...The Ones You Love.
(This story takes place two months after "You Only Hurt...")
Chapter One: It's The Same, Only Different.
He broke into a run, noticing the other man already tensing himself for his attack. He ran down the catwalk, pulled the knife from his belt, and slashed an attack. The other man ducked back, but the knife cut through his shirt, drawing blood. He slashed again - the other man ducked under his swing and he went wide. As he tried to steady himself, he was aware of the other man ducking past him. He regained his balance, and turned - slashing out at where he thought the other man was.
There was a flash of steel, and pain - extreme pain - all through his right arm.
So much pain! Try to keep conscious - can't black out - not now.
He steeled himself to look at his right arm - scared to see how bad it was. He turned his head slowly.
Time seemed to stand still as he turned.
Then his mind screamed.
My arm!
It was missing from the elbow down. Blood was slowly pumping from the stump where his arm had been.
No, please!
As he numbly stared at his wound, suddenly he felt a second sharp pain from his chest. Slowly he brought his head down to see a sword - his sword - protruding from his chest.
Everything went fuzzy. He staggered back, trying desperately to keep the world from fading to darkness. As he stumbled towards the edge of the catwalk, he looked up into the eyes of the other man, the man who had done this to him.
Just before everything faded forever, he saw Timothy O'Neill smiling back at him
.Jake Morgendorffer's eyes popped open and he sat up, trying to get his breath back. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and felt his pillow. It was drenched in sweat.
The same dream again. The same dream I've been having for the past two months.
Helen sat up sleepily, and touched Jake on the shoulder lightly. "Jake? What's wrong?"
Jake turned to her. "Bad dreams. I'm okay." Helen leaned over and took him in her arms.
Jake pulled back from her embrace, and looked at her. She looked really hot with her hair messed up, he had to admit. "Why, Mrs. Morgendorffer, you're ravishing."
Helen flushed. "Stop it." Jake took her face in his hands, and kissed her deeply. She responded for a few moments, and then pulled back. "Jake, I have to be up early...I have that big case...ohhh!" Jake had began nuzzling down her neck, and pulling the straps of her nightgown down. "I don't know where you've been getting your energy from lately, Jake."
Jake looked up briefly. "Not complaining, are we?"
Helen smiled. "Not at all."
Jake gazed at her for a moment.
You know, she's beautiful when she smiles. She certainly doesn't look 48...or 47...or whatever the hell age she is.
Life was simpler with non-age specific birthday cards, mused Jake. He continued pulling the straps down, and lightly pushed Helen down onto the bed, as she giggled in pleasure.
Morning arrived. Jake awoke with a start, and realized he was alone in bed. He glanced at the clock, and saw why. He was going to be late, if she didn't get moving. He got out of bed, and walked past the pile of discarded sleepwear on the floor, grinning at the memories. He reached into the closet, and pulled out a suit. With the recent success of Morgendorffer Consulting, and its imminent expansion, Jake had decided his wardrobe needed a boost. He'd blown his clothing budget for the next few years on some Armani suits. Nothing too fancy, just enough to show his clients that he was moving up in this world. Of course, Wendy still paraded around jeans, a t-shirt, and nothing else, but that was Wendy for you.
He wandered into the kitchen, and was mildly surprised when he didn't see anyone there but Helen.
"Where is everyone?"
Helen looked up from the legal papers she was going through. "They both left for school, already."
"Oh." Jake sat down. "You know, I'm glad those two are spending more time together lately."
Helen nodded. She got up and stuffed the papers into her bag. "Well, I have to go. Eric wants a plan for that big case by tomorrow at the latest, and I've got to get busy."
She walked over to Jake and kissed him briefly.
"I'll see you tonight." She walked over to the door, and paused briefly. "Jake?"
"Yes?"
"Are you...okay?"
"Of course, why wouldn't I be?" Jake got up and took Helen in his arms.
"You've just been kind of evasive lately...and I thought we were getting along so much better." Helen seemed uncharacteristically doubtful.
