“Uh, just me? I mean I can’t speak for Marc, but I’m not kidding when I say Vigilante isn’t whole without him.” JD looked at his hands in his lap as he considered the possibility of working with law enforcement without Marc. “I am willing, but I have college coming up. I know the university isn’t far, but I have to be able to study, and grow up, I guess.”

Chris’s camera highlighted, “We’re seeing a rise in gifts not just among law enforcement and civilians, but criminals too. Of course we would expect you to maintain a normal life as much as possible, but we’d also like you to consider the possibility of a career in law enforcement. You obviously care about the public…”

“I do, but I don’t know what mama would say. Uh, my father,” JD paused to take a breath. He hated talking about his father. He looked up to the ceiling trying to prevent the tears from rolling down his cheeks. “My father was an officer in Central City. He, uh, was targeted by a smaller gang. Mama was still pregnant with me.” He looked down again as the tears spilled over, soaking into his face mask almost as quickly as they fell.

Officer Briggs offered a handkerchief and pulled the young man into a comforting hug. JD dabbed at his eyes while trying to control his emotions. “I was there,” Aaron spoke for the first time. “Briggs and I held your father’s hand while we waited for the ambulance. I am sorry. Your father was a good officer, a great man. I wish you could have known him.” JD fought off new tears as his shoulders shook with his sobs.

“You have time,” Briggs lifted the youth’s head to face him and spoke softly. “You have time to make a decision like that. For now, let’s focus on Marc and the arsonist, ok kiddo?”

JD nodded and slipped his mask off to dry his eyes and face better. Anonymity here was useless for him at this point. He turned again to the laptop, sniffling off and on as he tried to compose himself again.

“We will be a team,” Aaron spoke again, “for this. Although we can’t be working in an official capacity. For all intents and purposes we need the law and the public to see this as you working alone to bring the arsonist to justice. There are those of us still unsure of Marc’s involvement. I understand what it looks like from your side, but for better or for worse, we’re not going to disregard his safety.”

JD nodded but remained quiet. The conversation turned to making plans for Saturday. JD was fitted with some protective gear, and given his own set communication devices. They spent hours going over the plans repeatedly. They discussed contingency plans and alternative routes should something happen. JD was briefed on the gifts that each person involved had, and their thoughts on what gifts the arsonist had.

It was three in the morning when JD returned home to sleep. He stood outside his house and thought about his sleeping family. He looked to Marc’s house and saw a single lonely light on the first level. He went in to see Deanne. His mask was still off but otherwise he was dressed as Vigilante. He softly stepped into the living room to find Deanne quietly reading with a cup of tea.

“Did you just get off work?” he asked her quietly.

“Oh JD! Oh,” she seemed surprised by his clothes. “I guess you were telling the truth then, on Christmas Eve.”

“Yeh,” he responded a little sheepishly. “I’m getting Marc tomorrow.”

“Marc, my son.” Her eyes teared up, “Please bring him back to me. Please be safe.” She stood as the tears rolled down her cheeks and pulled JD into a hug. He hugged her back resting his cheek on her head.

“He’s gonna be ok.” JD wasn’t sure if he said it for Deanne or for himself. He pulled away from her as a tear of his own rolled down his cheek. “Can I stay here tonight?”

“Yeh,” she smiled softly and blinked away her tears. “Get some rest, hero.”

“You too.”