Found- Written by Asera
*****
The next morning Jacqi runs into Barbara's home rushing up the stairs as Anna comes down with a breakfast tray. "Mornin' Anna." Anna bids her good morning. "Oh Anna." She exclaims as Anna continues on her way down and looks up at her. "Where's my Grandmother?"
"In her bedroom Ms. Jacqi." Jacqi nods a thanks as she goes up. "Would you like some breakfast?'
"No thanks Anna I've had some already." She exclaims as she reaches the top of the stairs and walks into Barbara's room. She sees Barbara still in bed lying back on her pillows resting her eyes. Jacqi realizes she hadn't been very loving towards her since she met her…she'd shown some affection but after what happened she had taken it all back. She sits at the foot of Barbara's bed and crawls over to where her grandmother lies resting and lies her head down on Barbara. She wraps her arm around her as she smiles…she looks up at Barbara's face. "Grandmother…Grandmother…are you asleep?" She asks propping herself up looking at Barbara.
Barbara turns to see her granddaughter looking at her. "Hmm, Jacqi you're home darling." Jacqi smiles and nods. Barbara sits up and leans Jacqi's head onto her chest. "How did the tests go? Was Alex able to help you?"
"Yeah…I guess I still have to go back tonight…depends." Jacqi likes resting her head against her grandmother…to listen to her heart beat…ba bump, ba bump, ba bump…this was the only time she had allowed herself to come near Barbara since she'd moved to San Francisco.
"You'll be leaving me tonight again?" Jacqi shakes her head as Barbara closes her eyes…"I suppose if it helps you its best." Jacqi looks up at her as Barbara squeezes her and smiles with her eyes now open looking at her. She didn't have the courage to tell her what she'd found out. She couldn't tell her grandmother the trouble in her dreams was her father. "Did Alex find out what is troubling you?"
"Um…no…not really." Jacqi doesn't want to talk about her dreams and Barbara though curious doesn't really care to know. All she really wants in that moment is to hold her child close to her. "I bet Anna was able to rest peacefully…" Barbara nods her head yes. "She did look a lot more rested when I came up." Barbara nods and smiles hiding the bit of jealousy she feels. Jacqi looks over at Barbara's alarm clock and sits up when she sees the time…"10:00 o'clock already…I didn't realize I was in here that long…I have to go."
Jacqi begins pulling away from Barbara as she sits up. "Go…go where? You just got here." Barbara looks a little sadden.
"Just for a little while I have to meet Alex…I have to run another test…but first I have to go somewhere." She smiles and Barbara nods understanding. "I should be back for dinner…I'll call if I'm late." She leans over to Barbara and kisses her forehead as Barbara touches her hair. "Bye." Jacqi runs out as Anna comes in and Barbara begins getting out of bed.
*****
"Hi Alex." Jacqi calls out from behind her at the same table they had occupied the day before only this time Rachel was there also. "Hello Dr. Corrigan." She smiles as she sits and orders a glass of tomato juice and a salad…"Dr. Corrigan, Alex I would like you to meet my father…Anthony de la Vega." She tells them referring to the man approaching them and taking a seat next to Jacqi after shaking both their hands. "I know what you said Alex." She says as she sees Alex is clearly disturbed. "But we need help and you won't allow anyone here to help you…so I thought Papa could."
"Jacqi," Alex tries to say no…but is interrupted.
"She's right Alex, you don't want to add any pressure to Mr. Boyle…then allow me to help you." Anthony speaks captivating both of them with his accent. "I give you my word not to bring the Legacy into this unless absolutely necessary." Alex smiles agreeing to his help. "Good…now that you've all agreed to my help would one of you please explain what exactly it is you'll need my assistance in?"
"You haven't told him?" Rachel whispers into Jacqi's ear as she shakes her head no. "Anthony…may I call you Anthony?" He nods his head yes and she continues. "You may or may not be aware that Jacqi has been experiencing some rather disturbing dreams lately." Jacqi looks at him and half smiles, half frowns.
"You have?" He asks Jacqi who nods slightly. "Why wasn't I told? Why didn't Barbara call me?" He had made her promise if anything was to happen Jacqi she would call and inform him.
"Anthony." Alex interrupts…"I think Barbara thought it was best to keep you out until we knew…" He sits back listening. "Jacqi appears to be dreaming with Derek."
"Derek?" He asks shocked.
