Eventually, to little surprise, the group talk veered into Chris and Frank's work.
“You never told me how much of a raise you were getting,” said Sadie.
Chris shrugged playfully. He had been toying with Sadie over the actual numbers the whole week. A part of him wanted to keep it secret so as to spring some surprise trip or gift for her, but he struggled to think of anything good.
“You haven't told her?” said Frank. “We're making the same. You know that, right?”
“Uh-huh,” said Chris, having not known that.
“Are you planning a surprise gift?” asked Gail. After she spoke she realized there would be absolutely no surprise to it now.
Chris laughed. He still felt a little swim-y from his beers even on a full stomach now. “Planning, yes. Actually doing it now, noooo.”
“Mom hates surprises, Dad. When are you going to remember?” said Louise.
“What kind of gifts? Are we going to Disneyland?” asked Gerry.
“We should go with them,” said Simone.
“No, we’re not going to Disneyland,” said Sadie. “First my husband is going to tell me exactly how much money we’re getting before I throw a corn on the comb at him or put it somewhere worse.”
“Well, the yearly will jump a bit and the bonus is going to be quite substantial. And I figure if I’m going to build a time machine, why not do it with some style,” said Chris. He then leaned back in his chair and put his hands behind his back to take in everyone's anticipating faces.
“That didn’t even make any sense,” said Frank, and chucked a hamburger bun at Chris that ricocheted limply off his face. “Next month we'll start at a hundred thousand a year. I got a twenty-five thousand dollar bonus while Doc Brown I figure got double.”
Chris smiled and nodded.
“Disneyland!” said Gerry and Simone together.
“Oh my God, Dad. Please tell me we can finally get me a new phone,” said Louise.
Sadie slapped her husband in the stomach, which sent him on his back and everyone into fits of laughter. “Such a jerk” was all Chris could hear before he cracked up and muttered from the ground “Whoa. This is heavy.”
After Chris's act, Sadie stuck him with dishes duty. Luckily or unluckily, Gail convinced Frank to lend a hand. Frank probably only agreed to the chore because he had another six pack hidden in his truck. He glanced around for any spies and then handed Chris one.
“It's not cold, but fuck it,” said Frank.
Chris looked around the kitchen too and would have shunned the beer if anyone, really just Sadie, were around. His luck was as high as his mood. “Gracias señor.”
“I'll dry. If I can find a towel.”
“Bottom drawer to your left. First time for everything, huh?”
“Shut up. Enjoy your warm beer because I have to tell you something.”
Chris pulled his bottom lip up and frowned to form his funny thoughtful face. Frank looked at him without making any kind of emotion. Chris thought about it for a moment, which was a little tough with the fifth beer beginning a resurgence of buzzing in his head.
“You're such a lightweight,” said Frank.
Chris's thinking continued to slop around his brain, but finally stuck on an awkward fact.
“What the hell’s going on? You don't ever say ‘I have to tell you something.’ You just say it. What’s so important?” Chris scrubbed the dishes furiously after being so bold and tried not to look at Frank.
“When we get back to work, you and Johnykin will work together.”
“Okay?”
“Klaus and I are going to work together.”
“I’m not seeing what’s going on here. Just tell me.” Chris’s voice grew louder.
“Relax Chris. Shit. It sounds like you already get it, man. Erik is sending Klaus and me to work on different things while you and Johnykin work on different things.”
“What… Why?” Chris stopped with the dishes. He didn't intend to be dramatic, but the moment pushed him there.
“To minimize risk. The publicity would have been horrible if you died. The program would have been shut down in a second.”
“I'm so sorry I almost died and took the program with me.”
“Dude. I'm losing my patience with your bitchy attitude. Just accept that this is what's happening. It's not gonna be permanent. Johnykin will have your back and you did do a good job out there. You kept up with me didn't you?”
“Because you're slow.” Chris wanted to joke around. Now a headache formed in the front of his skull. Partly from the beer, but mostly from the news.
