Keeper of His Heart
Chapter 13
"Shane…What are you doing here?" Of all the people she was expecting to see, it wasn't her mentor. Wasn't he out of town visiting his mother? Why was he back so soon?
"So, it's true then." Shane ignored her question as he stepped fully out of the dingy cupboard while dusting himself off. He was dressed in the same outfit as last night when Sam had seen him off. He glanced pointedly at her green catsuit. "You've deflected."
"Terence told you then." She replied coolly, looking at him regretfully with wary eyes. Mentor-like-figure or not, they were on opposite sides now.
"He did." Shane confirmed. "And I must say I'm disappointed Sam. You were doing so well under Terence…Why switch? What did O.R.A.I.C tell you that made you trust them so?" His tone was soft, level but firm.
Sam scoffed, folding her arms across her chest in a defensive posture. "They told me the truth." She stated simply.
"The truth?" Shane cocked his head to the side.
"That I was a former W.O.O.H.P agent. That the explosion one year ago was done by Terence, and not by W.O.O.H.P." As she ticked off each item, her voice crackled with simmering anger.
Shane's facial expression morphed from disappointment to understanding, with a tinge of regret. The older man took a step forward. "Sam…"
"No." She took an immediate step back. The hurt in her eyes was so strong that it was overflowing. "You knew…And you didn't tell me. I trusted you Shane! I even saw you as my mentor! How could you!"
"Sam listen to me…I can explain." Shane reached out an arm to her, flinching as the young woman recoiled away.
"But you know what's the worst part?" Sam pressed on, barely able to prevent her tears from falling. She snatched the manila folder off the table and held it up as evidence. "The fact that someone like you could erase my memories and then act all kind and supportive towards me." She finished bitterly.
"Erase your memories?" Shane was visibly startled at first, but he understood immediately when he saw the words on the file she was holding. "No…Sam, you've got it all wrong!" He protested instantly.
"How do you live with yourself Shane?" Sam shook her head. She was getting the notion that the older man standing before her was suddenly more like a stranger, than the mentor which she looked up to. It made her queasy.
"Sam, if you'll just give me a chance to explain-"
The young woman cut him off once again. "You had your chance to explain things Shane, multiple times over the past seven months." Sam's face hardened as she took on a fighting stance. "You don't have to explain anything."
Her mentor's eyes widened in resignation as he took in her fighting pose.
I'm sorry it must come down to this Shane. She thought.
But the duo's stare off was broken a moment later, when Tim burst in through the door.
"What on earth is going on here?" He demanded. Sea-foamed eyes alternated between looking at Sam and the other man in the room (whom he recognized as Shane Morris from the photographs). Tim immediately crossed the gap between him and Sam and took on a defensive, protective stance.
Neither Sam nor Shane cocked a head in his direction. Sam was too busy glaring daggers at her mentor, while Shane returned with a piercing look on his own.
"Well?" Tim raised his voice a notch when his demands were ignored. "And how on EARTH did you get in anyway?" His second question was directed at Shane. "O.R.A.I.C agents have been watching the base since last night." Sea-foamed eyes watched Shane warily.
"He was just about to get arrested, by me." Sam voiced out at last. Hostility punctuated her every word. "As for your second question, I'll really like to know that too." Once again, Sam crossed her arms, tapping her foot against the stone floor while waiting for the response.
Shane opened his mouth to say something, then appeared to ponder about his decision, and closed his mouth again. This happened a few more times before he finally sighed heavily. The older man ran a hand through his grey hair in frustration.
"There's a false backing in the oak cupboard here." He muttered reluctantly. "It opens up to a secret passage."
Sam and Tim traded looks, having a conversation with their eyes. Tim walked over to Shane, whipped out his handcuffs, and cuffed the man's hands behind his back. The O.R.A.I.C agent held Shane's hands firmly behind.
Sam on the other hand, bypassed the pair, her destination the cupboard which Shane had emerged from earlier. A quick but thorough examination revealed the sliding panel which the older man had been talking about. Sam turned and sent Tim a nod. The passageway that laid out in front of her was so dark that she could barely see a thing. But it looks like there was another way out of the base…Tim had been right.
"Where does this lead?" Tim asked Shane harshly. His grip tightened slightly, as if to remind the scientist who was in charge.
