Brass Tacks #4
“Well, our first big boom is back in the Caribbean, where we know he’s building up his gun supplies on another friendly island,” Felix said. “We figured England for a week, the tiny island goes boom and….”
“And we’re on our way to our next destination in the company of two people who look like the people who blew up the guns,” Josh said. “I get it. Two different destinations, lots of—”
“Oh my God,” Molly said, as though this had just occurred to her. “Are we going to put somebody in boobs and a wig? Please tell me yes. Please tell me that’s part of the plan.”
Danny snickered. “Well, it is now, precious. It can be.” He sobered and made eye contact with everybody.
“But we need to get to work. Felix is sending you info on every actual site that will be approached and assailed—we need all of the big brains in this room to be thinking of plans. Don’t get all up in your feelings if we take somebody else’s plan.
You may be implementing it, because this is going to be big.
Josh and Liam, you two are on sites of distraction—where can you be most efficiently me. ”
“Do you have a bucket list, Uncle Danny?” Josh asked eagerly, and Danny smiled at him beatifically.
“Oh, my boy, I’m sure I can get you some suggestions. How kind of you to ask.”
“So four major ops and their distraction points,” Felix summarized.
“The fifth op depending on what we learn from the first four. Stirling, Tienne, and Danny will be our major computer power, although yes, I know the rest of you don’t suck at it.
But this way we can send Stirling and Tienne on the road with whomever is most in need, and they’ll have hackers right there.
I’ve leased us some extra time on the satellites—”
“You can do that?” Grace asked in wonderment.
Felix grimaced. “Well, technically, the network leases transponders all the time. Because this is breaking international, I obtained access to more along a broader spectrum so our commlinks will be unimpeded.”
“And also to get the news out that the mainstream American news is neglecting,” Julia said darkly, and the crew winced.
“Yeah,” Liam agreed. “Sorry, you lot, but your networks are embarrassing right now.”
“We know,” Lucius said, sounding depressed. “Believe me, we know.”
“So, yay Dad for the patriotic news coup,” Josh said dryly. “And let’s hear it for transponders in new places.”
“And for work to do,” Danny said. He glanced at Josh and Liam apologetically. “You’re staying at the mansion tonight?”
“Yeah,” Josh said, and Liam tried not to let his disappointment show because he’d harbored a deep hope for one more night in the apartment, alone. “We’ll be at the family workout tomorrow.”
“Excellent.” Danny rubbed his hands together like a happy goblin. “We work best in gestalt, children, and I can’t say I’m not counting on the lot of you to think us up a miracle.”
At that point Julia let out the most amazing yawn, and the entire assembly stopped to stare at her as it seemed to devour all of her person, energy and all. When she was done, Leon cupped her elbow and said, “Ahem.”
She gave him a beseeching look, but he shook his head.
“We have an agreement,” he enunciated. “Besides.” His dark eyes—much like Josh’s but older, more calculating, though still a handsome, depthless brown—swept the assembly.
“I think we’re ready to break up for the evening.
It’s time for everybody to get to their computers and analyze information, and time for you to rest.”
“I am perfectly capable of—”
Leon kissed her, right there, and Liam watched as Josh’s mother melted in his arms.
When he pulled back, he cocked his head, and Julia seemed to wilt against him. “That will not always work,” she said crossly.
“No, it will not,” he agreed. “So I’m taking advantage while I have it. Good night, everybody.”
She gave him a droll glance but allowed him to shepherd her up the stairs with a good-night wave. As soon as they were gone, the happy gossip began.
“Did you know?” Molly asked Josh.
“No,” Josh said. “But I feel stupid for not.”
“You’re going to have a sibling!” she practically squealed. “And Grace, you too!”
Grace wore a transported look. “More babies to sit on!” he said happily. “And we can take the new squashed baby to Michael’s house, and those kids can sit on it. It will be squashed baby soup!”
