not sleep enough. Hope he wakes up soon though, we will check out tomorrow."

"Yeah we do too," Rocky said.

"Big thank you for making me go last night," Viktor said to his new friends.

"Hey you needed it," Bianca said.

"I think we all needed a breather," Adonis agreed. The previous night, Adonis and Bianca insisted on inviting Viktor with them as they went out drinking and clubbing. At first Viktor refused feeling that it was his duty to watch over his father. But his new American friends persisted telling him that he needed a break for one night. Rocky even offered to look in on Ivan for him. The three had a great time dancing, laughing, singing, sharing childhood memories, and lots of drinking.

Viktor never knew what it was like to just have a good time with friends his own age. His father's training and his own introverted nature and suspicions of others got in the way. It was interesting how effortlessly Adonis and Bianca accepted him into their circle and how he actually enjoyed being included.

"Father gave you no trouble did he?"

Viktor asked Rocky.

Rocky shrugged. "Not really, I mean he woke up once and didn't seem too thrilled that I was there. Uh, what does 'Trakhni Tebya' mean?"

Viktor nodded sheepishly. "Exactly what you think it does."

"Yeah thought so," Rocky said dryly. "The pronunciation is you know practically universal. I answered with a 'Vaffanculo.'"

"Same thing," Viktor realized. "I seen Godfather. He did not fight you after?"

"Nah, I told him you told me to look in on him. He wasn' happy about it none.

But you know he fell right back to sleep and slept the rest of the night. Youse want me to keep that bag here?" He whispered.

"For now, please," Viktor replied. The first thing they did upon returning hotel after rescuing Ivan was return the gun to Dimitri. At first he refused to refund the money but the obvious threatening looks from two young boxers made him return it with interest.

The night before he left with Adonis and Bianca, Viktor gave Rocky a small bag of razors, knives, pills, and other potentially lethal objects. "I keep them locked away from him, but I worry if I go out. Keep in your room please."

Rocky nodded. "Worried he'll try it again?" Viktor nodded but didn't say anything feeling ashamed. Rocky patted the Ukrainian boxer on the shoulder. "Hey no problem, after Adrian died I had to do the same thing."

"Lock means of suicide away from family member?" Viktor asked.

"Lock means of suicide away from me," Rocky said. Viktor put his hand on the American's shoulder in sympathy.

"Hey Viktor come over here," Adonis invited. "Bianca and I want to teach you something."

"Alright," Viktor said as he sat across from them at the table. He taught them a few Russian phrases the night before which they jokingly mangled but were able to catch on.

"We are gonna talk to our daughter soon on Skype" Adonis began.

"Oh I can leave," Viktor said. He was about to stand when Bianca gently nudged him back down.

Adonis continued. "And we were wondering if you wanted to talk to her also."

Viktor looked at the married couple. "Really?" He missed the conspiratorial grin between husband and wife like they shared a surprise.

"Yeah I mean you're our friend," Adonis said.

"Alright," Viktor said. "I know no sign language, does that matter?"

"Well at this age technically no," Bianca said. "But it will help her get used to it when she starts learning it. So we want to teach you a couple of phrases."

He followed his friends as they showed him how to sign "Hi Amara" and "I'm Viktor" with his fingers.

Rocky let Mary Ann in the hotel room as they were talking. She offered them Turkish coffee and vatrushka which she bought at a nearby bakery. They accepted the treats with thanks. There was a sixth for Ivan in case he woke up that lay unattended.

"They're teachin' sign language," Rocky said as the trio returned to their lessons. Mary Ann nodded.

"How's he?" Mary Ann asked nodding in the direction of Ivan's hotel room.

"Sleepin' all the time," Rocky said. "Viktor said he hadn't eaten for a couple of days now."

"He's going to need some kind of professional help when he goes back to Kiev," she observed.

"Yeah but he ain't never gonna admit it," Rocky said.

"Now we all have gestures to go with our names," Bianca explained. "It's sort of like shorthand." She held her closed hand to her mouth like a microphone. "This is mine."

Adonis then showed his fists. "This is mine." He crossed his hands over his heart. "This is Mom's." He motioned to Mary Ann who nodded. He then held his fists high in the air. "This is Rocky. I have no idea where we came up with that one."

