“El, I want to talk to you. Can we just talk? Talking, that’s it.” He saw the nervousness as her eyes shifted around. He wanted to change the subject. “El.” Henry tilted his head and raised an eyebrow with a sneaky smile. “I saw Jenny Matoose. Jenny Matoose?”
“I did too,” Ellen smiled. “She is so excited about being in charge with Josephine for the Christmas cookies this year. She and I were discussing the new ones we were going to try since we got the cocoa thing down good.”
Henry froze. Ellen and Jenny baking cookies? He thought for sure he was inside a bad remake of IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE. Change the subject. With a snicker he reached to her desk. “El? Are you reading?”
“I was when you walked in.” She lifted the book. “Did you read this? Jenny lent it to me. John picked it up the last time he was out getting . . .”
“Since when do you read books?” Henry asked.
“I always read. It’s my form of escape.”
“Escape from what?”
“Escape. Everyone needs an escape.”
“But reading El? You find . . .” Mid thought he stopped. This was a different Ellen and he was discovering that. “El, can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“How are things with you and Robbie? Really? How are they?”
Almost in a slow whine, Ellen stood up saying his name, “Henry.” She walked over and shut her door. “You know how things are.” She slid to the edge of her desk sitting before him. “Did Frank send you?”
“No El. I sent me.” Henry reached up and grabbed for her hand But before he could touch her, Ellen’s office door opened and in walked Robbie.
Ellen quickly pulled her hand from Henry. “Robbie.” She spoke his name with surprise.
Robbie’s eyes shifted. No smile was on his face. “What’s he doing here?”
Henry stood up. “He . . . came to talk to Ellen.”
“He . . .” Robbie pointed, “is not allowed. Especially since last night and especially behind closed doors. Let’s go, El.” Robbie held out his hand. “Now.” He snapped his fingers. “I have the people waiting.
Ellen grabbed his hand.
“El?” Henry called out. “He just snapped at you. You hate when people do that to you.”
Ellen’s head quickly turned to Henry in a ‘shut up’ manner.
Robbie moved Ellen to behind him. “Go on to the skills room, El.” Ellen did and he stepped closer to Henry. “Why would you even say that?” Robbie asked him with snide arrogance.
“Because she does.”
“What do you know Henry? You don’t know anything except how to start trouble.”
“It’s not trouble Robbie. I know.” Holding his head high, Henry walked to the door. “And I also know about that small little birthmark on the upper inside of her thigh. So there.” Henry nodded and walked out.
Closing his eyes tightly and shaking his head in disgust, Robbie blew it off. “Fuckin Frank.” Tapping his hand against the archway, he walked out. He headed to the skills room, looking once more at Henry who was leaving.
^^^^
It was perfect timing and it aided in a better explanation. Henry’s interruption into the lab when Dean was asking Jenny about Robbie and Henry concerns over Robbie’s behavior deepened Dean’s. After all, Henry had spoken to Robbie. Dean had avoided him.
“Nothing,” Jenny said softly. “And does Jason know both of you are forgetting the same things. Weird.”
Dean was confused. “How can there be nothing wrong with Robbie. You heard Henry. Robbie was downright nasty plus demanding. Ellen’s frightened of him. Isn’t she?”
“Yes,” Jenny replied. “I would be, too.”
“Then,” Dean stated, “He’d doing something to her.”
“No, he’s not.” Jenny shook her head. “There is nothing wrong with Robbie. Yes Robbie gets bitter and angry. He even gets violent. But never does he direct it toward Ellen. He loves her too much. And . . . Ellen should be afraid. She knows what she does to him. Afraid that he will say enough is enough.” Jenny softened her voice. “You know about it Dean. He raised Josh and Taylor with her then watched them die. He put aside his personal convictions since he knew he couldn’t give Ellen a child, and allowed you and her to be together for that. And what does she do? Sleep with his brother? The best thing he did was make that understanding official. At least she and Frank don’t sneak around anymore. And you . . .” She pointed to Henry. “If he acts that way toward you, you deserve it.”
“Me!” Henry nearly shrieked. “What did I do?”
