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Date Posted: 15:42:32 05/01/03 Thu
Author: dqfan
Subject: Re: Ghosts - ch.48 & 49
In reply to: dqfan 's message, "Re: Ghosts - ch.46 & 47" on 16:08:56 04/30/03 Wed

CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT

"C'mon, Sophie…" Sully was running out of time. Her hair and clothes were soaked and the water was almost at her chin. "You gotta wake up! C'mon, try!"

Sophie's reminiscences of Vashon were almost at an end, the joy of those days with Peter drifting toward their inescapable conclusion. What would happen when her memories came to a close?

She'd been unconscious for most of the night, without food or water since morning, her body battered and bruised. Would she grow as tired as his Ma had of life's relentless pain? Would she welcome the darkness?

Desperately, his voice echoed to her subconscious.

"Sophie, please don't do this…"

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

"Peter, you don't have to do this," Sophie sighed, as he walked her off the ferry, still carrying her bags.

From the warmth of their bed this morning, to the pier at Vashon, to the ferry dock here in Seattle, they'd said countless goodbyes in endless tender embraces and, still, Peter hadn't left her side.

"I just wanna make sure you get a cab…" With the strap of her knapsack in his teeth, Peter unlatched the gate leading to the marina. "Anything wrong with that?" he mumbled.

Sophie smiled, indulging him, even though she knew better. Every goodbye only made the inevitable worse. At some point, this had to end.

But, every second Peter procrastinated was another second she could look into his eyes, and see his smile, and grab one last kiss to hold her through those long, lonely nights in the African bush. How could she possibly object?

Keeping the conversation light, Sophie turned on her heels and placed her hand on his chest. "I'm gonna call and check on my flight."

Then she stole another kiss and added, "Why don't you hail me that cab?"

Poignantly, their eyes met. "I can do that…" Peter tilted his head and, with a boyish shrug, watched pensively, as Sophie headed toward the bank of pay phones at the curb.

Suddenly, a woman's voice startled his reverie. "Peter!"

Peter took one look and rolled his eyes at the unwelcome intrusion. "Vanessa, this is a surprise…" he covered weakly.

Smoothly, Peter gave the woman a perfunctory kiss on the cheek. How much had she seen, he wondered?

"For me, too," Vanessa smiled her insinuations. "I had no idea that you were in Seattle. Or seeing someone…" she added slyly.

Adroitly, Peter changed the subject. "How's Chip?"

Vanessa could think what she liked, but he wasn't about to provide her with any ammunition she could take back to Chloe. What he and Sophie had was private and would stay that way.

"Oh, he's fine," she answered blithely, wishing Sophie would step further away from the phone so she could get a better look at her. "He's meeting me on Victoria Island. A little getaway…"

"I told Chloe all about this darling B & B we're staying at. She thought it sounded just fab."

Awkardly, Peter sought to end the conversation. "I'm sure it'll be just fab," he mimicked, giving her another peck on the cheek. "You can catch the high speed ferry to Victoria right over there."

Politely, Vanessa took the hint. "Well, give Chloe my love…"

Forcing a smile, Peter countered simply, "Say hi to Chip," and then waved goodbye.

Just that brief encounter with his past life made Peter cringe, reminding him of all the reasons he had left New York. Undoubtedly, Vanessa would tell Chloe he was seeing someone - a rebound fling she'd call it. Sadly, gossip was power in New York - even over the people you claimed were your friends. If this prompted Chloe to hate him any more than she already did, frankly, Peter didn't care. The only person Peter cared about right now was five minutes away from getting into a cab he was supposed to be hailing.

Sophie returned, having observed a tiny bit of his conversation. "Friend?" she asked succinctly.

Peter sighed and shrugged. "Vanessa and her husband were part of our circle in New York..."

"Our?" Sophie couldn't help herself.

"Soph…" Peter frowned at her insecurities and his poor choice of words. "Could we please not spend our last few minutes together talking about Chloe?"

Sophie shook her head and nodded. "You're right. So, where's my cab?"

"Uh, well, I…" Peter mumbled his excuse.

