VS-Requiem

“You’re bleeding,” a quite voice noted, drawing Mark’s attention from his
attack on the punching-bag. “Come off it.”

Mark spun, startled and afraid, half-convinced that Kate’s voice and visage
represented some vengeful spirit, angry with him for letting her die. He was
not a great believer in ghosts, but she was no hallucination, either, not
when he could feel her life-force. It was not an angry one, though, merely
sad.

“I’m sorry it had to be like this,” she murmured, shaking her head. “Sorrier
than you can know. But we can’t always...” She shook her head. “God, Dads...
It... I can’t begin to tell you how sorry I am. Only that... well, it wasn’t
without a reason.”

“Reason?” he repeated, incredulous. “REASON? What the hell reason could God
or Hwa’an or ANYONE have for taking you from me?” he demanded hotly.

“Dads,” she sighed, walking to where Jess slept and lightly caressing the
older woman’s face. “There is a reason for everything that ever has or ever
will happen and a time to every purpose under the heavens.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” he whispered, watching Kate’s
tender attentions to Jess with a combination of fear and envy. He was a
little scared to see a GHOST taking such a keen interest in Jess but, at the
same time, he half-resented Kate’s ability to touch Jess in affection more
freely than he ever had. “Kitten?”

Kate continued her scrutiny of Jess, not turning. “Ironic after the way I
loved her, really. But such is life. And death...”

Kate turned to face him, her expression sad, apologetic. “It means that
someone has to take care of Jess. She’s the Key. More so than she knows yet.
If you’re wise in what you tell her, she’s more key than she’ll ever NEED to
know.” Sighing, she glanced down at Jess again, touching her shoulder. God
but she would miss the woman.

She shook her head, turning from Jess to face her father again. “Haag got me
here, no one else,” she told him firmly. “It’s such a bloody fine line,
though, isn’t it? Happy ignorance and informed safety?”

She nodded and approached him, reaching up and cradling his face in her
hands. “I love you, Dads. I always will.”

He reached up and covered her hands with his own. “Then stay with me. You
don’t have to go. You’re here now; that proves that you can STAY.”

“As what, though? A ghost? A memory? A dream? A wish? An hallucination?”
Kate shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. “I can’t, not now. I
wish I could, but I just CAN’T stay right now.”

“But why? In God’s name, WHY?” he demanded, aware that he was crying as
well.

“Because, there is a reason for everything that ever has or ever will
happen, and a time to every purpose under the heavens.”

“Stop saying that!” he snapped. “It’s nothing but a cheap justification!”

“Not so cheap as you think. In time you WILL see, both of you,” she assured
him gently. “In time you may even come to understand...”

“It is not as impossible as you think,” she promised, sparing Jess another
glance. “Now say goodbye, Dads.”

“You keep her safe,” Kate ordered. “She’s important, especially now. Mel has
her role to play and it is great, but Jess has a role of her own, too, and
it’s no small one. We need her, Dads, now more than before.” She sighed and
shook her head. “Get some rest. You’re exhausted.”

“How am I supposed to sleep?” he whispered, shaking his head and cradling
her against his chest.

“With my help,” Kate answered gently, steering him towards the bed. “Lie
down.”

“It would hardly be the first time.” Kate smiled reassuringly at him,
nodding her encouragement. “Just rest,” she ordered. “You’ll feel SO much
better in the morning. I promise you.”

“I’ll miss you,” he whispered, caressing her cheek before sitting on the
edge of the bed, giving in to the inevitable. He hated it with all his
heart, but she was right, too. She was gone, nothing more than a lingering
trace: the ghost of a memory until she was let go, allowed to reincarnate or
cross over or whatever it was that the spirits of the dead ultimately did.
He could not hold her here forever. It would have been wrong to try.

Kate passed her hand in front of his face, releasing a sedative burst of
energy. “Not forever,” she promised, sighing softly and arranging him next
to Jess, pulling the girl’s arm over him and wrapping his arms around her.

He enjoyed that, she knew, with a guilty pleasure that he would never have
admitted. It was the same guilty pleasure Jess derived from sleeping in HIS
arms at night. But it should not have to be guilty, and it would NOT be, not
for long. Laying in each other’s arms like that, they looked like lovers.
Kate found it sad and beautiful at once.

She would miss having Jess as a best friend. She would miss sitting next to
her every morning at breakfast, the older woman still sleep-mussed and
drowsy-eyed, easy to tease because her wits were not yet all about her. She
would miss the laughter, the games, whispered girl-talk, trying to wrestle
the phone from her as she talked to Cole or Mel, often ending together in a
giggling heap on the floor. Especially, though she would never have admitted
it to Jess, she would miss those nights when her father enlisted her to
sleep with the older woman because the temptation was simply too great for
him to remain with the girl.

“Sodding irony,” she sighed, shaking her head and smiling down at the two.
“Take care of him,” she directed Jess. “LOVE him. God, but I am going to
miss you two,” she whispered, planting a tender kiss on each of their cheeks
before turning her back on them. She found herself staring into the eyes of
the Cirronian woman who had been there to greet and comfort her in the
darkness.

“Not forever,” Hwa’an promised mildly, extending her hand. “As I promised
you. There truly IS a time to every purpose. Believe this and rejoice for
it.”

“Then you will remain here, a shade. You can not reincarnate if you refuse
to let go of your old life here.”

“Everyone is where they are needed WHEN they are needed. Come, daughter,”
she directed, offering her hand again. “There is no pain where you are
going, warmth and dark and discomfort for a time, but NO pain. Do not let it
frighten you...”

Kate nodded slowly, sparing her father and her best friend a final glance
before slipping her hand into the Cirronian’s. She was still looking at the
couple as the two vanished from the safe-house.

Jess awoke to find herself in Mark’s arms, oddly calm and relaxed under the
circumstances. Kate was dead and she was calm. She tried to shake that off.
Mark was a friend, nothing more. She hardly had a right to feel so
comfortable sleeping in his arms. Except for a quiet voice in the back of
her head urging ‘take care of him for me. Love him.’