Jenny laughed. “Run interference all the time for Frank. You wanna know what’s wrong with Robbie, try finding out what’s wrong with Frank. In my personal opinion, we should just toss Frank out. No one likes him or cares about him. He’s nothing but a troublemaker and a drunk. And I’m going to leave.” Jenny backed up. “The last thing I want is for Robbie to think I was involved in a negative conversation about him. He doesn’t deserve it.”
So in shock, Dean and Henry watched Jenny leave, then they just turned to each other dumbfounded.
^^^^
Frank stared down at the palm of his hand. He mumbled some, closed his eyes, and then walked more towards his Dad’s office. A few more steps, a stare at his hand, and Frank continued on. Nearing the line of utility buildings, Frank looked up to make sure he wasn’t heading straight into anything and he saw Josh. Josh walked with a sack, picking up anything that might look like litter. Frank knew this was an odd job for the teenager, maybe it was punishment of some sort. After all it was late afternoon. Josh should have been down or starting with his shift. “Hey Josh.” Frank walked by him.
“Hey Uncle Frank, what’s up.”
Like he smacked into a wall, Frank stopped walking. His head spun back with wide eyes to the blonde teenager. “Josh? You’re talking?” Frank moved closer. “Say something.”
“What do you want me to say?” He laughed at Frank. “How are you doing . . .”
“Stop.” Frank held up his hand and ran his it over his goatee. “Wow, amazing. Diane worked wonders with you. And fast.” Frank hit Josh on the back. “Good job.”
“Thanks.” Josh shrugged, bending down and picking a cigarette butt from the ground.
“Amazing.” Frank headed to his Dad’s office. He knocked once then walked in. “Hey Dad.”
“Frank.” Joe held out his hand. “Sit down.”
“Did I do something?” Frank asked.
“What the hell happened last night? I thought you told me you were going to control that drinking of yours.”
“Dad, I wasn’t drunk. In fact, check this out. I really don’t have a drinking problem. I thought I did and I just forgot, but Henry told I don’t have one, so there. I wasn’t drunk.”
“Yeah, Frank sure. Just stay away from Ellen. And for crying out loud, quit calling her name out so loud in the middle of the street.”
“But you want me with Ellen,” Frank commented.
“Since when? And why in God’s name would I want you with your brother’s wife.”
“She’s not his wife. She’s my wife.”
“No Frank, she isn’t your wife.”
“Dad, I’m telling you.”
Angry and frustrated, Joe slammed his hand down. “And I’m telling you! Knock the shit off!”
“Fine.” Frank gripped the arms of the chair. “But you’ll see.”
“We have work to talk about, Frank. Let’s try that. All right? First, as I mentioned this morning, we’re going to Cleveland. You and three other guys will be there for about a week.”
“I can’t go to Cleveland for a week. Why would you send me? I can’t be away from my family that long.”
“What the hell are you talking about Frank?”
“Uh . . .” Frank brought his hand up to his eyes. “Um . . . sorry. Nothing. When do I go?”
“About a week. I need you to square together the travel route. It’s the usual. Next, Sarge.” Joe reviewed
his checklist. “Robbie says that Sarge is getting frustrated hanging out in containment. He wants to know if you can have another man posted in there instead of Sarge. Ellen reported Sarge snapped at a few survivors for talking too loud.”
“I had Sarge in containment because of the savages. Did we have a savage attack?”
“Frank?” Joe pulled his chair into his desk closer. “Of course we did. Lost six lives.”
“How the hell did that happen?! Didn’t Robbie divert it, he works there.”
“Robbie doesn’t work in containment all the time, Frank. He works with . . .” He saw Frank bring his hand to his face and squint his eyes. “What are you doing?”
“Thinking. O.K. You’re right. Robbie works at mechanics. Time machine memory loss thing. I’ll put someone else in there.”
“Good.” Joe checked that item off. “Next. Tower watch. Andrea says that your guy Steve will be out for three days with that knee surgery.”
“Josh. We can put Josh in Steve’s position until . . .”
