A/N: Thank you to all of those who reviewed my last chapter. I apologize for the long wait. I have several things to blame, like school HW, tests, and projects, but I will take the responsibility (hanging head in shame). On the brighter side of things, this chapter is really long. Hope you Enjoy:
X.x.X.x.X.x
Act II: Questions. and Answers?
"Ingrid. We've missed you back at HQ. I'm really sorry about this," Fillmore said quickly and offering her the forget-me-nots, feeling heavy and an intense need to express himself. He looked into her deep green eyes for amnesty, but something was wrong. What he found instead was a look of bafflement and perplexity. "Ingrid, what's wrong?"
Ingrid looked for help in her sister and father's faces. She received expressions expecting something. She turned back to face the boy.
"W-who are you?" she asked earnestly.
Fillmore, taken aback dropped the flowers. "What? Ingrid, don't you know me? It's me, Fillmore," he explained gently as possible. He hoped it was enough.
Ingrid just shook her head slowly and held her gaze. "I'm sorry. Dad, Ariella, what's going on?"
Mr. Third and Ariella stared at each other, raising their eyebrows. Ariella reached for the nurse button and gave it a press.
"Ingrid, don't you remember Fillmore? He's your best friend, your partner?" Ariella tried to help.
Ingrid shook her head once again. She closed her eyes and rubbed her temples, as she usually does when she tries to remember something.
"Safety patrol? X Middle School?" Ariella went on.
Fillmore tried to help, "Tehama, Vallejo, Anza, O' Farrell, Folsom… anything?"
"Who are they? What are you guys talking about?" Ingrid said, eyebrows furrowing and feeling edgy.
A man dressed in white and wearing sterile gloves enters the room. "Is there anything wrong?"
Mr. Third steps up to him, "Yes, my daughter doesn't seem to remember a lot of things…"
"Don't worry. I'll get the doctor and she'll diagnose," then checks clipboard, "Ms. Third in no time."
There was an awkward thickness that permeated the air. Fillmore walked to Ariella and Mr. Third. "I don't think it's a good idea for me to stay in here. I'll wait outside the room."
"Sure thing, Fillmore," Ariella replied.
Fillmore tried sitting down, then pacing up and down the corridor. Finally, the nurse returned with the doctor. He decided to stand outside the door, and listen. That way, he could find out what was wrong without letting Ingrid feel uncomfortable with a "stranger" standing next to her. Ariella saw him and nodded her head in approval.
Mr. Third: Hello, Ms., I mean, Dr. Cooper. I'm really worried about Ingrid. She doesn't seem to remember anything…
Dr. Cooper: (raises eyebrows) Hmmm. (Looks at clip board) Interesting. I'm surprised that the nurse didn't check for brain damage because of the strike on her head.
Mr. Third: (aghast) What!
Dr. Cooper: Don't worry. I still have yet to diagnose her, Mr. Third. (walks to Ingrid's side) How are you feeling, Ingrid?
Ingrid: Fine. Just a little headache.
Dr. Cooper: (writes on clipboard) What's the last thing you remember.
Ingrid: It was afternoon. The day before school is supposed to start…
Dr. Cooper: What year?
Ingrid: My seventh grade year. (She caught on) What - How long have I been in school?
Mr. Third: (softly) Honey, you're in the middle of your second semester.
Fillmore sees Ingrid's stunned face, and starts to turn around to leave.
"Wait, Fillmore."
He turned around and got to Ingrid's side.
"I still don't know who you are, but can you please help me?"
"You know I would, I mean, sure," Fillmore answered, not sure whether to be disappointed she didn't remember, or relieved that she wanted his help. He also felt a little disheartened because he had failed to avoid her detection.
"Thanks," Ingrid said quietly.
Dr. Cooper, "Well, I've finished running my diagnostics. It appears to me that Ingrid has transient global amnesia. It can occur when someone's head gets struck twice in two certain places of the cranium. She has an extreme case of this type of amnesia. Usually the amnesiac's memory returns in as short as 30 to 60 minutes, but in Ingrid's circumstance it will last up to twenty-four hours. After we give you an MRI to check for any brain damage, we'll see if you'll be free to go.
The scans went without fault. Mr. Third offered Fillmore a ride home and dinner. Fillmore called his parents and they Okayed it. Ingrid went to the bathroom to put on her regular clothes, combat boots and all. She came out holding an orange belt and a puzzled face.
"That's your Safety Patrol belt," Fillmore explained.
She nodded her head as if she understood but didn't put it on.
The drive home seemed interminable. After ten minutes, Ariella couldn't take it anymore.
"Soo. How's Safety Patrol, Fillmore?" Ariella asked to break the silence.
"Not too good. We have a case that has to be solved by the end of the day tomorrow. Ingrid, would it be okay if I, uh, talked to you after dinner about, school, the case, anything you might have forgotten?"
"Well, I guess it would be alright," she replied slowly.
"I think that would be a great idea. That way, he can tell you your classes and anything else you need to know," Mr. Third followed.
