They were rudely awakened when the door slammed open and Bob came stomping down the stairs. Penelope felt like she had just closed her eyes. They now felt gritty and dry and she couldn't even bring her hands high enough to rub them.
"Good morning, boys. Would you like some breakfast?" Bob asked them cheerfully.
Henry jumped up as fast as he could untangle himself from Penelope. "Can we hab eggs and pannycakes? They my favorite." The little boy said excitedly.
"I think that can be arranged, little man." Bob replied with a genuine smile. "How about you Jack, does that sound good?"
"Yes sir, that sounds fine," Jack told him.
"Umm Bob?" Penelope asked nervously. "We've been here for quite some time and I'm in dire need of a bathroom break.'
"Let me get the boys some breakfast and I will come back and get you. I am sure you can hold it for a little longer." Bob told her. He took the boys and left the basement.
When they had left the room Pen looked over at Will. In the hours since the beating the bruising had taken over and there was more damaged skin then unblemished. His left eye was so swollen she didn't think he would even be able to open it. He proved her right when he opened the other eye and looked over at Penelope.
"What time is it? Where are the boys?" He asked her.
"I assume it's morning because Bob just came and took the boys upstairs for breakfast." Pen replied.
"Mmm, breakfast. " Will distracted them before they thought too much about food. "You know, J.J. told me that you had a great voice, but that's an understatement. If you ever got tired of crime fighting you could probably make it a career."
"That's nice of you to say my intelligent fox, but I don't think showbiz is the life for me. Too many cutthroat bitches. I am content singing karaoke and the occasional musical on stage." Penelope shuddered thinking about being in the spotlight 24/7.
"What musicals have you done?"
"So far my group has done Sweeney Todd and Rent, but I'm currently trying to persuade them to do Guys and Dolls. I have my heart set on playing Adelaide."
Will laughed, "You would be a wonderful Adelaide. I wish I had known about the other two. I would have loved to have seen them."
"Oh, wow. J.J.'s husband is a closet musical theater lover. I can't wait to bring that up." Penelope gleefully said.
"There are certain ones I'm a fan of, like Sweeney Todd and Across the Universe. There are many that I would never watch, like Cats or Oklahoma. They don't appeal to me at all. Plus, it makes it better when someone you know is performing. My sister was Sarah in our high school production of Guys and Dolls. She roped me into it and I played Nathan Detroit."
Penelope could not stop the laugh that escaped. "I cannot picture you with your thick accent, playing born-and-raised-in-New York Nathan. What I would give to see that."
"I'll tell you what, when we get out of here and you convince your group to do Guys and Dolls, I will audition with you and we can sing 'Sue me'. I would give you a preview, by my ribs won't give me the air I need for that song."
"That's ok Will, but I am going to hold you to it."
"Ok, so I'm gonna tell you something but you have to fake surprise later when J.J. tells you." Will lowered his voice preparing to tell the news.
"Oh, I love secrets, what is it?"
"We're gonna have another baby."
Penelope squealed with excitement, worries momentarily erased. "Oh my gosh Will, I'm so excited for you! How far along is she? What do you want, another boy or a little girl?"
Will smiled at Pen's response. "She's about two months and she doesn't care. While I would love either, I really want a Daddy's girl to spoil. Knowing J.J. and I though, she will probably be a tomboy and want nothing to do with the frills and lace I picture her in."
Pen's eyes glittered with tears. "Henry's gonna be a big brother! I will have to start his lessons now on how to protect her without turning into overprotective annoying brother."
"He will be a great big brother. I just hope J.J. is taking care of herself right now. The stress of us being kidnapped cannot be good for her right now. She looked really pale on the video."
"My sweet gumdrop will be fine as soon as we get home. We will make her stay in bed and recuperate with you. Just tell her you won't rest unless she does." Pen told him.
"I want to get her healthy, not piss her off Pen," Will said, laughing.
The door to the basement opened and the boys came down, followed by Bob. Bob was carrying a water bottle and a small trashcan. He dropped the water bottle in Will's lap and said, "Drink the water and use the bottle to relieve yourself and throw it in here. I do not want to see it. "
He moved to stand in front of Penelope. "Now, behave sweet thing or next time you will be left to soil yourself." He waited for her acknowledgement, and when she nodded he started unlocking her chains. He made sure to knock the cuffs on her broken finger, making her whimper and bite her lip.
He smiled at her and then helped her to her feet. She wobbled for a second after sitting for so long and then found her balance. Bob gestured for her to go up the stairs first and then followed her up.
When the door shut Jack turned to Will. "As much as I would rather not, if you need help, let me know."
Will laughed and said, "Thanks kid, but I'm pretty sure I've got this, my hands aren't broken. What did you guys eat for breakfast?" His stomach rumbled at the thought of food. He thought of the last time he ate. It had only been about 24 hours, but it felt like so much longer.
"We had pannycakes Daddy!" Henry shouted. "Bob made 'em look like stars. His eggs were gross." The little boy made a disgusted face.
"Aunt Pen asked me to look around the house if I got the chance. She said to look for mail and I found some when we were sitting in the kitchen. Bob moved it too fast but I saw 325 Mountain Oak before he did. I didn't see pictures of any kind."
Before Jack could say anything more, or Will could respond, they heard Penelope scream from upstairs and a lot of movement. Henry jumped up and ran to his dad. He threw himself down on Will's legs and covered his ears as they heard Penelope continue to scream. Jack got up and went towards the stairs.
"What are you doing?" Will asked him.
"I'm gonna listen and see if I can hear what's going on." Jack told him.
"No Jack, don't do that. Not only do you not need to hear it, if they open the door it will hit you. Come sit back down with us." Will used his hand to motion Jack back towards them.
"I can't just sit there Will, they are hurting her," Jack yelled. "I have to do something to help her because you can't!"
"JACK, sit down! There is nothing you can do. There are five guys up there and they have guns and strength that you don't. You will help her more if you don't piss them off and get yourself chained up."
Jack plopped down next to Henry and they all stared at the door. Penelope's screams had faded away but they could still hear the guys yelling to each other. They couldn't make out the words but from the tone of the voices, they sounded like they were cheering on a game. Will feared the worst for his bubbly friend. He closed his eyes and sent up a quick prayer as he stroked his little boy's back, trying to calm him down.
Will was worried that Jack and Henry were going to get a front row seat to see the worst things a man could do to a woman. He knew he should distract them somehow, talk to them or play some game but he couldn't think of anything to say.
Henry had just started to calm down when a gunshot echoed throughout the basement and the house above. There was yelling and then no noise at all.
Jack looked up at Will; he had tears streaming down his face. "Please, please, please tell me they did not just do what I think they did Will, Please."
"I don't know Jack, I would like to say no because it wasn't part of the plan and Bob doesn't have an audience to see it, but I don't know. As hard as it sounds we will have to wait."
Jack nodded and wiped the tears off his face. He scooted back until the wall was at his back and he was shoulder-to-shoulder with Will. They stared at the door hoping Penelope would come back through it.