A lot can happen in a year.
Neither Jodie or I could really believe that was how much time had passed since we went on the run. But we had managed to avoid being caught that entire time. There had been close calls, but we maintained our freedom.
We remained in the US, unable to cross either the Northern or Southern boarders without setting off alarms all over, but kept out of sight. Stayed in less public areas and kept mostly to ourselves to avoid being found out.
Every so often we would settle in one place a while, one or both of us working to keep steady funds. But nothing was ever perminent. We were still wanted fugitives, and would remain that way even if the CIA's attempts had backed off some.
In the end, however, we were getting tired.
Tired of running, hiding and constantly looking over our shoulders. Even though we were managing, I could see the how hard the last months had been on Jodie. I'd been managing, but I hated to see her struggling no matter how well she hid it from me.
She'd had been having more and more visions about her birth mother, as if something was trying to pull her someplace where she might be. We'd talked several times about it, and after a while she managed to wear me down and convince me to help her find the answers that she had become desperate for.
After all that has happened, I think she more than deserved that much.
It took some time, but she had managed to get into contact with Cole. To say the man was surprised to hear from either of us would have been an understatement. And after a bit of convincing, Jodie managed to get him to look into any information regarding her mother and to meet us in a local park.
He agreed without a second thought.
I love Jodie with everything I am, I'd do anything to make her happy...even if it meant walking right back into the lion's den we'd spent that last 12 months avoiding.
X
Autumn was in full swing, the leaves on the many trees an array of yellows, oranges and reds with some falling to the ground in the cool breeze.
The park had very little people in it at this time of day, Cole Freeman couldn't help but realize the time he was told to meet here wasn't an accident.
The man had been living with a weight on his shoulders ever since he heard Jodie and JD fled the CIA and became wanted fugitives. He didn't understand the whole situation, but he had gotten enough bits and pieces to put enough together.
Part of him hated Nathan for allowing the government to swoop in and take the kids, another hated the CIA for forcing them that basically turned them into assassins, but a smaller part also made him hate himself. For letting them down and not doing right by them, like he always promised he would.
The memories of two little kids, smiling brightly at him filled him with happiness and guilt every day.
"Cole?" The man was brought out of his thoughts by a soft, feminine voice. He looked to his right, a few feet down the path, and was greeted with the sight of a young woman with long brown hair dressed in jeans and a black sweater beneath a brown jacket.
It took him a moment or two, but he grinned when he realized who it was.
"Jodie!" Cole said breathless as he pulled the young woman into a hug, "My little princess." he pulled back and got a better look at her, "Look at you! Oh my god, what a beautiful young woman you've become! Just as pretty as ever...a little sad, and lost...like the first time I saw you."
Jodie smiled, fighting back tears as she did so, "You can't even imagine how much I've missed you."
Cole looked around a moment, "And...how's Aiden?"
His response was a soft echo from above their heads.
"Good to see you too, buddy." Cole looked around again and settled back on Jodie in confusion. "JD?"
"He's here." Jodie replied "Walk with me?" her former guardian nodded as they walked side by side down the path.
"I take it he's still mad, huh?" he asked, referring to the missing psionic.
Jodie shook her head, "He's being cautious. Making sure that no one tries to grab us." she looked up at the man beside her, "He trusts you, Cole. That never changed."
Cole nodded again, "Yeah, he was always a stubborn one. But always protective of you. Guess that's one of the things I never had to worry about when you two got together." he looked at his former charge, "Are you guys still...?"
"We're still together." she replied with a smile, "We've been mistaken for husband and wife a lot."
"I can imagine." the researcher replied with a chuckle, both of them lapsing into silence a moment.
"How's Nathan?" Jodie asked.
"Oh, he's the big boss now." replied Cole. "He's running the DPA. He's come a long way since the days of our little lab."
"And you? What are you working on?" she questioned, wanting to know how much had changed since she and JD had gone on the run.
The man smiled, "I'm running a small group. We're trying to classify the types of entities, see if there are different species, that kind of thing. It's not the highest priority, but I get to do what I want, so..."
Jodie nodded, "Have they made any progress on the Infraworld?"
"Oh, they've sunk millions into developing a new condenser," replied Cole, "The most powerful ever created. Of course, that was only possible once the army got involved."
They walked for another few minutes before coming to a stop, making sure that no one else was around to hear them. "What I talked to you about," Jodie began, all serious now, "Did you find out anything?"
Cole sighed, knowing that this conversation was coming, "On the day you were born, a woman named Norah Gray had a child in the DPA hospital. Her child was declared stillborn."
"What else did you learn about her?" Jodie pressed, already becoming a little overwhelmed by the new revelations.
