Author's Note: No I haven't died nor have I abandond this story. I swear that I will see this through the end -when ever that may be. I've been quite busy with work as of late and that coupled with writer's block has put this story on a bit of delay.

CHAPTER 89

THE OTHER SIDE OF JAKE

December 13, 2010

10:08am

Carthis, Scotland

The New Centre

"So this is your rag tag group huh?" Alex said looking at the cluster of people before her. Peter, had allowed for Alex to meet the ten people who would be involved in the escape, so long as Alex stayed confined to a wheelchair and returned to bed in an hour.

"Hello Alex," Airell greeted the younger girl.

"Airell... Merlin," Alex nodded at the telepath and telekinetic. "Long time no see."

"Seven years," Merlin replied. "And how is the rest of your group?"

"You mean how is Cassie," Alex grinned at Merlin, the teen blushed. "Don't worry Lin, she still thinks about you from time to time."

"I-I never...I-I w-wasn't," Merlin sputtered, growing redder by the minute.

"What about Jake?" Airell inquired, in attempt to save Merlin from in further embarrassment.

"He misses you, Airi. He never says anything, but I know," Alex told Airell. "You two were pretty close back at the Centre. Other than Rach, you were the only person Jake really opened up to. Only person he didn't keep secretes from."

"He still kept things from me," Airell shrugged.

"Wait a second, my head is spinning with all of this information. You mean to tell me that Jack and Airell, were close back at the Centre. And that Merlin and Cassie had a crush on each other?" Peter asked.

"That's correct. Not that it's common knowledge, not even Sam and Jen knew how close Jake and Cassie with to Airi and Lin," Alex replied.

"Airi? Lin?" Peter raised an eyebrow.

"That's what Jake and Cassie dubbed us," Merlin answered. "I assume that Cassie and the other's will be joining us to help with the escape?"

"Don't worry Lin, you'll get to see her," Alex teased.

"Alex leave my poor brother alone. You know he can't handle being teased," Airell grinned.

"Now I remember why we never let the two of you get together too often," Merlin frowned.

"I've missed you too Merlin," Alex smiled up at the telekinetic. "Now I've had the pleasure of meeting the projects, lets meet the sweepers." Derek, Akio, Jiro, Inara, and Minna found themselves shifting uncomfortable under Alex's gaze. The five hadn't been sweepers for very long but they knew power when they sensed it and Alex was off the charts.

"What are you?" Jiro asked in Japanese.

"A pretender amongst other things," Alex replied in Jiro's native tongue, mildly shocking the teen. She then translate in English for those that didn't speak or understand Japanese.

"Define 'other things'." Derek said, in a commanding tone.

"Well first off I'm a person, so don't order me around," Alex snapped. "Secondly we're going to need to work on your social skills. You're use to thinking that you are better than us Centre subjects, and you aren't. Get use to it."

Bane let out a low whistle, glad at the fact he wasn't the one on the other end of Alex's anger.

"She gets her temper from Mom," Peter whispered to Bane.

"I'm afraid to see what your Mother's like when she's angry," Bane mumbled under his breath.

"So am I," Peter replied.

"Boys it's impolite to whisper in front of a room of people," Alex glared at Peter and Bane.

"Sorry," the boy's apologized.

"Apology accepted. Now back to introductions. Jiro, Derek the two of you inquired as to what I am. As I said before I am a pretender, I'm also a pyrokinetic," Alex spoke. It didn't go unnoted by Airell, Merlin, Bane, Peter, Ares and his brother's that Alex left out the fact that she possessed an inner sense and empathy. Peter wondered just who it was Alex didn't trust. He would soon get his answer.

"It's Derek isn't it?" Airell asked Alex when the Centre projects reached the confines of Peter's room. "He's been blocking me, the whole time."

"Actually it isn't Derek. Derek's been a sweeper for a while now, he's had a telepath place mental blocks in his mind. Makes me wonder if it was Keegan," Alex murmured. "But no, it isn't Derek, but there is someone who is going to betray us and we need to be wary."

