Disclaimer: I do not own Static Shock or The Incredibles
Chapter Eleven: Breaking Point
Francis furrowed his brow, frowning at the book. He threw his pencil down. "I don't get it."
Frieda picked his pencil up and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder, leaning over to look at his paper. "Don't get frustrated. Look, you mixed your tenses up. This should be past perfect. Remember? Change this verb," Frieda made the notation, carefully writing around Francis' messy scrawl in her own prim handwriting. "There. That's better."
Francis looked down. That looked right. "But I don't know when to use past perfect." He whined.
Frieda rolled her eyes. "Then ask, stupid." She took Francis' book and flipped it to the right chapter, pointing out the passage on past perfect. "Read that."
"Yes ma'am." Francis said obediently. Frieda smacked him on the arm and went back to completing her own work. "How's that?" Francis asked, nodding at the next example on his paper.
Frieda looked. "That's right! Great. Spanish is all about memorization. If you can remember the verbs and the tenses, you'll be fine. It just requires a little work."
"I hate work." Francis muttered.
"Too bad." Frieda laughed. "We've got a test on Wednesday and you're going to ace it."
"I am?"
"Yes. Otherwise it'll reflect badly on my tutoring skills." Frieda said teasingly.
Francis grinned. "I'd hate to be the blot on your spotless record."
Frieda shoved Francis' shoulder and laughed.
Their good-natured teasing was cut short by the vibration of Francis' cell phone on the wooden table. Francis scooped it up and answered. "Yeah?" He listened for a moment. "Nope, still got all my clothes on." He winked at Frieda. "Okay." Francis hung up and started getting his things together.
"What was that about?" Frieda giggled.
"I gotta get going." Francis explained. "Parrs are cracking down."
"Why?" Frieda asked.
Francis hesitated. He didn't really want to tell Frieda why. A hook-up with some random girl wouldn't win him her affections. "I, uh, broke a house rule."
"Oh." Frieda got her things. "Walk you out?"
"Sure." Francis grinned. The two exited the library together. He looked at the girl sideways as they headed for the parking lot. "You really think I can ace this test?"
Frieda nodded. "Of course."
Francis smiled. "Cool."
"We're going out." Bob announced, shrugging on his sports jacket. Helen was fixing her makeup in the hall mirror. Apparently every couple of weeks the Parrs had a date night. Ever since they had hit a rough patch in their marriage a few months before, the couple made time for their relationship in order to keep it strong.
Bob looked sharply at Francis. "You are going to do your homework and go to bed."
Francis nodded.
Helen turned from her reflection and smiled at the assembled kids. "Violet's in charge Dash. Do what she says."
Dash groaned and Violet smiled smugly at him.
"Jack-Jack's in bed, but he might get fussy in an hour or two." Helen told Violet.
Her daughter nodded. "Got it."
"Lucius will be back around eleven." Bob said, looking at his watch. "Just keep the house standing until then."
"Don't worry about it Mr. P." Virgil said. "We got things covered."
Bob didn't look convinced. This was the first time they were going out since Francis had arrived.
Violet, noticing the hesitation, took charge of the situation. "Okay guys, have a good night." Violet ushered her parents to the door. "Don't hurry back."
She closed the door behind her parents and sighed before they could protest. All the kids strained to hear the sounds of the car starting and then pulling out of the driveway.
Violet smiled. "They really don't trust us." She looked around the room. "Who wants ice cream?"
Dash jumped up, hand in the air. "Me!" He ran into the kitchen. Violet followed after him.
Virgil went to go after the siblings but Francis caught his arm. "You're coming with me."
"Um, why?" Virgil asked.
Francis looked at the kitchen. No Parrs in sight. "I need to read my file."
Virgil's jaw went slack. "What? But that's on the database. I don't have access to that. Only the adults do."
Francis shook his head. "I know Bob printed it out. Where would he keep something like that?"
Virgil looked over his shoulder and steered Francis out into the hallway where they could have more privacy. "Are you sure you want to do this? You're already in a shitload of trouble."
Francis sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "There's something in that file that I need to know. Everyone treats me like I'm about a second away from exploding and Bob won't let me use my powers because he says Dicker doesn't want me to. I'm pretty sure there's something in my file about me or my powers or something that I don't know about."
Virgil didn't look too confident. "I don't know…"
"Look, it's my file. It's about me. Don't you think I should know what's in there?" Francis asked.
