I Knew You Were a Weirdo

by Designation M

Author's Note: I'm back! The Moon Troupe latest show takes a turn that results in one of their newest among their number being savagely attacked. This sets events in motion beyond their control. The Moon Theater family will need to stand more united than ever if they're going to survive.

17. I'm Not Scared Of The Dark

To give you an idea of the voices of the newcomers:

Ivan Desinov, Russian white tiger (Johnny's uncle), voiced by Jason Isaacs (Superman, Red Son)

Carmen Santiago, Spanish black leopard, voiced by Penelope Cruz

Pascal St. Clair, French black goat, voiced by Jean Reno

British accented agent, voiced by Angela Bassett

I Knew You Were a Weirdo

00000

XVII - I'm Not Scared of the Dark

Noodleman Townhouse - Manhattan

The tiger mammalite, Ryan Cagney, rubbed his sore red eyes.

He hardly slept the past night.

Heck, he hardly slept the night before that.

The loss of his friend was still fresh on his mind.

Not just his, but that of his friends, the entire dance troupe.

He had been flooded with text messages in the past few days.

And he'd been receiving the rare phone call.

First from Klaus, his dance instructor.

And just now, from Nsomi, a Jaguar mammalite girl, fellow dancer and Ryan's partner.

Ryan scrunched his eyes. Nsomi had been his first friend when he joined Kickenklober's group. She had been the one to inspire and encourage him in his dancing endeavors, much like Nooshy did for Johnny.

Ryan whimpered. I can't imagine what Nooshy must be going through. If anything happened to Nsomi, I...I'd probably lose the will to live.

He had better remember to make sure Nooshy was not in such a state that she'd consider suicide.

Ryan answered the call.

"'Somi?" he said.

Ryan heard soft weeping on the other end of the line.

"Ryan? Baby, are you ok? Are the others ok?" said an African-accented emotional voice that was low but sweet.

"Yeah 'Somi, I'm ok. Sam, Murphy and Julie are ok too...but the Moon group…"

"Oh Ryan, I was so worried...and...and oh Johnny…" Nsomi's voice was breaking terribly.

Ryan covered his eyes. "I know...I know...I still can't believe it...he didn't deserve that...not in a million years."

"No...not someone as good and as kind as Johnny."

Wiping his eyes, Ryan cleared his throat. "Klaus called yesterday you know."

"I heard. What did he say?"

"Just asked how we were doing."

Ryan heard a low scoff. "Is that all?"

Ryan smiled in a way that never reached his eyes. "I could tell he was trying to hold it together. And for a guy like him, that's a pretty big step."

"Hmm. But are you ok Ryan?"

Ryan grimaced. "Well...I'm not going to lie to you 'Somi…"

He couldn't say anymore.

"...Ryan...I know he was your friend. He was mine too, even if we hadn't really hung out that much."

Ryan sighed. "And he was all that and so much more to Miss Nooshy."

There was a slight pause. "So it's true, there was something going on between them."

Ryan nodded. "I think anyone with eyes could see that."

Ryan heard Nsomi start to cry. "That poor thing."

Ryan gasped back a sob. "I know...I know...She just collapsed. I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you-!" He covered his mouth fast but it was already too late.

Ryan heard Nsomi gasp softly.

"W-What? What did you say?" She sounded abashed.

Ryan groaned. Just what I need.

00000

Undisclosed Location - New York City

Doctor Straham put his stethoscope away.

Johnny pulled his shirt back on, a plain forest green long-sleeve, provided at the courtesy of his uncle, covering the thick set of fresh bandages covering his lower abdomen, secured by a diagonal bandage around his right shoulder.

"So when am I free to go, doc?"

Doctor Straham, a bloodhound, grimaced. "You're well enough to move but for the moment, I'm afraid, until a proper escort is made available, you must stay here."

Johnny frowned. "Must?"

"Poor choice of words Mr Egerton." Straham cleared his throat. "You may leave anytime. We cannot hold you here because we are legally obligated not to do so but we are legally obligated to inform you that given the circumstances, it may not be safe for you to travel alone."

Johnny's face fell. "Ok...then let me call my dad. He can escort me."

Straham looked at Johnny with bewilderment but then he looked pained. "Johnny...what do you remember?"

"Well, I was shot right?"

"Johnny."

Johnny looked up from where he sat to see his uncle Ivan. The Russian white tiger was standing at the doorway to his room, arms crossed, a flinty look about him.

His one good eye looked at Johnny with terrible pity.

"What is it, uncle?"

"You were not shot, little Johnny, you were stabbed, by Sean DiMarco."

Johnny felt his blood turn to ice. He didn't rightly know why, as though there was something terrible in the back of his mind that has not yet returned to him.

What was it?

"But I remember hearing a gunshot," Johnny said. "My ears rang like crazy."

Johnny...I'm so sorry.

Johnny's head suddenly felt like it was in a vice as images and sounds flickered in his mind.

His father lying dead in a pool of blood.

His hands wet with blood.

DiMarco laughing wildly.

A long knife plunging into his stomach.

Falling down a great waterfall.

Johnny's eyes shot open, a cold sweat on him, his heart pounding and his breathing erratic.

What...what…

He placed a hand over his belly, where the bandages were the heaviest.

"Very important you do not fiddle with that Johnny," Ivan said sternly.

Johnny stared at his uncle. "Where's dad?"

Ivan slowly closed his one good eye and then his blind eye. "Johnny...your father is-"

Johnny shook his head violently as though trying to dispel some unwelcome thoughts and images. "No," he said, covering his face. "Nonononono!"

"Johnny…" Ivan said as he approached his nephew, reaching for him.

Johnny swiped his uncle's hands away. "Don't touch me!" he shouted, his voice breaking.

Johnny kicked his feet out and he slipped off his cot.

Dr Straham was stricken. "Johnny, you're still recovering!"

"I DON'T CARE!" Johnny roared.

Johnny tried to force his way out of the room but was stopped when Ivan grabbed him by both arms.

"Let go of me!" Johnny yelled, tears welling up.

"Johnny, please! Calm yourself!"

"No! No! Let go! I have...I have to...I have to find my dad!"

Johnny struggled and he struggled but his massive uncle was too strong for him. The young gorilla attempted to hit his uncle, which he didn't bother to defend himself from.

But Ivan Desinov was a hardened soldier, a tank commander in the Russian Spetsnaz, at least until he fled the country, deciding that the Russian government was an administration he no longer wished to be a part of.

So whatever blows Johnny could deliver in his state were love taps to him at best.

Finally, Johnny's resistance ceased and with tears in his eyes, he looked up at Ivan.

"He's dead isn't he?!" Johnny choked out. "My dad is really dead isn't he?!"

Tears started in Ivan's own eyes, including his blind eye. He wanted to, but he couldn't. He had to tell Johnny the cold, agonizing truth.

"Yes, I'm afraid he is."

Johnny didn't look surprised. Deep down, he knew. He just didn't want it to be true, that his father was dead and not coming back.

Johnny fell to his knees, his uncle having him by the shoulders to lighten his fall.

And Johnny threw his head back and he wailed uncontrollably and without restraint.

Ivan held his nephew to his chest, who now looked very small and very young. Johnny laid his face into his uncle's chest, like he had so many times when his own father comforted him, a warmth he knew he'd never know again while living.

This unforgivable reality tormented him to no end.

Dr Straham sat in his chair just off to the side. The old bloodhound looked away, not out of shame but because he wanted to show respect to the poor boy and give him room to grieve.

It never gets easier, Dr Straham thought to himself.

Just outside the room, two familiar persons stood in the light, while three stood up against the wall in shadow.

The two were the black she-leopard, Carmen Santiago, former Spanish Special Operations, and the black goat, Pascal St. Clair, former French Legion.

Carmen was squatting and leaning up against the door frame, just out of view of the entryway, looking at the floor. Her one azure-blue eye was visible behind her curtain-like black hair and there was a tinge of sadness as she listened to Johnny's heartbreaking wails.

Pascal, leaned up against the other side of the doorframe, also staring at the floor. He was chewing on a live round, a 9mm. A habit of his when he was thinking.

The three standing in shadow stood silent and motionless.

The one closest to the door was a petite, slim, slinking figure. She had a toothpick in her mouth.

The one furthest away was a tall, brooding and solemn figure, who had a deep growl in his throat and who kept smacking his lips.

The one in the middle was slightly shorter than the brooding figure but was a head taller than the other. The way he held himself up and how he stood, shoulders postured in a commanding way, he was like a rock.

He nodded his head and the two on either side of him departed down the hall.

The small one, taking her toothpick out and pointing it to the brooding one, said in her clipped British accent, "Here, you keep smacking your lips like that mate and I'll feed this to you."

The brooding shadow growled menacingly.

And they both turned the corner, out of view.

"Sir," Pascal said. "Don't you think it's, how you say, time to spill the beans?

The commanding figure did not move.

"He's mourning," he said in a gruff voice, a slight Southern accent to it. "Hardly appropriate."

"His people will need to be told soon," Carmen said, not taking her eyes off the floor. "You should've told them already."

"I know."

"So why haven't you, señor?"

The commanding figure bowed his head. "I cannot run another risk of our communications being tapped. You gotta look at the bigger picture. Sorrows is within our grasp. His forces are scrambling, running for cover. We cannot show our hand, so we have to be discreet. Once Johnny is in a stable state of mind, I'll have him produce a personal message for his friends. That way, there's no way they'll think it is a trick."

