Chapter 20 Part II

The Bender

Grateful that she didn't have to wall walk, Kiara made her way towards the only door that they hadn't gone through. Since all of the Guardians were on the east side, I suspected Dieter would be too. He wouldn't want his guards 'half-way to Texas' away from him.

House unstrapped the little girl and was checking the wounds when they heard the first of the shots. Dieter ran to the door then out to the hall and listened to the repeated sounds of a gun. Running back into the room, Dieter saw that House was still examining the baby.

Dieter looked around the room as if he was trying to locate something. "We're under attack. The vampires are here and they're going to want her. We need to cut her head off."

House pulled back his head in shock. "She's a little child, you can't sincerely believe that she can hurt you? She doesn't even have fangs!"

"But, she has the buds for them. This creature is the end to humanity."

"Hardly. Look at her; she's scared to death of you!"

"Give her to me, I'll do it." Dieter said, sweat pouring off his forehead. He held out his arms for the girl.

"No!" House shook his head and continued to clean the wounds.

"House, this is serious, you need to give the vampire to me."

House stepped between Dieter and the child, not sure if he was doing the wise thing. But something inside said that he needed to protect the little girl, she needed him.

"Look, Dieter, we don't know that vampires will make it up here. Have some faith in your troops."

"No, there's no time. Step aside or I'm going to have to shoot you."

House looked at the .38 and debated. He started to step away, this wasn't his fight or his child. But something felt wrong about leaving her defenseless and House found himself back in between the two of them. "I can't. She's not hurting you and she's part mortal. It's murder."

"I don't have time to argue." He aimed at House's heart, which was six feet away and pulled the trigger.

House steeled himself for the impact, but it didn't come. Looking up, he saw Dieter trying to un-jam the gun. House grabbed the little girl and ran for the door, but had to get past Dieter who quickly blocked House and began pulling at his arms to get the little girl. Knocking the gun out of Dieter's hand, House tried again for the door, but was tripped by Dieter who locked onto Riane again. Being stronger than Dieter, House was winning the fight until Dieter reached over and grabbed a scapel, trying hard to stab the child. House put up a hand in a defensive posture and cried out as the scalpel went straight through the flesha nd muscle of his hand. Dieter yanked and was able to wrestle Riane from his arms. House pulled the scalpel carefully out, throwing it on the floor. Dieter was furiously wrapping an extension cord around the little girl's neck, pulling it tight as the baby cried and turned red in the face.

First House pulled on the child, but Dieter wasn't giving her up. So House took aim and landed the hardest right cross he could deliver. His hand felt like it was shattering from the force of the impact. Pulling it back and screaming, House noticed he had landed a well placed blow and that Dieter was wavering. One quick tug and House had the screaming child in his hands. Trying to untangle the cord from her neck, House grew frustrated when it wasn't budging; Dieter had managed to tie the cord in ways that made it impossible for House to undo in time. The child had stopped crying and was turning blue. Then he saw it, the bloody scalpel was sitting in the corner. He knelt down with Riane in his arms and began cutting the cord, relieving the constriction.

Just as he took a sigh of relief, he felt it--the sharp blow of the bowl on his head.

What the f—

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

I took a deep breath, wondering if I should open the door quickly or slowly. In the dark I decided I had the advantage if I opened the door quickly and moved quickly. I burst through the door only to find another door which, judging from the small anteroom, must be a room large enough to have surgical equipment and a bed.

I threw open the door just in time to see Greg hunched over in the corner by the examination bed with his back to the center of the room. Above him was Dieter, whaling on him with a stainless steel bowl.

"Hey Dieter." I yelled.

He whipped around, staring into the space around me, but he obviously couldn't see me since the room was pitch black.

"Say hello to my leeetel friend." I aimed and with two shots, both through his head, he fell to the floor.

There was no sign of my baby. "Greg, where's Riane?"

He stood up and my heart leapt into my throat when I saw that he was hunched over my little girl, protecting her. He had blood coming down his head from several blows from the bowl. I ran over and grabbed Riane and then helped Greg to the ante-room so that he could sit in the oversized couch.

"Greg. You look like you have a cracked skull. We can wait to take you to the hospital or you could use my blood to recuperate, but we'll be back to square one with the blood-bond."

"No, you better check the baby. She needs your blood more than me."

I looked down at my baby and, even in the dark, I could see she was bald and that there was a patch of skin missing from her arm. My voice caught in my throat. "They really did it. I didn't think that they could do that to a little toddler. How could they be so cruel?"

"Can you turn on the lights? It's really weird talking to you and not be able to see where you are." Greg asked.

The door opened and I whipped around with my gun, but it was Mario.

"Yo, Kir! It's me!"

