4.11 Difficult Decisions

Adam brought Everett into the dimension room. Pointing to a flashing point on the map "do you know anything about that dimension?"

Stepping closer as if proximity would bring knowledge. Slowly he shook his head "it's the silent one." Turning a worried frown on Adam he asked "why?"

"It was silent up until a few months ago. Someone from that dimension reached out to us. Before we were able to respond it fell silent again," he explained.

Everett reached out and grabbed Adams arm "what did they want?"

Several guards bristled baring their canine teeth. Adam sensing the tension in the air carefully gripped the boys hand. "We haven't heard from them since that initial contact." He kept his eyes fixed on the young man ignoring the snarling of his loyal guard. "We've been monitoring them. I was hoping you could shed some light on them."

Sighing Everett released Adam's arm letting his hands fall to his sides. "My father had tried contacting them after he received a visitor from that dimension." His eyes took on a far away look. The pain in the dark gray orbs was palatable. He shuddered rubbing a hand up his arm "it was shortly after that my parents were set up, killed by Alessandro. I always..."

Adam followed his gaze to the brightly blinking light. "Do you think someone in that silent dimension was responsible?"

***

Don threw an arm across his eyes as the bright sunlight crept through the windows. He had fallen asleep fully dressed on the couch the night before. Moaning he tried to blot out the memory of the hysterical sobbing of the desolate inconsolable boy he left upstairs alone. 

He came downstairs to escape. He couldn't take the blank green eyed stare anymore. Riddled with guilt he curled up on the couch. Why couldn't he find a way out? Why hadn't anyone come for them? Will he be forced to watch the boy disappear and vanish before his eyes?

A noise alerted him that he wasn't alone. Sitting up he found Malachi had wandered downstairs. He was silently munching on an apple. Eyes red and swollen from crying. Ignoring Don's presence he sat on the floor in front of the ancient TV. The channel set permanently on a mind numbing cartoon full of inane chatter and laughter. Laughter that Don found grating on his raw nerves and throbbing head. 

Seeking escape he left the boy to his mindless cartoons. He found himself staring at the contents of the refrigerator instead. Stomach growling  reminding him that he had missed supper the night before. He grabbed an apple to stave off starvation. All the weeks he had been here not once had they lacked for the necessities of life. They had food, water, clothing. Someone was making sure they stayed alive long enough to disappear.

How much time did they have left before fate took over? Glancing into the living room where Malachi sat eyes glued to the TV. He looked to be about seven years old now. Had it really been that long since he arrived? Don went outside. Leaning against the railing he looked out towards the force field. Would their keepers imprison them here until the bitter end? Was that Silver's intention?

***

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Peter asked the pink haired male.

"I wish you'd stop asking me that," he grumbled "I'm coming. What difference does it make whether I want to or not?"

Shrugging Peter stepping towards the young man "you do have a choice. I won't force you to do this."

Nodding Lincoln brought his dark brown eyes up to meet the older man's clear blue ones. "If I don't go Everett will. He's sacrificed enough."

"I could go by myself," Peter told him.

Lincoln grabbed hold of his arm as he approached the time machine. "No you can't," he protested "I've seen the worry in Adam's eyes every time you discuss this trip to Oasis Landing."

"My son will get over it," Peter said refusing to entertain the idea that Adam may be right to worry.

"Why doesn't he trust this Emit person?" Lincoln called after him as he started the warm up process to energize the machine.

Sighing Peter stopped the sequence in favor of turning to the boy "have you even met Emit?"

Lincoln screwed up his face in thought. "My dad had mentioned that there used to be a time keeper but he disappeared before my dad was born. Dad thought that might be part of the reason why things were so messed up."

"He may be right," Peter nodded "the time keepers job is a difficult one. Essentially time can't be controlled. There's too many variables. Once someone travels through time things change. Small things at first that build up becoming larger as time goes by."

"Are you saying that the time keeper is the reason why things are so off balance now?" the boy asked.

***

"Sweetie is something wrong?" Heath asked upon finding his daughter sitting alone underneath the shade of a large tree. 

"Anything and everything is wrong" she said bringing her knees up to rest her chin on.

"I know it feels that way," the angry snap in her blue eyes had him biting off his words. 

