Mandibular Condyle

3:45pm

"She won't tell me what happened." Shaine kicked a particle stick aside, sending it skittering off the road.

"She doesn't have to." Dillon dug for his keys as they neared the apartment complex. "Maybe nothing happened."

Shaine shot him a dark look. "You didn't see her face. She was scared." He itched his head under his hood. "She's skipped that class now twice."

Dillon turned to glance behind them as the sound of a car approached and jerked his head to get off the road. "Skipped it?"

"Yeah. A little overkill, don't you think?" Shaine noticed Dillon's distractedness. "What's wrong?"

At first the microbe didn't answer him but then he did, his tone low. "This car behind us. I moved us over to let them go by but they aren't…This isn't the first time." An urge to turn around was hard to ignore as Shaine kept pace with his friend, maybe a glare would send the driver a clear message. "Pretend you don't notice." Dillon guessed his thoughts.

"Why? Tell them to stop with the mind games." He started to turn to give the offending car a look, but Dillon grabbed him, holding him face forward.

"I said ignore it." His sharp tone took Shaine back a little, not used to anything other than the friendly-fatherly bond with his longtime friend. They steered right towards the complex and went to the first set of stairs; as they reached them the car stalking them sped up and away, disappearing down the street.

"You said that's not new?" Dillon stared off in the distance, silent. "Dillon?"

The call of his name snapped him out of his fog. "It's just someone with too much time on their hands… c'mon." Daemon was at the window when they entered the apartment, still like a statute. Dillon slowed his movements as he took in the virus's uneasy silence. "You okay?"

The red virus didn't answer immediately. "That's the third time you've been followed like that."

Dillon shrugged. "Someone being an idiot." He picked up a small pile of mail. The virus appeared to want to say more but his yellow eyes landed on Shaine first, instead he moved away and sat down; appearing to be wrestling internally with something.

"Thrax's…presence here the other day wasn't without merit."

"Mm-hm." Dillon absently agreed, still going through his mail.

"I'm being serious, Dillon." The virus's voice was soft. "You know those murders they've been all over about on the news?"

The microbe narrowed his eyes, finally focused on his roommate. "Yeah?"

"The same person committing those murders shot me and fucked me up due to how much he got me with."

Dillon didn't react at first, so Shaine did. "You didn't say anything to anyone about this?"

"To who?" Daemon snapped. "The other one said enough for both of us when he paid me a much unappreciated visit."

"Colonic needs to know." Dillon finally found his voice. "That isn't something to keep silent about."

Daemon's gaze drifted past their heads. "I think the person suspects I'm still alive. And I think the person in that car is one in the same." His next words startled the two microbes. "You shouldn't be here."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Dillon faced him fully.

"It's pretty obvious what I'm talking about." Daemon shot back. "You can't be here."

"Where the hell am I going to go?"

"Anywhere but here." A thud caught Shaine's attention from outside the door; at first, he brushed it off as nothing until he saw a dramatic change come over Daemon. The virus sat up straighter. "Get away from the door. Now." He shut the light off as they listened, moving to stand next to him. A shadow passed over the window blinds, moving slowly and bending slightly like they were trying to see in. An arm hit Dillon in the chest as Daemon forced them further back into the darkness. "That door locked?" He asked, whispering.

"Automatically, every time it opens and shuts." As if on cue the doorknob rattled, shut the coronavirus up immediately, obvious self-doubt crossing his face. Daemon wished more than anything he could ignite his claw. I'm useless…as useless as a cell….

…..

Grace wanted nothing more than to go home and find the couch to lay on and sleep. Screw the bed… She'd only consider the bed if Thrax was there and she knew he was working late. Instead she decided to stop over at Dillon's and made a quick assessment of Daemon, it had been a day or two since she had seen him. And as much as she didn't want to admit it, there was a strange compulsion within her to see the older virus, she wished it would go away or make sense. Veins managed to smooth over her illegal act of breaking the virus out of police custody; she didn't know how he did it but she would be forever thankful. She even avoided repercussions from her superiors, though she had suspicions they were just happy the virus was out of their hospital.

