Disclaimer: Don't own them, never have, never will....
Thank you's:
Karen Faye- Thank you for the review, hope you will enjoy what I have planned.
JesseGirl- Thanks for the review, hope you like this chapter.
Inner Chicken- Thanks for the review! Oh, and like Yoda (From "The empire Strikes back") says, "Do, or do not. There is no 'try'". So I shall continue!!!
Cayenta- Thanks for the info on his mom, it really did help. Hope you enjoy the rest of the story!
Music Quotes:
Lining up for the grand illusion. No answers for no questions asked Lining up for the execution Without knowing why "We are" by Ana Johnson
I'm so tired, I can't sleep. Standing on the edge of something much too deep. It's funny how we feel so much but we cannot say a word. We are screaming inside, we can't be heard "I will remember you," By Sarah McLachlan
So tired of the straight line and everywhere you turn there's vultures and thieves at your back the storm keeps on twisting you keep on building the lies "Angel" by Sarah McLachlan
you think I'd leave you down when you're down on your knees I wouldn't do that "By your side" by Sade
o o o
Chapter Two
o o o
Five am
Present day,
Jesse's apartment.
Jesse woke up in fright as he sat up, trying to get the air that his lungs so desperately needed. He looked around the dark room and recognised the familiar surroundings.
He switched on the lamp that stood on the bedside table, he winced as he closed his eyes as the light shone brightly.
He waited a few moments, allowing his eyes to adjust to the different settings before he looked around his bedroom. Nothing was out of place. Everything was exactly the way it should be.
With heavy sign, he looked at the alarm clock to reveal that it was Five am. With a shaky hand, he switched off the light, leaving him alone in the darkness.
He settled back down on his bed, trying to get comfortable. He looked up at the ceiling, wondering what had made him wake up. Ever since he could ever remember, he always woke up in a panic, like there was danger. Always at the same time. But he could never remember what the dream was about.
He wished he could speak to someone, but something always held him back.
He took a few more deep breaths, wishing that he could get his body to relax, but after three minutes, he was still feeling the aftermath of the nightmare.
Knowing that sleep would not come, Jesse slowly got out of bed, making his way to the shower.
After a few minutes, Jesse returned to his room, feeling much better than he did. He headed straight for his cupboards where he grabbed a pair of tracksuit pants and a white t-shirt.
When he was dressed, he looked at the time, and saw that he still had two hours till he had to work. Which gave him plenty of time to clean the house, and go for his usual run.
Doing a quickly scan through the apartment, he decided that it wouldn't kill him to clean tomorrow. Feeling much better with his decision, he headed out for his daily jog.
Half an hour later, a very tired, and sweaty Jesse opened the door. He headed for the kitchen first, opening up the fridge to see if there was anything to eat. To his disappointment, it was empty.
"I knew I forgot something!" Jesse said sadly as he remembered that yesterday he was supposed to do shopping.
Needing something to eat, he began searching his cupboards. As the search continued, he realised that he had nothing.
"No!" Jesse moaned as his search ended with no success.
He pouted as he looked around the useless room. Knowing that he could at least have some coffee, he turned around and switched on the kettle, before he picked up the small tin that contained his life force.
He smiled as he opened the lid, but the smile soon faded as he saw it's emptiness.
"NO!" Jesse cried.
Today, was just not his day. Wanting to know if it was Friday the Thirteen, he looked at the calendar miserably. Instead, it was much different. Today was a Friday, but not the thirteenth, it was the 16th. His birthday.
Jesse stared at the calendar with some amusement. He just couldn't believe it. Today was his birthday!
It was a bittersweet day for him. It always was.
Sadness hit him as he remembered all his birthdays, which, he mostly spent alone. How he would used to wait by the phone, hoping that this time would be different, that this time, his parents would remember. But they never did.
Physically shaking the memories away, he smiled. This year would be different. This year he had people who would remember. This year, he had friends that cared.
With a new sense of hope, Jesse headed for the shower. Ready to start the day.
o o o
Six-fifty five Am
Present Day
Community General Hospital...
Three figures huddled together in the doctor's lounge, each one glancing around in fear of being caught.
"Is everything planned?" The oldest of the three asked.
"Yes, and operation Alpha Delta... who came up with these names?" The female asked.
"Sssh! and I want to tell you that those are cool code names," the younger male said in defence.
The female rolled her eyes, as she shook her head in amusement.
"It's nearly seven o'clock, we will meet up at Bob's around six?" the oldest asked.
"That's fine with me, anyway, Flying Eagle will arrive at four... I can't do this. I don't even know what I am talking about!" the female moaned.
"It's called spy talk, you know, so that no one else will know what we are talking about," the younger male said sarcastically.
"Well, it doesn't help if we don't even know what we are talking about!" She argued back.
"Stop! we don't have time. Just do what you had to do, we will meet at six, and remember your roles!" the oldest ordered.
o o o
Seven Am
Present Day
Community General Hospital...
