Chapter Forty-seven

"I'm sorry, Admiral, I've used every favor I have and I can't find where Beckett is."

Closing his eyes Pike pinched the bridge of his nose until it caused pain. Sighing heavily he stared out the sliding glass door at the sunset vacantly. The voice on the other end of the panel phone was silent for a moment.

"Sir, what did you mean by it being a matter of life and death that you find him?"

"Never mind." Pike said dismissively. "Thank you for trying."

"I...I heard about your son...I'm sorry."

"So am I."

Pike reached out and tapped on the contact that would end the call. He had talked to everyone he could think of in both high and low places looking for Beckett. However it would seem that the snake in the grass had slithered into oblivion.

"Lay low as long as you want you son of a bitch...I will find whatever hole you've crawled into."

Pike lashed out blindly at the laptop type computer on his desk and sent it crashing to the floor. Ignoring the mess he backed his wheelchair away and glided across the smooth floor into the kitchen. Open one of the drawers he pulled out an old paring knife. He turned the small knife that Salen had once used to cut himself over in his hand.

"Why did I keep this?"

Pike threw the knife back into the draw and slammed it shut. Dragging his hands through his silver hair he growled in frustration and pain. He wished more than at any other time that he could walk right now, he felt that a few hours at a dead run on a treadmill might help him feel better. However he had no way of truly burning off the excess energy that was fueled by his grief over Salen's death and his rage.

"I should have known, I should have known the instant I saw Beckett that Salen wasn't safe. I should have killed him the minute that he came back into my life."

Becoming increasingly restless Pike began rocking his chair back and forth a few feet just for something to do. Realizing that he was starting to lose his emotional control he stopped and took a deep breath. Rather than focus on the negative Pike went out onto the deck to look at the view of the forest that Salen used to enjoy so much.

Outside Pike watched the afternoon sun slowly sink behind the trees. As night settled over the scene the bright full moon cast an ethereal silver glow on everything. Pike stared up at the stars and wondered where among them Salen had fallen. It bothered him that Beckett didn't even have the common decency to return Salen's body for a proper burial. Closing his eyes Pike allowed tears to streak down his face.

"Admiral..."

Pike jerked his head up in the direction of the deep voice. He turned his wheelchair towards the large figure that was standing in the shadows on the far side of the deck. Fearless of the intruder Pike pulled his shoulders back and glared defiantly at the uninvited guest.

"Did Beckett send you to put me out of my misery before I could put him out of his?" Pike growled.

"I'm not here to hurt you."

"Then go away."

"Please, Sir, I need to talk to you."

The man stepped out of the shadows to show his face. Pike raised an eyebrow in slight surprise when he saw the man. With his left arm in a sling he also walked with a slight limp. His face was bruised in several places, but he looked like the kind of man who was used to wearing such marks.

"Samuel Donavan." Pike greeted. "I always wondered what happened to you."

"You...you remember me?" Razor asked in surprise.

"I do. You caught my eye at the Academy."

"Why?"

"Because you looked like you had excellent potential for an Officer. You weren't just attending the Academy like a lot of the other young recruits, I could tell that you were putting your all into absolutely everything you did. It paid off, if memory serves you graduated near the top of your class."

"I'm honored that you took notice of me."

"Since you seemed to disappear shortly after graduation I assume that Beckett got to you."

"He was the one who got me into the Academy in the first place."

"Did he send you to apologize? Let him know that I don't accept, and I won't rest until I find him."

"That will not be necessary, Sir." Razor said sadly. "Colonel Beckett is dead."

"I don't believe you, but thank you for the message. You can go now."

"I didn't come here to talk about Beckett. I'm Salen's partner."

"You mean you were."

"No." Razor smiled sadly. "I am his partner...Salen is alive."

Pike glared up at Razor with a murderous look in his eyes. Razor saw the dangerous look in the Admirals gray-blue eyes and took a step closer. When Pike tensed Razor stopped and sighed.

"I know this must be difficult for you Admiral. However, I assure you Salen is alive."

"Where is he?" Pike demanded.

"I put him in his room."

Before Razor could explain further Pike turned his chair and rushed back into the house. Razor followed him, but stayed back. When Pike entered Salen's old room he froze at the sight that greeted him. Salen was laying in his bed looking like he was sleeping peacefully. Pike stared at his chest to make sure that his son was actually breathing. Salen's hand and forearms were wrapped in white bandages that had some green blood seeping through.

"Sa...Salen?" Pike whispered.

When Salen didn't respond to his name a chill of fear ran down Pike's spine. He moved closer and hesitantly reached out to run his fingertips through Salen's ivory white hair. Salen slowly opened his dark eyes and turned his head to face his father. Pike smiled, but Salen's expression remained blank. Salen looked at Pike for a moment before closing his eyes again.

"Salen?"

"He's not talking, Admiral." Razor said sadly.

"What's wrong with him?"

"It's complicated..."

"Tell me everything."

Razor nodded and took a deep breath to tell the story. Pike continued to watch Salen sleeping as he listened to the adventures that Razor was recalling. When Razor told him the story of Salen meeting the man who had purchased and sold his blood and that of his parents Pike put his hand over Salen's heart as his eyes stung with tears. Salen reacted once more and opened his sorrow filled eyes. Salen had always looked older than his young years, but looking into his eyes now Pike felt that he was looking into the soul of a creature that had endured centuries of hardship.

Razor continued his tale, up until the point where he had brought Salen back to Earth and placed him in the bed. Pike thought about everything that had been said without comment. He had mixed emotions about Beckett's death, but he pushed the thoughts out of his mind. Leaning down Pike gently kissed Salen's forehead. Salen knit his brow together for a moment before closing his eyes once more.

"How can I help him?"

"I don't know." Razor admitted. "If you offer him something to eat he will, if you push him under the spray of a shower he'll go through the motions, he peacefully lets anyone clean his wounds. Physcially he's fine, I just don't know how to reach him mentally."

"I think I know someone who can."

"I was hoping that someone would be you."

"Sometimes these things take more than a father's love..."