Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. I'm just borrowing them. I don't get paid for these stories; this is purely for entertainment purposes.
Author: Kimmi
Feedback: Yes please.
Rating: PG13
Authors note: Okay. This is the last one I'm posting for today. I'm still working on part 16 right now and I hope it won't take as long to post as these ones did. I hope you like this story, feedback would be much appreciated.
Summary: Chrissie sends Lyle and the others to help Sydney and finds something out about her family that she never knew. Chrissie gets captured by Mr. Parker and the scene of her dream when she first got to the Centre plays out. How will everything turn out?
Strange Things Happen
Part 15
"What do you want with Chrissie and the twins?" Sydney was horrified by the laughter that escaped Cox's mouth.
"In case you haven't noticed, Mr. Parker chose Chrissie to be the bearer of his children for a reason. I don't know if you're smart enough to know that reason, but he did. Chrissie isn't just some unlucky girl who came at the wrong time and was manipulated by Mr. Parker, no, Chrissie is special and so are her children. Any children she has will be special. The Centre has been keeping tracks on Chrissie for some time now. We were just lucky that she came to us when we needed her." Sydney was confused.
"Why is Chrissie special?" Cox laughed again.
"She's a Seer. Her and her little brother, or should I say son, both are special." This confused Sydney even more.
"What are you talking about?" Cox didn't seem to mind telling him everything so Sydney was asking questions to figure out what his plans were.
"She has a little brother, Luis I believe his name is, but he isn't really her brother; he's her son." Sydney thought back to a conversation he'd overheard a while ago between Broots and Chrissie.
"If I didn't know any better I'd think this was your son." Broots laughed but Chrissie's face grew serious.
"Who told you?" Broots stopped laughing.
"Oh my god, he is your son?" Chrissie burst out laughing.
"I'm joking Broots. A lot of people around my neighbourhood say that, but I think I'd remember giving birth." Broots laughed nervously.
"I don't understand. Chrissie was there for all of her mother's pregnancy. How could he be Chrissie's son?" Cox laughed again. Sydney was getting annoyed with his laughter.
"The Centre implanted the baby into Chrissie's mother. She was none the wiser." Sydney remembered Chrissie saying something about Luis being conceived.
"And Luis… well Luis was the product of an encounter my mother didn't exactly approve of. But she loves him all the same."
Chrissie's mother had thought she'd been raped but, if what Mr. Cox was saying was true, the Centre was responsible for Luis's birth.
"Why do that? Why have Chrissie have a child that she didn't know of and make her think it was her brother?" Cox shrugged.
"The Centre needed to be certain her gifts would be passed on. They were, so when she came here it was obvious of what to do." Sydney couldn't believe it. He knew that the Centre was evil but now everything he found out they did made him sick.
"What do you want with her? Mr. Parker seems to be doing an alright job of it himself." Cox sneered.
"Mr. Parker is taking it too slow. He no longer has my support. I have aligned myself with a much better ally." Sydney was about to ask who but Cox must have sensed this and continued. "Mr. Raines believes that Chrissie could be used for more… productive uses. We don't necessarily need her to deliver the children she will produce. She can be doing other, more important things while we still make more children, without the hassle of having to stop our work with her for her pregnancy." Sydney felt sick just hearing the plan.
"Why do you want me then?" Cox smiled.
"You are going to deliver the girl and the twins to us." Sydney was disgusted.
"How am I supposed to do that? Why is it me?" Cox smiled evilly.
"Well you have her trust; you are like the father she lost. You can bring her to us without complaint. And you ask why you? Well because of this." Cox pulled out a DSA and a DSA player and put the disk inside. He pressed play.
Two people came up on the screen huddled together in the corner of the room. They were both obviously scared and they were crying. Willie the sweeper walked in the room and pulled them apart.
"Who are you? Why are you doing this?" Michelle was crying and seemed to be in hysterics. Sydney tried to get out of his bindings, but they were too tight. He had to just sit and watch. Willie smiled and looked at the camera.
"Ask Sydney." Nicholas crawled over to his mother and embraced her. He looked at Willie with disgust.
"What does this have to do with my father?" Willie smiled and kicked Nicholas away from his mother.
"Everything, nothing, it's up to him." Cox stopped it and looked at Sydney.
"That's why."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Chrissie was feeling tired as everyone left so it was easy for her to fall asleep. Although she'd already slept that day she was still very tired. A strange dream started in her head.
Sydney was bound to a chair with Mr. Cox in front of him. In front of Mr. Cox was a DSA player. Chrissie walked over to the DSA player and saw a terrified looking woman up front and a young man slouched in a corner. She recognised the woman as Michelle, Sydney had shown her picture's of her. She assumed that the young man was Nicholas, but without seeing his face she couldn't be sure. Sydney had also shown her pictures of the son Sydney never knew he had. She turned her attention back to Sydney and Cox.
