Guess who's baaaaaack! Okay everyone I've finally-FINALLY-finished this chapter. You wouldn't believe how many times I wrote and re-wrote this chapter! It took me forever, but now here it is! I hope it's up to everyone's taste. Also before I let you guys begin just want to say thanks for all the reviews! Especially from my newest reviewer PoisonCupcake101 and all other my fellow reviewers. Thank you guys! Okay everyone it's time to chill back and relax 'cause it's reading time! Enjoy!

CHAPTER 14: THOUGHTS

Can't wait for this stinin' car ride to be over with...I swear I can't feel my legs anymore.

Shifting himself around Yakko tried finding space in the crowded back seat. After five minutes of useless moving he gave up and slumped into his seat. He resisted the urge to rub the bases of his temples, mainly because he would only elbow both Wakko and Dot in the head and he'd rather not deal with more arguing. Maybe he could use the car's silence to figure why he had even thought of taking the middle seat.

With a small sigh Yakko let his eyes travel around the car. Surprisingly his gaze landed on the doctor, but unsurprisingly the doctor had his eyes glued to the road. Scratchansniff had long ago stopped making small talk. Mainly the reason being he couldn't talk and drive at the same time. The near fender bender with the car in front of them had been the last straw before everyone yelled at the man to just drive. The doctor quickly did so.

Smirking at the memory, Yakko turned his gaze to the front seat. His smirk fell.

Maybe unsettling wasn't the right way to describe the toon, but certainly how Yakko was feeling at the moment. With his head resting in the palm of his hand, Zekko stared out the window, an emotionless expression on his face. It occurred to Yakko this car ride may have been the longest the toon had stayed quiet. Well before he had been a talking machine, an annoying one in fact. Kept on pushing random buttons of the car with a smile on his face like he was a kid in a candy store. After a good ten minutes that Yakko is sure he will never get back, Zekko got bored and was tired of both Yakko and Scratchansniff's complaining so he stopped altogether.

As of now Yakko might actually prefer the toon's talking to this silence. It was getting on his nerves at how quiet the car had gotten. Without any other sounds his ears were picking up just about everything else; the winds rushing against the sides of the car, the never ending rumble of the engine, some weird scratching noise, creaks of the car seats-

Wait...scratching noise?

Another twitch of his ear and he caught the sound of ripping. Yakko looked to his left and cocked an eyebrow up.

One claw unshielded, Gekko was picking at the thick fabrics of his car seat. Yakko watched as he continued to brush his claw against the sewed lines of the seat, easily ripping the thin threads before repeating the process. The middle child's brow furrowed in annoyance, yet intense concentration. Like his brother, Gekko rested his head into the palm of his hand, letting the other claw at the seat, ripping up the fabric without another thought. Yakko eyed the toon's claws with an uneasy stare. He still remembers the scene this little guy had put on back there. Never had he seen so much anger before in such a little kid. Heck, he'd never seen a little kid try what he had done. Pin down someone three times his size with a stare frightening enough make even the bravest of men yelp in terror. Yakko recalled Zekko's own paled complexion. For the first time had he ever see the toon look so...scared. It never even occurred to Yakko he had been holding his breath when he finally exhaled as Gekko retracted his claws, no longer trying to attack anyone.

Breaking from his train of thought Yakko realized the scratching and ripping had stopped. That and he had a feeling he was being watched…

A low growl made Yakko refocus what he was staring at. Glaring black eyes came back at him.

Quickly turning away, Yakko made himself focus on anything else other than the angry looking brother of his, who by the way was looking way too comfortable with the fact all his claws were now unshielded, and tried to not give away the sudden racing his heart was giving off on his face.

Yakko was now quite embarrassed at the fact he had been given a fright by his younger brother, one who he barely even knows. Although even that made him uneasy it made remind himself of the choice he had made not to long ago. Taking in three toons who he just found out where siblings of his and barely knowing a single thing about them.

