Fear - Blue October
I woke up a little differently than I was used to this morning. It was a slow course to wakefulness and it began with a slight tickle from the top of my neck. Then it lightly moved down across my shoulder and along my arm. I let out an unlady-like grunt at the sensation, not liking that I was leaving the land of slumber. I then felt a breath ghost across my cheek and remembered I didn't go to bed alone last night.
I blinked my eyes open slowly and looked at the wall across from me. I was laying on my back but my head was turned away from Diego. Everything we did last night came back to me and I closed my eyes again with a smile as he continued to tickle my exposed flesh.
"You're beautiful." He whispered in my ear.
I giggled and turned on my side to face him, "Stop being so corny. Besides, you didn't always think so." I propped my head up with my hand, matching his position.
"I always thought so." My expression turned confused, "You may have gotten under my skin but you were also my first wet dream."
I socked him in the shoulder at that, "and just when I thought you were being sweet."
He pulled me into his chest by the waist and gave me a deep kiss that I returned with equal fervor. It didn't last long but still left me breathless when we pulled apart. Then I remembered him walking out on me two mornings ago and everything I felt since then, especially about his late 'friend' Detective Patch.
"Diego, we need to talk." I said quietly, looking down at the space between us.
"Yeah, we do." He agreed, "I want you to know-"
He was interrupted by a knock on his bedroom door and jiggling of the doorknob, "Diego? Are you in there?"
Diego huffed at the interruption but replied, "Yeah, I'm here."
"Come downstairs, we're having a family meeting." Luther said through the door, "Do you know where Malia is?"
Diego looked at me and frowned when I stared over his shoulder and out the window, not making eye contact. Part of the reason Diego walked out two days ago is because I didn't want anyone to know what was happening. I thought he wanted the same but that wasn't the case at all. What I did here could determine how we moved forward.
"No-" Diego started.
"I'm here too Luther." I spoke over Diego and then met his eyes.
"What? Why are you in Diego's room? You know what, it doesn't matter. Come downstairs, Allision is out getting coffee."
When his footsteps faded, Diego cupped my cheek, "You didn't have to do that."
"Yes, I did."
I didn't elaborate, just stood up and grabbed his black sweater, slipping it over my head. It was long enough to cover all the important bits so I could walk down the hall to my room. When I turned back to Diego, he was sitting on the edge of his bed, feet planted on the floor and watching me. The corner of the blanket was still over his lap.
I stepped over to him and ran my fingers through his short hair before bending and kissing him softly, "It's one of the things we'll talk about later, okay?" He nodded, "I'll meet you downstairs. Make sure you put that sling on."
It was 8:15 in the morning by the time I was finished getting ready in black skinny jeans, white tank, and pale pink button up that I left unbuttoned. My glossy brown hair was back in its usual waves and I stopped by Diego's room to pick up my converse.
When I got to the living room, everyone was gathered around in front of the bar. Luther on a stool, Klaus on the floor in front of one sofa, and Diego sitting on the sofa opposite him. I took a seat beside Diego and Allison handed me a coffee before standing by the bar beside Luther. As I took a sip, I noted that Diego was wearing the sling I told him to wear. Good.
"So now that everyone is here. It's time to tell you what Five told Malia and I yesterday." Luther said.
"And this couldn't be said last night?" Klaus asked.
I curled my legs under me as I leaned against the sofa, inadvertently shifting closer to Diego in the process, "I wanted to see if Five would come back but since he's missing again, we might as well tell you while we can."
"While you can?" Diego asked, sipping his coffee.
Luther and I gave the cliff notes of the story that Five told us yesterday. The main thing they needed to know was that the apocalypse was happening. No one interrupted but I think that was mostly from shock. I guess if you found out the world was ending in a matter of days, it could make you speechless.
"So, we have three days to stop it." I finished, taking a sip of my coffee. Why does the end of the world always seem to end on a Friday? I'd be less inclined to stop it if it ended on a Sunday or even a Monday.
"Three days?" Allison asked.
