One week later
Saturday
Chicago
Chloe's life had been turned upside down. Not just her life, though, but also Commander and Dr Bennett's lives, too!
Why?
Curtis.
But not for the reasons that you would normally associate with Curtis!
This was most definitely not Curtis' fault; Chloe had actually broken down when she tried to tell me what had happened and Dr Bennett had had to take the phone off of her. Dr Bennett had explained that Curtis' parents had both been killed that morning; it had been a car accident, nothing more. The worst thing though was that Curtis didn't know yet; he was staying with friends and wasn't due home till tomorrow.
To say that I was speechless was an understatement! I offered, or rather stammered, my condolences, as Curtis's Dad was Commander Bennett's brother. I understood that Commander Bennett had been granted emergency leave and he was on his way home from Norfolk Naval Base, Virginia.
Dr Bennett said that she intended to drive to Washington DC and break the news to Curtis and then bring him back to Chicago. I suggested that I could go with her, to help with the driving; it was a seven hundred mile drive that would take around twelve hours. Dr Bennett said that she could manage, but I refused to back down. Finally I won the argument and I picked up Dr Bennett and Chloe in the SUV and we started the long drive to Washington DC around one that afternoon.
Five hours later
Cleveland
We stopped just south of Cleveland, for a short break and to let Dr Bennett take over the driving.
The drive had not been fun; Dr Bennett was still beside herself with worry and Chloe had cried for a solid hour, before she finally fell asleep. The family had been hit very hard by this double loss.
Dave and I had intended to do everything that we could possibly do to help.
After many long, boring and very depressing hours, we finally arrived in Washington DC.
It was after midnight, so we stopped at a pre-booked hotel and grabbed some much needed sleep.
Early the following morning
Sunday
Washington DC
We awoke around eight and grabbed showers and breakfast.
I did not envy Dr Bennett one bit; she had to break the news to Curtis!
After breakfast I drove the SUV to where Curtis had been staying with his friend; Jimmy. I went to the door with Dr Bennett while Chloe stayed in the SUV, by her own choice.
Naturally, Curtis was very confused and more than a little worried to find Dr Bennett, looking for him. Indeed, he was very surprised to see me! I took Jimmy's mother off to one side and explained the situation; she was shocked, to say the least, just like I had been. While I was with the parent, I heard Curtis, in the other room: "No!" he screamed.
With Jimmy's help I had gathered Curtis' gear and helped Curtis into the SUV, where he promptly cuddled into Chloe and cried his eyes out. The next destination was Curtis' home to pack some essential items. Despite my usual detached emotions that I used when I killed people, I felt that I was close to losing it. Dr Bennett was family to me, as was her daughter. I had never met Curtis' parents, but I was feeling their loss and I knew how Curtis' was feeling; I had been there, although my experience was not quite the same!
..._...
We loaded several bags and cases into the back of the SUV, that were loaded with Curtis' clothes and personal possessions. Dr Bennett also gathered up important paperwork and documentation that Curtis would require, such as his passport and birth certificate. I did what I could, to help Curtis gather together his possessions. He had moved on to a state of auto-pilot. The tears had stopped and he went around his room, picking things up and packing them. He talked to me, as he went around and explained what he was doing and why; I let him talk and made suggestions of things that he might need. I had already packed all the clothes that I could find. I also grabbed his duvet and pillow, from his bed, so he would at least have something of home.
I had also found his Taekwondo gi and his white belt, with yellow tag. He was doing well! I packed these carefully, as I was sure that he'd want to use them.
By the time we were ready to head back to Chicago, it was mid-afternoon. I drove the first stretch and we stopped around six and checked into a hotel. Dr Bennett had a room to herself, while I shared a room with Chloe and Curtis.
Curtis had barely said a word, since we left Washington DC and this was worrying, as normally he wouldn't stop talking! Chloe tucked him up on the couch, in the room, while we had a bed each.
It wasn't easy trying to get to sleep, with both Curtis and Chloe crying.
The next morning
Monday
I awoke the following morning, with a body in bed with me.
I thought it might have been Chloe, but it turned out to be Curtis! He felt me move and turned to look up at me and he tried a rather forced half smile.
"Hi kid," I said.
"Hi Mindy. I'm sorry, I couldn't sleep on my own and Chloe pushed me out of her bed!"
"Don't worry, I've been stuck with Chloe in my bed more than once!"
"Thanks for helping me, Mindy. You and Chloe are some of the closest people I have left..."
Curtis then started sobbing. I couldn't think of anything else to do but hug him. The poor kid; yes, I'd lost both of my parents, but they were almost twelve years apart and I had never even known my mother.
Curtis stopped sobbing several minutes later and I suggested that he go get a shower, which he did. Chloe then awoke and moaned about having to wait for Curtis to get out of the bathroom. Chloe always moaned about Curtis, but I knew that she loved him dearly and they had both got a lot closer over the summer.
Early afternoon
Chicago
West Ridge
We finally arrived back in Chicago and I dropped Dr Bennett, Chloe and Curtis off, before heading back home.
"That fucking sucked!" I exclaimed, as I sank onto the couch beside Dave.
"I won't ask how it went; I can see that you struggled!" Dave responded.
