Unveiled

The Immortal: The Next Generation

Episode Four

By Summer

Beta Read by Achila

Rating: R (For hard issues and some strong language)

Based on The Immortal TV series. Please read: The Immortal The Next Generation pilot and episodes, before proceeding.

Special Appearance: Napoleon Solo as The President of the United States. (Man From Uncle)

Warnings: This series contains slash and het relationships. Adult language, taboo issues, and bondage situations. Don’t like, don’t read.

Author’s note: In this episode, I plan to give Elijah Chevalier some down time, so I can have him discuss the hard issues of all that he has learned at this point. To make things more complex, I will be introducing his character as being Catholic. I am not in any way trying to preach or force anyone to agree with any particular religion (In the future, I will be introducing other characters’ religious beliefs and opinions, from atheism to Buddhism). This is simply to add more complexity to a character. I am an open-minded person, and though I was raised Catholic, I feel all religions should be respected. (knowledge opens doors, ignorance causes hate and war) With that said, keep in mind that this is just a story. That’s all folks. Something to read and enjoy and not take too seriously. Ok? Ok, let’s get to the business at hand.

(Story takes place about three days after If Tomorrow Never Comes: It has now been over two weeks since Pilot episode) This takes us into July of 1993

Part One

As the dark clouds rolled in, he knew that the rain would soon fall. Sitting alone on the bench, Elijah waited patiently for the next bus to arrive. He sighed and glanced at his watch, impatient, knowing that if he didn’t hurry, he would be late meeting Jericho at the rendezvous point. But it couldn’t be helped, the bus was off schedule.

Elijah suddenly felt strange, as if he were being watched. Turning his head slowly, he spotted the familiar figure crossing the walkway, and slowly making his way towards him. Every part of his body told him to run, but instead, Elijah remained where he was. Frozen in place.

When the figure reached him, Elijah found himself completely unable to speak. What could he say? That was when Elijah saw the tears and the sadness upon the man’s face. The next thing Elijah knew, Dominic Fletcher was on his knees before him.

"Elijah! I’m sorry. I know what I did was unforgivable, but please, please give me another chance? I need you, I can’t live without you. I should never have done what I did. Forgive me."

Still, Elijah found himself unable to say a word, but his hands reached out and a moment later, he felt Dominic reaching in return. Slowly, his body was enveloped by Dominic’s heated bulk. One hand reached around his waist, while Dom’s other hand smoothly wrapped around his neck and pulled his head closer, towards his mouth.

Elijah caught his breath and shook slightly, trembling in anticipation, and for a moment, he hesitated. Then a second later, their lips touched.

***

"No!"

Elijah opened his eyes and bolted up in his bed. Blinking several times, Elijah caught the smells of burning wood and brewing coffee coming from downstairs.

Outside, a cock crowed.

*It was a dream. Just a dream.*

Elijah sank back into the bed and sighed. Wiping at his eyes, he heard a tentative knock at the door.

"Elijah, breakfast will be ready shortly."

"I’ll be right there, Aunt Jane."

Slowly getting to his feet, Elijah pulled on his jeans and opened the shades to reveal the view of Jane Fielding’s farm.

They had arrived late last night and after brief introductions to his new friends, his mom’s cousin, Jane, put them in her guest bedrooms. Elijah had just laid his head down on the pillow when exhaustion overtook him and he passed out into oblivion.

Now, he was wide awake. His body was a bit stiff after riding in a car for the past two days. A good run would probably work out the kinks. Pulling on a white t-shirt, Elijah got up and headed downstairs.

Jane was already putting pancakes onto Billy Adam’s plate. He had gotten up an hour ago and had helped some of the farm workers to feed the animals and stock the wood piles. He smiled as Elijah entered and gave him a warm wave.

Elijah shrugged and mumbled a hello, still not quite ready to greet the world. Sitting down, he did give a heartfelt thank you as Jane piled a few pancakes on the plate in front of him and a cup of coffee and orange juice.

"Where’s Jericho?" asked Elijah.

Before Billy could write an answer in his notebook, Jane sat down at the table beside him and spoke.

