Never Again Separate

By Cypher

Chapter Four

"So you say you have some business with my daughter?" Reverend Hahne waved towards the couch.

Matt took a seat and nodded, leaning forward and putting his hands together. John had gotten an emergency call from Priscilla after they had arrived in Denver. Apparently she hadn't been feeling too well and gone to the doctor to see what was wrong. Nothing was wrong, but John was going to be a proud father in another eight months. Matt, feeling confident he could handle whatever the Hahne family threw at him, told John to go home and be with his wife.

So, alone, Matt had rented a car and driven from Denver to one of its suburbs. The house was surprisingly similar to the Camden one, though it was slightly bigger and had a pool in the back. He was glad Ruthie had gotten the chance to grow up in an environment so similar to his own.

Reverend Hahne, the recently widowed father of six children, had let Matt in without question. Matt had a vague recollection of his own father doing that when he was alive. Community leader. Good. She deserves a strong father.

"If you wait right here, I'll go get her."

Matt smiled. "Thanks." He was a little nervous, since the Reverend hadn't asked too many questions. Then again, perhaps the Reverend had sensed the urgency in Matt's voice and decided it was better not to ask.

The Reverend wasn't old, maybe in his late forties, with graying brown hair and hazel eyes. He wasn't as nosy as Matt remembered his own father being, but he wasn't clue less either. Matt also picked up on some emotional strain, probably from the loss of his wife. Matt had looked around town a short bit to gather information of the family before going to their house.

The mother, Jennifer, had died seven months ago after a year long battle with breast cancer. The community had rallied behind the Hahne family, donating time to deal with the kids while the father grieved, giving the Reverend some time off, and fixing up a nice memorial at the church. Matt had visited it, to try and get a feel for what the family was like. It was mostly a family of girls with only two brothers. Matt ruled out the two boys and three eldest girls, leaving only one child left: his sister Ruthie.

Unlike his other sisters, Mary and Lucy, Ruthie had ended up with their father's hair color, brown. It was straight, and not much longer than shoulder length. In the family picture at the memorial she looked happy, smiling with bright brown-hazel eyes. He was fairly certain that since she had lost her mother, though, that brightness had probably dimmed a bit.

"Hello."

Matt jumped slightly. He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he hadn't realized another person had entered the room. Standing, he took in the lady before him. She was only as tall as Matt's chest, and had curly black hair that rested peacefully against her lightly tanned skin. Matt frowned. This wasn't who he was looking for. "I'm sorry, you are...?"

She raised one slim eyebrow, her green eyes curiously looking over his body. "I think that's my question. My father said you had some business for me?"

Matt kicked himself mentally. Of course the father would assume it was an elder daughter. He probably thinks I'm a boyfriend or something. "I'm sorry, there's been a mistake." He put his hands in his pockets. "I came to see Ruthie."

"Ruthie? Isn't she a bit too young."

Matt tilted his head, then made a face. "No! Nothing like that!" He sat back down, resting his hands on his legs. "I came to see Ruthie because, well..." I can't just tell her the truth. "Can I see your father again?"

The girl shrugged and left, leaving Matt alone again.

Matt leaned forward, resting his forehead in his hand. How am I going to tell him I'm Ruthie's brother? The other kids might not even know she's adopted.

"Excuse me. Matt, isn't it?"

Matt looked up. Reverend Hahne had returned. "Yeah, it's Matt."

"Becky tells me you came to see Ruthie."

Matt took a deep breath and nodded. Time to fess up. "Yes."

"May I ask why?"

"Because I'm Matt Camden."

If the Reverend recognized the name, he didn't show any sign of it.

Matt forged forward. "I was the eldest of five kids put up for adoption eight years ago because our parents were killed in a car crash. The youngest of us was adopted first."

The Reverend slowly sat down, staring at Matt. "Go on."

