In which Joe talks to someone we'd almost forgotten about, Sandy is forgiving and we wonder where Macy could be.

Kevin stared at his younger brother with a seriousness that was unfamiliar to Joe in so many ways. It was like the attack and the DNA-drain had somehow affected him beyond what Joe had thought.

Not that he had thought about Kevin much, the last week. In fact, he had been more concerned about a robot then his own brother of flesh and blood.

Somehow, he felt guilty after thinking this.

He opened his mouth. "I…" And then closed it just as quick. He forced himself to stop and think, to get the events out of his mind and think straight.
He was going to tell Kevin a story that was in all aspects practically impossible.
He was going to tell Kevin what he was forbidden to tell, what would be the consequences for Joe?

"You can tell me anything, you know that right? If I got hurt because of you," Kevin suddenly said, an unsuiting awkward expression on his face "then I don't blame you."
Joe just stared at him for a second.

"It's not that," He said, though he felt responsible for hurting Vanessa.
Come to think of it, how had she been doing? He hadn't visited her either. Neither had he talked to Anya. He'd seriously lacked his responsibilities. He hadn't been himself.
Was doing this, telling this story, what he should do?
"I just found out what happened," Joe sighed eventually. "But I can't tell you." It wasn't his secret to tell.
It was… Coler's. Nick's.

Kevin suddenly half-jumped out of bed. "Joe, don't. Tell me what happened, it's eating you, man, I can see it happening. You haven't been the Joe I know, lately."
Kevin's brown eyes were staring into Joe's own with a ridiculous amount of pleading, but Joe suddenly found himself wishing for another pair of dark eyes. The dark eyes that he wanted to know, the dark eyes that had been the last thing he saw before he fainted.
The Humanoid's eyes.

"I'm sorry." He told the harmed man before him, who had estranged from him in just a week.
Or maybe Joe had estranged from him.

He stumbled back, out of the door of room 483, turned around and fled. Right past his family and best friend.
"Joe!"
He ignored Stella's voice as she called for him and didn't listen to his mother's faint: "Honey!"
He just ran away, away from them, away from Kevin, who carried scars Joe felt guilty for, who held worries caused by Joe.

His shoes made slapping sounds on the hospital floor and several doctors, patients and visitors send him either annoyed or worried glances. One of them tried to stop him, but Joe was faster.
He was faster even though he was still tired, had just woken up after his second black-out that week and he didn't think he'd eaten anything in at least a day.

He felt miserable, but that was nothing compared to a shock of realisation he was having.
Somewhere along the line, he'd gotten attached to the Humanoid.

Suddenly, as if pulled towards it, he stopped in front of a door. His tired eyes flickered over its white surface, before resting on a little plate that read; 'Page, Vanessa. Page, Michelle'

He hesitated only a second before he reached for the doorknob. Slowly, he opened the door and peeked inside.
It was late. Very late in the evening, practically night, but there was light burning inside of the room.

"Hello?" A soft voice told him. "Who is it?"

Slowly, he entered the room, pressing the door shut behind him. His eyes struggled as he focussed them in the slightly dimmed room.
The only source of light was a bed light next to one of the two beds. The bed itself was occupied by someone he recognised.
Vanessa Page, the girl he'd saved. She was pretty without Penny's marks.

"Hey, I'm Joe," Joe said, smiling at her with a smile that he didn't recognise as one he would normally give a pretty girl like her. "I sort of…"

"Saved me," She finished. "I was wondering whether I would see you again or not." Her smile was happy, genuine, and exactly something Joe was looking for at the moment.
"Sorry," Joe offered lamely. "I've been… busy."

"Saving more innocent girls from mysterious attacks?" She said, smiling brightly.

"More the other way around actually," Joe responded softly, putting his hand on the bed, not quite able to touch her. "I'm really glad you're okay and awake, though."

