Chapter ten
Xanatos caught Jesse's head before it hit the hard stone floor.
"Jesse, Jesse can you hear me?" He asked gently tapping her face. No response. Xanatos looked up at Owen. "Call the doctor."
"Right away Mr. Xanatos." Owen said and disappeared into the crowd.
Xanatos lifted Jesse into his arms and carried her to her bedroom. Owen entered several moments later with a physician that had attended the party. He thoroughly checked Jesse over finding nothing apparently wrong.
"From what I can tell," he said removing his stethoscope. "it's not anything serious, maybe the flu. I recommend that she drinks lots of fluid and gets plenty of rest. She should stay in bed for a few days."
"Good luck with that." Brianna muttered under her breath.
"How will this affect the plan?" Fox asked Xanatos under her breath.
"It should actually help it. With Goliath and Elisa gone, the clan should've been easy enough to trick, but this, my dear, is just the icing on the cake."
* * *
"With just a month left in the school year, I don't see why she can't attend the same school until June." Xanatos said a couple days later.
"It should help her to trust us more." Fox agreed. "Then next year, she can attend The Academy up north."
"Of, course, my dear." Xanatos said. "As soon as we get back from our trips, we can put the plan into action."
"You are brilliant."
* * *
June 26
Castle Wyvern
Jesse looked around the corner. The coast was clear. She crept down the hallway and into the elevator of freedom. Once outside the Eyrie building, Jesse hailed a cab and headed toward the precinct house. From there she ran inside to talk to Matt.
"Hey Matt!"
"Jesse?!" He looked surprised and nearly choked on his coffee, spilling it down the front of his shirt. "What are you doing here?"
"No prison can hold me." She said puffing up her chest proudly. Then settled down to a more serious level. "You do realize that that's what it is. A prison."
"Don't worry Jesse. We're keeping an eye on them. If they even look at you harshly. . ."
"Miss Xanatos. I must inquire, what are you doing out of the castle?"
Jesse looked behind her. There stood Owen Burnette, as stiff as ever.
"I'm visiting my friend, thank you very much." She said harshly.
"I must insist that you return this instant."
"Over my dead body."
"We really don't want it to get that messy, do we?" He asked folding his arms.
"Mayhap, it should." she said clenching her teeth.
"Jessondra, my dear, you seem to forget that you are the property of Mr. and Mrs. Xanatos, and that you will come. Now."
Jesse sighed and said goodbye to Matt, then allowed herself to be dragged out to the limo by Owen.
* * *
Jesse stormed out of the elevator. Owen followed, a hint of amusement on his face.
"You're really making this harder than it should be." He called after her.
* * *
Jesse threw herself across her bed and began crying. Then thinking of something better, she reached up and began dialing a number into the phone.
"Hi, this is Elisa. . ."
"Elisa, I--"
"I'm not home right now, but if you leave a message, I'll get back to you as soon as I can."
Jesse dropped the receiver back into its cradle and sat on the bed sulking.
Fox's voice came over the intercom. "Jesse, line two."
Jesse picked the phone back up. "Hello?"
"Hi, Jesse, how are you?"
"Diane! Hi! Are you back form Africa already?"
"Uh-huh. Are you enjoying your new family?"
"Yeah. It's really. . .great."
"You don't sound to sure of yourself."
"Oh who am I kidding. I hate it here. Mom, I want to come home."
"Jesse, I can't do that. They have legal custody of you. I just can't say 'give her back' then take you."
"Why the hell not?"
"I just can't."
"But--"
"I can't talk much longer. I've got so much to do. I'll try to call you later, dear. Bye."
"Bye."
As Jesse set the phone back down, there was a loud crash from the hallway, then Fox's scream. Jesse ran out into the hallway, to see Fox clutching at her midsection.
"Fox, are you okay?" She asked helping the older woman up.
Xanatos ran up behind her.
"David, I think it's time." Fox hissed.
* * *
David carried Fox to her bed and ran to call the doctor and family.
"Fox," Jesse said taking charge, "the doctor won't be able to get here in time. But don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
Another contraction hit Fox and she screamed.
"Fox, you need to relax. I did it back in tenth century Scotland, you can do it now. Breathe, just like the doctor taught you." Jesse demonstrated and soon had Fox calmed down. "Okay, this is going to happen really fast. Did you just now start having the contractions?"
"No." Fox hissed with pain. "They started while I was on the plane. I thought they were just stomach cramps."
"All right, on this next contraction push. Ready. . .and. . .PUSH!"
* * *
The lobby outside the elevators contained Fox's parents. Owen Burnette came out of the elevator followed by a man that had to be David's father.
"Right this way, sir. Petros Xanatos, this is Halcyon Renard, Fox's father." Owen said, indicating
the man in the wheelchair.
"A pleasure to meet you at last."
Halcyon pointed to the man beside him. "This is my aide-de-camp, Preston Vogel."
Petros Xanatos looked at Owen then at Vogel, then back at Owen. "I-are you two related?"
