Chapter Ten

And I don’t want the world to see me
‘Cause I don’t think that they’d understand
When everything’s made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
Iris
Goo-Goo Dolls

October 31^st
Venice Italy

It was a lovely fall night and the elegantly dressed crowd mulled about in the fancy art gallery. David felt very out of place but knew he looked all right. Danny always did have nice taste in clothes. Glass of champagne in hand and onyx tablet in his pocket he wandered around and mingled with all the richy-richies and art snobs, it was kind of fun in a way. To him this was slummin’.

Suddenly the crowd was making its way toward the front entrance and people were clapping and shouting, flashes were going off and other people were shouting out questions. Then Andrew Fucking Hartley appeared in the front entrance he was elegantly dressed in a gray silk suit with matching shirt and tie, his long flowing blonde was let loose for the night and he smiled and shook hands and then pointed down at the woman by his side. Andrew Fucking Hartley hugged her and then clapped for her.

Callie was so strung out it was hardly real, her eyes were just swimming in her head as she looked around at everyone who was lavishing attention on her and giving out kudos for her work. She was never used to that much attention and even now it was clear she didn’t like it very much. He just stood off back in the corner of the gallery and watched. She signed a few autographs with a grateful smile and then began drinking. Hartley escorted her around until the press left and then he left her side. All through the night people came up to her they hugged her, kissed her, wished her well and told her how great she was. But none of that seemed to make her happy as she toddled around the gallery in a pair of stiletto heels that were more like miniature stilts and a skirt so short she didn’t dare bend over in it. Those legs, oh those, legs look at them. He though while he watched her. They were just as fine as they’d always been. Then his eyes caught those new tits and he frowned, he really didn’t like those.

David wandered around looking at her work and listening to the comments of the crowd as they admired it. If it wasn’t for Andy he’d say she had it made. Who wouldn’t love a life like this? Callie that’s who. She never wanted to be a World Famous Artiste.

“Oh, it’s you, isn’t it?” An older woman in a dusty pink pantsuit was asking him. “You’re in all these paintings.”

“Am I?” David said as he imitated Daniel’s voice. Then he looked around again and yes he was in almost every painting he saw. If he wasn’t the focus of a piece then he was in the background somewhere or just his eyes were staring from a window or a bush.

“You and she must have a very special relationship, Mr…”

“Jackson,” he said still using his brother’s voice and held out his hand, “Daniel Jackson.”

“It’s very nice to meet you, I’m Peggy Guggenheim,” she smiled at him. Daniel Jackson the ex-husband, she should have guessed that.

“Nice place you have.” David commented with a smile.

“Have you seen this one yet?” She led him down the row of paintings to the portrait of Daniel with the babies. “I think this one is her best.” Peggy smile. “Why don’t you enjoy it?” Peggy shook his hand once more and then made her way off through the crowd of people.

Well now that was a right fine painting wasn’t it? It was certainly a lot cheerier than the other ones he was looking at. David just couldn’t take his eyes off of it.

“Pardon me, I don’t meant to disturb you,” Calla said quietly as she came up behind him. “It’s just that I thought…maybe….”

The man turned around.

“Daniel!” Calla closed her eyes. When she opened them she expected him to be gone but he wasn’t. “Is it really you, Beautiful?”

Now he could stand there and he could lie to her and in her condition she’d probably even believe him but he hadn’t come all this way to blow it. “Hey, Callie, gud ta see ya.”

“David?” Covering her hand with her mouth and taking a step back she continued to stare at him. “Where’s Daniel?” She looked around to see who might be watching or listening. “What have you done with my husband?”

The End
Tarnished Heroes: Broadway is Dark Tonight--Daniel's Story
by
Moon Mistress
a/k/a Lisa Beth Darling

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