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It was 10:30am. That meant he had to stop stalling.
Jason took a deep breath and gently knocked on the door to room 427 of the children’s ICU.
The door was opened by a small girl. She was maybe 12 or 13 with dark eyes and hair. She looked very tired.
Jason put on his pleasant smile. “Are you Emily?” he asked.
“No,” she said flatly.
“Sarah, who is that?” another called voice from inside the room.
Jason looked past Sarah to see a couple sitting in the room.
“My name is Jason. I’m with Wishes Granted. I’m here to see Emily Baxter.”
Sarah moved aside to let him in. She went to curl up into her own chair next to the patient bed.
When Jason looked at the patient in the bed it was like getting gut-punched.
Emily couldn’t have been more than 7. She was laying in a bed that was far too big for her. Bandages covered her head and face. Her neck was in a brace. She had a set of tubes going into her nose and another in her mouth. It looked like machines were breathing for her.
Oh God.
He turned to the parents. He now read the fear, exhaustion and hurt in their eyes. Mom had a bandage around her wrist. Dad had some minor cuts on his face.
“If you don’t mind me asking, could you tell me what happened?”
Mom’s eyes drifted to the floor. Dad put an arm around her shoulders.
“Car accident,” Mr. Baxter said. “T-boned at an intersection.” His voice was toneless but Jason could see the boiling rage he was barely holding in check.
“What happened to the other driver?”
“Don’t know. Hit and run.”
Oh God.
While it would be easy for Jason to breakdown for or with this family, that was not his job. His job was to talk to the kid who requested the hero, make sure the request was legit and then get the hero to pay a visit.
“Well Mr. and Mrs. Baxter, I really do hope Emily gets better. I can still try to get her Wishes request granted.”
Mr. Baxter now looked confused.
“What request?”
“Her request to meet a super... hero.” Jason answered. He did not want to tell these parents their little girl had actually requested to a meet a super villain. He would have to tell them eventually but not right now.
“Emily’s been in a coma since the accident. There’s no way she made the request.”
“I made a the request.”
They all turned to Sarah, sitting next to Emily’s bed.
“I asked for Emily,” she said, her chin held high.
Jason did not see any injuries on her. She must have been very lucky.
At first Jason had thought this girl was very sad. And she was. But now that he was really looking at her he could see that she was angry. She had that same boiling rage her father but with less control.
Jason instantly knew there was something going on here that wasn’t being said. He needed to talk to Sarah.
But a grown man asking to a have a private conversation with a 12 year old was all kinds of weird.
“You made the request? You asked for a super... hero?” He raised an eyebrow at her.
Sarah looked at Jason for a long moment and then turned to her parents.
“Mom? Dad? I’m going to go get a soda.”
They nodded. Mom had gone back staring at her other daughter while tears slowly streamed down her face.
“Mr. Jason? Will you come with me?”
Jason nodded and followed her out of the room.
They walked down a hall to a deserted cafeteria. They were far enough away from anyone that they could talk without being heard.
Now Sarah looked up at him. She squared her shoulders.
“I made the request. I want to meet Brain Power.”
Her face was determined. It would have been adorable if Jason couldn’t see that she was barely holding it together.
“Why?”
“Because he’s psychic. No other superhero is. The doctor’s are saying that Emily might not wake up. Ever. He can talk to her. Get her to wake up.”
Jason blinked for a second.
That... actually was kind of a brilliant idea. Aside from the super villain part.
There were no psychic heroes. There were a couple that had mental abilities but it was more like various forms of telekinesis. Brain Power was the only known psychic.
He was classified as a villain. He wasn’t the most wanted villain. Jason wasn’t sure he had even made any top 10 wanted list in the last several years. Most of his crimes consisted of wrecking science type companies he didn’t like.
He did rob the occasional bank... now that Jason was thinking about it, Brain Power had never been accused of murder. Any deaths attributed to him had been deemed indirect collateral from hero confrontation.
