The Song Remembers When
Chapter Forty-Seven
RATING: NC – 17 To play it safe
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!
As the full moon rose in the east, three figures hid in the shadows.
"Are you sure this is the chalet?" Marc asked, as he zipped up his black flack jacket and powered up the tazer. He wanted their attack to be swift and with as little violence as possible.
"Positive, the Powers sent me a clear message...this is it." Cordelia answered.
"How about the others then, are they ready to go?" Angel asked, never taking his eyes off the building. He could hear the kidnappers inside talking.
"Yeah, I have a couple of men stationed behind the chalet and the FBI agents are over there…" Marc pointed by the driveway. "…near those bushes. I told them you and I would go in first and they’re to come in on my orders. Otherwise, they’ll grab anyone trying to escape."
"Can you locate Jordan?" Cordy asked, turning to Angel. She knew he was listening to their conversations- vampire senses had their upside.
"Upstairs, the room on the far right," he said.
<><><><>
"Mmmmmm yeah, right there! That’s it...groan...God that feels soooo *good* Lindsey. You have *no* idea how much I missed not getting my daily fix of this while I was here. I thought I’d be forced to go out and find someone. In fact, I was getting so desperate I was about to pull a complete stranger right off the street to take care of me, and I would’ve considered myself damn lucky if he was only half as good as you."
Buffy continued the low throaty moans and words of encouragement. "Oh yeah...yeah...you found it right there, but rub just a little bit harder. Moan...perfect! You have the best hands."
Lindsey just shook his head. He and Buffy had had this same discussion at least once a week ever since she‘d joined him in partnership. "Buffy, how many times have I told you, you’ve got to let them go bare at least once a day, more often if nobody minds you walking around this way. Remember the skin’s gotta breath and if they’re tightly compressed you’re just asking for trouble."
"Uh huh, yeah I know. But rub harder Lindsey, please? I’m not above begging here."
"Patience, Buffy, patience. Forcing me to hurry won’t help you.”
Buffy lay half reclined on the couch in the Presidential Suite, with her bare foot in Lindsey’s hands as he sat on the floor, vigorously massaging her instep. Both were clothed in fluffy robes, having just left the hotel’s sauna.
"Look, as soon as Ev's up to it we'll arrange to have him brought home." Lindsey said, watching Buffy close her eyes and groan again as he worked on her. Buffy had always been a sucker for his famous foot massages.
"No, he's fine here, Lindsey, and I promised Riley I wouldn't move him." She said, her head lolling back against the couch. Buffy was trying very hard not to fall asleep.
"You don't owe him anything. Evan needs to be home in his own bed." Lindsey stopped rubbing her feet and his hand crept up her leg till it was above her knee under her robe.
"He needs to be here with his father and sisters, Lindsey...please don't stir up anymore shit than you already have, I couldn't bear it at this time." She answered, lifting her head up and looking him squarely in the eye.
"I don't want to see you hurt that's all." He said, while rubbing her leg.
Just then, the door clicked open and they both turned to see Riley standing in the doorway with his own key dangling loosely between his fingers.
<><><><>
"How many are there?" Marc asked, wondering if he and Angel should take more men to rush the place.
"I hear four of them talking, and the one who appears to be the ringleader is upstairs with Jordan. It sounds like they’re arguing. He did something to her that’s really got her upset."
"Any idea what?" Cordy asked.
Angel shrugged his shoulders. "Not sure but whatever it was, it sure has Jordan’s back up."
As Angel listened, he told Cordelia and Marc the exchange he was hearing between Jordan and her captor.
"You cut it all off and now it’s a yucky brown."
"It’s just like mine Jordan, so we could look alike."
"But I like my hair long, now I look like a *boy*."
"Guess what? That’s the idea."
"Well, Daddy won’t like it."
"Your daddy won’t see it. How many times do I have to tell you Jordan, you won’t be seeing your daddy or your family *ever again*. You’re gone...out of their lives from now on."
"But Evan needs my stuff. He’ll die without it."
"Your brother‘s dying? Is that what your daddy told you? He lied. Evan isn’t dying... he never was. Your daddy decided that now he has Evan, he has too many children and wanted to give one of you girls away. And since Evan can now take care of your sisters it’s logical that you were the one to go."
"No, I don’t believe that. Uncle Steve was going to give me an operation."
"You mean the operation to give Evan your bone morrow? Your daddy lied about that, too."
"Listen, Jordan. I don’t think its right that your daddy decided to give you away like some puppy in a litter, but let’s face it, that’s exactly what he did. Luckily he gave you to me, otherwise you’d be living in an orphanage somewhere, just like in ‘Annie’- where there’s 10 girls sleeping in one room, three to a bed and wearing dirty, torn nightgowns. And I heard the uniforms you would’ve worn were ugly, too."
"Uniforms? What kind of uniforms?"
"Sack dresses made out of burlap- that scratch and make you break out in a rash."
"I don’t think I would like that place."
<>
"God she can’t be believing that crap, can she?" Marc asked.
"Let’s hope not." Cord answered, shaking her head. "Whoever this guy is, he’s evil."
<>
"I saw it. Believe me, you wouldn’t like it- it’s an awful place. The day before the people from the orphanage were to pick you up, your daddy decided to try something that was cheaper. He decided to put an ad in the newspaper and I was the one who answered it. I told him that I wanted a little girl to adopt and he and I worked out a deal, so here you are.”
<>
"Jordan’s starting to cry now." Angel said.
<>
"My daddy wouldn’t give me away. He loves me. Just you wait until he comes here, he’ll tell you..."
"You don’t see him anywhere do you?"
Sniff. "No."
<>
"Shit, I think she’s starting to believe him."
"Damn it to hell." Marc said, wanting to punch out the son-of-a-bitch.
<>
"Well then, that should show you I’m telling the truth. Believe me Jordan, your daddy’s not coming to get you. He’s got what he wants now. He has a son.
"Hope did say something about Daddy loving Evan more than us, but I told her ‘no’, Daddy would always love us all the same."
"Come on, Jordan, you don't believe that, do you? Men always want sons over daughters. Look, in China husbands make their wives have abortions if they’re pregnant with a girl. Your daddy told me that he was unhappy because your mommy kept having daughters, but there wasn’t anything he could do about it- Catholics aren’t supposed to have abortions. But thanks to Buffy, he finally has the son he wanted, and now, you have *me*."
"Sniff...I have * you* now...sniff...but if a little boy needs a daddy...sniff...will you leave me, too?"
"No, I’ll never leave you for as long as I live. Jordan, honey, I love you. You’ll be my only child, so you won’t have to worry about someone trying to take your place in my heart; I don’t even want a wife. Come on baby, take this tissue and wipe away those tears, there’s no need for them."
<>
"She’s crying." Angel said.
<>
"Won’t you try to love me, Jordan, and let me be your daddy? Please?"
"You’ll love me."
"Always."
"And never leave me?"
"I promise. Cross my heart and hope to die."
<>
"Don’t tempt me, you bastard!" Marc sneered.
<>
"Alright...I love you…*Daddy*."
<>
“Shit!”
<>
"That’s my girl. Now climb up here on my lap and give Daddy a great big hug and a kiss"
"Okay. Mmmmm... smack!"
<>
"Damn, she‘s doing it. I can hear her giving him a kiss." Angel said.
<>
"Thank you, Jordan, and every morning and night I want a hug and a kiss, just like that. Now, be a good girl and put these clothes on that I brought up. I want you looking like a proper little English boy when we get on that plane tonight."
"But I told you, I don’t like looking like a boy!"
"Now, now, young lady! I won’t stand for any back talk from you. That temper of yours is one of the reasons why your old daddy decided to put you in an orphanage. He told me he was sick and tired of hearing you whine and argue about everything. Besides, looking like a little boy is only until we get home to England, and then you can put girls’ clothes back on. So let’s just pretend it’s Halloween and your costume is being a little boy."
"It’s true, I’m gonna live in England?
"Yes."
"In a big house, like my old one?"
"A very big house, a castle in fact- in the country."
"A castle?
"Yeah, a big, old medieval stone castle with high towers and surrounded by a moat- with armed guards posted high up on the battlements and doors. There’s even a dungeon where the dragon’s kept to scare away bed men, just like in fairy tales.
