"Well honey, you'll have to ask your dad, it's his phone and this is a long distances call." Buffy said, as she cleared the lunch dishes off the long kitchen table.
"Dad can I?" Evan asked, turning to look expectantly at his father. Buffy coughed slightly to catch Riley's attention, and smiled slightly at him. She knew that Lindsey wasn't her boyfriend's favorite person, but she also knew that Lindsey was very special to her son.
"Sure bud, do you need help dialing?" Riley said, standing up at the end of the table to look down on his son.
"I'll get Aunt Dawn to help me, you can stay and help Mom." Evan called, as he raced out of the kitchen
"Aunt Dawn!"
Buffy came up and wrapped her arms around Riley's waist and hugged him.
"I know that couldn't have been easy for you. I understand how you feel about Lindsey's place in Evan's life." Buffy snuggled into him.
"You're right it's not, but I know what he means to Ev. Buffy, I'm not going to keep Lindsey out of Evan's life, however I'm not going to like it either." Riley sighed.
<><><><><><><><><>
"Hello."
"Merry Christmas, Uncle Lindsey!"
"Evan! Hey buddy, Merry Christmas! How are you?"
"Fine, Uncle Lindsey. I'm having a great time here. My dad is the coolest person, he's great..just like you." Evan added quickly.
"Well I'm glad to hear that." Lindsey wanted to say something nasty to Evan about his father, but he held his tongue. Riley Finn, was stealing his life away from him as he sat there in his L.A. living room.
"And I have 3 sisters! I have a whole family Uncle Lindsey."
"Sisters, huh? That must be pretty cool, you finally have that family you wanted." Lindsey said, grudgingly. Lindsey had always hoped that one day Buffy and he could give Evan the family he'd always wanted, but once again Finn had stolen his dream from him.
"And I have cousins and aunts and uncles. I feel like I've known them forever. Uncle Graham, he's Dad's best friend, well he's promised me that he's gonna teach me how to ski after I have my operation tomorrow. He owns a chalet in Vermont. Oh and Uncle Kevin, he's a senator.."
"Wait, buddy slow down. What operation?" Lindsey interrupted. What was Evan talking about, if they'd found a match for Evan, surely Buffy would have..
"The transfusion, they found a match! Jordan, my sister, is a perfect match.."
"They're doing the surgery tomorrow!" Lindsey exploded.
"Uh, yeah." Evan answered hearing his uncle's anger.
"They're going to do this, and no one called me!" Lindsey was past livid, how could Buffy forget to call him and tell him the good news. She should have known that he wouldn't have missed Evan's surgery, or maybe she did know that and was keeping him away. Finn!
"It all happened so quickly Uncle Lindsey..." The little boy stammered.
"Give me your mother! Now, Evan." He almost screamed at the boy in anger, but something made him temper it.
Evan quickly put the phone down and stepped back from it, he'd seen his Uncle Lindsey's temper blow up in the past, but nothing like this. Now, this was the first time it had been directed him. The little boy moved as quickly out of the room as his tired little body would let him. Standing in the doorway of the kitchen, he leaned against its doorjamb for support.
"Mom, Uncle Lindsey wants to speak to you. He's really mad." Evan said, looking at his parents who now were rinsing the dishes and placing them in the dishwasher.
"About what, buddy? Did he say something to upset you?" Riley asked, coming to stand in front of his son. There was no way he'd let this man do or say anything to upset his son.
"I told him about the marrow thing tomorrow, and he got mad." Evan said, tears forming in his eyes, and clearly upset by Lindsey's outburst. Riley wrapped his arms around his son's slim frame and looked at Buffy with a purely protective parental glare.
"I'll go talk to him." Buffy sighed. She hadn't told Lindsey about the transplant being scheduled for the Boxing Day, and she wasn't even sure why she hadn't.
"I'll speak to him if you like." Riley said, through clenched teeth. Nobody was allowed to hurt his children.
"No, Tiger, you calm Evan down, I'll talk to Lindsey." Buffy said, rubbing both Riley and Evan's backs. She wasn't sure which of her boys need soothing more at the moment. It surprised her to see Riley's reaction to Evan's pain, like a lioness he jumped to Evan's defense.
Buffy left the kitchen with one last look over her shoulder. How she was going to handle this she wasn't sure, but she knew she didn't have a choice. She knew Lindsey would be angry and hurt that she had left him out of this important day, but for Riley and her new relationship with him, she felt it was for the best.
"Merry Christmas, McDonald." She said cheerily into the phone.
"Don't' Merry Christmas me, Buffy! When were you planning on telling me that you and Evan weren't flying home for the transplant procedure." Lindsey fumed.