Pascal continued chewing on the live round in his mouth, albeit with greater intensity.

Carmen simply frowned. "I'll deliver it?"

"Yes, you are the fastest out of all of us."

Carmen's frown deepened.

And then there was silence.

Johnny's weeping seemed to have ceased.

The commanding figure took that as his cue and he stepped out of the dark hallway.

He was revealed to be an old German Shepherd, slightly above middle aged, dark-brown eyes that seemed to burn like ambers, a vertical scar on the left side of his mouth, and he donned a finely tailored suit that was covered by a long black overcoat.

He stepped into the room to see an exhausted and barely awake Johnny in the arms of his uncle Ivan.

Johnny blinked and looked up at the newcomer that just entered the room.

"W-Who...who are-?"

"There will be time for questions later Jonathan. But first, don't you want to let your friends know you're alive and well?"

Johnny blinked dumbly. "What? What do you mean?"

The old dog observed Johnny with a flinty look. "You've been presumed dead, Jonathan."

Johnny gasped. "You're joking."

Ivan shook his head. "No joke Johnny. You've been presumed dead since you had your fall."

"Since I had my-?!" Johnny's eyes became huge as the implications sunk in. "How long was I out?!"

Ivan looked down. "Three days."

Johnny stood up, a little too fast. Dizzy, he stepped back and had almost fallen on his backside, and he most certainly would have if he hadn't been stopped when he backed into the old dog in the black coat.

"Easy son," the old dog said.

Johnny breathed heavily, both in shock and bewilderment as he looked up at the newcomer.

"Who...who are you? And where am I?"

"At the topmost floor of the Chrysler Building in New York. As for who I am, Special Agent Dakota Kennedy Cosgrove, CIA, at your service."

Johnny gaped. "Get outta town," he whispered.

00000

Noodleman Townhouse

A disheveled and exhausted Nooshy entered the kitchen of the townhouse.

The atmosphere was thick with sadness and grief.

No one spoke.

Nooshy slumped down at the kitchen table, Porsha on her left and Ash to her right.

They only looked slightly better than Nooshy.

Nooshy leaned against the counter on her elbows, staring at nothing.

Eddie sat on the far end, typing at his laptop, data crunching almost non-stop since the incident.

He had wanted to make mention that Johnny's body had not been found.

The authorities combed the East River and found nothing. No sign or evidence of a body.

They hadn't found Sean DiMarco's body either.

And this troubled everyone.

Clay Calloway sighed in his throat as sipped a cup of coffee, reading a local paper.

His eyes softened when he spotted an article concerning a memorial at the New Moon Theater, a memorial for both Johnny and his father.

There were pictures of dozens, hundreds of mammalites of all ages, placing down flowers, photos of Johnny and his dad, Moon Theater memorabilia, as well as Out of this World merchandise.

There were even pictures in the paper taken in the night and there were crowds of people gathered in the streets for a candlelight vigil in mourning.

Clay smiled sadly. Johnny sure left an impact on people.

It was true. Before the singing contest at the old Moon Theater, Johnny was another face in the crowd.

Afterwards, the boy, along with his new friends, became the talk of the town, singing sensations.

But it was not just their talent that they were known for but also who they were as people.

In this case, there were quotes from individuals, stories in the paper of the young gorilla and of how kind he was.

Johnny was like the sweetest guy ever, one person said, a teenage antelope. She continues, I can't believe anyone would want to hurt such a nice guy. When I heard the news, my little sister wouldn't stop crying.

Another person, an elderly rhino, he had said, when one of his shows ended, Johnny had gone out of his way to escort me to my car. It was a two block walk and it was nighttime. We talked and he had shown himself to be a polite, astute young man. I will never forget his kindness.

And finally, a familiar face. It was Angie Palmer, the young lady, a dachshund mammalite who sang with the group last Christmas when Darius was in no shape to perform.

This quote was as it read:

Johnny was a special young man. He was full of life and talent, he was honest, loyal to a fault, so polite and so nice. When I had come to New Moon Theater after my car broke down, he had called his dad and he personally saw to it that my car got towed out of the snow, free of charge. My kids loved him and they were so devastated when I had told them the news. I couldn't believe it myself. Johnny never hurt anyone.

Clay sighed as he closed the paper and put it aside.

He pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Oh, is that Angie?" Meena said as she caught sight of the article in the paper that Clay had just put down. Her eyes were red and she looked like she hardly had any sleep either.

"Yeah, I think it is," Rosita said. She had dark circles under her eyes.

"Didn't she…" Ash yawned. She hardly slept too. "Didn't she call you the other day, Rosita?"

Rosita rubbed her sore eyes. "Yes, soon after we arrived here...not long after...what happened reached the news."

00000

Two Days Ago…

Rosita wept on the bathroom floor, knees to her chest and her face buried in them.

She jumped when she felt her phone vibrate from inside her tote bag.

She checked the caller ID and saw a familiar face on the screen.

It was the smiling face of Angie Palmer, alongside her three wonderful children, Malachi, Levi and Shiloh.

She was the kind nurse and mother of three who came out of the snow one Christmas Eve last year. Her car had broken down and she had to walk five miles through a snowstorm and had inadvertently made her way to the New Moon Theater while they were minutes from performing for the Christmas Special.

In a most unusual turn of events, when she came in through the back door of the theater, the force of the snow storm caused the door to slam open, right into the face of Darius, who was a guest singer at the time.

Being a nurse, Angie patched up Darius but he was in no shape to do the show. Thankfully, Angie possessed a set of more than exceptional pipes and she filled in for Darius.

And her children, along with their grandfather, watched the Christmas Special live on television. The children, Shiloh especially, had been eagerly and anxiously waiting for their mother to come home to watch the show with them.

They got something better instead. Their disappointment turned to utter joy as they watched their mother belt it alongside the rest of the Moon troupe.

Oh what a joyful night that was. And Johnny being the ever present help, called his dad and had Angie's car towed to the nearest gas station. She was most grateful for the help and how kind the Moon group was to her.

Angie and Rosita, both being loving mothers, had hit it off right then and there, both becoming fast friends.

They've kept in touch and Angie and her family became regulars at the Theater, even singing with them from time to time.

Wiping her eyes and clearing her throat, Rosita answered the call.

"Hello?"

"Rosita, honey."

Rosita cleared her throat as a sob almost came up. "So...you've heard?"

"I did," Angie said, her voice filled with pity. "Oh honey, I'm so sorry."

Rosita sniffled. "Thank you Angie...it's...just horrible, so horrible."

"I know. Poor Johnny and his poor father."

There was a pause and Rosita, listening intently, could hear in the background of the call what sounded like the sobbing of children.

It cut Rosita to the bone.

"Oh Angie, your kids…"

Rosita heard a sniffle on the other end of the line.

"I told them an hour ago. Dad is with them. They took it so hard. Especially Shiloh."

Rosita furrowed her brow sadly. "I'm at a loss, I really don't know what to say."

"I understand," Angie said. "Being a nurse, I'm no stranger to loss. I've had to deliver the bad news on more than a few occasions myself. I hated every minute of it."

Rosita's lip quivered as new tears rolled down her wet cheeks. "Oh Angie..."

"I know honey, I know."

00000

Ash smiled sadly. "She remembered us."

The sound of a chair scraping the kitchen floor was heard and all concerned turned their heads to see Nooshy slink out of the kitchen, much like a zombie.

Never once spoke a word.

Meena frowned deeply. "She still hasn't said anything."

"Can you blame her?" Clay said, looking into his coffee mug as though trying to make sense of something.

"Of course not," Buster said warily as he sipped his own cup of coffee. "I still can't believe it."

"They haven't found a body," Meena said hopefully. "Maybe…"

Meena physically couldn't finish that sentence. She wanted to hope, more than anything, but she didn't want to give her hopes up, or anyone's, especially Nooshy's.

It'd break everyone's hearts all over again if Johnny's body was finally found.

00000

Chrysler Building

Johnny pressed a switch on the audio device, ending the recording function and he handed it to Agent Cosgrove.

The old German Shepherd grinned. "That was beautiful."

Johnny blushed terribly. "Did you have to sit in through all that?"

"Policy Johnny, policy."

Dakota Cosgrove placed a red sticker on the audio device and placed it in a box with another audio device that had a blue sticker on it.

"Now, the note."

"Right then," Johnny said as he picked up a pen and notepad.

In under a minute, Johnny wrote a quick message and tore out the note, handing it to Cosgrove.

"Excellent, that will do nicely." Cosgrove folded the note and placed it in the box containing the audio devices. He taped it shut.

"Carmen!" Cosgrove called out.

The black leopard entered the room, clad in ground delivery garb.

Without having to be told so, she took the box and headed out without another word.

"Your friends should receive it in under an hour," Cosgrove said.

Johnny sighed. "Good." He then looked sharply at the special agent.

"Now...answers."

Cosgrove cocked an eyebrow, a hint of indignation in his eyes at the young man's tone.

"Alright...straight to the point," he said slowly. "But in the future, I suggest you mind your tone."

Johnny's hard look did not falter. "Yes...sir."

Cosgrove narrowed his eyes, but then he sighed. The boy just lost his father, measure your breaths you old fool.

"Let's start at the top, your uncle, myself and a few others are members of a task force backed by the CIA with one objective in mind, to eliminate threats to national security on domestic and foreign soil."

