Four Freedoms Plaza: Johnny's Room
Morning

"Johnny?"

"Johnny, can I come in?"

As I open the door, I notice Johnny's not there. His bed hasn't been slept in. I hold my chin trying to remember if Johnny said anything last night about staying somewhere else, or going somewhere else. I close the door and walk out into the Living Room, where Ben is putting together the bookshelf.

"Ben... have you seen Johnny?"

"Nah. The matchstick didn't stay here last night, Suzie-Q."

"I wonder where he's at. We just got him back, the last thing we need right now is to be separated. D'Spayre pulled quite a number on the Fantastic Four."

Ben reaches past me for the hammer, not even bothering to ask for me to hand it to him. He keeps his eyes on me, while working on the bookshelf. As if, I were an enemy or someone not to be trusted. That, I strongly believe was D'Spayre's intention--- to take away the trust in the Fantastic Four. It's worked. I heard the front door of the apartment open and feet quickly rushing into the Living Room.

"Mommy! Mommy! Lookie!"

Franklin hands me a small cup, inside is a bug... from the park, no doubt.

"That's nice, Franklin... why don't you go and 'securely' put it away?"

"Okay, Mommy."

Reed stands in the archway, holding Victoria. He just lightly smiles, I walk over to him and take Victoria into my arms. It's time for her nap. Reed had taken the kids to Central Park for a morning walk.

"Reed, Dr. Birely called for you. He didn't leave a number where you can reach him, so I'm guessing you have the number?"

"Dr. Birely? I don't know a Dr. Birely-- at least, I don't think I do."

Ben finishes the bookshelf and gets up, walking away from us. He's keeping to himself, he doesn't trust us. It's obvious. I don't know where to trust Ben, or Reed. I don't know if they are who they are, and if they are who they are-- how do I know? I don't.

"Well, he said his name was Dr. Birely and he was an old friend of yours. I didn't recognize his name either-- so I thought maybe he's someone you knew without my knowledge."

"Sorry Sue, I don't know a Dr. Birely-- the name sounds familiar-- but it just doesn't ring a bell."

"Oh well, He'll call back if it's important."

"True."

"I'm going to put Victoria down for a nap, and then I'll be back."

"Alright Sue, I'm going to be working in the lab. I want to try and re-establish some kind of order."

I look to Victoria and sigh as Reed leaves the room. It's so odd. I love this man with everything I have, but yet-- I can't find myself able to trust him now. It's not a good feeling. Not a good feeling at all.

Snapper's Bar
Late Morning

Well... you've done a real great job this time, Johnny. Sitting at a bar, with your head laying on the counter-top. Yeah,
your doing great. You don't know what is real and what's not. It's as if your head has been tampered with, Oh wait-- it
has. You can't even trust your own family. And what do you do? You go out to a bar, getting lost in your emotions with
your rum. Now it's almost noon and your still at the same bar, even though it's closed, but the waitress had a soft spot for
you. You are such a winner, Johnny.

"Here."

I look up, I see two beautiful brown eyes coming from the brown haired woman.

"What is it?"

"It's coffee. I would imagine that a member of the Fantastic Four would have seen coffee before."

"Uh yeah, Sorry."

I take a sip from the cup. It's nice and warm, just the way I like it. My head aches.

"So handsome, tell me... what's wrong?"

"Nothing."

She gives me a faint smile, and tosses her towel over her shoulder.

"Well, it must be a pretty big something. I haven't seen people act like you were acting last night. I mean, we have our
depressed loser types... but you made them look like real winners. What's wrong? You can tell me, If you can't trust your
bartender... who can you trust?"

A very good point.

Four Freedoms Plaza: Reed's Lab
Late Morning

I didn't realize before how much damage Doom caused to my lab. It's definitely going to take some long hours and hard-work in order to get it to be as half as complex as it was before. Long Hours won't be a problem now that Sue and I only chat when we have too. It's just for the sake of the children.

"Victor, you've really done a number on my scientific prowess."

I hear soft footsteps.

"Sue?"

"No, it's me, daddy."

Thank the Heavens, I thought Sue might of been trying to sneak up for an attack. I stretch myself up to the ceiling, holding a light bulb, replacing the lights that are broken.

"What are doing, Franklin?"