"Cab…" Sophie repeated dryly. "Means of transportation to airport."

At Peter's guilty expression, Sophie smirked, bemused. "Come on, Big Guy, the stand's this way."

Following the signs, Sophie made her way to the taxi booth with Peter in tow. "Cab to the airport, please."

"Sophie…" Again, a voice from the bustling crowd beckoned.

Peter didn't recognize the older gentleman calling Sophie's name, but he was eternally grateful for any interruption that kept her away from the taxi stand.

"Frank?" Sophie couldn't believe her eyes. "I haven't seen you since…"

Frank held out his hand, then gave her a big hug. "The NEA Meeting in Denver four years ago. How are you, Sophie?"

"I'm fine," she smiled, hugging him back. "Where's Maryellen? Isn't she with you?"

Frank's cheerful grin faded. "Maryellen passed away two years ago, Sophie. I'm all by myself now."

Sophie's face fell. "Oh, Frank, I'm so sorry. I didn't know…"

Warmly, Sophie recalled the inspiring woman who turned the heartache of her son's suicide into a school for trouble teens.

"Cancer spread before we knew," Frank said sadly. "She went quick."

Peter had stood by quietly, not wanting to intrude. Still, he felt he should offer a word of condolence. "I'm very sorry…" he held out his hand to Frank.

"Thank you…" The two men looked at Sophie, waiting for an introduction.

But, Sophie was lost in thought. The sight of Peter and Frank together had given her an idea. Maybe she didn't have to leave Peter all alone, after all?

"Uh, oh, sorry," she covered quickly. "Peter Scarbrow, this is Frank Markesian. Frank runs a school for troubled teens, up in the mountains, outside of Vancouver, if I remember correctly."

"Runs it into the ground is more like it," Frank winced. "Truth is, Maryellen always handled the financial stuff. I'm no good at squeezing cash out of a stone."

"Pleased t'meet ya, Peter," he finished warmly.

Sophie was never one to let an opportunity go to waste. "Peter has an MBA from Wharton, Frank. Maybe he could help you?"

At Sophie's suggestion, Peter turned noticeably pale. Simply taking the ferry from Vashon to Seattle had been a huge step for him. Beyond that, he wasn't sure he was ready to be helping anyone with anything.

Back in the city, with all its temptations, Peter's nagging self-doubts were surfacing once again. "Oh, I'm sure Frank doesn't need my help…" he excused nervously.

"Hey, I need all the help I can get," Frank commented wryly.

Then, noticing Peter's trembling hand and pained expression, he added intuitively, "Maybe you do, too?"

Peter lowered his eyes, ashamed that his weaknesses showed that much. Gently, Sophie eased the sting of Frank's insight. "Everybody needs a fresh start once in a while."

Cheerfully, Frank raised an eyebrow. "More like once a week for you, huh, Kiddo?" he joked, knowing of Sophie's penchant for new adventures.

"Very funny…" Sophie scowled in jest. Spying Frank's suitcase, she asked casually, "Coming or going?"

"Going…" he smiled. "Rented myself a boat. Maybe the fish can tell me how t'balance my books."

Genially, Frank addressed Peter once again. "You fish?"

Peter hiked, he biked…he played squash at the club - but fish? Somehow, he'd never quite seen the attraction.

Disarmed by Frank's question, he fumbled for any activity that came close. "Well, uh, I was on the rowing team in college…"

Frank chuckled, admiring Peter's style. "Why don't you come along, then? I'll fish, you steer, and, maybe, when we're done, you'll come to Horizon and see if you can help me out?"

"Horizon?" Frank might as well have said "Oz" the way Peter's head was spinning.

"My school…" Frank beamed with pride. "Mount Horizon."

Sophie couldn't wish any harder. Her fingers were already crossed so tightly they hurt. Frank Markesian was such a good man. Wise and patient… There was no one with more experience or caring when it came to substance abuse. Sophie couldn't imagine entrusting Peter's recovery - or his life - to better hands.

Silently, her eyes encouraged him. "Say, yes."

