Fire & Rayne

©, Samantha Agee

The congregation that had flocked to St. Bart's on the rumor that Father Phillip Callaghan was going to speak milled restlessly now, the former priest standing sheepishly behind the altar, looking disbelievingly out over the crowd. Hardly a small structure, nevertheless, the church was packed, leaving standing room only with more than a few parishoners electing to stand in the hallways rather than leave the sermon.

As Phillip nodded nervously, smiling as he began his unofficial speech, the milling noise died down to nothing, every eye fixed on the young man behind pulpit.

Amazed, Maddy leaned over to whisper. "I never knew Phillip had such a following."

"I did." Rose whispered back, hiding a smile at the way Phillip had already gotten into his message. He had decided late last night that there would be no preaching this day, only a discussion of choices and the benefits of making the right ones. "He was up half the night worrying about what would happen today."

"What? With the congregation?" Nick asked, eyeing the crowd.

"No. Though that's a part of it. He was worried that he might not be welcome back here again."

"I guess this shoots that one down, huh?"

"Yes it does." Returning the hand squeeze with a smile, Rose watched happily as Phillip eased through his sermon. He had been asked by the dioces to come to mass, serving as a guest speaker to his former parishoners, to talk to them as one who had experienced both sides of the coin; both priest and man. The monsignor had then topped off the offer by stating, truthfully, that his congregation had missed him.

In a solid show of support, Derek and the others had all made an effort to witness this special event, knowing that Phillip's decision had been a hard one to make.

Nick had understood it best, quietly comparing the request to a reformed drunk taking his first drink after having gone sober.

Indeed, the entire hall was held spellbound by the passionate lilt, not a whisper could be heard as Phillip spoke his heart, the Irish of his brogue deeping in his sincerity. Kat sat beside her mother, dressed in her Sunday best, taking in everything, never having seen this side to her quiet friend. Derek and Lissa merely smiled in wry good humor at the little girl's reflection of most of the grown ups in the crowd, her mother, Nick and Maddy included.

No one ever realizing that a turning point in the young man's life was not the only danger lurking in the wings. That, somewhere in the crowd, someone else was watching the exact same thing, dark thoughts taken up with revenge...

...waiting only for the right moment to strike.

 

"Sooo..." Nick asked. "Do you miss it?"

The morning session over, on the stone steps of the church Phillip and the others waited on Derek, Moira and Rose, still talking to Monsignor Gray and the Cardinal in the foyer.

"No. I mean, I thought I would...but..." He shrugged, trying to put into words what he had experienced on the pulpit this morning. "I stood up there and it was like I never left. The joy I used t' have in my work...then I started remembering the limits, all the restrictions..." Another shrug and a sad smile this time. "...the reasons why I left. I guess I no longer fit in around here."

Nick interupted before he could start to feel sorry for himself. "No. You outgrew it, Phillip. Never forget that."

"Yes, Mother."

The ex-SEAL grinned, his arm around Maddy and tugging at his tie. "Just remember that when I'm kickin' your butt in practice tomorrow."

"And you remember that when I'm kicking yours." Moira added chidingly, "Be nice, Nicholas, your brother's had a hard day."

"Indeed." Derek added sagely, strolling up from his conversation with Cardinal Arianna. "The Cardinal was impressed with your sermon this morning, Phillip. He also reiterated the fact that the position is still open for the soccer team should you care to take it up again."

"No." Phillip shook his head wistfully. "No...Brian's a good man. A fine coach. The boys have faith in him, I won' break that."

"Your choice, my friend."

Phillip nodded, smiling as Rose beamed up at him, reinforcing the rightness of the decisions he had made. "And I've made it."

"Then let's go home."





"Come on, ladies, let's go!" Keys dangling from his left hand, the precept checked his watch, calling up again, "We're going to miss the ferry!"

"Keep your shirt on Derek!" Slinging her short jacket over her shoulders, Moira hurried her steps, taking the stairs two at a time. "It'll be there when we get there."

