Wild
Is The Wind
Chapter 08
Wild
Is The Wind
Disclaimer - I do not own any of BtVS or AtS characters. They all belong to
the Joss Pack. Other non BtVS or AtS characters are all mine.
Part 8/???
Distribution - FINNatics and my site - The Claddagh Fanfiction Archive. Other
people p lease ask me first I will probably say yes.
Timeline: Set some time after "In the Woods"
SPOILERS: Anything before IN THE WOODS
Rating: PG maybe... I am not that good with Ratings
AUTHOR'S NOTE 1 - No... I am not crazy. And yes... this is a Riley fiction.
AUTHOR'S NOTE 2 -It is not a Buffy/Riley shipper fanfiction. I am still a
B/A hopelessly shipper... I ship B/A, Cordy/Doyle, Willow/Oz... see... all
the broken couples : )
AUTHOR'S NOTE 3 - * * denotes internal thought.
AUTHOR'S NOTE 4 - Song: Brother in arms - Dire Straits
Teaser: Changes in Riley's life lead him to Brasil.
Dedication: To Lisa, for all the "inquiring mind" and beta stuff,
Nicole, Chris and mimi for the wonderful support and feedback.
Feedback: Please... mi casa es su casa. sgavino@gbl.com.br / claddagh@ieg.com.br
***
Los
Angeles
Sat
by one of the LAX Airport's arrival gates, Graham found himself wondering
how would Riley react to his new condition. His friend had tried to sound
normal over the phone, but Graham knew that the visual effect could change
everything.
He
checked his watch again as the electronic panel stated that the plane had
already landed.
*
Just in time. *
It
was a typical Californian day, the bright sun making everyone feel happy and
free. Graham noticed two women looking at him and once more he realized just
how much he hated it. He hated the way people used to stare at him nowadays,
just as they were saying 'Poor young man, so handsome and so handicapped.'
Handicapped.
Crippled. Those were the best words to describe him and he was now only a
paler shadow of the man he used to be. And just because that damned slayer
was not there to save her watcher's ass. He had lost everything because she
had to be with her lover. Graham closed his eyes in pain, trying to ignore
the two women that were now whispering pitiful comments about him into each
other's ears. He focused his thoughts on Riley and tried to picture what their
first meeting would be like. His friend strong and tall and he small and defeated.
Sometimes he thanked God that Riley had chose to stay in Rio, others he asked
himself why hadn't he stayed also.
*
Because we can't escape fate. Because if I had stayed I would never had met
Drusilla. *
Graham
felt someone touching his shoulder and got ready to stare into the women's
faces with their eyes full of sorrow, but he met his old friend's eyes, staring
into his own on the same level. Riley Finn was down on his knees in order
to hold Graham easily, to make both of them more comfortable. Graham was surprised
that he hadn't though about it first as Riley smiled openly at him.
"Hey
buddy! Long time I don't see you. I missed you."
Graham
felt his eyes burning with the tears he had been holding since the battle
and let himself be hugged by his friend, his brother as he could only whisper:
"Too
much damned time. This place was sure a hellmouth without you Ry." He
took a deep breath. "I missed you too."
Riley
tightened the grip in Graham's shoulders and did not answered him, for he
had no words left to speak. Graham felt a little safe now. Riley was back.
These
mist covered mountains
Are a home now for me
But my home is the lowlands
And always will be
Some day you'll return to
Your valleys and your farms
And you'll no longer burn
To be brothers in arm
******
At
first sight, Riley was shocked to see his brother in arms bounded to a wheelchair.
He crossed the gate at the exact moment when Graham noticed the two women
staring at him and Riley could see all the pain his friend was going through.
It had not been very difficult to figure out the better way to approach Graham,
so Riley made up his mind and walked with firm steps to the place where his
friend was.
Hugging
Graham was a far more difficult thing that Riley had ever imagined. They had
always hugged themselves back in the Initiative days, but they had never shared
any kind of emotion through a hug. And it was exactly what was happening right
now. Riley could feel Graham relaxing himself against his chest and it made
him wonder how had he been holding on through all these months, alone and
hurt in the hellmouth. In a matter of seconds he was back to the Initiative
days when he, Graham and Forrest would patrol together, drink and chat about
nothing in special. Things had changed; he killed Forrest, Graham lost his
legs and their friendship faded away.
Through
these fields of destruction
Baptism of fire
I've watched all your suffering
As the battles raged higher
And though they did hurt me so bad
In the fear and alarm
You did not desert me
My brothers in arms
Now,
out in the Californian daylight, his bag resting on Graham's lap as he pulled
the wheelchair to the car, Riley wondered why did he ever got in the military
in first place.
*
Good money and great adventures. Leaving Iowa and the ordinary life behind.
Was it really worthy? *
Graham
voice brought him back from his dream land.
"Hey,
where's your girl man? I am really eager to meet her." Graham tried to
sound convincing and Riley tried to believe him, but his voice sounded dry
even to his own ears.