"I guess." Virgil assented.
"Then help me." Francis implored. "Besides, you owe me for that pink shit the other day."
"It was a smoothie." Virgil grumbled.
Francis snorted. "Whatever."
Virgil still hesitated.
"If we get in trouble I'll take the fall." Francis assured him. "I promise." He held out his hand.
Virgil looked at the offered palm and sighed before reaching out and locking hands with the other boy. "Okay. But let's be fast. Ice cream can only distract someone for so long." Virgil took off down the hallway.
"Where're we going?" Francis asked.
"Bob's study."
"Bob has a study?" Francis hadn't really explored the house very well.
"He locks himself in there when he's feeling particularly angsty. He's got all kinds of paperwork filed away. Only the adults are allowed in there though. " Virgil explained as he and Francis crept stealthily down the hallway.
They encountered a thick oaken door with an electronic lock in place of a handle. Virgil put his hand against the wooden surface. "If he's got a printout of your file, it's in here."
"How're we going to get in?" Francis asked, inspecting the lock. He couldn't pick anything that high-tech.
Virgil held one finger up, a crackle of electricity dancing over the digit. "Leave that to me." He went to work on the lock, sending out little bursts of electricity to carefully probe around for the electronic catch mechanism.
Francis smirked appreciatively. "You're more badass than I gave you credit for."
Virgil grinned in response. Almost there. One searching spark found the catch. Virgil pulled back, releasing the lock. A green light flashed and the door cracked open. Virgil pushed it open, stepping into the room. "Piece of cake."
Francis followed Virgil into the room, looking around. The lights clicked on automatically. There were bookshelves all along the walls with one wall devoted entirely to memorabilia. There were newspaper clippings, magazine covers, letters, photos, and many other things all about Mr. Incredible. Francis was drawn to the wall, gaping at the extensive display. It was impressive. In the center of the wall there were a few newer news clippings, he could tell because they weren't yellowed with age. Francis inspected those. They were articles on the Incredible family, showing them fighting the Omnidroid and the Underminer.
"Hey Smoky, over here." Virgil called.
Francis turned around. Virgil was rummaging in Bob's desk. He held up a file marked with a big black Confidential.
Francis grinned. "Jackpot." He took the file from Virgil and opened it. It was indeed his file. "Was this on top?" Francis asked before he read further.
"Yeah." Virgil said. "It was right in the top drawer."
So Bob had been reading it recently. Francis frowned and turned to the first page. There was the usual stuff, photos and analysis, some intelligence tests, medical reports, and a detailed diagnosis on his powers. Francis skimmed until he got to a psychoanalysis. He jumped over a lot of the big words. He remembered this. Some shrink had come in to the Center a few years after his mom had gone missing and asked him a lot of questions.
One phrase caught his attention.
"Due to Francis' mental condition, it is not recommended at this time that an extensive training regiment be implemented. Francis exhibits classic supervillain tendencies which should be tempered."
There was a red stamp at the bottom of the page that blotted out the shrink's signature. High Risk.
Francis paused. High Risk? He was high risk? He had supervillain potential? The questions raced through his mind and he stared dumbly at the report.
"What?" Virgil asked curiously. "What does it say?"
Francis passed the file to him wordlessly. Virgil read over the analysis quickly. His face fell as the words registered. "Oh."
"They think I'm going to be a supervillain." Francis growled, fisting one hand in his hair to avoid hitting something.
"That's not fair." Virgil protested. "They can't just decide that."
Francis tore the file from Virgil's hands and threw it back into the desk. "Let's get out of here."
"Dude, don't freak out about this. That report's old."
"Bob's taking it seriously. I bet Helen and your Dad agree." Francis muttered. He nodded at the door. "Let's go."
The door locked behind them. They stood in the hallway outside the study. The two boys stared at each other for a moment. "Don't tell anyone about this." Francis said finally.
"I won't." Virgil assured him.
Francis turned on his heel and went straight to his room. He didn't come out the rest of the night.
There was little to no privacy in the Sanctum. Francis hated that. He hated that a lot. Thankfully today was a Saturday so he wouldn't have to deal with school. He really was not in the mood for that. He couldn't remember a time when he had been angrier, and that was saying something.
So when Helen burst into his room at eight in the morning Francis was not pleased.
