---

Everything's gone wrong. George thought as he sat in Tiffany's apartment, trying hard to ignore his new body. Why did I attack her like that? I've never done anything like that before... His thoughts trailed off as he remembered, oh so vividly, one of the beatings he'd given his 'son'. But this memory wasn't from his own perspective, but that of his son.

Was I really such a horrible ogre? he thought, seeing the images replay themselves in his mind. Thanks to that girl, Jill, he couldn't ever see those events the same way again. He'd really thought he was helping his son become a man. Didn't it work for me? Or did it...

He resolutely shoved those thoughts away and curled up on the couch. In his tiny new body he only took up about a third of the couch, but he pushed that thought away, too, and fell into a fitful slumber.

---

Tiffany woke him before leaving for work to show him where everything was in the kitchen and to give him some clothes she'd bought on the way home. She'd bought clothes that were quite large on his tiny body, but he was happy with that. He didn't want to deal with tight fitting clothes that emphasized his new shape.

After a bowl of cereal he sat in front of the TV and thought about his life. His father was a good man who never raised a hand to anybody, but his grandfather was something else. He'd spent summers with him during high school and it was from him he learned how to 'be a man'. Now, looking back he realized he'd taken those lessons to heart far more than he should have.

Sarah's memories kept coming back to haunt him all day, leaving him convulsed in tears more times than not. When did I become such a cry baby?! he thought angrily after the first time. After the second time he blamed it on the hormones and determined to maintain control. That didn't last long.

This isn't getting me anywhere! I've got to find a way to get my life back together. But what can I do if Sarah never changes me back? he thought.

He must have dozed off, as Tiffany woke him when she got home. She'd already eaten dinner, so he heated up some soup. She asked how he was doing, but he just shrugged. He didn't feel as afraid of her as he had, realizing that at least some of her threatening had been an act. Her shadow trick still freaked him out, though.

He sat in front of the TV thinking the rest of the night and ignored Tiffany as best he could. All his thoughts returned to the same direction, though, If Sarah doesn't change me back, I'm screwed!

---

To Be Continued…

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« Venus Cursed! - Chapter 89 »

---

He slept fitfully and ate breakfast with Tiffany in the morning. She tried a couple times to talk to him, but he wasn't ready to talk yet. He had too much on his mind, and was still too full of fear of both her and the possibility that he might be trapped in this body forever.

Is there any chance of patching things up with Mary? he wondered, but quickly dismissed that thought. After the way I attacked her there's no way she'll take me back. Hell, I wouldn't take me back after that! What the hell was I thinking?!

As was his habit, he sat in front of the TV since he didn't have anything else to do. He could lose himself in the show, but he couldn't completely stop his thoughts. He fazed out for a bit and said, "Oh come on, how stupid can you get?!" when he saw what was on. It was another of those stupid sitcoms he hated so much. He changed the channel a few times until he found something he liked and settled back into the couch. Then his thoughts moved away from the show as he realized his reaction was totally different to what it used to be.

Didn't Mary always get on my case for cussing at the TV when one of those shows came on? And I really haven't felt much anger at all except at myself. Usually I encounter a dozen things that piss me off during the day. Is it just because I'm cooped up here, and what happened at the house, or... he thought, but ruthlessly cut that thought off.

He managed to lose himself in the show again, but his thoughts often returned to how differently he seemed to be reacting. He was so lost in those thoughts he didn't notice Tiffany come home, this time with Sarah. Tiffany said they were eating dinner at Sarah's apartment. He glanced over at them and nodded, and turned back to his show. He still didn't know how to act around his s...daughter.

They went through another of those weird portal things and were gone for a little while. When they got back Tiffany walked over and turned off the TV. "Get your shoes on, it's time to go." she said. He grunted something about missing the end of his show and put his shoes on. He followed them out to Tiffany's car. He didn't look at Sarah, knowing he wouldn't like what he saw. I'm sure she hates her old man by now. If I can even be called that anymore. he thought.

To his surprise, she asked him how he was doing on the drive over. He shrugged, not sure how to answer that, and looked out the window. She can't really be worried about me, can she? he thought. He tried to figure out what she expected of him, or any of them did, for that matter. No matter how he looked at it, though, he couldn't figure them out. Considering all those weird powers they have, I wonder why they didn't just kill me. They as much as said they could do it without leaving any evidence. And it's not like anyone would recognize me anymore, anyway.

