Ch 13: Always Remember

Dsiclaimer: Dun own PR!

Miranda turned to Jack. He was staring straight, as if his eyes were hollow. Jealousy enveloped her body. "You haven't gotten over with Sweetney yet?"

Jack's fingers curled into a ball of fists, his heart lurched. "Eat your food, Miranda." Jack said, not bothering to correct her.

"But she doesn't likes you!" Miranda exclaimed.

"God damnit, could you give it a rest?" Jack cursed.

One of them stifled a giggle, "Hey Colonel, god's second name isn't damnit, you know." The rest of the crew laughed.

Jack let out a groan. "There isn't a but and it's none of any of your business anyway. End of conversation." Jack got up and walked towards the co-pilot seat. Miranda shot him a look of ice cube daggers. Doesn't she mean anything to him, at all?

One of the men chuckled. "Not now, Mir, give Jack more time." The giggles grown into roars of laughters as Miranda glared at them through seething eyes.

XXX

"Okay, time for confession, Sky." Z stormed into the command center, her eyes flashing at Sky accusatively.

Sky asked casually. "What's that supposed to mean this time?"

"Nice try, Sky."

"What?" Sky turned around having his curiosity usurped. He stared at Z's disheveled look, her unkempt hair sticking in all places and she was still in her pajamas.

"Tell me, why did Syd swap her duties?" Z caught Sky staring at herself and she couldn't help looking at her reflection through the glass panels.

She rubbed her face. "Sorry, I wasn't thinking. I should have showered and dressed in my officer's suit before coming out to confront you. But that isn't the point. For the second time, why did Syd swap our duties?"

She swapped her duties? Okay, so it was his fault but she hadn't exactly given him a chance to explain yet. Explain what, Sky? Tell her that I'm such a jackass and I don't mean it? That's crazy!

Z raised her brows, drumming her fingers impatiently on the tabletop.

"Ask her, why do you come to me?"

"Because, she doesn't want to tell me."

"Where is Syd now?"

"Somewhere. She expressed herself clearly to me that she doesn't want to be disturbed and that includes you as well."

"I'm going to have to look for her." With that excuse hanging in the air, he escaped out of the door.

Watching him leave and thinking about Sydney, Z was tempted to follow. What was going on with the people in the academy, coming and leaving as they liked. Jack—her brother had actually left without a goodbye and Sydney was crying her hearts out. Z threw both her hands in the air, man, she give up and headed back to bed.

XXX

Sydney gazed across the moors, at the sea grassed blowing in the wind, the trees dark against the slate sky, the tall white lighthouse a beacon even in this thin October daylight. She heard the rhythmic wash of the breaking waves.

Sydney watched as Baby scuffled ahead happily.

Jack had left already, quietly this time. She stood at the exact spot where she had previously stood. Jack and hers secret spot. Ever sincehe had caught her in the arms of Sky, she had not spoken a wordto Sky the whole of yesterday and today.

But right now, standing here, listening to the waves and whispering trees, Sydney began to wonder what or whom she was mad about.

Again and again, she had hoped her memory would return soon. Right until today, she hadn't had much improvement except moments of quick flashbacks and it was gone before she could capture them.

"Please don't be angry on days I do not remember you, and we both know they will come know that I love you, that I always will..."

Suddenly an odd chill raced through Sydney, and she thought, for just a moment that she heard a noise. Someone was watching her, she could almost feel it. The figure shifted.

She turned to her back slowly when an almost familiar, chilling voice said, "Sydney dear, let me help you."

She twisted behind and saw—an old man with white hair glanced at her with a look of contempt in his eyes.

"Who are you?" Sydney asked and felt she had seen him before.

"I am Dr. Barkley. Syd, let me help you."

Sydney backed away quickly. "No, don't come near me."

As she moved backward, Dr. Barkley took several strides towards Sydney. Now her panic deepened, constricting her throat until she could barely speak.

She hated him, she knew it deep down in her heart that this man was an evil monster. But she couldn't remember the sordid details.

Oh no, where was Baby? Sydney shivered in spite of the warmth of the sun. As she stared, she loses her balance and fell. At the same time, a tall figure loomed above her body and caught her in his arms before she hit the floor.

"Sky." Sydney blinked her eyes, relieved.

"Shhhh… I'm here." Sky held her in his arms then set her down carefully. Sydney moved and hid behind his big, solid body.

"Make him go, Sky." She pleaded.

As Sky coaxed her, the figure turned to leave quietly. Sky watched the old man left. He wasn't that old, probably between forty to fifty. But Dr. Barkley doesn't as odd or weird to Sky. He seemed like an ordinary enough man. But then again, looks can be deceiving.

"It's okay, Syd. He's just left."

"Don't leave me alone, Sky. At least until Dr. Barkley leaves here."

"Don't worry Syd, you are safe for as long as I'm here."

XXX

TBC-Pls R&R!