Note: I wish I did own Ducktales, because then I'd be all like, 'Hey, look at me. I'm a millionaire cuz I sold out to Disney! I only get a fraction of the franchising rights, but that's cool! Disney's just doin' their thing, yo!'

Okay, maybe not exactly like that…but that's probably how Carl Barks had sounded.

Ah, selling out. Just another brick in the side of the economy that helps support it…It may not be as important as the cornerstone, but dammit, it still needs to be there!

Beagle Without A Mask

Chapter 11

And Now You Know…

Duckburg National Bank

15 years earlier

Something had gone wrong. He wasn't exactly sure what had happened. It had to have been the dynamite. There was too much of a charge...he'd miscalculated how much to use on the bank's outer wall. It was only supposed to be used during an emergency, with no other alternatives of escape. He'd panicked when the alarm had gone off...he'd never panicked before in his life, not when it came to this…but this time had been different.

It all happened so fast...

Everything was going smoothly at first; they'd broken into the back entrance while Ma found a way to distract the guards out front. Once at the vault, however, there was no other way to crack it open. So, they resorted to the usual Beagle Boy method; blast it with dynamite. But this time, something went wrong.

Too much of a charge...that's what it had to have been. He was young, not quite new to the family business of theft and larceny, but inexperienced in explosives. The only thing he was sure of was that it was enough to bring down the roof, putting lives in danger. Thankfully the bank wasn't supposed to open for another hour. But the safety of his own family was put at risk…one person in particular.

He's never been able to forgive himself for what almost happened that day…

"Come on!" Bigtime Beagle coughs, waving at the dust and smoke surrounding them, almost dropping a money bag in the process. "We gotta get outta here. This whole place is gonna go up in smoke soon!"

"What about, Ma?" Burger had nearly choked on his words. "Ain't she out in the lobby?"

Bigtime shook his head. "No, you heard what she said; she was gonna find a way to distract the guards till we got inside, then she'd wait for us in the car outside the same way we came in."

Bouncer had run up beside him, also coughing, tightly gripping sacks of cash from the vault. "But, Boss! What if she's still inside? We can't just leave 'er in here if she is!"

Burger agrees. "Yeah! The others would never forgive us is something happened to Ma!"

"Oh, alright!" Bigtime slaps his forehead, pushing them towards the back entrance of the building, adding his own haul to Bouncer's. "You two go out and find our get away car, I'll take a look around out front!" He heads up to the teller stations, calling back at them. "If Ma's there, just drive down to the abandoned warehouse down the street, I'll meet ya there!"

The two nod, quickly making their way to the exit, gagging as smoke billows out into the open air above them, filtering out into the early morning air.

Bigtime's eyes burned from the smoke. He rubs at them furiously in an attempt to peer over the bank's service counter. He growls in frustration, not being tall enough to look over the closed teller's station. He covers his nose and mouth, sprinting over to the swinging door labeled EMPOLYEES ONLY. He burst through it, immediately plunging into the smoke filled lobby, gagging as he tries to stoop down low.

"Ma?!" he shouts before breaking into a fit of coughing. He spins in all directions, surprised to see two large wooden beams hanging down from the ceiling, no longer supporting it. Upon seeing one beam still intact directly above him, it doesn't take the goon long to piece together what will happen when that one gives out, joining the others below on the lobby's linoleum floor, possibly bringing down the entire building in the process.

Bigtime stumbles through the lobby, struggling to see through the thick clouds surrounding him. After a few minutes, he finally hears someone coughing from the other side of one the large stone pillars that had come loose during the explosion, collapsing in several marbled pieces. He sprints toward the sound.

"Ma, is that you?" His voice is laced with panic as he pushes some of the larger stones out of the way. "Say something!" He'd let out a loud grunt under the marble's weight. It finally gives way, rolling over onto its side. Instantly, he'd spotted a small figure curled up on the shattered floor, hugging her knees tightly. Bigtime's eyes widen when the frightened child looks up at him with bright blue eyes, her face smudged with soot and tears as she sobs.