Tiffany asked Sarah something, and they started talking. He tuned them out, until he heard something that really caught his interest. "What do you mean, magic getting stronger?" he asked, thinking this might give him some clue to how they could do all this. And maybe even how he could change back on his own!

They seemed to have forgotten he was there, as they took a moment to reply. "Apparently magic was suppressed, or dormant or something, for a long time. Now it's coming back. Eventually everyone will have magical abilities like we do." Tiffany said.

"Even me?" George asked hopefully.

He saw Tiffany glance at him in the rear-view mirror and she said, "Sure." He sat back and thought about that, What kind of abilities might I get? Could I change back on my own, and what would I do then? I've already lost my home and family. And if I don't change back soon, my job. What a mess!

The conversation that started up when they arrived at Sarah's apartment was full of surprises for George. First they were talking about identification for Sarah, something he hadn't considered. Obviously she wouldn't be able to use her old ID looking so different, but it sounded like they had that well in hand. He wasn't sure how he felt about that.

Erica also said something about most people having no trouble believing that Sarah and Sean were the same person, which seemed odd. It's obvious that they couldn't be the same person, if not for magic! But Mary believed it, too, didn't she? he thought. The waters were muddied further when Tiffany mentioned something about a curse from Venus. But then Erica said something that really shocked him!

"What?!" he exclaimed, startling all of them, when Erica said something about Sarah throwing herself in front of Michael to protect him. That doesn't sound like something my weakling son would do! he thought.

"I just said that Mike wouldn't have handled being a girl as well." Erica replied in obvious confusion.

"No, you said that Sarah jumped in front of Mike! What did you mean by that?!" he replied.

"Just what I said. They were running back through the portal to get away from Venus when she got angry. Jill was already through, and Mike was about to go through when Venus tried to blast him with her curse. Sarah jumped in front of him and got blasted instead and they were both knocked through the portal by the blast." Erica said. "You'd know that if you'd stuck around when we were telling Mary all this."

"Sarah did that?!" he said in shock. Then, "She must have known what was going to happen then, somehow, right?" Sarah never stood up to anybody! She must have known what was coming...

Sarah shook her head and backed away, "No, I thought I was going to die." she said.

He looked closely at her, but couldn't see any sign of deceit. "You really did?" he asked. Sarah nodded and he muttered, "I can't believe it!"

Sean was always such a wuss! Could he really have done something like that? Was I wrong about him all along? he thought, unconsciously repeating, "I can't believe it!" as he absently sat on the couch.

He wasn't aware that everyone but Erica had left the room until she sat beside him and grabbed his shoulder, turning him towards her. "Can't believe what?!" she growled.

He realized she'd said something else before that, but he'd missed it. He shook his head and sheepishly said, "Sorry, what were you saying?" as he looked up at her. He really didn't like having to look up at everyone.

"I said, what's going on?! You were scaring Sarah!" Erica said, nearly yelling it in his face.

George ducked his face and said, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I just couldn't believe that Sean would do something like that. I always thought he was too much of a coward to sacrifice himself for someone else like that."

"That's Sarah!" Erica growled. Even without a knife in her hands she could be very frightening when she wanted to be.

He feebly protested, "But she was Sean at the time it happened..."

"No! She was always Sarah! That's the whole point! Sean was just a mask she wore to please you and your wife, and everyone else, for that matter. She was always a girl." Erica replied.

"But you want to marry her." he said.

"Yes." Erica said.

"So you're a lesbian?" he asked. This whole situation is so confusing! he thought.

"No. Yes, I don't know! I was never attracted to girls before, but I am to her. I don't know what I am! But what does it really matter? I love her and want to spend the rest of my life with her. And she feels the same way. Isn't that what's important?" Erica said. At least I'm not the only one who's confused. George thought.

Remembering what he'd been taught by his parents and in church he said, "But it's a sin to change your body or to be with someone of the same gender as yourself."

Erica rolled her eyes, "I should have known you'd bring religion into this. It's always the same thing! Instead of coming up with a logical argument for why something shouldn't be, you just say it's a sin! Or that it's written in the bible, so it must be true! Can't you think for yourself?!"