Cole shook his head, "Not much. All I know is that she took part in a DPA research program some twenty years back. She also had a gift."
"And the father?"
"His name was Jonathan Nichols." replied her former guardian. "He died before the birth. Heart failure. That's all I could find."
Jodie wrapped her arms around herself, the wind around them starting to pick up. "Where's Norah now?"
"She was interned in a psychiatric hospital." said Cole, "Just after she gave birth. According to her file, she should still be there now."
"My mother's been in a mental hospital for 24 years?!" the young woman said in shock, "I mean, why? What happened?"
Cole gently held her arms, "That's all the file said, I'm so sorry."
Jodie shook her head, "I've gotta go see her." she turned to leave but her former guardian stopped her.
"Jodie, I know how you feel, but she's in a mental hospital. You might not get the answers you're looking for."
"I'm not looking for answers." Jodie threw back. "I just need to SEE her. I mean, don't you understand? She's my MOTHER. If I look her in the eye I could find out who I truly am."
Cole shook his head, "Jodie, she's in a high security DPA facility, and you're wanted by every law enforcement agency in the country. You won't be able to walk right in."
Jodie looked back at the man, and he could already tell there was no changing her mind. "Nothing is gonna stop me from seeing her." she took a few steps away before turning back to him, "Look, you've taken a huge risk helping me. Thank you, Cole."
The two hugged before Jodie started to walk away again.
"Hey!" she stopped and looked back at Cole who was smiling knowingly at her, "You didn't think I was going to let you go alone, did you?"
"Now that sounds like the Cole we know."
The researcher looked behind him and was met with a young man who stood as tall as he did wearing worn jeans and a grey hoodie under a black bomber jacket, a head of short dark hair covering his head with a five o'clock shadow.
"JD, jeez you've gotten huge." Cole said recognized him almost immediately, even without the three distinct scars on the side of his head that were barely hidden.
JD grinned at the man before pulling him into a hug that knocked the wind out of him. "...and stronger too..." the researcher wheezed, causing Jodie to laugh. Cole sobered up when the embrace ended and turned serious, "JD, I'm sorry about what happened. When Nathan told me you guys ran-"
"Cole." the psionic said, cutting him off, "I don't blame you for any of it, nether Jodie or I did. It took me a while to forgive Nathan even a little since he knew that they were taking us. But I know full well that you would have never let them take us if you had a say in it."
Cole smiled a silent thank you as Jodie came up beside JD and held his hand. The older man smiled even wider at the interaction, "So...you two don't have any kids hiding around, do you? Cause I don't think my heart can take that much excitement."
Both young adults' faces burned, Jodie burrowing her face into her lover's side while JD rolled his eyes, "Same old Cole."
X
It took a bit of time, but after Cole found out the location of the DPA facility that was holding Norah Gray they all waited for the cover of darkness before making a go at it.
Sitting in Cole's car outside the 'St. John's Hospital', rain pouring down around them, the trio looked the building over with critical eyes before the researcher voiced his concerns;
"I don't like this, guys. No guard at the gate, empty parking lot, something doesn't feel right."
JD observed their surroundings, agreeing with the older man's assessment. If this place was part of the DPA, then there should have been security in place to keep people out.
"If we're not back in 30 minutes," Jodie spoke, "Just go. No reason for you to get caught up in this too."
Cole looked at her with a raised eyebrow, "Girl, I ain't come here to wait in no car." before either of the duo could speak he was out of the car and making his way to the entrance.
"Yep, still the same old Cole." said JD, reaching under his jacket and taking out the 1911 pistol he'd had for some time now. Chambering the first round in the clip and making sure the safety was on before holstering it back where it belonged. Really hoping he didn't have to use it or his powers tonight, but he would if it meant getting them out of there.
"Ready?" he asked, getting a nod from Jodie as they stepped out into the rain and made their way to the building. Cole waiting for them by the door as they stepped inside the warm, dry reception area.
"Try the polite approach, gets 'em every time." Cole whispered to the couple as they approached the front desk.
"Hey, erm, I'm here to see Norah Gray." said Jodie kindly.
The man running the desk looked up from his computer at their arrival then stood slowly, "Can I see your authorization?" he said, all business.
"We're friends of the family, it's been a while since we were last here and wanted to check in on her and her treatment." said JD, hoping to play on the man's, hopefully, kinder nature.
The receptionist shook his head, "I'm sorry. All visitors must have the correct authorization."
Knowing that they weren't getting anywhere, and not wanting to waste more time, Aiden flew down from his place above them and into the man running the desk. The possession taking hold almost instantly as the man's eyes rolled over white before he reached down and hit the switch to activate the elevator.
