Hello my dear readers. This chapter took far, far longer than expected, but I hope you enjoy it.
Fanfic-Reader-88: Dusty knows they can't do anything to him and he doesn't care much for Mr. Vega for how he's treated Trina. I could greatly debate whether anything would have really happened to them, but this isn't the forum for that discussion.
There was a joke about a 'supernatural' boyfriend near the end of 'We Love Each Other', but my intention is not to make it melodrama. I'm actually going to use it to address real world relationship problems.
Twilight Warrior 627: It's all metaphor about the problems facing Dusty and Heather as I'm addressing a real life issue. We'll see the reasoning behind the West's actions, though I think I've made them clear so far.
Xemtlenc: Yes, you know the reason now. The reason that Dusty got into the relationship with Heather from the start was that he was 'normal' and he's just now working out the ramifications of being what he is. He's 19, it's not like he's going to be making the best decisions.
Challenge King: Thank you. Jade will eventually pull herself together than woe to anyone that gets in her way. The reason Dusty gave her is fantastical of course, but it's meant to be a metaphor for something I'm going to explore as one of the subplots.
Also, Illusorygentleman has wrapped up his and SVAD's story 'Oh, Nancy', so check that out if you're old enough. It's M-rated for good reason.
I updated my Supernatural story, 'Old Toothie Faces'.
Check out Daniella Monet's twitter as she's involved in some milkshake contest to win some money for her charity. Details for voting are on her twitter.
Rating: T Language
Chapter 26
West Residence
Los Angeles, CA
After eating a quiet dinner with the others downstairs, Freddie finally headed upstairs to check on Jade. He had stopped by her room, but found it empty with her clothes strung on the bed and dresser draw still opened, indicated that she had taken the time to change. He searched the rest of the second floor until he stopped at the locked hallway bathroom beside Jade's room. He heard soft sniffling on the other side of the door, indicated that she had gotten out the worst of her sobbing and reduced to a wreak that he could easily imagine.
Freddie sat by the door for sometime, he wasn't sure if it was a few minutes or a few hours, but eventually he rested his forehead against the door and whispered through the door, "Jade… Jade, I know you can hear me. Please open the door."
He heard a muffled whimper, "Go away Freddie."
Freddie slumped his shoulders then turned to rest his back against the door. He closed his eyes and tilted his head back. He was half tempted to break the door down, but that would just make things worse. He could have remained and sat outside the door with her, but she wanted him to go away and he needed to take a step back to clear his head and think.
"Okay, I'll go. I'm doing it because I love you. Okay?"
The former tech-producer waited for a response, but got none.
He questioned again, not willing to budge unless he got a response, "Jade? I need to know you heard me."
"Because you love me… thank you."
He sighed then walked away from the bathroom door and started on his way down the short hallway towards the stairs. He somberly walked down the stairs, his heavy heart making each step far harder than one would expect, and into the kitchen. He turned right towards the living room and found Colonel Shay and Mrs. West sitting together on the couch while Spencer had a seat in one of the other chairs.
Spencer sighed, already knowing the answer, "How is she?"
Freddie sadly shook his head. "She's locked herself in her bathroom and she won't let me in. She's just sitting in there. I think she at least stopped crying… or she just ran out of tears."
Mrs. West swallowed down the emotion that flared up at hearing how much pain her daughter was experiencing.
Shay gently suggested, "We could break the door down."
Ruby raised an eyebrow with the glance.
He shrugged a shoulder. "We need to make sure she is alright and I don't want to give her a chance to get hurt."
The dark haired mother snapped, "She is not suicidal."
The Colonel shook his head and pointed out, "I didn't go that far, but she's got to eat and drink something. You don't want her to pass out in there and hit her head on the toilet or something."
The dark haired beauty uttered with a tired breath, "You would think of something like that."
Shay raised an eyebrow and gently challenged with a chuckle, "As if you wouldn't?"
Ruby rolled her eyes then mentioned, "I'll check on her and get the door open. I don't need you breaking anything."
The former flyer slightly shook his head and half-smirked as Mrs. West got up from her seat to head upstairs, but was able to take only a few steps before there was a loud and rapid knocking sounded from the door.
The four turned towards the door, slightly startled by the visitation since one of Quince's security details was stationed outside so that any stray reporter wouldn't 'accidentally' come onto the property.
Shay got up from his seat and made a quick detour to the kitchen counter. He reached over and grabbed a butcher knife from the knife holder then hid it behind his right forearm then cautiously headed for the door.
No one said anything with his suspicious nature, but it was unnecessary when they heard a familiar voice called out, "Jade?! Freddie?!"
Freddie walked past the Colonel and opened the door.
Tori desperately asked as she brushed passed Freddie to step inside, "Where's Ian? Where's Jade?"
The computer science major turned to face her back as she scanned the foyer and living room and answered, "Ian's with his parents and Jade has locked herself in her bathroom."
Beck followed up as he stepped inside with Jonathan and Amanda by his side, "Why?"
The former tech-producer looked to the long haired actor and answered in a tired voice, "Because Ian's mother practically snatched him out of Jade's arms to take him to the hospital and telling Jade and the rest of us to never come near Ian again."
Amanda face fell, dumbfounded hearing such a thing. Her eyes darted in utter shock and asked, "That's horrible. How could she just do that to her?"
Freddie tiredly smiled to his sister, happy to see the dark redhead in person, but had to skip over a proper reunion. "Because she's jealous of Jade. She's afraid that Ian might like Jade more than her and… it could just be a way for Mister West to insert some kind of control over Jade. They've always had a rocky relationship."
Tori's eyes bugged out and stated with an astonished tone, "Jade's not just going to accept that. She's going to…" The brunette shook her head and finished, "I don't want to imagine what she's going to do."
Freddie blew out a tired breath and answered, "No she's not, but for the moment she's just trying to process it and not doing it very well. Hopefully after everyone has had the chance to calm down, Ian's mother can be reasonable and everything can go back to normal."
The brunette fearfully uttered, "What do you mean by 'not very well'?"
Freddie glanced at his younger siblings then back to his dear friend, "I was trying to be delicate. She's in the bathroom for a reason: she doesn't want to be seen."
Tori looked embarrassed, realizing what she meant as she recalled the time she had seen Jade emotionally break down when she broke up with Beck the first time. She glanced to Jonathan and Amanda, unsure what to say to the siblings. She looked back to Freddie and asked, "Jonathan was explaining what happened to Dusty on our way here, so where's Nora? Did he tell you?"
Freddie lazily shrugged a shoulder and answered with a passing glance to Jonathan, knowing he heard Dusty just as well has he, "I'm guessing he did kill her. They can't find her and he said that she should be in Hell right now."
Jonathan was there when Dusty had said such a thing, so it wasn't surprised with that conclusion, one he was still trying to wrap his head around. He thought Dusty seemed like an alright guy despite perhaps the violent tendency he picked up on the two times he interacted with him, but didn't think he was a killer.
On the other hand, Amanda looked stunned at such a suggestion even though she had never met Dusty.
Beck shook his head and sighed, "Great, so he's finally decided to start killing people here."
Freddie's lulled anger flared back up and had a nice target to unleash it on. He turned a cold stare to Beck and pointed out the door, "Get out."
"What?"
The more muscular teenager practically snarled, "Get the jank out. I don't want to hear your mess right now. We already have our hands full with trying to comfort Jade and I don't need to hear you trash my friend that just saved Ian, so get out."
