I do not own Kyle XY or any of the characters. Though, like many of us, I SO wish I did.
Set after the series finale.
"Kyle?!" Nicole's voice sounded throughout the house, panicked. "Jessi?!" Kyle could hear her bumping into something in the dark, her sudden gasp, and then the crunch of glass under her feet as she approached. She looked down at him, a moment's hesitation, then she bent down and took him into her arms.
"What happened? Are you alright?" She put her hands on his shoulders and drew him back from her to look into his eyes. His lack of response was scaring her. "Kyle?" she asked, her eyes flashing between his. Kyle's eyes were blank as if he didn't remember who she was or even who he was. The disease gnawing at her stomach sharpened. She ignored it and looked firmly at her son. "Kyle." She stated his name, the mother's voice that expected an answer.
Kyle blinked. He turned his head so that he was looking directly into Nicole's eyes. He didn't speak but the recognition he finally gave her made Nicole sag in relief. She gripped him back to her and stroked his back, letting her eyes roam, not knowing what to do. The doors were destroyed and glass was everywhere.
Nicole squinted drawing a little away from Kyle. Suddenly the panic she'd been keeping back surged. Was that blood? She pulled Kyle away from her frantically looking for any wounds. "Are you hurt? Kyle? Kyle!" She grabbed his head to make him look at her again. Kyle looked startled. His lips began to move but no sound came out. Standing up, Nicole looked around again. When she couldn't find anything to do she bent down to Kyle again. "Kyle. Come on. Let's go into the house."
She managed to half drag him into the kitchen, kicking something hard which clattered away, and got Kyle into a chair. She pulled his jacket off, tugging it in her impatience, still checking for wounds. He looked whole. No blood was on him, he was just despondent. "Who?" She looked around again at the dark kitchen and shattered door. She clutched her chest. "Jessi." She turned around. "Kyle, where is Jessi?"
Kyle's brow furled. He looked at Nicole again moving his lips without sound.
Nicole dropped down to her knees next to him. "Kyle, what's wrong? What happened here?" She didn't want to leave him. He looked as though he was at his limit, so pale, eyes wide, unable to speak, but she needed to know what had taken place in her home, what happened to her son.
Kyle's lips stopped moving and he just looked at her silently. Nicole dug her cell phone out of her pocket and called Stephen.
"Stephen. Yes, I'm alright… At the house with Kyle…I'm not sure. The kitchen doors to the yard are broken. Kyle isn't talking, I don't know where Jessi is and-Stephen, there's blood." Nicole gripped the phone still keeping eye contact with Kyle. "No…no…ok. Please hurry." She snapped the phone shut and put it back in her pocket.
"Kyle, I'm going to look around the house for Jessi ok? Will you stay here?" Kyle didn't answer. Nicole breathed, "Ok." She stood up and kissed the top of his head. She took a step away and froze as hands grabbed her arm. She turned. Kyle was gripping her arm with both hands. His eyes looked so desperate, like a small child whose parent was leaving them at an unfamiliar place for the first time. Nicole pulled him up and put a hand on his cheek.
"It's ok." She hugged him. "It's ok." She held him like that for a few minutes, trying to calm him down as he clutched the back of her coat. Nicole's phone chirped. She gently placed Kyle back into the chair and put the phone to her ear. Nicole closed her eyes, "Oh thank God." She smiled a little. "Ok. I love you Stephen." She felt her eyes begin to tear and willed them to stop. She pulled Kyle up again. "It's ok. Everyone is on their way home now." She took a step with him. "Come on."
She put her arm around his waist and led him out of the kitchen and down the hall to his room. Nothing else looked damaged in the house. She opened Kyle's door and brought him to his tub. She slowly let go of him, checking to make sure he didn't sway or fall before she fluffed the pillow and blankets inside and helped Kyle in. Taking off his sneakers and pulling the blanket over him Nicole felt as if she was tucking in Josh as a toddler again, especially since Kyle kept his eyes locked on her.