"What… what do you want me to do?" Cox smiled and circled around the chair. He stopped behind Sydney and grabbed his head.
"I want you to go to the hospital to visit your dear friend Chrissie." Chrissie was confused. She started to think that it was just another crazy dream because Sydney hadn't visited her that day.
"Then what do you want me to do? How am I supposed to… bring her to you?" Chrissie was shocked. What was he talking about?
"Well, you tell her that the hospital's not safe. You have a safe place to take her. Then you bring her here to me." Cox smiled evilly. Chrissie noticed Sydney giving him a dirty look.
"And how will I get Michelle and Nicholas? How do I know that once you have Chrissie that you won't keep them anyway?" Chrissie looked back at the DSA and realised that Michelle and Nicholas were in the Centre. She walked back over to the screen to get a closer look. She turned back to face Sydney and Cox.
"Ah, you are smart Dr. Greene. You'll just have to trust me won't you? But really Sydney, would you risk it?" He laughed evilly again. Chrissie walked over to him and attempted to punch him but her hand went through him. She silently cursed, knowing she could do nothing to him.
"You know I wouldn't risk it." Cox smiled. He walked back around and stood in front of Sydney again.
"That's very good Dr. Greene. You know I was told that your team was smart and not to be messed with." Chrissie started to walk away. "But you can't be that smart. I mean you have Miss Parker who isn't aware that her dear old father is abusing the attraction she has for Jarod to capture him." Chrissie laughed.
"That's what you think Cox. She knows and she's already caught him, she's just not going to share with you."
"You've got a computer technician who doesn't have a spine." Chrissie laughed again.
"He's got more of a spine than you do. He stands up for what he believes in. He's not just a mindless lackey like you; he's a lackey with a brain… and a free will."
"You've got an old physiatrist who let himself get captured by the enemy and is going to play a big part in the enemy's plans to capture another part of your pitiful group."
"You didn't play fair. You kidnapped his family and are threatening them to get him to do what you want. What is it I said about spine? That just shows you really are spineless."
"Now we come to the one part of the group I used to respect. That is until he fell in love and became weak. He's still pining away for Chrissie even though she hates him. And he's also upset that Daddy got her pregnant."
"Nope, wrong again Cox. He's not pining; he's got me. He's not weak because of love. He brought me back with that love, that's not weak. I don't hate him and I'm not pregnant with Daddy's children, they're Lyle's. God I wish you could hear me."
"And then we come to the last part of your pitiful team. We have a Buffy the Vampire Slayer wannabe who thinks she can still kick ass while pregnant."
"Wanna try me Cox?"
"She has no idea why it is that Mr. Parker chose her and when she does find out it will be too late." Chrissie snorted.
"When I find out it will be too late… for Mr. Parker and the Centre." She started walking for the DSA player knowing she could get out of this part through it.
"She doesn't even know that her beloved brother is in fact her son, courtesy of the Centre, and she's a Seer no less." Cox laughed evilly. This caught Chrissie's attention. She walked back to Cox and stood right in front of his face, although she knew he couldn't see her.
"Luis is my what? No, you're wrong. The Centre had nothing to do with his conception. Oh my god, no, it's not true." She walked around the room wanting to get out.
Chrissie woke with a start. She knew that what she saw was true; she just didn't want to believe parts of it. She picked up her phone and dialled Lyle's number. As soon as he picked up she spoke.
"Lyle, get to Sydney's now. He's in trouble. Take Broots, Sam and Joe with you." She hoped he'd take her seriously.
"What is it? What's wrong?" Chrissie sighed. She needed him to get there fast, without question.
"There's no time to explain now. I'll tell you later. Just go and take them with you, make sure you're armed. Bring him here and I'll explain everything then." She hung up praying he'd listen to her.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Lyle came back from around the corner of Sydney's house. He took his gun out and put in a new clip. He looked at the people he'd dragged along with him. Seeing him fix up his gun Sam and Joe did the same. Broots looked nervously around not knowing what to do.
"Chrissie was right, Sydney's in trouble. Cox has got him in there tied to a chair. Sam, you're with me, we go in through the back here. Joe, Broots, I want you two to go in through the side; it's your job to get Syd out safely. Broots take my spare gun, just in case." Broots took the gun and eyed it. He was growing more nervous by the minute. Lyle patted his back. "Don't worry, you probably won't need it. Sam and I will take care of Cox. Don't worry about it." Broots smiled nervously and followed after Joe.
