Author's notes: language and violence
It only took Jake a split second to make the decision as the gas started to spew from the canister. More of those instincts of his took over. They helped him to recognize that the canister was a gas grenade designed to disorient and blind an enemy enough to take them down or wound them with little resistance. After quickly getting to his knees, he grabbed the hand towel off the kitchen table and immediately covered Mark's mouth with it.
"Breathe through this and close your eyes!" Jake ordered abruptly as he crammed Mark into a corner near the kitchen sink. "Don't move until I say!"
The room was now filled with gas and Jake's own eyes were burning and his throat hurt but he was trained for this. He had to have been! How else would he have known what to do and what to expect? Plus, Jake was furious and absolutely refused to let a little discomfort bother him! No matter how badly he wanted to cough from the gas he wouldn't allow himself to! Whoever these assholes were didn't just attack him but his family too!
More of that unknown training must have kicked in; Jake seemed to know how to use his anger to his advantage. His mind was focused and clear. He knew exactly what to do.
Staying low to the floor, Jake moved into position and crouched as low as he could get near the back door. He knew it would be used as a point of entry and was right. The door was kicked open hard. The instant Jake saw the gun and a man dressed in all black fatigues attached to it, Jake reached for the gun. He was so quick that he caught the man completely off guard by aggressively ripping the gun from his attacker. With all of his strength, Jake threw the man hard down to the floor then rapidly hit him twice in the head with the butt of the weapon rendering the man unconscious. A third blow landed just to make sure the man stayed down and because Jake was still pissed off!
With the element of surprise still on his side and with the gun already in the proper position, Jake forcefully rammed the butt of the weapon hard into the second's attacker's abdomen, lifting him off slightly off the floor. Jake heard the man gasp and quickly ripped the gas mask off. His attacker immediately started to choke and gag violently from the gas he just inhaled. Jake was even coughing but kept it under control while he spun the man around. He wrapped his arm tightly around the attacker's neck. The headlock was designed to either kill or knock a man out.
Jake only squeezed hard enough to render the man unconscious. He didn't want to kill anyone, not when he didn't know whom he was dealing with. But that didn't mean he was going to hold back when inflicting pain on these hostile people. After all, if they wanted to be treated decently they should have rung the fucking doorbell!
The other point of entry was the kitchen door leading to the dining room. Jake didn't wait for them to make an appearance. After dropping the unconscious man to the floor, Jake charged the door to the dining room. Perfect timing too! The force of the door slammed into a third attacker taking him out instantly. Jake kept moving and didn't wait to see if the guy was out for good as his body fell against the door, closing it and trapping the gas in the kitchen.
Jakedidn't have a chance to check as those instincts of his told him to duck! A fourth attacker had his weapon aimed at Jake and fired a split second after Jake had already ducked.
Something whizzed above Jake's head!
When he turned to see, he saw that it was a tranquilizer dart that stuck into the door behind him!
A tranquilizer gun? What the fuck was up with that?
Ok…he was really pissed now! After a swift kick the gun went flying into a far corner of the dining room. Then Jake was yanked off his feet then was sent skidding across the dining room table. Jake managed to stop himself before sliding off the table.
After he pushed himself onto his knees he saw Mark come staggering through the door coughing violently.
Typical kid! Never listened to his father's orders! In fact, Jake had a feeling that Mark never listened to anything his father had to say!
Never the less, Mark's appearance distracted the attacker for a moment. Jake was able to get a clearer look at one of his attackers. He was a big man, bigger than Jake and was dressed in all black fatigues, had standard issue boots on, and black face paint on beneath his gas mask which he just took off. The guy could have had clown make up on under that mask and his size didn't matter either. At this point, Jake didn't fucking care! All that mattered was protecting his family and himself.
Jake pounced on the man. Their momentum carried them into dish cabinet. The sound of shattering glass filled the room was immediately followed by Melissa's cry of panic from upstairs as she called for her husband.
"Mark! Go upstairs!" Jake ordered, as the rammed his attacker harder into the wall.
Mark didn't move and stood gawking as Jake ducked a jab.
