CHAPTER TWELVE
A/N: thanks to all who reviewed! For the next several chapters, get those tissues handy!
For Disclaimer, please see the prologue.
" Did you take the pills today?" Raphael asked Renee two days later.
" Of course," Renee lied smoothly and he nodded with satisfaction. It was so easy to lie and Renee felt bad for doing it, but he and Megan must not know about her secret, they'd be devastated.
Raphael studied his wife. She has grown so thin since being diagnosed with a brain tumour almost two weeks ago. Her skin was white and her golden curls were limp and oily, as if her hair hadn't been washed for several days.
An idea popped into his head and he didn't know where it had come from. He watched as Renee made herself comfortable on the couch before switching the wide-screen tv on.
" Honey, I've just thought of something," Raph began, joining her on the couch.
" What is it?"
" Why don't we go away for awhile? You, Megan and me? We could all use a holiday from the city…"
" Where would we go?"
" I don't know, somewhere peaceful," Raph was warming up to his idea, " You know I've taken leave from the force and Megan can miss a few days off school. She's so bright, she'd be able to catch up easily,"
" I think it's a good idea," Renee paused, " how about Mom's holiday house in Palm Springs. She won't mind us using it."
" Well, I didn't think we'd go that far," Raph mused, " I was thinking more like North Hampton." Raph paused, " the old farmhouse that belonged to my friends Casey and April is still standing and its so quiet there…"
" You've talked about that place numerous of times," Renee mused, " and it's far too drive. Okay, we'll go there."
Casey Jones and his wife April O' Neil died in a car crash just before Raph's eldest nephew (Leo's son) was born. In his will, Casey had leased the farmhouse in his name.
" Megan will love it there," Raph predicted, " she can read her books without anyone bothering her."
" When should we go?"
" As soon as possible. I can write a note to Megan's teachers and we'll leave on Friday."
* * *
" I can't go," Megan protested, " I have school and the Lab…"
Raph grinned, " School's been taking care of. You have four days off next week mega, enjoy it while you can."
Megan stared at him, " Have you told my teachers about my…situation?"
" Well, yes, I had to."
" Why'd you do that? I don't want them to feel sorry for me!"
" They won't Megs. I made them promise to treat you the same way they've always treated you." Raph assured her, " and as for the lab, Don can cope without you. I've already told him about the trip."
" Looks like you've sorted out everything," Megan muttered.
" You're mad at me again," Raph commented, " Why?"
" You didn't even ask me first before you went and sorted my life out!"
" Well, you weren't around when Mom and I discussed it," Raph pointed out feeling slightly exasperated.
" Yeah, but you could have included me in the conversation! Doesn't my opinion count anymore?"
" Of course it does," Raph protested.
" It doesn't seem that way to me! You and Mom can go, but I'm staying here!" Megan jumped up from the couch and ran upstairs to her room.
Raph groaned. Once again, he and Megan were at loggerheads.
* * *
" I want you and your father to keep the peace while we're on vacation," Renee instructed her daughter as they piled the duffle bags into the car. Megan was sulking because Renee told her she had no choice but to come with them. All arrangement regarding school were made and Renee wasn't about to let her 17 year old stay home alone.
" Mom-" Megan protested but Renee cut her off.
" No buts Megan." Renee shot her a firm look.
" Okay Mom," she muttered, " but I'm not happy!" Megan didn't know why she was acting like a brat, it wasn't her nature. She was still mad at her father for making decisions without even talking to her first!
He treats me like a little kid, Megan fumed, I'm nearly eighteen years old! Can't he see that?
Renee just smiled and shook her head. Megan rarely stays mad at her father for long. Megan and Raph were really very close, it was their tempers that get in the way of their father/daughter relationship.
" All loaded up?" Raph locked the front door and tossed his own duffle into the trunk.
" Let's go," Renee said, " if we hurry, we'll beat peak hour."
" Megan?" Raph glanced over at his daughter.
" What?"
" Are you ready?"
" Sure, it's not if we're going to California or anything." Megan said, " just some stupid farmhouse," she kicked at a car tyre, trying to get her frustration out.
" Megan," Renee warned and her daughter fell silent. They clambered into the car and drove off. Renee glanced at the house as it disappeared from view and wondered if she was going to make it home….
