Fosters: Blackhawk (28 page)

Christian smiles.  "Ok."  Janelle
laughs.  

"Today is there someone that can explain what is
going on around here with the other kids?"  Everyone looks at
me.  

Shit.  "I should see the dog too."  I
tell them.  They all look at me.  Fuck. 

I look at CJ and Christian.  Christian's
smiling, trader.  "While both are important. I think Janelle
knowing what's going on is more important so she can be more
effective.  I also think we need any information she has on
the other groups even if they are smaller.  These kids can't
be the only ones like this, there have to be more and we need to
know how they navigate through their communities.  We need to
know anything and everything about them."  Tess, Sally, Kate
and Jess agree.

Pres laughs, "Old ladies, smart and special in
their own right."  

Janelle laughs.  "So Cloud, I believe Rich
and Tess are willing to help us get a chart together so we can
clearly see what we're dealing with." 

I look at Rich and Tess.  They nod making
me laugh.  Everyone stands and heads to the door.  I give
CJ a kiss and Christian a hug telling them I'll see them at
home.  Steve is still sitting at the table when I turn around.
 "You're not letting her in?"

He looks at me as if I'm crazy, "no."  Rich
laughs.  

Danny brings a roll of paper and a bunch of
pencils then leaves.  Janelle smiles and waits.  I start
with a list of names.  

CJ

Cloud is not going to believe this; I'm smiling
the whole way home.  Christian is so excited; he's sitting in
the back with Hawk.  He learned how to give commands and had
Hawk following him around within minutes.  He even gave
commands without talking and impressed the hell out of the
trainer.  He needs to do training every day but the trainer
doesn't think it will take too long for Hawk to earn his service
vest.  

We get home and I can't help thinking about the
chart Cloud, Rich and Tess are making.  I think they need to
go one further and look at the parents.  While Christian takes
Hawk for a run in the yard I grab some of the kids’ paper and index
cards.  For each person I write what I know, name traits and
known abilities.  I make two circles and put the parents on
one and the kids on the other, putting the protected in the circle
and the protectors outside.  

I get tired of looking at it and go find
Christian and Hawk.  I laugh at the name again. 
Christian is still in the back, I watch him command the dog without
saying a word.  He gives treats each time Hawk gets it right.
 

Brenda comes in smiling, "it's time to get
Christian to the Kids Center."  I open the door calling him
in.  Christian and Hawk come running.  Brenda pets Hawk's
head.  "What a beautiful dog you are."  She bends to
him.  Hawk sits stiffly looking at Christian.

"You shouldn't be overly friendly."  He
tells her.  When she stops Hawk relaxes. 

"He's beautiful, what's his name?"  She
asks smiling.

I laugh, "You may not believe it but Hawk."
 She looks at me with surprise then a huge smile.  

"Fitting."  She turns toward the door.
 "Are you ready Christian, do you need anything for Hawk?"
 

He hugs me.  "Nope we're ready."  They
go out the door without Christian giving the command.  I shake
my head, friggin kids.

One
week

Cloud

Flying back from South Carolina I scratch
another off the list.  Three left, with Tess' help we've found
three.  The last three are in Rhode Island, we're shadowing
them.  The three eliminated were to meet up with them next
week.  We've collected all the information on Mitch and Jess
that they had.  I touchdown in Pawtucket, the plane is
borrowed, Steve leaves cash in a map and we disembark.  He
walks to the borrowed Jeep and drives us to the police sub-station
in Newport.  Switching to another car we go to the airport and
I fly us home. 

"Geek cleared our path."  Steve tells me as
he's reading his phone.  I nod.  Thank fuck, all we need
is video showing our movements.  

I land and do my checks; signing it I slide the
clipboard into its slot.  Throwing my leg over my bike I
breathe easy.  We did good, Steve has the information and will
bring it to Security.  "I'm on at Baxter's tomorrow."  I
tell him.

He looks at me.  "Yeah, don't think we need
air cover.  HS is shadowing."

Fuck, I'm going to miss the end.  He
laughs.  I look up smiling.  "Sucks."  He nods
starting his bike. We speed through town; I point my hand down when
he peels off to Security.

Walking in the door of my house I'm
stunned.  The kids are running wild, arrows and bean bags are
flying.  Joey is laughing as she hits a bean bag with her
crutch.  I'm hit in the chest with an arrow.  I look to
see where it came from and laugh.  CJ is dressed as an Indian
and Brenda is a cowboy.  Brenda shoots a bean bag at me with a
slingshot and hits my chest.  "You are dead warrior boy; I
knew it was all talk."  She says making me laugh.