Seeing that the the receptionist was under control, Jodie smiled. "Good work, Aiden. Can you find out what floor and room she's on?"
The possessed man started typing on the computer, Norah's name coming up;
"Level 7, Room 43. Let's go." said JD as he, Jodie and Cole got into the elevator and hit the proper floor number. Aiden left the receptionist's body the moment the doors closed and the lift started to rise.
"So far, so good." said Cole as they arrived at the proper floor and stepped off. JD held up his hand, stopping the others while his eyes began to glow.
The world around him turned to a hazy, dull grey and the aura of those living around him became visible. Through the wall beside the elevator, he could see someone with a calm aura sitting just out of sight.
Deactivating his 'aura vision', the psionic looked to Jodie and Cole and motioned that there was someone on guard around the corner.
Nodding, Jodie mentally ordered Aiden to distract the guard and open the sealed door leaving to the rest of the floor. The entity making quick work of damaging a nearby electrical box and shutting off the lights, causing the man on duty to investigate and giving him time to open the door for the others to pass.
Possessing an orderly that had been sleeping down one of the halls to grant them further passage, then knocking the man out while leaving his keycard, the trio continued down the hall of patient rooms.
"Ah, Jesus." Cole muttered, hearing the moaning of the various patients around them. "Crazy people freak me out."
"Relax, Cole." said JD as they kept searching for the right room. "We're just gonna find Norah, Jodie can get what she needs, then we're gonna leave. Easy."
After another minute of searching, they stood infront of room 43. Jodie putting her hand on the handle and hesitating with the knowledge that she was about to meet her mother for the first time.
"I'll wait here." said Cole, "Jodie. She...she may have lost her mind...She might not even know you're there." the girl who was once his charge looked back at him. "Maybe you shouldn't go in..."
JD put a hand on her shoulder, silently telling her that he would be right beside her no matter what choice she made.
Steeling her resolve, Jodie opened the door and quietly stepped over the threshold. Her boyfriend right behind her, closing the door behind him as they entered the small room.
The space was mostly bare. Only a hospital bed, a lamp, a desk and a chair as far as furniture went.
And in the corner, seated motionless in a small green armchair and hooked up to a monitor with an IV drip, was a woman who looked to be in her forties dressed in blue scrubs.
She was pale, her face gaunt and dark hair listless. But JD immediately saw the resemblance between her and Jodie...but there was also something else. The psionic felt as though he had seen this woman somewhere else before.
"Mom?" Jodie said, almost in a whisper. "Mom, it's me, Jodie." she knelt down infront of the woman who only continued to stare straight ahead, making no motion that she had heard her daughter.
Waving her hand infront of Norah's face, Jodie reached out and took her hand gently in her own. "I'm your daughter..." she said softly, tears running down her face as she placed the hand against her cheek. "I'm your daughter."
JD felt his heart constrict at the scene before him, part of him feeling as though he was encroaching on a moment he had no right to be in. That is until Jodie looked back at him a moment before going back to her mother.
"I...I brought someone else with me too." she held her hand out toward him and he stepped to her side and knelt beside her. "This is JD. We've known each other a long time and been through a lot together."
The psionic looked up at the comatose woman and held her other hand, "It's nice to meet you, Miss. Gray. Your daughter has come a long way to meet you. She's an amazing person."
The three of them sat in silence, the soft beep of the heartrate monitor the only noise heard in the small room. Jodie looked up at the air where Aiden was looking on silently. "Please...help me, Aiden."
"..." the entity echoed softly to his host, knowing what she was asking.
JD gently gave the hand he was holding to his lover and squeezed her shoulder. "I'm going to be right beside you."
Jodie squeezed her mother's hands as Aiden manipulated their energies, and sent his host into Norah's mind.
X
Norah sat in the center of an exam room, staring intently at a cup set out on the table before her with great intensity.
Slowly, the cup started to shake before being moved several inches back making her smile.
"Well done, Norah!" a man in the observation room praised.
The scene changed to show Norah, holding her stomach. Rounded and extended with child.
"The mother and the father, both 'gifted'. Do you realized how important this baby is?!"
Another scene change, Norah sitting in a dark room and holding her unborn child.
"You won't be able to, Norah. Let us take care of everything. It's for the best, you know that.
The scene changed again, this time after Norah had given birth.
"But...But...she's my BABY! Bring her back! I've changed my mind! I want my baby!" Norah screamed after the doctors who took her child from her the moment she started crying.
"Sedate her! Get the baby out of here!" the doctor ordered as the lights around them started flickering.
"Please! I want to see her!" the new mother screamed, "Please, please let me see her! I want my child!"
A syringe was stuck in her arm as the scene changed again, this one showing the Holmes' as they held the newborn little girl between them.
