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.
Disclaimer: No copy write infringement intended…
Part XII…
Toronto apartment of Rachel Duncan…
Cosima…Beth thought, shaking head, eyeing her phone. It was supposed to be Cosima…The sensible, capable Cos. The practical action, the right person who could best deal with this…With me.
And of course my f-ing heart grabs hold of my brain and I call…
Art…She eyed the entry.
Oh, God. What kind of monster am I?
Why didn't I just push him in front of the train? Or even better suited to my selfish, worthless, grasping, self-righteous, princess bitch nature…Insist he jump with me to prove himself?
My only hope is he believes I'm this Rachel, trying to torment him and he kills me…Or at least hands me over to the Feds.
But, oh God…Please, please answer…Please, please believe me…She eyed the phone.
Nothing…
"Well, in for a penny…In for a pound…" As he said that first day on the job with the most inept rookie in Canada…Probably the world…When we stood outside that jewelry store, wondering if the two jerks inside were armed or no…Were really going to kill their elderly hostages or no…
She grinned suddenly…
"Should I? Well, he's gonna be freaked no matter what…May as well get his attention."
"Help me, Obi Wan Art…You're my last hope." She typed.
Help me, please God…Help me, my best friend…My love.
"I stick my neck out for nobody"? she read the reply. Tears running…
"Sam Spade" she texted.
"Beth. You know I can't accept this. How?" Reply.
"I know." She texted. "Art. I don't know. Fung's? Noon?"
"Fung's." the reply. "I'm telling no one as yet."
"Please be lyin, dipshit. At least tell Cosima." She replied. "At least whre…Where…You're ging."
"You still suck at texting, Childs." Reply.
Well, at least it'll be on me, she thought.
Well, on Rachel. She eyed herself in the mirror.
Do I lose this nightmare or…? She studied the frosted hair.
No, best to get it over with. Give him the full monty right up front.
Fung's. She grinned at her reflection.
Our place…
…
"Arthur…?" Fee frowned as Art finished texting.
"You going to let us all in on the great secret?" he eyed him. As Sarah opened the loft door, Kira and Cal behind her.
"Who told you?" Sarah stared at Fee, having heard the last as she entered.
"Helena's on speaker…" Art replied to general consternation…Holding up phone.
"Sorry, Helena…I had someone else on text." He called as the group stared.
"Oh, is ok. Am I on speaker? Hellos, guys!" cheery call. "I'm in the snows country!"
…..
Sarah, a wee bit peeved that her own great announcement was on hold…Calling… "Helena? What the hell were you thinkin', running off like that?"
Ally frowning…Sarah…
Disturbed seestra needs careful handling…
"Sorry…" the speaker. "I was kidnapped by military guys…Paul…"
"What?" Art called.
I think I'll be ready for that coronary by noon…He thought.
"Paul…" Sarah, face draining. "He kidnapped you for the military?"
"Brits…" Helena's voice. "Oh, Arthur…I am so sorry, I'm pretends to be Beth now on the way home. Telling people Paul is my psycho boyfriend."
"Was that you on text?" he replied.
"What? Text? No…" her voice. "I don't dos text so good."
"Wait…Beth texted you? That was Beth?" Fee eyed Art.
Art putting up hand. "One thing at a time. Helena?" he called. "It's fine about Beth, that's a good idea."
"Thanks, Art." Pleased reply in rather Beth tone. "Just thought it was safer. Though the military guys figured me out a little while back. Sent nice young soldier boy and girl couple to find me."
"Helena. Where are you now?" Art cut in.
"Ummn…On highway, I left the nice couple and took their van. Sarah? Did you know Paul was Brit?"
"Uh…" Sarah frowned…Fee grinning to Ally and Donnie… "Meathead, just tell us where."
"Is that really Helena?" Cosima had come down from the loft.
"Auntie Cosima!" Kira running over. "My dad's marrying me mum!"
"Let me try to find on GPS…" Helena's voice.
"Whoa…Leopard…" Cal sighed, following her to Cos. "You know Mom wanted to say."
"Helena, you know they're probably tracking that thing…" Art called.
"Oh…Sorry." Kira sighed. "Forget I told you…" heavy stage whisper to Cosima who nodded, beaming at Cal.
"That I will…" she whispered back. "Nicely done and about time." She grinned at Cal who sheepishly grinned back.
"I know." Helena's reply. "But I will drop van soon and walk into nearest town. Ah, here. Thompson, Manitoba…Very near, about three miles."
"Thompson, ok." Art called. "Try to stay out of sight. Someone will get there soon as we can."
"Maybe I could take bus?" her voice suggested.
"It's an idea. See what you can find…Carefully. But we'll try to arrange to pick you up if we can, ok?"
"Ok, pardner. No offense, Arthur. Just staying with character."
"Right. But don't use Beth's name or id unless you have to."
"How did you know I had Beth's id?" Helena's puzzled though pleased voice.
"I figured." He called, grin to Fee and Donnie who nodded.
"Great detective, yous." Helena's happy voice. "Sarah! Kira! See you soon and you too, sestras and sestra-brothers!"
"See ya, Helena." Fee called. "Be careful up there. It's suburbia to the nth power. And it's hilarious to think of Brit Paul, thanks for the intel."
"Is so, yes?" eager chuckle. "Sorry Paul is such worthless pig manure, Sarah."
"The Brits and Maggie Thatcher can have him. You be careful, like Fee says." Sarah called.
"Tell Auntie Helena…" Kira tugged at her sleeve.
"What?" Helena's voice.
"Oh…I'm just gettin' married, that's all. You better hang up and get moving, Art's frownin' at me." Sarah called.
All in room staring at her, Cosima trying to look stunned while winking at Kira.
"Married?! Sestra! He best be good or else!"
"He is…Now get moving, Meathead. Come home. We love ya." Sarah's call.
"Do not call me this…I'm police officer." Teasing tone.
…..
"So there's every likelihood Helena's on her way here right now." Mrs. S eyed the image of Colonel Dierden on screen of her laptop as she sat in her kitchen.
"I'm afraid so. Everyone we've sent out since she fled the base has either missed her or wound up bound and gagged. She really has reformed, I guess." Paul, thin smile.
"If anything happens to her, Paul. I mean any 'extreme prejudice' decisions…?"
"She's more valuable than any of us…We'd lose the whole division first." He replied. "And probably would've if she'd been inclined to real vengeance."
"This can't affect our arrangement. I didn't lose Helena."
"It doesn't. I'm just warning you that she's on her way. I'd have a story ready."
"Sarah will figure it out…" sigh.
"Not necessarily. I'm sure she believes I'm the lowest of the low and you can let her put it all on me." He said, quietly. "I'm just about that as it is."
"She'll know I was involved. She's no fool."
"There's nothing but Marion Bowles tying you to this. And it's in both our interests that you stay in Sarah's better graces for now."
"So now I'm on the team? Side chosen for me?" grim stare.
"We don't get to choose, Siobhan." Paul, rather wanly.