Jarod looked over at his young friend and had to give a slight smile. Clark was unsuccessfully trying to fight going to sleep. "It's okay if you go to sleep."
"I'm fine." Clark protested weakly as he shifted in the seat in a futile attempt to stay awake. "I need to keep watch, just in case."
Jarod didn't push the point any further and just nodded. The car ride continued on in silence and Jarod looked over at Clark as the first rays of the morning sun approached and saw that he had finally succumbed to sleep. Jarod was used to the lack of sleep and wasn't bothered by it. He had been put through sleep deprivation simulations and rarely got what most would consider a good night's sleep.
He worried briefly about the sun coming in the window that it might awaken Clark, but as he glanced over at his passenger he noticed curiously that it seemed to have the opposite effect on him. Or it could be exhaustion had finally set in.
He waited a few minutes to make sure Clark was good and asleep, before pulling out his cell phone to call his mom.
Margaret had spent a fretful night. She had sat up all night unable to go to sleep but had caught herself dozing off a time or two. She had kept her cell phone close at hand so she would know the moment that he called her. The ringing phone jarred her brain back to life as she fumbled around trying to reach the right button.
"Hello, Jarod?" Her voice gave away her lack of sleep as she spoke.
"Did I wake you?" Jarod asked just realizing that most people would probably not be awake at this hour.
"No, sweetie. I was already up. I must have just dozed off in the chair." Margaret answered warmly. "Are you okay? What about Clark?"
"I'm fine." Jarod replied before glancing over at Clark. "Clark is asleep next to me."
"Is it okay for you to be driving? Aren't you sleepy? Should you be talking while you're driving?"
"Mom" Jarod still marveled at saying it. He didn't know if there would come a time when he wouldn't. "I'm fine. I'm not sleepy a bit." Jarod glanced over at Clark before continuing. "Clark, on the other hand is sleeping soundly."
"Be careful, Sweetheart. I love you."
Jarod felt warmth go through him hearing his mom saying those words. "I love you too mom. Tell the Kents we'll be there in a few hours."
"I'll do that for you." Jarod hung up the phone thinking about the conversation he had just had. He had noticed since he had first escaped the Centre that children normally didn't like having conversations like that with their parents. It was too mushy for their taste and they didn't like being reminded of things, but he savored the moment. He loved the feeling of having someone thinking about him and watching out for him. A smile couldn't help but form on his lips as he thought about it.
A little while later, Jarod drove through an open metal gate passing a sign that said Mike's School of Flying. He stopped the car in front of a small two-seater plane that had been pulled out from one of the many hangers.
Jarod stepped out of the car and walked towards the middle-aged man who was slightly taller than Jarod and about forty pounds heavier. The man extended his hand and Jarod took it warmly. "Thanks for doing this Mike."
The man released Jarod's grip as he patted him on the shoulder. "It's the least I could do for you after what you did for me. My self or my business wouldn't be here if it hadn't been for you."
"I was going to thank you earlier, but you seemed to have vanished right after everything came out. I wondered about that until those people came around here asking about you."
Jarod opened his mouth to say something but Mike held up his hand to stop him. "Don't worry about it. I told them I had no clue who you were, never seen you before in my life." He paused momentarily before continuing his voice taking on a serious tone. "Listen, you don't have to explain anything to me. You're a good man. Better than most I know. You help people. There should be more people like you."
A smile returned to Mike's face as he shook his head. "That woman that came out here with those two guys. Let me tell you what, she was a piece of work."
"Thanks, Mike." Jarod smiled at Mike. "You're right. She is a piece of work."
The slighter older man nodded towards the car. "Who's that you got with you there?"
"Another friend who needed some help getting home."
Mike smiled and nodded his head. That sounded just like something Jarod would do.
Mike glance lovingly at the plane. "She's my best bird."
"I'll take great care of her."
"I know you will."
