TITLE: THE REPLACEMENT
AUTHOR: MINN
DISCLAIMER: I don't own nothin' - mores the pity - just playing. No character was really harmed during the typing of this nonsense. The creators of Third Watch are, of course, gods. (But if you ever do get stuck for ideas guys, gimme a call...HAH!)
CHEERS! to all the kind folks who said such nice things about my maiden outing "Grace". Just remember, if you encourage me, you'll NEVER get rid of me...
EXPLAINATION: This wasn't HALF as much fun to write as Grace was, so don't feel too bad if you find yourself not liking it. Consider this as back-story - the journey to Grace, if you like. But be patient. Nothing in the Minn-verse ever happens quickly...
*********
PART SEVEN
Lockey glared at Manny across the game of cards they were playing.
"How the hell did you manage it old man?
"Manage what?"
"Today. How'd you manage to get everyone you introduced Marti to, to act like they'd known her just about their whole damn lives?"
Manny placed a card down upon the table. "I simply mentioned to a few people that Marti's mental well-being depended upon her believing she had been part of the group for some time," he replied casually.
Lockey shook his head and chuckled. "You're a piece of work, schoolteacher. A bigger con man than I ever knew how to be."
"I'd take that as a compliment if I didn't know better," Manny mused as he studied his cards carefully.
Lockey watched him for some time. The silence was punctuated by Bob's deep vibrato snoring. Only he and Manny were night owls.
"It's wrong Manny."
Manny glanced at him briefly.
"You're messing with someone else's life."
"As you have done for most of your career."
"That's different Manny! I was conning people out of material things, not their identity."
"This from a man who did time for impersonating an investment broker," Manny growled sourly.
"I didn't steal their lives! Just their money. C'mon Manny, this isn't like you. You don't operate like this! You have a conscience!"
Manny focused on the cards.
"You can see how Marti is going to be invaluable to the group," Manny said calmly. "Look how she handled herself today. Especially when she was dealing with that idiot Peterson."
Lockey sighed heavily. "Damn it Manny."
"Are you playing cards or aren't you?"
"It's wrong. You know it. I know it. And she's remembering new stuff every day."
"So far most of it has little or no meaning to her. Just keep you mouth shut Lockey and let me handle things."
Lockey shook his head. "I can't believe you're actually going through with this. I can't believe someone like you would keep someone from the people they love."
Manny placed a card down and retrieved another, adding it to the hand he held. He said nothing.
----
His blue eyes held her close, and the intensity of the look he was giving her was positively breathtaking. Without hesitation she leaned forward and placed her lips upon his. It was electric. His hands explored her body and she shivered with delight at his touch. For a brief moment she stepped back to gaze into those eyes once more...
She woke with a jolt.
Sitting up quickly she noticed the first wisps of light of a new day were doing their best to penetrate the grime of the basement's small windows. Manny was already up and about, coaxing the fire back into life.
"Awake already?" he asked softly as she made her way over to him. When he saw the look on her face he stopped what he was doing and motioned her to the old couch.
"What is it?"
"I'm not sure," she replied, returning her thoughts to the dream she had just woken from.
"Something disturbing?" Manny asked gently.
"Strange would be more how I'd describe it," she answered. "I was dreaming I was kissing that man I remember, you know, the one I've told you about?"
"Blue Eyes?" Manny answered.
She nodded. "Then all of a sudden he turned into someone else."
Manny raised his eyebrows. "Someone else?"
"Yeah. I've been having these flashbacks of fighting with this man sometimes, but at other times he looks at me the same way Blue Eyes does."
Manny frowned. "And you still have no idea who either of them are?"
"None," she replied. "All I know is that they both mean something to me. I thought Blueeyes might be my husband, but then I started remembering this other man and he seems to be more associated with the children I remember. God..."
She leaned forward and placed her elbows on her knees, bringing her hands either side of her head. "I'm so tired of this. It's like I have their names and everything about my life on the tip of my tongue but I just can't get past the block."
"The mind is a curious thing," said Manny softly, placing his hand on her shoulder to comfort her.
She leaned back and stared at the strengthening light creeping into the gloom of their hideaway. As she looked around she found herself unable to dismiss the growing sense that life with the group was not her life at all. So what was her life? Or rather, what had it been?
"What if," she began, then hesitated.
"What, Marti?"
She turned to him and he flinched at the sight of tears in her beautiful eyes. Words tumbled from her mouth.
"What if I lost my memory a long time ago, before I came here? What if the reason I never told you about my family is because I just didn't remember them? And being hit on the head jogged somethin'. Maybe I somehow lost both those men and that's what made me like this. Maybe this is how my mind is and it's not going to get any better!"
