Notes: Looking for a Beta if anyone is interested. Won't have any type of schedule to updates, i will upload when I can. Shoot me a comment if you see any errors or if you there is any part you like. Thanks
Garland would have paid good money to see Audrey Parker visit the local moose farm. The thought amused him all the way to Gloria's Cafe to pick up his lunch. He was in such a good mood he decided to sit down and eat, instead of heading back to the station.
He had only been seated a few minutes when Eleanor Car slide into the seat across from him.
"Jeez, why do you sit in these things. Ya know the tables are much easier to get in and out of." Were the grumblings that cam out of her mouth.
"Well hello to you too. It must be one of those mornings where people forget that we come from a civilized society." After knowing Eleanor for as long as he had, he somewhat abrasive personality had long since given him a pause. That didn't mean he wasn't above teasing her about it.
"No need to get snippy with me Garland. I thought you were back smoking again?" She replied not looking at him busy digging through her bag she had placed on the table.
He scowled at her, she was the one getting snippy.
"I'm not-. Did Dave put you up to this because I'll have you know that what I put in my body is my business, I don't go around telling that old-timer what to put in his. Just last week he was off drinking a peanut butter and jelly milkshake over at Joe's. Do you know how many calories are in that thing? It's practically all sugar." Really what kind of coffee shop serves milkshakes?
Eleanor stared at him silently eyebrows raised head slightly tilted to the side. Her red hair stood out brightly against the blue decor of the cafe's interior. It was her judging face, usually it wasn't directed at him. He doesn't really like that it is now.
"What?" It was a valid argument, she didn't have to look at him like that.
"You are starting to sound more like those busy-bodies every time we talk."
He would deny that the noise he made sounded anything like a squawk. He regained his composure to glare across the table at his longtime friend & colleague.
His next bite of sandwich might have been a little harder than necessary.
"Hmm, well I was just saying… No, oh well moving on. I have something of importance to talk to you about. It concerns the damage that happened at the Rust Bucket this morning."
He gave her a go on signal with his hand then he reached for his coffee to wash his food down. She eyed his cup skeptically and he scowled at her.
"It was a trouble that caused the damage, right?" She hadn't lost the disapproving look at his caffeine fix as she asked the question. What she didn't complain about the cigarettes, but she had a problem with his coffee. He couldn't win with these people.
"Yea, so."
"Then that's probably going to be a problem. Hanna Driscoll mention to me that she has been working there. You know, one of her odd jobs she takes." He really didn't know, honestly he would be glad to never have to deal with anymore Driscoll drama.
"So, I called to check in with her and it turns out the Rev. was over at the bar last night. This trouble has practically thrown itself in front of the Rev. I don't think we can keep him from knowing that the Troubles are back for much longer." She reached over a took one of his fries then popped it in her mouth.
He grunted, and absently turned his plate so she could get better access to the fries.
It was inevitable, he knew, to keep the anti-trouble community in the dark forever. but he had hoped for Audrey to be more knowledgeable before they became a real problem.
"How long do you think before old Ed finds out for sure?" He was running through different scenarios and trying to figure which of his contingency plans he needed to run.
"Depends on the Trouble doesn't it. Do you know whose it is?"
Garland scratched his chin.
"Nope, at this point it could be anyone. The only clue we have is that they have ties to both the Rust Bucket and the Good Shepherds Church. We both know that list isn't short. The only thing we know about the trouble is that it affects the environment somehow, not just themselves. And while it rules out some people there is a lot of unknowns. That's why I put Nathan and Audrey on the case. They'll figure it out."
"Hmm…" Eleanor reached over and stole his pickle.
"Ah, come one Ellie! Not the pickle I wanted that." He complained as she continued to eat the pickle spear with no guilt what's so ever.
"Why are we even friends. You complain about my choice of seating. Complain about my coffee. Now you're eatin my food. Go get your own and buy me a pickle." She of course ignored him like he hadn't said anything. Women.
"It's probably best that we expect the worst plan for him finding out in the next few days. Do you think he will come after Vince and Dave again?" She actually seemed concerned.
