Broken Past, Good Path

This Is My Fight Song

    Noah Walstead blinked rapidly around the medical cube, already feeling drained. He understood what everyone was discussing but felt too weak to enter the conversation. So, he simply looked on. First, to Morgan, finding her well and happy to see him. She looked the same. Flawless, even as she stared angrily at Bradley. Noah had watched the two of them walk in together, hand in hand. He felt a little curious as to what happened while he was in a coma but not as much as he felt he should. He assumed his injuries prevented him from caring too much.

                Next, his eyes floated over to Jax and Ryland, who looked rather unchanged. They both had stone-hard faces that were unmoved to any emotion. Although, they had both seemed relieved at his awakening.

                Finally, Noah looked at Olivia, sitting promptly at the edge of his bed. Her arm was still wrapped in a sling. A few cuts adorned the edges of her face where the curtain of blond hair didn’t fall over. Her brilliant green eyes never strayed from him as the conversation began to die out, and for whatever reason, Noah couldn’t look away from her either. He was glad to see her mostly uninjured from the car accident. He felt relaxed and calm around her, whereas with Morgan, he felt nervous.

                “I believe the patient is in need of some rest. Please visit again later,” The doctor's words cut through the now silent medical cube. Ryland and Jax were the first to step up, pat his shoulder, and leave the room. Morgan followed, being gentle while giving him the closest thing to a hug as possible. Noah watched, his eyes becoming heavier, as she stopped next to Olivia on her way out.

                “Take care of him,” Morgan’s whisper barely registered with him. She continued to the door where Bradley had retreated to again. She said a few words that Noah was unable to hear before she disappeared from view.

                “Olivia… a moment,” Bradley’s voice was dark as he nodded his head to the door. Olivia opened her mouth and closed it again. She stood from the edge of the bed and turned away, leaving the medical cube but made sure she was still visible through the glass. Noah could now feel the weight of his eyelids begging him to close even as Bradley approached. He stopped a foot away, letting the invisible mask fall from his face.

                “Thank you,” The words caught Noah by surprise. “Thank you for staying alive,” Bradley murmured, raising a fist to his chest. Noah wanted to thank him in return but his body would only allow for a small nod. “I’ll bring Olivia back in,” Bradley said as she took his won leave from the cube. Noah followed the form of Olivia reentering the medical cube and taking her seat on the edge of his bed.

                She had been the first person for him to see after waking. Although it wasn’t the person Noah had expected, he wasn’t upset. He relaxed even more into the pillows, barely keeping his eyes open.

                “Close your eyes and get some sleep,” Olivia smiled at him, resting a hand on his arm. “You know how I like to talk right?” Olivia giggled slightly. Noah smiled, nodding his head. “I bet you are curious as to what happened. I will start to tell you now. If you fall asleep, I will repeat it later,” Olivia’s soft voice filled the room with a mesmerizing sound. Noah listened for a while until the call for sleep became too great and a black void fell over him.

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                Bradley Thomas left the medical cube, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his shorts. He was still in his clothes from working out and desperately needed a shower and a change. He stopped abruptly at the corner, finding Morgan waiting for him. He turned on his heel, not in the mood to discuss whatever it was she had in mind.

                “Bradley, wait!” Morgan called after him. He could hear a pitter-patter of feet behind him followed closely y a presence at his side. He remained silent as they walked. “I understand that I am the target. But, if they are going to target everyone I am close to anyway… Are you really going to leave me here alone?”

                Bradley hated to admit it but she did have a point. He walked a few steps more before he paused and turned to her.

                “I am still thinking about it. I will need some time,” Bradley looked her up and down, hating that her determination made her cuter in his eyes.

                “What can I do so that you will allow me to go?” Morgan questioned.

                “Just give me some time to think things through. If there is anything, I will let you know,” Bradley turned once again, irritated that she had an effect on him. She always had to get her way. Couldn’t she realize that he was just trying to protect her? He noticed the doctor ahead, waving at him, which gave him a reason to leave Morgan behind. “I need to talk to the doc. We will talk at dinner,” Bradley excused himself, making haste to the doctor’s side.

