Chapter 28

I


The phone rang in Jacob's office, and he instinctively knew who was calling.

He looked at the ID screen, and it was from Midwest Central Command, with no number listed.

Ah, Nikolai, he thought, I knew you'd come through for me, son.

"Hello," said Jacob as he answered the call.

"Mr. Ross, Major San Marco is returning your call," Sgt. Knox said. "He'll be with you in just a moment."

"That's fine, Sgt. Knox," Jacob said. "I'll wait."

After a brief wait, Nik came on the line.

"Jacob," he said, "I think I have some information about Julia's whereabouts for you. I got these from Homeland Security, who is monitoring Julia's hiding place. She doesn't know this, so please don't tell her if you talk to her."

"I don't plan on talking to her, Nik," Jacob said; "I just want to know where she is and who is hiding her and her family."

"I see," Nik said, but he didn't really. Until twelve hours before, Nik didn't know the name of the man who was helping Julia, nor where he lived. Nik didn't like having this information, which he felt defeated the purpose of Julia being in hiding. But Jacob made a point that stuck with Nik: if A.R.M. could find Julia, then anyone can. And Nik did.

He had no idea who John Christofferson was, and was only told that it was someone that Julia had come across in the nature of her job with Homeland Security. Nik was not aware that Christofferson was, in another life, the New Army Captain once known as Black Jack Coltrane. The same man who kept Julia as his prisoner for over three months, a year before the end of the Occupation.

"Jacob, Julia is in Wyoming somewhere, staying with a man who offered to help her when her life was threatened," Nik said; "I have a name, but I don't feel comfortable giving it out. It would defeat the purpose of Julia being in hiding. I can tell you that the children are doing well, and that other than her injury, Julia is also doing well."

Jacob wasn't completely satisfied, but it would have to do for now. He wanted to know that Julia really was doing okay, not in harm's way, and that her children were safe. He decided that after the holidays, he would dig further into his database to see if he could actually find his daughter and her family.

"Thanks for the information, Nik," Jacob said; "I didn't mean to come on like a hard ass about it. I had gotten this information about Julia being injured and reacted to it as a father should."

"Then you might be interested in the fact that the man she is staying with is terminally ill, and has been given less than a year to live," Nik said; "Julia might be back in Chicago sooner than we all think."

"It's not good that the man is ill," Jacob said; "Julia will want to take care of him, because she didn't get that chance with Ryan."

"Do you think there's something going on between Julia and her friend, Jacob?" asked Nik.

"No, but I do know Julia's state of mind," Jacob said. "She never got the chance to take care of Ryan because he tended to keep his condition a secret for so long. She only knew about it the last six to eight months of Ryan's life."

Nik had to ponder on that a while. He knew it was true. Ryan had told both Nik and Jeremiah that he had serious problems with his heart that he wasn't ready to discuss with his wife. And Ryan did get around to telling Julia, it was really too late for anything. Ryan knew it was only a matter of time before it killed him.

"Ryan tried to keep it a secret," Nik said; "Julia eventually figured it out after she suspected him of cheating on her. She felt pretty foolish when she learned it wasn't a woman that was taking up a lot of his time, but doctor's visits in neighboring states. She was pretty hurt that Ryan didn't trust her with his health issues."

"He was probably trying to protect her," Jacob said; "but went about it all wrong. He might still be alive if he just came out and told Julia when he first started showing symptoms."

"And I'm sure Julia knew that," Nik said. "It probably made her mourning for him harder because he could have been saved. I know she had a difficult time the first year."

"I know what she went through. Christine kind of did the same thing," Jacob said; "Except we were trying to keep it from the whole country."

"You must have succeeded because no one knew she was that sick," Nik said.

"No one but me, Christine, and her doctors," Jacob said, remembering the night Christine died. Her last words to her husband were, Thank you for believing in us, Jacob. Then she was gone.

Jacob thanked Nik for the information and ended the call.

He then sat back and remembered his brave butterfly, and smiled.

