Chapter Fifty-Eight

Life doesn’t stop for Death anymore than Death stops for Life.  Such is the harsh reality of the grieving process.

With her heart aching Calla climbed down from the statue of Zeus with Danny in her arms and handed the lifeless boy over to his mother.  “You killed him,” Annie hissed in an accusatory whisper. “You did this.” She pulled his limp body close, kissed his cheeks while her tears spilled over them.  “It’s all your fault.”  Calla hardly knew what to say as she watched Randy put an arm around Annie’s shoulders to comfort her and then guide her away from the gawking crowd which parted for them as they made their exit.  Perhaps it was her fault and she looked up at Hades with questioning eyes.

“It is not.” He said easily and wished he could be of some comfort to her but no one took comfort in the words Death had to offer at a time such as this.

“Did he know?” Calla asked softly. “That he held Grandfather’s soul? Did he know?”

“No, of course he didn’t.  No one is to know such things but I will tell you that my Brother couldn’t wait to come back and be part of your Family.  He loved you so, Little One.  He will return again one day.”  Hades smiled kindly. “You will be together again.  I promise you this.”

Head spinning and heart breaking she turned around to see David standing there starring at her. “You ok, Sunshine?”

“No,” Calla mumbled and held her arms out to him.  “I would never hurt Danny.” She sobbed.

“I know that, sweetheart.” David hugged her tight and told her everything was going to be all right. 

“It isn’t,” she said a mournful whisper. “He has them, he has my Girls and my Son.”

David broke the embrace to look down at her.  “Who?”

“Wolfgar.” She answered without hesitation. “God told me so.”

Disbelieving blue eyes blinked several times as David shook his head to clear it. “God?”

“Yes, God said Wolfgar has them and he is going to do terrible things to them.  Danny saved me so that I could stop him.  Where is Daniel?”

David scratched his head before answering her.  “He’s still on Sengul with Ares and the rest.”

“Then we will have to go and get them.”  She stepped back and looked around at the town gathered around. “And…at least for now, until my Daughter returns…I’ll be taking back my crown.  Any objections?”

There were none.

Going over Annie’s head she ordered that Kiki be retrieved from school and brought to the kingdom immediately.  She had to be told about her brother, she could comfort her mother until her father returned and she would be safer here.

Calla stood there, her gray hair hanging a mess around her face and almost to her knees since it had been so long since last it had been cut and now grew so swiftly.  Her emerald eyes were bloodshot with grief and, to David, she looked as though she might collapse. He swept her up off her feet and into his arms before that could happen.  “Come on, Sunshine, I’m gonna take you back to the house now.” There was no denying that she looked far better at this moment, upset and sorrowful as she was, than she’d looked in the past year let alone the past few weeks.  The effects of the stroke she suffered were gone and maybe she even had a little bit more shine in her eyes then just before that happened but she was still frail and still ill. She was walking without a limp or noticeable pain, she was talking straight, and raising hell just like her old self.  She no longer slumped or slurred her words the aphasia was completely gone.  She was still gray and she still had those deep lines on her pretty face.  Callie was better, no doubt, but she wasn’t cured. 

“Daniel?” Calla protested weakly. “I have to…”

“I know,” David said easily, “you have to rescue them but I don’t think you’re in much shape to do that just yet.  So let’s go up to the house, get you dressed, get you some Ambrosia and some Nectar and then we’ll go rescue Danny.”

Calla gave him a weak smile.  “I’m glad I have you.” She whispered and looped her hands around his neck.  “Where are my Children?”

David didn’t know how to answer her. “Excuse us,” David said to those gathered around all of them lost to their own shock and grief. Everyone loved little Danny he was a true ray of sunshine and now that light had been so rudely extinguished. His wasn’t the only light that may go out and Calla had to know but it could wait until they were alone in the house and until he could find the courage and the words to tell her they believed Wolfgar had kidnapped the younger Jacksons including Colleen.  Then time ran out.

“He has them, doesn’t he?” Calla asked as he carried her away from the Worship Center. “Wolfgar, my Grandson, he has them, he took them from me just as he took Danny.  Oh, David, please tell me they’re not dead.”