"B-Bonnie?!" he'd cried, reaching down to take his sister in his arms. "Kid, what're you doin' here?! Where's Ma?!" He looks around frantically for his mother, but she was alone. "Why ain't you at home?"

Little Bonnie couldn't respond, finding it hard to breath, crying into his shoulder and hugging his neck for dear life.

Bigtime glances around frantically, the lack of oxygen making him lightheaded. He holds onto his sister tightly. "It-It's okay, Kid...Hang on...I'm gonna get you outta here-"

The sound of cracking wood gets his attention. After throwing a glance upward at the last beam above them, he doubles back to the only exit not blocked off by rubble, hoping to find a ride waiting for him in the back of the building. He rushes through the open doorway and outside into the morning air, nearly running into a parked car. He makes a grab for the closest silver handle, yanking open the door. But upon seeing only his two brothers seated in the front, panic begins to set in again.

"Did ya find her?" asked Burger from behind the wheel. "The car was here but she wasn't!"

Bouncer had glanced down at what was in the shorter Beagle's arms. His eyes widen. "Hey, what's Bonnie doin' here?! I thought she was back home!"

"Here!" Bigtime hands the girl over to Bouncer. "I'm going back for Ma. She's still-" Someone had grabbed a hold of his shirt sleeve. He looks over to see Bonnie grasping onto him, her eyes still glazed with tears. "What is it, Bon?"

She shakes her head. "Not, inside," she croaks, looking out through the windshield, lifting her free hand up to point at the end of the alley road. "Mommie's out front. Waiting."

Bigtime raises his brow. "Out front? Why didn't you go with her?" He throws a glance back the way he'd just come from, the sound of something heavy falling over inside of the building echoing out to them. "Bonnie, why were you in there alone?" he'd asked sternly. "Why aren't you back home?"

"Yeah," Bouncer nods, almost cradling her. "This kinda stuff is too dangerous for a little girl to do."

"You could've gotten hurt!" Burger says, looking ahead of the car, hoping to spot the missing Ma Beagle. "You should be back home. Doing, I don't know, little girl stuff, or something!"

"She, told me to go in and tell the guard that I was lost...so he wouldn't hear you guys coming through the back door." A few tears fall down one cheek as Bonnie looks up at the brother holding her. "I'm sorry. I just wanted to help, and she said I could come if I-" She breaks into a fit of coughs.

"It's okay, Bon Bon." Bouncer gently pats her on the back. "We ain't mad at ya."

"Not at you, anyway," mutters Bigtime, looking in all directions, watching for the authorities, no longer concerned about their mother's safety. For her sake, he'd hoped she'd found another way home. There was no telling what would happen if he came face to face with her now, angry at her negligence toward their baby sister.

Bonnie's cough finally subsides. "Bigtime...I don't feel good." She nuzzles into Bouncer's front.

Bouncer places a hand on the girl's forehead. "Boss, she's got a fever! Should we take her to a doctor?"

Bigtime repeats the action, feeling under her hair. She was warm, but not enough to cause alarm. Then again, it wasn't often that he or any of his siblings ever got sick. Bonnie was no exception, always just as healthy as the rest of them. But not many of them wound up trapped inside of a smoke filled bank on the verge of collapsing due to a heist gone wrong.

"Nah, she'll be okay. She's tough." He forces a smile for her, tapping her on the chin lightly. "Ain't that right, Kid?"

She nods groggily. "Mm-hmm."

"Just get her back to the house, will ya? I'll find Ma." He starts down the alley.

Burger leans out the driver's side window. "But, aren't we supposed to meet at the hideout here in town if we get separated? That's what Ma's always-"

"Because of Ma, Bonnie almost got killed!" he shouts, suddenly remembering the dynamite used had been his idea. But he doesn't mention it. He sighs when the two look on at him in surprise. "Look...I'm the boss, and I say get her home. Understand?!"

They watch in silence as he heads toward the street alone at a quickened pace. The Beagle Boys knew better than to anger the one calling the shots.

Jenny's eyes are wide, hanging on his every word. "My God…Where was she? Your mother."

