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Extraordinaries who Nick now knew the identities of.

His mouth went dry.

It’d be easy, wouldn’t it? To tell Cap everything he knew. What he’d seen. What he’d done. All it would take would be opening his mouth and spilling everything and letting Cap handle it.

“Long day?” Mary asked, apparently unaware of the existential crisis happening right next to her.

“And night,” Cap muttered. “Those damn Extraordinaries. They’re getting worse. I don’t know what happened, but they caused a lot of damage to Burke Tower. Someone was after something, but I have no idea what. Simon Burke isn’t pleased.”

Nick wondered if it were possible to disappear into the floor. He tapped his foot against it. Solid as always.

Mary scoffed. “Simon Burke will get over it. It’s not as if he doesn’t have more money than god.”

Cap scrubbed a hand over his face. “That’s whatIsaid, but it didn’t go over very well. Apparently, some of the work they do is very hush-hush. I’m convinced he’s creating monsters in a laboratory somewhere for the government. Doesn’t help that his kid is missing and—” Cap sat up abruptly, eyes narrowing as he looked at Nick.

Nick looked for the exits. There were two. He could probably make it before Cap caught up with him. He was wily. Cap liked red meat and cigars. It’d be no contest.

“Don’t you know Owen Burke?”

“Like, biblically?” Nick asked, debating whether or not he would be considered a bad son for abandoning his father.

“What? No. I could have sworn that Aaron said you were friends.” Cap frowned.

Nick’s hands were very clammy. “Did he?”

“Yes,” Cap said slowly. “Apparently, he was in Burke Tower last night. Had a friend with him.”

“Huh,” Nick said. “How strange. Well. I wouldn’t know anything about that. I was at your house, safely tucked in bed like I was supposed to be.”

Mary coughed, the traitor.

“Except for when I snuck out and came to the hospital,” Nick amended. Later, he would have to remind Mary how it had beenheridea not to tell Cap about that.

Cap wasn’t pleased. “You snuck out and didwhat?”

“He was worried about Aaron,” Mary said, and Nick forgave her a little. “Aaron’s nurse called me and told me where Nick was.”

“That right?” Cap said, still staring at Nick. “Is that all that happened, Nick?”

“Yes, sir.”

“And you wouldn’t happen to know where Owen is, would you?”

Probably locked in battle with Pyro Storm, who happened to be the guy that Nick gave Skwinkles Salsagheti to. And since thatwould probably not go over very well, Nick said, “No, sir.” Because he knew the minds of cops made them suspicious about everything, he added, “I hope he’s okay. You really don’t know where he is?”

Nick was saved from saying anything more by the arrival of a cheerleader and a baby butch. Even though he was furious with one of them, he’d never been happier to see them in his life.

“Hey, Nicky,” Jazz said, smiling sweetly. Nick could have kissed her. But he wouldn’t, given that her girlfriend was standing right next to her, actively avoiding looking at Nick. “We tried to call but got your voicemail. Hope it’s okay we’re here.”

Nick jumped up. “Oh,sure. You have no idea how happy I am to see you. In fact, let’s go somewhere else so I can tell you exactly how happy I am.”

“Don’t go too far,” Mary told him. “We don’t know how long your dad will stay awake by the time he gets back.”

Nick nodded, smiling tightly as he grabbed Jazz and Gibby by the hands, pulling them down the hall. He could feel Cap’s gaze boring into his back, but he couldn’t do anything about that now. If he were lucky, maybe Cap would be gone by the time he got back. Or, at the very least, distracted by Dad.

“Your dad’s awake?” Jazz asked, squeezing his hand. “Nick, that’s so great! Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Phone’s dead,” Nick said through gritted teeth. “It’s been a long day. Hasn’t it,Gibby?”