Chapter 2 – Present, Part 1
"I am sorry to disturb you Linka," Gaia said one morning, while the young girl was working at her computer. "But Wheeler's mother is calling on the planet vision..."
The Russian had refused to let them tell Wheeler's parents that he was missing, and she had been so upset about it, that they had given in.
Linka swallowed. "I will talk to her."
"Are you sure? I could explain things to her if..." the kindly spirit began.
"Nyet," Linka shook her head, "I will tell her what is necessary."
The wind planeteer was trembling by the time she reached the crystal chamber, but she was determined that it should be her to break the bad news. "Hello Mrs Wheeler I..."
Before she could get any further, the older woman interrupted in her own good-natured way. "Oh hello dear, you must be Linka! You're every bit as lovely as Jason says you are. I take it he isn't there?"
Linka shook her head, suddenly unable to speak.
"Well can you tell him that a Mister, no Doctor Jacobs called about a letter his daughter sent. I told him I forward all Jason's post on as soon as it arrives. I have no idea who he was, his daughter is probably some planeteer fan, though how she got our address..." Mrs Wheeler smiled affectionately as she saw Linka's face go pale. "I'm sure it's nothing for you to worry about dear, Jason only ever thinks of you now, you know."
Linka nodded, "Da, I do know... And I think I know what letter Doctor Jacobs is talking about. Jason was expecting one but it did not arrive until after he... left for his holiday with Ma-Ti. Thank you for calling Mrs Wheeler, I will deal with it... I do not know when Jason will be back but I can deal with it."
"Okay dear. When you do speak to my son though, remind him to call home once in a while will you?" the American woman smiled affectionately.
"I will, I promise." Linka replied, her mouth dry.
After the connection was closed. Linka said. "I am a coward but I cannot tell her what I do not believe."
"I understand Linka." Gaia said softly.
"They are only a few days late home, if it was not for the letter we might not have known anything was wrong." Linka said, still needing to justify her silence. "I will deal with... this matter and then if we have not heard from them, perhaps by the end of the week, I will visit Wheeler's parents in person, it would not be right to tell her like this anyway."
"Linka," Gaia said, not unkindly. "I understand. We all do."
The Russian planeteer blushed but nodded her thanks, before leaving for Wheeler's room.
Linka's hands were shaking as she sat on the bed and opened the letter. The first thing that struck her was the address at the top, the others hadn't had one and it made her uneasy.
Hi there gorgeous,
Sorry this is a bit late, unforeseen circumstances. Anyway here's your picture, Paige grows more adorable everyday, which is what makes what I have to say next so hard.
I'm sick, real sick as in I'm not going to get better. Now I don't want you to go into hyperdrive here, very few people can honestly say they've lived as much as I have and even less can say they've enjoyed it. My one concern is for Paige, I need to know she's going to be looked after. So the question is, do you want her?
It's okay if you don't and you don't need to feel guilty. You've made quite a name for yourself and I don't suppose raising a child is particularly compatible with being a superhero, but you're her father so it's your choice. I need to know soon though Hon, cos if I'm going to make other arrangements I'll have to do it sooner rather than later.
Luv as ever
Maria
The tender-hearted Russian was crying by the time she reached the end of the letter, and she'd already made up her mind about what to do. Returning the letter and picture to their envelope, she carefully tucked them in her pocket before heading to her own cabin to pack a bag. As she began, she called out, "Gaia, I need to talk to you."
There was no answer at the address at the top of the letter but the neighbours were able to direct the young planeteer to the local hospital, and the cancer unit. She'd had Kwame drop her off in the geo-cruiser, telling him it was a family matter that had called her away but not explaining - leaving him to assume it was something to do with her uncle who was still working at the Russian embassy in America - So she had to make her own way across town.
"Excuse me." Linka said to the receptionist, "I am looking for Maria Jacobs?"
"I'm sorry." The woman replied kindly. "But only close family are being allowed in at the moment."
The Russian hesitated. She didn't want to explain the circumstances of her visit in public, but she couldn't just leave either. "Then perhaps I could speak to her father? I received a message from him."
Now it was the receptionists turn to hesitate. "Oh I see… well if he wanted you to come here… I'll send someone to find him, if you'll just take a seat?"
"Thank you." Linka smiled with relief, moving to sit by the window. There was only one other person in the reception area, a child who was quietly reading a book, and it wasn't until she spoke that the lovely Russian looked at her.
"You're the Wind Planeteer!" the young ginger haired girl said with awe.
Linka smiled, they didn't get recognised very often but it certainly wasn't the first time. "Da I…" she gasped. "You are Paige!"
The girls eyes widened. "How did you know?" She breathed, as if she expected the knowledge to come from some unknown mystical power.
The planeteer laughed, but not wanting to tell Paige something she might not already know, was careful with her answer. "Your mother sent a photo of you to a friend of mine."
