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 XXII…
"What the hell are you doing in my apartment…!"
Beth thought quickly… Nope, can't be "Mr." Ferdinand or whatever if he strolls in like good ole Paul the skunk when we seemed to have a future…
With key, it seems.
"…Ferdinand…" she finished, striving for midway between annoyed and...
Oh, God…But they must be, if he feels he can just…
And I thought I made bad romantic decisions…
"I wanted to see how you were after…" he paused.
"You mean, to see if I was the real Rachel…?" stern regard.
"That will take a little time…But I'm willing to take it on faith." he smiled at her on the floor from the doorway. "Are you angry with me for coming?"
"I'm not at my best, clearly…" she frowned at him, then offered a slight smile. "But I'd've been even angrier if you hadn't." arch look.
When in Hell…Do like the twisted psychotics…
"Now that sounds like my girl." He beamed.
"You did have doubts?" she eyed him from the floor.
Try to look sexy…Try to look sexy…Think that last time with Paul after I'd guessed…
But not doably sexy…She thought, with inward sigh.
Just had medical exam and try recovering from eye injury sexy…Flirt, banter, maybe degenerate les liaisons dangerous innuendo, but do not touch without permission and 72 hour wait period, sexy.
Did any of my sisters ever have to…?
Well, I suppose Sarah, with Paul…
That must have been a…
Poor kid. But maybe she's impressed by his abs flexing.
Ok, I was for a few months…
"A few…Rachel?" Ferdinand gave earnestly regretful look to her startled…What?...Oh, doubts, right...One. "Don't be angry, after all your sisters are quite capable. And you remember what happened in Helsinki, with Vadya?"
Vadya? She tried to look all-knowing…
"Of course…" attempt at cool nod.
"They might have gotten full access…Poor Vad…Well, a mess all around." He came in, shaking head, and looked round.
"That was you, in the group just now…" she eyed him.
"I was hoping you'd recognize me." Smile. "We didn't disturb you too much? I mean you knew we were coming…?" he asked, moving to the kitchen entrance. "Care for something, water I suppose? Wine might not mix too well with what they gave you."
"I think they were a bit incompetent." She frowned, sitting up fully on the floor. "I woke far too quickly."
"I requested minimal dosage…Mea culpa, dear." He smiled. "You don't mind if I have a glass? It's been a long day."
"Surely. And I'll take that water." She rose. He nodded and pulled down two hanging wine glasses in the kitchen, moving to the quite well-stocked wine cabinet and taking out first a bottle of sparkling water, then an expensive-looking wine bottle which he set down.
"I suppose…" he hesitated, then reached for a corkscrew. "…You think I've abandoned you."
"Haven't you?" she stood facing him, cool a look as she could muster on her face, smoothing hair.
"I could hardly oppose the board." He noted quietly, pouring from the water bottle to a glass. "But so long as I remain in charge of the investigation and of dealing with the aftermath…And proclaim my agreement that the situation was mishandled, while insisting that I can keep the damage minimized and retain you without more cost as a still valuable resource, you're safe."
"It was that bad…" she eyed him.
"That bad…" he nodded, then sighed. "The board's a sensible lot, despite their reputation for arrogance, they won't pretend to believe themselves untouchable. If this had been allowed to smolder…I couldn't have protected you. It would have been a full Helsinki, including you this time." He came over to where she stood. "Rachel…"
"I should be grateful then, I suppose." Calm stare at his earnest face…And at the hand on her shoulder…Which he finally removed after a long instant.
I think he really means it as far protecting me…Her…But…Inward gulp…
Also as far as the "full Helsinki"…
"Thank God you came to your senses on the Manning girl…" he looked at her. "If you'd even suggested further action regards her…Even in your current state…"
"Sarah's of no importance to me now. Lets leave her be." She shrugged.
"I sincerely hope you mean that." He noted. "They like her, you know. To a man…And woman…They respect her spirit."
"They would…" shrug.
Don't overplay it…She warned herself.
"Rachel." Serious stare. "We were on a precipice here. The board was seriously considering cutting all losses in Toronto and North America as simply too dangerous. And much as they love you, at least two were convinced you were the primary cause of trouble and removing you, specifically, the solution. Take this seriously, I beg you."
"I've said I won't pursue any vendetta against Sarah Manning. I meant it. I have more important things on my mind these days. Including my own survival and rehabilitation…Physically and in Dyad." Cool look.
"Best to focus on the physical." He eyed her. "Your only hope with Dyad is to ask for nothing, expect…Nothing. Be a good little girl and smile gratefully for whatever they offer."
