All disclaimers apply.
I wanted to thank everyone who reviewed this story. Jenny - thanks that you stayed with me, it helped me to finish this one-)
This is the last chapter. It´s a little longer than the others, so enjoy.
CABIN MIRAGE
by Nicol Leoraine
Chapter Five
Steve jumped from the chair he was sitting in the last half hour, but any other action from his side was stopped by the gun dugged in his chest.
"Sit tight!" commanded Lupin, although he looked equally nervous. The shot was really close, they could tell. But who fired? Steve hoped it didn´t mean danger to Jesse, but it was hardly just a coincidence. Once Steve obeyed, Lupin nervously shuffled on the couch, muttering curses at his crony pals. Finally, it was too much and he pulled out his cell, dialing the number. They heard the ringing, but no one answered.
It happened too fast for anyone to stop it. At the time, Jesse was walking behind Terry, fervently hoping that someone will help them. His other captor was nervously watching his back, which made Jesse even more uncomfortable. He knew DJ was on drugs, but wondered if he wasn´t showing the symptoms of withdrawal. If yes, Travis knew he could be dangerous like a triggered hand grenade.
The trees were receding as they neared the cabin. He could feel the pair of eyes on his back, burning its way through the fabric of his shirt.
"One bad move, doc," whispered DJ. "Give me just one reason to kill you,"
Jesse shivered and fastened his speed so as to walk near Terry, who seemingly didn´t hear the silent threat. He didn´t look at the ground.
The branch under his foot snapped. It was a harsh sound, one that scared the hell out of Jesse and Terry, not talking about DJ. Jesse stepped aside, then stumbled on the root and fell. When his left side connected with the ground, there was an explosion of sound and something buzzed above his head. As his arm screamed in protest, he heard a grunt, then a hushed cry of pain.
"NO!" shouted DJ and ran around him. Jesse was a little surprised, he thought any moment and the gun will be showed to his face, but instead of it he heard crying and pleas for help. It was all a little fuzzy, when someone´s foot showed him to his back with such force that Jesse forgot how to breathe. There he was - lying on the ground with DJ pointing the gun at his head. Just one thing that didn´t play well were DJ´s bloodied hands and tears running down his cheek.
"Help him!" commanded the youth and pulled Jesse up, once again showing him to the ground, next to the writhing body.
The pink bubbles coming from Terry´s mouth was a bad signal. Jesse snapped into his doctor mode with an extra speed, though there wasn´t much he could do. Not without his equipment, not without a surgery. In any way, Terry was dying. The bullett fired from DJ´s gun hit him in the back. While the bullet went out, it was no doubt how much damage it caused on the way. Even as Jesse put his head down on Terry´s chest, he heard the gurgling sound of the lungs filling with blood. There could be more damage, of course. His left lung was already collapsing. Even with a chest tube, there was no way how to stop the internal bleeding. It looked like DJ´s shot hit some big vessel, shattered at least two ribs and came out with enough force to embede itself in the nearest tree.
"Help him!" commanded DJ angrilly, wiping the tears from his face.
"I can´t," answered Jesse in silent voice.
"Help him, or you´ll die with him!" screamed DJ. Jesse casted an apologetic glance at Terry, who was fighting for breath and trying hard to stay conscious, even if it caused him great pain.
"I´m sorry," whispered Jesse and pushed at the wound, at least trying to stop the bleeding caused by the leaving bullett. Terry´s face was screwed in pained grimace, as he blessedly passed out.
"NO!" wailed DJ, and fell to his knees. Jesse was afraid to look at him, when the pulse under his fingers vanished. Terry´s mouth was full of dark blood and Jesse was sure the bullet hit also his heart. With one last jerk, the body went limp.
Jesse hung his head, feeling grief for the boy, but more so dread for his own life. Terry was dead. What else stopped DJ from killing him? But DJ, full of guilt, collapsed next to his friend´s body, openly weeping. And Jesse spotted his chance. Slowly moving away from the body, he took several steps back, intently watching DJ. Should he try and grab the gun lying on the ground just inches from DJ? Or rather run for the dear life?
He chose the second, turned and run like never before. Away from the cabin, away from DJ. Jesse set the direction for the noises he heard before, hoping he´ll find some road and can get help. While his body worked to maintain the speed, his mind was in deep turmoil. Terry was dead, because of him. He had not fired out, but the bullet was meant for him. As the branches hit him in the face and his ankle painfully throbbed after stepping at some little rock, the picture of Steve, facing the gun hit him like a vision and Jesse abruptly stopped. Almost gasping for breath he realised what danger is Steve facing - now, that Jesse took away and DJ was crazy with guilt.
