Part Seven by Bunny

Lois, with Hyde close behind, through the doors to the theater open and
stepped in. She looked around the darkness and couldn't see them.
"Reese! Malcolm! Dewey! Where the hell are you!"

Francis sat on the couch between Hal & Bud, biting his thumbnail nervously.
He wasn't so much worried about when Lois came back; getting more yelling was
a given.

But, what if Hyde was wrong? Or, what if they never even FOUND Jackie's
house? They didn't know their way around; they could be out there somewhere,
alone... or worse, NOT alone...

He shuddered visibly as he tried to brush the disturbing thoughts from his
mind.

"Calm down, Francis; Mom'll calm down once she gets the boys home..."

"Dad, you don't understand... I... I just left 'em for like a minute... I
just went outside... RIGHT THERE!" he said, pointing to the window. "Just out
on the fire-escape, and I come back they're gone..." he groaned, dropping his
head into his hands.

"I wouldn't worry too much; if I know that sister of mine she's likely found
'em by now and's readin' 'em the riot act as we speak..." Bud nodded.

Francis raised a brow at him, almost annoyed by his unconcern, but just let
his head drop into his hands, deciding instead not to say a word...

~*~

Reece, Malcolm and Dewey shrank down in their seats.

"What's going on? Who is that yelling for you?" Jackie asked. "Is it your
Mom?"

They nodded mutely.

"Why? Didn't she know you were coming?" Jackie hissed, her hands on her hips.

"We... might've forgotten to leave a note?" Reece admitted nervously.

Jackie's eyes snapped open and she pursed her lips in annoyance.

"What if she hadn't figured out you were here? If she had called the cops, I
could have been arrested for kidnapping or something!"

"We're sorry?" Malcolm tried.

"UP. NOW." she said, ushering them towards the back of the theatre, where she
saw Hyde and Lois. She motioned for them to all go out of the theatre and to
the parking-lot.

"You're Jackie?"

"Yeah, and before you say anything, I did NOT know they didn't leave a note
until you got here. In fact, I assumed they had someone drop them off; if I
thought for a second they were wandering out alone and you guys didn't know
where they were I would have called you."

"I believe you." Lois said, blinking slightly.

"Thanks." she nodded.

~*~

Lois and Hyde led the boys back into the apartment, where Francis, Hal and
Bud were waiting for them.

"They were at the move? They're okay?" Francis hopped up quickly.

"They're FINE." Hyde snapped, annoyed. "Jackie is perfectly capable of taking
care of them." he said in an offended tone.

"And, what if they hadn't MADE it to Jackie's?! What if something had
happened?! What were you THINKING?!" he demanded, whirling towards his
younger brothers. "Would it have been SO much trouble to stick your heads out
the damned window and ASK, or even LET ME KNOW?!"

The boys cringed, but Lois looked at her firstborn, clearly impressed.

"Geez, Francis... you sound like MOM..."