Chapter 11~ Damage

Victor fell to the ground covering Mikey protectively. He didn't go down fast enough and the bullet nicked his shoulder as it made its way to the wall. JD had tackled Skarloey to the ground as the shot was fired. He pressed the barrel of his own gun into the other man's temple.
Skarloey dropped his gun. JD knocked it away. Skarloey struggled under him. JD sneered, "Go ahead- try to run- make my week, Slime-ball." Skarloey stilled.
"Dad!" Mikey cried.
"I'm ok, Mikey," Victor said. He brushed the hair back from his son's face. Mikey pulled up Victor's sleeve and held pressure on the wound in an effort to staunch the bleeding. "We need keys," Victor called.
JD lifted Skarloey just to ram him down on the floor. "Keys- now," JD growled.
"They're in his pocket," Victor said. Michael appeared in the door. He helped JD lift Skarloey. JD shoved his hand into Skarloey's pocket and fished out the keys. He tossed them over to Victor. They landed by his feet. Victor picked them up with the hand on his good arm. He wasted no time in unlocking the cuff, setting his son free. Victor was none too pleased at the dark mauve ring he found underneath the cuff. Michael and JD zip tied Skarloey's hands behind his back. "We've got to get out of here before the police show up," Michael warned, "Candace and Fiona are bringing the cars around back."
"Hold on," Victor said. He looked to Mikey who was trying his best to keep pressure on the wound, "What did he take from you earlier?"
"My pictures," Mikey answered.
Victor glared at Skarloey, "Where are they?" Skarloey held his head high. "Don't make me ask again," Victor warned.
Skarloey evaluated his options quickly, "Two doors to the right."
JD left Michael holding Skarloey and ran to the room Skarloey indicated. He came back with the well-worn photo album, "Is this it, Buddy?" Mikey nodded.
"Let's go," Victor said. He took one of Mikey's hands in his. Mikey kept one on Victor's sleeve and wound. The duo started for the back. JD and Michael followed them dragging a protesting Skarloey.

They found the van with the side door thrown open when they got out. Mel was sitting in the back and let out a breath when she saw Victor leading Mikey out by the hand. She also saw Mikey putting pressure on Victor's wound. "What's wrong?" Mel asked.
"He shot my dad," Mikey said.
"It's just a flesh wound," Victor replied.
"You're bleeding!" Mikey rejoined. Victor helped Mikey in the van and followed closely as his son would not let go of him. JD closed the door after them.
"Let me take a look," Mel requested. Mikey lifted his hand and peeled back Victor's sleeve. Mel surveyed the damage. "I'll need to stitch it up, but it's just a graze," she assessed.
"See Mikey," Victor said, "It's not too bad."
"It could still get infected," Mikey reminded him.
"You're talking like your mother," Victor replied with a smile.
"Don't worry we'll take good care of him," Mel assured the boy. She found a clean towel. Mel handed it to Mikey, "Can you hold this here until the ride is over?" Mikey nodded and did as she asked.
JD stuck his head in the driver's side window and kissed Candace. He handed her the photo album. "Take them home," JD tapped the door of the van. He ran back and got in the car with Michael & Fiona. Skarloey was already secured in the back seat.

It wasn't long before they made it back to the boathouse. Victor & Mel took Mikey inside while Candace went to ditch the van. "Let's get that coat off," Mel suggested. Victor unbuttoned and Mel and Mikey pulled him out of the sleeves. Mikey put the towel back on the wound. He spotted the couch in the living room.
"We need to get you sitting," Mikey insisted and drew Victor in the appropriate direction.
"Ok, ok," Victor conceded.
"I'll be right in," Mel said. Victor sat on the couch. Mikey sat beside him. Victor took the opportunity to look Mikey over. It was balm for his weary eyes. Mel came in carrying what looked like a tool box. She sat it down on the coffee table. Opening it Mel got out alcohol pads and a needle along with some special thread. Mikey moved to sit on the coffee table and let her work on his dad's shoulder. Mel got the dress shirt off of Victor leaving him in his undershirt. Mel had Mikey hand her the things she needed. Once she was done cleaning it she began to stitch up the wound.
"Where did you learn how to do that?" Mikey asked.
"I used to be a medic in the army," Mel answered as she continued.
"Really?" Mikey remarked with a note of awe.
"Yep," Mel replied, "I worked as an EMT too." She finished and handed Victor a new shirt. He slipped it on. Mel went to take the trash away.
"There- good as new," Victor said as he fastened the last button. Mikey sat beside Victor. "How are you doing?" Victor asked.
"Good," Mikey said.
"I should have known- I should have gotten to you before now," Victor said, "I'm sorry." Mikey pulled Victor into a hug.
"I knew if you were alive you'd find me," Mikey whispered. There with his son's arms wrapped around him Victor broke. His fear and sadness streamed out in tears. Happiness finally hit. Victor was with his son and completely melted by him.

