Voyager Shadows: Poor little rich girl

Chapter 4: Blackmailin' Babs

The next morning the sky turned the color of lead and rain hammered down the windows. Every so often thunder clapped and blue flashes zapped across the clouds. Phineas awoke startled, but then realized it was just a storm. On instinct he put his arm down and reached for his communicator. A red warning signal blinked with an urgent text message from Michelle. Phineas read it carefully, then jumped up and read it again. He paced around fully awake.

"Aww, no! No! No! How did they find out so fast?" He quickly made his own bed. "What am I saying? They can manipulate the laws of the universe, but they can't discover who hacked their own computers? Of course they can! And of course they did!"

Phineas washed up and dressed himself in casual clothes – a black polo shirt and gray, Continental pants. He put on a comfortable pair of black oxfords. He looked in the mirror worried, he couldn't even bother to tame the mane and comb it in a side-part. He smoothed it down with some hair oil and left his natural waves. He went downstairs to the kitchen for breakfast. Natalie sat at the table, still in her pajamas and eating warm cereal and fruit. She thumbed through a fashion magazine. He retrieved some of the scrambled eggs and sausages the maid prepared and sat across from her. He chewed noisily and slammed things around upset.

Natalie watched him carefully. She didn't like to see him this angry; it just didn't seem like Phineas Bogg's nature. She rapped the table.

"Dad's not here, he'll be gone all day. Today's major factory inspections and he's worried about flooding. He said to tell you to just take the day and relax unless the Beauty Queen wants something."

Phineas nodded brusquely but didn't look up from his plate or respond.

"Hey, what's this? Where's your cheerful 'Good morning, Natalie!' Can't you see it's such a glorious day out?" She forced a smile.

Phineas glared at her. He was in no mood for sarcasm. He swallowed a forkful of eggs and put the utensil down calmly. "Here's a thought, Nat. Why don't you be polite and tell me 'Good morning, Phineas!' for once in your life? Obviously I'm not having one." He snapped.

He was right, but she hated to give him the upper hand. "So what's got your goat that you have to chop me up? What did I do?"

Phineas stood abruptly and cleared his dish. "Nothing…but is it too much to ask that you show me a little bit of consideration after all I've done for…"

He gazed at her, she would never understand the sacrifices he made for the Voyager cause and now the Tribunal was geared to strip him of his livelihood. He would be banished or sent back to his own time to live out his days as a pirate, cleaning rat infested bungholes and climbing ratlines. He barely remembered the activities of his former life, nor was he accustomed to it anymore.

He sighed and shook his head. "Forget it, never mind. Eat your cereal before it gets cold. Are you going anywhere today?"

"It's pouring buckets out there, all my activities are canceled. I'm just going to catch up on on homework and reading I guess." Natalie said quietly. "Phineas, is something wrong? I mean really wrong?"

"You actually care?" He was genuinely surprised.

Natalie shrugged timidly. "Yeah, you look angry, but there's something else, you look…sad. Did someone die?"

Phineas sat alongside her. "No, but I uh, got some bad news from back home, so I may have to leave very soon. I don't know for sure or when, but I just want to let you know in case you wake up one morning without a Chauffeur."

"But you'll come back to me…I mean…us! Right?" All the sarcasm fled. She appealed to him earnest, almost desperate.

"I…I don't know if I can."

As he looked into her eyes he had a disturbing flash. She was trapped in the car, banging on the window as water seeped in higher. She cried out for him. He felt that somehow she sensed he was not just here to drive the family around.

Phineas put his hand around her neck and drew her close. "I'll try. I promise." He kissed the top of her head gently. "Take good care of yourself, Natalie. You're a special young woman, but you have to believe it and you have to start showing everyone else."

"Phineas…who are you?" She whispered. Her lips quivered and her eyes brightened with tears. Before she could speak again Barbara skipped into the room in a vivid red halter-top and tight pink Capri pants.

"Good morning, Boggy Wog! Morning, bratty natty." She sashayed around with her backside to him and buttered a piece of toast. When she turned she slowly licked the melted butter off her lips. "I have a surprise for you, Bogg. The bungalow is ready and waiting. Come on, you're all dressed, unlike this lazy kid, let's go check it out."

