"It's not like it took a mind reader to figure out you weren't Quinn." Kate tries not to appear as shaken as she is. "But I'd like to know who you really are, and what you want with me."
He smiles. "I know this is going to be hard to believe, but I really am Quinn Mallory. Just not the one who happens to be your brother."
"Oh, my God!" Kate looks him over. Despite her long standing belief that anything is possible, this is a bit hard for her to swallow. "You're a clone! Of all people to go around duplicating, why him?"
Quinn snickers. "I'm not a clone."
"Well, then what are you?" Kate observes his face closely, looking for something that would explain everything. His thoughts are too scattered, and she can't sort them into anything logical. "Does it have anything to do with what that guy was thinking? The one you were with before?"
It takes Quinn a moment to figure out who she is talking about, but once he does his head slowly nods. "So you *were* trying to rattle his chains!"
She laughs. "I couldn't help it. It was almost too perfect. Course, I wouldn't have done what I did had I known he was a friend of yours."
"Really?"
"I would have done a lot worse." Kate grins. "But I guess he's really not crazy, because all of you think along the same lines."
Quinn shakes his head. "I don't see how we would..."
Kate takes a sip of her Latte in the hopes it will give her brain some time to put what she means to words. "Not exactly the same. Just the same priorities and issues, I guess. All of you wanted to be sure I wasn't suspicious and that I provided you the information that would help you blend in. Something like that."
"I would think you would have figured everything out if you can read our minds like that," Quinn admits.
She shrugs. "I can rattle off to you what's been on your mind, but that hardly means I understand it."
----------
"Excuse me?" She couldn't have heard him right. He can't mean what she thinks he does. "My name?"
"You've tried the name of everyone else close to him on this world. Why *not* yours?"
He is serious. At least it's just the two of them. This is beyond embarrassing. "Fine." She shakes her head as she types 'Wade' into the option line and hits the 'return' key. The same error message appears. "See? I knew that was dumb." Wade smiles, pleased with herself.
Rembrandt smiles back, and moves the notebook towards him. He types her name in again, and starts typing her last name. "With two 'e's, right?"
"Yes, but why my first *and* last name?"
"Even you admitted a twelve character password was odd," Rembrandt reminds her, "and besides, it wouldn't hurt to try it." Hitting the 'return' key, his eyes light up when a new screen appears. "Especially seeing how it worked."
She smiles with him. "And you thought the Jonny Quest one was bad."
He nods. "I believe he has managed to outdo you on this one."
Wade carefully reads the new screen. Her grin fades into an expression that's a mixture of confusion and shock. "My god, Rembrandt! What is all this stuff?"
----------
"Let me try and clarify things for you. Like I told you, I'm Quinn Mallory, just like your brother. It's no different than how Wade is still Wade even though she didn't know you prior to a few days ago." He pauses, waiting for her reaction.
"If this is your idea of clarification, you must be telling the truth about the Quinn part."
A smirk appears on Quinn's face. "Do you want me to explain or don't you?"
Kate ponders his question momentarily. "Only if you plan to finish sometime this year."
"Fine." Quinn stops long enough to figure out the most concise explanation to tell her. "We're not of this Earth..."
"I've suspected that about you for years," she remarks.
He glares at her before continuing. "I'm from a parallel dimension. Another Earth, and another San Francisco. My friends and I travel from world to world..."
"Wait, wait!" Kate flaps her hands excitedly. "You mean, the two of you started at the same point in your existence, but different circumstances on your respective worlds made you each so different?" Kate likes this theory far better than the cloning one.
"I guess you could say that," Quinn admits. "But all the differences aren't confined to my personal choices. For example, I'm an only child..."
Kate grins. "Well, that explains why you don't hate me. But why are you here? You've got my brother and Wade rather freaked, and neither of them want to tell me why."
"We didn't choose to come here. A glitch in the system gives us no control over where we go and how long we're there. No matter where we end up, we never want to cause any harm to that particular world or its inhabitants." Quinn hopes she knows this is the truth.
"Isn't it a little late for that?" Kate can tell this Quinn believes what he's telling her, but she knows better than to assume his beliefs are the truth. Her brother believes any day now Wade will notice him, and she and Wade both know it's never going to happen the way he envisions.
Quinn shrugs. "It looks that way. That's why I need your help."
----------
Rembrandt stares at the flickering screen in a daze. "Can't say it makes any sense to me, sweetheart."
"It must be some sort of spy ring," Wade speculates. "That's why it was impossible to access our own files remotely. They probably programmed it that way for security reasons."
"Why not do that for the page?"
"I don't know," she grumbles. "Maybe this information needs to be accessible remotely. Could even be needed by people besides our doubles."
He smiles. "So an infinite number of people could know about you being the password to get into it?"
Glaring at him, she resists the urge to verbalize her thoughts on that matter. "You know, it can't be all that high security if Kate knows about it."
"Are you sure she does?"
Wade shrugs. "Good point. She must know something based on the mind reading, but her other fears might be more from our thoughts than anything else."
"Then she mentions something to her brother and there enters the panic."
"So, how do we get the panic to exit?"
----------
Kate blinks. "You need *my* help?"
"Because you can read minds, it's entirely possible for you to know everything about everyone you meet just by listening to their thoughts."
"I guess so." Kate shrugs. "If you believe in that sort of thing."
Quinn folds his hands on the table. "You know more about everything and everyone in this world than we do, and you also know about me and Wade..."
"You expect me to casually explain to them why they're stressing over nothing?" Apparently, common sense consistently fazes Quinns. "Wait. You're with Wade's double..."
"Yeah." The look in Kate's eyes worries Quinn. Not to mention the devilish grin accompanying it.
Kate wouldn't have bothered with redecorating the basement if she saw this coming. "You like her?"
He gives her a look. "We've been friends for a while, if that's what you mean."
"It wasn't." She smiles. "But I believe you. It's just that as long as my brother has known Wade here, he's been smitten. She has absolutely not interest in him that way, mainly because she has taste..."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
She snickers. "Nothing. Point is, he's in serious denial. Because my vantage point lets me see more than anyone, as you so eloquently put it, I think I know what to do...that is, if you're game."
"What did you have in mind?" Quinn knows he'll regret asking, but the sooner they figure out how to set things straight, the better.
"Your Wade could go and see him, tell him about the situation on your end, and then *prove* she isn't his by coming onto him."
He can't believe her. No wonder they don't get along. "So, I'm supposed to set her up with me?"
Kate nods. "Believe me, it's the nicest thing you could be doing for yourself." She isn't sure which is funnier, watching him squirm, or sneaking peeks at his mental objections. "Seriously, she could tell him the sun was the moon and he'd believe it. Then, you talk to Wade here and do the same thing."
Quinn glares at her. "I'm not going to make out with her."
"I didn't mean *that* part. I meant the truth about who you are. She'll buy it for the same reason I do. The Quinn we know is a big weenie and you aren't."
He smiles. "I hope that's a compliment. But, there's one thing I really don't get."
She picks up her Latte. "What's that?"
"What's the deal with Rembrandt?"
"Rembrandt?" Kate drops her drink. "Rembrandt Brown? The Rembrandt Brown?"
Part Twenty-Two
"How should we get them to quit freaking? Beats me." Rembrandt eyes focus on the notebook monitor. "I'm sure the less you know about this," he remarks with a gesture to the screen, "the better your chances of convincing them the two of you mean them no harm."
"I don't know. Knowledge *is* power..."
"Not around a kid who can read your mind," he points out.
What harm is there in wanting to understand her double's life here? He's the very one who's been complaining about wanting to meet his double. Sadly, Wade knows he's right.
Rembrandt gets up from the bed and yawns. He stretches briefly before heading down the hall towards the bathroom. Wade watches the light flicker on and the door close. She looks at the screen with an impish smile crossing her lips. She clicks a button, anxiously waiting for another page to appear. A box flashes on the screen, asking for a name to search. Wade quickly types her own, and a document slowly loads.