"We... I just felt it was the best for everyone." She stammered.
"Best for whom?! That bastard, millionaire, wanna-be-father, who sudden feels he has every right to be part of his son's life! The son that *I* raised!" With each shouted sentence, Buffy cringed more, she'd witnessed Lindsey anger many times, but never before had the full force of it been directed toward her.
"Lindsey, I knew how you'd react if I told you..."
"What, so you cut me out of the equation entirely? Anything to keep 'Instant Dad' happy, right? It was probably even his idea!" He screamed at her.
"Hey, wait a minute! This is MY son and MY life! I will do with it and share it with whomever I like. And this is something I choose to share with his father here in Boston!" She yelled at him. Lindsey stopped his ranting at the sound of Buffy's raised voice, in all the time they'd been together she'd never raised her voice to him.
"Look I'm just trying to find out why you didn't include me in this?" Lindsey asked, more hurt now than angry. "You've never shut me out before. Buffy, he's my son."
"I wanted to keep things stress free for Evan. Lindsey you're not Evan's father." She said simply.
"What the hell's that suppose to mean? I've been more of a father to Evan.." Lindsey's voice rose slightly again.
"See, that's exactly what I'm talking about. Look, right now Riley, his father, is the center of his world. Having you here competing with Riley for Evan's love and attention would only make matters worse. The boy needs his rest." Buffy said, not taking her eyes off the door, worried that Riley would walk in on this conversation.
"I will not let Finn push me out of Evan's or your lives. Do you hear me, Buffy? You two are my family." Lindsey said, trying to keep his voice in check.
Buffy sat quietly, letting Lindsey's words sink in. It was true Lindsey was family, but so were Willow and Xander. Upon Evan's birth, Buffy had chosen to surround Evan with people who would love and protect her child, and Lindsey had been one of those. Turning her back on Lindsey really wasn't fair to either him or Evan, but what about Riley?
Taking a deep breath, she exhaled slowly, "Fine then, come, but you can't stay here at the house. And just stay out of Riley's way."
"Oh damn, I was planning on inviting him to join me for drinks. Trust me, Buffy, his house is the last place I'd wanna stay." Lindsey snorted in disgust.
"Look I just don't want any of this macho shit hurting Evan. If you do anything to hurt him, I'll take Evan so far away you'll never see him again. Is that clear, Lindsey?" Buffy hissed.
"Clear." Lindsey said, through clenched teeth.
"And I *will* be in the recovery room with you and Evan." Lindsey said, before he slammed the phone in Buffy's ear.
<><><><><><><>
"Buffy, where do you want everyone?" Chris asked, as the clan started filtering into the dinning room.
"Chris, there's a place card at each setting." Buffy said, helping Cordelia settle the twins into the high chairs that Riley had rented for the girls.
"Oh so very Martha Stewart of you." Chris laughed, knowing Buffy's feelings on Martha Stewart.
"Demented Martha maybe." Dawn laughed.
"Keep that up, little sister, and you'll be eating at the little kids table." Buffy said, making a face at her little sister.
"See Kate, what did I tell you? Doesn't matter how old they get, they still have to give each other a hard time." Joyce said, carrying in two bowls of potatoes.
"I thought it was just boys." Kate laughed, as she saw Dawn stick her tongue out at Buffy's turned back.
"No, but I have a feeling girls are more brutal than boys can ever be." Joyce said, shooting her youngest a look to tell her to stop it.
"Dawn, can you go into the kitchen and help Nicole?"
"Sure thing, Mom." Dawn smiled innocently, as she smacked Marc's butt and floated out of the dinning room.
"That daughter of mine should know to pick her battles a little better." Joyce laughed, watching Marc chase her out of the room.
"Oh I think she has. They've been at it since I got here. Reminds me of two little kids. Joyce, I wouldn't be surprised if you and I were marrying those two off in a couple years." Kate said, heading back into the kitchen.
"You know, you maybe right." Joyce said, thoughtfully. If Marc was anything like his brother Riley, she couldn't have chosen better for her daughter.
"Riley? Could you pour the wine?" Buffy asked, as he walked into the room with Nicole, carrying the wine.
"Sure, babe. All the adults, how about the boys, Chris?" Riley asked, remembering how grown up he'd felt when his father had allowed him some wine with his Christmas dinner.
"I'm thinking okay, but just a little bit. I don't wanna make a big deal out of it." She said, handing Riley the wineglass to be filled.
"Cordy, be a dear, and go round up the stragglers. I'll keep an eye on the girls." Katie said, picking up Kelly's teething ring. It had been so long since they'd had a baby in the Finn house.
"Sure, any ideas how I pry then away from those damn video games? I swear these two will not have one." Cordy said, as she left the room.
