The Song Remembers When
Chapter Forty-Two
RATING: R for language.
COUPLING: Buffy/Riley Willow/Graham
SUMMARY: A/U - Riley has left Buffy, and this is 10 years into the
future.
DISCLAIMER: All BtVS characters belong to the wonderfully talented
mind of Joss Whedon. However Karin does own Riley's daughters and Sam the
nanny, Nicole and Steve Bishop.
FEEDBACK: Pretty, pretty please! We really hate to beg, but will.
SPOILERS: All of Season 5, and our own little universe.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: 1) Thank you Amy who is Beta'ing this for us.
2) To all the wonderful authors out there who inspire us, thank you for challenging us everyday. Thank everyone who finds the time to send us feedback!
Marc sat alone in Jordan’s now empty room, for he couldn’t bear to be with anyone else. It was, after all, his fault. Holding his cradled head in his hands, he cried, his body convulsing with his sobs. Seeing Riley collapse like he had was stuck was stuck in a continuous loop in his mind. He kept seeing Riley sobbing uncontrollably in Buffy’s arms. It was his fault. If he’d only been paying more attention to the orderlies than to Dawn, maybe just maybe he’d have noticed how weird the whole scene had been. Since when did orderlies give shots or wear their masks into a room. He should have noticed, but his hand had been holding Dawn’s and her perfume had been driving him crazy.
"Stupid, stupid, stupid!!! How could I have let this happen? Rye trusted me to look after her and I let them take her right out from under my nose.” Marc sobbed. He felt himself being pulled into a pair of arms and he knew immediately it was Dawn, her perfume played with his senses.
“It’s okay, Marc. They’re gonna find her, I can feel it.” Her soft voice seemed to act as a balm to his guilt-filled heart.
“It’s my fault, Dawn. I should’ve known something was up. My God, I should’ve been able to see this, I’m trained in surveillance.” He said, turning his face into her neck and inhaling her scent.
“And I’m a reporter, I’m trained to see detail and I missed it, too. Marc, it’s not our fault.” She rubbed his back, blinking back her own tears.
“No, it’s mine, I should have seen it. The way they came and took her just screamed, we’re not for real! God, an idiot would’ve realized they weren’t hospital staff. Did you see them? They were so nervous that their hands shook." He said, sitting up so he could look her in the eye.
"Marc, how could you know? They were dressed like orderlies and they were pushing a gurney." Dawn said, holding him in the loose confines of her embrace. "I’d never know the difference and Buffy and Riley could’ve easily been fooled."
"Yeah, well Buffy and Riley would’ve at least gotten suspicious when they saw an orderly trying to put her to sleep before they even got her outta the room."
"How do you know?" She asked. "Everyone’s so anxious about Evan they could’ve missed seeing what he was doing."
Shaking his head, Marc didn’t believe what she was telling him. Frustrated, he got up from the chair and started walking out.
“Where are you going?” She asked, concerned about his state of mind. Marc was taking this so hard.
"I gotta see how Rye’s holding up and find out if they’ve heard anything."
“Wait for me.” She said, moving to his side and taking his hand in hers.
Riley was still in the waiting area where they’d left him earlier, but now he stood answering questions from a group of FBI agents.
"Mr. Finn, have you or any member of your family ever been threatened before?"
"No, not to my knowledge."
"Would you have any idea why someone would target your daughter?"
"Probably to collect a ransom. Lately my picture’s been on the cover of several financial magazines, so the kidnappers could’ve bribed one of the journalists for information."
"Has anyone tried contacting you?"
"No, not yet, but I’m prepared if they do. I’ve asked your headquarters’ director if my company can assist in the investigation, because our combined organizations would have the largest criminal database in the country. And he’s assured me that the FBI would give us their full cooperation since we often work together. My phone lines at home have been tapped and the house is surrounded by surveillance equipment. All of my calls at the office are being monitored and the operators here at the hospital have been instructed to place all calls to me on a private line which is also tapped."
“That’s fine, Mr Finn. We’re grateful for any assistance you can provide for us.” The senior agent in charge said. This would be the case that could make his career, it was since the Kennedy hay days that a posting in Boston was considered a career move.
“Mr. Finn, could it be about something other than money? A grudge maybe. Have you fired anyone recently or maybe had an disagreement with a powerful client?”
"Well if you put it that way, it could be a family thing." Riley thought out loud.
“Excuse me?”
"Well my two brothers are both well connected. My oldest brother is US Senator Kevin Finn, he’s a very powerful advisor and friend of the President and First Lady. And my younger brother Marc heads up RAGE Inc.’s Canadian operations. Marc often works with the Canadian Officials. So both of them could have enemies we don’t know about, who may have kidnapped my daughter to try and throw us off."
“We’ll have our Washington office investigate the Senator’s involvement.”
“No, he’s here for the holidays, so I’ll make arrangements for him to meet with you.” Riley said distractedly.
“Is there someone else?” The Agent asked, seeing Riley’s sudden change.
Sighing Riley also admitted. "Another possibility is that someone wants to get even with my son’s mother."
"Why?"
"Because Evan’s mother is Buffy Summers, a very successful attorney based out of L.A.. Maybe she has her own share of enemies, but we’ll have to ask her about that.” Riley said, noticing Marc had just entered the room.
"Grudge is an understatement, Riley." Dawn said under her breath.
"What’s that?" Marc asked.
"Nothing."
"How would kidnapping your daughter be getting even with Ms. Summers?” The Agent asked.
"Without a bone marrow transplant from my daughter, the son that Ms. Summers and I share will die from leukemia, and right now the prognosis is, without it he may not live past New Years. That’s the reason my daughter was scheduled to go into surgery today. Someone had to have had an inside lead to know what time she was to go in. Dr. Bishop and an agent are interviewing the hospital staff right now trying to find some leads."
Marc and Dawn stood in the background, listening to the conversation about Evan. Neither had a clue that Evan’s medical condition had slipped so quickly. Looking back now, Marc realized that it made perfect sense that Steve had been so frantic. It was urgent that they find her immediately, or they’d risk losing Evan as well. Taking a shaky breath, Marc leaned against the wall trying to steady himself. It was worse than he thought because he was now responsible for both Jordan and Evan.
"Oh God! Oh God!" He said panicking.
Dawn pulled him into her arms and held him tight, trying to calm him down. Hoping that by concentrating on Marc, she wouldn’t have to deal with her own fears.
"Shhhh, Marc. They’ll find her, I know they will. You’ve got to believe that."
Turning around, Riley saw his younger brother and how troubled he was.
"Would you gentlemen please excuse me for a minute?" Riley asked, as he started walking over to Dawn and Marc.
"Marc, what is it?" Riley asked, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Rye, I’m sorry...I’m sorry about what happened. It... its all my fault, I should’ve kept a closer eye on her. It’s my fault they got her. Its..." Marc gently pulled away from Dawn, for he had to face Riley, and be a man.
