The men all pulled their triggers at the same time...but every single gun jammed and continued clicking no matter how many times they jiggled their weapons. "NOW what the hell's going on!?" an irate O'Donoghue roared, shaking his rifle wildly.
"Never mind, I don't need a gun to finish Ferris!" Rooney grabbed O'Donoghue's combat knife from its holster, then yanked Ferris forward. "Time to flunk out of life, Ferris!" he roared at the boy, placing the knife to his throat and preparing to slash..
...but was abruptly knocked down and pinned to the ground by an enraged Andrew. "Get the hell off me, Clark!" the former principal demanded, struggling to get out of the boy's grip.
"You're not hurting anyone, Mr. Rooney!" Andrew shouted, pulling the knife out of Rooney's hands and tossing it away, then turning the man over on his chest and applying hard pressure to his legs. Rooney howled in pain from the hold. "Let go of him right now, Clark, or you're dead too!" Vernon threatened, taking aim at him.
"With a gun that doesn't work, Mr. Vernon? And besides, you're not going to shoot anyway," Ferris's eyes shot back up to the roof, where Kevin stood at the edge, tearing open two large bags of birdseed that had been stashed up there. The younger boy quickly dumped the birdseed down on both former teachers. covering Vernon and Rooney from head to toe. "What the hell...!?" the latter shouted, but anything else he might have said was cut off by a thunderous roar as seemingly thousands of birds took flight from the trees nearby, all of them zoning in on the former educators. ""OOOOOOOOHHHH NOOOOOOOOO!" their screams echoed loudly across the entire lake. Rooney aimed at the oncoming flock and tried to fire on the birds, but his gun was still jammed. Panicked, he tossed the rifle at the birds and turned to run-but only managed to bump into Vernon, who'd been frozen in place in terror at the sight of what was coming at him. Both men tumbled to the ground hard. Seconds later, the birds descended on them and started eating away at the seed. Vernon and Rooney's screams of carnal terror rang out loud enough to be heard in three adjoining states. "You might not have your just desserts, Dick, but it looks like they do!" Bender called mockingly to his nemesis.
A loud bang rang out, making him and everyone else turn in fear. "Finally!" O'Donoghue declared loudly, firing a second shot skyward. "All right you filfy brats!" he took aim at the teens, "Now you'll pay in blood for ruining my miffion...!"
But before he could shoot, a loud growl rang out behind him. "Oh my God...!" Claire's cry made the militant leader turn-and freeze to see the Bald-Headed, Bald-Butted Killer Bear of Claire County lumbering towards him with an angry expression. "Sir...!" one of his remaining men, whimpered, having turned white with terror.
"Hold your ground, men; it's only one bear!" O'Donoghue barked. He gulped fearfully, however, as the bear rose up on its hind legs-revealing that it stood well over eight feet tall-and let out a horrific roar. This proved too terrifying for the rest of his men, who tossed down their weapons and ran screaming towards the oncoming police cars in the distance. "Get back here, you cowards!" O'Donoghue shouted after them, but he had turned white as well.
"Up the fire escape, quick!" Ferris shouted to his colleagues. They all rushed for the stairs and climbed until they were up to the third floor. Turning, they watched a shaking O'Donoghue take aim at the bear, but before he could fire, it swung a hard swipe at the gun, breaking the barrel clean in two and rendering the firearm useless. Panicked, O'Donoghue dove for his combat knife and tried to swing it at the bear, but missed its face, and was promptly disarmed by another swipe. The bear then grabbed the militant leader in its jaws and flung him hard into the side of the hotel, then pounced on him before he could get up. "Don't look, don't look!" Ferris turned away, unable, nonetheless, to block out the horrific crunching sounds and O'Donoghue's screams of agony. These continued for a good minute before the latter came to an abrupt stop, signaling beyond doubt that O'Donoghue's mission of hatred and terror had come to its final, gruesome end. "Well, you knew once the bear was mentioned that it was going to strike against someone," Ferris commented over his shoulder, "Better, of course, it be someone like him than us..."
He grabbed onto the railing as the fire escape shook hard. A quick glance down showed exactly why: the bear had now reared up on its hind legs again and was shaking the escape. And Ferris could hear the bolts start to groan; it was not out of the realm of possibility that the grizzly could pull the whole fire escape down with its visible size and strength. "Everyone hold on tight!" he cried to the others, seizing the railing hard.
"What else are we supposed to do!?" Allison shouted to him, gripping the other railing just as hard. "Did Buck Ripley say it was this big when he was face to face with it!?" she shouted up to Andrew.
"He did, but I didn't believe him that it could be this massive!" Andrew shouted back, tumbling to his knees as the escape groaned from the bear's shoving. "Brian, you're the smart one; tell us a way out of here!" he called to the brain on the next landing.
"Wish I could, Andy, but I'm drawing a blank right now; Kevin!" Brian shouted to the younger boy atop the hotel.
"I've got nothing left up here!" Kevin cried down, "You'll have to...!"
His eyes locked in on a figure coming around the corner. "Giant bear, do something!" he shouted. The teens turned to see Wally running towards them with the shotgun lamp in hand. The hotel owner nodded at the sight of the bear, which was now trying to climb up to the lowest level of the fire escape, which would have brought it into range of its targets, and ran forward. "Great, shoot it, shoot it...come on, what the hell are you waiting for!?" Bender yelled impatiently to Wally, who was fumbling around trying to plug the shotgun lamp into an external outlet near the fire escape.
"Got to warm the barrel up first; I've filled it up with extra powerful bullets if it ever came back!" Wally shouted back, finally shoving the plug into the outlet and turning the lamp on.