"There’s no such thing as dragons. Is there?"
"Oh yes there is. He’s 10 feet tall and 30 feet long with green scales and red eyes but don’t worry, he’ll be friendly. He’ll follow you around wherever you go and protect you. He especially loves it when you scratch him behind the ears. But he’s no giant sized puppy-dog. I bought him especially to protect you, and he won’t let anyone near you unless I say it’s all right. He’ll be sleeping right outside your bedroom door."
<>
"Hell, he could be telling the truth on that one." Marc answered, shaking his head.
<>
"I’ll have my own room?"
"A very big room in a tower."
"Just like a princess."
"You’re my princess. And then, during the next few years I will train you so that you’ll be ready to meet your destiny, when you’re called."
"What is ‘des- a destiny’?"
<>
*Shit, does he know that she’s supposed to be a slayer?* Cordelia wondered.
<>
"It means your purpose in life, sweetheart. What you were born to do."
"Do you know what that is?"
"Yes, I do, and it’s why I especially picked you to be my daughter. I lead some very powerful forces and it’s your destiny to help me with them."
<>
*What kind of forces?* Marc wondered.
<>
"Will I like what I’m doing?"
"Yes...yes you will. You’ll have a lot of fun."
"Cool. When do we leave?"
"As soon as you get ready to go."
<><><><>
"Ah sorry, didn't mean to interrupt anything." Riley muttered, shocked that he'd walked in on a very private moment. Turning, he started back down the hall.
*Okay Cordelia you don't know what the hell you're talking about.*
"No, Riley, you're not." Buffy answered, quickly scrambling to her feet and almost tripping over Lindsey to chase after him.
"Riley, please wait, it’s not what you think. Everything is innocent." She explained, running down the hall toward the elevator bank where he and another man stood.
"Well, what was it then? Because with McDonald’s hand between your legs it didn’t look very innocent to me." He said, looking down at her, feeling like she'd betrayed him again.
"Would you believe a foot massage that turned bad?" She asked shrugging her shoulders, giving him a hopeful look.
"Wrong answer." He announced sharply, looking back at her as the elevator doors opened.
"Don't you dare step in that elevator, or I'll...I'll drop my robe right here in front of this man."
Riley looked at Buffy, and seeing the determined look in her eyes, he turned to the gentleman standing in the hall with him.
"Don’t worry, she wouldn’t." Riley said.
"Oh, I wouldn’t mind, really." The man answered back, grinning. "If she want’s to be an exhibitionist, please don’t let me stop her."
"Don't temp me here, Finn. Come back to the room with me, and we'll kick Lindsey out so we can talk and make up." She smiled seductively at him, hoping he'd remember how great the sex use to be when they made up after a fight.
"Okay, we'll talk." He said, placing his hand on the small of her back and guiding her back down the hall toward the suite.
"And when I'm through with you, you won't be able to walk for days." He whispered wickedly into her ear, as his hand connected with her behind.
Lindsey followed them into the hallway, hoping to see Finn storm off, but when the two of them turned around and walked back into the suite, Lindsey knew he only had one chance left to stop them. Following quickly, he was just about to step through the threshold when Riley slammed the door in his face.
"Shit!!" Lindsey muttered under his breath.
"Well young lady, before I start jumping to conclusions again would you care to explain yourself.” Riley said in a very stern voice.
"Yes, Riley, I can explain everything." And Buffy untied the robe and let it slip off her body revealing that she was totally naked.
Riley’s mouth instantly went dry. “Oh, my God…did…did McDonald see you like that?”
Buffy grinned and shook her head. “I was securely wrapped in a large bath sheet. Don’t worry I wasn’t about to let Lindsey grab a sneak peek.”
“Sorry, I’m being such an idiot.” He answered, bending his head down in shame. He really needed to work on jumping into conclusions- it only caused trouble. “It’s just whenever that guy’s near you, I can’t help myself. I go nuts.”
<><><><>
"The bastard’s going to pay for what he’s done, brainwashing her and who knows what else. After Riley nails him to the wall, jail will seem like a God-send." Marc said, grabbing weapons and stowing them away in holsters and pockets.
Clicking on his walkie-talkie he barked orders. "Everyone standby, Angel and I are going in."
"Ready?" He asked the vampire.
"Let’s go kick some ass." Angel answered, stepping out of the shadows.
Both men moved silently, running from shadow to shadow, as they approached the chalet’s front door. Glancing over, Marc noticed Angel’s face had morphed into its demonic facade and was startled by the ferocity that radiated out from his features.
"Angel?" Marc whispered.
"No." A deep, resonate voice answered. "Not Angel...thought you might like to have a little extra help." Angelus answered in a low maniacal chuckle.
"Yeah, man, I’d like that but the leader- he’s mine."
Angelus nodded. "You got it."
Both crept up to the door, not making a sound. They could hear the men as they talked inside.
<>
"Do you think we should tranquilize her before we leave?"
"Nah, we won’t have any trouble. In fact, she’s so excited now that she’s liable to race us to the helicopter. Don’t give her anything until we get on the plane. Then, you can give her enough sedative to keep her asleep until we get her safely tucked away in Rumania. Thank god the castle’s isolated. I’d hate having nosy, superstitious peasants snooping around; trying to find out what we’re doing.
"So, did you tell her that you were going to be her loving father?"
"Yeah, she bought all that bullshit and to top it off, she believed the song and dance that we’re going to England, too. Right now she’s so insecure about not being wanted, that she’ll follow me anywhere; just so she won’t be alone."
"Ethan, you’re a bloody genius."
*Lilah was seething when we planned all this out.*
"I don't care what you do with his darling daughter, as long as you get her away so her brother will die. I want Finn to suffer for his past actions. Yes, Finn will pay for his past transgressions, not only does he have my wrath to deal with, but yours as well.”
<>
"Well, we were given free reign to do whatever we want with the child, after the prophecy is stopped. What’s better than turning her to the dark side and as my trusting daughter- she’ll do all my bidding. You know, I’d give my eyeteeth to see the look on Finn’s face when he realizes his precious little girl, my daughter, Jordan Rayne, is the next slayer and fighting against the forces of light."
"You know I just got a brilliant idea. Satan for eons now, has been looking for a bride and maybe *that’s* Jordan’s destiny. She does possess all the necessary requirements. First and foremost, she must be a woman who voluntarily turns her back on the side of light, and Jordan tonight did that. She must grow up to possess great beauty, intelligence, and remain chaste so that her love and devotion will be to him alone. Jordan is all that and more. She’ll have a power that he can put to use and be passed down to her decedents. She’s a perfect match for him.”
"When we get back, I’ll make the offering to him and if Jordan is indeed the bride he’s been looking for, he’ll take an active interest in her training. Then, when he’s ready to consummate their marriage, she can begin fulfilling a much higher purpose- giving birth to his children. They’ll become his generals and lead the forces of darkness to final victory over the side of light. My daughter shall be revered for the rest of eternity and they’ll call her ‘Dark Mother’. And as her father, Satan himself will reward me. My power will be nearly limitless and with it, I’ll bring the Watcher’s Council to its knees."
<>
Marc was shocked, amazed and full of questions. "Jordan’s the next slayer, since when...? How does this guy know...? Stop what prophecy...?"
Angelus whispered back. "It’s a prophecy that Giles told us about the other night, and it involves Jordan and Evan’s destiny. Jordan will become the most powerful slayer in history and Evan will become the ‘Warrior of Light’, and its leader. There’s a third in there somewhere, but we know very little about him. Anyway, we figured out that with the bone morrow transplant there’ll be a transfer of Jordan’s slayer power..."
"...And add in inherited traits from Buffy and Riley..." Marc broke in, now following what Angelus was eluding too.
"Yeah, Evan’s going to be one *very* powerful dude."
"So, if Jordy’s kidnapped, there’s no bone marrow transplant and Evan dies; stopping the prophecy." Marc reasoned out loud.
"Yup, and with Jordan becoming Ethan’s daughter..."
"...And Satan’s bride...." Marc answered, starting to get horrified. "God, this madman’s got to be stopped, it’ll be Armageddon."
"Yeah, but who is he?" Angelus thought out loud. "Rayne...Ethan Rayne...I know I’ve heard that name before...but where? When?"
Then it came to him. "Angelus, you stupid twit. You know who he is."
