Shoo, I'm so glad the harder chapters are over now. After that, this will be a cinch ; ) This chapter and the next are basically round-offs for the conclusion to this wonderful tale. I want to thank all the reviewers out there who've stuck with this story. I'll be very glad to put this story to bed soon so I can work on new stories with more romance and comedy. I'm all spied out : ) Hope you enjoy the mush.
Like most people, I have several memories of happier times that are dear to me. It's so hard to just pick one when there are so many previous events that have brought a smile to my face and warmed my heart. I was about 4 years old and I was in Paris with my parents. The Paris Tipton had just been launched and we were attending the opening ceremony. Right after my father cut the big red ribbon, I remember there being an eruption of applause from those standing around me. I remember holding on tightly to my mother's hand while she beamed with pride at my father. After cutting the ribbon, my father came towards us and scooped me up in his arms with a broad grin on his face.
"So what do you think? Did Daddy do good?" he asked in a sing-song voice.
"Daddy did really good." I answered happily.
"What did you like best?" he asked curiously.
"The big red ribbon." I replied easily, which made him roar with laughter.
"Guess what? When you're all grown up, all of this will be yours." He stated seriously while looking into my eyes.
As I gazed up at this magnificent building before me, I couldn't comprehend the idea of growing old, let alone all this grandeur belonging to no one but me.
"But I don't want it all Daddy, that's way too much." I responded hurriedly, which made him stare quizzically back at me.
"Well then, what do you want London?" he asked me cautiously.
"I want to stay with you and Mommy forever back in Boston at the Tipton. And I want ice-cream!" I exclaimed jubilantly, which made him chuckle and kiss me gently on the cheeks.
"Tell you what: Mommy and I will always be here sweetheart. As for the Tipton, it will always be your home. I promise you that. Now how 'bout we get some ice-cream huh? Does Strawberries & Cream sound good?" My father asked mischievously.
"Yay Me!" I clapped enthusiastically, which made my mother laugh as she kissed my hair…
This moment kinda felt like that, but with more cameras, more eyes, and no ice-cream. I was just as dazed and bewildered as the flashes went off from numerous cameras and microphones repeatedly shoved in my face as I had been when I was just a toddler. I hadn't known then that every eye would be focused on me, scrutinizing my every move since birth. But the scrutiny seemed different this time. Previously, I had been subjected to the jeers and criticisms of the paparazzi as they scathingly asked me questions about my personal life and how I managed to spend more than 1 million dollars a years during yet another recession. Today, people were gazing at me in a whole new light. Today I wasn't just another dumb heiress making front page news based on what designer labels I was wearing. Today I was a normal citizen who had undergone a life-threatening situation and come out unscathed. Today I was a hero.
Moseby insisted on taking me to the hospital to get checked out. I decided to let him have his way; besides, it was Dr. Hamilton's day-off and I didn't want to disturb him. He didn't get too many vacations, especially when I was in the middle of a mission. I didn't even notice when my father's security's detail arrived on the scene and whisked him off to one of his hideouts where he liked to avoid the public eye. I was more than happy to travel in one DEMON's SUV's along with Carey, Maddie, Zack, Cody, Lance, Esteban, Arwin and Moseby and just reminisce while we drove to the hospital.
Over the next few days, Moseby was pragmatic (if not disturbing) in his efforts to keep the paparazzi from harassing me with questions about the hostage situation. I was a little nervous about having to face my superiors considering the stunt Lance and I had pulled. I still had a lot of questions for Lance concerning DEMON and HALO's elaborate entrance into Daddy's penthouse suite considering the entire floor was on lock-down.
"Seriously, how did you do it? I didn't think anything could by-pass the lock-down mechanism, no matter how temporary." I stated in bewilderment while both Lance and I were sitting on hospital beds being checked out by separate doctors.
