Dinner was eaten in relative silence, both of them consumed by their thoughts. Fran had quickly taken a large helping of the pie around to Bill, grinning at the delight on the old man's face. It gave John a little time to think about whether or not he should pass on the news that Andy had brought.
Fran said nothing, but gave an amused smile when John helped himself to another serving of the pie as she began to clear away. "So, it can't be that bad…"
John chuckled, "I'm sorry, did I give that impression? I have to admit I was wary about the changes you're enforcing to my diet, but it isn't all bad…"
"Why you cheeky…"
John ducked as a dishcloth came sailing across the kitchen – surprisingly accurate and fast enough to warrant respect to the person throwing it. Grinning, he picked it up from where it had landed and tossed it back, "You wash, I'll wipe when I'm done…'
Fran glared at him and then began to smile, she could never be angry at John, even though he sometimes infuriated her. The easy-going smile and relaxed attitude showed that he wasn't trying to wind her up – just teasing.
However, Fran could sense that John wasn't a man to be messed around with, she had seen those eyes turn from a soft dark blue to steel grey with rage in an instant, though his face had remained neutral throughout the situation when the Feds had first admitted that Philip had found out she was in New York.
"Game's on tonight. Think the Nicks'll win?" Fran had almost become addicted to basketball due to John's enthusiasm for the game and had surprised him and his friends, by tossing a few baskets while waiting for them to shower after their usual weekly session.
John shook his head, "Nah, teams rebuilding, we'll be lucky to keep the score down."
&
Sure enough, by the end of the first quarter, the team were several baskets behind and John started flicking through the other channels to see if there was something else to watch. Fran didn't mind the sports channels, but hated soap opera's which amused him slightly, but she adored documentaries especially historical ones.
He had once joked that all someone had to do was mention the Aztecs or Incas and they would have her undivided attention for eternity. Taking a deep breath, he was about to speak, when Fran beat him to it.
"John, I need to talk to you about something."
Glancing at her face, John felt a chill run down his spine and turned off the TV, he had never seen Fran quite so serious. "What is it…?"
"I have to leave."
John was stunned, "Can I ask why…?"
Fran curled up on the armchair, not willing to share the whole truth, scared of where it would go. "I'm not sure, just a feeling, a sixth sense if you like, or a habit… For some reason I feel the need to put some space between myself and Phillip. I guess it's because Sanders is here, usually I stay put in a place for about a year, but I can't stay here any longer."
John looked at her carefully, sensing that he had not heard everything, but not wanting to push the matter further just yet, though the thought of her leaving made his stomach turn.
"I don't think it's a good idea, you'll attract attention to yourself, which you want to avoid, especially now."
Fran gave him a piercing look, "Why especially now…? What's so different, I've been living here for what… about a month… We can just say that things weren't working out as we had hoped."
John sighed and stood up. As he walked across the room, the look on his face told Fran that she was not going to like what he was about to say. Crouching down in front of her, John looked at the floor. "Fran if you leave now, Sanders will be on to you fast, you have to blend into the community more than ever."
Swallowing deeply, he looked up to see her face turn white. "It's Phillip isn't it… he's here…"
John shook his head, "Not yet, but Andy thinks he'll be here within the next couple of days… We caught a telephone conversation between him and Sanders last night."
Fran was furious, "and you were going to tell me about this…. When? When Phillip stops me on the street? Jesus John… Thanks for the warning… "
She stormed into her room, slamming the door behind her. John stood slowly and walked down the corridor quietly, unsure what to do. He had never seen Fran react in such a violent way before – expected tears, frustration, yes… But this level of anger…? No.
Taking a deep breath, he tapped on the door. He had to try and persuade her to stay, not only for her own safety.
"Go away John, leave me alone…"
"Fran, please…"
The door opened slightly and John could sense the fury still coursing through Fran's body, though he could also tell that she was not mad at him – or anyone in particular. "Please Fran, I only found out this afternoon myself… While you were out grocery shopping, I'm sorry.'
