Notes: Smallville belongs to DC and the WB. House MD belongs to Universal and other copyright holders. Gabrielle is from Xena Warrior Princess which belongs to MCA and Renaissance Studios. All other characters are fictitious and belong to me. Please send comments to dante0220@yahoo.com .


Prologue [Amazon Village c. 94 AD]

Gabrielle, Bard Queen of the Amazons, writes…..

Since the so-called ‘graduations’, our friends kept busy whether toiling at work or ‘graduate school’.

Angela, Frank and their new classmates pressed to keep up with Galen’s regimen. However, a guest lecturer would test their resolve.

Meantime, David continued to double up on his studies, wanting to finish his training by the following May.

Even so, Karen assured him she could deal with a little longer of a wait…

As Nai-Jin has predicted, these would be the end of the happy days. Soon, the darkness would fall….



Chapter 1 [New York]
[Columbia University Medical Library—November 1987]

Indian summer made one last appearance on that Veteran’s Day weekend, warming most of the northeast before winter’s onslaught began in earnest. Taking advantage, most people went out to shop, walk, jog through Central Park or meditate on life in general.

Within the medical library, Angie poured over her assignment, trying to deal with the avalanche of facts and graphs in front of her. While she would have rather been outside, she knew that only through studying would she survive medical school. How do other people do this? She frowned but kept going.

Across the table, Frank looked up from his own work. “You okay?” he whispered.

She looked around to make sure that nobody would hear them. “I’m surviving. You?”

“Same,” he said low before glancing at his watch. “Gotta go. Sure you don’t want to come with me?”

“Thanks, Frank, but I need to do this. Give my best to Dave and Karen, okay?” she declined.

He sighed. She’s already head and shoulders above everyone else. I wish she’d take a break. “Sure. Remember, dinner at Jolene’s tonight, okay? Please don’t miss this one.”

She bit her lip, knowing that she could get too engrossed. “I’ll be there.”

“Thanks, Angie.” He put his coat on and left the room. “I wish she could have some fun.”

“Angie’s still in there, is she?” James presumed while coming up the stairs toward him. “I thought she was going with you.”

“I did too. The test in Miller’s class has got her all bent out of shape.”

James nodded. “I think it should have us all that way. I’ll keep an eye on her. Go and enjoy the view.”

“Thanks, Jim, I appreciate it,” Frank expressed while taking one last look toward the library before making his way toward the subway entrance.

James ran his hand through his hair and exhaled deeply. He could understand where Angie’s drive came from. As he had planned to do that afternoon, she practically lived at the corner table where she was currently sitting. Hope she doesn’t mind company. He recalled how his attempt to ask her out bombed miserably. Since then, they had tried to rework things so they could be comfortable around each other. “Mind if I share?”

She glanced up at him and nodded. “I need to get this done, James. I’m not letting Frank and Jolene down tonight especially not with our other friends in town.”

 “Understood.” With that, he cracked a text and went to work.


****

[Cloisters—Herb Garden] [A/N: “Distractions” is my original work.]

Dave smiled as he and Karen walked along the brick pathways between the herbal arrangements. He loved the sweet smells and identifying each plant to keep up with what the goddess had taught him. The chant emanating over the loudspeaker soothed his nerves. The view over the short wall at the Hudson palisades made him wonder what Europe was like.

She rubbed his arm, feeling content as well. Between her work at the hospital and his constant studying, they didn’t get a great deal of time together these days. But it’ll be worth it next summer! She imagined herself in white and walking down the aisle. “Now I know why you and Frank love this place.”

“It is something, isn’t it?” he replied while smiling at her. “I’m glad Trish switched with you, Karen.”

“As she said, we don’t get enough time together,” she reminded him. “Don’t worry; we’ll soon have more time than we can deal with.”

“You won’t hear me complaining,” he agreed.

“Well good. I’d hate to think what I’d have to do then,” she cracked before squeezing his hand.

“That makes three of us,” Jolene concurred as she and Frank walked over.

