ECHOES IN THE DARKNESS
Part XXI – Meet The Boss
Talk to me, tell me your name
You blow me off like it's all the same
You lit a fuse, and now I'm ticking away
Like a bomb... yeah baby
Talk to me, tell me your sign
You're switchin' sides like a Gemini
You're playing games
And now you're hittin' my heart
Like a drum... yeah baby
Well if Lady Luck
Gets on my side
We're gonna rock this town alive
I'll let her rough me up
'Til she knocks me out
'Cause she walks like she talks
And she talks like she walks
Wide awake! Gabriel jumped up out of bed. "What the FUCK?" He shouted jumping up pulling on his pants.
"If I walk out there and Ricky Martin is doing some pansy ass dance moves in my living room, I WILL be bringing Sylar out to play today!" He grumbled as he walked past a piece of tartan laying on the floor.
But he only saw Laura practicing her weapon tactics.
"Laura, can you turn down the stereo?" He asked her irately. She did not respond.
He approached her tapping her shoulder. She quickly removed her earphones.
"What?" She asked him dubiously.
"Do you really have to blast the stereo?" He asked snappily.
"Baby." She smiled confused. "We don't have a stereo." She shrugged. "Wait. Do you mean this?" She held up her MP3 player.
He listened closely, nodding.
"You could hear that?" She smiled in disbelief.
"You listen to Ricky Martin?" He wrinkled his face in disapproval.
"It has a good beat." She giggled then narrowed her eyes at him. "And were you getting all snippy with me back there?" She stood, arms folded.
He rolled his eyes from side to side, and then looked at her smiling. "Can I make it up to you?" He asked pulling her in kissing her.
"Only if you feel up to doing it in the shower." She returned his kiss. "Peter is going to be here in ½ hour."
"If we're not done, he can watch. Last one there has to wash the other's back. "He smiled taking off.
"Hey! Not fair!" She shouted running after him.
A few minutes later, Gabriel sat on the edge of the bed watching her dress. She turned smiling at him as she put her underwear on.
"Are you sure you won't change your mind?" She half-smiled knowing what his answer would be.
He shook his head. "Those people don't want me there."
She turned around zipping up her jeans. "Then why would they go to the expense of getting you home and making life so comfortable for you?"
"If they want me there, they can call me. But until that happens, I will stay clear."
"Gabriel." She pulled up a chair putting on her boots. "I forgave you. Peter is working on forgiving you. Sooner or later, it will happen with everybody, but you just have to give it time."
"Laura, the answer is still no." He told her firmly.
The doorbell rang.
"Ok, suit yourself." She smiled sadly at him. "I hope you change your mind someday." She pulled a shirt on. "That's Peter. I gotta go." She quickly kissed him and ran out the door.
"Bye." He called out after her. He sat on the edge of the bed as she ran out the door. He looked over at Zeus staring at him. "What?" He asked him.
----
A few minutes later, the doorbell rang for the second time this morning. Rolling his eyes he jumped up to answer it. Through the peephole he saw Niki Sanders was standing on the other side. "Great." He grumbled opening the door.
"Greetings." He smiled sarcastically. "What do I owe the pleasure?"
Niki brushed past him walking inside. "I want to talk to you."
"Oh, by all means, please come in." He laughed. He looked around outside the door.
"What?" She asked him annoyed.
"Just checking to see if you brought your parking meter this time." He forced a smile.
Niki laughed sarcastically. "Aren't you clever!. But I didn't come here to reminisce about the good ole days with you. I want to talk to you."
Gabriel shrugged. "Ok. Fine. Have a seat."
"Thank you." Niki replied taking a seat on the couch. "Look, I haven't known you for very long. But we have a lot in common."
"Us...you and me?" Gabriel asked her skeptically.
"Are you going to hear me out?" Niki asked him irritably.
"Sure." Gabriel listened. "I'll bite."
