Note: Thanks to everyone for all the feedback.

Shivy: Wow. Thank you!! Hope you enjoy the rest of it just as much! .

Disclaimer: Janet still owns the Plum series.

Chapter 8

The scene in front of me was better than any soap opera, although it certainly seemed like it would have fit right into one. I glanced over at Charles, and caught a similarly bemused expression in his midnight eyes. I bit my lower lip and looked back to the couple standing a few yards away. It wasn't my place to intervene, but maybe if I asked him he would...

"My darling, I think perhaps we ought to give them some privacy," he said quietly. I looked at him again, this time in disbelief. Alec's voice was rising in volume with each breath, and Alia was visibly trembling. Leave them alone like this? It didn't sound like a good idea. Not that I thought Alec would hurt her- well, not physically. I risked a glance at the pair. At least he wouldn't normally, but seemed so very angry....

"Charles dear are you certain? 'Lia is not used to this much," I struggled to find a word as I watched the fighting continue, "conflict. Aren't you worried for her stability?"

Charles sighed and shook his head. "Of course I am, and I will give Alec a strong reminder of that issue as soon as he calms down. But interfering now will do nothing but anger him further...." His dark blue gaze locked with mine before he continued, "And can you honestly say you blame him? He has been nothing but understanding of her condition, and she treats him in such a way!" I bowed my head, accepting the truth of his statement, but I couldn't refrain from at least attempting to defend my sister.

"But isn't her condition exactly what has triggered her actions? She doesn't understand what he's upset about! You know she wouldn't have done any such thing if she were herself."

Charles took my hand and held it tightly. "My darling, our precious 'Lia has not been herself in a very long time," he said in his quiet, gently voice, and I felt a chill run down my spine that I didn't want to think about. Instead, I looked back at the couple. Alec was waving his arms around, yelling now.

"How could you? How could you do this to me again?" he demanded, and when Alia didn't reply he grasped her shoulders shaking her. "Do you hate me that much? Are you that ungrateful for the life I've given you... You have everything. You're happy. And you still do this! It's never fucking enough for you is it?"

Again, he had said. Again... Yes, I thought, looking at Alec's tall lanky frame, as he stood towering over my sister. This had happened before. I had seen it. But when? This was ridiculous, it couldn't have happened before. I didn't remember anyone ever yelling at Alia.

She was sobbing, covering her face with her hands, shaking her head. I couldn't bear it any longer and turned away, looking back at Charles. I nodded once, and we rose from our seats and went inside. He closed the French doors behind us with a final, almost ominous click. I risked one last look back through them. It was easier without hearing it, but it was still unnerving.

Charles asked me about dinner and my plans for the garden. We had an entire conversation, and my mind was still on the scene in the garden. As if sensing my unease, he put an arm around me and guided me down the hall to the parlor. We relaxed on the sofa there, Charles' arms around me protectively as he kept the topics deliberately light and easy. One of the maids brought a tray in for lunch, along with my pills. Thank god! I was so frazzled I felt like my skin was about to explode!

As we talked, the horror and discomfort of earlier faded away under the influence of the marvelous food and the medication. Some time later Charles was telling me about their latest business trip to the Virgin Islands when Alec entered, alone and remarkably calmer.

"Serena, why don't you go check with Francois about dinner?" Charles asked. I nodded my assent and rose quickly, heading for the doors without another look at Alec.

I heard them talking softly as I closed the doors behind me. I know it was wrong, and terribly rude, but I couldn't help pausing to listen. Just for a moment...

"It's no use. We have to increase her dosage. Why can't she just be like Serena?" Alec complained.

"She isn't Serena, my boy. That's why. You pay the price for your mistakes, you know. But not to worry, I'm sure it will all straighten itself out eventually... " he paused and I heard him sigh deeply. When he spoke again he sounded tired, as if this were an old discussion, "If only you had taken her idiosyncrasies into account beforehand."

"Stop reminding me!" Alec growled. There was silence for several beats. "I'm beginning to think it's not possible... it's like she's incapable of forgetting."

"She will forget, son. You must learn patience," Charles said calmly. "Have some brandy... Have you seen the reports from Cuba lately/" And with that the discussion turned to business. I decided Francois could handle dinner on his own, I needed to lie down and think. What on earth wasn't Alia forgetting?

She forgot everything on a nearly daily basis!

Alec was giving her more medication... maybe that was good. Surely it couldn't hurt matters. She had wounded him with her thoughtless actions last night- maybe the shock of their fight and meds would make her think a little more about other people and less about her dream worlds. I had always wondered though, why she always forgot Alec in those other worlds she lived in. I knew that always hurt him. She would remember Charles and I, members of the staff... but not Alec. Never Alec.