“If the herb garden works, it works,” Frank noted.

“Nature’s pharmacy,” Dave clarified while sniffing the plants. He pointed to the small red flowers to his left. “There are the flowers where my pills come from.”

Frank arched his eyebrow skeptically. “It hasn’t stopped your moods, Dave.”

“It’s not supposed to, Frank. It controls them,” Dave reminded him. “You treat patients your way. I’ll do it mine.”

“You’re not a doctor,” Frank argued.

“I’ve been a trained homeopath since our senior year at APRHS,” Dave countered. “And don’t say it isn’t real medicine.”

“We’ll just have to agree to disagree on that one,” Frank noted. “Karen, you don’t buy it, do you?”

“Considering that Pauline trained him, I do. Frank, I may be a nurse but trust me; I’ve already seen good and bad doctors at the UMC,” Karen countered. “Not everything can be treated by modern medicine. Just keep an open mind, all right?”

Jolene added, “Dave, I’d like to hear more about it. Our general intro class went over homeopathy so fast that we didn’t get anything out of it.”

“There are better people than me to talk on that, Jo,” Dave conceded. “Maybe Pauline would be willing to do that.” He turned to the wall and the view. “Look at that! I could stand here all day.”

“Some of us know you have better things to do, Hotshot,” his fiancée interjected wryly.

“I said ‘could’ not ‘will’, Miss,” he retorted, grinning at her. Still, I know what you mean:


Distractions
David Dubois
November 1987

Despite Winter’s promise
When ice and snow do cover
Due to Nature’s trist’
When daughter go under

Persephone’s dual role
Splits nature’s beauty
Between warm and cold
Serving double duty

Now at crossroads yearly
We stand and admire
Even as the cold here is nearly
The remaining crowns of fire

Even as Nature knows
Her daughter will return
Still Jack’s icy gale blows
Covering grass, flower and fern

Many sides to Nature’s face
One needs to see
As the seasons by us race
And each other, we do need…..”


“That was beautiful. Where is that from, Dave?” Jolene complimented.

“His head,” Frank groused. “He does that from time to time. Used to drive some of us nuts in high school.”

“And others of us love every word,” Karen disagreed. “He can’t help it if he goes into auto compose mode.”

“Nature inspires, Frank. Look around you. Enjoy,” Dave indicated, stretching his arms out to take in the entire view.

“I agree. Each of us has our own talents, Frank. Don’t worry about it,” Jolene assured her boyfriend. “And speaking of talents, you all get to taste my culinary experiment.”

“That I’ll go for,” Frank indicated with a grin spreading across his face.

Dave and Karen grinned at their former classmate. “Thought you might,” they chorused as they headed for the exit.



Chapter 2
[Jolene’s Apartment—158th Street—two hours later]

As promised, Jolene set a large pan of lasagna down in front of her guests. “Told you that I was experimenting.”

“You must have done prep work last night,” Dave noted. “Gram would’ve been in the kitchen all day with that.”

“About four hours worth. If you all like it then it’s worth it,” the hostess noted while rubbing her boyfriend’s shoulder. “You especially. First though, can you give me a hand with the other things?”

Frank helped with the salad and garlic bread. “Of course.” He checked his watch again. “I thought Angie and James knew we were eating now.”

On cue, a knock came from the door.

Jolene opened it to find the aforementioned-classmates standing there. “Come right in! We’re just sitting down to eat.”

Angie flushed. “Sorry. The trains are running late.”

“Not to mention you were obsessed with that assignment again?” James added.

“All right. All right. So I was obsessed! I want to be ready for that big guest speaker next week,” she countered. “You might be as concerned.”

“He’s only a second year doctor, Angie,” Frank noted. “Take a seat and load off of your mind.”

“Fine,” she conceded. “How was your day, guys?”

“Okay,” Karen replied. “Dave was showing me his favorite hiding place when he’s here in the city.”

