The Beginning of Forever
(Volume #5 in The Dillingham Chronicles)
by aubreysmom
Rating: PG/PG-13
Disclaimer: I have a lot of author-created characters in this one, so let's just list the ones that aren't: Myles Leland, Jack Hudson, Sue Thomas, Tara Williams, Dimitrius Gans, Bobby Manning, Lucy Dotson, Ted Garrett and Howie Fines are the property of Paxson Entertainment and Pebblehut Productions; Sam Leland is the brainchild of RivenRebelPoet, and I thank you for the loan of him.
Author's Note: For those new to this series, I need to clarify something. This series does follow the show, but only as far as "Cold Case," from Season 2. I realize we've learned a great deal more about Myles' family life on the show since then, and none of it parallels the universe I've created here. I have used the mention of Myles' brothers from "The Fugitive," which someone in the continuity department seems to have forgotten about as the show has gone on. But this series began before we learned about Anne and the less-than-stellar relationship Myles has with his parents, so let's just call this an "ideal universe."
We're also going to pull in a few details from "Christmas at the Cape," although I realize Sam wasn't in that one. Hopefully we'll come up with an explanation.
Acknowledgements: Most profound thanks to my betas, in particular this time Ducky, for her help with both the ASL glossing and the deaf culture info. Also Nel for keeping my characters in line. And my muse, "Paul," who translates from the Great Dictation-Giver. Thanks, guys!
Time frame: Begins two weeks after the ending of A Ring of Roses
Chapter 1: We Gather TogetherLeland Residence, Columbia Heights
Thursday, November 25 (Thanksgiving Day)
7 a.m.
"Anyone awake yet?" Elizabeth pulled the door from the garage closed with her foot, since she was trying to balance a double-tiered pie carrier in each hand.
"I'm in the kitchen, sweetheart."
"Is the alarm off? I might be able to work the keypad with my elbow."
Myles' deep laugh reached her from the other room. "It's off. Do you need some help?"
She walked into the kitchen and set the carriers on the counter. "Not anymore. I just wanted to make sure these got in here in one piece." She surveyed him for a moment as he returned to the chore at hand, a fond smile playing across her face and her green eyes.
7 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning, and he was already in a shirt and tie, although they were well-covered by a navy blue pin-striped apron. His shirtsleeves were rolled up to his elbows as he deftly chopped an assortment of celery, onions and mushrooms. He scraped them off the cutting board into a nearby bowl with a flourish, and then placed the board in the dishwasher.
Elizabeth couldn't resist. "Okay, now I know you've pledged to Public Television at least once in your life."
Myles looked up at her and raised a brow. "Oh really?" He smiled at her. "And how did you come up with that deduction?"
"Elementary, my dear Leland," she replied, matching his expression. "That apron looks exactly like the one Jeff Smith wore, and you've obviously seen more than one episode of The Frugal Gourmet, from the move I just witnessed. Ergo, you pledged once when the 'pledge prize' was one of those aprons."
Myles laughed. He then wiped his hands on a nearby towel and came around the kitchen island to catch her on his arms. "Very good, Dr. Dillingham. There's just one minor flaw in your logic."
"And what would that be?"
"I have pledged my support to that most worthy cause, and I have seen the show, but the apron came from Bobby. His mom sent it to him, since she assumed he'd actually learned to cook when he got his first apartment. She should have known better. It was one of his 'gag gifts' during an office Christmas swap, but I actually use it quite often." He stroked her cheek. "I do love it when you go all 'detective' on me, though."
Elizabeth laughed merrily. "Uh-huh. Sure. I think you've just gone completely blind ever since I accepted your ring two weeks ago."
"You could be right." He drew her into a lingering kiss, enjoying the moment alone before…
"All right, you two. Sheesh, it's not even eight o'clock yet." Sam Leland wandered into the kitchen, scarcely awake, in bare feet, sweats and a Dashboard Confessional T-shirt. "Can't a guy even get a cup of coffee before he has to watch the romantic-antics?"