Pulling Marc into his arms, Riley calmed his brother down.
"Marc, there’s no way I’d blame you. It’s *not* your fault."
"But if I..."
Pulling back to look Marc in the eye, Riley gave his brother a slight shake before he spoke. "Stop it! I said it’s not your fault, it’s nobody’s fault. So you’ve got to stop blaming yourself, understand?"
"Yeah."
"Good, because Buffy and I are gonna be depending on Dawn and you to give us moral support, plus I’m going to need you to help Graham with the investigation."
"You sure?" Marc asked, sniffling a bit.
"Damn sure! I wouldn’t do this without you. Marc, this is the time that family pulls together." Riley said, hugging his baby brother to him.
"I’ll be there for you. Both of us.” Marc said, pulling Dawn into the hug.
"Good!" Riley said, hugging them both. He needed their strength, Marc would keep him strong.
“Come on, I’ll introduce you to the Senior Agent in Charge.” Riley said. patting his brother on the back before leading Dawn and him over to the agents. "Now, maybe you two can help these gentlemen by answering some questions they just got through asking me."
Leaving Marc and Dawn with the agents, he went looking for Buffy and Graham. He needed someone inside the house to keep an eye on the girls, and he was so grateful for the vampire currently living under his roof. Shit, he hadn’t told the gang at home yet. This was too much. How could someone take his special girl.
“Rye?” Graham called seeing Riley falter and lean heavily into the wall. Moving to his friend’s side, he led him to a chair in the hallway.
“Why would someone take her, Gray, she’s never done anything to anyone. She’s just this little girl. Jordy’s innocent in all of this.” Riley looked at his friend with terrified eyes.
“We’ll find her, between our team and the FBI, we’ll hunt the bastards down. I promise you, Rye.” Graham said, waving Buffy over.
“I promised Claire I’d keep them safe, I failed.” He murmured, thinking about his conversation with her in the barn that morning.
“And we will.” Graham insisted.
“I have to go….I need to check on the girls.” He stammered, trying to get to his feet.
“I’ll call. You just concentrate on being strong for Evan. We’re gonna find her before she has time to get hungry.” Graham tried to smile, but it came out as a grimace.
“Look baby, why don’t you come with me and we’ll see Evan.” Buffy said, crouching down next to Riley’s chair.
“We have to tell Evan.” Riley said, looking at Buffy.
“Yes, he needs to be told.” Buffy agreed.
“Are you okay?” Riley suddenly asked her, forgetting about his own loss for a moment to focus on Buffy.
“I’m praying we find her. We have to Riley, or we lose them both.” She said, moving into his outstretched arms.
Graham moved away from the couple, giving them the privacy that they needed to deal with their pain. Moving out onto the terrace, he pulled his blazer around him as he hit the speed dial for the number on his phone for Riley’s place.
“Finn’s.” Came Angel’s deep voice.
“Angel?”
“Gray, is that you? Is everything okay?” Angel asked, noticing Graham’s tense voice.
“No. We….there’s…shit, Angel, Jordan’s been taken from the hospital. Kidnapped.” Graham hated saying the word.
“When?” Angel snapped into detective mode.
“About 2 hours ago. They posed as orderlies, took her right out from under Marc‘s and Dawn’s noses.” Graham explained.
“Shit. How’s Riley holding up?”
“As you can guess not very well. It’s only made worse by the fact that they got Evan’s test results back today, and well, it doesn’t look too good for him. Unless they find Jordy in the next couple days, well….” Graham couldn’t bring himself to say the words out loud. Dead was a word he hated. His parents were dead, Claire was dead, Forrest, the bastard, was dead. Dead wasn’t something he wanted for either Evan or Jordan.
“And if they don’t find Jordan alive within the next 24 hours, the chances of finding her alive decreases by 10% every hour.” Graham knew the statistics were grim when it came to finding lost or abducted children.
“What do you need from us?” Angel could feel his demon growling inside.
“I need you to tell everyone. Also, if you could get Kevin down here, that would be good. Rye needs his family.” Graham tried to keep his voice from shaking.
“You okay?”
“Holding strong. Don’t worry.”
“I’ll be there once the sun goes down.”
“Can you have Xander or Kevin check with the agents on the front gate? Ensure they have the place covered from top to bottom. I’m calling the office, we’re going on full lock down status.” Graham was grateful for Angel’s calm demeanor.
“Alright, I will. Keep me informed.”
“Sure.” Graham said, before disconnecting the call.
Riley and Buffy entered Evan’s room and saw the look of happiness and renewed faith radiate from his smile as he held his arms out to greet them both with a hug and a kiss. This was the day he’d been looking forward to for six months. It was literally ‘the first day of the rest of his life’ and Evan was waiting anxiously for Steve’s arrival.
“So has Uncle Steve taken Jordy down to the O.R.?” He asked his parents. Suddenly finding himself alone for the first time in what seemed like forever, he’d started making a list of all the things he wanted to do again when he was healthy. All those things he thought he’d never get a chance to do again, like riding his boogie board with Mason, or playing baseball again. There was so much he wanted to do in life that he’d never dreamed of, like going camping with his dad, or teaching his sister to ride a skateboard. Evan had a family and new life waiting for him, but first he needed the bone marrow transplant.
“I talked to Hope and Tristan, and they both said they have their fingers and toes crossed for me. Dad, Tristan even told me she’d cross her eyes for me, can she do that?” He asked, screwing up his adorable face as he looked at his father.
“Yes, it’s one of your sister’s amazing talents. She pulls it every time I get mad at her, and well….I just can’t stay mad at her then.” Riley chuckled, thinking of his little hellion.
“Well, I’ll have to get her to teach me, cause that may come in handy as I get older. I can remember Grandma yelling at Aunt Dawn a lot when she was growing up.” Evan said quiet seriously.
“Right, Mom?” He looked to Buffy, noticing a look on her face that he hadn’t seen before.
“Yeah you’re right, honey.” She said, sitting down on the edge of the bed next to Evan.
Seeing Evan’s smiling face tore at Buffy and Riley’s hearts, knowing their son’s final chance for life may have been ripped from his grasp.
“So, was Jordy scared?” Evan asked, looking at his parents expectantly, but when he saw his mother reach for his father’s hand and give it a gentle squeeze, he had a horrible feeling in the pit of his stomach. Evan could tell from their masked faces, that they bore bad news about Jordan.
“So, is Jordy okay?” Evan asked tentatively.
“Ev, there’s been a bit of a hitch in the plan. Buddy…” Riley stopped, he didn’t know how if he could actually say the words out loud.