What was he thinking?!
He was not seriously considering this.
The Gentleman Bastard was one thing.
But this?!
This was going way over his pay-grade.
“But he’s a villain. What about someone who would actually be willing to help? Like Captain Righteous or Storm Que-”
“What are they gonna do? They’re not psychic. Flying and having a cool cape does not help my sister.”
Jason pulled out a chair and sat down to be at eye level with her.
“Look, kid-”
“I’m not a ki-”
“Yes, you are. And you are asking me to risk my life, your life, your sister’s life, your parent’s lives and potentially the lives of everyone in this hospital, to bring you a super villain who may or may not give you what you want. You ever think about that?”
She blinked at him. He could see that she had not been thinking about that. Not that he blamed her. She was in an awful situation right now.
“If you want me to go get Brain Power, talk me into it. Convince me.”
She took a moment to answer.
“'Emily is dying by inches. That’s what the doctor said when he thought I couldn’t hear. She is dying because her brain isn’t doing what it’s supposed to do. There is a complicated word for it but I don’t remember it. If she wakes up she will probably live. But she isn’t waking up.
“Mom keeps saying she’s strong but that’s bullshit. She’s 7 years old. Whatever the doctor’s are doing isn’t working. I don’t think they know what to do.
“But out there, somewhere,” Sarah pointed to the windows on the far side of the cafeteria. “Is a psychic man. He could actually get through to my sister. Talk to her. Maybe she doesn’t understand. Maybe she just needs to be told to wake up.
“Okay, Brain Power is technically a super villain but almost everything he has done has been to stop even worse people from doing something very bad stuff. And he has never killed anyone directly. Is that great? No. But it’s definitely better than someone like Dreadnought.
“And yes, this is a crazy plan but it’s better than nothing.”
She looked Jason straight in the eye.
“What if she was your sister?”
Jason sighed.
Dammit.
“Okay, Sarah, I am going to very honest with you about this,” he said.
Her face fell.
“No, no, don’t do that. I didn’t say no.”
She raised her eyebrows.
“I don’t know if I can get Brain Power to visit your sister. But I can try. I can ask. I don’t know how long it will take. I won’t make a promise I can’t follow through on.
“But here is the catch that comes with this: if it means putting you, your sister, or any other civilian in danger—deal’s off. I can’t help anyone if I’m dead. Fair?”
Sarah thought on it for a long moment and then finally nodded.
“But you’ll actually, like, try to ask him? For real?”
“For real. I will ask.”
She broke into a smile and threw her arms around his neck. Jason gently patted her back.
“Okay, let’s get you back to your parents.”
She let go of him. She seemed a little happier, not much, but a little.
They walked back to Emily’s room.
Jason collected their contact information and spun some lie about going to ask a superhero to pay a visit.
The Baxter’s seemed indifferent to it. They just continued to stare at Emily.
Jason excused himself. He went to his car, got in and sighed loudly.
Again.
_________
After as much research as he could stand (Sarah’s information had been pretty spot on) he did the only thing he could think of.
Jason went to stake out Hattie’s Pub for the Gentleman Bastard.
He lucked out. Beaumont showed later that night.
Jason walked into the seedy bar. He spotted Thomas Beaumont sitting alone, drinking and watching the ancient TV. Much like in the first time Jason had met him.
Except that time Jason had mouthed off and Beaumont had shoved a gun to his head. Jason had been extremely lucky to get out of that.
He sat down next to Beaumont and ordered a round for the both of them. The bartender silently gave them their drinks.
Beaumont turned to Jason. He took a sip of his new drink and smiled slightly.
Jason kept his cool. This man was dangerous. Provoking him a second time would not end well.
“Hello again,” the older man said with a very slight French accent.
“Hello, sir.”
“Mark?” Beaumont asked hesitantly.
“He's fine,” Jason answered. “Still in treatment but fine. The doctor’s are liking his progress. They are hoping for remission.”
