Lazaret (Kept Woman Verse)
Title: Lazaret | Part 4 | Complete
Characters/Pairing: Maya/Gabriel, Peter, Nadia, others.
Fandom: Heroes
Rating: R
Word count: 5, 459
Disclaimer: Do not own.
Summery: Nadia goes missing and they have to find her before it's too late.
Note: Kept Woman Verse. Unbet'd. Finished ~for now~
Parts: 1, 2, 3, 4
Jaime walks along the galley, which is empty of food. He’s looked everywhere for something or someone to help Nadia but all the officials he’s spoke to have told him kindly but firmly that she would have to wait. The sun is starting to rise above a thankfully calm sea. He shoves his hands into his pockets against the cold and stops suddenly when the edge of some paper pricks his skin and he draws the note out that Caitlin Petrelli had given him.
Almost kicking himself for forgetting about it Jaime scrambles around for a phone but sees none. He runs down the corridor and then down a flight of steps until he hits the main foyer on their deck. It used to house a gift shop and a small restaurant but now it’s just another deserted area like all the others. It’s here that he spots a line of silver phone cords to his right and picks one up.
Blessedly there is a dial tone and holding his breath he dials the number. The phone is picked up almost immediately.
“Hello?”
“Hi Mrs Petrelli. Uh, it’s Jaime Bishop, we spoke yesterday?”
“Yeah, I remember you. What is it?” She sounds disappointed. Clearly she hadn’t expected a twelve year old boy to call.
“Me and Nadia got taken by the suits and we’re on one of their ships.”
There’s a stunned silence on the other end. When Caitlin speaks again her voice is high and almost too fast to make out. “Are you both okay? You’re on a boat? What happened?”
“I can’t really tell you everything because I have to check on Nadia. She’s not well. We were taken to a wharf and there was a light house on a cliff. Uh...the ships are called the Lazaret Liners. That’s all I know.” He feels terribly inadequate.
“Oh Jesus.” Caitlin takes a breath, clearly trying to calm herself down. “Okay don’t you worry, you’ve done brilliantly. Peter and Maya will be on their way. I’m gonna call him right now but I want you to call me back in half an hour, all right?”
Jaime nods. “Ok. I’ll speak to you soon.”
“You better.”
She hangs up and Jaime puts the phone back on it’s hook. Finally things feel like they’re coming under some sort of normalcy. In a few hours he and Nadia will be home. As he makes his way back to the cabin he’s apprehended by an eagle eyed member of the crew outside their door. The man, not that much older then himself, looks him up and down.
“Are you Jaime Bishop?” He flashes a photograph of him, one they had taken as he had been processed.
“Yeah. Is something wrong?”
“We’re checking your...sister’s current condition.”
“Can I go in?”
The young man knocks on the door and someone tells him to come in. He looks at Jaime and jerks his head. “In you go but don’t interrupt. It’ll be your turn next.”
Jaime, not sure what to expect, steps into their small cabin and sees an old woman sitting beside Nadia. Her eyes are closed and she has a hand placed on Nadia’s forehead. As Jaime watches she exhales and gets to her feet. Tired eyes sweep over him.
“I haven’t done you boy, have I?”
Not sure what she means Jaime shakes his head. He steps back when the old lady, only a few inches taller then he is, places a hand on his forehead. Her palm radiates warmth and for that moment Jaime feels calm. But it fades when she steps back and gazes at him with interest.
“You’re very healthy. Do you have an ability?” No one asks that question so bluntly, not to Jaime’s knowledge. It just isn’t done.
“No.”
“Then you’re lucky.”
Knowing it’s more then luck Jame says nothing and looks down at Nadia. She’s shivering and sweating heavier then ever. He looks back up at the woman, stricken.
“Is she okay? What did you do?”
“I can asses the level of infection and predict a person’s chances of survival.” She looks down at Nadia sadly and then back at him. “I’m sorry but we have to move her now.”
