Chapter Text
It was a normal and sunny day in our city. My toast was just buttery enough and Grumm decided to go on a vacation or something. Sky and I were assigned to the morning patrol duty. We don't normally go to this part of town because most of the buildings are abandoned. I guess since we were not in a hurry to get back to SPD headquarters. We got out and walked down some of the narrow alleyways. I didn't know why I was doing it.
Maybe, Syd is right that I'm too nosy but the impressions from the alley were unpleasant. I could feel the air full of sickness, pain, anger, and worry. Normally, I wouldn't worry because I have been to places like here before. I guess curiosity killed the cat and me in the process. I removed my glove and waved my hand over the abandoned alleyway. I wasn't prepared for the images to hit me like a truck. I stumbled my way out from the alley.
Oh…CRAP!
I shook my head to clear out the images. I panted heavily and my body was trembling. I took several deep breaths before I tried to process the images. I couldn't believe what I had just seen. Sky saw my reaction and he was at my side. He was asking me what I saw and if I was alright. I lied through my teeth when I told him that I was alright and there was nothing we could do since it was a past event. Sky knew I was lying because he kept me concerned about looks on the way back to SPD. I couldn't lie my way out of a paper bag if I tried.
The next few days were tense. Sky told Jack and the Commander about the incident. Commander questioned me about what happened, and I couldn't lie this time. So, I told him what happened. The Commander remains silent. I could tell that what I said had affected him. He sighed softly and then he dismissed me. Before he left me go, he told me that he scheduled I and Jack for patrol on Wednesday. Gee…great. I and Jack get along great but after my little adventure in the ally. I just don't know what to do with this little piece of information I have discovered.
But an order is an order.
Wednesday afternoon came with a bang. The patrol was quiet.
"Okay, Bridge. What are you hiding and why are you being so quiet?" Jack said. Leave it to Jack to be so blunt.
"Well, you see…The Commander ordered me to go on patrol because of what I saw. I don't really want to tell you because it isn't happy. I know how much you guys like to avoid talking about the streets. I didn't mean to bring it up. I didn't mean to look but the feelings were so heavy in the air. You always said curiosity would kill me. Well, I don't want to die. The vision was you fighting this really big guy and Z was lying on the ground. She didn't look too good. Well, you don't have to tell me." I said rapidly. For a second, Jack didn't say a thing. It was just silent. I hate silence. I really do. Jack looked from the road to me.
"Show me."
I gave him directions to the alley and drove to the alley in silence. Once we got there, we got out of the vehicle, and I watched as Jack walked down the alley. I didn't need to look at his face. I could see the emotions in the air. It made my skin crawl and my chest tighten. I didn't need to wave my hand to tell that Jack was lost in the memories. His eyes were looking out into the distance and his body was stiff. It was another silent moment. One of the few times that I didn't know what to say.
"It was winter about three years ago. We were getting winter stuff for the homeless from a warehouse, but the owner caught us. She needed to duplicate herself to get us out of the jam. One of the side effects of her powers is a weak immune system. She must have caught something at the warehouse. That night she fell ill. For days, I tried everything to get her better. She continued to get worse with every passing day. Nothing seems to work. So, I decided to take her to the clinic. One of the risks, someone would recall us from the wanted posters. We would get arrested before Z could get help. It was a risk I was willing to take." Jack said softly.
I knew their lives on the streets were not happy. Now, I'm getting a firsthand account on what happened to them. It makes me a little sad but a little honored as well. They shouldn't have to go through this. We should have done something. Maybe we should try to find them soon. I don't know what, but I wish we could have done something. My mom once said you cannot change the past, but you cannot help but look back on it. I shook my head out of my thoughts and listened as Jack continued his story.
"I wrap her as many clothes as possible before carrying her out of our hideout. Z was light because she lost so much weight. The night was bitterly cold and I swear I could hear my bones tremble in my body. I took the back alleys that night because I thought it would be a quick way to the clinic. I was wrong." Jack said as he walked to a spot by a garage cans.
"I was ambushed by a junkie in this alley. I have no clue why he was out on this cold night. Maybe, he was so high to not know the difference. The guy just jumped me from behind. I fell on my back and nearly crashed into poor Z. I was able to set her on the ground before the junky could attack me again. I just want to knock him out or scare him away. We tumbled on the ground for a bit but I felt something hit my gut. It was a knife. It was a sharp pain that slowly traveled to my brain. My phasing abilities kick in and I phrase out the path of the knife. The junkie must have gone into shock or something because he started to shake and scream. He kept saying I was a ghost. Then he stopped shaking and his glassy eyes were staring at me. It scared me to see a guy die before me. I didn't know what to do. So, I picked up Z and ran. I didn't stop running until I reached the clinic." Jack said.
"What happened next?" I said.
"We survived, of course. We went to the clinic. Z was given antidotes, and I was patched up. The junky wasn't so lucky. I read in the paper that he had died of a heart attack." Jack said.
"Jack…Thanks. You didn't have to tell me." I said.
"I did a lot of things I regret but I guess we have to face the past sometimes. Come on, Bridge. Let's finish our patrol before the Big Blue comes calling." Jack said.
I chuckled a little as we walked back to the jeep. I guess being curious isn't too bad as long as it doesn't kill me.
The End.