The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series Read online

  “I’m healthy.”

  “I’m sure you are.” She placed her hand on his shoulder. It was firm, not flabby or bony. “After I do this, you’ll go to processing. I’ll explain that all later.” Ellen placed the stethoscope in her ears. “This is going to be cold, but I want to listen to your lungs and heart.” She laid the instrument to his back and stared at his skin. It looked too healthy. Curiosity caused her to run her thumb lightly across his skin’s surface. It was odd. No oily or sandy feeling. The survivor had taken care of himself. Ellen finished listening. “Clear as a bell.” She placed the stethoscope to his chest; she tried to smell as she listened. Where was the smell? The smell all survivors came in with. “Your heart is strong.” She took off her stethoscope, laid it on the table, reached in her pocket and pulled out the small flashlight. She placed her hand on his bearded chin. “Open up.” She shined the light in his mouth. “Incredible. Your teeth are in good shape.”

  “Thank you,” he spoke. “Oral hygiene is always important.”

  Ellen laughed at him. “I think I like you.”

  “You ought to.”

  “Really. Is this because you’re my new knight in shining armor?” Ellen lifted his long hair from his face.

  “Nope. Just an electronic hero.”

  It was a strange comment for Ellen to hear, one that made her tilt her head with an uncomfortable smile. “I . . . I just want to get a good look at your eyes.” She flicked on the penlight again.

  Flash!

  The beam of light crossed against his blue eyes and Ellen filled with a tremble that took over her entire body. “Oh my, God.” The light toppled from her fingers and her empty hand reached to his face. “Oh my, God.” She backed up trailing her fingers down his face as she did. “Oh my, God. Joe!” Ellen ran from the examining room. “Joe!”

  “What’s wrong?” Joe, who had just walked in his office, bolted to her.

  Ellen’s throat was closed. Her head moved, her lips made a motion, but only hard syllables came out as she waved her shaking hand. “C . . . C . . .” She choked on emotions and coughed to hold them back.

  “Ellen?”

  Knowing that a sentence formation was useless, she backed into her examining room.

  “Ellen, tell me you didn’t kill another . . .” Joe walked in, he saw Ellen just pointing across the room. “What did he do?” Joe looked over at the ‘alive’ male survivor who stood from the table the second Joe faced him. “What about him, Ellen?”

  Ellen let out the breath she was holding with a near soft sob. “Joe.” She ran to the survivor, reached up and lifted his hair from his face. “Look.”

  Joe took only a step closer and his stomach dropped along with his heart as he looked closely at the man in front of him. “Holy mother of God.” Joe began to shake. “It can’t be.” His trembling hand reached out to the man, extended fingertips closing in on his face. “It can’t be.” Joe’s fingers touched down upon his cheek. He brought his other hand up to the survivor and he grasped his face, clutching it, bringing it within inches of his own. Joe’s stare caught the eyes of the stranger. Then at the moment Joe looked into his eyes, he gasped out and his every emotion spoke from that one breath. “Robbie.”

  Robbie spoke no words. The years of searching, the years of heartache, seemed like a nightmare long beginning to fade from his memory. With everything he had, he embraced his father. An embrace he had waited so long for.

  “My God, you’re alive.” Joe held his son as if he were only a child. A mere lost little boy who had finally returned home. “Ellen, he’s alive.”

  Ellen spun from the reunion and took her radio from her waist. With closed eyes she spoke into it. “Frank, come to the receiving center. Now.”

  Joe released his son. “Oh shit . . . Frank. He’s gonna be shocked.” He patted Robbie on the cheek. “I bet you knew as soon as you saw Johnny that you were coming to us.”

  “Johnny?” Robbie asked.

  “Yeah, Frank’s son. He’s the kid that put you on the chopper. God he’s a spitting image of Frank. You didn’t notice?”

  Robbie shook his head. “This is incredible. Talk about having my family back. I didn’t know anything and then . . . I saw Ellen. But she didn’t recognize me at first.” He turned to Ellen. “And still . . . she won’t come near me. El, are you afraid?”

  “In a way.” Ellen took a step to him. “I’m afraid if I grab hold of you Robbie, I’m not letting you go.”