"Who?"
Angelus explained. "He was an ex-watcher who was kicked off the Council about 20 years ago. He’s become Giles’ and the Watchers’ Council’s worst enemy. You’re right, we’ve got to stop him any way we can."
Marc nodded. Getting in and targeting him was essential. Not only was he responsible for kidnapping and brainwashing his niece, but this man wanted to turn Jordan against the side of light, the one thing her father dedicated his life to defending.
"Make sure you point him out to me."
"Oh, don’t worry, I will."
<><><><>
"Riley, come here." Buffy ordered in a low breathy voice, as she walked seductively into the bedroom and climbed up on the bed.
Being the dutiful ex-soldier, Riley followed her to the bed and stood at the end of it. He waited in silence.
Crawling over to him, Buffy lifted her hand up and pulled the zipper of his leather jacket down, before she slid the coat off his shoulders. Before the coat could even hit the floor, her hands where pulling his sweater off over his head.
"You want me, don't you?" She smiled at him, as she threw the sweater across the room. To which he nodded ‘yes’.
"You want to do unmentionable things to me right now, don't you?" She asked, her hands working the belt on his jeans as her lips brushed against his collarbone, which caused him to shiver.
However, she wasn't prepared for the words that came out of his mouth.
"Do you love me?" He asked, totally shocking her. Where was the playful dirty boy she remembered from college?
Sitting back on her heels, she looked up at him. "How can you ask me that? Of course I do."
"Then never play games like that again with my heart." He said, before he pushed her down on the bed.
"Promise me!" He insisted, as he took her nipple between his lips.
"Oh! Yes! I promise you." She squealed as his teeth clamped down on the pebbled surface. So, her little dirty boy was here after all.
He lifted her out of bed and carried her from the bedroom.
"Uh, Riley...honey, where are we going?"
"Do you know this is where the President and I had dinner last year when he came to Boston?" He said, his lips lingering close to her ear, and his warm breath tickling her skin.
"And the whole time I was sitting at the formal dinning room table I kept thinking. 'What would it be like to make love to a woman on it? So that’s what I’m gonna find out." He said, licking the side of her neck.
"Love on the presidential dinning room table? What, was the Lincoln bedroom busy?"
"I wasn't in Washington, sweetheart, but I'm sure if I place a phone call that we could be in there by New Years."
"We also drank champagne here." Riley said, opening the bottle, but instead of pouring it into two glasses, he poured it over her breasts and down her body- only to bend down and lick it off her skin.
"We were meeting to discuss terrorists, and how best do deal with them." He explained, as he slowly moved to enter her.
"We'd come to the decision that the only way to deal with them is total domination." He continued, thrusting powerfully into her.
"Total dom...domina...tion!"
She trembled as she felt the power of the thrust slam into her, and was surprised by the power of it. Since they'd been back together, she hadn't seen this side of him. It excited her.
"Total." He said, thrusting into her again, but this time slower so his point was understood.
"So are...are you trying to dominate me?" She asked, staring up into his passion darkened eyes.
"I warned you." He said, leaning down to capture her mouth in a brutal kiss.
"Oh, then warn me again!" She answered, as he took a handful of hair so he could wrench her neck back.
"Don't play with me, little girl, I don't like it."
"So, Riley was jealous of Lindsey?"
"Yes, and Riley doesn't like that."
"Then, I promise to do it again, because I like this side of Riley." She said, raking her nails down his back to his butt cheeks.
As Riley slammed into Buffy, her head bounced off the table hitting the surface hard.
"Shit!" She hissed as he drove into her again.
"Oh my god, are you okay?" He stammered and stopped- pulling her up against him, his hand immediately going to the spot where her head would have made contact with the hard table.
"I'm fine." She smiled up at him, the concern and love he felt for her brimming over in him. It was so wonderful to see that in his eyes again, she thought she'd lost it for good.
"No, I've hurt you. I should have been more gentle, you're not the slayer anymore." He rushed on.
"We'll be careful." She said, wrapping her arms around his neck as she placed a sweet gentle kiss on his check.
"So should we take this back in there?" He asked, as she moved against him
"No, out here." She replied aching with a need that only he could fulfill.
"Only the table’s hard, that's...that's it." She panted. Suddenly she was in his arms and they shifted to the arm chair at the head of the table.
"President's chair?"
"Uh, huh."
"We called it the throne."
"Oooh, hail to the Chief."
"And what are you going to do to me, Riley?" Buffy asked mischievously, while he licked her hardened nipples.
"How about I fuck you until you scream?" He answered, stopping momentarily from his oral stimulation of her firm round breasts. "Think you’re up for it?"
Reaching down between their bodies to feel his rock hard cock still deeply embedded inside her, she said. "I am, but the question is, are you still?"
"I’ve never been so ‘up’ in my life."
<><><><>
Man and vampire crouched beside the front door double checking their weapons- prepared to attack.
"On the count of three we break in." Marc whispered.
Angelus nodded.
"One... two... THREE!"
Angelus kicked down the door, shattering it into tiny splinters. The two men rushed inside.
Ex-watchers scattered throughout the house.
Marc shot one in the back with his tazer, instantly knocking him out and watched as the he collapsed- falling into a heap on the floor.
Angelus grabbed a second by the neck when he tried running out of the room. Applying pressure to the man’s jugular, Angelus quickly subdued his victim and watched with humor, as the ex-watcher slipped to unconsciousness.
Looking up, Angelus saw Ethan Rayne standing at the foot of the stairs, a gun in his hand- aimed at Marc’s head.
"MARC!" Angelus screamed. "RAYNE!"
Marc turned and saw the man pointing a loaded gun in his direction. With split second timing, Marc dove behind a chair just as Ethan fired. He could feel the bullet whizzing past his head.
Marc yanked out the walkie-talkie; clicking it on.
"Everyone move in, on the double!" He yelled, then dropped the instrument when a second, much louder gunshot went off- its bullet blasting a gaping hole in the chair and passing through Marc’s right arm to imbed itself in the wall behind. Looking down, Marc saw the blood starting to ooze through his shirtsleeve.
Taking advantage of the chaos occurring in the front of the house, the fourth man tried to escape by sneaking out the back door.
"Uh uh, I don’t think you’re going anywhere." Angelus said, grabbing the man by the shirt collar and yanking him back into the house. Back handing him, Angelus threw the other man against the wall.
“And we have another one down for the count.” The vampire announced, laughing.
Marc heard a click as Ethan’s handgun misfired. Taking advantage of the ex-watcher’s misfortune, Marc grabbed his tazer, dove out into the open- firing as he dropped and rolled across the floor. The young man’s aim was right on target. Before Ethan could get off another shot, the tazer’s blast hit him- dropping Ethan where he stood.
Holding onto his wounded arm, Marc slowly rose from his prone position on the floor and tried to stand without stumbling.
Angelus slipped back into Angel before the FBI agents saw him and noticed Marc struggling to get to his feet. Angel ran over to help his young friend.
"How bad is it?" He asked, pulling Marc’s hand away to see the deep bleeding wound.
"I’ll probably live." Marc joked, while wincing noticeably. "Just hurts like hell...but can’t take care of it now... got to get to Jordan." He said, pulling away from Angel’s hold.
<><><><>
"I need you to promise me something." Riley said, as they lay snuggled close on the living room couch- taking a short break from their wild, passionate lovemaking.
'What?"
"That if I ever hurt you, I mean physically, you'll tell me. I 'd rather cut my own arm off rather than hurt you." He said, reaching down to caress her cheek.
"You can never hurt me." She answered, pressing her head against his shoulder.
"Yeah, I could." He replied, closing his eyes and knowing the truth- he could.
“I know what you’re afraid of Riley…of what Maggie did to you.” Buffy exclaimed, reaching over and turning his face toward her. She kissed his lips softly. “You don’t have to be afraid- I trust you.”
“I don’t know what I did to deserve you.” He answered her, as her sweet lips traveled across his cheek and down the neck to settling at the base of his throat. God, he was such a fool to almost give this or her up a second time.
“You‘re accepting Evan as your son…for being here for me when I needed you…for loving me…” She answered sweetly, slipping down to rest her head on his chest and wrapping her arms around his waist so she could snuggle closer. “…and for just being *you*.”
