Lost Loves

Chapter 6

Mike woke up in the middle of the night and groaned. Since being shot by the Immunes, his shoulder hurt quite a bit, and he needed surgery but he had been too busy. He walked downstairs to get an over-the-counter pain reliever but he was shocked to find Christine sitting on the couch, looking at an old photo album.

"Couldn't sleep either?" Mike asked as he sat down beside her.

"No." Christine answered. She was looking at Lucas' baby book, which Mike had toted around for years.

"I miss him too, you know?" Mike remarked, pointing at the scrapbook.

"I know." Christine answered. Mike could tell she was thinking about something, but wondered if it was Lucas.

"Well; I'm going to take some medicine for my shoulder. This rain always gets me." Mike said as he stood up. He was halfway to the kitchen when Christine spoke up.

"Its not Lucas I'm thinking about, although I do think about him a lot." Christine said.

"Then what?" Mike asked. He said back down next to her, hoping she would tell him what had happened, even if it broke her heart.

"Do you remember Charlie?" Christine asked as she picked at her hand.

"Yeah. I never met him but I knew of him. I knew you and he were messing around together." Mike answered, trying not to sound angry. Anger would not get him answers. But even after so many years, the betrayal still hurt.

"Right. I didn't bring him up to hurt you, Mike. You want to know what happened and I don't want to talk to a stranger." Christine said.

"So, what happened?" Mike asked.

"I always had a weakness for bad boys and Charlie filled that role." Christine started.

"And I didn't." Mike continued for her, and then realized how jealous and petty it made him.

"Mike, you were normalcy, safety, security. We had a set of rules. It was just not what I wanted at the time. But that isn't what I want to talk about. After you called from the Arctic, Charlie found the girls and I at Deer Park. I really thought we'd be safe with him. I figured I would connect with you once things settled down so we could figure things out with the girls." Christine said.

"But?" Mike asked gently.

"Well, he was a bad…man. He insisted that because of who you were, especially once we found out what the Nathan James' mission was, the girls would be a target and we'd have to protect the girls. He isolated us in some farm somewhere. I don't even know where. He had always been…rough, I suppose…but it changed." Christine said with a shudder.

"Christine, did he…rape you?" Mike asked gently.

"I suppose you could call it that. But, that wasn't the worst thing he did." Christine said.

"Did he hurt the girls?" Mike asked, feeling dread. The girls seemed okay to him, but he hadn't been looking for problems.

"No! Oh, sorry. I shouldn't have alluded that. No, I was able to protect them. I took the brunt of it." Christine answered.

"Of what?" Mike encouraged.

"He was abusive; physically, emotionally and sexually. Remember, how after Lucas was born the doctor told us that I wouldn't be able to get pregnant again?" Christine asked.

"Yeah." Mike answered. It was really the beginning of their issues. Sure, she had cheated before, but he had wanted a big family. It was a big disappointment and it was after that that he had cheated.

"I got pregnant. He was so angry. He didn't want kids at all. He wasn't terrible to the girls but I knew he would have preferred them not to be there." Christine continued.

"What did he do when he found out you were pregnant?" Mike asked.

"That's when he started beating on me. I suppose he was trying to cause me to miscarry. I remember how you were when I was pregnant, even with Hannah; and he was the complete opposite." Christine answered.

"At the time, I didn't think Hannah was mine but that isn't the point either of us is trying to make." Mike pointed out.

"No, its not. As I got closer to being due; he become worse. Finally, I went into labor. He wouldn't take me to the hospital, wouldn't help me. Katie finally snuck out and got a neighbor lady to help me but the birth was horrific. Possibly because of the trouble I had having Lucas, I don't know. It was just…absolutely horrifying. When I woke up; the neighbor told me that Charlie had taken the babies somewhere…" Christine said.

"Twins?" Mike asked gently. Christine was starting to choke up so he needed to get the story out of her before she dissolved.

"Yes. A boy and girl. He was born first but apparently she got stuck. Her shoulder blade got caught or something. Charlie only ever said she would not be normal. He would never tell me where he took them. I can only assume he killed them." Christine said as she began sobbing. Mike put an arm around her and thought.

"But if he didn't?" Mike asked.

"Mike; I can't go there. As much as I would like that, I can't." Christine warned.

"Right, sorry." Mike said.

"And I wouldn't even know where he might have taken them if he didn't kill them. That was in the early days of the cure." Christine warned him.

"No clue where you were?" Mike asked.

"Katie told me once she heard something on the radio once; and the station was based out of Atlanta, Georgia; but that isn't much of a lead." Christine answered.

"Actually, its huge. I can figure out which radio stations were operating in that area during that time. Then I can see if any babies were given up at an orphanage or left somewhere and then…" Mike started until Christine held her hand up.

"Mike; I appreciate the thought. I really do. If you want to research it; fine. I just don't want to know. Losing Lucas has been hellish. You know that because you feel the same, but if I find out I lost those babies too…I just don't know if I can survive that. And I am not sure that if you find out, you can keep it a secret. You wouldn't tell me to hurt me, I know, but I still can't." Christine said.

"The girls haven't said anything?" Mike asked, feeling a bit betrayed.

"I made them promise not to." Christine answered.

"Why?" Mike asked.

"Because…I failed to protect two tiny humans. Defenseless babies. Mike; you are very aware of my many failings. Horrible wife. Couldn't hold a job down. Questionable mother. I suppose I was hoping for another chance with you and if you ever found out about the babies, there would be no chance." Christine answered.

"I never thought you were a bad mother." Mike said.

"Mmm. Mike; if I was any sort of a mother, I would have not cheated on my kids' father. I would have done everything possible to keep my marriage together. So, what'd done is done and I'm exhausted. It does feel better to have this off my chest, so thank you. I hope you get some rest tonight." Christine said. Shockingly, she leaned over and kissed his cheek before getting up and walking back to her bedroom; leaving Mike slightly stunned.