"Fringey…"
Summary: Sarah and her sisters see there's an even darker side to Dyad's little cloning-fest…
(Not sure about this one but while I await more details for "Nessun Dorma" I'll play round with this darker one and see how it goes. Afraid you'll have to consider this the Allison-Donnie-friendly corner of the OB multiverse. After all, she can't be veering toward insanity and he can't be a rat in every universe…)
Disclaimer: No copywrite infringement intended.
Part XXII…
Three months previously…
Donnie eyeing the somewhat aged version of Allison before him, leaning on support pillow in the back of her car…
Not ignoring the occasional cool stare in the rearview mirror of the driver, "Olivier" according to what Mrs….Dr? Leekie had said earlier.
Nor forgetting her quiet reference to the gun on said "Olivier"'s person.
What is that, anyway?… "Olivier" for a first name…Some sort of snooty way of telling the world he's a fan of Lawrence Olivier or what?
"So you say you're Ally's…And the others…Genetic mother?"
"The adult cell used to provide the initial DNA framework came from me, yes." She nodded. "Naturally, we experimented with induced variations and added some material."
"Like a patenting sequence?" Donnie frowned. "You patented your own daughters? Like property?"
"At the time no one knew how such things would break…It was a rather conservative decade, Donald…And our backers had a large investment of money, time, and personal security in the project. It was a…'Selling point', you might say." Grin.
"And now you're using it to control Ally…You tricked her into signing that damned contract. For what, to be able to harvest her organs? Experiment some more on her? I'm going to the police, you know…After I kick your bald husband's miserable ass."
"Given how that worked out with Sarah Manning's arrest, you might want to rethink that, Donald. All charges against her are being dropped, despite some pretty glaring evidence. You may find it a bit difficult to make your case heard taking the local police route, given the people behind this project." She noted coolly.
"So the girls told me…What, you people have the government in on this? The Americans too?..."
"It was initially a CIA/NSA funded project, Donald…" calm tone at his stare. "Largely sold, during the paranoia of the Cold War's last decade as a military/intelligence application of genetic technology. But one reason I went along with the idea of a patent sequence was to protect my girls…By keeping some kind of link that could be used to establish our bond. I never believed any court would sanction them as patents per se. Unless the Republicans had truly established their permanent rule…" smile. "And as for Ally's contract, on either side, it's hardly worth the paper it was faxed on."
"Military?...Intelligence?"
"We wanted the project to go forward, giving it some sort of fascination to the suits at Langely and the Pentagon was the way to unlock doors…And a golden stream of funding that made the Dyad Institute possible. But it remains largely a study in genetic manipulation and to a large extent, I hope, public health."
"You could do that…Let your own children be experimented on?"
"I had great dreams for this project, Donald. As did Aldous, back when we were young and the world seemed changeable, for the better, we hoped. And, frankly, I had selfish reasons…I wanted children and could not have them…I wanted to evade the limitations nature and my genetic heritage had imposed on me. And to be immortalized in Science isn't the least attractive part…"
"Immortalized as what? Another Mengele?"
"You don't know what it's like to lose a child, do you, Donald? Though you were wonderful when Ally learned she'd never have children of her own."
"Thanks to you…" glare…
"Correct…Though it appears our study resulted in a cure for my sterility…Sarah/Helena's unusual origin…That cure might possibly help Ally one day…Or if not her, at this point in her development, others to come…I've seen nearly a thousand of my daughters die, Donnie." She looked at him… "I mean the ones who survived to birth or stillbirth…I've held a few in my arms and watched, helpless as they died, from complications of the traits I passed to them."
"And still you went on…"
"The die were cast, kiddo…The experiment could either continue or we could sacrifice thousands of embryos…My girls…We could have, you know. We could have learnt a great deal just from the embryos…And Ally, Beth, Sarah…My poor, poor Helena, Rachel, Cosima, and so many others would never have seen the light of day. Never have done the things they've gotten to do…Fallen in love, borne a child…"
"Murdered their sisters…" Donnie glared. "I know about Crazy Helena…"
"The one thing I can never forgive Aldous for…" she eyed him… "My Helena…And the reason, besides my concern for Ally's happiness, you are not going to die tonight."
…
Inside Mrs. (Dr.?) Sadler's…Same time…
"Gone is the romance that was so divine…
Tis broken and can not be mend…ed.
You must go your way…And I must go mine…
But now that our love dreams have end…ed."
"Ally, what the hell is that?" Sarah eyed the YouTube video playing as Allison mournfully sang along…
"When I'm alone…With only…Dreams of you…
That won't come true…
What I'll do…?"
"It's from 'The Great Gatsby', well…It was used in the old film with Robert Redford, not the new one with Leonardo…And it's an old song… 'What I'll do?'…"
"Damned if I know, sweetheart." Sarah shrugged.
