GUARDIAN OF TIME

"Love is eternal throughout time"

Callum McNeal stood in the shower, the water pounding his body. His face was turned upwards into the spray in an attempt to wash away the last few months of his life. Elizabeth was gone, and it was all his own fault. "Damn," he thought to himself miserably. "Why did I let her go?" He shook his head trying to get her face out of his mind. Reluctantly, he turned the shower off and stepped out into the bathroom. Wrapping a towel around his waist, he trotted into the bedroom to get dressed for work.

He glanced at himself in the full length mirror. A tall slender man with sandy coloured hair and emerald green eyes stared back defiantly. Glancing away from his reflection, he looked at the time. "Oh God, I'm going be late for the first lecture," he chastised himself as he hurriedly dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt. Shrugging into his black leather jacket, he grabbed his briefcase and slammed out of the apartment.

Hurrying down the street, Callum was glad of the fact that he only lived two blocks away from the Chicago Police Academy. He had spent ten years as a detective, but had been forced to retire when an arrest had gone wrong; his partner had been killed, and he had spent three months in the hospital in a coma. When he woke up, he battled for a further three months to get his legs working. His right leg, however, had never fully healed, and he had been invalided out of the police force. His former captain had persuaded him to lecture at the Academy. He had been cynical at first, but found himself enjoying teaching the raw and eager recruits. He saw himself in most of them and it made him sad sometimes remembering the eagerness and enthusiasm he had felt during his first term at the Academy.

Elizabeth had hated him being a policeman, and it was the cause of most of their arguments. She came from one of the Chicago blue blood families; her father was a High Court judge. She had refused to marry him while he was a cop, but they had lived together in a sort of harmony for over four years. Then suddenly four months ago, she had told him she didn't love him anymore, that he was wasting his life lecturing at the Academy, that he could be so much more if only he tried harder. Then she had packed her belongings and left - simple as that. His pleas had fallen on deaf, cold ears. She had walked out of his life, with no intention of coming back. Somehow, he had dragged himself through the months since Elizabeth had left, but he felt like he was drowning in despair. He had drunken himself into oblivion most nights, but had woken early each morning with a dull ache filling his soul.

He turned the corner, entering the Academy through the impressive archway. Even the architecture he usually loved to admire didn't lift his spirits. He was slowly dying inside, and he didn't know how to stop it. Nodding at several cadets, he made his way towards the main building.

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

"He looks so sad," the women turned towards the older man.

Studying the slim young woman, "Yes. And it will be your job to make sure that he lives through the day. The Line has already been disturbed. Do you think you can do it?" the grey haired man asked.

"Oh father," she lightly kissed him on his nose. "Of course, I can do it. You have trained me well."

"Remember, that you only have one day to convince him that his life is worth living. You must return before midnight their time," her father looked serious.

"Don't look so serious. I know the rules." Her father frowned. "Don't worry, I'll be back before you know it," she teased gently.

The man's face softened into an affectionate smile. "My daughter. I am your father, I am allowed to worry. I want you to be careful. Their world is a dangerous place."

The young woman stepped forward and hugged her father. She smiled as she lightly touched a crystal pendant hanging around her neck. The pendant glowed a light blue, and the man watched as his precious daughter disappeared through the door. When the door closed, the man turned sitting in his armchair to await the return of his daughter.

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

Callum slowly wandered along the street back towards his apartment building. He had finished the day's lectures, and had the rest of the day to himself. Ordinarily, he would have been happy with the situation, but today the free afternoon only served to remind him that Elizabeth had gone from his life. He stopped and stared at the traffic on the road. It would be so easy to step out in front of one of the trucks; he would welcome the darkness of death. He continued to stare, ignoring the bustle of humanity around him.

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

A bright light in the alleyway startled the tramp. He looked up from taking a swig from the bottle to see a young woman appear from behind the light. The light disappeared leaving the young woman standing at the end of the alleyway. She was wearing a pale blue long dress which moved in the slight breeze. A loose blonde plait hung down her back reaching to her waist. She fixed her gaze on the tramp and smiled sweetly. "Hello," she said quietly as she approached him.

The tramp bowed his head, blushing slightly. "Good morning sweet lady. Are you an angel?"

Smiling she said, "No. Just a visitor to your beautiful city."