Johnny's hard look became that of mild bewilderment.

"In your case, that is to say, in the Moon troupe's case, your actions in Red Shore City stirred something loose. You didn't just disrupt a money laundering scheme, you caused a very considerable illicit transaction to collapse, therefore destroying a financial deal, a grand plan in the making. You didn't just cause a setback, you put a very dangerous group of opponents in a state of ruin that they wouldn't be able to recover from."

Johnny frowned. "English please?"

Cosgrove smirked. He's got guts, I like that. "To put it plainly, because the money laundering scheme in Red Shore went south, a very large sum of money failed to go through, and therefore, the ordinance needed in the Ukraine was never purchased, and in so doing, your interference has stopped a civil war from taking place."

Johnny furrowed his brow, mouth slightly agape, a look of incredulity on his face.

"You don't believe me?"

"No, of course not," Johnny said impertinently. "It can't be that big. I'm supposed to believe that just because we put on a show at Crystal Theater, that we stopped a war?"

"You're not supposed to do anything," Cosgrove said, trying to hide the displeasure in his voice. "You wanted answers, so I'm giving them to you. If you want verification, I can give that to you as well."

"Alright…" Johnny said, only slightly satisfied. "Here's another question, why didn't you tell my friends that I'm alive? I was presumed dead for three days, I can't even imagine the pain my friends have gone through."

Cosgrove closed his eyes. "Because our communication channels may have been compromised, Johnny. If I had tried to get a hold of your friends, I might've compromised both their locations and our own. It's why we had to relocate ourselves. The safest way to communicate is by messenger. And if we wanted to assure them you were alive, we needed proof. That's where your audio messages come in."

"Compromised?"

"Yes," Cosgrove said, nodding. "Ever since the events at Red Shore, we've discovered certain transactions coming straight from our own agency's budget. Someone had been feeding my country's tax dollars to Sorrows' operations."

Johnny blinked. "Sorrows? As in Jorge Sorrows? The founder and CEO of the Open Gates Foundation?"

"You heard of him?" Cosgrove asked.

Johnny nodded. "Mostly conspiracy theories that he's this Machiavellian schemer who wants to rule the world and has been manipulating world events and the global economy to do just that."

Cosgrove grinned. "You're smarter than you look."

Johnny chose to ignore that comment, even if it was meant as a compliment.

"Then you understand the danger," the old dog said.

Johnny paused in thought. It made sense. DiMarco finding them so easily, the tech they had access to, the gas bombs they used when they attacked the Citadel Tower.

Johnny gulped. "But you got him dead to rights, right?"

"We do," Cosgrove said. "But we have nab him fast enough that he won't be able to flee the country before this comes to federal court, him and his co-conspirators. That's why we had to be discreet, cut communications. At the moment, Sorrows doesn't know we have him, but we're not ready to move in on him yet."

"Why not?"

"Because we have to pick out the men for the job carefully. We're still singling out who's on his payroll and who's on our side."

Johnny narrowed his eyes. "Yeah, and how do I know you aren't with Sorrows?"

Cosgrove almost recoiled at that. He felt anger bubble up inside him but he held it back. He felt anger, but also wonder and respect.

He almost smiled.

The last person who spoke to me like that was twice his age and has seen far more tragedy than he ever did.

"I suppose verification is an order," Cosgrove said quietly. "Do you suspect your uncle Ivan?"

"Not in a million years."

"Right, time for you to meet the rest of the crew." Cosgrove turned to the door. "Pascal? Round them up, will ya?"

"Oui," the goat said, out of view of the door.

00000

Noodleman Townhouse

Jimmy Beadling laid in bed, his covers over his head.

Much like Nooshy, he hadn't spoken a word either.

His upper arm ached, where the tracking device was planted, just under the skin, where it was carefully carved out by his end and then bandaged. Almost impossible to notice or locate, at least until it is active.

Like an intolerable itch, it was plain.

It was clear that there was something in his arm.

And seeing as how trouble had found them so quickly when they fled the penthouse at the Citadel, it was clear that it was a tracking device.

But it was already too late.

DiMarco found them and now Johnny and his father are dead.

His new friends have been telling him that it wasn't his fault. There was no way he could've known about the tracking device.

It didn't help. Johnny, his friend and the young man who saved his life, twice, was dead. He and his father too.

Nooshy, his girlfriend, was left heartbroken beyond belief.

Jimmy had tried to tell himself that DiMarco alone was responsible, that he couldn't have known about the tracking device, his mind understood this but he just couldn't get past it.

Johnny's dead! Johnny's dead! Johnny's dead! And it's all my fault!

Overcome with emotion, his eyes glistening with tears, baring his teeth, Jimmy placed his pillow over his face and screamed in agony.

The pillow muffled his cries. Now he was shaking.

In his grief and guilt, Jimmy never noticed the door to his room open and close.

He was startled when his lamp turned on.

He pulled down his covers, just enough to peek behind them.

His red eyes widened to see a disheveled Noosy standing over him.

"W-wha…what are you doing here?"

Nooshy crossed her arms, a highly disapproving and unimpressed look on her face.

"I was just going to ask you the same question."

Her voice sounded raw and a bit hoarse. She had been crying for the past few days.

"I…" Jimmy stammered, the young retriever not quite understanding. "...what?"

Nooshy's severe look softened as she uncrossed her arms."Jimmy, I know you're hurting, really bad." Her lip quivered slightly. "I'm still hurting myself but do you really think Johnny would like it if he saw you like this? Lying in bed, talking to no one, blaming yourself for something that is not your fault?"

Jimmy blinked hard trying not to cry again. "Nooshy...it was my fault, Johnny-"

"Oi!" Nooshy snapped her fingers in Jimmy's face. "Enough! It wasn't your fault, Jimmy! This was...DiMarco and DiMarco alone." She spat the name as though it left a bad taste in her mouth. "He and the blokes he worked for did this to us, you are not to blame and if I hear you blaming yourself again, so help me I will box your ears!"

Jimmy pulled his covers over his head again, shaking not with grief and shame but fear.

Nooshy clenched her jaw but she breathed in deeply through her nose, having discarded her nose ring because she cried so much and it reminded her too much of the 'proposal' incident.

But it also reminded her too much of the life and the future that she and Johnny would never have.

Biting back tears, remembering why she was here, she held on.

Be strong, be strong, Johnny wouldn't want you to waste away. Just mourn him, and get on with your life.

Easier said than done.

Nooshy sat on the edge of the bed and very gently pulled the covers back, revealing a trembling Jimmy.

"Here," Nooshy said, holding her arms out. "I don't want to see you cry anymore, c'mere."

Jimmy sat up, not quite sure of the lynx's offer.

After a moment, he leaned and Nooshy wrapped her arms around him, much like Johnny did for her.

Jimmy laid his head on Nooshy's shoulder and they both cried together.

"I miss him so much!" Jimmy wept.

Nooshy scrunched her eyes. "Me too, little mate, me too."

Sitting up against the wall just outside Jimmy's room was Clay Calloway, guitar in hand. It was low but his sharp ears could pick up the mournful weeping from where he sat.

Strumming the strings, tears in his eyes, he began to play in much the same way Ash did for him when he too was in a worst way.

The song resonated, too soft to be heard from outside the building but loud enough that all in the house could hear it.

I'm not afraid of anything in this world

There's nothing you can throw at me
That I haven't already heard
I'm just trying to find a decent melody
A song that I can sing in my own company
I never thought you were a fool
But darling, look at you
You gotta stand up straight, carry your own weight
These tears are going nowhere, baby

And Clay's tears flowed freely as the song rang in the halls of the Noodleman house.

00000

Johnny sat patiently on his cot as Pascal returned with the others, his uncle Ivan standing to his left and Special Agent Cosgrove to his right.

Following the black goat came a face that Johnny did not expect.

His eyes grew huge and his mouth dropped. "You?!"

"Me," said a smug gazelle, wearing business attire and a pair of familiar glasses.

Johnny babbled and stammered in shock and surprise. "You're...you're the...you're that receptionist from…"

The gazelle no longer looked smug but mildly annoyed. "The receptionist from Crystal Tower whom you and your friends somehow snuck past when I very explicitly told you, 'no appointment, no entry.'"

Johnny rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry about that."

"Not as sorry as you would've been if I had my way," the receptionist said, narrowing her eyes. "I would've had you all arrested for trespassing, not to mention commandeering the Crystal Theater, causing a disturbance in the food hall, endangerment of children and so on, that is I would have if Mr Cosgrove hadn't ordered me otherwise."

Johnny looked up at the old dog. "Why-?"

"Because…" Cosgrove said, interrupting him and looking rather embarrassed. "...because I had thought that you and your group were...professionals."

"You what?"

Pascal cleared his throat modestly. "Undercover feds, petit Johnny."

Johnny's eyes widened. At this rate, his eyes would get sore.

"No…" he said in disbelief.

"Yes," Cosgrove said as a matter-of-factly. "The tactics you resorted to in order to infiltrate Crystal Tower were unorthodox, ludicrous even, but it worked. You managed to sneak by one of my sharpest officers, something that Karen has never forgotten."

The receptionist slash federal officer, known as Karen, grimaced at the reminder. The idea that a couple of local theater artists could sneak by her by dressing up as janitors and hiding behind a zamboni was beyond just an embarrassment, it could very well have been a career ender for her.