Niki continued. "I used to have a dual personality. I won't get into it, because it is pretty complicated, but when I was this other person, I did a lot of horrible things. Much like you did. I killed people and put the blame it on my ex-husband; I slept with Nathan Petrelli for Mr. Linderman to get him on film; I worked as an assassin for Mr. Linderman and I even stole money. So, you can see I was seriously fucked up."
"Just like me." Gabriel half-smiled.
"Yeah." Jessica replied. "Just like you. "I guess the point I am trying to make is that I turned it around. People hated me. My ex left me and things just got really bad for a while. But soon, the tide went out and after time people started coming around. Now, I work alongside them. I try to make a difference. So can you. You have all those powers. You can't give them away, so you might as well put them to some good use. It might be kind of awkward at first, but it will pass. Believe me. Just think about it, ok."
"Is that it?" He asked her.
"Yeah." She smiled. "That's it. No preaching. I just wanted you to have the education." She stood up heading for the door.
She went to open the door. She turned to him smiling. "Oh and another thing, if you keep me awake again tonight pounding my ceiling...I will be coming back and this time, I'll bring my parking meter. Have a nice day." She closed the door and left.
Gabriel sat for a moment thinking about what she told him. He stretched out putting his hands over his face.
Zeus came out of the bathroom sitting front of him staring at him.
Gabriel looked down at him. "What are you looking at?"
Laura and Peter walked the eight blocks from their apartment building to Kirby Plaza stopping only to buy lattes along the way.
"That is decaf, right?" Peter asked her skeptically.
"Yes, nurse Peter." She answered making a face. "And quite frankly, I've tasted mule urine that tastes better than this."
"Seriously!" Peter looked at her.
"It's just an expression." Where's Niki?" Laura asked him taking a sip.
"She'll be along later. So how was the first night in the new place?"
"Wonderful." She smiled dreamily. "You?"
"The same." He answered. "So explain this to me. You moved upstairs into a loft that has the identical floor plan as the one you just moved out of. Not that I am ungrateful you agreed to sublease your place to us, but why?"
"Because, it is something that is ours." She smiled.
Peter shook his head. "Sorry, you lost me."
"It's symbolic Peter." She looked soberly at him. "Our lives are becoming one. I leave behind what is mine, he leaves behind what is his...now what we have is ours. No more sleeping in a bed I occasionally shared with someone else. No more...whatever he used to do in there when I wasn't there...I don't want to know. Are you caught up now?"
"Yeah." He nodded. "And your right. I guess Niki and I are doing the same thing, but I never thought of it that way." Laura's finger caught his eye. "I...ah...guess things were REALLY wonderful last night."
Laura smiled holding her ring out. "Yeah." She beamed looking up at him.
"Are sure about this?" He asked her.
She stopped walking and looked at him. "Peter, this is all I have ever wanted."
"Are you happy?" He replied.
"Yes." She smiled softly. "I am more happy than I ever thought I could be."
"Then you go and be happy." He pulled her in hugging her. "And don't worry about what everybody thinks about him."
"I take my queue from the weather Peter...I pay very little attention to criticism." She smiled returning his hug, then started to walk again.
"Good way to look at it." He ran catching up with her.
Rounding the corner, they found themselves standing under the giant orange structure which told them they had arrived at Kirby Plaza.
"Well, here we go!" Peter looked nervous. "Are you ready for this?"
"Ready as I'm going to get." She replied soberly.
"Well, lets go save the world." Peter took her hand as they began to walk inside.
She turned scoffing at him. "Seriously Peter! That expression is growing mold."
"Yeah, we need a new catch phrase around here." He laughed. "I know; One world; a force of many?"
Laura laughed. "You just keep working on that."
Peter and Laura took the elevator to the 31st floor. They walked into what appeared to be a conference room. Noah Bennett sat in a chair near the podium. Laura could see Niki, Mohinder, Claude Raines and Angela Petrelli were already in attendance. Peter took a seat next to Niki, Laura sat down beside him.