"To the other end of the forest, along Cullington lane. We only use this passage to transport the chemicals and other equipment I need."
"Are there any other passageways in this base that I don't know about?" Sam's cutting voice asked, her lips thinning into a firm line.
"No... This is the only one." There was no doubt in Tim and Sam's minds that Shane was telling the truth.
It only took a moment for Tim to contemplate the situation in all its' entirety before he made his decision.
"Stay here until I get back. Don't go exploring that tunnel alone." He told Sam sternly with a pointed look.
With an inkling of what Tim was about to do, Sam could only give a deflated nod.
The O.R.A.I.C agent turned his attention to the criminal before him. "Shane Morris, you are now officially under arrest. You have the right to remain silent, but anything you say can and will be used against you in the code of law…" One of Tim's hands pressed on the scientist's shoulders, while the older kept a continual hold on his handcuffed hands. "Let's go."
Sam let out a deep breath, closing her eyes unwittingly. The sight before her was too much for her to bear. Criminal or not, Shane had been her mentor after all. He had cared for her, taken her under his wing and treated her like a real person. She could not simply ignore that.
I'm sorry Shane…She thought, hating how she knew she could not, would not anything about the situation.
"Sam…listen to me! It's not what you think! We never used the memory serum against you, I swear! It was all an accident!" Shane's tone became increasingly frantic, but he never physically protested as Tim lead him out of the room.
Once she was sure that she was once again alone, Sam opened her eyes and slumped heavily against the lab table. Her head was pounding, she was confused, and so so tired…
Her fingers brushed against the manila brown folder left on the table. Sam chewed on her lower lip while staring motionlessly at the folder's label, written in the hauntingly familiar script.
Memory Serum.
She did not want to believe it, but all the evidence was laid out so perfectly in front of her that it was hard to ignore the truth.
What on earth is in that memory serum? Did it screw up my memories for good? Is that why I only have fragments, but my memories don't return no matter how hard I try? She had so many questions, but no answers. And a small part of her was afraid to uncover those answers.
"Sammy?" Sam snapped out of her musings when a voice called her name.
Sam turned to see Clover wander into the room, her baby blues taking in the well-furbished laboratory.
"Wow, the last time I've seen a detailed and well-stocked lab like this was back in college." Clover said, nodding her head in approval.
Sam took her friend's momentary distraction to wipe off any traces of negative emotions off her face. With an impassive look, she wandered over to her friend, spy boots making regular clonking noises as she crossed the stone floor.
"I saw Tim escort Shane Morris out of the base…He didn't hurt you, did he?" Clover asked.
Sam shook her head. "He didn't. Apparently, he came in from another secret passage," she gestured to the open cupboard door. "I don't think he was expecting us to infiltrate the base. He got startled and hid but came out when he saw it was me."
"Another secret entrance huh." The blonde mused curiosity. Together, the pair walked over to the cupboard.
"Why wasn't Shane Morris with Terence and Wayne Franklin though? I would have thought all three of them would be together…"
"He went out of town last night to visit his sick mother. Probably rushed back on Terence's orders." There was a defensive edge in her voice.
"Oh…explains a lot." Casting another curious look at the dark tunnel, Clover removed her shoulder pack and started rummaging through it. Moments later, she pulled out a torchlight in triumph.
Sam's eyes lit up at the sight of the torchlight.
"Well Sammy?" Clover sent her best friend a wink and a smirk that rivalled Tim's. "Up for some exploring?"
Sadly, Clover and Sam's exploring yielded nothing; it was just an ordinary tunnel that led out to the other end of the forest near a warehouse, as what Shane had told them. There were no footprints, tracks, or any clues whatsoever that could help them. Disappointed, the duo retraced their steps back into Shane's laboratory and broke the somber news to Alex and Tim.
One hour later, the team of O.R.A.I.C agents cleared out of the underground base. Despite the lack of clues in the second secret passage, they had nonetheless collected some notable files of interest, particularly from Shane's lab. It was truly a stroke of luck for them that Shane Morris had yet to clear out his stuff. The information could be the tipping point they had been looking for.
Jerry had long ago left with Agent Penny's team, along with Shane Morris in tow. That left the group of four with two cars to get back to O.R.A.I.C headquarters.
