Spy School Oneshot Collection

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Pre-Canon

"Where's Erica?" Catherine asked when she got home.

"I don't know," Alexander said. "Dad took her."

"Took her where?"

"I don't know. If you really want to know just call him."

"I think he has my number blocked," Catherine said.

"You have like ten different phone numbers," Alexander said. "He can't have all of them blocked."

"Well, he never answers my calls."

"Fine. I'll call him." Alexander got out his phone and dialed Cyrus's phone number.

He didn't pick up.

"Is Mary with him?" Catherine asked.

"Does she answer your calls?" Alexander asked.

"Usually."

"Mary said Cyrus was going to take Erica out to the woods and teach her to navigate," Catherine said, slipping her shoes back on and reopening the front door.

"Where are you going?" Alexander asked.

"I know she's very intelligent for her age, but I will not have our daughter dropped off in the woods like this, at least until she's a little bit older."

"I'm sure she'll figure it out," Alexander said as Catherine dragged him to the car. "He never killed me."

"He didn't do this to you," Catherine said. "He gave up on you when you were a week old and couldn't sit up yet."

"That's fair," Alexander said. "But it's not like he's going to tell you where he left her."

"Oh, I'm aware that would interfere with her training," Catherine said. "But it's not like Cyrus is going to kill me."

"That's just because he's waiting for me to do it on accident first, so he can blame me."

"Would be one way to ruin your reputation," Catherine said.

When they arrived at Cyrus's house, Catherine raced around to the backyard where Cyrus was standing at the edge of the woods, next to his shed of duct tape.

"Where is she?" Catherine asked.

"Don't get all riled up," Cyrus said. "I'm tracking her right here."

Catherine groaned when Cyrus pointed to his phone.

"Uh, Dad," Alexander started to say before Cyrus rolled his eyes, shutting Alexander up.

"Show me where she is," Catherine demanded.

"She's right... oops," Cyrus said. "Just don't worry about it. Kids don't need to be coddled. This is good for her."

"She's two!" Catherine exclaimed.

"And a half," Cyrus said. "Plus, she has a compass."

"How long has she been out there?"

"About an hour," Cyrus said, his tone absurdly casual.

"Where did she start?" 

"A mile out. She should be back soon."

"If she hasn't gotten herself all turned around."

"She hasn't," Alexander said.

Catherine whirled around to face him.

"She's right over there," Alexander said, pointing.

Catherine ran over to Erica. "Are you ok?" she asked.

Erica nodded.

"Oh, you're all muddy... Are you sure you aren't hurt?'

"Yeah."

Catherine sighed. "Don't let your grandfather take you out there like this again."

"I didn't want to," Erica said.

"See?" Cyrus said from across the yard. "She's fine."

"You lost her."

Cyrus shrugged. "How else is she supposed to learn?"