Chuckling as she reached the landing, Derek Rayne stole a quick kiss under the pretense of helping her adjust the black leather collar. "But we're late."

"I saw that." Lissa smiled. "So let's get going! Thanks for dropping us off at the shopping center, Dad."

Shooing both women out the front doors and leading them over to the black range rover, Derek fastened his seat belt, turning the key. "You're very welcome, but we're late. I promised Phillip I would pick him up at the church around four and it's already three thirty."

It had been a couple of weeks since Phillip had turned down the opportunity to coach the boy's soccer team and since then, the good Fathers at St. Bartholomew's had found another way to draw their former colleague back into the fold, if only in an unofficial capacity. In addition to his duties with the Legacy, Phillip Callaghan was now also working part time with the church, acting as a counselor to those parishoners who needed a someone other than the clergy to talk to.

A friend rather than a priest.

"How is he?" Moira asked sympathetically, taking the back seat as the rover roared to life. After leaving the priesthood to return full time with the Legacy, the young man had left a major part of his life behind. Now that he was returning, at least in part, to that environment... "It must be hard."

"It is. But he understands now that he can have both. The church and the Legacy," Derek sighed. "Faith and truth together - they were never an impossible goal."

Lissa snorted, watching the trees flash by. "Tell that to the church."

Her father only smiled. "But I don't have to. He already has."

She thought about that. "He did, didn't he? Poor Pip, at least he's happy."

"Speaking of making someone happy, what are the two of you plotting in town today? And don't tell me 'nothing', " Derek admonished confronting both of them, moments later, pulling up onto the ferry just as it had been ready to head out. "I know you better than that."

"Nothing that you would disapprove of, Father-mine." Lissa answered mischieviously. "Merely a women's day out..."

"Shopping," Moira added, reminding him. "We both need something for Alex's birthday. It's not that far off."

"That's right!" Derek muttered, having forgotten. "Next Friday, isn't it?"

"Yes it is. And since both Moira and I procrastinate, we decided to do it now, while it was on both our minds."

"And of course, since I was heading into town anyway..." Derek drolled.

"Of course!" Moira leaned in from the back. "Always helps having a handsome, distinguished older man to chaufer us around the streets of San Francisco."

"Well, at least I'm good for something."

But Moira only traded a look with her step-daughter, "I'm not touching that one."

"Too easy." Lissa agreed.

Unable to win, Derek wisely gave in, later dropping the two off at Alex's favorite antique store near Chinatown.

They told him not to bother coming back for them as they would probably be spending most if not the rest of the day well into evening combing the shops, looking for the perfect gift for researcher's birthday. Therefore, they intended to take a cab to the docks and would call the House when they arrived back on the island.

Waiting until the two women had gone into the boutique before pulling back out into traffic, Derek Rayne never realized he was being followed.

 

"Now?"

His gaze never wavering from his targets, the second man nodded coldly. "Now."

Following the black rover on foot until it stopped at a light, the two men took advantage of the rush hour traffic to walk right up along side the vehicle.

"Excuse me, sir?"

"Can I help you?"

"Yes, if you would...could you tell me how to get to Golden Gate Park from here?" The man smiled lopsidedly, gesturing to the map in his hands with self-depreciating good humor.

The driver smiled, clearly resisting the urge to shake his head at the 'tourists'. "Certainly. Head back a block. If you take Fulton Street west you can't miss it."

Staring at the man standing so close to his window, it never dawned on Derek to be suspicious until it was too late. By then another man had slipped into the passanger seat of the rover, one hand in his lap, a gun pointed casually at Derek's midriff.

"Actually, Dr. Rayne, I would rather you show us." The second man spoke calmly and the first man playing 'tourist' got in behind the driver's seat. "Now drive."

"What do you want?"

"Just drive."





"Luna Foundation. This is Alex Moreau, how can I...?"

"Alex?"

