Vintage

The Rescue

“Watch the squirrels, Jade!”

“Left turn approaching,” the GPs crooned. Jade missed her turn watching out for the rats with bushy tails.

 “Recalculating route.”

GPS with an attitude.

Jade was peeved, it was 5 in the morning, and here she was with Charles and Myron. They were like the mutated Blues Brothers, at her expense. Charles kept screaming every time she ran a light; she didn’t crash. Myron sat in the passenger seat, covering his eyes when she pulled away from Watcorp and whining like a baby. He wanted to know if they had nine lives like a cat or if flying in a thunder storm was safer than Jade’s driving. Jade hit every bump and pothole to rattle the faux dynamic duo; they had nothing on Batman and Robin. She wouldn’t mention the annoying voice on her GPS….

“Yes, Dad.”

Jade turned off her lights when her GPS informed her that the destination was approaching. Charles and Myron grew silent when Jade shifted her gears into neutral. She was a bit nervous about apprehending Donovan.

“Do you have the serum?”

Myron opened his hand to reveal a small glass vial containing a teal liquid. “I have the needle in my pocket, now we just have to inject it through his thigh.”

How in the hell are we going to capture Donovan in his demented state when he can unleash a tornado on us… hold him down, and inject him with his anti-mean drug. I love my brother... this isn’t going to be easy. Nothing is ever easy of late.

Charles seemed chipper as they stepped from the Land Rover. Jade and Myron watched him stretching on the grass.

Dad was a fan of Yoga?

“Ignore him.”

“Myron, do you have a plan?”

“No, but I watched hog hunting on public TV… Just follow his tracks, and jump on him.”

“Great.”

Jade sat in a mulberry bush with Myron.  Leaves stuck to her hair and the berries dropped on their faces, smearing her face with berry g**k. To top it all off, a cramp was forming in her leg. Myron kept drawing circles on her back, making her skin hot and tight. Her heart thumped in her ears. She was uncomfortable and hot, but it wasn’t due to the bush. She couldn’t concentrate with Myron touching her back. She should have worn a longer shirt.

“Quit it.”

“Quit what?”

“Don’t be fresh; I’m not playing Doctor in the bushes.”

Jade rolled over to stare at Myron. “Did you know my Mom was alive?’

“Yes, I saw on her on the roof. I’m assuming that she came to torment Charles. She healed Barry’s violet as a message to Donovan… I’m speculating.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked softly.

“I didn’t want to destroy your world.”

Jade looked at a black starless night. Random strikes of lighting appeared in the sky, hiding under dark fluffy clouds. Streaks of blue highlights, twisted with silver cracks of lightning. Jade felt a shiver down her spine.

“He’s in a bad mood, Myron.”

“How can you tell?”

“He likes a breeze when he runs, keeps him cool. Beams of dangerous, destructive light aren’t soothing. This isn’t going to be easy.”

“Donovan and easy aren’t synonyms, Love.”

Jade wasn’t aware of any words to retort for Myron’s nonchalance at k********g Donovan, a man with powers to control the weather. He could toss them away, pour hail on them, and cover them in snow.

“We might be in over our heads with this.”

“Just another day in the office.”

Myron watched as his words sank into Jade’s brain. Her dark head lifted with a deep scowl across her face. Her green eyes radiated annoyance.

“Most people sit at desk, and push papers! Here we are in the middle of the woods stalking my brother who has a mutating gene… nothing is another day in the office.”

Jade looked around when something hard hit her shoulder.

“Throwing pebbles, Myron?”

“No, take cover,” Myron ordered as he shot like a rocket into the air.

Jade blinked rapidly, abandoned by Myron. She questioned the whereabouts of her father.

Jade dashed under a massive oak tree when a flood of icy pellets stung her skin. The bark of the oak roughed her back as she tried to regain her breath. She realized Donovan knew that they were here. He probably thought they wanted to kill him. She knew by his hail attack that the gene controlled his neurological functions.

Jackass that he is, he probably still has his locator. I can’t call Dad or Myron for help. Bad boy had better be formulating a plan or that’s it for him.

Placing her hands on the tree, Jade poked her head around it. She lost her footing, tripping over an exposed root. Her body hit the soft dewy grass. She rolled her eyes when she saw a pair of trainers.

“Hello, Donovan… out for a jog?” she asked brightly.

Donovan grabbed Jade under her arms and pulled her up. She grimaced at the pure venom in his sapphire blue eyes. She noticed his square jaw clenched tightly.

“So, I take it that you don’t want a jogging partner.”

Donovan sat Jade gently on her feet. “Why are you here?” Donovan demanded harshly.

Donovan watched as Jade tapped her face with a perfectly oval shaped nail. “I thought I might ask you to come home. Give you an update on your girlfriend, Kira. Remember her?” Donovan paled in the moonlight. “Or an update on our father? Want to pick one?”

Donovan stepped away from his sister. “How are they?”

“Dad is as fit as a fiddle in Barry’s words. Still reeling from your betrayal and defection. He still wants you home.”

Jade paused a moment for a dramatic effect. “Oh yes, Kira is in a coma. “

Donovan flinched. Jade wanted to stop, but she was a bit peeved with her brother. He could have come home or whatever …..