"Hurry up and shoot, who knows how much longer this fire escape can hold!" Sloane cried to him, shrieking as the entire fire escape leaned forwards towards the bear, who opened its jaws wide, as if beckoning for the teens to fall right into its mouth, and roared. Wally took aim at the bear, not bothering to remove the bulb or lampshade. "Cover your ears, here we go!" he called out loud. He grabbed the lamp's trigger and pulled it hard. With a tremendous bang and a bright flash of light, the gun went off. Seconds later, an equally loud bang coincided with all the hair on the left side of the bear's body exploding off, leaving it completely bald on that side. Yowling, the bear pulled away from the fire escape, turned and ran back towards the woods, yelping at the top of its lungs. Its potential victims breathed deep sigh of relief. "And now, it shall forever be known as the Half-Bare Bear of Claire County-the name may be square, but its not unfair," Ferris commented out loud. "Over there, boys, there's your men," he called to the approaching police and Secret Service cars that were pulling up behind the hotel, pointing at the still being eaten alive Vernon and Rooney. The authorities leaped out of their cars, assessed the situation, and fired several shots into the air to disperse the birds. "Well, well, Edward R. Rooney. We got a memo over the wires about you jumping out of an airplane," one of the cops hauled the now completely feather-covered Rooney to his feet, "Unfortunately, it's time for the principal to go back to detention."
"This is a mistake; I can explain everything...!" Rooney tried to shout.
"Sorry, Mr. Rooney, but I can only delightfully say, game over," Ferris strolled over with a grin, watching his nemesis be handcuffed. "Gentlemen, Mr. Rooney, along with Mr. Vernon, joined in with the men who tried to kill the president, and they tried to kill all of us on a number of occasions as well," he gestured at his fellow vacationers, "So they can be charged with assault and battery, attempted murder, and aiding and abetting terrorists first and foremost."
"I'm innocent; I've done nothing wrong...!" the equally feather-covered Vernon protested as he was handcuffed in turn.
"Nothing wrong, Vernon? We got the news your prints and Rooney's prints were found all over the house of Mr. Arthur Bender, who was found beaten to an inch of his life, down in the Chicago area," another cop spoke up.
"And they shot at us and threw grenades at us in the woods; we'll all testify to that in court," Allison stormed over, glaring both educators down, "They almost beat Claire to death before that," she gestured at the redhead behind her, "And lord knows what else they've been up to."
"Don't listen to her, she's a pathological liar!" Vernon snarled to the police, "She's been friendly with John Bender for months; that means she's lost all morality for...!"
"Stuff it, Vernon; you can tell that to the judge. Let's go," the cops started leading them off. "Why did I ever listen to you, Ed!? This man put me up to everything!" Vernon told the authorities, gesturing with his foot at Rooney, "I'll turn state's evidence..."
"Oh no you don't, Richard! You were a full partner in this the whole time!" Rooney bellowed in rage, "You're not throwing me under the bus for this...!"
"I should have thrown you under the bus years ago, Ed, because I can't stand you! I could never stand you; you're a sniveling little weasel, and you made me lose my clout with the school board with your stupid all-day pursuit of Bueller in the spring!" Vernon barked back at him, "If you hadn't made me look like a fool to back you up to them, maybe I could have held on to my position after Johnson's family pressed charges...!"
"Your position!? The superintendent's job was MINE, Richard, and you stole it off me by politicking with the school board!" Rooney roared, "I waited five years to get out of the principal's position, and you leaped over my head just like that by putting me down behind my back! I should have gone nuclear with you then, and if you try and stab me in the back in court, I'll make your life a living hell like you can't imagine!"
"Why wait till then, Ed!? If you want to go, let's go right now!" Vernon shouted angrily at the former principal, "I can kick your ass easy any time!"
"Bring it on, you cowardly son of a...!" an equally angry Rooney lunged at him. The two of them kicked and bumped each other hard as they were loaded into the back of the nearest police car, all while screaming every obscenity in the book in each other's faces, and could still be seen assailing each other as they and the remaining militants were driven away. "And so, we wish them happy life sentences in maximum security," Ferris said happily, waving goodbye to the former educators, "With luck, they'll end up in the same cell, and can go at it with each other every night."
"Guys, everyone all right?" Melissa came running over, her job to direct the authorities onto the site now done.
"Sure are, thankfully," Ferris told her.
"Great...Allison," Melissa happily hugged the brunette, "I'm so sorry for everything I said..."
"So am I," Allison gushed, "You're a great friend, and I'm glad you're all right now..."
"Claire," Jeremy was running over as well, "Is it over?"
"Yep, all over; we've taken care of them, especially Mr. Vernon," Claire nodded. She turned to Bender, who approached Jeremy. "Um, I don't usually do this, pal, but...I'm sorry I hit you," he apologized to the congressional aide, "I've come to see, well...just because a guy looks at a girl you like, that doesn't make them evil, and...well, anyway, if Claire likes you more, then she deserves you more. And it looks like you are a good man."
He extended his hand to Jeremy, who shook it firmly. "Looks like you're not really that bad either, John," Jeremy told him, "I heard over the phone that you got everyone out of that cave, and..."
"Great job, everyone," a beaming Kevin came down the fire escape to ground level, "We all did good. And by the way," he turned to Andrew, "Very nice save there against the redheaded guy when he was about to let Ferris have it."
"Well, Ferris gave us a good week, and I couldn't let Mr. Rooney get away with cold-blooded murder..." Andrew confessed.
"You know what else you did?" Kevin smiled, "You took a good first step to banishing Larry's ghost. No flinching, no fear, you just took him down without a problem. Didn't I say a good deed erases a bad deed?"
