Hey guys!
I am so, so, so, so, so, so sorry that I've been MIA for so long! (That's A LOT of 'so's)
I just got inundated with things and then eventually it was like a month and a bit later and I'm wondering how the time could have flown by so fast.
I was going to reply to all of my reviews, but considering this chapter is the longest I've ever written, I decided to bump it off to next chapter.
Just know that I love you all (platonically) and that I've seriously missed you guys (and this story) as well!
Thank you all for all of your reviews (OVER 400, OH MY ACTUAL GOSH!) I swear I almost died, then there was squealing and jumping up and down and strange looks from people when I walked around school with a massive grin on my face for two weeks- that I literally COULD NOT SHAKE OFF!
You're all truly amazing, the epitome of epic, the pinnacle of perfection! Seriously, you guys are just THAT MAGICAL!
I don't own Lab Rats!
This chapter has Douglas mentioned (considering it is sort of set before him, and [I think] I said that I may introduce him eventually. It's got a rude visitor, and I tried to weave in a fluffy moment at the start :)
ENJOY!
Usually, when one of the bionics' had their capsule door closed, it represented the universal sign of 'Do Not Disturb'. Apparently this fact was conveniently forgotten by Bree, who woke her younger brother up by wrenching his capsule door open and lobbing a banana into his chest.
"Get up! We're going shopping," Bree trilled in a far too chipper voice for that early in the morning.
"W'at?" Chase grumbled, still caught up in his half asleep stupor. He looked blankly down at the banana for a moment, then up at his sister, before he returned to staring at the yellow fruit in his arms.
"Come on," she beckoned to him with a hand, "Shopping time!"
"Why?" He blinked slowly.
"I'm bored. Your jacket is ugly. You need a new one," she deadpanned, giving her younger brother a once over before she turned and begun strolling out of the lab.
"It's four AM," He called into her back.
"So?" She didn't slow down, "I'm sure there's a shop open somewhere in the world."
Chase blinked once before he dumbly followed her, rubbing his head and trying to work out whether shopping for jackets was a code word for something or not.
"Where're Bree and Chase?" Leo wondered out loud, looking around the room and noting the absence of the two, generally, early morning bionics.
"I dunno," Adam shrugged, "Bree texted me to tell me they'd be back before eight thirty. Or that yellow isn't on my 'colour pallet'…..one or the other."
She'd also been upset last night, so he'd been expecting her to be gone this morning, Chase being dragged along with her wasn't exactly news either. Adam knew there was a reason Chase was always the awkward tag along she'd steal away with when she wasn't in the best of moods -he just didn't know what it was.
"Bree texted you?" The only Dooley questioned, but the more appropriate question probably was, "Since when did you have a working phone?"
The boys had just woken up and were stumbling around the kitchen like the half asleep teenagers they were, fumbling around for plates and bowl, spoons and knifes in a hazy daze.
"Since…..Furdnesday."
"Furdnesday?" Leo immediately questioned, "What the heck is Furdnesday?"
The eldest bionic rolled his eyes down at his step-brother, "A day of the week, duh."
Leo blinked but decided to let it slide. It was too early to deal with any of Adam's idiosyncrasies now.
"'Morning boys," Tasha breathed from the doorway, stretching and massaging her shoulder as she wandered into the room.
"'Morning," the two replied simultaneously, Leo pouring himself a bowl of Fruit Loops and Adam waiting for his toast to come back up.
"Where're Bree and Chase?" The woman wondered, scanning the room for any signs of two of her step-children.
"….Getting milk," Adam replied slowly, knowing that if his step-mother realised the two bionics had been gone for such a long period of time without telling her, she would be mad. At least this way they had a reason that he knew Tasha would accept. He didn't want his siblings to get in trouble when Bree was upset.
The woman nodded, until she noticed what Leo was about to pour on his cereal, "Isn't that-"
But she was cut off by Adam snatching the milk out of Leo's hands and quickly guzzling the remaining milk in the carton.
"….Okay then," she nodded.
"Dude!" Leo complained, only to be silenced by Adam's warning look.
"Well, I'm just going to call them, Donald needs to talk to you all about something before you leave for school this morning," Tasha finally murmured, picking up a phone from its holder and dialing her youngest step-child.
