Chapter 20; Father's Day:

Warning; Rated M for swearing, violence, lemony things, and lots of icky germs. You have been warned…

Disclaimer: I do not own 'Osmosis Jones' or any of its characters, I am only using them to fulfill my own disillusioned dreams and fan-girl wishes. : P

I thank you all for your reviews! They helped me get this chapter out much faster than I thought I would! Anywho, this chapter is a lot of talking with little description. That's cause the next chapter is gonna be a long ass one with lots of feels. Also, it will have some, um, lemony like scenes in it, since the last chapter or this one didn't.

~o0o~

"If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace." ~ Thomas Paine

He had visited her apartment again. If she was like anyone else in this Frank forsaken body, she would move out. But the chances of her doing that was the same as hell freezing over. She would catch that infection of a man, if it was the last thing she did.

"Red roses? Really?" She called out in the alley way she had tracked him to, guessing that he was somewhere nearby. And by the sound of his resounding chuckle, her guess was correct.

"Seemed fitting to me darling, better than a box of chocolates anyway" He spoke, the closeness of his voice causing the mindful woman to turn around, her gun drawn and ready to fire.

"Chocolates and roses huh? Why can't stalkers ever be more original?" The white blood cell muttered to herself as she turned back to face the alley way once more, taking slow and measured steps as she watched each and every shadow.

"Oh, I can be when I want to, but I guess I'm just old fashioned when it comes to this sort of thing" Answered the deep voice from before, this time sounding as if it was coming from behind the dumpster to the woman's left. Accordingly, the woman trained her gun on it, coming closer as she let out a scoff.

"Old fashioned? Since when is it old fashion to break into a girl's home, leave a bouquet of flowers on her table, and then carve the words 'See you soon' over her bed with a knife?" She rebutted, coming closer to where she pinpointed her target. The rushing beat in her ears distracted her, but she wrote it off as adrenaline.

"Don't tell me, the flowers were too much, weren't they?" Spoke the voice from behind her, forcing the woman to turn on her heels, somewhat panicked now.

"You do know what red roses mean, don't you?" The voice sounded closer, but where, the woman had no idea now. To match her confusion, shapes and shadows appeared in the corner of her eyes only to disappear when she faced them. Damn it! He was getting to her. After all this time, he was getting to her.

"They mean courage, respect, and of course…" Something, someone, took a hold of the woman's hands, forcing her gun to drop away as she became pinned against a brick wall. A body compressed against her own, forcing guilty satisfaction through her as she held in her surprise.

"Passionate love" Whispered the voice by her ear, chilling the woman with its tone. The man that now had her trapped lowered himself till his face was level with her own, filling her view.

"Is that what this is?" She whispered in turn, slowly twisting in the hold the virus had her in that she could easily break. But…why should she? After all, he did buy her flowers. He seemed to enjoy her squirming debate, and took advantage of it to come closer to the groove of her neck.

"You know it darling"

The quiet alley and all its trash ridden glory left nothing to be remembered as the two began an all too familiar habit. The woman, trying to find some way to tell the virus she was still in control, grasped harder at the collar of his jacket, biting her lip. He could touch her, she would kiss back, but she wouldn't touch him. Never.

The tightness in her jaw loosened when she felt the virus kiss her, hesitance absent in place of need. Lips parting, she seemed to breathe easier as she finally allowed him what he wanted most at this moment. That just happened to be all of her. She could hand that over.

All too quickly, the rush of his breath and the firm grip of his hands left the woman, backing away with only a whispered parting.

"See you soon"

Tucking away a strand that had come loose before bending down to retrieve her gun, the woman began to walk out of the alley way with a staggering step.

"Hmph, not soon enough. Next time, I'll be sure to kill you Draven"

o0o

Rachel loved making other people confused. Usually it was with her smarts, or with her sarcasm. But right now, with all of Frank's Finest staring at her wide eyed and lost as she and her father stood side by side, she was annoyed. Because she was going to have to explain one or two things.

"Your…your dad?!" Practically screamed Jones, breaking the silence just as Drix started to look pale. Thrax though, was eerily still. Maybe he was pissed off that he didn't see this coming sooner, Rachel didn't know or particularly cared at the moment. Right now, she had some clarifying to do. And that meant extra work for her.

"Well now," Began Draven, or Dr. D as he preferred to be called, with a smirk "I didn't think it would be so surprising. It's kind of obvious after all. I thought you said your friends were smart?" He asked his daughter, who the gang could not, or would not, see any resemblance with. Rachel rolled her eyes.

