by L. Ann Marie
"Fuckin Pres, your minds like a weapon." Steve says Pres smiles. Danny watches them.
"Little Ben, Darren and Jessie." I say. "You're who they are. Pres, Steve and Danny."
Danny smiles at me nodding yes. "Kate said that a couple of years ago."
Rich moves forward. "You're right about the kids and them. I wouldn't mind charting their abilities. I may need some help but I have the feeds and I see them often enough. Tess can help. The thing with Tess is if you don't ask her she won't say it, I'll ask."
Pres nods. I look at Danny, "If you can show tomorrow at my class I'll do a new sequence and we can pick out the ones that can match. It will be quicker and easier than watching the feeds."
"I can do that." He looks at Ben, “Can you get the little ones from Millie's?" Pres nods. "Good, I think Tiny pissed her off again. I don't want to ask him if I don't have to." Rich and Steve laugh.
CJ comes in with Christian. Everyone moves his way, I shut down the feed and send the file to my email so I can show CJ later. Christian looks relaxed I move over to them, kiss CJ and hug Christian. Tess, Kate, Jess, Doc, Sally, Brenda and Tiny come in. We all sit and chat until Janelle comes in the room. She's a reader. I look at Steve and Rich, they smile. Steve nods at me.
"So Cloud how did you know before I opened my mind and mouth." She asks with a smile.
"Lucky guess?" I say making everyone laugh.
"You MC men are all the same, strong silent types that know how to block me." I tip my head to her letting her know she's right.
Christian watches all this with a smile. Janelle looks at him, "you're double trouble aren't you Christian, seer and reader? You’re very strong too. I can give you easier tools to block, these guys are like steel doors. I can show you blocks for everyday use, much easier than the door they have you building. That door is for when you are around possible threats. They are useful but you're just a boy right now that kind of door is easier built when you have the fundamentals down. Then your door will be stronger than theirs....maybe." We laugh. "I don't know this Cloud. He has something different." This is her excuse for the maybe. Danny laughs.
"CJ you are new to our group, you're concern is for Christians welfare, he needs that to remind him he is just a little boy. There are specific jobs for each of you. We will work to iron that all out during our training sessions. I'll meet with all of you separately then with Christian. Have there been any catatonic episodes?"
"No but he's fallen asleep and he's had to draw energy from another of our special kids." I tell her.
"Another?" She looks surprised.
"He's stronger than me and heals when he touches you. He takes the pain away when the visions hurt, sometimes they get...out of focus." Christian says. I smile at his wording.
"Maybe I should see the others. We're not just talking about one child here." She says looking around the table. "Sixteen?" She's shocked.
Tess giggles, "And my twins."
"And Sandy." Brenda says.
We all look at Tiny. "She's just happy, like Elizabeth."
Danny laughs. "Almost an even twenty."
"I need a little more background than what I have. Christian is who you want help with right now?" Janelle sits down. Pres nods. "I've seen groups of three and four but twenty?"
"Christian needs the tools to block everything from coming in and ways of coping with what he's seeing. It's not the crisis situation we had with Tess but it's getting closer. This time we knew to get help beforehand." Danny tells her.
"Is Christian able to get information for you?"
"Yeah. Even when he can't look he supplies it." Steve tells her.
She looks at Christian, "is that the unfocused part?"
Christian thinks about it. "No Jeremy takes the vision away so it doesn't hurt me. Steve can see around me. I can give it to him without looking at it."
She nods, "like Tess giving the part she can't handle?" She asks Steve.
"Yeah, but he throws it all at me. It's clear, full." He says. Jess takes his hand and he tries again. "He can send the whole vision, the feelins and actions. It's not in pieces."
"Why isn't Jeremy able to teach Christian the control and protect him?" She asks.
"He's six and just started talking. Jeremy is the one that the kids protect." CJ tells her.
Steve jumps in. "He's stronger but fragile. Different than the others, he has everythin they do but they protect him because of it. Christian is his protector not the other way around. Jeremy heals what needs to be healed but only when it hurts him or the other kids."
Janelle looks at CJ. "Is he autistic?"
"According to the psych evaluation we just got back yes." She says with a smile.
