Theo mumbled and jerked awake. " Did I fall asleep on you again? I'm sorry." said Theo. " Relax and go back to sleep." said Master Swoop. Theo mumbled an OK and snuggled back down in his arms, falling back to sleep a few seconds later. He slept for two hours before Master Swoop woke him up.
He struck his hand in Theo's hair and gently massaged his scalp. " Theo." called Master Swoop. Theo mumbled so he knew he heard him. " Come on Theo, wake up for me." called Master Swoop. Gently. Theo squirmed a bit and his eyes blinked open. " Why'd you have to wake me up? I was sleeping so well and felt safe for once." said Theo.
" Sorry, but I had to wake you. You have to get back or RJ will be wondering where you are." said Master Swoop.
" Fine." sighed Theo. " Are you pouting?" asked Master Swoop. With a smile. " No." said Theo. Master Swoop chuckled and stood. He set Theo down and he unwrapped his arms from around his mother's neck. He turned to the vine cover entrance and slowly rose off the ground. " See you Momma." said Theo. He floated over to the vine covered entrance and went through. He came out the other side and landed in the loft.
A second later, he wished he hadn't. All at once, he was bombarded with the feeling of being watched.
" Theo, what have you been hiding from my son?" asked Master Finn. Theo backed himself into a corner. " Yes, what have you been hiding from RJ?" asked Master Guin. Theo felt the wall behind him and slid down to his knees. " You called the masters?! Why would you do that?" asked Theo.
" I'm going to find out what your hiding, one way, or another." said RJ. Meanwhile, back with Master Swoop. He sighed and sat back down on his swing. He wondered what Theo was doing. He dozed off.
An ear piercing scream woke Master Swoop ten minutes later. He felt the bond he shared with Theo pulse with terror. He heard the scream again and guessed Theo had yelled out mentally. " Mommy!" The second terror filled scream had Master Swoop levitating out of his swing and over to the vine covered entrance. He floated through and went down a different tunnel. He landed in a back room and felt the presence of Fran. " Master Swoop, what are you doing here?" asked Fran. " Theo called me." said Master Swoop.
Fran knew Theo and Master Swoop were close, but she wondered why he called Master Swoop. " Why would Theo call you when RJ's here with the other masters?" asked Fran. " RJ is part of the problem." said Master Swoop. He froze as the rest of what she'd said registered. " No, please tell me he didn't." whispered Master Swoop. In shock. Fran saw Master Swoop's face crumble and made a sound. She then walked over to him and made another sound before leading him to the door. She stopped to open it and walked through.
She walked him to the stairs and stopped. He turned to her. " Thank you Fran. You don't know how much this means to me." said Master Swoop. " Your welcome. I know you and Theo are close. Your like a father to him." said Fran. Master Swoop chuckled. " No not quite, but your close." said Master Swoop. He turned back around and felt for the banister. Once he found where it was, he bolted up the stairs, taking two at a time.
He burst through the loft door and it hit the opposite wall with a bang. The masters and RJ jumped as they heard the door bang and whirled around. Master Swoop stood there with a furious look on his face. As Master Swoop stood there, he felt the presence of all the masters. " What are they all doing here RJ." asked Master Swoop.
" Theo's hiding something and I want to know what it is." said RJ.