Jake responded by kissing her deeply. He broke off and said: "I'm fine. If there's anything wrong, it's just pressure at work, not you. Okay?"
Helen smiled. "Okay." She kissed him again, and left.
Jake sat back down at the kitchen table and sighed.
Nice work, Jakey. I know you've been preoccupied with things, but don't take it out on Helen. She's right. You two are stronger than you've ever been, so don't screw it up.
That was true. Ever since his 'change', they had been almost perfect. Communicating like they never had, talking, sharing, that sort of thing. Maybe his sudden transformation into being competent had been just what they needed.
There was only one thing Jake felt could screw them up, and it wasn't Helen.
It's me.
He'd become obsessed with finding out exactly what had happened at the school two months ago, and how exactly his father played into it. It wasn't any secret Jake didn't get along with his father, but this was something different.
Trying to find the men who had attacked him and Wendy in the alleyway - they were gone.
Trying to find the men who had invaded his house - they were gone.
Calling some of his father's old friends - most of them hadn't even talked to him, and the ones that had weren't particularly useful.
Trying to do research on government projects like the events he'd been through - he'd watched a whole lot of bad movies, and had learned nothing.
Trying to gain access to his father's old marine records - nothing in there of note.
Everything he did - a dead end.
Plus, the fact that he'd murdered one of his children's teachers was weighing pretty heavily on his mind. He hadn't told anyone about that. He thought Daria suspected, but if she did, she hadn't said anything.
Good. It's bad enough you dragged Wendy and Horizon into this. Don't go dragging your family in too.
"I don't want to talk about it, Wendy," said Jake peevishly.
"Jake, we already know too much." Wendy put her hands on her hips in annoyance.
"You know that we were attacked in an alley, and I beat the guys up. Is that so hard to believe?"
"Actually, yes," said Horizon.
Wendy glared at him. "It's not that you did that. It's the way you did it that got me."
"I don't know what you mean." Jake turned away.
Horizon glanced at Wendy. "I have to admit, what you told me does sound a little unbelievable."
Wendy scowled. "Watch this." She walked over to her desk, and pulled a knife from it. She aimed at Jake's back and threw it. It flew through the air towards him. Horizon was too shocked to speak or yell a warning. Suddenly, Jake tensed, and whirled round, catching the knife effortlessly seconds before it hit him.
Horizon's eyes went wide. "Holy shit."
Jake's eyes narrowed, and he began to speak. Wendy cut him off. "Check the knife, M. It's plastic." She grinned wildly.
Jake scowled. Horizon looked at him, amazed. "How did you do that?"
"Okay. Everything Wendy told you is true. I admit it."
Wendy stepped forward. "So let us help you. Come on, Jake, we're your friends. And you need help on this." Wendy stood defiantly, looking a lot larger than her petite 5'3'' frame.
Jake glanced at Horizon, who was standing in a similar position. He sighed. "All right."
"Good." Wendy smiled. "And we don't want much in return."
"You forced me."
"All I want is to be able to smoke in my office. Is that too much to ask?"
Horizon rolled her eyes.
Thinking about his colleagues suddenly reminded Jake he had to be at work early today, and he grabbed his coat and rushed out.
"And of course, you never listen to my suggestions. I mean, it wouldn't kill you just to try some of my fashion tips once in a while."
"But it's always better not to take the risk."
"Daria!" Quinn glared at her sister as they rounded the corner towards Lawndale High. "I mean, I'm trying to help you."
"Or you could just be trying not to lose your fashion skills since you're still not talking to the rest of the fashion club." Daria raised an eyebrow to Quinn.
"Oh no." Quinn laughed a little nervously. "That would be really pathetic of me."
"That thought never crossed my mind."
Quinn gave Daria a look. "Look, Daria, we've mainly been hanging around with each other lately, right?"
"True."
"But we don't really do anything together. Just kind of hang around and talk."
"Well, that's what I always used to do with..." Daria tailed off and she stared at the ground.
"Jane?" Quinn asked softly.
Daria nodded.
