Christian wasn't all that sure why he'd made the journey out here, but he became more glad for it as he closed in on the house.
And then he realised why he'd made the trip. Because he'd caused enough strife in Tulsa already. Not that he wouldn't be heading back soon anyway...
When he got to the house, he left his bike in the driveway and made his way up to the front door. Hoping she was home alone, he knocked.
Anita
Anita paused, wondering if it were just her imagination or if she heard a knock on the door. She put down her book and wandered over to check. She pulled back the curtain slightly and peered out. Nope, not her imagination. In fact it looked like Christian!
Anita then opened the door.
"Christian," she greeted. "It's good to see you. Come on in."
Christian
Christian couldn't help but smile at her reaction.
He made his way in and found his way into the livingroom.
"You have no idea how good it is to see you too," he sighed, removing his coat.
Anita
Anita smiled.
"Glad to know I'm good for something," she said. "Tea? Coffee? Cookie?"
Christian
"Coffee would be great, thanks," Christian nodded.
He discarded his coat and sat down onto the couch he'd occupied last time he was there.
"Black with no sugar."
Anita
"No problem," Anita replied.
And she zipped into the kitchen to put the jug on.
"How have you been?"
Christian
"Could be better," Christian admitted, hugging himself.
"The YIRAAS seem to be closing in. Taking in my friends for questioning and even placing one under house arrest. Even Tanya's in trouble so it seems."
Anita
Anita's eyebrows raised.
"I see," she said. "Sounds like a good time to lay low for awhile."
Christian
"That's the plan," Christian took a deep breath.
"I guess I just need to get away from everyone and everything for a while. I'm thinking of going back to Tulsa to stay in a place a friend offered last time I was having problems with people after me. Only a select few people know where it is, so I should be safe."
Anita
Anita nodded.
"The less people know about it, the better," she said.
She heard the jug sound off and started pouring Christian's coffee.
Christian
"That's the idea," Christian shrugged.
"I've certainly gotten enough people in trouble lately."
Anita
Anita sat the hot mug of coffee on a coaster in front of Christian.
"Black, no sugar," she said. "Well, times of strife do tell you who your friends are. Knowing who your friends are is very important information."
Christian
"Not that it helps now," Christian's eyebrows rose as he reached for the mug.
"Thanks."
He took a sip and leant back into the seat.
"Not with agents looking over their shoulders every few seconds anyway."
Anita
Anita waved her hand at that.
"Bah," she said. "Either the heat will pass or they'll catch you. In the event of the former, you know who you can trust (or who you owe favours to). In the event of the latter, well, that's a whole other set of circumstances, but it's nice to know where you can go when you escape."
Christian
Christian raised an eyebrow at the last sentence.
"You have that much faith in me?" he sounded surprised.
"Even I don't have that much faith in me."
Anita
"You are my brother's son," Anita replied, "even if it is through adoption. I imagine you would be capable of anything you would put your mind to."
Christian
"Unfortunately not without help these days," Christian looked around the room absently.
He sighed, took another sip of his coffee, then glanced over at her.
"Can I trust you with a secret if you want to know it?"
Anita
"I hope that isn't how you give all your secrets away," Anita replied. "Anyone can say yes."
She raised her eyebrows at him.
"I kept my brother's secrets - the ones he chose to share with me. As for wanting to know it, well, if you need to share it, then yes, but otherwise no. What I don't know won't hurt me, nor you. Neither will I have anything to hide if I get picked up too."
The way she said the last sentance, though, seemed to imply she believed she could get away if she had to.
Christian
Christian chuckled.
"It's not, I assure you," he insisted.
"And well... your Craig's sister. I am probably trusting you more than I should."
He looked up at a picture on the wall for a moment, before taking a deep breath.
"Only a couple of people in the world know this," he began carefully, "namely Craig and Tanya. I don't know if Tanya's told anyone, but I guess she would of if she had to."
He carefully leant forward to put the mug back on the table.
"I'm Guffery's 'Little Raider'."
Anita
There was no hiding the surprised look that appeared on Anita's face.
"Well..." she breathed.
Christian
Christian hesitated, suddenly wondering if he'd done the right thing.
"Sorry if that was too much," he insisted, "but there was a reason I wanted you to know."
He looked around again for a moment.
"Do you have paper and a pen anywhere?"
Anita
"Sure, sure," Anita replied.
Well, she certainly never expected to meet the hero of that particular urban legend.
Anita stood and took the pen and paper she kept near the phone, and handed them to him.
Christian
Christian took the paper and pen and began to write something down.
"I've been meaning to ask Tanya to do this, but something's always come up and now... well, I can't really see her."
He finished writing down the address and handed the paper back.
"There's a girl at this address named Emily. She was one of the original twelve - there's only a few of us left. If something happens to me... can you just check on her for me?"
Anita
Anita smiled and took the paper.
"Easily," she said.
Checking up on people was one of her specialties.
"Will she know of this arrangement?"
Christian
"No," Christian shook his head.
"I think it's better the less people that know of you, no offence."
Anita
"I was thinking more along the lines of, does she know to expect someone else if anything happens to you. I can quite easily check on her in steath if that is what you prefer," Anita explained.
She wouldn't want to frighten the girl.
Christian
"No," Christian shook his head.
"But someone needs to tell her. There's only a few people that actually know of her, let alone where she is."
He gulepd slightly.
"I'm one of very few people she can depend on. I just... don't know what'll happen to her if I go."
Anita
"Very well," Anita nodded. "Is there something I can say or do or show as a token? If I were in her shoes, I'd probably want some proof that I am who I say I am."
Christian
"Not many people know of my connection to her..." Christian trailed off, trying to think of something.
"But if she gets the wrong idea, I know whose side she'll think you're on."
He hesitated, scratching his chin.
"Tell her... Tell her you know of 'Steel' or something," he suggested.
Anita
Anita nodded, commiting the word to memory.
"Got it," she said. "Anything else I can do for you?"
Christian
Christian just shook his head.
"Stay safe," he smiled slightly.
Anita
Anita smiled back.
"You as well," she said.
There was quiet for a moment.
"So, how was your Christmas?"
Christian
Christian shrugged.
"It was just another day," he said, though he sounded almost ashamed.
"I've been in Tulsa for a long time now. I figure I'd better move soon."
Anita
Anita nodded.
"Sometime you need to leave, and sometimes it's better to stay right under their nose," she said, standing.
She walked over to a drawer and pulled out a small, neatly wrapped box.
"It's late, but I hoped you'd come back," she said. "Merry, belated Christmas. Or birthday, if that's closer."
Christian
Christian stared at the box, then up at her.
"I don't... have... anything to offer you," he frowned slightly.
Anita
Anita waved a hand as she sat back down again.
"You don't need to," Anita said. "I give for the giving, not to receive anything for myself."
Christian
Christian hesitated at that, then returned his gaze to the box in his hand.
He glanced at her one more time - a little unsure - before opening it.
Anita
"Go ahead," Anita encouraged with a smile. "I promise it won't bite."
Christian
Unwrapping it, Christian finally revealed a large silver watch.
He lifted it out and studied it for a moment.
"Thankyou," he said softly, lost for words all of a sudden.
Anita
Anita smiled.
"You're very welcome," she replied.