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23
That, Dear Doctor, Is What Has Me So Worried
Jack
Thepastfewhourshad been a blur. I don't remember leaving the infirmary, but I must have because I found myself in a little-used room attached to the Technical Division. At some stage, it would have been a storeroom, and even now was full of unused equipment and various miscellaneous things that Simon Cathcart had relegated to Forgotten Status.
What was useful about the room was it had two doors. One into Shadowship and one out into a small courtyard garden that had also been neglected and, due to its overgrown nature, provided suitable cover for anyone coming and going who didn't want to be seen.
How Rafe had known about it had been a mystery. How Dean Thomas and Sally Groves had known to be waiting for us there was equally as mysterious to me.
"Is he alright?" Thomas asked the room.
"He's in shock," Groves replied, not unkindly.
"Could be PDR withdrawal," Rafe suggested.
"Mouse hasn't left our universe," Groves countered. "She's only gone back in time. So any Prophetic Dream Realisation withdrawal wouldn't be because of that."
"It's less scientific than that, Sal," Thomas said. "It's more to do with the heart."
"Oh, of course."
Blessed silence reigned for all of two minutes.
"Where's Bryan?" Groves again.
"Dr Fawkes 2.0 is still out cold in the infirmary," Rafe told her. "But he looks to make a full recovery, according to our medic," he rushed to add. No doubt Groves had blanched at the first sentence.
"He'd know what to do," Groves murmured.
"And Time's rewarded him for that by making him insensible."
"No need to be so brutal, mate," Thomas told Rafe.
I sucked in a deep breath of air and felt the room around me and its occupants come into clearer focus.
"Bloody fucking bollocks," I muttered.
"And he's back," Rafe told everyone. "Welcome back, Jack. You had me worried there for a second."
"You didn't sound particularly worried," I commented.
"I did say it was only for a second, didn't I?"
I shook my head, worried at my scar, and tried to stop myself from tearing through the building in search of Anderson and flattening the man with my fists. Repeatedly.
"I know that look," Rafe said softly. "And it'd do you no good. Anderson's surrounded himself with guards. He's locked down the building. Everyone is under house arrest until the storm blows through."
"What storm would that be?" I asked, knowing he was right and revenge without a plan was suicidal.
"The storm Anderson created when he sent Mouse back in time."
"Everyone's in an uproar," Groves said.
"One word, Dr Evans, and they'll back your play," Thomas offered. "Whatever you chose to do, RATS is with you."
I focused on those present. Rafe, who knew me better than anyone, bar Mimi. Groves who, until recently, had been a new and untested student at the Academy. And Thomas, who I'd barely even had time for before Mouse came into our lives and connected us inextricably. Out of every person in this building, I would have only expected Rafe to be here with me. The old Bryan Fawkes would have been here too if he'd been able to, and maybe the new one felt the same way; I'm not sure. But Time had made sure he was out for the count, and so that left these three.