"Go! God Dammit!" Jake shouted, just before a powerful fist caught him right on his left eyebrow.
He was only momentarily stunned. However, it was enough for a competent soldier to gain the advantage. As Jake was sent flying, he didn't even know if Mark left the room or not! Unfortunately for Jake, a chair broke his fall, hurting his right side under his arm in the process. And if he wasn't already in enough pain, a swift kick to his ribcage sure didn't make him feel any better. Neither did the bottom of the boot to his face!
Jake was not a man who liked getting kicked around! When the big fucker tried to smash Jake's face again, Jake grabbed the man's foot and wrenched it hard! A sick popping noise and the man's cry of pain were simultaneous! After an extra twist, the man fell to the floor and Jake got to his feet with a victorious grin on his face.
Only, it was a little too premature to be celebrating and Jake realized he was too arrogant in his assumption that the man was down for good!
As he was kicked back to the floor, Jake wondered where he got that arrogance from! It wasn't his that was for sure! He was never arrogant about anything! At least, he didn't believe he was arrogant about anything. But he didn't have time to search for the answer at the moment!
After Mark ran by his father, he heard a loud crash like a something had just broken into a dozen pieces or so. He didn't even look back to see what got smashed or who smashed it. He just prayed it wasn't his father. His father was the only person who could protect Mark and his family right now. Mark had never been so scared in his entire life. But he wasn't afraid for himself, he was afraid for Melissa and his children. If anything ever happened to either of them, Mark wouldn't know what to do.
Melissa was halfway down the stairs with his children right behind her yet they seemed like they were miles away from him. The last thing he wanted was for them to get too close to the danger. And it felt like an eternity was passing by as he hurried to them. Even sound was in slow motion as he heard his own haggard breathing.
"Mark…"
"Go to the bedroom…now!" he ordered, quickly turning her around then scooping up the children into his arms.
"Mark, what's going on?" she asked after he pushed her gently into their bedroom and closed the door.
"Shh…not now!" he told her as he set his kids on the bed.
"Dad, where's Uncle Jake?" Joseph asked.
"He'll be up in a minute," Mark answered without looking at his son.
In fact, Mark avoided any eye contact with his family. He was afraid they might see how scared he was. As it was, he couldn't keep his hands steady when he grabbed the phone.
"Shit!" he cursed to himself when he discovered the phone line was dead.
"What is it?" Melissa asked.
"Mommy, I'm scared," Elizabeth wept.
"Where's my cell phone?" he asked as Melissa held her daughter closely.
"I…"
"Where is it?" he shouted, feeling as if he was on the verge of panic.
"Mommy!" both children cried out, clinging to her.
"It's…it's on the coffee table!" she answered while trying to comfort two crying children.
"Where's yours?" he quickly asked.
"In my purse, downstairs!"
Mark looked towards the bedroom door. My God, he was an idiot. He trapped his family in the room with no way out. There was nothing he could do. He couldn't even think clearly. He had always known that he would never make a good soldier and tonight proved it.
"Daddy," Elizabeth wept.
Fear filled her little blue eyes and her face. Mark did the only thing he could think of, he immediately pulled his family into his arms.
"Shh, everything is going to be alright," he cooed to them. "Jake's taking care of it."
Melissa questioned him with a look and he simply shook his head back at her. He didn't want her or the children to hear the fear in his voice. His actions had already frightened them enough that his children trembled in his arms, as was Melissa.
Despite Mark's attempts to not tremble like his children, he still found himself flinching every time there was a loud crashing noise downstairs. When he heard footsteps on the stairs, Mark quickly ushered his family into the walk-in closet, grabbing his baseball bat before closing the door behind them. As he readied the bat, he suddenly remembered his gun! After setting the bat down, he quickly grabbed his gun out of the small safe from his dresser drawer.
Now he was ready to do whatever necessary to protect his family.
The footsteps sounded a little uneven as they approached. But Mark didn't wait for them to get any closer. After a deep breath, he yanked the door open and jumped out into the hallway.
