Retribution mardel R I just borrowed them for the story. Warning: Short discussion of abuse. Claire was sure she'd left all of this behind her. Her time in France had increased her knowledge in the medical arts. She'd matured personally as well. The authorities treatment of her when she reported Dr. Devol's abuse, was like being abused twice. But she'd healed from that. Or she thought she had. The knowledge that he was still capable of hurting other women. Destroying their lives. It was up to her to stop him. Now that her responsibilities to Gloria were over. "Hey, Claire, what's going on? '' ''I'm taking a leave of absence. ' Claire was busy gathering her things together in the lab. Packing items and filling out forms. ''Whoa, wait a minute, you're leaving?" Darien stops her, taking hold of her upper arms in his hands. "You can't leave. I mean, who will take care of me?" "The Agency has other medical personnel, Darien. I've briefed them all they will take over for me." She looked at him, then lowered her eyes, she knew she was running out on him. But it couldn't be helped, she had to do this. "Yeah, but it won't be the same without you. I trust you, Claire." Darien was worried and scared. But he could also tell that she was very upset about something. "Why are you leaving?" I"m afraid I can't tell you that." She moved out of his grasp, and went back to writing on the clip board. "Hey, Keepie, how are you this morning?" Bobby entered the Keep, smiling and looking happy for once. "Hello, Bobby," She mumbled absently. "Hobbes, help me out here. Claire says she's leaving." "Leaving? You can't leave who will take care of Fawkes?" Bobby's face fell, he looked genuinely upset at the idea she could be leaving him, the Agency. "I've already explained, there are other medical personnel who work here. I've briefed them on Darien's situation." "But Claire, you're his keeper, you can't just leave him like this." Bobby said like he was disappointed in her behavior. "Look both of you. I've got a life outside of this, this place! I have to go. I owe it to myself and to other people who might get hurt." She yelled at them. Then she turned away, attempting to hide the angry tears that welled up in her eyes. Darien and Bobby exchanged a look. Whoa, there's more going on here than she just wants time away from the Agency. They both moved forward, Bobby touching her back with a wide hand. "If there's any way I can help. Anything," He told her, his voice dropping to a soft whisper. "Yeah, Claire if I have to sneak out of here, I'd be glad to volunteer." Darien came to stand beside her on the other side. Bending his head sideways, trying to see her face. He was as concerned as Bobby was about her. Claire almost broke down when Bobby's hand touched her back. She longed to share her troubles with someone. Bobby Hobbes would be her first choice as a shoulder to lean on . She gained control, turned towards them her eyes damp. "Thank you, thank you both." She looked first at Darien and then Bobby her hand touching his arm a second. "But I have to do this myself. The Official would never allow you to come with me to Florida." "To hell with what he says, if you could use my help." Darien told her. I'm there for you, Keep. He gave me a job when no one else would. But you, I owe my sanity to." Bobby reminded her. "I can't ask this of you. You don't even understand the problem." Claire studied them, she was proud to call them both her friends. "Then why don't you explain?" "You didn't ask; we offered." Bobby pulled up a chair for her. She looked like she was about to faint. Claire took the chair he offered. Took a deep breath and began to explain. "I was in the gifted program in school. I started college when I was sixteen. I was lucky to land a position with the French Medical College in Paris when I was eighteen. I worked with a very gifted group of Doctors there. I learned many things, but surgery was the most important." She took another deep breath to steady her for the details she hated to remember. "Easy Claire, you don't have to tell us everything." Bobby hated to see her in pain. He knew about demons. Darien had settled back against the tall lab table, his long legs crossed in front of him so he could give her his full attention. He hadn't expected her distress. "No, you have to understand why I feel I must stop him at all costs." Claire struggled to speak with out crying. Her voice was shaking as she continued. "There was a young doctor there. Alber Devol. He was a gifted surgeon. He helped me learn the techniques that allowed me to do brain surgery. He also became my mentor, only his idea of teaching didn't stop with medical knowledge. I'd not dated much in school. I was the brain, boys didn't see me as anything other than that smart chick. So I was very vulnerable to his advances, believing I'd finally found someone who liked me as a woman. I couldn't have been more wrong, he lulled me into a sense of trust then abused me." Claire broke into sobs, her body shaking. Darien straightened from his position; he felt she needed to be comforted. He expected Bobby to go to her, hold her. But Bobby froze, his eyes dark with anger. Darien knew his partner well, he recognized that posture. Bobby was seething with rage. Rage with the ass who had hurt Claire. Darien went to her, touching her arm. "Easy, we get the idea. Don't say anymore." Darien gathered her into his arms. She sobbed against him for a few minutes. Her face pressed into his body. Darien rubbing a strong hand over her back in an effort to soothe her. Bobby backed off, he was attempting to control his anger. He wanted to punch something, but any display of force would just make matters worse. He paced to the back of the lab, talking himself down. He would find the bastard and kill him. No one who hurt Claire deserved to still be breathing. Once she'd calmed down again Darien asked, "The guy who hurt you. He's why you're leaving? To stop him from hurting anyone else?" Claire nodded, and eased out of his embrace. I"ve recently learned he's returned to this country. He's going to begin experiments with female patients. He's completed the research with males and now he'll have access to dozens of women." "What do you have planned?" "I don't have a plan, I just know I have to do something to stop him." "I'll take him out. Case closed." Bobby said, standing several feet from them. His face a mask of control. No emotion showing. Darien knew his partner was serious. "You can't, partner." "Bobby no, I won't risk your losing your freedom because of something that happened to me." "I've had to kill before, it won't be the first time." "But if you aren't on a case you could be charged with murder. I won't take that chance." Claire took a few steps towards him. "Look we'll find another way. Being able to go invisible, there has to be some way we can get evidence against this bastard." Darien tried to reason with Hobbes. "Has the Official allowed this leave of absence?" Bobby asked, his mind working there might be some way for him and Darien to go with Claire. "He was against my taking leave. He doesn't know why. But since I've only used a few days in over five years he had to allow it. Eberts helped me to convince him." "Eberts. He can help us cover. How long do you think you'll need to get the goods on this Dr. Devol?" Bobby smiled. He had an idea. I'll have to have a look at his set up. But there isn't a building I can't get into one way or the other." Darien assured his partner. "Say three days." I've made up a supply of counteragent, so if we take some with us. No one should notice for a few days." Claire reached into the cooler and took several vials of the blue liquid. Then she rearranged the remaining vials to look like there were more. She packed them in the special insulated box. "Have you made arrangements for getting to Florida?" Darien asked hoping they weren't driving that far. "Yes, a friend from college has a private jet she is loaning me." Claire grinned at their reaction to that little bit of information. "I'll go have a few words with Eberts then meet you both outside." Bobby stated, then left the lab. ::::::::::::::::::::::: "Robert, as much as I admire Claire, I feel I can't go along with your plan. To lie to the Official about your's and Darien's where-abouts." Eberts shook his head. Bobby was holding onto him by the back of the neck. Eberts was taller than him, but he wasn't a very physical person. "Did I tell you this is to get even with the scum that abused the Keeper?" "No. You failed to mention that. Are you sure you will be able to give the doctor all that he deserves?" Eberts sounded almost as upset about what had happened to Claire as Bobby. Bobby assumed Eberts knew all about Claire's history. Eberts knew everything about everything. "I will keep your location from the Official for as long as possible. But you will need to call in once or twice and speak with him as if you are working on the case you have been assigned." "I'll keep in touch. We should be back in three days if things work out. Thanks Eberts. I owe you." Bobby patted him on the shoulder and hurried off to join up with Claire and Darien. End part one