"Don't tell me things aren't as bad as they appear," she snapped "I'm not a child..."

"I know you're not," Heath sat down beside him "I'm worried too," he admitted not bothering to pretend to put on a happy front "I miss him more and more with each passing day."

"So do I daddy" she cried falling into his arms "I feel so guilty..."

Pushing her hair back he looked deep into her pain filled eyes "why?" he asked her. He knew but she had to say it herself. It would do no good if he told her what he feared was developing between her and the good looking brooding dimension traveler.

"I miss Malachi" she sniffed "I want him to come home..."

"But..." he prompted.

"Everett is right here. Easy to talk to. When I'm with him I can forget about how much I miss Malachi." She lowered her eyes "that's terrible of me. I should be willing to wait forever for him to come back like you with dad."

"You're so young.."

"So are you," she mumbled against his shoulder.

He chuckled a little. It was true that he was biologically less then ten years her senior thanks to all the time he had spent inside bubble universes. He lacked life experience because of it for a man with a grown daughter and four more to raise on his own. "What would you tell me if I were to become attracted to someone else?"

"Eew gross daddy," she scrunched up her nose as if smelling something bad.

"Don't you think someone would find your old man attractive?" Heath asked pretending to take offense.

"It's not that," she looked up at him "it's just that you and dad belong together." 

"What if he never comes back..."

"Don't say that," she protested "it hasn't even been a year yet. He could still come back. You still love him. I know you do. Don't you?"

"I do," he smiled hugging her close "more then you'll ever know." He kissed the top of her head "what about you? Do you love Malachi?"

"I..." she hesitated "I thought I did. Now "she let out a pent up sigh "I don't know what I feel. I'm so confused."

***

An uneasy silence descended upon them following Adam's question. The werewolves watched the stranger with wary eyes ready to pounce if he made another threatening move. Everett didn't seem to notice as his eyes were glued to the blinking dot. "I think so" he replied to Adam's question.

"Without more information to the contrary I would have to agree with you," Adam had a strong urge to put a hand on the young man's shoulder. He refrained sensing it would only increase the distrust in his loyal guards. The werewolves were still tense from the boy grabbing his arm he couldn't risk it. 

"Let's go back to my office where we can talk," he suggested keeping his eyes fixed on the boy.

Everett looked around him and for the first time noticed how coiled for attack the guards were. He swallowed convulsively as he nodded in agreement. 

Without comment Adam turned leading the way back. He sensed his loyal guard following behind him and the boy. Everett cleared his throat "sir did I do something wrong?"

Despite the fear prickling the boys voice Adam kept on walking resisting the urge to comfort him. He didn't want to risk another misunderstanding by the boy touching him. His guards were much too tense to allow it a second time. He didn't want to give them any reason to attack. Ushering the boy inside Adam took a moment to assure his guards who clearly disliked the idea of him being alone with the dimension traveler. A stray thought blasted through his reserves. Adam glared at the young pup that bristled in response displaying his canines. He was quickly subdued by his superior who nodded towards Adam.

Deliberately Adam turned his back on the insubordinate guard. He stifled the urge to interfere and requesting a softer punishment for the pup. He held his tongue knowing he had no right to insert his opinion in what was clearly a werewolf matter. The pup was over stepping the established hierarchy with his display. He had to face the consequences.  Adam would do him no favors shielding him from his mistake.

Closing the door behind him he found Everett pacing the floor anxiety oozing from him. "Is everything alright" he asked running a hand through his long hair giving Adam an unobstructed view of his ravaged face.

"My guards don't take kindly to anyone grabbing me," Adam told him "You're an outsider. They don't trust you. I'm surprised they didn't attack you."

The young man gulped "I should have known better. It's just...I've become so comfortable..."

"It's ok" Adam waved his apology away "I want you to feel comfortable around me and my family. However I do entreat you to be cautious. Remember who I am when you're not in my office or in my home. My guards displayed unusual restraint today. I can't guarantee that will be the case next time."

Fingering his scar Everett nodded "is that why you wanted to talk to me in your office?"

"My office is one of the few places I'm free to be myself." Adam walked up alongside the young man. "Within this room you can tell me anything" he put a hand on the boys shoulder "you are not alone."