"Of course I can think for myself!" he replied angrily.

"Oh really? Then tell me why it's a bad thing for two people of the same gender to be together? Without using the bible!" Erica said.

He was drawing a blank at first and said, "You can't have children!"

"Oh, what a surprise!" Erica said, grinning. "The old procreation argument! Tell me something Kelly, do we have a shortage of people?"

What's that got to do with anything? he wondered, but just said, "Uh, no."

"In actual fact, don't we have a surplus of people? Don't we have an overpopulation problem on this planet?" Erica asked.

George mumbled, "Well, yes, but...."

Erica interrupted before he could finish speaking, "So how is it a bad thing for two people to marry who can't have children when we already have too many?"

He couldn't answer that one, so she continued, "Let me give you a few more things to think about. The only place where same sex relationships is mentioned in the bible it specifies two men, there's nothing in the bible about lesbians. Also, there's nothing in the bible that says you can't change your body. In fact, we do it all the time. Tattoos, piercings, removing tonsils or appendix, and so on. And one more thing. If you thought Sarah was such a coward, presumably just because she wanted to be a girl and didn't fight back against her own father despite being very small when you started beating her, then you really don't know your daughter at all. And that's your loss." Then she stood and walked into the kitchen, leaving him alone.

---

To Be Continued…

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« Venus Cursed! - Chapter 93 »

---

George stared at Erica's retreating back, stunned. No one had ever challenged his beliefs like that before, or really made him think about them at all. He'd always accepted what he was taught in church without question.

He was still trying to wrap his mind around everything Erica said when Mike and Jill walked in. "Hi Kelly, how are you?" Jill asked.

He still couldn't think of himself as Kelly. Or as a girl, for that matter. "Uh, okay, I guess." he absently replied.

Jill sat next to him and touched his arm to get his attention, "What's bothering you?"

George shrugged and mumbled, "Just an argument with Erica."

"Tell me about it?" Jill said as Mike took a seat across from them. He gave her a summary and she nodded, "Yeah, that sounds like Erica. She's good at demolishing your arguments if they're not well thought out. What do you think about what she said?"

"It's confusing." he reluctantly admitted. "And I don't understand how Sarah adapted so well to changing so completely." he added as he thought about his own difficulties.

Jill shook her head in wonder, "You still don't get it, do you? Sarah didn't go through a big change, really. Sure, her body changed, but only to what she already felt like it should be. If she hadn't been trying so hard to pretend that she didn't want it, she wouldn't have had any trouble at all."

"But her body is totally different! She's even shorter than she was before! How can that not be an adjustment?" George said.

"For you or me, sure, it's a big change to get used to." Mike said. "But for Sarah it was natural. Frankly, I'm amazed I didn't pick up on how natural it was. I got changed into a girl a few times and it always felt really wrong to me. Sarah never acted like her body really disturbed her like that. I guess it's pretty obvious, in retrospect."

Wrong?! But... George thought, and then shook his head to clear the ridiculous ideas out of his head. "I still don't understand how my son could become such a natural and feminine girl!" he said angrily.

"Argh!" Mike growled as he stood. He looked like he wanted to beat some sense into him, but managed to restrain himself. He began pacing behind the couch so he didn't have to look at his face, instead.

"Haven't you listened to a word we've said?!" Jill said, obviously having lost patience with him as she glared at him.

He was about to say something he'd probably regret when Tiffany walked in. "What's going on?" she asked when she noticed the tension between them.

George thought he heard Mike start to say something, but Jill cut him off and said, "We're just frustrated with Kelly. Nothing we say is getting through to her!”

“ We can't get through to Dad, he has to get through to himself.” Sarah said sadly as she walked in. She walked right up to him and reached out to touch his shoulder. He flinched back involuntarily, but all Sarah did was tap his shoulder with one finger and he was back to his old self. Scared of my own daughter, what kind of man am I?! he berated himself before what had just happened really penetrated.

"I'm sorry I left you like that for so long Dad," Sarah said, "but I had to make sure you weren't a danger to Mom. I was just talking to her, and she's learned a little about her own powers and she's convinced me that she can defend herself if need be. After dinner we'll get your clothes from Tiffany's place and you can go. But Mom doesn't want you staying at the house. She'll let you get your stuff, but she wants you to get a hotel room or something.”

