Four days later
Saturday
Chicago
Joshua was in town and Chloe was going loopy!
Dr Bennett rang to tell me that Chloe was bouncing up and down like a kid on Christmas morning; Dave replied that he knew what that was like!
..._...
Wednesday was not fun, though; it was the first anniversary of the murder of Dave's Dad! Dave was pretty much out of it, for the entire day. I spent as much time with him, as I could, as I did feel at least partially responsible for his Dad being murdered!
"It was not your fault, Mindy!" Dave kept saying.
"I know! I just feel that I could have done more," I kept replying.
Finally Dave had had enough of my whining...
"Look Mindy, we both had parts to play in the deaths of each other's fathers, but neither of us were responsible, okay?"
"Yes, okay! I still..."
"Mindy!"
"Okay, jeez!"
This year was also going to be the first anniversary of a lot of things, mostly bad; the next few months would be hard on us both.
..._...
Anyway, back to the British brat!
He had partially recovered from his wounds and could now walk unaided.
He still had a lot of recovery time ahead of him, but he was young and should heal fast. Marcus had arranged for him to be fostered by Jack Bay and his wife; which meant that there would be somebody, with sufficient clout, to keep the kid on the right track! It would be quite a while before Josh was able to do any more vigilante work, but I would be able to start training him, as he heals.
Josh would be living at 'The Farm', as Jack called it.
I went up there the other day, with Dave and Sophia. Jack said we could use The Farm for Fusion, if required, as it was relatively isolated. This actually gave me an idea for Chloe and the new skills she would need to learn. Jack agreed and Dave brought up the two motorcycles in a van, yesterday. The possibilities of The Farm also gave me some other ideas, too!
I had to admit that I was a little shocked to see a photo of both my Mom and my Dad, but pleased all the same.
That afternoon
The Farm
I would admit that I was a bit wary about all of this.
My wounds still hurt and the flight did not exactly help them! But the painkillers helped and it was only a short flight. Marcus had rented a car at the airport and we drove north, to what was to become my new home. I was nervous, very nervous.
Marcus turned off of the main road, through a gate and onto a short track, towards a large house. It looked nice, this would be my home. Marcus stopped the car.
"You ready, Josh?" Marcus asked, with concern in his voice.
"I think so," I managed.
"Come on," Marcus said, leading me up to the front door.
Before Marcus could knock, the door was thrown open.
"Hi, Josh, I'm Jack Bay!"
I shook the extended hand, before being pulled inside.
"Josh, this is my wife, Natalie," Jack said, indicating a smiling woman, who stepped forward to shake my hand.
"Hello, Josh and welcome."
"Hi!" Was all I could think of to say. I felt a little uncomfortable, but Jack and Natalie seemed nice and according to Marcus, they knew all about Fusion and the circumstances of how I was hurt. This included what happened to my father and how Mindy had found me. At least I wouldn't have to try and hide all that crap!
Natalie showed me upstairs to my room; it faced the rear of the property, overlooking a small river. There was a bed, with blue bedding and a chest of drawers, plus a cupboard. It looked like the room had been freshly decorated and furnished, just for me; the blue carpet was new, too. They had really gone all out for me!
I said thank you and dumped my pack, then we went back downstairs.
Marcus and Jack were chatting like old friends, which I understood they were. I felt weird being in the company of two senior Police Officers, considering my previous activities and that both of them knew all about Hit Girl! I still had to meet Kick-Ass and the other members of the team.
Jack went through the house rules, which were basically that I could go anywhere, but I must let Jack or Natalie know if I left the property. Marcus then let me know that Dr Bennett would visit regularly to check on my wounds and where necessary I would go see her at the hospital, in Chicago. Marcus also reminded me that I would be going to school in a few weeks and that sucked! However, he also told me that I would be going to the same school as Chloe and that definitely didn't suck!
"Thought that might put a smile on your face!" Marcus laughed.
"Oh, is this the lady friend?" Natalie asked, making me blush.
"Yeah," Marcus replied. "Josh got shot, protecting Chloe."
"Well done Josh, very chivalrous!" Jack said, approvingly. "A typical Englishman!"