“Love the Cloisters’ herb garden,” Dave added while starting to serve salad for everyone. “And with the two simultaneous degrees going, I could use a break.”

“How’s that going?” Wilson asked.

“It’s murder. Lots of late nights in the library and in my room at home. I’m over halfway done with both degrees. Next semester, I only have four classes and my comps. It’s rough but I’ll make it. Next summer, Karen and I can get married finally,” the history grad student answered.

“Do you get to see each other?” Jolene asked.

“During the weekends. Next year will be worthwhile,” the nurse noted. “As I say to him, don’t kill yourselves, guys.”

“We’ll try…especially to keep the little engine that could over here from doing that,” Frank indicated, glancing at Angie as he said it.

“I don’t spend every minute in the library, guys!” Angie insisted.

“Leave her alone, guys,” Dave interjected. “She has a passion. Let her enjoy it. Angie, you should have a balance so you don’t burn out. You’re not young forever.”

“I’d say the same to you, Chief,” his fiancée rebutted.

“Touché,” Dave admitted. “As I said, Karen, next summer, I can let up.”

“I’m going to hold you to that,” Karen vowed while accepting a salad bowl from him. “Meantime, what else is going on?”


****

[Later that night—Dave and Karen’s apartment]

Karen dried herself off after getting out of the shower and threw on her robe. That afternoon was a nice break from the double shifts and studying! Seeing the light on in Dave’s study, she rolled her eyes. Speaking of which… She rapped on the door. “Dave?”

“Hey,” he replied while taking off his headset. “Don’t worry; I wasn’t studying.”

“Glad to hear it. What were you doing?”

He held up a listing of want ads. “Just considering jobs for next summer.”

“They’re already listing those?” she asked in surprise.

“Already,” he noted. “I’m serious. I want us set by next July, Miss Alvarez.” He kissed her. “As I said earlier, balance. I enjoy doing research but I love you.”

She smirked at him. “Glad to hear it. And I appreciate how much attention you’re giving this. Remember though, I am sending you to the job fair in January. Meantime, promise me you will take some breaks? I don’t want you to go nuts before the wedding.”

“I won’t if you don’t,” he promised.

She chuckled. “Someone’s got to watch out for you. Now let’s get to bed.”



Chapter 3 [Two days later]
[Tucson]

Even as the rest of the campus buzzed with plans over the looming Thanksgiving Day weekend, Dave walked over to the History Department fresh from a meeting with Drs. Rollinson and Donaldson, his library school advisors. While the latter two were concerned about Dave’s heavy course load, Samuelsohn had convinced them to go along with it.

And the two sides remain at war. It figures! He sighed, knocking on his main advisor’s door. “Dr. S.?”

“Come in, David,” the older man called. When the latter had walked in, he advised, “Please sit. How’s everything?”

“Burning the candle at both ends but it’ll be worth it come May,” Dave responded. “If I can ask, how’s the initial research coming?”

The advisor chuckled. “Always interested, aren’t you? That’s fine. I have to leave a couple of weeks early for Romania.” He handed over a sealed manila envelope. “Those are your instructions for the final paper. Pauline has your materials for next semester.”

“Are you going to need help over there?” Dave inquired.

“Thank you but keep your focus on your studies. As we agreed last summer, when the time comes…we can worry about such things,” the professor declined.

“If there’s a question or anything, how can I reach you?” the student queried.

“Pauline knows but Drs. Coltrane, Rollinson and Donaldson should be able to guide you through the nitty gritty. Keep your chin up, my Boy. Remember, I’m counting on you to keep your focus.” He rubbed the student’s shoulder. “Focus and perseverance. I’ll be back in April for your exams and to finish the medieval survey. Until then, good luck.”

After they shook hands, Dave walked out of the department, scratching his head and wondering how he would pull off the program without his advisor there. He headed for the main library and up to his favorite reading spot. Once there, he studied for several hours. Feeling a tap on the arm, he looked up to find a familiar woman standing there. “Dean Sommers, correct?”

She nodded. “Very good. Have a minute? I’d like to talk with you.”

