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Finding Will Du

Three Years Ago

Jack had his son on the brain, he realized. He was sitting in his office trying to do work, and all he could think about was the teen in the library. Tensions were high between them, and things were getting more and more complicated with every day that passed it seemed...

Will sat sulking in the library trying to read. His mind wasn't on his book, though. Just the other day he'd told his father that he was sick of having him in his life and that he never wanted to see him again. He'd told the man he wasn't coming over this weekend, but mom had put the kibosh on that in a second flat. His words that day echoed through his mind and he inwardly winced. Maybe he'd been too harsh? No. Nothing was too harsh for Jack. It wasn't like he'd care one way or another anyway.

He heard his father entering the library. "Will?" the man said.

"What, Jack?" he asked testily. Jack winced. He'd never thought the simple act of his child calling him by his first name could cut his heart so deeply.

"Let's do something. Whatever you want," Jack offered.

"I want to sit here and pretend I'm back home with mom," Will replied. "You go back to whatever you do, old man. I don't care."

"Horseback riding!" Jack desperately blurted out. He knew the boy was on a horseback riding kick right now. How did he know this one might ask? Simple. He'd swallowed his stubborn pride and called Betty desperately begging—literally begging—her to tell him what the boy liked these days, because goodness knew Will didn't tell him anything anymore.

Sure enough, just as Betty had said he would, Will turned quickly, eyes wide. "I beg your pardon?" the boy asked.

"Let's go horseback riding, son," Jack said, hopefully grinning. Oh this was so backward. Wasn't it usually the child begging the parent for attention and approval?

"You ride?" Will incredulously asked.

Jack knew he was walking a fine line here, and he was dangerously close to toppling off. He would have to be very, very careful about what he said from here on in. "Surprised?" he asked, forcing himself not to boast. He could just picture how well that would go.

"I do a lot of things you're not aware of."

"Oh I'll just bet you do. Get away from me, Jack."

"Well, uh, yeah," Will replied, rubbing the back of his head. "I mean, a little." He rose and approached his father cautiously. "Sure you can keep up?"

Jack smirked. "Worry about keeping pace with me, Sport," he replied. Will started then smiled, actually smiled, at him. It had been so long since his son had last genuinely smiled in his presence, even if it was only a challenging smirk.

"You're on," he replied. Jack grinned at the boy. Will hurried passed him and he followed closely behind.

KP

The trail was peaceful. Up until father and son raced along it laughing, their horses tearing up the dirt. "You're slowing down, old man!" Will called over to his parent.

"I'm giving you a chance!" Jack replied.

"Yeah right," Will replied, grinning. He took the lead until they reached the designated finish line. He drew his horse back, stopping it, then turned. "Hurry up, dad!" he called.

Jack trotted up next to his son. "Where did you learn to ride like that?" he asked when he reached the boy.

"On a mission with mom in Utah," Will promptly answered, grinning. "Wild horses, rogue bandits, poachers. It was pretty wild."

Jack blinked. It definitely sounded like it had been wild. He chuckled and shook his head. "I believe it. So, should we head back now?" he asked.

"Passed your bedtime, pater?" Will teased.

Jack ruffled his hair playfully, chuckling. "I'm going to make you eat those words," he said.

"Oh really? One more race says I'm right," Will said.

"Deal. Up to the next rest point," Jack said. Will grinned excitedly.

"Ready, set, go!" the boy exclaimed without hesitation.

Instantly Will bolted. Jack kicked his horse into action and got between his son and the cliff they were now racing along. Will didn't seem to notice the protective action. Good. He'd probably take offense to it. In moments the elder took the lead, to the younger's shock.

"Whoa," Will said. "Giddy up!" he ordered his steed. It sped up, but Jack managed to stay ahead.

They reached the checkpoint, Jack victoriously turned his horse, looking triumphantly back at his shocked child. "Holy..." Will began, finishing with a set of words in a foreign language.

"Watch your tongue," Jack warned, frowning.

Will started. "You understand that dialect?" he asked his father in disbelief.

"Kiddo, I'm not quite as talentless as you believe," Jack said. He instantly cursed himself. He'd walked right into a potential topple off of the figurative wire he was walking.

