This is my first fanfiction so please review and tell me what you like and don't like, what you think I could have done. I take all constructive criticism on the matter. *fiery menace
CHAPTER 1
She was sitting in the desk chair just trying to catch her breath for a minute. The doorbell rang and with a little sigh she got up to go answer it. Glancing out the window she noted that the car was here early. The driver was going to have to wait, but he might as well be useful, she thought, as she opened the door.
The driver stood there looking at her with fear in his eyes, he knew who she was. He knew of the legends and was aware of her efforts. The pact remained unbroken as was her word. All she had ever done was remain honorable to his way of thinking. He stood there staring at her mouth open in awe.
"Come in the kids will not be ready for a couple more hours. Do you want anything to drink or eat? We are still having breakfast." Gabriella said in a welcoming tone.
He walked in taking off his hat. "NO, No thank you Ms. Wallace. What children are coming with us? I was told I was just picking you up." He still had just a hint of a Russian accent.
Gabriella stood there looking at the man in some consternation, "No, two of my children are coming with me. Two of my cousins are going to meet us at the airport to take the kids to Disney World, the animals are their medipets. You do know about the animals, yes? Medipets is short for medical assistance animals." He had been briefed about the animals, the company was called Genutec. Genutec is where genetics and nature had come together in a lab in Russia to make her 32 extraordinary animals.
He was more than agreeable to wait and took the liberty of arranging the set up in the back of the limo so that there was more room for the children and animals. He also removed the alcoholic beverages and asked if there were anything in particular the children might like for drinks or snacks as he did have the extra time to acquire the items before they had to leave.
Clara gave the driver a cooler with snacks and beverages for the passengers. She also gave him a bag for himself. When he had looked in the bag the driver was pleasantly surprised to find a large roast beef sandwich, a container of potato salad, a green salad, and a small container of apple cobbler.
Of course the pair had also given him some juice and yogurt for breakfast, before putting him to work carrying a small carryon for all three of the humans and one for each of the three animals.
As they rode in the back of the car the children were talking a mile a minute with their mother, she realized the non-stop chatter was bothering the driver. Gabriella said to the driver, "I can tell you're not used to having children around. I apologize for the distraction, maybe this will help a bit." she said as she raised the partition between the driver and passenger compartments.
Yodie and Irina, her rascals, rode the rest of the way telling Gabriella what they planned to do at the theme park. It was nice to finally hear Yodie, talking instead of writing everything down. He had actually just started talking a few weeks before Christmas. She hoped that the excitement of meeting his cousins and going to the theme park didn't cause him to have a setback.
By the time they reached the airport, the children were asleep, Taz, a Genutec bear walked beside her to the jet, Zef the altered wolf carried Yodie to the jet. The riding harness held the sleeping child securely in place as the she-wolf checked the area carefully. Just because the Genutec animals were genetically enhanced to a nearly indestructible level, it didn't mean they weren't cautious.
Warg the Genutec tiger was carrying Irena on his back. Her tiny hands were fisted in the tiger's fur and Warg was in heaven. He purred as he went strutting by, also studying the area. The animals were faster, smarter, more agile and nearly indestructible. Their protective nature however was only partially the Genutec alterations most of it was ingrained behavior and instinct.
Gabriella recalled an incident that had threatened to stop the Genutec trials before they had even really started. Warren had tried to stop one of the tigers from attacking a man. The man in question was trying to take a child, the animal charged out of the park. While the man was the child's father, he was off his meds and he'd lost custody of his son four months earlier. That's when it had been discovered that one of the genetically altered animals could take seven rounds and still protect their charges and keep potential aggressors at bay.
Even that wounded the tiger, named Tangiers, recognized that something was wrong with the man's body chemistry, his scent was off. He is still with the family as a baby sitter for the little ones none over 6 years of age and they stay in his care unsupervised. He is pampered and loved by the kids. These animals are loyal, gentle to young and old alike; their majestic beauty, hiding potentially lethal protective instincts.
They flew in the personal jet with the animals lying in the isles. The pilot looked like he had seriously thought of jumping out for a moment before they had taken off. The kids slept all the way to Orlando Florida. The group was greeted by the Chinese Ambassador's wife, two of their grandchildren, a nanny and Gabriella's cousins who lived in Florida. They had wanted to catch up with her and the family. They were going to be taking the kids and animals with their papers saying they were medipets to Disney World, while Gabriella took care of business.
She could already sense the change in her two children, they were more relaxed, and maybe they did need some time apart from the others. As her family and the Ambassadors family climbed into the larger limo she waved and blew kisses at her giggling children. She was supposed to meet them at the Castle at 6 P.M. Irena was dressing up to meet Cinderella and Snow White. Yodie wanted to go on the Harry Potter Ride and The Pirates of the Caribbean etc. etc. etc.
