Author's Notes: So, I don't know who else has heard about this (I'm about a week behind the times), but Santiago Cabrera has joined the cast of Transformers: The Last Knight (and from the slide show I saw, Josh Duhamel is behaving like an annoying big brother). I just keep getting more and more reasons to go see this movie, I swear. I've been a Transformers fan since the original cartoon debuted when I was fourteen years old, and absolutely adored the first live-action movie (enjoyed the second, third and fourth, but the first will always hold a special place in my heart … and oh, the music! Steve Jablonsky quickly became one of my favorite movie composers). Getting back to the story … as you'll notice, Anne threw one of her legendary curve balls … so, on occasion (not in every chapter), action will shift back to 2015 for the reactions of Anne's friends and family. Plus, Joselais and Treville insisted on getting some action in (not that kind of action … okay, sort of that kind of action). If I didn't go along with them, I probably wouldn't make any progress on this or on Call It By That Name. That will likely be the final story in the series, aside from one-shots, unless inspiration strikes. In any event, in this chapter, Kat asks some uncomfortable questions; Anne answers questions in 2015; and Nick Boyle isn't really sure what to make of his 'little sister's' new friend … much less if she can be trusted. Anne would like to know the answer to that herself.
Chapter Two
Shadow from Another Time
Angel Island
San Francisco Bay, California
A man was waiting at the dock … average height, graying hair, just from what she could see from here. Kat murmured, "That's Nick, my boss and surrogate big brother. His bark tends to be worse than his bite, especially when it comes to those he loves." The two women stood at the railing as the ferry drew ever closer to the dock. Kat glanced at her, adding with a sunny smile, "Then again, I have no doubt that you can handle yourself." Anne just grunted, still more than a little annoyed with herself for falling asleep. True, the lounge consisted of just herself and Kat, and true, she was exhausted from her flights, but she still let her guard down in an unknown area and with an unknown person. To make matters worse, she did feel better.
Kat didn't look a bit concerned by Anne's lack of manners, smiling as she returned her attention to the man on the dock. That made Anne even more cranky and annoyed, but before she had a chance to make an ass out of herself, Kat observed, "You'll be staying at the House, of course. What? You didn't have a place to stay, did you?" Anne shook her head mutely, and Kat went on, "You helped me, and now I'm helping you. Mind you, you might end up assisting us on occasion." Anne arched her brows … oh really? Kat's bright smile softened, and she added, "You have the look of someone searching for a purpose."
Was she? Maybe she was … looking for a purpose and a reason why. Why was Athos not there? Ugh, she needed to stop thinking about this. The ferry was docking, and a statuesque, dark-skinned woman was joining the man. Kat went on, "We'll let the tourists get off first … Alex will take control of the group, and then we'll meet with Nick." Ah. The woman's name would be Alex, then. Short for Alexandra? Alexia? Alexandria? Alexis? Could be any one of those, or none of them, and she must still be tired to be thinking about such idiocy.
Kat was still waiting for an answer, and so Anne just shrugged. Kat nodded, as if Anne just confirmed something she suspected, and continued, "Just to give you a heads' up, you'll be meeting my mother tonight. She can be … difficult." Oh … really? And would Katherine care to give her an example of this? Kat explained, "Nick once explained it to another one of our friends this way … she's a good person to have at your side in a fight, and she means well." Oh. Yes. That told Anne all she needed to know about Katherine's mother. Spare her from those well-meaning types … it was her experience that they were far more trouble than they were worth. Although, Athos' friend Aramis wasn't too bad. Then again, it wasn't so much that he was well-meaning, but he actually tried to truly help people, rather than help people to look good or make himself feel better.
And why was she thinking about Athos again? Anne ordered her mind to stay in California, to stop drifting to Montreal and to her … and to Athos. He made his choice … and hadn't he warned her to stay away from Montreal? But that was before they kissed, before she realized that he'd never stopped wanting her, never stopped loving her. But if he never stopped loving her, why hadn't he met her? Kat said softly, as if hearing what she was thinking, "I don't know what is worrying at you … but it's been my experience that sometimes, people have a good reason for letting us down."
"And what would you know about it?" Anne said snidely. Kat merely stared at her, blue eyes never leaving Anne's face … making the former headhunter very, very uncomfortable. At first, Anne didn't think the other woman would answer her (God knew it was none of her damn business). And really, she probably didn't want to know the answer to that. After several moments, Kat looked away … but it wasn't a surrender.