“No! You can’t take her! Someone is coming to take us home!”
The woman stares at him with some sympathy. “Her symptoms have worsened and if she doesn't get onto the next ship and treated she only has a 40% chance of survival. Anything below 60% and we have to move them. It’s quarantine procedure.” She adds this, as if to soften the blow.
“But I just called someone and they’re on their way.”
The woman shakes her head. “I’m sorry but no one who’s infected is allowed to leave. It’s against the law.”
“It’s bullshit!” He’s not one to lose his temper but he feels it rushing through him now. He hates feeling this helpless. The super powered woman just apologises again and walks out.
Jaime stay with Nadia until they have to physically force him out of the cabin but he stays by her side as she’s put into a plastic sealed gurney and wheeled out. He’ll go with her to the next ship, he’ll stay with her until the end.
*
They land beside the sea, only half a mile off target. Peter wobbles on his feet but manages to stay upright.
“Go ahead, I’ll catch you up.” He gives Gabriel a significant look before he and Maya begin running. The wind off the Atlantic is freezing and Maya can feel her cheeks burning with the cold as they run. As they reach the wharf Maya spots something familiar.
“I think that’s Caitlin’s car!”
Gabriel looks to where she is pointing and then back at the wharf. An Irish woman with wavy brown hair is shouting wildly at a man in a hazmat suit who stands there stoically.
“They’re just kids! You have no right to take them!”
“I get my orders from the government. From the President herself.”
“A president that no one has voted for.”
“Well you wouldn’t.”
Caitlin throws up her hands in aggravation as Maya and Gabriel reach her side. At the sight of Maya Caitlin gasps and hugs her.
“Oh thank god! I tried to call you but I couldn’t get through. Nadia and Jaime are over there, one one of those ships. This bastard won’t take me over.”
“You’re not sick. You haven’t been in any red zones. I don’t take healthy people over.” He says it plainly and slowly.
Gabriel steps in front of him and smiles into his face. The man steps back. “You’re gonna take us over or I’m gonna throw you into the sea and watch you drown. Your choice.”
The grizzled old man seems to decide his odds before sighing. Grumbling he shuffles into his boat and Maya follows after him. As they climb in Peter appears. Caitlin helps him to sit with a kiss and the captain begins to sail off.
“Look, this is on your heads. If you get infected then it’s your own fault.”
“Just hurry.” Gabriel frowns, his eyes closed. Chilled to the bone Maya huddles next to him, her hands gripping the seat tightly. She’s so close to getting her daughter back but a superstitious doubt hangs over her. Something bad is bound to happen. It always does.
Gabriel opens his eyes and worry is painted over his face. “She’s being moved.”
“What do you mean?”
The captain speaks up. “If she’s infected she’ll be moved to another ship.” He points towards the fleet that gets bigger every second. “They’re separated into levels of infection. I hope for your sakes she’s being moved to the next ship and not the last ones.”
He finally positions his boat next to the first ship in the barricade and whistles. A rope ladder is lowered and they hastily make their way up.
*
Jaime grips the end of Nadia’s gurney in his hands and holds onto it for dear life. The doctor, dressed in an hazmat suit, glowers at him through his face shield. “Kid, let go. I’m not going to tell you again.”
“No! Please just give me more time?”
“I already have. I’m sorry but I can’t keep her on this ship any longer. She’s a risk to the lives of everyone on here.”
“Then let me come with her?”
The doctor shakes his head sadly. “You can’t. Even if you were given permission from on high I can’t let you go through the sick bay without a suit.”
Jaime stares at Nadia through the protective plastic that covers her body. She has an oxygen mask over her mouth but he can hear the way her breath rattles. He looks back up at the doctor. “This is my fault.”
“No it’s not. If you want to blame anyone you blame that son of bitch Adam Monroe. I’m going to save her, I’m going to try but I can’t do that here.”
