Chapter Twenty-three

Stryker

"Are you sure you don't need anything?" John asked again.

"I'm positive," Stryker said. "I feel great. Like I hadn't been shot."

"Trust me, you were," John said as a chill worked through his body.

"Come here," Stryker said as he held out his arm. "Sit with me."

They'd been home for over two weeks, and John hadn't stopped racing around since. Between taking care of Frank and the store and worrying about every move Stryker made, the man was headed for exhaustion. It was also determined that Kevin lifted the spare keys Gator had left in the bar in order to gain access to John and Jason's shop and sneak up on John.

John finally stopped and joined Stryker in bed. They were staying at the lake house for now, and Frank had a bedroom next to theirs. They hadn't decided whether to return to the apartment or stay out here. Brick had already offered them one of the cottages once the next round was built, but they'd wait and see how Frank took to everything.

The boy had become like a son to them, and they wanted to make sure he was happy where he lived. Much to the Feds' dismay, the other prisoners had made their own choices on what they wanted to do. If they'd had their way, no doubt some may have been asked to join up, but Brick and the team would never allow that to happen.

Senator Raleigh returned to his home and politics but hired additional security so he wouldn't be caught unaware again. The team had no idea if he had an ability, as it never appeared to them. Then again, that meant nothing. He could have been hiding it the entire time, which was his right. No one on the team would ever make someone who'd already been victimized suffer further.

Lydia and Lori Greer accepted the offer of staying out at the ranch with Darren, the thirty-year-old man from Canada. None were interested in being alone after what happened and decided there was safety in numbers. Lori had much the same ability as Detective Woodley, but instead of healing herself, she could heal others. She referred to it as an energy exchange where she sped up healing by providing the extra energy required. Perhaps it was an advanced form of Reiki.

As for Lydia and Darren, the records the team were able to salvage indicated both were unknown participants of the Noah Project's experiments but were still unsure of the mutations it may have caused. Further investigation would be necessary, but only if they wanted it.

Frank was perhaps the most complicated of them all. According to Spencer and Harris, although he still hadn't spoken a word, his mental acuity was off the charts. He appeared to have an eidetic memory, being able to re-create detailed images after only seeing them briefly. Once shown how to do something, Frank could repeat it precisely, no matter how complex.

His IQ wasn't measurable at this time, considering he didn't speak and only answered yes and no questions asked by John or, more often recently, Stryker. However, the young boy crushed every computer game or simulation Spencer gave him to play within record times.

For now, they'd leave it up to Frank to decide if he wanted to take part in things, but eventually, they'd have to get him integrated into a school setting of some sort so that he had the chance to have the normal life of a kid. They'd have to figure it out as they went, but home-schooling would do for now.

"Just because Lori healed your lung doesn't mean you should run yourself into the ground. You need rest like anybody else," Stryker said as he pulled John closer. "Now, lay your head down and relax."

When John failed to show any signs of having asthma after their return, they decided to get some X-rays done. Sure enough, the day Lori had saved John from an asthma attack back at the facility, she'd healed all the damage he'd sustained from the gunshot wound.

"How can I relax when there's so much to do?"

"It'll all be there tomorrow, babe. Tell me, what's going on in your beautiful brain?" Stryker asked.

"Every time I slow down, my mind takes me back to that day in the facility. I feel like I'm watching you die over and over again."

"I understand. It had to be hell going through something like that again," Stryker agreed. Seeing him lying there much the same way as his parents had died must have been traumatizing.

"Listen to me, hell, you're the one who almost died, and I'm hereboohooingabout myself. How self-centered can I get?"

Stryker nudged John's chin so that he was looking at him. "You are the least selfish person I've ever known. You give and give until there's nothing left. You've been through hell and back and deserve the right to have your emotions and pains recognized and validated. You are no less in this equation than I am and will never be."

"It's funny, the first time we met, we could barely say two words to each other. Now you're downright philosophical," John said, giving him that crooked smile that melted Stryker every time.

"Just don't tell the team. I'll never hear the end of it."

"I think they already know there's more to you than you say."

"It's better to keep them guessing," Stryker teased.

Stryker heard the stirring first, then John. Frank was tossing in his bed again, the poor little guy.

"I'll go," John said.

"No. We'll go," Stryker replied.

Both got out of bed and threw on t-shirts over their shorts before heading next door to Frank's room. The lights were on but dimmed slightly. Frank didn't like the dark. Sure enough, the boy was wrapped around his blankets, his arms flying from side to side.

John spoke softly as they neared the bed, not wanting to scare Frank any more than he already was.

"It's okay, buddy, we're here. You're safe with us."

John sat down on the side of the bed and gently rubbed Frank's back in small circular motions. When the boy opened his eyes, Stryker saw the unshed tears breaking his heart.

"We're here, little man. We'll always be here to keep you safe," Stryker said as he sat beside John on the bed.

Frank sat up and threw his arms around Stryker's neck. It was the first time he'd embraced Stryker. It was more natural for him to be closest with John from their time in the facility. Stryker hadn't realized how much this gesture meant to him until this moment. The smile on John's face only reinforced this was Stryker's family right here.

This was his world, his gift, and he would cherish and protect it with his very life and rain hellfire down on anyone who dared harm it.

***

John

John couldn't help but beam with pride every time he watched Stryker and Frank playing together. They were enjoying a warm spring day, playing in the yard with the other kids of Fire Lake. The rest of the team was busy barbequing, rebuilding the storm cellar, and measuring off the area for the new round of cottages to be built.

They'd decided to stay on at Fire Lake in one of the cottages. It was home, after all, and all three agreed it was the best place for them. John had taken a moment to sit by himself under the old oak tree and pulled the crumpled envelope from his pocket.

It was time he read his father's last words to him. He was finally ready.

Dear Son,

I'm sorry you're reading this letter because that likely means your mother and I have passed on. But believe me when I say we will never be gone from you. You are the light and joy in our lives, and we're thankful for you daily. As you probably know by now, things weren't quite as they seemed, but never question our love for you. From the first moment I laid eyes on you, I knew you belonged with me and your mother. She couldn't have been prouder to have you as her son.

A family comes in many different shapes and sizes. Their biological parentage is not their defining moment. Those are every moment after that. Every smile, laugh, tear, joy, sorrow, and experience makes you who you are, and believe me when I say you are our son.

I hope you can someday feel that same joy and know the truths I speak of. The love we feel, the hope and pride in your future. Never allow your past to define the truths of your existence. You have the heart of a lion and deserve love and respect. I pray you find it and know how important you are to us.

Our paths may not have started together, but they are intrinsically intertwined now and for all time. We love you, son, and always will.

Dad

The tears rolled down his cheeks, and as he looked up at his found family, he realized something for the first time: everything had come full circle. He was his father, and Frank was him.

And together, they had Stryker in their corner.

Things were finally looking up.