Nicole Trager
Nicole (POV)
JULY 2015
I stepped up to the counter of the over crowded coffee shop and snagged my tea, after the barista shouted my order. I poured a packet of sugar and a splash of milk into the paper cup as I stirred the contents. I scanned the room for Jessi and found her to be nowhere in sight. I glanced down at my sliver wristwatch and noted that she had another five or so minutes. I snagged a table in the back corner by the windows. I checked the time again out of habit.
I had yet to tell Stephen or the kids about my contact with Jessi. I didn't want to get their hopes up about Kyle returning to our lives unless I was absolutely sure about it. I felt bad for keeping such a secret from Stephen. I hadn't kept such a secret from him since the incident with Kyle running into the burning shack years ago.
I was pulled from my thoughts by the sound of the bell above the glass door chiming. I spotted a more grown version of the young lady, who used to come to me for counseling, come through the door. Jessi still looked the same for the most part but I could tell she had changed, her demeanor was slightly more confident yet protective. Jessi smiled once she spotted me.
"Sorry I'm late," She apologized as she advanced toward me with a pensive smile.
"Don't worry about it," I said as I rose to greet her with a hug.
"Why don't we go for a walk?" She suggested, gesturing over her shoulder.
I could tell that she didn't want our conversation to be overheard by the wrong person. I nodded and grabbed my purse and tea before following her out of the coffee shop.
"How have things been?" I asked, trying to start the conversation as I matched my pace to hers once we were out of the shop.
"Things have been busy. To say the least," Jessi informed me, "Kyle has been easing into his new position on the board. It's come a cost though,"
I sipped my tea as we strolled toward the park a few blocks away.
"And what cost is that?" I asked.
"You have a patient, Charlotte Harrison," Jessi prompted slightly more abrupt than usual.
I couldn't help but be concerned as to why she would be interested in one of my patients. We took a seat on a lone bench in the park.
"She's a new patient of mine," I agreed, "I've been working with her for a month or so. What does she have to do with Kyle?"
"She's a former board member," Jessi informed me.
"Board member? Wait how did you know she was my patient?" I couldn't manage to hide the shocked tone in my voice.
"We've been keeping tabs on all the members," Jessi explained, "We want to make sure they're not impeding on your family's safety or Kyle's,"
I couldn't help but notice how tactical Jessi presented herself based on what she was saying. I thought back to when Jessi was just a patient of mine, things may have been confusing then, however compared to now, that was a walk in the park. I would give anything to have things go back to the way they were when Kyle and Jessi were in high school. It was much more simple then.
"What does Kyle think about this?" I asked out of curiosity.
"He doesn't know," She mumbled, adverting my gaze as we sat down on an open bench.
"He doesn't know," I clarified, "Why doesn't he know,"
I could tell she was collecting her thoughts again.
"Jessi I understand that you need to be careful with what you tell me but you've got to give me a little more to go on here," I pleaded.
I had been kept in the dark for so long it was hard to deal with any form of secrecy now that I was so close to having Kyle back.
"Tom Foss and I feel that it's time for Kyle to reconnect with you and the rest of your family. However, we both know it will take a great deal of convincing and it we tell him that Latnok is becoming more of a threat toward your family, we're afraid he'll flee again." She explained the best that she could.
"And you guys have just gotten him to return to Seattle, you don't want to ruin your progress." I concluded.
"Exactly," She nodded, "In the mean time we need you to be extra careful."
"Should I warn Stephen and the kids?" I asked out of sincere concern.
"Foss and I will keep an extra eye on your family," She assured, "We don't think that Latnok will do anything dangerous because they don't want to drive Kyle away either. We just think that the disgruntled members are making their presence and power known,"
"They're flexing," I nodded.
Jessi's eyebrows knit together in confusion as she cocked her head to the side slightly.