Her face fell and she looked away from him, immediately worrying Joe to no end, as he thought back to how she'd looked in the parking-lot. Vulnerable, in pain, while he had done nothing to help her.
"I'm awake, all right," She whispered. "But I'm far from okay."
Slowly, she rolled up the sleeve of her hospital gown, revealing a black mark, surrounded with an angry swollen red on her arm.
Joe winced as he recognised the same mark Kevin must still carry around.
He'd forgotten about that too. He'd forgotten how much the company he was currently protecting, trusting, even, had harmed the ones he loved.
Wordlessly, Vanessa then hiked up the gown, to reveal her legs, which were covered in half healed bruises and the same scrapes Kevin had. He clenched his hands.
Where they rasped off the skin like cheese.

"But you're alive, you're theoretically fine." Joe said. "But I'm sorry I wasn't there earlier. I'm sorry about a lot of things."
She stared at him for a second before she reached for his hand on the bad and grasped it.
"You're not okay, either, are you?" She questioned softly.
Joe shook his head. "No."

She glanced at the still form in the bed beside them, where Joe suspected her sister, Michelle, to be sleeping. "Nightmares?"
Joe smiled faintly, before returning her soft squeeze in his hand. "No." Or at least not majorly.
"Then what is hurting you?"

Joe sighed and looked up into a pair of concerned blue eyes.
He didn't know this girl. He had no idea if she was a locked crest or a gossip-girl. What if she told somebody?
He decided to go with half the truth.

"I am," He said. "I haven't been myself, lately, torn up over a lot of things and I think I'm hurting those around me."

She listened, as if they'd silently agreed over it.
"I have had the most ridiculous things happen to me and along the way, I found something that's taking all my attention away from the things I normally have them on and I can't tell anybody why."

"Is this thing important to you?" She questioned professionally.

"It's starting to be." He answered truthfully, thinking of the Humanoid.

She thought about this for a minute and Joe absent mindedly traced a few moles on her throat, before he saw she was speaking again.
"Maybe you shouldn't be so afraid of changing," She said. "You've found something that's important to you, but you're afraid that you're hurting others by doing what you want. Falling out of the pattern that they're used to, am I right?"

Joe was taken back by this, it was an answer he hadn't been expecting and he almost withdrew his hand from Vanessa's smaller one, suddenly uncomfortable.
It was indeed true that it was his choice to be spending time at the lab.
But his family was going trough a rough time, while he was hanging out with the result of Kevin's pain.
He let Stella go round with that Ben-figure, without even knowing the dude was right for her. He'd been away from home for countless of hours in which his mother must've been worried sick.
And just now, when on the very of being honest and truthful, the way he'd been raised. He chickened out and fled from them all, again.
All because of this boy, that he'd found. This boy, created by scientists, was practically perfect in any way and yet, Joe found himself worrying, protective.
But he couldn't blame the Humanoid, it—he had done nothing to provoke the feelings in Joe.
That was his entire fault.

"And it's not just that. But that something is potentially dangerous, not just to me, but to them, if I ever tell them what it is. It's not just something I'm interested in; it's something I got caught up in. Something I can't get out of."
He was talking about Coler, Penny and the whole of the New Industrial Laboratories and the stupid N.I.C.H.O.L.A.S. project.

Vanessa's features tensed at the word 'dangerous' but her voice was steady; "Looks like you're in some deep shit."

Joe stared at her for a minute and almost burst out hollering. He hadn't been expecting that one.
She saw the laughter in his eyes and giggled as he chuckled.

"Yeah," Joe finally agreed. "I certainly am."

There was a brief silence in the small hospital room, before Vanessa started talking again.
"I don't know what it is that's happening with you, Joe," She said. "And I'm suspecting danger is attracted to you. But only you yourself know what is the best thing to do. Look in your heart Joe, the answer's right there."

Could she be right? Could it be that Joe was able to get himself out of this?
Maybe. Just maybe, there was a chance that he did.
He knew what he wanted to do and he also knew what he should be doing.
There was a choice.
And as he stared at Vanessa's face, the supportive smile, he saw a pair of dark brown eyes, similar to his own.
The choice was quickly made.

