Title: No Requiem
P O V: Hank Voight
"Oh my god dad how cute is that tiger?"
"Pretty cute" I leaned over checking out the article in the magazine Justin was holding up as I picked him up from school. Leaning over ruffling his head I laughed at how his face lite up. That tiger was cute though a baby it looked like. "So what's the story about?" "It's a true story daddy it's about this baby tiger who wandered too far from his cage in the zoo when a zoo keeper left the gate open and he got lost so he ended up laying down in a field and these kids started feeding him playing with him"
"That's pretty dangerous wouldn't you say son?"
"Yeah I guess I don't know he's a baby he can't really hurt them can he?"
"He's a wild animal son he has claws and sharp teeth"
"Well anyway when the zookeepers found him they returned him to his cage but his mom rejected him because he had human touches on him."
"That's sad Justin"
"Yeah it just shows how dumb animals are though I mean real moms never abounded their kids"
"Human moms wouldn't would they?"
He was so young he was innocent "I mean I don't know what I would do if you or mom ever gave up on me left me on my own, it's cold out here how would I eat where would I sleep? I would be so scared, you always tell me not to trust strangers so how would I make it?"
His words touched me was this how Erin felt? Was this why she was so scared to put her trust in me? In anyone? "How would you like to visit mom at work?" "We can?" Yes!" He pumped his fist. ""Yes we can Justin pick a fast food restaurant will grab dinner, when we get there though I want you to meet someone" "Who daddy?" "A friend I think she needs some love and support her mom she's not around right now"
"That's sad daddy so she's like the tiger cub?"
"Yeah kind of think you can handle that?"
"I'm a big boy daddy I can handle it"
"I knew you would that's my boy" Punching his arm lightly he giggled as he pointed to McDonald's. I groaned personally I hate fast food but when you have kids sometimes you suck it up.
Justin's been around police station and hospitals his whole life so it didn't phrase him being in a hospital. He followed me to Erin's room she laid in the same state as when I left three hours ago. Turning only slightly to see who entered. Her eyes went from mine to Justin's I was shocked to see my son jump back a little.
"You okay J?"
"Uh yeah daddy sorry who's uh your friend?"
"Justin this is Erin, Erin my son Justin"
"Hey kid" she said unenthusiastically "We brought dinner" "I'm not hungry" "You need to eat, for you and… I eyed her stomach. "Daddy can I sit on the bed? I'll get her to eat" "Sure son"
I didn't give her a chance to protest lifting him onto her bed sitting on her other side sitting the bed up. I needed her to give me information I wasn't going to stop till I brought Requiem home safe to her family. If that meant forcing this kid to eat or talk than I would.
She was shocked as I placed my hands under her arm pits lifting her into a sitting position. Justin handed me a burger and fries. "Mom use to do this to me as a kid" "Your still a kid dude" She replied dryly he rolled his eyes "Nah I'm a big boy now I can eat on my own I don't need someone to feed me. Open up make room for the landing" He flew a fry through the air she looked at me like an arrow aiming for it's target I shrugged.
Thankfully though she wasn't rude to him she took the fry and the next six while Justin told jokes making her guess the answers. Knock Knock: "Who's there? Lettuce.
"Lettuce who?"
"Lettuce in, it's freezing out here!"
"What do you call cheese that's not yours?"
"Nacho cheese!"
"What do elves learn in school?"
"The elf-abet."
They were lame jokes yet Erin laughed at every one her checks filled with a slight variations of color.
"Why did the girl smear peanut butter on the road?"
"To go with the traffic jam!"
"That was berry good Justin"
"Ha Berry like Strawberry or raspberry jam! Awesome Erin!" He high-fived her laughing I could see the simple act left her pretty weakened. Maybe Camille was right she didn't seem strong enough to stand questions right now.
"Erin why don't you eat a little more"
"Not hungry"
"Your so thin though" Justin exclaimed wide eyed "Doesn't your mommy make you eat your vegetables?" "No my mom doesn't care either way" "You can borrow mine she always makes me eat everything on my plate, where is mommy daddy?"
"I don't know son I will go find her you keep Erin company okay?"
"Sure daddy Erina and I are old friends" I stopped to look at him funny she coughed his face froze. "Yeah old it's been what an hour or so but those jokes man their some old school ones I can teach you some new ones that will get all your third grad classmates pissing themselves"
"I'm in fourth thank you very much!"
"Oh sorry one year difference"
"Yes that's a whole year older than I was last year!"
Shaking my head I went out to find Camille. Maybe Justin was the key to getting Erin to open up.
Camille was at the station when I came up surprised she smiled coming over to me kissing me. "What brings you to this place again?' "Justin missed his mommy and we brought dinner"
"So where's Justin?"
"Getting Erin to eat"
"What?" "Yeah our little boy is amazing"
"Well duh so where's my dinner?"
"In the room I thought it might do Erin some good to see us eating as a family"
"Excellent idea so lets go I am famished"
When we got back to the room Erin was sitting on the side of the bed damn this kid looked horrible she was skin and bones.
Justin had now somehow shoved the milkshake straw inside her mouth making her sip it. Camille smiled as she sat by her brushing back her hair. "Justin why don't you go grab dessert in the employee lounge eat it there though it's messy" "Okay should I bring some back for Erin?" "Yes after you eat yours"
He scampered off happily as I sat on her other side. "We can provide your baby with a stable home Erin, I can I will protect you you just have to give us information to take Oliver down"
"So you want me to become a Rat you want to make me a target?"
"No I won't allow anything to happen Erin I am with you till the wheels come off and than I will be your ride just trust in us"
"Can you do that?"