I just realized that I've had anonymous reviews blocked this entire time... whoops. Sorry about that. So, if you've always wanted to leave a review but haven't been able to, now's your chance! :) Also, have I ever mentioned that I do love getting reviews/constructive criticism? I'm always looking to improve, and I like knowing what works for people and what doesn't. So don't be shy, folks!
Takes place during the flashback in Exposed.
You're six years old, and the most important thing in the world is that in precisely four hours and seventeen minutes, the next episode of Galactica 1980 will be airing.
Battlestar Galactica is the coolest show you've ever seen, with maybe the exception of the Twilight Zone. It's better than that toddler stuff like Sesame Street that your mother still makes you watch sometimes, when your father is out and you can watch the TV at all. Right now, you're plotting a way to get them both away for an hour or two, so you can have the television to yourself. You're pretty sure you can manage it. You're good at explaining things the way grown-ups what to hear them said.
Your Father (he gets capital letters 'cause he's extremely important) leaves you in the corner booth so he can go and talk about Serious Business with Uncle Martin. You want to ask him why Mommy is still out in the car, but he has his Don't Interrupt Me face on, so you don't. Besides, you can use this as an opportunity to play Speed Racer with your toy car.
There's something ticking in the back of your mind to the tune of why would your father be doing such weird things, and how come Mommy has been acting so nervous lately, and little events are fitting together to form conclusions that you don't want to reach. Your mind does this, sometimes, when you aren't paying attention to anything in particular. You never tell anyone, though. It's your own little secret.
Speed Racer's car has just fallen into the Pit of Doom, but you're thinking you can figure out how to get it back when your father comes back and tugs you away. And then he's talking about things that you don't understand with these adults that you barely know, and you have a bad, bad feeling about this entire situation.
Your Father is leaving. The other adults are smiling at you and grasping your hand in an almost guilty way. This situation, in short, is Very Bad. And that's when you realize that there's only one option left for you- you have to get back to your parents. They always know what to do, and they always have solutions for when things go wrong.
So you run back outside, and it's Not Right that they're in the car and about to leave you, and sure your father has pulled stunts like this before but he never means it, Mommy always says. It'll all be okay once you get back in the car- except you're pretty sure they're not playing make believe when your mother falls out, and you're pretty sure that nothing will ever be okay again.
"Mommy," you whisper, waiting for her to look at you and shine up with that special smile she reserves for you. She isn't moving. "Mommy!"
"Gabriel?" Someone's come out of the diner, her heels tapping briskly against the concrete, but you can't look away from that liquid color that Does Not Look like the blood you've seen on TV shows. "Honey, you need to come back in, we can explain—"
The tattoo of her heels stops, and you look up to see her standing over you, her mouth open.
"Oh. Oh, f-" Aunt Virginia glances down at you, and then grabs your shoulders and turns you away, marching you back into the diner. "Come on, Gabey, you just need to come in for a moment. Your m-mother will wake up in a sec, okay? Let's just go and get Martin. Come on." She's gripping your shoulders too tightly, and you stumble as she walks you back too fast.
You're six years old, and the most important thing in the world is that Mommy is dead- she's not just sleeping, you won't believe any of that crap, that bright red is all over the place- your mother is dead, and everything you ever knew is gone.
That's when you decide that you can't depend on anyone but yourself. Not even your parents. Not even the characters in TV shows and comic books that you've come to admire so much. You have to grow up to be strong, so that no one can ever hurt you. You can't need anyone, not ever again.
It's harder to keep doing that than you'd think.