The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series

by Jacqueline Druga

  “I told you I would be.” He neared the bed and glanced at Henry as he did. “I stopped by to see our son. Patrick told me you haven’t been there yet today.”

  “No I haven’t,” Ellen said.

  “Why?”

  “Because I don’t want to see him like that. Maybe tomorrow.”

  “Nope.” Frank held out his hand. “Maybe right now you’ll go and see him. You have to see him. It’s not right. Come on. I brought a wheel chair. I’ll take you down.”

  “Frank, no.”

  “El, yes,” Frank was insistent. “I’ll be with you.” He wiggled his fingers at her. “Let’s go.”

  Ellen reached up to them. “Just for a moment. I’m very tired.”

  “I know.” Feeling Ellen’s hand grab his, Frank braced her arm, moved to the bed, and helped her up. “You all right?” He saw her cringe.

  “Just a little pain.” She caught her balance leaning on Frank then she turned her head to Henry. “Henry, are you coming?”

  Before Henry could answer, Frank jumped in. “He doesn’t mind if we go alone, do you, Henry?”

  Henry sat up and slid from the bed. “I don’t mind. I’ll wait right here.”

  Ellen glanced at him then nodded. With Frank’s help she sat in the wheel chair. He whisked her away so fast, she barely had time to wave to Henry.

  “See,” Frank’s voice was a near whisper as he placed on the brake of the wheel chair. He had wheeled Ellen as close to the incubator as he could get her. “Look at him.” He saw the quiet look on her face, almost scared.

  “Oh Frank, he looks so sad.”

  “Are you kidding? He’s happy.” Frank helped her from the wheel chair.

  “It’s hard to look at him.”

  “That’s because you’re only seeing the bad things, his size, the IV. But look El.” He held on to her waist and brought her directly to the incubator. “Look how cute he is. Tough too. He’s life, El. Give me your hand.” Frank took her hand and, with his, placed them in the same glove. He led her hand to Nick. “Check out this. His body is smaller than my hand and that means more time to watch him grow.” He smiled trying to bring it from Ellen. “He’ll be all right. I promise you.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  JUNE 29

  At what in the old world was known as Quantico Marine Corps Combat Development Command, George Hadley walked alone in pride. He listened to the training sessions of the army he was building. It consisted of Cyborg Microchip Enhanced or CMEs and Survivors who just wanted to join the cause.

  George found them and took them in. Unlike when he was in Beginnings, he was not selective. If they were bad seeds, they became a CME. Period. He heard the chanting, reminding him of his old military days, and the gunfire in the back ground. The gunfire was something George didn’t think he’d hear since the weaponry division of Quantico was long ago cleaned out pretty well by Frank on the very first run to pick up supplies.

  But he knew as he strolled things were looking better. It wouldn’t be long until things were ready. He also knew that if all went well, the training that his men were doing wouldn’t be needed as hoped against Beginnings. Not just yet anyhow and if that was the case, then ‘the drop’ he was getting ready to prepare for Beginnings would be unnecessary as well.

  It all hinged on what Robbie and his men, the ones that sat just a mere ten miles from their home, were hopefully holding within their own bodies . . . Beginnings’ downfall.

  CHAPTER SIX

  JUNE 30

  It was the Rolling Stones in Robbie’s ear as he lay sprawled out on that grass he hand-picked to make short. Lying on his back, bare chested, and wearing only shorts, a slight glimmer of sweat formed on his hair filled chest as he baked. He had a huge grin as he listened to the music coming from the speaker of the player Ellen loaned him to keep him company. All Robbie kept thinking as he listened to the song ‘Satisfaction’ was about Linda Blair and how Mick Jagger, at that moment, sounded more like the demon from the movie the Exorcist than he did a rock star. Though the batteries played the song extremely slow, Robbie enjoyed it. Everyone else did not.

  The music stopped.

  Greg, with his hand on the player looked down at Robbie. “We gave you a half an hour of this annoying shit. Now we are asking you politely to stop. Just please stop.”

  “Aw Greg.” Robbie propped himself up on his elbows squinting from the hot sun. “I’m rekindling my teenage years here, listening to music and tanning in the sun.”