Something behind him rustled. Jesse spun around, but didn´t see a thing. Of course, the sun was slowly setting down, casting shadows through the trees. He was also deeper in the forest, and had trouble with orientation. One thing he knew for sure was that the cabin was somewhere behind him, just like DJ. At least he hoped DJ was far away, but again there was rustling sound, coming from ahead. If he really concentrated and didn´t move a muscle, he could even hear the irregular breathing.
Possibly someone who held his breath too long and was now trying to compensate, or someone scared the same as Jesse. It definitely didn´t sound like an enraged teen.
"My God!" gasped Jesse as he backed into the nearest tree, shaking his head in shock.
"Jesse!"
It was him! John Carter was standing right beside him, the same white palour as was probably on his own face, the same shock of surprise in his eyes. Jesse watched as Carter´s chest moved in an attempt to breath. A thing only live person should do.
"You´re alive," muttered Jesse and almost hysterically laughed. Carter frowned, as if contemplating if Travis sustained some brain damage.
"Sure I´m alive," he replied and reached out to check Jesse. "But your face looks a little harsh. What were you doing? Fighting with a bear?"
"Bear would be better," Jesse hissed as the probing fingers pushed at the tender spot. "I´m okay, Carter, really. What about you? How did you find me? They told me you was dead. Do you know where is Steve?"
"Slow down, Travis," moaned Carter. "I have a big enough headache as it is. I didn´t find you - I was following Steve. I think he´s in the cabin. Now how did you escape?"
"Terry is dead. DJ shoot him - wanted to shoot me, but I ducked, and Terry got hit-"
Carter could see Jesse was in shock, not just from the shooting. He probably started to sympathize with his captors - or he saw something in Terry which changed his meaning. But right now it didn´t really matter.
"It wasn´t your fault, Jesse," Carter raised his hand to silence the younger man´s protests. "They kidnapped you. They almost killed me and they still have Steve. We need to help him, than we can think who was responsible for what. Right now, the best thing to do will be get to the cabin, fast. If DJ is searching for you in the forest, we could be in advantage-" Carter suddenly swayed and Jesse quickly caught his arm, supporting his weight.
"Whoa, I think you should take a break," said Jesse as Carter steadied himself and rubbed at his eyes, trying to clear the fog from them.
"I´m fine. We need to move."
Travis eyed him, concerned by his pale features and the sheet of sweat lining his forehead.
"I don´t think so."
Carter groaned. The last thing he needed now was a doctor.
"Steve is in danger. Are you willing to endanger him just so I can get a five minute rest, which won´t help me a bit?" the look on Jesse´s face spoke volumes.
"No, I didn´t think you would. So please tell me from where did I come from, so we can find the right direction." Jesse realised that Carter was probably pretty disorientated. No wonder after the blows he collected, but Jesse wondered how could he follow Steve in this state.
"Charlotte helped me," replied John to his question as they started to walk in the presumed direction of the cabin.
"Charlotte?" Jesse almost stopped, but the silence was cut by a raged shout, coming no doubt from DJ. "Okay, questions later," Jesse said and grabbed Carter´s arm, stopping him from bouncing to the tree. This will be pretty hard, thought Jesse, hoping that at least Steve was in better shape than they were.
The tension was almost palpable. Lupin treamed the gun as the proverbial straw, while Steve cursed the manufacturers of the duct tape, as his hands were held together by one. It was practically impossible to take it down, the easiest way was a knife or something sharp. Maybe he could tense and relax his muscles, alternately loosening the tape, but it required long effort, and if Steve knew one thing, it was the lack of time. Best plan of action was get to something sharp and use any distraction on the side of his captor.
The man of question was pacing through the room, pointing the gun at Steve and trying to curse his way through the unresponsive cell phone, the ringing of which they could heard even now.
"Damn them!" screamed Lupin and threw the phone at the wall with such force it shattered. Just seconds later the doors flew open, as DJ burst through them. His clothes were ragged and bloody and Steve thought he´ll have a heart attack, when the youngster shouted:
"He´s dead! I killed him!"
"What!" Lupin turned, barely restraining himself from killing DJ, while Steve prayed - really prayed, that the blood on his clothes was not Jesse´s .
"Terry!" DJ cried and slumped into the nearest chair, putting his head into hands leaning on his knees, and started to wipe.
"I didn´t want to, but the Doc dodged and I hit Terry!" The sobs erupted and hided Steve´s relieved sigh. So it wasn´t Jesse. But if it wasn´t him, where was he now? The panic returned. There was enough blood for two people, but he couldn´t ask the question. Not now, not ever. Instead it was Lupin.
"Where´s the doc?"
DJ didn´t hear the question, so Lupin walked next to him and practically shouted it into his ear. DJ jumped, tear streaked face full of surprise.