It isn't finished when Rembrandt returns, but Wade is relieved to see him turn on the television. That'll keep him busy until she's done. The file finally loads, and Wade smiles awkwardly at the sight of a picture of her double. It isn't much better than the ones the DMV take, but at least her eyes are open. A lot of the terms and jargon elude her, but as Rembrandt said, it's probably better in the long run that she not grasp her double's line of work. While she doesn't understand this thing called the Watchers, it doesn't take her much time to figure out the big problem:
According to the file, her double's supposed to be observing Rembrandt Brown.
----------
"Don't worry. We already figured out Rembrandt was famous here early on." Quinn can't help but be amused at Kate's alarmist reaction. It reminds him of his mother.
Kate grabs a napkin from the table and crosses her legs so she can wipe the splotches of coffee off her shoe. "No, you don't understand. But I think I do..."
"Care to fill me in?"
"Not particularly." She smiles mischievously. "I think I can help you and your friends...and even my brother and his end of all of this. I do have one request before I do anything, though."
"Anything." Maybe that's broader than need be. Knowing his luck, she'll demand that he replace her Quinn on this world.
Kate laughs. "Don't get me wrong, that is a tempting notion and all, but I am trying to be realistic here."
"But I didn't...." Quinn's protests trail off as he realizes what Kate was responding to. "I'm glad you weren't planning to ask me that. I don't think that would go over well with my companions." He grins. At least she's relatively sensible.
She knows he's likely to change his mind about that when she tells him what she wants. Taking a breath, she refuses to put it off a second longer. "I want to meet Rembrandt."
Quinn is slightly bewildered. The way she had been carrying on, he half expected her to request something outrageous. "I don't see how that would be a problem..."
Kate can't believe her luck. She has dreamed of this for years. The chance to sit down and talk to a real live Immortal. Maybe he'll even tell her The Secret to becoming one. She'll die if Wade wasn't kidding about it having to do with eating brussel sprouts.
"...although he hasn't been feeling great this world. A pretty girl feeding his ego might be the perfect remedy." Quinn smiles as he observes Kate's cheeks turn crimson.
Kate doesn't mind if he thinks she's a fan of Rembrandt Brown's. In fact, the more he's on the wrong track regarding her motives, the better. There's just something downright creepy about him referring to her as a 'pretty girl'. "You mean you'll set it up?"
"So long as you don't mind having this meeting at the Dominion."
"Fine. So long as I get to meet with him alone."
"Why alone?" Quinn doesn't get it. "You do realize he's as different from the Rembrandt Brown you know as I am from your brother..."
Kate rolls her eyes. "Yes, I understand that for all I know, he could have limited his singing to the shower."
He smiles. "Just don't want to see you disappointed. Besides, he hasn't been himself since we got here, so he isn't going to be very good company."
"That's okay. I'm sure I'll be the one asking all the questions anyway."
----------
"Yes, Adam, that was another complete waste of time." Megabyte slams the gate shut behind him.
"It would have been a lot different if Wade had called him like she said she would."
"If you ask me, we should just find Kevin and head back to the ship. Then we'll keep out of this mess until someone directly asks us for help."
[Kevin!] "Sounds fine, Megabyte."
The two teens scan the street for their younger companion. A MUNI bus stops a few intersections ahead of their path. Megabyte sighs. "Talk about bad timing."
"I'll warn him." [Kevin! Don't pop in until we say so.]
Megabyte watches the bus drive off while waiting for some sign of Kevin. The passengers disperse from the spot they exited the bus. A girl about his age, maybe a year or two older, catches his eye. "Hey, Adam. Take a look at her." He nudges Adam and gestures at the girl.
"What about her?" Adam glances at the brunette walking towards them with minor interest. The oversized flannel shirt and leggings don't do much for her, but it doesn't seem to stand out much among the other girls that departed the bus along with her.
"You don't think she's hot?"
Adam snickers. "She's not ugly, if that's what you mean." [Kevin? Where are you?]
"Looks a little upset, though." Sighing, Megabyte contemplates reading her mind momentarily but decides against it. With the way the day's been going, it wouldn't surprise him in the least if all she's thinking about is what jerks he and Adam must be.
"With the way she's squinting, might be a headache."
Megabyte nods. "She should try dealing with that Quinn guy, the original walking pain in the neck."
"Try calling Kev," Adam suggests. "He's not answering me."
[Kevin! Kev?] "Where do you suppose he is, anyway?"
Kate tries to look at her watch as she walks past the two guys gawking at her. The sleeve of the flannel shirt she permanently borrowed from her brother his last visit keeps getting in her way. If it weren't for her plans for her brother, she would take the time to hassle them. The tall one with the dark hair's sort of cute. Only problem is Mom would approve. She figures it wouldn't hurt to smile at them, even though all that yelling they're doing is hurting her head.
Megabyte watches her walk in the opposite direction and sighs. Before he can sufficiently regret not interrupting her as she strides by, Kevin appears in a bright flash of light.
"Where is she?" Kevin twists his head around, desperately searching his new surroundings.
Megabyte's shoulders sink. The mystery girl must have taken a turn at the next intersection, "Where is who, Kev?"
Kevin sighs. "The girl who told me that Lisa was here."
"What girl?" Adam looks at Kevin and shakes his head. "There hasn't been any girl..."
"Sure there was," Kevin insists. "She told me that Lisa was here and if I didn't hurry up and pop in she'd come and find me and...and beat me up herself!"
Megabyte laughs. "Why would Lisa be here? She's been ignoring us for ages."
"I went looking for her while I was waiting around for you two."
Adam gasps. "You did what?"
Kevin nods. "Couldn't find her though. I checked everywhere..."
"So you thought Lisa was here?" Adam's confused. He didn't hear her, or any other female. Megabyte's not acting like he heard one, either.
"Yes, but only because that other girl told me she was!" Kevin glances at the two older teens in desperation. "I tell you, it wasn't Lisa I heard. It was another girl. But she knew about Lisa and she knew about us!"
Part Twenty-Three
Kate unintentionally slams the front door. It isn't the best thing for her head, but at least the yelling stopped. That Kevin person must have heeded her warning. Weird, but no weirder than coming from talking to her brother to talk to her brother.
"Quinn?" She doesn't wait for him to answer her. Grabbing a banana from the fruit bowl on the kitchen, she heads down the stairs to the basement. Sure enough, he's sitting there, doing absolutely nothing. He tends to do a better job of pretending he's doing something important. "I've got to go somewhere, but I need you to be home until I get back, okay?"
He glares at her. "I need to go out, too."
"Can't it wait?"
"I'm out of paint, not to mention patience."
She snickers. "Ooh...am I supposed to be trembling in terror? Nothing more frightening than encountering your wrath..."
He hates it when she doesn't take him seriously. Couldn't she at least pretend to? Her giggles grate under his skin. "Knock it off, Kate."
She takes a bite out of the banana, mumbling between bites, "I'll run your errands for you. Just promise me you'll stay put 'til I get back."
"If it weren't for you, I wouldn't need the paint to begin with! Why would I trust you to run out and get me more?"
Kate sighs. "Can you wait 'til I get back?"
"How long will that be?"
She shrugs. "Before Mom gets back."
"I might want to get something from the store," Quinn notes, "but it shouldn't take too long..." He notices a change in his sister's expression that disturbs him. "Kate, why are you looking at me like that?"
"Um...nothing. It's just that car you rented..."
"What about my car?"
She smiles. "I didn't want you going anywhere until I got back, and I know how you are about losing track of time when a car's involved...so I kind of...ditched yours."
----------
"So, you are game," Hurley repeats with a rhubarb smile across his lips.
"With my conditions," Dorian emphasizes.