Pulling into a parking spot she quickly noticed a figure standing near Dillon's door. "-the hell?" She got out quietly, still watching the person as they bent near the window. Pretending she was oblivious to the person she shut her door loudly, fiddling with her keys and bag to buy time. Counting the seconds, she sneaked a look up to Dillon's door again and saw the figure was gone. Knowing it was as illegal as adrenaline and not caring, she pulled a can of stomach acid out for the ready in case she needed to spray someone in the eyes with it. She didn't see anyone as she ascended the stairs and quickly glanced around before knocking.

After a moment, the deadbolt pulled back and Dillon opened it. "Hey." She thought she detected some nervousness off him but couldn't be sure. He's hiding it too well.

"Hey… I wanted to drop by and see how things were doing." She decided to ignore the strange scene she drove up on for now.

Dillon stood back. "Come in."

FPD: Precinct 13

One day later

4:43pm

The main floor was buzzing lowly as cops left and right whispered to each other about what could possibly be going on in Vein's office after a particularly irate cell stormed in, demanding to speak to the chief. From Thrax's vantage point he could just see in through the closed transparent tissue door, and he could have sworn the T-cell's face glazed over once or twice. Only does that when he's multi-tasking or having a hard time keeping his attention on something insignificant. Finally, the door opened and Veins lifted a hand, silencing the still ranting cell; as result the room fell deafeningly silent. Veins made eye contact with Thrax and then made a half gesture to come to the office.

"What does he want you for?" Jones was super attentive, his eyes rounder than usual. "You haven't done anything."

"Stop talking to me so I can go find out." He could feel all the eyes on him and wished they'd all get back to work, instead of being hyper-focused on one cell coming in, ranting like a lunatic. Maybe Veins wanted him to fry the idiot; for that he may comply happily.

The cell was fidgeting and shot the virus a death glare upon entering the room. He found it difficult to ignore the hostility, but did so only because he respected Veins too much to start an argument in the middle of the office. Veins sat down wearily, clearly still feeling the effects from the erhlichiosis infection he caught not too long ago. Though he was fairly young, physically the infection aged him.

"This is Todd Anguli-Oris." Veins sat back in his chair. "Your daughter's science teacher." The cell missed the slight irritation in the chief's words, but Thrax didn't. He shared the annoyance too. They were being interrupted at work for something that could have been talked about over a phone?

"Yes." Anguli-Oris puffed himself up. Thrax found it difficult to look away from Veins and focus on the teacher, taking a breath he grudgingly gave the cell his full attention, though half of him was still monitoring Vein's reactions to the situation.

"Your daughter hasn't been seen in my class now for three days."

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me." The cell snapped. "Now four absences count as total failure of the class."

Thrax let silence reign in the room for a moment, enough to cause some uncertainty in the teacher. He was good at making people uncomfortable. "You came in here, interrupted the flow of productive work to tell me my kid has a truancy problem?"

The cell's jaw cracked. "Well, with the lackadaisical attitude you got about this situation, it's no wonder she's got delinquent behavior. Rubbing off from that Flavum kid if you ask me."

"Well I didn't ask you, now did I?" Thrax straightened from his lean against the wall, taking his time to continue the conversation. "I don't have a short memory Anguli-Oris. I clearly remember the shit you were giving her a few months ago so I have no concerns about Shaine Flavum. I do however, possibly have concerns about you." The cell squeaked, not expecting Thrax to suddenly have control of the conversation. "But I'll go home, be a good parent and discuss this with her, if that makes you feel better." He glanced at Veins. "Can I go now?"

Amusement had slowly lit up the chief's face as Thrax said his piece, at being directly asked a question he quickly lost the ghostly smile. "Yeah."

He wanted badly to slam the door but didn't, his thoughts were on Lindi. She never portrayed behavior like this. And why didn't Flavum say anything? The two of them are so close they must know the color of each other's underwear. He has to know she's been skipping. He didn't know who to get ahold of first. Flavum.

