Author's Notes: A big thank you to everyone who has been so supportive of this story. This is one of those stories that started off as a side project, and I didn't expect people to care so much about the characters and the drama happening here. Because of your encouragement the idea has been able to grow into something more than its original intention. Maybe if I find some time, I should go back and correct some of the typos from earlier chapters. Again, thank you guys, and I hope you enjoy this latest chapter of "Abdoption" :)

Chapter 14

Visitation

Evening fell over Townsville in a play of red and orange light. Ace stood on a quaint little street corner near the Milford's house. He didn't dare get too close so they wouldn't think something was up, but he needed to be close enough to see when B.W. left. He brought the strange device he and his gang swiped from Mojo Jojo, and soon they would plant the contraption in the old policeman's home.

Ace smoked two cigarettes before he saw B.W. leave the house. She was walking in the opposite direction from where Ace was standing, so he whistled loudly to get her attention. She turned around, and as soon as she saw him she ran as quickly as she could to get to him.

"Bout time," Ace drawled, "This neighborhood's so boring, I'm pretty sure I saw some kids watching actual grass grow."

"Where is she?" B.W. demanded without preamble, "Ace, please, tell me you know where she is!"

"Who? The kid?" Ace asked, confused, "Ain't she in there?"

"No," B.W. replied worriedly, "Yesterday the Milfords were called to the school about some injuries Marny had, but when they went to bring her home she wasn't there! The school lost her!"

"Shh!" Ace hissed, "Quiet! Someone might see us together."

"Oh. Right. Sorry," B.W. cringed sheepishly.

"Anyway, I don't know where the kid is," Ace informed her, "But I did get the doomsday device we talked about. Have you set up your end of the plan?"

"Um…kind of," B.W. said hesitantly, "You see, I haven't managed to record anything useful, but I did get some…well, I guess they're super villain costumes, but I don't think they're George's size…or cup shape."

"Cup shape?" Ace snickered, "What did you do?"

"The store was out of cool villain suits," B.W. explained, "The only ones they had left were Sedusa cosplay, so I bought three and shoved them in George's pajama drawer."

"Won't people think they're Mrs. Milford's?" Ace pointed out.

"No. Her hiney is too big to fit in that."

Ace couldn't help but laugh at how matter-of-fact B.W.'s statement was. B.W., however, wasn't laughing.

"Ace, if you didn't take Marny, then where is she?"

"Eh, heck if I know. Maybe she ran away again. Kids do that, you know."

"But she was hurt!" B.W. cried out, "She could be dead somewhere!"

"I hope not," Ace replied less than sympathetically, "If she is I'll never hear the end of it."

"Ace!"

"Alright, alright, sheesh!" Ace exclaimed irritably, "Just check the hospital. She's probably there if she got hurt."

"I can't," B.W. lamented, "HIPPA laws mean no one can ask about Marny unless they're family, and I ain't family. Mr. Milford said he already checked, but after what you said and what happened at the school…well, I'm not so sure I trust him."

"Gee, you don't trust the child beater?" Ace asked mockingly, "My, my, you are so judgy!"

"This isn't funny, Ace!" B.W. shouted, "If what you said is true, then Marny might be running for her life. Please, can you help me find her? I don't know where else to turn."

"Ah, how the roles have shifted," Ace said slyly, "Now you need my help. I see how it is. You need someone to take the fall for you when we get in trouble for this. Well maybe I don't wanna be yer fall guy. How do you like that?"

"Seriously?" B.W. asked in exasperation.

"Nah, I'm just messin' with you," Ace smirked, "Come on, we'll go find the boys, and then we can check the hospital for the kid."

"But they won't tell us anything," B.W. reminded him.

"You just didn't ask 'em right," Ace assured her, "Don't worry. I'll show you what to do."

B.W. was still skeptical, but any semblance of hope was better than nothing. She agreed to meet Ace at the hospital that night, and she choked back the nervousness she felt at meeting other members of such a notorious street gang.

Night fell by the time B.W. got off the bus. Five green guys were waiting by the door, including Ace, and B.W. assumed that was his gang. Despite how dark it was outside, she could tell these boys wore ill-fitting clothes and had several deformities between them. Not only that, but the smell was downright nauseating.

"Do you guys really know what you're doing?" B.W. asked nervously, too focused to even say hello.

"Of course we do," Ace replied easily, "By the way, could you carry the doomsday device for a while? Snake's arms are gettin' tired."

