Who Said Things Were Going To Get Easier?
Disclaimer: The 4400 belong to USA network...
A/n: Since I've only seen the first parts of the second series, this is where it's set. Unfortunately, I haven't seen the rest of the series due to... life, being its usual, annoying, self. If what I'm writing isn't on par with what has happened in the series, forgive me, and consider it AU.
"Alright, I've got one." Anäis called out. "Favourite pastime?"
"You're serious?" Shawn asked scratching his head as he feigned deep thought. "That would imply that I actually have spare time." He laughed. "Uh... at the risk of letting the nerd in me out, I watch cartoons. Spongebob Squarepants to be exact."
"Pah." She said, putting on her most arrogant French expression. "Spongebob does nothing for me. Samurai Jack all the way."
"Clearly, you have yet to appreciate the artistry within Spongebob." He made her laugh at the statement. "Alright, alright. Favourite city?"
Anäis followed her steps with her eyes as she thought. They had been walking for hours now. From the coffee shop through... well, they weren't sure anymore. Minutes had become hours and if their suggestion of the sun rising sometime soon was correct, they had only minutes left of true night time. But for now, they were content to walk through Kinnear park and discuss the trivialities in their lives. A warm breeze brushed against them as they walked, complimented by the spongey, green grass beneath their bare feet. Anäis exact words upon removing her shoes had been: "Contrary to popular belief, a woman cannot walk indefinitely in 6-inch heels." Off her shoes went and, after seeing the immense comfort the act had given her, Shawn's followed suit.
"Here." She said softly, whiping a lock of hair behind her ear. "It's a beautiful city of course, but more than that, I've got a life here, and responsibilities. I like having that."
"Is that what you want?" Shawn asked, stopping to face her.
"That's not a 'favourite' question." She laughed, not having caught the seriousness displayed on his face. "I want... I want a simple life. I know it'll never be normal, I mean how can it be with everything that's happened? But, simple is good." She leant in close to him. "We never had our coffee." And with that, she lead him by the hand to the coffee vendor just outside the park.
"This has the potential to be the worst coffee I've ever had in my life... Worse than my own, and that's saying something."
"Come on, be nice." The vendor waved a hearty hello as he grabbed two styrofoam cups. "Hi Harry, how're you doing?" Anäis asked.
"I'm good pumpkin, how about you?" Harry lifted a brow, glancing at Shawn as if sizing him up.
"I'm good thank you. Julie and the kids?"
Harry laughed. "Ethan's birthday party went okay... a little destruction... okay a lot of destruction." Harry was tall. He had the look of a man who might've appeared more formidable if life had been kinder to him. His face aged beyond its years, but his eyes remained as they had been, smiling, and extremely aware. "But other than that, we're all alright."
"That's good to hear. Oh, where are my manners?" She said suddenly. "Harry, this is Shawn. Shawn, Harry."
"I know you." Said the older man. "You're part of that 4400 center." Shawn nodded, preparing for the disapproving look. "Good things you lot do there. Anäis says she's been... sings your praises."
"She does?" He looked to the woman next to him, a small grin on his face.
"She does."
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"Jonathan!" Malik had been searching for his brother for the past half hour now. His bare feet hit the plywood floors of Apollo House as he snaked his way through the empty rooms and corridors of the newly acquired safe haven for 4400s like himself. Conversation could be heard from the end of the hallway, probably a class from the sounds of it. Malik walked past and gave a brief nod of recognition to the four adult students seated around a fifth woman who was, quite obviously, leading the class. At 6"4, his presence was somewhat difficult to ignore and, upon reaching the main lounge, this became clear. "Jin, what's happenin' man." He greeted.
A dark mowhawk peered over the back of the couch. "Malik." Jin got up, "I've been meaning to talk to you," and directed his friend out to the front garden. "Don't suppose you've seen Anäis around have you?"
"You and I've got the same problem. We've both got people we're looking for and can't find. Nah, I haven't seen her since yesterday." The sun had risen not more than an hour ago, and already the bustle in the city below could be seen.
"Yeah, she didn't come home last night. Her bed hasn't been slept in, nothing in her room's been touched." Jin said, more to himself than the man in front of him, his eyes unknowningly focused on a white dove.
Malik shook his head. "You know that for a fact?"
"Yeah, I do." He tapped his lip. "I'm going to go and look for her. Hold the fort while I'm gone."
"Hold the fort? What're you talking about? Gina and Walter were left in charge last I checked."
"I don't trust them bro, and you shouldn't either. Something just isn't right about them, and until I find out what it is, they're about as trustworthy as NTAC agents." He turned and made it for the stairs.