"Look, Daria, I've never really understood why you're not talking to her, and you haven't been very helpful on that matter either, but since we've been getting so close, and I'm sure I could trust you with anything, why don't you trust me with that?"
Daria looked up at her. "I've never been able to figure out how you can talk so long without breathing. Although the lack of oxygen to the brain would explain a lot."
Quinn glared at Daria. "I'm being serious, Daria. Why don't you trust me? It's not like I have any other friends now to blab it to."
"Why is that, exactly? You never had any trouble before."
Quinn fell silent. Daria looked at her. "Quinn?"
Hesitantly, Quinn spoke: "I...don't want any."
"What?"
Quinn looked at Daria. "I keep thinking about Sandi hurting me, and Stacy and Tiffany just watching, and it still hurts. I don't want to let anyone hurt me like that again. You're my sister, and you can be mean to me and stuff, but you'd never let anyone hurt me."
Daria was speechless. Quinn smiled a little. "So, what is your problem?"
Daria looked at her sister's face, and saw the obvious concern there. "Quinn, I appreciate the concern, I really do. But I can't talk about it yet, okay?"
"It's not about that guy you're hung up on, is it?"
I never said it was a guy, Quinn
thought Daria.Quinn's eyes grew wide. "Oh god, he's not someone that's dating Jane, is it?"
"Quinn, could you ever picture me stealing Jane's guy?"
"I guess not." Quinn smiled a little. "Daria? I have really enjoyed getting to know you better, even if it was just because we weren't talking to our friends."
"I never thought I'd say this, but I have too. If you tell anyone though, I'll tell the school about your plaid phase."
"You wouldn't." Daria smiled at her. "You would. Well, I'd tell everyone that you watch 'Three's Company' when you think no-one's looking!"
"Touche."
They walked through the main doors, and began walking to class. Daria saw Jane rounding a corner. Their eyes met for a second, and Daria hurriedly said goodbye to Quinn, and set off in the other direction, walking as fast as she could.
Jane did the same, not even noticing Jodie as she walked straight into her. Jodie lost her balance and sprawled onto the floor.
"Oh God, Jodie, I'm so sorry!" Jane knelt down and helped Jodie back to her feet.
"Let me guess," said Jodie. "You saw Daria coming, and you hurried away as quick as possible, not noticing who was in your way."
"Wow, I never knew I was that predictable."
"Jane, come on. It just isn't natural not to see you guys not talking and hanging out."
Jane shot her a look. "Things haven't exactly been normal around here for a while. Say, where is Mack, anyway?"
Jodie scowled. "Fine." She began to walk away.
Jane grabbed her shoulder. "Jodie, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that."
"That's okay." Jodie sighed. "Look, I know how it is when someone you care about isn't talking to you. I Just figured you could use someone to talk to."
"That desperate for conversation, huh?"
"I guess."
Jane thought for a moment. "Okay. Sure."
They headed down the corridor, walking past the Fashion Club as they did so.
All three members of the Fashion Club were standing beside the lockers, discussing a typically life-threatening problem.
"So, we're agreed then. We're having an emergency meeting tonight, at my house. It seems that some members of the Fashion Club haven't been using the proper amount of effort in co-ordinating their outfits."
"That's soooo wrongggg," drawled Tiffany.
"I know. And if those members aren't prepared to put the proper work in, we'll seriously have to think about terminating their membership. Are you listening to me, Sandi?"
Sandi looked up meekly. "Of course Stacy. I'm sorry. You are the President, after all."
Stacy smiled. "Of course I am."
Sandi's head fell again, as Mack wandered past, lost in thought.
Mack shuffled down the corridor. Then, as he usually did, Kevin Thompson came bounding up. "Hey, Mack Daddy!
"I told you not to call me that."
"Sorry, Mack Daddy! I mean, Daddy! No, wait..."
Wait. That hadn't happened. In fact, it hadn't happened in two months. Because Kevin was dead. He wasn't ever going to come bounding down the corridor.