David almost dropped her as his knees went weak.  “They’re not dead, Callie.”  He laid out what happened and Samantha’s opinion that the kids somehow had been transported to Sengul.  “I think that’s more likely, don’t you?”

“Danny is DEAD!” She shouted. “My Grandson is GONE!  You think it’s unlikely that Wolfgar has my Children? Oh Danny, my poor sweet, Danny.”

No, he didn’t think it was unlikely but that didn’t mean he was ready to give up hope. “Don’t think about it right now, ok, Callie?”

In the house and up in the Master Bedroom Calla stripped off Daniel’s dress shirt  only to realize that David was watching her in the mirror.  He didn’t seem put off by her aging body as Daniel was and she was weak.  Naked as the day she was born and with her gray hair hanging over her like Lady Godiva she turned to him.  “Sa’Tan?”

The look in her eyes and tone of her voice told David everything he needed to know but… “What are you doin’, Callie?” He asked as she slowly made her way over to him and slid her hands up his shirt to touch the soft warmth of his flesh.  Suddenly there was a very strange sensation in him, almost like what he’d come to call The Old Days.  It was like being shot and he had experience with that.  A quick jarring burning pain and then she was Drawing from him.  Callie hadn’t done that in years, not to this extent, not with him and as far as he knew not with Danny either.

“I need.” Calla whispered.  “Please, Sa’Tan. I need.”  She stood up on her tiptoes to kiss him.

Those soft, warm sweet lips pressed against his and David thought he’d pass out, If not from the sudden wave of desire washing over him then from lack of…whatever it was she was pulling out of him and taking in to herself.  Yes, the fact that she was in need was not in question.  “There’s a reason we don’t do this when Danny’s not here.” David told her and took her hands away from his chest although it was the last thing he wanted to do.  “I’ll get you that Nectar and Ambrosia.”

“It’s not good enough, Sa’Tan. I need.” She stressed.  “Please?”

David teetered on the edge of saying yes or just picking her up and laying her down in the bed that was two feet away.  “I don’t wanna hurt you, girl. You know that’s what’s gonna happen if we do this without Danny.”  He was very close to being his brother but not close enough. David Jackson would always be David Jackson, he would never be Daniel Jackson no matter how much he might have wanted to be. He knew it, Danny knew it but more importantly, Callie’s body knew it. He discovered that during those few months David locked Daniel away in Zeus’ Dungeon so he could have her all to himself. It didn’t really work out that way. Other than feeling guilty as hell over what he’d done and how he was lying to her, David didn’t get the thing he wanted most, which was to sleep with her. To hold her. Kiss her and make love with her the way Danny did every night. So long David felt cheated by Fate and how things had turned out for him. It was during those months that David was reminded he would always be David because she was bound to Danny and Calla’s body knew the difference between the two of them even at a time when her mind could not. 

“Please give? Please take?”

The feeling of her Drawing from him gave David hope that when Daniel got back maybe the two of them would be able to work that Old Black Magick (or Blue Magick in this case) and bring her back to them and to herself…without Ares and  Nick.  “We can’t right now…” he wasn’t sure if he should voice his new idea or not.

“But you want to,” she encouraged with a twinkle in her eye. “I know you do.” Calla reached down to grab a handful of a hardening cock. “Don’t you?”  She kissed him again, long and deep. 

It took every bit of common sense and decency he had left to push her hand away from that part of him that so wanted to listen to her, so wanted to make love to her. “No.” He said in a voice as firm as his cock. She reached for it again and this time he batted her hand away. “I said no and no means no, right?”  At least that was what he learned in all those therapy classes they made him take in prison so many years ago.