Shopping for jackets wasn't a code word. The banana turned out to be Chase's breakfast –which he was forced to eat on Bree's back. He did indeed get a new jacket, one that Bree deemed 'cool'. Quite frankly, he found it a little flashy, but he wasn't the one who paid for it- so it didn't matter. He had no idea why his older sister decided to wake him up to go shopping, and, why she was even thinking about his 'ugly' jacket in the first place- but he was too scared to question her.
Besides, he always woke her up for star gazing and intergalactic events, so maybe this was Bree's version of that.
"How does this look?" He awkwardly held up a shirt that had a familiar quality about it that the youngest Davenport immediately identified with.
"Hmm?" Bree spun around from the belts to see what Chase was presenting her, she immediately tilted her head to the side as she took in the plaid polo shirt her brother had picked up off a rack, "Oh no, just…..no."
Chase took in her almost sympathetic words, "No?"
"Uh uh," Bree shook her head.
The youngest Davenport gave the shirt one last fleeting look, it actually looked alright, but Bree knew what she was talking about, so he gently put in away.
Chase might just think that this was one of her whims, but that wasn't the truth- not in the slightest. Really, Bree was actually in a fight with Caitlin, so with the lack of missions, boyfriend help calls or anything really, she'd been feeling a little unimportant. This was why she was spending time with her 'Fashion Victim' of a brother, because it made her feel needed and in control. He could always do with more clothes, had no idea how to pick out anything decent and never questioned her. There was also the other upside that he didn't mind long periods of non-talking.
He also showed his gratitude later on, Chase was never afraid to say thank you- which was sometimes all she needed to feel like she'd done something of note. It helped her look passed her negative feelings due to some of the rather hurtful things Caitlin had snapped at her, and through the mundanity of her life when she wasn't doing anything but being an average student.
"But…..You know what would go great with that jacket?" A smile slowly begun to creep onto the middle bionic's face.
"What?" He sounded genuinely interested.
"OMG I saw the cutest top a couple of shops back," she babbled.
Bree quickly grabbed Chase's arm and dragged him back to some overpriced clothing palace and proceeded to happily wriggle her way through the racks until she found the shirt she thought would go amazingly with Chase's new jacket.
"What do you think?" She sung as she held it out before her little brother.
"….It's got a paint splatter on it."
"I know right, isn't it just so…abstract?" She turned her head so she could once again admire the design, "and the colours will complement the jacket, not wash it out or anything. But we'll try it on just in case."
Chase didn't like it, but he didn't want to tell his sister that, "Ummm…."
He was saved by his phone ringing. The dark haired teen ended up wasting too much time fumbling around for his mobile and missed the phone. He had to redial home, immediately noting that Tasha was the only one who ever called from the landline.
"Hello?" It was Adam
"Hi, can you put Tasha on?"
"Uh…Who is this?"
"…..Chase."
"Who? Do I know a Chase? Oh wait, I do! Chase," Chase awkwardly paused for a moment, until his brother must have picked up his feelings of angst, "Relax, I'm messing with you. You might sound like a girl on the phone, but this system's got caller I.D."
"Ha. Just get Tasha." Chase was not amused.
"She just wants you home now. Davenport wants us. Oh, and bring milk."
"Milk?"
"Yeah, just trust me on that one Buddy."
"Mr Davenport wants to talk to us about something, Tasha wants us home now. And we need to pick up some milk on the way."
Bree bit her lip, but nodded, dumping the paint splattered shirt without a second thought. Chase ended up having to sleepily jog to keep up with his suddenly speed walking sister.
"Oh, here," Bree suddenly stopped, causing Chase to almost run into her back. She threw a plain white t-shirt at her younger brother, "wear the plain shirt, it'll work with the jacket too."
"….Okay?" It came out like a question.
Bree left $100 on the counter to cover the t-shirt, before she super sped her and her brother home.
Mr Davenport apparently didn't need to see them as urgently as Tasha made it sound, however he was in an incredibly good mood.
"Good morning ladies," Donald smiled as he came down the stairs, "You all look beautiful this morning," he added as he kissed Chase and Bree on the top of their heads, before turning to his wife and giving her a quick peck on the lips, "Leo," he acknowledged the boy happily eating his breakfast, now that he had milk.
"Thanks Mr Davenport," Bree smiled as her father skipped down the hallway to his room.
