Free Special Talents by J. B. Tilton Page B

the food court. Jeremy couldn't hear what he was saying but he was definitely muttering something. Jeremy decided he was probably someone with a mental illness and may have been off his medication for a while. He had seen it all too frequently in his practice.
     
    The man finished the food on the tray and moved to another nearby empty table. As he began to consume the remains of those meals, two mall security guards began to approach him. As the guards approached him the man began to back away. By now he was massaging both of his temples with both hands. As the guards moved in on him the man's voice raised several octaves.
     
    "Get out of my head," the man nearly screamed. "Go away. Leave me alone. Get out of my head."
     
    "Poor soul," said Scarborough. "He should be in a hospital."
     
    "Not necessarily," said Jeremy, standing up and moving toward the young man. "Come on, Richard. We may need your credentials."
     
    Jeremy moved over to where the three men stood. The two security guards were trying to get hold of the man but he kept backing away from them, the entire time screaming for them to get out of his head. Jeremy pushed past the two guards and stood in front of the man, his hands help out as if to help the man.
     
    "It's okay. I'm a doctor. I'm here to help you."
     
    "You can't help me," screamed the man. "No one can help me. Just leave me alone. I just want to be left alone. And get out of my head. You're killing me."
     
    Suddenly the man collapsed onto a nearby table sending the contents of the table sprawling in all directions. Jeremy move over and knelt down to examine the man. He had obviously passed out but there was no indication why. Jeremy looked up at Scarborough and nodded once to him. Scarborough pulled out his Homeland Security identification and showed it to the 2 security guards.
     
    "Homeland Security," he said. "We'll take care of this."
     
    The two guards looked at each other for a moment and then backed off. As a doctor Jeremy was trained to handle almost any medical situation. But it didn't necessarily help with the smell that was emanating from the man.
     
    "Oh, boy, this one is really ripe," said Janet, turning her head to try and avoid the stench from the guy.
     
    "He hasn't had a bath in days," said Jeremy.
     
    "He's just some bum that wanders in here from time to time and eats off the leftover trays," said one of the security guards. "We usually just move him on his way."
     
    "That bum is a human being," said Scarborough. "Someone who may just be down on his luck and is surviving the best way he can. You should be thankful you have a decent job and a nice home. I'm sure he isn't this way by choice."
     
    The two security guards just looked at each other and then decided to leave the situation to Jeremy, Janet, and Scarborough. They turned and headed back into the mall.
     
    "That was pretty harsh," Janet whispered to Scarborough.
     
    "I had an uncle who became homeless when he lost his job," said Scarborough. "Lived pretty much the way this guy does. They found him one January frozen to a heating grate trying to stay warm. No one should have to live like that."
     
    "Let's get him out of here," said Jeremy. "Richard, I know he smells bad but we need to get him to your car. I'll pay for any cleaning it might need."
     
    "Don't worry about it, Jeremy. It's the least we can do for another human being. I guess being a psychiatrist you just naturally gravitate toward the less fortunate in society.
     
    "Sometimes," said Jeremy. "But that's not what's going on here." He lowered his voice so only Janet and Scarborough could hear him. "This guy was using an ability. Even like this, unconscious as he is, it's still working. It's one of the strongest I've ever seen. And I don't detect any sign of illness or injury."
     
    "He's using an ability while he's unconscious?" Janet questioned. "I didn't think that was possible."
     
    "Neither did I," said Jeremy. "But we need to get him out of