Deciphering The Past - 03 - Finding Support
#3 of Deciphering The Past
While Minnie and Daisy are setting the host bedroom for Mickey, Felicity, Ortensia, and Sylvia prepares supper and to celebrate Mickey's return, they decide to do a gigantic meal composed with: Bourbon spice barbecue chicken wings, bacon and blue cheese stuffed burgers, roasted French-style potatoes for the main course and a big tiramisu as a dessert. Mickey in the meantime is laying on the couch, watching blankly at the ceiling, lost in his thoughts. 'The file mentioned me being shot but I cannot remember. This is weird. I can remember everything before those events but...' he turns his body on his side, watching in the direction of the kitchen where he can hear the girls chatting and cooking vividly. 'This is odd, maybe I went through a shock or something worse?' he sighs half irritated by the lack of information and because of that, he felt like this situation is hopeless. 'Chill out Michael, chill, you just woke up in an abandoned lab, started an investigation and you got re-introduced with your friends...all of this in less then a day. No wonder you are somewhat lost and ...'
"Oh, that face, what are you thinking about?" Oswald interrupts his thoughts, walking to him with a cup of black tea.
"A lot of things. I want answers to all of this...you will understand once I explain everything." Mickey switch to a sitting position, leaving space for his brother to sit.
"We will have time to talk a lot as brothers, you rest buddy. You should see your face, you look awful." Oswald hands over the tea to his brother, which the latter accepts it and quickly have a sip.
"I don't even know if I need or want to sleep." He smiles sheepishly "I just woke up." That brought a little chuckle to Oswald.
"I still cannot believe you are right here, in front of me. I still remember a few months ago...being right in front of an empty, closed casket being lowered into the ground before being buried...I...I really thought that that was it, that I would never hear your voice, or joke around or prank you..." Oswald's ear drops slowly as he battles to find the words. "We went through so much things together. The first thing I did after the funeral...I do not think that I was even thinking about it but...the first thought that comes after your funeral...is me holding your paint brush. The one that you were using when we met for the first time."
"Oswald you don't have to..." Mickey lay his hand on his brother's shoulder, wanting to comfort his brother.
"But I want to, I have to, I need to. It also made me realize how much I take life for granted, how take my friends for granted, hell, how I take MY family for granted..." the lucky rabbit trails off.
"How are your kids?" Mickey asks smoothly while scooting closer to his brother to support him.
"They are doing ok. The three of them are doing great in school and thankfully they get along well. I know it's stupid to say that but it's true though. It took quite some times for them to mourn and one is still a bit under the weather but he is getting around slowly. They are coming here to eat tonight with Pluto so be ready for the biggest pounce ever."
"You kept Pluto?" Mickey nearly whispers, thinking about his beloved dog.
"He wanted to be with us and he brought a bit of happiness in our family, especially with the children."
"Thank you."
"It's only natural..." Oswald stands up and walks in the kitchen, leaving Mickey on the sofa drinking the whole cup of tea.
'oh, Oswald, I am so sorry, I know that deep down, it's not my fault for all of this but I am so sorry.' Mickey fidgets in his seat.
About a few minutes later, the bells rings and the door open followed by three cheerful "WE ARE HERE!" and a few happy barks.
"Hey kids!" Ortensia's voice comes from the kitchen. "Go sit in the living room."
Mickey hears Pluto sniff twice and suddenly starts barking like crazy. Soon enough, the beloved dog rushes in the room, barking happily and runs straight to Mickey. The poor mouse barely has time to extend his hands to shield him before being pounced on and licked profusely. "Wooaaahh boy, easy, easy there." He grins. Pluto keeps on barking happily, running around the living room in circle, his tail wagging violently. The three children show up in the room and gasps, their faces quickly changing from surprised to pure happiness in a split second; the next second, a massive impact can be heard in the whole house followed by a "Don't break him" from Oswald in the kitchen. '...to late' Mickey smiles as he is now under a pile of hugs.
After about twenty minutes of questions answers with the kids, the meal is ready and they all have a great time. After the meal, they all contribute at cleaning the dishes and in no time, they are all in the living room talking about everything that comes to their mind. That is until Oswald brings the attention back on Mickey and Seamus. Mickey explains his experience and Seamus finishes with more details about the current investigation.
"So...they illegally experimented on you and turned into...something?" Donald quacks in anger. "That's not ok!" he slams his fist on the arm of his seat.
"That's far from ok." Felicity stares at her little brother. "Since you guys all know, I work at Mouseton Argus so if you find some info, I can dig around there if you want." She offers.
"That would be great, Felicity." Seamus's face lights up "I forgot that you have access to the archives. Well, I'm going to leave now, it's getting late and tomorrow will be a busy." He says while standing up from his seat, shaking to everyone. "Rest well Mickey and see you tomorrow. I'll come pick you up at around 10 AM."
"I want to go with him." Every eyes turns on Oswald who doesn't shy away at all. "This case sounds like it can become a real clusterfuck and I do not want my brother to be in there by himself. I lost him once, not again and nothing will change my mind."
"So, Seamus, what's the plan?" Donald demands the chief.
"First of all, we have to bring Mickey back to shape. So, after the meeting tomorrow, I set some time with Static to study and test Mickey's body enhancements. Then, we will probably train for a bit. We can all train together if you want to. But most importantly, we need to find the one or ones responsible for this." Seamus leaves the house and heads home.
"What a mess." Mickey mumbles.
"And we will clean it up like we always do brother. We got your back." Oswald gives a thumb up of reassurance.
Mickey smiles before releasing a large yawn "Well, I'm going to take a shower and hit the hay. Thank you so much for the food. It was unbelievable." Mickey sleepily stands up from his seat and heads upstairs.
"Our pleasure." Sylvia answers back. "How can't we celebrate this?
"I wonder how the city will react when the news spreads." Felicity wonders while imagining all the different outcomes.
"You think the story will blow up? It's quite undercover you know." Goofy rubs his chin.
"I work in a journal organization Goofy, I know enough to say that this story will blow up one day or another; especially on this magnitude and think about it, this can go deeper. One day or another, the story will be brought to light...and Mickey with it." Felicity plays with her fingers, feeling uneasy.
"I think the question shouldn't only be how the city will react to this? But is Mickey ready to come out and expose himself to the public?" Oswald rubs his forehead.