"You're a very intelligent woman, you believe he is not. He is special and I'm going to wager extremely intelligent as well." She looks at me and I nod. "We're getting off on a tangent here. Christian why don't you get your dog and I'll meet with you tomorrow after tutoring? We'll work on blocking first."
Christian smiles. "Ok." Janelle laughs.
"Today is there someone that can explain what is going on around here with the other kids?" Everyone looks at me.
Shit. "I should see the dog too." I tell them. They all look at me. Fuck.
I look at CJ and Christian. Christian's smiling, trader. "While both are important. I think Janelle knowing what's going on is more important so she can be more effective. I also think we need any information she has on the other groups even if they are smaller. These kids can't be the only ones like this, there have to be more and we need to know how they navigate through their communities. We need to know anything and everything about them." Tess, Sally, Kate and Jess agree.
Pres laughs, "Old ladies, smart and special in their own right."
Janelle laughs. "So Cloud, I believe Rich and Tess are willing to help us get a chart together so we can clearly see what we're dealing with."
I look at Rich and Tess. They nod making me laugh. Everyone stands and heads to the door. I give CJ a kiss and Christian a hug telling them I'll see them at home. Steve is still sitting at the table when I turn around. "You're not letting her in?"
He looks at me as if I'm crazy, "no." Rich laughs.
Danny brings a roll of paper and a bunch of pencils then leaves. Janelle smiles and waits. I start with a list of names.
CJ
Cloud is not going to believe this; I'm smiling the whole way home. Christian is so excited; he's sitting in the back with Hawk. He learned how to give commands and had Hawk following him around within minutes. He even gave commands without talking and impressed the hell out of the trainer. He needs to do training every day but the trainer doesn't think it will take too long for Hawk to earn his service vest.
We get home and I can't help thinking about the chart Cloud, Rich and Tess are making. I think they need to go one further and look at the parents. While Christian takes Hawk for a run in the yard I grab some of the kids’ paper and index cards. For each person I write what I know, name traits and known abilities. I make two circles and put the parents on one and the kids on the other, putting the protected in the circle and the protectors outside.
I get tired of looking at it and go find Christian and Hawk. I laugh at the name again. Christian is still in the back, I watch him command the dog without saying a word. He gives treats each time Hawk gets it right.
Brenda comes in smiling, "it's time to get Christian to the Kids Center." I open the door calling him in. Christian and Hawk come running. Brenda pets Hawk's head. "What a beautiful dog you are." She bends to him. Hawk sits stiffly looking at Christian.
"You shouldn't be overly friendly." He tells her. When she stops Hawk relaxes.
"He's beautiful, what's his name?" She asks smiling.
I laugh, "You may not believe it but Hawk." She looks at me with surprise then a huge smile.
"Fitting." She turns toward the door. "Are you ready Christian, do you need anything for Hawk?"
He hugs me. "Nope we
're ready." They go out the door without Christian giving the command. I shake my head, friggin kids.
Chapter Fifteen
One week
Cloud
Flying back from South Carolina I scratch another off the list. Three left, with Tess' help we've found three. The last three are in Rhode Island, we're shadowing them. The three eliminated were to meet up with them next week. We've collected all the information on Mitch and Jess that they had. I touchdown in Pawtucket, the plane is borrowed, Steve leaves cash in a map and we disembark. He walks to the borrowed Jeep and drives us to the police sub-station in Newport. Switching to another car we go to the airport and I fly us home.
"Geek cleared our path." Steve tells me as he's reading his phone. I nod. Thank fuck, all we need is video showing our movements.
I land and do my checks; signing it I slide the clipboard into its slot. Throwing my leg over my bike I breathe easy. We did good, Steve has the information and will bring it to Security. "I'm on at Baxter's tomorrow." I tell him.
He looks at me. "Yeah, don't think we need air cover. HS is shadowing."
Fuck, I'm going to miss the end. He laughs. I look up smiling. "Sucks." He nods starting his bike. We speed through town; I point my hand down when he peels off to Security.
Walking in the door of my house I'm stunned. The kids are running wild, arrows and bean bags are flying. Joey is laughing as she hits a bean bag with her crutch. I'm hit in the chest with an arrow. I look to see where it came from and laugh. CJ is dressed as an Indian and Brenda is a cowboy. Brenda shoots a bean bag at me with a slingshot and hits my chest. "You are dead warrior boy; I knew it was all talk." She says making me laugh.
