Frequency

by Vanessa S. Quest

Long-haul fanfic involving my OCs in the verse. All is not well in Denmark, the familial strife comes to a head- and GAIA has made a major move, only they grabbed the wrong kid? What's going on! Please R & R!

3. Chapter 3

Frequency Chapter 3 by Vanessa S. Quest

With a hiker's back pack, Jonny waited at the entrance to the gate, JFK was a huge airport, he'd hoofed it after saying his farewells to Race to make his connecting flight and was happy his leg was mostly cooperating, only cramping a little after he'd stopped.

As boarding was called, as an unaccompanied minor he was allowed to board early, a friendly—arguably flirty—flight attendant checked on him as he squared away in the business-class seats which he'd lucked into on the grounds that he'd need the extended leg space if his leg locked up, though that might have just been an excuse his dad gave him, he wasn't sure his dad was even comfortable affiliating his surname to coach tickets lest the credit card's fraud department would be calling.

Even in business class on the small craft, he had to pass his bag to the flight attendant to stow; he kept hold of the album refusing to let that out of his grasp.

By 2PM, he had landed at the base and deplaned. He snagged his bag and locked eyes on Darren from the fence-line as Darren waved to him in an exaggerated motion.

"There ya are!" He ground out his cigarette as Jonny made the 50M walk, his stiff leg more apparent after the hour-long flight.

"Hi Darren—where's Venus?"

"Still at school, I'm headed there next to pick up the kids." His chin jutted toward his Z3, Jonny looked beyond him at the small car sure it would be a tight fit. "Don't worry, as long as Venus gets a window seat, the boys'll be happy to sit in the back. Hell, they'll fight over who gets the middle seat."

Jonny looked him in confusion, "You mean who's stuck there?"

Darren rolled his eyes, "To sit next to your sister… oh god, don't make me spell that out—both the boys have a long-standing crush on her."

"Really? I thought she said they were friends?"

"Oh, they are, but friends can have crushes sometimes." Darren eyed the boy, politely ignoring the limp, "You said you were homeschooled?"

Jonny nodded, "Hadji and I were until last school year—Jessie wasn't, but when she came to live with us about 2 years ago, she went to public school straight away."

"So you only were in high school? Do you have a girlfriend?"

"No way! That'd be awful, I mean—not dating, but trying to explain to my dad why he can't ping me every hour…"

"Or with all the travel?"

Jonny nodded glumly, "There was a girl I liked in the Czech Republic, but well, that fizzled since we couldn't visit each other very much at all."

Darren nodded in appreciation, truthfully, he'd thought the kid had a thing for Jessie maybe, for the same reasons—availability. "What about the redhead?"

Jonny gagged at the thought, "Ew, no way, one—she's crazy, two—she's Race's daughter, and three—"

"Up to three? That's a lot of protest—"

"She and Hadji have a thing, it works for them, and four, the most important one—ewww!"

Darren laughed at that, "Okay, gotcha, nah I just had to ask—some guys dig the whole 'my best friend' thing, to me, I'd use razor-wire to off myself before dating my bestie, ugh… I choose life." He shivered at the thought, "ugh… De 's… yeah, no, I feel ya."

"De?" He wasn't sure who that was.

"Yeah, I've known her since I was a kid, too. She's not like a sister to me per se, but it's totally platonic and anything else is too horrifying to even think about. I trust her implicitly, mind you, but I know her and all about how evil she can be." He cracked a conveying smirk as Jonny nodded his own agreement.

"Yeah… yeah that's about right." He nodded, creeped out and uncomfortable in the topic, "We kissed once—it was gross, so, so gross, and Hadji wouldn't make eye-contact with me for a week." He laughed, "I figured out he was actually really into her, then. And before you ask, we didn't want to. We were cajoled into it. I even went so far as to stop using peppermint mouthwash after the fact because she was wearing peppermint lip-balm."

Darren shot out a rich laugh, "Did Snow hear about that? In his defense, given his dedication to the job, I don't think he'd have actually killed you…"

Jonny rolled his eyes, "No, but it felt like kissing a cousin and I don't mean a distant cousin."

"That's a pretty spot-on analogy, not quite sibling but close the fuck enough." He pointed out the window, "The school's estate starts just up ahead."

The large, open swathes of greenery and of woods opened to an expansive rugby field, soccer field, and practice fields, then a large stone gatehouse structure that the road curved through.

The school itself had five large buildings and an impressive cast-iron gate Darren stopped at. He used a faculty ID badge and punch code to get the gate to swing open.

"Those two buildings are where classes are, that one—" he pointed to a smaller but still sizeable gatekeeper house, "is the library and health clinic. That one's the dorm, and the other one is the admin building. Some faculty stay on campus 24/7, as do security."

Jonny nodded, it looked like a college campus!

"Behind the school there's the archery and artillery ranges and a small dojo, well, that doubles as the gym too."

He was star-struck by it all; he'd never seen a facility like this, not for a school at least!

"We'll break ground on a co-ed dorm in the coming years, but not just yet. I'm a dean here; it's mostly an honorary title since I do a bulk of the fund-raising for the place."

Jonny looked at him not particularly believing it was all that honorary but didn't say anything to the contrary.

Darren pulled up front to the school and put the car in park. "Want to drop your pack in the trunk? I'll walk you around while we wait for their afterschool activities to finish up."

All smiles, Jonny unbuckled his seatbelt, "Yeah!"

"High-level, the east wing houses STEM classes, to the west is Arts & Letters, southward is History and those economics classes- like home ec, budgeting, life-skill stuff, the north-face has a few more of those like shop class, tech, and an auto-class, etcetera."

"And poli-sci, is that in the west wing or the southern side?"

"Depends on the class, anthropology and sociology are in the STEM wing, soft as they are, they do have labs, but history and theory—well, you can figure that out. Wanna explore?"

"Yeah! Uh, if that's okay…?"

"Sure, most club activities meet in the other building, that's where people take advanced labs, it also has a pool."

"Advanced labs?"

"Yeah, we have some touring exhibits from the Smithsonian, including off the body farm… some expensive chemistry gear too… but most students aren't in the advanced advanced programs. Oh, the auditorium's also on the North face of the main building, too…"

"Advanced-advanced?" Jonny said covertly.

"It's a prep school, Jonny, two buckets there—kids who have a niche, amazing talent to develop, and rich kids who've been kicked out of too many other places. We have a great therapy program but some of 'em just have terminal affluenza."

"Huh…?"

"My kids, and I don't just mean Venus… well, we mostly fill up that advanced one," he hinted.

"Alpha One?" Jonny whispered.

"No and yes. No in that it's just for advanced kids, and yes in that it's a great way to track our kids' progress."

"But you can be advanced and not be Alpha?"

"Exactly, it's layered in. Anyhow, let's walk around—where to first?"

-Chapter 3 JQ-

Inside the dojo, Jonny eyed the fencing and kendo gear being put up from the two groups.

The school had been amazing, but mostly empty where he'd been steered. He saw Venus sketching outside, waiting for the others to finish up their chores.

"There you are, sweetie," Darren offered, "Working on a new sculpting project?" He eyed her sketchpad.

Venus smiled sardonically, "Well, I can't do anything else yet, but I want these clowns to remember I still exist…" She mentioned, gesturing to the slim pickings in the kendo club. "So I figured I'd at least think through some cool art projects while I sit here."

"Aw, sweetie," he offered her a hand up, she took it. "Your brother's walking through the ranges right now."

"Yeah? Does he like it here?" She smiled.

"He's impressed by it, but it's also very big compared to his scope…"

She nodded, "Alex is still finishing up at the computer club, Ian—you done yet?"

Ian poked his head out from the storage closet. "Don't rush me—I have double-duty!"

She rolled her eyes, "Not my problem."

He laughed toward her, "most of the guys figured they could take a pass with you, Toko and Yoshiro being out…" he rolled his eyes, "Yoshi'll beat the shit outta them once he gets back and sees the attendance roster's dips, and Toko'll finish the job when she sees their performances dipped too."

Darren smiled mildly at the two kids, slightly annoyed to witness his kid intentionally sitting through sword fighting after just barely getting medically cleared to come back to school—recovering from being stabbed, twice. Forgotten by the club his ass, she was desensitizing herself on purpose and alone, that is unless Ian was giving her some added pointers. The little shit better not be, though. She'd need to work up her core before taking on that. "Sweetie, I'll just leave you three here and round up Alex."

"Okay," she waved Jonny over. "Hey, Jonny!"

"Hey!" He held out his arms. She soft-launched into him in the form of an emotive hug while he carefully wrapped his arms to hug her back, he only squeezed with any real pressure at her shoulders.

"Ian, this is my brother Jonny!" She beamed, pulling free, not really much of a hugger in principle. The older teen was closer to Hadji's age, Jonny thought looking at the medium-built, stringy guy.

Ian looked jealous at the rare contact but offered a smooth toothy smile, his ice-blue eyes glinted gray from beneath his lightly-tinted shades then returned to their full luster. His practice uniform looked like a padded gi that had already wicked dry; his swordsman mask pushed over top a mop of long, jet-black braided hair with streaks of neon punk-blue bangs poking out. "I'm Ian Wong, long-time friend of this one here, but you can call me Jay for Jason Vorheez this Halloween."

Venus rolled her eyes, "Don't be a goober! Just call him Ian or his nicknames will get perpetually worse. Trust me." She glare-pouted at her friend.

"You wound me." Ian feigned as he held his arm at the imagined blow he'd received.

"Keep it up and I might, Bruce Lee." She said in obvious annoyance, crossed her arms.

Ian smiled a laugh, very guilty of that one, yet not an ounce of remorse for it. "Technically, I was just Lee. Mark was Bruce, and together…"

She glared harder.

"Oh wow, that's pretty bad." Jonny conceded with a chuckle.

"I know, right!" She nodded with her commiserater.

"Did you need help putting anything else up?" Jonny asked innocently.

"No, he's just booby-trapping it for the other group, it's a long-standing feud between Ian and Yoshi, and Carmelo and Franc. They mess with those two dipshits by posing the targets… suggestively."

"Suggestively?"

"…They're homophobic assholes so we gay it up every chance we get to piss those jack-asses off." Ian said in humor, "We could just mop the floor with them, but making them have to un-gay it down as it were, well, it lasts longer."

Venus elbowed him, "Dad's coming, you finished?"

He nodded, "That glitter bomb is going to be liiiiit. Okay, let me kill the lights."

The three exited the dojo.

Jonny looked at the mousy brunette with doe-eyes who was closer to his own age than Ian was. He had a healthy summer tan despite it being late autumn that was layered under a long-sleeve burnt orange shirt that was below a button-up collared short-sleeve white-on-black plaid shirt. His cargo-styled khaki pants looked messy; he had an inch on Venus making him Jonny's height, but was three shy on Ian, even with how he spiked his hair like a video-game character.

"So is this Freddy, then?" He asked Ian.

The Chinese teen gave a nod. "Also known as Alexis or Alex for short. Emphasis on you're short."

Alex laughed and flipped Ian off, "You must be Jonny not-Clark!" Alex smiled, shooting out an eager hand for the shaking.

Jonny was impressed by how friendly he seemed, his smile swallowed up most of his face.

He looked at his sister and asked with a laugh, "You told them about that?" He shook Alex's hand firmly but not painfully.

"Oh yeah," She smirked, "It was hilarious."

"Did you tell them your real name?" Jonny smiled back, "Jonathon Go-Fuck-Yourself Clark, how it's a family name…?"

She shrugged as Alex shot her an exacerbated look. "My antics aren't news to them."

"Sadly, they aren't. Was that before or after he knifed you…?" Alex said with a now-strained friendly voice.

"Oh, before, but you know how much I love to banter… Gotta be consistent and all…"

"Seriously? Venus…" he sighed, "And then you don't even show us the vid-files so we can recount your glorious sassing." He tsked.