"So I imagined." She shrugged. "Perhaps you should consider cutting your losses here and running. There are plenty of mes around, after all. You could take your pick."
He frowned. "After all this, you still won't trust me…"
"It's best to trust no one, don't you think…In our positions…" she noted.
"You can trust me…In us…" he came to her. "Rachel…" he put arm round her.
She slipped back, unable to avoid clear repulsion at his touch…Nervous glare at him…
"Sorry…" he put up a hand. "I know you hate to be touched without 'permission'…But, I'm trying to say…"
"You love me…?" hard stare.
He smiled… "Now you are Rachel, mocking me."
"Doubts indeed…" she noted.
"Only in that you seemed not yourself in the first days…And your sisters here seem excellent at imitation, even better than the Helsinki girls. There was always a chance Cormier had helped one make a switch."
"But no doubts now…?"
"You're not running, even though you know your game is exposed…Or would be shortly."
"Glad to know you're not letting the guard down more than an inch."
"Perhaps…Just a bit wider…" smile. "Rachel…" he brushed hair on her hair, she trying to repress the desire to shriek.
"I'm full of medications and the eye doctor said not to be straining it." She noted, offering a pout.
"It's other muscles I'd care to strain…" Ferdinand noted, smile.
….
"I honestly don't remember…" Alison, worried look. "We were in the airport and I know I saw or heard Rachel and the next thing we were…" she paused.
"Honey?"
"Yes, yes…Just keep driving…Donnie…Sweetheart." Rachel forced out the words. "What were we talking about?"
"There is something wrong, sestra Ally." Helena shook head. "Were you exposed to any pig scum Dyad peoples? Those lowlives…" she resumed her Beth attempt. "Maybe they did some medical experiments with you? We should have Cosima check you over."
"I'm sure I'm fine, Helena…" Rachel noted. "There's no need to bother poor Cosima…How is she faring by the way?"
Nearing her last, agonizing day, alone and, I trust, with Marion and Topside unwilling to come to terms…
"Sestra?" Helena stared but to her credit recovered her Beth with aplomb…"Sis, you know I haven't seen Cosima since I got outta Toronto to get away from loser Paul."
"Ally? Cos was fine at the hospital when we left…" Donnie noted.
"Right, of course." Rachel nodded.
Lovely…The gods protect foolish clones and overweight adult children…And the occasional crazed murderess I see.
Just play it dazed and confused, they seem to expect that with the drug-addled hausfrau.
"Sorry…I'm a bit out of it." She offered.
"I don't like this, Ally." Donnie shook head. "Memory gaps and feeling confused…Tell me you haven't been taking anything the last few…"
"Maybe it's the afterseffect…" Helena noted. "We should get her tested when we get back home. I can ask Art to find a safe doc."
Test me, you psycho? Rachel thought, annoyed.
Nice the lump is so concerned…
He always was sincere in that devotion nonsense…Slight beam.
Why…Why her…Sarah…Cosima…And never me?
"Why would you want to test me, Donnie?" Alison stared suddenly. "I haven't been taking anything. I promised you…" she gave anxious look.
"Maybe Helena's idea…" he began.
"Brother, we'd maybe better do the evasive?" Helena cut in, concerned. "The pig scum Paul is very clever if Satan's younger brother. He won't give me up easily."
"So Paul…" I like that nickname "pig scum", Rachel thought… "Is in charge of the people chasing us?"
"There was general at the base, Paul seemed number two…" Helena, slight grin. "Definitely number two is Paul."
Charming in your uniquely scatological way…Rachel eyed her.
But how can I turn this to my advantage? Given the psycho seems to be a valuable chip to Castor.
…..
"It's him, I think…With Rachel…" Sarah, peering through binoculars at Rachel's apartment, Fee rather eagerly eyeing her, sipping the rather pricey mineral water he'd taken from the quite elegant if annoyingly empty fridge.
Looksees?
"What?" she eyed Fee.
"I just want a look at him. Two comparisons to check against S' description."
"You just want a gander at tall, dark, deadly…" she frowned.
"Hey…You know I like nice, as in not inclined to shoot me, men." He shrugged. "I keep the kinky strictly non-violent."
"Fine…Have a look." She handed the binoculars. "I need to get a photo anyway. But then start earning your keep with that sound thingy."
"Hmmn…He seems very Dyad suitish." Fee shrugged. "You sure he…? Whoa…"
"What?" she glanced out the window.