"I tried every trick I knew to suppress my emotions, but dammit, I'm not a fucking Cyberman; I need you Dave!" I said, as I grabbed Dave and hugged him tight.
Later that week
Saturday
D-JAK Dojang
Curtis had been coming down to the dojang for the past couple of days.
He had got fed up with sitting around at his new home. Commander Bennett was home and was understandably upset. This Curtis did not want to see, so he started coming down to the dojang.
The kid had apparently been attending Taekwondo classes, while in Washington DC and was reasonably proficient; he had acquired his 9th Kup white belt with yellow tag. He had also changed a little, physically and had built up some muscle and lost some excess body fat. He seemed to be very serious about his training and spent hours pounding a bag, or practicing his Taekwondo form. I was there to keep an eye on him, as most of us were worried about his emotional state. He had not really talked to anybody, since moving in with the Bennetts, a week ago.
I called Megan over and pointed out Curtis to her, then suggested that she go over to make friends. I also advised her that Curtis had just lost both his parents and to go easy on him!
..._...
"Hi, I'm Megan!"
"And I'm busy!" Curtis replied, curtly.
"Hey! I'm trying to be nice here, ass!" Megan retorted, with a little of her usual attitude.
Curtis paused, looked at me and then turned to Megan.
"Sorry, that was unfair; I'm Curtis!"
"I lost my Dad a few months ago; I'll listen if you want to talk," Megan said.
Curtis looked at Megan, then looked over at me and I was sure that I saw a little of the normal cheeky Curtis, as he smiled, just a little, but still he smiled. I nodded encouragingly and Curtis went over to a corner and sat down, Megan followed and sat down across from him and they both started to talk.
"That was a good idea, Mindy," Paige said, coming over.
"The poor kid hasn't any friends here, just us, until he starts school on Monday. I just hope he can make a friend and he is the same age as Megan and they do, unfortunately have a few things in common!" I replied.
Actually more than Paige really knew!
Megan knew that I was Hit Girl and so did Curtis, but so far Megan didn't know that Curtis knew and Curtis didn't know that Megan knew! Also Curtis knew who everybody in Fusion was and about Safehouse A, whereas Megan only knew about me so far, but probably had ideas about the others, as she had met Dave, Chloe and Josh. There was absolutely no way that she would match Josh with Jackal and she had not really met Shadow yet, nor had she properly met Kick-Ass, either. For now that's how I was keeping it.
Talking of Paige, she was a godsend! I had gone ahead and bought her a Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV, to use for transport, which also served as a mobile advertisement for the dojang, too! D-JAK was building up a steady list of users for both the gym side and the martial arts training. I was intending to start classes in the new year, two to three times a week. I was also giving discounts to members of the CPD.
..._...
After Curtis and Megan had chatted for about forty minutes, I saw them both laughing together, which was a very good start. It was the first time that I had seen Curtis laugh, since he had arrived in Chicago.
"You two okay?" I asked, walking over.
"Yeah, Curtis is a bit strange, but I can work with that!" Megan replied.
"Megan is totally nuts, but I've been around worse!" Curtis added and threw me a smug grin.
"Curtis, why don't you show Megan some of what you have learned to get your yellow tab," I suggested. "Megan, that yellow tab will be your first target!"
"Okay! Come on Megan; let's see what you're made of!"
That afternoon
D-JAK dojang
The question that I had been dreading finally came.
"Mindy, can we talk... Privately!" Curtis asked.
"Okay!"
We went upstairs and sat down in the part of the building that I was intending on converting into a safehouse.
"I know what you're gonna ask, Curtis!" I said. "We've been here before and the answer is still no!"
Curtis looked angry.
"Why not?" He asked angrily.
"You're three months past your tenth birthday; that's why!" I replied.
"That isn't fair. I have nothing else left in my life; I need something and Fusion is it!" Curtis retorted.
"Curtis... I... You're putting me into a really difficult position and I don't like it!" I replied and was starting to get angry myself. Curtis saw my anger building, but refused to back down.
"I don't care, you're gonna...," Curtis started to shout, but then calmed down. "Look... Please... I need your help Mindy... I know Aunt Cathy would say no and Chloe would probably slap me for asking, but I know you won't. Would you at least help me train, show me how to fight, how to use weapons? I need something to focus my mind on, something that isn't my dead parents!"
I just stared at Curtis for a while, sorting out my thoughts.
"I'm not saying yes, but I'm not saying no, either. Please let me think about it and I will, I promise you."
"Thank you Mindy," Curtis said and gave me a hug!
That evening
West Ridge
"Dave, why do people gravitate towards me to talk or to cry on my shoulder?"
"Good question! Normally, I would not see you as the type!" Dave replied with a smirk.
"I'm serious, Dave!"
"Well, when you aren't chopping people into tiny little pieces, you can be a very kind and loving young woman. That is one of the many, many, many reasons why I want to spend the rest of my life with you!" Dave replied, honestly, before continuing. "You've helped Josh, you've helped Chloe and you've helped Curtis. They all respect you and know that you won't lie to them, not to mention that you also tend to speak your mind! You may be, the hard as nails, Hit Girl, but you are also a woman and a big sister to them all and that's what they see you as."
I honestly had no response to that.