Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
After Chuck left, Darren supported Erin’s elbow as he traced her back to the hospital bed. She quickly noticed he was extra quiet “Something on your mind?” He shook his head “Is that a yes?”
He suddenly felt like scum for forgetting “I’m sorry. I forgot…No, nothing’s wrong.” He was reluctant.
“You could fool a blind person.” She joked.
“That’s not funny.” Darren replied solemnly.
“Sure it is.” Erin laughed “See, I’m laughing.” She pointed to herself.
“Erin-”
“Oh no, there’s the fatherly tone.” Erin sighed “If you are going to lecture me, you might want to save it. I got an ear full from Uncle Chuck.”
Darren smiled “Somehow I think that’s not a bad thing.”
Erin shook her head, a girlish grin on her lips “Not at all. For years, I had so much freedom and independence. No one ever dared tell me what to do. But I craved for that scolding tone of voice.”
“Why didn’t you say so!” Darren was shocked “I could have filled that void in your life.”
“I bet you would.” Erin shook her head “So are we going to keep talking about nonsense or are you actually going to tell me what is really bothering you?”
Darren swallowed back the lump in his throat as he took a seat on her bed. His head lowered “I give up.” Erin’s smile disappeared “I’ve had plenty of time to think about it, there’s nothing you can do to change my mind.”
She nodded after a long moment “I respect your decision.”
“You do?” Darren was stunned “I expected a scolding or a kick in the leg or something. Is it strange that I’m scared right now?” he laughed nervously. Considering how close the girls were and how Erin was so determined to save his faith when Mia was in the coma. He was surprised at how well she took his decision.
Erin tilted her head “I do feel like slapping you out of your senses…but at the same time I know how difficult it is for you to hang onto something that is fading. Maybe this is the break you two need. But my main concern is what if she remembers one day and you have moved on? She will be so devastated and I guarantee you will be torn.”
“Maybe you’re right. But I believe this is what she wants.” Darren was positive.
“When did you become a shrink?” She asked with sarcasm “At least give her a chance to tell you what she thinks.”
“I already know.” Darren replied in a heartbeat “The dodging eyes each time I try to make eye contact, the light way she blows me off when I try to make conversation and the oh so popular ‘I’ve got plans’ excuse. Works like a charm.”
She felt pity for him, he was already making his own assumptions “Sometimes things are not as easy as they appear.” There was a double meaning behind her comment that he ignored.
Darren snickered with his head shaking. Suddenly, his pager began to vibrate, he pulled it out of his jeans and took a look “It’s Chuck.”
“I want to go.” Erin said as she arched her neck towards Darren when she felt him getting off the bed.
“No, it could be dangerous.” Darren vehemently refused.
“If you don’t take me along, I’m going to starve myself for the next two days.” She threatened. He laughed while her face turned solemn “If I can say it, I will do it.” She was a person that kept her word and he knew it. He didn’t want to be the one responsible for the mishap.
Darren snuck her out of the hospital, letting her wear his long coat and a hat he stole from the next room patient who happened to be sleeping. The drive was short as he read the directions that Chuck paged for him. It was in the heart of Kowloon where tall apartment buildings stood. They were old and rusted, most looked abandoned.
He got out of the car and rushed to the other side to let her out “I don’t see the others.” He commented.
After he said it, Becca rushed out of the alley between two apartment buildings “Pstt!!” She hissed at Darren, who turned with a nod. He quickly wrapped an arm around Erin’s waist and took her with him “Erin?” Becca asked “Why did you bring her?” she rushed over to help Erin.
Erin laughed “I’m blind, not crippled. I only need one cane, Becca.” She teased “Don’t be mad at Darren, I threatened him to take me here.”
“Weak.” Becca shook her head sternly at him.
Together the three walked into the alley where the rest were already standing there discussing the discovery “Ah Wong told me that they saw TK right here. He climbed down from the fire exit and rushed down that alley.” Ted pointed to the end of the alley where it was a dead end. The only escape was over the picket fence.