"'Morning," Chase added, not looking up from the book his was reading. It was still before eight, they had plenty of time to lounge about before school.
Wait a minute.
The youngest Davenport snapped his book shut, "….Did he just call me a girl?"
Leo spat Fruit Loops all over the dining room table he was laughing so hard.
"Oh my go-" Bree spluttered out in a choked laugh.
"Don't even go there," Chase cut her off with a finger, "Let's just….let's just get ready for school," he stood up from the couch and made his way over to the lift.
Bree lazily followed him, "You first, Beautiful," she mocked when the lift doors opened for them.
Finally Donald came back out to reveal the important information he just had to tell his kids before they left for school. He collected them all together and ushered them towards the couch.
"Okay," Mr Davenport clapped his hands together, before he started pacing in front of the couch.
"Honey?" Tasha prompted from her position by the kitchen island.
"Oh right," Donald nodded, before he looked down at the four teenagers, "I am going out for a business meeting today."
"Okay," The four replied in the same almost questioning monotone, wondering why Donald decided this information was important enough to call them all out of whatever they were doing just to tell them.
"Then I am going to bring my friend back home to continue on with our discussions-"
"Wait," Adam looked confused for a moment, "You have friends?"
The teenagers laughed and shared a few hi-fives over that one.
"Haha, very funny, Adam, but this is serious. So when you get home I want you all to at least pretend to be a normal, well behaved family," once again everyone laughed.
"I mean it guys, so that means no running around the house!" Donald warned, "Promise me you won't."
"Okay," they all agreed.
"And no breaking any inventions," he continued.
"Sure," all three bionics repeated in the same dead tone, Leo, however gulped before agreeing in a slightly hesitant tone (what could he say, it's not like he went out of his way to break things…..it just happened….he couldn't control it!)
"No yelling."
"Yep."
"No bionics."
"Fine," Bree nodded slightly impatiently, before she stood up, "we get it, go on. We won't do anything to jeopardise your stupid business deal."
Donald looked hesitant for a moment before he picked up his brief case and slowly began making his way over to the door.
"I mean it guys, I really need for this to work out well, if Roger agrees to this then it could open Davenport Industries up to an entirely different client base and demographic," he practically begged from the doorway.
Bree shooed him with her hand.
"Okay, okay, I'm going!" He sighed, turning around and opening the front door, making his parting comment of, "oh and no eating cookies while standing on your head!"
Everyone looked confused, par Adam who began angrily muttering under his breath.
"Dangit Mr D! Now what am I supposed to do for fun?"
"Did you have fun shopping with your sister?" Drew drawled from his seat beside Chase in science class.
The bionic, needless to say, almost spilt sodium chloride all over the table after that remark.
"W-what?"
"Interesting jacket, by the way," his friend flicked his newly bought jacket on the sleeve, "A bit flashy, though. But I get how you had no real choice, huh?"
One of the annoying things about Drew is that he draws comfort and pleasure out of others misfortune and discomfort, and uses a monotone twang so you can never tell when he's joking.
"Umm…." Chase gulped, sparing a glance to his bored looking partner, "How'd you know?"
There was a glint in Drew's black lined eyes, "Oh, I always have my ways," he cocked his head to the side, "what made you think I wouldn't."
Chase placed the measuring cylinder down on the table, "….Remember when we talked about you being creepy?"
There was a fraction of a nod, "Yes."
"And what did I tell you about it?" Chase prompted.
"To not be," okay, that boy was definitely enjoying this now.
The youngest Davenport pursed his lips, "And what are you doing now?"
"Can't a guy have a little fun, Chasey?" Drew mocked, well at least Chase thought he was mocking him, his facial expression remained as blank as a brick wall.
"Why am I friends with you again?"
Drew shrugged, "Because you're too lazy to make another friend?"
Chase chuckled and lightly shoved his friend, "No, that's why you're friends with me."
Drew, without missing a beat, replied with, "Actually, I'm friends with you because I, being the charitable person that I am, decided to invite that weird haired guy over for my birthday…I've been stuck with him ever since."
The youngest Davenport scoffed, before, "'Sounds like a nice guy."
"Oh he is, naively so- total nerd. But he's tolerable. At least I don't have to pretend to be a nice person around him, that crap is exhausting," the black haired teen huffed.