What did I do? He followed her up a flight of stairs into the administrative suite and into her office. When the door had closed, he asked, “Did I do something wrong?”

She glanced at him in surprise. “Not that I know of. I just wanted to meet you. It’s not often I see a student studying as much as you do. You’re a role model in that regard, David.” She smiled. “The librarians here tell tales about you, you know.”

“They do?”

“Nothing bad, I assure you,” she replied. “I heard about how you used Denis’ Recueils two weeks after you started in Amherst. Very impressive. You have the makings of a fine librarian.”

“Thank you, I guess,” he accepted tentatively.

“Your professors agree with me although I think you should get the Ph D. first,” she added.

“I want to get married then I can deal with the doctorate,” he assumed.

“Is that why you’re doubling up on the coursework?” she queried. Seeing his surprise, she shrugged. “It’s a simple matter of talking with your professors. Just don’t kill yourself.”

“Future father-in-law wants me out of school before we can do it. Job and all of that,” he conceded.

“If it’s a job you need, I can put you on the reference desk after you get your MALS. I’ll have a part time opening after July. You can work up to thirty hours per week—whatever you and Dr. Samuelsohn feel comfortable with,” she offered.

“Let me talk it over with my fiancée first. I appreciate the offer, Dean Sommers,” he expressed.

“My pleasure,” she agreed as they shook hands. “I look forward to speaking with you again.”

He nodded while leaving the office. They tell stories about me, do they? I wonder what would happen if they knew what was *really* going on with me? He shuddered while heading for the elevator.



Chapter 4 [Columbia Medical School Auditorium—An hour later]
[A/N: Brace yourselves, a certain doctor’s about to make a powerful impression….<g>]

Frank and James sat in their seats, waiting for the lecture to begin. Since their Saturday evening meal break, they, Angie and Jolene had lived in the library and class. As with their Tucson counterparts, they couldn’t wait for the Thanksgiving break either.

“What did you think of the bio lab?” Wilson asked while scanning his notes.

“I got through it. I think that’s pretty safe to say,” Frank presumed. “Can’t wait to see what Baker cooks up for us in Anatomy class next term.”

“Don’t remind me about that,” his companion worried, not wanting to look ahead of their final exams for that term. Seeing Jolene and Angie hustling into the room, he waved them over. “You’ve got five minutes yet. Slow down. It’s not like Henderson’s going to kill you if you’re on time.”

“We wanted to get our seats,” Angie noted. “I can’t wait to see this guy! I was reading his articles in the library this morning.”

“Now she’s brown nosing,” Frank groaned.

“A little extra reading doesn’t mean that,” his girlfriend rebutted. “Cut that out!”

Frank sat in his seat and stewed, wanting to get this lecture over with so he could go to the lab ASAP. I don’t care. It’s still brown nosing as far as I’m concerned.

At that moment, Dr. Henderson, a portly African-American man in a dark blue suit, stepped up onto the stage with a tall and skinny man who looked as if he hadn’t shaved in three days. The former stepped to the podium and announced, “Good afternoon, everyone! As I mentioned on Friday, we have a guest speaker with us today from the Mercy Hospital System in Detroit, Michigan. Dr. Gregory House, despite only being in his second year of practice, has already published several pieces in leading journals and makes innovations every day in the fields of diagnostics and nephrology. Dr. House, the podium is yours.”

House frowned as he headed up to the podium, clearly seeming as if he wanted to be anywhere but there. “Aren’t you a bunch of bright eyed and bushy tailed kids?” he proposed. “I’m sure by now you’re learning that medicine isn’t always a noble business. Any of you guys gets sick at the sight of blood?” Not seeing a hand, he reconsidered the group. “Damn. Either you’re the strongest group of newbies or you’re lying. Tip to you all, everyone lies.” He smirked sarcastically.

A hand went up to the side. “Dr. House?”

“Did I say it was question time yet, Pal?” the speaker asked.