That same afternoon
West Ridge
"Hi Josh, I'm Dave!" I said, letting Josh and Marcus in.
"Marcus!" Mindy squealed and ran over for a hug.
"Josh!" Chloe squealed and ran over for a hug.
"You must be the kid Chloe talks about twenty-four seven!" Marty quipped. "I'm Marty and this is Kim."
"I do not talk about him all the time!" Chloe retorted, letting Josh go and blushing slightly.
"Well, Marty's not that far off!" Abby added. "Hi, I'm Abby!"
"Hi, everyone!" Josh said, looking a little overwhelmed.
"This is Sophia," Chloe said, pointing down at a rather large dog.
Sophia looked up and studied Josh, before licking his hand.
"You're safe, she won't eat you!" Mindy announced, then smirked. "Or worse!"
"It's so good to see you up and about, Josh!" Chloe announced, happily.
"At least I have clothes on this time, so no peeking!" Josh groused and Chloe blushed.
That evening
West Ridge
We all sat down for a meal.
It was a 'lets all get to know Josh and vice versa' meal.
Josh spent the first half hour telling us about all that happened, after he had came out of the coma. It was interesting hearing about his, not so successful, attempts at being a vigilante!
"I know how you feel kid; my first few times out, didn't quite go according to plan!" I commented, to some laughter around the table.
"My first night out went a bit wrong, too!" Chloe admitted.
"You did help Dave and I!" Mindy said.
"True, but I got myself shot and knocked out!" Chloe growled.
"But the vest protected you and Mindy insisted that we took you home!" I said. "Turned out to be a good decision, if you ignore the bitchiness!"
"Chloe, bitchy?" Abby asked, smirking.
"Funny!" Chloe said, scowling at Abby and me.
"Ignoring the fact that Mindy was trying to kill you, did you recognise Chloe, the first time you saw her?" I asked, receiving a scowl from Mindy. "Was she how you remembered her?"
"The hair was a different colour and a bit longer, but the eyes were unforgettable," Josh replied, blushing a little. "Otherwise she was the same as I remembered, but maybe a bit taller and she's grown in other places, too!"
Chloe blushed at that last comment and concentrated on her food.
We had all agreed to avoid talking about Josh's Dad; that could come later. We just wanted to keep things 'happy', for now. Josh told us about his trip to Chicago, when he came looking for Fusion. Mindy looked a little uncomfortable, when Josh described seeing us getting back into Beast and driving off. Chloe then explained about Mindy getting shot. He also described, in some detail, the events that had almost ended with Mindy cutting his throat.
"It was kinda cool, being attacked by two beautiful girls! Closest I've ever got to being between a girls legs!" Josh admitted, causing both Mindy and Chloe to go bright red and everybody else to laugh, including Marcus.
"Well, Josh, you have a lot of potential problems ahead of you... Mindy being one of them!" Marcus quipped, receiving a scowl from Mindy in return.
"I can handle the bitchiness, I've survived worse!" Josh replied, with a smug grin aimed at Mindy.
"Just think yourself lucky that you're still healing or I'd really show you bitchiness!" Mindy growled, menacingly.
"Bring it on!" Josh replied, with a cheeky grin.
..._...
"Marcus, you never finished your story about Mindy and her first..."
Mindy quickly cut Chloe off.
"Chloe, you had your mother to help you and guide you through puberty. I... And no offence Marcus, but you were, well, completely useless when it came to puberty and er, female things that occurred during puberty! End of subject... Sorry Marcus!"
"No offence taken!" Marcus replied, smirking. "It was rather a nasty 'period' in your life!"
"You're being very quiet through all this Dave," Chloe said, meaningfully, digging for more.
"Don't bring me into this! I have nightmares about Mindy starting puberty, I was there! Plus she would really hurt me, if I dared reveal anything!" I said, ignoring Mindy's glare. "But I will say that there are some really epic stories that even Marcus is unaware of!"
I felt Mindy's glare of hate boring into me!
..._...
After dinner we all sat and chatted for a while.
Marty went to take Abby home and said he was going to spend the night with Kim. Both Josh and Chloe, were spending the night with us.
