The Guardian Angel
Summary: Christmas is a time full of miracles. But for a guy who had been a giver of miracles because tomorrow's newspaper today, he is about to become the recipient of a very special miracle. This very short story was inspired by "Fate". WARNING: The story is a tear jerker.
Disclaimer: Early Edition characters belong to whoever created them. All other characters are my own. No copyright infringement intended. No profit is being made. Some of the dialogue that appears in this story is not my own, but belong to the writer of the Early Edition episode "Fate".
Author's Notes: This story is part of the continuing series that began with "Mirror Image." "Mirror Image" was an Early Edition/Homefront crossover story where Gary was inexplicably transported to 1946 River Run, Ohio and met and bonded with his mirror image, aspiring baseball player, Jeff Metcalf. "To Love & New Beginnings" is the sequel to "Mirror Image." In "To Love & New Beginnings", a broken-hearted Gary, now back in his own time period, meets and falls in love with Jennifer Szabo Metcalf, the spunky actress and granddaughter of Jeff Metcalf. And in "Destiny Fulfilled", the newlyweds, Jennifer and Gary, await the birth of their first child and confront enemies from the past and present. "The Garrett Jeffrey Hobson Saga" shows Jennifer and Gary's now grown son Garrett as a twenty-one law student who has also inherited his father's legacy of The Paper.
Anyone interested in reading my continuing series can find these stories at Phoenix Arises: The Fan Fiction Store at the web site address that appears below:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jennifermetcalf214
I dedicate this story to Janet and Vickie Jo.
Author: Tracy Diane Miller E-mail address: tdmiller82@hotmail.com
Chapter One
Several hours had passed. The skies had turned black, somber and mournful. Yet, a steady stream of rebellious snowflakes trickled fortuitously from the heavens despite a forecast absent precipitation. Cold and impish, the snow attached itself to the ground and to the faces and hands of the bevy of onlookers who assembled across the street from the collapsed structure. However, these people seemed oblivious to the discomfort of the weather as they stared wide-eyed at the disaster unfolding before them as they watched the hustle and bustle of the rescue team. Police officers had their own challenge keeping a hungry herd of television and newspaper reporters at bay. Tragedy was news; and as perverted as it seemed, the media were peddlers in tragedy, willing prostitutes to the pimps of ratings and soaring newspaper circulation.
But to one family, their interest in this tragedy wasn't bred by morbid curiosity. The man trapped inside was a loved one. Their son.
"Mr. Hobson? Can you hear me, Mr. Hobson?" The chief in charge of the rescue squad called out through the megaphone.
No answer.
The chief had tried to elicit a response from the victim numerous times over the last hour, but to no avail.
A brief silence.
"Call in the coroner and body recovery team." The chief of the rescue effort finally bellowed. An underling nodded obediently.
Not again.
Losing a child was every parent's worse nightmare. It was a loss that violated the unspoken and natural progression of life. Parents aren't supposed to have to bury their children. Yet, twelve years ago, they had buried their daughter. Kathryn Lois Hobson was only six-years-old when she died. She had been an exuberant and precocious child with long blonde hair, sapphire eyes, and enchanting smile. Kathryn had been killed in a hit and run accident when a car driven by a drunken driver careened onto the pavement near her school where the six-year-old had been standing with two of her friends. The sweet little soul had been welcomed into Heaven and caressed in the arms of the angels. Her death left a hole in her family's hearts. Sadly, her father still felt the pangs of guilt. He still blamed himself. He had saved the man and because of his efforts, a drunk had gotten behind the wheel of a car and killed his child. But he couldn't save her. The Paper had given him the ability to change other people's destinies, to help strangers, but he couldn't even save his own child.
And now it seemed as if The Paper wanted his son's life, too. The early edition was never a legacy that he wanted his son to inherit. He wanted the boy to have a normal life. But Garrett was a stubborn kid. Garrett insisted on assuming the burden; he wanted his father to have his life back again. "It's my turn now, Dad." The young heir apparent had argued.
"Lousy day to die." A familiar voice echoed in Gary's head.
"No." Gary whispered, his voice weak, yet determined. He looked at his mother then gestured for her to take hold of Jennifer. Lois uttered nothing in response, but instead held tightly onto her daughter-in-law. Jennifer appeared almost catatonic as she continued staring at the collapsed structure.
As Gary walked towards the collapsed building, a police officer jumped in front of him. "I can't let you go in there Mr. Hobson. The rest of that structure can go at any moment."
"My son is in there. So unless you plan to shoot me, you're not going to stop me. Now get out of my way!"
* * * * * *
It was dark and cold. But the cold air was also washed in the stench of mold from the rotting walls. Rodents squealed excitedly in the distance. The rats were trapped, too. Maybe they were searching for a way out. Or, maybe they were anticipating a hearty meal from the still human form whose lower body lay partially buried under tons of debris.
It was so dark. As a child, Garrett had been so afraid of the dark.
The pain that coursed throughout his body told him that he was still alive. Garrett desperately tried to move from under the debris, but the pain in his chest, arms, and legs kept him helplessly pinned under the makeshift prison. He tried to cry out for help, but his voice failed to cooperate having surrendered to the pain awhile ago.
He didn't want to die.
Suddenly, a blinding light appeared through the darkness. Soon, a small figure emerged in the light. Her skin was as flawless as fine porcelain. Her long, golden hair shimmered as if it had been spun on a loom. Her eyes were as blue as the Mediterranean. Yards of precious silk adorned her body. Her face told of the beauty of a celestial spirit.
Garrett squinted to see through the intense light, his gaze locked on the beautiful face before him. It was the face that belonged to the child that he remembered from so long ago. It was a face that he had never forgotten, the child he had never stopped loving. She smiled at him.
"Kathryn?" He whispered.