Johnny blinked several times. "That's...that's unbelievable...wait…" He looked at the bespectacled gazelle. "Your name is Karen?"

Karen frowned and pointed a cloven hoof finger at the young gorilla. "Don't. Even. Go there. And it's Carol Ann! Carol Ann Zelle!"

Johnny cocked an eyebrow. "Should you really be sharing your real name with me?"

Karen looked stricken and caught. She then covered her eyes in exasperation.

Cosgrove continued. "Carol or Karen as we like to call her, is my communications officer and had been working as a receptionist for Crystal Theater for five years before you and your group came to Red Shore."

"When did you find out that we were not spies as you thought we were?" Johnny asked.

"Right after Mr Crystal's arrest. Miss Lane confirmed it."

Johnny snapped his fingers as though he had hit the nail on the head regarding a question that had been nagging him. "So she is a fed."

Cosgrove looked hard at the young man. "Retired fed. What gave it away."

"The fact that she seems to know so much, how she found Mr Moon when he ran away, those particular cops that she summoned to arrest Crystal at the right time, who seemed to have no trouble doing so knowing full well what Crystal was capable of, and that sweeping kick when I almost got shot back at the Citadel. And that exit she made when Porsha got kidnapped."

There was a choking sound just outside the room, the sort of sound one made under stress.

"What was that?" Johnny asked.

Karen Zelle rolled her eyes. "The rest of the crew."

"Are they coming in? Or are they just going to linger in the hall like a couple of ghosts, emphasis on couple because judging by the shadows I can see from here, there are two standing in the hall, right?"

All eyes were on Johnny with looks of surprise and wonder.

Johnny was not the least bit rattled by their stares. In fact, he did not regard their looks at all, as though they were barely worth noticing.

Ivan looked sad. I fear the loss of his father has either hardened him or emboldened him.

There was a deep laugh coming from the hall.

It was that of a woman and judging by the accent, it was British.

"Little mate's got spunk."

A petite figure stepped into the room, donning a black coat, black undershirt, skinny blue jeans, black high tops, and a gold ringlet in her left ear.

Her right ear had a chunk missing.

But that was not what got Johnny's attention.

Johnny felt like his heart had stopped.

"Nooshy?!" he cried in dumb shock.

The lynx grinned cheekily. "Not quite," she said in a voice that was clearly aged and yet rich with vibrancy.

Johnny narrowed his eyes in concentration.

This person was a dead ringer for his girlfriend, except no, that was not possible. This one was clearly older, with a slightly different build, like that of a street fighter instead of a street dancer.

Clearly the same fur, the spots, the stripes, except for the slight gray tinge on certain ends and edges of her hair to indicate advanced age.

As Johnny got a better look, her hair, particularly on top, was noticeably longer and tied in a short ponytail.

There were wrinkles under her eyes and said eyes were an icy blue instead of the rich amber color of Nooshy's.

And this one's eyes were significantly different to Nooshy's. As hers were filled with life, passion and mischievousness, this newcomer's eyes looked tired, anxious, certainly an air of love for life but burdened as though she had a hard life but was still fighting to live.

From what Johnny knew of her, it came of no surprise to him.

"You're...you're her mother," Johnny stammered, not quite believing it. This didn't feel real to him.

What was Nooshy's mother doing here?

The middle-aged lynx gave an overly dramatic bow.

"In the flesh and at your service my dear Johnny," she said with a demure grin.

Faster than should be possible for a woman her age, she leapt from the doorway and was now standing before a seated Johnny.

He leaned back in surprise as Noelle Wright Sr looked down at him, as though sizing him up.

Her face was neutral.

"So you're the young man that has taken up with my daughter?"

Johnny opened his mouth with a gasp. "How do you-?!"

"Call it a mother's intuition and I gotta say…" She whistled. "She's got good taste, stud."

Not bothering to hide the redness in his cheeks, Johnny turned to Agent Cosgrove, who had an amused smirk on his face.

"What's going on?" Johnny demanded. "Isn't she supposed to be in jail?"

"She is," Cosgrove said. "Officially."

"What do you mean officially?!" Johnny exclaimed. "You know what she did, right?"

Noelle Sr looked away, a deep sad frown on her face.

Cosgrove looked grim. "Do you?"

"What? Of course I do! She…" Johnny stopped himself, realizing how cold and callous he sounded right now. He didn't like it.

Cosgrove's response however caught him off guard.

"I'm missing something aren't I?" Johnny asked, becoming quite wary.

"Oui, a great deal," Pascal said, as he put a comforting hand on Noelle Sr's shoulder, who had both hands over her mouth as she trembled a bit.

Johnny's mouth was agape when he saw the state that Noelle Sr was in. And any anger he felt melted away and was replaced with guilt and shame.

"Let's start at the top," Cosgrove said sternly, thoroughly annoyed by Johnny's insensitivity. "I'm sure you were told that upon the death of her husband, Ms Wright was unable to cope and had turned to taking narcotics and as a result, her unborn son died. That's only partially true I'm afraid."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning that her son did die but what you've been told about it being due to Ms Wright taking painkillers was a lie."

Johnny's face twisted in anger. "Nooshy would never lie about something like that!"

"I know she didn't," Noelle said, her back still turned. "My little firefly is not the lying type. Never was, never will. But she spoke truthfully when she said I had killed her brother, I just didn't know what it was I took when I was told it was safe."

Johnny's mouth was slightly agape. "What…?"

Cosgrove sighed. "The pharmaceuticals who provided the medication prescribed to Ms Wright fouled up and put incorrect meds in the pill bottles. They also fouled up the inspection and the doctor who gave them to her was careless and didn't bother to correct it once Ms Wright suspected something was wrong."

Johnny felt his blood turn to ice. "What was in that pill bottle?"

Cosgrove clenched his jaw and said slowly in a low voice, anger thick in it. "Abortion pills."

Johnny stood up, shaking with anger and shock, eyes popping and his mouth open wide. "What?!"

Pascal, pulling a folder from his jacket, a folder which read in red block letters diagonally 'confidential', gave it to Johnny, who almost dropped it when he took it.

"What is this?" he asked.

"Her medical report," Pascal said, thumbing to Noelle Sr. "Among other things."

Johnny opened the folder and read through its contents.

As he read, horror grew on his face.

The medical report confirmed everything that Cosgrove and Ms Wright had said.

And worse.

It said that the damage the abortion pills did to Ms Wright's body did more than kill her child, it left her sterile.

She could no longer bear children.

My God…

Johnny then caught a name in the file, the name of the CEO of the pharmaceutical company that manufactured the meds that destroyed Ms Wright's womb and her child.

Antony Faust, Founder and CEO of Faust Pharmaceuticals. Faust...that's a name that rings a bell.

"If this is true, why was she put in jail?" Johnny asked, his mind unraveling at these new revelations.

"Because Faust pulled strings to make sure she took the fall," Cosgrove said through bared teeth. "He has people who respond to these types of situations in order to save face for his company. He had a corporate lawyer confront Ms Wright while she was in holding. Sign a legal disclaimer or her daughter would be killed."

Johnny gaped in horror.

Ivan scrunched his eyes in fury.

Pascal frowned sadly.

Karen shook her head in disgust.

Noelle Sr trembled.

Johnny turned to her. "What did you do?"

Noelle turned to face him, eyes red and an angry snarl on her lips. "After I broke his arm, I signed it."

Johnny gaped at her. "You broke his arm?"

"Yup."

Cosgrove continued. "That was almost ten years ago, and so on, last August, after I put the team together, I learned about her and after pulling some strings of my own, got her out."

Johnny looked impressed and a bit apprehensive. "How did you manage that? What did you do?"

Cosgrove had a lopsided grin. "A prosecutor on the legal team of that corporate lawyer whose arm Ms Wright broke, he went out of his tree and beat his wife into a coma. We had him dead to rights and in exchange for putting the evidence we got on Faust, we managed to cut a deal and suspend Ms Wright's sentence."

Johnny almost laughed. "All kept secret of course."

Cosgrove nodded. "As far as anyone knows, she's still doing her time."

Noelle lifted her head slightly. "And my girls are quiet and they know how to keep a secret."

Johnny looked at her. "Your girls?"

"Made a name for herself in the pen," Cosgrove said, matter-of-factly. "Practically beat her way to the top. Y'know what they call her?"

Johnny blinked, blank-faced. "Uh...no?"

Noelle Sr chuckled. "Mama."

Johnny almost snickered but he held it back.

Ear twitching, Noelle gave Johnny a dark look and he flinched nervously.

Her frown turned into a humorous smirk. "I hated it at first but it grew on me."

Johnny tried to change the subject. "And the prosecutor's wife?"

"Relocated and given the best of care, as well as a restraining order for her ex-husband. He violates it, he gets charged."

Johnny frowned. "So this prosecutor is just another cog in the machine? And unless he toes the line, there will be no justice for his wi...ex-wife?"

Cosgrove's grim look did not change. "With what we got hanging over him, which could bury him ten times over, knowing he can no longer do as he pleases because he knows he's being watched, what would you call that?"

Johnny shrugged. "Fair enough. And what does she do here? I mean what is her job when she's working for you?"

Cosgrove smiled. "Muscle and surveillance."

"Seriously?!" Johnny cried.

"You'd have to see it to believe it."

Johnny shook his head, finding all this very difficult to process.

"You alright Johnny?" Ivan asked.

