See Part One (A) For Disclaimers

"The other part is, Philip felt as though each encounter in the Legacy was chipping away at his soul.  That's gonna be more difficult to conquer.  But, Philip has a soft spot for kids, he organized youth programs at his parishes in both San Francisco and Boston.  Get him involved in a case where a child is endangered, and he's in for the duration," Tatya replied.

Val nodded in acknowledgment, and the psychologist continued, "Secondly, Philip's concern is with people.  He cares about, and understands, people.  If you got him involved in your pet project . . .  namely, making sure that the Legacy doesn't create more monsters among its own people . . . I think that would get his attention."

Val was silent for several moments while she considered her friend's suggestion.  It made a lot of sense.  And it wasn't just the monsters within the Legacy which concerned Val, but the innocent victims who were created when the Legacy took out a less-innocent person.   She thought again of her mother, of Heather, of Jan Cassidy.  If Tatya was right . . . and she often was . . . if she got Philip involved in that part of the Legacy, he would be less worried about damage to his soul.

Finally, she said, "Okay, thanks.  You know I'll take both ideas into consideration."  Tatya nodded and the women fell silent.  The more she considered it, the more sense Tatya's suggestions made to Val.  Further, Val was seriously considering a compromise with the priest, regarding the time he spent with the Legacy and in the parish.

Better yet, she knew a new bishop . . . namely her godfather . . . and she knew she would be able to convince Uncle Nathaniel to let her handle Philip in her own way.  Yes, things were looking up.  She was on the point of saying so to her friend, when Tatya commented, "Philip is from Ireland . . . that probably means he's got a gorgeous accent.  You know, Val, this could be fun . . .  a beautiful accent on a sexy priest."

Val felt her jaw drop at her friend's words.  She couldn't even speak, she was so stunned.  It was a joke among the members of Baltimore House that Tatya and Dani were hot to trot, but a priest?????  Tatya grinned smugly and added, "Now . . . have you decided where our new arrival will sleep?  May I suggest a room with its own bathroom?  After all, we don't want to mortify the poor boy when he comes out of his room at two am, looking for the latrine."

Val smiled and followed her friend to check out the rooms.  Tatya was right about one thing . . . life looked to get very interesting.  And as concerned as she was about Andy's reaction to their new addition, Val was also hopeful.  Maybe this was exactly what they needed to keep their own House from becoming complacent, the first step to ruin.

*    *    *

Bishop Nathaniel Hughes lacked his goddaughter's courage.  It wasn't until the day before their return to Baltimore that he told Philip that he was being returned to the Legacy.  Given Andy's probable reaction, Nathaniel figured it was the least he could do for his goddaughter.  However, that meant dealing with the potent fury of a very angry  priest, and Nathaniel was sure he would hear about it all the way to Baltimore.

However, after the initial explosion, Philip didn't say much of anything to him.  Still, it was yet another sign to the bishop that he had chosen well for his goddaughter.  The last thing Val needed in her House was another hot-head.  Although, Nathaniel thought with a smirk, should the Houses of Baltimore and San Francisco find it necessary to join forces, the collision of Nick Boyle and Andy Ramirez should be quite interesting!

So intent on his plans and schemes was he, Philip had to remind him about catching their train.  Nathaniel came out of his daze long enough to acknowledge the boy's observation, then continued plotting on the way.  He said happily, "I do believe this will work out quite well!  You're not a hot-head . . . that's the last thing Valerie needs.  Andy's temper is quite enough . . . and I'm sure it exploded when he found out about your arrival." "And why would he be angry about that?  We've never met," Philip observed as they boarded the train.  Nathaniel immediately regretted opening his mouth . . . ohhhh, how could he be so stupid?  Philip repeated, his blue-gray eyes narrowing, "Why would this man Andy have a problem wi' m' arrival, Bishop Hughes?"

"Ahhh . . . well . . . you see . . . well . . . Andy doesn't have a great deal of liking or even respect for your former precept.  He . . .  well, he holds Dr. Rayne responsible for the deaths of two women whom he loved.  And I know Val is concerned that Andy will take it out on you . . . guilt by association and all that rot, you know," Nathaniel babbled.

He cringed at the expression which dawned in Philip's pale eyes.   The young man repeated, "Guilt by association.  In other words, this man, Andy, has decided t' hate me, because I was in Derek's House.  Wonderful.  Not only have you tricked me, you put me int' a House where I'm not wanted."