Beck shouted back with an angry expression, "Hey, I'm just telling you the truth. You can't be that blind to him and pretend that it's perfectly alright. He's been killing people and he probably killed Nora or they wouldn't have arrested him. You just can't be alright with that."
Freddie hatefully glared at him and pointed past him. "Out or I'm throwing you out."
The long haired actor definitely stared back, having no intention of being intimidated by Freddie.
The former Seattleite took a step forward stand toe-to-toe with the taller teenager and met his eyes with a determined gaze.
Beck held his ground, though he was reasonably concerned that Freddie would follow through on his threat. He looked to Tori for some support, but she embarrassingly glanced to the floor, unable to meet his eyes. He didn't bother hiding his shock at the lack of direct support. He sighed out and covered his mouth for a moment, trying to hide the flash of outrage in his heart at his girlfriend's lackluster support for him. He slightly shook his head and glanced away from Tori.
Mrs. West spoke up, not wanting to have fist fight take place in her living room as that is exactly what she saw as could potentially happen, "Beck, please leave my home."
"Mrs. West—"
"I'm not having a fight in my living room between you two and I'm certainly not asking Freddie to leave, so it would be best if you left before that happens… before I ask Steven to make you leave."
Shay directed a detached expression to the young man and stated, "I know Carly has a soft spot you Mister Oliver, but you should heed her instructions."
"Fine, I'm going." He sarcastically added, "Let's just pretend it's perfectly alright for him doing that."
Freddie just directed an impatient glare to him while the Colonel pointed out in nearly a sarcastic tone, "You realize son that you're saying that to somebody that used to kill people for a living?"
The heartthrob actor looked to the military veteran and countered, "That's different."
Shay knotted his brow and asked, "How is it different?"
"You're just not randomly killing people," Beck retorted, not caring if he was potentially revealing more about Dusty to the younger Benson siblings. "You were defending our country."
"'Our'? I thought you were Canadian?" Shay questioned with a knotted brow.
Beck lightly scowled.
The Colonel dismissively waved off Beck's expression and continued, "Never mind, so it's the randomness that's bothering you? He's not in a uniform defending people? If anything, he's a better shot than the drone strikes. It's a lot neater and cleaner than what we're doing now, but you perhaps have a point that he's not doing it under any legal authority. 'Who watches the watchers?'"
The handsome actor's annoyance was turned down a notch at hearing that at least someone was taking his concerns seriously, even half-heartedly and they didn't agree with them.
Freddie's annoyance ticked up the notch Beck's annoyance ticked down and looked to Shay.
Shay shrugged a shoulder and easily responded, "If he's right, he's right."
A tense silence fell among them as Beck was still expected to leave with the look Freddie was giving him and Mrs. West's instructions. Beck sighed then looked to Tori again.
Tori displayed a timid, perhaps embarrassed look, yet firmly stated, "I'm staying for Jade."
Beck took a deep breath then slowly let it out.
Jonathan assured Beck, "It's alright. I'll give her a ride back home."
The older teenager threw a glare at the slightly curly haired teenager, trying to keep his anger in check but was failing at it. His girlfriend not only wasn't stepping up to defend him, but Jonathan was volunteering to make sure she got home safe.
The younger Benson brother looked a little confused for the anger turned on him.
Tori rested a hand on his upper arm. "You go ahead and go. We're here for Jade, not any other disagreements we're having. I'll see you in the morning."
Beck jerked away from her touch, clearly not comfortable with the contact of her hand on him and the sense of betrayal he was feeling towards her.
The brunette pulled her hand back and looked at him with a stunned expression. The others weren't blind to the interaction and the younger Benson siblings visibly showed their concerns on their faces.
Beck turned away and headed out the door without a word to her or the others.
Tori stood there silent and fairly perplexed at her boyfriend's reaction.
Freddie gently touched Tori's left elbow and softly suggested, trying to keep his feelings in check about Beck in general and his reaction in leaving, "Do you want to try to see Jade?"
The brunette looked to her friend and nodded, deciding that she could only handle one problem at the time and would talk with Beck later tonight.
Freddie led the three teenagers further into the house while Mrs. West closed and locked the door behind them.
They immediately met with Spencer, who had been hanging back from the conversation at the door. He bashfully waved, not recognizing Jonathan. "Hello. Hey Tori, Cat."
Amanda politely smiled and identified herself, "No, I'm Amanda."
The artist squinted and looked Freddie, searching for an explanation.
Freddie cracked a tired smile at Spencer's confusion and quickly explained, "Spencer, this is Jonathan and Amanda… Benson, my brother and sister." He motioned back to the artist. "This is Spencer, Colonel Shay's son and Carly's brother."
Spencer eyes went wide and questioned, "Brother and sister? You don't have a brother or sister."
The college sophomore sighed and explained, "My dad remarried after my mom and had children. They're my half-siblings."
The man in his early thirties muttered, "Wow… that's… wow."
"Yeah, tell me about it."
Spencer redundantly pointed out, "And she looks like Cat?"
"Yes."
"So does that mean…" Spencer squinted and thought about the implications of Freddie's half-sister looking like Cat, who turned out to be his and Carly's second cousin. "…we're related?"
Freddie pinched the bridge of his nose then patiently smiled. "Can we worry about those implications later?"
Spencer maintained his confused expression, but Tori forced a smile and stated to keep from getting too deep in the conversation, "I'm going to check on Jade."
Freddie pointed out, "She's not seeing anyone. She won't open the door for me, but maybe you'll have some luck."
The brunette actress let him see a small smile before she cut through the kitchen and headed upstairs.
The computer science major looked to his siblings and asked, "Would you like something to eat?"
Tori reached the second floor within moments and headed for the hallway bathroom next to Jade's room. She gently knocked on it and stated, "Jade, it's me Tori. We just got back. Freddie told me what happened. We're worried about you. Can you open the door?"
The brunette heard Jade's broken voice through the door, "Tori, thanks for coming back, but I don't feel like talking."
"It's going to be okay—"
Jade's voice took a sharp tone as she interrupted, "Don't feed me your charmed life sweet happy 'everything is going to be alright' bullchizz. I don't have the patience for it right now."
The brunette bowed her head and rested her forehead on the door. She took a breath then rallied her nerve to answer, "I know it's going to be alright. You got Ian back from Nora safe and sound and you'll get him back from your stepmom. You got to pull yourself together as the Jade we know so you can do something about it."
Tori took several slow breaths, carefully trying to listen to any response. The seconds ticked by that stretched into a minute of silence. The silence continued and she realized that Jade wasn't going to say anything, she sighed, "I'll be right downstairs if you need me." She turned to face a worried Mrs. West standing a few feet down the hall. The teenager nodded her head and bashful kept her gaze down as she passed her on the way back downstairs.
The raven haired beauty approached the bathroom and gently knocked on the door and spoke, "Jadelyn, please open the door."
"Mom—"
"I know you're hurting, hurting far more than I ever expected. I guess I never truly realized how much you care about him." She cracked a soft smile. "I kind of regret that I didn't have another child for you to have a sibling."
Jade let out a crackling laughed, "I probably would have just hated him or her."
"Then why care about Ian so much?"
There was a pause on the other side of the door.
"Jade?"
