Chapter 11: Gone

Disclaimer: Please read chapter 1.

Bold = point of views or thoughts

Italics = emphasis

~~~~~ = scene change

[] = telephone conversations

A/N: This is the second to last chapter thanks to all who reviewed!

(Continuing from last chapter)

Jade (dreading the answer to her question): Is Connor alive?

"Connor" (trying to resist but it was impossible): As far as I know…he never died.

Vince: What's your name and who do you work for?

"Connor": My name is Patrick Steele and I work for a man named Thomas Barrett.

Jade (grabbing him by the collar): Listen to me you sick prick I want the whole story and the whole truth. If you even think about lying to me then I'll call up this boss of yours and tell him you betrayed him, and then we'll see how happy he is.

Patrick: It all started about two or three years ago, the night after I got out of jail. Some guy called me up and told me he'd pay me quarter mil if I did a job for him so I accepted.

Jade (disgustedly): Yea, what idiot would pass up a quarter mil.

Patrick: Anyways, he tells me he wants to set up this journalist, Logan Cale, and his associate, Shane Black. He said they had been snooping around in his business ventures and dealings; they were threatening to expose him and his dirty little secrets unless he gave himself up to the authorities but Barrett wasn't going down like that so he came up with a plan. Cale and Black were supposed to meet Barrett in an abandoned warehouse just outside of the city.

Gwen: Why, what was the point?

Patrick: I don't know he dropped them a line about meeting first or something like that. The thing was Barrett was never at the warehouse, I was. I was supposed to rig it with explosives that were going to kill Black and Cale. Only it didn't kill any of them. Cale got away clean but Black wasn't so lucky. He ended up in a coma for about two years and six months ago he awoke.

Jade: Where is he?

Patrick: I don't know Barrett probably has him locked up some place.

Vince: Where's Barrett?

Patrick: I don't know all these years Barrett and I, we've never actually met face to face, all our dealings have been done over the phone or via the internet.

Gwen: What does Barrett want? What was all of this going to accomplish? Does he want Logan Cale or was he trying to put brothers and sisters against one another? What is it?!

Patrick: Barrett knows what you guys are he knows about the X-5s, too. He's done his homework.

Zack (piping up): That's too bad for you and him because both of you are going to take what you know to your graves.

Jade: How did he make the discovery about us?

Patrick: When Black—

Vince (frustrated and angry): His name is Connor!

Patrick: When Connor didn't die in the explosion like any normal human would have Barrett got suspicious, then he found the tattoo, and finally after all that Connor woke up from it all. Thus causing Barrett to investigate and he found the truth.

Max: How does he know about the X5s?

Patrick: Since Cale never died or got injured Barrett's been keeping tabs on him. He decided to let Cale live—

Max (cutting him off but sarcastically): Oh how nice of him.

Patrick (rolling his eyes): Anyways he figured he'd let Cale live since he didn't expose him but he still kept tabs on him and anything that happened in Cale's life he knew about it. So when Cale got a new hot shot girlfriend with extraordinary abilities he just needed to know more.

Jade: Alright so if he knows all this stuff then why hasn't he exposed us or turned us back into our handlers?

Patrick: Don't know and don't exactly care.

Gwen (annoyed): You haven't answered my question.

Patrick: And which question would that be?

Gwen: Why did he do all this?

Patrick: After Connor awoke he didn't remember a thing about anything in his life and he still doesn't…all he keeps saying is Jade. Or at least that's what they tell me.

Jade: And I suppose Barrett told you all this?

Patrick (sarcastically): Yes, we have a very trusting relationship.

Vince: So you're telling us that Barrett did all this just to get Jade's attention, or what?

Patrick: Something like that, I guess.

Jade: What do you mean you guess?

Patrick: I mean I don't know he was never really elaborate on that part of the situation.

Gwen: Where did Vince and I exactly come into the mix?

Patrick: Barrett found out that Connor was close to you two after your escape. So we used you guys as a diversion.

Jade: So everything that happened was one huge fucking set up to get to me?

Patrick: In a word? Duh.

Jade: All of that 'Max needs to decide: her lover or her brother' crap was a bunch of bullshit?!

Patrick: Pretty much.

Jade: What about kidnapping Zack and almost killing him?

Patrick: What about it?

Jade: What if I never made it? Then Zack would have died and you wouldn't be breathing right now.

Patrick: I knew you would have made it in time or I would have never done it.

Jade: Why did you send Vince to kill Logan?

Patrick: All apart of the setup. Everything that happened I made sure you were there to stop it or else I wouldn't have done it.

Jade: And what if I wasn't there to stop Vince from killing Logan?

Patrick: Oh well, two birds with one stone.

Jade: Do you even care that you killed an innocent woman in the process?

Patrick: She was just a casualty and correction your bro, Vince, there killed her, not me.

Jade (getting pissed off and punching him): Vince may have pulled the trigger but you and your fucking boss are the ones responsible for her death.

Zack (with his hyper sensitive hearing, hears the paramedics a mile away): Jade the paramedics are coming.

Jade (looking at him and then realizing what he was saying): Take Gwen out of here and all of you give me a few minutes alone with Mr. Steele, here.

            They all obliged to her wishes and went outside; there they waited for the paramedics to arrive.

Patrick: I'm curious to know, how you figured out I wasn't Connor.

Jade: Curiosity killed the cat. I just knew…'sides when you fought me, you fought like a damn girl.

Patrick: What's gonna happen to me?

Jade: Since you told me everything you practically knew…I'm still gonna kill you.

            Before he could reply, his cell rang and Jade snatched it from him.

            [Hello? Patrick its Barrett. Did you get the girl?] [Oh, Mr. Barrett, I'm sorry to inform you that Mr. Steele is unavoidably detained, but I'll send him your regards.] [What? Who is this?] [Don't worry sir, I'm sure we'll be meeting soon, but until then…goodbye.]

            Jade hung up and threw the phone back in Patrick's face. She took out her gun and put on the silencer then pointed it at his head.

Jade: Any last words?

Patrick: You have no reason to kill me; I'm not any use to you dead.

Jade (contemplating this): You're no use to me alive either and you're wrong, I do have reasons to kill you. One, you almost killed Zack and two, for what you did to my brother.

Patrick: Please…don't…

Jade: You're just a casualty…

            With that said she pulled the trigger, brain and blood splattered everywhere, and she turned around and walked out.

