Chapter 8--- Unresolved Tension

It took Duncan almost thirty minutes to unpack his belongings from the rucksack and readjust himself to his room at the house. The bunk beds were still standing, his posters were still on the wall, and he still had an empty dresser to pile his clothes into...

Duncan finally proud of himself for settling in decided he would climb up to the top bunk as he was just about to get to the top, hanging off of it in mid-air, he heard...

"Taking a snooze so late in the day?"

Before a startled Duncan toppled off, and landing on his kilted rump onto the floor. Duncan picked himself up and stood on his two feet.

"I'm sorry for scaring you. I just heard noises. I was about to---?"

"Aye, no problem, nothing broken except one's pride, um, well, not really my pride...exactly," Duncan blew out a breath, nodded his head, before it dropped and his visitor, Claire laughed, "It's okay,"

"Duncan MacKay, world traveler at yer service, canna I help you?" Duncan stuttered right out nervously with a bow as Claire smiled, "I'm Claire, Susan's sister and she's giving me a lift back to Inverness in a bit,"

"Ahhhh, Claire, Susan's sister, a lift back to Inverness, aye, I see..." Duncan repeated everything Claire just said.

"Do you always echo out what someone else says? I'm guessing you're Minnie's dada?" Claire added vividly with a laugh.

"No, I mean yes, I mean I don't echo, aye, me Min's da." Duncan rested his arm on three or four books on the desk in the corner of the room before one or two of the books were knocked off by his hand and fell right to the floor in a huge 'thud!' Duncan blushed immediately, scooped up the books and stacked them both back on the desk after hitting his head with a 'klunk!' on the desk lamp attached to the top bunk, "yeouch!" as he rubbed the red spot on his forehead with his hand in embarrassment this time.

"Aye, well, best be going," Claire gave a nod of her own head, "Welcome home and sorry I missed the afternoon teatime. I was off with Ewan, checking on Killwillie's cows...long story."

"Thank-you, um, ah, och, do you have someone giving you a lift?" Duncan asked innocently as Claire laughed, "My sister, remember?"

Duncan shook his head and waved with his arms, "Right, right, sorry, best be going then,"

Claire cast Duncan one last strange look, before leaving the room, just as Claire stepped out into the hallway. Duncan, wanting to say something else to her again, strolled over to the door, Paul hollered out for him, "Duncan? Claire, have you seen---?"

"Aye Paul, problem?" Duncan stated swiftly as he stuck his head out of the room and happily peered over to Claire, relieved to have an excuse to take a second gander at her again.

"Susan's car isn't working, so---?" Paul spoke right up as Claire with her overnight bag with a diagonally crossed strap from her right shoulder to her left side added, "Ye're kiddin' right?"

"No, so I'm gonna give a lift back to Inverness..." Paul began before Duncan spoke quickly, "I could do it,"

"You? I thought you were settling in, do not disturb..." Paul noted the hotel, 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the doorknob of Duncan's room that he had brought back somewhere along his journey. Claire laughed and remarked, "Better than showing the maid service side, right?" as Duncan turned the sign over to display the 'MAID' just as she said that.

"It's all right, I don't need many winks. I'll bring her back to Inverness for Susan so you can stay here," Duncan instructed, as Paul rubbed his forehead with his hand and looked at Claire, "You okay with this?"

"Aye, it'll give me something else to look at, it's fine Paul," Claire replied jokingly, as she smiled at Duncan and joked again, "Take me to your leader,"

"How about just to the truck?" Paul instantly spoke up, eyeing Duncan closely and distrustfully.

"Aye," Duncan shook his head, shrugged his shoulders, while Claire and Paul wandered down the hall and Duncan also gave out another sigh of relief and also wonderment for meeting Claire.

Lexie found Martha checking out the hamster in the library. At first, Lexie peeked into the room listening to the little girl talk to the new pet. Remembering she was just about her niece's age when she had first spoke of 'wanting' the furry critter, before walking over to Martha.

"Auntie Lexie, what's its name?" Martha inquired as she looked up at Lexie.