She shrugged, "Meh… I don't need the fan-fare. So, FYI, Jonny gets shotgun today so he can scout the area, and I'll sit behind dad. You two can fight over the leg-space."

"I call bitch." Alex said faster.

Ian glared, "Oh, you are a bitch alright…" he grumbled.

Darren put a hand to his forehead and shook his head in irritation. "Hey, what did I say about earmuffs?" He pointed at the two boys flanking Jonny and Venus.

Ian eyed Jonny, "…Oh right, he's sheltered."

As they headed to the car they loaded in.

"I'm making dinner tonight, pork roast and squash, you two coming over or do you house-invaders want to head back to your guardians until tomorrow night?"

"Dinner at your house," Alex beamed, "Dad's working OT this weekend and didn't leave pizza money out."

"You?" He asked to Ian who looked bummed.

"Mark has lessons scheduled, so I can't stay for dinner tonight, but tomorrow I'll head over at 4… is he staying overnight?" He gestured to Alex.

"On Halloween? Yeah, you can both couch-surf, but the attic guest room has dibs, so either you two are bunking or one of you're literally couch-surfing."

"Be my big spoon?" Ian asked Alex in a teasing, cloyingly debonair voice as he knealed.

"No way, I'm a little spoon." Alex reminded.

Venus laughed, "Careful Alex, Ian's a total forker."

"Young lady," Darren said trying desperately not to laugh, "if you want dad jokes…" Her face blanched. "Why can't you ever confide in a clock? –Because time will tell…" he opened.

She bowed her head, "Don't you dare embarrass me here!"

"Why? Will you make like the Spanish Magician and disappear without a tres?" He snapped his hands and flourished them in jazz-hand gesticulations.

Venus turned on her heels and walked briskly to the car.

Darren let his voice boon as he called toward her, "What do you call a watch dog? –ROLEX." He smiled and pointed to his own watch giving a double-thumbs up gesture as he grinned at her.

She spun on a pivot. "One more. You say one more and you see what happens."

Jonny clamped a hand over his mouth trying not to laugh at the puns.

In mock crestfallen voice, Darren called out more somberly, "Oh… you'd have gone with Timex, huh?"

Venus growled; both Ian and Alex were smart enough to evade the fall-out as they refused to lock eyes with her in her fury.

"I'm not sharing my 100-Grands now!" She hissed, "Stop it."

"Aww, don't be stingy." He strode to her and poked her side repeatedly to pester her a bit more as he got to the car himself.

"DAD! Stop it!" She frowned, furious at him. "Jonny, he's usually nice! Please ignore his innumerable faults."

"I thought that last one was funny—sorry, I like puns." Jonny countered, "And at least your dad jokes around, mine's serious like all the time."

"Time-X." Darren corrected with a too-serious nod.

Venus turned her neck slowly, mimicking a haunted doll to glare at her dad.

"Okay, okay, Princess, I'll reel it back." He laughed but gave a warm smile impossible not to forgive.

-Chapter 3 JQ-

As dinner ended, Alex slipped Venus two bags. "No looking until tomorrow or the Old Witch'll get you…" He warned with a large smile, he pulled two other bags—his and Ian's. "It has all the stuff you'll need in them, makeup too!"

"Old Witch?" Jonny asked in a lilted tone, unsure of the reference.

Venus shrugged, "He probably means De, I wouldn't put it past her to ground up the bones of ill-behaved children…" she drawled out and laughed maniacally then cut it off near-instantly once her point was made. Alex waggled his eyebrows at her, "So now what, want to share scary stories?"

Jonny smiled, "Actually, I brought an album over, I have to take it back but I can show you what mom looked like…"

Alex stretched, "Oh wow, it's that late already? I better knock out my homework—" he excused himself politely.

Venus looked at him oddly though Jonny gave him an appreciative smile for the privacy.

With just the two of them in her room, she closed the door and sat on her bed Indian-style, Jonny sat next to her in a stretched position, his leg would be anything but happy if he'd sat the same way. Album planted between them, he rifled through a few images, "This is the house in Maine." He started from more current entries and worked backwards.

"Who're they?" She pointed at a photo of a group of boys flanking Jonny.

"Oh, that was from last year—that's Matt and Bobby Evans, and TK Watson. They're my friends from school, TK's the one with dark brown hair, and Matt's in the middle. He and Bobby are identical twins, you can tell them apart because Matt's got a lazy eye."

Venus nodded along listening to him talk about which classes they shared.

"We're the class clowns, but we're also all high-honor roll, so it's mostly because we're bored stiff. We're in a few classes together this year though, so that's fortunate."

"How is school going, anyway?"

"Frankly, a lot better, dad's trying right now… which… I dunno if it'll last, but while it is, it's pretty nice."

She nodded to herself at that, "Is that your dog?"

"Yep, that's Bandit, and our house—the estate includes that lighthouse too."

"Niiiiice."

He flipped further into the book, "This is where we lived in the Florida Keys. It had a Base on the same island."

"Oh wow—Army?"

"Intelligence One, we moved there after a failed kidnapping attempt." He blushed, "—dad and mom had another house in Florida before that, too… I think there's some pictures where you can see it too."

"What about pictures of her?" She asked after a long moment, the album had handfuls of candid shots, usually one or two family members at a time, but some group shots speckled the earlier entries, not too many were full pictures, someone always just off-frame to be self-reliant in that way. She noticed there weren't any professional photos though.

He smiled as he pointed to one of their mom as she laughed at the camera, "Dad took that one…" he said breezily, "On the beach and this one…" he flipped to the previous page, "from the same day, we went on a picnic to get used to the new place."

He showed her one with him on his mom's lap as his dad rushed back into the picture frame as the timer clicked down.

"He looks really happy in that one…" She noted blankly, Jonny tensed at that.

"…Yeah, he used to be really happy like that all the time when mom was alive… He took life way less seriously then, too, I think." He shook his head, "I don't mean that he's not happy now… it's just… different, in a lot of ways really. I know it's hard on him too."

"…Yeah…" Venus responded as she thought about the loss of her mom, and how hard that was on both she and her dad. Seeming to pick up on that, Jonny closed the album and looked at her. Her eyes watered at their edges. "I feel bad that dad's not welcome on our trick or treating…"

"But you said that was self-imposed."

She shook her head, "It's because the others asked when I'd be allowed to… It's not about being allowed, I just like spending time with him on Halloween… it's dad's favorite. He makes it a point to be fun."

"What'll he be doing then?"

"Scaring the crap outta teenagers, and when he decides to head in, watch scary movies with his partner."

"You mean De? I haven't met her." He asked with a smile.

She shrugged, "Yeah, she hates kids, I'm the closest to one she likes and that's capped at strongly tolerates. I wouldn't hold your breath. She knows Race, though, they might even be working through those Gaia leads at the HQ right now… not that he'd recognize her from back when she knew him… she reinvents herself regularly and they knew each other back when he was called Snow and Whitey, I don't think he recognized her when she met him for the hand-off when I was real little."

"…And Race knew Phil, too?"

"Mhmm! Uncle Phil is two years older then Race, and about 8 years older than my dad. De's a little older than my dad, too, she's pretty good at deep ops… but mostly, she's super independent and anyone getting in the way of that bugs her to no end."

He wasn't sure about the switch in topics.

"That's why I was in her care for a while actually, Uncle Phil thought he could soften her or give her baby fever or something stupid like that… increase her interdependence. It did not work out that way. She made dad babysit so she could work and was pissed to learn two year olds couldn't cook for themselves." She giggled.

"Oh wow, that's so bad." He laughed awkwardly.

She shrugged, "She doesn't have that maternal gene, she thinks kids should be fully functional adults. One time, when dad had to have surgery, he busted up his knee when some Ivans tried to ice me, she had me watch The Thing and when dad found out he was super pissed, I was 4 when she did that… luckily I watched from the way beginning when they give away the plot in Norwegian, so I understood the escaping scientist ranting about the alien dogs… I called it the doggy movie…" She hooted. "And dad got her back by making her watch Killer Klowns from Outer Space on Halloween when he found out since she hates clowns… since then, they catch a movie together to wrap down the season."

"Why'd she show you a horror movie at 4?"

Almost reverently, Venus put a hand over her heart, "…It was so I wouldn't feel lonely, or so she says." Venus cracked a dark smile, "She's not… really normal. There's a reason we call her an old witch."

The way Jonny's eyebrows shot upward agreed with her. "That's dark."

Venus shrugged, "Dad and she prank each other lots, it's just their humor but she doesn't really get kids… besides, I'm not mad it happened, plus it's a tradition they have too, so all's well that ends well…"

He nodded at her as she trailed off.

"What are some of your family traditions?"

-Chapter 3 JQ-

By 9:30 PM, Venus had conked out sitting upright. Jonny extracted himself to carry the album back to his guest room. He saw Darren wave him over and momentarily diverted to approach.

"Hey, she fell asleep." He smiled at the brunette.

"She hasn't been sleeping well, so no surprise there. Let me check on her and then I'd like to chat with you about tomorrow, cool?"

"Cool, where?"

"Meet the boys and me in the living room."

He nodded and resumed his stiff trek back up the stairs to the walk-up attic guest suite.

-Chapter 3 JQ-

Alex and Ian sat on the couch in the living room; Jonny did a double-take at the sight of Ian there so late.

"Oh, Alex called him over after dinner when you two were upstairs…" Darren hand-waved, Jonny nodded and sat next to them on the couch. "Okay, high-level safety rules—this is a crash-course for you Jonny. Keep your phones with you, I won't bug you but check in on the top of the hour or when you move to another route. If there's an emergency and you need to get somewhere safe—text me that you're headed to Penn, that's how we know if someone's going for safety. Back-up is around, and the guys here are pretty reliable despite their looks." He smirked at Alex and Ian, "Also, I hear you kids went for some pretty generic costumes, use that to your advantage. Plain-sight stealth is low-tech but it'll also afford you the flexibility to walk around without having to look over your shoulders. I don't want to scare you, but we don't have eyes on Claire and Jenna yet, Race is working on it with Phil, but I'm not going to be a tag-along. Make good judgments. As for security routes, stick to the areas we know, there are designated routes and muster-points… you're not from here, so you stick to these two like glue. Capeesh?"

Jonny nodded solemnly, his head tilted, "Why Penn?"

Darren cracked a toothy smile, "Not like I expect you to need it, but being over-prepared is far better than under-prepared—and as any New Yorker would tell you, you only go to Penn when you're trying to get out."

The dawning look in blue eyes made Darren laugh a little to himself. "I want you kids to stay close by, check in on the reg and keep ammo."

"Ammo?!" Jonny jumped.

"Yeah, standard fare, eggs, TP, flour—ammo. If anyone starts in on you, use it. You won't get in trouble."

"…Oh, you meant like that." Jonny laughed nervously.

"Now you two, keep a close eye on her." He wagged his finger over Ian and Alex.

"Yes sir." They said in response to the direct order. Jonny blinked, Darren'd said he hated being called sir. "…I suppose she's going to be sensitive around props. Ian…"

The oldest of the boys looked at Darren in the eyes.

"Were you training her today?"

"No sir. She's been watching to desensitize though."

He clucked his tongue, "So she is having flashbacks… damn." He sighed in frustration, "Alex has she told you about it?"

"No but I surmised. She's been really tired lately. More than what I'd expect from being hurt."

"And you?" He asked Ian again.

Ian shook his head, "Not about what, I thought it was about the grab-and-stab, but no guarantees there."

Darren looked at Jonny, "She didn't by chance open up to you and talk about her nightmares, huh?"

"…I'm sorry? I don't understand what you're asking me?" Jonny's voice rose.

"She has PTSD, you know that, and right now something's been triggering her. It could be related to the asshole who grabbed her, but it could be some old wounds, it could be a lot of things honestly… did she hint at anything to you?"

