Together in Darkness

by Sloan McBride

  "Not more than fifteen minutes, Agent Carmichael."

  "Right you are, Doc. We want Jake to get his beauty sleep."

  They all laughed and Jake grinned. “Are you guys here to smuggle me out?"

  "No,” Margo answered. “You have to do as the doctor orders and recuperate. We need you back."

  "Well,” Peter said as he moved toward Jake's bed. “We do need a few answers."

  Here it comes, the other shoe. “What answers, Peter?"

  "When we came in at the warehouse, during your conversation with the UNSUB, you called him Jared. Do you have a good explanation for how you knew his name? It wasn't in any of your reports."

  "Yeah.” Jake sighed deeply. “Jared Elliott Austin. He was my twin brother."

  "What?” Ginny shrieked from behind Zach. “Your brother? Of all the stupid, idiotic, lame ass...."

  "Honey,” Peter said quietly. “I think he gets that."

  "What about the messages he left in the victims’ blood?” Margo asked.

  Jake laid his head back. “Words for me. A reminder of what started all this."

  "Will we ever know the whole story?"

  "Is that really necessary, Peter? Can we leave it at he had been disturbed most of his life and something happened when we were in college that sent him over the edge. He was my nemesis after that."

  "I suppose we can leave it at that. What about your family?"

  "I'll tell them. I won't go into gory details, but I'll tell them."

  Margo squeezed his hand. He smiled. “So what happens now?"

  "I don't know, Jake. Caprizzi is pretty pissed. I dare not ask him at the moment."

  Jake nodded. The others remained quiet.

  His colleagues had left. Jake lay in the hospital bed staring out the window, unsure of how his life had gotten so fucked up or where it would go from here. Just about the time he contemplated how best to approach his boss, the door to his room opened and in walked Nick Brody.

  "Well, you don't look too bad considering.” Nick grinned.

  "An angel of mercy."

  Nick nodded. “You got the angel part right anyway."

  "What are you doing here?"

  "First,” Nick held up his index finger. “I wanted to see how you were doing, and second,” he held up another finger. “I wanted to talk to you about Allison."

  "The doctor says I'll be good as new in a couple of days.” Jake resumed his study of the window. “I don't want to talk about Allison."

  "Too bad, you're going to have to."

  Jake's head whipped around. “I don't have to do shit."

  Last night's events replayed in his every waking hour. He saw his brother's hands on Allison's soft, naked skin and he wanted to pummel something. If he'd had a little more strength, he probably would have.

  When he'd arrived at the warehouse and saw Allison's car, he knew things had gone to hell. He crept into the place, listening for any sign of activity. Then, he heard the killer's voice coaxing Allison into submission. He moved behind some crates to see them better, and what he saw made him sick. His beautiful Allison laid out on a table and the killer's fingers touching her, caressing her, entering her. Jake couldn't move for the longest time, his stomach churning with hatred and betrayal.

  "Look, Jake.” Nick sighed. “When I took Allison home last night she was pretty looped on pain killers, but she did manage to tell me a few things that I think you should know.” He moved to stand by the window Jake had been so intently staring at when he'd come in.

  "The visions started again without her wanting them. She fought them at first, hating the reminder of what she was. Things the killer had revealed made Allison believe he was a boy she knew when she was younger. One she'd fallen in love with."

  Nick faced Jake. “Anyway, when she started seeing the women the killer watched she couldn't ignore it any longer. She had to do something and that brought her to you."

  Jake listened but didn't know what to make of the story. Okay, she started out wanting to protect the innocent victims. He could understand that sentiment. “Why didn't she tell me it was someone she knew? I could have set her straight on that point.” Jake forced a level gaze on Nick. “My brother didn't know Allison."

  Nick stepped back. “Your brother?"

  "My twin,” Jake admitted. “So you see, I could've saved her the trouble on that score."

  Nick placed both hands on the sides of his head and shook. “Shit. This gets more puzzling as we go. So it wasn't Alex."

