BlackMail
: : Summary : : Even the best laid plans go awry. Rick's past catches up with him and he is forced to makea decision which could ruin everything.
He maintained such a firm grip on her hand while they made their way back to Fort Brydon, that she considered it
necessary to forcibly pull her hand free of his, if only to flex the muscles and get the blood flowing back into her
fingers. Little relief, though! He simply moved around to the left of her and asserted the same stronghold upon
her other hand, continuing to hurry her along the streets.
Her surprise at his sudden appearance, along with subsequent claims of urgent matters, was wearing off and she
was now noticing the suspicious glances he periodically cast sideways and behind. It wasn't long before she too,
began warily searching the crowd. "What are you looking for?"
"Old friends." There was an element of anger in O'Connell's reply, but he offered no explaination. Nor did he slow
his pace, or give her room to question him, he just kept striding with her in tow.
Combining the heat from the streets with recent days filled with turmoil, Evelyn was not at her best. And now the
pace which she was being forced to keep was causing her to feel really quite ill. Her stomach churned and her
vision was blurring. She pleaded to the back of his head, "Stop! Please, I need to sit down."
Rick looked back at her, though not seeing her, "Huh? No, we're almost there now." He kept right on sidesteping
the oncoming crowd, never letting go of her hand. With all the force she could muster, Evelyn pulled her hand
free of his, almost falling backwards from the effort. She staggered a few steps, then righted herself by placing a
hand against a stone wall. The abrupt loss of her hand alarmed Rick and he spun about, unable to see her. It was
a few moments before he spotted her, face pressed against the bricks, "Come on, Honey!" He extended a hand
towards her arm, but she refused to budge.
"No, I can't! I have to slow down, Rick!"
Again, he cast an anxious glance into the milling crowd searching for Verdi's men. "No, come on!" He urged
"We're practically there. You can sit down then...promise!"
"No! You're literally dragging me along the street and I need to stop!" She felt her head spin and her stomach was
reacting violently to the exertion. "I feel like I'm going to faint."
He studied her eyes and realized she meant business! As Evelyn started to sway, he reached an arm around her
waist and steadied her. "Hey?" He whispered, placing a hand to her face. "What's all this?"
"It's just awfully hot and you're rushing me...and I haven't eaten." Three lies, but it worked! Rick kept his arm
about her and helped her step into a doorway, away from the crush of people. If he'd had the time to think, no
doubt he would have found her behaviour odd, to say the least. For even in the short time he'd known her, he'd
come to realize that Evelyn wasn't apt to swoon, or faint. Fortunately for Evelyn, time was not a luxury for him and
instead of questioning her, he simply offered his apologies and sympathy.
"Better?"
She smiled her thanks at him and took deep breaths in an attempt to calm the sickness she feared was rising. As
well, it was difficult avoiding his gaze so she closed her eyes, pretending not to notice his concern. She felt terrible
and it was a sincere struggle for her to move herself away from the door and support herself. Rick hadn't let go of her
arm and her sudden ill state worried him. "Evie? Sure you're okay?"
Evelyn opened her eyes and rubbed the back of her free hand over her mouth. "It's nothing, really. I'll be fine in just
a moment." She took another deep breath to help mend things. "Why are we in such a hurry?"
"Come on." He placed an arm about her shoulders and gently guided her back onto the street, this time in keeping
with her pace. "Once we get home, I'll tell you all about it."
****
Jonathan's door hung wide open, allowing him full view of whoever passed in the corridor. He sat, comfortably drunk,
on the small couch and waited for the return of the clandestine lovers. One way or another, he was determined to get
his opinion across and save Evie from herself in the process.
After what seemed like hours, he heard the sound of footsteps and a man's hushed voice rising from the stairway.
"Aha! They're back!" Jonathan rose with difficulty and tripped his way over to the door. Poking his head into the
passageway, he saw O'Connell assisting his beloved sister along the landing and towards her quarters. Jonathan went
unnoticed to the pair as they made their way, until they heard the loud thump and painful grunt, as he bumped into the
architrave when he attempted a stern march towards them. He rubbed the sore spot on his shoulder, then looked up to
notice Rick and Evelyn standing silent, staring at him. Mustering all his drunken bravado and dignity, he approached
in resolution, and with a raised index finger. "Evie! As your brother, I feel it necessary to shine a light on a few problems...
matters...for you!"
