Chapter 8: Back to Being a Family

Jake took a seat right in between Ripley and Newt. Newt, still crying on Hick's shoulder, seemed to have stopped once she saw Jake.

"It's true isn't it?" Newt asked, half angry, half crying. "She's got one in her."

"Yes," Jake answered "but, she's got a great amount of time until the thing comes out. I personally took a look atit, and she has a good 44 hours." He paused, allowing the information to sink in with Newt "And Bishop and I just talked to the people here to pick us up. It turns out that they have the ability to cut it out of her."

Newt's eyes brightened. "Really, she's going to be alright?" She asked. Before Jake could answer, Ripley beat him to it. "Yes, I'm going to be fine. All we really have to do is wait." She answered "Come give mom a hug you two." She said.

Newt ran straight over, and wrapped Ripley in a warm embrace. "You too Jake." Ripley said.

Aw, what the heck. Jake thought to himself, and joined in the embrace. So did Hicks.

They were there in a warm embrace, when Hudson and Vasquez came in.

"Would you look at that." Hudson commented. "Kind of makes me feel all mushy inside."

Newt turned around, and ran over to them "Uncle Will, Aunt Jenette!" Newt yelled, wrapping them both in a hug. They however, were shocked at Newt's response.

As the group hug ended, Jake asked "Where were you two? It's been a whole hour."

Newt joke answered "You two were making out weren't you?" Everyone else was shocked at hearing such a phrase.

"Where did you hear that young lady?" Ripley asked. Newt looked at her and answered "I learned it from Uncle Will. He said that to explain the strange face messages on Jake's cellular back when we were looking through those messages." Newt paused for a moment, and did a face-slap "I forgot not to say that word, Uncle Will said it was something I shouldn't know about." She then took a seat on one of the cots.

Everyone looked at Hudson. Hudson looked back at everyone else, and then answered "Well, if Jake had just cleared out his messages, and had not been making the colon and asterisk thing in his messages and had the same symbol be returned, there would have been nothing to explain."

Everyone just continued looking at him. "Come on! I tell dirty jokes around her all the time, and you don't do anything, yet if I explain one, then you all act like I've just sold a state secret!" Hudson continued.

Everyone just stared at him for a moment, then Ripley said; "If all of the guys could just go somewhere else for now, I'd really appreciate it."

Jake, Hicks, and Hudson were confused. Then Hicks realized what this meant, and motioned for Jake and Hudson to come with him, saying that Ripley was going to have "The Talk" with Newt.

Hudson and Jake realized this, and followed Hicks to the gym. It seemed like things were starting to be like normal again.

As they were working out in the gym, things seemed like normal. Hudson was working out with the weights, and Hicks had grabbed a 5 ft piece of pipe and started to spar with Jake.

The guys knew that things were going to be alright. They just had to keep busy outside the infirmary for a good hour.