Disclaimer: I don't own Human Target and intend no copyright infringement.
A/N: Thank you, jackattack, for taking the time to leave a review!
The smirk on Joubert's face was so smug, Chance felt the urge to shoot it off his face. Not an option, of course, with Ash looking on.
Guerrero placed a hand on the boy's shoulder and steered him away. "You're coming with me", he curtly instructed him, the tone of his voice making it very clear that this was not up for debate.
Chance tucked his gun behind the waistband of his jeans. The message was obvious: One wrong move...
Joubert however, seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the situation. Grinning broadly, he let Chance guide him into the conference room. "Sorry about the bloody nose", he grunted as he sat down. "I was showing him a reverse hold and we had a little accident."
"When?", Chance hissed.
"As soon as your little thief dropped surveillance. Talented girl, by the way. And pretty, too. I heard she moved in here?"
Chance's hand went to his gun and the Old Man raised his hand in a placating gesture. "I approached him after school, introduced myself... we've been meeting quite regularly since. I told him you and I had a fallout a couple of years back, after grandma died. The grief was too much for both of us and we made the mistake of blaming each other instead of pulling together... Finally Baptiste watching these soap operas is actually good for something..."
"You are NOT his grandfather."
The smile on Joubert's face was still unwavering. "I'm as much his grandfather as Fips is his mother. I've always wondered about Juliet's messy wound... Now it all makes sense..."
"If you really think..." Chance's voice was barely audible.
"Ah, I see, you're aiming for the truth, Junior... you want your boy to know the truth... noble... so with which truth shall we start here? The truth that the woman Ash thinks is his mother actually killed his real mother? Or the truth that his father is an ex-assassin and multiple murderer?"
"You wouldn't..."
The Old Man chuckled. "You sure about that? Considering that you pictured me as evil incarnate for years, do you really think I'd refrain from breaking a young boy's heart? - Your boy's heart?"
Before Chance could reply, they both caught movement outside the conference room. Apparently Ash had managed to escape Guerrero again. For a tiny moment Chance had to stifle a smile. Ash didn't realize how much he was playing with fire here. So far Guerrero was cutting him some slack because he was Chance's son, but his generosity had limits... Chance wasn't sure how he felt about that.
Cautiously Ash walked up to the threshold and leaned against the doorframe. "You said forgiveness is the key to people living together", he mumbled quietly. "Are you going to forgive grandpa?"
"Ash..." Chance closed his eyes. This evening was turning out a lot more complicated than he had originally anticipated.
"You said I could have everything I want for my birthday", he replied, still quietly, but now looking Chance straight into the eye.
Somewhere in the back of Chance's mind Guerrero's voice spoke up. "No matter how harmless it sounds, you promise it to a child and it comes back biting you in the ass."
Did he always have to be right?
"Leave us alone for a moment, will you?"
Ash gave Chance a vaguely hopeful, lopsided smile that oddly tugged at his heart, and dashed off.
"He's a manipulator, just like you." The Old Man was smiling, too. Unlike Ash's, his smile made Chance's stomach flip over.
"You really don't see it, do you?" Joubert shook his head. "It's all there. All the tools. And he's beginning to figure out how to use them."
"With your help." Chance's voice had turned icy cold.
"I've been teaching him self-defense. He has no idea whatsoever how to defend himself, but you're letting him go to a public school. After being under the sole influence of that woman all his life. With a name like Ashley... What the hell have you been thinking?"
"I told Ames to..."
The Old Man snorted. "Are you planning to watch him for the rest if his life? He's turning thirteen in less than a month. He'll be a man soon. What kind of a man do you want him to be?"
"I'm not going to let you turn him into a monster."
"Just like I turned you into a monster?" Trust Joubert to stab right into Chance's weakest spot.
"What the hell do you want?"
"I want a grandson, Junior. And he's perfect. Just like you were."
Perfect.
The word sent shivers down Chance's spine.
"I know that you've come to some sort of understanding with Guerrero regarding his extracurricular activities. I don't see why we shouldn't reach the same agreement."
The veiled threat behind that seemingly harmless statement was unmistakable. The alternative was Joubert telling Ash the truth about his family ties. Chance knew from painful experience that the past always comes catching up with you. One day Ash would find out. The mere idea caused him nightmares in cold bleak morning hours. But at the moment his son was only twelve.
Too young, way too young. Chance didn't have much of a choice, did he?
"You're not going to meet him alone anymore."
The Old Man nodded, wisely hiding his triumphant smile.
"You're not, under any circumstances, going to teach him how to use a gun. No knives either. No explosives."
"Are you done?"
"And no poison!"
The Old Man started laughing. A low rumbling sound. "Drums in the deep", Chance thought. The realization just how fitting the quote was sent shivers down his spine.
The elevator signaled. Philippa was returning. Chance left the conference room to meet her while Joubert went to seek out Ash.
"Mystery solved?", she asked, obviously expecting a negative answer. Chance looked so defeated, no way he had gotten through to Ash. In a way this lifted her spirits.
"I've got good and bad news", Chance began. "Good news is, he didn't get into a fight..."
"Mom, have you ever met dad's father?" Ash, Joubert in tow, exited he kitchen area.
The Old Man extended his hand. Philippa shook it, but the look she threw Chance spoke volumes. "Am I just meeting the bad news?", it said.
Chance took a deep breath.