Isaac opened up the front door.
"Hi Nat," he said. "Come on in."
"Thanks," Natalie replied, stepping inside. "How are you today?"
"Good. And yourself?"
"Oh good. Hey, I got called back for a second interview at that health spa."
"That's awesome," Isaac replied enthusiastically as they walked into the living room.
Taylor
Taylor looked up, forcing a smile onto his face as he was just about to leave the room.
"Hi Nat," he greeted, "why don't you take a seat? I'll be with you shortly."
Isaac and Natalie
"Uhh, sure," Natalie replied, a little confused.
Something was wrong here.
"You okay, Tay?" Isaac asked.
Taylor
"Fine," Taylor nodded, if a little abrupt.
Then he practically hightailed it to his bedroom and shut the door behind him, messing with the lock with his atom manipulation to keep it closed.
Isaac and Natalie
Isaac and Natalie looked at each other. Natalie was frowning.
"That was weird," Isaac said. "I'd better check up on him."
"No, don't!"
Isaac looked at her in surprise.
"The... the... emotional discord in him is about to peak," Natalie explained. "I'm not sure what will happen... at a guess, I'd say that his alterego is about to make an appearence."
What Isaac said here I shall not repeat.
"I should still go. I need to be able to contain him," Isaac paused. "Do you think you'd be able to snap him out of it?"
Natalie shrugged.
"I really couldn't say. I've never dealt with anything like this before. And I do my best work with physical contact," she said considering. "Although, when I do it without physical contact it did make him dizzy before... I really don't know Ike."
Taylor
Taylor kept his back to the door, taking in deep breaths.
His mind was running over what Tanya and Zac had been saying. Would it actually be ok to let loose?
Either way, he was about to find out.
He stumbled over to the nearby desk, shoving most of its contents to the floor. Including a large desk lamp.
Isaac and Natalie
Isaac and Natalie heard the crash.
"Come on," Isaac said. "Stay behind me, okay? I can hold him, but I don't want to give him a chance to get to you, okay?"
"He's very dangerous then?"
"He's been known to kill. Taylor doesn't believe that he'd hurt anyone he loves, but I'd rather not take the chance."
"Good plan."
Natalie followed Isaac to Taylor's bedroom.
Taylor
"Leave me the f*** alone," Taylor murmured, covering his face with his hands.
Then, in an almost random burst of anger, he grabbe dthe lamp and sent it hurtling toward his bedroom window.
Isaac and Natalie
Natalie winced, and looked at Isaac helplessly.
"Can you do anything through the door?" he asked. "I'd rather not infuriate him. Wouldn't want to make things worse."
"I'll try," Natalie replied.
She sent her power to work, having no idea what effect it would have on someone in this state - if any at all.
Taylor
Taylor whined in dog for a moment, before grabbing his head and falling to his knees.
"Please don't," he mumbled, almost child-like.
Isaac and Natalie
Natalie chewed her lip and gave Isaac a pained look.
"I don't think I'm helping. I can't sense any improvement, even on a minute level. I'm going to stop."
Isaac nodded as Natalie ceased using her power.
"Physical contact?"
"My power's more potent then, but like I said before, I honestly do not know."
Isaac sighed. What were they to do?
Taylor
Not registering that Isaac and Natalie were even outside the room, Taylor pretty much continued to hurl things around for a while.
His mutterings began to lose meaning, and he eventually found himself sitting on his bed staring at the shattered window.
Making his way over to it, he began to pick up broken pieces of glass.
Isaac and Natalie
"Okay," Isaac said slowly. "Let's trying - we lose nothing by trying, right? I'll grab hold of him - when I tell you, tounch him, okay?"
"Okay," Natalie said nervously.
"Worse case scenario, we have to call Tad."
"Okay."
Isaac took a breath, then used his atom manipulation to unlock the door again. He stepped into the room, his telekinesis at the ready to grab and/or deflect anything Taylor might throw at him.
Taylor
Taylor spunw hen he heard the door open, dropping fragments of glass onto the floor.
"Get out," he hissed.
Isaac
"I'm sorry Tay," Isaac said, wrapping his telekinesis around his brother. "We just want to help."
