“Good thing you kept those keys in your desk.” Ellen pulled the three pieces from his mail box. “This looks like a wedding invitation. Bet you missed the blessed event.”
“You think?” Dean smiled, turned the door knob, and shoved on the door some. “We’re in.” Coughing at the dust, Dean stepped in first, shining his flashlight around. A twitching feeling hit his stomach, almost eerie when he stepped into his cob web spewed living room. Dust had built up everywhere and a moss had started to form on the far wall, creeping across as if a new green design. Clearing his throat Dean looked back to Ellen, who stepped inside. A part of Dean felt bad, really bad. It was his home and a painful reminder of his world that had gone. “This is it. Sorry about the condition.”
“Oh, Dean.” Ellen stepped in shining the flashlight around. “I envy you. I really envy you.”
“Sarcasm Ellen?” Dean asked.
“No. Sincerity.” She peered all around stepping further in. “I wish I could be close enough to go home. I really do.”
“Ellen.” Dean handed her an empty sack. “Could you hold this? I know I have candles around here.”
“Were you the big romantic guy?” Ellen tossed the sack over her shoulder with hers.
“No, the power outage conscious guy.” Dean stood center living room trying to think where he had them. “End table.” Speaking his candle thought out loud, Dean walked to the sofa bending down at the end table. “Yes. A bunch here.”
“Oh, Dean,” Ellen spoke softly, “look.”
Dean stood up holding the candles. “What?”
Ellen held on to a photograph, a barely seen picture in a wooden frame. She blew on it, coughed, and then wiped her hand across it, shining the flashlight on it. “It’s your Mom and Dad.”
Dean shuffled over to her. “Yeah.” He ran his hands through his hair in nervousness.
“Were they dancing when they posed?”
“Yeah they were.”
“This is a great picture. I liked William. Your Dad would have been proud of our children, Dean.”
“Thanks Ellen. He would have. Actually . . .” His thin finger ran across the picture. “This was taken at their fiftieth wedding anniversary.”
Ellen tilted her head to Dean with an odd look. “How can that be? William was only sixty-five when he died, wasn’t he?”
“True. This was taken about six months before my mom died. She knew she was dying and she always wanted to say she celebrated a fiftieth anniversary with my Dad, so my Dad and I had a party.”
“A mock golden anniversary. That was sweet. Dean, this . . .” She held up the picture. “This alone was reason enough to come here.” She opened up her knapsack, not his, and placed it in. “Our children deserve to see that picture and hear that story. I’ll make sure they do.”
“El . . .” He gave a soft smile. “Thanks.” Reaching, candles still in his hand, he embraced her. “O.K. Now, let’s see.” He gave her a candle to hold, then he lifted the box of matches. “Will they work or not?” A strike, an ignition of flame, and Dean lit the candle. “We have light. Let’s hit the bedroom. That’s where my stuff is at.” He took the candle back.
Ellen snickered, “Candles, the bedroom.” She followed him. “Do you know what you’re getting or are you just gonna peek around and grab.”
“No.” Dean walked into the small back bedroom of the single story house. He set the candle on the dresser. “Just like you have your memorabilia box, I have mine.”
Ellen watched him move to the closet. “Dean, this bedroom. It’s so . . . boring.”
“El?” He smiled as he reached to the top shelf. “It’s me.” He pulled the box down and started to close the closet.
“True,” Ellen sat on the bed. She immediately began rummaging through his nights stand. Books, paper. Her hand paused and she snickered when she saw the condom pouch. She lifted it. “I thought you weren’t the Casanova guy?”
Dean snickered as he carried the box over to the bed. “Trust me El, the effectiveness of that condom probably expired long before the world ended. It’s been in there a while.”
“Oh!” Ellen said excitedly. “Your VISA. Dean, you shouldn’t leave this just laying around. Can I have it?”
“Sure.” Dean began to go through the box, more checking than for reminiscing.
After placing the credit card in her knapsack, Ellen scooted closer to the box to peek. “Harvard.” She lifted the yearbook. “Oh, and pictures. Look at all the pictures.” Her hand guided through. “The kids will love these.”
