CHAPTER 21
Adam didn't feel it was his place to say what had transpired between Richie and Beth.
"Richie will be fine." He assured Mac, who wanted to go after him. "He needs some time to think
about things … and you'll only make it worse. He doesn't need another 'I told you so'."
Amanda didn't like this … she didn't like it one bit. She liked Richie … he was sort of a kid
brother to her, and although Adam wasn't talking … it was obvious that he was upset because of
something this woman had said or done.
"Well I think someone needs to have a talk with this Beth person." She stood up, meaning to go
take care of this problem herself, but Methos blocked her way.
"I don't think that's a good idea." He said as she set her jaw in defiance. "You don't know her …
you don't know what happened."
"But I know women." She argued, more determined.
"I'm going to see how she is." Methos put his hands gently but firmly on her shoulders. "And
hopefully she'll feel like coming down once she's had a few minutes." He looked at Mac who
nodded that he would keep Amanda in check, and then went upstairs to see how Beth was doing.
Although Duncan didn't know what had happened to make Richie so angry, he could guess. He
quietly explained to Amanda how the young man had been pursuing Beth … and didn't seem
deterred by her insistence she wasn't interested in more than a friendship. Amanda wasn't
completely buying it, but Duncan was a pretty good judge of character … so she would waive
judgement until she'd met the woman herself.
Joe made himself at home in the kitchen, stirring the soup and sniffing the wonderful aroma of the
cornbread. He was worried about Richie … and about the woman who had turned all their lives
upside down since her arrival. But there wasn't much he could do but offer support.
Adam tapped lightly on the door. "Beth … It's Adam … can I come in?"
He heard a slight movement inside the room before the latch lifted and the door opened. Beth
turned immediately from the open door, not able to face Adam … or anyone else for that matter.
She was completely ashamed of herself for being so weak … and for blurting out the truth in a
way that would hurt Richie the most.
She sat with her back to him in the window seat … looking out into the rapidly darkening sky.
She heard him walk into the room and lean against the edge of the dresser. "Want to talk about
it?" he said finally, when she didn't show any signs of moving.
"There's not much to say." She replied flatly. "I knew how he felt … I led him on … and like the
tease I must have become, I dropped him cold … " she paused "Oh and let's not forget what a
liar I am." She let her forehead lean against the cool glass as she still refused to look at him.
Adam let out a deep breath. He wasn't sure what he could say. She was certainly doing a good
job of blaming herself for the lot of it. And although there was a measure of truth to what she was
saying … it wasn't that cut and dry … she hadn't honestly meant for any of this to happen.
"Richie will get past this." Adam offered.
"He shouldn't have to … he's a nice guy … and he's been a good friend … he didn't deserve
that."
"He had plenty of warnings … from you … from Mac … Joe … " Adam replied. "He pushed …"
"But I should have kept pushing back … I don't know why I let that happen … I was just …" she
beat her head lightly against the glass in frustration.
"You had a moment of weakness …" Adam said as he moved across the room and came to look
out the window to see what she found so fascinating. "I think all things considered … you're
allowed."
"Not at Richie's expense I'm not."
He pulled the chair from behind him and sat down in front of the window seat. "Mind if I ask a
personal question?"
Beth shrugged. He could ask … she wasn't sure if she would answer.
"Why isn't the father of your baby here to protect you?" It was a fair question given the lengths he
and the others had gone to try and make it safe for her.
Beth couldn't help but shake her head at the thought. Wiping her face on the cuff of her sleeve,
she turned to face him …
"Because he's dead." Her answer surprised Adam, who sat back and looked at her curiously.
"Richie ran out of here before I could explain … I don't know why I think it would have made a
difference by telling him who the father is … he'll hate me anyway … but it's not like you think … "
Beth needed someone to understand. She hoped Adam would.
"Did you happen to notice when you were reading the police reports WHY Craig and I were in
Atlanta?" she asked and he shook his head. It hadn't seemed important.
"God this is so hard to talk about." She said as she covered her face with her hands and took a
deep breath before looking back up at him. "Craig and I wanted to have a family … a big family
… but … I couldn't conceive naturally … I'll spare you the details, … the short version is that my
fallopian tubes aren't complete. We went to Atlanta because there was a clinic there that
specialized in cases like ours."