At the sound of his father's name Jaime’s fingers grow numb and he finally lets go of the gurney. He steps back weakly and the doctor nods at him and begins to wheel the gurney down the corridor. At the stern end of the ship is the sectioned off sickbay and a boat awaits there to transfer other sick people across.
Jaime sits on a plastic chair and stares numbly at nothing. His outburst has probably cost a little girl’s life. If he had just kept quiet, just kept control of his emotions, then none of this would have happened. He stiffens slightly and a grim resolution settles over his face. He will never let himself be governed by his emotions again. He won’t fail.
“Jaime!”
“Hey! Kid!”
Confused at being addressed he looks around to see a group of people rushing towards him. Guilt threatens to crush him when he sees their relieved faces. Especially Maya’s. She kneels down to him with a smile and gathers him into her arms. He remembers suddenly being lost once, only three or four years old, and Maya taking him to her house. His father had took him home but those few hours had shown him just how different his parents were to others. She had made him dinner and called him carino.
Now she looks at him with great worry. “You’re okay? Where’s Nadia?”
He shakes his head. “I’m sorry Mrs Herrera. I tried to stop them but...” he trails off and his face falls in horror. Gabriel leans down and stares at him intensely. He’s never looked so frightening and Jaime has always been scared of the man.
“Where is she?”
Jaime points towards the corridor. “The doctor took her down there. He’s going to take her to the next ship.”
Nadia's parents face each other and then run after her, Peter following behind. Caitlin sits down and puts an arm around him. Jaime stiffens at the contact but doesn’t move. He doesn’t deserve to be comforted.
*
They had battled their way through sickbay surprisingly easily. No one wanted to get hurt for strangers about to die. A row of gurneys are lined up against a wall, waiting to be transferred onto a boat. Maya and Gabriel stop momentarily when they see them and then dart forward.
“Where is she?”
Cursing himself for not using the ability earlier Gabriel focuses and almost immediately begins to race down the corridor. “She’s here.” Third from the front Gabriel grips at the plastic that covers his sleeping daughter and tears it away.
“Hey!” A doctor appears in the door wearing a hazmat suit. Gabriel points a finger at him.
“If you try to stop us I will kill you.”
The man clearly takes the threat seriously because his hands shoot up in surrender. Gabriel turns to Maya who’s stroking Nadia’s sweaty hair back with teary eyes. Her eyelids flicker and then open. Her gaze focuses on her mother hazily before she frowns.
“Mom?”
“Si, it’s me baby. You’re going to be all right.”
“Mom...I’m sorry. I - I - ”
“Shhh, it’s okay, I’m here now. Don’t try to talk Nadia, just listen. I need to tell you something.”
“You have a - an ability?”
So startled by the question Maya is shocked into silence and looks at Gabriel. Tears are running down both their startled faces. Maya gazes back at Nadia and she nods.
“I do, I do. I’m sorry I never told you.” She gets down on her knees as Peter approaches them, out of breath. Maya stares at Nadia intently. “I have to use it now baby. I need to use it on you. It - it might be a little frightening. I look...different. You should close your eyes.” She cries as she says it and feels someone clutching her shoulder.
Nadia shakes her head slowly. “No, I want to see...I feel bad mommy.”
“Not for much longer. Just hang in there.” At the sound of Gabriel’s voice Nadia’s eyes widen and she turns. She stares at him as if she’s seeing a ghost and then tries to reach for him.
“Dad? Daddy?”
“It’s me.” He gets down on his knees beside Maya and takes Nadia’s hand. He can see her grinning through her mask and the sight breaks his heart. Her eyelids lower, heavy. She’s getting tired but not enough to stop talking.
“Did you escape from prison?”
Gabriel’s mouth falls open and he looks up at Maya but she’s mirroring his own surprise. Even gravelly ill their daughter is full of surprises. When they look back down she’s half unconscious again.
“Are you ready Maya?” Peter steps up behind her and she gets to her feet.