It didn't make the guilt any less. It didn't make what he was doing any less wrong.
But it was a choice Joe was free to make.

Or so he thought.

"Hello? Yeah, it's me. Listen. Something strange just happened…"

"No, no, the source is fine; I'm talking about your current object of observation…"

"Hey, hey, no need to yell, I'm just trying to help here, okay?"

"Thank you. Okay, listen. The boy just came in, looking rushed and really damn crazy. He wanted private time with his brother…"

"… Yes of course the older one! Where was I?"

"Right: he hadn't been in there for two minutes before he stormed out again, looking even crazier and to tell you the truth, really fucking guilty."

"I don't think he told him, but he's on the verge. We have to keep an eye on him. The family is upset and the best friend is in hysterics because he isn't telling her anything, currently crying with the mother. The dad's just angry."

"I don't know where he is. Of course not, I have to keep an eye on them. Try the third."

"No prob, Penny."

"Joe." His mother said, the worry in her voice almost thicker then Joe's guilt. Her brown eyes, the ones he really couldn't use right now, were focussed on her middlest son as she was standing hunched over one of Kevin's suitcases.

"Hey mom," Joe said, shuffling with his feet as he cautiously came closer.
She looked like she was asking herself the same thing he was.
When did he become such a stranger to me?

"Listen, Joe," – "Mom, I…"

They stopped and laughed, because it was such a familiar thing, talking at the same time, the way they always did.
"Where's dad?" Joe eventually said, walking closer and grabbing what he recognised as Kevin's otter-socks.

"Looking for you." She said softly, automatically leaving him with the first suitcase to grab the other. They'd always been efficient like this and somehow, it felt good to be doing something, even though there were things tensing the air between them.

Joe sighed, "Listen, mom, I'm sorry. I truly am," His hands folded Kevin's shirts with the flick of his wrist he'd long since memorised. "I feel like the lowest scum, that I've abandoned Kevin, that I've abandoned you all like I did."
Her eyes rose again to meet his and Joe noticed how worn her face looked, tired from all the restless nights she must've had. And all the while, Joe wasn't there to help her like he always did.
Impulsively, he walked towards her and hugged her. He realised how long it'd been since he'd done that, even before Kevin's disappearance.
"I'm really sorry," He whispered. "I haven't been a really good son."

"It's okay. You're forgiven," She said. "And that's not true, you're a wonderful son."
Surprised, Joe released her, so he was halfway in her arms staring at his mother.
"Really?"
She chuckled. "Yes, really." Then she sighed and gestured for him to sit down on Kevin's previously occupied bed. Joe wondered where his older brother was, before he focussed on his mother.

"You're old and wise enough to make decisions for yourself, Joe. You're not a bad son, just because you weren't playing the perfect one. I've thought about his a lot and I realised how much I usually depend on you to help me. You're the only one of my children to ever do his chores, so through the years; I've given all of them to you. You're the one that takes over my chores when the children that don't do them get in trouble. You're smart, friendly and you're a great son to have, don't ever doubt that."

Joe gaped at her. Her words were a complete surprise to him, even though they were all true.
He did do that. But it was the logical, the Joe-thing to do.
"Don't feel guilty for being strange. In a family like ours, it only makes you normal."

And it was true. It was very much a Lucas-y thing.
Kevin did what he wanted all the time without telling what he was up to, he'd always been safe up until now.
And really, nobody really knew where Frankie was all the time.

"Thanks, mom." Joe whispered.

"No thanks sweetheart." She smiled.

Then he sighed, knowing what he had to do. Not really looking forward to it after her trusting speech. "In advance too."

His mother sent him a puzzled look, demanding him to explain.
"I'm not quite done with being normal yet." He said. "And I'm sorry for that."

His mother hugged him again, apparently liking that very much, again. "Don't be. It's fine. At least I know you'll be doing that," She said. "But can I know what my son is up to, at least?"

Joe had been expecting that one, though in a slightly angrier package.
"I'm s..." She glared. "No, it's hard to explain, but I can't tell you."