Easy enough under the circumstances, really, yet... How in the bloody hell
was she supposed to love anyone, as much pain as she was in? How was she
supposed to LOVE when Kate was gone from her? Same way Mark was, she
supposed, but still...

Jess sighed and shook her head. How was she supposed to love again, after
losing a father and a best friend in such short order? Maybe there was,
after all, something to Mark’s policy not to become attached. Or maybe it
was times like these that made a person need to love MORE. In all likelihood
she would never find out. Mark did not want her; he wanted to suffer in
peace. He had made that abundantly clear last night, using his powers to put
her to sleep without warning or permission. Except that before THAT he had
been candidly confessing all the details of his love-life to her and had
come, quite literally, within an inch of kissing her. She sighed and shook
her head, rolling onto her back and staring at the ceiling. Mark mumbled a
sleepy protest and tightened his hold on her, clinging to her like a
life-preserver in a storm-tossed sea.

“You poor man,” she sighed softly, shaking her head. “What do I do? How can
I help?” she whispered to no one in particular, half-praying for an answer.

An idea was already starting to take hold, a conception of EXACTLY what Mark
Porter needed. She hated herself for even BEGINNING to entertain the notion,
especially with a man who, by his own admission, had been with a total of
two women in his entire life. Yet you needed what you needed and that was
that. Today, Mark was in serious need of an emotional band-aid, ANYTHING to
take away the pain. Try as she might, Jess could only think of one thing
capable of accomplishing that goal. He was interested, he was attracted, she
was willing. And he needed her the way no man ever had before. For once, she
was not just wanted but actually NEEDED...

So she was done with one-nighters? It hardly mattered. This was Mark and he
needed SOMETHING. Used that way since her teen years, Jess could think of no
better way to help him. So, when he woke, it would be in the arms of a
willing female, more than capable of putting his mind at rest, if only for a
few hours. It was the least she could do for him after all he had done for
her. Sighing deeply, she rose and undressed. Climbing back into the bed
before she could change her mind, she closed her eyes and waited. An event
that should have been anticipated beyond words became one she dreaded, if
only for its context.

Pleasure was not even a consideration as Mark woke and she set about
seducing him. He was too tired and confused to resist. He went willingly
into her arms, laughs mingling with sobs as he clung to her and allowed her
to strip him and make love to him. Somehow, it even seemed RIGHT to them,
though both would have called it an act of exploitation under any other
circumstances.

Jess had never experienced anything like it. Mark was a tender lover even in
his agony. She had not expected that, not after the way he had put his fist
through that window last night and quite nearly through a man’s skull as
well. For his part, Mark banished the safe-house from his mind. He had
dreamed of Jess before, of making love to her, but only in one context. In
his mind, they lay in a forest clearing, in a bed of dandelions, clinging to
each other and sharing pleasure despite their shared pain. They would both
have yellow skin for a week, but it was worth it to finally know her touch.
He wept freely, sobs of pleasure, sobs of pain. He knew Jessica, his Hope,
would accept both for what they were.

Jess was amazed but also impressed by his capacity to weep so openly. She
was not used to sensitive lovers. Most especially, she was not used to
lovers who paid attention to her reaction. It horrified her to find herself
actually enjoying the encounter in the face of her grief over Kate, but
enjoy it she DID.

Somehow, she even felt that Kate would have approved. This HAD, after all,
been her plan for their evening together, she was sure. She could almost
feel Kate’s gentle hand on her shoulder as Mark clung to her, crying out in
passion and sobbing in anguish at once. Jess could have sworn that “Kate’s”
tender grasp on her arm tightened at his moment, as if she were there,
expressing her approval. Insane, of course, but compelling all the same.

“I’m sorry,” Mark finally whispered, his first words in the half-hour since
their waking.

“Don’t say that.” Saying that meant that there was something to be sorry
FOR.

“I’m sorry it had to be this way,” he amended. “This is NOT how I dreamt
it.”

“You dreamed? About US?” she whispered, startled AND pleased by the
admission.

“God help me, but yes I did.” Mark shook his head and buried his face in her
hair. “And you more than young enough to be my daughter.” He shook his head,
abruptly full of self-loathing now that he was no longer caught up in the
moment. “God, what was I thinking?” he demanded. “Pulling you into this?
Trapping you in this life. EMOTIONALLY, too, now...”

“Damn it, Mark, you think that’s all it was?” Jess demanded. “I loved her,
too!”

“So were YOU,” she pointed out, abruptly wanting nothing more than a long,
hot shower. She did not feel USED, but she was certainly starting to feel
dirty. “Just tell me it hurt less when we were together, Mark.. ” she pled.

“Then there’s nothing to be sorry for,” she assured him, wiping away his
tears with her fingertips. “It’s okay, Mark. I promise not to pressure you
or expect this to be any kind of regular thing. It was something you needed,
that’s all. Friends help each other, give each other what they need.”

Jess started to lie but could not, not staring into those brown eyes. “I’m
sorry, Mark, but it wasn’t. Maybe I feel more strongly than you do, but--”

“You don’t,” he interrupted, quieting her with a tender kiss. “Please, don’t
ever think I could be that kind of man. I once promised that I would never
use you that way, and I MEANT it. You won’t be exploited, not by me...”

“Know that I care,” he murmured, shaking his head. “PLEASE know that. God,
Hope,” he added, holding her close. ”What are we going to do?”

“How can I?” he sighed. “Look what happened last time I let my guard down!”

“Mark...” she protested quietly. He was obviously exhausted and it was just
as obviously making it hard for him to think straight. “Just rest. I’ll be
right here with you. I’ll be safe.”

Mark nodded gratefully, wrapping his arms around her and burying his face in
her shoulder. “Mel’s going to have to be told about Kate,” he whispered
after almost a half-hour’s silence spent fitfully drifting into and out of
consciousness. “We’ll have to go to Chicago. I couldn’t possibly tell her
over the phone.”

She had not even thought about Mel before, too wrapped up in her own grief.
Kate had been the woman’s sister, after all, estranged or not. This would
hurt Mel every bit as much as it hurt Jess and Mark.

“We may not want an answer to that,” Mark sighed softly, shaking his head.
“We’re damned pawns in this, all of us!” he snapped, shaking his head in
disgust. “We didn’t ask for this! None of us asked for ANY of it!”

