Fragments - Book One of the Missing

Chapter 43 - Scooter

Scooter spread the nut butter on almost burnt toast, applying layer after layer. The nut butter melted into the toast and all over his sticky hands. It may have only been toast, but it could have been the best he'd ever had. The exhilaration from the night prior had him floating on cloud nine.

He savored every bite while reliving the night, and smiled despite having a full mouth. Meera. His eyes closed, remembering their tangled bodies.

"Dude." The toast fell to the plate, and Scooter spun guiltily to face Taniel. "What are you doing?"

It took a few seconds for the rest of the nut butter to clear his mouth. He coughed to speed it along. "Nothing, Gills. Just eating. Things seem pretty tense in there right now."

His shoulders sag. "I know."

"Do you know what you are doing?"

"No." Taniel pressed his fingers to his temples. Scooter knew what he was thinking. All the things he had done wrong, all the reasons they couldn't be together. "I'm messing this all up."

"I'm no guru, but I think you need her, and she needs you, more than you both let on. But that's the last I'll say on the matter... don't turn me into a mush. You already turned me into a freak."

Taniel punched him in the shoulder, and smiled. Clearly he was more than ready to move on to lighter topics. "Do you need another broken nose? It's been a couple years since I broke it the first time. I think it's about time we started figuring out your gift, the hard way."

"Oh," Scooter wiggled his fingers at him. "I can't wait to unleash my hocus pocus on you."

Taniel laughed at him, his back turned to Scooter already. He was almost out of the kitchen when Scooter stopped him.

"Actually, I forgot to mention that I had made a pit stop on my way home this morning."

Taniel looked back at him, waiting.

"I figured we could probably use a weapon or two—it would be better than going with our bare hands." Scooter led him to the couch where he dumped his knapsack this morning. Rummaging through the bag he said, "I was really lucky to find this set for you, it's a gem."

Scooter held out a thick leather belt sheathed with small three-inch knives. Taniel pulled out one of the knives and weighed it in his hand. "Thank the Stars. I lost most of mine in our stint in the Underground. These are incredible. It's like they were made for me." The admiration in his eyes was evident, and Scooter knew he needed to use it to his advantage.

"I also got Rowan a little something. Check these out." Scooter threw two light but sturdy batons to Taniel.

Taniel barely caught them before rounding on Scooter. "You did what? Scooter, we can't give her these! I don't want her anywhere near the fight—we need her to figure out the Underground network and how they are connected to all of this."

"First of all, you need me to figure out the computer network. Second of all, why are you all tweaked out? She needs to be able to protect herself! These are conduits. She can use them to extend her power out. If anything it puts more space between her and any attacker."

Taniel groaned and ran a hand down his face. Scooter knew he got Taniel cornered. "Thinking of her fighting makes me sick. I saw these batons in a dream." Scooter paled. Taniel and his dreams. "And my father's journal."

"If you saw it, then you knew it was going to happen. We can't keep going out unprotected, Taniel. That is a surefire way to make sure something bad happens." Scooter took a deep breath. "You saw her after the Official attacked her, and in the scuffle with Kat. How could you ask her to go in there empty handed? You can't always protect her Taniel. She needs to be able to protect herself. You aren't the only person who cares about her."