"Jesus Christ, Mark! What the hell are you doing?" Jake shouted, snatching the gun from Mark's hand. "Are you trying to kill me?"
"Dad!"
"And what the hell is this?" Jake snapped at Mark. "Never! Never! Bring a gun into your home when you have children! I thought I raised you better than that!"
"But…"
"I never brought my service gun into the home! Not even after you and Sam were both in College!" Jake interrupted inspecting the handgun. "You wouldn't have done any good anyway! The damn safety's still on!"
Jake regarded Mark for a long moment. The guy was scared. His blue eyes looked like they were going to popped out of his head and his hands were shaking badly. And Jake was sure chastising his son wasn't any help at calming his nerves.
"Don't worry, I would never let anything happen to my family," Jake said, putting a reassuring hand on Mark's shoulder.
Mark relaxed…a little. Jake hadn't relaxed at all. He couldn't afford too, not when his family was still in danger.
"So…do you remember everything now?"
"No," Jake frowned. "Things just pop in my head. I assume they have something to do with the memories locked inside my head. Like the gun…and…and what happened downstairs."
"Are you ok?" Mark asked.
"Some bumps and bruised but I'm fine," Jake lied, even as he grabbed his ribcage.
His ribs hurt like hell but at least they didn't feel broken and his face didn't feel any better.
"I have First Aid training. You should let me look at that cut, it's still bleeding," Mark said reaching for the cut on Jake's left eyebrow.
"I'm fine, Mark. It's not the first time I've been knocked around," Jake growled, pushing Mark's hand away.
"Mark?" Melissa called from the bedroom.
"Have Melissa get the kids dressed and pack a few things," Jake ordered Mark. "I need your help downstairs."
As Jake headed back down the hall, he could hear Mark telling Melissa to not ask questions about Jake. The woman was going to have to be told something. But it would be best if it wasn't said in front of the kids. And it would be best if Mark talked with her because Jake honestly had no idea what to tell her. There was no way she would believe the truth about him being Mark's father. Who would?
If Jake was having a hard enough time believing the fact that he was Mark's father how could he convince others? It was especially tough when he looked in the mirror and saw that he was younger than Mark. And yet, Jake could feel that Mark was his son. And Mark, well he…
"Dad!"
Turning, Jake saw Mark hurrying down the stairs and appearing eager to join Jake.
"Here. Take these, they'll help with the pain," Mark smiled, handing Jake a couple of pills.
"Thanks," Jake replied, then popped the pills in his mouth and swallowed them.
"So, what do you need my help for?"
"Do you have duct tape and rope?"
"In the garage."
"Good, get it and bring it to me in the dining room."
"Sure, Dad!" Mark said then hurried off.
In the dining room, Jake already had all four unconscious intruders lined up and readied to be tied up. Looking down at them, Jake felt no guilt for what he had done. It was self-defense. And he didn't enjoy what he had done to them. However, he didn't enjoy being attacked even more!
The flashback surprised him, causing him to stagger backwards until he hit the wall.
Pain. He felt the hot pain burning his chest as he lay on the ground staring up at the night sky. When he coughed he could taste his blood in his mouth. A familiar face suddenly came into his vision and Jake laughed, making the pain worse.
"Shit! Jake you stubborn son of a bitch! Why did you do that?"
"Couldn't let you get shot in the back, George!"
"I need a MEDIC! Oh shit Jake…there's too much blood!" George gasped while desperately trying to stop the bleeding.
"George, you worry too much!" Jake chuckled.
"One of us needs to! Jake…Jake! Hang on!"
"George…it hurts!" Jake coughed spitting up blood.
"You had better hang on! Don't make me have to tell Allison you died in my arms!"
"Oh…George…I fucked up…she's going to be so mad at me!"
"I'm already mad as hell with you!"
"I'm never going to see my baby girl…she going to grow up never having meet her daddy…."
"Now don't you talk that way! Stay with me…WHERE'S THE FUCKING MEDIC! Come on Jake. Think of Allison. Think of how much you love her. You promised her you would come home. Hang on for her and you will get to hold your baby girl. Jake…JAKE!"
"Dad?"