“No…that’s why I raised the hand,” the student, a Native American male, spoke up.

“When I want questions, I’ll let you know,” House growled.

“Dr. House, let him ask his question,” Henderson directed.

House frowned. “Go ahead.”

“What do you mean everyone lies, sir?” the student asked.

“You think people always tell the truth, kid?” House stared at the younger man blankly.

“No.”

“You just answered your own question. They’re afraid to tell you, me, their minister, or anyone else what’s really wrong with them,” House explained.

Angie’s hand shot up. When the teacher pointed to her, she queried, “What do you mean they’re afraid?”

House looked her up and down and smirked. “Love that country charm, you know.”

“Excuse me?” Angie asked.

The diagnostician continued, ignoring the teacher’s glare. “He’s from the reservation. Judging from the accent, you’re from upstate…Albany, right? Let me guess, you tell your minister everything, right?”

“I have nothing to hide,” Angie retorted.

“Right,” House countered. “We all have things to hide. I’ll bet you do too. Pride of the village, I’ll bet. Grew up on the farm…As I said, love that charm and naivety.”

“I’ve seen more than you think!” Angie snapped.

Frank grabbed her arm and shook his head at her. What is she doing?

“Judging from the guy’s reaction to the right, looks like Ms. Country’s about to spill something big. As I said, Folks, everyone lies!” House pronounced. “What is it?”

Everyone giggled around the room, pushing Angie down into her seat.

“Too bad, I wanted the challenge,” House declared. “You saw what I just did. There are ways to read people. Ms. Country there says she has nothing to hide. Obviously, there’s something that she knows that Mr. Slick to her right doesn’t want us to know about. This, Kiddies, is what you run into with patients. So you guys doing it in the back room or what? When are you planning on telling your minister that one, hmmm?”

Angie flushed, staring incredulously at the speaker. “I c…can’t believe this!” Seeing her classmates staring at her, she bolted from the room, not even grabbing her notebook in the process.

Jolene stood up and retorted, “This is absurd! You’re conjuring this up out of nowhere just to get a rise out of people. Reading us indeed! More like insulting us! Doctors are supposed to care about people not cajole them!”

House smirked. “Better off with her than with Ms. Country, Mr. Slick. She’s got a backbone at least.”

“House, stop it. Can we move onto the lecture?” Henderson insisted.

“This is the point.”

“I don’t need to hear this,” Jolene insisted. “Frank, stay here. I’m going to see if Angie’s okay.” She grabbed her things and Angie’s before storming out of the room.

“Wow. Nice to see you all are super loyal. As I said, you’re newbies. You’ll learn. Now we can get onto the innovations…..” With that, House started into his lecture.


****

[Outside]

Jolene rushed outside into the cold damp day, looking around for her friend. “Angie? Angie?” Then from behind one of the pillars, she heard a quiet sobbing. She looked to find her friend shuddering in the icy breeze. “It’s okay, Angie.”

“No he’s right. I have my secrets,” Angie muttered, shaking because of her mood as well as the chill. “I can’t even be honest with myself! How can I expect people to be honest with me?”

“Angie, cut it out. House is a few nuts short of a candy bar. You’re going to be a fine doctor. You want to know why?”

The farm girl grimaced. “Why?”

“Because you care unlike that asshole,” Jolene affirmed. “Look, you can approach this two ways. You could quit or you could stand up to him—prove him wrong.”

For a second, Angie couldn’t believe that. Then for some reason, she thought of Dave and how many times he must have stood up to loudmouths like House over the years. He went back to Rowenshire after Nancy and into the Vendee to save Karen despite the risks. If he can do that for them and the rest of us, I can do this. She stood up. “I…I still feel embarrassed but I won’t quit.”

“Want to get a coffee?” Jolene asked. “Frank and James are taking notes for us.”

“I’d appreciate that,” Angie accepted. “Thanks for coming out after me, Jo. You’re going to get in trouble, you know.”

