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 XVIII…
Oh! Beth blinked as Marion entered the restaurant ladies' room, pulling her gently, but firmly, with fixed look, to a stall.
In, her eyes clearly indicated. Beth nonplused.
Seriously? A text to run to the bathroom and meeting in…A toilet stall? Just where did our relationship run, she nervously pondered? Still…
"Sorry to have to do this in here. No way to be sure who's watching or tell how much time we may have, Rachel." Marion noted as they stood. "You know Ferdinand is prepared to take any steps to protect LEDA, including a larger-scale Helsinki. Hell, there have been hints that some want the whole project scrapped, globally."
"Scrapped…?" Beth stared.
As in…
"Fortunately that would be too dangerous and large-scale…But one can't rule it out and if Topside members will even consider that…" Marion eyed her. "Toronto cleansing would be a minor matter. Just how far did you go with Officer Bell?"
"Ummn…How far…?" Beth blinked.
Oh, lady…If he'd just called me back and come over that night…Even knowing it could have gotten him killed, I couldn't have…
"We just talked…" she hurriedly noted to Marion's grim stare. "I offered a truce of sorts, including what information I could offer, which he said he'd consider with the others."
"You didn't tell him too much about Ferdinand…Helsinki? Rachel?"
"No, just that Ferdinand was very dangerous…With extreme prejudice." Beth nodded.
"What about Aldous?" intense stare. "You obviously warned him, he couldn't have survived otherwise."
"Survived? Dr. Leekie?" stare back.
Marion grabbed her. "Listen, Duncan. My life and the lives of people I treasure are on the line here. I could have chosen to support Leekie and I almost did, except for the fact that you are Topside's poster girl. If you're going to start playing your own insane game here, understand I won't sit and wait for events. I'll protect myself and mine. As will your sisters…"
"I understand. No, I don't know if Dr…If Aldous survived, Marion…And anything I do, is only to see the clones don't view me as a threat now."
"This had better be true, Rachel." Grim look, tight grip. "Because if the shit hits the fan, Ferdinandwise…" Eyeing her carefully.
"You did warn Leekie." Matter-of-fact tone.
"Even if I did…" Beth struggled for an arch tone in reply. "I've no idea if he managed to get away."
"No body, no trace…Even Ferdinand can't find him…He's alive. If you are in contact, don't let him lead you to foolishness."
"I look out for my own interests. You ought to know that…" feigned calm.
At least being in here makes it more plausible that I might have trouble doing so, she thought.
"All right, I'll take your word for it. But from now, if you don't want me to list you as an expendable liability to Ferdinand, you'll heed my advice. And to start, that is, back off from Detective Bell and company." Marion insisted, harsh whisper.
There's real concern, Beth thought, eyeing the tense face. She really does have someone involved here she cares about. A boyfriend? Someone at Topside, maybe?
She sure don't look the concerned lover type but God knows in this merry mix-up…
Maybe she's fond…And then some…Of Sarah? She did help her. God knows I know how we can lead even tough-minded types to destruction.
"I'll do what you want, much as I can…I've made my point to them. I just wanted them to know I wouldn't be coming after them…That I'm ready to deal, to protect myself." Beth noted, coolly as she could manage.
"If they contact you, let me know at once." Marion, calmer now. "We can't have another incident as with Manning upsetting the boat here."
"Naturally…But that's why I can be useful here. Persuading the others to act rationally and not try to go on some crusade against Dyad."
Marion, cold stare… "I'd like to believe that…But you've let your emotions run away with you before."
"I've no intention of risking my life for some petty revenge on Ms. Manning, Marion." Firm stare back.
"All right…" Marion nodded. "But from now on, any contact with the others goes through me. I'll try to let them know you're only concerned with self-preservation. They might believe that, if you keep away."
"Of course." Frosty nod.
"Now don't you think it would be best for us to return to our table?" Marion noted.
"I do. But, first…" Beth eyed the stall.
"I'll see you there." Marion nodded and went out…
God…Beth stared after her…
A CEO with a fancy college degree and she doesn't wash her hands, even if she didn't use the toilet?
She got into the stall, trembling a bit…Adjusting clothes and taking seat…Really did have to go after all that…
This is getting pretty deep. And, no contacting Art? What the hell am I living for, then?
To keep him and the others safe, natch…She sighed.
But one day…There's gotta be hope, that one day…I can't live without that. That hope that I can be Beth again, have my life back…And try, at least try, to make it up to Art.
Well, I am better…She gave a wan smile.
I wonder…She pondered. Could Rachel have wanted this, to escape…Rachel and her icy bitch life? Could we be like that character in "Summersby", a better man created by two identical weak men working together?
Though we're hardly working "together". We're not even on speaking terms, so far as I know…Rachel? You in here? She called, mentally.
