Foster
If you want the disclaimer, see the first chapter.
In this segment, you're going to see the more complex sides of Dib and co. There's definitely going to be more flashbacks in this story, many more. And you'll see some brief similarities between Jessie and Johnny.
Chapter 2. The Importance of Family
DCF
Maxine Gray sighed. This case had looked so simple to begin with, but she couldn't get little Todd to stop crying! She'd tried every trick in the book, and nothing had worked to cheer the kid up. It was a slight consolation that the foster family they had chosen would be here any minute now, but she was worried that they wouldn't want him if he was constantly crying. Then what would happen? They couldn't send him back to his parents; that simply wasn't an acceptable environment for anyone, let alone an eight-year-old!
This could be a problem.
------------------------ Meanwhile
They paused at the door. Dib's hand hovered in front of the knob, "Are you ready for this, Jess?" He asked.
She nodded, "As ready as I'll ever be. I hope Todd likes us, I mean, we're not exactly the most normal family, are we?"
"That could be a good thing." He said as he opened the door.
Someone pointed them in the right direction, but when Jessie saw the child, everything faded away. Their eyes locked on each other, and he stopped crying to stare, sniffling miserably.
Something clicked inside Jessie, and all of her maternal instincts surged up at once.
'Mine.' Something inside told her, 'My baby.' Silently, she walked over and swept him up into her arms.
"It's ok now, sweetie." She murmured.
Todd wasn't quite sure how to react. He had no recollection of ever experiencing this situation. Sure, he'd seen parents hug their children before, but never imagined ever being one of those lucky kids. But who was this lady? Sure, something felt right here, but she wasn't his Mommy. The confusion made him stop crying as he tried to puzzle out the situation.
"Well, you must be Dr. Membrane." Said a voice.
Jessie gently set Todd on his feet, "Yes." She said.
"So I guess you knew that was Todd Casil." Said the woman who had spoken before. She had a likeable face, with strong features.
Jessie nodded, "Yeah, sometimes I just know things." She said softly, "I know that sounds a bit weird, but I just got the strangest sensation that he was mine."
Mrs. Gray smiled, "That happens sometimes. A mother's intuition, I suppose."
"I wouldn't know." Jessie replied sadly. "Seven months ago I lost my baby."
"I'm sorry to hear that, Dr." She said sympathetically.
About a half an hour later, the paperwork was filled out, and the three were on their way home. Todd was silent, but Jessie could swear she heard his stapled teddy bear talk to him.
'Hearing voices is never a good thing.'
'Oh? Well don't you think I know that? Johnny used to hear voices. My voices are spirits and things like that usually.'
'Maybe this one isn't a ghost. Maybe there's something going on here.'
'Well, I hope not. That could mean Todd's in danger. Usually, when ghosts approach me, rather than the other way around, it means something bad is going to happen.'
'You could be crazy.'
'Believe it or not, I've considered that possibility. No, I've seen crazy. I have a degree that allows me to determine crazy. You see, I just don't fit the criteria.'
'Are you really competent enough to decide? After all, you weren't even competent enough as a human being to keep your son alive.'
Ouch. 'Who asked you, anyway?'
'Technically, there is no 'me'. I'm just a manifestation of your own grief and self-doubt, brought further to power by your increased doubts about whether you're really capable of parenthood, even foster-parenthood.'
'Well, how long are you going to be here?'
'Until you can remove from this fragile state of mind. Even the spirits agree you've been here too long. It's time to move on.'
'Huh?'
'Looks like I'll be here for awhile. Well, at least your head's nicer than some people's; less garbage and hate. Not quite as spacious as your husband's, though.'
'Shut the hell up.'
As she was having this inner conflict, she felt Dib's hand close over hers. Wrenching herself away from her 'inner demon', she looked quizzically at him.
"We're home, honey. Who was it about this time, Johnny or Donny?" He asked.
She blushed, "Donny."
He sighed, squeezing her hand. "It wasn't your fault, Jess"
She searched his eyes, "Do you really believe that, Dib?"
He kissed her lips tenderly, "Does that answer your question?"
It did. She smiled lovingly, "I don't know what I'd do without you, my love."
He grinned, shrugging, "Oh, you'd be fine. You were the one who convinced me I didn't need the validation of others, remember? I'm far more concerned about what I'd do without you! I've seen that world, and it ain't pretty!"