Francis dug himself deeper into the blankets and buried his head under a pillow, ignoring the Parr matriarch. He hoped that maybe she would go away.
No such luck.
"C'mon sleepy head." Helen practically shouted into Francis' ear. He turned his head and groaned.
Helen slapped the covers. "Let's go. Up and at 'em."
Francis didn't move.
Helen frowned and put Jack-Jack down on the bed, nudging her youngest child towards the stubborn teenage boy. Jack-Jack crawled over to Francis and found a lock of his bright red hair, gleefully grabbing it and pulling.
"Ow." Francis muttered, lifting his head and glaring at the baby. The pillow dropped over the side of the bed. Jack-Jack giggled in delight and clapped his hands, not releasing his hold on Francis' hair. "Go away you little monster." Francis grumbled sleepily.
Helen took hold of Francis' comforter with both hands and yanked it off the bed. Francis shivered at the sudden exposure to the cold morning air. He was only wearing boxers and a wife beater.
"Group training day. Everyone's going to be down in HQ all day." Helen explained. "That includes you. Now get up."
"Why can't you just leave me alone?" Francis whined.
Helen frowned. "What wrong?"
Francis sat up, scooping Jack-Jack into his lap and prying the baby's hands open, releasing his vice-like grip. Francis rubbed the abused spot on his head and held Jack-Jack out at arm length for Helen to take back.
"Nothing." He looked away.
Helen took Jack-Jack and frowned suspiciously at Francis.
He swung his legs over the side of the bed and ran a hand through his disheveled spikes. "I gotta change." Francis nodded at the door.
Helen took the hint. "Fine. Be down in fifteen minutes."
Francis shut the door behind Helen and Jack-Jack and collapsed face first onto his bed, screaming his frustration into the mattress.
Having changed into a muscle shirt and basketball shorts, Francis headed for the secret bookcase elevator that led down to the hidden training and intelligence center of the Sanctum.
Francis stepped out into the hallway and looked around, raising an eyebrow in confusion. Usually at the point Bob would jump out and drag him off to do some exhausting exercise. Nobody appeared. Francis looked up and down the hallway. Where was everyone?
"Francis!" Violet called. She had poked her head out a door down the hall. "Over here!"
When Francis walked over, he noticed Violet was standing in the entrance to the Loft's observation deck. "C'mon, everybody's up here." Violet explained and headed up the stairs. Francis followed after.
When they got to the control room, Francis saw Virgil sitting at the monitors and Dash with his face pressed against the glass, watching the action below. Jack-Jack was strapped to a chair that resembled a car seat and was playing with a toy, oblivious to anyone else in the room. Everyone had his or her respective uniforms on.
"What's going on?" Francis asked.
Violet took a seat by the windows and looked down. "Our parents like to start out group training days with a demonstration." She explained.
Francis walked over to the windows and followed Violet's gaze. Down below, the adults were running a training exercise. Obstacles appeared out of the floor, walls, and ceiling and they were busy battling them. Lucius was in the air, throwing out ice to form paths as he skated zigzags around the room. Bob and Helen were handling the ground work.
"They say it's so we can see the proper way to use our powers in a fight situation, but really, they just like showing off." Virgil said from behind Francis.
The adults worked as a seamless team. They seemed to know what their partner was going to do before they did it. Within minutes the obstacles had been decimated and the demonstration ended.
"They're coming up now." Violet said. "Probably for some endless lecture on teamwork."
Francis sat in a swivel chair beside Dash and crossed his arms. It's not the lecture would apply to him. The demonstration didn't mean anything. He was never going to get to put those lessons to the test. They wouldn't let him. Francis growled deep in his throat.
Dash looked up at him. "Francis?"
Francis swiveled away from the little boy's questioning look. He didn't want to deal with anybody in this stupid house right now.
The door opened and the adults filed in, sweaty but exhilarated. "Whoo! What a run!" Lucius said. Virgil handed his father a water bottle to rehydrate.
Helen walked over to Jack-Jack and looked him over before taking a seat on the other side of Dash, smoothing a hand over her son's blond locks.
Bob stood in front of the group, hands on his hips. "So what did you learn?"
"Conserve energy, don't overexert yourself." Virgil said.
"Never lose track of your team members." Violet added.
Bob smiled. "Good. Those are all great answers. Those are things I want you to apply in your training today. As soon as you master fundamentals like that, you guys will be ready for some real field work."
