Re: Say The Words - ch. 23& 24 -- The Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman Fan Exchange

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Date Posted: 06:41:25 03/26/03 Wed
Author: dqfan
Subject: Re: Say The Words - ch. 23& 24
In reply to: dqfan 's message, "Re: Say The Words - ch. 21 & 22" on 06:37:26 03/26/03 Wed

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

"So, did you love it?" Sophie asked enthusiastically as she and Charity wandered along the busy Vancouver sidewalk.

"Yes, dear, I loved it," Charity chuckled reassuringly. "For the fiftieth time, I loved it!"

"You didn't think it was�too much?" Sophie pressed, deathly afraid of appearing flamboyant.

"Sophie, please, you're the bride. It would be helpful if your guests could locate you in a crowd," Charity laughed heartily.

"But to answer your question," Charity added quickly, seeing the pout forming on Sophie's face, "I didn't think it was too much�and I didn't think it was too little�I thought it was just right�just perfect�just�you."

Sophie calmed enough for Charity to finish warmly. "The dress is stunning, dear, and you look breathtaking in it. My godson is a very lucky man�"

"You don't think we should keep looking," Sophie's forehead crinkled with doubt.

"Sophie�" Charity's voice meant business. "It may have escaped your notice, but we have already looked at every dress in this city. Now, you have given the shop a deposit. They have guaranteed to have the dress ready in time for the wedding. There's nothing left to do!"

"I know," Sophie nodded guiltily. "You're right. I guess I'm just nervous�"

"Nervous?" Charity scoffed, "Well, there's a novelty. A nervous bride�"

"Fine�fine�" Sophie raised her hands in surrender. "I give up� I won't ask you about the dress any more�"

"Thank you," Charity smirked, quite pleased with herself.

A little too pleased, Sophie decided impishly. Turning the tables on her friend, Sophie conversed breezily, "I'll ask you something else instead."

"Such as�" Charity eyed Sophie with suspicion. She knew when she was being set up.

"Such as�Oh�Where did you spend the night last night?" Sophie teased mercilessly.

Charity smiled wickedly, admiring the girl's nerve, especially considering how Sophie and Peter had spent last night!

Fortunately, Charity was in a forgiving mood. With a twinkle in her eye and a subtle grin on her lips, Charity answered discreetly, "Mr. Markasian has a very comfortable guest room�"

The two women burst into gales of laughter. Sophie knew she'd never receive a straight answer from Charity but it was worth trying just to see the look on her face�

"Now�" Charity proclaimed, quickly changing the subject. "I'm famished and we both need to get off our feet. So, are you choosing the restaurant, or shall I?"

Sophie took a moment to orient herself, searching the city blocks for landmarks. She was managing her new walking cast extremely well but Charity was right. She was growing fatigued and could use some time off her ankle.

"Follow me�" Sophie invited cheerfully, realizing they were very close to one of her favorite restaurants.

Leading Charity just two blocks to the right, Sophie chattered on, describing many of Vancouver's famous sites as they went.

"Sophie�" Charity whined. "I thought you said it was close�?"

"We're here�" Sophie announced brightly, as the blur of concrete stopped suddenly and a large glass window appeared on their left.

"I hope you like Japanese�it's my favorite�and Misaki's is the best�" Sophie turned toward the window with a smile on her face, encouraging Charity to peer inside as she did.

"Not too busy," she commented as she scanned the dining room for any famous celebrities.

Suddenly, Sophie recognized the two people sitting at the table near the fireplace and her smile dissolved in a mere instant. Next, her eyes blinked to be sure she wasn't imagining things. Finally, her breathing stopped for several seconds until her body automatically inhaled with a sharp gasp.

Charity's eye was drawn to whatever had captivated Sophie's attention so�

"Peter!" Charity exclaimed in surprise, seeing him clearly through the window. "Did you know he was going to be here?"

"I�He told me he was meeting investors�" Sophie's voice was soft and empty, as if she were speaking only to herself. On her face was the dazed look of a surviving accident victim - outwardly alive and in one piece, but shattered from within as if her whole world had disintegrated in a single second.

"How wonderful! I'm sure he won't mind if we interrupt�" The expression on Sophie's face caused Charity to stop in mid-sentence. Something was obviously wrong�

"Sophie?" Charity held Sophie by the elbow, watching as she pressed her hand lightly against the glass windowpane in disbelief.

^^^^^^^^

Surreptitiously, the waiter deposited the breadbasket on the table and left in due haste. The two men obviously had important matters to discuss�

"It doesn't really matter to me if you believe me or not, Commander," Peter continued, frustrated by the constant interruptions. "Sophie and I are in love and we're getting married on May 20th."

