Part three

Gene Starwind sipped on his milk, as he leaned back against the refrigerator, and his mind brushed along the events that had happened so long ago, yet so recently. He had remembered more than he had thought, and, much to his surprise, he enjoyed telling his recollections to Jim more than he would ever realize.

He glanced at his empty glass and sat it on the counter. He enjoyed beer *a lot*, but he thought milk was okay, too...

He sighed as he walked out of the kitchen and into Jim's room. As he silently entered, he found Jim wide awake, waiting for his return. Yes, he seemed tired, and extremely pale, but despite of how drained he felt, he was eager to hear the rest of Gene's tale. Gene, of course, thought that was very odd, considering he had thought that Jim would be bored with the account before he had even gotten half way through.

*It's funny how things turn out the way we don't expect*, thought Gene, as he sat down in the chair. *If I've learned anything from life, it would have to be that.* "Okay," he said as folded his arms. "Where did I leave off?" He thought for a moment.

"You forgot?" Jim made an odd look at Gene.

"No," muttered Gene. "I remember. I was just testing you."

"Just go on."

"Fine, fine..."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

His eyes slowly opened, as he felt the sunlight flood his vision. After squinting a bit, he quietly yawned, while popping his neck. So, he had slept after all - not well, but at least he had not stayed up the *whole* night counting cracks in the ceiling. His eyes slightly widened, as he realized there was a small body in his arms, that was snuggling against his chest.

He had hoped it had been a dream.

*Well, it wasn't, Starwind, so get over it!* The child shifted, but did not awaken. What was he going to do with the kid? He had pondered the question constantly the night before, but came to no conclusion. He certainly couldn't leave Jim on the streets, though he had thought about it several times. It seemed rather selfish, and just plain stupid.

"Mommy..." The child mumbled a bit, as he snuggled closer to Gene. "Daddy." Obviously, he was dreaming. He clutched Gene's hand, with a slight smile. "Aniki."

He stared down at Jim in disbelief. Had that been directed towards him? He wasn't sure. He listened a bit, to see if he could hear fragments of Jim's dreams, but the boy didn't utter another word. Gene quietly laughed to himself. This "aniki" probably was someone he had never met before.

He deemed himself foolish for thinking that Jim was calling to *him*.

A beam of light that had squeezed itself between the window blinds, found its way to Jim's face, casting a heavenly glow on the innocent face. Jim's dark eyes slowly opened, and looked to find that he was tucked safely beneath the sheets, and in Gene's arms. "I thought it was a dream," he muttered, as he stretched a little bit.

"You're not the only one, kid," sighed Gene. To him, Jim seemed to be holding up pretty well. He wondered how long it would last, though...

"What time is it?"

"I don't know." Jim closed his eyes again.

"I'm still sleepy." *How does he do it?* Gene asked himself several times. *He's just lost his folks, yet he's totally comfortable. As if he liked my being around. - or his staying here.* He raised an eyebrow. *Or maybe it still hasn't hit him.* It almost made him feel sorry for Jim. Gene bit his lip. He was very tired, but he did know one thing - this was certainly no time to sleep.

"I think we should get up." Gene sat up, with Jim still in his arms. "Hop up, kid." Jim sighed, as he got up from the couch. "Want something to eat?"

"Hm," Jim thought for a brief moment. "Yeah, I guess so."

"Fine, I'll get you something." Gene quietly yawned again, as he got up from the couch. "You like cereal?"

"Sure, I guess."

"Good." Gene casually walked into the kitchen, and picked up a cereal box that was still on the table, laying on its side.

"Is cereal all you eat?" Gene looked up from the bowl he was pouring cereal in.

"No," he said, slightly laughing. "I just don't want to torture you with my cooking."

"Um, okay." Jim sat down in a chair, nearly tripping on his large shirt. Before Jim even realized it, a bowl of odd shaped cereal was placed before him.

"Eat up, kid."

"Thanks." Jim immediately dug in, devouring all that was in his bowl. Gene watched silently, as Jim quickly ate. He was obviously hungry. Gene snickered a bit, as he wondered if he looked just as ridiculous when he ate.

"I'm surprised you haven't choked yet." Jim instantly quit eating, as he looked up from his bowl. "No, no. Don't stop. Keep on eating." Jim didn't protest, as he continued feasting upon his breakfast. After Jim was finally done, he set the spoon down, and looked up at Gene.

"Aren't you going to eat some?" Gene shook his head.