"Jonathan, go back to your room and sleep it off!" Rick's voice was harsh and intimidating. Returning to find Jonathan
so completely pickled was neither what he had expected, or needed. He had trusted Jonathan to keep his wits about him
and this current state of inebriation infuriated him.
"I'll do no such thing until I see my Evie...sister done right!" He slurred in return.
Evelyn's mouth gapped at the unintentional insult "I beg your pardon! For heaven's sake, Jonathan, just look at the state
of you!" Her brother's condition was embarrassing, but she wasn't sure who was more self conscious of his display.
Rick opened the door for Evelyn, telling her to go inside and sit down while he handled her brother. Without arguing,
she acknowledged the favour gratefully and closed the door behind her. A heavy hand landed firmly on the back of
Jonathan's neck forcing him to stand upright and walk briskly back to his quarters. The American threw him onto the
couch, slamming the door before Jonathan landed. "What the hell are you doing?" O'Connell spat at him "And while I'm
here, why don't you tell me just which one of my old pals you've been talking to!"
Jonathan fumbled about on the cushions, trying to turn himself in Rick's direction. "You're planning on running out on
her, I know it!" Alcohol produces the most amazing sense of courage and it's effects were not wasted on Jonathan, "Don't
think I don't know what you two have been up to! Completely unacceptable in my book! And..." he rose unsteadily,
"...and I won't stand by and watch you...as you run away....off and leave my sweet sister lock, stock and barrel..."
O'Connell grabbed Carnahan by the collar and pulled him directly in line with him. Keeping a strong grip on his clothing,
he shook the drunkard to make sure he had his attention. "Sober up and listen to me!" Jonathan defended himself
against O'Connell's angry gaze with a self righteous one of his own. "I don't know who in hell you've been talking to, but
you can count yourself in as being at fault here. Whatever it is you told them didn't make it any more difficult to find me."
He wanted to choke the good for nothing, but right then, the full story dawned on him, "It was you who told them about
Evelyn, wasn't it?!" Jonathan's stuttering attempt at a response confirmed his guilt and Rick threw him back onto the couch
in disgust.with With his fists clenched he paced the floor until he released his anger by heavily kicking the solid wood
door. It would have been more satisfactory to kick Jonathan, at least that would have seen them both in pain. But then he
would have been left in the impossible position of explaining to Evelyn why he had beaten up her brother, right before
he hurried off to guide a band of pillaging Legionnaires on a looting spree! Splintering the door was the lesser of two evils.
He filled a glass with water and threw it over Jonathan, delighting in the shock it gave him. Rick leaned down and spoke
an inch from Jonathan's face. "I have to leave here...tonight! You make sure you're sober and ready by the time I
go! You got that!" Jonathan wiped the drips from his face. The shock of the assult returned some small coherency to his
mind and it was just enough to convince him of O'Connell's intentions if he did anything other than he was instructed. He
nodded his agreement then slumped back into the cushions as his intended brother-in-law stormed from the room.
****
The comfortable bed and soft pillow seemed heaven sent and Evelyn let herself sink into it's bliss. She was beginning to
feel somewhat better lying down, she only wished she'd taken her shoes off before falling onto the bed. Her mind was
still occupied with how and when she was going to tell her tall American the unexpected news and, more importantly, how
he was going to take it. She smiled a little. Today's mystery of the urgency to return here was still unexplained and she
allowed herself to imagine some delightful surprise he had in store for her. He could very well be thrilled with her
impending announcement! Her spirits lifted at the thought, but she soon remembered he seemed more anxious than in the
mood for springing surprises. No matter what was on his mind, she was sure her news was going to deliver more of a
shock than his!
A knock on the door brought her thoughts back to the present and she saw Rick step into her sitting room and gently
push the door closed. She sat up to meet him. "How is he?"
Rick graoned, "He'll live." The thought crossed his mind that Jonathan's well being depended largely on his ability
to get his act together.
"What was he talking about?"
"He's drunk, Evelyn. No telling what he's talking about."
"He suspects something about us, doesn't he?"
Rick sat next to her on the bed and pulled her into his chest. "Yeah, it looks that way." He kissed her hair, "Feeling any
better?"