"Yes…Barbara called me to talk to Jacqi, she…" referring to Jacqi. "then allowed me to run a series of tests on her…but it wasn't so much what the sensors told me than it was what I saw. Jacqi drew this when she awoke speaking of the man…we believe to be Derek." She takes out the picture Jacqi drew the night before. "We believe it's he who is asking her help."
Anthony takes the picture and he sees it is clearly Derek…but refuses to believe it. "No, I need something more." He begins to stand from his seat. "If you expect me to help I need more than a simple sketch."
"Papa." Jacqi stands taking hold of his hand.
"I'm sorry Jacqi but No I need more." Rachel and Alex both watch him stand and prepare to leave.
"Papa what do you mean more? Don't you believe in me? He nods. "Then what more do you need. How could I have drawn that picture if I'd never met Dr. Rayne…or even knew what he looked like?" Anthony looks at the picture again and then at Jacqi. "I couldn't papa…I know it's a lot to ask of you but you have to help. If not for him than for me…" She swallows deeply as she thinks of Barbara…"for my grandmother…think of her then and the joy you'd give her if Derek Rayne is alive…and you return him to her. Is that worth your help?"
Anthony thinks of Barbara and how much he's thought of her lately…how much he'd enjoy holding her close once more…risking involvement with the Legacy would be worth it if he could see her again by helping them. "All right. I'll help." Jacqi smiles as they sit back down and Alex begins explaining what they have so far. After Alex has finished telling him, Anthony sits back and looks at Jacqi…"That's…that's um some pretty heavy stuff." Jacqi smiles she knew that her father would retract to using American slang when he couldn't come up with something else. "How do you plan on finding out more? Because I suppose you are going to run some more examines before you go out searching for Derek…"
" Jacqi has already agreed to allow me to place her under hypnosis." Rachel informs him.
"Dr. Corrigan thinks that if I'm under hypnosis I can be more in control of what happens in my dream…and that way I won't be so frightened by what I see." Anthony sighs silently as he nods his head understanding. "Once I know exactly what Derek wants and how to help him we'll know where to go from there right?"
"Right." Alex says. "Anthony what we'll need you for is to help us when it comes time to do that…for now all you have to do is just sit back and relax."
"Well since I've never liked sitting back to relax, I think the best thing to do is get started as soon as possible." Anthony says. "You'll be doing all this at Barbara's home?" He asks wondering if he'll be able to see her anytime soon.
"No, at her house." Speaking of Rachel. "I don't want my grandmother to know about any of this yet…I don't wish to get her hopes up." She looks at him knowing exactly what he's thinking…He wants to see her again…she begins to get a little jealous…only this time not for him…but for her…she's come to realize how lonely Barbara is. Her daughter away in a convent, her son gone, and her husband dead… how easy it was for her to mistake something for love…she knew now Barbara could never have played with Anthony…that it had to have been him. "Papa you'll be staying at Dr. Corrigan's…I think that would be less troublesome since we'll be doing everything there." I have to keep you as far away from Grandmother as I can…I can't let anything more happen to her…I've hurt her enough.
"All right then…it's getting late…we've better be on our way to begin." Alex says as she sees that it's almost Two.
*****
At Rachel's house in her office Jacqi lies back on the sofa couch with her eyes closed as Rachel speaks to her. "All right Jacqi, I need you to relax…and remember you are in control of what happens. No one but you can let anything happen in this. Do you understand?"
"Yes." Jacqi says softly breathing in and out like Rachel had told her to do.
"K." Rachel whispers as she kneels next to Jacqi. "I want you to count from 1 to 10 backwards…and breathe just like I told you to…when you count one you will be back in your dream…back with Derek. Okay?"
"Yes."
"Start counting."
Jacqi begins counting as Rachel counts along with her in a low whisper…"Ten…nine…eight…seven…" She breathes in and out slowly between numbers. "six…five…four…three…" Rachel sits back on her char and crosses her legs as she observes Jacqi. "two…one…"
"Jacqi…" Rachel calls her…
"Yes." Jacqi speaks back in trance state.
"What do you see?"
"Fire…the house on fire…" She replies.
"Do you see the man?" Rachel leans forward.
"Yes…he wants me to come with him…he wants me to take his hand." Jacqi slips down on the couch relaxing even further.
"Do you want to follow him?" Rachel asks…Jacqi nods. "Go on…go with him…but remember you're in control." Jacqi nods…"Now where are you?"
