CHAPTER 65

DARK SECRET

December 10, 2010

10:14am

Charlottesville, Virginia

Russell Family Home

Jamie and Jeff nervously drummed their fingers as they waited for one of their parents to answer the other line. The twins had put of calling their mother and father but could no longer do so, their parents deserved to know the truth. On the fourth ring their mother answered the phone.

"Stewart residence," Came Libby's sunny voice.

"Hi Mom," the twins greeted hesitantly.

"Jeffery, Jamie, it's been weeks since the two of you called. Is everything alright?" Lacy asked.

"A lot of stuff has happened since the boys were brought home, Mom," Jeff said wincing "Why don't you get Dad and we'll fill you both in at the same time?" Jamie suggested.

"Hold on one second while I get you father," Libby said a bit nervous. She did not like the sound of her twins voices. Moments later both Libby and the twins father, Ken were on the other end of the line waiting to hear the news their children had to share. Jamie and Jeff quickly breezed through everything that had occurred leaving out the parts that dealt with Matty and AJ.

"Dear God.Poor Morgan and Jarod. I can't imagine what they must be going through. I hope that the children will be alright," Libby said.

"I'm sure they will be Mom," Jamie reassured her mother.

"Mom, Dad listen there's something else. Some stuff that directly concerns Jamie and I," Jeff said.

"What type of...stuff," Ken asked not liking the sound of his son's voice.

"Well Alley and I are engaged. And oh yeah we have a daughter and Jamie and Will have a son," Jeff added quickly. There was a long moment of silence in which everyone was unsure of what to say.

"H-how," Ken managed to stutter.This time Jamie and Jeff left nothing out of their tale as they told their parents how Will and Jamie and Jeff and Alley had been created for each other. How Allen had informed Alex and Jeremiah of Matty and AJ. And How Alex had given up her freedom for her niece and nephew.

"There names are Alexandra Radha Stewart and Matthew Aiden Leo Russell. AJ and Matty for short," Jeff concluded softly.

"What...How," Ken continued to stutter still at a lost for words to form a coherent sentence.

"Daddy it's okay. We're okay with this. On some level we've been expecting this for years," Jamie told her father.

"So we're nineteen and parents. That doesn't matter. We love our children. It doesn't matter how they got here. They're here and we wouldn't change that for the world. I mean you two should see them. Good AJ, she's so beautiful. She has her mom's eyes and she's going to have Alley's hair too. But she has my face," Jeff grinned.

"Matty looks just like his cousin," Jamie stated. "Once we get Alex and Pete home and Jack better we'd like for you two to come and meet your grandchildren."

"We'd like that," Libby said. "Until then we expect pictures and lots of them."

"Of course," Jamie promised.

"Listen we need to go. AJ and Matty will be waking up soon and I need to make sure that Alley gets some more rest," Jeff stated.

"We'll talk to the two of you soon then," Ken spoke.

"Bye," Jamie and Jeff said and hung up the phone.

"Well that wasn't to bad," Jeff told his sister brightly.

"Let's just not do it again anytime soon," Jamie replied dryly.

December 10, 2010

10:20am

Charlottesville, Virginia

Russell Family Home

Adam was glad that he was able to wait till morning to call his parents. He hadn't spoken to either of them for nearly a month. Adam had on occasion called from time to time to check on his younger siblings, Logan, Kay and Kale. And as the phone ranged in Adam's hands, he prayed that Logan would answer the phone.

"Hello?" Adam inwardly cursed at the sound of his father's voice. It wasn't that Adam didn't want to talk to his father, Adam just wasn't ready to speak to Ethan.

"Hi, Dad," Adam spoke hesitantly. On the other end of the line Ethan let out a shaky breath.

"Do you have any idea how sacred I've been over the past twenty-four hours?" Ethan asked, not yelling, not scolding. Adam head nothing but pure fear in his father's voice.

"Dad, I'm...," Adam faltered for words. He had forgotten of Ethan's inner sense and his mother's retrocognitive abilities.

"Are you all right? Kay, Kale and Logan said you were. But God Adam," Ethan whispered.

