Chapter 8: Ophelia

Location: England
Key Date: Monday, 26th July, 1999

"They hit the Musée des Beaux-Arts," Evan told Drew as soon as he walked in the door of their suite and saw his friend sitting on the couch with Elaine.

"Evan!" his sister rushed forward, relieved to see him returned.

"Where've you been?" Drew demanded accusingly. It had been hours since Lorne had left ... time enough for he and Elaine to emerge from their romantic haze and begin worrying about him.

"The Tate gallery ... where I ran into my new friend Anton Lefèvre of Interpol," Evan revealed. "Turns out he's using me too ... to get to the thieves who've apparently been doing this kind of thing for ten years." Evan pulled put his wallet and phone and dropped them on a side table impatiently. "That's not the best part though," he said, facing the others with his arms folded across his chest. "That would be Lefèvre following us to Brussels and then here, making sure to tell everyone along the way where we are."

"They know we're in London," Drew concluded grimly.

"In all likelihood," Evan confirmed. "Lefèvre's trying our plan ... following me to see if he can spot the bad guys. The only good news is that he has suspects ... he just needs proof that they're guilty."

"What are you going to do?" Elaine asked worriedly.

"Play along," Evan shrugged. "Not much else I can do since he's gonna follow me regardless. It's not like he needs my approval."

"We could just go home," Elaine suggested meekly.

"We could," Evan agreed mildly, "and I'd be feeling a lot better if you guys did just that."

"But you're staying," Drew knew his friend too well to think otherwise.

"I have to," Lorne insisted. "I can't let them get away with this ... and them using me is apparently the best lead Interpol has had for a while."

"Then we're staying too," Elaine declared.

"Yeah, I kind of thought you'd say that," Evan ran a hand through his hair in agitation. "And I suppose telling you it'll be easier if I don't have to worry about you isn't gonna sway you?"

"We're not leaving you here to deal with this alone," Elaine insisted, Evan not missing this time her instinctive use of 'we' instead of 'I'. As an announcement of where his sister's relationship with Drew stood, that was a pretty big red flag.

"Not your call," Evan reminded himself internally. Still, whether his sister stayed or not should be, given the trouble was squarely fixed on him. "Can't you talk to her?" he asked Drew pointedly.

"Me?" Drew's eyebrows rose in surprise. "What do you think I can do?"

"If you're gonna get involved with my sister then you need to learn how to persuade her to do what's best for her," Evan didn't look at Elaine as he said that, sure that angry steam would be shooting from her ears.

"I'm smart enough to not even get near that one buddy," Drew said on a harsh laugh. "And she's mature enough to make her own decisions."

"And talk on her own behalf," Elaine's voice was icy as she pinned her brother with an angry glare. "I'm staying and that's that." Not waiting for a response she turned and stalked from the room.

"You sure you want to take that on," Evan quipped, watching her leave.

"Oh yeah," Drew grinned. "You giving me your approval?"

"She has," Evan replied, the implications clear. His sister had apparently made her choice and there was nothing Evan could do but support that.

"Thanks buddy," Drew clapped a hand to Lorne's shoulder exuberantly.

"You hurt her, I hunt you down and make you regret it for the rest of your life," Evan promised, pinning his friend with an intense gaze.

"Right," Drew frowned, trying to decide if he was serious or not.

Evan's gaze never wavered. He was serious.

oOo

Anton didn't contact Lorne about the suspect pictures or the files he was waiting for from Paris, but he did request a meeting with Evan and Drew two days after they'd arrived in London.

"I believe they will hit the museum tonight," he began when Evan and Drew sat down with him at a local coffee shop. "With your assistance we can get the evidence needed and bring them to justice."

"Another stake out?" Drew queried.

"Having studied their usual patterns as well as observing their brief periods of surveillance on Captain Lorne these past two days I am convinced I can apprehend them tonight ... as long as we cover all available escape routes."

"What about your own people?" Evan asked, expecting that Interpol would send the other man backup as he closed in on the culprits.

"Interpol is chiefly a coordinating organisaton," Anton reminded them with a casual shrug. "At best we would tap into the resources of local law enforcement. I believe we would be better off keeping this as simple as possible ... you and Captain Rider are already fully briefed on the situation and have the skills required."

Lorne nodded, frowning as he considered the situation. Exchanging glances with Drew and seeing the other man's silent nod of acceptance, Evan looked back at Lefèvre. "Okay, we'll help," he agreed.

"Excellent," Anton said, visibly relieved. "Let me tell you what we will do," he began, unfolding a map of the Tate and surrounding areas.

oOo

Elaine had been less than impressed at being left out of the evening's activities but finally agreed to stay close to the hotel while Evan and Drew did their thing. Evan had the mobile she'd gifted him and promised he'd call her if anything happened.

They'd been at their posts for a couple of hours, shivering in the cold night air, when the silent vibration let him know that someone was calling him.

