Disclaimer: Please see Chapter 1 for details

Author's note: Warning-there is some adult language in this segment. My sincere thanks to those of you who have reviewed. Some of the issues expressed in those reviews will be addressed in a later chapter—namely the confrontation between a certain mother & daughter. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays and a wonderful New Year!

Time to Consider
Chapter 18
By Callisto

Lakeside Bed & Breakfast Inn – Past
Lake Catherine, VT

Parker came out of the Inn to join them. After rushing up to Ethan's room, she was surprised to find the door locked. She pounded onhis door loudly and desperately when eventually a tired little boy opened the door and blinked at his sister questioningly.

"I feel asleep reading. I helped Daddy help the boatman really early this morning. What's wrong?"

"Your door was locked. I thought something was wrong," she replied with a rush of relief as she squatted down to his eye level.

"Mama says that while I'm here, I have to keep the door locked so no one can sneak in on me. It's kinda dumb but the voices said I should do it too."

As he gave his explanation, Ethan found himself wrapped in a warm embrace his sister had recently become fond of giving him. He sleepily draped himself over her shoulders in his approximation of a hug. Gently pulling him within arms length, she said, "I'm sorry I woke you up. Go back to sleep and lock the door again. Don't let anyone in until either Mama or I come and get you, understand?" His answer was a violent yawn and a vague nod as he slammed the door shut and engaged the locking mechanism.

Everyone watched her as she approached the solemn tableau. Again her eyes were glued to Damon's prone form. "We have to send them back with a stronger message."

"Kitten, let cooler heads prevail here. We'll return them boththe way you sent this fellow back the first time. I believe then, your uncle will have gotten the message that his sweepers are too incompetent to kidnap you or anyone in this family."

Jarod's eyebrows went up slightly at the endearment Ben used in addressing his daughter. Parker tore her eyes from Damon and looked at her father before returning her focused glare on the man who threatened her mother. Only Jarod had an idea of the fear that was roiling around in her mind. A repeat of what had happened to her when she was twelve had almost occurred.

"I have a different idea for this one," Jarod spoke up nodding in Damon's direction. "I think more drastic measures are needed for him. He didn't get the message the last time and came back nastier. This time, I'm going to make sure he gets it. Why don't you go ahead and stow the other one on the bus?" he said to Ben, and then glancing at his watch he continued, "the next one shouldn't be here for another hour, so that gives you plenty of time."

Parker looked up into Jarod's curiously angry face and said solemnly, "I'm going with you."

"I wouldn't have it any other way," Jarod replied with a grim smile.

Montpellier Athletic Club
Montpellier, VT

Several hours later, everything was prepared as the major looked up at his son's handiwork. "I think that ought to do it. You sure he won't be killed in there?"

Parker nodded and with her trademark shark-like grin replied, "We did put some padding back in there with him. My guess is that after the first day of pounding, his screams should be heard regardless of tape."

"Remind me never to get on your bad side," the major said half-jokingly.

Jarod was busily cleaning up all traces of their visit and subsequent changes to the gym equipment. Inside the athletic club for aspiring boxers hung Damon. His wrists were over his head and secured via an additional chain to the hook above. Padding was lightly placed around his exposed ribs and groin area, though Parker did remove a small portion of this when Jarod called his father over to help himclean up the displaced residue. Parker smiled as she stilled the heavy bag containing Damon. The inner lining of the bag would soak up any blood the athletes would draw from him in their zeal to become the next title holding boxing champion of the world. She didn't see the note Jarod had slipped into the sweeper's pocket giving the address of where he belonged. She could care less if Damon was returned to the Centre. His threats were enough and if he were unfortunate enough or stupid enough to come after anyone she loved again, Parker vowed quietly to herself that it would be the last time he would be anything again.