Bianca nodded in mock innocence. "It just came to us."

"I have some idea," Viktor said. "Father and I visit Art Museum."

"Hey," Rocky teased. "What were you doin' there?"

"Stealing-what is phrase-thunder," Viktor teased back.

"If you're going to be our friend we got to think of one for you," Bianca said. "We got too many boxers though so no fists."

"Well you know her Daddy's the best why bother with the rest," Adonis said flexing his muscles.

"Our previous match said otherwise," Viktor mocked.

"Yeah well I got this last one," Adonis said.

"Only because Father threw in towel," Viktor countered.

"Yeah but I was the reason your Dad threw in the towel," Adonis said back.

"Shouldn't we stop them?" Mary Ann said.

Rocky held up his hand. "Ah no no no. Theyse friends now. It's like they are sparring. All boxers who were former rivals and later friends go through it. Now that the match is over, they can joke about it. It was like that wit' me and Apollo."

Adonis and Viktor continued their verbal sparring until Bianca spoke. "Do I have to separate you boys?" She couldn't contain her laughter. The guys laughed right along with her as Adonis held her closer. "So what do you think would be a good sign for you, Viktor?" Bianca said.

" I don't know?" Viktor said. " Father says I am his victory, so maybe." He held up two Vs. "For Victory."

"Ah the Nixon," Rocky joked.

"Is that alright?" Viktor asked.

"I like it," Bianca said.

"That will work," Adonis said. "Untrue but it will work."

"You just wait until rematch when." He held up the two Vs. "Defeats." He held up his fists.

"Oh yeah?" Adonis signed.

"Great," Bianca rolled her eyes. "Instead of Trash Talk these guys will be doing Trash Sign." She looked at her phone. "Oh it's time!"

She reached over to her laptop and turned on the Wifi. An older woman waved at them on Skype then picked up a small infant. Both her parents gushed. They spoke and signed."Hi Amara!" "Hi Beautiful, you being good?"

Amara giggled at her parents. Viktor could see the two hearing aids on her ears. Viktor couldn't help but think that she not only looked like her parents but her grandfather as well.

They signed and spoke having a typical conversation with their baby girl.

"Yeah we're all here," Adonis said. He gave the gestures as he spoke. "Mama, Daddy, Granny, Rocky and-" He and Bianca exchanged a knowing smile as Adonis held a "U" sign to the side of his head and twisted it twice before he did the V gesture.

Viktor was confused. "What did that mean?" He asked.

Bianca grinned. "Uncle Viktor."

Viktor's mouth dropped open in surprise. "Really that is why you want me to talk with her?"

Adonis smiled. "Yeah we were talking about it and only if it's okay with you. We don't have too many siblings and the ones we do have don't keep in touch especially my half brother and sister. So you can be like our honorary brother. Or rather like my honorary brother and Bianca's honorary brother in law."

Viktor smiled. "I don't have friends and I would like that very much."

Bianca waved him forward. "You want to say hi to your niece?"

"Oh I do not know," Viktor said. "Suppose I start talking to her. She won't understand."

"It's alright," Adonis said. "Just say what you feel."

Viktor sat closer to the laptop camera so the baby could see him. He waved and signed. "Hi Amara, I'm Viktor." He looked at the little one and spoke. "You do not understand but I am friend of your mother and father. Your Dyadya. I am not related well you can tell by looking at us, no? I had honorary uncle and aunt when I was baby like you. They were friends, my father's best friends, but they were also family to me and my father. Our only friends, our only family. Well until now anyway. They died when I was small and I still miss them. Papa does too though he would never say. If you allow me, I will be as good uncle to you and as good brother to your father and mother as my Dyadya Sasha and Tatiya Ayzere were to me and my father. That is promise."

Though she didn't understand, Amara's smile melted Viktor. "Does she like me?"

"Yes she does," Bianca said.

Rocky smiled at the sweet scene in front of him. It was nice that they were all together and their wounds healed. If only all wounds could heal this much. He thought sadly of his own unfinished business that lay in Vancouver. A knock filled the room. Rocky and Mary Ann exchanged a confused look as Rocky opened the door.