"The hard part will trying not to show our hand," Peter sighed not thrilled that someone on his team was going to betray them.

December 13, 2010

10:26am

Carthis, Scotland

The New Centre

Alex gave her the number to Jake's cell phone. It was dangerous for her to call her him, anyone could be listening in. Yet it had been seven years since she had seen him last, and she had missed Jake everyday for those seven years. After her brother, Jake had been her best friend back at the Blue Cove Centre. The two would often sneak out of their rooms and meet in the abandon sim lab on Sl-3 to talk about escaping and what their lives would be like outside Centre walls.

Around the time, Alex, Aaron, Andros and Will escaped the Centre, Airell and Merlin were transferred in the middle of the night to Africa, all evidence of their history erased. The people they cared about left behind.

Airell bit her bottom lip as the phone ranged in her hand, on the third ring -just when Airell had nearly lost all of her nerve- Jake answered.

"Hello?" Jake answered sleepily

"J-jay," Airell stuttered. On the other end she heard Jake gasp her name, all traces of tiredness gone. Jake quickly got out of bed and went to a part of the house where he wouldn't be over heard..

"Airi?" Jake whispered. "Airi is it really you?"

"It's really me Jay," Airell replied.

"Airi, I'm so sorry. I should have never-"

"Don't blame yourself over this Jay. What could you have done? The Centre completely erased all traces of Lin and me. Please Jacob, place the blame where it is deserved and that isn't on your shoulders," Airell begged.

"Alright, for you I won't," Jake promised. "I-I've missed you Airi."

"I've missed you too Jay, everyday. It hasn't been the same without seeing your face around the corridors, or sneaking into my room at night for a visit." Airell said.

"I've visited you nearly every night in my dreams since you've been gone," Jake replied, and even though he couldn't see her he knew he had caused Airell to blush.

"You always were a charmer," Airi muttered.

"And you've always loved me for it," Jake said before his brain could stop the words from coming out. There was silence on the other line, and Jake wondered if maybe Airell, didn't feel the same way he did.

"Airi...Airi did I say something wrong?" Jake asked nervous.

"No, not at all. That's the other thing I've always loved about you Jake. I could always get you to be the little boy you want so badly to be," Airell said lightly teasing Jake over his nervousness.

"I haven't been a little boy for a very long time. Not since the others were born," Jake said softly.

"You were a little over a year old when Alex and the others were born, three months when Marc and Cassie were born. Most people's childhood lasts eighteen years. Your's was three months Jay," Airell commented.

"That's why I had you. Like you said, I got to be a kid around you," Jake told her and Airell smiled.

"How much longer before I get to see you?" Airell asked.

"Soon," Jake said not waiting to give away the plan over the phone just incase someone was listening in on his and Airell's conversation.

"Soon's too long," Airell stated.

"It's been seven years. We can wait a little longer," Jake told her.

"I suppose," Airell said and sighed theatrically, causing Jake to chuckle.

"Airi...when this is all over...where are you and Lin going to go?" Jake asked growing serious.

"We haven't thought that far," Airell answered truthfully.

"We have plenty of space here in the mansion. I...We could, you know, fix up a room for the two of you. No one will mind having the two of you around, I know I won't, and Cassie defiantly won't mind having Lin around," Jake suggested.

"Who knows... Lin and I just might have to take you up on that offer," Airell replied. "Listen, I-I have to go. I'm not even suppose to of contacted you. I'll see you soon?"

"Nothing could keep me from coming," Jake promised her.

"Goodbye Jay."

"Not goodbye, see you soon," Jake corrected.

"See you soon then Jay," Airell amended.

"See you soon, Airell," Jake said.

"Hey Jay," Airell called out a second before Jack hung up.

"Yeah?"

"I really did mean what I said, you know...about loving you," Airell told him and quickly hung up. A goofy grin crossed Jake's face, and for the first time in years he truly felt that he was his own age and not the age of someone twice that. Returning to his room Jake laid back down, smiling as he went back to sleep.