"Ride back to H.Q. with me Sam?" Tim asked casually. It was a simple, innocent question, but it caused Alex and Clover to trade knowing looks and smiles.
"Err, sure." She replied uncertainly, suddenly feeling nervous. Twenty minutes in a car with Tim? It was not like she minded, but what on earth was she going to talk about with him for twenty minutes?
"Go ahead Sammy. I'm sure Tim would like the company throughout the drive. We'll see you back in H.Q." Acting nonchalant, Clover waved her friend off.
Left without any other option, Sam followed Tim to his car in apprehension.
He chivalrously opened the passenger door for her. She smiled absentmindedly in thanks before climbing in.
In no time at all, the pair set off for headquarters.
The atmosphere in the car was rather awkward. It was the first time since last night's revelation that they were alone together for a significantly longer period. Both sides had something to say but didn't know where to begin.
Tim was the first one to clear his throat, breaking the tense silence. "Are you okay?"
Sam glanced at the man in the driver's seat with some surprise. "I'm fine. Why?" She replied carefully.
Tim caught her eye for a second before reverting his gaze onto the road. "Nothing much. Just that I saw how Shane's arrest affected you earlier." Her emotions had been easy to read; everything was written on her face like an open book. Tim could tell that Sam's relationship with Shane was different from the one she had with Wayne and Terence.
Sam huffed out in despair. An image of her mentor came into her mind, of his kind eyes and soothing words.
"He was the only one out of the three of them that ever showed any form of genuine concern for my wellbeing." She finally said. "He took care of me, chatted with me, and taught me a lot. I see him like a mentor."
Tim remained silent, but he was listening.
"I guess it kind of rankled, seeing someone I respect being arrested. But I know that it can't be helped either." She sank back into her seat, allowing her head to rest heavily against the headrest.
"I'm sorry." Tim stated.
"You don't have to be." She smiled sadly, avoiding his occasional gaze by looking out of the window. "It's the right thing to do."
There was another short lull of silence before Tim spoke again. "Jerry arrested me personally once." That statement was enough for her to turn her head to look at him fully.
"When I officially betrayed W.O.O.H.P and started working for the other side. I will never forget the level of hurt, betrayal and raw emotion on his face when he had to arrest me. But he still did because it was the right thing to do. He was my mentor, still is actually. But that day, it actually hurt to see him hurting. I guess what I'm trying to say is…I know how you feel."
"I'm sorry." Sam didn't know what else to say. It mustn't be easy for someone like Tim to share such a shameful part of his past.
It was as if the ice had broken between the two of them, forming a bridge of trust instead. Sam suddenly felt the urge to share what was truly on her mind with Tim.
"I found a file in Shane's lab just now…" Even without taking the file out from her backpack, she could visualise the cursive script of the two words that had changed her life forever. "It was labelled Memory Serum."
Tim responded with an ahh, easily recalling the cryptic words that Shane Morris had said when he had escorted the older man away. Those words had stuck with him for the rest of the duration where they were at the underground base. Hoping to get a clarification of his doubts, it was one of the reasons why he had asked for Sam to hitch a ride with him back to Headquarters.
Now that she had broached the subject, Tim had a stronger sense of where this conversation was going. However, he didn't push the topic, allowing Sam to continue her story at her own pace.
"There was a…patent in there, and an agreement that authorized Shane to have some of the serum… And a description of it…I think, I think I was injected with the memory serum." She verbalised the words that she didn't want to admit out loud. A fresh wave of emotions welled up within her and she chewed on her lip to keep the tears from coming.
Without any warning, Tim pulled over to the side of the road. It was done so smoothly that she barely registered what was happening. One strong, calloused hand landed gently on her shoulder. A silent comfort she needed.
The other arm reached over to hand her a piece of Kleenex.
Sam took the Kleenex emotionally, no longer able to contain her sniffles. That simple gesture by Tim was enough to break down the strong façade she was displaying. She dabbed her face with the Kleenex, choosing to look out of the window instead of the man that was eying her with concern.
Too many thoughts were flying through her mind, making her head pound. She was worried, frustrated and feeling lost as to what to do next.
What if there is no antidote for the serum? What if my memories are gone for good?