"Not sure, it didn't come with one..." Lexie answered with a grin as she opened the cage door, scooped up the hamster and brought it down to Martha's eye level, "Go on, you can pet it—it won't bite you, promise..."

Martha lit right up as her hand pat the hamster, "Are you gonna name it?"

"Um...well, didn't really think about names, do you want to name it? Ya know I was your age when I wanted one of these."

"Really?" Martha replied with another smile as her eyes grew wide with happiness at Lexie's suggestion.

"Aye really," Lexie laughed, "You canna name her, Martha,"

"Is it a he or a she, Auntie Lexie?" Martha's eyes wandered up to Lexie's as they both pondered her next question...

"Um, Golly thinks it's a she," Lexie grinned remembering yesterday after coming back from the pet shop with Archie that Golly stated firmly, 'he knew nothing about hamsters but assumed it was a she.' Martha's face went pensive, "How about? Hmmmmm...how about Hula Hoop?" Martha curiously replied as Lexie continued to hold the pet.

"Hula Hoop? Hula Hoop our hamster, our fluffy critter?" Lexie asked peculiarly as her eyes set on the energetic pet trying to escape her hands. Lexie and Martha laughed, "Where did you get that idea for a name?"

"I watched it go round and round in its jogging wheel and anytime I play with the Hula Hoop, it goes around and around me, of course it falls off of me...she's soft," Martha spoke sweetly as she pet Hula Hoop again.

"Aye, she is..." Lexie agreed and smiled brightly again.

Lizzie appeared in the doorway and with a laugh she replied instantly, "I see we have a new friend?"

"Yeah, she's new, Mummy! Look at her! Auntie Lexie said I could name her!"

"And what is she to be called?" Lizzie replied giving Lexie a quick look and nodding her head to her daughter...

"Hula Hoop," Martha giggled, as Lizzie beamed as she bent down to Martha's eye level to praise her, "Marvelous name, big pet. I'm here to tell you it's time for bed, sweetie, we need to wash up, brush the fangs, get on jim-jams and then---?"

"Sleep?" Martha's face dropped as she glanced at Hula Hoop again.

"Say nighty-night," Lizzie added with another chuckle as Martha grinned, "Nighty-night, Auntie Lexie and goodnight Hula Hoop,"

Lexie laughed, before returning the hamster to its home, giving Martha a quick nighttime hug and kiss, before Lizzie and Martha traveled out of the room. Just as Lizzie and Martha wandered out, Alex walked in. Lexie returned Hula Hoop to its home before turning around and giving her father a very smug look.

"I miss you at that age. From time to time, I would think of you---?"

"I don't need to---?"

"Hear it," Alex sighed and Lexie rolled her eyes, "I don't need to hear it. You came here, don't expect me to be kind to you and say, 'Oh daddy dearest, you're back,' like its some fairy tale ending? I'm not..."

"Ally, I'm tired of fighting, I explained everything, can't you just forgive and let go for the sake of Hula Hoop there?" Alex joked, "Did I tell you about the time I walked on the moon and I met a hamster and---?"

"I don't believe this. You've been spying on me? What for? So you can plan you next getaway? I don't need stories, I told you this before...not you commandeering a group of pirates-just like you, meetin' an' greetin' a suck your blood vampire, or moon walking of any sort!"

"I'm not going anywhere. In fact, I don't have anywhere in particular to go...I don't drive..."

"You do drive--ye're driving me crazy!" Lexie's voice went up an octave as Alex sighed again, "Ally,"

"I'm not, Ally, get that fact straight for the twelfth time, you left me when I was five years old, and you think you can bribe me with a hamster over twenty years later—a question, may I remind you that was never answered? How on earth did you get back with Mum anyway?"

"I saw her in a bookshop..."

"Bookshop?" Lexie shrugged and then stared at her father for more of an explanation.

"Look, your mother wrote a book,"

"Wrote a book? She never said a word about writing a book or having it published or...?"

"She did. I was in Spain, living with another woman and one night, just before bed---?"