"No I doubt it, he did plenty of damage last time and truthfully he doesn't even blame the brothers they were just convenient target for his rage and grief last time. Honestly it would be a good thing if he did. Then we could throw him behind bars before he could stoke any of the fires."
He ate some more of his sandwich as she sat there thinking it over.
"You're the one that's been Hanna's contact to Gwen. What do you think?"
"Man, still bitter as ever. Although Hanna still believes in the goodness of her father's heart. I don't think she is ready to give up on that relationship unless something drastic happens. That worries me a little." She was looking at her hands a frown on her face.
Garland knew she cared about Hannah and Penny, but he though the situation was entirely too complicated,
"I understand why you thought it was necessary Eleanor, but I don't like any of that business with the Driscolls. We all do things that fall across the line when it comes to Troubles. The Reverend and Penny, was something we could have handled according to the law. You tied my hands going behind my back the way you did with Penny and Cole."
Eleanor face was serious as she looks across the table at him. They had many disagreements over the years, but this was the one that lasted and returned repeatedly. Both parties believing they were in the right of it. At least she didn't defend her actions this time, but he knew she also wasn't sorry for them either. With a sign Garland decided to move on.
"I guess that means I need to make an appointment with Brody." Eleanor's face showed the distaste he felt at the idea. Unfortunately, the man was essential to the protection of the Troubled.
He placed the remaining portion of his sandwich down on the plate and pushed it away from himself. His fleeting apatite lost, with the stress of the conversation.
"Okay chief, what do you need me to do?" She was determined, steady. There was the face of one of his oldest friends. He had been sad when her and Vince ended their marriage.
"For now, nothing. I will let you know as soon as that changes, which we both know it will." She scrunched her face in agreement. Before arranging her purse over her shoulder.
She slides herself to the end of the table and Garland reached out with his hand to snatch hers before she moved away.
"Thanks Eleanor, I wouldn't want to do this without you." The smile she gave him was full of affection and her hand came out to briefly touch his cheek and he tried not to let himself lean into the touch too much. He missed his Elizabeth more with every passing year.
"What are old friends for." With one last smile she was out the door. Leaving him alone with the remnants of his meal and his chaotic thoughts.
With a sign he heaved himself out of the booth. Making a mental note to sit at a table next time. He was getting to old to be sliding around these bench seats.
It was time to get back to work.
"What did I ever do to you to deserve this punishment man." McHugh complained from where he was holding a broken strap.
Dwight rolled his eyes at the man's whining. He wouldn't be McHugh if he couldn't find something to complain about.
"You're fine. Why don't you go get the extra strap from the van so that we can tie this thing to the forklift and get it out of here." His lips twitched as he listened to the grumblings get farther away.
"Why isn't Conrad here. Isn't this-." he waves he waves his hands to encompass the damaged shell that remains of the Rust Bucket. "His usual gig."
"He took the week off. Took Marion away somewhere to relax and acclimate to her Trouble."
McHugh huffed in reply and Dwight went over to help him get the giant five-ton ball secured enough for them to get in onto the flatbed trailer.
"You have to admit that it's ironic that the Rust Bucket was done in by a giant rusted ball."
"Yea real ironic." Dwight dead-paned back. He had missed working alongside his childhood friend. Even if he did talk too much.
"Hmm. you know this is a good location in town, plus the two apartments in back; It could be really nice place." Dwight finished tying off his end and looked over at McHugh who was surveying the bar.
"You want to buy a bar? I thought you didn't want to have to deal with people anymore?" He could feel his eyebrows rising in surprise because he could tell that McHugh was serious.
"Well, I mean it might be nice having a business of my own. I could deal with people on my terms, kick whomever I want out. Plus, Lacie been complaining about places to play her music since she moved here."
"And what you really want your nineteen-year-old sister playing in a bar?" McHugh made a face at him, like he thought Dwight was being obtuse.
"It would be my bar, it would be perfectly safe for her." It came out a little defensive
"You don't even know that Otis is selling the place anyways. He could decide to rebuild." Dwight replied as he went man the forklift.
This time the straps held, and they were able to get the ball onto the moving trailer.