Mohinder caught her eye. He smiled uncomfortably at her. Laura smiled warmly in return putting Mohinder at ease.
"Where is the rest of the team?" Peter asked Noah.
"People will be joining us throughout the day today. I just invited some key people this morning, but I didn't make it mandatory. As this is going to be more of a get acquainted session. The boss will be joining us in a short while..."
Peter stood up looking apprehensive. "Wait a minute! He's here?"
Noah looked coolly at him. "Yes Peter. I think today is as good a day as any. Don't you?"
"Well, not everybody is prepared." He stood behind Laura. She could not see his eyes motioning at her.
"Peter. Please sit down." Noah told him soberly. "Now since it looks like everybody, who is anybody is here..." Noah began.
"Not everybody." Laura heard the door open a familiar voice come from behind her. She turned and saw Gabriel standing in the doorway. She smiled proudly at him.
He sat down taking the seat next to Laura. "Your late." She whispered taking his hand.
"Traffic." He whispered back kissing her cheek. She smiled at him squeezing his hand. He looked over at Niki who gave him a nod of approval.
"What the hell is he doing here?" Claude shouted.
"Claude..." Laura began to defend him.
"It's ok baby...I got this." Gabriel winked at her.
He stood up addressing the group. "Ok people, listen up! Most of you know who I am and I know you all hate my guts. Thats ok. It would be unrealistic of me to expect you to feel otherwise. I have killed people. That makes me the bad guy. I'm ok with that. But no matter what you think about me, you need me. I am somebody you want on your side. We don't have to all join hands and sing bullshit songs about harmony and world peace. But I am a powerful force, and you all know that." He turned looking at Laura. "I will be starting a new life as a husband and a father. I just want my family to be proud of me." He turned toward the group again. "So like it or not, I'm in. Anybody got a problem with that?"
Noah Bennett stepped forward. "Gabriel. Welcome to The Organization." He handed him a security badge with his picture on it. "We've been waiting for you."
Gabriel looked at him relieved. "Thank you. You won't be sorry."
"I had better not be." He whispered hoarsely.
Angela Petrelli leaned forward. "Laura! Do my ears deceive me? Did I just hear him say husband and...father?"
"No, your ears didn't deceive you, Mama P." She smiled proudly. "I will be giving birth on May 17."
"Oh, you know that for a fact?" Angela retorted.
"I most certainly do." Laura looked her squarely in the eye. "My son told me."
Claude, Noah and Mohinder all looked at Laura like she had three heads.
"Baby, maybe we shouldn't do this here." Gabriel whispered awkwardly.
"Your son told you?" Angela began to laugh dumbfoundedly. "What exactly has this Jack the Ripper boy toy of yours been doing to your brain?"
Laura laughed. "I think my current condition speaks volumes, doesn't it?"
"Mom, she's telling the truth." Peter interjected.
"Peter?" Angela asked him.
"Mom, she is right." He nodded. "I was there. I met him. He is able to teleport like Hiro, but only throughout his own lifetime. He looks exactly like Gabriel, but has Laura's green eyes. And his hair is lighter."
"And I heard his heartbeat." Gabriel piped up.
Everyone turned and looked at Gabriel. "What?" He shrugged.
"Look, if it makes you feel better, I'll submit to a blood test." Laura told her.
Angela nodded. "Very well. Mohinder, do your thing please."
Mohinder approached Laura smiling. "I was going to get a blood sample from everybody here today to make sure we can travel if we need to, but I'll just start with you, if you don't mind."
"I don't mind. Have at it." She smiled at Mohinder.
"Yes." Gabriel stood next to him. "Have at it. But that's all you're having at" Gabriel and Mohinder exchanged spiteful looks between them. Mohinder took two vials of blood from Laura's arm.
Laura stared hard at Gabriel. "Stop trying to play alpha dog." She hissed at him under her breath.
"I don't like him touching you." Gabriel said through gritted teeth.
