Chapter 41

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Brothers

Kyle (POV)

*Four months later (Again…)*

I sat at the kitchen table in the kitchen of the home where I had grown up. Before me was a boy that resembled my past. He was physically 17 years old but mentally the equivalent of a new born. The boy watched me with great curiosity, mimicking my posture and every movement. He still had yet to speak a word since Foss and I had brought him here this morning. With everything that had happened today, Foss, Christopher and Jessi were hunkered down in my old room working on damage control.

I was trying to make things as simple as I could for the boy who sat with me, knowing exactly what he was going through. I placed a banana in front of him and took one for myself, I peeled my own having him watch and within a few seconds he picked up on what to do and began to peel his own banana. Then he analyzed my movements as I began to eat it, he picked up on that skill too, and mimicked my actions.

I could hear Foss arguing with Christopher about what was the next best thing to do. Not long after I heard Jessi slip out of the room and make her way to the kitchen. I instructed the boy to finish the banana and he seemed to understand because when I stood up he didn't. I went to the coffee maker to pour myself a cup of coffee.

"Want a cup?" I asked, sensing Jessi's presence in the doorway of the kitchen.

"Please?" Her voice sounded hopeful.

I chuckled and handed her my mug before pouring another. She took a seat on one of the stools at the counter and nursed her coffee.

"Jessi, I just wanted to thank you. We wouldn't have been able to do half of what we've done today without your help," I spoke in a soft tone as I grabbed the milk from the fridge and poured it into my coffee.

"I wouldn't have missed being a part of this for a minute Kyle. You of all people know how I feel about Latnok," she slightly mumbled the last bit.

"I remember your reaction when I called and told you our plan four months ago…" I chuckled slightly taking a sip of my coffee.

"I still can't believe it's taken us four months to do all this," she laughed slightly.

"I had to make them believe I was one of them…that took time."

"Has he said anything yet?" she asked, peering over her shoulder at him.

"No…but he's only been out of the pod for a few hours…I think it will take some time." He must have picked up on us talking about him, because after a moment he looked up at me and smiled slightly.

"What do we call him?" Jessi asked shifting in her seat so she could look at the both of us.

That stumped me for a second. "I've never had to name anyone."

"Well he needs a name, Kyle." She pointed out. "And he is your brother so…"

"I can only imagine what Adam would have wanted to name him if he were alive, if he even knew about him." I trailed off a little.

"He kind of looks like an Owen or a Wyatt…" She trailed off a little.

"Nathan," I said, and for some reason he responded slightly: there was a change in his eyes.

"Why Nathan?" Jessi pondered.

"It was Adam's younger brother's name…" Christopher finished for me as he joined us. "Kyle, I didn't know that you knew about Nathan, Adam didn't like to talk about him after he died."

"When I was living with Adam, I came across a photo of them. He was a little hesitant to tell me but eventually he did," I shrugged.

"Oh…Foss wants to go over things with you, so Jessi and I will keep an eye on him."

I nodded and left but stopped in the doorway for a moment.

"Christopher, did Adam know about…Nathan?" I turned slightly when I asked him.

"I didn't even know about him until a few months before Latnok had me contact you," he admitted. "I assume that Adam was left in the dark about it as well. Grace must have made a point to save DNA from Adam as a backup in case you weren't up to her standards."

"I really would like to meet this woman one day," my voice was stern.

I found Foss hunched over a map that he had spread out across my desk in my old room.

"What's all this?" I mumbled, peering over his shoulder at the map.

"We have to get you guys out of here for a while," Foss muttered.

"How long?" I asked, thinking about my family and my job.

"Long enough for me to take care of things here. With everything we've done there's no doubt that the board members are seeking help from another Latnok chapter."

I nodded. "What about my family?"

"They'll be safe; Amanda and Brice are going to continue with their plan to fly to New York. Lori and Declan will go with them so Declan can keep them safe for you." He paused. "Your parents are going to stay here it would look to suspicious if they were to leave unexpectedly, I'll have someone looking in on them. Josh and Andy are going to do the same.

"This was for the best Kyle; with what Latnok was planning on doing…We didn't have a choice." He must have picked up on the concern and regret I was feeling. "With the plans they had for that boy out there and all the clones they were planning on creating…"

"I know, I know, but it doesn't make leaving my family any easier."

"Believe me, I know," he said, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Everything will work out though."

Foss's compassionate side was something that I didn't get to see too often, but it was always nice when I did.

"So what's the plan?" I asked, turning my attention back to the maps and papers.