Calla, her mind still swimming and her heart still aching, looked up at him. “But I need all of you now, my army and to do that I have to bring three of you home. Please, Sa’Tan, help me. If not for me then for them for all of those who are counting on me? For Daniel?”    David just stood there almost scowling at her. Just like Daniel, he didn’t want her anymore. “Very well.” She whispered and turned away from him only to catch sight of her reflection in the mirror.  If she was a man she wouldn’t sleep with her either…stupid ugly old woman with the graying wrinkled body, she wasn’t much good to any man. Dejected she walked into the bathroom to get dressed away from him.  A few moments alone Calla broke down crying on the bathroom floor as she slumped over the toilet. Everything was gone. Everyone was gone. If she couldn’t bring Daniel home then Calla felt there was no sense in going on. If David wouldn’t help her, wouldn’t feed her what she needed then she felt certain she would never bring Daniel home, he and Nick, Ares and Jack would be stuck on that planet forever with all of those beautiful women to keep them company.  Oh well, they’d be happy and Nick would never have to know about Danny. That would be a blessing, wouldn’t it?  She didn’t know anymore.  She could fade away to oblivion later right now she had to gather herself and her power, dig way down deep and pull off one last miracle to bring her Husband home.  “After that, all bets are off.” She said to the old woman in the mirror after picking herself up off the cold bathroom floor. Calla wiped her tears away, slid into a pair of jeans which didn’t fit her anymore they were too big and sagged around her small waist.  Not bothering with a bra to hold her drooping breasts up she slid a sweater over her head, splashed a little cold water on her face and exited the bathroom.

Out in the bedroom David had a tray of Nectar, Ambrosia and sweets for her.  “Come on, Sunshine, eat something for me.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“Callie….”

 The tone of his voice had the irritating underlying resonance of patronization. “No, really, please, I understand, you don’t have to explain anything to me.  I’m ready to go now.” Without another word, she just walked out of the bedroom leaving him behind to hang his head and sigh.

“Seems even when I try to do the right thing it’s still wrong.” David mumbled to himself before following her downstairs.

Less than twenty minutes later Calla, David, Morgan and Duncan gathered in the ruins of the old church along with Samantha, Hades and Poseidon.  Calla had no idea how she was going to tell Nicholas that his son was dead or that it appeared his wife may have a new interest. That last was up to Annie.

“You sure you’re up to this?” David asked as they stood in the dark and cold ruins knowing that she wasn’t and that was his fault because he’d just refused to give her what she needed.  But he just couldn’t do it behind Danny’s back anymore.  Once upon a time he’d do it a flash but that was before she was bound to Danny and before David’s love for her matured into something that wasn’t based on her beauty or her skills in bed. She didn’t understand that because he’d done a piss-poor job of explaining it to her.  The hurt look in her eyes was almost more than he could stand.  If Callie couldn’t open this pathway then David felt that would be his fault, he was unsure if he could live with that.

Sam came forward and touched Calla’s arm. “There really is every reason to believe the kids are on Sengul and they’re just fine.”

“God said otherwise.”

Those three little words drew David out of his self-pity. “What did you say?”  Out of the corner of his eye he caught sight of the Olympians who were exchanging a worried glance. “God? As in Jesus and the Bible and nailing people to crosses?”  That so wasn’t like her.

“Yes, there is only one True God.”

That statement caused Poseidon’s jaw to drop so far David thought the old boy would trip over it.

Standing there shivering in the cold Calla told him about her dream and how God told her that Wolfgar stole the children, that he intended to impregnate all of the girls and then kill them.  Told them how God walked her to the lighthouse where Danny was waiting for her to bring her back home. “He spoke to me, I can see in your eyes you don’t believe me but He did.”

 “God tell you where Wolfgar’s holding them?” David asked trying to sound as though he did believe her and didn’t think she was totally off her rocker but by the glare in her emerald eyes he understood he fell a bit short. Since, it seemed ‘God’ had been right about the girls David was at a loss but then again perhaps, in her sleep, she’d heard them talking and some of it bled through.

“No but I will find them.  He will not harm my family any further.”

There were so many questions running around in David’s head such as; if God walked her to Danny and to safety why did Callie say that Danny saved her?  What had Danny saved her from?  God?  Who needed to be saved from God except….

Sinners

Those damned to hell or to Tartarus as the case may be.

It could all wait another few minutes until Danny returned.  “We’re going to do our best to make sure that’s true.” He assured her.

“Please give me some room.” She asked quietly and shooed them away gently with her hands as she took in a few deep breaths.  Although she was worn to the bone and quite frazzled, finding the Ley Lines was not a problem nor was harnessing the power within them.  Soon the darkened ruins of the old church were alive with electric green light.  Like Athena Calla was stunned by all of the stars she saw twinkling before her closed eyes.  She could travel to any one of them and back again; no Stargate required.

