PRT 382- “Cover Up”

I woke up in Jon’s arms. It was amazing. I snuggled into him and he instinctively wrapped his arm tighter around me.

“Morning.” He mumbled as she slowly woke up.

“Morning.” I replied.

“I wish we could stay here forever.”

“Mmm, I know. Me too…but it’s already 7. We need to get ready to go. I have a meeting with the others and you have a lot of explaining to do to Dot and Rich.”

“Ugh, yeah. I do.”

I kissed him then we got up and dressed.

“OK, so what do I do? How should I sell this?” Jon asked.

“Un-bandage your ankle for one. Um…for another I am gonna need to hit you in the head.” I said

He looked at me like I was insane.

“What? You need to have a cut or something.”

He sighed, “Fine.”

“I’ll fly you to a pay phone a few miles from your car. From there you can call Dot.”

“Alright.”

“Just a second and we’ll head out.” I said as I grabbed my Vicodin bottle and popped one.

“Your knee is better isn’t it?” Jon asked.

“Eh, mostly. Still is twingy.

“You’re taking Vicodin for a twinge?”

“It works.”

“It’s too strong. Mich, if you don’t need it you shouldn’t take it.”

“It’s fine. Really. Now, let’s go.”

We went outside and I made sure it was clear then I flew up with Jon.

“Holy crap!” Jon cried as we got higher and higher.

“Pretty cool isn’t it?” I smiled.

“This is unreal.”

“I know!”

I landed in the forest, near a convenience store with a pay phone.

“OK, now this will sting a bit.” I said as I grabbed a rock with a jagged edge. I couldn’t bring myself to hurt him too badly so I dragged the rock across his forehead, cutting it.

“Ouch!” Jon cried.

“Sorry. I’m done.”

“OK, I’ll see you later.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.” Jon said as he kissed me. I flew off. I needed to get to Mina’s. We had work to do.

Jon

~~~

After Michelle was gone I decided to make this more believable. I lied down on the ground and rolled over a couple of times to dirty myself up. Once I felt it looked like I’d been attacked I staggered out of the woods to the store. I went to the pay phone and made a collect call home. Dot of course accepted the charges when she heard my name.

“Jon? Jon, is that really you?” she asked.

“Yeah, it’s me.” I said weakly.

“Oh God, I’ve been so worried. Where are you?”

“Um…a store…it’s the 7-Eleven on the outskirts of the city I think.”

“Ok. Are you ok?”

“My head hurts, but I think I’m ok.”

“I’ll be right there. Just stay put.”

“OK.” I agreed.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

She hung up and I sat and waited. I knew this charade was only beginning, but I had to pull it off…for Michelle’s sake as well as my own.

Several minutes later Dot pulled up. She got out of the car and ran to me, falling into my arms and crying.

“Oh my god, I was so worried about you.” She said.

“I’m ok. Mostly.” I replied as I hugged her.

She finally let go of me and looked me over, noticing the cut on my head and swollen ankle.

“Oh my god, what happened? The police found your car but no sign of you.”

“Carjacking. I saw someone lying in the road so I stopped to help but it was a trick. I was held at gunpoint and carjacked. I tried to fight back but they hit me in the head and left me in the forest. I don’t know how long I was out but when I came to I tried to get out. I finally found my way out of the forest and ended up here.” I explained.

“We should get you to a hospital.”

“No!”

“What? Why?”

“The…media. You know the circus that’s been around us lately. I don’t want to give them anything else to write about. I’ll call Dr. Anderson to come over. She’s used to dealing with celebrities and is great at being discreet.” I said

“OK, fine…but if Dr. Anderson says you need a hospital you have to go.”

“Deal.”

“I guess that means you don’t want to file a police report either.”

“Exactly. Nothing to attract media attention. I just want to go home and clean up and be with my family.” I said.

Dot nodded, “That works for me. I called Rich on my way here. He’s going to meet us at the house. He was as worried as I was when you disappeared.”

“Then let’s go.”

We got in the car and headed home. So far, so good. This may actually work.

Michelle

~~~~~~~

I arrived at Mina’s. I was the first one there.

“Thanks for coming. Can I get you anything?” she asked.

“No, thanks.” I said as I sat down.

“How are you feeling?” she asked.

“Good considering I almost died yesterday.”

“Good morning.” Harley said as she walked in.

“Hey. How are you?” I asked.

“Considering I’m in the past and was almost responsible for killing my own mother, I’m great.”

“It all worked out. For us anyway.”

“We’ll get Rini back too…somehow.”

“So, you never told me…who is your father?”

Harley laughed, “You know better. I can’t tell you that.”

“Just a hint? Please?”

“Hmm, I can tell you my full name and let you try to mull over who it is.”

“Ok, what’s your full name?”

Harley smirked, “Harlyn Nicole DeSantos-Bradley McKnight.”

I looked at her, “DeSantos Bradley McKnight??!!??”

“Yup.”

“Rocky, Hunter, or Conner???”

“Or Blake or Eric if you wanna get technical.” Mina added.

“Oy!”

Harley laughed.

“You’re enjoying this too much. You really are my daughter.” I said.

“Yeah, well, like mother, like daughter.”

“Yeah, it’s bad enough you slept with my boyfr…um…my…”

“You don’t even know what he is to you.”

“Yeah well, I can’t believe you slept with him!”

“You seriously did?” Mina asked.

Harley nodded, “Yeah. I was still under Mia’s spell at the time. I never would have otherwise…but I’m kinda glad I did. He’s amazing. I never understood what you saw in him but now I totally get it. He’s…captivating.”