“Josh? Josh? Are you out of your goddamn mind? Josh is fifteen years old! You can’t put a kid on watch for Christ sake. What the hell is the matter with you?”
“Josh is good, I trained him to . . . sorry.”
“Time machine memory loss?” Joe asked.
“Yep. I’ll find another replacement. Don’t worry.” Frank breathed slowly out of his mouth. Perhaps he should have listened to Henry and brought Henry along for the meeting. “Anything else?”
Joe’s head spun. It really did. Why he was getting a feeling of lack of accomplishment from this meeting he didn’t know. “Frank, have you been drinking?”
“No I haven’t been drinking. Why would I drink at three in the afternoon? Wanna smell my breath?”
“Christ no.” Joe rubbed his head. “Just, just plan the Cleveland trip and run it by me in two days, all right?” It was clear he was frustrated.
“Yep.” Frank stood up. “Dad, I’m really sorry I’m like this. I feel like I’m in the fog a bit. I’ll be better tomorrow. It’s just that . . .”
“Time machine memory loss?”
“Yeah,” Frank pointed. “That’s it.”
“Frank, memory loss or not, no screaming Ellen’s name up and down the street tonight.”
“Dad.” Frank held his hand up. “I am under control. I have everything under . . .” He saw Joe hunching some, peering as he crept to him. “What are you doing?”
“Give me that hand.”
“Nope.” Frank pulled it back. “See ya.”
“Frank!” Joe reached up and snatched his son back by his shirt. “The hand.” He grabbed Frank’s hand and looked at his palm. “List of things to avoid . . . Why is Henry’s handwriting on the palm of your hand?” Joe squinted and held tight to the hand Frank started pulling away. “Avoid talking about . . .” The hand was abruptly pulled from his eye view.
“Bye.” Frank opened the door.
“Frank!” The door shut before Joe knew it. “I have to find Jason.”
^^^^
It must have been a Robbie suggestion, but somehow Dean liked it, an alarm clock in his lab. It buzzed like a school bell, and that was Dean’s signal that it was time to go home. Mid review of notes, his hand extended blindly to the right to shut off the annoying sound. When it did and silence hit, the lights went out. Dean looked up. “Weird. An automatic shut down?” Thinking it even more of a great addition, Dean heard the door to the lab shut, and then lock. A bit of fear crept up into him. He could hear the soft footsteps as if someone were deliberately sneaking into the lab. Just as he went to move his hand, another hand laid on his. He felt the body press behind his and the warm breath from the mouth so close to his ear.
“Thursday, Four-fifteen,” Ellen spoke softly, “Ellen and Dean time.” Her hands crept around the front smoothing their way up his chest. “We missed our time last week.” She kissed his neck softly. “Jenny has the kids a little longer. I missed you. You make me sane. Make love to me.”
Her words not only made his heart drop, but they made Dean spin around. When he did, Ellen’s body pressed hard to him and her lips to his.
The kiss was so deep, intense, that the separation made a noise when Dean moved her away. “El, we can’t.”
“Yes, we can.” Her hands moved to his pants. “Dean.” She whispered his name. “Come on.” She smiled ornery at him. “You know you love doing it in here.”
“Here? Right here?” Dean’s eyes rolled when her hands roamed about him and her mouth slowly teased his neck. “We can’t.” He reached to stop her hands but maybe not as diligently or forceful as he could have.
Ellen took control. “We can.” From his undone jeans, Ellen brought her hands to the collar of his lab coat. Seductively she moved into him, hovering her mouth over his. “Dean.”
Dean swallowed. “Here? Right here?”
“No,” Ellen said “right here.” With a hard tug, Ellen dropped down pulling Dean with her to the floor.
He fought that final body to body connection with the linoleum. His hand gripped the edge of the counter for leverage in his fight. But not for very long. In a sexual defeat, Dean’s hand slid from the counter and he joined Ellen on the floor.
^^^^
“I’m telling you he’s here.” Frank said as he walked with Henry down the hall of the clinic.
“No, Frank. It’s after five. He’s home. We should go there first.”
“No, Jenny said it’s Thursday. They’re at the lab late on Thursday.”