They finally arrived at the Third residence. Mr. Third and Ariella prepared dinner. Fillmore offered to help, but they politely declined. He went with Ingrid to her room. There is an awkward silence. Ingrid looked around her room, and sighed.
"What's the matter?" Fillmore automatically asked.
"All lot of things, I guess," Ingrid sighed once more.
"You can tell me. We're best friends, and you don't deserve this," Fillmore reassured her.
"Thanks. For everything. I'm not used to, at least I don't remember, anyone besides family being as nice to me as you are…"
Fillmore cut her off, "If this happened to me, I'm sure you'd do the same."
"I'm still in shock. My room, everything in this house looks different from what I remember. Even Ariella and my dad don't look the same. It's as if I went fast forward through time, but what's more, didn't experience anything in between. So if you don't mind, can you help me? I know a few things like, I go to X Middle School, and…" she rubbed her temples, "Principal Folsom. She's tall, seems angry or worried all the time. I saw her at a school tour once."
Fillmore chuckled, "That sounds right. You're part of X Middle School's safety patrol…" This continued until dinner was ready, through it, and after. Fillmore talked about Safety Patrol, Tehama, Anza, O'Farrell and Vallejo. He talked about the X and it's variety of clubs and mass school spirit. Ingrid smiled and nodded as she took it all in. Before long, it was time for Fillmore to go home.
"Thanks, Mr. Third for dinner and everything."
"No, thank you," Mr. Third countered, and gave him a gratified look.
"Ingrid, I'll come by here at 7 in the morning and we can walk to school together."
"Sounds good," was the response.
X.x.X.x.X.x
Fillmore residence, evening
Fillmore entered his home with a resounding sigh.
"Hey, mom," he greeted.
"So how's Ingrid?"
"Not too good, not too bad. She has amnesia, but she'll recover in a day or less…" Fillmore said. "I need to make a couple of calls, okay?"
"Well I hope she gets better," she called out as he went to the phone.
He punches in a couple of numbers, "Hey Vallejo, it's me, Fillmore. It's about Ingrid-"
X.x.X.x.X.x
6:59 AM Third Residence
Ingrid stood outside her front door, arms crossed and leaning across a wall. Fillmore reached her just as his watch hits the next minute. She's wearing her orange belt. She looks complete, unlike at the hospital when she was holding out her belt. At the moment he saw her, he forgot about the past day's events and smiles. In the next second, he is pulled back to reality, and his smile weakens slightly.
"Hey," he greeted, "Ready?"
"Yeah, but truth be told, I'm kinda nervous," Ingrid said, not knowing why she was opening up to him.
"Don't worry," I've got things settled with Vallejo. You don't have to go to any of your classes and I don't either. We'll be working on the case all day.
The two began walking as Ingrid's face becomes less taut. When they reached X, Ingrid let out an almost inaudible gasp. This place is huge. How did Fillmore and I catch all those kids like he said we did? And I have a feeling that those were only a few…
"Well this is it. Let's get to HQ," Fillmore said, interrupting her thoughts and awe.
X.x.X.x.X.x
Headquarters
"Vallejo! What are you doing here this early?" Fillmore questioned the Commissioner. "And Tehama, Anza, and O'Farrell. You guys usually aren't here until another half hour."
Tehama, "Well we figured that after what happened, that you and Ingrid would be here early, too."
"We've missed you, Ingrid," O'Farrell said dramatically. "Those scary doctors didn't hurt you did they," he said hugging her.
Ingrid stiffened and looked desperately towards Fillmore for help.
Vallejo, seeing this, "Uh, O'Farrell. Remember what we discussed last night phone conferencing with Fillmore?"
"Oh. Riiiight. (winks) Uh, sorry, miss," saluted her, "I'm Danny O'Farrell. Safety Patrol's photographer." Then gives her a quick hug, "And I've really missed you."
"Uhm, okay," Ingrid started hesitantly, "Nice to meet you, Danny."
The rest of Safety Patrol made their introductions and it was soon 7:30.
"Dawg. The time I wanted to save to work on the case was wasted," Fillmore grumbled slightly.
"Well, not really. This way, I know who everyone is, what they do, and what they can help me with. They're all really nice, too," Ingrid said.
"I guess so. Well, we've got to plan our day. I suggest that we do some interrogations first. Then we review our information, and hopefully we'll pick something up," Fillmore suggested.
"Let's get started," Ingrid agreed.
The first questioning with Rita Wellington and the second with Andrew Banner were fine, except for one thing. They both had solid excuses, being on stage and being in detention, respectively. The final interrogation with Donny Levine was brutal. Ingrid stood behind the false mirror as Fillmore did the cross-examination. She watched intently as Fillmore did his stuff.
X.x.X.x.X.x
Fillmore: Do you know why you're here?
Donny: Yeah. I'm a suspect, and now ya need to question me. But I have one question for ya self. Why are you here?
Fillmore: I'm here because I'm a safety patrol officer. I'm doing my job.
Donny: Right, right. (He folds his hands together, touches them to his forehead and looks down) But still. (He pauses for a few seconds and shifts his head up) I'm a sayin you's a betta watch out.