Jake opened his eyes to see Mark's worried looks.
"Dad, are you ok?"
The vision invoke a strong feeling in Jake about who this George was. He was someone very important to Jake.
"Dad!"
"I'm fine," Jake said, shaking off the vision. This George would have to wait until later when Jake had time to think."Give me a hand. I want to tie them up as quickly as possible before they wake up."
"Who are these guys?"
"Special Forces," Jake answered without hesitation. "Same kind of guys that run black ops missions."
"How the hell do you know that?"
Jake just shrugged his shoulders.
"And I thought you were only a pilot in the Air Force," Mark said shaking his head. "I guess there's a lot about you I never knew. Then when we grew apart, I never wanted to know."
"Hey, there's still a shit load of stuff I don't even know about myself!" Jake said making Mark laugh.
There was a shit load of stuff in that head of his! Only Jake couldn't access it. But at least he finally had a vision of himself that made sense. The memory of a soldier's life was much more preferable to those bizarre unearthly visions he kept having. A soldier's memories reassured him that he wasn't nuts.
Mark was confused when Jake said that they had to check outside. But before following his dad, Mark convinced him to at least get the cut above his eye cleaned and dressed. Jake grumbled about it but allowed Mark to quickly clean the wound and put a Band-Aid on it.
There was no doubt in Mark's mind, Jake was definitely his father! The man had hated to be fussed over, even by his own wife!
And for the first time, in a long time, Mark trusted his father's judgement and didn't argue.
This hadn't always been the case. When Mark was very young he would obey his father and mother like the good boy he was. Then when he became a teenager, he found that he and his father were always arguing. Mark would purposely do things just to piss his father off. Of course, looking back, it was just Mark way of paying his dad back for being gone on long missions or working late at the office.
Then, after his mother died, blaming dad was just easier than dealing with the loss of his mother. The rift had grown even wider between Mark and his father. And poor Sam tried to be the mediator but was never as good0 at it as Allison. There were even a few occasions when Sam turned against dad because he meddled where she felt he had no business. It was unfair, the man only thought he was doing what was right and did the best he could to raise two teenagers on his own.
Thankfully, Mark still had a couple of years before Joseph was a teenager. And Mark did not want to even think about what he was going to have to deal with when Elizabeth was a teenager or a woman!
"This is it," Jake said, opening the back door of a black van.
"How do you know?" Mark asked, stepping beside his father.
Mark got his answer when he looked inside. There were a few assault rifles, handguns and clips of ammo neatly organized in an opened weapons box. Jake didn't hesitate to go inside the van and Mark didn't question why his dad started sifting through the supplies. Mark didn't want to know what his father was thinking! Especially when Jake picked up a syringe and looked really pissed off. Mark had seen his father in full fury before and was glad it wasn't directed at him this time.
"Dad?"
"Why can't I remember?" Jake growled slamming his fist against the inside wall of the van. "Why are they after me?"
Mark remained quiet and still. He wasn't sure what to say that could comfort his father.
"Sorry," Jake frowned, jumping out of the van. "I'm just so fucking frustrated! There is a reason why they're after me! I just wish I knew what that reason was!"
"So…what do we do now?"
Jake rubbed the stubble on his chin.
"Is there room in your garage for the van?"
"Yeah, if I take my car out."
"Do it. I'll drive the van in."
After Jake closed the van's back doors, Mark noticed two men in black suits heading in their direction.
"Dad," Mark whispered, directing his dad's attention towards them.
His father narrowed his eyes, making Mark nervous.
"Just…stay behind me and don't say a word," Jake whispered back. "Good evening gentlemen. Nice night for a walk?"
"General Jacob Carter?" the one on the left asked.
"That depends. Who wants to know?" Jake shot back.
"I'm Agent Barrett, NID," the man said flashing his credentials. "This is Agent Cross. I need you to come with us, Sir."
It all happened so fast, Mark actually had to pinch himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming. His dad was NOT just a pilot! Shit, dad was a regular KICK ASS commando! Mark would swear on his two children's head that he only blinked twice and in that time Jake had both the NID guys unconscious and on the ground!
