{Just a little note here. I had always intended for the fic to take a
little sci-fi turn from the begining, since I set the Tricky world as
futuristic anyway (you get a look at Megaplex? looks futuristic to me). I
did not run out of ideas, I just don't lay all my cards on the table at
once. Most of you seem to like that, since I see a lot of repeat readers.
Running out of ideas would mean this fic would never be worked on again,
and here it is...chapter five or fic number five. For those of you who are
turned off by the idea of Raven or even Mac's sexuality (which is not, and
never was, intended to be a main storyline), then don't read it. I can't
please everyone. You'll just have to live with not knowing the end of the
series, because it is going to continue down this little trip. Also, while
I appreciate every review, I tend not to take them serious when the review
posts as anonymus and doesn't leave an email. Also, I changed all the fic
titles so you know which of mine all belong together. The title, Cachez-Moi
Loin, means "Hide Me Away". Now, on with the fic....enjoy, or don't.}
Running fast. Pant. Pant. Pant your last breath in fear. They're close, I can sense them, smell them. Right behind me, right up ahead. They're all around. I didn't do anything wrong. I did everything wrong. I just want to go back to the safehouse, back to familiar faces. I never meant to be mixed up in this. I just wanted to have freedom. So close. Run, run fast. Almost there, almost...
Brodi was watching Raven over the top of the paternity test results. The boy was thrashing about, obviously having a nightmare. He set the papers down and leaned forward to wake the boy up just as Raven sat bolt up- right screaming. His fist shot out, catching Brodi across the jaw and knocking him back. The older man sat up and looked at the boy. Raven panted softly, looking up at Brodi through his sweat-soaked bangs.
"Sorry 'bout that, mate," he finally managed to get out. Brodi nodded, rubbing his jaw.
"Don't worry about it," he answered. "You were fighting the heck out of the covers. Want to talk about it?"
"You're good about that," Raven said, hugging his knees.
"What do you mean?" Brodi asked. Raven chuckled.
"Always the counselor," the boy answered. "I don't want to talk about it, no. What're you doing with the paternity results?"
"Looking over them. You pretty much said you are Zoe and Psymon's son," Brodi answered, "and, while I find it hard to believe, I think there is some truth to your story. Here, see for yourself. This line here shows the blood match and this one shows the DNA match. Now, if you go by blood type, you get a less accurate reading. Lessee, the babie's bloodtype is O. Well, that could put any number of people as the father, but only three come to mind as being in the league, and Hiro isn't one of them. I checked the records last night after you fell asleep. The officials keep everything, you know, and Hiro's file says his blood type is A. I don't see where you're matching this baby up as his."
"Right here," Raven said, leaning over and pointing to a line on the paper. "This here is the baby's blood type. It's AB. Even more so, the DNA matches closer to Hiro. You were looking at Psy's information."
"Let me see that," Brodi said, looking at the results again. The boy was right, the matching sequence line showed a 98.674% lead in Hiro's favor. Poor Psymon, he was going to be crushed that it wasn't his child. Then...there was Raven. Brodi looked at him. "It's not you."
"I know," Raven answered softly. "Jones warned me that there were infinite futures, I guess there's infinite pasts, too."
"I think it's more like you not only crossed time, but realities. You're not really in your timeline anymore," Brodi said. "I don't know if your information is relevant here."
"I was right about going to Elysium Alps, wasn't I?" Raven remarked, his British accent thick with his grogginess. "So, maybe I'm not too far off the beaten path that what we do now won't effect me timeline, too."
"Rae, you can't change the past," Brodi said.
"But I can affect the future," Raven answered. "Besides, this isn't me past. That paternity test proves it."
"Yeah, but what about you saying it was a girl? I don't see that here," Brodi said, scooting the papers around. Raven picked up a sonogram picture and showed it to Brodi.
"I guess Zoe had it done, too, and put it in with the paternity results," he said. "It's a girl."
"Maybe it's your sister," Brodi offered.
"Brodi, I'm an only child. I was their firstborn, and Zoe died three months after me birth. Me life got messed up, but maybe I can make sure this little one gets to have her parents," Raven replied. "She'll be me sister, afterall, even if she never knows who I am."
"What's going to happen to you when, or if, you complete your mission? Will you go back home?" Brodi asked. "'cause, I have to tell you, this all feels a little too close to Terminator for my tastes."
"I don't know. Jones can always pull me back through the flux, but now there's not really a danger of being here since I didn't currently exist on this timeline. I'm just an accidental tourist now," Raven sighed. "I'd really like to know me parents, but I don't think I can tell them who I am. Might be a little out there for them to grasp."