**

In Adoy’s little cave the men heard a great rumbling sound and Daniel dashed to the back of the cave to peer out between the cracks and see the sky twinkling with purple light. “They’re trying again!” He shouted.  “Come on, we gotta go!”

It was dark out there and climbing over the top of the mountain to get to the other side would be treacherous.

Ares and Nick still sat on the floor of the cave each covered in a heavy layer of sweat.  “You go,” Ares mumbled not having the strength to stand.

Before Daniel could contradict him Jack came over and gave Ares’ boots a swift kick. “Get up! You too! On your feet Colonel!” He shouted to both of them. “You call yourself a God? Of War, no less?” He shot at Ares. “Move it! Move it! Move it!”

No pity. No sympathy.  Just good old military discipline.

Nick crawled to his knees and finally managed to get to his feet though his wounded leg would no longer hold him.  “Come on, Umpa, this could be our last chance.”  He held out a hand to his Grandfather but it took the three of them to haul Ares to his feet and then no one was sure he’d stay on them as he weaved side to side like some drunkard coming off a binge.  His onyx eyes swam in his head as he stood there trying to get his bearings.

“You die on me so help me God I’ll kill you.” Daniel threatened.

Although it wasn’t meant to, the remark made Ares laugh heartily until he had to hold his side for fear the innards would fall outward.  “All right, Jackson,” he said finally, “you win. Let’s go.”

Much against the little creature’s wishes and protestations, Jack picked up Adoy and slung him over his back like a child as he exited the cave.  The night, cold and star filled, was lit up like Times Square at Christmas.  After Jack, Nick stumbled up and over the hill that guarded the entrance of Adoy’s home. He was followed by Daniel and the two of them waited for Ares who only stood on the precipice looking up at them.  To him the climb seemed insurmountable.  “I win, remember?” Daniel called down to him. “Now move your ass.  That’s order from your King.”

Ares’s upper lip curled as he gathered the remains of his strength and began the climb.

“Hurry up, old boy, we got company.” Jack called back.

Daniel looked back while Nick stayed at the edge and reached down for his Grandfather. “Oh shit.” He mumbled.  It seemed the beasts followed them up here after all.  While they weren’t entering the light they were purposefully blocking the men’s path to it.  “Come on Ares!”

Ares couldn’t see them but he heard the Chimera snarling. “Get out of here, Nicholas! Go!”

“Not without you, Old Man. Do you know what my Mother will do if I come back without you?” He snarked. “No way, now come on!”

Time being of the essence Ares put one foot in front of the other and reached upward for the nearest rock for the necessary leverage though it seemed the strength in those powerful arms had suddenly deserted him.  The remaining stitches in his side gave way as the flesh tore open as he hauled himself upward as the ringing reports of gunfire rang out in the night.  Any other day Ares would leap over this stupid little hill!  Tonight he might as well be a Mortal climbing to the top of Olympus in just his underwear.

“Jesus you old fuck!” Nick taunted as he stretched out further in an attempt to reach Ares. “MOVE!”  Down on one knee, his wounded leg sticking out behind him nearly useless, Nick glanced back to see Adoy crouched low to the ground as Daniel and Jack fired what remaining bullets they had at the animals blocking their path.  Seeing the tasty meal emerge from the other side of the hill the hunger in their eyes grew bright and their fear of the bullets diminished in favor of it.  Turning back to his Grandfather, Nick reached further over the side in an attempt to reach him.  Behind him the guns fired and the beasts whimpered and snarled.  Ares reached up but in doing so placed his full (and considerable) weight upon a single stone which crumbled below him and the big man went sliding halfway down on his stomach. “Wrong way, man! This way!”

“You know, when we get out of here, I’m going to spank you.” Ares threatened and then smirked.

“Yeah, love to see you try old man.”

One last try and one last deep breath.  Ares climbed up the embankment once more this time careful to keep two feet on what passed for ground as he reached up and took hold of Nicholas’ outstretched hand.  “Pull!” He ordered. “Put your back into it!”

“NICK!”

