LLB: Finding Her....Them
Mar. 17th, 2018 07:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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PART ONE
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
OOC: All characters are mine, except the following. Sigurd ("Vikings" property of Michael Hirst and the History Channel.)
After a great victory what did the young, single footballers only want to do? While the more seasoned players might just want to relax and celebrate with their families, the group of six young men of Scotland's national squad headed to the nightclub, one of Switzerland's hottest spots to party the night away to celebrate the fact that Scotland had actually qualified for the World Cup for the first time in forty-three years, before they returned to the UK, and back to their respective clubs for training.
As they pulled up to the ski resort of which Benji's nightclub was included, a couple of the lads wished they could also take advantage of the slopes, but all of them were under strict team orders that skiing and snowboarding were strictly off limits because of the risk of injury. The six poured out of the limo, the last a handsome red-head, who stood for several moments just looking up at the entrance.
"Come on, Campbell. Ger your arse moving! You picked this place." A Latino shouted back at him in a distinctive Glaswegian accent.
"Fuck off, Hernandez." Liam Campbell replied, managing a grin as he was pulled from his thoughts. It was a long shot. A fucking huge long shot, but as slim as it was, it was the only clue he'd found in years. It was just good fortune that they'd been selected to play away in Switzerland...in Zurich, just less than an hour up the road. He could have so easily have missed the photo spread in the tabloid website, but there had been a photo of a dark-haired woman with pale blue eyes, and the caption had her name as Danika Harper. A few very discreet calls had determined that she was a regular visitor to the resort and a good friend of the club's owner, Benjamin Phillips. Liam shouldered his backpack and headed inside.
They'd reserved a suite of rooms, and Hernandez suggested they all go up, get room service while getting well lubricated with alcohol in preparation for the partying in the club later.
"Nah, I'll join you later. I'm going to check out the place first. Catch!" Liam threw his backpack, making McKenzie dive to catch it, provoking laughter from his teammates. "If you'd made a save like that, we would've won three-nil." Liam, probably the most Scottish looking of the team with his ginger hair, had not lost any of his American accent.
“Mebbe, but you’s the one chickening oot on us, Maverick.” The laughter died suddenly, and McKenzie put his hands up, taking one or two steps backwards. Most of the team had already learned how much Liam hated his first name. But fortunately for the goalie, Liam had other things on his mind, and getting kicked out of the resort for brawling was not one of them. Instead, he just called him several colourful names as he walked away.
He headed to the one of the bars and ordered a pint. This was a long-shot. A hell of a long shot, but he had to try. It was unlikely Danika Harper would just walk right by, but he’d been looking too long for her not to miss this chance. If he was right, and he was far from sure about that, Danika could be his sister. But if he didn’t find her, and didn’t try and meet her, then he would never know for sure. The bar was quiet as he sipped his lager, perched on a bar stool and leaning on the bar. Each time someone came in, he looked up hopefully, but it was usually a member of staff going about their duties. One time a middle-aged couple wandered in and took a table over by the picture windows, probably so they could look out over the deep pristine snow.
The next person who came in was a casually dressed, muscular man. His dark hair was just long enough to curl a little. Liam glanced at him and then just sighed and returned to his drink, not paying much attention to him.
“Hi Magda, is everything ready for tonight?” Liam heard the man ask the bartender.
“Ja. Oh Dan, do you want me to still keep that gift for Ben back here?”
Dan nodded as he reached across the bar, knowing exactly where the sparkling water was kept under the bar. “Sure. Have it brought to Benji’s once it opens, and when things get pumping we’ll surprise him. He’s going to be so surprised this year.” He laughed, as he drank straight from the bottle. Hopping back, he saw Liam at the end of the bar and nodded a greeting before leaving.
It took him a moment to realize the man must have been speaking about Benjamin Phillips, the owner of the club, and this guy was probably the manager, even if he was dressed on the casual side, but perhaps he was doing some physical work. Liam pulled the image from the website up on his phone and studied Danika for probably the hundredth time, and how close she was to Ben Phillips, her arm linked in his as they laughed over something. Boyfriend and girlfriend? If tonight was some sort of celebration for Phillips, then Danika was sure to be there. He shut off his phone, downed the rest of his pint, and happier, headed up to the suite.
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
OOC: All characters are mine, except the following. Sigurd ("Vikings" property of Michael Hirst and the History Channel.)
After a great victory what did the young, single footballers only want to do? While the more seasoned players might just want to relax and celebrate with their families, the group of six young men of Scotland's national squad headed to the nightclub, one of Switzerland's hottest spots to party the night away to celebrate the fact that Scotland had actually qualified for the World Cup for the first time in forty-three years, before they returned to the UK, and back to their respective clubs for training.
As they pulled up to the ski resort of which Benji's nightclub was included, a couple of the lads wished they could also take advantage of the slopes, but all of them were under strict team orders that skiing and snowboarding were strictly off limits because of the risk of injury. The six poured out of the limo, the last a handsome red-head, who stood for several moments just looking up at the entrance.
"Come on, Campbell. Ger your arse moving! You picked this place." A Latino shouted back at him in a distinctive Glaswegian accent.
"Fuck off, Hernandez." Liam Campbell replied, managing a grin as he was pulled from his thoughts. It was a long shot. A fucking huge long shot, but as slim as it was, it was the only clue he'd found in years. It was just good fortune that they'd been selected to play away in Switzerland...in Zurich, just less than an hour up the road. He could have so easily have missed the photo spread in the tabloid website, but there had been a photo of a dark-haired woman with pale blue eyes, and the caption had her name as Danika Harper. A few very discreet calls had determined that she was a regular visitor to the resort and a good friend of the club's owner, Benjamin Phillips. Liam shouldered his backpack and headed inside.
They'd reserved a suite of rooms, and Hernandez suggested they all go up, get room service while getting well lubricated with alcohol in preparation for the partying in the club later.
"Nah, I'll join you later. I'm going to check out the place first. Catch!" Liam threw his backpack, making McKenzie dive to catch it, provoking laughter from his teammates. "If you'd made a save like that, we would've won three-nil." Liam, probably the most Scottish looking of the team with his ginger hair, had not lost any of his American accent.
“Mebbe, but you’s the one chickening oot on us, Maverick.” The laughter died suddenly, and McKenzie put his hands up, taking one or two steps backwards. Most of the team had already learned how much Liam hated his first name. But fortunately for the goalie, Liam had other things on his mind, and getting kicked out of the resort for brawling was not one of them. Instead, he just called him several colourful names as he walked away.
