Just a hint when you see this ~~~~ it means someone is recalling past events.

Chapter 7

Jenny rolled onto her stomach. Bright light blared in her face, and she squinted to block out the sun. Grabbing the nearest pillow, she buried her head under it, something, anything to stop the pounding in her head. What was the matter with her? Muttering profanities and curling into a ball, she blindly reached for her watch. Shit. Normal's gonna fire me. She had exactly fifteen minutes to get organised and haul ass to Jam Pony. She threw off the covers only to realise that she was naked and not in her own apartment. Standing up, she noticed a note on the bedside table.

Jenny,

I had to leave for work early.

I didn't want to wake you, look like an angel while you sleep.

Breakfast is by the fireplace, I managed something better than donuts.

Meet you for dinner?

Love, Dean

She smiled, a dusty pink glow settling on her cheeks. Clutching the note to her chest, she let herself relive the events of last night. Catching sight of breakfast reminded her of her crisis and brought her crashing back to earth. Moving around the room, she found her clothes hanging neatly of the back of a chair in front of the heater. After putting on her pants and top, she ran a comb through her hair and tied it. Scanning her face in the mirror, she resigned to looking a little less done than usual. At least her cheeks looked rosy. Grabbing her jacket, she picked up a croissant from the breakfast tray and dashed out the door. Breakfast on the run might not be the healthiest idea, but she didn't have a choice

"Well lookie here." Normal folded his arms and looked her up and down. "You, missy, are late again. Try it tomorrow, and you can find another job." He wasn't impressed. Walking over to her, he pulled on her jacket. "Call this work gear?"

Jenny batted her eyelashes at him. "Doesn't it turn you on?" She wasn't in the mood for one of his lectures. Throwing her jacket in her locker, she turned around and smiled. "Hit me with your best run."

Normal looked at her like she had just asked him for a date. "Here." He cautiously handed her a parcel marked top secret, highly confidential. 'Attention Dean Baxter'. The hotel address was scrawled underneath.

Jenny struggled to keep from smiling. Her day just got better. She'd hang onto the package and get Dean to sign for it tonight. In the mean time, she'd be able to use this run to race home and get her proper work gear on.

Six hours later, she was making her last delivery. As she rode through an intersection, her equilibrium went off mark. She swayed dangerously and struggled to keep the bike upright. Before she knew it, something grabbed her, and she was being lifted into the air.

"Are you crazy? What's wrong with you?" Alec shook her none to gently. "Jenny, are you drunk? High? Talk will you?"

He's expression softened to show genuine concern when she still didn't respond. It was by sheer coincidence that his route took him in a similar direction. He'd been close behind when he first saw her falter. "Just nod if you can even hear me?"

Jenny weakly nodded, her head started throbbing again. The pain was ripping across her brain; it hurt to even think let alone talk. She tried to crawl out of his arms, but he held her tight. Closing her eyes, she resigned to being carried. It was then that images started flashing through her mind.

~~~~

"Tash, run and don't look back." Zack ordered. He had planned this the night Eva died. They would escape Manticore before they were all killed.

Tash and Krit were paired off and disconnected from the others. The moment they crashed through the glass window, they knew they would be chased. They only had the surprise advantage; every second would count. Max. She looked at her younger sister, who was paired with Jondy. They were already running toward the forest. Max turned back for a split second, to stare straight at her. Bye Maxie. She then continued running and never looked back. Tash watched until the figure disappeared into the night.

"Let's move it." Krit pulled his sister along. They were headed in an alternate direction. Their bare feet sunk in the snow-covered field. In patches it was so deep that Tash fell knee deep and had to drag herself through. After hours of running in the snow and freezing cold, they stopped and hid to wait out daylight.

"We'll keep moving through the night and stop during the day. We'll stick together till we reach Louisiana, then we should split up."

Tash remained silent but nodded in agreement. She wouldn't show how terrified she was; soldiers didn't show weakness. Krit left her close to New Orleans, huddled in an old abandoned barn. Finding an old horse blanket, she wrapped herself in it and began to cry. During the night as the rain pelted down on the tin roof, she made herself forget everything. Everything and everyone because it didn't matter anymore, she was alone.

It all changed that night. Something she often did, that frightened the life out of her siblings, was sleepwalking. Zack feared for her the most, knowing that if Lydecker found out, she would be taken away. Close to midnight she must have gone walking along the road because she awoke from her trance seconds before she was hit. Tires squealed, a horn blared, and then nothing.

******

"Darling, are you feeling better?" A kind middle-aged woman sat at the end of the bed. "Today, you and your brother will be flying off to Italy." The woman gave her a bright smile. Turning to the doorway, she called out. "Jones. Come in here." A little boy no older than seven trotted into the room. The boy crawled onto the bed and sat with his face inches from hers.

"Mommy, why has Jenny got no hair?" He tentatively reached one chubby hand to touch her scalp, an expression of awe and curiously in his eyes. When his fingers brushed the rough surface he jumped back as if burned, then erupted in giggles.

The woman smacked him playfully on the bottom, "Off with you, little devil. Jenny needs her rest." The boy then ran out the door.

A man dressed in a green jumper and black tailored pants approached the bed. "It's hard to believe that after three years your daughter returned, Verity. After all, she was younger than Jones when she was disappeared." Picking up Jenny's hand, he took her pulse.

"Well, I wouldn't say returned Dr. Fowler. We more or less stumbled upon each other." She reached out and affectionately touched Jenny's cheek. "We are going to take Jenny and Jones to live with my sister for awhile. Get away from the States and get some good country air into their lungs."

"Verity Worsely, you have a healthy young girl on your hands. I wish you all a safe journey."

