Moving Forward

It took a great amount of explaining on behalf of Sonya and Bobby to have Hank and Peggy not get the police involved. They claimed all the damage done was from an accidental discharge. That hardly compensated for the countless bullets holes in the walls and nearly destroyed furniture but by some miracle they accepted it.

As a homeowner Hank was devastated. The home where he'd raised his son, dog and truck, the place he put so much hard work and dedication to was destroyed. On the other hand as a master craftsman Hank was delighted because now he could rebuild the house without having to take it down.

So Hank his son and his friends gathered in the Hill's driveway with all the tools and equipment they'd need to get the job done.

Boomhauer was busy cutting some plywood while Bill held it in place, Dale stood several cautious feet away smoking his cigarette nervously. Hank set the ladder up on the side of the house and Bobby climbed up. Halfway up his father handed him shingles, hammers and nails. Then Bobby went to work on the roof while Hank rejoined his friends in the driveway.

Bobby did his task without question, but eventually he started to run out of nails.

"Dad!" he called out. There was no response." Dad!" Still nothing. Knowing he'd have to get the nails himself Bobby began to descend the ladder. But then suddenly it began to wobble and just as the shock value that he was about to fall hit him, Bobby was safely fasten back against the roof. Breathing a sigh of relief Bobby turned back to thank his father or one of his friends only to look back and see none of them standing there.

There was Sonya with both hands fastened on the ladder.

"What are you doing?" she asked critically.

Hank and his friends were busy in the driveway.

"So this is what I'm thinkin overall." Said Hank as pointed out the blueprints of his house out to his friends. But as Hank talked one by one his friends became distracted by a more interested sight." So if we-"

"Hey, Hey, Yo." Said Boomhauer getting Hank's attention. Hank picked his head up and Boomhauer pointed him in the other direction. There Hank watched as he saw Bobby half-way down the ladder with Sonya talking from the ground.

"I'm working with my Dad." Answered Bobby.

"I can see that." She removed one hand off the ladder and started leaning back. Hank and his friends continued to watch." I'm going back to the base." Bobby looked at her curiously and was about to ask 'Why?' when Sonya continued." After our little incident the other day I'm beginning to think that the accident at the base was no accident at all. Get down, let's go."

"I can't leave now." Said Bobby." I've got to stay and help my Dad." It annoyed Sonya to some extent that Bobby would get distracted by these mundane task. But she was a guest here and tried not to show her discomfort too much.

"Fine." She said through her teeth." I'm going but you'll be here when I get back."

"Yes." He nodded.

Just then everyone's attention was called to the sound of a car rolling by. Everyone looked over to see a police car, not just any police car but Joseph's. Hank and his friends waved nicely to the car having no reason to suspect anything wrong. Bobby saw Joseph and waved to him as well. But Stryker scowled as he looked over at Bobby and Sonya before driving off.

It had only been a few days since the police had been denied to investigate the Hill's home after the Black Dragon Incident. Since then Stryker made it a point to drive past the house every day and have a look. Nobody saw anything peculiar in this since it seemed to everyone that Stryker was only there to pick up/drop off Joseph. That was except for Sonya who told Bobby again and again not to go and tell Joseph his closest friend what had happened. She told him once more after the car drove by as she prepared to leave.

Hank and his friends watched as Sonya walked into the garage to retrieve her motorcycle. Then the engines roared and she tore out of the driveway and into the road.

"Dad!" called Bobby." Dad!" Hank finally turned and looked at his son." I need more nails." Hank fiddled with the hammer in his hands and then set it down.

"Uh Son. What's say you come down here for a break?" Hank suggested.

"Okay." Said Bobby happily as he hoped down from the ladder. And in a few minutes the four men were standing the alley like they always do, with Bobby amongst them drinking a soda instead of a beer. Then one by one they sounded off as they normally would and then all became quiet. Hank and his friends shifted around awkwardly while Bobby stood calmly.

"So um, son." Hank finally said getting his sons attention." How is it with this girl?" Bobby looked at him strangely." With your um Lieutenant." Bobby took a casual sip of his soda and looked straight ahead.

"It's fine." He answered. Hank and his friends still shifted awkwardly. Bill kept smacking his tongue against his lips and dale took quick puffs of his cigarette.

"Are you to um, um" Hank struggled to say what was on his mind.

"Dang old Bobby, tell me dang old Uncle Boomhauer here. You and that pretty little gal, is you two more than what you seem?" A small smirk rose on Bobby's face putting the older men on the end of their seats.

"No." He answered." We're just good friends."

"Just good friends?" repeated Bill, although it sounded like a question.

"Yep." Said Bobby. He took a sip of his soda. With that the conversation appeared to be over and everyone loosened up a little.