CJ ducks avoiding a shot to the head.  "Hey
there light foot we're the same tribe." She yells from behind the
buffet cabinet.

Hawk jumps over a still, apparently dead, Jessie
and puts his paws on me.  I look down and laugh taking the
note from his mouth.  'Crazy!  Peace in the trees.'
 He jumps down and runs back the way he came.

I walk out the front door and around to the
back.  Climbing into the treehouse I hope it can hold my
weight.  Little Ben, Christian and Jeremy are here.  "You
didn't want to play?"  I ask sitting down.

"We've been dead almost an hour.  Jeremy
came when you got here, they'll never hit him." Christian tells
me.

"My littlest son has skillz."  I kiss
Jeremy's head.  "I need to work harder on defense with you.
You're obviously not getting it."  Little Ben and Jeremy
laugh.

I look at Little Ben, "You too."  Christian
laughs.

"We need it.  Jeremy is kicking everyone’s
butt."  He says, I laugh.

"Skillz!"  I bump his fist.  

"Jeremy says there's more.  You need to
watch Rob.  He says he's not smart, like a kid.  Steve
will know.  He needs Steve; it's too big for me."  He
looks at me embarrassed.  Jeremy takes his hand.  "It
will hurt too much for me to see.  I don't need the vision to
be the teacher I will become."  He nods at Jeremy.  

Jeremy stands up and hugs me.  "Daddy."
 He kisses my cheek and picks up his bag.  He's gone in a
flash and I laugh.  

"He's going to finish it so he can talk to
Steve."  Christian says.  

Little Ben touches my arm.  "You need to be
alone, you, my dad, Uncle Danny and Jeremy.  He'll need me and
Jessie after.  We'll be close.  Uncle Tiny keeps the
patio clear."  

I smile, "You got a time?"  He laughs
shaking his head.  

I hug Christian kissing his head.  "How was
your day?"  

He smiles, "good, I blocked Janelle and everyone
but Jeremy so far.  I read mom when Jeremy said you were home
but then I shut her down."  He's so fuckin proud.  

I hug him again.  "Fuckin proud of you
Christian.  You thought you couldn't do it.  It's been a
week and you’re controlling it."  

Little Ben smiles, "he's happier, lighter, and
you owe us a buck."  Christian laughs. 

I stand hunched over, dig in my pocket and throw
two bucks, "Still fuckin proud."  I hear them laughing as I
climb down.  I call all the players in Jeremy's vision replay
and I'm surprised Tess told them already.  

I try for the back door this time and I'm not
shot once.  Everyone is down but I don't see CJ.  Brenda
points to the kitchen.  I move to the wall and slide around I
don't see anything so I stand and wait.  CJ runs in from the
dining room and Jeremy flips over the counter with a beanbag at the
ready in his slingshot.  Holy fuckin shit I want to laugh,
clap, and hug him all at the same time.  CJ smiles and puts
her hands up.  "You got me buddy, I'm not dying in this war,
you'll have to house me, feed me, give me clothes for the rest of
my friggin life but I ain't dying." Jeremy laughs and jumps on
her.  She hugs him kissing his face.  "I can't believe
you got all of us you little bugger."  I hear Joey's
crutches.  Jeremy points my way, Joey comes up behind me and
shoots at him.  CJ bats the arrow away.  

Jeremy shoots his bean bag and laughs when Joey
cracks up.  "Always mommy."  

CJ kisses his face again then let's him down.
 "Let's go find daddy, I think he's hiding."  CJ says,
Jeremy laughs and points to me. 

I pick up Jeremy and kiss CJ.  "I have
fifteen minutes then I have a meeting to go to.  Jeremy and
Tess put it together."  

She nods smiling at Jeremy.  "Go round up
the kids, I'll order pizza and save you a piece."  He nods and
I put him down.  

"Cowboys and Indians?"  I pull her to me.
 

"Rich wanted to know if what they were learning
is getting through.  Seemed the easiest way to find out,
everything is on camera and every kid is here."  She’s
smiling.  

"Excellent idea, besides Jeremy and Joey did
anyone else shine?"  

She lifts up on her toes and I lift her,
wrapping her legs around my waist I carry her to the counter.
 "All the happy kids lasted longer than anyone else; the
protectors had trouble shooting their friends.  The prophetic
ones held out but not for long against the happy's.  Jeremy,
Jacob, Aaron and Devan are awesome.  You'll have to watch the
video.  Brenda can hold her own too."

