All By Myself

Chapter 23

The weeks passed in a flurry of swimming, dating, and getting things ready for the day I got my new house keys. After a lot of coaxing, Cook learned my favourite foods, and Tabbi arranged for a few old friends to come around, as well as Tom, and I was getting a little excited. I had promised Brad that I would go back to the Lab the day before, and the day after, my birthday, so they could take samples of how my body changed, however slightly, after my birthday. I had already told them that only significant birthdays affected me, but they still wanted to test it. I didn't particularly want to see my ex-captors, but it was part of the agreement.

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Greg Cashion had learned more about me too, having had Mike keep track of where I went each day. Greg had also read all the information at Sugden Laboratories, and had started arranging his own tests. The large aquarium was due to arrive in the next month, according to the man making it, it would take a few weeks to make, deliver, and assemble. Greg had everything ready in terms of a holding room, exam rooms, and the cellar room where the tank would reside. It was all ready. Once the tank was complete, he would put his plan into action.

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"You know I don't agree with this." Jenny said. Jenny, Tabbi, Brad and I were in the kitchen the day before my birthday, and Jenny was voicing her opinion of my going to the lab with Brad.

"Nor do I." Said Tabbi. I smiled slightly at the two of them.

"I know. But it's this, or I get taken away from here and held prisoner again." I said, looking at Brad. He nodded silently. Jenny frowned.

"I know. Just...don't take any of their crap, Cassi." Jenny said softly. I moved over to her.

"I won't." I replied.

"We had better go." Brad said softly. Tabbi was watching us silently, a pensive look on her face. Jenny pulled me close and hugged me.

"Be careful." She said. I hugged back, grabbed my bag, and then followed Brad out to his car. We drove in silence, me staring out the window. After a while I turned to look at Brad.

"I won't have to see Director Jones, will I?" I asked. Brad glanced at me as he stopped at a red light.

"I couldn't say, Cass. He might want to check on you himself." Brad replied. I sighed and looked back out the window, not saying anything more. Brad drove us into a parking garage and parked in his spot. I got out of the car, a feeling of foreboding stole over me, but I pushed it aside. Brad led me inside, my pulse quickening. The last time I had been here I had been close to death. Brad took me down a few corridors, and I recognised where we were going. We were headed for Warden's office. Once we reached her door, Brad knocked.

"Enter." She said. We went in, and Brad shut the door behind us. Warden looked up at me from her computer, and smiled.

"Ah, Cassandra. It's good to see you again. You are looking a lot better." She said, standing up. I watched her.

"Hello, Doctor Warden. It's good to see you again too." I replied softly. She nodded.

"I understand your apprehension. You are here merely for a check up. You can leave once we're done." She said. The door opened and Tucker and Shields entered. I moved back, my heart pounding. Brad looked at me and stepped closer.

"Sit down before you fall down." He said, taking my upper arm and guiding me to a chair. I sat down and Tucker got me a glass of water.

"I'm sorry. Seeing you all here together..." My voice dwindled off, but Warden nodded.

"There's nothing to apologise for. After everything we put you through, you have every right to be apprehensive." She said. The others nodded.

"I have work to get on with, but Doctors Warden and Tucker will look after you, and I am finishing early so once things are done we can get going." Brad said. I nodded.