The Special

Episode 23 - Clueless

"Did you manage to read anything from her?" I asked Jessie.

"You make me sound like a computer." She replied. I let out a laugh.

"Sorry. You know what I mean."

"A little but it was pretty much just what she was telling us. I did see some images of the compound. Only brief flashes, though. Her brother, Wulliam, looks to be a couple of years older than her. He has a very strange ability."

"What do you mean? What is it?"

"I don't exactly know. I've never seen anything like it before. He stood there, his fists clenched by his side, and the people chasing them just dropped to the ground and looked to be in pain." Jessie shook her head as to get the images out.

"Weird." I tried to think if I'd seen or heard of anything that would explain that. Nothing came to mind. "Do you know her ability?"

"No. But I'll ask her tomorrow." I nodded to Jessie's plan.

"Hawkeye?"

"Yeah?"

"You saw when my dad was in the hospital. You saw my memories. Can't you just do that with her?" She looked at me, the hope of more answers in her eyes. I looked to her and, after a moment, explained.

"It's not a fun thing to do. Having other people's memories and emotions rolling around inside your head. They don't leave, you know." Jessie's eyes widened at that new piece of information. I looked down, not able to bear the look on her face.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know." After a second I let out a small laugh.

"You know, this may sound weird but I still have dreams of you're father in the hospital. I have a lot of messed up dreams." Jessie drew me close and wrapped her arms around me. I wrapped my arms around her and held her tight.

"I'll do it if you want." I said. She looked up at me, her face laced with confusion. "Look into her memories."

"No. It's fine. We can always just ask her, or rather, I can. You shouldn't be asking her too many questions or she'll start wondering why you're so clueless."

"I feel bad for lying to her. I don't want her faith in me to be shaken."

"I can tell how much you mean to her." Jessie smiled and gave me a peck on the lips before releasing me from her grasp and heading to the cabin.

"I think she's waking up." She said as she headed inside. I followed close behind her. Sure enough, just as we closed the door she started to move around and she opened her eyes.

"How are you feeling?" I asked her as she sat up.

"Better." She said as she yawned. The dark circles underneath her eyes had lessened.

"Are you hungry?" I asked as Jessie sat where she had been sitting before. Keisie's face lit up.

"Yes." She said excitedly.

"What are you hungry for? I'll bring you whatever you want." The smile on her face disappeared.

"No. Don't leave." She grabbed my arm and held on tight.

"I won't. Jessie can get us some food." I looked to Jessie and smiled. She rolled her eyes at me then stood up.

"What can I get you guys?" She asked. Keisie didn't give any suggestion so, after a couple of seconds, I did.

"How about waffles?" I asked Keisie.

"Sure." She nodded her head, excited for the food. "With strawberries and syrup and whipped cream." She fantasized. Me and Jessie laughed then she left to get the food for us. I sat down cross-legged on the floor and made myself as comfortable as I could be on that hardwood.

"How long have you been here?" Keisie asked.

"A couple of weeks." I answered. "It was difficult at first but I got used to it."

"Difficult?" She tilted her head as her eyebrows drew together. Oh, crap. How could I explain to her about my memory loss without telling her about my memory loss?

"It's a very different place than I was used to." She nodded, thankfully. I heard a growl coming from her stomach and her cheeks blushed.

"We better get some food in you quick." I laughed. The redness in her cheeks slowly faded as she laughed, too.

"You always know how to make me feel better, Hawkeye." She said as she got up and hugged me. I helplessly sat on the floor, uncomfortable, not knowing what to do. I didn't want her to get suspicious so I hugged her back.

I could feel her spine and her ribs through her thin skin. She definitely needed food, stat. Her long blonde hair was thin and dry and her skin was pale. Where ever she had been, she hadn't been treated very well there. I wanted to figure out whoever had kept her and her brother captive and make them pay for how they treated them. I was guessing whoever that person was, was also responsible for keeping me captive as well and sending those men in black after me. Yeah, they're definitely going to pay.

Keisie finally let go of me and sat on the floor next to me. Once again, I didn't know what to say to her. I hoped she would strike up a conversation but she didn't. It must have been about five minutes before I finally said something, though, to be honest, it probably wasn't the best thing I could have said at that moment.

"So, how long were you in there?" She looked to me.

"I thought I had told you." She tilted her head to the side, again.

"I forgot." I shrugged, being honest.

"About two years."

"Right." I replied, pretending I had remembered her telling me that. From that point on the conversation was less intense. We started talking about random stuff like food and sleep and anything else I could connect with her about. At last Jessie came back with a tray full of waffles and goodies to put on them.

The three of us stuffed our faces with delicious waffles and casually chatted about anything. Keisie's demeanor reminded me of myself when I had first come to this camp. Reserved, distrusting, quiet. It made me realize just how far I had come in the past few weeks.