"You think?" Brodi asked. "Who is this Jones you keep talking about?"
"You don't know?" Raven laughed. "Take a guess, mate."
"Moby raised you?" Brodie asked, completely shocked. "I didn't think he could even take care of himself, let alone a kid."
"He didn't raise me alone, Brodi," Raven explained. "All the league members helped, I just spent the most time with him because I liked his accent. I didn't know it would rub off."
"How many of the league members did you actually know in your time?" the older man asked. Raven just sighed, lowering his head.
"Not many. After Mum's murder, you all sort of scattered to the winds. You took me in, along with the rest of the league members willing to fight back against the system. It got ugly. Aside from you and Jones, I only know two others," Rave said remorsefully. "I don't really know what happened to the others, except the one that started it all is top ranked in the system and Luther died rescuing you and me from an attack on the old safehouse. I guess maybe that's why I agreed to share the tour bus with him and JP. I kind of owe it to him to know who he was."
"Depressing," Brodi sighed. Raven nodded.
"That's why there's the Shakaku," he answered. "Jones created it in an attempt to reverse what happened. It's a one-shot chance, though. My first objective is to keep Psymon out of the Elysium Alps competition and alive. If that fails, then I have to keep Zoe alive. I really don't want this task. It's too big and too personal."
"Why wasn't someone else picked?" Brodi asked. He couldn't figure the boy out. He was here to stop a future that wasn't a part of their time yet, if ever. If he stopped the future, would he just cease to exist? What chance had he taken in coming back?
"Who else could they have asked? Jones has to monitor the progress, you're the leader of our little rebellion, and that only leaves JP and Seeiah. I don't think they could come back safely or be able to get close enough to all of you to make a difference in enough time to stop the betrayal," Raven said.
"So, what will you do when you find out who it is?" Brodi asked. Raven shrugged.
"I have no idea," Raven replied. "Whatever it takes, I guess."
Psymon looked down the Garibaldi course, frowning. He wanted very badly to grab a board and fly down the track. He crouched down and ran a gloved hand over the snow, sighing. He could hear the other league members behind him getting ready for the race. Only Zoe was absent, electing to rest for awhile instead of watching a race she couldn't be in. Standing up, Psymon looked back at the boarders. They all seemed ready to go, all except Brodi and Raven. Those two seemed rather withdrawn. Psymon wondered off- hand when they had gotten so chummy.
"Will the first group of riders please step up to the line to get the race started," the loud speakers announced. Psymon looked up at the intercom just as he was pounced.
"Oof!" he cried out looking down. Kaori laughed, looking up at him. He frowned at the girl. "Get off me."
"Aw, Psymon, I am sorry you can not be in the race," she said, pouting, then perked up, "but I'll get the gold for you."
"Don't do me any favors," Psymon growled.
"Fine, then I'll get it for Zoe and her baby," Kaori chirped and bounced off. Psymon just groaned. He turned and leaned against the guardrail. Behind him he heard the starting bell go off and soon the throng of boarders whisked by him. He watched, glancing at the monitors every now and then, silently rooting here and there for the boarders.
"You wish you were one of them, don't you?" Marisol asked, leaning on the guardrail beside him. Psymon refused to acknowledge her. The woman rubbed his shoulder gently. "Hey, whatever poison we have between us isn't here right now. I just wanted to let you know I feel bad that you can't race today."
"Well, thanks, my life is complete now," Psymon muttered. He looked over at Marisol. "And you're wrong. There's always bad mojo between us."
"I suppose you are right," Marisol sighed, withdrawing her hand from his shoulder. "I just don't want you beating yourself up over not being able to race."
"I wish I was down there, but I don't envy any of you," Psymon answered. "I know my legs aren't healed up just yet and I don't care to risk injuring them again."
"Psy, how unlike you to not take risks," Marisol purred. "I suppose spreading your seed around has made you soft."
"Piss off, Marisol," Psymon growled. "You're just jealous I'm not interested in you."
"Well, you know Zoe's not going to let you near her soon...female hormones, and all," Marisol replied, once again rubbing Psymon's shoulder. "The offer still stands if you need a break from the sexual tension. Besides, I contacted Hiro since neither you nor Zoe bothered to and told him that he might be a father. He's going to meet us at the next event, and I doubt very seriously he'll let you close to her when it comes out that it's his...and it is his, you know."