George barely managed to focus enough to hear her words as he put his hands to his face and chest and sighed in relief. He looked down at himself, shocked at how she so easily and instantaneously transformed him and noticed the clothes Tiffany bought for him were quite tight now. "Why?" he whispered, shocked that she changed him back at all, let alone so quickly.

Sarah just looked at him in confusion, "I just said. I know I hated being in a wrong gendered body, so I never wanted to leave you like that in the first place. If I had been sure Mom was safe sooner, I would have changed you back then.”

"But...don't you...hate me?” George asked.

Sarah shook her head, obviously surprised by the question, "No! You're my father, I could never hate you! I hated what you did, but not you.”

“ I told you, you don't know your daughter at all. Now maybe you're seeing why it's a shame that you don't.” Erica said, smiling at Sarah. Sarah seemed confused, but hugged Erica anyway. George could only sit there and think, She's right!

---

To Be Continued…

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« Venus Cursed! - Chapter 93 »

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"Uh, are we going to eat, or what?” Tiffany asked, looking at the others uncertainly.

"Eat!" Mike said with a laugh. George was glad for the distraction and followed him and the others into the kitchen. Sarah and Erica sat on the couch since there were too few chairs at the table. George glanced at them surreptitiously as he ate.

They fit together so well. he thought, Better than Mary and I ever did. I'm going to miss her. He ate slowly, thinking over almost everything that had been said and trying not to think about the rest. The others were rather quiet, which he correctly guessed was because of him.

After dinner Sarah opened a portal so Tiffany could retrieve his clothes. A few minutes later she came back through and handed them to him. He took them into the bathroom and changed gratefully into his own clothes.

Sarah, and then Erica, glanced oddly at him when he came out, but he hardly noticed. “Would you like me to drive you back to your house?” Tiffany asked him. He nodded and she said goodbye before leading him out to her car.

Neither of them seemed up to making small talk and he ended up falling asleep on the way there. When they arrived Tiffany woke George up and asked, "Will you need a ride again?"

He shook his head, "No, Mary and I have our own cars, so I'll take mine. Thanks for the ride, and letting me stay at your apartment."

"No problem." Tiffany said with a small smile. "Good luck." With that, she drove away.

Now the fun part... he thought as he walked up to the door. It was already dark, but the porch light was on. He assumed she knew he was coming, since Sarah could apparently talk to her mentally now. When did the world get so strange? he wondered.

He felt like an invader in his own home, so he pushed the button for the doorbell instead of letting himself in. Mary came to the door a moment later and let him in. She wasn't so much angry as cautious. Which made George feel even worse. I deserve it, though. I can't believe I hit her!

Mary watched him carefully as he gathered up his clothes and put them in cardboard boxes. He gathered up a few other things, including his computer, and packed them in his car. Once he was done with that he turned to Mary, who was still watching him from the open garage door, "For what it's worth, I really am sorry Mary. For everything." There was so much more he wanted to say, but he couldn't find the words. And Mary didn't look like she was in the mood to hear them, anyway.

"Goodbye George." Mary said. She turned and walked into the house, closing the door firmly behind her. With that simple gesture he realized he had burned all his bridges. His wife was never going to take him back, and his son was gone forever. The stranger he found in his place was totally unknown to him.

But then, maybe I never really did know Sean. I was too busy trying to make him into what I thought he should be. he thought as he climbed into his car. A short drive later and he was checking into a small motel for the night. He was too tired to do anything but climb into bed. He was asleep almost instantly, and it wasn't a peaceful sleep.

---

George awoke with a start, a child's screaming seemed to echo in the small room. Phew, just a dream! he thought, and then corrected himself, No, not a dream. A memory. Sean's. A deep sadness settled over him like a heavy cloak, but he shook it off with an angry growl.

He needed to be at work in an hour, so he took a quick shower, got dressed, and checked out. He got a lot of questions at work as to why he'd disappeared for a couple of days but he brushed them off.

By lunchtime everyone was giving him a wide birth. He was vaguely aware of it, but too lost in his own thoughts and self-recriminations to worry about it. He had trouble concentrating on his work and had trouble entering some information into the computer. "What's wrong with this blasted thing?!" he growled.