"No, I said Leah was smart" And on cue, said lavender colored cell came down the stairs, done putting the troubled young girl this whole thing was started over to bed.

"Where is he? Is he here yet?" She asked excitedly as she came over, coming to a halt as she spotted Draven.

"Whoa…"

The others had to agree. The so called Dr. D was an impressive example of a virus. He was bigger than Thrax, if that was possible, and was colored the deepest shade of purple that could almost be black, like his short dreads that were pulled back in a ponytail. His eyes were grey, almost lifelessly so, and his face held the pointed sharp cheeks that only higher viral infections had, though his chin was box shaped rather than jagged. Simply, yet stylishly garbed in a suit of black and a white shirt partially unbuttoned, he was oddly the picture of charisma as he came forward to take the astonished Leah's hand.

"Glad to have made such an impression on you little darling" He said with a charming smile before kissing the hand of still stunned cell "I presume you are the lovely Miss Leah I've heard so much about"

"Uh, yeah" Was all the usually articulate defense attorney could manage at the moment. Rachel crossed her arms, more than annoyed.

"Dad, she's had a boyfriend"

"Oh, how unfortunate" Before Dr. D could politely let go of the lady's hand, Jones had finally found his ability to move and react, and came over to stand between the new virus and his girl.

"Hey, okay now. Let go of the girl, nice and slow" He announced, hand twitching for the gun at his side. Drix tensed up, and prepared himself for what could possibly ensue, when Draven only chuckled.

"Is he serious?" He asked as he looked towards Rachel, who shrugged.

"Hard to tell, isn't it?"

"Just put the gun down sonny boy, before you get hurt" Smiled Draven, putting his hands up to show he meant no harm. One could hardly blame him for appreciating meeting the woman who was his only child's best friend, now could they? Jones, slowly, hesitantly, relaxed, and almost pleadingly, looked towards Rachel.

"Ray, please, I don't do this often, but I am begging ya, explain this!" Coming next to stand beside Jones was Drix, who too looked about ready to beg for an explanation. That only left Thrax behind her, but Rachel decided to ignore him for the moment. She could only take so much.

"I said it already, this is my dad"

"You said your parents had died long ago!" Accused Jones, not meaning to be rude, but confusion often did make people desperate for quick answers. Rachel seemed to understand though.

"I lied. My mom died, my dad was wounded"

"Then…why lie about that?!"

"You try to explain to the world that your dad's a virus who used to enjoy making bodies slowly suffocate on its own blood" That seemed to satisfy Jones, who glanced worriedly towards Draven. The large virus looked off in the distance, impressive claws playing with the long chain around his neck.

"Ah, those were the days" He sighed with disturbing nostalgia. Rachel, who knew her dad as a major show off, rolled her eyes.

"Used to?" Asked Drix timidly, stiffening when Draven turned his attention onto him, reminiscence over.

"Love is a strange thing, don't under estimate it sonny"

"My mom used to be a cop for F.P.D., she got him with an antibody and took away his infectiousness" Explained Rachel further, only serving to confuse Drix more.

"You said your parents met at work!"

"They did. Dad was one of mom's first cases as a detective. Like I said, it was love at first fight, when she shot him to stop him from destroying Frank" At this, she felt the impulse to look over towards where Thrax was. Maybe it was because this was the same near lie she gave him when he asked, or because her curiosity for how he was taking this finally got to her. She was surprised to feel disappointment when she saw that he was sitting over on his couch, back turned. There was no time for that disappointment to be reflected on by her, as Jones found it necessary to comment his thoughts.

"Man, now that's twisted" Draven smiled at Jones summation, and for a moment, it seemed sad. Only for a moment, before it once more turned charming.

"What can I say? I'm a glutton for punishment, or for love, either way"

Rachel, for whatever reason that was lost on the still perplexed Jones, Drix, and Leah, had to turn away. She found herself focusing on the turned back of Thrax, but only out of a need to focus on something else. She had been doing well so far, but right now, she felt anything but. Guilt, grief, and perhaps even a bit of resentment kept her from meeting Draven's gave when he looked her way. Fortunate for her, Zane decided to descend from upstairs right then, having been keeping watch over Lily until she fell asleep.

"Why, if it isn't my favorite little six legged mutt, come here Zane" Announced Draven. As the red eyed creature happily trotted over to his only favorite virus in this body, Jones threw his hands in the air in exasperation.

"Great, even the dog likes him!"

"This is…this is a lot to take in" Spoke out Drix, pinching the bridge of his nose. Well, where he would have one if he had a nose. Leah looked at him with a smirk.