"Really?" Paige asked in surprise. "Did she ask you to come for my project?"
"Nyet, er no. What is your project?" Linka asked with interest.
"We're studying the planeteers at school." Came the reply. "We have to pick one of you to find out things about. I wanted to pick you but it is so hard to find anything out about any of you. Mom wanted me to pick the Fire Planeteer…" She pulled a face. "I think she's sweet on him, I know my teacher is, you should see the look on her face when she mentions him!" Paige put two fingers in her mouth and gestured as if she was throwing up.
Linka laughed. "He has always been popular with the ladies, but there is more to him than that."
"Not you too!" the six year old rolled her eyes and again Linka laughed.
"I am afraid so." She told her apologetically.
Paige shrugged. "Well at least you actually know him! I'm sure he's very nice I just don't see any reason to go all silly over a boy. So can I do my project on you? I have my questions here…" She pointed at a school bag propped against the wall.
"Da, of course." Linka told her smiling. There was a lot of Wheeler in Paige she thought, but the young child had her own personality that was helped by a strong intelligence, so she was sure it would be easy to love her for her own sake as well as her fathers.
"Cool, everyone will be so impressed!" The young girl exclaimed.
"I see you two have made friends." A strong male voice said from nearby. Paige's grandfather had come out of his daughters room and was looking stern, though he sounded polite. "The receptionist tells me I asked you to come here, but I'm sure I didn't, so please don't think me entirely without manners if I ask you who you are?"
Paige answered first. "She's the Wind Planeteer Grandpa, I recognised her as soon as I saw her."
"Planeteer?" Doctor Jacobs eyes widened.
Linka had stood quickly when the man approached and now said. "I am sorry to intrude, I am sure it must seem strange I…" She looked at Paige and then back at the very well dressed older man. "My name is Linka and I am here about a letter your daughter wrote to a friend of mine."
"I see. Well then we should discuss this in private." He replied solemnly.
"But Grandpa, she promised to help me with my project!" Paige insisted.
Linka smiled down at her. "I will before I leave moya sladkiy, I promise."
After her Grandfather had checked that the young girl had everything she needed, and that the receptionist and her assistant were still watching her, he took Linka to a meeting room. "We should be able to talk in here." They sat down and he continued. "You'll forgive me for being surprised, I was expecting Wheeler."
The Russian nodded sadly, "Da. I am sorry but Wheeler is… missing. We are still looking for him and Ma-Ti but as I am sure you can appreciate, it is not something we would want the press to know because once the polluters find out…"
"I do understand." He replied sympathetically. "But it leaves me with a dilemma." His voice as he continued was stiff and formal, obviously repressing the feelings his words produced. "Maria wants to choose who is to look after her daughter and to be frank with you, she doesn't have time to wait to see if you find your friend… my work takes me all over the world now, I cannot look after Paige."
"Of course, but that is why I am here." Linka said quickly. "I know Wheeler would want Paige to live with us, if Maria will agree to it, I will look after her daughter until he returns."
Doctor Jacobs raised an eyebrow. "Wheeler must be a very good friend of yours."
"My boyfriend." She replied, telling herself that it wasn't really a lie, or it wouldn't be when he returned.
"Raising a child is not something to take on lightly my dear, I appreciate your willingness to help your boyfriend but don't you think Paige might be better off with a normal family? And perhaps someone a bit older?" Doctor Jacobs was trying to be kind but it simply made Linka more determined.
"How old was Maria when she became a mother? She is Wheeler's daughter and he loves her, I know that he would never forgive me for not doing everything I can for her, and having met her I know that it is what I want too. I have spoken to Gaia about it and she is happy for us to raise Paige on Hope Island, she has even offered to find a nanny for us, to look after her while we are on alerts." Linka looked into his eyes. "Wheeler will be a wonderful father, I have no doubt of that, and I would love her… that is what Maria wants for her isn't it? Please let me talk with your daughter, at least give her the chance to meet me before she decides."
He hesitated, taking a long look at the girl in front of him as he weighed her words. "Very well." He said at last. "Come with me."
They walked down the corridor and entered a small private room. Maria was laying on the bed, thin and pale but still very pretty. Linka assumed that the short dark hair she wore was a wig, but it looked natural enough. She smiled as they entered. "Where's Paige? And who's your new girlfriend?" she asked with a saucy smile.
Her father chuckled. "If I was a few years younger my dear... Paige is playing outside, I will fetch her for you soon but Linka wants to talk to you first. She is Wheelers new girlfriend."
Maria's eyes opened wider in surprise and then she laughed. "I should have known. I thought I'd seen you before somewhere, you're the Russian planeteer. And you're too beautiful to not be Wheelers girlfriend."
The blond smiled. "I was thinking something similar about you."
"I was." Maria agreed unselfconsciously. "So why didn't Wheeler come himself?"