Back in my room, I lay down on my bed, face down in the pillows, and tried to sort it all out. Why did she always forget Alec? Why did I keep seeing flashes in my head of someone else yelling at her? And what was Alia failing to forgive Alec for? What was she refusing to forget? What was Francois going to make for dinner?

Eventually I fell asleep, my mind still a tangle of questions with no answers.

I was dragged out of a disturbing dream where I was forced to drive a revoltingly huge blue car when one of the maids arrived in my room bearing the answer to my last question: a tray of chicken cordon bleu, sautéed asparagus, salad, and raspberry sorbet. Ah, I knew he could handle dinner on his own, and handle it brilliantly. French chefs are good like that.

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Charles left the next morning for Cuba, and I didn't see Alia for two days. I even sought out Enrique Santos and asked him, but he said he hadn't seen her since the night she'd shown up at his room- the night that had sent Alec into his rage.

He frowned at looked at me incredulously. "You mean you don't know where she is, ma'am?" he asked. I shook my head.

"No. I haven't seen her since we left them to fight it out on the terrace."

"Why would you think I would know?" His expression was cautious, and almost too blank.

"She..." I stopped. I didn't have a good answer for that one. "You're the head of security. And you are supposed to be her body guard," I said finally, and added a hint of reproach for good measure. Santos didn't seem phased.

"I had one of the guys take over for me on that bit. She was getting a little too attached."

I rolled my eyes. "Well fine, does your guy know where she's at?" I demanded.

"Why don't you ask him?" Santos asked evenly. I blinked. What? The security guards were not members of the staff I had to associate with. I wasn't comfortable with them for one and for two I had enough to deal with keeping the main household running.

"I'm asking you," I said curtly. "You are the head of security. Where is my sister? And if you don't know, then I suggest you find her. Quickly."

And with that I spun on my heel and left the guardhouse, heading across the lawn to the mansion. Was it really that hard to find good help now? I was so steamed that by the time I reached the foyer I wasn't even paying attention to where I was going, and had a resulting collision with Alec that sent us both crashing to the floor.

"Fuck," he swore, once we both came to the realization we were on our butts on the middle of the room. I winced, but didn't correct him.

"Are you all right?" I asked. "I'm so sorry- it's my fault! I wasn't watching where I was going..."

"It's ok, Serena," he said with a sigh and picked himself up wearily. "I wasn't either."

He helped me to my feet and it wasn't until I was fully upright I noticed the dark circles under his green eyes, and the rumpled look of his suit.

"Are you well?" I asked him. I received a half smile in reply.

"Not sleeping too good."

I didn't sympathize with him. I still wasn't overly happy with the way he'd spoken to Lia even if she had deserved it.

"Have you seen my sister?"

Alec sighed. "She's fine. Nothing to worry over."

"Where is she?" I tried again.

"Sleeping. We decided to try a new treatment, something to straighten her out a little," he said with a shrug. I didn't like the way he said 'straighten her out,' though.

"Sleeping where? And what do you mean?"

"Serena," he said gently, "it's nothing for you to worry yourself over. Alia is fine, and hopefully she'll get better soon. Isn't that something to be happy about? Maybe you should plan her a party."

I turned this suggestion over in my head. A party would be fun to plan, especially if it was celebrating my sister's recovery... "But where is she, Alec?" I asked, meeting his eyes, my own were wide and upset. "She's all I have aside from Charles! Where is she?"

"Safe. Don't worry about it- she should be up and around tomorrow. For now she needs her rest." He grinned, giving his features a boyish charm. It made it hard to scold him. I took a deep breath, but let it go. There was no reasoning with Alec sometimes.

"Fine. But warn me about these things! I've been an absolute wreck."

Alec just laughed. "I'll be leaving in a couple hours, and I'll be gone for a few weeks. You two are going to be on your own, but have Santos call me if there are any problems with Alia."

"Have you heard from Charles?"

"He's fine. Just hit a few diplomatic snags is all," Alec said with a shrug. "It might take a couple weeks there too. Just don't redecorate the place while we're gone."

I laughed. "Never..." and then I gave him a grin to let him know he'd given me an idea.

He just shook his head, looking resigned.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Despite his claim to Serena, Enrique was anything but unconcerned with Alia's sudden disappearance. And he knew exactly where she was. She hadn't come out of the laboratory yet. The ideas of what could be going on in there were starting to give him nightmares.