Everyone arrived home from school in relatively high spirits, Bree having a full blown make up session with Caitlin, even though she still complained about her all the way home, and, Adam winning an impromptu game of musical statues against the middle schoolers. Leo had spent the day following Janelle and her friends around whilst she prepared for some extra-curricular event, and, Chase got 100% on his Ancient Histories essay, as well as having many people comment on his new jacket.
They walked into an almost eerily clean house, Tasha tapping away at her laptop on the couch, notes out beside her as she completed some preliminary research for a story she was potentially reporting.
"Uh, Mum?" Leo questioned cautiously looking around the open area with a critical eye, "what's up with the freaky cleanness?"
"Oh, I can see my face on the floor!" Adam gleefully cried, pulling faces at the ground that was polished enough to have a mirror type effect going.
"Donald's friend is coming over, remember, Roger?"
"Why do they have to come back here?" Bree moaned, before collapsing onto the couch.
"Because apparently it was the easiest way to show Roger all of the paperwork needed, they'll be back in about an hour, it hopefully shouldn't take that long," Tasha replied, sparing her step-daughter a quick glance of reassurance.
"Roger as in Roger Leon?" Chase questioned quietly.
"As in Leon Technology?" Leo suddenly piped up, looking excited.
"That's him," the woman nodded.
"Uncle Roger!" Adam clapped, "I haven't seen that guy in ages."
"Wait, your uncle is a leading pioneer into the vast expanses of the technological universe?" The only Dooley spun around.
"I see you've seen the ad," the youngest Davenport smirked, "Well, technically he's not our uncle, but when we were kids Mr Davenport was always having video calls with him down in the lab, so he introduced us as his kids and eventually Roger started referring to himself as our uncle, so it stuck. It never really mattered because we were never going to actually meet him…..now…." Chase trailed off.
"Huh," Leo nodded, "Billionaire dad, multi-millionaire uncle? Not bad."
The bionics chuckled, eventually leaving to get changed into more 'appropriate' clothing, per Tasha's instructions. Well everyone left except Chase, who got told he looked very smart in his jacket and could stay in it.
Bree carried an air of self-praise all the way down into the lab, wearing a slight smirk on her lips. She picked that jacket.
Leo was the first to change and quickly joined his step-brother and mother back on the couch, well, until Chase looked at his watch and stood up.
"Where do you think you're going, Young Man?" Tasha zeroed in on the dark haired bionic before he'd even fully made his way up the stairs.
"I have- uh- stuff to do."
"But Donald and Roger should be here any minute, don't you want to greet them, I'm sure that's what your father wanted you to do," she stood and crossed her arms, before she noticed the look of discomfort on her youngest step-child's face.
"Why don't you want to meet Roger, Sweetie?" She changed her tone, becoming more sugary and sweet.
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Come on, you can tell us anything," Tasha prompted.
"….It's sort of embarrassing."
"Go on," Bree drawled with a sly smirk, quickly refocusing her eyes on her younger brother, as opposed to her phone screen as she skipped into the room.
Chase scuffed his shoe, scratched the back of his head and finally sighed.
"Okay, so the last time I saw Uncle Roger, he and Mr Davenport were having a video call down in the lab…."
"And?" Leo couldn't see where this was going.
Apparently his sister did though, "Do go on," Bree slid onto the couch, spun around and placed her hands under her chin as she continued her Cheshire Cat grin in Chase's direction.
"Well, Mr Davenport brought ice-cream down to the lab, and I sort of ate too much and vomited into my desert bowl at the lab bench….in full view of the camera."
Bree didn't even attempt to contain her laughter, while Tasha at least attempted a sympathetic and motherly front. Leo blinked twice, before letting out a slight chuckle.
"Oh," Tasha waved her hand dismissively, "Like he'd remember something like that. Sit back down."
Chase muttered something under his breath and bit his lip before slowly scuffling back over to the couch.
"Where's Adam," Tasha finally questioned after a moment of silence.
"He had to check on something first, 'said he'd be up later," Bree supplied after she finished laughing at her younger brother's expense. She then spent a considerable amount of time admiring the jacket she'd chosen, practically glowing when Chase mentioned how other people liked it at school.
You could tell they were about to arrive when Chase suddenly found the fabric of the couch pillow beside him all the more interesting. A moment later, two loud voices grew closer to the front door before it was flung open and Donald led a balding, slightly overweight man into the house. He was wearing a fluro blue suit, with a neon yellow tie.
