"Welcome to the Sanctum." Jen said as she led Brandon into the Sanctum after school.
"Wow." Brandon said, though he sounded a little underwhelmed.
"Everything okay?" Jen asked.
"Yeah, it's just, I don't know, when I pictured Black Lightning's lair, I guess I pictured something a bit cooler." Brandon said and Jen chuckled.
"Yeah I know. Anissa and I both had similar thoughts. Honestly, I feel like we got stuck with the low budget superhero base." Jen said.
"To be fair Jen, the only other superhero base you've seen is the Flash's." Jefferson said as he and Gambi entered the room.
"Yeah but still dad, you really think Supergirl's base is as small as this one." Jen asked.
"It still manages to serve its role." Gambi said.
"I guess." Jen said as she continued giving Brandon the tour of the base.
"Kids. So ungrateful." Jefferson said.
"You think you were any better at her age?" Gambi reminded him and Jefferson chuckled.
"Fair point." Jefferson said as Gambi noticed someone enter the shop above.
"Looks like Khalil decided to follow Jen here. Fortunately, he didn't see her and Brandon enter the Sanctum." Gambi said.
"Jen, we've got a situation." Jefferson said.
"What is it?" Jen asked as she joined them and saw Khalil.
"Wait, isn't that your boyfriend?" Brandon asked.
"Yeah, but something tells me that things aren't going great, considering the fact that he followed us here." Jen said.
"Jen, take the back staircase up to the shop, that way Khalil won't see you come out of the Sanctum." Gambi said and Jen nodded as she headed upstairs.
"What are you doing here Khalil?" Jen asked as she entered the shop from the back.
"I could ask you the same question." Khalil said.
"My Uncle Gambi owns this place. He's the closest thing I have to a grandfather, so of course I'd want to visit him." Jen said.
"Even so, why were you talking to that new guy Brandon?" Khalil asked.
"Why were you spying on me?" Jen asked.
"What am I supposed to think? You've been acting distant towards me lately and then suddenly you start hanging out with this new guy?" Khalil demanded.
"I didn't realize I had to run my friends by you Khalil. And I'm sorry that you're so insecure about our relationship that you felt the need to stalk me." Jen said.
"Jen, I can tell you're keeping something big from me, what is it?" Khalil asked.
"I'm not keeping anything from you." Jen said, feeling guilty as she heard the lies leave her mouth.
"We both know that's not true. Look Jen, you know how I feel about you, but if you can't have enough respect for me to tell me the truth about whatever it is that's going on with you, then I don't think we have much else to talk about." Khalil said.
"Wait Khalil, what are you saying?" Jen asked, hoping he wasn't about to say what she thought he was going to say.
"We're through Jen." Khalil said as he stormed out of the shop, leaving Jen in tears. However, only a few minutes later, Jen heard a gunshot from outside and she rushed out to see Khalil once again falling to the ground from a bullet wound.
"Khalil!" Jen shouted as she ran up to him.
"Jen." Khalil said weakly as Jen quickly pulled out her phone and called 911.
After the police and the paramedics arrived, Jen took a deep breath before calling Khalil's mother and letting her know that Khalil had been shot and to her relief, his mother thanked her for both letting her know and for being there to help Khalil and said that she expected to see her at the hospital and Jen couldn't bring herself to tell her that Khalil had broken up with her and agreed, saying that first she had to call her own parents and let them know.
Now she was sitting in the waiting room of the hospital, alongside Khalil's mother as her own mother joined them.
"I'm so sorry Nichelle." Lynn said as she hugged the poor woman.
"I'm just glad Jen was there, since if she hadn't been, I don't even want to think about what could've happened to Khalil." Nichelle said.
"Where's your father?" Lynn asked Jen.
"On the phone with Henderson." Jen said and Lynn caught the hidden meaning in that.
"Have you heard anything about Khalil's condition?" Lynnasked.
"Not yet, he's still in surgery. I just hope that there won't be any permanent damage." Jen said, even though she knew there would be, since she was certain that this was no accident. And Tobias would pay for it. He'd pay for everything. She'd make sure of it.
