The plan had been everyone kick the snow off their shoes, television on, and make dinner. And a change of clothes into the mix for those who had to go back on duty. Atlanta had a time table scheduled so everyone was either at work-work, helping with Christmas preparations or someone looking after Barry at any one time. Given the amount of snow getting everywhere during the snowball fight and various dunkings however, the plan had to be amended. folks headed back to their own billets for a spell, getting showered and fresh change out of wet clothes all round.
The plan was NOT however, all the fellas getting straight into uniform. Then them all sneaking out, with Barry tagging along for the ride. They even decided on performing that recreation early; leaving herself and Marina to do all the cooking! Atlanta thought that was a pretty dirty trick. It wasn't particularly fair on Marina. Especially for all Troy's going on to Barry about how invaluable to the team she was and what better eyesight she had. Atlanta also thought any sensible adult wouldn't think to go out to open sea with not only just a two-crew team but also a literal child at the helm.
That said, no one could have thought their day would have involved turning Troy's bedtime story into reality. Least of all Troy.
Thank goodness everyone had mucked in with the prep work either last night or this morning, or else dinner would have been a bust. And thank goodness Troy HAD told Barry that ridiculous daring story, or else Christmas would have been ruined entirely.
"I'm fine Atlanta! Really!" Barry said. She'd practically dropped to her knees in front of Barry the moment he'd bounded in and now checked him over any sort of injury and almost frantically peppered him with questions over his well-being. "Captain Troy and Phones are the one who did everything!"
"Oh I'm sure they did-!" Atlanta scoffed. "I was so worried-!"
"Relax Atlanta. The lad had a great time, didn't you kid?" The Commander said.
"He shouldn't have even been at the controls at all Father!" she shot back. "Barry's only eight years old-!"
"And three quarters!" Barry insisted. It was sort of muffled by the fierce 'thank goodness you're alright' hug Atlanta had him in; as if the guys might scoop him up and take him back out on a second adventure. not that Barry didn't hug her back, just as tight.
Commander Shore muttered something about hens or bears and "just like her mother". But shut up at the twin scowls from both his daughter and their team mermaid shot him. The fact Marina was still a wooden spoon in hand didn't make it any less the two any less scary, frilly aprons or nah.
"What were you fellas thinking?!" Atlanta asked again. Marina tapped her on the shoulder. and once she'd got Atlanta's attention, Marina put a finger to her own temple and shook her head. "No, you're right Marina! they weren't thinking at all were they?"
"Ah gee come on now. Barry-boy's right, Atlanta? Everything's fine." A slightly smarting Troy said as Atlanta fussed over Barry, not him. He might have taken a few bruises on the mission but the bump to his ego stung more right now.
"You said you were taking Barry on board for a trip, sure. but in charge of launching you at that other submarine-?!" she scolded.
"okay but-!"
"and we've a new arrival at Marienville's jailHouse. Fisher just took Phones to A&E to get his bump on the head checked out by the way." The Commander added unhelpfully.
"What?!"
"but they're on their way back. So they won't miss dinner?" Barry tried. Had one of the adults said that, they'd have been in trouble.
Troy tried to argue. "and we solved the mystery of the sub! What do you think Marina-? Ow! Hey-!"
Troy had got a smack. Sort of. Marina had hit him with the spoon. Not hard and only on the arm but she still brandished it at him. "Marina put that spoon down!"
"Well there now, you see? Even Marina thinks that was downright dangerous Troy. you could have been killed." Atlanta agreed. "Again!"
"But he wasn't!" Barry tried.
"yeah, but I wasn't!" Troy nodded.
"It worked same as the first time!" Barry added.
Troy faltered there. Especially when Marina looked at him confused.
"Well… okay okay Atlanta don't look at me like that. I get the picture!"
"Well isn't a Christmas Miracle?" Atlanta said. "go and wash your hands, all of you. before dinner gets cold!"
All was forgiven. eventually.
Once the shock had and worry had worn off it did make for a fantastic adventure to discuss over dinner. Atlanta was just glad they were all there to enjoy it. There were paper hats and more of Troy's stories on the table along with far too much food. this time with slightly more true full corrections from Troy. But with added and even worse exudations from Phones. Marina, for all her agreement with Atlanta earlier, was blatantly egging them both on and gleefully took all forms of "don't encourage them" as a personal challenge. Her flippered feet were in new fluffy socks to stave off any chill. And to avoid Barry asking any questions about why she hadn't got toes.
After a great dinner, everyone piled in the shores lounge for coffee and some songs on the piano. Barry was shown how to play along with a few, sitting on the stool next to Atlanta. and what everyone's names were in sign as well as working out his own. Barry opened his gifts first but happily sat playing and chatting while the adults exchanged their secret Santa gifts. It was really cute.
