“Ellen, we have ... work.” Dean tossed his hand up and let it fall when Ellen left. He brought his hand to his head and ran his fingers harshly through his hair. “Sometimes I wonder if my father is a worse influence on her than Frank.”
<><><><>
The huge dip the truck hit made Frank bounce high in his seat with a smack to the roof of the cab. “Fuck, Robbie.”
“Sorry.” Robbie drove. “We have to work on this back road.
“You have to work on your driving.” Another bump and Frank bounced up. “And this shit is on my nervous. Why did we pick him up?”
“We need a bartender. His name is Sam.”
“He’s a fuckin’ life size Ken doll, Robbie.” Frank turned his head to the mannequin that squeezed between them in the front seat. “And he doesn’t bend.”
“He’s a store display mannequin, Frank. They don’t come with movable parts. Why are you so miserable? You really should have participated in the Dean ...”
“No-no. Don’t even go there.” Frank held up his hand. “You got me started today.”
“How did I get you started?”
“Lying about Ellen and Dean.”
“I wasn’t lying about that.” Robbie laughed.
“Yes, you were.”
“No, I wasn’t.”
“Slow down, the gate is closed.”
“It is not,” Robbie argued.
“Robbie, slow down.”
“Frank, don’t tell me how to drive. The gate is open.”
“Closed.”
“Open.”
“Closed.”
“Frank!” Robbie screamed, moving the mannequin out of the way when he tipped in toward Robbie. “The gate is ...”
Crash!
Robbie hunched as he watched the sparks of the electric perimeter fence sizzle and shoot up around them. “Closed.”
“Fuck.” Frank shot out his hand.
“Sorry.”
“Now we’re stuck.”
“Sorry.”
Frank lifted the radio from his belt. “Hello.” He called into it and when he depressed the button there was nothing but static. “Shit.”
“Sorry.” Robbie cringed at the sound of live wires hitting against the metal of the truck. “Hey, but Frank, at least we have Sam.”
Frank only shifted is eyes and brought the radio to his mouth again.
<><><><>
Henry, with disgust, shook the new work counter in Mechanics. “I told you he wouldn’t fix it.” Henry faced John Matoose.
“He did go out on that booze run with Frank.”
“Still, Robbie was told by Joe to do something to help us out.”
“True.”
“We gave him the simple task of fixing this counter.”
“True.” John nodded.
“And he didn’t. This is the third time since we’ve been putting this thing together that he has blown me off but who’s counting.”
“You,” John said.
“True.” Henry nodded. “You know, Slagel or no Slagel, he is really pissing me off. I can see the laziness in his eyes.”
“And his work.”
Henry breathed out in relief. “I am so glad you said that. I was wanting to. I just keep thinking he’s is going start a long line of ill events that will strike us here in Beginnings and bring us to our knees.”
“Henry.”John laughed. “O.K., I admit, Robbie may be lazy, you can tell, but ... ill events that could bring us to our knees? Aren’t you being over dramatic? No one lives in Beginnings. What can he possible do to mess things up?”
A hiss of static over Henry’s radio brought Joe’s voice. “Henry, Henry, you there.”
“Yeah Joe.” Henry spoke in the radio.
“I need you at the back gate. We have a situation.”
“What’s that?”
“Robbie just crashed the truck into the live perimeter fence. Not only is the fence down with live wires sticking out everywhere, but the goddamn truck is an electrocutioner’s capsule and those two morons can’t get out.”
“I’m on it.” Henry lowered his radio and hooked it on his belt. “And what were you just saying about Robbie, John?”
<><><><>
“Will you look at that?” Joe stood next to George just inside the perimeter by the back gate. They looked upon the truck stuck in the fence, sparks still flying, paint burnt, and Frank and Robbie, both red faced with their mouths moving a million miles an hour.
“Joe, are they fighting?”
“Looks that way.”