===

All the kids were in the barn, watching as the mare struggled to give birth to her foal. Jaime was sitting near the mare's head, speaking softly and trying to keep the horse from panicking. Jaime suspected this was the mare's first pregnancy.

The vet arrived, still bundled up in his winter gear. The mare made distressed sounds as her foal was trying to get born.

Without speaking to those assembled, Dr. Cray got straight to work helping the mare to deliver her foal.

"Jaime, come over here with the rest of us and let Dr. Cray do his job," Julia said.

"Actually, ma'am," said Cray, "She's fine where she is. Whatever she's been doing, it's keeping the mare from getting excited."

It took a couple of hours, but the mare finally had her foal with Dr. Cray's help. He told Jaime that she did the right thing in bringing the mare into the barn. The horse would have died if left outside, either from the extreme cold, or from the difficult labor.

"This way, we were able to save both of them," Dr. Cray said. "How did you know the horse needed help, Jaime?"

"She broke the fence down, and she just stood there looking, I don't know, scared, I guess," Jaime said; "I convinced my sister to help me bring her to the barn so she could be warm."

"The herd had been running around here for how long, would you say?" asked the vet.

"Since September at least," Jaime said; "Though it was probably around mid October that I noticed the mare was pregnant."

"Well, she has a fine, healthy colt, Jaime," Dr. Cray stated; "They should stay here for a while, at least until the temperature gets warmer. I'll come back and check on them in a couple of weeks."

As Jack was walking the vet back to his car in the front of the house, Dr. Cray said, "That's some girl you have there, John. She's pretty smart. I know it's cold as shit out there, but she did the right thing. Your granddaughter, perhaps?"

"No," Jack said, "She's my companion's daughter. And yes, she's pretty smart, just as the other kids are. She likes animals."

"The mare is part of BIA's herd. I noticed her tag when I was assisting her," Dr. Cray said. "The colt will go with her in the spring when she rejoins the herd."

"I know Jaime pretty well," Jack said; "She'll get too attached to both of them and won't be able to let them go."

"I'll talk to the head of BIA and see if maybe if the two of them could be up for purchase," Dr. Cray said; "Since they needed assistance, maybe they'll give them up to a private party."

"Jaime would like that," Jack said; "But I'll have to discuss it with her mother before any decisions are made."

"Of course, John. That's understandable," said Dr. Cray.

The two men shook hands and the veterinarian took his leave. Jack then came back into the house, where Jaime was begging her mother to allow her to keep the two horses.

"Jaime I can't make that decision right now," Julia was saying; "We'll just have to see what happens."

"But you're not saying no, are you?" asked Jaime.

"I'm not, but I'm not saying yes, either, Jameson," Julia said. "A lot of other things have to happen first."

"Yes, ma'am," Jaime said.

"Now, we've all had a long day," Julia said; "Why don't you go get ready for bed."

Jaime then turned on her heel and headed towards her bedroom. Jack sat down next to Julia and said,

"Wasn't expecting that, were we?"

"No, we weren't," Julia said; "We couldn't have planned this episode if we tried. It was good that the children got to witness the birth of the colt. It will make their agriculture lessons easier."

She laid her head against Jack's arm and sighed.

"Julia..." Jack began.

"Yes, Jack?"

"I love you, you know."

"I know, baby."

"When the kids are asleep, may I hold your beautiful body against mine and make love to you?" asked Jack.

"You don't have to ask me, Jack," Julia said; "You know that."

"I know, but it seems important to me to do so."

Julia sat up, leaned over, and placed a soft kiss on Jack's cheek.

"Yes, Jack," she said; "I'd like nothing more than for you to love me."


===
II


The plane landed at Chicago O'Hare airport. Matt and Lisa were looking forward to the time off from school with Matt's family.

They grabbed their carry on bags from the overhead compartment and started to deplane. Lisa noticed a man a few rows back who seemed to be looking at her strangely. He gave Lisa the creeps, but didn't mention anything to Matt about it. She figured that there were always going to be people who just rubbed her the wrong way. The man looked away when Lisa caught him staring at her. She noticed a scar on his chin, and was certain that she'd know him if she ran into him again.

