And thus ends the [not quite epic] saga that has been "Ghost Train". It's a quick and rather abrupt ending, but I had nothing else to put in between. So enjoy anyway - writing this has been fun and difficult at the same time, and I'm sad to see it come to an end. Thanks to everyone who reviewed/beta'd, especially Dave. Oh, and I don't own "Taken", either.
"Love is a ghost train howling on the radio
'Remember everything,' she said, 'when only memory remains.'"
- "Ghost Train", Counting Crows
It had been nine years, but sometimes it felt like a lifetime. Other times it only felt like it had been yesterday he was sitting with Liz in that office, telling her things he hadn't the heart to tell anyone else. The memories had mostly faded, but some things still remained - it was strange how he couldn't remember exactly what she looked like, but he could still recall that slightly musty smell of the books that lined the walls of her office.
Ignorance had worked for them. Amelia and Jesse never talked about 'it' any more, now that Charlie was older. His confession had gone from a looming shadow in the back of Amelia's mind to a faint silhouette of something before fading away completely.
And now he sat in the kitchen, alone in the dark, as a few rays of moonlight crept through his window and illuminated the top of the table. He stared straight ahead, blankly gazing at nothing in particular.
For weeks he had seen people following him around, even once catching a glimpse of the elusive Eric Crawford. He knew they were moving in on him, that they wanted something and that something was him. But he knew that while Amelia meant nothing to them, Charlie probably meant the most. And he couldn't allow those government people to take his family, no matter what the risk.
His gaze shifted to the bedroom, where Amelia had woken and noticed his disappearance. She entered the kitchen quietly, asking him what was wrong.
"Nothing," came his choked reply. Then, knowing he wasn't fooling anyone, he added, "You have to go away. Charlie too."
Amelia smiled uncertainly. "What? Jesse . . . are you sure you're all right?"
"You have to believe me." He said, shaking. "There are some people who want to see me, and Charlie, and I can't let that happen." Tears were beginning to well in his eyes, and he felt ashamed. Men didn't cry in front of their wives.
She saw he wasn't joking. "Just for a couple of nights?" Amelia asked, and then knew it would be for a lot longer than that. "Jesse - " She began to protest.
"No." Jesse replied. "You and Charlie, you have to leave. There are people who want to hurt you, Amelia." He felt a pain more sharp than anything he had ever felt before course through him.
Her heart broke at the thought of leaving him. She couldn't. But something in his tone told her they had to, that this was the only thing he would ever ask her to do for him again. She had to grant him this last request.
"OK." She whispered. As she left to get Charlie tears spilled onto her cheeks, and she paused at the doorway of their house with their son in arms. "Goodbye." Amelia whispered that last word so softly he would not have heard it if not for the utter silence filling the rest of the house.
Jesse sat by the window still, not daring to look over at them until he heard the door click as they exited. Cursing the people he knew would be coming soon, he stared out the window and followed Amelia and Charlie with his eyes as he watched the only two people he would ever truly love and would have love him back drive away from him forever.
He didn't notice the tears streaming down his face until later; when they began to cloud his vision and turn everything into a large, shapeless blur.
He was still sitting in the chair when he heard the knock at the door. God knew how long he had been sitting there - the moonlight was replaced with the harsh rays of sunlight piercing his eyes, hurting him. Slowly he turned his gaze to the door, and he knew they would take him away. Good. He couldn't stand to be here any longer, where everything still reminded him of Amelia and Charlie and times when he was happy.
"Mr. Keys?" Came a familiar voice, followed by a few sharp taps at the door. "We'd like to talk to you."
Jesse sighed and closed his eyes, and waited for them.
~Fin
February 13, 2004