Buffy started to wonder if they should’ve allowed Steve to tell Evan. He offered to tell Evan about the kidnapping himself because in his profession he was use to delivering difficult new to patients and their families. As a doctor, Steve felt it was his duty to help patients face their deaths, to try and make their last days as comfortable as possible. Obviously, he didn’t enjoy doing this, but he could present the news with sympathy and tenderness. But Buffy and Riley won’t take the out he offered them, instead they decided they needed to tell Evan themselves. They told him that just as it was his job to keep Evan alive, it was Buffy and Riley’s job to keep Evan’s hopes up because without that there was little Steve could do.
Buffy looked up at Riley and nodded to the chair on the other side of Evan’s bed. Riley sat down, taking Evan’s hand in his. Taking a deep breath he looked across at Buffy, then back at Evan.
“Evan, I don’t know how to tell you this, cause I can’t even bring myself to say the words out loud.” He choked, as his voice quivered. Buffy quickly reached for Riley’s free hand and gave it a squeeze.
“Is Jordy okay?” Evan gnawed on his bottom lip, looking to his father for an answer.
“Jordan was taken from her room this morning, and at this point we don’t know who would do something like this. Your Uncle Marc and Aunt Dawn were in the room when it happened, they said they were coming to take her down to the O.R.” Riley spoke so calmly, Buffy marvelled at his self-control. If it had been Evan taken, she’d have been in pieces, but Riley was a strong man, stronger than her.
“They took her?” Evan looked at his father, panic clearly showing on his face.
“Don’t worry, Evan, you’re safe. No one gets past this door unless they get approved by one of the agents I’ll have posted there. You’re safe.” Riley looked to Buffy to confirm this for Evan.
“Totally, baby. Even Uncle Steve will be frisked when he enters.” Buffy tried to joke, but it fell flat.
“Dad, I’m sorry.” Evan said
Buffy watched as Evan kept a brave face while he tried to comfort his father. Meanwhile Riley vainly tried to keep a brave face for Evan’s sake. But neither were fooled by their actions, both knew Jordan’s disappearance was tearing Riley apart. In public, Evan always put forward his best effort to show he was a fighter, but when Riley stepped away to meet with police and the FBI, Evan’s strong demeanor fell away to reveal the scared little boy he really was.
Falling into his mother’s arms, Evan cried out, "Mommy, I don’t want to die!"
"Shhh, baby, you’re not going to die, we won’t allow it." She answered, as she held him close and secure in her loving caress.
*Please God, give me the strength to help him hold on.*
"But if they don’t find Jordy in time..." He choked out.
"They’ll find her honey, I know they will. Daddy and the police have everything under control." She assured him.
*I only wish I could believe it because right now they’re running into nothing but dead ends.*
"Could Aunt Willow help find her?" Evan asked, pulling away from his mother’s arms to look up into her concerned face. Evan crossed his fingers, at least he had some hope left.
"How could Aunt Willow help?" Buffy asked, knowing children sometimes came up with the strangest ideas.
"Could she do a spell? Some kind of location spell and find her?"
Buffy thought about it and felt encouraged, maybe she could.
"You know Ev, you just may have something there." She said, suddenly thinking,
*Damn why didn’t I think of that, out of the mouth of babes.*
"Honey I’m going to have Grandma come and sit with you while I go talk to Daddy." Buffy said, her eyes bright with renewed hope.
Getting up from the chair she turned back to hug him.
"Evan, I promise you, everything’s going to be fine. By the power left in me as a slayer, I can feel it. So no matter what, you keep fighting, do you hear me, young man? Cause your sister’s coming back if I have to go find her myself." She said, turning toward the door and walking out with a renewed bounce in her step.
Out in the hall, Buffy quickly shed her scrubs and went in a search of Riley. She was beginning to get excited, a location spell was the perfect idea.
She walked down the hallway and found him inside Jordan’s room, talking to the FBI team who was searching for forensic evidence.
"Riley!" She called out to him.
"Hmmm, what?" He looked in her direction, and seeing her in such an agitated state, automatically imagined the worst.
"What’s the matter...is Evan...?"
"What?" He asked confused, as they walked to a quiet corner of the ICU’s waiting room.
"How about we have Willow do a location spell to try and find Jordan?"
"A location spell? You can’t be serious, Buff." He answered in disbelief. "We’re talking about two sicko’s kidnapping a little girl, not magicians performing a disappearing act."
"But Riley, you, if anyone should understand..." She said, trying to get him to follow her train of thought.
"No, I’m not going to turn to magik to find my daughter. I’d become the laughing stock... No, my reputation would be ruined if this got out. And I don’t care if it *is* Willow performing the spell. I think it’s a stupid idea. Plus she’s out of shape, she told me so herself."
"Riley, its just a little location spell..." She started to plead.
"Listen Buffy, hard evidence finds people, not magik." He snapped, before he turned away from her and stormed back into Jordan’s room, closing the door behind him.
How could he do that to her? It was a good idea, they used to do it all the time in the past, had he forgotten about his old days in Sunnydale? Shaking her head at his obvious dismissal, she leaned against the wall, looking to the heavens for the strength she currently didn’t feel she possessed.
“And God, while you’re at it, could you give Riley a little more?”
<><><><><><>
Riley stood in the changing room looking in through the window at Buffy and Evan. They really hadn’t spoken much since he’d shot down her idea about the spell earlier that day. He couldn’t just sit around waiting for someone else to find his daughter, which just wasn’t his style. However, standing here watching Buffy hold up a glass for Evan to drink from, he felt he should have been here for the two of them. He owed Buffy an apology, but he’d have to wait till later to give it to her.
Buffy looked up and smiled, pointing to the window so Evan would look as well. Even in the last 8 hours, Evan’s health had taken a downward turn, and he looked like hell. He was now sitting propped up, thanks to a mountain of pillows. Seeing the effort it took for Evan just to lift his little hand, well it was unbearable for Riley to see. Blinking back tears that threatened to fall all day, Riley waved back.
“He’s been asking about you all afternoon.” Joyce said, coming to stand behind Riley and placing her hand on his shoulder.
“I’ve been busy with the agents.” He explained quietly.
“We all understand Riley, but I thought that maybe you’d want to spend a little time with your son is all.” Lindsey cracked from behind Joyce.
“Riley!” Joyce yelled as Riley lunged at Lindsey.
“Riley!” Cordelia yelled as Lindsey and Riley came tumbling out of the changing room into the hall.
“Angel! Graham!” Cordelia yelped, as she jumped out of the way of the two men. Both hit the floor with Riley landing on top of Lindsey in the middle of the hallway.
“I’m going to kill you!” Riley spat in Lindsey’s face, as he knocked Lindsey’s head off the ground.
“I’d love to see you try!” Lindsey charged. Sure, he was talking tough, but he knew in that one minute of poor judgement he’d over stepped the line of good taste.
“Shit, Riley!” He could hear a male voice curse as he heard feet come charging down the hall.