  “Actually.” Robbie smiled. “I really wouldn’t mind that.”

  Ellen shook her head with an emotional laugh and stepped to him. “Electronic hero.” She shrieked as she embraced him and Robbie clung back, lifting her some from her feet.

  Joe heard the jeep pull up. “Ellen, you have to tell him first.”

  “Why?” She asked as she separated from Robbie.

  “It’s too much of a shock. Hurry. Prepare him.”

  Nodding, Ellen ran her hand down Robbie’s arm, stepped back, looked one more time at Robbie and hurried from the examining room. Frank was walking in.

  “El. What’s up? Did something . . .”

  “I have to talk to you.” She grabbed hold of his hand and led him outside.

  “What’s going on? Is everything all right?” Frank asked concerned.

  Ellen couldn’t speak; she merely hugged Frank tightly and kissed him. “Frank.” She exhaled. “This . . . this is going to be the best day of your life.”

  “Unless you tell me Dean left Beginnings, I doubt it.”

  “Frank. I’m serious. Listen to what I’m going to tell you. It’s gonna be a shock.” Ellen smiled. “Robbie is alive.”

  “Robbie who?”

  “Robbie, you big goof. Your brother.”

  Frank’s face tensed up. “This isn’t funny, El.”

  “This is not a joke.” She squeezed his hand. “He’s alive. He’s inside. They picked him up on the run.”

  “He can’t . . .”

  “He is.”

  Frank looked ahead at the closed door and still holding Ellen’s hand for support, he walked in. Robbie stood with Joe in the doorway of the examining room awaiting Frank’s entrance. In shock Frank stepped closer, releasing Ellen’s hand. At first he said nothing. Then with a sudden wave of enthusiasm, Frank ran to his brother, swept him in his arms and embraced him. He screamed as he did, swinging Robbie around as if he weighed ten pounds. “You . . . You . . .” Frank shrieked loud and long. “You’re alive.” He set down Robbie, grabbed hold of his face and kissed him on the lips with a hard smack.

  Robbie laughed and wiped his mouth jokingly. “I missed you, too.”

  Frank stumbled and exhaled with a gasp. “I can’t breathe. Oh shit.” Thrilled, Frank ran his hand rapidly down his own face. “Dad. El. Look. Robbie.”

  Joe rolled his eyes. “We see Frank.”

  “Oh my God.” Frank had to touch him again. “Oh my God.” He stepped back and leaned on his father’s desk in order to get a full view of his baby brother. “You’re alive. Robbie did you forget the contingency plan?”

  “No. Are you kidding?” Robbie replied. “The problem was, I got hung up in Seattle too long. By the time I ended up in Ashtonville, you guys were long gone. But that’s another story. We can talk later about it. Right now we’re together again.”

  Frank crossed his arms and smiled. “That we are.” He looked at Joe who stood smiling. Frank couldn’t recall how long it had been since he saw so much happiness on his father’s face. And Ellen. Ellen smiled too. A genuine smile that rarely crossed her face. Standing from his lean on the desk, Frank walked over to behind Ellen. He crossed his arms over the front of her and while staring with pride and gratefulness at his brother, embraced her. “Nothing. Nothing could be better than this moment. Robbie’s here. He’s alive.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Ellen was happy as she went into the examining room; she smiled at the excited voices she heard as she shut her door. When she walked in, Paul stood there, wear
ing only boxer shorts, a towel flung around his shoulder. He looked as surprised as Ellen did.

  “I’m sorry,” he spoke. “That young man said no one was in here, and to come in after my shower.”

  “No, that’s fine.”

  “I’m Paul.” He held out his hand to Ellen. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  Ellen shook his hand taken aback by Paul’s politeness. “Nice to meet you too. Have a seat.”

  “You know, I just used a toilet. A toilet, imagine that.” He shook his head as he sat. “And it flushed.”

  “You’ll have that.” Ellen smiled.

  “Not out there you don’t.”

  “I guess not.” Ellen pulled up a chair, instead of immediately examining him. “Paul, you’re different,” she spoke bluntly.

  “How do you mean? Am I different from you?”

  “Not from me. From the others we’ve brought in from out there.”