"Simple: we called the power company and explained the situation to them. They shut down the power in the city for a couple of minutes. With the kind of security system your father had installed, it shuts down like other systems of its kind during a black-out. But it starts it up after about 20 minutes. All we needed was a few minutes to get into the hotel before the generator kicked it. We figured the aerial route would be quicker while still having the element of surprise." Lance explained with a cocky smile playing on his face.
Once all the figures in the suite had ripped their masks off, I realized that they were my DEMON comrades and hopefully future HALO compatriots. I'll admit that I didn't initially take to Lance's friend Chris after he shoved my face into a gravel road. But after this latest mission, having worked together as a team, I realized that he was growing on me.
"That was quick thinking on your part, but still incredibly risky. I had everything under control. I wasn't afraid of dying if it meant that I could save more lives." I murmured softly.
"As noble as that is, did you ever think about the people you were leaving behind? You may think your life is unimportant, but you have made a difference in people's lives. Besides, I wasn't ready to let you go just yet after getting you back again." Lance replied seriously.
"Well I'm glad you did come and rescue me. I guess I was being a tad bit dramatic." I admitted sheepishly.
"Just a smidge." Lance agreed with a laugh.
Then I turned our light-hearted conversation to a more serious note.
"Have you heard from your superiors yet?" I asked curiously.
He shook his head.
"I reckon they'll wait a couple of days to give us time to recuperate before they ambush us." He reflected seriously.
"Knowing Omar, he's probably pissed considering that we broke ranks while on probation. Still, an impromptu rescue mission without any civilian casualties has to count for something right?" I asked hopefully.
"Knowing Lynette, I wouldn't count on it." Lance responded glumly, which deflated my optimism.
We soon got our answer when we were both summoned by our respective superiors to headquarters for debriefing and what Eleanor deemed a 'chat'. I tried to ignore the sinking sensation in my heart as I rode the elevator after striding through a shopping mall full of prying eyes and gaping stares. Everything was just as it usually was when the elevator doors opened, the blue fluorescent lights twinkling invitingly against the lobby ceiling. But I was taken aback slightly when a multitude of people began clapping enthusiastically in my direction and cheering with beaming smiles. I tried to play it off abashedly with a wave of my hand and murmured thanks when I noticed Eleanor standing outside her office door, eyeing me appraisingly. Clearing my throat, I made my way towards her, tugging self-consciously at the bottoms of my tailored jacket.
"Omar's already waiting for us in the conference room." Eleanor stated by way of greeting.
I had dressed very carefully for my debriefing as I anticipated either good or bad news. The best I could hope for at this point was that I was dismissed without having to endure too much of Omar's notorious 'tarnishing the CIA's reputation of order and discretion' speech. Alec, who was sitting in his cubicle, gave me a thumbs-up and a reassuring wink which I returned gratefully. The conference room was the same as ever – chilly and imposing. Omar as usual hadn't taken a seat, but stood resolutely in front of the projector screen, surveying me as I came towards him.
"Agent L, please take a seat." He commanded briskly.
"If it's alright with you sir, I'd prefer to stand." I responded politely with a touch of hysteria in my voice.
"Very well," he relented while I struggled to keep my breathing even.
"I'm sure you're aware of why Eleanor and I have called you in today. As you well know, insubordination is taken very seriously within the CIA's ranks." Omar began ominously.
"Yes sir." I responded meekly.
"I gave both you and Agent Oz strict orders not to approach the Tipton Hotel at any time during the negotiation period. Is that correct?" Omar demanded crisply.
"Yes sir." I replied quickly.
"And did you in fact adhere to my instructions or disregard them completely?" he demanded in a livid tone.
"I disobeyed your instructions sir." I admitted quietly while looking down at my feet.
Eleanor remained silent all the while, her expression blank.
"I believe that my instructions were clear, objective and given to aid the overall success of our bureaucratic procedure in a hostage situation. Do you then have any explanation for your flagrant disregard for the rules?" Omar interrogated ominously.
