Broken Past, Good Path

Life is just a stepping stone

    Noah Walstead dipped his head shamefully, the doctor patting his arm to let him know that he was finished with his leg. Bradley remained still in front of him, appearing to enjoy the look of dread that crossed Noah’s face. He had rarely heard anything about Morgan’s father, except Morgan, who had made it abundantly clear that she did not like him. Instead, Noah feared that the meeting would be too similar to meeting a girlfriend’s father for the first time and need to gain that father’s approval to date his girlfriend. Except this time, it would be just after slapping the man’s daughter. Bradley turned and made his way to the door, cueing for Noah to follow him. Noah slowly got off of the gurney, limping after Bradley while looking over at the unconscious girl with blond hair. He felt somewhat guilty for leaving until the doctor waved him out. The walk back to the front of the building where the glass cubicles still stood took longer than Noah remembered. Perhaps, he was in less of a hurry this time around.

                When they reached the edge of the room Bradley stopped. Noah lifted his eyes, finding a well dressed and intimidating older gentleman, wearing a spotless suit. He was striding down the center of the building, followed by an extensive security team, all dressed in matching black suits with white ties. Noah eyed them distastefully.

                “I won’t have to wear a suit like that when I become part of the group, right?” Noah asked in a sarcastic whisper as he stopped next to Bradley.

                “If you become part of my team, we like our casual outfits,” Bradley replied, equally as sarcastic. Noah followed Bradley with his eyes as the man straightened his posture and stepped forward towards the center of the building. Noah limped forward after him, telling himself not to make any foolish mistakes. As they moved forward, they caught the attention of the older man, his threatening stare turning in their direction.

                “Mr. Thomas! Glad to see you are unhurt… What is the report?” The older man asked, stopping an arm’s length away. Noah looked between Bradley and the older gentleman as they wordlessly stared at each other. Finally, Bradley gave a small bow of his head.

                “Mr. Dylan, sir. Just a small cut. Olivia took a bullet to the shoulder. She is recovering from surgery as we speak. Noah took a bullet to the leg that did not require surgery. Your daughter is safe… unhurt,” Bradley informed. Noah gulped as Mr. Dylan’s uncanny and determined blue eyes turned on him. Noah smiled slightly, finally understanding where Morgan had gotten her glacier-like eyes from.

                “Is something funny?” Mr. Dylan questioned him; anger evident in his voice. Noah straightened, shaking his head.

                “No sir. I just realized that your eyes are identical to your daughter's… sir,” Noah kept a steady voice, his own eyes remaining vigil on Mr. Dylan. The older man made now changes in his countenance except that his face turned a little darker.

                “You are Noah Walstead, are you not? My daughter’s roommate and ‘friend’,” Mr. Dylan questioned. Noah smiled, nodded once.

                “Yes. He has been asking to join our squad to help protect Morgan. I told him that he would have to talk to you first, sir,” Bradley stated. Mr. Dylan paused, thought a moment, and eyed Noah a little more carefully.

                “We will talk later. First, I wish to see Morgan,” Mr. Dylan turned away, allowing Noah to breathe again.

                “I do not think it is a wise decision, sir. She has been through a lot these past two days,” Bradley spoke up. Noah turned his eyes to his soon-to-be leader, wondering where the care in his voice came from. He had never sounded so sincere before.

                “Nonsense. She must be told. Maybe she will be more responsible for her actions. Where is she?” Mr. Dylan asked, turning back to the glass cubicles. No one answered as Morgan exited from one of the glass cubicles of the medical cube, looking at her father with apprehension written on her face. The father-daughter duo stared at each other in silence, everyone, including Noah, staring at them while holding their breath.

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    Morgan Dylan had seen her father arrive and watched as he promenaded around the building with his security crew. To her, he looked too smug and important. She hated the way he talked to Bradley, and more specifically to Noah. It was like he was talking to people that were in a totally different class than he was. Like they were less human than he was. I hope I do not sound like that, she thought. For her, Noah would always be more important than anyone else. He had been her loyal friend and the only person who gave her any attention for the last ten years. He was, in fact, the most important person in her life and it killed her a little bit to know she could not make him happy.

    Morgan moodily stuffed the items she had borrowed back into their original drawers, prolonging the moment she would have to leave. The last thing she wanted to do today spoke to her father, but she figured the sooner, the better. It would be better to get it over with as soon as possible. She sighed heavily, walking out of the glass room. She was finally able to hear murmurs that the soundproof room had blocked out. She came face to face with her father, preparing herself for the speech that he was going to give her. The murmurs fell away and the room was washed in uncomfortable silence. Mr. Dylan took a few steps closer towards her so they would be able to have a quiet conversation.