The Chinese Ambassador had graciously thought to send along another limousine and his executive assistant. The young man was handsome, elegant, but he was much too sure of himself. As she got in he asked about her bags. She was carrying a big tote, "This is all I need." As she stepped into the limousine the driver tipped his hat. She put up the partition so she could concentrate on the goal at hand, keeping the Russians on her side.
The executive assistant, Li Tao Chen, started going over the itinerary for the Chinese Ambassador trying to include her in most of his plans, before casually informing her that she would not be able to leave tomorrow as she had planned. The Chinese Ambassador would like to talk to her one on one three days after tomorrow. When she looked at the man, he knew that he had crossed the line. "Try to get me in sooner than later, tomorrow evening at the latest. Please." She turned back towards the front to relax because the games had already begun. She hated the crap that came out when the politics started.
The talent she had with not getting into the politics of any nation was what had kept her on an even keel with all the nations. She had never forced her opinions on anyone else, it just wasn't what she did. If she touched a person she could literarily see if they were going to lie to her three years down the road. She would put it aside and hope for a change in the person. That was also why she tried extremely hard never to come in contact with people.
As the limousine reached the hotel for her meeting, she informed Li Tao Chen that he needed to get out and give her a moment alone in the car. It didn't take her long to change into her white dress with gray at the hem.
Lowering the mirrored glass that separated the front and back of the limo she spoke to the driver, she said, "Have you ever been to Walt Disney World? My cousins took my children there and I'm supposed to meet them at the Castle at six this evening. If you could make yourself available to drive me there and us back this evening I would greatly appreciate it." she said as she handed him a very generous tip.
The driver assured her, "Yes ma'am if you could be at the lobby entrance a little before five, I'll be able to get you there in time for you to get to the castle to meet your family. I'll also park near the entrance to the hotel if you would like to slip out and do a little sight-seeing on your own." he added.
When she stepped out of the vehicle she looked like an early frost. The hood of the garment was up and pristine white bleeding slowly into a darker gray at the hem. The hood was to protect her identity as there were a lot of people milling around here and in the reception area.
The doorman greeted her at the car door. "Welcome to the Hilton, Miss." the man offered and then looked around for a suitcase. Instead after he looked in the trunk, he came face-to-face with a dark brown bear, standing at the shoulder at 5 ft. and change. Gabriella watched as he looked at Taz, mouth gaping. "He is my medical assistance animal." She actually heard the man gulp before he responded weakly, "Yes, ma'am."
As Gabriella and Li Tao Chen the assistant walked up to the front desk, she studied the woman at the computer. She was cute and petite with her little uniform suit on and scarf around her neck. Gabriella cringed inwardly wondering where in the world they came up with it, as she cleared her throat.
"How can I help you?" The young woman, saw Taz and to her credit only raised an eyebrow, instead of shrieking in terror and running off down the hall. "He is a medical assistance animal. Could you inform the Russian Ambassador that his appointment is here, please? I have meetings with him and the Chinese Ambassador. The name you need is Arcadian."
The expression on the young receptionists face was decidedly snobbish and for a minute Gabriella thought she might refuse. Chen looked at the woman behind the counter, smiled, and handed over his business card with the Chinese Embassy emblems and his title on the front. The receptionist actually blinked twice at the card, and then nodded at him, before turning to make a phone call.
Gabriella said, "I suppose I'll have to get cards too."
Mr. Chen looked so different with the smile on his face that Gabriella was shocked at his change of appearance. He actually looked quite charming and not quite so much the politician. The receptionist came back to the front counter and informed them the ambassador would be down in a few minutes. She added, "He requests that you join him in the restaurant. Just go around the next curve you can't miss it." However when Chen began to follow her the receptionist called out insistently, "I'm sorry sir the Ambassador insisted this be a private meeting. The staff are setting up a private table as we speak ma'am."
The Arcadian slowly followed the curving hall to the restaurant. She studied the room from the entrance. It was more glamorous than the places she usually preferred to eat, but then they almost always ate at home. Unless someone had a doctors' appointment, even then it was usually little sandwich shops. This was something Clara and Gabriella's mother would have loved to see. Gabriella walked in and waited for the host or hostess, the hood of her gown still up to protect her from prying eyes.
A man walked up to the podium, "How may I help you?" He asked coolly looking down at her. It was not as if he was that much taller than her, then he saw Taz. "Look, he is a medical assistance animal. I'm here to meet the Russian Ambassador. I was told to meet him here. If the private table isn't set up yet, I'll wait for him at the bar."