"You don't know that," Psymon said, looking away from her. "I'm tired of your lies, Marisol. Just get it through that thick skull of yours that you and I are never going to share a bed."
"You came close to it, though, the last time we were here at Garibaldi," Marisol said softly, moving closer to Psymon. She trailed her fingertips along his well-msucled arms, tracing the tattooes.
"Yeah, and, much like your parents forgetting to use birth-control, it was a mistake," Psymon said harshly, watching the boarders on the course.
"As much a mistake as you and Mac?" Marisol asked. Psymon's eyes widened, but he still didn't look at her. "Oh, don't worry, he didn't tell any one. I saw you two leaving and decided to follow. You surprise me, Psymon, I knew you were getting hard up for sex, but I didn't think you would go to a child."
"He and I talked, Marisol. We just talked," Psymon said, keeping his voice even.
"I didn't know that talking involved games of tonsil hockey. I know your secret, Psy, and I will use it against you every chance I get unless you do as I say," Marisol replied, smirking. "I don't ask for much, just sexual gratification when ever I want. Maybe even go dancing."
"You're blackmailing me to force me into a relationship with you?" Psymon asked.
"Oh, it sounds so harsh when you put it that way," Marisol answered, pouting. "I'd rather think of it as you doing what you're good at to save your ass."
"I don't want to lose Zoe, Marisol, not when she needs me," Psymon sighed, looking sidelong at the Latin woman.
"You're going to lose her anyway when Hiro and her talk. Did it ever occur to you that she may already know who the father of her baby is? She had a paternity test done while you were in your coma," Marisol replied. Psymon shook his head.
"That's not like her," he said softly.
"Then why don't you ask her? It's not like you have anything else to do, unless you like your little pity party," Marisol answered, laughing. She walked off, hearing her name being called for the race. Psymon watched her walk of, frowning. He pushed off from the guardrail and made his way back to the lower level of the starting platform, then headed towards his winnebago. He walked in quietly, making his way to the bed room, then sat down on the bed, watching Zoe sleep. He knew better than to trust Marisol, but he had to admit the seed of doubt had been planted. He didn't deserve such a wonderful person in his life, anyway. He didn't even know how to treat her right. He sighed softly. She'd be better off with Hiro. At least he could afford a child in his life. All Psymon could offer was a tiny, not all that well put together house on the edge of town. He could barely afford to live the way he did now, nevermind what he did with the money he got from the league and the other sports he was into.
Psymon sat there a bit longer, then got up and walked to the front of the winnebago and sat in the passenger seat, proping his feet up on the dashboard so his knees came close enough to his chest that he could rest his arms on them. He looked out the windshield for the longest time, thinking things over. Could he really provide for Zoe and her child? What if it wasn't his, what then? Would Hiro demand visitation rights? Would he keep them apart? But...what if it was his? He didn't want to become his father, but he did want to take responsibility for the child.
Behind him, he could hear Zoe getting up and moving around. He closed his eyes and sighed softly. The last thing he wanted was to upset her, or fight with her, but Marisol was right. If Zoe knew who the father was, she needed to tell him. He knew that he should let her know that Hiro would be at Elysium Alps. He rested his head down on his arms, just wishing he could disappear for awhile. Since that didn't work all that well, he got up and looked back at Zoe standing there in one of his t-shirts and his robe. She had never looked better to him. He walked up behind her and slipped his arms around her, placing his hands flat against her belly. She yelped in surprise, but he held her fast. Psymon felt her relax, now that she knew who it was, and rest back against him. He swayed gently, rocking her, his head down on her shoulder. He could feel the baby kicking inside her under his hands. Zoe put her arms up and back around his neck.
"Okay, big guy, what did you break?" Zoe asked. Psymon chuckled a bit, trying to keep calm. He kissed her shoulder, then rested his chin on it.
"Marisol called Hiro, he's going to be at Elysium Alps," he said softly.
"What? Why did she do that?" Zoe asked, looking back at him.
"She said she wanted him to know he might be a father. She's pretty convinced it's his," Psymon answered. He swallowed, then sighed. "Why didn't you tell me you had the paternity test done?"
"I wasn't ready to deal with that. I sort of liked the idea that you and me and this baby were a family, no matter who the father is," Zoe replied. Psymon could tell she was starting to cry just by her voice. He gave her a slight hug, rubbing her belly.
"Yeah, I like that idea, too," he said softly. "I just think we should know before we have to deal with Hiro."
"Probably a good idea, yeah," Zoe replied. "I left the results with Brodi still sealed up. Just to let you know, I had a sonogram done, too. It's in with the results."