"Now Chloe, stay in your own bed tonight!" Mindy suggested with a smirk.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Chloe asked innocently.
"Well, you do have a habit of waking up in somebody else's bed!" Mindy reminded her.
"Oh yeah!" Chloe admitted, looking awkward.
"I'm sure Josh would love your company, but he still has injuries that need to heal!" I commented.
"I can't believe you just said that!" Chloe exclaimed, blushing with embarrassment.
"I can listen out for them!" Marcus suggested, smiling.
"He will, too!" Mindy said.
The following morning
Sunday
West Ridge
Chloe was still in her bed, when I went to wake her!
"You don't trust me do you?" She groused.
"I trust you! I'm just fuckin' with ya, kid!" I laughed.
Josh needed a little help getting dressed, as his wounds were a bit sore from all the travelling yesterday. Chloe was very concerned about this and offered to help, but instead Dave got Josh sorted. The kid now had a lot more potential scars on his chest and stomach!
After breakfast, Chloe and Josh went into the living room to talk. Dave and I went to take Sophia for a walk, leaving them both alone, for a bit. This was both to let them have some time together, plus to show that we trusted them.
..._...
About an hour, or so, later we got back and as we entered we could hear the two kids talking, in the living room.
We didn't think they had heard us come in, so we kinda listened in...
"Chloe, why did you become Shadow?" Josh asked.
"It was after I lost you. I kinda wasn't myself. My parents decided to move away from New York, as I was starting to lose it and going back to the same school... It really hurt, very day I was there," Chloe explained.
"But why Shadow?" Josh persisted.
"Well, I was missing a big chunk of me, you. You could say that I was a shadow of my former self. I thought that being a vigilante might help to put myself back together, sort of..." Chloe explained further. "Sounds kinda lame, doesn't it!"
"No, it doesn't," Josh replied. "I'm sorry I put you through all of that."
"It wasn't your fault Josh," Chloe replied. "And thanks to Dave and Mindy, I didn't get a chance to do anything stupid!"
"You mean, like I did, in my feeble attempts at being a vigilante!" Josh said.
"You were all on your own, then. But now you have us to help you. Give Dave and Mindy a chance, they are really good people and have done everything they can to help a moody bitch, who doesn't always show how grateful she is!" Chloe said and I saw her hugging Josh.
"I know, but why would they want to help a little shit like me and a Brit to boot!" Josh replied.
"We all have something in common... D'Amico. Mindy's Dad was killed by Frank D'Amico. Dave's Dad was killed by Chris D'Amico. Your Dad was killed by Ralph D'Amico. My best friend was also almost killed by Ralph D'Amico. Finally, Ralph D'Amico tried to kill me, so I owe him, plus the bastard still has my pistol and I want it back!" Chloe responded, anger building in her tone, before subsiding. "Dave and Mindy care, they have both been through what you have. Dave learnt the hard way that you need proper support to be a vigilante. Dave and Mindy will give you that support. Please give them a chance, Josh!"
There was a significant pause.
"I will, I promise," Josh finally said. "That Mindy can be a real bitch, when she wants to be!"
"Oh, you've seen nothing yet!" Chloe replied, laughing.
"Hi! Glad to see that you're both still dressed!" I teased, walking into the living room with Dave.
"Mindy!" Chloe exclaimed. "How long have you been there?"
"Long enough to hear about why you became Shadow," Dave replied. "Sorry for eavesdropping,"
"Oh... Sorry if I said anything out of turn," Chloe said.
"You did fine, Chloe," I said, smiling and Dave and I sat down, across from Chloe and Josh. Both kids looked to have been crying, at some stage.
"You been having second thoughts, Josh?" Dave asked.
"Just getting my mind in order. I trust you both, but I suppose I just needed reassurance from Chloe," Josh admitted.
"Glad you're still onboard kid!" Dave said.
"So, you still gonna use 'Feral'?" I asked.
"No! That name was for a past life, when I was alone. I am no longer alone, I have you guys," Josh said, smiling.
"Well?" Chloe asked, in anticipation. "What name are you gonna use?"
"Jackal!"