Then again he actually did know some things about them, be aware none of the stuff he knew would qualify as top of the line great first impression material. During his little conversation with Plotz, or more likely the CEO's endless begging to not take the job, he had ended up being given more information about the three then he would've liked. Each of them; Zekko, Gekko, and Shayna had their own little profiles. Yakko hadn't really put much thought into them as one those things had been a pain to read and two he had thought most of the stuff on there was a bit exaggerated. Now he was reconsidering that motion.

Plotz practically forced the documents into Yakko's hands saying if he was going to take the full responsibility of this job then he better know what he was dealing with. Not really putting much thought into those documents he thanked Plotz for the little homework assignment, saying he was ecstatic for all the extra credit he get. After a well earned scowl, Yakko had stuffed the papers into his hammerspace.

It wouldn't be till after the argument in the living room would those papers resurface in Yakko's mind. Maybe a good two hours after both siblings had confided themselves to their rooms did Yakko decide it would be best for them to let them blow off their steam in private and with that he went off to his own little space to clear his head of the headache he had graciously been given. Letting his feet to the thinking he had traveled to his study.

Now we're not talking about some boring old place for work and all that. More like a room Yakko had found comforting to be in...despite the fact it looked like an old study. If it had been up to him he would've had the room built more to his suiting, but the place had actually been in part of one of the old sets of their show so it hadn't been up to him how the room would look. Either way Yakko's been so used to the way the room was made it never crossed his mind to change it. So in the midst of his wandering mind he had let himself plop right into the comforter chair of the study surrounded by the walls of book shelves he had.

With the effort of wanting to forget the argument Yakko had reached into his hammerspace hoping whatever he brought out would let his mind get a break from the whole thing. Ironically, the first thing he pulled out was those documents. Maybe it was boredom or curiosity that sparked the motivation to actually read the papers, but either way his cherry red nose was soon buried in the profiles, eyes widening at some of the things he was reading.

The first profile he had actually started off with was the youngest of the bunch. For a little girl she actually had an awful big plate on her hands. Apparently, during their time at the prison at one point the three had been placed under psychiatrist therapy, one session a week to be precise. For all of them they had, in their own ways, refused to go. Shayna mainly had thrown giant hissy fits. Eventually she went anyways.

After nine months of psychiatrist therapy the psychiatrist had quit, declaring that little rascal was an abomination to the world sane, and turned in Shayna's last diagnosis. She had been officially diagnosed as a psychotic sycophant. The rest of her documents only went on about troubles here and there before slowly dispatching on anything she did. Her brothers were a different story.

Gekko's profile had been a unsettling one. Like his sister he had placed into psychiatrist therapy. Now when he tried refusing his means of doing so weren't so friendly. Until the moment Yakko had actually witnessed the little boy attempt something quite similar to what the documents had described he had thought whoever wrote these might've been insane just all the same. His papers clearly wrote down the numerous times Gekko had decided he'd let his claws do the talking then be taken to another one of those therapy sessions. A small part of Yakko only let himself wonder what the kid had been doing when they had been waiting for him and his sister at the prison, especially when he recalled the apparently necessary straightjacket those guards had placed on the boy.

Now Gekko's sessions stopped much earlier. Having only gone through seven months, his psychiatrist had practically gone running out the therapy room, screaming at the top of his lungs that he had quit, after leaving Gekko's final diagnosis. Yakko could understand slightly why Gekko had been put down as an aggressively challenged psychotic.

Upon remembering Zekko's own profiles did Yakko sneak a glance at the toon. He was still stuck in that distant stare. In such a calm and peaceful state it was hard to picture the guy as anything other than that. Even so…you can't exactly be diagnosed as both dangerous and psychotic for absolutely no reason. It was that hidden reason that unsettled Yakko so much because unlike Zekko's own siblings everything about the toon had been solidified into one single sheet. All it read was a few simple things. His crimes, a couple breakout attempts, and finally the only diagnosis he had been given for ten straight years of therapy. It took all Yakko's willpower to not try and imagine the cause behind Zekko's diagnosis because there was only one thing he was sure of.

It was that he wasn't sure if wanted to know at all.

"What's on your mind my little adolescent? You can tell me."

Shut up...shut up already.