"You really need to get out man, everyone in town knows Otis is up to his eyeballs in debt. Wouldn't put it past the bank to seize the property after this little incident." He twirled his fingers at the gaping hole in the wall. "Bet she comes back on the market cheap. Probably all I would have to do is take over the existing loan." He's rubbing his hands together in excitement.
"You are a giant gossip, you know that right."
"Says the hermit. You even have the hair for it." His hands pointing at his own bare shoulders, his face mocking. Dwight liked his hair, it wasn't even that long.
"Shut up and get back to work." If he could keep him from talking, they might actually get this job finished today. He was starting to miss Conrad.
"Sure, thing Boss." He could hear McHugh's snickers as he headed to the cab of the truck.
Garland Wuornos hated politics. He was a straightforward kind of man. That's why he had become a cop, like his father before him. The subterfuge he did find himself in was only that which was necessary for the protection of the people of Haven; simple as that. There was none of this secret agenda bullshit that came hand in hand with politicians.
Yet her he was, being ushered into the Mayor's office for the appointment he had scheduled just that morning. A certain amount of Politicking came from being the chief, but not usually to this extent.
"Chief Wuornos, I'm glad you could make it." Richard Brody greeted from the chair behind his desk. "I think it is past high-time for us to start meeting regularly. Don't you?" He hadn't turned his chair around and instead looked out onto the town's square that was laid out below the window.
"Mayor Brody." He was probably right about the meetings, but Garland didn't feel the need to acknowledge that fact.
"Seems like we are entering the upswing of the troubles." Garland Continued. "You probably know that Audrey Parker arrived a week ago." He paused as he sat himself in one of the extremely comfortable visitors' chairs. "Edmond Driscoll got involved this morning it seems, won't be long till he creates a mob." He rubbed at the bridge of his nose wishing for a cigarette.
"There is always someone around to cause us more problems. How long before the anti-trouble community gather together behind Driscoll?" The man's voice was hard not the usual jovial façade he presented to the town.
"It's not really my area. Eleanor thinks The Reverend will know in a few days, give him a day or two after that to get himself out of the bottle to morn Penny. Then his campaign will begin. I think it will take longer to garner some real support not until the Troubles start becoming deadly and more widespread. So far, we have had a handle on most of the incidents, fear hasn't started spreading outside the Trouble community."
Why don't we go sit outside? Got a new brand of cigars I am itching to try. Friend form Washington sent them to me: Regius Pressed Perfecto. Perfect for the long discourse ahead of us.
"That sounds good to me." Richard hands out the cigars, grab a stack of notes and the two of them head out to the balcony. They settle in next to each other but not close looking out over the town.
"Tensions are about to racket up. Though you could use the warning, to work your magic." Garland muttered around the hot smoke that pour out of his mouth from the freshly lite cigar.
A huff of laughter comes from the Mayor.
"Since she's back I think it's time that we start weekly meetings; you me Vince and Jess Minion."
"Minion, you think that's a good idea to include her."
"Now, I know you think she's a little radical Garland, but I think we need to hear from the neutral parties in this. Jess minion is a great resource, she has a good chunk of the populations Toubled ear and when it comes down to a crisis situation, she will definitely be a boon to have. Plus, as much as you consider yourself neutral in this you are a cop you have been friends with Vince Teagues for years and you were directly involved with Lucy Ripley. We need someone there who isn't going to wage war over Audrey Parker. Someone a little more removed."
Garland didn't particularly like that idea, but he could see the merit in it. He wasn't overly fond of the Minion girl, that was true she was very vocal about things she didn't like and wasn't against rubbing people the wrong way.
"Since when are you on first name basis with the girl?" He prodded.
The glare the mayor turned on him had the added bonus of making experience a swooning feeling a split second before it passes when the mayor looked away.
"Chris and her started dated a few months back, I'm surprised you haven't heard. It's not been a secret Chief." Brody was angry, that was clear in the way he spoke clipped and at a slightly higher pitch.
Garland really couldn't care less. He didn't hide the fact that he didn't like Brody. They had a fight the last time the troubles were around about consent. He didn't think the women Brody had affairs with were able to say no to his Charm trouble. They had broke out into a fist fight last time he had brought it up.