"In the basement…he's pointing to something…" Jacqi points with her hand…"I don't know what…what are you pointing at….you have to tell me….what are you pointing at?" She begins wrestling on the couch.
Rachel leaves her chair and kneels back besides Jacqi. "Jacqi control, Jacqi control…remember you have it." Jacqi breathes in and out…"What do you see?"
"Men fighting…a cross…" She breathes in and out.
"Tell me…what does the cross look like?" Rachel thinks it has to be the Rosicrucian cross they never found it since no one was allowed to go back and search.
"It looks silver…with black….I don't know how to describe it." Jacqi shakes her head…she can see it but she's never seen anything like it.
Rachel takes a notepad and pencil and places it in Jacqi's hands…she thought it worked before why not now. "Jacqi…I want you to draw the cross just like you see it." Jacqi nods and begins drawing in her trance state. After a few minutes Rachel takes the pad from Jacqi…she sees the cross Derek had been so bent on keeping safe. "Jacqi who's holding the cross?"
"He is…no now the other man….they're fighting for it." Jacqi says as she struggles to see who is really holding the cross. Jacqi starts breathing harder as she begins fighting. "No, No get away from me…get away from me…no don't touch me!" Rachel comes to her trying to keep her from hurting herself.
"Jacqi calm down…remember you're in control…you are the one in control." Jacqi keeps fighting saying no over and over…Rachel sees she can't hear her…"Jacqi I want you to calm down….I'm going to count to three Jacqi…and when I do you're going to wake up…and remember…okay…" Jacqi keeps fighting. "One…Two…Three."
"Ahh." Jacqi pops up her hair swings across her face as Rachel sits on the couch next to her consoling her. "That man scares me." Jacqi thinks of the other man…he looked like someone she had seen before…someone her Godfather use to mention…she feared that man. "He's bad…so bad…"
Rachel leans Jacqi's head into her shoulder as she rubs up and down her back to comfort. "There Jacqi….just calm down." After she sees Jacqi has calm down enough she asks. "Who was the other man?"
Jacqi sits up as Rachel reaches over and pours a glass of water for Jacqi and hands it to her. Jacqi holds it in her hands nervously as she thinks of that man. She remembers seeing her picture as a little girl his eyes had scared her so…she had seen him even more recently…earlier that day in her grandmother's bedroom…"I think I know who he is…I don't like him…he's evil." She says regretting ever seeing him even in her dreams. "I use to hear my Godfather speak of him…cruel man…I didn't know who he was…he turned to see me…"
"Who was he Jacqi?" Rachel asks again as Alex and Anthony enter the room. Alex holds a cup of coffee as she leans on Rachel's desk and looks at her. Anthony keeps close to the door as he closes it. Jacqi shakes not wanting to say the name of the man who had always held domination over her. "Who was he?"
"He's evil…Wi..wi.." Jacqi mumbles. "Winston Rrr-Rayne." Alex drops the cup of coffee as Jacqi looks up at her father. "He's the other man in my dreams…he's fighting him….he wants him to do something but he won't so he tries to kill him."
Alex comes near Jacqi as Rachel moves away to speak to Anthony who's concerned. "Jacqi are you sure it's him?"
"I know it is…he used to scare me when I was little…he looked right at me…" Alex hugs her and holds her close. "He wants us to find that cross…the cross is the key." Jacqi pulls away and looks at Alex. "You have to go back to the Legacy Alex…he needs you there." Alex looks at her shaking her head as Jacqi nods yes.
*****
"Hello…" Anna Reardon answers the telephone in Barbara's room after taking a moment from helping Barbara fix her hair.
"Anna…it's Jacqi may I please speak with Grandmother?" Jacqi tells her.
"Just a moment." Anna turns to Barbara whose looking at herself in the mirror. "Ms. Rayne it's Ms. Jacqi…she'd like to speak to you."
"Thank you Anna." She says as she walks over and takes the phone from Anna. "Jacqi…its me darling."
"Hi Grandmother…I just wanted to tell you that I might not be home tonight…I know I promised but there some things I have to take care of." She hears Barbara sigh on the other end. "Please don't be upset…I promise as soon as I get this done I'll be home."
