See Part One (A) For Disclaimers

Chapter Three

After dinner, the entire Legacy House, except Jasmine, gathered in the study to hear the bishop's message.  As usual, things had gotten hectic, and before Val had known it, it was almost dinner time.  She resolved to wait until after dinner.  Not that there was ever a good time to tell Andy that an associate of his sworn enemy was joining their House.

As soon as Val told them the name of their new priest, and where he had served previously, Andy had exploded, his dark eyes burning with anger, "Philip Callaghan?  Great, that's just great!  Derek Rayne's pet priest is coming here.  So, when does Rayne show up?  Before or after his pet priest abandons us like he abandoned San Francisco House?"

"Pet priest?  Not hardly.  I've done some research.  Philip Callaghan is his own man . . . he's not as obnoxious about it as you are, Andy, but he makes his own decisions.  Give the man a chance . . . you might be surprised," Tatya said and Val looked at her friend in surprise.  A quick glance around the room told her she wasn't the only one.

Andy looked surprised as well, and Tatya answered, "Hey, you're not the only one around here who can access personnel files for 'former' Legacy members.  And as far as I'm concerned, Philip Callaghan never truly left the Legacy.  He was driven away.  And I for one hope we don't drive him away, as well.  Val, he's got my full-fledged support."

"Why, because he's cute?" Dani observed irreverently.  The other women burst into laughter, and Dani continued, grinning impishly, "Well, he is!  I found a picture of him in the personnel files!  And Tatya, we all know about how you are when it comes to good-looking men.  You're too discreet to be called the House tramp, but you do like men.  A lot."

"So do you," Tatya pointed out, but she was laughing.  The four women shared a smile, but none of them could ignore Andy.  Tatya glared at the young man and said, "Chill out, Andy.  Philip didn't abandon anyone, and he isn't responsible for Derek Rayne's various screw-ups . . . he's a priest, not a precept."

"Tatya is right, Andy," Dani said, growing serious.  Andy shifted his glower to her, but Dani was an ex-Marine.  She went on, "You've decided to hate this kid because of his association with Rayne.  Well . . . you're associated with him, too."

Val broke in before things could get ugly, saying, "I'm not asking you to like him, Andy.  I'm just asking you to judge him on his own mistakes and triumphs.  If you can't like him, then at least treat him with respect.  That's all any of us ask.  And I'm sure the ladies will be more than happy to make up the difference."

Dani, Tatya, and Renee all grinned impishly, and Andy said quietly, "I can't make you any promises about this, Val.  You all know how I feel about Derek Rayne.  I've never made a secret of my opinion of him.  And the fact that your godfather went behind our backs . . . I know this was his decision, not yours . . .  makes it worse."

"I'm not real happy with Uncle Nathaniel.  But I'm sure that your reaction will be peanuts compared to the way Philip Callaghan feels when he realizes he's been tricked and dumped into a House where he's being judged by association," Val replied.  Everyone looked at her in astonishment, and Val added with a sigh, "Just a feeling I have."

"And your feelings are almost right," Tatya observed and Val shrugged.  She didn't know about that, but she would deal with one disagreement at a time.  The psychologist continued, "All right, here's what I know.  I did my own digging into Philip Callaghan's background last night.  He was born and raised in Northern Ireland, grew up amidst the Troubles in Belfast."

Val nodded and Tatya continued, "He's not a wuss.  A man who can survive that kind of horror intact enough to become a priest is strong.  Note, I didn't say ‘unscathed,' but intact.  I don't think anyone can survive growing up in a war zone unscathed.  So, maybe he doesn't have Dani's strength, but he does have his own special kind.  He doesn't need us to protect him.  That's not the point."

"We know all this, so what is your point?" Andy demanded impatiently.  He wanted to get away from the meeting, wanted to go do something.  Something that would get the anger and grief out of his system, before he destroyed something.  Val recognized the signs.  Mel had been the same way.  She remembered it from the days after their mother's death, when their father had told them of Derek Rayne's refusal to hold Jonathan Boyle accountable for his actions.