"Sir, I make no excuses for my behaviour. I acknowledge that both Agent Oz and I deliberately went against normal hostage procedure. The fault is my own; I hope that will be borne in mind when dealing fairly with Agent Oz. I disobeyed you in good conscience. My only concern was to protect the lives of innocent people who had nothing to do with the grudge held by OPIUM against myself and my father. In doing so, I wished to ensure that Laurent Savoy's crimes would be brought to light and that justice would be served so as to avoid another terrorist attack from this criminal syndicate in the future. You have always taught me that the saving of lives in whichever form is far more important than the CIA's reputation and discretion. I apologise for causing the agency any embarrassment and accept whatever punishment you feel is befitting of me." I answered as succinctly as possible, looking Omar square in the eye for the first time.
He observed me for a few more seconds while tapping his chin thoughtfully. That gesture could only mean trouble. Goodbye espionage, hello stake-outs for the rest of my life.
"Very well, I am satisfied with your explanation. The heads of HALO and DEMON have spoken at length regarding a suitable punishment for both you and Agent Oz. And we have all agreed that the two of you are hereby placed on another month of suspension for your insubordination." Omar stated severely.
I hung my head at this point. It seemed unfair after both Lance and I had risked our lives. But we did break the rules. I guess I just had to man up and take it.
"Eleanor, please explain the terms of Agent L's suspension." Omar entreated in a booming voice while I continued looking away.
"Agent L, you will still receive your regular salary while on suspension. In addition, you are hereby instructed to spend the duration of your suspension in an obscure location. Permit me to suggest the Maldives, the weather is quite ideal at this time of the year." Eleanor concluded in a somber voice.
The Maldives? What the hell was going on here? Prison Break: Escape from the Islands?
I raised my head to look at both Eleanor and Omar, who were grinning at my stupefied expression.
"The Maldives?" I asked quizzically.
"Since your services and skills won't be required in the field for a month, we agreed that both you and Agent Oz should use the time to rest and recuperate. After all, you've been very busy these past few days. We feel that you've earned a rest." Omar answered easily, the grin still in place.
Was I hearing this right? Am I actually getting time off work for breaking the rules?
"But sir, I've been suspended. I don't understand." I answered truthfully.
"True, you and Agent Oz did break the rules. But after the work you both did concerning the Tipton Hostage Situation, you must be rewarded. You managed to unite the forces of DEMON and HALO in a solo operation, a feat rarely achieved under normal bureaucratic process within the system. You showed that you possess tenacity, unusual resourcefulness and extraordinary bravery in a stressful situation. Excellent work London." Omar congratulated with more sincerity than I believed he actually possessed.
"Thank you sir. Your lenience is staggering." I responded meekly with the ghost of a smile on my face.
"You're welcome Agent, but don't go making a habit out of it." Omar warned sternly with a raised eyebrow.
"Understood sir." I stated with a grin.
"And one more thing: I would greatly appreciate it if express details about your suspension weren't repeated to anyone else outside of yours and Agent Oz's circle of peers. I have to be seen as having made an example out of you by my superiors." Omar added with a twinkle in his eye.
"My lips are sealed sir." I replied readily.
"Excellent. Please give my regards to Agent Oz. Please make the most of your suspension. You're dismissed, keep up the good work."
With that, Omar gave me one last smile before exiting the room. I turned to face Eleanor with a 'what the hell was that all about' look on my face which she recognized well. She too was smiling broadly as she came towards me.
"Well done London. You should be proud of yourself," she congratulated genuinely.
"Thank you Eleanor. That means a lot coming from you." I replied sincerely.
"It's funny, sometimes I wonder whether I've been a good mentor to you. I feel like I've let you down, that Brandy put too much of her faith in me." Eleanor admitted despondently, bowing her head slightly.
"Eleanor, that's not true. Don't you ever think that for a second. You are a fantastic agent and a great mentor. You've taught me everything I know. I wouldn't be standing here right now if it weren't for you. I owe you so much." I told her vehemently while placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"That's not true, Brandy taught you more than me. She taught you things that can't be assessed in a report or seen in a life-or-death situation. She helped you become the remarkable woman that you are today." Eleanor declared earnestly.