  “Driving everybody nuts?”

  “I did that too.”

  “I bet.” Greg sat down to join Robbie on the grass. “You can listen to that again when you have batteries.”

  “Which shouldn’t be long. Frank should be here with a small supply drop. I asked for batteries. Let’s just hope Henry gave him enough batteries.” Robbie pulled out the waist to his shorts. “Yep I definitely got tan lines. I know for sure with all this hanging out, I’ll beat Ellen this year on who will get darker.”

  “Why does it matter?”

  “It does, Greg. It’s just something you have to understand,” Robbie explained. “When I was a teenager, I use to hang out with Ellen. We would lay out together and see who could get darker. Then as the years went and we’d keep in touch, she would always be ahead of me.”

  “Because you were in the military?”

  “No, because she cheated. The best thing that ever happened to Ellen was tanning salons or so she said,” Robbie shrugged. “However, she had the baby, so I doubt she’ll be out in the sun and by the time we head home in two days, I’ll have kicked her ass. What the hell else do I have to do?”

  “You got me there.” Greg threw his hands up in the air.

  “I do. I’m going to finish just laying here without my Rolling Stones.” Robbie grinned and sat straight up. “Maybe not.” His head lifted to view the sky when he heard it. “The sweet sound of motor noise. Do you hear it?”

  Greg smiled also. “A chopper.”

  “Not just a chopper but a Beginnings Chopper.” Robbie stood to his feet whistling to catch his men’s attention before the flutter of the helicopter came too close and drowned him out. “Frank’s here!” Walking out into the openness of the grassy area where he hung out, Robbie looked up to the sky waiting for his brother. Even though the chopper would only hover enough to make a drop. Robbie would be grateful for the moment when he saw his brother. Frank was family and family was home. Home was Beginnings, a place he had been away from for so long, and a place he couldn’t wait until he returned to.

  <><><><>

  Dean moved around his clinic lab so fast his lab coat flapped behind him like a cape as if he were Batman. He moved better now that he had his high top tennis shoes back. There was just something that stopped him screeching to a halt in his boots. Unlike the slide he got with his high tops, he received whiplash with his work boats.

  He had so much to get done, clinic lab work to be completed along with virus work at the mobile lab and Ellen-the-seeing-eye-dog Class 101. One worker short--Ellen--meant hours a day they lost. Knowing this, Dean also knew that he and Johnny had their work cut out for them, especially until Ellen returned. Which by Ellen cabin fever standards, as soon as she can go, she will.

  In his last round through snatching the clinic things he knew he could work on at the mobile lab, Dean’s dash to the counter became interrupted when, like a tunnel vision, everything went into a blur. Immediately he tried to stop. He stumbled some and felt for the counter, so within his reach yet so far from his focus. The haze of it disappeared into a blackness and Dean’s breath escaped him. Blackness? Always blurry, sometimes gray, never black. No, Dean thought. Not now. Seeing in his mind the lab he knew like the back of his hand, Dean reached outward in a feel to make his way to the counter in front of him.

  As he gripped for support, he closed his eyes tightly. He could feel the sweat from under his shaking hands. Slowly and with hope he opened his eyes. Gray and blurry, the room soon spun into
focus. Dean couldn’t move, not yet. He had to calm himself. He had to get his composure back. Frightened was what Dean felt at that moment. Frightened that what he had just experienced was truly a taste of his future.

  <><><><>

  There was something about Frank’s expression that was familiar to Joe as he watched his tall son step from the helicopter. Frank smiled, a huge grin shining across his face. As he stepped closer to Joe, he recognized that look. It was the same one Frank always had every time, when he was a kid, he stepped from an amusement park ride…total enjoyment.

  “Did you get a glimpse of him?” Joe asked, approaching Frank with an extended hand.

  “Getting tan Dad, laying there and getting tan.”

  “How was the flight?” Joe asked.

  “I’m getting good. Dan said he barely got sick.”

  “Spot anything in the woods or surrounding areas?”

  “Nope, clean and safe.” Frank leaned closer to his father as they walked. “I think you would have heard the gunfire if we did.”