"I guess because I gave him a chance… Freddie had to give me a shove and… he loved me for no other reason but to love me… the only one I ever got that from was… was from you, but it was different… it was…"
"From a child? Someone that looked up to you?"
There was silence for another few seconds before Jade finally answered, "Yeah."
"Welcome to motherhood."
Mrs. West heard of all things broken laugh, not the sorrowful one she just let out, which brought a relieving smile to her face.
Jade continued seconds later after she had calmed down and less sorrow in her voice, "I guess I shouldn't have been so hard on you growing up?"
"You're a teenage girl; you're supposed to be hard to your parents. You weren't any different than when I was a teenager. Oh the stories I've should have told you…"
The matriarch trailed off and silence fell between mother and daughter. The silence was deafening to Mrs. West and she had heard it too many times in her life. "Jadelyn, would you open the door?"
"I just want to be alone right now."
"You may have locked yourself in the bathroom, but you're not alone. You have a house full of people downstairs that are with you. I mean Tori of all people flew back for you and Freddie's sister came along for the ride."
Mrs. West was greeted with silence again, hoping that her daughter was at least thinking on the matter. She certainly thought it was something that Jade had to consider after the last time Jade was in such an emotional hole after her final breakup with Beck and they weren't there for her. She still had a sliver of resentment towards Jade's friends as they had decided as a group to go off to some supposed tropical vacation without her—that Shay eventually had to save them from—and by default take Beck's side as he went along with the invite. At least this time Jade would have their support even if most of them weren't there at the moment, but had the addition of Spencer and Freddie's younger siblings.
"I hear you, but I need to be alone right now."
"Okay, but… I'm not letting you go to bed without something to eat, so if you fall asleep in there, we're getting in, one way or the other."
Though she couldn't be seen, Jade knew that wasn't an idle threat as her mother didn't make them and was the source of her fierceness. The daughter quietly answered, "Fine, fine, you'll see me before I go to bed, but not tight now."
"Okay. I'll be downstairs. I love you."
"I love you too mom."
Mrs. West let out one more sigh then started on her way back downstairs.
In the kitchen, Freddie was sitting at the kitchen counter sipping on a drink when he heard Tori's footsteps. Jonathan and Amanda were sitting on the other side of the bar in the living room enjoying their sandwiches. He regretfully sighed, "She wouldn't see you?"
Tori shook her head and took a seat next to him. "No. I don't think I've ever heard her that broken and I've seen her broken. I can only imagine what she looks like."
Freddie looked towards the counter helplessly.
Jonathan took a quick sip from the drink Freddie had offered then commented, "I didn't realize they were that close. I saw how they interacted at Nozu, but… she's acting like she lost her own child."
The former Seattleite tiredly pointed out, "I said she embraced sisterhood."
The younger teenager licked his lips then tried to delicately point out, "It seems more than that with her reaction."
Freddie quickly pointed out, "How would you react if you were told you couldn't ever see Amanda again?"
Jonathan gave a glance from the corner of his eye to his sister then answered, "That's different."
"How?"
"She's my sister."
Freddie arched an eyebrow and countered, "And he's not her brother?"
"I'm not treating her as my child. Jade doesn't need to be a mother figure to him."
Spencer walked up behind Jonathan and Amanda and spoke up with a surprising question with just a hint of some underlining point in his voice, "How do you know that?"
Jonathan slightly squinted and slowly answered, feeling perhaps he was being set up, "Because he has one, that's why she's stuck in this situation in the first place."
The eldest Shay sibling countered, "It doesn't necessarily work that way. I had to step up to be not only Carly's brother, but in a way… be dad when dad was away on his deployments and sometimes had to be her mom. Just because he has one, doesn't mean that he's getting that or that he wouldn't be better off with Jade in his life."
The Colonel walked up behind his son and patted him on the back as he pointed out with a jovial smile, "You did great… with a couple of missteps there though with the… 'mother' part."
"Hey?!"
Shay raised his hands and laughed, "You could never man up and have 'the talk' with her or got too embarrassed to buy her the necessary feminine products when she needed them when she swung into puberty."
Spencer made wiggling motions with his fingers while he responded, "I tried, it's just… talking about all that girly stuff."
Shay wrapped an arm around his son's shoulders to pull him close for a sideways hug. "Sure it was, sure it was. You were as pure as the wind driven snow during that time and were never intimate with a woman during all that time."
The artist stuttered for a few moments at suddenly being the center of attention. "Hey, that's different when you're talking about that with your baby sister."
Jonathan sympathetically looked to the artist and answered, "I'd never want to have that conversation with Amanda."
The dark redhead agreed, "I wouldn't want that conversation with you either."
Freddie just laughed and added, "I wouldn't want to have that conversation with either of you."
The tension relieving laughter swept the teenagers.
Mrs. West reached the kitchen just as their laughter died down and became a little curious as to why they were laughing. She didn't get to inquire as Shay cautiously asked, "So?"
The dark haired older woman sighed, "She just wants to be alone for a while."
Freddie shook his head and looked back to his drink.
Mrs. West walked over to her future son-in-law and wrapped an arm around his shoulders to rest a hand on his left one. "It's okay. It'll be fine. My girl's strong and she'll bounce back in a little bit."
Spencer offered, "I'm going to head upstairs and just… sit outside the door for her."
The matriarch wanted to point out how futile such action would be, but she knew he could be just as stubborn as his late-mother. She gently smile and informed him, "It's the closed door on your right just before you get to Freddie's room."
"Thanks."
Spencer started his way towards the stairs while Mrs. West went to the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of water. She looked to the teenagers and announced, "I'm going to be on the back porch."
"I'll join you," Shay offered with a smile.
Mrs. West directed a gentle smile to him then walked around the kitchen bar and was join by Shay to head out to the back porch.
After all the 'adults' had left, Freddie rested on his left elbow to shift in looking at Tori and asked, "How long are you going to stay? I guess they're not too happy with you just taking off."
Tori shook her head. "I hadn't thought about it. I just heard the news and jumped on the plane to be here. It was a Friday and we were just wrapping up filming anyway, so I don't see how they can be mad. I needed to be here for Jade and I care about Ian. I don't want anything to happen to him and now… I feel just as useless as if I stayed in New York."
Freddie raised his glass and sardonically commented, "You're in good company."
The two younger Benson siblings looked to the pair with shared sympathy. Anyone could see how much Freddie loved Jade while Tori deeply cared about her friend and being unable to help was tearing them both up inside.
Tori sighed then reached over and took Freddie's plastic cup to take a sip from his drink. She snorted out a laugh as she sat the cup on the counter, "We've been here before, haven't we? Feeling helpless when it comes to Jade?"
Freddie curiously thought on her words for a few seconds then snorted out a breath when he realized what she meant. "Yeah we have… and it turned out alright, but we already got one miracle today. I think it would be asking a little much asking for a second one."
Tori playful teased in a tired voice, "As if he would say no to you."
The former Seattleite was about to retort, but realized that his siblings were sitting with them. He assumed that Tori didn't realize or was just too comfortable with the two teenagers with them. He mentally regrouped and laughed off, hoping she'd pick up his subtle prod to change the subject, "I think you're exaggerating a little. God's not a genie in a lamp."
Tori slightly squinted and asked, "God? I was talking about…" She quickly shut her mouth when she realized what she was about to say in front of Amanda and Jonathan.