“This baby will be more superbaby than Josh!” Stirling said, sounded excited. “We’ll teach it electronics—”
“And languages and art!” Tienne added.
“And cars!” Michael said.
“And theater,” Molly added.
“And safety,” Carl muttered. “And Chuck, we know you’re teaching all the kids to drive.”
Chuck let out a maniacal laugh that everybody joined in on.
When it had faded, and Liam felt the tiredness of what was becoming a late evening settle in his bones, Josh turned to Danny and Felix.
“You guys, did she mean it? I mean, I know Leon’s a good dad, but… you guys.” And for the first time Liam heard the forlorn note of the little boy Josh was trying so hard not to be. “You… you three were my parents. You’re all… you know, still a team, right?”
Both of his fathers met his gaze. “Yes, son,” Felix said softly.
“She… I mean, she begged us to stay here with her, but I think as things get going, she’ll probably cling to Leon and Danny, and I will join you all out in the world.
But as for being parents together? Yes. I…
what we’ve forged as a family—it’s quite unique.
” He glanced around the room. “And that goes for all of you. Since March of last year, our family has grown so much. There’s most assuredly room for one more.
I….” He swallowed, obviously trying not to be emotional, and Danny took over.
“We’ll stay family,” he said firmly. “And I suspect we’ll stay in the game.
But right here, this place, will always be open to you.
Your sanctuary. Your home. Whenever you all need it.
” His lips twitched in a faint smile. “Back before we met Julia and ever dreamed of a Josh, I dreamed of heists. I dreamed of revenge,” he said with a modest tilt of his head.
“I dreamed of riches and art and the ability to have a life full of books and knowledge and fun. I never, ever dreamed of the whole of us. I should have, but I didn’t know I could have everything.
I like it.” His smile grew in both emotion and mischief. “I’m not letting it go now.”
The meeting broke up after that, each of them to their own quarters.
In the past, Liam had managed a guest room, often using one of the dedicated rooms of the folks who’d been staying in their city apartments.
But tonight, he and Josh followed Grace and Hunter up the stairs, and instead of peeling off to their room, Grace grabbed Hunter’s hand and led him to Josh’s suite.
“Did you get all napped up?” Grace asked as they followed Josh into the room.
“Yes,” Josh told him. “I take it you’ve got ideas?”
“So many ideas.” Grace laughed manically. “I may need to fidget, though. And is anybody still hungry?”
“I’ll go get snacks,” Hunter muttered.
“Should we call Stirling and Molly?” Grace asked. “You and Stirling do the thing—”
Josh grunted and pulled out his phone. In a moment he said, “Stirling, yes. Tienne and Danny are plotting together. Molly and Chuck are working on something. Carl, Lucius, and Tor are grouped up, but Michael’s going home because he’s got to outfit the planes and start charting flight plans as we give them to him.
And Marco’s bringing snacks, so Hunter, choose your group. ”
Hunter gave Grace an unhappy frown. “Molly and Chuck are going to be doing munitions, transpo, and muscle,” he said. “That’s my area, but….”
Grace rolled his eyes. “But you need to be here to grab me by the scruff of the neck. Except you don’t. I’m not going to do anything dangerous tonight,” he said. And then he gave Josh a sneaky smile. “Except let our hamsters loose and watch them play.”
Josh laughed and then glanced at Liam. “Where did you want to play?” he asked. “Everybody’s going to need you in the next two weeks. Judging by what I’ve seen of Danny’s list, we’re going to have to become experts in international law overnight.”
And for a moment Liam wanted to go see what the others were working on. But not tonight.
“Tomorrow,” he said softly. “Tonight I want to be here.”
A sort of luminosity broke through Josh’s pure on-the-job expression. “Sure,” he said. “Here is good.”
So Liam grabbed his own laptop, pretty sure he was going to be doing a lot of “No, we can’t do that stunt Tom Cruise did in that one Mission Impossible movie, because I don’t want any of you dead” and settled in for the night.