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Your Hollow Heart	By : KyuKitsune Category: G through L > Hollow Man Views: 3682 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Hollow Man, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1
- 2
- 3
~oooOYOHOHOooo~

Chapter 02

It had been almost three weeks since Joanna, or as everyone like to call her Joey not Joe, had came to work for them. She didn't seem to have any trouble keeping up on the same level as everyone there and was certainly a vast improvement than the last researcher.

Before she had agreed to take the position, Joey was given the opportunity to go over some of the previous transcripts to get a better understanding of the project and also find what was necessary on her part. Only when she had gotten halfway through those notes and was vexed by what she read so far.

Just what were those idiots thinking, my god just look at this?! It was hard to keep from cursing out at the whole lot of them. She found it highly embarrassed that they were suppose to be in the same field as her yet their finding wasn't written in the manner of a well-certified scientist and was more of an imbecile's writing.

Although if she had known of the issue they had with dealing with the likes of Sebastian and probably been more sympathetic and well-understanding to their situation.

But their work spoke in higher volume of how dire things were and needing her assistance in this. It was all utter gibberish as some of it made no sense and couldn't believe what she was seeing. From what she could tell, they had only managed to get one-third through the steps while the rest was left unfinished and completely disorganized.

From each of their standpoints, she found they had no real concept of the data they had at hand. It was in laymen's term, a total unbelievable mess and was sure to set them back further and the project would've been dead before it even got off the ground.

She hated to think what might've happen if she hadn't come along to pick up the pieces and help get things back on track.

Probably hired someone less capable and made it much worse and more complicated in the process…I'm just glad that I decided to accept Dr. McKay's offer when she did…

It was perhaps a good thing that Linda had been overseeing the applicants and found hers in the database listing. The government had no problem on finding every viable bio-engineer within the area and Joey's had certainly stood out as hers seem the most promising among the others there based on her qualification thus far.

Yet wanting to make absolutely certain and make a few calls to the clinic she worked at and asking to speak to the direct supervisor. Dr. Travis, Joey's boss and head director of the hospital had no problem vouching for her since she never had any problems with any of the tasks they had before or during procedures.

That was all Linda needed to hear and figured she was the suitable for this position and went to arrange an appointment at the latest. The sooner the better for them to get the project back up and running!

That Friday had been her day off and Joey had been a bit surprised when she got the call somewhere at eight-thirty in the morning. She was still half asleep as she never got up at this time and wondering who would be calling then. She had thought it was her boss until an unknown female voice was asking if this was Joanna Charnel.

"Yes this is she…?" When she heard whoever was on the other line explain why she was contacting her and wanted to have a moment of her time to discuss it further with just the two of them.

Joey figured why not as she really didn't have much plan for the entire day and told her to meet at the café down her street in about an hour or so. She took a quick shower and getting dressed in something simple but also presentable and wasn't long until she met the blond there who introduce herself as Dr. Linda McKay.

They both ordered coffee and once the waitress left to go attend to other customers, Joey couldn't help asking why her and decided to get right to the point.

Of course after Linda explain who she worked for and even giving her a bit of an insight of what she did. Though it was very limited since they were in a public place yet Joey got the gist that this was official business, top secret government work and once they left to go with not many people around to bring up the reason of why her expertise was needed.

"My contact number is attached to the first page and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to call." Linda hand her the slim folder and letting the two part ways from there.

The first thing Joey did when she got home was made herself comfortable on the couch and took her time reading it. By the time she was finished and having to reread certain passages just to be sure it was accurate, it was nearly six in the evening and gone to pick up the phone and dial Linda's number to ask when would she like her to get started.

"Whenever you possibly can." Though she took it to mean almost immediately and Joey knew was going to have a very busy weekend for herself and had a few things to deal with tomorrow in the morning.

Joey knew she certainly had her work cut out for her but always thrived on a good challenge as she accepted their offer and said to see them first thing Monday. She had a very busy agenda at hand and getting it all done before the big day and trying to configure the notes so that it made more sense than it did once she got right on it.