"Well...yeah, I guess so," Andrew realized with a smile, "I guess I did start to..."
"Andy!" came a familiar worried cry. All eyes turned towards the figures disembarking from a red catering truck that had parked alongside the police and Secret Service cars. And Mrs. Clark was sprinting rapidly towards her son. "Oh Andy, thank god you're all right!" she rushed him and embraced him, "When we saw that terrorists were at work up here, I was scared the worst had happened! If anything had happened to you, I don't know what I'd do...!"
"It looks like your son helped save the life of the president and the emir of Kuwait," a nearby Secret Service agent spoke up, "These kids stopped the terrorists from setting off the explosives under the stage the president was making a speech on, and it looks like they took out a good number of the rest of the band all by themselves. Special thanks to you, young man, for taking down the terrorist that was about to shoot the president," he commended Bender, who slouched down in embarrassment, "I think that may call for a special commendation for you."
"Well, for someone that doesn't like the president much, not bad, Bender," Andrew applauded the criminal.
"Only because the guy who was going to shoot him said things my old man says to me!" Bender insisted unconvincingly, "I've dedicated myself to taking down anyone who does that!"
Andrew grinned knowingly. "Dad..." he noted his father and brother approaching now as well.
"You'd said you were going to the Standish girl's estate," his father said grimly, "Ordinarily, I'd have to punish you good for this."
"Well, Dad, I..."
"But I won't," Mr. Clark's expression lightened, "After all, you're a man now, and we parents have to let go eventually, don't we?"
"You mean..."
"Andy, I'm so sorry," sniffing, Mr. Clark fell to his knees penitently, "I didn't realize what I was doing to you, that I was pushing you down the wrong path like that. I never meant to hurt my boy in any way. Can you forgive a foolish old man?"
Andrew broke into a smile. "It's all right, Dad," he put an arm around his father, "Let's just move forward as best we can."
"Thank you," Mr. Clark hugged his older son, "I'll make this up any way I can, Andy; just name it. Kevin," he noticed his younger son's friend nearby, "What are you doing here?"
"Helping Andy learn more about himself-and saving the day yet again," Kevin told him.
"You mean I missed out on another big showdown!?" Julian looked disappointed.
"Don't feel bad, Julian; we didn't get to do nearly as much as we did in Las Vegas," Kevin comforted him, "You still have the honor of taking part in the biggest and most elaborate trap fest I've ever put together."
"But I'm glad to have joined in on this one, so now I know the thrill you did," Andrew said to his brother.
"And it's a thrill all right," Julian agreed. He leaned closer to Andrew once their parents had looked away and mumbled under his breath, "But I'd still better get what you don't take to college, or else."
"Don't worry, don't worry, I didn't forget!" Andrew hissed back. He turned and stepped aside with his parents to let Mrs. Reynolds through. "Allison," she greeted her daughter.
"Mom," Allison mumbled, "You actually came up?"
"Yes. When Andrew's mother called to say you were up here...I wouldn't have checked and seen that you weren't out at the Standishes' without prompting," she shook her head softly, "I rarely checked on you much these last few years anyway..."
"Yeah, I know, Mom. But I've managed to do well on my own."
"It looks like it. I've let so much slip away on me, I've let you grow up practically without noticing. I missed too much trying to dull all my pain; I wasn't going to miss this, especially not when it looked like you were in harm's way. Oh Allison, I've forgotten how much I love you," Mrs. Reynolds hugged her, "You've grown into a fine young woman, and I'm so glad to finally be able to tell you that."
"Have you been smoking crack, Mom?" Allison looked up at her, puzzled, "This isn't normal for you..."
"I know, but I'd like to change that going forward. And so would your father. He's probably about a half hour behind us; it took some prodding, but I got him to come along too."
"Really? Has HE been smoking crack...?"
"I certainly hope not, but I don't think so. We may not be the kind of family I wished we could have been, but I think there's still some hope for something between all of us," Mrs. Reynolds kissed her daughter on the forehead. "Oh, Claire," she noticed the redhead nearby, "I was talking with your...wait, how are you normal?" she frowned, "We'd heard you'd been beaten badly..."
"I was, but...it healed a lot quicker than everyone expected," Claire said quickly, "Um, you were saying?"
"I spoke with your father's new date; she got the call you were taken to the hospital before we did. She's been worried sick for you; she got your father to cancel the rest of their vacation and come here for you. They're probably landing in Milwaukee around now."
"What? Marcia made him...?" Claire frowned in surprise.
"Yes. And she's said how much she wants to be friends with you. So maybe you could be friendly with her when she does arrive; I think it would make her whole day," Mrs. Reynolds told her.
"Um, well...if she got him to come, I guess I could give her a chance..." Claire mumbled, shuffling about in shame. "She really cares for me that much?" she mumbled softly to herself, "Have I been too hard on her for...?"
"Sounds like she's a good friend for you," Sloane put an arm around her with a smile, "She's not your mother, but I don't think she has to be. Give her a chance."
"Well, maybe I will, then...maybe I can get a meaningful relationship with her..."
Behind the crowd, Brian was gulping as he walked towards his approaching parents. "Um, hello," he greeted them nervously.
"We like you to be honest with us when you tell us where you're going, young man," his mother told him sternly.
"I know, I'm, so sorry, Mom. I just...I just really wanted to go along for this. I felt terrible about not telling you where we were going; I hate to lie to you and Dad about anything. I even voiced my concerns to Ferris about it..." Brian rambled apologetically.
"I would have expected a lot more from you, Brian..."
"Don't punish him, Mrs. Johnson, please," Melissa rushed up, "He is genuinely sorry he wasn't on the level. And he...Mom, Dad," she noticed her own parents approaching, "How did you...?"
