The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20

by Jacqueline Druga

  “I’m sorry. I got wrapped up.” Dean stepped into the house. “You’re leaving, huh?”

  William rolled his eyes. “I am so glad you’re the brilliant scientist.”

  Ellen chuckled. “I’ll see you tonight.” With her arms full, she moved to the door and kissed Dean on the cheek. “Oh, one more thing.”

  “What’s that?” Dean asked.

  “Remember the other day when you asked me to think about having a baby?”

  That comment was unexpected and Dean immediately looked at his father then to Ellen. “Why are you bringing this up right now as you are walking out?”

  “Because, I want you to know my answer and it adds dramatic effect. The answer is no, I won’t think about it.”

  “El.” Dean stepped to her. “Can we not discuss this in front of ...” He twitched his head William’s way. “Him.”

  “Him?” William stated. “Him?”

  “Dad.”

  “Dean.” Ellen laid her hand on his cheek. “I’m not thinking about it because there isn’t time. I’m pregnant. See ya.” She darted for the door.

  “Whoa!” Dean quickly snatched her back. “What?”

  “I have to go.”

  “Repeat what you said.”

  “She said ...” William spoke slowly. “She is pregnant.”

  “Oh my God!” Dean nearly shrieked. “You’re kidding? You are, aren’t you? This is a sick William and Ellen trick.”

  Ellen shook her head. “Nope. I’m pregnant.”

  “Oh shit. But you were on your period the ...”

  “Spotting. I told you I was spotting and that’s why I’d like to keep it between us three for now. With the spotting I don’t want to jinx the pregnancy until I’m out of the danger zone.”

  “You got it.” Dean smiled. “Wait, don’t go.”

  “I have to,” Ellen told him.

  “Wait.” Dean moved to her and even though her arms were loaded, he wrapped his arms around her and embraced her. “I am really, really happy about this. Just know that. O.K.?”

  “O.K.” Quickly Ellen kissed him.

  “And surprised.” Dean shook his head. “Boy, am I shocked.”

  William snickered. “Imagine my surprise as well. Here I thought you two had a celibate marriage.”

  Dean glared up to his father. “Where do you get this shit from?”

  William pointed to Ellen.

  Ellen hunched. “Sorry. I really have to go. We’ll talk all about it when I get home.”

  “All right. I’ll wait up. And El, thanks.”

  Ellen smiled, opened the door again, and hurriedly left.

  With a near glowing look, Dean spun to his father. “Wow. I’m gonna be a dad again.”

  “Yep.” William exhaled and moved toward the kitchen while holding Billy. “Those poor children.”

  <><><><>

  Melissa really wanted to help in the clean up process after the class. She didn’t say why, but Ellen knew. With the two new men, Melissa was losing her private bedroom with Mark. Maybe her diligence in sweeping a floor that didn’t need swept took away the nervousness she was starting to feel in advance over her first night separate from Mark. Ellen assured her that they could hang out in her office if she wanted to. Melissa didn’t say whether she liked that idea or not. Melissa didn’t say much at all.

  “Melissa, I can do this.” Ellen told her.

  Melissa shook her head.

  “O.K.,” Ellen spoke softly. “I’m heading to my office.” She moved slowly from Melissa and past Frank who kept that stare of intimidation on all the survivors. “Knock it off, Frank.”

  “What?” Frank asked dumbfounded as she entered the hall.

  Ellen stopped. She heard Joe’s voice in a subtle, strong way coming from her office. It had that leaving tone to it, getting louder with each syllable.

  “You got it? Good. Take care of it. ” Joe emerged from Ellen’s office. “I’m heading home, El. Goodnight.” Joe walked up to her and kissed her on the cheek. He saw Frank’s back as he stood in the Skills Room doorway. “Frank. Go home.”

  “No,” Frank answered.

  “And you go home too.” Joe pointed to Ellen. “That argument Frank gave on why it’s still civilized to eat with your fingers set us back.”

  Ellen only nodded, feeling something in her gut pulling her. She moved to her office and saw Robbie leaning forward, staring down to her desk as he gripped the edges of it. “Hey.” She stepped to him, laying her hand on his back. “What’s wrong?”

  “El.” Robbie stood up straight. “Nothing.”