His temper continued to fray, which led to more mistakes, until he was pounding the keyboard in frustration. "George, why don't you take off early today?" his boss said in a way that made it more of an order than a suggestion.

George grumbled, but complied. He drove around aimlessly for a while before he could cool off enough to make plans. I still need to find someplace to live. he thought. The rest of the day was spent apartment hunting until he finally gave up and found a better motel to stay in.

As he lay awake in bed he thought over his day and grimaced. What was that all about? I know I've got a temper, but it's never been that bad before! Then he thought about Sean, and Mary. Or maybe I've just kept it contained to my family? What a wonderful thought.

Rolling over onto his other side he tried to put those thoughts aside and get some sleep, with little effect. The more he tried to stop thinking about things, the more his mind kept going in directions he didn't want to go.

---

To Be Continued…

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« Venus Cursed! - Chapter 99 »

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Exhaustion finally won out and he slept, fitfully. He awoke in the morning groggy and sore from tossing and turning all night. I've got to get my act together better than this! he berated himself as he got ready for work. The drive to work was spent trying to focus his mind on what he needed to do, both at work and afterward.

That plan went down the drain rather quickly. Before lunch he was as out of sorts as he had been when his boss suggested he leave the previous day. He managed to keep the noise down, but every little thing was seriously pissing him off. He'd never been very friendly with his coworkers, but they were learning quickly that it was better to keep their distance from him in the mood he was in.

Somehow, he managed not to make a spectacle of himself and work through the entire day. Afterward, he went apartment hunting again. Driving was strenuous, as he seemed to run across all the most idiotic drivers in town. Or so it seemed to him at the time.

By the end of the day he had narrowed his options down to a couple of apartments not far from work. I'll decide tomorrow, when I'm thinking more clearly. he decided.

---

Sleep had come poorly again, leaving him even more groggy and irritable in the morning. He moved slowly and barely made it to work on time. There, he struggled worse than ever with his temper. His computer seemed to have more glitches than ever, and he was sure the keyboard was faulty.

After only two hours of growling, groaning, and muttering to himself his boss called him into his office. "George, I won't beat around the bush. You need to get yourself under control or I'll have to let you go."

"What?! I'm under control!" George exclaimed. "It's that computer. The blasted thing isn't working right, and the keyboard is even worse!"

"George, you're not the only one that uses that computer. It works fine. Whatever your problem is, you need to deal with it. Go home and get yourself straightened out. Don't come back until you do." his boss said firmly.

George protested, but his boss wasn't hearing it. Swearing under his breath, he stomped out of the building and back to his car. What is wrong with everything?! he thought. Part of him he rarely listened to tried to tell him that he knew, but he growled to clear his head of such thoughts and drove off to see about getting an apartment.

That, at least, went without incident. He was able to move in right away, so he went back to the motel to retrieve what little he'd left there and check out. Then he drove back to the little one bedroom apartment and started unloading all his worldly possessions. While they'd seemed like a lot when he was loading up his car, and when he was unloading it, there really didn't seem to be much there once he'd set it all up in the apartment.

So this is all I've got to show for my life. How pathetic! he thought. A quick trip to the store netted a set of drawers to put his clothes in, some basic dishes, and a few other essentials. It was still bare, but it was enough to live. He didn't feel the need to get more than that.

He puttered around for hours. Finally, he settled down in front of his computer, but he hadn't bothered to setup internet access yet, which was about all he used it for. Something to do later, I guess. he thought listlessly.

Around eight at night he finally went out and got something to eat. And drink. He wasn't usually a big drinker, but he didn't have anything else to do. So that night he slept the sleep of the thoroughly wasted.

---

"Ow, shit!" he whimpered as his alarm clock went off. I must have forgotten to turn the damn thing off! he thought as he hit the snooze button. Once the pounding pain from that noise had faded, he reached over and turned it off.

What did I do last night? he wondered as he looked around at the mess that was his new bedroom. There were beer bottles strewn all over the floor, along with mostly empty Chinese takeout containers. He sat up and then promptly lay back down as the pounding in his head returned. Once that abated he sat up much more slowly and took in the mess.