Johnny took measured breaths. "Just a bit faint."

Ivan pulled an aluminum flask from his coat, unscrewed the cap and offered the flask to Johnny.

"What is that?" Johnny asked nervously, smelling a sharp smell from the container

"It is tea. Strong stuff. You'll need vhen painkiller vears off."

Johnny shakily takes the flask and takes a drink.

His face went white as he grabbed his throat. He coughed violently and he nearly dropped the flask, which Ivan took back quickly.

"W-what-?!" Johnny coughed. "What is that?!"

"I might've forgot to mention that there's brake fluid in it."

"Brake fluid?!" Johnny cried, both hands at his throat.

"Quite the kick, got taste for it vhen deployed in Bosnia."

"Is now a good time?" said a gravely, gruff voice from the hall. "Or should I just go?"

Johnny stopped choking. "Who's that?"

Cosgrove put a hand to his temple. "He's...a special case." He looked up to the open doorway. "Might as well come in, Coal."

Noelle Sr grimaced at the use of the name that was way too similar to the name of her late father-in-law.

In came a large dark shape, a tall, black wolf.

He was dressed in a black suit jacket , gray turtleneck and slacks, with a pair of black Doc Martin's.

Johnny was slightly startled by the burning color of his molten yellow eyes, as well as the cold, aloof look on his face.

Like the look of a man who's been through a war.

Coal looked Johnny in the eye, which caused him to shift uncomfortably.

"Sorry about what happened to your dad," he said flatly.

Johnny blinked. "Thanks," he said, not quite sure of what to make of this man.

00000

Noodleman Townhouse

"Are you sure you're ok Nooshy?" Rosita asked. She had dark circles under her eyes.

Nooshy looked even worse for wear, but she seemed to have gotten some of her old life in her back. There was more energy behind her movements but she didn't smile.

"Yes yes, I'm fine Rosy," she said tiredly. "Just need time is all."

"Of course," Rosita said, taking Nooshy's hand and caressing it. "I think we all need time."

"How are the kiddie-winks doing?"

Rosita looked at Nooshy funny. "The what?"

"The kids, your kids."

"Oh," Rosita said sadly. "They've just stopped crying. But Caspar…"

Nooshy closed her eyes. "Poor little guy."

Rosita looked at the floor, hands folded over her stomach. "He keeps asking for Johnny."

Nooshy clenched her eyes, her lip quivering. "Maybe I should go see him."

Rosita smiled. "I think he'd like that."

00000

Buster Moon nodded glumly as he spoke on his cellphone.

"I see...thank you, thank you much Klaus. Alright, goodbye."

He ended the call and dropped the phone on the study desk.

A downtrodden Ms Crawly approached him, holding a cup of coffee. The mug read 'World's Greatest Boss.'

"Thank you Ms Crawly," Buster said, accepting the cup.

"You're welcome sir," Ms Crawly replied. "Did I hear correctly sir? That was Klaus Kickenklober on the phone?"

"The very same." Buster cleared his throat and sat up straight in his chair. "He and his dance troupe want to come to New York to pay their respects."

Ms Crawly sniffled. "For Johnny?"

Buster nodded. "And us."

The old lizard bowed her head and took a handkerchief out from her blouse and blew into it, rather loudly.

Buster frowned in mild disgust.

"Oh I'm so sorry sir."

DING-DONG.

Buster jumped in seat in startlement.

Ms Crawly cried out in fright.

"That is some doorbell," Buster said shakily.

00000

"Who's at the door?" Ash asked, peeking from around the corner of one of the hallways leading to the townhouse front lobby.

"I think it's package delivery," Meena said, craning her head slightly to see the front door from where she was hiding.

"But...we didn't order anything," Ash said, slightly apprehensive, as though suspecting possible danger.

Meena whimpered fearfully.

"Hey."

Startled but having just enough self control to keep from making any sudden moves, Ash and Meena turned slowly to see a severe Suki Lane, motioning them both to retreat.

"It's for me," she said.

Meena obeyed almost immediately.

Ash on the other hand fixed the Saluki with a look that suggested disdain before she too retreated down the hall.

Suki watched them both go.

She sighed. Ash is still suspicious of me. I have no right to expect her to trust me. She bowed her head. Perhaps never again, not after what happened to Johnny.

Rubbing her eyes behind her glasses, Suki approached the front door.

With one hand in her tote bag, she opened the door ajar.

Seeing a black she-leopard dressed in ground delivery garb with a small package under her arm, Suki spoke in her usual business-like mannerism.

"Can I help you?"

"D. K. C." the she-leopard said slowly.

Suki blinked. D K C. Dakota Kennedy Cosgrove! The Colonel!

Holding out one hand, Suki accepted the package.

With that, the package handler turned and walked away.

Suki closed the door and locked it.

"Who's it from? Is it safe?"

Suki looked down to see a worried Rosita, wringing her hands.

Suki cleared her throat. "From my superior and yes Rosita, it's quite safe."

Brandishing a switchblade knife from her tote bag, Suki opened the package.

Noticing the look on Rosita's face upon seeing the knife, Suki shook her head. "The knife is for practical uses only, Rosita."

Rosita did not find that reassuring. Practical in what way I wonder.

Looking in the box, Suki's mouth became slightly agape and her eyes widened.

"What? What is it?"

Suki covered her mouth with one hand. "It can't be."

"What?!" Rosita cried. "What is it, Suki?!"

"What's going on?!" Ash called out from down the hall.

The disturbance was already drawing attention.

Suki wasted no words as she handed the box to Rosita but not before taking something out of the open box.

It was an earpiece.

She placed it in her right ear and pressed a switch.

"Colonel?" she said.

"Miss Lane, it's been a while. Twenty-five seconds. Yes, Johnny is alive and quite well."

Suki gasped as her eyes began to sting. "How-?"

"Later, later. In fact, for further proof…"

There was a pause and a bit of static.

"Um...hello? Suki?"

Suki knew that young accent all too well.

"Johnny?" Suki whispered, beside herself with shock and relief.

"Just tell the others I'll see them tonight...and please tell Nooshy not to kill me."

It went straight to static, indicating the end of the transmission.

Suki heard a gasping sob and looked to see Rosita on her knees as she looked at the note she had found in the package.

It read as follows,

Everyone, I'm so, so sorry that I scared all of you. But know that I'm alive and well. I'm with Miss Lane's people and I should be seeing you guys as soon as tonight. Red audio device is for all of you to listen to. Blue is for Nooshy and Nooshy alone. So no listening in.

Love you guys.

~ Johnny

Tears started to stream down Rosita's face as she read and reread the note.

"This…" she gasped. "This is Johnny's handwriting."

"Rosita, what is it?" A startled Buster exclaimed as he came running down the hall, with Ash and Ms Crawly behind him.

Rosita did not answer. She simply handed the note to Buster.

He read the note and gasped. "Rosita, is this-?"

The mother of 25 looked to her boss and nodded tearfully. "It was written in his hand, no doubt about it. Do you know anyone who writes as neatly as he does?"

Buster looked up at the equally startled yet happy Saluki. "Suki?"

A smiling Suki removed her earpiece and held it out for Buster to see it.

"My boss just confirmed it to me through this. He's with him. I heard him with my own ears."

Buster stared, wide-eyed. He looked back at the letter with hitched breaths, as a wide smile stretched across his face. He started laughing in sharp relief, tears in his eyes.

Looking over Buster's shoulder, Ms Crawly examined the letter.

And she burst into tears.

Ash looked at the letter herself. She looked skeptical. She was happy, so happy and so she couldn't stop the grin that came on her lips but a part of her couldn't believe it.

Johnny is alive? How is that possible? He had fallen over half a mile down into the East River. After getting stabbed in the gut.

Ash felt her heart skip a beat. Is it a trick?

"Ms Crawly, call everyone to the living room!" Buster cried, more happy than even when he got the news that Clay Calloway would star in his show.

"Yes sir," Ms Crawly replied through a river of tears.

00000

Opening a door ajar, Nooshy poked her head out of the piglets' room as she listened to what sounded like a disturbance.

Casper was behind her, clinging to her leg. "What's going on?" he asked.

"I...I don't know little mate."

"Nooshy!"

Nooshy turned her head to see Porsha running towards her. She was startled to see the wolf girl crying but she was smiling, more widely than she ever did in a long time.

"Porsh? What is it?"

"It's Johnny, Noosh!"

Nooshy froze. "W-What?"

"He's alive, Noosh!"

Nooshy stared at the young wolf, dumbfounded, stock-still, not quite sure if she heard right.

But she dared to hope. "He's here?"

Porsha shook her head. "No, but his letter says he'll be here, tonight."

"What letter?"

Reaching into her pants pocket, Porsha handed Nooshy the letter.

Nooshy scanned the letter and almost dropped it.

It was Johnny's handwriting, no question. She'd know that neat scrawl anywhere.

She covered her mouth with one hand as she read and reread the letter. She stared at the contents, at his signature, his signature, her Johnny.

Tears formed as they dropped onto the paper.

Nooshy fell to her knees. She wanted to believe it so terribly. She had hoped against hope but couldn't put it into words.

What if she were wrong?

A crying Caspar hugged Nooshy from behind. "Johnny's coming back? Really?"

Porsha nodded fiercely as she came down on her knees to hold a weeping Nooshy who still had the note in her trembling hand.

"Suki heard his voice and everything. So you better believe it, little buddy."

