We Interrupt With a Breaking News Report

[Alexander Zimmerman]

December 12th

It had been ten days since the events of the terrorist attack that he had been through, and still Alex was feeling the after effects of the bombings. His cuts and bruises had all completely healed by now, though he did still have to wear the cast on his left arm which was covered in drawings and signatures of the kids at his school. It was more of the psychological scars that he was still having trouble getting over. The images and sounds of the injured that laid moaning after the explosion, particularly the girl that died with the metal pole through her chest and a severed arm, still haunted his waking mind and dreams. Since returning home after spending that evening of the whole ordeal at the hospital, the boy had not one restful night of sleep whatsoever; always waking up multiple times trembling and crying. It had gotten to the point where Alex dreaded going to bed and fought his sleep for as long as he could. Though she never really said much about it, he knew his mommy was really worried about him even more so.

Mag's worry was why the boy wasn't at school today; not that he really minded. He'd much rather spend an entire day watching cartoons in his underpants than sit in class. Of course, the downside to not going to school was that his mommy still had to go to work leaving Mrs. Sandenski from across the hall as his baby sitter. Twice the woman had tried to get him into some clothes, but the boy was very adamant about going the entire day without any pants. It was his reasoning that he wasn't going anywhere which would make wearing an outfit kind of pointless that became the last straw for Mrs. Sandenski, who decided to return to her flat and check up on the boy every hour or so. It had been a very peaceful entertaining two hours of cartoons that ranged from the awesome, action-packed to the gut-busting hilarious humor that only kids found funny since his sitter had left him alone about his typical Saturday morning attire.

It was in the middle of his favorite show that the news suddenly came on with a breaking story. He was about to let out a groan when the lady anchor started to talk about the lab Mag worked at. A sense of worry and anxiety suddenly gripped him even though the only thing he understood was that the situation was really serious from the way the news lady talked. Quickly he grabbed his communicator from the nearby coffee table and pressed the button that turned him on.

"Mommy! Are you-" he started to say as the holographic image of Mag popped out from the center of his watch.

"...Why are you doing this to us huh? Why are you killing innocent people? You're rebels aren't you? Murderers..."

It was all Alex needed to hear to realize that his mommy was in some serious danger. He was quickly on his feet and out the door in less than a minute with a determination of saving Mag, ignoring the odd looks that those he had passed by had on their face at the sight of a half-naked boy walking down the hall. He would have made it out of the building if the doorman didn't throw him over the man's shoulder after the boy ignored his request to stop. "Let me go! Let me go!" Alex demanded, kicking and hitting the doorman as he was carried back to his flat. "I gotta save my mommy! She's in real bad trouble."

"I know kid, but you can't go out there, especially how you're dressed now in this weather," the doorman sighed, setting the boy down in front of the door. "Besides, even if you were able to get there, the police will just send you right on back here."

The man gave a comforting pat on Alex's head, who was on the verge of tears over the worry he had for his mommy. "I know it's really scary to have someone you love in danger, but I promise that your mommy will be fine. The police are doing everything they can and will get her out of there safely. The best thing you can do is just wait for her to come home and not get sick trying to brave the cold in your underwear, okay?"

He barely managed to nod as he wiped his eyes with his good hand, knowing the doorman was right. Ruffling his hair a little, the man ushered Alex back into his flat before leaving him to handle his anxiety along. Quietly the boy made his way back to the couch as his thoughts were filled with wonder as to how his mommy was doing. He dared not turn on his communicator again in hopes of not making him even more anxious. Instead, he reached for his stuffed bear and hugged it close as he tried to not think about the danger Mag was in as the news story turned back into the cartoon that had been interrupted earlier.

[MAGDALEN ZIMMERMAN]

Dr. Magdalen Zimmerman



December 12th

It wasn't until some time later that Mag walked into the building with Mr. Colin. Both of them looked rather beaten up, what little hair was left on Colin's head was all blown over to one side as Mag was covered in cuts and scratches, her cloths a bit torn up but otherwise she was in good health and spirits. It was a shame that shortly after the incident she got trapped in a business talk with Mr. Collin. When they entered the main entrance tot he building he looked up in amazement, this place was huge and luxurious like one of those fancy hotels. Everything from the chandalears to the classical music, Greek statues, and a freaking water fountain in the center. "Shit Mag your building is much nicer than mine."