"He went to go help Malcolm stack the hay in the barn loft. Eat! If I didn‘t know any better, I’d say you lost weight since the last time I saw you. You are far too skinny."

Elijah didn’t have to be told twice and ate heartily. The food was as delicious as it smelled; Jane was the queen of farm cooking.

"Do you feel up to telling me what’s been going on?" Jane asked, bringing her fresh cup of coffee to her lips before taking a sip.

Elijah shrugged. "It’s complicated."

"I’m sure it is. How long will you be staying?"

Elijah shrugged again, pulling a huge mound of pancake into his mouth. He was starving!

"I read the papers. About your mom. I’ve been trying to call her, but so far, I haven’t been able to get through."

Swallowing down his food, Elijah looked at Jane and was about to speak and found he couldn’t. He lowered his eyes and reached for his juice.

"Elijah? I promised myself I wasn’t going to prod, but I want you to know that I love you and your mom and I am very worried about what has been going on. Does this have something to do with your father?"

Elijah thought about lying, but in the end, he decided to tell the truth, at least some of it. "Everything."

"I see….and this man that Jean is marrying? Yes, I saw the papers…This Nigel Saxon? She never mentioned him to me. Did they just meet?"

"About a month ago, I guess."

"…and already she’s planning to marry him? That’s just not like your mom. Are you sure you don’t want to talk to me about it? Have you tried calling your aunts – I’m sure your Mom‘s sisters must be just as worried as I am."

Elijah finally met her eyes and shook his head. "Not now. Please, Aunt Jane!"

Finishing his food, Elijah got to his feet. "I’m going riding -- is Duchess still here?"

Jane nodded. "Yes, same stall."

Without looking back, Elijah left the house.

Alone with Billy, Jane smiled when he held up his plate to her and beamed a pleading, but content smile.

Laughing, Jane got to her feet and made some more pancakes for her guest.

***

In the barn loft, he sat quietly on the hay and looked out the nearby window to see that Elijah was finally up. His young companion was in the nearby field, riding a beautiful, dark brown horse. Picking up the guitar he had just found in an old trunk, Jericho plucked a few strings to get the feel of her. The tuning was a bit off, but tightening the strings, he had her playing just right in no time.

An enchanting song filled his head and Jericho began to play it on the guitar. Words followed and soon, a soft, lovely melody filled the air.

"Perhaps love is like a resting place, a shelter from the storm

It exists to give you comfort, it is there to keep you warm

And in those times of trouble when you are most alone

The memory of love will bring you home

Perhaps love is like a window, perhaps an open door

It invites you to come closer, it wants to show you more

And even if you lose yourself and don't know what to do

The memory of love will see you through"

She stood quietly at the door for a few moments listening to the song drift through the air, then finally she moved forward and sat down beside him. Feeling her presence, Jericho stopped playing and stared intently at her.

"A fan of John Denver?"

Startled, he shrugged. "Is that his song? When I started playing, it just sort of…came out."

"You really do have amnesia, don’t you?" asked Jane with a small, sad smile.

"Yes." Jericho sighed and offered her the guitar.

"No, keep it. It’s just getting old in that trunk."

"Did it belong to your husband?"

"No, I never married…well, almost once… he ah, had other plans." She pushed the offered guitar back into Jericho’s hands. "This actually belonged to an old friend of mine. He died a few years ago and I just didn’t have the heart to throw it away…He always enjoyed playing it here on the farm late at night."

Jericho took the guitar back and nodded. "I’ll take good care of it."

Jane let out a breath and getting back to her feet, she looked out the window to see Elijah still riding Duchess in the apple orchard.

"He’s hurting and he won’t talk to me."

"He’s been going through a lot these past few weeks. I don’t think he’s been without his mother this long before."

"It’s more then that," Jane replied softly, turning back to Jericho. "Learning that your father is alive and on the run…to know that your mother is going to marry some strange man, and…there’s more I’m sure I don‘t know. I wish you would explain things to me. I want to help."

Jericho shrugged. "I know you do, but its not my place to say."

