Disclaimer: The following story uses characters out of The Legacy in a series from the book series Custodes Noctis. Used with permission.
Author's Notes: Written for Muffy Morrigan's birthday a few months back. The story has also been posted on my live journal site due to the lyrics that have been included in previous chapters. I hope you enjoy.
Muffy - thanks for letting me play in your sandbox
Talisman
Chapter 9
by infinite shadow
"Hey Bec," Galen said as he walked up to her window.
She looked from Galen to Flash. "Nope. No way. I told you no coffee."
"Aw, come on, Becci," Flash said quietly as he looked from the ground up to her in the window and caught the inside of his lip between his teeth. "Just a little one?"
"Ok. Stop right there, Alvin," she said and smiled slightly when he cringed. "You so cannot pull off the puppy eyes. That's Rob's specialty. So, you can just stop right now."
Galen slumped against the side of the drive through coffee shack. "Come on, Bec. You know, we could've died."
Flash nodded solemnly. "Yeah. Almost did."
"Right," Becci nodded before putting both hands on her hips. "You two should be ashamed of yourselves."
"Could be, if it worked," Galen said hopefully.
She stared at the two of them for a minute. "Fine. Small ones. Decaf. And if the doctor finds out I'll plead temporary insanity."
"Thanks Bec," Galen said softly with a huge grin.
"Uh huh. You can explain to Rob why you're drinking coffee," she said as she started Flash's latte. "What's Rob having?"
Flash and Galen looked at each other for a second.
"He... uh...," Flash started before he scratched his head and looked away.
"Honestly, you two," Becci said as she shook her head. "I should ban you for life."
"But you won't, right?" Flash asked hopefully.
"No, but I should," she said. "I'll make him his usual."
"Thanks Bec," Galen said sincerely.
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Rob woke up on the couch, alone. It was quiet enough that he could hear traffic on the street a few blocks away.
"Galen?" Rob yelled out softly. "You guys still here?"
When there was no response he sat up and a note caught his eye. It was Galen's handwriting, an almost illegible scrawl that rivalled Mike's. He turned it one way and then the other, making out about every third word. It was enough to know that he was fine and gone for coffee. With Flash.
His eyes stuck on their friend's name for a minute. "Of course you're with Flash. Who else would you be with?" he asked the empty room.
It was selfish and part of him was yelling at him for being so stupid. But he felt left out. He'd watched over them for days before they'd woken up. Granted, he'd slept a lot out in the living room as well, but he'd been there for when Galen had woken up.
He shook his head and went into the kitchen. He opened the fridge and poked around the slim contents for something to eat. Not finding anything he closed the door, and leaned back against the edge of the counter. He nearly smiled as he ended up looking at a picture of Galen and Flash that had been stuck on the fridge at some point. Rob recognized where they were. Both men were sweaty and high from a good set on stage at the Rat's Nest. They looked happy, like they knew something no one else knew. Sadly, he shook his head and left the kitchen.
"All those years we were apart. You had Flash. Laughed with him, talked with him, shared your life with him," he murmured. "It's what you should have been doing with me."
Rob swallowed back the lump stuck in his throat. "I'm never going to have that bond you've got with him. Flash was there when I thought you were dead. Roaming around from place to place, fighting on my own, never knowing you were alive. But I should have, shouldn't I. I should have known who sent me gifts on my birthday, should've known when I miraculously healed after that car crash, but I never put it together. So stupid to never even question it."
He ended up in his room and pulled down one of his favourite books. It wasn't a saga but a story he'd read in his youth. He'd loved every word of the story the first time he'd read it. The book had been torn and taped back together. There were worn places and the spine had been completely taped over so it didn't break.
It was one of the only things he kept from his childhood that didn't include his destiny. It was one of the things that he had carried with him when he researched or hunted alone, before Galen had come back into his life. It had kept him company and pulled him through some really rough patches, but he didn't even want to look at it. He didn't want to think about the story or the characters. He'd never admitted to anyone the lead character reminded him so much of Galen that it had hurt--and comforted--when his big brother was gone.
He sighed and put it back into its place on his bookshelf. Running a finger over old leather books he sighed again and moved to the window. He didn't want to feel like this, he hated it. He wanted to feel like himself, but just as before, without Galen with him he never felt like himself.
It was how Flash found him twenty minutes later, arms crossed around his mid section staring morosely out the window. He glanced over to the corner of the room, saw his and Galen's guitar cases sitting there and resisted the urge to rip one open and start to play.
"Hey, kid," Flash said as he walked up to the window and looked out. All he could see was a drizzly day with puddles and clouds decorating the Tacoma landscape. "What'cha lookin at?"
Rob shook his head. "Nothing."
Flash nodded. "Hey, you doing ok?"