"She may develop some...'special' abilities. Let us know as soon as anything unusual happens."
The scene changed again, showing Norah in the same hospital room sitting motionless.
"Increase the dose. Make sure she never regains consciousness."
X
Jodie exited the vision with a loud gasp, JD barely had a moment to put his arms around her when she burrowed her face into his neck and started sobbing. Hands fisting his jacket, desperately using him to keep her anchored as the torrent of the emotions rippled through her from what she bore witness to.
The psionic didn't say a word just yet, whatever she had seen had a much bigger impact than anything they first believed. All he could do was hold her and offer strength where he could.
"They...They locked her up here." Jodie said through her tears. "The DPA...they did the same tests they did with us to her, and when she got pregnant...they convinced her to give me up. And when she wanted to get me back...they put her here. Drugged her until she couldn't move."
She looked toward her mother, "I'm sorry...I'm so sorry. It was my fault!"
"No, Jodie it isn't!" JD exclaimed, pulling back enough to look her in the eye. "The only ones to blame are the ones who put your mother here. The ones who took you away from her in the first place. You're a victim, just like she is. Don't EVER think any of this is on you."
Jodie shuttered a breath and embraced the psionic again.
"..."
"What is it, Aiden?" asked Jodie when the spirit spoke.
"..."
The spirit spread his influence out around them, JD's aura vision activating as well as the duo found themselves surrounded by shadows, their focus on a single light of aura that was covered in a writhing black mass.
The couple didn't know what to think, but a feeling of releasing whoever was beneath the scourge was strong.
"Aiden, break it!" Jodie shouted. The entity howled as he started breaking off the blackness covering the aura.
JD charged his psychic energy and fired low-powered psi-blasts into the mass as well, the two combining their strength until the scourge was destroyed, revealing Norah Gray standing there before them all.
"M-Mom?" Jodie said, not believing her eyes.
Norah smiled, "My little girl!" Jodie ran forward to embrace her...only for her arms to pass through her form.
Her mother smiled sadly as she reached out and held her daughter's cheek, "I was so afraid I would never see you again. I've missed you so much, Jodie...I've missed you so much.
"What happened." Jodie whimpered, "What did they do to you?"
"The drugs they gave me...tapped me in this hell." said Norah, "There's nothing...nothing I can do. Only to wait for it to end."
Jodie shook her head, "No, I'm gonna...I'm gonna get you out of here! JD and I, we can help you!"
Her mother shook her head, "Its too late, Jodie. It's too late." she gave a broken smile, "I love you, more than anything else in the world. Nothing will ever change that."
Norah looked past Jodie to JD who stood silently as mother and daughter spoke. "Johnathan...please, take care of my little girl. And always love her."
The psionic nodded his head, "I will, ma'am."
Norah smiled and looked back at Jodie before her attention snapped to the air around them, the same shadow-like scourge that covered her returned. Covering her body completely.
"MOM!" Jodie screamed, only able to watch as her mother's aura was locked away once again. Breaking down in tears as JD came up and held her, the two of them appearing back in the waking world in Norah's room.
Taking a moment to collect what little of herself she could, Jodie reached out and carefully unclasped the necklace around her mother's neck. A gold heart-shaped locket with a lone diamond in the center that she put around her own neck beside the star pendant JD had given her.
"We can't leave her like this." she said, turning to her boyfriend who understood where she was going.
Pulling her back into his arms, keeping her face held gently held to his shoulder, the psionic looked up toward Aiden. "Aiden..." he said, doing what he knew Jodie should never have to do.
The entity echoed sorrowfully as he drifted down to the comatose woman, using his astral form to reach into her chest and disrupt her heartrate. The monitor beside her went erratic for a long minute before flat-lining. Norah seemed to smile before her head fell to the side.
Keeping Jodie close while she cried, JD reached forward and gently closed the woman's eyes before leading his lover to the door.
"I'll always be there...for the both of you." the psionic paused, as did Jodie when they heard a soft voice whisper in their ears.
Arm around Jodie's shoulders, with one of her arms around JD's waist, the couple opened the door and stepped out into the hall...
Coming to an abrupt stop when they saw six CIA agents with shotguns drawn and aimed at them. Cole in the middle with his hands behind his head with an apologetic look on his face.
"I'm sorry guys..." he said, not meeting their gaze.
JD reached for his pistol, but the barrel of an assault rifle was pressed to the side of his head. The agent reaching behind him and removing the 1911 as another came up and slammed the weapon into his stomach, knocking him to the floor before tazing him.
A different agent up and hit Jodie on the side of the head. Their days of running coming to an abrupt end...
They'd been caught.