VoyForums
[ Show ]
Support VoyForums
[ Shrink ]
VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, [10] ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 22:39:59 11/04/03 Tue
Author: Yarvarni
Subject: 5
In reply to: Yarvarni 's message, "Witchblade/The Pretender Crossover" on 22:29:45 11/04/03 Tue

Sara opened the door to the office, disappointed and worried that only Jarod occupied the space. "Hey."

"Good morning. There are coffee and pastries on the desk. Ian had to run by Vorschlag for a meeting, he will be in a bit later."

"What's the agenda for the day?"

"I thought we could go over those files you picked up yesterday and hopefully Chr...Ian will be back by then, I want us to go to several old crime scenes ones where I think the victims were actually killed. He should be able to glean something from them."

"It's an amazing ability he has."

"Yes, it is. Ian is rather remarkable, he always frustrated Sydney because he refused to open up and share precisely what his gifts were." Jarod scrutinized the woman beside him, "so, Ian told you about The Centre."

"Yeah, he did. He showed me the DSA thing of his first day there and when he first met you."

"Not a sim?"

"He was going to but I had seen enough, I'll take you both at your word on it," she said as she laid the files in front of Jarod. "I also called a retired cop that was a buddy of my Godfather, his wife worked at the Mary-Grace Orphanage, 2 boys went missing from there about 10 years ago. It was shut down a year later, all their files are locked up but he says he can let us in tomorrow evening after his shift, he's doing security at some department store."

"That's fantastic!"

They were both busy going over files when Ian slipped in and slumped down in the chair beside Sara. "I'm glad your here, I've got to make a few calls then we are hitting some old crime scenes, so don't get comfortable."

Ian rolled his eyes at Jarod and leaned in close to Sara, "might I ask a favor of you, my lady?"

"Sure," she drew the word out narrowing her eyes.

"There is a ball I have to attend tomorrow evening, it would be my greatest honor if you would accompany me."

"Ian, I'd love to but Jarod and I are working down a lead tomorrow night, its the only time the guy can let us in this week."

"Oh, its ok."

"I'm surprised you didn't try and get out of it."

"I did, honestly I had forgotten, its an annual charity ball given by Vorschlag and if I don't attend the board of directors could sway donations from my charities to theirs. High profile investors looking to impress me, tend to donate to the same places I do, so if I actually show up it makes a difference. I hate those things though. I had hope you and I could make fun of the rich people."

"Ian, you are one of those rich people," she chuckled at the horrified expression on his face.

"Just because I inherited an obscene amount of money does NOT make me one of," he leaned even closer glancing around the room as if searching for someone as he stage whispered the final word, "them."

He really could be a ham when he wanted to be. She had never expected him to be anything other than sarcatically witty not silly. "Sorry."

He sighed dramatically, "its all right, I will just have to put up with all the society women hitting on me behind their husbands backs or trying to marry me off to their daughters."

"It can't be that bad."

"I would rather face a platoon of angry Yazuka."

"Ok, let's head out. This house is vacant for the time being, the owner is going to let us in, he's between renters right now."

It was a relatively quiet car ride to the house, Ian was in the backseat with his eyes closed, Sara assumed he was meditating. Jarod had glanced in the rear view mirror to ask Ian a question but seeing him lost, he kept silent. Sara fell asleep on the hour ride to Colvin. She came to when Jarod pulled the car to halt and softly announced, "we're here."

A tall middle aged man with a greying beard and mustache met them at the walk, "you folks the police?"

Jarod introduced them all, the man excused himself pointing to a house across the street, "I'll be working over there if you need me."

The trio paused at the door, Ian glanced between Sara and Jarod, "guess I'm on, huh?"

Jarod nodded. He knew this case was as difficult for Ian as it was for him. Either of them could have been these dead boys at any given time. He and Sara followed Ian at a distance from room to room. He wandered into the kitchen and stared down at a corner of the floor. He cocked his head slightly, "how do we get downstairs?"

Sara and Jarod shared a puzzled look, the body had been found in one of the bedrooms on the other side of the house. Neither of them had shown Ian anything about this particular site, which is how he preferred it. Not getting an answer from either companion, Ian frowned at them, turned on his heels and made his way out the back door. They were both a little shocked and remained where they stood. "You two coming? I found a door to the basement out here."

Jarod shrugged then he and Sara followed Ian outside who as now whacking a rusty padlock with a brick, he hit it in two precise locations and it popped open. He quickly unhooked it and tossed it down beside the newly discarded brick and opened the door. Entering the room it was easy to see just why it had been sealed and forgotten. Dank and musty, sheetrock covered walls warped from years of water damage surrounded a raw and cracked concrete floor. Ian stopped in the middle of the room and pointed at the wall that would be just below where he had stood in the kitchen. "He's here. See how the sheetrock is a different texture."