He didn’t know who shouted out his name so urgently but he turned swiftly towards it in time to see that one of the Chimera had broken free of the pack and was charging straight at him. Daniel and Jack were firing but the closer the big cat got to him the less inclined they were to take the chance their bullets would strike Nick rather than the cat.  Seeing its next meal the big cat leapt into the air ready to pounce on Nick and tear his throat out with those dripping fangs.  No time to think only to react, Nick let go of Ares’ hand, brought both of his arms up in front of him and caught the snarling beast just before it landed on him. With his good leg, he kicked up and over tossing the wild cat over the side of the mountain and to the canyon below where its death cries were faintly and briefly carried by the wind to those above.

“Nick?!”

“I’m all right, keep going!” He shouted back with the last of the air left in his stunned lungs. Taking half a second to gather another breath he turned back to see Ares’ head popping up over the rise.

“Nice shot.” The God of War complimented. “A little warning next time.”

“Yeah, right.”

Arms around each other’s waists Ares and Nick hobbled over to join in the gun fight.  They came up with seven clips and by now Daniel and Jack had reloaded twice…six down, one left.  There had to be two dozen cats along with a half-dozen of those Foo Dogs.  They were never going to make it to the light that was just a few feet out of their reach.  Nick’s weapon still held half a clip and he began to take careful aim and to fire as they neared the opening in the sky.

“What do you say?” Jack asked as he pulled a grenade from his pocket and showed it to Daniel.

“No,” Daniel replied looking up.  They had no idea what repercussions the explosion might have if it the thing went off directly under the pathway.

“Look! Look! Tasty meal I am!”

Everyone did turn to look at little Adoy who was confidently strutting away from the group as he called out to the animals.

“Yummy, good to eat.” He said cheerily.

“He’s crazy.” Jack mumbled to Daniel.

“No, he’s not.” Daniel countered quietly as he watched the hungry beasts turn their attentions away from the armed men and toward the easier prey.  Away from the light and the pathway.

With keen hesitant eyes the wild beasts kept their sights trained on the little toddling creature before them as they slowly crept forward with their nostrils flaring in the night air to get a good whiff and whet their appetites.  In a close-knit group they moved forward.

**

“What the hell is taking them so long?” David griped heavily to Poseidon with Sam standing nearby. “How long do you think she can hold this thing open?”

“I have no idea.” Poseidon said solemnly as he looked over at Calla deep in trance as she used her Olympian Powers to open the door for her Husband’s return.

Overhead the skies suddenly rocked and appeared to shift as a loud rush of thunder echoed in long lingering rolls.  The pathway whirling in the sky threatened to collapse as it folded inward.  “She’s running out of energy.”

“That came from the other side. From Sengul.” Sam said as she stood there breathlessly waiting for her own husband to return.

**

“Disgusting.” Jack said with much disgust as he looked at the pile of bones and flesh left behind after the grenades exploded in the middle of the pack. “That’s just gross.”  He flicked a bit of meat off his shoulder and watched as the others shook where they stood to remove what was clinging to them.  Little Adoy, who’d suffered the brunt of the falling debris, just stared at them from his place with a very proud grin.

“Good job.” Daniel complimented. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

**

A few moments later the whirling light in the sky produced a narrowly focused beam from which the five of them emerged safe and sound back on Planet Earth.

“Daniel? Oh Daniel!”

The light was extremely bright and it took his eyes a few moments to adjust but Daniel saw a shadow running toward him with its arms held out to him. “Calla?”  No sooner did he say her name then she flung herself into his arms and covered him with kisses.  The elation of the moment soon faded when she saw Nicholas and Calla broke out in tears as she reached for him. 

“Hi, Mom. It’s ok, we’re home now. Everything’s ok.”

No it isn’t! The words failed her and she couldn’t tell him about Danny. All she could do was hold onto him wishing she could spare him the pain that was coming.

“David?” Daniel asked sternly.

“We got a lot to talk about Danny.”

“I see that.”

“I take it the kids aren’t with you.”

“The what aren’t what?” Daniel stuttered.

“Like I said, there’s a lot to talk about.”

“Right. First we have to get these two to the SGC.” Daniel said not liking anything that was going on around him except the fact that Calla was up and she walking and talking again.  That was a bright spot in what surely was doom approaching the door.

**

The Olympians whisked everyone away to the SGC on command and a few moments after that the phone began to ring in Nicholas Jackson’s home. Kiki answered.  She hadn’t been much help to her mother who was so distraught she couldn’t even speak. Kiki was only a child after all and she’d never had any experience with death losing her only brother was devastating.  “Hello?”

