Chapter 41 - Liar Lair, Pants on Fire (Danny Conrad POV)

A/n: Seriously - it's insulting to put one letter comments because I said that I update faster because people engage. I mean would any of you be actually happy if I started putting one letter updates? I give you quick, engaging updates, and I still have a plot... When you guys comment it just helps me gauge what parts of my writing your grasp or if I've made mistakes, or written something that no one understands.

Chapter 41 – Liar Lair, Pants on Fire (Danny Conrad POV)

With mostly everything still in our car, I carry with Cynthia only a few items, checking out from the town hotel. While still putting things away, Cynthia jumps out of the front seat, "I forgot milk I pumped for Genesis inside the hotel room mini fridge," explaining before she jets off inside. The cold November air is biting even to me but in her absence, I pull out my phone.

Quickly send a text to my father.

I've placed everything inside our car, and am in the front seat waiting when Cynthia dashes back from the door. The window blowing her hoodie off. Distracted, I am still able to note that she's not holding anything in her hand, certainly not any baby bottles. "I guess I packed them in his baby bag, but didn't hurt to double check," Cynthia murmurs as she does her seat-belt.

We leave the Hampton Hotel in silence that lasts for minutes before another one is spoken.

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"I won't let them drag Andy into this," Cynthia mumbles her head turned toward the window, watching as I drive by the brush. Her sleeping pills crushed in their container remain in her hand.

She's willing to drug Andy? I ask myself shaking my head internally. How did we get here? Where is the woman that grieved Sophie while I was still grieving my Tina?

"You were a mark Danny," against my will, I hear the words said earlier repeated. Cynthia was not grieving Faith, or Sophie. She had left the little girl while taking Andy and running off. How had she ended up in Oregon if she escaped from Colorado?

"I lied, I know I did. But the best thing we can do now for our family, is get out of here.

"I lied, I know I did."

"I lied."

"Danny!" Cynthia snaps a finger in front of my face as we stop at the light in town, driving first, to Trevor's place. "When we get to his place, I'll make tea... occupy Trevor and Andy-" I nod woodenly.

"I say we call the Elders, send them on her trail, and we get the hell out of Bend before they show up."

Call the Elders. Send them to Bend, where most of my family lives, siblings just right outside of Bend. Werejaguar women that can produce, with enhanced senses but couldn't shift.

My nieces.

Which to the Elders would mean that my daughters were probably able to conceive as well.

And enhanced senses... again that only means that maybe the women in our family could potentially be turned forcibly. They would try by any means necessary. A tremor takes over my left hand, but I navigate through town, hitting the outskirts until I've pulled up at Trevor's place.

Cynthia tsks next to me, shaking her head when I glance over at her.

There is a stranger next to me.

My wife scans the area, only sparing a glimpse right at me.

"Your brother acts as though he's better than the Elders, but he helps only those that he chooses. Look at the house your brother lives in but he cannot afford us that same generosity," Cynthia says when we walk up the drive of Trevor's modest home.

Her jealous honesty throwing me.

Why now? Why was Cynthia telling the truth this way? Not once in our life together has she complained of my family this way. Ansel doesn't carry us. However he has shared the wealth he inherited from Kalenah's family. Trevor affords his home partially because Ansel covered parts of his medical education. But having the funds to achieve a degree is only the pre-first-step.

Trevor wanted to be a doctor. The long nights studying, focusing on his career instead of relationships. Working through holidays and even stepping away from the family when he went to medical school.

He sacrificed.

Trevor used the opportunity that Ansel gave him and became a surgeon. I've never begrudged Trevor for that nor Ansel.

Sure, Trevor had this home but it was empty.

I on the other hand, I have seven beautiful, talented children.

As we head up the stairs slowly, a beam of light flashes the entryway. Within seconds, Trevor opens the door, standing with his unreadable expression. It immediately shifts to calculating, as he flicks a glance at Cynthia and I. "Should I expect any more of you?" his question confuses me, Cynthia as well. Was he being sarcastic?

"Leslie and her friend Naomi are here with Andy-"

"When did they get here?" Cynthia asks but looks around for the car that Leslie drove down to Bend. When I do the same looking for their vehicle, but I do not find Trevor's either, I flick a stare at his garage.

"I said drop it Leslie – you don't know her!" raised voices echo meeting us outside. Startled by Andy's roar, I take a step forward just as Trevor takes one back and to the side letting Cynthia and I enter.

"Exactly! You don't know her either... you were like what? Two or three the last time you saw her? You've spent more time with our family!"

"Because she wouldn't let Danny or any-" I blink, feeling a pang of pain, in my chest. It physically hurts me. Andy hasn't called me by my name in years.

"Oh so he's Danny now?" my oldest jumps right back, her voice lifted right back. "That is not what I said!"

"She my sister-"

"No! She's someone you share DNA with... I'm your sister, Andy," Leslie says hurt and I follow the voices to the kitchen slash living room. White and black with little silver or dark blue accents decorate Trevors' home. He hardwood floors shine, and outside of a few pictures, one would never tell that this place was truly lived in.

The largest picture I see, though it's not really registering is one with three separate frames though linked together. Angela – our sisters – picture is first, second Shelly and Tyler, and in the third spot, Courtney – Angela's partner.

Turning the corner we walk right into the living room area where Naomi is standing against the wall, right near a flight of stairs leading to the second floor. But what I really focus on is the glaring between Leslie and Andy, both on their feet, glaring at the other.

"We're family," Leslie whispers and I hear the hurt in her voice. "Hey! Hey!" I call out, breaking the glaring between them. Cynthia at my side, and Trevor behind us, I walk towards the kids.

"Look don't talk to each other like this-"

Leslie whips her head to me, gaping at me. "Seriously? Dad? He's claiming that – things that cannot be true!" She emphasizes, head dipping.

I purse my lips, for just the briefest second, contemplating what I could really say with Trevor around.

At the exact same moment I open my mouth, a phone chirps and Trevor swiftly answers. "Doctor Conrad."

Eyes on my children, and even with Trevor stepping away, I hear. "We need to you to come in, we have an incoming of causalities – all hands on deck – explosion at Hampton Inn-" my eyes instantly cut to Cynthia just for a second.

"I'm on my way," Trevor responds before the caller can continue with details, "E.T.A ten minutes."

My children – Andy and Leslie both – are panting, but spare Trevor a fleeting glance before turning right back to glaring at one another.

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