A bird flew by Jackson's head. He dodged it, but it circled and came back. He stopped and batted at it to try to deter it. It fluttered up and away, but came circling back. He was getting annoyed. He tried to tell it to leave him alone, but every time he opened his mouth to speak, it disappeared from ear shot. He started walking again.

The bird's insistent fluttering made it difficult to concentrate on what was going on around him. All he knew was that it was night and he was in a city. The stupid bird took to chirping loudly in his ear every time it circled around and passed by his head. It was black. A raven. Nevermore.

"Nevermore!" he yelled at it when he saw it coming again. It came to a mid-flight halt, cocked its head as it hovered, and then took off into the night sky. Jackson looked around, but it was gone. Finally! He laughed. Victory! There was a strange mist rolling around close to the ground. His feet were hidden. He realized he didn't know where he was or why he had come.

Up ahead a dark figure came into view, silhouetted against a vast night sky with mist curling and coiling around his legs and cape.

Cape?

It dawned on him. This was another dream. The dark figure turned to face him. Black cape. Black mask. Black suit. Green electricity crackling around the chest emblem and the eyes.

Father Time.

"What now?" Jackson asked, having the urge to harass this... being.... for whatever reason. Maybe because the guy was so lacking in a sense of humor. So serious.  

He smiled at the magnificent sight his alter-ego made.

Father Time moved closer and they stopped about two feet from one another. Jackson gazed at him and waited for an answer.

"You are going to take a dangerous risk." Father Time spoke in Jackson's own low growl.

"I am. I have to. We need to find out where these people have moved their operations."

Father Time turned and seemed to be looking off into the distance. He crossed his arms and was quiet for a moment. Finally he turned back to Jackson.

"Perhaps you should allow me to deal with the situation. You are incapable of using your... our powers. I can handle the enemy much more effectively with the ability to alter time." He squared his shoulders back and locked his hands behind his back.

"You don't think I can handle it? Without the use of 'super-powers'? I'm a cop. A damned good one. I've been in tight situations and did fine without using 'powers'."

"You have only been a cop without the use of your abilities for the past year, remember? And several times you have almost got yourself, and me, terminated."

"You sound like Arnold Schwarzenegger."

"Regardless."

"We handled the last situation alright. We'll handle this one, too. If we need Father Time instead of Jackson Wolfe, you'll be here... right? I think we both need to put a little faith in one another."

"It is easy for you to place faith in me. I am nearly invincible..."

"Then what are you worried about?"

Father Time was silent. He gazed at Jackson thoughtfully. At least that's what it looked like he was doing. The mask made it difficult to tell. He stepped closer to Jackson.

"You seem lacking in.... the capability to take this situation seriously. It isn't a joke, Detective. In the wrong hands, we have the potential to become one of the deadliest weapons in existence. I need to know that you are aware of what I am capable of. That it wouldn't take much to evolve us into what they had intended. You alone stand in the way of my becoming a ruthless, heartless killing machine. Because of who you are and the strength of your character, I am what I am now."

Jackson eyed him suspiciously. "Are you complimenting me?"

Father Time stood there staring at him (at least Jackson thought he was). Electricity sparked and sizzled and he was silent. Jackson let out a low whistle and looked away, then down at the rolling mist, then over to the side. Finally his gaze landed back on the masked countenance before him and he raised an eyebrow.

"I understand that we knew nothing of each other before a couple of days ago. I also get that you aren't a trusting individual. Unfortunately, I can't guarantee our safety or...."

"Do you really believe that it is our safety I am concerned with?" Jackson snapped his mind-mouth shut as the growling voice cut him off. It interrupted him right inside his own head. He stared at Father Time with a blank look on his face. The guy was relentless. "Our safety is not a concern, Detective. The safety of countless innocent people, families, children.... those are who I seek to protect and I will go as far as to terminate both of us in order to prevent being turned into a weapon. Is that perfectly clear? You and I will die before we kill anyone who does not deserve it. If they gained control over me....” He stopped there, but his meaning was clear.

"Then I guess we'd better not allow that to happen." Jackson's voice was even and steady inside both of their minds. He looked his intimidating masked self directly in the eye... area, and held his gaze, unwavering.

Finally, Father Time visibly relaxed. His shoulders lowered very slightly and he breathed a long, deep breath out, allowing his chest to rest. He turned back to Jackson and spoke. "I have a request. I will need your permission to awaken if I am needed. Outside of protocol and the call of duty. It is very difficult, if not impossible, for me to awaken when I am not drawn to do so by my objective."

Jackson visibly and audibly sighed with relief. "Actually, my friend, that is good to hear. I had some concerns regarding that."

"Not necessary."

Jackson studied Father Time carefully. He knew he was looking at himself, but it was himself under the influence of a computer program. Could he trust himself? He pondered the thought. He knew he was a good person. One that would never hurt anyone unless it was necessary. He believed that goodness was rare, but that it was strong. Evil was far more plentiful, but weak. Finally he shrugged and thrust his hands in his pockets.