“Yes but I’m scared, I’m really scared.” Her shoulders hunch and she begins to shake.
It’s Gabriel who reaches for Maya and pulls her into his arms. She slumps against him and wraps her arms around his torso. “You can do this. I’ve always known you could. You gotta start believing in your own power.”
He isn’t talking about her ability. Maya looks up into his face, her eyes red with tears and nods. She inhales and looks back at Peter who reaches his hands across Nadia’s body. Maya looks down at her as their fingers interlock and sees she’s watching everything.
“Don’t be scared mom.”
Maya smiles through her fear. “This will be over in two seconds.” She looks at Peter and, after blowing out a long breath through her mouth, she nods. His eyes film over with the plague they both carry and Nadia stiffens with a gasp. Maya focuses on Peter as she can’t bare to look down. He squeezes her fingers and Maya draws the infection into herself. Her eyes cloud over and her vision dims before fading back into focus. Whatever process her body does to nullify the infection works and Maya stumbles back against Gabriel. Peter slumps against the wall and sits, closing his eyes.
“I feel better! You looked like La Llorona!” Nadia lifts the mask over her head and Maya looks down, fearing revulsion but Nadia stares at her in awe. “That was so cool.”
Maya swoops down and gathers her daughter into her arms. “Thank god, thank god.” She rocks her and kisses the top of her head. She looks back at Gabriel who sits beside them. Nadia forces herself out of Maya’s arms and throws herself at Gabriel. Her movements are sluggish but not as weak as before.
“I’ve missed you! I really did...please stay with me? Don’t go?”
As he looks into the tearful face of his daughter Gabriel realises this is what is holding him together. He only survived being imprisoned because he always believed he’d be back to Nadia. He wasn’t in prison to be punished, he’s there to be rehabilitated and maybe safe enough to be let out. He has to hold onto that hope otherwise he’ll implode if he’s separated from her indefinitely. He cups Nadia’s face with a smile.
“I’m not going anywhere.” He looks at Maya who’s too overwhelmed with joy to argue. She kisses Nadia with a sigh.
*
Carrying Nadia in his arms Gabriel leads them back to Caitlin who still sits with Jaime. At the sight of Nadia Jaime jumps to his feet and his mouth falls open.
“She’s okay?!”
“She’s fine, aren’t you?”
Nadia nods and smiles shyly at the boy. Overwhelmed he sits back down as Caitlin comes over to Peter. He staggers to a chair and Maya looks at him in concern.
“You look awful.”
“Thanks.”
“You know what I mean.” She crouches down and kisses him. “Thank you, for everything you have done.”
Peter smiles. “I just wish I could do more. All those people on the ships...if I could heal them I would.”
Caitlin stares at him incredulously. “There’s got to be a thousand people. You’re not strong enough Pete.”
“Maybe not but there’s five people in sickbay about to be transferred over.” He looks up at Gabriel. “Think you could do better?”
Knowing he’s being egged on Gabriel falls for it anyway. “Five people? I could cure the entire fleet if I had that ability.” He knows he’s right. While Peter may find it easier to absorb abilities Gabriel will always be more skilled at using them. Maya looks between them in confusion.
“I’d like to help but Caitlin’s right, you’re not well enough.”
“I know but Gabriel is.”
“Gabriel?” She looks at him and he puts Nadia down to sit beside Jaime. He walks over to her and not wanting to be overheard he pulls Maya aside.
“Peter is under this assumption that I can take abilities. He thinks I have Empathetic Mimicry, like he does.”
She blinks at him. “Why does he thinks that?”
Gabriel hesitates. “His mother told him.” It’s half the truth. He doesn’t want to drop the bombshell that they may end up working together, not yet.
“Do you think you have it?”
Gabriel shrugs. “Maybe...I guess it makes sense. I’ve never been able to use it or even knew I had it because I lacked empathy. I must have got the ability to fix things from my dad as a child. He expects me to able to use it like he does but I don’t think I can.”