"Oh yes...I'm rich...I thought you knew that." She said in a very relaxed calm tone as if it was nothing.

"Yes rich I knew you were wealthy I didn't know you were the Queen of England...explains her personality a bit better." She couldn't help but laugh at that comment a little. Yes it did seems to explain a bit didn't it. Rich girls seldom heard the words no in their life. "But now with Burtin dead we are facing a major power struggle. I'm not saying you should do it I am just saying maybe throw your name in there. I mean if we want to keep going the way we are and not get picked up by the reaper division we need someone to stand up for us. I think you should take Burtins place. I think you should be the new boss. It's not like you own the company...yet. That is possible I am sure you could buy Barkley out but you would be the one running things."

Walking up the grand staircase Colin followed Mag closely waiting for her answer. "If I do this and it is only hypothetical for now but if I do...we will be changing a lot. I for one don't think I deserve the position but I know if I don't take it someone else will and you are right. I don't want to work in another reaper program. What we do is a true cause. We bring back creatures that haven't been around for years. Now the question is will Barkley settle with it?"

Colin seemed rather excited now only because if Mag took Burtins position then he would get her old position. Head of the main lab. "I think he has faith in you. Some people think he was even going to come to you and offer you the position to prevent a war in the lab. You are a good choice Mag, you are the logical choice." Reaching her floor she moved down the hall and again Colin looked around rather amazed. "Shouldn't that be in an art museum?"

Mag looked at the painting and laughed. "No that is a copy not the original. My parents own the original. I donated the original for the establishment for one year but my parents wanted it back. When they are older they intend to put it in a museum."

"Oh...well..."

Pulling out her key she stopped at her door and unlocked it. "My son is home by the way so please don't talk about what happened today I'm sure he is worried enough as is." Opening the door she stepped inside. Colin followed her nearly walking around as he looked about the flat. It might as well have just been a house. Two floors of massive...space and very well decorated. Something told him Mag hired people to make it look the way it did. "Alex I'm home."

"Can I move in?" Colin asked as he stepped out of the entrance way and into the living room. "You have a big screen? Are you married to the head minister or something?"

"Oh god no he's my fathers best friend that would be rather awkward being they are the same age."

[Alexander Zimmerman]

Alex pretty much remained on his spot on the couch, hugging his teddy bear as he tried to calm his worry and anxiety about the safety of his mother. Even with all the cartoon shows he sat in front of, the distraction of superheroes taking down the bad guys didn't really help take his mind off things. If anything, seeing one of the episodes that dealt with the hero saving some scientists held hostage by the villain only added to his fears and worries about the safety of his mommy. Eventually the boy just shut of the TV completely and just curled up on the couch with his teddy held even tighter to his chest, glancing every now and again at his communicator watch until surprisingly he fell asleep.

Once more his dreams were filled with the horrifying images of the bombings, including a replay of when he himself got caught up in the explosion. But the scene suddenly started to shift to the lab where Mag worked at, and he saw his mommy surrounded by scary looking men with guns. The bad guys opened fire as Mag fell to the ground bleeding. Alex's eyes shot open as he sat up breathing heavily covered in sweat. Suddenly he heard voices at the door. The lock clicked open and two people walk in.

"Alex I'm home," came the familiar voice.

"Mommy!" the boy shouted with relief as he jumped off the couch still clad in his underpants and ran to hug Mag, noticing the cuts and scratches she had. "You're hurt...but you're okay..." He clung as tight as he could without hurting her as the worry and anxiety he had bottled up finally burst forth in the form of tears and sobs.

"The news lady said...and then I heard you on my watch...the same bad guys who hurt me and all the other people last time...and I thought..." He tried his best to get out his concerns in between his sniffling and his sobs, but he eventually gave up and just let it all out as he clung on to his mommy.

