Love Triumphant
Chapter XX
Strong Emotions
John, Bailey, George, Grace, and Darryl were sitting at the bar. Sam and Tom were dancing cheek to cheek and Angel was showing Chloe some dance moves. "So who is staying?" Bailey asked. Grace snickered. "Are you kidding? "More time with family, more money, co-workers who treat with you dignity and respect! What's not to love? Not to mention the scenery around here is wonderful she said as a particularly handsome man passed by. "I already have my resignation to the Bureau, roughed out on this napkin." George laughed and held up his as well. He and Grace clinked glasses. "Besides haven't you heard? I am a descendant of Hades although I don't think I will be filling my mother in on that little tidbit. She'd have a heart attack! At any rate, that makes me full-fledged goddess boys, so who is going to buy me the next round?
Bailey laughed and motioned for the bartender. "Allow me a mere mortal to do that for you, oh goddess, although they keep refusing to accept money here." They said Zeus insists it is all on him tonight. "So John what about you?" Bailey asked. "I mean I know you are a god and all, and you will no doubt want to get to know your twin better but are you going to join this new team?"
"And give up my fabulous apartment, all those women at my beck and call, my boat load of friends whose only thoughts are about money and power, and my gloriously shallow life style? Of course I'm staying! I might as well help other people with their lives since I don't have anything but a plastic imitation of one myself."
"You sure don't sound to happy about it," George commented. "Hey, I told you before I'm exhausted," John growled. "Besides it isn't easy sitting around seeing all these happy couples and families and to know I don't have what it takes to have that kind of life. Some god of love, I am. What a joke. That she demon should have kidnapped me instead of Cole and I should have been left there to rot. Here he was literally raised in hell and he still knows more about love than I ever will."
As the bartender drew closer with Grace's drink, John asked him to bring over a whole bottle of whiskey. Grace shook her head at the man. He left her drink and then walked away. "What the hell are you doing Gracie?" John snarled. "I needed that!"
"What for? So you can wake up tomorrow with one of the worst headaches of your life, toss your cookies, and then throw yourself another pity party? I don't think so, Mamma Grace is back in your life, and she's not going to let you, so deal with it buster boy! Besides we are all losers at the game of love at this section of the bar, except our new friend Inspector Morris here, whom speaking of we can't be impressing very much."
"Don't worry. I'm still impressed. The legend of the VCTF and the work you people did filtered on down even to us lowly San Francisco detectives. I'd be honored to join your team. In fact I'd even be willing to be Mr. Grant's partner here, if he is looking for one?" "Why not?" John added. "That is if you can stand me! Apparently my old friends here can't. "Oh John we all love you and you know it," Grace sighed. "I simply consider it my duty to point out when you start acting like an ass, take now for instance. What he means is he gratefully accepts your gracious offer, Inspector! Now let me ask you which are you crazy or just suicidal?" Then she threw back her head and laughed.
"Neither and all of you please call me Darryl! Although I might be dead when I inform my wife that I told the chief to stick his badge just before I left to come here. Not to mention the fact that we have to move here so I can take this job. We are supposed to consult on things this major. Oh and did I mention that I never told her the Halliwells were magical? She just thought they were nice normal young women whom I befriended because of Andy."
"Who was Andy?" Bailey asked. "He was my partner and a childhood friend of the Halliwells. He was sweet on Prue." "What happened to him?" John asked. "He got himself killed by a demon, it wasn't my fault though?" Darryl insisted. "Did I say it was?" John asked grouchily. "Geese, you are like a bear with a sore tooth, maybe you had better reconsider giving him that bottle Grace."
"So is he going to gloriously rise from the dead like Tom did over there?" John asked. "He already has," Darryl informed him. "You were too busy worrying about your friend Sam before but Prue told me back at the Wiccan Park, that he had a chance to come here and be with her but he turned her down. He chose reincarnation as a nine to five man instead. Poor Andy he always longed for a normal life with a sweet wife, and a white picket fence. I hope he will be happy this time around. I understand his request has been granted and he will be sent back in a few weeks."