"Oh, sure," B.W. replied dutifully, "By the way, why is it a coffee maker?"

"Huh?"

"This thing you brought," B.W. gestured with her chin as she carried it, "It's one of those fancy pod coffee makers from Europe. I used to clean for a lady who had one of these."

Ace facepalmed when he realized the mistake. Instead of robbing Mojo Jojo they could've just shoplifted this from a department store or something.

"You guysss ready?" Snake asked when they got to the door.

"Oh my…I've never seen a guy with scales before," B.W. commented, fascinated, "Do they shed?"

"Funny," Snake grunted irritably.

"I wasn't trying to be," B.W. replied apologetically, "So, um, how do we find Marny in here if they won't talk to us?"

"Just watch and learn," Ace grinned.

The six teenagers went inside, and B.W. tried to look straight ahead to avoid staring at the reptile guy. She figured out Ace wasn't as savage as people in Townsville claimed, but this was still a street gang, and she was alone with them. To avoid asking any more dumb or offensive questions, it seemed best to just not interact with or trigger anyone.

When they got to the front desk, Ace used the tip of his boot to tap on Grubber's bare foot. That was the boy's cue, and Grubber fell to the floor and started making siren noises while foaming at the mouth.

The nurse at the front desk got out of her chair and looked down, then back at Ace and the others.

"Ma'am, could you help us please?" Ace spoke over Grubber's inhuman screaming, "My friend was hit by a car, and his eyes popped out of their sockets."

Grubber's eyes, in fact, were always popped out like that. The nurse didn't know this however and rushed to help stabilize the poor young man. Grubber was on board with this plan, until the nurse started dabbing a cotton swab on his arm and preparing a needle. This scared Grubber and he ran away, which caused the nurse to call for backup and chase him down.

"Hold still please!" The nurse shouted.

Grubber, however, refused to stop running.

Since everyone in the waiting room was staring at the scene of Grubber running from a group of orderlies, no one saw Arturo as he snuck behind the counter and read the in-patient files on the computer. It took a few minutes for him to find what he was looking for, but when he did he quickly took out a marker and wrote the information on his arm. His task completed, he joined the rest of the group.

"Anythin'?" Ace whispered.

B.W., despite trying to not look at the gang, couldn't help but stare down at Lil Arturo. With his diminutive size and underbite, he reminded her of a green piranha.

"Maybe," Arturo whispered back, "I found a Jane Doe on the 18th floor. She's a little girl, and her injuries match Marny's. Apparently her next-of-kin contact is someone named…Dan Bellows."

"Who's Dan Bellows?" B.W. asked.

"Today, I'm Dan Bellows," Ace said conspiratorially.

"No you ain't," B.W. corrected him.

"Shut up," Ace muttered between his teeth, "Look, if this is the right kid, then we gotta get in there. It's simple. I'm Dan Bellows, and you're Mrs. Dan Bellows. Capiche?"

"I can't marry you!" B.W. exclaimed, scandalized, "I don't even know your last name."

"Well you better come up with sssomething," Snake hissed sharply, "Grubber'sss coming thisss way."

"Uh, where's Billy?" Arturo suddenly asked.

"Nrgh, he probably went to find a vendin' machine," Ace grumbled as he rubbed his forehead, "Alright, yous two go look for Billy. Me and the chick are gonna find the kid."

The two gangsters obeyed their leader, but B.W. was less than cooperative.

"What if we get caught? What names do we give if they find out?" B.W. asked as she fidgeted in place.

"I don't care," Ace shrugged, "Just play along, and do as yer told. Don't worry. I'm a natural born actor."

Just at that moment, a stretcher rolled by with Grubber strapped down and sedated. The orderlies rolled him away, and the nurse returned to her seat.

"Phew! It's a good thing you came here when you did," The nurse told them, "That poor man is delirious. He might need surgery to correct the damage."

"Nah, just some pain pills and the number of a good lawyer is all we need," Ace replied slickly, "That bein' said, we was on our way to the hospital before the accident. My name is Dan Bellows, and I heard you found my daughter."

"You're Dan Bellows?" The nurse asked, already aware of the case, "Do you understand how serious your daughter's injuries are? She was burned, the wound was infected, and she contracted sepsis. How could you let this happen under your care?"

"Wow, great bedside manner, lady," Ace replied sarcastically.

"Dan!" B.W. yelled at him.