“I hope.”
“This was such a good idea. It really was.”
“Yeah.” Dean closed the flaps on the box. “For me and . . . for us.” He saw her looking oddly at him. “I needed some alone time with you. You’ve, you’ve been different with me since that little time trip. Not to mention you’ve been hiding.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve been trying. Really trying to act the way this time frame dictates. I guess I’m failing at that.” Ellen’s head lowered. “Am I making you feel uncomfortable?”
“A little. No. Wait. No.” Dean shook his head. “I’m O.K. with it. Really. I honestly understand that in your mind set, the time frame you were in, I died. And you got back with Frank. That’s where your heart is and . . .”
“Wait.” Ellen stood up. “Are we on the same wave length here? Why do I get the feeling that you aren’t going to tell me to back off.”
“Back off?” Dean laughed. “El, if you back away anymore, I won’t see you.”
“But I thought that’s the way this time-Ellen was supposed to act. I come through and I find out I’m working it out with Frank.”
“And you two have a long way to go. You and I. We’ve been . . .” Dean closed one eye and gave a simple nod. “We’ve been close.”
A gasp came from Ellen and she stepped to him. “Oh, Dean. I have been trying so hard to suppress what I was feeling about the whole trip.” She spoke with emotional enthusiasm. “Henry and I discussed it. We thought if I showed my gratefulness and my feedings, it would be too obvious. But I missed you.” The words seeped out. “I missed you so much.” She clenched her fist. “I have done nothing but want to spend every second of the day with you since we changed time. Dean . . .” She softened her voice. “When you died on me, my life ended. I never thought I’d feel that much pain again. You were all I thought about.”
A slight snicker of sarcasm came from Dean. “I bet Frank loved that.”
“You wouldn’t have believed Frank. No, Dean. He was really good with the way I was because he mourned you too. Your death changed him completely.”
“Frank mourned me?”
“Oh, yeah, more than you would believe. The whole community was lost. There were no more smiles. Our children, Dean. Our little girl. The sadness on her face was heartbreaking.”
A lump crept up into Dean’s throat and he closed his eyes. “God, this feels so real.”
“It was real. To me.” Ellen stepped closer. “I’ll never forget how badly I hurt especially when I realized how much I loved you.”
Dean opened his eyes and looked up. “Was it just the loss or do you still feel that even though I’m back?”
“I still feel that.”
“Then why, El? Why are you working it out with Frank? Huh?” Dean asked passionately. “Can’t you see, some things are meant to be, some aren’t. Even in my time frame you and I . . .” He stopped. “Forget it. I’m harping again. I promised you I wouldn’t bother you about you two working thought this.”
“Dean? What’s been happening between us?”
“I told you. We’ve been close.”
“How close?” Ellen asked. “Have we’ve been together since the clinic?”
Dean hesitated. “Yeah. Once.” He saw the expression drop on Ellen’s face. “Please don’t get upset. It was the day Joe came out of the Salicain. There was a party, you and I had a few drinks, and one thing led to another after the kids went to sleep. I have to te
ll you El, it was great. Not the sex, but that week. Frank was off on his George goose chase. And I thought, my God, we’re working things out. Then he came back. Rev. Bob made his suggestion and you moved out.”
“Did I regret it?” Ellen asked. “Be honest.”
“No.” Dean shook his head. “At least you didn’t tell me. It wasn’t like in the clinic. We weren’t kicking ourselves. But don’t kick yourself now, because it never really happened for you.”
“Yeah it did,” Ellen said. “I guess you’re right. Some things are meant to be. You and I, Dean, we made love right before you died. And I had no regrets then either. Well . . .” The corner of Ellen’s mouth rose. “Maybe I regretted that we weren’t in a bed. Tell me we made love in a bed in this time frame.”
Dean eyes shifted about. He didn’t answer.
“Damn it,” Ellen faked an anger outburst, “can we not have our moments when a bed is accessible.”
“Well.” With a slight chuckle, Dean, hands in pockets, tilted to the side, and pointed his head to the bed behind Ellen.
Ellen looked.