                “I need to discuss something of importance with you,” The doctor pushed him into the room they were next to. The room was long and thin with only a few of the recessed lights working. It was darker due to the dark gray paint on the walls. “Cover your ears,” The doctor whispered in the dark. Bradley hardly complied when the high-pitched whine erupted and echoed in the small area. Bradley waited for the noise to disperse till he lowered his hands to his sides once more. He opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by the doctor holding up a hand. “I will explain,” The doctor stuck a hand into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small, round object that was flat on one side. The flat side looked like it was covered in adhesive. “I found it weird that Noah and Olivia were targeted so quickly after their departure. So, I have been doing some tests and I have found these bugging devices around the house. The high wave frequency messes with their signal for a while…”

                “But that means…” The doctor nodded.

                “I told you and the small group that I was scanning the room so we were being listened in on. However, you are the only one I told about finding a device. Someone is listening in our conversations. We must be careful about what we say, where we say it, and who we say it to,” The doctor said, a strict tone in his voice.

                “Impossible,” Bradley slumped against the wall. It was an incredible feat for the enemy to be able to listen in on them in this fortress of a home. What was more amazing was the enemy had been able to penetrate into his home without being traced to who it possibly could be. Bradley lifted his eyes again to the doctor who remained still near the door.

                “May I add something?” The doctor hesitated. Bradley didn’t meet the doctor’s eyes but nodded. “About your earlier suggestion… it may not be wise to keep Morgan here if there really is a spy. At least, not on her own.”

                Bradley lifted his head, acknowledging the doctor once again. Was there any place that would be able to keep Morgan safe? He gritted his teeth in anger.

                “Thanks, Doc,” Bradley said darkly. He stood and left the room, radioing Jax and Ryland. He wasted no time in meeting up with them in the living room. “I need your opinion,” Bradley exploded when they had all gathered. “Should we take Morgan with us or one of us stay here with her?” Bradley lowered his voice slightly, reminding himself of the doctor’s warning.

                “Why not take her with us? There’s more safety in numbers.” Ryland gave Bradley a weird look, picking up on his odd choice of volumes.

                “I agree with Ryland. What is so wrong with indulging her this once… Ask yourself where she will truly be safe…” Jax added. Bradley sighed and shooed them away, leaving him alone to ponder the question that Jax had asked.

                She will only be safe if I am the one protecting her, Bradley thought, clenching his fists into balls.

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                Morgan Dylan didn’t waste any time in leaving for dinner early. She sped through the hallways to the kitchen only to get upset when she found the room empty. She was nervous that the past would repeat and that she would have to say goodbye to Noah, just like before. She took a seat glumly at the long dining table, putting her head in her hands with a pout showcased on her lips. She looked up again when she heard two feet shuffle along the floorboards. Bradley paused in the center of the room; a fresh pair of ripped jeans framed his muscular legs while a while polo hid away his upper half. Morgan ignored the nervous tickle in her stomach.

                “You are early,” Bradley stated simply.

                “I couldn’t rest,” Morgan replied back. They stared at each other from across the room, electricity forming between the contact of blue and gray eyes. Bradley approached the table slowly, never taking his eyes off of her. Morgan leaned back slightly, gulping down her nervousness.

                “Listen, Morgan… For so long, I’ve been looking after you… and Noah… I have adjusted to doing things my own way, which I see now may not have always been the best way…” Bradley glanced around the room, pausing his speech. Morgan wiped her clammy hands on her pants under the table, unsure of where this conversation was going. “I have thought a lot about the past and your request in the last couple of hours. I have also asked the others about their opinion on the matter and I have come to a decision,” Bradley brought his attention back to her. Morgan bit her lip, anxious to know what his decision was. As she looked at Bradley her nervousness arose within her once more. She could tell Bradley was just as nervous, his body stiff as though every muscle in his body was tight and ready to spring into action. “And that decision is to have you come along with us,” Bradley breathed out. Morgan stared in shock, feeling her nerves seep out of her pores.

                “Thank you,” Morgan replied after a few moments.

                “There is a stipulation. You have to do everything we tell you to do. It cannot be like last time,”

                “I swear I will!” Morgan raised her hand in a promise to keep her word. She felt her heart skip a beat as Bradley’s solid metal orbs melted a little.

                “Everyone on this mission is counting that you do,” Bradley raised the edges of his lips, walking the rest of the way to the elongated table.

                “I won’t let you down,” Morgan said loud enough for her voice to echo around the room.