"What are we going to do about Mr. Cox?" Lyle looked at Sam and tried to think about what he was going to do.
"We'll come up with that when we need to. Although I'm thinking I would like some questions answered." Sam nodded and waited for Lyle to make the first move. Lyle sighed and walked towards the back door. He opened it slowly and quietly. He hid behind a wall and motioned for Sam to join him. Sam went to the opposite side of him. Lyle looked towards the side entrance and saw Joe enter, motioning for Broots to follow him. Lyle took another step closer and saw that Cox was untying Sydney and was waving a gun around him. Sydney caught his eye and Lyle motioned for him to keep quiet and stall him. Sydney nodded and started talking to Cox.
"So you promise me you'll get Michelle and Nicholas out of the Centre and bring them to me if I do this?" Cox smiled.
"Like I said before; you'll just have to see." Lyle crept into the room and hid behind the couch. He peered over the top of the couch at Joe, Broots and Sam. He motioned for Sam to stop where he was.
"What makes you think I'm not going to tell Chrissie everything when I see her?" Cox walked over to the DSA player again. Joe had to leap back into the room behind him to avoid being seen.
"Because of this, Dr. Greene, I don't think you'd risk anything happening to them." Lyle stood behind Cox. He lifted a lamp above his head ready to strike.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Chrissie smiled as she watched JJ walk out of the room. He really was like Jarod. He even walked the same way Jarod did. Chrissie looked at the cupboard next to her bed. She looked at the picture of her family. She smiled thinking what Marietta would say if she met JJ. She'd always had a crush on Jarod so she'd be delighted that there was a person exactly like Jarod her age. She heard movement in the room so she assumed JJ was back.
"You should meet my sister you know. I know she'd like you." When she got no answer she turned around and was shocked to see Willie standing in her doorway. She gasped as he took a step closer to her.
"Get up, you're coming with me." Chrissie sat up but grabbed the emergency button.
"What do you want?" Willie smiled and took another step towards her, taking the button away from her.
"You think I'm that stupid? I know that that would be the first thing you'd do. And you want to know what I want? Well I'm just doing my job, and they want you and the twins." He yanked Chrissie up by the arm. "Now get changed. We're leaving."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Cox turned around, saw the Lyle and grabbed the lamp just in time. He threw it across the room and laughed.
"That was predictable. I can see you there Sam, Joe. You two get out here now." Both men reluctantly did as they were told. Luckily Mr. Cox hadn't seen Broots, so he was able to stay hidden. "All of you sit over there or there'll be trouble." All four men walked over to the couch.
"What's going on?" Lyle wanted to know what Cox had wanted Sydney to do.
"Well Mr. Lyle, you see you did exactly as we thought you would. We knew you might find out we had Sydney, but don't worry, we set up a Plan B to get Chrissie." Lyle gasped as he realised what Cox was after.
"Plan B? What Plan B?" Cox smiled. Broots came out from hiding and hit Cox over the back of the head with Sydney's hat stand. Cox tumbled to the floor. All of the men helped to get him in the seat Sydney had been tied up on. They tied him up. When he was securely tied Lyle slapped him over the face to wake him up.
"Wake up Coxie, time to tell us Plan B." Cox opened his eyes up and eyed his restraints.
"I must say, I wasn't expecting this. How did you do it? You were all in my sights." He saw Broots and smiled. "I am impressed Mr. Broots. I definitely wasn't expecting that." Lyle clicked his gun to get back Cox's attention.
"What was Plan B?" Cox smiled but kept his mouth shut. Lyle sighed. "I didn't want to do this but you forced me. Syd, where do you keep your knives?" Sydney went to the kitchen and came back with a very large knife.
"Will this do?" Lyle eyed the knife and smiled evilly.
"This is perfect. Now Cox you tell me or I start cutting." Cox eyed the knife but smiled cheerfully.
"You're not going to use it. You've gone weak." Lyle smiled and lowered the knife to Cox. He cut a long shallow cut that would bleed a lot but was not fatal. Cox tightened his jaw in pain.
"TELL ME WHAT PLAN B IS?" Cox thought for a moment and looked as though he wouldn't speak. Lyle lowered the knife and was about to cut again when Cox spoke.
"Alright, alright, I'll tell you. Plan B is Willie. He probably already has her." He smiled again and the smile led to evil laughter. Lyle, Sydney and Broots stood up and walked for the door. Before leaving Lyle turned back to Sam and Joe.
"Hey guys, remember some of your sweeper training; the part on hostages?" Sam smiled and looked at Cox.
"Yes, Mr. Lyle, we remember that part." Lyle smiled and looked at Cox. Cox kept his cool exterior but everyone could tell he was worried.
