Lab Rats: The New Addition

Home

  Well, here we are. The entire academy has been blown to bits. Luckily, we weren't blown to bits with it thanks to Chase. I look at Chase, who is humming The Itsy Bitsy Spider, and I hug him tightly. "You're a hero," I say to him. "You saved everyone because you're so clever." He hugs me back, still humming. Someone taps me on the shoulder. I turn around and see Bree, looking very confused. "Now can you tell me what the heck is going on," she asks. I sigh, "All right. Here goes nothing."

...

  "So, you're telling me that your father put us under a sleeping spell after he captured you, then he captured and tortured Chase, all because he wants to rid the world of bionic humans?"

  I was finally able to reply when Bree finished her long question, "Yes." "Wow," she says. "It feels like we're trapped inside a movie." She puts her three middle fingers to her lips and holds them up in the air, doing that whistle thing again.

"Will you cut that out," I yell. "This isn't a joke!" "Sorry," she says, her cheeks turning bright red. I sigh, "Look, we'll just go live in Tasha's house, if she has enough room for everyone in the academy and for an innocent teenage boy who's been tortured miserably." "Trust me, Tasha is one of the sweetest people I know," says Bree. "She'll welcome all of us in, including Chase, with open arms."

...

"My goodness, of course you can stay!"

  Yup. Bree was right. Tasha is welcoming all of us in with open arms. "Thank you so much, Auntie Tasha," I say, hugging her tightly. "No problem, sweetie," she says, sweetly. Suddenly, she gives a frightened gasp. "What's wrong," I ask. She lets go of me, "What happened to..." I turn around and see that she is looking at Chase, who is sitting with his back against the wall hugging his knees, rocking back and forth as he sings Rock A Bye Baby.

  "Oh, him," I say. "Well...you see, he...my birth father is...evil. He wants to rid the world of bionic humans. He captured Chase and tortured him. He also captured me, but I managed to get both of us out of my father's place. If it weren't for Chase and his Nursery Rhymes, my father would have blown us all to pieces!" "Oh my gosh," says Tasha. I can tell that she is trying not to cry. She hugs me. "I'm so so sorry," she says as I hug her back. She lets go of me, walks over to Chase, and kneels down in front of him. "Chase," she says, softly. "Chase, it's me, Tasha. You can call me Mom." Chase stares straight ahead at nothing but the wall, singing:

Rock a bye baby
In the treetop
When the wind blows
The cradle will rock
When the bough breaks
The cradle will fall
And down will come baby
Cradle and all

  I hear weeping and realize that Auntie Tasha is crying. She hugs Chase, causing Chase to go wide-eyed, but he hugs her back. Then Auntie starts to sing, finishing the lullaby:

Baby is drowsing
Cosy and fair
Mother sits near
In her rocking chair
Forward and back
The cradle she swings
And though baby sleeps
He hears what she sings

From the high rooftops
Down to the sea
No one's as dear
As baby to me
Wee little fingers
Eyes wide and bright
Now sound asleep
Until morning light

  I see Chase become less tense as he hugs Tasha back. I smile at this. When Chase finally lets go, Auntie Tasha stands up. "All right, everyone," she announces to the students. "I heard what happened and I am truly sorry. I welcome you all with open arms." Everybody starts shouting praises at Tasha and she smiles. I look over at Chase. He is still hugging his knees. He cups his hands over his ears and starts to cry and panic. The noise is too much for him. I tap Auntie on the shoulder. "Auntie," I ask. "Can you please get them to quiet down? They're scaring Chase. The noise is overwhelming him." She nods.

  "Can everyone please quiet down," Tasha asks, rather loudly. The noise starts to die down as Tasha whispers, "Shh." Soon, there is complete silence. Auntie Tasha smiles, "Well, this is a bit of a surprise, but I'm sure that I can make arrangements for you all to stay here as long as it's okay with my husband." She glances at Uncle Donny. "Of course," says Uncle Donny. Tasha smiles again, "Good. I just need to fix up the house a little and you all are set! Now, you can just make yourselves comfortable while I start cleaning." Everyone starts roaming around the house while I walk over to Chase, who is still hugging his knees and rocking back and forth, still singing. I sit next to him. Then, unexpectedly, he stops singing, lays down, and rests his head on my lap. I smile and run my fingers through his hair. This time, I sing him a lullaby:

We know full well
There's just time
So is it wrong
To dance this line?
If your heart
Was full of love
Could you give it up?
'Cause what about
What about angels?
They will come
They will go
Make us special

  I hear light snoring. I stop singing, look down and realize that Chase is sound asleep. I smile and bend down to kiss his forehead, "Sweet dreams, my Little Genius. I love you."