Jonathan gave his sister a sideways glance then asked the pair, "Who were you talking about?"
Tori and Freddie exchanged expressions, the musician one of embarrassment and the potential future CEO of the Pear Company in concern and quickly trying to figure out a way to spin an explanation.
The eldest Benson in the room forced a smile and explained, "I think Tori meant whoever performed the miracle for Jade after her assault on the game show and the little girl that was in the car accident with Tori. God does have his servants and I guess one of them been looking out for us."
The brunette closed her mouth tightly, not trusting herself to speak, and going along with Freddie's explanation for the time being as she felt the first inclining of being uncomfortable not being truthful with Jonathan and Amanda.
The look on Tori's face told Jonathan that his older brother wasn't being entirely honest with him, but he couldn't really push him for an answer. Instead, he let out a soft chuckle to commented, "You do look like you have a guardian angel looking out for you. I know it had to make a lot of people reexamine their faith. Didn't they really call it a miracle with what happened with Jade?"
Tori tightly smiled, recalling her conversations with Church officials when they were conducting their investigation of the event and told her what she saw. Thankfully, they didn't think she was crazy nor did they actually repeat who she named in performing the miracle. She forced her voice to a relaxed tone and answered, "Yes, the Catholic Church ruled it a verifiable miracle and I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't investigate what happened with Rose's daughter."
Freddie hid his concerned expression with a sip from his drink.
Jonathan offered with a hesitant laugh as he thought on Beck's words—accusation—on Dusty, "I guess he showed up again to help Dusty and Sam find Ian."
"Yeah, he sure did…" Freddie carelessly commented.
The teenagers lulled into silence as Jonathan and Amanda were finishing their sandwiches. The former tech-producer finished his drink and to the moment of silence to get up and get Tori something to drink and fix her a sandwich.
While Freddie was making Tori's sandwich, she softly bit into her bottom lip, contemplating asking her next question then deciding to ask, "Was that necessary to tell Beck he had to go? He was here for Jade."
Freddie turned from the kitchen island and answered in a tired and impatient breath, "Tori, I wasn't in the mood to deal with him and if you thought it was so bad, why didn't you defend him?"
The brunette frowned and turned in her seat to direct a defensive look back at him. "Because I was here for Jade and not to be caught in another argument between you two. There wasn't anything I would have been able to say that would have let Beck stayed and you would have asked me to leave."
Freddie snorted out a breath then calmly answered, "I wouldn't have asked you to leave."
"Maybe not, but things would have turned out the same: Beck leaving and me staying."
He looked patiently back and answered, "That's not the point."
She curtly questioned, "What's the point then?"
Freddie shook his head and mumbled under his breath, "Wow."
Tori knotted her brow, confused with his reaction.
Amanda shared in her new friend's confusion, but Jonathan timidly asked Tori to partially steer away from that potentially uncomfortable topic that could lead the friends to get into an argument, "Ah, if I might ask, what was up with his reaction to the news of Dusty? Saying all that stuff about Dusty's been going around killing people and the Colonel agreeing with him? Do you think he really killed Nora?"
Freddie pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. 'Beck just had to run off his mouth…'
Tori's eyes darted to Freddie, unsure how to answer such a question, "What Beck meant by that was…"
The oldest Benson in the room cut her, "We don't talk about that with others."
Amanda knotted her brow while Jonathan slightly tilted his head to the side and questioned with a hint of offense in his voice, "So we're 'others'?"
Freddie met his younger brother's eyes. "In this instance, yes."
Amanda's lips became a thin line and glanced at the table, feeling a little embarrassed that despite they're growing closeness and establishing themselves as siblings that he still saw them as outsiders to his friends/family.
Jonathan narrowed his gaze and cautiously asked, "So there is something to it? Dusty's a serial killer?"
Tori countered with a curt tone of her own, "That's not fair to them. What harm is it for them to know?"
Freddie looked to his friend incredulous and answered, "It's his secret to tell, not my and not yours to tell."
"He readily told Rose and he didn't even know her for ten minutes."
Freddie wasn't aware of that little fact, however, that didn't actually address his point, "Maybe so, but he's the one that told her. It was his decision to make and you don't have the right to tell them."
Amanda rubbed a temple and remarked, "Okay, this is really getting confusion."
The college sophomore sympathetically looked at his sister and answered, "I'm sorry, but I can't clear it up."
A thought—an unbelievable one—sprung to mind for Jonathan with taking into account Dusty's story from Nozu, so much so that he couldn't fully comprehend for several seconds the ramifications of such a thing. His gaze darted between Tori and Freddie then asked with a reasonably concerned tone, "So Beck is right? While your friend has been gone, he's been killing people and that's why it's conceivable that he did kill Nora? How is that possible?"
Freddie licked his lips and began, "Beck is—"
Tori blurted out, "Dusty's the boy with the black wings."
Freddie's eyes went wide, completely taken aback that she would blurt out such a thing.
Jonathan squinted and questioned as if he hadn't heard her correctly, "What?"
The musician quickly explained, "In the news, have you heard about the guy they're calling the 'boy with the black wings'?
Freddie sternly interrupted, "Tori."
The brunette ignored him and continued, "Have you?"
Jonathan thought for a moment while passing a concerned looked to Freddie as his brother was giving Tori such a harsh stare he wonder if he could set the girl on fire. He slowly answered, still unsure where she was going with her questioning, "Yeah, some guy all the terrorist are afraid of in the Middle East. They say they've been dropping like flies because of him. I thought it was just some wild conspiracy theory like the guys that wear tinfoil hats or think all politicians are actually alien lizards."
"He's real and that's him."
Amanda interrupted with a raised hand, "I don't understand. That's just some tabloid nonsense. No has big black wings and shooting lasers from their hands."
Jonathan glanced at his sister with an arched eyebrow.
The cheerleader answered a little defensively, "What? I get Pear newsfeed."
Tori countered, desperate to be believed and not considered mentally ill, "Grace should be a burned up little girl instead of completely heal and Jade should be dead right now from the car battery that was dropped on her head, but she's a live—the Church deemed it a genuine miracle."
Freddie forgot all about Tori's sandwich to walk back to stand beside her at his seat and sharply spoke up, "Tori, stop right now."
Tori fiercely retorted, "No, they need to understand what's going on. Beck let it out of the bag and I can't lie to them. I don't want you to have to lie to them either. They're your brother and sister."
The computer science major took several calming breaths, trying to see one of his dearest friend's point-of-view. "No they don't. They don't need to know that with what's going on right now. They're here to support Jade and that doesn't necessarily involve what could have happened to Nora."
The younger Benson siblings shared glances, sharing their confusion and disbelief at what they're being told and apparently Freddie not only agreed with what Tori was saying, but desperately trying to get her to stop.
Amanda was still trying to get her head around the fantastic tale being told her, but questioned, "You're saying that this Dusty healed Jade and this little girl, like Jesus? He's responsible?"
Freddie palmed his forehead and just sighed before retaking his seat.
"Yes he did. I was there when he did it. He admitted to healing Grace. He heard Heather's prayer about what happened, so he came back."
Jonathan picked up and raised a hand, "Wait, if he's really has been doing what you and Beck are saying, does that mean that the fairy tale that he told Ian at Nozu really happened?"
Tori was the one know looking confused and looked to Freddie for an explanation, "What story is he talking about?"