"He isn't groping me, Gabriel, he is taking my blood sample. So stop flexing your muscles and beating your chest!"
"Ok." Mohinder put labels on the blood vials. "We should have some answers in the next 24 hours."
Laura reached out and touched his hand. "Thank you Mohinder." She smiled softly at him.
"Yeah. Thanks for not giving my girl a hemoglobin, Mohinder." Gabriel smiled sarcastically at him. Laura turned around glaring daggers at him.
"Eat shit and die, Gabriel." Mohinder spat at him as he left the room. Everybody burst out laughing.
"What?" Gabriel shrugged.
"He doesn't swear very often, only when he really means it." Laura laughed. "And you so had that coming."
"Your not even married yet and she already has a leash around your balls." Claude laughed loudly.
Gabriel leaned forward sneering. "Did I ever tell you I think Monty Python sucks ass?".
Claude stopped laughing, his eyes glared like knives at Gabriel.
"So when is the wedding? Niki asked Laura trying to alleviate the moment.
"Well, sometime before the baby gets here and most defiantly, before I have to square off against Callahan."
Gabriel looked puzzled at her. "Whoa! Time out! Who in the hell is Callahan? And what do mean you will be squaring off against him?"
Laura panicked. In all of their bliss of discovering each other again and making plans for their future, she had not told him about the vision quest, her brother Brandon or the upcoming battle against Callahan/Catherwood.
Telepathically she called out to Peter. "A little help here?"
"I'm on it." He came back at her. "Gabriel, we'll get to that when we have the whole team here. I think Laura is using the "I" in the egotistical sense of the word because she doesn't like to share her toys with others on the playground. Right Laura?"
"Um...yeah." She responded. "Egotistical? Is that the best you could come up with?"
"I didn't have a lot of time to prepare! Next time give me some warning before I have to save your ass, ok."
"Ok, fine I'll drop it." Gabriel replied.
"So why the rush to get married before the battle, dear?" Angela replied. "The man is after all 600 years old. I don't think he's in too big of a hurry to die." Peter and Laura rolled their eyes, looking at each other exasperated.
"Ok!" Gabriel asked petulantly. "What...battle? Laura! What in the hell is she talking about?"
"Will you tell your mom to shut the fuck up?"
"Yeah, I'd like to see you tell her."
"He is going to seriously freak out if I tell him now."
"So don't tell him!"
Laura answered Angela. "Why do I want to get married so soon? Well, for starters, this man proposed to me and ditched me once before and I am not going to give him a chance to do it again. And, because...I am catholic, pregnant and unmarried. If I am hit by a bus and die before I get married, I really don't want to have to stand before my father in heaven and explain to him why I am carrying a child without the benefit of marriage."
"Laura." Niki smiled. "I don't think it works that way. I think God knows of our struggles and he is forgiving."
"No Niki!" Laura shook her head fearfully. "I mean MY father...George Ryan. God forgives, but if I stand before my father pregnant and unmarried, I don't even want to think about what that pain-in-the-ass Irishman would have to say to me."
Angela looked down to the floor as he entered the room angrily looking at Laura.
"I would say haven't you ever heard of birth control, you stupid, stupid girl!" He shouted.
Everybody in the room looked at the man cringing. Laura's eyes widened as she recognized the voice.
"When I turn around, there is either going to be a salty Irishman standing there, or the ghost of George Ryan has come back to kick me in the ass." Laura turned around horror struck and saw her father standing behind her.
She stared at him stunned. "Dad? Is it really you?" She whispered.
"Yes, baby girl. It is me in the flesh." He smiled at his daughter.
Laura walked to him, tears in her eyes. "Dad!" She smiled embracing him. "I can't believe it's you. Do you have any idea how much I missed you?"
"Oh, everyday baby girl." He whispered tearfully. "There was never a day that went by that I didn't want to go to you, but I couldn't"
Laura stood back and looked at her father for the first time in five years. Then she reached out and punched him in the gut. Her eyes fierce and angry.