"Who would pick normal and "sweet" over someone like Prue with all that confidence and fire in her?" John offered pondering his empty glass. The man sounds like an ass!" "John!" Grace scolded him again. "Don't say something like that to Darryl here? This Andy was his friend and partner."
"John doesn't need to apologize, Grace! In regards to this particular matter, he's right. Andy is an ass for rejecting Prue. She is one stand up lady and she didn't deserve another man walking out the door on her! Andy should have known that given that he is well aware of her history."
"Her history?" John asked. "Someone other boyfriend she loved rejected her as well? What the hell were they all taking drugs?" "It wasn't a boyfriend. It was her Dad. I mean he had a hard time dealing with the break up with her Mom, then Patty passed over here, and he was left with three little girls, who were witches to boot. He didn't know how to deal with it so he eventually bailed and left them with their grandmother. She's a truly neat lady other than the fact that she went through husbands like loaves of bread. So Prue and her sisters got their fair share of heartbreak at a young age. That isn't even taking into consideration that Prue felt it was her responsibility to make it all up to Piper and Phoebe."
"God, no wonder she is so damned prickly and independent! She had to be to survive," John commented. "And then that jerk, you're ex- partner had the nerve to step all over her heart as well?" John jumped up off of his seat and grabbed Darryl by the neck. "Where is he? I want to go and break something of his!" John shouted.
Bailey shot off his stool as well and pulled John back. The music had stopped for a few brief moments while Evander who was playing DJ now, changed CD's. John's last words had echoed through the club. Sam and Tom came rushing over.
"What in the world is going on here?" Sam asked. "Oh nothing other than the fact that not only do miracles happen but apparently so does love at first sight. Our old pal Johnny here, seems to have gotten a bad case of it," George informed her. A certain beautiful brunette witch has really cast her spell on him."
"Shut up George!" John said lunging at him. Bailey once again held him back. Whirling the younger man around with surprising strength, he said, "This is going to hurt me a lot more than it is going to hurt you, but it has to be done. He then decked John with an expert punch. At everyone else's surprise gasp, Bailey said, "I didn't want to that but John's drunk, exhausted, and in love." "There is no reasoning with a man when he is in that kind of condition. Take it from an expert."
"Yeah, but did you have to hit him so hard?" Grace asked. "I think you actually broke his nose from the looks of it." "Not to mention my hand," Bailey added. "Men," Sam and Grace said sadly shaking their heads.
"Can I help out here in anyway?" Darryl asked. "I mean I feel kind of responsible here. John is my new partner, and I shouldn't have been going on about Prue, and her past heartaches. I had no idea how he felt about her. Geeze, they just met earlier today. Can love really happen that fast?"
"It can if it's not the first time they've met and fallen in love before," Sam commented softly. "And from the intense reaction on John's part that you are describing, I would lay odds it's not. I think it is safe to say that somewhere in time, John and Prue have probably been in love before."
"How romantic," Grace sighed. "And just think we will all have ring side seats to see the lady witch wrangle her stubborn ox of a man to the ground all over again. You're womanizing care free bachelor days are over my friend," she said to an unconscious John, and it's about time. Who is going to bring the popcorn?"
"Grace your terrible," Sam chided. "But you are right. This is definitely going to be interesting to watch. "And thanks for offering to help with John, Darryl, but we will take care of your new partner, tonight, and then return him in much better condition, we promise. And don't worry we assure you that while John can be a bit of a hard case, at times, this is not typical behavior. He really is a great guy and you can't ask for a better partner."
"Yeah I tease him a lot but Sam is right. He's really a very decent human being underneath all that false bravado not to mention a good friend. It is why when he left that Atlanta police department, to join the VCTF I followed, Grace commented. George nodded and said, "same here. John gave me a second chance when no one else would."