"Well, he was in the first group of racers, so he should be at the bus by now," Psymon said, not quite ready to let her go. Zoe moved a bit so she could look at him more.
"You're thinking," she said.
"I know, bad habit," Psymon chuckled. "I just want to do something before we find out the results and all."
"What's on your mind, big guy?" Zoe asked. Psymon just grinned.
"I want to make love to you," he answered. "I want it to be like you and I and the kid are just family. No paternity tests. No Hiro. No bullshit."
"You think the results are going to change the relationship that much?" Zoe asked, not sounding happy.
"No. I hope not. I just want to be with you, Zoe," Psymon said, nuzzling her. "I need you."
"The pregnancy sure hasn't slowed you down, has it?" Zoe said, looking up at him.
"Nope, I kinda like you all motherly and glowy. You're beautiful," Psymon said, turning Zoe to face him, "and you're carrying my child. I don't care what the paternity test says. I want to help you raise it."
"I love you, Psymon," Zoe cried happily, throwing her arms around his neck. Psymon hugged her as tight as he dared, feeling the baby's fluttering against him. He stroked her hair gently.
"I love you, too," he whispered, kissing her cheek. Zoe pulled back from him and smiled, then lead him back into their bedroom. Psymon gave in, happy to set aside all their problems for awhile.
Brodi answered the door, hearing knocking, and saw Zoe and Psymon standing there. He smiled at them and moved out of the way, letting them in. The plunked down in the booth in the kitchenette while he made some tea. After a moment, he set some cups down in front of them and sat across from them.
"So, what brings the league's happiest couple to my humble abode?" he asked, blowing on his tea to cool it down.
"I...we're ready to see the paternity results," Zoe said, putting her hand over Psymon's. Brodi nodded.
"I have to tell you, I looked at them already. I'm sorry," he said. "I just wanted to know so I could advise you."
"Is...is it mine?" Psymon asked, squeezing Zoe's hand gently.
"I'll get the results," Brodi answered getting up. He walked back to his bedroom and picked up the envelope where Raven had left it earlier. He walked back to the kitchen area and laid it down, placing the sonogram on top. "I thought you might like to know the baby's sex first."
"Hey, it's a boy," Psymon said, picking up the sonogram image.
"Um, no, big guy," Zoe said, turning the picture around for Psymon. "That's the umbelical cord. It's a girl."
"Oh," Psymon replied. "She's beautiful...just like her mother."
"Brodi, are we not going to like the results?" Zoe asked quietly.
"Probably not," he answered. Zoe pulled out the results and looked over them. Psymon looked over her shoulder. Both of them frowned.
"It's not mine," Psymon said, getting up. He walked over and looked out the window, hugging himself. Brodi sighed and scooted over, putting his arm around Zoe. She began crying, clinging to Brodi. Psymon looked back at them, the light from outside catching on his own tears. He walked over and sat on the other side of Zoe, hugging her and Brodi both. "We'll get through this."
"No, we won't. Hiro will try to keep you away from me and the baby," Zoe wailed. Brodi looked at Psymon, arching an eyebrow.
"And just why would Hiro do that?" he asked.
"Because Marisol told him that Zoe was pregnant and that it was probably his. He'll be at the Elysium Alps course," Psymon answered.
"Oh, great," Brodi muttered. Zoe pulled away from him and pounded her fist on the table.
"Knocked up or not, I'm gonna go wring her neck. Let me up, Psymon," Zoe yelled. Psymon didn't budge an inch.
"Normally, I would run from your preggo hormones, love, but this time, you need to let me handle it," he said softly, kissing her forehead. Zoe just nodded. Psymon slid out of the booth and left. Brodi sighed.
"Hey, you gonna be okay, Zoe?" he asked. Zoe nodded, then shook her head,.
"I really wanted it to be Psymon's," she said, he voice barely above a whisper. Brodi hugged her.
"I know it doesn't mean much, but on some plane of existence, you do have Psymon's child," he said quietly.
"Marisol, you were right," Psymon said, standing on the tour bus' steps, looking up at the Latin woman. "It's not mine, but I still intend to help raise it. Last warning to stay away from me and Zoe."
"Or what? You'll run off with another member of the league and make out with them behind Zoe's back, too?" Marisol asked, smirking. Psymon sighed, looking down.
"Please, Marisol, if you care about me, don't do this," he said softly. Marisol reached out and stroked his shoulder, then made him look up at her.