She sat on the edge of the tub and stroked his hair. She stared at him for a few minutes and kissed the top of his head again. "Oh Kyle." Her heart broke. Something had happened, was wrong – so obviously wrong – and he was not handling it well. Nicole kept her tears at bay by smiling at him reassuringly. "When you're ready. I'll be here. Sleep now."
Kyle slowly blinked and then closed his eyes. Nicole stayed by his side, unwilling to move in case something changed. After some time, there was a knock on the door. Stephen entered and Nicole immediately rose to embrace him. She turned to look at the sleeping Kyle and motioned her husband out of the room.
"What happened?" he asked her when they were further down the hall.
"I don't know. Kyle's… he… something happened. He's not hurt anywhere that I can tell physically, but he's not talking. It's like he tries, but can't. Before he fell asleep he was looking at me like I was going to disappear if he turned away. Oh Stephen, this is terrible." She buried her head into her husband's shoulder. He squeezed her tightly and stroked her back. She looked up at him. "Where are the kids?"
"In their rooms. They looked a little shell shocked. Amanda is bringing Jessi home."
"Amanda?" Stephen shrugged. Nicole fell against him again. "What is happening?" She sighed and pushed off of Stephen's chest to go up stairs to check on Lori and Josh. They both shot out of Lori's room when she got to the top of the stairs.
"Mom! What happened?" Nicole looked into the anxious face of her children.
"I'm not sure what happened but everything is ok." She hugged them both tightly and for once they didn't complain or fire off a smart comment, but hugged her back.
Josh unwrapped his arms from around his mother and sister. "Where's Kyle?"
"He's sleeping. He didn't say what happened, but I'm sure he'll tell us in the morning." She smiled though she didn't feel it. "Why don't you guys get some sleep too." When they opened their mouths to protest she raised an eyebrow. "Or would you like to help clean up down stairs?"
Josh let out a big fake yawn and stretched. "Yup. Feeling mighty tired." He turned and nearly ran to his room, shutting the door. Lori rolled her eyes with a smirk. "I'll help," she said. Nicole's smile turned genuine. "Thank you sweetheart, but your father and I will take care of it. Get some rest." Lori looked at her mother, seeming to debate with herself, and then sighed. "Ok."
Nicole sighed herself as Lori's door shut. She went back down stairs to help Stephen who was sweeping up the glass in the kitchen. She wordlessly took the broom from him and he bent down with the dustpan. There was no use keeping the evidence, they couldn't call the police. They'd emptied the first sweep into the garbage when the doorbell rang. Nicole and Stephen exchanged a look. Stephen put down the dustpan and went to the door, Nicole at his heels. Nicole could see the tension in his shoulders as he opened the door. Amanda and Jessi stood on the other side. Stephen visibly relaxed. "Girls." He stood to the side to let them enter. It was then that he and Nicole noticed that Amanda was nearly holding Jessi up. Stephen immediately took Jessi from her. "What happened?" Nicole looked into Jessi's eyes. "Jessi?" Nicole's blood ran cold.
"I don't know what's wrong with her. She just collapsed and then I – I don't know. She just –" Amanda burst into tears. Nicole gave her a hug and exchanged a fearful look with Stephen. "It's ok Amanda." Stephen carried Jessi to her room, Amanda watching carefully. "Is she going to be ok?"
"Of course." She led Amanda into the living room and gently sat her on the couch. "Amanda, honey, where were you two? What happened?"
Amanda looked back and forth between Nicole and where Stephen has disappeared with Jessi. She was obviously confused and caught between getting herself and Jessi in trouble and telling the truth. How much did Nicole know? How much did she even know? "I…we…Mrs. Trager, I…"
Nicole took Amanda's hands. "It's ok Amanda. Just start at the beginning."
Amanda felt it all come up in a rush. "I came by to talk to Kyle tonight and found Jessi in his room instead." Amanda felt a twist of anger, but pushed it down. "She said Kyle wasn't home and I told her what I found in Nate's room-"
"What did you find?" Nicole asked nervous.
Amanda's eyes widened. " I'm …I'm not sure. Papers. Sketches. Notes with…with the name Adam Balin on them. He was Kyle's birth father."