"Don't worry I won't rescind my offer to be his partner," Darryl said. "And let me just say, I'm really like the camaraderie between you all. Thanks for agreeing to let me be a part of it. Just like the Halliwells you are stand up people. I can't think of a group of individuals I'd rather work with more. I only hope I can convince my wife that it is the right thing to do.
" Bring her flowers, wine, a box of candy, and oh by the way jewelry never hurts either. Talk to Hesphestaus and Dionysus, I'm sure they can fix you up, Grace advised him. You are a handsome god, a descendant of Nebula and Iolaus' family, I've heard. So you have it in you to charm your wife into saying yes. So get home, and get to it," Grace ordered. "Yes, Mamma Grace, whatever you say Mamma Grace," Darryl said on a laugh. Grace patted him on the cheek. "What a nice and smart young man. You learn quickly. I knew I was going to like you." After exchanging goodbyes with everyone else Darryl left.
"Speaking of handsome, charming gods," Sam said, "we'd better start tending to the one on the floor!" "Tom can you use your powers to heal his nose?" "Can do, but as for the exhaustion, the alcohol, and the love sick heart, he's on his own. There are some things even a white lighter can't fix."
"Gotcha. And once your through with John, can you see what you can do for macho Commacho's hand over there, please? Then take Chloe and Angel to their rooms for the night. I'll meet you back in our suite on Olympus as soon as I'm sure, we've got this one tucked in safe and sound," she said pointing to John. Tom smiled at her. "You know you're so damn beautiful when you are bossy," he said. Then he turned back to his work.
John's nose and Bailey's hand were healed in moments. Then George went over and asked Hercules for his help in transporting John to a secure haven for the night. The legendary hero did exactly that and he offered to give Grace, Bailey, and George a free magical flight back to Atlanta. They made arrangements with him for their return trip and then they were off after giving Sam hugs and kisses good- bye. She was anxious to get back to Tom and Chloe but decided to watch over her friend for just a few moments longer. He'd had a rough night. So she pulled up a chair and sat down. She wondered how John was going to react to finding out that Hercules had placed him in a wing of the Halliwell mansion. "Interesting indeed," she mused.
Chapter XX
Strong Emotions
John, Bailey, George, Grace, and Darryl were sitting at the bar. Sam and Tom were dancing cheek to cheek and Angel was showing Chloe some dance moves. "So who is staying?" Bailey asked. Grace snickered. "Are you kidding? "More time with family, more money, co-workers who treat with you dignity and respect! What's not to love? Not to mention the scenery around here is wonderful she said as a particularly handsome man passed by. "I already have my resignation to the Bureau, roughed out on this napkin." George laughed and held up his as well. He and Grace clinked glasses. "Besides haven't you heard? I am a descendant of Hades although I don't think I will be filling my mother in on that little tidbit. She'd have a heart attack! At any rate, that makes me full-fledged goddess boys, so who is going to buy me the next round?
Bailey laughed and motioned for the bartender. "Allow me a mere mortal to do that for you, oh goddess, although they keep refusing to accept money here." They said Zeus insists it is all on him tonight. "So John what about you?" Bailey asked. "I mean I know you are a god and all, and you will no doubt want to get to know your twin better but are you going to join this new team?"
"And give up my fabulous apartment, all those women at my beck and call, my boat load of friends whose only thoughts are about money and power, and my gloriously shallow life style? Of course I'm staying! I might as well help other people with their lives since I don't have anything but a plastic imitation of one myself."
"You sure don't sound to happy about it," George commented. "Hey, I told you before I'm exhausted," John growled. "Besides it isn't easy sitting around seeing all these happy couples and families and to know I don't have what it takes to have that kind of life. Some god of love, I am. What a joke. That she demon should have kidnapped me instead of Cole and I should have been left there to rot. Here he was literally raised in hell and he still knows more about love than I ever will."
As the bartender drew closer with Grace's drink, John asked him to bring over a whole bottle of whiskey. Grace shook her head at the man. He left her drink and then walked away. "What the hell are you doing Gracie?" John snarled. "I needed that!"
