His Son
by iluvaqt

Disclaimer: as per default chapter.
A/N: unforgivably long hiatus, but I'm hoping you'll be gracious and come back to this anyway. Craving Dark Angel feedback. Thank you Sorrow for reading this, I'm sorry there wasn't more for you to get into – but hey, any excuse for seeing more Zack huh? ;)



Chapter 8 –
Somewhere near the hills on the Walker property

Syl pulled the collar of her jacket up higher and re-adjusted her scarf. It did little to chase away the chill that had already long set in. Her teeth chattered, and she'd lost the feeling in her lips and nose. She shivered involuntarily, and rubbed her hands together. Her gloves were wet and she could feel the cold beginning to bite into her fingertips. Up until now she had almost forgotten what it had felt like to be this cold. Almost. Sometimes the stiffness and the haunting memories of that winter in Wyoming would plague he dreams, but this was different. There was a different sense of urgency and desperation, not for herself, but for a small precious life that depended on her. The wind whipped up a cloud of snow around her, and she stopped, ducking her head, and shielding her face with her arm. The gust of wind passed and she started moving again. Her hair had crusted over with thin sheets of ice, and she could feel her muscles beginning to ache. Maybe she should have taken a horse. What and be more lost than you are now? "I'm not lost," she grumbled defensively. So why haven't you see something already? Anything?

A numbing sensation was working its way up from her toes, and Syl cursed in disgust. Move your ass soldier. You're made of tougher stuff than this. She refused to believe that she was going soft in her older years. If she didn't make it to the cabin soon she promised herself she was going to hike barefoot on bread and water to the top of Diamond Peak and halve the record time. Not that she'd record it. Or maybe she could under an alias. Her aggressors couldn't suck the fun out of everything in her life. Ignoring her body's protests she continued on. It was starting to get dark, soon the sun would set and she'd have the driving snow and darkness to contend with. Not that she'd have too much trouble with the latter. Her night-vision, bless the ingenious that threw that in her cocktail, would solve that problem. Musing to herself, Syl just about ploughed into something blocking her path. Her boot hit a solid, yet yielding object. Leaning down, she reached out to inspect the rather large ambiguous shape. It was a half buried grizzly bear. She let loose a whoop of glee. Hadn't Buddy said Adam was tracking a bear? It was covered with fresh snow and from the bloodstains still visible, it had only recently been killed. The cabin couldn't be far away. She jogged around it and started up the small incline with renewed vigor. Before she'd gone more than a few meters, a crackling sound caught her enhanced hearing and she froze. It sounded like static. She followed the noise through the trees and dropped to her knees. It was Jondy's radio. The batteries were working but as she searched for a signal, all she got was static. The storm had cut them off. Was Jondy okay? She wouldn't have left the radio by choice. Had something happened to her? The dead bear. The radio was barely twelve feet away. Another chill snaked down her spine. And icy fingers clutched around her heart. Was Jondy hurt? Had someone taken her?

She looked up and through the falling snow she saw a faint light in the distance. The wind picked up again, and this time it blew down the mountain toward her bringing with it the welcoming smell of burning wood. She'd found the cabin. Cupping her palms together over her face, she breathed what little inner warmth she had over her skin and willed her limbs to press onward. Only a little further.

Adam heard the crunch of snow outside. Someone or something was approaching. He listened closely, soft, determined, and measured steps. Not an animal. A person. Light footed, mostly likely a female, but he wasn't about to make a wager on that assumption. The only woman who knew these parts well enough to attempt a trek on foot was Mary, and there was no way Buddy would have let her go in this weather. With a concerned glance at the listless, slumbering figure on the bed, he quietly slipped out of the back window, and crept around the cabin to the stable. If the intruder thought they'd find easy loot, or a place to crash, they had another thing coming.

Syl had her fingers on the handle, poised to turn when a firm hand came down on her shoulder.

"Oh no you don't," a terse voice growled.

One minute he was on his feet, ready to block an attack from their intruder – or thought he was – and the next he had his face squished against the cabin wall.

It took Syl a moment to realize just to whom the hand belonged. The second she saw his features outlined by the warm glow emitted from the window, she dropped the death grip she'd had on his arm and neck, instantly setting him free.

"Zack?" she said, slightly breathless. "I'm sorry I didn't realize…"

Adam turned slowly, gingerly touching where her hand had been. His neck still prickled from her strangle hold, boy did she have a strong grip for a woman. The skin where her gloves had been felt as though a thousand needles had just assaulted his nerves. It had to be the cold. So many things hit him at once when he met her gaze. Flashing blue eyes, straw-colored, golden hair covered with dots of white, glistening with ice, a dusty pink noise, and pouting, full, pale gray lips. She had been outside for a long time. As she stared back at him, he could see the chatter and quiver of her lower jaw that she tried to fight. He studied her for a second, trying to place why she seemed familiar. It was something about the way she had reacted. Had they meet like this before? The idea seemed highly amusing, and he smiled to himself. She had a self-assured air about her, and he was certain that she was the sort of woman who could handle many man or situation that came her way. Did she always get what she wanted? An amused twitch tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"We've met like this before haven't we?" Adam said reflectively.