The young woman walked out of the alleyway looking around, her blue eyes filled with wonder. Then she saw him on the opposite side of the road; he was staring at the passing traffic. Quickly crossing the road, she made her way over to him standing behind him. He hadn't noticed her, he continued to stare in front of him.

"I am sure that you don't really want to step out into the road now," she whispered quietly into his ear, resting her hand lightly on his shoulder.

Startled Callum turned to glare at the owner of the voice. "What's it got to do with you," he snapped angrily pulling away from the touch.

The woman laughed lightly. "Any life is too precious to throw away so easily," she answered simply.

Callum scowled at her, "And just how would you know if my life is precious?"

"Believe me I know. I have been sent for you. To help you. To show you that your life is worthwhile," she coolly returned his stare, her lips twitching.

Callum gaped at the slim woman. Angrily, he turned and started to walk down the street towards his building. He could feel that the woman was slowly following him. Stopping in his tracks, he whirled on her. She was looking up at the buildings with a look a wonder on her face. "Look, I don't know who you are, but please leave me alone," he cried.

She turned her attention back to study his face. "My name is Linnett, and I am from the future. My father is a Guardian of Time, and he sent me to help you through this day."

Callum stared at the woman, his mouth open. "Oh," was all he could manage.

Linnett continued. "If you die today, the Time Line will be ruptured altering some of the future. Elizabeth leaving was not meant to happen, but our computer did not pick up the event in time for us to prevent it, for which I am eternally sorry. The Time Line has been cracked slightly, but it is not irreparable. So I have been sent to help you."

Callum shook his head; he couldn't believe what he was hearing. Elizabeth shouldn't have left him and some computer in the future had failed to pick up the mistake. "Let me get this right. You are from the future, and your Dad's some kind of wizard...."

Linnett put her hand up interrupting him. "No my father is one of ten Guardians of Time. They are responsible for several centuries each, the 21^st being only one of his responsibilities. It also happens to be his favourite."

Callum raised an eyebrow in exasperation, "OK. Your Dad's a Guardian and you have come to save me from myself."

"Exactly right Callum McNeal," Linnett grinned at him. "Can we go to the zoo?" she asked unexpectedly.

"Pardon me," he stammered surprised at the question and the use of his name.

"We don't have zoos or animals in my time. Unfortunately, they were all slaughtered by man. But I have read library records about them, and I would like to see some real animals," she explained looking into his green eyes.

Callum thought he was going mad. A beautiful woman had just told him some incredulous story about Time Guardians and saving him from himself, and now she wanted to go to the zoo because in her time, animals were extinct. Stunned by her words, he couldn't think of anything to say so he simply nodded. "Yes alright."

He was rewarded with a smile that lit her face up. Taking his hand, "This is so exciting. Let's go," she pulled him along the street towards the bus stop.

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

Callum studied the woman as they sat together on the thirty minute journey to the city zoo. She gazed out of the window, drinking in all the sights of the city. Occasionally, she asked him a question returning her eyes to the sights as he answered as best he could. The look of animation on her serene face made him look at his city with new eyes, trying to picture in his mind what she saw.

The bus dropped them off at the zoo gates, and she took his hand again pulling him excitedly towards the entrance. Paying the entrance fee, Callum guided her towards the first exhibit. They spent the afternoon pulling each other from exhibit to exhibit. Her childlike delight was infectious, and Callum found himself warming to this gentle woman, freeing him from the misery of the past four months.

Callum eventually persuaded her to sit for a moment near to the ice-cream parlour. They sat in silence watching the world go by. He noticed that her eyes wandered towards a child carrying a large ice-cream cone. "Don't tell me, ice-cream is extinct as well," he teased.

She looked at him, biting her bottom lip. "Would you like to try one?" he asked her.

"Oh yes please. Thank you Callum," she said beaming.

Callum quickly moved over to the parlour, choosing a mint ice-cream for himself and a mixed flavour for Linnett. He returned handing her the cone. She studied it carefully, hesitatingly she licked at the ice-cream. Turning to him, she smiled like a child. "It tastes nice."

Callum couldn't help it; he laughed out loud. Linnett looked at him with a bewildered expression playing across her features. He stopped laughing and said, "You are an intriguing woman Linnett. You come from the future with all sorts of technology I probably wouldn't understand. You step through time like it was second nature. But yet you have never seen an animal up close and never tasted an ice-cream."