But then on Sunday after working through the night, she woke to someone rapping at her door and coming outside to find no one but a package delivered with her new identification and the address to the facility, confirming that she was 'in'.

She was proud to say that she managed with what she had so far and then getting the rest of the previous data and seeing to it that she got every last detail down in her notes. She spent long hours working at the compound gathering the necessary information and then at home was typing it all up and saving it onto her hard drive.

She had this all finished within a few days and was passing the information along to the others to take a look at when she deemed it was all there and nothing was missing.

She was quite through with her analyzes and very efficient in having it all up to date and more presentable when she was done. It was thanks to her notes that help fill in the blanks on what they had previously overlooked and finding it made much more sense with the drawn conclusion now in place. This gave everyone a chance to breath easier knowing that Joey was getting things rolling in the right direction and made it go a lot quicker with her on the job.

No one had any issues with her and everyone seem to taken an open liking to Joey. It was hard not to with her reasonable attitude and witty comments that help them through the day especially when things got rough and needed a good laugh around here.

She didn't mind discussing things over with Linda and sometime let her and Matt look over her notes and hear what they thought and didn't mind the comments they made on them.

Most times she could be found hanging out with Janice and Sarah and getting to know a little more on what their thoughts were about their work. She also didn't mind listening to them gossip when they went out to lunch and hearing what they had to say on a lot of things. They had no trouble filling her in on just about everything and giving her some interesting tidbits to consider while she was here.

However, there was one person who didn't seem to warm up to her and the feeling was mutual since Sebastian was on her 'non-friend' list. The time that they had to spend in each other's company had not been easy and everyone could see the animosity they had for the other. Though no one had imagine Sebastian would have this strong a grudge against someone like Joey.

Sebastian had his reasons all right and been doing everything he could think of to get her to up and quit like all the previous researchers when they couldn't handle working under him. It would certainly show her and thought she wouldn't dare show her face around here again when he was finished with her.

However, Joey was unlike the others that came before her. She did not cow under his authority and didn't seem all that bothered by his rude remarks on her works. Instead she chose to ignore them and brushed him off like a piece of lint caught on her shirt.

She wasn't intimidated by his piercing glare or underlining threat and swore he saw her shot a challenging look back at him saying 'bring it on'.

There was a lot of tension right there between them and sensing it was so thick one could cut it with a knife. No one wanted to get in their way once they started quarreling and swore was like almost watching a married couple bickering right there. It was hard not to see they were both quite determined to argue their case to the other and could be very vocal about it when it was on the project. It went beyond stealing coffee and parking spaces for those two. They just really didn't see eye to eye and doubt they ever would in any matter. Today was no different especially after another fail attempt to get it right and everyone going back to work while some were thinking how it went wrong and only two people were pushing the blame on the other for certain reasons.

~oooOYOHOHOooo~

God just what the hell is his problem?! Joey could only shake her head in exasperation and wonder how the others could put up with him when he was like this.

Sebastian had to be the most infuriating man she'd ever had the misfortune of working with. She had dealt with people who thought they were so superior and feeling pompous with the way they ran things.

She was thankful she never was put in a position where the boss took things a little too far otherwise she would've up and quit on the spot. She admitted that she did miss her old job and wonder if maybe it had rushed into it without thinking more clearly on the subject. But this was too good to pass up and thought this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and couldn't help jumping at the chance to do something this amazing.

Even the higher officials must've figured that she would or Linda had notified them after she called and saw to getting everything underway for her. It worked out pretty well as the clinic had manage to find a suitable replacement to take over her former spot and Dr. Travis giving her co-workers a plausible excuse as to why she was transferring to another facility so suddenly and out of the blue.

Yeah if only they knew the whole truth and probably be thinking differently about this. Some of them had been confused and wanting to ask more question on the subject yet they did wish her well in her new job and hope she'd be doing fine over there like she did with them.

Now though she was starting to think she might have considered it a little too soon. You would think he appreciate a little advice but NOOO he has to be a total dick about it?!

Just who did Sebastian think he was anyway! Though thinking back to their previous encounter outside that coffee shop and remembering her impression of him: that he was a rude selfish prick who had the nerve to drink her coffee. But then finding out he was her boss didn't change her perspective on him, in fact it only confirmed what she already knew as to be true about him.