"Gettin'' ready to watch 'Dexter's Laboratory' on Cartoon Network."

"His laboratory's not better than your father's, is it?"

"Nah, you have the best Laboratory ever."

I smile. Franklin sure does know how to boost self importance. It's a good thing, especially now. Too bad he couldn't teach us how to trust one another again. But then again, I guess it's just one of those things you just have to do. You just have to trust in people. It's just a extremely difficult thing to do.

"Daddy, can I ask you something?"

"Of course, Franklin... what do you want to ask me?"

"Well, I've been thinking... and I was wondering, do you think it's too early to send Vicky away to Booding School?"

"Boarding School?"

I have to laugh. Franklin's relationship with Victoria is typical. It's one of those relationships that are so secure and safe, so trusting that'll always be there.

"Yes Franklin, it's definitely too early to send your sister away to Boarding School."

"Okay, well, I thought I'd try anyways."

I chuckle again. I was in a pretty bummed room, but my son has changed my mood. I just wish such an innocent child wouldn't have to gone through so much because of his parents being super-heroes. But.. it's our job. Our Destiny.

"Daddy... I have another question.

"Yeah, Franklin?"

"Why does Uncle Benjy have naked girls in a magazine for?"

"..."

Snapper's Bar
Afternoon

"Well, Well, Well... didn't think I'd find you here, Torchie."

"Ben?"

"Yeah... It's a little early-- or late for you to be drinking, don't you think?"

"I... I... Just leave me alone."

I don't want to smack the kid upside the head, but I'm starting to wonder if it'd have a better affect than the cups of coffee sitting in front of him on the bar.

"Listen... You've been different since we were reunited, you've been cold towards us and you've kept your distance. We're your family, Torchie."

"Yeah, whatever. Can you leave me alone now?"

"No... you see, D'Spayre did something to us all. He's like... I don't know how to describe it... other than saying I don't trust anyone... not even people I have trusted all my life. I think your going through the same thing... infact, I think we all are. I'm not sure if this is just another part of D'Spayre's twisted plot or not, but I do know that your family kid and I'm going to help you out of a rough time."

Johnny stands up from the table, wobbling, he's about ready to fall over. I quickly grab him from under the shoulders and sit him back down on the bar stool.

"Why won't you just leave me alone?!"

He's flamed up, he's catching the bar on fire.

"Yo, Hothead! Look at what your doing!"

It's definitely not a good thing when your a super-hero with super abilities that could easily get out of control when your intoxicated or emotionally unstable. Johnny Storm at the moment is both. It's obvious. I watch as he de-flames and the fire on the counter is put out.

"I hope you brought your checkbook for the damages."

"Ben, just go. I want to be alone."

"I know you do. But guess what? I don't care what you want. I just know that you are in need of a friend-- although I have doubts, I know that I can trust you and that I always have before. I don't care what D'Spayre did to us all. I want my family back. You, Sue, Reed, Jen, Scott... all of us."

Johnny rests his head on the bar counter, and looks to me. I know what I'm saying must be getting through. It has to be. Suddenly, something changes within myself. I believe in him, I believe in myself. It's as if I finally manage to break through the aftermath of D'Spayre's games. But... could the rest of the team?

"Ben... I don't want nothing to do with you or anyone else. I'm done with the Fantastic Four. I just can't do it anymore."

"Whatever, kid. D'Spayre's messed with your head, your just scared--"

"--I AM NOT!"

The kid has flamed on again. Man... do not get Torchie pissed when he's drunk.

"Johnny! Control yourself!"

I watch as Torchie flames down once again, but falls off the bar stool and hits the floor. I reach down and pick him up, noticing his gash on his forehead and hold him against the bar.

"We're going home."

"No."

"Yes."

"No, we aren't. I don't have a home anymore."

"Will you stop it? You're a shitty drunk, you know that?"

"Whatever."

Four Freedoms Plaza: Kitchen
Late Afternoon

Susan Storm finds herself unloading the dishwasher, and looks at the clock. Her brother Johnny is out there... somewhere. Recent events have made her doubt her own mind, which is never a good thing. Especially for someone has beautiful and intelligent as the Fantastic Four's Invisible Woman.

"Oh, Johnny... I could really use your support right now. I don't know what I'm doing, I feel like I'm losing my family, my friends, my husband. I could really use my little brother right now."