She didn't have to say anything to Matt, however, because he noticed the man staring at her as well.

Once in the airport on their way to meet his dad and his two younger brothers, he said to Lisa,

"Did you see that guy on the plane staring at you, Lisa? Kinda creepy if you ask me."

"I did, Matt, but I didn't want to say anything," Lisa said; "He gave me the heebie jeebies."

"At least we don't ever have to see him again," Matt said. "Maybe he'll just disappear into the city and go about his business."

Lisa nodded but said nothing. She never wanted to see that creep's face again as long as she lived.

Matt saw his father and brothers up ahead beyond the security screening area, and they greeted each other warmly. Matt was pleased that Peter seemed to be getting around just fine now that the back brace was history.

"Damn, bro, you sure shot up while I've been gone," Matt said, noting that Peter seemed to be much taller than he had been when Matt was last home.

"Yeah, Mom said I had a growth spurt," Peter said; "She said that was a good sign that I was really healing from my accident."

"That's good," Matt said; "When do you get to go back to school and start training again?"

"After the holidays," Peter said; "I can't wait!"

"He's a pain in the ass," Danny said, laughing; "But that just means he's more normal than he has been."

Nik just rolled his eyes at his sons ribbing each other. "Shall we get yours and Lisa's bags, Matthias, or are we going to have a one upmanship contest here in the airport?"

"Oh, definitely get our bags, Dad," Matt said, putting his arm around Lisa's waist; "I can't wait to get home! What's for dinner?"

Lisa laughed; "There he goes, thinking about food!"

"He does that a lot, Lisa?" asked Nik.

"He's a bottomless pit," Lisa said. "I think he drinks five gallons of milk by himself a week."

"He's always had a big appetite," Nik said; "His mother thought if we ever went broke, it would be because Matt literally ate us out of house and home!"

"I don't eat that much!" Matt protested lamely.

"I beg to differ," Nik said; "Between you and your brothers, I was lucky to get one sandwich a week!"

"Aunt Julia said once that you ate more than her whole family, Dad!" Danny said.

Nik just waved off the comment and the group headed to the baggage claim area.

However, they were being watched.

"Enjoy your time together now, San Marco family," Pollard said under his breath; "For by Christmas, you'll all be dead."

Pollard couldn't have been more wrong.

===

Krysta just stared at DeWitt in shock. When she found her voice, she said,

"Kathryn is the mother of your children?!"

"Why yes," DeWitt said; "I took her under my wing when she was eighteen and we fell in love. Our oldest daughter is twelve. It was after Helene was born that I saw Chastity for the first time. Chastity said some horrid things about Kathryn and vowed to keep her from coming forward anymore."

"You knew this all this time?"

"I did," said DeWitt; "When Kathryn was present, our lives together were wonderful. We had two more daughters. But as Chastity kept showing herself more and more, I found that I couldn't live with her. The girls were actually afraid of Chastity. For their safety and Kathryn's, I purchased the townhouse for Chastity to live in. I tried to get Kathryn help for her problem, but Chastity wouldn't hear of it. So I put her in charge of the Movement. She and Kathryn fought over who would be in charge of the body. Chastity won. She hasn't been Kathryn again until just recently."

"You knew about her many lovers, her murderous nature, her temper tantrums? Why didn't you get her help sooner?" asked Krysta. "Her father wants to see her. He's regretted sending her away for years. You do know who her father is, don't you?"

"Yes, Krysta. I know Kathryn's father is Eric Hope. He and I have tangled in court many times over the years," DeWitt said.

"And you knew all along that the woman who is the mother of your children is Eric Hope's daughter? And you kept her away from him?" Krysta couldn't believe what she was hearing, nor that DeWitt was so cavalier about the whole episode. DeWitt and Eric are probably about the same age, Krysta thought.

"I knew, and there were many times I wanted to tell Eric Hope, then I'd remember that he sent her away because he and his wife couldn't handle Chastity, and really felt no sympathy for the man," DeWitt said; "I know that he and I are about the same age. I took care of her when he chose not to."