Jesse couldn't help smile as he entered the hospital, he just couldn't wait to see his friends.
"Morning Dr Travis, you're in a good mood today," one of the nurses commented as she greeted him.
"Why not? It's a beautiful day," Jesse said as he went his merry way.
He smiled as he walked into the doctor's lounge, but headed for the coffee first. He may have been happy, but he really needed his caffeine to boast start his day.
He looked around to see Dr Mark Sloan sitting on one of the chairs, drinking his coffee as he read the newspaper. Next to him, was Amanda Bentley, who was watching tv.
"Morning!" Jesse said happily as he sat down next to Amanda.
Amanda looked at Jesse with an amused expression on her face.
"Morning Jesse, why are you so happy?" Mark asked as he lowered the newspaper, just low enough for him to see his young friend.
"Just am, it's a beautiful day," Jesse answered with a smile.
Amanda just shook her head as she turned back to the tv.
Jesse took a sip from his coffee, thankful for it's amazing power to give energy. As he took another sip, he looked at Mark, who had returned to his crossword puzzle, then to Amanda who was watching tv again.
"So do any of you have plans for tonight?" Jesse asked, half hinting that something was up.
"Yeah, CJ had been bugging me to go to watch this new movie with him, so we are going to do that, why?" Amanda asked as her eyes never left the tv screen.
Jesse felt his hopes drop a bit, but he continued to smile as he looked up to Mark.
"What about you Mark?" Jesse asked.
"Me? oh, I don't think anything special, probably just catch up on some reading, why do you ask?" Mark asked as he lowered his newspaper once more.
Jesse kept on smiling, even though it felt as if someone was stabbing him in the heart.
"No reason, just wondering what everyone was up to. Anyway, catch you later, my shift is about to start," Jesse said as he excused himself.
Amanda and Mark watched their friend leaving, before looking at each other with confused looks.
Jesse's smile faded as soon as he left the room. He just couldn't believe it. He thought this year would be different. Then it hit him, he really had his hopes up. He had hoped that they had remembered.
"Stupid! Stupid!" Jesse muttered under his breathe.
After years of disappointment, he should have known not to get his hopes up. It always lead to disappointment.
"Jesse?"
Jesse was so caught up in his thoughts that he jumped when he heard someone call his name. He turned around to see Steve Sloan.
"Hey Steve," Jesse said, putting on his best smile.
"Jesse, I'm glad that I bumped into you. I can't believe that I nearly forgot!" Steve said as he walked up to his friend.
Jesse smiled in relief. Someone had remembered.
"Yeah?" Jesse said in excitement.
"I've got so much paper work to do, and I forgot to tell you that I won't be able to work at Bob's, so I was wondering if you could do my shift?" Steve asked.
Jesse nodded his head, not trusting his voice at the moment.
"Thanks your a lifesaver, no pun intended, see you around," Steve thanked as he walked off, leaving a very distressed doctor.
Jesse just couldn't believe it. It had happened again. So he did what he could do. He pushed his emotions aside, allowing the doctor within to take over.
o o o
Six pm
Present Day
Community General Hospital parking lot.
A very tired Dr Travis walked out the Hospital back entrance, slowly walking to his car. It had been a very long day. All he wanted to do, was to go home and sleep. He just wanted this day to be over with.
However, he had to go to Bob's. The little restaurant cross bar, that he and Steve owned. He normally wouldn't mind, in fact, he loved working there. BBQ Bob was such a nice place, it always had a welcoming atmosphere to it. Jesse smiled when he remembered all the happy times there. But at this moment, those memories hurt. It hurt badly.
Jesse got into his car, and slowly began driving off. Not in any hurry, he still had half an hour to reach Bob's, and he would reach there long before that.
o o o
Eight pm
Present Day
BBQ Bob.
"Where is he?? He was supposed to be here an HOUR ago!" Steve said angrily as he paced the floor.
"Steve, he's an ER doctor, who knows what could happen," Amanda said in Jesse's defence.
"She's right son," Mark said with a grin.
"I'm going to call the hospital right now and kick his ass if he doesn't arrive here in the next twenty minutes!" Steve threatened as he picked up the phone.
Mark and Amanda shook their heads in amusement. Steve and Jesse were grown men, but sometimes, you could swear that they were five-year olds.
Mark and Amanda watched as Steve spoke on the phone, both waiting for Steve to lash out on Jesse for not pitching, however, their smiles vanished as they saw Steve lowered his head as he hanged up.
"Steve? what's wrong?" Mark asked worriedly.
"Jesse, he left early. They said that he was heading out here straight away. Dad, that was two hours ago," Steve said in fear.
Everyone in the room fell silent as they heard the conversation. Steve looked around the room which was filled with balloons, party decorations and other decorative stuff. His eyes fell on the banner which hang in the centre of the room, which had "Happy Birthday Jesse" written on it.
o o o
To be continued...