Fillmore: And why's that? (chuckles) You're gonna order your cronies to come after me? That won't be possible if you're all serving time in detention.
Donny: Nah. You guys have nothing on me. What I'm saying is, you're nothing. Especially because of your partner… (snaps fingers, trying to pull out a name) Ingrid Third.
Fillmore: What are you talking about? We're partners, equals. Are you saying I'm jealous of her, 'cuz I'm not.
Donny: Man, you're not readin' me. But now that I think of it, you should be.
Fillmore: Stop playing games with me, Levine. You're in enough trouble as it is.
Donny: Fine. Let me spoon-feed it to you. You. Are. Nothing. (Fillmore tries to interject. Donny raises hand and looks Fillmore straight in the eye.) Before Ingrid came, you were flying solo and catching all your guys. Now you're dependent. Ingrid, she's smart, everyone knows that and smarter than you. When Ingrid was still a bit green, it was your name, Fillmore, that everyone knew. If some guys on the shadowy side of the alley heard your name, they knew who you was, that they had to watch out for you. She needed you then. But now, Ingrid ain't so new anymore. Delinquents know her. So now, she has smarts and a name. She could do just as fine without you, in all probability, better. And you, (shakes head), you've lost your touch. If it weren't for you, she'd probably be okay. Instead, she got hit in the head with a jar. So your wrong, you are not equals. And she is the greater.
Fillmore: Know what? I heard about this. The way you can drive anyone crazy in a matter of minutes, and that's if you're nice. Too bad for you, it's only giving me a headache, so I'm going to step outside, and when I come back, you better be cooperating and answer my questions. You better watch out. Ingrid's my partner and my best friend. You have crossed the line with what you said. (He gets up and makes for the door.) And whatever's beyond that line is none of your business.
Outside of the Interrogation Room
Ingrid was feeling more helpless then when she had when she learned that her memory had gone, at least temporarily. Her ability to remember had failed, and that was what shaped her and what she relied on. Now, she could not help this boy whom she "just met" but is her best friend. It was obvious to her that he was lying when he said that Donny's mind play didn't work. She didn't know how, for it was not in the way he said so or the way he acted when he was talking; he was too experienced to let emotions show. There was some connection with him that she felt. Because the whole time before the tables where turned on this interrogation, she sensed his confidence. And as Donny spoke, she was aware of Fillmore breaking down. What he was feeling was probably the same as what she was experiencing now. A fear of being useless. Ingrid met up with Fillmore outside.
"Dawg! It's so frustrating trying to talk to that guy. I have a gut feeling he did it. But we don't have any proof besides my instinct. And I'm starting to believe what he says."
"I know what your feeling. But you can't just give up and let him win. Something tells me that you're not that kind of person to. He's going to slip up soon, if he already hasn't. He's getting to proud for him own good. Hopefully, he'll tell you something. If not, then luck be with us when we look for the right club."
She hoped that it was the right thing to say. She needed him to be back to normal.
"Thanks, Ingrid. Maybe you should come with me inside there."
"No, but thanks for the offer. That would just prove his point."
"Right," Fillmore remembered. Before he opened the door, he took in a deep breath.
X.x.X.x.X.x
"I was beginning to think that you left me, never to return," Donny said, inspecting his fingernails and leaning his chair back, with his feet propped up on the table.
"Sit up straight. This isn't a lounge," Fillmore paused as Donny changes his position. "A few minutes ago, I was going about it all wrong. I let you distract me. So from now on, the only words that come out of your mouths are ones that will answer my questions. Understand?"
"Heh. Whatever you say, belt."
"Where were you last Tuesday at lunch?"
No response.
"Let me repeat that, in case you didn't hear. Where Were You Last Tuesday At lunch."
Still no answer.
"Fine. A different question. What do you know about Limits In False Establishments, a.k.a. LIFE?
Donny's left eye slightly twitched at that last query but nothing came out of Levine's mouth.
"What's up with you? A while ago, you wouldn't shut up," Fillmore said, exasperated.
"Nothing, belt. Just practicin' my right to remain silent," spoke Donny with a smirk.
"I don't believe this."
Vallejo enters inside the interrogation room.
"Levine. Get back to class."
Donny gets up and struts out.
"Why'd you let him go?" Fillmore asked. "He hasn't said anything yet."
"Sorry, Fillmore. Folsom's orders," Vallejo explained. "Besides, it was obvious that he wasn't going to give anything. I guess we taped it in vain. But you and Ingrid are gonna need as much time as possible to check out those clubs. Here's the list."
Fillmore took the stack of paper and flipped through it and gave a low whistle. "There's at least twenty-five clubs on here. How are we gonna check all of them today?"
"Go in A-B-C order," Vallejo shrugged.
X.x.X.x.X.x
A/N: I have a lot of clues in there. I hope this was good. I thought this chapter was pretty difficult to write, especially the first part with Ingrid in the hospital. I found it hard to make it dramatic and have the characters not be OOC. I'm really sorry about that…