It was so apparent that he was use to getting his way since he thought himself as top dog around here and they were supposed to do as he command and just roll over! Fat chance that happens!

Now it had gone up a notch to arrogant, conceit, egotistic and these were just some of the things she had so far right off the top of her head and yet it kept growing with every moment they had to be in the other's presences.

Sebastian just seem to rub her the wrong way and knew he was trying to make her leave but there was no way she was going to give him any remote satisfaction of seeing her walk out the door with her tail tucked between her legs.

The only way that would happen if the board decided to lay her off or that somehow this project just fell under and no way was she going to let it happen.

That is if Sebastian stopped being a stubborn jerkwad and just listen for a change!

It was bad enough that he seems to always disregard the smallest suggestion which later came to bite them on the ass when the testing didn't go as expected. She hadn't realized the only reason why they were ignored was because she had made them in the first place.

~oooOYOHOHOooo~

Just what the hell was her problem?! Sebastian was miffed when that didn't work and after how bad it went and trying to keep from venting his frustration out. He was sure that they were this close but finding it fell apart and imagine Joey with a 'I told you so…' look on her face which pissed him off a great deal.

Dammit, where did we go wrong? He swore it should've work but then remember her comment from earlier, saying how it wouldn't hold because of the dysfunctional stability from the sample she took and even trying to have him look at them to prove her point across.

Yet he simply ignored it and telling her that he knew what he was doing and seeing the results prove themselves. Only to watch as it fell flat on its' face and didn't settle too well for him. He was well aggravated and could only gander a guess at what Joey must be thinking right now.

She must be feeling pretty damn smug about it and snickering behind his back! He was not one who would stand for someone who thought they could just waltz in and think they knew better when he had been working on this a lot longer before she even set foot in this lab.

He put his fist to his forehead and thinking how could this happen. Dammit just why couldn't they catch a break?!

"Sebastian a moment of your time?" He lift his head and saw Linda standing in the doorway and holding a manila folder in hand and wondering what she got for him. Though as he took a quick glance at the notes and realize this wasn't her normal writing, it was Joey's and seeing this was what she wanted him to take a look at before.

He was staring at the data report and seeing the analyzes right there and finding that a lot of the information there did make some sense. He could see why Linda was bringing this to him. Beside being one of the official supervisor to the team, she was the only one capable of making him see things and would've made sure he got it through his thick skull to see the obvious.

He took his time studying Joey's notes and grudgingly admit that they seem to be well on the mark with what she wrote and could've help him if he had actually listened to her in the first place.

He figured if this works, then they could get one of the animals prepped for testing within a few days and see how it goes. They arrange for the test to done be first thing in the morning once the batch was created and having the solution thoroughly analyzed again to find it look just about right and hoping that it work this time around.

After all they only been through like what, a hundred rats, twelve dogs, three monkeys but hey who's counting really?

It took them a while to get everything ready but within the hour found were finally successful in turning a living specimen invisible without worrying about any sudden fatalities like their previous subjects beforehand.

Everyone had been ecstatic by this turn of events and having the animals monitor while collecting fresh tissue samples as they stayed in this phase for a few weeks at most while other longer just to be sure.

It should have made Sebastian feel some satisfaction but he knew that this was only the tip of the iceberg that they manage to scrap at and still had a lot more chunks to get at.

Once they had enough information, they would have to figure out a way to reverse engineer the process without killing the subject in the long run. That was the obvious question he was trying to find an answer to within the coming weeks.

How to bring someone back from Never Never land without them biting the big one? That was the riddle Sebastian asked himself and was deep in thought about how they would accomplish that. Though he would have love to stick around and see about figuring that answer for himself, he unfortunately had other plans to attend.

Every six months or so, he had to go before the committee and let them hear on their progress was thus far. Linda would be there of course and she had gone ahead with Matt so that they can make sure that they didn't get too anxious as he took his time to show up.

Though he had some idea of what those people would have to say about it and be force to listen to them bitch about and make the same old demands to get it done faster or else find someone else who can. He heard that same threat said to him before the last couple times and yet he was still the one holding onto the lead in the project.