“If I get in trouble for that, then I’m glad for it.” With that, she led her friend down the stairs toward the coffee shop across the street.


****

[Forty-five minutes later]

After drinking a mocha, Angie definitely felt better, seeing her classmate’s point. She knew she had something to offer…if she could stop letting people like House get under her skin. “Thanks. I needed that.”

“I thought you might. You deserve this,” Jolene assured her. “Wonder why Frank was so jumpy though?”

I wonder why too. Maybe he’s afraid I’d say something about Dave’s situation? She snorted to herself. As if I would ever betray him especially to an idiot like that creep!

“What’s so funny?”

“Huh?” Angie asked.

“You laughed. What’s the joke?”

“Frank’s reaction. I wondered why he was so paranoid,” Angie answered.

“You and me both. I don’t understand what’s with him lately.” Jolene shook her head while sipping some more of her drink. “Did he have any issues back in Amherst at all?”

“Not that I know of.” Other than the usual dark yucky stuff that we all dealt with. Once again, she saw the Child in her mind’s eye and went white with fear.

“Hey! Come on! Are you okay?” Jolene demanded. “What is it?”

“Looks like Angel Cakes needs a backbone,” House sneered.

“And you need a clue,” Jolene fired back, defending her friend.

“She’s scared of me,” House presumed. “Good. I like that.”

“You need a life,” Angie whispered, putting her head down so she wouldn’t have to look at him anymore.

Seeing that she wasn’t going to provide him with any more entertainment, House shrugged and headed off.

“What an awful man. How does someone like that become a doctor? HOW?” Angie sniffled before breaking down.

“That’s a good question. As I said before, you need to prove him wrong. Okay? Is there anything I can do?” Jolene reiterated.

“I need to make a call. Excuse me. I’ll be back,” Angie requested before heading for the pay phone.

I hope she’s okay.


****

[Tucson—Dave and Karen’s Apartment]

Just as Angie and Jolene were dealing with the scene in the coffee shop, Dave plowed in through the front door, barely making the front table before the load of groceries and school books dropped to the floor. “Whew! What’s going on?” He scratched his head, wondering what was wrong.

Trouble, Dum’ass! Stoopid shit buggin’ Ms. Fraidy Pants!

He grimaced, recognizing the Voice. Who’s “Ms. Fraidy Pants”? Just then, the phone rang. “Yes?”

“Hello, this is the operator. I have a collect call for Dave and Karen from Angie. Will you accept?”

“I’m Dave. Sure, put her through. Thanks,” he accepted. He heard her sobbing. “Angie? Are you okay?”

“Dave, I feel like such a heel for bugging you especially since I ran…away,” she admitted in between sobs.

She must be Fraidy Pants. Figures. “It’s okay. What’s wrong?” he asked.

“I’m being a ninny….Somebody accused me….”

“Want to talk?” he inquired. “It’s okay. I’m home now.”

“C…can you come here? I know it’s a bad time,” she requested sadly.

He sighed and focused before picking up on her. “Give me five minutes.” He hung up and put the groceries away. Then he scribbled a note for Karen. I hope I can get back here to do dinner for Karen. After the day she’s having, she deserves it.

[“You can say that again,”] she concurred. [“What’s going on?”]

[“It’s Angie. She’s really upset. I’m going to go talk to her. I might be late. I did the shopping and the groceries are put up,”] he noted.

[“I’ll have dinner ready when you get back. Go help her, Dave. Thanks for letting me know,”] she assured him.

[“I love you.”]

[“And I love you, you sensitive loving ham,”] she giggled before going to work.

You’re lucky, Dave. With that, he opened a portal and jumped through.


****

[New York Coffee Shop—ten minutes later]

After hanging up and going into the ladies’ room, Angie meandered back to the booth and slid back in. “Thanks for waiting, Jo. You might want to make some room. We’re going to have one more.”

“One…?” Jolene studied her friend. “Who?”

“Dave was still here in town doing some research,” Angie fibbed, covering for her friend.

