LJP- Congrats on being my 100th reviewer! In response to your review the whole family isn't going to be together quite yet. I'm still keeping a large part of thne in Bangor.
loveroffanfic- Don't worry Toby and Terra's powers haven't been explained yet. Byt you will find out in 3 or 4 more chapters. And don't worry Pete will get what's coming to him.
Lizzie Lionheart- Everything about Pete will be explained soon,I promise just three more chapters and mostly everything will be revealed. And I'll try to get some Ter, Toby and Lex bonding in. By the way i like your rambelings. And I'll be e-mailing you the answers to your questions soon
Nans- I'm glad you were happy to see Sydney. And thank you for your words. I think one day i'm going to have to write a Sydney story just for you, since you love him so much
CHAPTER 39
"IT'S ALWAYS THE QUITE ONES"
November 27, 2010
1:53am
Blue Cove, Delaware
Jamieson Manor
"Katie-girl what are you doing out here?" Alley asked walking out into the backyard where Alex was lying on one of the deck chairs staring up at the night sky.
"Star gazing," Alex replied softly as he sister sat next to her.
"You always have loved the stars," Alley said using her fingers to comb through Alex's hair. Alley was right, Alex had always loved the night sky, the vastness of it. Stargazing had become one of her hobbies over the years. She could still remember the first time she saw the night sky. She had been five when it was shown to her, and by the last person she expected. It wasn't Sam, Angelo, Jake or Jen who showed her the wonders and the sky, but Mr. Lyle
.
July 21, 2001
1:15am
Blue Cove, Delaware
The Centre
The majority of the Black Files are asleep, it has been two months since they had tried to escape and Alex had been branded. The nightmares for Alex have all but stopped, mostly because Alex has all but stopped sleeping.
"Alex," a voice whispers across the room. Alex sits up and sees that Jeremiah is also awake. "You need to get some sleep Alex," Jeremiah tells her. Alex smiles, over the past two months Jeremiah has become quite protect of her.
"I will don't worry," Alex tells him and she lays back down. Jeremiah falls asleep a short while later but Alex is still unable to sleep. She closes her eyes in a vain attempt to get at least an hour of sleep.
Moments later the door to the Black Files room open and Alex sits up in shock. No one usualy entered the Files room after ten. Light shines in the room reveling the person at the door and Alex begins to shake uncontrollably. It's Lyle.
you did this
A voice whispers in Lyle's head and he finds himself hating himself for emotionally scaring his niece so badly. He quickly pushes such feelings aside.
"Get up Alexandra," Lyle orders the girl. Alex frighten out of her mind manages to shake her head.
"I'm not here to hurt you Alexandra, now come here," Lyle tells her in a gentler tone. Not knowing what else to do Alex gets out of bed and goes over to Lyle. Lyle scoops the little girl up into her arms and carries her to the elevator. The elevator arrives and Lyle pushes the button that will take them to the roof. Alex still has no idea what is going on.
he won't hurt you sweetheart
Alex hears her inner sense whisper. Knowing that it has never lied to her Alex does her best to relax in Lyle's arms as he exits the elevator and walks out on to the roof.
"Why are we on the roof?" Alex asks as Lyle sets her down.
"This is what I do when I can't sleep," Lyle says well aware of the girl's insomnia. Yet she isn't the only one unable to sleep, Lyle too has been plagued with sleepless night for the past two months. But he refuses to admit that it has anything to do with the child next to him.
"You know that I haven't been sleeping," Alex stated.
"It's nice view from here. The lights from the city don't obstruct the view," Lyle said ignoring Alex's comment.
"Way to change the subject," Alex replies, feeling bolder than she probably should.
"You are so much like Alyssa," Lyle says and finds himself smiling despite himself. Alex decides not to push her luck by questioning Lyle's comment.
"Have you studied your constellations?" Lyle asks Alex.
"Some, I learned how sailors guided their way home by looking at the night sky," Alex replies. With out thinking Lyle does something that was completely out of character. He picks Alex up again.
"See that one to the right," Lyle says pointing. "That's the big dipper. And over there is Orion. He's always the easiest to find because of his belt."
"What's that big red star?" Alex asks, surprisingly at ease in Lyle's arms.