  “Was Joe yelling at you again?”

  Robbie exhaled and looked up to the ceiling. “What else is new? He rattled off some list of things I said I would do but blew off.”

  “A list?” Ellen chuckled. “Robbie there can’t be list. You do a lot.”

  “There’s a list all right.”

  “Is it wrong?”

  “Nope.” Robbie shook his head. “I promised to do each and everything, but what no one sees is, yeah, I promise then someone else comes along and I try to help them.”

  “You try to please everyone and it just can’t be done.” Ellen stepped into him. “Don’t feel bad. You do the best you can.”

  “I try. I just feel right now everyone is against me.”

  “Not everyone.” Ellen smiled. “I’m never against you.”

  Robbie leaned down to give an appreciation hug and kiss to Ellen when Frank walked in.

  “I’m telling Dean,” Frank said

  Ellen, irritated, faced Frank. “I thought you were going home.”

  ‘No. My Dad said to.” Frank plopped in the chair.

  “Go home.” Ellen shook her head.

  “Nope. I want to steal some time with you.”

  “You always steal time with me.”

  “I’m greedy. I want more.”

  Robbie released a soft snicker. “I’m gonna go finish up out there. I’ll stop back before I head home.”

  Ellen nodded as she watched him leave.

  “El.” Frank grabbed her hand. “Sit on my lap.”

  “No.”

  “Come on.” He tugged. “We can neck.”

  “Frank.” Ellen pulled away.

  “Bet you’d sit on Dean’s lap.”

  “What?” Ellen said with a snicker. “Where is that coming from?”

  “From what I see.”

  “And what do you see, Frank?”

  Frank hesitated then added a bit of anger to his voice. “You trying to make it work with him all of a sudden.”

  “All of a sudden?”

  “All of a sudden,” Frank reiterated. “And don’t say it’s always been that way.”

  “It has.”

  “Bullshit. Since when did you ever say you wanted another baby?”

  Ellen had to stop. She knew if she said anything her words would stumble. “What ... what are you talking about?”

  “I heard you two the other night talking about having another kid.”

  Ellen let out her breath slowly. “We were talking about it and thinking about it.”

  “You really should think about it.”

  “Now that comment surprises me,” Ellen said.

  “It shouldn’t, because if you think about it, you’ll see what kind of problems you’re gonna have. Really, El, think about it. Whose baby is it more likely to be?”

  Pummeled. Was Ellen that stupid? Did it not even cross her mind? She was so naive to nature that she immediately assumed husband meant father. Her insides shook at the thought of what Frank said. Her lips moved in a quickened pace as she searched for a response and was saved when Dean walked in.

  “Don’t you ever have anywhere else to be, Frank?” Dean asked. “Ready, El?”

  “Yeah.” Ellen moved to Dean. “Night, Frank.”

  “Whoa. Wait a second.” Frank stood up. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?

  “Excuse me?” Dean asked.

  “
Let’s just go,” Ellen whispered. “Good night, Frank. If you need me ... get me. O.K.?” Ellen made eye contact with him. “O.K.?”

  “No.” Frank ignored her and stepped to Dean. “What was that comment about? The ‘Don’t I have anywhere else to be’?”

  “What do you think it means, Frank?” Dean snapped with irritation. “It means every time I see you, you’re always around my wife with nowhere else to go.”

  “Maybe I’m always around your wife because I got used to always being around your wife. I’m not used to this Dean playing husband shit that’s happening.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” Dean released Ellen’s hand, never noticing the worry that spewed across her face. “Playing husband?”

  “Playing husband, Dean. That’s what you’re doing now. This shit being there for her, walking her home.”

  “She’s my wife.”

  “Yeah and when did you realize that?”

  Ellen’s eyes widened and she stepped between Frank and Dean. “Frank. Dean. Please. Please.” Her eyes closed. “Don’t. Drop it.”

  “No, El,.” Frank argued. “I didn’t start this. Him and his coming in here and fuckin’ saying something snide when I didn’t say jack to him started it.”

  “What do you expect me to say, Frank? Hello, nice to see you. how are you?” Dean asked with a scoffing edge. “How do you expect me to react when I’m always finding her with you. I walk in. There you are.”

  “Here I am.” Frank held out his arms.