"That's what Five said anyway."
"The little bastard did mention the apocalypse come to think of it. He just left out the part about how soon." Klaus said.
"Can we trust him?" Allison asked, "I don't know if you noticed but Five's a little..." She circled her finger while pointing to her brain.
"Our little psycho." Klaus giggled.
"Wouldn't you be driven a little bit crazy if you were alone with nothing but a mannikin for company for forty-five years?" I asked, "I don't think he would lie about that."
"There you go defending him like when we were younger. You were always two peas in a pod." Allison joked with a roll of her eyes.
I flinched away from Diego a bit at Allison's words. She didn't mean it harmfully but Diego did when he said the same thing to me yesterday. I know Diego noticed my reaction but he kept quiet and I was thankful for that. The accusation crushed me yesterday and it was one of the things we definitely needed to talk about.
"Five was pretty convincing and if he wasn't trying to stop the apocalypse from happening, those two lunatics wouldn't be chasing him." Luther said.
"That's why they were after him?" Diego asked, seeming to come to some understanding of the events that have happened since he showed back up.
"What did Five even see?" Allison asked.
Luther looked at me for help but I averted my eyes, "Uh... Apparently, we all fought together against the person who was responsible." Luther explained and then finished with a nod. Clearly, they were expecting more but Luther just stood up and walked a few feet away before turning to everyone, "So here's the plan. We go through dads research-"
"Wait." Allison said.
"Whoa, whoa." That was Diego.
"Hold on a second." Klaus said, "Wait a tick, wait a tick. What actually happened the first time around?"
"We should give them a little more info." I finally said after Luther and I looked around at everyone silently.
"By all means." Luther gave me the floor.
"What are you guys not telling us?" Diego asked, "Come on, spit it out."
I got up and stood beside Luther, clasping my hands together. I took a deep breath and was ready to give a proper explanation like Luther wanted but he spit it out instead.
"We died." He said it so quietly and then took a sip of his coffee.
I glared at him, "Really Luther?"
"What was that?" Allison asked.
Luther cleared his throat before speaking a little louder, "I said, we died."
Klaus, Allison, and Diego stared at us, open mouthed. I don't blame them. They just found out we had three days to live. I could only imagine what was going through their mind. Their eyes were shifting from me to Luther a few times and we both stood there nervously.
Diego stood up instantly, "Can I talk to you for a minute... alone?" He directed at me.
I looked around at the rest then nodded, following him into the dining room across the foyer. He ran the hand of his uninjured arm back through his hair a few times and then turned to me. His eyes were so wide.
"When you decided to sleep with me last night, was it because you knew the world was ending?"
"What?!" I cried out, "How could you even think that Diego?"
"I don't know Malia, you tell me. You wanted nothing to do with me and then Five tells you the world is ending."
"Wow, tell me what you really think of me." I snapped.
He groaned, "That's not what I meant. I just waited fifteen years for you and I don't want it to be because I was the last man on earth."
My eyes went wide this time, "You waited fifteen years for me?"
"What? No! I j-j-j-jus-s-t m-m-m-mea-" Diego began to stutter and that was enough to tell me the truth.
"You waited fifteen years for me." I slumped against the wall, "I thought you hated me."
Diego took a deep breath, "I n-never hated you. I thought you were a-a-annoying and then we were fifteen and things ch-changed. I saw you differently."
"Why didn't you ever say anything?"
"I wasn't supposed to think of you that way. Dad made that clear when he noticed."
I looked down at the floor, "You know why I wanted nothing to do with you the past two days?" He didn't say anything so I continued anyway, "Because of Detective Patch. You made her seem like she was the most important person to you and I didn't want to compete with that and then you said that thing about Five..."
Diego moved so silently that I didn't know he walked over to me until I saw his socked feet come into my vision. His hand came up and titled my chin so I was looking into his eyes.