Gabriel looked at her horror strick.
He doubled over in pain, but quickly recovered. "Dang blasted litte girl! What in the blazes has gotten into you?"
"Well gee, Dad!" She threw her arms up. "Nice place you got here! It's a hell of a lot nicer than that urn I picked out for you when you died five years ago! And you have been alive all this time! Have you been running this three ring circus all this time?"
"Yes I have." He replied.
Laura shared at him dubiously. "All this time! Do you have any idea what I went through after you died? I was lonely Dad! You left me when I needed you the most. I ran your company and kept it alive because I loved you so much and didn't want your dream to die...and do you know why? Because if I let go, I was letting go of you. And you have been sitting here in this goddamn office the entire time while I needed you!
"Laura yes. You did need me! You were too bloody needy!" He shouted at his daughter. "You needed to learn how to be a leader, so I left you in charge of my affairs and you became a leader!"
"So why in the fuck didn't you just retire?" She retorted.
"Don't you curse at me young lady!" He shouted, his face turning red.
Gabriel rolled his eyes. "Oh shit!" He muttered to Peter. "I'm going to have a father-in-law."
"Yeah." He replied. "And he's a pain in the ass!"
"Well, isn't this shaping up to be a great fucking up day for me!" Gabriel muttered to himself.
"Oh you better look out there, Dad...your face is getting flushed!" She sneered at him. "You might suffer another heart attack!"
"Well if I do, it is because my only daughter, who I raised to be a good and morally upstanding woman can't keep her legs closed! They have pills for that, or haven't you heard?"
"Well, evidently they don't work real well, now do they?" She seethed. "And you're a fine one to preach at me about morals, Dad! Do you really think I never knew when your wedding anniversary was?"
"I don't know what your talking about!" Her father replied tight lipped.
"Oh common Dad!" She laughed incredulously. "You and mom were married June 6th, 1980, and I was born October 24th of the same year!"
"Don't you dare go there girl!" Her dad wagged his finger at her.
"You were doing the horizontal hoochie coochie long before you were married!" She laughed ragging him.
"LAURA GRACE RYAN, YOU SHUT YOUR TRAP GIRL!" He exclaimed.
"You were doing the libido lambda!" She danced grinding her pelvis in a circular motion.
"Don't you dare disgrace your mother's memory!" He shouted. "Your mother was the closest thing on earth to a saint"
"Yes...DAD! I agree. My mother was a saint! But after what you have done to me, don't you DARE talk to me about morals. You have lost your position by which to judge me by!" She stood beside Gabriel. "I love this man! I will marry this man. And yes, I will have his child and there is not a damn thing you can do about it!"
George Ryan's face turned red as he shook his fist at her. "Damnú ort" He shouted at her.
Laura narrowed her eyes. "Go hIfreann leat"
"Ní mórán thú" He shouted pointing at Laura
"What the hell language are they speaking?" Peter asked Claude.
"Gaelic." Claude replied.
"D'anam don diabhal." Laura retorted.
"What are they saying?" Peter asked Claude again.
"Well, from what I have been able to get out of it, there has been "go to hell, the devil on you, your worthless and something about..fleas."
"Go mbeire an diabhal leis thú." George screamed.
"Go stróice an diabhal thú"! She hissed back at him
They stood face to face for a moment in daggered stares.
George picked up a coffee mug and threw it on the ground, smashing it into a million pieces.
Laura walked over Noah, grabbed his cup and smashed it at her father's feet.
"Hey!" Noah shouted. "That was my favorite cup!"
"I'll buy you a new one." Laura assured him.
Laura and her father continued their stand off.
Then George smiled holding his arms out to his daughter. Laura smiled, tears in her eyes and ran to her father. "Dad!" She cried embracing him.
"My beautiful little girl." He sobbed hugging his daughter.
Everybody in the room was staring at them both flabbergasted.