"When I was seven years old, my father was late in picking me up from school. He had picked up my older brother Connor first, since Connor's school was closer to his office. It was raining, and I stood in the doorway, out of the rain. I waited and I waited, and I waited, and I was afraid. The principal was with me, but I wanted my daddy. I was always more my father's daughter than my mother's. I waited there for … hours," Kat responded. Anne swallowed hard, having a sick feeling that she knew where this was going. The younger woman said hoarsely, tears sparkling in her eyes, "They were in an accident, my dad and Connor … they were in an accident and they both died. So yes. I do know a few things about people seeming to let me down."
Anne didn't apologize. Not because she didn't regret what she said (she did … more than words could say), but because, 'I'm sorry' didn't come anywhere near close to being good enough. She supposed she could have said that there was far more history between herself and Athos than there was for Kat and her father. She could have even pointed out that Anne never knew her father. Maybe she was lucky in that respect. Instead, she looked down and said, "There was no accident. He didn't come because I wasn't good enough for him. No matter what I did, I was never good enough for him." Once more, she found herself on the receiving end of a piercing gaze, but this time, Anne didn't look away. And once more, Katherine Corrigan surprised her.
Rather than backing down or defending Athos, the young woman asked, "Is that what he said? Or is that what you think?" Kat stared at her for another long moment, before turning her back deliberately and striding to the opposite end of the ferry. Anne swallowed hard. She wanted to hate Kat Corrigan, wanted to resent her. But Kat's question was just that. A question, not a challenge … unless Anne wanted to make it a challenge. The question was … did she? And that was an answer she just didn't have. Not right now.
14AA41
San Antonio, Texas
Basement of Gennesaret Building
April 2015
"Wow … so, you never even thought that maybe Uncle Athos had an accident or something might have happened to him?" Tristan blurted out. Anne shook her head. She didn't learn about the explosion at the Garrison until Treville told her about it … when he also told her that Athos came to meet her, arriving perhaps fifteen to twenty minutes after she left. But … she simply thought that Athos didn't want her any more, was using her to take Rochefort down. Her niece continued, "So you were angry and bitter and hurting, and you must have resented Kat like crazy." Well … yeah, she did, but how did Tristan arrive at that conclusion? The girl explained obligingly, "She had everything that you didn't."
Well … Anne couldn't argue with that. Nor could anyone else, as the newly-arrived Josie observed, "True, although somewhat simplistic. So, you're finally divulging the top secret events in San Francisco that led you here? I've been wanting to hear this story for ages." Anne stuck her tongue out at her sister-in-law and crossed her eyes. Josie merely snickered, "Sorry, dear, it's not your tongue that interests me. Oh. My. Did I just say that out loud?" Anne stared at her friend in shock … wait, what? Josie merely smirked as Jean Treville wrapped an arm around her waist. She didn't quite lean into his embrace, but she certainly wasn't pulling away. In fact, she actually shifted her weight a little in his direction, as if her instincts were drawing her sideways, but her caution was stopping her. She did, however, blush and duck her head as she noticed his utterly besotted expression when he looked at her. Anne virtuously kept from rolling her eyes at them both.
"Yes, you did, and that falls into the category of things none of us need to know. Tristan, honey, would you like me to cover your eyes when they start playing suckface?" Anne inquired of the not-quite-teenager, who was staring at her mother with a combination of amusement and 'ew.' Treville seemed to take that as an invitation (not that he really seemed to need one any more), as he drew Josie closer, cupped her face in his hands, and kissed her quite thoroughly. Tristan actually meeped, and Anne gave into the overwhelming desire to face-palm. The face-palm gave way to mock-gagging when Treville released Josie … his expression was an odd mixture of smug and goofy, and as for Josie … well, she was wearing a particularly dopey grin. Ew. If she wasn't so glad to see her friend happy, that dopey smile would really make her feel sick.
She wasn't the only one. Justinian, who went back to coloring when his mother's story started to go over his head, said, "Ew, Aunt Josie!" Josie stuck her tongue out at her nephew (real mature, Josie), still sporting that dopey grin. Honestly, Anne wished one of them would just jump the other and be done with it … at this point, she didn't care which one of them it was. But, she knew her sister-in-law better than that. No matter how much she enjoyed being around Treville (and enjoyed his kisses!), Josie was still wary of giving away her heart. Much the same, Anne was horrified to realize, that she herself was. She wasn't horrified that Josie was being cautious … she was horrified that there were any similarities between herself and Josie. That was always something she liked about her sister-in-law, that she was so different from Anne.