Normally Frank hated the quick turnaround in his friend. He felt Chris should have fought him more, but it wasn't a fair fight to begin with so he went along. “Doesn't say much about you if you can merely keep up with a slow man.”
“I only put the necessary energy forward. Waste not, want not. As I always say.”
“You never say that. Finish your beer and I'll hide the bottles from Sadie.”
“Aren't you going to finish drying?”
“Fuck no. I told you what I needed to. I'm done.”
“Jerk!” Chris waited for Frank to turn away and sprayed him in the back of the head with the extendable faucet. Frank sprang back at him ready to pound him in the arm and chest when Sadie stepped in.
“Why is there water all over my floor?” asked Sadie.
“Frank did it,” said Chris, and turned his back to work on the dishes.
Frank punched Chris hard in the shoulder blade. “Thanks for the barbecue, buddy.” He then gave Sadie a hug that she took while staring at the back of her husband. Gail and Simone were right behind her and Frank ushered them out of the kitchen while they shouted goodbyes.
Sadie kept staring at her husband's back until he peeked to check if she was still there. “I'm still here and so is the water all over the ground.”
Chris grabbed the towel Frank was using to dry the dishes and still in a playful mood tossed it at his wife. “Thanks, honey.”
Sadie let the towel hit her chest and fall to the floor. She then raced over to Chris and punched him hard in his other shoulder blade. “You little shit.”
Chris whirled around and grabbed her by the waist. He sunk his teeth lightly into her neck and began kissing her collarbone while keeping a tight grip so as not to give her any leverage to hit him again. “Did you like my barbecue?”
“Hated it.” Sadie smiled at the tender lips moving back to her neck. After a few more she turned his head to face her own and kissed him, but then quickly pulled him away. “Bah, beer breath. Did you have another one?”
Chris shrugged and went in for another kiss. He was riding high at the sight of her again and just maybe she would give in.
“I don't think so,” said Sadie. “You need a shower and to brush those teeth before you get any more of this.” She walked out of the kitchen leaving Chris to finish the dishes before yelling back. “Don't forget to clean up the floor, either.”
Chapter Eleven
The Byrne family did not go to Disneyland, but did save more than half of Chris's bonus for a possible trip in the future. The rest of the money went to a new phone for Louise (after two days of begging), a couple of new toys for the rest of the family, and a revamped backyard.
For as many years as they had lived in their home, Chris had promised to work on their backyard. It was more spacious than most in the neighborhood, but needed more work than any other in the neighborhood. After failing to even grow enough grass, Chris just kept putting the work off, but as Sadie browsed landscaping companies Chris promised again to do it himself. She’d heard this too many times before and called. A specialist came over to survey the area and gave Sadie a quote while Chris crossed his arms and tried to come up with excuses as to how the money could be spent elsewhere.
No point was good enough. Sadie had a goal and the means. It would only take a short time to reach the end; a week. Under Sadie's supervision the landscapers
installed a full irrigation system that watered the front and back yards along with a drip system for a garden, a small pool with attached Jacuzzi, redwoods lined around the fence for privacy, and a lush grass lawn. A bit of the American Dream brought to reality.
Chris couldn't argue with it, especially when Sadie unveiled another new grill. Shiny aluminum with a massive area for roasting anything he could imagine. She took the other one back because it didn’t meet the standards of the rest of the new yard. The only problem was that Chris didn’t have an opportunity to fire up the new grill. With all the shopping and exciting changes to the backyard, Chris hadn’t seen Frank since their last barbecue. They didn’t normally text or call each other unless there were immediate plans to do something like workout or drive to work. Then the two weeks were over without any contact between the two. No wake up text to carpool together on Monday morning either.
Chris stared at the message screen before typing, “No taxi service today?”
The phone kept silent until Chris readied to leave. Frank’s message put it bluntly, “Different schedules now.” As if sensing Chris’s hurt feelings, the phone vibrated again. “Sorry bro. See you at the lab.”