  Jake froze, his eyes wide. “What did you say?"

  "Alex, the boy Allison met in her dreams a long time ago."

  Jake ran his hands down his face. Jared had said some things at different times that had screwed with his head. Now they were falling into place.

  "Jake, you can't tell Allison,” Nick pleaded. “It would destroy her to think she'd humiliated herself and it had been the wrong man.” He glared at Jake. “Those were her words, not mine.” He grabbed the end of Jake's bed. “She's been through enough."

  "Who hasn't?” Jake whispered.

  "Look, I don't know what happened with the two of you, but I do know that the reason you're alive today is because of my sister.” Nick crossed his arms over his chest and frowned. “She did something she's never done before. When she held her hands on your wound, she willed you to live."

  Nick said it with complete honesty, but still he found it hard to believe. Willed him to live? How absurd was that?

  "Don't look at me like that. I'm repeating what she said. Of course,” he grinned. “She was doped up on pain killers."

  Jake grinned, too. “Sounds like."

  "Okay, I've said enough.” Nick shoved his hands into his pants pockets.

  "How is she, Nick?"

  "Weak, depressed, heart-sick."

  He hadn't wanted to hear that. Still, there were things he needed to sort out before he could make decisions that might affect the rest of his life. As of yet, he didn't know whether he would even have a job tomorrow, or whether he'd have to do time.

  "I better go. She was asleep when I left. I don't want her waking up alone."

  "Thanks for dropping by."

  "Sure."

  Nick didn't linger. He strolled out of the room without looking back, leaving Jake to contemplate how his life had taken this turn and how to deal with this new information.

  * * * *

  When she awoke in the morning, Allison felt rested but still drained. The day was dismal. Nick had made her a huge breakfast which she only picked at and moved around on her plate.

  "You need to eat, Ali. It will help you regain your strength."

  "I know. I just don't feel up to eating right now. I'm going to go in the other room."

  She rose and a wave of dizziness overwhelmed her. Nick was at her side immediately, holding on so she wouldn't fall. “I'll help you."

  After he got her settled on the sofa wrapped up in a warm blanket, he told her they needed to talk. “Lucy wants to see you."

  "She does?"

  He nodded. “When you're up to it, the three of us will go out and get to know each other again."

  "That would be nice, Nick.” She smiled.

  He disappeared back into the kitchen. She could hear dishes clanging and assumed he was cleaning up.

  Sometimes Allison felt Jake as though she lay right next to him. She heard the strong heartbeat and felt the strength in him. Even if she were able, she would not go to him. The guilt and shame from her actions last night would haunt her forever. She could never explain it to him. “It's better he'll be leaving soon."

  "Little one, sometimes your logic eludes me."

  Allison frowned when she looked at Yanni lounging in her favorite chair.

  Yanni continued without missing a beat. “You are weak because you used part of your life force to save him. Your strength will return, but it will take some time. Your heart is another matter."

  "He won't want to see me after the way I shamed myself."
<
br />   "Bah! He loves you girl."

  "I don't think so, Yanni.” Allison closed her eyes. “I'm tired."

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE

  Four days had passed and Allison hadn't stepped foot outside her front door. Her boss had given her two weeks vacation and told her, through Kat, not to appear at the store or she'd be fired. Hands idle, she couldn't do it, so she decided to break out her sketches and work on her designs.

  Allison snatched her mug from the counter, poured creamer into it and then filled it to the rim with the dark, aromatic coffee to revitalize her system. A few minutes later Nick barreled down the stairs, pulling his t-shirt over his head and almost ramming into her.

  "Hey,” she yelped.

  "Sorry, Ali. What are you doing up so early?"

  "Dream.” She sipped from her mug.

  Worry covering his face, he said, “A bad dream?"

  "No.” She didn't elaborate. Walking over to the counter, she set her mug down and pulled out a stool. “This place is a mess."

  "Yeah, but you've been kind of out of it and I've been trying to keep tabs on you, Lucy, who's been uncooperative, and my boss has been calling."