"Yeah, I said that too, but Graham made me buy it." Riley said, when he saw Graham coming in the room with Steve, carrying the trays with the turkey and ham.
"I didn't make you buy it. I suggested." Graham winked at Buffy.
"You planning on doing the carving?" Riley asked Graham. Somewhere over the years, it had become Graham's responsibility to cut the turkey and Kevin's to cut the ham, how that had happened Riley could not tell you.
"Don't I always." Graham said, putting the platter down.
"I really think Graham's a frustrated surgeon." Steve laughed, knowing that Graham had at one time dreamed of being a doctor, but the Initiative and the Army changed all that.
"You know it." Riley said, watching his daughters taking their places at the table under Buffy's direction. He loved the way his daughters had taken to Buffy, even Hope appeared to be warming up to her. Buffy was the type of woman that his daughters needed, and the type of woman he needed in his life as well. Riley smiled at the thought until his thoughts were pulled back by a very sharp, painful yell.
"Shit!" Graham said, dropping the knife he'd been using to cut the turkey. Somehow he'd managed to cut his right hand with the carving knife. Looking up, he saw the room spring into action as the Finns rushed to his aid.
Willow, who had just limped into the room with Angel and Kevin, stood rooted to the floor as she saw the blood oozing out of Graham's hand.
Steve jumped up from the table, grabbing the red cloth napkin from beside his plate. Running to Graham's side, he quickly wrapped his hand up and applied pressure to his upper arm.
"Gray, hold your hand up in the air. Nickie, go get the car and bring it around front, we've got to get him to ER to get this sewn up."
"You know the drill, Riley, call ahead and tell them to have a trauma room and AB- ready to go. If Nickie doesn't kill us, we should be there in 10 minutes." Steve said, checking Graham's pulse.
While Steve continued to apply pressure on Graham's arm, Marc ran and got the coat out from the front closet.
"You still with me, Gray?" Riley asked, moving to Graham's side.
"Uh yeah." He said, his lips starting to turn a bluish shade.
"You don't want me to come?" Riley asked, not taking his eyes off his friend.
"No, stay and have dinner." Graham tried to smile to calm his friend's concern.
"Steve, he's starting to go shocky here." Riley said, feeling the clammy skin.
"Definite shock." Steve said. "Rye, stay here; Nickie and I'll handle everything. You need to stay and keep an eye on Willow and Evan."
Marc quickly helped Nicole on with her coat, then took over applying pressure to Graham's arm, as Steve hurriedly donned his own coat and placed Graham's over his shoulders.
"What's going on here?!" Willow asked, trying to get to Graham, but Kevin held her firmly in place.
"Willow, he's in good hands." Kevin said, rubbing her arm.
"I don't get it, Riley? What's happening?!" Willow asked, looking up at Riley's worried face.
"Wills, Riley will explain it to you later." Nicole said, seeing the panic on Willow's face. Nicole didn't envy Willow at that moment. It must have been scary seeing everyone in the room dashing around your bleeding boyfriend and not knowing why.
"I wanna know now." She said, turning to face Nicole, almost begging her.
Nicole's heart went out to the woman, they'd already had a day from hell and now this was happening. What could Nicole say to her, she wasn't a doctor.
"Willow, honey, I'm okay." Graham said to his girlfriend, trying to reassure her.
"Bullshit." Willow whispered, seeing Graham's coloring changing before her, and the blood dripping off the end of the red napkin.
Noticing the napkin starting to get blood-soaked, Buffy grabbed a few other napkins that lay on the sideboard and quickly placed them on the one currently wrapped around Graham's hand.
"Here, Steve, take these with you, just in case you need to change to a clean one on the way." She said, stuffing more napkins into his coat pocket.
"Thanks, I'm sure I'll be needing them."
"Can you walk?" Riley asked, looking into Graham's eyes.
"Feeling a little woozy, I'll need some help, Rye." Graham said, as Riley helped him to his feet and wrapped his arm around Graham's waist while Steve continued the pressure on his arm.
"I wanna go." Willow cried, trying to pull free of Angel's arms.
Seeing her anguish, Graham stopped and looked at his girlfriend and Angel. Angel released his hold on Willow and she hobbled across the room to Graham.
"Wills, you need to stay here with the guys, you're safer here." Graham said, as her soft hand caressed the side of his clammy face.
"I wanna be with you." She begged.
"No, you're safer here. I'll have Nickie call you when we get there, okay? I love you." He said, smiling at her and trying to reassure her.
"I love you, too." She said, kissing him softly.
"Willow, we have to go." Steve said, looking at Angel, who came to pull Willow gently away from Graham.
