CHAPTER 86

DOUBTS

December 12, 2010

8:37pm

Carthis, Scotland

The New Centre

Peter stared at the phone on his desk, preparing himself to call home. It was still hard for him to talk to his family. Though they didn't blame Peter for his actions as John, that didn't mean that Peter didn't blame himself. As John, Peter had done many things as that he wasn't proud of; the termination orders; the project he had allowed to be created; and so much more. When his family -because they most defiantly would- learn of what Peter had done, Peter doubted that they would ever forgive him. All Peter had to do was look at the strained relationship between Bobby and Jeremiah, to see that it was doubtful he would be truly forgiven.

Peter sighed, shaking himself of his thoughts. "Now or never,"the boy muttered to himself. Peter reached for the phone and dialed home. With over forty people in the mansion the phone ranged but once before it was answered.

"You have reached the offices of Russell, Russell, Grey, Anthony and associates. This is Gregory speaking how may I direct your call?" Greg answered the phone. Peter found himself chuckling at Greg's greeting.

"It's me Greg," Peter spoke.

"Hold on a sec Tiger. Let me round up the calvary," Greg offered, putting Peter on hold, then running from room to room he alerted his family that the were to meet downstairs. Bobby and Sydney were the last to arrive, the two of them standing by the stairs. As Greg placed Peter on speaker phone he noticed Jeremiah casting glances Bobby's way.

"Alright then, Pete," Greg said letting Peter know that everyone had been gathered.

"I have news," Peter addressed the group.

"What type of new?" Jarod asked his son.

"News of both the good and bad kind. First off we need to move the family out of the main safe house and to the secondary safe house," Peter began.

"Why do we need to move the others to the second safe house?" Adam inquired. Peter was quite for a moment -concerned by how his cousin would take the news- and then replied;

"It's Alex, he's back." There were no gasp, nor cries of outrage, just complete silence at Peter's words.

Without realizing it, Jake and Rachael reached for Adam, and Adams found his hands in his siblings firm hold . Adam was grateful for the comfort of his Jake and Rachel. The young boy had always had a deep seated fear for the man who had murdered his biological father. There were many a time Adam had awaken from a nightmare involving Alex and himself.

"Where is Alex at Peter?" Ethan asked glancing at his children. Adam's face had considerably paled as had Rachael's, while Jake's face was blank as always. Yet as Ethan let his eyes travel down his eldest son's hand -the one that wasn't holding Adam's- he saw that Jake had a tight hold on the armrest of the couch upon which he was seated. Jake was terrified and was doing his damnedest not to show his fear.

"According to Cox and Raines, Alex is in Delaware tying up some of the Centre's lose ends," Peter answered his uncle. "I think that it would be best for the group to head to the safe house down south." The second safe house was in deed south of Charlottesville...in fact it was half way around the world off the coast of southern Italy. But just in case his conversations were being overheard, Peter did not want to give away the location of the second safe house.

"And what was the good news Peter?" Will asked sighing, the revelation of Alex's reappearance things could not be much worse.

"I'm not done with the bad," Peter replied.

"Wonderful," Greg groaned.

"Alex, not Katie, but sociopath Alex was the one who created Jack's illness not Cox. But the up side of that is Jason is still the key to Jack's cure, but you are not going to believe how," Peter continued.

"Why do I have the feeling I'm not going to like this?" Andros asked.

"Jack and Jasa are healers," Peter said. If people were stunned by the revelation of Alex being alive, they were downright shocked at the idea of Jason and Jack being healers.

Jason and Jack looked at each other fear etched on their faces. It was one thing to have a power, but it was completely different to have a power and to be unable to use it. Even some of the older children had powers that they couldn't completely control, like Jeremiah for instance. Jeremiah was a borrower but he couldn't always control the powers he borrowed when his emotions weren't in check.

"Wait a second," Bobby spoke from his spot by the stairs, walking over to where the others were. "Healers, they don't exist, they are nothing more than a Centre myth. In all my years at the Centre I've never even crossed on."

"Centre had three," Angelo said as he sat on the floor playing with AJ, and Matty.

"That's right they did...a-a set of triplet brothers. They -as far as I know- t-they died about eight years ago," Jake said not meeting any ones eyes. The family gazed at Jake curiously, Jake never stuttered.

"You're hiding something," Keegan said, speaking the words that were one everyone's minds. Jason and Jack nodded in agreement, they too sensing that Jake knew more than he was letting on.

"Jake what is it?" Ethan prompted his son.

"Look...being a healer... the ability runs in families. But even then the trait is extremely rare. If your lucky on every generation but usualy it's not that often" Jake spoke.

"Jake, who were those three boys?" Jarod asked his nephew fearing the answer as he sat down on the coffee table in front of Jake.