At the lab, Chris didn’t see Frank. Johnykin met up with him first thing and directed him to a lounge area he would now be sharing with her. She explained that Erik replaced Chris and Frank’s old positions and thought it best to give the two teams their own space. The lounge area looked fine for whatever his new role entailed: two black leather sofas, back to back desk/computers like Chris and Frank’s old setup, and a widescreen connected to X-Tech’s best TV package. Nothing happened that day except a workout routine in the Fun Room (new normal size weights were placed inside for Chris), some informal chit chat, and a lot of Internet browsing. The rest of the week stuck to this schedule. To Chris it was all fine like the lounge.
At the end of the day on Friday, Chris still hadn’t seen or heard from Frank. Chris typed in their first correspondence since Monday, “How was your week? Kick any super villains’ asses?”
Frank’s reply came in after Chris made it home for the weekend. Chris looked down past his phone to the new tiles adorning the steps up to his house. A part of him wanted to avoid reading the text but he missed the blunt ginger.
“Week was fine. No super villains.” That was it thought Chris. What the hell? Chris’s eyes moved back again to the tile. The flooring guy Sadie hired knew what he was doing. There were no cracks in the grout or chips on the porcelain. Chris wondered if he could have made it in the tiling industry. His mind continued down this new career until the front door popped open.
“What are you doing?” asked Sadie. Her face was concerned. She glanced to his hand still holding the phone. Her eyes expressed her concern even more. “Did something happen?”
Chris smiled and felt his shoulders relax at his wife’s brow as it moved from concern to confusion. “Nothing happened. But it’s Friday! We can do anything. Let’s go out.” He picked Sadie up in his arms as she squealed in surprise.
The next week went the same. Chris attempted another text message to Frank and was given the same dull response. He thought about calling, but couldn’t think of a good enough reason and didn’t want the conversation filled with the silence already pervading their messaging.
Besides a lack of Frank and Klaus, the team of scientists showed up only when they needed Johnykin for a test or two. Carla and Art would indulge Chris in a bit of small talk when they came around, but Carmen just smiled and Alex avoided eye contact all together. Neal hadn't set up a meeting since Chris returned from his leave. Chris guessed there weren't any lingering worries about the mall crisis's effect on him or Neal would have set up another counseling session. There was too much time to think, which created the same problems for Chris as his old job; a sense of lost time. Time that could’ve been spent with his family or an elusive friend.
He didn't see Frank every day when they worked at X-Tech, but the split nagged at the back of his head. What were Frank and Klaus up to? He and Johnykin hadn't been sent out of the labs since the mall. Chris asked Erik directly where Frank and Klaus were and why he and Johnykin weren’t sent anywhere yet. Erik quickly mentioned a possible ride along with a willing police squad. But it was just a line that turned into nothing. All they did was train and wait. Chris enjoyed the shape of his physique from the consistency, which might also be why his brain was more active. There was energy to spare, but no place to put it. Johnykin didn’t share the same concern as Chris. In his eyes she seemed to revel in there languid setting or at least put up a good show of it.
She still flirted with Chris, something he still hadn't told Sadie, but in much smaller doses. It became routine like a coach's encouragement to hear ‘sexy biceps,’ ‘lookin' good,’ or ‘rowr.’ He thought about returning a phrase back to her. Nothing ever came to his mind quick enough, so he usually just smiled with eyes cast downward. When they did talk in any extended way, Chris would get dragged into relaying stories about his family. Johnykin asked endless questions about Gerry and Louise; a couple about Sadie.
Chris realized the one sided nature and attempted to put Johnykin on the spot. She would answer respectfully devoid of any true details and then redirect back to him. The best he got was that she only lived in California for two years, she didn't have any immediate family, and had no real plans before her super powers manifested (an event filled with mainly breaking dishes and a couple pieces of furniture). One of their more serious conversations about the future drew a glimmer of excitement from Johnykin until she was called away for another test. This break from character excited Chris. Although their partnership looked more like a friendship every day to Chris, he felt he didn’t see her for who she really was yet.