"I think it's been too long till you've done it. Well now you have your test subject. Keep him here until we get back." Lyle walked out the door to join Sydney and Broots to get to the hospital. Joe and Sam turned to Cox. Joe picked up the knife and neared Cox. Sam put masking tape over his lips so his screams would be muffled.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"Why should I go with you?" Willie smiled and pulled out a pocket knife. He put it to Chrissie's stomach. Chrissie winced while Willie smiled.
"Because if you don't I won't hesitate to do this." There was a muffled bang and Willie feel to the ground limp. Chrissie watched in horror, not knowing what was happening. She saw JJ's shocked face behind the fallen body of Willie.
"Are you… alright? He didn't hurt you did he?" Chrissie shook her head, stepped over Willie's body and hugged JJ.
"It's alright. You did what you had to. He was going to hurt me and the twins. He's from the Centre anyway." She noticed that JJ was shaking a bit. "JJ you saved my life. Thank you." JJ looked at Chrissie and smiled. He looked at the gun in his hand and dropped it immediately.
"I… I killed someone." Chrissie led JJ back to the bed. She sat him down and went to check on Willie. She felt for a pulse and could feel a faint one. She looked at JJ.
"No you didn't. He's still alive. We need to get him to the front lobby so he can get some help, otherwise he will die." JJ nodded and put Willie's arm over his shoulder. Chrissie went to help but JJ stopped her.
"No, you stay here. He's too heavy for you. I can manage." JJ walked through the halls and took Willie to get help. He left him with some doctors and went back to Chrissie's room. When he got back he found her crying.
"He was going to hurt the babies. The Centre wants me and they'll stop at nothing to get me. I have to get out of here and go somewhere safer." JJ was about to walk over to her put stopped when he heard a noise behind him. He turned and saw Lyle, Sydney and Broots running for the room. Lyle ran into the room and instantly to Chrissie.
"I was so scared, I thought Willie got you." Lyle took her face in his hands and kissed her. He looked to the ground and saw the pool of Willie's blood. He got worried. "Are you alright?" He began checking her body for injury. Chrissie stopped him.
"I'm fine thanks to JJ. He came back just as Willie was threatening the twins. He shot him. He's still alive; JJ took him to get help." Lyle's face turned sour.
"Why'd you take him to get help after what he was going to do to you?" Chrissie sighed and looked at JJ.
"Killing someone is a hell of a lot to have on one's conscience, don't you think?" She looked deeply in his eyes and Lyle nodded knowing she was right.
"Alright, but if he did hurt you…" Chrissie smiled and captured his lips.
"I know." She turned her attention to Sydney. "Are you alright? I know we've got to find some way to get to Michelle and Nicholas but are you alright?" Sydney was taken aback. He didn't know how she knew about everything. He remembered that Cox had called her a Seer, but he was still shocked.
"I'm fine. Thank you." Chrissie smiled and squeezed his hand. Lyle was confused.
"How did you know he was in danger in the first place? And how do you know about Michelle and Nicholas?" Chrissie sighed. She knew he'd want an answer but she didn't really have one.
"It's complicated. I dreamt it. I was at Sydney's but I wasn't there. I've had these dreams before and what I saw always happened. Cox had Sydney tied to a chair and there was a DSA player on a table. Michelle and Nicholas were on the DSA player's screen. I heard Cox say some things and when I woke up I knew Sydney was in trouble." Lyle was shocked by what he heard. Sydney smiled.
"So it's true. You are a Seer?" Chrissie looked at Sydney confused.
"I'm a what? Oh yeah, Cox kept saying that, didn't he? What does it mean Syd?" Sydney thought about how to answer her question.
"Basically it means you're psychic." Chrissie nodded. It made sense. Lyle stared at Chrissie not knowing what to say about it.
"And so that means Luis is… my son. Do you think its true Syd? Do you think Luis is really… my son?" Sydney didn't know what to say. He knew that if it was true that it was a horrible way for her to find out. Lyle was shocked. What were they talking about? Luis was her brother, not her son. Broots spoke up.
"What are you talking about Luis being your son? He's very much like you but…" He trailed off not knowing what to say.
"Sydney, do you think it's true?" Sydney sighed. In all honesty he thought it was.
"I don't know Chrissie. I mean, why would he say it if it wasn't true?" Chrissie shuddered. The thought that the Centre took so much from her was sickening.
"Chrissie what are you and Sydney talking about?" Chrissie looked at Lyle. She sighed and held his hand tightly.