….

Later

Ten past the hour, Thrax wondered if the kid saw him and went out a side door, though he purposely chose and an inconspicuous spot to sit and wait until he got out of work. Just when the virus was beginning to think of a plan that didn't involve killing Flavum for being a pussy and not meeting him face to face, Shaine appeared; his hood up.

Quickly and silently, he fell into step a few paces back but close enough reach the kid easily if he tried to run. "You know stalking's a crime, right?"

Thrax cursed under his breath. God damn coronaviruses… some are deaf as a post and others, like this one, are not…. "If I was stalking you, you wouldn't know it."

Shaine turned around. "What do you want?"

"Why is Lindi skipping Anguli-Oris's class?" By the expression he made, Thrax could tell Shaine hadn't expected that question. Good, less chance of him to lie to me.

"How do you know about it?"

"Answer my question Shaine."

"I don't know…" Maddeningly enough, Thrax could tell it was a truthful answer. Damn it. "But I've been thinking about it and might know why."

…..

Thrax tried to be patient while he waited for Shaine to tell his theory, so far, the kid had been dreaming up every excuse possible to not open his mouth and start speaking. Thrax wanted to be annoyed but found he couldn't be. He's either being a controlling shit right now because he knows I want an answer or he's incredibly uncomfortable…

Shaine stirred his drink slowly. "The night you had to pick up at the station, we went to the high school to swim in their pool. When we were leaving we heard some noises so we went to see what it was… the hallway was dark, but we could someone coming in and out of the science classroom." He took a breath. "I'm not going to say it was Anguli-Oris because everything was dark, but he's the only one with a key to the room. He was carrying some boxes labelled hazardous. At that point Lindi wanted to get out of there so we left, but Max kicked an open locker shut by accident, alerting that person to us being there."

"Is it normal to have boxes around labelled that?"

Shaine shook his head. "Not that I know of… but-" He faltered, and watched cells as they came in to the café.

"But what?" Thrax prompted.

"Lindi's never smelled cytokine…" He finally met Thrax's steady gaze. "I have and the hallway reeked of it, Max agreed. Ash hasn't been exposed to it before so he also wouldn't know."

Thrax stared at Shaine, silent; inwardly surprised at the information he just heard. "That's a really heavy accusation Shaine."

"I don't know if it was Anguli-Oris, like I said it was dark."

Thrax leaned forward. "Coronaviruses have heightened sensory abilities. Don't try to bullshit me and say you couldn't see. You did see." Uneasiness threaded across the kid's face, though he tried to hide it. "Was it him or not?"

Mandibular Condyle

"No arguments." Dillon warned the moment his door was open. Thrax rolled his eyes.

"Scouts honor." He entered the apartment behind Shaine, no sign of Daemon. "Did you evict him?"

"You'd want that." Dillon replied sarcastically. "No… he's sitting in warm water, it helps the pain he's in since nothing else really works…. Where are you going?"

Thrax didn't answer as he went to the bathroom and entered it. He expected some snarky comment from the older virus but nothing came. For a moment, Thrax felt a pang of pity for him as it was written on Daemon's face the pain he was in. "I'll only irritate you for a minute." He sat down on the toilet.

Daemon breathed in and out. "I'm tired of fighting with you. It's like what your-what Grace said, you're here and I'm here… might as well make the most of it."

"Yeah…" Thrax agreed absently, as he played with his hands. He realized after a second he was going through the motions of playing with his absent bead bracelet and abruptly stopped. "Where were you when you got shot?"

Daemon's gaze became a little more alert. "Where was I?" He stared off into space. "I don't remember, there's a span of time I blacked out. Why?"

"I think one of the Colliculus High school teachers is the one going around shooting microbes."

"That's awfully specific, why?"

Thrax glanced at the virus. "Because Lindi's been skipping his classes all of a sudden and Shaine just told me some damning information."

Daemon narrowed his eyes, mulling over the conversation. Then he sat up straighter. "You know what… she was here earlier and I thought I saw bruising on her arm-but I dismissed it as shadows or something." Silence fell heavily. "What are you going to do?"