"I'm fine," Adam said with out thinking. The boy then reflected on all that had occurred during the past month, especially what had happened the night before. "Actually Dad, I'm not fine. Nothing's ever going to be like it was. Everything is so different now."

"Adam I don't know everything that has happened. Only bits. You're going to have to fill me in," Ethan told his son.

"Alright," Adam said not wanting to relive the night before. "I guess I should start with the reason why I left," So Adam began his story beginning with events he had all but forgotten. Logan's dream -which Adam was pretty sure was the same on Alex had been having- the night half the family had fled to Bangor; Kay and Kale telling Adam to go to Galway; Adam meeting Steve by pure chance and stumbling across Benny. He even told his father how he had developed electrokinesis.

Adam ended up integrating Jeremiah and Alex's story into his own. Telling Ethan of Alex and Jeremiah's discovery of Kaine, and their search for Peter that led them to Adam, Benny and Steve. Adam continued on with the appearance of Allen and the revelations he brought with him.

And finally with much difficulty Adam told his father about the break in into the Centre. How the had managed to save Matty and AJ but not, Alex or Peter. It wasn't until his story was over and Ethan was asking if Adam was; "truly alright," did Adam realize that he had been crying. Up until then Adam had not let himself deal with the fact that Alex had almost died and it was all finally starting to sink in.

"It could have been me Dad," Adam whispered. "What if it had been me?"

"But it wasn't Eddie. You're home and you're safe, thank God. I don't know what I would have done had I lost you." That was the one thing Adam didn't want to think about so he changed the subject.

"How are Mom, Wolvie and the twins," Adam inquired after Sara, Logan, Kay and Kale.

"They're fine. They were worried about you, but now that you're safe they're fine," Ethan replied .

"Dad, listen, there's something else too. More serious than Alex maybe," Adam sighed. "Jack-"

"Is sick isn't he?" Ethan interrupted.

"Very. They say he's dying Dad and we have no idea what's wrong. I think you should come home. Uncle Jarod and Aunt Morgan are going to need you...Especially when half of us leave to go and get Alex and Pete."

"Am I assume that you are one of the ones going back to Carthis?" Ethan asked.

"Yes. The may not really need me but I owe it to Alex and Peter. Don't worry though I'll be one of the safer ones. I'm just going to be behind the scenes, being every ones eyes and ears."

"Who else is going?"

"Uncle Sam, Steve, all the Files, Allen, Benny, Uncle Jon hopefully, and maybe...Bobby," Adam answered.

"Who in the world proposed that Bobby go along?" Ethan asked.

"Jeremiah of all people," Adam said stunning his father.

"Well then," Ethan spoke after a moment of getting over his shock.

"Hey I know. Hey Dad?"

"Yeah, Adam," Ethan replied.

"A-are you proud of me?" Adam asked hesitantly, shocking Ethan once more.

"Of course I'm proud of you Adam. How could I not be? I was proud of you before all of this. And now after everything you've been through this past month, I am damn proud of you Adam," Ethan told his son. Adam closed his eyes, forcing back tears, and not knowing why. It wasn't as thought his father ever showed he was disappointed in his son. In fact it was quite to opposite. Ethan had always been a loving, attentive father. But still it felt good to know that his father was in deed proud of him.

"Dad listen I need to go soon. Can I talk to Mom before I go?" Adam asked.

"Of course," Ethan replied.

"Oh and Dad, I love you," Adam added.

"I love you too Ad, here's your mom."

"Adam?" Sara answered relieved to be hearing from her step-son; the boy she had raised as her own for the past six years.

"Hey Mom, how are you?"

"I'm good baby, now that I know that you're safe," Sara told him, slightly scolding the boy.

"Sorry I haven't called in a while. I've been really busy," Adam said and then informed his mother of all that had occurred.

"You have been busy," Sara said, worry crept into her voice, and it didn't go unnoticed by Adam.