"What for? So you can wake up tomorrow with one of the worst headaches of your life, toss your cookies, and then throw yourself another pity party? I don't think so, Mamma Grace is back in your life, and she's not going to let you, so deal with it buster boy! Besides we are all losers at the game of love at this section of the bar, except our new friend Inspector Morris here, whom speaking of we can't be impressing very much."
"Don't worry. I'm still impressed. The legend of the VCTF and the work you people did filtered on down even to us lowly San Francisco detectives. I'd be honored to join your team. In fact I'd even be willing to be Mr. Grant's partner here, if he is looking for one?" "Why not?" John added. "That is if you can stand me! Apparently my old friends here can't. "Oh John we all love you and you know it," Grace sighed. "I simply consider it my duty to point out when you start acting like an ass, take now for instance. What he means is he gratefully accepts your gracious offer, Inspector! Now let me ask you which are you crazy or just suicidal?" Then she threw back her head and laughed.
"Neither and all of you please call me Darryl! Although I might be dead when I inform my wife that I told the chief to stick his badge just before I left to come here. Not to mention the fact that we have to move here so I can take this job. We are supposed to consult on things this major. Oh and did I mention that I never told her the Halliwells were magical? She just thought they were nice normal young women whom I befriended because of Andy."
"Who was Andy?" Bailey asked. "He was my partner and a childhood friend of the Halliwells. He was sweet on Prue." "What happened to him?" John asked. "He got himself killed by a demon, it wasn't my fault though?" Darryl insisted. "Did I say it was?" John asked grouchily. "Geese, you are like a bear with a sore tooth, maybe you had better reconsider giving him that bottle Grace."
"So is he going to gloriously rise from the dead like Tom did over there?" John asked. "He already has," Darryl informed him. "You were too busy worrying about your friend Sam before but Prue told me back at the Wiccan Park, that he had a chance to come here and be with her but he turned her down. He chose reincarnation as a nine to five man instead. Poor Andy he always longed for a normal life with a sweet wife, and a white picket fence. I hope he will be happy this time around. I understand his request has been granted and he will be sent back in a few weeks."
"Who would pick normal and "sweet" over someone like Prue with all that confidence and fire in her?" John offered pondering his empty glass. The man sounds like an ass!" "John!" Grace scolded him again. "Don't say something like that to Darryl here? This Andy was his friend and partner."
"John doesn't need to apologize, Grace! In regards to this particular matter, he's right. Andy is an ass for rejecting Prue. She is one stand up lady and she didn't deserve another man walking out the door on her! Andy should have known that given that he is well aware of her history."
"Her history?" John asked. "Someone other boyfriend she loved rejected her as well? What the hell were they all taking drugs?" "It wasn't a boyfriend. It was her Dad. I mean he had a hard time dealing with the break up with her Mom, then Patty passed over here, and he was left with three little girls, who were witches to boot. He didn't know how to deal with it so he eventually bailed and left them with their grandmother. She's a truly neat lady other than the fact that she went through husbands like loaves of bread. So Prue and her sisters got their fair share of heartbreak at a young age. That isn't even taking into consideration that Prue felt it was her responsibility to make it all up to Piper and Phoebe."
"God, no wonder she is so damned prickly and independent! She had to be to survive," John commented. "And then that jerk, you're ex- partner had the nerve to step all over her heart as well?" John jumped up off of his seat and grabbed Darryl by the neck. "Where is he? I want to go and break something of his!" John shouted.
Bailey shot off his stool as well and pulled John back. The music had stopped for a few brief moments while Evander who was playing DJ now, changed CD's. John's last words had echoed through the club. Sam and Tom came rushing over.
"What in the world is going on here?" Sam asked. "Oh nothing other than the fact that not only do miracles happen but apparently so does love at first sight. Our old pal Johnny here, seems to have gotten a bad case of it," George informed her. A certain beautiful brunette witch has really cast her spell on him."
