DT Serum, Primary Testing In Progress

"Can you do this while I get the boys up?" Lex asked, scowling as he poked a bit of sausage in the pan.  Did he have the heat up too high?

Ashton nodded and took Lex's place at the stove. He adjusted the knob some and turned the sausage some to cook it more on the other side.

"Paul, Sam, time to get up," Lex called, knocking on their respective doors.  "Up and at'em, shortstacks."

Sam yawned as he woke and cuddles Lynx a couple moments longer before he finally got up and got dressed.

Paul yelped in surprise and rolled off of his bed, hitting the floor with a thud. Paul shook his head and sprang to his feet and hurriedly got clothes on and washed up for breakfast.

Lynx licked Sam's nose then sat and watched Sam get ready.

Bitty Kitty chased Paul around the room, trying to steal his socks.

"True, time to get up," Lex said, letting himself into Gaster's room.
True yawned and stretched.  "Yeah, sure, okay."
Lex helped True up into his chair and steered him into his own room to get ready for the day.

Sam seemed happy, and just felt mellow right now. He finished getting dressed and pet Lynx.

Paul giggled as he tried to save his socks from the kitten. He soon managed to get two matching ones and pulled them on before he went to wash his hands and get breakfast.

Gaster didn't respond much, other than sitting up and rubbing his face.

Lex didn't even look at Gaster.  He went back to work, herding his brothers along to get ready for the day, sitting them down at breakfast.  True included for the first time since his surgery.

Paul was overjoyed to be eating breakfast with True again, and pretty well tried to talk his ear off the whole time.

Sam was smiling the whole time too, glad to see True back at the table.

"True?" Ashton asked. "If you want, I can push you to the school to see Paul off if you want."

True brightened at that.  "Really?  Thanks!  I'd like that."
"Sam, why don't you take Shuni with you to the lab.  You two haven't gotten to hang out there much," Lex hinted.
Shuni looked at Sam hopefully.  "I can help!  I'll do whatever you and Dr. Ally tell me to."

Sam smiled and nodded. "Okay."

Ashton was pleased True liked that idea. "Oh, and do you think we could do that whole thrift shopping thing again?" He asked True hopefully.

True blinked.  "You want to?  I mean... Sure, that'd be fun.  I love a good thrift shop."

Ashton nodded. "You said we could find cool stuff, right?" He asked for confirmation. "And I can't remember if I've actually done it before."

"Well, we kind of got started, but didn't have time to really do anything," True chuckled.  "There's actually a pretty cool little store just out of the way from our walk to and from school.  We can go on our way back if Sam's with Shuni."

Ashton nodded. "If you don't mind." He already had a few ideas of keeping True out of the house as long as possible so Lex could do what he needed. 

After breakfast, Sam and Paul collected all the dishes and put them in the sink before Paul gathered his backpack and said bye to Bitty Kitty.

"I'm not coming this time, Paul, so you'd best get your hugs out now," Lex said, sounding bored.

Paul nodded and gave Lex a big bear hug. "I hope you have a great day!" He chirped to Lex before he went to wait with Sam by the door. 

Ashton waited until True was done and wheeled him towards the door. "Everyone ready?"

"Ready!" Shuni chirped, holding Paul's hand.
"Let's do this thing!" True agreed happily.  Finally, time outside of the house!

Ashton smiled and led the way. Paul wanted to walk beside True, but Sam was content to follow behind everyone.

True watched his brothers happily, talking to Paul along the way.  His back still twinged, but it was tolerable, and the feeling of the sun on his face was more than worth it.

Lex watched out the window, waiting for them to get down the block and waiting to make sure no one had forgotten anything before going to Gaster's room.

Ashton was content, and kept watch over everyone. He knew Lex wouldn't forgive him if he failed at protecting all four of them. At the school, Paul made sure to give everyone and True especially a hug before he ran towards the doors.

Gaster was in his bathroom. He was splashing water from the sink on his face.

"Now we can go to the lab?" Shuni asked hopefully, looking at Sam.

Lex walked right in and glared at Gaster.  "Go take a shower."

Ashton nodded. "Do you mind if we drop them off first, True, before we head our own direction?"

Gaster sighed and clutched the edge of the sink with both hands. "I took one yesterday..." He murmured. "And the day before..."

"No, it's cool," True agreed.  "It's a nice day for a walk.  Not too cold yet, but winter is on its way!"
"It's going to be a cold winter this year," Shuni said soberly.  For a moment, he looked pensive, remembering the years before.

"You have fifteen minutes.  Get in the shower and scrub," Lex said bluntly.  "Go."

Ashton nodded. "But... being in a heated house with consistant food will make this year much easier than the past several." He said in appreciation as he made his way with everyone towards the lab.

Gaster glared tiredly at Lex. "Why... do you care?" He asked. "And why even bother."

Shuni brightened again and nodded happily.  "Yep!  Very much so!"
"And having brothers around and an awesome dad," True said softly, smiling a little at Ashton.

Lex crossed his arms.  "Because you look like something Shuni's cats played with.  Now get in the shower and scrub up before I get in with you and help you scrub.  Capiche?"