"Like you said, it's a power play, and they want to remind you guys who's really in charge," I clarified. "But it sounds like you guys are gaining more influence,"
She nodded, understanding what I had said. I could tell there were still a few social queues that she didn't pick up on as quickly. It made me wonder if Kyle was still the same way, he always struggled with common expressions. I couldn't help but smile; Kyle being slightly clueless was one of the things that reminded me of how innocent he truly was.
"How are you planning on getting Kyle to come home?" I asked, adjusting my posture on the bench.
"Foss and I are going to work on Kyle," She assured me, "You of all people know how much convincing Kyle needs though."
I smiled slightly knowing she was right. It would take some time for them to convince Kyle to come home. I had waited this long, I could wait a little while longer. I analyzed Jessi's facial expression, she looked tired and run down. Even when Jessi and Kyle were living under my roof I knew that her only focus was Kyle, she put him in front of herself.
"How are you doing Jessi?" I asked sincerely, placing my hand on her forearm.
"What do you mean?" She countered.
"I can see that you're focusing on Kyle's safety and well being, but how have you been coping with everything?" I explained as I fiddled with the paper sleeve on my cup.
"Lately I've been trying to find information on my mother," Jessi started, "I haven't been able to find too much."
"Why did you start this quest?" I questioned, trying to get her to open up.
She was quiet for a moment; I could tell she was really thinking about my question. Kyle and Jessi share a lot of similar traits, one of which is analyzing any situation they're in. I saw an ever so slight smile tug at the corner of her lips.
Kyle Trager
Kyle (POV)
AUGUST 2015
I held Liam on my lap as Dr. Porter conducted his weekly examination. I had hired Dr. Porter myself to work for Latnok as the lead medical advisor for Liam. I wanted someone I could trust so Foss played a hand in his hiring as well.
"He's gained 1.4 pounds since his last exam," Dr. Porter informed me as he noted it in Liam's electronic file.
"So he's still on track for his age," I noted.
"Well he is a little larger than the average newborn, however, considering his prolonged gestation he is on track." Dr. Porter explained.
Dr. Porter was a fairly young man he had short dark brown hair. It was his academic credentials that persuaded me to hire him. He had graduated top of his class from Harvard then went on to excel at Stanford medical. He had also done work with doctors without boarders and at the medical center in Landstuhl.
He continued with the examination, checking Liam's vitals and reflexes. Liam had spent an extra five months developing in the pod. He could already crawl and was working potty training. I had no doubt that his prolonged gestation would enable him to reach milestones faster than the average infant.
"Everything seems to be in order. His blood tests have all come back normal, he's developing as expected," Dr. Porter assured me with as smile as Liam played with his stethoscope.
"Do you want to continue with weekly examinations?" I asked as I rose from the exam table and readjusted Liam in my arms.
"I think we can move to every other week," He said as he checked his watch, "I have a meeting that I have to get to. We can do another check two weeks from today, the same time?"
"That works for me," I nodded.
Dr. Porter left the exam room and I stayed for a moment. I gazed at this child in my arms. Genetically we were identical, he shared my eyes and my hair. I couldn't help but feel a little odd about the fact that I was technically holding my infant self. I tried not to think about it in that way. I was still trying to figure out who I was to Liam. Was I his father? Brother? Genetic donor? I smiled when Liam reached out and clutched my nose in his tiny hand. He laughed and wiggled in my arms.
I slipped the black diaper bag over my shoulder and proceeded to leave the room. I made my way back to my office and placed Liam down in the travel playpen I had set up. As an agreement with the board I was allowed to take Liam home with me at night and on weekends as long as I brought him with me to work each day. It was close to Liam's naptime so he began dosing off once I laid him down. Getting him into a sleeping routine seemed to be more difficult than getting him to crawl, but we seemed to be getting the hang of it.
I had programed a baby monitoring system on my phone that allowed video feed of my office so I would be able to watch Liam if I had a meeting to attend. It was one of the many precautions Foss had suggested in order to keep Liam safe while in the Latnok facility.