"The point is, we all know that you hate Derek Rayne.  We know why.  And we all know that Philip really doesn't need our protection . . . he can take care of himself.  However, that doesn't mean we won't try to protect him," Dani replied bluntly.  Val winced.  Ouch.  That would leave a few bruises.  This was borne out when she saw the expression on Andy's face, and a tell-tale fire in his dark brown eyes.

"Oh, so you're gonna choose this priest, whom neither you nor Tatya can sleep with, over me?  A member of your own House?" Andy fired back.  A muscle in Dani's jaw tightened and Tatya went white.  Andy continued bitterly, "I thought we had been through enough together, that we respected each other.  That we would stand together."

"That is enough!  All right, obviously I'm as inept at controlling my people as Derek Rayne is, because this is out of control!" Val exclaimed.  Dani, Tatya, and Andy all looked at her guiltily, then Andy looked down at his folded hands.  If the young precept hadn't been so furious with all of them, she would have laughed.

But she was angry.  Dammit, they were supposed to be adults, not five year olds!  She continued more calmly, "Andy, in the first place, all I've asked is that you give Philip a chance.  I can't force you to do anything, we're supposed to be adults.  In the second place, you owe both Tatya and Dani an apology."

Andy looked away, ashamed.  Val didn't let herself feel sorry for him . . . instead, she switched her gaze to her security chief and psychologist, adding, "And ladies, I don't think you meant to say that you would automatically take Philip's side against Andy when there's an argument between the two, did you?"

"Of course not," Tatya said immediately, "although if Andy keeps this up, we might just do that.  Andy keeps insisting that Philip is subservient to Derek Rayne.  What I'm trying to say is that Philip is stronger than Andy thinks.  Growing up in Belfast, Philip has seen, first hand, what blindness can do."

Andy started to protest, but this time, Renee said quietly, "You're being unreasonable, Andy.  That crack you made, about us taking the side of a man whom we can't sleep with over you, was totally uncalled for.  Do you think we're all sluts?"  Andy lowered his eyes and shook his head.

"No.  I don't think that.  And I didn't mean to say that, Renee.  I just think that . . . look, I have to get out of here before I break something, anything.  Val's grandfather would kill me if I broke any of the antiques. Yes, I know he's dead, but that's hardly an impediment around here," he sighed.  Val didn't smile, although it was tempting.  Her grandfather probably would kill Andy if he broke any of the antique furniture.

"Andy, I'm not trying to pressure you.  But you must understand.  As the precept, I take care of everyone.  I have to think about you, but Philip is important, too.  You know I don't like Derek Rayne.   But what happened to my mother, to Heather, is not Philip's fault," Val said, and Andy looked up.  He was smiling faintly, but there was pain in his eyes.

"I know.  Like you said, he wasn't even in the Legacy.  But I don't appreciate Dani and Tatya blasting me.  What I said earlier about not being able to sleep with him, that was rude.  But so is what they said," Andy replied.  He paused, then added, "And you're a much better precept than Derek Rayne.  You would never let one of us harm an innocent.  I'll be at the Inner Harbor."

He slipped quietly from the room and Val looked at Tatya and Dani.  The security chief said, looking distinctly uncomfortable, "And on that note, I need to check the security cameras again.  We're the Legacy, there's no such thing as being too vigilant."  There was just a trace of self-mockery in her voice.  Val nodded, both in understanding and in acceptance, and Dani left as well.

That left Renee, Val, and Tatya in the room.  Renee was looking rather uncomfortable herself, so it wasn't a surprise when she said quietly, "I wanna go over that computer program again, Val.  May check the other one . . . we might have missed something the first time. Would it be okay if I asked Jasmine to help me when she's done with her homework?"  Val bobbed her head and Renee added softly, reaching over to take Val's hand, "It will be okay, Val."

She left the study, leaving only Tatya and Val.  The young precept slid down into her chair, rubbing her eyes and sighing.  Tatya said,  "Better that he get angry with Dani and me than with you.  He's right about one thing.  From what I've heard about Derek Rayne, he would have just dumped the new arrival on his people."

"It's not just a new arrival, Tatya . . . it's whom he is. I couldn't do that to Andy or Philip.  It's not fair to them.  And I couldn't let someone else tell Andy.  That wouldn't be fair to him," Val answered, opening her eyes. She glanced at her friend, then asked, "You don't do that kinda thing with your patients, do you?"