"Phillip? Where are you guys? Derek left out of here hours ago...I thought he was supposed to be picking you up."

"That's what I thought, y' mean he's not there?"

"No, isn't he with you?"

The reply was slower this time, not to mention a little worried. "No, he's not...Alex..."

"Hold on Phillip..." Alex held the phone to her chest, taking a deep breath.

What was going on? It wasn't like Derek to change his plans and not tell anyone. Thinking furiously, Alex refused to panic, running through all the possible explanations for Derek being late. If something were wrong, surely they would know.

The vision hit her without warning.

Fleeting images of Derek struggling, of two men dragging his limp body over to a dark van and then speeding away. The flashes, sharp-edged and powerful left her gasping for breath, clutching the receiver like a lifeline as she came back to herself.

Oh my God...

Moira and Lissa had gone out earlier, Rose and Maddy were up with Kat and Cassie, Rachel was on the mainland with a patient. Nick...

But Nick left earlier, saying he was going for a run.

"Alex? Alex, are you okay?" Phillip's voice broke her out of the daze.

"I'm on my way," she told him, motioning for Frederick when she spotted the servant coming out of the outer rooms. "Phillip? Stay there until I get there."

She hung up before he could reply, hastily scribbling a brief message. "Frederick, could you give this to Nick when he gets back?"

Taking the slip of paper Alex handed him, the older man frowned in concern. "Certainly Miss Alex. Is something wrong?"

"I'm not sure. I hope not. Tell Nick I'll explain everything when I get back."

 

 

Walking up the stone steps of the church, Alex found Phillip in the rectory, already heading for her.

"What happened?"

"I hav' no idea. Derek was supposed t' be here hours ago. But he never showed up." Steering her towards the door, Phillip nodded plesantly to the new Bishop, absently pasting a smile to his lips until they got outside. No need in alarming anyone, after all neither of them knew for sure something had gone wrong. Even so, Bishop Dearborn was a young man as eager to help as the late Bishop Douglas had been to hinder and by design would only manage to get in the way.

That startled Phillip for a moment before he pushed the thought aside in favor of more pressing matters. But when had he started thinking of the church as a hinderance rather than an asset? "You don' think it has anythin' t' do that case he's workin' on, do you?"

"The myths behind the Kridalsh cult?" Phillip nodded but the researcher only shook her head, one hand in her purse and digging for her keys. "No, absolutely not. Derek finished that up days ago. Only the paperwork needs to be finished and sent to Sloan."

"You're sher?"

"Positive. The whole thing was a smokescreen; myth and legend. Not an ounce of truth to any of it."

Phillip paused, muttering to himself as Alex kept going to the other side of the car. "What the Hell's happenin'?"

"I don't know." Alex retorted sharply; much harder than she intended. It was then Phillip realized there was something she wasn't telling him. Clearly frustrated and a little scared, she took a deep breath and started to apologize. "I'm sorry...Phillip, I..."

They had been friends a long time and a small understanding smile was all that was needed to let her know it had already been forgotten. But he did ask, "What did you See?"

Just as she had been about to answer, a black van pulled alongside, three men spilling out of the side door. Before either of them could react, one of the men grabbed Alex around the waist, holding off her struggles while the other hand held a cloth to her mouth. Slumping suddenly in his arms, Alex went limp, her struggles ceasing altogether as he dragged her to the van.

Too stunned to think, Phillip wasn't fast enough. Dashing around the car to help Alex, he never saw the last man until it was almost too late. Only by sensing something at the last minute did he instinctively dodge aside, managing to evade that assailant but not the others. As the one carrying Alex returned, the odds deepened to three-to-one and Phillip was overcome...

...slipping into oblivion as the sickly sweet smell was pressed to his face and darkness engulfed him.

 

 

"We have them."

"Excellent." Tilting his head with a cruel expression mocking his handsome features, Price's boss pulled an expensive cigar from the folds of his silk robe, holding it in his fingers thoughtfully before lighting the tip.