He also took the liberty of removing the glass from Taylor's possession - for everyone's safety. He also took the glass on the ground and telekinetically deposited it all in the bin.
Taylor
"Don't!" Taylor yelled, struggling with the bonds.
His breathing heavied as he kept his eyes on his brother.
Isaac and Natalie
"I don't like this any more than you do," Isaac said.
Natalie peeked around the corner, watching as Isaac worked to hold Taylor still. She chewed her bottom lip.
Taylor
When Taylor's eyes fell on Natalie, he gulped slightly.
"Get her out of here," he almost growled.
Isaac and Natalie
"I need her help," Isaac replied. "Okay, Nat."
Natalie walked over nervously, and tentatively put her hand on Taylor's arm. She focused her power on him, praying under her breath that this would work.
Taylor
Taylor cringed and closed his eyes, refusing to open them again.
It felt like a sort of wet blanket had just been thrown over a fire inside him, and the impact was so sudden he almost felt faint.
After a moment, he started panting.
Isaac and Natalie
Isaac looked anxiously between Natalie and Taylor. Natalie noticed his anxiety almost immediately.
"It appears to be working," she said softly, before closing her eyes to help her concentrate better.
Isaac breathed a sigh of relief.
Taylor
After a few minutes, Taylor seemed to catch his breath.
"Ok, ok," he breathed.
"Stop. It's ok."
Isaac and Natalie
Isaac glanced back at Natalie.
"I'm slowing down the process now," was her response, to both brothers. "Okay, done."
She took her hand away.
Taylor
Taylor gulped and closed his eyes again, before looking up at Isaac.
His eyes practically begged to be let go.
Isaac and Natalie
Isaac let go of his telekinetic grip, but stayed on the alert, just in case it was a ploy. Then he mentally berated himself for being so suspicious.
"Feeling better?" Natalie inquired with concerned eyes.
Taylor
"I guess..." Taylor murmured, going to scratch his face.
"Ouch!"
He looked down at his hand, then at his other. He frowned for a second, before turning to the broken window.
"Did... did I do that?" he asked worriedly.
Isaac
"Umm, yeah," Isaac said. "I put the pieces in the bin, but we should probably get a vacuum in here anyway in case there are splinters I missed. As for your hands... we'd better call Randy."
Taylor
Taylor nodded sullenly, sitting down on the bed and beginning to study the palms of his hands.
"I wasn't sure whether it was a good thing or not..." he began carefully, before looking up at Isaac again.
"That you stopped me."
Isaac and Natalie
"Well, I think it's a good thing," Isaac said decisively. "I don't want to see you doing that kind of thing to yourself. And y'know what? I'm glad at Nat was here too, and that her power was able to make your alterego go away. Because you know what that means? That her visits must be helping."
"But he still came..." Natalie pointed out.
"So? You said so yourself, you didn't know how long it would take if it worked. Sometimes things take awhile to kick in. I think this proves that it's working."
Taylor
"Maybe..." Taylor relented, leaning forward with his eyes on the floor.
"I guess if it is working, we don't need it to run its course anyway."
Natalie
"I think letting it runs its course could prove fatal," Natalie observed, gesturing to his hands. "Most likely for you."
Taylor
Taylor hesitated, beginning to develop a blush.
"It doesn't make me suicidal," he shook his head, "but I guess accidents could happen."
Isaac and Natalie
"I was thinking of accidents," Natalie replied. "Not suicide. What with you tearing up the place and all..."
"Anyway, I should give Randy a call," Isaac said. "Be right back."
He left the room to get to the nearest phone.
Taylor
When Isaac left the room, Taylor looked up at Natalie. He refrained from taking her hands due to glass and blood on his own.
"I am so sorry you had to see that," he insisted.
"And if I said anything disrespectful, you know I didn't mean it."
Natalie
Natalie smiled.
"It's okay," she said. "And don't worry, you didn't say anything bad. Your hands hurting you much? If it were me I'd probably be wimpering right about now."
Taylor
"I'm ah..." Taylor trailed off, looking down on them.
"Not that phased, really."