                “You are unhurt?” Mr. Dylan’s tone was stony. Morgan shook her head, her eyes unwavering. “What you did and how you behaved today was unacceptable, dangerous and stupid.” Mr. Dylan ground, berating her endlessly. “You could have gotten your friend killed!” Her father added. Morgan flinched, remembering the feeling of loss when she had heard that Noah had gotten injured, and yet she still had some defiance in her.

    “You lied to me! You said I would get to live on my own and have my own life! Yet, you had these random people secretly protect me. Maybe, if you had just told me the truth, none of this would have happened! I’m not a dog you can just cage up!” Morgan shot back, her voice rising in desperation.

    “I only did what I had to do, to protect you! There is still a killer out there, as you came to witness today!”

    “Is that the only reason?”

    “Enough of this talk. I did what I had to for your protection. Stop being such a child and running into danger!” Mr. Dylan’s voice rang out with finality. He collected himself and lowered his voice again. “We will be going home soon. Make sure you have your things in order,” Mr. Dylan turned, walking back to Bradley and Noah. Morgan bit her lip. She did not want to admit it but going back to that house scared her. She did not want to feel trapped again.

    “No!” Morgan clenched her teeth and stomped forward. “Bradley has offered me to stay here and I have accepted! Right, Bradley?” Morgan turned her icy eyes onto the man. Her father, Bradley and Noah turned with a mixture of shocked and angry faces. After a minute of no response, Morgan leaned towards Bradley. “Right?”

    “I have no idea what she is talking about sir,” Bradley replied eventually. Morgan gritted her teeth angrily, realizing she had put her trust in the wrong person.

    “Maybe that idea is for the better though. It is more secure here, after all…” Mr. Dylan shook a finger, turning to Bradley. Morgan was shocked as she began to fill herself with hope once more.

    “Sir…” Bradley gritted his teeth angrily.

    “Yes, that is a perfect plan. She will stay here!” Mr. Dylan announced. Morgan stopped herself from leaping for joy but didn’t stop herself from sticking her tongue out at Bradley, behind her father’s back. In return, she received an annoyed look. “Mr. Walstead. Mr. Thomas. I would like to see Olivia. Privately,” Mr. Dylan pushed the two men away. Morgan smiled, giving a few of the security crew high fives until Ryland and Jax approached.

    “You are making our job easier and easier,” Jax knuckled his hand gently on Morgan’s head. She gave them a look of surprise as Ryland nudged Jax.

       “You put her in shock.”

    “No. No, you didn’t,” Morgan replied. “I guess I am just used to you being mean to me.”

    “Oh, come on! Don’t judge us from high school! We were under a lot of stress and responsibility,” Jax knuckled her head again. For the first time, they didn’t seem scary to her.

    “Well, I am sorry for causing you trouble today and putting you in danger,” Morgan bowed her head. Jax knuckled her again.

    “Although it wasn’t a smart idea on your part… it was the most action we have had in ten years,” Rylan recanted with excitement.

    “Ten years?” Morgan frowned, wondering what it had been like for them to start working at a young age.

    “You really do not remember us, do you?” Jax questioned, his brows raised over his black eyes. Morgan eyed them suspiciously. “We were all at your ninth birthday party. We have been watching you since then…” Jax said. Ryland elbowed him in the side, as Morgan’s face fell. Jax and Ryland frowned, looking between each other.

    “We are really sorry about your mom!” Ryland spoke up a minute later. “That day was so crazy on so many levels but we have vowed with our lives that you would not end up like her.”

    “We hope we can find this killer and know we have protected you for life!” Jax added. Morgan gave them a weak smile. “Doesn’t that make you happy?”

    “No. Actually, I would have been happier if everyone had gotten to live their lives without worrying about mine,” Morgan frowned, turning towards the halls that she had explored earlier. She did not want to talk about the nastiness of the past or present anymore. “So, do you know where I will be staying?” Morgan changed the subject. Jax and Ryland turned with her.

    “Follow us,” Jax said, a smirk bestowed on his lips as he and Ryland moved down the hallway that she had been down before with Bradley. It took only a few minutes for the school desk she had admired before to come into view.

    “These are all bedrooms. You can choose any you would like!” Ryland waved a hand down the hall. Morgan’s face lit up.

    “Really?” She asked. Ryland and Jax nodded. Morgan truly smiled as she explored each room, not seeing the wicked smiles that Jax and Ryland were giving each other.

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                Olivia Hodgens slowly opened her eyes, her shoulder throbbing with pain. She let out an irritated groan as she did her best to sit up. It was barely a second later that the doctor was next to her, helping her into a sitting position. Olivia was still groggy from the anesthesia but she could tell that she was alone with the doctor.