"I don't need to hear a story about you shaggin' some floozy either! The nerve you've got---?" Lexie outspokenly snapped, before...

"Will you listen?!" Alex interrupted loudly as Lexie immediately glared at him.

"That 'floozy,' Margarita, had a copy of your mother's book. How surprised did you think I was when I saw your mother's face on the back of a novel jacket?"

"What? Nun-uh!" Lexie shook her head as she replied, "Where's the book?"

Alex replied quietly, "If you give me a moment, I'll go get it for you to read..."

Lexie grumbled, finally gave in...Alex zipped out of the room within ten minutes later he returned with a hard back novel and presented it to Lexie.

"You haven't spoken to your mother much lately?"

"I don't exactly talk to her. I only write her a line here or there. She never mentioned the novel writing..."

"Her book came out weeks ago and she probably she feared you'd hate her for it. Anyway she was at a book signing in Glasgow and well,"

"You showed up there?" Lexie eyed the front cover, 'Unrequited Love' a Harlequin romance Maggie McGalpine, "She did this? She's using a pen name? Why? She works for Harlequin? I thought she only read the stories, not make them up like you!"

"Aye, she did and it's great, she wrote a wonderful ending..."

"I don't need to hear this,"

"Read it Ally,"

"No," Lexie challenged as Alex shrugged, "Stop being stubborn and just read it...'

Lexie sighed in defeat before Alex smiled at her, "you'll like it...'

Chapter Nine—Brotherly Love J

Late that night, Archie was busy fiddling with books, figures and the lap top as he took sips of his drink and started to daze out just as Paul wandered in, "Here are the figures from the centre you wanted,"

"Thank-you," Archie replied, while turning the lap top towards him, "Go on and plug them in,"

"Sure, I could do that, you okay?" Paul asked, as he typed up the figures into the lap top.

"You are happy here right?"

"Of course,"

"I mean it doesn't bother you that I'm running the place more without you...even though we---?"

"We haven't completely discussed all of the ways of running the estate and I don't expect you too either. I'm happy managing accounts for the centre and keeping up with all of the issues that come along with it. You said you wanted to run everything at the house and any major decisions we'd discuss them together, we haven't had anything major to talk about, have we?"

"True, I didn't want you to think that I'm taking over everything,"

"What is this about, Archie? I'm fine with when Lexie took in Minnie and you were right it was Lexie's decision," Paul agreed as he scratched the back of his head still wondering what was going on in Archie's mind.

Archie stood up from the desk and walked towards the mantle picking up a craft toping off his drink and getting one for Paul. Archie handed the drink to Paul who sat himself down on an old leather easy chair, "I've been thinking..."

Paul took a sip of his drink, "All right, about what exactly?"

"About the future mostly, about Glenbogle being run by our children..." Archie spoke up quietly as Paul set the drink down on the side table.

"Glenbogle would be run by Wayne or if you have another son..."

"What about Nigel?" Archie quipped, while kneeling down upon the fire place, setting his hand on the fire poker and moving wood over burning coals to keep it going. Paul then sighed, "Well, I never gave much thought about Nigel---this isn't his upbringing and I'd have to discuss with Susan about Nigel's future, I mean..."

"You haven't in the least talked about Nigel running the estate one day to her?" Archie wondered, while Paul sighed, "The whole 'being a MacDonald' has taken her by surprise enough, remember her first reaction when Nigel was dressed up and joining traditions...the last thing I needed to do was say, 'hey honey, you know that estate, well it is Nigel's birthright and so he can't do much with his life, because he's the next laird.' Wouldn't go over too well, now would it? Not where Susan is the mother, she'd have a go at me for sure—start telling me that Nigel has a bright future and should be able to make his own decision and not have it made for him."

"That's true, father did leave me this place--the decision was made for me considering it was meant for Jamie, of course I got here and it was run down and messed up and in my name. Father wanted to be sure if he died it wouldn't be taxed or taken away..." Archie continued to poke at the fire for a few moments as Paul listened in.