"What if he thought he didn't have a choice!" said Krysta. "What if sending her away was the best thing for her?"

"Do you really believe that, Alexandra? Didn't you run away from home?" asked DeWitt, seeing Krysta's shock on being called by her birth name. He continued, "I can keep Kathryn safe. She's safe in that hospital right now. Her father can come see her if he wants. Her memories are so scattered that she doesn't realize she's an adult. Chastity damn near ruined Kathryn forever."

"What about when Kathryn is well enough to be released?" Krysta asked. "Are you going to swoop down and hide her away?"

"I'll let her decide that," DeWitt said; "I'll let her decide if a life with me and our daughters is what she really wants. The girls miss their mother, but they also realize that she's not herself. But there is something that you should know, Krysta."

"And what's that, Mr. DeWitt?"

"As much as I want to see the Movement succeed, I'll walk away from it for one reason and one reason only," DeWitt said.

"And that is?"

"If Kathryn wants to come home and be part of our family again, I'll abandon the Movement. Kathryn means more to me than a second Occupation. If others in the Movement want to continue the cause, then they'll have to come up with the finances to do so. Once I withdraw from the Movement, my money goes with me."

Krysta was floored that DeWitt would do that. Maybe he did have Kathryn's best interests at heart.

But, Krysta thought, so does Eric.

She knew that it would not be a pretty picture if Kathryn chose Christian DeWitt over her father.

The rumors she had heard over the years had been true. That DeWitt did have children with a much younger woman, and that it was the Kathryn she knew who was the woman who was always mentioned. That DeWitt knew about Kathryn's alter, Chastity. That he would leave the Movement if the mother of his children became well.

I thought I was handing a line of bullshit to Jeremiah Donovan, Krysta thought. I had no idea any of that shit was true! I hope he fact checks everything I told him. This will blow his mind.

===
III

Sandrina and Danica's first semester at Georgetown was drawing to a close. Both were registered for spring classes, and the month long break between the semesters was something both young women were looking forward to.

Danica had made plans to return to Maine for the holidays to spend time with her family. Her sister Kendria was making great progress towards recovering from her injuries, and even talked about going to a community college after she finished her compulsory education. She had made up a lot of what she missed in a short amount of time.

She had gotten the news that her parents were looking into adopting a pair of brothers they had been fostering. The boys were seven and nine years old, the oldest sharing Kendria's September 1st birthday. They were bi-racial like Danica and Kendria.

Sandrina had just learned that Alex was able to get leave and accompany her to Chicago for the Christmas holidays, though he had to be back on post on December 28th. They'd still have two weeks together and he'd get to spend time getting to know Sandrina's family.

Natasha and the twins were going skiing with Darren in Colorado, somewhere the twins had never been, and they were excited about it. They were doing all kinds of research on the internet about Vail, Denver and Colorado Springs so they'd know what fun things there were to do there.

Late one night before the girls left to go to their respective hometowns, they were sitting in the living room with Natasha talking about the time they had spent together during the girls' first college semester.

"Is college what you thought it would be?" asked Natasha.

"It's almost like being homeschooled again," Danica said; "Mom and Dad gave us a lot to do, lots of homework, lots of classwork. College is like that. Five different subjects given rapid fire, and we're expected to learn all we can about them. I think I accomplished that pretty well because that's what I'd been exposed to at home."

"I'd have to say that all in all, I'm pleased with how it turned out," Sandrina said; "My classes are in no way a cakewalk. My art classes challenge me to expand my talents even further than I thought I could accomplish. I took on a lot. Dad thought I was taking on too much, but I finished it all."

"Then you met Alex," Danica teased.

"Alex understands that I'm in school and that I have to be focused on that," Sandrina said. "He chose to join the Army instead of going to college right away. He wants to take advantage of the G.I. Bill when he's ready to tackle college."

"He can go while he's still on active duty, right?" asked Natasha.

"He can, but right now, that's not on his agenda," Sandrina said; "He's a soldier's soldier. His folks are proud of him."

"Have you even met his parents?" asked Danica.