Thrax sighed and stood. "I'm going to go home, talk to my daughter and then depending on what she says to me, if I find out he laid a hand on her, he's dead. I'm only reformed until someone like that twit pisses me off, then I'll go after them, all leashes forgotten."

Daemon was quiet for a moment. "They're lucky to have you, you know…. Both of them."

Thrax didn't expect the compliment and drew a blank on what to say in response. Finally, the word thanks came to mind. "Thanks…" He said awkwardly.

…..

Past

Once upon a time Thrax could duck under the cover of the expensive cars lining the Cyte's street to avoid prying eyes; but at 17-years-old it was laughable to think he could do such a thing. Cells passed him and Emilia, their expressions scandalized as they raked him from head to toe with wide eyes. Others glared at him. How dare he have the audacity to pollute their safe, innocent homes with his viral garbage. He heard that more than once. Emilia was too oblivious to notice. She has more important things to worry about than how I'm being perceived by her parents' neighbors. Ridiculously dedicated, she waited the three hours for his shift to end at the marrow station. He thought he could shake her by saying he had to get back to work but underestimated her happiness at finding him. He thought it was all an act, but soon couldn't deny the genuine joy. Grudgingly, he let her lead him to her car but they didn't go in the direction he expected. Instead they stopped outside a small house where a little girl happily greeted her with 'momma!' He pulled his hood up quickly, not wanting to deal with the frightened squeal sure to come from her daughter's mouth when she saw him. When asked who he was, Emilia simply answered, "an old friend."

His original belief of her ignoring all else turned out to be untrue when she turned and looked at one couple as she hunted for her house key. "Is there an issue?" The two older cells mumbled something unintelligibly and moved on, only glanced back once at them. The old cells forgotten, Emilia grabbed his hand; like it was a natural reaction his hand twitched at the touch, wanting to keep himself away from her and her daughter, but she ignored that too and pulled him up the porch stairs.

"They should be home soon." She took off her daughter- Zoe's coat as an overwhelming feeling of nostalgia hit him upon looking around. Everything was the same, clean but not sterile. The only place he ever had the chance to call home. "Are you hungry?"

He took a moment to focus on her as she retreated in the direction of the kitchen. It had been a while since he ate, a day or so. Still affected when he didn't eat, he trained himself to hold off the bad symptoms as long as he could. The foreman wasn't impressed when he passed out his third day on the job, hitting his head on the conveyer belt. "You don't have to do that." He drifted after her, looking at everything and feeling the pain of not staying and growing up there.

Emilia smiled at him as she gave Zoe a bottle. "I'm going to be my mother for a moment. What would you like?" She rattled off a few different types of food.

He chose the least problematic dish, a simple sandwich. From her expression, she knew he chose that on purpose but she didn't pressure him. He tried to ignore the looks of innocent fascination wafting off Zoe as she stared at him, she hadn't taken her eyes off him once she noticed his different anatomy. Thankfully, Emilia noticed his awkward situation and distracted Zoe. About the time the sandwich was put in front of him the front door opened and three voices filled the space between himself and them. He felt an almost uncontrollable urge to disappear. Slowly he stood, Emilia glancing his way. "I'm not giving into those ridiculous demands from religious zealots."

"For god's sakes Herb, it was a pamphlet."

"I don't care if it would have made me rich just touching it…" The he-cell was first to stomp into the kitchen. "Emilia, you're here and you brought Zoe-" The little girl jumped out of her chair excited and ran to her grandfather. "Hello there, little lady." His greeting died when he took in the sight of Thrax, standing in his kitchen. Lost for words he looked at his daughter for answers but she only smiled. Footsteps behind the doctor carried Edie into the room, slowing to a stop next to her husband.

"I ran into him downtown." Emilia offered.

