Title: Special (10/?)
Summary: All over the world, people are waking up with extraordinary abilities. Not knowing how they got them or what to do, they will soon discover that they are not alone. They are all connected. They are all special. Based on NBC’s Heroes. Various Pairings.
Links to previous chapters inside.
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Philadelphia, PA
Once they had situated their target in the back of the company SUV, they began their journey back to headquarters in relative silence.
Roe shouldn’t be waking up anytime soon. And if he by some chance did…he had enough chemicals in his bloodstream to keep him from going anywhere.
“Are you going to call in?” Dick asked Bill-who was currently in the passenger seat.
Bill began to reach for his cell phone but paused. “Not yet. As a matter of fact- pull over. We need to talk.”
Dick took a wrong turn at the next light and parallel parked on a dark street that was teeming with nightlife.
Bill caught him looking at their captive in concern. He just shook his head, “Dick you said it yourself- he’ll be out. Power or no power.”
Dick, frown still firmly in place, just shrugged, “Right. What’s on your mind?”
“This mission of yours to New York, my mission to San Francisco. Why’s Sobel splitting us up?”
Dick thought back on his meeting with their boss, “He told me it wasn’t permanent.”
“You believe that?”
“Of course not. What are you thinking?”
Bill surveyed the crowds outside. Always watching to make sure no one got too close to the vehicle, always wary of danger.
He glanced at Dick, “I think they must be on to something. Either they know that Babe’s developing an ability and they’re trying to keep us preoccupied. Or…they’re beginning to question our loyalties.”
Dick’s frowned deepened, “What makes you think that?”
“Sobel let me know a few weeks ago that they were reopening my parent’s murder investigation.”
Bill smirked at the comic way in which Dick’s eyes rapidly widened.
“What? Why didn’t you tell me?” Dick asked.
Bill shrugged a shoulder, “If I told you then there was a chance they might want to question you. It would only have caused more problems. Anyway I’m telling you now.”
With a sigh, Dick ran a hand across his face, “So what do we do?”
Bill grabbed his phone and flipped it open, a clear indication to Dick that he should start driving again.
Punching in a set of numbers Bill said, “What we always do. Lay low and protect Babe.”
Hours…it had been HOURS since Joe had been left alone in Company HQ with the bright ray of sunshine that was Johnny Martin. Who as it turned out…did not really like being called Johnny. He also didn’t like Joe, or the many questions Joe had been asking.
Joe had taken to walking around the building- his ability forcing every hallway and door label into his memory. He figured he had the layout memorized at this point. Or at least the two floors he’d been on.
“So how many floors are there again? I forget.” Joe stopped in front of an elevator as he asked.
Martin looked ready to simply shoot him and be done with his horrible babysitting task. “No you didn’t. You don’t forget things. I know that much about what you can do. I just haven’t told you.”
“Yeah why is that?” Joe wondered and reached out to press the down button on the elevator.
Martin promptly slapped his hand away, “When you can be trusted with that information. You’ll have access to it.”
Joe smirked and leaned back against the wall, “Don’t you think that you guys might be a little bit paranoid?”
Martin glared, “The work we do is incredibly sensitive. Hopefully you’ll figure that out.”
As Martin continued to complain about arrogant teenagers and why he shouldn’t have to deal with them, the elevator next to Joe made a dinging sound and opened up to reveal Winters and Guarnere.
Joe immediately wondered where they had entered the building and when. He had been by the main entrance (or what he thought was the main entrance) for the past hour.
Martin’s relief upon seeing them was evident. He gave them an imploring look, “Everything go okay?”
Guarnere nodded, “Piece of cake.”
Dick put a hand on Joe’s shoulder and Joe tried his best not to twitch- still vastly wary and uncomfortable in the taller man’s presence.
Dick leaned in close to say, “We’re leaving to New York in the next hour. I’ve got a quick debriefing with Sobel and then we’re going to the airport. Did you bring anything with you?”
Joe just shook his head- everything he had was on him. “Nah Guarnere said they sent all my stuff to New York. Where exactly?”
“You’ll see.” Was all Winters told him before walking away.
“So where’s our boy land?” Martin asked Guarnere, who was watching Winters go into Sobel’s office.
Despite not knowing what they were talking about, Joe listened in anyway.
Guarnere shrugged, “He didn’t have much fight in him. But all things considered- he’s on Level 4.”
Martin clapped him on the shoulder, “Fight or no fight- good job. I’m sure the eggheads in Manhattan will be more than happy to take him off our hands.”
“That’s not going to happen. At least I don’t think so.”
Martin looked confused but before he could ask a question Joe cut in with one of his own.
“What’s Level 4?” he asked.
Guarnere fixed him with a look, “Need to know kid.”
Joe sighed, “Fine. Whatever. Since I have no idea what the fuck you all are going on about-I’m going to take a piss.”
Martin made a face, “Thanks for sharing.”
“Anytime.” Joe shot back as he headed down a different hallway towards a bathroom they had passed many times earlier.
He was halfway down the hall when he heard a door open somewhere out of his line of sight.
The next thing he knew there was a hand on his arm and he was being pulled into a dark room, another hand soon placed over his mouth.
Right as he was about to strike out at his captor, the hands left and he was whirled around to the sight of a familiar face.
“Webster?” He gaped.
The time traveler looked pretty upset but Joe figured that he couldn’t be more upset than him. He had just been drug into a supply closet after all. And why were these things always so conveniently located?
“We have to talk.” Webster informed him with a serious expression.
“Yeah no shit,” Joe responded angrily, “You’ve got to stop all this sneaking up on me shit. What? Does your phone not work?”
