NOTE: This chapter references chapter 24's text message chat between Traci, Vicky and David.
Vicky yawned as she sat down beside her mother in the waiting room. Jason and Gary were fast asleep on the bench, curled up and covered in hospital blankets. David had disappeared to get some food for all of them from the 24/7 supermarket right outside the building.
"It's almost five a.m." said Paula glancing at her watch.
"How long do you think it will be before Dad wakes up?" asked Vicky looking at her mother.
"It could be another twelve hours at least. They gave him some strong stuff." she said. "Don't worry Vicky. Your father will be fine. It's just the bastard who did this to him that I---isn't that Jack?"
Sure enough a nicely suited and booted middle aged man walked into the cost effective hospital looking completely out of place. The entrance was too low for his height and he inadvertently banged his head on the wooden frame.
"Ouch." he said rubbing his forehead in a disoriented manner. He looked around feeling a little lost before he spotted Paula and Vicky. They waved at him as he approached.
Jack took one look at his sleeping kids and sighed. "This is the quietest I've ever seen them and I wish they didn't have to go through this."
"Yes, they were very upset when they saw Axky and Levi on a hospital bed. I didn't even know they were here, till an officer told me about two crying kids." said Paula looking sympathetically at the teary streaks on the children's cheeks. "Axky is still unconscious, but the doctors said it's expected that he will be awake in a few more hours."
"Oh. Why don't you take the kids and head home then." suggested Jack. "I'll stay here in case he wakes up. You can come visit then or later in the day."
"That sounds great, but don't you have to work tomorrow?" asked Paula.
"Nah, perks of owning the company." he shrugged.
Just then, David came bustling in, empty handed and fuming.
"There's no food! In a supermarket!" he announced. "I searched and searched. Ant-spray, pepper spray, liquid soap, solid soap, fake nails, hair colour, toothpaste, even fruit flavoured condoms, but for the love of all things good, there was NO FOOD! What an absolutely fu---who the hell are you?" He finished staring suspiciously at Jack.
"Your name isn't Gavin is it?" he asked pointing an accusatory finger at him.
Jacks scoffed. "That son of a bitch isn't hiding in here." he said dismissively. "I'm Jack Dixon. Vicky's family happens to be someone's I care about."
"Jack Dixon, the Jack Dixon?" asked David glassy eyed. Vicky suppressed a laugh, David was clearly starstruck.
"Yes---" started Jack, flattered that David seemed to be so enamored by him.
"Do you have any idea how many terrible economic decisions your company has been taking throughout this year?" he deadpanned. Jack's mouth fell open, he clearly hadn't been expecting that.
"You have a bug in your trade report processor. I wrote an email to your office, but of course no one paid any heed to it, because I am just a high school goer. Now because of this little tiny, fixable bug I know you have reported significantly smaller profits. Now if only you would read your emails on time---" David ranted breathlessly before shutting up because Jack had put a hand over his mouth.
"How do you know about a bug in our trade processor?" asked Jack looking at him warily.
"I hacked in. I could only do it because you had a bug." said David shrugging his shoulders.
Jack groaned. "Not another hacker." he said miserably turning to Paula who grinned.
"Come to the office with me day after tomorrow and I'll let you work with the IT department to fix this. " said Jack rubbing his temples tiredly. "My secretary will call you tomorrow to discuss payments with you. Is that fine?"
David beamed. "That would be amazing! Harvard is so going to accept my application." he said happily.
Paula stood up. "David, we are all going home now. Will you let me drop you home? You can come back to visit your friend when you are well rested."
David snorted at the word "friend" but nodded anyway. Levi was not his friend. Rival maybe but definitely not a friend. Even though Levi did ask for his help and include him in this adventure. Even though he thought to ---- damn it they were not friends. Period.
Vicky and Jack woke up the twins gently, telling them everything was fine and they needed to go home to their beds.
"Dad?" said Jason rubbing his eyes. "What are you doing here?"
"Came over to check on you kids." said Jack ruffling their hair. "Your mother was very worried."
"We're sorry Dad." said Gary in a small voice. "We only wanted to help rescue uncle Axky."
"I know you meant well." said Jack pulling them each in for a simultaneous one armed hug. "But as important as things may seem, try to discuss it with an adult before taking action, okay? You could have been hurt or lost and it would have been impossible for your Mom and me to come get you."
The twins nodded solemnly and hugged their Dad. "Are you and Mum mad at us?"
"We'll talk about this later, okay?" said Jack. "I'm not angry and neither is your Mom. We love you and that's why we worry about you."
The twins got up ready to leave with Paula. As they walked out the door and Jack settled comfortably on the sofa, Vicky and David found themselves walking alone to the car.
"Vicky..." started David uncomfortably. He had instigated a fight with Vicky hours ago for reasons that were unclear event o himself.
"Why on earth were you yelling at me last night?" demanded Vicky cutting straight to the point.
"I um, don't really know." said David scratching his head as they strolled out into the cool early morning air. "I just didn't like the fact that you give so much importance to Levi. I guess...I guess I was a little jealous."
Vicky let out a deep breath, the air fogging around her as they walked towards the open area parking lot. "What are you jealous about?" she asked looking him straight in the eye.
David sighed. Subtlety certainly wasn't Vicky's strength, but honestly he had brought this upon himself.
"I like you okay." he said red faced and avoiding her eyes. "Or at least I used to like you."
"You don't like me anymore?" repeated Vicky in confusion. "Explain." she demanded, not averse to using force to needle out answers if necessary.
David recalled memories of Vicky downing people in kickboxing class and decide it was best to be honest.
"I have---had a bit of a crush on you." he said looking away from her a blush coating his cheeks. "I didn't like that you and Levi had just met and you were acting like you were in love or something. You met me on the same day, how come you didn't like me? That was a childish was of thinking and I clearly didn't know the whole story. The twins told me the whole story about your childhood meeting and I felt terrible. I'm sorry Vicky, you and Levi, as much as it pains me to say, are perfect for each other. Even if he is cocky bastard." he added with a smug smile.
Vicky stopped walking and made him look at her. "Thanks for telling me." she said with a smile. "You are a great guy, a cocky bastard too, but I think you belong to someone else."
"Someone else?" said David with a laugh. "Who would like me?"
"There's someone who already does and she's been waiting for a while now. She's a little shy to approach you, so maybe you could encourage her a bit." said Vicky a smirk playing on her lips.
"Who is it?" he asked intrigued and flustered by the lack of data.
"It's a girl you know quite well." hinted Vicky. "You even texted her last night."
She walked off to the car and got in the front seat, leaving David standing open mouthed behind her.
"What do you mean?" he stammered after her. "I---I texted you and and ----oh."
Traci.
He checked his phone for to find a few unread messages.
10:23 p.m. Traci : David? I think you hurt Vicky's feelings.
11:00 p.m. Traci : It's fixable, maybe give her a call?
1:30 a.m. Traci : Are you okay? You are never online this late.
3:00 a.m. Traci : Guess you don't want to talk. If you need anything, I'm here for you. G'night.
David tucked the phone into his breast pocket and rushed to the car, squeezing in at the back with the sleepy twins, a grin plastered to his face.
Sometimes you just have to search closer home for things you've been looking for your whole life.
A/N : How are you my lovely readers?
How was Valentine's Day for you?
Did you enjoy this David-centric chapter?
We start off with our action packed crackdown on Gavin Walters from the next chapter. I promise unadulterated Levi versus Axky verbal sparring. Get ready for a ton of fun!
Thanks for reading!
Lots of love,
Andy