'Damn. That was quic…' the voice trailed off as it disappeared.
She suppressed a sadistic grin at its demise. "So, Toddie, what do you think of the house?" She asked.
Todd looked around as they piled out of the car; "It's nice." He said softly. "Are you sure the aliens won't get in? I don't want to be subducted again, they did spooooooky things to my head…"
Dib looked interested, "Abducted, not subducted." He corrected, "And what kind of aliens were they?"
Jessie smacked his arm. "DIB!" She admonished, then shoved Todd's suitcase at him in favor of holding the boy's tiny hand. "Of course they won't get you, sweetie. You're perfectly safe here, we won't let anything hurt you!"
"Promise?"
"Cross my heart." She swore, smiling encouragingly, "RIGHT, Dib?"
"Huh? Oh! Of course! Yeah, I hunt aliens, so the bad ones know to stay away! You don't have to be afraid of anything here."
"And if you are, come to one of us." Jessie said.
"We're never too busy for you." Dib agreed. 'I always promised I'd have time for my kids, unlike my father.' He thought bitterly.
"Now come on! Let's show you your room!"
Todd was shocked when he saw his room: The walls were painted with happy scenes from the Redwall books, and the ceiling was painted like the night sky, complete with glow-in-the-dark stars and comets. The carpet was a soft, thick royal blue. There was a bookcase packed with Garfield, Get Fuzzy, Calvin and Hobbes, and other fun little comics. The bed had Calvin and Hobbes sheets with a brand-new plush Hobbes sitting on the pillow. There were a few posters on the wall: Captain Underpants, Justice League, and Hamtaro. New toys were neatly stored everywhere. But best of all was what sat in the corner, right next to the window; his own writing desk, complete with all the writing and art supplies he could ever want!
He stared, big eyes practically bugging out. "I..is this all…for me?" He asked.
The nice curly-haired lady nodded, "Yep! We weren't sure what you liked, so we added a bit of everything. Jhonen suggested the writing desk, and it sounded like a good idea. Writing can be very relaxing. If you want to change anything, just say something! We're kind of new at this parenting thing, so we want to do it right. Besides, you're a real special kid, Toddie, you deserve this. Mrs. Gray told me how bad things have been for you, so we wanted you to be happy."
His eyes filled with tears again. He didn't remember the last time someone had done something like this for him; just to make him happy.
"What's wrong?" The lady asked.
"N…nothing!" He wailed, overwhelmed.
She picked him up again, rubbing his back gently. "It's ok, sweetie, let it out." She whispered.
'What do you think, Shmee?' he asked silently. 'Is it safe here?'
The bear thought. 'For now. But there's something I can't quite put my finger on with the woman. Be careful, only address your thoughts to me, and I'll do the same. She heard us in the car and that could be bad.'
'But I like her, she's nice and she smells good. Mommy always smelled like bad things and Daddy always said mean stuff. They listen to me.'
'Let's just hope they don't start hating what they hear. For now, they look like good people.'
'Good.'
'Shmee…nobody's ever been nice to me before except scary neighbor man, and he wasn't very good at it…'
'Just be careful. She's listening now, I have to be quiet.'
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN Meanwhile, Somewhere else…
Johnny C. woke from an unwanted and unwelcome sleep, screaming.
"WHAT THE FUCK?" He yelled.
Bad dream? Meat inquired.
"Who the hell were those people?" Johnny mused. "Who's Jessie, and why would she care if I died? What's a Zim? How can someone exist with such a massive head?"
I wondered why you were screaming. It truly worries me that you wouldn't remember her. Haven't you ever wondered why your conscience took the form of that little bunny?
"What does that have to do with anything?"
Your sister, Dear boy. Jessie. You called her 'Bunny'. I can only imagine the people with her are part of her life now.
Johnny stared. "I don't have a sister… do I?"
Meat sighed. I really worry about you, son. Open the dashboard. You should find a blue Calvin and Hobbes pencil box measuring about four and a half by eleven inches and three inches deep. When you left home, it was your most precious possession.
"Ok." Johnny found the box, but just held it, staring. "What…what now?"
Open it, you ass!
