Voltage ϟ Adam Davenport ϟ

ϟ 35 ϟ

"Oh, you know how he is. He's just working with his step-dad," Tasha laughed uncomfortably. Upon seeing Ben's unimpressed expression she added, "and it's a big house."

Tasha turned to look behind her, hoping that Leo would appear soon. She was running out of conversational topics and it didn't seem that her guests were even interested in any more small talk. She turned back around as she lost hope that Leo would appear.

"So, this holiday weather really makes you wish you were in the East, hu-"

"Leo!" Ben interrupted all of a sudden, looking around Tasha and towards the living room.

The boy maintained the same pace, but his brows furrowed in confusion when he saw the man in the doorway. "Mr. Reeves, why are you here?"

But then, the boy realized the most likely cause for the man's sudden appearance. He stopped in his tracks at once. "I don't want to see Ellie."

Ben's eyebrows furrowed instantly, eyes widening, "She's not here?"

"No," Leo answered, seeming confused, "She told me. She told me . . . the truth and then she left."

Leo had never seen a grown man in fear like he did now. All of the blood in Mr. Reeves' face drained, his face turning a sickeningly pale shade as he stumbled, in shock, holding the door frame like he'd collapse without its support.

"Ben!" Tasha exclaimed as she rushed forward, holding the man upright.

"Where did she go?" he managed to choke out, eyes flitting between a confused Leo and stoic Niche.

Leo now went pale, too. He had spent days convincing himself that he didn't care for Ellie anymore, but he'd never wanted to see her in harm's way. "I-I assumed she just went home."

Everyone in the room froze. The silence that pursued over the next ten seconds was deafening.

"We have to find her, and fast," said the woman beside Tasha and Ben. She looked at the latter as he began to gather himself.

"Is she okay?" Leo asked hesitantly. Tasha moved to her son's side, putting her arms around him in an embrace.

"I'm sure she's fine, Honey," she comforted, a hand smoothing over the top of his head, but her facial expression showed something different. "Why don't you go downstairs again and help Donald? I need to talk to Mr. Reeves and his friend alone."

ϟ ϟ ϟ ϟ ϟ

DOWN in the lab, Adam, Bree, and Chase were all already suited up and were packing mission bags full of gear.

"I'm not gonna let this ruin my Christmas spirit, so I will be wearing my Santa hat," Adam announced to the group as he produced a red and white hat from his bag.

"Really, Adam? A Santa hat with a mission suit?" Chase critiqued, looking up at his older brother in disapproval.

"Hey, if the ladies at the bank can wear them at work, so can I," Adam contested before finally going back to his packing.

Suddenly, another voice came from the side of the room. Davenport had been too busy at his computer to pay attention to his sons' bickering. He was rather entranced in his own work.

"I can't re-establish contact with Dr. Evans -- the volcano must have knocked out satellite communications," the man spoke before he turned, beginning to work on his cyber desk. "This giant ash cloud has plunged the area into total darkness. There is no way rescue teams will be able to get through."

"Well, that means Dr. Evans is trapped," Bree realized aloud.

"Eh, he's better off. The airports are packed this time of year," Adam decided, slinging his bag over his shoulder.