Ivan Drago stood on the outside looking like he would rather be anywhere else. He swayed back a little which Rocky attributed to the constant sleeping and lack of food that he had for the past couple of days.

"Is my son with you?" He asked sounding nervous.

"Yeah he's inside with the other kids," Rocky said.

From the hallway, Ivan could hear Viktor say "See she is already speaking Russian. She signed 'da!'"

"Uh no," Adonis corrected. "She is signing 'Da Da' you know as in 'Daddy wiped the fwoor wif that big scawy Wukwainian man."

"No she is signing 'da' like "Yes Uncle is much better boxer than Father!'"

"I don't think she was really aware of what was going on guys," Bianca interjected. "For all you two know she could be signing 'antidisestablishmentarianism.'"

"She does that I'm booking her on Steve Harvey! Forget boxing!" Adonis quipped. The others laughed.

Ivan's eyes widened in surprise at the sound of laughter. "Is that Viktor?" He asked surprised.

"Yeah," Rocky asked. "Who else you think he was?"

Ivan shook his head. "No it is that I have not heard him laugh since- I don't even remember last time I heard him laugh."

Rocky waved him forward. "You wanna come in or somethin'?"

"Oh no I could not," Ivan said. He was about to turn away when Rocky held him by the shoulder.

"Come on go ahead," he said. "I forgive you for telling me to go fuck myself okay." Ivan hesitated but followed the American into the hotel room.

Viktor broke into a smile as he walked up to his father. "Are you alright?" He asked concerned.

"Yes I just wondered where you were and Balboa invited me inside," Ivan said.

Viktor squeezed his father by the shoulders. "Really Viktor I am fine," Ivan said determined.

Viktor awkwardly sat down next to his friends occasionally giving worried glances at his father. Adonis also looked serious and stone faced at the older Russian as though he wanted to say something but thought that it was inappropriate.

"Would you like some coffee, Mr. Drago?" Mary Ann asked.

"Oh no thank you-" He began.

Mary Ann held up one hand interrupting. "Let me rephrase that. Viktor said that you haven't eaten in two days. You. Coffee. Food. Now!" She pointed at the kitchen table.

Ivan stepped back faking intimidation. "Well you put like that." He sat across from Rocky and Mary Ann as he sipped the coffee and ate the vatrushka.

Ivan thought of when he first recognized friendship in Sasha and Ayzere. It was the same situation: he had been offered food. He refused but the woman serving it wouldn't take no for an answer concerned about his health.

Ivan was no longer sure what he believed but he wondered if somehow Sasha and Ayzere's spirits made their way into this Philadelphian former boxer and Californian socialite reminding him that he was not alone. It was strange to think about. They would certainly make the oddest of spirits, Ivan thought. Ayzere would wrestle any other ghosts and Sasha would talk the ear off of any exorcist or paranormal investigator who was listening. Ivan's face broke into a smile and a laugh emerged from his throat which he tried to stifle back.

Rocky and Mary Ann stepped back in surprise. "What was that?" He turned to Mary Ann. "You heard that right?"

"I did," Mary Ann agreed. "I didn't think that he could do it."

"Is that one of the signs of the Apocalypse like a plague of locusts, or a reality show guy becomin' President? A laughing Russian?"

Ivan smirked. "If you must know in Russia, we do smile and laugh just not in front of strangers."

"Ohh," Mary Ann said touched by the implication of Ivan's words.

"Huh?" Rocky asked. Mary Ann slightly elbowed him in the ribs. Then he caught on. "Oh I got it now. We're not strangers no more."

"You are one of smartest American boxers. I can tell," Ivan said dryly.

Rocky shrugged. "I dunno smart enough to outfight you. Smart enough to marry the right woman."

Ivan sighed. "You were that." He agreed.

"So what was the joke earlier?" Rocky asked.

"It's just now you both reminded me of friends of mine," Ivan said. He suspected that they were surprised. "Yes I have friends! Not many, only two in fact both dead."

Rocky nodded to Viktor. "Yeah he was sayin' something about them like they was like his aunt and uncle?"

Ivan nodded. He gave them a brief sketch of Sasha and Ayzere and what they meant to the father and son and how they died. "I was laughing because I imagined their presence and how they would make very strange guardians. I don't suppose anyone would have stranger."