"Cox said that they implanted my baby, Luis, into my mother and made her think it was hers. This was all done without my knowledge. Apparently I've been on the Centre radar for some time." A tear rolled down her cheek. Lyle was stunned.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but do you really think its safe here? We should get going." Chrissie looked at JJ and nodded.
"Where are we going to go?" Lyle smiled.
"First I want some answers. Cox is being held at Syd's. We have to go back there first to get those answers." Sydney cleared his throat.
"We need to get Michelle and Nicholas out of the Centre somehow." Broots spoke up as well.
"And we have to get Debbie and Lockie." Chrissie nodded and got up slowly. She grabbed her stomach and looked at it warily. She felt one of the twins kick.
"Will I be alright to travel? I mean I'm very close to my due date." JJ looked her over.
"You should be alright. We're not travelling too much. If anything happens I'll be with you so don't worry." Chrissie smiled.
"Thank you. Hey I need some help here. I'm so big I can hardly move plus I've been in bed for a few days, hardly getting up." Lyle and Broots walked over to her and helped her walk out the hospital without anyone noticing.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
When they got back to Sydney's house they had Debbie and Lockie with them as well. Chrissie had Lockie nestled next to her sleeping. Lyle helped her out of the car and instructed her to go straight to Sydney's room with Lockie and Debbie. She did as she was told, glancing at a very bloody Cox sitting where Sydney had once been tied up. Once in the bedroom she closed the door so neither of the younger people with her could see. A few moments later Joe joined them.
"Lyle seems to think you three would be safest with me while he's gone." He was obviously proud that Lyle trusted him with such an important duty. Chrissie didn't know what he was talking about.
"Where's Lyle gone?" She was slightly worried about where he might have gone.
"Seeing as its so late Sydney, Broots, Sam, JJ and Lyle have gone to get Michelle and Nicholas out of the Centre." Chrissie was horrified.
"They did what? Are they crazy? What if they get caught, I mean they have JJ with them. And what if I go into labour while they've got my doctor?" Joe smiled. Chrissie glared at him not knowing what was so funny.
"Lyle said you'd react like this. He said it's safe. Broots is going to make sure surveillance doesn't see them while Sydney, Sam and Lyle get Michelle and Nicholas out. JJ's driving." Chrissie relaxed slightly. "And JJ doesn't think you'll go into labour. He wouldn't have gone otherwise." Chrissie smiled. She knew she was just worrying. She looked to the bed where Debbie and Lockie sleeping. She waddled over to the bed and brushed back Lockie's hair. She kissed his forehead. Joe was watching with a smile until he heard a noise outside.
"Is it Cox?" Joe shook his head.
"We got rid of him. Lyle put him in the boot of the car they're driving. I'll go check it out." He handed her a gun. "This is just in case. I don't want to see what a crack shot you are." Chrissie smiled as he threw her earlier threat back at her. He walked out the door closing it behind him. She tucked the gun into the waistband of her pants. Chrissie turned back around to look at Lockie. All of a sudden everything went dark.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Chrissie awoke and found herself in her bed at Mr. Parker's house. She looked around and realised that Lockie was with her but the others were no where to be found. Daylight was streaking through the window. She tried to sit up but found she couldn't. She looked around her and tried to see if she was tied somehow but she wasn't. She started to get scared.
"Hey, relax. The medication will wear off soon. Just relax." Chrissie looked up and saw Mr. Parker standing over her. She got even more scared.
"How did I get here?" Mr. Parker smiled.
"You scared me when you weren't at the hospital. I found you though. I brought you here. Look I even brought Lockie for you. I know how upset you get when you're not with him." Chrissie was becoming more and more scared every time he spoke.
"Where are Debbie and Joe?" Mr. Parker's face turned sour.
"They're where they were. I didn't need them. I needed you." He sat on the bed and started stroking her hair. She tried to pull away but still couldn't move.
"What do you want with me?" Mr. Parker smiled.
"You are carrying my children; the future of the Centre. I couldn't let you take them away from me." Chrissie was even more scared.
"When they're born what will you do to me?" Mr. Parker stood and walked away from her like he'd been too close to fire.
"I haven't decided yet, but if you are good I'll keep you alive." He left the room. Chrissie started crying. All she wanted was to get away from him.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Lyle walked through the house looking for Chrissie. He was starting to get worried. When they had gotten back to Sydney's with Michelle and Nicholas, Debbie was sleeping, a deep drug induced sleep, and Joe was unconscious outside the room. Chrissie and Lockie were no where to be found. They'd looked all over the house and found nothing. They went to Chrissie's cabin but still there was nothing. Next they checked Lyle's apartment and now they were looking through Miss Parker's house. Lyle came back in the lounge room where everyone else was gathered after their own searches.