"Hmm. Guess I have more important things to deal with then idol gossip."
Jess Minion wasn't Troubled, not anymore, her family hadn't been troubled in generations. That didn't keep her out of the middle of this mess. She also had resources that Garland couldn't really get.
Well Vince definitely would hate it more than Garland, plus she might be a hippie, but she cared about people, troubled or not.
"Vince is definitely going to hate it. He will try to push Dave as a neutral party."
"Not going to happen. While the Brothers might not see eye to eye in everything, they have more secrets we could possible hope to imagine. Dave will never truly stand against Vince, they may bicker, they may act against each other on certain issues, but they always come back to one another. We could include Dave, might get a little more information that way."
Garland hummed in reply. He doubted the idea. The brothers rarely went against each other in public mostly went behind the others back and handed off information.
"Would Eleanor wish to join?"
"Nope, she prefers being the man on the street. Why do you think she works as an EMT rather than a trauma surgeon?"
Brody waves his hands in agreement, garland catches from his peripherals.
"Okay so the four of us. I'll bring information from my network and so on. You schedule a time I'll be there." Garland spoke relaxing back into his chair, taking a deep draw form the cigar. He usually wasn't picky about his sources of nicotine, but every once in a while it was nice to indulge.
"Good. So, I heard that they think they got another serial killer down in Boston."
Not one to back down from a fight, Audrey Parker straitened her jacket as she headed to the chief's office. Where just a few moments before he had stuck his head out of door and beckons her into his office. She wouldn't categorize the expression on his face as displeasure Simply because that seemed to be his habitual resting face.
She walked into the office and sat down in front of his desk.
"Well if it isn't Officer Agent Parker." She flushed red in embarrassment. She had forgotten small town gossips mills.
"Well it seems you are in the middle of quite a bit of fuss in this quiet town. Hmm. Pulling Fire alarms, getting in fights with reverends. Seems to me you don't know how to walk softly Agent Parker... Tell me at least we closed the case, vandalism is a serious crime you know."
Audrey ground her teeth together. She had the distinct feeling that he was laughing at her. Which pissed her off. He had not taken her seriously since she walked up to him on that beach.
"I'm sure Nathan will write a full report for you." She practicaly had to spit out between her clenched teeth
"So, you leave all the dirty work up to my son. I can see how the current is gonna flow."
And that pissed her off even more.
"You know I'm not here in an official capacity, so I can't file anything with your department.
"Well I will tell you what. Why don't you come work for me? You've got a very rare talent..."
"Are you joking? You have been stonewalling me the entire time I have been here and suddenly you want to offer me a job. No way, I don't buy it."
"Well I'm sure you have noticed that Haven is a special little town. Most people see things the way they want to see them, but you see them the way they are. That's a skill that we desperately need around here I think that you could really make a difference, you know, if you stayed." She suddenly felt like there was another layer to the whole conversation that was happening. She wasn't sure what it was, but she had the abrupt insight that the Chief really did want her to stick around.
"What about the Colorado kid murder? Where you able to find out anything about that." If she thought, her presence had value she wasn't above leveraging it to get what she wanted. Especially not in this town that was not forthcoming with any information at all.
"Hmm, yea… I got the evidence box sent in. Hold on a secon" He turned and went behind his desk to the corner of the office and pulled out a cardboard box with a file on top.
He walked back over to her and set the box on the desk between them then produced a small pocket knife and deftly sliced through the tape.
"There was a flood bout ten years ago, so some stuff was lost or damaged. This was the only box that I could find down there. You know if you join the force you could take a peak around yourself, maybe find something more."
He pushed the box over for Audrey to open. She picked up the file that was laying on the top of the box and opened it first. As she scanned it she was dismayed with the lack of any substantial information."
"John Doe, Between the age of twenty-five through thirty-five. Died of unknown causes, the only thing of note here is the staining of black pigment in the eyes, no traceable source. You can't be serious. This is worthless" She looked up and watched the Chief. He wasn't looking at her and even when she walked around the desk, he refused to make eye contact for more than a second.