Adam ran his finger around the edge of his collar, this was more personal than he'd imagined.
"The night Craig was murdered … we were celebrating … we'd found out that afternoon they had
been successful with the first procedure … and the next afternoon I was supposed to be
implanted with a fertilized egg … " Beth wiped at her eyes and put her hand over her middle. "I
was going to be carrying OUR child … It was the happiest night of our life …" Her voice broke
and her shoulders shook as she began to cry.
Adam found the box of tissues on the dresser and brought them to her, waiting until she'd gotten
past the moment and could continue.
"You know what happened after that … there was the murder … the long trial … the threats … It
was like all my dreams had been taken from me in a few short minutes … it was all gone …
nothing left …" Beth's voice sounded so weary as she wiped her eyes again and stood up to
walk across the room …
Adam said nothing, waiting for her to continue. "And then … right before I was set to move out
here, Lt. Taylor told me there were some papers that needed to be signed … unfinished
business. It seems that the clinic in Atlanta had frozen the fertilized eggs, and they had been
contacting the institution where my double had been confined about a release to destroy them."
Beth moved back over to sit on the edge of the bed.
"As soon as he told me … I knew it wasn't all gone … Asher Devan hadn't destroyed everything
that Craig and I had …" she whispered as her face broke out in a tearful smile "He hadn't
destroyed the life we'd created with our love … it was still there … God Adam do you know how
that felt?" she didn't expect him to answer … the answer was written all over her face.
"Lt. Taylor didn't want me to risk being found out … but I had to … I couldn't let anyone destroy
the last little piece of our love, even if it was frozen in a petrie dish." Beth wrapped her arms
around herself. "Two weeks before I moved out here, he arranged for me to undergo the
procedure … and now I'm carrying the child Craig and I dreamed about … and I love it more than
you can possibly imagine."
Adam didn't know what to say. This would make protecting her that much more complicated …
but he didn't remind her of that. He wasn't going to say anything to mar this one slice of
happiness she seemed to have left. And a part of him couldn't help but feel happy for her as well.
Now he knew where her courage came from … it came from knowing that another life depended
on her to survive … a life that had been created unconventionally, but with all the love in the
world nonetheless. She was absolutely beaming as she told him. Even with the tear streaked
cheeks, he'd never seen a woman glow the way she did right then.
"I'm happy for you Beth … really I am." He said as he stood and moved across the room. "And
I'll do everything I can to make sure nothing happens to ruin this for you … or your baby."
"Thank you." Her eyes filled with tears again. "You don't know what that means to me."
Adam opened his arms and let her step into them, letting her cry once again into the fabric of his
sweater. Trying to detach himself from the protective emotion he was feeling, he mused that he
might need to begin carrying several handkerchiefs … knowing women and their hormones, this
was going to be a pattern he feared over the next few months.
A rap on the door let them know Duncan was outside. They stepped apart just as he opened the
door to see how things were going. Noting the fresh tears, he feared the worst. "Why don't we
do dinner another night?" he offered.
"No … no … that would be rude to your friend." Beth wiped her face, noting how terrible she
looked in the mirror. "I really want to meet her … and everything's already made."
"Are you sure?" Duncan asked, walking over and tipping her chin up to look at him.
"I'm sure." She gave him a slight smile. "Just give me a minute and I'll be down … "
Adam started to follow him out, but Beth asked him to stay a second.
"I know this is a cowardly thing for me to ask … but … I know they are going to wonder what's
going on … and I really need to start telling the truth to my friends … while I still have any left … if
I have any left …" her voice faded.
"You want me to tell them about the baby?" Adam guessed.
"Would you?" she asked, giving him a hopeful grimace. "I'm really not up to repeating that story
… not tonight."
He nodded and was almost bowled over by another fierce hug from Beth. "Thank you Adam …
thank you so much."
Adam started to leave but thought of something on the way. "What about Richie?"
Beth's face fell. "I really blew everything with him didn't I?"
Adam shook his head and shrugged … Richie was pretty upset … But he didn't really know.
"I don't think he'll talk to me … maybe Mac could … ???"
Adam nodded. He was glad she hadn't asked him to do it. Things were strained between he and
the young immortal as it was.
