Dream Partners: Twisted time

Chapter 25: What's left of his Brains

He smiled and said, "Victoria it's okay, dads here...he's gonna take care of you I promise". Victoria crawled from under the bed and pulled him into a hug and said "Daddy I'm so sorry I was mean to you...I thought I had made you disappear". He laughed and said, "No sweetie but mommy is gonna be out of town for a bit". Victoria smiled and said "Is that one of Mommy's sisters" as she pointed at Vic. Vic smiled and said, "Yes, but you haven't met me yet because I had been studying overseas for a while now but I've heard all about you, in fact, my name is Victoria as well but I go by Vic and this is your uncle Carl".

Victoria smiled and said, "Yay...I want to show you all my dolls and drawings". Vic smiled and said, "We will in just a few...me and your uncle need to get settled in first". Jay smiled and said, "Sweetie, go downstairs into the pantry and pick out whatever you want and go watch TV". Jay led Vic and Carlos to his office and shut the door. Before Jay could say anything, Victoria smiled and said "We didn't pick the target...it brought us here because you were thinking of your family...so tell me, what do we do now? We can't leave her alone and she can't go with us".

He sighed and said, "Our powers are depleted so we need at least a day to rest so for now we'll take care of her but when we leave I play to drop her off at her grandmother". Vic said" I guess we'd better go over there now" and Jay teared up and said, "I don't think I can face her mother and tell her I failed as a husband and got her daughter killed". Vic said, "It wasn't your fault and we'll be there but you've got to face the music and if they're really the family we know, then they'll accept it". Vic smiled and said "Let's go right now" before she opened the office door and headed downstairs to get Victoria.

After getting in the car and driving over to the Mendoza family house, he parked in the driveway and sat for a minute, trying to muster up the courage to face the music. Vic sighed and got pushed him out of the car before getting out, herself, and pulling him to the door. Jay knocked on the door and it swung open immediately as Julie ushered them in with a smile on her face and which quickly changed when she saw Vic and Carlos". Vic pulled Victoria into another room as Jay prepared to tell Julie everything. 

He walked over to Julie and fell to his knees with his head facing the floor". He Teared up and said "I'm sorry Mrs. Mendoza, I've failed you, and my wife...A-Andrea's dead". Jay broke down into heavy tears as telling her mother drove it home to him. Julie kneeled down and held him as he continued to cry. By now, Vic had re-entered the room and said "I'll show you everything that's happened". Vic's eyes lit up purple as a giant hologram projected the entire battle from start to finish and it also showed Andrea's final words through Jay's point of view which put a smile on Julie's face".

She looked down at Jay and said "You did everything you could, Jay, in the end, she got what she wanted but I don't think she really thought it through...she just wanted to end her pain". I think you should do what she said and finish whatever this mess is and if she's right we'll all see her again...but as far as I'm concerned, you did everything you could and helped her through the worst of it". Julie smiled and said, "I'm proud that my daughter married you all those years ago but you still have that nasty habit of being too hard on yourself".

Jay finally calmed down and sat up, just staring aimlessly while Julie sat next to him. She said, "Don't you worry about Victoria, I'll take care of her...well I'll take care of both of them". Jay said "How did you know?" and she smiled and said when you get older like I have, there's nothing that escapes your razor-sharp vision". Jay smiled and said "Thank you Mom" and she smiled and said, "Whether my daughter is alive or not, you'll always be welcome here...now go get you some rest...you look and smell like you've come from the fiery pits of hell". 

Julie tapped him and said, "Almost forgot...you'll be in the 2nd guest room upstairs, I don't want you in her old room, trust me it won't do anything but escalate the pain you're about to endure". Jay looked at her confused and she said "You feel relieved for now but it's gonna come back in force once the adrenaline begins to fade". Jay went upstairs and showered before laying down to read but ended up falling asleep instead. Julie came in a bit later and turned off the light and tucked him in before leaving. As she stood outside the room she said with a smile "You've always taken care of the family so for once let us care for you".