Jane crossed her arms around her waist and shook her head at him. "Sometimes I’m very happy I never got married." Smiling, she started out the door and then paused to look back at him. "I missed listening to that guitar, maybe later this week you could play us a few songs?"

Jericho blushed and nodded once.

***

Tying her to a nearby tree and leaving Duchess a few apples, Elijah climbed the apple tree and sat contentedly in the crotch. He stared out at the rolling green fields and the mountains that seemed to make most of his fears disappear.

But inside, a battle was raging. Elijah was torn -- a part of him was saying to return home and try to stop Saxon, to rescue his mother himself, that this running was only delaying things, that he would never find his father in time to save her from marrying a monster. The other part of him could see that cage just waiting to snap closed around him. An eternity locked in a cage. Even a promised beautiful one, was still a cage.

Saxon and Fletcher were just too powerful. How could he possibly stand against them?

And there was Dominic.

*************

Elijah closed his eyes and shook his head. He never knew.

***********

**********

A tear slowly slipped down from his left eye. Shaking slightly, Elijah wiped his face and stared at the dark mountain before him. Memories resurfaced and he felt himself pulled back to being ten years old. He stood before the church, staring at the statue of a bearded man in long white robes, holding a hand to his heart. Elijah was dressed in a dark blue suit given to him by one of his aunts, and he turned to his mother, puzzled.

"Mommy, why do I have to do this?"

"Well, its our faith, Elijah dear. When you were born, I had you baptized and now you are taking the next step by having your first communion. Giving yourself, your soul to God."

"Why?"

"Because, God loves you."

"Oh. Does everyone do this?"

"No, only Catholics."

"Why doesn’t everyone do it?"

"Because, well, not everyone is Catholic. There are other religions -- Protestant, Jewish, Baptist, even people who don’t believe in God."

"They don’t believe?" He still remembered how shocked he was at that statement, and his blue eyes widened in surprise.

"Yes, those are the ones we should pray for the most."

Elijah shrugged and smiled at the statue. "How could anyone not believe in Him?"

***

It was later that same day when Elijah came out of the church holding tightly onto his mother’s hand and heard the screaming and yelling. A group of people were gathering in the courtyard of the church, some carrying signs. Elijah spotted one that read, "Gays Believe In GOD Too". On the opposite side of the yard were even more people screaming and yelling, and they too were carrying signs, one reading, "GOD Created Man and Woman", and another that read, "Homosexuals Burn in Hell".

His mother quickly gathered him up into her arms and ran for home.

That night, as his mother tucked him into bed, Elijah looked up at her with questioning eyes.

"What is it, darling?"

"Mommy, why were those people outside yelling and holding those signs?"

"They were just having a difference of opinion."

"What are gays? And why are they going to burn in hell?"

Jean sighed. Sitting down on the bed, she gathered her son into her arms and shook her head.

"I’m not a baby, Mom. I want to understand. Tell me, why do they hate each other? I thought God wants us to love each other? You said He loves us."

"He does, but you see, in this world, you’re going to find that there are a lot of people who have different ideas and beliefs and sometimes...sometimes they clash. And when that happens, fights break out. This happens because people tend to be very strong willed over certain matters and they don’t like to bend. Stubborn. Sometimes they feel so deeply about something that they hurt others and sometimes, people die over it."

"Why?"

"Well, because gays – actually the word is ‘homosexual’ -- are thought of as abnormal, different, because they have relations with the same sex…a man with a man and a woman with a woman. In society, it’s not considered correct. Not in the Catholic church or in most places in this world. Do you understand?"

"I guess, . . . Is it wrong, mommy?"

"Well, the Catholic church teaches us that a man loving a woman is how it should be. That’s how you came to be born…with me loving your father."

"But do you think it’s wrong, Mommy?"

"Of course she does!" yelled a strong male voice from behind them. Elijah turned, and in the darkness stood an older man holding a beer can in his hand. "Gays will burn in hell! Where they belong!"

"Dad!" Jean yelled, but he was already gone. Jean turned back to her son and smiled.