"If they want quicker result then they can go and kiss my—" But his words were cut short when he felt something rush right into him. They probably be on the floor if not for Sebastian having more body mass than whoever came charging at him. But still that hurt like a bitch and now had someone to take his anger on.

"Hey watch where you're going!" But then when he saw who it was and was surprised to find it was Joey who ran into him. She looked like she got into some kind of tussle as the buttons on at her collar had been ripped open while her hair was hanging loose and flying all around her face. There was even a small scratch on her cheek.

Sebastian lift a brow as he didn't expect her to look like that but couldn't help smirking, "What happen to you? Did you get into some kind of bitch fight or something? Shame would've put some good money to see that."

Joey turn her head and lift the thermal goggles to glare at him, "No, one of the animals got out and I'm trying to find it, now I lost it no thanks to you."

She had been chasing it for at least a half hour and knew it must've been mocking her when she found herself being turn about when it went in another direction. Who would have thought it move so fast? Dammit when I get my hands on him…

Sebastian had already figured out which animal she was talking about as there was only one that made the most escape attempt within this past year so far. It was quite the crafty little scamp that love making everyone go on wild goose chases just for one very mischievous chimpanzee.

"Must've been Jo-Jo. He always seems to find a way to get his door unlocked and probably caught you by surprise when you came by." This was the fifth time he got out and really how was it able to pry the door open since this one was double padded just to be safe. He was going to have to have a quick word with Sarah the next time he saw her.

"Yeah no shit and I swear if that thing wasn't certified and has some kind of rabies, I'm putting it down. I'll tell Sarah it was a mercy killing if she asks."

Now that he wasn't expecting since he thought she wouldn't be this riled over having the monkey scaring the crap out of her yet what did he know about women really. Maybe she was pmsing or something?

Not like he really care what her beef was yet it wouldn't do as team leader to leave her by herself to go and track this guy, who knows what might happen if left unsupervised.

She was still a little miffed but seeing him grab another pair for himself and loading the tranq in the gun. "Just what do you think you're doing?"

He turn slightly and couldn't help wanting to put one over on her since he was the better marksman and had the skills to prove it. He doubt she even knew how to use one of these things. "Well seeing how you couldn't even keep one monkey from running amok…I bet you anything I can find him before you do and get the little sucker, ten bucks say I nail him first."

She gave him an incredulous look but couldn't resist the idea of getting one over him. "Please, if anyone's going to be getting that chimp, it's me. So better watch your back!"

Sebastian couldn't help grinning in anticipation and feeling thrilled by the challenge now laid out by them. He couldn't wait to see the look on her face and have to eat her words once he laid the monkey at feet and have her pay up.

The generals can gripe for all he cared, Linda could very well handle it while he deal with this problem.

He scooped the lower base as that was where Jo-Jo usually head for when he was up to making monkey mischief. He also stopped by the break room and picking up what was there and would use to entice it well. He was sure Sarah wouldn't mind letting Jo-Jo have her cinnamon bun as it been sitting out all morning and doubt she wanted it anyway.

He made his way down the hall and making as little noise once he found the monkey swinging about the air duct and was trying to pry the mental vent loose.

This was all too easy. He whistled loudly and threw the treat out and quickly went behind the wall before Jo-Jo notice him. Jo-Jo stop what he was doing and seeing the treat on the ground and dropping down to go grab it.

He saw the monkey was taking the bait and lining his sight onto him. "That's it come to papa." Jo-Jo was licking the icing off the treat and before he could take the shot, Sebastian heard something and Jo-Jo took off after the source, making him miss.

"Dammit!" He went to go after but then heard something crunch under his foot. He looked down and stepping back to find a broken chain with a familiar cross and two rings on it.

Oh ho, so that explains it, it made so much sense now as he plucked it off the floor and placed it inside his pocket. No wonder Joe was so grouchy this afternoon. Everyone in the compound knew that Jo-Jo not only like to perform Houdini, he had sticky fingers that like to grab whatever was there that caught his attention.