"No…That's the name of the song…" Allison frowned. "Do you never listen to anything but punk rock?"
"I don't listen much to punk these days…Old hat…But can't you find somethin' a little more cheery? Ally, Kira's still with me, thanking God for Fee!"
"Donnie's not with me…" Allison sighed.
Sarah sighing and sitting… Right…
"Honey, I'm sorry…I wasn't thinkin'…"
"I suppose you find us pretty tame and foolish…" Allison looked at her twin. "Just a couple of suburbans trying to pretend they're happy and all that…Dull as dishwater and a waste of space…"
"I don't think that…" Sarah frowned. "Ally, my life is not some glamorous adventure, believe me. I wouldn't trade it, cause Fee and Kira are worth all the trouble but if you've got some idea I look down on you…"
"Sarah…" frown…
"Well, maybe when we first met…But that's a defense thing…I figured you…With your nice, settled life…You'd consider me just so much trash in your way. An embarrassment to have to call sister."
"Well…You did have a record…" Allison grinned wanly. "But right from the start I could see how like Beth you were…Take charge, no compromises…It makes me ashamed to see how comfortably I've settled for keeping things 'nice' and 'neat' and now…" shrug… "Joke's on me, I guess."
"I don't know that…" Sarah patted her hand. "You have two lovely kids…And Donnie…Well, we don't know yet why he did what he did…He seemed willin' to help. Ally, you and Cos let me give Paul another chance…Maybe you should hear him out?"
"What if it's the worst that could be, Sarah? What if he never loved me? If it was all a lie and he's just some employee, a bit more willing to 'live' the role than Paul." desperate twist of hands...
"He's known you since high school, Hendrix…"
"That just makes it worse…" sigh… "Did he only even look at me because Leekie offered him some great deal? Maybe he hates me, just pretends to bear with me…He's been upset with me recently. Oh, God…" she blanched.
"Ginny Nussbaum…"
"Excuse me?"
"Ginny Nussbaum…" she stared. "He said he'd had a couple of affairs with her…When I confronted him about his private box…Where he'd tried to fool me with those stupid porn videos. Sarah, what if Ginny's his real wife? He goes on business trips…Maybe he goes to see her and his real family…His real children…His own… And we're just some fraud…"
"Ally…" Sarah tried.
"Maybe this has just been 'The Ally Show' all these years?" Allison gulped. "Nothing real…How do I even know my mom really is my mom? Donnie said she referred him to Leekie…My own mother…"
"Ally. We know we had to have birth moms, whoever the genetic donor was. And she thought he was a therapist type…Maybe Donnie's tellin' the truth and he did too…Ally, Dyad wanted its monitors to be that blind thing…Like Cos says…"
"Double blind…"
"Right…"
"Like the song says…What'll I do, Sarah?...I nearly killed my best friend, only to find out my first guess was right…"
Yeah…Win one for paranoia…Sarah thought.
"Ally…All I can say is…You rushed to judgment twice with bad results. Why not try easing up this time?"
"Really?" doubtful, yet hopeful look. "You really think Donnie might not be pure evil?"
"Pure putz, maybe…Pure evil…"
"Hey! I thought I said I was tired of hearing cracks like that about…" Allison blinking at Sarah's grin…
"If you're still willin' to defend him, something must be real, sweetie." She noted.
"Should I call him?"
"Up to you, kid…But speakin' of people one can't trust…I wonder where Mrs. S…Or rather, Dr. S…Has got herself off too." Sarah frowned.
"Seems I'm the one with a mother who lied to me from day one…" she noted grimly.
"I can't believe she's a part of this…" Allison shook her head. "She seemed so on your side, on our side…And she did protect you and Kira…"
"Right…Brought us here…Where Dyad could get its hooks into us. Ally? What if Fee's not telling the truth?"
"Sarah?"
"Maybe he's being forced to say they're ok…Maybe he's been in on it too…"
"Now, Sarah…Lets not be paranoid…" Allison, raising hand. "Kira sounded well and happy, not like anyone was doing anything…And Felix is a good person, I've not a doubt about him."
"Right…Right…" Sarah nodded, anxiously… "It's just…I've gotta see her, Ally…Know she's safe."
"Of course…" Allison drummed fingers. "But as to this getting in a car and going thing?...Sarah, if you go…And Dyad is waiting and watching…"
"I know…That's why I told Fee to stay away…" rubbing forehead. "Maybe you could go? As Allison, if you leave they might not follow you?"
"If I were them…I'd follow me from here…Suspecting it was you." Allison noted.
"Catchin' on to our game, yeah…I suppose by now they would." Sarah sighed.
"But…They might not follow you and Donnie." She eyed Allison.
"Sarah?"
"If you call Fee from your phone…Or I do…? Ask him to bring Kira near your mum's?"
"I think Paul would be a better choice…" Allison, looking away.