"Nah," he muttered. "I'm not hungry." Jim sighed, as he pushed the bowl away from him.

"So, what happens now?" The boy looked over at Gene, with his dark eyes. Gene thought he could see something in them; something along the lines of fear, or anxiety.

"Well," said Gene, somewhat stalling, "it's too early to tell." He sighed. "And it's driving me nuts!"

"Shouldn't we look at the problem?" Gene shook his head.

"We don't even know what problem we have."

"Yeah, we do!"

"Well, yeah, okay, I'll admit it. A crazy old man chasing us *is* a problem, but he hasn't exactly struck yet. As far as I know, he could be bluffing."

"He's serious," said Jim darkly, as he stared down at his feet. "He probably is chasing us. Maybe he just wants to trick you into thinking he's not."

"That's a possibility." Gene frowned, as he sat in a chair next to Jim. "But I'm not just going to sit here and wait for him to attack me."

"It would be the best thing to do." Raising an eyebrow, Gene thought for a moment. He thought it was very odd, to be discussing this sort of thing with a young child that he had just barely met. Gene had always considered himself a loner, not one to really have a partner for anything. He wanted no one to be a partner with him - and that went double for small children. But...who said he had to be his partner?

"Oh, is that so?" Jim scowled at Gene's question.

"I just don't want..." he sighed, as turned away from Gene.

"What?"

"The same thing that happened to my parents to happen to you." Jim looked at Gene, with a pained expression on his face. "You're the only friend I have now."

"Oh..." Gene was at a loss of words. This child was far more mature than that of a seven year old. If it weren't for the chubby cheeks, and small height, he would have mistaken him for someone much older. "I'm tough, kid. I can handle it myself." Gene noisily got out of his chair, and swiftly walked out of the kitchen. Jim laid his head upon the table, while biting his lip.

He had just lost his parents, been kidnapped, and was with an odd teen. So, why was he acting this way? He just wasn't sure, and it drove him insane. This teenager was a complete stranger, and definitely *nothing* like his father, personality wise, anyway. Why did he feel attached to him? Why did he feel fond of a pitiless, and messy teenager? Again, he wasn't sure.

A laugh leaked out of Jim, that echoed through the kitchen walls. He was scared out of his mind, and the only thing he could do was *laugh*. A few minutes passed, and soon, the quiet laughing had ceased. What now replaced the laughing was a small tapping sound.

Tap tap...tap tap...

He got up from his chair, and strained to listen. It sounded like it was coming from the door. The knocking sounded urgent, and Jim decided, with curiosity, that he wanted to check it out himself. He dashed out of the kitchen, as he still listened the soft knocking, it being his guide to the door. He noticed that the door was dead bolted, thus locking the door.

Maybe it wasn't a good idea to open the door after all. Just as he was about to turn around, he heard a familiar voice from behind the door.

"Open the door!" Could it be? He stepped closer towards the door in anticipation. "Is anyone here?" Yes! It had to be! He knew that voice from anywhere! An old friend of his father's...good old Jayward. Maybe his father was still alive, and Jayward had come to take him back...?

Perhaps a slim chance, but Jim was still hoping.

His hope, and the familiarity of the voice, seemed to take over his body, as he slowly unlocked the door. As he was opening the door, he heard a voice ring out through the room.

"Kid! What are you doing?!" Gene came running to the door. "Don't open it!" It was too late, though, as the door swung open, and there stood a tall, young man, wearing a trench coat. His blond hair covered his gray eyes.

"Mr. Jayward!" Cried Jim with delight. "How did you find me?" The man's face went pale.

"Jim...!" He looked down at the child. "I didn't know you were here."

"You didn't?" All traces of happiness vanished from Jim's face. "So, you never found daddy."

"What? Your father's missing?"

"Hey, hey!" Gene pulled a small pistol from his pocket. "I hate to break up this reunion, but what do you want? I don't know you, and you just said you didn't know Jim was here." Jayward sighed, as he clenched his fist.

"I don't want to do this...but I must." Without warning, he swung his fist at Jim, hitting the boy across the face. He flew back, and landed on the floor, with a small cry. Gene growled, as he held his pistol firmly in his hands.

"One more move and you're dead." Jayward frowned, as stared down at the motionless boy not too far from him. "Now...raise your hands in the air." He did as he was told. "Give me an explanation."

"I'm a bit confused myself."

"Who told you to come here?" Jayward looked away from the child. "If you value your life, you'd tell me."