"Shut up George!" John said lunging at him. Bailey once again held him back. Whirling the younger man around with surprising strength, he said, "This is going to hurt me a lot more than it is going to hurt you, but it has to be done. He then decked John with an expert punch. At everyone else's surprise gasp, Bailey said, "I didn't want to that but John's drunk, exhausted, and in love." "There is no reasoning with a man when he is in that kind of condition. Take it from an expert."
"Yeah, but did you have to hit him so hard?" Grace asked. "I think you actually broke his nose from the looks of it." "Not to mention my hand," Bailey added. "Men," Sam and Grace said sadly shaking their heads.
"Can I help out here in anyway?" Darryl asked. "I mean I feel kind of responsible here. John is my new partner, and I shouldn't have been going on about Prue, and her past heartaches. I had no idea how he felt about her. Geeze, they just met earlier today. Can love really happen that fast?"
"It can if it's not the first time they've met and fallen in love before," Sam commented softly. "And from the intense reaction on John's part that you are describing, I would lay odds it's not. I think it is safe to say that somewhere in time, John and Prue have probably been in love before."
"How romantic," Grace sighed. "And just think we will all have ring side seats to see the lady witch wrangle her stubborn ox of a man to the ground all over again. You're womanizing care free bachelor days are over my friend," she said to an unconscious John, and it's about time. Who is going to bring the popcorn?"
"Grace your terrible," Sam chided. "But you are right. This is definitely going to be interesting to watch. "And thanks for offering to help with John, Darryl, but we will take care of your new partner, tonight, and then return him in much better condition, we promise. And don't worry we assure you that while John can be a bit of a hard case, at times, this is not typical behavior. He really is a great guy and you can't ask for a better partner."
"Yeah I tease him a lot but Sam is right. He's really a very decent human being underneath all that false bravado not to mention a good friend. It is why when he left that Atlanta police department, to join the VCTF I followed, Grace commented. George nodded and said, "same here. John gave me a second chance when no one else would."
"Don't worry I won't rescind my offer to be his partner," Darryl said. "And let me just say, I'm really like the camaraderie between you all. Thanks for agreeing to let me be a part of it. Just like the Halliwells you are stand up people. I can't think of a group of individuals I'd rather work with more. I only hope I can convince my wife that it is the right thing to do.
" Bring her flowers, wine, a box of candy, and oh by the way jewelry never hurts either. Talk to Hesphestaus and Dionysus, I'm sure they can fix you up, Grace advised him. You are a handsome god, a descendant of Nebula and Iolaus' family, I've heard. So you have it in you to charm your wife into saying yes. So get home, and get to it," Grace ordered. "Yes, Mamma Grace, whatever you say Mamma Grace," Darryl said on a laugh. Grace patted him on the cheek. "What a nice and smart young man. You learn quickly. I knew I was going to like you." After exchanging goodbyes with everyone else Darryl left.
"Speaking of handsome, charming gods," Sam said, "we'd better start tending to the one on the floor!" "Tom can you use your powers to heal his nose?" "Can do, but as for the exhaustion, the alcohol, and the love sick heart, he's on his own. There are some things even a white lighter can't fix."
"Gotcha. And once your through with John, can you see what you can do for macho Commacho's hand over there, please? Then take Chloe and Angel to their rooms for the night. I'll meet you back in our suite on Olympus as soon as I'm sure, we've got this one tucked in safe and sound," she said pointing to John. Tom smiled at her. "You know you're so damn beautiful when you are bossy," he said. Then he turned back to his work.
John's nose and Bailey's hand were healed in moments. Then George went over and asked Hercules for his help in transporting John to a secure haven for the night. The legendary hero did exactly that and he offered to give Grace, Bailey, and George a free magical flight back to Atlanta. They made arrangements with him for their return trip and then they were off after giving Sam hugs and kisses good- bye. She was anxious to get back to Tom and Chloe but decided to watch over her friend for just a few moments longer. He'd had a rough night. So she pulled up a chair and sat down. She wondered how John was going to react to finding out that Hercules had placed him in a wing of the Halliwell mansion. "Interesting indeed," she mused.