Aware that she was crying as well, she cradled him against her as he ranted
and cursed and, eventually, cried himself to sleep once more.

“Yeah, Jay. Thank you,” Mark sighed into the phone, rubbing his forehead.
“No. No, we won’t be returning to attend the memorial service. YES, I’m
sure, damn it!” he snapped. He sighed softly, shaking his head. “Sorry, Jay.
I’m... I just... just get here as soon as you can, please. I... I have to
see Mel and I don’t want to put it off any longer than I have to. Yeah.
Okay. Bye.” Sighing again, he snapped his cell phone shut.

“I thought you threw that away last night,” Jess said, frowning at the
phone.

“Mark, you can’t have foreseen this,” she sighed, wrapping her arms around
him. “It’s so horrible, so unfair, but... You can’t blame yourself. You just
CAN’T!”

“Blame Haag. Blame Zin. Blame the people who did this to her. You loved her.
You did bleeding EVERYTHING you could to keep her safe.”

Jess closed her eyes, wishing there was something, ANYTHING she could say or
do to ease his pain.

“The Key,” she whispered abruptly, her eyes shooting open. “God, Mark, the
Key! It’s still at the flat...” The fugitives could not be allowed to have
it.

“Jay’ll retrieve it,” he assured her. “He’s there anyway. He’s going to pack
a few things for us. He knows to look for the Key.”

Jess gave a weak nod and bent to retrieve her dress. “Mark, I... last
night...”

“Last night was a beautiful thing and I have no regrets. God help me, I even
look forward to the next time, too, if there IS one. I love you, Jessica, I
do.” He shook his head faintly, desperate to cling to his memories of the
night before without having to think of what had led to it. “We’ll be out of
the country by tonight. Chicago’s our first stop, then Alaska.”

“It’s an easy place to vanish. People go there all the time to get away from
the world at large. And they leave as often as they come. From there, after
a few months, we can pick our destination.” He shrugged again. “Jay will be
able to get us passports. How does the first name Hope appeal to you?”

“Hope and David Collins it is, then,” he murmured, nodding. “And maybe you
should change your hair, too. The bleached blonde’s a bit distinctive.”
Pausing, he added hesitantly, “I think I’d like you with your natural
color.”

“Sorry,” he sighed, shaking his head. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you...”

“You didn’t,” she assured him, taking a step forward. “You couldn’t. Mark,
you’re the sweetest, most... well, DELICATE man I’ve ever known. You’re a
damned good lover, too,” she added with a shy smile.

She should have felt grief, KNEW she should have, yet... It was impossible
to. For some insane reason, this morning she felt completely detached from
anything resembling grief. Maybe it was just that Mark was still so visibly
shaken, needed someone to take care of him, keep him steady. Grief, no
doubt, would come later, when she could afford the luxury.

“Remind me to hire you when you graduate,” Jonas chuckled, shaking his head
and handing Gail her report back. He had been proofreading it and it was
GOOD.

“You couldn’t afford me,” Gail retorted with a smirk. “Come on, Jonas, you
should know me better than that by now. I may be easy, but I’m NOT cheap...”

At the bar, Maggie raised an eyebrow, but declined comment. Those two were
becoming inseparable, had been ever since she had sent Gail to live with
Jonas for a few days after Mel’s capture by Lana. To say nothing of the fact
that their banter had started to grow increasingly flirtatious. Whatever
reply Jonas had murmured to Gail’s words sent the girl into a blushing
giggle-fit.

The door opened and a middle-aged man with bloodshot, puffy eyes walked in,
hand in hand with a young brunette. At the bar, Maggie let out a muffled
gasp.

“My God in heaven,” Jonas breathed as the two hurried across the Watchfire.
“Right back, dear,” he murmured to Gail. “Mark?” He did a double-take at the
woman with him. Her hair was darker, her clothes more conservative, her
expression wiser and infinitely sadder, but she too was unmistakable.
“JESS?”

“Shh,” Mark hissed, shaking his head. “Keep it down, man. I don’t want
anyone knowing we’re in Chicago...”

“Kate,” Jess breathed when words failed Mark. “Mel’s sister, Jonas. She’s
dead.”

“I’m sorry,” Jonas sighed, shaking his head and grasping Mark’s shoulder. So
soon after the family had reunited, too...

“That doesn’t usually stop him.” Jess took one of Mark’s hands in hers and
they started towards the stairs.

Mark glanced over his shoulder to where Gail was watching them curiously.
“Jonas, can you run interference? Tell her ANYTHING but who we are...”

Jonas nodded. He had loved Adelaide and Allan dearly and adored their son
and granddaughter by default. “Of course, Mark. We’ll be up in a few
minutes.”

“Actually, I should probably stay down here,” Maggie said softly. “I... I
don’t think I can face Mel when...”

“We understand.” Jess gave each a quick peck on the cheek, grinning when
Gail’s frown became more pronounced as she kissed Jonas, then followed Mark
up the stairs. “You okay?” she asked, as he nosed through the apartment.

“I...” He sighed and nodded. “Are they out of their God-damned MINDS?” he
shouted abruptly, staring into the war-room.

“No wonder Mel always kept it locked,” Jess murmured, staring at the
equipment.

He turned to face her, tears in his eyes. “God, Hope, what if I lose her,
too?”

Unable to come up with a suitable answer to that, or any answer at all for
that matter, Jess simply drew him into her arms and held him close as he
wept.

There was the sound of a lock clicking and then Jonas’ voice. “Didn’t think
you’d mind if they waited up here...”

”No, no, of course not,” Mel answered quickly. “Dad? Jess? You up here?” She
stopped as she entered the hallway, staring at the two, clinging to each
other as Mark sobbed. “What happened?” she whispered. Nothing good, not if
her normally-stoic father was weeping like that. And there was something
missing from the scene, though her mind refused to acknowledge WHAT.

“Princess,” Mark whispered, turning to face her. It took a gentle shove from
Jess to get him started and, when he reached his daughter, he pulled her
into a fierce hug, half-lifting her from the ground as he clung to his last
living relative, his baby girl, his beautiful little princess...