Alexander observed Peter with a modicum of respect. Peter seemed sincere and forthright but Alexander wondered if his daughter had been the same.

"All I ask is that if you decide to see her in Agnes, you respect our plans�" Peter requested honestly.

"Oh, is that all?" Alexander muttered ironically.

"Well, you could tell her that you love her�that you forgive her�I think it would mean a lot to her," Peter added quietly.

"Forgive her�" An interesting mix of emotions played on Alexander's face as he repeated the words softly. Peter thought he saw anger, sadness, perhaps even guilt and resignation. Alexander was not an easy man to read.

"I'm just trying to be honest with you," Peter sighed, wondering if he was making any headway at all.

"Honest with me�" Alexander repeated again, this time with a strange tone to his voice. "Tell me, Peter�Has Sophie been honest with you?"

"Yes�Of course�" Peter was taken aback.

"Then you know she's�" Alexander leaned closer to accentuate the personal nature of his question, "�damaged?"

Peter was amazed by the man's apparent insensitivity. Obviously, Alexander was speaking of Sophie's inability to have children, a situation that very well might have been prevented if he had sought her medical attention sooner. Was he covering his guilt with sarcasm and humor? Peter's Cliffhangers did that often enough, but Alexander was a grown man. Then again, maybe he was just an oversized boy in a pilot's flight jacket.

Dismayed, Peter recalled the night in the gazebo when Sophie told him she couldn't have children. He'd asked for the details and she'd replied "I'm damaged�" He thought it was a strange choice of words then but now it all made perfect sense. Sophie was just repeating what her father had told her - his own self-serving way of turning Sophie's heartache into nothing more than a mechanical defect.

"Yes, she told me," Peter answered defiantly. "And it doesn't matter to me in the least!"

"I love Sophie more than anything else in this world! More than you could ever imagine�" Peter shouted, rising from the table.

Looking away from Alexander in disgust, Peter's gaze turned absent-mindedly toward the glass streetfront window. In that split second, his eyes met with those of the woman standing there, pain and betrayal etched on her face.

"Sophie�" Peter whispered, freezing for a moment, before racing into the lobby and out the door.

Alexander turned toward the window, surprised to see his daughter standing there. She looked older than he remembered, but then he hadn't seen her in three years. The last time was about a week before she left for Tibet. She'd come to see him at the base. Told him she was leaving again. And though she hadn't actually said it, Alexander assumed she'd met a man. Sophie usually left when a man wanted more than she could give.

With piqued curiosity, Alexander considered the possibility that the man might have been Peter. If Sophie finally had decided to marry, it would have to be someone she trusted completely. Was Peter the one who had earned her trust after all these years?

Alexander lowered his glance, overwhelmed by the vulnerability he saw in his daughter's eyes. There was so much they'd never spoken of. So much he'd been too proud to explain. Alexander sighed heavily and then, with more courage than it took for him to leap from a plane, he followed Peter's path out the door.

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

For several seconds after seeing Peter with Alexander, Sophie felt the same paralysis that Peter had experienced. But, then her survival instincts kicked in and, just as she had all of her life - whether avoiding family, a charging rhino or, most of all, love - Sophie ran.

By the time Peter reached the street, Sophie had disappeared into the first cab she could hail.

"Sophie!" Peter screamed, hoping to follow her.

"Let her go, Peter!" Charity advised sternly, grabbing him by the arm. "This is what you were afraid of, wasn't it? Whatever you were hiding, she knows now, doesn't she?

Charity's demanding accusations pounded in Peter's ears but he stood silently, watching the yellow dot that was Sophie's cab fade into the maze of city streets.

"Tell me, Peter!" Charity insisted. "Who was that man you were dining with?"

Just then, Alexander arrived on the sidewalk. "She left?" he asked awkwardly, receiving Peter's blank nod in return.

"I don't believe we've met," Charity took matters into her own hands, determined to discover the mystery man's identity.

Instantly, Alexander resumed his superstar persona, the daring fighter pilot administering charm and good will to his adoring public, including the highly desirable woman before him now.

"A situation I hope to correct immediately, dear lady," the Commander replied smoothly. "Lieutenant Commander Alexander Becker of the Royal Canadian Air Force, at your service�"

The man had so many names and titles Charity was surprised there wasn't a His Royal Highness in there somewhere! Well, she may have missed a few words here and there but Charity was quick enough to hear what she needed to hear�Becker.

"Sophie's?" Charity had a pretty good guess as to Alexander's relationship with Sophie but she wanted to be sure of her facts and Peter was incapable of any constructive assistance at the moment.

