CHAPTER 85

PATERNAL PROBLEMS

December 12, 2010

8:29pm

Carthis, Scotland

The New Centre

'Alex?' The girl in question, who had been lightly sleeping, awoke to Jeremiah's voice.

'Jer?' Alex called out sleepily.

'I woke you didn't I?' Jeremiah asked angry with himself that awaken Alex when she obviously need her rest.

'It's fine Jer. I've been sleeping for a few hours, since I spoke to you last. Midas and Pete will be joining me for dinner shortly anyhow,' Alex told her cousin.

'Oh,' Jeremiah replied simply. Alex could tell that something was bothering the teen, she could always tell when something was wrong with Jeremiah.

'Jeremiah...are you okay?' Alex inquired. Jeremiah was silent for a few moments but Alex could still sense that he was with her.

'God Katie, I can't deal with all of this right now. I...I'm so God damned confused. He...he said he loved me,' Jeremiah whispered. Alex could feel the inner turmoil inside Jeremiah, he was so torn up inside that he was close to tears. 'Can you just tell me what to do?'

It broke Alex's heart to hear Jeremiah so defeated and jumbled inside. Jeremiah had always had so much inner strength. Often when Alex was indecisive on a subject she turned to Jeremiah for guidance.

'Tell me exactly what he said to you Jerry,' Alex knowing that whatever had caused Jeremiah to turn to her involved Bobby.

'He didn't say it to me. He was talking to Grampa and I overheard,' Jeremiah began. 'But he told Grampa that he's sorry, he meant it too Katie. He also thinks that I hate him, that no matter what I will always hate him. And despite that, despite the way I have treated him over the years he actually loves me.'

'Do you hate him Jer?' Alex asked.

'I don't know. I told Air and Andy that I didn't. But when I look at him-'

'Bobby, Jer. You can say Bobby's name. I won't hate you for it,' Alex told Jeremiah, she had realized that Jeremiah had not once called Bobby by name. Alex felt guilty knowing that she was part of the reason why Jeremiah was so torn on the subject of Bobby. After the things Bobby had done to her as a child, Jeremiah found it very hard to forgive his biological father.

'Don't, alright it's not about what he did to you,'Jeremiah said picking up on Alex's thoughts. 'It's not just about what Bobby did to you,' he amended. 'In truth I don't know what it's about.'

'Do you remember when it was just you and me in the tree, the day the truth came out about who you, Greg, and Lissa really are?' Alex asked Jeremiah.

'Yeah,' Jeremiah replied.

'That day you told me that you were scared of becoming not Bobby but Mr. Lyle. You said that sometimes when you looked in the mirror, you would see Mr. Lyle staring out back at you. That is what this is all about.'

' Jer, I know that you are angry with him for what he did to us, to me, to your mom. But Jer the true reason that you can't really forgive him is that it has nothing to do with forgiveness. You're just so afraid that you'll become him and hurt the people that you love.' Alex told him

'That's why you sent that letter to him after the river accident, asking how he thought he could ever be forgiven for what he did to us. You weren't sending it to him you were sending it to yourself. Jeremiah listen to me, you are the kindest, most gentle person I know. You could never hurt us, you love us to much.'

'You have to realize that you aren't Bobby, the two of you had extremely different life experiences,' Alex pointed out.

'Our mothers were murdered, and we never had the chance to know them. We came from abusive environments, and were tortured by Raines. Alex I'm not seeing much of a difference here,' Jeremiah replied.

'Unlike Bobby you have me, and Greg and Lissa. And we had Jake who protected us -still protects us- at all cost. And you have Uncle Sam and who has loved you as hi son from day one. It was the same with you and Aunt Jen. And there was Angelo, who made sure that we knew what it was like to be loved. He gave us Sam, Jer, to make sure that we wouldn't become like Bobby,' Alex said.

'I still don't know what to do Alex. I still have all of these emotions inside of me. I don't think that I hate him like I once did. But I do know that I'm angry with him. Please tell me what to do,' Jeremiah begged.

'You have to talk to him Jerry,' Alex replied.

'The last time I talked to him I nearly set him on fire. I would have if Dad hadn't stopped me,' Jeremiah admitted.

'Then talk to him with Air and Andy or Jake there with you to keep you calm. Hell even Keegan would work,' Alex told him.

'I just...I want you home. It's easier, you keep me sane,' Jeremiah said

'You keep me sane too big brother,' Alex said in reply.

'God, Katie I miss you so damn much. And it's only been three days,' Jeremiah whispered.

'Two days, seventeen hours and twenty-three minutes,'Alex sighed as she mentally did the math to recall when she last saw Jeremiah.

'Scariest moment of my life. I thought I had lost you forever.'

