Chapter 29: Love & War
"Are you okay?" asked the teenage ghost sitting on the bed.
"I'm fine, don't worry." Cato said over the phone. "But I can't go home yet. Rescue didn't go so well."
"Is everyone alright?" Amber spoke.
"Everyone's okay..well physically. Some aren't emotionally."
"Well what happened?"
Cato told the entire story of what happened. After the debriefing, they got some time to take a break and gather up some strength for the next rescue attempt. Although being given a second chance was a miracle enough, he can't help but feel that something bad might happen.
Amber sat on the bed taking in every single information he told. On Cato's bed, in fact. Since Cato left a week ago, Amber thought of sleeping in his room for no reason, if not to keep his bed warm and his room clean.
After telling the story, there was a brief moment of silence. "Wow, that's really deep."
"You're telling me."
"At least no one got hurt."
"Yeah, but I'm still worried about Andrew. Who knows what will happen to him when we get there or before even."
Amber was well aware of the predicament, but she couldn't help but feel worried about him as well. Probably as much as Cato worrying about his brother. But she knew she had to stay strong for him.
"You have to stay strong and have some faith, Cato. You could have another chance to save them in time. Maybe before they start doing whatever they do to the captives. You can't be negative like this." Amber said.
She can hear a sigh before Cato's voice came over the phone. "You're right. Thanks." A moment of silence passed by for a few moments. "I should pass the phone to Gumball. I bet Carrie's dying to hear from him."
"Alright, sure." Amber went to Carrie's room and found her studying on her desk. "Carrie, it's Gumball."
"Yo, Gumball. Carrie wants to talk to you."
Cato passed his phone over to the blue cat who was sitting at the doorstep outside their sleeping quarters. He then went back inside to give some privacy.
"Hello?"
"Oh my god, Gumball. You have no idea how good it is to hear from you again." He can hear his ghost girlfriend through the phone line with a sound of relief.
"Me too, Carrie. Sadly, I still gotta stay."
"Yeah, Amber told me. But I really wish I could still be with you."
"You are, in my heart. Just like I am in yours. But this is my sister I'm trying to get back. I saw CJ with her little brother, and I don't intend that happening between us."
"I know."
"How are you doing? Been about a week and a half or something since I last saw my girl."
Gumball could hear a slight giggle in her voice. "I'm fine. I just miss you that's all."
"I'll be back soon."
"Just...stay safe, Gumball. I love you."
"I love you too."
Gumball ended the call and looked at Carrie's caller ID. Her face still brought a smile to his face and his heart. Then, he remembered that there's someone else he should be calling who is worried about him. And Lexy.
"I really should give them a call." Gumball said. He dialed a number and pressed 'Call'. He put the phone on his ear and stared up into the starry sky.
The house stayed quiet in the night. The TV was the only thing making the noise as the fish and the two-tailed cat-panther sat on the couch and watch. After Anais' kidnapping and Gumball and Lexy going off to rescue her, worries wouldn't stop pouring on the Wattersons back home; especially for the parents.
The phone rang and Darwin perked his head up from the TV and ran straight for it. "Hello?" He answered.
"Hey, Darwin. It's me." Gumball's voice was heard over the phone line.
"Gumball, good to hear from you. How's it going?"
"Eh, not as good. We screwed up a little and the military seems to be going all-out on their next operation. I'm just hoping we get a chance to lay low from the fighting and get to sneak them out from under their noses."
"Well, you can always come back. We're worried about you guys. Where's Lex-"
"I know you're worried about us, but I think you should be more worried about Anais if we don't do this. We need to make sure that our sister is alive and well for ourselves. I'm not letting the lives of my family hang on other people who don't matter to them, Darwin." Gumball snapped sitting in the cold night.
"Okay, if you say so. You wanna hear from Mrs. Mom? She might wanna hear some from you."
"Yeah, sure. And how long are you gonna call mom-"
Gumball got cut off by Darwin calling out for his adopted mother from the kitchen who was talking to Richard. "It's Gumball."
"Hello?" Nicole said.
"Hey, mom."
"Oh my god, Gumball. I'm so glad you're okay. Are you hurt? How's Lexy? What about Anais? Is she okay?"
"Mom, I wish I could play 20 questions with you, but now's not the best time. Look, me and Lexy are still fine, but we couldn't get back Anais from our rescue attempt. Now they're being transported to their headquarters in the Caribbean and the military is looking to take them out completely."
"What?!" Nicole yelled. "No way, mister. I am not letting you get involved in this anymore. I know you're worried about Anais, but I don't need to worry about another Watterson being in danger. This is getting way out of hand and I am not letting you get into the middle of it."
"Mom, listen. I know you're pissed and I get it. But like it or not, I am gonna find Anais and bring her home. I lost her once, and it broke her apart. Now I'm trying to redeem of what I've done."
"Gumball, I know you owe an apology to Anais, but this is going too far."
"I don't just owe her an apology, mom. I owe her my life and you know it. I'm her brother, I never should've left her in the first place and it's my job to make sure she's safe, even if it costs my own life. You know I have to do this."
A moment of silence passed between the son and the mother, and finally she let out a sigh of defeat. "I can't believe I'm letting you do this."
"Please, mom. I don't wanna let her down. Not again."
"Alright, make sure you won't get hurt."
"I promise."
"What about Lexy? How's she doing?"
"She's doing fine but she's busy at the moment. Don't think she can come by to talk."
"It's fine. Just stay safe, Gumball."
"Will do, mom. Bye."
Gumball hung up the phone call and stared at the starry night. He starts thinking back on all the pressure on him. He gets interrupted by Lexy walking out the door.
"Hey, what're you doing? You should get some rest."
"Just had a talk with mom. She's not into the whole situation now."
"Well, no going back now. What else?"
"They're worried about us. That's all."
"If that's all, then you better get inside. Tomorrow's another day."
Lexy went inside as Gumball looked at the sky one last time. She seemed to care less about talking to her family again. The more Gumball thinks about it, the more he feels like there's something more than just saving Anais that's bothering her. It's like she has a grudge against her old group. "Another day closer." He went inside to finally get some shut eyes.
That ends the chapter for now. I wanted to give some kind of intermission before I get to the rescue mission and just to get me back on my feet after so long of writing. I figured I should do a chapter about talking to their loved ones while putting their lives on the line. Also, I did some POV transitioning cuz I thought it would be fun. Anyway, drop a like and comment, and I'll catch you in the next chapter. Peace out!