Odetta laid glumly in her bed while Dinah checked her temperature.
"Poor dear, that was a very frightening experience, I wonder why you had to switch off your phone, especially at night,"
She ruffled in the blankets "That was my fault, Aunt Dinah,"
"What exactly were you doing? What was so important that you had to ignore your messages?"
"I was on a date,"
"With whom!?"
She cringed and Dinah hardened "I'm going to have a long talk with that young man, he just made the biggest mistake of his life! I can't believe he dumped you in the middle of the streets, that dingbat. I do not approve, men, always looking out for themselves_"
"Dinah!"
She grimaced silent but still bent on speaking her mind and Derek entered.
"That's enough, Dinah, we're glad she's back," He reprimanded and she stood in aggrieved silence.
"She's getting a high fever," He read the thermometer and it was well over a 100°F
"I wouldn't be surprised if she started speaking gibberish,"
Odetta smiled when Caroline bundled her up.
"You're going to have a lot of time explaining why you walked alone at night,"
They chatted all day while Dinah was making the place comfortable. Caroline pouted when Dinah passed her a stern look and she sighed in defeat.
"Yes Dinah," She recited and picked up her bag.
"You're leaving,"
"No, I'm just going to blow up your kitchen in a moment,"
"With your purse?"
Caroline shrugged with an entertained look. She smiled in relief and laid back.
"And drink more fluids," He brought a water bottle to her hands and she clasped it fiddling with her fingers mortified.
"Um...dad,"
"You're going to the university once you recover,"
"What? You had to bring that up, now?"
"Have I said something wrong?"
Dinah turned when they started to argue and she sighed cutting the lettuce.
"I am not going to nursing school, I've already done enough," Odetta argued.
"After all, you think you've done, it's not enough, you know that's a defeatist mentality_"
"I don't feel defeated, good riddance dad, I-am-not-a-nurse," She pointed out and her bottle shook.
"You don't know what's good for you,"
"Good grief, I'm twenty-one years old!"
"You're still a little girl!"
Her mouth fell open and she folded her arms in resolve. "I am not going,"
"Yes you are, it's going to be good for your career,"
"You mean yours,"
"You're on top of your class_ you've got a scholarship,"
"That resolves nothing, I'm staying and no means no,"
"You and your mother are just the same,"
"Just because I don't agree with you doesn't make me volatile, dad. If you think playing by the rules is so important then I guess leaving mom wouldn't be your first option,"
He looked stunned. "I did not leave her, she left me and this has nothing to do with your mom,"
"I think I'll be taking my siesta now," Her face crumpled and she bit her lip to keep from crying. "Get out,"
Derek hardened. "I'll work on a draft if I have to, near that school and if it means I have to lecture you, damnright I will,"
She swallowed blinking back tears turning away. "You've said your mind,"
"I can't believe this child," He shook his head and marched out.
She winced at the door shutting and sobbed.
Caroline looked at Derek while he left and Dinah blinked in realization and her knife lowered.
***
John McCain stood out from the cell and the sergeant brushed his shoulder after all their findings of his history.
"Ah, Mister McCain, great to meet you. We're sorry for all the embarrassment,"
"None taken," He said grimly and they gave way for him to grab his coat, belt and his 9 millimetre gun.
The officer at the front desk gave him his ID Card and his wallet. He flipped it open with quick reflex startling him as he checked if the contents were complete and he put it in his pocket.
"It's not like my status was written on my face, anyways," He replied cleverly.
"We're sorry," Josh said tugging his tie. "If you'd be willing to work closely with the police,"
"I'd be glad to help...some other time,"
"He's amazing,"
"Yeah, that's what I worry about," Josh said as he walked through the doors scotfree.
***
There was a get-together at Mode Mansion and David attended, he was given attention to in his crayon blue tuxedo and greased hair. He looked distinguished in his designer glasses and the lenses were made of real diamonds.
"Ah, here we go,"
Travis looked younger in his werewolf costume and his hair which his old man so scolded not to color colored it cream, he had David's dreamy blue eyes and a smirk that was passed down to him. His less than tanned skin glimmered and he held out his microphone and installed it on his collar.
"These tech, I don't understand them these days,"
"If it keeps your hand from falling off then it's good for you, Mister Cosby. Don't go too high on those octaves," He gestured a finger under his adam's apple.
He planned to be a pilot with that soft voice and silver tongue, David saw that they were more alike than he thought.
"You know, I'd appreciate it if you called me 'dad' "
"Uh no, you're Mister Cosby, live longer, I beg you," He prodded him to the stage.
David fumbled with his collar going on stage and what he saw to be middle-aged women squealing like little girls and the crowd clapped. He gave a dashing grin that made a waiter look twice and a girl blush, and gathering fans.
As soon the band played, he pranced about like the stage was his.
Going broadway and the trumpeteers backed him up in a showy choreography.
The audience's eyes followed as he clicked his heels after a clean slide and he tap danced his way to a partner then dropped her off.
Brooke scoffed in the background and turned away from the stage. She saw Travis watching him from backstage and he tempered stepping down to meet her.
"Brooke,"