JAA Ch. 02: Time and Again

"Ah, and you still recognize them?"

"They were very special little girls, still are right now, they have only been gone a little over a year. Why wouldn't I remember them?"

"About John?"

"Ger lay off, he is just a friend. He has no ulterior motives and he's way too old for me anyway. Why is it that every friend I have who is male you assume I'm going to let them take me to bed? Don't you trust me?"

"You forget I read your diary..."

"So what, that was all before we were married. All that changed when I said, 'I do' standing in that beautiful church, in front of family and friends. I love you Ger, very, very much. I can't help that I have a big streak of compassion for my fellow man inside. That's why I became a doctor and you know it."

Gerry was silent far too long. Taking the laptop from him, I listed the files on the flash drive. There were four doc files and six picture files. I opened all the picture files. As I cycled through each, I saw all the same people as the first one, until I opened the last one. In this picture, there were five children I didn't know.

"Oh my," I whispered softly.

"What is it, Shell?"

"It would appear that...no, that can't be...but it says here," I pointed to the handwriting on the note in the picture. "These are Susan and John's children."

"What?"

"Wait, let me open the other file, it references...oh my. It would appear that after Miles was killed, Susan and John became lovers."

"What about Jenny?"

"Wait, it's here...yes, here it is...Jenny, having become so frail that she can only sit and watch the children run and play, I have taken John as my lover and conceived a child. We hope that he or she will not have any of our attributes. My god..."

"Holy smokes, no wonder he wanted to come here."

Gerry had hit the nail right on the head.

"There's more...Jenny has given me her blessing and asked me to take good care of him. She knows I love him as much as she does. I thanked her and whispered to myself a prayer for her comfort. I don't expect her to live too much longer and she deserves every joy she can possibly experience. Her grandchildren dote on their grandmother, telling her stories and how their day went," I croaked, tears starting to well up in my eyes.

Gerry took my hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze. I smiled at him as the tears rolled down my cheeks. It was always hard for me when family or friends died, it was part of being an empath. I knew I was empathic the day my sister died so long ago, but the hurt will never fade.

"Shell, read the next couple of lines," Ger whispered to me.

"Even though John has expressed his love of Shelly, he has told me his love for me is only surpassed by that for Jenny. I know he loved Shelly first. It wasn't hard, not to see it in his face and eyes when he was in the clinic.

"What the hell!"

"And now?"

"I didn't see it Ger, honest. Besides, he never told me, even hinted. How...when did he tell Susan?"

I fell silent as I thought back to what seemed so long ago. I guess my silence bothered Ger as he continued to read the Journal entry.

"Shelly never suspected, yet after he became my patient I could see it in the way he looked at her whenever she was in his view. Soon though that look in his eyes shifted to me and I felt a tingle in my heart and soul that I had not felt since med school. I am happy to say that I have loved him for a long time, yet never had the nerve to tell him, after all, I was married.

"My god Shell, you two..."

"Do stick a sock in it, Gerry. Turn that thing off you have to be up early tomorrow, as do I."

"You're right dear. Good night, I love you."

"I love you too; do try to remember that in the future."

"Yes dear."

I lay in another, different bed, but this time I was alone. I could hear the murmurs coming from Shelly and Gerry's room. I knew they were talking about me and the photo's I had future Shelly include on the flash drive. She had thought it was a wonderful idea to let herself know, Allison had lived. I wanted it included for other reasons.

After a while, their voices stopped and I assume they settled down for the night. I still felt the emotions from both of them, mostly from Shelly, but it was lessening rapidly. Soon they were both asleep and resting quietly. I rolled over on my side and closed my eyes.

I woke to screaming in my head. At first, I couldn't tell what or where it was coming from or who it was. Listening very carefully I recognized the voice as the scream stopped and she started to cry. It was from Allison. I climbed out of bed and silently ran down the hall to her room. The door was open and she was asleep, dreaming. Rushing to her side, I scooped her up in my arms and held her gently. Big brown eyes stared up at me as she shivered in my arms.

"Stay calm little one, I won't hurt you," I said and thought at the same time.