"Hey, you seen Jonathan?"
Jin shrugged. "Why don't you just call him?"
"Because I'm crap at it." He laughed.
"You're telling me your eleven year old brother has mastered his ability and you haven't? That shit's shocking man."
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Warm rays of gold tore through the buildings that made up the Seattle skyline as cars zoomed through the streets and the working class made their way to their respective jobs. It was doubtful whether anyone of the growing mass was truly aware of the beauty of the day... aside from the couple that stood on the sidewalk, oblivious to all around them. The city had come alive and was now in full swing. "I wasn't exactly one of the nicest people when I was a teenager. I'm not just talking teen rebellion here, I mean full blown asshole." Anäis couldn't control her laughter at the statement. Disbelief had been present in her eyes as he told the tale of his venture with Missy Forester behind the school bleachers, and the fallout after a few not too gentlemanly comments about her, to his friends. "The Shawn Farell you see before you was pretty much born in the future we have no memory of to live in a past that seems doomed to destruction." He stood back and took a bow, bumping a few passersby as he did.
"Come here." She pulled him to her, "You're crazy, and soon you're going to convince these people on the street that all 4400 are," and let her eyes drift around them.
"What is it?" Shawn noticed the change in her expression.
She forced her eyes closed. "I thought I saw something."
"It's the fatigue talking." He kissed an eyelid, then the other. "That's what happens after over twenty-four hours without sleep. Trust me, I know."
Anäis winced and grabbed her stomach. "Okay, now my stomach's talking... scratch that, shouting. I wonder if I might ask the great Shawn Ferell to join me for breakfast?"
"Maybe." He grinned. "There are conditions."
"Conditions?" Asked Anäis, a brow lifted and awaiting his next words.
"Condition one: I pay, no questions asked. And two," He continued, bringing a finger to her lips to silence her protests, "you promise to pigout with me."
"Done."
And so, on they went to Macy's. The diner was tucked away near one of the smallest alleyways either of them had ever seen and it wasn't much to behold from outside or in.Again, the idea had been hers, although at this point he trusted her judgement enough to go with it. They picked a booth at the back corner of the establishment, away from most prying eyes and a prime enough spot to observe the world. As they settled in beside each other, a waitress came to take their order of two coffees with milk, and the Mammoth Morning Meal.
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Malik was at his end. He'd been searching for his brother for ages now, and while he knew that Jonathan would call him if he was in danger, it didn't stop him from worrying. He'd reached the end of the Apollo grounds and was about to turn back when a squirrel raced to his feet. He looked down at it, somewhat surprised and tried to side-step it. It looked up at him and moved to block his path. Again he tried and again it moved. "Jonny?" The squirrel bobbed up and down and scampered behind Malik. "Well it's about time." He followed the little creature, stumbling a few times as he made his way down the steep incline to the rivlet that ran past the grounds. A little way across, he saw the boy that had caused him so much worry.
"Hi Malik." Came the light voice as the squirrel ran to the boy's side.
"What you think you playing at little man?" Malik's anger was not hidden. "Sneakin' off and not tellin' anybody where you at? It's not safe for you, for any of us."
"But Anäis does it."
"It ain't the same thing. She can handle herself."
"I have powers too." Jonathan shot back. "I can use them better than you can."
Malik shook his head and sat on the rocks next to his brother. "I know you can Jonny, no one here's arguing that including me. I was just worried okay, don't do that again. Next time, at least give me a heads up." He tapped his temple.
They sat in silence for a while until next Jonathan spoke: "I'm worried about Anäis." He looked to Malik. "I heard what Jin said."
"The white dove was you?" Malik asked. His brother nodded. "Let me tell you something, straight up: If Anäis ever had to go head to head with any one of the 4400 here, she'd take 'em out, no doubt about it. Even I hate having to train with her."
"Jin's also pretty good though."
"Jin? Please, that boy can't do a thing that makes sense when he's around her." Malik looked out into the wooded area and caught sight of an eagle. "Feel like teaching your brother a few moves?"
"Only if my brother promises to concentrate harder than he has been, I'm getting sick and tired of teaching you the same thing." Malik grabbed his brother playfully around the neck and rubbed Jonny's head with his knuckles.
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"I think I'm going to be sick." Anäis moaned, leaning back onto the window.
Shawn rubbed her stomach. "Not coping, is it?" He laughed. "Don't worry, I've got healing hands."
"I'm sure you do." She placed her hand over his, holding his eyes with her own. "And how about you, was the Mammoth Meal enough?"
