Jared

*Back at the base*

I walked into the lab and waved at Kimberly, who was sitting on one of the beds.

"What's wrong with me Jared?" She asked, obviously scared.

I was about to answer when Caliente, her parents had quite a sense of humor, the girl we had just rescued, walked in with her baby.

"Can we talk?" She said to me.

"Sure," I continued reading the machine.

"Privately?" She pleaded.

I took a deep breath and scratched my forehead, "Look I don't want to talk about that. Where we were, or where we've been. You made that very clear."

Kimberly stood up and said awkwardly, "I think I'll go wait outside."

"There's no need," I said.

At the same time she said, "Please do that."

Kimberly left the room and closed the door, "Can't you see I'm busy?"

"What could you possibly be doing that is that important?" Cali was a little agitated, quite unlike her normal self.

"That woman," I pointed out the door. "Was given a sample of blood from one of us. That blood has taken over her system and if I don't figure out how to either reverse it and make her back to normal or finish it and make her like us, she's dead. So yeah, kind of important, at least to her."

Cali looked confused, "When did you become the good kid who helps those around him?"

"Probably the same day I learned being the bad boy isn't all it's cracked up to be," I said sarcastically. "You know the day, you're the one that awakened me to it."

"I broke it off because we were moving," She declared. "My parents are somewhat insane, they locked me and my baby girl up in that cabin. Only this last week could we do anything about it."

"I'm sorry," I turned to face her. Her baby had started to whimper in her sleep. Cali shushed her and rocked her back down. "How old is she?"

"Twelve months," She whispered.

"So that would have put you back..." I stopped for a minute. I couldn't believe what she was saying. "No no no, you've got to be joking."

"Sorry Jared," She frowned. "I wasn't planning on this happening. I'm just lucky my parents let me keep her."

"Why didn't you contact me earlier?" I asked.

"What would you have done?" She shook her head. "You'd have just ended up in jail. My parents have too much influence."

"True," I smirked. "I guess that was part of the fun. You were the wealthy, only child of a well-respected businessman and I was the nobody who had no past that anyone would believe and no future that anyone could see."

She smirked, "Yeah, it was fun."

"I guess we have evidence to prove it was fun but," I turned back to the machine. "I really need to work on this, alright? Come bug me around dinner time if I haven't finished by then."

She started walking for the door and I added, "Just because of our past, don't expect things to be the same between us."

"I was just hoping for a father for our little girl, that's all," She said honestly.

"I can promise you that much. I'll do my best."

"Kindra," She said as she walked out and left me to my work.

I'm surprised she remembered my mother's name.