Virgil, Violet, and Dash looked at each in excitement. With the exception of a few early battles, the kids hadn't been allowed to participate in any real fights. They were aching to get their hands on a bad guy.
"Okay, here's how things are going to go today." Helen took charge. "Virgil, Violet, and Dash will be in the Loft while Lucius and I will supervise. Francis, you'll be doing your usual workout with Bob."
Francis scowled.
"You got a problem?" Bob asked, noticing the look on Francis' face.
"Who me?" Francis asked sarcastically. "No, no problem."
Bob frowned. "Seems to me like you've got something to say so why don't you say it?"
Francis shrugged and didn't respond.
After a moment of awkward silence Bob nodded to the other kids. "Why don't you guys get started? Sooner you finish training the sooner you'll be out on the street fighting those supervillains."
Francis brought a fist down onto the arm of his chair. All eyes went back to the pyro. "Supervillains like me right?"
Bob gaped at Francis. Francis didn't have to turn his head to know Lucius and Helen were sporting similar expressions.
"That's it, isn't it? That's why you're not actually training me, just putting me though the paces to make it look like you're teaching me something. You're afraid that in a few years I'm gonna go off the deep end and use all of your training against you." Francis said, staring darkly at the adults. "That's it, right?"
"We…we don't think that." Helen said, exchanging nervous glances with the others.
"Don't lie." Francis growled.
"How do you know that?" Bob asked. He wasn't denying the accusation. That meant it was true. Francis clenched the chair; he felt it melt slightly beneath his grip as he became angrier.
Francis scoffed. "That doesn't matter."
Bob hardened his gaze. "You went into my study." It wasn't a question.
"So what if I did?" Francis sneered. "I wanted answers and you weren't giving me any."
"You had no right." Bob said.
"The hell I don't!" Francis stood angrily, fists clenched at his sides. "It's my life you're talking about! Don't I deserve to know how I'm being manipulated? How I'm being lied to?"
"Maybe you should calm down." Lucius suggested gently.
"I don't wanna calm down!" Francis shouted. "Just stop with the bullshit and tell me straight."
Helen was the one to respond. "There are several mental indicators that the NSA has identified over the years that all or most supervillains exhibit. They have these indicators even as children and the NSA began conducting psychoanalysis on some Super children to see if they could identify and contain supervillains before they turn bad. You exhibited a number of the mental indicators." She looked at Francis. "We were only following the NSA's guideline. You have to understand…"
"No." Francis cut her off. "I don't. I don't get it." He looked around in frustration. "How can you treat a problem that's not even a problem yet?"
"It's called prevention." Bob answered.
"What if it's not a problem? What if somebody has those indicators and isn't a villain?" Francis asked. "There's got to be people like that."
Violet and Virgil glanced at each other anxiously. They had no idea how to handle this situation. Dash looked on in confusion.
"We did what we thought was best, based off your character." Bob explained gruffly.
Francis' jaw tightened. "You decided something about my life I haven't even decided yet. How's that fair?"
"Life's not fair." Bob shrugged.
"Oh." Francis laughed meanly. "Don't worry, you don't have to tell me that. I know." He started for the door. "I'm outta here."
"You're not going anywhere." Bob reached out and grabbed Francis by the upper arm.
Francis pulled but Bob pulled him back into the room. "Why? I'm not gonna learn anything. This whole thing is waste of time."
"We made a promise to Dicker…"
"I don't give a shit about Dicker!" Francis shouted, wrenching his arm out of Bob's grip.
"Guys calm down." Lucius stood up, trying to defuse the situation.
"See." Bob pointed a finger in Francis' face. "That right there. That explosive anger. That's an indicator."
"Because I've got anger issues?" Francis smirked dangerously. "Newsflash asshole, you're a prime subject for explosive anger. I bet you're gonna turn bad any day now."
Fury flashed over Bob's face. "Don't you dare question my character! I've got more character in my pinky toe than you've got in your whole delinquent body." He gestured wildly at Jack-Jack. "He's got more character than you do and he can't even talk!"
"You don't know anything about me." Francis hissed. "You can pretend but you don't."
"Why don't we just…" Helen tried to break in and act the peacemaker. Neither combatant would allow that. They continued to argue over her thin attempts at resolution.
"I have fought hundreds of supervillains and let me tell you, you fit the profile." Bob said.