“Have you tried?”
Gabriel shakes his head. Even if he’s accepted what his innate ability is the fact of the matter is he’s scared to try. Putting it to the test and finding out he’s still completely emotionally base is worse then a thousand prison sentences. “I haven't tested it yet. I - I don’t know if I can.”
“I was scared to use my ability but I did it.”
He shakes his head. “That’s different. You were scared for good reason. Maybe I’m just too fucked up.”
She moves closer to him and the old steel flares up in her eyes. It’s almost a welcome sight. “Do you care about me and Nadia?”
“Of course, you know I do.”
“Then you can do this.”
“Do you even want me to? You know what he’s implying don’t you? Do you really want to share your ability with me?”
She stares at him with a heavy frown and then shakes her head, her lip curling. “No I don’t want to but I can’t walk away from those people...if it’s just this once Gabriel then I’ll do it. After this it gets suppressed like the others.”
He hadn’t expected her forgiveness to have turned back the clock but the evident disgust is hard to witness. He can only imagine the turmoil she’s going through. He nods respectfully. “Whatever you say. ” He looks back at the corridor where the sick are still lined up and then back at Maya. “Shall I try?”
“How do you do it?”
“I don’t know.” He stares at Peter and jerks his head at him. He gets up and walks over to them. “Maya’s agreed to trust me.”
“I have?” she smirks and he’s glad she’s at least humouring him.
“Well I hope you will.” She doesn’t answer and he turns his attention to Petrelli. “So...how do you do it?”
Peter shrugs. “It’s not really a conscious effort. It just happens.” He looks between them in contemplation before speaking. “You lived together for years and while Maya’s ability was suppressed it was still there. Maybe you already have it?” He looks at Gabriel who again is left stumped.
“I don’t think so. There’s been a lot of times it could have manifested but it didn’t.” All those times he saw red or when he was sunk into depression. He shudders to think of it.
“Well then you’ve got to connect, relate, over something.”
“Right...” he looks back at Maya as Peter walks away. She stares up at him and then snorts.
“I never thought in a million years we would be doing this. So what shall we do?”
“Are you sure you want to do this?” He doesn’t want to try, he’s terrified to.
Maya’s mouth thins. “It’s not about what I want, not anymore. Think of the lives you could save.”
“It doesn’t make up for the people I’ve killed.”
Maya smiles sadly. “I know. I hoped it would lessen the guilt I have over the life I've taken but it hasn’t.” She takes both his hand in hers. “But I do feel I’m making amends. That’s all I can do in the end.”
“I guess that’s one thing we’ll always have in common.”
“That we’re killers?”
He shakes his head. “That we’re sorry.” He thinks of his mother suddenly and the lovely smiles that used to cross her face when he brought back a globe from another state. His mother who was sometimes so proud of him. His mother who will never see her grandchild. Suddenly he feels something dark and rushing flowing through his body. It’s more powerful then he could have ever imagined and he fights to control it. He gasps and clutches at Maya as his vision darkens and he fights not to drown in a sea of sorrow that’s suddenly unleashed. He fights not to cry.
*
Caitlin watches as Maya smiles faintly as Gabriel successfully controls the ability. She’ll never understand how Maya can forgive him but then she hasn’t lived with him for the past nine years. She just can’t believe someone like that deserves to be forgiven. She walks with Jaime back to the line of infectious people. Peter, Maya and Gabriel are at the furthest end of the corridor and they make their way slowly up the line, explaining to those who can understand what is about to happen. Some nod, their relief evident. Others are too sick to notice.
Caitlin reaches the end of the line nearest the door where Suits are waiting to transfer the infected. They had agreed to wait, to see if it would work. As Jaime passes the first bed in the line someone on it raises an arm towards him but he doesn’t notice. Caitlin looks down to see a small blond woman lying on the bed and very close to death. She smiles down at her in sympathy but as the woman’s features become clear through the plastic Caitlin’s smile falls like a brick.
