He ran flat out down the dark alleyway, splashing through puddles and careening around obstacles in his path.
Before his brain had a chance to compare the relative safety of the building with where he was now, a fist came out of the blackness and connected with his jaw.
Down he went, the bundle flying out of his arms. The thief stared up at his would-be mugger, and the mugger stared back. The precious bundle rested on the wet pavement between them, still wrapped in the thief's coat. Still safe, for the moment.
What do you want?
Is this all of them?
Yes. Why?
I'm taking them.
That isn't a good idea.
The mugger didn't say anything. He walked forward and gently picked up the bundle. He removed the coat, tossing it toward the thief, who didn't make a move to catch it. The mugger leafed through the stack of memories, nodding here and there, frowning and then smiling softly. He glanced up once, his dark eyes shining in the night and then he turned and began to walk away.
Those aren't safe for you to keep, you know!
The thief's sure pronouncement echoed off the brick around them.
I'm not keeping them
The thief jumped to his feet and ran after the mugger. He grabbed the mugger's shoulder and spun him so they were face to face.
What are you going to do with them?
I'm going to put them back.
You can't.
You had no right to take them.
Someone had to save them, that building is condemned. If we don't keep them safe they'll be lost forever.
They're in the building for a reason. It's where they belong. And there's a chance we can save everything but not like this.
This is the only way.
No, it's not.
Do you have a better idea?
Yes, I do.
What is it?
We leave it alone. Taking it apart before we need to isn't going to work.
I know that, that's why I'm trying to work with what I've been given, Ben.
Then try something else, Sam!
And he took off, back toward the building, back to return the memories to their places. To file them away in their locked cabinets in the locked room at the end of the hall where they would be safe. No one was in a rush to get the building torn down, structurally it was safe. He was fine with continuing to live on borrowed time as long as there was no more pain for her.
He got to the top of the fire escape only to find the window open. He entered and walked to the first door with the broken pane. It was open. He went in and sat down on the floor and opened the drawer closest to him and began to sort through the paper.
It would be a long night, but he would stay until everything was returned to its rightful place.
*****************
The sun had risen high in the sky when he stood and stretched, arms to the ceiling as his stomach rumbled with hunger. The mugger surveyed the room and smiled to himself. Job well done, he thought.
He called out loud, his voice jagged and hoarse,
It's finished. You're okay. You're safe now. I will watch over you.
He didn't hear a response.
The door opened and he turned, surprised. When he went out into the hall, he found that the building had changed. It was full, offices were bustling, elevator floors were being rung, printers buzzed, coffee was carried to desks in busy arms full of important business, and the building seemed new again. The floor was different, the scratched and faded covering replaced with muted grey carpet to keep the noise down. To his surprise, the window in the door was intact, frosted glass masking the contents but allowing the light into the hall.
His smile was a little unsure now, as he tried to blend in, casually walking toward the elevator noises. He got to the center of the floor and realized he knew a lot of the people working here. People nodded to him, a few squeezed his shoulder. One man, dressed in an expensive suit, came forward to shake his hand and thanked him for saving the building, because there was a lot of work to be done here and it was an important place and that the mugger was going to be very happy living and working here.
He nodded, saying nothing, as the realization began to sink in. He didn't have to save it alone, but neither did the thief have to tear it apart to save what he could. Everyone would work together.
That realization was fleeting, dashed to pieces as he got to the main floor lobby and saw cracks sealing themselves as he walked across the floor.
No, it wasn't everybody.
It was the building. It was healing itself. They only had to help. The doors to that room didn't have to stay locked now. The building was full of light and it had purpose.
He sucked in his breath and smiled.
Bridget wasn't a lost cause after all. He always knew that though, it was a risk he was glad he took. Even if he had to pretend to be the bad guy sometimes.
