Disclaimer: All characters from Early Edition belong to those who created this magnificent ensemble.
The others are created by me and may only be used with my permission.
May my humble offering appease the cravings of those who hunger for more Early Edition?
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He had really expected to wake up in his bed, in his own time complete with cat and paper, not in this void. Gary felt certain his eyes were open but he couldn't see anything, just blackness. An eerie emptiness surrounded him and filled him with a strange fear. Maybe I am dead. He began to wonder, a little disappointed in this version of the afterlife. Was he floating? He couldn't feel anything beneath him. His skin felt nothing. A meow from the cat would at least give him some assurance he hadn't been forgotten. "Hey?" He called out but no sound reached his ears. Tired, Gary gave up. Maybe this is for the best. He thought. I'm so sleepy. Maybe death is being worn out and drained. He speculated.
"You better get back," a familiar voice seemed to speak in his head.
"Snow? Back to where?" Gary asked but didn't hear the words out loud.
"You don't have much time," the voice in his head insisted.
"I don't understand!" He became alarmed by the urgency in Lucius Snow's response. "What do I have to do?"
"Listen!"
"Listen to
what?" Gary strained to hear anything
in this nothingness. "I can't hear
anything!" When no answer returned he
felt deserted He just needed to rest.
Even though he could feel no contact with his body he felt very tired. How
could he figure out what he needed to do in this empty space?
A soft sound, like a feather flutter, reached his ears. For some reason he knew the hushed noise. He didn't know what it was or whom it came from but he recognized anyway. Gary struggled to hear more. Drifting to his ears a soft hum grew slightly louder as he focused in on the sound. The darkness didn't seem so oppressive as before. That noise, he knew that noise. What is it? A voice? It's a voice, I know. A warm glow replaced the emptiness. With great effort he concentrated his entire mind on the voice. Like bits of the sun coming through the slats of a blind, a soft laugh pierced through the mysterious emptiness. Mom?
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
With an exasperated sigh, the doctor stared at the four people gathered around his patient's bed. One week had passed since he had given them the advice to turn off life support for this man. After seven days of being told Gary was dead and not coming back, he thought they would have to believe it. Nevertheless the Hobsons ignored his recommendation.
"There, that feels better doesn't it?" Lois finished wiping her son's face with a damp washcloth. Giving up, the doctor abruptly turned and left. Collectively the four sighed. Together it was easy to resist the medical viewpoint.
"Why do I feel like such a louse for not giving the doctor the go ahead," Bernie sighed putting his hand on his wife's shoulder.
"Because, it's hard to see him like this," Lois answered without a hint of tears. She had vowed not to cry in front of Gary. If he was around, she didn't want to see her doubting he would be coming back.
"Yea," Bernie wondering how long they would have to wait.
"I guess I should get back to McGinty's," Marissa didn't release Gary's left hand. She bent closer and inhaled, trying to find Gary's sent among the strong odors of the hospital. "Come on, partner, you've had enough time off. There's work to be done." She whispered as she fingered one of the hands that always seemed to be there for her when she needed them the most. Out of nowhere to stop her from getting hurt, this hand would appear. Gary always touched her like he was handling a small bird even when he held on to her firmly.
She doubted if she would ever feel that touch again. And her uncertainty had grown with each passing day. She wanted to believe he would come back but she still couldn't feel his presence…anywhere. For his parent's sake, Marissa never let on of her increasing fear. She forced a smile and tried to keep things light. "Chuck, has been helping out at McGinty's and you know what shape he left us in the last time. So you better wake up."
"Hey," Chuck protested. "Is that the kind of gratitude I get for helping?"
"It does worry me you haven't asked for anything yet," Marissa countered.
"I'm shocked. No, hurt. You would think, I would expect any kind of compensation while my best friend is in this condition?" he fumed.
"I'm sorry Chuck. Your reputation precedes you," Marissa smiled knowing she could still get him to help her back at the bar.
Bernie and Lois chucked as the two continued to argue. The first time either had laughed in almost three weeks. A shadow lifted from the room letting in the bright healing rays of the sun.
"You know your problem, Marissa?" Chuck started.
"Yea, usually it's you," Marissa finished.
"Ha ha, very funny. You should have been a comedian."
"With you giving me material, I probably have gotten big laughs."
"Oh, so now I'm a big joke," Chuck knew he was losing ground in this verbal war.
Marissa laughed. "No, just a little…" She froze. "Gary?"
"What?" Chuck stepped closer.
"His fingers moved!" she claimed. "He moved his fingers!" Everybody watched his hand and held their breath. Nothing happened. "Really, I felt him move his fingers with my hand."
"Wishful thinking," A nurse said as she came over and checked the machines.
"No!" Marissa protested. "It wasn't!"
