Thank you all for such a warm welcome back!!!
LadyJadePerendil: LoL, thank you!! I can't wait for you to see what happens next! Hehehe, it's gonna be so much fun writing this, with two Harm and Macs plus the kids, omg, lol. And no Quantum Leap and no The One, I want this to be original as possible!! Thanks again and see ya next week! Ah! And look! You're lucky number ~*1*~ on the review list!!! *does happy dance* THANK YOU, JADE!!!!!!!!!
ArwenUndomiel: Yay! Aw, thank you so much! All of that keeps me going!! Ohhohoho, you can bet they'll meet, lol. But I won't tell you what happens when they do ;). You'll hafta read and find out...muahaha...lol....mmm, I know that chapter should have been longer. I'm bad, I didn't work on it all week, so I didn't have much time. I'm trying to get better and get out of that bad habit. It will still be a week, I don't think it can be any shorter than that, but I will try to make the chapters at least 6000 words. :) Thanks and see ya next week!
Domintel: LOL, thank you! Ohhh, my fp.net stories need a lot of work *hides head in shame*....which one did u read? Heeheehee, you should have gotten my reviews for your story and poems!!! They're wonderful!!! :D LoL, and advertising is just fine! I love reading my reviewers' work!!! Thank you again and see ya next week!
Cmaf: LOL, hey, did you get my email I sent last week? It was right before I uploaded this story. Anywho, thank you! Yeah, it was a lot of fun writing this chapter. Yes, I did enjoy my coffee break, but I felt sad at the same time. I was actually excited to get back to writing again, I've really become addicted to these characters, I can't go without playing with them for long!! LoL, umm...sry, but it's gonna be a week. But I'm gonna work harder at making the chapters much longer! That counts, right??? :) Thanks again, and see ya next week!!! LOL, plz don't suffocate!!!! :)
e-dog: LoL, thank you. Heeheehee, well, I won't spoil the surprise, but the "encounter" should be interesting. Thanks again, and see you next week!!!
Pissed Off Poet: Thank you! The first chapter's always the hardest, glad you liked it!!! Thanks and see ya next week!
Amanda Adams: Thank you! I'm happy to be posting again!! Thanks and see u next week!
Mimmi: Hey there! Thank you so much!! I'm so excited about writing with the two Harm and Macs, teeheehee :D. Yeah, I will have the same schedule. New updates will be every Friday EST time (I actually post late Thursday nights, but it doesn't come up on the board until Friday). LoL, thank you so much, that was a funny little scene to write and I had to get those two in trouble at some point! It seems in the show trouble always comes looking for them! :) Thank you and see ya next week!
Jagchick020: Thank you! Um, yeah, the young Harm and Mac came through into the future, where the present Harm and Mac are already there...insanity ensues, lol. And the reason why they didn't go poof, is because that little portal in time in still open because the old lady Mrs. Nolson didn't go back with Grace, which would have closed the "portal" and the young Harm and Mac would have gone "poof." God, I hope that makes sense, lol. But that's pretty much the objective of the story, getting Harm and Mac back so they can get Mrs. Nolson forward and close the "portal" (that word sounds really weird to be used in JAG...but then again, everything in scare tactics would never happen on the show, *snigger*). Anywho, lol, yeah, since danger seems to go looking for Harm and Mac, I thought that would be a funny little way to introduce them, lol. Thank you! Teeheehee, two Harms in the world...heehee...one for u and one for me!!! LOL, *bangs head on desk* bad, bad, bad, bad...... :D
No1special: Everybody's special! :) Thank you so much!!! Ah! And look! You're lucky number, ~*10*~ on the review list!! *does happy dance* THANK YOU, SPECIAL!!!!
Deb: Thank you! I had a lot of fun writing the first chappy!! Thank you and see ya next week!
Corinne: LOL, don't die! Thank you so much for such nice comments! I hope this turns out good!!! Thanks again and see you next week!
Mars: Thank you! I had fun writing the first one, and this just opens up so much for me to work with! Thank you again and see you next week!
BelovedOne: LOL, cliffhangers are evil, but oh so much fun, muahahaha...hehe. :) Thank you and see you next week!