"Joseph Adam Lucas, you're not into funny business, are you? Is that what this guilt-thing is about?" She then demanded, the anger Joe was expecting finally in her eyes.

"Of course not, mom!" He said, slightly offended she would think such a thing of him.
Really, she had been the one telling him he was quite smart. "I'm just…"

"Just promise me you'll take care of yourself?"

He looked at her and tried to look as sincere as he possibly could.

"Of course."

Of course not.

"I'm very glad you called yesterday, Joe." Coler told him as they walked through white corridors again unfamiliar to Joe. "It was the perfect way to inform each other about our change of plans."

They were once again at the New Industrial Laboratories and Joe was surprised to know there'd been another entrance to the building, one on the other side of the block.
The place was really, really huge.

In reality, he hadn't called Coler, but Macy, whose mobile phone number he'd received at one point or another.
Coler, suspiciously, had been the one to answer.
He claimed Macy's phone now redirected back to him directly, after the accident and Macy's recovery. Apparently, she'd been hurt worse then he was.
Joe had, of course, demanded to see her, but the request had been declined, irritating Joe beyond something he'd felt previous in the building.
Sure, he'd been really pissed, especially at the subject of the matter, Macy Misa herself. But Joe was really worried.
And he wondered, why had the Humanoid decided to save him and not the woman that created him?

"Say now, Joe," Coler said. "How are you doing? We know your physique is considered above what we expected, thanks to our little artificial friend, but how are you, really?"

Joe was once again taken back by the man's ability to read Joe's thoughts.
All he had been able to think about at the doctor's examination that morning, severely early, was the fact that he was mentally, more then physically, shaken by what had happened.

"I'm… Okay, I guess, a little off my game, but I'm taking care of it. Nothing to worry about." He replied, trying to keep up with Coler's long legs as they sped through the expensively lit hallway.

It was true. Joe had spent the entire previous day catching up with his family. He'd had hours of conversations with Kevin, Stella and even with his dad. His voice felt slightly strained, but it had been worth it.
The guilt was almost gone –burned just slightly in his stomach— and both his family and his friends' suspicions had been smoothed as flat as they could go.
They still knew something was up. Or even that something was wrong. But they seemed able to leave him with his problems, if that was what he wanted.
Stella had only asked three times. That was a record.

All but his mother's worries had been quenched, but Joe was fairly okay with that, his mother was better off knowing something was up then when she was left in the dark.

"That's good. That's good." Coler replied. "We can't have you unfocussed as our newest assistant, now can we?"
Coler and Joe had had a conversation about Joe's place in the building. He wasn't exactly expected within the project and now that Macy was unable to do her work, everything was messed up.
And there was only that much Big Rob knew about the N.I.C.H.O.L.A.S. project.
Only Macy and her Grandfather had known the specifics. The rest of them only had files and Macy hadn't really been one for files.

Joe was grateful Coler was okay with letting him stay. Especially under these circumstances.

"Now, before we go in," Coler had stopped in front of two black doors at the far end of the corridor. "I don't want you to hold anything back when we're in there."
This surprised Joe, he'd been under the impression he would have to be silent and observe, since Coler liked his authority and was different from laid-back Macy.

Joe still wondered how she was doing.

"The only reason, or rather, one of the main reasons I decided to keep you within the project was because of the amazing contact both Macy, Robert and Penny, before her misstep, reported about you and the Humanoid. The fact alone that he jumped to your rescue promises something none of my scientists are sure of. But we're making theories. While in there, we'll be testing the Humanoid."

More testing?

"Since we lost a lot of data with Macy…"

What the heck had happened to her!

"But you're allowed, or rather, I want you to interact with the Humanoid as you feel is right. Later on, I will be asking you do try and do things with it."

Joe could live with that and he felt excitement bubble in his chest.
Free interaction with the Humanoid. That was more then he'd been expecting.

"But, young Joseph. You have to promise me to do exactly what I say when I do order you to do something, I have to know I have your loyalty."