Manny leaned over and put her arm around her and she rested her head upon his shoulder.
"I wish there was something I could do," he said quietly.
"Manny, you're a good man. You're like a father."
Manny turned to stare into the flames of the fire. A father wouldn't lie to you like this, he thought. Wouldn't use you like I'm using you. He stared at the flames and comforted her. Dear God, what have I done? How selfish could I be? What has she, or for that matter the people who love her, ever done to me to deserve this?
An image of Helen gazing back at him with no spark of recognition in her eyes rose in his mind. He shuddered inwardly. What would Helen think of me?
"Are you still getting those headaches?" Manny asked.
She sat up and wiped her cheeks. "Sometimes."
Manny nodded. It was no good. He couldn't go through with it. Lockey was right. What he was doing to this beautiful soul was wrong, and he could no longer outrun his conscience on the matter.
"I think we might take you up to the clinic today, get you checked out," he said.
"If you think that's best, sure."
The trust in her eyes warmed him and alarmed him in equal measure. What would she do when she realised he had lied to her?
"We'll get an early start this morning," he smiled, but his heart was heavy.
----
He had no idea what he was doing driving around like this. He should have been at home, safe in bed getting some much-needed sleep. But sleep had been hard to come by this last month.
Bosco stopped his car outside a small diner and looked around as he stepped out into the chill air. The shabby old neighbourhood was quiet, just a few folks going about on early morning business. He figured he was only a couple of blocks away from where he and Faith had been attacked. Damn. The place was like a magnet for him now.
The coffee to be had in the diner was surprisingly good, but was served with a sharp glare by a waitress none too sure about the stranger in their midst. Bosco ignored her and the rest of the regulars, and sat staring out the window beside him.
----
Meredith was dragging her feet as they crossed the almost deserted street.
"Why so early?" she whined.
"Because we have things to do," Manny explained patiently.
The thin early morning sunlight held very little warmth, and Meredith walked with her head down and her arms wrapped around her.
"Cold," she muttered.
Up ahead Lockey called over this shoulder: "Well go back home then Loopy!"
Meredith came to an abrupt halt right in the middle of the road, pouting. "Don't call me that!"
"Don't listen to him sweetie," Faith said warmly, turning back to where Meredith stood. "Here, put this on - it'll keep you warm."
Manny watched as Faith tucked the scarf she had been wearing around Meredith's neck, who beamed as if she'd been given a million dollars. As they moved off again he listened to Faith giving Lockey a ticking off and reflected once more on what an asset she was to the group - and on how much he was going to miss her when she left. There was no turning back, he thought. I can't do this to you any more, Faith Yokas.
Bob and Lockey wandered along in front debating the finer points of some long gone sporting event both had apparently attended. Meredith bounced along beside Faith, bending her ears about how naughty Lockey was and how nice it was of her to give Meredith her scarf. Manny brought up the rear, a sense of dread weighing heavily upon him.
----
The second cup of coffee wasn't helping much. He still felt like hell. The sleep deprivation of the past month, due in no small measure to the recurring images of Faith that galloped through his head, was starting to have physical consequences. His growing realisation that Faith had in fact meant much to him than he'd ever consciously suspected was taking its emotional toll as well.
It had been tough sitting poker-faced through the memorial service listening to tearful speaker after tearful speaker praise Faith to the heavens. Fred had asked him if he wanted to say a few words but he had declined. He hadn't trusted himself to get through it in any kind of sensible manner. What could he say? Faith was great. I loved her. No, really, I did. I just didn't realise it till now. Didn't realise she meant more to me than any women in my life ever has. And man, there have been a few women in my life. No one else like Faith though.
Maybe it was for the best, he had taken to telling himself. You'd only screw it up anyway. What about Charlie and Em? Could you handle being the man that came between their parents? Christ, who are you kidding Maurice? If you'd ever made a move on Faith she would have shot your dick off.
Maybe it was for the best. Faith didn't know how he felt, and she never would. End of story.
Bosco took a gulp of coffee and gazed out the window. There was more activity around now, more signs of life greeting the day. He watched as a group of homeless people crossed the road a little way down the street. One of them stopped abruptly in the middle of the road and shouted something. One of her companions came back and tucked the scarf she had been wearing around the woman's neck. With that they moved off, meandering over to the opposite side of the street from where he sat. He frowned. The figure sloping along at the back seemed familiar. So did the two women, the one with the scarf, but more especially the one who had...
The coffee cup clattered to the table.
The waitress and the regulars stared as the stranger sprang out of his seat and flew out the door.