As quickly as Finn had attacked him, he was being lifted off of him, by two sets of hands. Lindsey McDonald was known as a good lawyer, but in his hometown he was known as a dirty fighter. Quickly climbing to his feet, he sucker punched Riley, causing his knees to buckle slightly.
“I can’t believe….Graham let me go!” Riley roared, as he fought to get at Lindsey.
“McDonald, get your ass out of here, or I’ll let him go!” Angel seethed. A fair fight was one thing, but sucker punching someone was lower than low in Angel’s book.
“Lindsey, go!” Came Buffy’s angry voice, startling everyone, as she stood there glaring at him and Riley.
“But he….” Lindsey started.
“And what you’re the injured party? I saw you start it, Lindsey, go!” She spoke so firmly, that he knew there would be no further discussing this with her.
“You okay?” She asked turning to Riley, totally turning her back on Lindsey.
“Yeah, just stupid for letting him get to me is all. Ev okay?” Riley hated himself for losing it like that in front of one of his children.
“Fine, just worried about his dad is all.” Buffy reached up to touch Riley’s eye, which already seemed to be swelling.
“I’m fine.” He winced at her touch.
“You should get this looked at.” The concern in her voice touched him. Hell, he’d been the stupid one, he could have kicked himself for letting McDonald get to him like this.
“I’m fine. Just need to be with my girl and son is all.” He spoke to her alone as he pulled her into his arms.
“The girls.” Buffy almost whispered the words, as the reality hit her. Riley had two other daughters who needed to know the truth as well. Poor Hope, losing Jordan would just push her further into her shell. And Tristan…what could a loss like this do to a child so young. Oh, and then the compounded possibility of losing Evan.
“You need to go home to the girls, they need to know the truth..” She choked on the words because the last thing she wanted was him leaving her and Evan, but the girls needed him.
“I can’t leave you and Evan. My God, what if something happens during the night! He said, pulling away to look at her like she was crazy.
“Riley, your daughters need you. You’re all they have or have you forgotten?” She placed her hand on his cheek forcing him to look her in the eye.
“But, Evan.”
“I’ll call if anything happens.”
“But you need me.” He spoke the words with such love that she knew if she didn’t push him out of the hospital she’d never want him to leave.
“I know, but I’m a big girl. I’ll survive without you, but they won’t.”
<><><>
Tristan and Hope waited anxiously, looking out the living room window every few minutes to see if their daddy was coming home.
They heard the phone ring several times throughout the day and Aunt Chris talk quietly to someone. She appeared worried and kept looking at Uncle Angel for comfort. Grandma and Grandpa had come back from the hospital, but they hadn’t said anything to them about the operation. Grandma looked really sad, but they didn’t say anything.
"We’ve failed the Powers, Angel. Not one of us was there for her, she needed to be protected and ...I wasn’t there." Chris cried in Angel’s arms. It was so hard for both of them to be on the sidelines, but they’d decided to stay at the house for girls.
Tristan and Hope didn’t understand what that meant. There for whom? Protect whom? And what powers?
Everyone in the house talked in whispers and kept looking at the two little girls.
"Should we tell them?" Anya asked. She felt so sorry for Riley, first he lost his wife in a car accident, then he found out his son is dying, and third, his daughter and only hope for his son had been kidnapped right from under everyone’s noses. No one should have to suffer the many trials in life that he had.
"No." Xander answered. "When Riley called he said he wanted to break the news to them himself."
As they talked, Hope saw a flash of light sweeping across the living room wall.
"He’s here!" She yelled excitedly, running down the front hall. Xander, Anya, Chris and Angel walked out of the family room. Bryan and Katie came walking down the stairs. They all waited anxiously, wanting to hear some word of good news.
Hope and Tristan ran to the door and opened it crying. "Daddy!"
Giles, Joyce, and Dawn walked in first, looking very solemn and quiet.
"Where’s Buffy?" Angel asked, coming to take their coats.
"She’s still at the hospital." Joyce explained.
"Buffy didn’t want to leave Evan alone. She was afraid he’d get scared being by himself and with so little time left..." Joyce looked toward the little girls standing, waiting for their father’s appearance. "...if she can’t be found. Buffy wanted to be with him as much as possible."
Marc came in next and had trouble looking into his nieces’ faces. Even though Riley kept assuring him that he wasn’t to blame for Jordan’s kidnapping, Marc still felt there was more that he could’ve done to prevent it.
Riley finally walked in with Cordelia, followed closely behind by Willow and Graham.
"Daddy!" Tristan and Hope yelled in unison, running up to greet him. Tristan grabbed Riley’s leg and Hope threw her arms around his waist. Never once did they notice that their father appeared to be carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
"Daddy, did Jordan get to give Evan her stuff?" Tristan asked, looking up into her father’s face. He was so tall, and it strained her neck to look up at him.
"When’s Evan coming home? Can we go and see him?" Hope asked. She noticed Buffy hadn’t come home with the rest, but that didn’t bother her. It meant her Daddy spent less time being with Buffy and more time with her.
"I think he’d like that." He answered. "Tomorrow I’ll take you down."
"Riley, I don’t think that such a good idea. I mean, what could prevent someone..." Katie asked, worried that whoever kidnapped Jordan was just lying in wait to do harm to her other granddaughters.
"I think they’ll be fine, Mom. Whoever did this is probably long gone by now."
Turning back to his daughters, Riley said. "Hope, Tristan, I’d like to have a talk with you, okay? Let’s go into the living room."
The girls looked at their daddy and then each other. They now knew something was wrong. Their daddy should be happy, not looking so sad. Suddenly Hope was reminded of another conversation she and Jordan had had with their father two years ago.
Riley led the little girls into the living room and sat down on the couch. Glancing over in the direction of the Christmas tree, Riley saw the antique sled with Evan’s name carved into it. When he‘d carved Evan’s name, the sled had symbolized so much promise, but now it only represented the love and rapidly fleeting life in his young son. Riley knew if Evan died, he’d never be able to look at that sled again. He visualized it lying in the middle of a bonfire engulfed in flames just like the ship in a Viking funeral pyre.
"Daddy?" Hope asked, seeing a tear form in her father’s eye. Yes, it was just like that horrible conversation.
Riley tried to regain his composure, but it was hard as he gathered his two youngest children onto his lap.
"Tristie, Hope, something...something happened at the hospital today, something terrible. Your brother..." Riley’s voice momentarily faltered.
Hope’s lower lip began to tremble. Yes just like that day! Wasn’t this just how her father started out when he told them about their mommy dying. Tristan didn’t remember. She hadn’t even been there. She had been way too young to be told that day, but Hope remembered it well. She remembered sitting on Daddy’s knee, him holding her tight and explaining how their mommy died quietly, her heart slowing down then stopping, and how their mommy felt no pain when she died.