Rocky laughed. "Hey who am I to judge?

One of my guardian angels once told me 'Wake up you son of a bitch 'Cause Mickey loves ya!'"

"Sounds like something they would say," Ivan said.

"Hey Grandma," Adonis said. "Someone wants some face time with you before she goes down for her nap.." He pointed at the screen.

"Oh okay," Mary Ann said as she approached the laptop to communicate with her granddaughter.

Adonis looked around. "Ivan can I talk to you outside alone?" He invited him to come with him to the balcony. Ivan nodded and followed.

Adonis waited until he and Ivan were alone and the door closed before he spoke. His voice was firm. "I want you to know Viktor's my friend and because of that I will be nice to you."

"Yes," Ivan said.

"I will be nice to you but I'm not ready to forgive you" Adonis said. "I did some soul searching about how I felt about you and my Dad. I know you didn't mean to and I know that you felt like he was your enemy but he was also my Dad, the Dad I'll never know. You're here and he's not. I don't hate you anymore but I can't forgive you not yet."

Ivan sighed. He didn't expect those feelings to die so quickly. Adonis was young, hot headed, and still missed his father. "I appreciate your honesty, Adonis. If it is consolation, I am not ready to forgive myself."

Adonis nodded. "You wanna come inside?" He offered begrudgingly.

"I will wait out here, all same," Ivan said. Adonis shrugged.

Ivan looked out the early evening Moscow skyline. Some things were going to take more time than others.

Ivan watched the sunset over Moscow, the place that was once home. Where was his home? Where did he belong? Ivan had been through such an emotional wringer the past few days almost a week. He realized that it wasn't over. He recognized that even though he wanted to live, there was a small part of him that wanted to climb to the top of the balcony and jump off. It would be so easy just to dangle your foot ever so slightly off the edge and let the rest follow. Ivan gingerly placed one foot on the ledge. He was about to put the other one over when he heard the door open.

He turned around to see Rocky. "My opinion last night still stands," Ivan said gruffly.

"Not interested," Rocky countered. "You plannin' on staying all night out here in the cold?"

"It's not cold," Ivan said. "It's -2 degrees out here, is sweltering!"

"If you say so," Rocky said doubtfully.

"Where is Viktor?" Ivan asked.

"Off with the other kids doing social media Millennials Insta-Face-Twitter-Gram-Book things I don't know."

Rocky stood next to the ledge. "So Viktor tells me youse grew up here in Moscow."

"Need a tour?" Ivan asked dryly.

"No I thought I'd ask it's called conversation. Where abouts you grew up?", Rocky prompted.

Ivan pointed in the southeast direction. "Over there Kapotnya. From what I understand hasn't changed much. You were either unemployed, criminal, or unemployed criminal."

"Sounds familiar," Rocky said. "So youse get into any fights?"

"Of course," Ivan said. "Who did not?"

"I would never have pictured you growin' up like that like I did," Rocky said.

"What exactly did you picture?" Ivan said.

"Well originally created out of some kind of futuristic factory or lab," Rocky said. Ivan's confused state made him translate. "It was a joke. If I had to think about it, I pictured I dunno you bein' disciplined a lot maybe an army brat, you know, a kid who's folks were in the military, or something."

"Well my father was in Army but was discharged by the time I was old enough to remember, so you are close," Ivan said. "Discipline came later in the orphanage and then when I joined the Army."

He said the last couple of words with a disdain that Rocky caught. "You don't sound happy about being there. I take you didn't choose to go in."

"Balboa," Ivan said. "When I was growing, no one ask you what you want. You did not choose what you did, is chosen for you. Orphans have less options than anyone. Occasionally one may go to University if they were scholar. But for most of us you fit profile and you have orders. Boxing was only thing that made me different made people notice something I had control over. When I stepped in ring, it was me they looked at not a faceless part of Russia just me.

Suppose it's different in America."

"Well most people yeah but where I lived in poor areas was kind of like that," Rocky said. "The smart ones went to college. The rest of us worked, got drafted, or like you said became criminals. As for me, well I didn't go to college or the military. I worked for a bit but mostly did stuff with loan sharks. It was kind of like that with me and boxing too. I wasn't just some dumb kid of a couple of broke Italian immigrants or crook beating people up to get money for someone else, I was somebody."