"Sophie's father�" Alexander admitted freely. "A pleasure, Mrs?"

"Mitchell�Charity Lawson Mitchell�Peter's aunt," Charity held her hand out suspiciously.

Laying on the charm, Alexander kissed Charity's hand gallantly. "I do hope I'll be seeing more of you, Mrs. Mitchell," Alexander stared deeply into Charity's eyes, anticipating her willing agreement.

"We shall see, Commander Becker�We shall see�" Charity offered slyly.

"Well, goodbye then, for now, Mrs. Mitchell." Alexander saw no reason to remain, nor any reason to speak further with Peter, who seemed at a total loss for words.

Normally, Charity would find the notion of another handsome suitor to be a delightful distraction - even a suitor as blatantly transparent as Alexander Becker - but Charity's first priority was Peter. The boy was pacing up and down the city sidewalk like an escapee from the night of the living dead.

And Sophie�Charity had no idea what the situation was between Sophie and her father but she intended to find out. Charity only prayed that Sophie had gone home and not to the airport.

Her work was obviously cut out for her that was certain, Charity sighed painfully.

"Come on, Peter," Charity nudged him gently into the lobby, quickly securing his truck from the hotel valet. "Let's go home�"

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

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

As he left the hotel, Alexander considered all that he had learned. Sophie was a counselor at a school called Mount Horizon. She was engaged to marry an ex-stockbroker named Peter Scarbrow, who, in turn, had an attractive aunt by the name of Charity. It all sounded so normal�so settled. Not the life he'd come to associate with his daughter at all. "Was she happy?" he wondered.

Ever since her mother's death, Alexander had avoided Sophie. Perhaps he'd been too hard on her, demanding that she come home for Maureen and Philip's funeral, but he felt certain that eventually Sophie would regret her decision. Throughout his career, Alexander had been acutely aware of the fragility of life. As he grew older, that awareness simply ticked louder with the dawning of each day.

Alexander had put on a good front for Peter. The reporter and photographer were from the magazine, "Aviation's Active Elders." That was the best Major Walters could line up for him. The major newspapers no longer considered Alexander Becker to be interesting copy. No, this Sunday's edition of the Vancouver Sun would contain intimate photo shoots with the "Sexy Stars of the Snowbirds." All the younger members of his squadron were there now, posing shirtless - reclining on a giant parachute, if he recalled correctly.

Meanwhile, Alexander was given the leftovers�the shopping mall openings, the ribbon cuttings�the senior citizens' centers. Oh, there were still the small boys who approached him for autographs, usually when their mothers recognized him from their girlhood crushes. But, sadly, his days of true glory were few and far between.

Alexander sat on a bench outside the Public Affairs office and pulled a faded photograph from his wallet. It was Sophie at age ten. All teeth and smiles, she wore a mini-flight jacket and jeans. She had just completed her very first parachute jump. Even without the photograph, Alexander would never forget the look of sheer jubilation on her face that day.

Sophie had always been his number one fan - his co-pilot. In Sophie's eyes, he could do no wrong. Unfortunately, in Alexander's eyes, he'd done nothing but wrong. It was wrong of him to move Sophie from airbase to airbase, providing her with no home, no stability. It was wrong of him to teach her to value adventure and thrill above security and love. And, most of all, it was wrong of him to ignore her adolescent cries for help, preferring to wallow in his own self-pity and disappointment.

It would be the coward's way out to say their relationship hadn't been the same since Maureen's death. If Alexander were completely honest with himself, his relationship with Sophie hadn't been the same since that night in the emergency ward when the doctors told him she couldn't have children. It was his fault and he knew it. He could summon every tired excuse in the book, but the bottom line was, he'd failed her. She'd tried to tell him she needed medical attention but he was too wrapped up in his own grief to listen.

Well, he wasn't going to fail her now. Alexander sighed and ran the palm of his hand over his forehead in anguish. There was too much at stake�for him and for Sophie.

Alexander marched into the Public Affairs office and picked up the nearest telephone. "Yes�? Information�? In Agnes�I'd like the number for a Mount Horizon�"

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

Peter had been in no condition to drive so Charity took to the wheel of his truck, navigating unfamiliar Vancouver highways and back roads with the fearless skill of a Colorado trail boss.

"Sophie's cab's still here�" Peter announced hopefully as they turned into the driveway. "At least she hasn't left for the airport yet."

Charity shifted the car into "park." Giving thanks, Charity breathed a sigh of relief - both that she had managed to get them home in one piece and that Sophie was still inside.

