Chapter Three

Day Two
Evening

Well, it's tough to be somebody
And it's hard not to fall apart
Up here on Rehab Mountain
We all learn these things by heart
Detox Mansion
Performed by Warren Zevon
Words & Music by Warren Zevon & Jorge Calderon

The sun was long down when Daniel woke up with his mouth watering and his stomach growling. Something delicious was in the air. Calla was still sleeping and snuck out of the bed and went down the stairs.

Duncan MacLeod was in the kitchen hovering over a large steaming pot. “What is it?” Daniel asked and rubbed his stomach. “It smells great.”

“Stone soup.” Duncan said. “It’s one of Callestah’s favorites.”

“Stone soup? As in…”

“The story? Yes. When we weren’t watching Laurel and Hardy she was having me read to her. Is she awake?” Duncan asked.

“N—“

There was a sleepy yawn from behind them and they turned to see Calla naked standing and stretching in the doorway. Duncan shook his head, smiled and blushed at the sight of her. He’d seen her on the Internet and those photographs were striking but he’d never seen her like this…well not at this age. Callestah was always adverse to clothes even as a little girl she never saw the point in them and that was one thing which often got her sent to his house when his own grandmother couldn’t take it anymore. Duncan couldn’t help it he stared at her while Daniel took off his shirt and helped her put it on. “Sorry I didn’t know we still had company,” she said dreamily and buttoned the shirt wrong. “It really is you, Stan?” Calla held her arms out to Duncan. “Is that….?”

Duncan broke the hug. “Yep to both, Ollie and you’re just in time.” Duncan took a stone from his pocket and handed it over to her.

“Oh goodie,” she said with a wide smile and turned to look at Daniel over her shoulder. “This is my favorite part.” Calla made a wish and dropped the stone into the bubbling pot.

“Why don’t the two of you go sit down and I’ll bring this out to the table.” Duncan suggested.

“You’ve got the…”

“Soda bread, I wouldn’t forget.” Duncan said with an easy smile. “Fresh butter too.”

Daniel stood there watching and listening to the two of them. Obviously this man was someone she trusted very much and he was glad to have Duncan MacLeod around. “Come on, Kitty, let’s go sit down.” Daniel took her by the arm and led her into the dining room where the table was set for cozy dinner for three. “You look like you’re feeling better.”

“Much,” Calla agreed and held onto his hand. “Still tired.”

“That’s ok.” Daniel brushed his free hand through her hair. She looked exhausted both in body and mind. At least the withdrawals were behind them now they could on with mending their marriage. “This friend of yours he seems all right.”

“Duncan is a good man.” Calla said.

Still holding on to her hand Daniel sat in the chair next to her. “Well he cares about you a lot…Ollie.”

“Stop,” she grumbled. “Don’t call me that.”

Calla didn’t seem to mind when Duncan did it but then again she’d probably be upset if anyone other than Daniel called her Kitty. Duncan entered the room with the big pot of soup in his hands and then left the dining room to retrieve the fresh soda bread and a gallon of milk. One glass for each of them. No wine with this dinner. That was probably a very good call on his part.

“What’s in it?” Daniel asked as watched Duncan ladle it out into the bowls. “It really does smell great.”

“A little of this and a little of that.” Duncan said as he looked down at Calla.

“Don’t you know the story?” Calla asked Daniel. “Everyone was hungry and they didn’t have enough to eat. Everyone brought what they had to the pot, someone brought carrots and someone brought potatoes. They shared what they had and there was enough for everyone and no one was hungry.” Calla said.

“That’s right,” Duncan agreed and put a steaming bowl in front of her accompanied by a large slice of bread. “It all started with water and a stone. Now eat up.”

Daniel took up a spoonful of the hot soup. It was delicious. “It’s very good.” He complimented.

“If you find the stone you get a prize.” Calla told him and started to eat. “Did you come to see me, Stan or is this a happy surprise?”

“You know I came to see you.” Duncan returned with a smile. “So, Ollie, other than this, how have you been?”

Over the course of the meal Calla told Duncan about her life with Daniel, about their children, her new daughter in-law and their soon to be grandchild. She told him about her career at the University Colorado Silver Springs and about the little gallery she once owned. What she didn’t mention was Andrew Hartley or her paintings or anything about her life prior to meeting to Daniel on Tiberia so many years ago. No she left all of those nasty little details out.

