LizzieLionheart- Begging dosen't annoy me don't worry, if anything they make me happy to know that there are people enjoying my story as much as I am. And I'm so sorry about the wait for this chapter. A big thunderstorm Monday night,we lost power, and it fried my telephone too. I just got my phone line up at 11am.

And I don't mind you placing whishes I enjoy getting them and sometimes they remind me that I'm leaving things out. And I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter as much as you did.

Lady Jade Perendhil- Even though you didn't comment I glad you reviewed.

Pretender Fanatic- I do like messing with my characters. But no I don't plan on putting the kids through hell anytime soon. I felt they needed a change of pace. And I'm glad that you love Keegan as much as I do. Keegan was a surprise character, who only came about due to Erikstrulove begging for me to bring Markus back.

Buffarama- First I'm thrilled to have a new reader. Secondly, you deserve an award for reading this whole series in one sitting. I have more to say but I'm going to have to e-mail the rest of my response to you.

CHAPTER 33

CHANGES

November 21, 2010

6:14pm

Galway, Ireland

"Come on Benny, just two more," Adam urged the younger boy.

"Can't," Benny panted as he struggled to keep the tears at bay.

"Yes you can, Benny. I know you can," Adam said. "Come on two more turns and you're done."

Benny sat on an exercise bike, beads of sweat dotted his forehead, and veins stood out along his neck.

"Adam maybe that's enough," Steve said from his chair a few feet back from the boys. Concern was etched upon the sweeper's face. He hated seeing Benny,-he hated seeing his son- in so such pain. During the boat ride Steve had charted to get himself, and -at the time a comatose- Benny to the mainland, Steve had promised to Benny that if the boy pulled out of his coma then Steve would never allow for anything bad to happen to Benny again. Benny had held up his end of the deal, and now it was Steve's turn.

"Steve you aren't helping. If you think that this is all he can do, then he's going to think that is all he is capable of," Adam said between clenched teeth,

"You've pushed him enough today Adam. Christ you've had him at it for the past five hours."

"And it will be six tomorrow," Adam snapped. "Now come on Benny just two more and we can stop."

"I c-,"

"Don't," Adam hissed. "Don't tell me you can't Ben. You can, I know it and so do you."

Benny shook his head wearily. Adam caught Benny's face in his own hands. "Do you want to remain in that wheelchair your whole life?" Adam asked anger quite evident in his voice, his grey eyes as cold as steel.

"N-no," Benny stuttered.

"Then start acting like you want to walk and turn those Goddamned, peddles," Adam said cooly. Benny found gooseflesh popping out along his arms. For a moment it wasn't Adam commanding Benny to peddle, but another boy. A boy who looked remarkably like Benny. It wasn't Adam's physical appearance that reminded Benny of Kaine. It was Adam's demeanor, his hard grey eyes, and cold voice.

It was the incentive Benny needed to peddle. The young clone gritted his teeth and tightly grasped the handle bars of the bike. With all his might Benny gave the peddles of the bike two rotations.

"Excellent Benny," Adam said his grey eyes sparkling, all resemblances to Kaine vanished.

Benny collapsed against the back rest of the bike, panting.

"Rest for a while kay. Then you can hop in the shower," Adam instructed.

"Kay," Benny said closing his eyes.

"Steve why don't you carry Benny to his bed," Adam suggested. Steve got up and carefully picked his son up. Benny leaned his head against Steve's chest, exhausted.

November 21, 2010

8:21pm

Galway, Ireland

Adam sat on his bed staring at five small electrical arcs that went from the tips of each of his fingers, and joined each other just above the center of Adam's hand.

"Uh, Adam what are you doing?" Benny asked the older boy.Jarred out of his concentration, the electrical charges formed into a ball and shot out of Adam's hand and towards Benny who sat confined to his wheelchair.

"Duck!" Adam yelled, Benny ducked down in his chair just as the energy ball flew over his shoulder. The tiny ball of energy fizzled just before coming in contact with the wall.

"So uh yeah. What are you doing?" Benny asked panting.

"I was practicing," Adam said. "Will, Alley and the others can change the level of heat of the flames they produce. I was trying to see if I could vary the voltage as well as size of my energy balls."

"Oh. So you ready to go out? Dad said he found this great little Italian place a few miles outside of town," Benny said.

"Yeah let me get dressed. You need any help changing?" Adam asked.

"No I can do it on my own," Benny said turning to wheel himself out of Adam's room.