He headed to the one of the bars and ordered a pint. This was a long-shot. A hell of a long shot, but he had to try. It was unlikely Danika Harper would just walk right by, but he’d been looking too long for her not to miss this chance. If he was right, and he was far from sure about that, Danika could be his sister. But if he didn’t find her, and didn’t try and meet her, then he would never know for sure. The bar was quiet as he sipped his lager, perched on a bar stool and leaning on the bar. Each time someone came in, he looked up hopefully, but it was usually a member of staff going about their duties. One time a middle-aged couple wandered in and took a table over by the picture windows, probably so they could look out over the deep pristine snow.
The next person who came in was a casually dressed, muscular man. His dark hair was just long enough to curl a little. Liam glanced at him and then just sighed and returned to his drink, not paying much attention to him.
“Hi Magda, is everything ready for tonight?” Liam heard the man ask the bartender.
“Ja. Oh Dan, do you want me to still keep that gift for Ben back here?”
Dan nodded as he reached across the bar, knowing exactly where the sparkling water was kept under the bar. “Sure. Have it brought to Benji’s once it opens, and when things get pumping we’ll surprise him. He’s going to be so surprised this year.” He laughed, as he drank straight from the bottle. Hopping back, he saw Liam at the end of the bar and nodded a greeting before leaving.
It took him a moment to realize the man must have been speaking about Benjamin Phillips, the owner of the club, and this guy was probably the manager, even if he was dressed on the casual side, but perhaps he was doing some physical work. Liam pulled the image from the website up on his phone and studied Danika for probably the hundredth time, and how close she was to Ben Phillips, her arm linked in his as they laughed over something. Boyfriend and girlfriend? If tonight was some sort of celebration for Phillips, then Danika was sure to be there. He shut off his phone, downed the rest of his pint, and happier, headed up to the suite.
(no subject)
Date: 2018-03-17 11:58 pm (UTC)A few moments of research later, Van had the details. “He’s Liam Campbell, footballer. Plays for Scotland. Some of the team have the Zurich suite, probably to celebrate their win earlier. Want me to call base for a background check?”
Dan nodded. Since Danika’s kidnapping over a decade ago, even he took the family’s security more seriously. “It might be nothing, and he probably doesn’t even know he’s a pre-Immie, but why was he hanging out at the bar, on his own, when he should be partying with his team? What have they been doing?”
“Nothing much. They ordered room service, lots of booze. You’re probably going to be billing them for some big clean up and/or damages when they check out. So yeah, why isn’t he joining the fun?” Van opened a video chat as he talked. “Hey Theo, I need a full check run on a Liam Campbell, professional footballer, mid-20s. Possible pre-Immortal.” Trained personally by Andy before the now elderly Security Chief went into full retirement, Theo Garnon had taken over the position and already proved he was just as sharp as his mentor.
Before Dan left them to discuss this guy, he added. “Just have everyone keep an eye on him and the other players tonight. I don’t want anything spoil Ben’s night.”
“Still planning on that surprise?” Van called after him.
Dan gave a sneaky laugh. “Of course.” His phone chimed, and he checked. “Dani’s here! Let me know what you find out about him.”
***
Andy might be retired, but he was still a fairly regular visitor to Hsu's new compound at his upgraded chateau near Toulouse in France, and he was talking with Theo and Hsu about the newest upgrades -- and just to catch up -- when Van’s call came in. He was talking to Hsu about something when he caught the name and profession. It piqued the interest of the life-long Liverpool supporter. “Campbell? Ginger? Plays midfield for Liverpool and on the Scottish national squad. From what I heard American born, but his dad’s Scottish. Why the query?”
“Just a routine check. I think Daniel’s a bit edgy because of Ben’s party tonight. But he sensed that he was a pre-Immie, and his radar is pretty good at that.” Both twins were. Databases and records were searched and in just a few minutes information began coming back. And there was nothing really remarkable in it. “Born USA October 14th, 2016, Fort Walton, Florida. Full name Maverick Liam Campbell.” Theo rolled his brown eyes at that first name. “Who calls their kid 'Maverick'? Parents are Will Campbell from Stirling, Scotland and Jessica Mitchell also from Florida. From the looks of it, there was a long custody battle for him once they split up. He went back and forth and ended up with his dad in Scotland at sixteen. Started playing as a youth for Celtic Rangers, and now Liverpool and Scotland. There is nothing to flag it, Boss.” It hadn't taken him long to pick up Andy's term of respect for Hsu, and the boss had accepted it.
“Keep checking.” Hsu frowned. It could be nothing, probably was, but something was off, mostly the fact that Daniel was concerned enough to have a full check run on someone he had just seen.
(no subject)
Date: 2018-03-18 12:00 am (UTC)He smiled at the slightly put out tone in her voice. “No, I asked him not to come. Which yeah, he was probably pretty relieved about, but even with a huge party, I want this to be a pretty small affair where family’s concerned. We know nightclubs aren’t his favourite thing, so it’s for the best. Plus, he’s given his total support for tonight, and you know how rare that is. I’ll take a victory when I can.”
“Yeah, I don’t see him being thrilled with having sparkly streamers being dumped on him.” Dani tied off the string with an easy release knot and came over and gave Danny a big hug from behind. “You have to be so excited. I know I am for you.”
He laughed. “Excited….nervous. Never done anything like this before.” The playlist approved he put his arm around Dani. “We should go get ready. Is Sigurd coming?” The younger Immortal son of Ragnar Lothbrok and Danika had been dating on and off for a few years, although over the past one, it had become more serious. She had spent some time after her rape with the Lothbroks especially Lagertha, and the affection with her stepson had grown from there. It was an open relationship because of who they were and their own responsibilities, and Danika also had a girlfriend, but she was busy on business and couldn’t make the party.
She frowned at him. “No, he had some family stuff to do as well, but you and Ben are invited to the stud for dinner with us, and Diana as well hopefully, this weekend to celebrate.”
“If there is anything to celebrate! But it’s nice to have someone who knows everything about you, isn’t it?” They were heading to the elevator, side-by-side.
She nodded. “Yeah. You don’t have to lie or be vague about anything. And to just be able to live with the craziness that comes with us. And the fact he’s Immortal as well doesn’t hurt.” In fact, Danika, unlike Danny, after her abduction much preferred dating Immortals. “You’re not coming up?” Danny had started to step away from the elevator.
“No, I got to check something with Van. Had an iffy vibe about a guy earlier. I just want to see what he or Theo have found out. I don’t want anything to ruin tonight.” As Danny reached the end of the hallway, he turned with a big grin. “And don’t forget to make sure Benji makes it on time.”