It’s the woman who murdered her brother. The woman who burned him alive. She had seen the smoking husk he had been reduced to by this woman and it’s a memory she will never forget. It had been utterly senseless and nothing she said or thought could justify it. Peter had said she had done it because she could. She was crazy. Caitlin looks up sharply and making sure that no one is watching she grabs the gurney and rolls Elle Bishop quickly down the plank towards the Suits.
“Take this. I think it’s too late for her.”
The men look at her with a shrug and take the gurney and roll it onto the waiting boat. “What about the others?”
Caitlin smiles. “I think they can be saved. You don’t have to wait anymore. Thank you.” She watches the men get into the boat and cast off. She watches the gurney get smaller and smaller and the satisfied smile on her mouth blooms larger. As she makes her way back she sees Jaime is there waiting for her. He stares at the retreating boat with curiously.
“What happened?”
“Some woman died. Come on, out of this cold boy.” She pushes him back in and with a clank she closes the door tight against the wind.
*
Maya pushes her fingers through his and stares at his bespectacled face. A muscle under his eye is twitching, a tell-tell sign that he’s very nervous. Maybe not as worried as she is. Her reservations are still extreme. A voice whispers in her head, one that she tries to ignore but it’s impossible.
This is too far and she’s crossing a line that she should never cross. He killed her brother and now he will be taking his place, no matter how short it will last.
Her fingers slip out of his and he stares at her with worry.
“What is it?”
“I shouldn’t be doing this. Not with you.”
“I know, I understand but you said you wanted to help these people?”
“I do but this is wrong. This is something that should never happen. I feel ashamed.” She can’t bare to look at him or the people who’s life she now holds in her hands.
“Because of Alejandro?”
“Si. You’re a part of almost every aspect of my life but never this.”
“But it’s okay for Peter?” He stares at her accusingly and the first real flare of rage flickers through her. It makes her feel sick. Weak, like an addict succumbing again.
“He didn’t kill my-”
“Jesus Christ. Come on you guys!”
They turn to Peter who they note has moved Nadia and Jaime away. Maya steps back from Gabriel with a look of guilt. Nadia could have heard them arguing.
“I’m sorry Peter. I thought I was okay with this but I’m not.”
“So you’re just gonna let your personal feelings overtake the lives of these people?”
Gabriel groans. “You always were annoyingly sanctimonious Petrelli.”
Peter laughs. “Maybe I am but you’re the ones being selfish. I get that you’ve got lots of baggage but this isn’t the time. You can shout and try to kill each other later. All right?”
Maya knows he’s talking sense but she feels like she’s letting her brother’s memory down. But she also knows Alejandro would be the first person to tell her to do it. She can't knowingly let people die if she can save them. She looks at Peter. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” She walks back to Gabriel who stares at her wearily.
“I meant what I said before. I am sorry.”
Maya ignores that and focuses on the task at hand. “Lets just try. I’m wiling to do that.” Again she interlaces her fingers through his and after a long pause she nods her head at Gabriel to begin.
His eyes turn black.
*
A new blanket of snow covers the grounds of Hyde Park’s biggest mansion and it’s a beautiful sight. Maya, Gabriel and Nadia walk through the snow towards the creek. Lemay had agreed that Gabriel could stay for Nadia’s birthday and even Christmas. After that he would be back to his cell in Odessa.
Maya talks to Nadia quietly and the pain is sharp in her voice. “I couldn’t control it and - and lots of people lost their lives because of that.”
Nadia nods, not looking up at them. Her gaze is fixed on the snow but her face is scrunched up in concentration. Gabriel thinks she’s taking the news well but he can’t be sure she’ll break down later.
“Jaime said that some people get bad ones.”
“Some abilities are bad because people can’t control them or don’t understand what they’ve got.” Gabriel says, looking at Maya. Her face is stern but she nods.