"That's not a star it's Venus," Lyle replies.
"And that one it's the north star, right?"
"Correct," Lyle tells Alex.
"How did you come to learn so much about constellations?" Alex questions.
"When I was a boy I would spend my nights outside in the summer just studying the sky," Lyle says and finds himself shocked at sharing a bit of his past with the child in his arms.
"Mr. Lyle do you think it would be possible for my group to be able to study the constellations one night?"
"I'll see what I can arrange with Raines," Lyle murmurs.
"Thank you," Alex replies and the two are quite for a while. "What's that one?" Alex asks braking the silence.
"Ursa Major. And that one is Ursa Minor. Over there is the southern cross. That one there is Pegasus," Lyle replies pointing out every constellation he knows. This goes on for the next fifteen minutes until Alex head feels heavy with sleep and she leans against Lyle's chest.
"I think it's time to return to you bed Alexandra," Lyle whispers and carries the girl back to her room. Alex is all but asleep when Lyle places her back in bed.
"Goodnight Alexandra," Lyle says.
"Night Bobby," Alex yawns and Lyle turns to leave, he doesn't see a small redheaded boy sit up in his bed, confusion etched upon his face.
"Maybe the devil does have a soul," Jeremiah whispers to himself.
Lyle closes the door to the Black Files room behind him, and leans up against the wall.
"These are for you," A voice speaks and Lyle jumps.
"Christ Alyssa don't do that," Lyle hisses.
"Relax Uncle. I thought you would want these," The girl says offers Lyle two silver disk. "It was sweet of you, showing Alex the stars."
"I-I...it was a lesson," Lyle stutters.
"Sure," Alley drawls. "You can keep up the facade around the others Uncle, but I know that you aren't the total heartless monster you pretend to be."
"Go to bed Alyssa," Lyle sighs.
Alley remember the moment Alex shared with Bobby just as well as her baby sister. She had just so happened that night to be watching DSA footage and seen Alex and Bobby. She had been amazed by Bobby's actions that night, and realized that there was a chance that Bobby could be saved.
"Come on Katie-girl, it's late and we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow," Alley said getting up and pulling Alex up with her.
"But I'm not tired," Alex said but her words were ruined by a yawn that escaped between her lips.
"Sure," Alley drawled and led her little sister inside.
November 27, 2010
11:53am
Charlottesville, Virginia
Russell Family Home
Will sighed as he climbed out of the car, stretching his muscles. It had been a long ride from Blue Cove to Charlottesville. With two vans and two five seater cars the seating arrangements had been cramped. Will and Alley had taken one of the vans, with them had ridden Jamie, Jeff, Jason, Jack, Keegan and Amy. The four youngest children had refused to be separated. Sam and Jen had taken the other van taking Jeremiah, Lissa, Greg and the four oldest Black Files -Jake, Rachael, Cassie, and Marc-. Jarod had taken one of the cars and driven his wife and their other four children. In the last vehicle was Lex, Julia, their set of twins, along with Terra and Toby.
"Late last night was so far away
I dreamed myself a dream
Dreamed I was so all alone
Isn't it nice to be home again
I said welcome home
Didn't we miss your smiling face,
Well the sun was nice in LA, sunshine,
Isn't it nice to be home again,
Well I said isn't it nice to be home again," Alley sang as she got out of the van.
"Quoting James Taylor, Alley Cat?" Jeff asked as he got out of the van behind her.
"Hey the man has wonderful lyrics," Will said defending his sister.
"I'm not arguing," Jeff replied.
"Ugh, lets get these four in the house," Jamie said gesturing to the sleeping five and six year olds in the back row of the van. As the four teens carried the sleeping children to the front door, the rest of the cars pulled up.
Will and the others paused waiting for the others to exit their vehicles.
"You're no longer allowed to drive," Jarod said glaring at his son.
"There is nothing wrong with Will's driving Jarod," Morgan said walking up to Will and taking Jason from his arms.
"Both of your children drive like you, a bat out of hell," Sam said dryly.
"Leave my and my children's driving skills alone," Morgan told her adoptive brother.
"Um can we take this inside, Amy's not as light as she use to be," Jeff said, hoisting Amy in his arms.
"Hey, she's not heavy she's my sister," Greg said grinning, causing everyone to groan.