Francis snorted in derision. "You know, being a supervillain never crossed my mind as a career choice, but now?" Francis raised an eyebrow and smirked tauntingly. "It seems like it might be worth looking into, if only so I can kick your ass."
Bob laughed. "You? Kick my ass? Please little boy, you're out of your league."
Francis fumed, literally shaking with rage. "I want out. Send me away. I don't care. At least at the center people wouldn't be lying to my face. They'd just pretend like I don't exist, and that I'm used to. I hate you, I hate this house, and I hate your whole fucking family."
Bob growled. "Don't talk that way about my family."
"Why not?" Francis asked. "What are you gonna do? Hit me. Go ahead. I dare you, hit me." He offered his chin as a target, folding his arms behind his back. "Go on."
Bob didn't move. His fists clenched.
"Come on, you coward." Francis growled between gritted teeth.
"That's enough." Helen said sternly. "Both of you."
Dash slid off his chair and stood beside Francis, looking up at the older boy. He pulled at Francis' arm, hoping to get his attention.
Without thinking Francis threw his arm back. He didn't know who was behind him; he just wanted to hit something. All of his pent up energy and rage were screaming at him to move and cause damage.
Francis' fist caught Dash across the face and the little boy tumbled backwards, rubbing his cheek. "Owww."
"Dash!" Helen startled.
"Wha…?" Francis turned his head. He'd hit Dash. Oh. He hadn't wanted to do that. That was a mistake, he wouldn't hurt Dash. It was an accident.
Francis turned back to Bob and just barely saw the punch coming out of the corner of his eye.
Bob's fist connected above Francis' right eye. The force of the hit spun the pyro around. He looked blankly at Virgil, Violet, and Lucius' stunned faces for an instant before his eyes rolled back and his legs gave out. Francis crumpled to the floor and didn't move.
"Bob!" Helen screamed again.
"Oh my god." Violet put a hand over her mouth in shock.
Lucius was the first to Francis' side. He checked the boy's vitals. He was breathing fine and his heart rate was regular. He was just unconscious. Thank goodness. Lucius had seen Bob drop many guys over the years with that same punch and he knew it could do some real damage. Anybody who didn't have the super-resistance Bob had always fell after that blow.
Bob stood frozen, his arm still outstretched. "I didn't…that was…"
The skin around Francis' eye was already turning a bright blue.
Dash stood up and stared at Francis' supine form. "Wow."
Lucius took charge. "Virgil, help me get him upstairs." Virgil nodded and knelt on Francis other side. Together, Lucius and Virgil lifted the Francis and headed for the door.
That left the Parrs in the control room. Helen ran her hand over Dash's face, to reassure herself that he was fine. Francis hadn't hit him too hard. It had been more of a glancing blow really. Dash himself didn't seem to remember he had even been hit.
"Violet, take Jack-Jack and Dash upstairs please." Helen said softly.
Violet nodded stiffly and herded her siblings out of the room.
Helen looked at Bob. He had a shocked expression on his face. He looked at his own fist and shook his head. "That was an accident. He hit Dash, I wasn't thinking."
Helen shook her head. "I'm ashamed of you." She walked to the door and stopped before leaving, looking over her shoulder at her husband. "You had better make this right."
Then Bob was all alone.
Lucius and Virgil lay Francis down on his bed, putting the covers over him and making the boy as comfortable as possible. Helen walked into the bedroom, phone in hand. "I just talked to Doc. He says to Francis will most likely have a concussion. We need to wake him up and check for brain damage every couple of hours."
Lucius nodded. "I figured as much. Bob throws a hard punch."
Helen looked at Virgil. "Why don't you go to your room?" Virgil hurriedly obeyed.
"Bob should know better." Helen said after Virgil had gone, shutting the door behind him. "He knows how strong he is. He should have better control."
Lucius shrugged. "Something about Francis just gets under Bob's skin. Besides, you know how emotional Bob can get. He saw someone threaten his family. I don't think he even consciously knew what he was doing. It was a reaction."
"That is no excuse." Helen sat on the bed beside Francis. She smoothed a stray red lock away from his face. "Francis is just a child, even if he doesn't act like it."
Lucius sighed. "I don't know what to tell you. I think Bob feels awful." He looked at Francis and chuckled. "I'm sure when the kid wakes up he'll feel awful too."
"That's not funny." Helen chided softly.