“Why do you think he came here?” Mia asked. Her eyes darted back to Erin when she saw Darren and Becca with their now blind agent “Erin!”
Ted turned his head as he too walked briskly over to Erin “Shouldn’t you be resting?”
“Sorry, force of habit.” Erin smiled casually “I don’t like the hospital, it makes me depressed.” She felt the tension when Darren let go of her hand and shifted his feet. Just as she guessed, Darren was avoiding eye contact with Mia, who only glanced at him briefly “So what did you find, Unc?” She already shortened her calling to Chuck.
“Ted got a clue from a reliable source that saw TK hanging around this building.” He pointed and then remembered “It’s on your left side.” He added for Erin’s sake.
She nodded and stepped towards the building. One of the many disadvantages for her impaired vision was that she could not see where she was going. Erin easily tripped over a box and could have toppled over if it wasn’t for Ted’s quick reflexes. He caught her in time “Are you okay?” he asked worriedly.
Erin shook her head “I’m fine. I guess you guys know what to get me for my birthday. A cane.” She flipped her head towards the direction of Ted’s voice “Can you take me closer?”
He nodded and brought her closer to the building, she touched the walls and the fire escape that TK supposedly climbed down from “What are you looking for?” Ted asked.
She shrugged her shoulders “I’m not sure. But I have a feeling he was here.”
“Sixth sense?” Chuck smiled.
“No, pure stupidity.” Erin shook her head as she turned up to the sky “How high is this building?” she asked randomly.
“18 floors.” Doug replied while the others were counting. They turned to him strangely “What do you think I do when I’m not talking? Pondering clues and ideas how to catch the freak?” he snickered “I have better stuff to do.”
“Like count floors of buildings.” Mia finished with sarcasm. She pointed to the one behind her “Tell me quick, how many floors is in that building?”
He rolled his eyes “I’m not THAT bored.” The team chuckled and after a few seconds Doug answered “26.”
“Wow, you have a talent.” Becca admired.
“Yes, only you would find his ‘special power to count the floors of buildings in 10 seconds’ at talent.” Mia quipped. She turned to Darren with a laugh “Can you believe this?”
Darren didn’t respond as he nodded with a grim smile. He turned his attention back to Erin and Doug who were still walking further to the end of the alley. Chuck quickly spotted the tension “Hey guys, let’s stay focused okay?” He waved for them to follow him as he jogged to catch up to Erin “Got any more hunches?” he asked.
Ted shook his head “Even if he was here, we have no idea why he is here. I’ve already checked his background, he has no family and even if he did, I doubt he would be stupid enough to stay with them.”
“Hey guys.” Erin put her hand up to silence them “Do you hear that?”
The five turned to each other and shook their heads “Hear what?” Becca asked.
If she concentrated harder, she could hear the slight tapping sound of a pipe “It hasn’t been raining has it?”
“No.” Ted turned to the others strangely “Erin, are you hearing things?”
She nodded with furrowed brows as she stepped towards the sound. Her hands reached out to touch the object, she felt a cold cylinder object vibrating under her fingers “Is this a pipe?”
Chuck followed her hands as he flipped his head upwards “Yeah.” The pipeline traveled up to the rooftop “What about it?”
Erin turned to the team “Does anyone know how to decode Morse code?”
This time everyone stepped closer to Erin as their eyes followed the pipe “I was in girl scouts and we were forced to learn that damn code crap. I don’t think I could ever forget it.” Becca shuttered at the thought of staying up late just to learn the different combinations that her leader blew out from whistles and made them decode it into sentences. Every time she would nod off, a shrieking whistle would be blown into her eardrum.
“Good.” Erin reached her hand out and Becca quickly placed her hand over it “Decode this.” She began tapping her two fingers over Becca’s palm.
Becca nodded as she picked up the first letter “L-P-M-E…R-O-O…F-T-O-P-H-E.” she turned to the team “What the hell does lpme roo ftophe means?” she shook her head “Are you sure the codes are right Erin?”
She nodded “Positive.”
“Wait, let me write that down.” Mia pulled a pad and pen out of her bag and spelled out the words. Her brows crunched together as she handed it over to Darren “I can’t tell, can you?”
