Second Chances(108)

"It really is you, isn't it?"

Jason placed his hands over hers and gently squeezed them.

"How?"

Julie grabbed Nathan's arm and pulled him into the room and after a quick look in the parking area, closed the door.

"You...died," Paige murmured. "But...then so did I. Didn't I?"

Jason swallowed hard, his tears now running freely down his cheeks.

Nathan looked at Julie then down at the gun still in her hand. He arched his eyebrows questioningly.

She frowned and then sighed before lowering the gun.

"So much," Jason began and then his voice cracked. He dropped his head into his hands.

"Take your time, Dad."

Nathan shook his head slightly. None of this made sense. He had spent the last few days trying to convince Paige that he knew her and she had fought him every step of the way. They had entered the room only seconds ago and yet already she was certain the old man on the bed was her father, even though she remembered him dying.

His laugh caught everyone off guard. It actually took Nathan a moment to realize he'd been the one who'd laughed. He dismissed the questioning gazes of the others with a wave of his hand. How could he explain that he was partially upset with Paige for doing exactly what he had done only days earlier in the airport. He had seen her and instantly known, believed, it was her, just as she was doing now with the man on the bed.

"How?" she asked again, looking from Jason to Julie and back again.

Jason cleared his throat and wiped at the tears. "So much to tell you. So much," he paused again and gently slapped his right hand against his head. "So much, I don't remember. Julie, help me remember. Please."

Paige studied the face of the man for a minute before looking over at Julie. "What is wrong with him?"

Nathan studied the woman and swore the look on her face was guilt.

Julie sighed. "As your dad said, so much to explain."

"So he really is her father?"

"Yes. No." Julie tossed her hands up in frustration. "I don't know exactly how I would say it. He is Jason Kendall and he had a daughter named Paige."

"And she died in a fire?" Paige asked.

"Not in the fire," Jason corrected. "After the fire."

"Can we start from the beginning?" Nathan asked.

Jason began to open his mouth, but Julie waved him quiet.

"No, not yet. I am not comfortable sitting here. I am not comfortable being here at all. I want to keep moving."

"We jumped through all your hoops already. You still think we are being followed or tracked?" Nathan asked.

"Yes, I know it sounds paranoid, but you don't know who we are dealing with. I need to be paranoid," Julie said. "I think I am going to need to be paranoid for the rest of my life."

Nathan could hear the sadness in her voice and he honestly felt sorry for her. She looked tired, borderline exhausted. He didn't know what this woman had been going through or how long she had been going through it, but it was quite clear she was on edge.

"So what do you want from us?"

Julie looked at Paige and considered her question. She could see confusion in the girl's face and hear the desperation in her voice. She could see the same look in Jason and she had to fight her urge to breakdown in tears.

"I'm sorry, Paige. You've no clue the danger we are in. I am just not comfortable staying in one place, not here anyway. By this time, my original plan had Jason and I a very long way away from here."

"Well I need to know what the hell is going on," Paige said, looking from Julie to Jason. "A few days ago I thought I knew everything about myself and my past, but that was all a lie. I...I died, maybe? I remember my father dying, but..." She gestured at Jason. "I see that I am wrong about that too. Is anything I think I know real?"

Her voice was cracking, she was on the verge of completely losing it. Nathan went to her and put his arms around her, doing his best to comfort her.

"Okay, you don't want to stay in one place too long, then let's get out of here. We can take my car or yours, whichever. We can drive wherever you want and while we do, you can explain all this. Deal?"

All eyes were on Julie, even Jason's. His most of all, actually. They seemed to be pleading with her. Nathan got the impression that he needed this even more than Paige.

"You didn't have us jump through all those hoops just to let Paige see her father and then leave us high and dry, did you?"

Julie swore under her breath. "No, I guess not. Jason, are you up for more time in the car?"

He shook his head yes.

"Okay, can you help him to the car? He's getting his muscle strength back, but he is still hurting more then he will let on."