"You and Jessi are going to take the boy-"

"Nathan," I provided his new name for Foss.

"You're going to take Nathan, to a cabin in Vancouver and hide out there for a little while. Christopher will stay back here for a few days and try and get in contact with other board members and see what their next move is. They still think he's on their side." I couldn't help but notice the smirk on Foss's face. "I'll stay back too until I'm sure things here have calmed down, then I'll make my way up to you guys."

I nodded and he continued.

"This backpack has everything you'll need," he said, picking up a faded dark blue backpack from the floor and opening it on the desk. "There's enough cash to last you guys about a month or two if you're careful. I'll have Nathan's passport ready before you leave tonight. There's an untraceable laptop and three cell phones in here, even though their untraceable try not to use them too much. Amanda and your parents each have a cell phone just like these, just in case. Here's the map and directions and the keys to the place. I also switched the plates on the car to California plates just as a precaution."

"I'm going to go by your apartment to pack you a bag of clothes…it's too risky for you to leave. Is there anything that you need?"

I shook my head no and he was gone.

I looked around the room; my tub was still here from my wedding. I sat on the edge for a moment gathering my thoughts. Just two days ago I was saying goodbye to Amanda and Brice, sending them off to New York. She and Lori had been working with a few contacts out in New York to start getting their record label going. We were just lucky it gave her and Brice an excuse to get out of Seattle for a while. I turned on the phone Foss had given me and dialed Amanda's number, I knew it was nearing midnight for her but I just needed to talk to her. To hear her voice.

"Hey…" I whispered softly when I heard her pick up.

"Kyle," she spoke quietly as well.

"I hope I didn't wake you, I know it's late."

"No, its fine. The truth is I haven't been able to sleep much. I'm just so glad to finally hear from you. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, we're all fine. We just have to stay low for a while…"

"How long?"

"We're not sure yet…Foss is planning things for a month or two…" She was quiet, and I could understand why. "I'm sorry," I finally spoke.

"We knew that this was a likely outcome." I could tell she was upset, not angry—but sad.

"I really wish it wasn't, I wish I could be there for you and Brice. I should be there to protect you guys."

"You're doing the best you can, but right now you have to protect your brother. He needs you right now. Brice and I will be fine."

"I love you, Amanda…" I could feel the sting of tears in my eyes.

"I love you too…always. Please be safe though." Her voice was wavering a little and all I wanted to do was be there holding her in my arms.

"I will, and I'll be back as soon as it's safe," I tried to reassure her. "I'll try to contact you as soon as I can. Please, tell Brice that I love him and that I'll be home soon."

"I will…" she choked out.

"I love you…" I said once more.

"I love you too…" And that was the last thing she said before we ended the phone call.

I closed the phone and rested my elbows on my knees, holding my head in my hands. Before I even had time to register that Foss was back and it was time for us to go.

"It looks like that's everything," Foss said as he and I loaded up the last bag into the back of the Jeep. One bag for me, one for Jessi, and Foss had grabbed some of my clothes and packed a bag for Nathan as well.

"Try your best not to make too many stops along the way," Foss warned. "I'll start making my way up there in a couple of days."

"Thank you, Foss. Be safe," I said as I climbed into the passenger seat.

"You too, Kyle," he said through the open window.

Jessi took the first shift driving and I slept, while Nathan sat in the back seat of the Jeep. She was able to drive all the way to the boarder before I made her pull over so we could switch and I would drive the rest of the way. Once we had cleared through the boarder check without any problems, Jessi took the opportunity to sleep.

I glanced in the rear-view mirror at Nathan; he just sat quietly and watched the few cars go by his window. He had barely even shifted his posture from when we first left Seattle.

"This all has to be very…confusing, for you Nathan," I spoke and I wasn't one hundred percent sure that he was listening but I thought he was somewhat when he turned his head in my direction. "Just know that everything is going to be okay, Nathan, I'm your brother, and I'm going to take care of you... I promise."

He was quiet for the longest time, not making a single sound. I had almost lost hope that he was listening before he finally made a notion that he was.

"…Brothers…" This was the first time I had heard a word out of him since he had come out of the pod.

"Brothers," I said back, looking directly into his eye's through the mirror and he mine.

AN: Okay everyone I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I know it brings up a LOT of questions, and it's a bit of a time jump. I've been working on the next chapter so hopefully that will be up soon and it will answer a few questions. Anyway, please comment with your thoughts, as always they are greatly appreciated!