"Brian's mother called us. Are you all right?" her father asked.
"I am. And I'm sorry I didn't tell you we were coming here too," Melissa hung her head in shame, "I value the trust you and Mom put in me, and..."
"Oh well, I guess it's not a big deal in the end," Mrs. Johnson shrugged. "After all," she turned to her son with an apologetic expression of her own, "after we kept you from having fun all these years, Brian, maybe this was bound to have happened. I guess you deserved to have a week like this."
"So...you're not mad?" he asked.
"A little, yes, but I forgive you. And I love you. I always will," she broke into a smile and hugged him.
"So you're just letting him off the hook!? He lied to your face, and you let him go just like that!? This is not fair!" Mary protested furiously behind her parents, "If I did it, I'd lose every privilege for a month or worse! If this is the way it's going to go, then I want out of this family...!"
"Mary, don't start!" her mother warned her, "Be glad your brother's all right, after it looked like he might not be."
"Mary, I know we've never had the best of relationships," Brian bent down to his sister's level, "But I am going to miss you when I leave for college, honest. Can we call a peace and try and move forward?"
He extended a hand towards her. "Well...I'll think about it," Mary muttered non-commitally.
"Close enough for now. Mr. Winters, Mrs. Winters," Brian turned to his girlfriend's parents, "Melissa has some good news for you..."
"I've sold my rockets to NASA!" Melissa told them excitedly, "I showed President Simmons a few of my models, and he was impressed. He called up the head of NASA and told him to use my designs in future projects!"
"He did!? That's wonderful!" her father hugged her warmly, "Oh, I'm so proud of you, honey; didn't I tell you all those years that you could do it if you tried hard enough?"
"Yeah, you did, and it feels great, Dad. So thank you for supporting me all this time-same for you, Mom," she added to her mother when Mrs. Winters hugged her as well. "And really, I have Brian to thank again; he stood behind me when-Brian, what's wrong?" she noticed his now glummer expression as he looked back at the Secret Service agents commending his friends for their actions in taking down the terrorists.
"Oh, nothing, it's just...did I pass up the chance to be a true hero like the others by choosing to stay outside and help call the police?" Brian lamented sadly, "Which I didn't even get to do after I peeled off to try and keep Bender from killing Mr. Vernon...I did nothing, everyone else did everything..."
"Brian, please don't do this to yourself," Melissa begged him, putting an arm around him, "What we did was important too. You can't be truly happy if you keep comparing what you do to what everyone else does."
"I, I just can't help it; I've been doing it for too long," he confessed, "And look at them: Bender took down Mr. Vernon and saved President Simmons, Andy and Allison set the traps, Claire came up with the idea on how to stop the blast...all we did was sit in the back of the car and point out where to go. I just can't help feeling like a fifth wheel again," he shook his head, "It's just like detention all over again; I'm the spare part that doesn't seem to belong..."
"Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Johnson," Claire came walking over, "So you came too."
"Yes we did. And good to see you're all right, Claire," Mrs. Johnson told her, also looking a little surprised that she was looking healthy, "We'd heard you'd gone to the hospital..."
"I did, but I'm all right now, thankfully. Anyway, though, I think the two of you ought to know, Brian's a hero. He saved me and Melissa earlier today," Claire told them, giving their son a grateful smile, "Mr. Vernon and Mr. Rooney wanted to use us as bait to lure everyone else to them after they assaulted me so they could kill them. They smashed my legs hard enough so that I couldn't walk, and Melissa was already unconscious from what those militia guys had done to her. We had no hope of getting away, and Mr. Vernon and Mr. Rooney said out loud that they were going to kill us after they'd finished the others off. Once the shooting started, Brian ran to me right away without any regard for his own safety. He got Melissa and I out of there; he carried us away from the shooting, and he wouldn't stop running until we were safely back at the hotel. And then when we got to the hospital, he wouldn't leave our sides until we were both all right. I can't put into words how grateful I am that he stayed with me when I needed somebody nearby. I had a rough week up here emotionally, and I'd started questioning the goodness of humanity deep down by then. Brian gave me back my faith in people with everything he did for me. So you should both be really proud of him."
"He did all that?" Mr. Johnson beamed down at his son, "Well then, I am very proud of you, Brian," he hugged him close, "For someone who said for years that you had no hope of meeting pretty girls, you sure seem adept at saving their lives."
"Unconscious!?" Mrs. Winters gasped, horrified, "Melissa, what happened up here!?" she asked her daughter.
"Those men who try to kill the president, Claire and I stumbled across them. Their leader hit me with a rock repeatedly-I don't remember much after that, but..." Melissa turned to Brian for advice on what to say. "Your decision," he mouthed to her. "..but, they were able to heal me up quickly at the hospital," she finished.
"Oh God, if the worst had happened, and we weren't able to be here to do anything...!" Mr. Winters pulled his daughter into a kiss. "Bless you again, Brian, from the bottom of my heart," he hugged her boyfriend, "Is there anything you won't do for Melissa?"
"Excuse me, but I was promised time to go swimming if I went along on this trip!" Mary shouted out loud.
"Yes, yes, I know, honey, and we can fulfill that promise right now," Mrs. Johnson sighed. She led her daughter towards the lake, while her husband and the Winterses now moved aside to converse on their own. "Claire, you didn't have to..." Brian started to say to her.
"Yes, I did. And every word I said was absolutely true. If you hadn't grabbed me and gotten me out of there, Brian, they would have killed me for sure, and they'd probably have finished Melissa off too," Claire gestured at the blonde, "I could tell when I looked over here that you were feeling left out again, but please don't think that way, because it doesn't matter who did what during this final showdown. You were the hero today first, and in the most important way of all. So no matter who, if anyone, I end up with," she took his hand, "you'll always be my knight from this moment on, just like you're Melissa's knight too. So thank you, Brian, from the bottom of my heart."