Evan raised the binoculars Anton had provided, just making out Drew hiding in the trees covering the other side of the building. Pulling out the phone he glanced at the screen, not recognising the number displayed.

"Hello?" he answered the phone in a low tone, keeping his eyes trained on the gallery a short distance away.

"Captain Lorne?" the brisk voice on the other end enquired.

"Yes, speaking," he replied, straightening instinctively at the businesslike tone.

"Captain, my name is Andrea Knight," the woman explained. "I'm a nurse at St. Thomas' Hospital."

"My sister," Evan felt as though his insides were freezing over as he listened to her reply.

"Elaine was involved in an accident outside the Crown Regent Hotel a short while ago," Nurse Knight continued. "There is no need to be unduly concerned Captain Lorne. She's been admitted to the hospital but is in a stable condition. I found your name and number amongst her possessions and took the liberty of calling you."

"What happened?" Evan instinctively went into 'command' mode, focussing on the details and what he needed to do next while pushing his personal emotions to the background. He was worried ... scared for Elaine, but none of that came out in his voice.

"We won't know the specific details until she regains consciousness," the nurse replied. "The police were called to the scene and will want to question her as well."

"I'll be there as soon as possible," Evan promised, already more than half way to Drew's location. "Can you give me directions to the hospital from The Tate Gallery?"

Concentrating on her response, he memorised her instructions and then hung up.

"Drew, we have to leave," Lorne got his friends attention as soon as he was close enough, urging him to get moving.

"What's wrong?" Drew asked worriedly.

"Elaine's been admitted to a hospital across the river," Evan revealed. "I don't know the details, just that she's in a stable condition."

"Call Lefèvre," Drew practically ordered, his expression grim as he too tamped down on the other emotions he'd naturally be feeling.

Nodding, Evan dialled the Frenchman's number and quickly apprised him of the situation. Despite the Interpol agent's protests Lorne insisted he and Drew were leaving and hung up. "Let's go," he said, heading for Westminster Bridge.

oOo

There was nothing worse to Evan's mind than sitting in a dimly lit hospital room in the middle of the night waiting for a loved one to wake up. As he sat in a chair beside his sister's bed his thoughts moved from overwhelming concern that she really would be all right as the doctors had assured him to boiling anger.

When he and Drew had arrived at the hospital Evan had spoken to the doctors and then the police. Witnesses had reported a dark car swerving across the road directly towards Elaine. She'd been lucky that a pedestrian walking just behind her had noticed its approach and pushed her clear just in time. Elaine had hit the ground hard, knocking herself unconscious. With a bruised shoulder and hip along with what was hopefully just a mild concussion she'd come away from the accident one very lucky lady.

Lorne wasn't surprised to find out that the car had attempted to hit and then ran, none of those who's seen the accident able to give police a full licence plate number.

"I'm going to try Lefèvre again," Evan said in a low tone, putting a hand over his sisters as he looked across the bed to where Drew was keeping his own silent vigil.

And that was something else that had hit Evan between the eyes. He wasn't the only man in his sister's life anymore. She'd had boyfriends, sure, but none she'd loved with any degree of maturity. Growing up without a father's presence had resulted in Evan's role as big brother taking on an added dimension. He was the one Elaine came to for things she didn't want their Mom to know, he was the one who'd taught her to drive ... and he was the one to be there when things hadn't gone as she'd hoped and she needed someone to 'make it right' again.

Looking across at his friend, seeing the expression on his face ... remembering a similar expression of concern on Elaine's face ... was the beginning of the end of all of that. And while he was happy for his sister, at the same time he was a little sad for himself. Not that he'd ever admit it.

Pulling out the card the Interpol agent had given him, Evan walked outside the hospital, standing on the curb in front of the main entrance as he dialled.

Like the other three times he'd tried since they'd arrived at St Thomas's Lefèvre didn't answer and that had the alarm bells ringing loudly. Something wasn't right and Evan was getting quietly angrier the longer the situation continued without answers.

oOo

"I was a diversion, wasn't I?" Elaine's voice was quiet and purposeful. She'd woken in the early hours of the morning to the relief of both Drew and Evan. Now, a few hours later, Evan had finally convinced Drew to go stretch his legs, the other man picking up that Evan wanted to talk to Elaine alone.

"I think so," Evan didn't bother trying to downplay what had happened. "Pretty sure we're both thinking the same thing on why - and it worked too. I don't know what the hell happened at the Tate after Drew and I left ... because we left. Anton's not picking up the phone either which means we're back to being in the dark. That's why I'm sending you home as soon as they release you."

"But -," Elaine frowned, wincing as she shifted to sit up straighter.

"There's that too," Evan looked pointedly at the hand she was using to support her bruised side. "Even if I were willing to take the risk you're in no condition to be sitting on trains and walking around museums right now. As it is Mom's gonna have my head for not looking after you better."

"It wasn't your fault," Elaine dismissed.

