{BOOK 2} I Thought It Would Be Over - Paulkins/TGWDLM fanfic

Chapter 3 - Goddaughter

After a few days, they ran out of food. After they ate leftovers from yesterday's dinner, Paul decides they really needed to go to the stores. "I think I'm going to the stores today, you know, to do some groceries."

Henry raised an eyebrow. "Young man, you've been shot just a week ago, you need to recover. I'll go."

"No, it's fine, it'll be good to get out of the house."

Henry sighed, he clearly did not like the idea of Paul leaving the house. They had got to know each other a lot better after Paul had come back from the hospital. "Let's just go together."

Paul nodded. "I'll get changed and then we can go." He walked upstairs after putting his plate in the sink. He got some clothes from his closet and sighed. Putting on clothes is difficult when one of your arms is in a sling and your shoulder hurts if you pull your shirt down too hard. He only wore oversized t-shirts at the moment, it was too hard to put on anything else. It was embarrassing, but Henry even helped him tie his shoelaces. Gosh, he hated not being able to do those simple tasks on his own.

Henry opened the door, but someone was standing in front of it. Paul could only see a hat with the PEIP logo on it, so he knew it was an officer. "Hello, how can I help you?" Henry asked.

"I'm looking for Ben Bridges and Brian Johnson, is that you?"

Paul rolled his eyes when he heard their new names and pushed Henry out of the way so he could face the officer. "I'm Ben, and that's Brian. What do you need us for?"

"I came to check for any signs of infection."

"We were just about to leave, can we do that another time."

"It won't take long, I just need a small blood sample." the officer said, grabbing a syringe from his bag.

Paul looked at Henry and shrugged. A pain shot through his shoulder and he chuckled at his own stupidity, luckily the pain wasn't too bad. The professor walked to the man and pulled his sleeve up. He didn't even show a reaction when the officer took his blood, and after a few seconds the officer looked at Paul. He hesitantly pulled his sleeve up and stiffened when the officer closed his hand around Paul's wrist. He had so many injections of painkillers and all kind of other things when he was in the hospital, but the feeling of a needle being pushed into his skin still freaked him out. He let out a small hiss of pain when the officer took his blood, but it was done after a few seconds. The officer thanked them and left.

Paul looked and Henry and they locked the door and got into the car. Paul stared out of the window during the drive to the mall. He saw a small group of teens laughing and smoking on a park bench. Alice looked at them from the corner of the playground. Wait, what? Alice?

"Stop the car!" Paul shouted.

The car jolted to a stop. "What's wrong?"

"Alice... I saw her. Right there!" She wasn't there anymore.

"Paul... That's probably just your imagination. We've been through a lot. Sometimes you make things up when you're scared."

"Yeah... You're right. Let's go." Henry smiled at him, before continuing their trip to the mall.

"Uncle Paul!" 6 year old Alice shouted as he entered the house.

"Hi Alice!" The girl jumped into his arms and Paul stumbled a few steps back.

"I missed you! I got so happy when dad said you'd come over! Come on! I want to show you something in my room!"

Paul put Alice down and took the girl's hand. She excitedly led him to her room. She grabbed a stuffed animal from her bed. It was a cute turtle with big eyes. "Mom bought it for me! He doesn't have a name yet... Do you know a good name?" Before he could answer, she exclaimed, "Oh! I'll call him Paul!"

Paul smiled. "That's a great name."

"Hah. You only say that because it's your name, uncle Paul."

Paul looked at the girl. She had no idea her parents were fighting so much. That's the reason why he was here: to look after Alice while her parents were planning their divorce. "Hey, Alice? What do you think, do you wanna come over to my place? We could watch a movie together? I already asked your parents."

"Yes! Can I take Paul the turtle with me?"

"Of course sweetie. Go grab your stuff, you might sleep at my place so bring some extra clothes, okay?"

"I'm so excited uncle Paul!" Paul smiled when he left the room to look for Bill. He loved his goddaughter, he'd protect her at all costs.