It was around 8am and Jesse, Kira and Rose were all sitting around the kitchen table. Tom had made another round of pancakes and was taking a shower. Mariel was guarding Russell and Dave was filling up the cars with gas.

"More?" Asked Rose hopefully.

"How can you still be hungry?" Kira was full to bursting and she hadn't even finished her first portion.

"More?"

Kira sighed "Do you know how to cook pancakes, Jess?"

Jesse raised his head, surprised that Kira had spoken to him. "Um, yes." He paused. "Hopefully."

"All right!" said Kira. "Come on, we can all do it."

"I need to go to the bathroom." Rose sprinted from the room.

"Anything to get out of work!" Jesse smiled and his heart leapt when Kira smiled back.

"You realize Tom wants to leave me?" Russell spoke.

Mariel, who had been watching him for a good hour, shook her head.

"Yep. Down here with Dave. Got him to agree."

Mariel wasn't sure she believed Russell. Why would Tom just leave Russell tied up down here and where would they go anyway?

A few moments later, when Mariel obviously wasn't going to say anything, Russell continued. "I wonder why he hasn't told you."

"Stop trying to get me to doubt him."

Russell leapt on her words. "Why? Has he given you any reason not to?"

"Yes." Mariel replied.

"What?"

After a pause: "Everything."

Tom stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his waist. Getting another he dried his hair. He was glad of the shower. If he had to sit in a bath of water every time he had to wash he would have gone crazy.

There was a slight knock at the door. "Come in."

Mariel entered. "Hi."

"Hi." He smiled at her, and when he didn't get a reply, frowned. "You all right?"

"When were you going to tell me we're leaving Russell behind?"

Tom groaned inwardly and swallowed. "In about five minutes actually."

"You were?" Marie replied skeptically.

"Yes!"

"Dave already knows though doesn't he?"

"Well… he asked."

Mariel shook her head. "He thought I shouldn't trust you."

"Dave?"

"Russell."

"Why wouldn't you?"

"Just look at what's gone on since the hurricane Tom. You've lied to me so much!"

"I wanted to protect you! But I've never done this before."

"That's comforting." Mariel spoke with a sarcastic tone. "It's good to know you haven't got other wives you're doing this to."

Tom took a deep breath and counted to ten. "I'm doing the best I can."

"Well." Mariel leant against the counter. "You're going to have to start being honest with me."

"What do you want to know?"

"Why do we have to leave Russell behind?"

"He left that part out then, did he?"

"Tom!"

"The military wants him!"

Mariel paused, open mouthed, and looked at him. "What?"

"Well, at least you believe me there!"

"Why would the military want Russell of all people?"

"He's a murderer, Mare."

"Oh no," laughed Mariel. "You're not pulling that one."

"They want him because he'll be a much better soldier than someone who's never killed!"

"Dave might believe that crack pot theory..."

"It's true!"

Mariel paused. "So why don't they just get you."

Tom gritted his teeth and stared at her. "I don't interest them, but thanks for that!" He threw the towel he had been using on his hair round his shoulders and walked past her to the door.

She caught him on the arm as he reached for the handle. "I'm sorry, Tom. I didn't mean that."

He turned back to her. "I don't know why they don't want me. But I'm certainly not going to push the point. I have no problem with letting them having Russell down in one of their basements as long as it's not me, you, or the kids down there instead of him."

Mariel nodded. "I get that but…"

"I'd sacrifice everything for you, Mare. I'll tell you anything. Just ask."

"What…What do they want him for? Other than being a soldier."

Tom looked at the ground and then back up into her eyes but remained silent.

"Tom?"

"I…You…" Tom swallowed. "Experiments."

Mariel gasped.

Tom continued. "I didn't want to tell you cause I thought you wouldn't want to leave him behind, but the military have a whole base that is dedicated to experimenting on us."

"Oh my god."

"That was why I backed off of the military. I found out. They showed me and threatened they'd have me down there if I didn't co-operate. The looks in those men's eyes Mare."

Mariel drew him to her and hugged him close. He was shaking. "I wouldn't let that happen to you, baby."

Tom suddenly stiffened and pulled away. He took a deep breath and looked at Mariel's questioning face. "If it's a choice… a choice between leaving me down there or getting you and the kids captured then you will let it happen."

"No…"

"Yes." Tom swallowed again. "I will sacrifice everything for you. And if you're captured as well as me then the kids will have no one."

"I'd keep the kids out of it."

"Even if you do you won't do anything!"

"Yes! I would!"

"Mare…"

"Let me ask you something, Tom," Mariel looked him straight in the eye. "If I was captured, would you just leave me?"

"Jesse? Kira?"

"Yes, Rose."

"Why does the military want Dad?"

"What?" Kira dropped the flour she was carrying and Jesse dropped the pan.

"Only I heard Mom and Daddy-Tom talking about Dad…" Kira seemed to relax slightly. "And he said the military wants Dad."

"Did they say why, Rose?" Jesse crossed to her and knelt down. She moved back slightly but seemed reassured when it seemed he just wanted an answer.

"They want him to be a soldier and experiment."

Jesse looked at Kira. "Did you know…?"

"No." She shook her head.

Jesse turned back to Kira. "What else did they say?"

"Daddy-Tom said he's sacrificing himself."

"What?" Kira was down by Jesse's side in an instant.

Rose continued, loving being the centre of attention. "He told Mom to leave him and look after us."

"I won't let that happen!" Kira shook her head. "What else did they say Rose?"

"I don't know. I couldn't hear through the door very well."

Jesse rose, pacing around the kitchen. "I knew we had to leave Russ but…" he stopped. "Doesn't this seem at all odd to you?"

"How?" Kira stood up as well. Now that no one was paying any attention to Rose she crossed to the dropped pan and started to eat the pancake in it.

"It just seems… sudden, that's all."

"We're all wishing things would slow down, Jess, but…"

"Hey." Tom walked into the kitchen and then stopped. Jesse and Kira glanced at each other anxiously, but realized Tom was looking at the kitchen, rather then them, in horror. "Ah." Kira waved her hand at the kitchen. "We can explain… some of this."

"Ok. Then will you care to tell me what the flour's doing turning the floor white, why the pan is upside down, and why Rose is eating raw pancakes?" Tom crossed over to Rose and hoisted her away from the offending food.

Jesse laughed nervously. "Productive cooking?"