Their thorough understanding of the Centre and the need to send a definitive message caused another ripple to echo through the timeline. In their original reality, time seamlessly adjusted itself to reflect their actions. This change occurred primarily for Jarod. He no longer had the blood of another on his hands. At least not in the same way as he had formerly, instead of shooting Damon to death, Jarod had managed to wound him and rescue Broots unscathed. As a result, Jarod efficiently tied up Damon and placed a note on his body written in flawless Serbo-Croatian along with a clipping in that language detailing the bombing of their Roman embassy. To finish his work, Jarod then smuggled Damon's unconscious form onto the grounds of the Serbian embassy in D.C. and left him at the doorstep. The Serbian guards were more than happy to express their displeasure to Damon personally. As Jarod saw it, the Serbians were more than capable of doing their own killing.

Dorado Iron Works - Present
Warehouse District
Buenos Aires, Argentina

They worked non-stop for several hours. Ethan paused often to take notes and add crucial details to his rough diagram of the strange machine. As awkward as it looked, the design was ingenious. While he sat perched on a crate, Ethan stared at the machine, lost deep in thought. Norwood looked over at him, and decided to join the other in taking a break.

"You know, right now, I'm not sure if it's a question of whether or not you can pull them back to this time, but if they want to return. In the past they're in, most of the pain and misery they had gone through here, has yet to occur. They also have all their foreknowledge to dodge some of their own bad decisions. Plus, if Jarod is with my sister, then I doubt they're in or around the Centre. They both know it would be better to avoid it at all costs. I just wish I could be with them."

Norwood stared at Ethan thoughtfully. He should've mentioned this earlier but he didn't know how to say it without devastating this strange guy. From his conversation with the two time travelers, Ethan had saved his machine from being appropriated by a powerful and evil bunch of wealthy corporate types. There was a debt owed and the longer Norwood put it off, the harder it would become to tell the truth.

"It's weird how out of all the abandoned buildings in this district, they both stumbled into this one. Especially while I was in the middle of conducting an experiment," Norwood remarked quietly, trying to work his way to the truth.

"Our lives are riddled with weird coincidences. All of us have been victims of science in one way or another," Ethan replied absently. With a thoughtful frown, he continued, "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for a madman who thought he could manipulate genetics. In a way, I was bred and my mother was tricked first into having me and then trusting the man who impregnated her with me."

"That's a strange way of referring to your father."

"He isn't my father. I'm the product of artificial insemination. If it weren't for him and his over-weaning ambition, I wouldn't exist."

"I seriously doubt that. Your sister said that you were a cute kid."

"What are you talking about?" Ethan asked wondering just how strange this scientist-kid was going to get.

"It's an odd thing for a grown woman to say about her adult brother. So I take it that she was referring to you on the other side of the timeline."

"We weren't raised together. How could she be referring to me, there?"

"What they're in is called a variant time phase. The temporal portal they went through had achieved complete stability…" Norwood went on to explain, in sometimes very technical terms, where and when Ethan's siblings had landed.

"But I don't understand how I could be there. What Mr. Raines did was an experiment. There was no way for him or anyone to know if the procedure would be successful."

Norwood stared at his companion. The pained, lonely expression in his eyes surprised the self-absorbed scientist. "I suppose I could comfort you by spouting all the sentimentalist, claptrap nonsense that I used to hear my parents tell others who had gotten bad news. As you can tell, I'm not like that. Always hated the half-assed attempts that gave the impression you actually gave a shit. So, I'll give it to you straight—everything happens for a reason. Whatever means that guy used to get you here in this time phase didn't mean much, especially if you're showing up in other variant timelines. You're here because you were meant to be here, so if that doctor is trying to pull some mind-numbing 'you owe me' obligation trip on you, tell him to stuff it."

Ethan blinked and stared at the skinny, unsentimental scientist without saying a word. Slowly a small smile of appreciation formed on his lips. The kid had a heart after all, a small one, granted but a heart after all.

"Before you start breathing a sigh of relief, there's something else you need to know," Norwood started slowly.