********
TBC
AUTHOR: MINN
DISCLAIMER: I don't own nothin' - mores the pity - just playing. No character was really harmed during the typing of this nonsense. The creators of Third Watch are, of course, gods. (But if you ever do get stuck for ideas guys, gimme a call...HAH!)
CHEERS! to all the kind folks who said such nice things about my maiden outing "Grace". Just remember, if you encourage me, you'll NEVER get rid of me...
EXPLAINATION: This wasn't HALF as much fun to write as Grace was, so don't feel too bad if you find yourself not liking it. Consider this as back-story - the journey to Grace, if you like. But be patient. Nothing in the Minn-verse ever happens quickly...
*********
PART SEVEN
Lockey glared at Manny across the game of cards they were playing.
"How the hell did you manage it old man?
"Manage what?"
"Today. How'd you manage to get everyone you introduced Marti to, to act like they'd known her just about their whole damn lives?"
Manny placed a card down upon the table. "I simply mentioned to a few people that Marti's mental well-being depended upon her believing she had been part of the group for some time," he replied casually.
Lockey shook his head and chuckled. "You're a piece of work, schoolteacher. A bigger con man than I ever knew how to be."
"I'd take that as a compliment if I didn't know better," Manny mused as he studied his cards carefully.
Lockey watched him for some time. The silence was punctuated by Bob's deep vibrato snoring. Only he and Manny were night owls.
"It's wrong Manny."
Manny glanced at him briefly.
"You're messing with someone else's life."
"As you have done for most of your career."
"That's different Manny! I was conning people out of material things, not their identity."
"This from a man who did time for impersonating an investment broker," Manny growled sourly.
"I didn't steal their lives! Just their money. C'mon Manny, this isn't like you. You don't operate like this! You have a conscience!"
Manny focused on the cards.
"You can see how Marti is going to be invaluable to the group," Manny said calmly. "Look how she handled herself today. Especially when she was dealing with that idiot Peterson."
Lockey sighed heavily. "Damn it Manny."
"Are you playing cards or aren't you?"
"It's wrong. You know it. I know it. And she's remembering new stuff every day."
"So far most of it has little or no meaning to her. Just keep you mouth shut Lockey and let me handle things."
Lockey shook his head. "I can't believe you're actually going through with this. I can't believe someone like you would keep someone from the people they love."
Manny placed a card down and retrieved another, adding it to the hand he held. He said nothing.
----
His blue eyes held her close, and the intensity of the look he was giving her was positively breathtaking. Without hesitation she leaned forward and placed her lips upon his. It was electric. His hands explored her body and she shivered with delight at his touch. For a brief moment she stepped back to gaze into those eyes once more...
She woke with a jolt.
Sitting up quickly she noticed the first wisps of light of a new day were doing their best to penetrate the grime of the basement's small windows. Manny was already up and about, coaxing the fire back into life.
"Awake already?" he asked softly as she made her way over to him. When he saw the look on her face he stopped what he was doing and motioned her to the old couch.
"What is it?"
"I'm not sure," she replied, returning her thoughts to the dream she had just woken from.
"Something disturbing?" Manny asked gently.
"Strange would be more how I'd describe it," she answered. "I was dreaming I was kissing that man I remember, you know, the one I've told you about?"
"Blue Eyes?" Manny answered.
She nodded. "Then all of a sudden he turned into someone else."
Manny raised his eyebrows. "Someone else?"
"Yeah. I've been having these flashbacks of fighting with this man sometimes, but at other times he looks at me the same way Blue Eyes does."
Manny frowned. "And you still have no idea who either of them are?"
"None," she replied. "All I know is that they both mean something to me. I thought Blueeyes might be my husband, but then I started remembering this other man and he seems to be more associated with the children I remember. God..."
She leaned forward and placed her elbows on her knees, bringing her hands either side of her head. "I'm so tired of this. It's like I have their names and everything about my life on the tip of my tongue but I just can't get past the block."
"The mind is a curious thing," said Manny softly, placing his hand on her shoulder to comfort her.
She leaned back and stared at the strengthening light creeping into the gloom of their hideaway. As she looked around she found herself unable to dismiss the growing sense that life with the group was not her life at all. So what was her life? Or rather, what had it been?
"What if," she began, then hesitated.
"What, Marti?"
She turned to him and he flinched at the sight of tears in her beautiful eyes. Words tumbled from her mouth.
"What if I lost my memory a long time ago, before I came here? What if the reason I never told you about my family is because I just didn't remember them? And being hit on the head jogged somethin'. Maybe I somehow lost both those men and that's what made me like this. Maybe this is how my mind is and it's not going to get any better!"
