Mark seemed to be enjoying himself behind the Playstation. Scott felt relieved knowing he was blowing up computer-animated things and NOT anything in the Professor's lab.
The professor started to show Scott the new things he had on the drawing table. The Professor used to work more intensely with Mark and Scott, but he wanted more time to spend with his inventions. (He also usually ended up in the hospital because of Mark's 'oops' factor.)
"So how have things been?" The Professor asked Scott.
"Good. After the last little altercation, we haven't seen much of the LB's."
The Professor nodded.
"That's good."
"I think they are afraid of Mark"
Scott laughed.
"Hey, I heard that." Mark yelled over at them.
The Professor laughed.
"I didn't say that it was a bad thing, I just find it funny that they are afraid of HIM."
Scott looked over at the over-sized kid behind the TV.
The Professor laughed with him.
"I feel so much love in the room right now."
Mark settled lower into the couch.
Scott and the Professor talked for a little bit longer about specs on the new toys that he had designed.
Scott also talked about the fact that he felt they were missing something. He wanted the Professor to come back and work with them more, but the Professor declined.
"I like to stay behind the scenes. I enjoy my job right now. I do the back up. You need another front man that can do what you want."
Scott nodded. He understood what the Professor meant.
Mark finally finished his game and asked if it was ok to re-join them.
"As long as you don't touch anything." The Professor joked with him.
"Yes, dad," he rolled his eyes.
"You know, someday you'll all be sorry for laughing at me. You'll be in a bad place and want my help and I just might think about not helping you. I mean, I could just jump on my skateboard and skate away..."
"If you can stay on the thing...." Scott laughed.
"Did you ever think that everything I do wrong could be an act??" Mark offered this as an explanation.
"Damn fine acting job, my friend." The Professor said.
Scott laughed really hard at his joke.
"OK. Fine, don't we have somewhere else to be?" Mark said, changing the subject and seeming a little annoyed.
Scott smiled.
"Yeah. We have a couple appointments to get to. Thanks for the new equipment, Prof. We'll be seeing you."
"No problem, Scott. Just, keep the explosives away from Mark." He threw Mark a smile.
Mark was chatting the entire way out to the Land Rover.
"I don't know why you two pick on me. I think it is time we bring someone on with us so that I don't get the brunt of all this... I mean I DO sometimes have moments of clumsiness..."
"Sometimes?" Scott interrupted him. "Try all the time, my friend. You need a hobby. Maybe something to keep yourself occupied. Maybe try an instrument.. the piano or guitar would be nice."
Mark smiled.
"That sounds cool... maybe I could get a piano at the office..."
Scott shook his head. He put the key in the Land Rover and stopped. Mark kept babbling on about a new hobby.
"Mark..." Scott said quietly.
"What?"
"Look on the ground."
Mark looked down beneath the Land Rover.
"Do you see that puddle down there?"
"Yeah." Mark got down and noticed a few wires hanging from the Land Rover.
Scott slowly backed away from the Land Rover. Mark and him were walking back to the Professor's building when they heard a clicking sound and then were thrown down to the ground by a HUGE explosion.
The Professor came running out and saw them on the ground. Scott's head was bleeding from a piece of metal that hit him. Mark was complaining that his arm hurt.
"Man, I just got that......" Scott reached up and touched his forehead. The cut was pretty deep.
"Who do you think did..." The professor asked, and was cut off by Scott.
"The LB's. It has to be them. They didn't want us dead, so they left a calling card." He swore under his breath.
Mark was still sitting on the ground. Scott walked over to him and noticed that his elbow did not look too good. Mark tried to move his arm and nearly bit off his lip.
"I think my arm is broken."
"Well, I have a pretty deep cut up here. I guess another trip to the hospital is in order..."
They began to hear sirens and soon saw a police car show up. The officer looked at the flaming Land Rover in awe. This officer was one they had never dealt with before. The Lieutenant they despised showed up soon after. She got out of her car and just rolled her eyes when she saw the two on the pavement.
"I should have guessed." She looked over at the Land Rover.
"When are you two going to stop blowing things up?" She looked right at Mark.
"What? I had nothing to DO with this.... this time." He smiled at her.
She focused on Scott.
"Don't give me the charming smile. It won't work this time. I need a report. No backtalk, no smiles, no eyes." She saw Mark's arm and then noticed Scott's forehead.
"I think we'll first get you two to the hospital... then I'll take the report. Don't try anything, Stapp."
He gave her a smile and walked to the ambulance.
"Yes, Lieutenant."
.........
To be continued....
..Jacki..
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