CJ ducks avoiding a shot to the head. "Hey there light foot we're the same tribe." She yells from behind the buffet cabinet.
Hawk jumps over a still, apparently dead, Jessie and puts his paws on me. I look down and laugh taking the note from his mouth. 'Crazy! Peace in the trees.' He jumps down and runs back the way he came.
I walk out the front door and around to the back. Climbing into the treehouse I hope it can hold my weight. Little Ben, Christian and Jeremy are here. "You didn't want to play?" I ask sitting down.
"We've been dead almost an hour. Jeremy came when you got here, they'll never hit him." Christian tells me.
"My littlest son has skillz." I kiss Jeremy's head. "I need to work harder on defense with you. You're obviously not getting it." Little Ben and Jeremy laugh.
I look at Little Ben, "You too." Christian laughs.
"We need it. Jeremy is kicking everyone’s butt." He says, I laugh.
"Skillz!" I bump his fist.
"Jeremy says there's more. You need to watch Rob. He says he's not smart, like a kid. Steve will know. He needs Steve; it's too big for me." He looks at me embarrassed. Jeremy takes his hand. "It will hurt too much for me to see. I don't need the vision to be the teacher I will become." He nods at Jeremy.
Jeremy stands up and hugs me. "Daddy." He kisses my cheek and picks up his bag. He's gone in a flash and I laugh.
"He's going to finish it so he can talk to Steve." Christian says.
Little Ben touches my arm. "You need to be alone, you, my dad, Uncle Danny and Jeremy. He'll need me and Jessie after. We'll be close. Uncle Tiny keeps the patio clear."
I smile, "You got a time?" He laughs shaking his head.
I hug Christian kissing his head. "How was your day?"
He smiles, "good, I blocked Janelle and everyone but Jeremy so far. I read mom when Jeremy said you were home but then I shut her down." He's so fuckin proud.
I hug him again. "Fuckin proud of you Christian. You thought you couldn't do it. It's been a week and you’re controlling it."
Little Ben smiles, "he's happier, lighter, and you owe us a buck." Christian laughs.
I stand hunched over, dig in my pocket and throw two bucks, "Still fuckin proud." I hear them laughing as I climb down. I call all the players in Jeremy's vision replay and I'm surprised Tess told them already.
I try for the back door this time and I'm not shot once. Everyone is down but I don't see CJ. Brenda points to the kitchen. I move to the wall and slide around I don't see anything so I stand and wait. CJ runs in from the dining room and Jeremy flips over the counter with a beanbag at the ready in his slingshot. Holy fuckin shit I want to laugh, clap, and hug him all at the same time. CJ smiles and puts her hands up. "You got me buddy, I'm not dying in this war, you'll have to house me, feed me, give me clothes for the rest of my friggin life but I ain't dying." Jeremy laughs and jumps on her. She hugs him kissing his face. "I can't believe you got all of us you little bugger." I hear Joey's crutches. Jeremy points my way, Joey comes up behind me and shoots at him. CJ bats the arrow away.
Jeremy shoots his bean bag and laughs when Joey cracks up. "Always mommy."
CJ kisses his face again then let's him down. "Let's go find daddy, I think he's hiding." CJ says, Jeremy laughs and points to me.
I pick up Jeremy and kiss CJ. "I have fifteen minutes then I have a meeting to go to. Jeremy and Tess put it together."
She nods smiling at Jeremy. "Go round up the kids, I'll order pizza and save you a piece." He nods and I put him down.
"Cowboys and Indians?" I pull her to me.
"Rich wanted to know if what they were learning is getting through. Seemed the easiest way to find out, everything is on camera and every kid is here." She’s smiling.
"Excellent idea, besides Jeremy and Joey did anyone else shine?"
She lifts up on her toes and I lift her, wrapping her legs around my waist I carry her to the counter. "All the happy kids lasted longer than anyone else; the protectors had trouble shooting their friends. The prophetic ones held out but not for long against the happy's. Jeremy, Jacob, Aaron and Devan are awesome. You'll have to watch the video. Brenda can hold her own too."