As Jonas let himself out, Cole glanced from the father and daughter to Jess,
standing alone at the end of the hallway. Even at that distance, he could
feel the pain she was in. Not her own grief, oddly enough, just empathy for
Mark’s grief. She still hurt, though, and Cole hated to see Jess in pain. He
closed the distance to her and gathering her into his arms.

“What has happened?” he asked, steering her into the living room as Mel did
the same with Mark. “Where is Kate?” he added, looking around. The emotional
reaction from both at this question made him regret asking it. “I’m sorry.”

“What... No,” Mel protested, shaking her head. “Come on! You can’t... She
can’t...” She trailed off as fresh tears filled Mark’s eyes. “Oh, God,” she
whispered, wrapping her arms around him again. “What happened?”

“What ALWAYS happens in this family?” Mark responded bitterly. “I TOLD her!”
he half-shouted. “I warned her and I warned her, but she just HAD to...”

”Mark,” Jess murmured, resting one hand on his knee. When he looked up, she
shook her head and he fell silent. “Mark’s been training us up,” she
explained, taking up the narrative for a man too emotional to tell the story
himself.

Mel and Cole listened in silence, Mel eventually leaning into Cole’s arms
and closing her eyes, occasionally shaking her head as if to deny Jess’
words. Mark listened, too, his expression pained. He reached down and
covered Jess’ hand with one of his own, drawing comfort from her presence
and quiet compassion. Silence reigned in the apartment long after Jess
finished speaking.

“If they’re gunning for Guardians, I have to take Jessica into hiding,” Mark
said. “I’d take Mel, too, if I thought she’d go.” His shoulders slumped.

“He’s right,” Mel agreed, rising and extending her hand. Her eyes lingered
momentarily on Jess’ hand, still resting lightly on her father’s knee, but
she shook it off. “Come on, Dad. I’ll show you my room and get you settled.”

He hesitated. At Jess’ encouraging nod, he rose and followed Mel down the
hall.

“It’s ripping him apart,” the girl sighed, gratefully leaning into him. With
someone else tending to Mark for the moment, she could let her guard down
somewhat. “What do I say, Cole? How do I help him?”

“You continue to do what you have been doing,” he answered simply. “Love
him. He needs that now. He can not be allowed to believe he is as alone as
he feels.”

Jess nodded again, then fell silent, leaning more firmly into his arm. She
was grateful when he wrapped both arms around her and started crooning
gently. When the sound of two voices sobbing reached her ears, she closed
her eyes with a whimper. Cole raised the volume of his crooning and started
rocking her.

“Be calm, Jess,” he advised, releasing a measure of soothing energy into her
back. “They need this.” Looking down at her, he added, “So do you.”

“I can’t.” She shook her head. “Not yet. Later. Mark needs me too bad now.”

He smiled, impressed by her calm acceptance, the easy self-sacrifice that
she did not even see as such. She was a true Guardian through and through.
He wished that she was his own daughter, as he had in the past for different
reasons.

“I am Cirronian. I notice MANY things that others do not.” His smile
widening, he rested one hand on her stomach. “Congratulations, Jess.”

“Wh...” Jess stared up at him with wide eyes. “Oh, no, Cole, I can’t be...”

Except, a voice in the back of her head nagged, she very well COULD be. The
timing was right. She had not been thinking of it last night, but that did
not change anything, either. She had been fertile and unprotected...
Horrified at the implications, she rose and bolted for the bathroom. As she
emptied her stomach, she was only peripherally aware of Cole’s hands,
pulling her hair out of her face and holding it back until she was done,
then hugging her close.

“What was I THINKING?” she moaned, trembling and clinging to his warming
body.

“He’s going to kill me,” she whispered. “MEL is going to kill me!” she
realized, her nausea returning in full force as she considered her friend’s
reaction.

“Come on, Jess, why would I do something like that?” Mel asked gently as she
entered the bathroom.

“I can’t say I blame her,” Mel answered gently. “Hell, you were closer to
Kate than I was,” she sighed, kneeling next to them. “Come here,
sweetheart,” she directed, pulling Jess into a hug of her own. “It’s going
to be okay.”

“Hey, is everything okay in here?” Mark asked quietly, entering the
bathroom. He frowned down at Jess, crying in Mel’s arms. “What’s wrong,
Hwa’i?”

Mel’s head shot up and she stared at Mark with wide eyes. Hwa’i was what
Cole had always called Nallia, what Cirronian men only called their wives...

Jess tensed, pulling away and climbing to her feet, backing off. “Mel, I
can--”

“When were you planning on mentioning this to me? WHY didn’t you tell me?
Why didn’t Kate?”

“The connection between your life-forces is obviously a new one. Also, the
child is very young, and has the feel of one created during a first
joining.”

“Hwa’an,” Mark breathed, staring at Jess with wide eyes. “Hope? Are you...”

Jess shifted uneasily, aware that every eye in the room was on her. Mark
looked equal parts amazed and horrified. Cole regarded her placidly. Mel
looked livid.

Mel shook her head. “No. She can’t be. There’s no way you could know yet!”
she protested, glaring from Mark to Jess before turning and glaring at Cole
for even SUGGESTING the possibility.

In fact, all three of the humans were reacting very oddly to what should
have been joyous news. Mel was furious and incredulous, Mark terrified, Jess
ashamed.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Mel answered sharply, shaking her head in disgust.
“Let’s start with the fact that my father is sleeping with someone young
enough to be his daughter! She’s five years younger than I am, damn it!
Besides,” she added, her voice bitter. “Did you even WAIT until the body was
cold?”

Jess recoiled, but Mark had no intention of reacting so meekly. He was as
capable as his daughter of getting well and truly furious. Getting their
Irish up, Allan had always it when a Porter grew really angry. It was a
phenomenon to be missed whenever possible, the Cirronian had always
maintained.

“You apologize RIGHT NOW, young lady!” he snapped, jumping to his feet, his
face as red as Mel’s hair.

“NO! Kate gets murdered and what’s the FIRST thing you do?” she shouted,
refusing to back down.

That was when Cole understood. Mel was not angry with her father or her
friend. She was angry that her sister was dead.