Well, there's one way to deal with a hangover. he thought, spotting a half full bottle of beer next to his bed. That didn't last long so he went into the kitchen to see if he had any left. Eureka!

Another beer later and he was feeling halfway human. A shower and change of clothes later he was almost all the way there. He gathered up all the trash and took it out to the dumpster. After that he sat on his makeshift bed (he hadn't bought any furniture yet) and wondered what he was going to do. It was only ten in the morning and he had nothing to do and nowhere to be.

"I need a TV." he decided. A short drive later he was wandering the isles of the local electronics store, which made him think of Sarah. I wonder what she's doing now?

Somehow, thinking of his daughter was making him angry, so he concentrated on finding a cheap TV. Half an hour later he was setting it up in his apartment with a digital antennae, since he hadn't set up cable or satellite yet, either. It was enough to get a few decent channels, so he sat back with the last beer and watched one of the many police shows that were on anymore.

George had always been able to think better with the TV on. Mary seemed to be the opposite, needing quiet to concentrate, but the TV let him blank out everything else. For the first time in days he was able to think about his situation relatively clearly.

I've always had a temper, I can admit that. he thought as the cop on the show was slamming the suspect against a wall. But why am I having so much trouble all of a sudden? Is it because of Mary kicking me out? Or because of Sarah? Or what? When the first two happened I was okay. I wasn't happy, but I wasn't going berserk, either. What was different then?

Once more his thoughts were taking him in a direction he didn't feel comfortable with. He let his mind blank as he watched the show, still unwilling to confront what was staring him in the face.

---

To Be Continued…

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« Venus Cursed! - Chapter 111 »

---

Whoa, is that the time?! he thought as he noticed the time on his watch: 5:30 pm. I haven't had anything to eat all day, maybe I should do something about that. After shutting off the TV he went out to a local chain restaurant and ordered a steak.

As he ate he thought about what he needed to do to about his new situation. I need some furniture, a microwave, food, and a few other things. he thought. When he finished eating he went off to the furniture store, feeling proud of himself for getting his act together.

A couple of hours later he was back. He put away the groceries and collapsed on the sleeping bag he'd used for a bed. Well, that's the grocery shopping taken care of, and the furniture should arrive Monday. Might as well stay home at least until it arrives. I'll get fired for sure if I show up at anything less than 100%. Whatever that's supposed to be. Damn fool is being totally unreasonable about this.

---

George woke in the morning, still dressed, draped awkwardly over his sleeping bag. Huh, must have been more tired than I thought.

A shower and change of clothes later and he was sat in front of the TV, trying to figure out what he'd do with his day. I've got no friends, no family anymore. Can't go back to work until Tuesday, if then. What to do? he thought, staring at the screen. A few minutes later he made up his mind and turned off the television.

His first stop was to get breakfast. From there he headed over to a pool hall he'd seen on his way to work. He hadn't played in years, and he wasn't very good, but he enjoyed the game. The main problem he had was that the place was busy and people kept trying to join him. After the third interruption he went to the bar to get something to calm him down.

The beer did help, and he was fairly polite to the next two people that asked to join him. But they kept coming so when he finished his beer he went back for another. He knew it was a bad idea, but he didn't want to start a fight because he couldn't control his temper, either.

After his fifth trip to the bar things started to get fuzzy. He lost track after that, but the beer was helping less and less with his temper. Then there was yelling, breaking glass, and...

---

The first thing George was aware of was the pain. His head hurt worse than anything he'd ever felt. The worst hangover of his college years was nothing by comparison. He groaned and opened his eyes to bright fluorescent lights. Pain stabbed into his brain through his eyes and he hurriedly shut them.

"Finally awake, huh?" someone said nearby. The sound pounded into his brain just as the light had and he groaned again. "Feeling the effects a little?"

"Be nice Erica, he's in a lot of pain." another voice said.

"Serves him right, if you ask me." the first voice grumbled.

George carefully cracked his eyes open a little, wincing at the pain the bright lights caused. He didn't dare open them all the way yet.

"I think he's having a little trouble with the lights." a third voice said.

"Would you turn them off, Mike?" the second voice asked. A moment later the light turned off and he sighed in relief. Cautiously, he opened his eyes little by little until they were all the way open. There was still light coming in from outside the room, but it was bearable. "Is that better Dad?"