"Well, um, uh..." Brian stammered, "I, uh, appreciate it, Claire, but don't you think you're overselling this? After all, Bender saved the president of the United States; what's this in comparison to...?"
"Johnson," Bender in fact approached him now. "Everyone filled me in on what happened after I ran off this morning," he told the brain, looking grateful, "That was really brave what you did, getting Claire to safety. I don't know if I could have done that under the same circumstances. So I can't thank you enough for this; I may have saved Matty, but for me, you saving Claire's life is ten times more important than that. If her dad shows up like Reynolds' mother says he will, I'll make sure he gives you a reward for it."
"Well, uh, thanks, Bender, but the only reward I'd want, he can't give. Because the only thing I'd really want is to have Melissa for all eternity," Brian turned and put an arm around his girlfriend, "I don't care if I get every answer on every test in college wrong; as long as she loves me, I don't need or want anything else."
Bender cracked a small smile. "You know, as recently as the beginning of this trip, I would have thought you crazy, Johnson. But I think I understand now," he told Brian, "You're a good kid with a good heart, and you do deserve a happy ending, same as the rest of us. So do me a favor and don't ever change."
"You probably don't have to worry, Bender; Brian values the important things in life too much to ever change for the worse. So I'd like your word then, Melissa Winters," Claire turned to her, "No matter what happens from here on in your life, don't ever let Brian go. If you do, you'll have to answer to me."
"Let him go? After he got me out of the woods alive too, after he pushed hard to get my rockets to NASA, after he defended me with every ounce of his being against both the Speaker and John, after he treated me like a queen all week? And after everything else he's done for me over the last four months? How could I even think of ever letting Brian go?" Melissa leaned towards him and kissed him on the cheek, "How could I when he's proven himself my hero in so many different ways?"
"He's my hero too. And as far from a fifth wheel as anyone could ever be," Claire gave Brian one more smile before bustling back over to everyone else. "She's right; you're no fifth wheel, Johnson," Bender told the brain, maintaining his small grin, "Oh, and, uh, if you have any pointers on how to make a relationship special," he leaned closer to Brian, "I'd like to know them. Claire...I don't want to take the chance of her and I..."
"I know, Bender, and I'd be glad to help if we get the chance," Brian nodded.
"Thanks," Bender shook his hand. He followed Claire back towards the crowd. "Well, well, it looks like the boy who walked out of detention alone on that fateful day now has two girls forever indebted to him," Melissa told her boyfriend with a wry grin, "And for the record, that's twice now you've saved my life, so consider me doubly indebted to you."
"Anything, absolutely anything for you, Melissa, you know that," Brian pulled her close and kissed her passionately. "And I was telling the truth too; if I can't have you in my life, my life's not worth living," he told her warmly when he'd finished the kiss.
"Well, please don't word it that way, Brian. It brings back too many unpleasant memories for me. But I do appreciate it," she smiled, "You certainly know how to make a girl really feel like she means the world to someone."
"Well, I guess I'm better than I'd thought at sweeping girls off their feet," Brian in fact swept Melissa up into his arms.
Oh stop, stop!" she laughed, giving him a playful whack on the shoulder.
"Hey you guys, we just got the message, the president wants to congratulate us all in person," Andrew called to their right, where he was walking with everyone else towards the Secret Service cars, "You coming?"
"Well...I'm not sure I would qualify..." Brian mumbled hesitantly.
"And now that I think about it," Claire spoke up, smiling at him again, "no one else could have been a hero today if someone hadn't paid attention enough to notice where the militants had set up their camp. I was looking in the wrong direction, and I think everyone else in the car was too. So the president would have been killed in the end for sure if it wasn't for you."
"Well, I..."
"Come on, pal, she's right; you're as much a hero as us with this," Andrew goaded him, waving at the brain to join him and the others. Brian slowly started nodding, a smile crossing his face. "OK then, sure, we're coming too," he agreed. "Shall we, then?" he asked Melissa.
"Do I get valet service?" she asked teasingly, locking her arms around his neck and leaning her cheek against his.
"Just say the word, fair and beautiful princess, and thy shall receive what thy wishest," Brian told her grandly.
"Lead on then, oh faithful prince," she grinned. Brian carried her in his arms towards the cars. Behind them, Ferris grinned happily. "So glad they were able to mostly make it right with their families," he told Sloane next to him, "And good to see that deep romance isn't just an illusion, as our brains here so happily illustrated. But of course, I should know, as I found the girl I love with every ounce of my being," he kissed her.
"I know," Sloane smiled at him. "Kevin, good working with you," she told the younger boy as he approached, "This was almost as fun as my last day off with Ferris-especially since we came out alive, of course."
"Yeah, I know. And if you guys want to see the whole story about what I did the last couple of Christmases, I signed a deal with Roy Walley back in December. He'll be filming at least my first two adventures that I had on my own," Kevin told her, "And who knows, if my stories can make great films, maybe yours and the others can too."
"Our day off, a film?" Sloane mused, "Well..."
"Well, why not?" Ferris said, turning sideways and winking.
"I'll take you back home, little guy," Wally put a hand on Kevin's shoulder from behind, "Which cabin were you again?"
"Number 992, Mr. McNamara." Kevin told him.
"Well, come with me, then," Wally gestured for him to follow. "See you guys around; tell everyone goodbye for me," Kevin told Ferris and Sloane as he walked away. It was at this moment that Ferris's cell phone buzzed. "Uh oh..." he groaned upon seeing the message on it.
