7X5X15 : Book 2

By AJB

CHAPTER NINE

The Wilmingtons spared no expense on the graduation party. They'd managed to get a large chunk of the top floor of the hotel that included the Presidential Suite and surrounding mini-suites, so the party stayed in one place and within walking distance of comfortable beds.

JD and Casey had many friends and every one of them made an appearance at some point after the ceremony. At one time, Chris figured there to be at least 60 people milling about the suite and the adjoining halls. He was amazed that they never got a call from the front desk. Then again, with the youthful age of the visiting crowd, the noisier ones were gone by 10:00 PM to continue celebrating at their favorite haunts.

"Ahhh, youth," Josiah sighed, sinking into the luxurious and gigantic curved couch in the big suite as the time closed in on 11 PM. He stretched out his legs with a groan. "I envy their energy."

"I don't envy their hangovers," Nate added, dropping next to Josiah. Raine sat on his other side with a tired sigh and sweet smile. Nathan patted her thigh. "We're up late."

"And we can sleep past 6:00 AM," she said with glee. Li Pong crossed in front of her, handing off a flute of champagne which Raine accepted without hesitation.

"Now that it is just us, I would like to offer a toast," Ezra stated, standing before them and reaching out a hand to his wife.

"As long as it ain't too long," Buck joked. "I know Louisa and Li Pong have to relieve the sitter in Nettie's room."

Chris and Vin made their way in from the balcony, the twinkling lights of the city behind them, and joined the growing circle starting by the curve of the couch. Buck joined the arc, Louisa on one side and JD on the other and next to Vin. Casey pushed her way between the boys, giggling, and JD slipped his arm around her waist. Vin shuffled aside so Nettie could fit between him and her niece. The three on the couch rose to their feet.

Everyone retrieved a full flute from the low, circular coffee table and Ezra took a step back to stand next to Li Pong, closing their circle. He cleared his throat and held his glass close to his vest. Everyone fell silent.

"To family and friends," Ezra started, "and what makes both, one. As we have found with time and trials, each singular triumph is our own as a family. Well done!" He raised his glass and everyone followed suit.

"Well done!" They chorused. Then, they all took a sip and exploded into chatter.

"Well, some of us worked harder than others."

"What qualifies as a triumph?"

"I have enough scars to prove my part in these triumphs."

"Good Lord, help me through the next one."

Grinning, Chris turned to Vin and they touched rims with a crystal ring. Vin smiled back and they both took a sip. Vin slipped his arm around Nettie and pulled her in. The chatter slowed, and then Louisa, Raine, Li Pong and Nettie excused themselves to retrieve the children from Nettie's room.

"Can you give us a few minutes?" Vin whispered to Nettie when he escorted her to the door.

Nettie gave him a knowing smile and patted his hand. "Sure, honey. You may not get a chance to have them all together like this again anytime soon. Casey!" she called. "Help me a minute?"

"Sure, Nettie." Casey gave JD a quick kiss before trotting toward her aunt.

"Thanks." Vin gave Nettie an affectionate kiss on the cheek, and then turned around to study his family until he heard Nettie's suite door close with a soft snick. With that, he moved to take his place beside Chris, who lowered himself to the impressive couch with a barely muffled groan. Nathan, Josiah and Ezra sat beside him and Buck settled on the arm of the couch. Vin pulled JD down to sit on the coffee table with him.

Vin looked at each face, one at a time, each man falling silent after meeting his eyes.

"What's on your mind, son?" Josiah inquired.

"Well, I didn't want to take away from JD's party, but he said it was okay."

"It's not just okay," JD added. "It's overdue, I think."

Vin shifted. "I have some questions and I thought about asking each one of you alone, but this way is faster," he started with a wince. He'd hoped to sound a little more elegant.

"Sure, son," Buck said. "Shoot, while we're still coherent."

"With the upcoming media presence, I think I – we - need to know what happened in Malibu. I mean, I've heard some things, and the press might pick up on them . . ."

"Like?" Chris' expression when he spoke wasn't hostile. In fact, Vin thought he looked a relieved.

"Well, I haven't read the accident report, but did a doctor say you were hit by a car's bumper, Dad?"

"That's true."

"Then, you weren't in a car?"

"Not that I remember, no."

"I heard the whole thing." Buck's words came out flat and his eyes took on a far-away expression that had nothing to do with alcohol. The others turned to him and he ducked his head, studying the bubbles in his glass. "Ella was parked up the street and Chris saw her. I heard him yellin' at her, then I heard gunshots, and then . . . nothing but crazy noises – rattles, scraping, a loud thud, horns honking, yelling - until a witness picked up the phone and told me Chris had been hit by a car. I was on a plane to California within an hour."

"I went with him," Nathan added quietly. "When we got there, they hadn't found Ella yet. They found the car, shot up and abandoned a few miles away, but they didn't find her until hours later."

"She wasn't killed in an accident?" Vin asked, eyes wide.