"Don't knock it 'til you try it, son … it's fun with the right person," Treville admonished his 'grandson' with a grin. Justinian just made another 'ew' face, glowering up at Treville when the Musketeer captain ruffled his hair. Treville released Josie and swung Justinian up into his arms, adding, "However, right now, much as I like kissing your aunt, I think there's something else that requires our attention. Aramis, are you running low on supplies?" Aramis started to respond in the negative, but then he looked at his captain … looked at his nephew … and his mouth snapped shut so quickly, Anne wondered if he hurt himself.
"We are indeed … Tinian, why don't you get more supplies, while I get things arranged here and look after your sister?" Aramis suggested. Justinian glared at his favorite uncle, and Anne wasn't sure if it was because he shortened the little boy's name, or because the seven year old was a lot smarter than people gave him credit for being. Probably both … but Aramis didn't back down, and finally, Justinian nodded reluctantly. Treville kissed Josie's temple, and then carried the little boy toward the storage room, where Justinian wouldn't hear the rest of the story until he was much older. Once they were gone, Aramis turned to her with a questioning look, swinging Sabine high over his head before pulling her against his chest, much to the little girl's delight. In spite of herself, Anne had to admit that he would make an excellent father.
Anne wondered how his relationship with Ana was progressing (nearly everyone now called her 'Ana,' to differentiate her from Anne) … happy Musketeers kept out of other people's business. Although, Porthos (who was currently between girlfriends) never involved himself in Anne's relationship with Athos. He only ever warned her that there would be consequences for screwing over his brother. She wondered aloud if someone issued Athos a similar warning, and to her surprise, Porthos told her that such a warning was issued … by his old friend/past lover Flea. Why Flea would get involved (and when she had even been in San Antonio) to issue such a warning, Anne had no idea. Another one was issued by Adele before she left Montreal weeks earlier, and in typical Athos fashion, he accepted both humbly. Ugh. She hated when he did things like that. At least Josie hadn't gotten involved. That could have been … awkward.
"So what happened next? I mean, obviously, you docked and met Kat's two friends, but what exactly came next?" Josie inquired, wrapping her arms around Tristan and resting her chin atop her daughter's head. Tristan's hand came up to cover her mother's wrist, and Anne swallowed hard as she gazed at her sister-in-law and her niece. She had never known her parents (at this point, she didn't think she wanted to meet them, either), but there were times … She shook herself. It didn't matter. It was what it was, and she had a story to tell.
"Like you said, we docked … we were the last people off the ferry, and while the tourists were taken to Alex Moreau … that's her last name, Moreau. She's originally from Louisiana. Anyhow, while she took care of them, Kat led me to Nick Boyle. And right away, I could tell that he wasn't particularly impressed with me. That was fine, though, because I wasn't particularly impressed with him, either," Anne responded. The corners of her sister-in-law's mouth quirked upward, as Anne began the story once more with, "The first words out of his mouth, believe it or not, were …"
14AA41
Ferry Dock, Angel Island
May 2013
"Hey, KitKat … something you'd like to tell me?"
He was nearly fifty years old, but teasing Kat was something he would never outgrow. She was his little sister, in all the ways that mattered, and it was the duty, privilege, and God-given right of all older siblings to annoy the younger ones (when they weren't watching out for them). Nick did it with Kat, and Philip and Alex did it with Nick. There was something to be said for continuity. And as she had when she was a little girl, Kat rolled her eyes at him as she led her companion from the ferry to meet him.
"Quit being a creep, Nick. Anne, this is Nick Boyle … director of the Luna Foundation, my boss, surrogate big brother, and all around pain in the ass. Nick, this is Anne de Brueil … she came to my rescue on the mainland, when Ryder was being a douche-canoe. She's from Montreal, and she'll be staying with us," Kat answered. The first thing that sprang to Nick's mind had to do with chastising Kat for her language. The second thing that occurred to him was how pretty the newcomer was, and the third thing was …. Montreal. Which had fallen, as Paris had and as Boston had. Were the two things related? Unlikely, but after being precept of San Francisco House for nearly fifteen years, Nick wasn't inclined to believe in coincidences.
However, for now, he offered the brunette at Kat's side a warm smile, saying, "And she's more than welcome. Anyone who helps Kat is considered a friend. And as for you." This was said as he leveled a gimlet-glare at Kat, "You stay away from Ryder. He's been warned in the past to leave you alone, but I think it's time he received a reminder that I'm not Derek." Ryder was a bully, but worse than that, Nick handled him improperly when he first took over as precept.
