Chapter 5
Eddy returned home feeling less than human that evening. She kicked off her boots, hung up her uniform jacket and plopped herself down on the sofa. She let out a deep, depressing sigh. "My mother was right all along and they locked her. Drugged her to death. Claimed she was crazy. Took me away from her. Stuck me in a bunch foster homes. Why did the Asgard just abandon us like that?"
A knock came at her door. She grudgingly rose to her feet wondering which neighbor had an issue now. She fully expected to see a line waiting for a cure. She swung the door open in no mood to play healer. "Listen…I'm…." she tailed off as she found it was Daniel. "Oh, I thought you were one of my neighbors."
He stood rather surprised. "Nope! Just me. I thought you might want to talk. I know today was a lot on you."
"I was." she confessed. She opened the door. "Come on in."
Daniel stepped inside. He looked about the simple apartment. "Nice and tidy." he complimented.
"Least I could do is keep it clean." she agreed. "I'm saving all my money for my pilot's course." She motioned, "Have a seat."
He sat down on the sofa. She took a seat beside him. She stared off into space for a moment. He noticed she seemed distant. "You and I have a lot in common, Eddy. I grew up in the foster care system too. I'm from New York. We're the same age. I was picked on as a kid for being different."
"I was never picked on." she stated. "The other kids liked me. I could fix their boo-boos so no adults found out they got hurt. I even healed a few pets. Brought a gold fish back to life once. He was floating." she recalled.
"Did the adults know what you could do?" he asked curious.
She nodded. "They did. I was taken to see sick people a lot. Sick kids, elderly in nursing homes. Then this one doctor told me I had to be careful or some bad men might come and take me away and force me to heal people who were mean. He told my foster family to not tell anyone what I could do or the government might take me. I remember there was a lot of concerns about me being taken away and tested. So, I learned to keep a low key. Plus, it can drop my sugar and put me in a coma. I did that a few times when I was little. I guess that's why I was told to not do it so much and only save it for those in really bad shape."
"Like Sam was." he concluded.
"Everything else failed." she shrugged. "It was that or let her die."
"I'm glad you didn't let her die." Daniel assured.
She asked. "Am I even human? What am I?"
"You are still human." he insisted. "You are half human, forty-five percent Asgard, a little Nox and possibly a little Furling. Plus, you have the gene." He stated. "You know, you get that healing ability from the Nox. They are very in tune with nature."
"And these Furlings?" she wondered.
He replied. "All we found was ruins. They were human though. A very advanced human. Like the Ancients."
"That gene I got from my mother." she understood.
"Jack has it too." he informed. "Just allows you to turn on and off Ancient devices."
She wondered. "Can I turn on alien crap too?"
"Most likely." he nodded. "You hungry?"
"I little." she agreed.
He suggested. "How about I take you out for some dinner. My treat."
She knew her refrigerator was nearly empty. "I would like that." she agreed. "Let me change." She stood up and then went to her nearby bedroom.
Daniel sat waiting in silence for a moment. Suddenly, there was knock at the door. He rose to his feet to answer it. He opened the door and there stood a few neighbors from the building.
Carol held her cat, Fluffy. "Who are you?" she demanded to know.
"I'm Daniel." he replied concerned for he spied at least four faces, all elderly and all in pajama, robes and slippers.
"Where is Eddy?" she demanded to know.
"Changing." he told her. "What do you all want?"
Before him Eddy's nightmare played out as the elderly neighbors all began to speak at once. Many complained about aches and pains. Carol wanted Fluffy looked once more and nearly shoved the car in his face.
"Hold it!" he held up his hands. "You are all here because you know Eddy can help you."
"Obviously!" one of the men stated.
"Don't you think you are all being a little selfish? That gift she has drains her. It bottoms her blood sugar levels and can put her into a coma." he chastised.
The neighbors all paused and looked at one another. The began to chatter wondering who knew and what they can do.
Daniel instructed. "You people just go back home. Only call on Eddy is it's a serious emergency. Like a heart attack or stroke." He closed the door wondering if Eddy had to put up with such nonsense on a regular bases.
"Was someone at the door?" she asked emerging from her room. She changed into jeans, a white t-shirt with a flannel and a black leather jacket with boots.
"Four neighbors and a cat." he stated. "I sent them home."
"Fluffy?" she pondered. "Hope U.T.I. didn't come back." she was concerned for the cat.
"Do you get that a lot?" he wondered.
She nodded. "All the time. They know I have this magic touch."
He grumbled. "Well…that's annoying."
She had to laugh. "It can be."
"Ready?" he asked.
"Ready!" she walked closer.
Daniel wondered. "Any suggestions?"
She grinned. "There is this little cozy place around the corner that I like to go to."
Daniel imagined a nice little café with wholesome food. "Great."
She opened the door. "It's in walking distance."
"It's a nice night for a stroll." he agreed. He followed Eddy out the door and soon onto the street. They walked in the brisk night air. She led him around the corner and much to his horror he spied the sign to the bar. "Hose House! This is a bar."
She grinned. "It's owned by firefighters. Great pizza and wings. And it's band night." She led him inside the dive bar.
The bartender greeted over the loud music. "Hey Eddy."
She waved back. "Jimbob."
Daniel mouthed the named. "Jimbob?"
Eddy led Daniel to the nearby table. The pair sat down. A dark haired waitress dressed in very tight jeans and a tee shirt came over. "Your unusual, Eddy?"
"Please." she nodded. "And a small pie with wings, Brenda."
"And for Mr. Goodlooking?" she grinned.
"Just a beer." he told her.
"Coming right up." she left to place the order and get the drinks.
Daniel sat rather surprised that Eddy frequented a bar. He wondered why she wasted her time in such a place.
It wasn't long when he noticed an old German Sheppard limp over to Eddy sitting at the table. The dog began to lick her hand. He sat watching.
"Is that hip bothering you, Max?" she asked the poor old creature. She petted the dog and then embraced him, letting her hand run over his sore hip. In short time the dog felt much better and was able to move normally.
Brenda soon placed a large cola before Eddy. The bar knew Eddy would require sugar is she upon helping the old animal. "Better dink up." Brenda stated.
Eddy gulped down half the soda. "Appreciate it."
"Anytime." she assured. She then told her. "My blood work is still clear. Still cancer free."
She repeated. "You never get leukemia again, Brenda. It's gone."
"Doctors still like to run the screens." she reminded her. She then went on to her next table.
Daniel leaned closer and asked. "Does everyone here know what you can do?"
She nodded. "Pretty much."
He sat back in his chair, crossed his arms and asked himself. "How is the S.G.C. is finding out about you now?"
She sipped her cola amused.
The bar band on the stage began to play another song. The lead singer, a middle aged man with a mustache, balding and sporting a pot belly spoke into the microphone. "Eddy! Get up here and sing with us."
Daniel looked over at the meek woman. "You sing too?"
"Only with the basement band." she explained. She stood up and made her way to the stage. She was handed a microphone by the lead singer. She joined him in the rock song.
Daniel winced. The band was bad. It was horribly out of tune. But they were certainly having fun and despite the bad music he found Eddy had a very nice voice and could carry the tune. He asked himself, "Why is she wasting her time with that awful band when she can sing?"