Buffy followed them outside and held open the car door and helped Steve and Graham settle into the back seat of Nicole's BMW. Seeing Riley and the rest of the group's reaction to Graham's cutting himself, Buffy knew there was more to this cut than stitches needed. Watching Riley's face, she could see how upset he was.
"Everything all set here?" Riley asked as he tucked Evan's blanket around Graham.
"Yeah, thanks." Answered Steve. "Nickie you ready?"
"Yes."
"Good, don't spare the gas, but don't run any stop signs. We wanna get there alive."
"That's the second time you've made fun of my driving!" She said, turning to look at her husband.
"This isn't the time for a Bishop family war, Nick." Graham said with a weak smile, for Nicole's driving had always been a bone of contention between the couple. Nicole's NASCAR style of driving just didn't sit well with her conservative husband. Nicole always had to contain herself from reaching over and stepping on the gas when Steve was driving.
"Sorry, Gray." She apologized, reminding herself to beat herself up later, followed by killing Steve.
Just before Riley shut the door, Graham leaned out.
"Rye, take care of her for me."
"You don't' even have to ask me that." Riley said solemnly.
"I know, I just had to hear you say it, though."
"Nick, get him to the hospital will you?" Riley said, standing up to blink a tear away.
"So, were you the one who asked Santa for the Christmas Day from hell?" Graham cracked, trying his damnedest to keep his eyes open.
"Hell, man, you were the one who went with the kids to see him!" Riley said, leaning down quickly to give Graham an awkward 'guy hug.'
"Don't you give up, Gray." Riley said, pulling back.
"Promise. I'll be back by morning."
Watching as the taillights disappeared out of the gate, Riley stood in the driveway staring straight ahead. He'd wanted to be with Graham right now, but knew he had a room full of people he had to answer to. Graham had made him promise to take care of Willow, and that included, knowing Graham like Riley did, telling the truth. Figuring he'd be alone out in the cold night air, he was surprised to see Buffy standing behind him.
"Wanna go in?" She asked, putting her hand out for Riley to take.
"Yeah, it is cold out here, isn't it?" He said, taking hers between both of his.
"You okay?" She asked as she felt him blow a warm breath over her cold fingers.
"I've been better." He joked.
"So what's this all about? The way you all reacted, you'd think that Graham had chopped his hand off, but when I saw the amount of blood.." She stopped to look at his handsome face in the light of the Christmas lights that trimmed the house.
"What?" He asked seeing how she was looking at him.
"I have this horrible feeling in my stomach that this has something to do with the bitch monster from hell, and it affects you." Buffy whispered quietly so only he could hear. Maybe she figured if she said it out loud, that would make it real or something.
"Let's talk inside." He said, turning her towards the door.
"It does, doesn't it." She demanded.
"Let's talk inside." He repeated, as they entered the front hallway.
"You're scaring me." She said, stopping to face him.
"Buffy, I'll tell you everything when I tell Willow." Riley said, tracing her cheek with his finger.
"Come on." He said, placing an arm around her shoulders, and headed down the hall to the dinning room.
Walking into the dining room, Riley was immediately pounced on by a very upset Willow. Seeing the tears and concern for his best friend in her eyes tore at Riley. Willow really loved Graham, and there was no denying that. Most women only wanted what Graham could give them, but here was a woman who only wanted him and nothing else.
"Riley, what's happening here with Graham? And please, don't lie to me." She said, wiping away at her tears with the back of her hand.
"It was bleeding horribly. It couldn't have been that bad of a cut, could it?" She asked, looking up at Riley, pleading almost for words that would ease her troubled mind.
"Wills, it's not that easy, honey, I'm sorry." He said, grateful for Buffy's hand, which still held his.
"Auntie Willow, Uncle Cracker will be alright, he's just bleeding again, but don't worry Uncle Steve always makes him better. It happens often, doesn't it Daddy?" Tristan quickly explained, hoping it would cheer up her aunt.
"Hey kids, why don't we take our plates into the family room and eat in front of the t.v.?" Chris said, when she noticed her brother-in-law's hesitancy to talk in front of the kids.
"Cool!" Tristan gushed, as she climbed off her chair.
"Kevin, could you give me a hand here with Evan?" Chris asked, looking at her husband.
"Sure. Dad?" Kevin said, smiling at his father.
"Come on kids, let's go watch the Grinch again." Bryan Finn said, winking at Travis. Hoping his oldest grandchild could help him wrangle the others into the den.
"Come, Hope, I'll carry your milk." Travis said, taking her milk in his hand.
"Look, why don't we all eat, and I'll give you all the reader's digest version." Riley said, reaching for the dressing, scooping some on to his plate before handing it to Buffy, who sat beside him.