Some conditions. All he wants is to be able to use his own judgment and discretion in regards to getting Wade out of the Watchers. Hurley knows Dorian enough to know bloodshed won't be involved. Unfortunately. "Just do what you have to do to get her far from here. The less I know about your plans, the better."
Plans. Plans Dorian's sure Wade won't be pleased with at all.
----------
"You did *what*?"
"Don't worry, it's safe and fine and I'll bring it back with the paint...assuming you trust I can get you the right shade of gray."
"I'll just borrow yours, then."
"Mom has it, remember? Her car is in the shop."
It's times like this Quinn recalls why he moved out to New York instead of staying in California. "Where exactly is my car?"
"Over on Font."
"I can't believe you."
"I couldn't put it someplace easy..."
"Nor could you simply settle for taking off with the only set of keys the rental place gave me."
Kate looks at Quinn, who starts laughing at her. "Guess I outsmarted myself this time."
"Sure looks like it."
"I gotta get going," she notes, looking at her watch. "I'll try not to take long, if you really need to go somewhere..."
Quinn shakes his head. "Just giving you a hard time, kid."
"I'm so relieved I'm actually willing to acknowledge it," she admits, walking over to him and giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks a lot."
Hearing her heels flapping against the wooden stairs, Quinn smiles. "Say, what's got you in such a good mood, anyway? Where you headed?"
Kate stops near the top of the staircase and laughs. "Don't tell Mom, okay?"
"Don't tell her what?"
Grinning, she glances at her brother, surprised to see him actually look interested in her response. Kate can't recall the last time he ever acted like he cared about the goings on in her life. It's actually sort of...nice.
Quinn watches her blush. "What's gotten into you?"
"Would you believe I actually have a date?" With that, she climbs the final steps and quietly opens the door. The last thing she wants is to give him time to think of a snide comment in response to her plans.
Her brother certainly didn't need to know her date's with a known Immortal.
----------
Dorian paces the length of his living room. He may be able to convince Hurley he has everything under control, but Wade is a different matter. Despite everything bad that happened between the two of them, Dorian can't bear to do her any real harm. Not the kind that Hurley wants. Even losing her job would be a lot for her. The sad part of it all is Dorian wants to do Hurley's bidding for once. He wants to see Wade suffer.
He couldn't help it. Losing her was the worst thing that happened to him. She went so far as to get him kicked out of the Watchers. It was understood that she was far more valuable to them than he, a trainee, ever could be. Dorian wonders how much of her change of heart had to do with Quinn.
Back then, Dorian lived in the same building as Quinn. They were casual acquaintances until the day they ran into each other at the Laundromat. Quinn, being his usual preoccupied self, left a binder stuffed with files and folders behind. Dorian didn't notice it until Quinn was long gone, but since they both lived down the hall from him it wouldn't be a big deal to drop it by. But, laundry on a Friday night being as it is, Dorian's boredom got the best of him. He picked up the binder and flipped through it. Quinn Mallory was weird, but a nice enough guy. Perhaps somewhere among these papers, Dorian could learn a little more about him. Something that made him more interesting than everyone expected him to be.
There was something there, that's for sure. Whatever it was went completely over Dorian's head. That didn't prevent Quinn from freaking out when Dorian dropped by to return it. Dorian spent a lot of time with Quinn learning about the Watchers from that point on. The only reason he knew about Quinn's feelings towards Wade was from the look in the guy's eyes. Talk about smitten. Working with a babe like her, who could blame him? Difference between them was that Dorian had the nerve to ask her out.
Dating her made his past relationships seem like schoolyard crushes. The breakup took him offguard. She said it wasn't anything personal; that they just didn't have enough in common. Dorian knows to this day Wade just didn't give them enough of a chance. There was just no way of convincing her of that. That is, until now.
He knew Hurley dealt him quite a hand of cards to play against Wade. In order to convince Dorian to play, the man made the mistake of revealing too many of his own cards. There wasn't much time to come up with a winning strategy to beat them both. Dorian had to find a way to satisfy both Hurley and himself regarding the Wade dealings. And to top it all off, Wade had to believe she was getting the best outcome she could get under the circumstances.
The odds aren't in his favor.
Part Twenty-Four
Wade stands on the porch of the Mallory residence, and knocks on the front door. She already rang the doorbell, but no one's come to the door yet. It could be broken. There's isn't a car in the driveway, so it's possible no one's home. Hopefully Kate will answer. Quinn promised that his double's sister suggested this and that it would work. Wade hopes he's right.
She thinks she hears a faint voice behind the door. Leaning closer, the sound of footsteps grow louder. Wade steps back from the door, waiting for it to open. It surprises her when it does.
"Wade! What are you doing here?" Quinn nervously runs his hands through his hair and takes off his glasses. He must look a wreck with all the things he's been tinkering with today. Hasn't even bothered to clean off the paint on his hands. "Oh, please come in. I would have gotten to the door sooner, but I forgot my mother is out..."
"It's okay," Wade insists. She didn't expect him to answer the door, and she certainly didn't expect him to be reacting to her so strangely. As if he's uncomfortable with her dropping in like this. "I hope this isn't a bad time..."
Quinn shakes his head. "You're always welcome to drop in. I'm just surprised to find you here. Just because you don't trust my abilities as well as your own..."
She wants to laugh, but instead grabs his arm. "Quinn, let's go somewhere we can talk. Privately."
He glances at her hand. "Follow me."
She walks behind him as he leads her on a now familiar route, down to the basement. It smells strongly of paint and paint thinner. The tables are messier than she's ever seen them while sliding. Newspapers cover the floor sporadically. "Looks like you've been busy."
"Sorry about the mess, but I wasn't expecting anyone. Certainly not you." Searching the room, he spots the recliner in front of the television. He gestures over to the chair. "You can sit over there. I'll go grab me a chair."
Wade nods, watching him with an amused expression on her face. She wonders if he normally goes out of his way like this for her double. She wonders if her Quinn would ever do the same for her.
Quinn places a chair next to the recliner. "Why didn't you tell me about those strange boys you sent to see me? Is it because you found out something and didn't get a chance?"
This isn't going to be as easy as she thought. It would have been nice if someone had told her more about the relationship between the Quinn and Wade of this world. "There's something we need to discuss..."
"So you've said." Quinn smiles slightly. "And I'm listening."
Wade smiles. "Are you relatively open minded?"
Quinn laughs. "Not according to you." He leans closer to her.
"That's just it, Quinn. I don't know you."
"Yeah, right. Should've asked for more vacation time. You're talking nonsense."
"I'm serious." Wade stands up and walks toward the half-painted wall, touching a section of pink nearly overtaken by damp streaks of gray. "We've never met before this. I can explain everything if you're willing to listen to me, and trust me."
Quinn's face grows serious. "You expect me to believe you aren't Wade Welles?"
"No." Wade sighs. She swears this should have gotten easier at least a dozen slides ago. "I *am* Wade Welles. I'm just not the Wade you know back in New York."
"Then why do you look so much like her? Talk so much like her? And know so much about her?" He walks up to Wade, and places his hand against the wall. Once Quinn touches it, he knows he should have looked where he was placing it first.
Wade admires him attempting to play it cool. "I only know what your sister told me and Quinn. Your double." Without saying a word, she moves to the work table and dunks a rag into the bucket of paint thinner.
How sweet of her. She didn't have to do that. Quinn's objections dissolve hopefully as quickly as the paint on his hand will. He takes the rag from her with an awkward smile. "If what you say is true, then what do you people want?"
"To get home. And to figure out what's going on."
"Funny...I was thinking the same thing."
"Haven't you done any inventing down here?" Wade scans the room for anything she would associate with the sliding stuff. She doesn't recognize anything along those lines. Just a lot of junk.
"Not since I was a kid." Quinn rubs his palm furiously. "It's been nearly a decade since I lived here full time, and there's not enough room in my apartment to do anything like that. But I don't see how my activities matter..."