Atlanta had become exceptionally fond of the kid, Troy noticed. Well they all had.
But it seemed like Barry had both Shores wrapped around his finger. The commander partly by a little deception, but there was a lot of truth in what was written in the letter Troy had dictated. Barry was loving hearing about his dad. And sat listening eagerly to the commander as he recounted one of Captain Byre's own adventures.
"You are great with him, Atlanta." Troy said to her. Atlanta was perched on the arm of Troy's chair, smiling like sunshine watching on as Barry sat next to her father asking him questions.
"you think?" she said quietly.
"Well, yeah?"
"And with dinner. That was delicious." Phones grinned. "I'm surprised Stingray doesn't need extra buoyancy, the way you cook. "
"Now don't you two try and get around me like that." She told them. "You boys still have the washing up to do. "
"Gee, all these gadgets in the house and you haven't an automatic dishwasher." Phones said mock incredulously .
"Atlanta has one tonight, Phones. Two even." Troy said, "she's got us!"
Marina Clapping signed danger good naturedly. And she nodded in agreement when Atlanta inisited, "We cooked you promised you'd clean up."
"P w or." Phones sighed. "If I can move, that is."
"Shotgun on drying," Fisher Wedeled. Troy scowled not above pulling rank but was interrupted.
"You're trusting these idiots with your good plates?" The commander teased. Then asked seriously, in a hush "Say, Is the boy okay?"
he Indicated to the other side of the room with his head. The others looked. Barry was now sitting by the tree in the other half of the lounge away from them. , quietly making His new model Stingray Weave and dive over wrapping paper rocks and a seabed on the rug.
"He was chatty before. now He's been rather quiet tonight all of a sudden." The commander frowned.
"Probably worn out from all the excitement. Snow, Christmas, and a ride in Stingray?" Troy shrugged.
"hmm. I'll let him have some quiet time to himself, then maybe check on him." Atlanta suggested. "no it's quite alright Marina I can do it. I think he might be feeling a bit overwhelmed is all."
"True. And Maybe he just seems so quiet 'cos he was so hyper after firing The Captain out the missile injector and all?" Phones agreed. Then added, "You're lucky you set the aim so good Troy."
"Yeah. Shame." the commander joked. Atlanta gave him a mild scold but he waved it off.
"Charming. And on Christmas as well." Troy laughed.
Mugs were topped up in lie of stronger drinks being passed around. The adults chatted contentedly and somehow ended up on discussing the worst Christmas films they'd ever seen, Atlanta keeping half an eye on Barry.
"SO Basically, they'd mashed up Frosty the Snowman, Rudolf and Jack frost into one film. Right?"
"Right...is this making any sense to you Marina?"
"If you're explaining it to her, can you tell the rest of us? I'm lost."
"Oh thank goodness I thought I was the only one confused."
"Home alone? Really? It's a classic."
"No, Home Alone Ten: Happy X-mas. the new one, it's really bad."
"If you get Die Hard as a favourite Christmas then I'm aloud to say it's my least favourite."
"don't you two watch any modern films?"
"Right, I'm making two lists of films Marina has to watch, the bad ones and the good ones."
"So a naughty and nice list of Christmas movies?"
"No trust me Marina, you have to watch the really really bad ones."
"Do I have to watch them too?"
"We can watch them all together."
"Aw gee."
"a killer Christmas tree? Who decided on this anyway?"
"Same director who thought aliens would know what Christmas is."
"Wait, I thought you said this guy was THE Father Christmas?"
"No he's a mall Santa pretending to be the real deal. The other guy was Santa but then he hit his head and now he needs to learn he is Santa again." Troy insisted. "That reminds me. How's the headache, by the way, Phones?"
"No complaints so far." Phones shrugged. Then he shot Fisher and Troy a confused look for laughing.
"just a bit sore. The doc said take it easy and don't think too hard. so that'd be easy for me right?"
"Well if it does start hurting there's some aspirin in the medicine cabinet." Atlanta smiled. And then added etirly to nicely, (especially for Fisher's grin and waggle of eyebrows or the odd look her mer-fried was giving her for such an innocent statement) : "Marina made you up another ice pack in the freezer for you if you need it..."
"oh. That's real sweet of you-!"
"I need to use the telly-phone!" Barry interrupted suddenly as he skidded into the room. or at least skidded across the lino till his socks hit the carpet and he went over. He'd have fallen on his face if every nearby adult hadn't lunged forward or jumped up, arms out and grabbed him by the elbow or scruff of his jumper.
"Woah there!"
"Where's the fire lil fella?"
"Good save team."
"Barry are you alright?" Atlanta asked. "Is something the matter?"
"No! yeah! I need to call the home." Barry said. " please! I need to ask Miss Gurtude something real quick."
"Now?" Atlanta frowned at him.
