Post by StoryGirl83 on Sept 23, 2008 0:24:11 GMT -5
Chapter Twenty - Hank
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Before anyone could react, two figured began to form in blue and white orbs. One turned into the mysteriously missing Hank Mitchell. As he materialized, his eyes closed briefly and he wobbled as if he had to steady himself.
The other figured turned into Hank’s grandfather, Paige’s father, Sam Wilder. Twice a whitelighter, and the second time rather reluctantly, he was there to support his grandson. He saw Victor at almost the same time Victor saw him. If not for Hank he would have made a hasty retreat.
Victor saw Sam and stiffened. While it had been years since he saw the other man, he could never forget the whitelighter who had become his long dead ex-wife’s lover. Over the years he had been around Sam and Patty’s daughter, Paige, on so many occasions he had lost count, but not Sam. Sam he had seen only sparingly and never enough to feel comfortable around the other man.
Paige visible relaxed at the sight of her son. “Hank!”
Hank grinned as his mom ran over and hugged him tight. After several seconds of a hug so tight he threatened to close off his airways, Hank began to squirm. “Mom, you’re making it hard to breathe.” Thankfully he still had enough air to talk. When Paige loosened her hold, Hank tried to make light of his absence. “I was only gone for a day.”
By this time Henry, Alanna, and Janice had reached them all crowding around their missing son and brother.
“You scared us,” Janice told him. “Why’d they keep you?”
Hank grinned. “I stuck my nose into things they didn’t want me involved in.”
“Well, why’d they take you in the first place?” Alanna wanted to know.
Finally managing to escape Paige’s arms, Hank put off the question. “Just a minute. Just a minute.” Hank wobbled slightly and righted himself before he started across the attic saying, “I want to finally meet Aunt Prue and family.”
Alanna made a face as Hank walked over to Prue, Andy, and their girls.
Hank bowed his head, a grin on his face. He raised his head, “It is an honor to meet you, Aunt Prue.” Turning his attention to Andy he said, “I thank you for the sacrifice you made for my family, Uncle Andy.”
Alanna turned to look at Janice. In a whispered voice she asked, “Okay, did an alien take over our little brother?”
Hank glanced back at his sister, laughter in his eyes. An alien indeed. Really, Alanna, you have such an imagination. A miss step, as Hank turned to looked at Pat and Vicki, caused him to wince, pain running up and down his left leg. I really need to take a look at that. Maybe Wyatt can heal it. Too bad I can’t heal myself. Wyatt’s bound to tell Mom. Hank covered up the wince quickly and grinned at Pat and Vicki. “I believe that I heard your names are Patricia and Victoria. I’m Hank.”
“Actually,” Pat informed him, “I go by Pat and she’s Vicki. It’s good to see you.”
“Very good,” Vicki agreed, glad to see him in front of her alive, even if she had no memories of him from her reality. Her former reality, she realized as it dawned on her that she truly was going to be able to stay here. “I’m glad you’re all right.”
Hank brushed it off, not realizing that she was thinking of his fate in another reality. “About the only danger I was in was dying of boredom.” That was true, for a larger part of the last twenty-four hours anyway.
“That’s not exactly what I meant,” Vicki mumbled, but didn’t elaborate.
“Something to do with the other reality?” Hank asked surprised.
Vicki nodded. “Yeah.”
“Something bad,” Hank trailed off, a frown on his face. “Wait, I was in the other reality?”
“Yes to both,” Vicki confirmed.
“You died when we were very young,” Pat informed him, not knowing a whole lot more than that considering she had been all of two when it happened.
“I see.” Hank wasn’t sure what to make of this news, if it even was something he needed to know.
“How about we don’t talk about depressing things right now?” Melinda suggested.
Hank turned around to look at her. “You must be Melinda.”
“I am,” she confirmed.
“Okay,” Alanna announced, “now that you have met everyone, answer my question.”