To his surprise, though, Will simply said, "No kidding." Jack inwardly sighed in relief.

"We should head back down," Jack said. "It's getting dark out." Will smiled and nodded in agreement.

Present

Jack looked out the plane window, stroking a sleeping Betty's hair absently as he remembered that night. The next time he'd seen his son, Will was right back to the way he'd been acting before. He wasn't sure what had changed in that timeframe. He'd probably never know. Not that it had mattered. What had mattered to him was that his son had become just as cold and angry as ever, and any progress they might have made that night had been shot.

He glanced over to Gemini, who was stirring, and watched carefully in case the man woke up as something else. Gemini's eyes suddenly shot open and he gasped loudly, body arching. Betty started awake and turned quickly, eyes wide. Gemini went into a coughing fit. "Sheldon?" she urgently asked, scrambling to get up and go to him. Jack caught her arm, holding her back. She looked nervously at him, then back at her brother. After a moment Gemini stopped coughing and just sat up panting, a hand to his chest. Clearly, he was having trouble breathing. "Gemini?" Betty uncertainly asked.

Gemini let out a shaking breath, turning to them. "I'm still here," he said. "By what miracle I couldn't tell you." Grimacing, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and bent over, taking a moment to breathe and collect himself.

Betty shifted, then crossed to him, extracting herself from Jack. She crouched in front of her brother, covering his balled hands with her own. "Are you good?" she asked.

"For now," Gemini assured, nodding. He got up, walked away from his sister, and went to the control panel. Absently he began fiddling with the controls.

"What are you doing?" Jack asked, frowning warily.

"GJ implants tracking chips in each of their agents in case something goes wrong on a mission. There's no way in heaven or on earth that my sister neglected to implant Will with one. Probably the most high-tech model she could find. All I need to do is tap into that frequency somehow." He groaned, holding his stomach. Jack stepped towards him in concern but paused. "I'm afraid I might not have much time," Gemini said.

"You'll pull through, Sheldon. You've been fighting it this long," Betty said.

"More than can be said for most others," Jack added. Gemini snorted. He personally didn't believe that he'd make it, but he would take the optimism where he could get it.

"I'll find the frequency of Will's chip," Betty said, approaching her brother.

"Fire away," Gemini said. She reached over the seat and typed in a sequence of numbers. Nothing was appearing and grief began to fill her eyes. She willed a blip to appear. Jack felt his heart sink into the pit of his stomach. Gemini swallowed and closed his eyes tightly. The only reason a chip wouldn't register was if the agent wearing it was dead, in which case another sequence was typed in. To find a body.

"No," Betty said brokenly when no blip appeared. She turned to Jack quickly, burying herself in his arms. He held her numbly, pale.

This couldn't be happening... Please. No.

Jack buried his face in her hair and rocked her gently. Silently he begged the powers that be to let the blip appear. Gemini shook his head and sighed deeply through his nose, closing his eyes. "We need to try the other," he quietly said, looking at the keypad once more and putting his fingers over it. Suddenly a red dot flashed. He gasped, looking quickly up. What was that? Had he imagined it? Just then it flashed again. His eyes widened. "Betty, Jack, we have a reading!" he exclaimed.

Jack and Betty quickly looked over, gasping. Their eyes widened in hope as the dot began to flash quicker.

"What are we coming up to?" Jack asked immediately.

"A farmer's field," Gemini replied. "There's something in it!"

"It could be a GJ escape pod. Jack, it's him!" she exclaimed, grinning and taking her husband's arms in excitement, eyes shining with hope and excitement.

"He's all right!" Jack exclaimed, laughing and hugging her back.

Gemini was silent. They were rejoicing, and he wasn't going to burst their bubble. They didn't need to look at the pessimistic side of things right now. The side that said that even if their son had survived the landing, there was no guarantee he hadn't been infected and turned... He swallowed. Please let him be wrong.