“Mel!” he snapped, catching her shoulder and giving her a gentle shake.
“They LOVE each other! Look past your anger. FEEL what they feel...”

Mel closed her eyes and leaned backwards into his chest, inhaling deeply,
centering herself. Yes, they loved each other, obviously had for some time.
And Kate HAD hinted that they were growing closer, had seemed delighted by
the fact.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I... I’m
sorry.” Shaking her head, she turned and fled the apartment, too full of
grief and shame to want to face them.

“I... she...” Mark shook his head. “Damn it, she NEEDS me, Cole! You’re the
one who told me that she needed her father.”

“Seeing you now will upset her further until she can come to realize that
her anger is not towards you and Jess but Kate’s killers. In time she WILL
come to accept your relationship and be happy for you. For now she needs
time.”

Mark gave a defeated nod, sighing softly. Mel was so like Adelaide. She
hated to appear weak, so she fell back on anger before any other emotion
could take hold.

“Cole?” Jess whispered uneasily after a moment. “Are you SURE? About the
baby?”

“I am,” he said gently. “Cirronians sense such things innately. I am
surprised Mark has not yet.”

Mark blinked. Cole was right. “Well, I wasn’t exactly looking, was I?” he
murmured to himself, dropping to his knees in front of Jess and resting his
hands on her stomach. His eyes widened. “Sweet Hwa’an, Hope, you really
are!”

Neither man was expecting Jess’ reaction and they barely managed to catch
her as she fell to the floor in a dead faint.

Vic sat at the bar enjoying a relaxing drink after a brutally intense third
shift. At least TRYING to enjoy a relaxing drink. Instead, he found himself
wondering why Maggie was so upset. Jonas had left abruptly shortly after his
arrival, and there had been nothing of his usually cheerful demeanor about
him. That left the Detective wondering exactly what was going on. He had
heard nothing from Gabe’s front to indicate anything related to the
fugitives and there was the fact that Jonas did not even KNOW about them as
far as he knew...

“Something up, Gail?” Vic asked. Maggie was at the other end of the bar,
straightening glasses and doing her best not to meet anyone’s eye.

“Don’t know.” Gail shook her head. “There was this couple here. Mel and Cole
are upstairs talking to them now. Don’t know what they wanted, but Jonas and
Maggie both knew them.” She shrugged, unable to provide more. She had long
since learned not to ask TOO many questions about Cole’s work. One thing had
been made clear to her: questioning Cole was discouraged because it was
dangerous.

He was about to question her further when the stairwell door opened and Mel
emerged, her face tear-streaked. Without a word, she sat at the bar, not
even seeming to notice Vic. Maggie picked up a glass and bottle and carried
them to Mel, leaning across the bar and squeezing her shoulder.

Mel shook her head absently, reaching for the bottle and filling the glass
almost to the rim. Maggie sighed softly, gave her shoulder a gentle pat, and
returned to straightening the already-straight bar area.

“Gail, you just got a free-day,” Mel announced flatly. “See you tomorrow.”

As Gail left the bar, looking distressed, Vic moved to Mel’s side. “What’s
up?”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” she answered, half-draining the glass
without removing it from her lips once.

Vic was surprised. Her tone of voice was more angry than sad, but she had
clearly been crying, too. A fight with Cole, maybe?

“Mel, sweetie,” he began, cursing when his phone started to ring. He reached
to turn it off, more worried about Mel than about any case.

“I thought you’d want this, given your interest in news from the London
front. Marguerite Braxton’s niece was murdered. Her father and roommate were
reported missing this morning and a woman matching the roommate’s
description was found dead in the park near their home. Fingerprints are
pending, but MI-5 is looking at the father as a suspect. His wife apparently
died under mysterious circumstances a few years ago and he went missing,
presumed dead, for a few years. They’ve reopened that case and are looking
for connections between him and Zin Industries. Any of that mean anything to
you?”

“The Porter girl, Braxton’s niece, definitely is. Her father made the ID
before his disappearance and the fingerprints are positive. Can’t be sure
about the roommate one way or the other. She could as easily be accomplice
as victim.”

“Thank you, Gabe. I’ll... let you know if I come up with anything. Look, I
really need to go,” he said, turning to face Mel as he hung up. “Mel,
sweetie,” he began. If Kate and Jess were both dead, then Mark must have
been as well, because he would have defended either with his life, Vic was
sure.

“I already know,” she muttered, not looking up from her drink. “Kate’s
gone.”

“Yeah, Mel, she is,” Vic sighed, wrapping his arms around her. “I’m sorry.”

Maggie sighed softly and reached for the ‘Closed’ sign. With Kate gone, Mark
and Jess in town, Vic present and aware of the news, and Mel angry over
something to boot, everyone would no doubt need time and space to
strategize, pace, rant, and get roundly drunk. No doubt Mark had already
started to lay plans in spite of his grief. He was, after all, his father’s
son.

Pouring herself a drink once the door was locked, Maggie left Vic to comfort
Mel and went upstairs to see if there was anything she could do for Mark or
Jess. She found them, along with Cole in the bedroom, Jess stretched out and
assuring the two men hovering over her and trying to make her stay still
that honestly she was fine and could she PLEASE get up now.

“Look, would you just hold still so Cole can check you over?” he sighed.
“I’m not taking any chances with you. EITHER of you.” He knew that an appeal
to the safety of their child would work where an appeal to her own had
failed.

“Either?” Maggie repeated to herself, trying to process the amendment as
Cole quickly ran his hands over Jess, ending low on her stomach. Her eyes
widened slightly as he spent several additional seconds scanning that area.

Her suspicions were confirmed when Cole gently helped Jess into a sitting
position and informed her, “You are both well.”

“Jess,” Maggie began, sitting on the edge of the bed and taking the girl’s
hands in hers. “Are you in trouble, sweetie?”

“Well, I mean, obviously,” Jess replied, clearly startled. “I’ve got a
bloody pack of alien thugs trying to kill people like me, haven’t I?”

“No... not trouble, no,” Jess said, resting one hand over her stomach. She
envied Cole and Mark their ability to feel the child’s life-force, her
baby’s soul. “But, yeah, I... um, I appear to be... expecting.” The last was
a whisper.

