Jim's Folly

Abby, my darling, it is no coincidence at all that the Professor's name is Abby Foreman. I named her after you. ^_^

Reviewers, thank you for your input on Andrew. I really appreciate it.

And Abby, yes, Raven had Andrew when she was fourteen. I, being an absent-minded writer…wrote a few future chapters ahead of time and assumed you all knew this already. *laughs* So, sorry, readers. Yes, I know it's young, but…you'll see. She'll explain it in a few chapters from now, I promise.

For the record, Jim is now seventeen years old, making Raven around nineteen, possibly twenty in a short while. *shrugs* I haven't decided yet.

And Mia…there's a reference to someone you may recognize. ^_^

Chapter Eight

Two weeks had passed since the incident in Professor Forman's classroom, and Raven hadn't heard much about Cadet Hawkins.

She sat at her desk dealing with unfinished paperwork, grumbling about how much work there was to be done when there was a knock at the door.

"Come in," she called.

In stepped Admiral LeighArc, her boss. She stood at attention immediately.

"At ease, Captain Calls."
"What's going on?" she asked, frowning. A large, burly, green-skinned man with a kind, yet stern face, he stood before her in an undecided manner. He held a few files in his beefy hands. "I'm here to let you know that even though he's not in any of your courses this year, your favorite cadet, Mr. Hawkins, has resigned from the Interstellar Space Academy."
His words went down her spine like ice and she paled profusely.

"Excuse me?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. She wasn't sure whether or not to believe him.

"You heard me, Captain. Cadet Hawkins dropped out of the Academy."

With that, he turned and left her office.

She sat down, distraught. Holding her hands to her face, she couldn't comprehend what her feelings were. Jim had dropped out??

---

Her files confirmed it. Rowan had dropped out, too. Both of them were no longer registered as students of the ISA. Raven shook her head.

"How could he do this?" she asked herself in disbelief. Why would he do this?

Was his life in such a wreck that he would go and make such a rash decision at a crucial moment…possibly while under the influence?

He'd dropped out. He'd…left her. He'd left her alone to fend for herself in this sick, sad world. What had he found that could have been better than life? Better than being a spacer, his ultimate dream?

Raven still couldn't comprehend it. Somewhere in town there was a troubled, drugged-up, seventeen-year-old, former-cadet who still had some hope left.

---

In the shack, Jim laughed uncontrollably. "Say that one again!"

Rowan was telling jokes. Both of them were so high on cocaine that they could barely understand each other.

Sitting in the corner of the worn-out couch was Beth, watching in horror. She knew Rowan was this bad, but sweet, caring Jim? She'd heard only wonderful things about him from Amy, and here he was, getting high with the last person she'd expect him to be friends with.

"So, Beth…what's say you try somma this?" Rowan asked, holding some of the powder towards her in a small bag.

She shook her head, hesitant. "No, Rowan, I think I'm okay."

"You sure, baby?" he asked, nuzzling the side of her head. Jim watched in interest because he could no longer see Rowan's face as it was hidden in Beth's long, shiny hair.

"Yes, Rowan, I said I'm fine."
"Come on, Bethy, take some with us. It's fun, I promise." Rowan had the bag under her nose now. Beth was pushing at him and he wasn't letting up. As Jim watched, a twinge of familiarity that something was wrong ached in his heart.

"Rowan, don't waste it…let us have it, ey?" he suggested, his words slurred.

Rowan looked at Jim for a moment, blinked several times and seemed to see the 'ingenious' of Jim's idea.

"Great plan, Jimmy! Why waste it, I say…"

Jim sighed with relief. "Beth, shall we walk ya home…?" he asked her. Beth licked her lips with uncertainty and shook her head. "No, it's okay…it's still light out. I'll…call a robocab. I'll be fine, okay?"

Rowan kissed Beth on the cheek and waved as she left the shack.

"Bye baby," he called out to her. Jim smirked. At least it seemed like he cared.