“I needed to see you in person.” Was the response he received.
Joe felt his impatience with the other man growing. Why was it so easy for Webster to throw him off like this? He was supposed to be good at reading people!
“Webster I don’t GET you man! I-”
However Webster cut him off, a disbelieving look on his face. “You don’t get ME? You know I have been incredibly straight forward with you and-”
“Oh bullshit,” Joe interrupted his interruption, “You didn’t tell me jack for weeks! You spied on me, and you stalked me! But maybe in your warped head that’s considered honesty!”
“Hey! My head is not warped,” Webster defended and it was clear to Joe that his anger was distracting him.
“Damn it Webster! What the Hell are you doing here? Do you have any idea how stupid this is?”
David glared, “Oh so now I’m stupid am I?”
“Yes you are!” Joe snapped at him, “You teleported into a building filled with dangerous operatives who are trained to hunt and capture people with abilities! Not to mention that you’re jeopardizing my position here!”
Suddenly David grabbed his shoulders and gave him a desperate look so unlike the angry one that he’d previously worn, “Just tell me.”
Joe frowned, “Tell you what?”
“The truth.”
Not liking where this was going, Joe began to back up and shrugged David’s hands off his shoulders. “The truth about what?”
David began to look angry once again, “You KNOW what.”
“Refresh my memory.”
“You. Tell me the truth about you! Because I don’t know anything about you! Joseph Liebgott isn’t even your real name!” David raised his voice.
Joe stilled, a familiar dread creeping up on him, “First off? Keep your fucking voice down. Secondly? I knew you were snooping around in my shit!”
David did as told and lowered his voice, but the anger was still evident, “I really don’t think that’s the issue here!”
“Well what do you want from me David? Huh? You’re the one that was just so fucking sure about me. Weren’t you? Well I hate to tell you that your little fantasy is shit. But there it is. I don’t even have time to explain to you what it is that I’m trying to leave behind. You know why? Because you wouldn’t understand! When have you EVER had to…”
David frowned, “What?”
Liebgott gave him a dark look, “You really don’t know me.”
“But I want to. Please just…just tell me.”
With a frown Joe looked at the closet door, “I...I have to go. I’m going to New York.
Somewhere in Manhattan.”
Webster backed up and raised his fists to his forehead in obvious frustration. “Whatever it is…it’s okay. Just tell me. I love-”
Knowing that the next words out of Webster’s mouth would make Joe practically obligated to punch the other man, he cut him off.
“NO! You don’t...and it’s not okay. This isn’t the place to… Look I’ll tell you I swear…just...” Joe trailed off looking for a way out of their conversation.
David nodded, “Just what?”
Suddenly Joe remembered what he had heard by the elevators.
He looked up at Webster, “Do something for me.”
David stilled, “What is it?”
“There are more levels of this building. They go underground. Now they’re holding someone hostage on a floor called Level 4…”
Carwood Lipton, Los Angeles, CA
He had done everything he felt was necessary. He’d talked to all the right people, made all the right phone calls. He’d even stopped by the hospital to check on Agent Speirs.
That had been two hours ago, and he was still there.
The other man remained unconscious, but he looked light years better than when Lipton had last seen him with the EMT’s. Probably because there was less blood now.
It was strange…even though he didn’t really know the other man, he felt compelled to stay with him. At least until his partner arrived and he could better explain what had happened.
Maybe it was the fact that this man was the only one who knew his secret. The only one. In a lot of ways, that meant Speirs might be the only one that could help him.
Carwood wasn’t sure how…but when being told about this FBI case, he’d sensed that Speirs might have some answers. Maybe he could help Lipton to understand what was happening to him.
Lipton glanced at his watch and sighed. It was pretty late. He knew he should go...but the thought of heading back to an empty home wasn’t very appealing. The divorce had…taken a lot out of him.
Just as his thoughts were about to take a depressing turn, the unconscious man in the bed next to him began to wake.
Speirs didn’t move right away, but he let out a pained groan.
Carwood leaned forward in his chair and watched as the other man began to slowly open his eyes.
Speirs looked over the room before his gaze finally landed on Lipton.
The agent squinted in confusion, “What are you doing here?”
The words came out choked and hoarse and Lipton remembered that he might have a damaged wind pipe. And a concussion. And blood loss.
“Here let me get you some water.” Lipton got up and went to the other side of the room where there was a small fridge with bottled water.
He pulled one out and uncapped it. Setting it next to the injured man’s bed he turned to find a straw.
When he turned back around, the agent was already sitting up, head tilted back and drinking on his own.
“Oh,” was all Carwood said before he retook his seat.
When Speirs was done drinking he sat the bottle back down with a wince, “Trust me Officer. I’ve experienced injures far worse than this.”
Lipton had only figured as much. His voice already sounded clear and steady and this man seemed more like the one that had interrogated him earlier.
“Right. Sorry. So what do you remember?” Lipton asked him.
“Pretty much everything. Except you obviously.” Speirs answered as he gave the IV in his arm an evil look.
“Well then maybe you want to explain why your partner tried to kill you?” Lipton frowned as the other man fiddled with his medicinal drip.
Speirs’ fingers left the tube and he gave Lipton an exasperated look, “Oh that’s your fault by the way.”
Lipton gaped, “Uh what?”
“Yeah. He’s the person I was cheating on. I gather by his very negative reaction that he heard your little demonstration in the interrogation room. So thanks for that.”
“Huh,” was all Lipton said.
Speirs stared at him, “What do you mean huh?”
Lipton shrugged, “So you got your ass kicked. Maybe you deserved it.”
The agent looked at him in surprise, “Excuse me?”