“Research?” Jolene wondered, recalling that their friends supposedly left for the airport on Saturday. Then she saw him getting something at the counter. “How? What?”

“Afternoon, Ladies,” he greeted while sliding into the booth next to Angie; a mocha clearly in his left hand. “What’s the problem?”

“Sorry to bug you,” Angie apologized again.

“I told you it’s no bother. I was done anyway. What’s got you so upset anyhow? You were so excited this weekend,” he queried.

“That speaker—the one from today embarrassed me in front of the class,” Angie recounted before burying her face in her hands. “He said I was hiding something….Frank grabbed my arm. He accused us in front of the class!”

Frank must have thought she was going to say something about me to do that. “Accused you of what?”

“He accused Frank and her of having sex,” Jolene revealed.

“He WHAT?” Dave stared at the two girls. “Jo, you know that’s not true!”

“Of course I know that!” Jolene looked around, seeing House over in the corner.

Dave, of course, already picked up on the vibes coming from the diagnostician. The creep’s stalking his handiwork, is he? He considered how upset Angie was over this mess. “You know, the world has a way of evening things out.”

“Such as?” Angie sniffled.

Pauline’s going to kill me but this jerk needs a lesson. He shrugged and focused on House’s stool, telekinetically breaking it under him.

As it gave way, House fell backwards, landing on his rear end and spilling his coffee all over himself.

Around him, the other patrons snickered and rubbernecked.

“Funny how those stools can break, isn’t it?” As the other man rose to his feet, Dave took another sip of his drink.

“Thankfully he’s okay,” Angie expressed.

“Just desserts then,” he presumed. Even if I gave Fate an assist in the process.



Conclusion [That evening]
[Tucson—Apartment]

After telling Jolene that they needed to talk for a while, Dave brought Angie back to Arizona for dinner. They and Karen talked through the entire afternoon’s misadventure, reassuring the guest in the process.

“I mean it’s so strange though, Dave. How did you know House was going to fall?” Angie supposed.

Karen frowned, knowing full well that Dave could ‘arrange’ for such a display if he wanted to. “He does have good foresight, don’t you, Dave?”

“I do.” He shrugged. [“He wasn’t hurt. Let it go.”]

[“Dave, you assaulted him in plain view of a café full of customers. It doesn’t make it right!”] Karen disputed.

[“Embarrassment equals embarrassment. It’s not like I punched him or hit him with a mind blast. Kind of like how you used to harass Charles, I’m sure,”] he countered.

She sighed, knowing he had a point. Still, she determined to keep an eye on him.


****

[Faerie Realms—Cathedral of Crystal]

Just as Karen worried, the events of that afternoon didn’t go unnoticed.

Through her view portal, the Faerie Empress shook her head. “He oversteps himself.”

“As he said, the insolent one had a much needed lesson administered. No harm done,” Grimwilkin disagreed. “We know what Angela means to him.”

“The darkness is influencing him more and more,” she debated.

“And yet, he acted to help a friend. Concern and compassion are hardly dark qualities…and we know how protective his inner self can be,” he pointed out.

“I will have Pauline talk to him. Meantime, it’s time for the next step.” She motioned to the side chamber. “Come forth, Child.”

Deirdre entered the room. “You called, Milady?”

“Indeed I did. I have a task for you. Are you familiar with the town called Smallville?” the Elf Queen wondered.

“I am. What would you like to know?” the priestess queried.

“I need you to go there and blend in for a while. Live among them. The purpose will come soon enough. Keira knows about this mission,” the Empress instructed.

“Very well. If it pleases you and the goddess, I shall do it,” Deirdre agreed before heading off into a mist portal.

He stared at the Empress. “You understand what this could mean?”

She smiled. “The boy plays games. So would I on the goddess’ behalf. Deirdre is observing only. Pauline has enough to worry about with her companion. Let Deirdre deal with David Dubois.”

He recalled Nai-Jin’s prophecy. Let’s hope that doesn’t blow up in our faces…..



THE END (for now)


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