"Nothing, it doesn't look like anyone's been here since Miranda left." Lyle kicked a chair. He didn't know how Chrissie and Lockie could just vanish without a trace.
"I'm really sorry Mr. Lyle. I left them for a moment and got hit over the head. I gave Chrissie a gun and everything before I left." Lyle gave a sad smile to Joe.
"It's okay Joe. I don't blame you. I just wish I knew where she was."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
It was getting late and Chrissie could finally move. Lockie had woken up and had been very groggy. Chrissie assumed that she was not the only one who had been drugged. She got out of the bed tentatively and sneaked a look outside the door. She noticed Mr. Parker was downstairs doing god knows what. She looked back in the room. She knew she had to get out of there. She needed to create a diversion so she and Lockie could get past him and out of the house to somewhere safe. She couldn't think of anything she could use to create the diversion. She sat down and felt a lump under her. She stood up and felt where the bump had been. She realised it was the gun Joe had given her. A ray of hope filtered through her.
"Thank you Joe." She walked to the window and opened it. She shot at a tree in the backyard a few times. She crept back to the door and heard Mr. Parker rush out the back. She grabbed Lockie and a few things from the table and ran downstairs. She got to the front yard and spotted a car. She jumped in and realised there were no keys. She looked at Lockie.
"Sweetie, do up your seat belt. Now what I'm about to do you must never do okay?" Lockie nodded. Chrissie opened the compartment and started messing with the wires. She cheered when the car started, "Thank you for teaching me that Jeff." She quickly roared out of the driveway.
She was driving in the car. It was late at night by then. She had to get away. She couldn't stay with him anymore. She looked to her side and saw the toddler sitting next to her. He was playing with a toy she'd brought him that was in the pile of things she'd grabbed. She wondered how it was possible to love someone so much who came from someone you couldn't stand. She went around the bend and felt a bump from behind her. She looked in the rear-view mirror and cringed at the sight behind her. She tried to swerve but it didn't work. The car behind her slammed into her again. Her son started crying.
"It's okay sweetie. Everything's going to be okay." He looked up at her and smiled. She looked behind her again and saw the car was gone. She sighed with relief then went back to driving. She had to get away so he couldn't send anyone to do anything to hurt her again. She rounded a bend then saw the big tree down the road. She remembered the dream she'd had so long ago about her fate with that tree. She usually avoided it. She gasped as she realised this was the scene from her dream.
She wasn't aware of the car next to her until she felt the thump. She looked out the window and saw the familiar car. The car went to slam her again, the car was on Lockie's side so she quickly undid his seatbelt with one hand then pulled him onto her lap. She knew how the next part went from her dream. The car would bump into her harder and send her off the road into the tree. An idea popped into her head. She wasn't going to let it end that way again.
The car next to her was about to ram her again, but she put her foot on the brake hard, causing her to skid to a stop. The car next to her obviously didn't expect this and rammed into the tree. Chrissie's breathing was becoming laboured. She looked at her son and made sure he was alright. He was fine. She told him to stay in the car while she got out. She walked carefully to the car, crunching broken glass on her way. She heard the sound of the constant honking of the horn for the first time. She saw Mr. Parker slouched over the wheel. She knew he was still alive. She didn't know how she knew, she just knew. She heard the ambulance in the distance. She went back to her car and got Lockie out. Her cabin was close so she started walking there.
When she got to her cabin the first thing she wanted to do was call Lyle's cell phone. She walked over to her phone but didn't quite make it. A pain in her stomach made her stop dead in her tracks. She grabbed her stomach and wished the pain would subside. When it finally did she began walking for the phone again. The second of her contractions started.
"No, not now, JJ said you wouldn't come now." She managed to make it to the lounge next to the phone. She grinded her teeth as the pain was getting stronger. She started doing the Lamaze she had learnt while dialling Lyle's phone.
Lyle jumped as the ringing of his phone sounded through the empty room. He looked at his phone and saw that the number was the phone from Chrissie's cabin. He answered it as fast as he could.
"Chrissie, is that you?" He could hear heavy breathing on the other end and didn't know what to think. He was about to speak again when he heard a child's voice.
"Lyle? Is dat you? It's Lockie. Mamma's hurt. You need to come." Lyle started jumping, glad that he had contact with them.
"Lockie, where are you and Mamma? What's wrong with her?" Lockie looked at his mother and noticed that water was on the floor around her.
"We're at de cabin. Mamma's in pain and she's leaking." Lyle didn't know what he meant so he just sighed.