"What do you expect, their Irish." Claude shrugged.
"God Dad! I missed you!" Laura sobbed to her father.
"I missed you to, baby girl." He smiled through his tears. "I hope you understand what I had to do. When your mama died, I knew right then that he had to die. I had Mr. Yamagati train you to find your pinnacle. You could fight baby and you are strong and powerful and I knew you would be the one to kill him someday, but girl, you were weak. Even though you were a grown up, you were still a child inside. Your eyes were still full of innocense and wonder and you needed to be fierce. We needed you to find your inner fire. And you did, little girl! You did! You will be the one to kill Catherwood one day and the prophesy will come full circle."
Gabriel walked up to Laura turning her to face him. "Ok. This is the second time this morning somebody has brought up battle and prophesy...in the same sentence! Now would you like to tell your future husband and the father of the child you are carrying what in the hell is going on?"
"You haven't told him?" Her father asked her in astonishment.
"Um..." She malingered looking awkwardly at Gabriel. "It's on my to do list?"
"How could you not tell me about something like this?" Gabriel asked confounded.
"Ok, fine! Because I didn't want you to freak out!" She replied exasperated.
"Yeah...I'm freaking out! Of course I'm freaking out!" He shouted angrily.
"It's complicated, ok." She folded her arms.
"Then start maybe you had better start...NOW!" He looked her directly in the eye.
"A little help!" She begged Peter telepathically .
"I'm on it." He replied. "Look Gabriel. This probably isn't the time or the place." Peter said. "Laura just found out her father is alive. It is starting out to be a hell of a day, isn't it?"
"Baby, I promise I'll tell you everythingwhen we get home, ok?" She kissed him gently.
"Home?" George scowled at Gabriel. "You are shacking up with my daughter?"
Gabriel smiled and stood directly in front of Laura's father. "Sir, she is over 21. She is an adult. Yes, we are living together. And yes, I may be an asshole, but am not going anywhere. I love her, and I love our son she is carrying. And like it or not, I will be spending the rest of my life with her. I hope we can get along, but rather we do or don't will not change the outcome either way. Your daughter will be my wife."
George stood squarely in front of Gabriel hands on hips shaking his head. "I'll be right back." He frowned angrily at him then stomped out of the room.
Laura sauntered up to Gabriel. "I am so hot for you right now." She whispered kissing him.
"Yeah, I'm just hoping he doesn't come back with a sawed off shot gun." Gabriel replied uneasily. "Well, I can see where you get your fiery temper from." He smiled awkwardly. "On him, it is downright scary." Then looking down at her. "But on you, it's just downright sexy. When we get in bed tonight, I want you to talk to me in Gaelic. That was hot!" He pulled her in kissing her.
"That's not all I'm going to do to you tonight." She smiled kissing him back.
"Put the overactive libidos away, he's coming back." Peter signaled Laura.
Laura pulled away from Gabriel clearing her throat.
George Ryan came back in the room, much calmer. He stood in front of Gabriel and Laura. "You two are in love. I may not like that my daughter is in love with a recovering murderer. But she sees potential in you, and so do I or I wouldn't have busted my ass to help you get home."
"Dad...?" Laura began.
"Don't interrupt me, girl." He turned to her shaking his finger at her. It takes balls to stand up to me, young man and I respect that. However, I do NOT approve of the fact you have planted your seed inside of her and I especially do not approve of your living arrangements..."
"Look Dad..." Laura started angrily.
"If you interrupt me one more time young lady, I am going to change my mind!"
Laura shrugged and let him continue.
"My daughter is right. My wife and I couldn't wait until we tied the knot either." He walked over and stood next to Gabriel. "And my wife, God rest her soul, was every bit as hot as my daughter is now...Grrroowwwll!"
Laura groaned in disgust as Gabriel bit his lip to keep from laughing.
"But, this is my only daughter. And in spite of the fact she is exasperating, and disrespectful with a tongue as sharp as the devil's pitchfork, I love her with all of my heart." He touched Laura's cheek. She smiled at her father.