Henry’s heavy and dramatized gasp carried over to them as he raced up the grade. “Oh look what they did, Joe.” Henry approached Joe and George. “Look at this mess. This is going to take days to fix. Not to mention, hooking back up the perimeter which I’m not sure I know how to do. We’ll need fencing supplies.”
Joe ran his hand across his own forehead. “Yes, Henry. But first I need my sons. We have to get them out of there.”
“I know, Joe.” Henry placed his hands on his hips. “They certainly can’t get out of the truck with all those wires. They’ll die.”
“Yes, they will Henry.” Joe waited. “So why are the wires still live?”
“The fence is live, Joe.” Henry told him.
“O.K.” Slowly Joe looked at George first. “Why is the fence still on?”
“I can’t shut it off.”
“Sure you can, Henry.” Joe explained. “The switch is in the Security Room.”
“No, Joe.” Henry shook his head. “I tried that. They screwed up the box. The connection switch won’t power that perimeter down.”
Joe really tried to remain calm. “All right. Did you think about powering down through the generator?”
“Of course I did.”
“And?”
“I don’t know what circuit is running the perimeter.”
“Shut everything down.”
“Oh Joe, can I do that. I don’t know if I can do that.” Henry rambled. “People may not be happy about that. I should let them know. I might turn off someone’s stove while their cooking or Dean’s blood spinning thing while it’s spinning or ...”
“Henry!” Joe snapped.
“Yes.”
“Who the hell cares? Get my sons out of that truck now! They’re slowly baking.”
“Right away, Joe.” Henry spun and darted off.
With a grumble, Joe faced George. “Is it just me or is every person in this community under the age of thirty-five ...”
“Logistically ill informed?”
“Thank you. Perfect.” Joe looked back at the truck. “I was beginning to think I was just a man of little patience.”
“Who you?” George smiled. “Never.”
<><><><>
Robbie believed Dean’s lab to be totally uninteresting as he waited for Dean to return. He could only take so much of looking at things he hadn’t clue of what they were, reading notes that could have easily been Arabic and looking at blood that had been spun into two different colors. Returning to his seat, Robbie stopped when he heard the grunt. He turned to see Henry. “What?”
“Why are you here?”
“Why are you here?” Robbie asked.
“Dean called me.”
“Dean called me.”
“Are you mocking me?” Henry asked.
“Henry, why the hell would I mock you?”
Henry shrugged.
“So why did you grunt when you saw me?” Robbie asked.
“Because I’m frustrated with you. I spent three hours getting you out of that truck.”
“Three hours Henry. I should be mad because you’re too lame to figure it out any quicker.”
Henry’s mouth dropped open. “You made a mess up there today.”
“Yeah, so.”
“Yeah, so. That fence is going to need rebuilt.”
“I’ll fix it.”
“Like you did the work counter?”
“Huh?” Robbie scratched
his head.
“The work counter. You never fixed it. You said you would fix it today.”
“I’ll fix it tomorrow.”
“Robbie.” Henry said his name with a scold. “I wanted that counter fixed today.”
“Were you using it today?”
“No.” Henry shook his head.
“Then why ware you bitching. I’ll fix it tomorrow.”
“And what about the fence?”
“I’ll fix that too.”
“Both of them?” Henry laughed. “Robbie, you couldn’t find time to fix the counter today.”
“Henry!” Robbie yelled. “Why are you bitching at me?”
“I’m frustrated with you. We’re trying to build a Mechanical Division and you aren’t helping.”
“And I’m trying to do more than work for your slave driving ass. You don’t seem to care about that. You’re being a prick.”
“I am not a prick.”
“You are. Henry the Prick and I certainly hope this attitude isn’t a sign of things to come with you.”
“So what if it is?” Henry got defensive.
“Then you’ll piss me off even more and I’ll have to kick your ass.”
“And I’ll tell Joe.” Henry folded his arms.
“Tattle tale.” Robbie glared at him.
“Lazy boy.”
“Anal retentive mechanical wanna-be.”