Sara had enough, this room was just nasty and they knew the body had been found upstairs, "he was found upstairs, Ian not down here."

Ian waved a hand negligently in her direction, "that was the second one, there is one still here." Ian whipped out a wicked switchblade and began cutting through the damaged sheetrock. Jarod quickly joined him in pulling down the strip Ian had cut away holding a flashlight.

"Oh, my God." Sara pushed between the two large men, she gasped when she saw the tiny skeleton curled up framed between 2x4's.

"I told you," Ian began to back away, he nearly stepped on Sara, "sorry," and "air" were barely discernable as he exited the room. Concerned, Sara followed him. He sat down on the small patio against the wall taking in deep gulping breaths. Sara rubbed his arms trying to soothe him. "It's ok, Ian, it's ok."

"He was alive." Ian crumpled over and buried his head in her lap.

It was always hard to see the bodies of children but seeing that tiny skeleton walled up had obviously had an overwhelming effect on Ian "He was sweetie, but he's gone."
Jarod squatted down beside them, "I called forensics, they are on their way."

Sara was running a hand absently through Ian's hair muttering soothing words. Ian looked up at Jarod with tear filled eyes, "he was alive."

"I know, there were claw marks on the paneling he had reinforced the sheetrock with. The child was buried alive."

Sara swore at Jarod's confirming statement and violent shudder ran through Ian. Sara pulled him closer to her rocking him back and forth. "He's freezing."

"Chris, you're ok, you're safe."

"I want to go home," Ian said in a small childlike voice.

Sirens could be heard at a distance away. "I'll get some one to take you two home, he doesn't need to be alone." He had never seen Ian react this way to anything and he had done some pretty horrific sims the Jarod had refused or been unable to get through. He walked away from Sara and Ian pulling out his cell phone he sighed as a familiar voice answered, "Sydney, its Jarod, I need you to come to New York, Chris needs you. Come to the mansion as soon as possible."
Sara had Ian who was virtually catatonic sitting up when he came back, "I want you to get him back to the mansion, Sydney will be there shortly after you arrive."

The realization finally hit her, "Irons locked him up when he was just a baby didn't he?"

"Either that or he got stuck in a simulation of being trapped or buried alive. Just stay close and reassure him." Bureau agents and cops began pouring in the yard, Jarod quickly commandered one of them as a chauffer for Sara and his friend. He watched as the car pulled away hoping that Ian would be all right.
The ride back to the mansion had been a miserably long one. Ian hadn't spoken, he just clung to her like a lifeline. Thanking the agent who brought them back, she led Ian inside the mansion. He had made drastic changes to it. "Sweetie, I don't know where your room is." Ian began shuffling down a hall and up a gigantic staircase then down a long corridor. He stopped in front of a large wooden double door. Sara pushed open the doors and led him over to a massive sleigh bed and sat him on the edge of the bed bending down to unlace his shoes. She was almost done when she felt his fingers in her hair, she stood and looked down at him. "What do you need me to do, sweetie?"

"Could you just hold me for a little while, please?"

"Let me get you some comfortable clothes to change into, ok those pants have got dust and mud on them."

"Left dresser drawer, middle one."

Sara nabbed a pair of soft heather grey cotton pj's grabbing a green pair for herself and carried them over to him. When she came out of the bathroom changed he was burrowed under the covers with just the top of his head showing. She crawled in beside him but was taken aback at the speed and force in which he grabbed her pulling her flush against him. It was like he was trying to absorb her or be absorbed by her. She relaxed against him trying to cover his frigid body with hers. She was no empath but she could feel the pain, terror, and anger flowing from him. "It's going to be ok, baby, I won't ever let anyone hurt you like that again." She kissed his cheek but got no response. eventually he closed his eyes and slept after about 30 minutes Sara was able to extract herself from his grasp, she thought she had heard someone downstairs. Casting a furtive glance at her still sleeping charge she went into the hall to investigate. A distinguished looking older man with receeding grey hair was heading towards her, "Detective Sara Pezzini? I am Dr. Sydney Greene. How is Christian?"

"Hi, he's pretty non responsive. I was just able to slip out of his embrace to check out the noise. Come on in." Sara motioned him in the room. Ian was no where to be found and a sharp pang of panic hit her. "Ian? IAN!" She ran towards the bathroom greatly relieved when she heard the shower running and saw steam billowing out the door. "You ok in there?" She asked sticking her head in the bathroom. "Yeah, I'm just really cold, a hot shower usually helps. I'll be out soon."

"Take your time." She walked back to Sydney who was now occupied one of the chairs in front of a large fireplace. "He's cold."

"What happened exactly?"