[MAGDALEN ZIMMERMAN]

Dr. Magdalen Zimmerman



December 12th

When Alex held onto her crying Mag picked him up and hugged him long and hard. Not long ago she thought she was never going to see him again and now she was holding him in her arms crying with him. Colin felt a little out of place in this moment and just stood back watching the heartwarming reunion. There was a brief moment Mag couldn't let Alex go for fear she would wake up from this dream under her desk again but it was real, she was safe and alive. Once Mag had calmed down more Colin stepped in to just settled the two a little more.

"Hey kid you don't need to worry about you mum. She kicks ass. There were these three guys with guns and she just went Jakie Chan on them. Pulled a knife and cut them up like..."

Mag glared at him quickly and shook her head. "No we won't go there he already has nightmares. Just know that yes I did kick bad guy butt." She hugged Alex again and set him back down messing up his hair a little with her hand. "Since Mr. Colin is going to be here a while can you go get dressed for mummy. Don't forget to brush your hair too sweetheart." She kissed him on the forehead then sent him off towards his room before inviting Colin into the house. "Please take off your shoes I just got the carpet clean a week ago."

It was no thrill having white carpets and a seven year old son. Every now and again grape juice got split or some paints fell over. Even adults were bad. One year she had a holiday party and someone knocked a glass of wine over on her new rug. It was awful but those sort of things made her consider cherry hardwood floors. Eventually she would get them. "Kid is cute, good kid, well behaved.

Mag smiled a little. She was always so proud of Alex. "Why thank you I do what I can to raise him up right."

"Wish my daughters were like that. Of course they live with their mother and they are getting into their teens. Olivia is thirteen now and well...I can never say anything right. Alice is fifteen and already has a boyfriend even when I told her she was too young. She just slams her door and ignores me. You know he has your eyes. Yeah, that same crazy determined blues you have. I couldn't mistake it because when you first came to work for us I was startled by you a bit. Sort of an intimidating person."

Mag just looked at the floor a little and tried not to say much. "Oh." It was odd he wasn't the first one to say Alex had gotten his mothers eyes. Almost everyone she came across even when he had been a baby people would say Alex had her eyes. Mag had no idea who's eyes Alex had since they were never said who the donors were. He was the offspring of egg cell B777 and sperm cell A135. Clearly not the same samples as the ones that had failed but the head of the department hoped somehow those two would be the winning ticket. "I get that a lot with Alex, everyone says he has my eyes...lucky kid I guess."

[Alexander Zimmerman]

He was too busy crying his own eyes out to even notice that Mag was crying as well as she held him close. But as she started to calm down Alex did as well, although he still clung tight to his mommy. He listened in awe as Colin started talking about how she took out three of the bad guys before Mag cut him off from going into too much detail. The boy was a bit hesitant to let go when he was set back down after getting one final hug, but he quickly went back to his usual self when he was asked to get dressed.

"Awww, okay Mommy," the boy whined a little as Mag gave him a kiss before sending him off toward his room. Having his mommy safe and sound was worth giving up a solid attempt at going the entire day without getting dressed. With a little skip in his step, Alex hurried off to his room and headed straight for the pile of clothes that laid at the foot of his bed. With a grin on his face the boy quickly threw on his Super Alex outfit and tied his red cape around his neck, pausing in front of his mirror for a quick before zooming back out into the living room with his arms outstretched as if he were flying.

"Never fear," Alex shouted as he climbed on top of the couch and striking his hero pose. "Super Alex is here!" Jumping off the couch, he ran around the living room making whooshing sounds before "flying" into Mag and giving her a hug.

[MAGDALEN ZIMMERMAN]

Dr. Magdalen Zimmerman



December 12th

When Alex came running back into the room with his cape on she put a hand to her forehead trying to be ashamed but it was hard to seem disappointed when you were smiling. "Careful Alex no jumping on the sofa you may fall and hit your head." Mag told him with a worried tone to her voice.

"Well because I know the mother I can't say I am at all surprised he thinks he is a super hero as well." Colin joked with her.

When Alex came back over and hugged her Man just laughed and messed up his hair again. "Oh yes because I am Wonder Woman." Well in her own way she was. She stood for justice and the truth and believed in a better world than the one that was currently being offered. It was for this reason she was going to take up Burtins place in the company and get the lab back on the right track. Once the lab was rebuilt they would work on all the endangered and extinct species building breeding programs and re releasing animals into the wild like the African Lions which were now being cared for at a zoo until next week when they could return to their lands and dominate the Savannah once again.

