***

Anna Flashblade sat at her desk and her supervisor was showing her how to use a computer program. Her secretary walked into the room and cleared her throat. "Excuse me, Anna, but there is a call for you on line one."

"Can you please take a message?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

Anna returned to the demonstration of the new computer program displaying the latest project the company was working on. She heard the door close behind the secretary, but she returned a minute later.

"I'm sorry Ma'am, but he said it was an emergency."

"Excuse me, Denis, this should only take a minute."

"That's all right, Anna, take your time."

Anna rose from behind her desk and took the call in the other room, away from prying ears. "Hello oh hello dearis something wrong? oh no I'll try yes all right dear. I love you too."

"Is something wrong, Anna?" Denis asked walking up behind her. The color in her face had drained away and her hands were shaking.

Anna hung the phone up and slowly turned to face her employer. Fear shown in her eyes.

"Anna, what's wrong?"

"That was my husband, George."

"Anna, sit down," Denis helped Anna to her chair and directed the secretary to fetch her glass of water.

"That was George, my husband, he said that there was an accident."

"Is he hurt?"

"The school called. My baby was hurt."

"What?"

"He was hung."

"WHAT!?"

"George said not to worry. He went to the school."

"Anna, what are you saying?"

"I think she means that her son was hurt at school, sir," the secretary said, handing the glass of water to Anna. Anna nodded and took a sip.

"The school called George and said that Nosedive was tied to the bars. He passed out."

"Anna go home."

Anna, still mystified by the news stared off into space, unable to comprehend what was going on around her. She continued to speak in a distant voice. "George went to get him. He'll be fine now. George said not to worry and that he'll call when he gets home."

"Anna, go home," Denise reiterated, his tone harsh, almost threatening.

"George said," Anna said in a monotone computer instructed voice.

"To hell what he said, Your son needs you. Come on I'll take you." Denise pulled Anna to her feet, waking her from her trance. "But what about my car?"

***

George ran into the glass door of the school's office as he rushed to open it. The front desk was vacant and the office seemed very still. George looked around feverishly; hoping someone was nearby and had only stepped out to use the restroom. "Hello, is anyone here? Hello?"

Wildwing sat watching Dive breath slowly in his slumber. He had been that way since they had brought him here hours earlier. A sound caught his attention in the hall. It was the banging of the main doors. Then he heard his father's voice. He was panicked. Wing took another look at the slumbering Nosedive, before standing up to go to the open door of the nurses office. He watched Dive as he walked to the door. He made sure Dive was safe before he stepped out into the hall.

George had lost patients for the stillness. He was ringing the bell on the counter feverishly.

"Dad."

George turned and found Wildwing standing half in the hall and half in another room. He was holding onto the doorframe leaning outward. "Wildwing!"

"Dad, Dive's hurt."

George rushed up to Wing and gave him a tight squeeze. "I know, Sport."

"He's in here," Wing pointed into the room. "He's sleeping."

"Good."

Wing led the way into the room and to Dive's bedside. Wing waited at the foot of the bed and watched his father. George fumbled to take off his jacket and set it in front of Wildwing, who took a sleeve in his hands and fumbled his fingers around the edges. George sank slowly to his injured son's side, too scared to breathe. Dive slumbered on peacefully. George smiled at his sweet angelic face and kissed his forehead. As he inspected his small frame he overlooked the gauze bandaging Dive's small wrists. George looked back to Wing and gave him a hopeful smile, but Wing wasn't so sure.

"Excuse me, but what do you think your doing in here?"

George jumped at the sound of the nurses voice. He stood up, turning to address her question. He stopped to give her a quick visual inspection. She was of medium height with tawny brown hair. She wore violet cotton scrub pants and a white scrub top with violet, yellow and pink hearts. Her name badge was clasped over the left pocket of her top and an angel pin pierced the lapel on her right side.

"I'm George Flashblade, Nosedive's father. I was notified that there was an accident this afternoon concerning him."

"We've been waiting for you. There is no need to worry he will be fine. He is a little shaken up, but fine none the less."

