The Inner Struggle: Beginnings Series Book 7 (53 page)

“Nope. Not as long as she has the original strain she won’t.” He looked at the pleased faces. “Unless the symptoms kill her. We still have those to consider.” He hunched at the moans that emanated because he had to add that damper to his hopeful answer. “Sorry.”

“All right. That’s done,” Joe continued.

Dean stood up. “Can I go, Joe. I have so much to do.”

“Yeah sure go ahead,” Joe told him.

“Thanks.” Gathering his folders from the floor, Dean smiled at everyone but Frank, then hurriedly left before he could be pulled into anymore discussions.

“Dean?” Joe called out but it was too late. “Eh.” He pushed the folder aside. “He forgot this. I’ll give it to him later. O.K., Frank, your turn. Tell Robbie why he is here.”

Frank turned to Robbie. “Starting tomorrow, you fly reconnaissance morning and evenings.”

Robbie was shocked about that. “What about Johnny.”

Frank looked at his father first. “Johnny won’t be flying them anymore. He chose not to.” He tossed his hands up. “You all right with that? Besides, you aren’t strong enough yet to really work.”

“I am too,” Robbie spoke defensively, “but no problem. I’ll fly them. But not tonight. Tonight I was going to hang out with Ellen.” He saw his father shake his head no. “Dad, come on I need that time. Or are you in this big thing to get Frank back together with Ellen. I’m not a threat, honestly, I just like to hang with her.”

Henry huffed. “You just hung out with her in quarantine for seven days.”

“And we bathed together,” Robbie grinned. “Did I tell you that Henry.”

“Robert,” Joe scolded.

“Joe your son.”

“Is awesome.” Robbie smiled. “Thanks Henry.”

But paper thin.” Frank added.

“Please, I can kick still kick your ass,” Robbie taunted.

“Still. Never.” Frank scoffed, “Even on your best days you couldn’t take me. Right now, all I have to do is blow on you and you’ll fall over.”

“Frank.” Robbie laughed at him. “You’re getting old, Bro. I can take you even now.”

“Could not.”

“Could too.”

“Prove it.”

“Let’s go.” Robbie stood up.

“You’re on.” Frank stood also. He saw Joe staring up from the desk at them. “Dad, do you mind?”

“No, go on have fun.”

Frank smiled. “Thanks. Let’s go Robbie. Let me kick your ass.” He motioned his hand to the door.

“Don’t have a heart attack on me, Frank. You know how you old guys get.” He opened the door.

“Don’t break, Robbie, You know how you skinny guys get” Frank followed him out.

“Frank,” Joe called to him waving his hand for him to step in.

“Yeah Dad?” Frank poked his head through the door.

“He’s still sick. Take it easy on him.”

“Not a problem,” Frank agreed. “I’ll let him beat on me for a while. Coming home with a black eye should breed a little sympathy from Ellen.” He backed up and shut the door.

<><><><>

It was a tedious task to George, standing there acting so impressed while bored to the point he nearly fell over twice when he started to doze standing up. But it was his project and he had to watch those mice experiments. It reminded him of the days when Dean used to bore everyone with once a week medical updates. How glad George was back in those early Beginnings days when Dean finally got the hint and only shared his knowledge when anyone asked. George often wondered did anyone ever ask? He for one never did. But perhaps, maybe if he did, he may have some bases of knowledge when listening to his own scientist. But he didn’t. The reason his scientists didn’t grasp the concept of why they had to hand in reports in layman’s terms was beyond George.

After an hour the mice experiment was over so George excused himself from the lab and hoped to make an exit to hide out for an
hour, and catch his afternoon nap. He had his own plan to get ready. He had men to get out. It was only five more days until the Robbie-plan-two was going into effect. Robbie was better. He wasn’t sick anymore and he was strong. George knew when he finished with him,. Robbie would be much stronger.

“Oh my God! Frank!” Ellen leaped up from her chair in her office and ran from her desk when she saw Frank holding the side of his face and stumbling through the door. “Oh my God!” The closer she got she saw how dirty he was and the blood that formed at the edge of his nostril. “What happened to you?”

