Turned (book 2)

Figuring Out What to Do (Cricket)

It had been a good two months since I was attacked in the forest. I had regained my sight and ability to talk to people. But for some reason I was still so confused. I didn't know if it had something to do with the dream I had, or if it was another attack from the DCAU. Dextris walked in smiling with Al by his side.

"We got his papers all sorted out." Dex said happily. A faint smile forced it's way onto my face.

"That's... Great..." I said.

"Are you okay?" Al made his way over to me with a concerned look on his face.

"I just... I feel like that attack had something to do with that dream I had." I scratched my head. Dextris let out a sigh and sat next to me. As I sat up I had a weird feeling come over me. Almost as if someone else was in the room.

"Dextris I'm going to go and train a little." I said getting up. I know that people think I'm weak, think that all I do is use Dextris for protection. I am very strong.

"Are you sure that it is the best idea right now? Maybe you should rest a little more." I made my way to the door ignoring his comment. I felt like something was coming and I needed to be prepared to fight. Even if Dextris didn't want me to.

I trained hard for almost 2 hours. Dextris was still in the same spot when I got back, Alphonse had gone to play with the other kids.

"How do you feel about a new family member?" Dex asked.

"What do you mean?" I said making my way upstairs.

"Alphonse needs a friend. I think we should get him a dog." he followed me. I nodded in agreement and walked into the bathroom. Dextris pulled me close and kissed my head.

"Happy birthday." he smiled. I blushed a little, thinking he had forgotten. I kissed him quickly and backed away.

"I need to take a shower. I smell awful." I laughed. Dextris gave me that 'I want to join you' look and got two towels.

I got dressed and walked into our bedroom. Dextris followed and yawned behind me. I sat on the edge of our bed and stretched before lying down.

"You tired?" I asked politely. He plopped down next to me and pulled me close.

"Yeah just a little." he mumbled. Alphonse walked in as I curled up next to Dextris.

"Cricket I'm scared." he whined.

"Come... You want to sleep in here tonight?" I suggested. He gave me a tired nod and crawled in between me and Dextris.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Another few weeks had passed and the PAC had already gone back to their families. But something strange was going on. Dextris was acting very weird around me, and I had been feeling a little funny the past few days. I decided it was time to confront him about his actions.

"Dextris." I said, walking into his training session. He dropped the weight in his hand and wiped his forehead.

"Cricket, baby, I'm training." he frowned.

"I don't care. Why have you been acting funny?" I questioned. He gave me a confused look and walked closer to me.

"How have I been acting different?" he laughed.

"What the hell is so funny? You think it's okay to just leave for a day and come home late in the middle of the night?" I crossed my arms angrily and gave him the nastiest look I could. Dextris looked at me and placed his hands on my shoulders.

"Cricket what is wrong with you?" Dex looked at me compassionately and pushed some hair behind my ear. I didn't really think of that.

By the time I thought up an answer Dextris already had me in his arms. As soon as he let me go I felt like I was going to be sick.

"Oh god..." I said holding my mouth.

"What? What's wrong?" Dextris asked. I shot to the bathroom and slammed the door behind me. As I kneeled next to the toilet there was a knock.

"Wha-" I tried to say, but my sickness interrupted my sentence. Dextris walked in and rubbed my back.

"Are you okay love?" he asked sweetly. I looked at him and shook my head. He sat beside me and rubbed my back.

After I spent a while in the bathroom Dextris helped me up and walked me into the living room. I sat down on the couch. "Dextris may I have something to settle my stomach?" I asked. Dextris nodded, kissing my forehead. He brought me a glass of water and some medicine.

"Do you think it was from the dinner I made last night?" Dex assumed.

"No. Well, I don't know. I've eaten Greek before." I rubbed my belly hoping that I wouldn't get sick again. Alphonse walked downstairs in his pajamas and sat next to me. I felt oddly happy. Like something was telling me to enjoy what I had with me. I looked at Dextris, who had began making breakfast for Al.

"Let's get a puppy." I said. Alphonse sat up and looked directly into my eyes. Dextris laughed in the kitchen and put a plate of pancakes on the table.

"I think that's a good idea." Dex agreed.

"W-when can we get the puppy?" Alphonse questioned. I rubbed his hair and nuzzled him. I rose up and went to the bedroom. I pulled a box out from under the bed. I didn't want Dextris to know I read what was in the file. It told me everything about him.

I opened the file slowly and read the first lines over again. 'No parents. Experiment on human fetus, subjected to were-creature DNA.' I kept reading until I came across the part that scared me the most. 'Test tube child until age 1. Superiors stated his future as -unable to have children or show love/compassion-' I rubbed my stomach as if I was going to be sick again.

Something about all this felt like a conspiracy theory. The things I read felt so... Off. They were lies or some kind of prank. I flipped the pages, spying a very disturbing photograph. It was labeled 'Slayer, Dextris Ebony: Husband and Father.' Dextris walked in and I shoved the box back under the bed.

"W-what's going on?" He laughed. I stood up and looked at him.

"N-nothing." I stated, "I was just... Reading."

"I brought you some more water. And maybe later... We can go get that puppy." He smiled. I nodded and walked to him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We walked to the center of town, a place I had never been. It was beautiful, so full of life and amusement. The animal shelter was right in front of us. Alphonse looked so happy. Dextris pulled me close as we walked, people stared. I just smiled and waved.

"Don't worry about that my love. The gifted have recognized us." he said planting a kiss on the top of my head.

A nice lady greeted Alphonse as we walked into the animal shelter. She took us to the back and all of the dogs became excited.

"Dextris look!" Alphonse pointed to a black and white husky.

"She's very cute, bud." Dextris smiled.

Alphonse walked up to the she-dog and smiles warmly.

"Hello. What's your name?" he said.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Anastasia." she barked. Alphonse looked quite puzzled at the sound of a talking pup.

"Can we have this one?" Alphonse asked. I looked at Dextris and he looked at Al.