Days of Darkness

Chapter 66

Thanks, Dad," I said. I leaned down and kissed his cheek goodnight. I followed with Mom, who looked like she wanted to say more. I just needed their love. Relationship advice I needed from no one.

I smiled to myself as I walked up the stairs. I was a freak, but a loved one. My parents may not know thing one about dating, but they knew how to make me feel wanted. Even Zane loved me in his goofy way. I could feel how he liked being a part of us. No matter what happens, I have my family.

.15 - Teegan

Uncle Hank sat alone in the family room sipping coffee. I watched from the stairs for a moment, looking at the fist-sized bald spot on the back of his head. The rest of his hair was nothing more than thin gray strands parted haphazardly left to right. Mom and Dad had gone for a walk and Zane wouldn't be home until later. After learning the truth, it was Mom and Dad's intention to allow me to decide my own fate. Uncle Hank had always been my friend, but now something else mixed with it, something adversarial.

"Morning, Uncle Hank," I said when I finally decided to descend the stairs. He placed the coffee cup on the table as he rose. He turned with his always friendly smile.

"Teegan!" Hank said, "you're looking more beautiful by the day. What's it been, four months?"

"Almost five," I replied, happy to correct him. Unable to avoid it, I hugged him. He hugged like a bear embracing its cub. It took on a new meaning and most of the usual comfort was missing. I attempted to be gracious, but some of my discomfort showed. He broke the embrace sat back down, motioning me to do the same. I picked the opposite end of the couch. His smile no longer looked real.

"Mom and Dad told me everything," I informed him. Hank sighed and nodded his head.

"It was probably time," Hank said, his face drooping slightly, "I will miss the girl, and embrace the woman. I suppose you have some questions for me."

"I realized I don't care about the obvious why and how," I said. "I exist and I have a family. What I don't understand is your connection to the military. Am I to be studied by them for the rest of my life?" Anger leaked into my words.

"I hope not," Hank replied. "They've been losing interest in you over the years and I've encouraged it. I've been submitting rather long and boring reports containing nothing of interest. Sort of lulling them to sleep. You have to understand, at the time they were a necessary evil."

"What if I don't want a watchdog anymore?" Hank's eyes moved to the ceiling and his hand reached up and stroked his chin and mouth. Absently he pulled at his upper lip. His eyes found mine when he was done thinking.

"We can fake it," Hank said, "Give them enough information to believe we've been meeting. They're pretty used to dull reports now. In time, maybe another five years or so, they'll trash the budget line and end it." He turned his whole body to me. "You'll have to send me bits of the truth, like where you've chosen to go to school, what you're studying. I'll make up the rest." There was a sadness in his eyes, something I didn't expect. He was always so happy around me before.

"You'd let me go?"

"If that's what you want," Hank replied, " then yes." I could see the truth of it in his eyes.

"What if we lied to them, but we remained friends?" I offered. His whole face lit back up. The smile I remembered returned to his lips.

"I'd like that very much," Hank said, his whole body emphasising his words. I smiled back and scooted closer, like a peace offering. He received it well.

"I don't like the idea that I was designed," I said. "I'm stuck with it, but I don't like being different."

"I'm sorry," Hank admitted, "I never saw past the process. Never did I see the woman that would emerge, only the science."

"Would you do it again?"

"Will I do it again?" Hank rephrased. "No. All my work was destroyed. I'll do everything I can to make sure it's never repeated." He paused for a moment. "Would I undo what I have done?" He shook his head. "Never. I would ever undo you. You're precious beyond words."

I held out my hand and he took it. Blocking out the rest of the world, I mixed my music with his. I watched his smile grow as the world took on a pristine glow. There was love for me inside him, the same love he held for his own children. I could feel his need to protect me; my happiness was more important than other concerns. He returned fully to the status of my uncle in my mind. I let my love flow to him as well.

"Whoa," Hank breathed when I let his hand and the link go.

"It's no longer blocked," I informed him. "Yesterday things happened, and I learned how to control it, or more like, open it. I guess that's the right word."

"It's more powerful than when you were a baby," Hank observed.

"I'm not sure I like it," I admitted. "It feels like cheating. I don't even know if it fools me into believing things."

"I'm sure pure thought can deceive," Hank said, "but I don't believe it is its intent." He held out his hand again. "Block this time," he said with a smile. I touched him, knowing the scientist needed to see it not work on command. "Amazing. Was it this Caleb that broke down the barriers?"

"I'd rather not say," I answered. "How do you know about Caleb?" I watched his face turn red as he swallowed whatever words he was going to say. "Dad!" I surmised.

"I didn't say that," Hank pleaded.

"You keep my secrets," I said with a smile, "and I'll keep yours." I liked having something on Uncle Hank. Hank nodded in assent, like he had a choice.

"You're growing up fast," Hank said with a chuckle. I took it as a compliment.

"Have you figured out how it works?" I asked.

"It's like gravity," Hank answered, shaking his head, "lots of theories and no fact. You remember those blood tests I took from everyone a while back?" I nodded. "Your dad possesses some of the same DNA sequences as you, the ones we have yet to understand." He raised his eyebrows, "Biologically, I think he may be your closest relative."

"He's my dad," I said. It made sense, the way his music merged with mine was close to perfect. There were still differences, but there was no doubt we had a special connection.

"Everyone knew it," Hank continued. "His love, and yours, spilled out of the link when you were a baby. Somehow, instinctively you sensed his closeness and he had a pile of pent up empathy." Hank suppressed a smile. "He needed you as much as you needed him. Even today, I can feel it in your bond."

"It's hard to shut him out fully," I admitted. "Blocking others is like changing clothes. I can put up the walls and they stay up until I take them down. Dad takes more work." I smirked. "I don't think I could hold him out while I sleep. His bond would creep back in my dreams."

"Why would you want to?"

"Sometimes, I just want to be alone," I replied. " Usually when I'm upset. Everyone else just shuts their door and turns on music." My sigh was louder than I Intended. "It's hard to pout when the family keeps creeping in to ruin it."

"I guess we all need to blow off steam once in awhile," Hank agreed.

"Mom is addicted," I said. Probably the wrong choice of word. "She's gotten used to feeling all of us, knowing we're alive and well. What happens if that stops?"

"If you could bottle what you have, I doubt there would be a mother in the world that wouldn't buy it," Hank replied. "Your mother uses the tools at hand. If the dishwasher breaks, you wash by hand. If you stop the link, then I suspect she would move to the phone. I don't think she's addicted, just used to the convenience."

"I guess you're right," I said. "Still, if anything happened to me, I don't want them all to fall apart."

"You're still thinking the bond is the foundation," Hank said, wearing a fatherly smile. "I'm pretty sure you're nothing more than a dishwasher." It was good to laugh. I was taking everything too seriously. Hank was probably right, my power was more of a convenience than a necessity.

"So," Hank said, his eyebrows bouncing, "tell me of this Caleb guy." I told him all about Caleb, emphasising that he was just a friend. Hank was impressed about MIT, though I sensed he already knew. When I thought about it, he and Caleb would get along well together. Both were able to condense complex subjects into easily digestible chunks.