"Well what did you expect, It's a cold case from over twenty-five years ago Agent. I told you there wasn't much." His voice and gotten even rougher and his shoulders had tensed. He seemed to be discomforted and angry. He was hiding something.
"And your fine with that. Wasn't this your case. Nathan Said you were the beat cop assigned to it."
"Beat cop my ass. I was the Detective on the case! But there was no evidence. They don't know how he died. The where no Marks, no evidence. I tried alright!" The last was practically shouted and the chief glared at her his chest heaving.
They were both distracted by the sounds of multiple car alarms going off down the street. She turned back to the Chief who was now sitting on the open window a lite cigarette in his mouth.
She blinked in surprise she hadn't know he smoke. He certainly hadn't smelled like it any of the times she had been around him. Now she was starting to feel bad about pushing but honestly how else was she suppose to get any information in this stupid secretive town.
"Sorry I guess I'm just frustrated is all. Why are there never any answers is there in Haven?" She walked back over to the box. Placing the file back down on the desk next to it. As she opened the lid a head pops in through the open door.
"Hey Chief looks like the sandstone shifted again. No one was injured but one of the telephone poles is down. Do you want me to make a call to get someone down there to fix it?" Steve said…it was Steve, right? Maybe Stewart or… Shelby? Well his name definitely started with an S… well maybe it was a C. Damn it she was really horrible with names.
"No, it's alright Stan, I'll get someone over there in a jiff. You just make sure that the areas closed off alright."
"Will do." With that the head was gone and Audrey returned to the box. She half expected it to be empty with the way everything had gone since she got into this town. But it seemed at last luck was on her side the box seemed to be filled with stuff.
She heard the as the chief began talking over the phone to someone, but her focus was on the box before her.
Carefully she started taking things out of the box. It looked like a full set men's clothes including a soft blue sweater. For some reason Audrey's heart had started pounding and she felt the desire to press her face into the soft material.
She shot a glance over at the chief, but he seemed to be entirely focused on looking out of the windows and finishing is cigarette.
Next out of the box was a woman's sweater with alternating blue, grey and white stripes. It was long, it would probably brush Audrey's calf's if she tried it on, but the garment was something she would never wear. Flowy maybe something from the 1970's if she had to guess. Honestly, she was as bad with fashion as she was with names.
There was a men's leather wallet at the bottom that she picked up and rifled through. There was no ID obviously but there was some cash, a few dollars and a few sleeves of photos.
The first one was of two people. One of them was the Colorado kid the other was the woman that could be her mother. They were standing close to each other soft smiles soft eyes, they were leaning against each other, but their focus was on something off camera. They looked like there where in the woods somewhere, but there weren't really any land marks or anything to identify where. She went back to studying their faces, their body language; the two were close, they cared about each other a great deal. She wondered for a moment if this man could be her father, but then dismissed it. She didn't read romance between the two just affection. Maybe they were related. Brother and sister? Now that she was looking the smiles were the same, and the nose.
She briefly touched her own nose in wonder. The emotions bubbling in her chest at the knowledge that she shared a freaking nose with someone out there was immense. She had to close her eyes for a second and just breath. When she felt like she wasn't going to come apart at the seams anymore she opened her eyes again.
Finally, she set that photo down and moved onto the next. It was another couple, this time it was the Colorado kid with a blonde woman with Sharpe cheekbones and long blonde hair. He had the woman gathered in His arms. The two were smiling at each other nether even aware of the camera. They were defiantly in a romantic relationship.
The last picture was of her mother again. This time she was sitting on the floor piles of yarn surrounded her, she was looking up at the camera a guilty expression on her face. Audrey couldn't tell for sure because of the age of the photo, but if she had to guess the woman was probably blushing.
She put all the photos back in the wallet and set it aside then went back to the box. All that was left was a small plastic evidence bag. In it she found a Men's silver wedding band, a small gold ring with three gemstones embedded in the band, a small piece of driftwood, some seashells, and a couple of nickels.
She carefully put everything back into the box. When she was finished, she took a couple of deep breaths trying to settle herself. She hadn't expected to get so emotional going through the box, but now she knew, sort of anyways, that they were family.