"Thank you, yes." She wondered if he had any idea of her condition. At the same time she wondered why on earth he
wouldn't recognize the signs? Her heart pounded! There was going to be no delicate way to deliver the news to him, all
she needed to do was find the courage.
"So...?" She inquired playfully, "Why the big secret? What are you up to, Rick O'Connell?"
The moment of truth! He lifted her chin and looked at her. This was going to be tougher than he'd imagined. Right now
he wished he had gone with his first idea of leaving her a note and flowers. Throughout every battle he'd fought in his
life and all the enemies put before him, this was by far the hardest of all. Her eyes shined with expectation and he was
about to dim the glow of them. "Aah, it's bad news, Honey."
Her heart sank. "Oh?"
He ran a hand nervously through his hair and decided that a complete confession was out of the question, so he opted
for the quick and painless one. "That first time I was at Hamunaptra?" He looked for her acknowledgement, and received
it. "Well, I didn't exactly get my discharge from the Legion before I left." Evelyn sat very still, listening. This, in a peculiar
way, only seemed to make his task more difficult. He swallowed, stood and went on. "Two days ago, I ran into an old
Commanding Officer. Well, no. In fact, I was trying not to be seen, but anyway....he has given me two options." Rick
stopped and stared at his feet, hopelessly searching for a better way.
"And those options are what, exactly?" she prompted.
"I either return to the Aubagne in France and face Court Martial for desertion, or I can lead his Regiment through a quick
route to Damascus." Evelyn still sat quietly, still not comprehending the full impact of what he was saying. "You see,
this gives them in a prime position of attack against the uprisings that are going on in Syria."
"How long will that take?"
"Two weeks, maybe three."
"It seems rather odd that he'd give you the choice. I mean, from what I understand of the Foreign Legion, they deal
quite severely with deserters..."
"Flogging!" He interrupted, which immediately caused her visible distress.
"...so why would he settle on a trade for you to ride with him, just for two weeks?"
Rick hung his head and sighed. He should have known he wouldn't be able to spin this story to Evelyn without having
to answer a lot of perfectly logical questions. "Neither of us are your typical Legionnaires. There's been a lot of pretty
nasty stuff move between us, and the bottom line is, I owe him. I help him out on this tactic and, at the end, he lets me go
as if he never saw me."
Evelyn sat there stunned, not sure what to say. This was not the forerunner she expected for announcing happy baby
news! "An uprising, you say? Surely that's dangerous?"
He squatted before her and took hold of both her hands. "Evelyn, it's only two weeks, three tops. I do this and it's over
with. My other choice is to go as a prisoner to France and face Court Martial." He bobbed his head in order to make eye
contact with her, "If I do that, I could be gone for up to two years!" Her silence was killing him! "I'm caught, Evie!"
attempting to sound reasonable, "I don't have any other choice!"
"Then I suppose you go to Damascus." Her voice was so whispered he could barely hear her.
He put his hand beneath her chin and lifted her head. She was crying again and it really concerned him. "Hey. It's only
a few weeks."
"When do you leave?"
He cringed a little, "I have orders to be back at the camp by seven tonight...we leave first light tomorrow."
"So soon!"
Rick had expected her to be angry, even scared. He wasn't prepared for tears! "Evelyn? What's wrong?"
She couldn't answer and felt ridiculous. In a show of fear, she flung her arms about his neck and squeezed tightly.
"Don't get killed!"
He was still hunched on the floor and now he had Evelyn in his arms as she half knelt in front of him. He stroked her hair,
relieved that he'd managed to avoid giving away the threat to her. He couldn't see any reason to leave her frightened for
own safety, and so long as Jonathan shaped up, he prayed things would be alright. He felt her tears on his shoulder and
gently steered her back onto the bed and sat beside her. "What is it that you're not telling me?"
She coughed and wiped at her wet face. "Nothing. I'm being silly." She offered a crooked smile, "I just thought...well, I
just thought we'd be doing something about a wedding soon. Not you having to go away."
"It'll be the first thing we do when I get back." His promise spoken tenderly.
