Jotaro woke up early the next morning to the sound of Jolyne's faint cries from the nursery. He looked over at Carmen, who barely stirred. Guilt pricked his throat. He shouldn't have yelled at her. Jotaro kissed her exposed neck, arranging the blankets so she was fully covered, then hurried to soothe Jolyne so she wouldn't wake her.

Jotaro changed Jolyne, then propped her up in his lap as he watched TV, pausing time to sense her feelings as he flipped through the channels. Muppets. Too scary. Baseball. Too boring. He eventually found a show where a guy explained how to care for a boat, which she didn't seem to mind.

Carmen soon awoke, and sat next to him. "Let's skip church," she said, running her hand down his back, "Give Carlos a chance to cool down."

Jotaro nodded. He was still feeling bad, so he made pancakes, which seemed to please her. As he was cleaning up, there was a knock at the door.

"Father Jackson!" Jotaro heard Carmen exclaim, then, "What happened to your face?"

He quickly put down the sponge he was holding and rushed to the door. Jackson had a scabbed gash on his cheek that extended down his neck and beneath his collar.

"The downside of preaching to souls in chains," Jackson said genially. "I didn't see you at mass, so I wanted to check in." He caught Jotaro's eye.

Carmen hesitated, shifting her grip on Jolyne. "Sorry, we overslept."

Jackson laughed. "Understandable. I wanted to make sure I got the chance to bless your girl." He took Jolyne from Carmen and murmured a prayer, touching her forehead. "I'm so glad to meet your little one," he smiled, handing her back. "Now, do you mind if I chat with Jotaro?"

The two men went out onto the porch.

"What's going on?" Jotaro asked as soon as the door was shut.

Jackson twisted one hand with the other. "Polnereff is hurt badly. He's in the hospital."

"What happened?"

"He was attacked by a wild animal. A badger. It took out a piece of his leg."

Jotaro's jaw wobbled. "That's a small animal. Will he be okay?"

"He'll survive," Jackson said quickly, "But he needs surgery, then rehab. He'll be out of commission for at least a few months." The priest rubbed his hands together. "This badger wasn't much larger than a cat, but they're carnivorous, and this one had a stand and it-" Jackson swallowed, "Knocked him out and tried to eat him. I barely managed to fight it off." Jackson looked out into the distance.

Jotaro pressed his arm against his stomach. "What did its stand do?"

"I'm not really sure, to be honest. It appeared out of nowhere, then vanished as soon as I got a blow in." Jackson grimaced. "Polnereff was bleeding badly, so I grabbed him and ran."

Jotaro stared at Jackson, his face blank, knowing what his next words would be.

"I could really use your help."

Jotaro let the air flow out of his lungs as he scanned his suburban street. An elderly couple drank coffee in a pair of chairs outside their door. A woman walking a dog chided her son, who was trailing behind, to keep up with her. Why couldn't his new world hold him in its arms and keep him safe?

"I know this isn't easy." Jackson stroked Jotaro's back, like Carmen had, like Blanca had, "But the situation is getting worse. Just last week a whole family vanished. Mom, dad and three kids. People are disappearing almost every day."

Jackson adjusted his collar and Jotaro felt small and insignificant beneath his gaze. He could almost convince himself. Beasts shredding families, while uncles, aunts, grandparents fawned over Jolyne. They were so open, so loving. Did she really need her weird, damaged dad, injecting himself, not even speaking their language? Unbidden, an image of Carmen, twisting her arm, trying to pry herself free from his grip filled his mind. Maybe they were both better off without him.

"You'll have to pay me." Jotaro said, his voice unexpectedly shaking. "I hate to take money from the church, but we're living paycheck to paycheck right now."

Jackson nodded. "I can certainly arrange that."

Jotaro waited until he'd spent a night at the aquarium before sitting Carmen down at the dining table. "I've been offered a new job."

She bounced Jolyne on her knees. "Really?"

"It's on a research vessel." Jotaro recited the story that Jackson had invented. "I'd likely be away for two or three months."

Carmen tipped her head to the side. "I thought you liked your job."

Jotaro shrugged. "I do, but this one pays substantially more. I've been worried about how I'll cover the bills once classes start. I don't know how I'll keep up if I have to work nights too."

"Jotaro," Carmen scolded, "You can't- can't possibly be considering-" her voice fell off.

"I just don't see how else we can stay afloat."

"I'll get a job," Carmen said quickly, "I'll go back to the store."

Jotaro sighed, his teeth clenching. She had no concept of how much anything cost. "You didn't make very much."

"I know, but Oscar and Gloria are getting older. We've been meaning to talk to you about it. I could be a partner in the store, then take it over when they retire. I'd make more that way."

Jotaro stared at her, his neck burning. He fumbled for the top button of his shirt. "You don't trust me to provide for this family? And Oscar and Gloria don't either?"

"No, no." Carmen shrunk back in her seat, "Of course we do. But with just one kid I won't have anything to do once Jolyne's in school. And who doesn't want more money?" She looked up at Jotaro's frozen face. "It would be g- good to teach Jolyne the value of hard work."

Jotaro's pulse rushed in his ear. What was this madness? Fuck Jackson and his useless story. "What sort of man would I be if I let my wife and daughter slave away in some store?"

"Everyone in my family works. I- I'd rather you be here." Carmen held out Jolyne. "Look at her. She loves you. Whenever you're in the room, she turns to look at you."