"No dear, I don’t think it’s wrong. I just think that everyone is diverse and that isn’t a bad thing, just different. God loves us, all of His children, all of them. No matter who they are or what they are. No matter what you do in this life, His love is unconditional." She then bent down and kissed his forehead. "Just like my love for you."

***

Elijah opened his eyes, returning to the present. The sun had moved and his stomach growled. Shutting off his thoughts for the moment, Elijah climbed down from the tree and headed back to the farm house.

****

Jericho put down the sign language book and made several signals. Billy smiled and copied him with a more fluid movement. Jericho tried again and Billy finally gave him the "OK" signal.

"Well, at least I know the alphabet."

Billy signed slowly and as Jericho made out the word, he started to laugh.

"A few curses well spelled is a must and you know it."

Hearing the screen door open, Jericho looked up to see Elijah.

"Hey stranger, Jane made some sandwiches and we left you one or two…go help yourself."

"Where did she go?" asked Elijah.

"Into town. They’re having a country dance at the end of the week and for some strange reason, I guess people like to eat at these sorts of things."

Smiling for the first time in days, Elijah hurried off into the kitchen.

After he was gone, Jericho turned back to Billy to see that he was signing again. Picking up the notebook, he handed it to him. "I only just learned the alphabet, give me a break would you!"

Shaking his head, Billy grabbed his pen and wrote words down on the paper: He needs to start talking, holding all of his feelings in is not healthy.

Jericho shook his head. "He’s not ready. When he’s ready, I’ll be there. Anyway, you still have some explaining to do, Mr. Adams. EMT on vacation, who just decides to help two strangers? …I want you to know I’m not falling for it. I don’t know who or what side you’re on, but I don’t believe it’s ours."

Billy stared at him in stunned shock and then he shook his head and waved his hands, but Jericho was already standing. "Save it!" Jericho took up his guitar and shrugged. "You have until Friday to come clean, and if you don’t…you’ll be ditched! And don’t try anything stupid. I have my eye on you."

Billy watched him leave and narrowing his eyes, he threw the pad on the couch and sighed.

****

He rolled in bed and clung tightly to the blankets. Deep in sleep, Jericho could hear the sound of frightened horses and screams coming from all around him.

A boy of about ten years old rose from his bed. Catching a glow out the corner of his eye, he looked out the window to see that the barn was on fire. Clothed only in pajamas, he ran to the door and hurried out into the hallway.

"Mommy! Daddy!" he cried as he ran down the stairs and out of the farm house. The stable men were fighting the fire in the distance and Jericho hurried to reach them when a loud piercing scream filled the air. It came from inside the house. Turning back, he went to the door and opened it to find two dark figures fighting, locked in battle. Nearby, a small figure lay on the floor by the table.

"Mommy!" He hurried to the limp form. She was beautiful, with her long curly, reddish brown hair and lithe form. But now she appeared pale and unmoving. A large gash was torn in her white gown and a red stain covered it. "Mommy! Please wake up!" he cried, but she did not move and he couldn’t tell if she were breathing.

A sudden loud, cracking noise was heard and Jericho looked up to see one of the dark figures crumble to the floor as the larger figure released his neck. Frightened, Jericho started to back away when the larger figure reached out to him, patting him on the shoulder. Then the same figure looked at the woman and Jericho heard a gasp of pain in his voice. A moment later, the large figure with a scar on his left knuckles, took the woman into his arms.

"Katherine, no, KATHERINE!" he screamed, and wept uncontrollably.

Jericho watched as if he were a bystander. The sound of running footsteps had Jericho turn to see a blond man enter the house but he couldn‘t see his face clearly and when he spoke, his voice had a slight accent.

"Oh no, Oh God, no, Jason! Not Katherine!"

But the large figure only continued to cling to his wife. The blond figure moved quickly, scooping the ten year-old into his arms.

"Jason, you’ve got to get out of here. I saw a dark van coming up the driveway. They’ll be here any minute and they’ll try to take your son. Hurry!"