"I don't think so, not anything specific at least… well, blood I guess."

"Blood?" He asked without tipping his hand.

"Yeah, I asked her if she was scared of anything and she'd told me how De's afraid of—"

"Don't finish that sentence." Darren cut in and eyed the two mischief-makers on his couch, "So she said she's scared of blood, not heights?"

"She said both make her uncomfortable."

Darren's eyes shifted to Ian.

"…Yeah? Well, given what happened, I suppose that makes sense…" he said in a way that didn't seem satisfied with the answer.

"We're not carrying props, are we?" Jonny looked at Alex as he realized what Michael Myers was known for carrying.

"No way, that interferes with candy-hauling." Ian said tactfully. He had no desire to get on the wrong side of her tweaking out.

"Alright, Ian are you sleeping over, or what?" Darren decided that at 11PM he wanted lights out and if that meant Ian getting to couch surf or go home, he'd need to facilitate it.

"Eh, I brought my bike. I'll head back, see you tomorrow." He bowed out with a wave, standing.

Darren nodded, "Call Mark first, tell him you're en route."

He saluted, the cheeky little shit.

Alex took the stairs as he headed up to his normal abode. Darren caught Jonny's arm as the blond stood, "Kitchen."

The blond nodded curtly, expecting it.

In the more private space, Jonny opened, "I think she told me a whole truth…"

Darren's eyebrow shot up, "Yeah? And what's that?"

"…About how she got that scar on her arm…" He skirted, "And what a chair can do."

Darren nodded slowly, "And what else did she say about it?"

The youth swallowed thickly, "Mr. Kiers, please don't make me spell it out. I know why these appliances are black and I know about Stern and Peroga—and what he sent to your phone."

Darren's eyes looked wet yet his mouth felt dry, "Yeah, yeah that's a helluva whole truth. Why'd she tell you—if you don't mind my asking? Honestly, she talked a little about it with Becs, and De knew from the ground floor much like myself… but no one else had full read-in besides her and two dead guys."

Jonny paled as he looked down, "We compared sob stories."

Darren didn't understand the reference, "Yeah, she has a lot to pick from, that's not one of her go-tos…"

"We compared sob stories." He restated. The emphasis hit Darren like a mallet.

"Oh." He eyed the boy, "Does cocoa calm you down too?" He gestured him to sit.

Jonny took it, "Yeah."

"Not to pry…"

"—It happened days before I turned 13. Before we moved to Portland for keeps, when I was 11 dad had wanted to but after I'd broken my leg there were… practicalities to consider, then when I was 12 Jess had moved in over the summer to test the waters, and well, we moved back to Portland after I turned 13, and we stayed."

He set the heated milk tincture before the blond.

"—And well, I didn't mind it half as much that second time. The goons who grabbed dad and me… let's just say it warranted dad taking the stairs with a cane." His body seemed to go taut.

Darren cleared his throat, "When'd he get a cane?"

"…When I shot him trying to shoot my rapist—that goon hit my arm between shots—there were three of them, and my dad and I were in a small room… and I wasn't in particularly good shape at the time."

"I… I've gotta say, that's one helluva sob story."

Jonny gave a dry laugh, he'd half-expected another platitude and apology. "You two don't do those garbage 'sorries' do you?"

"No, we don't." Jonny sipped while Darren spoke, "What good are empty platitudes? We have enough survivor's guilt between the two of us to not pile more on to each other."

Jonny smiled at that, often the subject of that off-load.

"Ian knows how to handle her if she tweaks out. I cannot recommend highly enough that you do not attempt it, though. You remember going to that treatment center in Illinois? The one Phil runs? I called Ian in because I needed someone I could trust to find her triggers and I was the only person who could pull her out of the frenzy so I couldn't well enough be the guy to pull her triggers. Now, he didn't figure out everything she was subjected to, but he did suss out the tortured for months part. He knows what'll set her off, and just how hard it is to walk her back from there so listen to him. If he tells you to back the fuck up, he's not joking. Alex can't take her in a fight but he can usually read her well enough to distract her—derail it while reinforcements get called in. They're damn good kids, little shits through and through, but good kids. If you get a feeling, don't keep it to yourself. You tell them or you tell me, you've got great instincts and I trust you, too. Capeesh?"

He nodded.

"Okay, I promised your dad lights out by 11, while personally I'm fine with you choosing otherwise, it's 11. You want to rack up?"

"Yeah, I'd like to get to bed on time."

"A'ight, g'night." Darren winked, bussing the teen's now empty mug.

Jonny smiled back, "Good night, Darren."

-Chapter 3 JQ-

Blinking at the costume in confusion, Venus eyed it then her brother then it again. "…I… don't get it?"

She looked at the flannel shirt, the white ribbed tank-top, Daisy-Dukes cut-off jean shorts, a bandana, socks and sneakers. There was no wig, no mask, just normal clothes… summer clothes at that!

"—I think it's the special FX that make it." Jonny recommended; he found it odd that she didn't get it.

"Oh, like face paint?" She tilted her head.

"…Uh, no. Let me, okay?"

She shrugged, "Knock yourself out."

"Okay, put this on and tie your hair into a high ponytail, then I'll do the makeup."

"Thanks." She pulled off her shirt, turning around before it was overhead.

Jonny blushed involuntarily, "SIS! –I can step out you know—"

"Why bother? I'll be done in a sec anyway—see, all done!"

They both turned to face each other, she poked his cheek, "Aw, you're blushing!"

"Well, yeah—you're my sister."

She rolled her eyes, "Exactly." She tied her hair up into a high ponytail and sat in a chair facing him, "Don't tell me you freak out on Hadji if he changes in front of you?"

"No, of course not, but we're both guys…"

"Oh whatever," she countered, Jonny pulled out the provided makeup and bandana. Given how she'd worn the flannel, and how cold it was supposed to get he decided to use it as a wrap on her leg. He gussied up her knuckles to look bruised, dirtied her cuticles and gave her cheek a decent red-purple bruise and dribble of stage-blood at her nose, then made a leg gash with oozing blood that the bandana covered in a hasty tourniquet.

"Alright, let me wash up and then I'll get into my jumpsuit and mask."

"Okay, I'll meet you downstairs, bashful."

He rolled his eyes, "It's not like I care about my privacy—but you're a girl."

"So what? Oh! You're not used to seeing girls…" Jonny gave her a short look. "…In various states of undress or elsewise." She teased harder.

He tossed a pillow at her, "Don't make it sound even creepier. I'm 14 and my dad's a professional nerd. Of course I don't see lots of naked girls."

"I wasn't naked." Venus gibed, "For one, girls wear these magical devices called bras—"

"Okay, I'm out." Jonny left grossed out and laughing at the same time. Girls sure were weird! He wasn't sure if he felt mortified or educated, truthfully the homeschooling definitely glossed over the opposite sex, with the empty words of 'we'll get back to that when you're older,' or some such.

He exited the bathroom in time to see Darren gawk at his daughter.

"Venus…?" He asked her, baffled by the lack of costume.

"I'm a final girl, Jonny did the makeup, does it look good?" She gestured her hands and leg.

"You saw it?" Darren still measured.

"Not the face-paint, but the rest looks good so…"

"—Okay, I want all of you back here by 10. If you go back out after that, that's fine, but you young lady will need to put on fleece leggings for round two."

"Dad! I know when and if I'm cold."

"Baby, I'm dead serious, it'll get freezing tonight, these little shits have on thermals."

"Since when are you a worry-wart?" She crossed her arms.

He gave her a quick hug, "I'm not, since when did you want hypothermia?"

"Dad you're embarrassing me…" she whined.

"If so, please keep going. She got me upstairs." Jonny needled.

"Okay, you two load up the pillowcases—routes, marked supply drops, eggs, TP, flour, flashlights, phones—you two— a word please." He said to Ian and Alex, the boys sweating bullets under their masks.

"No flour, dad!"

"Don't be a Beverly Buzzkill, princess." He shooed her out to the kitchen and eyed his target prey. Once she was out of his periphery he cut in in fierce whispers, "Explain yourselves you little shits!"

"It was him!" Ian deflected.

"It was a theme!" Alex added in protest, he snuck in a scowl at Ian then went back on the defensive.

"No mask, no wig, and violent imagery?! You both are to watch her like a hawk—any tells whatsoever even if she compensates, you call me."

Defeated, they conceded in time, "Yes sir."

"Both of you little shits… you know how much attention that costume's going to get? Ian, watch for rats like a hungry hawk."

"—Dad, I packed up the bags!" Venus called from the other room.

In a sing-song voice he called, "Oh Jonny, don't forget to pack that flour!"

"Dad, I'm in a room with knives, no flour." Venus reiterated just as sing-songy.

Under-breath he seethed at Alex, "You—I'm not joking, get it on your way out."

"On it, sir."

-Chapter 3 JQ-

Jonny shivered through his costume, "Oh my god he wasn't kidding! I could piss ice cubes—" Jonny mumbled through his mask.

"What happened to I live in Maine?" Alex gibed, enjoying the crisp air.

"Yeah—in wool sweaters and corduroy pants!" Jonny said through chattering teeth.

"Your sister can handle it."

Venus glared at them all, "Alex, you're in a wool sweater and corduroys, both of them are in cotton. Don't be too obnoxious about it. And of course I'm fine, I'm half polar bear and half penguin—and all scientific rebuke for unethical experimentations, Jonny, eat some chocolate—the sugar'll warm you up."

"No way! Dad'll know, I'll get in way too much trouble—I'd rather just be cold."

She laughed, "Trouble for eating candy on Halloween? …No, never mind, he'd probably lecture you for littering on xmas eve for opening a present."

"Christmas eve?" Jonny asked, "No, we only open on Christmas Day."

"Huh? What about fish dishes, do you not do that either?"

"Ham, lamb, or turkey feast, usually lamb."

Her mouth gaped as she fixed him in her stare, "Oh wow, and you live in Maine, seafood capital of the East Coast, and you still do it wrong?"

"Uh, holiday traditions aren't right or wrong…"

"Bullshit! Not eating candy on Halloween is wrong, fundamentally so!" She flicked his fake hair on his mask then froze to look past him, her face muted.

"What's wrong?"

"Oh nothing, Mike," Venus smiled, "I thought I saw the ghost of childhood wasted." He gave her a skeptical look, not that she'd see it from under his mask. "Don't be like that. Dad steals a lot of candy, we need to cover ground."

"Of which, we need to check in." Alex reminded as he texted in the update, 'On to Route B.'

Jonny shuffled through his bag and pulled out his watch then also sent a signal.

"Why's your watch in your bag anyway?"

"It doesn't fit under the gloves—do you mind keeping it on?"

"Sure, so you don't lose it?" He nodded. "Your dad has it synced on a system for entries or something?"

"Huh? No, it has a calorie counter, but I have to click it over or it just stays at the hundreds place."

Venus shrugged, "I thought your school friends called you the Bond Chick, why no cool gadgets? Isn't your dad some glorified Agent Q?" She rolled her eyes and slipped on his watch.

"Oh look, it's piccola troia!"

Venus closer her eyes and muttered under her breath, pissed, "Damn it." She opened her eyes and shot a dark smile, "Oh Will—I don't see your mom."

He spat at her feet. "Three guys at once? What a pro." He volleyed.

Ian slipped in front of Venus, "Hand me the quiche, Fred."

Venus looked at Ian not getting it. Alex took out the eggs, "Gladly, Jay."

"You three keep on going, I'll meet up with you at Foxtrot."

"Why are you bothering with this twerp, man? Come on, let's just go…" Venus called back, unsure why he was using code names. "It's fine…"

Jonny touched her forearm, "No it's not. Look at the guy, he never grew out of the blastosphere stage developmentally."

"What's that mean, dork?!"

