At ten on the dot, I walk through the lab door, leaving Gleiv to stand guard in the hall. He wanted to know all the juicy tidbits that took place with Dr. Gav. I told him that nothing happened and she didn't tell me anything about why Troy left in a huff.
Dr. Gav and Dr. Albright are already in the observation room. They are both seated and neither are talking or looking at each other. The tablet in her lap lights up her face and he is looking at me.
"Good morning, doctors." I say to them. Sasha looks up, smiles and then back down at her data-pad. Troy nods.
…Okay… not awkward at all. Oh well, whatever is going on between those two I hope that it doesn't make my job harder. I activate Vixen and get right to work.
We break for lunch and the doctors rush out. I save my session and head out the door… It's Carder. We head to the dining hall and I eat alone.
It's the same thing after lunch. The doctors are silently looking, or not looking at me through the clear class of the observation room. I work until evening. Around eight pm, Gleiv walks in with a wrapped sandwich and some coffee. Troy mumbles something about calling it a night and leaves. Dr. Gav stands at the open door of the observation room, watching him go. She comes out, taps a few buttons on her data-pad and waves it over the surface of the Laboratable. She says that she'll study the progress of the day at home and will see us tomorrow. I go back to my room, watch a movie and go to sleep.
The next day, it happens all over again. I all I get are stale faces, one-word answers and quiet retreats. If it wasn't for Gleiv and Anya, I'd be all alone.
…
"What is your favorite type of ice-cream?" Anya asks as we sit in the library eating cheesy-mac and fruit salad. She happily slurps down a small carton of chocolate milk with another on stand-by.
I smile at her over my cup of coffee. "I like vanilla bean, and sometimes I'm in the mood for double chocolate fudge brownie."
She gasps. "I love double chocolate fudge brownie!"
"I though you might."
"I like regular chocolate and dark chocolate and peanut butter with chocolate… practically any ice-cream with chocolate is fine with me. We have ice-cream here… if you ever want any. I'd make sure you'd get some."
I look at her wryly. "I appreciate you looking out for me, Anya."
"I don't mind at all. If I were you, I'd rather be looked after as a guest than followed around like I'm going to steal something." She mutters and cuts her eyes at Carder, who is standing by the door. He's probably staring right at me but I can never tell with those shades he's always wearing.
"You think I'm being treated unfavorably?" I ask her.
"I don't know." She looks down and plays with the opening of her second carton of milk.
I'm interested in what's going on in her mind; how she is viewing this whole situation of me being here. "Anya, you wouldn't have made that remark if you didn't have an opinion about something."
She sticks her straw into her milk. She bites down on the straw and blows into it. "I wish it were just you and me here while we eat and go over our lessons. Don't you feel like you've done something wrong with a guard watching you all the time?"
"I… it's just a safety precaution. Like you said, I'm a guest here. There's a certain level of trust that has to be met before I'm able to walk all through your… this facility, unattended."
"You've been her for weeks now. How long will it be until my mother trusts you?"
Yikes. This is definitely a personal conundrum. Although I do feel like a criminal when Carder is monitoring me, Gleiv is actually spending time with me when he's on watch. Anya couldn't possibly know how little it matters to me that I've got an escort wherever I go. She only cares that I have one when I'm with her.
"Anya, even if I had twenty guards following me around, I'd still ignore them when I'm with you for our lunch study. And you mother, she's just looking out for your wellbeing. I'm a stranger."
"Well, you are not a stranger to me. I've known you for over a year as my online tutor. I trust you more than anyone, even more so now that I've met you… If my mother cared about my wellbeing so much then maybe she should be standing at the door with a tranquilizer gun instead of Carder." She looks away, pressing her lips tightly over her straw and silently sucks in the milk.
In the weeks that I've been here I've noticed that Dr. Gavnikov is with Troy and I in the lab the entire day. And I've seen for myself that Dr. Gav can stay in her personal lab into all hours of the night and morning. I'm not sure if she sees much of her daughter. I understand how important it is to Dr. Gav that I find Protagen. I can help give her a longer, healthier life with Anya. But I'm betting Anya has no idea the possible severity of her mother's condition. There is a fifty/fifty chance of FFI awakening in Dr. Gav's genes. Finding a complimentary version of Protagen would destroy that trait. This time the doctor sacrifices away from her daughter is storing up hope for more time with her in the future. Still, it doesn't abate Anya's desire for her mother's attention. Not just time as teacher and student, but mother and daughter, nurturing, quiet, fun things; stuff I can't replace within an hour of tutoring every other day. Master Splinter may not have been able to help me or guide me with my collection of science projects and gadgets, but he was always there to ease my tangled mind and help me focus. Whenever I needed to talk to him, he was there. I know there were times when I rambled and spoke too fast. But somehow he was able to cut away to the source of my troubles and I always left his room better than I'd come in.
"Anya, what do you do all day when your mother, Dr. Troy and I are in the lab?" I ask.