"Even if you did feel anything, it was only reflexes. Nothing more," the nurse insisted then left to attend another patient.
"Gary, show them. Everybody is waiting," Marissa rubbed the back of his fingers then slipped her hand under his palm. "Come on Gary. There!" she cried.
"Marissa, I don't see anything," Chuck said softly and glanced at Lois and Bernie watching anxiously. He looked at the blind woman's smiling face then back to his friend's hand. A slight tremor in Gary's fingers made him do a double take. Painfully slow the long fingers wrapped around Marissa's brown hand.
"Oh my God. Gary!" Lois leaned closer to her son's face. "Gary, open your eyes. Wake up!"
"Come on Gar. Get the lead out. You've kept us waiting long enough," Bernie put his hand on his son's chest.
"Yea Gar, I've got better things to do than listen to Marissa put me down," Chuck noticed his friend's face flush with color.
"Gary, open your eyes, right now!" Lois used her best mother's voice. A slight flutter came from his eyelids. "Wake up right now, young man!" Lois touched his face. She saw his eyes move beneath the lids. "Gary!" Slowly a small slit appeared. She stroked his forehead and cheek. "Wake up Gary, please," her demand became a plea. Gradually Gary's eyes opened. "Gary?" A fear crept into her heart when she saw no recognition in his unfocused stare. Wavering, his gaze wandered around the room unseeing.
"What's happening?" Marissa felt the strength returning in the hand clasping hers.
Chuck put his hands on her shoulders. "He opened his eyes but he's not all here yet. Come on Gary!"
"Honey? Come back to us," Lois prayed as a tear ran down her face. His roaming eyes finally landed on her face and began to brighten. She smiled through her tears. "Sweetie?" Gary tried to smile but the tube in his mouth caused him to choke and gag.
"Easy, Gar," Bernie grabbed his son's hand to stop him from pulling out the tubes.
"We need some help here!" Chuck rushed to find the doctor. He returned practically dragging the physician to the bed. "I tell you, Doc, he's awake!" he pointed.
Dr. Corbin relented. "I'll look but honestly, even if it seems like he's moved a bit, it is just…a reflex response…." The doctor saw the man in the bed looking directing at him. Quickly the doctor took his penlight and shone it into Gary's eyes. His patient flinched at the bright light. "I don't understand. This can't happen." He did a swift check of Gary's other vital signs.
"It has happened," Marissa squeezed her partner's hand. Smiling through tears she added, "He's back!"
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"So Gar, what do you think?" From behind the bar, Chuck tapped a spoon on the edge of a coffee cup. His friend sat across from him reading. He ignored the look of scorn on Marissa's face.
"Think about what?" Gary raised his head away from the paper in front of him.
"I just told you all about my next project and you haven't heard a single word!" Chuck complained.
"He's lucky," Marissa then leaned against Gary slightly. "Are you all right?"
"If you ask me that one more time…" he warned gently.
"Sorry. But why don't you let Chuck and your dad handle the paper today. You have only been out of the hospital for two days. You need to rest," she insisted.
"I'm here for ya buddy," Chuck nodded. "Bernie and I can handle things."
"I've heard that before," Gary looked skeptical. "I don't know if I can do that to Chicago. And Marissa, has my mother been talking to you?"
"She's worried about you Gary and frankly so am I," she put a hand on his arm.
"One mother is enough, please!" Gary begged her.
"You've been so quiet," she argued.
"I've had a lot to think about," Gary closed the newspaper.
"Like what? Life? Death?" Chuck snapped his fingers. "I know the afterlife? Sounded depressing to me," he shuddered.
"Time," Gary put his elbows on the bar and rested his chin in his hands. Chuck's confused look caused him to added more to the cryptic word. "I've been thinking of time. Specifically, how can the future affect the past?"
"Ouch, Gar, buddy. It's way to early in the morning to think that deep. You'll get the bends or something."
"It's nine o'clock," Marissa said.
"I'm on LA time," he countered.
"I just don't understand how I even exist if I had to go back in time to save the person who will eventually save me," Gary explained scratching his head.
"So you had an out of body experience. Happens all the time. My uncle Monty used to travel to other planets that way," Chuck told them ignoring the looks his story caused.
"Marissa, have you been able to talk any sense into him?" Lois came from the office looking very upset. Bernie followed her and gave Gary a pat on the back as he sat down beside him.
"Not yet," the blind woman heard her partner mutter something under his breath. "Did you say something?" she asked.
He felt the nudge his father gave him. "Not anything I want to repeat." Gary replied.
"Don't press your luck, son. Two women…" Bernie shook his head. "You'll never win."
The front door opened and a tall red headed woman entered. Chuck touched Marissa. "It's the woman who found Gary."