"Forget what I said about Five okay? I didn't mean it. I was just being an idiot and lashing out because I wanted you to defend me instead. I'm so sorry about that." Diego explained and I nodded, "About Patch... well, Patch and I had history. We were together for a short time but it didn't work out for a few reasons. One of them being because I couldn't stop talking shit about this girl I grew up with that annoyed the hell out of me."
I remember what Detective Patch said the first time I ever met her. She said I was the one Diego couldn't shut up about. I was confused then but it made sense now.
"I care about her a lot and she didn't deserve to die and I do want to kill those bastards for her." Diego continued, "But you are always most important. Don't doubt that."
He was being sweet again, so I gave him a chaste kiss. It was my turn to speak now, "I haven't been waiting for you for fifteen years but ever since you came back into my life, I've been feeling things for you that I haven't felt before. I wanted to keep it a secret at first because I wasn't sure what was happening and I've always felt the need to guard myself. I know what's happening now though and I'd like to openly explore whatever this is if you're game."
"No secrets?"
"No secrets."
"Let's do this baby." He grinned and then kissed me.
"Can we go figure out how we're going to save the world now?" I asked when he pulled away.
We walked back to the living room to see Klaus, Luther, and Allison crowded around the bar and we joined them. They stopped what they were doing to look at us and zeroed in on our linked hands. I thought we were going to be attacked with questions and I tensed. When it didn't happen, I relaxed and Diego squeezed my hand as he leaned against the table, allowing me to have the stool.
"So, we need to do something about this now." Luther said.
"But everyone was dead? In the whole world?"
"Yes Allison. Not a single living soul. Aside from Five."
"Everyone died." Luther reiterated as Vanya entered the living room with her boyfriend.
Vanya had a boyfriend? When did that happen? And why did he have that stupid little smile on his face? I don't like him.
"Hey." Vanya said, "What's going on?" I tried to peer around Allison to try to make eye-contact with this guy but he was strategically avoiding eye-contact as he looked around at all of us. It's like he knew what I could do.
"It's a family matter." Allison said.
"Family matter." Vanya nodded, "So of course you couldn't be bothered to include me."
"It's not like that." Luther said, "We were-"
"Don't let me interrupt." Vanya said and went to walk away.
"Vanya wait." Allison said, "I'll fill you in later when we're alone."
"She has a point." I called over, "Your... friend... doesn't need to hear this." I said, forcing out the 'friend'. There was something about him that gave me the creeps. The feeling in my chest was dull and barely there but it WAS there nonetheless.
I felt Diego run his hand up my back as I tensed, to try and get me to relax again. It wasn't working. I felt like a cat getting ready to pounce.
"Just stop. Don't bother and I won't either."
"Vanya, that's not fair." Allison said.
"Fair? There is nothing fair about being your sister. I have been left out of everything for as long as I can remember. I used to think it was dads' fault but he's dead. So, it turns out you're the assholes."
"Yes, because none of us tried to make you feel included, right?" I said bitterly.
"Don't patronize me, you were just as bad." Vanya said and left, her boy toy following after her.
We heard the front door open and close and Allison went to leave too, "I need to go to Vanya and explain."
"Wait, there isn't time. We need to figure out what causes the apocalypse." Luther said, "Now there are loads of possibilities. Nukes, war, asteroids. But I'm thinking this is about the moon. Dad must have sent me up there for a reason. I was giving him daily reports on conditions, slight changes, everything. I say we go through his research."
"Hold the phone, we all died fighting this thing the first time around remember?" Klaus asked.
"Klaus shockingly has a point." Diego said, pulling a knife from his holster, waving it around, "What gives us a win this time?"
"The first time, we didn't know what was going to happen." I said and took the knife from him so I could fiddle with it instead.
Blue lightening suddenly started to form above the bar table and I gripped the knife as I covered my eyes. Diego grabbed for me, pulled me into his chest and turned his back to the anomaly that began to form. I waited for an attack or an explosion of some sort but all I heard was a hard thump onto the table top.
"Guys, am I still high or do you see him too?" Klaus asked.