“I’m kidding.” Dean reached for the box on the bed. But stopped when Ellen’s hand laid over his and she stepped into him. “El.”
“Let’s have a moment, Dean. Right now.” Ellen moved her lips closer. “Away from it all. Let’s be together away from Beginnings.”
There was zero hesitation after Dean’s shoulders lifted with his heavy breath. Eyes locked, his chest met Ellen’s as his hand first lay on her cheek then swept into her hair with a passionate firmness. Clenching, he pulled Ellen into him. Only in a moment’s hover were Dean’s lips before he touched then joined them with Ellen’s.
Every inch of Ellen’s face ached with the emotions of that kiss. She could feel herself breathing in the moment as well as flashing back to their last time together. So similar, both so full of feelings. But for as fast as the moment swept into them that was how fast they separated when the ‘bang’ of the opening front door startled them.
“Dean?”
Dean stepped away, reaching to the back waist of his pants for the revolver he brought. “Stay here.” He approached the door.
“Dean.” Ellen grabbed his arm. “Don’t go out there.”
“Well, where do you expect me to go?” Dean pulled away. “Stay here” he ordered as he walked out of the bedroom. Gun raised, chamber shifted, Dean moved down the small hallway. Ready, and able to hear the footsteps, along with hoping it wasn’t Henry fooling around, Dean turned the corner, aiming out.
A pumping of a chamber not only brought Dean face to face with the barrel of a M-16, but to the lower chest of the huge brawny black man who stood before him.
In an Army uniform, the man kept his eyes on Dean. “Put down that weapon!” he blasted loud and deep. “You are trespassing on my base!”
Dean wanted to keep aim, but after a shift up of his views to the man, Dean lowered his gun. “Sgt. Baily. Sgt. Luther Baily?” Dean asked then smiled, “Oh, my God. It’s me . . .”
“Lt. Hayes, sir!” After snapping to attention, Sgt. Baily, swung around his M-16, then extended his hand to Dean. “Sir, I didn’t recognize you with the longer hair.”
“Apocalypse will do that to you.” Dean shook hands with enthusiasm. “This is wild!” Dean peered over his shoulder. “El! Come on out. It’s all right.”
“Lt. Hayes? Is the government rebuilding.”
“Not that I know of,” Dean said.
“Then are you moving back on base? Coming home?” Sgt. Baily asked.
“No,” Dean shook his head with a chuckle. “I’m doing some important work in my old lab for my community. Actually we have a home in that community, complete with kids.”
“You have children now?”
“Three,” Dean answered then saw where Sgt. Baily was staring. Dean looked. “El.” He reached out his hand. “This is Sgt. Baily, well, we called him Sarge. He used to be in charge of the men who would guard the entrance to the labs.”
Ellen stepped closer and peered up. Sgt. Luther Baily was the tallest, biggest man, she had ever seen.
Cordially Sarge extended his hand to Ellen, staring in awe. “Pardon me, Lt. Hayes, but you have a woman? In this world?”
Ellen snickered, “That’s because Dean had the keen foresight to snatch me up before everyone realized women were extinct.”
“Mrs. Hayes. It’s a pleasure.”
“Likewise.” Ellen saw the amazed look on Dean’s face from seeing someone he obviously knew well. A smile accompanied it. Ellen smiled as well, but for a different reason than Dean. Looking at Sarge, Ellen knew, of all the souvenirs she was packing to bring home, the giant man before her would be the best one. Frank was going to love him.
^^^^
Former Quantico Marine Headquarters
George was wide awake as he faced Steward who looked like he was ready to pass out. “Is that it?” George asked.
“Yes,” Steward answered. “It’s the best we can do until communications lines are working here.” He extended a sheet of paper to George.
“Did Sgt. Doyle decipher the Morse code?”
“Yes. Why?”
“Then you read it. I can’t interpret his handwriting.” George sat back on the couch.
“Not much here,” Steward shrugged. “I’m sure more details will be given when information is easier to pass. All right . . .” He began to read. “Scouting party to New Mexico. No return yet.”
George nodded, “I suspected they would hit that. I didn’t think they’d wait so long.”