Lipton clamped a hand over his mouth- shocked that he had actually answered so truthfully.
“Oh my God. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that. It’s just….that’s why I got divorced. That doesn’t excuse me…I’m sorry.”
Fortunately Speirs didn’t look upset, merely contemplative.
That’s when Lipton heard-
that’s odd….Lewis didn’t lie to me either…and he did exactly what I told him…why?
Lipton tilted his head, “What do you mean?”
Speirs eyes widened, “Are you…?”
“What?”
“Reading my mind?”
Lipton nodded, “I didn’t mean to. Sorry.”
Speirs shook his head, “You apologize too much.”
“Right…so what exactly were you thinking about?”
Speirs shrugged, “Just something I’ve been noticing. When my partner-”
“You mean your boyfriend?”
Speirs gave him an ugly look, “I think he’s an ex at this point.”
“Sorry.”
“Stop that. Anyway…when my ex boyfriend attacked me I told him to let me go. He did. I told him to drop his gun. He did. I told him I wanted to talk to...um well.”
Lipton interrupted, “I already know about the split personality. You have interesting taste in men I guess.”
Speirs glared, “I didn’t know he was a schizo. I think it’s a recent development. Just when did you get there?”
Carwood shrugged, “I’m not sure. I heard glass breaking and by the time I was in the room you were unconscious. He basically turned himself in. So you talked him down?”
The agent shrugged, “I’m not sure. Maybe that’s all it was. But…it felt different. Like something else was happening.”
it feels like something’s happening to me
Even though Lipton knew how that felt- he let that thought go.
Eugene Roe, Philadelphia, PA- Level 4
When Gene finally regained consciousness, he was no longer in his motel room. Not that he was terribly surprised. But he wasn’t sure if whoever had attacked him had meant to kill him.
But he hadn’t died…that he knew. He’d died a few times at this point. Not permanently obviously…but it hadn’t felt the same.
He sat up slowly, battling against a wave of nausea. He must have been drugged…but why? He couldn’t really think of anyone who would go through so much trouble to knock him out.
He took a look around, finally realizing just how bad a situation he might be in.
The room he was in wasn’t really a room so much as it was a cell. It wasn’t all that small- and there was a sink and toilet in the corner.
The walls were gray and concrete and there were no windows. Not that that was unexpected.
Looking down he realized he was seated on a small cot. Swinging his feet down to the floor he eyed the metal door. He frowned as he noticed there was no handle to even allow him the failed attempt of opening it.
He was a prisoner- but why?
In the corner of the room, attached to the ceiling he noticed a small security camera. The blinking red light let him know with certainty that he was being watched.
He finally allowed himself to be afraid.
Joseph Liebgott and Dick Winters, Somewhere between PA and NY
Joe looked out the window of the airplane he and Winters were on. He’d never been on an airplane at night. It was so quiet, the plane so empty. And he was more on edge than he had been since this whole thing had started.
He was left to wonder…about a lot of things. Up until a couple of hours ago he’d been more than a little concerned about going to New York. About what he’d be expected to do there,
who he’d be meeting, where he’d be staying. Although he knew that gaining the trust of these people was the only way to prevent the events that had been foretold by Webster’s future self.
If he wanted to find out who all these objecting forces vying for control (whatever that meant) were…then he would need to be in the know. And that would take some time.
There was nothing he could do about his current circumstances in the Company. Worrying about it was pointless.
He had also been concerned about being alone with Winters. The unshakeable feeling of vulnerability still nagging at him while being seated next to the man. Not that he would ever voice it or let it show. Somehow he thought Winters knew anyway. But that was also out of his control.
However the main issue preying on his mind now was Webster. It was funny how things came full circle that way. At first he used to worry about Webster…now he was worried for him.
When Webster had shown up at the Co. building Joe had only pretended to be surprised. The fact was that as far as Webster was concerned, Joe had come to expect the unexpected.
He wasn’t shocked that Webster had found his duffel. A friend he’d had when he was younger had helped him put the first version of it together, had called it his ‘make a life’ bag.
The truth was, that even thought he’d been expecting it, he’d been dreading it as well. He had finally accepted that maybe Webster had the potential to be something more than delusional. Had finally allowed himself to start liking him and as they had so many times before, his secrets bit him in the ass.
Of course with Webster being the snoop he was, it happened sooner than later. But that wasn’t what he was dreading so badly.
The fact that his lies had caught up to him were no surprise either. That’s just what lies did. But normally whenever someone found out how full of crap he was, he’d reach into his bag, pull out a new id and just move on. It was easier that way.
But he couldn’t do that now. Things were different, he was different. There were more important things happening now. It was too late to run. Not just because of the Company either. But because of David.
David…who he found he actually wanted to explain himself to. He’d been happy to keep a friendly relationship with others, but at arm’s length. Now David had gotten close. Webster trusted him…
And Joe had betrayed that trust. He knew that if he asked David to do something he would do it. So rather than talk about himself he’d sent Webster off to execute some half assed rescue mission for someone he didn’t even know.
It was crazy. He still wasn’t sure what kind of bullshit his future self had fed him…but he wondered how long it would take for Webster to figure out that Joe wasn’t worth all the trouble and baggage that came along with him.
But what was done was done. All he could do now was hope that David would be okay. If he was…Joe promised to himself and to God that he would tell Webster everything he wanted to know.
Dr. Henry Jones, Co. Headquarters, Manhattan, NY
Maybe if he factored in the parents, and their DOB’s then that would…
Wait…that didn’t make any sense.
This wasn’t getting him anywhere. He glared at the numbers rolling down his computer screen, knowing that in his current state of sleep deprivation, he would find nothing useful in any of the many formulas he had composed in his year with the Company.