I peeked over Diego's shoulder and he turned his head to look over the same shoulder, his nose brushing my temple. The anomaly was gone as quick as it had come and Five was now sprawled out on the table clutching a large black briefcase. He tried to get up but fell off the table. He clutched the edge so he wouldn't fall to the floor.
"Five, where have you been?" Luther asked as he and Allison helped steady Five on his feet, "Who did this?"
Diego turned us to look at the scene unfold but kept his arm protectively around my waist. This allowed me to be tucked snuggly into him, half against his chest and half into his side. I breathed deeply and slowly to calm my racing heart.
"Irrelevant." Five said, taking Allison's coffee and guzzling it down. He turned back to us with a scowl, "So the apocalypse is in three days. The only chance we have to save our world is, well, us."
"The Umbrella Academy."
"But with me, obviously. So, if you all don't get your sideshow acts together and get over yourselves, we're screwed. Who cares if dad messed us up? Are we going to let that define us? No. To give us a fighting chance to see next week, I've come back with a lead." Five said and help up a slip of paper, "I know who's responsible for the apocalypse."
Diego and I made our way around the table as Allison took the paper from Five to read it. We all read it over her shoulder and it looked like a memo. It said to protect Harold Jenkins, which means it was our job to kill him.
"Who the hell is Harold Jenkins?" Diego asked.
Five finished the coffee and tossed the paper cup behind him, "I don't know... yet. But I do know he's responsible for the apocalypse. So, we have to find him and we have to do it now."
"How is he connected to what's going to happen?" Luther asked.
"I don't know that either."
"Wait, so you just know his name?" Diego asked in disbelief as he stepped forward, "That's it?"
"That's enough."
"There are probably dozens of Harold Jenkins' in the city." Diego said.
"Well actually, Harold and Jenkins are not popular names to begin with. Throwing them together is probably more uncommon." I pointed out.
"Thank you, Malia. Finally, a voice of reason." Five said, "So let's start working."
"I'm sorry, am I the only one that is skeptical here?" Allison asked, everyone looked at her but I kept my eye on Five who seemed in pain, "How exactly do you know all this about what's his name?"
"Harold Jenkins." Five said, "You know those lunatics in masks that attacked the house."
"They definitely attacked more than just the house." I muttered, remembering getting my ass handed to me.
"Oh yeah, I think I remember those guys." Klaus said, pretending he forgot.
"Yeah, that's right. The ones that attacked us while you were getting drunk." Diego accused.
"Yeah them," Five started, ignoring the sarcasm from the three of us, "They were sent by Temps Commision to stop me from coming back and preventing the end of life on earth."
"The Temps what?" Allision asked.
"That's the name of your former employer?" I asked, "What a dumb name."
"They monitor all of time and space to make sure that whatever is supposed to happen, happens. They believe the apocalypse is coming in three days so I went to Commision headquarters and intercepted a message that was meant for said lunatics. Protect Harold Jenkins, so he must be responsible for the apocalypse."
There was completed silence for a beat before everyone started talking at once.
"I'm going after Hazel and Cha-Cha."
"Where is this headquarters?"
"What do you mean protect time and space?" Allison said, "Do you have any idea how insane that sounds?"
I looked at the knife in my hand and threw it at a lamp. The lamp shattered, making everyone look at me as if I was crazy. Maybe I am.
"Shit Malia!" Diego said, going over to pick up his knife.
"Would you all just listen to Five?!" I shouted and everyone shut up to listen.
"You know what else is insane?!" Five demanded, "I look like a thirteen your old boy, Klaus talks to the dead, Malia can make people live their worst nightmare, and Luther thinks he's fooling everyone with that overcoat. Everything about us is insane."
"He's got a point there." Klaus said, leaning over the side of the sofa. He looked very ill and I grimaced at the thought of him possibly puking in the corner.
"We didn't choose this life, we're just living it."
"We all died! Why is this any different? Why shouldn't I go home to my daughter?" Allison asked.
"Because I'm here now and we have the name of the man who is responsible. Guys, we actually have the chance to save the lives of BILLIONS of people, including Claire." Five said.