Freddie licked his lips and hesitated speaking, but didn't need to answer as Jonathan filled her in, "He told this fantasy story to Ian about meeting the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and saving the world from Satan. I thought it was just to entertain him, but… was that real?"
Amanda looked dumbfounded with the explanation while Tori looked to Freddie and demanded, "What?!"
Freddie held a stoic gaze.
The brunette looked to Freddie and quickly assessed his expression and some of the color drained from her face. She asked him a rhetorical question, "He did?"
The former Seattleite annoyingly countered with a face, "I didn't say that."
"The look you're giving says he did it."
Jonathan held up a hand and voiced his objection, "That couldn't have happened. That's just nuts."
Freddie took a deep breath then slowly let it out through his nose. Seeing that it was pointless now to deny what Tori was saying, he answered, "I assumed he edited the story for Ian, but the underlining events I don't doubt were true." He rolled his eyes and finished, "At least we know how he got his torn jacket and blood all over it."
Jonathan demanded, looking at his brother as if he had really lost his mind, "You really believe that?"
"I know what he's done before and what he's capable of doing. I have no reason to doubt him, though I wish I did because that was damn terrifying."
The younger Benson siblings sat in stunned silence, each trying to process what they were being told. It was too fantastic a tale to believe, but there wasn't any reason for Tori to lie about it and Freddie so animate about her not telling them and what happened to Jade and Grace were literal miracles and couldn't be discarded.
Jonathan palmed his forehead and remarked, "Assuming any of that is true, why are you not freaked out about it? I mean… what he is? It sounds like one of those crazy urban fantasy novels."
Amanda joined in demanding with a hint of fear in her voice, "Yeah? The apostles could heal people, but…"
Freddie didn't want to answer, but Tori wasn't shy, "He's the son of an angel and that's why he can do what he does: healing, the wings, the 'laser hands', hearing prayers…"
The dark redhead and the slightly curly haired Benson remained silent as they felt like they had dropped into the Twilight Zone.
After several awkward seconds, Jonathan spoke with levity to his voice, "You know if anyone else was telling me this, I would think they're crazy."
Freddie casually answered with a disapproving gaze towards Tori, "Why? You know it's happening—the miracle healings—Tori's just telling you who actually did it."
Tori met his look with a definite gaze.
Amanda questioned with a hint of amazement in her voice, "How are you just fine with that?"
Freddie lazily shrugged a shoulder. "We've had more than a year to adjust and reconcile any theological questions we had with his existence. I was shocked the first time I met an angel, but it was just a confirmation of what I already believed."
Tori added, "I was raised Catholic and believed too, so… I'm not sure how the others really dealt with it. We never had this big discussion about it."
Jonathan questioned with a raised eyebrow, "You've met an angel?"
"Yes, his mother actually. She's ah… she's hard to describe. She's nice, but she doesn't take mess. She's still that how 'soldier of God', so…"
The dark redhead knotted her brow and asked, "She?"
"Don't ask me how spiritual beings have gender or a sex or have sex. I don't know and I haven't asked and I don't intend to ask."
Jonathan continued while looking hesitant, "I don't know about you, but that's going to take me a little while to get my head around that."
Freddie voiced, "While you're doing that, I would ask that you just don't go spreading that around." He eyed a softly accusing look to Tori.
Tori returned with an annoyed gaze while Amanda laughed out, "Who would believe us?"
Freddie looked away from his friend and answered, "You have a point."
The younger Benson brother voiced something else that didn't make sense in light of the revelation about Dusty, "If Dusty has done all that for you, why is Beck so hostile towards him? Why did he give me an angry look for offering Tori a ride home like I was some threat to him?"
Amanda suddenly found her food more interesting by taking several bits of her sandwich.
Jonathan instantly picked up that Amanda knew something, but didn't want to directly confront her. Freddie joined with the curious gaze towards his sister and spared one to Tori. He could see something was up between them and with his years of experience with being friends (his only friends) with two females, he knew something had to be shared between them. His mind ran a few possibilities.
Tori sighed and pulled some hair behind her right ear. "He and Dusty have had disagreements in the past and he's just upset and you were convenient to take it out on. I'm not sure if he's still sore about what happened at the hospital."
"I didn't realize he was the type to hold a grudge. It did seem ridiculous for him to get upset with Heather just because Dusty hadn't… that's why he got upset. He wanted her to get Dusty there for you," Jonathan put two and two together and nodded along in understanding.
The brunette singer nodded and softly agreed, "Yeah."
"That makes more sense and… his short temper a little understandable."
The other three turned curious expressions to him.
Jonathan continued a little embarrassingly, "I'm not trying to justify it, but I can understand it. You know someone that can just heal people and you need them right now, I think I might be a little impatient."
Freddie voiced his opinion, "I was desperate to get a hold of Dusty after what happened to Jade with the battery, but I didn't physically intimidate anyone to get him to show up, but I thought Beck settled that with Heather and Dusty, so why should he have a problem with Jonathan?"
Tori quickly corrected, "I just said he might be sore about the hospital. I still think it was just because Jon was convenient. You're the one he was really mad at… and he's mad at me."
Freddie palmed his forehead and wanted to say something to make Tori feel better, but he didn't have anything encouraging words and frankly really didn't want to get involved with Tori and Beck's potential relationship problems. He didn't have the emotional wherewithal for it at the moment and figured he would let Jade and Trina take the lead on it. The best he could offer was, "I think I'll finish making your sandwich."
"Thanks," she half-heartedly answered as he got up.
Freddie cracked a half-smile and started back on finishing preparing Tori's food, signaling that though they disagreed on spilling Dusty's secret, they were alright.
Jonathan and Amanda passed sideways glances, signaling that if Freddie and Tori were dropping it, it would be best if they did the same even if neither of them were happy with Beck's reaction to Tori or him being upset with Jonathan.
As the teenagers conversed downstairs, Spencer knocked on the bathroom door and bashfully called out, "Hey Jade. How yah doing?"
Jade answered surprisingly with a tired voice, "Spencer?"
The artist cracked a grin and answered, "Yeah, it's me."
"What are you doing here?"
"I heard what happened, so I flew down to see if I could help. I'm not sure what I can do, but I'm here if you need me."
"Thanks, but I just need some time to myself."
"I know, but I wanted to let you know that I understand. I know what you're feeling."
Jade answered with a mix of disbelief and sarcasm, "Really?"
Spencer knowingly grinned and answered, "I know how it feels to feel for a younger sibling as if you're their parent, worrying about making sure they're alright and that they know they're loved when their mom and dad aren't there to tell them every day."
The other side of the door became quiet for about minute, a minute Spencer wasn't sure what to do other than bounce from one foot to the other.
Jade finally asked just loud enough to penetrate the door, "Did you ever risk losing Carly? Being a part of her life?"
Spencer sighed, but formed a weary smile as he remembered such a thing. "One time and my biggest regret wasn't standing up to my grandpa when he thought he could do a better job at taking care of Carly a few years ago—this was before you met Freddie. He realized just as he was ready to take Carly back home with him that I was responsible enough." He snorted a laugh, "Oh boy was dad mad at me for almost letting it happened. I don't remember him ever being as mad with me than when that happened." He rolled his eyes then chuckled, "Then there was the time I used this really expensive insurance policy on a diamond watch from our great-grammy Shay to fix Carly's room after a fire… I'm still saving up for that to pay her back."