CharmedMummy: LOL, wasn't that episode great??? I felt bad for Mikey though, hopefully that whole thing will get straightened out. And the last thing the SecNav said on the stand was heart-warming! Anywho, thank you so much! And yes, you will meet the infamous Mrs. Webb very very soooon! THAT I promise you...heeheehee...I know...2 Harm and Macs...what am I gonna do, lol, j/k, this is gonna be so much fun...muahaha...heeehee...Oh, and the "uncrosses," I'm well aware it's supposed to be, "uncrossed." That was an unfortunate typo that I missed when I proofread it. So sowwy :). Thank you and see ya next week!
Madelynne Rabb: LOL, I'm sorry! But cliffhangers are can be a good thing too! :), nah, i know, they suck, hehe...Thank you and see ya next week!
SarahRabb705: Thank you! First chapters are hard, but I'm glad you liked it!!! Thanks and see ya next week!
GHeTtOnErD: Thank you! I had fun writing the first chapter!!! Thanks and see ya next week!
Sunchaser2: Thank you! And an adventure I think it will be!! :D thanks and see you next week!
DD2: LoL, I'm sorry, DD, but I really do like having my full week! I don't think I could do it in any less time!!! Thank you and see ya next week!! ;) Ah! And look! You're lucky number ~*20*~ on the review list! *does happy dance* THANK YOU, DD!!!!!!
Carby24/7: Oh, you're welcome, lol, thank you for coming back to read it!!! Thank you, and see ya next week!!!
Kstorm: LOL, ya, it seems danger looks for Harm and Mac, and I thought that would be a fitting introduction, lol, thanks! See you next week!
NadaZimri: *shrugs sheepishly* it's not my fault! LOL, NO, STOP THE SINGING!!! I CAN'T TAKE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cassie: Thank you, I try! LoL, see you next week!
Lili: Evil?? Muahahaha :)........lol, nah, I don't do evil too well, but if u insist! LoL, thank you, that means so much! See you next week!
Pennithil: LOL, oh yeah, remember that, "worst reprimand in Rabb history"??? Heh...we're gonna get a little taste of that....dun dun dun....*hides under desk* :) thank you, and see you next week :).
Maggie: Heeheehee, what will happen??? Hmmm...one can only guess....muahahaha....I'm terrible, lol. Thank you and see ya next week!
Liz: Oh, thank you! I'm so glad you like this! It's great to have you! See ya next week!
Annie: LoL, thank you! Yes, reviews do keep me going ;). Hehe, and yes, time travelling is weird, and I know nothing like this would ever happen on JAG, but I'm happy to experiment with it, and I'm so glad you guys like it!! Aw, okay, yeah, H/M and Grace scenes are just so much fun to play around with. Thank you so much!!! See ya next week!!!
Moonlights Sundance: Aye! Welcome back! Thank you! Hehe, well, you can bet they will be mad, but this whole chapter is a little strange, lots of different emotions, hope it doesn't come out stupid. Heehee, the coffee break was good, but I did miss writing and it was so weird letting that whole week pass without updating, so I'm glad to be back. And thank you for reading!!! Oh, yayness, you're updating!!! I was wondering what you were going to do with that story, the first chapter gave me shivers!!! Thank you again and see ya next week ;). Ah, and look! You're lucky number ~*30*~ on the review list! *does happy dance* THANK YOU, SUNDANCE!!!!!
(A/N): I have a recommendation! Everybody, you should all check out this great story, "The Courtship of Coates" written by NadaZimri. It's centered on PO Coates and is a delightful, romantic, and witty story with great chapters to come! Unfortunately, the link can't be uploaded, but do keep an eye out for it. Her first chapter has recently been uploaded!
Also, this chapter is one of my filler chapters. Not exactly really long, but just trying to set a foundation. Hope it comes out right and isn't too awful boring!!!
~sancti
Chapter 2: Double Vision1932 ZULU
Rabb Home
Georgetown
"Grace! My God, where have you been?!"
Grace stood rigidly in front of the pantry as her mother tore across the room and engulfed her in a hug. Her father breathed a sigh of relief, but anger slowly traced across his face, and she looked away.
When Mac finally let go, she grabbed her daughter's shoulders and gently shook her. "Where have you been?" She asked again, her voice trembling with a hint of anger.
Grace looked from one parent to the other.
"Um..."
Inside the pantry, Harm and Mac stood uneasily in the dark, each silent. But Mac could feel the blood pumping in her ears. She heard her voice...yet it wasn't her talking. Mac wished she could see Harm's expression through the dark, but the only light that managed to squeeze through came from under the door. She could only see her shoes. Suddenly, Harm's hand tightened on her shoulder. Mac listened tentatively
"Grace, answer me, what have you been doing?!" Mac cringed as she heard herself talk that way to Grace.