She looked over to the Chief who had been quiet for a while, having finished up his phone call a while ago. His head was tilted back resting against the windows seal, his eyes closed. He seemed to be smoking another cigarette, she wondered ideally how many he had gone through just sitting there.
"What." She had to pause to clear her throat. "What are you going to do with the box, just put it back into storage?" That didn't feel right to her putting it all away in a dark evidence room.
"Well, if you joined us here officially, you could check out all of the evidence. Keep it for a while, see if you can find any new leads." He had his eyebrows raised as he put out the end of his current cigarette and flicked the bud out the window.
"Hey, are you littering right now?" The chief of police really, she was surprised he didn't seem the type.
He huffed and rolled his eyes at her.
"No Agent Parker there is a bucket just outside the window. You can check if you feel the need." Great he was being sarcastic again, they were back onto familiar ground at least.
"Can I think about it." She said gesturing to the evidence box.
"Sure, sure. I keep it here in my office then, so we don't have to go fish it out again."
"That's pretty confident."
"Well I'm a pretty confident kind of guy Officer Parker." She narrowed her eyes at him then signed in defeat.
"I'll come by later to fill out the paperwork." She turned to leave. He slouched down in his chair and gave her a flippant wave of dismissal.
"You do that." His gruff voice filled her out the door.
Hannah Driscoll was nervous as she drove the van into the Glendower compound. She had never been out here before, honestly, she couldn't even begin to picture her father's face if he knew where she was. Bobby was in the seat next to her looking around at the growing building in interest. Everyone had heard of the isolated Glendower's but very few had ever met the illusive family.
She had never expected for this to be the path she took with her life. Leaving behind her angry father only to go to the mother who had left all those years ago. But she hadn't really understood what exactly the troubles were before. She hadn't given her father's anger induced rants much thought beside the fact that he clearly blamed certain people in the town for some of the problems he experienced. Working himself into a rage induced frenzy, when kindness was what people needed.
But as much as she was unhappy with her father she didn't know if she could ever forgive her mother for abandoning them… abandoning her. She had only been a child when her mother left, Just six years old. It was three years later that she had been approached by Eleanor Carr, who had arranged a secret meeting with her mother. They had talked, Hannah, she remembers being so very angry with her mother. For leaving, for choosing someone else, for staying away, for not trusting Hannah enough to tell her from the beginning and giving her a choice to leave.
She was here for Bobby, she reminded herself. She needed to know more about these troubles and Nathan and Audrey, as helpful as they had been, didn't have the answers she was looking for. Her mother would, she was certain, and she owed Hannah this.
They drove past an open gate and she pulled up to the crowd gathered in front of one of the houses. She was relieved to see Eleanor Carr and Chief Wuornos among the people waiting. She didn't feel much like doing this alone, although she felt silly for needing backup to talk to her own mother.
She felt a warm hand grab one of hers and give a squeeze. She looked over at Bobby and he was giving her a tried smile.
"We can do this together right? Friends." The warmth that flooded her at his wood, was almost painful. She smiled gratefully at him. Giving his hand a squeeze, she turned and let herself out of the van and over to the crowd of people.
"Hannah." He mother approached her first and hesitantly offered out both hands towards Hannah. She took them in her own feeling a little guilty for the relief at not having to embrace her mother quite yet. She was sure she would be able to forgive her mother eventually. It was in her nature, as much as she sometimes wished it wasn't.
"Mama, this is my foster son Bobby." And Bobby being the sweet boy he was, ducked his head and smiled up at her mother through his lashed, with a sideways glanced thrown at her to see how she was doing.
Cole Glendower walk up them. He was a big man, not necessarily tall but wide shoulders and thick arms. His face was friendly as he shook her hand.
"Welcome Hannah, Bobby to our home." His voice was deeper than she expected, and his white hair glinted in the sunlight.
"Thanks for taking us in for a while. This is a lot to get used to." They wouldn't be staying with the Glendowers long, just enough to get some answers before they headed over to Bangor to find somewhere to settle for good.
"Well we are here to help." Chief Wuornos gravelly voice traveled to them as he and Eleanor join the group.
"Yes, indeed I have some things for Bobby." Eleanor handed over a clear bag with two small yellow pills bottled inside.