"They were your nephews, Kyle's sons," Jake whispered. Jarod slammed his fist on the coffee table, startling everyone including Matty and AJ, causing the babies to cry. Will and Jeff rushed over to their children and quickly hushed them, as Jarod moved away from Jake, not trusting his temper.

"I can't believe you Jacob," Jarod spoke after he had calmed himself down. Never in all his life had Jake felt more ashamed. The one thing he feared -that he and his group feared- was disappointing his family, and this time he had truly succeed in doing so. "When are you going to stop keeping things from us?"

For the first time since he was a very small boy Jake felt tears well in his eyes, and quickly forced them back. "Uncle Jarod, I'm sorry," Jake said bitting his lip, never before had Andros and the other Files heard genuine fear in Jake's voice. Jake like Jeremiah and Will had always been good at keeping his emotions hidden. It unnerved the files to hear Jake -whom they all looked up to- frightened.

"Please, Uncle Jarod, don't be mad. I only thought I was doing what was right. You loved your brother, and his death...it hit you hard." Bobby studied his hands at Jake's words. "I didn't want for you to have to live with the guilt of knowing that Kyle's children died. I didn't want for you to live with that type of pain."

"These aren't you decisions to make Jacob," Jarod reminded the boy. "How many times must we tell you this."

"He did what he thought was right," Ethan said defending his son. Jake gave his father a grateful look, yet Jake could see that his father too, was disappointed in him.

"I wanted to tell you about Ares, Ajax, and Achilles," Jake said softly. "I just...I."

"You didn't think that's what," Jarod replied.

"Dad," Peter spoke.

"You can't keep doing this, Jacob," Jaord said sternly not hearing Peter.

"Dad, listen to me," Peter yelled through the phone, louder so that Jarod could hear him.

"What is it Peter?"

"If, Jake is talking about who I think he is they are alive...but Ares, Ajax, and Achilles aren't healers. They're a part of Project Midas like Bane."

"They were healers," Andros muttered his eyes closed. "They were transferred to a new facility and given a drug that made them stronger. It did but there was a catch, it caused them to lose their healing ability."

"How do you," Bobby began but then realized that Andros must be talking to Alex, who somehow knew the truth about Kyle's sons. "Never mind."

"Andy how do you know this?" Peter asked not realizing that Andros and Alex were exchanging information..

"Alex just learned the truth from Ares, Ajax, and Achilles themselves," Andros answered. "They knew that they were Uncle Kyle's kids. So did Uncle Kyle, he came to them, he planned on getting them out but he...he was killed before he could."

"None of that matters okay. What matters is Jack and Jason," Alley spoke. "Cox said that the boy's are healers, but they've never even shown any signs of being healers. They can't use an ability that they don't know how to use."

"Well, Greg, Jeremiah and Lissa are borrowers, they can just borrower the boys abilities, and heal Jack," Steve suggested.

"It doesn't work that way," Lissa said.

"If someone doesn't know how to use their abilities then we can't use them. See when we borrow we kinda get people's memories on how to use their powers. It's like and instruction manul," Greg elaborated

"And with Kyle's kids no longer being healers-" Morgan sighed.

"We can't borrow powers they don't have," Jeremiah finished.

"Great, so now we have the answers to our problems. But we still can't do anything," Sam spoke his eyes falling on Jason and Jack who were clinging tightly to each others hands.

"We're going to have to teach them then," Will said. "That job will fall to Alley and I, we have the most experience in teaching the kids to use their powers."

"Then get started on it," Peter told is older brother. "We don't know how much time we have on Jack's part. Not to mention that our time here is running low as well. I don't know for how long I'll be able to hold of Raines and Cox. I had them locked away, but they still have people who are loyal to them and will try to break them out. As for me my group is rather small. We need for you to come soon."

"Give us two days Peter. With Alex being alive it has changed things a bit, and well have to move the family first. Can you last for two days?" Aaron asked.

"I'll have to," Peter replied.

"Until then little brother, do take care," Alley said.

"I will Alley. I have no choice, if I don't who will look after Katie," Peter said a bit of humor in his voice. "Oh and before I forget, Happy Birthday Adam."

Several people in the room glanced at their watches for the dates, while others groaned in embarrassment or their jaws dropped. A scarlet blush went up Adam's neck. He had remembered it was his birthday but did not want to make a fuss about it, more important matters were at hand.

"Why didn't you remind us?" Ethan asked his son.

"It's not important Dad. I didn't want to make it a big deal okay. 'Sides there was other stuff that mattered more," Adam replied.

"But, Adam-" Jake began.

"Look it's alright. There was no point of having a celebration anyway not with our family split up the way it is. We can celebrate my birthday when were all together again, okay?" Adam said cutting off Jake.

"Adam it's not that. We all just feel like complete asses for forgetting," Alley apologized.

"Seriously it's fine. Tell you what, why don't Pete and I just have a joint birthday," Adam suggested.

"That's over a month away," Morgan said feeling guilty.