“I love you.” He answered, his hand reaching up and combing its way through her long silken locks.
“I know.”
<><><><>
Climbing up the stairs, Marc called out to his niece so she knew he was coming. "Jordan! Jordan, sweetheart where are you?"
"Uncle Marc?" A little girl’s voice cried out from behind a closed door at the end of the hall. She heard the gun shots and was crouched under the bed in fear.
Reaching for the doorknob Marc discovered it wouldn’t turn in his hand. It was locked. "Just my fucking luck." He muttered to himself.
“Open up the door honey, so I can come in.” He called out.
“I can’t.” Jordan cried. “He locked it with a key.”
Marc thought, leaning heavily against the door. His strength was rapidly beginning to fail.
"Stand back from the door, Jordy, I’ve got to break it in." He announced and using his uninjured shoulder, tried to knock the door off its hinges. Unfortunately, he was right-handed, and being forced to use his left shoulder Marc had to pound against the thick heavy wood several times before successfully breaking through. Each time he rammed against the door, he jarred his injured arm. Soon it, and then his whole side, throbbed with excruciating pain.
"Uncle Marc!" Jordan said in disbelief. "What are you doing here?" She watched him step through the broken door.
Looking down, Marc didn’t see a little girl with long blond hair, but a little boy with short brown hair- wearing pressed tan pants, a button-down shirt, a burgundy colored blazer and a cap. If he didn’t know that was Jordan’s voice he was listening to, Marc would’ve sworn the child standing before him was a student from an English Prep School.
"Jordy?"
"Yeah, it’s me. She answered nodding, after seeing the shocked expression on her uncle’s face. "I told him, I didn’t want to look like a boy. It’s so dorky."
Bending down, Marc tried to give the little girl a reassuring hug. "Shhhh, its okay, honey. You don’t look *that* bad and I’m sure the hair color isn’t permanent. The important thing is that you’re safe now and we’re getting you out of here."
"And where will I go?" She whimpered, burying her face into his neck. "Daddy doesn’t want me anymore."
Marc pulled back and looked her straight in the eye. "Yes, he does, sweetheart. What makes you think he doesn’t?"
"Well, if he does, then why didn’t he come for me himself, instead of you?" She asked, hoping to be told he was on the way to her now.
"You know why, Jordan. Evan can’t be left alone." Marc answered, watching the look of sadness and disappointment cross her face.
"Then, my new daddy’s right. Daddy doesn’t want me now that he has Evan."
"Baby, that’s not true. He’s waiting for you to come back right now."
"Back where?" She asked, the tears forming in her eyes.
"The hospital, of course, so you can save Evan." He answered, picking her up in his good arm. Marc was starting to feel sick to his stomach and dizzy as a result of the blood loss, and the searing pain he felt radiated throughout his arm and side. However, no matter how bad off he was, nothing was going to stop him from getting his niece back to Boston as quickly as possible.
Walking carefully downstairs so he wouldn’t lose his balance and drop her, Marc saw Cordelia and Angel waiting for him, as the FBI agents hauled the kidnappers out of the house and into waiting cars.
Ethan Rayne looked up at Jordan while she was carried down the stairs. "Remember what I told you about your daddy and Evan, Jordan. You’ll see for yourself who’s number one."
"He’s lying to you Jordy." Marc said matter-of-factly, hoping that his niece didn’t believe the implication.
"Am I? Don’t be too sure." Ethan said, as the agents pushed him through the door’s opening.
"Find out who your daddy is with, Jordan..." He yelled from outside. "...because he sure isn’t here with you."
"He's gonna be punished, right, Uncle Marc?" Jordan asked, turning her attention from the man who'd kidnapped her and back to her uncle.
"Yes baby, he'll be punished. Your daddy and those men will see to that." Marc hugged her to him tighter, ignoring the pain that gripped him. His side and arm throbbed where he'd been shot, but he'd ignore it for Jordan's sake.
<><><><>
They lay in each other’s arms- neither saying a word, the only sound being that of Buffy’s gentle breathing. Riley really thought that she probably had fallen asleep, exhausted after their merry romp in the dining room followed by a late night session in the bedroom, when he heard her speak.
"Do you think tomorrow we should go talk to a funeral home...you know, start making arrangements...?" She asked, her voice catching slightly on the words. Buffy was unable to fight off any longer the visions of their son's body lying in a child’s casket. Evan lying there so still- eyes closed, hands clasped and yet appearing peaceful- his life's struggle finally reaching the end.
Riley thought a moment, deciding if he should tell Buffy about them possibly locating Jordan’s whereabouts, and their attempt to rescue her. Dare he take the chance of getting Buffy's hopes up and then crushing them again if the rescue failed?
Riley finally answered. "No, let's wait a day or two, sweetheart. Maybe God will give us a miracle. It’s been known to happen, you know."
Buffy blinked away a tear. She wasn’t fooled by his attempt to give her hope, it was long past time for miracles, now was the time for them to start facing reality.
"Besides, wouldn't you want him to be buried back in California?" Riley replied gently.
"Would you come there for the funeral?" She asked, her voice hesitant- sounding fearful. She was afraid that once Evan was gone there might not be a strong enough bond there to hold them together.
"Of course I would, Buffy, Evan's my son." Riley replied, looking down and seeing the fear in her eyes. “Besides, I’m not going to leave you alone, with or without Evan in our lives- you can be assured sweetheart, I’ll still be there for you.”
“Thank you.” She answered quietly…gratefully and then looking up at the man she loved, smiled.
"And if we find it necessary to make funeral arrangements there’s one thing I know for sure.” Riley announced looking thoughtful. “I don't want our son’s body going back home packed away in the cargo hold of some plane."
"Why?"
"Why? Because this is Evan we’re talking about, not some airline’s excess baggage." Riley answered her with a gentle kiss. "I want to take *our* son home- in my plane with you, me and the girls sitting there next to him the whole way. We’re gonna take him home and lay him to rest…as a family.”
“I’d like that.”
<><><><>
The RAGE operatives were waiting to escort Marc, Jordan, Cordy and Angel to the airport where Fred had the plane waiting to whisk them back to Boston.
"I called Graham already and told him we have Jordan.” Angel explained. “He’s got a police escort set up to meet us at the airport. We’re to bring Jordan straight to the hospital and they’ll have the operating room waiting for her. I also told him you’re going to need a doctor to get that arm fixed up. He said he’ll arrange for a doctor to meet you in ER.”
Marc couldn’t help but ask. "Was Rye with him?"
Marc knew Riley and Buffy’s relationship was still rocky but they needed each other, and not just for Evan’s sake. They were lovers and if they couldn’t get passed their issues they’d spend the rest of their lives regretting what they missed.
"No." Angel answered, the smile growing larger. "He’s with Buffy at the Hilton, working on damage control."
"Good, I’m glad Bro finally decided to pull his head out of his...." Marc stopped, suddenly- remembering Jordan was listening.
Hearing Uncle Angel’s words that her daddy was with Evan’s mommy instead of coming for her, only confirmed Jordan’s fears more, that Evan was now first in her daddy’s heart.
*You’re right, Hope. Daddy loves Evan more than us.*
"Uncle Marc, are we going now?" She asked, not sure where she was to go after she got out of the hospital. She hoped that maybe Uncle Marc would take her back to Canada with him or maybe to live with Uncle Graham.
*At least, Tristy and Hope could visit me.*
"As soon as we’re done here, baby." Marc answered, gnawing on his bottom lip to keep him from screaming out in pain, for his side was now on fire.
"Are you okay?" Angel asked, coming to stand next to Marc. He could smell the blood and Marc's fear.
"Jordy, sweetheart, why don't you come with me." Cordy said, stretching out her arms to take the little girl from Marc. "I think Uncle Marc needs some help himself."
"You’re hurt Uncle Marc!" Jordy said, noticing Marc's injury for the first time- now that she was safe.
"I'm okay, sweetie, just a nasty little scratch that's all. Go ahead with Aunt Cordy and get on the chopper, Uncle Angel and I will be there in a moment, we need to talk to the nice men." Marc said, kissing his niece's forehead before handing her over to Cordelia's waiting arms.
As Marc watched his niece and Cordy walk away, he sagged slightly against Angel's shoulder. "Thanks."