He was met with quietness for about a minute and thought that he perhaps should just go back downstairs until he heard Jade's quiet voice, "Thank you Spencer."
"Hey, that's what brothers are for."
Unseeable through the door, Jade cracked a self-comforting smile and answered, "Yeah, that's what siblings are for."
The artist smile and decided to have a seat next to the door, realizing the similarity of Carly taking excessive long showers—including taking a chair into the shower—as a way to comfort herself when she was down. "I'm just going to sit with you for a while if it's alright?"
He didn't get a yes, but he didn't get an objection either, so he just sat and waited.
In the kitchen, Tori was finishing her sandwich and finally feeling the stress and length of the day catching up with her. She took a quick sip from her drink to finish it then politely smiled to Freddie and said, "I think I'm getting pooped. It's getting late and I got up early for a full day of filming…"
As if on cue, Amanda tried to stifle a yawn as the day was catching up with her too.
Freddie acknowledged with a nod of his head, "You've been up an extra three hours than the rest of us. It's after midnight for you."
Jonathan wiped his lips with a napkin then offered, "I'll drop you off at home…" He looked at his sister and while he finished, "…and it looks like you're crashing at my place tonight."
The brunette spoke up before Amanda could answer, "Actually, her luggage—what little she grabbed—was took to my place." She looked to the dark redhead and offered with a grin, "You can just go ahead and stay with me. We have plenty of room and you don't have to crash Jon's bachelor pad."
Jonathan snorted out some laughter.
Amanda glanced to Jonathan almost as if asking if it was alright as not staying with her brother while she was here seemed odd, but Tori made a point and rooming with girls would have its advantages.
"Have your girl's sleepover. I'm fine with it."
Amanda grinned and commented, "I miss you too."
The siblings shared a smile then as one, the four got up from their seats. Tori was about to start to collect the plates and glasses out of habit, but Freddie waved her off, "Everyone just leave your stuff. I'll get it in a minute."
Tori briefly smiled then followed the rest to the front door.
When they reached the door, Tori turned and offered a small, confidently smile to her friend and said, "Thanks for diner. I'll be back tomorrow."
Freddie answered softly, "You're welcome and I know she'll appreciate it."
Amanda pulled her brother into a hug and asked, "Tell her we dropped by?"
Freddie gave his younger sister an appreciative smile she couldn't see as he answered, "I will."
They pulled apart and Freddie added, "You could stop by tomorrow with Tori. Hopefully she'll be up for seeing people."
Jonathan readily agreed, "We'll probably do that. We're here for her and you."
"Thanks."
The three headed out the door and Freddie waved a hand to bid them farewell, "Drive safely."
Tori looked over her shoulder and gave a smile as her answer.
On the back porch, Mrs. West and Shay were sitting side-by-side in two of the deck chairs just finding comfort in each other's company. She got up from her seat and looked to Shay with a tired smile. "I think I'm going to take a little nap."
"Why not just turn in for the night?"
"Because I'm not going to bed knowing that Jade spent the night in the bathroom."
"So now you're giving me permission to break down the door if I have to?"
The lovely dark haired woman grinned. "No, I have a key for that." She placed a kiss on his cheek then headed inside.
Shay followed her with his eyes as she stepped back inside.
Ruby stopped at the doorway as Spencer was making his outside. They exchanged a few brief words that he couldn't hear then the pair shared a hug and Ruby was back on her way inside. Spencer continued on and took Ruby's seat.
Shay asked his son, "Any luck?"
Spencer half-smiled and answered with an upbeat tone, "I think so. She's still in the bathroom, but I think she's starting to understand that it's alright and we're here for her. I told her that I knew how she feels—love for a sibling—and sat outside the bathroom for a while. She reminded me when Carly would just take really long showers to try to make her feel better."
The Colonel half grinned at the similarities. "You would be the one that could relate to her the most with how attached she's become to him. I bet Roy never thought that would happen… or he was counting on it."
"Are you that suspicious of him?"
"I've known Roy for the last twenty-five years. He's a schemer and looks at life as one big chess game, planning move and countermove several steps ahead so he can keep life orderly. He psychologically needs life to be orderly and hasn't realized after all this time that life is messy."
"So what do you think he'll do now?"
"I can guess moves, but I don't know which one he'll take. He could use the situation to push his point of getting Jade on that leash to be the daughter he always wanted her to be or… he just might realize that if he tries, Jade will push back and push back hard when she gets back on her feet—something we want to happen. Underestimate a Lynn at your own peril."
Spencer nodded along, believing the sentiment of the years of Ruby in his life and seeing how Jade had with her relationship with Freddie so upended their lives in Seattle.
Shay continued, but in an unexpected turn, "You know you did a good job with Carly, right?"
The artist cracked a bit of a smile and ironically asked, "If I had, would any of us be here right now?"
Shay glanced at his son with a raised eyebrow.
The son answered his father's look, "If I had done a better job, Freddie wouldn't have been forced to leave Seattle and he wouldn't be with Jade."
The former flyer slightly shook his head and gently corrected with a soft smile, "Doing a good job doesn't mean you had to be perfect at it. I know I wasn't perfect, but look how you turned out. Carly turned out fine."
Spencer narrowed his eyes to give his father a probing gaze, wondering if he was being sarcastic or not.
They fell into silence, occasionally sipping on their respective drinks and glancing up at the starless sky.
Spencer carefully brought up, "Have you talked to Aunt Ruby about what you called me about?"
Shay sipped his soft drink then nodded along with his answer. "Yes, but she hasn't given me an answer. With everything going on, I don't expect an answer anytime soon and I'm not pushing for one."
"How did she take it? It must have been a shock."
"Yes it was. She doesn't think I have to do it though. I've done enough."
The younger Shay gave his father a curious gaze. "So isn't that a no?"
"No, she hasn't given me an answer whether or not I should do it."
"Isn't it kind of pointless though? If you don't want it, how are you going to win it? Everyone else, the ones really serious for it wants it and they'll do anything they can to win it."
"Other than having the supposed backing of Heaven?"
"Yeah."
"Just because I don't want it, doesn't mean I won't have the will to obtain it. They'll run for their reasons and I'll run for mine."
Spencer licked his lips and questioned, "Duty?"
Shay cracked a grin and agreed, "It's a motivator. It's the motivation to win it and not necessarily the desire to win it."
Spencer relaxed back on the deck chair and looked back at the sky.
There was silence for a few minutes between father and son before Spencer commented while gazing back up at the sky, "That's the one thing I don't miss about L.A. when you were stationed here for a bit before mom…"
"What's that?"
"You can't see the stars. If you can get a clear night—even for being Seattle—and you're high enough above the lights, you can see the stars."
Shay half smiled, refraining from making a joke about it being a city filled with stars, and answered, "No you can't, but you still know they're there… as are a lot of things you can't see."
The father and son relaxed back and enjoyed their respective drinks, finding the momentary peace since Nora came back into their lives.
Fox Residence
Los Angeles, CA
As the time approached eleven in the evening, the second floor bedroom was lit with only a lamp on the bedside table and the light from the flickering TV hanging on one of the walls. Heather was propped up with a few pillows against the headboard and lying in her bed and eating out of a tub of chocolate ice cream barely paying attention to the show playing on the TV hanging on the opposite wall. She was staring at nothing in particular as Dusty's words rattled around in her head, the ramifications of them and her own feelings inside her heart.
