Orphans Beloved: "Beth Rhymes With Death…"

Summary: Like my Immortal Beloved and Sheldon Swifties bits in my Buffyverse and Sheldonverse, these are fragments and short bits, some longer…Just to fiddle with ideas, possibly forming longer tales later.

(Note-We'll see how this goes. Art gets an unexpected visit, creating unexpected complications.)

Disclaimer: No copy write infringement intended…

Part VI…

Next morning…

Nealon's office, Dyad Institute's Human Medicine Center…

"There's someone waiting in your office, Doctor." Nealon's secretary, a young dark-haired woman of about twenty-seven notes, adding, with efficient tone… "Don't forget you have your lecture on 'Bioethics and the Future of Gene Therapy' at eleven."

"Thank you, Martha." Nealon, nodding…Opening door… "My guest was expected, though not confirmed…Hold all calls, please." He went in, shutting.

The secretary eyeing the closed door, slight frown.

"Ferdinand…" Nealon addressed the figure in overcoat standing in his office, looking out the wide window.

"Doctor…" Ferdinand turning, beaming smile.

"Please, have a seat…Can I take your coat?"

"No need…" Ferdinand sat in a chair by Nealon's desk. "I have only a few moments before I go to see Ms. Duncan with Marion Bowles. I'm afraid the news won't be as pleasant as I could wish, given her condition."

"The board has ruled in Marion's favor?" Nealon eyed him as he in turn took his seat behind his desk.

"Indeed it has…Regrettable, but they had no choice. Rachel went just a bit too far with Miss Manning and her daughter. Marion handled things well, but it had potential for real trouble." Sigh, regretful look. "Much as we hate to lose Rachel in her current position, it's clear she's just too deeply invested in the Leda Project."

"Leaving Delphine Cormier in the big chair, unattended?" Nealon eyed him, leaning back.

"Dr. Cormier is certainly qualified and holds a unique position in regards to several of our most cherished subjects." Ferdinand shrugged. "Naturally someone will have to step in as CEO and liaison to Topside. Marion, the obvious choice, if she agrees to make the switch."

"It's a step down for her, in some ways." Nealon, cautiously.

"Yes. A pity Aldous Leekie chose to step away from the plate…"

"Should I answer that? Or…?" Nealon smiled.

"This is a privileged conversation, Doctor. While we must respect Aldous' privacy, we're free to discuss the true situation."

"I wouldn't have thought I had the clearance." Nealon eyed him.

"But you did know via Ms. Duncan…"

"Of course…" Nealon nodded.

"She's always had great faith in you, Doctor. I think she was grooming you to be director after Dr. Leekie. It's unfortunate that she and the board felt they had to compromise on a different candidate, more amenable to the subjects."

"I'm happy to remain in my current position, doing the science directly. I'd never be happy behind a desk all the time."

"You've always been a devoted team player, Doctor." Warm smile. "Which is why we wanted to handle this as gently as possible."

Nealon…Blinking…

"You understand something has to be done in the matter of Sarah Manning's kidnapping and mistreatment…A very serious situation was created and real trouble barely averted." Ferdinand eyed Nealon…

"Everything done…" Nealon began…Nervously.

"Was under Ms. Duncan's order, yes…" Nod. "But the fact remains, Dr. Nealon…" Ferdinand, hard stare. "You participated in three kidnappings and threatened to mutilate Ms. Manning…Were involved in unauthorized human experimentation on Ms. Niehaus, one of our own employees. I realize she was a volunteer for such radical therapy but Doctor…?" shake of head. "Not even a review by our human studies committee?"

"Dr. Leekie and Ms. Duncan…"

"Dr. Leekie isn't here and remains unavailable… Ms. Duncan is being removed from her position and may even face charges, though lets hope it doesn't come to that. You were put in charge of the study with Cosima. And you allowed a little girl to be used in the therapy, Ms. Manning's daughter." He put up a hand. "I realize there, too, you had Ms. Manning's technical consent but, Doctor. The girl was under extreme duress…There's even security footage of you and other team members behaving toward her in a manner I can only call…Disturbing." Narrow stare.

