I look at his forehead; it's high, like hers. My eyes travel down to the hands: large, thick fingers, bulbous nails, like hers. I continue down to the feet, clad in black patent brogues, they are big and wide, like hers.
But are these similarities coincidental? They could be.
His smirk widens, "Young lady, are you checking me out? I'm old enough to be your grandfather."
Kade cuts in, "Cut the creepy crap Doc – my sis is being gnawed alive right now by a remotely controlled puppet. We gotta go. But we'll be back," he says, rushing to the door.
Dr Rosen steps away from my stitched up parents, "I apologize – that was a little inappropriate, I'm sure you were just admiring my suit, young lady."
Kade reaches the door, and to my astonishment, opens it – we're not trapped! "Come on Tan, we need to get back to our suite." I walk toward him, feeling slightly conflicted.
"Tanya!" Dr Rosen's voice is assertive.
I turn and look at him, "Kade can attend to his family crisis himself, there will be many to help him at the hotel." He looks back at the bed, "You have a duty of care to your parents," he says, with a detached medics voice.
Kade looks back, "No way, Tan and I are a team, we deal with all crisis together!" He asserts.
"Of that I have no doubt. But her parents have been murdered in the most brutal manner; I think it's only right that she pays her last respects, before joining you in your rescue mission. That said, I'm not convinced a remote controlled puppet poses much of a threat," says Dr Rosen.
Kade looks suddenly mournful, "Murdered, they're dead?" He asks, rushing to comfort me.
Nurse Danny, interjects, he's: kind, caring and has a supportive voice, "Not yet. Our medical team threw all their resources at them, but there is no way they could survive such a barbaric surgery. They have perhaps a few hours of life left. They're heavily sedated, their pain is controlled and they're conscious, so can hear everything," he says, returning to attend to them.
Kade wraps a consoling arm around me, "You go and see to Kelly. I'll spend a few moments here then I'll come and join you – go tear that animatronic thing up," I say, supportively.
He kisses my forehead, "Hopefully I'll be back in time to say a proper goodbye to your folks." His face moves to my ear, "Don't hesitate to use your disabling device if you have any doubts about this old creep," he whispers.
As he turns to leave, I pull him back, "Kade – I love you!" I say.
He looks surprised, "I know you do, and I love you, too."
I give him a supportive wave, "Bye."
He hesitates, "No, it's not 'Bye' it's see you soon!" He asserts.
"Sure it is. Now go, get outta here, Kell and the others need you.
At the door he turns and eye locks me, "It won't be long before we're on top of our mountain, as man and wife," his smile is warm and wide.
I flick my hand at him, "Hurry, hurry," I say, with an urgent but positive vibe.
Then he's gone.
......
I feel empty without him, but I know this is for the best.
As soon as the door closes, I hear a loud clicking sound and I feel a violent tear at my thigh as the disabling devices are ripped from my pocket and slam into the ceiling propelled by a powerful magnetic force.