'You nearly died. If Pete hadn't given me CPR...' Alex faltered not wanting to think about the alternative.

'Katie, thank you, for everything,' Jeremiah said after a moment of silence.

'You've done the same for me,' Alex reminded him. 'I'm just paying my debt.'

'Hey listen, I've got to go, Dad's calling me,' Jeremiah said reluctantly not wanting to stop talking to his cousin.

'Bye then, Jer. And remember what I said,' Alex spoke.

'I will. Bye, Katie, I love you.'

'Love you too big brother,' Alex said and cut her connection -but not completely- with Jeremiah.

December 12, 2010

8:37pm

Carthis, Scotland

The New Centre

Bane left Peter to allow the young chairman to make his phone call home. Bane was slightly concerned about leaving the boy alone, but Peter bayed for Bane to go to Alex and inform her of all that had been learned at the meeting between Peter, Cox and Raines. Bane decided to go along with Peter's wishes but made a slight alteration to the plan. On his way to Alex's room -which was also serving as Bane and Peter's room- Bane stopped by Inara and Minna's room and sent the sweepers to keep watch over Peter.

With Peter's safety ensured, Bane set off to tell Alex the news. Achilles, Ares and Ajax were standing guard outside of Alex's room when Bane arrived. With the truth of the triplets origins revealed it was obvious to Bane that the boy's cared about Alex. Whenever Bane left to accompany Peter, Ares, Achilles, and Ajax always volunteered to keep watch over Alex.

"You three are aware you don't have to actually stand outside of Alex's room, you're more than welcome to sit inside," Bane lightly teased the triplets.

"We wanted to make sure she was able to rest undisturbed," Ares spoke in response.

"Are you sure you just wanted her to rest, or the three of you are just taking precautions that Alex doesn't learn who your father is?" Bane asked.

"Give us time to tell her, alright, Bane?" Achilles begged. Bane put a hand on Achilles shoulder and leaned in close to the younger teen.

"You know I'll give you three all the time you require. But remember the longer you keep Alex in the dark the greater your chance will be of her being angry with you from keeping your past a secret. And keep in mind that Alex is a pyrokinetic," Bane reminded the brothers.

"Trust us we haven't forgotten," Ajax said with a smile.

"So how did Peter's meeting with Cox and Raines go?" Achilles questioned, Bane knew that Achilles and his brothers were concerned about you Jack. Upon learning of the boys parentage, Bane had told them all he knew of the Russell family. Ares, Achilles, and Ajax were not very happy to learn that Cox and Raines played a role in Jack's illness.

"The meeting went well. We actually know what's wrong with Jack, now. Come in with me and I'll explain everything to the three of you and Alex, that way I don't have to repeat myself," Bane said. Ares, Achilles and Ajax were well aware that Bane was attempting to trick them into accompanying him to see Alex, yet they went along with Bane anyway.

The four teens entered Peter's room, Alex laid on Peter's bed her eyes closed. She was still hooked up to an iv and morphine drip. At her side a copy of Stephen King's The Stand laid face down, and a pair of head phones covered her ears.

Bane walked over to her and gently removed Alex's headphones.

"I was listening to that," Alex yawned, she had just cut her connection with Jeremiah minutes ago and had begun to doze off again.

"And what were you listening to?" Bane inquired.

"Don't Give Up, by Peter Gabriel from the Secret World tour," Alex replied.

"I find it humorous that one of your favorite singers contain the names of two of your brothers," Bane smirked.

"I'll have you know, Momma named Peter. Now Gabe on the other hand...well Momma and Daddy let us name the boys. The reason they got the names Jack and Jason because Jack Sawyer is one of my, Alley and the boys favorite character's from Stephen King's writings. In the story Jack's twinner -his self in an alternate reality- is named Jason," Alex informed Bane.

"You're such a geek," Bane teased.

"Hey, unlike Adam I did not name my baby brother after Wolverine," Alex said referring to her cousin Logan whom Adam named.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to offended," Bane apologized. "Besides I have news for you, both good and bad."

"What?" Alex asked sitting up with Bane's help. "And who are they?"

Bane looked behind him to see that Ajax, Ares, and Achilles were standing a few feet away. For the first time in all the years Bane had known the triplets, the boys appeared nervous.

"They are Achilles, Ares, and Ajax," Bane said indicating each teen. "They've been watching over you while Peter and I have been gone."

Alex studied the triplets, and found their features familiar, with their black hair and facial structure. Yet Alex could not place who the triplets reminder her of. "It's a pleasure to meet the three of you," Alex told the boys. "You, three aren't related to Midas are you? Your eyes are gold like his."

"No, we are aren't related to Bane, not in the biological sense," Ares replied.

"But we are a part of the Midas project. The drug Raines gave us had the same effect on all of our eyes," Achilles elaborated.