"H-he ran away. I lost him in the woods."
"You stupid brat! All of the things to do!" Lupin was almost screaming and Steve saw his chance. If something won´t happen soon, Lupin would probably turn and simply shot him in the head, then take out in his car. He needed distraction.
"I didn´t-" stuttered DJ, when Lupin grabbed him by the collar and pulled up. In seconds they were by the wall, as Lupin threw the boy into it, much the same as he did with the phone only minute earlier. Steve jumped at the sharpness and almost protested as the first blow hit the boy.
"You - little - shit!" shouted Lupin, each time hitting DJ, who tried to recoil, but wasn´t very succesfull. Steve watched it with disgust - at Lupin and at himself, because he didn´t help the boy. But the blood and his words were still linging in the air and Steve knew he got the distraction he needed. The beating will stop when they notice he´s gone, but that didn´t trouble him. He first moved slowly, behind Lupin who was using DJ as a punching bag, too enraged to think. DJ on the other hand didn´t saw Steve even when he faced him, because his eyes were already swelling.
Steve made it to the door, unnoticed. He even turned the knob and opened them, without sound. Quickly walking through the hall, he pushed at the entrance door. The screeching sound it made sent shivers through his spine. He was almost out of the house when Lupin noticed his absence. The ravaged cry he gave was enough warning - Steve started to run. It took Lupin ten seconds to get out o the house, aim the gun and shoot. It took Steve eight to get to the nearest tree formation and vanish behind the growth. The bulletts swished through the air not so far from his head, then hit the tree trunks, or simply vanished in the forest. Steve wanted to do the same and run like years before, when he had the ball and the whole team was chasing him. He run just like anyone who was chased by death.
"What-"
"Steve!"
John almost bumped into Jesse when he stopped. They both heard the shot and both of them knew, what it meant.
"DJ is in the cabin," Jesse said absently. "We have to help him, John."
Carter knew that, but he also knew that Steve is probably dead. As if reading his mind, Jesse vehemently spoke: "I thought you was dead too, but you are not. So don´t make any assumptions. I´ll help Steve get out of this, even if it means going inside the cabin and kicking those bastards, without guns."
"I´m not arguing here," sighed Carter and hushed, pushing Jesse down.
"What?" whispered Travis and Carter knelt next to him, taking care not to do much noise.
"I just saw that man running out of the cabin, to the forest."
"Why would he do it?"
"Don´t know. Maybe got scared?"
Jesse only snorted. None of them saw Lupin, well - not really, thought John, as the encounter in the cabin down the stream wasn´t really face to face. Jesse told him that the man thought he was dead - and Carter was sure it was Steve who told him so. Now the man was gone and the doors to the cabin were open. Was there a better chance?
"Okay, we need to go inside," whispered Carter and they crept out of the bushes, watching the trees behind which vanished the man. They were careful not to get in the open in the front of a window, so they sneaked around the side with no windows at all, then carefully got to the back of the cabin. Jesse was first to peer in through the kitchen window, then after a moment he put up both hands and had his face on the glass. If DJ would´ve had walked inside just then, he would see a ridiculously curious face with big, bloody nose and a bruise on his cheek looking at him. But DJ wasn´t in the kitchen and Jesse knelt back to Carter, who was watching the surroundings. The concentration was tiring him out and he knew that this can´t go on like this much longer. He felt like sleeping already, just the thought of Steve, lying inside hurt and needing their help kept him on his feet. Jesse probably knew this too.
"It´s clear. Shall I go first?"
"No. I will," said Carter and stood, gingerly massaging his bad knee. He was just thinking about how he´ll get through that small window, when Jesse pointed him at the door, grimace on his face.
"Gee, thanks," mumbled Carter. "Think it´s open?"
Jesse shrugged, turned the knob and very slowly pulled. The door opened without screech and Carter was very thankful for that. He carefully stepped in and his leg protested, as he put so much weight on it for so much time, but Carter wasn´t going to spoil this. He knew how the wooden floor could creak. He just needed to look for the stable parqet then very carefully try to put his weight on it. After four steps his right leg was screaming and the sweat was dripping from his face, but he was sure that the floor won´t betray them. He nodded at Jesse and looked around.
They were in the kitchen, true. There was the refrigerator, some soup plates with instant soup in them, already cold. Jesse saw two bottles of whiskey, almost empty and several beer cans. What caught his attention though were the knives in the kitchen sink. He took two of the biggest - one had something white on it, probably mayonese, the other was almost clean. He wiped them in his already ruined shirt, then handed one to Carter. John looked at him sceptically, for a second lost in memories. Was this knife bigger than the one in his back? No, he didn´t think so.
"What do you wanna do with it?" he whispered, but took the knife.