"You mean you did not go to 'Nahm," Ivan asked drawing a twang out of the American slang term for Vietnam. "You would be right age."

"Yeah but I had a hardship deferment and a criminal record," Rocky said."Plus I was already starting to become a boxer. So I wasn't in good medical shape for Uncle Sam neither. I missed out on that fun."

"You were very fortunate," Ivan mumbled.

"So where you going from here?" Rocky asked.

Ivan shrugged. "I really do not know. There is not much to return to in Kiev. But Moscow is no better."

Ivan sighed looking out at Moscow's lights starting to turn on in the evening. "I don't know why we even bother coming back here expecting things are different. They never are."

"Hey you're not Communist anymore," Rocky said with enthusiasm.

"That means nothing in the end," Ivan said. "Balboa let me tell you secret. There is no difference between Moscow now, Moscow in 1985, and Moscow in 1992. Probably not in 1917 for all I know. No matter who leads or what they believe some will always be more equal than others.

I thought coming back here, Viktor and I would be accepted and we find our home but is still the same. They only care when you win. We don't belong here. We don't belong in Kiev, where we are starving stray dogs. We don't belong anywhere."

"Maybe you can I dunno try your luck in America?" Rocky suggested.

Ivan scoffed. "The place where I am thought of only as Apollo Creed's killer? Have that over Viktor's head? I thought my home was Russia. Now I don't know where it is."

Rocky thought about it. "You want my advice?"

",You will give it whether I say yes," Ivan smirked.

Rocky continued. "You know I moved around myself. Not to different countries, or nothin' but I moved from my old neighborhood in Philly to a mansion, back to the old neighborhood. I was confused like you but one thing I knew that home wasn't the house we lived in or the country. It's the people we live with. Home was wherever Adrian was, and Bobby. Heck even where Mickey, Apollo, and Paulie were. For you home is wherever Viktor is."

"Is not a happy home," Ivan hung his head. "My fault that it is not."

"You know there's still time to change that," Rocky said.

Ivan shrugged. "I do not know how. I spent my life hating you and so many others. I don't hate but I don't feel anything now just emptiness. I raised that boy on hatred pushed him for so long until he broke. Yes, he believes it is for his good but that did not make it right. So much that I have to make right and I have been one way for so long that I do not know how to be anyone else."

"Come on that ain't true," Rocky said.

"You really don't know me well," Ivan said.

Rocky said. "Look if you were really as hateful as you make yourself out to be would your son love you as much as he does? Would he have gone through as much Hell as he did the other day to keep you from offin' yourself? What about those buddies of yours Sasha and what's his name-"

"Sasha was man and Ayzere was woman," Ivan supplied.

"Yeah them," Rocky said. "Sounds like they practically adopted youse. They saw something in ya. You made friends before. You showed you loved that kid before. He clearly knows you love him. You can do it again. In fact I wouldn't mind being your friend."

Ivan started. "Mine? You remember who I am, yes? The man who killed your friend?"

"Look we'd been over this," Rocky said. "I told you I forgave you. Now I'd like to do more wit' that."

"Why?" Ivan asked.

"'Cause you could use one and so could I," Rocky said. "There aren't too many people my age left no more and youse been doing everything by yourself. It'd be nice if we helped each other." He stuck out his hand. "So what do you say?"

Ivan did not take it. "I am not ready." Rocky closed his hand. "I am not even sure how to begin with my son. I am out of practice," Ivan said.

"So start easy," Rocky suggested. " I dunno, go runnin' with the kid. Don't train him. Train alongside him."

"It's not easy to just turn off over fifty years of hatred," Ivan said.

"So it's gonna to take awhile," Rocky said. "You got years and I don't think Viktor's goin' anywhere anytime soon. No one's expectin' it to be fixed right away, but at least start. Remember Viktor's where your home is. He needs to know that. My son Bobby and I call it the home team. You know that's like in baseball when they play a game in their hometown-"

"- And the local team has the advantage because spectators should cheer for the local athlete," Ivan said sadly. "I know what it supposed to mean."

