Novels2Search

Chapter 42

"Hey Hanna," Craig greeted as he entered the infirmary, "how are they doing today?"

"Tina just finished breakfast, and apparently, dinner will be chosen by two of the babies and lunch by the other two," Hanna smiled, "other than that, the forcefield has come down ... we think, and Tina is healing well. Rose looked at the wounds; they remain but look superficial."

"Thanks. Is there any chance I can spend some time with them?" Craig asked.

"Who the scars or your family?" Hana grinned.

"I think my family would be better than the scars," Craig chuckled.

"Good call ... they are inside. Go ahead," Hanna said, nodding toward Tina's bed.

Rounding the half-closed curtain, Craig smiled, Rose collected the breakfast dishes, and Tina seemed to be negotiating for more food.

"Tina," Rose said, "this is the second lot of food you've had this morning. I know that you are recovering, and the babies are doing the same, but your body can only work on so much food before it revolts."

"What about hot chocolate?" Tina asked, hopefully.

"More?" Rose asked, "if I give in, that will be your third..."

"...fourth," Hanna supplied as she walked past.

"...fourth cup of hot chocolate," Rose said, shaking her head, "if you're thirsty ... drink water."

Tina grimaced, "That's boring."

"Sometimes boring is good," Craig said, smiling at the sisters, "glad to see you are coming back."

"Coming back!" Rose exclaimed, "she is fully back ... not stopping anywhere to rest back."

"That is good to know," Craig smiled as he took Rose's place next to the bed, kissing Tina, "nice to have you back."

Tina smiled, "Nice to be back. How are Gina and John?"

"They are attending a schooling session one of the moms has organised," Craig said, "it's amazing the kind of resources these refugee's have, and they are not shy to put them to work."

"It's amazing the change you see when a choice is given," Tina said, "choice and no condemnation."

"Very true," Craig said, "I was working on something for Kyle last night and fell asleep, but when I woke, John had cooked for us ..." Craig grinned, "burgers."

"You had a family meal," Tina said, sighing, "that must have been nice."

"I had to insist on a family meal," Craig said, "but when I asked what they wanted to talk about ..." Craig frowned, "John brought up "the other" Darcia and Madden."

"What?" Tina gasped, "there are more?"

"It seems as though Madden worked on two people apparently looking similar to the originals but not exactly the same," Craig said, "apparently, these others use humans to do what is required and keep them loyal by holding something over them."

"Like what?" Tina asked.

"The survival of family members ... is one that John and Gina know of," Craig said, "but if they are as bad or worse than the originals, it explains why we are still dealing with many facilities and fallouts."

"Jasmines' company," Tina whispered, "it's still a well-oiled machine because they may still be getting orders. Have you told Bre this?"

"Not yet," Craig sighed, "I wanted to start my day ... with my family."

Tina reached out, grasping Craig's hand tightly, "We are ... arent' we," she smiled, "family?"

"We always will be ... come what may," Craig kissed the back of her hand, "now ... how are the kids?"

Tina looked around the room, confused, "Kids?"

Craig grinned, pointing at her swollen belly.

"Oh, they are doing well," Tina returned Craig's grin, "I think the forcefield has come down," Tina nodded, "I can hear them arguing ... all four of them. It gets ... loud sometimes, and I need to step in, but apparently, they are growing. I sense a lot quicker than expected."

"That's why you're hungry all the time," Craig nodded, "Is any date set yet?"

"It's going to be soon," Tina shrugged, "or so I'm told, but I get the feeling they have their own timetable regarding the arrival."

Craig grinned, "They're going to be different," he sighed, "whatever they are, we love them regardless and will be happy to greet them."

Tina smiled, "We will. I was chatting the Hanna this morning, and if everything goes well, we may be out of here and back in our rooms by tomorrow or the next day."

"That soon," Craig murmured, raising his eyebrows, "my nano is working over time if you're in this shape."

"I feel terrific," Tina said, glancing at Craig, "good enough to be left alone if you need to elsewhere."

"Feel that good, huh," Craig said, "so if I went and did a little research, you wouldn't mind me following up on whatever I find."

"If you're saying you need to leave to look into a few things," Tina said, a look of innocence in her eyes, "I wouldn't mind."

Craig chuckled, "Have I been that overbearing?"

"No," Tina said, "just a little ... clingy. Besides, I'll have John and Gina to look after, and they can look after me."

"Fair enough," Craig said, squeezing Tina's hand, "but you'll have to tell me if you need anything."