"She's
back home."
"What?
You sent her to your parents in Iowa? I thought you wanted her near you?"
Graham didn't had to make any effort to sound real this time, he was surprised.
"No.
I said home. She in Rio, she's back home." Riley's tune left no space
for doubts. Home for him was Rio now. Not Iowa nor Sunnydale. Just that little
piece of heaven where Lea was now.
*
Home is where she is. *
Graham
smiled and spoke his mind.
"So,
now this is where home is for you? A far away sunny city in a tropical country
surrounded by woods and sea?" his smile grew wilder. "Sure not anything
like Iowa but still not that bad."
*
A joke. Graham is just trying to sound funny.*
Riley
relaxed and smiled back at his friend and soon they were laughing together.
There's
so many different worlds
So many different suns
And we have just one world
But we live in different ones
********
Lea
as staring at Nariel in disbelief.
"What
do you mean I can't talk to him? Are you insane?"
She
was restless and almost irrational. The vampire kept staring blankly at her
fury. He knew she would react that way.
"Ease,
Lea. Time flies and besides it is only three months."
She
cursed out loud in rage.
"Three
fucking months, Nariel!" Lea felt defeated and sat heavily on the chair.
"Three fucking long months." She muttered more to herself than to
him.
Only
two days have passed since Riley left and now Nariel came with the Romani
rules. She was going to be prepared, risen from the ashes like the proverbial
phoenix, and to get to the right level of knowledge and power she must go
through several rituals. Lea had listened calmly to all this crazy story about
ashes, phoenix and rituals. She was really eager to cooperate with Nariel
and Nira and was almost starting to like all the training. But five minutes
ago Nariel came with the ultimate rule. She should stay isolated from any
gaje contact.
Gaje
meaning non gypsy people. Gaje meaning Riley Finn.
Lea
felt her body in flames. Would she really have to lose him in order to follow
her destiny? She tried to be reasonable and argued with Nariel in order to
convince him that she would not really be in contact with him, it would be
just phone calls. As the vampire didn't seem to change his mind, she run to
Nira, but her grandmother told her that her training was Nariel's responsibility
and she could not interfere.
Lea
went back to the little house where she was supposed to live during the next
three months just to find Nariel still on the same position he was when she
left him. He had a strange look in his marble face and Lea took it as a signal
that he was angry with her. But Nariel was very sad with the whole situation.
He knew that a revolted woman was of no use in a magical training, so he decided
to give her a little comfort. He reached for a cell phone that was inside
his pocket and threw it at her feet. Lea picked the phone and stared at him.
"Say
your goodbyes, little one. Hurry, I need you ready by midnight."
With
these words he left her all alone. Lea opened her purse and picked Graham's
phone number in Sunnydale. She looked at the clock and mentally calculated
the time in California.
*
Riley should be already there. *
She
dialed the long number and after two rings a female voice answered.
"Hello,
this is Drusilla. I know how to answer the phone cause grandmommy taught me."
She paused. "Who is speaking?
Without
any reasons, Lea liked the girl. She sounded a little crazy but still her
voice was sweet and tender.
"Hello,
Drusilla. I am Lea and I am looking for Captain Riley Finn."
Big
pause.
"Oh!
You, the chosen. Are you ready already? Cause you see, he will need you here
fast."
Lea
was without words as Drusilla went on.
"Little
gypsy pay attention to the older of the elders. He can give you what you need.
Stuck on him and I will take care of your soldier just like I take care of
mine. I don't bite anymore."
"Bite?!"
Lea was sweating already. "Bite? Jesus are you a..."
Drusilla
was laughing.
"Yes,
yes. But I am a good girl since my Graham saved me. I think I can even love
him someday." Drusilla's voice was bitter and sad now, and Lea could
see clearly that she was insane. "Dad is gone forever now. The soul remains
tainted but Daddy won't come back." She paused. "You've already
spent too much time. I will tell Riley you love him. We'll meet soon, chosen
one."
Dru
hang up the phone and went back to the kitchen. She knew the two men would
be arriving soon. She shook her head smiling.
*
Riley will not be happy to have lost his last opportunity to talk to her for
a long time. *
Meanwhile in Rio a scared Lea was still pressing the phone strongly against
her ear when Nariel came back. She lifted her eyes to him.
"Let's
start it. My man is leaving under the same roof of a crazy vampire."
Tenderly,
Nariel took the phone from her hands.
"I
know it. Your man is leaving in the same house of Angelus' childe." He
paused. "But I bet she already told you she is not a bad girl any longer.
Trust her, she can be of some help later."
Puzzled,
Lea allowed Nariel to take her out into the moonlight. Rituals were going
to begin.
Now
the sun's gone to hell
And the moon's riding high
Let me bid you farewell
Every man has to die
But it's written in the starlight
And every line on your palm
We're fools to make war
On our brothers in arms
TBC