"I'm sorry, honey!" Ace replied, grateful she managed to get into character so quickly, "Listen, I don't know where my little girl has been, but she's been missin' for nearly a month. We live in Citysburg, and I, uh…I got into some trouble. Gamblin' debts, you know?"

B.W. cringed, hoping Ace didn't tell a story that was too wild to keep up with.

"Well anyway, I suspect the local loan sharks was tryin' to teach me a lesson," Ace continued, "I've been tryin' to turn my life around for the sake of my family, but I guess the money I already paid them wasn't enough. Please, just tell me my baby girl is gonna be alright. Please?"

B.W. couldn't help but think this was going to blow up in their faces. Ace's acting was far too melodramatic, but at the same she also knew that if she believed his story she would be crying right now. Hopefully the nurse was gullible enough to buy this bit, and hopefully they didn't walk in on the wrong child.

"Forgive me for saying this, but you and your wife look a little…young to be parents," The nurse winced.

"Thank you," Ace smiled, "We try to take care of ourselves. Truth is though, we did have our little bundle of joy at a young age. High school sweethearts, you know? It was a shotgun weddin', but I've never regretted it. My lovely wife here has seen me through some of the darkest moments of my life."

"They would be brighter if you didn't wear your sunglasses indoors at night," B.W. remarked.

"Hah hah! You see that?" Ace laughed way too forcefully, "That right there is what keeps me goin'. Her good humor, and her honesty. Not to mention that huge can. Hah!"

B.W. blushed, and the nurse quirked an eyebrow, still suspicious.

"Well Mr. Bellows, I'm glad you came here to see your daughter," The nurse said icily, "She's told us all about you."

"Really? How?" Ace asked obliviously, "She's mute."

"Good. That was a test," The nurse told him, "I wanted to make sure you weren't some shady human traffickers or something. You'd be surprised how many unsavory people come here from Citysburg. Your daughter is in room 1604 on the 18th floor. For our records, I need to ask you what your daughter's name is."

"Oh, sure. It's Mar…Margaret," Ace said at the last moment, "Margaret Anne Bellows. She just turned 7 this year."

B.W. didn't know why Ace changed the name, but she knew contradicting them would jeopardize their mission, so she kept quiet.

The nurse left them to go back to her reception area, and Ace and B.W. took the elevator to the 18th floor. As they rode up, B.W. kept covertly looking over at Ace. She wanted to ask what was going on exactly, but wasn't really sure if they could speak freely.

One elevator ride later, and the unlikely duo found their way to the room where Marny was staying. The little girl was still awake, laying down looking out the window at the stars. She didn't turn to them at first, thinking it was just more nurses come to poke and prod her.

"Hey kid, they got you drugged up or what?" Ace asked her.

Marny turned sharply, knowing that voice anywhere. She saw Ace and B.W., and a huge smile broke out on her face. She looked like she was ready to cry.

"Honey, are you okay?" B.W. asked as she cupped Marny's head in her hands, "We've been worried sick about you. Um, maybe sick was the wrong word to use. Sorry."

Marny didn't reply, but it was clear from her expression that she was happy to see them. B.W. sat on the bed and held Marny's hand comfortingly, while Ace just stood there, uncertain what to do next.

"Marny, there's something I need to ask you," B.W. said seriously, "And I know this is a hard subject to talk about, but you're a big girl and I know you can handle this. I need to know…does your grandpa hit you?"

Marny nodded.

"Oh," B.W. said uncomfortably, "Well…where does he hit you?"

Marny shrugged, unable to think of a specific spot.

"Snake tells me you had a burn right there," Ace said as he pointed to her stomach, "How'd you get that?"

Marny thought about her response carefully, not wanting to give the wrong idea or appear weak to someone strong like Ace. Finally, she grabbed the notebook and pen from the bed tray and wrote down her answer.

Cook pan. It was too hot, and I made the soop rong. Grandpa did not like that.

"I didn't know you could cook," B.W. commented approvingly, "You're a smart girl!"

"Hey, airhead!" Ace called out B.W., "She's sayin' the old windbag pressed the hot pan against her."

B.W. gasped, and then looked to Marny for confirmation. Marny nodded, and B.W. bowed her head in sympathetic pain.

"What else?" Ace asked the girl.

"Ace-"

"Come on, kid. What else did he do?" Ace pressed despite B.W.'s trepidation.