Meanwhile

Will was jarred awake when the pod hit the ground, sending him to the ground. He cursed under his breath, damning the GJ parachutes for their ineptitude. Ugh, budget cuts. What a nightmare. He crawled to the door and started hitting it, trying to get it open. "Stupid. Piece. Of crap. Doors," he grunted with each check. It fell open suddenly. He splatted on the ground and cursed under his breath again. With a grimace he stood up, brushing himself off, and looked warily around. A field. Perfect. He grimaced and began trying to determine his next course of action. There was a cliff not far off. He could climb up it to try and get a better vantage point. He made his way over to it and began climbing up. As soon as he reached the top, he looked out over the upper field towards the faint outline of a town. Likely Middleton. Just then he heard an aero engine and started, turning quickly. His eyes widened. A WEE jet! Uncle Gemini!

Will gasped and began scrambling down the cliff. The jet was coming in for a landing! He had to reach them before they left without him! He saw three figures emerge. He didn't care who they were. They were going to the pod. They were searching the inside and looking around it! "Uncle Sheldon! Uncle Sheldon!" he shouted desperately. "Uncle Sheldon, I'm over here!"

Gemini heard the shouts first and gasped, turning. His eyes widened. "Will! Betty, Jack, it's him!" he exclaimed. Quickly Betty and Jack raced around to his side of the pod.

Betty gasped, covering her mouth, eyes filling with relief. "Will!" she screamed, racing towards her baby as fast as she could. For a moment Jack looked like he would follow, but then paused, nervously, stepping back.

Gemini turned sympathetically to him. "You won't go to him, will you?" he asked solemnly.

Jack was silent. Finally, he bowed his head, looking away. "No. He wouldn't want it anyway."

"Jack…" Gemini began. Jack gave him a warning look and Sheldon winced a bit before falling silent.

KP

"Mom!" Will cried the moment he realized it was his mother. They were in one another's arms in seconds. Dr. Director pulled her son into a crushing hug, weeping in happiness.

"Baby, my little baby," she said, kissing his head over and over as she rocked him protectively.

"Mom, I'm okay. I'm okay," Will reassured. Inside, though, he never wanted her to let him go again. "I love you mom," he said. "I love you."

"I love you too, sweetheart. I love you too," she said, laughing happily through tears as she continued rocking her child gently.

Will spotted Gemini approaching and lit up. "Uncle Gemini!" he exclaimed, pulling away from his mother and racing towards the man. Gemini considered keeping up his villainous facade and shoving the boy back, but as established he had a soft spot for his sister's son. In fact, he was putty in the boy's hands, and sadly that wasn't an exaggeration.

He dragged the youth into a tight embrace. "There you are. I knew you could do it, William, I knew it," Gemini said in relief. "Next time, though, be more careful."

Will beamed at his uncle. Part-time enemy he supposed as well, but Gemini was more his mother's nemesis than his. He looked past the man to see who the third party that had come was, and his grin instantly fell. He went pale instead, staring in shock. Gemini frowned curiously and turned, following his nephew's eyes. Will was looking directly at Jack Hench...

Gemini stared quietly. He could practically feel the unabashed love and relief radiating off his friend. No doubt Will could feel it too, and for a moment, just a moment, the boy looked vulnerable. For a moment he almost looked as if he would run into the man's arms... But he didn't... Vulnerability quickly morphed into anger, and Will scowled. "You brought him?!" the boy demanded furiously, facing his uncle.

"Will…" Gemini began in concern. Will shoved roughly passed him. Gemini grunted a bit and a flash of annoyance crossed his expression. He turned to look after Will nervously. Ooh, he couldn't imagine this confrontation going any sort of well.

KP

Will marched directly up to Jack Hench. He wanted to intimidate his 'father' into looking away, but he didn't. The man's eyes stayed fixed on his son. "What are you doing here?!" Will demanded angrily, getting right in his father's face.

"The same thing as everyone else, Sport. Trying to survive," Jack tiredly replied, already exhausted by this.

"We'd be better off dead than with you around!" Will barked.

"Son, we have no time…" Jack began.

"Don't call me your son, Hench! You're nothing to me! Dead! Comprende?!" Will angrily shouted. "I don't even want to be near you!" Jack listened quietly, hardly even batting an eyelash. Pain and grief reflected in his eyes. The boy was being particularly vicious towards him this time, he noted. Will hadn't been this bad since the night he'd disowned him as his father...