"Kyle," A familiar voice said.
I glanced up to see Anna, wearing a stark black skirt and red button up blouse, rest her hand on the doorframe. Her hair fell in loose ringlets over her shoulders.
"Ready to go?" She asked, tilting her head slightly.
"Yeah," I whispered so as to not disturb Liam, "I was just putting Liam down for a nap."
I rose from my crouch and dusted off my dark grey slacks. I grabbed my matching suit coat from the hook on the back of the door and slipped it on. I gently closed the door behind me as we left the office. As we advanced toward the elevator I checked the video feed on my phone to find Liam fast asleep.
"I've been in contact with a few of those investors I told you about," Anna started as we stepped onto the empty elevator.
"What have you been able to find out?" I asked.
"Two of the investors have a fair share of money invested in various projects Latnok is conducting. The other two seem to be a little harder to gather information on. Ethan and I think they are government affiliates." She said just before the elevator stopped at our floor and the doors slid open.
"Government?" I questioned.
"With the project's intent it really isn't that surprising that the government played a role in Liam's creation," she explained as we advanced toward the board room, "Liam was supposed to be the next super soldier."
"Well how are we going to explain to them that he's not going to be?"
We paused just outside the boardroom. She leaned closer to me and motioned for me to lean down.
"Carter is holding a sub board meeting after this one," She whispered.
I assumed by sub board meeting she meant that Grace's lackeys didn't receive an invite. I nodded and followed her into the boardroom. Everyone was seated in his or her usual spots around the table. I took my seat at the head chair and brought the meeting to order.
I couldn't help but be slightly distracted as I listened to each of the board members report on their various projects. I glanced at my phone from time to time to check in on Liam. Finally the meeting came to a close and the members evaded the room. Jessi, Wyatt, Carter, Anna, Nora, Ethan and myself casually lingered behind.
"Now that Grace and her loyal subjects have dispersed," Carter called everyone's attention, "We need to talk about the investors."
"I assume that everyone has been brought up to speed and our only concern now is how do we keep the investors from coming after their investment." Wyatt added.
Carter had risen from his seat and placed a folder down in front of each of the remaining members. I flipped through the papers neatly stacked inside. From what I could tell these were termination papers.
"You want to tell them the project has been terminated?" Jessi questioned as she thumbed through the papers, "I don't think that will go over well with people who have but billions of dollars into this project."
"It will if the subject didn't survive the gestation," He smiled.
"You want to tell them Liam didn't survive," Ethan gathered.
"Won't they just expect us to try the experiment again?" I questioned as I glanced over the documents.
"Not if we decide to scratch the project all together and focus on other more valuable projects," Carter explained, "My plan is to tell them that Liam, the subject, didn't survive the gestation and it would be too big of a financial burden to continue with the project. Then we present them with other projects, like the sustainable energy project Anna is working on or the Alzheimer's project Ethan is conducting, and see if they would be willing to invest their money in those projects."
"What about Grace?" Jessi proposed as she glanced up from the file.
Grace was the only flaw that I could see posing a threat to this plan.
"That's why we want to propose the other projects to them," Wyatt took over explaining, "If we can gain their support on other projects, without Grace's influence, then there is no need to keep Grace on as a board member."
I couldn't help but notice the smile that tugged at Wyatt's lips at the thought of Grace no longer being on the board.
"Okay," I said as I rose from my seat, "Set up some meetings and we'll present this information to the investors."
Carter nodded and everyone seemed to file out of the room. Jessi lingered behind and walked back to my office with me.
"Foss wants you to stop by the warehouse when we're done here," Jessi told me as I opened my office door, "Do you want me to take Liam back to your apartment?"
"That would be great actually," I nodded as I gathered Liam's things, "Why does Foss want to see me?"
"You know Foss, he's a man of few words," Jessi smiled as she leaned down and scooped Liam up in her arms.