"It´s for defense," replied Jesse and looked at the door probably heading to the small hall. Carter blinked, then turned and limped to the door, putting his ear to the surface and listening.
Nothing, it was quiet. He waited for another minute and was ready to wave at Jesse, when he tensed.Yeah, there was a sound - he heard movement, then sobs slowly replaced by swearing.
"Someone´s there," he mouthed.
"DJ?" asked Jesse and John shortly nodded.
"What now?"
"Plan B."
"We had a plan?"
"No."
"Okay, what´s plan B then?"
"Go inside and we´ll see. How that sounds?"
"Just great," sighed Jesse and Carter turned the knob, pushing the door open. The swearing got louder but Carter could hear Jesse´s relieved breath, when they didn´t walked straight into DJ. Instead, they were in the hall. The stairs before them led to the first floor, the doors by the left probably to the toilette. Then there was the exit door and the one to the living room. Those doors were slightly ajar and Carter spotted the figure pacing the room. He backed away and looked at Travis.
"DJ," he mouthed then showed a circle indicating he´s walking around.
"Gun?"
Carter only shrugged then took another peek inside. DJ was nowhere to be seen, but something silver caught Carter´s eyes. It was the gun, lying on the floor not so far from the doors. By the shadow moving through the room, Carter though DJ was on the other side. One look at Travis, he mouthed "Ready?"
Without waiting for his response, Carter burst through the door, leaping for the gun now mere inches from his grasps. He was not prepared for the raged yell, then the body that lurched at him. DJ was closer then Carter thought and when the door opened, DJ thought it was Lupin, returning. He had come to decision that nobody has the right to beat him and that attack is the best defense. It didn´t matter that the incoming wasn´t Lupin. DJ probably didn´t realise who it really was.
Carter felt the weight on his body, sending him to the floor. He had a second to react and pull up his hands, realising too late that the knife was no longer in his possession. It lay not so far from the gun he wanted in the first place. It took him another second to realise that if he won´t do a thing, DJ will beat him to death. He already sported a new bruise on his chest and could only thank his luck that DJ wasn´t aiming at his face. Another blow to his side forced him to action and Carter kicked out, trying the same trick as few days ago - was it really only days?
His knee connected with DJ´s groin and the teen yelled in pain, but didn´t get off Carter, only his fingers curled around John´s neck. Now the panic hit Carter, as DJ´s face started to fade.
Where´s Jesse! his mind cried out then DJ grimaced and Carter saw his eyes turn inside his head. He blinked and felt the pressure on his neck abate and the darkness pulling away. Jesse´s face appeared in his view and the weight of DJ´s body vanished.
"Hey, are you all right? Carter?" Jesse repeated the question, look of concern clear in his eyes and John was for once grateful. He still felt the fingers on his neck and when Jesse touched him, he jumped.
"Sorry, just checking your neck isn´t broken or something," Jesse said with a grin and the chaos in Carter´s head started to clear out.
"Where´s he?"
"In the land of dreams. I knocked him out with his own gun," stated Jesse, more proudly than a doctor should. Carter took a deep breath and coughed, feeling his bruised neck. He took a quick self-exam, coming to conclusion that nothing´s really broken.
"Help me up."
"I don´t think-"
"Steve´s still away." That was all he needed to tell, Travis helped him up. The world spinned and John felt the sour bile coming up, but he supressed the urge to throw up and tried to orientate in the room. He was looking for blood, but saw none.
"I don´t get it. Who did they shoot then?"
"Maybe Steve get away and that other bastard is chasing him."
"Great, so we´re losing time here."
And how should we know that? said Jesse´s look.
"I think we should call some help."
"Oh, and how do you plan to do it?" asked Carter sarcastically. Jesse nodded to the kitchen.
"I saw a phone there. They didn´t cut the cord so it should work."
Carter blinked. Why didn´t he saw it?
Jesse saw the confusion in his eyes and walked to him.
"Don´t worry, Carter. I´m sure it´s just the concussion. Sit down and relax - I´ll call the Sheriff."
Carter absently nodded, but didn´t move. He was startled when Jesse put the gun to his hand.
"Take care of this one. I don´t think he´ll wake up very soon, but I can´t be sure. There´s also the second guy."
"Yeah, we should get out of the cabin," mumbled Carter and watched the gun as if it was a snake. "Bring some tape or rope so we could tie this one up, while you´re in the kitchen."
"Okay. Don´t fall asleep," echoed Jesse the same words that Steve told him only hour ago. Was it really a hour? It looked so much more. And he didn´t listen then. He fell asleep and then Charlotte woke him... was he really awake? John had a feeling that none of this is real. How could it? A kid saving his life, all the shooting, the fight... he started to think that perhaps he was still in the cabin, asleep. It felt better. None of this happened, not the shooting, not the girl...