"Hey I'm okay, and everything's going to be okay. I promise we'll all be together again soon," Adam swore. Sara's heart swelled with love for her son. He was such a kind hearted boy, he had been so from the moment Sara had met Adam, not even six months after the fall of the Centre, and not even a year since Adam had lost his mother.

When Sara and Ethan had started dating Adam -along with Jake and Rachael- had accepted Sara in to his life without any reservations. Of course it had taken Adam a while to warm to the idea of calling Sara, Mom, the little boy did not want to betray the memory of him own mother. But by the time Ethan and Sara had been married for three months- after a six month engagement- Adam had come to referring to Sara as his mother.

"So how are my baby brothers and sister?" Adam inquired.

"Missing you terribly. How else would you expect them to be?" Sara replied. "Would you like to speak to them?"

"I'd love to but I really need to go. Tell them I love them and I'll see them soon."

"I will baby, and you be safe." Sara told him.

"I will Mom. Bye"

"Bye Adam," Sara replied

December 10, 2010

7:25pm

Carthis, Scotland

The New Centre

"Why are your eyes gold?" Alex asked Bane. Bane looked over at Alex surprised she had awaken. He had been sitting at the table next to her bed, reading a novel by Garth Nix. With his charge now awake, Bane closed his book and turned to face Alex.

"I thought you were suppose to be sleeping," Bane replied.

"I was. Now I'm awake. Help me sit up," She ordered.

"Yes ma'am," Bane said getting from his seat and propping Alex up with pillows.

"You didn't answer my question by the way. Why are you eyes gold?" Alex repeated.

"You're quite the persistent girl," Bane said avoiding her question.

"It's one of my more endearing qualities...They weren't gold before you were taken were they...your eyes I mean. The Centre did it to you," Alex spoke, she was not to be deterred from getting her answer. Bane sighed realizing that Alex wasn't going to give up.

"It happened shortly after I was brought to the Centre. They gave me a drug to make it so I could endure a greater amount of pain then the average person, and to make me stronger. It worked but the side effects changed my eye color from hazel to gold. Raines gave me the code name of Midas afterwards," Bane answered.

"Midas...I like it and your eyes. Let me ask you something else, is Bane your real name?"

"No, it's my Centre name. When I came here the Centre wanted to erase all of my ties to old life, including my name. I remembered it though," Bane told her.

"Well what is it?" Alex asked impatiently.

"Malcolm David Collier Jr.," Bane replied.

"Eh...I like Bane better, but I like Midas most of all. I think that's what I'll call you from now on," Alex said. Bane rolled his eyes.

"What has John gotten me into," He sighed again.

"We aren't regretting our new position now are we?" Alex teased.

"No, I'm just trying to figure out how your family has put up you the past fourteen and a half years," Bane retorted.

"What can I say I'm irresistible," Alex smirked. "Now tell me what does a girl have to do to get some food around here?"

December 10, 2010

2:25pm

Sussex, Delaware

Sussex Correctional Institution

"Are you sure that you're up to this?" Sam asked his son again.

"I have to be," Jeremiah replied. Sam gave Jeremiah's shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

"Good luck son," Sam said, Jeremiah nodded his head and entered the room where Bobby was waiting for him.

"Jeremiah," Bobby said stunned when the boy entered the room. It had been over six and a half years since Bobby had last seen his son. He had to admit that the boy had grown up handsomely. He had the classic pale skin of all redheads, hie green eyes shown bright with underlying emotion, both features he had inherited from his mother. Everything else about Jeremiah's looks screamed Bobby. Just looking at the man and his son made it obvious that they were father and son.

"You look well Jeremiah," Bobby said as his son sat down across from him.

"Appearances can be deceiving," Jeremiah replied no emotion what so ever in his voice, yet Bobby knew something was wrong. There had to be something wrong for Jeremiah to come and visit him.

"Are Melissa and Greg...alright?" Bobby asked hesitantly.

"Both are fine and safe," Jeremiah said.

"Then why are you here Jeremiah, we both no you are not fond of me. In fact I'm pretty sure you hate me," Bobby commented.

