Chapter 6 Misdirection
By LongRider
Derek was ticked, absolutely, 100% ticked.
He'd been keeping this up for a while now. It was kinda fun knowing he'd been one-up on The Great General Connor.
But then the little smart-ass had changed tactics. He is so like Kyle it's not even funny!
The snake in the bed was brilliant. Speaking as a soldier it was an effective tactic.
The hot sauce was just cruel. Teeth are still tingling and it's been a week!
Derek knew John would beat him at his own game. But he'd been hoping to last a little longer. No wonder he'll be the General.
Of course, Derek wasn't going to admit defeat yet. The Reese boys never quit.
So here he was sneaking into his nephew's room, moving silently, avoiding the third floorboard from the door-frame because it creaked, stepping on the fourth that was rock solid, making sure not to open John's door more than a quarter, so it didn't make a sound.
He had the marker pen in his hand, ready to leave another reminder that his nephew wasn't done with his little training program yet.
Derek looked at his nephew, it never failed to surprise him just how much of his little brother lived on in him. He'd trained Kyle in the same way. It had saved their asses more than once.
John needs every trick he can learn. The future is not a nice place.
It also gave Derek a chance to have fun with his nephew. There weren't that many games you could play with the lives they led.
Derek swept back Johns scruffy hair. Pulled off the marker cap with his teeth and started writing.
Except there was no writing.
There was no ink.
Frowning he checked the pen.
He wet the tip.
Nothing. Not a damn thing.
"Thought you checked all your weapons were loaded yourself, soldier." Johns eyes snapped open and Derek very nearly cried out in surprise.
Bad enough he'd jumped back.
"How?" Was all Derek seemed able to say.
"Put the tip in a glass of water for a few hours, keep changing the glass until the water's clear." There was a smug grin on Johns face.
"Found your hiding spot a while back."
Little smart-ass changed tactics again! Kyle would be so proud.
"Back to bed Derek, tough day tomorrow." Damn but he couldn't help grinning. This must be what being a parent feels like.
xxXxx
Derek woke to the sound of incoherent yelling. Taking a moment to focus he realised he was being yelled at by Sarah Connor.
Sarah Connor. The Legend. Was yelling at him.
"Are you listening to me!!!" Suddenly something wet and cold was dunked on his head.
"Aaaaah! What did you do that for!" Derek coughed and spluttered as his would-be sister-in-law came into focus.
"You tell me Reese!" Sarah lifted her fringe to reveal the word "SNORES" in big bold black letters on her forehead. Huh?
"I thought you were pranking John? You decide I need training too?" Derek knew he should have kept his mouth shut.
He knew before he spoke.
He knew as he spoke.
He knew after he spoke.
"What are you mad about? The fact you didn't notice or the fact that you snore?" Sarahs eyes narrowed dangerously.
Yup, shoulda kept my mouth shut.
"I. Do. Not. Snore." If he could have Derek would have dropped through the couch and crawled away.
"Derek!!!" John shouted as he came into the doorway. Strangely, John had writing on his forehead too. His said "MUMBLES."
But John caught me last night! Didn't he?
"I'll get you for this Reese." Sarah said as she left John and Derek alone. Derek could feel a shudder run down his spine.
He turned his eyes to his smirking nephew. John was using a wet-wipe to easily remove the ink on his head. Derek put all the pieces together. And groaned at the answers.
Sneaky little shit did it himself! Changed tactics again!
"Gotta love reinforcements." John said with a wink as he left the room.
Definitely your kid Kyle.