I smiled, “Yes he is.”

The door opened and Raye and Lita came in with Serena right behind them.

“Ok so what is this all ab…Michelle? Mina? What is this?” Raye asked.

“A team meeting…a real team meeting.” Mina replied.

“YES! See! I knew they’d work it out!” Serena cried.

“Calm down Serena.” I said.

“Seriously.” Raye agreed.

“Where’s Amy?” Mina asked.

“She had a patient to look at. House call or something. She said she’d catch up.” Lita said.

Mina made a face, “Just as well.”

“What?” Raye asked.

“Long story.” Mina sighed as the Outers walked in.

“Ok, we’re here. What’s u…Michelle? We didn’t expect to see you here. And Harley? What’s she doing here?” Amara asked.

“Everyone have a seat and I’ll explain everything.” Mina said.

Everyone sat down and waited for Mina to speak.

“Ok so first of all Michelle and I have spoken and declared a truce.”

“What brought that on?” Raye asked.

“She saved my life.” I said.

“What?!” everyone asked.

“Yesterday Nemesis captured Jon and cornered me. She said that if I didn’t surrender the Amethyst then Jon would die. I agreed to save Jon. She took my cell phone and my transformation bracelet as well as my Amethyst controller then she took me to my apartment and I gave her the Amethyst.”

“You gave her the Amethyst?!” Raye cried.

“Then how are you still alive?” Michele asked.

“That’s when I showed up. I was trying to warn Michelle about Nemesis but she wouldn’t listen. I knew she had something planned so I went to check on Michelle. That’s when I found Nemesis with the Amethyst. I got the Amethyst back from Nemesis and gave it back to Michelle.” Mina said.

“And I have it with me to keep my energy level up until I get that controller back.” I said.

“After she was safe we talked and realized that we’re sick of fighting so we called a truce.”

“And what about Jon? Is he ok?” Amara asked.

I nodded, “Yeah. Seductive little devil he is, he managed to seduce Harley and get inside her mind enough to break the spell. After that she saved him. He’s home now, covering for his disappearance.”

“That must be where Amy is, helping him.” Serena said.

I nodded, “Probably.”

“So is that it?” Raye asked.

“Not quite. We also know who Nemesis is.” Mina said.

“What? You know her identity?” Serena asked.

I nodded.

“Who?!” Lita asked.

“Mia Blackwood.” Mina said.

“Mia?!” Amara, Michele, and Trista all asked.

“Yeah, Mia. That Mia.” I confirmed.

“Oh my god…she totally had us snowed.” Amara said.

“I can’t believe she was behind this all along.” Michele agreed.

“I always did have a funny feeling about that girl.” Raye said.

“So now we know who she is. Now what?” Serena asked.

“Well, there’s more.” Mina said.

“There is?” I asked.

Mina nodded, “I found all this and more out from an old friend. I think he may be the key to taking out Mia.”

“Who?” Serena asked.

“Come on out!” Mina called.

Prince Diamond came out of the bedroom.

“Oh my god! No way!” Serena cried.

“You’re alive? How?” Raye echoed.

“Pure luck. There will be time for me to answer those questions later, but first I believe you need some help saving the future Princess Rini.” Diamond said.

“Yeah, we do.” Lita said.

“Princess Serena, are you ok?” Diamond asked.

“Yeah, I just can’t believe you’re alive.” Serena replied.

“We can celebrate reunions later. Right now I need my bracelet and necklace back from Mia.” I said.

“And we have to get Rini out of there.” Harley said.

“There’s a lot of work to do, but we can do it…although having powers would help.” Mina said.

“Oh! Right, sorry.” Serena said as she summoned the Silver Crystal and gave Mina her powers back.

“That’s much better.”

Jon

~~~

Dot and I got home. Rich and the kids were all waiting for me. I got mobbed when I walked in.

“Daddy, you’re ok. We were really worried.” Steph said as she hugged me.

“I’m ok sweetie, really.” I said hugging her.

“I’ll go call Dr. Anderson. Be right back.” Dot said.

“Dude, what happened?” Rich asked.

“Carjacked.” I said.

“But they found your car. Why did the carjackers leave it?”

“I don’t know. Maybe the realized who they were carjacking and decided it wasn’t worth it.”

“Your wallet was in the car…they may have seen your ID.”

“Exactly.”

Rich leaned over to whisper in my ear, “Mich is worried sick. Have you called her?”

I whispered back, “I called her while I was waiting for Dot. I told her I’d see her later but not to worry.”

Rich nodded.

A few minutes later Dr. Anderson came over and we went to one of the guest rooms and closed the door.

“Mina gave me a heads up. She said you probably needed a cover story.” She said.

I nodded, “Yeah, exactly. I can’t tell anyone that I was kidnapped by Nemesis’s minion so I told them I was carjacked and beat up. Black out for a bit and when I came to I called for help.

“OK. So Dot’s main concern is probably your head.”

“Exactly…but can you wrap my ankle again? It kinda hurts and I had to take the wrap off before I was found.”

Dr. Anderson, “Yeah, of course. And I’ll tell them that it was just a nasty bump but that you should be fine if you can stay awake for the next 24 hours.”

“That works. Thanks Dr. Anderson.”

“I told you, Amy, please.”

I nodded, “Amy, thank you.”

“Are you sure you’re really ok?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“OK, well if you need anything, call me.”

“I will, thanks.”

Amy went and explained to Dot and Rich about my ‘concussion’ and that was that. My story had worked and I was in the clear…for now anyway.