“Don’t worry,” Mark murmured. “I’m going to take care of you both.” Inhaling
deeply, he added quickly, “The child’s mine, Aunt Maggie.”

Jess nodded, her expression wry, if only to hide her own pain at her
friend’s reaction. “You could say that. She wasn’t exactly thrilled.”

“That’s putting it lightly,” Mark sighed, shaking his head. “It doesn’t help
that the revelation came right when she needed something to be angry ABOUT.”

Maggie nodded. “She seems mostly just upset now. Maybe we should go see
her?”

Cole closed his eyes and reached outwards, feeling for Mel’s life-force.
Yes, much of the anger had abated, replaced by honest grief. He nodded and
helped Maggie to her feet as Mark helped Jess to hers.

Mel was crying in Vic’s arms as they came downstairs. She looked up
immediately, more than a little startled to suddenly find four more people
in the bar, bearing witness to her grief. She pulled from Vic’s grasp,
approaching them and struggling to compose herself.

“Dad, Jess,” she whispered, extending her hands and regarding the two
apologetically. “I’m so sorry, I just...”

“You’re like your grandmother,” Mark answered quietly, pulling both women
into a hug. “You don’t like showing weakness. You’d rather be angry than sad
or afraid. But be angry at the right person, Princess. You want to be angry
over what Jessica and I have, you can be angry with me, but she is your
FRIEND.”

“I’m sorry,” she repeated, clinging to both. “I’m not angry at you, not
really.”

“We know,” Mark whispered, disengaging himself from the hug and pushing Mel
and Jess into each other’s arms. They needed that, he could tell. “We
understand.”

He looked up, regarding Vic suspiciously as he registered the stranger’s
presence for the first time. Vic was regarding him just as suspiciously in
return. Cole gave Mark’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze and propelling him in
Vic’s direction while Maggie steered Mel and Jess towards a couch.

“Vic, this is Mark Porter,” Cole introduced him, well able to understand
their mutual wariness, especially at such a time. “Mark, this is Detective
Vic Bruno.”

“Oh,” Mark said, quickly extending his hand. “It’s good to finally meet
you.”

Mark smiled wryly. “If I had a nickel for every time I got that...” He shook
his head. “I never did get a chance to thank you for all the help you’ve
been to my Mel. I can’t tell you how comforting it’s been knowing that she
has people here who love her and can protect her.”

Vic finally recovered from his shock long enough to squeeze Mark’s hand
warmly. “Your daughter is an amazing woman. It’d be wrong not to help her,
given what’s at stake.” He paused, recalling his earlier suspicion that if
both Kate AND Jess were dead, Mark must have been as well. “Jess! Is she
here? Is she okay?”

“That’s JESS?” Vic asked, taking a second look, startled. Yes, it really WAS
Jess. A Jess with chestnut-colored hair, a Jess no longer even slightly
carefree, a Jess that the past year seemed to have aged TEN, but Jess all
the same. “Oh, thank God,” he breathed, taking a half-step towards her.

“You’ve both been reported missing,” Vic explained, wondering why his relief
made the other man bristle like that. “And a body matching Jess’ general
description was found this morning near your home.”

Mark frowned, wondering if the area the body had been found in pointed to
fugitive activity or not. He schooled himself against such thoughts. London
was no longer his primary concern, not when he had a pregnant wife to
defend. And he DID consider Jess his wife, as any good Cirronian would have.
He had explained his feelings in the matter to her, too, and she had not
seemed even slightly upset. He took it as a promising sign. Now if Mel could
learn to be half so accepting of the relationship...

“How long are you staying in Chicago?” Vic asked. “Because we’ll need to
keep you two pretty well-hidden. The fugitives have a high profile here and
there are LOTS of them. They’re everywhere.”

“So I hear,” Mark agreed. “We aren’t going to stay long. I need to take
Jessica into hiding. Somewhere remote and unimportant. Somewhere without
fugitives.”

“Not back to London?” Vic asked, startled. “But Mel says there’s another
Vault there, that the fugitives know it,” he protested.

Mark shook his head shortly. “There’s more than her own safety at stake,” he
explained simply. “There is a child to consider.”

Mark nodded. “And she needs to have this child. Jessica is a Guardian, too,
Detective, last of her line.” He sighed. So few Guardians, so much
privation...

Mark inhaled deeply, glancing to where Mel and Jess were whispering
together, closely watched by Cole. Mel seemed substantially more accepting
already and Jess was more at ease with her friend as a result. Cole watched
the two with a faint smile, obviously well-pleased.

Vic glanced in the direction Mark was looking, nodding faintly to himself.
“It’s got to be hard on you, losing one daughter and leaving another behind
so soon.”

“Hardly the first time,” Mark sighed, shaking his head and looking around
for Maggie. “Can I get a drink, Aunt Maggie?”

“Sure thing, son,” Maggie answered, stepping behind the bar. “Chocolate
milk?”

Vic was sure that Maggie was somehow teasing Mark until he nodded
gratefully. Right, chocolate, of course. Mel’s father was half Cirronian.
Mark sat down as Maggie mixed up an extra-chocolaty milk, smiling weakly at
her as he accepted it. It was followed up with a double scotch and Mark
alternated between the two automatically, not really seeming to taste or
enjoy either.

“Come on, Vic,” Maggie murmured, moving to his side with two drinks. Passing
one to him, she took his arm and steered him away from Mark. “He needs
time.”

“You know him well?” Vic asked, letting Maggie lead him into the alcove. He
honestly felt like the odd man out in the situation and was not sure if he
should even stay, except that it seemed expected of him.

Maggie nodded faintly, sparing Mark another glance. “I... know him well
enough to know that he can do this. He’s an amazing young man.”

She sighed softly, missing the cheerful, happy-go-lucky boy who had been
Marcus David Porter. His father’s death had taken things from him that even
the dark secret of the Guardians had not been able to. Bridget’s death had
compounded that. Allen’s, Aileen’s, and later Kate’s seemed only to have
added to the burden on him. She only hoped that Jess could help to ease that
burden.