Coler turned to Joe with a serious glance in the eyes behind his glasses.
He was walking with a cane and he slightly nudged Joe in the shin. "Do you agree?"

"I agree." Joe replied breathlessly, somehow feeling like he just signed a binding contract.

"Good." Coler smiled. Let's go in then.

He opened the door and Joe immediately forgot all about the threatening question.
The room they were in was similar to the testing room he'd been in with Macy, the one where Penny had attacked them.
He shuddered.
Only this one was far, far bigger and twice as advanced looking. It was one, large, open and incredibly intimidating room.
Scientists in white lab coats, around ten of them. Were either walking around with clipboards or touching screens on large, white computers.
All sorts of machines that reminded Joe of Macy's lab were placed around the slightly circular room, though with more system Macy's lab could ever hope to have, positioned in a circle around the middle of the room.
The air smelled sterilised and he felt like the weight of the outside world was lifted of his shoulders as he stepped into an entirely different world. The world of advanced science.
Joe saw screens with calculations, floating touch screens and heavy objects that seemed to fly through the air, but he wasn't sure as he focussed on the body doing fast push-ups in the centre-space.

Joe smiled as he saw the Humanoid. And the Humanoid saw him.
Nick immediately stopped with his push ups and walked towards Joe with a swift, confident step.
He was still slightly beneath Joe's height, but he seemed taller then Joe remembered, though he knew it would be impossible for Nick to grow.
He seemed confident.
Or maybe; able to defend himself.

This conclusion could be a result of his stance; legs slightly spread, his back straight, his shoulders low but steady, or maybe because Joe had seen him fight.

Well, he hadn't exactly seen him like that, he'd been slightly occupied, but he knew the Humanoid was perfectly capable of defending himself physically.
That was relieving to him. But it didn't stop the possessive rush that he felt every time he looked at Nick.

"Hey." He whispered, smiling at the humanoid, whose freckled cheeks spread his mouth into a smile, his eyes focussing on Joe's face.

"Hello." He replied. "It is a great pleasure to have you here again." He said.
Then he turned around again, walking back to the middle of the room, leaving Joe with his mouth open and his mind disappointed.
He'd thought…

Then, Nick turned around and smiled again, his black hair bouncing with the movement.

"Are you going to come with me?" He questioned and Joe could swear he saw a plea behind the dark brown eyes.
He followed immediately, feeling the eyes of the scientists on him. Feeling the approving smirk of Coler.

But he was focussed on Nick, in his flawless white shirt and black jeans with a red pocket on the side.
It was all going to be fine, Joe thought, as he easily fell into step with Nick and smiled at the younger boy.
He watched as he resumed his training, he even started talking to Nick, about his life and his dog and his friend before he found Nick.
Nick listened with a smile on his face, when Joe asked why, he told him it was because he didn't have stories to tell, so listening to Joe was a wonderful thing.
All in flawless English. It was unnerving, but exhilarating.

He forgot about his guilt when he stared at Nick when people turned around him and plugged wires into his back, all the while telling him about himself; Nick turned out to be an exceptional interrogator, he wanted to know everything about Joe.
Joe didn't tell everything, for there were at least a dozen other people listening, but he distracted Nick from what he saw as annoying and painful looking tests with silly facts and stories.

It would all be fine.

She pulled and shook at the bars that were holding her prisoner in luxury. "Let me out, they need me, you have no idea of his capabilities! Let me help!"
The bars were charged at her screaming, sending jolts of electricity run through her worn body and she cried out in pain, releasing them. She stumbled back onto her sterile white bed. Her dirty brown hair hanging limply in front of her face.
"Please." She sobbed.

There you have it, extra long chapter to make up for my absence.
I've just been so ridiculously happy and preppy that I wasn't able to write. I apologise greatly.

Did I mention there's a banner? There is, on my profile.
Also; would anybody be interested in making a trailer? I love those, but suck at making them…

It feels like much to ask, but a review would be nice.