After a long moment, the figure got to his feet and for the first time, Jericho saw the man called Jason’s face. It was smooth and soft, making him look like he was in his late thirties or early forties. His eyes were a soft brown and draped in only a white t-shirt, Jericho saw a large tattoo on his shoulder that was identical to his own. A tattoo of a large bird with flames around it. Tears filled the older man’s eyes, and the next moment, Jericho was in this man’s arms.

"Hang on to me, son. Someday, I will make those men who hurt your mother, pay for this. I swear it."

Then they were outside and running, the barn was on fire and then everything blurred and darkened.

**

He slowly sat up in bed and rubbed at his reddened eyes. Shaking his head, he sighed and tried to make sense of his dream, or was it a memory? It seemed more real and vivid then a dream. Rolling up his sleeve, Jericho turned on a lamp and glanced at his shoulder to see the same bird with flames that he had seen in his dream. Who was that man he had seen in his dreams? His name was Jason. The blond man had called him Jason, and the woman…her name was Katherine….Jason and Katherine? Were they his parents? Or some relative taking care of him? Why had the woman been murdered, and by whom?

Shaking his head, Jericho pulled the guitar into his lap and leaning back against the headboard and knowing he was not going to get any more sleep tonight, played a few bars. It wasn’t until the first few rays of sunlight came into his window that he was able to drift back to sleep.

***

California, Fletcher Estate

Fletcher rubbed at his arm and shoulder. Since late last night, it had been giving him some trouble. He must have slept on it wrong. Shaking off the pain, he pulled the receiver closer to his ear and spoke into the phone.

"Mr. President, how very kind of you to finally return my call."

"I apologize, Mr. Fletcher, but you know I can’t always be at your beck and call. I’ve had a lot of appointments and errands I had to take care of. Now, what can I do for you?"

"Well, I was talking to Mr. Saxon and he brought to my attention that your…daughter was admitted to one of our facilities in Washington."

**

The dark haired man with graying temples slowly got up from his chair. Shrugging, he glanced over at the wall, at a small framed picture. The picture had two men dressed in business suits, looking fairly dated, probably from the 1960’s. One man had dark brown hair with matching eyes and the second, who was a bit shorter, had golden hair and bright blue eyes. Both were smiling with an arm on each other’s shoulder. Behind them, holding a folder with some files, was an older man with a rather gruff and stern _expression on his face as if in disapproval. After a moment, the President turned away from the wall.

"Yes, my daughter hasn’t been feeling well these past few months. At first I thought it might have something to do with my…wife’s death, however…Saxon had Doctor Stanton take some tests and I have been made aware that my daughter…my daughter has leukemia." The President slowly turned and glanced at another picture on his desk. It was of a beautiful woman looking to be in her forties with short black hair; beside her, she held a young, laughing child, the spitting image of her mother. She couldn’t have been more then four or five years of age.

"Yes, I know."

"Doctor Stanton gave me a full report – they’re going to do whatever they can to help her…He says that he may be able to cure her."

"Yes, yes...." Fletcher rubbed at his shoulder. "I’m sure he didn’t really go into detail about this cure?"

"He said something about a rare blood type that may assist in healing her, and that it’s pretty experimental and expensive."

"Ah, now you need not concern yourself with finances, Mr. President. Whatever my partner and Doctor Stanton can do for you…you can always pay me back in other ways."

The man on the other side of the phone frowned and shook his head; suddenly he imagined a bird entering his nest.

"Fletcher, will you get to the point, please. I am really not in the mood for games."

"Mr. Solo--Mr. President…I just wanted to reassure you, we will do whatever it takes to keep your daughter alive and to make her well." Fletcher winced slightly as pain once again shot through his arm.

Rubbing his temple, the man on the other end shook his head just as a knock came at his door.

"I have to go. We’ll talk another time, Mr. Fletcher. I‘ll set up a meeting with you and Saxon later next week." He then hung up the phone.

***

Fletcher put down the receiver and rubbed at his arm again. Moving the wheelchair slowly towards the deck, intending to call for one of his aides, he paused, when pain suddenly ripped into his chest and then he fell to the floor.

A few moments later, a servant entered the room carrying a tray, and when she saw Fletcher, she dropped it, screaming.