"Benny..." Adam said getting up from the bed and placing a hand on the handle of Benny's wheel chair.

"I can get dressed by myself Adam," Benny replied tersely.

"Benny I just want to help, that's all. I put you through five hours of physical therapy today. I pushed you harder than almost anyone else would. I don't want for you to hurt yourself doing something stupid okay? I just want for you to admit that you need help when you need it," Adam said.

"I don't need help getting dressed! I'm not a baby!" Benny sapped and wheeled his way out of Adam's room. Adam went after the younger boy, making it into Benny's room before Benny could slam the door in Adam's face.

"I didn't say that you were a baby Ben," Adam said calmly. "Look, I couldn't help Pete, Jason and Jack, they were taken and there was nothing I could do to stop that. But I can help you, let me do that, please. Let me help you."

Benny searched Adam's grey eyes and saw that Adam wanted, no needed to help. Benny realized that Adam wasn't trying to insult, the young clone by insinuating that Benny was unable to dress himself. But when it came to such matters Benny could not help but be defensive. The words Adam had spoken to Benny earlier that day hurt Benny more than he cared to admit.

Adam had implied that Benny was weak, that he didn't want to go the extra mile in order to walk again. Benny had spent most of his life being strong, fending for himself when it came to Kaine and the monks. Save for Steve there had been no one Benny could turn to and even then Benny did not always go to Steve.

There had been a time, shortly after Father had stopped making his visits, that Kaine had forced Benny's hand over the top of a candle flame. Benny had received a third degree burn, due to Kaine's madness. Benny had never told Steve about the burn, in fact the boy went to great lengths to hide it from Steve.

'It seems that not only do I need to learn to walk, but I need to learn to place my trust in people other than Dad and ask for their help,' Benny thought to himself.

"Okay," Benny said out loud.

"Okay," Adam said smiling. "And Benny, about what I said earlier, I'm sorry if I hurt you."

"You didn't," Benny said all to quickly.

"Yeah I did. I'm a pretender Ben. And while I'm not that great of a pretender, I can still tell when someone's upset and why," Adam said.

Benny noted that Adam too had his own set of insecurities.

"Don't worry about it," Benny said. "I'll make a deal with you though. I'll push myself harder and harder each day, and when I need help, I will ask for help. But you, you have to stop thinking so low of yourself. Adam you're twelve years old and have done more with you life than people who live to be one hundred and twelve."

"Beating heroin's child's play compared to beating your childhood," Adam said so softly Benny could barely hear him.

"Huh?" Benny asked confused.

"Nothing. It's a quote I read once in a book my cousin Pete gave me. Wastelands I believe it's called, by Stephen King. Part of the Dark Tower series. Pete's a big Tower Junkie, Alley and Will turned him on to it."

"Adam you're babbling again," Benny said.

"Oh sorry," Adam said blushing slightly. "Anyway the quote just means that it's hard to get over your childhood. Hell I still am a kid."

"Yeah but your not just a kid," Benny said.

"Compared to my brothers and sisters I'm just a kid," Adam said.

"Your brothers and sisters electrokinetics?" Benny asked.

"No," Adam replied with a smirk as he ran his hand through his hair.

"Then you're not just a kid," Benny said and wheeled himself into his room.

"You're right, I'm a freak," Adam replied wryly as he followed Benny.

"Welcome to the club," Benny said.

"When do I get my membership card?" Adam asked.

"It's in the mail."

Adam found himself smiling, joking around with Benny was almost like hanging out with Pete. 'But Benny isn't Pete,' Adam thought. 'Benny and I didn't grow up together. Benny wasn't there when Mom died. Benny didn't stay up with me on the nights I had bad dreams. Benny did help me con the rest of our family out of over a thousand dollars one summer.'

For the first time in a month Adam realized just how much he missed his cousin, his best friend. And Adam couldn't wait to get home to see Pete again. He couldn't wait for things to go back to being the way they had been.

But in the back of his mind Adam knew that nothing was going to be the same when he returned home. Too much had changed. Adam didn't even know the half of it.

November 21, 2010

3:03pm

Sussex, Delaware

Sussex Correctional Institution

John Cody had come to one conclusion over the past twenty-four hours. He did not like change. A year ago he had been happy, leading a life he loved. He had been loyal to his boss, and on good terms with his boss's family.

