Three days later
Saturday evening
West Ridge
Everybody was over for a little Fusion 'get together'.
Unfortunately, some there that night had taken that description a little too literally! Kim and Marty were permanently glued together, on one couch, while Josh and Chloe were enthusiastically groping each other, on the other couch!
"Not very much different than when they're in class!" Isaac had commented, dryly, as he had walked past them.
But something else was much more disturbing than all that kissing and fondling... Marcus!
..._...
I had just come back from the dining room, where we had setup a small buffet, for people to help themselves from. Cathy was currently in there with Curtis and Abby. Megan had spent most of the evening following me around and in this case she had followed me into the kitchen and we had both stopped suddenly and shouted out in disgust, at the same time!
"Mom!"
"Marcus!"
"What!" Marcus responded, sounding annoyed, once he had removed his lips from Paige's.
"I'm in enough fucking pain!" I growled angrily and walked out of the kitchen, dragging an appalled Megan with me.
I thought that I was more embarrassed than angry!
..._...
I shoved Chloe, roughly, off of the couch, but she just sat herself back on Josh's knee and they continued with their kissing and fondling!
I ignored them both and sat down with the rather disgusted looking Megan.
"How long have they been at it?" I asked.
"I have no idea!" Megan replied. "I did see them together, once or twice, over Christmas."
"What the hell next? You and Curtis?"
"That would be disgusting!"
"I thought you had a thing for him!" I teased.
Megan blushed and mumbled something.
"She does?"
I looked behind me to find Curtis, with a sly grin on his face. I then looked at Megan, who looked like she wanted to die!
"Oh, you mean it was a secret?" I asked Megan facetiously, who gave me one of her glares.
"Sorry!" I said and made room for Curtis to sit down beside Megan.
..._...
Dave appeared.
"Everybody seems to be eating each other, instead of the food!"
"Tell me about it! I just found Paige and Marcus 'kissing and petting'!"
"Oh, I thought I saw something along those lines at Christmas," Dave remembered.
"So everybody knew about Marcus and Paige except for me?"
"Looks like it!" Cathy commented, as she came up behind me.
"Great! I'm not just in physical pain, but I'm now in mental pain... You know, this sort of thing could make somebody go completely fucking nuts and - and..."
"...Become a vigilante?" Dave offered and I glared at him.
"Cool! Can I become one then?" Megan asked excitedly.
"NO!" Dave, Cathy and I responded loudly.
Megan looked really put out!
"Don't worry! They said the same thing to me, too, when I asked!" Curtis admitted, putting his arm around Megan.
..._...
The asshole was now doing it quite openly!
He also very well knew that I was not happy about it; but what could I do? I wanted Marcus to be happy, but... I shuddered at the thought of what else might be happening!
Anyway, there was something more important about to happen. I called everybody together so that I could make a short speech.
"We have had a difficult week, ever since those damned nutcase Nightingales appeared and yes, I managed to get myself shot, again!" I announced and got a brief laugh in response.
"Now, I owe my life, again, to two people, both of whom are new to the world of Fusion. Err... Marcus, if you could let go of Paige for a few minutes... Megan..."
Megan and Paige came up and stood beside me.
"Firstly I have to thank a certain young lady, who was able to help me in my time of need. Megan... Or should I say Wildcat, showed immense courage, way beyond her years, in helping me to safety in Safehouse C and then she had the presence of mind to call for help, from the right people. She had not been trained on our equipment, but she still knew how to call for help. I have listened to the entire radio conversation of that night and I was amazed by how calm and collected Wildcat was and I am backed up by Dave, who was also very impressed."
Dave nodded his agreement.
"Yes, Megan had correctly worked out my biggest secret, some months ago, but Paige was still in the dark. Dave had no choice but to call on the help of an adult, as I was too heavy for Megan to move. I was also very impressed with the courage of Lynx, too and I wouldn't have blamed her, if she had taken one look at me, bleeding all over a room full of weapons and run for it!"
"Again, after listening to the recording and hearing how Paige skilfully followed the instructions of the dreaded Dr Bennett; I was incredibly impressed. Although what Paige meant by 'figures', when she first saw who was under Hit Girl's mask, I am not exactly sure! For now, I have to thank our newest members: Wildcat and Lynx!"
Everybody showed their appreciation for Paige and Megan, with applause. Megan looked like she was about to burst into tears! Paige, though, seemed to enjoy all the attention.
"Thank you, everybody!" Paige said, once the applause had died down. "I always thought something was a bit odd about some of the people at D-JAK. Mindy, though she seemed to be a bit of a nutcase, she was always a great boss. I guessed that you guys were up to something, but always believed that whatever it was, was for good, illegal, but good. I know that Marcus thinks Mindy is a bit of a nutcase, too and has never been happy with what she does, however, I believe in what Mindy has built."
"This evening I have heard a lot about Dave and Mindy, including how they came to be here today, doing what they do. I will always be thankful for that day, when Hit Girl turned up at my front door with Megan and then later, when she offered us a new start in life. Thank you Mindy... Thank you Fusion!"
Paige turned and gave me a hug. Damn! I'm fucking crying in front of everyone, again!
"Damn! There is a human side to the girl, after all!" Marcus said, coming over.