Well this should be interesting as he took off in the direction where Jo-Jo went and finding him not too far from where they were with Joey holding the gun and staring at the sleeping monkey on the ground.

"Nice shooting there, Joe." She walked towards the down animal before turning to him with a smirk on her face, "Thanks and really how many times do I have to tell you not to call me Joe."

Sebastian had his form lean against the wall with his arms crossed and pretending to be thinking about it, "I don't know, it's hard to say really as I lost count."

Not to mention seeing the look on your face is quite amusing and just love when I seem to get your goat.

He then saw the object that must've gotten Jo-Jo's attention and turning back to her with a brow raised. "I have to say I'm kinda surprised you took to throwing your own shoe and didn't think he would fall for it."

Joey shrugged while she was putting it back on and looking to the prone figure by her side. "I figure that I give it a shot seeing that he's the curious type and thankfully I was right about it."

She went to put the gun into her belt and then was searching Jo-Jo's body, trying to find what had he done to her necklace. If that chimp somehow decided on swallowing it, dear god she hate to imagine how she would get it out if it was in his stomach right this very moment and doubt they had the tools to pump it out and have to wait until it goes through the other end…

"Hmm you don't say…" He knew what she was looking for and while the idea of her trying to make heads or tails where it was and decided to call her attention and holding it up for her to see, "Oh Joe, looking for these?"

She immediately whirled and then saw the necklace dangling in his grasp and putting a hand to her chest and sigh in relief. "Oh thank god, for a sec I thought Jo-Jo had…never mind just thank so much."

She got up and walking towards him and was about to take it from him when he pulled it out of her reach and was extending his arm up to keep from grabbing it. She scowled and gave him a narrow look, "Sebastian this isn't funny, give it here now!"

She didn't like what he was doing, it was like two children where the older boy picked on the girl and took her doll and was teasing her to try and get it back. She didn't find this situation at all amusing and couldn't stand that Sebastian was being like an immature kid.

It sucked that she was only five foot three and wasn't wearing some boots to give her some leverage.

"Ah ah, you forgot to say the magic word." She couldn't stand that cocky smirk that was plaster on his face and wanted to wipe the floor with it.

Someday I will knock him on his ass, just wait and see, I'm gonna do it when you least expect Sebastian! Temper held in check, she hated having to do this but given she was left with no other options.

Okay that may not be true, it was either to kick him in the family jewels or go with tickling his underarms. Though she doubt he would find either amusing and probably have her fired and maybe file a lawsuit just for kicks.

For the love of god, just get it over with Joanna! Her inner conscience had spoken and though she was very tempted to go with the first idea than anything else.

But putting her feelings to the side and took a deep breath and spoke through gritted teeth as it pain her to say this to him, "Please Sebastian. You can keep your damn money just let me have my necklace and we can call it square."

Sebastian could see she found no pleasure in saying them to his face but since she said it so nicely he would humbly oblige, "Well now that you said that, here ya go."

He dropped it into her open palm and watching her placed it inside her pocket as they were now secured in her possession.

Sebastian seeing that his work was done and feeling he still had time to get to the meeting and leave Joey to this mess. He was the boss and he wasn't about to do grunt's work and sure Joey could handle carrying the dead weight as he doubt he weight as much as her.

"You want some friendly advice Joe, don't leave it out in the open. Also you might want to get that clasp fix as it look like Jo-Jo did a number tearing it off."

That was all he had to say but did hear her yell, 'Don't call me Joe!' right as he left the hall and couldn't help chuckling to himself.

~oooOYOHOHOooo~

It was a couple days after the so called 'Jo-Jo incident' and with everyone still working on studying the effect from the serum while also figuring out the best way to bring them back.

Everyone else had gone out to grab a quick bite and while Joey would've love to join, she still had some data she needed to put in the system and would have to stay behind to get it done.

"Are you sure you'll be okay by yourself, I mean, it's just going to be you and him here." Joey didn't need to guess who Sarah was referring to but nodded to the two. "Yeah no worries, I mean as long as we stay out of each others hair, it's no problem."

"All right then but we will bring you back a little something, a turkey club sandwich fine with you." They usually go together and Janice knew what she like since they ate at the same place before at least quite a few times.