Nicole nodded wondering what else Amanda knew. "Yes. Go on."
"So Jessi said she couldn't leave because she was missing or something and that I had to go get the papers. She came up with a plan. I thought it was crazy and I didn't want to go, but she said it was to help Kyle so I went. Nate wasn't going to be at home so I got into his room and downloaded all these files and then…" Amanda's voice caught at the memory. "And then Nate walked in. He got on the phone with someone and told them what we were doing and I guess the other guys said to keep me there." Her voice began to shake, "I was so scared. At one point I tried to make a run for it, but he threw me onto the ground. I really thought he was going to hurt me but then Jessi broke down the door. He charged her and she grabbed him by the throat and I smashed him over the head with a pot and knocked him out with my elbow. We continued to download the files and I told Jessi that I was going to fight for Kyle back and then we found a paper called origin and Jessi was surprised by it and then she gasped and fell out of the chair and started convulsing on the floor and I didn't know what to do. Then she screamed "no" and collapsed. She woke up, but hasn't spoken to me since. I just tried to get her up and out of there before someone found us or Nate woke up. Then Jessi's phone rang and I answered it and it was Mr. Trager and I told him Jessi was with me and I'd bring her home 'cause I didn't know what else to say. And so I brought her home. What happened to her? Is she sick? Is…is Kyle ok?"
Nicole was overwhelmed with the information Amanda unleashed upon her and she took a deep steadying breath. What had these children been though tonight? "I'm sure Jessi's fine. She sometimes…ah…well, I can't talk about a former patient." Nicole felt cold in the pit of her stomach. She hated portraying Jessi like that.
Amanda's eyes widened even more and then narrowed. Nicole was surprised at the amount of animosity behind the usually calm and ever pleasant Amanda. "She tricked me. She got me to break into someone's room and steal their files. But- but why? What was that stuff?" Amanda started to shake.
"No. No." Nicole mentally kicked herself. "No, I'm sure there is an explanation. Look, everything will make sense in the morning. And Kyle's fine. He's in his room sleeping." She sighed. "I'm not sure what all happened tonight. You've been through a lot and I'm sure you have questions, but you should get home to your mother. I'm sure she's worried about you."
At the mention of her mother Amanda rose to her feet. "Mom." She took a step forward and turned back to Nicole. "Would you please tell Kyle that…that I'm thinking of him?" She looked earnestly at Nicole, who smiled. "I will."
"Thank you." Nicole led Amanda to the door and watched her go back to her house. When Amanda was safely inside Nicole hurried back to Jessi's room. Stephen had tucked her in and she was sleeping with a little crease in her brow.
"How is she?" Nicole sat on the edge of the bed and stroked Jessi's hair away from her face.
"She wouldn't say anything but when I got her into bed and told her to close her eyes and get some rest, she did just that and fell asleep." Stephen said.
"What on earth is going on? She is acting just like Kyle did." Nicole pursed her lips. "Amanda said that she was Jessi were doing…reconnaissance in Nate's dorm room and got caught."
"What?! Are they – what happened?" Stephen nearly shouted. Nicole shushed him with a glance at Jessi whose brow creased more. She leaned over and kissed Jessi's head, noticing that the crease lessened. Stephen did the same before following his wife quietly out of the room and back into the living room.
"They managed to knock him out, take some files, and get out but not before Jessi had some sort of attack."
"What kind of attack?"
"I don't know. Amanda said she fell out of a chair, screamed no, and then collapsed. She hasn't said a word since." Finally the night's events became too much for Nicole and she let out a sob. "Oh Stephen, what happened and why aren't they talking?" Stephen held her tightly.
"We'll figure it out. They just need rest, and so do we. We'll finish cleaning in the morning and we'll call Foss. Maybe he can help shed some light on things. Come on." He gently led Nicole upstairs and tucked her into bed as well. He checked on Lori, Josh, Kyle, and Jessi before going back into the kitchen to take pictures of the damage outside – and the blood.
