Part 6: Somewhere, Out There

Caleb ran to turn on the television to watch his Saturday morning cartoons while I made him his breakfast. He always seemed eager to do things and he was always happy.

"A heartbreaking update on last night's drive by shooting in Time Square coming up when we come back," the anchorwoman announced on the television.

There was something about it that got my attention and the force to stay tuned. "Caleb, would you like to have your breakfast in bed?" He always begged me but I never wanted him to get the bed dirty. This time was an exception because there was just something about that accident last night that I needed to hear about.

"And we're back. You know Greg, this has yet the saddest story I've had to report all month," the anchorwoman said.

"I know what you mean, Janet."

"The drive by shooting in Time Square last night resulted infive killedand eleven people were injured. The New York Police Department was able to capture the four suspects after an hour long chase. Tonight's focus is on the two of the five victims who were killed. They were parents to a seven year old boy who they adopted from Roswell, New Mexico. Social services unsuccessfully tried to contact the biological parents and now the boy will be placed in foster care."

"OH MY GOD! AVA!" I screamed. There were so many thoughts running through my head.

"What? What's going on? Do you know him?"

"It's Zan, Max's son!"

"We can't let him go into foster care. We just can't."

"Liz, how can we? We can't kidnap him because then there would be a nation wide amber alert," she tried to reason. "Plus, they won't just hand him over to us."

"You and Tess have the same human DNA, right?"

"Yeeesss? What's going through your mind, Liz?"

"Well, if I can extract your human dna and mix it Caleb's blood, I should be able to convince social services that Zan is my son."

"Why Caleb's blood and not your own?"

"He has normal blood cells and mine slightly mutate as my powers become stronger."

"Liz…I don't know. That's risking a lot."

"I have to do this Ava, will you help me?"

"Of course!"

(The telephone rings)

"Hello?"

"Good evening. Is this the Evan's residence?"

"Yes, may I ask who's calling?"

"This is Linda Ghilarducci from New York social services. I'm trying to reach a Max Evans?"

"I'm his father, Philip Evans. Is there something I can help you with?"

"Yes, sir. Your grandson's adoptive parents were killed last night in a drive by shooting here in New York. Social services were wondering if you, the biological family, would like to care for him. We are just following procedures before we place him in foster care."

"Oh my! Of course, we'll take the first flight to New York." After talking to Linda Ghilarducci, Philip Evans hung up the phone and called Max.

"Hi Dad, what's up?" Max answered.

"Son, before you go ballistic make sure you are sitting down, okay?"

"Dad what's going on?"

"It's Zan. His adoptive parents were killed last night and he's going to be placed in foster care if you…"

"I…I have to go to him," Max cut off.

"I know, Max. I know son."

"I have to go Dad. I have to get to New York."

"Max!" Philip tried to catch Max before he hung up the phone. "Your mother, Isabel, and I will meet you there, okay?"

"Thanks Dad."

Zan was sitting at the top of the stair case when Linda Ghilarducci came up to him. "Zan. Hey kiddo, how are you doing?" she asked.

He stays motionless just staring down the long corridor.

"Zan, I need to ask you some questions. Would that be okay?"

He nodded.

"How would you feel if you went home with your biological parents?"

Zan bit his lip as he looked up at her. She could tell there was a bittersweet feeling stirring up inside of him. "My real mom and dad?"

"Yes."

"Okay."

Author's note:

Somewhere, Out There – "Somewhere, Out There" is sung by Linda Ronstadt James Ingram

"Somewhere, Out There" lyrics

Somewhere out there beneath the pale moon light
Some one's thinkin' of me and loving me to night.
Somewhere out there some one's saying a prayer
that we'll find one another in that big some where out there

And even though I know how very far a part we are
it helps to think we might be wishin' on the same bright star
And when the night wind starts to sing a lone some lullaby
it helps to think we're sleeping under neath the same big sky
Somewhere out there if love can see us through
Then we'll be together somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true...