"I'm fine Flash. You don't need to check up on me."
Flash smiled a little. "Actually I think I do every once in a while. Now especially," he said as he moved a little and sat down on Rob's bed.
Rob snorted. "I think between you, me and Galen I'm the more responsible one," he said then turned and leaned back against the glass looking at his friend.
"In some ways, in others not so much."
"What does that mean?" Rob demanded.
"Rob, you may not have been here for all that long, but I've gotten to know you a little. Right now, I don't think you know which way is up. You can't feel Galen and it hurts you, but you haven't really talked to him about what you're upset about, have you?"
Rob frowned at him. "Ok. Who are you and what did you do with Flash?"
"Dude, really? You think I don't care?" Flash asked. "I'm hurt."
Rob shook his head and turned to look out the window again. "I know you do. You care about Galen. As if he were your own brother."
"Oh," Flash said softly in realization and his eyebrows rose in surprise. "Oh kid, you've got it all wrong."
"Stop calling me that! Can you… Can you just go away, Flash, please? I'm not in the mood to talk," Rob said.
"I don't think so, on all counts," he said and merely smiled at Rob as he turned to glare at him.
"Kid," Flash said and shrugged. "It's the first name I called you, remember?"
Rob looked down at the floor. He did remember. He'd been released from hospital and had gone from orphan to back to being with his big brother. His whole world felt like it had been on acid and righted itself in seconds.
He'd been talking with Galen, trying to figure things out, taking a long painful walk down memory lane at that point in the Apothecary on their birthday when Flash had come into the store.
"Hey, what kind of coffee you want this morning?" The shop door banged open and Flash came in. He stopped, looking from Galen to Rob and back again. "Oh my god."
"Flash this isn't the best…"
"Oh my god, the brother." He took three large steps over to Rob and pulled him into a quick embrace. Galen had to chuckle at the look on his brother's face. "Good to see you, kid," Flash said letting go and slapping Rob on the back. "How'd it happen, Galen?"
Galen smiled. "He was in the hospital, Mike called."
"You and hospitals, kid. How I saw you last time." Flash smiled at Rob.
It had been that easy. Flash accepted him as a friend right there on the spot. No questions, just a big smile and it had been a genuine easy friendship ever since.
"Yeah," Rob said softly as the ache in his heart eased just a bit. "I remember."
Flash nodded. "Look, Galen told me a bit more about those amulets. I know you're hurting and it can't make it any easier to be up here on your own. Why don't you come downstairs with me? We're hanging out with Rhiannon for a bit."
Rob shook his head.
"Ok, well, you know where we are. Join us if you change your mind," Flash said as he got up. He took one mournful look at the guitar cases and forced himself to walk to the doorway. "Rob?"
He turned to look at his friend.
"I'd never take your brother away from you. Galen would never replace you with anyone else, especially with me. Shouldn't have to tell you that, kid, but I think you need to hear it," Flash said seriously, then smiled. "Got your coffee downstairs. Come join us before it gets cold."
Before Rob could say anything Flash was gone. He turned back to look out the window as he fought back tears of gratitude and relief. Seconds later his chin hit his chest as tears overflowed his eyes and he wept.
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Galen hurried up the stairs, taking two at a time his worry pushing him to go faster than he normally would have.
He was willing to give it a little while after Flash had come downstairs after talking to Rob. If his younger brother needed some time alone, he'd give it to him. Galen had planned to give him more time, but the more he waited, the more anxious he got about Rob being alone.
"Rob?" he called out as he got four steps from the top step. There was no answer as he looked around the living room. No sign of his brother either as he popped his head into the kitchen. He was surprised to see one of his favourite pictures of him and Flash on the floor. He turned without picking it up and headed down the hallway towards their bedrooms.
When he turned into Rob's room his heart clenched painfully. His brother was sitting under his window, legs pulled up to his chest and his head down on his knees.
"Rob?" Galen said softly as he walked towards him.
"G'way," he answered. His voice muffled and soft. A sniffle followed right after.
Galen shook his head slightly. He didn't understand why he seemed to be getting better and his brother wasn't. The ache and outright need to play had almost dwindled away to nothing. Ok, well not nothing, but what remained was constantly being soothed by his healing Gift. Each minute it got easier, and now and then, since they'd woken up, he'd been helping out Flash.
The oldest Emrys sat on the floor next to Rob. Before Rob could protest Galen wrapped an arm around him and pulled him against his shoulder.
Galen gasped as he was filled with such a fierce sadness, emptiness and cold that he sent warmth into his little brother. Rob shuddered under the sudden warmth and took a stuttered breath.
"Galen," he whispered.
'S'ok, Rob. Gods, why didn't you tell Flash to send me up?' Galen asked softly through their connection.