"What?" Sloane frowned over his shoulder.
"We're going to have to cut the trip short; Mom and Dad are coming home early. They should be in town tomorrow at two, so we'll have to get back by then. But I guess it's about time to head on out now anyway. After all," he looked over his shoulder again, "With the bad guys defeated and everyone having found new founts of happiness, what else is left for us to do up here anyway? So, might as well move on to the beginning of the end now..."
"...capping off a wild night, FBI agents arrested Speaker of the House Bruce Begelman as he stepped off his private plane upon arriving back in Washington and charged him with multiple counts of aiding and abetting terrorism and treason," the morning news anchor declared on the television inside the hotel's restaurant, "Begelman has insisted he is innocent of the charges, but more than a few of the arrested militia members testified to police than they saw the Speaker directly conversing with the now deceased leader of the group, Captain Henry M. O'Donoghue, a former Army sniper in Iraq. Early this morning, congressional caucus leaders have announced they are drawing up impeachment documents against Begelman if he does not voluntarily resign his post within a week. Reports have also come in that the headquarters of the Midwest Patriots Freedom Army in Appleton has been raided by the FBI, who are looking to see if anyone else knew of the assassination attempt..."
"I can't believe Mr. Begelman would stoop that low," Natalie grumbled in disgust from the table nearest the TV, "Selling out to people like that just because he thought Dad was doing a bad job..."
"Well, the warning signs were there," Cameron mused from next to her, "His stubborn insistence that he knew what was best for the country, his anger over your father beating him in the primary, probably a load of other things. Well, life in Florence ADX might knock some sense into him."
"Maybe. I'd just like to say, before you leave, guys, thanks again for everything," Natalie commended Cameron and his friends, "This was an even bigger help for us than you did on your senior class trip. And it was great seeing you again, Cameron," she kissed him, "I enjoyed everything we got to do together, and I can't wait for college to start so it can be just the two of us."
"Same here," Cameron stroked her long black hair, "Just remember that your father promised to give me campaign pointers; I'm serious about that career in politics."
"And if you need any help with that campaign, Cam, consider me your first volunteer," Ferris patted his best friend on the back. "Speaking of politics," he turned to Jeremy, who was also sitting at the table with them, "Now that your boss has a life sentence waiting for him, what are you going to do now?"
"Well, unfortunately, I'm still too young to run for office yet. But I'm sure one of the other Wisconsin representatives would be glad to take me on," Jeremy said.
"Especially after everything you did yesterday to stop the plot, I'm sure," Sloane agreed.
"When I get all the experience I need, and I reach the right age, I'll run for office. And if Claire's available...god, I hope she's still available then," Jeremy mused, "I really do love her..."
"I think you do. And, it looks like you'll have the chance to tell her yourself before she leaves," Ferris turned to the restaurant door, where Claire was leading their fellow vacationers and their families in for breakfast. She was conversing with a smile with a dark-haired woman that Ferris knew had to be Marcia Maddox. He gestured Claire over. "So, what's your opinion of her now?" he asked her.
"You know, I think I might just give Marcia a chance," Claire's smile widened, "She's made it clear she doesn't want to replace Mom, and she's interested in a lot of the things I am. And she's told Dad to try and love me for real, without burying me under gifts. So maybe I was too hasty to dismiss her."
"Well, I hope it does work out for you, Claire. Um, before you go," Jeremy rose to his feet and took her hands, "Again, I'm sorry about everything I did wrong this week. I'll never be able to look at another girl again without comparing her to you, and I think the comparison will always fail. If you like John more, then by all means go to him, but...I'll be there if you want me, I promise. I'll stay single for you."
"I appreciate it, Jeremy," she turned her smile to him, "I forgive you. You've paid your penitence, and it's clear you do genuinely care for me."
"And I do too, Cherry my dear," Bender hugged her from behind. "But you're a good man too, O'Connor, and I know she'd do well with you," he told Jeremy, shaking the congressional aide's hand.
"You're not bad either, John," Jeremy said with a nod. "Well, I'd better get going," he checked his watch, "The other aides are heading back to Washington in a half hour. It was great to meet all of you," he bid farewell to the other teens, bustling out of the restaurant. No sooner had he left than President Simmons came in. "Heard you folks are on your way out after breakfast," he told everyone, "I just want to thank you and your kids firsthand again for everything they've done this week, for me and for the U.S.A."
"Where's Mom?" Natalie frowned, looking around for the First Lady.
"She said she had something to take care of, honey; she should be in shortly before we head back to Washington. Andrew," the president approached the wrestler, "Ahmed and his uncle had to leave early before dawn, but they sent their best wishes and their hope that you can find peace-and that it was an honor to work with you regardless of everything."
"Well, the next time you're in Kuwait City, Mr. President, tell them I said thanks, and that I wish Ahmed good luck at the Nairobi Olympics," Andrew told him.
"I will. As for your families," the president stepped forward, "So you don't have to ride back in a catering truck, I've instructed the Secret Service to take you back to where you all parked yesterday in their vehicles."
"Much appreciated, Mr. President," Mr. Johnson shook his hand.
"And I hope the Arab council you're setting up works too, Mr. President, sir," Brian added, "If we can make the world a better place, I'd love to see it work."
"That's what I'm hoping, Brian. We at least had to try. Well, before you do go," he scanned the group, "Is there anything else I can do for any of you?"
"Just remember your promise about Andie's mother," Allison reminded him.
"Yes, I have, Allison. I'll see what I can do the first chance I get..."
"Pool's not open yet, Mrs. Simmons," the maintenance man fixing the shattered glass window to the pool told the approaching First Lady.