Now he was facing jail time for accessory to kidnaping. And though no one had ever received the death penalty for such an offense Cody knew that no matter what verdict the jury came back with, or what deal he made with the DA, he was going to die. By whose hands Cody did not know, but it was either going to be someone connected to the Russell family or the former Centre.

In fact Cody doubted he would even have a chance to make a deal with the DA or even go to trial, not if Cody's cell mate was the man he was believed to be.

Cody had never met Robert -Bobby- Jamieson, nor even seen a picture of the man. But just one look at his cell mate's smug grin and blue eyes, Cody knew that his cell mate was related to Morgan Russell.

He had yet to speak a word to Bobby. In truth he was too frightened to. Cody's hands shook and he quickly placed them under his armpits to still them. He didn't want for Bobby to know just how scared he was.

Out of the corner of his eye Bobby glanced at Cody, and saw the doctor's shaking hands. Bobby smiled, this was going to be fun, and quite easy at that.

"So what are you in for?" Bobby asked the doctor breaking the silence that had existed for close to twenty four hours.

"I-I'm..."

"Innocent?" Bobby asked facing the doctor. "Yeah that's what everyone says."

"Please don't kill me," Cody mumbled. The casual smile that had been gracing Bobby's face fell, and his blue eyes hardened.

"I've killed plenty. I killed my children's own mother. She, like so many of the rest of them didn't deserve it. But you... I'm going to hell Cody and I know it. Killing you won't damn me any further. Hell it might just redeem me some," Bobby sneered.

Bobby heard footsteps outside of the cell. Relief crossed Cody's face upon sound of the footsteps.

"What, you think they can protect you?" Bobby asked.

"Jamieson your lawyer's here," A guard spoke. Bobby turned away from Cody, smiling at the fear that shown in the doctor's eyes.

"Which one?" Bobby asked the guard. Bobby had several lawyers as well as several family members that liked to pose as lawyers

"Young one, looks just out of school. Named Aiden King," The guard replied.

'Aiden,' Bobby mulled his name over in his head. 'Now why do I know that name.'

His question was answered as a figure stepped out of the shadows.

"William," Bobby nodded in the direction of his 'lawyer'. William Aiden Russell stood on the opposite side of the bars in a pair of glasses and a suite looking much older than his nineteen years. "My how you have grown over the past... what has it been five months?"

"Six, but who's counting," Will replied. Cody sat up at the sound of Will's voice.

"No, no, not you," Cody whispered. "Please, don't kill me. I didn't want to do it they..." Cody stopped in mid sentence, his eyes closed, and his breathing slowed as he slumped back on the bed.

"You do that?" Bobby asked. Will nodded. "Neat trick, how long have you been able to do it?"

"Since I was nine or so," Will said shrugging his shoulders.

"Knew you were holding out on me," Lyle muttered.

"Yeah well, you know how it was. Me trying to survive each day. You and Raines beating the crap out of me."

"Don't sound too bitter Will. Besides I thought we were past all that," Bobby said and Will could hear a slight bit of genuine hurt in the older man's voice.

"Some things I'm over. The things you did to me, I can deal with that. It's what you did to-"

"Alex," Lyle finished "Look what I did I can't change. But I'd like to believe that given the chance I would. Will I hate myself for what I did to her."

"Here's the thing I never got. Why just Alex? Why not Alley?" Will asked.

"You have to ask Alley about that. She and I came to an understanding a long time ago," Bobby said softly.

"Bob listen, I know that you hate what you did to Alex. But she's my baby sister, and my loyalties lie with her, not you," Will said.

"I understand. So, how are the boys?"

"Jace and Jack are quiet, in fact they aren't even talking at all, really. Pete's seems like his usual self. But he's... different. Not that I expected for him to act like nothing happened," Will replied.

"And..." Bobby trailed off.

"Greg, Jeremiah and Lissa are just fine," Will said knowing what Bobby wanted to ask.

"Good," Bobby said. "Lissa told me about Amy. Another telekinetic in the family, congratulations."

"Thanks," Will said.

"Why are you here William?" Bobby asked. "I'm pretty sure it wasn't to exchange pleasantries."

"What do you know of Shadow?" Will questioned.

"My God they really did it didn't they?" Bobby gasped.

"You knew? You knew and you never told us?" Will hissed his eyes going red.

"Calm down William," Bobby told the boy. "Yes, okay I knew what they were trying to do. But as far as I had been informed they never succeeded. I knew only of two clones that managed to make it just past a year. But not one of them as far as I knew lived to see eighteen months. I thought they had disbanded it."

