Kevin watched as the items went into the suitcase, one at a time. The top layer of his mother's blouse drawer was in his hands. He'd been trying to help her pack, but the sight of the suitcase slowly being loaded up was too much.
Yes, he knew she didn't work at the CIA anymore. Yes, she was only going an hour or so away, and this time she really did need to go. The doctors, they'd told him, would be able to keep her and his little brother safe. It would be good for her to go.
But his hands were sweating, and he felt like he was going to start crying. He didn't want her to go away again. He wanted her to be able to stay here, where he could see her every single day. That way, he'd know everything was fine every time he woke up.
His mother turned, her face stressed and tired. Wordlessly, he handed her the blouses. She looked at him before throwing them into the suitcase and turning away from it. She sat with some difficulty on the edge of the bed.
He knew it meant she wanted to talk to him. Whenever she wanted to talk to him about something, really talk, she would try to get eye level with him. Kevin took a deep breath, moving a little closer to her.
Every minute he could feel a fresh wave of panic threatening to overwhelm him. The last time she'd been away for so long, some crazy person they were still fighting even now had taken her for a month.
"Kevin, I know the past year hasn't exactly been easy on you," she said, "And I...I'd hoped the baby would be a simple affair. I've wanted to give you a brother or sister for a while, every since I saw how much you wanted one, but..."
Words welled up in his throat, and he clenched his hands into fists.
"I'm glad you waited," he said, "He would've just hurt them. He would've made them mean."
He shook his head, not looking at her.
"You wanted them to have a good father," said Kevin, "And the last one was terrible. It's okay. I get it."
She cocked her head, and then sighed. One of her hands reached out and cupped his cheek.
"Every day I look at you, and I know that there's nothing of him in you," she said, "You know that too though, don't you?"
Kevin nodded, but he could feel the tears welling in his eyes. Some part of him wanted to tell her about the broken ribs because it was a lie not telling her, and he shouldn't do that. He'd managed to tell his father, but that had been back when his father had just been Charles. He hadn't been the one who'd worked so hard to protect him, had thought they'd succeeded.
But she was tired, and things just weren't safe for her or the baby. He didn't want to hurt her when she was so hurt already. There was something he wanted to know though.
"Am I...?" he started.
She looked at him, waiting, but, yet again, he couldn't quite get the words out. He swallowed, and then looked down.
"Am I like my father?" he asked, "So that, when the baby's born, we'll both be like our dad?"
His mother took him in her arms, holding him as close as she could.
"Yes," she said, "Yes you are. And I know he feels that way too."
He shoved away tears with the palm of his hand, moving so he could just about wrap his arms around his mother. They didn't go all the way around anymore, but it was good enough.
"And I'm like you too right?" he asked.
Her hand gripped his hair almost to where it hurt.
"You are my son in every way," she said fiercely, "And you will be an amazing older brother."
Kevin's eyes closed, and the tears slid down his cheeks.
"Promise to visit me as much as you can?" she asked.
He nodded, trying to keep as much together as he could. There was a knock on the door, and Kevin let go, again shoving away at the tears. He stayed close though, seated next to his mother, wondering how much time he had left with her.
"Come in!" she called.
The door opened and his father was in. He looked at the two of them, his eyes concerned.
"Do I...is everything alright?" he asked.
"As much as it can be," his mother said.
His father wheeled himself closer, again looking at the two of them. Tentatively, he reached out to Kevin and put a hand on his shoulder.
"It should be quite safe," he said, "I'm told it's not a terribly uncommon condition, and there are treatments for it. You'll just be getting your brother a little earlier than we thought."
For the first time, his father's reassurance didn't sound very reassuring. It sounded instead like he was trying to reassure himself too. He must have realized how little effect his words were having though, because he immediately straightened and took Kevin's hand.
"Kevin, I want you to know that we are going to do everything possible to make sure everything will be fine," he said, "And I think that goes for your brother too. He's quite excited to meet you."
"He doesn't know who I am," Kevin said, "I know you're talking to him, but...not me."
His father smiled slowly, and then put Kevin's hand on his mother's stomach. Kevin's mother gave him a questioning look, but his father's smile just became more gentle. Kevin wished he knew what they were saying to each other in their heads, because that's what it looked like.
"Let's introduce you then," his father said.
Kevin's heart leaped, and he looked nervously at his mother's stomach.
"I don't know how," he said.
"Just use a soft touch, and I'll guide you," his father said, "Let him know who you are. He'll love you for it."
For a moment more, Kevin hesitated. He didn't know if his gift was strong enough for this. But it might be the last time they were all together like this for a long time. He might not be able to hear his brother's thoughts for weeks and weeks.
So he bit his lip and nodded.
"Good," his father said, "Now, just reach out like you're going to brush your mother's mind, and then I'll help."