"I know, but I'm not going in to swim," she told him, "I'd, well, just like a quiet place to make a call."
"Oh, well, OK, I guess we can handle that," the maintenance man stepped aside to let her in. Mrs. Simmons trudged over to one of the deck chairs on the opposite side of the pool and slowly sat down in it. "Give me some space for this," she instructed her Secret Service detail, "I'd like a little privacy. Just watch the door so no one comes in till I'm done."
The agents obligingly stepped back to form a wide ring around the entire pool. Taking a deep, nervous breath, the First Lady dug a piece of paper out of her suit pocket and slowly started dialing the number on it. Her finger hesitated over the final number, but she forced herself to push it. The phone was answered by a once-familiar voice after two rings. "Hel-Hello, Cathy," Mrs. Simmons choked up, tears streaming down her face, "It's Nancy. I'd like...how did I get your number? Well, I'm sure you've heard that my husband's now president of the United States; I can access any legal information I want, especially with my daughter having become a computer ace...yes, Natalie has. Anyway, I did a search, and I figured you'd have wanted to find a quiet place to live across the country from the Chicago area after...everything. Emerald Lake in Washington fit best, and it looks like I was right...yes, I know how long it's been since we spoke, but I needed to speak to you again. I...I've had my eyes opened this week, and I've come to realize, that grudge I was holding against you, even though I still think what you did was wrong, was too harsh. I remembered how close we used to be, and for the first time in a long time, I remembered how much we used to share together...and I finally realized how much I've missed you all these years..."
She broke down sobbing. Taking deep breaths to try and regain her composure, she wiped at her eyes and continued, "Let's bury the hatchet, Cathy. We're the only family we have left, at least from our own family...you have? Well, at least you did find happiness after you left. But that's also why I wanted to call, Cathy. We had some kids from our neck of the woods come up to Matthew's summit with Kuwait's emir this week and...and it happens one of them's close friends with Andie. She asked Matthew to look for her mother...no, I haven't. You told me to stay away, and I did. I've wondered whether that was the right call for a while now, but I haven't had any contact with her or Jack since you left. Matthew and Natalie both think you're dead...yes, I told them that. And since we'd drifted so far apart by the time I'd first met Matthew, it was practically the case to me anyway. I'd told them I'd gone to visit Mom and Dad when I confronted you at O'Hare when you were leaving Jack...they realized what you were going to do in your last call to them before you left when you said you wanted to see more of the country, and they told me to try and stop you. They knew you wouldn't listen to them at that point, and figured I could knock some sense into you. I still wish you'd listened to me, but I am sorry for how mad I got and what I said to you then, Cathy; I was completely out of line by the end of our fight. But anyway, the point is, I'm begging you, Cathy: call Jack and Andie. Look, I know you've got a new life now, but...Cathy, maybe Jack wasn't the right person for you after all, but he's still the father of your child, the child who's had to grow up without you because you made the mistake of thinking her father was too low on the social ladder for you. Haven't you spent nights wondering how Andie's been doing, what she's become? Don't you feel any pain or remorse for leaving her to grow up alone? Well, I'm glad you have, then. Andie's friend and her friends made me realize the importance of family more than ever. All those years in the governor's mansion in Lansing and now the White House blinded me to a lot of things, including Natalie. I've tried to make it right with her since then, and so should you."
She glanced around to confirm that only the agents were listening in to her call. "Please just call them, Cathy," she begged her sister, "If they...it's all right, Cathy, I don't blame you for being afraid. I'd be too. But at least give them closure. They deserve that much. And if they're not angry, please go to them, if only for a little while. Let Andie see her mother's face one last time. Let her see that you haven't forgotten about her, or her father, even though you did start over. No, that's not the only reason I called. I...I want to see you too, Cathy. We've spent too long pretending the other one hasn't existed. I really, really want my sister back. Either I can come there, or I can arrange for you to come to the White House; it's your choice. But I want to see you; I...I need you, Cathy. And I'm so, so sorry for everything I did wrong on my end. Please say you'll come."
She broke down again when the answer came. "Thank you, you don't know how much I appreciate it that you can...that we can forgive each other like this," she sobbed, "I'll call and make the arrangements for you. I'll come along for the trip; clearly we've got a lot of catching up with each other to do. And we can stop in Shermer on the way and drop in there-don't worry, I'll call Jack ahead of time so he and Andie have fair warning...I can get his number just as easily. And let's not turn our backs to each other anymore; let's get back to where we once were as kids. I need my sister in my life from now on. Thank you. I love you, Cathy, I love you so much. I'll see you very soon; let me know when you're ready."
She hung up, sniffing in joy. "Well, Mom, Dad, we did it," she glanced skyward, "You wanted us to make up, and now we have." She turned towards the glass wall of the pool building to see the Shermer High students walking past with suitcases in hand, none of them noticing her. "And thank you, kids," she commended them softly, "We couldn't have done this without your help."
"Can we have a moment alone before we go, Ferris?" Andrew asked him.
"Sure, sure, just don't take too long. I want to be back with at least an hour to spare before my parents get back," Ferris said, glancing at his watch.
"Don't worry, this will only take a minute," Andrew waved the four other members of the fateful detention into a circle. "Well," he took a deep breath, fighting back tears, "I guess this is pretty much it for us for now. Once we get back to Shermer, it'll pretty much be time for us to go our own ways. So while we're still here together, I just want to say, it's been an honor to have met and become friends with each of you. I just wish we could have known each other longer, that we could have seen as much as we do now earlier..."
