The Incredibles
All's Fair in Love and Glory
Chapter Ten: Surprise!
Helen woke slowly, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She smiled and touched the deep and familiar dent Bob's sleeping body had left in the mattress. He must have gone to job hunt – hopefully he hadn't returned to Nomanisan.
She sat up in bed and the door to her bedroom opened. Instead of a hungry child, it was Bob, with a plate of steaming food.
"Morning, beautiful," he beamed.
"Bob? You did this?" she looked impressed. Her mouth watered.
"Actually, Violet did," Bob admitted, sheepishly. "But I helped."
"Where are they? It's so quiet."
"The kids? They're at school. Well, Jack-Jack's asleep."
Helen gasped and checked the clock.
"But it's only seven!"
"I set back the clock two hours so you could sleep in," Bob said, proud of himself.
"I love you," Helen grinned, extending her arms to give him a hug.
"Enjoy," Bob said, laying the tray on her lap.
"I will," she promised, with her mouth full already. "So, why aren't you gone yet?"
Her husband shrugged.
"I thought you and I could spend the day together."
Helen swallowed and smiled.
"I was hoping you would say that." Looking up adoringly at Bob, she grinned. "I should let you get mad at me more often!"
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Once again, Dash was reluctant to go to school. He felt like he had nothing to look forward to anymore. Somehow, that one last incident of being ignored had sort of sealed the deal: he and Carissa were just not meant to be. He trudged sullenly up the stairs to his elementary school, blinking furiously to hold back the tears welling up in his eyes. He knew one look at her would break the dam. So he kept his down.
So impervious was his barrier of depression, he almost failed to remember his upcoming birthday. He smiled slightly, forgetting to raise his foot upon approaching the final step. His short little legs caught on it and he faceplanted into the cement.
Mortified, he hurried through the hallway and rushed to his classroom. He sat down at his desk, alone.
Where is everybody? he throught briefly.
Suddenly, the sound of tramping feet filled the air, and he heard the opening strains of "Happy Birthday." He wasn't quite in the mood, but decided to humor his teacher's wishes of having a nice little surprise party for him. Nothing about it seemed particularly special, until he saw Carissa bringing up the rear of the line, carrying a magnificent brown cake with his name emblazoned on it!
He frantically tried to recall other boys' birthdays. Robbie had skipped school that day, Jonathan brought in cupcakes… and William? Well, William's had passed uneventfully. (Nobody really knew William that well, anyway.) For no one else had there been a party – or cake – quite like this.
"Is this for me?" he asked dumbly, being presented with the cake.
Carissa giggled.
"Of course it is, silly. It's got your name on it!"
Dash smiled indulgently and swiped a piece of frosting with his finger. "This is so delicious!" he announced. "Thanks, Carissa."
She met his eyes.
"Happy birthday, Dash," she whispered.
And then she was leaning in, her pink party dress dangerously close to the chocolate frosting, her lips meeting Dash's for a fleeting moment over the cake.
Dash could only think of one thing to say as Carissa drew back.
"Th-thanks!" he managed, giddy.
It was a surprise, all right.
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Dr. Bocci watched patiently as Syndrome paced around the room, mumbling to himself and alternately crossing and uncrossing his arms.
"I don't understand!" he bellowed, slamming his palm into the wall. "I thought she'd be elated to see me again." He turned his back to the wall and lowered his voice to a threatening growl. "I know Incredible has been here."
The doctor blinked owlishly and pushed his glasses up onto the bridge of his nose. He liked the classic, picture-perfect doctor. No one would guess he worked for a supervillain.
"You fixed me." Syndrome turned on his heel and fixed his bloodshot eyes on the doctor, who jumped but quickly regained his composure. "Why-isn't-she-getting-BETTER?!"
"I'm sorry, sir. I'm giving her all the drugs her body can handle in her delicate state."
The doctor was shaking inside, but he held Syndrome's gaze.
"Well, then, Bocci," he snarled, "perhaps I should get a second opinion."