"You'll hear if I need anything," Tina said, "that I promise. Now you go and update Bre about whatever you were doing for Kyle, and Hanna is waiting to check whatever needs to be checked on me."

"I'm not exactly Bre's favourite person right now. She wants to bench me because she believes I cannot control my abilities," Craig sighed as Tina frowned but continued before she could speak, "you have to know, Tina," Craig whispered, waiting until she met his gaze, "you're my heart and life ... you know that ... right?"

Tina's gaze softened as she swallowed hard, "Yes, I do, just like you are mine."

Standing, he cupped her face looking deep into her eyes before kissing her deeply. A discreet cough brought them back to the present, and they parted, chuckling.

"Go be a hero," Tina whispered, winking at Craig.

Nodding, Craig stepped back from the bed. Turning, he nodded to Hana before leaving the infirmary. Something was bothering him about the research, which was continued after putting Gina and John to bed and reading them a story as his father had done for him. Seeing how they responded to the experience interested him. Gina had questions, while John simply wanted to escape into the story. Shaking his head, he pushed into their quarters, striding across to the laptop and powering it up. Looking around, frowning at the feeling that someone was here, waiting for him, quickly clearing the rooms and finding no one, Craig knew that for today the sensation may be false ... yet instinct screamed that it wasn't wrong. So why did he feel like someone was watching him?

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Activating several programmes while pulling up the documents he had compiled the night before and maps of Morgan's locations, Craig looked through them all. He felt his stomach sink into a tense mass of stress. Quickly printing the information, Craig logged off and left the apartment. He needed to tell Breanna what he had found.

"That was close," Valencia whispered to Birgit as they stepped from the laundry cupboard, "he nearly caught us."

"Why were we hiding?" Birgit asked, "it's not like he would mind us stocking his kitchen."

"John and Gina asked us to do it without him finding out," Valencia said as they moved back into the kitchen and continued unpacking, "it was a good thing he started clearing from the bedrooms."

"I still think it was stupid," Birgit muttered, "I'm more interested in what he had on his laptop."

"Yeah, it looked like it was something to do with the guy from the infirmary and Morgan, but what was that third document he printed?" Valencia sighed as she folded the packets and pushed them into her bag.

"I didn't catch the contents or the name, but it was that one that got him really upset," Birgit said, "I wonder if he's going to tell Bre or go rogue."

"We'll have to wait and see," Valencia said, "oh, Tina is ready for a visit. Let's go."

"Bre," Craig called, catching up with his sister as she entered the tech room, "need to talk to you about something."

"It'll have to wait," Breanna said, "we have information regarding that guy from the infirmary."

"I know because I sent that through," Craig said, "but there is more ... I found a connection."

"Have you been working on something on the side?" Breanna asked, rounding on her brother.

"Yes, but at the request of someone who was having a problem with some of the research and getting to the bottom of it," Craig said, glancing around the tech room, "I could have just followed up on it on my own and given you a completed result. I didn't have to send it through or fill anyone in."

Breanna stared at Craig, anger in her eyes, "You know what will happen if you try and go rogue," she whispered.

"Yes, you'll bench me because you think I'm incapable of keeping my abilities under control, " Craig said, "I haven't exploded in hours, Bre. That is not why I came looking for you," Craig said, following his sister, "what is more concerning than the triggering of my abilities is the connection that came to light."

"Craig," Breanna put her hand up, "we will look into it, and if there is anything that needs to be seen, a team will be sent out."

"That's all well and fine," Craig said, "but there is a new threat that isn't on our radar at all."

Breanna shook her head, "You'll try anything to get out there again. When you've been warned."

"Damn it," Craig bellowed, "I'm not trying to do anything ... except warn you about the other Darcia and Madden."

The air in the tech room stilled as everyone turned toward the pair. Breanna breathed in her face, paling in anger.

"That is the kind of thing I'm talking about," Breanna said, "both of those people are dead."

"The originals are," Craig said, "but before Madden died, he enhanced or created, the facts on that are unclear, another like Darcia and himself."

"Where is the information?" Breanna said, waiting as Craig stared at her.

"The information came through two children extracted from a facility where the two others have been seen, and their work is known," Craig said, "and I have found a connection between the doubles, Morgan and the man in the infirmary."

"You're taking the word to two children?" Breanna asked, her voice soft and silky, "they could have made it up just to get into your good graces."

"What? Bre," Craig shook his head, "you know that none of those children would do something like that, not after what they went through ..." narrowing his gaze on his sister, "you're upset that others have come to me instead of you. Well, we'll see how your heavy hand saves the day this time ..." turning Craig walked toward the door dropping the documents next to Kyle as he left, "... good luck."

