Thwarted Dreams -- Chapter 2

Disclaimer: The TV show Dark Angel, all of the characters that appeared on it (Colonel Lydecker, etc.), and everything else that has to do with the show belong to their respective owners, not to me. No money is being made off of this fic. I only own the original characters (Caroline, etc.).

“Dinner was great,” Caroline said as she sat on the front porch of her house with her brothers. “Nobody makes a turkey like Mom does.”

“Or mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes or stuffing or that stuff that I’m still not sure what it is even after all these years but damn does it taste good,” Danny added.

“Let’s give thanks for Thanksgiving,” Chris agreed.

“Two more days and then it’s back on the plane to North Carolina,” Pete said. “Who in their bright mind decided to assign me to North Carolina? It’s the middle of nowhere out there!”

“Nobody made you decide to go into the army,” Caroline said sweetly. “You could have gone to Yale like Mom really wanted you to do, but nope. You decided that you wanted to follow Dad and Chris into the army and to West Point. Hey, you could have made a different decision, but you didn’t so you’re stuck with whatever assignments that you get.”

“Look who’s talking, Ms. I’m-So-Excited-About-Leaving-For-West Point-In-The-Summer-That-I’m-Almost-Bouncing-Off-The-Walls,” Pete retorted.

“Hey, not a whole lot of women get in there,” Caroline pointed out. “You know how much harder the standards are for someone like me to get in. I earned my acceptance. You did, too.”

“What about me?” Chris asked innocently.

“Nah, you got by on your looks again,” Pete deadpanned.

“Yep, every time Chris runs into the proverbial wall, he uses those good looks and what he believes to be charm to get himself out of whatever sticky situation he’s gotten himself into,” Danny commented. The four of them laughed. They knew how hard Chris had worked to get into West Point and how good of a worker he still was.

“That definitely sounds like Chris Robinson,” another voice agreed.

Caroline grinned. “Hey, Lisa.” Her gaze fell on the man who was standing next to Lisa and her voice cooled a little bit. “Hey, Don.”

“If it isn’t the great Donald Michael Lydecker himself,” Chris teased. He walked up to his best friend and gave him a quick hug. “Great to see that you guys are in town again. Did you come by to say hi to my folks?”

“We did,” Lydecker said. “We’ve also got some big news.”

“You’re adopting a kid?” Chris guessed.

“Not yet,” Lisa said. “I’m still working on Don on that one.”

“No, I got a promotion and a transfer,” Lydecker told them. He grinned. “A big one. I’m being promoted to major and I’m being transferred over to Wyoming, where I’m being put in charge of the military guards over a government research project.”

“Research?” Pete asked. “What kind of research, or is it too classified for you to fill us in on it?”

Lydecker shrugged. “Medical research. Things like testing medications and genes for diseases and viruses, things of that nature. There’s a lot being invested by the government for this research, however, so they’re maintaining a military presence at the facility. There’s a lot of perks, though. Living quarters are provided, et cetera.”

“It sounds pretty easy,” Caroline said dubiously. “There’s got to be a catch somewhere.”

“That’s what I thought, but there’s no catch,” Lydecker confessed. “I keep things running smoothly, and I could be a colonel in a few years. That’s what I was told by my superiors, at any rate.”

“Wow, this must be some important research,” Chris said. “Congratulations, man.”

“Thanks,” Lydecker said. “It is.” You have no idea how important it is or how much I’ve been a part of it already for the past three years.

“Mom and Dad are inside in the living room if you want to go in and tell them the news,” Danny informed him.

“Thanks,” Lisa said. She and Lydecker went inside the house.

“It’s nice to know that he’ll be around a thousand or so miles away from here and even further from me starting in the summer,” Caroline said cheerfully once they were out of earshot.

“Caroline, the whole ‘I hate Don and most of my friends’ thing is getting kind of old,” Chris commented.

“Sorry,” Caroline apologized. “He does bug me, though. I guess it’s just a personality conflict.” She sighed. “I will miss Lisa, though.” She grinned wickedly. “Did I tell you guys when she and Don were in town last month that she taught me how to ride a motorcycle?”

“No, but if Mom and Dad find out about that, they will keep you chained in your room until you leave for New York,” Pete said.

“No shit.” Caroline rolled her eyes. “It’s actually really fun. I’m seriously going to get my bike license after I turn eighteen. As soon as I find the time, I’ll do it.”

“I told you motorcycles were a blast,” Danny said. He looked around nervously.

“Mom and Dad still don’t know that you ride motorcycles, huh?” Chris guessed.

“Yeah,” Danny admitted.

“Wow,” Caroline said. “You’re twenty-three years old, you live miles from home on a naval base in Virginia, and you’re still scared of what will happen when your mommy and daddy find out that you have a motorcycle and have been riding them since you were sixteen. Unbelievable.” She shook her head in mock disgust. “What a weak-ass.” She grinned when she heard Chris and Pete snicker and saw Danny glare at her.

“Talk about the pot calling the kettle black,” Danny said. “Let me think here. Who was it who just two days ago when we got back here after picking me up from the airport flipped out when almost stepped on the cat’s unfinished lunch which the kitty left on the lawn?”

“That is different,” Caroline insisted. She ignored her brothers’ laughter. “That was disgusting.”

“So are you,” Danny teased.

“Wow, your maturity level amazes me,” Caroline returned. She and Danny stared each other down for a moment before all four of them burst into laughter.

TBC