There was a series of knocks of the door. Mel went to answer it. She found Candace standing there holding two pizza boxes.
"Pizza delivery," Candace announced.
"Oh, thank you," Mel said, "I didn't realize it was that late."
"Now's not a time I'd expect you to be thinking of food," Candace replied.
"Yeah," Mel agreed. She accepted the boxes from Candace.
"This got left in the van," Candace brought out the beat up photo album.
"Thanks," Mel said. Candace set it on top of the boxes.
"Call me later, Sis?" Candace asked.
"Sure thing," Mel replied.
"Well, I better go get dinner to the others before it gets cold," Candace excused herself.

Mel brought the pizza into the living room with paper plates. "Do you like pizza?" Mel asked.
"I sure do," Mikey answered.
"Let's get some divvied up," Victor suggested. He opened the boxes, "Cheese or peppers?"
"Cheese- please," Mikey said.
"That sounds good," Mel requested.
"Ok," Victor separated the hot slices onto plates so they would cool.
"Candace brought this too," Mel handed the photo album to Mikey.
"These are your pictures?" Victor asked. Mikey nodded and curled into Victor's side. He opened the album so he and his father could see. A pic from a family day at the beach greeted them. "Oh, wow," Victor said.
"Do you remember then?" Mikey inquired.
"Yeah, I do," Victor smiled. Mel watched them look at a few more pages. Victor had always been a good looking man, but nestled in with his son he got ten times hotter and Mel hadn't thought that was possible.
By the time they had eaten their pizzas and finished looking through the photos it was late. Mikey yawned. "Uh oh, looks like it's getting to be bed time," Victor said.
"Ok," Mikey replied.
Mel got out a shopping bag. "You went shopping?" Victor asked.
"I figured Mikey would need a few things until we could get him out to pick stuff," Mel replied. She retrieved a pair of blue camouflage print pajama pants and grey, soft jersey t shirt from the bag. "I hope these fit," Mel held them out to Mikey. He ran his fingers over them. "Go ahead- they're yours," Mel coaxed. Mikey threw his arms around her waist. Mel's heart swelled. She returned his hug.

"She is good with him," Victor thought to himself. His eyes meet Mel's shining ones. Victor mouthed a "Thank you" to her. Victor took Mikey upstairs and showed him into the bathroom so he could get ready for bed. "There's shampoo in the shower and it seems Mel already set out a new tooth brush," Victor said, "Anything you need just ask."

"Thanks, Dad," Mikey's old shirt was baggy enough to show that Skarloey had indeed left a mark when they took the proof of life photo. Mikey rubbed his shoulder.
"Is your shoulder ok?" Victor asked.
"Just fine- only pulled from earlier," Mikey replied.
"And that," Victor gestured to the mark.
"Oh, it's nothing," Mikey dismissed it.
"It is something, Mikey- he hurt you," Victor countered, "The people Skarloey left you with, did they hurt you?"
"Not a lot- I sort of learned how to make myself invisible," Mikey looked at the floor. His son's answer just about killed Victor.
"You don't have to do that anymore," Victor told him. Victor headed out to give Mikey some privacy. He found Mel in the living room.
"How did it go?" she asked.
"As good as can be expected," Victor said, "Look, I have a favor to ask."
"Anything," Mel replied.
"You've already done so much, but I need to do a something tomorrow- would you mind watching Mikey for couple hours?" Victor requested, "I'll be sending JD over…"
"You know I will- no problem," Mel said.
"Thank you," Victor replied, "For everything."