"Don't mention it, Jordy and the rest of the Finns are family now, and that includes you whether you like it or not." Angel said, wrapping his arm around Marc's waist to support him, seeing Marc's pale face turn green. "You’re gonna throw up aren't you?"
"Uh, huh." Marc mumbled, as he stumbled to the bushes.
"Is Mr. Finn here somewhere?" The FBI agent in charge asked.
"Yeah, that's him, in the bushes throwing up." Angel snickered.
"I heard that." Marc said, climbing back up onto his feet as he wiped his mouth with his sleeve.
"Mr. Finn, what do you want us to do with them? I would assume your brother is pressing charges."
"Oh yeah, Styles, Riley wouldn't miss this for all the tea in China." Marc grimaced slightly as the pain kept building. Marc knew his was still bleeding, but in the darkness couldn’t see how badly.
"Just make sure you lock Mr. Rayne up in an isolation cell and throw away the key. The man's more than dangerous." Angel added slipping his arm back around Marc's waist.
"And you know about dangerous don't you." Marc whispered, giving Angel the look.
Angel’s eyes turned a bright yellow. "I sure do."
<><><><>
Wrapped up in each other's arms, lying quietly, yet feeling the other’s warmth and love, Buffy and Riley were rudely shaken out of their reverie by a loud incessant ring of the telephone.
"Ignore it, maybe they’ll go away." Riley said, pulling her closer with his strong muscular arms. He wasn’t ready to give up this closeness just yet.
"Riley, it could be important." She answered.
"Not more important than you and what we’re doing right now."
Giggling, she said, "You’re cute and sweet, but really, it could be important."
Groaning, Riley complied with her wish and allowed her to slip out of his arms, while he got up and walked to the desk.
Picking up the receiver he answered, "Finn here."
"RYE, THEY HAVE HER!" He heard Gray’s excited voice yelling into the phone.
"They have her?" Riley exclaimed back. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah, Angel just called, and they have her and are on their way back now."
"Call Steve, have him set up the O.R., and meet me at the hospital." Riley said, reaching over and frantically pulling his clothes back on.
"I’ve already done that, and he’s on his way down there now."
"When are they due to land?"
"In about half an hour." Graham answered.
"Gray, I want a police escort for them." Riley said, thinking there’s no way he was going to let another catastrophe happen.
Graham responded, but more seriously this time. "Already taken care of it buddy, they’re coming in by Medivac Chopper."
“A medical helicopter?” Riley realized something must be wrong- terribly wrong. "Graham is Jordan okay? They haven’t hurt her, have they?"
Graham answered back quickly, but his voice was sharp- tension filled. "No, Jordy’s fine, except they tried disguising her. Rye, I better warn you, Angel said they dressed her and cut her hair to look like a boy, and they dyed it brown. They wanted to make sure no one would recognize her when they passed through surveillance. We caught them just as they were about to ship her out of the country.”
"The bastards!" Riley said, through gritted teeth.
"But that’s not all, something happened, Rye, when everything was going down, to...to Marc. He’s been hurt- shot. Angel couldn’t say too much, he just asked Steve to have another doctor waiting to take Marc as soon as they got to the hospital. I’m sorry Riley, really I am. I should’ve led the raid, not Marc. Too many of your family have already been put at risk."
"No Gray, you needed to stay here. If it had been you who got shot, you’d never make it back in time. Besides you couldn’t leave Willow alone, not with that psycho stalking her."
"Yeah, you’re right as usual. It’s just...I feel I could’ve done more." Graham answered with a sigh.
"Look Gray, everything will turn out fine. Tell Steve that Buffy and I are on our way."
"Okay, I will. See ya when you get here."
"You bet." Riley answered, as he turned to a very curious Buffy.
"Jordan’s back!" He announced.
"What?" Buffy asked, shocked by his actions.
"They found her!"
"Wait for me." Buffy said, rushing into the bathroom to get dressed.
"Ev, buddy, hold on." Riley said, and for the first time in days, he said it with actual hope.
<><><>
Kevin, Bryan, Kate, Riley, Graham and Dawn all waited anxiously in the hospital’s emergency room for the ‘Medivac’ helicopter to land. When they heard the sound of the rotors and saw the flashing red lights of the aircraft as it settled onto the landing pad, they rushed to look out the automatic doors.
"Oh God, Riley!" Dawn cried when she saw the paramedics lift Marc out and wheel him through the doors on a stretcher. His face was gray and grimaced up in pain.
Kevin grabbed one of the paramedics, as he walked by and drew him aside to get the latest update of his brother’s condition. Bryan, Kate, Riley and Graham quickly joined the two to find out the full extent of Marc’s injuries, while Dawn watched the stretcher move through the swinging doors leading to the examining rooms.
Breaking away from the group, Riley walked back to the young woman to tell her the bad news.
"The paramedic said it’s pretty bad." Riley said, looking over at Angel as he entered through the door carrying a clinging Jordan in his arms with Cordelia following close behind. Riley knew it was a good thing they all had been warned ahead of time about Jordan’s cut and colored hair. It gave them time to prepare for the shock. They didn’t want the little girl to be self-conscious and to feel like a freak if she saw them all staring at her.
"They took him into the examining room." Riley called over, seeing the concern on Angel's face as he looked around trying to locate Marc.
"Where’s Buffy?" Angel asked, noticing the petite blonde was nowhere in sight.
"She’s upstairs with Evan while they start prepping him for the transplant. So what happened, Angel? I thought you said it was only a flesh wound." Riley asked, while Dawn stayed by his side eager to hear everything that happened.
"It was, at least that's what Marc tried to let on, but once we got onto the plane...."
"Shit, I knew I should have sent one of the medics on this!" Graham said, walking to the doors where Marc had disappeared behind. He was hoping to see for himself that the doctors were taking good care of his buddy.
"The paramedics were concerned about him going into shock. He's lost so much blood, Riley." Cordelia said, moving towards the doors to stand alongside Graham. Though she'd only just recently met Marc Finn, he'd definitely won her over, and Cordelia Chase was not a woman easily won.
"He's gonna be okay, Marc's a fighter." Riley said, pulling Dawn into a hug, unsure really whom he was trying to convince, she or himself.
Just then the doors opened and a doctor came out into the hallway.
"Is anyone here from Mr. Finn's family?"
"I'm his brother." Riley said, letting go of Dawn’s slender body and stepping up to the doctor.
"Mr. Finn, I'm Dr. Kwan and I've been overseeing your brother's case. Marc's injury is much worse than it looks, and he's lost a lot of blood. We're in the process of making arrangements for surgery."
"Surgery? But I thought the bullet was easily removable." Riley couldn't believe what the doctor was telling him. It was his fault that Marc had been hurt, Marc had gone after his daughter after all. What would he do if Marc didn't make it?
"Yes that’s true, but the bullet did do damage internally that’ll need to be stitched up, and...."
"Can't you just do it in there?" Dawn asked, nodding toward the swinging doors.
"No, it'll be easier upstairs in surgery." He answered her.
"Look, Mr. Finn, your brother will be okay, he's lost a lot of blood, but he'll pull through. I can guarantee you he'll be up dancing by New Years." The doctor said, placing a hand on Riley’s arm as he turned to walk away.
"So it's not serious?"
"It’s serious but could’ve easily been much worse. Look, I have to go." Dr. Kwan said, as the examination room doors opened up and they pushed the stretcher out with Marc on it. There were wires and tubes coming from everywhere, and he looked so pale.
"Angel, I thought it was just his arm!" Dawn said, spinning on the vampire.
"We didn't notice until we got on the plane, but it passed through the arm and became embedded in his side." Angel said, turning to see the horrified looks on everyone’s face. "Marc didn't want you worrying about him. Riley, he knows how much you have on your plate already."
"And he's just added to it." Riley said, placing his hand over his eyes.
"He knew that." Cordelia said.
"Did Jordan see anything?"
"No. We made her sit up front with Fred." Cordelia said.
"Why didn't he tell you how bad it was?" Riley demanded, running his shaky hand down his face.
"For that very reason." Angel said.
"What reason?"
"That you'd freak out and worry. Riley he's so worried about you and everything you have on your shoulders, he couldn't take placing anything else on them." Cordelia said, stepping forward to take Riley's hand in hers.
"So what you’re saying is, because he was so concerned about me he could have died?"
