Chapter 2: Revelations

            Irons sat in an armchair facing the window in his den.  It was still raining as it had been for the past week.  'Even a man as powerful as myself, is not immune to the sombering effects of consistent rain' he thought.  He bent to pick up his tea, from the table beside him.  His ribs were less sore now, from both the painkillers he had taken and Sara's remarkable ability to recover quickly.

            It had come over him suddenly while he slept, a sudden panic and blinding light followed by excruciating pain at his side.  He knew at once it was the wielder, something tragic had happened to her 'But what?' he thought 'And why?'

            "She was sleepwalking". 

            Ian's entrance and answer to Iron's question actually startled Kenneth, but years of training allowed him to hide that fact.  "I see," he said, softly stroking the scars the blade had given him years before.  "And the blade?"

            "It was active," Ian answered, "she ..tried to hide it from me, but I sens…"  Irons turned towards him and he quickly lowered his head.  "I saw a lack of control, she is having trouble… quieting it"

            "And so perhaps it is controlling her…" Irons turned back to the window, watching the rain. 

            Ian believing this the end of their conversation turned to leave.  "I cannot see what is coming" Irons said quietly, "and it frightens me".  Ian was shocked, Irons had never shown doubt before, even with the head strong Sara Pezzini consistently rebuffing him at his every move.  He had always been confident that in the end he would get what he wanted.  He always did. 

            "I read once father" began Ian, "…that to know the future is to be trapped by it."

            Irons closed his eyes, and nodded slowly.  "A wise sentiment my boy" he said, "…a wise sentiment indeed."

            Sara was on her tiptoes trying to reach the power button on the television when McCarty entered the room.  "Why do they put these things so high anyway?"

            "It's not that high Pez, you're just short."

            She turned towards him and glared.  "I am not short".

            "Come on Pez" he joked "Your like what? Up to here on me." Holding his hand to his waist.

            "Ya right", she scoffed "Didn't I find lifts in your locker, last week?" She gave up on the TV and climbed back into bed.

            Jake laughed. "I'm glad your feeling better Sara"

            "Just barely McCarty, somebody stole my remote, and the nurse told me she'd bring me a paper over an hour ago".

            Jake sat in the chair next to the bed.  "Well, this should make you feel better".  He opened the bag he had brought with him and presented her with a coffee and buttered croissant.

            "All is forgiven Jake" she sighed as she stuffed her mouth.  "You're a life saver"

            Jake grinned.  That was all it took to brighten his day,  a butter smeared smile from his partner.  They were too few and far between over the last couple weeks.  They'd been hit hard at work, and the pissy weather didn't help, not to mention Sara seeming distracted of late… and now this.

            "I need to know Jake" Sara said softly, pulling Jake from his thoughts.  "Everything".  Jake sighed, and pulled the remote control for the television out of his jacket pocket and placed it on the bed.

            "We're LIVE here at the scene of an early morning accident involving 8 cars and a tractor trailer.  Early reports are sketchy at best but it seems that around 3am this morning, a woman wandered into this section of traffic.  A truck attempting to swerve and not hit the woman then crashed into on coming traffic creating the eventual 8 car pile up.  Rescue workers, fireman and police are doing everything possible to get the situation under control.  There is no word yet on how many casualties there have been, though several people were rushed to the hospital, including the woman that was the reported cause of all this.  We'll keep you posted as more information becomes available."

            "Thanks Judy" said the anchor woman "It looks pretty horrible out there, let's hope everyone will be okay. In other news this morning, Police are still stumped over a growing number of deaths over the last couple -!"

            Jake took the remote from her and turned the TV off.  Sara sat quietly staring straight ahead.

            "Pez?"

            "How many?"

            "Listen Pez, none of this is your-!"

            "How many Jake?" she asked again cutting him off.

            "11 Sara… 5 are okay, just minor cuts and bruises, 4 are in ICU," he paused and Sara closed her eyes. "2 are…2 are dead."

            "Oh my god".  She began to cry and Jakes arms immediately went around her.  "What have I done?"

            "It's okay Sara," he said stroking her hair. "It was an accident nobody blames you."

            "I do Jake" she said softly " I do."

            Nottingham watched them from the roof of the building across the street from the hospital.  'Such ease', he thought. 'within Sara's partner.'  He could easily make her angry, but he could also make her smile.  She would not question his motives for being there.  "You only came… for him".  The words played over and over in his head.  They had hurt for sure, but there was something else…something in her voice as she drifted off to sleep. And while it was 'quite unlikely' he reminded himself, it seemed to Ian, that it had been…disappointment.