"Come on, Grace." She whispered to herself. Harm's grip on her shoulder tensed again.
Footsteps. Hard, purposeful footsteps. "We have travelled from here to DC looking for you, wondering just where the hell you were, if—if you were in a ditch somewhere—"
It was Harm. Mac really wished she could see her fiancé's expression now. She tried to judge what he was feeling by the hand that was still on her shoulder. It became warmer, and heavier.
Finally, Grace spoke up, her voice shaky. "Look...I'm sorry about this, I—I skipped out of school because...because I needed to help a friend."
"What friend?" Her father demanded.
"Uh—I...can't tell you that, because of my friend, I can't tell you. But...please believe me, I wasn't doing anything wrong."
Mac had to admit it, the kid could lie.
The room grew quiet, but the anxiety was so thick, Mac could feel it crawling on her skin and she squirmed a little bit. The pantry was starting to get awfully warm. Harm's hand had, if possible, gripped her shoulder even tighter.
Outside the pantry, Grace shakily awaited a reply from one of her parents. Her father had sat down at the table and her mother was still standing in front of her, her eyes to the floor. Grace wasn't sure what to do, and she had a feeling her parents didn't either. She'd never done anything worth them getting riled up about. Well, except for her little escapade to that stupid Halloween party. But her parents had gotten over it within the time she was grounded. They had taken that time to talk things out. Really talk. Grace never remembered being that close to the both of them since she was little. Now, it seemed her parents were at a loss as to how to handle the situation. So Grace figured she'd help them along a little bit.
"Um...I know you guys are angry, and I understand that, but—"
"You could never understand what we just went through, Grace." He was doing it again. Grace was feeling incredible guilt. How did he do that?! Her father always managed to not really yell, but just make her feel so guilty!
"Then...I'm sorry."
Her mother sighed, seeming to break the tension a little. "Look, you—you're safe, that's what matters." It was like she was talking more to herself.
Harm looked up, his brow creasing as he saw the food at the table and the kitchen counter. "What's with all this food?"
Grace froze. It did look awkward. The sandwich at the table was mostly eaten, and the one on the counter had two big bites in it. Grace shrugged a shoulder.
"I couldn't decide what I wanted?" She didn't mean for it to sound like a question.
Her parents exchanged glances, and she knew they weren't buying it. Suddenly, her father's eyes peered around the kitchen suspiciously. As his eyes wandered around the room, they fell back on Grace, and the pantry doors behind her. Grace gulped. Her father stood slowly, his gaze falling past his daughter as he walked closer. Finally, he stood next to his wife.
"Is someone else here?"
Grace shook her head a little too quickly. "Of course not."
Mac glanced over Grace's shoulder. Harm took a step forward and Grace backed away a step, her back bumping into the doors.
The phone suddenly rang and all of them flinched. Mac sighed, turning away and stepping across the room to the wall phone and answered it. Grace gulped in relief. She now had a deep respect for the saying, "saved by the bell." Before her father could scrutinize the situation any further, he was distracted by what Mac was saying across the room.
"Oh, God, I'm so sorry, are they okay??...All right, yeah, I'm sorry about this, we had a bit of an...emergency, I'll be there in fifteen minutes...thank you...mmhm...bye." Mac hung up the phone, then snatched her purse from the table.
"Jake and Isabelle have been waiting for you to pick them up for a half hour."
Harm groaned remorsefully. "Oh—no, you stay here, I'll get them."
"Wha—shouldn't you go back to work—" Mac stopped when she saw Grace shaking her head a little as if to say, "Don't leave me here with him and his rage..."
Harm put his cover on, not noticing Grace's movement. "I can't possibly go back to paperwork after this afternoon." With one foot out the kitchen door, he turned and pointed at Grace, "This isn't over."
Grace inwardly grimaced at the look on his face. When her father left, and the front door could be heard closing, Mac jerked her thumb over her shoulder.
"Let's go into the living room and talk this out some more, okay?"
Grace hesitated. A man and a woman who had just jumped seventeen years into the future were hiding in her pantry. But what else could she do?
Grace inched away from the pantry and followed her mother out of the kitchen, giving fleeting glances over her shoulder.