Tasha immediately went across to introduce herself, smiling formally and surreptitiously wiping her hand down the side of her jeans after shaking his hand. Apparently the man was also a tad sweaty too.
Bree followed suit, "Uncle Roger," she grinned sweetly as she was pulled into a one point five second hug.
The man smiled, "Ahh, the girl one," he nodded to himself, his voice like gravel, making him sound older than his years- which was apparently the same age as Mr Davenport, even though he looked more like Donald's father as opposed to his University friend, "you've certainly grown up, now haven't you?" He took in her dress and earrings, before he turned to Donald, "She'll make a good housewife."
Bree grimaced, but made no comment, "Fetch us a drink? Atta-girl!" Roger grinned, before he patted her head and turned away.
The bionic in question forced a polite smile and bowed her head while she silently seethed on the inside. Donald mouthed her a 'thank you' as she went off to pour her 'Uncle' a cup of water.
Leo skidded across next, eager to meet the man.
"I don't remember this one," Roger furrowed his brows as he shook Leo's hand.
"That's because he's my new step-son, remember? I was telling you in the car…." Donald interjected, then trailed off.
"Ah yes," the man nodded, "Nice to meet you, boy."
"It's Leo, sir," the only Dooley introduced himself, "It's an honour," he added, only to receive a slight nod from Roger, who obviously didn't process the information at all. He turned to the remaining Davenport on the couch, who slowly stood up and wandered over.
"Now, I remember you," Roger grinned as he reached across to shake Chase's outstretched hand, "I haven't seen you since you vomited into your bowl at the dinner table!"
"It was a lab bench," Bree corrected, handing Roger the water, noting the insane shade of red her younger brother's face had turned.
The man ignored Bree, brushing her off as he snatched the water from her hand and took a swig.
"That's a fancy jacket you've got there," he indicated the jacket Bree had forced Chase to wear all day, "A little muted, but I can respect a man who's not afraid to wear a little bling," he pointed at the sequins Chase must have missed, that ran underneath the collar of the jacket.
Chase, feeling is face heat up all the more, shot Bree an incredulous look for sticking him in sequence, but she was a little preoccupied trying to reign in her temper. Roger ruffled Chase's hair, and commented to Donald that he looked like a 'good kid'.
Adam took that moment to make his entrance. He strolled in with 'Shut Your Cry Hole' cradled in his arms, the plastic baby wrapped in a fluffy red tea towel.
"Oh hey look, it's the exact same colour as Chase's face," Adam chuckled, raising the baby higher until it was level with the youngest Davenport's cheek, so he could compare the two shades of red.
"Thanks Adam," Chase growled out between gritted teeth, feeling even more heat run under skin after that remark.
"Another boy. You must be the oldest," Robert turned, suddenly straightening up, to offer Adam a more formal hand shake, then almost buckling when the bionic took it,"…Firm grip you've got there, son."
"Oh I know," Adam happily nodded.
"Adam, Honey," Tasha let out a nervous chuckle, "Why are you still carrying around that baby? Your Health assignment is over."
The oldest Davenport spared 'Shut Your Cry Hole' a fond look, before he readjusted his grip on the doll and looked back up at his step-mother.
"Yeah, but I adopted six, now I've got five- how's Ted by the way?" Adam turned to his younger brother, "You know we must arrange a play date-"
"Not now Adam," Chase shook his head.
"-Anyways," The oldest bionic continued, "'Shut Your Cry Hole' needed a bath, so…" Adam indicated the now tea towel clad baby, "I bathed him."
"Shut Your What?" Roger questioned.
"-Cry Hole," Adam responded.
"But they're greasy," Chase wiped his finger along the baby's head, pulling it back to show the layer of muck it had collected.
"Well obviously," His older brother scoffed, before smiling in an all too proud way, "I bathed him in melted butter."
Bree visibly gagged and Chase quickly wiped his finger on the tea towel and took a step away from Adam.
"Okay," Mr Davenport clapped his hands together after a moment of silence, "I think we should take this somewhere a little more private," Donald patted his friend on the back and herded him out onto the balcony.