"You know her name?"
"I do and I'd like to live long enough to meet her. Along with any offspring Diego and Malia spit out."
For the first time since I was eleven-years-old and came here for the first time, I felt my face heat up in a heavy blush. Everyone, and I mean everyone, turned to look at the both of us. I didn't look to Diego who was standing slightly behind me but I felt him drop his hand from the small of my back. I said no secrets and I meant it but that doesn't mean I was ready for THAT conversation. We JUST started dating this morning... or was it last night?
"Uh, what? W-w-what do you, I mean...What are you talking about?" My voice high and I coughed to clear it.
"You weren't even here. How do you even know anything?" Diego asked and I could tell by his tone that he was embarrassed as well.
"You practically threw your body on her when I came through the portal and you've barely left each other's sides since I got back." Five said as if it was obvious. That observant little fuck.
"That settles it then. Let's get this bastard." Allison said, defusing the situation and I couldn't be more grateful to her than in that moment.
"I've always been down." I said.
"You had me at Gerald Jenkins." Diego said.
"Harold Jenkins." Five corrected, "And I think I had you at 'offspring'."
"Whatever. I already lost two people this week, I'm not losing anyone else." Diego then tried to make his escape but stopped when Five asked Luther if he was in.
"You guys go. I still think this has something to do with the moon."
"Seriously? You're making the end of the world about you and dad?" Diego asked.
"Watch for threats." Luther said, "That's what he told me. You think that's a coincidence? This all has to be connected somehow."
"We all have to stick together." Allison said.
"We don't have time for this." Five tried to remind us.
"Let's roll. I know where we can find this asshole. Klaus, Malia, you're with me." Diego said.
Klaus sat up from couch and flapped his hand, "Yeah, I'm good. I think I'll uh, I'll pass. I'm feeling a little under the weather." He got up from the sofa and headed towards his room.
I followed Diego out of the living room and upstairs to his room. He was still in his socks and needed to get his boots on. I told him I'd be right back and grabbed a tan peacoat from my room before heading back. Diego was trying to tie up his boots and was having a lot of trouble.
"You know, you were doing plenty of other things with both arms last night without trouble." I said, leaning against his doorway.
"Ha, ha. Now can you help me so we can go?" He asked.
I giggled and kneeled down to tie up his combat boots. When I was done, I got to my feet just as Diego straightened up as well. He went to take off his sling so he could put his jacket on but I stepped forward to help him. I undid the Velcro and took it off carefully.
"So, kids eh?" Diego brought up as I helped him shrug on his jacket.
"I'm not having this conversation." I said as I started to fit the sling back on his arm.
I looped the strap around his back and then velcroed it into place, "I was just going to say you got pretty flustered down there."
"I wasn't the only one." I smirked up at him.
"Do you think if I didn't listen to dad and smartened up sooner, we'd have kids right now?" Diego asked, looping his good arm around my waist.
"Who's to say I'd have even liked you if you did? My feelings only started to change mere days ago." I grinned as I smoothed my hand along his cheek and into the hair on the back of his head.
"You're such a tease you know that?" He asked, giving me a quick kiss before bring his lips to my ear to whisper, "Just so you know, after we save the world, we're making all the babies."
"LET'S GO!" Five yelled from downstairs.
Diego grabbed my hand and pulled my blushing form behind him. I couldn't see his stupid smug face but I knew he was smirking. It was like payback for all those years mocking his stutter. I'd have to get him back somehow but maybe I'd wait until after the world was saved. I'd have more time to think up a good plan then.
Allison, Five, Diego, and I all piled in Mr. Hargreeves car. Diego's was still abandoned in the parking lot at that motel we were at yesterday. Not to slight Diego or anything but Mr. Hargreeves car was much nice and roomier anyway. I tried to sit in the front seat but Five being the little annoying prick that he was shafted me to the back with Allison.
"Just because you're sleeping with the driver, doesn't mean you get special privileges."