“Bad driver.”
“Generator illiterate,” Robbie quipped back.
“Fence wrecker.”
“Tolerance wrecker.”
“Truck wrecker.”
Dean cleared his throat to halt the bickering when he walked in. “Gentlemen. Glad you showed up.”
Henry finally took a seat next to Robbie. “We would have been here earlier but Robbie wrecked the truck.”
Dean quickly looked at Robbie. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine, thanks.”
Henry’s mouth dropped open. “Forget Robbie. You should see the fence, Dean.”
“Henry?” Dean looked at him with question. “I would think first concern should be with Robbie.”
“Not when there is that much damage to our perimeter. He wasn’t paying attention.” Henry pointed. “My father always said that one can ...”
“Henry, who cares?” Robbie spoke with sarcasm. “Now quit because you’re getting on my nerves just about ...” Robbie looked at his watch. “Now.”
“O.K.” Dean bounced from heel to toe. “Now, can I just get to why I called you here? Then you two can leave the lab and do this somewhere else.”
“Sorry, Dean,” Robbie said.
“Sorry.”
“Thanks.” Dean walked across the lab. He grabbed a clipboard and returned, pulling up a stool in front of Robbie and Henry. “Now, first I want to thank you for volunteering to help with my research.” Dean snickered when he watched Henry blush. “But ... there’s a problem.”
“Oh my God.” Henry’s eyes widened. “I have cancer.”
“What?” Dean quickly looked at him. “No. I didn’t even check for that.”
“Then I could have cancer?” Henry asked.
“Henry, cancer has nothing to do with.”
“Oh my God, you do. You think I have cancer, don’t you, Dean. You can tell me I can ...”
“Henry!” Robbie barked. “He isn’t even saying that. Shut up.”
“No, you shut up.’
“No you.”
“You.”
“Gentlemen,” Dean interrupted. “Please.” He waited for them both to stop glaring at each other and face him. “Now this has nothing to do with illness or diseases. This has everything to do with viable samples.” He saw they were clueless. “Let me put it this way. The samples you provided were way less than I could use and I was wondering if I could bother you for more.”
Robbie tossed his hands up. “I’ll help out but I must tell you I have this problem. I just don’t ... you know, volume wise ... no matter how long it’s been. I don’t.”
“Well.” Dean’s head bobbed back and forth. “I’ll freeze what I have and add just a little more.” Dean saw the open mouth expression on Henry’s face. “Henry, what’s wrong?”
“Were we the only two who didn’t hit the goal?”
“No.” Dean shook his head. “Only one person achieved the goal. You two just fell way below the mark.”
“Who?” Robbie asked. “Who hit the goal?”
“I can’t divulge that,” Dean answered.
“Dean,” Henry spoke up. “I can’t.”
“You can’t what?”
“Can’t give anymore. It was extremely difficult not to mention boring.”
“Boring?” Dean asked with a raise of his voice.
“Who?” Robbie was still stuck on the achiever.
Dean held his hand up to Robbie to halt him. “Henry, you were bored?”
“Oh yes, Dean, I got bored. I’m just not creative enough to come up with a good enough fantasy to hold my interest the second time around. My mind starts wandering to things I have to do and then, well, the moment’s gone.”
Dean was speechless.
“Who?” Robbie asked again.
“Who what?” Ellen asked as she entered the lab.
“Who was the only volunteer to meet Dean’s expected goal.”
“George.” Ellen stated.
“George?” Robbie questioned.
“George,” Ellen reiterated.
“Oh my God!” Henry exclaimed. “George. Old George? Oh now I feel so ... so ...”
“Incompetent?” Robbie tried to help. “Minuscule? Inferior? Prepubescent?”
“Hey!” Henry barked.
“Robbie.” Dean squinted “Please. El, you weren’t supposed to divulge that information.”
“Sorry.” Ellen hunched. “Oh!” She snapped her finger. “Henry must be cup ‘D’.”
