Right Back Where We Started [Five]

Two

"That isn't one hundred percent wrong." Five said.

They had come up to the clearing now and any future conversation that might have progressed halted, saved for another time as they stepped onto the white stained deck.

Everyone looked worse for wear. Allison donned a steak of blood from her nose to her lips, Vanya was looking paler than usual, and Luther looked like he was hit by a freight train and then trampled by an angry bull. Emery doubted none of them looked or felt this beaten up in a long time, himself included he noted as he ran a hand along the length of his rib cage where he was willing to bet a large bruise would soon erupt from.

"Just gonna sit. I'm just gonna sit for a minute." Luther said, practically collapsing onto the main part of the picnic table. Everyone else joined Luther, resting their joints and groaning out when they moved wrong.

"That didn't go well." Diego said, clutching at his back

"No, not our best work." Five agreed from where he had sat down

"Oh, I'm cracking." Klaus said from where he was spewed stop the other picnic table, limbs bent at odd angles an joints cracking

"You all right?" Allison asked.

"I don't know yet." Luther responded. "I've just never had my ass handed to he like that before." He held his hands up like he was holding something. "It's like... here you go. It's your ass."

Allison looked at the man with raised brows. "Okay, I think Luther's concussed."

"I wouldn't be surprised." Emery grunted as he joined Fives side and sat down in a heap.

"Luther, how many fingers?" Klaus asked.

"Oh my God. Vanya." Luther said, completely ignoring Klaus as his attention was captured by Vanya was was walking toward them on shaky legs.

"Oh. Thank God you're alive." Vanya said. "You okay?"

"Apparently, so is Ben..." Klaus added dryly.

"Yeah. And he's a complete dickhead." Allison said.

"They're all dickheads." Diego said.

"Dickheads who can fight." Luther added.

"Okay, the next person to say 'Dickhead' is getting a punch to the throat." Five stated blandly.

"Dickhead."

"Dickhead."

"Dickhead."

"Dickhead."

Five sighed and let his head hang.

"Dickhead." Emery said, letting his words travel closer to Fives ear in a teasing gesture.

"Hey, did Dad tell you why he was calling them his kids?"

"He sure did!" Klaus laughed. "You ready? Dad was so repulsed by us back in Texas, that he adopted an entirely different group of children just so that he didn't have to raise us."

"That's just peak Dad." Diego said, sitting down.

"Isn't it?" Luther said. "So he just didn't want us anymore?"

"Did he ever?" Allison added.

"See? I told you we shouldn't have asked him for help in '63."

"I think you're all missing the big picture here." Five said. "If Dad didn't adopt us as kids, he changed the timeline. So who knew what else is different now."

"Shouldn't you know?" Allison asked.

"Sorry Allison, but it might take me more than twenty minutes and a traumatic brain injury to figure this all out. Is that okay with you?"

"No, actually, it's not." Allison smiled sourly.

"Guys, look, it's fine." Vanya said. "We still have the Commission briefcase, so worst case, we can just go back in time and fix it."

"Great!" Klaus said like Vanya had just answered the question of the universe.

"Okay." Five said though he lacked the same enthusiasm. "There are two problems with that statement. First off-"

"Here we go." Klaus flourished his arms to make his point.

"Time travel is complicated, people." Five went on. He was standing now to address everyone.

"Yeah, we get it. Your job is so hard. Just...what?" Diego asked as Luther mocked Five in turn.

"And secondly..." Five continued on. "I no longer have the briefcase."

"What?" Emery asked, the word escaping his mouth mere seconds after Five had spoken.

"Five, where the hell is the briefcase?" Allison demanded.

Five just looked at her sullenly. Emery sighed and closed his eyes. He stood up and watched the world swim before his eyes, only moving when it stopped.

"He's right." Five said. "Let's go."

"He's right about what?" Klaus said as he scrambled to his feet to follow. "He didn't even say anything! You didn't even respond to Allison!"

No body responded to Klaus either as they all one by one pushed themselves up against the will of their bodies and moved to follow Emery and Five.

"This day cannot get any worse." Diego said as they entered the main street and began walking.

Up ahead, Emery couldn't help but feel that there were worse things to come yet.