With shaking hands, he lifted the lid; almost afraid to find out about his lost past. In the box were several pictures, and two thick stacks of letters.
The pictures were what caught his eye first. The first was a picture of a younger version of himself looking up at a younger version of the woman in his dream. They both looked so happy and carefree. He looked so…sane.
Another picture was of him asleep on the girl's lap. She had a loving, protective look on her face.
'I'll always look out for you, Nny.'
'Promise, Bunny?'
'Always.'
He wasn't sure where those voices came from, but he liked her voice. He searched for another memory, and found an empty space.
You kept that one. Meat said, But that's all. It was the most important to you. She's still out there, you know…if you wanted to look for her.
"I don't want to listen to you. Besides, where was she when everything went bad?"
'You want this.'
"Nailbunny?"
'Find her, and find the answers to your questions. She always did love you. Read the letters, and you'll know that she never stopped. In particular, go to the bottom of the second pile. That will tell you what you need to know.'
"Well, ok." He did so, opening the envelope carefully.
Dear Nny.
Please don't do it Nny! I know things are hard but you're so much better than that!
I wish I could be there to look out for you, but Mom won't let me go.
Don't run away, or at least come here if you must. Please, Johnny. The world is a hard and scary place. You're only fifteen, please don't do anything rash! I love you, sweetie, and what those people say doesn't matter. You're perfect, they're the ones who are more worthy of criticism.
I know it's hard to want to stay in a place where people are mean to you, but you remember what I told you about Dib, right? You just need to find someone who knows how wonderful you are.
Besides, who wants to be alone all the time? At least there, we can write, and talk on the phone. I'm trying to get Mom to fight for custody, just wait a little while longer. I believe in you.
Love always,
Jessie, a.k.a. 'Bunny'
Johnny stared. "She tried to stop me?"
Sometimes there are forces too strong to resist, my boy. Meat said sympathetically. But then, the bond between siblings can't be suppressed very long. Even if you still served the thing from the wall, you'd wonder.
Johnny shuddered, "It's still out there, somewhere. I can feel it.. it has pieces of me in it… things it stole.."
Yes. Regrettably so. It feeds on terror now, and pain. And blood, but you knew that already.
"What if it decides it wants the rest of me?"
We'll deal withGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG Meanwhile, Forensics Lab
Gaz stared at the shredded bits of humanity on the table.
"Please enlighten me, Kloob. What the hell am I looking at?" She asked.
Her co-worker, professor Kloob Screlwany, shuddered. "That's what was left in one of those massacred cities. You're the best in the biz, we think you can figure out who or what did it. Besides, if it's not human, well, you've got connections."
"You would be referring to my husband and brother, I believe?"
"Well, you've collaborated before."
"True. But you know I work mostly on rape/murder cases." She reminded him.
"But when we call you to work on the impossible cases, you always come through." Kloob reminded her.
"Coming through's my job." She said dryly. "And yours, as well, if you bothered to remember that."
"Touché." He admitted. "I never thought I'd end up doing this, though." He smiled seductively at her, "But that's just how life goes."
"Cut the dramatics, Kloob. You went to college for it, so obviously you had some inclination as to what you were going to do."
He raised his hands in surrender. "Rowr! So what got you into this line of work, Miss Membrane."
"Mrs. Invader." She corrected, glaring. "And all I'm gonna say is that I could have ended up in the same situation as some of the girls I have to examine. I was lucky enough to have people around to save me; these girls didn't, so they're at least entitled to justice. That's why I'm doing what I'm doing. Justice."
"Oh. Any thoughts on the remains?"
"Revolting." She responded truthfully.
"You know what I mean. Any professional thoughts?" He clarified.
She sighed, "As far as what did it, it seems inconclusive. These people have been dismembered in several different ways. If reports didn't indicate a single organism, I'd be tempted to list several classifications of beast."
"Anything like that case back when you were in school? The one in the cave?" He asked.
"The Shlavreran? No. They fed off everything; this…being seems to do some of its killing just for fun. It seems far too intelligent, judging by its pattern."
"Pattern?"
"Yes. Surely you've noticed how it scatters its attacks? Devastating half an area, and remaining unseen by the rest. Gaining substantial distance between each area it attacks… It knows where people will look next, and manages to throw them off completely. Like little mind games. Striking in one area, right after soldiers leave. Or right before they arrive. Like it knows how people will react." She frowned. "Something is very wrong."