Henry spun horrified. “Dean. Dean, I have no idea how she knows I am cup ‘D’.”
Dean shook his head. “Reasonable deduction, Henry. But she had no deduction measures when it came to her knowing which cup was Robbie’s.”
Robbie bit his bottom lip with a grin. “El, you recognized my sample?”
Henry gasped in disgust. “You know that is really not something to be proud of, Robbie. God.”
Ellen giggled then saw Dean’s glare. “Sorry.”
“Forgiven.” Dean set the clipboard down. “Now, all I’m asking is that you two wait a few days and try it again. Like I said, I’ll freeze what I have. And maybe on ... what’s today’s date.” He looked down to his watch. “The 29th ...” He took a moment to think. “Maybe on ...”
Ellen grabbed Dean’s arm. Total seriousness had hit her. “What’s today’s date?”
“The twenty-ninth.”
“Are you sure.”
“Yes.” Dean nodded. “See.”
Ellen’s words were so breathy as she raised her head with almost a shocked expression. She closed her eyes and released Dean’s arm. “I can’t believe that’s the date. Oh God.” So painfully she shook her head and raced out of the room. In her charge from the clinic, she nearly bolted over Joe and George and continued on without saying anything.
Joe walked into the lab with George and saw the stunned expression still on Dean, Robbie, and Henry’s faces after Ellen’s abrupt departure. Joe shook his head at them. “What the hell did you three say to my daughter?”
Dean shook his head. “Nothing Joe. I told her it was the twenty-ninth and she flew out.”
Joe winced with a heavy breath and closed his eyes. “Oh shit.” He ran his hand down his face. “She probably let it slip her mind and now she’s gonna be worse.”
“Dad?” Robbie looked curiously at him. “What is October ...” Robbie paused. “Oh man. Josh’s birthday.”
“Yeah.” Joe breathed out. “She’ll need some reassurance. The first one is always the toughest. Robbie, can you go find Frank?”
“I’m on it, Dad
.” Robbie slid from his seat and walked out of the room.
After a moment, Joe looked over to Dean. “Dean, now what ...”
“Can ... can you excuse me Joe? I’m sorry.” Dean moved his eyes to the door then he himself walked out.
<><><><>
“El,” Dean called her name softly as he walked into the living room of her house.
Ellen sat on the couch. She leaned forward with her elbows on her knees and her face buried in her hands. She only turned her head slightly, looked at Dean, then returned to burying her face.
“Ellen.” Dean shut the door and walked over to the couch. “I uh ... I came to see if you’re all right.”
“I’m fine.”
“El.” Dean sat next to her. “Hey.” He moved closer. “Can I help?”
“No.”
“Maybe if we talk.”
Ellen lowered her hands. “No.”
“Why?”
“You wouldn’t understand.” Ellen spoke softly.
“Can you try me?”
“I’d really rather not.” Ellen stood up.
“El?” Dean stood also. “What’s wrong? I want to be there for you.”
“No, you don’t.” Ellen faced him. “You don’t. That’s O.K., I understand that.”
“I’m ... I’m confused, El.” Dean’s voice cracked. “I really am. Why won’t you let me try to help you through this?”
“For two months I have done nothing but chase after you, to try to make amends, and get close to you. You push me away. We talk about nothing aside from work. You haven’t even tried since we got here to be intimate, and I’m not talking physical. I’m talking ...” Ellen clenched her fist and brought it to her chest. “Intimate. Words. Conversations, Feelings. And right now, with this very personal issue within me, I’d rather not get through it with someone who hasn’t even asked me for two months, how I have been doing emotionally. I’d rather get through it alone or with some ...”
“El,” Frank called her name as he opened the door.
Ellen spun away from Dean. “Frank.” She moved to him and immediately into Frank’s arms.
Dean’s head dropped.
“El.” Frank held her tighter, hand gripping her head as he hunched to be at her level. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I forgot. I would have walked you through ...”
The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20 Page 9