"Dad," Wildwing tugged at his fathers sleeve. "He made me promise to wake him when you got here. He wants you."

"He was asking for you when he woke briefly," The nurse informed.

"Do you want me to wake him?" Wildwing asked.

"No, Sport, let him sleep."

"We had a doctor from the local hospital come and examine him. He said that he is to have plenty of rest and love. He will be fine."

"What happened?"

"I'm not sure. I was not here when the incident took place."

George turned, looking to Wildwing for an explanation. Wing hung his head and looked away.

"Wildwing?" George knelt in front of Wing and placed his hand on his shoulder. Wing stepped back and shook his head no. "Wildwing, it is all right. Tell me what happened. I will not be mad if you hurt him." Wildwing shook his head again and wiped away a tear. "Oh Wildwing, sweetheart," George cooed, trying to pull Wing into an embrace.

"It's my fault Dad, I didn't protect him. I couldn't stop it."

"Wildwing what happened?"

"Someone, I don't know who, tied Dive up."

"Who did this? And what did they tie Dive up to?"

Wildwing shrugged. "The bars. I don't know. I didn't see them do it. They threatened Rita, Randy's little sister, not to tell. She's too scared to tell. Dad I'm sorry I couldn't save him. I couldn't get him down."

"Wildwing this is not your fault," George said lifting Wing's chin up so their eyes met. "You did what you were suppose to do. You didn't abandon your brother. Don't worry, Sport, everything is going to be okay."

"But I didn't"

"Wildwing, you did all that you could, so stop crying. You can't protect Dive at all times of the day. He has to learn to fend for himself. All you need to do now is stand by his side and let him know that you'll always be there for him. Now that's it, dry those tears. Why don't you stay here with him while I go take care of some business."

As Wildwing composed himself, George filled out the forms that were required for their release from school. He returned to find Wildwing ready to go and packing up his and Dive's things. "Ready, Sport?"

Wing nodded. George lifted Dive into his arms and carried him out to the car. Wing followed behind carrying the backpacks, jackets and lunch boxes. Wing listened to the children's tape contently on the ride home.

"Daddy?" Dive woke groggy.

"I'm right here, Nosedive," George spoke, keeping his eyes on the road.

"Daddy, I'm hungry."

"You can have my lunch, Dive," Wing said, opening his lunch box.

"Tuna?" Dive asked.

Wing nodded.

"Mommy's?"

Wing nodded again.

"I like Mommy's tuna."

Wing smiled and handed half of the sandwich to his brother. George watched the rearview mirror at his sons. Wing sat making faces and telling jokes just to make Dive smiled. It helped to drive the scary thoughts away, for Dive was still laughing when the car pulling into the driveway. Wing unbuckled himself and then Dive. George opened the car door and Wing hopped out. Dive waited for his father to pick him up and he wrapped his arms around his fathers neck. George carried Dive into the house and set him onto the couch. Wing placed the backpacks on the floor and smiled at Dive, who immediately jumped up and started to run around the house.

"What are you doing?" George laughed.

"I'm an airplane."

"Oh really?"

"Uh- huh." Dive nodded.

"In that case, you will need fuel for your flight. Wing watch your brother, I'm going to make you boys some snacks." George returned from the kitchen with a plate full of healthy goodies to find Wing and Dive rolling on the floor tickling one another. "What are you two up to?"

"Nothing." They replied, releasing one another and trying to look innocent.

"Is that so? I think it's time for a nap."

"I already had one," Dive smiled.

"Then in that case you need another one. Up to bed both of you."

"But Dad," Wing protested.

George raised an inquisitive eyebrow and folded his arms across his chest. Wing's protest ceased as he helped Dive to his feet and raced Dive upstairs. George put the snacks in the refrigerator and went to check on the boys. No doubt they would not be in bed, but playing quietly instead. As he figured, he was right. Wing and Dive had their action figures out and they were setting up for a war. "Bed?"

"DO we have to?"

"Nap. Now."