Mack couldn't believe he was actually missing that. But, when he thought about it, Kevin had probably been his best friend, apart from Jodie.
And that's a topic I definitely don't want to think about.
He heard a noise from behind him, and he turned to see the Three Js wander up.
"Hey Mack," they said, sort of simultaneously.
"Hey guys." Was he this desperate for company?
Yes, I am.
Well, that was that settled.
"Hey, guys?" he asked. "There's something I've been meaning to ask you."
"Uh-huh?"
"Not that I don't enjoy your company, but why haven't you guys been bugging Quinn like usual?"
They all went pale.
"Well," said Joey.
"Quinn's dad came to the school one day," said Jamie.
"And he kind of beat the shit out of us," finished Jeffy.
Mack stopped in his tracks. "Mr. Morgendorffer? That doesn't sound like him."
Of course, acting out of character was practically a given these days. Considering the events that had taken place, who could blame everyone?
"I never touched her!"
"I never even kissed her!"
"I've never even held her hand!"
"Guys, calm down," Mack said soothingly. "I believe you."
They calmed down.
"So why hang around me? Isn't there some other girl you could be pestering?"
Jamie: "Well, you're kind of the coolest guy we know..."
Jeffy: "And more girls' fathers might try to beat us up..."
Joey: "So we're just going to hang around you, and try to be like you, cause we like you..."
Jamie: "But not like that."
Jeffy: "No."
Joey: "We like girls!"
All three: "You got it! Yeah!"
Mack sighed heavily, and set off for class, his three new proteges in tow. On the way there, he caught a glance of Brittany, standing by herself. Mack's brow furrowed in concern. He couldn't actually remember Brittany talking to anyone in the last few weeks. She'd just hung around by herself, looking miserable, and scaring anyone off that came near her. Mack turned away again. .
"Welcome to Morgendorffer Consulting's new home!" Jake spread his arms expansively around the spacious office.
Wendy and Horizon provided less than enthusiastic applause.
"Ladies, come on! This is an excellent opportunity for us."
Wendy crossed her arms. "Remind me again why we moved?"
"One: Larger offices. We now occupy two floors of one of the best business buildings in Lawndale. Two: More facilities. Better communications, computer systems, editing suites, that sort of thing. Three: Better location. Instead of being on the outskirts of town, we're now slap-bang in the center. Closer to all those businesses who need our expertise." Jake grinned. "And another plus. We all get window offices!" He glanced at Wendy. "Which you can smoke in. Happy now?"
Wendy curtsied slightly. "Exquisitely so."
"Ohh. Window offices. A fabulous view of...some more office buildings," muttered Horizon.
"I'll get you some really thick drapes, I promise."
Jake glanced over at Wendy. "Wendy? What do you think?"
"Okay, you've sold me with your spiel. At first, I thought you just wanted to move here because your wife is just around the corner, and you could go over for a quickie during lunch."
Jake flushed red, and pretended to be very interested in some paneling on the wall.
"Wendy!" Horizon shot her a glance.
"Calm down, intern girl. It's not like we all haven't used our lunch for that."
"Speak for yourself," muttered Horizon darkly.
Jake finished his panel inspection and turned back around. "Anyway, this is a bold new step for us. Plus we need more space for all those new employees we're getting."
Wendy's voice went more serious. "About those new computers; this isn't more of your attempts at information grabbing, is it?"
"I don't know what you mean."
"Yes you do." Wendy's voice went low. "All of your little info searches on your less-than beloved Dad."
Jake frowned. "Come on, Wendy, it's bad enough that you guys know as much as you do about all this. I'm not stupid enough to involve you further by doing easily traced searches from my own office."
"Fair point. Found out anything of note, anyway?"
Jake shook his head. "Not a thing, unfortunately. I still have a few sources to try, but nothing so far."
"Cheer up," Horizon added. "I'm sure you'll find out something soon."
"That's one of the problems: I'm not sure if I really want the answers." Jake sat down. "I never liked my Dad, but I never imagined he was involved in anything quite like this..."