"Mario, turn on the lights. I need to treat Riane and Greg."

Mario disappeared down the hall. Turning to Greg, I grabbed some wads of gauze and started to pat the wounds on his head. The lights came on.

Greg's eyes flew open as he stared over my shoulder. "Ahhhhhhh!"

Surprised by the girlie scream and frightened by the fear on his face, I followed Greg's point of view to over my shoulder. Turning with my gun, I was ready to shoot only to find my father standing behind me.

"Daddy! Why didn't you say something?"

"I wanted to see the look on this traitor's face when the lights came on."

I gave him a dirty look and shook my head in disapproval. "Daddy, Greg saved Riane, you owe him an apology and your thanks. He got those wounds hovering over Riane as Dieter Kramer pounded him on the head with a large stainless steel bowl."

My father cocked his head. "Why didn't he just fight? Dieter is what? 5'10" and skinny. This guy is Six-two and 200 pounds!"

I had to admit, he had a point. "Greg?"

Greg explained what had happened. It made sense, especially when I looked down and saw a knife wound that had gone completely through Greg's hand with blood escaping at a rather fast rate.

We all turned to look at Riane in my arms and saw the marks of the cord around her neck. I let out a cry which startled Riane and made her cry. My father was furious, wanting to take revenge on all Guardians when he saw what they had done to his precious granddaughter.

"Daddy, give Riane your blood. I'm going to give Greg mine."

He shook his head. "Are you sure? It cost you $25,000 the last time to break the bond."

"I know, but it's worth it to me."

Shaking his head, my father sat in a chair, took Riane from my arms and slit his wrist with a pen knife, feeding Riane his blood. She began sucking like a Hoover. Greg's eyes opened wide.

"Wow, she likes that, doesn't she?" He wrinkled his face in disgust.

"Her body says she needs it. Besides, she hasn't fed for a month. She doesn't need much blood, maybe once every few weeks to a month. In fact, she often goes--"

"Do I look like I care?" Greg said sarcastically.

My father glared up at me. "Maybe he would care if --."

"Daddy!" I said, cautioning him with my tone of voice.

I took Daddy's penknife and slit my wrist, handing it to Greg.

He shook his head. "No, I don't think that's a good idea."

"Take it and I promise to get you the antidote."

"No thanks, just take me to the hospital."

"Greg, they have to report knife wounds and, frankly, you look like you've been in a fight where you got your ass whipped."

"Hey! I could have taken him if I hadn't had Princess Leah hanging on."

"Fine. I'll take you to the hospital. Mario, can you and your guys help Greg down to the car?"

"Get me something to wrap my hand in and I can walk." Greg said with a little too much macho bravado. I went into the other room and grabbed a towel, took a look at Dieter, felt my blood rise at the thought of him trying to choke my baby. I shot him again, just for the shits and giggles. Every vampire in the building descended on the room.

Greg was standing with all the other vampires staring at me like I was nuts.

"Acushla?" My father asked tentatively.

I looked at everyone and spit on the corpse. "He hurt my baby..."

I dropped Greg off at PPTH emergency while I parked the car. By the time I reached Emergency, Dr. Nigh already had Greg back in a cubicle treating him. I walked in and watched as they stitched him and then ordered x-rays for his head and his hand. As they wheeled him to Radiology, I walked beside him until we reached the waiting room.

I sat down and whispered, "I could still give you my blood and then you could ravish me when you heal like the last time."

"Yeah and then I can follow you around like a puppy dog."

"I promise to buy you the antidote."

"No thanks. I like being in control of my emotions."

"Honey, you haven't been in control of your emotions since you potty-trained. Why do you think you're so miserable?"

"Have you been conspiring with Wilson?"

"Speak of the devil." I pointed to the door and saw Wilson walking towards us.

"House! What happened?"

He pointed to me. "She likes it rough. I told her the upside down thing was too much, but I never thought she'd cut the cord and drop me on my head."

Jim rolled his eyes and bent over to look at his head wound. "Seriously, what happened?"

"I got into a fight with Buffy."

"Who?"

"A vampire slayer."

"Okay, I can see that you're not going to give me a serious answer so just tell me who the guy was at your apartment? I went over and he refused to let me inside, told me he was a houseguest and you were gone. But, he wouldn't tell me his name or how he knew you."

"Oh, that's my personal trainer."

"Personal trainer?" Wilson wasn't buying it. "He didn't look very healthy; he was white as a ghost."

"Yeah, well you would be too if you had to train me."

Jim put up his hands. "Fine, I'm not going to get a real answer so forget it. What's the diagnosis?"

"I need X-rays."

