Winter's Scars: The Forsaken (Winter's Saga 5) (11 page)

Chapter 21 Breakfast Small-Talk

“Are you feeling better?” Theo asked worriedly.

“I believe so,” she said, serving him a spatula full of the scrambled eggs she’d made.  She’d already served the boys, who looked like they’d been in a fight with a semitrailer.

“You’re sure?  I mean, it was only a few hours ago that you beat the crap out of the boys and passed out.” Theo frowned, trying to understand the erratic behavior of the girl carefully refilling his coffee.

Creed was sporting a white bandage across the bridge of his broken nose.  Theo had to reset it that morning.  It looked incredibly painful until Evan reminded Creed to shut off his pain.  Now he noshed on his breakfast tortilla with relish and seemed genuinely interested in the conversation—watching Meg and Theo with his two swollen, black eyes.

Cole wasn’t so lucky.

“I’ve already tried to explain, Dr. Andrews.  I am truly sorry for my behavior.  I was um—” she cleared her throat trying to stall as she searched for the most sensitive way of saying what she needed to say, “trapped in a nightmare.”

Theo narrowed his eyes at her.  He’d had to give Cole a strong pain killer at three in the morning so he would be able to sleep.  Even through it was still in effect, he watched as his son carefully placed small bites of egg onto the tip of his tongue and chew them slower than a sloth, trying to avoid the shooting pain he’d felt most of the night. 

“How it is that one small girl took out both of you?”

“We weren’t trying to fight back, sir.” Creed answered succinctly.  Cole only nodded slowly so as not to aggravate the pounding in his head.  Creed cleared his throat before continuing carefully, “And she’s one powerful small girl.”

Danny had awakened bright-eyed and bushy-tailed promptly at seven in the morning.  He was seated at the breakfast table in his booster seat holding his fork with a fist and studying the way the scrambled egg wobbled at the end before plugging it into his wide mouth and chewing happily.  Every so often, he leaned to touch Meg’s hand or cheek with his sweet, sticky fingers causing her to break into a wide toothy-grin. 

“You silly little man,” she cooed at him.

Evan came out of the whole evening with the least damage to his person yet he seemed quieter than usual.  The bruises on the sides of his throat were deep purple and in the perfect shape of Meg’s thumb and middle finger.  Meg cringed at the damage she’d done to her brother and the boys.  Evan didn’t look up to meet his sister’s gaze, but just pushed his eggs around his plate, obviously deep in thought.  Meg reached out her emotions to feel him.

“Evan, please don’t feel that way.”  Now it was her turn to sit and stare numbly at her breakfast.

“What way?” he asked.

“Never mind,” she stood abruptly, grabbed her plate still full of food and walked it to the sink.

Danny popped a cube of honeydew melon into his mouth and moved it to his cheek to chew, making his sweet face look decidedly chipmunk-like.   “Water,” he said and reached out to get his sippy cup from above his breakfast plate.  He took some deep draws on the straw then held the now empty container to Meg. “More please.”

“You’d like more water?  Are you sure you don’t want milk or juice this time?  This will be your third cup of water,” Theo offered.

“No, just water, please.”

Theo had been watching the exchange between Meg and Evan closely, but took Danny’s cup and went to fill it.  Oblivious of the tension in the room, the little boy was busy dripping syrup on his pancake.

Sloan and Farrow shuffled into the room still wearing their pajamas.  Meg tried to push aside her worry about Evan and focused on the girls for a moment.  She was glad to see their friendship growing.  They had been bunking together since the family moved in with Burns
, and it seemed that the soldier and scientist had developed a comfortable relationship, having both survived the Facility.  Meg could sense the same camaraderie between them and Creed.  Surviving that place bound all three of them in a way few would understand, but Meg did.  She felt their mutual respect and appreciation for having escaped and chosen a different way of life.

“G’morning,” they muttered, heading straight for the coffee mugs when Farrow stopped and did a double take at Creed and Cole.  “What the heck happened to you two?”

“It’s a long story,” Theo offered.  “Let’s just say they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Theo handed the water cup back to Danny, who had continued munching on his pancakes while the room watched.

Meg returned to her seat next to the little boy and reached to him.  He took her outstretched arms as an invitation to monkey climb into her lap. 

The room watched as the two put their foreheads against one another’s, comfortably—as though they’d done this a hundred times before. 

“I love you, Danny,” Meg whispered sending him waves of peacefulness through her empath’s skill.  In return she felt no fear coming from him—only love.

“I love you, Meggie,” the little boy whispered back and planted a baby’s syrupy, wet kiss on her cheek.

The two sat for a moment, as though they were the only people in the room.  Waves of joy at being hugged by one of his favorite people in the world emanated from the strong soul sitting on her lap in footed pajamas. “You ready to get Mom?” Meg asked, deliberately forcing herself back into reality. 

Danny nodded happily, his blonde ringlets moving beautifully.

A small frown pinched his face momentarily.  “I miss Maze.”

“I bet he misses you, too.  We’ll go s
ee him right after Mom, okay?  Are you done eating?  Do you want me to help you get dressed?”

Danny was scooting his little bottom down off Meg’s lap.  He grabbed her hand and pulled her out of her chair.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Meg smiled at his little-boy ways. 

On her way, she grabbed his plate and took it to the sink.  She could still feel the edginess in the air and was trying hard not to resent everyone for it.  She knew she scared the heck out of everyone last night and it would just take time for them to let it go.

Danny hopped anxiously at her hand.  Meg didn’t have to be an empath to read his I-gotta-go dance loud and clear. 

“You drank a lot of water, little man.  Let’s stop at the bathroom first,” Meg forced a smile at the room full of people
, watching their exchange with interest. 

“Do you have to pee-pee, too?” Danny asked innocently.