"No, that's not what I’m saying. Riley, he didn't want you to know about his condition, that's why he didn't tell us how bad it was until we got into the air." Cordelia said, recalling how much pain Marc had been in on the plane. She held his head in her lap the whole way home, alternating between praying to God that Marc could hold on, and telling him he was gonna be fine.
"And Marc probably didn't want to worry any of us either." Cordelia said, trying to calm Riley down. "Or maybe he just didn't realize himself how bad it was. He kept saying over and over again it was only his arm that was wounded and what was there to worry about, he wasn't Graham after all."
Shaking her head as Cordelia thought more about the incident. "Who'd have guessed a bullet traveled down his arm and lodged itself in the upper rib cage. Marc even thought it had passed through because he said he heard something striking the wall. No, there must’ve been a misfire somehow with two bullets going off at once. Angel did say the second shot was much louder than the first.
"All I keep thinking about is that he could've bled to death and all because of me." Riley said, sitting down and putting his head into his hands. "Well I'll make it up to him somehow, for sacrificing himself and bringing Jordan back safely."
And on hearing her name finally being mentioned, Jordan slipped out of Angel’s arms and stood quietly by his side, watching her father. From what she could see, he didn’t appear overly concerned about her.
Graham cleared his throat and cocked an eyebrow to draw Riley’s attention to the little girl whom everyone seemed to forget about in all the excitement.
"Jordan, come to Daddy." Riley said, taking the hint and holding open his arms to her. Jordan just turned her back on him and walked away.
"Jordy honey what's wrong?" Riley asked, worried and concerned by Jordan's unexpected reaction to him.
"Nothin'. Can I go up to surgery with Uncle Marc?" She asked, stopping and looking back over her shoulder at her father. "I want to be with him."
"You know you can't do that, sweetheart." Riley said, watching her eyes tear up as a result of all that had happened to her since her disappearance, and the incidents that took place during the last few hours.
"There was so much blood, Daddy. And Uncle Marc..." Jordan started to sob, her little shoulders trembling.
"Oh, baby." Riley said, jumping out of the chair, crossing over and pulling her to him.
"No, let go!" She said, fighting him, trying to get away.
"Jordan?!" Kate yelled, shocked by her grandchild's reaction to her father.
"No, Mom, she's been through a lot." Riley said, watching as Jordan ran to Graham and buried her face in his mid-section.
"Honey, what's wrong?" Graham asked, looking from one adult to the other in disbelief. It was rare that Jordan would seek him out if Riley was there, particularly if she were upset.
Looking up at Graham, then her father, Jordan asked. "Why didn't Daddy come to find me? Is it true he loves Evan more now than the rest of us? Cause if that's the case I want to come live with you Uncle Graham."
Jordan's words couldn't have hurt Riley anymore than if she‘d shot him with his own gun. How could his oldest child, okay that was Evan now. How could his special girl think he didn't want her? Jordan and he had always shared a special bond, well he shared that with each of his children, but Jordan was his first...oh wait that was Evan now. No wonder she was so confused, in her eyes she'd been misplaced in her father's heart.
"Come on, honey, let's go upstairs and you can see Evan before you go in for the procedure." Steve said, walking in and overhearing the conversation, he thought he could help. Taking her hand, he also tried pulling her away from Graham.
She nodded, finally letting go and turning, walked toward the elevator. "But, let's just go up and get the operation done to take my stuff Uncle Steve, so that I can go home. I want to be with my sisters."
"Jordan?" Riley asked, reaching out to her as she passed by, but she ignored him.
"Come on, Uncle Steve, so we can get this over with." She called back to him, pressing the Up button to the elevator.
Steve grabbed the attention of a passing nurse and called her over. Talking to her a moment, the nurse nodded her head. "Sure, Dr. Bishop, I can take Jordan up."
Steve then turned back to the angry little girl waiting impatiently. "You go with Nurse Johnson here and she’ll take you upstairs to get you ready."
Riley stood totally dumb-founded. What the hell had Ethan Rayne done to his daughter? He could look past the short brown hair and boy's clothes, but not past the pain, anger and betrayal he saw in her eyes. Had his decision not to go after Jordan caused her this pain, or was it something else?
"Honey, she's been through a horrible ordeal, and she's upset." Katie said, pulling her son into a hug.
"No, Mom, it's worse than that." Riley answered, clinging onto her. At that moment he felt like he'd lost his baby all over again. That child wasn't the precious little girl he’d known, events had forced her to change, to grow up. His anger and grief were overpowering at the realization, his daughter was no longer the innocent child she was just days ago.
Steve waited patiently while Kate hugged and said comforting words to her son.
Unfortunately what Steve wanted to say to Riley would only serve to upset him even more. Calling Riley over, Steve took the distraught father aside.
"Rye, I know you don’t want to hear this, but there’s a very real possibility that Jordy could’ve been molested while she was being held."
"Yeah, now that’s she’s home safe, that *is* my biggest fear." Riley admitted. "Obviously something happened to her while they had her...something really traumatic."
Steve agreed with him, nodding ‘yes’. "I’m sure that’s true and you know, the authorities will want physical and forensic evidence to prove either way if there was any molestation."
Riley paled at the realization of what Steve meant. "Does that mean she’ll have to...?"
Steve could understand Riley’s horror. Those types of physicals to a child were very frightening and could be painful. "Yes, she’ll need a pelvic and maybe even a rectal examination to determine if there was any penetration and resultant damage, and they’ll have to look her over and search her clothes for traces of semen."
"But those kinds of examinations will scare her to death...she won’t understand..."
"Rye, don’t worry, she won’t know its happening. It’ll all be taken care of when she’s under anaesthetic for the procedure. I’ll have one of the staff OB/GYN’s perform a pelvic and a pediatrician can do the rest. Of course her pajamas, underwear and the clothes she has on now will have to be handed over to the FBI lab for examination. Hopefully, everything will be fine and she wasn’t touched."
"I’m sure that’s not the real problem with Jordan." Angel answered, hearing Riley from across the room and walking over to the two men.
"No?" Steve and Riley said in unison.
"No, but you two are correct, her actions were caused by something traumatic. Ethan told Jordan some crazy story Riley that you didn't want her anymore, because you now have Evan in your life. Unfortunately, to an 8-year-old who's alone and scared, and doesn’t see her father coming to rescue her, it comes across as being true. Marc and I tried talking some sense into her but let's just say, she wasn’t inclined to buy it. I think some major damage control is gonna be needed."
Punching his fist into a wall, Riley's face suddenly shifted from worry and fear to that of unbridled rage.
"I'll tell you one thing, by God, that bastard's going to pay and pay dearly for what he’s done to my family! I'll see to it that he gets life with no chance of parole for messing with me and mine. Because of what he’s done, Jordy could be facing years of emotional trauma and therapy, I have a brother who could have died, and a son whose life is hanging on by the merest thread."
<><><>
Buffy, Dawn, Giles and Joyce stood looking through the window and watched Steve as he unhooked the platelet transfusion, one of many platelet and blood transfusions that Evan would receive on a regular basis over the next several weeks. The little boy’s condition had become truly critical since Jordan’s disappearance and he had begun suffering several complications, two of which were nosebleeds and bouts of nausea. The platelet transfusion helped keep the nosebleeds in check but the nausea was caused by the chemotherapy which had again been applied, this time to destroy Evan’s existing bone marrow.
After several incidents of nausea, which occurred throughout the morning- resulting in him having his head bent over a pan and retching frequently, Evan now laid in a deep exhausted sleep. He wasn’t even aware that Steve was in the room and working on him. It had become obvious to everyone now that Evan’s life was in very grave danger. Because of this, Steve earlier that morning had had the little boy placed on a monitoring system, which gave the staff direct access to around-the-clock surveillance of his vital signs.
Steve and one of his nurses double-checked the equipment to make sure that all was ready, and then proceeded to hook up the marrow bag to the CV line. To the four family members watching, the transplant procedure became a deeply moving experience. To them, watching something being passed from one child to save the life of another was truly spectacular sight to behold.
"Too bad Riley couldn’t be here to watch this..." Buffy said to those standing around her, while she quickly brushed away a tear. But this wasn’t a tear of anger or sadness, it was a tear of gratitude and hope. Evan was being given another chance to live. Buffy’s only fear was that they may be too late, and Evan’s health was deteriorating so fast that he may not have the strength to fight back.