Jim looked at Rowan. "So, how high do you think we can get?"

Rowan looked at the remaining powder and frowned. "Should we find out?"

"I guess so!" Jim said with glee, jumping up from the ratty mattress to join Rowan on the couch.

The two shared the remainder of the drugs and sat in silence for a few moments of utopia.

As Jim met Rowan's eyes, he was frightened by the darkness he saw in them. From a friendly, happy friend, Rowan had suddenly changed into a frightening, angry monster. "You took my drugs!" Rowan screamed, standing up and charging at Jim in rage.

Jim was horrified as Rowan vented all of his sudden anger on him.

The bruises that appeared the next day all over him were proof that Rowan did not handle it well.

----

Andrew sat at home, wondering what his mother was up to. As he looked out the window, he saw a young blue-skinned man and a human like himself, running through the streets. They were laughing; he could tell by their smiles and wide-open mouths.

Happy. What he wouldn't give to run through the streets with his mother like that.

What little Andrew didn't know was that Jim and Rowan were running back from their latest fix.

Sighing heavily, Andrew curled up on a worn-out couch with his pet and settled himself to have a nap. He needed to kill time or it would take forever before his mom got home.

---

It was a few weeks later and the recently-twenty-year-old Captain was working overtime at her desk, trying to locate more on Jim Hawkins' whereabouts.

Andrew had phoned her numerous times and even though it had hurt profusely, she'd told him she'd be coming home soon. As much as it hurt her, she'd told him to find something to eat and go to bed. She'd even let him sleep with her that night. He'd seemed to cheer up a bit, at least. Sleeping in Mommy's bed was a privilege.

She sat at her desk, face in her hands. Where would a seventeen year old go to get high? The downtown area was popular for that, but she didn't want to look for him alone.

A knock startled Raven from her thoughts.

Admiral LeighArc stepped in and told her not to bother saluting. "Captain, I'm disappointed in your behavior during the past few days."

She didn't ask. She knew what he was talking about.

"You've been skipping your classes, neglecting your students…even your son. Look, Ms. Calls, I know you have a heart for your students but you're devoting time and life away from everything important around you. Jim Hawkins isn't a student anymore. There are other people who need your attention more than he does."
"And there are people like him who need my hope," she shot back, tears swimming in her eyes. "Admiral, I can't let him throw away his future."

"Captain, you don't chase after every drop-out like this." He scratched his spotted face. Closing his large eyes for a moment, he smiled for effect. "You have a special place in your heart for this boy."

Raven blushed. "Admiral, what are you suggesting?"

"A crush, perhaps? Captain, you know that is not allowed."
"Admiral, I don't have a crush on Mr. Hawkins!" she cried in her defense. The Admiral smiled faintly and shrugged. "Nonetheless, Captain, I'm afraid I'm going to have to demote you for the negligence of your students."
Raven paled. "Wha-?"

"You're being demoted to an instructor. No longer can you go on spacing trips, but you can remain here at the Academy as a coordinator for the arts. I did something nice for once and allowed you to keep your passion for music and dance."
Raven frowned. "Sir?"

"This Academy still needs a dance teacher, right? I was thinking that in the meantime you could also teach choir."
Raven blinked. "My hours…"

"Will be shorter," Admiral LeighArc finished, "So you can see more of your son."
"I don't know whether to cry or to thank you, Sir."
"Then do neither. I'll get your schedule tomorrow and you can move your office tomorrow, too. Until then, Cap-Instructor," he said, crossing the room and setting large hands on her shoulders. "Go home and be with your son. He needs you."

She averted her eyes from the loving, fatherly warmth of his gaze. He was married and had many children. He knew how much attention and care they desired.

"Yes, Sir."
"Dismissed, Ms. Calls." The Admiral let go of her and left the room.

---

When Raven got home, she didn't even eat before she took off her work clothes, slid into her pajamas and curled into bed next to her son.

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