With no other plans for the day, the week, or his life, Peter reluctantly agreed. "Sure, why not?" he shrugged.

"Good…" Frank nodded, pleased.

Having second thoughts, Peter wrinkled his nose. "I don't have to clean the fish, do I?"

Laughing, Frank slapped him on the back. "Only if you want to eat."

Sophie smiled. Frank's relaxed demeanor had put them all at ease, until…

"You call for a cab, Ma'am?" the driver approached her.

"Where you off to this time?" Frank wondered, curious.

"Zimbabwe," Sophie replied, growing suddenly quiet.

"Why not?" Frank chuckled, picking up his bag. "Well, have fun, Honey," he hugged her warmly. "Don't forget to send us a postcard."

All around them, the dock was teeming. Passengers were boarding the ferries, the harbormaster's announcements were booming over the public address system…there were even a few tugboat horns blasting.

But, for Sophie and Peter, suddenly, it was as if they were the only two people on the pier.

Seeing the despondent looks passing between them, Frank spoke gently to Peter, "My boat's right over there. Take your time…"

Peter nodded, unable to find his voice. There just weren't any words.

"So…" Sophie began hesitantly.

"So…" Peter swallowed the lump in his throat.

Fleetingly, he considered suggesting accompanying her to the airport, but the look on Sophie's face told him it was time - time for goodbye.

He'd been on a collision course with this moment all day, sidestepping it as if it were an active landmine waiting to go off. But, his light-hearted joking and dogged persistence weren't going to change the fact that Sophie's mind was made up. He'd been on borrowed time from the second she rolled out of bed this morning. He knew that. Now, his time was up and he owed it to Sophie not to make this any more difficult - for either of them.

"Be happy, Soph…" He managed that, at least. "I want you to be happy."

"You, too," Sophie bit her lip. "Strong, well, happy…" She touched his face lightly, one last time. "Live every second of your life, Peter."

"I've been to Horizon," she added with a smile. "They've got a heckuva rock."

Suddenly, Sophie's emotions threatened to overcome her. Throwing her arms around his neck, she kissed him passionately and then ran for her cab. "You'll always be my rock, Peter…"

The ache in Sophie's heart was so strong - stronger than she even remembered. It felt as if she were drowning…

"Sophie!"

A voice called to her. Was it Peter's?

"Sophie, please stay with me…"

God, how she wanted to stay!

"I'm so sorry, Peter." Her heart was pounding wildly.

Peter's anguish… Sophie felt it as deeply as her own. He was losing her.

"Peter…" Her face was wet as she sobbed his name. Fitfully, Sophie choked on her tears. So many tears…

Oh, why was she doing this?

She shouldn't be leaving him. All she ever did was leave him.

She never wanted to leave him again.

She had to do something! Stop this cab…this dream…this nightmare - before it was too late…

"NO!"

Sophie's eyes flung open with a start. In a panic, she sputtered and coughed the water from her lungs, gasping for air. With difficulty, she raised herself to a sitting position, water sloshing all around her. Disoriented, it took her a moment to recall her surroundings.

Surrounded by darkness, she called to him.

"Sully?"

In Sophie's plea, Sully heard not his mother's voice, but Michaela's, calling to him after he'd rescued her from the Dog Soldiers.

"I'm here…" he echoed softly, allowing Sophie to sense his presence.

Focusing her gaze, she saw him. Right by her side, just as he'd promised.

As she braced herself against the pillar, Sophie expected her consciousness would have been cause for some relief, but she heard no joy in Sully's voice, as the water continued its relentless and deadly cascade.

"C'mon, we don't have much time…

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

CHAPTER FORTY NINE

"There!"
"Wait!"
"Backup!"

Bruno sighed audibly. Reggie was experiencing what was known in security parlance as the "TWB."

For the better part of a half hour, Reggie had been ordering Bruno to stop the surveillance tape in fits and starts, for everyone from a seven foot tall Texan to a midget from the Cirque de Soleil.

Man…woman…child…poodle… It made no difference to Reggie. Each and every fuzzy black and white blip on Bruno's monitor had become cause for a higher standard of inspection than NASA would afford to an incoming UFO!

