Chapter Four: trusting
Liam followed Jace out the coffee shop into the moist dark night air. She had been fairly upset by his words but she had also confirmed what he most feared; he had been right about her condition. She had been injected with something that had the power to kill her. Liam was also shocked to realize that he cared a lot about a young woman be had barely known for two weeks.
The wind foretold of the nights' rain. It tousled Jace's unnaturally red hair, revealing speckles of brown beneath. Liam watched her eyes as the streetlight reflected and sparkled on the deep green irises. He shook his head. If he let his eyes gaze into hers long enough, sometimes the effect was hypnotic.
She turned to face him. They had wandered in silence to the flat planet café. He motioned her to follow him.
"Um... it's a bar. And more. I really don't want to go in there."
"My apartment is upstairs. I'd like to talk about… stuff. Nothing to do with your… differences." Her eyes glimmered. "Promise."
Liam's apartment was dark and quiet. He motioned for her to sit on a couch. Jace felt herself sink into the soft leather as Liam sat across from her. He left the lights off.
"What's it like?"
"What, shifting? Or being an outcast on your own world?" She asked bitterly, looking away.
Liam rose, and sat next to her on the couch.
"I know the latter, Jace." He put his hand in hers, trying to break through whatever mental barriers she had up. Her hand was small in his, and it shook.
"What's wrong?" She shook her head.
"Oh, it's nothing." She said as she pulled away, standing to look outside the window. The setting sun's twilight cast an eerie yet beautiful gaze against the clouds.
"Is that the result of the small dosage of Hangman?" She whipped to face him, ready to chew is pathetic human head off when Jace saw the sincerity in his face. She turned away, almost ashamed.
A whispered, "yes" was her quiet reply. "I created an anti-toxin to it years ago. While 100% of the drug would cause immediate affects… what they gave me is eating away slowly… Who knows how long I have, but I really don't worry about it, I mean, it's hard just to live in a world like this, and I really can't say it's that great for me, after all-"
She felt Liam next to her, his face illuminated by the lightning of the coming storm. He presence silenced her.
"There is something else, I can feel it, Laura." He moved closer to her, towering over her small form. "Tell me," He said softly. For the first time, Jace felt in the weakened spot, like she had no choice.
"It's just… hard. That's all. It gets to me."
"The drug?"
"No…" She tried to return to the center of the room, but the protector's strong form blocked her way. "It's the fact that I can never go back…" She bowed her head, as if in shame. "I can't see those I care about, because if I involve them, they could die. I can't tell them it's not their fault, I can't apologize for what I've done, and I can never stop thinking about it!"
Frustrated, and on the verge of tears, she attempted to quickly turn and walk away, but again Liam was there. She ran right into him, her head hitting about his chest. He stood firmly rooted to the spot, and grasped Jace's body, forcing it still.
"Why would it be their fault?"
"Because I was stupid enough to ask for their help before! And-" now there was no stopping it. Unshed tears of the past slid down her face. Attempting to regain her composer, she turned away, towards the window. The storm raged full, as if in tune with her feelings. "B-before they took me, my parents, they fought and drank and hurt and I couldn't stop it! I tried to help them, but in t-turn I couldn't even help myself! I asked a teacher for help, a-an' god, he did! They were so good, my boyfriend, my friends and him, my teacher and-and then, I tried to end it-" She paused to breathe, for Jace was lost in the painful memories of her dark past. "I tried, but he stopped me. H-he was like a dad to me… and then, everything was ok! I handled my parents and I was ready for collage, then the- bastards " Her weeping eyes darkened with a sorrowful rage, "They took me to hell. I can't trust, I can't! I don't want to hurt anyone or myself again!
"I want to tell him that I didn't kill myself, that I'm strong, thanks to him, that it's not his fault…" She almost doubled over in a fit of painful tears.
The world was caving in on Jace. Her strong, impenetrable walls she had built were gone, and she felt like she was lost, forever. Then a lifeline was flung to her; she felt Liam's strong arms wrap around her like a warm blanket. He rested his head on her shoulder, and held her close to him as the agonies of her past washed over her like a tidal wave. Now he could understand that hidden emotion in her eyes…
The thunder lessened, and only the rain remained.
He gently scooped the young woman in his arms, for at that moment, she was nothing more than a child, caught in the past. He carried her to his bedroom, and lay her down on his bed. Tears still flowed down her face, and she was still caught in memories. Liam quickly removed his shirt and shoes, and climbed into the comfortable bed to lie next to Jace. He pulled her next to him, and brought the comforter over them, like a shield or wall against the outside world.
Her eyes were open, but she was not looking at anything he could see. Liam did not grow up like she did, over time, but he understood what it was like to not be able to see one's parents… but god forbid they be abusive!
He lifted her face to meet his own. He touched her cheek with his hand, caressing the damp skin. He didn't know what to do, really; he's brought her this far, so now, somehow, Liam had to bring her back. He touched her face again, and brought his hand behind her neck, slowly massaging the faint hairline he found. Laura whimpered, and closed her eyes, caught between two worlds, two times. He touched her nose with his, trying to be gentle yet soothing. He pressed his face up against Jace's, breathing ever so soft words of comfort. She whimpered again, and turned to meet him on the bed, facing Liam. She forced her face into the crevice of his neck and shoulder, trying to run from the memory. He pulled her closer and continued to massage her neck and upper back, it seemed to relax her. The rain's pounding lessened to a soft rhythmic tapping against the apartment.