Linnett giggled. "I like it when you laugh Callum. I think you were meant to laugh. To be happy."

Callum frowned studying his feet. "Maybe," he murmured.

"Yes definitely. You have the kind of face that should smile. It's not meant to be sad," she said determined.

"You think?" he raised his eyes to gaze into her face.

"Yes, I do. It's a very expressive face. A window to your soul," she replied touching his cheek gently.

Callum laughed again taking her hand in his. "A window to my soul, eh. Eat your ice-cream, future girl," he teased.

"See I told you that your face likes to smile," she teased back, a grin playing on her lips.

"I give up. You win. You are far too clever for me," he said. "Tell me about your time. What's it like?"

A wistful expression passed over her face. "My time is beautiful. There are no wars, sickness, hunger or cruelty. We have learned over the centuries to live in harmony with each other. We explore the stars, other worlds and cultures. We have learned to live with the legacy of the past.

Callum adopted a serious face, "Like no animals or ice-cream." Linnett laughed and playfully punched him on his arm. "And what about the time travel thingy," he asked curious.

"Time is important to my century. It surrounds us, shapes our future, our past and our present. In our quest for knowledge, the scientists discovered doorways to different time lines. They built a computer, called TOM, to monitor the Time Line. TOM informs the Guardians of any breach in the line. They send Investigators to put things right," she explained taking the last bite of her ice-cream cone.

"You have a computer called TOM," Callum stated raising his eye brows.

"It stands for Time Organisation Monitor, but TOM suits it better," Linnett laughed.

"So you're an Investigator," he said. Linnett nodded. "How do you walk through the doorways?" Callum asked.

"It's easy. TOM opens the doorways when I touch my crystal. I couldn't get here without it, and I can't go home without it either," she responded lightly touching the pendant hanging around her delicate neck.

"Sorta like a door bell," Callum said.

Linnett looked puzzled, "A doorbell?"

Callum raised his hand shaking his head resigned to the fact that the future probably didn't have doorbells. "Never mind."

"Your turn, tell me about you," she invited.

"But you already know all about me. I bet TOM told you," he accused softly.

"TOM can only tell me about the outside Callum. The person he lets the world see. I am interested in what the real Callum is like," she persisted staring once again into his green eyes.

Her stare disconcerted him, and he returned to studying his feet again. "You're not going let this drop are you?" Callum sighed.

"No," she replied simply.

"OK. Well, I'm a thirty-six year old ex-cop with a crook leg. I lecture to other would be cops at the Academy. I did live with a chick called Elizabeth. But she thought I wasn't good enough for her, and left. I have no family, my parents are dead. I am alone. End of story," he couldn't keep the hurt out of his voice.

Linnett squeezed his hand. "No. That's what TOM told me. Truth."

"That's it. That is the truth," Callum stared at her defiantly. "Callum no good to anyone McNeal." he spat bitterly.

"I asked for the truth. That is certainly not the truth," Linnett insisted.

Tears stinging at his eyes, he pulled away from her grasp, "Truth. Well truth is I don't know who I am anymore. When Elizabeth walked out, I think she took me with her."

"Oh, I don't think so. She may have taken a bit of you, part of your heart maybe, but she left the important bit - your soul. The essence of what makes you Callum. You are a kind, loving, gentle man. You have proved it this afternoon," she said quietly.

"I have," Callum looked puzzled wiping at his eyes.

"You brought a complete stranger to a zoo simply because she asked. You have taken everything I have said on trust. You could have walked away. I couldn't have stopped you. That's not within my power. I know in my heart that you are a good man Callum McNeal. One worth saving. I chose to come because I knew I could help you," she continued.

"Oh," Callum searched Linnett's face to see if she was being truthful. She calmly looked at him, her face full of love and sincerity.

"I know that it hurts at the moment. But Elizabeth was not worthy of your love. Don't choose a lifetime of sorrow because she couldn't see the kind of man that you are," Linnett took his hand in hers again.

"But I feel so worthless. Useless to everyone. I feel like life means nothing," he choked snatching his hand away again.

"I cannot tell you what destiny has planned for you. But think about it, you teach young police cadets. People who will go out into the world to protect others. You may be encouraging a cadet, who will save someone important to your future, to my present," she reasoned.