(no subject)
Date: 2018-03-18 12:01 am (UTC)It was just before midnight when a group of people emerged on the mezzanine just above. Liam spotted the curly blond hair of Phillips, and on his arm --YES! He was right about the girlfriend -- Was Danika, and she was more beautiful than the photo had given her justice for. He stood, the flirting girl forgotten, wondering how to get Danika’s attention or how to get up on the mezzanine.
The lights suddenly went down. The music stopped. In the moment before people would start to complain or panic, a single spot light lit another platform. Looking up, Liam recognized him as the man he’d assumed was the manager in the bar. He was stripped to his waist, oil emphasizing his many, many muscles, and he wore tight red latex pants that showed every contour and bulge. A second spotlight lit Ben and Danika, and Liam saw her whisper something into his ear at which he laughed and shook his head.
“Ladies and gentlemen!” Dan spoke clearly thanks to the wireless mic clipped to his ear. “I’m sorry to spoil your fun for just a few moments, but I’d like everyone to join me in celebrating our very own Benji’s birthday….that is the man, not the club!” He pulled a rope and a huge banner unravelled from the ceiling declaring birthday wishes. “Now, he’s not an easy man to buy a gift for.”
“You can talk!” Ben answered into the mic Danika had provided him. Then holding the mic low, he turned to Danika. “What the hell is he going to do?” She just nudged him to keep watching.
“Yeah, well it’s your birthday not mine.” Dan laughed. “So, I’ve spent ages trying to do something special...and I think I’ve done it.” A shift of the light and the trapeze appeared, and Dan stepped up on the bar. “I’ve only managed to practice a couple of times...so here goes…..”
Liam, along with all his teammates and everyone else in the club was watching. He glanced over to Danika, who was trying not to laugh. And the big, thuggish guy who stood behind her looked a little worried. As Dan began to build momentum with his swing, Liam caught the arm of a waitress. “Who is that?”
She had been looking up, too, and didn’t even look away. “Dan Harrison. He owns this place.”
“Hey, Campbell...we’re taking bets if this bloke’s going to make it. You in?” MacKenzie leaned over to him. “Ten-to-one he crashes.”
Liam ignored him and questioned the waitress again. “I thought Ben Phillips owned the club.”
Her polite smile was obviously forced, annoyed at being drawn away from the spectacle above. “He does, but Dan owns the resort.” Then it hit him, all of a sudden. He should have realized in the bar earlier, when the bartender called him Dan. Daniel. Daniel and Danika. Oh shit, he was alive!! How, he couldn’t even imagine, and he was sure his mom had never believed he was.
He shoved MacKenzie away as he watched, now mesmerized as his brother swung across the ceiling. There weren’t even any safety harness that he could see. The crowd let out a ‘whoop!’ as he jumped across and caught the next trapeze with both hands and pulled himself up to sit on it.. “Almost there, Benji!
(no subject)
Date: 2018-03-18 12:03 am (UTC)Even as easy as Dan made it look, he was breathing hard as Ben rushed up to him and punched him on the arm. “What the hell was that about?” Danika bumped his arm to remind him to use the mic. He spoke into it. “You’ll give me a heart attack one day.”
“Not for a long time I hope.” He took something from Dani.. “Did you think that was it, Benji? We’ve known each other for a while, and you’ve stuck with me through all the crazy stuff, and you’ve been accepted as one of the family and stood up for me...and Dani without being asked.” He went down onto one knee. “Benji Phillips, I love you...and will you please marry me?”
“You’re crazy! Dani, did you know about this?” Ben turned to her, and she shrugged, which told him that yes, she did.
“Still kneeling, bruv.” Dan was looking up, the ring in his hand.
“Err...yeah…...yes, I will. Of course, I will you idiot!” He pulled Danny up into a hug, kissing him hard as the ring was slipped onto his finger. Streamers and balloons fell down over them as the dance lights came back on. Benji, pulled away for a second, holding his mic up. “Drinks on the house for the next thirty minutes!”
A huge cheer went up. As things began to settle down, Liam could hear some of his mates grouching that they had lost a significant amount in their wager with MacKenzie, but he didn’t care. He didn’t even care about the girl who had been flirting with him. All he was trying to do was see if there was a way up there. He had to try and meet them. If, after he told them who he was, they didn’t want anything to do with him, then he’d have to accept it, but he was here...they were here. He couldn’t not try.
Liam didn’t see the two suited men appear on either side of the VIP area and very unobtrusively work their way towards him. As they closed in, one behind him, the one appeared in front. “Mr. Campbell, resort security, can we have a word, somewhere quiet.” He frowned, and backed up against the other who took hold of his shoulders. Looking up once last time, he saw that the group were leaving. He had to get to them before he lost contact.
“No, I need to see them.”
“See who?” He pointed and tried to get away, but he was held firm. “The easy, calm way will be much better for you.”
“Hey Campbell...you okay?” Hernandez was looking on, concerned. “Need a hand?”
Liam quickly weighed his options, and the glimpse of the grip of a handgun under the security man’s jacket did help tip the balance. He remembered his mom telling him of the bodyguards and tight security Hsu had kept, and seemingly nothing had changed. He shook his hand. “No, it’s okay. Just a little mix-up, right?” More of his teammates were looking on now. They were Scots, they were young, and they were ready and willing for trouble.
“Sure,” said the bodyguard. “Just a quick chat.” He looked over the players. “They try anything, it will end badly, and the owners of this place won’t like that on this special day.” The words were nice enough, but Liam couldn’t ignore the dangerous tone with which he said them.
“Really guys, it’s okay. I’ll be right back.” It wasn’t just the implied threat. Liam really didn’t care about that, but if there was trouble, and he was found at the centre of it, then he might never get a chance to meet Daniel or Danika.
(no subject)
Date: 2018-03-18 12:03 am (UTC)The door opened and in walked the bald, heavy-set guy who had been with Danika and Ben. He stood in front of Liam, frowning. “I’m Van de Merwe, head of security here, which is something Daniel Harrison takes very seriously at his resorts. Even so, I thought he might be overreacting a bit when this afternoon he asked me to check you out just because you’d been hanging out on your own in the bar. But I did, and it really didn’t turn up anything interesting, other than you being a top-class football player. Then this evening, an important evening for Daniel and Ben Phillips, i see you taking a real big interest in them.”
“Er, everyone was. He was swinging on a trapeze!”
“Yeah, except you weren’t just looking at him. I was standing right behind his sister, Danika, and your eyes were glued on her most of the time. So, I decide to pull you in, my men take your wallet, and I look through it.” Van pulled out the wallet, took out a piece of paper before throwing the wallet at him. “Why do you have a photo of Danika, well worn as well? You some kind of pervert?”
Liam fumbled with the wallet, then looked up in horror. “What? No! You don’t understand. Please, let me just see her...and Daniel. I just want to talk with them.”