  “Thanks for that little tip, smart ass. Now’s here’s another one.” Joe handed him his headset. “Head your security division leader ass up to Perimeter Twelve. It’s down. Seems a deer tried to play beat the heat and he got fried. It flipped his body up into the perimeter and smashed part of the fence too.”

  “Fuck.” Frank’s hand cut down through the air and he placed his headset on. “We need that covered, especially this time of the year with survivors sneaking in.”

  “You got it.” They reached the hanger and once inside, Joe handed him the clipboard. “I hate to throw this at you now but you need to get up there. Henry wants to leave early today and we need to let him know where and how to set those beams.”

  “Henry can’t go home early until he finishes that. There’s no one else in Mechanics that can fix those beams.”

  “I know this. So head up there stat so he can finish up.”

  “Like I care,” Frank mumbled as he took the clipboard.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Nothing.” Frank walked to the motorcycle that awaited him. “I’ll see if it looks like we’ll need a guard up there too tonight, just in case Henry can’t fix it.”

  “Henry can fix it,” Joe stated. “It’s just a matter of getting it done before he takes Ellen home from the clinic.”

  Frank straddled his bike, tucking the clipboard in the pouch that was strapped on it. “Well, if that’s all he wants to finish up for, then he can take his time. I’ll take care of Ellen until he’s done.” Not wanting to hear what it looked like his father was going to say, Frank jump started his motorcycle and sped from the hanger and toward Perimeter Twelve.

  <><><><>

  Henry only raised his head some when he heard the sound of the stopping motorcycle behind him. He knew who it was so he didn’t have to look. He did, however, have to look at his work and his watch, because he didn’t want to be up at that perimeter too long. He could hear the shuffle of feet behind him as he sat Indian style, working on the beam he had to reattach once the fence was put back up. He shifted his eyes downward and saw the tip of Frank’s black boot. “How was Robbie?” Henry asked as he worked.

  “Robbie. It’s not like I fuckin spoke to him,” Frank cleared his throat. “That is going to need fixing before sundown.”

  “I know this.” Henry didn’t look up, his words less the emotion, the same as Frank’s. “As soon as I replace this broken piece, I’ll have some men come and put up the fence again. Then I’ll get the beam on and working.”

  “It could take a while.”

  “I know this.”

  “Then just know this, while you’re working on that, don’t worry about Ellen. I plan on having her at the house tonight.”

  Henry immediately set down the beam and stood up. “I plan on being home this evening.”

  “No, Henry, you should be planning on fixing that beam.” Frank stared coldly at him.

  “I’ll get it to the point. Joe or Scott can finish it up.”

  “And then what? Have them screw it up. It’s your job, Henry, finish your fuckin work first.”

  “I’ll finish, so don’t worry about Ellen. She doesn’t need to go over to your house.”

  “Oh she doesn’t?” Frank stepped even closer. “I have the kids until eight. If she doesn’t need to go to my house, when will she see her children, Henry? She had a life before you entered the picture, a life she can’t ignore. It’s hard enough as it is to get her to pay attention to the kids without you stopping it.”

  “She can see the children at our home.”

  “Yeah she can. But . . . she won’t.” Frank raised his eyebrows. “It’s easier for her to be at my house with them all. As a matter of fact, I’m going to suggest that she stay there until she’s well.”

  “She has her own home, Frank.” Henry watched Frank back up. “She’s my wife.”

  Frank stopped cold, he spun around. “Don’t.” His one word rang sharp, as his hand cut through the air. “Don’t throw that at me. Don’t. Not you. Not ever. What were you thinking? I’ll tell you what I thought. I thought we were friends. I trusted you. Trusted … you. You not only got her pregnant, you married her behind my back? What a piece of work you are and not worth my time.”

  “There are reasons we got married. I wish I could tell you. I can’t. But trust me …”

  “I don’t.” Frank cut him off. “No reason was good enough for this betrayal. None.” He turned again and walked away.

  Henry clenched tightly to the tool, turning only his head to see Frank leave. When Frank was gone, Henry released a long breath and with a lot on his mind, returned to work.