"I can't believe you're here…" Edie didn't say anything else, ending her statement of disbelief with a sudden closure of the distance and strong hug. Has so much changed that I don't like being touched again? He forced himself to ignore the uncomfortableness. This she-cell was the closest thing he had to call a mother, the least he could do was reciprocate the action. Was she always this small? Granted he wasn't the size of a tank like some other microbes, but his growth spurt at fifteen-year-old sent him towering over almost everyone he met. Edie drew back; and true to form asked. "Have you eaten?" She took in his skinniness with only the eye a mother would have.

"Yeah…."

She didn't look convinced as she studied him. Behind her, Herb finally gave an encouraging smile.

"It's good to have you back sonny."

…..

He tried to leave hours later after being guilt tripped into stay for dinner, but it was almost like Edie had a sixth sense and knew he was planning to leave. "But you just came back." He had a thousand arguments lined up for that inevitable statement, but the moment it was said he found he couldn't say them, couldn't argue the reasons why he should leave. With no excuses and no pre-made lies, he wasn't ready when she asked if he had a place to stay. Lately it was the shelter, he didn't need to say anything, she already knew.

"Come." He followed her up the stairs slowly. "I'm so happy you're here." She turned to look at him as they reached the second floor. "I missed you."

"I missed you too." He said truthfully. "I'm sorry I left…It was for the best."

Her face was partially shadowed as she surveyed him. "I know you feel that way, but I don't. Just because you're born one way, doesn't mean you have to be that way." She opened the bedroom door he slept in as a kid. "Don't feel you have to tell us anything… all that matters is that you're back." She paused for a moment, before smiling. "And a head taller than Herb." She stepped away from the door to let him by. "See you in the morning."

He glanced her way and gave a tentative smile, the action foreign to him. "Night."

….

Present

Esoph-Landing

Thrax didn't expect Grace to be home, but there she was in the kitchen on the tail end of making dinner.

"You're home early."

He took his coat off in time to be hit in the knees by Luka. "So are you." The spotted dog bounced around him happily before plopping herself down in front of him, waiting. "You just ate I'm sure. No food for you." She whined pitifully. Thrax growled under his breath and grabbed a treat off the top of the fridge and tossed it in the direction of the living room. With an excited bark, she chased after it.

Grace's eyes lit up. "She's finally got you trained." She laughed. "Sue sent me home. For once the ER was dead.

Thrax nodded his acknowledgement. "Is Lindi home?"

"Yes, she's studying... I think."

"Why you think?"

Grace put her full attention into stirring. "She's been weird-ever since you picked her up after their little jaunt to the school."

Thrax figured as much. "I'm going to just-" He didn't finish his sentence as he migrated in the direction of her room. He knocked lightly on the door receiving no answer at first, but then there was a quiet reply of 'come in.'

She was sitting with her back to him as she drew for an art project. He sat on her bed, watching for a moment while her hand glided across the particle paper, knowing he couldn't stall much longer or stare at her; she'd eventually ask why he was there. "I need to know what Anguli-Oris said to you."

Her hand abruptly stopped. "What do you mean?" She turned to face him; to someone else she could have fooled them into thinking she wasn't scared by the question, but to him it was written all over her face.

"You know what I mean." He replied softly.

"He didn't say anything to me."

He let silence fall in the room for a moment before hitting her with his next question. "Then why have you skipped three of his classes?"

A deer-in-the-headlights look crossed her face in an instant, before guilt followed it. Sighing dejectedly and without looking at him, she answered softly. "He wanted to know what I saw that night I was at the school with Shaine, Max and Ash. I said I didn't know what he was talking about and that he couldn't interrogate me like he was doing without a parent present…." She paused. "He got mad and told me…. that he'd find me if I said anything, called me a microbe." Confusion spread across her face. "Then he said he had a list going and he was working through that list and there's been only one lucky microbe who got away from him-said he looked like you."