  “Get a life, Frank.”

  “Oh no, little man.” Frank moved to Dean. “I would have a life. You took my life.”

  “As I recall Frank, you didn’t want that life.” Dean perked up his eyebrows. “And what? Now you’ve changed your mind. Is that why you’re around her all the time?”

  “How would you know, Dean. Huh? How do you know how much time I spend with my friend?” Frank questioned. “Where are you most of the time? You’re buried in your lab. What did you do, cure something and now you wanna take a break, play husband, and try to make this marriage work?”

  Dean’s mouth opened and he shook his reddened face. “Who the hell are you to pass judgment on my marriage? When you, Frank, are the cause of any problems we have.”

  “Oh that’s fuckin’ bullshit. If I’m the cause of the problem, it’s only because she has to come to me because you can’t give her what she needs.”

  “Frank!” Ellen screamed his name, scolding, stepping further between the two men who rapidly approached each other with each heated word they spoke. She couldn’t take it. She felt their tension ten times worse. She just wanted to scream, especially when she felt her efforts fail. She was frightened of the silence between them and the cold hard stares. Ellen could have fallen to the floor in relief when Melissa barged in.

  “Ellen.” Melissa stopped cold, looking panicked, and then she froze.

  “What’s wrong?” Ellen’s passing through Frank and Dean who turned their attention Melissa’s way. “Is something wrong?”

  Melissa’s eyes shifted suddenly to Frank and Dean. Her mouth opened, stuttered, and no words came out.

  “Melissa?” Ellen questioned again.

  “I ... I want to sleep.”

  Frank’s mouth dropped open with slightly rolled eyes. “Then go to fuckin’ sleep then. We’re talking here.”

  “Frank,” Ellen scolded then like a snap of a finger changed her tone. “Melissa?”

  Melissa made mumbling nervous sounds.

  “Melissa? Is something wrong?” Ellen questioned.

  Melissa nodded

  “Melissa is something wrong that you can’t sleep?” Ellen asked.

  Another nod from Melissa.

  “What is it?” Ellen waited. She got only a stare.

  Dean gave it a shot. “Melissa.” He stepped to her. She stepped back.

  Frank’s views went from Ellen to Dean and then to a mouth stammering Melissa,. And then he lost all patience. “Melissa! This isn’t fuckin’ survivor charades! Spit it out!”

  “Frank!” Ellen blasted him.

  “What!” He threw his hands up. “Fuck it. I’ll go see.” He spun, barged out of the office, and down the hall. Figuring she wanted to sleep and couldn’t, the trouble had to be in the sleeping quarters. Ready to find the bug that she probably brought in from the wild with her, Frank turned into the Skills Room.

  Before Dean and Ellen could even catch up to Frank, they heard his echoing blasting.

  “Fuck, like I needed to see this before bedtime” He yelled then came from the woman’s sleeping quarters, stomped heavily out, and slammed the door.

  Ellen quickly looked to Dean and then to an approaching Frank. “What’s wrong?”

  Frank held his hand up to Ellen and moved past her to her office. “Melissa.” Frank popped his head in the door with a different tone. “I apologize.” He stepped from the room and faced Ellen and Dean.

  All that Ellen kept thinking was something had to be wrong. Frank just apologized. “Frank, what is it?”

  “Get the woman a sedative Dean. It’s no wonder she traumatized.” Frank indicated with a point to the women’s sleeping quarters. “Fuckin’ Dirk and Josephine are going at it like wild dogs in there.”

  Robbie flew from the Dining Room. “No shit?” He grinned. “Oh, man.” He chuckled then noticed the shocked expressions on Dean, Ellen, and Frank’s faces. He quickly cleared his throat when he saw the news didn’t amuse them as much as it amused him. “Oh, I’m so offended.” With a snort that escaped from the snicker he held back, Robbie returned to the Dining Room to finish cleaning up and release that laughter he kept inside.

  A Pause ...

  PRESENT DAY

  October 2 - Beginnings, Montana

  “No!” Frank griped, his voice echoing in the trees.

  Robbie tossed up his hands. “Sorry, Frank. That’s the rules.”

  “I know the rules but ...”

  “No.” Robbie shook his head.

  “You called all-e all-e-outs in free.”