It was one thing for Nick to have to deal with those consequences … it was something else entirely when Kat was the one who suffered for his mishandling. He turned his attention to Anne de Brueil. As he'd noticed, she was quite pretty, although she looked somewhat uncomfortable as she looked from Kat to him and back again. Uncomfortable and … Nick mentally shook himself, saying, "We should get going. Your mom is at the House, and I need you to take a look at something. Last week, we received a shipment from the Vienna office. You were just a kid when our office in Paris was destroyed, but right before it happened, their head of security started sending out what she regarded as the most dangerous items to other offices. One such item is a sword Vienna believes belonged to Raoul, Vicomte de Bragelonne."
He had the pleasure of seeing Kat's eyes widen as she breathed, "Raoul? The son of Athos from The Three Musketeers?" Nick's grin broadened, even as Anne de Brueil shifted uncomfortably. Kat was overjoyed when, as a fifteen year old, she learned that The Three Musketeers actually existed … and they still existed, though now they worked for Bourbon Enterprises. Kat went on, "Oh, I'm definitely looking at that! What does Alex say?" The three were starting to walk back toward the Land Rover … even though it wasn't the same vehicle Derek drove, all those years ago, Nick found he enjoyed driving the Rover. Besides. It was a link to Derek. Yes, he knew that his old friend was still alive, though a shadow of his former self … but for nearly fifteen years, he was the precept of this House, and it changed him, as it changed Derek. He kept the Land Rover as a reminder of the young man he once was.
"Alex isn't convinced, especially since there are a few things that don't add up. I figure if the two of you put your heads together, you can figure out if it belonged to him, and if not, who was its owner. I have some paperwork I need to attend to … Bourbon Enterprises is wanting to expand to San Francisco. Yes, I know what you're about to say … that has nothing to do with the Luna Foundation. And you're right. However, Anne Roy … the wife of the current CEO … contacted me earlier in the week. If Bourbon does open up an office here, she wants to partner with the Luna Foundation," Nick replied.
Kat allowed herself a low whistle, before observing, "That would be a big feather in our cap, Nick. What does her proposal look like … or is that the paperwork you're still going over?" He smirked at her in the rearview mirror, and Kat rolled her eyes, muttering something very impolite under her breath. After a moment, she continued, "Well, that's interesting timing … at the same time we receive an item that belonged to a son of one of the most famous Musketeers, or is believed to belong to a son of that Musketeer, the wife of the Bourbon CEO contacts us about partnering with the Luna Foundation."
"You see it too," Nick observed and Kat nodded, looking more than a little troubled. Maybe it meant everything and maybe it meant nothing. And he hadn't talked to Derek yet, so he hadn't had a chance to run it past him … but his instincts, honed first by the SEALs and now by years of serving in the Legacy, were warning him that there was far more to this situation than what met the idea. The same was true of Anne de Brueil. Oh, he didn't think that she created the situation on the docks with Ryder. He didn't even think that she manipulated Kat into inviting her to the Island. However, there was something about her that …
What? He didn't entirely trust? That was too easy, too convenient, too pat. There was something about her that made him somewhat uncomfortable. Something in her manner that warned Nick that she was someone to be wary of. Not an enemy, but also not necessarily a friend or even an ally. He shook his head, more than a little annoyed with himself. Being wary was just that. Being cautious, and he learned a few things in the last decade and a half.
Not for the first time, Nick wished Philip was here … not just as a priest, but as Nick's friend and brother, someone to act as a sounding board. But Philip was still settling into his new posting in San Antonio, and creating his halfway house on steroids (Nick's phrase, not Philip's). The priest was only a phone call away, and if Nick's instincts got any louder, he would call him. For now, he would focus on getting himself, Kat, and the newcomer safely back to the House. And as Derek once told him… be ready for anything. Nick had learned the hard way, many years earlier, that the most innocuous of items could prove to be the most devastating. And after everything they'd been through together, he wasn't willing to lose Kat, or Alex and Rachel, to a shadow from another time. And knowing the Legacy, that was entirely too likely.
TBC
Additional Author's Notes: Show of hands who thinks that artefact belongs to Raoul? Yeah, if you didn't think that was the case, you're right. And yes, if you're thinking that Nick is making one hell of a leap in logic (Anne being from Montreal, and the Montreal Legacy House falling), you're right, but he did things like that. I would imagine he has grown and matured after being in charge for over a decade, but he learned from Derek Rayne, who also behaved impulsively on occasion. And what does falling mean within the Legacy universe? There are two possibilities … one, that all or a significant majority of the members have died (which was the case with Boston House); or two, that it was infiltrated by agents of supernatural evil (such as Montreal House).