He leaned in and kissed her softly, hoping to make her smile but she responded passionately and urgently, catching
him off guard. Holding her face in his hands, he studied her eyes but she closed them too soon and kissed him again,
this time gently raking her fingers down the front of his shirt. He smiled against her kiss and lifted her onto his lap. If he
was being forced away from her for the next month, the memory of her was the best thing he could carry with him.
Her nimble fingers quickly unbuttoned his shirt allowing her to press her hands against his bare chest, feeling satisfied
with the pleasured groan she heard trying to escape from his mouth. It seemed a hopeless cause, but Evelyn believed
she could at least try and entice him to stay. As his hand ran along her stocking and crept underneath her skirt, she began
to care less for the events in hours to come and simply enjoyed the moment.
He played with the clips on her suspenders but left them, instead moving his hand to squeeze the cheek of her bottom
while his lips devoured her neck.
Since her first encounter with the more subtle activities of lovers, the normally prim Miss Carnahan had become quite a
deft hand at removing O'Connell's clothing! She was now able to release his belt and unfasten his trousers without fuss
or embarrassment. She stood just long enough to drape her legs over him before he grabbed her by the waist, pulling her
back onto his lap. He raised the hem of her skirt to her hips delighting in her stockings and suspenders and relishing
the warmth as she pressed the lace of her knickers against him. His mouth had wandered underneath her ear, making her
gasp at the tingling his breath created on her skin. This, combined with his fingers sneaking inside her underwear almost
made her collapse. For the moment, at least, all else was forgotten.
There was the sudden sound of torn material and she jumped slightly at the sensation of her lacey kickers falling away.
"Buy new ones!" He groaned into her ear. She giggled briefly, replacing her humour for a hungered gasp when his body
entered hers. His strong hands gripping her hips made her believe that if she could hold him as strongly, he would
never be able to leave this room. Instead, she wrapped her arms about his neck and pressed her lips onto his as she
moved with him. Her hands tightened and her fingers scratched into her lover's shoulders. She knew he would tease
her later for butchering him during the height of her passion, but it was something which she was discovering she could
not control.
He wrapped his arms about her body so possessively and hung onto her when she cried out, himself falling after her.
Panting, Rick let his body fall back onto the bed and brought Evelyn down with him. He let her slip down to lie beside
him and brushed the hair from her face. She began to speak, but he shook his head gently, placed a finger to her lips and
hushed her. Evelyn relaxed her head in his arms and let her eyes close. It seemed that now was not to be the time, either.
****
Evelyn poured boiling water into the teapot then carefully replaced the lid. She stared out the window and noticed two
uniformed Legionnaires standing at the gates to the Fort. So it was true after all, and now they'd come to collect him!
She checked her watch and realized that Rick would be gone within half an hour. Her decision was made. She would not
breathe a word of her pregnancy to anyone. Three weeks wasn't a lifetime and telling Rick now would only complicate
matters. She convinced herself there was even the chance it would distract him from his duties, causing him to let his
guard fall and become injured, or worse! No, her secret would remain just that.
"Jonathan's on his way here to take you to dinner."
She hadn't heard Rick come in and he startled her. "Well, I hope he's capable of it." She smiled nervously, not knowing
where to cast her eyes.
Rick stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, gently swaying her. "He is. And he's promised to watch
his mouth from now on." He too, noticed the soldiers standing in wait for him, but ignored them. Instead he buried his
face into the nap of her neck.
The usually spirited Miss Carnahan turned in his arms and tried to cheer up, "Come back in one piece." She warned.
"Count on it."
Jonathan stood silently in the doorway feeling totally overwhelmed by the task laid before him. He watched his sister
being held by that damned Yank and forced himself to believe that the man was doing the right thing. The coming weeks
were going to be difficult! He coughed politely in order to announce his arrival and the couple moved apart. Rick picked
up his gun roll and turned again to Evelyn. He kissed her one last time and felt a hole form in his chest. Walking away
quickly, he passed by Jonathan, giving him an unyielding glare in warning not to let her down. In one of the few moments
of his life, Jonathan dared a return look of disgust at O'Connell for leaving his sister prey to a hoard of low lifes. The look
registered hard with Rick and he slapped Jonathan on the shoulder in a attempt to extend his thanks, then walked out to
meet the two young soldiers sent to escort him.
END of BlackMail
Too Chapter One of HomeComing
Too Part 3 of Trilogy ' Homecoming '
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