He shrugged slightly, not willing to guess why.
"Sorry if you're on a schedule as well," he changed the subject, "if you need to go early, don't let me stop you because of my mistakes."
Isaac and Natalie
"Nah, I have nothing else to do on Tuesdays," Natalie replied, waving her hand negligently.
Isaac popped back into the room then.
"Randy'll just be a few minutes," he said. "I'm going to wait downstairs for him. You wanna come down too?"
Taylor
Taylor glanced up at Natalie, then stood form the bed.
"Sure," he agreed.
He again held himself back from reaching from Natalie, nodded to her instead indicating for her to follow, and then followed his brother from the room.
Isaac and Natalie
Natalie followed Isaac and Taylor to the living room. and sat down.
"Well, this has certainly been a different Tuesday," she mused.
"Different. Yeah, there's a word for it," Isaac responded.
Taylor
"Sorry," Taylor apologised again, feeling well beyond guilty.
Especially through Natalie having witnessed it, as he'd been the one to drag her into it in the first place.
Isaac and Natalie
"Don't apologise, it's not your fault," Natalie said.
The doorbell rang, and Isaac stood to answer it.
"That must be Randy," he said and left the room.
"Seriously, Tay. It's like an epileptic apologising for having a siezure. Forget it."
Taylor
"I can't help it," Taylor shrugged uneasily, his eyes on the doorway.
"I don't know what I do, so I can't help but be worried."
Isaac and Natalie
"Point taken," Natalie replied.
Isaac re-entered the room with Randy.
"Now what... "he began then noticed Taylor's hands. "Oh!"
He moved to Taylor's side.
"What happened here?" he inquired.
"Broken window," Isaac said by way of explanation.
"Amongst other things," he thought to himself.
"Hmm, I see," Randy replied.
He reached out to take hold of Taylor's arms, just above where all the wounds were.
Taylor
"Yeah, it was stupid. Obviously," Taylor attempted a joke.
"I can tell."
Taylor looked away as the wounds healed over, leaving some tiny fragments of glass just sitting on top of his skin. Careful not to let them fall off, when Randy let go he lent over the coffee table and let them fall onto the surface.
"Thanks," Taylor forced a grateful smile.
Isaac and Natalie
"No problem," Randy replied. "Was that everything?"
"Yeah," Isaac replied. "Thanks a lot, Randy. Would you like a drink or something?"
"No, I'm fine thanks," Randy replied. "I must be off anyway. Take care of yourselves."
Isaac walked Randy back to the door.
"Well, that's that taken care of," Natalie said. "You okay?"
Taylor
"As ok as I can be, I guess," Taylor pursed his lips.
He began to sweep up the remaining glass, before getting up to take them to the bin.
"I'll get us some water while I'm up," he offered, before heading to the kitchen to do so.
Isaac and Natalie
"Okay, thanks," Natalie replied.
Isaac re-entered then.
"Where's Tay?"
"Kitchen."
"Ahh, okay. I'm going to head back to his room and take to it with the vacuum."
"Okay. Probably a good idea."
Isaac nodded and departed.
Taylor
As Taylor returned witht heir two glasses of water, he heard clatter from down the hallway.
"What's he doing?" he asked, before carefully putting the glasses down and taking his seat.
Natalie
"Vacuuming your bedroom," Natalie replied. "Guess he doesn't want you to cut your feet on any leftover glass that might be in there."
She reached for the glass of water.
"Thanks."
Taylor
"Oh," Taylor was back to sounding sullen.
He sighed, before holding out his hand.
"Are we going for the full hour today?" he raised an eyebrow.
Natalie
"Hmm..." Natalie considered. "Let's see how we go. I already did a bit - as we both know."
She took his hand and got to work.
"You're lucky to have such a loving brother," Natalie observed.
Taylor
"Yeah," Taylor agreed.
"Although a few years ago it was me who was bossing him around. My how the tables turn."
Natalie
Natalie chuckled.
"You get what you give?" she suggested. "But hey, you're friends and you look out for each other, and that's important."
Taylor
"True," Taylor nodded.
"And I don't often have many of them these days. He actually forced me into going to see Tanya this month, and I know I needed that."
