3 – Family

Come on people, please tell me there are more then six people reading this? Please? Pretty please?

3 – Family

Sarah took a deep breath and hugged herself slightly, staring up at the imposing house before her. It had been ages since she'd come to Irons' home, the memories of what had happened four months before still ran vivid in her mind. In fact she hadn't seen Irons since the incident except on police business. Pulling the airplane ticket out of the compartment behind her seat she walked to the door and knocked. At once it opened, the butler led her into Irons study where he sat in a large overstuffed chair. When he saw who his visitor was he was mildly surprised, but masking it well he greeted her with a smile. "Sarah! Welcome. I would give you a proper greeting, but I'm sure you remember that I can't."

Sarah returned Irons smile with a sardonic one of her own. "Right. I came to return this." Holding up the plane ticket she threw it on the table beside him. Languidly he picked it up, glancing inside.

"I don't see why. After all, you will need to attend the funeral – won't you?" Sarah stewed at Irons tormenting words she know full well that they were aimed at the part of Sarah Pezzini that blamed herself for all the deaths that occurred in her life, not for the first time she wondered why she put up with his constant arrogance.

"Of course I will, but I don't need your money to do so." Sarah let disgust drip from her voice spinning on heels to leave as she did so. Partly because she wanted to leave, and partly because she didn't want him to see how deep his words had struck.

"Sarah wait." She halted; surprised that for once his tone wasn't haughty. "The ticket… I gave it to you because I needed a favor." When she didn't reply – or even move, he went on. "A week from now I'm leaving for a conference that's taking place on the other side of the world. It would ease my mind if I could leave my affairs here in New York in your capable hands."

Finding herself at a loss for words Sarah faced Irons once again, unable to control herself she then burst out laughing. "You expect me to buy that load of crap?" Sarah kept on laughing, not from amusement, but at his absurdity. "Irons you wouldn't do that. You'd be too afraid I'd find out more about the Witchblade. Besides I'm a cop, I've already got a job." With that she walked away, leaving Irons to stare into the fire on his own.

"Make sure she won't be able to find a flight to California. Since she's decided to waste a perfectly good first class plane ticket, she'll have to travel on my terms." Not bothering to look up Irons threw the ticket into the fire as Ian came out from where he was hidden. Bowing his head down Ian left the room without a word.

***

Luka sat deep in thought, rubbing the back of his left hand with the palm of his right. Around him his brothers Carlo, Gorgio, and Giulio sat looking at him, for the moment all the fine food that Chanterelle's could offer would not have tempted the quartet, to them the matter at hand was far too important. "I should be the one to do it." The words were murmured with a gentle force and his brothers could tell there was no changing his mind. Carlo however seemed determined to try. "No Carlo, ascoltano I know you are the oldest, and I know this involves the entire family, but that is exactly why I am the right choice. Please fratello the decision is made." For a moment the oldest and the youngest of the Giamano family held a staring contest, finally Carlo gave in.

Gorgio and Giulio, twins, let out a collective breath of air. "Good. Then it is settled." Smiling Gorgio tried to move the somber conversation elsewhere for a little while. "Tell me piccolo fratello how is Calliope? The last time I called you, you said something about proposing to her. Should Sophia be expecting another sister to help spoil Carlo's son?" Immediately Luka's expression darkened.

"You didn't hear what happened did you?" Seeing his brother's expressions, he realized that they hadn't heard. "Four months ago Callie and I began a project with Vorschlag…" Luka told his story, and when by finished, he was fighting back tears. "I was blinded by my stupid pride – thinking that if she didn't come back even after I was cleared that she must've been too selfish to care, and by the time I worked up the nerve to read her message – she'd disappeared." Silence reigned for a few seconds, till it was broken by Giulio.

"We'll find her for you Luka. We'll find her. Prometto." Luka looked as his other brothers nodded assent. This was his family, and he thanked God that he had them.

***

"Damn." Sarah hung up her phone in frustration. This was the fifth airline she'd called; it seemed that no one was flying to any airport within a sixty-mile radius of where Jake's funeral was being held anytime that day or the next. The one flight she had found was completely booked. The funeral was supposed to start at ten o'clock tomorrow morning, and in her growing desperation she almost regretted flinging Irons' present back at him, on second thought however, she wondered if Irons had gotten all those flights canceled just to spite her. Two minutes later she was interrupted from flinging mental curses at him by the ringing of her cell phone. "Pezzini."

"Hello Sarah, If you still want to go to your partners funeral, start packing. My driver will pick you up in two hours." Irons hung up immediately he could almost feel Sarah's glare through the phone. Unfortunately for her he held the upper hand. He did control six of southern California's eight local airports after all. More importantly he knew her, she wouldn't give up her only chance to attend Jake's funeral; her sense of duty would never let her do otherwise.

***

Ok, I shouldn't give hints like this, but when I said that there's no pairing on the first page I meant that no one gets together however….

1) If you're a Sarah/Jake fan stick around for ch. 7/8… things take a semi decided turn.

2) If you're an Ian fan please stay tuned for the next chapter.

Also, is this story getting predictable? If it is I may have to add a twist or two… maybe throw someone in oncoming traffic… we'll see.