Disclaimer: Same as before…. I own nothing

A/N: Thank you for all the nice reviews! I hope to be updating more regularly since school is finally out. cheers Please enjoy this chapter and remember to review!

Chapter 6: Asking a Lot

Jarod drummed his fingers nervously on the steering wheel as he waited for the light to turn red. He had been driving for at least four hours and each mile made his nerves tighter and tighter. What had gotten into his wife? He still could not figure it out. After all these years, Jarod thought he'd known her. Known her every mood and every habit. Apparently, he had been wrong.

The light turned green and Jarod sped down the road, his thoughts keeping speed with the pace of his car. He had a police badge with him, just in case he was pulled over. An excuse as to what he was doing (chasing a criminal) would hopefully get him out on the road faster. All he wanted to do was find Andrea and convince her to come home.

But he couldn't do it alone.

Thirty minutes later, Jarod drove into a friendly-looking neighborhood. It was just before dinner time and he could see kids racing down the streets on bikes, trying to make it home before their mothers got too worried. Jarod smiled as one kid was scolded playfully by his mother for being covered in dirt. Jarod had always wanted kids. Andrea had never been convinced that they needed kids. Why bring children up in this world? And besides, she'd always say, we're underground. What kind of life is that? If we were caught, what would become of them? Jarod had to admit she had a good point. But he still wouldn't back down. Maybe soon he could convince her to have a kid. If he ever found her and brought her back to her senses.

The house was a one-story ranch with blue shutters and a blue door. The rest of the wood paneling was painted a pleasant white. No trees or flowers decorated the front yawn; just plain old grass. The place was seriously lacking a woman's touch. Jarod pulled up into the two car driveway and got out of the car. A warm breezed tickled the back of his neck and children's laughter reached his ears. Andrea had almost wanted to move into this neighborhood but had opted against it because she wanted to be out in the country. Something about the solitude. Jarod could understand, though, what was so pleasing about this place: it was the exact opposite of the place they had all come from.

Jarod rang the doorbell and tried not to look as concerned and upset as he felt. No use frightening him with the unexplained. A man about as tall as Jarod with dark hair, piercing eyes, and a ready smile, answered the door.

"Jarod, how are you? It's been a long time since you've stopped by. How's Andi? How's Catherine? I hope they're all well." Kyle ushered his big brother into the living room. Jarod smiled.

"You've got to get yourself a girl, mate." He mimicked in his best pirate voice. The place was a mess. A few shirts were lying rumbled on the floor and the remains of pizza ordered at least a week ago lay discarded on the table. A few cups and plates decorated the lamp stand and coffee table. The place smelled of sweat, rust, and mold. Kyle followed Jarod's gaze and smiled sheepishly.

"Well, what can I say? I've been busy with work and the like. No time to clean up after myself."

"Which is why you need a wife" Jarod retorted, picking up the clothing and heading for the laundry room. Kyle had always been the messy one of the family. No matter how often Catherine told him to clean his room as a kid, he'd either never do it or just stuff everything under the bed. Catherine's cure for that had been spankings and the duty of poop scooping every week; all to no avail. Kyle was just born to be messy.

"So, what brings you here? Nothing the matter, I hope." Kyle said, looking at his brother with curiosity as Jarod dumped the clothing into the washer. Thought he wouldn't admit it, Kyle could tell something was obviously bothering his older brother. His face was tight and he looked like he hadn't gotten a decent night's sleep. Jarod just sighed as they made their way back to the living room.

"Kyle, we have a problem." Kyle put down the pizza he'd been about to throw away and looked at his brother.

"What's happened? It's not the Centre, is it?"

"Yes and no. Andi woke up two mornings ago not herself. She kept raving about how her mother was supposed to be dead and how she was supposed to be chasing me. She also said something about having a twin brother. It was all very strange. She couldn't even remember what had happened with the Centre and why we were hiding. She went to go think about it, came downstairs, said everything was fine, and the day went on. But, then she disappeared. Left a note saying she needed to go find her real home and that she was sorry to have caused so much trouble. This is just not like her. Kyle, I don't know what's going on. I think she left to go to the Centre. Everything she said seems to point in that direction. I need your help. I know this is asking a lot, but I need you to go to Blue Cove with me to get her back." Kyle started and looked at Jarod with unmasked horror.

"That is asking a lot." He lapsed into silence and then continued. "But, I'd do anything to make sure Andi was safe. I can't believe she'd do something like that."

"Catherine thinks it's because she suddenly discovered that she had a twin brother who was stillborn. But, I'm not too sure."

"What do you think it is?"

"I think, well, this will sound farfetched, but I think that's not Andi. I think she's someone different. Another version of Andi. Maybe she's from an alternate universe and that's why she's acting so weird." Kyle nodded.

"That would make since. But, no one's ever proved that alternate universes really existed. Right?" Jarod slowly shook his head. He hated keeping secrets from his family, but that had been the one subject he had kept hidden from them all.

"No, you're wrong. I hate lying, so I'll come clean. I've been keeping tabs on the Centre and all their projects. Just in case they got it into their heads to come after us again. I remember reading something a few months back about a project called "Portals". From all I could see, it had to do with finding gaps in time. Maybe, just maybe, they found an alternate universe and pulled her here."

"And our Andi is back there?" Kyle questioned, ignoring for the moment his brother's confession. There would be plenty of time to deal with that later. They all knew how dangerous hacking into the Centre mainframe was.

"Maybe. I just don't know. All I do know is that we have to get to Andi before she hurts herself or someone else. Will you help me?" Kyle nodded.

"Yes. We'll find her, big brother. I promise you that."