The Disenchanted Ghost of You

By: gengen0776

Chapter Notes:

Sorry for the delay on posting this…lots of stuff happening in my life left me a little shell shocked and the writer's block soon followed…But good news I'm baaaack!!!

Chapter 4

Rowan sighed wearily as he fell into the chair next to the bed where Becca slept. John had gone to bed after agreeing to consider training Becca, leaving Rowan to fill the hours while his human companions slept. He'd briefly considered calling Officer Morgan, but he'd quickly dismissed the idea. He couldn't leave Becca, not again.

"D-don't…please…don't let them take him," Becca mumbled urgently in her sleep.

"I'm so sorry, Becs," Rowan whispered as he eased himself onto the bed, sitting with his back against the headboard. He pulled Becca's restless form close to him, holding her as he smoothed her auburn curls. Rowan's heart broke as he listened to Becca sob softly in her sleep, knowing what she was dreaming about. The memory of that day, the day they'd taken Joshua from Becca, was one that would haunt Rowan forever.

"I-I don't understand," Becca whispered as she watched Michael gather up Joshua's things. "Why? Why can't he stay with me?"

"It's not safe," Michael replied as he moved to take Joshua from her arms.

"N-no…you said…you said I had to leave Charlotte to keep him safe," she sobbed, clutching the fussing baby to her chest. "I-I did everything you asked…I left everything an'…everyone."

"I'm sorry, Becca. It's fo—"

"Are you? If you take him from me…I-I have nothing." Becca shrank back from the angel's outstretched arms, knowing it would do no good. She turned her pleading gaze to Rowan who stood aside staring at the ground as the scene unfolded. "D-don't…please don't let them take him," she breathed as Rowan continued to avoid her stare.

"Becs…I-I'm sorry." When Rowan's guilt-filled gaze met hers, understanding dawned on her face.

"Y-you knew," she whispered in disbelief. "You knew…an' you didn't tell m—"

"You would've tried to run, I—"

"Enough, it's time to go. Rowan, take Joshua," Michael ordered, impatiently pulling open the door.

"Please, Becca," Rowan whispered, his eyes filled with regret as he stepped slowly toward the corner she'd inadvertently backed herself into. "I'll make sure he's safe," he promised as he watched her shoulders sag in defeat.

"You get to stay with him?" Becca's eyes widened as she looked from Michael to Rowan. " W-why? What did I do wrong? Tell me…I-I promise I won't d—"

"No, darlin'…you didn't do anything wrong," Rowan soothed as he gently gathered up Joshua in his arms. The fussing baby immediately quieted as he hurried to follow Michael out the door.

"Then why am I being punished," he heard Becca murmur. He hazarded another glance at the girl, watching her collapse to the ground and longing to hurry to her side and comfort her.

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The warm sunlight peeking through the dusty curtains was comforting to Becca as she awoke the next morning. Yet it couldn't dissolve the pain and sadness that ached in her chest, left behind by a dream she couldn't remember. Staring at the room around her she searched for something recognizable, but found nothing. Yet this didn't disturb, she was used to waking in unfamiliar places as she'd been moving around for months now since she'd left Charlotte and hit the road. At least there's no one else in bed with me this time, she thought a shiver coursing down her back at a memory she struggled to repress. Don't go there.

Throwing the blanket back, she noted that she was still fully clothed. She wondered how drunk she'd been the night before to fall into bed without getting undressed. She sat up slowly, waiting for the splitting headache that always accompanied her hangovers to erupt. Nothing, no headache, no queasiness…o-kay.

Somehow, this was more troubling, than waking up in a strange place. She stood slowly still waiting for the headache to hit as she peered around the room, searching for her belongings. She didn't have much, a backpack with some clothes and the necessary toiletries, toothpaste and brush, soap, shampoo. Seeing nothing she moved to the door, hoping to see something familiar to remind her of where she was and where she'd left her things.

She made her way down the hall that stretched away from her door. She noted that her room was the last at the end of this hall. She glanced at the doors on either side of her as she walked quietly toward the sound of voices coming from the other end. All the doors were closed, affording her no clue as to where she was. As she approached a large opening to her left, she observed that the hall continued only a little farther after it. The closer she got the more prominent the smell of stale beer and alcohol became.

The voices became louder as she approached, but not enough to make out what they were saying. One voice, low and gruff, was familiar to her and she strained to remember who it belonged to. She paused at the opening, scanning the deserted bar for the source of the voices she could hear more clearly now. She noticed two men sitting at a small table near the door, one with his back to her, long raven hair flowing down his back. She watched the other man stand up and shuffle slowly to the counter to refill his coffee cup.

"Red!" he greeted, noticing her as he headed back to the table. His smile was warm and welcoming, the skin crinkling beside his kind brown eyes. Becca stared at him a moment as recognition dawned.

