Chapter 5

"Are you going back to that clinic?" Brynn asked angrily.

"Hospital, and yes, I'm going back," Alex answered annoyed.

"I want to state clearly that when I agreed you should still have some memories of Jen I didn't agree with you going all day to sit next to her," Brynn yelled. Alex looked at her, he was so sick of her now.

"Brynn, honey," he said. "Shut up." He walked out of the room.

"Where the hell do you think you're going?" she yelled to his back. "I'm not done talking to you, Alexander." Alex turned around.

"Alex. Nobody but my mother calls me Alexander," he told her and left the apartment.

When he was gone, Brynn sat on the bed. She started to tangle her hands nervously. "What the hell do you think you are doing?" said a male voice somewhere in the room. More than a voice it was a growl, especially because it came from a near animal.

"W-w-what do you mean?" she stammered. The monster laughed softly, unhappily.

"You know what I mean," he said. Brynn swallowed hard. "Alexander Drake is not your boyfriend. He's your source, and if you don't make this relationship last you won't be able to bring us more information."

"I know," Brynn said. "But if I don't do this, he will think I don't care about him and Jen, and that might be as dangerous as this, if not more," she explained, her voice as steady she could get it.

"So, this is all part of a plan?" the monster asked.

"Of course it is," she said.

"You better don't get him to break up with you; the mistress won't be pleased with that," he growled.

"I know, it won't happen, I promise," she said.

"I'll take your word for it," the monster said, and he said no more.

Bryn got up; it was time for plan B. ******

"What are you doing back in here?" Jen asked Trip. He had gotten back inside of her mind, by the insistence of both Katie and Lucas. This time they were in a warehouse, dark and cold.

"Jen, you have to come back with me," he said. Jen hit him again with the wooden pole. IT seemed she had been hitting him for hours now, and still he wouldn't leave.

"Why should I do that?" she asked him.

"Many reasons." He focused and healed the blow she had given him. Good thing we're in her mind and not reality. "Alex, he wants you back, awake," he started.

"I'm with Alex here, why would I trade that for an Alex who doesn't love me? Who isn't married with me?" she asked.

"He does love you!" Trip exclaimed. "And Lucas, and Katie and myself; we all want you back, we love you too." Jen lowered her gaze, and looked away.

"I love you guys too," she said.

Trip got up from the floor where he had been lying and put a hand on her shoulder. "I know you are happy here, Jen, but this can't last too long," he told her. She looked at him, her eyes tearful. "If you don't wake up and eat, your body will get sick, and you'll die." His voice was soft, as if he was talking to a small girl, and that was what Jen looked like, crouched in a ball like she was now. "And if you die, you won't be able to be with Alex, not here, nor in reality," he explained.

Jen looked at him with pleading eyes, he knew she was pleading him for more time, but he just couldn't give it. She sat there, not looking at Trip's face for a few seconds. No matter how much she wanted to stay, or if what Trip was saying about the real Alex was true or not. He had a point; she might die if she didn't wake up. She decided to go, but only for a little while, enough to eat and take a shower or something. Then she would be back.

"At least let me say goodbye," she begged. Trip nodded.

Alex appeared in the warehouse door; Jen got up and ran to meet him. "He convinced you," Alex said sadly. Jen caressed the side of his face.

"I'll come back every night," she promised. They kissed.

"I'll be waiting for you," he promised back.

Trip tried not to listen. It was as painful as watching Jen say goodbye to Wes two years ago, her eyes were as filled with love and tears as they had been back on that beach. Suddenly, Trip noticed his environment had changed. Jen had taken the scene somewhere where she felt comfortable saying goodbye to Alex. The prison parking lot, where he had 'died' three years ago. The first time they had said goodbye, they had said it there.

"I love you," she said. Alex hugged her tightly. "Thank you so much for making me so happy," she told him, her face showing the same expression it had when she had said goodbye to Wes, the same expression of utter pain she had when she thought Alex had been dying in her arms.

"I love you too," he answered, drying her tears. Trip almost waited to hear him say his own version of Wes's 'I wish I could live another thousand years.' but instead he simply said, "I'll miss you."

Trip chuckled. He had said he'll miss her as if he had a mind of his own. Jen could miss him, but he couldn't miss Jen. He didn't exist when Jen was awake.

"I'll miss you too," she said. Then they kissed one last time (which was more than what Trip could say about her goodbye to Wes) and she walked away from him, holding his hand until their fingers were no longer touching. Just like Wes. She looked at him for a while, and Alex, suddenly, for a moment, was blond. He turned into Wes for a second and then back to Alex. She nodded and walked towards Trip, crying silently.

"Why did he turn into Wes?" Trip asked.

"Because, here, they were always the same person," she answered, her face covered in tears.

Then, Trip was gone, and Jen, finally, woke up.

******

She opened her eyes slowly, the light hurting her eyes. Tears began to flow out of them freely. She didn't move; she just lay there, staring at the ceiling.

She felt someone grasp her hand. She finally lowered her gaze to see who it was. It was Alex. He was smiling at her, and he actually kissed her hand. "Welcome back," he said softly, tears running down his cheeks. Jen moved her hand up to dry his cheek.

"Don't cry," she said, but her voice was hoarse. She swallowed. He caressed her forehead.

"They are happy tears," he said softly. The door opened behind him, and Katie and Lucas walked into the room, followed by Nadira.

And Brynn.

"Jen!" Katie yelled. "You're awake!" She took her friend's hand. Jen smiled.

Over Katie's shoulder she could see Lucas, and Nadira, both smiling. Brynn was behind Alex, with a hand on his shoulder; she approached Jen, with a smile that looked as fake as the ones painted on Barbie dolls' faces.

"I'm so glad to see you are finally getting better," she said. Jen smiled at her politely. "Wait, let me buy you some flowers!" she said, as if it was the greatest idea in the world. She turned to Alex and grasped his arm. "Come with me?" she asked. Alex smiled at Jen, and followed his eager girlfriend out.

Lucas took Alex's place, holding one of Jen's hands, while Katie still held the other. "Glad you are back," Lucas said. Nadira smiled at her, nodding from over Lucas's shoulder.

Jen smiled again, finally admitting to herself that, no matter how close she and Alex had been in her mind, and how happy they had been, the love he gave her was a bit empty. Nothing like the love she was getting in that room and she told herself that it was worth not being Alex's wife only to have that kiss he had given to her hand. A true kiss, from the true Alex, was worth all her illusions.

Even if he was with Brynn at that moment, she had the hope that what Trip had said was true. She hoped Alex did love her, somehow.

*******

"What are you doing here?" Alex asked Brynn as they walked down the hall.

"I just wanted to say I'm sorry for all the horrible things I told you. And I wanted to prove my good will, by buying Jen some flowers, I'm really happy she's fine again," Brynn answered, hugging him. Alex smiled at her and hugged her back.

"You are the sweetest thing," he said. There was that tone again, the tone he had used on Sergeant Samorano, the one he had practiced so much.

"I love you," Brynn whispered.

"I love you too," he answered.

Yes, I'm back in! She thought.

I can't let you get away from me, Brynn, he thought. Not until you've done your part.

To be continued.