"How do you think I felt when she first told me?"

"You knew?!" Shouted Jones, causing Zane to bristle at the noise, though Draven continued to scratch behind his ears.

"We are best friends Jones, of course I knew. I just never got to meet him until today"

"And for that, I am sorry to have denied such a pretty darling like you the pleasure" Purred Draven, causing a flattered Leah to smile, and a jealous Jones to snarl.

"Dad, back off" Commanded Rachel, who finally found the attitude in her to face her father again, exasperated with tendency to be too charming towards anything with a pretty face.

"This is creepy, in more ways than one" Was what Jones could only bring himself to say as he leaned against Drix for support, even though the pill himself seemed to be hanging on only by a thread. Draven, who was always quick to become bored, decided to go wandering the Scrounge Lounge. Without following after him, Rachel, with Zane now beside her, watched him.

She had missed him. So much. This was what, the first time in a year she had seen him in person? They had to trade Christmas gifts through Father Stiers, so, it had to have been over a year. It almost drove her crazy that she couldn't just run up to him and hug him. But then again, she wouldn't. Sometimes it was hard enough just to look at him, even though she loved him, and would forever. But sometimes even that wasn't enough.

Her thoughts turned back onto the present as Draven stopped before one of the couches, seemingly spotting Thrax for the first time. Rachel immediately decided to come closer; knowing her father, his reaction was going to be amusing.

"Well now, what's this?" Asked Draven, and the others followed after Rachel, sensing trouble coming.

"I already told you about him. That's Thrax" Rachel explained indifferently, though her eyes darted back and forth from her dad to Thrax, and back again. The red virus looked up, calm as can be, to meet the grey eyes of the elder, who smiled.

"Oh, of course. This is the virus that tried to take down Frank and failed. Well then, welcome to the club" Rachel and gang tensed as Draven held out his hand to shake. To their relief, Thrax didn't react, only continued to stare at the other virus who Ray had yet to tell what he thought of. She usually could tell at least generally what he was thinking, but now more than ever she realized she never did know what this virus was thinking, unlike her father, who shrugged off the slight insult with his charming smile.

"Hm, silent type huh?"

"I wish" Scoffed Jones, making Draven smile even more.

"Well, in any case, nice to finally meet El Muerte Rojo. I've heard…things about you"

With that, he made his way back to Rachel and Zane, clawed hands in his pockets.

"Now, where's this little one that I'm supposed to take care of?"

"Miss Rachel?" Asked Drix, and Rachel sighed as she felt another long winded explanation coming on.

"I called him to take Lily to Father Stiers. Trust me, until we find Freddy, with him is the safest place a Viscel can be here in this body. It was for me" For some reason, she ended up looking towards Jones. Well, not for some reason, he was the leader of this little operation after all. In some twisted way of course. But, as his posture finally relaxed and he let out a sigh, she let out a small smile.

"I'm gonna go out on a big limb here. Don't disappoint me Ray girl"

"Since when have I ever Jones?"

o0o

The damned little girl woke up about an hour ago. She took advantage of the fact that Thrax had yet to move from the couch. She was just a few inches off from having fallen asleep in his lap. The virus would normally do something about this, but what the hell, he had more important things to get annoyed over.

How the fuck did his miss this? No, really, the signs were all there. It was so obvious, he even acknowledged that she was a one of kind. Guess he didn't know just how much of a one of a kind she was. All that, mixed with the bit of shock that was finding all about Rachel's father, who was himself a powerful infection, or at least was, left the virus out of the mood for conversation.

But, was he annoyed with the fact that he couldn't figure it out on his own, or that she didn't tell him? Thrax thought he had this chick figured out a long time ago, and that being that she had offered up every little secret of hers to him without carrying that it was him she was sharing that with. He had to admit he liked the thought of that, she presenting her weakness without a damn who knew. But, he shouldn't care. Normally it would be that Thrax couldn't care, but this time, it ended up shouldn't.

Damn, that woman was starting to get to him. No, no one got to him. But she was starting to become, what was that word…significant. However it played out, it was damned annoying only to have just figured this all out the same time Jones and gang had. Maybe they were starting to rub their stupid off on him. Frank…

Just then, Rachel, exhausted and bored with explaining over and over again with Draven what happened, how it happened, and their plans to take care of Lily to Jones and crew, sat down next to him. Thrax spared her a glance, and so did she to him, smirking when she saw how Lily was next to him, sleeping.

"So…" He began, wanting to take advantage of this moment alone they had. Well, as alone as they could possibly hope for here.

"So what?" Rebuffed Rachel.

