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 XIX…
Rachel Duncan's Toronto apartment…
"I love you, Daddy…" the child on TV monitor beamed as she rolled in the leaves on the ground.
Hmmn…Beth eyed the image.
"You look normal enough, kiddo. What the damned hell turned you into someone who could have your own sisters killed?" she addressed the now-chattering girl fondly held by her "father"?"
"Ok, to be fair…" she grinned. "When I first found out about us…"
"And you no doubt…" she looked around at the rather terrifyingly pristine apartment… "Can't tolerate the idea of another you, maybe one who can do things you can't? Like feel, maybe?"
Speakin' of which…She gingerly felt her eye patch. Time for a pain pill, I'd say. Though, given a whole medical team is soon to descend upon me…
"Geesh, all they damned well need is a blood sample…I coulda just gone to a clinic, had a blood draw..."
Oh, well…Maybe I'll recognize the fellas on the team from my own last time. She grinned at her reflected image in the screen.
"So this is Ethan Duncan, our creator…" she eyed the image of young Dr. Duncan happily leading Rachel to her mother. "And his co-creator…" she moved closer to gaze at young Susan Duncan. "Were you guys even really married? Was it all fake? Maybe that drove Rachel to, well…Rachel?"
And yet…
No, not a hint of recognition…I honestly do not know these people, she thought.
Which begs the question…
Where is Rachel Duncan, if not in here? Sigh…
And I hafta know…Damn right. Stern look at reflection.
I can't risk the chance she'll pop out and resume driving. Runnin' over my Art on her way to do in the guys. She pondered.
Hmmn…What about some kinda therapy? That shrink of mine used to do regressive hypno therapy on witnesses to get evidence, buried memories, and such. She said it was good with trauma victims. If Rachel is in here, or if I'm her, just nuts…Maybe a lil' time on the couch…?
And I sure as hell qualify for a trauma victim…Wry smile.
But she'd never, not for non-police…Though, maybe…If Art helped me…?
Damnit, is this just an excuse to see my hon again, Beth?
Damn right…She sheepishly grinned at herself on the screen, the video now gone black.
But I won't be a risk to him or the guys. I do hafta know, for his sake and the girls'… She frowned at herself.
Where the damned hell is that bitch, Rachel?
…
Thompson, small mall of the airport…
"Hey, bro-in-law guy…How is it hanging?" Helena, in newly purchased brown wig barely showing under fur hood, valiantly trying to stay in Beth mode, beamed at Donnie. Hugging him as he came to her.
Alison frowning as she now hurried down to her, shaking her head, a bit puzzled by her momentary blank-out.
Damn it, don't tell me the pills are having a long term effect? Well, secret doctor's appointment Monday…I don't want to keep things secret, but I don't want to worry Donnie or the others. Maybe I'll get Delphine to have them look me over at Dyad?
Delphine…Grim look coming over her face…
That bitch…Hand rising to cheek as if to feel…
"Alison, my sestra…Sister…How is you doin', girlfriend?" Helena, with Donnie in tow.
"Hel…Beth…" Ally corrected. "Good to see you." She nodded. "Come on, we ought to get out of here."
"Back to da ole stompin' grounds to nail the perps." Helena nodded. Genuine concern… "How is Arthur anyway. Felix tells me about his attack?" Grim frown. "I understand Rachel was involved…?"
"He's ok…Fine." Donnie, hastily. "And so far as we know, Rachel didn't…" he stared at Alison who was eyeing them, clear trepidation in her look at Helena.
"Ally?"
"What?" she blinked at him. "Come on, we should get back and get our tickets moved to the first flight out before the Castor people find out about us. Hele…Beth…Lets go."
"Right on ya, sestra." Helena nodded firmly.
Oh…She gave worried look as she and Donnie followed Alison…
"What about Mom and Dad?..." she addressed Donnie. "Elisabeth's, I mean…" she hissed.
"One thing at a time…The best way…" Donnie noted back in whisper. "I don't know if they're even alive. But if they are, we'll try to keep it from them if we possibly can…"
"You are wise well as kind, Donalds." Fond smile. "Still. They might be grateful to have daughter back…" Helena noted, carefully looking round. "Sis and Art could teach me better Beth. We could make the explanation…Another coroners' mixup?" wistful smile.
"We'll talk it over…" he nodded, kindly.
The middle-aged woman who'd reported on them following at a circumspect distance.
"Judas Priest…!" Ally, seeing Rachel's face in the reflection of the corridor panel mirror as she glanced over…