"Yeah," Rocky said realizing how awkward that definition was for the Dragos when they had been rejected as the home team not once but twice.

Ivan looked around. "You have no home team."

"Well I got Donnie," Rocky said thumbing at the direction of Adonis and Bianca's room.

"But those other people you mention are dead and your son is in Vancouver and you do not speak," he said.

"That's about it," Rocky said.

"Does he know that you are ill?" Ivan asked. Rocky shook his head. "You want my advice?"

"It's only fair I gave it to you," Rocky said.

"You should go see him," Ivan suggested. "Both of you live. It is no good to spend your life in the past among the dead. I know this to be true. You go to your son."

Rocky lowered his head. "He has a son I never even seen."

"Then go see your grandson," Ivan said. "You say Viktor and I have time but you may not. Bobby deserves to know truth about you and your condition. Do not leave Bobby wondering what may have been."

"Now I'm the one who's not ready," Rocky said.

"Then when you return to Philadelphia be ready," Ivan said. "You helped give Viktor his father back and I thank you. Please do the same for your son."

Rocky nodded. "You know something, you're actually a nice guy." Ivan smiled. "What?"

"I don't believe anyone has ever called me 'niyece gai.'" He exaggerated the American slang again that made Rocky laugh.

"It's about time someone did," Rocky said. "Think about what I said about your son."

"And yours," Ivan agreed. "It will take great change." A mischievous grin spread across his face. "But 'If I can change and you can change…'"

"Yeah I get it," Rocky laughed. "You know I heard someone say that once."

"That someone is very smart man," Ivan said.

Rocky was touched. "You know you're probably the first person to say that about him."

"It's about time someone did," Ivan repeated.

The next day a group of six headed out of the hotel as four headed for the airport to fly back to America and two headed for the train station to ride back to the Ukraine.

Viktor hugged Adonis and Bianca as they posed for a selfie. "You have got to come to America to see us!" Bianca said. "I can't wait for Amara to meet her Uncle."

"I cannot wait to see her myself," Viktor said.

"Yeah you guys will love California," Adonis teased. "But don't scared when you see that ball of fire. It might confuse you at first but it's called the sun. It's supposed to be in the sky. It brings warmth."

Viktor mockingly held his breath at this "marvel." "I have heard of such things but only saw them in pictures. Is it true that it burns skin?"

"Always wear sunscreen," Adonis said imitating a wise guru.

"He has seen the sun," Ivan said sarcastically. "July is warm and dry in Ukraine."

"Damn I thought we were onto something," Adonis said.

"Still I would not mind visiting my friends in Philly and L.A." Viktor said.

"He's sounding like a native already," Bianca said pretending to get choked up.

Adonis wiped an imaginary tear. The three hugged promising to text, and DM each other.

Bianca approached Ivan and warmly shook his hand. She then stepped back. There was an awkward moment as Ivan and Adonis stared at each other. But Adonis stuck out his hand. "Good luck, Ivan. Viktor has a good dad."

Ivan returned the handshake. "And Apollo has good son." Adonis looked sad for a moment but nodded.

Mary Ann approached Viktor. "You looked at it?" She asked.

Viktor nodded. "Yes I do not think he will like it but I will talk it over with him in Kiev, but thank you, Bianca, and Raissa for finding it. It seems like good place."

He embraced his friend's mother. Mary Ann approached Ivan. "Goodbye, Ivan."

They shook hands. "Goodbye Mary Ann," he said.

Rocky gave Viktor a firm hearty hand grasp as they fell into an embrace. "God what does your old man feed you? No wonder you almost beat Donnie."

"Emphasis on almost," Adonis yelled.

"Wait until rematch," Viktor called back. "Goodbye Rocky."

"Look after your dad, kid," Rocky said.

"I will," Viktor promised.

Rocky approached Ivan and stuck his fists out. "To the end, Ivan?"

Ivan returned the greeting. "To the end Rocky….tovarich...Comrade."

Rocky nodded and joined his friends as they left.

"Now you promised," Viktor said waiting impatiently inside the truck. "If you won, I do something for you. If I win, you do something for me. I beat you fair and square. You are coming with me!"