Wade interrupts. "I come from a parallel Earth where your double and I worked at a computer store together. He invented this thing that allowed us to travel to parallel worlds..."
"And you went with him?" Quinn snickers. "Sorry, this is a really neat story, but I don't believe you for a second. You did have me going a bit, though."
Wade wants to choke him. There's got to be a way to get it through his head that she isn't the same person as her double. "I'm *not* your Wade. Just like you're *not* my Quinn."
"*Your* Quinn?" He grins. "What's that supposed to mean?"
She sighs. "It means I'd do anything for him, even if it means trying to talk some sense into his double's head."
Quinn approaches her. "You'd do anything for me?"
That's it! Wade smiles. Why didn't she realize it before? Slowly rising from the chair, she walks towards him. Adjusting his collar, Wade pulls Quinn closer to her, and kisses him.
----------
Kate knocks on the hotel room door, lightly but loud enough to be heard. She ran into that other Quinn and that guy who hates her. Both of them couldn't figure out why she wants to do this so much, but thankfully they didn't question her about it all that much.
Someone's approaching the door. Kate feels her pulse quicken. For years she longed for nothing more than to meet an Immortal and now she's about to. The opportunity to find out what really makes them tick, and most importantly, the Secret to becoming one.
The doorknob turns and the door slowly opens. Kate's smile grows and she observes Rembrandt's do the same. She would extend her hand to him, but she's shaking too much. "Hello, Mr. Brown. My name's Kate Mallory."
He smiles at the teenager in the doorway. "I know who you are, sweetheart. No need to be formal." Gesturing to the table, he adds, "why don't we sit over there since it would be a bit more comfortable than standing?"
"Sounds fine." In all her nervousness, she hasn't been paying attention to his thoughts. Mainly she watches him, to see if she can tell he's not mortal. The only thing she senses remotely odd is a strange tingling throughout her body, reminding her of the sensation of touching a light post that's on or one of those electric balls that people get instead of lava lamps. It must be emanating from him, but the only way she'd know for sure is if she asked him to leave, and she isn't about to do that.
Rembrandt notices a resemblance between Kate and her 'brother', but she seems a lot different in demeanor. Nice enough kid, though. "What was it you wanted to talk to me about? Something about my double?"
Kate's glad he likes her. She was worried he might not be friendly. For as long as she could remember, she always imagined male Immortals to be mean and evil in a monster sort of sense. He's nothing like that.
"Want something to drink? You look a bit flushed," Rembrandt notes.
She shakes her head. "I kind of ran from the MUNI stop. Didn't want to see this fall through."
"You look nervous."
"I am. I've wanted to meet your double, or someone like him, as long as I can remember. There are so many things I want to ask, and I want to know, but I don't know how much of it, if any, holds true for you as well."
Rembrandt grins. "For someone who allegedly can read minds, you'd think you wouldn't need to ask anything."
Kate blushes. It didn't occur to her that her brother's double or Wade's would have said anything about that. "All I know is that your head's bugging you and you haven't been feeling well this world. You wonder why I want to see you, but..." She giggles. "...But you think it's because I'm a fan of you and the Spinning Topps."
"What's so funny about that?"
"The part about imagining Quinn as one of your screaming female fans."
Man, that's got to be a nightmare to live with. Rembrandt can't imagine hanging out with anyone who could read his thoughts on a regular basis. Would be nice if he had those sort of abilities, as it would come in handy with the ladies.
"You'd think it would, but it tends to do the opposite."
"Excuse me?"
"If you liked someone, and knew everything that person thought, you'd know *everything*. That isn't always a good thing."
Rembrandt tries to empathize with Kate's experience in the matter. "I suppose you're right. All special abilities have their pros and their cons."
"Like yours?" Kate grins, hoping her patience pays off.
"I suppose you could say that. The thrill of performing, the cramped quarters on a tour bus..."
Kate could care less about his singing career, so she listens to his thoughts instead. Looking for something, anything, regarding his Immortality. Nothing. There has to be something. "Can I ask you what might be an incredibly strange question?"
Rembrandt shrugs. "Don't see why not."
"Will you promise not to tell anyone? Especially Quinn or Wade?"
"Only if you'll do the same for me." He smiles. "If I ask you things, you'll answer them and keep it just between us."
"Fair enough."
"Ladies first," Rembrandt prompts.
Kate smiles uneasily and takes a deep breath before asking the single question probing in her mind. "What was it like, the first time you died?"
Part Twenty-Five
Wow. What's gotten into her? Quinn doesn't *mind* that Wade suddenly finds him so...desirable, but he doesn't understand it. Why now? Here? Is this what she had to fly cross country to talk to him about? What about those weird kids? Shouldn't she have at least answered him about that? Like why she didn't bother to call him about it first? Or why she didn't call to tell him she was coming....
Wait. Quinn remembers that she was talking some crazy talk about not being who he thought she was. He thought she was Wade, and Wade would never do something like this. Not that he would mind, but it doesn't change the fact she wouldn't. There's only one way to really know for sure.
Keeping all this kissing up is harder than Wade expects. Not that she minds all that much, but she figured he would stop her immediately. As soon as he realized she isn't his Wade. If she didn't know better, she'd actually think he's enjoying it. More than even she is, and that's saying something.
She feels his hands tugging at her jacket. Her eyes open, and she's thankful he doesn't see her watching him struggle with it. This is weird. Quinn wouldn't move this fast with anyone. This particular Quinn looks like he should be moving far slower than that. It's too early to get into panic mode over it, though.
Quinn can't believe how hard it is to take off a jacket 'effortlessly'. It would help if he could see what he's doing, but it wouldn't look good if he went around opening his eyes while kissing her. Otherwise, it would turn out to be just who he thinks it is, and he'd ruin everything with her as usual. Knowing his luck regarding the subject.
Quinn feels a slight burst of air generate from the jacket falling to the floor. He runs his hands gently up her arms. Giving her one last kiss, Quinn pulls away and yanks her arm towards him.
"Ow!" Wade didn't see this coming. He'd better not turn out to be some sort of psychotic. That's the last thing she needs.
He stares at her wrist. There's nothing there. Licking his thumb, he rubs the underside of it, but nothing changes. "Well, I'll be..."
"Would you mind telling me what you're doing?" She jerks her arm away from him.
"I *don't* know you. But you look just like her, and you talk just like her..."
"Do I kiss just like her?" Wade smiles. It's about time he believes her.
Blushing, he is taken aback by her bluntness. "I wouldn't know. I'd like to think so, though."
Wade's face gets slightly hot. "So you believe me?"
"Only that you're not the Wade I work with."
She sighs. "What will it take for me to convince you that I'm telling you the truth?"
"Try starting from the beginning," Quinn suggests.
----------
Rembrandt can't stop laughing, and he knows he should. Kate looks like she might be getting upset, and he can't be helping matters any. How was he to know she was serious? Asking him about his death? Or in her words, his *first* death?
"I guess Quinn was right," she remarks quietly.
He takes a breath in an effort to stifle his chuckles. "I'm sorry. What did you say?"
Kate tries in vain to hide her disappointment. "He said you wouldn't necessarily be like him, but I thought he just didn't know about it. Not everyone understands it, and if he's anything like my brother in that regard, he'd be skeptical at the very least of the possibility."
"What possibility?"
"Immortality. Your double is an Immortal, so I thought you were one too."
She says it so nonchalantly, like it's an everyday thing. It can't be what he thinks it means. Not the way she's talking. "Immortal...you mean to tell me he can't die?"
This isn't what she had in mind. He was supposed to be providing her with knowledge and insight on it all, not the other way around. "Only if he's beheaded."
"Wow. You think that's why I've felt so strange on this world?"
Kate pauses momentarily to reflect. It's possible he just hasn't died yet, and therefore doesn't know his fate. A Pre-Immortal is just as good as an Immortal considering what she wants to know. "It could be. You feel strange to me."
