Episode 8

Shannon ran as fast as she could.

Thomas was over the other side of the building, but where? There were so many terminals at this airport how could she make sure she was at the right one?

She hung back by the entry doors, moving down, scanning the crowds, all the time searching for the face that she had longed to see again over the recent months.

She had hoped that his homecoming would have been a bit more welcoming, but things seldom went as planned with Thomas around and a happy ending was rarely on the cards as he stumbled from one mishap to another.

Thomas had the kindest heart she knew and all he wanted to do was make the world a better place.

She knew from experience that there was a very real danger to Thomas' existence from some mysterious people who were always chasing him. That was how they met after all.

That fateful night when Thomas had flown into the middle of a church service. It was only a few years ago and she stil remembered it vividly. It had been the beginning of her new life.

She missed the excitement he brought.

Things hadn't been the same with him gone. He had become more of an echo as reality seeped in to every day life again. That her job had become her life now instead of a means to finance it grated her nerves.

She would be happy to throw it all away and follow Thomas wherever his whims took him next.

She caught herself thinking like the schoolgirl she had never been.

Their relationship had started off as one of conflicting opposites as she recalled the many long nights and summer days spent debating the very basis of life itself. Now here she was acting as if he was all that mattered. They had spent most of their time together on the verge of breaking up, so she was angry with herself when she realised how important he'd become, but it made her no less determined to find him.

Thomas had taught her a few tricks about scanning crowds. You didn't need to focus on every individual face, just take it in chunks at a time, pull your focus back and your sub-conscious will let you know when you've found what you're looking for.

As if on cue her attention moved to some doors near the far end.

They seemed to bypass the normal check in/out entrances and because of that she didn't notice the first few people make their way out until the familiar frame of the man she loved appeared too and started making for the exit surrounded by what appeared to be guards.

"Thomas?" she whispered to herself.

She dove out through the nearest exit trying to see above the throng. She caught sight of him again. A car was pulling up. They were taking him away!

"Thomas!!" she screamed.

Thomas lifted his head, turning to see her.

As soon as their eyes met, he came to life, "Shannon!"

A few people stopped to see what the fuss was about, most just hurried on, more worried about missing whichever flight they were they were there to catch.

Thomas turned to run to her, but as soon as he tried to make a move a guard in a bandaged hand grabbed hold of him.

Shannon continued to make up ground between them, dodging the moving mass between them.

"Shannon! They're taking me away!" Thomas shouted.

At that another guard grabbed him, then something else caught her eye.

A car had pulled up behind theirs and a man had gotten out.

"Thomas! NO!" She tried to warn.

Too late!

The man calmly held up a gun and fired. Twice.

Thomas slumped into the arms of the bandaged guard as the others whirled to face the shooter who was already making his way back to his car.

"NO!!" She arrived beside him and held his hand. All she could see was the blood pumping out of his chest.

She tried to look him in the eyes, she was shocked to see them smiling.

"Shannon it's going to be alright." Thomas said between ragged breaths. She didn't believe him though.

The man was no random stranger, she remembered him from before.

A few years ago in Edinburgh he had tried to kill Thomas Carter for the first time.


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Now playing: Mason Williams - Classical Gas


via FoxyTunes

Intruded upon
By ghosts of past lives
Habits of being
Worn out and used up
Beacons of personal history
Illuminating interactions from long ago
Shadows of things forgotten
Dance around my periphery
A piece of me
In a piece of them
Trying to re-unite the whole
With so much of myself
Now a part of others lives
What remains?
Where do I live?


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Now playing: System 7 - Big Sky City [J.O.S. Mix]
via FoxyTunes

Beauty No.3

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Now playing: The Beatles - Long, Long, Long
via FoxyTunes

I Can Transform Ya - Chris Brown feat. Lil Wayne

Chris Brown - I Can Transform Ya Feat Lil Wayne - Amazing videos are here

I hate it when this happens.

Two of my least liked artists have combined to make one of my favourite tracks of the year.

Should I have principles about this kind of thing and not support it? Or am I big enough to acknowledge talent despite serious flaws in those who wield it?

Aaargh!!! The dilemma!!

Aaaaargh!! The indecision!!!

just....Aaaaaaarghhhhhh!!!!!!!!


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Now playing: Frank Zappa - Peaches in Regalia
via FoxyTunes

Episode 7

Kelvin waited for the arrivals doors to open into the lounge.

He had been right to anticipate some fallout from the cabinet meeting.

His aide had had to field calls from reporters known to be press outlets for certain cabinet members.

This meant that whilst he could hold them off for now, before Thomas left the airport he would have to give his statement.

That could wait for now.