~~~~~Outside~~~~~

            When Jade went outside only Zack and Max were there. She knew Vince and Gwen would be gone but she never pondered that Syl and Krit would leave.

Jade: Which hospital did they take Gwen to?

Max: Metro Medical, Vince went with her.

Jade: Figured as much. What about Syl and Krit?

Zack: They went back to Logan's. What happened to Patrick?

Jade (stepping aside from the door's entrance so they could see): It's not as tragic as one might think.

            With that she walked away to her motorcycle and drove off to her hotel room. Once she got there she took a quick shower and then put on the complementary hotel bathrobe and took a seat at the chair by the desk. She took her cell and started making a call.

            [Hey it's me…I need a favor no questions asked…I need every single detail and info on Patrick Steele and Thomas Barrett that you can find especially on Thomas Barrett's housings…I need it in a couple of hours…I know its not much time but we were running out of time as of yesterday…please just do this for me and I promise it's the last thing I'll ask of you…Thanks I'll see you in a few.]

            Then she hung up and took out two pieces of paper, two envelopes, and a pen. She addressed one letter to Zack and the other to both Lee and Maria. A couple of hours went by and she had finished with the letters, but then there was a knock at the door. She went to open it and there was Zack.

Jade (stepping aside so he could come in): What are you doing here?

Zack: I came by cuz I was worried about you. I wanted to see how you were and if you needed anything.