Kevin exhaled slowly, closed his eyes, and reached out. There was a feeling like fingertips slowly pushing him another direction, and then he felt something warm. There was a flutter of excitement, followed by confusion and curiosity. They were such pure, steady emotions that Kevin almost pulled back.
Don't worry, his father said, Just be calm, and let him know who you are.
His throat felt dry. He was glad he wasn't talking for real, because otherwise he didn't know if he'd be able to get the words through his lips.
Hi, he said, I um...I'm...
Again, that flutter of confusion.
I'm your brother, Kevin said.
This time the curiosity came through much stronger, with a thick undercurrent of excitement. The confusion was dropping away.
I'm family, he tried.
A second or two went by, and there was nothing. Had he lost the connection? He was just about to ask his father, when there was a burst of pure excitement, followed by an almost overwhelming wave of love and joy.
If he were standing, he would have stumbled. But he was just seated, so he felt his head jerk in surprise. Something kicked out against his hand. More love came, excitement. All the baby knew was that Kevin was his family, and he was already dancing.
Kevin squeezed his eyes shut tighter, and thought again of the last time his mother had gone away. He'd heard enough to know that the person who took her was still a threat, something about being interested in his baby brother.
That part confused him, but if that guy was interested in his baby brother, he'd have to get in line. Kevin was interested in him too, and he had a much bigger claim. You protected family, like his father had rescued his mother, like his mother had done when she'd taken him away from Joe. She was doing it now too for his brother, but she wasn't fleeing from anyone. Instead, she just had to go to the hospital.
He leaned in closer.
I love you, he said, And I'm gonna take care of you as much as I can, okay? Protect you. Because you're my brother.
There was more love and an answering kick. Kevin cried again and, this time, he didn't bother to wipe away the tears.
Logan was finishing his cigar when he saw the small party start to load up the car. He leaned up against the side of the wall, watching the way the three of them stayed close together. Hank was due to come out at any moment from their murmured words. He'd been briefly told of the situation about the same time he'd been told of the upcoming mission to Japan.
Truthfully, after he'd been told they had a solid lead on Essex's possible new base of operations, he hadn't thought too much about the rest. He couldn't say he knew the entire family very well, even after five months, but they'd been welcoming and friendly. They'd helped rescue Laura and Emma from Essex, with Moira personally escorting them out. Seemed like a damn shame to have this happen to them.
He took a last puff and, even through the smoke, he smelt Laura in the entryway of the school. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her peeping through a window. Logan flicked the cigar on the ground and crushed it with his heel.
Rubbing the back of his neck, he walked into the school. Laura, wearing a pair of striped overalls, was still staring out the window. She looked at him briefly before turning back, her expression worried.
"I heard something was wrong with the baby," she said.
"Yeah," Logan said.
He crouched down so he was seated next to her.
"Is it bad?" asked Laura, "Because Kevin looks awful sad. He doesn't usually look that sad. Usually he gives pretty smiles."
Logan looked out the window again. The boy did look sad, which probably spoke as much to his head as to his heart. He knew things might go pretty bad, although they had treatments. That possibility was nagging though, and this wasn't going to be easy.
Kevin seemed like a good kid, and he'd been keeping a close eye on him since Emma told him Laura might have a crush on the boy. Besides his desire to read classic British literature, he seemed like a well-rounded American kid. He'd gotten baseball stuff for his birthday for Chrissake.
It was clear that his parents had chosen not to lie to him. He knew he could tell Laura something sweet and comforting, but he didn't see much point. If Kevin talked about it, he'd probably tell the truth, and Logan wasn't going to deal with the kid contradicting him.
"Could be," said Logan, "But that's why she's goin to the hospital. They're gonna take care of her."
Laura nodded as the suitcase was loaded into the car. Hank came around the side of the school and put his own suitcase in the trunk.
"Are they all going?" she asked.
"For now, yeah," Logan replied, "But most of em, like Kevin, will come back. Visitor policy at the hospital, somethin like that."
"Oh," Laura said.
She put her hands on the glass of the window.
"She'll be fine, I think," Laura said, "She's strong. Everyone here is strong. Strong and tough. They have to be, because so much terrible stuff happens to them."
Logan startled and stared at his daughter. She was still looking out the window, her lower lip trembling slightly.
"I don't think I'm very tough," she said, "But Kevin's family is, so they'll be fine."
One of Logan's hands curled into a fist. The other slowly pulled Laura into a one-armed hug.
"You're plenty tough," he murmured, "Don't forget that."
"...okay."
Outside, the car started up. Laura's eyes followed it as it pulled out of the driveway.
"Daddy?"
"Yeah?" he asked.
She snuggled her face in to the crook of his arm.
"I hope she and the baby are okay," Laura said.
He sighed.
"Me too kid."