"I don't hate you, nor do I love you, or even care about you. My feelings when it comes to you are neutral," Jeremiah said. It was a lie and both knew it. "But you are right I am here for a reason. I offer you redemption."

"I don't understand," Bobby replied. Jeremiah launched into his and Alex's tale of discovery. How they learned of Peter being cloned, and being switched with his clone Kaine. How Alex and Jeremiah set off to rescue Pete, only to discover, Steve, Benny and Allen, along with the true origins of Shadow and Phoenix Redux. And how Alex sacrificed herself for those that she loved.

"I need to get her and Pete back. She gave herself up for me, I have to save her. Now the question is will you help me save your niece? The girl you spent seven years making her life into a living hell. The girl you nearly killed on more than on occasion, even after knowing who she was to you," Jeremiah said. "So what is it going to be? Will you stand by once more or will you stand up?"

"How soon can you get me out?" Bobby asked without a moments hesitation.

"In three days you will be transferred back to Rikers. An unfortunate accident will occur involving your bus before you leave Delaware," Jeremiah informed Bobby. "From there we go to rescue Alex and Pete. We tried to get Bailey to get us a deal to get you out but his hands were tied. Oh and just so you know once this is all said and done with you will be turning yourself over to the authorities."

"So much for me making parole," Bobby replied.

"You never had any chance for being up for parole," Jeremiah said plainly.

"It was a joke," Bobby told his son.

"It wasn't funny."

"Look son-,"

"Let's get one thing strait, Bobby. I am only your son in the sense that I share your genetics. And not willingly at that. You killed my mother in cold blood. You tortured my brothers and sisters. Made my and my family's life a living hell. You, sir are not my father, that title is reserved strictly for Samuel James Grey," Jeremiah hissed his eyes going red.

"Jeremiah calm down," Bobby said softly.

"Don't tell me to calm down alright. My sister was shot, giving up her freedom in exchange for Will, Jamie, Alley and Jeff's children, for Allen, and Angelo, and Steve and for me. You may not give a damn about your sister but I love mine," Jeremiah roared.

Sam having watched everything from the two way mirror in the other room, hurried in before Jeremiah might unintentionally -or maybe intentionally in this case- hurt Bobby .

"Jer. Jer calm down buddy," Sam said putting his hands on Jeremiah's shoulders. "Hey, look at me, let go, Jer. Let go of Alex." Sam didn't know how he knew it was Alex's powers Jeremiah was borrowing. By all rights the boy shouldn't of been able to considering the fact that Alex was across the ocean. Bobby must have realized this as well because he was looking between Jeremiah and Sam in disbelief.

"How can he be borrowing Alex's powers?" Bobby asked Sam, but Sam was to busy dealing with Jeremiah to answer. He'd seen Jeremiah lose control while borrowing Alex's powers before and the outcome had been disastrous.

"Jer, you alright?" Sam asked his son. As Jeremiah took in a few deep breaths, he nodded his head. "Looks like your powers have grown," Sam grinned ruffling Jeremiah hair. Sam may have been smiling but it didn't hide the fear in his eyes. Jeremiah saw it and felt shame over what had happened two years ago when he lost control of his powers, and shame over what had almost happened.

"Yeah," Jeremiah said weakly. His powers may have grown but it took a lot of his energy to reach across the ocean and borrow Alex's pyrokinesis. "I'm sorry Dad. I didn't mean to lose my temper. I didn't mean to lose control." There was an edge of panic in Jeremiah's voice that didn't go unnoticed by Bobby

"It's alright, Jer. Why don't you go and wait outside I need to have a little word with Bobby," Sam said. Jeremiah was too drained to argue and left without another word.

"We need to talk," Sam said sitting down in front of Bobby. "Look. Jeremiah is a fantastic kid, one of the kindest gentlest kids I know. But he still has a lot of rage in him directed towards you. You took so much from him Bobby."

"You think don't know that? For Christ sake I killed his mother in front of him. I can't take that back. I can't make what I did right for him. I don't deserve his forgiveness," Bobby said.

"No, you don't," Sam agreed. "You also don't know a thing about him"

"I'm not suppose to Sam, he's your son not mine," Bobby said evenly.