"Even if I was willin' to trust him again after that last romp at Dyad…They know I'm with Paul…They'd watch him."
"Even if Donnie doesn't give her away…They still would probably follow us."
"To your mum's…Then you or better yet, me…Slip out on the qt while Donnie with the kids. Perfectly naturally you'd go see your kids, you're a terrific mum and you're already getting' jittery from not seein' 'em."
"That's true…Thank you, that's the nicest thing you could've said…" Allison beamed. "But you could come with us, hide in the car…"
"They'd spot me…Besides a Sarah needs to be here should Mrs. S come back…Or Art and the cops…Or Dyad just decides to take the gloves off and come breakin' the door down. Will you do this for me, Ally?"
"Exactly what? Call Donnie to come back here?"
"And tell him you're willin' to hear him out and you wanna go see the kids…Simple enough, right?"
"I don't know if could face him now…"
"Ally, I have to be sure that Kira's really safe. If you won't do this, I've gotta take my chances and go try to meet them somewhere."
"You can't do that, Sarah!"
"I know…But I won't be able to help myself…You're a mother, Ally…" pleading look.
"Ok…Fine…I will call Donnie and get him back here. Now, are you going as me or what?"
"I think you better. I don't want Mrs. S realizing I'm gone…That could put Dyad right on Kira's trail. Ally…It might be a chance for you to talk to Donnie?"
"We can't trust him…"
"God knows we won't…He'll know nothing…But we get Fee to drive by…You see if Kira's with him…Or maybe there's a neighbor's place you could go to without Donnie wondering?"
"There are some people I know in the neighborhood…Old friends…"
"You go for a quick visit, Fee and Kira swing by the driveway or something."
"Risky, Sarah…"
"I'll work it out with Fee…You just give me a place…The safest and closest you think…"
"Oh…Ok…" shrug…Pulling phone and dialing…
Well, I am in pieces about Kira…Sarah thought, eyeing Allison…And if this makes things sure about her and gives that birdbrain Donnie a last chance to set it right…Or Ally, her closure in a chance to kick his Dyad-paid-for balls, fair enough.
….
Back seat of Claire Leekie's car…
"You can get it, Donald…" Claire nodded as he eyed his buzzing phone. "I assume it's Allison…Try not to blow it. If it's not, hang-up immediately."
"Ally?" he spoke to phone.
"Yes, I'm still…What? Fine…I'm listening…" sigh… "Uh-huh. Oh…Ally…Dr. Leekie is out here, in his car, and the other Leekie, your mother, in another…She's got me with her! I love you, Ally!" he rushed the words, closing eyes at the end.
"Donnie?!" Allison's voice audible from the phone.
"Heroic." Claire, dryly. "Don't leave her hanging, she may think we shot you."
He opened his eyes…Hmmn.
Rather expecting it, really…
"Come on, Donald…"
"Donnie!...Donnie?!" Allison's cries frantic now…
"Uh…Yeah, I'm here. I'm ok. But your mother is here, she grabbed me."
"No…Claire Leekie…Another doctor Leekie, yeah. No, I don't think she's going to kill me right now."
"Not right now." Claire, wry smile. "Give, please…" she extended her hand.
Sighing at his narrow look…
"Donnie? If I were going to have Olivier shoot you to stop you from telling Allison…"
Right…He sighed, handing phone.
"Allison…This is Dr. Claire Leekie. I'm parked outside your sister's ex-guardian's home and yes, I do have the pleasure of Donald's company in my car…And he is in a degree of danger if you and Sarah don't provide Ms. Kira's whereabouts immediately."
"I knew you were lying!" Donnie, desperately…Trying to unlock door…
"Olivier…" Claire sighed. Olivier pointing gun at Donnie who pulled back a bit… "There's no point in trying to be a hero, Donnie…The doors won't unlock from here. Hmmn?" she found herself in a tight grip…He pulling her to him, reaching for her throat.
"Go ahead and shoot, I don't care…" he gasped out… "But...I'll see you in…"
Olivier firing…Striking him in the arm…He released his choke hold…
Claire gasping…Leaning back…A concerned Olivier moving to get out… "No!" she commanded. "Don't, Olivier…I'm fine. Donald? Are you all right?"
"Ah…" his reply…
"I just hit the arm…" Olivier noted. "Sorry, I didn't know what…"
A huge smash of bat on the front of the car…
"OUT OF THE CAR!" Allison's harsh cry… "OUT OF THE CAR, RIGHT NOW!" Another heavy smash, now at the windshield…
"Well…" Claire eyed Donnie… "A little faster redemption than I'd expected but…Olivier, time to go."
The door by the bleeding Donnie unlocked and opened, and, with a hard shove, leaning across, Olivier pushed him out. Starting the car immediately…
Allison, with a cry, running to Donnie as the car sped away…
Further down the street, the headlights on Aldous Leekie's car came on…