"If you care about Zoe, you'll do as I say," she replied. Psymon closed his eyes, images of Zoe hurt and crying flooding his mind. He opened his eyes, looking up at Marisol. She smiled, chuckling a bit. "Come inside, Psymon. I have need of your certain attentions."
Psymon gave a final look over his shoulder at Brodi's bus, then to his winnebago. He sighed and looked back up at Marisol, then walked in after her. He hoped that maybe one day Zoe would understand that he was trying to protect her and Mac.
Running fast. Pant. Pant. Pant your last breath in fear. They're close, I can sense them, smell them. Right behind me, right up ahead. They're all around. I didn't do anything wrong. I did everything wrong. I just want to go back to the safehouse, back to familiar faces. I never meant to be mixed up in this. I just wanted to have freedom. So close. Run, run fast. Almost there, almost...
Brodi was watching Raven over the top of the paternity test results. The boy was thrashing about, obviously having a nightmare. He set the papers down and leaned forward to wake the boy up just as Raven sat bolt up- right screaming. His fist shot out, catching Brodi across the jaw and knocking him back. The older man sat up and looked at the boy. Raven panted softly, looking up at Brodi through his sweat-soaked bangs.
"Sorry 'bout that, mate," he finally managed to get out. Brodi nodded, rubbing his jaw.
"Don't worry about it," he answered. "You were fighting the heck out of the covers. Want to talk about it?"
"You're good about that," Raven said, hugging his knees.
"What do you mean?" Brodi asked. Raven chuckled.
"Always the counselor," the boy answered. "I don't want to talk about it, no. What're you doing with the paternity results?"
"Looking over them. You pretty much said you are Zoe and Psymon's son," Brodi answered, "and, while I find it hard to believe, I think there is some truth to your story. Here, see for yourself. This line here shows the blood match and this one shows the DNA match. Now, if you go by blood type, you get a less accurate reading. Lessee, the babie's bloodtype is O. Well, that could put any number of people as the father, but only three come to mind as being in the league, and Hiro isn't one of them. I checked the records last night after you fell asleep. The officials keep everything, you know, and Hiro's file says his blood type is A. I don't see where you're matching this baby up as his."
"Right here," Raven said, leaning over and pointing to a line on the paper. "This here is the baby's blood type. It's AB. Even more so, the DNA matches closer to Hiro. You were looking at Psy's information."
"Let me see that," Brodi said, looking at the results again. The boy was right, the matching sequence line showed a 98.674% lead in Hiro's favor. Poor Psymon, he was going to be crushed that it wasn't his child. Then...there was Raven. Brodi looked at him. "It's not you."
"I know," Raven answered softly. "Jones warned me that there were infinite futures, I guess there's infinite pasts, too."
"I think it's more like you not only crossed time, but realities. You're not really in your timeline anymore," Brodi said. "I don't know if your information is relevant here."
"I was right about going to Elysium Alps, wasn't I?" Raven remarked, his British accent thick with his grogginess. "So, maybe I'm not too far off the beaten path that what we do now won't effect me timeline, too."
"Rae, you can't change the past," Brodi said.
"But I can affect the future," Raven answered. "Besides, this isn't me past. That paternity test proves it."
"Yeah, but what about you saying it was a girl? I don't see that here," Brodi said, scooting the papers around. Raven picked up a sonogram picture and showed it to Brodi.
"I guess Zoe had it done, too, and put it in with the paternity results," he said. "It's a girl."
"Maybe it's your sister," Brodi offered.
"Brodi, I'm an only child. I was their firstborn, and Zoe died three months after me birth. Me life got messed up, but maybe I can make sure this little one gets to have her parents," Raven replied. "She'll be me sister, afterall, even if she never knows who I am."
"What's going to happen to you when, or if, you complete your mission? Will you go back home?" Brodi asked. "'cause, I have to tell you, this all feels a little too close to Terminator for my tastes."
"I don't know. Jones can always pull me back through the flux, but now there's not really a danger of being here since I didn't currently exist on this timeline. I'm just an accidental tourist now," Raven sighed. "I'd really like to know me parents, but I don't think I can tell them who I am. Might be a little out there for them to grasp."
"You think?" Brodi asked. "Who is this Jones you keep talking about?"
"You don't know?" Raven laughed. "Take a guess, mate."
"Moby raised you?" Brodie asked, completely shocked. "I didn't think he could even take care of himself, let alone a kid."
"He didn't raise me alone, Brodi," Raven explained. "All the league members helped, I just spent the most time with him because I liked his accent. I didn't know it would rub off."