"I followed my instructions…"

"With an enthusiasm some on the outside might call…Excessive, Doctor." Ferdinand rose. "I am sorry. Your resignation is required, at once…There will be generous compensation, of course."

"But…" Nealon, desperately. "I'm still working with Ms. Duncan…She's still a valuable asset as am I."

"Yes." Careful nod. "Ms. Duncan is still very valuable…Even, priceless…" smile. "But, you…Doctor…Are more liability than value."

"I'll resign…Of course." Nealon nodded. Pausing… "Will I need to…?"

"No…You won't face charges…" Ferdinand put up a hand. "I can assure you of that."

"Charges?…" Nealon stared. "Well, no…I actually meant…"

"No…No need for you to disappear." Smile. "We'd prefer you remain visible. We want Miss Manning and the others to know you've been removed from your position." Shrug. "I know this seems very unfair but with your credentials, you're still quite sure to be capable of a very distinguished career in your field."

"Yes…Well…" Nealon, calming.

"Which is why…For the sake of the greater good…And your own family, whom I presume you want kept safe from any possible threat or scandal…The board feels you'll do the right thing without recourse to other measures." Ferdinand smiled. "As do I…" He pulled a small vial from his overcoat side pocket.

"A note of course will be required. Something to the effect that your scientific enthusiasm exceeded your sense of morality, until you realized what you'd done was beyond the pale." Ferdinand noted, quietly. "Naturally, it won't be made public in full unless Miss Manning requires it. I'm hoping I can persuade her it's in everyone's best interests to let the matter drop and simply 'reset' our relationship with her back to the promising one which you and Ms. Duncan unfortunately failed to maintain. I would take it just after a meal." He put the vial on Nealon's desk. "I assure you, it's painless."

He turned to go…Nealon, desperately. "Couldn't I just…Please?" His visitor, pausing…

"No. I'm sorry. That won't do." Ferdinand noted quietly. "That's a benefit reserved only for senior staff…And the board does feel your past services, while meriting this, do not warrant such an effort. Goodbye, Dr. Nealon. I'll see your subject is properly transferred." He went out the door.

"Miss?" he paused by the secretary's desk. "I'm afraid Dr. Nealon's being transferred. Would you care to consider working with me in the future? He's given you a very high recommendation." Smile.

She blinked at him…

"And of course, our relationship would include the unique one he had with you…" Ferdinand noted. "You being self-aware so long, I would keep my monitoring duties to the minimum possible."

…..

Beth in bed eyed the closet where the, hopefully, former, owner's clothes hung…

The nurse had said I could get dressed today if I wished. And while they're surely monitoring any calls I might make from here, I could find a phone while I check the place out for a chance to get out. I can decide if I should just wait and let them release me once I got the lay of the land…And if I could get hold of Art…

God, what do I tell him? "Hi, I'm back!"?

Of course I think he'd be pleased…Smile…But the coronary would probably kill him or the lunatic asylum would kill me.

Well, maybe he'd believe this bitch Duncan suddenly became contrite and conceived a passion for him.

Grin at herself…Right…

Still, the contrite is barely possible…She is a sister and how awful could she be?

Awful enough for Sarah to shoot her eye out, that's how awful. Sigh.

Well, better hard to believe than insane…

And the passion at least would be sincere… She rose and made her way to the closet.

"Ms. Duncan?" her nurse had entered suddenly. "Can we help you?"

"I'd like to dress, I was told…" Beth began, trying to take a stern tone.

"Of course, but Ms. Bowles is here to see you."

Ah…Great…She sighed, peering out the small side window of her room's door to see Marion Bowles in the hallway, a tall and handsome, if a bit frail-looking fortyish young man next to her.

God, don't tell me that's my watcher/boyfriend or something?