~~~~

"Boo, are you okay?" Original Cindy hovered over her with a worried expression on her face. In her hands, she held a washcloth, and next to where she sat was a basin full of water.

Jenny sat up really slowly. Her head felt like it was made of cotton balls. Just her hair elastic made her head ache. So my family isn't really my family, and my real family are all dead. Suddenly her eyes widened, and she looked like she was going to pass out. "This isn't happening, it's all just a bad dream. I'm Jenny Worsely, my parents are Verity and Emilo. I grew up in Italy with my brother Jones. My name is Jenny." Her body shook uncontrollably, and her face felt clammy.

"Shhh, it's okay, suga'. No one says you ain't. You had a fever; it's over now." Original Cindy put her arm around Jenny and pulled her into a tight hug. "I'll get you some coffee. Dat'll make you feel a whole lot better." Pushing Jenny to lie back into the sofa, she got up and went to the kitchen.

Max had stayed in the bedroom, lounging on the bed. She didn't know what else to do. When Alec had brought Jenny home unconscious, they'd all panicked. She had immediately thought to take her to hospital but then changed her mind. Calling Logan had been her second idea, but all she got was his machine. In the end, Original Cindy had been the calming solution. She took charge, sending Alec to the drug store for painkillers and Max to boil water.

"What's this?" Alec came into the room, waving a package. "Found it on table out there. It's not yours." He threw it at Max who caught it and read the address.

"Dean Baxter? I think he's the guy Jenny's seeing." Max turned it over. Highly Confidential? Don't even think about it. Before she could debate with her conscience anymore, Alec grabbed it back off her. "Hey!"

"If you're not going to, I will." Alec carefully pulled to tabs open and out fell several black and white enlarged photographs. Max collected them off the floor before he could pick them up. "Hey, I do the dirty work, and you look first. Hand them over."

Max shoved them behind her back. "They're not ours, Jenny won't get paid for the run without a signature you know."

Alec shook his head. "She'll handle it. Come on just a peak." With a lighting quick movement, he managed to grab them off her. "Would you look at that?" He flipped from one picture to the next. They were very steamy shots, almost like looking at a Rough and Tumble magazine. There were six photographs in total; the last one made him drop the lot.

"What? Let me see." Max moved to look over his shoulder. The picture as of a woman with long dark hair; her back was facing the photographer. But on her neck, clearly visible, was a Manticore barcode. "It's Tash."

"I don't get it, why would she take a risk like that? The photos have yesterday's date."

"What are you doing?" Jenny stood in the doorway, her eyes fixed on the photograph they were holding. Picking up the ones on the floor, she looked them over. Her heart froze, and she paled. These were meant for Dean but why? Why would someone take pictures of them? Her answer came when she saw the photograph Alec held in his hand. Her hand started to shake, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop the tremors.

"Jenny, are you okay?" Max reached out to her.

Jenny backed away from them both, her eyes blazing. What have you done? You have to tell them; you know you have too. As she looked at them both she remembered Logan's words, 'Revealing the truth is never easy.' You are so right Logan. It took her a split second to tear all the photos to shreds. "You want to know something? This is my life. One minute I'm a spoiled little girl from a rich family, the next I'm an experiment gone wrong." She did a perfect pirouette and gave them a sarcastic grin. "Take a look at Natasha a.k.a Jenny Worsley. Nice to see you again, little sis."

Alec and Max both looked at her in shock. Before either of them could recover, Jenny grabbed her jacket and walked out of the room.

"Wait!" Max called after her. Hearing the front door slam, she ran out of the room and almost collided with Original Cindy.

"She's gone. You know where she's goin'?"

"No, but I have to find her. Gimme the phone." Max snatched up the handset and dialled Logan's number. Please be there. She impatiently tapped her foot. The machine picked up. "Damn it." She cursed. Why couldn't he be home, of all the days to go out, he had to pick today. "Logan, it's Max. Can you check out a Dean Baxter? Beep me." Cutting the call, she collected the empty package off her bedroom floor. Memorising the address, she grabbed a jacket and made for her bike. "Gotta blaze. If she calls, page me." Original Cindy nodded.

"I'm coming too." Alec stood between Max and her bike. As if him standing there was going to insure she didn't leave him behind.

"Just stay out of my way, all right?" Max sent him a warning look. "You started this whole mess in the first place."

"Hey, don't point the finger at me. If you really want to put the blame, say Tash or Jenny. Whatever. Let's just find her before they do," Alec said pointedly.

Max didn't say anything; she just wheeled her bike out the door. Alec trailed behind, leaving Original Cindy standing in the kitchen looking a little lost.

"That's aiight, you guys go on do what ya gotta do. Original Cindy'll just wait around till you get back." I can't read minds ya know. It'd be nice if someone told me what the hell was going on.