by: iluvaqt@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: I don't claim ownership of any of these characters. They belong to their respective creators, including Cameron/Eglee Productions and 20th Century Fox Studios. The story is not for sale, it is written solely for Dark Angel fans. No money is being made from the use of these characters.
Date: 29 October 2003
Rating: R
Pairing: Jondy/Zack
Summary: Before Zack meets Max in "411 on the DL", he has to rescue Jondy from Lydecker in San Francisco. Zack knows he's in way over his head when he realizes it's more than just Lydecker turning up the heat.
iluvaqt's Notes: Inspired by Lexie. Her enthusiasm for my characterizations of Krit and Syl, prompted me to put an old idea into print. Please send me feedback. :) It's always appreciated.
Prologue -
Apartment building, Las Vegas
Friday, February 28, 2020
Just above her head, sunlight streamed through the window illuminating the dark room. Nothing about her surrounds seemed to affect the woman. She sat on the floor, huddled against the wall. Her arms tightly wrapped around her legs, her head buried in her knees. She didn't move, and all her tears had dried up hours ago.
No matter how many times she went over it in her head, she had no clue as to when or how the words had come out of her mouth.
"I'm not asking you, it's an order," he barked.
"Yes, sir," she replied.
Feeling so cold and completely numb inside, she'd stayed there. Even long after he'd gone, she had stayed in this room. She had no idea why. Maybe, she'd had the completely foolish notion that he would be back. Maybe, she thought if she stayed here long enough, she might wake up and realize it was all a bad dream. What she knew for sure was that never in her whole life, had she ever felt so alone. There was nobody that she could call, nobody that would know what to say. Nobody who could give her the answers she needed to hear. Only she could undo the promise she had just made. And in her heart, she knew she couldn't. If she did, she would never see any of the family again. He would make sure of that.
They had a deal. If she wanted to continue being a part of the contact circle, she would have to follow this order. She didn't know what hurt more, the fact that it had come to this or the look of cold rejection she had seen in his eyes.
"Do you honestly think this could work for you? Who are you kidding? Lydecker will catch up with you, and when he does, I won't be there to bail you out. If you do this, you are on your own."
A tear slid down her cheek. She thought she didn't have any left in her. A shudder rocked her body, and she leaned her head back against the wall. She watched the dust particles floating in the air. The morning light proving just how contaminated the air she was breathing in was. Her usually vibrant red locks, hung dull and limp down her back. Her hair was roughly disheveled and her top was spotted with tearstains. The hair on her arms stood out, as goose pimples covered her skin. She hadn't eaten in over 14 hours. Lately she'd been eating almost every four, only extending to eight when she slept. Considering she hadn't slept since he left, which was about five hours ago, her stomach had been awake long enough to be protesting loudly. She ignored it.
There was a knock on the door. The knocking became more insistent but still she didn't answer. Finally, it burst open and she looked up to see her friend in the doorway. She looked annoyed.
"You've got to be nuts, you know that? I've been looking all over for you this morning. You disappeared last night, Xander's asking all these questions…." Carmen walked over to her friend and picked her up off the floor, helping her to the bed. "Dee, you're freezing. How long have you been sitting there?" It was then that she noticed the shiny streaks on Jondy's face and the red in her usually clear gray eyes. "What happened?"
"Nothing. I just can't go into work today. There's something I've gotta do." She avoided looking at Carmen, she couldn't. She knew how her friend felt about the baby and it's father. Or lack of. Looking at her would just make what she had to do, that much harder. "Cover for me?"
"You know I will. " Carmen could figure out what was bothering Jondy but she had a sneaking suspicion that she wouldn't like it, if she did. The best thing she could do for her friend was just to support her. She'd been through a rough past couple of months. The guy that had showed up at the bar last night hadn't helped things. From the display she had witnessed, she guessed two things, he knew Jondy very well and he had found out about the baby. And from the way he'd left the club, he hadn't been too pleased about it.
Carmen left her room, and she was alone again. Slipping from the bed, Jondy walked to her closest. Apart from her performing costumes, her wardrobe was fairly sparse. She had lots of black and white, one dark colored sundress and a pair of khaki pants. Pulling out a black t-shirt, the khakis and a fresh pair of underwear, she headed for the bathroom. Turning on the faucets, she threw a towel over the glass and stepped under the spray.
For a long time, she let the warm water run over her body. The heat chasing away the chill and ache in her muscles. Tilting her head back, she closed her eyes as the water poured down her face. She blocked out every sound, but the echo of the pounding of her heart and the rushing water. This was the last time she would feel whole, because by tonight, part of her would be gone. Forever.