"I'm not upset darling I understand…I just want you to get better." She tells her, she listens to Jacqi tell her a few more things. "All right then dear I'll see you tomorrow." She hangs up the phone and then turns to Anna. "She won't be home until tomorrow." Anna comes to her touching her shoulder as she smiles Barbara smiles back but is sadden at having to push Jacqi to someone else for help. Rather than being able to help and guide her herself.
*****
At Rachel's home Jacqi hangs up the phone as Alex comes in to see her. "Did you tell her?" Jacqi shakes her head no, though she understands Alex feels urged to ask. "Why not?"
"What am I suppose to tell her Alex? Hi Grandma don't keep dinner warm, I'm out to chase your dead son's ghost!" Alex looks down at her hands. "I'm sorry Alex…that was insensitive…" Alex shakes it off and tells her she understands. " I want to believe there is a chance that Dr. Rayne is alive or that there is a way we may bring him back, but if it isn't I don't want to build false illusions in her. She's hurting enough."
Alex turns towards the door as Jacqi does the same, they go out to the hall towards the front door where Anthony and Rachel are preparing. "She still has a right know."
Jacqi nods as she sees the man she thought to be her father prepare to go in search of his counterpart. "She will…perhaps." She looks at Anthony and Rachel, then at Alex. "Are we ready?" All three adults agree that they are as the exit the house and pack themselves into an explorer heading back to Angel Island.
*****
It's seems so long since I've been here Alex thinks from the backseat of the explorer…she turns to see Jacqi who appears to be smiling. "Jacqi, are you all right?"
"He loved this place." She says as she peers through the window…she can see where the gardens use to be…most of them still grow as beautiful as they once did…others where damaged by the fire. "That was the house." She points to an enormous pile of rubble…large chunks of concrete and masses of burnt lumber. "Why didn't they rebuild it?" She turns to ask Alex…she knows Derek Rayne loved that castle…and the Legacy. "Why didn't they Legacy respect his wishes?"
"They thought it was better to keep it like this…" Rachel says from the front seat while Anthony drives into what use to be the carport. "To keep the portal sealed they thought if they rebuilt the house…one of the builders might inadvertently open it."
Jacqi becomes upset as she sees that the Legacy could've done something like this. She knew what Derek felt for the Legacy because she had always felt the same pledge for it…"They could've found a way…they shouldn't have let this happen. He worked to hard for it…he gave up a normal life to live the Legacy's missions out…they should've…" Alex reaches out and touches her hand understanding how Jacqi felt…it had been part of the reason why Alex chose to leave the Legacy. She had been one to insist the rebuilding of the house…but the others had followed the Ruling house wishes. "We should start looking where the basement should've been." She says after taking hold of herself with Alex's help and stepping out of the vehicle taking her pack and a flashlight. "We have to find the cross…I don't know what he wants it for…but we have to keep it safe." Jacqi thinks of Winston…"I have to keep it from him…he wants to take it."
"You mean Winston." Alex states as she climbs out of the explorer and stands next to Jacqi. "Should we worry about him showing up?"
"No…I don't think so." Jacqi smiles as she begins trekking through the ruins. "It's through here right?" She points as she walks through Alex nods…she heads to where a Griffin stands undamaged. "If I'm right there's a passage way under here…isn't there?" Alex turns to see Anthony and Rachel taking out sensors and monitors from the car. "Alex?"
"Yes there's a lever behind the Griffin…but I think we should…" Jacqi ignores Alex and pulls the lever, she sees the passage open up from under a bush beside the gothic beast. She takes her flashlight and begins climbing down using the built in ladder. Alex turns back to see Rachel and Anthony…she turns down to see Jacqi already on her way. "Jacqi…wait we should…" She sees that Rachel and Anthony are almost caught up and calls back. "I'm going in after her…"
She sees Rachel calls out no and Anthony run up behind her but jumps in anyway. "Alex wait!" Rachel turns to Anthony as they both look down the hole. "Damn Woman!" Rachel says angry with Alex for not listening… and then slightly laughs at herself for saying that. "This is great…now what!"
Anthony takes his pack off his shoulder and kneels down next to the whole while looking around at the surroundings. "We should begin setting up lights…it'll be dark soon and we need to see." He starts taking out portable lights and lanterns from the pack as Rachel takes hers off too. "Don't worry Dr. Corrigan…Jacqi can take care of herself…she's been attaching herself to mission's since she first broke out of her crib." Rachel laughs as she thinks God this kid is too much like Derek. Anthony hands her a flashlight. "Hold this…while I climb down and start setting up lights for them to find they're way back." Rachel stands back as he climbs down the hole he looks up and calls out. "Once I get a few of these set up…you should begin looking for the best places to set up motion sensors…the last thing we need is an earthquake to catch us by surprise."