Vogel uncomfortably adjusted his glasses. "I assure you sir, we are not."
Owen just smiled and continued with the introductions. "And may I present Fox's mother, Anastasia Renard."
"It's no longer Renard," the woman said, "I've remarried."
Halcyon looked at his ex-wife, and took her hand. "Remarried? When? Who?"
"My first husband."
Owen got a look of panic on his face. "I-- I-I have some things to attend to, elsewhere. Excuse me."
Halcyon glanced at Anastasia while Owen made a hasty exit in the elevator. She just shrugged at him.
There was the sound of another elevator opening. Out stepped David with his little bundle of joy.
"You're all here. Excellent. Come and meet your new grandson, Alexander Fox Xanatos."
Everybody oohhed and aahhed, then filed into the elevator to visit the new mother.
* * *
Jesse pushed a lock of curly hair from her face, as she folded the rest of the blankets. She walked over to where Fox lay in the bed, resting.
Jesse took a damp cloth and dabbed the sweat off Fox's face, then removing the bloody gloves, answered the knock at the door.
"Is she up to visitors?" Xanatos asked.
"Of course. Fox? There's some people here to see you."
Jesse moved to the side and let the people pass through. A woman, who could only be Fox's mother, sat down on the edge of the bed.
"Ha, ha! He looks just like David, heh, heh, hee. Heh, heh." Pertos commented.
"Yes, but he has my daughter's eyes." Renard added.
"He's perfect, aren't you, my little prince?" Anastasia cooed.
Owen stepped up behind Xanatos. "A word, sir. It is imperative that you do not leave either Fox or your son alone with Anastasia. Jessondra, come."
Xanatos looked towards his mother-in-law, then back at Owen, but he was gone. "Owen?" He turned his attention back to Anastasia.
Anastasia held her arms out. "Let me hold this angel boy." Fox handed her the baby. "Oh, yes, my little one. You have so much to look forward to, such marvelous potential."
Xanatos glared at her.
Anastasia looked at Fox. "You look worn out, my dear."
"I am, a bit." Fox replied, holding her arms out for the baby.
Anastasia got up and shooed Halcyon and Petros out. "Okay, you two, you can see them later. Fox needs her rest. I'll keep the baby while you sleep."
"No!" Xanatos shouted, then quickly recovering himself. "That's not necessary. We have a nurse." He said and took the baby from her arms.
"But, David, I'm his grandmother."
"And you must be tired from your trip here."
"What's going on?" Fox asked confused.
"Yes, what exactly is going on." came a voice from the door.
Xanatos caught Jesse's head before it hit the hard stone floor.
"Jesse, Jesse can you hear me?" He asked gently tapping her face. No response. Xanatos looked up at Owen. "Call the doctor."
"Right away Mr. Xanatos." Owen said and disappeared into the crowd.
Xanatos lifted Jesse into his arms and carried her to her bedroom. Owen entered several moments later with a physician that had attended the party. He thoroughly checked Jesse over finding nothing apparently wrong.
"From what I can tell," he said removing his stethoscope. "it's not anything serious, maybe the flu. I recommend that she drinks lots of fluid and gets plenty of rest. She should stay in bed for a few days."
"Good luck with that." Brianna muttered under her breath.
"How will this affect the plan?" Fox asked Xanatos under her breath.
"It should actually help it. With Goliath and Elisa gone, the clan should've been easy enough to trick, but this, my dear, is just the icing on the cake."
* * *
"With just a month left in the school year, I don't see why she can't attend the same school until June." Xanatos said a couple days later.
"It should help her to trust us more." Fox agreed. "Then next year, she can attend The Academy up north."
"Of, course, my dear." Xanatos said. "As soon as we get back from our trips, we can put the plan into action."
"You are brilliant."
* * *
June 26
Castle Wyvern
Jesse looked around the corner. The coast was clear. She crept down the hallway and into the elevator of freedom. Once outside the Eyrie building, Jesse hailed a cab and headed toward the precinct house. From there she ran inside to talk to Matt.
"Hey Matt!"
"Jesse?!" He looked surprised and nearly choked on his coffee, spilling it down the front of his shirt. "What are you doing here?"
"No prison can hold me." She said puffing up her chest proudly. Then settled down to a more serious level. "You do realize that that's what it is. A prison."
"Don't worry Jesse. We're keeping an eye on them. If they even look at you harshly. . ."
"Miss Xanatos. I must inquire, what are you doing out of the castle?"
Jesse looked behind her. There stood Owen Burnette, as stiff as ever.
"I'm visiting my friend, thank you very much." She said harshly.
"I must insist that you return this instant."
"Over my dead body."
"We really don't want it to get that messy, do we?" He asked folding his arms.
"Mayhap, it should." she said clenching her teeth.
"Jessondra, my dear, you seem to forget that you are the property of Mr. and Mrs. Xanatos, and that you will come. Now."
Jesse sighed and said goodbye to Matt, then allowed herself to be dragged out to the limo by Owen.