Letting out a sigh, he pulled his glasses off and ran a tired hand over his burning eyes. He took a glance at his watch. It was well within the AM and he wouldn’t be of any significant use if he didn’t get some sleep.
Maybe he could sleep in the recruit rooms? That way he could….
Henry shook his head. No…he needed to go home, get some real sleep, eat something…make sure his father’s iguana wasn’t dead.
His father… about a year ago his father had died. It was funny how he seemed to be constantly inheriting and dealing with all the things his father had left behind in this life.
Like his research. Research that, after his death, had landed Henry in the Company hands.
Something he was sure his father would not have wanted, but had happened none the less.
He hadn’t ever been really close to his father, despite being an only child. His parents had gotten divorced when he was young and he had since been trying to build a relationship with his father by following in his professional footsteps.
His father had been a renowned geneticist and professor at Yale University's School of Medicine. Henry had started in the field of genetics in the hopes that he would be able to create common ground between the two of them.
However as he found his place in the scientific community the relationship he’d hoped to build with his estranged father had only been torn apart by their disagreements and theories in their work.
His father had begun to devote more and more time to the idea of genetic evolution in modern man and had come up with ideas that were not very well received by colleagues. The idea that man could become something entirely different than what one saw every day.
He’d begun giving lectures on the possibilities of genetic evolution that could result in humans gaining abilities only ever read about in comics.
Needless to say he had been shunned by the scientific world and the more radical his teachings became the less credibility he had and he lost him University job.
After his father lost his spot at the school, he became reclusive and even more devoted to his research. It made it impossible for Henry to ever reach out to him.
Of course that was when he had gotten the phone call informing him that his father was dead. That he had been killed and his apartment ransacked.
When he had gone to retrieve his father’s things, someone had been waiting for him. The man’s name was Bill Guarnere and he let him know that his father had made quite a breakthrough in his research.
Guarnere said he worked for a Company that was more than a little interested in his father’s theories. They had hoped to get his father to work with them, Guarnere had explained, but since it was no longer an option they made Henry an offer that he couldn’t turn down.
Work for them and finish his father’s research and they would catch his father’s murderer. At that point Henry was so sore with his father’s death he would have agreed to anything.
They hadn’t caught his father’s killer yet, but that promise almost paled in comparison to all the things he had gained by working with these people. Mainly knowledge.
The knowledge that his father had been right. That there were people amongst them that had evolved and were capable of extraordinary things.
The company promised him that one day they would go public with all they knew and his father’s reputation would then be restored to its former glory. Something that Henry wanted desperately.
His father had been working out how to identify if a person was evolved based on their blood work. The company wanted a formula that could help find such people.
According to them, their purpose was to help people with abilities to understand what they could do, and keep them from being a harm to society. It seemed noble enough.
Within his first four months with the Company, Henry had perfected his father’s formula. But it was consistently being updated to find certain abilities, which was turning into a real challenge.
Right now, the Company had him working on a formula to help find a very specific set of abilities. What they called “comprehensive abilities” or abilities that allowed a person to do many things.
Because it was so broad a request, it was becoming somewhat difficult. The Company had told him that it was quite urgent. When wasn’t it?
Still…he knew he was lucky. He was finishing the research that his father had done, but he was taking it to another level, the only one who got to work with such evolutionary and groundbreaking genetics. It was a gratifying job he supposed.
But right now the only thing it was doing for Henry was exhausting him. He would just have to leave his unanswered equations for tomorrow.
Powering down his computer, Henry went through all the security measures to lock up his laboratory. His research would be safe, he knew, because this building? Was never empty.
David Webster, Philadelphia, PA
This was ridiculously, incredibly, tremendously foolish…and risky. So why was he doing it? Oh right…because Joe has asked him to. Damn it.
He was a very intelligent person! Honestly! So why did Joe make him act so stupid? Coming to this building filled with people who’d just as soon shoot him as capture him.
With an inaudible sigh, he looked down the darkened hallways. He’d managed to stay off the security cameras as best he could, by teleporting down each floor, focusing on closets and bathrooms. There had to be at least eight floors to this thing.
But he had finally reached the one he was looking for. The seventh.
Peeking out of a supply closet that was filled with what looked to be bedding, clothing and medical equipment, David surveyed the hall he had landed in.
About halfway down the hallway he saw two armed guards standing in front of large double doors of metal. And when he said armed he meant armed. They looked like the belonged on a SWAT team.
No doubt about it- if they were holding prisoners on this floor- they were behind those doors.
But dealing with armed guards? His ability wasn’t particularly equipped for it…unless…
Aside from teleporting, David had learned through his future self that his ability was being ability to manipulate space and time.
Which technically meant that he could travel through it. Although the only encounter with time he'd ever had was being able to stop it. And that had actually been accidental. Plus he wasn't sure how well that's work now.
Well there was only one way to find out.
He focused his attention on the guards, watching their movements and then applying the same concentration he did to teleportation, he breathed deeply and never took his eyes off the men.
At first, their movements seemed to slow…but then it had become quite clear that they were frozen in place.
Not quite believing it, he poked his head out slightly more and looked over at the security camera that was no longer looking up and down the hallway, the red light no longer blinking.
He stepped out further and began to look around. Up and down the hall there were people in suits, frozen in place and in conversation.
Frantically David shut the closet door and rushed over to the guards. After searching for a moment he found an attached card on one of the men.
That was when he realized that swiping it wouldn’t do any good. At least he didn’t think so. Time was stopped.