“El,” he spoke weakly, wobbling.

“Here.” She grabbed his arm and helped him in. “We should get you to the clinic.”

“No. I just need you.”

“Frank.” She said his name with such concern, helping him to sit down in the chair. “What happened to you?” She walked to in front of him pulling down the hand that covered his face. She gasped at the bruise and small cut on his eye brow. “How did this happen? Did a bunch of men attack you? What?”

Frank moaned in pain.

“I’ve never seen you like this.” She ran her hand down his face. “Let me go get you some ice, sweetie.” She ran her hand gently down his face again and darted from the room.

Frank turned his head to the door. He grinned widely, clenched his fist and pulled it close to him with a silent ‘yes’.

“Here.” Ellen ran back in.

Frank’s happy demeanor switched back.

“Now tell me what happened.” Ellen began to wash off his face. “How did you get beat up?”

“Robbie.”

Ellen’s hand lowered. “Robbie? But he’s never been able to beat you, and now he’s sick.”

“I know El. Why do you think I look like this? I couldn’t . . .” He gave a fake flinch of pain when she touched him. “I couldn’t . . . hit him. He’s not strong. He got mad at me and hit me and kept hitting me.” Frank’s head dropped. “What was I supposed to do? Beat him up? I couldn’t do that.”

“You did the right thing.” Ellen handed him the ice to hold on him. “Wait until I bitch him out.”

“Please do.” His head dropped again. “I feel so bad.”

“Ah Frank.” Ellen hunched down closer to him. “It’s all right.”

“El.” He raised his eyes. “Could you just . . . hold me?”

Ellen’s expression dropped and she stood straight up. “Frank, you’re an asshole.”

“What?” His head sprang up. “What did I do?”

“You had me. You had me up until you said ‘hold me’ When do you ever say that?” She grabbed the wet towel and tossed it at him. “What is wrong with you? I should have known. When do you whine? Now, what really happened? Tell me the truth.”

“Robbie and I were fooling around, having fun.”

She gasped outward. “I knew it.” As she tried to step back, Frank reached for her, pulled her to him and she landed on his lap. “Frank.”

“This will make me feel better, El.” He swung her legs over his.

“Frank.” She struggled to get from his lap.

“Shh.” Frank watched his own hand as it moved to her leg and slowly up it. He grinned then shifted his views to Ellen who stared. He softened his voice. “You’re not trying to get away.” Frank swallowed “Why?”

“I like . . .” She watched his hand creep to her thigh. “I like . . .” It slid around to the side and her eyes moved to meet Frank’s. “I like this.”

“Good.” His other hand moved up her back and his fingers gripped behind her neck. “I like this too.” Moving his body up and Ellen into him, Frank brought his hand from her leg to Ellen’s face and softly spread his fingers across her cheek. “I like this a lot.” Tilting his head sideways, he brushed the tip of his nose against hers as he playfully moved his parted lips in for a tease kiss. He pulled back, snickered, closed his eyes, and brought his face closer to Ellen’s.

“Frank!” Joe called out.

“Uh!” Frank’s head pulled back immediately from being startled. “Fuck, Dad. Thanks a lot.”

“Sorry.” Joe stepped in with Jason. “We’re ready.”

So excited, Ellen jumped from Frank’s lap. “Oh I’ve been waiting for this. Jason told me all about it.”

Joe hurried and looked at Jason. “You did, did you?”

Ellen held her hands in a prayer fashion. “Can I stay Joe, please, please, please? Oh can I stay. I won’t make a sound. I won’t make a noise. Please, please, please can I . . .”

“Ellen!” Joe hollered. “Christ. Stay. Sit at your desk now!”

“Thanks.” Ellen smiled and moved to behind her desk. “Not a word.” She pretended to lock her lips closed.

“All right. Frank stay seated. Jason . . .” Joe instructed. “Shut that door. We’ll do this in here.” He heard Ellen giggle. “Ellen.”

“Sorry, Joe.” She held up her hand. “I’m excited.”