"Jennifer! I'm so good to see you again," Lois went over to embrace her. "Come meet Gary." The woman smiled warmly at the welcome she received. Gary stood to greet her.
"You are looking better," Jennifer grinned at Gary. "The first time we met you kind of gave me a cold shoulder."
"I want to thank you for helping me. You saved my life," he reached to shake her hand. The sparkle in her dark green eyes made him smile.
"Twice," Marissa wanted to give her the full credit. "If you hadn't come to the hospital…"
"Oh Jennifer, I'm so embarrassed. The way I spoke to you that day at the hospital," Lois put her hand up to her mouth. "I'm so sorry."
"Don't think anything more
about it," she put her arm around the older woman's shoulders. "It was a
difficult time. I'm just glad
everything turned out all right."
Bernie stood up and took her hand. "What can I say?" He kissed her cheek. "Thanks, just doesn't seem to be enough."
"When it comes from the heart, thanks is more than enough," Jennifer squeezed his hand.
Lois gave her son's rescuer another hug. "Thank you so much," She wiped her eyes. "We tried to get a hold of you when Gary woke up but…"
"Some paramedic you worked with said you had fled the country…to run drugs in Central America," Chuck looked at her suspiciously.
"That had to be Brad. He probably thought it was funny," Jennifer rolled her eyes then smiled. "Actually what he said…wasn't a total lie. I did go to Central America and I did work with drugs. I went to work the earthquake site. I have two trained search and rescue dogs. We spent the last two weeks helping down there." The smile faded from the woman's face as she remembered the misery she experienced.
"I saw that on TV at the hospital. That must have been terrible," Lois exclaimed.
"It was…I've worked tornado damage but this…and the aftershocks" the woman swallowed hard. "It's good to be on ground that doesn't move again. You know, it's the type of job that is horrendous but still I can't imagine not helping."
Gary noticed a familiar tired look. "I now exactly how you feel." He nodded.
The woman looked at him critically then her eyes widened. "You would know. Wouldn't you? Dealing with tomorrow's paper."
"How did you find out?" Gary demanded, shooting accusing looks at his friends and family. His mother cringed as the others stared at her. "Mom?"
"Well, Gary…" Lois gave him a weak smile. "It just kind of leaked out. The doctor told me you were dead." She blurted out and tears welled up in her eyes.
"Mom, don't cry," he put an arm around her.
"Don't worry your little secret is save with me," Jennifer assured them. "I'm a paramedic, remember? I'm sort of in the same business, saving lives. Why would I jeopardize your means of doing so?"
"Jennifer, as a paramedic, what is your medical opinion of Gary running around today? He's only been out of the hospital, two days," Lois ignored her son's annoyed looks.
The paramedic looked at Gary, "How do you feel?"
A little surprised by the serious question but he quickly answered. "I feel fine. And it's an easy day."
"No dizziness? Weakness?" Jennifer shrugged when he shook his head no to her questions. "As long as you don't over do it."
"Ha," Gary sneered. His mother's off handed tactics had backfired.
"Taking someone with you to help wouldn't be a bad idea," Jennifer suggested then she looked at her waist and reached for her pager. She frowned when she read the message. "Excuse me, may I use your phone? I'll pay for it. My cell phone died this morning."
"Sure. Don't worry about the cost," Gary motioned for Chuck to get the hand set for her since he was behind the bar.
After punching in a number she smiled at the others. "Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt everything."
"That's okay, we were just discussing the space time continuum thing," Chuck said sarcastically making her eyebrows raise.
"Don? What's up?"
Gary watched her sigh as she listened to the person at the other end. Her expression became very serious. She reached inside her coat and brought out a small map and studied it as she listened for a moment longer.
"I just got back from the earthquake. Isn't there anyone else?" She rubbed her eyes. "How long has he been missing? All right. I'll be at the airport in an hour." Jennifer nodded. "Be sure they know my dogs are not luggage. And they stay with me when we get there…. good. Talk to you later," she hung up and handed the phone back to Chuck.
"What happened?" Marissa beat everyone to the question.
"A four year old boy wandered off from a ski resort in Colorado. He's been gone since about seven thirty this morning." She told them.
"Oh dear, you must be exhausted from that earthquake. How can you go?" Lois looked at her intently.
"I have
to. There's a storm front moving in
with eight to twelve inches of new snow. I'm the only one close enough to get there in time to search." She yawned. "I can sleep next week. It's my
dogs I'm worried about. The earthquake
was very hard on them. Dragon and Toc
needed a rest. But what can I do? I have to go." She shrugged. "It was
nice seeing all of you again. And good
to see you conscious," Jennifer's hand clasped Gary's and smiled. Her smile vanished and she glanced at the
paper on the bar. Nodding toward it she
asked. "Is there anything in there about the boy?"
