Topsy Turvy

Summary: Sequel to How to Save a Life. Jade and Linksano have been together for six months, and Linksano is working on a solution that will allow Jade to survive in the Awesome 'Verse. But something happens that turns their lives upside down.

Warnings: None

Rating: PG

Pairing: Linksano/OC

Disclaimer: All characters copyright AT4W, except Jade, who is mine.

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Chapter Three: Bonding with Harvey

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Harvey couldn't sleep. He tossed and turned, trying to find a comfortable position on his bed. No luck. "Damn insomnia." He clicked on the bedside lamp, frowning at the book that lay open on his nightstand. He picked it up and leafed through a few pages, the words not registering. With an angry sigh, he tossed the book aside and pulled on a robe. Maybe a midnight snack would help him sleep.

He tiptoed downstairs, careful not to wake any of the other occupants, then noticed a light coming from the living room. Curious as to who would be awake at three in the morning, he peeked around the corner.

Jade was sitting on the couch, a large photo album in front of her. As Harvey watched, she turned one page, then another, her expression unreadable. He stepped into the room, clearing his throat to make his presence known. Jade looked up briefly before focusing once more on the photos."Hello, Harvey."

"Hey Red. Can't sleep either, huh?"

Jade nodded. "Yes. Linksano tried to fix me some warm milk, but apparently I cannot drink it. It made me rather violently ill."

Harvey frowned in sympathy. "So where is the Doc, anyway?" Jade pointed to the ceiling, and Harvey sighed. "Still working on an anchor for you, huh? Here you are, pregnant, and he's off playing scientist." Jade frowned at him, and he sat next to her. "So what are ya looking at?"

"Linksano gave it to me. It's photos of him and his brother." She smiled at a photo of a ten year old Linksano, complete with large glasses and braces. "He was rather handsome, even as a child, don't you think?"

Harvey thought he looked like the kind of kid that got beat up regularly, but decided not to mention that. And looking past the huge glasses, messy hair, and the railroad in his mouth, Harvey could see a pretty cute kid shining through. "Yeah, he ain't bad looking. Not as handsome as I was as a kid, but not bad looking. That scrawny kid next to him must be his brother. Wonder who's the oldest."

"Linksano told me he was, by six months. His brother's name is Wayne."

Jade turned the page, and this time the photos showed a teenaged Linksano, resplendent in coke bottle glasses and face pockmarked with acne, standing in front of his first prize Science Fair project- a way of using water to run a car. Harvey whistled. "Boy, the Doc was always a genius, wasn't he?" Jade nodded. Harvey looked at the pictures. "Hey Red, I know you didn't bring much when you jumped here, but do you have any photos back home of you as a kid?"

"No."

Harvey made a face. "Well, that's too bad. Tell ya what, I'm gonna go find Linkara's camera and take a picture of you." He got up before Jade could say anything and went into the kitchen, pulling the camera out of the junk drawer. "Smile, Red!" Jade rolled her eyes and refused to look at him. "Ahh, come on, are you shy or something?"

"Or something."

Harvey snorted and aimed the camera at Jade, snapping a picture. He blinked at the bright, blurry shape that appeared on screen. "Damn thing must not have been in focus."

Jade looked up, sighing. "Harvey, before you waste your time taking picture after picture, Linksano has already determined that I can't be photographed or filmed. I always appear as a bright, slightly human shaped blur. He thinks it's because of my body heat-regular cameras and film can't translate it into a clear shape. He's taken a few pictures of me with an infrared camera, though."

Harvey raised his eyebrow. "Yeah? What kind of pictures?"

Jade stuck her tongue out at him. "The kind no one but he and I will ever see." Harvey cackled, and Jade grinned, blushing. "He's a very good photographer."

"OK, I don't need to know anymore." Harvey said, holding up his hand. Jade giggled. "I'll be right back, Red." He dashed upstairs, returning with a large photo album. "I figured I'd show you some pics of my own."

The first one was an old black and white photo of what was obviously a young Harvey, hand to his mouth in the imitation of a microphone. "From the minute I could talk, I wanted to be a singer. Mom was a headliner at all the clubs, and Dad was her manager. I'd watch from the wings as she sang, and seeing the audience eat out of her hand was something I never forgot. Mom made sure I had singing lessons, too-and when I was eight, I got my first gig." He turned the page, revealing an old flyer, the ink nearly faded. 'Finevoice and Finevoice. See Alma Finevoice and her son Harvey, together on stage for the first time!' "I was so damn nervous I threw up twice. But once I got up on that stage and started singing, I knew I didn't want to do anything else for the rest of my life."

The next several pages were photos from clubs and venues all over the States, with a smiling Harvey front and center in all of them. Then came a page with photos of Harvey and a smiling blonde, their arms around each other. Harvey sighed, tracing the woman's face. "That's Helena. My...well, I guess she'd be considered my widow now. It's been a lot longer than seven years since I went missing."

Jade patted his arm in sympathy. Linksano had filled her in on Harvey's situation. "She's quite pretty."

Harvey chuckled. "Yeah, and don't let that cute face fool ya. She could cuss like a sailor and drink guys twice her size under the table. But she was also one of the nicest people. Lord knows she was one of the most patient, too. Stuck with me for longer than she should have after..." he fell silent.

"After?"

Silently, Harvey turned to the last page of the album. A small boy beamed at them, his eyes shining. "That's Charlie. He...this is the only picture I have of him. Helena kept all the others. He had just turned seven."

Jade smiled at the photo. "He looks like you."

"Helena thought so too. Said it was the devil may care smile we both had." Harvey heaved a deep sigh. "Two months after this was taken, Charlie was diagnosed with leukemia. Docs gave him less than a year to live. He lasted for three, and he never stopped smiling. After, I kinda fell into a bottle. Took coming to another time and being found by the Kid to snap me out of it."

Jade squeezed Harvey's arm in sympathy. "I'm sorry. Harvey, I...I've been doing some research on Earth customs in regards to babies, and I came across an interesting idea-that of a godfather. Would you perhaps be my child's godfather?"

Harvey gaped at her. "What?"

"I understand if you don't want to, after all, it is most presumptuous of me to assume, but I honestly cannot think of anyone who would be better, and according to Linksano's calculations, I've got about three months left, so I thought I'd ask now, but if you think I should wait-"

"Red, has anyone told you that you ramble worse than the Doc?"

"It has been brought to my attention."

Harvey laughed. "Good. Now, to answer your question-I'd be honored."

Jade beamed and kissed his cheek.