Note: This story is meant to take place immediately following "Family Tree", which is where the conversation about 'deciding who you are' occurs. Check it out, it's a classic. Everything here on in deviates from the original plotline to a reality that only exists in my head.
3 a.m.:
As Richie crept through the kitchen, careful not to disturb the couple sleeping soundly in the master bedroom, Duncan's words ran through his head. When the Immortal had first told him "You get to decide who you are" a few hours earlier, he had simply taken the words as the man's way of providing solace. But as the day wore on and he watched the comfortable, easy interaction that Duncan and Tessa had, he came to realize that they knew who they were. They were a couple deeply in love who were sharing a life and he, Richie Ryan, was not ever meant to have a place in that life. Dropping an envelope on the counter and turning back to take one last look at the loft, he couldn't quite bite back a sob. However, neither that sob nor the sound of the back door stirred either Duncan or Tessa from their respective slumbers.
Three hours later:
"Do you want me to start the coffee?" Duncan asked through a yawn as he paddled his way across the bedroom. Despite 12 years of experience, Tessa had still not adapted to the man's penchant to wake at 6 a.m.
"Please." She mumbled under the covers. With a slight smile, Duncan headed towards the kitchen to make himself a bite to eat before his morning run. It wasn't until he had blinked off his momentary blindness from the rising sun and had the coffee well under way that he noticed the small envelope with the word "Mac" written in the upper corner.
Leaning over to check the eggs, he tore the envelope open and pulled the single sheet of lined paper out.
"Mac,
Taking your advice. Went to 'decide who I am.' Thanks for everything.
Richard Ryan."
It wasn't until he had read through the brief message three times that he began to comprehend it. After a final reading, he sprung into action.
"Tessa? Tess!" His impatient yelling had its desired effect; she was fully awake now.
But that didn't mean she was happy to see him. "The sun isn't even up yet, Duncan. What are you yelling about?"
"Richie!" He replied impatiently, coming to a stop a few feet from the edge of the bed.
She sighed softly at the implication. Duncan already annoyed about something the boy had done was not a good sign for how the rest of the day would go. "What about him?"
"He's gone." The Immortal said it in the same tone, but now Tessa realized her mistake. She had confused panic with anger.
She sat up quickly, ignoring her normal preference of rising slowly. "Gone? What do you mean, gone?"
"Look for yourself." As he thrust the now-crinkled paper at her, he watched impatiently as she carefully read the short, yet powerful, words.
Tears were brimming over by the time she turned her gaze back upon him. "Find him."
It wasn't a request.