Week 20 – UDC 7
Father
She'd lived at Children's Services for as long as she could remember, and didn't know how to react when the Sargent brought up the idea of adoption after she protested going back. It was strange, having someone look at her with fondness, kindness. But she wasn't going to say no.
On a dark night that had been filled with violence, madness, breaking the law, and power outtages, a family is formed between a gruff police sargent and a little girl duly determined to be a good citizen.
Son
It is five years since that horrible night where everything changed in a hail of gun fire, but Russell Murphy still remembers the phone call from his daughter-in-law as he watches what is left of his son puzzle his way through a chess move. Still remembers standing at graveside with his wife, silent daughter-in-law, and grandson. Five years and what feels like a dozen lifetimes ago.
He wants to tell him about all the things he's missed since, but instead, Russell glances at Charlie and then makes a move that puts the cyborg in check again.
Husband
Standing off to the side with Madigan as she tries to persuade him to say something, anything to the mother and son now having a reunion that had been precipitated by his son running away from home, the first thing on his mind is not saying something to either of them. Rather, he's kicking himself for avoiding the problem entirely and nearly getting his son killed by association. He doesn't know the details of how the boy came to be sitting in Madigan's car, but he can guess.
And so, when he responds to her gentle nudging on the matter, he is correct. He can not be what they need him to be, but he can protect them.
Brother
She watches the two boys play with building blocks in the living room and can't help but smile at the simple joy of it. They were so absorbed in the game that nothing else mattered, save the next part of the building puzzle.
Hands and arms encircled her from behind, and she let his warmth comfort her from behind. "Doesn't seem like we were ever that young, does it?"
He chuckled. "No, Gadget. No, it doesn't. Sure you want one more?"
As he caressed her expanded belly, she smiled again. "Of course."
Teacher
It feels odd, using the fishing tackle. Odd in a familiar and comforting way, but odd nonetheless. Glancing out across the lake, Jimmy frowns in remembrance of an afternoon spent outside, fishing with his father and his grandfather, suddenly understands why it feels so odd.
Turning, he catches sight of Gadget laying out a picnic blanket while the boys chased each other in circles and his mother watching them with a smile from where she was seated in a picnic chair. It was time to teach his boys to fish, like his father and grandfather had taught him.