Another thirty minutes had passed while they were talking, and it was really only making her even antsier that the others hadn't got back yet. It was already nearly five in the morning, and already the Californian sun was starting to shine its rays through the small windows in the garage. Still, a sort of peaceful understanding seemed to have been reached in the car, and a comfortable silence had enveloped all the residents in the vehicle.
They should have left after the confrontation with the soldiers -at the time Travis had told them to leave- but it was by a unanimous and silent decision that when the time came, they stayed put. The only thing Marty did was briefly turn the car on to lower the windows by a crack; this time, she wanted to be able to hear any trouble coming faster.
"Why are they taking so long?" Chris whispered, breaking the silence, staring at the rearview and side mirrors for a glimpse of his parents.
Marty hummed quietly, "Maybe it's taking them some time to find the others. They'll probably be here soon." It felt like an empty promise, but she didn't know what else to say.
"Do you think they'll be pissed that we decided to wait here?"
She turned to look at Alicia's worried expression, "Nah, I think when they finally get here, they'll just be relieved we decided to stick around." The younger girl nodded, settling back into her seat while Chris groaned.
"I just wish they'd hurry the fuck up already," he complained, "I mean, it's been what? An hour and a half already? Right-"
"Alicia!" a familiar female voice shouted.
"Chris!" Travis called out.
As one, all of their eyes widened excitedly as they scrambled out of the car and responded, "Here! We're here!" Pingu slipped out of the car with Alicia and bounded over, dragging his leash behind him, as he inspected all of the returning members before stopping to sniff out a dark-skinned man Marty didn't recognize.
"Mom!" Alicia sprinted into her mother's arms.
"Dad. Dad..." Chris repeated as if in shock as the man pulled him into a tight embrace.
"Are you okay? What happened?" Travis exclaimed as he inspected his son's face. But Marty ignored the tearful reunion happening behind her, her eyes were locked onto only one person.
"Oh, Alicia!" Madison gasped, "Are you hurt?"
"The soldiers, they took the SUV." Chris blurted out, "I'm sorry."
"Marty!" Nick gasped out as he quickly pulled her into a hug that Marty fully reciprocated, she melted into his embrace, "Shit, I-I was so worried about you."
"I tried, Dad." Chris said mournfully as if it was his fault the SUV was stolen- like a fifteen-year-old kid was supposed to be able to fend off three grown-ass men with guns.
"Christopher! My, God, what happened to you!?" Liza exclaimed as she ran to her son and began inspecting Chris's swelling bruise, ignoring her son's protests that claimed he was fine.
"Me?" Marty mumbled as she pulled out of the embrace slightly to stare at Nick reproachfully, "What about you? I was so scared when those assholes took you. Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine." he whispered softly, rubbing away tears she hadn't realized were streaming down her cheeks, "You know me, I'm like a cockroach, I'll always come back." that comment earned him an amused snort from her.
"Idiot." she mumbled lovingly.
Nick only smiled boyishly before tugging her over to meet the new man, "Marty this is Victor Strand. He saved me while we were in the pens." he introduced with a hint of gratitude in his tone, "Strand, this is my girl, Martina Ruiz."
YOU ARE READING
One Day at a Time - (Season One)
FanficMartina Ruiz had to grow up quickly. Both of her parents had passed away before she hit seventeen. Her mother's death had officially left Marty and her little brother, Lukas, all alone in the world... but if she was being truly honest with herself...
