Opposites Attract

Stars And Moon Part Three

It took but a few minutes to toss the chicken in with the pasta and sauce, mixing it all together. She grated some cheese into a bowl and put it, along with some big bowls and cutlery, onto the table beside the pot of pasta. Everyone would roll up at some point and help themselves.

As usual she dished him up the biggest portion she could fit in a bowl and glared at him until he took it. She pointed to the couches in the family room and he slunk off, knowing that resistance was futile. She dished herself up a much smaller portion and took that, along with a couple of glasses of water, because as usual he had forgotten to get himself a drink, and joined him.

Alan was the next to appear, sniffing hopefully at the air, darting off to grab some food. Gordon followed soon after, with Virgil then Scott bringing up the rear five minutes later.

"So," Scott began, managing to pick the moment that everyone had their mouths full and couldn't argue with him, "debrief."

There were muffled groans all round but no one tried to stop him, it would be like trying to slow the passage of time, impossible. Best to just get it over with rather than prolong the torture.

Scott, being Scott, ignored their collective moaning and continued.

"I know we had some loses today, but they were out of our hands, we couldn't have done any better. We all worked hard, did our best and saved more lives than would have been spared had we not been there. I know it's hard when you face the things we did today. You know the drill, one by one, I want you all to go over what you did and report any damage you or your equipment sustained."

Selene kept quiet while everyone talked about their part of the day, she didn't really have anything to contribute, for which she was actually grateful. Honestly she was hoping she could just fade into the background and be left alone.

John put his almost empty bowl on the table beside the couch and nudged her gently.

"You're quiet," he whispered. "Everything OK?"

She nodded. "Yeah, I'm good."

He didn't look like he believed her.

He took her hand in his, squeezing it gently, then frowned.

"Where's your-"

She looked down at her hand for a second before his meaning became clear. She had a mental flash of taking her ring off and handing it over.

"Oh! Scott has it, or at least he better still have it."

"What? What does Scott have?" Alan was in there like a bloodhound scenting gossip.

Scott's head shot up from the file of something that was probably important but she hadn't paid attention to, that he was quietly discussing with Virgil.

John ignored his youngest brother.

"Why does he have it? Are you attempting to swap again?" He wasn't really being serious, but still couldn't help the tiny spark of worry. Had she not wanted to be seen with it?

She patted his hand, knowing where his thoughts had gone to. "I took it off because it would have ripped through the examination gloves, plus I was putting my hands inside a person."

"Shit! Ring! I'll be right back!" The eldest Tracy tossed the tablet at Virgil and took off like he'd been shot from a cannon.

"Ring?" Virgil's raised eyebrow was a thing of beauty as he put the tablet down on the table, grateful for the distraction. "Is there something you two want to tell us?"

"There's a ring?"

"What kind of ring?"

Selene glanced at John, it was his family and his right to tell them.