"Evan’s dead, isn’t he, Daddy? Jordan’s stuff couldn’t save him." She said, starting to cry. As Hope’s words sunk deeper into Tristan’s mind, she began to cry also.
Riley saw both of his two daughters break down in utter despair and realized, to his horror exactly what he had done.
"No, no...Evan’s not dead, sweetheart. He’s okay. He’s fine. I didn’t mean for you to think..." Riley said, quickly grabbing a handkerchief out of his pocket to wipe the tears from their eyes.
Sniffing, Hope looked back at her father. "If Evan’s not dead Daddy, then what’s making you so sad?"
Taking a breath, Riley began to explain again. "Sweetheart, it’s Jordy. She’s..."
Tristan’s eyes got really big and she blurted out." Jordy’s dead?!?"
*Great Riley! You’re really screwing this up.*
"*No*, Jordy’s *not* dead, she’s lost."
Both girls looked at him questioningly and Riley had to pick his words out with great care.
"Some people came into her room today and they had her leave the hospital with them. We don’t know where they went, but Uncle Steve and I have everyone out looking for her and until she comes back, Evan has to wait for the transplant."
"Ohhh." They said.
"Do you know when she’ll be back?" Hope asked.
"No, but we hope very soon."
"Do you know who the people were Daddy?" Tristan now asked. How many times did Daddy tell them never to leave with strangers, or was that *talk* to strangers? She never could remember that rule.
"No sweetheart, but we’re trying to find out."
"Do you think someone’s going to leave with Evan?"
"No, Evan’s not going to leave with anyone. Evan has to stay in his room and Buffy’s there with him. She won’t let him leave with anyone she doesn’t know."
Riley went on to explain that neither girl was allowed to go anywhere, without some adult from the house going with them. He also said, that under no circumstances were they to answer the phone.
"Do you understand?" Riley asked, giving his two daughters a big hug.
"Yes Daddy." Hope answered.
"Uh, huh." Tristan said.
"Good."
“Daddy! I know where she is!” Tristan bounced excitedly gripping her father’s hand.
“Yes, Trist?” Riley held her hand tightly in his.
“Don’t worry Jordy’s gonna come home, she’s the one who told me if I ever get lost to find a policeman. Don’t worry, Daddy, cause I bet you that’s what Jordy’s doing right now, finding a policeman.” Tristan beamed up at her father.
“You’re probably right squirt.” He ruffled her curly hair, trying desperately to hold back his tears.
“She’s right Dad, Jordy’s smart.” Hope agreed, hoping to make her father smile again.
"I don’t know about you, but I feel like a dish of ice cream. Anyone care to join me?"
"Me, Daddy!"
"Me, me!"
"Well come on then, let's get that ice cream. Maybe your cousins and Mason would like some, too." Grandma Kate said, ushering her granddaughters into the kitchen, not once taking her eyes off of her son's worn out face.
Watching his daughters walk away, he felt the anger that had griped his heart all day slip away, allowing his fear and pain to surface. How would he ever be able to tell them their sister was dead. No, he couldn’t tell them that, they needed Jordan as much as he did. All day he’d focused on finding her and now the doubts settled in. If they didn’t find her soon, then he would lose the son he’d only just met. Where was the justice in any of this? He felt his bottom lip tremble slightly as he wrapped his arms around himself.
"Riley." Cordelia said, moving to take the tall man into her arms. For the first time that day, since Buffy’s earlier comfort, someone was willing to give to him the support he’d needed. No one else had dared to touch him, for his anger was too strong, and it was this anger that kept him going. Riley held his body stubbornly ridged for a few seconds before he heard Cordelia's voice again.
"Let it go." She whispered, rubbing his tense back muscles, and as if on command, he let himself go. Angel and Graham moved quickly to help her hold Riley up, as his body sagged.
"Take him up stairs." Cordelia ordered, the last thing the kids needed was seeing him this upset.
Riley's head swivelled at the sound of Cordelia's voice.
"You'll come, too?" He asked meekly, for some strange reason he felt safe with her. For she'd been the first one to let him let go of his own tears and pain.
"I'm not going anywhere." She said, stepping in front of him to wipe away his tears with the sleeve of her blouse.
*God he's so handsome and vulnerable.*
"Come on Rye, let's go upstairs." Graham said, supporting his best friend.
"Yeah, Cordy's right behind us." Angel said, steering Riley toward the stairs.
“I’ll go help with the kids, make sure the twins get tucked in, you just take care of him, Cordy.” Willow sniffed, as she watched the guys reach the top landing.
“I will. Will, please kiss the girls good night for me.” She moved to give Willow a hug, then Chris.
“We failed her.” Chris whispered into Cordelia’s ear.
“Not yet we haven’t.” Cordelia whispered back, determined she was to find Jordan if it took her her whole life to do it. Cordelia was taking this personally, she‘d never lost a mission yet, and she wasn’t prepared to start now.
“If you need anything Cordelia, just ask and I’ll be there.” Kevin offered.
“I know you will, I’ll let Riley know.” She said, placing her hand on his arm before she moved up the stairs.
Entering the master bedroom, she could hear what sounded like someone throwing up in the bathroom, her own stomach turning at the sound. The bathroom door opened and Graham stepped out, looking green himself.
“Just missed the toilet.” Graham held up his fingers showing about two inches.
“All over that place?” Cordelia asked, feeling a little sick at the thought.
“Yup. We’re gonna throw him in the shower. Why don’t you pull back the bed. Maybe see if you can get Kate or someone to whip him up some broth or something. He needs to eat.”
“He was just sick!” Cordelia blinked.
“I know Riley, and he needs to eat. He hasn’t had anything other than coffee since breakfast, this morning. Gotta keep his strength up.” Graham rooted around in Riley’s dresser for something for Riley to sleep in.
“Sure.” She nodded.
An hour later, with Riley showered and fed, Cordy sat alone in the room with him. Graham had gone to tuck the two girls in, upon Riley’s request, and Angel had gone to check on the twins. In the dimly light room, she sat on the edge of the bed holding his hand.
"Sleep, Riley." She murmured to him. At the moment, she really wanted to be with Angel saying good night to the girls. All she wanted was to kiss and hold them both to her tightly. She didn’t know what it would feel like to lose either Kelly or Kristie, but she could only imagine the nightmare Riley was stuck in .
"Sleep." She cooed like she would if she were soothing one of her own children, but this wasn't a child, this was a grown man. A man, who somewhere today, she'd sworn to protect as she had his daughter. When she’d made this pledge, she wasn’t sure, all she knew was she’d promised she would. In her mind’s eye, she could not imagine her world without him in it, and she wondered how in the last week he'd wormed his way into her heart like his little brother had. Were they filling the empty place in her heart that her own estranged family once filled? Why?