She sighs. "Let's see. I get up about seven am and get washed and dressed. I have a lot of clothes so that can take a while. Then I play with and feed my Virtu-pet Pegasus. I helped mom program her. She can fly and talk to me and play little games. I named her Petals. Then I read a few chapters of some sci-fi books I'm currently into. I love sci-fi. My mother comes in sometimes to kiss me goodbye or she sends me a quick message to my Screen Time. Then I go and have breakfast with Nannie in the kitchen. She lets me help clean and I teach her how to use her data-pad… she hates it though. Nannie has been teaching me how to crochet. I'm horrible at it. But I still want to try. I want to make my mother a shawl for her birthday. Then if Truth isn't busy, she teaches me dance moves. She's really good and lets me listen to music Mother wouldn't want me to… Then I either have lunch with you or by myself. I go back to my room, read some more, study, play online games, tinker with my own projects, eat dinner with mom…maybe… then go to bed."
"You crochet and dance… and you tinker? What type of projects do you have?"
"I just like to take things apart and put them back together. I'm working on a blender now."
You are your father's daughter. "That's really cool. I'd like to see it when you're done."
"Really?" She shines.
"Of course. Just continue being careful with the blades."
"Ok… Um, Mr. Donnie, how long will you be here working with my mother?"
'How long will I be here with you' is your real question.
"I'm only supposed to be here until June. I'll help your mother as much as I can with her project and then I need to go home." Her features fall and her frowning at me stabs me in the heart. I reach over and tap the tip of her nose ridge. She crosses her eyes to look at my digit… is she blushing? Her eyes meet mine and I smile. "Anya, I hope you know that you are someone truly special. But this place isn't your home and it's not mine either. After I'm done here, we'll both have to go home. You're a great kid. I'll always be in touch. Now that you and I know what we look like, video chatting won't be a problem anymore. And maybe someday I'll be able to take a plane to England and come visit you."
She shakes her head. "Mother sold our home before coming here. We have nothing to go back to."
Why would she sell their home and come to New York? Did she plan on getting a permanent visa and stay here? In New York, perhaps? I have this strange feeling that Sasha's setting me up for something. And not just me. I start to pack up my things; our lessons seem to go by so quickly. "Don't worry Anya. One thing I'm a believer in is balance. Things always seem to work out."
"Ok Mr. Donnie."
The rest of my day went on just like the last one. I decide to stay in late and finish a portion of the protein map I'd been working on. By the time I'm satisfied with my progress, it's one am. I squint my eyes and head for the door. Following Carder back to my room for the night, I've never felt so alone.
…
The next day while following Gleiv to the lab, I make up my mind. I refuse to work like this. I don't really care what is going on between Sasha and Troy and I don't feel I should be taking the brunt of it. Just because they choose to act like children toward each other doesn't give her the right to avoid me or him to continually scowl at me. I don't remember doing anything to either of them!
Well, wait…
I could have made her feel uncomfortable talking to her like that the other night, using insinuating language, even if we were being playful. I started that. And Troy… my opinion of his book may have put a bad taste in his mouth. I never got a chance to talk to him about that. These things just need to be brought to the surface and skimmed away, not buried!
So I'm putting my foot down! I'm going to walk right in there and speak my mind. They WILL speak to and be cordial with me and each other. And whatever issues they have on the side, they can 'kiss and make up' about it on 'casual' time.
The lab doors lift open and I start. "Dr. Gavnikov, I need to…" I stop.
Dr. Gavnikov is standing on a tall stepladder; she is leaning over the Laboratable carefully screwing in a large light bulb.
"Ooo! Hold on to me! Don't let me fall!" The young, Russian doctor cries.
"Don't worry Sassy. I got you." The sexy, Brooklyn, maintenance woman says coolly.
Truth is standing behind the doctor; her bulky boots straddle either side of the ladder, keeping it steady and her hands are firmly holding Sasha's hips, making sure she doesn't topple over and crash into the very costly piece of technology.
Dr. Gav looks over at me. Truth looks me up and down and gives me a coy smile. "Morning Don! How's it hangin'?"
It's hangin' a little less now, thanks. "Er, good morning Truth. So… what's going on?"
"This damn Labra-doodle thing, as wonderful as Sassy says it is, doesn't work without these special light bulbs." Truth says as she wiggles the obviously blown out bulb in her hand. It's blue, and its halogen coils shape into an upside down bowl. "And since they're so special and especially made, they cost a special price of $300 a pop. That's why my little doctor strongly suggested she screws it in herself. Ain't that right, Sassy?"
Truth squeezes Sasha's hips. Sasha yelps. "Honestly, Truth! I'm almost done!"
"Take your time. I'm good." Truth winks at me as she rests her head on Sasha's rump.
I feel my face flush. I'm sure Sasha feels her own face flush as well. "I'm done! Help me down please."