Meg cough-laughed and her cheeks pinked up at the uncomfortable expressions on the boys’ faces. 

“No sweetie, just you.”

Danny ran before his sister, pulling his pajama bottoms down before he even made it into the bathroom. 

Meg couldn’t help but chuckle at the little, naked butt streaking down the hallway.

“Don’t miss!” She called after the rowdy little boy.

She sighed deeply as she made her way to Danny’s room to find an outfit for him.  These are the same boys who, at this very moment,
were feeling worried and guarded around her.   She could sense their wariness and was trying so hard not to resent them for it.

Chapter 22 Some Car Rides are More Poignant
Than Others

Fifteen minutes later, everyone was ready to go.  They split into two vehicles.  Greg Burns, Farrow and Sloan took Theo’s sedan.  Everyone else piled into the SUV.  The Winter Clan had grown so much, they needed two vehicles to get around, but no one minded.   Everyone wanted to be there to support Margo as she left the hospital.  During the drive, Danny fell fast asleep in his booster seat, his head tipped to the side, Cupid’s bow lips plump and beautiful against his pale complexion. 

In the sedan
, the conversation turned serious when Burns asked what they were all thinking, but too hesitant to ask: “How do you two think this is going to play out?”

“How what will play out?” Farrow switched to the defensive immediately.  Sloan opted to stay silent.

“I mean the whole battle between the Winter Clan, Senator Arkdone and Dr. Williams.  How do you think things will end?”

“I have no idea,” Farrow answered honestly.

“And you’re not worried about that?” the retired cop asked.

“How do
you
think it will all play out?” Sloan asked from the back seat.  Greg glanced into his rearview mirror and nodded, acknowledging her wit.

“I think a lot of you are going to die unless something drastic changes the course.”  His brutal honesty made the hair on the back of Farrow’s neck stand on end.

“What would you have us do differently?”  Her logical fortitude kept her from reacting emotionally—for now, anyway. 

“I’ve been trying to talk the parents into getting the authorities involved.”

“The police?  FBI?  CIA?  Your ‘Homeland Security’?”  Farrow sighed deeply.  “We’ve been down this path before.  It would be too dangerous for our metahuman species to be discovered.  What is the expression?  Out of the frying pan, into the fire?”

“That’s pretty much what the parents said, but I disagree.”

“Of course you would.  You’re a cop.”  Sloan shrugged and looked out her side window.

“There’s another saying that applies here: ‘If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’re going to keep getting what you’re getting’.”
Greg shook his head.

“Let’s run this hypothetical,” Sloan looked back at the detective.

“Okay, so you all come into the office with me.  They’ll want to get a statement from each of you. Then there will be the interview.”

“You make it sound so simple,” Farrow said shaking her head.

“It can be.  Just tell the truth.”

“What about you?”

“I would be putting my reputation—hell, my career on the line.”

“And you’d be willing to do that?”

“You’re willing to give up your lives to protect those you love, right?  That’s why you joined the family?”

“The Winters are good people—the best people I’ve ever known.  Yes, I have chosen to fight alongside them.”  When Farrow spoke of her adopted family,
she raised her chin naturally and pulled her shoulders back.  Her body language spoke volumes about her devotion to the family and Greg Burns was excellent at reading body language.

“Same here,” Sloan nodded decisively.

“I couldn’t agree more.  Theo is the best guy I know—my best friend for nearly forty years.  I’d do anything for him.  Now, I need to get him and the rest of you in protective custody until we can bring Arkdone and Williams to justice.”

“Protective custody is a bad idea,” Sloan said bluntly.

“Why?”

“Because not only will it not work—these monsters have more money and power than anything your office can protect us from—but anyone who stands in their way of acquiring the original three will be killed.  Leveled—completely and absolutely leveled.” Farrow spoke with such assurance; it gave the old detective pause.

“Farrow’s right, Mr. Burns.”  Sloan looked straight into the rearview mirror, delivering her determination through the glint in her gray eyes.  “The only hope we have of stopping those two from continuing to torment humans and pursue their plans to create the ultimate soldiers and candidates is in that SUV right in front of us.” She nodded toward the SUV carrying Meg, Alik and Evan.

“Our job,” Farrow continued, “is simple.  We must protect them at all cost
s because it will be those three who will figure out a way to end this.”

“If we keep doing what we’re doing, Mr. Burns
, we will prevail,” Sloan said with certainty.  “But I think you’d better decide if you’re willing to sacrifice all that you say you are.  Our survival is not guaranteed.  Those of us who chose to fight alongside the Winters are pawns in this game: useful, necessary but expendable.” 

Burns continued the drive to the hospital in stunned silence.  The girls had said their p
iece and though they knew he was torn by what was said, they’d needed to set the record straight.   The two teenagers spoke with wisdom brought on by their difficult lives.  Their words made Greg realize he had a lot to think about—that, and the girls’ passionate resolve made him feel useless and old.

Chapter 23 Surprises

The SUV was quiet.  Meg watched Danny sleep in his booster seat and felt her heart tighten exquisitely with pure love for him.  Their connection was strong, like a series of unbreakable tethers wrapping her to the little boy however near or far their physical bodies.  She frowned slightly as she thought about the danger he was in being one of them.  Just being a metahuman, he was already at great risk.  But he was just a toddler and not physically strong enough to protect himself. 

Evan broke the silence.  “Why would Arkdone want to turn against Williams and take us for himself?  I mean, we’ve always known pretty clearly why Williams wanted us.  He wanted revenge against Mom for taking us and he wanted to duplicate that first generation, original formula.  Nefarious plans explained, check.  So why does Senator Arkdone want to get in on the act?  What’s in it for him?  Isn’t he powerful enough?” Evan asked no one in particular.