“Her ears and vocal cords are severely damaged. We don’t know. She lost a substantial amount of blood. The whole time Claire held her… her eyes looked for her blonde stupid boyfriend. As for myself, I intend to go on a shopping spree this weekend, nothing out of the unusual.”

Donovan dropped is head in shame. “You don’t understand what this is like, Jade. I’m constantly fighting for control. I don’t know who I am,” Donovan mumbled.

“You’re Donovan Watson, the future leader of the team, son of Charles and that woman. My brother, people love you… Everybody is trying to help you. Save yourself.”

Donovan laughed. “You’re the queen of self-destruction, Jade. Giving advice, Ann Landers.”

Jade couldn’t say anything snappy in response. His nab was icy, but it held a lot of truth, except now she no longer had a quest for self-destruction. She hoped those days were over, her horizon had opened brightly.

“You’re right, we are one mucked up family, but we are a family. Donovan. Come home.”

Donovan‘s nostrils flared; his hands opening and closing like clams. His eyes blinked wildly as he attempted to process Jade’s words. Timidly, Jade offered Donovan her hand. A triumphant smile formed on her face when Donovan’s finger wrapped around her wrist.  Apprehension filled her mind as a corner of Donovan’s mouth curved darkly.

The next thing Jade could remember was sitting, groaning with her back resting on a tree. Pain exploded in her head, she swore she saw silver stars floating before her.

Why did I get out of bed? I forgot to only approach wild animals with adequate resources.

“Jade,” Donovan screeched. “Did you honestly think a few heartfelt words would make me turn back into the lackey? I offered Kira a chance,” he howled. “All that she had to was cut the diamond. No, she had to be the moral center. Can you image a life with your girl spouting off the golden rules? Not fun, Jade! I’m free and I’m never going back.”

Jade rubbed her aching elbow. She blew strands of hair out of her face. “Well, Kira matters to everyone. It’s her charm. You’re a dumb arse. Since… you have an evil side, you need a living breathing angel on your shoulder. You’re going home one way of another, Donovan,” Jade spat.

Donovan smiled wickedly. His hands rose as a deep wind lifted Jade from the ground. Her hair spun around like a tornado. Her hands protected her eyes as she hurled around the woods, her body banging on branches.

He’d better be glad that he’s my baby brother.

She spotted a low-level tree branch; her arms reached out and grabbed the branch. She swung like a pendulum until her body kept a steady momentum. She closed her eyes, and dropped from the tree. She frowned when she landed on her hands, curving her legs over as she flipped toward Donovan.

She wriggled her eyebrow when her boot connected with his jaw.

Donovan fell back; quickly, he regained his bearing. He stared at her, and then attempted to throw a punch until his left hand blocked it.

“Jade, kneel,” Myron called.

He’s going to do something now.

Jade crouched on the grass. She heard something approaching quickly. She screamed when Donovan’s foot connected with her ribs as he fell over her body.

“Myron,” she gasped.

“Grab his legs, Jade.”

Hurriedly, Jade grabbed Donovan’s feet. She pulled a piece of rope from her back pocket.

Myron eyed her curiously. “You carry rope in your pockets?”

“Comes in handy.”

Jade wrapped the rope tightly around Donovan legs. She ignored Donovan when he popped Myron several times on his dark head.  He deserved a few hits for leaving her by herself. Myron grabbed a handful of dirt and threw it into Donovan’s eyes, ignoring Donovan’s screams of rage and pain. They continued with their mission.

“Hold his leg.” Jade sat on Donovan’s hard thighs and she pressed down on his legs. Quickly, Myron attached the needle to the vial and plunged it into Donovan’s thigh. Jade rolled off Donovan as his body quivered, seizing as the serum raced in his body. His blonde head shaking, his eyes rolled back into his head.

“I have to go.”

“Just got here.”

Myron gave Jade quick kiss. She decided to ignore his transgressions after he left her lips all tingly. Myron reached his long arms under Donovan’s trembling body.

“Be careful with him, Myron.”

“You bet.”

Jade watched Myron soar into the sky with unconscious Donovan, his pale skin gleaming in the moonlight.

“Where’s Dad?” she wondered aloud. Her eyes wildly scanned the empty park.

Holding her ribs, she limped back to her Land Rover. Her bootie was covered in mud; one shoe had a missing heel. She had a few scratches covering her arms... something moved in her hair. Worst of all, she ached all over, muscles that she didn’t know she owned throbbed painfully; even her teeth ached.

Was he leaning against the SUV? Like she kept him waiting?

“Dad, where were you?”

Charles wore his don’t ask me that question expression. Jade hadn’t seen it since she asked about Santa Claus and the improbability of elves on the North Pole.

“I had a matter to attend to, my dear.”

Jade’s mouth dropped. Shaking her head, she hopped over to her car on her left foot. “Whatever.” She tossed the keys to Charles.  “You’re driving.”

Charles opened the door for Jade; his firm hand guided her into the passenger seat. He clicked her seatbelt around her. She noticed a red liquid on his hand. “Nice and snug?”  Jade‘s head bobbed until it hurt.