Great. He was going to have to go in there blind. Hopefully time would either stay stopped, or there wouldn’t be any more guards waiting for him on the other side.
He took a breath and prepared to teleport past the doors.
Like he said-stupid.
Gene couldn’t help going over everything in his head. Who would take him? Who would hold him prisoner?
Then it all seemed to come together. Maybe it was all in his head but….what if these were the people who had captured Renee?
What if the things she had described in her letter- the unexplainable things that had been happening to her…what if they were like the things that had happened to him?
What if she had been like him?
But that couldn’t be…or she would still be alive. Still…he couldn’t shake the feeling.
He was disrupted from his thoughts as sirens began to wail and a red light began to flash under his door. What the Hell?
Then, out of nowhere, a man appeared in front of him.
Gene cursed and scrambled up the bed and against the wall, “W-who are you?”
The young man, around his age, looked about as freaked as Gene felt, “You’re Eugene Roe?”
Gene nodded, perplexed beyond reason, “Yeah but-”
The man shook his head and stepped forward, “There’s no time to explain- there are armed guards ready to bust down that door any second. You have to come with me.”
Gene stared at him, “But how-?”
“Do you want out of here or not!?” The man shouted over the sirens.
Nodding Gene stood up, not sure what was going on. Then the man grabbed his arm and suddenly something extraordinary happened.
The world around him seemed to press in on all sides, and Gene felt himself get light headed.
The next thing he knew, he was no longer inside a cell, but a nicely furnished apartment.
Gaping, he turned to look at his rescuer. “Okay. What. The. Fuck.”
The young man just fell back onto a couch in relief.
Ronald Speirs, Los Angeles, CA
Someone was poking him in the shoulder. Repeatedly…and hard.
Ron squeezed his eyes shut, “Lipton I swear to God you do NOT want to know what I’m thinking right now.”
“Who the Hell is Lipton? Oh wait...that cop.”
Speirs opened his eyes quickly and looked up to see Burton standing over him with a goofy smile on his face.
Sitting up slowly, Ron noticed that it was morning and the only person in his room were himself and his partner. He hadn’t remembered falling asleep.
He glanced up at the younger agent, not at all surprised to see him. “You look awfully concerned.”
Burton grinned, “I’m a total wreck, as you can tell.”
Ron snorted, “That why you were adding to my injury by stabbing me with your bony finger?”
Christenson stuck his tongue out at Ron, who shook his head at him, “Obviously hanging out with an 8 year old has done wonders for your maturity.”
The comment made Christenson freeze, “Yeah…we really need to talk about that. I think that 8
year old might just have the answer to both of our cases.”
“What?”
Ron wanted to question him further but the door to his hospital room opened and Buck came strolling in. He was looking as laid back as usual. However it was easy for Ron to see the concern in his eyes.
Christenson slid back into his previous state, “You want to talk about concerned? This one here- crying like a bitch the whole flight.”
Buck rolled his eyes and came over to lean against Ron’s bed, “Good to see you’re awake. You look pretty roughed up. Where the Hell is Lewis?”
“Yeah,” Burton chimed in, “where is Nixon? And for that record where was he when you got your ass kicked? And furthermore- how did you get your ass kicked?”
Speirs sighed, “This is going to be a little difficult to explain.”
Babe Heffron, Philadelphia, PA
When he finally rolled out of bed that morning, it wasn’t even morning really. It was practically noon.
He’d been more than a little exhausted from his somewhat disastrous outing the night before, and when he had finally gotten back home he’d dropped into bed. Where he then constantly replayed the evening in his mind.
He felt bad about leaving Chris unconscious on the street, but not so bad about kicking his ass.
The whole scene had been…just bad.
Pushing the previous night out of his mind for a moment he dragged his feet getting into the kitchen. When he entered he was surprised to see his brother at the counter, drinking coffee and reading a newspaper.
“Bill! You’re…here. I thought you’d be at work by now.”
Bill grinned at his newspaper, “Good to see you too. We got to work a little late last night so I don’t have to go in today. Speaking of which I was beginning to think you were going to spend all day in bed.”
Babe laughed, “I thought about it. So where’s Dick?”
Bill smirked, “You do realize Dick doesn’t live here right?”
His brother stood up and went to the microwave, pulled out a plate and handed it to him. Babe accepted the eggs and bacon with a smile.
“Oh thank God- real food. Dick’s a man of many talents but cooking is not one of them.”
“You have to order pizza again?”
“You know it. You know…maybe he should...”
Bill looked up with his coffee cup stalled at his lips, “Maybe he should what?”
That was when Babe realized that what he was about to say would result in having to have a conversation that he was %100 sure would make his brother very uncomfortable.
He had wanted to say that maybe Dick should live with them. He was practically over
all the time anyway, he was like family, and Babe was of the belief that he and Bill were meant for each other. But maybe that was wishful thinking.
Just as he was about to change the subject to that of his strange dreams, Bill changed it for him, but for an entirely different reason.
“Jesus Babe! What the Hell happened to your head?”
Babe paused and knew he probably looked like a deer caught in the headlights. Shit….he had totally forgotten about his injury from the night before.
His hand flew up to the bruise on the side of his face- “Oh it was…I got into a fight…kinda.”
Bill gaped and sat his coffee down rather forcefully, “What? Where? And with WHOM?”
“A guy from school.”
“Babe you haven’t been at school.”
Babe sighed, “Um okay…don’t get mad.”
Bill glared, “No promises.”
“Um so…the other night. When you and Dick were at work or whatever…I kinda went out with this guy from school.”
“You WHAT? And you got into a fight?”
