CHAPTER SIX

"I NEED YOUR HELP."

Jason awoke as the sun was coming up and looked around the strange room in bewilderment, struggling to recall how he had come to be there. It was not until he tried to rise that everything came back to him, along with the nausea caused by his head injury. He went slowly to the door, moving into the hall and passing Frankie's laundry room where he stopped, looking in at the mountain of clothes that had been hurriedly unpacked. On a shelf were his own clothes, now clean and neatly folded. Going in, he exchanged his own clothes for Alex's, which hung from his slender frame. He then went on to empty the dryer and fold its contents, throwing another load of laundry into the wash from the mountain. At least he could repay his host's hospitality in some small way, he thought fuzzily.

The Alterran returned to the hall, peeking into Frankie's room and smiling to himself. Thank goodness, he was in the right place. Closing the door quietly, he continued on, seeing Alex asleep on the couch. This brought another smile to his face. "Still playing hero," he observed before going on to his final destination, this being the kitchen.

Arriving at his objective, Jason looked around, swaying on his feet a moment and catching hold of the counter to keep from falling. Closing his eyes, he drew a deep breath, leaning heavily against the solid (and unmoving) surface. Using the counter for support, he went on to make a pot of coffee and then sat at the kitchen table while it was brewing. Laying his head in his arms, he tried to collect his thoughts. Where was Juris? Was he alright? And where was the Doctor? Why hadn't he waited?

Suddenly realizing he was on the verge of dozing off, Jason jolted awake and sat up. "I need a cup of coffee," he muttered, going on to pour himself a mug full. He then went out onto the back pouch to take in the sunrise, as well as absorb the sun's radiant energy and begin healing himself.

The silence of the still morning was broken when the dryer in the laundry room buzzed, indicating the end of its cycle and waking both Frankie and Alex in the process.

Jason got to his feet, turning in time to see Alex rise and head down the hall. Frankie was already at the guest room door when he arrived. "Alex, he's gone," she gasped, turning back to look at him.

"His clothes are gone, too," Alex confirmed, seeing his own clothes lying where the Alterran's clothes had been.

"They were clean, so I put them on," Jason injected quietly. He gave a weak smile when the startled pair turned to face him.

Collecting herself, Frankie scolded, "You shouldn't be on your feet," and guided Jason to a chair. He sank gratefully into it and leaned his head back, closing his eyes.

Franked gave Alex a steady look before sitting across from the battered stranger. Drawing a deep breath, she asked softly, "How do you feel this morning—Jason?"

"I feel like I've been run over by a truck," came the immediate reply. Hearing Frankie catch her breath, Jason opened his eyes, seeing her staring wide-eyed at him, her hands to her mouth. "What? Do I look like I've been run over by a truck?"

Tears were already welling up in her eyes and Dr. Albert tried to answer but could not.

Puzzled, Jason looked at Alex, the expression on his face puzzling him further. Then he felt dizzy and closed his eyes again, a hand going to his pounding head. "Oh, I feel awful."

Frankie pulled herself together. "I think you've got a concussion."

"No kidding," the Alterran Healer moaned. Opening his eyes again, he gave the two a steady look, saying seriously, "I know I was rambling last night. But…I really do need your help."

"I know, you're a mess," the woman replied bluntly.

"No, not like that. I had someone with me at the reef," Jason began slowly. "And when I finally managed to get out of the cave, he was gone. I think your people must've thought he was Crystal and took him to the Freeland Center."

After an awkward pause, Frankie told him that that was exactly what had happened. She went on to tell him that she had already contacted the Center, giving orders that the "creature" be kept mildly sedated until it had the chance to acclimatize to its new surroundings. (And allow her the chance to see it.)

Grateful, the Alterran thanked her, going on to say, "I've got to find the Doctor too. He wasn't where I left him, either."

"And where did you leave him?" Alex wanted to know.

"On the summit by the Temple."