The doors opened and following a couple of men who were obviously the embassy officials he had been told were accompanying him, came Thomas. Behind Thomas were two injured men. Kelvin wondered about their presence but quickly turned his attention back to his son.

Thomas' body language was quite open to him and he could tell that his son was bearing a lot of guilt for what he'd done but that there was always that furtive undercurrent that made him think of a cornered rat looking for it's escape.

"Thomas!" He held his arms out, partly for appearances sake and partly because he really did hope that his son would just fall into his arms for comfort.

Thomas looked up. There was no chance of a warm re-union here. Kelvin put his arms down and walked up to him instead.

Putting his arm around him he felt his son tense up but then give in. "Dad." He said coolly.

"Firstly, I'm glad you're okay." Kelvin led him away from the officials. The two injured men watched them whilst taking a position by the exit.

"Secondly...What the hell were you doing over there?" Kelvin's anger was real enough but it was two part's fatherly, one part politician. He felt justified enough to show his anger from both standpoints.

"Fighting for freedom against the oppressive capitalist beast to stop it from swallowing up another country!!" Thomas' eyes lit up. His father knew which buttons to push with his son. They'd had this argument many times before. "You wouldn't know anything about fighting for the people though would you? You just another appendage seeking to control others!"

"Don't be an idiot! You performed a terrorist act out there in Egypt what did you think you were doing?" Even though he knew all eyes were on him, Kelvin felt this argument was necessary to clear the air. His impartiality and his postion must be in no doubt if he was to retain his authority in the situation. The officials would without doubt report back to someone in government and that would probably be the current Foreign Minister.

"It wasn't meant to be like that..." He listened to son, who was probably re-imagining everything that had happened out there. "They were who I was fighting for."

"Look, son. I know you probably thought you were doing the right thing, but come on. Taking lives. That's not you. What happened?"

"I was...I didn't...It wasn't just about the attacks." Kelvin could tell Thomas was holding something back.

"There was something else behind it? Tell me, Thomas. You're going to save yourself a lot of trouble here on in if you can just tell me what you got yourself into." His concern was real enough. Though he felt that nagging doubt that Thomas might spin him a fantastical story.

Thomas looked up at the ceiling and gave a deep sigh. He's resigning himself to his fate thought Kelvin. "There's nothing else to say."

Bringing his gaze back to Kelvin it was as if his son was a little boy again. "Dad, if I told you, you wouldn't believe me, so I'm just not going to have that conversation. I'm really sorry." Thomas' eyes were filling up with tears. "I'm sorry for all those deaths. It was my fault. It was all my fault."

Feeling like father and son again the politician put his arm around his shoulder. Softly, he spoke his name. "Thomas. I love you and I'll do all I can to help you." his voice cracked too, "I won't leave you alone again."

It took a few minutes for Thomas to pull himself together. Not many in the room were sympathetic to his misery, if they had to pick a side the majority felt more for Kelvin as the put-upon father.

"Do you think you're ready to leave?" Kelvin asked.

Thomas raised his head. His eyes had a far away look. When he spoke his voice was flat. "Yes."

Kelvin moved over to one of the officials, the same one Thomas had spoken to on the plane. "Can you let me know where he goes from here?"

"I'm sorry Mr Carter. This is going through official government protocol now. You will be contacted when you are able to talk to him. Before that you will probably need to go to the Foreign Secretary for more information."

Beuracrat! thought Kelvin, but he didn't want to jeopardise his chances of salvaging something positive out of this mess for Thomas and his own reputation. His lips stayed firmly shut.

"Myself or Michael will be available anytime." he said pointing to his aide.

"Okay, sir." The official presumed that was Thomas' cue to leave and he nodded to the two injured men. Kelvin realised that whatever happened to them they were acting as Thomas' security detail.

"Mike, any sign of the press?" He was worried he would have to run the gauntlet and deliver his statement here and now.

"None at the moment. We should be clear to get away."

Thomas was now shuffling toward the exit, led again by the embassy officials and trailed by the two security agents.

Kelvin watched his son walking off like a condemned man. He knew what would probably be in store for Thomas for refusing to co-operate and although he tried not think about it he couldn't help but tear up again at the thought of what the next 48 hours would be like for him.



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Now playing: Moby - All That I Need Is to Be Loved [Melodic Mix]
via FoxyTunes

Crying in the Jobcentreplus

Crying in the Jobcentreplus
No longer in control
Overwhelmed by it all
Emotions take hold
Unable to stay on top
Regret, grief and humiliation
Washing over me
Relief and elation
A weight removed
Under unsympathetic eyes
What more can life do to me
I will rise
I will rise!


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Now playing: The Jam - The Butterfly Collector
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Hairstyles No.4

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Now playing: Judy Cheeks - Reach (Tommy's Club Mix)
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