"Yeah with some Lays chips and a diet cola and I'll be fine, you two go. I'll see you when you guys get back." She watched them leave before turning back to her slide and scribbling the information down as she did. She was focus on her notes that she seem surprised when her phone started vibrating inside her pocket and pulling it out to see she got an email.

She recognized the sender as her former college professor and seeing the words 'Urgent' in the subject box. She was a little confused before deciding on opening it to take a quick peek at it. Having read some of it but then realizing the seriousness it spoke, especially when it was addressed to a certain Sebastian Caine from the state officials and other members of the board.

Which means I have to go and bring this to him…just terrific. She could try re-sending it and hope he didn't realize she had open it but there were two problems with that.

1) she had no idea what Sebastian's email was and 2) even if she did he'll be questioning why she had this in the first place. So it was best to have him hear it from her and not go making assumptions on her part.

Best get it out of the way and explain that it's not my fault someone goof and send it to my account by mistake…

She knew he was still in the facility somewhere and didn't have to look that far as she found him typing away down the hall not far from where she was. He rarely left the compound for anything and noticed that beside the coffee mug there were a couple yellow snack cakes and wonder if that was all he was going to have today.

Though then again, he always did seem to work more efficiently once he got some sugar in his system. But now wasn't the time to be wondering such and was knocking on the door-frame, hoping to get his immediate attention.

When that didn't work, she tried clearing her throat which also prove to be ineffective and then decided to fuck it and walk straight towards him. She tapped him twice on the shoulder and having him turn around and seeing her standing right next to him.

"Yes can I help you?" Sebastian didn't like being interrupted while he was in the midst of working though judging from the expression on her face and seeing she had something on her mind.

"Actually I have something that you might want to see for yourself." She went to take an empty seat beside him and using the computer to pull up the email she received and showing it to him. "I just got this message deliver to my account from Dr. Howard Kramer and seeing that it's obviously yours and was send to mine by mistake."

She knew she shouldn't have read some of its' contents but basically saying that they weren't please by all these delays and getting backtrack within these last few months over the last two years. Though knowing they were pouring everything into this project, they kept griping and were demanding to see faster results or else, which was the underlining threat by what she could tell in that letter. She gave him time to finish and waiting for it to sink in before she spoke once more, hoping he would see reason and had to do something about it.

"We both know how the officials feels about wasting resources and would more than likely pull the plug if we don't do something about it."

She took the time to collect her thoughts and then decided to lay her hand out for him, hoping he understand as he was the team leader and were desperate not to have this fall apart.

"I don't like this anymore than you do, believe me I can't believe I'm gonna be saying this but it looks like we need to pull through this one way or another. What I'm trying to say is, I thought perhaps maybe we could come up with a compromise of some sort and be somewhat cooperative towards each another until we get this thing done. I'm willing if you are in any case, it's your call Sebastian."

Sebastian had figured as much after reading that memo from Dr. Kramer and seeing was very accurate on getting the point across and had to agree on a lot of what she said. The military had no real understanding on what they were trying to do and yet they expect everything to be handed in no less within a snap of their finger.

He was weighting the pros and cons in his head. On one hand, he still didn't like how she questioned him on just about everything but sometimes did bring up a good number of things they miss before and save from going back in their research.

Joey was no slacker and knew what she was doing. Also she did make a valid point and he didn't like how people regard him incapable especially as he poured everything into this and hate to have them terminate it on the spot.

"Fine but you and I, we're going to have to laid out some ground rules for this to work. Just to be perfectly clear, you have to follow what I say and I'll try to listen more to your suggestions but only if they prove to be viable."

Joey shrugged, figuring that was fine by her. "I could live with that, anything else you might want to add." He did, just some minor ones that he felt would be good for the both of them to at least attempt on trying to be as civil and without having them fall back on their other work.

By the time the others return and found them were working side by side, discussing it over their 'lunch' and having what could be a decent conversation without a few verbal insult thrown here or there as it was hard to break certain habits for those two.

~oooOYOHOHOooo~
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Your Hollow Heart