| "Going Around" | ||
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23rd May 2008 03.45hrs Paige was sleeping quietly, stirring as she stood and watched her. Despite her own tiredness, she knew sleep was going to be elusive and she looked at her own bed with distaste before she had gone to check on Paige. As she watched, Paige mumbled something she didn't catch and turned over. Saf knew she couldn't stay here, she was disturbing the sleeping figure's subconscious mind; she walked slowly and quietly downstairs. Drawing back the curtains, she saw that the moon was bright on the water and gave off strange shadows. There were no other lights on in the complex; everyone else in the area was sleeping except for her. Yeah, everyone else had peace of mind. She put the kettle on and made some tea, having given up on the idea of trying to sleep tonight; accepting it wasn't going to be a good night. If Paige hadn't been in the house she would have either worked on the computer or played music, but she didn't want to disturb the sleeping figure upstairs. Putting on a lamp and dimming it down until it gave out a bare amount of light, she sat down on the couch and pulled the notes towards her; rereading the information contained within it as though it were possible to visualise what the words meant. Despite what Paige had been able to tell her about how the substance worked, she knew that Madeline was not capable of putting it together by herself, she had help; the question was who and why. Three hours later and she was still no wiser, and on her third cup of tea. The day had dawned two hours ago and she had switched off the lamp, sitting in the cool grey light of the dawn, trying to work out what she was going to do. Finally, she went outside on the balcony, needing the fresh air to clear her mind. She leaned over the balcony ledge and looked out onto the bay, wishing she could be as free as the fish, which swam in the waters. Instead she was trapped in this life, a prisoner despite the apparent freedoms, a call would activate her next move and she would go where they sent her; it was no different from Section and that simple fact was depressing. A touch on her arm startled her and she turned around; ready to defend herself against attack. She managed to stop herself in time, and shuttered her feelings and face. "You're a bit jumpy this morning." Paige spoke softly, a strange expression on her face. "Sorry, my mind was elsewhere." She managed a smile, but there was no warmth in it, "Do you want a coffee?" Paige shook her head, "No thanks, I had some juice." Which meant Paige had been downstairs a while and yet she hadn't been aware of her; that was not good, definitely not good. She couldn't afford to let her defences down like this. Paige paused, "Did you get any sleep?" She didn't want to discuss sleep or lack of it, what she wanted was to be able to understand what had been done to her and why it had been done; but that was not possible. "A little," she responded, turning her face into the stiff breeze, wishing she had left before Paige had got up. "Don't lie to me. You didn't sleep in your bed, and you are wearing the same clothes you did last night." Paige's voice was tight with tension, "I can help you just don't shut me out." Saf continued to look out over the bay, "You have helped, and I don't mean to shut you out, but I just need to think." She wasn't lying, she did need to think, but she could feel the rising tensions in her body. The anger rising within her was like a volcano, and she had no way of releasing it; what she needed to do was burn it out, to run her demons off. Instead it was enraging her, filling her with the need for revenge. "Saf." She turned, to see Paige staring at her. "What?," her answer was as tense as her body. "I asked you a question." Shit. Now what was she going to do? "Sorry, I wasn't listening." She apologised softly, trying to undo the harm. "What do you plan on doing with the information I gave you?" Paige asked, watching her closely. Good question Paige. What am I going to do with it? I have no fucking idea, only that I need to do something... "I hadn't got that far.." she started to say, but Paige interrupted, "Don't go off half cocked, wait until we have all the information. Yes?" She digested the words, Paige's help was necessary, she couldn't do this on her own, and reluctantly she agreed, "Fine." "Good. Now do me a favour, go for a long walk, or even a run. You need to keep up the exercise levels, it will help you," Paige looked at her, "it will reduce the effects of the drug." She knew Paige was right, but some stubbornness deep within her was resisting. "I'll have a shower and freshen up first." "You want me to come with you?" Paige asked, smiling. "For a shower?" she asked confused. "No. For a run, I can just about manage." Paige responded. "If I go, will you leave me alone?" she could hear the tetchiness in her voice, and knew Paige was right, she did need the exercise. "For now." Paige turned and went indoors, picking up the papers on the coffee table and slipping them into her bag. Saf shot in after her and grabbed her arm, "Where are you taking those?" she hissed. "Saf, I can't leave them with you." Paige forced her fingers open and off her arm, "I shouldn't even have them." "I didn't realise." She fell silent, desperately wishing for the day to start all over again. "What time are you picking me up for the game?" Paige asked, changing the subject, deliberately, "We have to have some quality drinking time, and find our seats." Relief, came with the change of subject, "I'll pick you up at 12. Don't forget the leathers." She nodded towards the box on the floor, "I'll bring the jacket and helmet with me." "Sure we can't take the jeep?" Paige tried to wheedle. Saf shook her head, "No. We are taking the bike." Paige shrugged, "Worth a try." She bent down and lifted the box and headed for the door. When Paige had gone, she changed into exercise gear, and zipping a lightweight jacket over the t-shirt, she did some stretches to loosen her muscles. When she was ready, she left the house and jogged