"Well, then your children are the next to take on the lairdship, Wayne would be..."

"What if something happens to him?" Archie added as he finally sat down in a chair, glancing at the fire.

Paul then added, "If something was to happen and you and Lex have another girl third time around instead of a boy, than Nigel doesn't have much choice, does he? Archie there's really no point to get worried about it all now. It's what thirty years down the road? Susan and I have been talking about moving Nigel back to the south,"

"Moving south? Why?" Archie perked up, "Susan's job is here now and you've been helpful with the estate, you're running the wildlife centre, you have a job...why leave this place?"

"I was afraid I was getting in your way for awhile here---you have Lexie making decisions with you, Molly doing the same with you, why do you need a third mind involved? I mean there are some situations we didn't discuss, but I wasn't sure if they were major, the problem with Glenbogle forest, even though I was very wrapped up in getting some sort of life together for Susan, oh and Duncan going to NZ..."

"I'm sorry I had my mother decide on that one. I didn't really have much of a choice in the matter of that issue either...otherwise, Duncan wouldn't have left."

"You had me take over some of his duties without really asking me first?"

"I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking straight about that was I? I was afraid that Duncan wouldn't come back and we'd be left in a lurch. Paul, I didn't want Duncan to go off venturing to New Zealand, mother did and so it was her decision on that part."

"Archie, it's all right. That's only one reason for why Susan and I discussed gathering up everything and moving to Yorkshire."

"There's more?"

"Of course there's more, having a home is one, establishing the family..."

"You have a home and a family here. You're welcome to live in the house as long as you like," Archie began as he was trying to now smooth over things with Paul.

"But we want our home,"

"What about the dream of running and owning a prosperous climbing school? What about the wildlife centre? What about having---?"

"I'd love to open up an indoor climbing school for the school groups and tourists, but it's a dream, Archie. Its one thing to teach the children outdoor climbing, but the nice thing about an indoor center is you can teach all year round, the point is...I also don't want to continue to put you or Lexie out. Haven't you ever though about leaving here and starting a life of your own—with just the kids and having other jobs?"

Archie sipped the last of his drink, and added, "I tried the outside life, life aside from Glenbogle and it just proved to me that this is my home and if I don't manage it. Who will? If I don't preserve wildlife, who will know what a wolf is years and years down the road, if I don't live a suitably, and uncorrupt, aside from justified—take care of my community...then there'd be nothing left for the generations to come, no Glenbogle for those live in and father left me with the estate, yes, it's my birthright yes, I didn't have to take it on. I could have had the bank foreclose on it or some Americans take it over, claiming they were the rightful heirs---I went though a 'challenge' to become the actual laird! Even Lexie would tell you how many times I tried to leave this place with my bags packed and I never really did go. The answer to your question is, I had a life before becoming a laird, but my life always will be (and was meant to be) Glenbogle and so in a way, I've fulfilled a dream, maybe not completely my own, but our family's...I miss running a restaurant and city-life of course, but this is my home...."

"That's fine and done, Archie." Paul paused before concluding, "I've been really close to asking Susan to be my wife,"

"What's stopping you?" Archie replied as he looked at Paul.

"Making sure we'll live together all right, making sure Nigel's needs are met first..."

"You meet the needs Paul when you take on responsibility and make team effort. I've been married to Lexie for so long, look at how rocky one minute it's been and great the next..."

"I remember me asking you about how you and Lexie managed to get together," Paul replied with smile, "I think I found the right one to settle with, I'm pretty sure..."

"That's good to know," Archie sat still, "Tell me more about this indoor ascension idea..." Paul smiled again as Archie smiled back...

"Well..." Paul started to really fill in his brother about his dream.

Katrina and Fergal managed to walk to the nurse's station of the Intensive Care Unit in a private hospital at Central London. At first Fergal wasn't sure of where to go, but before he could ask a nurse working at the desk, he heard a familiar voice calling out for him, "Mum,"

"Oh Fergal," The woman about a couple inches shorter than Fergal wrapped her arms around him and gave him a hug. She had just as curly-dark-blondish hair and blue eyes, as Fergal resembled her almost to a perfect tee.