"All right." Rachel agrees as she thinks damn it Alex you should've waited. "I still don't think they should be in there alone. It's dangerous there are too many passage ways and Alex doesn't know them all…the only one who did was Derek."
"Well then we don't have anything to worry about…if it is Derek whose looking for our help you can pretty much bet your life he won't let anything happen to the girls. " He says as he takes one more step down and looks up at Rachel whose not amused. "Tell you what Dr. Corrigan…if they aren't back in two hours we'll both go looking for them." Rachel nods but that still doesn't make her feel any better…getting four people trapped by a earthquake wasn't any better than two.
*****
Inside the tunnel Jacqi walks a fast and steady pace…unlike Alex who stumbles surprised that the passage ways have remained undamaged. Jacqi shines her flashlight at the walls…"Alex shine your light at the walls and look for a few places to put sensors…I don't want any surprises." She turns to Alex who looks at her oddly. "Hey I'm not stupid…I know this places history…"Referring to the house and how things just seemed to happen at the worst possible times. "I think here would be good for one…and then just right over there. Here set up this monitor too…we'll know our way back by it." She hands Alex a small piece of equipment… it appears to be more like a miniature Walkman than a monitor.
"Jacqi…I don't know my way down here…I mean I know some of the way but Derek never really let us down here. In fact we didn't really know any of this existed 'till before he…" Alex says as she sets up the monitors and follows Jacqi whose moved on ahead.
"Don't worry Alex…we'll be fine just trust me." She smiles at Alex who nods slightly rolling her eyes which she doesn't mean but Jacqi sees anyway. "I am his kid after all." She chuckles, which makes Alex laugh lightly. "This way." She points with her flashlight to the mouth of one of three ways…the way to the portal should be through there…"Let's set up another monitor here and a sensor there by that rock." Alex kneels down to set up the sensor as Jacqi puts up the monitor at the mouth. "Ready." She turns to Alex who walks ahead…she looks at the passage way with familiar eyes…he had shown her the way…she kept remembering her dreams…they had frightened her at first but now after acknowledging it was her father. She welcomed them…she was getting to know what he was like through them…she knew he shared her passion for the Legacy and appreciated him for it. They reach the end of the passage way…"This way." She turns to the left down a dark way…"The portal is there…" She points to another way…with her light…"It's blocked." She sees as Alex also shines her light on it…
"IT must've been the blast." Alex looks at Jacqi. "Derek insisted we blow the house with C4."
"Well we have to open it…the cross is in there and we have to find a way to get it out." Jacqi kneels down and searches through her bag…she takes out some tools. "Here." She hands Alex a pic as she takes another herself and begins tearing away at the wall. "Be careful not to take any of the way with you…just the blocks in our way…maybe one of us can climb in to find it."
"No we both go in or neither of us do." Alex says as Jacqi turns to see her and nods in agreement. "How long have we been down here?"
"About an hour…" Jacqi says.
"How do you know…it seems longer." Alex says as she beats down another chunk of debris.
"Papa won't let us stay down here any longer than two without looking for us. Which means we better start putting our backs into this or we're going home without the cross." Alex looks at Jacqi…and then stands back as she pulls the pic over her shoulder and slams it into the tunnel as if hitting a home run. She manages to tear away a large portion of concrete…"There I can see light." She pushes herself onto her tipy toes…and tries to peek through the hole. "Can you see anything Alex?"
Alex peers through the hole…"It can see some light…but we need to…ugh…" She starts digging with her hands at the tunnel. "Dig…just dig we'll tear it down faster." Jacqi begins pushing away pieces of junk from the doorway…as Alex does the same until both have opened a large enough piece to climb through. "All right.. let's set up some lights around this area…" Jacqi nods and takes out some lights in a circle around the tunnel door…"Um...I should probably climb in first and then you follow…" Jacqi says okay. Alex hands her, her backpack and begins climbing through the hole…and then takes it and Jacqi's as she follows her in. "Ooh.. it's cold down here." She feels a chill as they walk to where the portal once stood…she sees it completely covered in debris and sealed from every opening it once had.
