JP- Family moment

In the hallway, Tzeitel sat on the floor hugging Ami.

Cody followed and looked at Tzeitel and Ami. “What’s wrong, mom? Talk to me…”

“It was him. I heard him.” Tzeitel looked haunted as she hugged Ami. “He was hurting someone.”

Ami hugged Tzeitel back, afraid of losing her to the gym or alcohol.

“It also sounded like someone was dealing with him, too…” Cody said calmly.

Tzeitel nodded. It was going to take her a while to calm down after hearing that voice unexpectedly on her phone. Especially since she could tell what he was doing when he spoke. She squeezed her sister a little tighter.

Cody sat down and pulled them both into a hug. “It’s gonna be okay…” He said, rocking them gently.

Tzeitel put an arm around Cody. “You’re a good son.”

“I try…” Cody said and kept them held close. “I promise you’ll both stay safe so long as I’m around, okay? A son has to protect his family…”

“I should be protecting you.” Tzeitel said stubbornly.

“Mom, we’re family…” Cody persisted. “Family protects each other…”

“You’re one of my kids. Dammit.” Tzeitel said.

“Swear jar.” Ami scolded.

Frisk stepped out of the room and into the hallway. She offered Tzeitel her phone back. Tzeitel reached up and gingerly took her phone, as if expecting Canestone to jump out of it.

“She got away from him with the caller. I’m going to meet him with a team.” Frisk explained.

“Who was that guy anyway?” Cody asked, curious. “He sounded a bit…” He made a crazy spinny gesture.

“I’m not sure, but it sounded like he had been undercover for a while.” Frisk said. “I should get going.”

“Be careful, Frisk.” Tzeitel said.

Frisk nodded.

“Be careful…” Cody said with Tzeitel and looked at his mother and little sister. “Let's get you both to your room. You look like you could use rest…” His words faded when he watched Nero walk by, only looking much younger than the one they were accustomed to. “What…?”

Tzeitel stared after Nero. “Uh… He was dead.”

Nero stopped and looked at them, waving. “Do you know where a clawfoot bathtub is?” He asked.

“He’s still obsessed with sleeping in a bathtub…” Cody groaned.

“Uh…” Tzeitel had never noticed if there were any clawfoot tubs. She preferred showers.

Ami stared.

Frisk walked off, texting a few people for a team.

Nero stared at them for a moment. “I guess that’s a no?” He scratched at his odd scars.

“He’s not an adult yet…” Cody whispered to Tzeitel. “He’s the size of a grown man now…” He feared whatever height this Nero would get to.

“This cloning thing… I hope he isn’t like he was.” Tzeitel said, remembering their first run-ins with Nero. The dangerous, cruel freak. Before he was reformed. He still ate people though. She wondered who he was going to eat.

“Uhm…do you know anyone that knows where all the bathrooms are?” Nero asked.

Cody couldn’t respond. He didn’t know at all.

“There’s that guy with the big head that’s always holding a clipboard. He always seems to know everything.” Tzeitel said, rubbing Ami’s back.

“Big head and a clipboard,” Nero muttered. “Thanks!” He went on his way, repeating the words so he wouldn’t forget.

“He seems a bit…friendlier?” Cody shrugged.

“I hope so.” Tzeitel said, leaning back against the wall. “I guess we should head back to our room.”

“Probably,” Cody said and flinched at a scream as someone rushed out of a room. Nero poked his head out, having to bend slightly to do so. There was confusion on his face. “This place is never boring.”

Tzeitel sighed. She wished it could be a little more boring if she was not allowed to drink. She stood up and helped Ami to her feet.

“Why did they run?” Nero asked Tzeitel, Cody and Ami. “I only asked where a clawfoot bathtub was.”

“You’re still covered in blood, Nero.” Cody pointed out. “How about I help you find someone that can get you what you need?” He looked at Tzeitel. “I’ll see you in the morning, mom.”

“Ok. Good night Cody.” Tzeitel kissed Cody on his forehead.

Cody gave Tzeitel and Ami firm hugs before going with Nero so people wouldn’t scream about him so much.

Tzeitel went to their room with Ami. While Ami was in the shower, Tzeiel texted Klaire. ‘It doesn’t look like they can remove the bullet.’

Since Klaire was at the pool, her phone was in a locker and she did not answer…

Since Klaire was not responding, Tzeitel guessed she was angry and not talking to her. She sighed heavily and plugged her phone in to charge as she took a shower when Ami came out. Tzeitel stared at the lightswitch for a few minutes before leaving the light on as she got in the shower. But she could not even wash her hair before she jumped out of the shower to turn the light off. The scars were just too much today.

On Cody’s way to the room, he overheard what was happening and knocked on the door to Tzeitel’s and Ami’s room.

Ami opened the door. “Hi Cody…” The shower was still running, no light came from under the bathroom door.

“Something really bad happened…and Klaire isn’t gonna be okay about it.” Cody said, frowning as he noticed the lack of light from under the bathroom door. “Shit…”

Ami nodded, she had also noticed that the light was off. “What happened?”

The shower turned off. Tzeitel could be heard moving around, drying off, knocking a few small things down from the sink in the dark.

“A team went to get some people for us and James got captured while they were trying to leave.” Cody said, trying to be a bit quiet, but he knew Tzeitel would find out one way or the other. “Klaire is probably gonna lose it…” He pulled a dollar from his pocket and dropped it into the swear jar.

After Tzeitel got dressed in a t-shirt and sweatpants she switched the bathroom light back on. She hoped Ami did not notice that she showered in the dark. She picked up what she had knocked down and opened the door. “Hey, Cody.”

“Hey,” Cody said, staring at her. “Klaire might be on a manhunt soon…”

“Why, did she get a lead for one of those clones?” Tzeitel asked, noticing how serious Cody was. It was something bad, not getting closer to killing Canestone’s clones. “What’s wrong?”

Cody shifted and explained the details he had heard about what happened, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jacket. “I don’t think he’s gonna be okay after this…”

“Shit…” Tzeitel did not have any money in her sweatpants pockets for the swear jar so she scribbled on the post it notes on the jar for an IOU. “Klaire’s gonna be frantic.” Tzeitel fretted, grabbing her jeans.

Cody nodded and added money for her. “I’m sure Riley is with her already, but I think she’s gonna need you a lot too. She needs all of us.” He said. “Want me to stay here with Ami?”

“Please.” Tzeitel stepped into the bathroom to change into her jeans. She cringed when she saw the words Canestone had carved into her thighs six years ago. She was relapsing and she knew it. She hated herself for it. She hated that showering in the dark wasn’t even the worst thing she had done today. Tzeitel came out of the bathroom, hugged her kids, then pulled on her boots, grabbed her phone and went to find Klaire.