***
1946 ZULU
Rabb Pantry
Harm and Mac each stood with their ears to the door.
Mac swallowed hard. "You think they're gone?"
Harm shrugged. "I don't hear anything. Let's go."
"No, somebody could come in!" Mac grabbed her fiancé's hand as he reached for the handle.
Harm gently shook her hand off. "Mac, we can't stay in this pantry forever," He replied in a harsh whisper, "Someone's bound to want a snack!"
"We should wait for Grace!" Mac argued.
"There's probably no one out there, we'll slip out the back door and get to a motel."
Mac contemplated this, knowing that if she could see Harm's face, he'd have those pleading eyes wide open.
"Do you have money?"
Mac listened to the rustling of him taking out his wallet. "Well, hopefully these four bills aren't singles."
Mac checked her own pockets, but only found what felt like an old receipt. Sighing, Mac nodded at the door. "All right."
Harm squeezed in front of Mac, grasping the door handle. He turned it, pushing the door open enough for him to peek out. He squinted his eyes as the light filtered in, then slipped out of the pantry, Mac right behind him. They both made for the back door that connected to the kitchen, and Harm tugged at the handle. The color from his face drained.
"It—it won't open."
Mac pulled and twisted the doorhandle herself, but to no avail. "There has to be a lock or something—"
"There's nothing on the handle!"
"Harm, it's a door, it's meant to be opened, just keep looking!"
A moment later, the now familiar clink of the deadbolt was heard from the front door.
***
1947 ZULU
Grace wasn't really listening to her mother who wouldn't stop talking about how she had a responsibility to be a role model for her siblings, and that if she kept going the way she was, blah, blah, blah. No, Grace wasn't listening. She kept thinking about those two people hiding in her pantry. And a plan formulated in her mind. Hopefully, they would stay in there until she came. They probably didn't have much if any money and with the growing snowstorm, neither of them would get to a motel without catching pneumonia...
"Grace, are you even listening to me?"
She stirred and jerked her head towards her mother. "Sure."
Mac nodded slowly. "So you understand what I mean? I—we can't take much more of this. Your father can't take it, the kids are confused..."
Grace did share one thing with her mother that she was proud of. Though she could, and very easily, get worried about her, Mac was always level headed about it. She knew what kind of person her daughter was, and wouldn't believe she'd be doing anything dangerous or immoral. Now it wasn't to say Harm didn't think so, he was just typically more worried about that sort of thing.
"So, you see where I'm going with this, Grace?"
Before she could answer, the front door opened and the familiar patter of little feet ran into the foyer. Mac shot up from the couch.
"Get those shoes off!"
This was the time. Grace followed her mother into the foyer, and then quickly slipped past them into the kitchen. She heard a sudden a nagging shriek from Isabelle, then Jake yelling some kind of accusation against the little girl. Perfect distraction. Grace stepped quickly to the pantry and swung the doors open.
"Hey guys, you can—"
Empty...it's empty.
"Oh, God." She whispered to herself.
Grace's eyes wandered around the rest of the kitchen. "Harm?! Mac?!" She said in a stage whisper. She desperately tore open floor cabinets and even checked under the table, though it was a ridiculous place to hide. They wouldn't be able to get out the back door...they must have slipped into the dining room. Grace whipped around and dashed into that room to see them next to the doorway that led right into the foyer. Grace waved them over, and the two followed her back into the kitchen.
"What are you guys doing?!"
Harm sighed. "We were hoping to get out the front door, but there's a bit of...commotion."
Grace snorted, then backed up to the counter, leaning against it. "All right, we have to get you out of this house," she crossed her arms as she thought through a plan. After about half a minute, her eyes lit up, "okay, I got it. I'm going to create a distraction with them, then you'll go upstairs to my room. Stay there until I come, then I'll call a cab, and you guys can climb down the pergola outside my window. Get to a motel and call me from there. Got it?"
The two officers exchanged glances. "I...guess that will work." Mac replied hesitantly.
Grace nodded confidently, but didn't feel it. She wasn't sure if it would work. But there wasn't much of a choice. "Okay, when it gets loud, get upstairs. My room is the second door on the right."
Grace left the kitchen and joined her family in the foyer. Isabelle and Jake sat on the floor exchanging faces while trying to get their boots and snow gear off. Her parents stood at the front door talking quietly to each other. Knowing this was going to hurt, Grace closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath, and let her body fall to the floor. Everyone in the room gasped and her parents were on their knees next to her, shaking her.