"I do? But you haven't touched me..."
"Could I?" Kate wants to see if he feels human to her. If he's the source of the strange energy she's felt since meeting him.
Rembrandt blushes. "Awfully forward of you, don't you think? 'Sides, you're rather young for me."
She groans. "You're a *lot* old for me."
"Thanks a lot, kid." He offers her his hand out of sheer curiosity regarding what she plans to do with it.
Kate's not entirely sure what to do with it herself. Putting her hands across the table, she slowly reaches for his hand. She's scared and she doesn't know why. Her hands are getting warmer, the way they get near a pot of boiling water. A charge similar to static electricity surges through her fingers and palms right before actually coming into contact with Rembrandt's hand - touching it. Instantaneously, she screams and yanks her hands away, staring at her palms in shock.
There's nothing to compare the sensation to. It might be like that Quickening thing she's heard about, but it didn't seem to be a desirable feeling by a long shot. Could be addictive like smoking that way. "Did you feel that?"
"Girl, that's putting it mildly!" He rubs the hand she touched gently with the other. "Like a hot iron scorched me, except more electric. Busting a stage light with your hand, except there's no mark..."
Kate nods. "If you're *not* Immortal, I'd be scared to find out what you really are."
"It could be something limited to this world," Rembrandt suggests. "The physical and biological dynamics of this world impacting me while I'm here."
"Sounds like something my brother would say, if he believed in parallel universes to begin with."
Rembrandt realizes he probably did hear it from Q-Ball, but like it mattered. "Isn't that why Wade went to see him?"
"Yep. Won't believe in supernatural phenomenon, but has no problem with the far less likely possibility that he'll score a date with Wade." She rolls her eyes. "Boggles the mind, don't it?"
He smiles. "They're rather tight, so it's odd seeing that they wouldn't be on this world."
"If my brother were anything like your Quinn, Wade would be a fool to not snatch him up."
"Have you told our Wade that?"
"Why bother? She already knows."
Rembrandt grins. "You hear everyone's thoughts?"
"You hear everyone's voices?"
"That's got to be overwhelming..."
Kate nods. "I get migraines a lot because of it. Over time I learned to master selective hearing, so to speak, so I only generally pay attention to the thoughts of those around me. When I was a kid, I used to hear a lot more but I stopped..."
"Why?"
"I used to hear people screaming, crying for help. People I couldn't see, voices I didn't recognize. The dark side of people's thoughts, I guess. All these horrible things and unpleasant emotions, and I was completely powerless to do anything because I couldn't identify where the thoughts were coming from." Kate sighs, kneading her hands. "Wasn't worth the suffering on my end. I was just a little kid."
Rembrandt nods, sympathizing. "What about knowing what people think about you?"
She sighs. "There's a reason I don't have many friends."
"So this isn't common? Like this Immortality stuff?"
"That isn't common either. It's just that my family's so involved in it all that I know what I do. Since I don't know anyone else who can read minds, I figure I've got to be an Immortal too."
"I can't read minds, though."
Kate nods. "I know."
Rembrandt notices her demeanor change into a somber one. "Course, I couldn't tell you what caused you to shock me like that, either."
She smiles. "You like brussel sprouts?"
"Hell, no."
Kate giggles. "Good."
Part Twenty-Six
Wade turns the corner a few blocks from her apartment building. She catches herself humming and makes a conscious effort to stop. Judging by the size of the crowd, she'll be seeing that show for years to come. The one thing she hasn't figured out is why he does nothing but that show. He was quite the ladies' man based on the records of his career. Something Quinn could help her figure out when he gets back. Maybe sooner. She has to call him, anyway. Not only about Kate, but about not warning him about Adam and Megabyte. It's likely they've been by. Hopefully Quinn had the sense to hear them out. Assuming he has any sense to begin with.
The edge of her building enters into her range of vision. She wants nothing more than a quiet night, curled up beneath the covers to watch some television, or read a good book. Anything to get her mind off the unpleasant dilemmas of late. Once she deals with the Mallorys, she can comfortably release herself from the pressures of work.
Wade mentally contemplates an agenda for the evening. It's been a long time since she felt the need to force herself into true recreation. It's something that usually comes natural to her, but she's usually not preoccupied.
As Wade approaches the edge of the staircase outside her apartment building, she barely notices the lone figure sitting near the handrail on the other end of the stairs. When awareness of the individual's presence registers in her mind, Wade immediately assumes it's a bum. She doesn't even look towards the person as she climbs the stairs.
"The least you can do is say 'hi', Wade."
She freezes. The voice is vaguely familiar, but she can't place it for the life of her. Turning towards the source of the voice, her eyes rest on the young man she rashly mistook for a streetperson.
So much for a night of rest and relaxation.
----------
"Why didn't this Quinn of yours come himself?" The Quinn of this world isn't all that comfortable with the direction the conversation had been heading. All that personal stuff regarding him. This is more along the lines of whatever brought this other Wade here to begin with.
Wade takes a seat on the recliner. "We weren't sure how you'd take it. And he said Kate said it would work better this way."
Quinn's eyes widen. "My sister told you to come?"
"She didn't like me all that much, but she really took to him."
"That doesn't make any sense," he notes as he sits back down on his chair. "Kate generally can't stand me."
It's hard for Wade not to smile. "I think that's why she likes him so much. Because he's not much like you at all."
"You're like Wade, though."
"Of course I am. But outside of the sliding stuff, I doubt you'd have talked to your Wade about any of the other things."
He stops her. "Sliding?"
"Quinns' name for this inter-dimensional traveling he discovered."
"When I was a kid, I dreamt of being a time traveler. You know how silly we all are in our youth...well, I distinctly remember using the word 'sliding' to describe what I wanted to do." Quinn leans back and stares at the ceiling. "Maybe if I had more time to dream, I'd have done something fantastic like my double did."
"You have no idea how jealous he'd be of you," Wade begins. The last thing she wants to do is encourage these two to make the same mistakes they did. "You've got your family and friends within reach. Do you know what I'd give to be near my family in a matter of hours the way you can? I'd love to have the choice to fight with my sister the way you do. I don't know if I'll ever see my home again, Quinn. While part of me would do it all over again, another part wishes I had held onto everyone I loved just a little bit more."
Quinn extends his hand with hesitation to Wade. He didn't want her to get upset. "What kind of help do you need?"
Wade laughs. "I was under the impression *you* needed the help."
"Really?"
"Yeah, Kate was saying something about it being odd for you to come home, and that she thinks something is going on that you weren't about to share with her."
Quinn snickers. He isn't about to divulge information with her like this. And what was Kate doing running around shooting her mouth off like that to complete strangers? It's one thing before knowing they weren't who they appeared to be, but afterwards she should have kept it zipped.
"She's right, but it's nothing for either of you to worry about." He pats her on the head gently, running his fingers through the roots of her hair.
Wade doesn't like the sudden change in his demeanor. No wonder his sister has a problem with him. If he talked to her like this regularly, she wouldn't like it much either. "That's a pretty lousy thing to say. She wouldn't have said anything, and I wouldn't be here, if we didn't care..."
"It doesn't matter, as the situation has solved itself." Quinn doesn't feel like adding that it just happened since her arrival.
She glares at him. "How?"
He avoids her eyes. "It just has."
"Just because you can avoid being straight with me doesn't mean you can do the same with her, you know."
"Any explanation will work if it gets Hurley off her back," Quinn insists.
Wade jumps out of the recliner, heading straight for the stairwell. "I was talking about Kate. And you wonder why she hates you so."
As he hears the basement door slam, Quinn wonders if this is the same reason he can't win with his Wade, either.
----------
Wade unlocks the door to her apartment and swings it open with a sigh. She's let her place get sloppy, mainly because she's been too preoccupied to care what it looks like. "I'd tell you to excuse the mess, but I hardly care about impressing you, Dorian."