"Alex shine your light around…start looking." Jacqi starts moving around within the area…she kneels down to the ground running her hands through the sand…"The air is cold…but the ground is burning." She looks up to Alex who appears shocked at being in the room where Derek had his final mission. "Alex…you're not looking. We don't have a lot of time." Jacqi goes back to looking as Alex searches at her own pace…"Alex." Alex goes near the portal and reaches out her hand…"Alex…" She digs through the sand as she's found what she was looking for. "Alex look." She gets up and grabs Alex before she touches the portal. "Look I got it…I found it." Alex turns to see the cross…"Come on…let's go…" Alex nods as she snaps out of it and they run back to the opening…Alex jumps in through the hole and takes her pack…"Hurry Alex." She feels the earth starting to move below her…"NOO!" She exclaims as the opening caves in…leaving Alex on the outside and her inside with the cross and portal. "Alex!" She saw a piece of debris hit her as it caved in…"Alex are you there…are you okay!"
After a moment or two Alex responds to her…"I'm fine…are you okay?" She hears Jacqi responds yes. "I'm going to get Rachel and Anthony I'll be back…"
"Okay Hurry Alex." She tells her as she hears Alex run off through where they came in…she turns back to the portal and looks around. While coming in it didn't scare her being alone in there did…she holds the cross close to her. "Help me…" She thinks as she holds it and breaths in and out slowly pacing around. "This is just great…"
*****
After following the sensors and monitors back to the opening to the top…she stops as she notices the sensors hadn't gone off at the earthquake…but continues going up to the top to find Rachel and Anthony waiting for both of them. "Alex…where's Jacqi?"
Out of breath she exclaims out. "She was caught in the earthquake." Rachel and Anthony look at each other thinking earthquake? "The earthquake just a few minutes ago…didn't y'all feel it? We were on our way out from the portal and it trapped Jacqi." Alex thinks Oh God no…she begins climbing back down the hole as Rachel and Anthony follow her. "Come on this way…we have to go get her out…she's in trouble."
*****
Inside the portal area…Jacqi leans against the opening…she looks at the portal and begins noticing things she hadn't seen moments before. The portal was once again moving…steam was arising from where she had found the cross…"Goddess help me…help me…" She sees fire arise from where the cross once stood to form the shape of a man…the man that shed fear in her. "Winston…"
"You came to him…and you found me stupid girl." Winston raises his hands and throws Jacqi against the wall…she falls but holds the cross to her. "Now give me the cross…" He reaches out willing the cross to come to him but she holds it to her." Give it to me."
"No…where's Derek…what did you do to him!" She boasts as she stands…she can hear Alex, Rachel and Anthony beating at the opening in the wall. "Where is he?!"
"Dead…don't make me do the same thing to you I had to do to him." Winston moves from the pit of fire he stands in…"Now give me the cross…and I may just help you earn a spot next to your daddy in hell."
Jacqi shakes her head no as she silently pleads to her Goddess. "How about you keep a spot warm for me." He tries to grab her but she side kicks him back and holds out the cross as she wills all her energy into her words as he falls back towards the pit. "Lord of Death, see my sign, hear my rhyme. Take Winston Rayne to burn in time, and return my father in his prime." She sees the fire begin to consume Winston and the earth begins to shake…she repeats it as she hears the others exclaim for her. Winston fights the spell…"See my sign, hear my rhyme. Take Winston Rayne to burn in time and return my father in his prime." Winston is being overcome by her words and will as she uses the power of the cross to finish him off. "So Mote It Be." She holds the cross in front of her…as the fire finishes off Winston and bursts out towards her…she covers her eyes to hide from the blast…but uncovers them as she sees the form of another man come from it and then fall to the ground. "Papa…Papa…hurry." She steps towards the man…bloody and cut from different areas…she sees his clothes are torn. "Papa…get Rachel in here hurry…" She kneels down next to the man and turns him over towards his back…she sees her spell worked…she brought back her father…"Bless you Goddess." She thinks in a low voice as the man begins to move aching in pain he mumbles for help. "Lie still Dr. Rayne…I'm going to get you help…" She turns over to the opening and sees Rachel climbing in. "Rachel he's here…"
"Derek…oh god." Rachel calls back out to Alex to run up and get her medical bag as Anthony continues to chip away the opening.