  “Hal called it, not me, so you’re ‘it’.”

  Frank stomped and in his turn, he looked at Dean. “You’re the judge. Am I ‘it’?”

  Slowly Dean nodded his head. “Sorry. Hal called it, not Robbie. Robbie is it, so he has to be the one to call. You should know the difference between your brothers’ voices.”

  “Fuck.” Frank bit his bottom lip. “All right. Go ahead Robbie, call Henry and Hal in.”

  Robbie, like a kid with a deep voice, he called his ‘in free’ for the two who remained hiding.

  Hal came into the clearing just beyond the east tunnel entrance. “Got you, Frank.”

  “You’re an asshole.” Frank held up his finger then pressed it to his earpiece. “Go ahead, Dad. I hear you.” Frank didn’t see the cringe on Dean’s face. “What was that?”

  “I said ...” Joe blasted in his ear. “Are you guys up at the east tunnel entrance?”

  “Um no.” Frank said. “We aren’t. Why?”

  “Tracking is getting activity.”

  “We’ll check it out. We’re near there. Hopefully it’s none of those killer babies.”

  “Thanks. Let me know. If you see Dean, can you tell him I’m looking for his ass?”

  “O.K.” Frank disconnected the radio call. “Dean, my Dad’s looking for you.”

  Robbie stepped forward. “Is that what he wanted? Dean?”

  “No,” Frank answered. “He wanted to know if we were here. I told him no. I didn’t want to get in trouble for being out here so now we’re supposed to be here. Make sense?”

  Robbie shook his head. “No. We gonna play one more game before we move on?”

  Hal nodded. “Sure. Why not? Frank?”

  “Yeah.” Frank looked at his watch. “We still have time. Dean, you gonna play?”

  Dean snickered. “No, Frank. I think I’ll be judge and just enjoy the redundancy of a bunch of grown men playing hide and go seek.”
/>
  After flipping Dean off, Frank turned to Henry. “Henry, be ‘it’ for me.”

  “No,” Henry told him.

  “Come on, Henry. Be a pal.” Frank begged. “Please. be ‘it’.”

  “No Frank. You lost. You were found first so you have to be ‘it’.”

  “But Hal cheated.”

  “Tough.”

  Frank turned his back to Henry and winked at Hal. “Geez, I thought you were my friend.”

  “Aw.” Henry whined. “All right, I’ll be ‘it’.”

  “Cool.” Frank clapped his hand. “Thanks.”

  Henry walked over to the designated tree, covered his eyes, and started to count.

  Frank snickered, placed his finger over his lips and, in a sneaky walk, waved his hand to his brothers and Dean.

  Dean was a little lost at first as he was given the quiet signal by Frank who moved back toward the tunnels. Then it hit Dean. Figuring, ‘what the hell’, he quietly stood up and followed the three Slagel Brothers, who silently laughed, into the tunnels. Once inside the tunnel system, the four of them didn’t hide. They kept on moving.

  “One hundred.” Henry stopped counting and turned from the tree. “Ready or not, here I come.” He stepped forward and looked. No Dean. ‘What? Did he hide too?’, Henry wondered and shook his head in disgust. “Time!” He called out. “Unfair. You should have let me know Dean was hiding. Guys.” Henry moved about the wooded area. “Guys! All-e, all-e, outs-in-free.” Henry waited. He wasn’t going to play if they weren’t going to play right and he was regretting ever agreeing to be the nice guy for Frank. Henry stopped walking. “Guys! I called all-e, all-e, outs-in-free.” He scratched his head and listened for sounds. Nothing. “Guys?”

  IN RETROSPECT ... THE THIRD YEAR

  When all hell breaks loose ...

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  October 2 - Beginnings, Montana

  His name was Leroy and he really liked living in Beginnings. He was so happy when the choppers came and picked him up three weeks earlier. He didn’t even mind the Containment process. Some of those in the crowded building were a bit rough, but not Leroy. He guessed that was why he was chosen to come. He was mild manner man who most of the time lived in his own world, delusional but harmless. He was small, not bigger than five foot eight. He kept his hair long despite numerous attempts by the Slagels to shave it. He didn’t talk to many people, by choice. Perhaps that was why he was bored on his first evening out of Containment.