"Marc, can you pass the potatoes?" Riley asked, as he started the meat tray going in the opposite direction.
The adults sat quietly fixing their plates while they waited for the kids to leave the room, so that Riley could continue to explain to Willow and the group about Graham's condition. Looking over at Angel, Riley could tell from the look on the vampire's face that he knew.
"Remember Adam? Well it turned out he wasn't Maggie Walsh's only failed experiment. Graham, Steve, and I are walking examples, and we'll be paying for it the rest of our lives."
As everyone ate and listened, Riley told the tale about her maniacal plans and what she did to each of them.
"The Pentagon wanted to create an army of supermen and hired Maggie Walsh to develop the program. With government backing, she set up the Initiative to be a branch of the Marines' Special Forces. She interviewed every applicant and only those who met her stringent requirements were chosen. We were sent to California, assigned to a base set up at UC Sunnydale so Maggie could use her PHD as a front. And we attended grad school to blend in with the student population."
"*We were told* the purpose of the Initiative was to capture HST's so the scientists could turn them into harmless puppies. What they really did, however, was use *us* as lab rats because Maggie was testing how to chemically alter our body's natural defenses."
"You mean she was shooting you up with drugs." Xander said.
Nodding his head, Riley admitted Xander was correct. "The drugs were to affect our strength, speed, and change the body's ability to heal itself. Unfortunately for us, her drug weren't FDA approved because she used demon DNA in her serums or vitamins."
Looking at Buffy, who sat next to him, he continued. "Some of us had powers very similar to yours when you were a slayer, Buffy. Others were given powers you could only read about in comic books."
Taking a few more mouthfuls of dinner, he tried to think how he could best explain all this, without revealing too much, since most of this was still Top Secret. Wiping his mouth with the red linen napkin, Riley turned back to the others, "She treated our food and shot us up with drugs, telling us we were getting standard inoculations. One drug was so strong, I passed out and fell against the corner of a table, and got cut up pretty bad. When I woke up, I found myself placed on an examination table and my chest was stitched up. We became her test subjects, but we didn't find out what she did to us until after the Initiative was destroyed. The scientists who survived assured us the physical effects were only temporary. It wasn't until after I had my heart attack a year later that we found out the effects were permanent."
"So what about Graham?" Willow insisted. The food on her plate was growing cold while her patience rapidly disappeared. Being reminded of Maggie's sick plan to rule the world was all well and good, but she wanted Riley to get to the point.
Riley took a sip of wine before answering her. "I was coming to him."
"Graham's drug was meant to strengthen his immune system and as it turned out, it did just that. He never gets sick, even when exposed to diseases that can bring down the healthiest person. Of course we're not about to expose him to Ebola to test this out, but that's the reason he always goes to third world countries instead of Marc or me."
However, all the drugs tested had side effects. Graham became susceptible to blood clotting, so he now takes thinners and as long as he's on it, his blood is very thin. He didn't notice how thin it was until a few years ago, when he cut himself and had a hard time getting the bleeding stopped, but he decided to keep it a secret. It wasn't until he was involved in a relatively minor car accident that we found out. He'd suffered serious internal bleeding from the seatbelt, and while sitting at his desk, he almost died to due to shock and the internal bleeding. If Nicole hadn't been looking for a file.." He couldn't bring himself to continue the thought.
Taking another sip of his wine, Riley turned back to Willow. That's why we couldn't take the time to explain to you what was happening to Gray. He was starting to go into shock and we only had a few minutes to get him to the hospital. With Graham's condition, the shock is just as dangerous as the bleeding is."
"You're saying he could have died untreated." Willow said, picking up her fork.
"Yes, he could have died." Satisfied that Willow now understood their urgency, Riley continued with his story.
"Steve's was to slow down his reflexes, heart rate, breathing, and regenerative process. The side effect resulted in an abnormally low sperm count. He and Nicole have tried for years to have a baby, but they know the likelihood of them succeeding is probably nil. And to add insult to injury, both sides of the family were pressuring them for a grandchild. Nickie and Steve's sisters and brothers seemed to be having children every time the two turned around, which sent Nick into a serious depression. She spent months in a treatment center in New York State." Riley said, remembering those dark days.
"You're kidding. She seems like such a happy- go-lucky person." Joyce said, shocked at the idea.
"Almost ruined their marriage." Marc added, reaching for another dinner roll.
"They tried everything, but nothing worked. Adoption just didn't seem to be in the cards at the time, since Nicole was so desperate for a child of their own, and well, using a sperm donor appalled her. Neither set of parents really seemed to understand the whole thing, so they continued to nag them in the way that all parents do."