"You'd better make that a fast cup of coffee, soon-to-be-brother-in-law," Elizabeth quipped. "Tara said she was coming over to have breakfast this morning and help us set up. She'll be here in fifteen minutes."
Sam shrugged. "Yeah, I know. She's seen me half-awake before." He made a show of pouring himself a cup of coffee.
Myles couldn't pass up the opportunity. "Oh, really, little brother? And just how often has she seen you half-awake?"
"Just because you're five minutes older, twin..." Sam grinned, shaking a finger at him. "And isn't the Leland motto 'Never kiss and tell'? Although, with you two, there's nothing to tell, because you're always lip-locked anyway."
Elizabeth laughed again and walked over to give Sam a big hug. "It's definitely been too long since your last visit. It gets far too quiet around here."
"I beg your pardon?" Myles did his best to sound insulted, but it just didn't take. "I would hardly call the last thirteen months 'quiet'."
Her eyes darkened for a fleeting second, but her smile never dimmed. "That's not what I meant, love," she said fondly. "But you have to admit, not much has compared to that double-date that ended in a popcorn war over the Black Knight's domain."
"True." But he'd caught the look in her eye, and he noticed Sam had as well. His twin motioned upstairs with his eyes, and Myles nodded just slightly.
Sam gave Liz another quick squeeze around the shoulders. "Well, soon-to-be-sis-in-law, I think I'll go grab a shower before Lady MarioKart shows up. Back in a flash."
As Sam went upstairs, Myles stepped over to her and pulled her into his arms again. "You okay?" he asked, tangling his fingers in her dark hair.
Elizabeth sighed. "Was it that obvious this time?"
"Just in your eyes, but Sam picked up on it, too." He kissed her softly. "It's all right. It'll all go away someday. Evan Graham wasn't the only crisis we've faced, just the worst."
"I know, but he's bringing all the rest of it along with him. Last night, I dreamed about that awful day in the hospital, when I thought for sure I was going to lose you to that damn virus." Her arms tightened around his waist.
Myles stroked her cheeks once more, letting his eyes push the thought through to her soul. "Then I guess we have a great deal to be thankful for this year, don't we?"
Elizabeth stared at him for a long moment; then he saw the smile flood back into her eyes and across her delicate features. "You know what? You are absolutely right. We do. I think we'd best get breakfast started before Tara gets here. And I have to finish unloading my car."
"Can you believe it's almost Christmas again?" Tara refilled her coffee and came back to the table. "What a year."
"Amen to that," Elizabeth countered with a smile. "But it only gets better from here. Early New Year's resolution. I've got too much coming up in the next six months or so for anything bad to happen. So you all had best just put out the word to the bad guys."
"Yeg-zactly," Sam piped in, reaching for another cinnamon roll, Tara's contribution to breakfast. "And I was gonna surprise you later, Lady MarioKart, but I think this oughta put the villains on alert, too. I'm looking to buy a place of my own down here in short order."
Tara's eyes lit up, but they were no match for the expression on Myles' face. "Are you serious?"
"Yup. As much as I love the place on the Cape, it's too full of too many years of hiding." He grew sober for just a moment, turning his coffee mug around absently. "Too quiet. I need someplace with a bit more action going on, where not as many people know the whole sordid story— or think they do."
Elizabeth smiled. "That's great, Sam. Don't know if the Capitol will ever be the same, but I think we could use a bit of a shake-up."
Sam grinned at her. "Well, that's good, because I was wondering if maybe you were starting to think about selling your place in the near future. Since you two are getting married before too long, I assume. Or are you gonna wait until after…uh…" He trailed off, a bit hesitant to continue.
This time there was no flash of darkness in the green eyes; instead, a light of fire. Elizabeth glanced over at Myles. "We haven't actually set a date yet; haven't really talked about it. But I don't want to wait until after Graham's execution. I don't want him messing with our lives any more." She looked back at Sam. "If you really are interested in the house, we can talk about it later."
"Sounds good to me," Myles replied, catching her hand. "I'd much rather fill that time frame with celebration."