Beaumont nodded, relieved.
Mark had been a kid who several months ago asked to have the Gentleman Bastard pay him a visit.
“Then what brings you by, boy?”
“I was hoping to consult your expertise, sir. I got another... unusual request.”
Beaumont raised an eyebrow. “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. Damned if I know how I’m gonna pull this off. Truthfully sir, you are the only person I thought I could even ask about this.”
He took another drink. “Well, son. Now you’ve got me intrigued. Ask.”
Might as well just go for it, Jason thought.
“Do you know Brain Power?”
Beaumont actually choked on his drink. He nearly spit it across the bar.
“What?!”
Jason said nothing. He sat there enjoying the show of the Gentleman being flustered. It was pretty funny although Jason did nothing to indicate this. He enjoyed being alive.
“Brain Pow—why would someone want—Why?!”
Now Jason did crack a smile. “That was also my response. But yeah."
He very briefly explained the request and situation.
Beaumont looked at his drink silently then back to Jason.
“Is the request legit?”
“Yes.”
“And it’s not a set up?”
“No sir.”
“How long does the little girl have?”
Now Jason stared at his own drink.
“A week... maybe.”
The Gentleman sighed. “I don’t know Brain Power. But I know someone who does.”
Jason’s eyebrows rose just slightly.
“I’ll get them to contact you.”
“Who is this person?” Jason asked.
The Gentleman paused and then smirked... kind of evilly.
“I had better not say. They like their privacy. And you won’t like the answer.”
Jason’s stomach dropped.
What did that mean?
Beaumont downed the rest of his drink and stood.
“Time to get going. If my contact comes through I’ll text you.”
Jason just nodded.
He really wanted to know who this contact was...
But at the same time, he was pretty sure he didn’t want to know.
Shit.
He felt a hand slap him on the back.
“See you around, kid.”
“Sir?”
Beaumont turned to look at him.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet.”
_________
As Jason drove home, in a mild state terror, wondering who might end up contacting him, he realized he had never given the Gentleman Bastard his number.
He probably didn’t need it to find Jason.
Which was another terrifying thought.
Jason decided to run some errands to get his mind off of... everything.
__________
It was after dark when Jason got back to his apartment. He had several grocery bags hanging from his arms as he let himself in.
When he flicked the light switch nothing happened.
Dammit.
Well, he probably had extra light bulbs somewhere.
Someone was sitting in his arm chair looking at him in the dark.
Jason jumped, all of the bags fell to the floor but he managed to not let out a high pitched shriek.
The... person? was sitting in the chair was tall and lanky. Some light from the window behind them highlighted their silhouette. They seemed to be wrapped in bandages head to toe. Almost like a mummy but these bandages were black.
There was only 1 person this could be.
The Crimson Moon. The deadliest assassin in the world.
“You are Jason?” they asked. Their voice was quiet and without accent.
Jason nodded. “Did the Gentleman Bastard send you?”
The assassin nodded.
Jason unclenched ever so slightly. This had to be the contact the Gentleman Bastard had mentioned.
He was still terrified but the logical part of his brain was telling him this was how he was going to get the job done. Besides there was no way he warranted being murdered by Crimson Moon. Jason was not that important. This person probably didn’t even get out of bed for less then 10 million.
“Well,” Jason manged to keep his voice from breaking. “I’ll get to the point. I work for Wishes Granted. There is a little girl who is requesting to meet Brain Power. How might I get in contact with him for this request?”
Crimson Moon did not move for several seconds.
Neither did Jason. He was too scared.
“You are serious,” the assassin said.
“Yes,” Jason answered. “This is not a joke or a set up or a trap.” Again, he explained the request.
Crimson Moon stood and moved toward a window that Jason now noticed was open.
How had they gotten in? The apartment was on the 11th floor and there was no outside fire escape. How were they going to get out? Jason was standing in front of the only exit.
“I will relay this request,” Crimson Moon said as they quietly as climbed out of the window.