He trailed off.
That's not really the whole truth, is it? Your only real source left is Mom, and you don't want to call her in case it turns out she knew something about all this. And I thought the Barksdales were dysfunctional.
Everything else had come up blanks. Everyone involved in the affair had either no memory of the incident, didn't know enough to be useful, or had vanished. All the muggers he had wounded, and the men who had broken into his house had vanished from the hospital, and the staff weren't telling him anything.
Wendy's voice broke into his thoughts. "At least you got some good out of all this."
"Oh?"
"Well, your...abilities."
"Ah yes. Those."
Horizon chipped in: "Done any more testing on yourself?"
"Haven't really had the time, or the opportunity, unfortunately. It's not exactly easy to do it at home. I had to make up some pretty wild stories to explain what happened back then, and I know Helen didn't believe me."
"What did you tell her?"
Jake shrugged. "Nothing fancy. 'Why sweetie, did I forget to mention I'm a kung-fu expert who could probably break a bone with his first two fingers, and can jump huge distances without much effort? It seems like the sort of thing I would have told you'"
Horizon grinned. Wendy rolled her eyes.
"You mean you can't fire lightning bolts from your hands? I thought everyone could!"
"You said that to a lawyer?"
"Of course not. I can't even fire lightning bolts out of my hands. And if I have x-ray vision, I sure as hell can't figure out how to turn it on."
"With Wendy, you hardly need it anyway." Horizon raised her eyebrow at Wendy, who ignored her.
"Of course, Helen didn't believe a word I said. But she trusts me enough to know not to pry."
"Wait." Wendy held up her hand. "That last sentence didn't seem to make any sense."
Jake spoke slower. "Helen..."
"Yes."
"Trusts..."
"Righty-ho."
"Me."
"No, that's where it all falls apart. When did that happen?"
"We've been better than ever recently. I guess we just clicked or something recently." He beamed. "Works for me. Now, let's actually get some work done."
Jane sat back in her chair and sighed heavily. "So there you are. The entire sordid affair, or lack-of-affair, actually."
Jodie glanced round the library, a look of shock on her face. "Wow. I mean, there were always rumors, but I never thought..."
Jane gave her a look. "Rumors? What do you mean?"
"Well, at one point, Upchuck said he had a tape of you two...you know."
"I wish." Jane saw the look on Jodie's face. "Maybe...you should forget I said that."
Jodie nodded.
Jane looked at her. "This freaks you out, doesn't it? I shouldn't have told you."
"No," Jodie smiled reassuringly. "I'm glad you told someone. It looked like you needed to talk about it, and who else is there? I swear I'll never tell a soul."
Jane nodded reflectively. "And you promise you won't try to set me up with her in some cheesy romantic way?"
"Why would I do that?"
"It just seems like something you would do."
Jodie smiled. "You know, can I be honest with you?"
Jane shrugged. "Sure. I've been more with honest with you. Though I left out some of my more explicit thoughts."
"Thank you for that," Jodie said, absolutely sincerely.
"So, what was your question? Shoot away!"
"Normally, I'd say you guys would make a cute couple, but..."
"Yes?"
"Well, Daria seems so....cold sometimes. I can't really imagine her being passionate, or...well, you know."
"She seems that way, I know. But if you really, really get to know her, you get to recognize the smallest little shifts in her mood, by her eyes, her face...I can't describe it. Have you ever seen her smile?"
"Yes."
Jane leaned over the table. "No, not that knowing smirk. I mean, when she's really, truly happy, and she smiles. It doesn't happen that often, but when it does, it lights up my whole day. And when she laughs? Happens even less, but it's one of the sweetest sounds I've ever heard." Jane smiled goofily. "And did you know she has a killer body? Oh yeah, I mean..."
Jodie held up her hand. "Please don't go any further. We'll both just be embarrassed."
Jane looked guilty. "Oh, yeah, sure. Sorry."