"Mark, give me a hand!" Jake ordered, as he started dragging Barrett towards the back of the van. "MARK!"
Mark almost felt like he was five again, when he had been afraid of disobeying his father, and jumped to do what his father told him. Together they loaded the two unconscious men in the back of the van.
"Good, now move your car out so I can park the van in your garage," Jake ordered, glancing around the neighborhood.
"I don't think you have to worry about this neighborhood," Mark said. "Most everyone have kids and are in bed before eleven."
"It's not the neighbors that I'm worried about," his father simply said before getting in the van.
To be honest, Mark couldn't handle any more surprises tonight. But he didn't want to tell his father that. His father already had too much on his mind.
Time was running out. Jake had to leave. NOW!
He had to get away from Mark and his family. Remaining with them only put them at risk, a risk that Jake wasn't willing to take. While Mark was upstairs, helping to finish the packing and calming his wife and children down, Jake double check the ropes and made sure that each of his attackers were securely restrained. He made certain that he removed any and all knives or cutting devices they could use to cut their bonds. He even removed cell phones and found car keys in Agent Barret's coat pocket.
It was the strangest thing; Jake knew where each knife was concealed and which vehicle would be the attackers'. Just like he knew how to incapacitate them. He did his best to conceal his surprise because he was just as surprised as Mark. Whatever training Jake had in the Air Force, he learned it well and was well disciplined. Too bad none of this helped to reveal any of his memories.
However, the memories were there, they were just out of reach. Jake could feel he was getting closer to discovering everything. He just needed something to break through the barrier and release them. And he knew that that something was not here in San Diego. Perhaps this George could help him, Jake still wasn't sure.
First, he had to ensure the safety of his family. Rummaging around in the garage, Jake found a few tools for what he had in mind. Then he hurried outside, glad the pills that Mark had given him had taken effect. The rain was falling again. Hard. Good. It would provide good cover for what he was about to do.
After making sure there was no traffic, vehicle or pedestrian, on the street, Jake headed over to a four door black sedan. Again, like with the van, he picked the right vehicle. He quickly removed the government license plates. When finished, he hurried down the block a ways and buried the license plates deep in a trash can. After which, he removed the license plates off a nearby car and ran back to the black sedan. There, Jake put the stolen plates on the sedan.
Jake was counting on the fact that most people were usually too busy trying to get from point A to point B and that the owner wouldn't notice their plates were missing. With normal plates on the black sedan, Mark would be able to move his family to safety. Hopefully he would have enough time to get out of the city, with any luck, much further.
Once the stolen plates were securely in place, Jake made his way back into the house. He handed Mark the keys and told him which car to put the suitcases in. Jake turned to see the kids were sitting on the stairs with their mother. Seeing their wide-eyed faces made Jake angry with himself. He knew he should have listened to his instincts and left when Melissa first drove up. Instead, he allowed his desperation for answers to dictate him, resulting in put his family in jeopardy!
Jake moved to them, holding them both in his lap. Holding them felt…familiar and reassuring. Like it was something he had done before. It was a feeling he didn't want to let go of, so he held them tight and kissed each of them on the top of their heads. Plus, he wanted them to feel confident that everything was going to be fine because he could feel their little bodies trembling.
"I know you're both confused. Maybe even a little frightened," he spoke softly, staring affectionately into their blue eyes and quite aware at how Melissa was keeping a close eye on him. "But I want you to know that everything is going to be alright. Just do as your father says. And I want you to know, even though I just met you, I love you both very much."
"You sound just like grandpa," Elizabeth smiled.
"In away, a lot of him is in me," Jake smiled back. "Now go. Sit with your mother. I need to talk to your father."
Melissa scooped her children back up into her arms and held them close. Jake could see it in her eyes, a question she wanted to ask him. She was an intelligent woman and knew there was something…odd about him.
"Melissa, I am truly sorry," Jake explained. "I never intended for this to happen. I hope you can forgive me."
"Jake…w…"
"It's all done!" Mark announced, interrupting Melissa as he came hurrying through the front door.
