Jack found his mom at the airport cafeteria. She got up when she saw him and hugged him so hard, he could barely breathe.
"My baby! Where have you been?! Why didn't you answer any of my calls?!"
"I...dropped my phone, and then it didn't work. I was late because I was trying to fix it."
His mom shook her head. "You should have just bought another one instead of wasting so much time! I've been so worried".
"Sorry mom".
"Honey, you know I don't like to comment on your friends in a bad way, but that woman Wuya is just terrible. You can't keep seeing her!"
"Wuya was here?!"
"Yes, and she was an awful visitor. She was far worse than what you told me about. I really wish you would stop teaming with her".
Her assistant approached them. She looked pale and a bit sick. "The jet is ready, Miranda".
"Come on Jack, we are already late enough".
She got up. Her movements were tense and she didn't giggle like usual when he saw her.
"Wait, what happened? Are you alright? Did she do something to you?"
"No, no; nothing. She was just very rude. I'm afraid I had to be a bit rough with her to convince her to leave".
Jack felt his blood run cold. He remembered the last person his mom had to be rough with. His last nanny, Jeaninne.
"B-but you're fine, right? If she hurted you-"
"Oh, darling. It's fine. She did nothing," she held his head and Jack bowed down to let her kiss his forehead. He suddenly felt like he had failed her.
He should have known. If he hadn't been so scared, and so stupid, he would have seen that Wuya would go for his mom first.
"...Sorry if she was mean to you mom".
"Don't worry honey. Oh my god! You're wearing the jacket I got you! I thought you hadn't liked it! Oh, you look so handsome dear".
Jack smiled and decided that he was going to wear that ugly jacket whenever he saw her.
They got into the jet and his mom started fishing among the many shopping bags she had for everything she had bought Jack.
Sara was at the cabinet fixing his mom a drink. Jack used the moment to corner her.
"Sara?"
"Yes, Mr. Spicer?"
"What happened?"
"I don't know sir".
"Sara, please, I need to know".
She looked down, and seemed to have aged years with a single memory.
"I really didn't see anything. That woman arrived, and she- I don't know how she got past all the security, but suddenly she was here and Miranda knew something was wrong because she sent me to get commander Smith right away. When I came back...I don't know. There was a broken bottle, and, and...blood on the floor. But Miranda was fine, and the other woman had disappeared. I don't...I mean, I have no idea how-".
Sara had started shaking, so Jack took the glass from her hands. "Go and try to sleep for a while. I'll take care of my mom".
"Jackie, dear! Come here!"
Jack went back to her mom and gave her the glass. She had extended a black coat over one of the seats. It looked like some high end version of his own usual goth coat. It was a bit shorter, and had big silver buttons all the way up and on every pocket.
"I know it's not very much like your usual style, but!", she pulled a scarf from one of the bags. "Look, this one has skulls! You like skulls. You can wear them together, especially now that it's nearly fall back home".
Jack looked at the jacket and the black scarf with white skulls. He had always thought that his mom just picked up anything she found around for him as an afterthought.
"Thanks mom, it's great".