Convalesce

Finally bringing this to an end, I suppose. I may make a sequel or rewrite it at some point, but I feel pretty good about some of the chapters. Maybe I'll write it again from Danny's pov? I'll just admit right now to not being completely sure if I originally named this au convalesce or convalescence. I have both written down and it's confusing. I don't know, but it's been fun writing this. Thank you so, so much to everyone who read, reviewed, faved and followed. I want to thank all you for sticking with this through everything. I hope you all enjoy this- the last chapter of my convalesce au.

Chapter 9

"He's gone, Jazz, h-he left a note and that's it. He just packed up and left. I-I don't know where or- oh god, Jazz why did he do this?"

"I-I don't know. Have you read the note?"

"N-no."

"Good. Wait for me. I want to be there when you read it. I'll be home in a bit."

"S-see you…"
The other end of the line shut off with a click. I held my phone to my chest, trying to calm the tremors of suppressed sobs racking my body.

I ran out to my car and hopped in, frantically turning the keys and tearing out of the parking lot of my dorm. I needed to go home.

He'd heard about my imprisonment, and now he's gone.

That part of the government- the GiW- could ignore a person's constitutional rights if they wanted to. They had every right to detain me for as long as they wanted to. They just don't usually ignore them because they get penalized for it. Questioning by the GiW was like being accused of being a communist in the 50's. Everyone knew who you were, and everyone believed you were a communist- even if you weren't.

Because of that mentality- if she was detained by the GiW something must be bad about her- my future was in shambles, my place at Harvard was in jeopardy, and Danny knew it.

He knew that my life is basically over, and he blames himself.

It's my fault that he's gone.

I didn't even have to read the note to know that he's run away because he thinks he's too dangerous.

But he really is dangerous, you know?

He's a half-ghost lab experiment who we helped escape from a lifetime of torture and training as a weapon. He could probably kill two people with his bare hands. He could infiltrate governments and high security buildings without even blinking. Just some half human weapon that was developed for the security of America's interests.

But he was such a sweetie.

He'd been volunteering lately. Built homes for people and gave out food at food shelters. He can't volunteer at a hospital or at an animal shelter because of obvious reasons- needles and cages-. But he tries. He babysat free for the neighbours, always tipped the waiters, shoveled the whole street's driveways, took care of people's pets when they go out of town. He's an amazing person. I don't think I know anyone better.

The sheer goodness inside of him was able to overcome a childhood of torture and dehumanization.

He helps because he doesn't want anyone to suffer like he did.

But now, in order to protect the people that he loves, he's leaving.

He's giving up the only love he's ever known so we would be safe. Mom may not have seen him as her son the whole time, and Dad was the best father he could've been to a fourteen year old lab experiment.

We weren't his actual biological family, but we were as good as. Better even. Because of my theory is right, his biological parents gave him up and sent him to that facility.

He had to be born somehow, and artificial wombs are only in research stages. We never found his biological parents, but why would we want to?

They gave him up. It was because of them that he is what he is. He could've had a completely normal life- one with friends and playing ball in the park and just being a normal kid instead of experiment after painful experiment and small cages and the abuse.

He didn't want to find them either.

'It was their fault anyway' is what he would always say. He never talked much about his time in the Facility. Well, he did in the beginning, but that was because he wasn't allowed secrets in the Facility. He told us everything because he didn't know he didn't have to tell us.

I suppose that's one of the worst parts.

Even his thoughts were controlled there. He couldn't think or feel for himself. Every thought he ever had could be found out by simply asking him.

But it didn't matter much, now.

He'd started to keep secrets. He hid things and reveled in the control he had over his own mind.

He'd need to keep secrets if he's going off on his own.

But it doesn't matter.

I'm still going to look for him. I'm not going to make him come back. I'm just going to keep an eye on him. Make sure he doesn't get into any trouble, make sure he survives.

I'll do everything I can to make sure he's alright, and that he stays out of the Facility.

I'm still going to have my own life, of course. Or, as much of a life as I can have with the massive shadow of government accusation of a crime hanging over my head.

My car rumbled up the driveway to my parent's house. The starry sky above me barely illuminating the woods around me.

I could've sworn I saw green eyes staring at me.