Spartan's Quest - Chapter 25
Author owns no rights of any kind, and writes for his own amusement, and that of others.
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Athena settled gracefully onto the ground on Osiris. Once the ship was stationary, Jayne and River eased down the ramp, followed by Jon Dixon, and Elana Harwood. While the escort was no longer really necessary, it would be unlikely that someone of Janos' standing would be out without bodyguards. Thus, the two would trail along at a discreet distance.
"You sure you want to do this?" Jayne asked once more. River nodded. Firmly.
"I am. It's long past time I did this, Jayne. I no longer have anything to fear. From them, or anyone." Her confidence was almost tangible, and Jayne had to smile. Hand in hand, the two set out. It wasn't far to the Tam household, and they had decided to walk. They made the trip in silence, simply enjoying each other's company, and the fact that the day was rather beautiful.
Before either realized it, they were standing before the gate to the Tam home. River took a deep breath, and pressed the buzzer.
"Yes?" a voice answered at once.
"River Tam, to see her parents," she said into the box.
"What?" The answer was one of shock, if Jayne was any judge.
"I said, I'm River Tam, and I'm here to see my parents," River repeated slowly, as if to a backward child.
"I. . .wait one," the voice finally replied. River frowned at that.
"What's wrong?" Jayne asked.
"I don't know," she admitted. "I'm sure it's a surprise to them, of course, but it shouldn't rate that much. I mean, it's not like I'm dead."
As if someone had heard her, the gate swung open. River and Jayne exchanged glances, then exchanged shrugs, and stepped through the gate, followed closely by Dixon and Harwood. The two security officers had not missed the apprehension on either side of the conversation, and were constantly scanning their surroundings. Before the party could reach the front door, it burst open, and a woman came running out.
"River!" Reagan Tam cried in obvious delight. "Oh, River, I am so glad to see you!" She ran to her estranged daughter and threw her arms around her enthusiastically. River, shocked by her mother's welcome, finally managed to return the embrace, tightening her arms around her mother. When the embrace was finally broken, both women were teary eyed.
"Oh, my baby," Reagan stroked River's long hair fondly. "I thought I'd never see you again. Is Simon with you? Is he well? Where have you been? I. . .oh," she broke off suddenly, seeing Jayne for the first time. "I'm sorry, I was. . . ."
"It's all right, mother," River was smiling now, relieved at the welcome she'd received. "Mother, this is Lord Janos, my fiancee. Janos, this is my mother, Reagan Tam."
"I'm pleased to meet you, Mrs. Tam," Jayne smiled, extending his hand. Regan took it, her face frozen. Jayne carefully took her hand, bent at the waist, and kissed it lightly. The formal bearing finally broke Reagan out of her trance.
"Janos?" she sputtered. "Fiancee? Janos, as in Lord Janos? Of Londinium?"
"Guilty as charged, I fear," Jayne smiled at her.
"Oh, my," Reagan murmured, looking back to her daughter. "When. . .I mean, how. . .that is. . . ." River laughed delightedly at her mother's evident loss for words.
"Mother, Janos and I met some time ago," she explained. "He asked me to marry him six months ago, give or take. This is our first opportunity to visit with you since then."
"Marrying?" Reagan still seemed at a loss for words. "You're marrying Lord Janos?"
"She is," Jayne assured her. "I would not allow her to back out now," he smiled. "I'm far to attached to her, at this point." River laughed at that.
"As if I would," she elbowed him.
"Where are my manners?" Reagan asked. Seeing the two of them banter had apparently broken her daze. "Please, come in! Come in! I. . .are they with you, as well, River?" Reagan noticed Dixon and Harwood for the first time.
"We'll remain outside, ma'am," Dixon spoke. "With your permission."
"They're our protectors, mother," River smiled, winking at the two security officers, who managed not to smile. Reagan looked taken aback at that.
"Mother," River said patiently, "someone like Janos cannot go about unescorted. You know that."
"Of course," Reagan nodded. It was evident that the fact she was in the presence of one of the most elusive men in the 'verse was still sinking in. "Please come in."
