NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: Wow! Almost a month since I did any updates! I've had some legal issues to take care of, but I think the worst is over, so I can get back to what I do best To everyone who's reading and critiquing this story, THANKS! Your support means the world to me (cheesy, I know, LOL)

Chapter Nine

The Rolling Stones were playing on the radio as Jay steered his vehicle (A late-model Jeep) down the road. Anna sat in the passenger seat, while Phil, Tempest, and Chase huddled in the backseat.

Phil shook his head. They were driving towards what looked like an underground garage. Green light illuminated the tunnel, making everything look spooky and ominous. "This is really weird," he muttered.

Anna glanced over her shoulder and smirked at the young smartass. "You're weird," she fired back, and was rewarded with a snort of laughter.

"I think we're here," Jay announced, as he pulled up in front of a bright neon sign that read Swagger's Garage. There were two old-fashioned Mobil Gas pumps on either side of the big metal garage door, and a matching sign, complete with the red Pegasus, was pasted to the concrete wall on the left, right next to a smaller entrance door. "I thought my GPS was on the blink, but I guess I was wrong."

"Thanks," Anna said gratefully, as she hopped out of the Jeep and opened the small door to look inside. A smile spread across her face. There was a new windshield on her grandma's car, and the tire had been replaced. It was like nothing had happened.

Anna pumped her fist in triumph as she went back to the others, who had stepped out of the Jeep. "The car's fixed!" she grinned.

Chase smiled. "That's great news! Now we can all get home!"

Anna approached Jay shyly. "Thank you for all your help. Really, we appreciate it."

"No problem," Jay smiled in return. "Why don't you go pay for your car and I'll wait out here and make sure you guys get out okay."

Anna glanced over at Chase, who stood a respectful distance away. "No, that's okay. We'll be fine."

Jay looked skeptical. "You sure?"

Anna nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure."

Jay wasn't entirely convinced, but he relented. "Okay. Take care of yourself."

"Hey, ummm…how am I gonna find you to…to pay you back?" Anna wondered, a small shy grin spreading across her face.

"Don't worry about it," Jay reassured her, before he climbed into his Jeep and started it back up. "Don't worry about it. Maybe I'll see you again." To the others, he said, "Have a safe trip home. See you later."

Chase had to force a smile. "We will," he nodded, as Phil waved. "Thanks again."

Anna and the other's watched Jay drive off before they went into the garage.

"Chase?" Phil noticed the glum expression on his best friend's face. "You okay? Come on, Chase. He seems pretty cool. All right?"

"Yeah, he is. I'm just dealing with the reality that I don't have a chance in Hell with Anna."

Phil put a comforting hand on Chase's shoulder as he followed Anna and Tempest into the garage

Inside, it was clean and quiet, almost deserted. Anna felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise. "Hello?" she called out, her voice echoing throughout the garage. "Mr. Swagger? Is anyone here?"

Chase chimed in as well. "Hello?"

"Hello?" Tempest called out in her little girl voice.

"Mr. Swagger? Hello?"

"Mr. Swagger?"

"Is anybody here? Hello?"

Suddenly, the eerie quiet was shattered as a lift machine/elevator came to life with a loud grinding of gears. The kids squeaked and jumped in shock as a steel platform lowered itself slowly to the ground, revealing a tall, good-looking man with blonde hair, nice muscles and bright blue eyes. He wore a red hat, a blue tank top and faded jeans, and he carried a small hammer.

Tempest's eyes lit up in joy. "It's Thor!" she gasped, rushing over to the blonde man. She dropped to her knees in reverence. "Oh Thor, mighty God of Thunder!" she exclaimed.

Anna folded her arms across her chest. "Temper, get back here!"

The blonde glared down at the kneeling Irvine-Hardy kid and then looked up at the babysitter. "Who is this kid?"

"Sorry, I'm babysitting her," Anna shrugged, apologetically, as she pulled Tempest to her feet. "You're Mr. Swagger, right?"

"Jack Swagger," he nodded. "Who wants to know?"

"Secret identity," Tempest winked.

"So, what do you want?"

"We're here for the wagon," Anna explained pointing towards the repaired Roadmaster. "Mr. Rhodes sent us."

"The white grocery getter, huh?" Swagger jerked his thumb towards the station wagon. "Broken windshield and new tire?" Anna nodded. "Fifty dollars."