"I no longer value it." He smirked. "Go ahead - shoot me."

"You may not value your life...but do you value his?" Gene pointed the gun towards Jim, who was still on the floor.

"The boy!" Gasped Jayward, his hands still in the air. "You wouldn't!"

"I wouldn't?" He aimed a bit more carefully. Deep down inside, Gene knew he wouldn't pull that trigger. He was still unsure what he would do if the man still refused to answer.

"Okay! Okay!" He exclaimed. "I'll tell you." Gene didn't bother looking at Jayward.

"Start talking."

"A long time ago," began Jayward, "I was in serious debt. I was constantly getting calls, from my creditors, and was being harassed by unwanted mail, threatening that I would be put in jail. James Hawking, a close friend of mine, offered to help, however, it was to no avail. I eventually came across a man who told me that he would pay off my bills. We became good friends after that. I one day asked him if should pay him back, and he simply replied I did not need to pay him any money. He told me that I could do a favor for him someday."

"And this would be it?" Inquired Gene, who seemed to be a little more than impatient.

"Yes."

"You still didn't answer my first question - who sent you here?" Gene gripped the gun a bit tighter, as he refused to waver his aim at the small boy, who appeared to be waking up.

"Edward Knight." Gene grunted with disgust.

"I figured." There was a brief silence. "Tell me. Did you know that Edward Knight murdered your 'good friend' James Hawking?" Jayward turned a shade whiter.

"I-I did not! I s-swear it!"

"And did you know he murdered his wife, too?"

"No!"

"And not only that, he tried to kidnap Jim Hawking!"

"It's not true!" Jayward scowled. "You're lying!"

"I'm not lying. I'm one of the few people who knows, and now he's trying to get me off of his back. Now you know, and soon you'll be on Knight's hit list, just like me!"

"I'm not going to sit here and take this crap from you!" Much to Gene's surprise, Jayward lowered his hands, and pulled out a peculiar looking gun. Gene knew he should probably shoot Jim, otherwise it would make it look like everything he said was a lie. Also, he didn't really know what that gun did, and he honestly didn't want to find out.

"I'm warning you!" Exclaimed Gene, though he had no idea what he was going to do.

"No," muttered Jayward angrily. "If anyone should be doing the warning, it should be me!" He gripped the gun tighter. "And your warnings are all used up." And without even a flinch, he pulled the trigger.

"Aniki!" A wail echoed through the room, as Jim leaped in front of Jayward. It seemed to Gene, he was completely paralyzed.

*Did he just call me that?!*

But there was no time to think about that, as Jim gasped out in pain, and fell onto the floor. Gene still had no idea what that had been, considering there had been no loud gunshot. If he had not seen Jayward pull the trigger, he would have assumed he hadn't of pulled it at all.

"Jim...!" Jayward dropped the gun in surprise. "Jim?!" Gene ran over to Jim, his gun still in his hands. His eyes were closed , and it seemed he was gasping for breath. The teen checked the younger boy for any injuries, but only found a small stream of blood on his arm...and a needle sticking out of it.

"What is this?" Gene queried, as he yanked the needle out of Jim's limp arm.

"An injection of some sort," answered Jayward quickly, as he ran to Jim's side. Gene looked up at Jayward, with anger beginning to ignite in his eyes.

"What kind of injection?"

"A poison," Jayward managed to choke out. "He'll be dead within 12 hours."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A shudder passed through Jim's ailing body, as he curled up under the sheets. He remembered that sensation very well. Dizzy, confused, weak...

He sighed. Sure, this story was bringing many good memories back, but still, there were some he'd just rather forget.

"That was the first time I really called you 'Aniki'," whispered Jim, still drained from his illness. Gene, who was still sitting in his chair, nodded.

"Yeah, I guess it was." Jim chuckled softly.

"You're embarrassed."

"Am not!"

"Are too."

"Whatever." Though Gene acted totally comfortable, he couldn't fool Jim. His face was a slight shade of red. Sometimes it seemed real difficult to keep his calm, cool exterior in front of Jim. "Hey, um, want some chips?" Gene was dying to get out of the room for a moment, Jim could tell.

"You're not trying to avoid telling the rest, are you?" Jim managed a weak smile.

"Um...no, no. That's not it at all. I'm just hungry."

"You're always hungry," Jim's little smile grew a bit bigger, "Aniki." Gene scowled and he quietly left the room.

*He'll be back...*

End part three