Chris shifted before speaking. "No, she died from gunshot wounds. Mine. I've read the report, but don't really remember much before or after being hit. I do know, from subsequent investigation, that not only did she try to run me down and kill me, Ella Gaines was responsible for the death of Sarah and Adam, and for your kidnapping."

"What?" JD breathed, straightening. "When Vin was gone those two years?"

"No, not that time," Josiah answered in his calming voice and looking directly at Vin. "The second time."

Vin held Josiah's look as shock rolled through his body, making his stomach churn and his limbs tingle. "I was kidnapped again?" His hoarse whisper was loud in the dead-silent room. The five men in front of him shared a ripple of guilt in their eyes.

"We never told you that part because we did not want to shake your foundation at home," Josiah explained. "With your history, a solid base at home was essential, especially then, with all that upheaval."

"There was no point in telling you," Buck continued. "The threat was taken care of and you had no memory of it, Vin. It would have been unnecessary stress during a very bad time in our lives."

"Who? Who tried to take me?"

"Well, she actually did take you, son, but she gave you Rohypnol – roofies – so you didn't remember any of it."

Buck then spelled out Ella's plan and Charlotte Richmond's part in the scheme. He also told Vin about the subsequent investigation into Ella's background and how she connected to Cletus Fowler, who more than likely put out the contract on Sarah and Adam for Ella. Charlotte was a pawn to a brilliant schemer.

After all of it, JD and Vin blinked, frowning as they worked to process all of the new information.

"So, you never confirmed the contract? The one on Chris' wife and son?" JD asked.

"No. Fowler died when the house he holed up in burned down in a resulting SWAT action," Buck explained tiredly.

"So Mrs. Richmond was one of Ella's victims, too," Vin said softly. "Wasn't she?"

Chris tipped his head in though. "You could look at it like that, yeah," he admitted. His expression said otherwise.

"What happened to her?"

"After she served five years in the Dominican Republic for drug possession, she was extradited to the U.S. and is serving time for kidnapping and conspiracy. She was also found to be insane as is serving her sentence in a facility in Maryland."

"Insane?" Vin whispered, eyes wide.

"Vin," Chris began in a low, soothing voice. "She was, and still is, delusional. She lives in her own world with her deceased daughter and appears to be happy, now at least." He held Vin's gaze so his son could read truth in his eyes.

"You've checked on her?"

"Yes, I have. She has no other family. Her case worker keeps me briefed when she's evaluated annually. At the time, it probably upset you that she just disappeared. I am sorry about that part."

"I . . . I thought she moved away. I was angry with her for just going like that, without telling me."

"We discussed that with Dr. Will, Vin." Josiah explained. "We figured –" he indicated the other men beside him – "that it was better you were angry at her than feeling like you weren't safe. You had a lot to deal with already and we did not want your hard-earned feelings of security shattered once again." He smiled. "We knew she was always good to you, Vin. We didn't want to take that away."

"It was my call," Chris claimed. "I take the responsibility for the decision."

"And as time passed," Ezra added, "A 'need to know' scenario never materialized."

"Until now. Chris and I figured out just recently that we had to tell you everything." Buck closed.

Right after he spoke, Casey, Louisa and Raine returned. Louisa gave Buck a warm, lingering kiss on the cheek over the top of their sleeping child cradled in her arms on her way to one of the bedrooms. Raine wiggled in next to Nathan and Casey sat in JD's lap, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Ezra stood and stretched. "I believe I will follow my lovely wife to our room," he said before facing the younger men. "Mr. Dunne, congratulations on your great achievement. Mr. Tanner, I do hope you look upon our actions as being in your best interest at the time, but I, for one, am glad you have the entire picture now. I hope you do not judge us harshly." He touched high on his forehead with two fingers, taking a short bow to the group. "Good night, everyone."

"What was that all about?" Casey asked, confused, as Ezra left the suite.

"Family business," Vin answered with an understanding smile. "Closed family business."

"Huh?"

"I'll tell ya later," JD said, standing so she slid from his lap. "Last round at my favorite bar? The night's still early!" he asked cheerily, nudging Vin. "It's within walking distance!"

Vin stood. "Sure!"

The remaining 7 leaned back into the pillowy arms of the lush couch, shaking their heads and chuckling.

"I think I speak for the over 40 crowd when I say 'pass'," Buck laughed. "Got your room cards?"

"Yup!" JD said brightly. "We'll try to be quiet!"

Josiah rubbed his eyes, saying, "Don't think the Hounds of Hell could wake me, son."

The three youngsters hustled out the door, chattering like squirrels. It was profoundly silent when the door closed.

After a long moment, Josiah said softly, "Well, I'm very satisfied with the conclusion of things, gentlemen."

"Hear, hear," Nathan said as Rained nodded in agreement

"We all are," Buck added. "And don't call us gentlemen."

The others chuckled, prying themselves from the cushions and groaning, before shuffling to their bedrooms.

The next day, later in the morning, Chris and Buck elected to stay behind with JD and sift through the kid's numerous job offers from a dizzying number of alphabet government agencies while the rest of the group toured Boston. Casey acted as tour guide.