"I'm not lazy. I do more work around here than you do." Natalie shot back, wiping her eyes. "All you do is spend my dad's money."

Barbara ignored her. "At least I don't waste it. All teenage girls are lazy, it's in the blood." She came around and rubbed Phineas' shoulders but he squirmed out from under her grip.

"Don't fight it. All these muscles are so tense…I have the perfect cure for a rainy day! We'll go to the spa! They'll have you loosened up in no time."

"No, thank you, Babs. I'm fine. Uhh, let's go check out the bungalow so I can move in."

"Now you're finally talking." She frowned at Natalie. "Margie's off today so make sure to clean up your own mess."

As they left, Phineas stared after Natalie, she had her head down and looked about to cry. He wanted to console her, but Barbara pulled him outside and they had to make a run for it around the house.

"Why didn't we just use the back door? It's quicker!" Phineas called.

Barbara shook out her hair bob and laughed as she ran into the bungalow. "It's more fun this way! The wet clothes can always come off, Bogg." She slammed the door shut and leaned against it breathlessly. Phineas kept his distance; she expected him to rush on her in a heat of passion. He imagined himself in his twenties – lusty and impulsive. Before Jeffrey came along he just might have, but then he would have regretted it and omnied away to clear his thoughts.

Long ago Phineas gave himself a steadfast rule to not toy with married women, no matter how gorgeous or desirable they were. It was always part of the Voyager code, but who had time to read that mile-long scroll when they were having fun in the cosmos?

Phineas stared at the small, freshly painted room. It was neat and livable with a tiny stove and counter-top with a kitchen sink that could fit all of two dishes and two utensils. Off to the side of the kitchen was a bathroom just big enough to shower or do your business with your knees against the wall. The dining space had a round folding table and two chairs. Barbara set it up nicely with a champagne tablecloth and vase. He saw a black recliner against the corner wall with a small television set and bookshelf. He smiled satisfied.

"Very nice, Babs. I like what you did here."

Barbara slinked cautiously to the far wall. "I knew you would, I know its bare, but I can tell you're a man that likes to…rough it." She sighed.

Phineas was reminded of the Marilyn Monroe persona with all her cooing. It grated his nerves.

"It sure beats a dungeon."

"You've been in a dungeon before, Bogg?"

"Sure, lots of times. I've been in dungeons bigger than this, but usually I only had skeletal friends for company."

Barbara phonied up a laugh. "You're putting me on, but that's okay. Better on, than off."

"Yeah, sure." It hit Phineas that certain furniture was missing. "Um, Babs, where do I sleep?"

He was immediately sorry he asked. She clapped her hands and stood in front of what he assumed to be a mirrored closet. She upright inside. He helped her lower it. When it hit the floor she jumped on top and dragged him with her.

"Don't you love it? It's so romantic and hidden…it's secret!" She whispered in his ear and nibbled at it. Phineas wriggled away and she rolled on her side with her leg up and stroked the quilt. "What do you think?"

Phineas was not about to get on again. He walked the length of the bed and patted it down with his hand. "Hmm, I'm not so sure, it's degraded."

"What?" She frowned.

"Degraded…and lumpy." He smiled sweetly. Two could play her game. "I'm definitely gonna need a virgin mattress. This one is worn out."

Her eyes flashed angrily, but the smile never left her face. "Oh, really? Virgin, you say? I understand now."

"Good! But I can get it on my own dime and time. I wouldn't expect Mr. Powers to pay for it." His patience wore thin. "Look, It might be raining, but I still have work to do in the garage, so if you don't mind?" He gestured to the door.

Barbara sat up tall and watched as he walked around impatiently with his arms crossed and muscles bulging tight from the sleeves. She admired his fitted Continentals. When Phineas came nearer she lunged and he fell backwards onto the bed. She climbed over him.

"Hey, get off, Babs!"