"I know Uncle John," she whispered closing her eyes and snuggling up to my chest.

I smiled. Up until just this minute, Allison had never met me. In the future, she would know me as Uncle John, but today, this moment in time, she didn't know me from Adam. I held her until she was asleep, then slowly and gently slid her back in bed. I kissed her on the forehead and pulled the covers up. Turning, I was stunned to find Shelly staring at me in the doorway. I brought my finger to my lips in that universal sign to be quiet and pointed out the door.

Shelly turned stepping in the hall waiting for me. I went to my room as I could feel the emotion from her as she stared at my back. Once in my room, I closed the door and motioned for her to sit on the bed. I remained standing, looking at Shelly and waiting for her to start.

"What were you doing in Allison's room?" her voice was shrill, even as she tried to keep the volume down.

"What did it look like? No, wait, that's stupid to answer a question with a question, I'm sorry. I...I heard her scream, she was having a nightmare."

"I didn't hear her scream."

"I know, she was screaming in her mind."

"What?"

"She was dreaming and she was screaming in her dream. I rushed in, scooped her up in my arms to let her know she was not alone and everything was okay."

"How...ahem...how can you hear what was going on in her mind?"

"I just heard the scream. I didn't see what she was dreaming. Shelly, I can sense people's emotions. I sometimes get a clear thought from someone once in a while. I can't read minds. I only sense emotions."

"Yeah, well what am I feeling right now?"

"Betrayal," I told her.

Her eyes open wide.

"Surprise, although that one is easy because I'm looking at you. Shelly, Allison is a clairvoyant or more exactly a precog. I know, I know, it's unbelievable. But she knew who I was."

"What, she can see into the future?"

"Yes. As a matter of fact, to Allison the past, the present and the future are all one to her. That's how she knew me just now because she knows me in the future. That's why she is prone to nightmares. I assume she has woke you in the past having had a bad dream?"

"Yes, about once a week, sometimes twice. My god, my poor baby, ever since she started to talk, she has jabbered away about people, places and things about which she should have no knowledge. What am I going to do?"

"Love her as you do now. Keep on loving her with all your heart. When she hits puberty things will settle down, her hormones will suppress her abilities slightly allowing her to make sense of them as she grows into an adult. When that happens you must help her understand."

"How? I don't understand myself."

I picked up the canvas bag on the dresser. Opening it, I pulled out a disk and handed it to Shelly.

"On this disk, are the relevant parts of your diary, concerning Allison's abilities. They will help you through the coming years. They should help until I succeed in my mission, then, I'm afraid you will be on your own."

Shelly sat there staring at the disk in her hand. Sitting next to her I gently placed my arm around her shoulders.

"Oh god," she whispered laying her head on my shoulder.

"I know, it's a lot to comprehend in such a short time. Just remember to love her with all your heart like I know you do."

"I will, I do, my poor baby. Once you succeed we won't remember anything that has happened?"

"I don't know. The science guys in my time didn't know either. The theory is that once I succeed the timeline will revert to some new timeline."

"Damn," she swore softly.

"I know, it would be beneficial to remember this one thing, wouldn't it?"

"Yes, oh god yes," Shelly whispered.

"You better get back to bed."

"I should."

Before I realized, her lips pressed against mine in a soft, gentle kiss. Her free hand caressed my cheek. Then she was gone. Smiling I crawled back to bed. Before closing my eyes, I listened for Allison. She was sleeping peacefully. Smiling I closed my eyes and dropped into the blackness of sleep.

"John," Shelly said as I entered the kitchen and sat at the table the next morning.

"Shelly, Allison," I said back, "good morning."

"Hi Uncle John," Allison said between bites of cereal.

I smiled as I sat down to watch. Allison smiled at me all the time she was eating. Shelly sat sipping her coffee as she waited for Allison to finish.

"John, I have been meaning to ask you about your...elixir. Why shouldn't we ingest any?"

"Shelly, my...listen to me very carefully, my dear, the elixir is actually the serum that Doctor's Flemming and Wizicoff developed. It's just a diluted form of the serum, which restarts the transformation from the beginning."