*****
Back at Rachel's after having carried him through the passage way's and rubble left in the house…Rachel applies care to his cuts…Jacqi observes from the open door…she's glad Derek Rayne was alive now…but she also knew this was going to change her life radically. Her knowing he was her real father had been something, but now she was going to have to face him…to be near him…and worse she was going to have to find a way of telling her grandmother. She saw the man starting to move around and to awaken…his first words for the cross…Jacqi had hidden it in her coat which she still had on. When Rachel turned to see her she approached Derek…and laid it in his hands…"Here it is…" He grabbed it out of her hands and held it close to her…she jumped back and out the door. "I'll be outside." She told Rachel who went back to caring for her friend. "Alex." She saw Alex coming near with a cup of tea…"how are you?"
"He's back…I'm better." She thought maybe nothing would happen between her and Derek but all she needed was for him to be around. "How is he?"
"He's coming too, but I think it should be you that's there when he does…he doesn't know me…and I…" Alex tells her she does deserve to be there…he is after all her father. "Dr. Rayne doesn't know that…and I think maybe I should wait to tell him." Jacqi smiles at her…"Tomorrow I'll go home and find a way of telling grandmother….after we're sure he won't…" Alex nods understanding…she pads Jacqi on the shoulder and then proceeds to where Derek is.
She walks in to see Derek sitting up half awake and growing even more alert by the minute asking as many questions as Rachel will allow him too. "Alex." He says she smiles…"thought you were rid of me…" he speaks softly his throat is dry.
"Hey boss." She says kidding…"you're back."
She sits next to him with the cup of tea which she gives to him to drink slowly…"Takes more than a stay in hell to lose me." He says as he drinks some more tea. "Which reminds me…how did you find me? How long was I gone? The house…Nick?"
"Hey calm down Derek…you need to rest we can answer all of that later." He ignores Rachel and continues to ask Alex wanting to sit up out of bed. "Hey stop it Derek I mean it…or I'll drag you down to Bay City General myself." Derek sits back resting his head on the pillows…"I think we should let Barbara know you're ok." Rachel inadvertently blurts out.
"My mother?" Derek asks.
"No Rachel…first we should take care of Derek and then we'll let them know." Alex glares at Rachel who bites her lip realizing she made a mistake.
"My mother is here?" Derek asks again.
"She moved here after you died…or we thought you had…" Alex tells him. "She thought it was best to move closer to Ingrid." He hands her the cup of tea as he closes his eyes to rest them. "You should get some sleep Derek." He nods agreeing to rest even though he really wants to stand and walk around some more. Alex and Rachel leave him alone to sleep…Rachel sends Alex to the other guest room as she moves goes to her own room after checking in on Anthony and Jacqi.
*****
Early morning Jacqi lies in Kat's bed trying to sleep but really thinking of how to tell him the truth and let her grandmother in on the secret. She hears someone moving out in the hall way, she climbs out of bed and cracks her door open to watch the man she had always dreamt of meeting walk down to the kitchen. She waits till he's out of view and leaves her bedroom…going down to the kitchen behind him. She waits a few minutes and then walks into the room to see him trying to fix a cup of coffee. "Can I help you?"
He turns startled to see the girl standing before him. "Can't even fix myself coffee."
She takes the cup from him as she helps him sit down. "Here I'll do that." She grabs the pitcher of ready made coffee and pours him some, then grabs another cup and pours herself some. "I don't know if you should be drinking that."
"It won't kill me." He says making her smile. "I know you." He says to her as she keeps her eyes down looking at the pitch black drink under her nose. "I've seen you before."
"It was my dreams that brought us to you." She replies sipping her coffee and looking at him. He was even more handsome than in her dreams…he had cuts on his chin and his forehead. "Alex made the connection when I drew your picture after waking from the nightmare."
"How?" Derek asks as she pours him some more coffee.
"She said it wasn't strange for a person to connect with a person through the place in which they died." She tells him.
"But why you?" Derek sips and she finishes off the last sip of her coffee. "Alex is right about the connection but most of our files where on a connection through family bloodlines."
Jacqi looks at him as she pours herself more coffee. "Yeah she mentioned that, that's how she knew it was really you." She smiles as he sits back beginning to understand what she was saying. She knows that he knows as he shakes his head shocked. "Its true Dr. Rayne."
"Who?" He asks wondering who her mother was.
"Too many girlfriends when you were younger huh?" She smiles nervously. "Mia…Mia Paz."
