Author's Note: Ah...I still have more chapter to write. HAHA! I AM GONNA HAVE FUN WITH THIS! REAL FUN! I'm of course, upping the ante, and y'all will hate me that much more.
Guest: Your really long review made my day, and I used "coughing up an artery" just because you used it. LETS MAKE IT A MEMORABLE PHRASE PEOPLE!
SHOUTOUT TO: daphrose and AllAmericanSlurp.
Adam made his way down to where his family had been held, and was surprised at how quickly Bree had released them. Donald was hugging Bree while Douglas stood beside them, but Tasha locked her eyes on Adam and headed straight for him. Adam felt his heart race increase in fear, then he realized she was afraid too, and he relaxed.
"Have you seen Leo? Where is he?" Tasha demanded, her hands on her hips. Never get in the way of an angry mother.
"Yes, he's at the house," Adam answered, his voice wavering only a little under her gaze. Tasha smiled, and drew him in for a big hug. "I'm glad you're safe, Adam."
"Alright, people, let's-" Donald was broken off by a huge crack from above. Adam didn't need super-senses to smell the smoke. Smoke means fire. How did this place catch on fire? Then he remembered Marcus' eye sparking, and the carpet on the floor. Well, we're in trouble. "Bree, can you head upstairs and give me a report?" Bree zipped off, and Adam was relieved that Douglas was taking control.
"The fire, it's everywhere on the floor! I can't get through!" Bree was panicked, and it showed in her eyes and voice. Adam was surprised he came up with a solution first.
"Well, we're below it, and it's all concrete down here, so we'll be fine, right?" Douglas' facial expression said are you kidding me?
"Adam, we'll be trapped down here, and we don't want the authorities coming down here to start an investigation." I guess I don't have the super-smarts anymore. "Bree, look around for a fire extinguisher and you could put the fire out, maybe?" Bree sped off again, then shook her head. Donald punched the wall, letting out a yell of frustration. Douglas sighed. "I'll suggest something stupid: Bree, could you run so fast the fire couldn't affect you?" Bree looked uncertain, and for a moment Adam was sure she would shake her head, but she nodded.
"Bree, take Tasha first." Donald ordered. Bree put on a brave(r) face, and took Tasha's hand, and disappeared in her trademark blur. She returned a minute later, her face a little paler and with small streaks of soot on her face. "Next?"
"Douglas, he's injured," Douglas glared at his brother, as if taking offense to that. "No, Adam." The two brothers exchanged a look, then nodded. Bree took a step toward Adam, but Adam shook his head and stepped away.
"No, if the roof falls, I'm the only one who can hold it up. Donald." Bree grabbed Donalds' arm and zipped out. Adam let out a breath. Every second added that much more worry on his shoulders. Bree appeared once more, and grabbed Douglas before disappearing. Adam heard more snaps and cracks from above, and he grew all the more uneasy. Come on, come on...
Finally, his sister reappeared. She grabbed his hand, and he felt the world disappear momentarily, then reappear as his sister stopped. Out of the burning building. Adam released a breath, and with it all his anxiety. We live to fight another day. Douglas shuffled Adam and Bree over to where Donald and Tasha stood.
"Stare at the fire, and move slowly. Act like you're part of the crowd. The police will go after anyone who does not look like they're just curious bystanders." Adam was tempted to ask how Douglas knew that, but decided not to. Some questions are better left unanswered, right, or is unasked? I don't really care. "Walk calmly, and slowly, but not too slow. Tasha, Donald, branch off from our group. We're too big, and we all smell somewhat like smoke."
Donald and Tasha obeyed, and Adam tapped Douglas on the shoulder, and asked quietly, "Can we please hurry up? I think Leo and Chase might want to hear about this." I also want to make sure Chase hasn't died from pneumonia yet, but I don't want to go into that yet.
"Adam, did you not hear what I just said? We can't stand out. And someone hurrying away from what the cops will believe is arson is very, very conspicuous." Douglas scanned the area around them to make sure no cops were heading to them, and sighed. "I'm sorry Adam, I shouldn't have snapped."
"It's alright, I'm used to it." After all, I lived with Bree and Chase for most of my life, and then Bree and I'll keep living together until I go to college.
"Still, I shouldn't have done it." Adam decided it was useless to try to convince Douglas otherwise, and focused his energy on thinking of, It's over. It's over. We can go back to normal lives. At the edge of the crowd, they were reunited with Donald and Tasha. They rounded street corner after street corner, and with each step closer to home, he felt more energy running up from his feet. When they at last made their way to the driveway, he was practically bouncing off the walls.
He opened the door, and Leo jumped up from the couch. "Hey, you're all back!" Leo ran and hugged his mother, Donald, Bree, then Adam. Adam felt as if everything could be normal, and his stomach growled, which seemed to cement the fact. He raided the fridge, and he heard the others laughing behind him. Not maliciously, but happily. He heard Leo come up behind him, and Adam turned to face him.
"Did you go into the lab?"
"No."