"Interesting." I file that and pull CJ with me while I find Joey and give her a hug and kiss. The boys find us, I get a squeeze in on each of them then Jeremy takes my hand. I kiss CJ's cheek and walk my boy across the street, the Brothers are waiting.
Tiny is outside, he opens the door for us and throws chin. I give it back and walk in, Jeremy pulls me to a seat at the table and sits in my lap. He looks at Steve and Danny. Steve walks to us, turns a chair and sits beside us. I turn us out a little more. "Danny you need to be here." Steve points to the side of us. Danny moves and pulls a chair. "Jessie and Little Ben are outside with Tiny. They don't come in until you say Danny, he says wait until the end. When Cloud protects him call them in." Danny nods. "As soon as he starts, go to the wind, he'll need the draw from that." I nod.
Jeremy squeezes my wrist. "Are you nervous?" I ask him. He nods. "Is there another way to do this?" He looks at Steve.
"No, the twins need Tess, Brenna and Devan are too small. I need you dad and then the boys. Don't let me go, like with mommy. Don't let me go." Steve is talking for him.
I hug him, "Never." He nods and closes his eyes. I feel the heat and find my guide. I call for help, guidance and strength is what I need to keep my boy safe. I call to Nunánuk, asking her to strengthen my way to the spirits who will guide me in my journey. The heat is faint but I feel it, I wrap myself and Jeremy in the wind. We fly over the reservation gliding over the familiar when the heat encroaches I dip us in the lake making Jeremy laugh. We sit on a branch feeling the wind connect us to our people, the spirits caressing our skin. When the heat comes we dive. I'm nudged to the rock; I move closer to the lake and stand on the rock.
The heat comes faster. I dive I to the water but it doesn't cool us. I soar up; my guide is pulling me, my spirits pushing us. "No!" I wrap my arms around him. "No more!" Little Ben and Jessie come in. They put their hands on him. Fuck he's so hot. What the fuck did we do? I look at Steve he's gone. Fuck!
"Stay with me boys." I close my eyes and seek my guide. "Please guide me to what he needs." We're flying over the land we finally make it to Nunánuk she smiles, 'take a dip my warriors.' We fl
y and I dive for the water skimming the surface, the boys laugh. I make a circle and do it again. They laugh shaking water away. We're soaring up into the sky again and my guide brings me back to me.
I open my eyes. Danny is sitting in front of me. Jessie and Little Ben are beside me. Jeremy is on my lap soaking wet. His eyes are closed. I kiss his head, he's not hot anymore. "You didn't let him go Cloud." Jessie says.
I look at him, "Never. Is he ok?" Something is wrong, I feel it.
They don't look happy, "He will be, he needs more but won't let anyone else in." Little Ben says.
I look at him then Steve, he's still gone. "Get everyone outside bring them to us." They run. I walk out the door telling Danny to bring Steve. Jeremy's not moving, he's breathing but not moving. This is so wrong; I feel it in my bones.
At the edge of the road I feel his pain and fall to my knees. "NO!" Tess runs to me with tears. She touches my shoulder and pushes the pain back. She sits holding a baby to her chest. The kids come out sitting in a circle everyone touching each other; CJ sits by my side with tears falling. She links our arms touching both me and Jeremy. I close my eyes and find my guide. We fly; it's not a smooth ride. Back to Nunánuk I ask her to guide me. She is the wind lifting us, I feel the push from my spirits guiding my way again. She skims the water and I laugh with Jeremy. She lifts us to the sky again saying it's time.
I open my eyes, my arms are holding Jeremy close to my chest. I loosen my hold and see him looking at me. Thank fuck! I kiss his head. CJ lets out a sob. I smile at him, he smiles back. I put him in her arms. “Kuwômôyush,” I tell him.
"Daddy. Didn't let me go." He watches my eyes.
"Never. I'll never let you go. When my body is done here, I'll be the spirit that guides you. Kuwômôyush." He nods with a smile.
People are laughing. Devan, Brenna, Elizabeth, Sandy, Victor, Aaron and Jacob are dancing in our circle. Everyone is here, even Janelle. I stand up. "What the fuck?" I look down I'm soaked.
Christian laughs. "Nunánuk thought you needed cooling off. She dipped you in the lake." Everyone laughs. Fuckin grandmother.