"I've talked to his mother on the phone," Sandrina said; "She is really nice, and really Southern. I'm not sure I liked being called darlin' and honey so much. We're just not like that where I live."

"His family knows who your father is, don't they?" asked Natasha.

"His dad was in the Security Forces," Sandrina said; "He knows who Dad is. Alex's mom thinks Dad is a hero, and admired yours and Aunt Julia's skills, Aunt Tash."

"I hope that Nik can live up to all that admiration," joked Natasha. "I'm going skiing to get away from all the hero worship I encounter around here."

"Why Vail, though?" asked Danica. "We have lots of skiing here on the east coast."

"Darren owns a house in Vail," Natasha said; "It's where he goes to get away from everything. He's wanted to take me there for years. Now he can."

"He's not going to propose, is he?" asked Sandrina.

"I have no idea, Sandy," Natasha said; "We haven't even discussed getting married. The whole idea scares me."

"Of getting married?" asked Sandrina.

"Yes. Marriage scares me. I've lived this long without having to marry," Natasha said. "But if I do marry, I hope it's to Darren. He's waited long enough for me to make up my mind."

"That still blows my mind that he waited for you to be ready," Danica said; "There aren't many men like Darren out there. Most men are anxious to get you into bed on the first date!"

"Oh?" Sandrina said to her cousin; "What about that guy you've been seeing off and on all semester. What's his name...Colby?"

"Cole," Danica said; "And he's a nice man, yes, but he's too old for me."

"Too old?" asked Natasha; "How old is too old in your mind?"

"He's 25, Aunt Tash," Danica said; "That's almost eight years. He'll be 26 in January."

"But do you like him? Does he like you?" asked Natasha.

"I do like him, Aunt Tash," Danica said; "But it's nothing serious. We just like hanging out together. I guess he likes me, too. He hasn't even tried anything yet."

"He sent you flowers on your birthday, Danica!" Sandrina said. "I'd say that he likes you a lot."

Danica said nothing. She didn't want to think about the non-relationship she had with Cole. He was just a friend. And soon, she would be back in Maine with her family. Cole probably won't even be thinking about me, Danica thought.

===

Kimber and Jamey took a taxi to the airport the morning of December 16th to fly to Austin to spend Christmas/Hanakkah with Kimber's family.

Jamey noticed that Kimber seemed a little preoccupied while she was packing the night before. He knew that she had spoken to her sister shortly before that. Maybe there's something troubling Niki that Kimber is concerned about, he thought. If she wants to tell me, she will.

Kimber really hated to fly. Planes made her nervous. But, she realized that it was quicker than trying to drive to Texas.

She was glad that Jamey was going with her. Her family expressed a desire to meet the man who captured their daughter and sister's heart. Kimber knew that her mother and sister had gone shopping for presents for her and Jamey. Her father, brothers, and Drake were looking forward to meeting Jamey and getting to know him. David was a good judge of character, and he'd know if something wasn't right. Kimber felt that he had nothing to worry about and that he would like Jamey just like he liked Drake. Kimber thought that Drake and Jamey were a lot alike.

What weighed heavily on Kimber Draiman's mind was the news that Niki would need a bone marrow transplant. Kimber was a perfect match. So was her brother John, and he would also donate to Niki if it was needed. Kimber was nervous about the procedure, which if it needed to take place, would knock Kimber out of commission for six weeks. That would mean Kimber couldn't graduate the following spring. She thought there could be a way around that, as she only needed half a semester's worth of credit to walk with her class.

She had spoken to her academic advisor about it the day before classes ended for the semster, and felt very encouraged that between her and the school, those seven credits could be obtained, even if Kimber couldn't be there on the first day of class.

They arrived at the airport and went inside the terminal to check their luggage. Kimber's nervousness about flying increased as she and Jamey waited for their flight. She leaned against Jamey and rested her head against his arm. With him, Kimber felt safe, felt secure.

Inside though, she was scared to death for Niki. What if the transplant didn't work? Would Niki die?

She didn't want to think about that, but it was all she thought about.

===