Toby had expected… Well, he didn't know what. Jim and Claire, they were always so with it, and after he and Claire had learned how to work together, they made a great team. He hadn't been angry that she'd left him—there had only been a second for her to use the staff and leap into the open bridge behind Jim.
Okay, he wasn't very angry at her. Just a little. Maybe a lot, on occasion.
But he figured that they would have come out like they always did, winning, with Enrique and then the next day Jim and Claire would be back with him at school—or crying over AAARRRGGHH!
Toby had missed AAARRRGGHH, and it had been worse with Jim and Claire gone. He'd spent a lot of time crying that day.
But then they didn't come back. And then Usurna (The Bitch), destroyed the bridge. The days started to turn into weeks, and even with two changeling masks and NotEnrique helping…
Things started to fall apart. Especially when he'd finally told Dr. Lake, with Draal and Blinky there to prove he wasn't nuts.
"You—" She took a gulp of water. "You're saying that you, my son and Claire have been fighting these… monsters."
"Not all troll—"
"Troll monsters," Dr. L repeated. "And now they're in some kind of… Troll Hell? And you haven't heard from them? You haven't communicated with them at all?"
"They are likely—" Blinky didn't get to finish his words.
"They could be dead! They could be lying in a pit somewhere dying! You don't know!" Dr. L, threw the glass at Blinky, and Toby flinched as it shattered against Blinky's rocky skin. This wasn—Even when Dr. L was mad at Jim, she didn't do this.
"Barbara, I know it's difficult, the binding spell's aftermath—"
"I-I was almost killed. I had no idea what had damaged the house and you tell me that I was dating a ma—a changeling who used me against my son!" The older woman was breathing quickly, her face going pale. "None of you even told me that he had almost been killed—it was never coyotes, you were lying to me even back then!"
"Dr. L, They'll come back—"
"You don't know that, Toby! This isn't a game and none of you are immortal!"
"Barbara, please!" Blinky started, and suddenly, Draal was between Toby and the woman.
Protecting me? Toby shivered. It was Doctor Lake. And they would come back, right? It had only been a few weeks, they had to be okay. The Darklands were just big. They'd come back and they would all laugh at things again.
"No! Don't please me! We're going to the Nunez's. To tell them about their child."
"No, Dr. L!" Toby said frantically, getting in front of Draal. "We told you, but if we tell Claire's parents, they'll go cra—"
"Why?" Dr. L's voice had gone to a monotone. Toby blinked. "Because they might get upset? Because they might wonder…" Her voice was scaling up, and were those tears in her eyes. "Wonder about their daughter? Wonder why she's acting so strange? And when you can't lie to them anymore, they'll wonder if she's dead! If she's somewhere, screaming for them, where they will never hear her? Wonder if they'll ever-if I'll ever see my baby again!" Suddenly Dr. L was screaming, tears rolling down her cheeks. Toby had never heard her scream like that.
AAARRRGGHH is gone… He'll never call me Wingman again. Jim and Claire…what if… What if… Toby felt a sniff, his eyes pricking. No. No. He coudln't…He just needed to… What if they're really gone. What if Dr. L and the Nunez never see their kids again… Like Nana never saw mom again… If I never get to say hi to Jim again…
"I'm…Sorry," Toby didn't recognize his voice. It was all choked up and suddenly he couldn't see and his nose was going all snotty and God, he was crying in front of Blinky and Draal like some little kid, but he just couldn't stop. "But Angor attacked everyone and then AAARRRGGHH was dead and Jim and Claire ran off and I couldn't stop them, and I didn't know what to do because it's not supposedtobelikethis—" The words started running over each other, coming out all wrong and then Toby was sitting and bawling like he was five.
Suddenly he felt arms around him. Not hard, like Draal or Blinky. Dr. Lake.
"I'm—" she sniffled. "I'm sorry, Toby. I never should have screamed at you. But we have to tell Claire's parents. We don't have the right to lie to them. But I'm not angry at you…" She tightened her hug. "I'm angry at the people who enlisted children into their war." Toby looked up, and was oddly happy that he couldn't see the expression she was directing at Blinky through his tears.
Because what he did see looked terrifying.
But now, Jim and Claire were back and things should go back to normal. Oh, the fams knew and he bet that they would yell at them, but they were supposed to come back out, Jim with that goofy grin on his face, Claire with her look that she had far too much to do today to bother with this.
Not skinny. Not so weak that they had to be lifted into their baths. Not holding each other's hands like they were lifelines. Jim, lying there, naked, with tubes running into him and so skinny that Toby could count every rib. Not jumping at shadows and always looking like they expected to be attacked.
That wasn't what was supposed to happen.
And now Jim was pacing the chamber as Blinky started planning out the search, when Claire came skidding into the room. "Or," Blinky said, "we could simply ask Fair Claire why she felt the need to vanish without informing us of her destination so soon after returning to us from beyond all hope."
Jim didn't pause, he bounded over the table, the armor gleaming, taking Claire by the shoulders. "Did someone take you? Did they hurt you?! Who did it!" Jim's expression was scary.
"Jim—I had to talk to a troll, and I lost track of time," Claire said. "I can—"
"No!" Jim said. "We have to stay together! I thought you remembered that—we have—" his hands were gripping Claire's shoulders so tightly that the smaller girl winced in pain, but she didn't show any other sign.
"Jim, I can handle—"
"Claire—" Suddenly, Barbara put her hand on Jim's shoulder.
"Jim," Barbara said. "You're hurting her."
"Ohmigod!" Jim let go, looking like he'd been scalded. "Claire, I'm sorry-I didn't mea—" Now Barbara was between Claire and Jim, Ophelia and Javier pulling Claire away.
"It's okay, Jim. Take a few deep breaths for me, okay?"
It's not okay, Dr. L… Toby thought. Jim, hurt Claire? That was like, crazy impossible… But he'd done it.
"Where were you, young lady?" Ophelia asked, keeping one eye on Jim. "Jim isn't the only one you scared."
"I went down to Gara."
"Forgemaster Gara!" Blinky said. "She lives on the deep levels, there are many trolls there who might not like a human… Fair Claire, that was risky in the extreme!"
"Nobody bothered me," Claire protested.
"Because you are dressed for a fight," Draal said. He gestured at her weapons. "Next time? Someone might have time to get their own weapons to challenge you. Walking around like that, you were challenging them in their own caves."
"But she makes the best…"
"Armor it is true, and weapons as well," Blinky said. "Nonetheless, it was careless in the extreme for you to go wandering off like that. If you go again, I insist that one of us accompany you, so that we could smooth over any misunderstandings!"
"I can take—" Claire's voice was cut off by Ophelia's angry voice.
"We saw how well you and Jim took care of yourselves, or do you remember the last week?"
"This is my fault," Jim said, his voice getting louder. "I never should have left you alone—"
"No, Jim, it isn't your fault." Barbara raised her hands. "Everyone, calm down. Claire took a walk. She'll know better next time. Right, Claire?" Claire looked around at everyone, then nodded. "I'm sorry Mom, I just… wanted something to protect myself."
"Nothing is going to hurt you," Jim growled.
Claire looked away from Jim.
"Now," Blinky said, "Let us focus on preparing you two for your trip to the surface and school. Ah, Master Jim, did the council say anything?"
"Yelled at me," Jim said with a faint grin. "You know, the usual."
Toby stared at Jim for a moment. He's lying. Why is he lying?
No. Nothing had gone back the way it was. Toby wondered if it ever would.