The door opened a little more, "Come on in, but stay quiet, I need to work this out of my system."
Intrigued, John stepped inside the room that Fran had taken over. She was scrupulously neat, but not obsessive and he noticed how she had re-arranged the room slightly to give her more space in the middle.
She pointed at the bed, "There, and please don't move until I'm done…"
&
John was at first uncomfortable sitting on the bed, leaning back against the wall, but a glance from Fran made him stay still, and soon he was drawn into the movements she began making.
Suddenly it dawned on him that she was doing a form of Tai Chi that he had never seen before – not that he had really paid any attention to the Eastern Martial art. At first the movements were stiff, aggressive and primeval, but slowly he noticed they were becoming softer, more fluid.
As she began to relax, John saw Fran bringing in the more traditional elements that he had seen people doing in the park. As each movement became softer and smoother, he saw Fran covering more ground, as if she was drawing the elements to her.
John was frozen in space and time, hypnotised by the form in front of him. Yet he did not feel any apprehension, in fact, quite the opposite. He noticed himself becoming more relaxed, the atmosphere in the room changing from one of tension to relief.
It was almost an hour before she was done, and when finished, John could not believe the change in his housemate. "You ok?"
Fran smiled softly and sat next to him, "I am now, I'm sorry I exploded like that, but ever since I've been involved in the programme things that come out of the blue seem to send me on instant over load…"
"I couldn't handle it. All the stress would just come out in one big go… I'm not a violent person John, you know that, in fact I hate it… Especially after what I've seen done to others…"
John nodded, "So what happened?"
Fran smiled, "I had started learning Aikido, a friend suggested it – at first I refused, thinking it was like karate or judo, but she dragged me along one night and I saw for myself that it is a purely defensive art. The movements are all designed to keep your attacker away, or to restrain, not to inflict damage – though you can do that if you increase the pressure."
"My sensei was just closing the session with a little relaxation Tai Chi when a couple of undercover policemen came in. They waited for everyone to leave before telling me that Phillip's men had found me… again, it was the third or fourth time I think. He saw how I reacted."
"It wasn't safe for me to go home, so he offered to take me somewhere I would be secure – it was a small compound of monks who were based in London. One day, the senior monk asked me to join him and taught me the Tai Chi properly – I had always wanted to learn it."
Fran smiled, "I stayed with them for about a month, but I wish I could have stayed there for ever."
"Why didn't you?'
Fran chuckled, "Apparently I was becoming a distraction…"
John raised his eyebrow, making her laugh even more, "Oh no… Not in that way, but they were surprised how I could tap into their way of thinking –seeing as I was an 'uncivilised' Westerner."
"The old monk said it was dangerous for me to stay much longer, because otherwise I would become 'in conflict' with myself… I still don't understand completely what he meant, but over the years, I've found that doing the Tai Chi helps me to get rid of all the frustration I get inside."
"Do you do it all the time?"
Fran shook her head, "Not the complete set – that's reserved for the more traumatic moments… But there are parts of the Tai Chi that relax and energise, others that clear the mind or soothe… I do those on a regular basis. I don't quite know how or why, but it really helps me."
John gave a soft smile, "Can you show me?"
Fran raised an eyebrow, "You learn Tai Chi…?" She chuckled, "I suppose I could, but not all at once… We could start with the different groups and build them together… I don't know if I'm good enough to teach you properly though"
"You seem pretty good at teaching English Classics…"
Fran grinned, "That's different, and you know it… This is so different, it's no good just going through the moves, you have to… feel… what's going on…"
John smiled at the thoughtfulness that came across her face, "Well, you show me, and explain how you're feeling, and I'll try…"
She began to chuckle… "That's the problem John, what I feel maybe something completely different to what you feel… But the movements do give a form of exercise, so I guess that's where we could begin…"
"So… Where do I start?"
