Sean hadn’t long left the locker room after his impromptu scuffle with Hans von Richtoven. He was still feeling the effects of Hans’ hook to his jaw, noticeable from him involuntarily rubbing his cheek with one of his hands and prodding the inside of his cheek with his tongue. He wondered if he was going to bruise. Not that he was ever worried about cuts and bruises from fights but he had told Michelle in no uncertain terms that he was only going to talk to Hans - something she was very insistent on after the faux pas that had occurred earlier in the night. She had seen first-hand the look in Sean’s eyes after Hans’ accidental headbutt and it had taken all of her soft, calming touch to disperse the red mist clouding his vision.

As he made his way back to his own dressing room, he heard raised voices and a shrill-like scream. Sean’s walk transitioned into a jog and it was then he realized the voices were from the room David and Evina were in. He finally reached the room to find it swamped with security guards as well as Michelle who was stooped down, hugging David. As soon as he saw Sean, he ran to him, wrapping his little arms around his big cousin’s waist. Evina then squeezed her way through the throng of security and made her way over to Sean as well. He looked over to Michelle and to the security in the room and spied the office worker, bloody nose, receiving treatment. Alarm bells were ringing and he was trying his damndest to remain calm.

(Sean): What the hell happened?!

David shuddered wrapping his little arms around Sean's neck. He called him Uncle Sean, despite them being cousins. To David it just seemed appropriate, he was much older and he already had two cousins...Sarah and Jake. He wiped his tears on Sean’s shoulder.

(David): She tore my art page Mr. Wolfy gave me, and EV’s elephant and hit that lady. Beat her up, Uncle Sean, you said!

David points in the direction Michelle is standing which utterly bewilders Sean. Seeing the look on his face Michelle approaches apprehensively. Words on her lips she’s hesitant to say fearing the truth behind their actuality. She rubs David’s back as he leans his head into Sean’s shoulder.

(Michelle): She went that way towards the garage, gone by now.

Butch and Wisdom are on the way…they were with the sitter and…the person she described sounds like it was Erica.

(Evina): It was Erica, Erica Martinez.

Evina was still upset, lashing out now with her own frustration.

(Evina): I hate her! Wait ‘til mom and dad hear about this, she’s so fired!

David pulls his little head away from Sean’s shoulder and they’re now face to face, nose to nose. He had the intensity of his father’s eyes, an apparent genetic Parker trait, only sadness was behind them in this moment.

(David): You said!

An empathetic look comes over Michelle’s face, one with a mix of guilt. She didn’t have anything to do that night, she could have helped watch them. Would it have made a difference if she were there? Would she have just froze seeing Erica invade their space?* She had to think she could have protected them at least, taken the assault herself. This was the second time she’d failed a child, what good was she? Her stomach turned.

Sean, on the other hand, felt his own stomach turning but for a different reason. It felt like a bubbling volcano waiting to erupt. The fact Erica would dare even target the kids made his blood boil. Seeing David inconsolable, his tear-laden eyes buried in his shoulder and Evina, like her mother, furious was like a knife to the heart.

Had the kids not been here, he would’ve been burying his fists into the walls and making a beeline for the parking lot and hunting that bitch down. But he had to be Uncle Sean at this moment, not Sky Assassin Sean. As if on cue, something he was finding more and more common these days, a subtle tug on the inside of his skull. Like a reflex, he reacted, as subtle as he could, as if he was scratching something on the back of his head; something Michelle had spotted him doing these last few days as well. He looked to David and to Evina.

(Sean): Don’t you worry, guys, your mum, dad, Auntie Michelle and I will take care of things, I promise.

The “I promise” was said almost through gritted teeth as he affectionately stroked the tears away David’s cheek and squeezed Evina’s hand assuringly.

And then, Butch and Wisdom arrived on the scene and the pride was complete. The alpha male darting his eyes around quickly scanning the entire area with military precision, taking account of everyone and everything in an instant. Wisdom’s outright beauty belied the look of concern on her face at the two of them having been summoned so quickly with no time to be told what was going on. Her eyes immediately went to David and Evina. Evina approached her parents; she had inherited that Parker rage now breathing heavily with clenched fists.

(Evina): It was Erica Martinez, she attacked us.

(Wisdom): What?

Wisdom’s eyes went straight to Sean in disbelief, looking for affirmation. There were a lot of things one could say about the Parkers, a lot of things one could, but ask the Rhodes what happens when you fuk with their kids. She didn’t wait for Sean, she turned in a fury, her hair whipped behind her like slow motion capturing a brush of wind in a lion’s mane.

(Michelle): She’s gone…she already left.

(Evina): Daddy, you’re gonna fire her, aren’t you?

Wisdom turned back looking at Butch with a fierce gaze awaiting his response. At this point she didn’t disagree, to hell with the lawsuit that would follow, they’d settle in court and move on, and after that she’d get her hands on her.