"I don't think I nag, do I Bryan." Kate said, sending her son a warning look.
"Oh no, not at all, Katie." Bryan Finn answered sarcastically.
"Anyway," Riley continued, throwing his parents a look, " Steve finally admitted to his parents what happened and they've accepted the fact there is no natural way the two of them can have a baby, but Nicole's family wasn't quite so understanding."
"Some people are so insensitive." Kate said, shaking her head.
"For the survivors of the Initiative, it's almost like waiting for the other shoe to drop at times. One minute, you're a healthy person, and the next, you're some experiment that went wrong. Somedays I wonder if I'll pick up radio stations on my teeth." Riley said, shaking his head, trying to make light of the situation.
"There are more days than I care to remember that I curse Maggie Walsh for what she's done to us. Steve has such a small sperm count he might as well be sterile. Graham can kill himself shaving..."
"And you?" Buffy asked, holding her breath. She'd already witnessed more than once what that crazy woman had done to Riley.
Looking at his parents, his mother shook her head.
Riley sighed, remembering how Maggie had personally selected him to be her TA out of dozens of applicants. The two of them had worked side by side for months and grew quite fond of each other. They'd often spent nights deep in conversation, or she'd help him with his area of concentration, asking him questions the Graduate Review Board may present to challenge his thesis. Their relationship was warm and open, despite the Professor/TA persona they agreed to display in class. When they were out of the public eye, Riley always called her by her first name. Forrest liked to kid him about her, often calling him a 'Momma's Boy.'
"Let's see, do you want it alphabetical, or from top to bottom. Buffy, I'm a failed science experiment at it's best. Looking back, maybe I should've been suspicious because Maggie gave me more personal attention than anyone else, but at the time I just thought she wanted to be my mentor. For me, she tried to enhance everything. I became stronger and the drugs I received speeded up reflexes, heart rate and regenerative process. But the down side was, my immune system became weaker and it didn't take long for me to start developing health problems."
Looking to the Sunnydale gang, he said. "You remember what happened. I got tachycardia and hyper-adrenal overload. I was stronger and insensitive to pain, but my heart was operating under stress and I had a heart attack."
Buffy nodded her head as he spoke, she remembered her anxiety trying to find and get him to a doctor in time, and he nearly died in the process.
"Well that was just the start of it. Over the years, I've had two other heart attacks. I have to be careful because I have a weakened immune system, which means I have to camp out in the pool house every time the girls come down with anything stronger than the common cold. I'm required by the Organization to have a complete physical four times a year to keep track of my heart condition."
"That's what they call the Initiative these days." Riley smiled, when he saw the questioning look appear on Xander's face.
"Organization? Sounds all Agency, CIA to me." Xander said, scratching his head.
"We might as well have been." Riley smiled at Xander's ever-present intelligence. Though he'd often seemed less than intelligent, Xander was in truth, the most perceptive and human of the Scooby gang.
"You shouldn't have joined the military in the first place." Bryan muttered, helping himself to another serving of turkey.
Riley heard his father's comment, but chose to ignore it. Any retort would've only fueled another argument between the two men.
"So, the experiments, have they been documented over the years? I mean to say, do you know what demon DNA you were given?" Giles asked, taking off his glasses to clean them.
"No, we don't. Most of the records to support Dr. Walsh's experiments were lost when they destroyed Lowell. The Army had some records, but they were all quite sketchy." Riley said, sitting back in his chair.
"Very interesting, I'd love a chance to look at what they have." Giles said, drifting off into Watcher mode.
"Just a question?" Anya asked, from her place by Xander
"Yes?" Riley was slightly frightened by the possibility of Anya's question, his parents and Buffy's were in the room.
"Are you sterile, too? Xander, why did you just step on my foot?" Anya said, turning on her husband.
"When we found out what happened to Steve, Gray and I got our sperm count tested. His was normal, but mine for some reason. well mine has doubled." Riley said, slightly embarrassed.
"That's why he's called One Shot Finn." Marc joked. "And the reason he and Claire had three kids so fast. Rye had to find *some* way to relieve the pressure. Ya know, it just boggles the mind thinking how many kids they'd probably have by now if she hadn't died. I can still remember those nights when you'd be banging on my bedroom door, looking for a condom."
Marc's comment made Buffy uncomfortable. She understood he wasn't being spiteful, but it only pointed out the obvious, that Riley and Claire's marriage had been happy. And if Claire were alive today, Buffy assumed her existence wouldn't have mattered to Riley and his attention would naturally be aimed primarily towards his and Claire's children, leaving precious little time for Evan. Feeling the need to get out of the room, Buffy pushed back from the table.
