Christian had been in talks with Kirk and he'd organised for Christian to meet with a light manipulator in the morning. After getting his eyes slightly adjusted and his hair lightened a little (and cut), he abandoned his darker clothing for jeans and a shirt - complete with boots and a cap to finish it off.
He was escorted by a teleporter to the Houston facility and teleported up to the station by lunchtime without any hassle. Having been to the station once before he wasn't nervous anymore and he easily found his way to Tanya's room. He checked his newly aquainted watch absently before knocking on her door.
Tanya
Tanya was just hanging up the phone when there was the knock on the door. She took a moment to collect herself, then walked over to the door, and opened it.
"Tay-" she began to asked, then corrected herself, her eyes widening, "Christian?"
The name came out barely above a whisper, and she stood aside from the door to let him in.
Christian
Christian grinned and stepped inside.
"Nice to see you too."
He took a quick glance around, noting how things had changed.
Tanya
Tanya smiled and closed the door.
"What brings you here?" she asked. "Would you like something to eat or drink? Oh! Have you met Kit yet?"
Christian
Christian's eyes lit up slightly at the mention of Kit.
"I'm surprised you had to ask what brought me here," he almost chuckled.
Tanya
Tanya grinned.
"He's asleep at the moment, so we'll have to keep quiet, but..."
She walked over to Kit's bedroom door and opened it carefully. She turned on the light, but kept it low, stepped over to the crib and gestured to Christian.
Christian
"That's fine," Christian immediately lowered his voice.
He stood in the doorway a little awkwardly, before slowly making his way over. He carefully slipped his left hand over the rails on the crib and removed his cap with his right as he just stared down on Kit.
Tanya
Tanya bit her bottom lip and looked at Christian, then back down at her son. In some ways she felt a little silly, but she was very happy that Christian finally had a chance to meet his namesake.
Christian
"How old is he now?" Christian whispered suddenly.
Tanya
"Six months," Tanya replied. "Just the other day in fact. He was born the 13th of May."
Christian
Christian's eyes fell after a moment.
"Sorry for not being here. I don't even remember where I was."
Tanya
"It's okay," Tanya assured him. "I know it's dangerous for you to come here. I wish things could be different."
Christian
Christian nodded sullenly.
"Yeah..."
He took a deep breath and looked around the room, taking in all the toys and accessories Tanya had aquired for Kit.
Tanya
Tanya chewed her lip, not really sure of what else to say. Christian couldn't be blamed if her felt that everyone was out to get him, and Tanya couldn't think of one thing that she could do about it.
Christian
"I hope you understand that it's too late to make choices," Christian said suddenly, shaking his head.
"If I wanted to stop this - if I wanted to join YIRAAS, they'd still be after me just because of who I am. I can't run from that. And I'd rather be defending myself rather than letting any of them take over."
He looked across at her expectantly.
Tanya
Tanya nodded slowly.
"There are too many people in this world who's lives have been destroyed because of what someone else did to them as a child."
Christian
"I'm not complaining," Christian insisted, his gaze turning back to Kit.
"Just explaining my position."
Tanya
"I'm not saying you are," Tanya replied.
Then she grinned.
"Wouldn't blame you if you did though."
The grin faded.
"You're a survivor, Christian. No matter what happens, you'll come out of it the better for your troubles. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."
Christian
"Yeah, it does," Christian agreed.
He took a deep breath again.
"On another note, my training's almost done. Another month or so he thinks. I'll probably be helping Taylor with Blakesley before that, so afterwards... I don't know. I met Craig's sister last month. Anne, Anita, something like that."
Tanya
Tanya gave him an interested look.
"Really?" she asked. "What was she like?"
Christian
"She's... alot like him in her own way," Christiam smiled.
"But she's willing to help me out if I need it, which is always good. Of course I'm wary of her but I don't know her well enough yet."
He scratched his head awkwardly.
Tanya
"That's very generous of her," Tanya said softly.
More silence followed.
Christian
"Yeah, it's odd."
Christian pursed his lips a little, his eyes not slipping from Kit for a moment.
"He hasn't gotten really sick or anything yet, has he?"
Tanya and Leroy
Tanya shook her head.
"No,"she replied.
It was roughly about then that there was a knock on the door. And whoever it was, was not going to wait until Tanya answered. She threw Christian a quick look, stepped out of Kit's room and closed the door behind her.
Leroy entered.
"G'afternoon Tanya," he said cheerfully.
Christian
Christian's head only moved to the door when he heard Leroy's voice.
Great.
Tanya and Leroy
"Leroy. Hi," Tanya said. "What brings you here?"
"Just thought I'd pop bye..." Leroy paused, "and see Kit."
Crud.
Christian
Christian immediately returned the cap to his head and said a silent goodbye to Kit.
He made his way to the door and listened for where they were. If they weren't near the hallway he could pretend Taylor had just gone to the bathroom or something.
Tanya and Leroy
"He's napping at the moment," Tanya said.
She had to at least get him away from Kit's room long enough for Christian to get away.
"I won't wake him," Leroy promised.
"He just went down," Tanya lied. "Just... give it a few minutes, okay? Tea?"
Leroy gave Tanya a long look. Tanya regretted that Leroy's shield had been one of the early ones she had made before she had come up with the idea of putting in backdoors for herself. She could penetrate it, being one she made, but it would take too long for her purposes.
Christian
"Get him out of the hallway," Christian murmured to himself, looking up at the ceiling.
If he opened the door now he knew that it would be seen. And there was no reason for Taylor to be in Kit's room that he could think of.
Tanya and Leroy
"C'mon," Tanya coaxed. "I also have donuts."
"Donuts?"
"Of the cinninmun variety even."
"Yeah... okay."
"Good," Tanya smiled and with no small amount of relief lead him to the kitchen.
Christian
Christian put his head down and hunched his shoulders a little, putting on his Taylor facade as he quickly opened the door. He backed down the hallway a little to the bathroom and quickly leant in to flush the toilet.
Then he slowly made his way out, taking a few short checks to make sure his eyebrow piercing was covered well.
Tanya and Leroy
Leroy cocked his head as Tanya bolied the jug.
"Who else is here?" he asked curiously.
"Oh, ahh..." Tanya paused, she thought Christian would sneak out, "Taylor."
"I didn't think he came for his treatment until next week?"
"Something came up."
Leroy looked at her inquiringly as she put down the donuts into the microwave to warm them up. Tanya caught his look.
"Not everything is your business, Leroy," she rebuked him.
Christian
Christian chuckled slightly before wiping the smile from his face and ducking his head into the kitchen.
"I'll... see you in a week or so?" he raised his eyebrows at Tanya, giving Leroy a wave.
Tanya and Leroy
"Sure," Tanya replied. "See you then."
"Bye Taylor," Leroy nodded.
The microwave beeped and Tanya turned to take the donuts.
"Would you like a donut on your way out?" she offered.
Christian
"No thanks," Christian shook his head.
"Bye."
He gave one last, small wave, then made his way to the door.
Tanya and Leroy
"Bye," Tanya called after him.
She set the donuts on the table, and Leroy immediately helped himself to one.
Well, that had been tense. She hoped Christian wouldn't have another close call before he got out.