            Jade walked over to him exasperatedly, collapsed in his arms, and whispered 'just hold me'.

            He held her close to him as they lay next to each other in bed; eventually both of them fell asleep.

            A few hours later Jade awoke and it was close to midnight. She looked over to Zack—who was asleep like a baby, if ever possible—then she quietly slipped out of his arms and got up. She changed from the robe she was in, to some regular clothes. Later she got the letters from the desk drawer, slipped something into the one addressed to Zack and laid it somewhat beside him where he could see it. Finally Jade gave Zack a quick kiss goodbye on the lips and headed out.

            Before she reached her loft she stopped by an impound lot where she jacked a black Cadillac Escalade. Damn bustards left the keys in the car. She put her bike in the back and headed back to her loft.

~~~~~Loft~~~~~

            Jade quietly walked into the loft and figured Lee was asleep, so she headed upstairs to pack.

When she was finished packing she had one big suit case filled with all her clothes, duffel filled with her other belongings, and a small back pack that contained all the cash she had saved over the last two years from her night life as a thief. Jade had gotten used to fast packing from all the moving around she did and she had come to not own a lot of things.

            Jade took all three bags downstairs, grabbed her jacket, keys, wallet, and cell; then proceeded to put the other letter next to the answering machine on the counter along with her key to the loft, where she was certain Lee would find both.

            Before she left, she went into Lee's room, and took one last look at his sleeping form; with that she was gone.

            Yet on her way out of this city she still had a couple of loose ends to tie up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

            Jade parked across Maria's apartment building and just sat there in the car looking at the windows of Maria's apartment. All the lights are out, guess she's asleep, well, DUH! Only freaks and weirdoes are up this late. She thought as she silently said goodbye to her dearest and closest friend. Then she drove off to her second to last destination and when she got there she decided to pick the lock instead of knocking so she wouldn't wake everyone up.

            Once she walked in she saw a dim light coming from the kitchen and heard some rummaging around in there; she headed to Logan's computer room and saw him half asleep, half awake.

Jade (quietly making her way towards him; putting a hand on his shoulder): Logan wake up.

Logan (slowly waking up): Max? Is that you?

Jade: Sorry to disappoint but it's just me.

Logan: Oh, Jade, I'm sorry, I must have drifted off.

Jade: Must've. You got what I came for?

Logan (handing her a file): It's all in there.

Jade (taking it and starting to head out): Thanks for everything Logan.

Logan: Jade, wait, Max told me what happened. I just wanted to say I'm sorry I doubted you and if you ever need my help I'm always here for you.

Jade (sighing): You're a good man Logan Cale even if all those people out there don't know it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Logan (giving her another file): Here is one last thing before you go.

Jade (confused): What's this?

Logan: All the info I found on the others for you.

Jade (seeing Max come in and she was a little surprised to see Jade there): Logan a piece of advice: You might want to think about early retirement because if you're not careful, what happened to Connor may happen to you…except unlike Connor you may not come back from it; you don't want to leave the people you love behind, they need you.

            With that said she walked out and headed to the door but when her hand reached the knob Max stopped her.

Max: Jade, I wanted to apologize.

Jade: For what?

Max: For blaming you for everything.

Jade: Aaww, that? No need.

Max: But—

Jade (cutting her off): If you wanna make up for it then do me a favor?

Max: Depends on the favor.

Jade: Tell Zack I'm sorry.

Max: Why can't you tell him yourself?

Jade: Cuz I won't be here, I'm leaving…for good this time.

            She left Max to deal with the information she had just given her and she made her last stop.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~Hospital~~~~~

            Jade arrived at the emergency of Metro Medical and gave them a description of Gwen, the reason she was there, and of course only her first name, seeing as how she didn't know her last. They told her she was in cubicle six; she thanked them, and headed in the direction of the cubicle.

