Saving Sam: Chapter 3
A/N: My reviewers have earned the Rabbyt's soft, fuzzy, bushy-tailed gratitude once again.
"We should go look for her," Tucker said, taking a bite of the school slop. He looked Danny up and down. He still had some bruises and scrapes, but they were a little less obvious. "You look better, by the way."
"Thanks. I heal fast." He sat down at the table. "I can't believe this happened. I should have moved faster, but they were all over me and I-"
"You did the best you could. I had to practically carry you back to your house."
"I guess." He stared at his food, brows creased and mouth down turned in anxious contemplation. Some kid screamed behind him, the victim of a wedgie, but Danny didn't even turn around.
"You know she's probably fine, right? I mean, we have two of their buddies in the thermos. They'll probably want a hostage exchange."
"Hm."
Tucker snapped his fingers in Danny's face. "Hey." Danny looked up sharply. "Are you OK? Did you get hit in the head last night, or-"
He flashed Tucker a strained smile. "No, no I'm fine. You're right. We'll probably get her back today. It's just unbelievable." He sighed. "Sam's missing. It would make sense if you or I was captured. I fight, and of course you've got the thermos." Under Danny's confusion, Tucker could hear an undertone of hurt. "But Sam? She's no threat."
Tucker chuckled. "She'd argue if she heard that. She was hell-bent on getting into that apartment after you."
Danny's brow shot up. "Really?"
Tucker nodded. "Yep."
Danny sat back on his bench and considered that.
Tucker smiled and raised an eyebrow. "What's on your mind? Wanna talk about it?"
Danny looked up quickly. "Talk about what?" Danny leaned forward and swiftly changed the subject. "Let's leave school after this and go back to that alley. If they want to bargain, that would be a natural place to meet."
But Tucker wasn't quite ready to drop it. "Why the rush? Wouldn't after school be better? It would cause less trouble with parents." He wasn't serious, but it was a much more practical way to go, come to think of it. It was getting harder to find excuses for the late-night excursions and occasional cuts from school.
"No. I want to get her back as soon as possible."
"You sure? My parents-and yours too, were worried last-"
Danny slapped his hand on the table. "Don't push it, Tucker. If you don't want to come and look for our mutual friend, give me the thermos. If you want to learn about the commutor property of algebra, go ahead and stay."
"OK, Ok, I'll stop." Tucker felt a twinge of guilt, but he still had to stifle a laugh. "It's commutative. Commutative property."
"Whatever," Danny muttered. Tucker ate while Danny alternately stared at his food and glanced around the cafeteria. Tucker finished five minutes later, and they both stood to leave the thinning mass of kids. On the way out the door, Danny bumped his shoulder against a pink shirt.
He heard the shirt scoff. "Watch where you're going."
"Hey, same to you," he said over his shoulder.
"Danny, that was Paullina," Tucker said.
"Oh?" He turned around to look. "Hey, yeah, it was." He watched her figure as she walked away. The beginnings of a wistful smile started to appear, but the expression died before it was fully born. He turned away. "Let's get going."
A/N: Yes yes I KNOW it wasn't long enough. So sue me. The next chapter is like umpteen bajillion trillion words long, if it makes you feel any better. Well, actually it's more like 2k. It'll depend. At any rate, thank yew all fer yer time. Drop me a review and come back soon!