"So-so. I could still eat."
In shock: "You could still eat?"
"I could still eat." He nodded. "But congratulations to you. You did a lot better than I thought you would, by actually finishing it."
"Why thank you." She said with pride. "I aim to please." The waitress returned just then with Shawn's credit card and dispensed the usual parting pleasantries while clearing their plates and cups.
Shawn became silent, slowly rubbing the lean leg that bridged his own with one hand, and with his other hand, entangling his fingers with hers. "I had a good time last night and this morning."
"You're saying it like it's ending."
"Well isn't it?"
"It doesn't have to be. We can just keep going."
"Where, and for how long?"
"It doesn't matter." She knew this look by now, his look of the world coming down on his shoulders. She wanted him to be rid of it. With some persuasion and much will power from both sides, they managed to detangle themselves from each other and leave the fast filling diner. They said their goodbyes to the waitress and were out onto the streets of Seattle once more. The traffic had slowed down to chaos after the morning rush, and it was a considerable amount easier to navigate than it had been the first time around. As they hit a traffic light and awaited the pedestrian 'walk' to signal that they could do just that, she turned to him. "What now, my Thinker?" She asked softly.
"What is this? What are we?"
She shrugged, cupping his cheek in her hand. "I don't know, but I know that I don't want to think about it. It's too much, too complicated. I want to be where I am, right now and that's something I don't need to think about." Then she gave him a look so deeply intense, he would've done absolutely anything for her at that point. They hugged, and the sweet kiss they shared lingered long after the 'walk' sign had lit.
A sudden force rocked their bodies and Anäis slowly felt Shawn's full weight rest on her. They fell to the pavement, unable to do much else. She looked at Shawn, his eyes growing vacant as his mouth contorted in pain. With effort, she rolled him off her, wincing in pain and grabbing her side. There was blood. The scream of a passerby rented the air as blood began to stream out from beneath Shawn, filling the gritwork of the pavement with crimson liquid as it traveled further, creating a pool. She lifted his shirt, biting down as she saw the bullet wound in his stomach that was bleeding him to death. Her eyes searched through the mayhem, unable from where she knelt, to find any signs of a shooter.
"Shawn!" She shook him, his eyes darting around, clearly struggling to hold on to consciousness. "Shawn, don't." She shouted. "Shawn. Stay with me!" Her last words seemed to be the ones to bring him to focus. He looked at her, struggling to breath steadily. "Shawn can you hear me?"
He nodded.
"There isn't enough time to get an ambulance. Heal yourself Shawn. Heal yourself now or you will die." She was different now, even in his haze he saw it. She had gone into a kind of survival mode... and it was working.
"Can't. I can't."
"Why?" She continued to shout. His eyes rolled again. "Shawn! Why can't you heal yourself?"
"Not strong enough. Not enough..."
"Shawn! Shawn listen to me!" She shook him again, scared he was fading fast. "Shawn if you sleep now, you will not wake up, and everything that you mean to this world will be gone. It cannot loose you, I..." The words were caught in her throat. She looked around them, a crowd slowly forming. "I can get you what you need, but promise me you'll hold on, please." He nodded, beginning to shiver.
Anäis took his hand in hers, and placed it on the gun shot wound. The other she stretched out. She closed her eyes, and fought to gain a control she had yet to truly master. When next her eyes opened, tiny snaps of light littered around them like symphony of fireworks. She looked to all the curious bodies that surrounded them, and with no need to be told, they stepped back. The air began to heat, and in seconds, the heat became almost unbearable. Again the crowd stepped back, then further and further. The nearest street lamps burst first, then the next. The traffic lights lost power and the same went for the surrounding stores. She leant down and kissed him.
Shawn felt a surge, one that almost made him loose any focus he had left. The injury became prevelant in his mind and he reveled in the feeling that had grown so familiar to him in the past few years. Tissue mended... muscle merged... blood flowed... skin rejoined. Anäis' lips left his as she forced her gaze skyward. A scream of pain left her and, with it, a flash of light so brilliant it blinded onlookers for some time. It took some effort, but Shawn got to his feet, helping a weakened Anäis do the same. The crowd was pushed back by five or so people, authorities by the look. Whether it was founded or not, he felt an undoubtable NTAC presence.
"Are you alright?" He asked, taking her face in his hands and frantically checking her over.
She moved her arm and exposed the wound in her side. "Now that you've gotten the little matter of saving your life out of the way, do you think you could take a look at this?" Anäis ended, collapsing into his arms.
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