As he got his first glimpse of Tessa, sitting with her legs crossed on the loveseat, Duncan was far from reassured that the conversation would go well. As Richie slowly led the way into the room, Duncan did his best to read Tessa. Her reactions had, thus far, gone completely against what he had expected and he was desperate to regain some insight about what to expect from her.
As Tessa stood at their entrance, Richie was the first to break the silence that filled the room. Even Duncan was surprised by how timidly the boy addressed her. "Hey, Tessa."
"Richie." Duncan flinched at the tone; obviously Tessa had not gotten over her anger.
Wanting to keep things as calm as possible, Duncan quickly interjected. "How about we all sit down?"
With a slight nod, Tessa abruptly resettled herself on the loveseat and looked up expectantly at Duncan and Richie. Both men looked around, as if at a loss to find suitable places to sit. After Duncan finally settled on the couch, Richie quickly followed his lead. Despite the anger the Immortal expected would be invoked from Tessa by their sitting on the same piece of furniture, Duncan couldn't help but feel a jolt of pride surge through him that Richie chose to stay beside him. It was a small but important step in the process of getting the teen to rely upon him.
Finally, Tessa broke the heavy silence between them. Looking directly at Richie as she spoke, she used a tone Duncan didn't quite recognize. "Did you and Duncan get things straightened out?"
When Richie nodded in silent agreement, Tessa was far from satisfied. "Is that a yes?"
"Yes, ma'am." Richie replied; the fear Duncan had heard earlier still lingering in his tone.
"And what, exactly, did you two get cleared up?" She pressed.
Momentarily confused by the question, Richie stole a brief glance at Duncan before returning his attention to the angry Frenchwoman. "That you guys want me to stay?" He questioned hesitantly, hoping fervently that he was providing the answer that Tessa wanted to hear.
"It is not up for debate, Richie." Tessa replied matter-of-factly. "The little stunt you just pulled made it quite clear that you think you are in complete control of your comings and goings."
When Tessa stopped talking and continued to stare at him, Richie realized she expected some sort of reply from him. Unfortunately, he had no idea what type of response she was looking for. "Okay."
"That is far from 'okay', young man. You are nowhere near ready to take responsibility for yourself. The outrageous stunt you just pulled has made that more than clear. From now on, you will do as Duncan and I say." Tessa said in a more clipped tone than Duncan could ever have imagined coming from the mouth of such an angelic looking woman.
When Richie nodded solemnly in reply, Tessa plunged forward. "That means that you will not, under any circumstances, take off on your own. Unless you are with one of us, you are not to go out without our permission. Understood?"
"Yes." Richie replied earnestly.
"And you will be honest about where you are, what you are doing and who you are with." Tessa continued.
"I promise." Richie said seriously.
"All right, then." Standing as abruptly as she had initially taken her seat, Tessa crossed the room with purpose. "Go get the table set while I work on lunch."
When the teen turned his eyes to the Immortal once more, Duncan gave what he hoped was a reassuring smile before standing and offering a hand to the boy. As they all neared the kitchen to prepare for their midday meal, Duncan couldn't help but wonder where the day would lead.
"So how's the sculpture going?" Duncan questioned Tessa, desperately trying to engage the woman in a conversation. The silence that accompanied their lunch had become deafening and the Immortal was not sure how much longer he could take it.
But neither Tessa nor Richie seemed to share his desire to engage in small talk. Looking up briefly from her soup, Tessa gave him a deadly glare. "All right. I just hope I can be done by Wednesday."
Duncan noticed the way Richie flinched at the response. There was no need to remind him that he was the cause for Tessa's being behind in her work. The teen was more than aware that he had caused the couple to lose nearly a day and a half of business.
"Richie, stop playing with your food and eat it." Tessa said briskly.
Things were definitely not heading in a direction Duncan liked.
"Really, I can handle it myself." Richie argued with the Immortal as they cleared the lunch table.
"Are you sure?" The man questioned hesitantly.
Richie threw him an odd look. "Mac, it isn't like I've never watched the store before. Besides, Tessa will just be in the back."
"You look kind of tired though, partner. You had a long day yesterday. Are you sure you're up for it?" Duncan asked hesitantly.
"It's just a couple of hours, Mac. Besides, it's not like I don't owe it to you." Richie replied.
Duncan frowned at that. If he weren't determined to get the paperwork started, he would have insisted on staying behind to run the store himself. He just didn't want to wait any longer and risk social services stepping in before he got Richie's records changed. "You don't owe us anything." He said firmly.
"Right." The teen replied quietly.