Syl tilted her head to one side regarding him quietly. So he did remember her. The first time she'd seen Zack after the escape was glaring at him after throwing him down against a pool table. She'd yelled at him for stalking her and asked him if he needed to be taught why it wasn't a good idea. He'd laughed at her. Rule one in Syl's book - never laugh at or about her. He'd earned a neat right hook to the jaw, that had shut him up quick smart. He'd told her in low tones that he didn't want trouble and if they could go some place to talk. To hear that he was her big brother from good ol' Manticore had knocked her for a six. She didn't know whether to throttle him so more for waiting a whole day to tell her or hug him. She had done neither. She had stalked off to leave him to think about how much of a bastard he was for poking his noise into every aspect of her life, without her consent, and then acting as though it was perfectly acceptable. Like he was entitled to.

"Yeah, we met a long time ago," she decided not to answer him with specifics. Just in case he hadn't had total recall, and Jondy hadn't told him yet, she wasn't about to help him and take the brunt of his reaction. "I came for Jondy, we were worried about her. Seems she forgot about this." She showed him the radio, and watched as he shook his head.

"Wouldn't be much use now, the tower's probably right in the thick of it." He opened the door, and ushered her inside. Shaking out his shirt and dusting his hair, he inclined his head to Jondy. "How do you two know each other?"

Syl went straight to Jondy's side. Pulling off her gloves she put a cool hand to her sister's forehead. She was running a slight fever, and she mumbling in her sleep. Syl looked up to see Zack still standing by the door. He'd asked her something, about Jondy. How did you know…along those lines. "Oh, we grew up together." She turned her head to soothe Jondy who was tossing on the bed. She bit her lip, she felt like she was lying to him and even though he wasn't really the same Zack, she could feel his probing gaze on her back and it was making her uneasy. "You could say were like sisters," she offered. That wasn't a lie, and she felt slightly less intimidated. Putting a hand on Jondy's shoulder, she shook her gently. "Jondy, it's me. You have to wake up. I have to take you back, it's important."

"She can't go anywhere now," Adam protested. "She seizing and it's crazy to go out there now." He held back from telling her she was crazy to even come up here. He hadn't seen any sign of a horse or a ski-do had she walked all the way? She had to be mad.

Syl stood and planted her hands on her hips. "I don't expect you to understand this but it's a family emergency, and I didn't come all this way for some cowboy to tell me how to take care of my sister." Wow, she'd really said that. She resisted a grin. She'd always wanted to tell Zack where to stick it, and it definitely felt as good as she imagined. Cowboy. Hah, if only he knew.

Adam took a step back, shocked at her outburst, and slightly threatened by the hard edge in her voice. "There's no way you're going back out there in your condition. Either of you for that matter," he said carefully. You're wet, probably half frozen and…"

"Who's going to stop me?" Syl said moving closer to him.

"I will," Adam said standing his ground. As she advanced again, he wasn't quiet sure his valiance was appreciated or wanted in this instance. Couldn't she understand he was looking out for her well-being? Both of them.

"Since you don't really remember me, I'll let you in on a little secret, you're playing with fire thinking you can stand in my way."

"Is that a fact?" Adam asked, incapable of backing down from her challenge at this point. How could a beautiful, petite woman like her be dangerous? A nerve below her eye twitched and he saw her fingers tighten on her hip. A little voice in the back of his mind piped up and squealed, oh you are so going to get your ass kicked.

Syl charged at him and had him flat on his back in one swift move. Straddling his chest, she glared down at him. "Don't mess with the best."

"Syl?" Adam queried with uncertainty. He didn't know why he said that, but it was instinctive. Was her name Syl? He didn't get a chance to ask, and while tried to make the stars stop blinking before his eyes, she had disappeared from his line of sight. He touched the tender spot where his head had come into blunt force contact with the floor. Yep, got my ass handed to me by a girl. Why did he keep getting the inkling that she wasn't just the average girl next door?

Hearing the bed creak behind her, Syl turned to see Jondy sitting up. Jumping up, she left Adam and hugged Jondy. "Of all the things to forget," she chided softly. "Don't worry, soon as we get you back you'll be good as new. I was kinda traveling light, so sorry I didn't bring any with me."

"Leo," Jondy whispered desperately. "Is he okay, why…"

"Krit's watching him, but he needs you Jondy. He got bitten by a…" Syl had never seen Jondy move so fast. With trembling fingers she was yanking on her boots and zipping up her jacket before Syl had even got up off the bed.

Adam watched in stunned silence, his mouth slightly open in ready protest but he changed his mind when he read the blind determination in Jondy's eyes. He knew when he'd been out voted. It was better that he help and lead them than continue to protest and let them go alone. At least he could watch them both and led them back as quickly and safely as possible. It was growing darker by the minute. By some miracle Syl had made it to the cabin on foot, but it would take more than luck to find her way back after nightfall in this weather. He glanced at the woman beside him. Jondy looked dead on her feet. She swayed slightly, and he caught her as she stumbled down the cabin steps. Syl brushed past them both and hurried to the stables. By the time they made the short walk to the stable gate, she had the horses ready to go.