Daemon. Thrax thought he'd be ready for her explanation but found himself stunned at her confession. He never expected the length Anguli-Oris would go to confronting her. The astonishment only lasted so long before an internal anger took over. His instincts were to leave immediately and hunt down the cell, but there were rules and guidelines set by the mayor of Frank; and no matter how enraged he was, he couldn't go randomly killing someone. I can make it look like an accident. Surprisingly, even to himself, his rage wasn't only for the threatening of his daughter, some of it was for the other El Muerte Rojo virus too, though he didn't know why. He was at the wrong place, at the wrong time…. Still doesn't change anything.

"What are you going do?" The question knocked him out of his racing thoughts. She was chewing her lip, obviously dreading any one of his possible future actions.

"Nothing at the moment." He stood and turned to leave.

"Do I need to go to the class tomorrow?" Her tone clearly stated her fear of his answer.

He looked at her, torn. If she didn't go, she'd fail the class… fuck the class-she doesn't deserve being subjected to someone who is a possible threat. "No. I'll take care of it."

Returning to the kitchen, Thrax knew the reaction he'd be receiving once he told Grace. He wasn't disappointed.

…..

Colliculus High School

9:34am

"I don't even know what I'm going to say…" Grace snapped as she marched up the sidewalk to the school. "Probably a good thing you're here. I'm going to go off. I know it."

For once reasonably rational, Thrax grabbed her elbow to stop her. "Just remember Lindi comes here five days a week. And we don't have the finances to send her to a different district if things get ugly."

Some anger faded from her face, she gave a jerked nod.

The usual staring landed on Thrax like a spotlight the moment they entered the building. Most took his presence as a bad sign and were always quick to disperse. "I'd like to see Mr. Folic." Grace stated to the desk ladies."

"Do you have an appointment?" One of the women had her eyes on Thrax, her expression unreadable.

"No. But the importance trumps politeness and the courtesy of notice."

"Well, I'm sorry, but if you don't have an appointment then you can't see him." The lady turned back to her shuffling of papers.

"Fine." Grace glanced at Thrax. "I believe we still have Superintendent Thalmus's contact number, right?"

Thrax purposely ignored the sudden scandalized looks. "I think so… if not, I'm sure Veins can get it for you."

"What are you doing?" The she-cell demanded. "We can have you forcibly removed from here."

"Is that so?" Grace scoffed. "You may be able to forcibly remove me, but honey, I doubt you can forcibly remove him."

A look of sheer horror crossed the she-cell's face. "Fine." She stalked down a hallway, her voice muffled as she told the principal he had company. She returned half a second later. "He's waiting."

Grace put on a bright, friendly smile. "Thanks." A smile that was not reciprocated.

"You have cameras in all the classrooms." Grace gestured towards the monitor behind the he-cell.

"Yes, we do…" Mr. Folic agreed slowly. "But how many days ago was this? It would take a long time to go through them."

"That won't be issue." Thrax's impeccable hearing picked up on a certain blood cell ignoring the protests of the desk ladies.

"Hey…" Jones poked his head in. "Am I late?"

"No." Thrax murmured. "You're right on time."

"Excellent." The blood cell came forward and handed the virus an envelope, who then slid it across the principal's desk.

"What's this?" The he-cell opened it and then blanched.

Thrax sat up straighter. "I'm only going to say this once. I'm a patient person, if there is section of that footage that shows anything other than how a teacher should behave around a student, I'm going to come down on this school so hard, you won't know what the fuck hit you." The principal was struck speechless.

"Won't be pretty." Jones added. "We'll show ourselves out and wait for the copy of that tape."

It didn't take long for a copy of the footage to be made, a frantic PA call over the school's speakers for the IT tech to come to the main office was shouted twice before the cell showed up, bewildered.

"Well that wasn't so bad." Jones put his sunglasses on. "Want me to give it to Veins?" Thrax hesitated, catching his partner's attention. "Thrax-if there's any sort of misconduct on that tape, Veins needs to be first to see it, you know that." Thrax did know that, and it irked him. The desire to see what exact happened to Lindi to make her so fearful burned so painfully in his stomach he almost defied the statement Jones made. But then he held it out to the white-blood cell. "Do not leave me in the dark, you tell him that." Jones watched him for a moment and then nodded.