“Not exactly, but Chris was really drunk and then I didn’t want to get in the car and then he started talking shit and then I just kicked him in the face and then I like left him there-”
At this point Bill looked ready to murder someone, and Babe nervously noted that he was the only one around presently.
Bill stood up and braced his hands against the kitchen counter. “Babe how many times do I have to tell you that you’re to tell me or Dick where you are AT ALL TIMES! Goddamnit! What if something had happened to you?”
“But I’m fine!” Babe protested, “I actually kinda kicked his ass.”
Bill glared at him again, “Do you think this is a joke? Do you think your safety is a joke?”
Babe couldn’t believe he was going to get this lecture again. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could take it. “No I don’t think it’s a joke! But I do think that you shouldn’t be surprised. I mean- you never let me do ANYTHING! Of COURSE I’m going to go out once in awhile!”
“If you’re going somewhere you need to TELL SOMEONE! Jesus Babe,” Bill continued to gripe but Babe cut him off.
“What? So that you can throw a fit and drag me back home? NO! This is ridiculous- I’m sixteen and I don’t have a fucking life!”
Bill held up a warning finger, “Watch your mouth-”
“It’s not FAIR! You can’t expect me to stay home all the time when-”
Bill interrupted, “You think we have these rules to ruin your life? Is that what you think? We’re trying to protect you!”
“FROM WHAT!?” Babe exploded at his brother-who actually took a step back at his anger.
Just as Bill was about to say something in response, Babe pushed away from the kitchen counter violently and began to stalk off.
“Where are you going? Get back in here-this conversation isn’t over!” Bill hollered after him.
“YES IT IS!” Babe shouted back.
Bill heard Babe’s bedroom door slam shut forcefully. Then there was a click that let Bill know he’d officially forced his brother to lock himself into his room.
Bill clenched his fists, “FINE! Be like that you little BRAT!”
Fucking teenagers….
And if he ever saw that Chris kid he was going to break his nose!
George Luz, Brooklyn, NY
When he had woken up in the hospital that morning, it had been without the dread that had accompanied the morning before. In fact, he was happy. Happy to be getting out of said hospital.
They wanted to keep him a bit longer, but not only did George think it was unnecessary, but he just couldn’t afford it.
Of course going home presented its own set of problems. The last conversation that he’d had with Christenson led him to realize that they were nowhere near close to catching the man who had attacked him.
But he and Eli didn’t have anywhere else to go. The FBI had assured him that he and his son would remain in protective custody for the next week at least.
He figured that if it kept his son safe-it was fine by him. Speaking of his son- Eli had been out trailing their police escorts for more than the usual ten minutes. Only slightly worried, George decided to go looking for him.
He had already changed back into his normal clothes and had gathered all of their things together. He wasn’t technically supposed to leave the hospital just yet, but he could check himself out.
Rising off of his bed slowly, Luz was careful not to make any sudden movements. He was already on medication for his multiple injuries and the doctors had expressed much concern over him over-extending himself. But with an 8 year old kid- it was going to be a bit of a problem to obey all of his doctor’s orders.
Walking out into the hallway, Luz looked around for Eli. His son was usually either right outside of his room at the nurses’ station (they all thought he was precious) or he was sitting in the waiting area talking to the police. George never let him go further than the bathroom or the vending machine.
So when he didn’t see his son in the immediate vicinity, a small bubble of panic began to rise in his chest. He squashed it down and gingerly made his way to the nurses’ station.
“Hey,” he caught the attention of one of the nurses whom he often saw Eli chatting with, “have you seen Eli?”
The young woman glanced up from here work, a look of confusion on her face. “Who?”
Now it was George’s turn to be confused, “What do you mean who? Eli- my son. You talk to him all the time since I’ve been here.”
The woman shook her head, “I don’t remember any children being here. Not lately anyway. Are you feeling okay?”
He just stared at her in shock. “Am I okay? No! I wanna know where my son-”
But before he could get any more upset he saw the two officers who’d been watching after his room and his son. Both were standing in the hallway looking dazed.
He walked over more quickly than he probably should have, “What the Hell are you two doing? Where’s Eli?”
They both looked at each other for a moment and then stared back at him.
“Who’s Eli?” one finally asked.
George raised his voice, “What the Hell is wrong with you people? ELI! My son? You were supposed to be watching him!”
The other officer frowned at him, “I don’t remember you having a son. Maybe you’re taking too much medication.”
Horrified, and feeling like he was trapped in the Twilight zone, Luz backed away from them and began to walk hurriedly down the hall.
“ELI!” He shouted, spinning around in a circle, “ELI!”
This couldn’t be happening. Where was he? What was wrong with everyone?
He continued to search the entire hospital, shouting like a madman.
Finally, at the bottom level, someone came up to him. A doctor.
The man put a hand on his arm, “Sir…calm down- what’s wrong?”
Luz spun around and looked at the man in desperation, “It’s my son. He’s gone. These cops were supposed to be watching him but he’s gone and they-”
“Okay calm down. Calm down. Look- do you have a picture of your son? We can take it over to the information desk. They see people come and go all the time. Maybe he just got lost.”
Luz nodded, praying that he had simply gotten sidetracked in the large building. He dug his wallet out of his jeans and pulled out a picture of him and Eli.
When they showed the picture to a woman at the information desk, a horrified look came over her face.
“What?” Luz asked, not sure he wanted to hear it. “Did you see him?”
The woman nodded, “A man carried him out the door a few minutes back. He was just sleeping. He didn’t look like he was in any danger.”
The panic in his chest that had merely been blossoming before exploded and Luz put his hands in his hair, “Oh my God. What do I-”
He suddenly couldn’t breathe. He barely registered the voice of the doctor telling the woman to call security. Barely registered the hands on his shoulders and a voice telling him to take deep breaths.