Just then he saw something red, the door opened and the man with angry face was aiming at him...
For the upteenth time this day, John was knocked at the floor by someone lurching at him. He heard the gun fire out, several times. Felt the bullet fly above him, the hot air tickling the back of his neck and shoulder. Heard shouting and more shots, from different guns. Someone screamed as if in pain, then there was the thud of a body falling (John was familiar with this sound, as he was often falling today). He saw several boots coming to him, but feared to look up. Then the sounds vanished, just the pounding of his hearth resoned inside his temples, along with the pain and chaos. Someone turned him over and when he looked up, he saw Jesse. His mouth was moving but no sound came out. The concern was almost touching as the other doctor touched his face and probed, looking for some skull fractures. John ouched and was glad to hear it, as the sounds returned and the noise around him registered.
"Carter, do you hear me?"
"Ouch, stop that!" exclaimed Carter as Jesse pressed at the particularly tender spot.
"And I thought you got deaf," smiled the L.A. doctor.
"You would like that, huh?" replied Carter and just now noticed all the commotion. There were several people in uniforms, crouching near two bodies. John recognized his friend, Billy Todd, who was talking with the Sheriff.
"What... happened?" asked Carter and slowly sit up. Jesse held his arm, giving him some support so he won´t fall back.
"Well, it looks like your friend found the note you left in the cabin and called for backup. They get there in the right time, I should say."
"What note?" Carter was puzzled, then waved away the question.
"Where´s Steve?"
"They found him near your car, he´s on the way."
John let out a relieved sigh, then frowned. Something wasn´t right. Someone was still missing...
His eyes went wide as he remembered the red haired girl that pushed him to the ground. How did she get in? When? And most importantly - what happened with her?
"Where´s she?" he spun around, frantically looking for the girl. Was she injured? Hurt, while trying to save his life? His stomach was doing flip-flops, his blood got cold with the image of another innocent soul dying because of him. Wasn´t Lucy enough? His eyes stopped on the group of people crouching down by the body. He thought it was the shooter, but what if it wasn´t? What if it was Charlotte? He awkwardly got up to his feet, not hearing Jesse´s protest and limped to the group. Billy Todd looked up and gave him a smile, saying something that John didn´t hear. The Sheriff looked at him, then at Jesse as if asking what´s going on. John felt Jesse pulling him away, but he needed to know.
"Please... let me see,"
"Okay, but it´s not a pretty look," warned him the Sheriff and Jesse resigned. He didn´t know why should John want to look at that. When the Sheriff pulled up the cover, John let out a relieved sigh, then sagged back to the nearest chair.
"Where is she?"
"Who?"
Carter blinked.
"Charlotte."
"Who is Charlotte?"
"The girl from the cabin," explained John and felt the adrenaline rush fading. He pulled out his last reserves and told Jesse what happened at the cabin, how she warned him and how he sent her back to call help...
Jesse only shook his head and looked up at Billy Todd, who was also listening. He shook his head, not knowing any Charlotte.
"The ambulance is on the way, along with the coroner," he said, though John didn´t hear him. He saw a blond man with ruffled hair and clothing rushing inside the room, stopping only for a moment by the dead body, taking notice of the handcuffed, though still unconscious DJ. But none of them was important, as he spotted the two doctors sitting at the couch.
"Thank God you´re both alive!" exlcaimed Steve as he hugged Jesse, then carefully John. Carter just grinned and said "Why, you´re welcome, Lieutenant," before succumbing to his body´s needs and falling asleep.
"How´s that every time we meet, I end up in hospital?" asked Carter, grudgingly pulling at his blanket. He had an IV line in his left arm, because the Doctor said he was dehydrated. His right leg was bandaged and his head sported some band-aid, along with several not good looking bruises and bumps. The beating he took not so long ago left him with a bruised rib or two, as if he hadn´t had enough coming there. All in all, he was beat and tired, but all right. Now only if his head would start acting normally, and he could get this all behind him.
"Relax, Carter," soothed him Jesse. "You´re here only for observation through the night. If they find out your brain wasn´t damaged, they´ll release you by the morning. Of course, there can´t be any damage," assured him Travis.
"Thanks," said Carter.
"Why not?" asked Steve.
"Because there´s no brain left, of course," replied Travis with a smirk and dodged from the flying pillow. It was Steve who threw it, but John didn´t protest. It was good to watch the two bickering, good to see them alive. They were there when he woke up - Jesse had a broken nose, the scratch on his cheek needed few stitches and he also complained about sore ribs, but he was still sitting in the chair next his bed, just like Steve, who had a scratched face from his rush to the forest and a sprained ankle. They were asleep and snoring, but John had to smile, because snoring meant alive.