He mumbles "Mia." As he looks at her…of course she's just as beautiful as the girl he had once loved. "Your mother…"
"My mother is gone." He looks down. "My father…" He looks up…" Papa…he kept me afterwards and up until a while ago he intended to keep my real origin a secret." Derek looks confused asking himself why he was never told. "My mom made him promise, he just wanted to keep her promise but I got sick. I needed your family's help…he had to tell your mother the truth…and then everything went to hell after that." She watches him as he tries to digest everything she's told him. "Dr. Rayne are you ok?"
"Won't call me dad?" He asks.
"I barely know you." She takes a cookie from the cookie jar on the kitchen table.
"Derek then…I've never been one to comply with formality." She nods. "I don't even know your name…that's a funny thing to say…you're my daughter and I don't know your name." He gets up from where he sits across from her and moves to her side. She looks up at him as he sits down close. "I won't hurt you…" He smiles. "but you know that."
She smiles and nods calmly…but still says. "You should be resting…if Dr. Corrigan sees you out of bed she might place you in the hospital."
He shakes his head no as he wraps his arm around her to get close to her. "Nah…Rachel's bark is worse than her bite." She chuckles lightly and nervously at having him close to her. "And since it'll be a good while before anyone else gets up…why don't you tell me about yourself?"
She takes a sip of her coffee and speaks. "There's not much to tell…" He urges her to tell him everything about her…which she proceeds to do.
*****
The next day Jacqi arrives home with Derek after having called Anna to inform her. She greets them at the door after making sure Barbara wasn't around. "Where is she?" Anna points to the top floor. "Anna take him to the Library…we'll join you in a moment." Derek looks at her oddly. "I know it seems silly Derek but I don't want you to frighten her…it'll only be for a moment." He agrees…after all he knows his mother though a strong woman probably won't be able to take seeing him without a warning. Anna leads him into the Library as she touches him and caresses him like the little boy she use to care for. Jacqi sees them as she calls out. "I'll be right back and Anna don't tear him apart leave some for her." She says as Anna closes the door behind them smiling at Jacqi. She turns towards the stairs to see Barbara at the top walking downward, 'Grandmother." Running up to her…."I have something I have to tell you."
Barbara touches her granddaughter's face as she sees a light in her eye she hadn't seen since she left Mexico. "Your nightmares are gone…your eyes sparkle."
"Yes, Grandmother but that wasn't what I…" Jacqi looks down towards the Library.
"Oh good dear…it was so inconsiderate of a dream to keep you awake…" Barbara says as she wraps her arm around Jacqi and begins down the stairs once more.
"I wouldn't call it inconsiderate." She tells Barbara. "I found the reason of my nightmares and to tell you the truth he isn't so scary…." Barbara mouths a no wondering what she means as Jacqi leads her towards the Library and calls out. "Now Anna." Anna opens the door to reveal Derek who kisses her forehead and then steps out to see Barbara. Jacqi holds her grandmother up who threatens to fall to the ground shocked to see Derek. She turns to see Jacqi shaking her head no saying it isn't possible. "Yes Grandmother….he needed my help, Alex and Rachel helped me realize that…and he helped me find him."
Derek comes to her stretching his arms out to her…he takes her in his arms as she weeps slowly and quietly at having her son back. "Baby…" She wraps her arms tightly around him…he grabs her tight as Jacqi steps back watching them….Anna comes from behind and watches them.
Derek holds back his feelings as he embraces his mother…he thinks he had only seen her cry when his father died…"Mother." She falls into his arms as he kneels down to catch her…Jacqi steps back…she feels Anna's hand touch her from behind. She turns to smile at her seeing tears in the older woman's eyes…she holds her tears back as she sees her grandmother release all the tears she had been holding back. "Oh mother…please forgive me." Derek tells his mother to forgive him…thinking if he hadn't been so bent on protecting the Legacy he would have thought of her and of Ingrid. Now he thought as he looks up at Jacqi with Anna…he had a daughter and it was up to him to take care of her…aside from getting back what he lost. Alex, Nick, Rachel, Kat, wouldn't be his only family…..he had to find a way of including his real family to the extended family he had formed before disappearing.
*****
Disclaimer: This story is written by me, solely for entertainment purposes and at nonprofit. The characters are property of MGM/UA, Trilogy and anyone else who has property rights to them, I'm just borrowing them for a little while.