“Sounds like a good life.” Duncan remarked as he soaked up the broth with the bread. “How’s your Father?”

“Ares? He is well.” Calla told him. Her bowl almost empty she reached into the pot for just a little bit more.

“How do you like your Father in-law, Daniel?” Duncan asked and watched her start in the second helping. Daniel smiled as she ate. “I haven’t seen him in a long time.”

“Our relationship is…challenging.” Daniel commented.

“And your Mother? How is she, Callestah?”

“How’s yours?” Calla shot unexpectedly.

“You saw her, how’d she look?” Duncan asked sharply and pursed his lips and cleared his throat. He reined himself in a little bit. Ollie was sick, she didn’t need him being angry with her she had enough people who were angry with her. “Now Ollie, you know we don’t get along.” He chided. Gazing over at Daniel he added. “My relationship with my Mother is also, what did you say about Ares? Challenging.”

Calla sighed and put the spoon down. “My Mother’s dead.” Duncan looked from her to Daniel and back again waiting for a further explanation. With anticipation Daniel waited for it as well. “I killed her.” Calla admitted. “I didn’t mean it.” She stammered.

“It’s ok, Kitty.” Daniel took her hand. “That’s over now.”

“She’s still angry.” Calla said sadly. “She won’t forgive me.”

“Maybe one day she will.” Daniel encouraged. “Have a little more to eat.”

With a wistful smile she dipped the spoon into the bowl and brought it to her lips. “Ooh,” she said and spit the mouthful back into the spoon. “I found it.” Calla took the stone out of the spoon. “I get a prize.” She said to Duncan.

“So you do.”

“What is it?” She asked and put the stone on the table.

“I’ll think of something.” Duncan told her thoughtfully. “You’re looking tired again.”

“No, not so much.” Calla sighed. “But I would like to lie down.”

“Well then why don’t you go lie down on the couch, Daniel and I will clean up and we’ll bring in some coffee in a few minutes. Sound good, Ollie?” Duncan asked in a very soft almost hypnotic voice. Daniel recognized it instantly he used it on her million times over the years.

“Yes.” Calla stood up. “You don’t mind?”

“No.” Daniel told her and brought her out of the dining room and into the living room. Just as he’d done this morning he laid her down on the couch, covered her with the tartan and put the remote control in her hand. “We’ll be in soon.” Daniel stoked the fire and turned on the lamp by the couch as he made his way back to the dining room. It was clear to him Duncan MacLeod wanted to talk out of her earshot.

Duncan and Daniel walked from the dining room into the kitchen with dirty dishes in their hands. “Thank you, Duncan. I don’t think she’s eaten that much in weeks.”

“Yep, she ate pretty well, hey?” Duncan said with a smile. “I bet you haven’t eaten in a few days either.” He remarked with a smile. “Sometimes it’s good to have someone else around someone who can help out and I’m glad I could be here.”

“So, what, you’re here strictly by coincidence?” Daniel asked.

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my 500 years walking this planet, Daniel, it’s that there are very few coincidences in life and very few accidents.” Duncan told him. “I don’t think it’s a coincidence that you chose this place to bring her. I think that’s Fate. When did Aphrodite die?” Duncan asked as he began to run the water in the sink.

“When Calla was 12.” Daniel said and thought about what he would say next. “It was an accident, Duncan she never meant to hurt her Mother.” As they washed dishes and fixed fresh cups of coffee Daniel filled Duncan in on the abbreviated version of Callas’ life from the time she left Scotland until the time Aphrodite died. Daniel told about curses and rituals and the betrayal of a beloved brother. All of which led to night Aphrodite died. In the Under World Aphrodite said that if anyone else had killed her Ares would want revenge. But she was wrong. No matter what noble cover he tried to put it on it, Ares got his revenge on Calla when he sent her to Kanan but it wasn’t enough for Aphrodite.

Duncan listened thunderstruck. What happened to the care free little girl who’d once run around this old house filling it with her laughter? The one who picked flowers and made daisy chains? The one who loved to watch Laurel and Hardy? Never in his wildest dreams did he think the little Goddess would meet such an unhappy fate. “So Ares raised her after that?”