"The others are bringing in Dr. Rayne, sir. They should arrive within the hour."

"The woman and the priest?"

"Out like a light but unharmed as per your orders." Price shifted his weight at the thought but his features remained impassive. One thing he had learned was to never show weakness around this man.

"And the others?"

"Carter and Dickson should be collecting Rayne's wife and daughter now, sir."

"A fine job, Mr. Price." A compliment even as the threat followed close on it's heels, calmly delivered in a deceptively pleasant tone. "See that it stays that way."

 

 

"Lis?"

"Hmmm?" Pretending to admire a scarf in the window of the latest shop they had visited, Lissa answered back. Though the silk shimmered a beautiful shade of gold and copper, sadly it would do nothing for her dark brown hair. Maybe for the summer when the sun brought out the reddish highlights?

"We're being followed."

"I know. Four of them, I'd say the last three blocks or so."

A quirk of the lips as Moira, too, admired the silky fabric. "How did you know?"

"I'm an ex-cop. Got in the habit of keeping feelers out during my rookie days when I working the street."

"Good habit to have."

Lissa smiled grimly. "Yeah. Let's see if we can make it to the docks. I'm curious to know just how serious they are."

Moving on past the row of shops and small cafes, the women moved deeper into the rougher part of the neighborhood. The docks where they would catch the ferry back to the island weren't far but they were bracketed by a couple of fairly bad areas.

"How did you spot them?" She asked Moira who, after a quick glace she found, had her eyes closed in concentration.

"I'm an empath. Whenever I leave the House I also put out feelers." A wry looked followed. "Just in case. And they're serious alright."

They reached the slip where the ferry usually moored to find that they had missed the previous load by only a few minutes. The next ferry wouldn't show for an hour. Turning from the water, they found their would-be attackers had closed ranks. Now they followed the two women openly, unconcerned about possible witnesses.

Why should they be worried, Lissa fumed, angry at herself for getting them into this. There is no one to witness whatever they intend to do; the place is completely deserted. In fact, from the look of things, one would think they had held an announcement in advance.

"Well now, " one of them smiled coldly as Moira and Lissa formed rank, back to back, "that's hardly necessary, I assure you."

"Yeah," chimed another, smirking, "Now you don't have to go and do that, sugar, we aren't gonna harm you. We just wanna have a little fun."

Ignoring the taunts, Lissa narrowed her concentration on the four of them, looking for something that would give the two women an edge.

The first shot a warning glance at his partner causing the other to go silent.

Years of training taking over, the first thing she noticed was that all four of them were large men; well built but unarmed that she could see. The other were the difference's in the first and second speaker. Clearly the second was merely a hired lackey, as were the other two, looking forward to an easy mark. But the first...the confident, easy posture, the glare of authority; the first was just as obviously a professional. It would be this man she would have to watch for.

Four to two odds. A close fight if it came down to that; too close for her peace of mind. She knew both she and Moira were good, but that was assuming the struggled stayed fair.

And from the feel of the whole thing, she wasn't willing to stake they're lives on that. This felt too much like a setup...

But a setup to what?

"What do you want?" Moira asked them calmly.

"Just the pleasure of your company, Mrs. Rayne, and that of your step-daughter. If you would please come with us?"

Mrs. Rayne?

That clenched it. These were ordinary thugs, they knew exactly who they had snared.

"I really don't think so," the mage muttered dryly.

"Then we do this the hard way." The boss merely shook his head, unconcerned.

"Now what?" Lissa whispered, her gaze raking over the four as Moira raised her arms, balancing on the balls of her feet like a street fighter. Following Moira's example, Lissa fell into stance, balanced and ready even as she discarded her own packages behind her.

The empath snarled slightly, probably in responce to whatever she was picking up from their assailants, never taking her eyes off of them. "Now we fight - and hope like Hell we kick their butt instead of the other way around."

"No problem." Lissa stated, calmly picking out her first target even as the first man scowled.

"Get them!"

Continued

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