Chapter 14
"Disappearing Act"
July 3rd – 4th 1988
Brian saw Jay walking towards him the next day, a look of confusion clear on his face.
He pulled his face away from the microscope long enough to look at his friend, "'Sup?"
"Hey, Brian. Say, do you know where Kate is?" Jay asked, and saw his friend's face crack into a grin, "I went to see her and she wasn't in her cell…err…room and she wasn't there."
Brian's smile was enigmatic, "She…disappear?"
Before he could respond, William Burkin tapped him on the shoulder and handed him a sheet of paper, "Here's your pass. Don't miss the next chopper into town, otherwise you're walkin'."
As Burkin walked away, Jay looked at the paper in his hand as though it would fade from existence, his mouth opening and closing repeatedly causing him to look remarkably like a fish on dry land.
Brian checked his watch, "Next chopper leaves in fifteen minutes, bud. Better run."
Jay looked from the paper, to Brian, "Thank you."
Just as he turned to run towards the helicopter pad, Brian called after him, "Jay?"
"Yeah?"
Brian smiled, "1945 West Park Drive. Apartment 267."
Jay looked at the pass, then quickly walked over to where Brian was sitting, and pulled him into a brotherly hug, "How can I repay you for this, man?"
Brian returned his friend's hug, "Just tell her I said 'hi' when you see her."
"I'll repay you, somehow. I promise."
"Just get out of here. You're gonna miss your ride."
Jay pulled away from his friend, grinned, and took off down the hall, leaving Brian with his work once more.
Brian worked through the night into Independence Day, and didn't go to sleep until midnight. He was getting up to go to bed after his 24 hour work stretch when Jay appeared, leaning against the doorway to the lab, dressed in his Class A uniform. A plate covered in plastic wrap was in his hand.
Brian rubbed his eyes, yawned, and looked at Jay; "I take it you found her apartment?"
Jay let his face fall into a lazy, contented, smile before nodding.
"Talked to her?"
Another nod.
"Went to dinner?"
Nod.
"Movie?"
Nod.
"Night Cap?"
Another nod.
"Talked more?"
Nod.
"Did a little more than talk?"
Jay's smile widened before he gave another lazy nod. He then strolled over to Brian and handed him the plate.
"She baked these cookies for you. Chocolate Chip. She wanted me to tell you that she loves you…and to give you this," he promptly leaned in close and kissed Brian on his cheek, "That's from her, not me."
"Good," Brian said, looking mildly horrified.
Jay turned and left the lab, looking more confident as he seemed to strut down the hall. Albert Wesker came into the lab shortly after Jay left and saw the cookies in Brian's hands.
"Ah, chocolate chip, my favorite," he said while reaching for one.
Brian slapped Wesker's hand away as though he were a child of four and not a grown man of twenty eight, "Hands off, Stone Face! If you want one, ask."
"May I have a cookie?" Wesker asked through clenched teeth.
Brian shrugged and tossed him one of the still warm treats before getting up and going for some much needed rest, "No more 24 hour shifts."