"Sorry." Lucius wiped the smile off his face. "Do you want me to take the first shift?"
"No, I can watch him for a while." Helen said. "Go make sure the kids are alright. I think they're a bit shocked."
"Sure thing." Lucius left the room.
A few hours later, Francis was stirred awake and didn't exhibit any signs of brain damage. He was groggy and his speech was slurred, but that was normal for a concussion.
Helen and Lucius took turns sitting with Francis throughout the day. Lucius said he would take the night shift, arguing that he didn't have to go to work tomorrow so he could catch up on sleep during the day.
Lucius woke Francis a couple of more times that night, asking him simple questions like his name and the year. Francis always responded as clearly as he could before collapsing back into a fitful sleep. The bruise around his eye was getting darker and swelling. Lucius found an ice pack and held it against Francis' temple while the boy slept. He was going to have a doozy of a black eye.
Lucius yawned noisily. Morning was creeping in. Almost time to change shifts. Lucius was about to go get Helen when the door to Francis' bedroom creaked open.
Bob stood sheepishly in the doorway, looking into the room. "Hey."
"Hey." Lucius nodded.
"How is he?"
"He's fine." Lucius said. The look of concern on Bob' face didn't diminish. "No really, he's going to have a hell of a headache and the most colorful shiner I've ever seen, but he'll be fine."
"Good." Bob let out a breath. "Could I…?"
Lucius looked at his watch. "It is about time to wake him up again." He stood up and walked over to his best friend and clapped him on the shoulder reassuringly before leaving.
Bob shut the door behind him and crossed the room, pulling the desk chair Lucius had been sitting in over to Francis bedside. He sat and looked at the teen for a moment. In the dim morning light, Francis looked very young. His brow furrowed in his sleep and he tossed restlessly before settling again. Francis' head settled so the bruise was facing Bob. It stood out in sharp contrast against Francis' pale skin. Despite Lucius' efforts with the ice pack, there was some swelling. Francis would have a hard time seeing through his right eye.
Bob sighed and ran a hand over his face. He felt so guilty.
Gently, Bob reached out and shook Francis. The boy didn't stir. Bob put his hand on Francis' chest and shook a little harder, jarring the pyro's body. Slowly, Francis began to waken. He opened one green eye and groaned, a hand flying up to his face where the bruise was and wincing at the pain. Francis turned his head slightly and saw Bob. He didn't say anything, just looked at the adult with sleepy eyes.
"Hi." Bob said awkwardly. He coughed. "Um, there are some things I need to tell you. I know this probably isn't a good time because you may not remember but I've got to say it." He took a deep breath. "What happened yesterday, it was my fault. I should have restrained myself. I let my emotions get the better of me and that was wrong. I didn't mean to hurt you."
"S'okay." Francis murmured groggily. "I know. I was bein' stupid."
Bob shook his head. "No, not entirely. You made some good points. You're a good kid, I know that. I just have trouble seeing it sometimes. I don't think you're going to be a villain. I'm sorry for everything I did and said."
"Okay." Francis said.
Bob chuckled to himself. "You were right about something else too, you and me? We're a lot alike. That means we both do and say stupid things sometimes, even if we don't really mean it. And we're both too stubborn for our own good."
Francis nodded slowly, wincing at the movement. He stared at Bob, looking like a tired child trying to stay awake. "I didn' mean to hit Dash."
"I know." Bob said.
"It was 'n accident." Francis continued. "I didn'…"
"I know, it's okay." Bob put a hand on Francis' arm.
"I'm sorry." Francis apologized. "I actually like it here, most o' the time."
Bob smiled.
"Don' send me away." Francis pleaded quietly. "Please."
"I won't." Bob promised.
"Okay." Francis smiled drowsily, fears put aside. He closed his eyes, drifting back into sleep.
Bob got up to leave and then turned back to the bed. "Francis?"
"Hmm?"
"I'm going to start training you for real. With powers."
"Okay." Francis mumbled into the pillow.
Bob grinned and left the room. He passed Helen, who was on her way to begin her shift.
Bob pulled her into a hug. Helen wrapped her arms around her husband's bulky frame and smiled into his shoulder.
Author's Note:
Whew. Glad that's done with. Seriously, that was draining. Officially the new longest chapter. I used to set my ideal chapter at 3,000 words. This one is about 5,500. That's a lot. For me anyway.
PLEASE REVIEW!
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