"Okay," I nodded handing Jessi Liam's bag, "Hopefully Foss won't keep me long. There is a bottle in the bag, if I'm not home he needs a bath before bed."
"You sound like a dad," She smirked with a slight chuckle.
I shook my head as Jessi turned to leave the room.
"I'll see you later," I called after her.
I gathered my files and placed them in my briefcase before I turned off the light and locked up the office for the night. I rode the elevator down to the lobby and made my way out to my car. I made the drive to the warehouse with ease; by this time the work traffic had died down. As I pulled up to the warehouse the gravel crunched under the tires of my truck. I climbed out and made my way into the warehouse.
"Foss!" I called once I was inside.
"In here," He called from the makeshift office in the back.
"Jessi said you wanted me to stop by," I told him as I leaned on the doorframe, once I found him seated at the computer.
"Let's go for a drive," He said as he rose from his chair and grabbed his coat and keys.
"A drive?" I questioned, trailed behind him.
"There's something I need to show you," Foss explained slightly as I followed him back outside to his truck.
"Are you going to give me any more to go on?" I asked as I climbed into the passenger seat and he started up the truck.
He didn't answer. He just pulled out onto the main road and proceeded to drive. I paid close attention to the streets and noticed how familiar everything was looking. It wasn't until we reached the neighborhood that I spoke up.
"Why are you taking me here?" I asked, sternness filling my voice.
"A long time ago, I didn't make time for my family until it was too late," He explained, keeping his eyes focused on the road. "I don't want you to do the same. Adam wouldn't have wanted you to isolate yourself from your family either, Kyle."
"It's not safe for me to be apart of their lives," I repeated for what seemed the millionth time.
"When are you going to realize that it doesn't matter whether you're apart of their lives or not. It's the emotional ties that make them vulnerable to Latnok's wrath." He explained, training his eyes on the road, "It's easier to keep them safe if they are aware of the threat,"
He pulled up to the curb just outside the Trager home. It was dark out and Foss had cut the lights to the truck. I could see Lori and Josh setting the table in the dining room and Stephen and Nicole bring in plates of food from the kitchen. Nothing had changed. I couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu as I sat watching the Tragers. This wasn't the first time I had been in this situation.
"Declan is there so he'll be able to help you explain," Foss said.
"You want me to go in there now?" I asked slightly shocked by the situation.
"I'm not leaving here till you do," He ordered.
"Foss-" He cut me off.
"Look Kyle, that is your family in there and the only one that has hurt them in the last five years is you," His tone shifted, "Your absence has hurt them more than Latnok ever could. Believe me the absence of my wife and daughter is something that I will never be able to fill."
It was rare that Foss spoke of his late wife and daughter. I knew the guilt ate away at him and he would do just about anything to get them back. I glanced back out the window at my family gathering for dinner. It had been so long since I had seen or spoke to them, I missed them dearly. The guilt was the worst part.
"Okay," I nodded as I unbuckled my seatbelt, "I'll go home,"
I climbed out of the truck and shut the door behind me. I couldn't help but feel a giant weight pull down on my shoulders as I advanced toward the front door. I had no idea what I was about to walk into, were they going to be angry? Over joyed? I paused outside the door and took a deep breath to collect myself. Without thinking I reached out and knocked on the door. My heart pounded as I waited for someone to answer it felt like an eternity before the door finally opened.
"Hi," I managed to say as Nicole broke out into tears pulling me into a hug.
"Kyle," She mumbled, squeezing me as hard as she possibly could. She pulled back from the hug to get a better look at me, "You're really here,"
"I'm really here," I smiled as the rest of the family trickled into the hallway to see what all the commotion was about.
"Hi," I mumbled unsure of what else to say.
AN: Hello everyone! I know it's been forever since I last updated I've been really busy with school starting up again. Anyway I hope you like this new chapter, Kyle's finally home! Please feel free to comment and share your thoughts and ideas. Thank you for reading!