Fran considered for a moment, "I guess we're both a little stressed at the moment, so we could go through the relaxing set. It's not the shortest, or the easiest to do, but it is the smoothest and easiest to learn."
Over the next half hour, Fran walked John through the individual steps, movements to the four winds, encompassing the elements of earth, water, fire and air, trying to explain what he should or might feel.
A few times she collapsed in giggles as John tried to change from one movement to another, looking more like an ungainly hippo rather than the stork he was trying to emulate.
He became frustrated with one particular movement and almost gave up, "I can't get this…"
Fran smiled sympathetically, "Stop pushing it… You're a physical kind of guy John, you love sport, you like pushing yourself. Let your body direct you, not the other way around…"
Standing behind him, she caught hold of his wrists and slowly moved through the actions directing him gently, restricting him when he tried to force the movement. However, there was one thing John still couldn't quite get.
"Damn, it was getting so much better, but you're too tall for me to direct the final part which is a shame, you've nearly got it."
John sighed, he could feel the muscles protesting at the exercise they were unused to, but he had started feeling better and really wanted to complete the set. "So how about we switch? You stand in front of me, and I'll just hold your wrists so I get the idea."
Fran considered the suggestion, "Ok, I guess we could try it… but you have to give me the freedom to move, or it won't work."
&
Ten minutes later and John had mastered the last part, smiling at the achievement. "Ok, so now I guess I have to put each part together to build up the full routine, right?"
Fran smiled, "That's the idea, You want to try it once, all the way through?"
John nodded, "I'd love to, but I need you to lead me in case I forget something…"
Fran thought for a moment, "Ok, look, you stand here, between me and the wardrobe, that way, when we have to turn and you're in front of me, you can see my reflection and work through the whole set. We'll work through it slowly so it's easier."
Twenty minutes later, they had finished and John felt exhilarated, though relaxed. Walking through to the kitchen to get a drink, John chuckled, "I never thought I could get such a workout by moving so slowly."
Fran laughed, "Some of the other sets are much more difficult, you think you've just got a workout… You don't know the half of it…"
Passing her a glass of OJ, John smiled, "Well, you can show me those another time can't you…"
Fran's face darkened though she spoke softly – all trace of her earlier frustration gone, "No John, I told you, I have to leave…"
John fought to control the anger inside, "Why? I already told you it's too dangerous for you to go… Sanders will notice that you're leaving and he and Phillip will come after you… I'm not going to let that happen."
Fran stood up, her stubborn streak coming to the fore, "I'm not staying John Kelly, and you can't make me… You don't understand…"
She started to walk away, but John was ready, grabbing her arm he pulled her close, "Maybe if you would tell me, I would understand, but you never say anything. What the hell is going on."
Fran gritted her teeth, "Alright… If I go he comes after me – so what, I've been running for so long looking over my shoulder it's nothing new, but I'll be damned if he's going to hurt someone else because of me… Ok… satisfied now?"
"No… What are you talking about…?"
Fran closed her eyes, "John, if he sees us together, he'll kill you to get to me… I can't let that happen…"
"How can you be sure…?"
"Because he's done it before and not just once… I won't let him do it again."
John took a deep breath, "I won't let you leave Fran, it's not the first time my life has been threatened because of someone else." Fran froze at his words, knowing he was telling the truth, "I'm not letting you go, you have to stop running at some point. It's time to stand and fight."
"And then what…? I have to keep moving John, it's become my nature… Even if we do win through, and I get my life back, I'll still move on… It's how I am." Looking up, she pleaded with him, "John, let me go… I don't want to see you get hurt… please… I couldn't bear it…"
She pulled away, but not before John saw a look in her eyes he hadn't noticed before, "Fran… what is it…?"
Fran shook her head and continued moving, so John caught her shoulder to stop her, thinking what he could do to make her talk, when an idea came into his head and he used her true name…
"Sarah, please talk to me… I love you…"