"Well you sort of are Mag, you are bringing back animals, breeding them, and making sure they return to the wild where they belong. I mean we have okapi's in the world again thanks to you. That is why we need you to take Burtins place Maggie. We need that level headed hunt for justice you have to get us back on track."

"Yes Colin I told you I will take Burtins position but the lab has to be rebuilt and it's the holidays. After all of this I just want to spend some time in Eden with my parents where it is safe. Two attacks...I just can't. Alex doesn't need to grow up with this." Looking back down at her son she smiled at him. "Do you want to go to Eden and stay with grandpa and grandma for a while? They said they have a big gift for you for Winter Fest and we are going to site by the fire and watch old movies and go ice skating."

[Alexander Zimmerman]

The boy beamed with a bit a pride when Mag said she was Wonder Woman as she ruffled his hair. Heck, she could pretty much be Super Man in female form to him. His mommy knew how to make everything better from owwies and fevers to nightmares and troubled sleep. And now she had survived not just one, but two terrorist attacks while also helping and saving others in the process. As he started to wonder if there was nothing she couldn't do, Mag snapped him out of his train of thought.

"Grammie and Pappie's!" Alex shouted, letting go of his mommy to "fly" around the room some more. "Oh boy! That'll be so much fun! I wonder what they got me..."

His mouth began to go a mile a minute as he started naming off some toys and gadgets and then going into the wishlist he was working on for Santa. Finishing his lap around the living room he stood by Mag once more as he finally stopped talking to catch his breath. "But what would be really cool, Mommy," the boy continued, looking somewhat hopeful. "Is if Grammie and Pappie or Santa Claus was able to give me a new daddy. Or a puppy would be nice too. But I really want a new daddy..." His head lowered a bit as he started to feel a sense of jealousy toward his most of classmates and a bit of sadness about the holidays. Sure, he loved being with his mommy and grand parents, but he didn't have that father figure that all the other kids he knew had.

But his frown quickly faded as he looked up at Mag once more. "That way we both can be happy from my present," he said innocently with a big grin on his face.

[MAGDALEN ZIMMERMAN]

Dr. Magdalen Zimmerman



December 12th

It was nice seeing him just be a normal kid again. Not having to worry about explosions and terrorists. He went off talking about everything he had asked from Santa. "Wow that seems like quite the list there kido. What are you going to do with all that stuff, where would you kee..." He looked around the house again and thought that had been a stupid question. This place was pretty big he probably had three playrooms lucky bugger. Mag just stood there and rolled his eyes while he went on. She was sure her parents were going to spoil him as they did every year. They didn't have many grandchildren since her siblings were not big into families. Abby didn't want children at all and Fred hadn't gotten married yet though he did have a fiancee now so her parents were crossing their fingers for more grandchildren. At the moment Alex was all they had.

What Alex was about to say next would make Mag cringe and smile at the same time. He asked for a daddy for Christmas. She looked over to Colin snicker and put a hand over his mouth then back to Alex. It was a little more complicated than that but how could she tell him? He always wanted a father, he always asked her where was his daddy, why didn't he have one, would he ever get one. She felt bad but she never did have the time to find love again. After all how many men wanted a ready made family with a wife who was too busy to even remember a date night? "Well Alex...a puppy...maybe if you are a very good boy." A dog she could deal with. Maybe if he had a puppy then a father wouldn't be so important. Oh who was she kidding Alex would never give up on his daddy issue.

"As far as a father goes Alex...it's a little more complicated than that. Santa can't just...bring you a daddy. That takes a little more time and well..work. It can be hard to find the right man to be...ummm...your daddy but I promise I'll try to find you one. It may not be for Christmas but some day you will have a daddy again." She hugged him and looked over to Colin who was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.

"Shouldn't be too hard Maggie, you are hot stuff I know a lot of single guys at the lab who would LOVE to be with you."

Mag smiled at him and shook her head. "Yes and they have to be good with kids too otherwise it would never work out. I know who you are talking about Colin. We would argue with each other too much. We already do at work."