Matt willed his voice to remain steady. "Since that time, I've been wanting to search for my siblings, to get them back together." He clasped his hands together. "I found the second oldest, Mary. As I was returning from meeting her, I got a call about the youngest. She was only an infant at the time, one year old. The detective I hired to find my siblings said she was here. Her name is-"

"Ruthie."

Matt nodded. "Yeah."

"She doesn't know. It was our wish she didn't know."

Matt sat back. That wasn't something he had thought about before. He just assumed the family would tell Ruthie she was adopted, or she would figure it out on her own. Guess she fit in too well.

"I'd prefer that it remain that way."

Matt's head snapped up. "What?"

"It's admirable what you've done, what you're doing, but she's happy now. Finding out the truth would just disrupt her world in a way that's irreparable."

"Couldn't I just see her? Meet her?"

The Reverend sighed, looking away for a moment. As he opened his mouth to respond, another voice broke the silence.

"Ruthie! You shouldn't be spying on dad!"

Matt stood up immediately, looking towards the door. Eavesdropping was a natural Camden trait, and apparently it hadn't died out even with a different family.

Reverend Hahne stood up as well. "Ruthie, sweetie-"

A door slam was the father's reply.

Matt hunched his shoulders slightly. "Sorry."

The Reverend pinched the bridge of his nose. "She's always been one to listen in on other conversations. We don't know where she picked it up. None of her siblings do it."

"It's a Camden trait, unfortunately."

Reverend Hahne looked towards the ceiling. "Yes. Well, I think you'd better leave."

Matt stepped forward. "Now, now just hold on a minute. This is kinda my fault. Maybe I can help fix it."

"Don't you think you've done enough damage?" That line didn't come from the Reverend, but from the elder sister, Becky.

"Becky, he didn't mean-"

"How do you know? He might not even be the older brother."

Matt's shoulders slumped.

"Becky, go get your siblings, and tell your twin to get his butt down here. We'll go find Ruthie." The Hahne patriarch looked at Matt. "I do believe that it's time you left. I'm sorry, but...it just won't work out."

Matt felt like the Reverend had punched him in the stomach. No...

Becky held open the door. "Ahem." She indicated her head towards the outside.

The Reverend gave Matt a sympathetic look, but said nothing more.

Dejected, Matt left the Hahne residence.

~*()*~

It's ironic where your heart takes you, sometimes. Matt stuck his hands in his pocket and looked around the chapel of the Hahne's church. He had sat in his car for thirty minutes, just staring at his steering wheel, trying to figure out what he could do to win their favor, to see his sister.

In that thirty minutes he'd seen the Reverend and Becky's twin, a boy that looked exactly like her except with a crew cut, search the yard and neighborhood. Ruthie was no where in the immediate vicinity. Matt decided he would give it a shot. He was related to her by blood, after all, and perhaps he could find her when they couldn't. So he started his car, and just let his gut guide him.

Another hour passed, and he gave up looking. He wasn't familiar with the area, and had gotten lost a couple times that it was just pointless to try searching further. His mind went back to how he had been turned away by the Hahnes, and he felt the need for some sort of solace. Sometimes in LA he just drove, letting his heart guide him until he found what he needed. He did that here, and somehow he had ended up in the parking lot of the Hahne's church.

Taking a seat in a pew, he looked up at the suspended image of Christ hanging on the cross. "So you ended up leading me here, huh? Funny. I seek solace in the sanctuary of the family who won't let me see my sister. Guess you do have a sense of humor."

The statue remained silent.

Matt looked around the darkened room, illuminated only by the full moon shining through the stain glass windows. It's a beautiful church. I bet Ruthie loves it. Facing the Christ figure again, he folded his hands together and shrugged. "So what now? You provided me with the resources to find them, the will to face them, why are you now hardening the hearts of the family that houses one of them? I haven't asked you for much, and I've done what I can on my own. Now I need your help. Help me to see my sister again, even for a moment."

Thinking he was alone, Matt didn't expect an answer. He jumped when a voice responded to his prayer.

"Then turn around and have your moment."