"I never thought of it like that," Callum said gazing into the distance lost in thought.

"And life does not mean nothing. Life is beautiful, but some of us," she squeezed his hand, "have to search deep within ourselves to find it, but it's a worthwhile search. Trust me," she pledged.

"Maybe," Callum murmured glancing sideways at her.

Linnett stood up in front of him offering him her hands, "Come, I would like to see the bears before I have to leave," she whispered.

Callum looked up, "You have to go?"

Linnett looked sadly back at him, "Yes. I am only allowed to stay until midnight. Then I have to return to my time."

"Will you visit again? You know to see how I'm getting on," Callum asked hopefully.

"No Callum. I am not allowed to visit anyone more than once," she answered sadly. "I wish I could, but it's against the rules." She avoided his gaze staring instead at a group of school children running excitedly towards the Sealion Demonstration.

Callum regarded the lovely woman standing before him. She had touched his soul, melting the ice that had gripped his heart for so long. "Bears it is then. Then my place for pizza," he offered hopefully standing and taking her hands.

"Pizza," she looked back at him puzzled.

Callum groaned, "Don't tell me, pizza is extinct as well." He pulled her towards the Bear Enclosure laughing at her protests that the future did have its share of good food.

They spent another hour looking at various animals, Linnett squealing with pleasure at the antics of the otters, clapping her hands in delight at the elephants. Hand in hand, they joined the other visitors who were leaving the zoo grounds.

"My place for pizza," Callum offered again.

Linnett cocked her head to one side smiling. "Yes please. I would like that very much."

Callum grinned back and plucked a yellow rose from a bush outside the zoo entrance. He stood in front of Linnett, "Yellow rose for friendship," he offered her the bloom with a flourish and a bow. Linnett took the offered bloom taking in its delicate scent. Callum grinned as she put it behind her right ear.

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

Callum hailed a cab outside the zoo. Once back at the apartment, he settled Linnett on the couch putting on a CD while he ordered them pizza. Moving to the kitchen, he made some lemon tea. Placing the cups on the coffee table, he sat down in the armchair. He nervously twiddled with his fingers. Jumping up, he reached towards Linnett his arms outstretched, "Dance with me." Looking up at him, Linnett hesitated for a moment. Her head told her to resist this man, but her heart was giving her an altogether different message, one she preferred.

Mind made up, she rose gracefully from the couch taking his hands. "And before you ask, we do dance in my century," she teased as he took her into his arms and started to dance her around his living room in time to Shania Twayne singing 'From this Moment On'.

He stopped dancing suddenly looking into her blue eyes. "Thank you for this afternoon Linnett."

"No thank you Callum. You have shown me things I have never seen. Could never see in my time. I will remember our day forever," she whispered.

"So I will I," Callum admitted quietly. "I think you were right about Elizabeth. We didn't want the same things. I think she would have gone in the end anyway. I'm surprised we lasted for so long. I was never good enough for her." Linnett went to interrupt him, but he put his hand up, "No, let me finish please. You have shown me in one afternoon what love can really be like."

Tears started to fall down Linnett's face. Callum reached over and wiped at them gently, "No don't cry Linnett." He pulled her into a tender embrace lightly kissing her lips. She didn't resist as he increased the intensity of the kiss. Linnett returned his kiss with a need that threatened to overwhelm her. Lost in a tenderness she had never experienced before, she felt herself being lifted into strong arms.

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

A clock chimed midnight waking Linnett with a start. She rose quietly from the bed, dressing quickly. She only managed to find one of her shoes. Time was running out, so she decided to abandon her search. She looked down at Callum; he was lying on his stomach his arm hanging off the edge of the bed, a small smile on his handsome features. He looked so peaceful and tranquil. Bending down, she gently kissed his forehead; he mumbled in his sleep but did not wake. She looked around the room trying to memorise everything that was Callum. Her gaze came to rest on the yellow rose on the night stand. Picking it up, she gently placed it on her pillow, "Goodbye Callum," she said as she touched the crystal around her neck. The door opened. Preparing to step through, she turned to look once more at the man she knew she would love forever. "I love you," she whispered as she stepped barefoot through the doorway.