A/N: thanks to all who reviewed! For the next several chapters, get those tissues handy!
For Disclaimer, please see the prologue.
" Did you take the pills today?" Raphael asked Renee two days later.
" Of course," Renee lied smoothly and he nodded with satisfaction. It was so easy to lie and Renee felt bad for doing it, but he and Megan must not know about her secret, they'd be devastated.
Raphael studied his wife. She has grown so thin since being diagnosed with a brain tumour almost two weeks ago. Her skin was white and her golden curls were limp and oily, as if her hair hadn't been washed for several days.
An idea popped into his head and he didn't know where it had come from. He watched as Renee made herself comfortable on the couch before switching the wide-screen tv on.
" Honey, I've just thought of something," Raph began, joining her on the couch.
" What is it?"
" Why don't we go away for awhile? You, Megan and me? We could all use a holiday from the city…"
" Where would we go?"
" I don't know, somewhere peaceful," Raph was warming up to his idea, " You know I've taken leave from the force and Megan can miss a few days off school. She's so bright, she'd be able to catch up easily,"
" I think it's a good idea," Renee paused, " how about Mom's holiday house in Palm Springs. She won't mind us using it."
" Well, I didn't think we'd go that far," Raph mused, " I was thinking more like North Hampton." Raph paused, " the old farmhouse that belonged to my friends Casey and April is still standing and its so quiet there…"
" You've talked about that place numerous of times," Renee mused, " and it's far too drive. Okay, we'll go there."
Casey Jones and his wife April O' Neil died in a car crash just before Raph's eldest nephew (Leo's son) was born. In his will, Casey had leased the farmhouse in his name.
" Megan will love it there," Raph predicted, " she can read her books without anyone bothering her."
" When should we go?"
" As soon as possible. I can write a note to Megan's teachers and we'll leave on Friday."
* * *
" I can't go," Megan protested, " I have school and the Lab…"
Raph grinned, " School's been taking care of. You have four days off next week mega, enjoy it while you can."
Megan stared at him, " Have you told my teachers about my…situation?"
" Well, yes, I had to."
" Why'd you do that? I don't want them to feel sorry for me!"
" They won't Megs. I made them promise to treat you the same way they've always treated you." Raph assured her, " and as for the lab, Don can cope without you. I've already told him about the trip."
" Looks like you've sorted out everything," Megan muttered.
" You're mad at me again," Raph commented, " Why?"
" You didn't even ask me first before you went and sorted my life out!"
" Well, you weren't around when Mom and I discussed it," Raph pointed out feeling slightly exasperated.
" Yeah, but you could have included me in the conversation! Doesn't my opinion count anymore?"
" Of course it does," Raph protested.
" It doesn't seem that way to me! You and Mom can go, but I'm staying here!" Megan jumped up from the couch and ran upstairs to her room.
Raph groaned. Once again, he and Megan were at loggerheads.
* * *
" I want you and your father to keep the peace while we're on vacation," Renee instructed her daughter as they piled the duffle bags into the car. Megan was sulking because Renee told her she had no choice but to come with them. All arrangement regarding school were made and Renee wasn't about to let her 17 year old stay home alone.
" Mom-" Megan protested but Renee cut her off.
" No buts Megan." Renee shot her a firm look.
" Okay Mom," she muttered, " but I'm not happy!" Megan didn't know why she was acting like a brat, it wasn't her nature. She was still mad at her father for making decisions without even talking to her first!
He treats me like a little kid, Megan fumed, I'm nearly eighteen years old! Can't he see that?
Renee just smiled and shook her head. Megan rarely stays mad at her father for long. Megan and Raph were really very close, it was their tempers that get in the way of their father/daughter relationship.
" All loaded up?" Raph locked the front door and tossed his own duffle into the trunk.
" Let's go," Renee said, " if we hurry, we'll beat peak hour."
" Megan?" Raph glanced over at his daughter.
" What?"
" Are you ready?"
" Sure, it's not if we're going to California or anything." Megan said, " just some stupid farmhouse," she kicked at a car tyre, trying to get her frustration out.
" Megan," Renee warned and her daughter fell silent. They clambered into the car and drove off. Renee glanced at the house as it disappeared from view and wondered if she was going to make it home….