X
"I didn't do anything to him!"
The words echoed in Tom's mind, chasing thoughts around and around inside his skull.
If Shawn had nothing to do with Kyle's coma, then fine. The tears in his nephew's eyes had appeared genuine. Before he stalked out of the cubicle with enough force to catch the attention of loitering security.
Maybe Tom should go back. Just to ask another question or two. Shawn hadn't been in the most complying mood. Maybe he could get NTAC to authorize some kind of a test. There could be memories buried in his recently returned relative's mind that maybe Shawn himself didn't know about. Something.
Tom clenched his styrofoam cup, not caring if hot coffee steamed over the sides.
He'd grab the forms-no, he'd stop by and see if the "boss" was in a good mood. Tom would talk Ryland into allowing the probe. It shouldn't be too hard. NTAC was pushing as hard as it "humanely" could to make some sense out of the 4400 people recently dropped from the sky. Besides, Tom could sign any waivers or consent forms. Whatever. Shawn was family.
X
The main area was clustered with people. An underlying buzz, coupled with vacant stares had sent Shawn into a state of unrest that threatened to overthrow his easygoing nature. Well, he'd never been so much easygoing as content.
Small world.
He searched the sea of faces for the man he'd talked to earlier. Richard. He was apparently deep in conversation with a blond woman. Feeling left out, Shawn thrust his hands behind his back and spotted the small girl who always seemed to be alone. Like himself.
Maia. She could have been his little sister. And talk about calm-whenever she slid her cold fingers into his, some of the anxiety melted from him.
"You're upset."
"Hey." Shawn dropped to her level. "What are you doing, reading my mind?"
"Not really. Who came to see you?"
Shawn stared over her head, not really seeing. "My Uncle Tommy."
"He's not very nice to you, is he?"
Shawn's gaze fell. "Well, it's just uncomfortable. I haven't seen him in three years, coming from his point of view. And I guess he blames me for what's happened to Kyle."
"Kyle?"
"He's my cousin. He was with me the night I-disappeared. I can't really remember anything about it."
"I wish I had someone to talk to."
"I'm sure you will."
"No. They're dead. They're all dead."
"Hey, come here." Shawn scooped the thin form up and deposited her on his knee. It seemed too juvenile for that delicate, serious face, but he did it anyways.
She surveyed him steadily."Why are you by yourself?"
"I guess I prefer it that way. Why are you?" Shawn thought he already knew the answer.
Maia turned her head, watching some of the younger returnees scuffling in the corner. It seemed friendly enough, so no one was interfering. "I don't fit in."
Shawn bounced her. "You will."
"Maybe." Her arm circled his neck.
X
The observation room was cold. Cold, identical to all the others, neat little cubicles lining the corridor. He was beginning to hate the word. Cubicle. Of course, that's not what these spaces were called. Rooms. Shawn gave a mirthless laugh. Right. He felt as if his identity was being slowly stripped away, leaving him wide eyed and garble voiced. His secret fear was becoming like the other returnees who wandered ailmlessly, talking to themselves or constantly fidgeting with their sleeves. And he wanted desperately to see familiar faces, but not the accusing stare of Uncle Tommy.
It hurt. How many years had his own family blamed him for Kyle's accident? Layering that was the sinking feeling that Kyle wasn't okay. He was in a coma, probably never to wake up... go drinking with Shawn in the middle of the night, swapping stories that Danny was too young to hear...
His stomach clenched, and for a moment Shawn thought he was going to throw up. After gritting his teeth and counting upward to fifty, the feeling subsided a little. Something his mom, Susan, had taught him when he was no bigger than Maia. And what was she doing in Shawn's absence? He hadn't a chance to tell Maia what was going on. He didn't know himself. Except that NTAC seemed to be taking a special interest in him, where as they hadn't before. You'd think with 4399 other people, you wouldn't be under the spotlight. Much.
Shawn paced the tiny space, drumming his fingers along the cool metal table. It made him nervous. He couldn't sit in a chair, either. There were two, comfortable after a fashion, if he'd been steady enough to rest.
What was going on? It seemed like he'd been waiting for hours. Maybe they were just studying him through that little camera lense. Well, whatever. There were cameras, blinking red eyes staring down the 4400 ever since they'd returned.
"Hey."
The door snicked open, Shawn unconsciously steeling himself. For what, he didn't know.
"Shawn."
He couldn't help the involuntary look of disgust. Betrayal. "Uncle Tommy."
His uncle was shadowed by another agent, a woman who peered into the obersavation room like it might be contaminated. Shawn was surprised when his uncle motioned her back.
"What do you want, Uncle Tommy?"
"I know this is going to sound like I don't trust you-"
"You don't." Flatly.
"But I really need some answers, Shawn. NTAC does-heck, the whole country needs answers."
"Why should I help you?"
"I'm not Darth Vader." Tom cast a look around. "You don't need to be upset by any of this. They just want to run a few simple tests-"
"What tests?"
"Tests that any of the 4400 could be taking. It was a little easier with you-"
"Because Shawn is your nephew and you gave the go ahead? No red tape to worry about here."
"Hey. I'm doing the best I can for you, under the circumstances."
"Maybe it's not good enough." Shawn had backed into the hard table, feeling it bite into his skin.
"I'm not the enemy here, Shawn. I want to help."
"I don't want to talk to you."
"Shawn-"
"Does my mom know- about this?"
Tom leveled his nephew with a dark stare. "Your mother trusts my judgement. Now, in a few minutes-"
The younger man smiled. It was accusing and sad, all at once, and it made an impression."Nice to know how I stand with you, Uncle Tommy."
"If you're going to act like a martyr, fine. The five year old kids don't put up this much of a fuss."
Shawn pressed his lips together, refusing to react toward the light tone and glossing over. He wasn't the same person anymore. Was, and wasn't. He hoped no one asked him to explain, because he couldn't. Even to himself.
A few moments later, as he slid into a plain white gown-which really wasn't clothing, but some plasticy material-Shawn angrily knotted the tie, hoping Uncle Tommy wouldn't be around. His jaw was sore from the continual clenching.
Loosen up, Shawn.
Then why did he feel sick? Sometimes he didn't know which way up was anymore.
He just wanted to be left alone.
Maybe think about Kyle without putting on an act that it was all okay.
Everything was fine.
When it felt like his whole world was crumbling to pieces.X