Riley's eyes fluttered open to look up at her. They were so beautiful she felt herself almost falling into them, but as they focused on her face, all she saw was his pain.
"Go back to sleep Riley, you're safe." She whispered to him, running her fingers gently through his hair.
Suddenly, before either of them knew what was happening, Cordy was in his arms and his face was buried in her neck. Hot tears splashed against her skin and she wondered if they belonged to him or her.
“I failed her.” He sobbed.
“No, Buffy, she doesn’t…”
“No, not Buffy, Claire. I promised her the day…the day we took her off the respirator that I would protect them…promised on my very life. Cord, I failed.” His sobs tore at her heart.
“Shhh, Riley, she would never…”
“I promised her…to take care of them, and I didn’t. I should have been the one…the one in the room with Jordy, not Marc….me. But no, I was with Buffy and Evan, while my daughter was taken…I should have been there, but I wasn’t and now they’re both at risk.”
“We’ll find her.” Cordelia whispered, unable any longer to hold back her own tears.
"I can't lose them." Pulling back, he looked into her tear-filled brown eyes.
"We'll find her, I promise. I promise you, Riley." And somehow in this emotional moment, both their lips meet in a sweet simple kiss, startling them both.
Breaking away from the kiss, Riley whispered.
"Stay with me tonight Cordy, I don't want to be alone."
“Riley this is….”
“Cord, I need you. Don’t leave me, please.” He begged, clutching her tightly against his chest.
"Shhh. I'm not going anywhere, but if you don’t loosen up the grip a little I’m gonna need a bit of medical attention myself.” Cordelia wheezed out.
“Sorry, don’t go.” He said, letting his arms fall away from her.
“I already said I won’t.” She brushed a stray tear off of his face.
“With you it feels….you understand me. I don’t have to…”
“Explain yourself?” She asked.
“Yeah. Like today, every time I needed someone, you were always right there. It’s like you knew what I needed, like tonight.” He said, struggling to sit up against the headboard.
“I know what you mean. Since I first got here, I’ve felt this pull, but I’ve tried to ignore it. It’s crazy, but I …don’t laugh, but feel like I really know you.” She knew it sounded stupid, but it was the truth. For some strange reason she was connected to this man and his daughter, but why?
“No, it’s not the strangest thing I’ve heard all day, believe me. Have you ever had to listen to someone from the FBI? Man, these guys are a different breed of humans. But I know what you mean, today it all made sense.” He shook his head as he reached for her hand.
“So, are you going to sleep or what? Tomorrow’s gonna be another day from hell.” She spoke to him, but her eyes were on their entwined fingers.
“I’m sorry I kissed you. Really sorry….but Cord it felt…” He didn’t know how to explain what it felt like.
“I know.” She said it so simply that he knew it was not something he needed to elaborate on, she understood.
Gently pulling her hand from his, she couldn’t pull her gaze back up to meet his.
*Why did I let this happen! He’s vulnerable!*
“Look, why don’t you climb under the covers, and I’ll make up the couch.” Cordelia stood and moved from the bed.
“Sure. There’s blankets in the closet there.” He pointed to the large walk in closet. He hated that he’d suddenly made her uncomfortable, he shouldn’t have kissed her. Hell, he didn’t even know how it happened, but it had.
“Thanks. I’m just gonna go find something to sleep in.”
“Well I’m sure I could find you a clean shirt and boxers….”
“That would be fine.” She knew her room wasn’t that far away, but the rooms over the garage were far enough away.
“You can change in the bathroom and I’ll make up your bed.” Riley offered.
“Need to be busy, don’t you?” She smiled, as she slipped into the bathroom and closed the door. Looking around the masculine bathroom, she noticed traces of Buffy. Slipping off her jeans, she noticed Buffy had left her brush and facial cleanser on the counter. She wondered if she looked in the shower if her shampoo would be there? Slipping out of her blouse, she looked in the mirror at herself.
*Am I jealous of Buffy? Okay this is nuts.* She moaned
*I’m happy for Buffy, she’s found Riley and he loves her. He wants to be with her and Evan.*
She slipped on the boxers, her eyes returning to mirror.
“You’re so much like Angel, neither can stand being useless.” She called to Riley, trying to sway her mind from her current train of thoughts.
“I just….I can’t think about her. My baby, I just keep hoping she’s warm and safe, but…I’m a realistic man Cord and I know… I don’t know what to think.” He sunk to the bed, his head dropping into his hands.
“Riley, I’m sorry.” Cord stood on the opposite end of the bathroom door clutching his shirt against her chest. The pain and nightmare had returned. Pulling the shirt on quickly, she exited the bathroom to find Riley on the bed.
“It’s my fault. All of this, and Evan. My whole life…I felt like something was missing and then boom,, there he was. Cord I have such plans for us…now we may never get the chance to make them come true, all because of me.”
“We don’ t know why it’s happened, but it has. We have the Boston and State Highway Patrol, FBI and RAGE, Inc all looking for her, we’ll find her, Riley.” Cordelia took his hands and sunk to her knees in front of him, slowly pulling his hands away from his face.
“Now you need to get some sleep, or you’ll be no good to Buffy, Evan or Jordan tomorrow.”
“I should call her.” Riley sniffed, wiping his tears away.
“I’ll call for you.”
“No, I need to check on Evan.” He smiled at her, as he reached to pick up the phone.
“I’ll be back.” Cordelia said, going into the bathroom and pulling on a robe that she assumed belonged to Buffy. She needed to check on the girls.
<><><><>
“Hello?”
“Hey, how are you doing? How’s Evan?” Riley loved how her voice sounded over the phone.
“Riley? How’d the girls take the news.”
“Okay, you know how little kids are. Hope’s trying to convince me we’ll be okay, and Tristan’s certain Jordy’s gonna find a police officer and ask him to bring her home. It was so hard not breaking down in front of them. Buff, how’s Ev?” He asked, noticing she’d changed the topic at the mention of Evan.
“Not well, but Steve’s doing what he can to make him comfortable. Ev’s a fighter.”
“Just like his mom.” Riley smiled sadly.
“I wish you were here.” She sniffed.
“I can come back if you’d like.”
“No, stay with the girls. I’ll see you in the morning.” Truth was she did want him there with her, but she couldn’t ask him to do that. His daughters needed him, he was all they had.
“I love you. Call me if anything changes. I mean that Buffy, call me.” He insisted.
“I love you, too.”
“Kiss Ev for me again.”
“You kissed him a hundred times before you left.” She smiled through her tears.
“I know, but I have a lot of hugs and kisses to make up for.”
“Oh, Steve’s here, I should go.” She smiled at the doctor as he entered.
“Sure I’ll see you bright and early.”
“Sure, I’ll be bright and you’ll be early. Love you.” She laughed at the old joke.
“Bye, sweetheart, love you.” He said, as he hung up.