"Huh?" Nooshy said, lifting her head. "What do you mean heard?"

"I'll explain later."

00000

Everyone had gathered in the living room in no time at all, all seated in luxury seats which circled the room.

There was not a single dry eye in the room.

Even Douglas Hobbs had shed a tear at the happy news.

Meena covered her face with both hands as she cried almost uncontrollably. Alfonso had an arm around her. He was crying as well.

Ash blew her nose with a handkerchief, which was provided by a smiling, tearful Rosita, who sat to her right, patting her back soothingly, minding her quills while doing so.

Clay Calloway sat on Ash's left, also patting her back in a comforting fashion. He smiled widely as he sniffled, rubbing his wet eyes.

Gunter was blubbering like the drama king he was, thanking the Maker that his friend was alive and well.

Miss Crawly did much the same, much to the mild disgust of Nana Noodleman who sat closely to her. The old sheep paid no mind as a few solitary tears escaped her eyes, whilst she wafted her ever-present fan.

"Alright...here we go." Buster pressed a button and the audio device played.

"Hello everyone," said the audio recording playing back Johnny's voice.

Hearing his voice seemed to cause everyone in the room to cry softly once more, but managing to keep their voices down so they could all hear.

Nooshy was especially emotional. She covered her mouth to prevent sobs from covering over the audio message.

"First, let me start by saying…" There was a sigh. "...I know there's no amount of apologies to make up for how stupid I was. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry you guys. I can't imagine the pain you guys have been through. Actually...I think I do. I just lost my dad." There was a light gasping sob. "Anyway…I am just leaving this message for you all to hear, not just as a courtesy but also as a start to ease whatever pain all of you have been through." There was an emotional clearing of the throat. "Please excuse me…" The audio was cut off before it came to light again, indicating that Johnny had stopped recording and started up again. "Right...for the past few days, I have been recovering in the care of a...huh? Oh, there's a limit of what I can share over this, in the event that this message ever falls in the wrong hands. Talk to Miss L. You know who I'm talking about." All eyes were on Suki, who simply nodded. "Anyway, just know that I love you guys so much and I look forward to seeing you, all of you. Jimmy, if you're listening, what happened was not your fault and I'm sure everyone made sure you knew that. If you're still not getting the message…" Johnny's voice became fierce and quiet. "...you and I are going to have words. But...something tells me you and Nooshy already did."

There was laughter all around the room.

Jimmy, who had been crying throughout the entire message, received a loving punch to the shoulder from a grinning Porsha who sat closely next to him.

His aunt Sue had wrapped both arms around him from behind him as he began to settle down, the terrible burden of believing himself responsible for the tragedy already subsiding completely.

"Ok...now please listen very carefully, this is important because I think you're all due an explanation...it may not be easy to hear…when my dad...when he…" There was a grieving moan before the audio cut again.

"Poor Johnny," Meena said as she blew her trunk.

The audio came up again. "Ok...after what happened to dad...when DiMarco showed himself, mocked the way he died...the way mom died...I almost lost it. Everything went red suddenly…but as the feeling came, that dark feeling...I hated it...I didn't want to be like DiMarco, not for any rhyme or reason...it was dad's wish, just before he...went. I told DiMarco no, that I won't fight him…and the look on his face...he looked amazed and more angry than I ever seen...he said yes, I will. And he grabbed something from out of view. He had her. He had Nooshy...by the throat."

Everyone in the room gasped.

Nooshy's right hand instinctively came to her throat, cold dread filling her body.

I...that's right! I remember nothing after entering the water plant! He must've sucker punched me. That's why my head was splitting when I woke up.

"And...honestly I can't remember much about it after that...I just remember everything go white...and then pain, so much pain...and then I woke up in a medical cot and there was my uncle Ivan."

"His uncle Ivan?" Ash said.

Nooshy's eyes widened a fraction. "Hey yeah, Johnny's mum, her name was Ivanka. Must be her brother or something."

"Better wrap this up...now one last thing, well two things actually. Make sure my other uncles are ok. And I will be leaving a personal message for Nooshy on another player. It's for her to listen to and no one else. So don't try to listen in please. That means you Porsha."

The message ended.

And new rounds of laughter burst.

Porsha gawked. "Oh c'mon!" she yelled over the laughter in the room. She sounded offended but she was smiling. "Does everyone think I'm out to listen in on their deepest, darkest secrets?!"

00000

Once that was done, Nooshy was given the audio player that was recorded for her and her only.

Gradually and gingerly, she walked back to her room alone, holding the audio player close to her chest like it was a newborn.

She was smiling and the tears wouldn't stop.

They were tears of joy.

He's ok. He's ok.

But then a terrible thought occurred to her.

No...he just lost his dad. He's anything but ok. And he just learned the guy who killed him had killed his mum too.

Nooshy scrunched her eyes.

Oh Johnny…

She reached her room, went in and locked the door.

She sat on her bed and looked hard at the audio player in her hands.

Steady on Noelle, it's only Johnny.

She blinked when she realized she had mentally referred to herself by her birth name.

She sighed deeply and thumbed the play button.

"Hey Noosh...hey love…"

Nooshy's lip quivered as her tears continued to fall. Her heart melted as she heard that voice that had been a comfort to her for almost a year.

"Nooshy...I am so sorry...I am so sorry for leaving you behind. But when my dad took off, I panicked, knowing full well of his sickness. You weren't supposed to follow me, but I guess at that moment, I had forgotten what kind of person you are. Fear made me forget Noosh."

Without even looking, Nooshy reached for the leather jacket she had kept.

His leather jacket and she held it for dear life.

"But I promise, I'm ok. I'm a little banged up and have a rather nasty wound but it's healing nicely."

Being reminded that Johnny had been stabbed, according to Clay Calloway's account, Nooshy whimpered, her heart feeling torn at the idea of Johnny getting hurt so badly.

"And just to cast out any lingering doubt so you know this isn't a trick. Remember when we first met? I saw you perform at Redshore Square. Not even a block from the skateboard shop, the Loopee Skateshop, and then I saw you. You were amazing. And when I offered to buy you something to eat, you said, 'Whoa, that's forward ain't it?'"

Johnny had said with his best imitation of her. Nooshy choked on a laugh. She remembered that moment well and it made her laugh every time. How could she have thought that such a true blue guy could be a creep?

"And that cop who showed up, the same plump dog who was at the theater with those other cops who arrested Mr Crystal? And how about our first kiss together? The one that was an accident really? And yet not an accident?"

Nooshy's cheeks and ears burned terribly. She giggled almost uncontrollably at the memory, the night when Johnny asked her to be his girlfriend.

"And the second kiss afterwards was the best moment of my life."

Nooshy fell back on her bed, heart aflutter, mind almost blank, a dreamy smile on her face.

"...I will see you later tonight Nooshy, and I hopefully have convinced you from murdering me as soon as you see me."

Nooshy laughed darkly to herself. "We'll see about that, big boy."

"...I really don't want to end it right there, there's so much I want to tell you Noosh. You mean so much to me, more than anyone has ever meant on this planet. I...I…" Johnny sounded like he had something very important to tell Nooshy.

Nooshy sat up, her ears perked. Her racing heart thundered in her ears, as though anticipating what Johnny is about to say.

"...you're a doll Nooshy. Oh man, that sounded really corny, eh?"

Nooshy choked on another round of laughter, never mind the shadow of disappointment over her heart. Darn, and here I thought he was going to say...going to say…

Nooshy heard Johnny sigh exasperatingly on the recording, as though he were frustrated about saying something he needed but just couldn't muster up the courage to do so. "...I'll see ya tonight Noosh...I...oh man...just please don't kill me when I get back...bye now love."

The recording ended.

After a beat, Nooshy burst out laughing.

"Oh-ho ho ho no, Johnny," she said through joyful giggles until they became menacing. "Not just like that. You don't get off that easily just like that."

Her air of menace then dissolved into one of endearment and love as she laid back down. She dropped the audio player on her dresser and took Johnny's jacket back into her arms, holding it close.

He just lost his dad, so don't hurt him too badly.

00000

Elsewhere...

Johnny fidgeted from his seat in the unmarked van. His uncle Ivan sat to his right while Carmen sat to his left.

Carmen set the signal left as she made a left-hand turn down Van Buren.

Johnny gulped as he rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a chill crawl up his sweating back.

"You must relax little Johnny."

"I'm trying," Johnny said. "But I'm...I'm just thinking on how I'm going to face the others after what I put them through."

Just before leaving the Chrysler, Johnny had been filled in on the events following the incident, in particular where his presumed death was concerned.

He had seen photos and articles of the memorial that was made in his honor at the New Moon Theater, but not just for him but for his father and mother.

The fact that Sean DiMarco was responsible had already been noted and broadcast.

The kind words given by people who barely knew Johnny touched him deeply.

Even Nurse Angie had words to say. I hope she and the kids are ok.

Aside from the news that the death of Porsha's mother, Estelle was no accident but rather cold blooded murder was a shock to Johnny as well.

Another big shock was that Khan, DiMarco's lieutenant, had been the one pulling the strings all along. It was Khan who had Estelle murdered, Khan who had been strong-arming Jimmy Crystal into the money laundering scheme and Khan had been unwittingly recorded as he was confessing all this.

Now both Khan and DiMarco were at large and being hunted down by local and federal law enforcement.

DiMarco was presumed alive as his body was not found in the bay either and he had cheated death already.