If there was any message Mr Davenport was trying to get across to Roger, it was that he had a perfect –normal- family, who in turn, helped reflect Donald himself. He wanted to keep Roger on his good side, for the sake of the deal. Buttered up babies didn't make a good impression.
"Do you wanna hold him?" Adam offered the baby to Tasha, after the men left. The woman did her best to place a faux smile on her face.
"Really?" She filled her voice with as much enthusiasm as she could muster, before allowing fake disappointment to enter her tone and expression, "Well….I'm not sure that, um, that I'm wearing the…uh," she scrambled for an excuse, "the right pants for this- that's it!"
Tasha widened her eyes, hoping her step-son would take her horrible on the spot reasoning, so she wouldn't have to hold her step-son's greasy piece of plastic in her arms.
"Right pants?" Leo questioned, suddenly moving to stand beside his mother.
"Ahh," Adam nodded in understanding, smacking his lips as he looked at his step-mother's pale green jeans, "Yeah she's right, the colour clash just wouldn't work, maybe a lavender would be the more appropriate colour."
"Lavender, exactly," Tasha readily agreed.
"But," The dark haired teen paused for dramatic effect, "Just this once," he offered her the doll.
"Oh yay," She gingerly took the baby, forcing her face into a too big grin.
"Be careful, Mum," Leo chimed in, nodding to his mother.
"With what?" She shot her son a sideways glance.
"Support the neck and head," he supplied slowly, to make sure she understood.
"Leo," Tasha sounded slightly offended, "You do realise I've done this before, right? With real babies even!"
"Yeah," her son agreed, patting her arm comfortingly, "But that was a long time ago, maybe you just needed a reminder."
"A reminder?" came the scandalised reply.
"She's not that old," Adam mumbled.
Before anyone had time to add anything else, Tasha had scoffed in disbelief, shoved the baby back into Adam's arms and stormed into her and Donald's room (where she began doing some very angry cleaning).
The rest of the family had eventually dispersed. Adam, however, was called originally to sit with the men, per Roger's request. But after he worked out that the eldest bionic was, shall we say lacking in the brains department, Leo was called out as his replacemetn.
("He didn't want me because I'm a girl? How sexist!" Bree spluttered in outrage when Donald explained, delicately, why she wasn't called on next, being the second oldest.
"I know, I know…but….the deal," Mr Davenport replied.
"What about me?" Chase had then questioned.
"I suggested you, but Roger, well…uhhh…..he thought you were a bit too young," Donald held his breath, knowing his son wouldn't take kindly to those words.
"Young?" Chase breathed, "But I'm older than Leo. Where'd he get that idea from?"
"Well, he remembers you as a kid Chase-"
"-Where I assisted you in phone calls and presentations."
"But," Mr Davenport breathed, "As a child. I know it's unfair. Leo was more forward in his introduction, 'more mature'- his words, not mine!" Donald raised his hands in surrender before his youngest could retort. "…..Besides….like you actually wanted to be outside listening to our boring business talk. "
Chase had crossed his arms and huffed.)
They all came back together for dinner, which apparently Uncle Roger was staying for.
"Try to keep it all in your mouth this time, eh?" The man joked, clapping Chase on the back as he scooted behind his chair.
Chase, once again, turned a very violent shade of red, cursing which ever blood line gave him the susceptibility to so easily blush. He also bit his lip to stop a snarky retort, which he had felt bubbling inside of him since Roger insinuated that he was young and immature.
The bionic was not having a good day, he'd been woken up early, had been wearing a sequined jacket and got called a girl, had the man over who he once vomited in front of, who found him too young to listen to their business arrangements. He also kept getting smirks across the table from Adam, who had been caught up on the 'vomited in the desert bowl' story. But Chase was in no mood to respond, or react, in any ways to his older brothers mocking stare.
(At least they had kept up the pretence that they were a normal family. That was a slight silver lining to his very heavy and embarrassing raincloud.)
"I gotta say, Tasha, this food is divine," Roger garbled out in-between mouthfuls.
It was a dish Mr Davenport has specifically requested -'though it's up to you really, honey'- his wife made. It was one of Roger's favourites, which all of the family was forced to at least pretend to eat.
"Thank you," she tried not to look too disgusted as a bit of food flew out of his mouth.
"And you have a lovely home, it certainly looks different from when it was just Donald living here with the kids. The space just looks so bigger and brighter," he continued.