            Jade walked in and saw Gwen was asleep; Vince wasn't around. She took a seat next to her and took her hand in her own.

Jade (talking to Gwen even though she was asleep): Jesus Gwen, look at you, lying there looking so helpless and weak. We were taught better than that, remember? Damn it, I wish none of this ever even happened! Max was wrong, it is all my fault…it always is. All I wanted to do was find you guys and every time I thought I was getting closer I was only taking two steps back. Then I unexpectedly met Logan who was willing to help me but of course for a price and with a little push I agreed, but things were never supposed to turn out this way. Who knew my search for my long lost brothers and sisters would cause so much turmoil and damage in my and their lives. I would do anything to be sitting in my loft apartment with you and Vince, sipping coffee, and catching up on the last ten years of our lives. I've missed you guys so much; I've been up long nights wondering if you guys were alive or dead, how your lives have been, if you guys have a family or not. If you're wondering about me, I thought I could finally call Seattle a home, I mean I have a good place to live here, a nice job, absolutely amazing friends, and I was just starting a real solid, good, romantic relationship with Zack but I have to go now. Maybe its better, this way I won't get the people I love hurt or worse off, killed. Look at what happened to you and Vince from only my doing. Did I even apologize for that? You and Vince will never know how sorry I am for hurting you guys. From the bottom of my heart I am truly sorry. If I could take it back I would. (Some silence.) You know Gwen I've never admitted this to anyone, but sometimes I get so scared and I mentally kicked myself so many times for letting that dirt bag Patrick see it. He said when he looked at me he saw a lost and scared little girl but I guess on some level he's right. I am so scared right now Gwen, I'm so scared for Connor, I just want to find him and make sure he's okay. That's also the reason I'm leaving, Logan found some of Thomas Barrett's housing locations; I'm  gonna search every single one till I find him, even if it takes me the rest of my life I will find him. I'd ask for you guys to help but I'm afraid if you found him and I wasn't with you then he might act hostile towards you since he doesn't remember. You never know what he's capable of doing in the state of mind he is in right now. I need to go but I want you to know that I'm really sorry for all of this, and I love you, Vince, and the others very much.

            By now Jade had tears in her eyes and Gwen started coming to but it was too late Jade had left. Vince came from one of the other cubicles and stopped Jade from leaving.

Jade: How long have you been there?

Vince: Long enough. I came back then I heard you talking, thought I should give you some privacy.

Jade (small smile): It's good you came back, she shouldn't be alone.

Vince (casually): I just went to the restroom.

Jade: Oh.

Vince: Were you here long?

Jade: 'Bout twenty minutes.

Vince: Are you planning on staying?

Jade (starting to walk away): I don't think the first person she should see is me when she wakes up.

Vince: That's true…seeing as how it's your fault she's there in the first place.

Jade: I guess you came during the middle of my speech.

Vince: No I was there from the beginning, just that I'm not going to let you forget what you did that easily.

Jade: Fortunate for me…I'm leaving.

            Jade started for the elevator but Vince grabbed her by the arms and turned her to face him.

Vince: Don't go, not yet.

Jade: If you're going to harass me some more no thanks, cuz you'd just be wasting my time. Now please let go of me.

Vince (letting go): There's something I need to tell you…I've missed you too.

Jade (surprising him with a big hug): Oh God Vince you don't know how that makes me feel.

Vince (both parting): I'm not the only one, we've all missed you. After the escape all of us kept in contact somehow but you were the only one we couldn't find.

Jade (tears in her eyes): Everyone's alive and well?

Vince (smiles): Yes.

Jade (big smile): That's awesome!

Vince: Let me help you find Connor.

Jade: I can't. You may have been close to him after the escape but he doesn't remember any of you…he just remembers me. When I need you I'll call.

Vince (hesitating): Okay be careful.

Jade (hugging him one last time): I'm really sorry for everything Vince.

Vince (still hugging): I know it'll be okay.

Jade (parting and stepping into the elevator): I love you…bye.

Vince: Love you too…see you.

            And Jade was gone…for good. Heading down south, beginning her search for her brother.