The psychologist suddenly bit back a groan. "Oh, I almost forgot. 'Celebration' around the holidays, for me at least, includes several rather 'posh' society gatherings. The women's shelter I volunteer at is always in need of donations, and this is my chance to do a little 'schmoozing' for them." She gave Myles a rather pitying look. "You may want to pray for a crime spree, because I'll surely be asked where my handsome fiancé is if you don't show up with me."
Tara giggled. "Myles? Pass up the opportunity for a little schmoozing? Never." She ducked the linen napkin he threw at her.
"Hey, that reminds me," Sam added before his twin could retort. "Maggie still throw her shindig every year?"
Myles nodded, his demeanor suddenly going rather stiff. Sam ignored it, but the two ladies exchanged a confused look.
"Our grandmother, on Mom's side," Sam explained. "Margaret Effingham. Talk about high-society, highbrow dragon-lady. Her Christmas bash at their townhouse here in D.C. always starts the 'season' and leaves all the other socialites scrambling to keep up with her for the rest of the month. I used to read about it in the society column in the Boston Globe; that's how big this thing is."
"You never went?" Tara asked.
Sam shook his head, leaning back in his chair. "Uh, no. You see, when I got home again after those two years with Matthews, the rest of the family didn't really know what to do with me. Though heaven knows a few of them certainly tried." He gave his brother a fond look. "But Grand Maggie? Not a chance."
Myles nodded at that. "Grandmother Margaret was among those who just acted as though Sam had never existed." He sighed heavily and looked at Elizabeth. "I was going to ask you earlier, but it's not really an event I look forward to. Although I'm certainly expected to show up, barring an imminent terrorist threat. It's this Saturday evening, if you have no other plans." The look in the blue-grey eyes made her think he wished she did have plans, and perhaps he could join her.
She laid a hand on his arm. "I would love to go with you, Myles. I know that no one has a perfect family; as much as I love your parents, there had to be at least one truly highbrow relative in there somewhere." She flashed a rueful grin at Tara. "Unfortunately, I got the other set-up; very few aren't stuck-up in my family. Which reminds me; you all are finally going to get to meet my sister, Connie. She's coming for dinner today. Unfortunately, she has an account she needs to take care of first thing tomorrow, so she has to go back tonight. But at least she'll be here… she's the only other 'normal' person in my family. Everybody else is about as highbrow as they come."
Sam chuckled. "Liz, trust me, you ain't met highbrow until you've met the Grand Maggie. Hey Myles, she still insist on you—"
He broke off abruptly as Myles hit him with a positively killing glare. "Ah," he said quietly, though he was still grinning. "That would answer that question. Sorry, ladies," he said in response to the pair of questioning looks he was getting, "that particular secret is revealed only by my twin. I'm not that obnoxious."
Both women took one look at the Harvard grad and decided the interrogation could wait— indefinitely, if necessary. Tara drained her coffee cup and stood up. "Well, then let's get going. We've only got about four hours before the gang lands here, and I'd like it if we all had a chance to relax by then."
The relief on Myles' face was apparent. Elizabeth smiled and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "It's all right, love," she murmured. "You can tell me when you're ready."
12 noon
The table was set, the turkey was sending positively divine aromas through the house, and Tara collapsed next to Sam on the sofa. "I swear, I'm not moving for the rest of the day. Somebody else can be on the cleanup crew."
Myles laughed at her as he brought over mugs of mulled cider for them. "You spend entirely too much time sitting at your computer if this wore you out."
She stuck her tongue out at him. "And you've had way too much energy since you found out your cholesterol wasn't ready to self-destruct. Which reminds me— we do have stuff available that Bobby won't keel over from, right?"
Elizabeth brought over a tray of appetizers and set them on the coffee table. "Yes; nobody else will notice it, but almost everything we planned for dinner is covered. I made it a point to find recipes, and pre-test them, that wouldn't leave him feeling left out. As long as he doesn't opt for third helpings of everything, he should be fine."
Sam grabbed a cracker and held it up for Glorfindel, who was perched on Tara's shoulder between them. The slender cat gingerly licked at the smoked salmon once, then proceeded to make short work of the rest of it.