"...But I do understand why he wants to be with Jordan right now. I only hope Riley can make her understand why he wasn’t there with Marc, Angel and Cordy when they rescued her. I don’t want her to go on being angry with Riley and maybe resenting Evan for him not being there for her."
Giles patted Buffy reassuringly on the back. "I’m sure Riley will be able to take care of everything Buffy, you’ll see. Everything will end up all right."
Buffy would only nod her head in response. *I hope so.*
"My God, look at that! It looks like a pink milkshake in a bag." Dawn announced pointing, as they watched Steve attach the marrow bag to Evan’s CV line. Steve had warned Buffy the procedure was slow and could take up to two hours to complete. And while he talked to them, he was also forced to deliver some bad news.
"Buffy I’m afraid for the next several weeks, visitations will be strictly regulated." He said, as he pulled the surgical mask up over his mouth and nose, preparing to go into Evan’s room to start the procedure.
Buffy looked with confusion at all the members of her family and then back at Steve.
"How do you mean Steve? How much more regulated can the visits possibly get? You’ve got us wearing scrubs, masks, and we have to wash our hands every 15 minutes now. I think you can call that pretty darned regulated."
Steve shook his head. "No, babe, not that kind of regulated. What I meant was, visitation rights are now going to be limited. Only you, Riley, and the staff will be allowed in Evan’s room until his white blood cells start to form. Everyone else will just have to be satisfied with waving at him through the window."
"Oh." The other three members answered, sounding disappointed.
"So Jordan can’t go in after she wakes up?" Buffy asked, wishing that Steve would possibly make an exception for the little girl, because of all that she’d been through.
Steve shook his head. "No, Buff...sorry. I can’t do that, even for Riley’s sake. Jordan can only look in on Evan like everybody else. You have to understand, I’m trying to stop Evan from coming down with any kind of infection."
Buffy nodded, understanding. "But Dani can look in on him all that she wants to while she’s still here, right?"
Buffy wanted Evan to be able to see his sister often. He was going to need all the distractions he could find to keep his spirits raised, because the long hospital stay would start to wear thin on his nerves. Buffy knew that Evan may have been the epitome of patience, but even he had limits when it came to staying cooped up in bed with nothing to do but watch TV.
Steve answered ‘yes’ but mentioned her stay wouldn’t be long. "Jordy will be released tomorrow afternoon. Even though her part of the procedure was vital, it’s over quickly."
*Well that didn’t seem to help much. Keeping Evan from going stir crazy is going to be one tough operation.* Buffy thought.
While they stood there watching the procedure, Buffy’s cell phone began ringing and everyone knew who was calling- Evan’s nervous and anxious father. Every few minutes, Riley would call from Jordan's room and ask, "Has Steve started it yet? How's everything going? Is Evan holding up okay?"
Buffy finally could answer back. "Yes, Steve has started, but it’s going God awful slow. At least Evan’s managed to fall asleep. I don’t think he could take the throwing up much longer."
"Poor little guy." Riley answered with sympathy. It seems Riley’s queasy stomach was another trait passed down to his son.
"How's Dani doing?" Buffy asked him.
"She’s still sleeping." He answered, looking down at the child. Riley wondered how long it would take for the color to wash out of Jordan’s hair and the length to grow back. He didn’t want his daughter to be unduly ridiculed by the other children when she went back to school. She had been through too much emotional trauma as it was, to have to face the cruelties that children were known to throw at someone.
*Would a wig be too noticeable? Maybe Sam when she gets back, can go pick one out that looks like her old hair.*
"Do you want one of us to come down there to wait with her so you can come up and see what’s going on?" Buffy asked hopefully.
Riley knew better than to have someone else take his place. His daughter was furious with him now for not being there during her rescue, why make a bad situation even worse.
"Thanks Buff, but I better stay here. I don't want her waking up and finding me gone."
It was hell having two children in different parts of the hospital. The room that Jordan had occupied prior to the kidnapping had been reassigned to a new patient and her room was now located in the Pediatric Ward, which was on another floor.
Riley felt really torn, he wanted to be up there to support Buffy and his son, but knew that his first priority was to stay down here with Jordan. He wanted to let his daughter know that he was there for her...try to lessen the pain and anger she was now feeling toward him.
After Angel gave Riley the details how Ethan Rayne had convinced Jordan that he didn't want her, Riley immediately got on the phone with his law firm and said. "When Colin gets back from Scotland tell him to get the bastard...get him. I want him to pay. I want his sorry ass nailed to the wall! I want his jail sentence so long that when he finally gets out he’ll be using a walker and wearing Depends. And when Ethan Rayne finally gets out, I can assure you I’ll be waiting for him!"
Listening to Riley rant and rave over the phone only reinforced an earlier decision that Angel and Cordy had agreed upon while on the flight back to Boston. They both agreed that telling Buffy and Riley of their children’s destinies and of the prophecy was a subject matter best left to Giles. And even though Marc had been racked with pain and most of the time acted incoherently, there were moments of lucidity and he managed to voice his support with their decision. It was up to the head of the Watcher’s Council to inform the couple of the shocking news about their children’s remarkable future.
They also made a pact not to tell Riley of Ethan’s notorious plans for Jordan. Why cause the distraught father even more distress and anger? He had suffered enough in the last two years with everything that happened to him to last a lifetime. The three were just happy that they managed to stop the ex-watcher from setting up his mad plan to use Jordan for the benefit of the dark side.
<><><>
Jordan’s hand moved and she groaned, as she tried to turn over on her side. Riley who was starting to doze off himself, looked up when he heard her groan and quickly jumped out of his chair to come to the side of the bed. He stooped down to be at eye level with her. He wanted to be the first thing she saw when she opened her eyes.
"Hurt..." She muttered, trying to stretch out her legs.
"Shhhh, baby, it won’t hurt for long, I promise." Riley said, taking her little hand in his and squeezing it lightly. He noticed she didn’t try to pull away and that gave him hope that she wasn’t angry with him any more.
Jordan’s eyes opened and she tried to focus on the objects around her. At first everything was blurred...her daddy, the walls, and the nightstand. Then the images slowly fused together and became clearer. She found herself lying in a narrow bed that contained side railings that had been pulled up. This was a room that she wasn’t familiar with. Nowhere did she see her dolls, dollhouse, stuffed toys and books. She couldn’t hear her two sisters talking or Hope practicing her piano.
She also knew this wasn’t the room where she had spent the last couple of nights locked inside either. That room was bigger and overlooked the water of a gigantic lake, which reflected the morning sunlight. The glare off the water shined so bright in that room, that Jordan was forced to close the blinds so that her eyes wouldn’t hurt.
Never once was she allowed to leave that room. Every day the man who claimed to be her new daddy would bring her food and clothes. There was no TV in the room and the man would bring her books to read- books on demons, devils, witches and black magic. The words in these books were too difficult for her to pronounce and understand, so he would read to her. The stories were nothing like those found in her fairy tale books back home. In her books at home, bad people and bad things were always punished. But in these books, the bad people and things never lost...were never punished. People got hurt and died in the stories of these books and that scared her. But her fear never stopped the man from making her listen and look at the pictures as he read to her.
<>
"Jordy, baby...it’s me, Daddy." Riley answered, laying his hand on her back and talking in a soft tone. "Come on sweetheart, wake up...the procedure’s over, Uncle Steve took your marrow."
As Jordan’s mind cleared, everything came rushing back to her- every word, every action, and everyone involved. She remembered the man who kept her locked in the room said he was her new daddy. She remembered she cried for this daddy to come for her and he didn’t. She remembered being told this daddy didn’t want her now that he had a son. She remembered Uncle Marc breaking down the bedroom door and coming for her, Uncle Angel and Aunt Cordy waiting downstairs, and seeing her new daddy being taken way. Jordan remembered everything, especially the daddy who stood here and hadn’t even bothered to come for her.
"What daddy?" She answered flatly.
"I said Uncle Steve finished with the procedure. He took your marrow." Riley said, standing back up and bending down to kiss her on the forehead.
"No! I mean what daddy? I don’t have a daddy anymore." Jordan answered, turning her face into the pillow and beginning to sob. "*My daddy* would’ve come for me instead of staying with Buffy."