Natalie
Natalie chuckled.
"Skipping your appointments, are we?" she asked. "Well, good on Ike."
Taylor
"Yes," Taylor admitted, rather sheepishly.
"On account of the Adige thing that you - unlike most other people - actually witnessed."
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Natalie
"Ahh," Natalie frowned. "Yes, I'd almost forgotten about that. Do you know what the problem is yet?"
Taylor
"Yes, actually. We did work it out."
Taylor shifted uncomfortably.
"Apparently it's just my power adapting to the Adige form of communication... which happens to be telepathy."
Natalie
Natalie's eyebrows raised.
"Wow... okay..." she said. "I thought they talk verbally, I didn't realise they were telepathic as well. Huh. Well, at least you know why... Any ways of dealing with it? Or do you just have to tough it out?"
Taylor
"There's no particular way of dealing with it, no," Taylor replied.
"The only other it's happened to would be Courtney Shepherd, and she lives on the station now. She's going to let me contact her if anything else comes up though, which is a bit of a relief. I think apart from her there's only..."
He stopped to think.
"Maybe one other person with Tongue who's older than me."
Natalie
"Ah, the wonders of having a rare power," Natalie nodded. "Gives one the ability to count the number of people who have it on their fingers."
She grinned.
Taylor
"Yeah, I guess you'd know what it's like," Taylor chuckled slightly.
"It's a definite disadvantage when it comes to things like this."
Natalie
"Yeah," Natalie agreed. "We may look down on the common powers, but when problems occur at least they can deal with them straight off."
She stifled a yawn.
Taylor
"Most of the time, I'd much rather have a common power," Taylor admitted.
"I don't think I could ever look down on them."
Natalie
Natalie looked a little uncomfortable.
"Well, I don't really look down on them... I was just... yeah..." she shook her head. "Don't mind me. Why don't you like your power?"
Taylor
Taylor couldn't help but chuckle a little.
"It's more that they look up to us, right?" he raised an eyebrow.
"And it's not that I don't like it, more that... I don't like the way it's progressing. There are some things I'd rather not know. And if it gets too complicated - and this is where telepathy comes into it - I might be seen as an intruder. I don't want to be that."
Natalie
"Yeah, that's it," Natalie looked relieved.
She paused, considering what Taylor had said.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but telepaths get accused of that a lot, don't they? I figure they probably don't - purposely intrude that is. They probably feel the same way - things they don't want to know. If it does go that way, you could always ask an actual telepath how they deal with it."
Taylor
"I just hate the idea of being looked at with suspicion every time I talk to someone who knows about it," Taylor shook his head.
"And unlike other people, I could tell if it wasn't obvious too."
Natalie
Natalie shrugged.
"So don't tell them. Need to know basis. I'm sure that your friends would trust you not to do that, so they wouldn't be suspicious."
Taylor
"True..." Taylor trailed off.
He hesitated, thinking it over.
"You're right," he said finally, "it's not like I'm going to go up to random people and say 'guess what? I'm telepathic!'"
Natalie
Natalie grinned.
"Exactly. What business is it of theirs?" she nodded.
She glance at the clock - they had been at this for about half an hour now.
Taylor
Taylor followed her eyeline and saw the time, before stifling a yawn.
"Are we ok to go another half hour?" he asked.
Natalie
"Mmm... I think so," Natalie replied. "If I get too tired before then I can always stop early."
She yawned.
Taylor
Taylor nodded, then leant make to make himself more comfortable.
"Go for it then," he insisted, stifling another yawn.
After a moments' silence, he remembered something.
"So have you heard back from that job place yet?"
Natalie
"Yeah - they asked me back for a second interview," Natalie replied. "I'm having it next Thursday."
She was pleased that Taylor remembered, even after everything.
Taylor
"Great," Taylor grinned suddenly.
"Do you know how many people actually got through?"
Natalie
Natalie shook her head.
"No. But there's a number of positions available, so there's probably a lot."
Taylor
"You'll be fine," Taylor encouraged.
"I don't doubt that you're great at what you do."
Natalie
Natalie smiled.