I grumbled as I got into the back, sitting diagonal to Diego. We made eye contact through the review mirror and I huffed because he still had that smug smirk. The smirk fell the longer we drove though, and the atmosphere in the car turned serious as we pulled to a stop near the police station.
"I know this Jenkins dude has to have a record." Diego explained why we were at the station, "We just have to get our hands on the file."
"And your plan is to what? Just waltz in there and just ask for it?" Allison asked.
"I know that station like the back of my hands. I've spent a lot of time inside."
"Hand-cuffed." Allison deadpanned.
"Not just handcuffed." I said quietly.
"Whatever, here's the plan." Diego started.
"Plan? I'm just going to blink in and get the file." Five said as if it was easy.
"No, that's not..." Diego shook his head, "You don't know the ins and outs of this place."
"I literally just did this yesterday. Well...my yesterday, not your yesterday. It will take me two seconds."
"Listen to me. YOU are not going in. I made a call. That's what a leader does, he leads." Diego was patronizing Five.
"You both are such dicks. Can you cool it?" I asked, feeling exasperated.
"Fine but wait here." He got out.
"While we're waiting, do you think I can make a phone call?" Allison asked.
We got out and followed her to the payphone at the corner. Five and I leaned up against the wall and waited for her to finish her call. She was calling Vanya, likely wanting to apologize for earlier. It goes against what I stand for as a psychologist but I didn't think Allison should have bothered right now. After we saved the world, there would be plenty of time to make amends. I was still slightly ticked off at Vanya for the stuff she said in her book.
"So you and Diego huh?" Five said from his spot next to me.
"Me and Diego." I affirmed and thought about a few days ago when Five showed up for the first time after seventeen years. The way he looked at Diego and I as if he knew something we didn't. "You seemed to know it was going to happen though. You showed up days ago and it's like you expected us to be getting along."
"I didn't know when it was going to happen, just that it would. I was half hoping it had started already because then you guys could have had more time together. When I saw that it hadn't, I realized it was only a matter of time."
"How did you know though? There is something you aren't telling me."
"The apocalypse." Five explained, "I found everyone's bodies scattered around the wreckage. Everyone was separated except yours. Diego's body was curled around you in a futile attempt to protect you. The way you were together, it was... intimate. Like you shared a deep connection."
"I'm sorry you had to see all that Five. No child should have had to experience what you did and see what you did and suffer through it alone for so long. I wish I was there for you." I said quietly, placing my hand on his shoulder.
He gave me a small smile, "You're here now."
Diego came around the corner then and we looked at him as Allison hung up the phone, "You're welcome!" He said proudly, holding up the file.
Five went for it but Diego held it out of his reach, handing it to Allison instead. She snatched it and I looked over her arm as she flipped through the file. There was a picture of a little boy and when she turned the page, there was a picture of a grown man. Not just any man though, Vanya's little boy toy.
"Holy shit."
"Oh my god."
"What?" Diego asked, looking at us now.
"Harold Jenkins IS Leonard Peabody."
"I knew there was something odd about that guy. I knew I should have nightmared his ass when I had the fucking chance. That guy gave me the creeps from the moment I laid eyes on him and that weird eerie smile of his." I grabbed his file and looked through it more aptly, "He's been in prison for twelve years. He killed his father with a hammer and was tried as an adult. He got out six days ago."
"Let me see that." Five took the file from me and flipped through it himself, "Damn. There's no address."
"I know where he lives. I've been there before." Allison said.
"Let's go then." I said.
We got back into Mr. Hargreeves car and drove for about fifteen minutes before pulling over in front of a quaint little house on a quiet street. It was a red bricked house with ivory paneling. It actually looked well taken care of, considering the guy was in prison for twelve years. It also didn't look like anyone was home.
"Be careful okay? We don't know what Peabody is capable of." Allison said as we all got out and walked toward the house.
"He didn't seem dangerous when I first saw him. Looked kind of scrawny." Diego said.
"Doesn't mean he wasn't creepy." I said, reminding them of my earlier spiel.
