John slept peacefully through the night. Helena came by for only a few minutes just to check his injuries and assured him she would return later after her meeting. After she left he continued to determine the best time for him to leave the hospital. It wouldn't be easy, and there was the possibility he would fail. Maybe he didn't need to be with Lauren. Was she even looking for him? Nothing was easy in this scenario. If anything, it was impossible to figure out.
Lauren was with her boyfriend Lance, which is where she should be. Victors report had given him the address and the easiest way to get to their location. Getting there wasn't the problem, it was getting out of the hospital, and past Helena.
Lauren woke late into the morning, surprised that Lance wasn't still asleep. She got to her feet, pulled on one of his shirts and went to look for him. He was standing on deck outside, leaning over the railing, gazing out across the ocean.
"Lance," she questioned as he seemed not to sense she was near.
She repeated his name a second time before he turned around. "Hey babe, sorry, I was sort of lost in thought."
He kissed her and she put her arm around his waist. "Are you alright? She asked. Something was bothering him.
Lance nodded. "I'm fine babe, really. You don't have to worry."
"You're not even smiling at me Lance, please tell me what's wrong."
With a sigh, he turned to look at her. "I couldn't sleep last night. I woke up and left you sleeping. I grabbed a beer and came out here, not really sure why, but for some reason I glanced up at the moon, thinking it strange that it has been full for several days now. I'm still not sure I really saw it, but there was the faint image of a second moon beginning to merge with the other.
I have to tell you it freaked me out. Wasn't sure if it was the beer, being restless or what, but I did see it."
Lauren was at a loss for words. A hundred things were running through her mind. If Lance saw two moons, what did it mean. Tears filled her eyes.
"I'm sorry Lance, it just occurred to me that all this has just become real for you."
He took her in his arms. "You don't have to cry, it's been real for me since the day I found you laying on the beach. It didn't take last night to prove that to me."
"I just wish I knew exactly what was going to happen Lance."
He hugged her tighter. "Me too babe, me too." He kissed her tears away, then taking her hand led her back inside the house. Suddenly, being outside was not where either of them wanted to be.
John woke from a light sleep, and glanced at the clock beside his bed. It was 6:00p.m. and if Helena was true to her time, she wouldn't be by for at least another hour, maybe later. He slowly got to his feet and walked over to the small closet. The clothes were still there that Victor had brought in for him, and with a deep breath, he changed from his pajamas into them.
He stopped a time or two to listen for the possibility of someone walking in, but he was lucky. Dressed in jeans, a tan shirt and light jacket, he set down and pulled on the tennis shoes that were with the clothes. Glancing at himself in the mirror, he felt like he was another person. On alpha they had their uniforms and some personal clothing, but few ever wore anything else.
Reaching for the small envelope, John opened it to find a wallet and some cash he might need. He shoved it into the back pocket of his jeans and zipped the jacket up a few inches.
Feeling more than nervous, he walked to door of his room and opened it just enough to look out into the hall. There were a few people at the nurses desk, including the security guards. John took a step back and thought for a moment. The stairs offered him the chance of not being seen or detected as easily, but the elevators would be quicker, and not put such a strain on his chest injury. He hated to admit it hurt, but he didn't have time to think about that at the moment.
Turning around, he picked up the phone and dialed the nurses desk requesting help on another floor. He walked back to the door, opening it enough to see the guards and two nurses leave in a hurry. Once they were out of sight, he slipped out of the room and made the decision to try the elevator after all. It was more risky, but a quicker way out of the building.
He took a few slow steps and disappeared around the corner. The elevators lay ahead of him and he reached out to punch the button for the car that would take him down. He kept his back to the doors as they opened, hoping no one would step out. Glancing over his shoulder to see no one inside, he stepped in and the doors closed. He hit the button for the main floor and the car started its descent.
His escape would have been perfect if the car hadn't stopped on the second floor. John mumbled to himself and turned away from the doors with his head down. Of all the people in the hospital, it had to be Helena Russell who stepped inside.
"Damn!" John cursed under his breath.
Helena was more than surprised to see John Koenig standing inside. Her anger showed on her face and in the tone of her voice. "Just where the hell do you think you're going John?" she demanded to know.
The doors closed behind her and John immediately hit the button to stall the car. "Where do you think I'm going Helena. I told you I have things to do. Why do refuse to believe that?"
She took a deep breath. "Listen to me John, you are not leaving this hospital tonight. This is ridiculous that you would even think this would work."