"Grace?! Grace, can you hear me?!"
Meanwhile, Harm and Mac peeked out of the kitchen and saw all the four people with their backs to them huddled around Grace. Taking the opportunity, the two as quietly as they could, got to the stairway and up the steps.
Isabelle had never seen anyone faint before, so as much as she was worried about her sister, it would make for an exciting story to tell at school. She could picture it now, her peers gathered around her as she told the thrilling story of her big sister who suddenly passed out—
"Isabelle, go put some cold water on a couple paper towels!" Her mother suddenly ordered.
A little annoyed by the interruption of her daydream, the girl sighed dramatically as she stood. And when she turned around, two figures caught her eye as they disappeared at the top of the stairs. Isabelle's little brow furrowed as she slowly walked up to the stairway. When she reached the top of the stairs, she caught the sight of her big sister's door clicking shut. Isabelle froze there. At first, she was afraid. What if they were ghosts? But then she realized it would make for an even more entertaining story to brag about. A little grin laced across her face as she softly stepped up to the bedroom door. She grasped the handle and turned it.
***
Thinking it was plenty of time for them to get upstairs, Grace let her eyes flutter open to see the relief on her parents' faces. Her mother's hand reached down on her forehead.
"Thank God." Her father said under his breath.
"Isabelle, where are those paper towel—"
Suddenly, a high, shrill scream erupted from upstairs and four heads jerked around.
"Isabelle?!"
Harm was the first to reach the top of the stairs with Mac on his heels and Grace and Jake in hot pursuit. The four raced into Grace's bedroom where the scream had come from, but Grace and her brother bumped into her parents who had stopped short. The room was deathly silent and Grace slowly moved around her parents, as if among rabid animals and any sudden movements would disturb them.
But boy was it a sight.
These four people were seventeen years apart, one pair young and vibrant, the other older and wiser. And they simply stared. Grace guessed it was the only reaction they could conjure at that moment. The two Harms and two Macs studied each other as if looking in a mirror. They all made a variety of expressions, mostly that of confusion. Grace stepped in between them, taking a deep breath and facing her parents. But their eyes looked past her.
"Okay—Mom...Dad...I know this is...weird, but—we should all just stay calm, okay?"
Neither of them answered. Meanwhile, Jake and Isabelle peeked their heads out from behind their parents, staring intently at these strange, yet strongly familiar people.
Grace sniffed and took in another shaky breath, suddenly feeling like she was the only one who needed to calm her nerves.
"All right...Mom...Dad...it's a little hard to explain, um," Grace glanced over at the newcomers, "this...but...I'm working on how to get them, you know—back."
For the first time, her mother turned her neck to look at her daughter, her eyes wide, but her expression blank. "What?"
Grace watched in horror as her mother's eyes rolled up into her head and the woman fell to the floor.
"Mom?!"
Isabelle screamed and suddenly both Harms got to the floor next to the fallen woman.
"Mac?!" They both yelled in unison.
Their heads whipped up and they looked at each other, Grace's father giving Harm a somewhat hostile stare. Harm backed away to where his fiancé stood. Grace joined her father next to Mac, putting a hand on her forehead.
"It's hot." She murmured, her voice shaky.
Isabelle timidly walked over. "Is she gonna be all right?!"
Harm quickly nodded at his daughter. "Yeah, don't worry, baby, she'll be fine. Jake—take her."
Jake grabbed his little sister's arm. "Come on, let's get those paper towels."
Grace watched nervously as her father picked up his wife, placing her on the bed. Meanwhile, Harm and Mac stood rigidly in the middle of the bedroom, watching and not sure what to do with themselves. A moment later, Jake and Isabelle dashed into the room with the wet paper towels. Harm folded the towels, placing them carefully on his wife's forehead and dabbing her cheek and neck. After a couple tense minutes, the woman's eyelids quivered open, her brown eyes slowly wandering around. They landed on her husband and the smallest of a smile played across her lips.
Harm took her hand, sighing. "You all right?"
She didn't answer, but tried to sit up. Harm wouldn't let her. "Don't, you might faint again."
Mac groaned, leaning her head back down on the pillow. Harm stroked a lock of her short hair. "Get some rest."
