And with this chapter, we've managed to reach the end of another episode of the 'Complete' series. That makes 10 episodes down, and (hopefully) a planned 18 to go, assuming everything goes well and the inspiration stays up. Oh well, who knows?
chyp: At least I got you!
Only a few days remained until classes started again. With the Order of Invision ordeal, the brothers missed both Christmas and the coming of the New Year. Matthew and Wesley sat around a table watching Wesley's favorite television show: Power Rangers. James had gone to the grocery store to pick up more of his favorite beverage: beer.
"I was just thinking," Matthew said aloud, "you know, about the three of us."
"Good," Wesley said, keeping his eyes on the television. "Tell me later."
"Seriously," Matthew said, turning off the television, eliciting a grunt from Wesley. "After everything we've been through recently, and seeing Charity so happy with Derrick and George, it just got me thinking."
"About what?" Wesley asked.
"About who's gonna be the next American Idol," Matthew snapped sarcastically. "About family, you ass!"
"You don't have to get uppity," Wesley remarked. "I get it. And I think what we're doing is also nice. Jimmy might cry and I got my video camera ready for it. But it's too bad about the Gem, though. We could've really used it to help us out."
"We had to destroy it," Matthew said. "It wasn't designed for either good or evil. It just followed whoever had it. It would be a major threat."
"Why did it even exist in the first place, then?" Wesley asked.
"Who knows," Matthew said. "Hey, I think I heard Jimmy's truck pulling up."
The two flicked off the main lights and hid behind the door, making sure that James couldn't spot them through the window. Wesley looked at his watch impatiently; almost three minutes had passed since James' truck had gone silent and he had slammed the door shut. He almost peeked up to look out the window when a set of keys clanked against the door. Matthew grabbed Wesley by the shirt and pulled him down before he ruined everything. James pushed the door open with his knee and proceeded in, his hands full of groceries.
"Surprise!" Matthew and Wesley shouted as they jumped out from behind the door.
"What the…" James yelled.
Completely off guard, James dropped the bags of groceries in shock. Wesley quickly shot his hands forward and the bags stopped in motion, hovering inches below the ground. Matthew grabbed them and put them safely onto the floor, rolling his eyes at James.
"Demons can pop in and out everyday," Matthew commented, "but this scares the hell out of you?"
"Never mind that," James said, motioning behind him. "What about this?"
James pointed to Sam, who stood behind him with another bag of groceries. She wasn't moving at all, due to Wesley's freezing power. Wesley's face suddenly changed from annoyance to surprise when he finally realized what was going on.
"Oh," he said. "Well at least she's frozen. Just grab the bags and get back into place and everything's okay."
"Wait," James said, pulling two envelopes out his back pocket and showing them to Matthew and Wesley. "We got these in the mail today and I wanted to show you two without Sam knowing. She asks a lot of questions."
"They're both from Marcia and her family," Matthew said, opening the letters. "Should I read them?"
"No," Wesley said dryly. "Do them in sign language."
"Funny," James noted.
"'To the Complete,'" Matthew read, "'Thank you for everything you've done for my family and me. There are no words that could express how we all feel. We can't thank you enough for your kindness, helpfulness, and willingness to sacrifice yourselves for the sake of others. Even though the Gem wasn't able to bring back our Tina, I'm glad that Derrick, George, and my Charity were able to make it back safely, thanks to your encouraging words.
"'Hold fast to your own family. You never know when something like this might happen to you, and you're never really prepared for it if it does happen. I wake up everyday now and count my blessings that we were lucky enough to have crossed paths. Of course we've all heard of the legendary Complete, but I never in my life would have thought that you would be such lovely people.
"'I know how busy you must be with school and demons and what not, so I'll stop here. May God continue to bless and keep you in all that you do, and if you're ever in the area, please stop by for dinner. With undying thanks, Marcia L. Coleman…PS: I forgot to include my little gift in this envelope, so I hope it finds you as well. Just another way for me to say thanks!'"
"What's the gift?" Wesley asked. "Is it money? I love money!"
"Even better," Matthew said, examining the contents of the second envelope. "It looks like our tuition has been paid in full for this year, next year, and the year after by Marcia L. Coleman."
"Now those are the kind of people we need to be helping more often," Wesley commented.
"That's great," James added. "Think of all the money we'll save now."
"I can quit working at the bookstore," Wesley thought out loud. "Sam! Okay, everybody get back into place!"
James grabbed the groceries off the floor and twisted himself back into the position he thought he was in at first. Matthew and Wesley stood in front of James and held their hands up when time resumed.
"Don't drop them," Matthew mumbled under his breath to James.
"What's the surprise?" Sam asked as she entered the living room behind James.
"It's a late Christmas/New Year's party," Matthew said. "We ended up being so busy that we just…lost track of time."
"Who loses track of Christmas and New Year's?" Sam laughed as she set her bags down on the coffee table.
"Long story," James said. "Thanks, guys, y'all don't know how this makes me feel. I'm back in the Christmas spirit again!"
"Get the camera, homeboy," Matthew said to Wesley. "I think he's about to cry…"