“No. Granted, they’ll be in need of some family time, but Mark and Cole
won’t let that get in the way of planning. They’re sensible men.”

“I don’t see how they can think of duty at a time like this...” Vic
muttered.

“They aren’t like us, Vic,” Maggie answered, sighing. “They can’t be.
Besides, Mark has other obligations right now.” She glanced at Jess. “He’d
better not lose this one, too,” she whispered. One more loss like that would
destroy him.

She shook her head faintly, dismissing that consideration for the time
being. “They’re fighting a war, Vic. They can’t afford to think the way we
do.”

Maggie sighed and held up one hand to forestall him. “Let the Guardians do
the guarding, son. We’re just the backup here.”

“I know,” she agreed, taking a long pull of her drink. “When even THEY are
helpless, where’s that leave us?” She shook her head, glancing from Mark to
Mel, Cole, and Jess. “Wish I had an answer to that one, Vic. Truth is, I
badly suspect that they’re flying as blind as we are. Scary, isn’t it?”

“You’re a cop. You WOULD say that. Face it, Vic. They play by different
rules.”

That was what the gods were for. And there had damned well better have been
at least one or two deities backing those people up or the human race was in
trouble. Nor were they the only ones. Maggie had never been a great believer
herself, but Adelaide and Allan both had been, as Mark and Cole were. Maybe
they knew something she did not. She certainly did hope so, for all their
sakes.

“Maggie, Detective,” Mark called, rising from the bar. “We can catch up with
each other later. Right now we have more important concerns.”

Vic was startled by how abruptly Mark’s mood had shifted, but he followed
Maggie to where the man was drawing extra chairs towards a table.

Jess nodded. “Mark thinks maybe Mel and Cole should consider doing the
same.”

“No.” Mel shook her head. “We can’t. There’s too much going on in Chicago
right now. Someone needs to keep an eye on Zin and it can’t be you two.”

Mark sighed and nodded. “I was afraid you were going to say that. I respect
the attitude, but I don’t have to like it.”

Cole nodded faintly. “My own preference would be to remove Mel as far as
possible from the line of fire as well.”

“We would ALL love to get the people we care about away from this,” Mel
sighed. “But we can’t afford to turn our backs on it, either, not with
what’s at stake.”

Mark sighed and rubbed his face with both hands. Things could never be easy.
“The one thing I think we can all agree on is that Jessica needs to be
hidden away for now. She’s too vulnerable in her condition.”

“My CONDITION?” Jess snorted. “Bloody hell, Mark. I’m pregnant, not dying.”

“And doubly vulnerable for it,” Mark snapped. “Damn it, Hope, I will NOT
lose another woman I love to those SCUM!”

“Mark,” Jess sighed, catching his hand. “It’s going to be okay, I
promise...”

“You aren’t going to,” she promised, resting her free hand on her stomach.
“Playing games with my own safety is one thing. This is different...”

Mark nodded faintly, resting his own hand on her stomach. Looking at the
others, he added, “We have also decided NOT to tell you where we’re going.”

“Mel,” Cole murmured, catching her arm. “Sit down. The decision makes
sense.”

Mel closed her eyes, drawing several deep breaths. “I feel like I just got
you two back...” she whispered, wiping her eyes.

“It won’t be forever,” Mark promised, rising and moving to hug Mel. “Right
now we just need to think of Jessica and the baby. But it won’t be
forever...”

“I know,” he whispered. “It’s going to be okay. You HAVE to believe that.”

“I have to,” he answered simply. “We’ll stay in touch,” he promised. “Come
up with some code...”

Maggie sighed softly, shaking her head at the heartrending sight before her.
No parent should ever have to outlive their own child, and no child should
ever be forced to say goodbye to a parent, either. Alien criminals and
mercenaries had brought BOTH on the Porter family, more than once. It had
been hard enough watching Mark say goodbye to Allan. Watching Mel say
goodbye to Mark so soon after Mark had said goodbye to Kate...

“I think we can all agree that staying in touch is a good idea,” Vic said as
the two resumed their seats. “But it shouldn’t be too frequent, either.”

Mark sighed and nodded. “I hate to cut myself off from my family again, but
Detective Bruno is right.”

“Just like that, then?” Jess asked, startled. She had agreed with Mark about
not telling Mel and Cole where they were going, but it had never occurred to
her that they would not even stay in touch. “But what if we need each
other’s help?”

Mark nodded. “Worked before. Mom and I stayed in touch for two years that
way.”

Mel nodded faintly. She thought she had been imagining the suited figure
standing well-back from the main funeral-party, weeping unabashedly.
Certainly, when she had gone looking for him, he had been nowhere in sight.
Now she understood. He would have NEEDED to attend the funeral. AND to avoid
detection.

“Okay, then,” Mark said. “Let’s get that code hammered out.” Before they
could even begin, though, Mark was on his feet, Collector in hand. “Get
upstairs, Hope,” he ordered, his head spinning. “Not again,” he whispered.
“Dear God and radiant Hwa’an, not again...”

“It’s okay, Dad,” Mel murmured, giving Jess’ arm a reassuring squeeze at the
same time. “It’s just Nestov. He’s one of the good guys.”

“Neither am I.” Cole rose as the Dessarian entered the bar. “What has
happened, Nestov?”

“It’s okay, Nestov. Put that away, Mark,” Cole added, gently taking it from
his hand. “Go ahead Nestov. What is it?”

“There’s a bounty on him. Quarter of a million dead, two-hundred thou
alive.”

“Mark,” Jess sighed, rising to follow. She paused as Mel placed a
restraining hand on her shoulder. “He can’t be alone right now.”

“He NEEDS to be,” Mel answered quietly, wincing at the sound of Mark
shouting in the apartment above.

Nestov stared upwards with wide eyes. It had been made clear to him that he
could talk freely in front of these two but, while he recognized Jess, he
could not place the other man. Another Tracker, maybe, but not one who would
be any help. He was too emotional to do the job the way it needed to be
done.

Nestov’s eyes widened. “Mel, I...” He shook his head and took a step towards
her. “I mean, I know we’ve had our differences in the past, but... God, I
know what it’s like to lose a sister. I’m sorry.” He started to extend his
hand, then changed his mind and pulled her into a hug instead.