Quickly, Peter attempted to dismiss Sophie's cab�

"You can go now," Peter instructed the driver.

"Sorry, Mister, but the lady said to wait�" The cabdriver wasn't budging.

"Go on in and talk to her, Peter�" Charity suggested quietly, motioning to the cabdriver. "Mister?"

"McCord�" the cabdriver answered, tipping his hat.

"Mr. McCord and I will have ourselves a nice cup of coffee. Won't take me a minute to make a fresh pot." Immediately, Charity took control of the situation.

"That is, if you'd care to join me?" Charity manipulated the cabdriver as easily as a snake charmer would a python.

"Why, yes, Ma'am, don't mind if I do�" Mr. McCord replied eagerly.

"But, my meter stays on," he added warily.

"Naturally�" Charity agreed graciously, leading the man swiftly into Sophie's trailer. "So, tell me, Mr. McCord, how long have you been driving a cab�"

Peter watched his aunt disappear with Mr. McCord and realized that it was all up to him now. During his long ride to Vancouver this morning, Peter had practiced what he planned to say to Sophie at dinner tonight. But his pretty little speech evaporated the moment he saw Sophie's face through that glass window�and saw the look of betrayal in her eyes.

As he expected, Peter opened the bedroom door to find Sophie packing furiously. The closet and dresser drawers were all flung wide open as Sophie tossed her belongings haphazardly onto the bed - the same bed where they had made love just last night.

"Sophie�" he started tentatively.

"So, my Dad's investing in Horizon, huh?" she asked accusingly, moving from drawer to drawer, throwing skirt after blouse into her suitcase.

"What?" Peter was having difficulty focusing on her words. All he could see was the pain written all over her face.

"That's what you told me, isn't it?!" she snapped. "That you were having lunch with investors� So my Dad must be investing in Horizon?"

"Sophie, just let me explain�" Peter begged. "I was going to tell you�"

"Tell me that you've been lying to me - for a month!" Sophie charged, catching Peter off-guard.

"Here�" Filled with hurt, Sophie shoved a piece of paper into Peter's hand. "This fell out of your jacket when I opened the closet�"

Cautiously, Peter unfolded the sheet. It was the publicity poster for the air show - the same one that Ezra had shown him in Rusty's. It seemed like a lifetime ago that he shoved it thoughtlessly into his pocket, hoping it would just go away�

"Sophie�" Peter began again, only to be interrupted once more.

"All those nights�I begged you to tell me what was bothering you�" she reminded him harshly.

"'Nothing,' you said�'Investors,' you said�" Sophie repeated the excuses over and over.

"I thought it was me�" Sophie seemed to be talking to herself now. "That you thought we'd made a mistake moving in together�"

"You should have trusted me. You should have told me. You could have told me�" her voice trailed off in disappointment.

"Could I?" Peter countered in reproach. "Remember our first dinner after you moved in? All I did was mention your family�You ran off into the bedroom before I could even say I was sorry!"

"I was afraid, Soph. Afraid I was going to lose you�" he explained, his voice cracking with heartache. "Afraid if you found out your father was coming here, you'd do exactly what you've always done�exactly what you're doing now�run away!"

"I am NOT running away!" Sophie denied vehemently, refusing to be swayed by Peter's rationale. "I am choosing not to live with a man I can't trust�a man who would lie to me over and over again�"

"If that's what you think of me�" Peter was losing the strength to argue. He could see Sophie was far too upset to listen to him right now.

"You lied. Go on� Say the words, Peter! 'I lied'�" Sophie egged him on.

"I lied," Peter relented with a frightening calm, opting to give Sophie the satisfaction she needed so desperately.

"You lied to me in bed�" she condemned, choking back the tears that were beginning to fall as she closed the suitcase and headed for the door.

Peter's blood boiled at Sophie's insinuation. No� He would not let her get away with that, even to assuage his own guilt. He would surrender his culpability but he would not surrender his love!

Provoked, Peter grabbed Sophie firmly by the wrist, his anger barely in check.

Locking his deep blue eyes with hers, Peter's gaze forced Sophie to look directly into his soul. The hurt she saw there - so like her own - made Sophie tremble in anticipation of his words.

"I never lied to you in bed," he whispered softly, his meaning perfectly clear.

Then, as suddenly as he'd grabbed her, Peter released Sophie's wrist and they both stood there silently. Seconds seemed like an eternity, until, finally, Sophie lowered her gaze, breaking the spell.

With nothing left to say, Peter watched helplessly as Sophie bit her lip and walked out the front door�

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Re: Say The Words - ch. 25 -- dqfan, 06:44:01 03/26/03 Wed