Back to the Future

[solaris]

Fasten your seatbelts!

Chapter 22

Buzzzzzzzzz!! The unforgiving sound of an alarm clock reverberated around Nicole's room, how had it got to Monday already? She silenced it and started towards the bathroom for a shower, the sound of running water checked her and she realised that Aden must be already moving. By the time she'd made it for a shower and got dressed, Aden was already in the kitchen finishing breakfast.

“You were up early!”

He smirked at her over his shoulder.

“Some of us actually work out in a morning. I made you coffee when I heard you moving, it's on the counter.”

“Uh, thanks...what have you done to it? Salt instead of sugar?”

He rolled his eyes in exasperation.

“Some things I'll mess with, coffee isn't one of them.”

Nicole grabbed the mug and some cereal, then sat down opposite him.

“I really hope things are settling down around here, there seems to have been constant mayhem for weeks.”

Aden muttered a response but it inaudible, Nicole prompted him to repeat it.

“I said, 'I don't think we're done yet'”

Belle was in the city, she was taking portrait pictures for a small scale publication. It was her first actual solo assignment and she was desperate to do a good job, she just wished that she could shake the feeling that she was being watched. Ah well, there was nothing she could do about it now – she'd just have to fill the cops in when she got back. In the meantime, she'd stay in places where there were plenty of people.

The session went well and she finished earlier than expected, as she reviewed her work she was pleased to note it was better than any similar work she'd done previously. Approaching her car, she again got the feeling that she was being watched...but this time it was different. This time it was almost like a premonition of danger, she wasn't going to ignore it. Moving out of the car park, she crossed the street and headed straight for the police station. By the time she crossed the threshold, her mobile was already in her hand with Senior Constable Donovan's number on the screen.

The bell rang for the end of class, there was the shuffle of books being collected.

“Okay, please remember that your assignments are due in by the end of the week. I don't...”

“Sorry to interrupt you Mr Copeland. Miss Franklin, I would like to see you in my office once class has been dismissed.”

Principle Bartlett left as quickly as he'd appeared, leaving Miles to conclude his lesson.

“Now what was I saying? Oh yes, well, you all know my stance on late work so I won't repeat it again. Go on, get out of here before I give you another assignment!”

Most of his class laughed, he was a popular and well respected teacher. They made their collective escape without dawdling.

“Any idea what the principle wants?”

Nicole shrugged.

“Probably to have a go at me...again. I'd better go, see you at lunch?”

Geoff smiled and agreed, he was enjoying getting to know the real Nic. He headed off to his next class without further delay, it would be typical that he got a detention on the day he had a date. With an excited chuckle, he took his seat in class.

“Come in.”

Nicole opened the door to the principles office and went in, she stood in front of his desk and waited.

“Sit down Nicole.”

Nicole did as she was told, when she looked directly at the man before her his indrawn breath was sharp. Guilt speared through Martin Bartlett and it wasn't a good feeling, the strain that Nicole had been under – what ever it's origin – was evident on her face.

“I want to apologise Nicole.”

Her surprise was ill-concealed and she couldn't stop the question that left her lips.

“Apologise for what Sir?”

Suspicion coloured her tone, understandable under the circumstances he supposed.

“I misjudged you on Friday, I should have seen that your distress was more serious than just an emotional out burst. As has been pointed out to me, there has been a great deal happening. I ought to have considered that you may have been affected.”

Nicole nodded, not really believing what was being said.

“Is that everything Sir?”

“Yes, for now at least. You may go...unless you have any questions?”

Nicole stood and walked to the door before turning to face him again.

“Just one question, if I can ask it without getting into any more trouble.”

Confusion coloured the principle's features and he made the assurance she wanted.

“Did you not see the distress or consider it's possible cause, or did you choose to disregard the issues because they didn't fit your opinion of me?”

Every crap of colour drained from his face as his student left the office, did she really believe that he'd wilfully neglect his student's well-being? Dropping his head, he had to acknowledge that she would have grounds to believe that of him.

Classes had just resumed after lunch, when Principle Bartlett had to interrupt another English lesson.

“Mr Copeland, my apologies again. Aden, would you come to my office please.”