"Never one to mince words."
"Why are you here?" She sits down on a bean bag and wonders how long he'll wait before seating himself somewhere. "The sooner you tell me, the sooner you're back out of my life like you should be."
It's so much easier in theory than in practice. Dorian spent the last hour rehearsing what he'd tell her, how he'd play her for a fool in a way no different than she had played him for years prior. Seeing her in front of him, it's not going to work the way he planned. He'll have to do something different, but what? He's never been good at improvisational thought. It'll take the performance of his life to get this to work.
"Is this about how we parted terms? Have you yet to get over it?" At least he cleared off the newspapers before sitting on her couch.
"You seem rather on edge tonight, even before you saw me," he notes.
She groans. "I'm not in the mood to discuss my problems with anyone, much less you."
"But you admit you are having problems..."
"Happens even to the best of us," she acknowledges casually.
Dorian nods. "Boyfriend?"
"No. Not that it's any of your business if it were."
He smiles, in spite of himself. "It can't possibly be work, now, could it?"
"Why is it you're here, again?" She's getting impatient.
"I'm half surprised you haven't figured it out yet."
Wade sighs. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Oh, sure you do." Dorian rises from the couch and nervously paces. Hopefully it hides the fact he's trembling better than sitting did. "Within a matter of days, you dumped me and suddenly I'm deemed completely unsuitable for the Watchers. Surely you knew I'd figure it out..."
"Isn't it a little long to be holding a grudge?" She knows she'd feel the same way if the tables were turned and she stood in his shoes. Dorian doesn't know the whole story, though. The way he's carrying on, she doubts it would make any difference.
He shrugs. "Perhaps. But suppose I told you the reason I'm here is that I hold your future in my hands..."
"Oh, *please*!"
"I know about the pictures, Wade."
Part Twenty-Seven
Wade pauses longer than she'd like, but his comment rendered her speechless. He couldn't be talking about the picture she's been concerned with. It's impossible. He couldn't know. "What pictures?"
Dorian pauses, aware once he opens his mouth there is no chance of turning back. "The ones that provide evidence that you've been having a torrid affair with the very Immortal you're supposed to be Watching!"
Her eyes widen. She wants to laugh, but the sound is stuck in her throat. "I don't know who you've been talking to, but there are no such photos proving that."
"To your knowledge, you mean."
Wade glares at him, with his cocky smile. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Just what you think it means, Wade."
"This isn't funny."
He laughs. "I'm not trying to be."
"You mean *you're* behind all this?" She sinks further into the bean bag, her throat tightening on every word her voice emits.
"No. But I am in a position to get you out of it."
"Why should I believe you?"
He kneels beside the bean bag, inches away from Wade. "Can you honestly risk disregarding my claims?"
"What's the worst thing that can happen if I do?"
He takes her hand. "Oh, I don't know...Hurley wants you out of the Watchers no matter the cost. Way he was talking, he might go so far as to cause you physical harm..."
"...oh, that's insane!" Wade yanks her hand away from him.
"This *is* Hurley we're talking about..."
"But still! I'm not afraid of any plot he might come up with...he doesn't scare me."
"You aren't the only one who stands to get hurt, Wade."
"Who else? Rembrandt Brown?" She laughs.
"What about a certain researcher who flew out to San Francisco in a feeble attempt to bail out your..."
"You leave Quinn out of this!" Isn't it bad enough that he's as involved as he is? Wade couldn't imagine dragging him in further into whatever this mess is.
"He's been around long enough to take care of himself, true. Can't say the same about his family out there, though."
"What are you saying? If I don't take you seriously you'll do something to his mother? His sister?"
"If I recall, you always were fond of Maia..."
"Kate."
"I knew you were fond of her. You wouldn't want something to happen..."
She sighs. "Okay, Dorian. You win. I'll hear you out. Just tell me what you want me to do and I'll do it."
"You'll do *anything* to bring this to an end?"
Wade couldn't live with herself if something happened to Kate. "Anything. I just don't want anyone else to get hurt."
----------
It's odd that they could be so different, yet so alike. Wade can't imagine Quinn brushing off his blood the way he double here does with Kate. If Kate truly was a dangerous or evil force, that would be one thing. All Kate tends to do is relatively harmless high school stuff. The girl's rhubarb streak isn't any worse than Quinn's can get when properly motivated.
She opens the hotel room door to find Kate putting a backpack on. "What are you doing here?"
Kate panics. Something tells her Wade is suspicious, but she can't pinpoint anything specific. "Waiting to see how it went."
"Your brother is impossible."
"At least you don't have to deal with him much longer."
"He's mad at you for talking to us."
"He's always mad at me. He'll get over it...probably by the time I get back, knowing his attention span."
Wade didn't even tell him about the slide and she really meant to. He had been preoccupied, probably having to do with those kids he kept talking about.
"What kids, Wade?"
"Huh? Oh, he was talking about two boys who stopped by."
Kate pauses. If they were the same two guys she ran into near the bus stop, she'd hardly call them 'boys'. Her dumb brother would. "Did he tell you anything about them?"
"Not really."
"When do you slide?"
"Three hours. Why?"
Kate smiles at both her and Rembrandt. "Tell me where to meet you and I'll get him there...or at least I'll die trying." Winking at Rembrandt, she leaves.
----------
"Forget it, Dorian!" Wade's convinced Kate is capable of taking on anyone either he or Hurley might send her way. Too bad she corrected Dorian on the name thing, because with the way Kate hates that name it might be enough to drive her to excessive violence. If Kate could defend herself with ease, then Wade can renege on her promise to Dorian guilt free. In theory.
In practice it's another story. Dorian managed to become even more dashing since she last saw him a few years ago. She wanted so much to be happy with him romantically when they were dating, but something was missing. He ranks top on the messy break up scale for her. Wade never saw it coming. Nor did she expect to ever see him again after he got forced out of the Watchers. Time to get her instincts checked, if such a thing were possible.
"You said anything, and you don't break promises, either." That's what Quinn told him a long time ago. First thing Dorian remembers hearing about her. Wade Welles is always true to her word. It would be his luck that she'd decide to discount that as a rumor after all this time.
He sure has a convenient memory. Almost as bad as Quinn can get. "But it's not worth this. I can't do that. That's where I have no choice but to draw the line."
This isn't working. What else can he use to convince her? "Did I mention that there's one other detail I left out? Something even Hurley doesn't know." He smiles mischievously. "My trump card, if you will."
"This being?"
"A researcher by the name of Lisa Davis." Dorian smiles when he spots a glimmer of recognition in Wade's eyes.
Part Twenty-Eight
Kate wonders about this Kevin kid and his friends. No one's ever heard her thoughts before. He certainly reacted like such means of communication is normal to him. Is he a Pre-Immie too? Or is it all just a bizarre coincidence? She'd ponder the whole situation more if she didn't feel quite so rushed. There was no chance she was missing a glimpse of this sliding thing. She can't believe that just a week ago, none of this happened. None of these people were a part of her life. Maybe she'll be able to 'accidentally' get her brother switched with his double and darn, the wrong one will disappear from this world. She laughs to herself. It'll never happen, but she can dream.
"You're back early." Quinn has a bag of potato chips in his hand. He tilts it towards Kate to offer her some.
She looks at her watch. "It's almost dinnertime."
Quinn laughs. "You sound like Mom." He sticks a chip into his mouth and chomps on it.
"Beats sounding like you." Kate sighs. Her brother is wearing the same shirt he's used since he got here for the purposes of sleep. It used to be Dad's. The thing is *that* old. Not only is it ragged, wrinkled and smelly, it looked like he wiped paint on it. She must be adopted. "You need to get cleaned up."
"Why?" He reached into the bad and scraps his fingers against the bottom to retrieve the crumbs.