“Kiki? Kiki is that you?”

“Dad? Oh Daddy! Danny…Danny…”

“I know, pumpkin.” He moaned.  It was Hades who came forward and broke the news to Nicholas as Calla stood by his bedside holding her Son’s hand.  “Hurts, huh?”

“Oh poor Danny,” Kiki sobbed into the phone. “Mom…Mom’s a mess. We need you, Daddy, when are you coming home?”

“Soon.” He assured her even though his heart had just been shattered.  “I’m at the SGC now, they’re fixing me up but I’m ok, don’t worry about me.  I’ll be home in just a few hours.”  They got lucky and the doctors here were able to find an antidote to the poison in the Chimera’s fangs.  Not an antidote so much as a high powered antibiotic as the poison wasn’t actually a poison but a bacteria similar to Necrotizing fasciitis—the flesh eating bacteria.  This particular strain wasn’t hazardous to humans but Olympians seemed to have an enzyme this strain found most tasty and good for breeding.  As he laid there talking to his bewildered and mourning daughter an IV dripped precious fluid into his veins along with a comforting dose of morphine for the pain in his leg.  It wasn’t doing anything for the agony in his heart. “We’re going to get through this, pumpkin.”

He killed my son! He killed my son! Oh dear God, he killed my son!

Everything in Nick seethed as he tried to stay calm for his daughter’s sake.  “Put your mother on the phone, ok, honey. I love you. I’ll be home soon.”

“Mom? Mom, Daddy’s on the phone.”  He heard Kiki say faintly and knew she was carrying it around as she searched the house for Annie.  “Mom, here.”  She found her mother on the bathroom floor huddled between the tub and the toilet and she put the phone in her hand. “It’s Dad.”

Absently Annie raised the phone to her ear but couldn’t find the strength to say anything at first.

Nick heard her breathing. “Annie? Honey? Annie?”

There was a long drawn out moan on the other end of the line which finally ended in his name. “Nicky?”

“It’s me, baby, I’m home. I’m back on the planet.” He said hurriedly. “I’ll be right home very very very soon.  I swear. I’ll be home. I’ll be with you.”

The warm sound of his voice washed over and brought a new wave of tears. “D-d-danny.”  Kiki stood over her mother stroking Annie’s hair with one hand and holding on to her free hand with the other.

“I know, they told me. I’m so sorry, honey.  Oh God, Annie, I don’t know what to do.”

“He’s gone.” The blood in her veins suddenly ran cold. “They killed him.” She accused. “Your son and your mother they killed my Danny. They killed my boy!” Annie shrieked so loudly that those gathered around Nick in Colorado heard her clearly. Nick’s eyes focused on his Mother and Calla couldn’t take his stare, she ran out of the room. “I hope he kills them all. All of you can just rot in hell. I hate you.” Annie clicked off the line and tossed the phone into the toilet as Kiki backed away from her in horror with her hand over mouth. Annie wasn’t about to make any apologies for it. Nick should have been here with his own family taking care of his own business instead of off chasing after something for his Mother.  Some protector he was.  He couldn’t even cut the apron strings let alone the mustard.  “Go to your room.”

Kiki didn’t have to be told twice, she ran off as though the Devil himself was hot on her heels and slammed the bedroom door once she was inside.  Scared and sobbing she threw herself down on the white canopy bed clutching her pillow tightly and wishing things could be the way they were just a few weeks ago.

**

Wolfgar was an intelligent boy.  He knew his time in Altair Ain was at an end and that his plans had to be rearranged but wasn’t it nice of them to deliver Kiki to him before he went?  This way he didn’t have to go fetch her.

Yes, his plan was in ruins but he was undeterred.  So it would take a little longer and be a little messier that didn’t mean everything had turned in their favor, did it?  Of course not.  This was just a temporary set-back, a minor little glitch that would soon be overcome.  If nothing else, it certainly made things more interesting and set the stakes a little higher. He always liked that. Risk and Danger really turned him on.