Matt whirled around and found Ruthie standing a few pews back, watching him. Even though she was only nine, Matt thought she looked far older.

Ruthie tilted her head. "Satisfied?"

Matt blinked, unsure of how to respond.

"You've had your moment."

"But I haven't met you."

Ruthie crossed her arms. "I don't think it's a really good idea for you to know me."

"Why not? I'm your older brother."

"You say you're my older brother. I don't remember you."

"You were a one year old."

"So?"

Matt ran a hand over his face. "Ruthie, I'm telling the truth. I want us to be together again. We weren't supposed to be separated."

"But we were." Ruthie walked towards him. "I don't know you, Matt. I don't know the name Camden. I'm a Hahne. Ruthie Hahne."

Matt felt his stomach churn slightly. "Please, Ruthie. Can't you give me a chance? The Camdens a chance?"

Ruthie stopped walking a few feet away from him and looked up into his face. Matt couldn't read what she was thinking, what she must've been feeling. To find out you're adopted...

"Give them a chance how?"

Matt tilted his head. "Well, after I find the others, you could meet them."

Ruthie frowned. "Meeting you caused enough trouble."
"But they miss you too."

Ruthie remained silent a moment. "I'll meet them all...eventually."

Matt smiled. It meant she had some interest in meeting her family. "Alright."

"And for now let's just be friends." She nodded her head. "Write letters, send e-mail, that sorta thing."

"Alright, I'm okay with that." He knelt down to her level. "I want to get to know you, find out how my youngest sister turned out."

"On one condition."

"Name it."

"Tell me about the Camdens."

Matt's smile grew. "Sure thing." He looked at his watch. "But don't you think I should get you home? Your family's worried."

"Alright."

Matt reached out, and Ruthie took his hand. That's two.

~*()*~

Matt stretched, arching his back lightly. I must've been at this computer for hours.

He was currently back at his apartment in LA. It was one week after returning from his trip to Denver, and he had been typing up a long e-mail for Ruthie describing Eric and Annie Camden. He hadn't realized he had so much to say about them before, but he apparently remembered more than he thought. He was glad the Hahne family had agreed to let him share his family with Ruthie. It caused quite a ruckus when Matt rang the bell and Ruthie was at his side. But Ruthie explained to her father her feelings, and Matt was given permission to communicate with his youngest sister.

Sending the e-mail, he was about to sign off when an instant message acceptance window appeared on his screen. Curious, he accepted the message and read what the other user, one IcyCruelAngel, had to say.

Are you Matt Camden?

Matt blinked. That was certainly not what he was expecting. Hesitating for a moment, he typed in and mumbled his reply. "Yes, why?"

Matt Camden searching for his lost siblings Matt Camden?

Matt's eyes widened. Who could know about that? He recalled that earlier in the week Sean Brown, the detective helping him find his family, had mentioned posting the remaining children descriptions on a message board to increase the chances of finding Lucy and Simon. Is this someone who recognized one of their descriptions? "Yes. Who is this?"

The screen remained still for a few minutes, and Matt wondered if he had scared off whoever it was that had initiated contact. Then came the ominous reply.

Return to Glen Oak. Go to Reverend Camden's church Tuesday at noon.

Matt's hands responded faster than his mind could fully process what he was doing, and his voice raised in anticipation. "Who is it? Lucy or Simon?"

But it was too late. IcyCruelAngel had signed off. Looking at his calendar, he realized he only had a day to get going. Shooting off his chair he grabbed the suitcase he had used just a week ago and began throwing things in it. Please let it be Simon. Please let this mean he's forgiven me.

~*()*~

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Author's Prattle: My, this one came out nicely. Well, there's two major ironies in this chapter, but they're ones that only my family would notice. I hope you liked this chapter, for I believe this will mark the halfway point for the fic, or just about marks it. The next chapter will focus on Ruthie, not on the mysterious someone that contacted Matt. That will be in chapter six. Don't you just love a good cliff-hanger? As always, please review if you enjoyed it.