"Good, come with me," Jake ordered, leading his son into the kitchen and closing the door so that they could talk privately. "I want you to take your family somewhere safe. A place where you can hide out for a few days."
"I know just the place," Mark nodded.
"Good. Don't take your cell phone, they can trace it. Don't use any credit cards either. Cash only. That way they can't trace you. When you get the chance, change the plates on the car again. And drive the speed limit! The last thing you want to do is draw attention to yourself."
"Ok, what about you? Aren't you coming with us?"
"No," Jake said, shaking his head. "I can't."
"But…where will you go then?" Mark asked, obvious concern in his eyes.
Jake smiled. Mark looked so much like his mother. Only problem was the boy was too much like his father, too damn stubborn to give up.
"Don't worry about me. I know how to fly under the radar…so to speak. I'll be fine."
"But Dad…I just can't leave you! I want to help!"
"I know but you've already helped me. I'm so much closer to unlocking my memories. But I'm a danger to you and your family. I cannot allow you or them to get hurt. I could never forgive myself if anything ever happened to you or them."
"But dad…"
"Son, I've made up my mind. Don't worry, I'll be ok. I can take care of myself."
Mark wasn't happy but nodded in resignation.
"Very, well. Since I can't change your mind about coming with us. I want you to take whatever you need. Clothes…food…whatever," Mark said heading over to the pantry doors and opening them.
Jake watched with curiosity as Mark pulled a coffee can from the back of the top shelf. Then took a step back when Mark pulled out its contents, setting the can on the table.
"Here, Dad, I have about a thousand dollars in here, maybe more…I want you to have it."
"I can't," Jake said. "Mark…"
"Don't worry," he smiled brightly. "Melissa keeps stockpiles around the house, something she's done since the day we got married. I emptied the other ones for our getaway but you need some for yours."
Mark offered Jake the money again.
"Take it," Mark smiled. "Dad, please…you can always pay me back when this is all over with."
Jake reluctantly took the money. Then he quickly embraced Mark because he didn't want his son to see how touched he was by Mark's selflessness.
"Thank you. I will pay you back…I promise," Jake said, feeling his throat tighten.
"I love you dad," Mark said, hugging Jake back.
After a moment they both let go, each man wiping his face quickly to hide their tears.
"Wherever you're going, take this," Mark said, closing the photo album that was on the table. "Maybe the pictures can help unlock more of your memories."
"Thanks, I'm sure they will help," Jake smiled. "And please…don't involve your sister! It's bad enough I dragged you into this mess. I don't want her dragged in too. Besides, I'm sure they'll have her phone tapped soon…if it isn't already."
"Whatever you say, Dad."
"Now go…and…I love you too son."
Mark smiled then slowly walked away but stopped before he reached the door.
"The day you died….you called me. We weren't home but you left a message," Mark said, slowly moving back towards Jake. "It wasn't what you said…but the way you said it…you knew you were going to die. I could hear it in your voice. I got on the first plane to Colorado…but…"
Mark paused to collect himself, wiping away his tears.
"I never got the chance to tell you…I know we disagreed over…well over just about everything. And we didn't get along most of the time. I know now that was because we were too much alike…too proud and too damn stubborn! But I just wanted you to know that I am very proud to be your son."
Jake didn't know what to say so he just hugged Mark has hard as he could before finally sending him on his way. Once he saw his family driving safely away, Jake quickly went back inside and marched into the dining room where his attackers were tied securely to chairs. Five of his assailants were still unconscious. One was watching him carefully.
That one was going to answer Jake's questions. And luck was going Jake's way because he could tell this man wasn't a seasoned soldier. Jake saw the man got a little nervous when Jake pulled out the standard issued .45 he had tucked in the back of his pants. He quickly loaded a bullet into the chamber.
"I'm going to ask a few questions," Jake started in a serious and dangerous tone. "I expect you to answer them! Understood?"
The man didn't respond so Jake slowly cocked the gun and put the muzzle against the guy's thigh.
"Do I make myself clear? Or do I need to put a bullet in your leg to get what I want?" Jake growled through his teeth.
