Life After High School - Ten Years Later

By Risty and Silver

Disclaimer: ahem. We don't own them.

Summary: You figure it out.

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(Kane's POV)

I sat next to Ria for ages holding her hand. After dad had made sure he was all right, Vince sat next to me and took my hand. I could see that Jaime was sitting in a chair crying and her husband was trying to comfort her. I didn't cry any more though, I was completely out of tears. Besides, I knew she would be all right. She had to be.

As I sat there, I could hear my dad and Benny talking in low voices. I'd already heard my dad telling Jaime that the people who attacked us were called Gimli Dwarf and Randal Hockey. Jaime seemed really upset about that and I was very surprised because I knew that Hockey was Benny's last name. However I heard other bits of their conversation, the name Davy caught my attention and the 'Black Dogs'. I also heard Benny say something about assassins that I didn't quite understand.

I yawned then; the events of the day had been too much for me. Still holding Jaime's hand tightly, I leant against the wall and shut my eyes. Vince leant against me and it wasn't long before he went to sleep. And soon I found my eyes closing too.

(Damon's POV)

The attempt on my children's lives had me worried and the fact that it was done by Randal and Gimli had me worried more. Benny slipped out for a few minutes and when he returned, he informed me that both of them had gone. Unfortunately we hadn't killed them.

I knew I had to ring home. Benny and I hadn't told Emma that we were going out and I knew she would be worried if she didn't hear anything. As we went down the corridor, Benny and I discussed what had happened. Neither of us liked it.

"First we get a phone call from some stranger who informs us that there are suspicious people hanging around Hobbiton" Benny said. "Then we get there and find out that it is my brother and his strange dwarf friend. I didn't find much on them Damon, but the rings they were wearing clearly indicates that they are with the Black Dogs."

"That isn't surprising," I muttered. The Black Dogs were another group of thieves who operated mostly in and around Gondor. Until recently they had been led by a man named Davy, an evil bastard who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. However, over the last few weeks, we had begun to hear rumours that someone else had taken over leadership but try as we might, we had been unable to find out who it was. It seemed like even the gang members did not know who he really was.

"There are only three people who might want harm to come to Kane, Vince or Ria, Damon" Benny said carefully. "And you know who they are."

"Yes" I nodded, deeply troubled. "If their leader ordered them to harm our children, then it means that two things are clear. One, the children are not safe anywhere without adults around, because we both know that the Black Dogs are not a group to leave business unfinished. Two, I believe that the new leader of that group is either Ivan Silverblade or Jaime's father. That would make sense, especially if it were Ivan. He has reason to hate all of us, even Jaime. And he's good friends with Jaime's father so it is possible that the two of them are in league with each other."

"I think you are right" Benny agreed. "And I also think that we are also in big trouble."

I did not tell Emma much in the phone call; I just told her that I was investigating something and I would explain everything when I got home. I did tell her however, to take both Sol-leks and Laddie to bed with her and to make sure all the doors and windows were locked. She didn't ask too many questions, just agreed to do as I asked.

When we walked back into Ria's room, I noticed that Kane and Vincent were both fast asleep and Kane was still holding Ria's hand. It was sweet. Frodo was still trying to comfort Jaime and neither of them looked up when we came in. When the doctor entered, they jumped to their feet, eager for news.

"Ria should be waking up in a while," he told us. "She was very lucky, you know. A few more minutes and…" he trailed off and left the room. Jaime and Frodo had gone completely pale.

"You saved her life" Jaime said quietly. "And I don't want you to think that I am not grateful, because I am. But why Damon?"

"This does not change the way I feel about you," I told her, taking care to keep my voice low so I wouldn't wake the boys. "I hate you and I always will, no matter what happens. But I am not a monster, I was not going to stand back and let a young girl die just because I hate her parents. And besides, Emma and I want nothing to do with you, but we see no reason why the children should have to suffer because of us. That is why we allowed Kane and Vince to stay down here. Now, if you'll keep an eye on the boys, I'm going to the inn. We have work to do."

I took one last look at my sons and Ria and walked out, Benny following me. I was going to find the bastard behind this if it was the last thing I ever did…