The boy blinked several times turning his face away to hide the tears that would destroy the tough exterior he tried to maintain.

***

The whir and whine of the time machine faded and died as Peter took the pink haired male by the arm escorting him to a nearby bench. "Time in it's very nature can't be controlled. The act of travelling through time creates ripples like tossing a rock in a pond. Each ripple causes minute changes."

Nodding Lincoln continued "each ripple creates more and more changes. So what's the solution?"

Leaning back Peter stared off into the distance "one would think simply stopping all time travel would be enough but it's not that simple. The knowledge is already out there." He waved  his hands around indicating the world "too many people know how to travel through time. Which may be why there was a need for a Keeper of Time. His job is to prevent catastrophic changes to the time line and to correct those changes before they impact the future."

"He's not doing a very good job," Lincoln grumbled.

"No I suppose not," Peter agreed "but the Time Keeper is just a man. He makes mistakes despite having the best of intentions."

"Do you trust this Emit person?" the boy asked turning to face the older man.

"At one time I would have said yes without reservations," Peter replied "now I'm not so sure. He has an agenda that takes precedence in everything he does." Peter sighed "I wonder if I should have agreed to become his assistant. Maybe by now I would know what that agenda is."

"What made you decline his offer?" Lincoln asked.

"It's complicated" Peter sighed running his hands through his hair before standing up. "I was homesick. I wanted to see my family. My wife. My kids. Everything I loved was here. I didn't want to live forever at the cost of watching everything and everyone I loved die."

"Then what happened?" Lincoln asked getting to his feet to stand beside Peter "You're supposed to be an old man. Kimberly refers to you as great grandpa but you don't look old enough to be a great anything."

"I was tricked" the anger in his voice betrayed the hurt he tried to cover up "it was the first time I realized the depths that Emit would go to accomplish his agenda regardless of the feelings of those he used."

"Sweetie give yourself time," Heath advised "don't give up hope of seeing Malachi again. We may find them."

"Do you really think so?" she asked looking deep into his eyes.

"I have to" he said without blinking "Don never gave up on me. I won't give up on him. I have to believe that I'll see him again. We'll be together again."

Kimberly gently touched his cheek wiping away a stray tear "I hope you're right," she whispered nestling her face onto his shoulder.

Heath stroked her soft long tresses. Several minutes later their combined breathing became rough and labored. Heath lifted a trembling hand to rub his temples. Kimberly mirrored his actions "he's here," she murmured in pain.

"What do you want?" Heath demanded of the hateful man.

"I would think that would be obvious" cruel laughter filled their minds.

Gritting his teeth Heath grunted as shooting pain pierced his temples "where's my husband?"

Silver's laughter increased "what about the boy? Don't you want him back as well? Should I just let him vanish from existence?"

"No please I..." Kimberly cried "he's done nothing to you other than to love me."

"That's enough my dear girl" Silver chuckled at their torment "he's what you would call collateral damage. Without him. No Emit. The Watchers take over Oasis Landing."

"Why do you care?" Heath demanded "I thought the Watchers were your enemy?"

"I suppose they are. No doubt they expect me to double cross them eventually," Silver sighed as he had been in deep thought "I could be persuaded to release them...." he let his words hang for a moment.

"What do you want from us?" Kimberly cried taking the bait.

"I want nothing from you silly girl," Silver dismissed her "I do however want your father."

"No" Kimberly shouted at him.

Ignoring her protests Silver continued listing his demands "meet me at this place. Come alone. You have four weeks to decide otherwise your troublesome husband and that boy will vanish from existence."

His evil laughter filled their minds before Silver vanished from their thoughts. Pulling on her dads hand Kimberly asserted "you can't do this."

"What choice do I have?" Heath demanded "I can't live knowing I could have saved them. I have to do this."

"Dad wouldn't want you to sacrifice yourself for him," she tried to reason with him desperate to make him listen to her. 

"I can't live my life riddled with guilt. I have to do this," Heath shouted at her.

Blinking up at him for the first time she could remember there was no doubt or fear in his voice. She nodded accepting his decision. She felt his arms wrap around her pulling her close. "No matter what I'll always love you daddy."