The man quickly nodded, so Jake ripped the duct tape off the man's mouth.
"Who am I?" Jake asked, even though that question was already answered.
"General Jacob Carter, Sir."
"Who sent you after me?"
"Our orders came directly from the Joint Chief's, Sir."
"Why?"
"I don't know, Sir. Our orders were to bring you in unharmed."
"Then who's the NID? Did the Joint Chiefs send them too?" Jake snapped.
"The Air Force wanted to bring you in to protect you from people like the NID."
"Protect me!" Jake shot back. "I don't need anyone's protection! Besides, why turn it into a commando mission knocking down my son's door when you could have just asked me?"
"It was imperative that we get to you first, Sir! Our Superiors had reason to believe that the NID had already contacted you!"
"Why would they?"
"I don't know, Sir!"
"Bull shit! Why should I trust you? Every fiber in my being tells me I can't trust the Air Force or the Government!" Jake roared, pressing the gun hard against the man's head.
"I don't know why they want you, Sir…Oh God…I don't even know why we want you!"
Jake was done. He didn't want to accidentally shoot the man just because he was pissed off. He quickly placed a gag back over the man's mouth and left the room.
Time. Jake needed time. Only he was running out of time. And he needed to think without worrying. He needed answers.
Fifteen minutes after Jake finished the interrogation, he was packed with everything he needed, in dry clothes and heading out the front door. It was almost one in the morning when he drove Mark's car down the street. An hour after that, Jake came to a rest area near the interstate.
After parking the car at a Coffee shop, Jake used the payphone inside the restaurant. He left a message on Tom's voicemail, informing the police officer to check out Mark's house. Then Jake ordered two large cups of coffee to go. While he was waiting for his order he spotted a cigarette vending machine. He had one of those feelings again, so he followed it and bought a pack of cigarettes on his way out the door.
Outside, beside the car, Jake set the coffee down and examined the pack of cigarettes. A few moments later, he opened the package and lit a cigarette. He didn't choke or gag, so smoking was something he did naturally. Anything that felt familiar felt right, so he took another drag on the cigarette. This time he had that feeling like he wasn't supposed to be smoking, as though someone was about to squawk a protest. Just like the feeling that he wasn't supposed to be drinking coffee. However, under the circumstances, Jake didn't have a choice.
It was at least a full day's drive to Houston, so the coffee was a necessity. So was going to Houston. Jake had a strong intense feeling that this George fellow was in Houston.Jake trusted his feelings. Trusting in his feelings and instincts have kept him alive this far, so he wasn't going to doubt them. He had no choice since there was nothing and no one he could trust now that he was alone.
Jake tightened the jacket collar around his neck as a chill went down his spine. The sprinkles started to fall and soon it would be raining again. After putting the cigarette out, he got into the car. He drove around the streets by a few hotels until he found what he was looking for.
In less than five minutes, Jake had switched the license plates of Mark's car with another's. With Texas plates on Mark's car the Highway patrol wouldn't stop Jake. At least, that's what Jake was counting on as he drove East along Interstate 8. It was also his hope to be well across the Arizona border before the authorities started looking for him.
With enough food, that he picked up from Mark's house, in the car the only stops Jake would be making would be for gas and coffee. He had no intention of stopping to sleep. He couldn't afford the risk of being captured. Not now…not ever. Jake now knew that whatever memories were locked in his head were too important to fall into the wrong hands. He just had to figure out who were the good guys and who were the bad.
Melissa looked into the backseat to see her children were finally asleep. An hour driving in the car in silence almost put her to sleep. The silence was her choice. When Elizabeth said that Jake sounded like grandpa, Melissa really started thinking about it.
She didn't know Jacob Carter that well. But she had watched him with his grandchildren and had watched him during the meals at her dinner table. The man loved his grandchildren and played with them. When he ate he had manners and was a gentleman.
Both characteristics Jake closely shared. Perhaps too closely since Jake had never met his father, Jacob. Melissa noticed that Jake seemed to know Joseph's favorite game of super heroes and how Elizabeth loved to hear the story about Peter Rabbit while having a pretend tea party with her dolls. Jake told the story exactly the same way that Jacob did. And Jake even pretended to drink a cup of tea with her too, just like Jacob.