As the fog from his mind started to fade, he recalled every one of the encounters with the girl. Like Steve said, no one in the city knew about Charlotte Paulson. But he was sure... yeah, he was sure she existed. But what if not? What if everything was just a piece of his imagination? A hallucination? The doctor said it was possible. Jesse and Steve said it was likely just an illusion. There was only one man not believing this explanation, and it was Carter himself.
"Earth to Carter!" Jesse waved his hand and John blinked, then smiled.
"Sorry, Jess. Think I just zoned out."
"Just don´t do it too often, okay?"
"Care to tell me what happened in the cabin? I doesn´t seem to recall very much," Carter changed the topic and was now looking at Steve.
"When Lupin started to beat the crap out of DJ, I saw my chance and get out. Lupin followed me, fired out few times but missed. I made a circle and headed back for the road, fervently hoping that both of you were on your merry way to safety. It seems that I was wrong. When I saw your car, John, on the road, I would´ve strangled you myself, I swear. I was just heading back for the cabin, when Sheriff´s car stopped next to me. He said Billy Todd tried to call us on the phone, and the central said him that the line is broken. He came to the cabin and find your note," Steve pointed at Carter, "saying that I and Jesse were kidnapped and taken to the cabin up the stream, and that you are trying to rescue us." Steve really looked angry.
"I didn´t write the note," said John calmly and saw how the anger changed into confusion.
"So who wrote it?"
"I don´t know. Probably Charlotte." Both Steve and Jesse looked at him, unbelievably.
"Maybe you just don´t remember writing it," tried Jesse and John shook his head, stopping immediatelly because the queasy feeling in his stomach. He took few deep breaths, angering his ribs, but he didn´t care.
"No, she wrote it. The same as she woke me up and pulled from the cabin, when that Lupin guy aimed at Steve. She was next to me, when Lupin escorted you to the car, then she helped me find the cabin. How the hell would I know where it is, otherwise?"
No one replied him.
"I sent her to the city, to call help. I watched her running away from the cabin... but then she must´ve returned, because when Jesse left to call help from the kitchen, she pushed me to the ground, just seconds before Lupin almost shoot my head off. You see, she had to be real."
But he couldn´t convince them, and it didn´t really matter anymore. Because she wasn´t there.
He was getting tired from thinking, tired of everything. Sleep looked like a very good cure for his aches, and both Steve and Jesse understood. They were discussing the possibility of getting a room at the motel at two a.m., leaving the room, when John stopped them with a question.
"Who killed that guy - Lupin?"
"I think it was the Sheriff," answered him Steve.
"What about DJ?"
"Currently here in the hospital for observation. They´ll move him tomorrow into the Sheriff´s custody. You´re safe, Carter," added Steve before closing the door.
To Carter´s dismay, he had to stay in the hospital a day longer. He really didn´t understood why. Yeah, he threw up his breakast, then his lunch but what the heck? Try to eat something when your head is spinning and you´re feeling all effects of the motion sickness. The only think that Carter was grateful for was the unknown staff in the hospital. He could be at least a little anonymous there. Of course, Steve and Jesse didn´t leave him to himself, even Billy Todd came to see him.
"So, who really was Lupin?" asked Carter with closed eyes.
"In reality? Well, we sent his fingerprints to the central and the printout was pretty long. It looks that Lupin´s real name was Carlos Michael Acosta. He was born in New York, thirty-five years ago. Arrested two times for violent crimes, one charge for sexual assault, five robberies. Ah, this was just the first twenty years of his life. If someone´d caught him, he would face the life sentence. Wanted in three states, charged by another ten robberies, mostly housebreakings."
"What about those kids?"
"Ah," Billy Todd pulled out his notes and read.
"Terrence O´Neill. 17 years old, stated as missing for two years. In fourteen charged with attempted break-in, got caught, served six months in detention home. His mother died three months ago, drug overdose. Father is unknown."
All three men snorted in disgust, feeling sorry for the kid.
"DJ - Darryl James Pierson. 17 years old, stated as missing for three years. The only charge is the drug harbour, he had some marihuana, but I think he´s on something stronger now. The doc said he´s already in withdrawal."
"What will be the charges against him now?"
"Several house-breakings, attempted murder of two police officers, kidnapping, violence. And anything else the procurator will charge him with."
"I just don´t get it. If they knew the cops are after them, why didn´t they get lost?" asked Carter, looking for an answer.
"Lupin - uhm, this Acosta told me, he needed another house," said Steve.