"Seems it's getting late, and I haven't even packed the kids overnight bags. We're supposed to be at the hospital no later than 8:00 tonight. So, if you all don't mind cleaning up without me." She said, standing up.
"I'll come help." Dawn said, noticing Buffy's discomfort.
"No, it won't take me that long, Dawn, just help mom with the clean up." Buffy smiled slightly at her sister and the others before she turned to leave the room.
"Buffy..." Riley said, getting up to prevent her from leaving. She only shook her head and raised her hand to stop him as she walked out.
"I think I'll start clearing off the table." Joyce said, also embarrassed. "Dawn, would you help me, please?"
"Sure, Mom." She said, picking up the dishes.
"Let me help." Willow said, gathering glasses and cups.
"Here, Joyce." Cordy said, taking the platter of ham out of her hands. "Let me get that for you. Angel, could you take the turkey out to the kitchen?"
"Coming."
"I'll get the veggies.." Xander offered.
"I'll go check up on the kids, see if they've finished eating." Anya said, heading towards
the family room.
"I'll go with you." Giles said, following her.
Kevin and Riley both turned a steely eye to their younger brother, as Katie reached over
and smacked him on the back of the head.
"Way to go." Riley said, through gritted teeth.
"What?" Marc asked, slow to understand why he was being harassed by his family. When it finally dawned on him why Buffy looked so uncomfortable and the California group disappeared so fast, he groaned and bowed his head in shame.
"Sorry man, I wasn't thinking."
"Claire might as well have been sitting between Riley and Buffy, you idiot." Kevin cracked, pushing away from the table to follow his wife, Chris, out to the kitchen to help.
<><><><>
Walking into the kid's bedroom, Buffy closed the door. Wiping away tears, she pulled the luggage out of the closet and quickly tossed in the clothing Jordan and Evan had set aside to pack.
But she had to admit. "It still hurt, though."
"Hey, babe you about done in here? It's only about 6:30 and I thought you and I could kinda.you know what, while everyone's downstairs." Riley said, sneaking up behind Buffy and giving her butt a squeeze.
Buffy slapped his hand away. "Don't be silly, we've got to get all of Evan's medication and Dani's clothes together."
"Oh, come on, Buff." He said, plopping down on the bed and patting the mattress.
"Just a quickie, we'll lock the door and no one will be the wiser."
"What's come over you?" She asked, turning and looking at him in astonishment while he lay sprawled across the bed.
"I don't know, but I have this sudden need... Buffy don't deny me." He said, almost pleading with her.
"Well your timing sucks. We're in your daughter's room, and the whole family's downstairs waiting for us to take the kids to the hospital." She laughed.
"I'm sorry. I don't..."
"Riley, don't apologize. I always want you." She grinned at him.
"But, you're better than me cause you can control it." He said, running his hand over the bulge in his jeans.
"Stop that." She laughed.
"Gonna make me? Cause, I don't wanna stop." He said, rubbing himself.
"Okay, buddy boy, I'll make you."
Pulling Riley off the bed, Buffy turned him toward the door and slapped him on the backside.
"You march right into your bathroom and turn on the shower to ice cold. Then you're to step inside and cool your jets."
Then looking down at his straining member.
"Make that jet and a big one at that. But if the shower doesn't calm you down, then maybe you better show some initiative and take care of that little problem yourself. Right now, I'm busy getting the kids ready for tonight and Steve's Christmas has been upset enough without us having to make him wait."
Riley stood pouting like a little boy.
"So, you refuse to help me in my hour of need, huh, maybe I'll find someone else to lend me a hand."
"Yeah, and I'd like to see that." She said, scoffing, as she pushed him out of the room.
Buffy finished her packing and wandered down the hall to Riley's room. Knocking tentatively on the door, she pushed it open.
"Riley?" She called, but got no answer. Stepping into the room, Buffy noticed the bathroom door was slightly ajar and could hear the shower running.
"Riley?" She called lightly and stepped into the bathroom.
Through the frosted glass door of the shower, Buffy could make out Riley's form. Startled by the vision that appeared before her, Buffy suddenly found her mouth very dry, and used her tongue to wet her lips. There behind the door stood Riley, looking as if he were in the middle of a wild orgasm.
Riley groaned loudly and muttered breathlessly. "Oh, god yes...just a little...harder."
"Mother of God...." He yelled, falling against the back of the shower and sliding down into an exhausted heap on the floor.
Buffy backed out of the bathroom. This wasn't a place where she should be now. If it was she, he was fantasizing about, Buffy doubted she could live up to his ideal, or if it was someone else, she didn't want to know.