"That's okay." Jodie smiled uncomfortably. She glanced at her watch. "Oh. I'd better be getting on. I have a meeting of the student council to get to." She got up, and put her hand on Jane's shoulder. "Jane, things will be okay. I'm sure of it. Okay?"
Jane put her hand on Jodie's. "Thanks, Jodie."
Jodie smiled at her, and left.
As she left the library, Jodie spied Mack walking down the corridor. She put her eyes firmly ahead, and walked straight past him, making an active effort not to catch his gaze. She guessed he was doing the same.
If you could only do the same magic with your
own love life, Landon."Sandi Griffin!"
Sandi looked up with a start. Stacy was glaring at her. "I don't think you were paying attention to me, Sandi!"
"Stacy, I was, I mean..."
Stacy shut her up with a glare. "Now, back on to our discussion of pastels," she said, placing her arms on the cafeteria table.
Sandi pretended to listen. She hadn't been paying attention, she'd been staring over at the table Quinn was sitting at.
What happened to me? Didn't I use to be President of this club?
Oh yes, but things change, don't they? It certainly had for her. After her beating of Quinn...
You weren't yourself. No-one was.
...She'd been so consumed with guilt about that, and her treatment of Stacy...
You were yourself when that happened, weren't you?
...She'd actively tried to be nicer to Stacy. She'd allowed her to bring that geek, Ted, to their meetings, she hadn't been such a bitch, she had even listened. Of course, Stacy saw that weakness, and muscled in for the leadership. Sandi hadn't the energy to fight it, and now their positions were reversed. Stacy was making Sandi's life hell, and deep down, Sandi felt she deserved it.
She looked up, and saw that the other two had left.
Without me? How could they?!
She slumped back in her seat, utterly depressed. She glanced over at Quinn's table, and decided to take a chance. She got up, tried to stand straight like she used to, and walked over to the table.
Unfortunately, Quinn saw her coming, and left as quick as she could. Sandi stopped and just stood in the middle of the cafeteria. She knew people were staring at her, but she didn't care.
You don't care what people are thinking about you? Who are you, anyway?
Sandi sighed. She really didn't know anymore.
"No, I don't care what he says! We have photos. Yes, they are real. Yes, they are very explicit, so I don't think you want to go to court. Get me? Good." Helen hung up the phone, and smiled broadly. "You know, I love the feeling I get when I nail somebody's ass to the wall, you know that?"
Marianne looked up from her typing. "Oh yes, I believe it."
Helen sat down at her desk contentedly. "You know, I feel like I'm on fire here."
Sometimes I wish you were.
"Oh really?" said Marianne."Jake's just been there for me lately, like he hasn't been before."
"That's..."
"Even though there's a lot he's not telling me. I can tell."
"Well, I..."
"He should trust me enough, right?"
"I..."
"But I'm sure he has a good reason to keep things from me"
Marianne decided to experiment with not saying anything this time.
"So I should trust that he knows what he's doing."
Pleased with getting away with saying nothing, Marianne decided she wasn't an essential part of this conversation anyway.
"Trusting Jake? That's something I wouldn't have been saying a couple of months ago."
Silence.
"Marianne? Are you listening to me?"
Whoops. Busted.
Luckily, Eric Shrecter took this moment to walk into the office.
"Eric!"
"Hello, Helen." Eric flashed her a big grin. "I have to say, you're certainly dynamite lately. What's been floating your boat?"
"Oh Eric, it's amazing what a little marital harmony can do for you."
"Yes, quite." Eric face fell for a second, then perked back up again. "Well, just here to say keep it up!"
He moved to leave. "That's funny. I don't remember getting any window-washers for today." Then he left.
Helen sat back in her chair, and smiled. Life was going well, wasn't it? Her job was crackling, Jake was as loving and supportive as she'd always hoped he'd be, Quinn and Daria hanging out together.
There were only a few clouds on the horizon. Jake was still very evasive about what exactly had happened back then. Quinn hadn't wanted her to sue Sandi's mom, and Jake had backed her up on it. And there was the mysterious disappearance of several teachers, and the home invasion incident. Jake had assured her it was for the best if she didn't know, and she trusted him. But it was still kind of annoying...