"It means you're a giant asshole." Jonny said flatly, "And what with your obsession with whale dicks, I can see why that matters to you. Sea World and PETA will be notified."

Venus doubled over laughing, "Holy shit that's hilarious not-Clark!"

"While, personally, I'd prefer to share my opinion, dad made me swear to be on my best behavior. Let's head out."

"Okay—yeah, foxtrot boogie!" She reminded Ian as they started to cut through the woods.

"Oi, Fred—pancakes, too." Ian called back from between them.

Alex shook his head, "You're going to be a hot mess… here." He sighed as he handed Ian the flour and took up the two pillowcases he was handed back.

Ian smiled gleefully from under his mask as he pulled off his glove and hefted two eggs. He sent one flying into Will's chest with satisfaction as it cracked open with a splatter.

Will swore as half a bag of flour was deployed alongside the dozen eggs, failing miserably at the dodge.

-Chapter 3 JQ-

"Who was that jerk?" Jonny asked from the tree-line.

Venus shrugged, "Just a jerk from school. You ever get shoved into lessons that were 'for your benefit and enrichment' that you didn't want?" She asked all but rhetorically.

"Uh, yeah. Most of my life." Jonny clarified.

"Yeahhhh, dad made me take up the flute because he thought it would help me restore some lung capacity, in an all-boys boarding school he stuck me in with a bunch of pubescent horn-balls with a phallic instrument, and that happens to be one William Kildaire, I had the great misfortune of sitting near him as a fellow flautist since we were both brand new and in the last row for a quarter. He decided we would date, I did not. So that made me a little whore somehow…. Dad wouldn't let me drop until that fucker touched me. He's lucky I only gave him a shiner, I'd have broken his damn arm if I thought I'd get away with it."

"…Touch you?" He seethed, tempted to turn back around to break his arm now.

She looked distantly, "Yeah… he tried to 'accidentally' rip my skirt off, because he's that kind of an idiot who thought anyone'd buy that." She shrugged. "Dad let me drop band after that though, and the nickname. Bonus, Will got fast-tracked into the dumbass class. The bottom dregs of the school that's just enough to keep him enrolled but no fun stuff, we're 'buddies' now." She stopped walking to look across the wood line.

"Are you okay?" Jonny asked.

"Y—yeah… I'm fine, someone's hanging back," she turned to Alex. "Do you notice them too? The harlequin and the witch?"

"In the Venetian mask and stilts… yeah. Witch?" Alex looked around, he didn't see anyone else. "That's harlequin's a weird costume though…"

"Eh, rich bored kids, but it's been three times now…" Venus looked around.

Jonny looked at Alex. "Do we meet at Penn?"

"Not just yet we don't…" Alex pulled Ian's phone from his pillowcase, "Ah shit, we have to make foxtrot so Vorheez can get his comms back. I'll text Darren to pick us up."

"—No! What's wrong with you? It's just some kid being creepy on Halloween!" Venus balked, "I don't want to call it quits for something so lame."

Jonny looked at Alex, then back toward where the stranger had been, they'd wandered off already. He pulled off his mask, "Call him. Sis, we need to call it in, both that Will jerk and now some creepy girl…?"

"Girl…?" Alex asked.

"Yeah, her blond hair was poking out."

"…Blond?" Venus asked, "I don't know any blond girl from school who'd bug us…" Her eyes widened as she saw the Harlequin strolling closer, she grabbed the top of Jonny's mask and tugged it down hard, "Foxtrot! Foxtrot and Penn! Go! GO!" She shoved Jonny hard forward.

"Woah! What's going on—" Jonny called back, startled by the sudden shift. He turned back to see the harlequin was gone again just as they got back to the street, his leg throbbing from the brisk run.

"Alex—call him!" She tossed her phone to the brunette.

"What's going on?" Jonny asked again, "Alex already has two phones—you need to keep yours on you…"

"He'll know it's bad if it's mine." She hissed, her breath hitching as she scanned the perimeter. She pulled Alex and Jonny further into the crowds on the street while taking in Jonny's gait. "You—you gotta keep that mask on, Mike. Fred, you and Jay, too," she ordered fiercely.

"Venus—?" Jonny's eyes went wide, "Oh god, it's Jenna isn't it?"

"Get him somewhere safe to wait this out."

"Oh no—don't even think about—" Alex dialed Darren, "—You're with us Venus, you have to stay with us!"

Darren picked up, "What's wrong?"

"Foxtrot boogie and hurry!" Alex hung up, "Venus—damn it take your phone back!"

She caught it and shoved it back into her pillowcase.

"He's coming here, we just have to wait him out."

Venus smiled at him, looking at them both as she kept scanning the area. "Yeah. You're right. You just have to wait him out."

Alex grabbed her wrist. "No, we need to wait him out, that means you too." She nodded again. She turned toward a shaded driveway. "How many are you seeing?"

"…Two. It doesn't make sense, Alex…" she whispered. She looked back at Jonny as he watched the same shaded spot. "Damn it, he should be back by now."

"Just chill." Alex said forcefully.

"…Guys, I think the witch has a gun." Jonny said in a low voice.

"Shit, are you kidding me?!" Alex turned to look toward the second.

"There—Alex, see there?" She pointed toward a group of ten teenagers. "You two need to get there now."

"No way, you're sticking with us—"

"Damn it, listen to yourself. I don't have cover, you do. TAKE it!" She turned toward the opposite direction, "I have the map—tell dad I'm at the spot."

"What the hell do you mean the spot?! Please, Venus—we're in public… don't pull a ditzy first-girl move!" Alex eyed Jonny, grabbed the teen by his collar and pulled him toward the crowd as she pushed off in a sprint. "You! Don't you even think it!"

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" Jonny screamed at him. Alex shoved him harder toward the group of strangers.

"No, I'm not." He glowered, "she knows the locations. You don't, and she's right, she can draw them."

"She hasn't recovered from being stabbed. It was two on three—we could've held out!"

Alex shook his head, "No you couldn't have."

The blond's shoulders dropped at the weight of those words.

"Now keep your head down. She'll be okay. She knows her stuff."

They watched as the harlequin disappeared back into the woods in the same direction as Venus.

"If they're together, why isn't the second one heading out, then? Want to answer me that?" He hissed as he pulled out the cellphone to dial Darren and update him.

On the first ring, Darren answered, "Talk to me."

"—Venus went to the spot in Penn—she thinks it's Jenna."

"What spot?!" Darren spat.

Jonny's body went lax, "—What do you mean, Alex said you'd know—!"

Alex grabbed Jonny and the phone, "You need to park it before you drop." Alex took the phone, "She ran east toward the wood line from Foxtrot, what's that mean to you?"

"That in two minutes all three of you punk asses will be in this car explaining what the actual fuck just happened! Where's Ian?"

Alex turned in time to see Ian approaching, his hockey-mask decorated tastefully with a real blood-smear. The teen was walking stiffly, his pace hastened as he seemed to realize that one of the little ducklings weren't where he'd left them.

"He's rendezvousing now." Alex put the phone back into Jonny's hand. "Yo, Jay, we have a sitch."

"I'll say—where the hell is Venus?! I just ran into Claire."

"—She bugged out solo and Darren doesn't know where she went… wait, how did you run into Claire?!"

Jonny spun on his feet and made a dash toward the woman in the shadows.

"DAMN IT!" Alex rushed after him as the blond skidded to a stop in front of the armed woman. "Are you fucking crazy?! She's armed—"

"…Doctor Arquette…" Jonny ripped off his mask. "You're not with Gaia, are you?"

Alex's jaw hit his chest, "…How do you know anything about Gaia?! And who are you?" He said to Arquette as she lowered her pistol.

"Joannene… thank goodness I have found you een time." She looked at the other boys. "Where ees your bodyguard? How can they have let you be alone?"

"…Why were you following my sister and me?"

"…Sister? You do not have a sister!" She looked at him in disbelief. "That girl… ees that what she said she was to you?! And you believed such a lie?!"

Jonny stared at the woman fiercely. "Why were you following me, Dr. Arquette?"

"Arquette?!" Alex blinked. "Oh shit."

Jonny turned to look at Alex, "How do you know about her?" He looked between the two.

"…We need to wait for Darren," he swallowed thickly. "Dr. Arquette, did you ever find your daughter?"

Arquette crossed her arms at her hips, "What I found was not her. Merely a parasitic wasp that consumed what once was. And that girl you were with, she ees but another wasp… she was the one to steal my sweet Giselle away all those years ago."

"…Years ago?" Jonny looked between them.

"You don't know about Jenna, then?" Alex let out a depressed laugh. "Where's Pierre and Gustav?"

"Dead. Giselle keeled them." She said solemnly, "This was so she could never be free of Gaia. That ees what they do. They steal away children—they corrupt them een such a way… and then when they are certain their allegiance ees guaranteed, they let them go home to destroy it. To ensure there ees nowhere else for them to go."

Jonny's mouth dropped, "…But Venus never…"

Alex cleared his throat, "Your daughter went missing five years ago, and then your husband and son went missing January this year…" Alex swallowed thickly, "You're no friend of Gaia's… but I assume you know their mission."

"But of course, it ees to fleep Intelligence One operators." She said flatly, "and make their own." Her eyes flitted over Jonny, "To do that, they target children with potential. These beautiful caterpillars destined to transform into majestic butterflies—and instead they poison them with wasp larva who will eat their hosts, leave nothing but a shell and then when they hatch, they think they have transformed into this beautiful beast, but all they have become ees shit."

"…Is that why you poisoned me?" Jonny asked levelly. "Is that why you killed Dr. Yuan in Paris?"

"…That was an unfortunate event… Joannene, I did send that letter to your father, but it was not to threaten him, it was to warn him of what was to come. Yuan tried to murder me, do you know why you lived? Do you understand this?"

Jonny looked down the road seeing Darren's Z3 pulling up rapidly. The man slammed his door open and closed as he rushed toward the small conglomeration.

"…She was trying to keel me. But then you drank the tea, it would have been lethal to you, the dose too much. That could not happen, you are marked for them. They want you—alive. They would take your father as a bonus, but you are their target. You could not be keeled, it would be a waste to them, so she solved the riddle quickly. Quick enough for you to be saved, and the consequence of harming you, of tipping their hand to you cost her life."

Alex locked eyes with Arquette then Darren, "Do you know who the Pied Piper is?"

She nodded once, "He handles the recruitment of the children. He sends his most loyal to recruit other exceptional children and lure them to him."

Alex nodded, "That's about right, sometimes at least… Did you know why he stopped targeting kids younger than 10?"

The woman blinked at him, "You cannot possibly know that."

"Who the hell is this? Kids, what the hell's going on?" Alex pressed a hand out in front of Darren to signal he was working on it.

"…Oh, I have a hypothesis though. That happens to be one Jenna Korvin. When she was 7 she went missing for a month, came back all sorts of off. She was diagnosed with schizoid personality disorder, I've met the pied piper myself with Venus when we were 11… except we were together and able to shoot off a distress signal—and that guy there—" he pointed to Darren, "—Got us out before he could do what he wanted, which was to condition us. As for Jenna, guess who she happens to look like. And coincidentally, she went missing in Europe. I hear she visits there a lot, too."

Ian chimed, "And where is Venus, Alex?"

"We don't know, Ian. Because she ran off thinking this one with the gun was Claire and Jenna was boxing us in."

Ian grabbed the back of his neck, "…Some heck of a trick, since Claire tried to hit me with a car about ten blocks away."

"…Tried?" Alex turned to look at Ian, suddenly realizing why he looked roughed up.

He rolled his eyes, "Yeah, tried, I dodged and took a hard tumble. Shit, I'm hardcore but if you hit me with a car, I'd still bleed."

"Could we maybe focus on finding my sister now…" Jonny glared. "Jenna's after her and she doesn't know about Claire too."

