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“You wouldn't!” Six admonishes him.
Jackson scoffs. “Like hell he wouldn't. Dude almost ripped my head off to get to him, or have you forgotten how he basically shifted into some kind of demon, bulking out to three times his size and growing horns?”
Luis rolls his eyes, chuckling. “Whatever man.”
“I'm serious,” Jackson says, looking at Bennet with feigned shock. “There was smoke coming out of his ears and everything. I feared for my life.”
“You're an idiot,” Luis deadpans.
“Alright, children. Settle down,” Bennet calls out blithely.
I bet he's as happy as he's ever been. I've certainly never seen Bennet act like this, playful and engaged. The closest thing I've ever seen to playful Bennet was the day he tied Six up and told me how to touch her. Not that I couldn't have figured it out myself, but it was hot. And, admittedly, probably pretty helpful.
“What are you thinking about?” Lukas whispers next to me.
“Trying to get some work done,” I reply, not looking him in the eye.
“Mmmhmmm, alright then.”
The doorbell rings, announcing that Dr. Franks has likely arrived.
“Alright, let's set things in motion. Micah, you stay here with me. Luis, if you could escort Dr. Franks into the room. Frightening him is okay, but please don't hurt him,” Bennet says so casually that it sets us all laughing again.
Lukas and Jackson pick up the extra chairs and start filing out. Six walks around the back of the desk and kisses Bennet.
“It's a really amazing idea. I'm excited,” she tells him.
“Are you very sure?” He asks. “Because we can go with Luis' plan if you're worried or uncomfortable.”
Giggling, Six drops a kiss on my temple on her way out of the room. “We'll have some lunch ready for everyone when you're done.”
“Thanks, doc! Micah's waiting for you right in there!” Like a child that giggles and gives up his hiding spot during hide-and-seek, I can almost hear the grin in Jackson's voice.
There's no way he could ever guess what he's about to walk into, though. I'd feel bad about it, except that we're pretty sure Dr. Franks is responsible for a few missing plasma tubes and that needs to be addressed. If scaring the wits out of him is what it takes, that's what we'll do. Thankfully, I think we have a much more productive plan in mind.
When Dr. Franks walks around the corner and sees Bennet, sitting there looking almost as well as the day we all met, he looks like he might have shit his pants. His face freezes in shock, his mouth held open in an odd expression.
I'm worried enough about the older man having a stroke that I get up and grab him by the shoulders, guiding him to the seat next to mine. He nearly drops a manila envelope, his hands are shaking so much.
“H…How…” He attempts to speak but falls short, surrendering his attempts at speech to stare warily at the man in front of him, as if he were an actual ghost.
“Dr. Franks, it's so nice to see you again. I wanted to thank you personally for flying all the way to D.C. to take care of me. From what Micah and everyone else tells me, I wouldn't be here without you.” Standing to come around the desk and shake the doctor's hand, Bennet looks every bit the master of the world he was before everything fell apart.
The sweatpants don't even detract from the absolute power that emanates from his very posture.
“It was my pleasure, Mr. Adl—Um, Bennet.” He looks at Bennet, uncertain about the use of his name.
“Bennet is fine. I think we've developed that kind of rapport. You saved my life, after all.”
The doctor's shoulders relax, but not all the way. Maybe I'm only noticing because I'm looking for it, but he looks incredibly on edge. His brow is furrowed, the smile lines around his mouth turned down. He looks sad. He looks like he feels guilty.
“I certainly can't take that credit. It was Mr. William's quick thinking that came up with the plasma.” He nods to me, but keeps his eyes on Bennet. “You'll have to excuse me. I was hoping to talk to you, Micah, but I'm struggling to process at the moment.”
“I get it. You should have seen all of us when we woke up to Bennet sitting up like some kind of zombie. It was shocking, to say the least.”
“An absolute miracle,” he breathes. “I cannot fathom…H—how are you feeling?” He asks Bennet.
“Quite well, considering. Maybe a touch fatigued with exertion.”