Someone had taken Eli.
Someone had taken his son.
And no one even remembered.
Burton Christenson, Los Angeles, CA
Burton was having a hard time filling in all the blanks to Ron’s story. And there were definitely blanks. He knew his partner well enough to tell when he was concealing important information.
But Buck was really having a hard time accepting what he heard, “But…that’s not possible. He’s my partner. If he had multiple personality disorder don’t you think I would have noticed?”
Ron gave Buck a look Christenson couldn’t interpret, “Well I didn’t notice. But I WAS there when he went crazy on me. And trust me…he’s not himself.”
“How exactly did you convince him not to shoot you?” Burton asked.
Ron frowned, “I didn’t. I passed out and that’s apparently when Officer Lipton came in and apprehended him. Or well…according to Lipton he turned himself in.”
Burton could tell he was lying, but he said nothing.
Buck shook his head, “And he just confessed to all those killings?”
Ron shrugged, obviously not wanting to talk about it right now.
Backing away from the bed, Buck continued to shake his head. “No this is too much. I’m going to go down there and talk to him.”
Ron’s frown deepened, “That is a bad idea Buck. He’s incredibly dangerous and incredibly unstable. And he probably wouldn’t mind taking a whack at you right now either. If you catch my drift.”
Burton watched as understanding seemed to light up in Compton’s eyes. Christenson was about to ask what the Hell they were getting at but then it dawned on him.
He may have been a little younger and more inexperienced than other agents, but most (save Ron) didn’t give him enough credit. The whole situation began to make sense and he looked between Buck and his partner in exasperation.
And Ron was always calling him a slut. Whatever.
But Buck was not deterred by Ron’s warning, “You know I’m real glad that you can write him off so quickly Ron…but he’s my partner. And I have to do something.”
Burton watching the blonde storm out of the hospital room before raising an eyebrow to Ron, “You didn’t try very hard to stop him.”
Speirs lifted a shoulder, “It’s kind of like Lipton said, maybe we deserve to get our two-timing asses kicked.”
Christenson grinned for two reasons. One- because Ron had already realized that Burton had made sense of his love triangle and secondly-
“Lipton…yes. He seems to be a common occurrence for you huh?”
Ron glared, “Says the guy who spent the entire day ‘interviewing’ a man in the hospital and trying to get in good with his kid.”
“Shut up.” Burton shot back, “Now are you going to tell me whatever it was you didn’t want to say in front of Compton?”
Speirs nodded, “But first I want to know about this kid. What did you find out?”
Burton took a deep breath, “You’re never going to believe it.”
“Try me.”
Dick Winters, Manhattan, NY
When his phone rang, Dick managed to answer it quickly, not wanting it to make too much
noise. He held it between his neck and his shoulder as he drove a Company car towards its Manhattan branch, where he had left Liebgott hours ago.
“Hello?”
“Hey Dick.”
Dick frowned upon hearing Bill’s voice. Not because he was unhappy to hear it, but because he was worried. “Bill-hey. Is everything alright?”
“Yeah…I guess. Wishing you were here.”
Dick grinned widely at that, but knew better than to take it for the sentimental statement it appeared to be.
“Why’s that?” he asked.
“Well…Babe went out and got himself into a little trouble last night. We had a big fight and now…he’s locked himself into his room.”
“Oh dear.”
“Yeah…you’re just…a lot better at all this stuff than I am. I mean…he opens up to you more I guess.”
Dick stayed silent for a moment. Now that he had come to believe that Babe was his biological brother, thinking about him- even barely- was overwhelming. He was trying to at least wait until he saw him before he had a complete emotional breakdown.
“Dick? You okay?”
Bill’s concerned voice brought him out of his own head and he realized he had reached his destination. Parking the car and turning it off, Dick leaned back in his seat and grabbed his phone with his hand.
“Yeah. I wish I was there too. Look I have to go.”
Not waiting for Bill’s response, he hung up the phone and proceeded to climb out of the car.
Going around to the other side of the vehicle, he opened the passenger door.
Leaning down he scooped an unconscious Eli Luz up into his arms.
David Webster and Eugene Roe, Philadelphia, PA
“Are you sure this is really the best place for you to be right now? I thought you wanted to go to New York?” Webster glanced around the mostly untouched motel room they were in.
Gene nodded and got on his hands and knees to retrieve something from under the bed, “I do. But I need to get my stuff first. Besides…I’m not convinced this is the first place they’d look for me.”
Webster shrugged. He was pretty impressed with how well Roe was handling this whole thing.
Once David had rescued him, he had explained what he knew of the Company to the man. Gene admitted that he was different as well and it had been surprisingly easy for them to trust one another after that.
David watched Gene gather up a bag. As the man stood David’s curiosity got the better of him, “What do you need from there so badly anyway? You still had all your money and stuff on you when I rescued you.”
Gene looked at the luggage in his hands, “The man I’m going to see in New York. I’m convinced that his wife was held hostage and possibly killed by these same people you just helped me escape. She wrote him letters. Hopefully they’ll have answers in them. Besides…I have a feeling I’ll need them to convince him that I even knew her.”
Webster just nodded, “So where in New York do you want to go?”
Gene looked up at him from the box of letters in his bag, “Somewhere with a computer. That’ll be the easiest way to find him.”
David rubbed his hands together, “You got it.”
Then Roe looked up at him with a ridiculously solemn look on his face, “Thank you. For saving me. For doing this. I don’t even know what to say or how to-”
Webster quickly waved off his gratitude, “You shouldn’t have to thank me. We’re both…different. And we have to look out for each other from these people. Besides…I have someone in New York too.”