"What? You mean to tell me that what we made from those herbs and things is the longevity serum?"

"Yes, so you see why I didn't want Susan to have any. You, on the other hand, could ingest some and become immortal, so to speak."

I had to laugh at what I had just told her. Her surprised look caught me off guard.

"No, don't, you will regret it for the rest of your life, which might be forever. It's no fun watching those you love getting weaker while you stay healthy and young."

"I know but it would be interesting to...well you know...see the future. Many futures I guess."

"You have to promise me not to take any, please sweetheart."

Shelly blushed at my calling her sweetheart. I knew she had read Susan's diary about my love for her, so she knew how I felt about her.

"I won't touch the stuff, I promise."

"Good. I think Allison is finished."

"She is, good girl. Now come with mommy and we'll get you dressed."

"Okay mommy, bye Uncle John."

"Bye-bye dear," I said.

Over the next couple of weeks, John stayed pretty much to himself sitting in the study, in front of the computer screen. Doing research, he said, but I think he was just trying to keep out of our way. Not that I didn't appreciate him doing that, but Allison would go in there and pester him every day, tell him the most outrageous stories about things in the future. John would listen to her with an intense gaze; kiss her on the forehead, telling her thank you.

Miranda, my daycare provider, would come over to sit with Allison. When she saw John, she crossed herself and kept clear of the study. She never spoke to me about what was wrong.

Susan and I talked at work every day. About two weeks after he had left her house she asked me if I had heard from him. I smiled, John hadn't told me not to tell her, so I told her.

"He's staying with Ger and me, dear."

"What? How long has he been there?"

"He showed up at our door shortly after you and Miles left after dropping off those memory sticks for us."

"God damn it, why didn't you tell me? I have been so worried about him."

"You didn't ask and I knew you and Miles needed some time alone..."

"Damn...I'm sorry Shelly, you're right. Please forgive me?"

"Of course, Susan, of course, you are welcome to come over if you wish."

"No, you're right Miles and I need nothing complicated in our lives right now."

Every day we worked together, she asked how he was doing. Susan, like me, was an empath. She didn't believe she was an empath, but I could see it in the way she hovered about her patients, her children, Miles, and John. She was almost as strong an empath as I was.

I had found everything I needed to accomplish my mission. It was late January. I had two months to go to put an end to what was happening in the future. Allison had told me that her mother, father, and Susan had escaped the blast at the lab. They had fled home when chased. I couldn't quite get what she meant until she pointed to the floor.

Then it was clear, they were here, in this house in the future. No wonder Allison's dreams were so frequent. She told me she and a small group of others had also made it to the house and now held out against those that would hurt them.

I decided to make a house call on the Doctors Flemming and Wizicoff, to show them the errors of their ways. They were going to be together at Flemming's house on Tuesday and Wednesday. I needed to make a nighttime confession.

I came home from work. The house was empty. A note on the counter told me that Gerry had Allison with him at the store and they would be home soon. I went upstairs to change and noticed John was not in front of the computer. Looking into his room, I saw him dressing. He was putting on his uniform. His rifle lay on the bed, clip inserted in the magazine, muzzle pointing at the outside wall. He was just pulling on his vest when he cleared his throat and turned smiling at me.

"Oh, I'm sorry," I said shocked that I had forgotten he could sense me.

"That's okay Shelly."

"Going someplace?"

"Yes, tonight is the night."

"What? Oh god!" Suddenly, I was frightened.

"Don't worry, well do kind of. If I succeed, you will never know I was here. If I fail, the future will be horrible. And now that you know that, it will be up to you and Susan to try to correct the future."

"Oh god...I don't know if I'm up for that?"

"Allison will tell you how things are in the future. Listen to her. Love her with all your heart. She will guide you. Gerry will help you do anything you decide to do, lean on him. He loves you with all his heart and soul. Susan is an expert tactician, you are a very good strategist, you two complement each other more than you know. Miles is very brave and a born leader.

"Why do you think I came back and sought out you four? You are my backup. If I fail, you will have to stop what happens, you will have to become the force that stops the world from destroying itself. Do you understand?"

"How? How will we do these things?"