"A virus"

"Yeah" Was her answer to the question he never asked. She looked past Thrax, seeing Draven sitting at one of the many tables, saying something that was no doubt charming and making Drix and Leah laugh while Jones pouted. She felt the creep of a smile on her face, and couldn't bring herself to care that Thrax was seeing it.

"He specialized in sneaking into the Medulla Oblongata and messing with the gene that made breathing autonomic, thus suffocating the body. Much slower than you're way, but just as effective" Rachel turned to see what Thrax's reaction to this was. He wasn't impressed, she never figured he would be for anyone who wasn't himself, but he looked somewhat fascinated, if just over her acceptance of the matter.

"And he's your old man"

"Yup"

"Must have made your childhood interesting"

"You have no idea" Chuckled Ray, though she knew Thrax would be able to pick up the slight bitterness in her voice. The two fell into quiet as they watched Draven interact with the others again, or Lily shift in her sleep, finally scooting away from Thrax some, much to his relief.

"Why let me in on it?" He asked after a moment, almost as if he needed time to find the nerve, or possibly the curiosity, to ask. Rachel leaned back further on the couch, slumping almost.

"In on what Red?"

"You're big secret. You being a virus's pride and joy" Once more she chuckled, but this time it was even obvious to her the callous undertones in her voice.

"What are you gonna do about it? Unfriend me? Dump me? Need I remind you, what we got going is anything but a relationship of normal conventions. You aren't gonna be around this body much longer, Jones and Drix are friends, so what's the harm of letting one more in on the secret?"

She didn't care that he knew. Really. In fact, it felt kind of good. For so long, since she was a little girl, there had never been one single person she shared everything with besides Zane, and he didn't count. Even Andrew didn't know that her father was alive when she told him, only that he was a virus. But now, Thrax knew everything. Every single thing. He knew she was a Viscel, that her father was alive and a virus, and that she was having not so pious relations with a murderous psychopath. Of course, that last one was only because it was with him, but still, it felt good. The right kind of good for once. The kind that made her feel like a weight had dropped away, letting her breath easier. She wondered if she deserved that, but Thrax seemed to find it acceptable, or at least the answer she gave him, and smirked.

"I guess you're right baby" A moment was taken as he uncrossed his legs, and chuckled, causing Rachel to glare at him.

"So that's why he left you"

"What?"

"The grey cell. This is why he left you. You told him" Rachel too smirked, figuring it was only a matter of time till he figured that out. Honestly, what was his obsession with her past, doomed relationships? She almost didn't want to find out as she pretended not to tense up.

"Yeah. Turns out, he's a bit resentful towards viruses, seeing as how one killed his folks"

"That will do it" Thrax agreed, and once more the two of them fell into silence as they watched the others. Something felt strange to Ray then, like they were waiting on something. That something turned out to be Thrax's curiosity as once more he found himself asking.

"Are you?"

"Am I what?"

"Resentful?"

Rachel looked away from Draven and the others, meeting the yellow eyes of the virus next to her. She wanted to see his reaction to what she was about to say, though why, how the hell should she know?

"I'm immune to most of the diseases in the world. My coloration is unique from everyone else's here and I've been coldshouldered for it and my inability to morph like other cells. I have a dad who has gone from body to body, killing hundreds until he fell in love with my mom and decided to play the part of the happy husband. My mom was killed because of her love for him, and I left to be raised by myself while daddy dearest hid himself away to protect me"

She could see nothing. Not a twitch of sympathy, or a reprieve from that smirk of his. Nothing. And it was nice. It made Rachel reveal the truth for once, instead of giving over what people most wanted, or didn't want, to hear.

"I don't know what I should feel" Was the confession that made Thrax break away his gaze from hers. Both now found the air between them becoming tense, and out of a need to say something, Rachel looked towards the still sleeping Lily.

"She fell asleep in your arms. It means she trusts you" She commented, seeing Thrax turn back to her with a sneer.

"She has very poor judgment of character" He shifted, as if to further distance himself from the child, who for some twisted reason found comfort with the virus. Rachel shook her head at the hypocrisy in her thoughts, and smirked. She was far from blameless when it came to finding security and contentment in a certain infection's presence.

"Well, that makes two of us" With that, she left his side, but not before running a finger along the side of Thrax's hand, teasing a near touch before going back to join her father and friends.

o0o

"I'll be sure that she gets to Father Stiers safely. I can stick around to keep a close eye on her till you catch this…what did you call him again?" Asked Draven, the whole gang, including Lily, gathered in the garage of the hospital to say goodbye. It would be best for the girl to leave for the safety of Father Stiers' home, even though the others besides Ray wanted more time to digest the fact that her dad was a virus.