“I’m sure you do, and my job is to determine if you pose any kind of danger to them and what it is you want from them. Then I decide whether you get to speak to them or if I should send you to have a chat with their father.” He smiled which didn’t make him look any less dangerous.
Liam didn’t seem to register the threat. “Their...father? Robert Grayson?” Just saying that name was like awakening a ghost that had haunted his mom for so long. Because the twins were well into their thirties, why did he think that Grayson would not be controlling them, especially that he’d kept Daniel’s existence hidden from Justine.
“Grayson.” For the first time Van was surprised. He knew the name Hsu had used in the past, but that one went back to nearly as old as he was. This guy wasn’t a convincing spy or potential attacker. Why would he throw out a name that hadn’t been used in thirty years? “Even if I was disposed to let them see you, I’m sure you can appreciate that Daniel’s rather busy celebrating his fiance’s birthday and their engagement and Danika’s boyfriend will be arriving soon.” A bit of an exaggeration but he didn’t have to know that. And how would he react to the news there was a boyfriend on the scene?”
“I can wait.” He had to. He couldn’t give up now after coming so close.
So, no reaction to hearing about Sigurd . He was about to decide what to do when a message came in his ear. He looked to the guard. “I’ll be right back. Keep him here.”
(no subject)
Date: 2018-03-18 12:05 am (UTC)He should have known Danika would hear about detaining Campbell. She always did make sure she knew what was happening, and if things weren’t right or held the slightest chance of harming any of the family, she was as ruthless as Hsu on his worst days. Van had just been new to Hsu’s organization when Bleda kidnapped her, but he knew that after that horrific ordeal, she had changed from a sweet, forgiving young woman to one much harder who had trained extensively with the men. And from her change of outfit, he knew she was ready to take Campbell on, if necessary.
He handed her the file. “It’s all in there, and what we found has been unremarkable. Dan told me to keep an eye on him, and during the show something just wasn’t right.” He handed her the picture.”That and the fact I found this on him as well. Dan said he sensed the guy is a pre-Immortal.”
“Yeah, he mentioned it when I arrived.” Dani looked at the picture, weighing what Van had said. “And now? What’s he telling you?”
“Nothing much, except that he wants to see you and Dan. But mostly you. Also, one odd thing he said. He called Hsu, Grayson. He hasn’t used that name for decades, has he?”
Dani shook her head. “No, about thirty. He stopped using it before Danny came home for sure. So we have a Scottish footballer with some kind of interest in me, and calling Dad by a name that he stopped using….” She checked the file. “At least five years before he was even born.” She frowned.
“What do you want me to do with him? Throw him out? Let Theo and Hsu have a chat with him? Rough him up a bit and warn him to stay away?” There was a more permanent option, of course, but Van really didn’t think this called for it.
“No, I’ll see him. I want to find out what he wants.” Van agreed, reluctantly. He really would prefer just kicking the kid out, but he knew better to argue with Danika when she got that look, a look so much like her father’s. “Shall I pass a message onto Dan?”
“No...let him and Ben enjoy their engagement. If it’s something, I’ll tell Dan in the morning. Take me to him.”
***
Van stepped into the room first and stood behind Liam, a large, strong hand rested firmly on his shoulder. “You’re in luck.” He heard him gasp as Danika came into the room.
“Danika...wow, it’s actually…. Thank you for seeing me.” Liam tried to stand, but Van’s hand held him firmly in place.
“No, you stay exactly where you are. You don’t come near her, and you answer her questions and nothing more. Understand?” Van was growling in his ear, and Liam managed to nod.
Dani took her time in looking him over. He certainly didn’t look like a threat or a stalker. But then that was how the best stalkers like to pull themselves off. “Maverick Campbell. That’s your real name?”
Liam bit his tongue back at the sound of his detested first name, but she didn’t know that. “Yes, legally anyway. I go by my middle name, Liam.” He swallowed. He wanted to tell her so badly, but this was not how he imagined it, in a small room that could pass as an interrogation cell, a brutal hand digging into his shoulder, and Danika looking like she belonged in some kind of paramilitary. “Please, I don’t mean you any harm, and I’ve been looking for you for years. Can we just talk...alone?” He grimaced again as Van’s fingers dug in harder.
“No, anything you have to say can be said in front of my security. Even if Van wasn’t here, he’d be listening in, but he insists on being here, just in case you pose any danger. It’s his job.” She looked at the bald Afrikaaner. “Even though I could beat you up just as thoroughly as he could. Right?”
Van bent down again to loudly whisper in Liam’s ear. “She’s right. She’s rolled tougher men than you, kid.”
“So, it’s late. We’re all getting tired, What do you want to tell me?” The bodyguard at the door brought in another chair for Danika to sit down. She nodded her thanks to him. “So, go on.” She regarded Liam coldly.
(no subject)
Date: 2018-03-18 12:06 am (UTC)Danika blinked. Of all the things he could have said, this had not even been anywhere close to what she might have thought. She looked at Van, who was just as surprised. His other hand came down on Liam’s shoulder, and the young man squirmed to try and avoid the pain. “You have to come up with something better than that.”
She put her hand up to halt Van’s torture. “If your file is right, you are just over ten years younger than me. And I can say with a hundred percent certainty that my father could not have impregnated any woman then. He is infertile, except for the very brief period when my brother and I were conceived. And if you are after money.” After all, this wouldn’t be the first time a woman or a child tried to sue Hsu for paternity. “Then you are going to be very disappointed.”
Liam shook his head, glad Van had eased up a little. Still, he was sure he was going to have deep, purple bruises before the night was out. “No you’ve got it wrong. We have the same mother.” Whatever he expected, he did not think Danika bursting into gales of laughter would be her reaction..
“Oh, that is even better. For your information, my mother died giving birth to me and my brother. And her name definitely wasn’t.” She glanced at the file, still chuckling. “Jessica Mitchell. That was not my mother’s name.”
“No, I know. That was a false name because she never wanted Grayson to find her or me. Her real name was Justine Myers. She didn’t die giving birth to you or Daniel, your father sent her away, forcing her to promise she would never make any attempt to see you or contact you.” He was breathing hard, heart hammering and hoping that she would believe him.
All laughter left Danika, shock just remained and Van was just as nonplussed. No one outside of the family should know that Justine was her birth mother. And she knew what her father was like. It wasn’t beyond the realms of belief that he would send her away. And he was pre-Immortal, she could feel it as easily as Danny did. It took her a few minutes to find her voice. “Say that you’re telling the truth. Not that I believe you, yet. She told you about us? And why now, why have you come looking for us and not her?”