Well, best to get outta here. Finish the hyperexpensive spoonful from Hell and get…Home…To the fortress of iceitude. And maybe a decent burger and salad.
I really gotta buy some curtains and a few paintings to brighten that place up. It's even colder than Paul's condo.
Speaking of that treacherous bastard ex-lover of mine, I wonder how he's doin'? A double spy, workin' for the other half of the team, nice. Nice to know I wasn't the only chump there, that is. She rose, looking about her.
What, no groveling flunky to wipe my ass? She grinned, adjusting clothes, then stepping out and looking in the large mirror, pulling purse to check for makeup, applying.
Beth Childs…You are starting to enjoy this, aren't you? Fighting back and screwing the bastards back suits us, smile.
God…I'm so proud of them, my sisters. And especially, Ally. To think I was worried about her going to pieces. You showed me, girl, grin to mirror. And I'm so happy about Donnie not letting you down, I know what you feared, believe you me…How much you loved that sweet doofus. Of all of us, you are so lucky, my sweet sister Ally. And I won't let anyone hurt or threaten you and Donnie and the kids again. And Cos, my strong, whacked out Cos. And my crack shot sis, Sarah and this sweet niece I'd so like to meet… And, well, if they vouch for her, ok…My crazy, tormented Helena. Yeah…Beth is back. I'm back and I'm here to protect you, even if you don't believe it, sisters. And all I ask in return is that you protect my heart…My Art. And in return… She pulled herself up straight, patting hair, eyeing herself.
Yes, Rachel Duncan, uber-bitch. Spy. Perhaps forever-unrequited lover of a certain far-too-noble Toronto detective. Secret protector of her sisters, dedicated to bringing Dyad and Topside and the governmental bastards who spawned them, down. That's me.
Of course "perhaps" means nothing's set in stone…Loverwise. She beamed at the mirror and went out.
Marion, clearly just a tad anxious, waiting for her. "Everything all right?"
"A bit more difficult getting myself together without depth perception but yes." Beth nodded calmly, retaking her seat, eyeing the dots on her plate.
No doubt the whatever it is is cold now.
"So what time should I expect my visit?" she eyed Marion with a thin smile. Marion giving a brittle, frosty smile back.
"I'd guess about 3 am. Best to take your own preferred pills. I assure you they'll be quick and non-invasive."
"Just as long as they're careful and thorough. And don't make off with anything. I'm sure you and Ferdinand will be relieved to know I'm neither Sarah nor Alison…Nor Helena." Smile.
"Naturally my money's on you, dear." Marion nodded, cool smile.
…
"So sestra and her husband are here for me, Felix? That is so kind." Helena told the phone. "Are babies ok? You have someone watching? Good. Cause there's all kinda weirdos down there in greater Toronto, Art and I see it all the time, bro." she carefully switched to a Beth-accent as two people in parkas walked past her phone kiosk. "But I'll be glad to get home. Is Kira ok? Good. Tell her, if Sarah says ok, that Auntie loves her and can't wait to see her again. And how's my partner? What is little…What little trouble? Felix?" stern tone. "You can't keep things from detective like me." she gripped the phone. "Has Art been hurt? Who hurt him? Felix? Has Rachel hurt my Art?" grim tone.
"He what?" she twisted around, scanning the immediate area. Blanching as she listened "Oh, no…Is he ok? What did doctor…The docs…Say?"
"Felix…I is…I'm his partner. I need to know." Firm tone. "Ok, he is doing well. But how could such thing…Such a thing…Happen?" she regarded one woman closing on her, offering vague smile as the woman passed.
"Rachel what?" grimly. "Met with him, where? Fung's? What the hell is Fung's?"
"Hey, I think I see her…" Donnie hissed to Ally as they walked through the mall offered as one of several rendezvous points to Helena in her last call.
"Don't wave to her…" Ally grabbed at his arm as he began…
"Beth! Hey, Beth Childs!" he called.
"Ok, but it's not good to attract attention in any case…" Ally whispered nervously. "We'll all end up in black bags."
"Alison! Donald!" Helena was waving now. "Is me…Bethie Childs!" she called to them. "I'm on the horn with Felix, just mo."
"Helena…" gasp. Narrow look.
"Ally? What's the matter?" Donnie stared at her.
"What, Donnie?" she looked at him. "Go get her before she has Paul and his army on us!" she urged.
Hendrix? She stared after him…As he hurried down to a beaming Helena who embraced him, he accepting without hesitation.
What the devil is that blob doing with the freak from Hell?…Wherever in hell this place is?
Behind her, a dark-haired, heavyset, middle-aged woman, in parka and slack, was hissing into her cell phone. "Target acquired. Repeat, target acquired. Possible collaterals…I think it must be the Hendrixes. All units standing by, Colonel."
…..