"Well, you don't have to stay after this case is concluded," Nathaniel offered, though in all honesty, he didn't even know what Valerie and her House were investigating.  And he had no intention of letting Philip Callaghan leave, not when he was needed so deeply.  And not when the young priest needed the Legacy as much as he did.

Philip gave him a highly skeptical look and replied, "We'll see."  That was all he would say . . . he turned his head to look out the window and fell silent once more.  Nathaniel swallowed hard and tried to decided if he should keep his mouth shut for the rest of the trip.

After only a moment, he decided against it.  Nathaniel said quietly, "And I didn't put you into a House where you aren't wanted.  I didn't consult my goddaughter, but she doesn't know what she needs yet from a spiritual center.  Philip, I shouldn't even tell you this, but she doesn't believe in God.  She doesn't even believe in the Legacy."

Philip replied, still looking out the window, "If you're tryin' t' shock me, Bishop, you've failed.  I'm a priest . . . not an archangel or God.  It's not m' place t' judge her.  And even if your goddaughter isn't Catholic, that doesn't mean she doesn't believe in God.  She's a member of the Legacy, she believes in something.  Even if she doesn't call it God."  

Now the young priest did look away from the window and added, "And as for your goddaughter not knowin' what she needs from a spiritual center, she will never learn if you don't let her learn.  Experience is the greatest teacher of all.  She became a precept at twenty-six, so I think you're not givin' her enough credit."

Nathaniel looked at the young man, nonplussed.  After a moment, he replied, "Well, Valerie was raised as a Catholic.  But she doesn't believe in God.  She told me that herself."  Although, Nathaniel admitted silently, she was sixteen years old at the time, and maybe things have changed since then.  She had reason to be very angry at the time.

After a moment, he went on, "But . . . Valerie was only sixteen at the time.  She was a very angry young girl.  Not that I blame her.  But ever since that day, we've never discussed religion.  I lack your courage, Philip.  I'm afraid if I ask her, I won't like what she has to say.  That's unworthy of me, but I'm a coward."

The young man started to reply, but the bishop wasn't finished.  He continued, "You have Valerie's type of courage.  That quiet, steady courage, the kind which leads the bolder kinds to take strength from you.  Oh, you doubt yourself.  You think that you're not strong enough to deal with the evil which the Legacy encounters.  But you're wrong."  

Again, Philip started to speak, but Nathaniel interrupted, saying, "And as for the Legacy, my goddaughter is a very different precept than Derek Rayne.  She's a young woman, and that does make a difference.  And she served under Angeline D'Arcy for a year, before she became a precept."

"The precept who turned t' the Dark, and kidnapped Ingrid Rayne," Philip said, startled, and Nathaniel bobbed his head.  Yes, she had been one who frightened him.  In part because she had frightened the women he loved most. And neither Valerie nor Melanie frightened easily, God rest Melanie's fiery soul.

"Yes, exactly . . . she also tried to kill Alex Moreau as well.  But, as I was saying, Valerie will not pressure you into doing something you're not comfortable doing.  In other words, if you wish to be a parish priest, Valerie will accommodate you.  She is a very special young woman, and yes, I'm biased," Nathaniel replied ruefully.

Amazingly enough, Philip laughed and observed dryly, "I hadn't noticed."  Nathaniel laughed with him, then the younger priest continued, "And I can tell she's very special t' you.  I will do what I can, but I make no promises. We'll see what happens."  Nathaniel nodded, breathing a sigh of relief.  That had gone well.  But after helping to raise Val, he knew he wouldn't get off so easily with her.

*    *    *

The last two days hadn't been pleasant in Baltimore.  Andy was sulking.  He was still angry with Dani and Tatya.  More Dani than Tatya, since the psychologist had apologized to him.  Val didn't even have the comfort of knowing that her godfather was having trouble of his own.  The way things had been going lately, Val had a bad feeling that Uncle Nathaniel planned to just dump Philip into the House, without even warning the poor man what he had gotten into.

It would be just like Uncle Nathaniel to do that, Val thought with a sigh,  but there's not much I can do about that. In the meantime, the young precept had tried to keep busy by investigating the leads which Renee had discovered.  Val didn't even know if it was possible to retrieve Sloan from Hell, but she had to try.

