Trio of terror and they had accomplished their goal and then some.
Jinder was given a mild sedative to decrease the panic attack, Drew had gone blank eyed and still, a beaten down, fallen statue, and Justin who'd taken the least amount of emotional damage was their pillar, slumped on the bench backstage, medical crew doing full checkups.
He'd managed to slip out the door, had to sneak away if only to make sure nothing had happened.
He felt, he touched, utter relief, at the movement.
They were still alive.
So relieved and overjoyed he smiled wide enough to hurt his jaw, collapsed on the floor in a sliding crouch, laughing hysterically.
A dim glow from the slit that was his closed pouch made his head tilt.
He carefully opened the slit, glow brightening.
And with a sorrowful frown, scooped out the mess of shattered bodies.
Treble clefs, beamed notes and quavers, fallen soldiers,each one.
He wept for his music.
'I am sorry, I can NEVER apologize enough...you took the beating, lost your lives to save my babies. And I am grateful.'
Heath cried for them, shrill and aching.
Heath sang to them, as the glow faded to black.
Closed curtain.
A handful of tickets to go touring the world.
Even more cash, wadded in his other fist.
His own problem to solve, question to answer, adventure to leap into, no fear,boldly.
Worth a shot.
He drove to the airport, smiling the entire way.
'Moeder, I cannot wait to be home!'
'Yes, it's not much longer,is it?'
'Feels like an eternity to wait.'
'And you'll be alone?' the gentle voice from the screen.
'Unfortunately, I believe so.'
'what of this new one?'
'Oh, that's for a tv show. Besides she's only a child.'
'The one before for her wasn't for tv, was she?'
Justin squirmed uncomfortable at this online twenty questions.
'In a way she was. I was experimenting...to see if I liked it.'
'What came of that?'
'Her being promiscious.' Justin grumbled.
'I'll never mind anything you do...half the time I can't control you anyway-' and Justin laughed. Mothers around the world were the same, concerened and hilariously overprotective during their caring. 'But don't bring someone into anything false and lead them on.'
'I won't, honest.'
'If this new one...what is her name?'
'Jo-Jo.' Justin said sourly, sounding like a voice and attitude clone of Wade. 'It's a stupid dog name.'
'Yes, well, since your true feelings are obvious, don't hurt her too much.'
'I won't make her cry, I promise.'
A over exagerrated sigh from the screen. 'And do eat! You're skin and bones.'
Justin felt the heat in his face. 'Moeder,please!'
'Well you ARE. Mothers know these things.'
'You know everything, you're perfect.'
'Me? Only ninety percent.' his mother joked and they shared a laugh.
After the laptop was closed for the night, he sat still, gazing at the sky while up on the rooftop of the hotel.
His own mind in a spin.
His mother didn't know everything.
She didn't know him that well.
Or his plans.
Having a girlfriend for on camera to keep nosy reporters and gossiping fans off your back was cool.
Having a woman to use for her body, to swap it with your sister's so she could have a human body once more,ah,that was even better.
