Haven: Resurrection

Troubled Waters Ahead

Audrey and Nathan made their way down the dock, where Lester Moffat's boat, The Annie M, was docked. Paramedics were just unloading the stretcher bearing Moffat's body on it, and Gloria looked up.

"Well, here we are again," she said, glancing the pair over.

"What do you have, Gloria?" Nathan asked.

"I got this," she said, bending down to reveal Moffat's aether-smudged eyes.

"Who is doing this? And how?" Nathan said.

"Our most likely suspect is under lock and key with Vince. "And we know it isn't D-anyone else," she went on. "So-now what?"

"Maybe we need to start keeping an eye out for William then," Nathan said under his breath.

"Whatever you're gonna do, do it soon. People are already talking about that the Troubles might be back," Dwight spoke, stepping into the little huddle. "I've had six phone calls from former Guard members in the last half hour. They've seen Audrey back. They think that means the Troubles must be back also."

"Tell them it's Paige-she dyed her hair blonde, just to try it," Nathan suggested, and Dwight shot him a look.

"I'll give it a try-but Paige and Audrey are two completely different people, Nathan," Dwight chided. "They're so different in their personalities, just like Audrey and you-know-who were," he finished. He glanced around, and leaned in closer.

"Where's Duke? Surprised you don't have him with you."

"He's back at the Armory," Nathan murmured. "He thinks that the sight of him will send people into a panic that the Troubles really are back."

"He's right," Dwight noted. "If they're upset about seeing Audrey around town, Duke would send Haven into a meltdown after what happened before."

"Vince, Howard and Croatoan are going to try to teach him how to control aether-so when this Nebula-thing makes a try for Haven, maybe they can fight it back," Nathan sighed. "It's got to work-there's no second-string, they're it."

"I just have such a bad, bad feeling about Croatoan being involved in any form when it comes to Crocker," Dwight said, frowning.

"That makes two of us," Nathan answered. "But he knows how to deal with the stuff. We don't. Vince is going to make sure that he doesn't try anything underhanded with Duke."

"I hope you're right, Nate," Dwight exhaled. "Because people are worried. This storm's lasted twelve hours and shows no signs of stopping, and now with Audrey here too-" he broke off, nodding at the little group of people on the dock talking among themselves. They saw Nathan and Audrey looking at them, and the group dispersed, still talking to one another.

Audrey paused for a moment, and then stepped toward the group.

"Hi, Mrs. Thorndyke," she greeted one of the women.

"Oh, hi, um, Officer Parker," Emma Thorndyke said.

Audrey wrinkled up her face.

"Officer Parker?" she chuckled. "No, Mrs. Thorndyke, it's me, Paige Harrison-your son Billy is in my class." She swirled her hair around. "I changed my hair-do you like it?"

Emma Thorndyke's face lit up with a mix of recognition and relief.

"Oh, Paige!" she exclaimed. "Your hair-it's-it's so different. You look just like someone that used to live around here with your hair that color."

"Really?" Audrey said.

"Was the hair color your idea or Nathan's?" Emma asked not unkindly. "He used to be rather sweet on this other girl who looked like you. Her hair was blonde, though."

"Audrey, her name was Audrey. He's told me about her," Audrey answered, trying to keep the hurt out of her voice. "People used to think I was her when I first came here, I remember."

"Well, they'll certainly think it again with that hair color, Paige," Emma responded. "But it's-a very nice color, and if you're happy with it, who cares what other people think?" she finished. "See you for coffee on Saturday with the playgroup?"

"Sure," Audrey replied distantly, and Emma waved and set off toward the parking lot.

She turned and walked back to Nathan and Dwight, who were regarding her with their mouths slightly open.

"I have her memories too, you know. Paige is still here, under the surface," Audrey told them. "She's-sleeping. When I'm gone, she'll think it was all a dream."

"So your memories were bleeding through into hers," Nathan said. "She told me she dreamed that she and I and Duke were at a birthday party on a deserted island."

"Carpenter's Knot," Audrey murmured. "I don't know. Maybe we need to ask Vince about it."

"First, we need to go and get James," Nathan told her. "Vicky's got him down at the morgue."

"Oh, Nathan-he's going to know for sure I'm not his mother," Audrey whispered. "Maybe I should dye my hair brown for now."

"No," Nathan said. "He's an eighteen-month-old baby. He'll know you're his mom-no matter who you are right now," he smiled.

Audrey affectionately squeezed his hand.

"I hope you're right," she said.

Dwight frowned, looking at his phone.

"James may have to wait," he told them. "Just got a message from a former Guard member-Denny Lillet just got run over by his tractor. His farm hand swears he saw it start itself up and run him down."

"That's Louis Pufahl's old Trouble," Nathan said. "It sounds like this Aether Nebula is already trying to infect people in outlying areas with Troubles."

"Yeah, but they're not the same Troubles they had before," Dwight said. "Maybe that's why they're dying-their bodies can't handle it."

"I don't know," Audrey spoke. "But I think we need to get back to the Armory and see how the first-string is coming along."

"Hope Duke's ready to rumble," Dwight muttered. "Because I get the feeling this is only the beginning."