Always Standing Steady

Today We Meet Again

161200SJUL16: July 16, 2016. 1200. Topeka, Kansas, United States of America.

Isabella did yet another headcount. Usually this was Derek's thing, but because he had gone to drop Morgan off at his dad's house, he was not there to do it and then proceed to inform her that the exact same people were still present and accounted for. Nothing had changed, yet she still scanned the room. Aaron Enderic was there, sitting on the sofa with his pile of dogs. Xandra Fisher was in the kitchen making tea, probably spiking it with booze in the process. Nick Holloway was pacing and calling Mia yet again. Will Fisher, who had appeared out of nowhere the moment Ari had vanished again, was staring at the wall as if transfixed by it--probably an effort to avoid meeting his mother's eyes.

James Fisher had run out of the house with one glance at his phone and did not give any indication where he was going. Derek had gone to drop off Morgan and would probably return with nice, healthy lunches for everyone. Tom and Molly Siteki had slipped out of her line of sight almost the moment Ari appeared and Isabella had not been able to get a hold of them since. And, of course, Elle and Mia were still missing.

"So," Will spoke up to break the silence, "how has everyone been, you know, aside from the psycho freedom fighters and Ari being dead. And not being dead."

"Fuck off," Aaron spat at him. It seemed that had not changed.

"Come on, man," Will shot back. "Hey, can I pet your dogs."

"Don't touch my dogs, man," Aaron snapped back and cuddled all four of them closer to his lap.

"Stop it, both of you," Isabella snapped at them. "We still have four people unaccounted for and a dead girl who is not dead and now a badass assassin or something."

"We totally don't know if that was Ari-" Will tried to explain.

"It was Ari," Aaron cut him off. "Come on, how many other badass redheads have we ever known?"

"Ari had legs."

"Shit changes."

"Not that kind of shit."

"Will, she was a literal soldier," Aaron snapped even louder. "Yes, that can change. Okay? Now please just shut up."

"If I can pet yours dogs I will."

Aaron turned to Isabella, "you have a gun, don't you?"

"Yeah and I will line you two up like watermelons and use it. If you're lucky, you won't be the one in the front," Isabella snapped louder than both of them.

"At this rate, I'll take the front," Xandra reentered the room with a bad attitude that nearly rivaled her son's. It seems that ran in the family.

"You better not be drinking all my booze," Isabella told her firmly.

"Just some of it, dear," she responded.

Nick groaned loud enough to remind everyone that he was still there. "I can see why Mia hates all of you and hates coming home."

"Oh, really," Xandra drawled. "I'll let you know that she loves coming home. She gets to ride my ex all over that big, empty house of his. She always was a leftovers kind of girl."

"Xandra!" Isabella broke into her cop voice, "that is enough. I will kick everyone who has ever had the last name Fisher out of this house."

Aaron was not above snickering just a little.

"Oh, you too. But I'm keeping the dogs."

"Don't touch my dogs," he replied indignantly, again pulling them more onto his lap.