We waited while the x-rays were taken. I saw them and reviewed them with Jim before we wheeled Greg back to Emergency. Both Jim and I were worried because Greg was getting groggy and not making sense (more than usual.) There was a skull fracture and some signs of swelling.

By the time we wheeled him back to Emergency, Jim had contacted Foreman to come in and help with the diagnosis. Brain injuries can be reversible and sometimes they aren't. The idea that Greg could lose that brain of his or any portion of it because he protected my—our—daughter, made me sick to my stomach.

He was unconscious by the time Foreman arrived. They had taken him to prep him for surgery to drill a hole in his skull to relieve the pressure. I tried to get some alone time with him, but there was always someone with him. I didn't want him going into surgery without my blood to help him heal.

"Kiara, why are you with House tonight and what's up with all black?" Wilson asked.

"I wanted to talk to him, so we were going to meet. And sometimes I just like to wear black, okay?"

Jim smiled and held up his hands in surrender, "Okay! I wasn't complaining; it's just that I've always seen you in pretty, uh, you know, business stuff."

I wasn't really listening. I kept looking out the window to see if anyone was coming. I was so nervous I couldn't even think of an excuse to get Jim out of the room. I had maybe five minutes before they wheeled him into surgery. I finally broke.

"Oh, to hell with it! Jim, make sure no one comes in here."

He narrowed his eyes, "Why?"

"Just do it!" I yelled back.

He gave me a puppy dog look, as if I had kicked him in the tail.

I searched the drawers and found a pair of scissors. I drew it across my wrist, letting the blood drip onto Greg's lips. I tried to open his mouth, but his jaw was clenched, not unusual for someone in his state of consciousness.

"What are you doing?" Jim said, rushing over and pulling my arm away.

"Open his mouth for me."

"No! Have you gone mad?"

"Maybe, but Jim, please, let me do this."

He still had a grip on my arm, keeping it from Greg's lips. We struggled and when I wasn't getting anywhere I finally pulled out my big guns—I let my retractiles drop and I snarled at him.

He jumped back, hitting a tray and letting out a short cry of surprise. I pushed my wrist into Greg's mouth and watched hopefully. He didn't respond at first, but then I saw a slight movement in his lips and my whole body relaxed. Within a minute he was sucking the blood heartily.

Jim was standing a safe distance away from me, but he was mesmerized. "Are you really doing this? I'm confused. What are you?"

"I'm—"

Greg groaned and his eyes fluttered.

Jim's eyes bugged out when Greg turned and looked at him. "What happened?"

I saw Jim look to me for answers. Greg turned over to hear my answer. "I had to give you some of my blood. You had a brain hemorrhage and I couldn't chance brain damage."

"And Wilson saw you?"

I nodded and grinned.

Greg laughed.

"Why are you two laughing?" Jim asked suspiciously.

Greg smiled at him and shook his head lightly. "Because you, Wilson, are about to be dinner."

Before Greg could finish the sentence, I already had my retractiles in Jim's neck. I took a small amount of blood, not really needing it after all I had ingested earlier, but then I injected the narcotic that makes the victim forget. Wilson started to slump so I pulled him to a chair.

The nurses came in, took one look at the very alert Greg, and ran out the door again. The surgeon and Foreman both came into the room and the register of shock was palpable. They ran over and started reviewing his stats.

"Come on, let me go home now. I'm okay." Greg barked.

Foreman looked over at the slumped Wilson in the chair. "What's up with Wilson?"

"He told me he hasn't been sleeping well. I guess sitting and waiting finally got the best of him."

Foreman walked over and ran his hand under Wilson's nose. "Well, he's breathing." He ignored Jim and walked back over to Greg.

"I want an MRI. I want to see what happened." Foreman's brow suddenly pinched together as he leaned in and checked Greg's scalp wound which was well on its way to being healed. "Look at this." He said it to me.

I walked over and nodded. "Looks like its healing well."

"Too well. I mean the stitches are almost ready to come out and he just got them an hour ago. It doesn't make sense."

Greg groaned in frustration, "I've been taking a lot of vitamins, now come on, let me go."

"Not tonight. Maybe you can go home in the morning if your MRI looks good."Foreman said.

I stayed out of the conversation, waiting for Jim to come through. After they took Greg up for an MRI, I heard Jim start to stir. He opened his eyes and immediately perked up when he realized he was in the hospital.

He started patting himself to see if there was any damage to his body, "Why am I here?"

"You came to see Greg, he was mugged."

"I did?"

"You fell asleep. I take it you haven't been sleeping well lately."

"Yeah, I did have a rough night last night. How's House?"