Two Years Ago

"Why do you always drag me to these things?" Will complained to his dad as they drove towards a restaurant where Jack was heading to meet with some clients.

"I told you to stay home. You're the one who decided to play spy and snuck into my car," Jack said, audibly annoyed. Now he was running late, and the people he was meeting weren't exactly forgiving of that, so bringing Will back was out of the question. "Listen, son, something came up. I'm sorry. We'll do something after, okay?" Jack said.

"Like what? By the time you get out, it'll be midnight," Will replied, crossing his arms and glaring out the passenger window. "Ugh, why couldn't I just stay with mom?"

Jack was silent. Part of him wanted to slap the boy for the disrespect - he was in no mood for the attitude - but the other part preferred to just let the words slip off his back like he usually did. Call him a pushover, but he would really rather not get charged with abuse. "We're here," Jack said, pulling to a stop. He and his son got out.

"A little gaudy if you ask me," Will grumbled, looking around at the location.

"Yeah, stay by my side, Kiddo. The people we're going to see aren't exactly the kind I want you to be anywhere alone with," Jack said.

"You brought me to meet with traffickers?!" Will demanded. "Are you crazy or just insane?!"

"You snuck in," Jack reminded. "These people aren't traffickers. They're probably not above dabbling in it - I don't really ask - but they're not traffickers. That said, I have no idea what sort of perversions they may or may not have, so just do as I say, okay?"

"I can't wait to nail you for this," Will icily replied, crossing his arms and narrowing his eyes at his father. Jack sighed hopelessly and rolled his eyes.

KP

Father and son walked towards a large table in the middle of the room. It was the only one occupied. The restaurant had been rented out completely it seemed. No one came in and no one went out except for the listed guests. It had taken a hefty bribe on Jack's part to get Will in at all. Father and son approached the table. Will lingered a bit uneasily behind his father, warily taking in the others present for this 'business meeting'. Some of the men caught sight of him and their eyes lit up in interest. Will didn't like the looks they were giving him.

"Gentlemen. How are we all doing today?" Jack cordially greeted with a grin, walking up to his seat at the foot of the table, so to speak. Let's just say it was obvious he wasn't heading up this meeting. Despite the small space, Will sat next to him. He certainly didn't plan on sitting by anyone else here, that was for sure. No, he wasn't frightened and cowering behind his father. He just… preferred to avoid anything that could possibly lead to a confrontation.

"You're late," the man seated at the head said in some kind of Southern accent, elbows on the table and fingers entwined in front of his mouth in the same manner Jack had. Will shifted a bit uncomfortably. That voice... It sounded familiar.

Jack kept the amicable grin planted on his face and even lightly chuckled, but Will sensed a sort of unease and nervousness in his father that he didn't like. Even the laugh had sounded strained. He looked uncertainly up at the man. Was it just him, or was his dad actually a little scared of these people? Strange. His father had never seemed frightened of anyone before.

Yes he had...

Will shifted uncomfortably at that little whisper in the back of his head, some repressed memory tugging at the fringes of his consciousness. There was always a bigger fish in the sea. Apparently, Jack was in the presence of those bigger fish right now. "Yes, well, traffic," Jack replied. Oh, there was the slight hint of snide, Will noted. Now, given what he knew of his father, and the deductions he'd already made about their current company, he figured that Jack was probably trying to worm his way into the position of biggest fish in the sea. Judging by what he'd seen of his sire, he'd probably succeed too. Right now, though, whatever plan Jack may have had appeared to be in the early stages. He was submitting to the others present, backing down, and that wasn't something Hench usually did.

"That's no excuse. You know that," the head warned icily. "I've expressed to you many times how much I despise it when the people I meet with show up late. I'll forgive the transgression this time, Jack, but never again." His eyes traveled to Will and lit up a bit in intrigue. "Well, well, well, look who you brought along. You've grown up, great nephew," the man said.

Will started and went pale as an entire wall of suppressed memories crashed down around him. He looked quickly up at his father with eyes wide in uncertainty. He didn't like or trust the way the man's grip on his shoulder had protectively tightened. He looked quickly back at the man.

The Uncle. It was the Uncle!