Great, add a stiff neck to my woes.

“Donovan?”

“Barry should be treating him by now.”

“Are you oaky?”

“Perfect, he touched me using the weather, but he wouldn’t lay a hand on me. Well, Myron made him kick my ribs… that was an accident.”

“Unlike, your mother, he can love in his dark hours,” Charles realized.

Jade and Myron stood outside Donovan’s room in the infirmary watching him sleeping.  His large hand clutched his sheet tightly. Barry sat like Florence Nightingale next to him. His eyes carefully watched the monitors as his serum took hold of Donovan.

Barry healed Jade’s minor scrapes, aches, and painful spots when she arrived home. She felt a hundred percent again, back to her normal self.

Myron’s hand tightened on her shoulder. “I’m going to the sauna, Jade. I’m aching. Care to join me, my friend?”

“No, no sauna time is for me. What kind of girl do you think I am?”

Myron kissed her head. “We are in relationship. You’re the type girl that joins her boyfriend in the shower.”

Jade elbowed his ribs. “I do the work, and you swoop in save the day. “

“What do you mean?”

“I saved Kira-“

“No, Luke ripped the roof of the funhouse… plucked Kira and Claire like baby chicks, and carried them to safety.”

“Shut up, I stopped Bart.”

“Kira shattered the glass, and Claire flung it into his chest, killing him.”

“Be quiet, I fought Donovan.”

“Please, it was your best Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz,” Myron argued.

“That’s just cruel.”

“Why didn’t you just stop time or slow it down?”

 She hated when he was rational. Jade pressed her heel into his foot. Myron clenched his teeth as pain vibrated from his foot. He refused to yelp and give her the satisfaction. Brushing her hair away, exposing her delicate neck, Myron's head dipped, sucking the soft skin of her neck into his mouth. Jade eyes shut in pleasure.

“You won.”

“Whatever you are doing, stop it right now,” Claire ordered. “The floor was already sanitized.”

Jade and Myron jumped away from each other.

“We’re just watching Donovan, “Myron explained hastily.

Claire frowned.  “If that’s watching, no wonder his body started to mutate. Kira’s up. She wants to see you.”

Claire looked away from Jade as she squealed, jumping up and down like a little girl. She raced past her. Jade reached the door. “Myron, come on, she asked for us.”

Myron noticed Claire’s solemn look. “Just a second, I’ll be there.”

Jade shrugged as she ran to see Kira.

‘1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,” Myron counted to make sure that Jade was gone. He didn’t want to cause her unnecessary alarm.

“Claire?”

“Yes,” Claire responded, carefully eyeing Myron.

“About Kira?”

Claire smiled sadly.

************************************

For starters, Jade didn’t appreciate finding Evan sitting in a chair next to Kira’s bed. His eyes seemed a bit possessive. Back off, Emo boy. Smiling, Kira brushed tears from Kai’s eyes as his tears spilled profusely. Luke looked stern, standing at the foot of Kira’s bed with his hand resting on her toes.

“Kira, hogging the attention,” Jade called laughing. Luke, Kai, Evan turned their eyes in Jade’s direction. Jade’s lips wobbled. “Kira?”

She watched Kai nudge Kira’s leg to alert her of Jade’s presence.

Jade’s mind flew back to meeting Kira for the first time. She was a short hair ball with a crazy smile and a sweet manner, who would constantly fuss over Jade. Always offering to share toys and sweets. Jade brushed away a tear.

That won’t help.

Jade swayed on her heels when Kira offered her a hand and waved her over. Jade crawled into her bed like she did with her parents when she was little and snuggled close to Kira.

“Jade, she lost the ability to speak and hear. Barry hopes that it will repair itself with therapy and time,” Luke informed her sadly.

Jade’s hand coved Kira’s, their fingers interlocking.

Kira looked toward the door. Jade eyes followed. Grabbing the tablet next to the bed, she typed as she spoke.

“Myron stayed behind with Claire.”

Kira pulled her brown eyes back to Jade, looking anxious.

“Donovan?” Jade typed in bold letters.

Kira nodded.

“He’s resting. Barry said that things are looking good.”

Kira leaned back on her pillows. She grimaced in pain.

She quickly typed, “Are you in pain?”

Tiredly, Kira gave slight nod.

“Evan, could you find Barry. Tell him that she’s pain.”

Evan uncurled his body from his resting spot. “Of course, anything for Kira.”

Jade waited until Evan disappeared. She gave Kai and Luke a sardonic looks. “Keep him busy, we need some girl time.”

Kai hopped from the bed. Jade realized that it was overwhelming seeing Kira like this. They lost their parents at a young age. He almost tripped trying to depart Kira’s room.

Luke winked. “Yeah, I’ll distract Kai and lover boy... maybe, I’ll go bother Claire. Need to hand in my expense report.”

Jade hoped Donovan realized how many people cared about him. It took her awhile to figure it out.

Jade typed onto the tablet. “Do you still love him?”

Kira squeezed her hand.

“Hell, you’re amazing. I would kick his ass… gene or not.”

Chapter Ten