"You seemed troubled. Want to talk?"

Didn't I just tell you to shut up-oh get out of my head already!

"Relax young one...you're in a safe space. You can say anything-"

With a sharp take in of breath the troubled toon opened his closed eyes. Lips in a thin line did he get his racing heart under control and keep his head from going back under it's murky fog of a mind he had on his shoulders at the moment.

Gods...what hit me in the head and left me feeling like this? Jeez...get a hold of yourself Zekko.

Shaking his head slightly, Zekko blinked away the groggy feeling within his eyes. Upon gathering himself he realized he had been close to falling asleep as his eyes were begging to close once more, to let the drowsy side of him fall for a quick slumber.

This is why I don't ride cars.

As his vision cleared, Zekko saw the road ahead of them and nearly did a double take.

Did I actually fall asleep? If I didn't then Burbank's a lot closer then I remember.

Like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle the scenes before him were quickly coming back to him. Even seventy years later he could still tell apart the old streets of his home amidst the new fangled ones they had built right into the place. It was like a mixture of deja vu and astonishment all at once. Although a few things have changed Zekko's memory of the last visit was still sharp enough to recall the way to the studio. They were only a few blocks away now.

Six blocks...five blocks...four blocks-Ah this is stupid. We're close, nuff said.

Scoffing at his own inner thoughts, Zekko crossed his arms, ignoring the sleepy gaze of his eyes.

Maybe staying up wasn't the best idea. He thought scowling, blinking off the heaviness of his eyes.

Only once did he think that a smirk creeped on his lips. Who was he kidding? Staying up might've been the best decision he ever made. Every hour up was worth it to see the look on Yakko's face when he walked through that door. Even now Zekko snickered to himself. The shock-maybe even a small amount of panic…

He grinned. Now that had been delicious to see.

Within the midst of his self musings, Zekko caught himself before he let his imagination run off with him. As much as he loved having some fun here and there he knew when to stop. If he went on he might be laughing like some mad man, no doubt freaking out his humble guardian and his little friend. True, Zekko would like to see that. It's been what? Couple days since he had some fun? The break out hadn't been fulfilling, but enough was done with his sibs to blow off some steam.

Better then than now. Zekko thought with a grimace. Have to warm up to the company anyways. No use if I'm a bubbling loonatic waiting to have fun. Really kills the mood.

As much as it killed Zekko to admit it, sometimes he wished he could control himself better. He's not the sinister psycho the prison portrays him to be. Half of their rumors aren't even true. Eh, some are, but most are so ridiculous to even mention. Although he can admit the rumors are a fun advantage. A grin slipped on his lips, remembering the fun moments he had with the new guards. Like putty in his hands he could send them scampering away like frightened puppies, all too frightened due to a simple rumor which by the way Zekko decided to heightened the drama of it. Hey he was bored, had to do something about it before boredom became his death sentence.

Frowning, Zekko put a hold on those thoughts. He shouldn't be thinking like that now. Right now he had to put his focus on what was ahead of him. Presumingly finishing off his old contract and starting new. Just one little signature and he'd be home free. No more of that stinking prison, they couldn't make him go back even if they wanted to.

Groaning internally, Zekko rubbed the base of his temples with one hand. Just thinking about the place gave him a headache. He had to stay in that rotting hell for seventy years, in some darkened cell, all alone, and that was just about as fun as breaking an arm. Pointless and not to mention painful. Come to think of it he wasn't entirely alone. At most a few guards would be jerks and mock him, but then he was given the upper hand to mock them back. Probably the only highlight of his day to see them look at him with a frightened stare. Oh if he had his way back there-as they mocked him, making his own blood boil-then there wouldn't have been a pretty little scene-

"Zekko you okay?"

The whisper of concern nearly sent Zekko's heart skyrocketing to the moon. The touch of a small hand on his shoulder had made him jump, startling him from his thoughts, both to his own disappointment and at the same time relief. He tore a glance to the hand and soon followed it to the pair of worried filled black eyes. Hopefully removing his expression of all panic, he gave his sister a reassuring smile.