"He wasn't supposed to be here, but he decided to play tag along and snuck into the car before I left. There was no time to bring him home. If there had been, I would have. There's not a problem, I hope," Jack coldly replied, testing how far he could push his luck. Will's mouth felt dry. He didn't like this. He wanted out of here.

"Are you menacing me, nephew?" the Uncle asked.

"Hardly know the meaning of the word," Jack lightly replied with a casual smile. "So, shall we order, gentlemen?"

KP

Every moment that passed, Will became more and more terrified, eyes fixed on the Uncle and horrendous memories spilling through his mind. Jack was smooth talking his way quickly up in the eyes of the others around the table. Even the Uncle looked a bit impressed with the proposals and ideas Hench offered. Only his father, Will wryly thought. The wily bast… never mind. He suddenly felt something on his knee and stiffened, sharply glancing over at the man next to him on the side of the table. The man smirked predatorily, slowly sliding a hand up his thigh.

Will yelped, jerking backward in appall. He stiffened when he felt all eyes turn to him. He blushed deeply and stammered, "S-sorry! I-I thought... you see... I mean... It was a spider!"

"A spider?" the Uncle asked, sounding unimpressed.

"Y-yes sir. I-I'm sorry I interrupted," Will awkwardly said, wishing he could vanish. He felt the man pat his knee, silently praising him for his silence. Will swallowed, looking suddenly miserable and vulnerable as the man moved upwards again. The boy felt powerless to do anything. He couldn't risk making another scene. Even if he did say something, it wasn't like anyone here would care!

"Will, switch places with me," Jack suddenly said, and he felt his father's hand reach over to the other man's wrist and seize it harshly, squeezing with such force the perpetrator began to uncomfortably shift and grunt a bit in pain. He couldn't believe he was thinking this, but thank you, dad. He nodded and switched seats with his father.

"Are we done playing musical chairs now?" the Uncle questioned a bit testily.

"I certainly hope so," Jack replied, casting a warning look at the new man at Will's side. Just in case he got the same idea.

"Good," the Uncle replied before looking down at his plate to cut a piece of meat.

Jack took the opportunity to cast an ugly scowl at the man next to him. He leaned over, pulling him near as others quietly observed in some interest. "If you ever try something like that on my son again, your wrist will make like a twig and snap, understood?" he growled. The other sneered a bit then winced as Jack's grip at the back of his neck tightened. Falling into line, he begrudgingly nodded in understanding. "Good," Jack hissed, letting the man. The offender painfully massaged the back of his neck and his wrist.

"I must admit, nephew, you've gotten persuasive. More and more with each year that passes. One day you might even match up with me," the Uncle said. "There's great potential in a partnership between us. The way you handled Stevens just now for annoying your child was brilliance in itself." Will started. The man had known? Jack seemed unfazed and slightly annoyed.

"I try," Jack said.

"Then why are you still holding out on your old Uncle? Come on son, let's kiss and make-up. Whaddaya say?" the man said.

"Uncle, of every man seated here at this table today, you're the last one I have an interest in building a relationship with," Jack coldly replied, leaning on the table with his elbows. "All I want from you is peace. You do your thing, I do mine, and our paths never cross again. Ever. I don't bother you, you don't bother me. Your men don't cross mine, mine don't cross yours. Should it so happen that either of us ends up in trouble we can't get out of on our own someday, then maybe we can help each other out, but that's the extent of this relationship."

The Uncle's expression slowly began to morph into something menacing and Will felt bile rising in his throat. "Dad, I have to go to the bathroom," he murmured quietly. He really didn't, but he couldn't stand being around these people anymore. Least of all the Uncle.

"Go on," Jack replied.

Will rose and began walking away. He would usually say excuse me, but he didn't feel like gracing this crowd with any more cordiality than he already was. He stiffened on hearing another chair move. He glanced back only to see one of the men who had been eyeing him up when he'd first entered with his father rise. He almost stopped and turned back when suddenly he heard his father say, "Excuse me, gentlemen. While we all seem to be taking breaks, I believe I'll go on one of my own." Will saw the man who was starting to follow him pause, glancing back in some annoyance, but then continued to follow the youth.

