Lab Rats: Chasing Pavements {not edited}

Chapter Twenty-One: Mission: Space

The door to The Hideout opens and Brian enters, before stopping as he watches Janet wipe down the tables. He smiles at the sight of her, but she doesn't seem to notice he had walked in. "Hey." Brian gets her attention.

Janet looks towards him in surprise before smiling, "Hey." She stands and steps over to him, "I'm glad you came by."

"I went home early and started going through some of my dad's things." Brian nods and looks down.

"Sure you're ready for that?" Janet asks.

Brian looks up at her and nods, sending her a smile, "It's okay. It actually brought back some nice memories." Janet nods as Brian looks down to a case he holds in his hand, "And I found this." Janet looks down to the case and Brian sits down in one of the tables. Janet follows and sits across from him as Brian opens the case, revealing four medals.

Janet looks down at them, "These were your father's?"

Brian nods, "Yeah. I knew he served, but he never talked about it."

She grazes her finger over them, "Do you know what they're for?"

"Yeah." Brian answers, "They keep a registry on the Internet." He points to one of the medals, "Silver star's for exceptional valour. He rescued three men in his unit during a firefight. He was wounded, but he wouldn't leave his men behind." Brian's eyes shine as he smiles, talking about his father.

Janet smiles and nods, "Sounds like your dad. Wonder why he never told you."

"Maybe he just did." Brian states and Janet looks up at him with question, "You know..." Brian sighs, "you win a couple football games and people start calling you a hero. It feels good, but..." He sighs, "maybe he's just trying to tell me throwing a ball isn't the only way to do something important with your life." Janet smiles slightly at Brian's statement.

The next day at Mission Creek High, Chase, Janet, Bree, Leo, and Adam walk down stairs as Adam sighs, "Oh, I love history class! Someone is always leaving me a little piece of gum stuck under my desk."

Janet, Bree, and Leo exchange glances and Chase states, "Adam, please tell me you didn't."

Adam blows a bubble and it pops in Chase face. "He did." Bree nods, "He totally did."

"Mm-hmm." Janet nods.

"Oh. Guys," Leo gets their attention as he sees Marcus come around the corner, "don't look now, but here comes that guy none of us like. Marcus." Leo whispers his name with venom lacing his tongue.

Adam, Bree, Janet, and Chase look at Marcus before smiling and holding out their arms, "M-dog!"

"Hey!" Marcus holds his arms out and the five hug.

"Wait." Leo interrupts, "Hold the phone. Hold the phone, hold the freaky-deaky phone." He stands in-between them, questioning, "'M-dog'?"

"Yeah." Chase nods, "Bro's call each other by nicknames."

"Well, I'm your actual bro and you don't call me by a nickname." Leo states.

Adam laughs, "Actually, we do. We just choose not to do it in your presence." He leans into Leo, "Mr. Tiny McLittlestein." Adam pats Leo on the head.

Chase, Bree, and Janet laugh before Janet looks at Marcus, "Hey, Marcus, what are you up to this weekend?"

"Ah, my dad's out of town so I'll be stuck home alone with my grandma." Marcus answers.

"Aha!" Leo yells in victory. The five of them look at Leo, who states, "You said your grandma was dead."

"The other grandma." Marcus crosses his arms and his voice cracks, "But thanks for reminding me." The siblings and Janet give Leo a look before Marcus sighs, looking at Chase, Bree, and Adam, "I wish I could stay with you guys for the weekend."