He continued. "So, as your employer, and your soon to be father-in-law, I have made a decision! You are going to marry my daughter. And you are going to marry her...today!"
Laura's eyes flew open! "WHAT????"
"You heard me." Her father smiled.
"You can't make that kind of decision for us! Who in the hell do you think you are coming back here after all this time and telling ME I am going to get married NOW. You are fucking off your rocker, you cantankerous old fart!"
Peter, Niki and Angela stood together watching the show. "Oh, how I love the Irish. Did anybody bring any popcorn?" Claude shook his head to Noah.
Gabriel came up behind Laura taking her by the shoulder. "Excuse me...can we have a moment?" He asked George.
"Of course." George replied stepping away.
"Baby, look is this really that bad of an idea, or are you just pissed off because you feel like your father is trying to control you?"
She looked thoughtful for a moment. "Maybe a little of both. Honey, this is our life. And yes, maybe our hormones do rage out of control when we get around each other, but its us. And my dad has no place sticking his nose into our life."
"Laura, think about it though. What is really so bad about us getting married today? We save a fortune on all of the bullshit that goes with it. Everything will be legal, and I don't have to wear a goddamn tux. And what difference does it make where it happens? You will be my wife, I will be your husband." He stroked her face. " Ok?"
"Do you really want to do this?" She asked him.
"Yes. I really want to do this." He smiled softly. "I have been wanting to marry you since our first night together."
She smiled softly at him. "I love you so much."
"I kind of like you too." He pulled her in kissing her.
Laura approached her father. "Ok. Dad. You get your way...this time. But the only reason I am agreeing to this is because I can't wait another second to be his wife. But from here on out, you do not interfere in any way, shape or form...you got that?"
"As you wish, my girl." He smiled proudly at her.
"I love you, old man!" Laura embraced her father. She turned to the group.
"Ok people...we have some work to do. It looks like there is going to be a wedding today...rather we like it or not."
Everyone laughed.
"So Niki, Mama P, get on the horn, call everybody and tell them to drop what they are doing. I'll call Hiro and tell him to close the dojo for the day so he, Ando and Claire can be here. Peter, call Nathan and Heidi...Noah, call your wife. Claude, as much as it pains you, go out and get us some Irish wisky."
Gabriel cleared his throat and glared at her.
Laura smiled rolling her eyes. "And for my girl Niki and I, some sparkling cider. Ok...lets go people...common...we have work to do!"
All of the sudden Laura came to a dead stop. "Dad...wait a minute. Where in the hell are we going to find a minister at such short notice?"
"Maybe I can help?" Came a voice behind them.
Laura turned to see a young man standing behind them. Laura's eyes became big as saucers. He was handsome, tall and muscular with dark hair and bright blue eyes. From his stance and stature, Laura could tell he had been in the military. His face was gentle and serene with a smile Laura recognized immediately. She had never seen the young man before, but Laura knew without a doubt who he was.
"Brandon!" Gabriel happily smiled approaching him.
"Hey! Gabriel my man!" He embraced Gabriel. "I told you I'd see you on the other side! And you look a hell of a lot better than that Castaway look you had going on last time I saw you! Your not a bad looking dude when you clean up!"
"It's great to see you again!" Gabriel replied. "I couldn't have gotten out of that shit hole without you."
"No. It was all you, Gabriel." He smiled touching his shoulder. "I was just playing the messenger boy."
Gabriel turned to Laura. "Laura, this is Brandon the guard who helped me...what is going on?"
He saw that Laura was looking at Brandon tearfully.
"Do you two know each other?" He asked confused as they slowly walked toward each other.
Laura and Brandon stood face to face staring at each other for a moment. Then Laura reached out touching his face, tears falling. Brandon smiled a huge smile.
"Hi baby brother." Laura whispered tearfully as she and Brandon embraced.
-- End of Part XXI --