Aden collected his things, ice cold fear lodging in his chest. He barely held himself together long enough to ask about homework.

“I'll drop by Roman's and leave you the information you need, now go on...don't keep the principle waiting”

Smiling his thanks, he left the class room and hurried to the main office. When he got there, the blood in his veins ran to ice.

“There's been an incident Aden, Belle's been targeted again. She's alright, but the break lines on her car were cut.”

Aden went light headed, he sat down in a hurry.

“Was there an accident, wha...”

“Slow down son, she never got in the car. When Belle felt that she was being watched again, she did the smart thing and headed to the nearest police station. They decided to check the car after hearing about what's been happening here, that's when the cut lines were found. You girlfriend is on her way back to the bay, but we're concerned that you're the next target.”

Aden had to agree, it was a logical progression. The police wanted him to go with them to the station to meet Belle and be interviewed again, with no argument from Principle Bartlett they left. Aden indicated that he needed his house keys from his locker, so they went down the main corridor. They had just reached his locker when...

BOOM!!

The locker exploded.

[LAURZY!]

really good update, please god let Aden be ok!!! really wasn't expecting that

[xknomex]

omg omg omg

ADEN

OMG

please please please

update soon.

(you could be really nice and update twice in one day )

[Taniya_K]

PLEASE DON'T KEEP US WAITING!

We need to know! Please?!

xoxo

[mk1diva]

OMG please let Aden be ok!! argh damn cliffhanger endings

update soon please

[whispered_envy]

What?!?! No! You can't do that! Ooo, I'm really enjoying this fic! Keep up the brilliant work!

[MissOlivia22]

OMG ADEN !!

Update soon ?

[xknomex]

any chance of an update tonight???

[solaris]

Without further hestation...

Warning - a fairly grusome scene is described.

Chapter 23

Aden dropped to the ground as his locker exploded, covering his head with his hands. When debris stopped raining down on him, he looked up. The scene that greeted him wouldn't have been misplaced in a horror film. The first thing he saw was the blood, too much blood. A quick check assured him that he was not injured – not seriously anyway, then he caught sight of the young police officer who had been between him and the locker. Fighting the urge to be sick, he yelled for help. Then he forced himself to check for any signs of life, to his surprise there was a pulse. Opening his mouth to shout again, he heard noise behind him.

The explosion had been heard in classrooms throughout the school, teachers were peering out to see what had happened. One teacher heard the shout for help and had gone to investigate, as she approached the carnage the fire alarm sounded and all hell broke loose.

It was some time before the crime scene had been secured and a police officer was able to drive Aden to the station. He knew that Belle would be frantic, especially if she'd been expecting him.

“Oh my God! Aden, what happened?”

Although the police had taken his clothes for testing and let him put clean ones on, he still looked a mess. A shower was definitely a priority! He staggered as Belle launched herself at him, wrapping around him so tightly that there wasn't a millimetre of daylight between them. Not that he was complaining, he couldn't think of many things better than having Belle in his arms.

“My locker was rigged, it exploded.”

Belle tucked her face into his neck and kissed him, ignoring the grime.

“He tried for both of us...he's not going to give up is he?”

“No Miss Taylor, it appears that he is not going to give up.”

They both looked towards the door at the unfamiliar voice, a plain cloths officer was stood there...a detective. Belle ran her hands into Aden's hair, an instinctive gesture that she'd done ever since they'd first dated. A bump at the back of his head caused her to pause, he'd been injured.

“Have you had your head checked out?”

“I'm fine Belle, really. What about you? The cop told me about the brake lines on your car!”

“I'm fine, didn't get in the car...you have a lump the size of a tennis ball on the back of your head, how did you get past the paramedics?”

“I just didn't mention it, told them I was fine and they believed me...unlike my worry wart of a girlfriend!”

Belle made a gesture that implied she was ready to strangle him, he infuriated her by laughing and dipping down to kiss her.

“I'm fine! If you're still worried when we're done here, I'll get it checked out.”

The detective looked on in manner that could only be described as disapproving.

“When you two have quite finished, we need to talk about what's happened and what's happening.”

Belle shot the detective a look that could have curdled milk.

“Forgive me for being concerned about my boyfriend when he's been the target of a bomb! I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name Detective...?”

