A Little Sane

Chapter 35

"Mommy where's daddy?"

Mercedes set a plate of food in front of her kids. She looked at Jessie with a smile.

"Daddy had to go see a friend for a bit that's all. You guys were so busy playing and having fun that he didn't want to make you sad by him leaving."

Aislinn looked down at her food.

"Daddy help tuck us in right mommy?"

Mercedes looked at Abbe and then back at Aislinn.

"Baby girl I don't know how long daddy is going to be gone.. But mommy and Abbe will be right here. Daddy just had some stuff he had to do."

Mercedes looked at Abbe trying to hold back tears. Aislinn's eyes had started watering.

"Daddy will come home though. You know he loves you so much he can't stay away too long."

Aislinn sniffled and played with her food. Dinner was finished in silence.

"Jessie you and Aislinn go play for a bit before bed."

Aislinn and Jessie ran to their room.  Abbe gave Mercedes a sad look.

"You have no idea when he's coming home do you?"

Mercedes sighed.

"But he does always come home..."

Abbe walked into the living room and came back.

"Hey there's something on the news. Something going on downtown."

Mercedes walked into the living room and froze.

Psycho maniac Jerome Valeska is leading the GCPD on a high speed chase through downtown Gotham. He is killing anyone his gun lands on. He seems to be alone. No idea where his deranged wife is tonight. They usually work together. More updates will be given as we gain information.

"I am not deranged... Turn it off Abbe..."

Abbe shut off the TV and slowly walked up to Mercedes.

"Do you want to talk about it..?"

Mercedes shook her head.

"Not really... Thank you though.."

Mercedes gently rubbed Mercedes's arm.

"At least his hand print is gone and you aren't red anymore..."

Abbe noticed Mercedes's silence. She sighed.

"I'll go play with the kids..."

Mercedes was left alone to her thoughts. She was torn between letting this plan go or possibly losing her family just to protect them. She felt like such a  horrible person. She didn't mean what she said to Jerome. They hadn't had a yelling or physical altercation in so long she almost forgot what it felt like. Now Jerome was out there killing random people. Mercedes wanted more than anything for him to just come home. She knew he hadn't put ice on his nose or taken care of it at all. She knew his nose was bruising as she set there thinking about it. She felt so sad because she had to lie to her children about where their father was. She had no idea when Jerome would come home. Mercedes didn't realize how long she had been standing in the kitchen. Aislinn gently tugged on her hand.

"I'm sleepy mommy.."

Mercedes smiled.

"Here I come baby girl."

Mercedes and Abbe tucked in the kids. Mercedes went back to the kitchen. All the dishes were still sitting on the counter. Abbe came into the kitchen and grabbed a plate.

"Mercedes.... Please.. Go to bed.. Get some sleep.. It's late.. I'll clean this up.."

Mercedes pulled Abbe into a hug.

"Thank you..."

Mercedes set on her bed. She was in shorts and a tank top. The room was more quiet than it had ever been. She laid back on the bed and covered up. She wasn't asleep but maybe three hours when her bedroom door opened. She shuffled and flipped over to see Aislinn standing there crying. Mercedes set up.

"Aisie what's wrong babygirl?"

Aislinn walked closer to the bed.

"I.. I wa.. ant daddy..."

Aislinn was crying so hard Mercedes could barely understand her. He reached her arms out.

"Oh baby girl... Come here.."

Aislinn climbed into the bed and into Mercedes's arms.

"Mommy...?"

Mercedes already knew. She rubbed her back.

"Of course you can sleep in here with me baby."

Aislinn snuggled deep into Mercedes. A few minutes later the bedroom.  door opened again. Jessie slowly walked in. Mercedes smiled.

"You can stay in here too. Come on. We'll have a fun sleep over."

Jessie climbed in the bed. Mercedes gently laid Aislinn next to her. Jessie laid super close to Aislinn. Aislinn snuggled deep into Mercedes's chest. Four more hours went by. Jerome was standing at foot of the bed staring at his wife and children fast asleep. He wanted to climb in the bed with them, but he couldn't. He needed to leave. He wasn't sure how to handle her plan and he knew she wasn't going to let it go so easily. He stood there a few more minutes before he left again.