This was where things got sticky and where Daniel really didn’t want to say anything without her permission. He felt bad enough that he’d given away her secret about Eros. “No.” Daniel said softly and picked up two cups of coffee. “If you want to know about her life from then until we met, you’ll have to ask her Duncan.” Daniel started to walk away with the coffee in his hands but Duncan stopped him.

“With your permission,” Duncan began, “I’m going to tuck her into bed later on and then we’re going to talk again.”

“Fine.” Daniel turned to leave.

“Daniel?” Duncan said and Daniel turned around again. “Thanks for telling me about Eros, your concern for her is clearer now.”

The two men left the kitchen to find Calla right where Daniel left her. “Here you go, Kitty.” Daniel handed over a cup of coffee while Duncan put a pastry box on the coffee table. He’d brought out three plates and three forks to go along with it.

“Cheese cake?” Duncan invited. Calla held her hand up and held her thumb and forefinger a few inches apart indicting she’d like a small sliver. Duncan winked and cut her a piece. The rest of the evening passed in a relaxed atmosphere. The three of them drinking coffee, eating a very rich and delicious cheese cake while Duncan and Calla caught up and reminisced about some long ago days.

Callas’ feet were propped up on Daniel’s lap and he massaged them while the three of them talked. Even though the track marks were still clear on her feet, Daniel could see that Duncan saw them and was as disappointed as he was, Calla didn’t pull her feet away from him this time. She just lay there on the couch with the MacLeod tartan covering her, eating her cheese cake and talking, she seemed very relaxed and he hadn’t seen her that way in a very long time. In fact, for a while, Daniel thought he’d never see her like this again and he owed a big debt to Duncan MacLeod and his mother Fiona for it.

Soon it became clear to him that this Duncan MacLeod was something of a rarity in Callas’ life. He was a man with whom she had a normal and trusting relationship, no sex, no ulterior motives they were just friends. Kitty needed all of those that she could get. At first he’d been jealous when Duncan MacLeod knocked on the door but now that Duncan was here he seemed to lighten her burden by doing more than taking the drugs out of her system. Daniel was glad for it.

For the past 18 years Daniel had been under the impression that, other than Nicholas, he was the only male with whom she’d ever had a healthy relationship. Yes, there was Jack, Teal’c and General Hammond but Calla never really became friendly with them. She only let them come just so far into her life. It wasn’t as though she were about to call any of them up and say ‘let’s go see a movie’ or anything like that. Daniel spent a lot of the years of their marriage acting as a barrier between her and the general male population, that was, when he wasn’t actively protecting her from them which he had done often.

She never said anything about anyone by the name of Duncan MacLeod so maybe she’d forgotten about him over the years—oh no, then again, perhaps not. Sitting here in the big Manor House and looking around Daniel realized that for the last thirteen years Calla had been describing Duncan MacLeod’s house to him as the one of her dreams. Maybe she didn’t know that, maybe it was a long buried memory in her mind but here it was and here they were just the same. She’d been happy here and she could be again. The hour late, their tongues tired and her eyelids starting to droop, Duncan beat Daniel to it.

“Getting tired, Ollie?” Duncan asked.

Daniel didn’t interfere he told Duncan he could bring her up to bed tonight so they would have a chance to talk alone. “A little.” She sighed.

“Come on I’ll take you up to bed.” Duncan invited and put down his empty coffee cup as he stood up and held out his hand to her.

Calla didn’t take his hand and she didn’t stand up. She did look at her husband to see what he had to say on the matter. “Go on, honey, I’ll be up in a little while.” Though he tried not to, Daniel felt a pang of jealousy as he watched her walk away, hand in hand, with Duncan MacLeod.

“Am I going to get a lecture now?” Calla asked when Duncan led her into the bedroom.

“No lectures, Ollie but we should talk a little, don’t you think? I know it’s not your favorite thing. It never was.” Duncan walked over and closed the balcony doors and lowered the windows to keep the late night chill out of the room then he went and stoked the fire while she sat in one of the chairs by it.

“Did I thank you?” Calla asked him when Duncan finally sat down.

“No thanks necessary.” He told her and reached for her hand. “Would you like me to stop calling you ‘Ollie’? You’re a grown woman now.”