Buffy sounded horrible. He should have stayed with her, but she’d forced him to go home to the girls. She’d made him realize that he had to be the one to tell the girls. Maybe with a goodnight’s sleep things would look better in the a.m., but he doubted that. Evan was slipping so fast, that Steve had cautioned them about the likelihood of the transplant failing at this point. Evan was so weak.
Crawling under the covers, Riley reached for the bedside lamp and flicked it off, praying that sleep would come soon, or that he’d drown himself in his tears. Pulling his knees to his chest, he wrapped his long arms around them and let his tears fall. How long he laid like that he didn’t know, but soon he felt a warm body holding him and the soft velvety voice that was Cordelia soothing him. And though the couch had been made up for her to sleep on, the two slept in his bed, her body wrapped around his, shielding him from the pain of the unknown to come.
<><><><><>
Hanging up the phone from Riley, she smiled at Steve.
“Riley.” She explained moving back to sit down.
“How’d it go with the girls?” Steve asked casually.
“You know how kids are at their age, they don’t really understand it all. I’m thinking it was harder on Riley himself. He’s a really good dad, isn’t he?” Buffy had learned to like and respect Steve, so his opinion meant a lot to her.
“He’s the best as far as I know. He loves his children with every inch of his soul. He’d give up everything he had for them. When Claire died, he just….well he just became Super Dad is all. You don’t have a clue what giving him this time with Evan has meant to him. He loves that little boy, saw it in his eyes the first time he told me about him.” Steve smiled, checking the reading off a series of machines by Evan’s bed.
“That’s what I thought.” She smiled sadly.
“And from what I’ve seen you’re a pretty amazing mother in your own right.” Steve smiled turning to face Buffy.
“Doesn’t Nick care about all the time you spend here? I mean you’ve been here since the crack of dawn and now it’s past ten.” She scrunched up her nose to look at her watch.
“She‘s used to it. When I working with kids, she…she just understands. And with this being Evan, let’s just say I’m surprised she hasn’t brought me a change of clothes yet. I’m actually just heading home, thought I’d drop by on my way out.” He said, lifting the leather jacket he held in his right hand.
“Uh, didn’t see that.” She nodded.
“So you’re not going home?” He asked, noticing how Buffy lay curled up in one of the chairs. She didn’t look comfortable by any means, but it was all she had to sleep on.
"You don’t look very comfortable." He said to her, after checking Evan’s vital signs. Evan appeared a little weaker, but Steve was hoping it was only because it was late and Evan was tired.
"Would you like to lie down on my couch?" He asked.
Buffy shook her head. "No, I wanna stay with him just in case..." She couldn’t say anymore, she would get too choked up and start crying.
"Tell you what, I’ll get a couple of orderlies and bring the couch in here. That way you could stretch out, and I’ll have extra blankets brought in so you can cover yourself."
Buffy thanked him. She knew Steve was a caring doctor and now he was turning into a very good friend of hers.
A half an hour later, she was preparing to get ready for a long night. She shook out a blanket and tossed a pillow at one end of the leather couch.
Buffy heard a soft tapping on the door’s observation window. Looking up with a smile on her face, her smile faded when she saw Lindsey standing there, dressed in scrubs and a mask around his neck. She’d hoped that Riley had ignored her, and driven back down to stay with her.
She signalled for him to come in.
Opening the door and pulling up his surgical mask, Lindsey entered.
"Thought you might like some company." He whispered, tiptoeing toward Evan’s bed. Looking down, he saw the boy was sleeping fitfully, it was hard for him to find a comfortable position with the CV line always getting into the way.
“I thought you were escorted out of here by security.” Buffy frowned.
“Couldn’t leave you alone here, you need me.” He shrugged off her comment.
"You don’t have to stay..."
"I want to Buff, if that’s okay with you? I don’t want you going through this alone." He said, walking up to her and placing his hand gently on her shoulder.
"If anything, I want you to know that I’m here for you and Evan." He added when she didn’t respond. Okay, so his taunting Riley earlier in the day hadn’t been one of his brightest moves, but he hadn’t been able to hold himself back from the verbal attack.
He could see tears of gratitude start to appear in her eyes.
*Finn may have been here for her during the last 3 weeks, but I’ve been here for her the last 10 years, and I’m not about to leave her alone now.*
He was going to sit down in one of the chairs when Buffy asked. "Wouldn’t you rather sit here on the couch with me? Those chairs are the pits when it comes to getting comfortable."
Lindsey joined her on the couch and for the next several minutes they talked quietly. He was telling her the latest exploits of their clients and the newest cases being handled by the firm.
Buffy’s eyelids started to get heavy, she had been up since before dawn and with all the stress and uncertainty she was thoroughly exhausted. Lindsey pulled her up and she curled up next to him. Her head resting against his shoulder.
<><><><><>
Angel stood just inside the room watching the two sleep. Angel could feel Riley’s pain and fear still, but it seemed tempered by Cordelia’s presence. In the moonlight they were beautiful, they looked like two young lovers, their bodies entwined in passion, his head held to her breast. She held Riley with such gentle care, exactly like she wrapped herself around Angel at night.
Should he be jealous of the sudden closeness the two seemed to share? Should he have encouraged Cordelia to keep her distance? No, he’d never do that. Angel didn’t doubt Deliah’s love for him, instead her love for him constantly seemed to surprise him.
Crossing to the bed, he leaned down and place a gentle kiss on her forehead. She was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen in his life, and she was his for now.
<><><><><>
Cordelia woke up and looked around the unfamiliar room, trying for the briefest of seconds to remember where she was, but feeling the warm body next to hers was a quick reminder. A reminder that brought with the horrific events of the day before, that would forever change this family. Seeing the alarm clock on the opposite side of the bed, she wasn’t surprised to see it saying 5:00 a.m. Since they’d adopted the twins almost two years ago, Cordelia had forgotten what it meant to sleep in. She knew she should get up and leave before the rest of the house woke. She tried to untangle herself from Riley without waking him up. He’d tossed and turned in his sleep most of the night, so she figured he could use whatever peaceful sleep he now had.
“Mmmmm…..some date you are, first you steal all the covers, and then you sneak out without even a goodbye kiss.” Riley smirked at up at her. She really looked beautiful without all the makeup and trendy stuff she normally wore. He wondered if she just ever wore a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, but he highly doubted it.
“Thought I’d get up and back to my own wing of Buckingham Palace before anyone caught me leaving here. Last night when I came back up here, everyone else had crashed already. I just don’t want them getting the wrong idea about us is all.” She suddenly felt warm and very uncomfortable standing next to his bed. He was so incredible looking, it wasn’t hard to miss.
“The house isn’t that big.” He groaned.
“You have your own ballroom and stable. Please!” She laughed.
“I don’t have a movie theater!” He offered.