Joseph Liebgott, Manhattan, NY
“OW!” Joe yelped as another needle was plunged into his arm. He glared at the bespectacled young man who was drawing his blood.
“You don’t have to STAB me!” He snapped.
The man, or ‘Dr. Jones-but please-call me Henry’, gave him a sheepish look.
“Sorry.” He apologized, “I guess I’m just excited about studying it.”
Joe gaped at him, “My blood?”
The young doctor nodded enthusiastically, “Yes. You see with your blood I can learn about the scope and nature of your ability based on the genetic patterns.”
Liebgott raised an eyebrow, “How’s that?”
Henry gave him a bright, if somewhat exhausted looking, smile, “You see I can compare your blood to a set of formulas that I’ve conceived by-”
“Maybe you can save that for later Henry?” a voice came from behind Joe and Henry froze.
Joe didn’t have to look to know it was Winters. He could just sense the same feeling he had before. Not to mention the man had a very distinguishable voice.
The doctor nodded at the red head, and Joe finally turned to look at him. Winters motioned him over with his hand.
Sighing, Joe snatched the band aid out of Henry’s hands and put it on his arm himself.
Hopping down from the table he’d been seated on he walked over to the man.
Winters started walking down the hall and made it clear that Joe needed to follow him. Liebgott stifled a yawn and did just that.
When they had arrived to this building it had been rather early in the morning. Winters had showed him to a room that was reminiscent of a college dorm fitted with two beds and had said that it was standard living for ‘special’ recruits in training.
When Joe had asked him about it, Winters had explained that recruits with abilities were trained here because it was more outfitted to help them learn about their powers.
Joe had walked in, saw his things, then saw a bed and had promptly passed out on it. The worry, stress and lack of sleep from the days before finally catching up to him. However when he had woke he still carried the fear for Webster’s safety with him.
Finally Joe realized that Winters had led him back to his temporary room, only this time there was a little boy inside, sitting on the opposite bed.
Joe turned and raised an eyebrow at Winters.
Winters gave him a sad, half smile. “Joe- this is Eli Luz. He’s special. Like you.”
‘And like you.’ Joe thought to himself.
“I have to make a couple of phone calls before I can get him properly situated here. Keep an eye on him. Consider it a test of your responsibility.”
With another sad smile, Winters turned and left the two of them alone in the room. Liebgott stared at his retreating back, horrified.
He had no idea what to do with kids. He turned back to the boy, who was looking rather scared and maybe a little angry.
Joe sighed and sat down across from him, “They snatch you?”
The boy nodded, “I was with my Dad. I should have seen it coming. It’ll be okay though. That guy…he took me…but he’s good. So are you. You want the same things.”
Joe stared at the kid in amazement, “Um..if you say so.”
Eli looked sad but nodded, “You won’t be safe here for too long.”
Now Joe was getting creeped out, “What the Hell are you talking about?”
Eli bit his lip at the harsh language and Joe just sighed.
But the kid got over it quickly, “I can see things you know. That are going to happen. I know things.”
“Like what?”
The kid leaned forward and blinked a set of big, blue eyes at Joe, “I know you’re looking for someone important. They’re looking for him too.”
Joe shifted uncomfortably. He was getting sick of all this prophetic talk. Couldn’t anyone just be straightforward anymore?
“Who’s they?” he asked the boy.
“The ones who took us.”
The Company?
“I already know that.” He informed the child, not bothering to wonder how Eli knew he'd been abducted.
Eli nodded, “Yeah…but they’re going to think it’s you.”
Joe froze at his words, “What?”
“The one you’re looking for? They’re going to think it’s you.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means you won’t be safe here for too long.”
Outside in the hallway, Dick Winters was receiving a phone call from his very unhappy boss in Philadelphia.
“That teleporting prick got the drop on us. And now Roe’s gone. I want you to keep a very close eye on Liebgott. Do you understand? Just in case Webster tries to make contact with him.”
“Yes sir.” Dick replied, “But I have to say this. I was with Joe all morning. He couldn’t have been involved.”
He heard Sobel sigh angrily. “Do it anyway.”
“Of course sir.”
In a hospital in California, Burton Christenson was receiving a frantic call from a hospital in New York.
“Please…I need your help. Eli’s been kidnapped. I don’t know who else to turn to.”
Burton exchanged looks with Speirs, with whom he’d now formed a very specific theory about their case. They had leads- they could close it.
Still he said into his phone, “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
Speirs looked concerned, “What was that about?”
Christenson shook his head, “I have to go.”
In an LA maximum security holding center, Buck Compton was making a call through a plate of glass.
“Lew…what the Hell happened?”
Nixon had wanted to talk to someone, needed to. But when he heard Buck’s voice all he felt was empty rage.
“You happened.” He hissed into the phone. He squeezed the phone tightly and Buck and the surrounding guards watched in astonishment as it was snapped in half.
Lewis stood up to be escorted away, afraid that the line between him and Jonathan was beginning to blur.
In Philadelphia, Babe Heffron was ignoring a call from the jerk that bruised his face.
Pacing in his room, Babe decided to think about something, or someone, more pleasant. Like the doctor he had met the night before. Gene…
He smiled as he recalled the soft spoken man.
As he passed his mirror, something caught Babe’s eye. Leaning forward to look at himself Babe gaped.
The dark bruise on his head was gone.
A/N: This chapter’s long as Hell but I waited so long to update anyway…and I still didn’t get half the stuff I intended for this chapter. I’m hoping to have this thing wrapped up in 20 chaps total. We'll see :)