He doesn't respond right away. When he does, her heart immediately begins to ache at the despondent tone in his voice. "She was out front…trying to, get by the barricade the cops had set up…screamin', crying and saying she had to get in there…

"When she looked over and saw me in the alley," he'd said after another pause. "She just…stared at me…Scared. I've never seen her scared before, not even if one of us were in trouble…She must've seen how mad I looked, and once she came over…I wanted to, I don't know, tell her off I guess, but…" He shakes his head.

"What happened?" Jenny asks softly.

He holds his hands out, as if waiting for the answer to just fall right into them. "I, really wish I knew! I mean, she just started going off about how, when she'd gone to distract the guard like she was supposed to, there was no one there. But when she went back to the car…" He stops, rubbing his hands together uneasily. He opens his mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. He furrows his brow, trying again. "Bonnie…wasn't there. And she explained that, after she'd left us in that back alley, she'd found her…hiding, in the trunk." A weak grin is on his unshaven face. "She'd actually stowed away…that's how bad she wanted to help. To be a part of it."

Jenny blinks, still keeping her voice down. "Say what?"

He nods. "Yeah…believe it or not, she did…But Ma, she said no and told her to stay put, said it was too dangerous…She left her there, alone…just like always, cuz she knew better not to go wonderin' off like that, but, this time…" He hangs his head, eyes closed. Jennifer worried that he might fall asleep right then and there. Exhaustion was catching up to him. She wondered when was the last time the stocky criminal had a moment of peace, let alone a nap.

"But she did…didn't she?" Jenny answers for him. "She must've got into the bank…but how?"

He shrugs. "Don't know…neither does Ma…even to this day…we may never know."

He looks up at her briefly, and for the first time she thinks she sees fear in his dark eyes. "Not even Bonnie knows."

She gazes down at him questioningly. "But, how is that possible? She wasn't that young. Was she?" He doesn't answer, only studying the ground again. She joins him in silence, watching him brooding on thoughts he hasn't shared yet…if he ever will.

Oh, Bigtime…you've gone so long without opening up to someone…all that heartbreak…poor guy-

Jennifer jumps at the sound of a car horn. She turns to see everyone already in the old green station wagon, including Bonnie. Bonnie Beagle grins at her, waving them over, then holding up her wrist watch to indicate the time. Jennifer stares, managing a nod in response.

She turns her attention to Bigtime, seeing him watch the trees in front of him intently, his hands folded tightly in front of him. She wondered if he was attempting to regain his composer after sharing the frightening memory from his family's past.

Something told her the story wasn't over yet with the way he'd tried to hold himself together, just before they'd been interrupted. Hopefully she'd get to hear about the rest later. If not from him, then Bonnie.

Why has she never told me about this? How horrible for a little girl to have to go through that! It's a miracle she wasn't traumatized…

She rests her hand gently on his shoulder, but he doesn't respond. "I think it's time to go." She pauses. "You gonna be okay?"

He nods, his eyes fixed on the ground now.

"If you're up for it, we can pick this up later…is that okay?"

He nods again.

She turns, but he suddenly takes here hand. She looks back in surprise. He hasn't moved, though his eyes are now shut tight.

"Don't bring this up to her," he almost whispers.

"Oh…uh, sure. Why, does she not like to-"

"No, it's not what you think…It's, complicated." He shakes his head feverishly. "I'll explain later, just promise me you won't say anything to her…or anyone else, about what I just told you…please. Promise me?"

Jeniffer nods in understanding. "I promise, Bigtime." She gives his hand a reassuring squeeze before he releases it.

"I'll, uh, be there in a minute." He finally glances over at her sadly. "I just need a sec…"

She pats him on the shoulder before making her way to the back of vehicle, an outburst of arguing coming from the front seat the second she opens the door;

"We're not listening to country music!"

"Come on, Bouncer, you had it on your station on the way to Duckburg. Let me have a turn!"

"Burger, when I'm driving you can listen to anything ya want…except country."

"It's not all bad."

"No country, Burger."

