Orphans Beloved: "The Singing Gardens…"

Summary:Like my Immortal Beloved and Sheldon Swifties bits in my Buffyverse and Sheldonverse, these are fragments and short bits, some longer…Just to fiddle with ideas, possibly forming longer tales later.

Disclaimer: No copy write infringement intended…

"We've gotta get Helena away…" Sarah sighed to Art Bell…Loyal friend, determined detective. "I know it's imposin' Art but…To have us together, in one basket for Rachel or the Proleithian crazies to catch."

"Sarah…I'll do anything to protect you and your sisters…But…Take Helena away somewhere? Me? She doesn't like me."

Who? Mes? Helena, innocent look, blink.

"That's not true…She has issues but she remembers how you stopped the Proleithians that day she escaped. She thinks you're very brave, Art."

"Yeah, yeah…" wave of hand, eye roll from Helena.

"And that I 'lie with pigs'?" he frowned.

"He is too sensitive…" Helena shrugged.

"I think she was abused by someone along the way…I haven't got to the bottom of it yet." Sarah sighed.

Oink…oink…oooooinnk…Helena grinned.

"Nice way to talk about your mother." Art eyed her calmly.

Fume…To glare intensity…

"Hey, meathead! What did I say? Behave yourself with my friend Art. He's like a brother." Sarah frowned.

"Another 'brother-seestra'…?" grin.

"It's a compliment…" Sarah, hastily to Art's frown. "Please, Art…I can't leave her with Fee, he couldn't manage her for that long."

"And he did so very well with me last time…" sly grin…Shaking wrists as if cuffed.

"I suppose I could keep her unconscious for a week…" he noted.

"Sarah? I don't do drugs…" Helena, anxious look.

"I was thinking more a severe blow to the head…" Art eyed her.

Hahhhh…Glare.

"I vill not stay with him." Helena frowned. "He is mean to me, seestra."

"Not as mean as I was and will be if I can't leave you with him." Sarah glared. "You know he doesn't mean it, Helena. If you behave. And you said he was a good man…He was brave facing the Proleithians."

"Did you?" Art, arch look to Helena. "Thanks."

"I may have says something to effect…" off-hand shrug. "But you are cop, you are supposed to be brave, yes?"

"I'd have to be to spend a week hiding you."

"Hah…Funny man. No wonder seestra Beth love you so much. Barrel of laughs, yes?"

"Yes, she did." Sarah, grim stare at Helena. "And because our sister loved him, you're going to behave yourself with him. And start by apologizing for that dumb remark."

Hmmphf…Eye roll, head arch…Sniff.

"Helena? If you apologize God may forgive you a little…I will at least. And Art might take you somewhere nice for dinner."

"On cop's salary? Pfffth…"

"Believe me, the places you're fond of he can afford."

"My tastes is improving, seestra."

"Sarah…" Art, frowning.

"Just a mo…Please…" she put up a hand. "Helena, this is for Kira. And the sisters you owe…And Mama…"

Look away… "Your Mama…" indifferent shrug.

Sarah, calmly…"Our mama, Helena…The one I killed you over…Who tried to save us both and did, the best she could. Helena, God knows, for her sake I should let Rachel have you."

Art blinking at the "…killed you over…"

"I thought we were evens…I saved you, you forgive me." Helena frowned, looking at her.

"I forgave you for killin' the sisters because Tomas brainwashed you. Not for Mama." Sarah, firmly. "I owe you my life and I know Kira needs you on her side now. But I haven't forgiven you for Mama. Maybe I never will."

"Sarah…?" Helena, blinking.

"But if you ever want a chance of that…Start by tryin' to act like you care about Kira and me by doing what I ask and by being nice to my other brother." Stern tone.

"Fine." Grim frown. "Hello…Brother…" she eyed Art coldly.

"Yeah. Hey. Sarah?"

"Ok…" she sighed. "Helena? We'll just be outside."

"Yeah, yeah. Be…Have…" eye roll. Grin… "Say…Brother…You got more sardines?" innocent look.

"Bowl in the fridge, waiting for you…Seestra." He eyed her calmly. She giving sidelong grin…

Outside the apartment, in the hallway…

"Sarah? You honestly expect me to take that psycho away somewhere?" Art eyed her.

"She wouldn't hurt you, Art. She didn't last time."

"That remains to be seen. Sarah…I've tried to do what I can for you and the others…I've risked my career, been suspended."

"I know…Art…" Sarah sighed. "It's just… I really need your help, again…"

"Jesus. Goddamn it, Sarah. Do not play Beth with me like that again, understand? Ever." He glared.

"Sorry…" sheepish look.

"That was cruel, Manning."

"Art…"

"Why don't we make it 'Detective Bell'? Since we barely know each other." Frown.

"Art. We do know each other, a little. And I know you loved Beth. And she loved you…Not…That way…But…" cautious look…

"And I'd say I've more than discharged any obligations I had to my partner and friend." He eyed her sternly.

"Art…I know…And I know I have no right to ask any more of you. You put your ass on the line for Beth, now for me. But I have to ask…And I have to ask, for Beth's sake…"

"How could I even hope to get her away anywhere? Dyad knows me. They know I was Beth's partner and tried to hold off Rosen."

"Rachel's a snotty bitch…She disdains 'little people' and she thinks everyone does what they do in their own interest. A typical 1%er Aldous' raised. She won't waste time with you once she knows I'm off. She won't believe you're of any import or threat unless you attack them directly."

"You'll let her know where you are?" he stared, worried now.

"Not exactly. Just that I'm not with you. And she doesn't know Helena's…Well…Alive…And if she does, she doesn't know she and I are…Sorta…"

"Sorta…"

"Art, I think we can trust Helena. I know that's not much to put faith in."

"I have kids, Sarah. I don't get to see them much but they are dependent on me in part. And I've no death wish." Sigh. "What's that about abuse? What do you know?"

Forgive me, Beth…Sarah sighed inwardly. "Thanks."

"Should I not be putting on the blackface?" Helena grinned as Art grimly led her to his car…She with hat pulled low, overcoat. "Just saying."

"Shut up. Please." He frowned. "Get in."

"Gracious invite…Such thanks." She got in.

"Seestra?" she eyed Sarah in the rear-view mirror. Lying in the back seat.

"The idea is we hope if they spotted you with me, when I drop her, they think that's it for my part." Art noted.

Hmmn…Nod.

"Is ok plan. I approve."

"Great…"

"Is not so nice car as seestra Beth's." Helena sniffed as they pulled out. "What, she makes the more money, detective copper?"

"She didn't have child-support and alimony." He noted quietly.

"'Lechery…Wars and lechery'…" Helena quoted, shrugging.

"'Nothing else holds fashion'…" he quoted back. "So you did pick up a little learning somewhere?"

"Oooh…Shakespeare quoting copper…Is cliché, yes?"

"What are you two goin' on about? Can we get the hell out, please?" Sarah frowned.

"Tuth…And she from England, can you believe?" Helena sighed. "Sad decline of education standards, yes?"

"She's got you there…" Art agreed.

Helena, smug smile.