"Okay, we'll be there in a few minutes." Lyle hung up and looked at the rest of the group. "They're at the cabin. Lockie say's that Chrissie's hurt. We've got to get there." Everyone nodded and headed out the door.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"Good boy Lockie. Can you go get some more pillows?" Lockie nodded at his mother and ran out of her bedroom to get pillows. In between the contractions she'd managed to make it to her bedroom. She knew the twins would probably be born there so she wanted it to be comfortable. She just wasn't sure whether everyone would get there in time to help or if she'd have to do it all by herself.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Lyle was driving fast, trying to get to Chrissie's cabin as fast as he could. He had to slow down when he saw the scene of an accident. There were police officers all over the place. Lyle spotted two cars; one rammed into a tree, the other on the road with skid marks leading to it. He recognised the cars as two of Mr. Parker's. One of the police officers came to the car.
"I'm sorry but you can't come through here. There's been an accident." The police officer indicated the scene.
"What happened here?" The police officer shrugged. He looked back the cars then to Lyle.
"Where're not entirely sure. All we know is that we have already taken the driver of that car," he pointed at the car rammed into the tree, "to the hospital. An older man, unconscious but okay. Now the other car…" Lyle looked at the other car and saw a toy on the ground. He knew it was Lockie's. "We can't find the driver." Lyle started panicking. Lockie had said Chrissie was injured and now he thought he knew why.
"Well officer we're just going down there," he pointed to the road off the side, "to my house. Is that alright?" Lyle prayed that he'd say yes. The officer looked down the road then back to Lyle.
"Alright, I'll let you through." Lyle smiled as he passed the officer and the scene. He looked back at everyone back in the car.
"I think I know what happened to Chrissie."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Lyle opened the door to the cabin and instantly knew Chrissie was there. There were some things scattered on the floor and the things near the phone were spilt on the floor. He looked around to see if he could see her but couldn't.
"Chrissie, Lockie, are you two here?" He heard a scream coming from Chrissie's bedroom. He instantly ran there. When he got there he saw Chrissie lying on the bed, sweat pouring from her face and Lockie at her side looking scared. "Chrissie, what's wrong?" He ran to her side and started stroking her head.
"The twins are coming, NOW!" She grabbed his hand and started squeezing. Lyle looked at her, then her stomach then back at her in amazement.
"Are you sure?" Chrissie squeezed his hand tightly as another contraction hit. She nodded and spoke through gritted teeth.
"I'm sure. They are coming and they are coming now." Lyle kissed her head, stood and walked over to the door. Everyone was looking around at the room wondering what happened.
"I need you in here. Chrissie's in labour." JJ ran into the room followed by Sydney. As the only two with any kind of medical training they were what were needed. Debbie smiled and walked slowly to the room.
"The twins are coming. Chrissie do you need anything?" Chrissie looked at Debbie and smiled.
"I'd like some water please." Debbie smiled and went to get the water. Chrissie grabbed Lyle's hand squeezed. "They weren't supposed to come yet." Lyle smiled and kissed her head.
"I guess they were just anxious to meet you." Chrissie smiled and looked at JJ and Sydney.
"How long is it until they come?" JJ looked up at her.
"I'd say very soon." Chrissie nodded. Debbie came back with the water. She handed it to Chrissie. Chrissie smiled, splashed some on her face then drank a bit of it.
"Debbie, could you take Lockie and wait outside?" Debbie nodded and took Lockie's hand. Lyle turned to JJ and Sydney.
"Have either of you done this before?" Both men shook their heads. "If only Parker was here. She delivered Lockie." Lyle smiled but stopped smiling as Chrissie squeezed his hand.
"I need to push." JJ checked her and shook his head.
"I'm sorry, not yet Chrissie." Chrissie screamed in frustration. Michelle poked her head in the room.
"Can I do anything to help?" Sydney walked over to Michelle. He nodded and told her to get some towels and blankets and water. Michelle nodded and turned to leave.
"Michelle, I'm sorry we had to meet this way. I just wanted to say I'm glad you're alright." Chrissie smiled. Michelle nodded and left the room in search of the things Sydney asked for. Chrissie screamed again.
"Can I push now?" JJ nodded. Chrissie started pushing while Lyle said soothing words and wiped her head with a wet cloth. Michelle came in with the things Sydney asked for and left quickly.
Broots, Debbie, Lockie, Michelle and Nicholas were waiting in the lounge room. Debbie was holding on to Lockie because he kept going to the room. After a few screams from Chrissie there was crying. Everyone looked towards the door.
Lyle started crying as the first of his children was born. He didn't even know which one it was but he was happy. Chrissie relaxed and fell back on the bed. JJ and Sydney cleaned the baby off. Sydney wrapped it in a blanket and placed it in Chrissie's arms.
