{"id":1101,"date":"2012-02-27T00:00:06","date_gmt":"2012-02-27T05:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1101"},"modified":"2012-02-25T22:42:16","modified_gmt":"2012-02-26T03:42:16","slug":"autumn-chapter-four-04","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1101","title":{"rendered":"Autumn – Chapter Four – 04"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom was still digging around in the storage area for a jar of peanut butter when J.T. caught up with him.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He hung back for a moment, watching with a faintly amused expression as his friend lumbered around in the dim, hunting through the stacked totes of foodstuffs for his quarry.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Thom about jumped out of his skin when he turned around and saw J.T. blocking his exit.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cFuck, Jay.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Are you trying to give me a heart attack or something?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI think it\u2019d take more than me startling you to do that.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>J.T. shoved his hands into his pockets.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cMarin said you got a little banged up last night when you smacked Leah.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom shook his head, making his way back over to where he\u2019d leaned his crutches against another pile of totes.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cJust bruises that look worse than they feel.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I lost my balance after I hit her and a shelf broke my fall.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He made a face.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDid she tell you to come looking for me?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I told her I\u2019d talk to you about it later.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cOnly part of it.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>J.T. crossed his arms.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cShe said that I should come out here and talk to you about the Leah situation.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt\u2019s a situation now?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Thom handed J.T. two jars of peanut butter, one creamy, the other chunky, both looted from the local grocery.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cReally not sure what else you\u2019d call it.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>J.T. held the tent\u2019s flap open before following Thom out into the early morning light.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThere\u2019s something you should know.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Thom asked as he started to head back to the fire.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>J.T. took him gently by the arm to stop his forward progress.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Thom frowned.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cJust hold up for a second.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>J.T. frowned, looking around.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Don\u2019t need anyone overhearing this.\u00a0 <\/span>Not just yet.<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>Satisfied there was no one around to interrupt them or overhear, J.T.\u2019s voice dropped low as he started talking again.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cRory heard something the day of the big attack, just like you and I did.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>A shudder ran through Thom and he flinched.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>J.T. shook his head a little.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI know, you don\u2019t like to talk about it.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI don\u2019t like to remember it, Jay.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>There\u2019s a difference.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Thom scrubbed a hand over his face.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat was it?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The words tasted sour in his mouth even as he said them.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThe Shadow Man said that one of us already belonged to them.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He watched the words hit Thom like a physical blow, shock and horror washing over him, shifting his expression.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It took a moment before Thom seemed to master the ability to speak again, and even when he did, his voice emerged as a croak.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAfter last night, I thought you should know.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Carolyn and I thought you should know.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom shook his head slowly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cChrist on crutches.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Why didn\u2019t Rory say something?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHe did.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The day that Phelan came, he told me and Care and Marin while we were out working on the wards.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I thought she\u2019d tell you, but she told me she hadn\u2019t.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 I guess there are still some things she\u2019s trying to protect you from, bro.<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom shook his head slowly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNo, she never said anything.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Of course, we don\u2019t talk about it much.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He swallowed convulsively.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt\u2019s not something I want to remember, you know?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>J.T. grunted and nodded.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYeah, I understand.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDoes Rory have any idea who it was talking about?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNo,\u201d J.T. said quietly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cUp until last night, we\u2019d all been hoping that it was someone who decided to leave.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>And then last night happened.\u00a0 <\/span>Leah knew about Phelan and antibiotics.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She was sitting right there when he said it.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>And pinning him down like that?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>There wasn\u2019t any reason for it, or to do it in the middle of the night.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou and Care think it\u2019s Leah, too?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Thom looked incredibly uncomfortable.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>J.T. had to strain to hear him.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe couldn\u2019t think of anyone else it could be.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>What happened last night non-withstanding, she\u2019s been doing her own thing lately, flaunting the rules.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Remember how she said that she was going to go <\/span>fishing<\/span><\/em> that day?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom grimaced.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019d almost forgotten.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Yeah, I remember.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Then you guys found her out cold outside of camp after you\u2019d gotten the rest of us settled.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnd we\u2019d scattered to the four winds looking for her sorry ass in the ravines that day, too,\u201d J.T. said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>His stomach soured and he grimaced.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I didn\u2019t realize how bad it all really sounded until I started putting voice to it.\u00a0 <\/span>There\u2019s a lot that we\u2019ve been overlooking.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThis just gets worse and worse,\u201d Thom muttered, starting to move again.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat are we going to do about this?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>J.T. shook his head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI don\u2019t know.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I figured I\u2019d let Marin tell Kel first, then we\u2019d go from there.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cPhelan wants Jacqueline to take care of him.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Only her.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Thom glanced at him.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cProbably said that just to keep Leah from getting too suspicious.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Great.\u00a0 <\/span>So he suspects something\u2019s going on, too.<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>J.T. grimaced and nodded.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019ll try to be appropriately nonchalant, then.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Let\u2019s be honest, I\u2019ve got my hands full enough with you and half a dozen other things.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Speaking of, when do you want to start the hand-to-hand and melee work?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSoon,\u201d Thom murmured.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cReally soon.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Let me get the walls situated and the forge started.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Then we\u2019ll start on training and practice in the evenings.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He smiled wryly. \u201cAssuming that Kel and Marin agree it\u2019s a good idea.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThey\u2019re not going to disagree,\u201d J.T. said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThey know as well as everyone else that we\u2019re going to need to be able to defend ourselves in close quarters.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Hell.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>They may even know <\/span>better<\/span><\/em> than us.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom grunted.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYeah.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019m afraid of that.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cMe too, man.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Me too.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thom was still digging around in the storage area for a jar of peanut butter when J.T. caught up with him.\u00a0 He hung back for a moment, watching with a faintly amused expression as his friend lumbered around in … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[38,35,42,14,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1101","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-autumn","category-book-2","category-chapter-4-book-2","category-story","category-year-one"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-hL","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1101","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1101"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1101\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1102,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1101\/revisions\/1102"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1101"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1101"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1101"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}