"Yep." Said Hank.

"Yep" said Dale.

"Yep." Said Bill.

"Hmh." Said Boomhauer.

Later that night Bobby was taking the trash out from the kitchen and into the cans outside. He passed through the living room where his parents and Ladybird were watching tv. He passed Sonya's room and although he didn't see her he could hear her fiddling with something in there.

Bobby opened the sliding door and walked outside discarding the trash into it's respective can. He was about to go inside when something got his attention.

"Pssh, Bobby! Dude. Pssh!" Bobby turned to his left where he thought the voice was originating from and saw the fence. But sticking out over it was Joseph, shoulder up. Bobby walked over and stood opposite from him.

"Hey Joseph, what are you doing here?" asked Bobby curiously. Joseph was in his police uniform and fidgeted with his belt.

"I just got off of work and I saw you out here. I've haven't seen you in a couple days."

"Yea." Said Bobby." A lot has happened recently."

"Yea. What happened the last time I saw you?" Joseph asked randomly. Bobby cocked his head to him." With all the guns and everything." Sonya had told Bobby time and time again not to talk to the police about what happened. Which had it hard when your best friend was the police. But Bobby didn't share Sonya's 'paranoia' and thought it could only benefit their cause if they had the help of the police.

Bobby opened his mouth and prepared to tell the whole truth, but when he opened his mouth his voice didn't come out.

"Hill." A stern voice commanded. The two boys looked over to see Sonya standing several feet away. Bobby knew now he'd been caught.

"Sonya I-"

"Inside now!" she commanded. Bobby did not argue and did as he was told. After he left Sonya turned to Joseph who was still stading there, eyeing her strangely or rather eyeing her chest." Get out of here before I break your arm!" she commanded. Joseph did not wait to see if she would make good on her threat and ran back into his home.

Meanwhile in the lair of the Black Dragon. Kabal paced back and forth with a lot on his mind. For the past few days Jarek had explained to him everything that had happened recently while under Kano's leadership. He'd found out that the Black Dragon had submitted to a foreign power he didn't think existed. Working for a dictator bent on world domination hindered Kabal's plans greatly. First he wanted revenge for Kano's death and then he wanted to increase the ranks of the Black Dragon to heights no one could have imagined. On one hand he had his own business but on the other to defy this Princess would mean certain death. It seemed an easy choice but not one Kabal wanted to make.

He continued to ponder the situation over when Jarek approached him.

"Kabal." He said getting his attention." We've just made a discovery with the Special Forces." Even though any logical person would have abandoned this quest given what had occurred recently, Kabal did not and instead kept taps on the Special Forces.

Jarek led Kabal to a computer screen where he saw a camera watching Bobby and Joseph talking through the fence. They couldn't make out what they were saying but it seemed secretive.

"It seems the Special Forces are talking to the police." Told Jarek. Their leader was silent." What should we do?" Kabal's heart sank slightly when he saw Joseph. He wasn't a bad kid and if he could help it Kabal would have liked to not have either Joseph or Stryker harmed. But apparently that couldn't happen anymore, Kabal had given up that life of justice in hopes of revenge.

"We shall have to act." Said Kabal." Kill them."

Back at the hill home Bobby returned to his room where he waited for Sonya to inevitably storm in and start yelling. So he waited, sitting on the side of his bed and tapping his foot against the ground.

It was a little after nine when Bobby saw the lights in the hallway go out and he heard the footsteps of his parents as they made their way to their bedroom. Not long after that there was an abrupt stomping sound, Bobby's door flung open and Sonya marched in. He stood up just in time to see Sonya's fuming face a few inches before his.

"Now I know how this seems but just hear me out-"

"No you shut up and listen!" she said in a raised voice. She tried to keep her voice as angry but as low as possible since she didn't want to wake either Hank or Peggy." Our integrity is not to be compromised here. When I tell you to do something you're supposed to do it, no questions asked!" She now completely regretted ever putting trust in Bobby. But Bobby just sat back and took what she had to say. Then Sonya prepared to really yell when she noticed something out of the corner of her eye. She turned and saw Hank standing in the doorway." From this moment on you'll do as I say." She whispered harshly to Bobby before turning and walking out the door.

Hank stood there silently as he watched her go, then he turned and looked at Bobby.

"You alright, son?" he asked.

"Yea Dad. I'm fine." He answered. Hank nodded his head and left.

Later that night Joseph got a phone call. He was aroused form his sleep by his cellphone ringing.

"Yo?" he said sleepily into the phone.

"Joseph, good your awake."

"Bobby? It's three in the morning, what are you calling me for?"

"I want to talk with you Joseph. You and your cop partner, tomorrow."