KP

Will walked into the bathroom and hurried towards a stall. Dad would be here soon, he told himself. He quickly locked the door as his pursuer entered. The man paced once or twice outside. Will held his breath, hardly daring to breathe. He heard the man test the door and nearly panicked, crouching down and preparing his stun watch, hoping and praying it would work if the man broke in and tried to… something. It wasn't anyone's business what that something might be. Just then the door opened again, no doubt his father, and Jack's footsteps quickly crossed to the other man.

"Hey!" he heard the other protest. There was a scuffle and the man was pulled away from the door. He heard Jack slam the pursuer into the counters.

"What was your game, huh? What?!" Jack shot before striking the man viciously. "At what point did you forget the boy was mine?!" He struck the man again, and the other began to fight back. Will gasped as he heard Jack staggering. The two were grappling now, moving all around the bathroom until Jack finally pinned the man again. "Talk, you little freak."

"Pretty little boy you got there," the man nastily replied, sneering at his attacker challengingly. "What is he, about sixteen? A lot of people like that age. Always such fun. The way they think they have a chance at fighting back when they don't. The way they realize in horror that they're not as invincible as they thought. It's usually too late to save them of course." Will gasped on hearing a vicious crack. Jack had driven the other man's head violently into the hard counter.

"Listen here, you worthless piece of… No. You're not worth it. Get out of here, now! If I catch you so much as trying to look at my son again, I'll make you suffer in ways you never thought possible," Jack threatened.

Will peered through the door and started on seeing a third set of footprints silently sneaking up behind Jack! "Dad, look out!" Will blurted, throwing open the stall and racing out. Jack started and spun only to be punched in the face by the one who had been feeling Will up earlier. The first one grabbed him tightly from behind. Jack began to struggle, but the two leapt on him, getting him on the ground and proceeding to beat him up as he struggled wildly. "No, let him go!" Will ordered viciously, racing towards the fight.

"Will, stay back!" Jack ordered sharply. Yeah right. Will tackled the man who'd been feeling him up earlier, throwing him roughly into a wall. He pulled back and activated his stun watch. It worked! The man fell to the ground, temporarily paralyzed. With him out of the way, Jack quickly got the upper hand on the other. He brought an end to that attacker's onslaught with a vicious blow. The man sank to the floor unconscious and Jack quickly went to Will, taking his son's arm and leading him out of the bathroom, eyes flashing furiously.

"Dad, blood," Will said, voice wavering. Jack's nose and mouth were both bleeding. The man paused and took out a tissue, placing it there and ceasing to walk back towards the dining room. Clearly he didn't intend to return to that table bleeding. It would just frenzy the sharks, Will found himself bitterly thinking. He shifted uncertainly. "Are-are you okay?" he nervously asked.

"The next time I tell you to stay home, you stay home!" Jack snapped furiously, causing Will to jump a bit in fear and shrink back, eyes wide. Frustrated, Jack drew a deep, calming breath and let it out slowly. "I'm fine, Sport. Just fine," he replied, though obviously put out.

Will hung his head. "I want to go home. I don't trust this! Any of it!"

Jack stared at his son for a long moment. To leave now would incense his Uncle... The man was already short on patience as was. He'd be putting his life at risk. Betty and Will's too... But his child was so afraid... GJ had more than enough manpower to keep his wife and son safe, he determined, and a business deal wasn't worth more to him than his son was. Neither was a peace treaty. Not even his own life meant more than his child's mental well-being. Or what was left of it. "All right," Jack relented. Will's eyes widened a little in surprise and hope. He'd actually agreed? Will swallowed and nodded in relief. Jack checked to see if the bleeding had stopped. Once certain it had, they headed back out to the dining room.

KP

Jack and Will approached the long table together. "Gentlemen, I'm afraid my son and I will have to cut this delightful meeting short. I have another coming up in a little while and have to prepare for it," Jack said.

"You just got here, nephew. Not even a half hour ago. We've barely started talking," the Uncle coldly said.

"And I sincerely wish I could stick around to hear whatever else you have to say to me, Uncle, but I'm afraid that isn't going to be possible tonight," Jack replied.

"You'll leave when I dismiss you," the Uncle warned icily. "Right now there's nothing more important to your good standing than this meeting."