“Don’t you dare.” She told him. “No one else has ever called me that. I like it.”

Duncan laughed. “All right. Why don’t you tell me how you got into this fine mess?” Duncan intended to find out what happened to her after Aphrodite died but thought he might catch up on more current events first.

“I don’t know.”

Duncan chuckled and patted her hand. “Yes you do.” He encouraged. “Daniel seems very smitten with you.”

Calla looked up at him with wide hopeful eyes. “Do you think so?”

Duncan’s mahogany eyes narrowed on her. “He is your husband, I certainly hope he’s in love with you. Do you doubt that…Ollie?” That could be one hell of a reason for this fine mess. It could certainly account for the way Hartley seduced her away from Daniel so easily.

Calla ignored his question. “I love him very much.” She said as her voice grew lighter with excitement and she tried to lead him away from the subject at hand. “We have a beautiful home in Colorado and two wonderful….”

“Children and a grandchild on the way and he has a great job with the Air Force and you went to school and became a professor,” Duncan said in a voice which mocked her. “I know. You’ve told me. That’s all wonderful and I’m very happy for you now answer me. Do you doubt him?”

“I did bad things.” Her voice wasn’t happy or excited anymore. It was fading and taking on that very conversational tone that Daniel hated so much.

“Andrew Hartley?”

“Very bad.” Calla muttered.

“Yes he was and very handsome and very charming,” Duncan led. “I can’t say I was sorry to hear about his passing, Ollie. He wasn’t a good man and I was upset to see you’d gotten yourself involved with him.”

“I guess he was.” She said softly. Calla couldn’t say that she was sorry Andy was dead either.

“I saw you on the news, the papers in Europe were full of the two of you. Out partying every night and hanging out in high company. I bet it was very exciting.”

“Sometimes.”

“Well according to the news media you two were thee IT couple of the Art World or didn’t you know that?” Duncan saw that she did by the look in her eye. “Needless to say I was surprised when your husband answered the door today. Given the circumstances, you understand.” Calla bit her lower lip and gave a small nod. “The papers had the two of you all but divorced and yet here he is with you.”

“Daniel is very loyal.” She explained. “Very responsible.”

Loyal and responsible two outstanding qualities to be sure but there was something else in her voice. “And you love him?”

“Very much.”

“And he loves you?” Duncan asked. Calla sighed and turned her eyes away. That was all the answer he was going to get and it was all the answer he needed. Ollie wasn’t sure if her husband loved her or not. That was a big chink in the armor, certainly more room than Andrew Hartley needed to squirm into her life. “Where was Daniel when you met Hartley?”

“Away.” Calla said.

“Where?” Duncan prodded.

Calla rolled her eyes and sighed again. She stood up only to sit at his feet. “You must not tell.”

“You can always trust me.” Duncan assured her.

“He doesn’t just work for the Air Force,” she whispered and kept looking around the room. “Maeve when she went away, you remember?”

“She went through that….”

“Stargate,” she whispered. “Daniel works with it, him and his friends, they go to other worlds and meet fascinating people. They have many grand adventures, Stan.”

“My, I didn’t know they’d come so far.” Duncan said thoughtfully. Old fashioned Mortal Earthlings out running amok among the universe, Duncan wasn’t sure he liked that idea. But Ollie had one point, Daniel did seem extremely loyal and responsible so maybe his teammates were as well. “Daniel wasn’t even on this planet when you met Hartley, was he?”

Calla rested her head on Duncan’s knee and he reached down to stroke her hair like he used to do when she was little and tired. “He was very far away.”

“Hartley gave you the drugs?” He felt her nod against his leg. “When Daniel came back he found his wife a changed woman and he got angry?” Calla just shrugged her shoulders at that one. Duncan imagined Daniel was royally pissed off when he got home and found his wife having an affair with Andrew Hartley. “Other than the drugs what made you go to him? Did he seduce you away with promises of fame and fortune?”

“Among other things,” she said in a soft voice.

“Daniel’s Immortal, isn’t he Ollie? But not like you and I are.”

“Yes.”

“Did you do it?”

“Yes, he was ill, I had to help him.” She explained quickly.

“Of course you did.” Duncan agreed. “He’s your husband and you love him so what else could you do, huh?”

“Nothing. I had to help him.”