(no subject)
Date: 2018-03-18 12:07 am (UTC)“Where is she now? Why hasn’t she looked for us? She has to feel that she’s no longer in danger from my father.” Her blunt questions covered that she was still dealing with the revelation that her mother was alive. No, it didn’t surprise her that Hsu sent her away, not with all that had happened with the Watchers and their birth, but to make both her and Daniel believe that she was dead? She and Hsu and gone through such a rough time after her kidnapping, to the point of being estranged for a while, but they had rebuilt that bond of love and trust. Now she learnt he had told a massive lie about her mother.
Liam sighed. “She died, when I was sixteen. Mom had her issues, and she was terrified that Grayson would come after us sooner or later.”
That felt like a slap to her face, to one moment hear her mother had lived, and the next to be told that she was dead anyway, that was just not fair. Then she thought to how Liam had spoken of her, always in the past tense. “How did she die?”
“Dani?” Van was concerned. “Careful, he could be some kind of fantasist, or just plain lying to get in with the family.”
She ignored him and repeated herself. “How did she die?”
“Like I said, she had issues. She’d been messed up for years. Drugs, alcohol, we moved all the time because she was paranoid that Grayson was after her. At one time, she even thought my dad was involved, when he won custody of me for a while. She got herself straightened out, mostly, and I went back to her. She’d told me about Immortals, the sword fights and that stuff. I wasn’t there, but how I heard it was, she’d gone out with a friend, when they were stopped by an Immortal who challenged them. Her friend tried to talk him out of it, but Mom -- I don’t know if she’d drank too much or what -- she accepted. He was a lot better and took her head. Her friend cut his off when he was getting her Quickening thing.” His gaze was distant as if he was seeing it replayed in front of him, just as Athenea had told him.
Danika slumped in her chair. After a moment trying to digest all this, she looked to the bodyguard. “Van, can you leave us.” She saw his immediate hesitation. “Please, I’ll be fine.”
He left Liam’s side, shaking his head. “Before you go any further down this rabbit hole, Dani, at least let me get a DNA test to prove if he’s actually related to you. And you know I have to report this to your father.”
“Yes, I’m happy to be tested. And if it turns out that we’re not related and I got this all really wrong, I’m out of here and will never bother you again.” LIam looked from one to the other.
Dani chewed on her lip. “Okay, get the test, but please hold off from telling Father anything about this until morning or we get the test results. If he did lie about my mother, then he will try and get rid of this. And I want a chance to talk this over with Danny.”
“Okay, I’ll hold off until morning.” But it was clear Van wasn’t happy with the compromise. “But then I will tell him if you haven’t by then.” Danika nodded, knowing it was the best deal she could hope for. Van might be Dan’s security chief and bodyguard, but Hsu paid his wages. “I’ll get a test kit.” DNA test kits were now as prevalent as pregnancy tests. The over-the-counter ones didn’t give a whole lot of information, but it would quickly confirm, or not, if Campbell was related.
(no subject)
Date: 2018-03-18 12:09 am (UTC)She was trying to process all this. That she had a half-brother, and that her mother had lived for sixteen whole years after Hsu had always claimed she died when they were born. That was not a conversation she was looking forward to having with him. And how would he react to Liam not just him finding them, but existing at all? His chatter pulled her from her thoughts finally. “Well, he didn’t keep it from her, not at first, I guess.” It was strange, but she didn’t need convincing that he was her brother, she just knew, not that she knew how she did. The DNA test, as far as she was concerned, was for everyone else to get their proof. “Father believed Daniel was dead for seven years. I think that’s why he was always so protective of me, and spoiled me and not just with material stuff. And then, soon after my seventh birthday, he found out Daniel was a captive of the Watchers, somewhere remote in Tibet. He went and brought him home. Dan was in such a bad state. They starved him, beat him. It took him a long time for himto trust anyone except me, especially Father, and even longer to put it all behind him.” She put the file down on the floor. “It’s why I don’t want to spoil his engagement night.”
“Oh God, that’s awful. Daniel’s okay now, though? He sure looks it.” Liam couldn’t hide his shock and sympathy for what happened to his brother. He supposed it was lucky that his mother had managed to keep him away from the Watchers, but as she’d told him many times, they wouldn’t be interested as his father wasn’t immortal, therefore he wasn’t. “So they knew that you and Daniel were going to be immortal, even back then? You are, right? Otherwise you look really good for your, what, mid-thirties?” He forced a soft laugh.
Danika smiled and nodded. She couldn’t help liking this guy, and she found herself hoping that he was her long lost brother, not least because he could tell her all about the mother she had never known. Not that it would be easy for him. Who knew how Hsu would react to find the woman he had always told them died shortly after childbirth had lived to produce another son? “Yeah, Danny’s fine, for the most part, especially that he has Ben.” Even if she was warming to Liam, she wasn’t yet going to share her brother’s insecurities. “I don’t know that they knew, suspected certainly, but they ran tests on Danny and confirmed that he was pre-Immortal.” Her brow furrowed slightly, It seemed LIam didn’t realize that he was also pre-Immortal. Sure, most didn’t until they triggered their first death, but surely Justine would have sensed it, and prepared him? “We are. We were twenty-one when we became fully Immortal.”
(no subject)
Date: 2018-03-18 12:11 am (UTC)“Father did it.” Dani saw his shock, and before it could turn into outrage, she explained. “We begged him to, had for years, and when we turned twenty-one, he finally relented. You see, we always knew we would be Immortal, and we didn’t want to wait, but Father made us, until we were a little more experienced and stronger. It was really nice, and I’d much prefer that my first death was like that than some traumatizing accident or something.”
There was a knock on the door, and a man poked his head and addressed Danika. “Just to let you know, Sigurd’s here.”
Dani smiled again, her faced softening at the mention of one of her lovers. “Tell him to chill out, I might still be a while here.”
Liam tipped his head once the door closed behind the security man. “Is that your boyfriend? I don’t mean to pry, but the security man -- Van? -- he said your boyfriend was on his way.”
Laughter bubbled up as Dani nodded. “I can just imagine how he said that as well.” It didn’t take much effort for the Afrikaaner to make anything sound threatening. “Yes, Sigurd and I are an item. He’s also Immortal and a Viking warrior, but he’s a real sweetheart once you get to know him. It’s my girlfriend, Diana, who you have to watch out for. She’s a curator at the Louvre.”
“Er, okay.” He wasn’t sure if she was joking or not, and decided that she was when she chuckled again. “I hope he is a nice guy, even with the Viking warrior bit. Is he a real Viking or just from Scandinavia?”