His first reaction made him pull the paper closer so she couldn't read it. But Gary recovered and searched through the pages. "Here," he folded the paper so he could read the small article. "Timothy Reese, age four, was found along the north ridge after being lost for approximately seven hours. A search dog named Stretch…"
"That can't be right," Jennifer looked over his shoulder and pulled the paper toward her. "Stretch isn't completely trained yet. I wasn't even going to take him."
Gary leaned back and smiled slightly. "I don't think you have much of a choice." He gazed at her as she read the article.
"Is this thing ever wrong?" She noticed him looking and stared back.
"Only on purpose," he replied.
"Okay, I'll take him. Thanks for the help," She started for the door then turned back. "Oh, on the space time continuum thing. I'm a science fiction fan and I've heard a lot of different theories on the subject. Out of all of them My Uncle Lu's thoughts made the most sense to me."
"Uncle Lu?" Chuck questioned.
"Actually he was my Grandfather's best friend and I just called him Uncle Lu," Jennifer explained. "He said, 'Consider time as a fabric. Weaving in and out, the past, present, and future are the threads forming the material that clothes our existence. The seams, permit the past, present and future to intermingle and allow for alterations or repairs.'" She reached into her pocket and pulled out a business card. "If anything changes, please call this number. My brother can always reach me." She turned to leave.
Gary took the card without reading it. "This Uncle Lu is a professor or something?" He asked before she reached the door.
"Actually he was a typesetter for a newspaper," She pulled open the door. "I've gotta go." Jennifer paused one more time before the door closed. "Lucius Snow was his full name." And then she was gone.
To
Gary it felt like a whirlwind had just past through the bar. For some reason, he didn't feel odd about
Jennifer having a connection with Lucius Snow. It seemed to fit. Or make
that tailor made, he thought. He
glanced down at the card he held. Time
Weaver's Stable and Kennel. We take the time to train them right the first
time.
Without saying another word, Gary slid back onto the bar stool and sipped his coffee. He ignored the stares from Chuck and his parents. Shifting his downward gaze slightly he could see Marissa struggling not to ask him if he was all right. Everybody seemed to be waiting for him to speak. Like, I have all the answers. He snorted to himself. I'm not even sure of the questions. Finally he leaned back.
"That was…" Gary searched for the right word.
"Weird?" Chuck offered
"Peculiar?" Bernie suggested.
"Are you all right honey?" Lois slipped her arm under his and hugged him.
For some reason he felt like he wanted to laugh. Gary suppressed a smile but couldn't keep the amusement from his face. "I'm fine, Mom." He hugged her back.
"Don't you think Jennifer knowing Lucius Snow unusual?" Marissa puzzled over the tone in her partner's voice.
"Interesting, perhaps," Gary mulled over the resent events. Marissa wanted know everything. Rarely, did he need to keep anything from her. But he would never tell her about her marriage to Emmett or about the children she may or may not have. Somehow he needed to convince her, whatever happened to him it would never be her fault. He put his hand on hers. A silent promise to tell her more after his parents went back to Hickory.
"Son?"
"Dad, if you ask me if I'm all right…" He growled.
"Then talk to us Gary," Bernie put his hand on his son's shoulder.
"To be honest, I don't know what to say," Gary admitted. "Her knowing Snow isn't any stranger than getting tomorrow's newspaper today."
"I see your point," his father nodded.
"What Snow said about time, do you think if someone pulls the wrong thread, the whole thing unravels?" Chuck asked.
"Maybe, I don't know," Gary hadn't considered that aspect of the old man's theory.
"Of course not," Marissa assured them.
"How do you know?" Chuck didn't like her all knowing attitude.
"That's why Gary and others like him are here," She smiled confidently. "God makes sure time gets mended before the seam rips out."
Gazing at her with affection, Gary silently thanked God for her friendship. Her faith helped him to believe when he needed to the most. If he was the messenger of the keeper of time as Snow said, Marissa was certainly his compass. He squeezed her hand.
"Well, I've gotta go," Gary grabbed his coat off the hook then turned back. "Are you two coming with me or not?" He nodded at the grateful smile from his mother.
"I'm with you Gar," Bernie grinned and joined his son by the door.
"Lead the way Buddy," Chuck motioned as he quickly put on his coat.
"Be careful," Marissa and Lois chorused as the three left.
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As Gary listened to his father's soft snore his thoughts drifted to Jennifer. For some reason he knew their paths would cross again. Soon he hoped, wondering how long she would be stuck out west in the snowstorm. Snow's speculation about time intrigued him. He yawned. In the unguarded moment a line popped into his mind.
We sleep, but the loom of life never stops, and the
pattern, which was weaving when the sun went down, is weaving when it comes up
in the morning.
~ Henry Ward Beecher ~