To Which Our Future Holds (A ZaDr Story)

Chapter 3

Ash sat uncomfortably in his chair at the police station while his father and the police officer asked him questions, they had been trying to get answers from him for probably about a hundred hours by now (more like half an hour) but hadn't gotten anywhere. Ash refused to betray his new friends trust. "Kiddo can you please tell us where you've been" the officer pleaded with the uncooperative child. Ash shook his head vigorously "nu-uh" Dib gently grabbed his sons shoulder to get him to listen "Ash you've got to tell the officer so he can help you." Ash looked at his father with a worried expression "But my friend said he'd get into trouble if I told anybody." the officer tried to get footing in this conversation by asking about his friend, but this only caused in making Ash more adamant in speaking "Nu-uh no!" Ash looked down and fidgeted with his fingers "I don't want my friend to get hurt, he can't show me the stars if he gets hurt"
"Did your friend say he was going to show you the stars?" The officer asked, Ash nodded nervously he didn't want to get his friend in trouble, but he didn't want to lie to an officer "Mhm.. he said if I told anybody he'd get in trouble and we couldn't go anymore" the officer seemed to chew on these words for a second before responding in the most sincere voice he could manage "Listen kid, I promise your friend won't get into any trouble" Ash wriggled in his seat and let out a whine, clearly uncomfortable with this new outlook. Dib crouched down to his sons level and tried to reason with him "Ash you can tell us. your friend isn't going to get in trouble, and how about I take you to see the stars instead ok?" Ash tilted his head not quite understanding "But daddy you don't have a space ship."
"Does your friend have a space ship?" Dib asked slightly puzzled."Mhm" Ash nodded "and if I don't tell anybody he'll take me up to space." Dib and the officer exchanged puzzled glances before the officer let out a small sigh and turned to Ash "Ok then kiddo" the officer lead Dib out of the room for just a second to talk to him.

The door to the interrogation room opend allowing Ash to just barely catch the last of their conversation "-Just keep an eye on him, and If you find anything else just call us" Dib nodded "ok officer we will" Dib looked over to Ash who was still sitting on the chair "Come along Ash, let's go home" Ash looked up and nodded before following his father out the door.

~~~

Dib sat at the table talking with his wife as she got ready for work, Ash was already off to school for the day and Dib was growing frustrated "A spaceship huh? It's almost strange to think about." Dib leaned back in his chair "Like was it sheer dumb luck, or have they been stalking us? And How did they get up to his window!?" Dib stopped ranting as his wife kissed him gently on the forehead "Please don't stress to much Dib, Ash is safe and I trust the police will figure this out." Dib attempted a smile and nodded, he knew his wife had better insight then him and he trusted her judgment over his fear "You're right. Have a good day at work sweetheart." She smiled and walked out the door bidding him a loving goodbye.

Several hours later Dib had been deep in his work when his alarm went off breaking his concentration "Ah, Ash should be getting out of school soon" Dib put his work away and headed out the door to wait at the bus stop for Ash. When the bus rolled up to the stop Dib couldn't help but notice that a couple of people, teenagers perhaps, had spray painted the side of the yellow bus covering up its original name and numbers replacing it with a crudely drawn title of SKOOL BUS written in driping black letters. Ash bounded off the bus excitedly "Daddy!" Dib grined widely, his sons joy overwhelmingly contagious. "Hey Ash! how was school today?" Ash was practically bouncing around as he told his father about how everyone was happy to see him and about his trip to the school library "We got to pick out new books today! I got one that has a rocket on it!"
"How fun, do you want to go home and practice reading it together?" Dib asked "Nope" Ash responded rather quickly "My friend already said that he would help me with my reading."
Dib felt a string of worry form in his gut, "Oh, which friend?" He asked not trying to sound as worried as he felt.
"The one with the space ship!" Ash responded cheerfully as he began to walk in the direction of home. Dib found himself seeping further into fear
"And when did he promise to help you?" Noticing the change in tone, Ash turned and looked at his father who hadn't moved an inch.
"During recess after I got my book." Dib firmly grabbed onto his sons shoulders and crouched down till they where at eye level
"Ash listen to me" Dib demanded, his voice harsh from fear "You cannot be friends with this person anymore!"
"Why not?" Ash pleaded
"Because I don't know this person and that's Dangerous!"
Small tears began to bead up at the corners of Ashs eyes "Dut daddy, he said he was your friend"
Dib hated to see his son cry but his want to protect him was much stronger "Well they are lying, ok"
Ash began to sniffle "But why would they lie about being daddys friend?"
"Because they want to hurt you, and take you away!"
Ash began to sob, barely able to speak anymore "B-But daddy!" He tried to plea through his sobs. Dib hugged his son and scoped him up into his arms. Not knowing what to say, he began to walk home, Ash held tightly in his arms.

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