"No, Bobby, he's your son too. And if you knew a thing about Jeremiah you'd understand that is the problem for him. He is so damned frightened of becoming you," Sam told the older man.

"What do you want me to do Sam? Stay away from him, give him the space he needs to sort out his issues with me? I don't know how to make it better for him or Greg or Melissa. Yeah, okay, I'm their biological father, but it's you who is their Dad. So tell me how do I make this all better?" Bobby snapped.

"You can't make everything all better. There's a lot of stuff going on with Jeremiah that he won't ever talk about, not to me and defiantly not to you. But you still need to talk to him," Sam said calmly.

"Have you tried talking to him? Talking to Jeremiah is like talking to a brick wall. Today was the first time I've ever seen that much emotion from him," Bobby argued.

"He'll talk to you Bobby. But he isn't going to make it easy for you, you just can't give up. The two of you need to talk and not just for the sake of your relationship, but for the sake of Jeremiah, Greg and Lissa's relationship. Greg and Lissa have more or less forgiven you, but Jeremiah can't. Because of this it is driving a wedge between Jeremiah and Melissa. This is something no one can fix but you. You own it to your children to not give up and to talk to Jeremiah. I have to go now. I'll see you in a couple of days," Sam said and got up.

"Sam," Bobby called out to the ex-sweeper. Sam turned around. "You did a good job with all three of them. Despite everything they are fantastic kids. I'd like to say I had something to do with that but I know that it's because of you and Jen."

December 10, 2010

6:52pm

Blue Cove, Delaware

Russell Summer House

Jeremiah and Sam were staying at Morgan's old house for the night. Sam didn't feel like driving from Charlottesville to Sussex and back in one day. And Sam wanted to talk to his son alone. Jeremiah was still having a tough time dealing with fact that Alex had been recaptured. The boy hadn't talked much about what had happened, he just gave the bare facts. Sam hoped that over dinner Jeremiah would open up. The only problem was the person Jeremiah tended to open up to was in Carthis.

"So are you going to try and get me to talk?" Jeremiah asked as he helped Sam prepare a stir fry for dinner.

"Are you going to talk willingly or am I going to have to wait till I start sprouting gray hair before you open up to me?" Sam replied.

"You've already got gray hair Dad," Jeremiah retorted.

"Always told your mother you were a little smart ass," Sam muttered.

"I just tell it the way I see it," Jeremiah said.

"So...are we going to do this or not Jer. If not we can just get back in the car and head home," Sam spoke growing serious.

"What do you want me to say?" Jeremiah asked.

"I want you to tell me how you feel Jer. God I'm worried about you. They say Will keeps everything bottled up inside, but hell even he lets it all out every now and then. But you, I've only seen you get all out pissed twice in your life, and one of those times was today. Thank God today wasn't as bad as last time-"

"Can we not talk about last time?" Jeremiah begged turning from his father.

"That's the thing Jer we never talked about last time, instead you ran away. And then when you came back no one brought it up because we wanted to give you space," Sam said.

"Dad please," Jeremiah said closing his eyes. He didn't want to talk about this. He had spent two years trying to forget what he had done and the people that had been hurt.

"No one blames you for what happened Jeremiah. It was an accident. Things got taken a bit too far and you lost control. Everyone knows you didn't mean to cause that fire. You didn't mean for any of it to happen," Sam said finding it difficult to talk. Sam felt tears falling down his face and saw that Jeremiah was crying as well. Sam pulled his son into his arms.

"It's okay to cry Jer," Sam told the boy.

"I didn't mean for Mom to lose the baby Dad. We were just fooling around and Greg said what he said and I got mad. I didn't even know what I was doing. I just loss control for one second, one second Dad. The flames got lose, and...and I didn't know I was near the gas can. We got Mom to shore but it was too late...she had already lost the baby," Jeremiah sobbed.

And there it was. After two years Jeremiah had finally spoken about the river accident. His dark secret.

Up next: a flash back to two years ago to when Jeremiah lost control.

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