  “I hope so. I know what’s out there. I’m civilized. Or at least I hope I am.” He looked around the examining room. “However, you guys got me beat by a mile.”

  ***

  Joe sat behind his desk staring proud and mesmerized at Robbie. Joe’s notion that miracles ceased to happen was truly put to test because after five years, a son he believed to be dead, was back. He was healthy, still smart, and if it wasn’t for all that hair on his face and head, probably still looked the same.

  Joe leaned back in his chair, and prepared to tell Robbie something and he hadn’t a clue on how he would take it. “Robbie, the way we’re set up here is when a survivor is brought to us, there are a series of stages he or she must accomplish before going into the community. I set these rules, I can’t break them. Do you know where I’m going with this?”

  Robbie nodded his head.

  Frank looked at his father in a questioning manner. “Dad, you can’t sit here and tell us you’re making Robbie go through processing are you?”

  “I have to, Frank. How would that look if I immediately let him in?”

  “But he’s Robbie.”

  “Robbie or not. I’m sure he understands.” Joe looked at Robbie. “Half of the people we pick up don’t make it through containment and processing. They never make it to the work skills level. They seem fine when we bring them in, then they show their true colors.”

  “Dad, Frank, I understand. I’ve been out there remember? I’ve been beat-up, almost killed, you name it. People have turned into savages. And I have had them turn on me.”

  Joe hung his head low at the hell that his youngest son must have endured over the past five years. “Robbie, listen, you may only be in containment for a day or two. We had one woman, I won’t mention any names.” He looked at Frank. “She was in containment for two days. She moved on to the work skills. She’s doing great, and people actually seem to like Mich . . .”

  Frank groaned and shook his head. “It’s bad enough you have to talk about her. Did you have to say her name?”

  Robbie laughed, a confused sort of laugh. “Is this an old flame of yours, Frank?”

  Frank grunted loudly. “No! Robbie do yourself a favor, when you meet her . . . run. Stay away from her.”

  “Frank, drop it. Let it go,” Joe spoke to him. “We’ve been hearing this forever.”

  “Fine.” Frank held up his hand and leaned over to Robbie, whispering his loud voice, and truly believing Joe couldn’t hear. “I’ll warn and tell you all about her when he’s not around.”

  Robbie nodded his head in a pacifying manner at the same time Joe rolled his eyes.

  Their moment was interrupted by Ellen, who knocked on the archway of the examining room. “I hate to break this up, but Joe, there’s someone you should meet.” She pulled on Paul’s arm to bring him into the office. “Paul, I would like you to meet Joe. Joe, this is Paul.”

  Paul, being his usual courteous self, showed Joe his hand. “Sir, it is very nice to meet you.”

  Joe rose slightly from his chair to shake Paul’s hand. “Likewise.”

  Ellen turned Paul to Frank. “And this is . . .”

  “Frank?” Paul was stunned. “Robbie, is this your family?”

  Robbie smiled, a smile hard to see through his beard. “Yeah, they are.”

  “Son of a bitch.” Paul walked over and put his arm around Robbie. “I’m happy for you. I didn’t think they existed anymore.”

  Frank scratched his head. “How did you know I was Frank?”

  “I recognized you from the picture that Robbie showed me.” He jolted his arm that rested around Robbie, shaking him a bit.

  Ellen moved to Joe. “Joe, I thought you’d take Paul over to containment while I finish up with Robbie. I still have blood to get from him and I want to try to convince him to get rid of some of that hair he hides behind.” She waved her hand to Robbie, signaling him to follow her.

  Robbie looked at his arm. “You want my blood?”

  “Some of it.” Ellen smiled. “We have this eccentric mad scientist that likes to play with people’s body fluids.” Ellen turned to the examining room. “Follow me. He’s gonna love your sample.”

  Robbie apprehensively followed Ellen. “Is he a real scientist or did he just designate himself one?”

  “Oh he’s real. He’s very good, too.” Ellen closed the door behind them.

  ***

  How long did Frank sit after Joe had taken Paul and left? Longer than he should have. His mind was deep in thought swimming in memories he had placed far in the back of his mind. He thought of his brother’s return and how much of a dream it still seemed to be.