Anna pulled the money out of her pocket and handed it to him. Tempest took the opportunity to approach Swagger again. "Have you been fighting the forces of darkness?"

"Tempest!" Chase snapped, moving forward to get his sister.

Mr. Swagger looked annoyed. "What is she talking about?"

"Sorry, sir. She thinks you're someone else."

"But it's him, Chase!" Tempest insisted. "It's really him. It's Thor!"

"Whatever, Winghead. Come on. Let's go."

"Don't listen to him anyway," Tempest pointed at her older brother. "He said you were a flamer."

"A flamer!" Angrily, Swagger grabbed Chase by his shirt. "You spreading rumors about me, kid?"

Chase frantically shook his head and managed to remove Swagger's hand from his shirt. "Oh no. No, sir! I wasn't!" he babbled, moving back and taking his sister with him.

"What's this?!" Swagger counted the money quickly and held it up. "There's only 45 dollars here! You owe me fifty!"

Anna sighed. "I know, but that's all we have."

"Then you don't have a car," was all Swagger said.

"No, you don't understand!" Anna tried to explain. After the hell she and the kids had already been through, this was the last thing they needed. "We have had the most unbelievable night—"

"Save it!" Swagger fired back, cutting her off savagely. "You owe me money. Now, you give me 5 bucks or you get out."

The older kids—Anna, Phil and Chase—stood in silent shock. If Chase could remember that he had five dollars in his pocket, he would have whipped it out to settle the bill. But he couldn't, so they were all stuck in a garage with an unpleasant mechanic, without a way to get home.

It was Tempest, though, who had enough guts to do something. Indignant, she stomped forward until she was right in front of Swagger. "I thought you always helped people in trouble!" she spat.

Swagger leaned down so that he could look Tempest in the eye. "Hey kid, this is the city. I don't help anybody but myself."

Tempest's lip trembled. "But I always…"

"Get lost!" Swagger snapped, as Tempest backed away. She was about to join her brother and the other kids when she was struck by a flash of inspiration.

"Wait!" she shouted, running back to the grumpy mechanic. "I know why you're not acting like yourself. You don't have your special helmet." Tempest pointed to Swagger's head. "See you're wearing the baseball hat…" she explained, pulling off her Thor helmet and holding it out. "But you're supposed to be wearing this. Take mine. Go on, take it."

Swagger picked up the silver headpiece and held it in front of him. His voice was considerably softer. "You're giving this to me?"

Tempest shrugged. "Well yeah, you're my hero."

Swagger smiled back, touched by the little girl's gesture. Anna, Chase, and Phil look at each other and chuckled in astonishment.

"Here..." Swagger fished the Roadmaster's keys out of his jeans pocket and tossed them to Anna. "Take the car."

Tempest's grin was the biggest one she'd ever flashed. "Thanks Thor," she said gratefully, following Anna and the others to the newly repaired vehicle.

"You're welcome," Swagger said, and then paused. "Hey, Kid." Tempest turned back, and Swagger was holding the helmet out. "I got one of these at home," he explained before he tossed it back to her

"Can I get your address so that I can send you a check for the five dollars?" Anna asked, as the other kids climbed into the Roadmaster.

"Don't worry about it!" Swagger shook his head. "Get yourselves home! Drive safe now."

The kids all expressed their thanks and waved as Swagger opened the main garage door. The Roadmaster, now with Anna at the wheel and the kids safely buckled inside, rolled out into the night.

"Good night!" Swagger waved until the Roadmaster was out of view. Then he closed the door and reached in his jeans pocket for five dollars of his own to add to the cash that the kids had given him. He had a smile on his face for the rest of the night.

~~~BABY~~~

"Phil, time check!" Anna barked, as she drove past a Town Car waiting at a red light.

Phil glanced at his watch. "11:41."

"Okay, we can pick up AJ and be home by 1:00."

Tempest yawned. "Man, am I up late!"

Chase stretched out as much as the back seat would allow. "You're not the only one!"

Meanwhile, in the Town Car, Stevie grinned and turned to his reluctant driver. "Good job, R-Truth. Now follow them…"

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: Boy, it was hard getting back in the swing of things, especially after over a month of anxiety. Writing to me is the best medicine, along with a day away from work to recharge. I think this story will wrap up in about three or four more chapters.

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