“Well, they did look for you. And they had a lot of clean up in Miles City, plus what we’ve sent to keep them busy.”
“True. O.K., no response for that one. We know what they’ll find in New Mexico. Go on.”
Steward continued to read. “Um, Dr. Hayes, Ellen, and Henry are in Nebraska.”
“Nebraska?” George asked. “What for?”
“It says, ‘Details not released. Suspected new weapon’.”
George whistled, “Could be bad. Nebraska is where Dean’s main bio lab was. Send a response to keep us posted on their return.”
“We could pack up a brigade and send them out.”
‘No,” George shook his head. “I know Beginnings. Those three won’t be beyond the wall for long. We’ll worry about them when we worry about Beginnings as a whole. Right now we need all our men for the sweeps. Anything else?”
“One more thing,” Steward chuckled. “This is funny and I’m questioning Sgt. Doyle’s decipher.”
Annoyed, George rolled his eyes. “Are you going to share the quaint little passage or keep it all to yourself?”
“Seems like a waste. But . . .” Steward read. “Time machine works?”
George sprang up. “Holy shit. It works?”
“Sir, they said ‘Time Machine’. A time machine. Really, now.” Steward saw the seriousness on George’s face. “You believe this.”
“I’ve seen it.” George started to pace. “I never thought it could work. Get to our person and make sure they are positive it’s not a fluke. That whacked out Godrichson isn’t blowing smoke up everyone’s ass. If it’s true, we need to know what they plan on using it for.”
“Do you think they will?”
George fluttered his lips in sarcasm. “If you had a working time machine, wouldn’t you?”
“No,” Steward shook his head. “Well, yeah. But sir, couldn’t this be bad for us.”
“Absolutely. If they use it against us, chances are we won’t know. So why worry. But . . .” George held up a finger with a smile. “This could be even better for us. As if what’s already in Beginnings isn’t important enough to us . . . that time machine . . .”George nodded arrogantly, “just raised the property value.”
^^^^
Women. If Henry dreamt, Henry dreamt of women. Lots of them, swarming around him, begging him to have an understanding with them. Never a serious relationship. Henry was a ‘play the field’ t
ype of guy in his dream. But that was in his dreams. In the real world, what Henry wouldn’t give to have just the companionship of a woman one day a week. But women were few and the men who shared their women, never shared with Henry. Frank told him it was because he was such a whiney anal asshole. But Henry chalked it up to the fact that men were too afraid that he was such the nice guy, they could lose their woman to him.
Perhaps it was the visit to Nebraska that brought about old world thoughts. Dreams of being in Miami, lying on the beach, and pestered by women even if it was the GOLDEN GIRLS. But what Henry couldn’t figure out in the dream was why they all spoke so deep and rough. Nudging him harshly, poking him. Then Henry realized that barreling voice wasn’t coming from Betty White, it was coming from outside his dream. Henry opens his eyes.
“What is your problem, boy!” Sarge blasted to Henry his rifle aimed on him.
Henry froze. He couldn’t move. Lying on that couch, staring up to a man who was probably mutated somehow, he had to have been zapped with something,. Henry had never seen a man so big.
“Did you not hear me?” In a drill sergeant mode, Sarge bellowed out. “I have asked you a question. What is your problem? Are you sleeping on the job? You, boy, were given a directive. What was that prime directive?”
It was a nightmare, Henry thought as he still stared, dazed. Yes. It wasn’t happening. He knew he had to still be dreaming when he heard the distant giggling. Those damn Golden Girls.
“You were given orders to protect this lab and the working occupants. Have you not! You have failed in that task! You were asleep on the job! General Slagel will not be pleased. I am moving for immediate court martial. Do you hear me boy!”
The giggle grew closer then Ellen’s face peered around the blustering body of Sarge. “Hey, Henry.” Hands holding two cups, she gave a nudge to Sarge’s back. “You’ve done well. I don’t think he’ll do it again.”
“Are you sure Mrs. Hayes, ma’am?” Sarge kept his aim on Henry.
“Positive. Go back to post. Gen. Slagel will handle it when we return.”
The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series Page 170