Jason’s heart jumped into his throat. He didn’t want to do it but he had to.
“Wait!”
The assassin stopped.
“Look, if Brain Power doesn’t want to help that’s fine. I just don’t want any innocent people getting hurt.”
Crimson Moon looked at him for a long time again.
Damn, that stare made Jason uncomfortable and he couldn’t even see it.
“Brain Power does not plot against innocent civilians,” the assassin said.
And on that cryptic note, the Crimson Moon dropped out of the window.
Jason waited 30 seconds. He didn’t hear a thud or any screaming.
He ran to the window and looked out. The street below was going about its usual business. He looked up to the buildings around his block.
He saw nothing.
Jesus flippin' Christ. He hadn’t been that scared since the Gentleman Bastard had put a gun to his head.
A loud beep caused him to jump and smack the back of his head into the open window.
He hissed as he rubbed the fresh bump on his head and pulled out his phone.
It was a text message from Thomas.
Jason knew only 1 Thomas.
Thomas: My contact agreed to talk to you tonight.
Jason: Yeah. Already happened... a warning would have been nice, Jason answered back. He received an answer a few seconds later.
Thomas: lol but less entertaining. How did it go?
Jason scowled. At least his terror was amusing someone. He sat down on his couch.
Jason: They said they would relay the message.... I have a question.
Thomas: Yes?
Jason: Is this safe? For the little girl? For her family? For the hospital?
For me? he thought to himself.
Jason watched the “typing” bubble while his stomach tied itself in knots.
Thomas: If this were anything else I would say no. But as long as you don’t do anything too stupid, it’ll be fine.
This did not make Jason feel any better.
What in hell was he doing? Why was he doing this? This was dangerous! This was suicide!
Emily is dying by inches, Sarah said in his head.
Jason sighed, stood, and began to clean up his spilled groceries.
_________
JASON.
He bolted up awake.
The room was silent and dark. There was no one there. The place felt empty.
But someone had yelled at him.
There was a sudden pressure in his head. Not painful per se. Like there was one too many people trying to occupy the same space.
Come up to the roof. I would speak with you.
He took several deep breaths to try and slow his heart. The roof, cool, cool, cool.
Jason got out of bed, threw on an old shirt, a pair of shorts and sneakers sans socks. Normally when going to meet with a prospective... client, yeah let’s use that word, he might have dressed more formally out of deference to them.
But if they were going to invade his brain and wake him up in the middle of the night, they got a ratty Aerosmith shirt and gym shorts.
Your appearance does not matter to me.
“Some privacy please?” he snapped. “I’ll be up in a minute.”
If Brain Power didn’t want any snark, he could have show up during normal business hours.
The pressure in his brain immediately stopped. Jason took a moment to splash some water on his face and run his hands through his hair. He grabbed his keys and headed up to the roof to meet with a super villain.
_________
The night air was cool as Jason stepped out on to the roof. Buildings and lights stretched to the horizon. The sounds of cars and sirens seemed softer up here.
Standing to one side of the roof with his hands behind his back was a tall and very thin man. Even with his tailored clothes Jason could see he was almost a stick.
Jason slowly walked over to him trying to be as not silent as possible. He stopped several feet away from the man.
“Please forgive the heavy handed mental intrusion but you are a deep sleeper.”
His voice was very normal sounding but his words were clipped. It was almost an accent.
He turned around.
Jason hadn’t expected him to be so average looking. Like an overworked office exec. He had short dark hair that receded at the temples. His eyes were dark with bags under them and set over a nose and chin that were a little too pointy.
There was a long ragged scar going across his forehead.
Jason glanced at it and then made a very conscious effort to only look him in the eye.
“I was told that you have a request for me.”
Jason took a long breath. Here goes.
“I work for Wishes Granted. I was contacted by a girl named Sarah. Here little sister Emily is in a coma from a car accident. Sarah thinks that since you are psychic you can help in Emily’s recovery.”