Though startled, Mel leaned into him, grateful for one more piece of
comfort. She had long since gotten past looking at the Dessarian as traitor
or double-agent. He was Cole’s friend, HER friend, had helped them both
greatly. Nor was he a bad man. He was a man who had messed up, certainly,
but he was doing his best to make things right, putting his own life in
danger in the process.

“We’ll be okay, Nestov,” she murmured. “We’ll make it.” Sighing, she added,
“You should get going now. You can’t really afford to be seen in this part
of town any more,” she reminded him.

He nodded and gave her another squeeze. “Hang in there, Mel. Let me know if
there’s anything I can do.”

“You, too.” Nestov gave her a weak nod, gave Cole one as well, and nodded to
Jess. “All of you,” he added. Sighing, he turned and left the bar.

“I’m starting to feel like she knows him better than I do,” Mel sighed as
Jess hurried up the stairs.

“Not better, just differently,” he assured her, drawing her back towards a
couch and sitting, pulling her into his lap and hugging her. “Be happy for
them, Mel.”

“I am,” she protested. “Honestly. I just wish I... He’s my FATHER, Cole. I
should be able to help him. I should know him well enough to know HOW...”

Cole nodded his understanding. There was no changing what was or what had
been. Still, that did not change what they had or what might still be.

She sighed, leaning into his chest and closing her eyes. Let her father find
comfort in the arms of her friend, so long as he could find comfort at all.
THAT was what was important, that he not hurt so badly. That JESS not hurt
so badly, for that matter. Her own pain she could find solace from in Cole’s
arms. Jess and Mark deserved the same, that ability to find comfort in the
arms of another.

~~~
Scales of Justice,
A trial by Night:
Devouring fire
Still brings Warmth and Light.

Clasp hands across planets,
Look to your Children above.
Keep Faith in each other
For Life grows from Love.
~~~

Standing in the airport waiting area, Mark stared down at Cole’s translation
of the writings on Jess’ Key with a faint smile, shaking his head.

“Sound advice if ever I’ve heard it,” he told Cole with a smile and a nod,
looping a protective arm around Jess’ waist.

“You two keep the faith, as well,” Jess said. “I’m going to miss you.”

“We’re going to miss you, too, sweetie,” Mel answered. “Keep in touch.”

“And remember,” Mark added, following suit, “if you ever need another
Cirronian backing you up in a crisis...”

“Does that HAVE to be the code?” Mel asked, closing her eyes as her father
chuckled and nodded.

After much discussion, the code for Mel to get in touch with Mark had been
agreed upon. Ever whimsical, Jess had suggested the Personal ad ‘fairy-tale
Princess seeks father figure, best friend for advice, support’. Mark had
loved it and refused to let Mel even consider any other code.

Their own code was more intricate, a code that could be built into any car
ad with the model year, number of miles, and make all combining to form a
phone-number where Mark could be reached. It was less breakable because the
math was in base-six rather than -ten or -eight, which Zin’s people might be
looking for.

Failure by either side to reply within a week was to be considered the worst
possible news. Of course, the truth was that if any of them needed backup
badly enough to break the silence between them then a week would be too long
to wait for it to arrive. They all knew it even if none of them said it. The
important thing was the knowledge that they COULD get in touch. It was
comforting for all parties. At least, as comforting as any knowledge could
be under the circumstances.

“You would,” Mel retorted, shaking her head in disgust. “Oh, shut UP!” she
ordered as Jess dissolved into giggles. Unable to even pretend to be angry,
she was soon laughing as well, hugging Jess. “Only you.”

“Too right,” Jess agreed. “You would have come up with something so DULL...”

“She’s got a point, Princess,” Mark agreed, shaking his head. He glanced at
his watch. “You two had better finish saying goodbye. Our plane leaves
soon.”

“Mark,” Cole murmured as Mel and Jess put their heads together and started
murmuring their final ‘til-we-meet-again’s to each other. He took the other
man’s arm and drew him a little away from the women. “I want you to contact
me if you need any help or advice with the pregnancy. Even just
reassurance.” He slipped a piece of paper into Mark’s hand with a different
code altogether.

Mark nodded gratefully, committing the contents of the paper to memory. “I
may have to take you up on that, Cole. I’ve lost one woman I love in
childbirth. I nearly lost a second that way, too. I don’t want anything to
happen to my Hope.”

Cole nodded. “Jess is young and healthy and very strong, as the child seems
to be. I think they will both be just fine, but the offer stands.”

“Thanks, son,” Mark murmured, hugging him. “You take care of my Princess.”

Cole returned the hug tightly, near tears. It had been a long time since
anyone had called him ‘son’ and honestly meant it. It felt good. “Always.
And you--”

“I will. I’m going to keep them hidden away at least until the birth,
preferably longer.”

“This is wise,” Cole agreed, nodding. “We will probably not contact you
before. Jess can not be brought into the open and should not be left alone,
either.”

“That I’ll buy.” Mark nodded, allowing Cole to nudge him towards Mel.
“Goodbye, sweetheart,” he sighed. “You keep yourself safe.”

“I will, Dad,” she promised. “You, too. I’d tell you to stay in touch,
but...”

“This isn’t goodbye forever, sweetheart,” he promised, hugging her fiercely.
“Not for any of us.”

“I know,” she whispered, tears in her eyes. “You should go now,” she added.

“We do have to,” he agreed reluctantly, giving her one final hug and shaking
Cole’s hand firmly.

Mel sighed softly, leaning into Cole as they watched the two walked towards
the security checkpoint, arms looped around each other’s waists, leaning
slightly into each other, trusting.

They had stayed not three days, but Mel had had more than ample opportunity
to observe their newly-developing relationship. They were very much in love,
though both were still somewhat shy about it. They slept in the same bed,
but did not seem to have made love again. They were taking it slow, starting
from the beginning in spite of everything that they had been through
together. Having been in much the same position with Cole, Mel identified.
And she approved.

“They’re going to be okay, aren’t they?” she murmured to Cole, and it was no
question.

RavenKat

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