"It's good to have you on the team, Wildcat!" Curtis said to Megan.
"Thanks, Trojan!" Megan responded.
..._...
"I've been meaning to ask: how did the first classes go, at D-JAK, just before New Year?" Marcus asked.
On the Tuesday, just before New Year, I had had the first introductory classes at D-JAK, just to meet my new students and give them a small taster of what was to be on offer.
"The younger kids, the under tens, well they think Mindy is awesome and are all looking forward to starting properly next week. She will have a class of about eight to twelve younger kids to start with," Paige explained. "The under thirteens were a mixed lot, but they seemed to listen to Mindy and I think we should have up to a dozen of them, including Curtis and Megan."
"I almost had a damn heart attack when I recognised Sam Fellowes come into D-JAK! He was out of uniform, but he had his son with him; he was bringing his son, Cameron, to the class," I explained. "Sam gave me some strange looks and I'm certain that he knows, or at least suspects, who I am!"
"That could prove interesting!" Marcus commented.
"The next group; the teenagers… Well they seemed to enjoy seeing how flexible Mindy was!" Paige continued, with a grin that soon changed to an evil smirk. "Plus, I think Mindy seemed to enjoy showing off exactly how flexible she was!"
I felt myself blushing.
"I … I do not… I did not!" I stammered unconvincingly.
Marcus looked at me with an evil grin.
"Does Dave know?" He asked, facetiously.
"You two are so fucking evil!"
"And the most important thing, of course, is that Mindy hasn't killed or maimed anybody yet!" Paige finished. "The insurance is high enough as it is!"
The next day
Sunday
West Ridge
I had a problem, well, more of a dilemma really.
Paige was easy; I just gave her a huge cash bonus. Megan though... I didn't know what to get a ten year-old girl – period, let alone something that would truly show how thankful I was for her actions! I had already decided that Megan could join Curtis and be trained, defensively only – as long as Paige agreed. Neither of them would handle firearms, apart from basic target practice and knowing how to clean them. They wouldn't use anything bigger than a .22-calibre, either. They were far too young and too small for a proper combat suit, but I would see about getting them some custom body armour for their upper bodies. I might be able to use the two of them for reconnaissance and even providing diversionary tactics. But neither of them would ever be put in harm's way, not a damn chance!
Well, last night had gone well, I suppose; ignoring Marcus and his new relationship! I had disturbing images in the back of my mind, every time that I thought of what Marcus and Paige might be getting up to! Then it occurred to me that I wouldn't need to worry, as long distance relationships rarely worked out.
That was when Marcus decided to knock me for six!
"Hey, kid! Could I have a word?" Marcus had asked.
That had somehow sounded ominous! I followed Marcus through to the living room and sat down on a couch, while Marcus sat down across from me.
"You telling me Paige is pregnant now?" I asked and got a nasty glare in response!
"Just kidding, jeez!"
"Let's be serious for a minute, can we?" Marcus asked.
"Should I be worried?"
"Not really... We don't get to see very much of each other, do we?"
"Not as much as I'd like, no."
I meant it too, I really did miss Marcus!
"How would you like to be able to see me as often as you'd like?"
"I'm not moving back to New York, if that's what you're asking," I replied, without thinking.
"You've got the wrong end of the stick, there, Hit Girl!"
I thought about that and came to one conclusion...
"You mean... Chicago... You're moving to Chicago?"
"You don't want me here, just say so..."
"You complete ass, Marcus! I would never, ever, say that!" I responded angrily, then I realised, belatedly, that he was joking. "Sorry!"
"You can be very predictable, Mindy. Remember, I've known you a long, long time."
"You move to Chicago; would you still be a cop?" I asked.
"Yeah. I've been talking with Jack and he'd take me under his wing for a while, at District Twelve, so that I could get used to Chicago, learn the ropes, then maybe move to a team like Voight's."
"That would be cool!" I admitted, grinning.
It really would be great to have Marcus around! Then I had another thought and scowled at Marcus.
"I assume this is just about me and not about Paige?" I asked.
"Of course it is; I want to be with you. I've been thinking about this for months, long before I met Paige. I was getting a bit lonely in New York; now you're not there it's kinda quiet and peaceful. I think I missed the severed limbs and dead bodies everywhere!" Marcus dead-panned.
I had to laugh.
"Are you jealous, Mindy?"
"What? You mean about you and Paige?"
"Yeah."
"No... I just reacted... It was a bit of a shock; kids don't like to see their parents... Well, you know!" I tried to explain, but failed miserably and felt myself blushing.
"You know, you are a lot softer than people give you credit for!" Marcus laughed.
"Just don't go spreading it around, or I might just have to kill ya!"
Marcus laughed again.
"Okay, I'll dial back the romance a bit – at least in public! Happy?"
"Yeah, I think so. Just... There are some things I'd rather not know about... If you know what I mean..."
"Now you know how I used to feel about you and that boy!" Marcus responded, with a chuckle.
"Okay! But remember, 'that boy', is now my fiancée!"
"Anyway, I thought you liked Paige and as for Wildcat, well she's just a..."
"Don't you dare say it Marcus!" I interrupted.
"... Mini-Mindy!"