"Okay. I give you permission to wake the fuck up if I'm failing miserably and need your help. Please... Wake up and assist me if I'm about to get everyone killed."

Father Time nodded. "I will take over when the time comes that I am needed."

"Deal." Jackson thrust out his hand.

Father Time stared at it.

"You are supposed to shake it."

Father Time stared at it some more and then raised his head to stare at him.

"Never mind."

...........................

He woke up and saw daylight filtering through the curtains. He looked down at Macy's sleeping face. Her tiny frame was wrapped around him without half an inch between them anywhere. He was still, so as not to disturb her. If she woke just then she would come face to face with something he was not quite ready to show her. He moved his hand to the area and tried to push it back down, willing it to shrink back to a reasonable size.

Macy stirred and yawned. He couldn't see her face. She wiggled and swept an arm across him, brushing across the exact area he had hoped she wouldn't touch. She froze for a second and then her head moved up until she was looking at him. He grinned his lop-sided grin at her and shrugged apologetically.

"That is your fault," he purred at her.

She giggled and scooted up a little. "I'm glad it's my fault and not someone else's."

"No. You are fully to blame." He pulled her up and on top of him and she snuggled her face into his neck. Her warm breath caused the affected area to become even more affected. He was going to need a very cold shower soon.

"You got any of that snow handy?" he growled at her while trying to adjust himself beneath her.

She laughed and reached her hand back. He yelped and tossed her off of him when he felt tiny icy particles alight on his most sensitive region. He lay there with both hands over it glaring at her as she fell apart laughing.

"I was not serious, Miss Grey." 

"I... I..." She had to choke back her laughter in order to speak. "I'm sorry, Jackson! I shouldn't have, but it was so impossibly irresistible. Darling, please don't be mad!" She reached out for him with a little pout on her face, but he moved quickly out of her reach.

"Devil woman!"

"No. That would be Vivian. She brings the heat."

"Ice witch."

"Jackson!"

"You are forbidden from using your ability against me. Even in jest."

"Okay, sweetie."

He moved back over to her and pulled her into his arms. "You women have no idea the sensitivity of that area."

"I know, darling. Kiss me."

He did and she melted into him again. Light snow particles floated around them and melted in their hair and on their skin as her passion ignited.

...........

Chief Munson arrived at the station bright and early. He went directly into his office and began making phone calls. He had friends in all places. Well, all places except for the criminal underground. No one there liked him much.

He got his buddy Harvey Faulkner on the line. Harvey was a three star Lieutenant General in the army and he was up for promotion very soon. Harvey was a good man and he had assisted Chief Munson in the past, several times.

"Chief!" Harvey's loud voice bellowed into the Chief's ear. He grinned and pulled the phone back a bit.

"General, my friend! How are you?"

"Oh, you know... still kicking. What's going on? You never call me unless you need something!"

"Hey, you know how it is. Never time for chit chat. Always working! It takes a lot to run the L.A.P.D. You army boys think you got it hard! Try slapping around these rookies for a while!" 

Both men laughed. Finally Chief Munson got to the point. "I need ya, buddy. This time it's a real mess of a situation. I don't know how deep or far it goes, but... General, we are talking possible war."

"Is that so? Have you talked to the feds? Are they aware of the situation?"

"Yep. Those useless bastards. You know how they are. They're always too afraid to make a move when there's risk involved. I'm afraid they allowed this one to go too far."

The line was quiet for a moment and then General Faulkner cleared his throat and spoke, "Alright, Chief. Sounds like it must be something bigger 'n us. Got anyone else to call in and give us a hand?"

"Well, you're my biggest player, but yeah. I'll get hold of my guy in the Guard and I'll light a fire under the feds, too. Then we've got my own task force."

"I've got some pals in the higher ranks of the Navy Seals, too. Like me to call on them? Think it's that big?"

Chief Munson thought about it. The General had never offered to bring any other muscle besides his own before. This was bigger than anything they had ever faced together, though. They hadn't ever dealt with anything so big as to carry a risk of world war. He sighed.

"You know, I don't think all that man power will even matter if this situation doesn't get handled correctly. Sure, we'd out-man them here, but if it triggers something bigger...."

"I got ya, Chief. I understand. How bout I put them on alert. We'll keep them on an "as needed" basis and see if we can't handle it with what we've got."

"Sounds good, old friend. Can you make it here sometime this morning?" 

"You bet. I'll get the troops organized and fly in for a meeting by 11am."

"See you then."

Chief Munson hung up the phone and sat back. He would have every source he had available to him ready to move by noon. He wondered how long it would take his "boy wonder" to get himself into position. He sat forward to pick up his phone and make the next call. Jackson would let him know the situation as it unfolded. He just needed to focus on carrying out his own end of the deal.

He dialed the office of his friend at the National Guard.

 Edited.

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