"What was Shadow supposed to be?" Will asked no longer quite as angry with Bobby.

"By the look of your face you already know," Bobby said.

"His them combined. He's the ultimate Black File," Will whispered

"He's powerful isn't he. More so than you I'm guessing."

"That he is. I tried to peek inside his mind, and not only did he block me he sent me flying into a wall," Will admitted. Bobby let out a low whistle. "You know anything else about him?"

"Shadow..."

"Keegan," Will corrected.

"Keegan was Raines and Cox's baby, so I never knew everything that was going on. Most of what I heard was snip bits. But I did hear something that might account to how powerful he is. They had hard time trying to get the clo- children to live past a month or so. Cox discovered that you and the others like you don't have a lot of junk DNA, almost none. But Markus did, more than most people do, much more. Which was strange because Mike and Maddie don't,"

"And Mike was to be genetically identical to Markus, so was Maddie the only difference being she was a girl," Will said.

"Here's the thing. AB negative blood is what makes you all pretenders. Your lack of junk DNA attributes to your other abilities."

"That would mean that Markus wouldn't have any abilities. But that doesn't account for Keegan's abilities, he's a damn powerful psionic," Will argued.

"I can't answer that on, but I know who maybe able to. Remember when I told you that Shadow was Raines and Cox's baby?" Bobby asked. Will nodded his head. "A man -the same man in fact who is in the cell across from me drilling holes into the back of your head with his eyes- named Erik Wagner was place on Shadow."

"Really," Will said. Bobby caught the flash of red in his nephew's eyes as Will turned to face a rather perturbed looking English man.

"What do you know about Shadow?" Will questioned Erik, his eyes normal blue eyes now red.

"Why should I tell you, you filthily little lab rat?" Erik hissed.

"Shouldn't of said that," Bobby muttered.

"Because this filthily little lab rat can kill you and make it look like you had a brain aneurism," Will threatened.

"You couldn't do it. You're too much like your father," Erik replied.

"You're right about one thing I am a great deal like my father. But for what you did to my brothers he would kill you with out a moments hesitation. Why do you think they kept him and my mother as far away from you as possible?" Will asked.

"Your family can't touch me," Erich said but Will could hear the doubt in the older man's voice.

"Really," Will said amusement in his voice. "If that's what you wish to believe."

and Will turned to walk back to Bobby's cell.

"They cried for you," Erik said and Will froze. "And it was so easy to break them. Almost as easy to break young Gabriel's wrist."

"Defiantly shouldn't of said that," Lyle said in a low sing-song voice.

"So you're the son of a bitch that broke my baby brother's wrist," Will growled turning back around to face Erik.

"Why yes I did," Erik replied smirking.

"Why don't I repay a favor," Will hissed, his hand shot out wrapping around Erik's wrist Before Erik had realized what was happening he was cradling a broken wrist and Will was back by Bobby's cell.

"Did you get that from your mother, or was it from.."

"Getting the crap beat out of me on a daily basis when I was at the Centre?" Will finished.

"Yeah," Bobby said looking down at his feat. Will again heard the remorse in the man's voice.

"Glad to know your therapy is working?" Will sated.

"Yeah well it helps when a certain telepath uses his abilities to suppress my rage," Bobby replied. A look of shock passed Will's face, but was quickly replaced by a grin.

"You just figure that out?" Will asked.

"When I saw you knock out Cody. Here's the thing I don't get Will. Having the abilities that you do, having them when you did, why didn't you leave when you had the chance?"

"You know lately everyone keeps asking me that," Will said.

"You didn't answer my question," Lyle stated.

"Wasn't there a point in you life that you wanted to be the one who was rescued Uncle Bobby?" Will asked. Bobby was struck speechless by several reasons. For one he realized just how alike he and Will were. And for another it was the first time any of the older children had refereed to him as Uncle Bobby.

"I have to go. I promised Jamie I wouldn't even come here. She'll be pissed when she finds out," Will stated, picking up his briefcase by his feet.

"See you later then," Bobby said.

"Maybe," Will replied as he turned to leave.

"Will," Bobby called out. Will stopped but didn't turn around. "There was a time. But you see unlike you I wasn't strong, so I gave up hope and just...gave in."

Up Next: Jamie fusses at Will. Jarod realizes just how much his son loves Jamie. And Greg and Will wonder just how Keegan came to be so powerful.
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