"Bogg, why do you have to be so difficult? What will it take for you to notice me? A bullhorn? I never have to do it like this! But I know your type. All righteous until you can't take it anymore! You're not shy, and you definitely love women. I saw the gleam in your eye when we met. You can't tell me you've never been around the block before, buster." She lowered her face so close he could smell alcohol and toothpaste on her breath with a hint of camel cigarettes. She traced her finger on his mouth. "I see centuries of women in your eyes! Why can't you show me a little love too?"

Phineas gulped. She wasn't far from the truth. He struggled. "One, I'm not in love with you and two, an even better reason, you're married to Kev…mmphffff!"

"Shut up!" She smothered his mouth with deep kisses.

Phineas almost lost his will to protest. But he had to. He summoned up just enough strength so he wouldn't hurt her and pushed her off. Tiger wasn't the word for her; she was a plain beast. He wiped his mouth and smeared off her red lipstick.

"This is ridiculous! Grow up, Barbara! You're married to Kevin and he loves you, stop doing this garbage to him, he's a decent man!"

Barbara tossed her head back and laughed loud. "Decent? Decent? You don't know the half of it, sugar. He doesn't love me; he married me because I forced him to! I threatened to cause him a scandal by announcing I was pregnant. I wasn't, but he didn't know that. He tried to protect that goody-goody Mary's reputation with the Governor. The poor schlep, he was so lonely one night at the bar, missing his wife because she loved her work more than her family. So we had a few drinks, some laughs, and next thing you know…well anyway, a few months later she blows up in a plane crash or something. Good riddance to useless women!"

"You're disgusting." Phineas wanted to bodily remove her, but she revealed important secrets and his curiosity got the best of him.

"Insult me all you want! He turned to me for comfort! I figured I could get a few hot years out of him before I cried divorce. The man's a catch, but he's married to his work too, and he's only ever loved one woman, Bogg. He still keeps her portraits up and talks about her all the time! How do you think I feel day in and day out, fighting with her memory all over the house? Then I have to look at that nasty, snot-nosed brat every day and put up with her lip! She's really asking for it one of these days."

"This is the life you chose for yourself, live with it. Barbara, I hate to be rude, but get out!"

Barbara slid off the bed. "Don't you know I'm sitting on a gold mine! Nobody is going to stand in my way!"

Phineas wondered just how far she would go to keep the fortune and his murder theory started to look more like a fact. "What does that mean exactly, Barbara?"

She ran to the door. "Oh, No, Bogg. It means what it means. You know if I wanted to, I could do some vile things to hurt you for this insult."

"Unfortunately you can. You're just the type to do it." Bogg growled.

"But I'm also patient to a point. You think about what happened here today, and then think about the consequences if you don't give in. I can make it so bad that Kevin will hunt you down and string you up! And I don't mean because you hurt me. Remember that! Won't Kevin be so happy to hear you like virgin beds."

Phineas shook her. "Don't you dare drag Natalie into this! I bet nobody ever told you the word 'No' as a kid. You're rotten. It's a shame Kevin is so blinded." He shoved her. "Get lost!"

Barbara cuffed his cheek. "Shut up, Bogg! He knows the score between him and me and he keeps his mouth shut. And for the record, they sure did try to tell me 'no', but I always got what I wanted sooner or later." She blew him a kiss. "And with you, it better be sooner than later. Ta ta!"

Babs yanked the door open and gasped. Natalie stood in her pajamas drenched to the skin, her face red from crying. Phineas ran to the entrance.

"Natalie! What is it? What happened?" Phineas leaned against the door and banged his head. "Aww, no! Hon, it's not what you think at all!"

"Oh, it's better than what you think, little girl! Go back in the house and play with your dolls. He's way too much a man for you. Is that why you're here?" Barbara laughed.

Before Phineas could stop her, Barbara roughly dragged Natalie away from the bungalow. "You say a word of this to Kevin and I will ship you out so fast you won't know what hit you. I have a whole folder of boarding school applications just waiting for Kevin's approval. It's gonna happen whether you like it or not!"

"You filthy skag! I hate you! I knew it! You and your stupid bungalow! How could you do this to my father!"