"Can I call her? Please? I ...left something real important at the home."
Well that's a fib, Troy thought. But he said instead, "Say its nearly bedtime, Mister. Why not call her tomorrow?"
"but it's important Tory." Barry insisted. "Pleeeease Atlanta?"
"Barry, Troy's right. it is getting rather late-?" Atlanta started.
"And I wanna wish everyone there a happy Christmas too!" Barry cut in pleadingly. He even had his hands clasped.
( "Well ain't that a pull on the heart strings." Phones muttered with a grin.
"Some great use of the puppy eyes there." Fisher muttered in agreement.
"Pay attention, bud, we've got an expert in our midst." Phones muttered back.
Troy agreed. "We might learn something, ow-!"
Marina had elbowed Phones and Fisher both. She probably agreed but sure. but she still elbowed them.
"keep that up and you're not on the nice list next year." Phones warned. But he passed the elbowing on to Troy, ever the gentlemen.)
"Well... okay. go right ahead, the videophones just there." Atlanta caved, and gestured to the one across the other side of the open plan room. "Just press nine to dial off site first. And Get straight into your pyjamas afterwards though alright? I don't want Miss Gurtude thinking we're letting you stay up all night."
Barry agreed he would and thanked her. He went across to the screen. but rather than use it, he Looked around at adults. Was it Atlanta's imagination or did his quick glance double back to Marina? Before she could ask what was up Barry Shot back across the room to her father's side. Barry beckoned him to come closer, then Whispered to the commander's ear.
"What gives? Oh. Huh. Alright." The Commander scowled at first, then Listened carefully, "huh. uh uh. Well... okay then. There's one in my office, the third door. go ahead and use that. But Don't touch anything!"
"Yes sir!" Barry made to leave. Then scampered back and hugged a very stunned Commander Shore. "Thank you, Sam."
"Oof! Yeah yeah you're welcome kid." The commander said Patting his back awkwardly with one arm then untangling himself. "Now, Go on scram. Before I change my mind."
Barry scrambled.
"Now what in the world was that about?" Troy asked.
"Never you mind Troy. He wanted some privacy so I said he could use the one in my office." The commander said grouchily. "I better go make sure he can dial out without setting off some alert."
He whirred his chair around and followed Barry, Leaving the team Puzzled and baffled and a bit bewildered.
"Well that was weird."
"Now, to quote the captain," Phones said. "What in the world was that about?"
"Beats me."
Marina shook her head and shrugged.
"Not a clue."
"I've no idea."
"You pick up what he said Marina?"
Marina shook her head again.
"Who." Marina then 'said' with a motion almost like a little bird chirping. Then started slowly finger spelling out something.
"Barry?" Phones translated slash interrupted aloud at the third letter.
Then, when she gestured to the Videophone;
"Oh Who's he calling you mean? Miss Gurtude." Atlanta said.
Marina made her sort of gesture and her not what I meant nose scrunch. She pointed to Troy, and made Thumbs up pulling away from her face. Then tapped her wrist on her non-existent watch.
They took that to be, "yeah but like Troy said, it's late?"
"And who's Miss Gurtude anyway?" Fisher asked.
"Barry's social worker." Troy supplied.
"Well no. She's more hands on than that. she's his- well not carer." Atlanta faltered. "But she's one of the officers at the orphanage. So, she looks after him and the other kids."
"That's why Barry's been saying 'The home' rather than just 'home' by the way." Phones explained to Marina. Marina nodded and said she Understood.
"Funny. I wouldn't have thought Barry was a shy kinda kid?" Fisher said, "To ask to use Commander Shore's Office I mean."
"Maybe Barry does just want some privacy." Phones shrugged.
"No. Father's up to something!" Atlanta said Suspiciously.
"Barry called him by his first name too and didn't get a telling off." Troy said.
Marina nodded in agreement to that, even going so far as to copy Atlanta's thoughtful expression and narrowing her eyes. (Atlanta scowled at her for mimicking. But then they both couldn't help getting the giggles.)
"and the kids got a plan." Troy frowned. "But How come he let the commander in on the secret?"
"You tell me, skipper. you're the one who arranged him letting Barry visiting" Phones remarked. A tad loudly. The other four Shushed him. Well, he got three shushes and a finger on lips from Marina.
Barry spent a good while on the videophone to Miss Gurtude. But was as good as gold and more his usual chatty self afterwards; even in his supercar pyjamas and his mouth around a foaming toothbrush.
Troy told him about the time Duke Dexter came to visit as his Bed time story. Not as exciting as Stingray being trapped in Pink icecaps. But Barry lapped it up anyway, Even more excitable by the time he had to get into bed, asking non-stop questions right up until he said goodnight. Then he conked out asleep before Atlanta had even turned the spare bedroom light out.