Darren put a hand on Jonny's shoulder. "Come on, you have to get out of the open. I called Race in. Both of you, stay with this one and wait for De."

Jonny begrudgingly hobbled into the awaiting Z3, his mask on his lap looking up at him.

"…Darren, is Gaia making their move?"

"Gaia? Why would Jenna and Gaia be tied in?" He asked more to gauge Jonny than to disagree.

"…Did Jenna fail conditioning, or did she pass?" Jonny asked in a depressed voice.

The scoff Darren let out shocked him enough to look toward the brunette as he drew out a clove cigarette. "…Gaia doesn't do pass-fail, that shit's all the Pied Piper. We also call him Allen, that's the pseudonym he gave Venus when he first approached her."

The teenager waited.

"…I don't think Jenna's the operator. I think it's Claire. I just think Jenna's the gun." Darren said sadly, shaking his head, "That's what makes her so dangerous. Your sister, she won't hurt Jenna. She's never hit her back…" he gulped as he maneuvered the car in the direction she'd last been seen heading.

"…Darren, do you have a sat-comm?" Jonny asked darkly. "She has my watch on, if I can get to a laptop that can link in, I can ping her location."

"Damn, you really do have great instincts. Yeah, let me pull over."

-Chapter 3 JQ-

Venus clutched her side, it felt like fire moving up and down her entire right side. Her dad had been right about her core being totally fucked over.

She glared at the harlequin, and was surprised the witch wasn't around. She eyed the other woman, so she switched out an old witch for a bitch. "Hello Aunt Claire." She called out to the woman.

The rueful laugh that hung in the air made her stomach sour.

"Jenna, my lamb, bring her here. It's time we dealt with her once and for all."

Venus instinctively backed away from Jenna, she saw the pistol in Claire's hand and wasn't sure what to make of the information. "…Aunt Claire, what are you doing with that?"

"You're not my kin, you usurping alien. Jenna, let's get rid of this leech, be free of her!" She smiled, now taking point with her Smith and Weston revolver. Venus didn't like the odds, pinned between Jenna and Claire with a gun. She swallowed hard, where the hell was her backup?!

"Jenna, stop… I'm begging you, don't make me…" She said in a low warning.

"…Once we get rid of her, we can free Jonny, aren't you so glad to have a brother, angel!"

Venus took in a sharp breath and turned to sprint. The run was awful, endurance running had really never been her favorite, and being chased by a psychotic clown and an old hag was really not how she anticipated her Halloween to go. Still holding her pillowcase, knowing her phone was her last life-line, she pushed to get to denser foliage.

Jenna overtook her, tackling her into a roll.

She bit back a wince and whipped the bag into the other girl's head, knocking the mask free.

Venus bit back a gasp. Shit this was bad. Jenna really did dye her hair back to Venus's shade, styling it the same way, hell, she was even wearing contouring makeup to make her nose look smaller, more delicate… She head-butted the teen pinning her; a hand crushed down on her throat and slammed her back into the soft earth. Venus's hands skimmed the ground searching for anything of value. Finding a rock within reach, she tried again. "Jenna! Please! Stop—"

Her voice cut as the pressure increased on her larynx. The edges of her vision were starting to dim. She shook her head, "Claire—why?! Aunt Claire… Aunt Claire!" She pleaded.

"Oh angel, it won't do to make it look like murder—the ravine. Throw her off the ravine." She smiled, still angling the gun toward them both.

Venus swung the rock hard, the clocking sound as she hit Jenna square to the side of the head spilt the older girl. She let out a shriek as she rolled and pressed off the ground, again running on already depleted tanks. She felt nauseated as she pushed toward the very direction Claire had signaled Jenna to force her.

"Oh, angel, are you taking a nap on mama? No bother, I'll take a turn." She sauntered gracefully toward Venus as the girl's speed rapidly dropped on her.

Panting, Venus looked over the drop and then to the woman who'd been the closest observable mother figure she'd had in her early life. "Why are you doing this?!"

"Because fuck you, that's why." Claire leveled the pistol and cracked the shot. Venus made the only dive available to her, the tumble was hard, and longer than she'd preferred as she spilled over the twenty foot drop on a 60-degree incline.

It felt like she hit every goddamned jutted rock on that insufferable roll as she finally halted at the bottom of the hill. Her special FX makeup complimented beautifully by her new, real bruised and scrapes.

She let out a low groan as she self-assessed. Fingers, toes, arms, legs, elbows, shoulders, knees, hip, ankles, wrists—all of them seemed willing to still move, if she could garner the energy to simply do it. Her neck lulled to the side, her spilt Halloween stash and ripped pillowcase scattered around her, a dozen pre-scrambled eggs, yolk-drenched toilet paper, and a perfectly ruined cell phone sandwiched a rock in between it's shattered body. "…Double fuck."

Her hand fished over two candy bars, she looked back up the ravine. At least she had some cover in the shade, the cold, dank muck she landed in was definitely not where she wanted to hang out though.

"Oh no! Are you hurt? Did I miss?" Claire laughed from above.

Venus clenched her teeth.

"Don't worry. I won't miss Jonny. You know, it really pisses me off that I can't outright kill you, you little bitch." She sang, "You stole everything from me. You ruined my marriage, my only daughter… what happened to her, it should've happened to you, you wretched thing. And that asshole father of yours… but no matter, I'll save you for Allen, he has special plans for you. And your brother? Because he's your blood kin, there's a special treat in store to break him in." She laughed in a jovial voice. "I don't even think he'll be of much use afterwards, but Allen disagrees and frankly, I'm just along for the ride to watch your world burn."

She aimed the gun and fired into the ravine blindly. The shots ranged wide, missing Venus by well over five meters all the way around.

"Say hello to that cunt, Becky."

Venus bit her lip to hold in the sob. She staged a single scream at the last shot and then held her breath, hoping she wouldn't reload. Then she listened.

She heard a car door, and another, then the sound of a car driving off with a strained belt. She muffled a cry and pulled over the two candy bars she'd picked up. A mini Musketeers bar and a fun-sized 100 Grand.

She chomped them down, hoping the sugar would be enough to warm her a little. Damn it, now she was cold.

After a long minute, she pushed herself upward. That assessment of everything attached and working was right, but the whole shebang was angry to be put to work, as told by the throb from her ankle and side and slow ache in her shoulder. She looked around.

"Where the shit is this? Whiskey or is it Kilo? What damn road is that…? What side did I dive off…" She closed her eyes trying to orient herself. "…Ran through Lima… and skirted Romeo… gotta be Whiskey, so the cemetery's not too far…" her voice went somber as she thought about who she'd see there, or at least the tombstone of.

She shivered, looked at the watch, damn it! It was already 10:30. Her dad was going to be pissed she missed curfew. With that thought in mind, she grabbed another handful of candy confections and hobbled toward the safest gated community in a 2 mile radius.

-Chapter 3 JQ-

Curled against the tasteful tombstone with a carved likeness of an angel of peace, Venus closed her eyes, her fingers traced the lettering below the 4 foot figurine, the tombstone and statue coming to 5 feet in height.

She could hardly recognize the name, Rebecca Nordland Cherished Always and an embellished star. Her hand stopped in the dip of the star as she whispered a breathy, "…Mom… mom I don't want to be alone…"

Her other arm curved around the cold stone, embracing it in a hug as her head rested against her arm. The watch face cast a soft, constant blue light as she dozed.

"Sweetheart, how do you want to wear your hair today?"

"…Could you put it in a fishtail? Those look so cool, Becky!"

"You know, I'm really looking forward to seeing your school. Your dad thinks I should be the gym teacher so I can make you climb that rock wall…"

Venus shivered as she dreamt.

"Over my dead body. I hate heights."

She almost could hear the faint way Becky laughed, she could hear her calling.

"We'd better wait up for your dad, sweetheart… wake up for…"

"Wake up—for the love of god, grant me a damn armistice and wake up…"

"…Dad…?"

-Chapter 3 JQ-

"You've got the signal? Where to then?" Darren watched over Jonny's shoulders as the laptop screen showed a glowing dot. A map slowly populated over it. How 45 minutes could stretch into the expanses of such a deep cluster-fuck, Darren was colored impressed.

Maybe Benton was really on to how much trouble these kids were magnets to.

"There—is… is that the cemetery?" Jonny asked, horrified. "Oh god, they aren't going to try to hide her body…"

Darren put a hand on his shoulder, "Don't even finish saying that. Buckle up, this baby can handle the roads here at 120, and I'm going to prove it." The three minute drive ended at the gates of the St. Peter's cemetery. "Open the glove box, Jonny."

Shakily, the teen obliged, he was greeted with a Beretta 92, 9mm.

"Stay in the car, if anyone asks you to do elsewise… well…" He looked suggestively at the pistol. "It's loaded, the safety's here." Darren put the gun into Jonny's hands. "You good?"

The teen nodded, flicking the safety and chambered a round. "…Yes sir."

Darren ruffled his hair, "Don't call me a goddamned sir. I'm going to go pick up my kid." He smiled more for Jonny's sake than his own and slid through the narrow opening.

He'd seen where she was pinged, that would've been a chosen spot, a muster point in the event she couldn't get to where she really needed to be. "Baby… I'm almost there." He whispered to himself, his own Sig Sauer at the ready.

At the sight of his daughter limply cuddling the statue honoring the recently deceased, Darren broke into a run, he slipped the pistol into his jacket pocket to free his hand. "Venus… sweetheart…" he tapped her, she felt icier than the damned marble slab she was hugging!

"Wake up—for the love of god, grant me a damn armistice and wake up…" He clapped her face.

That earned him a breathy moan, "…Mommy… dad's…"

"Shit-balls!" Darren hissed, he pulled off his jacket and wrapped her in it then hoisted her up, "Venus, dad's here for you… are you hurt sweetie?" his voice boomed.

Venus blinked tiredly, they were supposed to meet at the spot, she knew this wasn't it, but it was as close to home as she could manage. She wasn't sure how her dad would've gotten here so fast… there'd have been other muster points to check first… "…Daddy?"

Darren pulled her, bomber jacket and all, into his chest to crush her into a bear hug, kissing her ear, "Yeah, sweetie, dad's here. I've got you. I'm taking you home now… so wake up, you have to open your eyes for me now."

He rubbed at her arms and legs, "C'mon, we don't do these kinds of mean tricks," he hoisted her up and began to trek her back to the gates and the car.

Jonny was at the gate waiting for them the moment he registered the sight, "Is she…?!"

"Ass. In. Seat." He reminded the teenage who immediately ignored said instruction to help him maneuver Venus through the cast-iron gate.

"She's freezing…" Jonny noted. Darren held in the sarcastic quip, fairly sure it wouldn't help.

Once they were through the gate, he picked her back up in a princess-carry, she felt lighter than he readily recalled her being.

"Get your ass in the car, and buckle in." He said in a steely voice. As instructed, Jonny was back in shotgun, or maybe he should call it pistol?

With Venus stationed on Darren's lap, pressing her into his chest while her grinded his transmission, alternating between steering and up-shifting one-handed, he drove them back home.

"Kid, we get in that house and you run up those stairs and start the hot water in the master shower, you put it to scalding hot—and then you go get as many blankets as you can pull and put them right outside that bathroom door, then you go lock the front damn door, got it?"

"Yeah, I got it." Jonny swallowed thickly, appreciating the urgency in the man's tone. It reminded him of Race in emergency mode, except Race very rarely peppered in phrases like fuck-knuckles. "Darren, I'll call the others, tell them she's home."

Darren nodded in agreement, "I need to make my own calls too, but that'll come later. I've gotta get her warmed back up."

At the driveway, Darren stalled out the manual, shifted it to Park and ripped the keys from the block. "Sorry baby…" he spoke both to his car and his kid, or so he imagined she'd think.

"I really, really need you to wake all the way up now and give me that status report, sweetie…" he coaxed in vain.