December 13, 2010

6:31am

Charlottesville, Virginia

Russell Family Home

"Good morning," Jake greeted his family as he entered the kitchen. Rachel the rest of the flies, Adam, Benny, Allen and the adults were already in the kitchen getting an early start on the day.

The family all exchanged looks at Jake's attitude. The teen was actually smiling, and it wasn't just a little smile either, it was a full tooth grin.

"Um...what's up with Jake?" Adam asked Rachel hesitantly, as his older brother began to whistle.

"I think that Jakey has finally cracked from all the pressure," Marc muttered.

"Either that or he's been drugged," Ethan murmured overhearing Marc.

"Well we can't blame it on Alex hitting him in the head one to many times, she not even here," Will stated.

"He's...happy," Jeff observed.

"We can see that," Maddie said dryly.

"It's just that it's Jake," Mike continued.

"Yeah, Jake doesn't do full out happy," Aaron elaborated.

"He usually acts like he's Angel, you know with the brooding because if he experiences one moment of perfect happiness he loses his soul and goes evil." Andros added.

"Wasn't Angel's moment of perfect happiness when he had sex with Buffy," Greg whispered wickedly. Ethan sputtered as he choked on his morning coffee. The Flies grinned at Greg knowing he had chosen to speak exactly when Ethan had taken a sip from his coffee.

"Dad are you alright?" Jake asked concerned.

"I'm fine...son," Ethan said, coughing. He then looked up at his son and whispered. "Jake you aren't having...um...sex are you?" The files, Adam, Allen and Benny nearly fell out of their chairs laughing. The adults -save Will, Jaime, Alley, and Jeff- excused themselves to laugh in privet, knowing that the kids were toying with Ethan. Meanwhile Jake's eyes went wide and his face turned beet red.

"Uh...Dad...what...um...brought on this sudden question?" Jake asked.

"Your Dad thinks that, that's the reason why your so happy," Marc said, in between his fits of laughter, tears rolling down his face.

"Oh my God," Jake moaned. "Greg what did you say?"

"I just mentioned to your Dad the way Angel lost his soul and became Angelus," Greg said his laughter subsiding.

"Oh my God," Jake repeated burring his face in his hands.

"So... I...uh...take it your not-"

"No Dad I'm not having sex," Jake cut his father off. "I just got good news last night that's all."

"Yeah, Airi called him at four in the morning,"Rachel spoke up.

"How did you know?" Jake asked.

"Jake you're cell was loud enough to wake the whole room last night. And you gasping 'Airi' and quickly leaving the room was clue enough," Rachel grinned.

"So what did Airi say?" Lissa asked enjoying the fact that Jake was being teased.

"N-nothing," Jake stuttered.

"Who is Airi?" Ethan questioned completely confused.

"Say one word and I'll tell your Dad about Lin," Jake threatened Cassie.

"Daddy already knows about Lin," Cassie smirked not at all fazed by Jake's threat. "And to answer your question uncle Ethan. Airi is Airell, the telepath working with Pete...and Jake's childhood crush."

"Apparently not just childhood," Will murmured, he and Alley had been preparing breakfast but listing to the conversation the whole time.

"Hey Jake, you never told us what Airi said," Maddie said enjoying this new side of Jake. She had never seen his as embarrassed as he was in that moment.

"What do you think she said Maddox. Airi told our boy Jake here that she still carried a torch for him," Mike told his sister.

"Excuse me...I'm going to go and drown myself in the shower," Jake said and quickly left the room.

"Rachel how close were your brother and Airell, er, Airi at the Centre?" Ethan questioned his daughter.

"Jake told Airi stuff that he sometimes wouldn't tell me. She was his confidant, Jake told her his dreams, desires and deepest fears. When Airi and Lin arrive Daddy there's a damn good change you'll get to meet your future daughter-in-law," Rachel grinned and left to dress for the day.

Up Next: Will helps Jason learn to use his new power. Benny and Kaine have another talk as does Adam and Jake.

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