"Reggie…" Bruno growled his name with growing impatience.

"No, really, I'm serious, look!" Reggie insisted excitedly.

Bruno took a closer look at Reggie's latest freeze-frame. At least, this time, it was, indeed, a woman. And, although Bruno had never had the pleasure of meeting Sophie Becker, from Gus' neverending and glowing descriptions, the woman on the television screen certainly fit the bill.

"It's her, Bruno!" Reggie checked the time on the synchronized clock. "9:35, coming through the front door…"

"Now advance it - slooowwwllyyy," Reggie instructed in a hush, ignoring Bruno's exasperated glance.

"Ohmigosh!" Reggie exclaimed before even five seconds had passed.

"What? What?" Bruno was used to working with seasoned FBI agents. Instead, his partner was an interim concierge who'd watched too much Starsky and Hutch in his formative years.

"It's Ivy! Right there! Talking to Sophie… See her?" Reggie pointed apoplectically toward the television.

Bruno was utterly fascinated. Only once, when Gus was very, very drunk, had he mentioned his first wife, a woman named Ivy. Of course, right after that, Gus had threatened to cut off a very important part of Bruno's anatomy if he ever dared repeat her name again.

"So, that's Ivy…" Bruno whistled, appreciating his boss' varied taste in women.

"Run, Sophie, run!" Reggie shouted uselessly at the screen. Helpless, he watched as Ivy maneuvered Sophie deeper into the lobby crowd.

"Oh, this is bad…this is very, very bad." Petrified, Reggie hunched over Bruno and leaned closer to the monitor for a better view.

"This is like when the wicked witch gave Snow White the poisoned apple…or when Glenn Close cooked that bunny in Fatal Attraction!"

With every horrific cinematic reference, Reggie's nails dug deeper and deeper into Bruno's shoulders.

"Reggie?" Bruno spoke calmly and distinctly. "Take your hands off me, now, or you'll be sharing a pot with the rabbit, are we clear?"

Reggie's hands shot up in immediate surrender. "Totally! Completely! Absolutely no problem whatsoever!" he sputtered in a panic.

Carefully, Reggie avoided all body contact with Bruno and peered into the monitor. "So, where are they headed?" he whispered nervously.

"Looks like the service elevator," Bruno gestured toward the upper-left-hand corner of the screen. "But, from there, they could go anywhere," he scowled, fearing a dead end.

"Maybe not…" Reggie was squinting so close to the screen, a visit to the opthalmologist was going to be mandatory.

"Whaddya have in mind, Mr. Magoo?" Bruno chuckled, sitting back in his chair.

"Could you maybe zoom in on this last frame here?" With a tentative voice and a harmless shrug, Reggie pointed to the final shot of Ivy and Sophie, as they boarded the service elevator.

Bruno's cocky smile vanished at Reggie's suggestion. Damned if the kid wasn't always thinking!

"Magnify the up/down buttons and the overhead panel?" Bruno had followed Reggie's train of thought with alarming ease.

"It would give us a floor to start with anyway…" Reggie's face beamed with investigative pride.

Bruno eyed Reggie with begrudging admiration. "Tell me one thing, Reg. Am I Starsky or Hutch?"

Reggie relaxed into a smile. "Whichever one you want, Bruno…"

Bursting with optimism, Reggie nearly forgot himself, coming perilously close to forming a hug around Bruno's arms. Immediately, he pulled back and grinned.

"Whichever one you want…"

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

"C'mon, Sophie, you can do it!" Sully's continued exhortations were grating on Sophie's nerves.

Soaked to the skin, bruised and freezing, she was in no mood for a pep talk.

"Where are we going?" Sophie yelled over the roar of the incoming water. Grumbling, she followed him, struggling to keep up on her sprained ankle.

"Just a little further…" Sully replied noncommittally.

Sophie winced and stopped. "This is crazy! I'll never be able to walk my way out of here!"