He snapped his fingers and a group of guards appeared.
Bocci stood his ground. "All my colleagues would agree that this whole situation wasn't quite my fault."
"THAT'S IT!!" Syndrome roared, his coat snapping as he whipped around. "Guards, you know what to do," he said in an inhumanely bored tone.
"You can't do this!" the doctor yelled, being seized. "I spent months on your reconstructive surgery!" He thought frantically of a way to save himself.
Syndrome shrugged, unimpressed and ungrateful.
Dr. Bocci closed his eyes. One burly guard was gripping his neck like it was a stick, another was loading a weapon he didn't dare look at. And then, at last, he had an idea.
"Wait!" he choked.
Syndrome rolled his eyes. "Release him. He won't go anywhere." He sneered, eyeing the weapon Dr. Bocci feared – the electric current blaster that could pulverize his entire immune system in a matter of seconds. It was one of Syndrome's favorite inventions.
Coughing, Bocci fell to the floor.
"I hope you have a good excuse for wasting my time," Syndrome snarled.
My life, the doctor thought, but said, "I'm the only one who can care for the patient. You see, I'm the only double certified doctor you can hire."
Syndrome snorted. "I'm sure there's plenty—"
Fearing he didn't have much longer to talk, Bocci interrupted. "I'm the only one trained for all that you need – smoke inhalation, burns, etc." He took a breath. "I'm also an obstetrician."
Expecting to be laughed at, Bocci was surprised that the room was silent.
Syndrome was unfamiliar with that term. He tapped his foot impatiently, frustrated that he didn't know what was being spoken about. "Care to elaborate on that?"
The doctor would have laughed then, if he hadn't been in fear for his life. "You know… a doctor that takes care of women and babies."
Syndrome's face was blank for a moment, then he reached into his belt and pulled out a small stun gun and fired.
While the man was writhing on the floor, Syndrome walked over and stood over him. "I am neither patient enough to stand nor gullible enough to swallow your little stories. I don't need a… whatever you are, and therefore don't need you," he said coldly. "Guards… dispose of him. For all the pain he's caused Mirage, he deserves a little." He turned on his heel and began to walk away, laughing maniacally.
Paralyzed and weak, Bocci felt himself being dragged to his feet. With the last of his strength, he said, "I'm not lying. She's pregnant."
Syndrome turned back, his face frighteningly expressionless as he regarded Bocci. "And why should I believe you? You'll do anything if it means saving your life. And I never asked you to examine her for… that."
Bocci raised his head definitely. "I didn't have to. She told me."
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Confused and alone, Violet tried to make sense of what was happening. Tony had called her for some reason at one in the morning, and she missed him. But she also felt a very strange and very strong attraction to Nic. She didn't know who he was or why she liked him so much, but she did.
So she was pleasantly surprised to see him while walking to science.
He was talking into a phone and looked angry. She hesitated, not wanting to interrupt, but he noticed her and jumped, quickly flipping the phone closed and stuffing it into his pocket.
"Violet," he said warmly. "What a lovely surprise."
"I was thinking the same thing," Violet smiled. "Look, about last time…"
The boy put his arm around her reassuringly. "Don't worry about it, Vi. Everyone's shy around me. Most of 'em won't even talk to me again. But you're special." He leaned in close. "I can tell."
Violet looked away shyly.
"Violet?"
Tony was holding a giant bouquet of flowers. His face fell when he saw Nic's arm around Violet.
"You must be him. The guy Violet's so frustrated with." Nic looked Tony up and down. "Don't worry, she's fine without you, Flower Boy." He drew Violet close to him possessively. "Aren't you, babe?"
Violet nodded, but her eyes were glazed over slightly and her movements seemed mechanical.
"What about last night?" Tony asked weakly. His voice cracked. Then he ran.
Violet rubbed her forehead. "Whoa… I have a major headache. Sorry, what were you saying?"
Nic smiled and released her. "Don't worry. Nothing important."