He may be as dangerous as ever now, Cosgrove had said.

One thing however that still puzzled Johnny was this: why was Nooshy the first to go, the first to be targeted and attacked?

The answer was one that perhaps disturbed him above all.

Giuseppe DiMarco was hired to kill Nooshy, against Khan's instructions. And Gus was only too happy to do so, having a manic obsession for the young street dancer.

When Cosgrove had his apartment searched, what was found was a horrifying collection of paraphernalia, photographs and magazine clippings, all of Nooshy and this all but confirmed said obsession. And a briefcase which contained a considerable sum of money confirmed that he was paid handsomely to do the deed.

As for who paid him, it did not make much sense when the identity was revealed when the transaction of money was traced. It was a judge, a bull, from south California, a judge who had been found dead in his country estate about a week after Nooshy was attacked. It was written off by authorities as a suicide but Cosgrove thinks otherwise.

Why did this judge, this Flint Banks, want Nooshy dead?! Johnny had asked.

I don't know, had been Cosgrove's answer.

This was not reassuring.

He promised Johnny that Miss Zelle would continue looking into it.

The guy is dead but someone silenced him. I want to know why, Johnny argued.

As concerning as all this was, what dominated the forefront of Johnny's mind was whether or not Nooshy would make good on her promise to murder him for scaring her again.

"Wasn't your fault," Carmen said without taking her eyes off the road. "DiMarco is responsible, him and his employers alone. You cannot blame yourself Johnny."

"But I went after my dad when he went after DiMarco," Johnny protested frantically, his anxiety coming off in waves. "I left where I was safe and put myself and Nooshy in danger in the process."

"You just wanted to help your father," Ivan said, a look of light sadness coming on at the mention of his late brother in law. "Marcus is the one who should've stayed put."

Carmen scoffed and fixed the white tiger with a harsh glare. "And just what would you have done if you learned your sister's murderer was standing before you and boasted of it? Would you have acted any differently?"

Ivan growled as he looked over Johnny's head to glare back at the she-leopard. "No, I suppose not."

Johnny timidly shrunk into his seat and averted his eyes, getting the impression that there had been past incidents involving his uncle and Miss Santiago, if the cross looks they were giving each other wasn't plain enough.

Then he started rubbing his upper right arm as it felt a tad sore.

"I...uh...really acted up before leaving didn't I?"

Carmen chuckled. "Yeah you did."

"Carm!" Ivan exclaimed before sighing. "I suppose we should've been more forthcoming concerning him."

Johnny crossed his arms with a frown.. "Yeah, probably," he said in displeasure. "Still can't believe you're running around with someone like-"

The brakes and tires screeched for a moment, causing both Johnny and Ivan to lurch forward, the seatbelts digging into their middle.

Carmen turned her head to look at them both. "We're here."

Johnny gulped as he pulled on the collar of his shirt. "Well...I guess this is goodbye for now?"

Ivan furrowed his brow, as though feigning deep thought. "Mmmmm, no."

Johnny arched an eyebrow. "No?"

"No." Ivan unbuckled his seatbelt. "Cosgrove assigned us to vatch over you and your comrades, little Johnny. Even if he didn't, I vouldn't leave your side anyway." He took Johnny by the shoulders, startling him. "You are my kin, Jonathan. The blood of my beloved Ivanka. I vill protect you and your comrades vith all that I have."

"As will I," Carmen said firmly, unbuckling her own belt. "Wherever Ivan goes, I go. He is family to me, that makes you my family too, Johnny."

Johnny was almost speechless. "T-Thank you."

"Right then," Carmen said, unbuckling. "Let's go. Let's keep them waiting no longer."

00000

Douglas readily answered the door when a very light knock was heard.

The aged penguin butler opened and a wide smile came across his face.

Johnny smiled back, albeit sheepishly. "Uh, 'ello Douglas."

"Master Jonathan," Douglas Hobbs said, sounding more pleased than Johnny had ever heard from the stern butler. "I am very happy to see you're alright." He looked past him and his smile faded somewhat. "I assume this...young lady and fine gentleman are with you? Miss Lane informed me you'd have people shadowing you."

"She did huh?" Johnny said as he motioned to his new friends. "Douglas, this is my uncle Ivan, my mother's brother, and this is Carmen, his...partner?"

Carmen Santiago shrugged. "More or less."

"Ah," Douglas said, not quite sure what to make of these newcomers. "It's a good thing I made a double batch of tea then. Your friends are waiting in the living room. They've been most anxious to see you, Jonathan."

Johnny broke into a cold sweat. "Is Nooshy with them?"

Douglas frowned in pity. "I'm afraid Miss Wright is still in her room."

Johnny covered his face. "Right, if you could direct me to the living room please?"

"Of course. Follow. Oh, and Master Ivan?"

"Da?"

Douglas swallowed nervously before pointing to Ivan's milky-white blind eye. "Perhaps covering up your eye would be wise, sir, so as to not frighten the children."

"Children?"

Carmen sighed before reaching into her coat. "I told you to read the files, Ivan." She pulled out a black eyepatch. "Here."

Ivan stared at the accessory with his one good eye.

"Put it on," Carmen demanded.

"But it itches."

"I don't care! Take it, idiota!"

Ivan grumbled before begrudgingly accepting the patch and applying it to his face, covering his blind eye over.

Thoroughly embarrassed at the display his unofficial bodyguards had shown, much like an old couple, Johnny beckoned the butler forward. "The living room please."

Douglas nodded awkwardly.

And then he proceeded down the hall, with Johnny, Ivan and Carmen in tow.

Johnny looked at the pristine walls of the townhouse, the rich molding and the luxury portraits and paintings hanging on the walls.

His heart racing as Johnny looked down the hall which seemed to stretch further and further away into eternity, at least that was how it looked in his eyes.

Johnny took quick measured breaths, trying to slow his racing heart.

Stay calm Johnny, stay calm. You're just going to see your friends, it's not a death march.

Feeling a large gentle hand on his shoulder, Johnny looked behind him to see his uncle.

"Courage, little Johnny."

Johnny smiled tightly as he pulled on the collar of his shirt. He turned his head back and stopped dead, startled when he saw that Douglas had stopped and turned to address him.

He pointed into the open entryway that clearly led to the living room.

Douglas said nothing more but he gestured to Johnny to proceed.

The look in his eye seemed to say, 'Time to face the music.'

Johnny shut his eyes tight, took a quiet breath, reopened his eyes and stepped forth.

Looking into the room, he saw his friends, his family.

His heart leapt but then lodged into his throat, silencing any words he wished to speak.

The living room consisted of several pieces of luxury furniture around a round, finely-polished wooden table.

Sitting in armchairs were Clay Calloway, Nurse Sue, Nana Noodleman, and Buster Moon. Sat on the half-circle couch were Ash, Meena, Alfonso,, Porsha, Jimmy, Rosita, Norman, Gunter, and Ms Crawly.

A full house, Johnny thought. His heart felt cold when he saw that Nooshy was nowhere in sight. Uh oh.

Clay simply sat in his chair, trying to get comfortable.

Nana was drinking tea, as usual, albeit with an anxious look in her eye.

Buster was chewing on a pencil as he was filling out some paperwork that seemed to concern theater affairs.

Ms Crawly was polishing her glass eye before putting it back in, but with far less vigor than was expected of her.

Rosita was wringing her hands while Norman caressed her arm.

Gunter sat with his head bowed, idly scratching behind his right ear.

Ash was massaging a quill close to her left ear, with an almost dead-pan expression, maybe even slightly depressed look.

Meena also sat with her head bowed. Alfonso, on her right, had an arm around her shoulders.

Porsha sat on Meena's left, her head resting on her shoulder.

Jimmy sat on the far end of the couch, head bowed and one hand being held by his aunt who sat closely to him in her armchair.

Bottom line, the entire room all sat with solemn looks on their faces, all eyes downward as though waiting very patiently yet painfully for something after going through what must've been a living Hell.

Johnny scrunched his eyes, understanding the reason behind their somewhat pained looks.

I did this. I don't know if I can make it right, but I can at least not make it wrong again.

Mustering up his courage, taking another deep breath, Johnny stepped into the room.

He cleared his throat. "Um...hello everyone."

All action in the room stopped as though a spell had caused time to freeze.

All eyes looked to the entryway leading to the hall.

Everyone's solemn and somber looks were at once replaced with astonishment and surprise when they all laid eyes on who it was that was standing there.

It was Johnny, their Johnny.

He had an abashed smile on his face and he held his arms out in a shrugging motion, much like his own father did when he arrived at the ruined Moon Theater to see him after escaping from prison all those years ago.

Looks of shock and surprise melted away and there were tears and wide smiles.

"JOHNNYYYY!" everyone shouted in overwhelming joy.

Chairs were overturned as Johnny's friends rushed towards him.

Suddenly quite afraid, Johnny held his hands up as the joyful mob closed in. "Whoa now," he squeaked timidly.

Ash, tears rolling down her face, was the first to reach him as she jumped into the young man's arms.

"Whoa! Ash!" Johnny cried with a sheepish smile as he caught her, being careful not to get poked by any of her sharp quills.

Porsha and Meena were next as they both wrapped their arms around Johnny's neck and with a startled laugh, he lost his balance and fell to the floor.

It was a miracle that none of Ash's quills got stuck in any of them.