Phineas grabbed her. "Natalie, we have to talk, you heard it all! She and I weren't…" Natalie tugged her arm away.

"Don't touch me! I thought you were better than this…" She couldn't finish her words and choked up. She ran back to the house.

Barbara laughed again. "Aww, poor little thing. She has such a crush. I can't blame her. See, Phineas, that's what makes it so easy for me to do what I'm gonna do if I don't see some action."

Phineas was tempted to slap her silly but instead raced to the house. He ran upstairs and banged on Natalie's door.

"Natalie, it's Bogg. We have to talk."

"Get lost creep! I wish you never came here!"

"Natalie, please listen to me. Barbara is a terrible woman, you know that. I would never hurt your father. I like him. I respect him and you, and the memory of your mother. Natalie? Natalie!"

A record dropped on the player and she turned up the volume to drown him out. Phineas gave up. He wondered how much of the conversation she actually heard and why she stood out in the rain like that in the first place. It wasn't just a school-girl crush. Something in her clicked at the breakfast table. He wished he could reveal the truth.

Phineas went to his room and checked his omni. The light was still red and Michelle left no further messages. He kicked his suitcase and tossed pillows around furious. Would this incident be enough to make the girl drive into a swamp? If so, then he created a time paradox.

~Oo~

Phineas packed up the cleaning supplies. The harp was luminous. He plucked a few strings until he was satisfied with the sound. He carefully moved it next to the grand piano and set up the stool, then rummaged through the piano seat for sheet music – He found a piece he liked, Franz Schubert's Serenade. Natalie left swirly markings on the pages. She used this one often. He went to check on her.

Natalie sat alone at the end of the long dinner table and pushed food around her plate. She did not say a word to him or anyone else since the incident. Kevin stayed overnight at a co-worker's house because of washed out roads. Barbara took Natalie's car for a drive. Kevin didn't seem all too concerned because she claimed she was staying with a girlfriend.

Phineas returned to the piano and cracked his knuckles. He hadn't played in a while, but he kept a small piano in his complex at VHQ to practice. The melancholy tune fit the mood perfectly.

Natalie perked her head up when she heard the music. She remembered when how thrilled she felt when she learned it on the harp and she put on a performance for her family. It was the most beautiful night she had in a long time. Despite the tension between her parents, they put it aside, laughed, and ate dinner together. She rose up and peeked in the music room. Phineas hunched over the keys, absorbed in playing. She admired how his fingers glided smoothly across each one, yet the force of his touch brought out the deepest chords. She nearly cried out. He set up the harp…just for her.

"How did he know?" She wondered as she approached him. "He knows so much about me, I can't explain it." She swallowed her fear and positioned herself on the stool.

Phineas glanced up and smiled. He stopped playing. "I love harp music. I had to take it out. Every music room in history had one of these. Do you play? I saw a picture of you on the mantle."

"Yes. I used to. My mom took that when I first learned this song." She mumbled. "Please, start again with Schubert. I…I know the German words. I'd like to try and sing them, see if I remember."

"Ahh yes, Ständchen, it's gorgeous. I remember when he first played it, and there was a beautiful large Soprano singing and…"

Natalie stared bewildered. "He? You mean Schubert? How can you remember? He died over a hundred years ago."

"Uhh, I meant, my first concert was a Schubert concert." He laughed uneasily. "Let's just play, Natalie."

Natalie closed her eyes and fixed her fingers over the strings. She played beautifully and sang with such feeling that he fought back tears. Her words loosely translated to…

My songs quietly implore you through the night; down to the silent wood, my love, come to me!

The tree tops whisper in the light of the moon; Don't be afraid, my love, no-one will observe us.

Can you hear the nightingales? Oh! They implore you, their sweet lament pleads with you on my behalf.

They understand the yearning I feel, they know love's torture,

with their silvery notes they touch every soft heart

Let them touch yours, too, sweet love: hear my plea! Trembling I await you, come, bring me bliss!

When she finished, Natalie balled her hands into fists on her lap and tears dripped down her face. Phineas crouched beside her.