Manny leaned over and put her arm around her and she rested her head upon his shoulder.
"I wish there was something I could do," he said quietly.
"Manny, you're a good man. You're like a father."
Manny turned to stare into the flames of the fire. A father wouldn't lie to you like this, he thought. Wouldn't use you like I'm using you. He stared at the flames and comforted her. Dear God, what have I done? How selfish could I be? What has she, or for that matter the people who love her, ever done to me to deserve this?
An image of Helen gazing back at him with no spark of recognition in her eyes rose in his mind. He shuddered inwardly. What would Helen think of me?
"Are you still getting those headaches?" Manny asked.
She sat up and wiped her cheeks. "Sometimes."
Manny nodded. It was no good. He couldn't go through with it. Lockey was right. What he was doing to this beautiful soul was wrong, and he could no longer outrun his conscience on the matter.
"I think we might take you up to the clinic today, get you checked out," he said.
"If you think that's best, sure."
The trust in her eyes warmed him and alarmed him in equal measure. What would she do when she realised he had lied to her?
"We'll get an early start this morning," he smiled, but his heart was heavy.
----
He had no idea what he was doing driving around like this. He should have been at home, safe in bed getting some much-needed sleep. But sleep had been hard to come by this last month.
Bosco stopped his car outside a small diner and looked around as he stepped out into the chill air. The shabby old neighbourhood was quiet, just a few folks going about on early morning business. He figured he was only a couple of blocks away from where he and Faith had been attacked. Damn. The place was like a magnet for him now.
The coffee to be had in the diner was surprisingly good, but was served with a sharp glare by a waitress none too sure about the stranger in their midst. Bosco ignored her and the rest of the regulars, and sat staring out the window beside him.
----
Meredith was dragging her feet as they crossed the almost deserted street.
"Why so early?" she whined.
"Because we have things to do," Manny explained patiently.
The thin early morning sunlight held very little warmth, and Meredith walked with her head down and her arms wrapped around her.
"Cold," she muttered.
Up ahead Lockey called over this shoulder: "Well go back home then Loopy!"
Meredith came to an abrupt halt right in the middle of the road, pouting. "Don't call me that!"
"Don't listen to him sweetie," Faith said warmly, turning back to where Meredith stood. "Here, put this on - it'll keep you warm."
Manny watched as Faith tucked the scarf she had been wearing around Meredith's neck, who beamed as if she'd been given a million dollars. As they moved off again he listened to Faith giving Lockey a ticking off and reflected once more on what an asset she was to the group - and on how much he was going to miss her when she left. There was no turning back, he thought. I can't do this to you any more, Faith Yokas.
Bob and Lockey wandered along in front debating the finer points of some long gone sporting event both had apparently attended. Meredith bounced along beside Faith, bending her ears about how naughty Lockey was and how nice it was of her to give Meredith her scarf. Manny brought up the rear, a sense of dread weighing heavily upon him.
----
The second cup of coffee wasn't helping much. He still felt like hell. The sleep deprivation of the past month, due in no small measure to the recurring images of Faith that galloped through his head, was starting to have physical consequences. His growing realisation that Faith had in fact meant much to him than he'd ever consciously suspected was taking its emotional toll as well.
It had been tough sitting poker-faced through the memorial service listening to tearful speaker after tearful speaker praise Faith to the heavens. Fred had asked him if he wanted to say a few words but he had declined. He hadn't trusted himself to get through it in any kind of sensible manner. What could he say? Faith was great. I loved her. No, really, I did. I just didn't realise it till now. Didn't realise she meant more to me than any women in my life ever has. And man, there have been a few women in my life. No one else like Faith though.
Maybe it was for the best, he had taken to telling himself. You'd only screw it up anyway. What about Charlie and Em? Could you handle being the man that came between their parents? Christ, who are you kidding Maurice? If you'd ever made a move on Faith she would have shot your dick off.
Maybe it was for the best. Faith didn't know how he felt, and she never would. End of story.
Bosco took a gulp of coffee and gazed out the window. There was more activity around now, more signs of life greeting the day. He watched as a group of homeless people crossed the road a little way down the street. One of them stopped abruptly in the middle of the road and shouted something. One of her companions came back and tucked the scarf she had been wearing around the woman's neck. With that they moved off, meandering over to the opposite side of the street from where he sat. He frowned. The figure sloping along at the back seemed familiar. So did the two women, the one with the scarf, but more especially the one who had...
The coffee cup clattered to the table.
The waitress and the regulars stared as the stranger sprang out of his seat and flew out the door.
********
TBC