With a tug, they were back in the cold night air; he closed the car-door with a kick and carried his princess popsicle through the wide open door, up the stairs and to the master bathroom.

By time he peeled off all her wet clothes, he noticed a sizeable pile of blankets.

"Sweetie, the hot water's probably going to sting," he warned, he carried her into the shower and braced himself into a wall while keeping her under the majority of the spray.

He felt her body tense rigid at the contact of hot water, he swore to god he felt her lips contort into a gasped cry only to drop into whispered whimpers and sporadic gasps of breath to say she was still in there.

"Come on, wake up." He rubbed her shoulders, cheek, arms—desperate to rouse her.

"…Aunt Claire… put down the gun… please… don't make me…" she whispered hoarsely. Darren felt his blood drop a few degrees. "Don't shoot—Aunt Claire—Please!"

With a gasp, she awoke abruptly, dazed eyes darted to collect the intel and figure out where she was. With a slight lift of her jaw, she broke skin contact to lock eyes with her dad.

"Jesus H. Christ, how many times have I told you we've enacted a peace treaty! You gotta stop trying to scare me into grey hairs!"

She panted in response.

"We've got thirty minutes more of hot water, then I'm cocooning you in every damn sweater I have in this house, so help me god you might even be grounded for this bullshit!"

"…'s he… 's he ok?!"

"No, he's not. He's traumatized…"

Venus grabbed his collar with a surprising amount of strength given her state, "Did Claire…?"

His face softened, "No. He's here, oh god, did she threaten him too?"

Venus nodded, her eyes watering, "Daddy…I… I hit her… 'm so… so sorry…!"

He blinked, baffled.

"…I hit Jenna, I'm sorry…" she tried again, the crack in her voice dispelled more and more as she spoke.

His body tightened, "No you damn well are not. She's had it coming for years. You hear me?!"

Again she nodded, crying softly, Darren pulled her tighter into him, almost trying to fuse them skin to skin, "What the hell happened, I need a status report."

"Claire had a gun, she was at the spot you marked on the map… she ambushed me and Jenna caught up… I… I couldn't fight two on one, not with her armed and far away and my side… I… I hit her in the head with a rock, but then I fell anyways… and it was… was…" She sobbed, the terror of the fall engulfing her momentarily.

"Shh, shh, it's over and done…" He soothed, rubbing her back and neck, subconsciously searching for additional injuries.

"She said they were after Jonny next… that they had something special planned… I think it's something especially awful…I don't think Claire was supposed to try to kill me… I think she was supposed to divert us from something…"

"Someone. She was there to divert you from someone."

"…But… she… she had a gun and I couldn't run anymore… I… I hit Jenna, daddy I didn't want to, I begged her to not make me have to…"

"No." He cut her off, "Baby, let me be clear, you're telling me Claire held you and Jenna at gun point, threatened your brother by proxy, and forced you into the woods in near-nothing of clothes?!"

"N-no, Jenna was—"

"No. That is what you just told me. Are we goddamned crystal?"

Worried eyes locked onto his, he was thinking.

"Because that is clear child endangerment and a litany of felonies and I can and will freeze out that bitch's assets."

Venus nodded, "B-but… I hit Jenna, with a rock—in the head…" She pressed her face into his chest, not willing to say more.

"Claire was using her, she's weaponized her illness to give her unabridged access to money she'd never otherwise see, she doesn't care if her heir is in a vegetative state. It's all about how she can control her, and not anymore. That shit stops now."

He cut the water and grabbed a terrycloth robe for his beloved princess.

"Dry your hair, I need to make some phone calls, I'll pull you some extra-warm pajamas. De and I are going hunting and you two are to stay put. I'll have some friends stop in."

She nodded, "…who?"

"Dry your hair."

-Chapter 3 JQ-

Jonny sat on the edge of the couch rocking on his heels, he jumped at the sudden coarse hand ruffle his hair.

"Can we talk?"

Jonny's head snapped up to look at Darren, he gave a mute nod.

"I called your dad and told him what's happened. Race'll be here in under an hour," he let that news sink in before continuing. The kid's eyes were red. "…That Arquette lady, what's your take on her?"

"…She knows something."

"Lots of people know stuff, do you trust her?"

"…I think she'll tell us the truth, but I wouldn't say I'd let her fix my tea."

Darren nodded at that, "I'm going to need you to convince Race not to shoot her, she'll be here in 30 minutes." His own eyebrows went up as he sent off a text. "There's a panic room in her closet. I set up a punch-code for you… it's the last four of my direct line."

Jonny nodded, still watching Darren with wonder and worry.

"Jonny, when Race gets here… I have to leave, go hunting. This bullshit's gotta stop. Claire's in home turf and I mean to catch her before she goes to ground… listen, I know you're shook, but… but I trust your instincts—enough to leave you here looking after her. No one is allowed in here that you don't recognize, you dig?"

He swallowed and bobbed his head. Darren knelt in front of him, "I know that was bad, but I agree with what she did, tactically speaking I'd probably have done the same."

That earned him a new emotional response, the blond whipped a strong glare at him, "Well then you'd both be wrong! Numbers matter in a fight."

Darren sighed, "Yeah, and distance takes a race. Her snafu was thinking I'd make a damn treasure map for you… it wasn't her drawing them off, you couldn't have made that same run." He clapped a hand on Jonny's shoulder, "…You're a damn good kid, you know that?"

"Is it because I'm a kid she didn't trust me to have her back?" He asked flatly. "Because I'm not some Alpha recruit?"

Darren laughed at that, "No, she just has trust issues. She wasn't in the shape for a fight, and I'd still give her better odds as banged up as she is over Alex—and you, well, neither of us have seen you fight, and you really oughtn't test unknown variables in do-or-dies, especially if you have a known constant."

"I'm a Quest, Darren, that's exactly when we test them." On that note, Darren patted his shoulder twice and broke the contact.

"Shit, I can't convince you to go for the path of least resistance? You and Alex had cover, she did not. You might think you could've handled it together, but you couldn't have. Jenna would've attacked and you know first-hand what that's like, but you haven't seen her frenzy."

"But she could've died." Jonny let the words hold the air uncomfortably.

"…And you made sure she didn't because you weren't with her…" He blew out a lengthy sigh, "Claire's dangerous, I know you know that, and I gotta leave to track her down, but in the event she comes here, well, in the room next to yours in the attic there's a lock-box loaded for bear. Same code. Get what you can from Arquette, can you do that?"

Jonny nodded curtly. "Where's Venus?"

"Under every warm object I have in this house in her room. The kid gloves came off tonight, that's for sure. Once you get any workable info out of Arquette, can you keep an eye on your sister?"

"You don't even have to ask that." Jonny shook his head, almost incensed by the suggestion. "So what does hunting mean? Checking local hotels?"

Darren let out a dark laugh, "That bitch isn't in a gee-dee hotel, and I'm about to dragnet the tri-state area to prove it, her assets are locked, and I've sent an APB on an armed suspect of several felonies including how she had a child hostage. They're motivated tonight. If she has any ounce of decency left in that husk of a mother's form, she may even slither to a hospital, and that's where I'm going to check personally."

"A hospital…?"

Darren smirked, "Yeah, Jenna may be out of commission right now, and that'd be quite a favor."

Both men looked up at the sound of a cheery door-chime as it echoed through the bottom floor.

Darren stood from his kneel and approached the door, he drew his Sig Sauer and looked at a digital display that was tucked behind an innocuous photo on the wall. Alex leaned in close, his face fishbowled in the camera before leaning back to show Arquette behind him.

"Girl scouts. We've got some cookies for you, mister." He said levelly as the door unlocked and cracked open. Alex pushed Arquette through the opening. "Is she okay?"

"…She'll get there. Any sightings?"

Alex shook his head, "We found where Claire ditched the car. I'm going to see if I can find any digital footprints to track. Are you sure Jonny can handle her alone?"

Darren let out a laugh, "Don't get cheeky, I'm in a mood. Now get outta here, I'm out of candy."

Alex smiled as he obliged in a hurried skip and a run back toward the car at the end of the block. Darren gave a subtle jut of his jaw to the driver, thankful Mark was able to get to the boys so quickly. Darren re-closed the door and locked it.

"Dr. Arquette, I presume." He gestured her to the living room. "We have a few minutes, so can you tell me whatever it is you think I need to hear in ten minutes?"

Arquette nodded, "Yes. Gaia has come to collect, and I have come as an avenging wolf to keel them all."

He let out a long whistle, "Lofty ambition, nice, how can I help?"

The petite brunette smiled sadly, "I am a dead woman, you must know thees by now. The one who stayed with me, he knows much of what I speak of. Gaia ees after Intelligence One operators and affiliates. Their intent is anything but noble. They also want talented children, they make them into child soldiers—such an awful thing."

Darren measured her pupillary reaction, he didn't sense any dishonesty or even sarcasm in her comment which meant she still didn't know about Alpha, that was a plus. "And why would they be after my daughter and Jonny here?"

"Because they are very exceptional children. I did not know of your daughter, she looked like an operator of theirs I had previously identified and regretfully I scared her away in my ignorance. How ees she? For you are here, I know thees to mean you have her back."

"I do. She's resting. She can hold her own in a fight with a devil."

"Ah, but there were two tonight."

"And she held it less well because of that." Darren said unimpressed. "But I can promise you, she's wolf enough to avenge herself and I don't think she's heard you're not on the list of people to shoot on sight." He crossed his arms to emphasize his own point.

"Yes, thees I understand quite well." She looked at Jonny, "But as he has not shot me, I have been deprioritized on thees list clearly. I know of several hubs of theirs. Transfer stations maybe. There were wasps there at the ones I have visited, they are there no more though."

"…Because they bugged out?" Darren's eyes narrowed.

"Because I keeled them. It was a mercy to them, they were already gone, consumed to their shell."

Darren exhaled a shaky breath, "Is that your euphemism for murdering kids?" He shook his head, "…What about the adults?"

She smiled, "I did not say they were the children. They were traitors, thees you also know. What you seem not to know ees that I am an asset to you."

"No, I figured that out already lady, but you also stirred up a shit-storm, when exactly did you wipe out that hive?"

She smiled darkly, "In August the first one. In September you beat me to another. Thees week I visited another, and soon I shall visit more."

"You wouldn't happen to be willing to share those locations, would you?"

"…With the head of Intelligence One's little brother? And what do you do?" She smiled suggestively.

"Shoot goddamned terrorists who threaten me, for one." He clicked the safety off his pistol.

"You know I am no such thing. I am a wolf." She licked her lips, "Your children spoke of the Pied Piper, that he did not target them to acquire says you yourself are far more dangerous to trifle with than he ees willing to risk. I like these odds. What do you know of thees Pied Piper?"

"That Allen'll kill you if you run into him. You can't survive him. Hell, I don't know how you survived 2 raids, aren't you some bench scientist?"

"Ah, but ees not a mouse the perfect one to send through the maze?" She waved her hand a little, "I blend een, they do not notice me, and then I get the information I need and then remove the obstacles I have seen."

"Yeah, and that trick isn't going to—no. You know what, sure, you're an avenging wolf. You know you're going to die though don't you?"

She nodded, "I am already dead, and once I have collected my sweet Giselle, I can happily let that catch up to me."

Darren blinked heavily, he could empathize. "…Do you know where the Pied Piper is? Or your Giselle for that matter?"

"No, but I know they are together. She has been his latest poppet."

Darren hoped to hell he didn't flinch when she'd said that. He was surprised when Jonny stepped between them though. Sure the kid had been listening in to everything like an absorbent sponge, but that he wanted to take active steps in the interview was not something he'd expected.

"And what happened to the poppet before?" He crossed his arms over his own hips loosely.

"…I know of but two others. One ees een Argentina and I know not of her personally but heard rumors she will fulfill his dreams of power. The other ees who stole my daughter away."

