RETURNING HOME
Chapter 3
The Time Comes
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Alex and Ray were attempting to relive their youths by spending the day hanging out at the mall. They had been walking around for a little over an hour and Alex was lugging a couple bags of supplies for her class, all Ray had gotten was a new baton from the instrument store.
"This isn't fair", she complained, "I have to carry all this crap and all you have to worry about is a new baton."
Ray chuckled a bit and took one of the bags from Alex, "That is why I'll always like my job better than yours."
"Ray we have the same job just different positions, you teach kids how to not suck at making music and I teach kids how to cut up frogs and mix chemicals without blowing themselves to hell", she retorted.
"Don't forget to make sure they don't make themselves glow or turn into puddles", he said laughing.
"Oh come on, I can show them some of my tricks and see how much the school board likes me", she chuckled out.
"Just promise me you'll never transform into me and make my class do something silly", he said unknowingly leaning towards her.
She smiled, "Oh no I would never do a thing like that", Alex replied also leaning in and pressing her lips to Rays.
After a few moments they separated and looked at each other in a new light. Ray began to sink away as though he had done something wrong but Alex grabbed his arm and pulled him close to her.
"Don't, it's ok", she said still slightly blushing.
"I don't know what happened", he responded.
"Hey don't worry about it", Alex replied, "And besides, you're a good kisser."
He perked up slightly, "You think so?"
"I don't know", she replied with a smirk, "I just might have to try it again", and she leaned back in to kiss him again.
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George entered his office to go over the files for the second half of the day. As he made his way over to his desk he noticed an unfamiliar man standing in the corner.
"Can I help you?" he asked the man.
"Actually you can Mr. Mack", he responded, "I'm here to inquire about a substance called GC-161."
"I see", George said, "I'm afraid I'm going to have to disappoint you sir."
"And why is that? If I may ask", the man questioned sternly.
George looked at the man clearly annoyed, he was not about to let something so dangerous fall into the hands of someone he didn't even know let alone trust. "Well for one thing it's a dangerous substance that only top level staff members and researchers have access too, which by the way have to be cleared by me, and for another, I don't even know you.
"Of course", the man replied, "I'm Dr. Thomson, and I am from the government."
"Is that so?" George asked skeptically.
"Yes Mr. Mack it is, and my boss is very interested in acquiring your data on the GC-161 project." Thomson looked George straight in the eye and tried his best to look intimidating, "And my boss always gets what he wants."
George returned the look that this Dr. Thomson gave him and began to raise his voice slightly, "Tell your boss that if he goes through proper channels and I see the correct paperwork that I would be happy to help him out, but until that happens I have no intention of just handing GC-161 over to anybody. Do I make myself clear?"
Dr. Thomson began to shy away from the angry CEO, "Quite, and I will give my boss the bad news, but I must warn you he will not be happy about this."
"In the mean time I would be most appreciative if you would vacate these premises before I have security do it for you", George stated with a sharp tone in his voice.
Dr. Thomson lowered his head slightly indicating that George had won this round and left the office. Once George was sure he had left the building he picked up the phone and dialed his head of research.
"Ann Mack", the voice on the other end said
"Annie, we have a problem", George said.
"What kind of problem?" she replied.
"Well some man was here asking about GC-161, and he claimed to be from the government." George said not bothering to hide the annoyance he felt at the situation, "I'm ordering a complete halt on all GC-161 research and activating a code red security on all files pertaining to it."
"I'll immediately lock down and hard copies, remove the drive, and destroy all samples" Annie replied.
"Good and next chance you get please tell Alex to be careful of anyone snooping around, especially if they're snooping around her." He said before hanging up and trying to go back to work.
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It was now about 3:30 and Ray and Alex had just gotten back from their shopping trip. Alex put her bags up in her room and then joined Ray on the sofa.
"So what should I wear?" she asked.
"Something nice but there's no need to overdress", he replied.
"Well I guess I should shower and get ready, I'll see you in a couple hours", she said leaning in and giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Guess so", he said felling his cheek, "I'll be here about eight for you."
"And I'll be ready", she replied walking him to the door.
Just as she was shutting the door Annie came bursting in.
"Alex", she said panting, "We have a problem."
Alex looked in disbelief at her sister; she hadn't seen Annie lose her cool like this too many times before and knew something was seriously wrong.
"Annie, what is it?" Alex asked worriedly.
"Dad put GC-161 on a level red lock down. Apparently some guy tried to get dad to give him all the research into it", Annie said through her pants.
"And of course that means I have to lay low right?" Alex asked with a bit of tension in her voice.
"Dad wants you to carry this with you at all times", Annie said handing Alex a GPS locator.
"What's this for?" Alex asked.
"It's so we can know where you are at all times", Annie replied.
"I'm not taking that tonight", Alex said pushing the device away.
"Alex come on, it's for your own protection" pleaded Annie.
"Annie, I have a date and I won't have you and dad checking up on me. I'm twenty-eight and capable of taking care of myself at least for one night", she stated.
Annie scowled at her sister, "Alex for one in your life will you just accept the fact that even you…. Did you say a date?"
"Yes Annie a date", Alex retorted.
"With whom may I ask", Annie asked Alex.
Alex looked at her sister and simply smiled "You'll find out at eight", she said heading upstairs to begin getting ready for her first date with Ray.
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A/N: Here is chapter 3, I hope it's enjoyed and as always reviews are very much appreciated.