Impatient, Sully turned and confronted Sophie with the cold, hard, facts. "Listen, this water's comin' in too fast. You can't just stand here and hope someone finds you. And, if you lay back down again now, you'll drown, plain and simple. But, just around the next curve, there's an emergency ladder…"

At the word, "ladder," Sophie recoiled in pain. "Sully, are you out of your mind?" she exclaimed in total frustration. "My hands are cuffed behind my back, my head's bleeding and my ankle's gonna give out on me any minute! There's no way I can climb a ladder!"

Calmly, Sully sought to reassure her. "Maybe you won't have to…there's a small work platform suspended at the bottom of each ladder. The platform sits about three feet off the ground. All you gotta do is ease your way onto it."

Exhausted, Sophie could only roll her eyes at the thought. "Oh, is that all?"

Bending over at the waist to catch her breath, Sophie felt the water's spray on her face and shivered. Deep down, she knew. Sully was right. The water was rising too fast for her to wade through much longer. Each torrent that passed threatened to topple her. She felt as helpless as a twig in a hurricane. There was no way she'd survive if she stayed put. This was her only chance.

"So, I sit on the platform, then what?" she asked, as they continued walking.

"If the water reaches you sittin', then you stand…" Sully instructed simply.

"If it reaches you standin', then you climb - backwards, if you have to…"

Sully made it sound so easy. But, Sophie knew her own body and her strength was fading fast. While she normally wasn't one to shy from a challenge, the odds had never been stacked quite so high against her.

"Sully…" The weariness in her voice frightened him.

Nevertheless, Sully continued, surefooted, urging her continually as they traveled. "You can do it! I know ya can. Just keep goin' and don't give up!"

Sophie grew quiet and somber. Sully's desperation…it was almost visceral. He was thinking about more than just her immediate peril. "You're doing this because of your mother, aren't you?" she sensed immediately.

Sophie's perceptiveness took Sully by surprise. Her concern was touching, but how could he make her fully understand? Perhaps, it was worth the time to try…

"My Ma's at peace now, Sophie," he explained softly. "Just like me and Michaela are. Just like you will be if you don't keep movin'."

"But the memory of how she died, it ain't ever brought me peace." Sully acknowledged the ache in his soul.

"They say there's no such thing as a good death," he noted wryly. "But Michaela and me…that's what we had. Long, happy lives together…dying in each other's arms - no regrets."

"My Ma and my brother, Abagail and Hannah, Snowbird and Black Kettle…losin' them haunted me in ways that'll never leave me."

Sully placed his hand on Sophie's shoulder and held her gaze with his eyes. "I been where you are now - broken and tired, in so much pain, I didn't think I could go on. By rights, I shoulda died, more 'n once…"

"What happened?" The water swirled malevolently around them, but, Sully and Sophie were caught in a stronger whirlpool…a whirlpool of emotion.

"Michaela…" As it had after he fell from the cliff, just saying her name brought Sully courage. "Michaela happened."

"I knew what it'd be like fer her…t'be the one left behind," he added sadly. "That emptiness…it don't ever go away. I wouldn't wish that feelin' on anyone - especially someone who trusted me with their heart."

"Peter…" Sophie whispered his name, feeling him close.

"You've left him behind too many times, already, Sophie." Sully finished with the one truth Sophie couldn't ignore. "Please don't do it again."

Sully's words hurt more deeply than the cut on her forehead. His challenge was one she'd fight with her last breath. So, although she'd been walking for what seemed like an eternity, Sophie found the strength to round that next bend.

In the flickering auxiliary lighting, Sophie could see that this stretch of the River of Dreams held the same décor as the last. In spite of how tired she felt, evidently, she hadn't even traveled far enough to make it to a new "country." But, in that faint lighting, Sophie saw something else, too - something that was truly the answer to her dreams. There, not two feet in front of her, was the emergency ladder Sully had promised. Sighing, Sophie summoned all her energy and maneuvered slowly up against it. Carefully, she waited for the latest surge of water to pass. Then, supporting her hands as best she could against the platform, she gritted her teeth and lifted herself up onto its perch.

"I won't leave you, Peter," she vowed, grimacing in pain.

"I won't…"

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