"There are two disks on your desktop. Click on the disk marked 'The Beginning', it will take you through everything you will need to know. The disk marked 'The End' will tell you what will happen if neither of us succeeds."

"My god, John, you want us to do things..."

"Michelle..."

"Shelly..."

"Michelle, you have to. You do. Now I must go, either way, I won't be seeing you again, so goodbye my dear."

"John..." My arms were around his neck, my lips pressed against his.

He took me in his arms and kissed me with all the passion I could only see boiling below the surface...I moaned and shivered in his arms. He pushed me away.

"I love you, Michelle. I have loved you for so very long..."

"I know, I read Susan's diary."

"I know you did."

Reaching up I put my hand on his face. I smiled up at him a sadness filling my heart.

"I am sorry John, but I can't say the same. I didn't know until I read..."

"I know. There is no need for you too. I have told you and that's all that matters to me. Now I really must go as what is happening in the future is bothering me greatly."

"What's happening there, now, that you could possibly know about?"

"Allison and I had a talk this morning. She told me, Susan, you and Gerry escaped from Argonne and made it to this house. That's why her dreams are so vivid and occurring so often. She, Allison, along with others who were with us also made it here. So far, they are holding out against the others. But it won't be long before, well..."

"Oh my god," Shelly exclaimed.

"Now I have to go. I have to end this, now."

"How are you getting there?"

"I was going to take your car, but..."

"Yes, but. I'll drive you."

"No!"

"Yes. Now gather your things and I'll meet you in the garage," I told him spinning on my heels and walking out the bedroom door.

I sat in the passenger seat of Shelly's SUV parked across the street from Doctor Flemming's home. I sat patiently watching the house through a pair of binoculars. Shelly was fidgety while we waited. The house was dark as I sat there wondering if I had got the place switched around.

Just as I was ready to tell Shelly to leave, a car with two men in it parked across the street in front of the house. As we watched, they walked up the walkway to the front door. The one in the lead opened the door and they both entered. Lights started to come on inside the house. It was still early. They must have gone out for dinner and would soon be back to work.

"All right, I'm going in. You, my dear, will leave, do you understand?"

"Yes."

"Michelle!"

"I understand. John...god, I don't know...what are you...I mean..."

"Just leave Shelly, please?"

"I will. Good luck, is it right to wish you that?"

"I love you, Michelle."

"Oh god, just go..."

We were huddled in the basement of Shelly's house. We had just escaped them at the lab. Allison and her mother, eyes glazed over, are trying to remember what happened, is happening, in the distant past. Shelly is talking, her eyes unfocused staring at the rafters above us.

"We are sitting in my car in front of the doctor's house. We are waiting for them to come home. Wait, a car just parked in front of the doctor's house. Two men are going into the house. John is telling me to leave. I just told him good luck. He just told me he loves me. I am sad that this is coming to an end and frightened for John and what he has to do."

"Shelly, how does he look?"

"Old. Tired. He is getting out of the car. I'm crying. God, I remember those emotions."

"Stop it, Shell. Just tell us what's happening."

I opened the door and stepped out. I closed the door gently. I slung my rifle and walked across the street up onto the porch of Doctor Flemming's house. Turning I waited until Shelly had pulled away and was out of sight down the street. Taking a deep breath, I turned the doorknob. I felt more than heard the lock mechanism break as the door opened. Stepping inside as silently as I could, I closed the door quietly.

Shelly pauses, closes her eyes tightly. Then putting her head down she continues.

"I put the car in gear and drive away. Wait, I'm circling back. John is inside the house. I have parked across the street again. I am watching, waiting, wondering if I should go to the door."

"Do you see anything Shell?"

"No Susan, I just see the house. Allison, will we have enough time to get to the end?"

"Mom, all I can see is fifteen or so minutes then it's all dark."

Looking around to get my bearings, I sensed the two men in a room through the parlor. Walking into the parlor, I could see the men sitting at a large dining table in what I assumed to be the dining room. As I stood there watching them, Doctor Flemming turned toward me and was about to say something. I was beside him, my knife to his throat before he could utter a peep.