"I know she has. But she's not the only who's inspired me. These last few days have helped me realize what's important in life and the people that matter to me most. I just hope that Brandy's proud of what I've achieved." I admitted more to myself as I looked away.
Eleanor came towards me and put her arms around, pulling me into a close embrace. It felt nice to be hugged this way by someone; it had been too long. And after the last few days that I had endured, I could use all the hugs in the world. When Eleanor pulled away, she beamed at me once more. Perhaps a little too brightly this time.
"Brandy is proud of you London, no matter what you do. Always remember that." Eleanor stated earnestly.
After I thanked Eleanor again, I left her standing there in the conference room. I left with a surge of strange emotions, being both touched and saddened at the sight of Eleanor crying over my dead step-mother.
Before I could head home, I was duly summoned by my father. So I turned my car around and drove towards Tipton Enterprises instead. I had anticipated that my father would eventually want to talk to me about everything which had transpired a few days ago. I too wanted to talk to him, but had deliberately put it off. There was so much to say and I needed time to prepare myself. I got through my meeting with Omar and Eleanor and that had gone unexpectedly well. How bad could a conversation with my own father be?
When I entered my father's office, he was standing behind his desk, staring out at the Boston skyline, clearly deep in thought. I cleared my throat to let him know I was here. He turned to face me and gave me a wan smile.
"London, thank you for coming, please sit down."
I obediently took a seat adjacent to him.
"Would you like anything? A snack or a beverage?" My father asked politely.
"I'm fine Daddy. How are you?" I asked softly.
My father waved a dismissive hand at my concern.
"Perfectly normal and healthy. I've suffered through far worse in my life than a hostage situation. You really didn't have to call Dr. Hamilton to check up on me," he answered reproachfully.
"Always so stubborn," I muttered while shaking my head.
My father, however, pricked up his ears at my last comment.
"I didn't become the cutthroat businessman I am today by rolling over and playing dead. I guess you've inherited some of that same stubbornness and inability to back down from me." My father responded gruffly.
"I guess so," I conceded.
"What you did at the Tipton a few days ago was incredibly brave. But also incredibly reckless. It seems that you've been leading a double life for quite some time." My father announced shrewdly.
The statement still caught me off guard though I'd been expecting it for some days now.
"My current way of life is complicated and difficult to account for. I had to be discreet so as to avoid exposure and possible danger." I responded carefully without elaborating any further.
"So I've guessed. You don't have to bore me with the details. Need-to-know basis right? I control shares in nearly 50 different corporations. Yet I don't seem to know my own daughter as well as I presumed. I've underestimated you a great deal," he admitted quietly while staring into space.
"Yes you have," I agreed solemnly.
"Daddy, why didn't you tell me about the Panacea Project or the Shangri-La Hotel for that matter?" I questioned seriously.
My father, the ruthless businessman, looked disconcerted for a moment.
"Because I was ashamed. It's not easy for a man like myself to lose face in any sense, especially in the eyes of his offspring. I'm supposed to be able to read people well, make sound business decisions. I've always prided myself on my objectivity in seeing beyond the profit-margin. But with the Shangri-La Hotel and the Panacea Project, I was greedy. Not entirely for the money, but for the prestige of affiliation with grandeur and status. For a moment I didn't want to just be Wilfred Tipton, the cutthroat hotel mogul. I wanted to be Wilfred Tipton, the philanthropist, the pioneer. I lost my focus and it almost cost me everything, including my reputation. It was a close call with the Shangri-La scandal, but the Panacea Project-"
"That wasn't your fault Daddy. Kevin Moran and Laurent Savoy tricked you and tried to blackmail you. You couldn't have known." I interjected comfortingly.
"But I should have known. I didn't tell you about either of those deals for different reasons. It was partly because I didn't want to worry you. But mostly, it was because I didn't think you'd understand the logistics." My father explained abashedly.