The dark haired model was so caught up in her thoughts that it took several knocks on her half opened door to catch her attention. She looked up and saw Tasha's bashful smile followed by hearing, "Hey."
"Hey, ah hi, ah what are you doing here?"
Tasha took a seat on the bed then scooted back to join sitting right next to her friend, something Heather had gotten accustomed to Tasha's lack of understanding the lack of personal space between them. "Your mom called me and said that you were hiding in your room. I heard about what happened to Jade's brother and they arrested Dusty. I had to come over and see how you were doing." She glanced at the half-eaten carton of ice cream and hoped that Heather hadn't eaten the first half.
"Thanks, but I'm fine."
"You're stuffing your mouth full of ice cream."
The pale model glanced at her carton of ice cream, seeing how much was left in the in it. She embarrassingly smiled and stuffed the spoon into her ice cream. She twisted to her left and placed the carton on the other bedside table.
Tasha continued in a concern voice, "Why are you eating ice cream out of the carton?"
"I wanted some dessert."
The former Seattle girl had been accused behind her back of being a fairly simple and childlike individual, but she wasn't that naïve to believe such an explanation. She raised an eyebrow showing her disbelief and asked, "Is it because Dusty got arrested?"
Heather shook her head. "No. It's alright. They let him go. I'm not upset about that."
"So why are you so upset then? Don't tell me you're not."
Heather sighed, not wanting to open up to anyone right now. She had demanded that Dusty do it and she had her fill, so didn't want to open up again.
Tasha slipped her hand into Heather's hand and reassuringly squeezed it. "Heather?"
The darker haired model relented, Tasha's concern being reassuring and making her feel safe in speaking. "I talked to him while the lawyer was getting him out of there and he finally gave me the real reason why he broke up with me."
The British-born model eyes almost bugged out and asked, "He did?"
Heather nodded and lazily answered, "Yep and I don't know what to do about it."
"What was it?"
Heather looked at her innocent friend. The last thing she wanted to do was lie to her, but it wasn't something she wanted—couldn't tell her. It involved Dusty's secret and she couldn't betray him. She took a deep breath and settled on a half-truth. "He thought I could do better than him. He wanted me to find someone he could be happy with and make that life I wanted. He really didn't think he could give me everything he thought I deserved: the happy home and children."
Tasha pursed her lips and knotted her as she processed her best friend's words. She hesitantly asked, "Really?"
"Yes."
The lighter hair brunette continued in her hesitation as she asked, "You believed him?"
"Of course I believed him. Why wouldn't I?"
The former Seattle teenager made a face showing her disbelief and answered, "That sounds kind of… chizzy."
Heather gave her friend a confused look.
Tasha continued trying not to sound insensitive, "Why couldn't you do that with him? I didn't see anything that could have stopped you two from being happy. You always looked so cute together even if he was a horrible jerk for breaking up with you."
"He thinks he can't do that because… I can't tell you."
"Why?"
Heather looked to her friend with an apologetic gaze and stated, "I just can't share that with you. That's between me and him."
Tasha looked back with a lost expression. There were few secrets between the girls over the course of their friendship as one Tasha realized she could trust Heather, she let all her thoughts and feelings spill to the fellow model. Heather in turn was pretty much an open book for the most part, so it surprised her with the answer. However, she wasn't going to force an answer and asked, "Do you think he's right?"
The girl from Minnesota looked at her lap and thought on the question, one of the same questions that had rattled in her head the entire evening. She voiced what she knew deep in her soul and answered, "No, I think he's wrong, but he thinks he's right."
"So when it comes down to it, he's saying he broke up with you because he loves you?"
Heather nodded. "Yeah… because he wants me to be happy."
Tasha looked away at the television and let her mind wrap around the new information about Dusty's reasoning. It seemed fairly unbelievable a reason with a guy being that selfless instead of it being some bullchizz statement of 'it's not you, it's me', but Dusty wasn't the typical guy she knew. She would have to do her own investigation in seeing if it was true or not, but at the moment she had to comfort her friend.
She glanced back to Heather and whispered, "But you're not happy without him."
Heather blinked as she felt fresh moisture come to her eyes then turned and grabbed her ice cream off the table. She started eating back on her ice cream.
Tasha rapped her arm around Heather's shoulders and pulled her close.
The raven haired model allowed her to relax against her friend and stop eating her dessert.
In Route to the Tori/Trina Vega Residence
Los Angeles, CA
As Jonathan was driving them back to Tori's place, he glanced from the corner of his eye to the actress sitting in the passenger seat and asked, "Why did you tell us about Dusty?"
Tori lulled her head to the side and thought for a moment before answered with an exhale past her lips, "You needed to know the entire truth. You would think Beck was just crazy or become fearful of Dusty and I didn't want the relationship you guys are building with Freddie get hindered because there was a big secret between you."
Jonathan snorted out, "I'm not sure knowing what Dusty can do or is—which I still find hard to believe it—makes me feel any better."
"But Freddie didn't trust us," Amanda reluctantly pointed out.
Tori glanced over her shoulder and readily defended her friend, "That's not fair to him. He's right that it is Dusty's secret to tell. You wouldn't appreciate it if I told someone your secrets—if I actually knew any of your secrets—and there's a lot of loyalty to him for very good reason. Jade would be dead right now if it wasn't for Dusty and if she wasn't, she'd be a quadriplegic. It may have been wrong for me to tell you, but I weighed everything else against that."
"Do you think he'll be mad at you?"
The brunette shrugged a shoulder and answered, "I don't know. I'll just deal with him the next time I see him."
Amanda pointed out, "If he's in jail, that might be awhile."
"I doubt it. After what you I told you, do you think a jail cell is going to hold him?"
The siblings exchanged concerned gazed by the rearview mirror.
Tori picked up their concern and answered, "He's not going to do something dramatic… I don't think he'll do something dramatic. He still wants to keep his secret. He's probably gotten a good lawyer and is probably already out. We'll find out tomorrow. I'm just concerned about Jade; he can take care of himself."
Jonathan and Amanda shared another covert glance just as he was pulling up his car into Tori and Trina's driveway.
West Residence
Los Angeles, CA
Freddie grabbed a seat at the kitchen island and rested his elbow against the countertop and let had forehead dropped into his palms. He took several deep breaths to try to settle mentally now that he didn't have anything else to distract his mind. Tori and his half-siblings had left a little while ago, he had washed the dishes and glasses they had used, Mrs. West was taking a nap and Spencer and the Colonel was still on the back porch, so now he was finally alone in his thoughts.
He didn't find any refuge in his thoughts as he felt pretty helpless and didn't have a clue what to do.
The computer science major heard a familiar fluttering sound across the kitchen island and immediately looked up from his shielding hands, expecting and hoping for his friend, but was surprised by the individual standing on the other side. He whispered barely above the sound of his own heartbeat, "Anna?"
The long haired pale redheaded angel in the green long coat, white V-neck top and blue jeans softly smiled and answered, "Hello Freddie."
A frown formed on his face in an instant and snapped, "Hello? Hello?"
Anna slightly squinted and replied, a little perplexed by his greeting, "That's what people usually say to one another they see each other."
Freddie shook his head and held back a biting remark. Instead, he forced a calmness to his voice and asked, "Why are you here?"
"I wanted to check on you and Jade."