Duncan really didn't like that response. "Right." He shot back. "I'll be back in a few hours, okay? Just take it easy. If you get tired out, close up shop early, all right?"
"Got it." The teen said with a smile. "Have fun with your shipments."
"Richie?"
The teen looked up as Tessa called for him. "Yeah?"
"Time to close up." She told him, only sticking her head halfway out of her studio.
Relieved she wasn't coming out; Richie smiled up at her. "Sure, Tess."
"Duncan just called, he's going to be late and I'm on a roll in here. I don't want to loss my momentum. Why don't you just go ahead and order a pizza for yourself? Duncan and I'll eat later." She called.
"No problem." He replied.
Tessa made one last comment before closing the studio door. "Money's in my purse in the living room."
Richie sighed in relief as the woman departed. Sore, exhausted and totally overwhelming by the heat he perceived to be consuming the store, he was extremely grateful not to have to face either Duncan or Tessa. Hiding his discomfort was not something he wanted to have to attempt. Now all he had to do was close up shop and make his way to his room. He had no doubt that all he needed was a good night's sleep to be good as new. He was determined that be the case. After all the trouble he had caused the couple, there was no way he wanted to add having to deal with a sick employee to top it all off.
As he entered the shop, Duncan was surprised to hear the sound of the blowtorch coming from Tessa's studio. After all, it was after 9 p.m.
Sticking his head in the room, he immediately drew Tessa's attention. Smiling, she shut off the flame and drew off her fire retarding gear. "Mac." She said with a smile, going over to give him a kiss. "Are you just getting in?"
"Yeah. What put you in such a good mood?" He couldn't help but asking.
She smiled warmly up at him. "I've really gotten on a roll with this. It's turning out wonderfully."
"Great. Think you'll have it done on time?" He asked politely.
With a nod, she continued. "Tomorrow, possibly. Oh, my. I was so consumed. How did it go?" She questioned, now remembering where the extra emotional energy she had used on the project came from.
"It took a lot of finagling, but within 24 hours, Richie will be officially mine." Duncan said with a wide grin.
Tessa readily returned it. "How on earth did you manage it so quickly?"
"I do have a bit of experience working the system, you know." Duncan replied, not really caring to reveal all the techniques he had used to ensure such fast results. He wasn't entirely sure he cared for Tessa to know all of his talents.
Tessa smiled. "Don't you think we should go tell him?" She questioned, her project now completely forgotten.
"I think it might help to ease some of the tension, don't you?" He returned.
Tessa frowned at that. "Perhaps I was a bit harsh. Richie knows how I feel about him, though. I'm sure he isn't too upset. Besides," she quickly defended, "someone needs to lay down the law with him. Lord knows it won't be you."
Duncan suppressed a sigh. Things were going too well to worry over the details. "Let's just go tell him, hum? I'm sure he's had plenty of time alone to fret over what we're thinking of him."
"I do wish we had spent more time with him today." Tessa agreed.
"So do I." Duncan nodded; then smiled broadly. "We've got all the time in the world to make it up to him now, though."
Duncan frowned slightly at the sight of the sleeping teen. It was awful early for him to have gone to bed; especially voluntarily.
"It isn't like Richie to fall asleep so early." Tessa said softly, voicing Duncan's own thoughts.
He didn't want to be too overprotective, though. "It's been a stressful couple of days for him."
"True." Tessa nodded. "Should we wake him?"
"I suppose I can wait until tomorrow." Duncan replied slowly, not really wanting to have to keep the news from the teen any longer. He had to admit, though, the teen did look pretty peaceful in his sleep. There really wasn't any reason to disturb it.
"I guess so." Tessa replied, her thoughts mirroring that of the Immortals. Carefully adjusting the covers over the teen, she followed the man out the door.
By 8:30, Duncan could no longer handle waiting for the teen to wake on his own. The night had been restless; as both he and Tessa were anxious to tell Richie about the 'errands' Duncan had run the day before. Both rose early and had been pacing about listlessly as they waited for the teen to wake.
"I'm waking him up." The Immortal finally announced.
As Tessa nodded in agreement, Duncan went into the boy's room. When Richie didn't wake upon Duncan's opening the door, he called his name. When that, too, brought no recognition, Duncan crossed the space to Richie's bed and leaned over to shake the boy. It was then that he noticed the beads of sweat forming on the teen's face and forehead. Worried, he put his hand to the boy's cheek.
"Tessa!" The Immortal called urgently.
As the woman came to the door, her concern over Duncan's tone was evident. "What's wrong, Duncan?"
"Go get the car." The man replied, his voice steely. "He's burning up."