"It´s possible Acosta had a buyer for all the jewelry and needed specific amount of money. DJ told us that Acosta was planning to go through the Canadian border, then somewhere to the south. But DJ and Terry did all the break-ins, and in the last one they left the loot in the forest. Maybe he just waited for it."
"Yeah, maybe," said John. He was feeling ill from all the violence around him. From people harming other people because of money. For people killing without so much as a thought. He just wanted to get out of the hospital, pack and return to Chicago. Return to his "normal" life, to the rush of the ER where he could help others heal and hope that he can heal himself.
"Dad said to tell you hello," referred Steve, as he parked the car before the cabin. John still couldn´t drive, not that he wanted. He had enough to concentrate on as it was.
"Did you tell him what happened?"
"You crazy? I wouldn´t hear the end of it. No, I think I´ll tell him sometimes after I end up in the Community General. You know, he wouldn´t yell at me if I´m feeling lousy."
Jesse laughed at that, John smiled.
"What?"
"Well, I don´t know, Steve. I think it would be better to tell him through the phone - you know, so he has enough time to fume."
"Why should it bother him? We didn´t do anything wrong. It wasn´t like we asked them to kidnap us or something," said John and get out of the car, limping toward the cabin. Steve and Jesse looked at each other, then followed him.
"You know, Carter - if you want to stay another day or so..." started Jesse, but John halted him.
"No. I think I had enough of this place. I just need to pack some things and we can go."
"Okay," said Jesse as Carter vanished in his room.
"Think he´s all right?" asked Steve concerned.
"Give him time. He was through enough, but I don´t think anyone can persuade him to take more time off."
"Nah, I don´t think so," agreed Steve and get to pack his own bag.
He threw the last of his shirts inside the bag and closed it with a force. He was angry and he didn´t know why. Maybe it was the fact he almost died - once again. Maybe the fact that one of his friends almost died - again. Or he was simply angry, because nothing seemed to work out like he would´ve had wanted. Not his work, not his life, not his vacation. And definitely not Charlotte.
John stopped his thoughts, realizing what the real problem was. He felt that he abandoned her, or like she lied to him. Either way, he felt an indefinite urge to talk with her. But how if she wasn´t real? Should he just imagine her? Does he need to smash his head into the wall? None of the alternatives was acceptable.
Suddenly he felt the need to get a fresh air. It was too hot in the room, too little oxygen. He opened the window and breathed in the cold air, feeling the wind on his face. Better, he felt much better. He was ready to close the window and finish his packing, when the red caught his eyes and he stopped, dead in his track.
She was there, standing near the tree, waving at him to come down. Her long red hairs were flailing in the wind and she had a smile on her face, though it looked sad. John almost cried out at her not to move, but he supressed the urge. Instead, he rushed down the stairs, next to the surprised Jesse and in run said:
"I need a little air. I´ll be back soon."
And he was gone.
Steve stood by the stairs and looked questioningly at Jesse.
"What was that about?"
"Don´t have a clue."
"Guess we´ll stay a while longer," muttered Steve and eased himself down at the couch.
She led him back to the cabin, where this all started. They didn t talk. Not that John don´t wanted, she simply didn´t answer him, only pointed at the cabin. Carter hoped Steve or Jesse wouldn´t follow him, though it would be good if they could see the girl. But he knew they couldn´t.
"Okay, Charlotte. I need to know, who you really are. Please," added John and the girl nodded.
"I am who I said I am. My name is Charlotte Paulson, and I´m a daughter of Paul and Nina Paulson."
"So who´s Francesca?"
"My twin sister."
"Whoa - Todd never said anything about twins," exclaimed John.
"Nobody knew. That was the way it was supposed to be."
"I don´t understand you. Why?"
"Because Francesca was ill. It started two years before we got there, she was five."
"Five? But Todd said you were only six-"
Charlotte shrugged.
"It was because he don´t wanted me to go to the school so soon. He waited."
"For what?"
"Till I go crazy too. He said I have to, because I´m her twin. And twins do everything alike."
"That´s no true. Your sister may be sick, but you doesn´t have to be." Carter fell silent for a while, as if contemplating his next question.
"What was your sister doing when she was ill?"
"Yelled, screamed. When it happened first, I was with her and she... beat me. We played with our toys, when she started to scream and throw things at me, then she scratched my face and beat me. When mom and dad came in, she attacked them, but it quickly stopped and she didn´t remember any of it. I had to stay in bed for three days."
"How often was she angry?"
Charlotte frowned, thinking about the answer.
"When she was smaller it didn´t happen very often, few times a year. But then it got much worse. My mom used to stay with her, when she saw that it´s going to happen. She closed the doors. When it stopped, she often had bruises. Dad didn´t like Francesca very much, after that. We had to leave our home at Toronto, because people started to notice and they though it was dad who was angry at mom. But he never hit her, never..." her faraway look told John that it wasn´t really true.