<><><><>
Buffy came down the stairs carrying Jordan and Evan's overnight bags and a blanket and pillow for Evan, while Riley gently carried Evan in from the family room. Jordan followed close behind Riley, neither wanting to be separated from her brother or understanding why they couldn't stay in the same room while in the hospital.
"But why, Daddy? Evan needs me with him and what happens if he wants help? I've got to be there to get Uncle Steve."
"Sweetheart." Riley explained. "Evan has to stay in a private room because Uncle Steve said he has to remain in protective isolation. His immune system is weak and he can get an infection real easy, so he can't leave the room. We'll all have to be careful around him."
Buffy also tried her best to make Jordan understand why she couldn't stay with Evan. "Also Dani, you're going to get to leave the hospital in a couple of days, Evan's going to have to stay there several weeks after the transplant."
"That long?!!!" She cried out in dismay. "No! I don't want him to."
Riley knew just how Jordan felt, Evan's hospital stay was going to be hard on all of them, particularly Buffy. Riley and Buffy had discussed Evan's recovery, and the time it would take before Evan could be released from the hospital. Buffy had a law practice and clients that needed her attention as well. Lindsey and the associates who worked for them had been great, but she couldn't continue shirking her responsibilities forever.
Eventually, she would have to return to L.A., leaving Evan in Riley's capable hands. Riley knew it wouldn't be the same as being there, but he planned on calling Buffy every day to give her an update on his condition. He also wanted to make arrangements for her to fly back for the weekends or whenever she had a free day or two. Arrangements would be made for his office at home to be converted for her use when she was here.
"How are they going to transplant my stuff?" Jordan asked Buffy as she put on her coat and boots.
Squatting down on the floor so she faced the wide-eyed child, Buffy tried to think of the easiest way she could to explain the procedure. "Well sweetie, they're going to put you asleep again and Uncle Steve's going take the marrow from your hip. After that, they'll use a needle and a plastic tube to put your marrow into Evan's vein. It's going to move into spaces inside of his bones so new marrow will grow, then eventually his marrow will be able to produce healthy red and white blood cells on its own. I know this is difficult to understand Dani, but maybe Uncle Steve can explain it better than I can."
Everyone was standing in the front hall to see them off. Mason came up and said he hoped to be able to visit Evan, if his parents said it was all right. Poor Mason seemed to be at a lost for what else to say, so he just squeezed his best friend's hand and moved quickly to the comfort of his mother's embrace.
From then on, it seemed like everyone was fighting to hold back their tears for the children's sake. Hoping that this wouldn't be the last time they would see Evan outside of a hospital. Praying that God had finally listened to all their prayers.
Joyce and Giles held on tightly to each other, but smiled encouragingly at Evan, telling him he'd soon be on the road to recovery. They each kissed him good night, and promised to see him before the procedure the next day.
Next, it was Dawn's turn to give Evan a kiss goodbye. Kissing him on the forehead, she leaned in, so her forehead touched his.
"You tell them to not to put you out till I get there okay? I wanna be there so I can count how long it takes you to fall asleep. Remember we have to beat last time's record." She said, pulling back to tousle his hair.
"You got it." Evan replied, with a tired smile.
Riley's entire family, along with the California gang, were all there wishing Evan and Jordan luck and promising they'd be there for support.
Hope and Tristan ran up to Riley, demanding a chance to hug Evan goodbye. Riley stooped down to the girls' level so each could hug their brother goodbye before being ushered out of the way by Grandma Kate.
Marc came in the front door, shaking the snow off his boots.
"Car's warmed up and waiting for you all." Marc said, lifting up Jordan so he could give her a hug goodbye.
"See ya in the a.m., princess." He said, placing a kiss on her check before settling her back on her feet.
Buffy helped Evan put on his coat, while Riley continued holding him, then bundled a blanket around him. The night was bitterly cold and Evan in his weakened state couldn't afford to get chilled. Walking out into the cold night air, Riley hurried to the car. Opening the back door to the Lexus, Riley set Evan carefully down in the seat and buckled him in as Jordan climbed in beside him. Taking the pillow Buffy handed him, Riley placed it next to Evan so he could lie down on it if he wanted to.
After opening the passenger door for Buffy, Riley climbed into the driver's seat.
"Everybody ready?" He asked, looking back at the kids in the rear view mirror.
"Yes, Daddy." Jordan said, smiling at him. She considered her hospital stay an adventure.
"Ev? How about you." He said concerned, Evan looked even weaker than he had earlier that day. Maybe he was just tired. Riley hoped that Evan was just tired.
"Yeah, Dad, I'm ready." He said, almost inaudibly from the back seat
"You ready?" Riley said, reaching across to take Buffy's hand in his.
"If you're beside me, I am." She smiled at him, hoping that together they could get through this.
The story continues in chapter 40