Jack

“Dad, what are you...?” I was astounded to see my father seated cheerfully on an examination table. His hair was thin and gray, his eyes sad and far, but not as serious as mine. I immediately began seeing the features in him that he had passed on to me; my cheek bones, my wide shoulders, my eyes, my forehead. Then, things that weren’t. His plump and bulging stomach, his more stocky build, his rounder face. I was surprised to see my father here, hell he lived five hours out. Must be why he hadn’t called me the day before. He grinned proudly, and I almost exploded with fret.

“Dad, I told you not to drive! With your back problems and the godda’mn traffic—-I’m starting to question your sanity! You could have called—-”

“Oh, dear boy, I didn’t drive.” I was seduced into shutting up with that comment, my mouth still slightly open. He looked at me, patiently. Here was the dad who’d sent me off to war years ago, who’d pressured me into it. Why? Because, he wanted me to “get ready for the world”. What the hell was that supposed to mean? And why in the hell was he down here? How the hell did he get here?

All of the sudden, a scrape of footsteps came up behind me, and I turned around to sneer at whoever it might be intruding on my fit.

The man was tall, much taller than I was. I’d give him to be about six foot six. He was thin as well, though not knobby, but did lack a few muscles. His hair was a stark blond, and though in need of a trim, was combed nicely. His eyes were a brilliant blue, and his face clean shaven. I felt my stomach plummet as my best friend registered my presence and broke into a goofy smile, which seemed unfitting when placed in as unnecessarily nice suit as he had. “JACK! You wimped out on our date last evening!”

I struggled mercilessly as the defense attorney, Brady Williams, enveloped me into an awkward hug. I stiffly patted him back, as I answered between clenched teeth and into his ear, “Keep in mind I know how to properly castrate you.”

I felt him sputter a laugh, still not letting go of me. Brady had always been the touchy type, but at the same time, you’d be surprised at how much of a damn good lawyer he was. “Touch my nuts and I’ll fire papers.”

“Wait,” I grunted suspiciously. I pulled Brady to an arms length away from me, studying his eyes carefully. I thought I saw a glimmer of guilt, but the sudden flash of emotion was gone before I could carefully place what it was exactly. Silently, I began to put the pieces together, as my father remained happily seated. “You drove dad...here...when I wasn’t at lunch...”

Brady flashed a sorry smile. “He asked me, man. Said it was real important.”

“I believe the term is ‘really important’. Go on.” I muttered, correcting him.

“Well, he needed to talk to you in person. I’d just gotten off a huge case—-the one with the multiple assault charges?—-that I won, so I decided, why the hell not?”

My face flushed as my temper rose. I felt my jaw clench. I did not like to be intruded at work. I already had my mother to worry about upstairs, who was suffering from Huntington’s disease. Sarge and I visited her every day, sometimes insisting to bring flowers.

“Jack,” Dad’s voice was flustered with British age, but I could still hear him clearly. “I need to talk to you and Brady, as well as dearest Julia.”

My arms folded over my chest. Brady had taken dad’s heart warming speech as a sign to stay silent. Challenge rose in my voice and I answered stiffly,“Julia’s out. It’s not her shift. I’ll tell her later.”

“Very well,” Dad sighed, shifting uncomfortably on the soft plush of the examination table. Brady silently closed the door, and I felt Sarge’s tail gently hit my leg. He knew what I was going through. Therefore, I mercilessly made him suffer it with me. Brady and I pulled up chairs, surrounding dad, making ourselves comfortable until he was ready to speak. Finally, he did.

“Jack. I’ve been speaking to you about the prophecy protectors. The abilities are beginning to get passed down now. I’m not concerned about you inheriting one, for you are much too old—-no offense.”

“Hah,” I muttered, allowing a long sigh drag from my lips. I didn’t feel like putting up with this crap today. Beside me Brady tried to catch my eye. I’ve complained to both him and Julia about this time and time again. Sarge was the one who had heard most about it, though, and sometimes I thought he might even believe my old man. Dad continued.

“You have too much of a temper to have the fire element. You have such brutal hate for the youth, so that leaves out dear Kiorri’s ability. Star inherited hers at birth, you’re more forgetful than your canine. Wind and earth are out, you’re not calm or serene enough for those. And—-”

“Dad,” I pressed, gently. My voice was low, even though I wanted to rip my shirt open and pound my chest several times. As a thirty four year old doctor, I might have even gotten away with it. “I have patients to worry about today. I have no time for this. And Brady, he has another day of losing and complaining about important documents in front of a court of law.” Brady shot me a glare, but I kept my eyes trained on dad. “By the way, some Annie Hawthorn saw me today, asked about you, and she gave me—-”

“ANNIE?!”

Brady and I were abruptly stiffened by father’s fanatics. His cheeks were suddenly bright red, the wrinkles on his face uplifting.

“She was hot for as old as she was,” Brady murmured, offering his two cents. I bit my lip irritably. “And I know you and Maggie are divorced, maybe you should pick her up sometime. Of course, I—-”

“And she brought something for you,” I said sharply, digging through my large coat pockets for the newspaper piece. In a darker tone, I added, “I never thought of you as a fugitive, dad.” Once I found it and gave it to my father, he was indulged, reading and rereading it several times over, sometimes murmuring a few words to himself, a few names. After what seemed like a crap load of wasted time, his eyes lifted to mine.

“Jack. Listen to me. A dear friend of mine now works for the federal agencies. He is what’s keeping you safe. Keeping me safe. Keeping us safe. But the abilities are being passed down now. I still have mine, but tomorrow, I doubt I will. I am old, Jack. Using my gift takes such a great strength out of me. And, once dear Alex loses his ability too, they won’t want him, and they’ll come after us. After me. After you. Kiorri’s ability hasn’t been passed on yet, but once it does, he’ll begin aging like a regular being. I want you to find him if you have any questions. Find him, or one of us.”

“Wait, wait. Why am I in this?” Brady retorted, holding up a hand politely. His eyes were round and big, his blond hair more tussled.

“Because, dear boy, you are a kind soul. And the more help we have, the better.”

I met my father’s eyes, one on one. I felt my teeth sink into the flesh of my lip. “You’ve been trying to get me to believe this crap since I was twelve, dad. You’re sick. You’re a sick man. But you won’t let me help you, your own son. You’ve destroyed my childhood. Unless you want some of my help, then get out. Don’t call again.” My voice rose louder with every word, and I found myself standing, pointing towards the door. My dad looked hurt. I continued. “I’m not going to babysit a bunch of goddamn kids. I hate kids! Do you know why? BECAUSE YOU’RE ONE! GET OUT!”

“Dude, chill.” Brady murmured softly, suddenly on his feet.

“Too spiteful of the youth to obtain the art of life,” Dad sadly repeated, sliding off of his chair. As he sauntered towards the door, his back bent, he almost inaudibly added, “Thank the Lord, Jack, that you’re not the one to see what’s left of your future.”