"How many of the league members did you actually know in your time?" the older man asked. Raven just sighed, lowering his head.
"Not many. After Mum's murder, you all sort of scattered to the winds. You took me in, along with the rest of the league members willing to fight back against the system. It got ugly. Aside from you and Jones, I only know two others," Rave said remorsefully. "I don't really know what happened to the others, except the one that started it all is top ranked in the system and Luther died rescuing you and me from an attack on the old safehouse. I guess maybe that's why I agreed to share the tour bus with him and JP. I kind of owe it to him to know who he was."
"Depressing," Brodi sighed. Raven nodded.
"That's why there's the Shakaku," he answered. "Jones created it in an attempt to reverse what happened. It's a one-shot chance, though. My first objective is to keep Psymon out of the Elysium Alps competition and alive. If that fails, then I have to keep Zoe alive. I really don't want this task. It's too big and too personal."
"Why wasn't someone else picked?" Brodi asked. He couldn't figure the boy out. He was here to stop a future that wasn't a part of their time yet, if ever. If he stopped the future, would he just cease to exist? What chance had he taken in coming back?
"Who else could they have asked? Jones has to monitor the progress, you're the leader of our little rebellion, and that only leaves JP and Seeiah. I don't think they could come back safely or be able to get close enough to all of you to make a difference in enough time to stop the betrayal," Raven said.
"So, what will you do when you find out who it is?" Brodi asked. Raven shrugged.
"I have no idea," Raven replied. "Whatever it takes, I guess."
Psymon looked down the Garibaldi course, frowning. He wanted very badly to grab a board and fly down the track. He crouched down and ran a gloved hand over the snow, sighing. He could hear the other league members behind him getting ready for the race. Only Zoe was absent, electing to rest for awhile instead of watching a race she couldn't be in. Standing up, Psymon looked back at the boarders. They all seemed ready to go, all except Brodi and Raven. Those two seemed rather withdrawn. Psymon wondered off- hand when they had gotten so chummy.
"Will the first group of riders please step up to the line to get the race started," the loud speakers announced. Psymon looked up at the intercom just as he was pounced.
"Oof!" he cried out looking down. Kaori laughed, looking up at him. He frowned at the girl. "Get off me."
"Aw, Psymon, I am sorry you can not be in the race," she said, pouting, then perked up, "but I'll get the gold for you."
"Don't do me any favors," Psymon growled.
"Fine, then I'll get it for Zoe and her baby," Kaori chirped and bounced off. Psymon just groaned. He turned and leaned against the guardrail. Behind him he heard the starting bell go off and soon the throng of boarders whisked by him. He watched, glancing at the monitors every now and then, silently rooting here and there for the boarders.
"You wish you were one of them, don't you?" Marisol asked, leaning on the guardrail beside him. Psymon refused to acknowledge her. The woman rubbed his shoulder gently. "Hey, whatever poison we have between us isn't here right now. I just wanted to let you know I feel bad that you can't race today."
"Well, thanks, my life is complete now," Psymon muttered. He looked over at Marisol. "And you're wrong. There's always bad mojo between us."
"I suppose you are right," Marisol sighed, withdrawing her hand from his shoulder. "I just don't want you beating yourself up over not being able to race."
"I wish I was down there, but I don't envy any of you," Psymon answered. "I know my legs aren't healed up just yet and I don't care to risk injuring them again."
"Psy, how unlike you to not take risks," Marisol purred. "I suppose spreading your seed around has made you soft."
"Piss off, Marisol," Psymon growled. "You're just jealous I'm not interested in you."
"Well, you know Zoe's not going to let you near her soon...female hormones, and all," Marisol replied, once again rubbing Psymon's shoulder. "The offer still stands if you need a break from the sexual tension. Besides, I contacted Hiro since neither you nor Zoe bothered to and told him that he might be a father. He's going to meet us at the next event, and I doubt very seriously he'll let you close to her when it comes out that it's his...and it is his, you know."
"You don't know that," Psymon said, looking away from her. "I'm tired of your lies, Marisol. Just get it through that thick skull of yours that you and I are never going to share a bed."
"You came close to it, though, the last time we were here at Garibaldi," Marisol said softly, moving closer to Psymon. She trailed her fingertips along his well-msucled arms, tracing the tattooes.
"Yeah, and, much like your parents forgetting to use birth-control, it was a mistake," Psymon said harshly, watching the boarders on the course.