Adam didn't feel it was his place to say what had transpired between Richie and Beth.
"Richie will be fine." He assured Mac, who wanted to go after him. "He needs some time to think
about things … and you'll only make it worse. He doesn't need another 'I told you so'."
Amanda didn't like this … she didn't like it one bit. She liked Richie … he was sort of a kid
brother to her, and although Adam wasn't talking … it was obvious that he was upset because of
something this woman had said or done.
"Well I think someone needs to have a talk with this Beth person." She stood up, meaning to go
take care of this problem herself, but Methos blocked her way.
"I don't think that's a good idea." He said as she set her jaw in defiance. "You don't know her …
you don't know what happened."
"But I know women." She argued, more determined.
"I'm going to see how she is." Methos put his hands gently but firmly on her shoulders. "And
hopefully she'll feel like coming down once she's had a few minutes." He looked at Mac who
nodded that he would keep Amanda in check, and then went upstairs to see how Beth was doing.
Although Duncan didn't know what had happened to make Richie so angry, he could guess. He
quietly explained to Amanda how the young man had been pursuing Beth … and didn't seem
deterred by her insistence she wasn't interested in more than a friendship. Amanda wasn't
completely buying it, but Duncan was a pretty good judge of character … so she would waive
judgement until she'd met the woman herself.
Joe made himself at home in the kitchen, stirring the soup and sniffing the wonderful aroma of the
cornbread. He was worried about Richie … and about the woman who had turned all their lives
upside down since her arrival. But there wasn't much he could do but offer support.
Adam tapped lightly on the door. "Beth … It's Adam … can I come in?"
He heard a slight movement inside the room before the latch lifted and the door opened. Beth
turned immediately from the open door, not able to face Adam … or anyone else for that matter.
She was completely ashamed of herself for being so weak … and for blurting out the truth in a
way that would hurt Richie the most.
She sat with her back to him in the window seat … looking out into the rapidly darkening sky.
She heard him walk into the room and lean against the edge of the dresser. "Want to talk about
it?" he said finally, when she didn't show any signs of moving.
"There's not much to say." She replied flatly. "I knew how he felt … I led him on … and like the
tease I must have become, I dropped him cold … " she paused "Oh and let's not forget what a
liar I am." She let her forehead lean against the cool glass as she still refused to look at him.
Adam let out a deep breath. He wasn't sure what he could say. She was certainly doing a good
job of blaming herself for the lot of it. And although there was a measure of truth to what she was
saying … it wasn't that cut and dry … she hadn't honestly meant for any of this to happen.
"Richie will get past this." Adam offered.
"He shouldn't have to … he's a nice guy … and he's been a good friend … he didn't deserve
that."
"He had plenty of warnings … from you … from Mac … Joe … " Adam replied. "He pushed …"
"But I should have kept pushing back … I don't know why I let that happen … I was just …" she
beat her head lightly against the glass in frustration.
"You had a moment of weakness …" Adam said as he moved across the room and came to look
out the window to see what she found so fascinating. "I think all things considered … you're
allowed."
"Not at Richie's expense I'm not."
He pulled the chair from behind him and sat down in front of the window seat. "Mind if I ask a
personal question?"
Beth shrugged. He could ask … she wasn't sure if she would answer.
"Why isn't the father of your baby here to protect you?" It was a fair question given the lengths he
and the others had gone to try and make it safe for her.
Beth couldn't help but shake her head at the thought. Wiping her face on the cuff of her sleeve,
she turned to face him …
"Because he's dead." Her answer surprised Adam, who sat back and looked at her curiously.
"Richie ran out of here before I could explain … I don't know why I think it would have made a
difference by telling him who the father is … he'll hate me anyway … but it's not like you think … "
Beth needed someone to understand. She hoped Adam would.
"Did you happen to notice when you were reading the police reports WHY Craig and I were in
Atlanta?" she asked and he shook his head. It hadn't seemed important.
"God this is so hard to talk about." She said as she covered her face with her hands and took a
deep breath before looking back up at him. "Craig and I wanted to have a family … a big family
… but … I couldn't conceive naturally … I'll spare you the details, … the short version is that my
fallopian tubes aren't complete. We went to Atlanta because there was a clinic there that
specialized in cases like ours."
