The Program

Chapter Twenty-Six

Walking out of the hospital was very different this time around. Cameras for news stations were everywhere, asking dumb questions about the theories on what had happened and such. Last time they left us alone, respected us.

Now, not so much.

"Get in the car," Bridget demanded. There were many different cars, my family climbing into one of the others. Me and John climbed into the one with her. "We're taking you somewhere safe for the time being. You'll be under our protection until further notice."

Natalie's words came to my head as Bridget said it.

That doesn't mean they're going about it in the right way or that they should be trusted.

Natalie warned us that they could be dangerous. I'll stick by them for now, until I get Jack and Annie back. Then, i'll need to do something about this. "Fine," I told her. "What about my family?"

"And mine?" John spoke up.

"They'll be taken back to their homes, some of the guards watching in case Reid or the others working with him decide to make an appearance." She answered. "Since the test is officially broken now, they want you back more than ever."

"Why?" I asked.

She turned to me, buckling her seat-belt and motioned for us to as well. "I both are compatible, remember? If the organization got a hold of you, they could make an even strong test with your abilities. It would be chaos."

"Oh," Me and John both muttered, me biting my lip. Then, I spoke up again. "And Natalie, where is she going?"

"With us to our safe house." She said, now not facing me. "We'll need to run some tests and ask a few more questions. Then, she's free to go to her own house and it will be guarded as well."

John looked at her. "Maybe you should put our families in one house. I would feel safer knowing that they're all being guarded at one place by all of the guards instead of just a few of those guys at two or three houses."

She tuned around again. "Alright." She pulled out her phone, giving the orders and then the rest of the ride was silent.

We eventually pulled up to an old house type of building, everything rustic and gross looking. "Uh, what is this?" I asked.

"Don't you know, Lexi?" Bridget replied. "It's just like some movies. It looks better on the inside."

We walked behind her as she went inside, a car pulling up outside and Natalie getting out. She rushed to us. The inside didn't look any better despite what Bridget had said, that is, not until she touched a spot on the wall I didn't see and a passage was opened.

"See. Just like I said, it's like a movie." 

We followed Bridget down the long hallway, going down some stairs as well until we reached a new point. She flipped a switch and the room came to life. "Whoa. Sweet hideout." John mumbled near my ear. "It's like Oliver Queen's secret place down here. And i'm sure Felicity would love all the tech going on down here too."

Computers lines the walls, the lights shining down on various table and wires. It set off a blue hue in the room. I heard Natalie breath heavily. "Is that a computer manipulation code scanner? I didn't even realize that other places might have them, especially since I was the one who made ours for Reid."

I leaned a little toward John and whispered, "I think Natalie is our 'Felicity'." He chuckled.

Bridget ignored our slight laughter as she continued talking to Natalie. "Yes, it's thanks to you we do, Natalie. We've watched you for a long time now. When you invented this for the organization you worked for, we started making our own blueprint." Bridget leaned against a table. "We failed, so we just started copying your tactic."

"What exactly are we doing here again?" John interrupted.

"We're just going to run some tests on yours and Lexi's compatibility," She answered. "Ms. Daniels will assist with this." It was a demand. "But we also will have another helper, someone who's been a great help with Ms. Daniels when you two went back in the test."

"Hey guys." I heard behind me. When I turned, I saw Annie. She wasn't exactly smiling and she looked terrified to even be here but you could tell she was still happy. "I'm so happy you're awake."

While John stayed put, I ran to her, engulfing Annie in a hug. "Oh my gosh, I thought they were going to hurt you. They threatened and I just-"

"I'm fine, Lexi." Annie reassured. "Everything's okay."

I pulled away, wiping a small tear and then turning to John. "You gonna say hi, or just stand there like an idiot?"

At my words, John walked over to us, me backing away a bit as he neared so I wouldn't be right next to Annie. He didn't smile or change his mood, he just walked.

The only thing that changed was the suddenly closeness of them the second he got there, as he brought his face closer to Annie's, instantly cupping her cheek and kissing her right in front of me without even caring I was there. 

At first, Annie looked shocked, her hands stuck in an awkward position between his and her chest. Then, which caused me to back away more and go toward Natalie, she kissed him back. And not just something small, no, she started running her freaking hands through John's hair.

I coughed a little, just slightly in hopes of getting their attention. It didn't work.

Coughing louder and with a bit of gagging for effect, they finally separated. Annie looked flushed and John had the audacity to smirk as he turned around again. "Now that is how a kiss is supposed to go." He said, to which Annie smacked his arm and walked over to me, her head slightly hung, hiding the blush taking place on her cheeks. 

"You looked like you were having fun," I mumbled to her, teasing a bit. She didn't say anything though.

John remained composed as he walked back to us, ready to hear the rest of what was to be said. "So, tell us exactly what we have to do. The faster we're finished with this, the faster Lexi can go make heart eyes with my brother." He then lowered his voice. "And the faster I can go back to normal and do the normal thing of asking someone on a date."

Annie glared at him and he smiled, getting closer to her and standing right next to her, causing Annie to blush again as his arm grazed hers. I noticed that she tucked some hair behind her ear at his action as well, biting her lip and fidgeting with her hands as if she didn't know how to use them. John fixed that, grabbing hers with his own and intertwining their fingers.

It was oddly cute to see them like this, even during the events going on around us right now.

Plus, it was nice to see them not bickering.

"Well," Bridget spoke up. "Just let me and Natalie set up a few things, and we can get started."

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Natalie is so the Felicity...hehe

Dedicated to @DraconisSolutus. I personally didn't want to dedicate to them yet because they haven't made it this far in the story and I didn't want to spoil them incase they clicked on this chapter they were dedicated in. But i'll be running out of chapters eventually and I really wanted to tell ya'll about them because even though i've only read one of their books so far, it's really awesome. You guys should check them out :)

Okay, I hit a snag. While writing future chapters of 'The Program'(because i'm trying to stay ahead of myself so I never miss an update) the story became a bit longer than it needed to be. It will no longer just go to chapter thirty and have three epilogues now, instead it will go past thirty chapters(i'm not sure by exactly how much yet, i'm hoping just five) but there will still be three epilogues(mainly because I had three different ideas for one and I wanted to do them all).

I'll be updating again tomorrow but after that i'm going to go on a schedule of every few days or every Friday. Hopefully while doing that i'll be able to finish this story before April or at the most, before April ends.

Who enjoyed the John and Annie action? I've decided I like them better together instead of what a lot of people were pushing for in the last book(Danny and Annie). I don't know, this way is just cuter and kinda cool.

Don't worry, Jack's coming back in soon. And when he's back in the story there will be basically a whole chapter of cuteness(I know because I already wrote it) and feels. :)

Vote and comment if you liked this chapter and can't wait to see Jack again.