"Renovations do wonders," Mr Davenport nervously chuckled.
Roger nodded, "Good kids too," he commented, ruffling Chase's hair when he said that, "I look forward many more of these nights."
"More?" Tasha blinked.
"Well if I'm working with your husband so much….."
"Really?" Donald immediately straightened in his chair, "you want to sign the deal?"
"Of course," the man beamed, "let me just call a few people after dinner, and I'll be on my way, ready to see you bright and early next Monday down at Davenport Industries."
"I-I-thank you," Mr Davenport finally spluttered, reaching across the table to shake Roger's hand.
The two men stood, "Handle my plate, would you, Sweetheart?" Roger passed his plate off to Bree, who froze in anger, outrage and shock.
After dinner everyone dissipated, Bree receiving a phone call from Caitlin that she readily took, Tasha following Donald upstairs, Uncle Roger jumping onto the couch and the boys heading down into the lab.
The two bionics and their step-brother took turns racing each other up and down the rock climbing wall until they mutually agreed that they were thirsty, then Leo and Adam teamed up to force Chase to go get them some drinks.
The youngest Davenport grimaced when he entered the open living area, making his way over to the kitchen as fast and silently as possible. They were all under strict instructions to be nice to Roger, who was currently collapsed on their couch, phone in stubby paw as he swiped at his screen. But he had done nothing to endear himself towards Chase as of yet.
The bionic poured himself and his brothers their drinks, then begrudgingly offered one to Roger, who sighed glumly and told the youngest Davenport he wasn't thirsty.
He collected the drinks onto a tray and was about to leave when he heard another long winded sigh. Taking a deep breath, Chase placed the drinks back down on the table and gently perched himself on the edge of the couch.
"What's wrong, Uncle Roger?" Chase warily questions the man scratching at his balding head.
"Business is just so long and hard these days," he jabbed his meaty fingers at the touch screen on his phone, sending another text message off to a potential investor.
"I'm sorry?" It came out like a question.
"I should have been born rich, kiddo, instead of so darn good-looking. Then I wouldn't need to be worrying about any deals, I'd be like your old man…." He trailed off.
"A billionaire inventor?"
"No!" Roger let out a heavy chuckle, "Upstairs go-karting."
Chase allowed a polite smile to cross his face.
"You're still incredibly wealthy though," the youngest Davenport commented.
"But still…..I had to earn it…..it took years of climbing up the ranks to get where I am now."
Chase didn't like how he was inferring that his father hadn't worked to get the money he now possessed. In fact he was about to comment on it, when Roger cut him off.
"But never mind, boy, you've still got years before you've got to think about money. Stay young while you can, and start saving now. You'll regret it if you don't!" the man waggled his finger in Chase's face.
"I have a bank account with money stored under high interest saving, I've got more money than all of my siblings combined. Thank you for your advice though," the brunette commented dryly.
Roger chuckled, "You know who you remind me of, kid?"
"Mr Davenport?" Chase answered automatically, having been told his entire life how much he acted like his father.
"No, no, someone else- what's his name?…..D something," the man trailed off in thought.
What? Sure he didn't look exactly like Donald, only sharing just enough physical characteristics for him to determine that they were related (Chase always thinking that he took more after his mother), but their personalities were so similar- who else could it be?
Roger perked up, going into his photo album on his phone and pulling up a photo, "That brother, Dou-"
Roger was about to pass his mobile over to Chase, but Mr Davenport interrupted him, re-entering the room with a loud and sharp cough. He quickly descended the stairs. The business man on the couch paused in mid-pass.
"Chase, I think you should head down to your room now," Donald pointedly told his son through gritted teeth, seemingly sending Roger a murderous look- but why would Mr Davenport do that?
"Did you know a guy whose brother was named Dou-uh- Doug?" The bionic stood, filling in the blank in the name, sending a questioning look to his father.
"Of course he does," Roger took one look at Donald's warning tone, but disregarded it.
"Roger, don't-"
But the man only let out another a heavy chuckle, waving his arm to once again ignore Donald, "Take a look," he offered his phone once more, which Mr Davenport slapped away before Chase could get a look at it, "He's-"
"Chase. Room. Now!" Donald practically barked.
The youngest Davenport took the appropriate course of action and retreated out of the room, grabbing the drinks while he went. He heard a single exchange between the two before he was back with his brothers and their talking muffled whatever other words were exchanged afterwards.