Sitting up, Johnny put a hand to his forehead. "Ow."

Ash laughed boisterously, tears still streaming down her brown cheeks. "Sorry dude, you ok?"

Johnny grinned. "Never better."

Meena, weeping almost hysterically, wrapped her massive arms around Johnny's neck once more as she enveloped him in a bone-crushing hug. "Oh Johnny!" she wept. "I'm so glad you're alive!"

"You had us scared you big goof!" Porsha hiccupped, affectionately ruffling Johnny's hair.

Johnny's heart swelled as tears welled up in his own eyes.

Some started to fall when he felt a sharp pain in his shoulder.

"Ow." Johnny looked down to see Ash holding up a balled-up fist. "That hurt."

Ash scoffed. "That was for scaring me idiot. And you think that hurts? Wait till Nooshy gets here."

Johnny went white at that.

Alfonso, laughing out loud, helped Johnny to his feet.

"Oh Johnny boy!" Alfonso cried as he enveloped Johnny in a big hug of his own. "I missed you dude."

Johnny returned the hug, patting the ice cream man on the back. "You too mate," he replied, voice breaking.

When the hug ended, Johnny found that he could breathe again.

Suddenly, he felt a tug on his right arm, causing him to bend over slightly.

Feeling a small pair of arms wrap around his neck, Johnny could tell at once who it was.

"Oh Johnny, oh Johnny," Rosita said, tearfully as she gave Johnny multiple kisses on the cheek. "Are you ok sweetie?"

"I'm...I'm fine. Brilliant in fact."

Ash frowned sadly, not buying it one bit. "Johnny...your dad."

Johnny flinched but tried to put on a brave face. "It's ok."

"It's ok?!" Porsha exclaimed. "It's ok that you just lost your dad?!"

Johnny scowled as his eyes darkened. Not lost...taken.

"Johnny?" Rosita said, sounding slightly aghast.

The young gorilla blinked, coming back to himself. "Huh?"

After seeing the frightened looks on his friend's faces, he shook his head, as though trying to dispel the evil imaginings from his mind.

"S-sorry."

"Hey," Rosita said, placing a gentle hand on Johnny's cheek. "It's ok honey. I know you must be hurting but we'll help you through it."

"You better believe we will," Porsha said, nodding firmly.

Johnny smiled.

A smile that fell when two cloven hoof hands grabbed his face.

"Wha-?!"

Gunter kissed Johnny on both cheeks. "Mein Freund! How I missed you!"

Johnny chuckled uncomfortably. "Uh...missed you too, Gunter."

Straightening himself out, Johnny then noticed a visibly shaking Ms Crawly mingling just behind Alfonso and Porsha.

"Excuse me," he said as he stepped past them so he could place his attention on the diminutive aged secretary. "Hey Ms Crawly."

The lizard without warning crashed into Johnny, hugging him just around the middle, whimpering softly into his stomach.

Johnny bent a knee so he could put his arms around Ms Crawly.

Feeling a massive hand pat him on the shoulder, Johnny looked up to see Clay Calloway, smiling down at him.

"Hey boy," the old lion said.

A smaller hand patted Johnny's side and he looked down at his right to see Buster Moon, his boss, smiling and in tears.

"Good to have you back, Johnny."

"Thanks Mr Moon."

Norman came next as he extended a hand which Johnny happily shook firmly and the husband of Rosita sandwiched his hand with a smile. "The kids missed you terribly, Johnny."

Johnny gulped at the thought of the pink tide that would soon come. Then he looked back up to see a stern but smiling Nurse Sue with a sheepish Jimmy behind her.

"I need to have a look at you later Johnny," she said.

"Um...sure, but I think I'm ok."

"I'll be the judge of that."

Johnny laughed dryly. That's Nurse Joy for ya.

There was a stern clearing of the throat, which caused Johnny to jump. He released Ms Crawly and stood up to see a severe Nana Noodleman standing next to him, looking him dead in the eye with a tight frown.

"Oh...um...hello Nana."

The old sheep brandished the closed fan she always carried.

Thwap!

"Ow!"

Johnny rubbed his forehead.

"That was for scaring me, Jonathan," Nana scolded.

"Sorry."

"Now then," Nana said, putting her fan away. Her frown went away and a smile replaced it. She put her thin arms around Johnny's neck, an action which surprised everyone in the room.

"I am very happy to see you, Jonathan."

Johnny's face went red. "You too, Nana."

"Now...aren't you going to introduce us to your new friends lurking in the hall?"

"Huh?" Ash said before turning to the hall. She cried out in surprise when she saw the two ferocious characters in black coats standing at the doorway.

The others stepped back in surprise when they saw them too.

"It's ok," Johnny said, holding both hands up to calm his friends. "They're with me. That's my uncle Ivan and the leopard lady is Carmen Santiago, his...partner I think."

"Wait…" Porsha said. "Carmen Santiago?" An amused smirk grew on her lips.

The black she-leopard pointed at the young wolf. "Make a Carmen Sandiego reference and your ears will get a pinch from me," she said in a low voice.

Porsha shut her mouth at once.

"Carm," Ivan said, unimpressed. "Ve're supposed to be protecting them, not threatening them."

"I was kidding."

Ivan blew out an indignant puff of air. "Problem vith you is that it is hard to tell vhen you make joke."

"And if you put your hands on Porsha, you will answer to me."

Ivan and Carmen turned to see Suki Lane, arms crossed and looking quite cross.

"Ah, hola Suki."

"Don't hola me Santiago. Porsha is my goddaughter. I do the ear-pinching around here."

Carmen puts her hands up in a placating motion, but showed no signs of fear.

"Entiendo," she said.

"Alright, alright," Johnny said in a hard voice, trying to settle everyone down. "We're all here, most of us. Could someone take me to Nooshy's room? I need to talk to her, make sure she's ok."

Nana glanced down the hall and her eyes widened. "That may not be necessary," she said as she stepped out of the hall and back into the living room as though getting out of the line of fire.

"Why?" Johnny asked but when he caught the look in Nana's eyes, fear rose up inside him and he followed her foreboding gaze.

Johnny felt his heart jump into his throat once more with greater force when he saw Nooshy standing at the far end of the hall, adorned in her fleece light-blue pajamas, her fur disheveled, eyes full of fury, her mouth twisted in a snarl as she advanced towards him, pace quickening as she built momentum.

Johnny almost whimpered in fear when he saw a rolled up magazine held tightly in her left hand.

Nana leaned towards Douglas. "I thought I told you to-!"

"I removed all the phone books, madam," Douglas protested. "But I might've missed the one Italian Vogue."

Johnny backed away, hands up placatingly, he too quickened his pace as Nooshy drew near.

He had wanted to speak, something to calm her down.

But he knew it would be useless at this point.

"Rrrrrrrr!" Nooshy growled as she finally overcame Johnny.

With a terrified yelp, Johnny fell back as Nooshy mercilessly smote him with the Italian Vogue, causing pages to go flying everywhere, screaming all manner of curses while delivering her wrathful strokes.

Thwap!

"I'LL KILL YOU!"

Swok!

"YOU MORON!"

Swap!

"YOU TWERP!"

Thwack!

"YOU INSUFFERABLE, UNSPEAKABLE CAD OF A MAN! MOST IRRESPONSIBLE, IDIOTIC THING I HAD EVER SEEN! HOW DARE YOU! DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO ME?! DO YA?!"

Ivan and Carmen watched with wide eyes, unsure whether to intervene or not.

The rest of the Moon troupe watching in awkward silence, looks mixed with startlement, bewilderment and fear at the ferocity of the lean, petite lynx.

And just around the corner, Rosita and Norman's children emerged from down the hall.

Caspar gasped. "Look, it's Johnny!"

Vida blinked in confusion. "And Nooshy's killing him."

Rosita took notice of them at once.

"Kids, fingers in your ears now!" she commanded.

The piglets obeyed without question as Nooshy's angry tirade started to get really creative.

Johnny was beyond terrified as Nooshy promised to do all manner of harm in her most colorful language as she continued dispensing her wrath in the form of a cheesy magazine as a makeshift club.

But then Nooshy suddenly stopped. She was bent over, her face hovering over Johnny's and he felt hot, wet droplets on his own face.

He gasped when he saw that Nooshy was crying.

"I hate you," she wheezed through her tears. "I hate you. I hate you." She grabbed him by his shirt and started shaking Johnny with all her might.

"I thought you were dead!" she cried. "You scared me half to death!"

Sitting up, Johnny pulled Nooshy into a hug. He held on as she fought against him, but as her sobs intensified, her resistance faltered.

"I hate you, I hate you, I hate you…" she croaked. "I...I…"

She returned the embrace and held on to him as though this were her last chance.

She wailed loudly. "Oh Johnny! I missed you so much!"

Johnny was crying as well. "You too."

He lifted up Nooshy's chin so that she was looking at him. He held her face with both hands, wiping her tears away with his thumbs.

And he kissed her softly.

And she leaned into the kiss, savoring what she thought she'd never know again.

Everyone present smiled at the romantic scene.

Rosita quietly shooed the piglets, who whined that they wanted to watch but the mother of 25 had none of it.

"I missed you so much," Nooshy whispered as the kiss ended.

"You too, love."

And they kissed again with greater fervor.

No one minded that Porsha started filming the scene with her phone, a smiling Ash looking at the screen with glee.

Meena shook her head. "Et tu Ashlyn?"

…..