"I think he and Rachel are an item…"
"I think my high-toned, one-eyed Adolf Hitler of a sister is a cheap slut." Sarah frowned. "They doing it kinky, like with Paul?"
"Paul? Kinky? Really?" Fee, following the couple carefully.
"Give them here…" Sarah reached. "And yeah, kinky. At least on Rach's side. Paul seemed more embarrassed than aroused."
"Ehew…Well, Ferdinand, if he is, seems a gentleman who can take a no." Fee noted. "Just a mo…" As Sarah grabbed for the binoculars.
"Fine then…" he pouted as she pulled them out of his grip. "You hulking brute."
"They're just sitting and talking…What did he do? When you were watchin'?"
"Just a rather sweet little hug and kiss…On the forehead." He beamed. "Maybe it's real."
Sarah, lifting binoculars a second to glare…"You do realize this guy is a freaking Daniel who's had to do with murdering a cityful of us…?"
"Sure…But maybe he wasn't directly involved… He seems too sweet for that."
"Fee?!"
"Just sayin'…"
"Fine, he's a charmin' version of Daniel workin' for our freakin' maniacal sis."
"Who's no longer top dog at Dyad…" Fee noted. "So why is he here, if he's all about power? Maybe it is love? Kinky, perverse love, I grant you…"
"Adolf and her Eva…Why not?" Sarah trained the binoculars. "It would be interesting to know if Marion knows about this little visit. He slipped in with the med team, maybe he was trying to conceal it."
"Seein' her on the sly…That's sweet, in a kinky kind of way."
"This could be important, Fee." Sarah frowned.
"Hello. I do get that." He frowned back at her as she watched the scene. "Rachel seekin' a comeback and with a cleanser in her pocket…Or wherever…" She glared at Fee.
"But there's something up with that exam as well…" he noted, dropping the slight grin.
"Could be…Could just be the routine. Even she has to follow Dyad protocols. How's about that eavesdropper 2000 or whatever."
"4000, and comin' right up. Just don't lets miss anything." He turned to fumble with his knapsack, pulling out a set of headphones and a megaphone-like "Super Sleuth 4000" which he began adjusting, putting on headphones.
"Well, she doesn't seem too eager to hook up with this one…" Sarah noted, peering at Beth on her sofa, who seemed if anything to be tactfully dodging Ferdinand's occasional advances…
"Maybe the eye's bothering her? Daniel's memory weighin' on her? Or with this one, she prefers to be coy?" Fee pondered, aiming the Super Sleuth and readjusting. "Hang on a mo…"
"I'll need to speak with Marion and see how this affects her." Sarah pondered. "Hafta try for a face-to-face…See if she's bothered by the idea Rachel's hooking up with Ferdinand. And I want to know more about the exam tonight."
"You think this could have something to do with her sudden interest in Arthur? Sarah, you don't think she's been spewin' this 'Hi, I'm Beth Childs' tale with them as well? That they were actually…?"
"Maybe…Maybe Ferdinand put her up to it. God knows, maybe she has gone off her nut and they're concerned too." Sarah lowered the binoculars to rub her eyes. "You getting anything?"
" 'I am concerned, Rachel.'" He mouthed. "See, he cares."
"And will pop two in her skull at a moment's notice to prove how much, I'm sure." She frowned. "Anything else? They just seem to be sittin' there."
" 'Thanks.'"
"Really?" she grinned. "I'd've expected a tonier converse between Ms. Duncan and her guy."
"Maybe they're the sort of couple who don't need to talk much. Oh, wait…" touching headphones. "No, he's just asking her if she wants more water. Here, give…I'll take the watch a bit. Two senses are better you know."
"Just don't give us away like Jimmy Stewart…" she noted, handing the glasses over.
"'Rear Window'? Neat flick. No, the trick is to not let…Uh…"
"What?"
"I think that Ferdinand is pretty good…He's spotted us…The glint from the building lights, what I was about to mention." Fee, anxiously. "Sarah? Ferdinand says 'Hi, there.' We'd best clear out…"
She took the glasses and peered. Ferdinand on Rachel's balcony looking directly at her, a faint smile…Peering now through his or Rachel's own binoculars. Suddenly, he waved.
"Rachel? That is Sarah, isn't it? I think that's her brother with her." he offered the binoculars to Beth, beside him… She having brought him the pair when he'd noted someone across from her building was taking an interest a moment ago.
"I think so…" she nodded.
Damnit, Sarah? What the hell are you…?
"Just the lady I wanted to see… Excuse me while I go say hello." He beamed at her.
"I'd ask you along but…Under the circumstances…" slight pat.