Adam ran his finger around the edge of his collar, this was more personal than he'd imagined.
"The night Craig was murdered … we were celebrating … we'd found out that afternoon they had
been successful with the first procedure … and the next afternoon I was supposed to be
implanted with a fertilized egg … " Beth wiped at her eyes and put her hand over her middle. "I
was going to be carrying OUR child … It was the happiest night of our life …" Her voice broke
and her shoulders shook as she began to cry.
Adam found the box of tissues on the dresser and brought them to her, waiting until she'd gotten
past the moment and could continue.
"You know what happened after that … there was the murder … the long trial … the threats … It
was like all my dreams had been taken from me in a few short minutes … it was all gone …
nothing left …" Beth's voice sounded so weary as she wiped her eyes again and stood up to
walk across the room …
Adam said nothing, waiting for her to continue. "And then … right before I was set to move out
here, Lt. Taylor told me there were some papers that needed to be signed … unfinished
business. It seems that the clinic in Atlanta had frozen the fertilized eggs, and they had been
contacting the institution where my double had been confined about a release to destroy them."
Beth moved back over to sit on the edge of the bed.
"As soon as he told me … I knew it wasn't all gone … Asher Devan hadn't destroyed everything
that Craig and I had …" she whispered as her face broke out in a tearful smile "He hadn't
destroyed the life we'd created with our love … it was still there … God Adam do you know how
that felt?" she didn't expect him to answer … the answer was written all over her face.
"Lt. Taylor didn't want me to risk being found out … but I had to … I couldn't let anyone destroy
the last little piece of our love, even if it was frozen in a petrie dish." Beth wrapped her arms
around herself. "Two weeks before I moved out here, he arranged for me to undergo the
procedure … and now I'm carrying the child Craig and I dreamed about … and I love it more than
you can possibly imagine."
Adam didn't know what to say. This would make protecting her that much more complicated …
but he didn't remind her of that. He wasn't going to say anything to mar this one slice of
happiness she seemed to have left. And a part of him couldn't help but feel happy for her as well.
Now he knew where her courage came from … it came from knowing that another life depended
on her to survive … a life that had been created unconventionally, but with all the love in the
world nonetheless. She was absolutely beaming as she told him. Even with the tear streaked
cheeks, he'd never seen a woman glow the way she did right then.
"I'm happy for you Beth … really I am." He said as he stood and moved across the room. "And
I'll do everything I can to make sure nothing happens to ruin this for you … or your baby."
"Thank you." Her eyes filled with tears again. "You don't know what that means to me."
Adam opened his arms and let her step into them, letting her cry once again into the fabric of his
sweater. Trying to detach himself from the protective emotion he was feeling, he mused that he
might need to begin carrying several handkerchiefs … knowing women and their hormones, this
was going to be a pattern he feared over the next few months.
A rap on the door let them know Duncan was outside. They stepped apart just as he opened the
door to see how things were going. Noting the fresh tears, he feared the worst. "Why don't we
do dinner another night?" he offered.
"No … no … that would be rude to your friend." Beth wiped her face, noting how terrible she
looked in the mirror. "I really want to meet her … and everything's already made."
"Are you sure?" Duncan asked, walking over and tipping her chin up to look at him.
"I'm sure." She gave him a slight smile. "Just give me a minute and I'll be down … "
Adam started to follow him out, but Beth asked him to stay a second.
"I know this is a cowardly thing for me to ask … but … I know they are going to wonder what's
going on … and I really need to start telling the truth to my friends … while I still have any left … if
I have any left …" her voice faded.
"You want me to tell them about the baby?" Adam guessed.
"Would you?" she asked, giving him a hopeful grimace. "I'm really not up to repeating that story
… not tonight."
He nodded and was almost bowled over by another fierce hug from Beth. "Thank you Adam …
thank you so much."
Adam started to leave but thought of something on the way. "What about Richie?"
Beth's face fell. "I really blew everything with him didn't I?"
Adam shook his head and shrugged … Richie was pretty upset … But he didn't really know.
"I don't think he'll talk to me … maybe Mac could … ???"
Adam nodded. He was glad she hadn't asked him to do it. Things were strained between he and
the young immortal as it was.