"Then look no further, 'cause I brought 'em home."

"Ben?! What did you do to him?! How could you do this?!"

Benjamin Grimm; the Thing finds himself between a rock and a hard place. Johnny looks like hell, Sue doesn't trust him and that's why he's getting blamed for it.

"Suzie-Q, think about it. Why would I hurt one of my best friends?"

"Think about this, Ben... Why would I believe you?!"

"Sue... Honestly, I would never hurt Johnny-- without good reason."

Way to go, Ben. That's like just asking for trouble, she already doesn't trust you. Now is not the time for jokes.

"Benjamin Grimm, pack your things and get out! Now!"

"Suzie... you can't be--"

"Serious? I'm dead serious. You are no longer welcome here. How could you do this to him? How could you?! Get out! Get out of my sight, get out of my home! Get out! Get out! GET OUT!"

Susan's distrust in Benjamin causes her to react in a very un-ethical way.

"Suzie-Q, I'm going to go... not for good, but for now. I will earn your trust, I will."

"I said, OUT!"

Benjamin sighs, and turns and walks out of the kitchen as Susan goes to Johnny's side. She wets a washcloth and uses it to wash the blood off of Johnny's forehead, before treating it.

"Oh Johnny... how could he do this to you?"

"Who did what?"

"Ben... he fought with you, wore you out, cut your head."

"He did?"

"Yes."

"Where is he? He wouldn't leave me alone. I asked him to leave me alone."

"He's gone. I made him leave."

"Good, I'm glad. I love you, Sue."

"I know little brother, I love you too."

Susan kisses the cleansed cheek of her brother, and goes and pours him a glass of Gatorade. She brings it over and sits it down in front of him.

"Ben hurt me? He'll pay."

"I know, Johnny... but not right now." 

Four Freedoms Plaza: Reed's Laboratory
Late Afternoon

As the phone rings across the room, Reed's right arms stretches the fourteen feet to pick it up. He quickly retracts his arm bringing to phone to his ear.

"Four Freedoms Plaza, Reed Richards speaking."

"Reed Richards?"

"Yes, Reed Richards."

"Of the Fantastic Four?"

"Yes, of the Fantastic Four."

"Good."

Reed shakes his head at the odd conversation with the man on the other end of the phone, He walks over to the caller ID box and sees that the number is unlisted.

"Whom am I speaking with?"

"Dr. Birely... I had called before and spoke with your lovely wife."

"Yes, she informed me of your call. I'm sorry, but I don't remember you."

"As you shouldn't. Dr. Richards, I need your assistance with a secret project regarding S.H.I.E.L.D. and I need your utmost secrecy."

"Of course, Dr. Birely. I take it you work for S.H.I.E.L.D.?"

"Uh, I suppose you could say that."

"Ok, what do you need my assistance with?"

"I can't get into that on the phone, for unwanted listeners. Dr. Richards, could you meet me on the 'McMurray' at midnight? It's a yacht in New York Harbor on Pier 15."

"Of course, Dr. Birely."

"Good."

The phone goes dead. Dr. Birely apparently works for S.H.I.E.L.D. and is calling upon Reed for his knowledge and intelligence. Reed wonders if he should inform the others. No, they can't keep the secret. It's too important. They can't be trusted at all.

"I'm going to do this... and I'm going to do this alone."

NEXT ISSUE:  The Thing moves out of Four Freedoms Plaza! While Mr. Fantastic may face his greatest challenge since his battle with Dr. Doom!  Find out, Fantastic Four #39!

Fantastic Forum:
Well, my second issue of Fantastic Four here at M2K. I've got to admit, I'm not the 'greatest' writer in the world but at least I try to give the characters human traits of normalcy. Like I said, I try. I'm really liking this title and I'm finding ways to fit things in like I never have been able to before. I have some big plans for all four of the original members of the FF and I also have some plans for supporting characters such as She-Hulk and Ant Man. It's going to be a pretty fun ride, as long as you can stand my writing and my method of doing things. I'm sure that other writers of the past were a little more complex in their writing and I'm going to try and excel to their level and beyond and try and win your readership. I hope that if anything comes out of my writing, it'll be your desire to read more.

~Jason Bruss