Me: Sorry! I kind of been distracted lately...

Icefire: Less talking, more typing!

Me: Yes mother.

Chapter 19: Hugs and Tears

Otto's injuries had occurred two days ago. He was up and around again. He was making jokes and acting foolish to cheer the others up.

Every day there had been an attack, but each day the monkeys had prevailed. They were all lazing in their chairs, exhausted from their most recent fight.

Otto jumped up suddenly, every muscle tense. Nova looked about in confusion. Gibson looked down sadly. Sprx was sitting straight up, eyes wide.

They feel the sudden strong flow of power. Someone who could wield the Power Primate was doing so to a large extent. They sat there, waiting. For what they didn't know.

The power stream slowed before stopping abruptly. They could feel the wielder's life force weakening. The four looked at each other, worry evident on their faces. Was it Chiro? Or maybe Antauri? Having no contact with the second in command and their leader didn't help quell their fears any.

They wanted so badly to go find out. Unfortunately they had a city to protect. Even if the city was safe they couldn't go. They had no idea where Hazzen was.

It saddened them to think that one of their two friends was dying. Was it the orphan child or wise spiritual leader?

Not even Otto could think of something to cheer everyone up. He was too worried himself. He needed comfort and badly. He turned to Gibson and flung himself at the blue monkey.

Gibson was too startled to react. Otto had his arms wrapped about Gibson's middle. The mechanic's face was buried in the scientist's silky, white fur on his chest. The mechanic's own chest rested on Gibson's knees.

Gibson recognized Otto's actions as a cry for comfort. Gibson wrapped an arm around the back of Otto's head to hold him close. The other hand was used to rub Otto's back comfortingly.

Otto sobbed into his brother's fur. His shoulders shook as he cried. He couldn't help, but act the way he was. He was loyal to his friends. Antauri and Chiro were family to him, and the thought that one of them was dying tore him apart.

Gibson's own tears fell from his eyes. The left dark streaks in his fur as they went. As each one of them fell from his face it fell on top of Otto's head.

He had better control than Otto. That was to be expected though. Otto was the youngest of them and the most emotional one. He was still a child in mind and soul despite his body was that of an adult.

Gibson pulled Otto into his lap, trying to comfort his younger brother. The green one curled himself up against his elder brother. Gibson wrapped his arm about Otto, holding him close. He pressed a cheek to the top of the mechanic's head.

Nova looked away from Gibson and Otto to Sprx. She was out of her chair and in his lap in a matter of seconds. Sprx wrapped his arms about her, holding her close as she curled up in his lap. She cried into his chest ad he didn't protest.

He rested his chin on top of her head. He knew she needed comfort in a way he couldn't give. She needed to see her eldest brother and her "son" return in one piece.

All he could do was hold her close. He couldn't really say anything to comfort her. He had no comforting words to offer. They all know what they had sensed; there was no mistaking it.

Sprx closed his eyes and let his own tears fall. Just because he was proud doesn't mean he could cry. He was proud and stubborn, but he knew tears were nothing to be ashamed of. Antauri had taught him that. Sometimes hugs and tears are the perfect medicine for sorrow. They helped heal an aching heart.

Me: I know this was kind of short. And this was not an Otto/Gibson moment. It was just a comforting moment between friends. This WAS a Nova/Sprx moment though.