something new.....

Jan. 1, 2005

Nelson knew that he would never step foot on an airplane again after what happened last summer. In fact he became so stalled, immobilized really, by his fear that he couldn't be around people much at all either. His parents decided it was time for him to come home and recuperate. But a 34 year old....going home to his Mommy and Daddy? No....he couldn't do that. He would have to make do with his newfound glitches.

"What do you say we drive up to Big Bear?"

The sound that came from the direction of Erin's mouth didn't sound like her voice. It was encased in a concrete slab of echoes....kind of like the sound you hear when you're about to faint or vomit.

"What? What was that? I didn't hear you...." replied Nelson.

His body convulsed as they walked out of the train station.
Mass transit. He thought. Mass transit. All of it. Buses. Airplanes. Subways. Trains. He couldn't do it.
The airplanes....well, of course, that made sense. But the rest of it. He couldn't believe it. His fear was truly getting the best of him.

"I....I think I need to sit down."

Nelson found a bench and hurriedly sat down. In doing so he made himself more dizzy, ducked his head between his knees, and proceeded to throw up his double-double and chocolate shake.

Erin ran to a nearby coffee stand to get a water for Nelson as he recuperated from the stress-induced nausea. She hurried back with the water and a clean wash cloth - compliments of the vendor. Erin soaked the wash cloth with some water and applied it to the back of Nelson's neck.

Humiliated, but feeling 110% better, Nelson looked up just in time to see a dark blue Ford Expedition halt to a stop just a few feet ahead of him and two men with dark suits and sunglasses jump out of both passenger side doors and walk towards him.

"Excuse me sir, are you Nelson Cooper?"

"Umm.....yeah?" Nelson answered questioningly.

"We hate to bother you..."

What happened next was a flurry of activity, which almost caused Nelson to retch again, that included: flashing badges (FBI); exchanged names (one was Nick, the other John); and a drive "downtown" in the Expedition with Erin in tow.

They went quietly. It never felt like they were in trouble. And that's because they weren't. The only thing that was said, as they took off screeching down the boulevard, was that the "Director" needed to see him.

Dammit, he thought. I'm not ready for that now. Why does he want to see me now. What is so urgent that he would freak out my girlfriend outside of the train station in downtown Los Angeles?

Unless HE was back. That couldn't be it. Could it?