This was why he didn't like security. Combat was one thing- you saw nightmarish things in a war zone, it was because it was war. Shit happens in war, and normal rules don't apply, but it's accepted. People got hurt, soldiers or innocent civilians, but it was understandable in a way. But this island wasn't a war zone, and there wasn't armed conflict or guerilla fighting... This was something else, something that made even his mercenary sensibilities want to throw up.

He shoved the thoughts away and looked back at his brother, his expression grim. "No, Les," he said, "It's too risky. You are not putting the op in jeopardy to go in there and play hero." Lester scowled at him.

"This whole damned thing is about playing hero," he growled. "And we need to know what the fuck is going on in there."

"Can't risk you getting caught in there."

"Look, Masters is leaving in a couple hours, and that prize patrol you call security teams here are all busy chasing tail or passed out on the beach with a bottle of rum. The only person who'll know I'm there is you.

"And while we're at it, why did you lie to Serena about changing Alia's bodyguard assignment?"

Enrique winced at the mention of the condition of the island's security force. Of course it was what was making the whole charade ridiculously easy, but it was a matter of professional pride. In answer to his brother's question he shrugged helplessly. "I meant to. Just haven't gotten around to it."

"Assign her to me," Les suggested with the beginnings of a wolf grin. Enrique's eyebrows raised.

"Don't' tell me you been hitting the rum, too."

"Nah. I'm here as a new recruit, remember? Send me in as the bodyguard."

"You completely lost it, bro? What if she remembers you and sends up the alarm?"

"Who'd believe her?" Les countered. "She ain't the most credible 'round here."

"Point taken. But how does that let you into the lab?" Les's grin widened.

"I'm the new guy. How am I supposed to know?"

"Christ. You're going to get us killed."

"You've been saying that for a while now."

Enrique laughed and reached across to give his brother a brotherly slap upside the head. Les retaliated with a slap to the arm. A small scuffle and several colorful curses in both English and Portuguese later, Lester Santos made his way through the downstairs hall of the main house.

He subtly avoided being caught by the cameras as much as possible, more out of habit than any desire for secrecy. Besides, it would give him something to rib Enrique about later.

Thoughts of his brother drifted away as he examined the room they had seen Haley dragged into. It was a simple, run-of-the-mill study. A large mahogany desk dominated the room on one end, and on the other a fireplace and an assortment of wingback chairs. Bookshelves lined the entire room.

It sure as hell didn't look like any laboratory he'd ever seen. All right, so there was probably a hidden door. Lester fought the urge to roll his eyes. Of course there was a hidden door: an old mansion on a private island, site of a dastardly plot. How could there not be some cliché hidden laboratories and secret passages scattered in?

He pressed a button on his walky-talky. "Nothing here, sir," he said. "Just an office."

"You sure? That's the last known location. Do your job, I am not here to do it for you." Les glared at the machine in his hand and flipped it off.

"Saw that, soldier," Enrique's voice growled through the radio.

Fucker. He'd known damned well what was going on! Les snorted. Typical of his darling brother to leave him the hard part... Mentally cursing in his most inventive Portuguese, he took another look around, his eyes finally settling on the fireplace. It was conspicuously out of place in the middle of the Caribbean... and wasn't that where the hidden door was in Indiana Jones? He stalked toward it, analyzing each detail of the design carefully.

Les was still investigating the problem when the radio beeped. He straightened up and wandered over to check out one of the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. He was just staring blankly at something called "Leaves of Grass" when the door opened.

"Can I help you?" Alec Master's voice demanded. Les schooled his face into a blank professional stare and nodded.

"Hector Gonzales, sir,' he said. "Santos just assigned me to bodyguard duty for Ms. Darling."

Alec eyed him curiously. "The new guy," he said finally. "And you're looking for Alia?"

Lester nodded. "I didn't get my assignment 'til today. Can't seem to find her," he said, looking nervous. Alec smiled sympathetically.

"She can be a little hard to pin down sometimes. But you're in luck- she's in the lab for treatment. She'll be out tomorrow most likely." And with that he walked to the desk, Lester clearly being dismissed.

Les ambled out of the room and a short distance down the hall before he turned on the spy cam he'd slipped into the bookshelf. It was a nifty little thing Ash had thought up, and it reported to the small 'customized' PDA he now held in his hand. That kid was going to be down right scary in a few years, Les thought with a smile as he watched Masters open the fireplace by poking the gargoyle on the mantle in the eye. Geez, this place would have made Vincent Price so proud.

Now to wait for Weasel to vacate the premises.