VII. SUPER CARE

"BOB! BOB!" Helen yelled as she slammed the door of their home behind her.

Bob recognized the tone of a panicked mother. It was a sound he was all too familiar with; but never before had it come from his wife, and never before had his oldest son been the victim over which she screamed. He had been asleep when she came in but in the three seconds it took him to reach the living room he was wide awake. "What is it!" he yelled excitedly. Then he saw the boy limp in her arms. "Oh my god, Dash! What happened?" He took him from her and rushed him to his room.

By now the whole house was awake and Violet, now standing in her doorway, caught a glimpse of her brother through her half sleeping eyes as her father ran by. "Dash?" she asked groggily looking on now almost fully awakened by the adrenaline pumping through her veins. She caught her mother running by. "Mom, what happened?" she asked.

"Dash got hurt," Helen stopped to say now aware of the noises signaling the stirring of her youngest child down the hall. "I need you to go take care of Jack-Jack now. I'll fill you in later."

Violet cringed inside. She felt like taking care of Jack-Jack was all she was ever good for around here. Nonetheless the situation was bad and she didn't dare argue as she went to tend to the toddler.

"What are we going to do?" Helen asked Bob as she brought in a cool washcloth for her son's head. In the Glory Days the city had a whole hospital disguised as a florist where injured supers could receive top medical care without having to fear divulgence of their identities. Now the hospital was no more and only the florist remained. Even worse, they couldn't go to a regular hospital. A ten year old boy with blonde hair suffering a high speed impact would certainly raise eyebrows and pinpoint all of their identities. All they could do was sit with him through the night and hope – and pray.

By now Violet had entered the room. "Jack-Jack's asleep," she said. She came up and sat next to her brother opposite her mother and ran her fingers through his hair. She could feel the bumps and see the bruises that had begun to form on his pale forehead. "Mom, what happened?"

Bob also gave her an inquisitive look realizing he didn't even know himself. Helen sat down and told them both the whole story; she was crying by the end.

"Don't worry mom, he'll be OK," Violet said trying to comfort her.

"I know," she replied gathering her composure for her daughter. "Come along; let's get you back to bed. I need you to go to school tomorrow. We don't need to attract any more attention than is necessary."

"OK mom, goodnight. Goodnight dad." She hugged them both and went back to bed. She'd rather be with Dash but she knew her mom was right. Once again she felt so useless. She wanted to do more than just go to bed and go to school. Violet wanted to help. She was so worried about her brother; they had become so much closer in the last months. She couldn't lose him now. All these thoughts raced through her mind as she drifted back off to sleep.

Bob looked down at his son. He hadn't changed; at least he was stable. It was going to be a long night for him and Helen. Neither would sleep.