"Did you expect to be dealing with this?" Kloob asked.
"No. My Zim and Dib were going to look into it, but Jess talked Dib out of it. Something about having a bad feeling. Zim didn't tell me the whole story. Jessie usually has good instincts about this sort of thing."
"So your brother has made abundantly clear." Kloob remarked. "But I was under the impression that she was a medical doctor, not a Paranormal investigator/exterminator like your husband and Dib."
"Well, Jess and I believed them when the world thought they were crazy. The four of us were the core group. We decided not to break the circle…just bend it a little, since it's been so lucky so far."
"So how's married life suiting you? Any…difficulties?" He asked, a little too nicely.
"I love Zim. And, in case you've forgotten; you're married, too."
"Mella would never know."
"But I would. Look, what we had in college…you were just the rebound guy while Zim and I were fighting. Let it go." She turned away.
"Alright. Tonight, I'll be waiting in your office at eleven p.m. Show up, and you know what we can do. But don't, and I'll let it go, no regrets."
Her eyes blazed, "I've done all I can with these tests. I'm taking half a personal day. Consider that your answer. Like you said, no regrets."
With that, she wheeled around and left.
DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD Meanwhile, Somewhere else
"Hi Devi!" Tenna chirped.
"You seem even more disgustingly cheerful than normal, Tenna. What's up?"
"Oh, I got another letter from my 'big buddy' from school." Tenna said happily. "We've been writing for about six years."
"Voluntarily?"
"Yeah, she and her husband are my honorary big brother and sister."
"Really?"
"Yep. Her brother and sister in law just got back from their honeymoon."
"What's her name?"
"Jessica C. Membrane. She married the son of that crazy Super Toast guy with no pants on that science show. I was at the wedding. Wanna see a picture?" She asked.
"Well, why not? I'm for any topic that doesn't involve my love life." Devi agreed.
"Don't you mean your lack thereof?" Tenna asked.
"Don't ruin this, Tenna. Please. I don't wanna have to kill you."
"That wouldn't be very nice. Considering that you don't wanna die and all." Tenna said
SqueakSqueakSqueakSqueakSqueak
"Mr. Spooky's right. He says you're bitter because your life bites like a rabid weasel." She pulled a picture out of her purse. It showed what must have been the wedding party around the bride and groom. The groom was tall and slightly wiry, with a long, lean musculature. His eyes, behind his thick glasses, were soft amber colored. His hair was shiny black with a long, zig-zagging spike down the back. He wore a wide and loving grin as he held his wife close.
But it was the bride that caught Devi's eye. She vaguely resembled Johnny… Ebony hair and big grey-blue eyes in a distinctively shaped face atop a graceful neck and long, willowy frame. The resemblance was very small, though. The woman's face was longer, and the eyes were bluer and the sweet, likeable sort that glowed with love and happiness. Yet a deep grief shadowed their depths. Her hair was curly and well cared for and her body wasn't so ungodly thin. She had soft, nice curves that Devi felt a brief envy for.
"Um, Tenna. Does Jessica have a brother?"
"Huh? Well, she did. He disappeared six years ago. They were pretty close, so she was real broken up about it. I think she said his name was Johnny. Next year he'll be legally dead. Right now he's only presumed dead."
Devi was silent for a minute. "T..tenna…do you have a phone number for this woman?"
"Um…Dev, she's married. She doesn't like girls."
"Don't be stupid! I dated her brother! That means he's not dead, but that's not something you say in a letter."
Tenna nodded, then her eyes widened. "Fuck! Wait! You mean that her Johnny's your Johnny?"
"Basically… But Johnny's not 'my' anything."
SqueakSqueakSqueakSqueakSqueak
"Mr. Spooky says that you can keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better." Tenna informed her.
"Mr. Spooky's a pain in my ass." Devi muttered.
Squeak Squeeeeeeaaakk Squeeakity
"He says the feeling is mutual."
DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD Soon…
Ring Ring
"Come on, pick up…" Devi muttered.
Ring Ring
:Hello: Said a woman's voice on the end of the line.
Hello cliffhanger! Oh yes, I went there.
Review or become filthy mouse.