'You were gone. Just like before. Just like...' Rob took another stuttering breath. 'You died. Just like before. I… I can't… Not again… It's too empty,' he stuttered as a shiver made him tense and reach a hand out to grab his brother's shirt. 'Please. Don't go again, Galen, please!'
'There's no chance of that, not today. I promise you,' Galen sent gently through their link. He sent all he could of his Gift into his little brother, but knew it wasn't enough. He leaned his head back against the wall and took a calming breath. "Dad? Bobby?"
Rob started to shake even harder against Galen's side. 'No don't. Don't call them. Please.'
Galen frowned at his brother's response. He knew he didn't have enough in him to really help his brother. But maybe with a little boost from his father it could be enough to help settle him, take away a little of what was hurting him so badly. 'I'm not letting go, Rob. I promise. This isn't like before.'
Bobby and Parry shimmered into sight and Parry knelt in down in front of his children.
"It's bad," Galen tried to explain.
Parry just shook his head and gently put a palm over Rob's head.
"NO!" Rob shouted and bolted up to his feet, somehow dragging Galen up with him. "You can't send me back this time," he yelled as he slumped back against the glass.
"Rob, listen to me carefully," Galen said out loud. 'No one is sending you anywhere. I won't allow it. I promise you. You're not going anywhere, and I'm not going anywhere.'
'Before,' Rob whispered through their link and tightened his grip on his brother's t-shirt.
Galen instantly got a picture of Rob, almost hysterical, trying to get away from his foster family. It was the same hospital he'd died in when Rob had been entrusted to his care to bring him home for good. He'd utterly and totally failed when his little brother had been taken and hurt by human monsters then served up in a ritual sacrifice.
The only way they could survive was Galen dying. He never knew how bad Rob had fought to stay with their father and Bobby. How much his heart had been broken that day when Galen had died and what had remained shattered when he'd been taken away from the rest of his surviving family for good.
'Don't let them take me away from you again!' Rob pleaded through their connection.
Galen closed his eyes against the onslaught of emotions that were rolling thought his brother. Fear. Anxiety. Panic. Anger. Guilt. Remorse. Shame. Somewhere in there he could feel Rob fighting to claw the emotions back but it had overwhelmed him and he was drowning in the feelings.
'Rob, please stop. Just listen to me. No one is taking you from here or me. No one. Do you understand?'
"He's still feeling the effects this badly?" Bobby asked in surprise.
Parry nodded where he stood directly in front of his youngest son. "Rob, let me help you."
"NO! You'll make me sleep again and send me away like last time. You didn't want me," Rob yelled and gasped for a breath as his whole body trembled. "You … We'd failed and you didn't want me around without Galen."
"That's not true," Parry said softly, his eyes wide in surprise. "I sent you away to protect you."
Rob's head tilted down to his chest and yanked on Galen's shirt.
Galen took another deep settling breath before he pulled his younger brother against him in a crushing hug. "Dad, through me, ok? Don't touch him. Don't even try right now. He doesn't understand. Through me, ok?"
Parry nodded and put his hands on Galen's forehead and on his back.
Galen held on tighter as he felt a warm light of the healing enter him and he directed it into his brother's body. He grunted softly as he suddenly felt a wall of resistance.
'No. Stop. Hurts,' Rob whimpered.
Galen resisted pulling away. He could feel it. All encompassing pain sliced through Rob and into himself. But he held on for all he was worth until he broke through. He held on tighter as Rob whimpered, his eyes scrunched closed with the pain and his arms went lax around him. Galen could feel the healing push back the darkness surrounding his little brother and lightening it until it was gone.
Parry pulled back and Galen stumbled as his father's healing power eased away from him. "Easy, son."
Galen staggered the few steps to the bed, still holding onto his little brother and gently put Rob down on the bed. Exhaustion threatened to overwhelm him as Galen made sure Rob would be comfortable, then tucked a comforter around him. He sat down next to him, his back against the headboard, is hand over Rob's chest and his legs stretched out in front of him.
"He'll be fine now. You both will," Parry said.
"Don't leave. We have things to sort out," Galen said, fighting back his own exhaustion.
Parry looked at Bobby and nodded. "I know. We won't be far. Get some sleep."
Galen nodded and in moments his breathing was deep and regular.
"I'd hoped he'd forgotten that," Bobby said softly.
"Me too," Parry replied.
"It was for Rob's own good. We had no idea if they'd come after him. His foster parent's place was the safest place he could have been. You know that. You and I set up the charms on the property just after choosing the family weeks before he was born," Bobby said.
Parry nodded and sighed. "Doesn't make it easier now, or then."
"True," Bobby said as he put a hand on his brother's shoulder and they shimmered out of sight.
To be continued.....