"Which means well all be together again," Adam told her. "Besides I'll get to have my party with my best friend."

"The nineteenth then," Peter said to Adam

"The nineteenth," Adam echoed "It's a plan. Hey Pete I know you need to go and all. But can I talk to you alone?"

"I have a few spare minutes," Peter replied. Greg passed the cordless phone to Adam, as he took Peter off of speaker phone. Adam left the livingroom and returned to his own bedroom.

"I'm alone now," Adam told Peter as he sat down on his bed, casting a glance towards Peter's side of the room.

"Adam I'm sorry for bringing up your birthday. I thought they would have remembered," Peter apologized.

"Mom, Wolvie, Kay and Kale did. They called me earlier this morning," Adam said. "But I'm okay with it. Like I said I'd rather our family be together if we're to celebrate my birthday. So on a different note how are you holding up?"

"Honestly...I'm scared out of my mind that I won't be able to pull this off till you guys arrive," Peter admitted his fears out loud for the first time. "I'm ten years old Adam."

"You'll be eleven in a month. You can do this Pete. Our whole lives we've underestimated our own abilities, our own inner strength. If there has been one thing I've learned during my travels, is that we are so much stronger than we have ever given ourselves credit for," Adam told Peter. Peter mulled over Adam's words letting a comfortable silence ensue.

"Hey Ad," Peter said after awhile.

"Yeah?"

"You think that things will ever go back to being the way they once were before all of this happened?" Peter asked.

"I want more than anything in the world to say yes," Adam began. "But we both know that things will never be as they once were. Everything that you, Jace, Jack, and Keegan have been through, it's gonna be with you all for a long time. And then there's Benny and Allen. They have given up the only lives that they've ever known. It wasn't that had for Benny, but for Allen, he's got to start his whole life over from scratch."

"What are they like...Benny and Allen?" Peter asked.

"I think I can see the four of us causing the adults a lot of problems. You'll like them Pete. Benny's a lot like you all soulful and a complete neat-freak. Allen's another mini-Will, he's got the weight of the world on his shoulders," Adam replied. "You're still my best friend though Pete."

"I know. You and me through thick and thin."

"I wonder though, how we are going to explain Benny and Kaine to the neighbors not to mention the rest of the family -the younger ones to be more specific-," Adam commented.

"Pass them off as my long lost brothers. It's the truth and everyone knows that I've been adopted," Peter suggested. "What about Kaine, I don't see my parents wanting to keep him around the younger kids. And he can't stay locked up in Amy and the boys room."

"I heard Steve and Uncle Jarod mention sending Kaine off to a facility for help. He needs it too Pete, I mean that kids is really screwed up. He nearly killed Benny, I mean hell as far as Kaine was concerned he had killed Benny. What type of person could do that?"

"Me," Peter whispered before he could stop the word from coming out. There was a pause before Adam could speak.

"Listen to me. I've known you for nearly forever Peter. You could never do the shit Kaine did to Benny. You've got one of the purest hearts there is Pete," Adam said.

"Adam you don't know-"

"And I don't care. That was John not you alright," Adam cut Peter off. "That bastard screwed with your head Petey, made you into someone that you aren't."

"But I am John, Adam. He's a part of me now, and always will be," Peter said. "The things I did...People died because of me. What are my parents going to say when they learn the truth of what I did. You think they'll forgive me? You think anyone will. Christ just look at the way Jeremiah and Bobby are to see what it's going to be like for me when I come home... if I come home. Maybe I can go away for a while like you and Jeremiah did."

"You run away, and dammit Pete I'll follow you till the ends of the Earth. You can't do this to me, to your mom and dad, you're brothers and sisters. We've been trying to get you back for so long and now you're talking about not coming back?" Adam asked.

"I can't face them knowing what I did!" Peter yelled. "Bobby-"

"Stop making excuses and cut the goddamned Angel complex you've got nothing to atone for. As for Bobby and Jeremiah their situation is different. It wasn't you alright," Adam said and edge of panic in his voice. "Pete if you don't come back what am I going to do? You're my best friend Pete, the only person who really understands me."

"I'm not the Pete you once knew Eddie. That Pete is gone," Peter said softly.

"And I'm not the same Adam I once was, I've changed too. You don't have to be Pete okay? You can be Simon or Vincent, go by one of your middle names or something like that when you come home, hell pick a new name. Just promise me you'll come home."

"I can't promise you. Besides even if I don't come home you won't notice you'll have Allen and Benny to keep you company, not to mention Keegan and the new babies to keep you busy," Peter said.

"They aren't you. They aren't my best friends, you are. Dammit Peter think of someone that's not you here. Think about our family," Adam begged.

"I am," Peter whispered.

"Then you realize that we need you," Adam said.

"No... you don't," Peter said and hung up the phone.

Up next: Keegan, and Jason confess their fears to Adam, and Will

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