He took the pad from her hand as he looked it over. Suddenly, his face cleared up and a smile appeared on his lips “I know what it is.” He took the pen from Mia’s fingers and began writing it out. He held it up for the rest to see ‘Help Me Rooftop’.
“Someone’s trapped on the rooftop?” Becca asked while her eyes trailed up the fire escape “Why would TK have climbed down…”
“The Mayor!” Mia and Darren replied at the same time.
Mia turned to him with a giggle “Jinx! Now you can talk until someone says your name!” she pointed at him playfully.
“Darren.” Erin could see the daggers Mia was throwing her way, it was a good thing she couldn’t see “Does the fire escape go all the way up to the roof?”
“Yes.” He replied with a small smile, he knew what she had done.
“Then what are we waiting for?” Chuck asked.
“For your orders, sir!” Becca replied.
“When do you ever wait for my order?” he asked “Fine, get your ass up there before I make you give me fifty!” he hollered. The group laughed at his lame attempt to be a real lieutenant “Oh, you think I’m kidding.” He nodded at them with a forced laugh “Give me ten.” He pointed to the ground.
“You serious?” Mia asked after everyone stopped laughing.
“Yes.” He replied firmly. Erin smiled as she began to get on her knees until Chuck reached out and stopped her “What are you doing?”
“I’m part of the team. If you want to punish them, I can’t be left out.” She could tell he was stumped when Becca stifled a laugh so ready to explode.
Chuck clenched his teeth as he replied “I thought we were on the same team.”
“We are.” Erin whispered in reply.
“Okay, you want to play tough. Ted, you stay down here, everyone else come with me!” he pointed to the ladder as Darren and Doug pulled it down. He could see Erin’s grim expression as she was left behind.
Ted watched and made sure everyone was on the rooftop safe and sound until he turned to Erin “Sorry you had to be stuck with me.”
“I’m not stuck, just stranded.” She kidded.
He smiled at her with admiration “How could you kid at a time like this?”
“You mean because I’m blind and have a money obsessive freak trying to kidnap me lurking around the corners? It’s the best time to kid around.” She laughed as she turned and began stepping out to the streets.
“Where are you going?” Ted quickly stopped her as he pulled her back, his hand still rested on her elbow.
Erin sighed “I don’t want to feel crippled Ted. Could you just let me explore on my own? This is the first time I get to be around the city with my loss vision. I don’t want to depend on my human canes forever.” She pulled herself away from him as she walked out to the curb, she could hear the bustling sound of people walking back and forth.
Ted stood two feet away from her out of respect but he would randomly reach out his arm when someone bumped into her and she looked ready to lose her balance, but before he could get to her, she had caught her own stance. After a couple of minutes, he stepped up next to her “Let’s go back.”
She eventually gave in “Okay, we’ll do this some other time.” She was determined to regain her freedom. After seeing how much her teammates cared as they were willing to take turns to escort her around, she knew she couldn’t let them down. Brad would be proud, she told herself.
Suddenly, a gunshot rang out and the crowd began to scream and shout while they scattered in different directions. Ted quickly placed a protective arm around Erin as his eyes darted around, he didn’t see where the shot came from but no one seemed to be hurt.
Erin was frightened but she told herself not to show it. She felt safe with Ted there. That is until she felt a hot breath scraping the side of her neck “Your welcome.” A male voice whispered.
She turned to the voice quickly and patted at Ted’s hand “Who was that that just walked by me?”
Ted snapped his head back but only found a chaotic group of people pushing each other to get out of the way “No one. What’s wrong? Did someone hurt you?”
Erin shook her head “No. Maybe I’m just being paranoid.”
“Come on, let’s go back.” He said when he heard the sirens in the distance. They got to the alley in time to see the team climbing down. Doug was the first to jump down as he turned up to help the Mayor down “Bingo.” Ted sighed.
“Who is it?” Erin asked anxiously.
“Who do you think?” Ted asked with a broad smile “You saved the Mayor.”