  <><><><>

  Ellen sadly lowered the cellular phone to her lips. She closed her eyes, pressing the phone she just hung up against her mouth. Opening her eyes, she raised them to Johnny who sat on the end of her bed facing her. “Thank you.” She handed the phone back to him.

  “I thought you’d want to talk to Uncle Robbie since he got his batteries.”

  “I did.” She shook her head slowly. “I really did.”

  “Was he down? Is that what he said?”

  “No.” Ellen gave a half smile. “He made jokes. I just miss him and I’m worried. I’m really worried about him.”

  “Uncle Robbie’s tough. Hey, he’s a Slagel.” Johnny saw he didn’t get a reaction. He took a loud breath and put the phone in his coat. “I just wanted to let you talk to him. I’ll leave you alone.”

  “Johnny,” Ellen called to him softly as she felt the bounce of him getting off of the bed, “thank you.”

  “Not a problem.”

  “Johnny, I need you to know, I am really gonna make an effort to make a change. I’ve been … I’ve done …” Ellen shook her head. “Just know, I’ll eventually make things right with your dad for everything that’s happened.”

  “I know. And …” Johnny exhaled. “I really should go. Dr. Dean has a ton of shit for me to do.”

  “Then you’d better do it. Dean needs all the help he can get.”

  “Yeah, especially with you out of commission. I’ll stop by and see you tonight. O.K.?”

  “I’d love that,” Ellen smiled.

  Johnny walked to the door, and as he left, Andrea walked in.

  Ellen jilted some in shock. “Aren’t I popular today?”

  Andrea walked in to the room slowly. “Want some good news?”

  “Love some.”

  “Nick’s bilirubin count is down and dropping. Three times in a row.”

  Ellen’s head went back some in relief. “Thank God. How’s his weight?”

  “Down to four-three but that’s normal. And . . . lung ratio is good. Very good. It looks like that little boy of yours is doing well.”

  “Sit down.” Ellen patted the bed. “How long do you think he’ll have to be in here?”

  “Let’s see how he does off of the oxygen. We’re taking him off the lights tomorrow.” Andrea sat down. “When
his weight is up a little more, we’ll let him go. Maybe a week?”

  “Oh good,” Ellen plopped backwards onto her pillow.

  “I really have to go. I just wanted to let you know that. I’ll stop back. Right now . . .” Andrea stood up and looked at her watch. “Trish is due for a checkup and you know how long I’m in there with her. All those damn questions that girl asks. She is fast becoming the most annoying pregnant woman in Beginnings.”

  Ellen laughed. “She’s just excited that’s all. She was here twice yesterday to tell me how cute Nick is. No, Andrea, annoying was Jenny in her first pregnancy when her breasts got milk early, remember? She worried that every time those big things leaked that the baby was losing nourishment. It took all of us to convince her that what came from her breasts was for after the baby was born.”

  “Now, if I recall . . .” Andrea held up one finger. “You started that little panic episode. Weren’t you the one who told her, ‘oh my God Jenny, that’s not right. Something is wrong with you?’”

  “Guilty.”

  “I’m running late.” Andrea moved to the door. “One more thing, I put in for five work hours in that little betting pool going around.”

  “How’s it looking?”

  “Let’s put it this way. You and Henry are still the only two who believe Hap is Trish’s baby’s father. If Jeff is the dad, you and Henry will be winning lots of work hours.”

  “Or if Hap is, Henry and I will become very lazy.”

  “Valid point. I’ll see you.”

  “Bye, Andrea,” Ellen said with a smile and stretched out her legs. She still had to wait for Dean to examine her one more time then Ellen was going home. She thought about Trish and her baby. How she envied Trish because the only thing hinging on the baby’s paternity was a few folks making a fun bet. She wished it were that simple with Nick. The whole situation was screwed up. She brought Henry into the equation so she could freely help Dean. Never did she imagine that Henry would enter the equation as the father. She was still trying to figure that out and hoped that Jason Godrichson would be able to shed some light on it. He said he’d try to figure out the ripple and, more than she let on, Ellen needed to know how it happened.