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Alan's eyes snapped open. He was still in the infirmary. He rolled out of bed and dashed for the door; time was wasting. He didn't know how long he would have in this 'reality' and he needed to make as much of this opportunity as he could.
Alan sprinted at a breakneck run through the house up to the kitchen. Onaha looked up in surprise at the sound of his footsteps. She dropped the fruit she was holding as he ran in.
"Alan sweetie, how are you feeling?" She asked taking him in her arms for a tight hug.
"I'm okay." Alan said. "I need to talk to Tin Tin. Do you know where I could find her?"
"She's down on the south beach with Fermat." Onaha said brushing his hair back from his face. "Are you sure you are okay?"
"Considering." It was all he could say, not really wanting to go into it just yet.
He kissed her cheek in thanks, nicked an apple from the side and ran from the kitchen with Onaha's half hearted, and laughing, threats hanging in the air.
Alan sprinted as fast as his legs would carry him down to the beach.
Fermat was sat in the sand and Tin Tin was stood throwing rocks into the sea angrily. They both looked up in surprise at Alan's footsteps.
"Alan!" Fermat gasped. "Are you alright?"
Alan dropped to his knees next to Fermat gasping for breath. Before Alan had a chance to catch his breath both Tin Tin and Fermat had thrown their arms around him in a massive hug.
"Don't you ever do that again, Alan Tracy!" Tin Tin practically shouted in his ear.
"What are you talking about?" Alan asked confused.
"Alan, I'm sorry about your family, I really am, but suicide isn't the answer." Tin said in angst, tears over spilling and running down her face.
Alan looked at Fermat in confusion but the young genius looked as equally sincere and upset.
Alan stopped for a moment and tried to sort everything out. Of course, he had taken the overdose in the reality where his family had died. The Hood had saved him, Alan assumed, from what The Hood had said on the beach. A check for not-reality. Surely the Hood didn't have enough power to save him from that?
"I'm sorry." He said looking between his two best friends. "I wasn't thinking... I just wasn't ready… I'm not…"
He broke off and took a deep breath looking out to the ocean. He missed the pitying glance that Tin Tin and Fermat shared.
Alan cleared his throat and looked at Tin Tin.
"I need your help with something, Tin." He said.
"What's that?" Tin Tin replied.
"I need to know some stuff about the Hood, and about the powers that you have." Alan said awkwardly. He knew that Tin Tin was upset about finding out about her uncle but he didn't have the time for tact.
Fermat winced as Tin Tin got to her feet and resumed chucking rocks into the ocean.
"I'm sorry, Tin Tin. I know you don't want to talk about it, but I don't think that this is over yet and you are the only person who can help me."
Tin Tin turned around abruptly to face him.
"W-w-w-what are you t-t-t-talking about, Alan?" Fermat asked.
Alan took a deep breath and explained everything that had happened as he remembered it.
"And now I don't know what is real and what isn't. I need your help Tin Tin."
Tin Tin stood and started to pace thoughtfully. Alan and Fermat exchanged a glance but didn't say anything.
In that silence was something that Alan had come to dread.
She fears her powers, Alan. She cannot help you.
"Oh can it." Alan sighed in exasperation.
Fermat looked at his oddly but Tin Tin frowned.
"Is he talking to you?" She asked.
Alan nodded, "Can you hear him?"
Tin Tin shook her head, "Not exactly. I can feel his interference more than anything else. It's hard to explain."
No!
The shout in his mind made him jump.
Tin Tin smiled. It was unlike her usual smile, which was bright and welcoming. This smile was dark and vicious.
"He knows what I think." She said triumphantly.
She dropped her knees in the sand directly in front of Alan.
"This is going to be uncomfortable." She warned as she placed her hands over his temples.
Suddenly Alan's mind was not his own anymore. It was like he was a memory chip and Tin Tin was trying to download the data straight into his mind. To begin with he tried to individually process each new piece of information as he received it.
Sssshhhh Alan, don't fight it. Tin Tin's voice whispered in his mind.
Wake up, Alan. The Hood demanded
"God dammit, Alan! Wake up!" Scott's voice vibrated round his tired and aching head. "What did you take?"
Alan could not make his eyes focus; they kept rolling into the back of his head. His fumbling hand pulled out the packet of sleeping tablets which he pressed into Scott's hand.
"Jesus Christ, Alan! How many did you take?" It was Virgil who was shouting at him this time.
"Thhrrreeee." Alan slurred as he felt his body once more relax under the weight of the drugs.
"Al?" Virgil asked softly. He didn't sound angry or worried anymore. Alan wondered why. "Al, are you awake?"
Alan tried to reply but his throat was sore. So very sore and dry. There was something over his face. Panicked, his hands flew to his face.
"No, Allie. Leave it. It's been helping you breathe."
There were noises in the background, beeping machines and the sound of the door opening. Suddenly his hand was gently being held.
"Thank God. Allie, how are you feeling now?" His father asked.
There were other voices in the darkness. Alan could not make out what they were saying but knew that Scott and Gordon were there too. This felt familiar but at the same time strange… like déjà vu.
"Okay, Al, I need you to follow my finger for me."
Alan cracked one eye enough to give Virgil a disdainful look.
His father and two other brothers laughed fondly.
"How are you feeling, Al?" Virgil asked. There was someone running their hand through his hair and someone else holding his other hand now. The bed dipped down as his family sat around him.
"Wha' 'appened?" Alan asked croakily.
"Sssshhhh" Scott soothed. "Don't try to talk just now."
"Wha' 'appened?"Alan asked more forcibly.
He didn't understand. Okay so the three sleeping pills had been three times over the recommended dosage but he wanted to sleep for a long time and he didn't understand. What he knew, what he thought, and what was happening didn't add up.
Stupid Hood. Needs hobbies. Alan thought.
Gordon's laughter indicated that Alan had actually spoken his thoughts.
"Where is John?" Alan asked. His mind was jumping faster than he could follow. "I'm sorry about before. I need to tell him that I'm sorry. I just… I didn't…. where is John?" He shifted restlessly.
"John's fine, Allie." Virgil said soothingly. "Don't worry for now. He's still asleep."
Before Alan could reply Jeff cut in.
"Why are you sorry, Allie?"
"I'm sorry about his arm, and that I ran away." Alan slurred rolling on to one side and snuggling into the pillows.
"What do you mean, Al?"
"Will he still be work with you, despite that?" Alan asked. He couldn't bring himself to say amputation.
"Sssshhhh, Allie. Don't worry about it for now. Just sleep now. You'll get the answers that you need." Tin Tin kissed his cheek gently.
The darkness rolled over him and Alan sank into it unwillingly.
Alan opened his eyes to a brightly lit room. Tin Tin was stood in front of him.
"Finally." She said smiling. "It took you long enough."
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