He was beginning to regret not taking the stairs. "You can't stop me Helena."
"I can and I will, all I have to do is push this button and call security."
"That's' a move you will regret." John threatened.
"Not at all, I'm your doctor, you are under my care and I have not given you permission to leave. We can do things my way, or your way." she stated.
John began to pace in the car. Suddenly an emergency tone sounded and a voice came over the speaker to ask if there was a problem. Helena assured them everything was okay and the car would be on it's way.
Helena went to start the car back up to John's floor, but he blocked her hand, opened the doors and stepped into the hall.
"I am not going back to my room Helena, but we will continue this conversation."
Helena glared at him and stepped out of the car. "We are going to continue this in your room John." she told him.
"NO!' he told her defiantly. "I am not going back there Helena. You have an office here, we can talk there or things are going to get ugly right here in the open."
Helena silently counted to ten under her breath. "Fine, my office is on the next floor up. We can and will talk there."
She turned and started to punch the button for the elevator, but John blocked her. "Sorry babe", he told her. " I don't trust you. One flight of stairs won't kill me."
"John, be reasonable." she asked with irritation.
"I am, lets go." he urged her taking her arm.
Helena jerked her arm from his grasp and they walked to the doorway for the stairs.
Helena took the stairs slowly allowing John to move at a pace that wouldn't put to much strain on his chest injury. Above all, that was her main concern. They stepped into the hall and entered her office just a few doors down. She closed the door, turned on the light and faced John.
"I asked you this a few days ago John and I'm going to ask you again. Do you have a death wish?"
"No! I don't." he stated. "I have things to accomplish Helena and you just don't seem to understand that."
"I do, but in your current physical condition, you shouldn't be out of bed, on your feet and taking on some….mission that can wait."
"It can't wait Helena, that's what I'm trying to get across to you. You told me earlier you know what today is. I have maybe 24-36 hours to get to Lauren. She is not an obsession, but her safety is my responsibility and I have to know if we will get back to alpha together."
Helena closed her eyes, shaking her head. "I'm keeping you here for your own good John."
"I'm guess you know best." he stated crossing his arm over his chest.
"John, please... " she pleaded.
"Please what.." he shouted. "I thought you believed me Helena. Was it just a lie? Just humoring me?"
Helena frowned. "Seriously John, do you think I would do that to you?"
"I don't know right now Helena." He shouted, his voice louder than intended." What happened to your compassionate side, the non professional part that did believe in me. That part of you that gave yourself to me, not once, but twice, that responded to my kisses, that slept by my side the other night You said you loved me Helena…."
Their conversation was interrupted by a short rap on her office door and Victor peered inside. "I do not know what is going on in here with the two of you but as I came to talk to you Helena, I can hear you and John shouting at each other down the hall."
John sighed and took a seat on the small couch in the office. "Sorry Victor." he apologized, realizing Victor probably heard more than he should have.
"So…? Victor questioned, looking back and forth at them.
Helena threw her hands up. "I caught John trying to leave the hospital this evening. He's not exactly happy with me at the moment. I want him back in bed but he refuses to go."
Victor studied the two of them before he spoke. "John, I assume you were going to try and locate this girl Lauren?' he questioned.
"Yes, I can't stop Breakaway, it's too late, but I can make sure she's safe and knows that I'm alive. Is that asking to much.? He directed the last part of his statement towards Helena. He got up and began pacing the floor.
Helena noticed a blood stain on the front of John's shirt and that concerned her. She reached out to him, but he knocked her hand away. "I'm fine Helena." he insisted.
"That blood stain on the front of your shirt says differently." she told him.
"Let her have a look John," Victor told him. There was something in his eyes that told John, his friend would help him out.
John turned to Helena. "Fine."
She had him set back on the couch beside her and she opened his shirt. Peeling away the edge of the bandage she was happy to see that he didn't pull any stitches.
"You're lucky, the stitches are intact, just some seeping. However, the wounds need to be cleaned and have fresh bandages applied. I don't have those supplies here in my office."
Victor looked over at Helena. "My dear, can you allow me to have some private words with John before you tend his injuries?"
"If it means getting him back to his room and in bed where he belongs, then yes. I need a few moments alone anyway." She closed John's shirt and he got to his feet.
"Thank you Helena, no need to worry, I'll make sure John will be waiting for you." Victor told her and led John to the door.
Victor stepped out into the hall, but John looked back over his shoulder at Helena. His eyes said it all, he still loved her.