Will hung his head. Jack pursed his lips. "Oh yes there is," he boldly and coldly answered. The entirety of the table stared at him in shock and horror like he'd just lost his mind, so clearly among the big fish present, the Uncle was the biggest of them all. Which really, really didn't bode well for him and his dad right now.

"Dad?" Will uncertainly asked.

The Uncle's eyes glittered dangerously. "Sit down, nephew," the man evenly warned.

"Dad, it-it's okay. We can stay," Will fearfully said.

"Your boy knows his place, Jack. Do you?" the Uncle challenged.

"Will, go to the car," Jack ordered calmly, pulling out the keys and handing them to his son. Will looked up at his father in nervousness, then uneasily back at the Uncle and the rest of the men present at the table. The expression on the Uncle's face... He'd never seen anything so dark before.

"Dad, I can stay," Will said again more urgently.

"Do as I say and go to the car!" Jack sharply ordered, giving him a warning look. Will looked uneasily up at his father, then towards the table once more. Slowly he backed away and turned around, picking up the pace a bit as he headed out.

"Uncle, I know this is important, but I can't ignore this. If you would just let me, I'll make it up to you," Jack quietly said, his tone so meek and fearful that it sent shivers racing up and down Will's spine. Will paused, looking uncertainly back. His father never sounded weak like that.

"You will sit, Jack!" the Uncle barked, rising dangerously. "Send that boy home if you must, but you're staying right here!"

Jack was quiet and Will turned towards the door again, picking up the pace even more. "No. I'm not," he heard his father say just as he took hold of the doorknob.

KP

All at once the sound of a bullet rang out through the restaurant and his father cried out in pain. Will went white and gasped, spinning around. "Dad!" he screamed. Jack staggered back into a pillar, obviously shocked, and sank down against it. "Dad, no!" he cried again, racing towards the man. He reached his father's side in seconds, falling next to him. The man's eyes were closed painfully, but there wasn't much blood thank goodness. Just then he heard a gun cocking and gasped, turning. The Uncle's gun was trained on him now.

The man fired, but suddenly Jack moved, quickly getting between the bullet and Will. The projectile struck him and he cried out again. To Will's shock, though, his father staggered up. "Run!" Jack ordered, taking the boy's arm and shoving him along. The two darted out of the room as another bullet fired and as shocked yelling was heard from behind. They tore down the stairs and out into the parking lot. The car was waiting for them, as close to the building as it could possibly get, and now Will understood why. The two of them dove inside. Jack started the engine and tore off grimly without a word. So much for those bridges, he wryly thought.

"They shot you! Twice!" Will exclaimed. "How are you still moving?!"

"HenchCo brand bulletproof vest," Jack replied with a smirk, unbuttoning his jacket and revealing said vest.

"Damn you Jack!" Will shrieked furiously, attacking his father and trying to tear at the man's face, preferably to rip out his eyes.

Jack, startled, began swerving as he tried to fend off the attacks until at last pulling over for their own safety and turning to his son, catching his arms and holding him back with a horrified yet concerned expression planted on his face. "Will, what are you doing?!" he demanded.

"You son of a bit...!" Will began before. Jack covered his mouth. Will threw his father's hand off and yelled, "I hate you! How could you do this to me?! You bring me to a place like that?! Are you out of your mind?! I'm not a client, Jack, I'm your son! Did you even see the way I was being looked at?"

"I told you to stay home!" Jack angrily shouted. He immediately began fending off his son again when Will went at him again with a furious shout.

"Goddammit!" Will shouted, giving up on the attack and falling back in his seat. "What kind of a father are you? You know what, don't even answer. I already know, and I wish I didn't!"

"Will, you need to calm…" Jack began.

"Don't even!" Will almost screamed. "You should have died back there, Jack! I wish you had! Then I wouldn't have to be anywhere near you anymore! Maybe then I could actually get on with my life! Mom and I were always better off without you anyway! You don't care about anyone but yourself!"

"That's not true!" Jack shouted.

"Yes it is!" Will insisted, shoving the heels of his palms into his eyes. Did his father even know how terrified he had been? Did he even care? And-and when that-that gun had gone off, when-when dad had cried out in pain… He'd thought for sure his father would never get up again… Will sobbed and got out of the car quickly and furiously, storming angrily down the road.