“Oh, what, you didn’t think of it when you bought the place?”
“No, for your information I love taking the girls to the movies. The popcorn’s the best.” He said, sitting up.
“So, what’s the real reason your hightailing out of my room Mrs. Chase.” He crossed his arms over his chest staring her down.
“Just thought it would be easier for you if no one found out about last night.”
“What about last night?” He asked watching her closely, trying to figure out what was really bothering her.
“Our kissing.” She blurted out.
“No one has to know, that is unless you want Angel to known, cause I don’t have a problem with that. I’ll even tell him myself.” Riley offered, what happened between them was meant to happen, it was the last thing he’d ever wanted, but it did.
“No, that’s silly. We’ll kept it between us.” She was touched by his offer, Buffy had found herself a one in a million.
“Works for me. Cord, I want you to know that as strange as this is, I’m not upset it happened. You were here for me when no one else was. And I’m grateful for that.” Getting up, he went into the bathroom and came back out, tying up his bathrobe’s belt.
“I’m glad I could be there for you. It felt right for some strange reason. “ She smiled, slipping on Buffy’s robe.
“I’ll bring it back later.” She indicated the robe as she walked to door with him close behind her.
“Sure, not a problem.” He stopped in the doorway, not knowing what to say to her. What do you say to someone who held you together the night before, when you thought you were falling apart? Thank you just didn’t seem like enough.
Leaning in, his lips met hers in a sweet kiss. If things had been different between them, maybe this would have been something more, but it wasn’t and they were who they were. She was a married woman, and he was a man in love with someone else.
“You don’t have to see me out.” She teased, pulling away from the kiss.
“Figured it was the least I could do. Plus, I’m gonna go downstairs and phone the office and the CIA field officer in command to see if they have anything new. I’m gonna head over to the hospital first thing.” He dropped his arms from around her waist and took her hand in his
“Sure. If you want any company, let me know, and I’ll go with you.”
“Nah, go take care of those little girls of yours.” He replied fondly, as they both stepped out into the hallway. Riley stopped abruptly, causing Cord to stumble into him.
“Hey, Dawn.” Riley almost stammered, as if he’d just been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Well hadn’t he? He’d just spent the night with a woman, who wasn’t her sister.
Dawn looked at them wide-eyed and shocked. She couldn’t miss the way Riley and Cordelia were standing there in the hallway hand–in-hand, very comfortable in each other's presence and Cordelia was wearing the bathrobe that Dawn had given Buffy as a Christmas present the year before. Without a word, Dawn swiftly turned her back on them and walked purposefully down the steps.
“Dawn!” Riley whispered loudly, but she wouldn’t stop. What the hell was she doing here anyway, it was 5:30 in the morning.
"Oh, God. Do you think she'll say anything to Buffy?" Cord blinked, trying to still her own heart.
"If she does, Angel's going to be hearing about it, too." Riley wanted to bang his head against the wall.
“God, tell me this isn’t a warning of what the rest of my day’s gonna be like.” Riley groaned. How much worse could it get? He had one child missing and another dying.
<><><>
Riley stepped off the elevator the next morning with Marc and Graham in tow. They’d be meeting with the agents on duty to discuss the new info. Riley felt the worm was finally turning with the news that the FBI had discovered the use and traced the laundry service truck to a theft reported in New Hampshire. It appeared that this was planned, that it wasn’t some sicko who’d wanted Jordy, no it appeared this sicko was out for revenge or money, two things Riley had plenty to share.
“Morning, Maggie.” Riley stopped at the nurses‘ station with a dozen Krispy Kremes for the nurses.
“You are too good to us, Mr. Finn.” She smiled, accepting the box.
“Turn about’s fair play. I take care of you, and you make sure Evan’s okay. I think it’s fair.” He said, walking backwards towards Evan’s room.
“Rye, coffee?” Graham asked.
“Yeah, and bring one for my girl, too.” He smiled to himself thinking about Buffy.
Moving into the changing room, he started to change into a gown and mask. He almost felt like singing, and he would have save for the fact that he and Cord had had the nasty run-in with Dawn earlier. What she‘d been doing there, he couldn’t fathom, but he felt horrible. Had she seen him kiss Cord? He hoped not. He knew he had to tell Buffy, but he figured he’d wait till all this blew over. But would his guilt get the best of him? If there was one thing Riley was good at, it was giving himself the worst cause of the guilts. He knew he deserved them this time.
Riley entered the room, dying to tell Buffy about he good news that the FBI had just given him. Instead, he was stopped dead in his tracks, greeted by a very unwanted sight. Buffy, snuggled up against Lindsey, who lay sprawled out on Steve’s couch, snoring softly.
Riley’s blood instantly rose to a boil. *Who in the hell gave him the right...?*
Riley shook Buffy’s arm roughly and her eyes flew open in surprise. Looking up, she saw Riley’s eyes, the only part of his face open for viewing. Their color had turned iridescent and his skin was flushed with anger.
"What in the hell is *he* doing in here?" Riley demanded loudly, waking up both Evan and Lindsey with his outburst.
"Now listen here, Finn, you have no right..." Lindsey said, jumping up from the couch.
"The hell I don’t."
"Riley, stop." Buffy said, grabbing his arm.
Riley shook her hand off and he stood glaring at Lindsey, his hand balled up into a fist.
“If you want a repeat performance of yesterday, I’ll be happy to give you one.” Riley hissed.
"Buffy, we don't need him in our lives. If it hadn't for the leukemia, he wouldn't have had a say in Evan's life." Lindsey said, knowing perfectly well that Riley would blow up upon hearing his comment.
"Excuse me? What did you say, asshole?" Riley asked, narrowing his eyes as he looked at Lindsey.
"That if it hadn't been for Evan's being sick you'd have never known about him." Lindsey sneered at Riley.
"You bastard!" Riley yelled, lunging at Lindsey.
"Riley!" Buffy screamed.
Hearing Buffy's scream, Graham and Marc rushed into the room to separate them. Both men started fighting the arms holding them back from each other.
"Buffy, tell him it's the truth! Tell him that if you hadn't needed him, we'd be raising a healthy Evan back in L.A., and he wouldn't be the wiser!" Lindsey called to her, as Xander entered and pulled him out of the room.
Riley fought to get loose, wanting nothing better than to kill McDonald, but then his words sunk in..."He wouldn't be the wiser". Suddenly the fight went out of Riley, and he wondered how much truth lay in those words. Graham and Marc let go of him, and Riley sank to the chair. Staring at the floor for the longest time, Riley finally looked up and his eyes found Buffy, who looked like she'd just been slapped in the face.
"Is he telling me the truth, Buffy? Is McDonald telling me the truth, or just baiting me?" Riley asked, his eyes begging her for an answer, as he tried to control his temper, which still boiled out of control.
The story continues in chapter 43
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