"We've got a date. A once in a lifetime type of thing. The kind of thing we should both look presentable for."
Quinn rolls his eyes. "This gala event being?"
"They're sliding out in a couple hours. I said I'd get you there to see it if I had to drag you kicking and screaming..."
"That would be quite a feat," he acknowledges. "I am a lot bigger than you."
"I'm a lot stronger."
"Will she be there?"
"She...Wade?"
He looks into the bag before crushing it into a ball. "The one I saw today."
"Gee, Quinn...she told you she slides, I tell you they are sliding out...what do you think the answer is?" She goes up the stairs. "Did I mention that the Wade you work with is coming out to see this?"
Quinn dashes up the stairs for a shower without another moment's hesitation, nearly knocking his sister over in the process.
----------
Lisa Davis? It's starting to sound like he's grasping at straws. "What about her?" What's he planning to do next, rattle off the name of every last Watcher listed as on assignment? Humoring might get him off her back. That's more than enough motivation for her to put up with him for the time being. Letting him think he's in control will allow her the opportunity to come up with a way out of her 'promise' to Dorian. Why'd he have to be such an unrealistic bastard about things where the two of them were concerned?
"I have evidence that you doctored up portions of her paperwork, including information the Watchers would find extremely interesting..."
Oh, yes. The Watchers are notorious for their straightforward methods of conducting their business dealings. "What are you talking about?"
Dorian closes his eyes briefly. He's ashamed of what he's about to admit. Too much snooping on his part years ago. It may have come to be useful at this moment, but that doesn't make him feel any better. It's certainly not going to help him gain favor with Wade. "Based on the information I took from your apartment years ago, and my research since, I'd say she was a Pre-Immortal."
Why did she have to date this one? Even Quinn would have been a better choice in hindsight. Wade reconsiders. Dorian's still not that bad. "Oh, really?"
"A teleporter, at the very least."
Wade winces. Things are making sense. Why Michael sent those boys, and why he had been as secretive about his requests regarding Lisa.
"Things are adding up, aren't they? Stacking up against you like little building blocks. The more I find, the more Hurley will want to play and before you know it there will be so many blocks you won't be able to see your way out of them..."
Her eyes burn and she rubs a stray tear out of the corner of her eye. The more Dorian speaks, the more she realizes it only gets worse for her and everyone around her the longer she delays giving him the answer he insists on hearing.
"...I can take the blocks away, Wade. I can make all of this go away. All you have to say is," he reminds her, "that one little word. Three little letters. Is it worth losing everything else over your stubbornness?"
Would it really be that bad? Wade looks up at Dorian. She gives him a good long look. He's not a bad guy. Not the way Hurley tends to be. And it's not like he's Quinn. She could do this and still reasonably respect herself in the aftermath. It could be quite nice if she plays along for however long he's talking about. Wade's sure she could live with it as long as it isn't forever or anywhere close.
Dorian waits silently for an answer, trying not to let her tears and sniffles weaken him. He's so close to getting her precisely where he wants her. Where he's wanted her for years. "It won't be that bad, you know. A lot better than it could be."
"Doesn't mean I have to like it."
"But you'll try?"
The smug look on his face makes Wade want to slap it right off. "Do I have a choice?" She racks her brain to figure a way out. Seems the closer she thinks she is to escaping his clutches, Dorian finds yet another item to hold over her head. It's hopeless. "All right. You win." Her eyes water as the implications of her defeat sink into her mind. "I'll be Stacey to your Ned."
He smiles. "I knew you'd come around." Getting the yes he's always dreamed of from her isn't quite as good a feeling when she's sobbing her brains out. He wants to cheer her up but isn't sure how. "Why don't we let bygones be bygones and head out for a bit. I do believe we have a little prenuptial shopping to do before we call it a day."
Wade sighs as she wipes her eyes with her sleeve. "I suppose we do."
Part Twenty-Nine
"She's calling me again," Kevin announces. He sits with Megabyte and Adam not far from the spaceship. His lets his toes fill and empty with sand digs his feet into the beach's sandy surface.
Megabyte sighs. "I don't hear anything."
"I know that!" Kevin groans. "She's calling *me*, not you or Adam!"
[Can you hear me, Kevin?]
[Yeah, I hear you...but who *are* you?]
[I know your friends don't hear me, but you do. I need you to tell them something for me...]
[But who *are* you?]
He hears the female sigh. [Kev, I could tear you from limb to limb if I were so inclined. Would you mind humoring me for the time being? We'll meet up soon enough, I'm sure.]
Kevin nods, unaware of the stares he's getting from both Adam and Megabyte. [What is it?]
[I know how Wade and Quinn can be in two places at once and how she could be with the Immortal she's watching and not remember it. Tell them that.]
"She won't tell me her name, but she says she knows about Quinn and Wade," Kevin informs his friends, pausing while concentrating on continuing his communication with the girl. "If we take Wade from New York to San Franc isco, it'll make sense. We need to meet her at Golden Gate Park in three hours."
"Why there?"
Kevin wishes he wasn't the only one who could hear this girl. No matter how grown up she sounds. "It's the girl who's there, Adam. The one calling me...us. She wants us to take Wade there."
"Who is this chick," Megabyte grumbles, "ordering us around like this?"
"She won't say. You can't hear her, but she says she's heard you. That's why she yelled at me about meeting you earlier. She knew I could hear her if she yelled loud enough because of that."
"She could be one of us," Adam states, "and even if she's not, we are being called on again..."
"Oh, no. We are not getting drawn back into this based on some prepubescent fantasy of Kev's!" Megabyte shakes his head adamantly.
Kevin starts laughing out of nowhere. "She says you both know her. You were imagining her as a model from Playboy, Megabyte."
Adam turns to Megabyte and observes his friend's cheeks turn bright red. "The girl from the bus?" It would explain the strange looks she gave them.
Megabyte should have figured this would be his luck. Good thing he didn't say anything to her then. He might have died of embarrassment if she made mention of his mental indiscretions to his face. "Does she hold that a gainst me?"
"Finds it funny, mostly. Says you better worry if we don't bother to show up like she's asking us to." Kevin yawns.
"We'll be there," Megabyte decides. "Three hours at Golden Gate Park with Wade?"
"She's not sure where, but she'll be listening for us and guide us from there."
Adam smiles. "I believe we need to pay a visit to our favorite Watcher."
----------
Wade fiddles with her new ring. How Dorian afforded it is beyond her. Two years isn't very long, she reminds herself. He could have asked for a lot longer sentence of marriage. There could be worse people she could be in this situation with. Quinn immediately comes to mind. At least she knows how Dorian is as a lover.
She isn't looking forward to Quinn's reaction. Not because of the long-standing crush he's had on her. Wade remembers how he reacted the last time she was entangled with Dorian. A brooding, jealous Quinn is far from a pleasure to work with. He's going to know something's up because of the way this came out of nowhere. But part of the deal is she can't tell anyone. There's no way Quinn would be able to keep quiet about something this volatile.
A strange noise emanates from outside. Sounds like lightening striking, but the weather's fine. Must be some weird power surge. Her power didn't go out. Dorian's still singing it up in the shower. Something must be wrong somewhere because someone's knocking on her door. Must be a neighbor wondering about it the way she is.
Wrong on all counts. She opens the door to find Adam and Megabyte, with a younger boy accompanying them. "What are you guys doing here?"
"I'm Kevin," the boy announces in a thick British accent. He extends his hand to Wade, who shakes it a little too hard.
"Sorry about dropping by like this, but we need to take you someplace," Adam starts.
Wade turns around. The shower stopped - she didn't notice when - and Dorian could be out here any second. "Let's get going." She walks out the door as quickly as possible, oblivious to the odd looks the boys gave her.
----------
Arturo looks up at the statue of Abraham Lincoln in Golden Gate Park, and sits near its base. "Are you *sure* they are coming?"