“Jackson, Detective Ross Jackson. I'm sorry if I seem insensitive, the sooner we start the sooner we finnish - we could be here a while.”

The detective sat down and indicated for Belle and Aden to do likewise, he could understand their concern but he wanted to get the person responsible. His frame of mind was not being improved by the fact that the other detective who was meant to be here was, in fact, late.

“Mr Jeffries, Miss Taylor, please?”

They followed his direction, but before he start though his list of questions Aden spoke.

“Has there been any news about the officer who was taken to hospital? Have Roman and Irene been informed about the attacks? Did anyone make sure Nicole, Geoff and Annie know we're okay?”

Detective Jackson just shrugged, but before either Belle or Aden could comment Senior Constable Donovan walked in.

“Irene and Roman know where you both are, Roman knows that you'll be going for a check-up at the hospital after your done here Aden – yes I know about the bump! I've spoken to Geoff, Annie and Nicole, they're fine and I've re-assured that you're both okay. I thought you'd want them to know under the circumstances.”

Belle sagged with relief, leaning forward to rest her head on her folded arms.

“What about the officer who was taken to hospital? Any news?”

“He's in surgery, the doctors don't know if he'll make it yet.”

Aden sat back in his seat, the full horror of the day only just beginning to catch up with him. Belle sat up and reached for him, digging her fingers into his clenched fist. Eventually he opened his hand, linking his fingers through hers and accepting the comfort she offered. The door opened again, it was another detective who had just arrived.

“Right, now that my colleague is here we can get started properly. Miss Taylor, if you'll accompany Detective Rossetti?”

Belle stood and brushed a kiss across Aden's mouth before following the young detective out of the room, he held the door to the next interview room for her.

“Thanks.”

He smiled at her, the thought crossing his mind that it was a shame that she had a boyfriend. Dismissing the errant thought he waited for her to sit down.

“Can I get you anything Miss Taylor? A drink maybe?”

Belle shook her head.

“I'm fine thank you...well as fine as I can be! Let me see if I save you a few questions Detective.”

She started ticking off the questions she guessed would top his list.

“No, I don't really know Simon...I only met him once and didn't like him so avoided him. No I don't know why he's after either Aden or myself. No I don't know what kind of childhood he had, I do know that Aden went through some tough times...but that's his story to tell. I didn't see who put the note on my window or when, I didn't see anyone near my car either. I got the feeling I was being watched and headed to the closest police station. Does that cover a few of your questions Detective?”

A smile ghosted across the face of the man in front of her.

“It's Angelo, please. Do you mind me asking how many times you've given those answers today?”

A reluctant chuckle bubbled up in Belle's throat.

“About 5...they haven't changed!”

“I guess you'd be pretty fed up of them then, unfortunately I still have a list of questions for you – it has a few answers ticked off now.”

Three hours later, both Belle and Aden emerged from their respective interview rooms.

“How many ways can a cop possibly ask the same question?”

Aden's blatently over-acted dire tone lightened her own mood, she smiled.

“About fifty if Detective Rossetti...sorry Angelo...is characteristic of the the rest of them!”

"The cop was flirting with you?"

Belle shrugged.

"Don't know if that was the intention, if it was it failed...badly!"

They walked down the corridor together, Roman was waiting for them near the front desk.

“I'm glad to see both of you safe, Aden I'll take you to the hospital – no arguments! Belle, you coming with us?”

“If you're haulin' me to the hospital she's coming with us!”

Belle put her hands on her hips and turned to face him.

“Oh I am, am I?”

Aden wrapped his arms around her and kissed her.

“Yes you are!”

He kissed her again, this time she responded and kissed him back.

“Well seeing as you asked so nicely...”

Hidden in the scrub, he watched them leave the station through his binoculars. He'd missed them both again! Hatred burning like acid on his tongue he swallowed, this wasn't over – not by a long way.

“You'll pay, you'll both pay. Vengeance and justice will be mine, some way...some time!”

[xknomex]

loved it ( well the first part was a bit well eww, refering to the blood)

i still cant believe anyone would want to hurt Adelle,

i wonder what they did to him. mmm?

i hope Adens head is ok!!!

update soon!