Jason noticed that Brain Power’s eye ticked when he said the word coma. In his research, he had learned that Brain Power had gained his powers while he was in a coma. Or at least that was the main theory on how it happened. There were no actual records that could be checked. No one knew Brain Power’s real name.
“What exactly does this child think I can do? I do not possess healing abilities.”
Jason shrugged. “Sarah seems to think that if someone could talk to her sister it might get her to wake up. The doctor’s haven’t been able to manage it.”
Brain Power turned away from Jason, looking out at the city skyline. He had gone from a relaxed pose to very tense.
It was several moments before the villain said anything.
“Do you know what it’s like to be in a coma, Jason?”
“No sir, I don’t.”
“Let me assure you, it is awful. Waking up from it is just as awful. It is not like waking up from a nap. That is what people do not understand.”
He stared out into a the middle distance before continuing.
“There is so much that is not understood about the human brain and consciousness.”
“Could you yell her awake like you just did me?” Jason asked.
Brain Power scoffed. “Would that I could, Jason.”
He could sworn he heard a bit of regret in Brain Power’s answer.
“Well, I guess that would be nice. Look Mr... um... I’m sorry but I don’t know your name, so Mr. Brain Power, if you feel you can’t help it’s okay. I can tell Sarah what you told me. It was a long shot anyway.”
Brain Power turned and looked at Jason quizzically.
“I did not refuse the request. I simply stated the unlikelihood of my interaction having the intended affect.”
Jason blinked several times. “Oh, well... okay then. As long as you agree not to hurt anyone.”
“There is one other condition,”
Jason felt his stomach sink.
“I will visit this patient as long as you are present.”
Okay, that wasn’t so bad.
“And you promise the not harm anyone?” Jason needed to be sure.
“As long as I am not attacked.”
He guessed that was fair.
“Okay then. You meet with the patient and her sister, I will be there, no one gets hurts and everyone else leaves you alone. When can you go to the hospital?”
“Tomorrow. I will contact you when I am ready to arrive.”
“Uh... okay. Do you want my number?”
Brain Power scoffed bemusedly. “Jason, I do not need a phone to contact you. See you tomorrow.”
Jason blinked and he was gone. Actually he was standing in his bedroom again.
When had he gotten off the roof? How had he gotten off the roof?
He was still wearing his shoes.
Whatever Brain Power had done had made Jason walk from the roof, down 4 flights of stairs and back into his own apartment.
That wasn’t terrifying at all.
Jason decided to not think about it. He kicked off his shoes and got into the bed.
________
Jason arrived at Emily’s room at 10:00am the next day. Her parents were still sitting by her side. Mom was holding her little hand. Sarah was sitting on the other side of bed.
She turned and sat up a little straighter when Jason walked in.
He gave her a slight smile.
Mom and Dad barely gave him a glance.
“Mr. and Mrs. Baxter, Sarah, I spoke with the hero. They said they would try to stop by today.”
Sarah’s face changed from dejected to a little hopeful.
“Would it be alright if I stayed for a bit. Just till they come by?”
The parents nodded slowly.
Jason looked at Sarah.
“I’ll wait out in the hall.”
He turned, left the room, closing the door behind him.
Out in the hallway, it was like many other hospitals Jason had been to. Pristine, white and smelled of cleaning supplies. There were some colorful shapes painted on the wall that did not make this place cheerful.
There was a nurse station down the hall where staff, visitors and some of the more mobile patients were going to and from.
He found a bench near the door. He sat and prepped himself for a long wait. He had no idea when Brain Power would be coming so he pulled a paperback out of his pocket and began to read.
After a few minutes, he saw Sarah sit down next to him.
“Is he coming?” she asked quietly.
“He said he would be here today.” He closed his book and turned to Sarah. He spoke gently and calmly.
“Sarah, I told him what you were asking. I have to honest here, he said that he did not think he could do what you are hoping for.”