***

Elijah sat on the bale of hay and slowly chewed on one of the straws. He was staring at the nearby lake with a landscape of white-capped mountains overlooking it. It was breathtaking and Elijah was in awe of Mother Nature.

"It’s beautiful, isn’t it?"

Elijah looked up to see his Cousin Jane coming slowly towards him. She was dressed in jeans and a red flannel shirt with her hair tied back in a long pony tail. She looked like a typical farm girl.

Sitting down next to Elijah she placed her hands in her lap and sighed. After a long dramatic pause, she spoke candidly. "It’s not easy when you’re different, is it?"

Elijah stared at her, saying nothing, but his eyes were wide and full of surprise.

"When I was sixteen, I realized that I was different…took me another ten years to accept it and another ten years to be happy about it."

"What do you mean, Aunt Jane?"

"I never wanted to get married. Not to any man. Elijah…didn’t your mom ever tell you why I never married?"

Elijah slowly shook his head.

"In this life, people put so much stock in marriage. If you don‘t have a man in your life, then you’re a nothing. That your life is a waste, that somehow, you’re abnormal. No one understood that I just liked being alone. I didn‘t want to have someone dictate my life. I felt complete inside and I didn‘t need anything more. Not even kids. Because of this, everyone looks at you as if you’re a thing, some warped, lonely person who needs more then ever to have a man."

Looking away, Elijah crossed his arms around himself.

"I tried. I dated a lot of boys, and for a time, I even played with the idea that I might be a lesbian. That scared the hell out of me. I was so full of fear over it but eventually, I decided that it would be OK if I was. But I didn’t feel attracted to anyone. Male or female. I couldn’t stand the city and I just couldn’t stand my family always trying to pair me up with every guy they met, or gossiping behind my back that something was terribly wrong with me. They were not very excepting…especially Uncle Greg…your grandfather. He made living in California very hard for me. So I left and went as far away as I could. This farm belonged to my dad’s best friend and when he passed away, he left it to me. Here I stayed. For the most part, I’ve been very happy. The only thing I missed was Jean. She was my best friend as well as my cousin. I truly missed her."

"Why are you telling me this?" asked Elijah between gritted teeth.

"To give you my big dark secret….so you can tell me yours."

Elijah finally met her eyes, and when he did, he saw the sincerity in them.

"Dominic Fletcher --"

"Yes, your high school friend. What about him?"

"He…he said he...he was in…I mean, attracted to me…that he….It can’t be true…He dated a hundred girls and he…had sex with them and-"

Elijah stopped and covered his eyes with his hand.

"Did he try to force himself on you?" asked Jane worriedly.

"Not exactly, but he betrayed me, Aunt Jane…the men that are after my father are now after me and Dominic is on their side…he said he was doing it all for me…but it’s a lie, all lies!" Getting to his feet, Elijah paced back and forth. For a moment, he stopped, not sure whether to go on or not. He was frightened, so frightened, and confused. Could he really talk about this? With Jane? Now that he was talking, he knew it was too late to stop now. "My mom lied to me about my dad being dead, then I find out he’s alive…That Grandpa made her tell me he was dead…my dad is out there somewhere and he doesn’t even know about me. My best friend sells me out like I’m a piece of meat!"

"And…you think you may be gay too?"

"I’m NOT GAY!" Elijah shouted loudly and far too defensively. Then sighing, he turned away and shook his head. "I’m not…I’m not…I can’t be…I like girls…I always thought they were…cute…and...it’s wrong to be gay! It’s wrong! Isn’t it?"

Jane smiled at Elijah. "Is it?"

"That’s what the Catholic church preaches!"

"But what do you think, Elijah? Say Dom had told you he was gay before he had…sold you out. How would you have felt about that?"

Elijah swallowed and turned away from her. He closed his eyes and still felt the hot tears forcing their way to the surface.

"He’s not gay, he said he’s bisexual."

"OK, he’s bisexual.…How do you feel about that? How did you feel about him before?"

Opening his eyes, Elijah wiped away his tears with his sleeve. "He was suppose to be my best friend! How could he do this to me! I cared about him and I thought…I--I, I don‘t know! I don‘t know!"