Sara recounted the events of the day. "I thought when he went out for air he was just overwhelmed with emotions, I thought maybe he was getting some residual emotions from the boy, I had no idea he was dealing with his own stuff."

"We began a sim where several miners were trapped in a coal mine. Four were easily recovered but the last one was in a small vein, unable to move. I had Ian simulate that to see just how long the man could last like that, so the extraction team would know what time frame they had to work with. Ian lasted about an hour before he began screaming, and beating the plexiglass, then he went catatonic and I realized he was no longer in the simulation he was somewhere else. He remained catatonic for a week but then slowly came back to himself. Later he told me his father had locked him in an Iron Maiden for a week when he was 5. Do you know what that is?"

"Its like a suit of armor used as a torture/restraint device."

"Ya, Ian didn't fit, he got stuck in one of the legs thereby restricting his movements further. He tried to claw his way out but couldn't. When Irons finally had him freed he was hypothermic and half dead. His fingers were so raw the nerve ending so sensative he had to wear gloves after they healed because the sensations were too much."

"My God, I wish he were still alive so I could kill him."

"Don't we all."

Sydney studied the woman across from him. Parker had told him about Jarod's latest pretend, Christian's involvement, and their new partner, Sara. She was lovely if a little rough around the edges, given her reactions, she knew a great deal about Kenneth Irons and his son and obviously cared for Christian a great deal. "I think you should be prepared. I imagine he will come out of that shower as if he is fine. He will most likely internalize this entire episode and act as if he is unaffected."

"I'm not shrink but that can't be good for him."

"Neither is catatonia, he has always had different ways of coping with things."

Ian came bounding out of the bathroom in faded levi's and a wifebeater, "hello, Sydney, you're looking well."

"Christian."

"I suppose introductions are a moot point by now." His smile faded as he gazed down at Sara who had a mixed look of horror and confusion. He knelt down in front of her chair taking her hands in his, "I'm fine, its ok. I promise."

"Ian, you were so..."

"You know when you put too much information into a computer and it just locks up? That's what happened to me, data overload. I processed it and I'm ok."

"Ian you are a human not a computer, you don't just reboot after something like that."

Ian sat back on his heels, "Sydney, please explain it to her."

"I agree with Sara, Christian. Avoiding this will not help this case nor will it benefit the substantial personal growth you have achieved in the past two years."

Ian rested his head on Sara's knees for a moment before taking a deep breath and turning to his former instructor. "Sydney, I just found a little boy holed up in a wall. A little boy that was discarded by his father, a little boy who could have been me. Forgive me if I would like to avoid dealing with his residual emotions as well as my own phobia's and fears."

"I do not think this is the wisest course, Christian, but you never allowed me to guide you before, I don't expect you to now. You have the strongest will I have ever come across and I doubt anyone can change your mind just promise me you will deal with this, not just bury it and forge ahead."

"I will, Sydney, I promise."

The observant psychiatrist didn't miss the disapproving look on Sara's face directed solely at the back of his former student's head. "If you could just tell me which room is mine, I'd like to rest for a bit."

"Third door on the right." Ian turned to face Sara as Sydney exited.

"Ian..."

"Sara, I know what I'm doing."

"Ian, you scared the hell out of me. I didn't think you were coming back." She cupped his chin with her hand forcing him to meet her gaze, "your eyes are so expressive and earlier they were blank, nobody was home. I can handle seeing them filled with any emotion but not empty, please don't do that again."

"Sara, I can not make promises like that. I am an empath, I absorb emotions from sources other than myself, sometimes it triggers emotions from past experiences that overwhelmes me. I can narrow the focus but I can't control the impact of the flood. Do you understand?"

Sara considered what he had said and nodded, "I think so." She slid her palm to his cheek, he pressed into her touch, "Are you going to be ok if I go back or do you need me to stay?"

He peered into her eyes for a while, "Sydney is here if I need him, you do not have to babysit me."

"Maybe I should rephrase that, do you want me to stay? The truth Ian, not what you think I want to hear, not what you think is right, tell me what you want."

Ian considered what she just said carefully. "I would very much like for you to stay, I find your presence comforting."

"Was that so difficult?"

He gave her a sad sweet smile, "you have no idea." He had never been allowed to put his needs or feelings before those of anyone else and it made him extremely uncomfortable but the fact that Sara was offering up this comfort was too much to refuse.

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

  • 6 -- Yarvarni, 22:42:17 11/04/03 Tue
    [ Contact Forum Admin ]

    Forum timezone: GMT-5
    VF Version: 3.00b, ConfDB:
    Before posting please read our privacy policy.
    VoyForums(tm) is a Free Service from Voyager Info-Systems.
    Copyright © 1998-2019 Voyager Info-Systems. All Rights Reserved.