Chapter 19: Cleaning up the mess
At breakfast, Devon filled the trainers in on what he and Dominique had figured out, the obvious thing they had missed with Matt. Ann had shook her head in regret at missing it as well. Devon sat at the breakfast table and toyed with his food. Despite being up all night, he couldn't find any appetite for food. "Ok, Andre, you're teaching oral arts to Suzanne this morning, then I'll take cunt control while you sleep this afternoon."
"Devon, why not let me get a nap, and I'll take cunt control this afternoon." Ann said. "You are exhausted. You should sleep now."
Devon shook his head. "I'm going to see about Geneva, they have her in the hospital, and Thomas called just before breakfast to say they were almost done with her and were going to send her home in another couple hours."
"Fine, then she'll be here shortly, and you can see her when you wake up. Devon, you're not doing anyone any good if you kill yourself from overwork." Ann insisted. "Take the morning, get some sleep."
Devon frowned and shook his head stubbornly. "No, I have things that only I can do."
Rebecca cleared her throat with a glance at Ann. "Devon, she's right. Sleeplessness murders judgment."
Devon glared at Rebecca. "I screwed up and missed the sign, this is my fault."
"Devon, I missed it too. I know what you said, I'm the apprentice, I'm supposed to make mistakes. Bullshit. I'm a former cop, and I'm supposed to ask questions, and I missed it too." Ann said.
Andre joined in. "Devon, I can teach this morning, no problem. Ann and I talked earlier, she's going to sleep this morning for a few hours, and then teach this afternoon. Rebecca is going to take the slaves for the day, giving them a schedule with Jeannette. You need to crash today, get some sleep."
Devon glared at Andre and shook his head significantly.
"Devon, I'm you're number two, I'm supposed to back you up, and take over in your absence." Rebecca said next. "You haven't had six hours of sleep in the past two days. If you don't go to bed after breakfast, I'm going to call Dominique."
Devon glared at Rebecca. "Threatening to go over my head now Rebecca?"
She shook her head. "Taking care of a friend who is blaming himself for something that everyone else missed too. You and Ann both told us about Matt, and none of us asked the question either. We're all tired, you're more tired. Devon, get some sleep, that goes double for Jeannette. We're going to run a kitchen detail today. Diane after breakfast, Crystal after lunch. Jeannette and the others are going to rotate with us in watching Geneva."
Devon glared at the table and sighed. His face softened as he finally heard the words. "You're right, I'm so tired, I'll screw something else up."
"Devon, we're human, we make mistakes, it's in our nature. You can blame God for not making us perfect. We do the best we can." Ann told him.
Devon shrugged and almost smiled. "I would but I'm afraid of upsetting Her."
Ann chuckled. "I'm off to bed, I'm tired, and unlike Superman here, I know I'm exhausted."
Devon rose from the chair and looked at his food. It had hardly been touched. He swallowed the rest of the Orange Juice and then turned to go to bed.
Rebecca walked into the Slave Dining room. "OK, Jeannette, you're going to bed, no argument."
"Yes Mistress." Jeannette said without hesitation.
"Crystal you're in bed too, you have five hours to sleep, and then you're in the Kitchen. Diane, you're in the Kitchen until lunch. Listen to me all of you. Under no circumstances are you to wake Master Devon, short of a house fire." Rebecca said seriously.
"Yes Mistress." The three house slaves said almost in unison.
"Suzanne, you have Oral Arts with Master Andre this morning, and you'll have classes after lunch. I personally apologize for the situation last night."
"Mistress, I don't think it's your fault. Sometimes a Nut just shows up." Suzanne said simply. "I'm off to class gang."
"Diane, when Geneva gets back, she's supposed to soon. I want you to let me know, I'll be on radio channel four, and listen to this everyone. If anything strange happens when you're on watch, notify us immediately." Rebecca said sternly.
The trio again agreed.
"When Geneva is here, I want someone in with her for the first day or two. I think she's going to be hurting, and unable to move about too much, we'll play that by ear of course." Rebecca said as she glanced at the three. "Any questions?"
"Mistress, are we going to cover Geneva like we do with the Kitchen?" Crystal asked.
Rebecca shook her head no. "Diane can fill you in, we covered her when she got Laser Hair removal. We tag in and out, keeping an eye on the sick or injured, while we move the house generally forward."
"Mistress, if Geneva can go to admin to sit in a few days, I can keep her company there." Jeannette said. "I can also pop up and check on her."
"Right now Jeannette, my plan is to have her sleeping in my room for today. I'm assuming she's as tired as the rest of us, and it will be easier that way." Rebecca said significantly.
"Yes Mistress."
"Get to work, and get to bed. All of you right now." Rebecca said sternly.
Diane rose to gather the trays and Jeannette and Crystal left the dining room. After they left Rebecca walked into the kitchen and said. "Diane, congratulations on level three."
"Thank you Mistress." Diane answered.
Rebecca went upstairs and set her watch to channel four. She plugged it in and turned it up before crashing exhausted into bed.
It was just after ten when Thomas and Geneva arrived back at the house. Thomas had taken the van to follow the ambulance. They found Diane in the Kitchen, and Geneva sat and drank some juice and ate some Jello that Chef had left for her.
"Master, Mistress Rebecca instructed me to notify her upon your arrival." Diane began.
Thomas frowned. "Where's Master Devon?"
"Master is asleep and our orders are not to disturb him for any reason." Diane said. She looked at the door for a moment and then said. "Master, I believe that Master Devon is exhausted, and the others are taking up some of the slack. No one got any sleep last night."
Thomas nodded. "I think I understand. Master Devon was out most of the night before, and last night was the first to find Geneva."