Sarah pulled her knees up to her chest and hugged them tightly. She furrowed her eyebrows and tried to keep herself under control.
“They’ve tried everything else. She’s still not awake. I just thought…” she trailed off.
The sudden quiet made Jason look up. Something was off. Hospitals were never silent.
It took him a moment but when he saw it, a chill ran down his spine.
Every single person was not moving. They stood or sat very still with blank expressions, staring straight ahead.
Sarah’s eyes were wide and frightened.
“I think he’s here,” Jason said.
“Why aren’t they moving?” she whispered.
“I think he’s doing this so no one will see him.”
On cue, the elevator at the end of the hall dinged and opened.
Brain Power stepped out wearing a dark suit and tie and began to walk toward them.
Jason stood up and turned toward him. He felt Sarah clutch his hand. He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
The gravity of what she asked for seemed to have just really hit her.
Brain Power walked up to them and stopped.
“Hello again, Jason.”
“Hello, sir. Think you for coming.”
Brain Power looked down at Sarah. His face softened and he gave her a very slight smile.
“Are you the young lady who requested my visit?”
She nodded as she clenched Jason’s hand tightly.
“What is your name?”
“Sarah,” she squeaked.
“Sarah, I promise you have nothing to fear from me.”
She glanced behind him at the unmoving people and then back to Brain Power.
“They are in no danger. It is simply a precaution so that no one knows I am here. I cannot attempt to speak with your sister if there is a SWAT team trying to arrest me. They will return to normal, with no memory lapse, once I am out of sight.”
She glanced up at Jason. He nodded reassuringly to her. If Brain Power could make him walk from his apartment roof back down to his bedroom and make it seem instant, he was sure Brain Power make it seem like nothing happened for a couple minutes.
Sarah glanced at the door to her sister’s room and then back to Brain Power. She took a deep breath as she stood up straighter. She looked him right in the eye as she spoke.
“My little sister was in a car accident. She’s in a coma and can’t wake up. I’m hoping you can help her wake up. She’s 7 years old.”
Brain Power bent down on one knee to be more at eye level with her.
“Sarah, I will be very honest with you. I do not know if I can help your sister. But I will see if there is anything I can do.”
She nodded.
Brain Power stood up. “Let’s get started shall we?”
He opened the door to Emily’s room and went in. Jason and Sarah followed him.
The Baxter parent’s look up when they entered. Immediately their eyes glazed over and their expressions slackened. In unison, they stood up, walked into the hallway and closed the room door.
“They should not see me,” Brain Power explained. “They will be fine.”
He turned to look at Emily.
Jason watched as several emotions passed over the villain’s face. Sadness, pain, anger and compassion all in one.
“What is her name?” Brain Power asked quietly.
“Emily,” Jason answered.
“Alright, let us begin.”
The super villain walked over to the bed and sat down in the chair were Mom had been sitting. He closed his eyes.
Jason and Sarah stood at the foot of the bed. They made no noise. They both looked back and forth between Brain Power and Emily, looking for a sign of anything. A twitch, a change in heartbeat, something that showed that he was getting through.
Jason did not know how long they stood there. Time seemed to stretch. He did not think it was Brain Power affecting them. Just the tension and hope of the situation.
Finally, Brain Power opened his eyes. He turned to look at Sarah.
Jason knew that it did not work.
“I am very sorry Sarah but Emily is gon-”
“NO!” she screamed. She ran over to Brain Power as he stood up. Tears began falling down her face. She grabbed his jacket in both hands.
“No! She has to be in there! You have to wake her up! Please! Please wake her up!”
Jason moved to pull Sarah off Brain Power but the villain held up his hand to stop him.
Brain Power stood very still as he looked down at Sarah. The same expression of sadness and compassion when he had seen Emily was turned on Sarah.
“Sarah, she is gone. There is nothing there to contact,” he said gently.
“B-B-But she’s s-s-still alive!” she cried through her sobs.
