Chapter 4 – Child of Fire
Reed's cell phone was ringing for the third minuet when he finally opened it and put to his face, not taking his eyes of the computer.
"Yes." He said.
"Where the hell are you!" He heard Sue's angry voice.
"Oh, hi, honey!" He tried to change the subject.
"Didn't you hear what I asked? Where the hell are you? Do you need me to spill it?" She was furious.
"No need to shout, Sue. I'm with your brother. I need to help him with something…"
"Really? Well, sure, go help Johnny in London, it's so great. I'm glad that you and my brother are best friends now!" She was SO sarcastic. "And who's doing to help me, Reed? Our wedding is in four days and guess what? My fiancé is on the other continent! And! There's more news. A woman came to our apartment. I don't know who she is and she was looking for you!"
"What? What woman?" Reed tore his eyes away from the monitor.
"I don't know! She didn't even tell me her name, but said that she was FINALLY glad to meet me. What's up with that? Do you know her!" Sue sat on the kitchen stool. "What's wrong with the world!"
"Calm down, Sue." Reed said. "What did she look like?"
"She had long brown hair…I don't know…she was really…pretty…" She produced a deep sigh. "You know what I mean…"
"Oh…ok." Mr. Fantastic sighed, and rubbed his temple. "But I have no idea who she is really."
"Sure? Although I think even you'd remember her." She chuckled.
"Thank you." But Reed smiled nonetheless.
"It wasn't a compliment." Sue was still angry but calmed down a bit. "So, how's Johnny?"
"He is…playing a new role." He finally admitted.
"What does that mean?" Sue spat.
"He'll tell you himself, it's really not me story to tell." Reed said.
"Ok, fine. And what am I to do, Reed?" She asked. "Do I need to cancel the wadding?"
"No! Of course, no! I'll be there in no time! I just need to do something here first…"
"Stop rambling. Ok, just be here in three days. Tell Johnny I love him." Susan sighed again.
"I will. I love you."
"I love you too."
Johnny clicked his fingertips and they flamed on. He brought a cigarette and fired it, then he made fire go away inside his body. Young man took a drag of the cigarette, immediately feeling the poison blow through his lungs.
Flashback
"I can't do this!" Carmen screamed, breathing heavily.
She was in labor for the sixth hour, exhausted and tired. But the 'damn' doctor was still encouraged to push.
"Push now!" The doctor said calmly, doing something in between of her legs.
"Don't you listen to me! I CAN'T!" She screamed again.
"Come on, Sunny! We can do it! The baby is on the way! Come on!" The man in the hospital clothes near said, standing near her bed.
"DON'T CALL ME THAT, ERIC!" She took him by the collar with one hand.
"Come on, Carmen, you have to push one last time." The doctor said.
The girl pushed one final time with all her might. Screaming she grabbed the bed's hand with one hand and her husband's hand with another. And then the pain suddenly stopped and she heard it. Small and not the most perfect voice, but it was the most beautiful sound for her ears. Her baby was screaming.
"You did it." The nurse said. "You can rest now, Carmen."
A new mother just nodded, too tired to answer. Eric put a hand on her shoulder, rubbing it.
"You did great." He whispered, bending down to tell her that.
Carmen smiled and looked at her baby in doctor's arms.
"Mr. and Mrs. Rose, let me introduce you to your son." And he handed a small cradle to Carmen.
They both looked at the baby, smiling.
"He's so beautiful…" She whispered as tears started rolling from her eyes. "Hey…"
Carmen gently took his small hand in hers and shook it slightly.
"What are you going to call him?" The nurse asked, putting the medicines back on the shelves.
"We haven't decided y…" Eric started.
"James." Carmen said.
Eric looked puzzled for a couple minuets but then let it go and just smiled. Neither of them saw a young dark-haired man not older then twenty looking at them. He didn't have any intentions to enter and congratulate the couple. He was just there to watch. No-one should find out he was there…ever.
End of Flashback
Johnny was standing at the same spot he used to when he'd come to see the birth of his son only a few floors under.
"Sorry, you can't smoke here." A woman in white said, passing him.
Johnny nodded and took one last drag of a cigarette and with his fingers kicked it into the trash.
Susan was preparing to go to bed. She couldn't help but think that it probably would be at least the most extraordinary wadding. Four days before it her brother and fiancé fly to London, a strange woman shows up on her staircase, claming that she's finally glad to meet her. What else could go wrong? That was the only question she could ask herself at that time. She debated with herself about it for some time and decided that nothing else would go bad. She had no idea how wrong she was…
"So?" Johnny asked, coming near Reed who was head over heels in his work.
"I need to run a couple more tests, to compare your blood samples with James'." He answered.
"How long will it take?"
"I'll stay awake and you can go get some sleep. Did you stay at the hotel?" The scientist said.
"I didn't have a chance. I came hear straight from the airport." Johnny sat on the chair. "But I can't go anyway, I want to stay her."
"Listen, if the your blood will be acceptable for your son, wow…that sounds strange…anyway, you need to be in good shape. You can blanc out if you'd be tired." Reed pushed away from the microscope.
"Alright. I'll figure something out. It's 7 p.m., don't think I'll be able to fall asleep anyway."
"Try. And let me know where you're staying." Mr. Fantastic nodded.
"Ok." He turned to go. "And…thanks again, Reed, for doing it. I really appreciate it."
The older man just nodded again.
Before leaving for the hotel Johnny went to check on James. He entered the boy's room. There were flowers on the bedside and besides white sheets he saw one with airplanes. That made him smile. Carmen was a good mother. They made a right choice six years ago.
Speaking about Carmen, she was asleep in the armchair near James' bed. He took a blanket from the chair and covered her sleeping form. Then Johnny stroked her cheek gently, trying not to wake her. Then he came near the med bed and for the first time in his life kissed his son's forehead. His son. Johnny liked how it sounded. If everything would be ok he'd make sure his son would know who his real father is. 'No!' Johnny mentally smacked himself. 'When it's going to be ok, not if. When…' Now he'd just have to believe in it.
TBC