Marny bunched up her blanket and pursed her lips. She didn't know what telling a bunch of grown ups would do for her. The last ones just believed her grandpa, and a tough gangster like Ace might just blame her for being weak and spoiled. B.W., while a more calming presence, still seemed bothered by the subject. Marny wasn't sure if that would play into her response or not. Still, if anyone was going to help her, then this might be the only way.

After a few minutes of writing, Marny filled a small notepad page with her informal testimony.

Grandpa smokes. If I make too much noys, he burns me. Once I try to take his car to leev for ever. He saw me, and he tayz me. Then he loked me in my room for a week. I do not want to go bak to him. I'll be game green. I'll be any thing. Just help me leev him for ever. Plees do not leev me.

B.W.'s tears obstructed her vision on the last sentence, so she wiped them away and continued to read. She knew it probably wasn't a good idea to break down in front of a sick child, but she couldn't help herself.

"Hey, calm down," Ace urged, "You wanna get us kicked outta here?"

"We have to do something," B.W. said between her own sobs, "We can't leave her like this."

"Dat's why we got the frame Milford plan goin', remember?" Ace reminded her.

"A coffee maker and some dominatrix wear ain't gonna fix this problem!" B.W. wailed, and Marny raised an eyebrow, "Marny, sweetie, we're gonna find a way to fix this. I promise. You've gotta promise me something too though, okay?"

Marny looked at her unwaveringly, and bunched the blanket in her hands.

"Promise me you won't run off on your own again, okay?" B.W. requested.

Marny looked down to avoid looking at them. She didn't seem willing to make such a promise.

"I mean it, Marny," B.W. said firmly, "Townsville ain't as bad as it used to be, but it's still a dangerous place. Your grandpa is a cop, so if you go missing because of him no one will look for you."

"Gee, way to make the kid feel better," Ace scoffed sarcastically.

"She ain't a baby anymore, Ace!" B.W. snapped, "And she needs to hear this. The streets are a dangerous place. Kids in the system get lost all the time. If you do end up in a foster home, even if it ain't perfect, don't give up and don't leave. Running away is a bad idea. Please…don't make the same mistake my brother made. Don't run away, please. We can't help you if we can't find you."

Marny took the notebook and wrote down: Brian ran away?

"No, sweetie," B.W. sighed sadly, "When…When I was younger, just a little older than you, we lost my twin brother. He ran away from a bad place where we used to live. My family and I looked for him for years. Even when we moved to Citysburg for Dad's new job, we still kept tabs on Townsville. They never found him, and Dad always suspected they never looked. I just…I couldn't live with myself if something like that happened to you. You're such a smart and strong girl. You deserve a chance to have a real life, and I promise you that we'll find a way to make that happen. Thing is though, you're gonna have to trust us. Can you do that for me, honey?"

Marny tensed up again, but then after a moment she looked back at the teenagers and nodded resolutely. B.W. hugged her, and Marny hugged her back. Ace was starting to get uncomfortable with all these heavy feelings and whatnot, so he slowly made his way toward the door.

"Well, this has been fun and all, but we really should be goin'," Ace hinted, "We can come see the kid tomorrow."

"Ace…do you think…" B.W. knew this was probably a bad idea, but she couldn't just leave this alone, "Do you think tomorrow, when we come back, that we could…dress a little warmer?"

"Warmer? Are you kiddin'? It's a freakin' furnace in here!" Ace griped.

"No, Ace. I mean…" B.W. tensed up, but finally said, "…can one of us bring a really big coat? To, you know…smuggle Marny out of here?"

She said the last part so quietly that Ace had to strain to hear. He couldn't help the smirk that came across his face however.

"So, you wanna pull a heist?" Ace asked, amused, "I guess we could do that. You got a place to stash the kid, or do we go back to the shack like before?"

"She can stay at my house," B.W. offered, "And maybe…maybe we can find a better doomsday device to frame Mr. Milford with?"

"Sure thing, but I'm not goin' back to Mojo's," Ace retorted.

"Mojo? You mean the super monkey?" B.W. asked incredulously, "You robbed a real super villain just to steal his coffee maker?"

"…Don't make me slap you," Ace replied, too embarrassed to even counter.

B.W. couldn't help but laugh, and Marny wondered what the heck they were talking about. The only part she understood was they were going to break her out of the hospital, and she was going to stay with B.W. for a while. She didn't know what would happen after that, and frankly she didn't care. Anywhere away from her grandpa was a dream come true.