Wing put the toys away and climbed into bed with Dive. The two cuddled and tried to make themselves comfortable. George watched them from the doorway. Wing would look up ever so often in hope that his father would leave, but he did not move from his visual. Then Wing remembered what the nurse said. Dive needed all the rest he could get, so he gave up and rested his head on the pillow.

As George watched the boys he heard the door open and he saw his wife and her boss walk into the entryway. "Denis, I told you that you didn't have to."

"Anna, please."

George left his post and headed downstairs. "Anna, what are you doing home? I told you that I'd call when I"

"George, is he" Anna began to ask, but she was cut off as he hugged her.

"He's fine. The boys are both asleep."

"Both? You brought Wildwing home too?"

"He wouldn't leave Dive's side. He has been blaming himself all day for this."

"I wish he wouldn't do that."

"If you want to go up and see them you can."

Anna took off her coat and placed it on the banister as she climbed the stairs. She left George with Denis to introduce himself. She slowed her pace as she neared Nosedive's room. She found both boys in bed together, hugging. She smiled warmly, holding her hands up to her beak in an attempt to keep her sighs quiet. They looked so calm and peaceful. The scene was definitely a Kodak moment that touched her heart. Too bad she didn't have her camera, but then again the flash would have waken the slumbering children. Anna bent over and gave each boy a kiss on the forehead and tucked them in under the blankets. She turned to go, but was stopped when Wing spoke softly. "Hi, Mom."

Anna turned and found Wing looking over the sheets at her. "Your suppose to be asleep young man," Anna laughed.

Wing yawned, "Can't. Not tired."

"Go to sleep. I'll wake you when it's time for dinner."

"Can we have spaghetti?"

"I'll think about it, go to bed."

"With garlic bread?"

"I'll ask your father. Go back to sleep before you wake your brother."

"Okay." Wing laid his head back onto the pillow and closed his eyes. As an after thought he pulled Nosedive closer before falling to sleep.

Anna left the room and headed back to the two mallards downstairs. In her absence they had made themselves comfortable on the couch and recliner. They were talking sports and sipping some ice tea. "What are you two up to?" Anna asked ascending the bottom stairs.

"We were discussing politics, religion, quantum foam, and riddles that boggle our minds," George said with a straight face.

"And those would be?" Anna asked with a raised eyebrow, unimpressed with his coyness.

"Why, things like why is the sky blue, how much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck would chuck wood, and my favorite, how are you going to get to work on Monday without the car?" George laughed.

"Stop it George, it's not funny." Anna scolded folding her arms tightly across her chest.

"Asleep?" Denis asked.

"Like angels," Anna smiled, turning her attention back to her employer.

"Well in that case, I should be going. Don't worry, Anna take the rest of the day off and I'll pick you up on Monday morning. Let me know if I can do anything for you." Denis turned to George "Do they know who did this?"

"No, Wing said that a little girl by the name of Rita does, but she's too scared to talk."

"Extortion!" Denis spat. "I hope that kid gets prosecuted for this."

"It wouldn't do any good. All it would do is send him to juvenile hall to learn how to commit more crime, no doubt murder and the like."

"He's already headed in that direction. I say that what happened today was a direct attempt on your sons life."

"The school will deal with him."

"They had better. The kid needs professional help!"

"Yes, Denis, he does, but not that kind. He needs love and understanding."

"And a swift kick in the pants," George muttered under his breath, which earned him a sharp look from Anna.

"The boy must be having a harsh family life if he resorts to violence to communicate. Thank you again Denis and I'll see you Monday."

"See you then, and you had better be ready. I don't wait for slow pokes. I'll be here at six thirty sharp." Denis winked at Anna and headed out the door. George shrugged the gesture off, knowing full well that Denis understood him as a jealous husband. Anna stared at his indifferent face for a few minutes before busting into a fit of laughter.

"What?"

"If I was having an affair you wouldn't know the difference," she teased.

"Yeah, and if you were, he wouldn't know what hit him."

"Then in that case I will never have to test your reflexes."