The tired teenager incredulously asked, "Check on us? Is this just a random visit or you know what happened to Ian?"
"I know what happened to Ian."
"So you want to check on us after the fact? You knew about it and didn't do anything?"
The redhead angel frowned and answered in a low voice, "I'm not here to perch on your shoulder. I helped you where I could. There are plenty of other people that could use help, but unfortunately we don't interfere. What makes you so special?"
"Special enough for Fate to play with my life for years and you to show up at all the first time. You showing up and doing stuff hasn't been a onetime thing."
"That doesn't obligate me to show up whenever you need something."
"Then why are you here after the fact? We got Ian back despite the chance that she could have killed him. We don't need you now."
Anna calmly countered, "Ian would have been fine."
Freddie countered, "He would? What if she had killed him?"
"Then he would have gone to Heaven and Dusty would have brought him back."
The college sophomore blinked and looked at her as if she had grown a second head. "What?"
The redhead's lips became thin then answered in a deliberate voice, "I know my son… he takes after his father. He would have brought Ian back to Jade and nothing would have gotten in his way."
Freddie dismissed incredulously, "He's not Jesus."
"He doesn't have to be. It's Heaven. You don't think we can't send people back? You don't think he would have come busting up there to bring him back for Jade?"
The teenager took several calming breaths and studied the redhead archangel, trying to pick up any body language about the truthfulness of the statement. He dropped the attempt several seconds later as what he needed to judge was Dusty's character in attempting such a thing, not whether Anna thought he would do such a thing. He tiredly answered while glancing to the countertop. "That shouldn't have been a possibility."
"You can't control people. You spared her life when you showed up to stop her and rescue them on that New Year's. There was always the possibility she wouldn't heed your warning."
Freddie practically barked at her, "And you knew it was going to happen! You knew the possibility! That's why you sent me to that other universe where I said yes to Sam to see what I would do when Nora kidnapped them. Had I really made the best choice?"
"You're the one that decided to go up there and you're the one that decided to spare her life. You could have justifiably killed her, but you didn't and now my son had to do it."
"So he really did kill her?"
Anna snapped in disgust towards him, "Of course he killed her. He saw her for what she was and what she was willing to do, so… he's the one that got the blood on his hands."
"I didn't ask him to do that! I didn't ask him to kill her."
"You asked him to bring Ian back to Jade. You picked up the phone and you told him what happened and you asked him to get Ian back and you didn't give one care how he did it. Beck's right, you couldn't have been blind to what he would have done. You're not Pontius Pilate; you don't get to wash your hands of the consequences."
"That's not what I mean. I would have killed her. I'm not washing my hands of anything."
Anna took a step towards the kitchen island and rested her hands on the surface to stare him in the eyes. "But you didn't. He killed her… he killed her for you and Jade and the Colonel so none of you would have to do it."
Freddie mimicked her movements and leaned forward to maintain eye contact with her. "I'm not shedding any of the responsibility, but what good is it for you to show up now? Are you going to wave your and simply fix Jade's shattered heart and make sure Ian stays in her life? You know what, while you're at it, why don't you go help Tori and Beck? They're pretty rocky over this. After that, are you going to go help your son?"
Anna raised her hand and started to count off fingers as she made her points, "One, that is entirely up to Ian's mother and Mister West; it's them you have to deal with if you want to help Jade on that front and not my place to make them do anything. Two, Tori and Beck have been having problems for weeks and this is just an excuse for Tori to pull further away from Beck and towards your brother. What's so bad about that? Beck's never been one of your favorites and Jonathan isn't doing anything you didn't do to get with Jade. Thre—"
Freddie snapped, filled with righteous indignation, "I didn't break Jade and Beck up. They were already broken up before I even arrived in L.A. I was there for her and I pushed them back together the best way I knew how. I am not the reason they didn't get back together."
The archangel held her composure and ignored his outburst to answer, "You really think if you weren't an option she would haven't gone back to Beck? Wait, you know that's not true. Jade's visit to where you had said yes to Sam proves it. It took about three months, but they got back together when your alternate wasn't an option for her. Oh, and I didn't say anything about him breaking them up. That sounds like a Freudian slip to me."
Freddie wanted to punch the beautiful angel for twisting the circumstances.
Anna continued, "As I was saying, three, Dusty is sitting there of his own freewill, but… I told you after what happened with Jade that I do not love you more than my son."
Freddie took a few more seconds in calming his nerves from the inadvertent comparison between his situation with Jade and what was happening with Jonathan and Tori. "Then what are you going to do about that?"
"I will handle it, but you need to realize this: what I will do, I will do for my son and his wellbeing. However uncomfortable the consequences of my actions may be for you, you will just have to deal with the fallout."
Freddie straightened his posture and guardedly asked, "What do you mean by that?"
Mrs. West's voice sounded from the other side of the living room as she cut through it and approached the kitchen, "I heard shouting…"
The dark haired mistress of the home paused when she spotted the redheaded archangel standing in her kitchen. The loud conversation drew Shay and Spencer back into the house. The artist directed a confused look towards Anna while Shay politely greeted the celestial being, "Miss Anna."
Ruby was curt with the redhead, "What are you doing here?"
The pale angel put on a barely noticeable smile and answered, "Checking on things."
"Now? You show up now?"
Freddie sarcastically commented, "I asked her the same thing."
"We work in mysterious ways—"
Shay interrupted with a smirk, "Which really means 'we sit on our asses and do nothing and if something good happens, give us credit'."
The redhead snorted out a laugh, "Cynical, but…" Her voice dropped to a calmer and contemplating tone, "…unfortunately accurate in a lot of ways. Freddie was in the middle of explaining that to me how things are right now."
Mrs. West questioned, "Did he get a chance to tell you that your son is in jail?"
"Yes, but not for long."
Shay was curious about how she would do such a thing because he didn't expect anything flashy or explicitly supernatural in resolving the problem. "And how do you plan on managing that? At best he's a material witness to them about where Nora has gone and at worst, aiding a fugitive to escape. Hell, maybe charged with her death."
"I plan on doing something none of you will like, but as I told Freddie: I will not place him in front of my son a second time." She turned her attention back to Freddie. "My son has always been there for you and now… you're going to have to be there for him. You're going to have to bare a little burden for him. In the meantime, I suggest that you actually do something productive for Jade. You're a man of action, so do something."
As soon as her words left her lips, the redhead vanished from sight.
Freddie blinked, giving himself the moment to process her disappearance then muttered in disgust, "So things are just going to get worst…"
The combat veteran interrupted Freddie's potential train of thought, "Perhaps, but she just gave you a figurative wink on what to do."
"What?"
"She told you to do something. She's going to take care of her son, so what's left for you to do?"
Freddie knotted his brow while he exchanged gazes with Shay. He took a few moments to get the Colonel's words then it dawned on him. "I am going to do something." He headed towards and up the stairs.
Mrs. West and Spencer were left confused and looking to each other.
Freddie returned just moments later with his jacket and slipping his phone into his pocket. He headed for the door to the garage.
The matriarch of the home asked, "Where are you going?"
The former tech-producer picked off his keys from the key rack and answered, "To see your ex-husband."
The college sophomore slipped out the door and Ruby shook her head and muttered, "This isn't going to end well."
Author's Note: I hope you liked this chapter and the drama is certainly going to kick up some more over the next few chapters. Thanks for reading, OneHorseShay