  "You should go back to work, Nick. The scare is past and there's no need for you to stay here any longer.” Besides, she was getting antsy with him underfoot.

  He strolled over and crushed her in a brotherly hug. “I know, but indulge me for a little while longer. I don't want you to be alone."

  She smiled against his chest. “Okay."

  He laughed. “Wow, look at that sunrise."

  "I see them all the time."

  "Come out to the cove with me."

  "I think I'll clean up a little here. You go ahead."

  Allison filled the sink with warm soapy water. After putting the dishes in to soak, she took a few more sips of coffee to jump start her system and then attacked the mess. A little while later she heard the door open.

  Allison was up to her elbows in suds when Nick said, “Look who I found prowling around."

  She didn't have to turn around, she sensed Jake's vibrant energy.

  "Hi,” Jake said bowing his head.

  Allison glanced over her shoulder. “Hello, Jake.” Her voice shook.

  Cramming his hands in the pockets of his khaki pants, Jake stared at the tiled floor. “I came to talk to you."

  "So talk."

  His sigh rang in her ears. “You're not making this easy."

  Suds flew in the air as Allison whipped around to grab another dish. She was afraid to look him in the eye, afraid to hope for something she had destroyed.

  Nick stood off in the corner watching, protecting, then he left the room, nodding at Jake on his way out.

  Jake leisurely picked up a towel and started drying the clean plates. He and Allison worked in unison, and in silence.

  When Allison finished, she stepped out the French doors and strolled down the dirt path that led to the cove, watching the first rays of sunlight burn off fog that swirled around the trees.

  Jake moved in closer, touching her arm gently.

  "Shouldn't you be in the hospital?” she said.

  "Was, didn't like it much.” Her lips twitched and that gave him hope. “I wanted to bring you something."

  "Oh?” She turned toward him.

  Jake lifted his arm and let the pendant drop from his hand, dangling it before her.

  "My locket,” she cried out. “Oh, Jake."

  "I even cleansed it of the negative energy."

  The look she leveled on him made him uncomfortable. “Cleansed it? You?"

  He shifted a little, self-conscious with her stare. “I've learned a lot since I met you Allison. Nice inscription.” To my Rennie, Love Dad. He nodded toward the locket.

  With a heartfelt smile, Allison said, “My dad was the only one who ever called me Rennie."

  "Not the only one."

  Allison's face saddened. “No.” Her head snapped up and her eyes sharpened. “How did you know that?"

  Jake sighed. His gaze fell to the ground and he shifted his feet. “Nick told me that you thought The Surgeon was someone you knew."

  She tensed and he swore she let out a little growl. “Obviously, I was wrong."

  "You were wrong about him being the killer."

  "Yes, I know. That's what I just said."

  "I'm Alex."

  "What?” Her jaw dropped and he waited for her explosion or her accusations, but nothing came out. He had to admit he was anxious to hear her response.

  "My middle name is Alexander.” He stepped away and watched the sun rise in the morning sky. “Back then I was going through some identity problems.” He shrugged. She didn't take her eyes off him.

  "Being a twin, you almost never have a thought of your own. At least that's how Jared and I were."

  "You were close."

  He made a face. “Yes and no.” Jake turned his gaze toward the harbor. “Jared always had trouble with people, but he was brilliant. I was at ease around others, but worked for my grades. You'd think it would have been easy with a photographic memory but that didn't develop until I was older."

  Allison crossed her arms lightly, pushing her breasts upward. “You mean before you came here with your scowls and threats, you were actually pleasant?"

  He whirled around to see her small grin. “You bring out the beast in me,” he replied.

  Allison averted her face. Jake knew she was thinking about their night together. The twinkle in her eyes fueled his desire. He'd never felt like this with anyone before.

  "So what happened?” she asked in a soft, serious tone.

  Now, he paced. The telling took a lot out of him, but she deserved the whole truth.

  "There's not one plausible reason for any of what Jared did, and I tried them all."