Summary: Christmas is a time full of miracles. But for a guy who had been a giver of miracles because tomorrow's newspaper today, he is about to become the recipient of a very special miracle. This very short story was inspired by "Fate". WARNING: The story is a tear jerker.
Disclaimer: Early Edition characters belong to whoever created them. All other characters are my own. No copyright infringement intended. No profit is being made. Some of the dialogue that appears in this story is not my own, but belong to the writer of the Early Edition episode "Fate".
Author's Notes: This story is part of the continuing series that began with "Mirror Image." "Mirror Image" was an Early Edition/Homefront crossover story where Gary was inexplicably transported to 1946 River Run, Ohio and met and bonded with his mirror image, aspiring baseball player, Jeff Metcalf. "To Love & New Beginnings" is the sequel to "Mirror Image." In "To Love & New Beginnings", a broken-hearted Gary, now back in his own time period, meets and falls in love with Jennifer Szabo Metcalf, the spunky actress and granddaughter of Jeff Metcalf. And in "Destiny Fulfilled", the newlyweds, Jennifer and Gary, await the birth of their first child and confront enemies from the past and present. "The Garrett Jeffrey Hobson Saga" shows Jennifer and Gary's now grown son Garrett as a twenty-one law student who has also inherited his father's legacy of The Paper.
Anyone interested in reading my continuing series can find these stories at Phoenix Arises: The Fan Fiction Store at the web site address that appears below:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jennifermetcalf214
I dedicate this story to Janet and Vickie Jo.
Author: Tracy Diane Miller E-mail address: tdmiller82@hotmail.com
Chapter One
Several hours had passed. The skies had turned black, somber and mournful. Yet, a steady stream of rebellious snowflakes trickled fortuitously from the heavens despite a forecast absent precipitation. Cold and impish, the snow attached itself to the ground and to the faces and hands of the bevy of onlookers who assembled across the street from the collapsed structure. However, these people seemed oblivious to the discomfort of the weather as they stared wide-eyed at the disaster unfolding before them as they watched the hustle and bustle of the rescue team. Police officers had their own challenge keeping a hungry herd of television and newspaper reporters at bay. Tragedy was news; and as perverted as it seemed, the media were peddlers in tragedy, willing prostitutes to the pimps of ratings and soaring newspaper circulation.
But to one family, their interest in this tragedy wasn't bred by morbid curiosity. The man trapped inside was a loved one. Their son.
"Mr. Hobson? Can you hear me, Mr. Hobson?" The chief in charge of the rescue squad called out through the megaphone.
No answer.
The chief had tried to elicit a response from the victim numerous times over the last hour, but to no avail.
A brief silence.
"Call in the coroner and body recovery team." The chief of the rescue effort finally bellowed. An underling nodded obediently.
Not again.
Losing a child was every parent's worse nightmare. It was a loss that violated the unspoken and natural progression of life. Parents aren't supposed to have to bury their children. Yet, twelve years ago, they had buried their daughter. Kathryn Lois Hobson was only six-years-old when she died. She had been an exuberant and precocious child with long blonde hair, sapphire eyes, and enchanting smile. Kathryn had been killed in a hit and run accident when a car driven by a drunken driver careened onto the pavement near her school where the six-year-old had been standing with two of her friends. The sweet little soul had been welcomed into Heaven and caressed in the arms of the angels. Her death left a hole in her family's hearts. Sadly, her father still felt the pangs of guilt. He still blamed himself. He had saved the man and because of his efforts, a drunk had gotten behind the wheel of a car and killed his child. But he couldn't save her. The Paper had given him the ability to change other people's destinies, to help strangers, but he couldn't even save his own child.
And now it seemed as if The Paper wanted his son's life, too. The early edition was never a legacy that he wanted his son to inherit. He wanted the boy to have a normal life. But Garrett was a stubborn kid. Garrett insisted on assuming the burden; he wanted his father to have his life back again. "It's my turn now, Dad." The young heir apparent had argued.
"Lousy day to die." A familiar voice echoed in Gary's head.
"No." Gary whispered, his voice weak, yet determined. He looked at his mother then gestured for her to take hold of Jennifer. Lois uttered nothing in response, but instead held tightly onto her daughter-in-law. Jennifer appeared almost catatonic as she continued staring at the collapsed structure.
As Gary walked towards the collapsed building, a police officer jumped in front of him. "I can't let you go in there Mr. Hobson. The rest of that structure can go at any moment."
"My son is in there. So unless you plan to shoot me, you're not going to stop me. Now get out of my way!"
* * * * * *
It was dark and cold. But the cold air was also washed in the stench of mold from the rotting walls. Rodents squealed excitedly in the distance. The rats were trapped, too. Maybe they were searching for a way out. Or, maybe they were anticipating a hearty meal from the still human form whose lower body lay partially buried under tons of debris.
It was so dark. As a child, Garrett had been so afraid of the dark.
The pain that coursed throughout his body told him that he was still alive. Garrett desperately tried to move from under the debris, but the pain in his chest, arms, and legs kept him helplessly pinned under the makeshift prison. He tried to cry out for help, but his voice failed to cooperate having surrendered to the pain awhile ago.
He didn't want to die.
Suddenly, a blinding light appeared through the darkness. Soon, a small figure emerged in the light. Her skin was as flawless as fine porcelain. Her long, golden hair shimmered as if it had been spun on a loom. Her eyes were as blue as the Mediterranean. Yards of precious silk adorned her body. Her face told of the beauty of a celestial spirit.
Garrett squinted to see through the intense light, his gaze locked on the beautiful face before him. It was the face that belonged to the child that he remembered from so long ago. It was a face that he had never forgotten, the child he had never stopped loving. She smiled at him.
"Kathryn?" He whispered.