The Way Back (Champions of the Crystal Book 4)

Chapter 19: The Choice

"Ready?" Tirqwin asked.

Sabrina took a deep breath and looked at the door to the room where Scotty waited. He had been allowed his own quarters a few days ago, when the science team became confident that his physical condition was stabilized. At least this reunion would not have to take place in front of an audience. There was only Tirqwin and Ford, whom Sabrina had asked to come along. She wasn't sure why she wanted his support, but she did.

"Sabrina," Ford said, touching her shoulder lightly, "I remember what it felt like to have Mother look at me like a stranger. Just remember, it will pass. It's not permanent. It's not the end of the world. It will just feel like it for a moment."

"Gee, thanks," Sabrina murmured.

He smiled at her, glad she had the presence of mind to be sarcastic.

"Okay. I'm ready," she said, squaring her shoulders.

Tirqwin palmed the lock, and the door slid open. He went inside first, and Sabrina could hear him say, "Good morning, Scotty. How are you feeling?"

"Fine, Father. How are you?"

"Likewise," Tirqwin replied.

"Did you bring her?" The eagerness in his voice sounded almost like the old Scotty, and Sabrina felt herself begin to tremble a bit. Ford laid a warm hand on her shoulder again and smiled encouragingly.

Meeting his bright blue gaze, Sabrina was struck suddenly by their rapport. It was recent, born of short but intense time together, and yet it seemed almost as strong as the rapport she had shared with Scotty, born of a lifetime's experience and common background. At a time when all her other relationships seemed to be shifting, it was inexpressibly comforting to have this one stable bond to count on. Maybe that was why she had wanted him here, she thought.

"I'll be right there with you," he whispered.

"Are you sure you're not still reading my mind?" she whispered back.

Ford grinned. "If I could do that, Sabrina, we'd all have had a much more comfortable few days. Come on."

To take that step across the threshold seemed incredibly hard suddenly, and in the end she thought Ford actually gave her a little push to get her started. But however she did it, a second later she was standing in the room with the man who had been—still was—her brother.

He looked somehow less like Scotty now that his face was animated, alive. The baby blue eyes were the same shade, but they held a bright, open eagerness that was alien to the laid back, never-quite-serious person Scotty had always tried to appear. It was like looking at him as a child again, she thought, and suddenly felt very old.

"You're Sabrina, my sister," he said wonderingly, studying her in detail.

She didn't know what to say to that. An introduction died in her throat; it seemed so silly. So shattering. "What...have they told you about me?" was what finally came out of her mouth.

Scotty smiled—not his usual feckless grin, just a simple expression of amusement. "That you were pretty."

Sabrina darted a glance at Tirqwin, who returned it with the merest suggestion of a shrug. Then she looked back at Scotty. "That wasn't quite what I meant."

"I know." For a moment, he sounded just as cheeky as she remembered. Then he sobered. "They say you loved me very much. That you've been sad and worried about me."

"I have been."

"Then why haven't you come to see me before?"

Sabrina's gaze fell. It took her a moment to be able to answer. "I was afraid I couldn't bear it."