"How is he?"

"Resting comfortably, but he's trying to turn down that transplant as the specialist has one ready to go they just need to prep him for surgery but he's refusing to do it, it's dreadful," Fergal's mother gave a look of first fear, and then despair.

"Well, lemme talk to him," Fergal shrugged, "Kieran's being stubborn,"

"I know,"

Katrina smiled at Fergal's mother and Fergal nodded his head and turned to Katrina, "Lemme check on him, talk to him and then I'll be back."

"Room 308 down that way," Fergal's mother stated and pointed Fergal into the direction of Kieran's hospital room before turning back to Katrina.

"Okay," Fergal nodded his head, gave Katrina a last glance and traveled down the hallway.

"I'm sorry dear, we haven't met," Fergal's mother replied as she extended a hand to Katrina.

"No, not yet, I'm a friend of---,"

"From that estate?"

"Sort of, not really, I met Fergal years ago before he left for New Zealand,"

"You're Katrina," Mavis O'Brady's eyes lit right up as she remembered Fergal talking about Katrina a long time ago.

"Yes, I am," Katrina smiled as Fergal's mother smiled back, "I'm delighted to meet you, and I'm Mavis O'Brady. Mind you independence suits me better so I never took on Maclure as a last name,"

"It's a nice name, O'Brady," Katrina complimented, before suggesting, "You need a cup of tea or something? Is there a place to sit?" Katrina asked as her eyes fell onto the arrows for the nurse's Intensive Care kitchenette for patients' families, as Mavis smiled again, "I'd be happy to journey to the nurse's kitchen around the corner."

"I'd like that," Mavis nodded her head as Katrina replied "I'll be right back."

Within moments Katrina returned with two waxed cups of hot steam wisped tea with tea bag tags on strings hanging off the sides as she met Mavis in the hallway, the two women ventured down towards a sitting room. As Katrina sat down in a high back chair, Mavis sat down on a waiting room couch diagonally from her.

"You look like you need rest," Katrina said as she acknowledged a fatigued Mavis sipping on her tea.

"Been up all night last night and the night before that," Mavis added with a yawn.

"I'm sure with Fergal here, you'll get some,"

"I hope Fergal actually talks Kieran into the surgery and gets better, I'm missing my home, you know. My own bed, my own space, the nurses are nice here, but I don't know how my son manages to move everywhere when I'd much rather stay put. Hard part of being a homebody..." Mavis spoke quietly as Katrina grinned, "Don't worry, I am one homebody too. I'm sure after all of this is over, he won't be moving about as much."

"Oh?" Mavis smiled wearily.

"I hope so." Katrina answered softly, before Fergal appeared at the door, and gestured to Katrina to meet him out in the hall. Katrina set her tea cup down as Mavis gestured her to go too, before resting her eyes...

"How is he?"

"Wants to meet you," Fergal smiled and soothed, as he looked over to his mother curled up and fast asleep on the sofa. "Okay, should we leave her?" Katrina inquired as Fergal smiled again, "She's beat, let her be," Fergal wrapped an arm around Katrina as they walked down the long hall and entered a patient room to the right, "He can slightly breathe on his own, but the specialist wanted to keep him somewhat comfortable and make sure oxygen was getting into his body,"

Kieran was surrounded by hospital 'things', a dialysis machine doing its work and tubes running out of his body, an IV to the left as Kieran inhaled and exhaled oxygen from an airway tube. Katrina was a little bit nervous at first, but Fergal made a point to cart her in towards Kieran's bed. Kieran gave Fergal a weary smile, and then lifted his fingers to sign, 'Hello again big bro...Hubba-hubba---a present how thoughtful...'

"Kieran this is Katrina," Fergal signed back and spoke at the same time so Katrina could understand what they were saying.

"The corkscrew curled beauty, nice breeder's hips, and decent---?"