"It's called Imipramine. Should help you sleep without dreaming." She spoke to Bobby. "But it's only a temporary fix mind you, but in a few years it shouldn't be a problem." Hannah took the offered bag and manipulated it until she could read the label. After she was satisfied, she handed the bag over to Bobby. Giving him a look that said they would talk between the two of them later.
"Thank you." Was Bobby's quiet murmur as he placed the bag in his black backpack.
"Alright," Cole Glendower said bringing his hands together and gesturing behind himself, "Why don't we take this inside and sit down why we get everything hashed out. I'm sure there are plenty of questions to go around." He headed up the group as they started up the path to the house.
Her mother turned to the two of them.
"Oh, Bobby the other kids are around back of the house over by the greenhouses, if you would rather go get introduced to the younger folk." Her mom asked Bobby. Who ducked his head at the attention?
"Um, no ma'am I think I would like to stay." Hannah shot him a fond smile at his polite reply.
"Alright dear, come on up then." Her voice had been pitched soft and she placed her hand comfortingly on his shoulder and guided him up the stairs.
"Are we expecting anyone else?" Cole asked to the group as they settled down at the kitchen table. Her mother puttered around the kitchen starting the coffee maker and getting drinks for everyone.
It was Eleanor that answered.
"Yes, I asked Claire Callahan to join us." She turned to Hannah and Bobby. "She's a psychologist in town. She helps the Troubled. I thought you might want to talk to her Bobby, it could be key to getting your dreams under control in the long run. Which is very important."
Hannah felt a rush of annoyance at Eleanor's assumptions, but made herself take a breath and let it go. She was just trying to help. That's what this whole trip was about, getting help.
"Okay, what is it that she will do that you think will help. And why is it so important, I thought you said that it would only be a problem for a year or two more. What difference does a long-term solution make?"
It was Garland that answered.
"Ah, well that's the thing about the troubles. They come back, they always come back. I doubt you would remember from your childhood: they were here then, and they will come again."
"Why? Why are they here, why do they have… cycle? Is it like a hibernation period or something?" She reached out and took Bobby's hand in hers, she could see her fear reflected in his eyes.
"We don't know," It was the Glendower patriarch who answered this time. "It just does. That's why we are here, "He spread his arms out to encompass the house, but she assumed that he meant the entire compound. "That's why we live like this. Our trouble would kill us if we didn't prepare for it. Our line would have died out generations ago it we hadn't separated ourselves."
"I Don't understand, how does everyone not know about the Troubles. How common is it?" She looked to her mother, who twenty-seven years ago made a choice, a choice Hannah was coming to understand was very much more complicated then she had originally though.
"Only about ten percent of the population I would say, and most of those their troubles are still dormant." She lays her hand across the table to touch Hannah's shoulder. "Most people troubles require a trigger, that activates their abilities. It seems the Glendower trouble is the exception, or the trigger emotion is something super common. That we haven't figured out."
"So how many are like Bobby, who don't know about their…" She stumbles for a second over the word, "Trouble, until it's activated?"
"It's surprisingly common. Families are in denial, or the parent who has the trouble dies or leaves the child for whatever reason. Some people move away and forget. That sort of thing."
This time it was a woman's voice who answered, and everyone turned to look at the newcomer. She had dark red hair that tumbled just past her shoulders she had on a dark suit jacket over dress jeans. Her smile was friendly if a little sharp.
"Hi, Claire Callahan. I hope you don't mind if I just jump right in."
Garland stared at the phone in his hand for a moment hesitating. He wasn't like Vince convinced that the Troubled had to stay in Haven lest dire consequences befall them all. He knew that when the troubles were active that Haven was a dangerous town to live in. So, he wasn't sure that his next course of action was the right one, but he really did need the help.
He had never been afraid to acknowledge when he needed help and right now he was having a hard time protecting everyone in town, and between his health and keeping the tremors under control he was growing stretched thin.
He pressed the call button and raised the phone to his ear. Listening to the line ringing.
"Who's this?" Answered a southern drawl slightly out of breath.
"It's time to come home Quinn, I could sure use your help."
"Uncle Garland?"