"And most serial killers and mass murderers are scrawny. I mean, look at Five." Allison said.
"Thanks." Five said, limping along side us.
"Good point." Diego said.
Allison went around back and I went up the steps with the boys. I asked Five if he was okay and he assured me he was fine but I wasn't so sure. I've been keeping an eye on him and whatever is wrong with him, seems to be getting worse.
"So what does he want with Vanya?" Diego asked.
"I don't know. How about we ask him, after we kill him?" Five suggested.
"Hey, wait. I'm going to burst through the-" He turned around and stopped when he saw Allison wasn't with us anymore, "You know, it would be nice if-" Five blinked away and Diego turned to me, "You going to take off too?"
"Nope. I was thinking of try the front door." I said and went to see if it was unlocked.
Before I could touch the knob, Diego launched himself past me and through the glass window of the door. I peered in when I saw him land face down on the floor. Why did he like to do things the hard way? I turned the knob to see if it was unlocked and pushed the door open when I received no resistance.
"Subtle." Allison said as she walked by.
"You could have walked in like Malia." Five suggested, "The door was unlocked."
"Yeah, well my way works just fine." Diego groaned as I helped him to his feet.
"The sling is to keep you from injuring your arm even more, you know. Doing shit like that doesn't help." I scolded as I helped brush the glass of his clothes and hair.
"Whatever... just spread out. Yell if, you know, you're in trouble." Diego said and walked into the dining room.
I watched him walk away before turning to Five and Allison. I didn't know how to defend him when he did shit like that. So when they made fun of him, I had nothing to say.
"Inspiring leadership." Five said.
"One of the Greats." Allison threw in.
"Are you sure you made the best decision Malia?" Five asked.
"Uuuhhhhh..." I looked back in the direction Diego went, "Wondering that myself?"
We split up and looked around the house. Diego and Five had the main floor, Allison went upstairs, so I went to the basement. The basement was unremarkable. It was like any other basement. It was cold, dreary, and dingey. I was just about to go back upstairs when I saw something peeking out from under the stairs beside the water heater.
I looked and saw a bunch plastic. I moved some of the plastic aside and nearly vomited. There was a dead Asian girl within. I've seen my fair share of dead bodies – I even killed a couple myself to protect the city – that's not what bothered me. What bothered me was the fact I recognized this girl. Before I read her book, I've been to a few of Vanya's concerts to show my support. This woman was the first chair violinist in Vanya's symphony.
Harold killed her, for what? So Vanya could be first chair? What was his end game?
"MALIA!" I head Diego yell, making me jump.
I ran up the stairs two at a time because something was wrong; I could hear the worry in his voice. When I got to the main floor, I saw him and Allison carrying a passed-out Five out the door. I knew something was wrong. I pushed ahead and opened the back door of the car so they could lay him down. I told Allison to get in the front so I could sit with him.
I pulled up his shirt to get a better look at his wound as Diego booked it back to the Academy. It was a wound caused by an old school shotgun or maybe even an explosive and it looked like shrapnel was still inside him. From what I learned from Grace, it looks like it's hemorrhaging. I held my hands over the wound, trying to slow the bleeding and my hands were getting covered in his blood.
"Is there anything you can do?" Allison asked.
"No, not here. If I remove the shrapnel, he could bleed out. I can't tell if any organs or major arteries were hit. I'm so not cut out for this."
"Aren't you a doctor?" Diego asked.
"Of the mind." I said, as if he was stupid.
"So you can't fix him? What about all that training with mom?" Allison asked.
"I... I don't know. Just get back to the Academy so I can take a better look." I said, wishing more than ever that Grace was alive. She would know exactly what to do.
We pulled up to the house and I kept pressure on the wound until Diego opened the backdoor. I got out and Allison took Five's arms, as Diego took him by his legs. I ran up the stairs to open the door and they brought him in. I told them to lay him on the sofa in the living room.
"Shouldn't we have brought him to the hospital?" Allison asked.