  Frank waited. He wanted to see Robbie once more, add just a bit of ‘real’ to his return. He grew antsy sitting behind Joe’s desk and decided to seek out his brother. Slowly, and apprehensively he opened the door to the examining room. “El?”

  “Hey, Frank.” She smiled as she zipped up a black pouch.

  “Where’s my brother?”

  Ellen smiled brightly. “Cleaning up. Doesn’t that feel good? You know, saying ‘your brother’.”

  Frank exhaled and stepped to her. “Like you wouldn’t believe. No wait, you would believe. I was just thinking out there about all those little trips my dad used to take us all on. How you used to be so overprotective of Robbie.”

  Ellen snickered. “That’s because you guys used to beat him up and pick on him.”

  Frank flung out his hand. “He was the baby. And now he’s back.”

  “He’s back. We’re so lucky. Joe, Joe is so happy.” Ellen spoke in awe. “And you . . . I’m happy for you. This couldn’t have come at a better time. I know nothing can bring back Jonas, but I hope it helps with the pain.”

  “It does. I feel really good. And for the first time in a while, I feel like celebrating.” Frank grinned. “Celebrate with me tonight, El.”

  “Tonight? Frank, you and I have been together a lot since Jonas died. Maybe tonight isn’t . . .”

  “Come on. El. This isn’t just my good news. This is ours. Our family’s good news. Let’s celebrate.”

  Ellen shook her head with a smile. “What do you have in mind? Social hall?”

  “No. This.” Laying his hand on Ellen’s cheek, Frank slid it back some reaching behind her neck. He pulled Ellen to him as he lowered his head and began to kiss her.

  In the midst of a kiss Frank grew more and more into, Ellen pulled back. “Frank.” She touched her lips.

  Shocked, Frank’s hand slowly lifted from her and he stepped back. “Why do I feel like I just crossed a line that was never there in twenty years?”

  Ellen swallowed and hesitated before answering. She stared at Frank who looked confused. “You . . . . you didn’t,” she spoke softly. “It’s me, my head is spinning, you know . . . .and uh . . . you took me by surprise. No lines crossed, Frank. Never.”

  “You know I stopped by the lab today and . . .” He looked at Ellen. “And . . .” Frank slowed his speech in debate. “ . . . and you weren’t there.” He clapped his hands together once
and stepped back changing his demeanor to an upbeat one. “So. Tonight. We’re on?”

  “We’re on.”

  “Yes.” Stepping to Ellen to kiss her quickly, Frank stopped when Joe cleared his throat upon his entrance.

  “Sorry to interrupt,” Joe said walking in. “Where’s Robbie?”

  Ellen picked up a small box from the counter and laid her black pouch on top of it. “He’s in the back. And I have to go. Dean’s waiting on the blood.”

  “Don’t go,” Frank said, stopping her before she left. “Stay for a couple minutes. Just until Robbie comes back out.”

  “No I really have to. I want to, but I can’t. I’ll see him in a bit.” As she turned to leave, Robbie emerged from the clean-up area. When she saw him, she nearly dropped what she was holding. “Robbie?”

  He had completely transformed. “Different huh?” Robbie rubbed his head. “I used the scissors.” He had cropped his hair down to about an inch from his scalp. His beard was completely gone. A clean, different looking man stood before them. He looked like the Robbie they had all remembered.

  Joe smiled when he saw him. “Looks good.” He gave him the thumbs up.

  Ellen, still holding her box, walked closer. “Wow.” Astonished, she stared at him. “I totally forgot how good-looking you really are.”

  Frank took hold of her arm and pulled her away. “That’s enough, El. I thought you were leaving.”

  “No. I can stay.” She stared in awe.

  Frank grabbed hold of her shoulders and led her to the door. “You have to go. Dean is waiting on that blood. I’ll drive you over there.”

  With a ‘shush’ and a quick fling of her hand at Frank, Ellen set down the box. “No-no. I’ll wait for Joe.” While Frank drew up a look of irritation, Ellen exhaled a sigh like a schoolgirl. She folded her arms, looked to Joe, then returned, with a grin, to staring at Robbie.