Frank looked up at Jason. “Now remember, this might not be easy. I have a very strong mind. Don’t try anything funny.”

Joe’s head snapped back to Ellen who laughed again. “Last warning, Ellen.”

“Sorry Joe.” She hunched in her chair. “I’ll be good. I promise.”

<><><><>

Ellen still laughed. Despite the fact that she was verbally chastised and nearly bodily thrown from her very own office, she still laughed. She didn’t think Jason would be able to do it. Actually it took Jason several attempts to put Frank under, but he did. When Jason started talking to Frank, Ellen couldn’t hold back and that’s when Joe tossed her out. It should have bothered Ellen but it didn’t. She headed to the clinic to share the funny story with Dean, amusing herself the whole way, stopping in the street to laugh, then to do that little dance she does to stop herself from having to go to the bathroom
She giggled like a mad woman as she walked up the steps to the clinic and stopped to smudge her finger prints on the just cleaned glass doors. She knew Dean would be there. They had decided to stay away from the mobile on this day and do what they could of their work in town. But right now Dean was working on clinic stuff and Ellen knew that. He probably was bored and needed a time out. What better way to break his monotony than to tell him something about Frank that he’d really enjoy?

She stood in the doorway watching him. He worked at the far back counter, his lab coat doing that Batman thing as he moved back and forth. Finally when he stopped, Ellen sneaked up to him. She wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her chin on his shoulder. “Guess who?” She kissed him on the cheek.

Dean removed her arms. “I’m busy.”

Ellen looked down at her hands, hands that a second earlier were flush against his chest. “What’s wrong?”

Dean turned only his head back, looked at her for a second, and returned to his work.

The look in his eyes said it all to Ellen. “All right.” She held up her hand. “Now I know I didn’t do anything. At least I don’t think I did. Geez, for the past few hours I’ve been in containment.” She received no response. “Let me think. What did I do today? What does Dean get mad at Ellen about?”

“This is not a joke. I’m pissed.”

“When aren’t you anymore?”

“Why are you here?”

“Obviously it’s to fight now. What did I do?”

“One word.” Dean faced her. “Frank.”

“That’s an awful big word. What about Frank? What did I do today with Frank . . .” She snapped her fingers. “I know. You’re mad that I had breakfast with him.”

Dean shook his head totally annoyed with her.

“You’re not mad that I had breakfast with him?” She watched him turn his back again to her. “You didn’t know.” She saw his eyes shift back at her. “O.K., I’m getting somewhere. You’re mad now that I had breakfast with him? You’re mad that I . . .” She shut up when he turned his head and gave a scolding stare. “Dean, are you sure you’re going blind and not mute because I’m not getting anywhere with you.”

“Ellen, knock it off. Just leave. Go find Frank. You are having the understanding with him now. I’m temporary, so do me a favor and leave me alone.”

“Why don’t you do me a favor, Dean? Why don’t you flag the fuckin door when you’re mad at me so I can avoid walking in here unarmed. Hell . . .” She tossed her hands up. “Where you get this shit from is beyond me. And you know what? I’m not even justifying anything you just said with a comment, because you are ridiculous. I come in here with every intention of lightening your day, to make you laugh and you yell at me.” He stood silent looking at her. “And now, now you stare at me! What’s the matter Dean? Can’t you focus?”

“See!” Dean finally spoke up again--loud. “See how you get so low and throw my sight in my face? And you wonder why I don’t trust you.”

“No Dean, I never wonder why you don’t trust me. I’ve fucked you over once too many times and you think I’m doing that now.” She lifted her shoulders. “I thought I wasn’t. I guess I am. But could you do me a favor? Could you give me the exact details so I can actually do it. If I’m going to be accused of dogging you, I’d like to at least enjoy fucking you over like I did when I was with Frank.”

Dean clenched his fist and rumbled a growl of frustration before slamming his hand. “Do you enjoy that? Do you enjoy being that much of a bitch?”

Ellen stormed to him. “Not as much as you enjoy being that much of a dick. You know what Dean? You make Frank look like a saint.”