"Interesting."  I file that and pull CJ
with me while I find Joey and give her a hug and kiss.  The
boys find us, I get a squeeze in on each of them then Jeremy takes
my hand.  I kiss CJ's cheek and walk my boy across the street,
the Brothers are waiting.

Tiny is outside, he opens the door for us and
throws chin.  I give it back and walk in, Jeremy pulls me to a
seat at the table and sits in my lap.  He looks at Steve and
Danny.  Steve walks to us, turns a chair and sits beside
us.  I turn us out a little more.  "Danny you need to be
here." Steve points to the side of us.  Danny moves and pulls
a chair.  "Jessie and Little Ben are outside with Tiny. 
They don't come in until you say Danny, he says wait until the
end.  When Cloud protects him call them in."  Danny nods.
 "As soon as he starts, go to the wind, he'll need the draw
from that."  I nod.

Jeremy squeezes my wrist.  "Are you
nervous?"  I ask him.  He nods.  "Is there another
way to do this?"  He looks at Steve.

"No, the twins need Tess, Brenna and Devan are
too small.  I need you dad and then the boys.  Don't let
me go, like with mommy.  Don't let me go."  Steve is
talking for him.

I hug him, "Never."  He nods and closes his
eyes.  I feel the heat and find my guide.  I call for
help, guidance and strength is what I need to keep my boy
safe.  I call to Nunánuk, asking her to strengthen my way
to the spirits who will guide me in my journey.  The heat is
faint but I feel it, I wrap myself and Jeremy in the wind.  We
fly over the reservation gliding over the familiar when the heat
encroaches I dip us in the lake making Jeremy laugh.  We sit
on a branch feeling the wind connect us to our people, the spirits
caressing our skin.  When the heat comes we dive.  I'm
nudged to the rock; I move closer to the lake and stand on the
rock.  

The heat comes faster.  I dive I to the
water but it doesn't cool us.  I soar up; my guide is pulling
me, my spirits pushing us.  "No!"  I wrap my arms around
him.  "No more!"  Little Ben and Jessie come in. 
They put their hands on him.  Fuck he's so hot.  What the
fuck did we do?  I look at Steve he's gone.  Fuck!
 

"Stay with me boys."  I close my eyes and
seek my guide.  "Please guide me to what he needs." 
We're flying over the land we finally make it
to Nunánuk she smiles, 'take a dip my warriors.'  We
fly and I dive for the water skimming the surface, the boys
laugh.  I make a circle and do it again.  They laugh
shaking water away. We're soaring up into the sky again and my
guide brings me back to me.  

I open my eyes.  Danny is sitting in front
of me.  Jessie and Little Ben are beside me.  Jeremy is
on my lap soaking wet.  His eyes are closed.  I kiss his
head, he's not hot anymore.  "You didn't let him go Cloud."
 Jessie says.

I look at him, "Never.  Is he ok?"
 Something is wrong, I feel it.

They don't look happy, "He will be, he needs
more but won't let anyone else in."  Little Ben says.

I look at him then Steve, he's still gone.
 "Get everyone outside bring them to us." They run.  I
walk out the door telling Danny to bring Steve.  Jeremy's not
moving, he's breathing but not moving.  This is so wrong; I
feel it in my bones.

At the edge of the road I feel his pain and fall
to my knees.  "NO!"  Tess runs to me with tears. 
She touches my shoulder and pushes the pain back.  She sits
holding a baby to her chest.  The kids come out sitting in a
circle everyone touching each other; CJ sits by my side with tears
falling.  She links our arms touching both me and
Jeremy.  I close my eyes and find my guide. We fly; it's not a
smooth ride.  Back to Nunánuk I ask her to guide me.
 She is the wind lifting us, I feel the push from my spirits
guiding my way again.  She skims the water and I laugh with
Jeremy.  She lifts us to the sky again saying it's time.
 

I open my eyes, my arms are holding Jeremy close
to my chest.  I loosen my hold and see him looking at
me.  Thank fuck!   I kiss his head.  CJ lets out a
sob.  I smile at him, he smiles back.  I put him in her
arms.  “Kuwômôyush,” I tell him.

"Daddy.  Didn't let me go."  He
watches my eyes.

"Never.  I'll never let you go.  When
my body is done here, I'll be the spirit that guides you. 
Kuwômôyush."  He nods with a smile.