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Sylvia, who missed the pizza lunch, runs up to Donnie between two of his afternoon classes and rattles out her message like someone who's on her way to a French exam.  Why she doesn't text him or send him mental e-mail, who can say?  Maybe she just likes the sight of him.  "Hey, can we meet up this afternoon?  Übermann left us a present, something about your dad.  Um . . . my house?  Tasty Dog?  It's probably best we don't hang where your parents might hear us."

"Uh, yeah. Hi! You missed lunch. I ordered you a vegetarian pizza. Tasty Dog is good. I could use a milkshake. Beetlejuice? Great! Okay, bye?"

Donnie is a fly caught in the whilwind of Sylvia. He struggles with his insecurities and jealousies when she is out of sight, but she still leaves him breathless when she appears. All his worries melt away.

He is walking over to the Tasty Dog prompty after school, eager to see Sylvia.

She's there, having squirmed her way through the after-school crowd and having gone over to the dark side a bit to secure the preferred quiet corner booth.  She brightens when she spots Donnie, but there's something serious on her mind and therefore in her expression.  It's after they have their ice cream in front of them that she pivots on the seat they share, leans in close, and tries to put her report in order.

"Okay.  Big news.  First things first.  Your dad is laundering money for the mob."

Donnie nods sagely, taking a deep draw on his peanut-butter choc'lit shake. "I figured as much. It sounded like that whe Colin described his vision to me."

"But here's the kicker," Sylvia says.  "He's feeding information to the FBI, CIA, AND NSA.  Not on his own.  His secretary is his--"  She pauses.  The word is impolitic.  "--handler."

Donnie pushes away his shake, and with a totally serious look on his face, has says "Surely you jest."

"Surely I do not, my good man.  I mean, your dad's not James Bond or anything, but he's fighting for truth, justice, and the American way."

"That can't be. right. I mean, he totally like.. Gah, you're serious? Beetlejuice isn't just just making this up, right?"

"Like he has to," she says.  "What part of this is blowing your mind?"

"Maybe the fact that his supposed 'handler' is using sex to keep him in line and is using him. Or the fact that his dishonesty has destroyed my family, but his honesty is helping the government? How can that not blow my mind? I am seriously thinking of Salamander eating that bitch." he says with a growl.

"That would be an incredibly bad idea," she says, dead serious.  "Whatever her methods, she has some serious authority backing her up."  Sylvia pauses and then catches his chin on the palm of her hand.  "Smith wanted me to tell you that your dad loves you very much.  Very, very much.  He got involved in this money laundering scheme because they threatened you and your mom.  He's doing his best to look out for you."

Donnie takes her hand. "What can I do? Am I stuck in this now? I can't go after the people who are to blame, can I? If I go after the guys forcing my dad to do this, I destroy any chance the government has of taking them down. If I confront the bitch f*&$ing my dad, I risk the government taking a closer look at me, and I can't have that. I have greater eventual responsibilities. This is seriously messed up."

"Smith says we should leave it alone, but maybe you should let your dad . . . maybe you should let your dad know we're watching out for him.  So if he gets in trouble he knows we can help."

"Somehow I don't think he understands what I can do, but I guess it's worth a try." Donnie looks away, rubbing at his red and roughed up knuckles.

"I'll go with you if you want.  I can keep him calm."  She puts her hand over his knuckles and soothes them her gym-calloused but gentle palm.

Donnie gazes soulfully into her eyes, his hands enfolding hers. Thie hands were a like size, Donnie's slender hands small for a guy, and everything feels right in the world when he holds her hand. "I'd like that. Alot."

[Cut to:  Donnie's House?]

It's Thursday night. Chinese take out night, which has become more enjoyable for Mitzi since she and Sylvia have similar food tastes. It's also nice that Donnie has Sylvia over because Donald and Mary keep their sniping at a minimum when guests are around.

Donald is surprised to get a phonecall from Donnie, though he does not realize that Donnie timed it perfectly to coincide with his usual time that he spends with his secretary, except on Thursdays. Thursdays are his Mob Laundering Money days, and Chinese with the family.

"Hey Dad. It's me. Get another portion of steamed veggies and the lite tofu stirfry with white rice. Sylvia's eating dinner with us."

"Ok, will do.  See you later sport."  Dad sounds chipper.

OOC: This thread may have to be shut down due to horrible timing.  I'll leave it on the back burner and say that it takes place at some other time perhaps?

ooc: Yes, please. Perhaps the next week?