4

inspired by a gospel song entitled: "I'd like to go home again"

I redid an old fan fiction story I wrote about a band back in the 90's and changed the characters to the teen titans so the story wasn't just taking up space on a disk where no one ever got to see it. In this story I use only the characters. None of them have any super powers or are aliens so I use the real names or alter egos as listed in the orignal comics. So as in the case with Rachel aka Raven she is not emotionally restrainned due to her powers. This one is a direct sequel to The Awakening fourth in line of a nine story ark. It is a lot shorter than the others. My creative writing Professor in college told me it is better to put a lot in a few words than to add in a lot of un-nessary stuff to add length that will take away from the story. Leave a review and let me know what you think.

You Can't Go Back

Richard sits in the family room of the home that up until two days ago had belonged to him and his wife Rachel. Now it belongs to him and him alone. He sits on the sofa holding a picture of Rachel in his hands. "Rachel...I love you so much..."

Two days ago he could have changed things, if he'd only listened to the news that morning. He wouldn't have left her home alone if he had. The last two days have been a blur to him. All around him life is going on, but his life had ended the moment she disappeared.

"If only I could have gotten to you sooner..."

***

Two days earlier.

Everything seems so perfect that day Work went great today. Rachel is less than a week away from giving birth to their first child. Richard is looking forward to a quiet evening at home with Rachel during his drive home. He reaches over and turns up the volume on the radio as a news bulletin breaks in.

"Breaking news this hour, Xavier Der a decorated former army medic was found dead at his home in Maine earlier today. Authorities suspect it is in connection with him blowing the whistle on a big time drug dealer and illegal arms trader earlier in the week."

Richard quickly picks up his cell phone and tries to call home but there is no answer. "God, please let me get to her in time." Without a second thought he quickly floors the accelartor and weaving through the slower moving traffic.

---

It's been very quiet today Rachel realizes. Richard always calls at least once a day to check up on her. She picks up the phone only to discover that there is no dial tone. Had there been bad weather Rachel might not think anything of it, but the weather has been perfectly sunny all day. She gets up to get her cell phone but its not where she knows she left it.

"Looking for this?"

Rachel freezes at the sound of the intruder's voice--one that she remembers very well. She can see his reflection in the hall mirror. "Slade Wilson."

"What's the matter no hello for your step-father? That's not very nice after everything I've done for you. I rasied you ever since that no account father of yours left your mother."

"The way I heard it--long before I ever found out what you were up to--was that you had my father killed because you were in love with my mother. Did you force her to love you too?"

"Didn't I give you anything you could ever want? I only asked in return for you to do one simple thing--keep your mouth shut about what you saw and never come back."

"That was two."

"Oh, Rachel...your mother would be so disappointed in your behavior. We didn't raise you to be rude to your elders."

"After everything you've done--you're trying to tell me what's aporpraite behavior?"

"Dear, sweet little Rachel...if you had stayed away we wouldn't be here having this conversation right now."

"It was my mother's funeral! You forced me to leave her behind...I can only imagine what she must've thought--"

"--She worried herself to death over you-her only child. By the way-how's the little one Rachel?"

Rachel places her hand protectivly over the bludge of her abdomen. "What do you want?"

"Xavier's dead did you know that? He shouldn't have turned me into the feds. Everyone else is smart enough to keep quiet-I have very powerful friends that will come after anyone who aids in trying to take me down. So with Xavier gone that only leaves you--luckily I knew where to look. Now what do you think I want?"

"No...please--the baby."

"I'll make you a deal, Rachel...tell me who the guy that came after you was and I'll let you live long enough to have the baby."

Rachel realizes that her step father has no idea it was Richard who followed her She heard that her mother died the morning Xavier disappeared from Jump City and the only contact she had with Richard that day was a phone call from her cell phone just before the plane took off.

"You don't have a cousin James--Roth or otherwise. It's your choice Rachel--the guy, or leave your husband with a reminder of you."

"How can I be sure you would give the baby to my husband?"

"You don't trust me--smart girl. But are you willing to risk the life of your baby to protect this guy?"

---

Richard has been lucky not to end up in an accident or draw police attention but that changes as he nears his home. One police car begins to follow him with it's lights on. He isn't about to stop-not until he reaches Rachel.

---

Rachel's step-father looks up as the blare of a police siren draws ever closer. "You should have made that decision instead of questioning me. Now you're both going to have to die."

"No--please...!"

Rachel backs away as her step-father draws a gun. She turns to the front door-her only chance of escape.

Richard quickly rushes out of his car as the police car pulls to a stop behind him. He can hear the police officer yelling something as he runs to the front door, but he doesn't dare stop. As the front door opens to reveal Rachel the blast of the gunfire drowns out everything else. Richard catches Rachel in his arms as she collapes. "Rachel! Rachel, I'm sorry...I tried to get here as soon as heard the news about--"

"--Don't ever mention that. When they ask just tell them that you got scared when you couldn't call home."

"Rachel--"

"Promise me...please Richard."

Richard looks down at Rachel. He fully understands why she's making that request. They had been lucky back in her hometown. "Just hang on--you have to hang on."

Rachel takes Richard's hand and places it on her stomach. "A part of me is always going to be with you...just promise me that you won't talk...please."

"Alright, I promise."

***

Richard gazes at the photo of Rachel in his hands. "What happened to you Rachel? Everyone thinks I'm having a breakdown but I know that wasn't you at the hospital. You made me promise not to say anything, but what if...what if someone connected to your step father kidnapped you from the hospital? You're not dead--you can't be. I refuse to believe it. If only I could go back and stop it...but I can't do that can I? You never even got to see the baby--a baby girl. You wanted to be surprised...you never even knew and I can't help but wonder if you ever will." Richard looks up from the picture as the baby begins to cry. He rushes upstairs with Rachel's picture still in hand. He puts down the picture only to pick up the baby.

The little girl quiets down almost immediatly once she's in her father's arms.

"She's just like you Rachel...she hates to be alone. I named her after you--Rachel-I'll never call her Rae, I remember how much you hated that nick-name. Just one more reason for everyone to think I'm losing my mind. She looks so much like you, Rachel--I'm going to have the beat the guys off with a stick by the time she's old enough to date. She's going to be a knock out just like you. Why did you have me make that promise?! I know you're still out there!"

"Richard? Is everything okay?"

Richard walks over to the window and looks outside as his friend Victor watches from the doorway. "Yeah, I was just talking to Rachel."