1 SEARCHING

Author: Kat

Disclaimer: Not mine

Rating: PG



He lingered slowly as the sky began to gray before his eyes. Speck by speck little crystal moisteners made their way to the ground drenching all in sight. The lonely stranger's pace fastened, as did the ferocity of the rain. He cursed himself for having the amazing idea of coming to what he now considered a cursed land. It had now been months since he had arrived in search of others but he had found his search to be in vain.

-How hard could it be to find a man in this city? That is if he still was in this city, thought he as he ran from the rain.

His thoughts were suddenly cut short as he reached the hotel in which he was staying at. A young boy saluted him and then inquired about his search, to which he answered with a charming yet disillusioned grin. After his short conversation with the boy he made his way to his room. Once again as in so many other occasions in his life he saw himself alone with no one to love or to even quarrel with. In his youth things has been so much different, so much so that he sometimes longed for tranquil times. Those days for him were now gone, along with so many other things that he now regretted. With saddened thoughts he began to prepare for bed, the day had been so long and empty that he saw the night turning into the same. Tomorrow would be another day, hopefully one with a better night.

Morning soon arrived and the lonely stranger, upon getting dressed left his room to continue on his search. Upon reaching the lobby of the hotel his faith in his search had been renewed. There he found a man, who approached him with news about the man that he was looking for. So many thoughts raced through his mind, both good and bad but he was determined that neither would tear him from his objective. Quickly, after thanking the man with the news, he left the hotel to meet up with his past.

"We're here", said the taxi driver.

He paid for the journey and faced the outside. He looked around the street and straightened himself one last time. Awkwardly, he approached the door and pushed himself to knock on it. An answer came from the inside that sparked his heart causing its speed to rise.

"Just one second," answered a feminine voice with a heavy British accent.

As soon as the voice was heard the door came open, revealing a woman of about 29.

"Yes, can I help you?," said she, but upon receiving no answer, "sir, are you alright?"

He was so nervous that words seemed to escape his mind.

"Sir, are you alright?" repeated the woman with concern in her voice.

"I…I…"

"Yes?"

"Rick?" he finally managed to say.

"Yes, what about Rick?"

He took a deep breath and decided to let it all out.

"I am his father. I have been looking for him for years and I've finally found him."

"What?!!! I think you're mistaken," said assured.

"No, it I am not. It has to be him. It is him. Just let me see him. He'll know. He just has to remember me. (But then he thought what if he doesn't, after all he was so young when he left)"

"Rick!!!" called she to the interior of the house, "Rick!!!"

"Yeah," said the man from inside.

"I think you should come here"

"Why?"

"Just do it!"

A man approached the door, and upon seeing the older man at the door he gave no sign of recognition as the man had hoped.

"Yes, what can I do for you?"

"Rick, its me…your father."

The younger man began to laugh, thinking this had been a prank by his wife. To him the idea of this old American at his door claiming to be his father was hilarious.

"Son, I am serious," said the older man concerned.

"Oh! Right, yes, you are my father. My American father. Where have you been my whole life daddy," said the younger man amused.

"Don't patronize me boy," said the other man sternly causing the other man to stop his laugh.

"Sir, I don't know who put you up to this, but I will tell you that the joke is over. Now get the hell off of my property."

"This is no joke. I am James O'Connell, your father. I would never come here in some sort of…"

"Did you say O'Connell?" asked the younger man.

"Yes, why?"

"Sir, my last name is O'Connor, not O'Connell. You've made a mistake."

"What?!"

The young man repeated his name to the older man and it finally all was clear.

"Oh, I am so sorry. I really am," said the older man as he thought of how assured the man who gave him the information was. As the truth became clear to him it caused his sadness to return. Looking at the other man caused him to see that he had overlooked many things about him, especially his accent.

Feeling completely sorry and sympathy for the man caused the young couple to invite him in. There the man revealed the story of how he came to this point in his life. After James had cleared his mind and soul, sadly he returned home. He laid on his be and cried himself to sleep.

RING! RING! RING! Sounded the phone. James tried to ignore it, but found the caller to be too consistent, and eventually picked up the phone.

"H-Hello"

"Oh My God, James. You cannot believe this," said the English voice at the other end.

"Who, uh, who am I talking to?"

"It's me, remember we met this afternoon."

"Sorry, I…"

"Its Mary O'Connor"

"Oh, right yes"

"You simply will not believe this. Well, after you left. Rich and I sat wondering about your life and your son, and then we began talking about it…"she was suddenly cut off the phone.

"Women! my God, so much babbling to just get to the point. Did you get the paper?"

"Uh" said James unaware of what it was that the man was implying.

"The newspaper! Did you have a look?"

"Oh, no. I haven't"

"Well, you should definitely have a look. Go on"

James stood from bed and lingered towards to a table that had the morning paper that he had picked up upon his return in the afternoon. He returned to the phone.

"What should I be looking at?"

"Look at page…hold a sec…Mary, what page is it? Right…page 23. Did you find it?"

"Yes, but what is it that I should be looking at?" asked James still ignorant to what his friends wanted him to see.

"Just read the page"

"New Egyptian findings by the O'Connells' along with mysterious break-in in the British Museum," read James. "This could be any O'Connell, I doubt my son would be caught up in these sorts of things. He is a military man not some archeologist or whatever it is that they are called."

"Just keep reading," said Rick O'Connor.

"Alright" said James wanting to please his young friend who seemed as excited as his wife.

He continued to read the paper carelessly, but stopped upon seeing American and soon followed by the name Rick O'Connell.



END OF CH 1…ShoULD I CONTINUE????? R/R