Henry stopped before the door. “Why Thursdays?”
Frank shrugged and reached for the handle. “Locked.”
“And the lights are out, Frank,” Henry observed. “They aren’t . . .”
The door opened and Ellen stood there. “Hey, Frank. Henry. Bye.” Tucking in her shirt, she hurried by them and down the hall.
Frank looked at Henry and walked into the lab. He flicked on the lights. “Dean!”
With a surprised, ‘huh?’ Dean popped up from behind the far counter.
“What the fuck were you doing with Ellen?” Frank asked.
“Looking for something.” Dean cleared his throat and ran his fingers through his hair.
“In the dark?” Frank questioned.
“Had to.” Dean gathered up folders, a twinge of nervousness showed. “We were searching for our light sensitive baby rabbit we created in the lab.”
“Oh,” Frank nodded. “Makes sense.”
Henry gasped. “Frank! You believe him!”
“Henry,” Frank snapped. “He’s a scientist! He should know if he should look in the dark for a rabbit.”
“But you…he . . .” Henry grunted. “You know what? You’re so dumb you deserve it.”
“Deserve what?” Frank asked.
“Forget it.” Henry slammed his hand on the counter.
“O.K.” Frank shrugged. “Then we’ll just talk about the history later. I’ll just go see the kids. See ya.” Like he didn’t have a care in the world, Frank turned and walked from the lab.
A growl came from Henry. “Frank!” he yelled, “We have work now!” He marched to the door and turned around. “You.” He pointed to Dean.
“I didn’t do anything,” Dean acted clueless.
“Right,” Henry shook his head. “That was like so not right. You’re such a dog.” He stormed out.
The second Henry left, Dean’s elbows plopped first to the counter then his face dropped into his hands. He could only moan and mind mumble his agreement with Henry’s statement.
^^^^
“I don’t know, Joe.” Jason walked slowly side by side with Joe down center town of Beginnings. His hands were in his pockets as he and Joe headed to the social hall. “We didn’t have these types of problems with Henry and Ellen. They were a little confused with some minor, minor memory loss. Nothing as major as you are telling me.”
“Could it be . . .” Joe paused to think. “Could it be because of the distance in time
you sent them that it may have fried something in their brains?”
“Medically, I’d have to say no. If I fried something that would cause the behavior you are describing to me, I would have fried enough to cease them from walking or talking.”
“Right now with the way Henry and Frank are acting, that may not be a bad idea.” Joe chuckled. “He wrote on his hand Jason. On his hand. No, wait . . . Henry wrote on his hand. Now what’s up with that shit?”
“How about Dean? Have you spoken to him? How has he been?”
“Haven’t seen Dean today at . . .” Joe stopped as he reached for the door of the social hall. “But Ellen has.” He saw Ellen walking from containment. “Let’s talk to her.” Joe, with Jason behind, hurried to her before she made her way home. “Ellen, can you stop for a second. I’d like to ask you about Dean.”
Pulling her coat closer, Ellen faced him. “Sure. What about him?”
“Has he been strange at all since this time trip?” Joe asked.
“Dean?” Ellen thought for a second. “A little nervous, jittery, but not strange. He seems to be . . .” She halted mid-sentence.
“What is it?” Joe asked. “Did you think of something?”
“Well . . . Dean said something odd yesterday. He didn’t know who Joey was. He knew the other kids. But he drew a complete blank on Joey. In fact, he actually thought he was Frank’s. I thought here we go again. But he really didn’t know him.” Ellen shrugged. “Time machine memory loss I guess. But that’s it.”
“That’s it?” Joe asked sarcastically. “Don’t you think that is an awfully big ‘it’?”
“Joe, it was the time travel thing. I’m sure he’s all right now.” Ellen shivered. “I’m really cold. Do you want to go inside and talk?”
“No.” Joe waved his hand. “You go on.” He kissed her on the cheek.
“Bye Joe.” Ellen backed up and waved. “Jason.” She walked casually off.
“Joe?” Jason stepped in front of Joe to see the look on his face. “What are you thinking?”
The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series Page 182