                “Where is everyone?” She managed to speak.

                “The commander arrived. Everyone went for a meeting with him, I believe,” The doctor explained. Olivia tried to stand, her muscles feeling like jelly.

                “I should go too.”

                “No, no, no. you are injured and need to take some pain medication. You are not going anywhere!” The doctor pressed her gently back down onto the gurney, turning her attention to her injured shoulder and arm that was wrapped up and immobilized in a sling. The doctor handed her a pill and placed a glass of water on a table next to her gurney. “This will help you with the pain,” Olivia slipped the pill into her mouth, gulping it down with a sip of the water. She relaxed back down onto the gurney, sinking into the lone pillow, wondering what exactly had happened since being unconscious. Her eyes scanned the medical equipment, her lips twitching with the need to talk. “Bradley and Noah have been in to check on you. I am sure they will be back soon,” The doctor informed with his back towards her.

                “How is Noah?” Olivia asked immediately.

                “Fine. His wounds are unsubstantial. He will be completely healed in a few weeks, as long as he is careful,” The doctor replied nonchalantly. The room fell into a cloud of silence that made Olivia feel uncomfortable. However, it was interrupted a minute later when the door opened to Bradley and Mr. Dylan, followed by a limping Noah. Olivia shot up, pain shooting through her arm.

                “At ease child,” Mr. Dylan said softly but with a demanding tone. The doctor rushed over, pushing her back down with an angry howl. “How are you feeling?” Mr. Dylan’s serious eyes found Olivia’s with a burning intensity.

                “I am fine sir,” Olivia told him.

                “I am glad to hear you say that… however, due to your injuries, I will ask you to take a vacation… with Mr. Walstead here.” Mr. Dylan announced. A rowdy protest went up in the confines of the medical room. Mr. Dylan raised his hand, calling for silence which was met with instantly. “After the both of you are healed, I’ll have to charge Olivia with training Mr. Walstead,” Mr. Dylan glanced around the room, his eyes threatening anyone to challenge him.

                “Thank you, sir,” The doctor broke the silence. Mr. Dylan nodded, gestured towards the door for Bradley and Noah, asking them to lead the way back outside. Olivia turned her eyes back to the doctor. Their eyes only met briefly, the doctor looking back to his equipment to break their connection.

                “Isn’t the commander someone good to work for?” The doctor said cheerfully. Olivia rolled her eyes.

                “Dad,” Olivia said in a tone that would make him drop the subject.

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                Morgan Dylan stood in one of the bedrooms, vaguely aware of Ryland and Jax standing in the hallway just outside the door to the room. She had dragged them from room to room, finding things she did not like about each one. She now stood in the middle of the smallest room, quaint decorations adorning the room that reflected what Morgan was used to and what she enjoyed. Even if she wasn’t happy about the current circumstances, anything was better than returning to the suffocating, loveless home that she had been raised in. Morgan joined Jax and Ryland back in the hallway, a smile gracing her lips.

                “I will choose this one,” Morgan announced. She picked up on the devilish grin that Ryland and Jax shared between each other. “What?” Morgan questioned, her happy smile fading slightly.

                “Nothing,” Jax and Ryland suspiciously replied at the same time.

                “We are sure you will enjoy staying here, is all,” Jax added after Morgan gave them a suspicious look.

                “Jax, Ryland. Come in,” Bradley’s voice came over their radios, saving them from Morgan’s questioning.

                “Go ahead”

                “Ryland here”

                There was a squawk over the radio.

                “The commander wishes to say goodbye. What are your locations?”

                “We are all in the Hall of Letters.”

                “Hall of Letters? What are you doing there?”

                “Showing Morgan where she will be staying,”

                “WHAT?!” Bradley’s voice was loud and clear making all of them jump. “Tell her that she will be moving to a different wing. There is no possibility for her to stay in the same wing as me!” Bradley said. Morgan’s jaw dropped as Ryland and Jax glanced at her.

                “You just told her yourself, bro…” Ryland replied slowly. No reply came as Morgan put two hands on her hips, glaring angrily at the two who had lied to her. She didn’t have any time to tell at them as her father, Bradley, and Noah turned the corner into the hall. There were a few seconds of pause as they crowded together in the hall.

                “I must take my leave but wanted to inform all of you of the recent decisions that had been made,” Mr. Dylan announced to the crowd. Morgan refused to meet her father’s eyes. “As you know, Morgan will be staying here, under full protection. Olivia and Noah will recuperate elsewhere and the Noah will begin his training.”

                “What training?” Morgan interrupted, her voice failing her as she looked around the group in a fury. Her icy blue eyes landed on Noah, orbs hardening in glacier-like iciness.