"Don't you dare make a comment about her you know whats or I'll thump you," Fergal signed with a warning as Kieran finished signaling with another weak smile and joked, "And I meant decent hands and feet, loser. What's she doing with a git like you anyway?" Fergal laughed and signed, "Hey she fancies me..."

"Did you do the deed with her?"

"I'm not telling..." Fergal signed in scold.

"You did. I'm proud of you...well one of us has to be getting some..." Kieran signed back as Katrina glanced at both men as she asked curiously, "What are you both saying?"

"Sorry, he says, you're a very beautiful woman and he's happy to have met you," Fergal replied and didn't sign to Kieran who hand signaled again to Fergal, "Hey, no slandering my good name here,"

Katrina blushed and spoke up, "It's very nice to meet him,"

Fergal communicated back, "She said it's nice to meet a pervert like you,"

"Ask her if she's really sure she wants to have your children, considering where you've been..." Kieran joked as Fergal gave him another wild look, "I'm not asking that and watch it bucko."

"You're marrying her right?"

"Ah look, bubblehead, I didn't come in here to talk to you about my business with her...I want to talk about your health,"

"I don't need health, Fergal, I'm meant to die don't you know?"

"Don't say that," Fergal got annoyed and signaled back and then cleared his throat before talking to Katrina, "He doesn't seem to want to cooperate. He still refuses to listen to me about the surgery,"

"Tell him he should have it done, it's something important to you and your mum and he should be proud to do it," Katrina began as Fergal nodded, "Right, Okay Kieran..."

"You're being pig headed," Fergal signed to Kieran.

"You're a daft moron for up and goin' on us after my last surgery,"

"Better to be daft that completely irresponsible...I left months upon months after your surgery,"

"I am not being irresponsible and I'm doing God's way. I went through two other surgeries, Fergal, I'm tired of having a new kidney because something fails, gets infected, I'm strapped to machines—I've been on them all of my life..."

"It's to keep you alive...living is a good thing, Kieran,"

"I'm not thrilled about living anymore..."

"They have two compatible donors already lined up for you...they'd insert two kidneys this time...a double transplant and fix you up as good as new."

"Great give it to the next needy case," Kieran signed back stubbornly and then stopped hand gesturing as Fergal tried to get him to talk again.

"But you're my brother and what would Mum and I do without you around?" Fergal's face saddened as he hand spoke again "Come on, Kier, you can see my fingers and I know this, don't ignore me, listen to me, I want you safe,"

"So you can journey off again?" Kieran snickered with his fingers, "Leave,"

"No," Fergal hand gestured solidly back in disagreement about leaving the room.

Katrina stood there noticing how upset Kieran made Fergal and vice versa with their facial expressions and hand sways as she asked, "Is everything all right?"

"I'm sorry, Kat, he seems to have a rather large chip on his shoulder, I'm afraid," Fergal glared at Kieran who signed back, "You better not be slandering me..."

"Or what?" Fergal signaled...

Kieran's face softened, "Let her talk to me so I see what she says, I can lip read, yanno! I wanna know what you just told her..."

"No,"

"Why not?"

"We're here because of you—it doesn't matter if she talks to you or not, we both agree you need the transplant because we want you to live,"

"What?"

"You heard me, and I asked her to marry me, yes, I had thoughts about going home and then you stupidly decided you wanted to die and flubbed it all up...sorry, sorry..." as Fergal signed an apology assuming he had upset Kieran more, but instead...

"Did she give you an answer?" Kieran looked hopeful at Fergal.

"Not yet, we were getting to it until I told her I had to visit my mental case of a brother,"

"Don't blame me, does she blame me?"

"For what? Being a cankerous pain in the ase?"

"No Bonnie-foo-foo, for messing up your plans?"

Katrina stood there wondering what Fergal and Kieran were going on about until Fergal turned towards her and chatted everything up,, "He wants to know why you're thinking about marrying me and if you'd go back to Ireland to live once we're married, and more of your thoughts about him having the surgery," Katrina's face grew very pensive as Kieran glanced at her, smiling, and then back to Fergal, who stood there in silence.