It's Just Fireworks - Jedikiah's POV

Disclaimer: The Tomorrow People is the property of the CW. No copyright infringement is intended.

xxx TTP xxx

Jedikiah always took inventory at this storage facility around the Fourth of July. Some of his most prized possessions were stored in this building, but it was more than that. Something drew him back to this building at this time of year. It was practical. It was a tradition ... just changed. It had to six years ago. It was bittersweet being here, but there were good moments that lingered.

He finished checking the last few items just in time for the fireworks to begin. It wasn't the same, but he was still compelled to watch them ... to keep the tradition alive.

As he started up the stairs, he thought he heard the sound of teleporting. It stopped him in his tracks. Could it be? He could only think of one person who would show up here, now. What would prompt him to come back this year?

Being as quiet as he could, even though he didn't need to with the fireworks exploding, he made his way to the roof. Slowly turning the handle and inching the door open, he saw a tall figure guiding a smaller one, who was transfixed by the explosion of color in the sky, to a lawn chair. Ahh, that's why. Hmmm ...

Who was the girl? Too little and too young to be Cara ... wait, he squinted a bit to try and focus as she turned and punched John. Ah, it's that girl, the inmate, from the Citadel. He reached for his cell phone, but then realized he left it in the car.

When he looked up again, John had just leaned over to whisper something to her, sharing a confidence. That's when Jedikiah noticed the delight on both of their faces. John had found a little sister.

Part of him needed to call Ultra immediately to reacquire the inmate, but he lost his will to do so. He couldn't bring himself to do it because of John. He was responsible for causing him so much pain already, why not give John this little respite? The girl was of little consequence whether she was captured again or not.

Just then Jedikiah noticed John reaching down for something, a cooler. He took a guess at what it contained, soda and caramel corn. Yep, there was John pulling out a couple of bottles. And there was the caramel corn. "Ugh, don't open the bag with your teeth," he thought and cringed as John did just that. "I raised you better than that."

Jedikiah stayed in the doorway and watched as they ooh'd and ahh'd at the spectacle in the sky. It was the bonding of a new family ... the next generation. A feeling of pride washed over him.

Then in another moment a feeling of sadness of the part he played in damaging these two kids, especially John. As for the girl, he was not directly involved with what happened to her, but he did help create the Citadel. Maybe one day he would be able to make up for it.

Looking over at the joy the two were sharing now in this thrilling, dangerous yet frivolous venture, he flashed back to the first time he brought John here. The kid was so excited. He hadn't seen that kind of enthusiasm from the boy since he was taken in by Ultra. It was the happiest he had ever seen John.

As John and the girl started to get ready to leave, Jedikiah debated approaching them. He didn't want to ruin the moment, but then he had to know.

"So, this year you came back."