"We know, Andy," Claire was on the verge of tears herself, "I'm glad to be moving on from Chicago, but I'm going to miss all of you guys so much," she sadly looked up at them, "Over the last few months, you've all become like the brothers and sisters I never had, that I never knew I wanted. I would have never believed I'd be saying that six months ago, but it's the truth. I guess...I guess...we are family in a way. So no matter what, if we never see each other again after we get back to town, please don't forget..."
"We'll never forget, Claire, not after what we've all done for each other," Brian took her hand, "I wouldn't have found Melissa if it wasn't for you guys; I wouldn't even be alive now if I hadn't met all of you. No matter where we go from here, we'll always walk together forever. So don't worry; I guarantee we'll never forget each other."
He glanced around the others, who nodded solemnly. They all embraced in a warm group hug, tears streaming down their faces. "It's amazing how it takes only one day for someone to touch so many people's lives so much," Allison mused, sniffing.
"Yeah, Reynolds, it does," Bender mumbled softly. "Well, shall we go then, Cherry?" he turned to Claire, a heavy look on his face.
"Yep, let's go, John. And thank you, for finding the better angels of your nature when it counted," Claire hugged him.
"If you prefer O'Connor to me, you can have him. I can understand..."
"I haven't decided yet. But I don't need to rush it. Not when I have two great men in my life now, you being one of them."
"Listen, Cherry, I'll do what I can to make it out to Tucson next chance I get, I promise..."
"I know," she smiled, then walked towards the front Ferrari, where Ferris and his friends were waiting inside. "OK, we're ready, Ferris," she told him, sliding next to Cameron, "And thanks for inviting us; this was a great week in the end."
"Glad to know. And John, I'm so glad you came along, and that you didn't leave when you had the chance," Ferris smiled at Bender, who was sitting down on Cameron's other side, "Hope you liked it too."
"Yeah, I guess so. You're crazy and a pain, Bueller...but you're all right. So thanks," Bender cracked a small smile at him. "But my pot better be exactly where you dumped it," his scowl returned, "If it's not, then you're still in big trouble..."
"Don't worry, don't worry; nobody would think of looking for it down there," Ferris assured him.
"You're essentially all right too, John," Cameron shook Bender's hand, "I think you still need to try and be more sociable and apply yourself more positively to the world-at least that's my opinion..." he gulped when Bender thrust a fist into his face, "But anyway, thanks so much for your help in saving Natalie and her family. And maybe I'll try and extend an olive branch to my father if you're going to do the same with yours. No harm in trying, after all, and if there's nothing left to our relationship going forward, at least I'll know."
"I think it's certainly worth a try, Cameron. If you want me to be there when you go, I'll be glad to come along," Ferris told him, "OK, then, everyone ready?" he glanced back to the second Ferrari.
"Take us out, Ferris," Melissa gave him a thumbs-up.
"OK then, homeward bound we go!" Ferris started his car's engine and hit the radio's button, prompting the tones of Bob Seger to rise up. "And again, perfect song selection," he glanced sideways and winked, "Well, hope you all liked the story. Feel free to leave a review any time you want, and..."
"Will you cut that out, Bueller!? I hate it when you do that!" Bender barked at him.
"Last time, John, promise. Story's over anyway. All together now!" Ferris shouted to everyone else, pulling off down the road. Everyone joined with him in belting out the lyrics as they drove off into the sunrise-for all intents and purposes, the sunrise of the rest of their lives: "Roll, roll me away; I want to roll me away tonight. Gotta keep rolling, keep riding, keep searching till I find what's right. And as the sunset faded, I spoke to the faintest first starlight. And said next time, next tiiiiiiiiiiime, we'll get it right!"
"Have a safe ride back," a smiling Stanpovalichki waved goodbye to the Ferraris from the side of the road, unseen by everyone on board them. "Yeah, they'll be just fine, Keema," he scratched his dog behind his ears, "All of them are going to make out great in this world. I just know it deep down. Well, shall we head on home to Chicago?"
Keema whimpered as he rose up to all four legs. "Yeah, I know we've probably got another hearing upstairs coming, buddy, especially after bringing the O'Connor kid back to life when they prefer us not to go that far outside of dire emergencies, and jamming all those guys' guns on them at the critical moment. But since it was for everyone's benefit, I think they'll let it slide. Besides, there's lots more people back in the greater Chicago area in need of our help, and once they see we'll go the extra mile for them...well, you'll see," the homeless man assured his pet.
He started walking down the road with his dog, then stopped and turned. "Oh, and by the way," he said out loud, as if talking to an imaginary audience, "This may have been an unofficial work of fiction, but don't think for one moment there aren't others like me out there in the real world where you are. You can call us angels, you can call us whatever you want, but the point is, we are out there, always watching over all of you. So whenever you feel you can't go on, remember, we are there, even if you can't physically see us. Just like the town of Shermer does exist somewhere out there for all of you, waiting, just like the lands of Oz and Narnia, to open itself up to you whenever you need to find a place where happy endings feel real, where people still care, where friendship and love truly do matter. Just look for Shermer whenever you need to, and you'll always find it. I guarantee it."
A horn blared to his right. "Need a lift, buddy?" Aker leaned out the window of his truck.
"Don't mind if I do," Stanpovalichki led Keema towards the truck and climbed in the passenger side. "How far are you headed?" he asked Aker as the restaurant owner started driving again.
"Headed back to my restaurant off Exit 275 on I-94. I spent the night up here after I helped a couple of people reconnect with their kids. That really felt good," Aker sighed contentedly, "I've been without my own family for some time now; getting to help them made me feel like I had a family again."
"Yeah, I'd believe it," Stanpovalichki smiled, leaning back in his seat as Aker drove off down the road and out of sight, "If anything's true in this world, it's that helping others and gaining friends is the most important thing of all. And you can quote me on that..."
THE END