Jayne and River followed Reagan into the house, listening to her go on and on about River's presence. River couldn't hide her happiness at the fact that she was welcome once more in her childhood home. By her mother at least.
And the fact that she had detected nothing from her mother other than happy surprise. While she might be able to guide them to Brockman, even in ignorance, she had no idea what had been done to River, or the other children.
It was a great relief to her as she followed her mother into the home she had grown up in, to know that her mother, at least, was innocent.
**********
The visit was going fairly well, very pleasant actually. Right up until Gabriel Tam came home from work.
"Who are those people outside, Reagan, and why are they on the. . . ." He broke off sharply at the sight of his daughter.
"Hello, Father," River said calmly, rising to her feet. Jayne stood as well, staying by her side. "I am glad to see you again."
"River?" Gabriel Tam seemed shocked, to say the least. "What are you doing here?" River's crestfallen look would have broke Jayne's heart, had it not caused anger to boil up inside him instead.
"Is that all you have to say, Mister Tam, after not seeing your daughter in five years?" Jayne's rumbling baritone floated across the room.
"Gabriel, don't. . . ." Reagan started, but Gabriel waved her down.
"Who are you, and what are you doing in my home?" he demanded. "And with my daughter!"
"He's a guest, Gabriel," Reagan tried again, but to no avail.
"Shut up!" he snarled.
"That's no way to speak to a lady, Mister Tam," Jayne's voice dropped an octave. River didn't have to look at him to know that his eyes had darkened. She reached for his hand, squeezing carefully.
"Janos, this is my father, Gabriel Tam," she said calmly. "Father, this is Lord Janos. My fiancee. We came here to see you and mother, and tell you of our engagement."
Gabriel's face clouded a bit at that.
"Marriage?" he demanded. "You need my permission to marry anyone, River, and I won't be giving it to you!"
"I don't need your permission, Father," River almost smiled. She had already learned what she needed to know from her father's mind. "I'm quite grown, and capable of making my own decisions."
"Here on Osiris, the law is clear," Gabriel shot back. "No parental consent, no marriage."
"We don't live here, Mister Tam," Janos said evenly. "And we won't be staying, it appears."
"You won't leave with my daughter!" Gabriel shouted. "I'll have the authorities on you before you reach the gate!"
"Gabriel shut up!" Reagan finally found her voice. "You don't know what you're saying! This is Lord Janos. Of Londinium! Do you really think anyone is going to arrest him, for God's sake?"
Gabriel Tam's eyes grew somewhat larger at that, and the color drained from his face. For a moment, he looked very much like a fish out of water, trying to get air. Finally, he managed to get himself under some form of control.
"Ah. . .my apologies, Lord Janos," he was able to stammer at last. "I didn't. . .of course, you're welcome here. Both of you," he threw a glance at River. "I didn't. . .that is, this has all caught me by surprise. I hope that you won't hold my behavior against my daughter." Jayne gave a very un-noble snort.
"Hardly," he replied. "No one can chose who their father is. The fact that my betrothed has a fool for a sire means little to me, insofar as she is concerned. I will caution you, however, just once, to mind your tongue in her presence, lest I have it from you."
"Jayne," River whispered. "Don't. Let's just go."
"I will not," he assured her, louder. "Misses Tam, it has been a pleasure to meet you. Please, you must come and visit us on Londinium, at your convenience. You may wave River at any time you desire to make the trip, and I will send a ship for you." He looked at Gabriel.
"So long as you leave him here."
"Thank you, very kindly," Reagan curtseyed slightly, shooting a withering glance at her husband. "I'm sorry that this. . .unpleasantness has occurred."
"It is no fault of yours, mother," River assured her, embracing her mother tightly. "And it was wonderful to see you again." She released her mother, and stepped back.
"And do, please, come to see us. It's a lovely place."
"I will," Reagan promised.
"Now just a moment," Gabriel spluttered, face reddening at having been left out. "Surely you can understand. . . ."
"No, I cannot," Jayne said stiffly. "I cannot understand how any father worthy of the title could think of anything other than joy at seeing his daughter after so long an absence. And," he continued, smiling, "I suggest you watch the markets carefully, the next few days. You may see a decline in the number, and quality, of people who desire to do business with you, should my opinion of you remain as it is now. Or worse, should it decline."