"What makes them poppets?" He asked, not up for disagreeing with the French woman but knowing she was empirically wrong.

"He has an appetite that ees known."

Jonny blanched, Darren put a hand on his shoulder. "Go back to the couch. Does he still love that other poppet that's floating around here?"

The woman laughed, "He does not know the feeling love. He does show her affection, of sorts, thees I have seen. He ees fiercely protective of thees one, she ees hardly his best work though. I cannot stay here, you know thees do you not? There ees another location een the Catskills, if you believe me to be an ally, I will make myself known to you een two weeks time, and then if you want your answers, come with me."

Darren nodded, "That works for me, if you can keep alive that long."

She smiled ruefully, "The trick ees to wish for death and then he does not come."

He shirked to his left. Dr. Arquette unlocked the door and exited just as an auburn-haired woman in her late thirties pulled up the driveway in a black Civic SE. The man in the passenger seat near leapt from the car.

Darren quickly stepped between them and grabbed Race to hoist him into the house.

"What in hell—you're not letting her just…"

Jonny stepped up to him, "Race, leave her."

"Kiddo! Are you okay?" His large hands found Jonny's shoulders and steadied him while simultaneously studying him for injuries.

"…My leg's sore, but other than that, also no." Jonny looked suggestively to the doorway. "Can we go inside?"

Race nodded, glanced at Darren then followed the blond back into the living room. The agent who'd drove Race followed them in.

"Damn, De, took you long enough." Darren jibed, "Did you only cost me $500 in speeding tickets?"

"His badge is a way better hall pass than I'd thought. I'd almost think I made the wrong choice in agencies."

"You know her?" Race asked looking between the two.

"Yeah, and so do you. You remember that girl who faked being deaf for a year back in Illinois?"

"You might also remember me as the lady who took the brat off your hands, don't worry, I'm not hurt you forgot all about me, Snow."

His jaw dropped. Thinking better of it, he knew this was not the time to have a reunion, Darren was locking up the house and trudging up the stairs to the attic while De sprawled on the couch, she eyed the blond boy at the far end of it.

"Shit, he does look like your little monster." She called up the stairs.

"Play nice." He reminded in a booming voice.

She turned to look him up and down in measurement, she locked eyes on his clutched hands after a long moment, his knuckles were white. "You know how the brat is?"

Damned if his fists didn't clench tighter, her eyebrow arched.

"She isn't a brat." Jonny said in a low, controlled voice.

De's not-quite infectious laughter, a cackle really, filled the open living room. "Oh, she is alright, and a particularly spoilt one to boot, Darren who cleared her to do something so stupid? She's not even off medical restrictions and you let her go running around—I swear to shit one of these days you have to just introduce her to the word no."

As Darren lugged down a duffel bag he shot his partner a glare, "Can it. She's sleeping it off. Jonny, you mind heading up there and keeping her company?"

"Sure." He said as he suppressed his own radiating anger. His limp was less pronounced, but Darren knew when someone was intentionally downplaying an injury, he locked eyes with Race as if to convey that little message too.

Once he was sure the kid was out of earshot he slapped De in the back of shoulder. "Damn it, behave."

De rolled her eyes as she grabbed the duffel bag and pulled out some of the clips and corresponding ammo to load them up.

"Arquette was giving us intel on Gaia, she's not with them, she's against them. They grabbed her kid and by all accounts she was trying to prevent them from grabbing Jonny but she jumped the shark on that last one and now they're in a tizzy and making some bold moves. Of which, Claire's bragging about something particularly ugly planned for Jonny—whether those were smoke-rings to needle my daughter or her running her fucking mouth, well, I'll be sure to ask her when I see her."

Race's body went taut, "Claire threatened Jonny?"

"…By proxy. Venus is half-way delirious though, so I can't really ask her more right now. Fuck!" Darren punched the coffee table causing several bullets to pop off the table then slap back down.

"How bad was she hurt?" The white-haired bodyguard asked carefully. He recognized that pained look.

"Psychologically or physically?" He grabbed another clip and started to load it with 9mm ammo, happy for something to do with idle hands.

"Physical for starts," Race offered.

"She ran for about 3 miles and I haven't even gotten all the stage makeup off her but she looked banged up pretty good. She was soaking wet and sitting out in the frigid cold after being out there for hours before. I know she doesn't get cold but even that's a bit much…" He swallowed thickly, "…and Claire shot at her, she fell down a steep incline and that bitch shot at her. I'm gonna fucking kill her."

"Get in line, asshole." De said in smug satisfaction, "I've hated that bitch since we were kids and I'm a better shot."

"You weren't ever a kid." Darren quipped, "You were born a 400 year old hag."

De pulled out a bowing knife and stabbed it into Darren's coffee table.

"Oh real mature!"

"Both of you, focus. Darren, what happened to Jonny?" Race snapped, pissed at how laisser-faire they were being about it all.

"He's been limping since I picked him up, I'd wager they made a run at one point and his leg couldn't deal with it. He's been trying to lick that wound, but Venus bailed because she knew she'd draw the fire and that he sure as hell couldn't have run for help."

Race palmed his forehead, "Fur on a catfish…"

"On that lovely note, thanks for babysitting while we step out, I don't expect we'll be back all too soon…" Darren casually looked at the time, it was just before midnight, "…If trouble arises, give us a call, Mark and Johan aren't too far and they'll bring the fire if need be."

"How old are they?" He quipped.

Darren rolled his eyes, "Johan's 27, and Mark's stuck in the 80s, but I don't know how old he actually is, he probably doesn't know, either. I told Jonny about the panic room in Venus's walk-in closet, and I'll leave the Z3 here, normally she'd purr like a kitten up to 140, but I probably trashed her transmission on the drive back—but she'll make it over 120 if you beg." He tossed his keys to Race. He hoisted up the duffel bag. "I also left a nice cache of similar quality up in the walk-in attic. The rifles are loaded, and there's magazines loaded for each caliber but you'd have to clip them in."

"Such a hospitable host…" Race deadpanned.

"And a hunting we shall go…" De said with a smirk. Darren and she walked to the front door, Race followed behind to hit the lock.

-Chapter 3 JQ-

Jonny curled against Venus's back, hugging her over the covers as she shivered, "Sis, what's wrong? Are you still cold?"

He could feel her shake her head from under the layers of blankets and heard the muffled sound of what he presumed was her crying.

"What's wrong then?"

She merely shook her head again as she pulled the blankets over her even tighter.

"Kiddo? You up here?" Race tapped gently on the bedroom door, he saw the two teens, one of which wrapped in at least four blankets, the other pressed to her back keeping the blankets from shifting too much. Jonny turned toward the older man, his eyes were red from his own emotional escapades.

Race waved him over, Jonny whispered something to Venus before untangling himself and tucked in the fabric a little tighter around her before he stepped toward Race, looking over his shoulder as he did.

In a tug, Race pulled Jonny into a strong hug, he could feel the tension in the kid that he'd been trying desperately to mask as it poured out of him; Jonny hugged Race back tightly, shaking.

"You're both okay." Race said firmly to reiterate it for the blond.

"Neither of us are okay." Jonny said in a clearly pained voice, "She's been crying non-stop and won't say why."

Race nodded, "It's a tall order, that's for certain."

Jonny laughed darkly, "Well, I've seen Darren mad now, that looks pretty homicidal."

Probably not the best reaction precisely, Race chuckled, "He's always been considered a pretty boy." Despite himself, Jonny smiled at the ill-timed joke.

"I still think my dad's 'kill you' look is more honed."

"It probably is. Darren usually likes to keep things as surprises." He pulled back from the hug to look Jonny in the eye. "Are you physically okay?"

With a strong nod, Jonny diverted his eyes, "Seeing her that still… it was awful."

"I know." Race patted his hair, "Let me check on her and see if I can calm her any."

"…She's scared and hurt, I don't think it ever dawned on her that Claire wanted her dead."

"Tunnel vision can get anyone, remember that."

Jonny chewed on his lip, "Race, I don't know that lady, but she's horrible, she used me to manipulate her—just the threat to me…"

Race cocked his head, "She's always been manipulative, I'm not so sure Darren even knows just how much."

"Oh, I think he's read up now."

Race scoffed, "Maybe. Kiddo, can you make up some cocoa for both of you and come right back up?"

Jonny nodded, "I'll be five minutes."

"Alright, I'm going in."

The older man knelt at eye level to Venus, "Hey, how're you feeling?"

Venus poked her head out slightly from the blankets just enough to glare red-rimmed at Race. He put Mr. Cottontail in her reach and was satisfied to see her quickly cocoon the stuffed rabbit under several layers of blankets in a pounce.

"…Thanks Roger…"

He gave her a patient smile, damned only person to refuse to use his nickname. "De sends her regards."

"Were they to 'get shot'?" Venus frowned.

"Not even close, then she'd really have to babysit."

He could see her trying to suppress a smile.

"What has you upset?" He asked softly.

She tucked further under the blankets to evade scrutiny, "…Daddy's mad. I hurt Jenna so Uncle Phil'll be mad too…" a sob broke out, "What if he sends me away?"

Race eyed the room, found the family photo from Universal Studios Tokyo in matchy-match clothes and pulled it to her bed.

"That is not the face of an unhappy dad, Venus. You're his world."

Her lips quivered, "Then why's he mad…"

"That someone hurt you? Oh honey, you know exactly why he was mad, he just wasn't mad at you."

Venus mumbled, "Honey, sugar, aspartame…"

Race smiled, word association wasn't a typical coping mechanism, though he was glad it was helping her calm down, he wondered if humor was another one of her go-tos. He eyed the door, "What do you call a fake noodle?" He waited a moment, "An impasta."

Worried blue eyes locked onto his.

"You hear about that new restaurant on the moon?" He was silently relieved to see more of her face poking out again.

"…The space bar?" Her voice lilted as she asked.

Race shook his head, "Great food, no atmosphere though."

"Where'd Jonny go?" She asked, her face now outside of the covers as she looked around.

"I made cocoa, I didn't see any marshmallows though." He called from the door.

With a weak smile she replied, "That's courtesy of your dad's anti-sugar manifesto."

"Anti-High Fructose Corn Syrup Manifesto, thank you very much." Jonny corrected, glad to see her smile strengthen at that.

"He hid them with all the other good stuff in the bar." Venus informed, "Why he thinks I won't snoop baffles me."

"Good to know." Jonny smiled back.

"What? That I'm a snoop or that dad's an idealist?"

He put the cocoa on the nightstand. "I don't think I made it the same way you do, so be gentle on me, I didn't go to culinary school."

A pallid hand fished free from the covers and pulled the beverage nearer. Race helped her right herself while keeping the covers around her, his hand casually grazed her arm, surprised how icy she still felt.

Venus took a sip then gagged, crushing her brother before laughing. "No, it's fine, I'm just fucking with you a little…"

Race gave her a withered look, "Language please."

"Which do you prefer? I'm proficient in profanities in any of the ones I know." She frowned, "…You're as much of a boy-scout as Uncle Phil, aren't you?" Her eyes watered as she thought about her uncle.

Race took the cup and switched it out for Mr. Cottontail. "None of that, now. Phil's no fool, if you hit her it was out of necessity, you kids are cut from the same altruistic cloth and don't know how to be mean for the sake of it. Phil knows that."

"Dad said I shouldn't feel sorry."

Race patted her head, "I thought both of you were pretty against survivor's guilt."

She blinked, not sure what to say to that.

"Do you feel warm enough?"

She shook her head slightly from underneath her blanket burrito. Jonny slid back onto the bed and curled a protective arm across her stomach, "You're still frozen."

She snuggled closer to him, closing her eyes as she harvested his body heat shamelessly.

"Why don't you two settle down and try to rest? I'll be downstairs keeping guard."

"Yes sir." Jonny replied smoothly.

