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"Jake, I can't get a reading from the sensors."
Looking down and into the system beside her patient, Jake reached out and jiggled a cord. "Did that help?"
"Perfect Sweetheart. Did you get us quarters?"
Smiling at her, he winked. "Pretty Spartan, but you'll be able to get some rest when you're ready."
"I don't know when that will be…"
Interrupting, Jake scolded her, "You are taking a break soon. You will not jeopardize our child for any reason."
"I'm not that far enough along."
"You are far enough for Fran to be concerned."
"She worries too much."
"And you don't worry enough."
"Alright, I've set the monitors to record. Did you get a chance to go over the data on my patient?"
"Yes, it didn't make much sense. Are we really trying to cure…"
"Yes, yes, the fear is that his heart will give out."
"Ok, are we sure he wants to be cured?"
"Not everybody has your recuperative powers Sweetheart."
"Let's get you to our quarters. I can come back and monitor him for a few hours."
"That would be nice. If you could give a 'special' look at the raw data, you might find something I've missed."
"Diane, how…"
"I don't know Jake, but they are hiding so much that it will be a miracle if I can actually do some good here."
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Returning to the lab, Jake found Olga worriedly watching her 'Mr. Parker'.
After moving to where she could see him he asked, "Is everything Ok?"
"Nothing has changed. Where is Dr. Hughes Foley?"
"Resting, she needs it more than she will admit."
"We need her here…"
"I know, but she is expecting and running her down will only lessen her ability to work."
"I… I did not know that she was pregnant. I am glad she has you to look out for her."
"I'm very lucky to have found her." Moving to look at the readings, Jake moaned. "These readings make no sense."
"I know. It is fortunate that Frank has a very high tolerance for pain."
"You seem very close."
"At times he is my best friend. Other times I would like to kill him."
"Watch those best friend feelings. The next thing you know you'll be married."
"That is what I am afraid of."
"Isn't that a good thing? It's worked out well for me and Diane."
"Frank is… very complicated."
Scanning the incoming data, Jake asked, "You do love him though."
"Yes. And if you ever tell anybody, I will deny it. I can not believe I just told you that."
"You're exhausted and thinking about something else, the perfect time to ask questions."
"Oh and your training taught you that?"
"Actually Diane did." Seeing the puzzled look on her face, Jake added, "She has her sources."
"A remarkable young woman."
"Yes... What can you tell me about your Mr. Parker?"
"He was an orphan, a Navy Seal, Spent several months as an enemy prisoner in a 'hot box', and then was in a mental institution for a year. Since then he has worked here in 'special operations'."
"And that is where he encountered 'Clair'? What about his personal life?"
"He is a slob that drinks too much, gambles too much and chases too many women; when he's allowed off base."
"I can relate, except for the drinking, gambling and chasing women."
"You did not chase women?" She asked, giving Jake an arched eyebrow similar to what he has become used to getting from Kyle.
"I chased a few, but to be honest I spent eight years obsessed with one woman…" Glancing down, and then smiling warmly, he added, "Then I met Diane."
"Now that sounds like a story."
"It is… and it's mostly classified."
"A classified love story? How… No, just my luck… I'm going for a cup of coffee, can I bring you one?"
"Sure, it looks like it is going to be a long night."
When she had left Jake sat at a terminal and reached his consciousness into the computer. Passing trough blocks and firewalls without disturbing them he explored the complex's memory banks finding stories that would boggle the imagination of an experienced science fiction writer. Stories of intrigue and time travel, monsters from mythology and demons straight from the Bible, wars started then diverted, terrorism acts then thwarted, assassinations and murders done then stopped, Popes and paupers, the death and then life of loved ones.
Jake stared at the impressive man behind the observation glass. "I promise to do what I can; I just hope it's enough."
Entering carrying two mugs of steaming coffee, Olga apologized. "I'm sorry I took so long, it seems that I am the only one who knows how to make coffee, or wash the pot."
Taking the offered cup with a smile, he replied, "Thanks. That's alright, I can sympathize; Diane can't work her cappuccino machine." Pausing, he added, "I've been busy going over data."
"Find anything helpful?"
"I don't know. I'll run it by Diane when she wakes up."
"Maybe I can help?"
"I think I'm going to go to our quarters for a nap. If you are going to be here that is."
"Yes, I will be here."
"See you in a few hours."
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"Sir," Ramsey whined through Talmadge's office door, "I don't trust those two."
"Come in Nate. Tell me what is bothering you?"
"There is something off about those two."
"Please Nate, " Talmadge ordered, "explain yourself."
"Well sir, he accessed their NSA information faster that I could. Also, he removed the surveillance equipment in their quarters."
"Nate, he is an NSA field agent."
"Sir, we replaced the equipment, then she removed them."
"She is responsible for a highly classified program."
"Neither of them had any equipment that would allow them to detect the bugs."
"That is interesting. Are you sure?"
"I went through their belongings myself when they arrived. The only electronics they had were their watches and her PDA."
"That's got to be the answer Nate. Her PDA must have secreted detection sensors."
"I thought of that sir. He didn't have it when he was removing the bugs the first time."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes sir. I have it on surveillance that she was using it at the same time he was in their room."
"Most interesting. When I talked to Louise Beckett, she said we should allow him to check out our fire walls for weak areas. We've been under the assumption that she was a specialist, perhaps they both are?"
"I don't like them being here when I know nothing about them."
"That's what makes you good at your job Nate. Right now we need them to help Frank."
"Let's just let Donovan take the next jump until lover boy can get back on his feet."
If only it were that simple; this report I have on Donovan's medical condition is disturbing."
"What's the matter with him?"
"The ten jumps he has made have taken their toll, he has a brain aneurism. If he takes another jump he will not survive. The doctors are deciding how to treat him. For now we are back to one chrononaut."
"I know the jumps were rougher for him than Frank, but I thought it was just because Frank's psychotic."
Chuckling, Talmadge dismissed Ramsey and lit a cigar. It is a curse to live in interesting times.
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"… Jake you must have wandered into a fiction data base."
"I'm telling you its true; I found about 150 time trips that they have taken. The majority by Frank B. Parker."
Crossing her arms, Diane scoffed, "There is no way that is the truth. The energy levels alone would be astronomical. No way could they ever keep it secret."
"They are using fuel recovered from the Roswell crash."
"What crash?"
"The Roswell crash, surely you heard about it. Sometime in July of 1947 a UFO crashed in the desert near Roswell New Mexico. The air force recovered the remains and brought them here. The alien's are in glass tanks deep underground."
"Jake, what have we gotten into?"
"I don't know Sweetheart, I just don't know. I'm going to try and call Kyle later; he should be at Fort Meade in about two hours."
Without saying a word she walked into the bathroom and stepped into the shower, leaving him to think.
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