"Oh, the three of you just remind me of someone," Alex said looking at the brothers. The brothers shifted from foot to foot uncomfortably.

"Back to my news," Bane spoke shifting Alex's attention back to him. "We know what's wrong with Jack and how to make him better."

"Give me the bad news first," Alex ordered. Bane sighed.

"Do you know who Alex is? The pretender Alex?" Bane asked.

"Yeah, he's the bastard that killed Adam, Jake, and Rach's dad. He nearly killed my Mom. He would have if Daddy hadn't stopped him. But he died years ago," Alex said just as her inner sense began to whisper to her.

alive...he's alive

Alex's face fell, realizing what Bane was about to say.

"He's alive, somehow he managed to join forces with Cox and Raines and, Alex created the drug to make Jack sick," Bane told her.

"And what's the good news?" Alex asked softly.

"Jason really is the cure. He's a healer Alex, so is Jack, Jack just can't heal himself," Bane said.

"That's-that's impossible," Alex stuttered. "Jasa, and Jacky can't be healers. No one in our family is a healer. Pyrokinetics, telekinetics, telepaths, and empaths yes. As far as I knew healers were myths. I mean Jason nor Jack have ever even displayed signs of being healers."

"According to Cox the boys carry the gene. Which is why they wanted your blood, to see if maybe you carried the gene to be a healer," Bane replied.

"Midas this can't be possible. I'm telling you, traits like that run in the family. And we have never had a healer in the family," Alex said unable to believe Bane. A cough from the other side of the room made Alex look up.

"That's not exactly true," Ajax sighed. "The fact that you never had a healer in your family, that is. You just never had a healer -or in this case healers- in your family that you knew about." Bane's eyes widened in shock, he learned more about those around him each day.

"What are you talking about?" Alex asked Ajax.

"You can't be mad alright," Ares began. "Dad has been dead for so long and well-"

"We didn't think that you need the added stress of three cousins, after all that has happened to you," Achilles said and Alex began to understand just who the boys were.

"Bull shit," Alex spoke. "You didn't tell me who you were because you were afraid of being rejected by me and the others. Now I know why the three of you look familiar. You look just like younger versions of you dad. Do you have any idea what it will mean to my father to know that Uncle Kyle had kids?"

"No, not really," Ares said he and his brother's moving closer to Alex.

"Daddy, he's always blamed himself for Uncle Kyle's death. He doesn't talk about what happened, it hurts him too much. Uncle Kyle changed, he didn't die the man the Centre created him to be. Daddy hated that the world never got to see Uncle Kyle as the man he became, instead they only knew him as the man he- he was," Alex suddenly became very quite as her thoughts turned back to Jeremiah dilemma with Bobby.

"Alex are you all right?" Bane asked.

"I'm fine. It's not me it's Jeremiah," Alex muttered.

"What's wrong with Jeremiah?" Bane asked her.

"He can only see Bobby as the man he was, Mr. Lyle. Jer can't see Bobby as the man he wants to be so badly. A good man," Alex spoke, mostly to herself.

"Jeremiah...he is your cousin correct?" Ares questioned.

"Yeah, and Bobby...Lyle's son. Him Greg and Lissa," Alex said still deep in thought. She was so deep in thought that she didn't notice Ares, Achilles and Ajax's change in demeanor until Achilles spoke.

"Lyle murdered our father." Alex looked up at her newfound cousins. Reaching out with her empathy she sensed where their thoughts were going.

"Jeremiah is not his father's son. Don't you hate him for the things that Bobby did. Jer, has enough issues with Bobby as it is. He doesn't need to be blamed for his own father's sins," Alex said defending her cousin.

"He, his brother and sister are the children of the man that murdered our father," Ares argued.

"And that warrants some sort of blood feud? If it makes it any better Jeremiah, Greg and Lissa don't even consider themselves Bobby's children, but my Uncle Sam and Aunt Jen's kids. Listen whether the three of you like it or not, Jeremiah, Greg and Lissa are as much a part of my family as the three of you will be. And they will be coming here...along with Bobby to get us out. I don't ask you to like Bobby, believe me I understand the animosity you hold towards him, but do be civil."

"As for Jeremiah, Lissa, and Greg, don't judge them on what Bobby has done, they have been hurt by Bobby just as much as the three of you have. Bobby killed their biological mom right in front of Jeremiah. None of them have ever truly forgiven Bobby for what he has done and they never will. But they are trying to mend fences, Jeremiah especially. Don't make things any worse than they are," Alex warned.

The brothers were completely taken aback by Alex's tone of voice that they didn't even try to argue.

Up Next: Peter calls home with news. Jarod is furious with the news that Jake has been keeping secret. And Peter has his doubts about returning home.

Reviews are a good thing