Elijah sighed and sitting back down on the bale of hay, he closed his eyes again.

"I’m not gay, I’m not gay! I like girls,.…" Shaking, Elijah wrapped his arms around himself. "I’ve never…I’ve never…"

"Elijah, I know you’re scared and confused right now…sometimes when that happens, it’s best not to dwell too much on certain things. Right now, whatever feelings you may or may not have for Dom, you have other issues to contend with. Finding your dad, for one thing, and saving your mom from these men who’re after you and your dad…It’s Saxon, isn’t it?"

Elijah nodded slowly.

"Why?

Elijah didn’t look up as he told her. "Our blood…my father, for some reason, is immune to old age and disease and it’s transferable…temporarily…therefore, they have to control his life…our lives permanently."

Jane reached out and placed a hand gently on Elijah’s shoulder. "Oh, Elijah…"

"But we’re still mortal…fall off a building, get shot in the head…and we’re dead….very, very dead. I will continue to age until I reach about thirty or thirty-five and then…suddenly, I will stay that way. Never age again…I have always been a bit of an outcast, though I did have one or two friends until I went to high school and everything....I just was so out of place in high school. I never fit in, until I met Dom. For once, I felt like I belonged. Life didn’t seem complete unless he was there with me to share it with. I was happy when he was around. It wasn’t because he was rich or bought me things…it was just that he understood everything and accepted me…really accepted me. I liked him…I cared about him…but I don’t know what that makes me and I‘m scared! All that time, I thought he liked spending time with me…was that all a lie? Everything just seems like one big fat lie. And now my mom is marrying a monster and I can’t get her to listen to me and I’m here and she’s with HIM. How could Dom do this to me? Oh God, Jane, I--I think maybe…I might have felt something for him. But now, I just don’t know. I don’t think I will ever trust anyone ever again! Not ever."

Elijah couldn’t go on. He turned to Jane and fell into her arms. She held him as he wept. It took a while, but the flow of tears eventually subsided and when she felt he was back in some semblance of control, she pulled away and cupped his face in her hands.

"No matter what happens, I am on your side, Elijah. You can trust in me and I think you can trust in this Jericho person. I wish I could help you, but I can’t make any decisions for you. I can’t make your choices. But you must always remember you do have a choice! You can choose to go back and face this Saxon and Fletcher, even Dom. He has much to answer for. But you can also choose to find your dad and hope that he can help in someway. But whatever you decide…I will be there for you. Whatever I can do, I will. I promise! And know this…I don‘t care if you turn out to be gay or bi, or even sprout wings. I love you anyway. And those that love you, truly love you, won’t care either. They will love you for who you are. Not what you are. Always remember, ‘to thine own self, be true, And it must follow, as the night of day. Thou canst not then be false to any man’. "

She held out her hand. Elijah hesitated and then he reached out and clasped her hand in his own. He looked deeply into her eyes and smiled sadly.

"If I go back now…I won’t stand a chance…Saxon and Fletcher, they won’t even let me get close to Mom, and even if they did…they have her too brainwashed. My only hope is to find my dad. I will find him, and I know if anyone can get through to my mom…it’s him."

Jane smiled and touched his cheek. "What about Dom?"

Elijah lowered his eyes in thought. "That’s something that’s…just going to have to wait. I can’t deal with that right now. I don’t know what I feel about him, especially when he took his dad and Saxon’s side in all of this. I know I cared for him, perhaps I was a little in love with him and maybe I still am. I don’t know what that makes me but…it’s all just going to have to wait. I have to find Dad first. He’s my only hope." Elijah paused and then looked into her eyes. "Thank you Jane…thank you for…being here."

Jane nodded and leaned in, putting her head against his. "Any time, tiger….anytime."

***

He watched them for a long time, seeing that Elijah was in safe and capable hands. Jericho turned and with the guitar over his shoulder, headed towards the picnic table where the workers were all taking a lunch break. Taking a seat, he strummed the guitar and finding a tune in his head, he began to play. Elijah and Jane were holding hands, coming towards them and standing off by the porch was Billy, looking on with a grim face.