Lakeside Bed & Breakfast Inn – Past
Lake Catherine, VT

The major, Jarod and Parker returned to the Inn, a quiet trio. Damon had been effectively contained and would feel the weight of his error in returning to kidnap Parker. Once inside the Inn, Ben offered the major a drink and handed him his request cordially. He noticed how Catherine and the major avoided looking at each other but said nothing.

After a long, uncomfortable moment, the major stood and finally looking directly at Catherine said, "I had no idea you were Mari's mother. As it is, Jarod has made up his mind to follow you to Europe. The reason I came here was to meet her parents to get an idea of kind of people he would be depending on. Meeting Ben allayed most of my fears but knowing you're involved, makes me breathe that much easier. All I'm asking is for you to look after him. If anything happens or he needs his family, please don't hesitate to call me. He's a bit headstrong but basically a good kid."

"While you were gone, Ben told me that Jarod wanted to tour around Europe. However, Mari has yet to speak to us about the their relationship," Catherine stated quietly as her gaze slid from the major to her daughter's face.

"We were rudely interrupted by a murderer," Parker murmured sarcastically under her breath.

"When we return, my daughter has some important obligations to keep. After that, she'll be returning to school to complete her education. I doubt that will leave much time for romantic notions," Catherine stated shooting her daughter a look.

"We'll look after him while he's with us. Telling you not to worry would be useless I know," Ben interrupted smoothly. The storm clouds of unfettered emotion were building quickly between mother and daughter.

"Dad, it would be best if all of us leave in the morning. The sooner we leave and remove all traces of ourselves from this place, the better. The Centre will come in force after they find their sweepers. The less they can find out about us and the fewer loose threads, then they will be forced to drop this lead."

Both men looked at Jarod with a mixture of curiosity and wonder. The major's curiosity was more greatly intermingled with pride than wonder. The speed with which Jarod had assessed and accurately analyzed the situation made the major nod slowly in agreement. Ben, on the other hand, wondered how much Mari had told Jarod about their family and its secrets. Still, the way both kids had dealt with the sweepers and Jarod's analysis of the situation indicated a deeper understanding than anything he had revealed.

"I couldn't have said it better. First off, you'll have to settle your accounts here in cash to cut off any paper trail. Have you used a credit card or checks for anything while you've been here?" Ben asked splitting his attention between father and son.

The major answered, "No, we know better. Besides, dealing in cash has become something of a habit. I made sure not to leave our correct address with the manager when we checked in as well. Other than yourselves and your daughter, we haven't had much contact with anyone else."

"Excellent. Then I think it would be best to start packing. If you need anything, please let us know," Ben said as he walked the major to the door. He continued speaking to the major as they left the Inn.

"Are we leaving already?" Ethan asked irritably. He was beginning to truly enjoy their vacation and his new father.

"Yes, sweetheart. Go upstairs and start packing. We'll be leaving in the morning," Catherine said gently but the command finality in her voice didn't leave room for argument. Ethan turned on his heel and started for his room, when he looked over his shoulder at his sister. "Mari, will you help me?"

"Your sister will be up in a few minutes, Ethan. You can get started on your own," Catherine pronounced with a subtle hint of impatience. Not wishing to push his mother any further, Ethan nodded and hopped up the stairs as noisily as possible in his 6 year-old's approximation of protest.

"Jarod, are you going to meet us here early or should I ask Ben to open a room here for you?" Parker inquired quietly. From her mother's carefully impassive expression, they were about to have one of their blow-out arguments. She frowned irritably at this thought. Since she had been thrust into this time phase, she and her mother hadn't really had a heated argument. How could she know what her mother looked like when she was getting upset?

"I don't want to inconvenience him. How about we meet in front of the Inn around 6 o'clock?" he asked while noting the rising tension between the two beautiful women. Both were lovely, perhaps it was prejudice but he still thought Parker was supremely magnificent when she was highly irritated as she was quickly becoming with her mother.

"Sounds good," said she dryly. "That way, you'll know right off if I've survived the night intact." Rising from her seat gracefully, she walked him to the door, where consciously they exchanged a look that was as good as a kiss.