“A real one, did all the raiding and pillaging. His family helped me a lot a few years ago when I was going through a rough time.” She gave a teasing smile again. “And Diana is...well, that woman is just a goddess! So, I have to ask, you mother...our mother...really called you Maverick?” She neatly changed the subject.
Liam could imagine, after all Aunt Ath looked like how he’d always imagined one of the Greek goddesses to be. “Yes, she really did, and always insisted on calling me by that, or Mav. I don’t know how old I was when I began hating it, but it might be okay for someone else, but it just doesn’t fit me. I thought about legally changing it, but as much as I hate it, it’s one of the only things I have of Mom now.”
“I wonder what she would have called Danny and me, if she’d had the chance? As it is we’re both named after Father. You asked about nicknames, As you heard, I go by Dani and Daniel is Dan or Danny.” She chuckled. “And before you ask it does get confusing sometimes. But with Father it’s strictly our full names, though Danny tries to get away with it.”
Liam frowned. “I don’t understand, you said you’re named for him, but his name’s Robert Grayson, right?”
Danika wished she’d known her mother, but she was honestly quite shocked at how much she hadn’t told her son. “That was the name he was using when she knew him. Likke she changed her name, Father has done so many times. Before that, I think he went by Dieter Haag. Right now both he and Danny use Daniel Harrison, but his real name is Hsu Danmei.”
“Really? I’d always pictured him as German, or European at least.”
“Central Asian Steppes.” Danika was interrupted from answering any more as Van stepped back into the room.
(no subject)
Date: 2018-03-18 12:13 am (UTC)Liam swallowed his nerves at the threat and opened his mouth so that Van could take a swab, but Dani shook her head. “Don’t worry, his bark is worse than his bite, most of the time.” Liam didn’t look convinced. It was that little rest of the time, that worried him. “And Van, you’ll do no such thing. If this test determines Liam isn’t related to me, then you’ll still treat him with the utmost courtesy until he and his colleagues are ready to leave. And if he is related, then we deal with what that means....nicely.”
Liam suppressed a shudder as Van glowered at him, but then he saw how the big man looked at Danika. While he had no doubt that Van was more than capable of tearing him limb from limb, there was genuine friendship between the bodyguard and Dani.
“Dani you’re no fun sometimes. But I’m still going to tell your father. Even if he is telling the truth, he could still mean any of you harm. ” He tore open the box to reveal a small device with two shallow wells at one end and a screen at the other. “Oh, and shut your trap, in this case blood is thicker than saliva.” Snickering, he pulled out his knife. “Just a bit. No more than a pint or two.”
Danika shook her head at his joke and held out her right hand. “Do me first.”
“Like I said, no fun. It’s just a couple of drops each in one of the wells.” But Van took her hand and cut cleanly and swiftly across her palm.
It was then Liam noticed something about her proffered hand. There was a finger missing, her pinkie. He hadn’t noticed it before, probably due to the way she’d held it, and he was more focused on her face. Now, as she wiped the line of blood away from her healing hand, he couldn’t help but ask her. “What happened?” But for the first time since they started really talking, that icy look in her eyes returned, and she didn’t answer him. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to....”
She didn’t say anything in reply, except to tell him to hold his hand out so Van could cut his. He winced in pain as the blade sliced into his palm, but he made sure he didn’t cry out. Clenching his fist he let a few drops fall into the empty well next to the one with Dani’s blood. Van handed him a fresh towel and he looked at the small machine as Van took it back. The bodyguard tapped a couple of directions on the screen. “Okay, just a couple of minutes.“
The silence was an awkward one as they waited for those long two minutes to tick by. Danika kept glancing at Van, trying to stay calm, but also nervous, though for what result Liam couldn’t tell. He wasn’t nervous as he was certain he was her brother. He was wondering what came next. Would she, and Daniel, accept him? And in all his searching, he now realized he never really took into account Grayson. Having anything to do with him, now that made him nervous. His mother had equally loathed and been terrified of him. His head snapped up as the small machine beeped.
(no subject)
Date: 2018-03-18 12:13 am (UTC)Liam let out a breath and smiled a little unsurely at Danika, hoping that this was good news for her as it was for him. He was relieved to see her smile back, and as happy he was that his long search was no over, he knew it was only the beginning. “So, what’s the next step?”
“First you give me a hug, little bro.” Her previous coldness was gone as quickly as it appeared, and she stood with her arms outstretched. Liam glanced nervously at Van, expecting the big man to hold him back in the chair, but he just shrugged and waved Liam on. This was not a battle worth fighting.
“Gladly.” With a big smile, he got up and hugged his sister. “I’ve dreamt of this for so long.”
After a while, they broke apart. “Okay, the next thing, you go back to your friends and assure them that everything’s fine. I’m sure they were worried when you got taken away so abruptly. I’m going to show Sigurd I haven’t completely abandoned him, and a little later, we’ll go and let Danny know about all this.” Dani was pretty confident that Dan would be just as pleased at the news, if not more so. A brother, and a connection to their mother. And together it was going to be a lot easier to confront their father.
Van called one of his men in. “Jorge will show you back to your suite and wait for you when you’re ready to come down. Protocol.” He didn’t know if he should assign a bodyguard to Liam yet, but he wasn’t going to let him out of his sight either.
Just as he was leaving, Dani caught his arm. “How long do we have? I mean, do you have to get back to your team for training or anything?”
“No, I have a couple of days before I need to report, and then I can call and hopefully work something out. I’ll see you later.” He smiled once again as he left.
“So, telling Daniel?” Van faced Danika, serious. He was no longer her friend but Hsu’s employee. “The sooner the better. I mean it Dani, if you don’t tell him soon, I’ll have to go to Theo and the boss.”
Dani shook her head, her hands planted on her hips. “You’ll wait until I tell Dan. I’m not waking him and Ben up early. Look at it this way, Van. If Father learns about Liam before he does, just think how angry Danny will be, and they’ve been getting along so well recently. And he’ll never forgive you.”
Van frowned, not liking it, but knowing Dani was right about Dan’s reaction. “Fine, but if any of this comes back on me, then I’m letting them know the impossible position you put me in.”
****
With Liam gone up to his suite to put his teammates’ minds at rest, Danika headed to the Matterhorn Bar where Sigurd waited patiently for her. She waved a greeting at the bartender as she joined her lover at a far table. With a tender, lingering kiss, she stroked his stubbled cheek. Sitting back as the bartender brought her a coffee. After she thanked him, she smiled at Siguard. “Sorry, something came up after the party.” She was tired as it was now getting close to dawn, but she was too wired to sleep.