"Now there's no need for unpleasantness," Gabriel blustered.
"Indeed, there was not," River nodded. "We were having a wonderful time before you got here. And, for your information, I had intended to ask for your blessing, Father. Now, however, I've decided that I don't require it." She looked at Jayne.
"I want to leave here," she said simply. Jayne nodded.
"Good-bye, Misses Tam," he said gently. "I look forward to your visit."
With that the two of them headed for the door, a still spluttering Gabriel Tam in their wake.
"Where is Simon?" he demanded. "Why isn't he here with you?"
"Simon is a doctor, father," River replied over her shoulder. "He is very happy where he is, and safe. I will not tell you where he is. Should he choose to let you know, he will."
"I have a right to know. . . ." Gabriel started, only to have Jayne whirl to face him.
"Right?" he asked, his voice grating. "After denying him, leaving him alone and penniless, without aid of any kind, you dare, dare to speak of your right? Your son, Tam, is more man than you could or will ever be. Never doubt that. Should he decide he wants to see you, I assure you he will. He isn't afraid of you, nor of anyone else, that I know of. Without you around him, he's become a man. A very good man. Which is more than I can say of his father." He turned to River.
"We had best go, while I am still able." With that he walked out the door. River looked at her father for a moment, and he was stunned to see pity in her eyes. Stunned, and a little bit angry.
"Such a sad little man you are, Father," she shook her head sadly. "And to think I once so admired you." Gabriel recoiled as if he'd been slapped. Before he could recover, River, too, was out the door.
**********
"I don't know how you stood to grow up here," Jayne growled. He and River were through the gate, Dixon and Harwood in tow, heading back to their ship.
"It wasn't always like this, Jayne," River said softly. "He wasn't so. . .like that, when I was a child."
"We didn't get a chance to ask your mother about. . . ." Jayne said suddenly, stopping. River smiled.
"Unnecessary," she told him, pulling him back onto the walkway toward the ship. "I learned all we needed to know. From both of them," she added."
"And?" Jayne asked, when she wasn't more forthcoming.
"She knows nothing about Brockman," River sighed. "Nor does my father. He did know what was being done to me at the Academy, however," she added. "But was too afraid of losing his 'status' to help me." Jayne stopped again, suddenly. River sighed again, and took his hand.
"There is no point," she told him flatly. "And it will accomplish nothing. Leave it." When Jayne didn't budge, she looked him in the eyes.
"Leave it, Jayne," she repeated. "I have wounded him far more deeply than anything else will do. And you didn't do so bad yourself, now that I think about it," she added with a grin.
"I hadn't really intended to do anything," Jayne admitted. "But now. . . ."
"Yes," River actually smiled at that. "Now, is different. Indulge yourself to your heart's content, so long as my mother is cared for. She is the innocent, here. She knew nothing."
"You're sure?" Jayne pressed.
"Very sure, my love," River promised. "She simply went with an investment opportunity. A 'gamble', as she would put it. High risk, but high reward. And, I was right. She did know a great deal about it. As I said, she was always a shrewd business woman. The only problem was, all she learned was the cover story which we already know. Nothing more."
"Dead end, then," Jayne murmured, starting once again toward their ship.
"I'm afraid so," River admitted. "We must retrace our steps, it seems. Maybe there's something we missed. Somewhere."
"Could be," Jayne nodded. "Don't know where it could be, but it ain't like we got a lotta options at this point." River smiled, hearing 'Jayne's' voice, rather than the formal tone that Janos adopted. He was cooling off.
"Let's just get back to the ship, and get away from here," she said suddenly. "I want to be gone from here, and not return."
"Then it will be so." They walked on for a few moments.
"Simon will be pleased to here how well you think of him," River said teasingly. Jayne chuckled.
"After meeting your father, I have to say, I have a lot more respect for that brother of yours. And I meant what I said," he added. "Soon's you didn't tell him, of course, but I can't stop you, I reckon."
"Be careful, Jayne," River warned. "You almost sound as if you like my brother."
"Do not."