After a couple of minutes, Sam took a deep breath to stabilize herself. "Thanks Tim." She whispered hoarsely, managing a small smile.
"There's no need to thank me." He answered. "Memory serum or not, we'll support you through this Sammy. You're not alone now." And he meant it. Sam had Clover, Alex, Jerry, and himself now. No matter what had happened to her, and what would happen in the future, they were going to be there for her.
Let them try to stop me. I've lost her once; I'm not going to lose her again.
Her heart warmed and yet another rush of emotions-this time 100% positive- shot through her system. She smiled again, this time a sincere one.
On impulse, she leaned over to press a chaste kiss to his cheek.
"Thank you, Tim." She whispered as she pulled away. It was all that she needed to say, for he understood the subtext behind her words perfectly.
When her soft, pale pink lips met his cheek, no matter how short it was, it had surprised him (and left him yearning for more) He had intended to take things slow, aware that her lack of memories might make things awkward for her. But it looked like Sam felt something between them as well.
Despite the situation, the sides of Tim's lips curled up, and his eyes sparkled.
And it remained that way for the rest of the journey back to O.R.A.I.C.
Jerry met them at the main entrance of O.R.A.I.C Headquarters. It looked as if he had been waiting for them for a while. His furrowed brows eased up somewhat upon spotting them, and he walked over to them with large strides.
"Thank goodness you two are back." Although his words appeared to be addressing the both of them, Jerry's eyes were focused on Sam.
"What's up Jerry?" Sam picked up the urgency in Jerry's tone immediately.
"Is it Shane Morris?" Tim could not think of any other reason why his boss might be frazzled.
"Yes, it is." Jerry sighed in frustration. "We brought him back, but he refused to say a thing." Jerry's warm eyes met Sam's emerald ones. "He says that he will only speak with you."
"No." Tim's response was immediate. "I'm not letting her speak to him alone." Sea-foamed eyes were ablaze with strong, protective emotions.
Both Jerry and Sam snapped their heads at Tim, the former's features schooled in an expression of surprise (and some beratement), while the latter was one of slight disapproval.
"I'll speak to him." Sam replied Jerry's question.
Tim turned his attention to his boss. "You can't leave him alone with her! He injected her with a memory serum causing her to lose her memories! I don't trust him."
"Memory serum?" Jerry's eyebrows shot up in astonishment at the words.
Ignoring Sam's attempts to cut in, Tim quickly filled his boss in.
"I see where you're coming from Tim." Jerry said gravely. "But Shane might have vital information we need."
"Exactly what I was going to say." Sam added on pointedly. "I know you're worried about me Tim." Her gaze softened as she watched the man before her. "But I can take care of myself."
"I still don't like it though." Tim muttered grudgingly. His protective instincts had been on haywire ever since he discovered Sam's true identity. He couldn't afford to lose her again, not after all he had to go through to get her back.
"If it helps, I need someone to guard over the meeting room anyway." Jerry spoke up nonchalantly. The head of O.R.A.I.C shelved his worries of the memory serum away and was glancing back and forth at the duo with interest. Even after knowing Tim Scam for so many years, he had never seen this side of Tim before. The protective front the younger man was displaying was somewhat endearing and amusing. Never had Jerry imagined that Tim could behave in such a way.
"So, there you go." Sam acknowledged Jerry's point with a firm nod of her head. "Don't worry Tim. It's Shane. He's like my mentor. He wouldn't hurt me." She stated, glancing at him with confident eyes.
"And even if he does, you'll be close by to stop him."
She chose the moment to intertwine their fingers together and giving his hand a short squeeze. Tim lowered his head, trying to regain control over his emotions. Finally, he gave a slight, almost unperceivable nod.
Glad that they were all on the same page (and also because he was beginning to feel like a third wheel with the duo's intense eye contact), Jerry lead them to the meeting room.
Apologies for the delays in updating everyone! I am swamped with work and can barely get much time to write as it is! Please be patient with me!
I'm always thankful for all of your reviews, feedback etc. Thanks to Cresenta, Sammi, Guest and Musin for reviewing! I'm glad to see that everyone is enjoying it.
Take care everyone, and I promise to try to update ASAP. (fingers crossed!)
Until next time,
TrixieNancy