Jolyne was staring now, with big green eyes. They tugged at his heart. Where had those come from? Not Carmen's family, they'd discussed it over and over, until he'd got sick of it, so the truth must be lost somewhere among the ancestors who had turned their back on him. He turned head away from her. "In a few days, she'll barely remember." Jotaro stood, so Carmen wouldn't argue.

Carmen bit her lip, which was trembling. "I'm- I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't pay enough attention to you."

"I need to do this," Jotaro said, walking off.

"I'll do better," she called out after him, "I promise- I promise."

Yosemite was cold, despite the summer sun, and Jotaro found himself regretting the light suit he was wearing. He paused as he looked at the ground. "A cockle shell." It was shattered, as if someone had stepped on it. "That shouldn't be so far from the ocean."

"I know," Jackson said, taking a camera out of his backpack, "We're finding them wherever we see this activity." He leaned over and snapped a photo.

Though they were on a mission, Jotaro couldn't help but admire the stone cliffs and lush meadows. Soon, they got to a yellow rope, strung across some trees. AGGRESSIVE WILDLIFE- NO CAMPING a sign read.

Jackson lifted the line, and they both ducked under it. "It was over there-"

Jotaro felt his jacket ripping, then a sharp pain in his chest. He looked down to see a flash of brown fur, then a bead of blood. The badger was clawing at his chest. It was strangely silent. Jotaro grasped its sides. It was small, he could span its entire back with his hands, but it held on, its claws tearing his lapels. Damn, that was a nice jacket, too. He yanked with all his might, then was hit by a deafening noise, like a clap of thunder. But the sky was completely clear. The sound stunned Jotaro for just an instant, allowing the animal to climb upwards, swinging one claw at his neck. Jotaro blocked it with his wrist, but its claws were like razors and cut right through. Hissing, Jotaro pulled the badger's tail with his free hand, as hard as he could. It held fast, digging its claws into Jotaro's jacket as blood soaked his sleeve. Jotaro yanked harder, then Jackson wrapped his hands around the badger's belly. He pulled it off, ripping the jacket, and a bit of Jotaro's skin.

Jackson threw the badger as far as he could, and it hit the ground with a thump. It opened its mouth in a silent scream, dashing into a clump of orange poppies, then vanished.

"Fuck," Jotaro spat, ripping a strip off his tattered jacket. He wrapped his bleeding hand, and Jackson tied it. His chest was scratched, but it didn't look that bad. He released Star Platinum.

"Let's only touch that badger with our stands," said Jotaro.

Jackson wavered, "I can't say mine will be very useful."

"It must have some sort of corporeal form," Jotaro huffed.

Shrugging, Jackson spread his arms like Moses. A small, silver-white triangle with edges like a saw appeared. It gleamed. It was so bright it was blinding.

Jotaro groaned, covering his eyes with his good arm. "I changed my mind. Put it away."

Bizarre Love Triangle vanished. Jotaro scanned the meadow for some sign of where the badger had gone. They lived in burrows. "Wait," he said, "Badgers are nocturnal. If it tries to attack me again, I want you to bring that thing out. It might hurt its eyes."

"And you stop time and try to kill it," Jackson said, "That's why I brought you here."

"I know," Jotaro snapped, "Hard to do when I'm being clawed at." He scanned the grass in front of him, doing his best to ignore the pain in his arm. Suddenly, he caught a flash of motion. He stopped time, and his mouth fell open. The badger was suspended midair, inches from his face. Jotaro examined its trajectory, breaking into a run to cover the distance. He found a burrow in the grass it had jumped out of. The seconds started, and the badger flew through the air. It hit the ground, bouncing, and Jotaro hoped it might break a limb, but it reeled around with a silent hiss. Jotaro stopped time again, letting Star Platinum lunge towards the badger. It had moved so far he had to run to stay in range. The violet hands wrapped around its body, then the fingers found its neck. Time started. The badger thrashed. Jotaro focused, squeezing, squeezing, but it slipped out of his grip. Another thunderclap sounded. The animal reeled towards Jotaro's physical body.

A white light appeared at the fringes of Jotaro's vision. Jackson had brought out Bizarre Love Triangle. Jotaro had to turn his head. The badger didn't like it either. It took one step back, then another. Jackson lowered his stand to the ground, so it was right in the badger's face. It retreated a step, then one more. Then it lunged at the shining stand, pushing its body through the triangle, getting caught at its haunches. It turned around and fled.

Jotaro wondered what Jackson's range was, expecting the triangle to fade, but instead, he started moving. At first, he pulled back, but then he was in the grass, his robes in disarray. Jackson was bound to his stand somehow and the badger was dragging him.

"Help!" Jackson yelled. The priest couldn't withdraw his stand. Jotaro could tell that much. He chased the pair as Jackson screamed, his habit flapping in the wind as he was pulled across the grass. A rock protruded from the ground, and his head smacked against it. He moaned.

Jotaro stopped time, running as fast as he could, trying to gain on them. But the badger was faster. He and Jackson only moved further into the distance. Jotaro's heart was pounding painfully in his chest, but he couldn't stop. He chased them, halting time, gasping for breath, willing himself to move faster and faster. Jotaro pushed through the meadow, through grass, then through mud, then scrambled over a clump of flowers. His foot caught a divot. He spread his arms to steady himself, but he didn't make it over the next clump of vegetation. He fell flat on his face, burs pricking his hands, catching sight of Jackson flailing in the distance.

TO BE CONTINUED