“Her body is alive for now. But the part that was your sister is gone. I’m sorry but I cannot do anything for her.”
Now Sarah fully broke down. She fell to her knees and wept.
This had been the one thing she had been hanging on to. The long shot that might have worked when nothing else had. Jason’s own tears begin to fall.
“I’m sorry!” Sarah cried out. “God, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. Please make her okay!”
She didn’t mean to?
Brain Power and Jason both glanced at each other.
What was she saying?
It sounded like this was Sarah’s fault. But the family had been hit by another driver. She was only 12, there was no way she could have been driving.
How could this possibly have been her fault?
Brain Power knelt down took Sarah’s hands. He gently pulled her up to stand.
She had eyes squeezed shut, her face was grimace. She was in agony.
“SARAH.”
Brain Power’s voice cut through everything. She stopped and looked up at him. Her face slackened, just as her parents had, and she stopped crying.
“What are you doing?” Jason asked.
Without looking at him Brain Power answered “Finding out what really happened. Sarah, explain.”
Sarah spoke tonelessly, halfway between being sleepy and spaced out.
“We were going to Aunt June’s house. I didn’t want to go. I was arguing with Dad while he was driving. I made him not pay attention and we crashed. It’s my fault Emily is dying.”
Brain Power paused and then closed his eyes again.
Jason saw movement under his eyelids, like he was dreaming. Sarah did not move, her expression did not change.
What was going on? Should stop it? How?
As Brain Power opened his eyes Sarah’s expression returned back to normal.
She sort of began to cry again but looked like she was trying to get herself back under control while also looking very confused.
“Sarah,” Brain Power said with a sad smile. “I wish I could help your sister but I cannot. But I can offer you something. Do you see it?”
She nodded.
“Remember it. Tell the police and they will track down the driver that caused this and he will pay. Do you understand?”
She sniffed and nodded again.
“Good. Now remember this Sarah Baxter,” Brain Power looked her right in the eyes. He spoke gently but intently. “This was not your fault. I saw the accident through your memories. It is not your fault. Do not blame yourself.”
Sarah’s face began to crumble again, her lip quivered but she nodded.
Brain Power patted her on the shoulder. He turned to Jason and spoke in his head.
I must go. Make sure she gets any help she needs.
Jason nodded.
He blinked and Brain Power was gone.
Sarah stood next to her sister, staring down at her.
“What did you see? What did he show you? Jason asked.
“The license plate of the car that hit us,” she answered quietly. “I couldn’t remember it because it happened too fast. But he made it so I could see it and remember it.”
The door to the room opened. Mr. and Mrs. Baxter walked in. Sarah ran to her mom and hugged her. Both parents hugged her back.
Jason quietly left the room.
He wasn’t sure if what had happened was a good or a bad thing. But he knew that family did not need him there.
He could check back on Sarah later. If the Baxter’s needed any help after the loss of their daughter, he could offer his available resources to them.
Out in the hall, everything was back to normal. Everyone was carrying on like nothing had happened. There was no evidence that Brain Power had ever been there.
Jason needed a drink.
He drove to Hattie’s.
_________
When he arrived at the bar, he noticed it was only a little after 11:00am.
That whole incident had taken less then an hour.
Jason felt like a week had passed.
There were very few people in the bar this early. They glanced at him and went back to minding their business.
He sat down at the bar.
Hattie herself, a middle aged, hard looking woman with gray hair was minding the drinks today.
“You alright, kid?” she asked.
“Not really. Can I get a screwdriver, please?”
She pulled out a glass, made the drink, pushed it over to him and asked no questions.
He drank half the contents in one pull, set the glass down and covered his face with his hands.
The alcohol hit his churning stomach and did not make him feel better.
Why had he done that?
Why had he agreed to that?
Was it good that it had happened?
He didn’t think it was bad, but he still felt awful for Sarah and her family.
That poor girl.
How long had she been walking around with that guilt?
Had Brain Power gotten through to her?