"It was," Evan insisted. "What the hell was I thinking getting involved in staking out The Tate like that? It was beyond stupid. No," he held up a hand when she made to protest. "I've been too damned passive since Amsterdam ... hell, since before that."

"This isn't exactly something you can plan for Evan," Elaine retorted.

"No, but I'm done being anybody's pawn," he promised grimly.

"You've got something in mind?" she asked worriedly.

"Nothing you need to concern yourself with," Evan replied. "The only thing you have to do is focus on getting home and getting yourself better."

Elaine sighed, looking as his measured expression and knowing there was no way she was convincing him otherwise. "Okay," she agreed in a low tone.

"Thank you," Evan smiled, taking her hand and holding it lightly. "Did I tell you how glad I am you're okay?"

"Only about fifty times so far," Elaine teased. "But you can tell me again."

"I'm glad you're okay Sis," he dutifully repeated, squeezing her hand fondly before letting her go.

They sat together in companionable silence for a while, Elaine's attention half distracted by the small television mounted from the ceiling, playing but with the sound muted.

"So ... how long have you been in love with Drew?" Evan broke the silence to ask.

"I knew you were going to ask me that!" Elaine exclaimed irritably, pining him with eyes dark with annoyance.

"Then you should already have your answer prepared," he countered.

"You know it's none of your business right?" she pointed out. When Evan nodded but continued to watch her, waiting for his answer, she sighed. "Fine. I don't really know for sure. There was a spark there from the beginning but I didn't really consider him as a possibility until I visited you in Alberta."

"That's a long time ago," he said in surprise. "Why didn't you ever mention it?"

"Because I knew what you'd say," Elaine replied. "What you're probably thinking right now in fact. Besides, it's only been recently that we've considered being anything other than friends."

"I wasn't going to say anything," Evan said defensively. "It's just ...," he trailed off.

"Just what?" Elaine persisted, knowing he wouldn't be happy until he'd gotten it out of his system.

"Is that the kind of life you really want?" Evan asked quietly. "Months of separation while he's stationed somewhere you can't follow. Times when a situation will erupt and you won't know what's going on. Dreading the phone ringing because you know it might be bad news."

"Do you think Mom would give back even a second of the time she had with Dad to avoid the ending?" Elaine asked just as quietly.

It wasn't the answer he was expecting. "I don't know ... she doesn't talk about it."

"No – you don't talk about it," Elaine corrected. "I've spoken to her Evan. She loved Dad more than anything and there is no way in hell she'd give up even a second of the time she had with him to avoid the pain that came after. I know you think you can protect everyone by closing that part of yourself away but I won't live that way," she watched him closely as she spoke. "You can't choose who you love."

Evan remained silent, struggling to find the words to counter her argument because he knew, deep down, that she was right.

"Aren't you going to say anything?" she demanded when the silence had drawn on for a while.

"You don't need my approval," he pointed out.

"No, but I don't want my happiness to hurt you," Elaine's voice waivered a little as she looked away.

"Elaine," Evan rubbed a hand across his forehead tiredly, thinking he should have known better than to bring this up with her, especially given the circumstances. "You're not hurting me. I'm happy for you okay. Drew's a good man ... I trust him in the air and I can't do anything less than the same down on the ground. Does that make you feel better?"

Elaine said nothing, her eyes fixed on a point above his head.

"Hey!?" he protested her lack of attention just when he was forcing himself to be the good big brother.

"Turn up the TV Evan," Elaine demanded.

Glancing over his shoulder, Evan registered the location currently being broadcast on the screen and stood abruptly. Reaching high for the volume controls he turned up the sound.

"Security will be stepped up to protect the rest of what remains the most valuable collection of British art in the world. Officials of the museum are urging members of the public to come forward if they know anything about the theft or those responsible," a female newsreader announced.

"Ophelia is one of Millais's best known works," another man appeared on screen with the caption that announced him as the curator of the Tate Britain. "It saddens me that someone would take an important piece of our history and I can only hope that those behind this will be apprehended soon."

"And in other news ...," Evan reached up to mute the sound again.

"I guess we know what happened after we left now," he commented darkly.

oOo

With efficient ease Lorne saw to the arrangements for his sister's return to the States. He'd suggested Drew might want to go back with her, make sure she got there safely but it was Elaine who'd vetoed that, saying that Evan needed Drew more right then than she did. She and Drew had exchanged a long, wordless gaze before he'd nodded reluctantly.

At the airport, Evan hugged his sister tightly, whispering that he loved her and then forcing himself to step back to make room for Drew to say his own farewells. Turning away to give them privacy, Evan only refocussed when Elaine called his name, hugging him again before resolutely making her way to the check-in gate.

She turned to wave one more time, her careful movements reminding the two men of her injuries, before disappearing from sight.

"What now?" Drew asked quietly, eyes still on the doors leading to Elaine's plane.

"Now we get serious," Evan returned purposefully.

Authors Note:

No new 'must see' picture for Lorne this chapter - the latest stolen work has been added to the 'stolen' page on my website!