"Wha...Sarah?!" he said in surprise. Looking around he saw that her friends and fiance were with her. And he wasn't in his apartment. Smells like disinfectant, must be the hospital. How'd I get here? he thought.

"Hi Dad. How are you feeling?" Sarah said.

"How'd I get here?" he asked, wincing at the noise of his own voice.

"You started a fight in a pool hall." Erica said.

"Actually," Sarah said, shooting a look at Erica, "you didn't start it, according to the police."

George groaned. At least I didn't start it. Considering how my temper has been that's a plus. he thought. "I take it I lost?" he said, gesturing towards the hospital room around him.

"Oh yeah, big time! Apparently there were a lot of people there who were annoyed with you. You're lucky you passed out quick or you might have been seriously hurt." Mike said.

"Why are you here?" George asked, looking questioningly at Sarah. She was the last person he'd expect to come visit him.

"They called Mom and she called me. She was afraid she might lose her temper if she came down here, so she asked me to come. Why were you drinking so much, anyway? You never used to drink much before." Sarah said.

"It helps." is all he said, not wanting to admit how badly out of control his temper had become.

"Helps with what?" she asked innocently. Then she got a strange look on her face and seemed to stare into space for a moment.

"What was that, Sarah?" Erica asked.

"Oh, Vash was just picking something up from Dad. His ability may be waking up a little." Sarah replied.

"You don't mean..." Erica said, clearly unhappy with this news.

Sarah nodded, "Yeah, but he's not aware of it yet. Vash isn't even sure what it is, exactly."

"What are you talking about?" George asked in confusion.

"Don't worry about it right now. I still want to know how the drinking helps." Sarah said.

"It just does, alright? Am I being charged with anything?" George asked, holding one hand to his head as it was still throbbing fiercely.

Mike answered that with a shake of the head, "No, there were plenty of witnesses that said you didn't start it. In fact, it sounds like you didn't really put up a fight at all."

George frowned, that didn't sound like him. Must have been really drunk. he thought. "When can I get out of here?"

"I'll check." Jill said. Mike and Tiffany went with her.

"What's going on with you, Dad?" Sarah asked. He shrugged, but kept his mouth shut. "Come on Dad, you can do better than that!"

"What do you want me to say?!" he growled. "You turn me into a teenage girl for a couple of days, and then your mother kicks me out! My son is gone, replaced by a strange girl with magical powers and now I may lose my job. My life's fucked up, what do you expect?"

Sarah backed slowly away as he ranted, with Erica holding her protectively. "Will you stop that!" she growled right back with her arms wrapped around a shivering Sarah.

Sarah took a deep breath to calm herself, "No, he's got a point. I mean, he did kind of bring it all on himself, but his life has been turned upside down pretty thoroughly. It would be pretty strange if he wasn't upset about it."

"Why are you so forgiving?! I'm a bastard, you should hate me!" George exclaimed angrily.

Erica sighed in frustration, "Haven't we been through this already? That's the way she is, no thanks to you!"

Sarah tilted her head to the side as she looked at him, "What happened to you? You seem different."

"I'm the same I've always been." he grumbled as he looked away from his daughter's inquisitive eyes. What does she see?

Sarah opened her mouth to say something more when her friends walked in. "Looks like you can leave in a couple of hours George." Mike said.

"Good! Now you've checked on me, you can leave." George said.

Again Sarah began to speak, but stopped suddenly with an odd look to her girlfriend. Her expression changed a few times as if they were talking, but neither of them opened their mouths. Finally, Sarah sighed and nodded before turning back to him. "Okay Dad, if that's what you want. Where are you living now?" she asked.

He told her and they left, much to his relief. His head was still pounding like a jackhammer, but when the doctor finally came around to check on him he said he felt fine. After signing some papers and getting dressed he called a cab to take him back to his apartment.

Once safely inside he collapsed on his make-shift bed. What is going on with me? he wondered. Once again, thoughts he didn't want to consider threatened to force their way into his consciousness and he ruthlessly pushed them down. Grimacing at the renewed pounding of his aching head he laid down to think, only to fall asleep a moment later.

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To Be Continued…

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« Venus Cursed! - Chapter 116 »