Standing outside Kiki’s bedroom door, he contemplated his next move.  He could just go in there and snatch her, but what fun was that?  He could go in there as Randy the Helpful Therapist and try and comfort her, but she wouldn’t accept comfort from a man she’d never met until this rotten day in her life.  She would take a bit of comfort from…..  “Ah, yes, that’s it.” He mumbled to himself as he listened to Annie weeping in the bathroom behind him and morphed into Pete the Janitor.  Lightly he knocked upon her door and called out her name before he opened it. “Kiki?”  Poor little thing was huddled up in a ball on her bed lost to grief.  Slowly, very cautiously, he made his way over to her and stood by the bed. “Kiki?”

Opening her bloodshot watery eyes she was stunned to see Pete standing there. “Pete?” She asked as breath hitched in her aching lungs.  “What are you doing here?”

Now he sat down on the bed next to her and reached out slowly to stroke her head.  “I came as soon as I heard. You poor thing I’m so sorry about your brother.”

In times of great stress and strife, the simplest of kind gestures can seem like the most gigantic ones.  A soft voice.  Some soothing words.  Most of all a familiar face. Kiki let go of the pillow and curled up on Pete’s lap.  Holding her close he rocked her back and forth for a few long moments. Wolfgar found himself thinking that in the not-so-distant future he might actually enjoy being a Father and offering comfort such as this to a heartbroken Daughter…then killing whoever broke her heart, that went without saying, didn’t it?

“Who are you? Get away from my daughter.” Annie hissed from the doorway. “Kiki get over here…now!”

Kiki wiped a weary hand across her wet cheeks and looked up at her angry mother as she lay in Pete’s embrace.  “This is…this is Pete, mom.”

“I don’t care who he is…get up right now.”  She said to Kiki then looked at the man on the bed. “She’s a child, get your hands off her, and get out of my house.”

Not wanting to leave the warm comfort of his arms Kiki dragged herself upward to do as her mother said but Pete’s arms closed around her. “I don’t think so, Annie.”

In front of her bewildered eyes the man on the bed turned into Randy and then into a man she didn’t recognize but who looked terribly much like Nicholas.  It was Annie’s turn to hold her hand over her mouth in horror. “Wolfgar.”

“Yes, I thank you for allowing me to move in and make myself comfortable here these last few days.  I’m afraid I have to be going now and I’ll be taking her with me.”

“No! No you killed my son you can’t have my daughter!”  Annie lunged at him from across the room.

Wolfgar reveled in the impact of her body against theirs and the way she hit him with those ineffective fists.  One arm firmly around Kiki’s neck, he laughed and laid there letting Annie hit him a few times. Kiki squirmed and wriggled as she tried to get out of his hold and only served to choke off her air supply.  When he had enough, he threw Annie off.  “This family is just full of spitfires, isn’t it?” He mused as he stood up.  Kiki’s neck firmly clenched in the crook of his elbow her feet were a good six inches off the floor as she dangled there kicking and fighting for air.  “Now, before I go, I suppose there’s something you should know.”  He leaned down a bit to get a good look at Annie. “That miserable Father of mine never cheated on you. He refused those women time and again because he loves you. I don’t know why he does, you’re a lousy fuck, Annie. You don’t deserve a man like him, not that he’s any prize you understand.  I just thought you should know that those women drugged him, they held him down and they took what they wanted from him.  A few of them weren’t very nice about it.  Look what you did in return, huh?  You slept with me.”  For a few moments he morphed into Randy. “Good old Nick was stranded on a planet under who knows what conditions and you were fucking me.  What kind of wife are you?  What kind of mother?” 

All the strength drained out of Annie’s body and she collapsed to her knees as he changed back into himself. “Let Kiki go, she hasn’t done anything.”

“She breathes and that is enough to insult me.”  With that, Wolfgar and the struggling Kiki disappeared from the girl’s bedroom.  “Look!” Wolfgar announced proudly as they appeared in the Dungeon. “I’ve brought you a new roommate.”  He opened the door to Brigid’s cell and happily watched her cringe and scurry away to the rear before it could swing open.  Shoving Kiki inside he locked it again.  “A nice little family reunion. She has a lot to fill you in on.”

End of Chapter Fifty-Eight of
Golden Years
by Moon Mistress
a/k/a Lisa Beth Darling
Go to
Chapter Fifty-Nine