Butch and Sean both shared a look; a look Wisdom had seen before from her husband but only fleetingly in her nephew. Like Sean, Butch was trying to keep his temper in-check. His well-documented anxiety was finally at a point where it was under control with limited use of medication and he knew he didn’t need anything else exacerbating it. The two sets of emerald green eyes met as if they had a telepathic connection. “Handle it” seemed to be the indicated message. Michelle saw the flash in Sean’s eyes as he delicately handed David over to his dad. Butch meanwhile did his best to morph from his alpha male form and spoke softly to his son and daughter.

(Butch): That’s not for you to concern yourself with, EV. Mum and Dad will handle this.

(David): Uncle Sean will beat her up! Nobody can beat him! He’s like a superhero!

David’s innocence and childhood marvel at his big cousin drew involuntary smiles from the adults in the room.

(Butch): Did she hurt you? Either of you?

(Michelle): She punched the poor sitter over there, bless her.

Butch’s gaze turned to the woman who had been assigned to look over the kids whilst he and Wisdom were seeing to the usual post-Havoc details. He walked over to her, David still clinging to him like a koala, as a first-aider saw to her bloodied nose.

(Butch): Sandra, I’m so sorry this happened to you; we’ll of course cover your medical bills through our company insurance. We’d been led to believe most of the talent had left the building. If we knew she was still here, we would’ve ensured your security was heightened. Whatever you need, please let me know.

(Sandra): Thank you, Mr Parker.

Evina stomped over to her dad, hands and arms held out in dramatic fashion.

(Evina): Daddy, are you seriously not going to fire that bitch?

Back into Dad mode. Shocked faces looked around. Butch pointed an accusatory finger at his daughter.

(Butch): Young lady, watch your language! Your mum and dad will handle this!

(Evina): What’s the big deal? You and mom swear all the time! I’ve heard mom call her worse than that! Besides, we all know Uncle Sean and Uncle Hans are going to get revenge on her anyway!

(Wisdom): That’s enough Evina, your dad said we’d deal with this, end of discussion.

Evina shrank back, pouty. Wisdom looked at Michelle just briefly, she knew it was her anger, her frustration boiling over inside but for the first time she could remember she was disappointed with Michelle, “she’s too weak” she thought. It was just a flash of a moment that she looked at her before turning her eyes to Sean who she knew she could rely on. It was the same look he and Butch had exchanged…one of knowing.

Nothing about them Erica had ever said had been true, but she crossed a line one too many times and if she thought there was a “conspiracy” against her before. Wisdom was not intent on bringing it to life, whether anyone else agreed or not. She was a woman who relied on her own devices and while she had faith in Sean, she wouldn’t be without a backup plan. She looked across the gathered crowd.

(Wisdom): Alright, shows over, let’s wrap this up and clear out. Evina, come with mommy. Butch had already grabbed David up in his hulking arms and the four of them headed off down the hall. Michelle turned to Sean.

(Michelle): I feel terrible, I should have been here. I wasn’t even doing anything, I was just sitting in your room waiting for you to get back. Did you even get to talk with Mr. Hans?

The sweet, delicate sincerity of her face washed over him in waves. They were like a volcanic eruption when it met the sea. Sean remained silent, as if deep in thought. She took him by the hand interlocking her fingers in his.

(Michelle): Sean?

Sean snapped back to reality, looking down at Michelle.

(Sean): Huh? What? Oh yeah, we talked, everything’s uh… everything’s cool. Look, don’t feel bad about tonight. You weren’t to know. By all accounts, Erica had already left after her match so she obviously came back to the arena. Don’t overthink it.

He pulled their interlocked hands up and kissed her’s before leaning and lightly kissing her lips.

(Sean): Everything will be fine… I promise.

They turned back towards the locker room area, behind them Sandra was being escorted by officials to see medical staff before getting her to the hospital. The rest of the arena was in full swing tearing down. Michelle thought about what Sean said, would everything really be alright this time? It’s what everyone always says, but there Erica is…always rising like a cockroach after a nuclear explosion, and it never seems to be alright. She leaned her head on Sean's shoulder and for the night, took comfort not only in his words, but in the word of the Lord and the saying “Let go, and let God!”

(Michelle): Hey, I’m proud of you tonight.

(Sean): What do you mean?

(Michelle): You were so good with the kids, little David idolizes you; you’re like a superhero to him. And you stayed calm, you didn’t blow a gasket and turn into the Hulk and go rampaging after Erica like I know you probably wanted to.

She reached up and gave him a peck on the cheek before stroking his cheek with the back of her hand.

(Michelle): So yeah, I’m proud of you. And I know you struggle with faith, but it’s a sign of strength…”

Sean smiled, wrapping his arm around Michelle’s shoulder as the two walked down the hall as the scene faded to black.