“I heard. Mal said that some guy was acting suspicious at the party.” Sigurd was as handsome as his father, even looking like him -- except for the strange mark in his left eye -- considering that he, like all Ragnar’s sons were adopted, but just he and Bjorn were Immortals like Ragnar and Lagertha. He had died young, killed by his crazy, unpredictable younger brother, Ivar, in a crazy and unpredictable rage. On learning that his father, step-mother, and half-brother had also survived their deaths, they had all joined Floki in the land of the gods -- or Iceland as it was now called. Danika had gone there after her ordeal at Bleda’s hands over a decade ago, while she refused to have anything to do with Hsu. She had gone to recover and hone her combat skills under Lagertha, a renowned shield-maiden. She had become close with all of Ragnar’s family, but especially with Sigurd. Their relationship had grown slowly, and the battle-hardened Viking was nothing but gentle with her, mindful of Bleda’s abuse. They had been dating ever since while also mutually happy to keep it open.
(no subject)
Date: 2018-03-18 12:14 am (UTC)Sigurd shook his head. “I don’t really know what to say. You’re sure?”
“As much as I can be. It would be really hard for him to know some of the details he does otherwise, not to mention the DNA test, but I just feel he’s telling the truth.” Danika shrugged. She knew it would take more than a feeling to convince her father that all this was true. “Some of the things he knows that he couldn’t otherwise. And would you really be surprised that Dad lied to me and Danny about our mother dying when we were born?” Knowing her father as she did, and thinking he had lost Daniel, it wasn’t a stretch that he would say anything to keep her to himself.
He could only shrug. “I don’t know. That’s a bit far, even for Hsu, isnt it?”
Dani mirrored his shrug back at him. That period of estrangement from Hsu after her kidnapping had wiped much of the rose-tint from the glasses from which she’d always viewed him. “I guess I’ll find out when I ask him about it.” They sat quietly for a little while, each in their own thoughts and comfortable in the shared silence until Dani gave voice to some of hers. “I just wonder how Dan will take the news. He’ll either love it like I do or hate it, and Liam. I really can’t tell.” Before Sigurd could state the obvious, that she could wait, she continued. “I have to tell him as soon as possible, because Van is just itching to tell Dad, and yes, I know he has to. I had to practically beg to hold off this long. But for sure, Dan will be pissed off if he learns Dad found out before him.” She sighed, but then the faint buzz of a pre-Immortal touched her senses. She looked up and saw Liam hovering by the door and waved him in. “Sig, don’t mention he’s pre-Immortal, he doesn’t seem to know.”
“Hi!” Liam walked past the bar to their table, smiling a little nervously. “I got everything sorted with my mates.” He glanced at the handsome blond.
“Good.” Dani smiled brightly. “Liam, this is my boyfriend, Sigurd Ragnarsson, also known as Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye. Sigurd, this is Liam Campbell, my little brother.”
“Snake-in-the-Eye?” His voice trailed off as Sigurd looked up and he saw the strange eye. “Oh….I see.” He extended his hand, not quite knowing what to say to that. “Nice to meet you.”
“Sit down, Liam and what would you like to drink? Dani signalled the bartender over at the same time she shot Sigurd a warning look. She knew how the ancient Vikings liked pretending to intimidate, and sometimes it wasn’t always a pretense. “I hope your friends weren’t too worried about you.”
Liam asked the bartender for a cup of proper English tea-- black tea with milk and two sugars -- if they had it, which he was assured they had and sat across from the two Immortals. “Well most of them were flat out drunk, but those who weren’t I told them it had all been nothing to worry about. I didn’t tell them about us, if that’s what you mean. I also called the club, and told them I wouldn’t be back for a few days, that I had personal stuff to deal with, and they were okay with that.”
“It’s okay, but I appreciate you not telling anyone, at least for now. Privacy is very important to us.” Dani smiled. Despite her concerns about Dan’s reaction, she was eager to tell him. “So I told you Sigurd’s a Viking, well Sig, Liam is a professional footballer for Scotland. That’s why he’s here in Switzerland.”
“Really?” He was a mighty Norse warrior of more than a thousand years old, but like many young men, he was a huge football fan. “For Scotland...you don’t sound very Scottish. What club do you play for?”
(no subject)
Date: 2018-03-18 12:15 am (UTC)The Norseman was impressed and also amused, sharing a look with Dani as if there was a private joke. “I can’t wait to see what Andy has to say about that!”
Dani grinned as she left the two men to talk sport. If there was one way to get men to bond, it was over a ball, but she did answer him. “Andy will be thrilled that my brother plays for the team he’s fanatical about.”
“Andy?”
“He’s our former security chief, retired now, though he still hangs about. He’s from Liverpool and a life-long fan.” Her smiled wavered a little seeing Liam’s sudden apprehension. “He’s not so bad, and old age has mellowed him a bit.”
Andy MacDonald. He remembered his mother mentioning him and being almost as scared of him as she was of his boss. Grayson’s Pitbull she had called him. Despite her reassurance, he felt little comfort. For the first time since embarking on the search for his sister, the weight of what he was getting into dumped onto his shoulders. He’d always half-doubted his mother’s fears, that her paranoia caused them to be worse than reality, but now these people were very real indeed, all the things she had told him made him wonder.
Dani seemed to sense his worries. “It’ll be okay. I don’t know how Father will take all this, though I’m pretty sure he won’t be happy, Along with Dan, we’ll see that you’re okay. We can plan out how to deal with it later, after Dan’s been told. It’s late...early, and like I said, you two can talk football, something low pressure.”
They did, and for quite a while. At one point, realizing how much he and Sigurd were dominating the conversation, Liam asked what Danika did, and was surprised to hear that she owned a horse stud and competed in eventing and other equestrian sports, being fairly well known on the circuit. “I’ve probably got another fifteen-to-twenty years before I have to fade out.” She told him. Luckily, such sports relied more on the fitness and age of the horse than the rider. “I’ll still have the stud and be able to train horses.” They all talked more, about other things, and Liam was glad that he and Sigurd really hit it off, and he grew less awed by the VIking warrior. He hoped things would go as well with Daniel.
It must have been getting on for mid-morning when Danika’s phone chirped. A text from Daniel that he was on the way down. She had messaged him earlier that she needed to speak with him straight away. The bar was filling up with the breakfast crowd, so Dani told him to meet her in his office and led Liam there, Sigurd following as well. Van was waiting outside the office, and Dani frowned at him. “Really, Van? Hovering? So the second I tell Dan, you can report to Father?”
The security man shrugged, shaking his head. “Dan messaged asking if I knew what you wanted. Don’t worry, I didn’t say anything. But I just wanted to keep an eye on things. I’ll let the news settle before I report back.” What he didn’t tell her was that Hsu had headed out last night to Val d’Isere and was probably already out on the Face de Bellvarde. While he was not completely out of contact, he wouldn’t like his skiing interrupted for anything.