"No, No right this way Ma'am." the older gentleman said in a much more genial tone as he led her over to a section of the dining room that had been cordoned off with velvet ropes.
She hoped it was just the dress color or style was wrong for this season. Fashion was not the reason she wore it, but her protection. As she sat down with Taz, she couldn't get over the reactions they were getting from the other patrons and staff. Gabriella began to think that maybe the sheriff's reaction was more to her liking than this.
The Arcadian was so deep in thought that for several minutes she didn't hear the commotion coming from the front of the restaurant Then she heard "but that animal is huge." There was several voices arguing over the procedures to get everyone out of the restaurant, while they called animal control. She looked down at the big bear, as he shook his fur back.
A waiter came up to her "I'm sorry ma'am you'll have come with me. For your safety, please." She laughed at him as she replied. "Everyone is safe…"
"As long as you don't try to harm her." A man added as he came in. He looked like he was in his late forties, his accent was heavy but pleasing with its tone of amusement. Built like a lumberjack, complete with beard, and standing an impressive six foot five, the man was dressed in a three piece suit, discreet metal framed glasses, cufflinks, tie pin, and shiny shoes.
Gabriella realized that she really did look out of place. "Ivan you're looking well. What a wonderful surprise to see you here, but I'm waiting for the new Ambassador he's supposed to arrive shortly."
He grunted an acknowledgement to her about the Ambassador. Neither of them had really liked the old Ambassador he had been a self-important airbag, who was more antagonistic than his title would recommend. Ivan had made no bones about not liking the man, and had shown it by shooting the man in the thigh. In Ivan's defense the man had deserved it after he had bungled a peace talks between the Serbians and Croatians so badly, that gunfire had broken out between the two parties.
After the Ambassador had been rushed to the hospital, Ivan had stepped in and settled things down so that the two parties had come to a tentative agreement, giving full credit to her old friend for acting as a mediator. After that it hadn't taken long for the Russian government to recall the diplomat and the man retired without further incident.
"So do you know the new ambassador? Will he be kind or will I have to fight him tooth and nail, to get anything done?" Gabriella peppered the Russian with questions, "Last but not least why is everyone so nervous? I mean not so unusual to have some reaction to Taz, but this is a little much."
Ivan chuckled at the statement, "He is posturing no, he is puffed up, and didn't you notice. He is protecting you from all. May I have a seat little Angel and Demon, Ha. I made a funny. But only you and I understand."
The Arcadian had not realized that the bear was giving warning signals to everyone who came near her. "I really need to meet the Ambassador and get this over with soon, please."
Ivan chuckled at her request, but answered her in a whispered tone. "You have just met him my little Angel. Why do you do that 2 months ago, you could have been killed?"
Her friend and protector when she was younger had just become an even stronger ally He knew about her, the pact and her arrangements for a brighter, more hopeful future.
Gabriella and Taz followed Ivan up to his suite to find a young doctor there set up and ready to do the physical that the Russian government demanded as part of the pact.
He was a younger man but he knew everything about her health. He was appalled at the condition of her side. Saying that it should have healed by now. It was almost two months since the incident.
The doctor knew that he wouldn't be able to help Gabriella with the wound on her side. It was about the size of a turkey platter and the color was blackish red, the raw flesh was exposed to the open air. She had a poultice, that Clara made for her to use in situations like this. The doctor wanted to give her some new pain medicine for her to take. She agreed to try it when she got home, not before. The Arcadian wanted to make sure she could relax and recover without worrying about being disturbed.
Gabriella spent time with Ivan going over the pact and other business when he said, "Little Angel you need someone new for your liaison and you need a pilot, a driver and a bodyguard of your own, so that you will not have to depend on the governments of Russia and China. I know that you know how to drive, but you need someone trained in defensive driving. Plus the incident in New York should not have happened two months ago. If I had been there as your liaison I would have advised against it"
"And I would have ignored your advise and gone anyway," Gabriella said in a sharp tone.
"Just so," Ivan said soothingly, "but you still need someone to make you slow down and consider options, my Angel."
She knew that he was not only concerned for her well-being because of being the new Ambassador but also because he had know her since she was a child so calming the spark of irritation she felt she informed him, "It seemed like a good idea at the time."
He responded, "I understand intervening to save Captain America's life was important, but your life is more important, Angel."
Gabriella looked at him with a smirk as she stated. "I think there are several people who would argue that point with you, Ivan."
"Those would be people who do not know the truth little one." He replied but conceded enough to begin talking about more pleasant matters and less business.
They talked about his mother moving here to Florida to be closer to him. Ivan's mother had married young at 15 and her husband had died in the military. The mother and son had a wonderful bond. He wanted her close to him if she should need anything and if it was in his power to make her more comfortable and happy, it would be done.