"Since you've been chosen to run the information down, Kyle," Breanna said, "get to work."

Kyle nodded at Breanna, picking up Craig's documents while glancing around; he waited for everyone to get to work before opening a private file and entering the information discovered. Breanna may not like what he was doing, but he trusted Craig, and he'd find him the required information.

Craig paced his bedroom, he knew the location of where the doubles were and how to get there, and he knew they could sweep in at any moment and destroy the facility.

"But will she listen," he muttered, frustration slamming through him, "sometimes she is just like our mother."

"Who is?" John asked from the doorway.

"My sister," Craig muttered, rubbing his hands over his face and slamming a lid on his roiling emotions, "how was ... school?"

"Loads of fun," John said, "we all had to write tests of all kinds to see where we were in the process of receiving information and learning new things. The rest of the day was filled with games. I'm hungry ... what's to eat?"

Craig shook his head as they moved toward the kitchen, John kept talking a mile a minute while sandwiches were made and eaten, but Gina hardly spoke. She ate in silence, leaving John to make all the conversation but speaking only if spoken to, making Craig concerned.

"Gina, how was your day?" Craig asked.

"Okay," the child sighed, "everything John said it was."

"That was how it was for John," Craig said, watching the child shift and glance away, "how was it for you?"

Gina shrugged but remained silent. Turning to John, Craig asked if there was homework, and John grinned, "Loads ... oh, can I be excused ... I want to get it all done by tomorrow."

"Go ahead," Craig said, gently laying a hand on Gina's arm as she tried to follow John, "one moment."

Gina slid back into the chair, folding her hands in her lap, "They spoke to you, didn't they? I'm in trouble."

"No one has spoken to me," Craig said, "tell me what happened today? How did your tests go?"

Gina shook her head, watching her hands grip and release, "I couldn't finish any of them ... most of them was writing numbers and letters ..." she shrugged, "I saw the look on the teacher's face when she took my work in ..." tears gathered in her eyes, "I'm going to be punished."

"Why would you think that?" Craig asked, his heart squeezing at the child's quiet sobs.

"Cause I didn't finish, and they said we had to finish everything," Gina swiped at her eyes, "they'll take me away and do horrible things to me."

Squatting next to her chair Craig gently stroked the hair from the child's face, "That is not going to happen. Those tests allowed the teacher to see what you know and don't know. She needs to know what work to set you to help you learn more and get to where John is and eventually my level."

"Really?" Gina asked, sniffing loudly.

"Yes," Craig said, "you're not in trouble ... no one will take you away, and we will take this one day at a time. Okay?"

Gina nodded, "Could you help me with my homework?"

"Of course," Craig whispered, "where is it? "

"John brought it home for me," Gina whispered, "it was too heavy for me to carry."

"Sounds like a lot of work needs to be done," Craig said, surprised, as Gina slowly wrapped her arms around his neck and clung to him.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Lifting the child from the chair, he carried her into the sitting room as John entered. He looked guilty and slowly extended Gina's bag to Craig before returning to his room and homework.

"John knows, doesn't he?" Craig asked.

The silent nod on his shoulder was all the answer he would get.

"Where do you want to do all this work?" Craig asked.

Gina pushed up from his shoulder, "Could we do it in here?"

"Sure," Craig said, setting her on her feet, "the couch or the desk?"

"Desk?" Gina said, slowly sounding like her old self, "I have to learn to sit at one of these for a long time."

"Were you told that?" Craig asked.

"We all were," Gina sighed, rolling her eyes, "there are so many rules I have to remember it makes my head hurt."

"You'll get to a point where you'll wonder why you felt all of this," Craig said, "for now we're going to tackle one problem at a time."

Craig watched Gina start to unpack her bag as movement caught his eye. Glancing up, he met John's watchful gaze.

"What's going on?" he asked John.

"Thank you for being so understanding," John said quietly, "I ... I didn't want her to get into trouble for something she doesn't understand yet."

"We all start somewhere," Craig said, "everyone ... no one knows everything right off the starting block."

Nodding, John turned to leave but paused, "If you're so angry with your sister for not listening, why not sort the problem out yourself?"

"I could, but it would be disobeying orders," Craig sighed, "something else you two will learn about."

"Oh, we know all about that," Gina said, "I think what John is trying to say is ... if you know that obeying orders will harm others .. don't obey them."

Craig looked between the pair, nodding, "Very sound advice, thank you. Now ... to work."