Quinn shrugs, reading the timer's display. "We've only got four minutes 'til we slide."
"She called to ask where in the park to meet us," Wade reminds them. "She'll be here."
"Hey!" Kate hollers across the park, running with her brother in tow. Her breathing is heavy from the running, but not nearly as strained as her brother's.
Wade smiles. "Glad you made it."
"Your double's coming," Kate replies, "and I need to direct them here." She runs back the way she came.
Rembrandt scans the outskirts of the park for other people. "I don't see anyone."
Quinn decides to introduce himself to his double. "You must be Kate's brother. Nice to meet you."
"You're...you're me!" Quinn's counterpart on this Earth hesitates to react. It's difficult to absorb the implications of a living, breathing version of himself standing before him, and with Wade no less. Extending his hand slowly, Quinn shakes his hand.
"Wade *did* tell you..."
"Uh, yeah. It's just different seeing the evidence right in front of you."
Wade laughs. "Like time travel, eh, Quinn?"
"Yeah," they say.
Part Thirty
Kate scans the park frantically. They have to be here. They promised. Okay, so it was only Kevin who did and the other guys were older. With her luck they treat Kev like a kid brother. If the relationship's anything like the one she has with her older brother, it wouldn't surprise her in the least if they just ignore Kevin. Kate's lost track of the number of times Quinn's blown her off that way.
She doesn't even know what he looks like. At least Wade will be there. That's someone she's sure of appearance wise. Kate spots four people off in the distance. [Kevin! Is that you?] She can't make any of them out. One of them could be Wade.
[We can see the statue,] Kevin replies mentally.
A rush of anticipation surges through her. [I'm so glad you're here, Kev.]
[We're all here. Even Wade.]
This will be great. Kate can't believe she coordinated all of this. [Kev, can you do me a favor?]
[What kind of favor?]
Hesitation fills the young boy's voice...thoughts...in her brain. [Would you mind waving? I'd like to know which one you are.]
[Will you wave back?]
[Yep.] Kate watches the group and sees the shortest member wave. She eagerly waves back. [I'd run and meet you, but I'm out of breath and there's not much time.]
Kevin nudges Adam. "We have to hurry."
"I hear her," Megabyte comments. "Barely."
"You do not. You only wish you did because you like her," Kevin insists.
Adam ignores them. "Ready for another teleport, Wade?"
"I don't see why not." Wade figures it can't be any different than it was the first time around.
----------
Arturo wouldn't believe any of it if he wasn't there to witness it himself. It isn't the sight of both Quinn Mallorys conversing that amazes him. Kate Mallory is actually behaving in a civilized manner. She even apologized for her callous behavior last week at the grocery. Wonders never cease. He notices someone waving off in distance. The boy isn't someone Arturo recognizes, but he suspects in the stranger's company is Miss Welles' double. There are two other young men with them. The four disappear, much to Arturo's surprise.
A bright blue flash of light announces the four's materialization a couple of feet away from the statue. It disrupts the various discussions being conducted by the Sliders and this world's Mallorys. Kevin looks at the two females present and focuses his attention on the one that bears no resemblance to the woman he just teleported with. "Are you...?"
She can't think of a thing to say to this boy. Meeting him means more than anything else that's happened. For the first time she can recall, Kate doesn't feel alone because of her mental powers. Sure, the older guys are closer to her in age, but it was Kevin who could hear her. It was him who was able to talk back to her. Words couldn't thank him for that. Her eyes got misty.
[Don't cry.] Kevin embraced her. [I'm Kevin and you're not alone.]
[I know that now, Kev.] She hugged the boy back with all her strength. [By the way, my name's Kate.]
Wade stares at the exchange. "You mean to tell me we went through all of this drama to get here to meet up with *you*, Kate?" She surveys the gathering and can't decide what shocks her more. Seeing two Quinns talking to each other, or seeing a living, breathing version of herself - a few feet away from Rembrandt Brown.
"You know me, Wade. I don't get enough melodrama from my family tree," Kate notes, glaring at her brother.
Wade decides her double is a bit more self assured and confident than herself judging by the way she carries herself. She wonders why no one mentioned the fact her double's married. Maybe that's a sore subject. Can't be that bad, or her double wouldn't still be wearing her rings. Why advertise something you aren't happy with?
"One more minute!" Quinn wishes there was more time. He looks at his three companions and then at his double. "Good luck, and take care of that sister of yours for me."
"Take care of Wade," his double adds softly.
"You've got your own to worry about," Quinn acknowledges, looking toward the two Wades.
Showing Wade the tattoo on her wrist, her double smiles. "This is what he was looking for." She pulls her sleeve down. "I can't get over how different he is," she notes, "your Quinn. So to speak."
"Yeah," Wade agrees. "Hardly the same person at all."
Her double nods. "He's not all that bad, though. Been a really good friend to me as long as I've known him."
"Me too."
Kate interrupts, grabbing both Wades. "It's time." She drags them towards the Quinns. "Oh," she notes, gesturing to the three boys, "this is Kevin, Adam, and Megabyte. They got Wade here for this."
Everyone rushes through greetings and good-byes while Quinn triggers the timer. The wormhole expands before them. Quinn yells over the roar, "I wish we had more time. There's so much I want to know..."
"Maybe there's another world like this one," Wade's double offers.
Arturo chuckles. "I hope not!" He runs toward the vortex, jumps into it and disappears into its depths.
Rembrandt kisses Kate on the cheek. He feels a slight charge against his lips. "Take care, girl." He puts his hand on the shoulder of Wade's double. "Sorry about all the trouble."
"It's all been taken care of." Wade wishes it were that simple as she watches him disappear into the portal.
Quinn looks at the others he's leaving behind. He reaches for Kate and embraces her. "I'll miss you, Sis. I know you'll make Mom and Dad proud." He releases her and glances at his double. "You've got so much, Quinn...don't ever take it for granted." Surveying them one last time, he jumps into the wormhole.
Wade turns towards her double and this world's Quinn. "Whatever you do, don't fight fate." She turns to Kate and takes the girl's hand. "I know it's hard to believe sometimes, but I think he really does care about you. Just isn't sure how to show it." She runs to enter the wormhole and disappears seconds before the entire vortex vanishes.
"Wow." Megabyte stares at the empty space where the wormhole once was. "I've never seen anything like it."
Kate approaches him. "I guess we should officially meet. My name's Kate, and I just want to thank you for helping." She smiles at Kevin. "Especially you, Kevin, because I was really mean to you and I doubt you needed me scaring you like that to begin with. From the looks of it, you guys would have helped me anyway."
"I get the feeling the four of you have a lot of talking to do, but Quinn and I probably should head back to New York." Wade looks at her watch, dreading the implications of the sacrifice she made for both her career and her friends. The longer she avoids it, the harder it will be to go back to New York and her new life.
"Yeah, we probably should. A vacation from the vacation is certainly in order." Quinn glances at his sister and notices a sadness in her eyes. Once his eyes connect with hers, she turns away. He thinks about what Wade's double said before sliding and wonders if this is what she meant. "Hey, Kate...after everything you did for Wade and me...I guess I kind of owe you one..."
Kate shrugs. "I didn't do anything. Right, Wade?"
"Sure, if you say so."
Wade's distracted response isn't like her. Kate jumps directly into Wade's thoughts and immediately determines the source of her friend's odd mood. She looks at Wade's left hand and sees something more obvious than the tattoo would be without her watch on. "Um, Quinn? Maybe you should finish out your vacation here and let Wade go back alone. I can take her to SFO to get a flight, since I personally want these three," gesturing to the Tomorrow People, "stick around for some coffee."
Wade sighs with relief. "I agree."
Quinn can tell by the way Kate's talking that these weird boys will be around for years to come. Something tells him from here on out, everything he assumed he knew was subject to question.
Starting with the impossibility of time travel.
****
end