Dr. Gav steps to the floor and looks up at Truth's indignant smirk. I glance quickly back and forth at the two women. Truth is almost as tall as I am. Her strong feminine features glow as a woman in her prime. She looks thirty-five. But I wouldn't be surprised if she was older. Her torn, sleeveless, Aerosmith Tee displays her slenderly cut arms. And her tool belt hangs heavily and crookedly around her hips. I have no doubt her tan carpenter jeans hide the legs of a model. Her hands are adorned with leather, fingerless gloves whose fingers press the end of her braided ponytail against her bare belly.
Sasha's statuesque nose barely meets the height of the Brooklyn women's glossy lips. Her short auburn hair forms around her head in loose curls as the bang atop her head curves up in the air . She doesn't wear much make-up… doesn't need it. Her dark hair and hazel eyes add a beautifully exotic mixture of humanity to her face. Her pouted lips have a hint of red. Her white lab coat may hide her figure but the collection of four inch stilettos she always parades in give her calves a sultry shape peaking from under her pencil skirt.
"What?" Truth laughs.
Dr. Gav's condemnation melts into a smile. "I'm still wondering how you made it onto my father's list."
Truth rolls her eyes and places a finger under the rosy-faced doctor's chin. "Maybe you and I could have a slumber party and I'll tell ya all about it… You can come too, Don. That is, if you're into that kind of thing."
Does she mean to ask if I'm into threesomes or into humans? Either way… Double Yikes!
Truth looks back and forth at me and Sasha. When we don't respond she busts out laughing. She folds up the ladder, grips it under one arm and walks to the door. "You two need to unwind, seriously! See you's later and don't hurt yourselves at the nerd-a-thon!" She leaves.
Thank God.
Dr. Gav and I both let out a puff and air and smile at each other. She almost forgets her shunning of me and turns toward the observation room.
"Wait, Dr. Gav…"
"I'm sorry. One moment please." She jogs away and goes into the small room. A moment later she comes out with a small white box. She walks over and stands in front of me, seemingly to mentally prepare herself for a presentation. "Dr. Hamato, I must apologize for how I've treated you the past few days. I've let some personal issues affect our working relationship. I've been acting like a…"
"A child?" I add.
"Well, there is one child we both know who would never act this immature." She says with slight guilt. "Which is why I want you to know that I appreciate what you're doing… and I hope this small token let's you know the level of trust I have in you."
Trust?
She opens the box to reveal a shiny, new S-Wrist, a sister device to Screen Time. She sets the box aside and fits it to my left wrist. I notice the extra links she's attached.
"It's already calibrated to your Screen Time, Andrew. It's water proof, has a solar-power feature as a secondary energy source and works with our personal global network." She says.
I whistle at my gift as I twist my wrist, enjoying the weight, durability and craftsmanship of the device. "Why are you giving this to me?" I ask.
"You've been here a while now and I think it's time to bump you up to full staff member. The S-Wrist will keep you in contact with everyone here wherever you are. It's helpful for when you are in an area where there is no Screen Time. It's also GPS capable, which means…"
"You'll know where I am at all times." I ask cynically.
"Well, if I ever 'needed' to know where you are, I could just 'un-invasively' track you… or call you; Unless you like Carder or Gleiv holding your hand where ever you go." Her lips curl.
"Uh, no I like this way better… thank you, Doctor." I smile and she smiles as she looks down and sits the S-Wrist rightly with both of her hands. The slightest brush of her freshly polished nails sends tingles over my skin.
"Good." She says.
"So, I take it you eavesdropped on my and Anya's conversation yesterday?"
"No! Actually… she and I had a conversation last night when I came home well-past dinnertime. She'd expressed some things that I'd been too distracted to notice. I apologized to her as well… And I'll be doing more apologizing once we have a long lunch together later today." She says.
Wow, Anya really is looking out for me. "That kid is dangerously keen, isn't she? I wonder where she gets it from." I cut my eyes at her.
"I could ask you the same thing, Doctor." She returns my gaze.
We turn to the sound of the lab door opening and Troy walks in on our laughter. I notice Sasha stops suddenly and removes her hands quickly from me. His demeanor stiffens but fixes his face as he walks toward the observation room.
"Good m-morning, Doctors." He says.
"Good morning." I say.
"Hello." She says.
Troy closes the door and gets himself situated. I turn back to Dr. Gav and she shrugs. "Two down, one to go." She pulls out her data-pad and looks up at me. "Ready to start when you are, Doctor."
"I'm ready." I watch her go into the observation room and close the door. She walks past Troy and sits on his right side… They're speaking… and smiling… good. But then Troy scoots his chair closer to her and whispers in her ear. She smiles and whispers back. That's also good… they've patched things up…
"Vixen, open Session 88, view two." I say and the Laboratable awakens. And the rest of the day goes well. But for some reason my mind keeps flashing images of her smiling at him and I hate how it bothers me so much.
…
A/N: Yay for Anya, Donnie's Little Ally! And Donnie… guess you'd better keep you focus! Thank you so much for the reviews so far! I'm grateful!