Put it out of your mind, Helen. Things are looking up for you.
Daria and Quinn headed out of the front door of Lawndale High, past the window cleaners, and headed down the road to home.
"I mean, it's like she really wants to apologize, and stuff, but I'm too freaked to talk to her, cause of all that stuff that happened, you know? I mean, I know that it was a mind control sort of thing, but still..."
"Quinn, why would you want to hang out with those Fashion Zombies again?"
"Daria!" Quinn glared at her sister. "We had some fun times. Like that time when Sandi and I..." She noticed the look on Daria's face. "Never mind. But even when me and Sandi were fighting, it was still kind of...fun or something. I was getting sick of it, but you know, if we'd reduced that a little..."
"Aha. The Joker needs Batman to define his own personality, right?"
"I guess. Rubber is so out though."
Daria smiled slightly, then she glanced down the street. "Quinn, look, I have to go. I'll see you back at the house."
Quinn scowled. "I know where you're going. You go there every day. I think it's getting kind of stalker-ish, and I'm not bailing you out of jail if you get picked up."
"Goodbye, Quinn."
Quinn's expression softened. "I hope you guys become friends again."
"Me too," Daria said softly. "Me too."
Quinn walked towards Fortress Morgendorffer, while Daria headed the other way. As she did every day, she ended up opposite Casa Lane. She stood across the street, as she did every day, trying to muster up the courage to go to the door, and knock on it. She could talk to Jane and Trent, apologize for everything.
Wait, what do I have to apologize for? It's not my fault that Trent fell for me, and it isn't my fault that I fell for Jane.
Okay, not apologize. Explain, that was the word she was looking for. Maybe they could still be friends?
Daria suddenly imagined the situation.
Daria was sitting on the couch, when Jane walked in. Jane looked at her with an odd expression, and then sat down.
"What's wrong, Jane?"
Jane paused for a second. "It's just, when I see you looking at me, I think you're imagining me naked, and that freaks the shit out of me."
"That's not true."
"Oh yeah. Look me in the eyes when you say that."
Daria stared at the floor and said nothing.
"That's what I thought."
Trent walked trough the door. He looked at Daria for a moment. "Come to twist the knife a bit deeper, huh? Not content with shattering my heart into a million pieces, Daria?"
Daria got up suddenly. "I gotta go." She turned and ran out the door.
Daria snapped back to reality. Who was she kidding? She took a last look at the house, and left.
I really need to work on my fantasy life.
Laura Scott and Stephanie Williams, two of the new employees that Jake had hired before the move, said their goodbyes and left for the day. With the expansion of Morgendorffer Consulting, Jake had found he couldn't run the office with just three people any more, so he'd gone on a hiring binge. Laura and Stephanie had been the results, and Jake was pleased with their progress so far. There were also a couple of part-time employees they had at any given time, depending on how busy it was. Jake was careful not to let them get any inkling of how he was different, and he'd warned Horizon and Wendy not to say anything.
Jake snapped his briefcase shut, and stood up. They were in the main conference room of (the new) Jake Morgendorffer Consulting. Horizon and Wendy were milling around, finishing up their business for the day.
"Ladies, it's been yet another fascinating day, but I have to get home."
The two women mumbled vague goodbyes. Jake wandered over to the coat rack to get his jacket. As he did so, he glanced out of the window. He walked over to Wendy.
"Wendy, has that window-cleaner across the street been there all day?"
She shrugged. Jake turned to Horizon.
"I think he was here this morning." She thought for a moment. "But he left, I'm sure of it."
Jake frowned. "He's back now. That's odd."
He wandered over to the window, and looked across the street. The window-cleaner caught his eye for a moment, and there was something in his glance that Jake didn't like.
As casually as he could, he turned away, and walked towards the door.
"I'll be back in a second."
As soon as he was out of sight, he broke into a run for the stairwell. He flew down the steps, as quick as he could.