The group entered the house, Sydney, Chris and Debbie had straitened the manor up for the groups' arrival and were conversing over a cup of tea in the livingroom.
"You're home," Sydney said when the group entered the house.
"Wow grandpa you have a gift for stating the obvious," Alex said smartly.
"And you my dear, have a gift for sarcasm," Sydney retorted with a grin.
"Alexandra why don't you and the others go and bring in our luggage, while Will, Alley, Jamie, and Jeff take the kids upstairs," Morgan suggested.
"Yes Momma," Alex replied and she and the rest of the Black Files went to get the luggage leaving Morgan and the rest of the adults to discuss Keegan with Sydney, Debbie and Chris.
"Are you okay with this?" Jarod asked his brother concerning the matter of Keegan.
"I'm fine Jar. When do you plan on telling him?" Chris asked Julia and Lex.
"As soon as possible." Julia said.
"When he's ready." Lex replied at the same time.
"Okay I'm sensing that there is an underlying issue here," Chris muttered.
"Dad doesn't want to tell Keegan who he is," Mike said bluntly as he entered the room.
"Michael it's not that I don't want to tell Keegan," Lex began.
"Save it Dad. We all know that you want to keep Key out of the loop so that you can make him out to be the son you loss," Mike snapped.
"Michael Kristopher Anthony that is enough. The man you are talking to is your father and you do not take that tone of voice with him. You are to respect him," Julia said, she had begun to grow tired of the endless argument between Mike and Lex.
"I give respect where I see it should be given. Hell in my opinion there are only seven people in this room that deserve my respect and you and Dad certainly aren't one of them. Uncle Jarod and Aunt Morgan actually came for their kids when they found out what the Center did. You and Dad waited seven years knowing who, what and where we were. Could you not stand the sight of Maddie and me after Markus died? Is that why you left us there!" Mike screamed tears welling in his blue eyes. Julia and Lex were left speechless. Never before had Mike shown such anger towards his parents.
"What? You've got nothing to say? Why am I not surprised?" Mike said bitterly as he looked at the faces of his parents.
"Mikey," Lex began approaching his son.
"Screw you I'm out of here," Mike said and ran from the room and outside. At the front door the rest of the Black Files stood stunned, and Mike's outburst. Julia brought a hand to her mouth trying to understand what had just transpired. Lex stood dumbstruck staring at the spot on his floor where his son had stood moments ago. Maddie was torn between comforting her parents and comforting her brother.
"I'll go," She heard whispered in her ear. She looked up and saw Jake. Maddie nodded her head gratefully and Jake sat off after Mike.
"Okay am I the only person confused by what just happened?" Greg spoke trying to break the silence.
"Kids go upstairs," Sam said softly. For once the Black Files obeyed without arguing.
"It's always the quite ones," Marc muttered as they climbed the stairs.
"Shut up Marc," Cassie told her brother.
November 27, 2010
12:00pm
Charlottesville, Virginia
Russell Family Home
"You're an idiot you know that right," Jake said climbing the rope ladder to one of the many tree houses spread throughout the acres of land owned by the Russell family. There had been no doubt in Jake's mind that Mike would go to one of the tree houses. Over the years the tree houses had become a place were the children could go to be alone and think. Adam had dubbed the cluster of thee houses 'the fortress of solitude.'
"Go away Jake," Mike said burring his face in his hands.
"No. Man if Alex, or Alley were here they'd slap the shit out of you. Hell I have half the mind to slap the shit out of you," Jake said, and Mike realized that Jake was not angry at the younger boy he was furious.
"Where do you get off saying that crap to your Mom and Dad? Do you have any, any idea how lucky you are? They love you and Maddie so much, Keegan too," Jake told him.
"If they loved us so much then why did they leave us in that hell hole," Mike snarled leaping to his feet. Then Jake really did hit the younger boy knocking Mike off his feet. Mike leapt back to his feet and threw a wild right hook. Jake easily dogged the punch, and dealt Mike a blow to the stomach, knocking the wind out of him. Mike fell to his knees.
Up Next: Jake and Mike continue to duke it out. Mike get's a history lesson, and has a talk with his parents.
Well you've done the reading part, now do the other half and review. Please?