  "You feel guilt, pain, like you're somehow responsible."

  "Partially.” He kept his back to her, not wanting her to see how much this hurt.

  "How can you possibly blame yourself for his actions?"

  Jake's voice croaked with emotion as he began his tale. “Jared's IQ was high. He'd sit for hours working mathematical equations in his head, writing theories, but he struggled with simple things in life."

  Disgust filled his voice. “I took life as it came, embraced it, and advanced, in school, sports, girls."

  Allison wound her arms around his middle and he tightened his shoulders, ashamed to feel any comfort.

  "Jared went to college, the same one I attended, and studied to be a doctor. We were all very happy, hoping that things would finally turn around for him."

  He quieted. “After several months, he met a girl, Claire."

  Jake closed his hands over Allison's. “She wore her long red hair in a ponytail and when she smiled, you thought you were looking at the sun. They started dating and Jared settled down and was happier than I'd ever seen him. I engrossed myself in studying and sports. I had gotten a scholarship, so I worked to keep my grades up."

  He stopped speaking. The memories of that time brought waves of needless guilt and anguish. No matter how many psychology classes he attended or shrinks he spoke to, there had always been a fraction of shame.

  "There's more, isn't there?"

  He shrugged the pain aside. “It turned out Claire was seeing Jared to get close to me. I had no idea,” he said defensively. “One night, I came back from the library and when I turned on the light, she was naked in my bed. I threw her out. Jared had been coming to see me and when I opened the door, he saw Claire buttoning her pants."

  Jake paused and took a deep breath, reliving the moment. “He didn't say a word, but the hurt and anger in his eyes said everything. He planted his fist in my face and walked away. I didn't see him again after that."

  Jake unhooked Allison's arms, turned, and pushed her gently away. “Strange things began happening around campus. Animals were found mutilated, Claire murdered."

  Allison's hand flew to her
mouth to cover her gasp. “Murdered?"

  He nodded. “I eventually graduated and became a cop. After a while.” His voice tightened. “The murders began and I started getting articles and pictures of the victims in the mail. He called me and confessed to torturing and murdering Claire. I couldn't bear it."

  "So you joined the FBI,” Allison said.

  "Part of me hoped I'd never catch him, but I knew he had to be stopped. I created a profile and began the hunt."

  Jake moved toward the water. “Oh, I worked on other cases. I couldn't draw attention to the fact that I had a specific agenda. I'm damn good at what I do.” His laugh was bitter and laced with revulsion.

  "Jake.” Allison slid up next to him. “You aren't responsible."

  Jake wouldn't look at her. He was torn. “Jared was right. We aren't that different, two parts of the same bad seed. Sometimes, I think that's why I make a good profiler."

  "Stop,” her voice a ragged whisper. “You're not him."

  "What about you?” his tortured eyes fell to hers. “You responded to him."

  Jake's anger spilled out. Regret filled him the instant the words flew from his lips. “Damn it, Allison.” He grabbed her and crushed her body against his. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. I didn't mean it."

  She raised her eyes to his. “I sensed something in him that kindled hope.” She stepped back. “He wanted to stop. His plan for escape that night was death.” Allison slipped her arms around Jake's and started them walking back toward the house. “I don't understand how I linked with Jared and not with you this time."

  "I've been thinking on it. He could see what I did. He probably watched us together. That's how he knew.” He brushed a stray hair from her cheek. “I went to the island every night for weeks but you never came back."

  "My parents had died and I closed myself off."

  He squeezed the hand that hugged his arm. “After a while, when I couldn't find you, I put up a barrier and shut down my limited abilities, as well. There was no more use for them in my mind. Although,” he stopped and faced her. “I did have one dream about us."

  "You did?"

  Jake smiled. “After a day in the sand and surf, we finally made love on the beach."

  "Really?"

  He grinned and gave Allison a sidelong glance. “Into the wee hours of the morning.” He traced a finger along her cheek, catching up the tears she hadn't realized were there.