Well, not as quick as I really could. That would be suspicious, wouldn't it?
He reached the first floor, and bolted out of the front door. He looked up to where the cleaner had been.
Nothing.
Damn.
When he reached the office, Wendy and Horizon were waiting for him, confused looks on their faces.
"Well?"
"Something doesn't feel right. I think we're being watched."
"Why?"
"Just a hunch. Maybe you two should take some time off. I don't want anything to happen to you."
They both shared a glance.
"We'll stay," said Horizon.
"God knows what you'd get up to without us around," added Wendy.
Jake smiled. "Maybe I should get you two costumes."
Wendy grimaced. "I can see it now. Super-Jake, with his stunning sidekick, and idiot companion."
"Oh Wendy," smiled Horizon. "You're not an idiot."
Wendy made a crude gesture. Jake rolled his eyes.
The phone began ringing in a large, lavish office. A tall, forty-something man leaned forward in his chair, and answered it.
"Hello?"
"Go secure."
He tapped a few buttons on his phone.
"Done."
"It's 75 here, sir."
"Something to report?"
"I think he saw me."
"And?"
"I think he knows we're watching him."
The man leaned back in his chair, and ran a hand through his close-cropped light brown hair. "It doesn't matter. Events are about to spiral beyond his control anyway."
"Yes, sir."
"I'm still disappointed in you."
"I'm sorry sir."
The man hung up the phone, and turned his chair towards the large window at the end of the office. He raised his hands to his chin, deep in thought.
"Hello Newton," he said suddenly, whirling his chair round to face the door. An older, white-haired man, stood in the doorway, flanked by a smaller, nervous-looking man in glasses.
"Alexander, it never ceases to amaze me when you do that."
Alexander smiled. "Enhanced senses are quite useful sometimes."
"You looked pensive. Is something wrong?"
"You could tell that from the back of my head?"
Newton took a seat in front of the desk. "Well?"
"I think we've managed to figure out who was behind that little fiasco two months ago."
Newton looked up, expectantly.
"Jake Morgendorffer."
Newton looked incredulous. "Are you sure? Wasn't he supposed to be on our side?"
Alexander nodded. "Oh yes. But the last transmission we got stated that he was not behaving like he should have. That's a loose end, and I hate loose ends. If he was changed, but not controlled like the others, imagine what he could be capable of."
"And that's why you think he was behind the failure."
Alexander nodded. "That, his family's reaction to him, his work history. Everything points to a huge change around that time."
"We would have had a lot more information if a lot of our people hadn't gone missing from the hospitals. They were checked in..."
"But they never checked out. They were just foot soldiers. None of the teachers had anything relevant to say either."
Newton frowned. "You're sure you're not letting personal feelings get in the way here?"
"No." Alexander turned to face the window again. "I'm aware he and I have a...history, but that has nothing to do with it. We'll move in and find Jake Morgendorffer." He smiled grimly. "Then show him the consequences of his actions."
The smaller man spoke up: "Sir? Maybe Morgendorffer could be useful to us?"
Alexander turned to him. "Who are you?"
"Armstrong, sir. I work in information retrieval."
Alexander raised an eyebrow. Armstrong realized that was his cue to start. "As you know, sir, a lot of resources were put into making Morgendorffer what he is."
"That's the way our leader wanted it."
"Quite. But rather than just...getting rid of him, maybe we could direct him?"
Newton looked at him. "How do you mean?"
"Maybe we could feed him the wrong cues. Get him to rub out some of our enemies."
Newton smiled. "Interesting."
Alexander shook his head. "No. He's a rogue element. He has to be eliminated. Have you forgotten what was supposed to happen in Lawndale? He has to be gotten rid of."
"Nothing personal?"
Alexander stared at Newton. "Nothing."
He gazed through the window. It opened out onto a huge room, filled with computer banks lining the walls, Huge power conduits rose from the floor to the ceiling, supporting a labyrinth of catwalks. At the center of the room, three huge concentric rings hung in the air, spinning faster and faster...
To Be Continued...