Mike turned towards the plane behind them stretching his hand out towards it saying, "She's all gassed up and ready to go."
"I'll bring her back in a few days."
A woman walked out from the nearby hangar motioning for Mike to come. He turned and waved his acknowledgement of her before turning back to Jarod. "Keep her as long as you need. I have plenty others. I've got to go."
Jarod extended his hand and shook Mike's once more. "I do too."
Jarod walked back towards the car to find Clark still asleep. He opened Clark 's door and gently shook the teen. Clark awoke immediately with a start, his eyes popping open as he looked around wildly. "Clark, its Jarod. Everything's okay."
Clark 's eyes seemed to come into focus as he calmed down and nodded his acknowledgment that he was now aware of his surroundings. "We're going to fly home. You're okay with heights aren't you?"
Clark nodded absently. He really wasn't completely okay with heights. But, he wasn't going to say anything about that to Jarod. He just wanted to get home.
As Jarod and Clark walked over to the plane Jarod turned toward his friend looking a little concerned. "Are you feeling better?"
Now that Clark was awake and fully aware of what was going on, he noticed that he was feeling a lot better. "Yeah, I do. I will feel even better when we get home." Just then a thought occurred to him. "You do know how to fly, right?"
Jarod smiled over at Clark mischievously. "Of course I do. I read a book on aviation once."
"You've only read a book" Clark began to suddenly feel uneasy. He knew he couldn't get hurt, but it still bothered him.
"More than one actually," Jarod said continuing to tease his friend.
"That makes me feel a lot better." Clark said with a slight bit of sarcasm.
Clark
entered the small cabin after Jarod. "Don't worry, this
is nothing...you should try
flying a fighter jet, now that is
awesome" and the he began to go through his preflight checklist.
"Oh, and if we do have any problems, I was a jump instructor once
as well."
Clark looked over at his friend and just shook his head.
Martha stood at the kitchen sink washing up some dishes. She stopped when she realized she had been lost in her thoughts again and had been scrubbing the same spot for a while. She had dirtied several pieces as she looked around at the many different breakfast items she had made. She knew Clark would be hungry when he came home and she wanted there to be plenty for him to eat. When he came home, she thought again to herself. Margaret had called a few hours ago letting them know that Jarod had called her and let her know they were both safe and on their way back.
Martha had immediately felt an immense weight lift off her when she heard the news. But, she wouldn't feel completely at ease until she could actually see Clark and know for herself that he was okay. She knew Jonathan felt the same way. They had spent a very restless night, eventually falling asleep against each other on the couch. Jonathan had gone outside to take out his anxiety on the old tractor that needed work while she tried to bake her nervousness away.
The security of the family had been broken. Someone had found out about Clark and their worst fears had been realized. Now that they knew, what would keep them from trying again? The thought gnawed at her mind threatening to break down her strong resolve.
Martha was taken from her thoughts as an unknown car pulled up into the driveway. The windows were tinted slightly where she couldn't make out the occupants of the car. The passenger door opened and Martha immediately recognized that black mop of hair. "Clark!"
Martha ran toward the door as fast as she could. She shouted for her husband as soon as she was outside rushing over to her son to make sure for herself that he was really there and all right. Martha squeezed her nearly invulnerable son as hard as she could, before stepping back to take a good look at him.
"Hi, mom." Clark smiled down at her with a look in his eyes telling her all she needed to know. "I'm fine."
Jonathan had rushed out of the barn as soon as he had heard his wife calling out his name and was now waiting eagerly for his time to be with his son. Martha stepped back letting Jonathan come forward and then he grabbed a hold of his son in a bear hug. "I love you, son." Jonathan said his voice barely above a whisper.
"I love you too, dad."
Jarod stood and watched the family reunion finally able to fully understand its meaning since being reunited with his mom.
Martha finally broke the silence of the moment. "Why don't we go inside and get something to eat and we can talk more then?"
Jarod nodded and followed the family inside.