"As much a mistake as you and Mac?" Marisol asked. Psymon's eyes widened, but he still didn't look at her. "Oh, don't worry, he didn't tell any one. I saw you two leaving and decided to follow. You surprise me, Psymon, I knew you were getting hard up for sex, but I didn't think you would go to a child."
"He and I talked, Marisol. We just talked," Psymon said, keeping his voice even.
"I didn't know that talking involved games of tonsil hockey. I know your secret, Psy, and I will use it against you every chance I get unless you do as I say," Marisol replied, smirking. "I don't ask for much, just sexual gratification when ever I want. Maybe even go dancing."
"You're blackmailing me to force me into a relationship with you?" Psymon asked.
"Oh, it sounds so harsh when you put it that way," Marisol answered, pouting. "I'd rather think of it as you doing what you're good at to save your ass."
"I don't want to lose Zoe, Marisol, not when she needs me," Psymon sighed, looking sidelong at the Latin woman.
"You're going to lose her anyway when Hiro and her talk. Did it ever occur to you that she may already know who the father of her baby is? She had a paternity test done while you were in your coma," Marisol replied. Psymon shook his head.
"That's not like her," he said softly.
"Then why don't you ask her? It's not like you have anything else to do, unless you like your little pity party," Marisol answered, laughing. She walked off, hearing her name being called for the race. Psymon watched her walk of, frowning. He pushed off from the guardrail and made his way back to the lower level of the starting platform, then headed towards his winnebago. He walked in quietly, making his way to the bed room, then sat down on the bed, watching Zoe sleep. He knew better than to trust Marisol, but he had to admit the seed of doubt had been planted. He didn't deserve such a wonderful person in his life, anyway. He didn't even know how to treat her right. He sighed softly. She'd be better off with Hiro. At least he could afford a child in his life. All Psymon could offer was a tiny, not all that well put together house on the edge of town. He could barely afford to live the way he did now, nevermind what he did with the money he got from the league and the other sports he was into.
Psymon sat there a bit longer, then got up and walked to the front of the winnebago and sat in the passenger seat, proping his feet up on the dashboard so his knees came close enough to his chest that he could rest his arms on them. He looked out the windshield for the longest time, thinking things over. Could he really provide for Zoe and her child? What if it wasn't his, what then? Would Hiro demand visitation rights? Would he keep them apart? But...what if it was his? He didn't want to become his father, but he did want to take responsibility for the child.
Behind him, he could hear Zoe getting up and moving around. He closed his eyes and sighed softly. The last thing he wanted was to upset her, or fight with her, but Marisol was right. If Zoe knew who the father was, she needed to tell him. He knew that he should let her know that Hiro would be at Elysium Alps. He rested his head down on his arms, just wishing he could disappear for awhile. Since that didn't work all that well, he got up and looked back at Zoe standing there in one of his t-shirts and his robe. She had never looked better to him. He walked up behind her and slipped his arms around her, placing his hands flat against her belly. She yelped in surprise, but he held her fast. Psymon felt her relax, now that she knew who it was, and rest back against him. He swayed gently, rocking her, his head down on her shoulder. He could feel the baby kicking inside her under his hands. Zoe put her arms up and back around his neck.
"Okay, big guy, what did you break?" Zoe asked. Psymon chuckled a bit, trying to keep calm. He kissed her shoulder, then rested his chin on it.
"Marisol called Hiro, he's going to be at Elysium Alps," he said softly.
"What? Why did she do that?" Zoe asked, looking back at him.
"She said she wanted him to know he might be a father. She's pretty convinced it's his," Psymon answered. He swallowed, then sighed. "Why didn't you tell me you had the paternity test done?"
"I wasn't ready to deal with that. I sort of liked the idea that you and me and this baby were a family, no matter who the father is," Zoe replied. Psymon could tell she was starting to cry just by her voice. He gave her a slight hug, rubbing her belly.
"Yeah, I like that idea, too," he said softly. "I just think we should know before we have to deal with Hiro."
"Probably a good idea, yeah," Zoe replied. "I left the results with Brodi still sealed up. Just to let you know, I had a sonogram done, too. It's in with the results."
"Well, he was in the first group of racers, so he should be at the bus by now," Psymon said, not quite ready to let her go. Zoe moved a bit so she could look at him more.
"You're thinking," she said.
"I know, bad habit," Psymon chuckled. "I just want to do something before we find out the results and all."
"What's on your mind, big guy?" Zoe asked. Psymon just grinned.