"Valerie, you know I can't talk about my patients," Tatya mock-chided, and Val managed a smile.  Then her friend added seriously, "And no.  That wasn't me in psychologist mode . . . it was me in big sister mode.  I learned the hard way to keep my friends separate from my patients.  And I try not to make the same mistakes twice."

"That's what I thought.  I know I'm screwed up, but I'd prefer to go to you when I'm ready, rather than the other way around," Val observed.  She took a deep breath, then sighed, "I really bungled that.  I just didn't know of a good way to tell Andy.  And I don't know how to tell Uncle Nathaniel 'no' yet."

"Well, there's no reason for you to tell him 'no,' Val.   Andy has a  problem with Derek Rayne.  But it's his problem, not ours.  There is no reason why Philip Callaghan shouldn't be a member of this House.  I'm sure that won't stop you from reaming your godfather," Tatya said dryly.

Val replied ruefully, "Already done.  I told him the next time he received a promotion, to let me choose his successor.  You can imagine his reaction to that, of course." Tatya just lifted an eyebrow questioningly, and Val continued, "He told me that when I knew what I was looking for, he'd do just that."

"Well, he sort of has a point, but how will you know unless you have experience?  And that's the whole thing, Val.  You're still learning the ins and outs of being a precept. After only a few years, it's to be expected that you're still gaining experience, and confidence in yourself," Tatya counselled, shifting her weight from one chair to another.

"Mmmm," Val replied.  She wasn't fully convinced she had done such a great job of handling the whole situation.  In fact, she was miserably aware that her inexperience was once more showing.  She looked up at Tatya and continued, "Tatya, why do I have the feeling that no matter what I do in this situation, it won't be the right thing?"

"Because in a situation like this, Val, there is no right or wrong.  You're relying not on a chant to banish evil, or a ritual to ease a troubled spirit.  You're trying to navigate the very murky waters of human emotions, and sometimes, that's more difficult than dealing with the supernatural," Tatya replied.

She paused, then said softly, "Ever since your mother died, Val, and maybe even before, you've been drawn more to the mundane side of the Legacy, to the monsters which the Legacy creates, rather than the supernatural.  I know this because your godfather told me.  Besides, I am a psychologist, it's my job to notice."

Val grinned, which Tatya returned, then the psychologist went on  soberly, "But if it helps, think of the meeting as preventing the creation of another monster.  Andy has a lot of issues to work out, not the least of which is Heather's death.  But he won't be alone, and that will help."

"I just don't know what else to do.  Like I told him, it's not just him I have to worry about.  Philip will be coming into a bad situation . . . he's been tricked into returning to the Legacy, and if I know my godfather, Uncle Nathaniel is quite capable of guilt-tripping him into making sure Philip stays.  He's not gonna be very happy," Val commented.

"Maybe," Tatya allowed, leaning forward to gaze into Val's dark hazel eyes, "but consider this.  Part of the reason why Philip left the Legacy is because Derek Rayne kept pressuring him to spend all of his time with the Legacy."  Val looked at her friend, surprised, and Tatya explained, "I found it in his profile."

"Tatya!  I'm a precept, and not even I can do that!" Val blurted out.  Tatya just smiled very smugly, and the young precept continued with an amused sigh, "Never mind, I forgot . . . the psych specialists of the Legacy have the ability to check into the psychological backgrounds of former members.  It's necessary for their jobs."

Tatya bobbed her head with an impish grin.  Since psych specialists were consultants to precepts, they had access to information which the precepts sometimes did not.  Val added,  "Oh, all right . . . I can tell you're dying to share what you found out, so go ahead and tell me."

"Gladly!  Philip left the Legacy so he didn't have to choose between Derek Rayne and the priesthood.  Which was what it amounted to.  Rayne couldn't understand how much being a parish priest meant to Philip.  Now, if you leave his participation up to Philip, that will take care of the first problem," Tatya said.

"First problem?  There was a second problem?  And do you have any ideas how to take care of it?" Val asked.  She actually knew better than to ask, but she did anyhow.  It was part of the game which she played with Tatya, and she knew Tatya would have been disappointed if she hadn't asked.  Her friend liked having answers that Val didn't.

Continued

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