That would be later. Right now he was busy scouring the internet for something appealing to read and wondering if Johnykin would be back in time for them to have lunch together. He glanced at the computer's clock. His stomach rumbled and made the decision for him. Nobody was around to tell he was taking his lunch break and it was doubtful anyone cared. Besides, by the mostly empty desks he passed in the main hallway, it appeared others were doing the same.
Once outside, Chris pulled his sunglasses down and reached for his keys. He took a step off the sidewalk to get to his car, but in a flash the black SUV screeched to a halt in front of him. Frank jumped out the passenger door and ran around to the other side. He opened the door and pulled Klaus's arm around his shoulders. The driver hopped out and did the same for Klaus's other arm. With their support they carried Klaus towards the entrance past Chris. Frank saw Chris but didn't stop. Klaus held his eyes shut in pain. The why wasn’t instantly apparent until Chris saw Klaus’s back. A hole was scorched through his uniform, leaving red and black blisters across his skin.
Chris peeled off his sunglasses just in case he was seeing it all wrong. The wound was still there and now so was Erik holding the doors open for the three men. Erik looked over them and back at Chris. Then, more clearly than he wished, Erik muttered “Shit,” and stepped inside. A moment or two passed. Chris stood under the afternoon sun sweating lightly and thinking. Weren't they indestructible; the suits and the Supers? What could have done that? Chris's feet began to move on their own back to the entrance. His hand reached out for the door handle just as independently as his legs, but recoiled when the handle and door jumped at him.
Erik came back out. “Chris!”
“Erik, do you need any help?” Chris tried to push through the entrance. Erik put his hand on his chest sharply.
“It's alright. We have staff to take care of this thing.”
“This thing? It looked bad. What happened?”
“I don't really know yet. Just as surprised by this as you are, but you know we’ll take care of this. Klaus will be fine.”
“Holy shit. I mean, I thought they couldn't get hurt or anything.”
“Well that's why we're still testing. Everything has limits, right? I don't want
you to worry. It's going to be fine. How’s the backyard remodel going?” Erik’s eyes blinked in quick succession before he curled the corners of his mouth up in a camouflaging smile.
The question threw Chris off. “What?”
“That bonus money can sure change things for a man’s life. It’s not always easy to build up a little slice of heaven from nothing, but money definitely makes it easier. Replace a grill, something like that.”
“How the hell – “
“We have the money to take care of Klaus or anybody that gets hurt under our watch. Were you headed out to lunch? Where's Johnykin? Is she going with you?”
“No. Carmen took her for some tests and she wasn't back yet. I was just – are you sure I can't help? Where were they? Were they on patrol or something?”
“Umm, yeah. We were going to send you and Johnykin out too, but with this we might have to make some changes. Chris, I appreciate you wanting to help. It's just we have doctors. We have people that are ready to help Klaus. It'll be fine. I don't want you to worry. In fact I'm going to go get Johnykin and have her meet you out here. You two can go to lunch. You can help her out. Tell her Klaus will be fine. That's it. Help me by talking to Johnykin. She'll want to know he's going to be okay. Breaking our word is just a necessity of the present.” Erik patted Chris on the shoulders and rushed back inside while holding up a hand to tell him to stay.
Johnykin skipped out the front door to meet up with Chris almost as soon as Erik had left him. She was smiling unaware of the parking lot events.
“I'm glad you waited. I ran into Erik and he told me you were out here. I hope you weren't waiting long. Is it hot? You're sweating. Or is it just me getting you hot under the collar?” She twirled him away from the front of the building and they headed to Chris’s car.
Chris thought about Erik's words. If he told Johnykin now, she would run straight back in and be in the way much like he would have been. “It's a little warm out here. What do you feel like today?” asked Chris.
Just Another Job Page 9