"My POV"

When I awoke the next morning, my skin was tight which made movement almost painful. But, that was to be expected. After all, last night, I'd tried to boil myself. Stupid idea, I know. But, I wasn't exactly thinking logically at the time.

I was still sandwiched between mom and dad, who were both asleep. I wanted to lie there forever, but the insistent pull of my full bladder made me have to get up. I tried to get out of bed quietly so I wouldn't wake them. I knew they'd woken up and talked after the others left. I knew they talked about me and what
would happen now.

I smiled and walked into the bathroom. Talk about feeling better. Now that I was moving, I wasn't so stiff. I thought about making breakfast, but I needed to brush my teeth before I did anything. Very nasty taste in my mouth. I heard movement in the other room. I knew they were awake. I think they both realized I wasn't there at the same time.

They both yelled, "Jessie!"

I couldn't say anything. Not with a mouth full of toothpaste. I was still too sleepy to think to them where I was. I heard them get out of the bed and run through the house. I banged on the door to let them know where I was. They heard me and came running.

"What the hell are you doing? Why didn't you answer me?" dad yelled. I flinched and backed up against the sink. I could tell he was worried…hysterically worried.

Mom put her hand on his arm, calming him. "Easy Jack. She's ok."

I turned my back on them and rinsed my mouth. When I turned around, I whispered "I just wanted..."

Dad held his arms out to me. "I'm sorry. C'mere baby."

I went to them. "I just wanted to brush my teeth."

"I'm sorry baby." said dad as he stroked my back. "You just scared me. I thought after last night…" he let the sentence trail off as his voice broke.

I tensed and backed up and he let me go. "I know what you thought," I said empty…good for me. No emotion at all.

Mom tried to break the tension. "You hungry angel?"

"Not anymore," I said, keeping all emotion out of my voice. I pushed past them into my room. I slammed the door. I decided to go for a run. I needed to think…to clear my head. I put on a pair of jogging shorts and a tank top. I was taping my ankles when the door opened. Looking up, I saw them standing there. I didn't say a word. I just kept taping my ankles and then put on my shoes. They just stood there watching me.

"What?" I asked, standing up.

"Whatcha doin?" asked dad flippantly. Not in the mood for that.

"Going for a run," I said plainly, trying to step around him.

"I could use some exercise. I'll go with you," said mom, heading for their room.

Dad stood there for a few more moments just staring at me. I know he wanted to say something about what had just happened. I just stared at him. Instead he said, "We'll both go with you," Then, he, too turned at went to their room to change.

I sighed deeply, just wanting to be alone. I needed sometime to think. But, I knew they wouldn't let me. At least not for a while; not after the stunt I'd pulled last night. But, like I said, I wasn't exactly thinking logically.

I went downstairs and began to stretch while I was waiting for them. I had started running when I was ten. When I wasn't locked in the basement, I would run just to stay away from them. They didn't mind. They always locked the basement door when I returned. I always returned. Hell, they knew I didn't have any other place to go.

Before the last beating, I was up to six miles a day: three in the morning and three at night. I know it was a lot for a ten year old, but I was active. I couldn't sit still. I was so engrossed in limbering up that I didn't notice mom and dad standing at the top of the stairs, silently watching me. I bent over backwards and heard a gasp.

I straightened and looked at them. "You ready?"

They only nodded and came downstairs. "I have never seen someone stretch like that." said dad, grinning.

I shrugged my shoulders. "It helps to loosen my back when I run."

Mom smiled at me. "How long have you been running?"

I shrugged my shoulders, not really sure. "A while."

"How far do you run?"

"Three miles in the morning. Three at night. Kept me out of the basement."

Dad flinched and then whistled. "Six miles? Damn."

"Whoa. That's more than you, Jack…and she's only ten." said mom laughing.

He picked her up and swung her around. "That may be so. But, we're not doing five miles this morning." He kissed her then sat her down and pointed at me. "You'll be lucky if I let you do a mile today."

"But, dad! Why? I can do way more than a mile." I was back to mom and dad. Hell, I couldn't tell you why, but it felt weird calling them 'Jack' and 'Sam' again. Distancing techniques have their flaws.

"Because, Sunshine," he pulled me close to them "you were sort of in-shape then. It's going to take some time before you get your full strength back. I'm not taking any chances with you getting hurt again."

"Oh alright." I said giving up and backing towards the door. "But, there's only one problem with that."

Dad let mom go. "And what would that be?" he said, a cocky look on his face.

"You'll have to catch me to stop me." I laughed, opening the door and running out.

Wham

It felt like I'd hit a brick wall. In fact, I'd run into Pete Shanahan. He grabbed both arms in a tight grip.

"Defective Shanahan, what can we do for you?" said dad.

Defective…I like that.

Pete tightened his grip on my arm. "Ow! Let me go asshole!"

Dad reached over and easily broke Pete's grip on me. He pulled me between his back and mom. "What do you want, Detective?" he asked, anger easily heard in his voice.

"I need to speak to Samantha."

"Pete, I told you last night that there could never be anything between us. What do you want?" asked mom.

He waved his hand, dismissing her words. "Oh, I know what you said. But, last night, you were worried about that kid that you said was yours. I know you didn't mean it."

"Oh, I meant it. I could never be with you."

"Why not?" asked Pete.

"Because I love Jack and our daughter."

Dad was beginning to lose his patience. "Look, we're running late, so if you don't mind…"

Pete ignored dad. "I killed a man for you last night and this is how you thank me?"

Dad turned to us. "Sam, you and Jessie get in the truck," he said tossing the keys to mom.

"Come on, angel," she said, taking me by the hand.

Pete blocked our way and pulled a gun. "Don't move. I want everybody inside, now," he said, waving the gun towards the house. Dad eased over beside us.

I'd had it. I was tired of people pushing me around. It was my turn to push back…and boy was I gonna push hard.

I turned to dad. (Mom? Dad?)

They both looked at me. (Yeah, baby)

I took a deep breath. (Duck)

Dad threw himself to the ground, taking mom with him. I threw my arm out and the gun flew out of Pete's hand.

"What the…?" yelled Pete, reaching for me.

I threw my hand out again and he flew backwards, landing with a thud on the grass. I walked over to him as he tried to sit up. I held my hand out. I stared at it. My right hand had some sort of glowing ball thingy in it.

This is new.

I knew I could kill him with it. I heard mom and dad both gasp. I knew they had seen the glowing ball thingy. Dad was helping her stand.

"Detective," I said, keeping my voice empty.

He gasped for air. "What are you?" he hissed.

Dad and mom walked over to us. Dad put his arm around me as I said, "Look at me, detective," He did. He had no choice. "Don't fuck with my family? Do you understand me?"

I held up hand with the still-glowing ball thingy. I let him see it. I held it about and inch from his chest and watched fear and realization set in. He knew I could kill him if I wanted. I tossed it in the air, caught it, and let the ball shrink and then fade away.

"What are you?" he asked again.

"She's something very special…and one of a kind," said dad.

We started to walk away, but dad stopped. Turning to Pete, he said "Detective, to echo my daughter's words -" he looked at me and grinned. "- and we're still going to have to talk about that language thing – 'don't fuck with my family'."

Dad opened the door for us. I slid into the seat between him and mom. We drove away as Pete stood up. None of us noticed the van parked down the street videotaping everything.