Dislcaimer see Part 1.
After the Explosion
Part 5
Cassie sat at the window seat and stared outside. Jarod watched her from the table, across his laptop. Ethan had somehow managed to find his latest lair, where he'd left his belongings behind. Cassie had collected his things and then headed for another location. Jarod didn't know where they were. He didn't care at all. Two weeks since the explosion and no sign of the Centre. It seemed to be safe.
He had tried to talk to Cassie, tried to find out what she was thinking. But she refused to speak about anything else but his recovery and the recent events. She spent a lot of time with Ethan. Both had a strong link with each other. The inner sense. The gift...Just like my genius, Jarod thought. A dangerous gift. But still, a gift.
Thinking he stared at her. She moved slightly, only to see Jarods stare.
"What? Do I have two heads or something?"
She snapped. Jarod came back into reality.
"I was just thinking..."
She got up and walked over to him. She sighed then sat down opposite of him.
"We need to talk!"
She stated and Jarod nodded. She was right, no discussion needed.
"So, where did you bring us?"
"We're in Montana, north of a little town called Two Pines. I rented a little cabin up the hill. Nobody saw you or Ethan. When I was asked what led me here, I told, that I had suffered a big loss and now wanted to do some thinking. They are all very kind people her. Been offered a lot of invitations and help."
She grinned dryly.
"I know you were afraid I would contact the Centre and that they would come for you...."
She looked at him. Jarod was uncomfortable that she knew, well but she had never been dense in any way.
"I wasn't sure if you wouldn't phone Sydney or your father...but I knew you'd never endanger Ethan. so I figured, I was safe with you!"
He gave her a rueful smile. She smiled back.
"I know now how blind I have been. I thought about it during the drive. You saved our live, Ethans and mine. You never gave a second thought to the danger for yourself. I never could reward your caring kindness by sending you back to hell..."
"I always knew you wouldn't purposely let me be harmed in any way.There were so many times, a master shot could have kept me from running. We both know you missed me on purpose, even if you won't admit. I know your status changed over the years. You're not one of them anymore, but not anyone elses..."
"Nice words, but reality is harsh. Sometimes you really were a pain in the neck. I would have brought you back in, and I wouldn't have regretted it a second. They would have tortured your body and soul and no one would have been able to recognize your remains..."
"You would have regretted it, maybe not immediately, but once you had found out about their deeds, you would have blamed yourself for it. And you would have done something stupid, brave but stupid. They would have sent you to Renewal Wing or had killed you without hesitation. Not even your father would have shed a tear..."
Cassie sighed.
"I know, god Jarod, I know. Do you think I didn't know all the years? I knew it in my heart. I knew you were right, blaming the Centre for all that happened to my life, to our lives....these bastards deserve death and more. But I cannot do a thing about it. Not even you are able to bring them down..."
"And that's where you're wrong, Cassie!"
Jarod looked her straight into the eyes. She froze at his look. She had never seen more dedication and worry in a mans face.
"I know a dozen ways to bring them down. Either to betray them to their competitors on the market, or to the government and media. But neither way makes sure that the people I care for come out alright!"
Cassie held onto his gaze.
"Then we will have to make sure we find a way, to keep them safe, haven't we?"
Jarod grinned his boyish grin.
"You cannot imagine how long I've been longing to hear these words from you..."
tbc
After the Explosion
Part 5
Cassie sat at the window seat and stared outside. Jarod watched her from the table, across his laptop. Ethan had somehow managed to find his latest lair, where he'd left his belongings behind. Cassie had collected his things and then headed for another location. Jarod didn't know where they were. He didn't care at all. Two weeks since the explosion and no sign of the Centre. It seemed to be safe.
He had tried to talk to Cassie, tried to find out what she was thinking. But she refused to speak about anything else but his recovery and the recent events. She spent a lot of time with Ethan. Both had a strong link with each other. The inner sense. The gift...Just like my genius, Jarod thought. A dangerous gift. But still, a gift.
Thinking he stared at her. She moved slightly, only to see Jarods stare.
"What? Do I have two heads or something?"
She snapped. Jarod came back into reality.
"I was just thinking..."
She got up and walked over to him. She sighed then sat down opposite of him.
"We need to talk!"
She stated and Jarod nodded. She was right, no discussion needed.
"So, where did you bring us?"
"We're in Montana, north of a little town called Two Pines. I rented a little cabin up the hill. Nobody saw you or Ethan. When I was asked what led me here, I told, that I had suffered a big loss and now wanted to do some thinking. They are all very kind people her. Been offered a lot of invitations and help."
She grinned dryly.
"I know you were afraid I would contact the Centre and that they would come for you...."
She looked at him. Jarod was uncomfortable that she knew, well but she had never been dense in any way.
"I wasn't sure if you wouldn't phone Sydney or your father...but I knew you'd never endanger Ethan. so I figured, I was safe with you!"
He gave her a rueful smile. She smiled back.
"I know now how blind I have been. I thought about it during the drive. You saved our live, Ethans and mine. You never gave a second thought to the danger for yourself. I never could reward your caring kindness by sending you back to hell..."
"I always knew you wouldn't purposely let me be harmed in any way.There were so many times, a master shot could have kept me from running. We both know you missed me on purpose, even if you won't admit. I know your status changed over the years. You're not one of them anymore, but not anyone elses..."
"Nice words, but reality is harsh. Sometimes you really were a pain in the neck. I would have brought you back in, and I wouldn't have regretted it a second. They would have tortured your body and soul and no one would have been able to recognize your remains..."
"You would have regretted it, maybe not immediately, but once you had found out about their deeds, you would have blamed yourself for it. And you would have done something stupid, brave but stupid. They would have sent you to Renewal Wing or had killed you without hesitation. Not even your father would have shed a tear..."
Cassie sighed.
"I know, god Jarod, I know. Do you think I didn't know all the years? I knew it in my heart. I knew you were right, blaming the Centre for all that happened to my life, to our lives....these bastards deserve death and more. But I cannot do a thing about it. Not even you are able to bring them down..."
"And that's where you're wrong, Cassie!"
Jarod looked her straight into the eyes. She froze at his look. She had never seen more dedication and worry in a mans face.
"I know a dozen ways to bring them down. Either to betray them to their competitors on the market, or to the government and media. But neither way makes sure that the people I care for come out alright!"
Cassie held onto his gaze.
"Then we will have to make sure we find a way, to keep them safe, haven't we?"
Jarod grinned his boyish grin.
"You cannot imagine how long I've been longing to hear these words from you..."
tbc