"Natalie, that was wonderful!" He put his hands over hers. "You can talk to me. I know you need to let some things out. Don't be ashamed. I'm here to listen. I want to listen."

She glanced up and her body trembled. "Oh, Phineas…it's so…hard…"

She tossed her arms around his neck and sobbed. He stroked her hair and urged her to let it out. He recounted all the times he consoled Jeffrey and the thoughts pained him.

When Natalie finally came to her senses she pulled back shyly. "I haven't hugged anyone since my mother died."

He passed her a handkerchief. "I know sweetheart. I kinda felt that. You needed to. Crying is good sometimes. You pent up all that grief, it will only make you sick."

She searched his face and saw traces of tears in his eyes when they caught the light. He empathized with her pain. He looked so handsome, so warm and sensitive. She wondered if he'd think her crazy for imagining he had a grander purpose just for her. She felt selfish and spoiled so she kept her thoughts to herself.

"Yeah, I do feel sick sometimes. Phineas, I'm so sorry about what happened with Babs and…"

"Forget her. Let's talk about you now. Come on."

He led her to the couch and sat on the opposite side and made himself comfortable. Though he was apt too, he didn't want to give her the wrong impressions by hovering too close.

"Natalie, you said that you didn't go to your mother's funeral. Why not? Was it too sad for you?"

Natalie folded her hands in her skirt and shook her head. She glanced at him. "Do not stand at my grave and weep. I am not there, I do not sleep. Do not stand at my grave and cry. I am not there, I did not die!" Have you ever heard that poem, Phineas?"

"Yes, it's familiar."

"That's some of it. And that's what I feel like every time I think of mom. How could I go to a grave and mourn when she's not even in the coffin or anything like it? What's the point?"

Phineas nodded. "You feel like there's no closure."

"I don't feel like she's dead, Phineas. And I don't mean that she's some ghost or something. It's like she's alive and watching me, but she won't come back. After the crash, I imagined I used to see her on the street, or in my room. I know she was there! My dad thought I was insane. He wanted to get me a psychiatrist. It must sound so oddball to you too, right?"

He patted her hand. "Not so oddball, Natalie."

"When they found the plane, they found remains of the pilot and passengers. There was nothing to suggest my mother was even there, except her briefcase. What if she planned it this way and she really wanted to leave us? Maybe she's off on some beautiful island somewhere and really happy with a new family?" The thought brought her to tears again.

Phineas smiled wanly. He scooted nearer and rubbed her shoulders. He didn't tell her she was wrong. "Natalie, if that were true, I doubt she's happy. Because she's far away from you."

"But why escape like that?"

"Natalie, you can't go around thinking she upped and left you on purpose. How would she know the plane was gonna crash? Or that she'd even survive? I'm sure she loved you more than anything."

"Yeah, that's a stupid idea. Everybody thinks we're so perfect. But that's not true! Why is my family so messed up?"

"Sometimes adults have trouble getting their priorities straight, they make mistakes and get irrational like teenagers. Having a family is a very big responsibility, and some people just aren't mentally prepared for it. They struggle to raise their kids as best they can. But it doesn't mean they don't love them, or wish they hadn't…raised them."

Phineas sighed, thinking of his last argument with Jeffrey.

"I guess so. Maybe it's the same way for my dad?"

"Yes, Kevin too. And I know he loves you like crazy." Phineas rose with her. "I don't think your problem is grieving the loss anymore. I think you need to try and forgive your mother for leaving you in the first place."

Natalie gazed at him in awe. All her scattered emotions pieced together. She bit her lip and nodded. Phineas hugged her again.

"That's great. You'll have a better peace of mind. Goodnight, Natalie and… I'm very sorry about what you thought you heard with Babs today."

Natalie folded her arms, her eyes darkened. "You have nothing to apologize for, Phineas. She's the witch. I know her tricks and I know you better now. You're a good man. If she tries anything, I'll defend you to my father."

Phineas walked to the doorway and grinned at her. She was so much like her mother. "Thanks. So, can we have a truce? No more pranks and attitudes? Can we start over?"

Natalie's face glowed. "You bet we can…cheese head!"