Chapter 50

Tuesday, July 14, 1987 – Late Morning

Julie spent less than three hours in the laboratories at Metzgar and an hour in Shelly's office with Ross and Steve on Monday afternoon. She drove back to Donovan's place exhausted and managed to do a little packing before climbing into Sean's bed around eleven. Still bothered by her quarrel with Donovan, she'd avoided him as much as she could.

She set the alarm for early Tuesday morning, woke up, took a quick shower then continued to pack. There'd been no discussion about what time they'd leave, but she knew, the sooner the better. She wished she didn't need Donovan to help transport her belongings home. She would've driven straight there in her own car and not seen him again, but instead he'd followed her home in his vehicle.

By late morning, Donovan finished setting up the computer in Julie's living room.

"Are you all set?" he asked.

She nodded, wondering if she'd really never see him again. How can I not see him again? He'll be on the news every night.

Picking up a Beta Cassette from Julie's end table, Donovan handed it to her. "I've been meaning to give this to you."

The label read: Donovan's interview with Nicholson, June 9th, 1987.

She smiled at him. "Thanks."

"Can I have a hug? As your Old Pal?"

Julie placed the tape back on the table and opened her arms, allowing him to hold her. The heartache came on strong.

"I'm glad you pulled through," he whispered.

She looked up at him again. Her voice cracked as she said, "Thank you."

He thumbed a tear away from her cheek. Feeling the warm touch of his hand, Julie blinked. Donovan released her from the embrace and moved away.

"I have something for you too." She picked her purse up from the coffee table and dug for her keys. "Can I see yours?"

Giving her a puzzled look, he handed over his own set of keys. Smiling, Julie removed her car key from her set, and put it on his key ring.

"No, no, no. I don't need your car," he said.

She removed his car key and put it on her key ring.

"Julie." He chuckled, "I can't take your car."

"Just to get Sean," she explained. "You can return it to my work tomorrow afternoon. We'll trade. Do it for Sean."

He stared at her for a few seconds then nodded. "I'll need the directions."

#

For the first time ever, Julie felt awkward to be alone in her apartment. She knew she'd miss Donovan. She sensed he'd never change his mind that they shouldn't reconcile, and that hurt.

I'm not supposed to be with him. It's time to refocus on work.

Noticing the Beta Tape still sitting on the end table, Julie thought, Do you really want to know? Did he break down during the interview? She picked up the tape, pulled it from its sleeve then removed a copy of Casablanca from her VCR. She popped the interview tape in, snapped on the TV then sat on her couch. Colored bars appeared on the TV screen as a loud beep began to sound. The bars and tone lasted for about ten seconds then a TV studio appeared. Donovan sat on the left side with John Nicholson sitting to his right.

"Are you ready?" Nicholson asked.

That was informal. Julie frowned at the TV.

Unsmiling, Donovan nodded at his co-reporter. "As I'll ever be."

"On three," Nicolson looked at the camera. "One… two… three. Good evening. I'm John Nicholson bringing you a special interview with KDHB reporter, Mike Donovan, who once led the L.A. Resistance with Dr. Julie Parrish." Nicholson turned to Donovan. "You visited Dr. Parrish this morning. Can you give us an update on her condition?"

Donovan became teary eyed as he shared what little information he could. Julie tried to remember her conversation with him that morning, how difficult it'd been to communicate. She smiled, thinking how silly her concern for the whereabouts of her car must've seemed to Donovan. The grim expression he'd worn during the interview testified of a man tormented by Julie's physical state.

As Nicholson asked Donovan how he'd met Julie, Donovan paused for a few seconds, pondering the question then told Nicholson how he'd been mistaken for a Visitor by Julie's Resistance group. Julie laughed when Donovan explained how she'd intended to make him her personal Guinea Pig, before realizing he was Human.

Julie remembered those first few months after Donovan joined the group, how he'd kept mostly to himself and didn't participate much unless it was in the interest of rescuing Sean from the Visitors.

Julie was surprised when Nicholson reminded Donovan of his past dating relationship with her.

Donovan's voice trembled, and tears formed in his eyes. He paused then muttered an apology.

"Cut," Nicholson said.

The screen turned to snow for a few seconds then bars and tone played again. Julie continued to watch. That wasn't the end of the interview.

No sooner had she thought it, the studio appeared again. A young woman handed Donovan a box of tissues. He took one and wiped his eyes.

"You don't have to do this if it's too difficult for you," Nicholson said.

"I'm fine," Donovan whispered.

The young woman returned to the set, and dabbed at Donovan's face with a makeup sponge.

"Does he look okay?" Nicholson looked in the camera's direction again.

"I'm fine," Donovan answered. "Just continue."

"Do you not want to talk about you and Julie?"

"I told her I wouldn't discuss it."

"We'll leave it out of the final cut then."

"Thanks."

Nicholson nodded, glanced at a piece of paper then inquired about the development of the Red Dust.

Donovan became overly defensive when Nicholson asked about the Resistance's decision to use it, in spite of the fact Julie only had a short period of time to test it before the decision was reached.

"It wasn't an easy decision for her to make," Donovan said. "You know, when it came down to it, it was either us or them. Our group took a vote whether or not to release the toxin when we did. Julie didn't vote in favor and she was out numbered."

"Did you vote in favor?"

"I did," Donovan answered.

"It must've been difficult to vote against her, since you and she were… involved."

Glaring at Nicholson, Donovan said, "It was."

They talked some more, up to the point of Julie's employment by Nathan Bates. Again, Donovan cut Nicholson off when it became evident Julie had betrayed Bates to aid the resistance.

Julie wondered how much of this interview actually went on the air. Why had Donovan given her this tape and not the actual aired version?

He broke down toward the end of the interview, when Nicholson again reminded the viewers of Julie's then current condition. Donovan's glassy eyes were the last image Julie saw before the tape went to bars and tone again.

"I love you, Baby," Julie whispered as her eyes grew moist. She clicked off the tube.

#

When Donovan returned home that afternoon, he found his answering machine light blinking and pressed the playback button.

"Hey, man," Nicholson said. "Archives said there was a mix up with the tape Jaycee gave you. They need it back."

What? Donovan wondered. He snatched up the receiver and punched in KDHB's number.

"KDHB news. How may I help you?"

Donovan recognized Production Assistant, Lynn Stone's voice. "Can you put Nicholson on for me?" he asked.

"One moment, Mike."

He waited through a few seconds of sappy elevator music before Nicholson picked up.

"Did you get my message?" the reporter asked.

"Sure did. What do you mean; there's been a mix up?"

"Jaycee gave you the raw tape. They need it back for archives."

Damn, Julie's probably watched it by now too. He remembered how emotional he'd been during the interview.

"I gave it to Julie."

"Can you get it back from her?"

Donovan gave a sarcastic chuckle then said, "Sure. Why not?"

Nicholson paused for a few seconds. "You took her home already, didn't you?"

"Yeah. I see her tomorrow though. She has my car."

"What?"

"Long story. I'll bring the tape to work on Thursday."

When Donovan called Julie's house, he was glad she didn't answer. He left a brief message explaining the mix up, and asked her to bring the tape tomorrow.