Babyface, seated between his two larger brothers, turns to face the backseat once Jennifer gets in and shuts the door. "What's up with Bigtime? Is he okay?"

Jenny looks on at him for a moment before forcing a smile. "Um…yeah, he'll be okay. He just, needs to clear his head, is all." She tries not to glance to the right, feeling Bonnie's eyes on her. "He'll be over in a sec."

He raises his one eyebrow at her, grinning slyly. "Right…So it um, looks kinda like you two had a moment there, huh…another one?" He nudges Bouncer in the shoulder. "That's what now, twice in one day? That's like a record for him, isn't it?"

Bouncer laughs dumbly. "Ya mean for just today or ever?"

"Ever." They both snicker.

Bonnie shakes her head. "Nu-uh, don't you two start in on this." She points a finger at them. "It's not like either of you have put any effort into meeting someone." She smiles over at Jenny. "Don't listen them. They're just jealous because you might be spoken for now."

Babyface rolls his eyes at his sister. "Yeah, like we got time for women. We barely have time for parole!"

Bouncer shrugs, swatting Burger's hand away from the radio dial again. "Why should we even bother, anyway? It's not like there's a lot of girls worth lookn' for anymore." He grins sheepishly in the rearview mirror. "Uh, no offense, Jennifer."

Jenny couldn't help letting out a giggle. "None taken. And thank you."

"Oh, please!" Bonnie laughs. "Ya see? Jealousy talking."

Babyface scowls. "Oh sure, you can act all high and mighty now, Miss 'I have a date next week with some random pretty boy who come's knocking at my door'…I hope he split's the check with you, and cab fare." He turns back around in his seat. "Take that."

Bonnie stays quiet, glancing over at Jennifer before slapping herself in the forehead.

Jennifer's attention had been on Bigtime outside as he'd turned to face them. Her head snaps up to look at her roommate in astonishment. "Say what? You have a date? With who, and when were you gonna tell me?"

Jenny stops short at seeing Bonnie's eyes go wide as saucers, giving her the cutoff sign by slicing her hand across her neck repeatedly. She mouths the words "we'll talk later", just asthe car door opens. Jenny faces the other way again, seeing a sullen Bigtime scanning the interior of the car.

He exhales loudly. "Well, let's get this over with."

Jenny moves over in the seat, now in the middle of Bonnie and Bigtime. Upon shutting the door, he leans forward to look over at his sister. He grins, although Jennifer can feel him tensing up next to her. "You sure you're up for a family reunion? I can't promise we'll be on our best behavior while you're there."

Bonnie nods in the direction of those arguing over the radio again. "What else is new?" She eyes her friend. "What about you? After all, this is still what you want, right?"

Jenny grins widely. "I guess so…I mean, just not so soon after telling you, though…Kinda caught me off guard."

Bonnie shrugs. "Hey, it was either this or leave you to fend for yourself against Damien."

She nods. Upon looking down at her hands, she now notices how tightly she'd been grasping one of the sweater sleeves tied around her waist. It was her sudden anxiety at meeting not just criminals, but famous criminals. The only positive thing was that she'd already met the majority of them, according to Bonnie. The ones worth meeting, anyway.

The Beagle next to her must've felt her discomfort, offering reassurance.

"You'll do fine, Kid." Bigtime nudges her in the shoulder before turning back to look out the window, watching the scenery go by, taking up speed as they make their way to the Beagle's home.

Jenny only felt a little better at this…it was only when he subtly took her smaller hand in his that the feeling of doubt began to shrink. Upon returning the embrace, her confidence had never been higher.

Oh, my, god!! They're almost there!! The anticipation is KILLING me!

Wait a minute...ya know all this time I don't think anyone's felt the need to call any of the Beagles back home and let them know they're about to get not one, but two surprise visitors.

Eesh! I wonder how Bankjob will take this. Surely he won't overreact. I mean, since when do older brothers overreact about their younger siblings abandoning the rest of the family in the middle of the night, only to show up with a long lost baby sister and some random hot chick...

Hmm...This isn't going to be pretty, is it?

Stay tuned...