"Thank you for your vote of confidence," she said. "I really appreciate it."
Taylor
"I doubt you really need it," Taylor shrugged.
"You seem like a woman who knows what she wants."
Natalie
Natalie chuckled.
"I have you fooled then, don't I?" she smiled.
Taylor
"Quite possibly," Taylor chuckled.
"But as you know, there's not only one aspect of language I read at any given time."
He grinned almost cheekily.
Natalie
Natalie caught his look and returned a "am I missing something?" one.
"What?" she asked.
Taylor
"Nothing," Taylor turned away, with just a hint of childishness.
"I didn't make us lunch today. You probably would have guessed that. But I'll have a go when we're done."
Natalie
Natalie was still a little confused.
"Umm, okay," she said. "That would be nice."
Taylor
Taylor glanced at his watch, then at the clock, noticing his watch was slower.
"When does the job start if you get it?"
Natalie
"April, I think," Natalie replied. "That's when they're planning on opening the new wing anyway. Probably there'll be a new staff induction, orientation thing beforehand."
Taylor
"Two months?" Taylor raised an eyebrow.
"Well they're certainly planning ahead."
Natalie
Natalie tilted her head to the side and looked at him curiously.
"They have a number of new positions to fill. And I did apply before they actually started advertising positions, mind you. Why wait until the last minute to start organising staff? Staff's just as important as the bricks and the fittings and the decor."
Taylor
"This certainly sounds like one big place you're talking about here," Taylor sounded surprised.
"I thought it was just some local thing."
Natalie
"Naw, the health spa's been there for years. They're expanding - building on a new wing," Natalie explained. "I'm sorry, I thought I mentioned that before."
Taylor
"Yeah I know, I just didn't think it was so big," Taylor shrugged.
"To need that many staff in one new part."
Natalie
"Well, it's not just massures," Natalie replied. "It's admin and maintenance, and lots of other staff to man the mud baths and facials and stuff like that."
Taylor
"Quite an expansion in other words," Taylor nodded.
"Understandable I guess. If I ever get out of here I might have to come see it."
Natalie
Natalie smiled.
"That would be great. Y'know, assuming I get the job..."
Taylor
"Or even if you don't," Taylor shrugged.
"We could always make a day of it."
Natalie
Natalie smiled.
"I'd like that," she said.
Then she yawned again, and glanced at the clock.
"Not quite time yet, but I think we can give it a break now. I did do some earlier so it's probably been over an hour all up."
Taylor
Taylor nodded.
"Sure thing," he agreed, shifting slightly and stifling another yawn.
"Now I need to start thinking of what food we have..."
Natalie
Natalie slowed down and shut off the effect of her power and soon was taking her hand away from his.
"Okay, cool," she said, also yawning again.
Dang contagious yawning.
Taylor
Taylor chuckled at her yawn, before having a drink of his water and finally getting up.
"Shall we?" he raised his eyebrows, before heading for the kitchen.
Natalie
Natalie stood up, then plonked back down on the lounge again. She giggled before getting up a second time and managed to follow Taylor into the kitchen. Where she promptly found a chair to sit down in.
"I think I'm just a little bit woozy," she said, holding up her thumb and forefinger about an inch apart.
Taylor
Taylor laughed, while beginning to get something together for them to eat. He made extra just in case Isaac were to show again.
"Guess you'd better stay a bit longer this time then. You can always go and lay down if you want."
Natalie
"Mmm... yes..." Natalie nodded. "I'm just a little bit sleepy. Maybe a little nap is a good idea."
She yawned.
"You're really sweet, you know that?"
Taylor
And once again, Taylor couldn't help but blush.
"No sense in having four bedrooms and not putting them to use," he shrugged, turning the kettle on as he stirred what was on the stove.
Natalie
"Oooh four bedrooms..." Natalie said.
Then frowned.
"Why do you have four bedrooms when there's only two of you?"
Taylor
"One, mainly for Zac to stay over after late night songwriting sessions," Taylor began, attention focused on the food.
"The other room we just mainly use for junk for now. We mainly picked the house because of location and the general vibe - it didn't really matter how many rooms there were."