“I didn’t understand what it was. I thought I was cursed...Gabriel is right though. I’ll never forget what happened but I thank god that I can actually use my ability to do some good in this world.”
They reach the long white bridge arching over the frozen creek. Nadia finally looks up at her mother, her face serious.
“I understand mom, it wasn’t your fault...I just wish you didn’t have to go away.”
Maya pulls her into her arms. “If I could stay here with you then I would, I’d never leave your side.” She gets down on her hunches and stares plaintively into her daughter’s face. “If you knew your power, one that you thought could only do bad things, could suddenly cure thousands of people wouldn’t you use it?”
Nadia nods. She can see the sense her mother is talking but that doesn’t make her pain any lesser. “You can’t help thousands of people mom. You - you’d be gone for years.”
“No.” Maya shakes her head and hugs Nadia tighter. “I’d never leave you for that long. And you’re right I can’t cure all those people. Not even Peter can do that.”
“We’re working on a way to try to cure as many people as effectively as possible.” Gabriel touches her icy cheek and she looks up. He pushes her woolly hat down around her ears as he crouches down.
“How?”
He smiles lop sided. “We’re working on it.”
Maya looks at her face and Nadia can see that there’s something different about her, almost younger. She’s not angry anymore. “Do you forgive me for keeping the truth from you?”
Nadia nods. She’d be a hypocrite if she held a grudge. Thinking this she shifts uncomfortably and opens her mouth before she can lose her nerve. “I’ve got something I need to tell you as well. Something I’ve kept to myself.”
“What’s that?” Gabriel asks with a smile.
“I have an ability. I can see ghosts.” It sounds as lame as she thought it would. Her father looks stunned but her mother nods, not surprised at all. Nadia frowns at her. “Did you know?”
“I had suspensions. The lady you said you saw in Odessa for one.”
“Eden...” Gabriel says faintly and just as the last time the woman had been brought up he’s grown pale. Eden McCain is long dead but Nadia saw her, spoke to her. Gabriel rubs a hand over his face and stands. “Well I’ve never heard of that ability before. We’ll have to think of a name for it.”
“You don’t think it’s...weird?”
“No, of course not. I knew a guy who could only melt stuff. Seeing and speaking to those who’ve died is something people have craved to do for thousands of years. It’s spec -”
“It’s perfectly normal Nadia. In this world we live in abilities are out in the open. Who knows, maybe one day you’ll meet someone who has it too.” Maya gives Gabriel a swift look and he keeps silent.
Relieved and feeling much lighter Nadia smiles and begins to head over the bridge. “Come on you two!”
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Nadia turns to look at her mother who is suddenly all business. “I want to show you the ducks. It’s funny when they slip around.”
“Nah - ah. You’re staying indoors until the new year.”
Nadia stares at her in outrage. “You can’t ground me! I almost died!”
Maya keeps a straight face but just. “And I thank god every second for that but you’re still in trouble.”
Gabriel takes pity on her. “Come on, it’s not all bad. You’ve got that massive place to get lost in.”
Nadia looks at the mansion that dominates the hill and considers it. It’s true that the mansion is spooky and fun and there are some rooms that wimpy Richard won’t even contemplate going in. Secretly excited Nadia sighs long suffering. “Fine.” She drags her feet in the snow until she gets past them and then begins to run, the cold air biting at her cheeks bracingly.
Her parents watch after her and once she’s disappeared into the house they turn towards the bridge and walk over it slowly. They talk soft and gingerly, like people trying not to break the stillness of the cold day.
Or people trying not to combust fragile elements.
*
Snow covers the ground and weighs down branches of an old oak. And old it is. He can remember planting the acorn before he left for Japan all those years ago.
He hadn’t known it then but it is the only thing that has remained consistent throughout his life. It’s hallow now, massive with age but somehow it still leafs every summer. It’s a shame he has to do this but also fitting. He came home to die after all.
Adam Monroe stands on the grounds of his old estate and takes an axe to the ancient tree.