"I believe that this is little Chloe." Chrissie stared at Sydney then at Lyle then at the child in her arms. She took Lyle's hand and counted Chloe's fingers and toes making sure she was healthy. When she was satisfied she kissed Lyle.
"She's perfect." Lyle nodded. Chrissie's face contorted and her breathing became heavy. Lyle took Chloe out of her arms and placed her in a crib they had managed to get from the basement. JJ shook his head telling her not to push yet. Lyle ducked his head through the doors.
"Chloe was just born, now Braden's about to be born." He quickly went back into the room to help with the birth of his son. Yet again all anybody outside the room heard was a few screams from Chrissie followed by crying. JJ and Sydney cleaned off Braden then Sydney wrapped him in a blanket and handed him to Chrissie. JJ and Sydney left them alone to have a moment with their children. Chrissie again counted all his fingers and toes and made sure he was perfectly healthy. Lyle went and got Chloe and lay on the bed next to Chrissie. They held each others hands and looked over their children. Chrissie leant over and kissed him.
"They're perfect. Look Braden has your nose and Chloe has your eyes." She smiled and stroked each of their faces. Lyle smiled.
"I don't know about that but I do know they look just as beautiful as you." Chrissie smiled and Lyle kissed her. They pulled apart when they heard someone clearing their throat at the door.
"You do know that doing that will lead to getting more of them." They looked up and saw Broots standing with a grin.
"Well that won't be happening for a few days, trust me." Chrissie laughed.
"Someone wanted to meet his new brother and sister." He stepped aside and let Lockie walk past him. Chrissie motioned for Lockie to join her.
"Hey baby, you want to meet your brother and sister? This is Braden and this is Chloe." Lockie looked at his newborn brother and sister and smiled. He then crinkled up his nose.
"They're so small." Chrissie smiled.
"They didn't feel small when I was giving birth." She noticed Chloe start to fuss. She knew what was wrong. "Lyle you take Braden, Chloe's hungry." Lyle and Chrissie swapped the children in their arms.
After Chrissie fed Chloe she fed Braden. She was feeling tired so she laid her head back. Braden had already fallen asleep in her arms and Chloe was getting sleepy in Lyle's. Chrissie watched her children in amazement. Lockie laid his head on Chrissie's chest and watched his sleeping brother. Chrissie started stroking Lockie's head. He fell asleep. Lyle sighed. He had to ask Chrissie something, he just wasn't sure if he could.
"Chrissie, how did you end up here?" Chrissie sighed and stroked Braden's cheek.
"After Joe left the room I started checking on Lockie and Debbie, the next thing I knew I was falling to the ground and everything was going black. When I woke up I was at Mr. Parker's house. He'd brought Lockie as well and told me he hadn't decided if he'd keep me alive after the twins are born. He left me and Lockie alone for a while and during that time I managed to get up and shoot a tree in the backyard with the gun Joe had given me. When Mr. Parker went to check it out I got us the hell out of there. I hot-wired one of his cars and tried to drive as best I could with my stomach in the way." Lyle nodded and took her hand.
"So where were you going? Were you coming here?" Chrissie nodded.
"Yeah, I was. I was almost here when I got bumped into by another car. It was Mr. Parker. I had a dream of that happening a while ago and I knew I was going to die. But then I thought of you and the twins and the freedom that was coming soon and I couldn't just let that happen. I slammed by foot on the brakes and instead of me and Lockie going into the tree Mr. Parker did. We came here after that. As soon as I got in here I started having contractions and you know the rest." Lyle sighed and kissed her hand.
"I was so scared that something was wrong. We passed the crash scene on the way here. I thought…" Tears started pouring down his cheeks. Chrissie hugged him.
"You're not going to lose me. I'm going to make sure of that." Lyle smiled and kissed her. He kissed Braden, Chloe and Lockie. He put his arm around Chrissie.
"Chrissie, we're a family now. Look at us with our children. We're a real family now." Chrissie smiled and shook her head.
"Lyle, we've been a family for a while now. Chloe and Braden just add to that." Chrissie smiled and yawned. She fell asleep with her family around her.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Jarod finished talking with his boss. The package had just arrived. Raids were being organised already. Jarod smiled to himself. He was glad that he had managed to get some of the people at the Centre either off or lighter sentences of they weren't too involved, people like Broots and Chrissie. Miss Parker and Sydney were to be placed under surveillance for a few months to make sure they were like Jarod said they were. Lyle was a different matter. He still wasn't sure what they'd do about Lyle. He'd put in as good a word as he could, but he wasn't sure what they'd do. All he could do was wait it out. He sighed and took his thoughts off the dilemma of Lyle and put them back to the main goal. The Centre was going down.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
To be continued...