"A kid with a shrapnel wound would raise some questions." Five muttered.
"Yeah, well so does the murder shrine in Harold Jenkins attic." Allison said.
"The what?" I asked.
"Forget it, he's still losing a lot of blood. What do we do?" Allison asked, taking off her jacket.
"We have to get the shrapnel out." Diego said.
"I'm on it but I need supplies." I said, throwing my blooded tan peacoat on the other sofa, "Diego, go to the medical room and... Diego?" I turned and saw him walk away, "Where is he going? I'm going to need help. I can't do this alone!" I felt the hysterics building within me.
"Diego? Where are you going?" Allison called as I lifted up Five's shirt again.
"I don't have any tweezers with me. So I'm going to use my fingers and it's going to hurt... a lot." I told Five who was barely conscious.
"I trust you Malia... you can do this." Five muttered quietly.
I nodded, "That makes one of us... Okay, here I go. Allison, pull the skin on the sides to stretch the wound open as much as you can." Allison did as asked and I was just about to stick my bloody fingers into the gushing wound but was told to stop.
I looked up and saw Diego re-enter the room with, "Grace?"
"Oh sweetheart, you did so good but let me take it from here." She said, taking my place by Five's side, "You know what I need, go and get it and meet me in his room."
I nodded and took off to the medical room, gathering all the supplies Grace would need to help Five. I found an empty bin and threw the necessary items in there and then ran up to Five's room. Grace got to work right away. She removed three pieces of shrapnel, cleaned the hole, then stitched it up. I sat with Grace the whole time, doing as she said when she needed my assistance. When she was done, she put gauze on the suture, to capture the seeping blood.
Diego was leaning against the doorway the whole time watching us work with a thoughtful and haunted look in his eye. I knew what that was for. He didn't expect to see Grace walking around again. I saw Allison come up and stand behind Diego and I looked down at Five again, clenching my bloody, shaking hands.
Mr. Hargreeves had me train with Grace extensively so I could attend to injuries in the field but I wasn't a surgeon. I didn't like the feel of blood on my hands, it was sticky and disconcerting. I was a healer of the mind, not the body, and if Grace hadn't been here Five could very well be dead right now.
"Can I go?" I asked Grace.
"Yes. Five will be just fine now." Grace smiled at me.
I nodded and stood up, holding my shaking hands behind my back as I walked over to Allison and Diego, "I'm going to go wash up."
They gave me space and I left the room. I grabbed my bathrobe before heading to the bathroom. I turned on the shower to hot and then stripped out of my bloody clothes quickly before standing in front of the mirror. I had Five's blood streaked across my face as well. I looked awful.
A knock on the bathroom door, broke me out of my reverie, "Malia, are you alright?"
I stood behind the door as I opened it, letting Diego in. He's seen me naked now, so there is no more need for modesty. He stepped into the bathroom that was slowly filling up with steam and he turned to me as I shut the door.
"You okay?" He asked, looking at me from head to toe and back again. It wasn't lustful like last night, it was calculating.
"Yeah. I'm fine. Just really need to get the blood off." I said, hugging myself.
"Look, Allison and I were going to head to another property Jenkins might be staying at. If you want to come, we'll wait for you but you have to hurry." He said.
"It's okay. You two go on without me. I don't know how long I'll be." I said, gesturing to the amount of blood crusted to my body.
Diego raised his good hand to the junction between my shoulder and neck and pulled me forward to kiss my forehead, "You're sure you're okay?"
"I should be asking you that." I said.
"What do you mean?"
"Grace... I know it was you. She was alive when you went to check on her after the attack." I said.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Diego asked.
"I figured you had your reasons. And If you wanted anyone to know, you would have told us." I said.
"You're too good for me." Diego said, "I always thought so."
"Maybe you're right or maybe you're an idiot." I said, making him chuckle.
"Come here." He said and brought me into a hug. He held me close for a moment and kissed my temple as he let go. "We'll be back soon alright?"
"Be safe." I said to Diego before he could leave the bathroom.