Jack quickly got out of the car as well and followed his son, infuriated at the tone the boy was taking with him but also worried. "William Hench!" Jack shouted angrily.

Will spun around, tears spilling over in his eyes. "Don't call me that! Never call me that again! I'm not your son!" the boy shouted.

"What are you saying?" Jack growled.

"I'm saying I disown you, Hench! I disown you as my father! Take your name and rot in hell with it!" Will practically screamed.

Jack started and stiffened, anger vanishing and becoming shock and fear. There was a long, long silence between them, hanging heavy in the air. "Wh-what?" he finally managed to say, hardly able to believe what he'd just heard.

"I denounce the Hench name, and I disown you as my father," Will repeated, tone hollow and angry but also miserable and weak. The youth wiped tears out of his eyes, sniffing, and looked up at the man again. "I'm not your son, not anymore, and you…you're not my father. You have no right to call yourself my father! I'm changing my last name and you… You're staying away from me. Keep out of my life, Hench. Don't ever try to talk to me again. Don't even try to contact me! Now I'm going back to mom's place, and I'm not coming back again."

Furiously he turned, continuing down the street. "Will! Will, wait, please!" Jack begged. Will didn't even look back, just started to run. "Will…" Jack whispered numbly, feeling tears in his eyes. He shook his head in denial and sobbed, covering his mouth and looking down. He let the tears come this time... He had never believed anything could have ever hurt him more than his wife's deceit, but this… Nothing Betty had ever done could even compare to this.

His life was meaningless if that boy walked out of it...

Sniffing, he looked after Will once more. Maybe his death would be a blessing for all of them... For him most of all. He could feel his life crumbling around him, and he didn't know what to do anymore...

Present

He stared at his child with misery, anger, and hurt reflected in his eyes, but he said nothing. He'd tried to take his life that night. Pills and alcohol could be a potent combination. Of course, Gemini had just had to come and see him the moment he learned from his nephew what had happened between them. Part of him still resented that, but he was through with suicide attempts.

"I love you. More than you can even begin to imagine," Jack finally murmured to the boy. For a moment a flash of vulnerability came to the young man's eyes, but Will quickly forced it back.

"Whatever," he replied. "Let's just get this nightmare over with. Surely someone knows how to find a cure."

The youth hurried passed his father. Gemini winced and followed the boy. Jack didn't turn to watch after them, just looked down at the ground. Betty was suddenly there, her hand gently on his cheek. He glanced wearily up at her. "I don't know how much more of this I can take," he muttered to her, reaching up and squeezing it softly.

Gently she took his lips. He hesitated at first, but then welcomed it, hand going behind her head and softly stroking her hair. After a moment she pulled away and whispered, "I love you." He swallowed, looking deeply into her eyes, then sighed and bent, nuzzling her forehead with his nose.

"I love you too," he replied.

"Stay with me. Bear up under this. One day things will get better," she promised. He nodded, but didn't honestly believe her.

"Will you two hurry up?!" Will angrily called back at them before entering the jet, infuriated to see his mother and father getting so close. They glanced over at him, Jack obviously annoyed and Betty clearly exasperated.

"Keep quiet, William. You're in hot water," Gemini warned his nephew.

Will harrumphed, but nonetheless fell into line. Just then he noticed his Uncle's arm and started, turning quickly with eyes wide. "Uncle, what happened to your arm?" he immediately asked.

Gemini winced then sighed in defeat. "I was bitten, Will," he said.

"Bitten?" Will repeated, eyes wide. "But-but then that means…"

"That this time I might not make it. This time I might not be there for you all the way through," Gemini confessed not only to his nephew but to himself as well.

"Y-you're infected?" Will asked, looking at the wound in shock.

"Yes," Gemini answered. "And falling victim to it slowly but surely."

"Then-then we have to find a cure! Quick!" Will exclaimed.

Gemini smirked and ruffled the boy's hair. "Don't worry about me, William. Worry about the ones you can actually save. Your mother, your friends, yourself..." Will swallowed over a lump in his throat and willed back tears. Why did he feel like his life was slowly but surely starting to fall apart? Sadly he looked down.