The planeteer sat down in the chair next to the bed and explained how her American friends had disappeared, and that she wanted to be allowed to look after Paige in her fathers place.
Maria was frowning by the time she finished. "No offence Linka, but however kind your impulse may be, I don't think you've thought this through. If you don't find Wheeler you're gonna end up being a single Mom and not just any single Mom, but the Mom of your ex-boyfriends illegitimate daughter."
"You have reason to be concerned of course." Linka said, finding that she liked the openness of the other woman. "I hope you wont mind if I am equally blunt. I love my job and the travelling it involves and I believe myself to be a strong person, but at heart I value my family and home above everything else. I am not like you, I do not make friends easily and I do not love easily either. I love Jason Wheeler. I am in love with him. That is not going to change whether or not we find him and if we do not, I will be alone, as will your daughter be. Paige is a beautiful and intelligent child and I would be proud to be a mother to her if you will let me."
Like her father, Maria sat seizing the planeteer up. "And what if he does come back? You'll have your own children then…"
"I am not like that!" Linka exclaimed hotly. "She would be my child just as much as any others, I could not think of her any other way."
Maria smiled. "I like you Linka. Wheeler has good taste and I trust his judgement." Linka blushed. "But I can't just let you take her. Wheeler has a legal right to her, he's her father and his name is on her birth certificate but you don't."
Linka nodded. "I know, I am asking you to let me adopt her."
The American girl smiled, "Well as long as we're clear… Dad, will you ask Paige to come in, I wont make any decisions until I know how she feels about it."
After Doctor Jacobs had left, Maria said. "I haven't told her about Wheeler, I know I said I would but it never seemed like the right time and… I wanted her to myself. She worships the planeteers though so I'm sure she wont mind."
"Da," Linka said with a chuckle. "She recognised me and she already thinks you are sweet on Wheeler."
Maria laughed, "She told you that? Well I guess she's right, I am still sweet on him." Then she thought of something and said quickly. "But it was never love, I mean we were really just friends despite the, er physical side of our relationship…"
"I understand." Linka assured her. "Wheeler has told me and let me read your letters."
Maria smiled. "Good, because if you're going to take my daughter I want us to be friends."
Linka's eyes filled with tears, not sure what to say. "Of course."
The sick young woman smiled and squeezed her hand. "It's okay Linka, I've made peace with myself, it's Paige I'm worried about."
"You have no need to worry, I promise you." Linka told her, bringing another smile to Maria's face.
"Mommy!" Paige called out as she ran into the room and climbed up onto the bed and into the arms of her mother. "How are you feeling?"
Maria laughed and hugged her daughter close. "Hello Baby. I feel fine. I have something to tell you." The red-headed girl finished making herself comfortable and looked up at her mother expectantly. "You know I explained that I am going to get sicker and that you would need to live with someone else…"
"You're wrong!" Paige exclaimed at once and then added defiantly. "You're going to be fine and besides I can live with Grandpa."
Maria stroked her daughters hair. "No darling, we've discussed this." Then she hugged the little girl tightly as she started to cry. "I wrote to your father asking if you could live with him."
"My father?" The girl said, her sobs abating as she took an interest in this new information. "I didn't think I had one."
The American woman smiled. "Of course you do darling, but I asked him not to come and see us because I wanted you all to myself. I hope you can forgive me."
"Sure." Paige shrugged, then added conversationally. "But maybe he doesn't want to see us anyway. Rachel's father lives in Iowa, she says he told her he doesn't want anything to do with her."
"He sounds like a horrible person." Maria said, before Linka could object. "But your father isn't like that, he has been wanting to meet you since you were born. I've sent him photos and told him all about you, but the thing is…" she paused, not knowing how to tell her daughter that she may still never get to meet her father. She looked at Linka for help.
"Moya sladkiy, your father loves you very much and has told me that he would like nothing better than to be able to take care of you, but he has had to go away and I do not know when he will be back so I came in his place." The Russian hoped this would be explanation enough for now.
Paige was surprised at Linka's words, but then a look of realisation crept over her face and she looked back at her mother. "The Fire Planeteer? That's why you wanted me to know about him?"
Maria nodded and then laughed happily at the expression of delight that spread across her daughters face. "My Dad's a hero! That is sooo cool!" Linka and her grandfather joined in the laughter.
"So do you think you would like to come and live with me while we are waiting for him to come home?" the planeteer asked.
Paige looked excited for a moment and then her face turned sad and she shook her head. "I don't want to leave my Mom."
"Of course not!" Linka said quickly, "You can stay with your Mom for as long as it is possible, I would not think of asking you to leave her before…"
Maria hugged her daughter. "What do you think short stuff? Fancy an adventure?"
Paige looked up at her mother, and finally accepting the inevitable nodded, before bursting into tears and burying her face in Maria's shoulder.