Syl held Tiny's reins while Adam lifted Jondy into the saddle. He didn't trust her to handle a horse on her own, and right now he'd use any excuse to have her close. "Can you ride?" he asked Syl.

"Probably better than you," Syl retorted, tossing him the reins.

Adam grinned as she turned and sashayed to the waiting mare. How could she keep up all that simmering feistiness? Didn't it exhaust her? Catching the sharp glint in her eyes as she trotted past them, he thought not.

As he predicted, it was blistering outside. The snow had almost completely covered any discernable tracks and the blizzard made it almost impossible to see. He must have done an acceptable job of getting them back though because he didn't get a peep out of Syl. They'd barely reached the bridge that led to the homestead, and Jondy was off running. She didn't even wait for the horse to stop.

Adam's heart launched into his throat, she could have broken her neck. What if her foot had gotten tangled in the stirrups? What if she had slipped on the ice on the bridge? He shuddered to think what that would have done to him. He paused, his pulse thumping wildly in his neck, why did he care so much? He barely knew her.

Jondy nearly collapsed as she raced up the stairs and through the front door. She found them in the sitting room by the fireplace. Krit was cradling Leo, trying to comfort him, and he looked immeasurably relieved when he saw her.

"We've put iodine on the point of entry and I've given him sips of water. Everything else just comes back up." Krit gave Leo to his mother.

Gratefully, Jondy took him in her arms and bent to kiss his cheeks. She slid into the sofa, tears streaming down her face. All the way back her heart had been beating erratically. She had almost gone insane with how slow they seemed to be going, but didn't push because she knew Zack was doing his best to get them back.

Adam led the horses to the barn and told Syl to go inside. She'd called him Zack before and he hadn't asked her why. He said the name again, testing it on his tongue. Hearing it aloud again felt strangely familiar. Zack. Why did Zack sound better to his ears than Adam? More questions started forming in his mind. Who were these girls and why had they shown up all of a sudden. Women from his past, he knew that instinctively. He had recognized things about them. Things they hadn't spoke about but had sprung to mind. Did Buddy and Mary know them? If so, why had they never mentioned them before? And Syl had been whispering to Jondy back at the cabin. He had thought he heard two names, Krit and Leo. One of them had sparked Jondy into action. It was concern that had made her push back her pain, and force her body to work. Was it a boyfriend, a husband? Syl said family. A brother? That thought he was more comfortable with, but what if it wasn't. He shoved his hands into his pockets and trudged toward the house.

Jondy had swallowed the pills Syl had pushed into her hands and immediately she began to feel better. Her hands steadied and she could feel her strength slowly returning. She bent her head and kiss Leo's closed eyelids. Her touch had comforted him, and was finally resting.

Her fiery hair formed a veil over the sleeping bundle in her arms, and shielded her face from view. Her skin was still pale, but at least she seemed more relaxed. Adam studied her profile, his eyes traveling to her slender neck. Her hair had fallen over her shoulders and a dark patch was visible through the part in her hair. Adam blinked, and stared at the mark on her neck. It wasn't a regular mark. Not a birthmark or a tattoo. It was a barcode.

The floor felt uneven beneath his feet and Adam saw the room begin to sway. Flashes of faces, memories plagued his vision and he started to remember why she had felt so familiar. Syl had called him Zack. She knew damn it. They both knew and hadn't said a thing. Someone had fed him a lie. He was living a lie. All the words and images of the last time he saw Jondy came flooding back in super Technicolor including his emotions. Jealousy and a sense of betrayal overrode every logical thought. It was as though he was right back there - right back to the moment he had learned the she was pregnant.

"You!" Zack cried advancing on Jondy. "You deliberately disobeyed a direct order." Not wanting to see her tears or hear her arguments, he moved onto his next target. He glared at Syl and Krit, who were standing together by the fireplace, close but not touching. He pointed at them both, his blue eyes glittering dangerously. "And you two. I'm not blind anymore. You've been sneaking behind my back. You're jeopardizing everyone by being together."

"No," Krit said coolly, straightening to his full height. He was a few inches taller than Zack and he used it to his advantage now. "You can't tell us we're not allowed to be together. You can't control who we fall in love with. If you write us off so be it, but we want to be happy Zack. And we're happy together."

Feeling outmaneuvered and manipulated, Zack bursts out, "Why did you come here?" Not bothering to wait for an answer, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the house.

Completely rocked, Mary sank into a nearby chair. Buddy squeezed her shoulder in a gesture of support. Adam was so angry that he hadn't even noticed or acknowledged their presence. Or maybe he had Buddy thought, and he felt betrayed by them. They were aware of his past after all, and had kept it from him, even if it had been with the best of intentions.

Syl made an attempt to go after Zack, and Krit stopped her. "Let him go, babe. He'll be back."

Jondy hadn't said a word. Seeing the look in his eyes, the hurt in his voice, all her fears came rushing back. He hadn't changed. Not one bit. He was still as cold and bitter has he had been before. She clutched Leo to her breast and whispered words of reassurance to him. "I'm here little one. Mommy's loves you so much, Leo. I know you can beat this. Fight it for me, please BOM."