At last, she was silent, being held like she had never been in childhood. Laura… Laura… Liam whispered to her, and she felt his voice resonate through his throat and neck. She didn't want to pull away.
"I'm so sorry… I am so sorry for what they did…" He murmured to her. "But don't run anymore… you don't have to hide. I'll be here. I'll be here…"
Jace felt like she was wrapped in… safeness, as if it was a tangible thing. His chest was strong and protective; his voice soothed her. His hands continued to rub her extremely sensitive neck. As the rain lulled her, she felt for the first time… content to not run or hide. Just to stay right where she was and fall…
Liam sighed in heavy relief as Jace submitted to a long awaited peaceful sleep. He felt the tenseness of her body go limp and she relaxed under his touch. He turned his head slightly, giving her room to breathe, because he doubted that much oxygen could reach her face considering how far she had nuzzled into his neck.
Liam had a lot to think about now… about why or how he cared so much for Laura, about how he was going to save her life, to find this cure, do his job, keep the Taelons happy, think about – how soft the bed was and warm Jace was and her arms wrapped around… him… and…
* * *
Renee spent the majority of the evening with Auger, Street, and Hubble. God it had been hilarious. Hubble wanted Jace for more testing. God, she was beginning to think the humans were as bad as the Taelons. Auger totally cussed Hubble out, and Hubble stormed out of the conference room. Now, at long last, she was home, on her couch, thinking the day over. Had she been more awake and aware, she might have noticed the suited man watching the conversation with unnatural interest.
***
Director Vosloo met with his men early the next morning in a local diner. The sun had yet to rise when they gathered at a booth.
"It's her then, you're sure?"
"Yes director. I'm positive she is connected to the ANA now." Vosloo snorted. That girl had more balls than was healthy. Then again, he was sure that's what had kept her alive thus far.
"We must finish the job. We cannot have our work fall into the filthy hands of the Taelons. It's time we finished her." The others agreed.
***
There was a mouse that lived under the counter at the Flat Planet Café. He was white with Grey on his head, with a little white 'y' on his forehead. The storm had finally ceased last night, and the mouse basked in the early rays of golden sun. He liked to come out early, no humans, lots of left over crumbs.
Today, he decided to go for a little walk. He entered the building's electrical piping through open holes beneath the café's sink. He never chewed the wires, however; he was a smart mouse.
He traveled upward today, for last time the basement had been rather boring. Twitching his nose, he exited the pipes to find himself high above the floor. As he looked down, he saw two humans, curled next to each other. The light coming in from the window portrayed the peaceful looks on their faces. He paused for a moment, watching as the big one rolled over and embraced the other, still rasping that awful human snore. The mouse found this cute, but realized that someone discarded a chunk of bread close to the kitchen area of the apartment. He squeaked his farewell, and went in search of his breakfast.
Jace dreamed. She dreamed about the cold, the howling. The same dream; the frigid cold, the terror and rage. But as she floated towards conciseness, she dreamt of warmth and something new, something she'd never dreamt before. Before she could grasp it, she was buried in the body of Liam. The previous night's pain was gone, only a whisper remained, the same whisper that she could never understand. Regardless, she looked into Liam's face, and realized that she'd found something important. Some she cared for, and trusted. Trust was something she had tried only once before… it was a dangerous thing. But that morning, listening to his breaths, looking into his face, Jace felt that just this once, the gamble of trust might have been worth it.
If only she had known that her past, while it was behind her now, was resurfacing. Not as a memory, but as a reality.
Liam and Jace woke to the sound of his global going off. Liam struggled to reach it without falling of the bed. It was not successful. Jace cracked up at the sound of him thunking against the floor. He motioned for her to be quiet as he answered the call.
"Major! Where the hell are you?" Liam struggled to open his eyes; they felt like lead. Sandoval's tone was enough to jar him back to reality.
"Oh shiiit… the ceremony!" Liam cried, remembering the diplomatic session that was scheduled for today.
"That's right. Try to be here as soon as you can."
"Jace, I gotta go…" He scrambled to his feet, but Jace was standing in the doorway. How did she get there without making a sou-
She smiled. It was the first smile that Liam had seen that was… real, true and bright.
"I'll see ya." She scampered away then, leaving Liam to race to Da'an's side.
Jace left Liam's apartment with a sense of relief… a weight was gone and she was light and happy again. She rounded a corner with a bounce in her step, but something was wrong. Something was very wrong. Her 'cat sense' was on full alert, she was being followed –
She began to run, full speed. Vosloo smirked as his sniper shot her down only a few paces later. They had just administered the full hangman's drop… her time was over now.
***
Sandoval and Liam sat at the conference, as always, keeping a good watch on there little aliens. 'God,' Liam thought, 'I must be more tired that I thought.'
The conference was running waaaaay over schedule, it had been nine hours already. Only after Da'an peaceful end speech, did Liam escort his companion out of the building. As they walked to the shuttle, his global went off.
"Yes?"
"Liam!!!" Even Da'an, a few feet over, could sense the urgency in Renee's voice.
"What? What is-"
"It's Jace! Hurry Liam.. there isn't much time…"