"…..You know how I don't like that name mentioned in my house. How dare you try and tell my son about someone I specifically told you not to talk about," Mr Davenport sounded dangerous, quietly seething.
"Lighten up Donald- it was nothing- now fix us a drink, would you?"
"Chase?" Bree murmured in an eerily calm tone.
"Yeah?"
She kept her voice level, "What's that on your back?"
Turns out Roger's meaty hand print was imprinted on the back of Chase's new jacket. It was all grease, fat and a bit of sweat- impossible to get out.
It took all four boys to stop Bree from running upstairs and attacking Uncle Roger.
("We'll just replace it, we've still got the receipt!" Chase tried to placate his sister, who was being physically held back by Adam.
"Not with that on it, they'd laugh in our faces- nobody would take that back!"
"Well, I'm sure Mum can have a look at it, figure out a way to get it out," Leo added, but Bree was too furious to even dream of calming down.)
Leo informed the bionics the next morning that Roger stayed late into the night, the three having been confined to the lab, whilst Leo had an excuse to go upstairs to his bedroom.
"I could hear them, when they said goodbye Big D didn't sound very happy."
"But I thought he got what he wanted though," Adam frowned, perplexed.
"Well, as long as he didn't blow the deal, I mean," Leo started gushing, "Roger Leon is a legend, a bit different than I pictured him, but still," he nodded enthusiastically, "You should have heard them talking business, it was so cool!"
"Did you understand any of it though?" Chase raised an eyebrow.
"….No. But I can't wait to see him again, he promised to show me his latest invention!"
"Mr Leon isn't going to be coming over anymore, the deal is off," Mr Davenport appeared behind the group of teenagers, talking in a clipped tone.
"Aww, why?" Leo whined.
"Because he didn't respect me or my family- I was spending so much time focusing on making sure he was comfortable, that I forgot we were supposed to be entering a partnership. Partners are equals."
Leo still grumbled, but Adam and Bree let out a little cheer- thankful she'd never had another minute being nice to that man. Thankfully Adam wouldn't have to stop his sister attacking that man again when she saw him again -sure she'd calmed down, but it wouldn't take much to get her going again.
"...Does this have anything to do with Doug?" Chase innocently asked.
"Who's Doug?" Bree and Leo questioned in unison.
Adam wore a more thoughtful look on his face, like the name sounded familiar- not quite right- but familiar.
"No," Mr Davenport scoffed forcefully.
"Yes," Chase mentally noted, watching his father with a wary eye and taking in his body language, "It has everything to do with him."
So, what did you guys think?Basically I've had that start hanging around for AGES and I really wanted to use it, so I decided 'why not?'
I've got practically every family member having a bit- which I was proud of. (Besides Eddy...who I had a whole bit planned for...but couldn't squeeze in.)
I know that it's incredible long, but I loved it all and I wanted to make it up to you guys for leaving you all for so long...so basically I wrote you a novella (haha ;D)
Oh, Donald didn't want Chase to see a picture of Douglas, because since Chase's brain works like a computer -and he is a genius- he'd take one look at the photo of Douglas and work out who he is. At least in my mind, I thought that sounded cool.
Even though he spent the entire time trying to accommodate Roger, even have him treating his daughter terribly, the final straw was disregarding him when he told his specifically to not do something (tell/show Chase about Douglas.)
IMAGINE: Chase's jacket- just something flashy with sequins under the collar, whenever I tried to describe it, it didn't sound right. Also imagine dinner being the food you hate most in the world- because it tastes disgusting!
Drew was in it as a little snippet of the lab rats at school, so it didn't just jump for them before school to after school. SORRY FOR GIVING YOU TWO OCS IN ONE CHAPTER! (I know I've done it before, the abduction chapters had far more than two even!...But this's my first chapter in a while, so I going to keep it family centered...)
The ending is up in the air, so I can later do a chapter maybe about Chase pondering who 'Doug' is. Adam's also thoughtful, because as stated in a previous chapter, he was old enough to remember Douglas, so even though he's a lot older now- there's something in the back of mind that is very familiar about that name.
You're all SPECTACULAR BEINGS, who are SIMPLE STUPENDOUS and WONDROUS in every way!
Catch ya next time, yeah? Bye!