Seeing the Teggellans exchange a knowing look, Jason said, "What do you know that I don't?"

With a smile, Alex replied, "We probably know where the Doctor is."

"And that is…?"

Alex's smile widened, "In jail."

Alex hung up the phone and turned to Jason, an amused smile on his face. "He's there, alright. Couldn't pay the fine and got two nights in jail."

The Alterran groaned, slumping in his chair.

"Don't worry. I'll get him out," Alex said as he headed for the door.

"Them," Jason corrected, causing the big man to stop short.

"Them?"

"Yes. It's a long story. He has a girl with him. Her name is Ace and…she's a handful." A thought struck him and Jason informed, "Alex, the Doctor won't look like you remember. He's regenerated—changed, so don't let it throw you when he tells you who he is."

Exchanging glances with Dr. Albert, Alex said, "After the last time, why would anything you two do throw me?"

Once Alex was gone, Frankie turned to Jason, seeing a strange faraway look in his eyes. "You're worried about your friend, aren't you?" she asked gently.

"What…?" Jason came out of his daze. "What friend?"

"The one my people took to the Center."

"Frankie, that's my son."

"Your…" The woman beside him sat back, taking this in in amazement. "Your son?" she repeated. She could feel herself becoming very angry and got to her feet. "You have a son?"

"Three, actually."

"How could you?" Frankie demanded.

Jason was justifiably confused. "How could I what?"

"Oh, don't give me that innocent routine, not after the way you…you…"

Realization dawned and Jason groaned, rolling his eyes to the ceiling. He had grown fond of Frankie on his first visit, and had made his attraction to her quite clear. An attraction she had reciprocated before he left. But he was much younger then. And hadn't been married.

"Frankie, sit down," he requested softly.

"I'm not going to—"

"I said sit down," the Alterran monarch commanded, his tone stopping the ranting Teggellan in her tracks. Not knowing why herself, she meekly sat down.

"Now," he began slowly, "first of all, I need to know how long it's been in your time frame since the Doctor and I left this planet."

"In my time frame?" came the bewildered reply.

"Yes. How long since we left?"

"It was two months ago yesterday."

Jason scowled. "Two months? Now that is odd," he muttered. He then went on to explain to the astonished Dr. Albert that, for him, it had been nearly two centuries since their last encounter. When asked how this was possibly, he reminded Frankie that he and the Doctor traveled in time as well as space. As far as they had been able to determine, their original visit had inadvertently been within Jason's personal time line.

"We think we—well, actually, I think I did it, but—an alert beacon went off when the Epsilon Projector was brought on line," the Alterran informed. "We came to shut it down. And then Juris and I got mixed up with your divers." Pausing, he asked, "You're sure it's been two months?"

"Positive. Why?" Frankie wanted to know.

"Well…we were told the signal was first detected about three weeks ago. Even taking into consideration the distance…it shouldn't've taken that long. There are relay points along the way." Jason's head was still pounding and he closed his eyes again, leaning back in his chair and sighing heavily. "I'll let the Doctor sort it all out. He's much better at it than I am. I'm more worried about Juris just now."

"He'll be alright," the oceanographer soothed. "You know my people won't hurt him."

"Yes, I know. It's just…he's not exactly the adventurous type. I'm not sure how he's going to handle this."

In the Freeland Center, Juris was not handling very much of anything. In keeping with the Director's orders, he was kept sedated throughout the night. As with his father's visit, the staff misjudged the dosage and he was able to fight off the effects of the drugs within a few hours. Once he realized what had happened, he thought long and hard on his options and was about to make his escape when he overheard two workers discussing the appearance of the mysterious stranger the night before. Juris felt certain this person had been the Doctor. Surely Ace had seen what had happened and told him. Was he coming to rescue him? If so, than it was possible his father had escaped the cave unharmed. After all, the Doctor wasn't likely to abandon anyone, least of all an old friend…or his son. With this in mind, Juris decided to wait a little longer before making his escape.