Put That Kid Down

Chapter Four

"Where's the lab?" Neil asked nervously, "I'm not seeing any buildings that look up to code."

David had had a few weeks to smooth out his routine after his resolution - transformation, something whispered - before he got the pleasant surprise of two new campers in one day!

"You'll see it soon," he reassured the boy, keeping one eye on the feral girl who'd bit him and one hand on the hood of Max's sweater to prevent another escape attempt. Neil would love the set-up David had made for him! Beakers, test tubes, a magnifying glass – all the things a kid needed to play scientist! Sure, they didn't have the budget to go all-out, but David just knew Neil would fit right in.

As for Nikki, the feral one... He felt a nervous chuckle bubble up his throat as he thought of how he'd almost smacked her into the ground before he translated the stifled instinct into a scream. He'd have to be careful to keep his guard up around her. No point saving the campers over and over again if he took one out himself! Another nervous laugh stifled.

"I'm sure you'll just love this orientation video," he enthused, blowing the dust off. They hadn't taken it out since Max showed up! While he regaled them as to the history behind the video, they listened with rapt attention, eyes fixed just over his shoulder. Probably in anticipation of – actually David sensed movement, so he whipped around just in time to see Cameron Campbell in his pajamas about to ascend a ladder.

He squealed and gently put down the laserdisc. Or dropped it. Honestly, his hands were numb with excitement. If it weren't so unprofessional, he'd go give his employer a great big bear hug! The man must have wanted to surprise the new campers – and maybe his favorite counselor – so he'd hidden in the secret attic room David hadn't known about until just now, but overslept!

"Mr. Campbell, sir, you're here!"

"Uh," Campbell cleared his throat, frozen halfway up the ladder, "Yes, Davey, I'm here. Just give me a moment to change for the little sprouts. Plumb forgot what time I was supposed to meet the new campers!" He let out a strained laugh with which David politely laughed along. A moment of silence as Campbell, the children, and his counselors engaged in a complicated staring contest in which only David smiled. "Alright then." Campbell scurried back up the ladder.

The kids turned to David – heck, Gwen turned to David, as the senior counselor - but David was just smiling up at the ladder expectantly.

It was like a reward for figuring everything out. Something uncoiled in his chest just knowing Campbell was here, after years of- better not to think about it.

He floated along in a happy daze as they went through the new student orientation. Not even Neil's little temper tantrum or Gwen's sniping at Campbell could bring him down. In fact, when Max tried to escape again, he was more proud than anything – Max had put knitting camp to such good use! David was happy as a clam. As long as Campbell was there...

And abruptly, Campbell was climbing a ladder to a helicopter as men in black suits shot at him. The children hit the ground, along with Gwen, but David could only feel that happy haze being torn away.

"Wait, where are you going?" he exclaimed, they hadn't even had time to talk! And there was so much Campbell needed to know! He was the only one David could speak to about this and he'd told David to keep discreet matters in-person!

"The nearest international waters, Davey!" Campbell explained, smiling to let David know it wasn't his fault, but looking meaningfully at the men shooting at him as the helicopter lifted away. "Campe diem, kids!"

Ah.

David turned around to give these men a piece of his mind as Campbell had clearly suggested – they were shooting over children and they were on private property – but they hustled into their car and squealed off into the distance before he could tell them off.