“Okay.” She was going to say something else, but Daniel appeared, and they all went into his spacious, modern office. “Where’s Ben?”
“Still sleeping it off. I wore him out.” Ben was the morning person and Dan the night owl, but Dani’s message had woken him and hadn’t been able to get back to sleep. It wasn’t like Dani to be so mysterious. He looked curiously at Liam, recognizing him from the evening before, and wondered what was going on. If something serious had happened, he would have been told. Once they were all seated, and Dan poured himself some coffee, surprised that the others had declined the offer of a cup. They had all well caffeinated themselves during their long morning talk. “Right, what’s this about?” His hazel gaze focused on Liam.
(no subject)
Date: 2018-03-18 12:16 am (UTC)Dani felt a sudden nervousness. How would Dan take this? And if she could feel her stomach tying in knots telling him, how much worse would it be confronting their father? “Well, last night, after you and Ben left the party, Van pulled Liam in for a few questions. Long story short, Danny, two things,” She took a deep breath. “Our mother didn’t die at our birth, and…”
“What?” Dan’s natural olive complexion paled visibly. “How the hell does this guy know anything about our mother? Of course she’s dead. I hate that fact, but it’s fact.”
Dani started to speak again, but Liam stopped her with a hand, and with a gulp, explained in one breath. “Because I’m her son, too. It breaks my heart to tell you, but while Justine didn’t die back when you were born, she had a lot of issues and was killed nine years ago.”
Dan shook his head. “That’s bullshit! How could you even believe this, Dani? Why would Dad have lied about her? And this guy just walks in here shouting he’s her son? What do you want?” He glared at Liam, those hazel eyes not so warm and soft now.
“Because what he says feels like the truth. As for why Dad would lie, why do you think, Danny? He didn’t want her in our lives, my life back then. He’s told us how he never felt anything for her and they were just both used by the Watchers.” Dan’s skepticism wasn’t a shock for Dani. He hated his worldview so radically changed and tapped into his insecurities.
Van, who had been standing at the back, stepped forward. “I didn’t believe it either. Just thought he was looking to get close to Danika, but then we ran this last night.” He handed over the results of the DNA test. “We can run more thorough ones back at base, but even I have to admit, this is pretty conclusive.”
Dan looked at the results, then at Liam once more. “She didn’t die back then? She was still alive when we were in our….mid-twenties?” Liam nodded. Dan shut his eyes as he tried to work through this bombshell. Their mother could have been a part of their lives, well into adulthood. She could have helped Danika recover from her kidnapping. If she had ‘issues’ -- whatever they were -- they could have helped her. And a brother?. “Do you have a photo of her?”
“Yeah.” Liam pulled out his phone, swiped a few times through his gallery and then handed his phone over. “That was taken just before she got custody of me, so I was about ten.” He paused and then added. “You’ve got her eyes.”
Dan gazed at the image for several minutes, touching his fingers to the screen as if he could touch her. He beckoned Dani over and showed her the photo, and Liam could see just how close the twins were, and who was the stronger one as Dani touched her brother’s cheek. Dan tore his eyes away and back to Liam….their little brother. “Tell me all about her.” Then a movement from Van caught his eye. “What are you doing?”
Van had his phone out. “I told Danika earlier, I need to report this to Theo and your father. I’ve sat on it longer than I should have, so she could tell you.” Dani nodded that that had indeed been the deal they’d made.
“No, don’t tell him. Why should he know after he’s lied to us for so long? You know I don’t do this often, Van, but I’m ordering you not to.” There was a fierceness now in those eyes, a stubbornness. Liam just kept staring as he knew that look all too well.
“Dan, don’t,” whispered Dani. “You’ll put his job at risk.”
“You know I have to, Dan,. Wish I didn’t. And you know who I ultimately answer to as well. His orders override yours. I’m sorry. I’ll leave you guys to talk while I make the call.” Before Dan could argue any further, Van had turned and left.
(no subject)
Date: 2018-03-18 12:18 am (UTC)Dan gave the Viking a bro-hug and a quiet word of thanks. He was still annoyed that Van was going above his head, but Dani was right. If Hsu found out that Van had not bothered to tell him, he would probably lose his job, at the very least. He shifted into Sigurd’s chair, making things less formal, and looked his brother over. “I still can’t believe this.” He gazed down at Justine’s photo. Perhaps because he had missed so many of his formative years with any parent, and his relationship with Hsu had always been rocky, he felt more of a connection with the mother he’d never known than Danika had, who had grown in a safe, secure environment. Or maybe it was because he resembled her a little more than Dani did. “Go on, tell me about her. Even if you’ve already told Dani.”
LIam took his phone back, and glanced with a sigh at his mother. Even after all this time, he still had very mixed feelings about her. “She was messed up. I don’t know if it was the Watchers, or your dad that did that, but she suffered from mental illness. When she and my dad split up, he moved back to Scotland and I spent a lot of my childhood flying across the Atlantic. Dad had custody of me for a while, but she got better, and I went back and lived with her. It wasn’t all bad. When she was well, she was a great mom, lot’s of fun, and she always put me first. When she wasn’t...I think her paranoia was the worst. She was terrified that your father would come after us. That my dad was working for him, spying on her. She constantly told me about both of you. Her pregnancy, and the short time she got to spend with Danika anyway.”
***
“Yeah, Van, what is it? A problem with the football star?” Theo was out at Val d’Isere with Hsu. The had got off to a later than planned start, and they were just getting their gear all together to head up the mountain.
“KInd of. Not in the way any of us thought, though.” Van knew he was doing what he had to, and he kept telling himself that Campbell didn’t matter, but now it came to telling the boss, he didn’t want to ruin this connection the twins had found with their mother. “Can I speak to the boss? It’s something he needs to know.” Andy’s name for Hsu had carried down through Theo and the rest of Hsu’s senior men.
There was a few moments of silence while -- Van guessed -- Theo was talking with Hsu, and then Hsu came on the line. “Yes.”
Van took a deep breath, and might have said a quick prayer, but who for he couldn’t really say. “Sir, Danika and I questioned Liam Campbell all last night, and it turns out that he’s....well, he’s....” This was harder than he thought, and he’d known this wasn’t going to be easy.
“Spit it out.” It wasn’t like any of his men, Van in particular, to stumble over words.
“Sir, it turns out that Campbell is Justine Meyers’ son, and that makes him Danika and Daniel’s half-brother. We’ve already done a basic DNA test here, and it’s 99% a match.” He said no more and just waited for the explosion on the other end.
OOC
Date: 2018-04-05 09:06 pm (UTC)