The group trickled back to the hotel starting with Ezra and Li Pong's return mid-afternoon for Amelia's nap time. Nathan and Raine were the last to return, opting to stay out for a romantic dinner alone. After everyone packed, the large family swarmed the lounge area of the hotel, taking over the entire back section. The night, filled with talk, laughing and story-telling, ended with the lounge's closure at midnight.

JD and Casey thought ahead for departure day breakfast and everyone gathered around a huge reserved table at a nearby restaurant. When everyone was finished, JD announced his acceptance of the NSA's job offer.

"Look out terrorists," Josiah, said, engulfing JD's hand in a congratulatory shake.

"The agency certainly has obtained a skilled employee. Congratulations, nephew." Ezra tipped his head in JD's direction.

"They want me in 2 weeks. I'll be doing Admin stuff until I get my security clearance. We've gotta pack and find a place," JD said excitedly. "They're payin' for the move, too!"

"You're gonna be busy," Nathan said, smiling. Raine, sitting next to Casey, gave her a quick hug.

"Nettie and Casey are gonna start packing while I look for a place with Buck and get my credentials." JD's eyes were bright with excitement. "Thanks, Dad and Chris, for helping me decide."

"Any time, son," Chris offered, grinning. "Here's to your success."

They all raised their juice glasses and coffee mugs in a toast.

"I guess you'll all be contacted during my background check. I'm glad we talked last night." JD nudged Vin.

There was a blur of action after breakfast that ended with the rest of the group arriving at the airport. Together, they waited to board their flight to Denver. Restless, Vin couldn't sit and stood at the large windows, watching the airplanes. It was crowded, and the flight was full. He was not looking forward to the trip.

Chris sensed his son's unease and kept a watchful eye on him. He unconsciously rubbed his knee and thought back over the past days with fondness and pride. "Vin will have his turn soon," he thought with satisfaction. A flutter of excitement awoke in his belly; he always knew his son could achieve greatness. Vin was a champion already – Olympic gold would simply be icing on everything else he'd survived.

Vin must have felt his thoughts because he turned and looked at Chris with an easy smile, and all traces of nervousness vanished. The young man left the window and settled next to his beloved father, sitting with knees wide, resting his forearms on his thighs as he studied the floor over his clasped hands.

After a bit, he spoke. "I remember visiting you in the hospital, in L.A."

Chris' mouth slanted, neutral. "I don't."

"I know. You were . . . it scared me."

"The doctors didn't want you there. Buck insisted. He said that your imagination was worse than the reality."

Vin nodded. "Yeah. I was sure you were dead and nobody wanted to tell me. I remember laying my hand on your chest and feeling your heart."

"And you left Cat for me."

Vin chuckled. "Yeah, I did. He was pretty ratty looking at that point."

It was Chris' turn to laugh. "Yeah, he was. Can't believe it's still in one piece."

"Well, Cat's got about as many scars as you do and still in one piece, like you."

Chris tipped his head in Vin's direction and his smile softened. "I don't remember much until just before getting transferred to Denver." Chris sat back, hands still. "There were some hard months that followed. I remember that you were my sole reason to keep on, Vin. You saved my life." He met his son's eyes, holding the connection with direct sincerity. "I never really thanked you for that. For you just being you."

"No need for thanks," Vin responded. "It's more like paying it forward, right?"

Chris cracked a grin. "And now for a new adventure," he said before turning serious again. "I'll tell you, I never anticipated any of this in my life. I am so grateful for all of this." He indicated the others with a sweep of his hand. "Everything is still an adventure, Vin. It's just great to be alive."

"Yeah, I know what you mean." Vin looked to the ceiling at the sound of their flight being called and the noise level shifted as people in the waiting room rose to gather their things. "Well, that's us." Vin smirked as Chris rose with a groan. "You could have pre-boarded you know," Vin chuckled.

"That would mean I'm handicapped," Chris breathed.

Chris stood a moment, allowing his joints to adjust and the rest of the crowd to move beyond them. Then it was just the two of them, standing side by side. Vin started to turn but stopped when Chris' hand rested on his forearm. He looked up and into his father's eyes, seeing nothing but love and deep pride.

"Vin, I know you are going to be extremely busy the next few years with school, Patrice and training. You are going to have a lot on your plate. I just want you to know that I am always here for you, always ready, willing and able, despite this." He raised the cane. "I wouldn't change anything in the past because the past is what made you what you are today. I can't be any prouder of you than I already am, son." Chris let his hand fall, but he held Vin's gaze. "And that's precisely why I can't think of myself as handicapped. I'm a very lucky man.'

Vin stood a bit straighter and his eyes glistened. He showed no inclination to move as his beloved father's words washed over him and filled him with warmth. Then his face softened with a fond smile. "I love you, too, Dad."

After a moment, Chris chuckled and leaned on his cane to move out. "And they say I only speak ten words a day."

Vin laughed as he shadowed his dad to the jet way and home.

TBC