Natalie
"Ohh, okay," Natalie replied cheerfully. "Then it's not really a bedroom, it's a junk room."
She giggled at her own joke.
Taylor
"Something like that," Taylor smiled, turning on one of the vents to get rid of most of the steam.
Then he began getting cutlery and dishes ready.
"We might use it for recording eventually. We did order some equipment."
Natalie
"Oooh nifty," Natalie said. "So that would make it your recording room!"
She giggled as if she was the queen of wit.
Taylor
"Yes," Taylor agreed, finally turning the stove off, soon followed by the fan.
"Recording studio, in fact."
He began dishing it up.
Natalie
"Mmm, food..." Natalie said. "Thankies muchly Tay-Tay."
She beamed, a sleepy silly smile.
Taylor
"And after that," Taylor pointed at her, "you're going to bed. I'll wake you up in an hour or so when Tony gets here."
He made his way over to the nearby doorway.
"IKE?!" he called, "lunch if you want it!"
Natalie and Isaac
Natalie lifted her hand in a mock salute.
"Sir, yes, sir," she giggled.
She started eating just as Isaac entered the room.
"You rang?" he inquired.
"No, he yelled," Natalie replied.
"Forgive my error -"
"You're forgiven."
"Why, thank you oh gracious one," Isaac replied, eyebrow lifted.
"I'm Natalie, not 'oh gracious one'."
"Ahh, but Natalie is gracious."
Natalie seemed to consider this.
"Okay."
Taylor
"Food," Taylor said simply, putting the third bowl on the bench before grabbing his own.
He got another drink before settling himself on a stool opposite Natalie.
"She's a bit tired so she'll be staying for while."
Isaac and Natalie
"Thanks Tay," Isaac replied, picking up the bowl.
"Just a little sleepy," Natalie defended with a yawn.
"Just a little," Isaac smiled.
"Itty bitty... this is nummy Tay-Tay."
"Tay-Tay," Isaac chuckled under his breath.
Taylor
Taylor shrugged with an incredulous look on his face as he watched her.
"You're not going to finish all that, are you?" he asked finally.
Natalie and Isaac
Natalie looked at her food, then back at Taylor.
"Possibly not," she replied cheerfully. "But it's still nummy. Nummy, nummy, nummy, nummy. I like the word nummy. I suppose I should really say 'yummy', but it doesn't have the same ring to it."
Isaac grinned in amusement.
"I think we exhausted her, Tay."
Taylor
"I knew we hsouldn't have gone for the full hour," Taylor shook his head, standing up.
"Come on Nat," he insisted, reaching his hand out for her.
Natalie and Isaac
Natalie attempted to stand, but like before, sat right back down again.
"My legs don't want to hold me," she giggled.
"Do you want me to help?" Isaac offered.
Taylor
"Oh come on," Taylor rolled his eyes.
"Give me your legs."
He leant down to wrap one arm under her knees, the other wrapping around her shoulders.
"And don't get comfortable. I don't want you falling asleep on the way," he insisted, lifting her up.
Natalie and Isaac
Natalie put one arm around the back of Taylor's neck, while the other flapped around free.
"Can't get comfy with you bouncing around," she said solomnly.
Isaac hid a smile and followed.
Taylor
"Well don't wriggle, it's a long way to the ground."
He quickly made it to the bedroom, and soon deposited he ron the spare bed.
"I'll wake you in an hour or so," he promised, going to switch off the light.
Isaac and Natalie
"Okay..." Natalie said.
And within moments, was fast asleep. Isaac coughed softly as the door closed.
"Do you think," he said quietly, "it might be better if she slept out?"
Taylor
"Maybe," Taylor shrugged.
"But we don't know if she told her parents she'd be back by a certain time. They might get worried."
Isaac
"So... you have a contact number for them, right? Ring 'em up and let them know. You'd have to ring Tony anyway," Isaac replied. "It was just a thought... y'know, rather than distrupting her sleep to send her home, y'know? We don't have to."
Taylor
Taylor hesitated, weighing the pros and cons.
"Ok," he finally relented.
"I'll give them a call."
And he left to do just that.