Now, how could he do that unless he met his father and his father had told him?
According to Mark, Jake never met Jacob Carter. And Melissa was smart enough to know that it was too coincidental that Jake sounded and looked a lot like Jacob. There was even a moment where Melissa thought she heard Mark call Jake Dad. However, she must have been mistaken. Besides, Mark would never lie to her. The only possibility was that Jake lied to Mark.
She directed her attention towards Mark. He was still pissed about something. Whatever it was, he was keeping it to himself. Whatever it was must have something to do with Jake too. Melissa needed to know about it…now.
"Mark, what's going on?"
He ignored her but his grip around the steering wheel tightened.
"Mark, tell me now. And tell my why could called Jake Dad!"
He glanced at her. For extra persuasion, Melissa gave him that look which meant she wasn't fooling around. He gave her that smile which meant he understood her. After thirteen years of being together, they didn't always need to speak to understand each other. But instead of talking, he took the next exit off the freeway and pulled into a parking lot.
Mark sighed as he turned the engine off after he parked. She didn't notice before but he had been extremely tense. With that sigh, he finally relaxed.
"I don't know how but Jake…Jake is my father," Mark whispered.
"But how can that be? Jacob died two months ago," she responded, seeing that Mark was deadly serious about what he believed.
"I know. But he died on a top-secret military facility! And I don't have to remind you that they wouldn't even allow me on the base to see him! Hell…by the time Sam surfaced to see me, Dad had already been dead for a couple of hours!"
Mark suddenly got out of the car. Melissa went after him, following him right out the driver's door. She quietly closed the door so as not to wake the children who were still sleeping. Jacob Carter had always been a touchy subject for Mark. A subject Melissa had never been allowed to bring up until the man showed up on their doorstep to make amends with his son. Even then Melissa had to remain quiet because her husband didn't want to discuss his feelings about his father.
If not for the children, Melissa seriously doubted that the rift between Jacob and Mark would have been closed. It wasn't a permanent fix and they still had their fights but at least they kept it civil and away from the children. The children loved Jacob and he loved them. Neither Mark nor Jacob wanted the children to get hurt.
Then when Jacob had called to essentially say his good-byes, by telling them all how much he loved them, she had seen how Mark truly felt towards his father. She had never seen her husband so distraught. He was practically in tears each time he had called the base. And had gotten angrier each time he got Sam's voice mail. Plus, no one else seemed to be able to help him which only pissed him off. It was Melissa that suggested that Mark fly over to Colorado Springs. She even drove him to the Airport.
After all she had seen, Melissa saw that Mark was so much like his father…too proud and too damn stubborn. It was always that damn Carter stubbornness…and both men had loads of it! It made it so difficult for both men to admit how much they loved each other. And they did love each other, Mark especially did love his father.
"Come here," she said, pulling him into her arms.
"I'm sorry," he sighed, returning her embrace. "You do believe me…about Jake being my father?"
"It does explain a lot about what I saw this evening," she smiled, caressing his face.
"We need to call Sam. If something happened to Dad, she would know or would be able to find out."
"I thought you said that we couldn't call Sam…that Jake…Jacob told you not to call your sister."
"I know, Melissa. But Sam is the only one I know who could protect us from these kinds of people. And then she could explain what happened to dad!"
"Mark, please, I don't want to see this rift between you and your sister get any bigger. Look what it did for you and your father."
Mark turned away from her.
"Mark," Melissa said, gently grabbing his face.
"I know! I know! I can't blame her for dad's death! And I can't blame her for me not getting the chance to tell him that I loved him. I had plenty of chances and it was my fault that I waited too long."
"Do you really believe that Jake's your father?"
"Yes," he replied confidently.
"Then it's not too late."
"I know," he smiled. "I already told him."
He wrapped his arm around her waist and led her to her door.
"Come on, let's find a pay phone," he said. "It's the middle of the night, Sam should be sleeping."