"He's going to be just fine." I was getting antsy, wanting to get home with my daughter. But I knew she was okay, she was getting the best blood in the vampire kingdom, better than mine. Still, I desperately wanted to hold her. It was taking forever for Greg to get back. I stood and turned to Jim, "I'm going to take off, my daughter is just getting over the flu and I'd like to check on her. Tell Greg to call me."

"Does he know?" Jim asked.

"Know what?"

"That he's the father?"

I gasped and sat back down. Trying to gain my composure, I took a deep breath and shook my head. "What makes you think Riane is Greg's?"

He chuckled. "The eyes, the hair, the face, the look of intelligence—"

"Oh, so I don't have a look of intelligence?"

"No, no, I don't mean that. She just gave me the same look that House does sometimes, like she was studying me. It's rude in a fifty year old, endearing in a toddler."

I swallowed and looked around. "I've been living with another man; he has beautiful blue eyes too."

Wilson tried to keep from smiling. "So she is House's. Why don't you tell him?"

"I just told you—"

"It's not what you said; it's what you didn't say. You didn't say that she wasn't House's and you didn't say she was the daughter of the man you're living with. You tried diversion and subterfuge; no wonder House is infatuated with you."

"What?"

"For the last two years he's Googled you every day. Whenever he has a fight with Lana, he starts talking about how brilliant you are, how sexy you are, how patient you are, how forgiving you are…if he's not in love with you, he's certainly infatuated."

"Really? Then why hasn't he called me?"

"You just said you're living with someone."

"But, it's not like that. I just needed somewhere to go to have the baby, somewhere that made me feel safe. Caleb—the guy I was with—is an old friend of the family and so I stayed with him."

"Maybe that wasn't it. Did you have a fight with House? He has a long memory and it takes him even longer to forgive."

"That must be it, because he thinks I lied to him. In a way he's right."

"Well, what are you going to do about your daughter?"

"If you know, then he must."

"I think deep down he does, but as long as you're willing to put up with the masquerade, he'll ride it for all it's worth. He's not good with owning up to his responsibilities. And you probably know that children were never on his agenda."

Jim didn't know it, but his words cut to the quick. Jim knew Greg better than anyone else. If Greg knew that Riane was his daughter and he was willing to ignore his own daughter, then I was a fool to be in love with him. I wanted to run home and hug my daughter, let her know that I wanted her no matter what her father thought. I made up my mind at that moment that I would return to England and to Caleb, that I would commit to our relationship all of the way. Caleb was willing to be the father that Greg refused to be.

Jim must have seen the light go out in my eyes. "You're going to tell him, right?"

"If he chooses to ignore her, then I'm not going to rock the boat. She has Caleb, the man I'm living with, in her life and he treats Riane like a daughter. It's not as if she doesn't have a father figure."

Jim shook his head and looked at his feet. "I shouldn't have said that he probably knows. What if he doesn't? What if I'm wrong and he wants to be a father?"

I took a deep breath. He did save her life. Maybe he did that because he knew. I should give him time to come around. What if he doesn't know? No, Jim is right, Greg's too bright, he solves riddles, reads people. He knows.

"We both know that if you figured it out, he figured it out too."

Jim gave me a little nod. He looked so sad and guilty that I leaned over and gave him a kiss on his cheek.

"Jim, it's for the best. Greg doesn't want to be a father and Caleb does. We'll all be just fine. Let it be." I walked out the door and went home to my beautiful little girl. Walking through the door, I ran up the stairs to the nursery only to find Riane fast asleep, her arm almost completely healed, and my father sitting in a chair reading a novel.

He smiled up at me. "Well, how is your mortal?"

"He's going to be fine, but I'm going to need that potion after all. His brain started to swell so I had to give him my blood."

"He's going to want sex with you when gets out of the hospital."

"I'll be gone. I'm going back to England."

My father put his book down. "Acushla, you just arrived. I was looking forward to a summer with you and my granddaughter."

"Daddy, I just can't stay knowing…"

"Knowing what?"

"It doesn't matter. Can you arrange for the potion?"

"Of course I can. But, once he has the potion, there will be no need for you to leave. He won't feel that bond anymore. Please stay, Acushla."

"Daddy, once Riane completely heals I'd like to go. I promise to return in a few months. It's just that, after all of this, I need to regroup. Does that make sense?"

He pursed his lips and nodded, pulling me over to give me a hug. I felt so safe, so loved, that I began to cry. He said nothing, just allowed me my breakdown as he hugged me and rubbed my upper arm. My father always smells so good, so clean and woodsy. It gave me great comfort to be able to smell something that when I was a child I associated with love and devotion.

My father left the room, allowing me to take over the watch. The large, overstuffed chair pulled out into a twin bed. I made it up and crawled in, grabbing a few magazines to read. I fell asleep around two in the morning dreaming of my childhood in Ireland.