Unfortunately, like all the other leads, this was a dead end.  But Val couldn't allow herself to think of giving up.  And there were times when she would think,  what am I doing?  Using a computer program to find him?  But at the very least, it gave her the illusion that she was doing something.  And sometimes, the illusion was all anyone had.

Uncle Nathaniel had called her earlier to tell her that he would be arriving with Philip in a few hours.  She wasn't to meet them, nor was she to send anyone.  The less fanfare, the better.  For once, Val agreed.  They didn't need the fanfare, the mess, or the additional tension of scurrying around like carpenter ants.  Especially not with Andy still sulking.

Although, in all fairness, Andy wasn't exactly sulking.  He was just behaving the way Jasmine had when she was five years old and her mother told her 'no' about something.  Val supposed she should be more sympathetic to Andy's plight, but at the moment . . . she was too bloody tired to really care.  A sad state of affairs for a precept.

"You need a rest, before you collapse," Renee said, and Val looked up with a wan smile.  During the last two days, she hadn't found it necessary to look far for the blonde computer specialist.  One couldn't quite accuse her of 'hovering,' but Renee had made her presence known.  Just being there, just in case she was needed.  

"I'll get my rest after I do this.  Montrose is taking care of Philip's room, bless his heart.  Although, I wish I could convince him to chill out with the 'Dr. Barton.'  I know, he's British, but at this point, I would settle for 'Miss Valerie.'  He's our butler, not one of my students," Val replied.

Renee laughed, putting her arm around Val's shoulders as she sat down beside the precept, and said, "Well, Val, he's only worked here for three weeks.  He's still nervous around you, and I'm sure he's figured out that there's far more than meets the eye with the Port.  He does seem to be rather intelligent.  Give him time."

Val nodded in acknowledgment . . . that was true.  Taking a cue from San Francisco, Val had set up a nonprofit foundation as a cover for the Legacy's activities in their area.  The Port's goal was caring for abuse survivors.  Whether they were battered wives, battered children, or rape survivors, the Port wanted to help them.

Helping the survivors of abuse had been a topic near and dear to Mel's heart . . . while the sisters never discussed it, Val was quite certain that their mother's death, and the injuries which Val had sustained in the attack, had something to do with it.  After Mel's death, Val had founded the Port to honor the memories of both women.  

"Well, he's been too well-mannered to comment on the strange sounds coming from downstairs.  I hope we don't frighten him off.  Good help is so hard to come by, and supposedly haunted houses tend to frighten off potential employees," Val observed.  Renee just smiled impishly, and gave her another one-armed hug.

"Don't worry about it too much . . . he's English, and you know what they say about English manor houses.  I doubt if this is much worse than anything he has back home," the younger woman replied.  Val had to laugh, and Renee continued, "Much better.  But you still need to get some rest.  Go up and take a nap, I'll see what I can find out."

Val started to protest, but Renee added, "Bishop Hughes and Father Callaghan will arrive in a few hours.  And you'll need all of your energy to deal with Andy's pouting."  Val could hardly argue.  She knew the head researcher wouldn't make things easy for the new arrival.

"Okay, you win . . . but wake me as soon as you hear the car coming up the drive," Val said and Renee bobbed her head.  Val had her doubts about her friend keeping that promise, since Renee was quite capable of lying if she thought it was in Val's best interests.  But that was why alarm clocks were invented.  She squeezed Renee's hand, then headed upstairs.

Next Chapter

Email the author!
[email protected]

Back to Main 'PTL' Fanfic Index

Back to Main Library Index         Back to Main Fanfiction Index

Adventures of Sinbad   ~~~     Andromeda   ~~~     Angel   ~~~     Babylon5   ~~~     BeastMaster: The Series   ~~~     Beauty & the Beast
Buffy the Vampire Slayer   ~~~     Charmed  ~~~     The Crow: Stairway to Heaven   ~~~     Crusade   ~~~     due South   ~~~     Farscape
Gundam Wing   ~~~     Highlander: The Series   ~~~     Miscellaneous Fiction   ~~~     Mortal Kombat   ~~~     Mortal Kombat: Conquest
Poltergeist the Legacy   ~~~     Raven   ~~~     (TSAo) Jules Verne  ~~~     The Sentinel   ~~~     Stargate SG1   ~~~     Star Trek: Voyager

I can't fix it if I don't know it's broken, so if you see anything wrong,  please let me know.  Thank you and enjoy your stay!