“Come here, Ollie, come sit on my lap for a minute.” Calla stood up and nestled herself on his lap. “You know all of your hard work isn’t going to amount to anything if you’re only doing this for Daniel. You’ve got to want it for yourself, Callestah if you don’t you’ll just back slide and then I’ll have to come rescue you again.”

“I’m glad you’re here.” Calla told him. “I never thought I’d see you again, Stan.”

“I know we lost touch with each other and we won’t do that again, will we?”

“Please let’s not.” She begged quietly. “I do want to be clean for myself. When I was with Andy it all hurt so much that the only thing I could think about was getting the next hit or fix, just to make it stop hurting. It never occurred to me to stop doing what I was doing or even to want to stop. I don’t need the drugs if Daniel stays with me.”

“Because he makes everything better?”

“Yes. I’ll do anything to keep him.” She chomped on her bottom lip. “Is that bad?”

“No, that’s love.” Duncan told her. Why wasn’t she sure that Daniel loved her? What did Daniel do to make her doubt him? “Something tells me you’ve had a very sad life, Ollie.” Duncan said in a low deep voice as he stared into her eyes. “Daniel told me about Eros and what he did to you, he told me how Aphrodite died.” Calla cringed and tried to stand up. “We don’t have to talk about it now we’ve got centuries ahead of us to catch up.” Duncan said with a smile. “It’s all right. What your brother did isn’t your fault.” Duncan told her and put his arms around her. “Whatever Hartley did,” he’d like to say that wasn’t her fault either but she’d set herself up for it and she seemed to do it willingly. “It’s all in the past now. What you do from here on out, stand or fall, it’s on your shoulders, Ollie. You’re strong I know you can do this.” Calla let out a little snicker. “For what it’s worth, I think Daniel is head over heels in love with you.”

“You do?”

“I do. I also think there’s something besides Hartley that drove a wedge between the two of you, yes?” She nodded. “You don’t have to tell me but you do have to tell Daniel. You have to talk to him, Ollie. I know,” Duncan held up his hand, “talking isn’t your favorite activity. Still you must. If you’re going to have a successful recovery, Callestah, you have to do this. I think he’s a reasonable man, isn’t he?” Duncan led and again she nodded. “So don’t be afraid anymore, trust him and yourself and you won’t need those drugs ever again.” Duncan thought he was getting through but it was hard to tell, right now she just looked sleepy. “Come on, Ollie, it’s time to wash your face and brush your teeth. Get ready for sleep. Do you want me to read to your for a while?” Ollie always liked it when he read her a story. In fact, when they weren’t watching Laurel and Hardy or weeding the gardens or having piano lessons, it was her favorite thing. They’d read The Wind and The Willows, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and started Lord of the Rings before she left the last time. She wasn’t the closest thing he’d ever had to a daughter and it was only now that Duncan MacLeod was beginning to realize how much he’d missed her all these years.

“No, Daniel’s reading to me, The Canterbury Ghost.” Duncan was glad to hear that when Calla climbed off his lap, went into the bathroom and quickly brushed her teeth and washed her face before climbing into the bed. In a very good imitation of Stan Laurel’s voice said. “Just another fine mess….”

“You’re going to get yourself out of.” Duncan encouraged with a wink. “I know you will. You’re strong, you always have been, much more so than you ever gave yourself credit for. I’ll send Daniel up in a little while.”

“Having a Gentleman’s Conversation about the crazy woman, are you?”

“Something like that.” Duncan said with a good natured smile. “I see he calls you Kitty, I take it you’ve done your super-duper-deluxe trick for him?”

Calla laughed. “No one’s called it that in years. But yes, I have.”

“Good, I expect you’ll do it for me before I leave.” Duncan kissed her forehead. “Calla,” he let the name hang in the air. “I like it, it suits you.”

“Did I thank you, yet?”

“I believe you did but you know, Ollie, we didn’t do that much. In another day or two you would have been over the hump on your own. You’re strong.” Duncan reminded her. “You could have done this on your own but I’m glad I could help. Good night, Ollie, get some rest.”

“Night, Stan.” Calla rolled over on her side while Duncan left the room.

Daniel was standing on the other side of the door when Duncan opened it. “I wasn’t eavesdropping,” he said quickly, “Kitty, you’ve got a phone call.” Daniel held up his cell phone.

