A Heart Between Us

Chapter 9: Food

A Heart Between Us

Chapter 9

Food

Loud music shook the bars on the doors. Jay sat on the cot with Kairi in his arms. Neither could sleep that night. They both tried so hard, but the cold of the room coupled with the loud music didn't help any. She looked up at Jay who looked like he was drifting off. Her eyes fluttered closed too. Both seemed to finally be falling asleep when someone hit the bars.

"Hey! No sleepin. Boss says so." It was one of the hefty men. The door was opened and bread was put down on the floor along with a pitcher of water. Jay's hold on Kairi became painful to her as they watched the man walk around the room. Probably looking for weapons that might have been hidden or made.

The guy walked back out the door and chained it up again.

"Geez. You don't suppose they went broke trying to feed us, do you?" Jay asked poking the bread. Kairi smiled at his attempt at a joke.

She crawled down from the bed and onto the floor. He broke the bread down the middle and handed her half. At least the middle was still nice and warm. It would feel good to eat something. He took a bite and sighed.

"Just like I thought...tastes like cardboard." He said, continued to eat it. He was glad they ate a lot of that pizza, or they'd still be hungry now. He looked down at the little girl who ate slowly. The bread made her gums hurt. She gasped and pulled something out of her mouth and looked at it. She began to panic.

"Uncle Jay...my tooth." She held it up. Jay chuckled and took it from her.

"Hey, why didn't you tell me your tooth was loose?" He asked. Kairi looked at him for a second and then pointed at her tooth.

"You mean that's normal?" It must have been her first time losing a tooth. Jay could remember the first time he lost a tooth.

"Of course it is. I lost my first tooth in my dad's workshop eating an apple." He chuckled pointing to his bottom tooth. "Dad was ecstatic and then called to tell mom." He sat back against the cot. Kairi looked at herself in the chrome bars. She sighed and shook her head.

"Ugly." She whispered, hoping Jay didn't hear her.

"Who says?" Jays loud voice echoed in the room. He obviously didn't like what she said. She glanced up at him crouched down to look at her. "Kairi...you're still a baby. You're still growing into who you're going to be. The rest of the stuff comes later on. But I can see you...your dads are going to be beating the boys off with their weapons. Plus the rest of us. You'll be gorgeous." He told her. She blushed and looked away. "So don't think about it anymore...alright? I'll fight anyone that says otherwise."

Music began to blare in the next room again. He growled and kicked the bars.

"Do you mind! I'm trying to have a heart to heart with my little niece if you don't mind!" He yelled, turning to look at Kairi who giggled at him. At least they were in higher spirits again. It felt good to just laugh, even just a little.

(0)

Zane sat on Kairi's bed. Her stuffed cat lay on the rocking chair by the window. Her pillow clutched to his chest. He wasn't even aware when Pixal walked into the room. Her suit clanking as she moved. She sat down on the bed next to him and put her head on his shoulder.

"Lloyd says we move out within the hour. We know where they are there is no need to wait a week." She told him. He just nodded his head slowly.

"I am...breaking." He told Pixal. Pixal looked at him and scanned him too.

"I can not see any breaks within any of your chassis pieces Zane. Specify?" She asked him. Zane tried to look for a better way to explain it. He looked up at her and sighed. "When she isn't in mine and

Cole's arms...we feel...not whole." He told her. Now that made plenty of sense. Pixal nodded her head and looked at the small cat on the chair.

"Yes...it does seem that way...doesn't it?" She glanced at Cole in the doorway. "But it won't be that way forever, brother mine." She patted his shoulder before leaving the room with a brief nod to Cole.

Cole picked up the stuffed animal on his way over to Zane.

"You know, we should have just gotten her a real cat. Nya said she saw a mouse in the kitchen." Cole chuckled trying to stay level headed about things. Zane could tell he had been crying not to long ago. He took Zane's hand in his and kissed it. "Babe listen...we're heading out soon I..." Zane stood, pulling out of Coles arms, and picked up Kairi's bag.

"I should pack her a few things, just in case she needs warmer clothing." He said. It was obvious he was trying to stay busy. Although it was true they should bring her something, Zane's hands were shaking so bad. Cole grabbed them and turned him around.

"I am going to personally smash every single one of there faces in myself if they heart our baby girl, Zane...I promise."