Riley felt as if she had plunged a knife deep into his heart and twisted it. His pain...her pain, ripped through him. Riley sat down on the edge of the bed and reaching down, lifted the little girl up into his arms. He held her tight against his body and began rocking her.
"Baby, please don’t...I’m sorry...you don’t know how much I’m sorry..." He stammered, looking down into her tear stained face. "I love you Jordy...don’t ever doubt that. You’re my very, very special girl."
"But you didn’t come for me...he said...he said you gave me away." She whimpered, brushing the rapidly falling tears away from her face. "He said that men always want sons over daughters. He said the only reason why you didn’t have Mommy get an abortion was because you were Catholic and Catholics don’t believe in abortions. He told me you gave me away because you didn’t need me anymore to take care of Hope and Tristan. He said you had Evan now...you didn’t want me..."
Riley hugged the little girl tighter. He wasn’t exactly sure how he was going to assure his daughter that what she had been told was a complete and utter lie, but he hoped God would give him the right words to say so that he could convince her.
"Baby, I’d never give you away, never in a million... billion... trillion years! Believe me, I’d rather die than let someone take my precious sweet girl away from me."
Jordan clung on and continued her crying. Riley took heart with this action as he held her tight. Her clinging meant she wanted comfort and hopefully, he was getting through to her.
*Please God let this happen!*
"Jordan that man was evil and he’s a liar...all the things he told you were nothing but lies!" He lifted her chin up so that she could see by looking into his eyes that he spoke the truth.
"He was evil... a *very* bad man."
"He told me Evan wasn’t dying, that was a story that everyone made up." She explained sniffing. "He said that Evan didn’t need my *stuff*.
Riley pulled out his handkerchief and held it up to Jordan’s nose. She blew it loudly. Riley wiped her eyes and slipped the handkerchief back into his pocket when she was through. He then hugged her again to reassure her.
"Well, Jordan, that‘s one thing that I can definitely say is a lie. Buffy just told me that Uncle Steve has just attached your *stuff* to Evan and he’s getting it right now."
"Really?" She asked, her tear-stained eyes growing bright.
"Uh huh...do you feel good enough to go up and see?" Riley asked.
The little girl nodded her head quickly. "Yeah...can we?"
"Your wish is my command, My Princess." He answered, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Let’s go see how your brother’s doing."
Jordan jumped out of bed with excitement but cried out in pain as her legs gave out from under her- falling to the floor.
"Ouch...that hurts." She said, reaching up behind her and rubbing her hip. She forgot how much that needle caused her to hurt.
Riley bent down and picked her up, holding her in his strong arms. "Guess it’ll be another day before you’ll feel up to running around."
Carrying her out, the father and daughter made their way to the elevators. A few minutes later they were outside of Evan’s room, Riley standing beside Buffy and holding Jordan up so that she could watch the marrow slowly pass from the bag into Evan’s body.
"My stuff looks like a strawberry milkshake." She exclaimed, pointing to the marrow bag.
"That’s what Aunt Dawn said, too." Buffy answered, smiling up at the little girl.
"But Evan looks really sick." Jordan observed. "Is that why he’s on all those machines?"
Buffy nodded. "Yeah, sweetheart. Evan got real bad after you left and they put those machines on him to warn Uncle Steve and the nurses just in case he runs into problems, like his heart stopping." Buffy answered.
"But his heart isn’t going to stop now, is it?" The little girl asked. Her brother wasn’t still going to die now that he had her stuff in him was he?
Buffy decided not to sugarcoat the truth. Evan’s life was still very much in danger and she didn’t want the little girl to blame herself if he didn’t manage to pull through. "There’s still a chance that it might but we hope not, Dani. However, even if everything goes on smoothly Ev’s going to be sick for quite a long time, Uncle Steve said maybe as long as a year. There’ll be days he’ll feel good and there’ll be other days he’ll be sick. We’ll just have to take one day at a time is all. But with your marrow, he now has a much better chance of making it."
That comment reminded Riley that there were still certain issues and problems that had to be worked out between them, like her and Evan living in California while he was there in Boston. How were Evan’s needs going to be met after he left Boston to go home? Surely Buffy couldn’t take any more time off from her practice to take care of their little boy. That would be asking too much of her. Riley thought that maybe he could hire a nurse to take care of their son during the daytime while Buffy worked.
"Buffy, you and I need to sit down and talk about making arrangement to take care of Evan." Riley said, turning to the petite woman.
Nodding, she answered. "Don’t worry, Riley, I’m sure we’ll come up with something that we both can live with." As she looked up at the man she loved and smiled at him reassuringly.
"And I don’t want McDonald sticking his nose in the plans either." Riley mentioned, trying to keep his voice calm. He and Buffy had just made up, and he didn’t want to start another episode that again could rip them apart.
"You don’t have to worry about Lindsey..." Buffy responded offhandedly as she looked straight ahead, pretending to watch the procedure continue. "...I sent him packing this morning..."
Riley looked down at her shocked. Did he hear her right? Had his prayers been answered? Did she tell that son-of-a-bitch to take a flying leap?
"...And I hope you don’t mind, but Graham had Fred fly Lindsey back to LA. I know your jet should be only used for business…" She happened to mention, but knowing full well Riley was happy to hear that his rival had been told to take a hike, and unlikely to get upset that his private jet was used to make the departure that much quicker.
Riley put his free arm around Buffy and pulled her tight against him. "That’s four miracles God has given me today."
"Four?" Buffy asked, looking up at him.
"Yeah, Jordan, Evan, and Marc’s lives and now this. Lindsey’s going to H...going home." Riley said, remembering that Jordan was there and listening.
"Remind me to thank you later." He continued, giving her a big smirk.
"I think you need to thank Graham." Buffy responded, winking knowingly back at him.
"Oh trust me, I’ll thank Graham but *not* the same way that I’m going to thank you."
*Gray, I hope you suggested Fred practice his Top Gun maneuvers on way to LA.*
"Buffy, can I go in and see Evan?" Jordan asked, interrupting the couple’s conversation.
"Yes, can she, Buff?" Riley asked. Darn, now he was forced to tuck away those lascivious thoughts that had.
Buffy shook her head no. "I’m sorry Dani, I know you don’t want to hear this, but Uncle Steve said only your daddy and I can go into Evan’s room, now that he’s had the transplant."
Buffy did want to lessen the little girl’s disappointment. "But I know your brother would like to see you and your sisters come and at least wave to him whenever you get a chance. He’s gonna be very lonely and bored with just us old folks coming to visit."
"You’re not old." Jordan exclaimed looking at her as if she were crazy.
"Oh yes, I am. Pretty soon you’ll be seeing me walk around with a cane and having to hold onto your daddy’s arm to keep my balance." Buffy answered laughing.
"At least you’re planning on holding onto my arm, Ms. Summers." Riley answered, smiling down at the woman whom he held close to his side. Maybe there was a chance he could start making plans for their future again.
"Do you think you can support my weight? Sometimes I can be a real burden." She said, hoping she was reading his mind correctly. Could they still have a future together?
"Believe me, I’d like to be given a chance."
"I’ll give you that chance..." She answered, reaching up and giving him a gentle kiss on the lips. "...All the chances in the world.
<><><>
"What do you mean they found her!" Lilah screamed down the line, forcing her plebe to take the phone away from his ear.
"They broke into the chalet about 6 hours ago..."
"And you're just telling me now! Where the hell is Ethan!"
"He's in FBI custody ma'am."
"And the others? What the hell happened to those cowards."
"They’re in custody, too. Finn was hurt."’
"Finn was there?"
"No, the brother. Ethan shot him."
"Is he breathing?"
"Yes, he was when he left."
"I want him dead! Kill Finn, and I don't care what you have to do to do it."
"Which Finn?"
"The brother, you idiot! Riley Finn will pay for what he's done to me!" She said, slamming the phone back into the cradle.
"Yes, you have cost me the man I loved, my peace of mind, and now possibly my job. Yes, Riley Finn, you will pay." Lilah said, pulling a very damaged picture of Riley out of her drawer.
"I will take away from you everything you've ever loved. I've taken your wife, I tried to take your children, but that failed, so why not take your baby brother." Lilah smiled, as she stabbed Riley's eye with her pen.
To Be Continued
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