Taylor had been putting it off for days, and he knew it. But this particular afternoon he found he had nothing to distract himself with, and so finally decided to take his bike over to the old Hanson house.
He parked in the driveway and took his helmet off before making his way in.
"Who's that?" he heard his Mom call from the kitchen.
"It's me," he replied, walking through.
"Taylor?"
"Hey Mom," he smiled, making his way over to give her a kiss.
"Not to disrupt this wonderful mother/son moment," she grinned, "but what are you doing here?"
"I came to see Dad, actually."
"Figures. You boys never come to see your mother."
"Sorry, we've been pretty busy," Taylor looked a little sheepish.
"That's alright."
"Is he upstairs?" Taylor asked.
"In the study," Diana nodded, "and no yelling. I sense turmoil afoot."
"Hopefully there won't be," Taylor shrugged, leaving the kitchen and making his way upstairs.
When he came to the study, he knocked.
"Come in Taylor."
Taylor rolled his eyes and stepped through.
"How did you know it was me?" he sighed, closing the door behind him and going to sit in the opposite chair.
"Because no one else as tall as you has such a hunchback," Walker's eyebrows rose, "who would visit me, anyway."
Taylor smirked.
"My guess is, this isn't a social call," Walker leant forward.
"Not quite, no."
"What's on your mind?"
Taylor hesitated, eyes away, as he tried to think of what to say.
"Christian," he said finally.
Walker sat back, taking a deep breath.
"Why did you do it?" Taylor looked up.
"Because Wayne asked me to," Walker replied simply, "that's all there is to it."
"Is it?" Taylor frowned, "you knew what could have happened. You knew I had a professional relationship with him. And did you even stop to think of what it could have done to Avery?! To face him after all this time, as well as having to go into his head? He saw Blakesley himself attacking me. Imagine what kind of other sick things he's witnessed that could have been passed onto her!"
"Regardless of what you may think," Walker cut in, "I did not force your sister into it. I merely gave her a choice."
"And how much do you think it would have taken for her to turn that option down?" Taylor practically scorned, "she killed who he considered a father. Obviously she'd at least want some kind of redemption. Let alone revenge for what he did to us two years ago. She could have gone either way in that room and you know it."
"Perhaps I have more faith in her than you do."
Taylor frowned suddenly, leaning back into his seat.
"I have faith in her," he shook his head, "but I can't help but worry either. And it's not only her I'm worried about."
"As I can understand. But you also have to realise that Christian is unfortunately a very valuable aquisition for the YIRAAS. Especially from a security aspect. You know that Craig was the most wanted. Christian is only a step down from that, due to his close relationship with him."
"He's not Craig," Taylor scowled, "no one seems to grasp that."
"Undoubtedly so," Walker amended, "and it does, believe it or not, show. He has so far helped Wayne with some matters purely of his own accord, and he hasn't been at all disruptive."
"You've checked up on him?"
"Vaguely. I figured you'd want to know, and I know you haven't had access to him yet."
"I'm beginning to doubt that I ever will," Taylor shrugged, "which I guess is understandable from their side."
Walker hesitated, his eyes narrowing.
"'Their side'?" he repeated, curiously.
Taylor hesitated, realising his mistake.
"Sorry," he rubbed his face, "you know what I mean. Them. Wayne. Whoever put me under house arrest."
Walker nodded, "I trust you've heard from Avery, thus this visit."
"I have. She came by the other day and told me what happened. She was... upset because we hadn't told her about Chris. We being Ike, Zac, myself. It was my fault, really. I was afraid of what she'd think. I'm kind of glad she found out this way, seeing things from his perspective too, you know."
"At least you understand that," Walker sighed.
"I still don't get it," Taylor shook his head.
"The bottom line Taylor is that Wayne asked a favour of me. I did deliberate for quite some time before contacting Avery. Because I realised that ultimately it was not my decision, and far be it my right to deny her the chance to face him if she so wished. She did. That's all I can tell you."
Taylor winced.
"I guess I would have done the same thing," he murmured, still inwardly scowling about the whole thing.
"I hope you would have," Walker nodded, "now, are you staying for tea or will you be heading home?"