Maybe he should quit working for-
“You shouldn’t drink alone when you’re going though something, kid.”
Jason looked up.
The Gentleman Bastard, Thomas Beaumont, was sitting on the next stool over. He was dressed in business casual and drinking coffee.
“Uh… what are you doing here?… sir?”
“Hattie called saying you were here. I guess the little girl didn’t make it.”
“It’s complicated but basically she’s not going to make it.”
Beaumont winced.
Jason turned to him. “Could you do me a favor?”
He raised a questioning eyebrow.
“I’m pretty sure the driver is going to be found. If it’s not too much trouble, could you make sure that he actually gets convicted and serves his time?”
Jason knew that the Gentleman Bastard had connections everywhere. Given his history with both sides of the law, he could easily make it happen.
“Funny you should ask that. Mr… Powers has already made that request. He explained the situation and believe me, that guy is never going to see the light of day ever again.”
“He… he asked you to help?”
Jason was surprised. He had thought that Brain Power had done his part and that was it.
“Oh yes,” Beaumont said as he took another sip of his coffee. “He also asked me to make sure you were okay. I heard it was quite the ordeal.”
Now Jason took another sip of his drink. He didn’t really want it anymore.
Knowing that there was going to be at least some justice at the end of this made him feel a little better.
“Yeah, it’s been a hell of a week.”
__________
Jason got the news of Emily’s death 2 days later. He attended the funeral, sitting in the back, keeping to himself. He also kept his distance at the burial.
Afterwards, while everyone was leaving, Sarah saw him. She left her parents side and walked over to him.
He saw that her eyes were red and puffy but she was managing as best she could.
“Hi Sarah,” he said.
“Hi. They arrested the guy the other day. He had been drunk and ran the light.”
Jason smiled. “I’m glad they caught him. I have it on good authority that he will be serving a long sentence for what he did.”
Sarah looked down at the ground and kicked a rock. “I’d rather have my sister back.”
“I know.”
She looked back up at him. “Will you tell him thank you for me?”
“I will.”
She gave him a small smile and walked back to her parents.
Jason walked back to his car. There was a tall, thin man in dark suit standing next to it, watching the procession.
“How is she doing?” Brain Power asked.
“Well, she’s getting more closure and justice than a lot of other people get. I think she’ll be okay… in time. She wanted to tell you thank you for what you did.”
Brain Power smiled, just a little.
_________
A week after the funeral, Jason was part of a group text from Mark Wilson.
“In remission, bitches! Going home next week. SUCK IT CANCER.”
Jason replied with a ton of emojis and gifs.
That’s what kids did these days right?
_________
Jason’s computer dinged a reminder at him. He sighed.
He stood up, went to Deloris’ office and knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
He didn’t want to but he did anyway.
“Ah, Jason, yes.” Deloris indicated for him to sit down. He sat.
She pulled out a file and laid it open on her desk.
Jason saw the label BAXTER.
Here we go.
“Well,” she said. “It seems you were not able to complete the request made by the Baxter’s.”
“Nope.”
“And yet it is marked on the satisfaction form that is filled out by the client that the request was completed. You were given 5 stars and a comment stating,” she picked up one of the forms and read in a deadpan tone “You are totally not paying Jason enough. Like, seriously.”
Jason smiled to himself. Sarah wasn’t wrong.
Deloris gave him a long look.
“So if I’m understanding this correctly, according to the records you submitted, you did not complete a request, the client states that you did, gave a glowing review and suggested we give you a raise. Is that the case?”
“I don’t know what to tell you, Deloris. It is what it is.”
She looked at him with narrowed eyes for a long time.
“Uh-huh,” she said finally. “Fine. We have another unusual request.”
She handed him a new file.
Please ask for a hero, please ask for the a hero, for the love of God. I don’t know if I can go through that again.
He opened the file.
“OH COME ON!”
Deloris gave him a smile of vengeful delight.
“Good luck.”