“Hello? Nicholas! How are you? How’s your sister? Annie?” Callas’ voice was full of love and excitement.

“We’re not needed here right now.” Duncan told him.

“I see that.” Daniel returned and together they went down the stairs to main living area.

“Brandy, Daniel?” Duncan asked as he poured himself a glass.

Yep that sounded good but, “No, thank you.” Daniel sat in one of the high-back chairs by the fire. “So, got any advice for me, Duncan?”

“Not really.” Duncan’s voice sounded sad. “Do you love her?”

“Of course I love my wife.” Daniel returned. “Why would you ask me that?”

“Because she doubts it.” Duncan informed him. Daniel pursed his lips and grimaced. “I know, you don’t know me and you don’t want to discuss your martial difficulties with me, I can understand that. I can tell you this, she loves you and if I had to guess I’d say she never loved Hartley and probably didn’t want to be with him.” Duncan took a sip from his glass. “Just for the record, I told her that you do love her. Was I wrong?”

“No. I love her more than anything or anyone.”

“Good. So then, you’ll make sure she knows that?”

“I’m doing my best,” Daniel told him. “What did she tell you?”

Duncan took another sip from his brandy. “That you’re Immortal and she did it. That work with the Stargate…don’t worry I knew about it before you did, I won’t tell anyone.” Duncan assured him. “That you were far away when Andrew Hartley came into her life. That she loves her life in Colorado and that she’s done some bad things.” Duncan let out a little laugh and finished the brandy. “That’s about it, I’m afraid, you must know she hates to talk.”

“About herself? Yes she does.” Daniel agreed. “About anything really…important…actually.” He wished he had a glass of that amber liquid in his hands.

“She’s a great listener,” Duncan encouraged. “What she doesn’t say with her mouth she usually manages to get across with her eyes.”

“Yeah sometimes she’s good at that.” Kitty often said more with her eyes, her mannerisms or her facial expressions than she did with her mouth. Not to forget how well she communicated with her paintings. Daniel found himself wondering if Calla had any works in progress lying around anywhere and, if so, what they were. “That’s all she said about Hartley?”

“I’m afraid so, as we said, Ollie doesn’t like to talk. But something’s bothering her. Any idea what it is, other than Hartley?”

Several. In fact Daniel had about twenty-five or twenty-seven ideas of what was bothering Calla. Let’s not forget Hartley and Ares so altogether he had about twenty-nine ideas about what was bothering her. “A few.”

“Then I suggest you talk to her, she’ll listen and the two of you can go from there.” Duncan stood up and stretched. “It’s late.”

“Are you sleeping here?”

“There are twenty bedrooms in this house I thought I might take one of them. Not to worry I’ll stay on the third floor away from the two of you. I know you need your space right now.” Duncan said amiably. “Good night, Daniel.”

“Good night, Duncan.” Daniel put the dishes in the sink and remembered the diary in the pantry. Daniel picked it up, there were only a few pages left in it and he sat down by the dying fire to read it before making his way upstairs.

“Money,” Daniel muttered. “That’s why.”

Calla was planning to leave Hartley more than a month before David and he went to Venice. Why didn’t she call him? Why…why….why. The next page was blank and so was the next. Daniel thought that was the end of it but there was one more entry way at the back of the book, some place where Hartley would be less likely to find it. The entry wasn’t dated.

That was it, the entry ended the book ended and there was nothing more. Without thinking about it first Daniel pitched it into the fire and watched it burn. Hartley hurt her, Ares hurt her and her own husband did the same. If he was her he might find himself sticking a needle in his arm too. Andrew Fucking Hartley was filling her with drugs and treating her like a whore for months and what was Calla most concerned about? Herself? No not at all she was concerned with Daniel and how would she ever obtain his forgiveness for what she’d done.

Calla was sleeping with his cell phone in her hand. He took it away and put it on the nightstand before stripping off his pants and slipping into his pj bottoms for the night. Calla was still wearing his shirt. When he slipped into the bed she moved toward him and cuddled up next to him just as she always did in the past. Daniel took her in his arms and hoped he’d never have to spend another night without her.

End Chapter Three
Tarnished Heroes:Detox Mansion
Continue to
Chapter Four