Venus frowned at him but nodded. "Is anyone else here…?"

"No, just us and the place is on lock-down."

"…Did dad say when he'd be back?" She asked quietly, fading fast.

"When he's done." Race shrugged. Venus nodded, closed her eyes and was snoring softly in under five minutes.

-Chapter 3 JQ-

Jonny extracted himself from the bedroom after a few hours and spotted Race, still awake and watching the security footage cycle through.

"…Race, do you think dad's still up…?"

Race pulled his cell phone out, "I'm sure he is. Did you want to call him and talk?"

Jonny nodded, catching the tossed phone.

"Good, I'm sure he's worried sick." The display on the phone said it was just after 3 AM, he was surprised it answered just after the first ring, but given the plethora of worst-case scenarios his dad was probably running through, he shouldn't have been.

"Dad…?"

"Jonny, are you alright son?" His voice was reassuring, a stoic calm.

"…Sorry it's so late…" he imagined the calm smile on the other end, the same patient look he'd gotten when he'd wake up with nightmares as a kid too.

"It's alright." The words hung like a benediction.

Jonny swallowed heavily and nodded, "…is it?" His voice felt small and tinny even in his own ears.

"It will be soon. I heard about it, did you want to talk through it or would that make it harder to sleep?"

"…I… know you said it could be a long weekend but… but I really miss home right now."

"How so?" Benton coaxed, wondering if he missed the perceived safety of familiar ground.

"I wish you were here. I'd feel better if you were…" Jonny tried to articulate, failing miserably in his own pursuit to make sense.

Benton's breath caught, "How… were her friends? Ian and Alex was it?" He deflected, the feeling was perfectly mutual.

"They're funny I guess. Alex is really… well, maybe not nice or sweet but warm? He's kind hearted, super friendly, and empathetic, like TK and Hadji times 10… and Ian's a total goof-ball, a practical joker and fiercely protective."

"Protective?"

"Oh, and jealous…" Jonny laughed as he remembered Friday, "He was glaring daggers when Venus hugged me…"

"I take it she's not usually a hugger?"

"Not particularly, no." Jonny looked down, "…Dad, I have a really bad feeling that something is going to happen…" His breath caught in his own throat. He didn't want to say he was scared, terrified if he were honest, "Everything feels…wrong."

"Son, Race is with you. He'll keep you safe. And I'll be there in a few hours. Can you hold on a little longer?"

The teen nodded, "…mhmm, promise you'll be careful?"

Benton laughed, "Son, I promise you, I'm not the one who needs to be careful right now. If any of those cretins from Gaia were foolish enough to approach me right this moment…" He smiled through the breath, hoping to high heaven he wasn't startling his son with such thoughts, "…THEY'D be the ones in mortal danger."

Jonny laughed weakly, "Yeah?" he could hear his dad's stoic anger, it was oddly comforting when it wasn't directed at him. He let out a lengthy yawn, "What time do you think you'll be in?"

"My flight plan will have me on the ground at 9, and by 10 I should be there. You should try to get some rest, you sound tired."

Jonny nodded again, "Okay… good night day. I… I love you."

"I love you too, son, good night."

Jonny handed Race the phone and headed back up the stairs slowly.

-Chapter 3 JQ-

Parked on the couch, Race listened to the key slide and the doorknob give at the front door. He silently clicked the safety off, ready to rock and roll if needed, but quickly reholstered it at the sight of Darren on the wrong side of 6 AM.

The younger man gave a short wave curved into a half-salute. With an acknowledging nod, Race stood and approached.

"That stubble fills in fast on you."

Darren rubbed his two-day beard, annoyed. "Damn id, I'll hafta shave when I ged up… where're the kids?" His tongue darted over his canine tooth.

Race thought he looked squirrelly, the way he was swaying he almost looked drunk, sans the bags under his eyes. "Still asleep, how was hunting?"

"Gee-Dee tirin', but suc'ssful." He slurred through.

"Successful? How so, were they—"

"Yeah. S'cssful. Dohn mine me, but I'm tired 'n I plan on takin' a power nap after I check on my girl…"

"Darren, maybe sleep it off, first?" He suggested only to be answered with a glare.

"Nah, Snow. My house, my kid—she knows w't I'm like burnt at both ends…"

Race rolled his eyes slightly, "And Jonny's with her and doesn't."

"I'm not gonna drop off if I dohn' check on her firs—t. I'll be sure nadda wake him…"

The older of the pair nodded at that, "Why are you so spent anyway? I'd think you'd be more accustomed to all-nighters."

"Two inna row on a month thad's been anythin' but restful…? Gee golly I wonder. What can I say, night terrors keep ya on yer toes…"

"She's been having night terrors? At 14?"

Darren flipped him off.

"Alright, I give—go check on her and get some sleep."

"Well thank ya fer yer hospitality."

Race rolled his eyes at the younger man, "You want coffee, first?"

"No, I want sleep. Dohn touch my coffee 'r let her when she gets up… I dohn need piss water grade coffee right now n' I'm inna bit of a mood."

"I couldn't tell." He said in a casually cross manner, still measuring the younger man, "Are you going to say who's blood that is?"

"Fuggin' morning people…" he bristled, "Not before that power nap." He headed to the stairs, weaving his way up them.

Race shook his head, that cocky ass never changed, he wondered how Phil was—what he knew, and what he'd be willing to share, though he doubted it would be very much at all. He waited until Darren was up the stairs before following behind, more for Jonny's sake than anything else.

True to his word, even punch-drunk with sleep deprivation, he'd been deceptively quiet, rounded the queen-sized bed with Jonny holding the covers around Venus, still out cold.

Darren kneeled to Venus's eye-level and tapped her shoulder from over the covers then stroked her exposed cheek.

Her eyes opened in slits, with a whine, "'s cold…"

Darren licked his canine tooth and gave a sweet, playful smile, "Sorry yer majesty." He pulled his hand back and blew some heat into them, rubbing them warmer. He stroked her cheek again to keep her focus off sleep, "C'mere, okay?"

"Mm… fine…" she turned toward Jonny, mumbling something about needing to get up. He rolled to his other side, freeing her of his hold on the covers, he, himself staying atop them.

Darren offered her a steadying hand which she accepted.

"Study?" He nodded. "W'time's it?"

"About 7…"

She reached for his stubble, "You have a beard…"

He dodged, not needing her to get into the blood. "Yeah, yeah, I'll shave when I wake up later."

Venus frowned, "You're exhausted…"

"I am." He agreed, "But I also need to check on ya, take the couch." He nodded her toward it. "How do ya feel?"

"Groggy, w'happened?" She frumped.

"Well some uh us got assigned clean-up duty—" He watched her turn on a full pout. "Oi, I didn't mean it like that…" he tried, "I'm exhausted, r'member? I'm not mad, I'm short 'n tired…"

Her face softened to one of worry instead. He took her hands in his, cupping them. "N I'm too tired to get into that… but I'm back… lemme make sure you're okay so I can get in a solid 4."

"…Okay…"

"Baby, close yer eyes and tell me what ya feel n' where. Be specific, got it?"

"…I think so." She closed her eyes, her long eyelashes interlocking from top and bottom rows. He gently rubbed the palmer tip of her left pinky.

"Light touch, left pinky."

He moved to a firm touch at her right pointer on the nail, "Normal contact, right hand."

He traced his thumbs over her wrists. "Light touch, my wrists… Are you done poking me yet?"

"Not jus' yet." He smiled, ruffled her hair then moved his hand to her foot, he wiggled her fourth toe on her right foot.

"Light touch, right foot…" He pressed into the arch of the same foot, "Right sole."

He touched her big toe on her right foot with light pressure.

"Don't you dare start tickling me, daddy, I'm not in the mood for you to tease me!"

He smiled patiently, "I know, I know…" His hand went to her left foot with medium pressure.

"Dad! I said stop!" She snapped her eyes open to glare into him.

"What? What'd I do?" He asked unnerved.

"Now you're tickling my left foot!"

He glanced at her foot, "Yeah? Where?" His voice lilted playfully to mask his concern.

"My toes." She crossed her arms, annoyed.

He moved his hand to her ankle, fingers searching for a pulse.

"QUIT IT!" She made to stand, Darren pulled her leg to kibosh it.

"Humor me." He said sharply. The focus in her eyes intensified as she locked onto his beard, registering for the first time that there was blood caking it.

"Daddy… who's blood is that?!"

"None of ours." Darren shot impatiently, he could barely feel a pulse there.

"Who's else could it be if not one of ours?! Claire and Jenna are ours—"

"No Claire is not!" He squeezed her foot just thinking about that cunt. Venus flinched visibly.

"Ow!" She pulled her leg toward herself though he didn't let go of it, "Stop acting scary! You look like Blue Beard!"

"Well the bitch shouldn't'uh looked through the key hole." He shot back heatedly, instantly regretting it as he saw Venus's eyes water.

"You're hurting me…" she whispered in a low voice.

He loosened his grip, touched the top of her foot, "I… I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that."

"…It feels like pins and needles." She frowned.

"Yeah, I know." He sighed, "Your circulation's being shitty… I'm gonna try ta fix that but it's not gonna be pleasant."

Venus frowned as he pressed his thumbs hard into the fleshy meat around her ankle.

She winced sharply and pulled a couch pillow to her chest to keep from yelping audibly. His thumb dug hard into her calf to work on venous return. With similar tactics, he pressed down the sides of her ankle and her arch, rubbing the toes vigorously, he felt as miserable as she looked.

"Were you sleeping on that side the whole time?"

"…I don't know."

He sighed, touched her heel gently then the tip of her toenails, "How's that feel?"

"Sore." She fumed.

"—Focus." He said dully.

"I am focused, it's sore." She pulled her knees to her chest to put a halt on his exercise, "It's tender, sore but not pins and needles." His sad eyes landed on hers. "Who's blood is it?! Is De—"

"We're fine."

Her face faltered into muted shock, "…It's Jenna's, isn't it?" she said in sudden horror, "Claire didn't take her in—?"

He pulled her into a hug, careful to keep her face away from the blood by planting her cheek firmly into his chest. "I'm tired… don't make me do this now."

"Is she? –Uncle Phil…?" She asked pointed half-questions, each more injurious than the last. He squeezed her hard and let out his own anguished noise.

"I can't think about my brother right now." He pleaded, the complexity of it all too overwhelming on raw nerves.

"Did I kill her?" Her voice squeaked.

"N-no, baby, you didn't. Jenna's not…" his voice hitched, "It's complicated, but she's not dead. She's as alright as she ever is… are you okay? You couldn't give me a proper status report, I… oh god, I thought something awful had…" he cradled her, she felt fat tears land on the top of her head, a hand firmly pressed her cheek into his bounding heart.

"—Breathe in deep, sweetie, you're hyperventilating on me…" he said after a long moment trying to steady his own nerves. She wrapped her arms around his chest, nails clawing into the grips to refuse the polite suggestion. Her head was swimming yet she felt like she was the one drowning. "Lemme jus' hold ya for a while, princess… keep an eye on ya…" he recited their typical magic words for when both were too shaken to be particularly distant as he snagged a throw-blanket to wrap her in, all too aware of just how cold she'd been only a few hours ago.

Venus curled to her side so she could maneuver into her snug position against his clavicle, his arm, and the arm of the couch which offered her an iota of lumbar support. Her knees draped over his crossed leg as her arms curled to his chest, gripping the blanket and the fabric of his shirt to pin it around her as her tight breaths fell into tired wisps as she fell into the dark.

Darren rocked them in anxious, short strides as his one extended leg bounced, falling asleep to a staccato rhythm, smelling her hair, feeling her too-faint warmth, or what had returned of it as he caved to his body's demands for rest.

Never one to admit his own demons, or nightmares, Darren relived a feedback loop from hell of the last night.

-TBC in Chapter 4-