"I'm fine Shayna." Zekko said squeezing the hand she had on his shoulder. "But you do that again and it's my ghost that'll be haunting you. Quit trying to give me a heart attack here, that's supposed to be my job."

He smiled more at her childish giggling. She gave him a sheepish smile.

"Sorry." She said, still whispering. A smirk came on her adorable face, making the blue star on her cheek pop out. "Didn't think I was that scary..."

"You on a bad day can give even the bravest people nightmares." He teased waving a finger under her chin. Zekko chuckled under her pout.

"You say that like it's a bad thing."

"Ah now I never said that. I only said you can be quite the handful when you wake up on the wrong side of the bed."

She scowled, but Zekko only smiled. "Still the most adorable girl though."

Shayna quickly switched back to her chipper self. "I am aren't I?"

"No doubt about it. Now get back in your seat. We are still moving in this hunk of metal and I'd rather not have you flying into my lap when we stop."

"Sure you're still okay?" She asked looking concerned once more.

"Just peachy." Zekko said with a grin. "Now off with ya. In your seat young lady."

She huffed which might've fooled anyone else, but Zekko saw the twinkle of happiness shining in her eyes. She wasn't annoyed, just being her over dramatic self.

That's my Shayna.

Upon making sure his sister went back in her seat, Zekko was about to fix himself back when he caught someone staring. Casting his gaze upwards he felt no surprise as Yakko quickly adjusted his stare, now looking at the back of the doctor's seat as if it was the most interesting thing on earth. Zekko barely held back his scoff, but instead of dwelling on his brother's little staring session, he decided to check up on third person of his little group. Switching his gaze further right a distant looking sibling of his met his gaze. The sight tugged the corners of his mouth downwards.

What is up with him….I've never seen Gekko like this.

Watching his little bro aimlessly look out the window, no sense of purpose in his gaze, it gave him a heavy heart if he was being honest. Lips in a thin line Zekko only stared for a few more seconds before making himself look away. Involuntarily, his hand gripped the side of his seat, the material creaking under his grip.

Over time Zekko had developed a habit of gripping the closest thing he had, hoping in some way it could have his troubles get absorbed into whatever he was holding onto. He might've take out his rubber ball at that moment if it wasn't for the subconscious feeling within him telling him not to make a fool of himself. He didn't need his siblings worrying about why he was crushing the life out of a rubber ball when he was supposed to acting like everything was fine. He had told Shayna himself nothing was the matter, why ruin that image?

So pushing down the urge to reach into his jacket for the rubber ball, he let his mind dive into the scrambling thoughts pounding within his mind. The least he could do was mentally deal with the pounding questions in his head rather then let them give him another headache.

"Open up little one. We wouldn't want you to stress now would we?"

Like a slap to the face Zekko's stomach plunged at the thought that had managed to break through the surface. His grip on the seat tightened. Why won't it let him be….

"Tell me your troubles. Don't keep them bottled up Zekko."

Damn you. Just shut up already!

"Let me help you-"

I SAID SHUT UP!

In a blink of an eye the voice went silent. Zekko pinched the bridge of his nose, a quiet breath of relief escaped his lips. He grimaced. His headache was back.

Shaking his head the toon pushed back the distress he felt. Zekko wasn't going to let himself get worked up like this. He just had to distract himself.

Something like-

"Okay kidzes we're here."

A grin creeped on the toon's face.

...something like that.

Feeling all too chipper, Zekko looked up. The doctor was already driving them right through the gates of Warner Brothers Studio. Already in his line of view did he catch the sight of the CEO's office. Another round of silent snickers escaped him.

I wonder how happy the old coot will be to see us. Zekko thought with a smirk.

In only a few minutes would they all get to march down to the CEO's office. Like an instinct reaction Zekko grinned at the thought. For once did it seem like things were going his way. He's spent far too long planning the moment he'd be free. Now here he was, his sibs by his side, and only minutes away from the one moment Zekko couldn't stop thinking about.

The moment they'd be home again.

And that's another chapter done. Thanks for reading and please review! The Queen has left the building! Bye! :)