Ivan rolled his eyes. It was shortly after their jog. "Maybe you becoming Adonis and Bianca's friend was a mistake. You have become very impudent of late."

"Will you just get in?" Viktor asked.

Ivan rolled his eyes. "Where is this place that I just have to go?"

"Somewhere that will help you prepare for your next fight," Viktor said mysteriously.

"I don't have a fight you know that," Ivan said.

"You'll see," Viktor said. "Now close your eyes."

Viktor pulled the truck up to the parking lot. "Okay you can open your eyes now," he said.

"I still do not know why you had to go through such dramatics," Ivan began then he opened his eyes.

The building looked like any other until he read the title: Kiev Counseling Psychiatric Services. "It's the biggest fight you ever fought," Viktor said. "Ivan Drago vs. Himself."

Ivan glared at his son. He at first asked for the keys but Viktor refused. Ivan then opened the passenger seat and stormed out. Viktor followed him. "Take me home right now," Ivan demanded. He gave him the intimidating stare that in younger years would have made Viktor instantly obey but Viktor was not going to back down. "Nyet! This is for your own good. It's not a hospital like the state ones in Russia. It is just a place where you can talk to somebody. They help with former soldiers and others who have had traumatic experiences.

It's a good place. I researched it on the Internet and so did Mary Ann and Bianca and a woman at the hospital in Moscow."

"You talked about me," Ivan said.

Viktor retorted. "Yes the same night when you wandered off to ubey sebya." Kill yourself. "I had to!"

"How much does it cost?" Ivan said.

"Don't worry I paid for it with the money from our matches."

"You only know this place from the Internet," Ivan accused. "You don't know what it is really like!"

"Papa please," Viktor argued. "I visited the office and spoke to the staff. In fact, I uh well I have been talking to.a doctor there myself."

"You have been?" Ivan said. "What about?"

"Different things," Viktor said. "About myself, about fighting, about you. It's helped."

"How has it?" Ivan asked.

"It's someone else to talk to," Viktor said. "It's no different than if I hurt myself I would go see a doctor. They are very kind and helpful."

"I am not going to do this tell my problems to.a total stranger," Ivan argued. He was about to walk off again when Viktor said. "So you rather deal with them alone?" Ivan turned around to face his son. "That's what got you where you were in Moscow, Papa."

Ivan walked off but Viktor stood in front.

"Papa I cannot go through that again," Viktor said. "You need more help than I can give. Chert poberi, godammit, why are you being so stubborn about this? Are you afraid they might find everything about you? Think you are too weak?"

"Going to see someone like that makes me weak," Ivan snapped.

Viktor shook his head. "Papa no it doesn't. The strong one is the one who seeks help. You cannot do this alone and you won't be. I will be in the waiting room. I will even go into the therapist office if they let me." Ivan stood still but did not move. Viktor held out his hand. Ivan approached him.

"You would be with me?" He asked.

"You don't even have to ask," Viktor said. Ivan took his son's hand and caught his breath over a very familiar situation.

"What's the matter Papa?"

"I just realized that for the first time you remind me of your mother," Ivan observed. "The certainty, the forcefulness, the things I once loved about her."

Viktor bristled. "With one big difference."

"Which is?" Ivan asked.

"Unlike her I actually do care about you," Viktor said. He squeezed his father's hand tightly. "Now come, Papa."

Ivan put his other hand on top of his son's as he led him inside. "Alright Vitya." Ivan Drago smiled as his son led him inside showing the love and support that they always had.

The End

Author's Notes

There's an inside reference to Ivan and Rocky's War of Curse Words. Viktor says he knows what "vaffanculo" means because he saw The Godfather. The curse word is yelled between Connie Corleone (Talia "Adrian" Shire) and her abusive husband, Carlo. Oddly enough unless I am mistaken I believe Sylvester Stallone auditioned for the part of Carlo which means he and Talia Shire would have played a married couple long before they were Rocky and Adrian though a very dysfunctional unhappily married couple.

The line "It's _ degrees out here it's sweltering!" Comes from the MST3K episode

The joke about the ball of flame in the sky called the sun is a running gag in our house when we have several days of rain or snow.