"What happened when you got there, Charlotte? Did Francesca make the fire in your room?"
"No, she didn´t. She had a fit earlier that day, and she used to sleep after that."
"Who was it, then? Your mom?"
"No, she was asleep, too." Charlotte was silent, watching the small trickle of water in the stream.
"Dad wasn´t supposed to come home," she said in a calm voice and Carter watched the spark in her green eyes. Was she angry? Or just sad?
"Not that night. I wasn´t used to the cabin yet, couldn´t sleep. No - I slept," corrected herself Charlotte, "but I had a nightmare and it woke me up. I wandered into the kitchen, looking for some cookies and milk. I heard the car and I got scared. Dad was angry those last days, I don´t know why. I think... I think he was getting ill like Frannie. He had the same look..." her own look was lost in the blue surface of the water, as she recalled the events in a dreamlike state.
"I heard him coming in and I wanted to hide, but the only place to go was outside. We had the backdoor in the kitchen and I sneaked out. Hoped that dad will go to sleep, and then I can return. It was hot outside and I sit by the stream, looking at the window of my parents bedroom. Dad didn´t turn on the lights so I thought he lie down."
"But he didn´t...?" it was more of a statement than a question.
"No, he didn´t. It could be ten or fifteen minutes and I planned to get back, sure that dad is asleep, when I heard something like a small explosion. I jumped up and wanted to run inside, wake up my parents and sister and ask what happened, but there was already smoke coming out from the windows and I saw flames..." Charlotte sobbed and hide her face in her hands. John put his arm around her and made gentle, hushing sounds. Ultimately she calmed down enough to continue.
"I stayed outside and watched the flames. I thought they were all dead... when I saw dad. He stood near the house and the fire showed me his face. That look - I knew then he did it, he killed them. He had that mad look in his eyes, he even smiled. And I knew, that he thought I was dead too. That if I´d came to him and ask him what happened, he would´ve told me everything, that he would then throw me to the flames behind my sister and mother. So I ran."
Carter couldn´t talk. No words came to his mind, nothing he could tell would help this little girl. He doubted anyone could tell her something helpful. Only that her father and sister were ill. They could´ve had any mental disorder, starting with manic depression ending with epilepsy. He could tell her about those diseases, tell her that the person affected by it isn´t bad or crazy, just had a bad luck in his life. That it could´ve been treated and that none of those horrible things would´ve had happened. But those words didn´t meant anything for the girl. And then Carter realized the true question.
"How did you survive alone for so long?"
Charlotte only smiled and shook her head.
"I need your help, Dr. Carter."
"I don´t-" he wanted to tell that he don´t understand, but she stopped him.
"You know what´s needed to be done. My father is dead, I know it. He killed himself after he realised what happened. He thought I´m dead too, and maybe he was right. Find me, doctor Carter. You know how to play hide and seek. I´ll hide and you´ll seek me." With that she broke out from his grasp and with a laugh run away. Carter blinked as he saw her red hair vanish in the forest, then followed, running as fast as his leg allowed him.
He often though he lost her, but everytime it happened, he caught the red of her hair and once again found the track. He was getting out of his breath and felt his lungs protest, when she appeared before him, not as he saw her before, but in her six year old form. She was smaller, but her face wore the same smile, same green eyes.
"I wandered in circles for two days. I was afraid to return, afraid that he´ll wait for me. The storm came fast and it was bad. All the lightning - I think it scared me more than my father. I was trying to return, when..."
Instead of telling what happened, she pointed behind her. Carter only now noticed the caves. He didn´t know there were some caves.
"You was trying to hide inside, didn´t you?"
Charlotte nodded.
"I slipped on something and fell. I don´t know what happened, but... when I woke up, everything changed. Nobody saw me, no one looked for me."
"Why me?"
"I don´t know. Maybe because you needed my help. Or because I needed yours."
"What - what should I do now?" asked Carter in a tight voice.
"Just get me to peace, pleace. I need a place where I can sleep, but I can´t get it, if no one knows I existed."
Carter gulped and nodded. It was hard to talk.
"I´ll bring there the Sheriff. You´ll get your peace, I promise you, Charlotte."
The girl smiled, walked to him and hugged him. Carter´s fingers run through her red curls, and he closed his eyes. As the feeling of her soft hair under his fingers faded away, he looked up, but she was gone. He stood there for a long while.
THE END
Okay, here´s it, the end. Reviews are still very welcome, people, or you can mail me don´t plan to do a sequel, but I´m planning on another story with John Carter-)
So stay tuned and if you have any ideas, challenges, or just want to talk, mail me.
Or you can look at my other stories.