Mikey came downstairs to join them when he was done. "Hey," Mel greeted.
"I'm not tired now," Mikey said, "Can I stay with you?"
"Sure," Victor replied. He offered his good side and Mikey curled up right beside him. No matter how he fought it, the boy was tired and in his father's calming presences was asleep within twenty minutes.
Even with a stitched up shoulder Victor still managed to pick up his eleven-year-old and carry him upstairs. Mel went ahead of them and turned down the covers of the bed in the guest room. Victor laid his son in the bed and pulled the covers up to the boy's chin. He found the armchair in the room facing the bed and sat in it. Mel came up beside him. "Are you all right?" she asked.
"I am," he patted her hand.
Victor turned his eyes to Mikey, "I think I'll just stay here for a while."
Mel checked to make sure Mikey was asleep then gave Victor a kiss, "Ok."

Mel left and got ready for bed herself. Face washed, pajamas on she curled up with a book to wind down. A heartbreaking scream resounded through the house. She flew over to the second bedroom to find Victor sitting on the edge of the bed with Mikey in his lap. The boy clung to Victor hysterically crying. There in his father's arms he looked so small, so fragile. Mel couldn't help it that the boy tugged at her heartstrings. "I've got him," Victor assured her. Mel backed out knowing they'd call if they needed her. After a few minutes Mikey quieted. Victor pulled back just enough to look Mikey in the eyes. "That was some nightmare," Victor coaxed, "Do you want to talk about it?" Mikey shook his head and as tears flowed once more. Victor held him close and rubbed his back.

Mel woke up the next morning to find Victor hadn't joined her in the night. She got out of bed and stretched. Mel stopped in the bathroom to brush her teeth and put her hair up with a barrette. Still in her pajamas she walked over to the guest room. Mel opened the door as quiet as a mouse. Victor was lying on the bed with Mikey tucked under his uninjured arm. Mikey's head was on Victor's chest. His father's heartbeat had lulled him to sleep. Victor's hand was on Mikey's back. It seemed paused as if he had fallen asleep mid rub. Mel leaned on the doorframe and watched them sleep for a moment with a smile on her face. She slowly closed the door and went back to the other bedroom. Grabbing her laptop, Mel headed for the kitchen.

She got herself a glass of juice and sat down at the breakfast table. He opened up her laptop and checked the online news. Last evenings activities were already generating interest, especially the John Doe that had been found dead in a supply closet. Mel finished the last of her juice and closed the lid of the laptop. She was going to have to remind Victor to get rid of the gun he used.
Upon closing the lid Mel saw a groggy Mikey coming her way. "Good morning," she said.
"Morning," Mikey rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.
"Can I get you something to drink? We've got cherry juice," Mel offered.
It took him a minute, but he focused on her. "Sounds good," Mikey said. He sat in the second chair at the table. She got up and went to the refrigerator and got out the bottle of juice. He noticed her pajamas.
"You stayed here last night?" Mikey asked.
"Yes," Mel replied. She bit her bottom lip and tried to think, "I sort of… um… live here too." She set a cup down in front of him and poured the juice in it.
"You saw didn't you?" Mikey looked away.
"What?" Mel said. She thought for a moment, "Oh… the nightmare..? It wasn't your fault- I won't tell anyone."
"Promise?" Mikey looked up at her.
"Promise," Mel crossed over her heart with her finger. Satisfied Mikey took a sip from his cup. "Can I get you some breakfast?" Mel asked.
"Ok," Mikey said.
"What would you like?" Mel offered.
Mikey shrugged, "Whatever you like."
"You sure?" Mel replied, "I'd like to know what you like to eat."
"I don't want to be too much trouble," Mikey answered.
"It's no trouble at all, Honey," Mel coaxed.
"Pancakes?" Mikey timidly suggested.
"Perfect," Mel said. She went about getting the ingredients out and into a mixing bowl. Next Mel took out a bag of chocolate chips and poured some in. She had the frying pan ready to go when Victor came into the kitchen.
"Hey, Mikey," he messed his son's hair with one hand.
"Morning, Dad," Mikey replied.
Victor came up behind Mel to see what she was cooking. "Chocolate chip pancakes?" he raised an eyebrow.
"It's a special occasion," Mel smiled. Mikey watched his father kiss Mel's cheek. He didn't know what to think about that.
"How about a pancake race?" Victor challenged.
"You're on!" Mikey agreed.