AUTHOR'S NOTE: Special thanx, yet again, to my loyal reviewers for their support and patience . . . I hope you'll enjoy the remaining chapters! :)

Happy Reading!

Capt. Janeway ;)

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CHAPTER 16

System #2

John looked around nervously as he stepped up to the doorstep of the house with Sam.

The house wasn't exactly in the best part of town. The yards were all unkept, weeds growing everywhere, junk strewn in several driveways, and some seedy people drifting along the sidewalks every so often . . . Only a few houses (of which this was one) seemed to have owners that cared much about what little they had.

But that wasn't what he was nervous about.

When Sam had come to check up on him earlier that day, they discussed the pros and cons of telling his family the entirety of what had happened. Eventually, they decided the best thing to do was to have John meet them for himself, and then they'd decide.

Of course, this would have to be very brief, to avoid the risk of his saying or doing something to alarm them.

Just before John raised his hand to the door to knock, Sam leaned over and whispered, "Oh, and by the way, their names are Brad and Monica. They're good friends of the other John."

"Brad and Monica? Follmer?" John asked, surprised.

She gave him an odd look. "Yes, Follmer. How did you know?"

"I had a hunch," John muttered in reply. He knocked on the door.

*So things aren't quite so insane, so much as they're just twisted,* he mused.

The door opened to reveal none other than Brad Follmer, who instantly recognized the guests with a friendly smile.

"John! Sam! You're back--But, no use just leaving you two out there. Come on in!"

Brad motioned them in, and Sam followed. Feeling that old mistrust of Brad flicker, John hesitated for just a moment, then took a step forward . . .

Suddenly, something zipped past Brad, and hugged John's leg. Looking down, John saw that a young girl, probably about seven or eight, had now let go, and was eagerly looking up at him.

He was in shock. *My daughter?*

He crouched down to her level, staring at her in unconcealed amazement. She had immense blue eyes with dark brown hair curling down a just past her little shoulders. Unfortunately, she was beginning to notice his strange expression.

"Why're you looking at me funny?" she asked, concerned.

He made a little grin, and said in a soft, wondering voice, "Are you my daughter?"

The girl laughed, "Of course I am!"

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah!"

"Huh. Well, I can't quite remember. Maybe I'd remember if you told me your name." He was still grinning, but there was a just a hint of sadness in it, which the girl didn't notice, though Brad and Sam did.

*Maybe,* he hoped, *I will remember . . .*

She laughed again. "It's me! Mattie!"

Mattie threw her thin arms around him for another hug. John hugged her back, doing his best to fill that immense void so recently created in her little life.

But John didn't remember. And he wasn't sure how long he could pretend to be the father of those three children.

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