"How ya feelin', Gramps?" she asked, greeting him with a smile of her own as the night before began to fall into place.

John chuckled at the nickname, had it been anyone else calling him that he would have ripped them a new one. He clutched his side as his laughter pulled at the stitches there. He watched her smile falter as her brow furrowed with concern. "I'm good, darlin'. How you feelin'?"

"I'm good," she shrugged as she moved toward him. "So, Johnny," she began hesitantly as she remembered where her bag was. "D'ya mind if I borrow your truck for little errand?" she asked smiling her most winning smile.

"Errand?" John gave her a questioningly look.

"Well, I kinda left my stuff back with Ray," she replied as she continued to smile. "We left in a bit of a hurry yesterday," she added quickly. She watched John's face darken at the idea.

"No way, it's too dangerous." Becca had almost forgotten John's companion until he spoke his husky voice instantly familiar as she pieced it together with the long dark hair and hawkish features she spun around to meet.

"You!" Becca's voice flared with anger that boiled within her at the site of Rowan St. Christen. "Who the hell are YOU to tell me anything?" she demanded, stalking across the small distance between them.

"Becs, please," Rowan pleaded as he stood up from his seat reaching out to touch her shoulder but she batted his hand away.

"No," she growled leaning in so that there was barely an inch between their faces. "My friends call me Becs…you are no friend of mine," she spat, shoving him hard back into the table, sending his barely touched coffee crashing to the ground.

"I'm so sorry," Rowan whispered pain coloring is words as clearly as it was etched on his face. The pain she saw there, gave Becca momentary pause, but she wouldn't be deterred. This man had taken everything from her and left her to pick up the pieces alone.

"Oh, you're sorry?" she laughed humorlessly. "Well that just makes it all better!" Her hands flew from her sides as she spoke and she noticed John back away slightly.

"Becca, I never meant—" Rowan's words were abruptly cut off as she sucker punched him in the gut.

"What?" she demanded angrily. "To hurt me?" she added punctuating her words with an uppercut to Rowan's jaw. "Yeah that makes sense. You were lying to me and using me," she bit out as she slammed her fist into his stomach again. "But you never meant to hurt me!" Her words caused the vampire to flinch more than her physical attack ever could because they were true. He had lied to her and used her, yet he'd never meant to hurt her.

"Please," he breathed, gently placing his hands on her shoulders as he spoke. "T-try to understand, I didn't—"

An angry bellow erupted from her as she charged into him, crashing into the empty chairs and tables as she slammed him to the ground. "Don't," she growled as she sat on his chest pinning him to the ground. "Don't you tell me you didn't have a choice!" she yelled balling her fists. "You let them take him from me…he was all I had left…I gave up everything to keep him safe!" she shouted, her fists punctuating each sentence with a punch to the vampire's face.

All the while Rowan lay there, without defending himself, letting her pummel him. "You let them take him and then left me to pick up the pieces…I went home, you know, with this crazy story of angels and vampires and special children…" she whispered, her breathing ragged now as she continued to punch his bleeding face, her fists growing heavier and heavier. "You know what happens when you talk crazy?" she demanded, panting as she continued. "They…they throw you in the loony bin…they give you these treatments…h-horrible treatments…until you believe their truth." Her voice was barely a whisper, her anger depleted until she was left broken again, staring down at him with eyes filled with hatred and pain. "You…you did this to me," she sobbed, pushing away from Rowan's comforting hand on her shoulder. She stood shakily, continuing to stare down at the vampire with contempt as she staggered out the door.

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Rowan lay on the ground, unable to look away from Becca's contemptuous glare until the door slammed shut behind her. "J-John," he moaned looking to his friend.

"I got it," John assured, rushing out after Becca as Rowan slowly sat up.

The kitchen door swung open and Ellen stocked through, surveying the damage to her bar. "What the HELL is goin' on out here?" she demanded, stalking to where Rowan sat.

"I-it's nothing," Rowan lied, winching as he touched his bloodied face. "I'll pay for any damages," he assured as he stood unsteadily on his feet.

"Did you an' John get in a fight?"

"No."

"So, this was yer Christmas present to yourself then?" Ellen pressed for answers, staring the vampire down.

"No, Becca was…angry with me," he replied evasively.

"Jo told me what happened last night, how the girl reacted to you," Ellen informed. "And now this." She motioned to his current condition and that of her bar. "I don't know what ya did to hurt that girl. John says it's some misunderstanding." Ellen stepped closer to him, her voice became menacing as she added, "But if you hurt her again…I'll cut you down myself."

Rowan chuckled humorlessly as he held Ellen's steely gaze. "If I hurt her again I'll lay my head on your bar for you to chop it off," he murmured, before stalking toward the bathroom to clean himself up.

End Notes:

Thanks for reading and as always I would love to hear what you think so drop me a review! Pretty please!