* * *
Jesse stormed out of the elevator. Owen followed, a hint of amusement on his face.
"You're really making this harder than it should be." He called after her.
* * *
Jesse threw herself across her bed and began crying. Then thinking of something better, she reached up and began dialing a number into the phone.
"Hi, this is Elisa. . ."
"Elisa, I--"
"I'm not home right now, but if you leave a message, I'll get back to you as soon as I can."
Jesse dropped the receiver back into its cradle and sat on the bed sulking.
Fox's voice came over the intercom. "Jesse, line two."
Jesse picked the phone back up. "Hello?"
"Hi, Jesse, how are you?"
"Diane! Hi! Are you back form Africa already?"
"Uh-huh. Are you enjoying your new family?"
"Yeah. It's really. . .great."
"You don't sound to sure of yourself."
"Oh who am I kidding. I hate it here. Mom, I want to come home."
"Jesse, I can't do that. They have legal custody of you. I just can't say 'give her back' then take you."
"Why the hell not?"
"I just can't."
"But--"
"I can't talk much longer. I've got so much to do. I'll try to call you later, dear. Bye."
"Bye."
As Jesse set the phone back down, there was a loud crash from the hallway, then Fox's scream. Jesse ran out into the hallway, to see Fox clutching at her midsection.
"Fox, are you okay?" She asked helping the older woman up.
Xanatos ran up behind her.
"David, I think it's time." Fox hissed.
* * *
David carried Fox to her bed and ran to call the doctor and family.
"Fox," Jesse said taking charge, "the doctor won't be able to get here in time. But don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
Another contraction hit Fox and she screamed.
"Fox, you need to relax. I did it back in tenth century Scotland, you can do it now. Breathe, just like the doctor taught you." Jesse demonstrated and soon had Fox calmed down. "Okay, this is going to happen really fast. Did you just now start having the contractions?"
"No." Fox hissed with pain. "They started while I was on the plane. I thought they were just stomach cramps."
"All right, on this next contraction push. Ready. . .and. . .PUSH!"
* * *
The lobby outside the elevators contained Fox's parents. Owen Burnette came out of the elevator followed by a man that had to be David's father.
"Right this way, sir. Petros Xanatos, this is Halcyon Renard, Fox's father." Owen said, indicating
the man in the wheelchair.
"A pleasure to meet you at last."
Halcyon pointed to the man beside him. "This is my aide-de-camp, Preston Vogel."
Petros Xanatos looked at Owen then at Vogel, then back at Owen. "I-are you two related?"
Vogel uncomfortably adjusted his glasses. "I assure you sir, we are not."
Owen just smiled and continued with the introductions. "And may I present Fox's mother, Anastasia Renard."
"It's no longer Renard," the woman said, "I've remarried."
Halcyon looked at his ex-wife, and took her hand. "Remarried? When? Who?"
"My first husband."
Owen got a look of panic on his face. "I-- I-I have some things to attend to, elsewhere. Excuse me."
Halcyon glanced at Anastasia while Owen made a hasty exit in the elevator. She just shrugged at him.
There was the sound of another elevator opening. Out stepped David with his little bundle of joy.
"You're all here. Excellent. Come and meet your new grandson, Alexander Fox Xanatos."
Everybody oohhed and aahhed, then filed into the elevator to visit the new mother.
* * *
Jesse pushed a lock of curly hair from her face, as she folded the rest of the blankets. She walked over to where Fox lay in the bed, resting.
Jesse took a damp cloth and dabbed the sweat off Fox's face, then removing the bloody gloves, answered the knock at the door.
"Is she up to visitors?" Xanatos asked.
"Of course. Fox? There's some people here to see you."
Jesse moved to the side and let the people pass through. A woman, who could only be Fox's mother, sat down on the edge of the bed.
"Ha, ha! He looks just like David, heh, heh, hee. Heh, heh." Pertos commented.
"Yes, but he has my daughter's eyes." Renard added.
"He's perfect, aren't you, my little prince?" Anastasia cooed.
Owen stepped up behind Xanatos. "A word, sir. It is imperative that you do not leave either Fox or your son alone with Anastasia. Jessondra, come."
Xanatos looked towards his mother-in-law, then back at Owen, but he was gone. "Owen?" He turned his attention back to Anastasia.
Anastasia held her arms out. "Let me hold this angel boy." Fox handed her the baby. "Oh, yes, my little one. You have so much to look forward to, such marvelous potential."
Xanatos glared at her.
Anastasia looked at Fox. "You look worn out, my dear."
"I am, a bit." Fox replied, holding her arms out for the baby.
Anastasia got up and shooed Halcyon and Petros out. "Okay, you two, you can see them later. Fox needs her rest. I'll keep the baby while you sleep."
"No!" Xanatos shouted, then quickly recovering himself. "That's not necessary. We have a nurse." He said and took the baby from her arms.
"But, David, I'm his grandmother."
"And you must be tired from your trip here."
"What's going on?" Fox asked confused.
"Yes, what exactly is going on." came a voice from the door.