over to the track, and unzipping her jacket she set off at a steady pace around the perimeter of the track. Running was mind numbing, it kept her body busy, but not her mind. As she ran, she ignored the pain in her neck from the jarring of her feet hitting the track; instead she used her mind to cover the possibilities of being able to initiate some sort of surveillance on Madeline. Though she could probably get into Section's systems, it wouldn't be long before her connection would be traced, and she had no access to Oversight. The location of Section 4 was in California, and their systems would be isolated except for access to Oversight. That's how all the Sections worked, independently except for a connection with the centre organisation. She realised she would only have one chance, and that was to find a way into Oversight. The problem was that the only person she knew had links with it was Joshua, but she had no reason to deal with him and nor did she want to; Joshua was suffused with an awesome, almost visible power. 11.30hrs She slowed down, to a walk, feeling the stitch in her side. She had been running for only 30 mins, but she felt exhausted after such a short while, although she could excuse that on the lack of sleep and the combination of jet lag and tension. She picked up her jacket and walked back to the house. Inside, she went upstairs and stripped off and stood under the shower feeling the warm water cascading down her body. She stayed under the water until she saw her fingertips start to wrinkle, and then she switched off the water, wrapped a towel around herself and stepped out. The jumble of thoughts, kept going around in her head, her stomach was in knots and she felt a lump in her throat. Stress. Fix the problem or move on, was the only possible answers to the problem; and she could do neither. Redressing, she prowled restlessly through the rooms, unable to settle. Finally she picked up her keys, and went downstairs to the garage. Opening the doors, she pushed the bike off its stand and outside where she started it at first punch of the pedal. Leaving it running, she picked up her jacket and trousers and slipped into them, picked up her helmet and slid it over her head. She closed the doors behind her and turned towards the bike, gleaming and waiting to take her anywhere she chose. She threw her leg over the bike, kicked it off the stand and drove out along the beach road sedately, but once she had got out on the main roads, she opened the throttle and weaved through the traffic enjoying the speed and illusion of freedom it gave her. 15.30hrs She stopped for fuel, at an anonymous fuel stop where she managed to pick up some juice; she didn't bother with buying any food, as she still didn't feel hungry. Instead she drank the juice, and continued on her way southwest. She wasn't making a conscious decision, but her subconscious was doing that for her. She was heading to California. 16.55hrs Her pager vibrated in her jacket pocket, she had forgotten she had even put it on before leaving the house; it had been an automatic gesture. She couldn't ignore it, and pulled over to the side of the road so she could read the message on the small screen; Briefing, SH1 20.00hrs. Shit. It was going to be tight if not damn impossible unless she broke a few rules to get back there in time. She didn't have much of a choice; she had to go back. There would be a better time, in the future, to sort out her issues, but for now she had to go back. She waited for a gap in the traffic and executed a u-turn. Taking more chances now, she upped her speed, ignoring the limits and headed back to NY. SH-1 19.52hrs She drove into the garage, and parked. Kicking the bike onto the stand with trembling legs, she leaned up against the wall breathing hard. She glanced down at her watch; she only had a few minutes to get upstairs. She pushed off from the wall and walked, staggered across to the lift, while it ascended she squatted against the sides of the lift holding her helmet in her hand. The lift doors opened, and Paige was waiting outside. She took a deep breath, and walked out into the corridor, "I rang you.." Paige started to say.. "I went out on the bike, I sort of lost track of time. But I'm here now, what's going on? What's the call out for?" she asked, her curiosity aroused. "Dunno. But it's big, they called in Beta unit as well. I guess the party is going to be a big one." Paige replied. She didn't know how she managed to keep her legs moving, HE was going to be there, the traitor. Kihn. She had thought that she would have had more time to deal with the idea of meeting him once more. She had been the last to arrive; everyone else was there, sitting on the couches, drinking coffee. Paige headed for Jordan and Baz, but Saf walked over to the corner and poured herself a cup of water from the machine; isolating herself from everyone else while she applied self control. When she was ready, she turned back to the room; Rebecca and Gray had entered along with Joshua. She watched the latter closely, noting how his eyes first sought out where Paige was sitting, before he continued looking around the room and finally his gaze came to rest on her. She returned his gaze boldly, and he looked away first, tilting his head towards Rebecca as though he was listening to what she was saying to him, but Saf noticed that Rebecca's lips were not moving. Baz came over, "You joining us Saf?" he asked, tilting his head towards the chairs that Alpha unit had bagged. She had to walk past Kihn to get to the chair, but she managed a small nod, acknowledging him, before walking on to where the others were. "Hi Jordy, any ideas about what's going down?" she asked as she took her seat, placing the helmet on the ground and unzipping the jacket aware that her t-shirt underneath was soaking wet with sweat. She would have to find time to change into something else, she couldn't go out as she was. "Uh uh." Jordan replied, shaking her head, "we know as much as you do. Guess Gray and Rebecca are going to fill us in." Return |
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