"I want to make love to you," he answered. "I want it to be like you and I and the kid are just family. No paternity tests. No Hiro. No bullshit."
"You think the results are going to change the relationship that much?" Zoe asked, not sounding happy.
"No. I hope not. I just want to be with you, Zoe," Psymon said, nuzzling her. "I need you."
"The pregnancy sure hasn't slowed you down, has it?" Zoe said, looking up at him.
"Nope, I kinda like you all motherly and glowy. You're beautiful," Psymon said, turning Zoe to face him, "and you're carrying my child. I don't care what the paternity test says. I want to help you raise it."
"I love you, Psymon," Zoe cried happily, throwing her arms around his neck. Psymon hugged her as tight as he dared, feeling the baby's fluttering against him. He stroked her hair gently.
"I love you, too," he whispered, kissing her cheek. Zoe pulled back from him and smiled, then lead him back into their bedroom. Psymon gave in, happy to set aside all their problems for awhile.
Brodi answered the door, hearing knocking, and saw Zoe and Psymon standing there. He smiled at them and moved out of the way, letting them in. The plunked down in the booth in the kitchenette while he made some tea. After a moment, he set some cups down in front of them and sat across from them.
"So, what brings the league's happiest couple to my humble abode?" he asked, blowing on his tea to cool it down.
"I...we're ready to see the paternity results," Zoe said, putting her hand over Psymon's. Brodi nodded.
"I have to tell you, I looked at them already. I'm sorry," he said. "I just wanted to know so I could advise you."
"Is...is it mine?" Psymon asked, squeezing Zoe's hand gently.
"I'll get the results," Brodi answered getting up. He walked back to his bedroom and picked up the envelope where Raven had left it earlier. He walked back to the kitchen area and laid it down, placing the sonogram on top. "I thought you might like to know the baby's sex first."
"Hey, it's a boy," Psymon said, picking up the sonogram image.
"Um, no, big guy," Zoe said, turning the picture around for Psymon. "That's the umbelical cord. It's a girl."
"Oh," Psymon replied. "She's beautiful...just like her mother."
"Brodi, are we not going to like the results?" Zoe asked quietly.
"Probably not," he answered. Zoe pulled out the results and looked over them. Psymon looked over her shoulder. Both of them frowned.
"It's not mine," Psymon said, getting up. He walked over and looked out the window, hugging himself. Brodi sighed and scooted over, putting his arm around Zoe. She began crying, clinging to Brodi. Psymon looked back at them, the light from outside catching on his own tears. He walked over and sat on the other side of Zoe, hugging her and Brodi both. "We'll get through this."
"No, we won't. Hiro will try to keep you away from me and the baby," Zoe wailed. Brodi looked at Psymon, arching an eyebrow.
"And just why would Hiro do that?" he asked.
"Because Marisol told him that Zoe was pregnant and that it was probably his. He'll be at the Elysium Alps course," Psymon answered.
"Oh, great," Brodi muttered. Zoe pulled away from him and pounded her fist on the table.
"Knocked up or not, I'm gonna go wring her neck. Let me up, Psymon," Zoe yelled. Psymon didn't budge an inch.
"Normally, I would run from your preggo hormones, love, but this time, you need to let me handle it," he said softly, kissing her forehead. Zoe just nodded. Psymon slid out of the booth and left. Brodi sighed.
"Hey, you gonna be okay, Zoe?" he asked. Zoe nodded, then shook her head,.
"I really wanted it to be Psymon's," she said, he voice barely above a whisper. Brodi hugged her.
"I know it doesn't mean much, but on some plane of existence, you do have Psymon's child," he said quietly.
"Marisol, you were right," Psymon said, standing on the tour bus' steps, looking up at the Latin woman. "It's not mine, but I still intend to help raise it. Last warning to stay away from me and Zoe."
"Or what? You'll run off with another member of the league and make out with them behind Zoe's back, too?" Marisol asked, smirking. Psymon sighed, looking down.
"Please, Marisol, if you care about me, don't do this," he said softly. Marisol reached out and stroked his shoulder, then made him look up at her.
"If you care about Zoe, you'll do as I say," she replied. Psymon closed his eyes, images of Zoe hurt and crying flooding his mind. He opened his eyes, looking up at Marisol. She smiled, chuckling a bit. "Come inside, Psymon. I have need of your certain attentions."
Psymon gave a final look over his shoulder at Brodi's bus, then to his winnebago. He sighed and looked back up at Marisol, then walked in after her. He hoped that maybe one day Zoe would understand that he was trying to protect her and Mac.