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

The door closed behind her. Her father was asleep in his chair, his head resting on his right hand. Smiling, she walked forward kissing him lightly on his forehead. He shifted position mumbling as he opened his eyes; his daughter stood before him.

"Linnett. You're back. How did things go?" he asked sleepily. Coming slowly to his senses, he rose hugging his daughter tight to his chest. He didn't fail to notice the flicker of pain that crossed her features.

"The Time Line is safe. I think I convinced Callum McNeal that his life was worth something, worth saving," she replied her voice flat and controlled. She pulled out of her father's embrace, turning her back on him. She bit her bottom lip trying to stifle the threatening tears.

"You stayed after midnight, didn't you?" her father accused gently as he glanced at the large clock, which showed the time of day in all the centuries he guarded.

She turned, her blue eyes filled with tears. "Don't be angry father. I didn't mean to break the rules. He was so lonely and sad. I couldn't help it. I am so sorry, it will never happen again," she sobbed.

Her father stepped forward pulling her towards him again. "I know you didn't mean to Linnett. Hush, don't cry," he soothed as he gently stroked her hair. He knew in his heart that Linnett no longer belonged to this century; that she had left her heart and soul behind in the 21^st century. Her destiny no longer lay here with him; he knew he had to be strong. "Hush, don't cry," he comforted as his daughter cried for the man she had left behind.

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

Callum awoke to the sound of his radio alarm clock. Rolling over, he sat up looking wildly around the room. "Linnett," he called out. He sighed deeply knowing in his heart that she wouldn't answer him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the yellow rose on the pillow. His heart lurched as he gently fingered the soft petals. The radio news brought him out of his reverie announcing that it was 8.00 a.m. "Jeez, I'll be late again," he cursed as he jumped out of bed carefully setting the rose on the night stand. He quickly showered and changed, and ran around the bedroom looking for his shoes. He saw them poking out from under the bed. Pulling them forward, a small silver sandal was dislodged. Taking the delicate silver sandal in his hands, he sank to his knees and started to weep. He cried for what could have been, and could never be.

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

Callum managed to make it through the next week, despite the fact that his heart ached for Linnett.  Strangely enough, he felt released from the pain and misery he had experienced at Elizabeth leaving.   Waiting in the queue, he got his wallet out of his pocket ready to pay for his shopping.   His heart missed a beat as he noticed the carefully pressed and dried yellow rose bud nestling between his credit cards.  He had only known her for a day, but it had seemed like an eternity.   He had vowed to himself that although he would never forget her, he would try to live his life as she would have liked him to.

He slowly trudged up the stairs to his apartment. Opening the door, his policeman instincts kicked in. A CD was filling the apartment with soft music, and the lamps had been switched on. He carefully put his shopping down in the hallway, and moved cautiously into the living room.

He froze as he saw Linnett spinning in circles to the music, her pale lemon dress twirling around her slender legs as she danced. He noticed that she was wearing the silver sandals. Unconsciously, he glanced to the bookcase where he had placed the single sandal - it was missing. She stopped dancing as she became aware that Callum was standing in the room watching her.

"Hello Callum," she smiled at him.

"But..... what are.....? how....?" he stammered confusion in his voice.

She came forward taking his hands into her smaller ones. "Oh Callum. Didn't you know, love opens so many doorways. If you wish hard enough, it even crosses the barriers of time." She handed him a red rose. "I looked it up in the library records. A red rose for love."

He took the rose and placed it behind her right ear. "But you said you couldn't visit me again," he stuttered unsure, but hope and love shone in his eyes.

In answer, she removed the crystal pendant from around her neck dropping it to the wooden floor. Her gaze never wavered from his emerald green eyes as she ground the crystal under her foot until it existed no more. "I love you Callum. You are my future, and I chose to be with you."

"But, your father, your home," Callum cried.

"My father sent me to you. My home would mean nothing without you. My father will watch over us both," she reassured him. "I love you Callum."

"Oh Linnett. I promise I will never let you go. I thought I had lost you forever. I love you so much," he breathed as he pulled her into a warm loving embrace.

"I want to be with you forever. We have all the time in the universe that we need," she replied as she pressed her warm lips to his welcoming loving ones.

AND TIME STOOD STILL FOR THEM BOTH AS THEY EMBRACED

ONE ANOTHER FOREVER

THE END