With that, the admiral stood straight, facing the two adults who still stood tensely in the middle of the room. His eyes flicked back and forth, then finally, he turned to his children.
"Wait outside, close the door."
Grace's brow furrowed. "What?! Dad, I think I have a say in this—"
"Now." Her father ordered.
Grace scoffed, turning sharply on her heel, then herding her brother and sister of the room. With one last sour look, she closed the door.
***
2049 ZULU
Grace felt herself nodding off and she stirred, leaning her head back against the wall. Isabelle and Jake slept peacefully in her arms as the three of them sat on the floor across from Grace's bedroom. It had been a solid hour since Grace had closed that door and left the events that would take place inside that room to simple fate. She couldn't even figure out what they were talking about in there. Her door and walls were well insulated, so putting her ear up to it was useless.
Jake and Isabelle had given up asking questions since Grace didn't answer them, and they both eventually drifted into their naps. So the only thing Grace listened to was the strong wind that crashed against the house. The storm was growing worse and Grace figured there wouldn't be any school the next day, which was fine. School would only complicate the already complex matters at hand.
Grace yawned for the umpteenth time. She'd now been awake for eleven hours, but it felt like about midnight. She checked her watch and saw it was almost 1600. She made a little groan. The day was ticking by so slowly. And she'd felt like a zombie through most of it. Letting out a lungful of air, Grace leaned her cheek down on Jake's red head, closing her eyes.
It felt like barely two minutes had passed when her door gradually opened. Grace flinched and sat up, her movement stirring her siblings awake. Grace's eyes glanced down at her watch and she was shocked to see forty minutes had gone by.
Grace stood, helping her brother and sister to their feet as the four adults filed out of the room. Grace's first concern was her mother, who looked a little pale, but otherwise fine. Harm and Mac were calm and collected and looked even a bit happy. Grace's father seemed the most subdued, however the look he gave his daughter almost frightened her.
"Isabelle, Jake, go to your rooms and do your homework." Harm ordered softly.
The two immediately rejected the idea. "But, Dad, what about—"
"We'll talk about it later, now go on."
***
2058 ZULU
Grace, her parents, and Harm and Mac all sat together in the living room, where a fire had been started to warm the place up a bit more. It also served well for mood. Grace fumbled with her hands a bit, but no one could really see since she had a blanket over her legs and hands.
Her father leaned forward in his armchair, crossing his hands. "We, um...talked a lot about what happened...what happened to you..."
Grace felt a lump form in her throat and she looked down.
Her father bit his lip. This was all hard for him as well as for her mother. When Harm became the Judge Advocate General, it sealed a lot of facts. His adventures would be over. There wouldn't be any danger seeking him anymore. His current worries weren't about being shot at or kidnapped or taken hostage or any of the other numerous things that seemed to threaten his life as a JAG lawyer. No, his real life responsibilities came into play: raising a family, providing for them, loving them...making sure they were kept safe. But now he was being sucked back into that world he'd once knew. That world where even the things that seemed impossible had some truth to them. This was a good example.
But he was rusty. He wasn't as open-minded anymore. Not like the younger man sitting across from him. But still, he tried.
"Grace...I understand why you...didn't tell us about all of that...stuff. I probably would have never believed you. But, uh—"
He shook his head again rubbing a thumb over his temple. Grace couldn't figure it out. Was he angry? Sad? Both? Grace couldn't tell much from her mother. The woman looked a little dazed.
Harm and Mac were seated on the couch next to her, Mac sharing some of Grace's blanket. And so the room went back to being silent, the crackling fire the only sound and movement to suggest the scene was even real.
Then everyone flinched as the phone rang. Grace shivered as she grabbed the phone on the end table next to her.
"Hello...Cathy, hi. No, Clay's not here, why? Yes, I know, Clay Jr., he's not here." Harm and Mac exchanged glances when Grace commented on, "Clay Junior." Grace's expression suddenly sunk, "what do you mean you haven't heard from him? Well, yeah, of course...all right, Catherine...hey, I'm sure fine...okay...bye."
Grace slowly hung up the phone, turning to the adults. "Clay's been missing since one o'clock...when I—when I left the school."
In the background, the fierce wind pounded mercilessly on the siding of the house.
***
TBC
***
I know...terribly short, many apologies. But for sake of having a nice, fuller chapter 3, I thought it best to leave it here. Plz don't hate me!
~sancti
