Chapter Five

Jenny Adams nibbled her thumbnail to the quick as she checked the readout on the EEG machine, shaking her head. A week had passed, and still no change. 

It didn't make sense. When they'd brought Travis into ER, he had several lacerations, many broken or bruised ribs, and a fractured skull. Yet, most of his wounds had healed in a matter of hours, save two broken ribs. While she had seen some strange cases in her time at St Michael's, none were as Outer Limits worthy. 

So far, she and the others who'd treated Travis since he was a child had managed to keep things quiet by fudging his records, so it appeared he was still seriously injured. But the rest of the staff were starting to get suspicious. Moreover, two men in suits had just entered the room, and something told her they would be trouble.   

"Miss Adams, I'm Agent Smith," he said, all scowls and glares, flashing his badge. It didn't say what agency he was with. "And this is my partner, Agent Anderson. We would like to have a word with you about Travis Turner."

Agent Anderson stepped forward, wearing an Aquaman tie and Green Lantern cufflinks. "We've come across some interesting information about him, and it would be in the boy's and your best interest to come with us."

Jenny squared her shoulders and placed her hands on her hips, resolute in protecting her sweet boy. "I haven't the foggiest idea what you're talking about. Who did you say were with again?"

"We didn't. Suffice to say, we are with a branch of the government that deals with these situations," deadpanned Agent Smith.

She glanced at the still form of Travis, his chest rising and falling in sync with the beeping of the heart monitor.

 "I don't care if you're the president of the United States. We aren't going anywhere with you. Now kindly leave before you disturb him."

Agent Anderson smiled, showing off a set of blinding-white teeth. "I apologize for my partner's rude behavior. We're trying to help the boy." His cheeks reddened. "Ma'am, could we grab a cup of coffee and maybe talk a bit?"  

She glanced at Travis, nibbling her nail. "I don't know."

"Please," he said in a whiny voice. "Promise it'll be quick." He flashed that dazzling smile of his again, and her heart melted a bit.

 Jenny thought it over a moment.

What could it hurt? Besides, he's kinda cute.

 "Um, okay. Just let me check in with the nurses' station, and we can go." She looked again at Travis and couldn't help wondering what he'd gotten himself into. 

***

Jenny locked eyes with Agent Anderson, the silence stretching out before them as she glared with unblinking eyes, willing him to be the first to cave. But finally, Jenny's pale blues eyes teared up, and she unloaded on him.

"I won't let you take him to Area 51. You have no idea the world of pain he's suffered, and I'll be damned if you put him through more!"

"Melodramatic, aren't we, ma'am? The boy is all of what, thirteen? What's so gosh-darn special about him, anyway? And for the record, Area 51 doesn't exist." 

Smack. Jenny's hand connected with Agent Anderson's face. She balled up her fist, prepared to strike again, but regained control of herself. Once composed, she recounted how she met the Turners.

***

Fresh out of medical school, working in an army hospital over in Bayreuth, Germany at the time, she'd been on duty when they'd rushed in Travis. He was whisper-thin, covered in third and fourth-degree burns.

Though she'd read about burn victims, none of her classes prepared her for what lay ahead. She still had nightmares about Travis screaming when she changed his dressings.

His parents, while present, seemed to care more about how his prolonged stay would inconvenience them. 

***

Agent Anderson, coffee in hand, leaned in. "What happened to him?"

"Oh, you give a damn now? He was in a fire, and the trauma caused him to go into shock, and he flat-lined. After about an hour, we brought him back, and he spent the next eighteen months in the ICU. The fire was so intense it melted the skin from his bones."

Agent Anderson stared at her, slack-jawed. "Wow."

"At first, he was a good little soldier. Didn't complain about all the skin grafts and reconstructive surgeries on his face. But kids can be such monsters. Though he didn't let on how their teasing affected him, I watched as the light in his eyes died, replaced by hate. Maybe had I stepped up to the plate, he'd be a lot better off. I don't know. But, I'll tell you this much." A wild glint came into her eyes. "You'll have to pry my cold dead fingers from him!"

"Whoa, back Simba, back." He laughed, a nervous tone to his voice. "I have no intentions of handing Travis over to my bosses. If even half of what you've said is true, then we're beyond boned here."

"Why the change of heart? Did my feminine wiles beguile you?" she said, sarcasm dripping from her words as she batted her eyelashes.

"Ha, no. Even if you are quite the hottie. But let's just say it's better to keep on his good side because . . . I shouldn't be telling you this, but he's basically an omega class mutant."

"What?"

"Oh, sorry, huge X-Men fan here. The omegas are uber-powerful mutants that can basically end the universe. We don't know what Travis is capable of now. But, based on what he could do as a five-year-old, we do not want to piss him off."  

Standing, Jenny shoved him into a wall, his coffee cup splattering to the ground. "What are you talking about? I've known him all his life."

"Jesus, you're stronger than you look. I really shouldn't be telling you this, but there was an incident when Travis was around two. He developed pyrokinetic abilities, and the government experimented on him until he escaped at age five. The details are fuzzy, but afterward, children around the world developed superhuman abilities which set off an arms race, so to speak."

"I don't believe you."

"Whatever," he said, shrugging off her hand and straightening his collar, "but Travis is a bomb waiting to go off. And I'd rather be his friend than his enemy. Here's what happens now."

He told her to get Travis and make a run for it while he distracted Agent Smith. She was to take Travis north to a small town called Otter Lake, where his friend, Dr. Richard Hu, lived. "Make a right at the gas station, and you'll come to a cabin. Stay there, and when the coast is clear, I'll join you. Tell Doc that Tommy sent you about Project Hellfire. He'll know what it means. Go."

"Why should I trust you?"

"I've been straight with you from the get-go, haven't I? We were sent here to bring in Travis but . . ."

"But what?"

His face reddened. Then alarms sounded, and a message came over the speakers saying they were locking down the hospital. "Never mind. Change of plans. Get your car ready, and I'll get Travis."

She thought a moment. I don't know if I should trust him. Maybe if I pretend to like him, he won't betray us. It's worth a shot. Besides, he's a snack and a half.

 Then she said, "Fine. You know I could definitely see myself falling for you if things were different, hun."

"Well, aren't I the lucky one?"

"Yes, you are." Jenny leaned in to kiss him, then pulled back smiling. "Later," she said and left to get her Explorer, saying a silent prayer as she went.

 

Author's Note: And the plot thickens (insert villain laugh here). Next chapter we go back to JJ, then move back to Travis.

Questions, comments, constructive criticisms? Hit me up at phenix39@yahoo.com

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