Smiling, Jericho fit all the pieces together in his mind and knew exactly where he belonged. Here.

"Love to some is like a cloud, to some as strong as steel

For some a way of living, for some a way to feel

And some say love is holding on and some say letting go

And some say love is everything, and some say they don't know

Perhaps love is like the ocean, full of conflict, full of pain

Like a fire when it's cold outside, thunder when it rains

If I should live forever, and all my dreams come true

My memories of love will be of you

Jericho stroked the last chord and a round of applause swept over the farm. He bowed his head and simply smiled.

***

Regional Hospital, California

Nigel Saxon paced the hallway, but stopped when the door opened, and Doctor Stanton stepped out.

"Well? Is Fletcher all right?"

"He had a heart attack…a major heart attack. He’s stable right now and we’re keeping him monitored, but…"

"But what?"

"I think you’d better contact Mr. Caesar and his Dominic…they need to get Elijah Chevalier and Ben Richards right away…it’s not good."

Saxon grimaced at the Doctor and without another word, he turned and walked away.

***

The jeep was packed and Elijah honked the horn, then faced Jane.

"Thanks Jane, for everything."

"Good luck finding your dad." She took him once more into her arms and squeezed tightly. When she let go, she handed him a small envelope. Curious, Elijah looked inside to see a great deal of money.

"Jane! I can’t take this."

"You can and you will. You’ll need it. I wish I could give you more but Maine has very small banks. If you need more, contact Malcolm or me anytime and we’ll send you what we can."

Elijah smiled and with a final nod, he put the envelope in his back pocket.

"You sure you know what you’re doing?"

Jane smiled and shrugged. "Well, she won’t listen to you and until you find your dad, I’m the last reserve. My flight leaves later today. I should get to L.A. tonight. Some way or another, I’ll get to Jean and try to make her see the light."

Elijah sadly smiled and then hugging her once more, he whispered into her ear, "You’ll always be my favorite cousin…that will be the big secret of all."

**

Jericho came slowly down the stairs and paused in step, to see that Billy was waiting for him. For a moment, the two just stared at each other.

Finally, Jericho nodded. "You can come, at least that way I can continue to keep my eyes on you. I still don’t trust you…not one bit. I hope I’m wrong…please let me be wrong."

Jericho shoved past him and headed out the door. Billy watched him leave and then taking up his back pack, he hurried after him. A small smile played on his lips.

***

Jane waved, watching the jeep vanish down the road. A few hours later, she was just coming out with her suitcase when a black Cadillac came into her driveway. Two handsome men stepped out of it, one of whom, with his youthful looks, was instantly identifiable.

"Where is he, Ms. Fielding?" the taller and older man asked. Jane only smiled and looked at Dominic. She turned and walked away. The young man followed her.

"Ms. Fielding…I’m Dominic."

"I know who you are."

"I’m Elijah’s friend…tell me where he is. He needs me, he needs my protection. Our protection."

"No, you WERE his friend."

He grabbed her arm, but Jane simply pulled away. Her eyes flashed angrily at Dominic. Meeting her eyes, Dom refused to back down.

"I’m doing this for his own welfare. Tell me where he is?"

"If you care for him in any way, you will stop this. Right now! Or I promise you this, you will lose him, forever."

Dom went very still and looked at her. "What?"

"You heard me. Now get out of here, before I get my shot gun."

Dom swallowed and turned to see that Vincent was on the cell phone. He waved for Dom to come back.

"They’re heading up I-11, let’s go."

Dom paused to look back at the farm and at Jane Fielding. Slowly, he got into the car with Vincent and they drove away.

The chase was back on.

***

Jane handed over her ticket and passed through the gates. A few minutes later, the plane left the ground.

"Perhaps love is like a resting place, a shelter from the storm

It exists to give you comfort, it is there to keep you warm

And in those times of trouble when you are most alone

The memory of love will bring you home."

The End

Look for the next exciting story: Beyond Loyalty! PPS Changed ending to story. Original had Jane Fielding killed in a plane crash.