"Freddy. A fungus. Creepy, pasty skin, can't miss him" Rachel corrected him. Draven smiled wider, winking at his daughter.

"Okay. If I see him, I'll be sending him your way"

"In pieces?"

"You know me so well" Chuckled Draven, making Zane at his side tilt his head in curiosity. Complacency came over Rachel and her father to then remain silent, perhaps in simple appreciation that the two of them had this chance to just be in each other's company. But then maybe it was because they had no idea what else to say. Distance does not make the heart grow fonder in every instance, sometimes is just makes it foreign. Draven though, had one issue to address before he left his only child, an issue that was over by the others, trying to pry off the little girl that still clung to his coat.

"So, you and him huh?"

Rachel let out a sigh, not in the least bit surprised or bothered.

"I hate it when you do that"

"You aren't denying it though" Draven pointed out. This did trouble Ray, taking a second longer than needed to respond.

"…no"

"You're just like your mother" The way he said it, he meant it well, but Rachel only let out a scoff "That's a good thing darling"

"Is it? She fell in love with you. Look what that did to us" Rachel was becoming uncomfortable, preparing to head towards the others to end this.

"I don't think she died with any regrets" Returned Draven, his charming smile flattering. Charm, no matter how it was used, was only a mask after all.

"But are you living with any?"

This question stopped all pretense of charm finally, but still, there was that smile on Dr. D's face. Rachel found herself liking this one. It was honest, because it was sad. Still, Ray did not just get her stubbornness from only her mother. Draven quickly straightened out his expression, and without acknowledging any sort of admission, smiled.

"Go get some rest darling, you look like hell. Zane, look after her" He waved as he started to walk over towards the others, leaving Rachel behind with only her own darling beside her. If she wasn't so annoyed that she was going to be swamped with work now, Rachel might have found the ironic symbolism in this moment.

"Look after yourself" Was her goodbye for what might end up being another year apart, leaving to make towards the lab that was awaiting her.

"Come on little darling, time to leave" Announced Draven sweetly, and Thrax nearly tossed his head back in thanks as the parasite finally let go of his coat, reaching a timid hand out to the other virus.

"…okay"

It was completely eerie how this little girl trusted killers, but then, even he had to admit, there was something intriguing in the way she paused to look back at him, in a gut wrenching sense.

"Bye" She said, turning those soft green eyes on him. He did his best to hide his sneer, though why hide it, he forgot to ask himself. The little girl then went off to go say goodbye to Leah, who she seemed to have bonded quickly with despite her initial fear, leaving Draven standing beside Thrax. It was like a student next to a professor, a comparison the older virus was no doubt making that immediately sent the younger on edge.

"She's a cutie" Casually commented Draven, passively gesturing towards Lily.

"You want something old timer?" The older virus only chuckled at the obvious resent filled slur Thrax tossed at him, shaking his head some.

"Ray said you were irritable. In fact, she's been saying a lot about you" Thrax looked over, and up to meet the grey stare of Draven, completely unamused with this piece of news, but not feeling the need to go somewhere else so as not to hear it. Seeing that he had his attention though, Draven took advantage.

"Just got one piece of advice from me to you sonny; be careful" Before Thrax could even think of being offended that some past viral failure was all of the sudden lecturing him, Draven's stance turned from its normal intimidating to intense, a change no one but another virus would see. It was the final warning before shit really went down. Thrax figured he better pay attention then.

"She's her mother's child. She'll make you fall in love before you even know you're wrapped around her little finger" Thrax dragged his eyes in a slow roll accompanied with a scoff, only to have a claw pointed at him in warning.

"Just trust me, in this situation, it's not Ray I'm worried about here"

Draven, now slipping back into Mr. Charming with his smile and refinement, started to walk away towards Lily to get ready to leave.

"She'll dag you down into the ground and make you beg for more"

Thrax sneered, almost amused. But inside, something rare and distressing happened, even if just for a moment.

He wondered, and worried.

~o0o~

The LaLaBlue Post:

Told you guys I would update this week! I bet you all didn't believe me, but I sure proved you wrong! Ha! Anyhoo, things are looking interesting for Rachel and Thrax, aren't they? Hehe, just wait till the next chapter, which is titled 'I Won't Say I'm In Love' for a very, very, very good reason! Mwahahahaha!

Well then, that's all for now, same time hopefully (like maybe this weekend if all goes well), defiantly same place. Till then…

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Keep up the heat…