The last part stung, but I was relieved at the same time that he was being honest with me for a change.
"I should've known about the Tipton too and Laurent Savoy. I should've listened when you warned me. I thought you were acting like a spoiled child who'd gotten every advantage in life. I tried to stop it, but it was too late-"
"Daddy, it's okay. I know you tried to get out of the Tipton agreement. I don't blame you for any of it."
"Still, the Tipton's your home. I shouldn't have gone behind your back. I made you a promise after all. If Brandy were here now, she would've told me the same thing."
A knot formed in my stomach at the mention of Brandy. I'd always known it would be painful to talk about her with my father. But we were past the point of no return now.
"Daddy, about what I said the day you were taken hostage, about Brandy and Cindy. I was way out of line and I'm sorry. It was a long time ago, it's in the past." I stated steadily.
"Is it really? I made a vow to myself that if I got out of the hostage situation alive, I'd try and explain my actions. I'm not surprised that Brandy told you about my indiscretions; you were close, it's understandable. I loved her a great deal, but I'm not perfect. I was arrogant and selfish. When I realized how foolish I'd been, I stopped my liaison with Cindy and told Brandy everything. I begged her to give me another chance; I needed to prove to her that I could be a better husband, that she could trust me again. I never got the chance to make good on that promise. Now I'll never know whether she ever really forgave me-"
"She did forgive you, I-"
My father looked at me while I made a snap decision to tell him the truth. Hadn't we already kept too many secrets already?
"I was there the day she died, at the Chrysler Building." I finished.
My father stared at me in amazement.
"That's impossible. You were at that fashion show with your friends," he replied in bewilderment.
"I was, but I left early. A friend of mine who works at the Boston Herald told me what happened, so I went down to the Chrysler Building. I saw Brandy right before she went back into the building."
My father sank into his chair while clutching his head in his hands.
"My God London," he murmured.
"OPIUM planted a bomb in the building that would've killed everyone on sight. That's why Brandy strapped the bomb to her own body, so no one else had to die. She was so brave. She loved you, right till the very end. She loved us both and she wanted us to be happy and carry on after she was gone. She forgave you Daddy." I answered, the tears running down my face with each passing second.
"Why didn't you tell me?" My father demanded painstakingly.
"Because I was angry at you. I hated you for betraying Brandy. She told me about Cindy a week before her death and I resented her for giving you another chance. I felt so alone after she died; for a while nothing made sense. But things make sense now; my life finally has meaning. No matter what I do with my life, I hope you can accept me as I am."
"Of course I can accept you. You're my child."
"I'm sorry that we haven't been close in a long time. I just missed Brandy, I still do." I admitted morosely.
"I know, I miss her too, every day. We were going to renew our wedding vows. But then she died-"
After that, my father, the cutthroat businessman and hotel mogul, broke down and began crying uncontrollably, finally succumbing to his pent-up grief. And there wasn't anything I could do for him. I had lived with this pain and loss for over a year and learned to bury it behind my astute poker face. He, on the other hand, was only just beginning his worst nightmare: the loss of a loved one and learning to live with the void. Despite the sadness I felt for my father, I was relieved as well. I had learnt two vital things today. Firstly, I could be the real me with my father and not be afraid of the consequences. And secondly, my father had truly loved my step-mother with all his imperfections. Brandy really had left a lasting impression on the people she loved. She had given me and my father this gift and I was grateful. I knew that the grieving period differed with each person, some people needing a few years to heal, some a lifetime. But somehow I knew that my father and I would overcome our temporary despair in time. Now that we'd finally admitted what we feared and told lies about, we'd be able to sleep peacefully from now on. There would be no nightmares tonight; only angelic dreams with castles in the sky, ice-cream and Brandy's smile.
Cheesy right? But that was kinda what I was going for. I needed a heart-felt moment between London and her father. I hope it was believable. and not too morbid. How did I still manage to make this chapter plus-minus 4000 words? I was not meant to be a short-story novelist. Read and holler back at me in a review, let me know what you think.