A/N: Sorry for the delay! No excuses. Definitely more to come. Thanks for reading!
OVER 3 MONTHS AFTER WILL CAME HOME
"It's not like anything I've ever seen," Mr. Wilson said when Amanda and Jonathan presented two slugs to him after school.
The slugs seemed to go comatose when he poured saline solution in the jar. He peered at them and then at the couple.
"You said you found them in your backyard?" Mr. Wilson asked. "Can you tell me a little more about how you found them? Did you take any samples of the area around them? You might have discovered a new species!"
Jonathan internally groaned at Mr. Wilson's excitement. How were they going to get out of this without telling the truth? Without missing a beat, Amanda smiled and spoke.
"Actually, Mr. Wilson, they came from our mutt Charlie," she smoothly said. "We let him out to do his business and he barfed them up in the backyard."
Jonathan nodded, relieved she could think so quick on her feet.
"We wondered if they might be like a tapeworm or something that feeds off a host?" she added.
Mr. Wilson raised an eyebrow thoughtfully.
"A parasite?" Mr. Wilson surmised, staring at the slugs again. "Interesting theory!"
Jonathan peripherally looked at Amanda and gave her a slight smile. She subtly caressed his hand.
"I'd like to test your theory," Mr. Wilson said, switching his gaze back to them.
"How do you mean?" Amanda asked.
"I will ask one of my colleagues to provide live subjects to test on," Mr. Wilson replied.
"Humans?" Jonathan asked, aghast.
"Oh, no! Of course not, Mr. Byers. Animals used for experiments. It's all perfectly legal, I assure you. Do you mind if I keep these?" Mr. Wilson asked.
"Sure," Amanda answered.
"Has your dog exhibited any unusual symptoms, not acting like himself, behaving oddly?" Mr. Wilson asked as he placed the jar on his desk.
Jonathan shook his head.
"Not really. He whined a little when he coughed those up," he said.
"Well, if he starts acting strange or any more of these appear, let me know," Mr. Wilson said, scratching his chin. "You might think about taking him to the vet to have him treated, although I'm not sure they will have any idea what to treat him with."
"Thank you for your help, Mr. Wilson," Amanda said, wrapping an arm around Jonathan's arm.
"When do you think you'll know what those things are?" Jonathan asked, nodding at the jar.
"I'm interested in starting as soon as I can, so I plan to call my colleague shortly," Mr. Wilson replied, tapping the jar. "These are very fascinating."
Amanda sat cross-legged on her bed with a drawing pad in her lap, and Will sat across from her, mirroring her. Music was blaring from the stereo. Both Jonathan and Joyce were at work.
They had started challenging each other to fast draw contests, at which Will had proven he was not only faster, but better.
They were both furiously sketching when Will stopped and lifted his pad for her appraisal. Amanda sighed and nodded.
"You got me again," she tersely replied as if she was mad, but there was a gleam in her eye. Will gave her a toothy grin and then leaned back on his hands.
"Do you love my brother?" he curiously asked.
Amanda stopped her pencil mid-stroke and looked at him.
"I hadn't really thought about it. Why do you ask?" she asked.
Will shrugged.
"Jonathan always takes care of my mom and me," he replied with a sober expression. "I guess I wonder who will take care of him when I'm gone."
"You're not going anywhere, Will," Amanda said, knowing he was worried they hadn't found a solution to his condition yet. It had been nearly two weeks since they had taken the slugs to Mr. Wilson. "We will find a way to cure you."
Will gave her a sad smile.
"Will you take care of Jonathan anyway?" he asked. Amanda tossed her pad aside and leaned forward to start tickling him.
"Of course," she replied. He squirmed and giggled as he tried to escape her fingers.
"Promise?" he howled.
"Promise!" she said as they fell into a laughing mess on the floor.
Amanda pulled the casserole dish from the oven where she had been warming it and scooped out some of it on a plate before setting it in front of Jonathan.
He smiled at her gratefully and dug in. He had worked a double shift and he was tired and hungry. She kissed him on the cheek before bidding him goodnight and heading to bed.
After cleaning up the kitchen, Jonathan took a quick shower.
As he pulled on a clean T-shirt and shorts, he watched Amanda's sleeping form and his thoughts drifted to Nancy.
The two of them still talked at school and he and Amanda even hung out with her and Steve from time to time. He cared about Nancy like he always had—especially after what they had been through together—but he realized his feelings for Amanda surpassed what he felt for Nancy.
Amanda rolled to her side with her back to him as he crawled in next to her. He scooted against her and wrapped an arm around her waist.
Jonathan was pretty sure he was in love with her.