"I'm glad someone appreciates the finer things in life," Myles commented dryly as he sat down in an armchair. "I just hope he gets along with Levi all right."
Just then, the doorbell rang. Myles got up and walked over to answer it. "Good afternoon, Miss Thomas," he said, the formal tone seeming strange as he also signed HELLO in the process. Her brows went up in surprise, but she smiled all the same.
"Hi, Myles. I hope we're not too early. Levi was getting a little restless."
"Not at all," he replied. He signed WELCOME to her as she stepped inside, then placed his right hand on his chest, his fingers together, and brushed it upward a couple of times. He then made a THANK YOU sign with both hands, followed by both hands starting palms down, then turning them upward and moving them toward her slightly.
Sue's eyes were now the size of quarters, but her smile held a trace of amusement as well. She signed THANK YOU, then returned HAPPY. The second sign, however, was different than he'd done. She made a "1" handshape, then touched her index finger to her chin and bounced it downward twice, ending at her chest.
The look of puzzlement he gave her was priceless; then he realized they'd had an audience for the exchange.
Elizabeth was laughing softly as she walked over to him and put her arm around his waist. "I told you that book wasn't accurate. There are too many SEE signs in it."
"Oh," he replied, then turned back to Sue. "I'm sorry, Sue, I—"
She waved a hand at him. "It's okay, Myles. I recognize the Signed Exact English sign for it; I just replied in ASL, that's all. But thank you for the effort; it means a lot." She showed him the correct sign again, which he copied, then smiled as he took her coat, and turned to give Elizabeth a hug. "You're wearing off on him, I see."
The psychologist laughed again. "To tell you the absolute truth," she said, signing as she spoke, "I hadn't even realized he was doing a little research on his own until I found the library book in the study. I'll get him a better dictionary."
"All right, you two," Myles countered as they walked over to the living area. "I have to admit, though; things might have turned out very differently a few months ago if it hadn't been for the limited ASL I do know, and Jack knows. It rather hit home at that point, the distinct advantage of being able to communicate silently, more than 'take your unit that way.' If I had a stable schedule, I might even take a class, but I don't see that happening right away."
The look on Sue's face made Tara smile broadly. "Never thought you'd hear those words coming out of that mouth, did you, Sue?" she quipped brightly as she rescued the appetizers from Levi. "Maybe they'll offer ASL at Quantico someday."
A bit of a frown crossed Sue's face, and Sam shook his head. "Listen to you two, discussing a language, and a gorgeous one at that, as a tactic."
Myles blinked. "Sue, I didn't mean it like that, honestly. I just…that was what finally made the difference, I guess. That, and what you went through on that surveillance… I…"
He trailed off, not sure if he was apologizing or making things worse, and sighed. "Call it perhaps making up for what, at least on my part, feels like a lifetime of completely unfair behavior."
Sue was quiet for a moment, looking at her colleague with a mix of surprise and gratitude; then she spoke, her voice a bit shaky. "Myles, it's okay. No apology is necessary, as much as it's appreciated. I've faced worse than you in the past, believe it or not." Now she smiled. "Just not on a daily basis for two years."
He started to say something again, but she stopped him. "I'm just teasing you now." Then she turned to the rest of the group. "As far as an ASL course at Quantico… I imagine it would take awhile to implement. And it would have to be pretty specialized. Four months really isn't all that long, even for an intensive class."
Now the smile faded slightly, as she took a sip of the cider Elizabeth had brought her. "Unfortunately, a single unit realizing an advantage to it won't likely affect the entire Bureau. It could be done; but convincing the Bureau, along with the vast majority of agents that would have to go back and take it, not to mention every new recruit…" She sighed and glanced at Myles again. "I think I'd rather face those first two years again."
"Well," Tara said, "maybe we'll just have to work on it over the long term. Sounds like a worthy goal. I am sorry if it sounded like I was discussing it as a tactic, though." The doorbell rang. "Sounds like the rest of the troops are arriving."
Elizabeth gasped. "Oh! I'm supposed to pick up Connie at the train station at one! I'd better scoot." She grabbed her coat and gave Myles a quick kiss. "I'll be back before you know it, love."
