The Drive Home (Richard and Rebecca)

[Akirapryde]

As Rebecca pulled out the diner as she drove the SVU home. Rebecca didn’t say a word as her mind raced over what just happened. Her mind couldn’t have been further away from the SUV. She hated the situation she had put herself in. Rebecca didn’t lie. And because of that, she wore the turmoil of her emotions across her face. It wasn’t bad enough that she had betrayed Simon to the vampires. Which for Rebecca wasn’t nearly as painful as the fact that she had betrayed Richard. She hated having to go behind Richard’s back, but Simon was guilty of murdering those vampires. She cut a turn just a bit tighter than normal causing the large SUV to shift to the left roughly. “Sorry” she said as she righted the SUV in its line.

Simon had once more caused the Cabal problems with the vampires. They were sent to talk to the vampires and after a short firefight, the situation was secured. Simon told Rebecca and Kira to wait before continuing in to the bunker. Not knowing what his intention was, she and Kira waited. Sure there was talk of turning the bunker in to glass, but Richard’s orders were to capture the vampires not kill them. Simon was impulsive and jumped the gun. His actions nearly killed Kira and herself as he acted on his own plan. He didn’t even warn them while they were exploring the bunker. This was bad enough, but Simon’s crimes against the Cabal were just continuing.

After they finally captured the leader of the vampires, Richard and this vampire had somehow become joined mentally. She didn’t really understand how that worked. But it was clear to Rebecca that whatever the vampire suffered, Richard suffered. Rebecca told Simon to stop harming the vampire by threatening to set Simon on fire. She hoped that the seriousness of the situation would be seen by her tone and words. After all Rebecca doesn’t mask her feelings or intentions very well. Simon’s reaction was only to kick her out of his mounter lab.

The next thing she knew, Richard was in a coma and the vampire was trying to kill Simon. It wasn’t till Kira told Rebecca what happened did she realize Simon had once more acted impulsive and caused the whole situation. Had she had known about Simon’s actions, she would have allowed the vampire to kill Simon. Simon’s actions had nearly killed Richard using that fire spirit to set the vampire on fire. Because of that mental link, Richard was forced to feel every painful moment of being set on fire. Rebecca wasn’t even sure that Simon was sorry for what happened.

Because of Simon’s action, Richard was comatose and there was nothing she could do to help her fallen leader. Rebecca had hoped that Simon would had leaped at the chance to help Richard. Her face drew up in to a scowl as her anger turned her face flush with redness. Simon’s only help was to make a sandwich for her while she was on the verge of crying over Richard’s fate. During this time, Rebecca felt so lost and so helpless. There was nothing she could do to help Richard. She was almost beside herself with grief and confusion she just didn’t know what to do.

‘Oh but Simon makes me a sandwich. A gosh dang sandwich!’ she thought as her scowl grew deeper across her face. Simon’s words had stung and were not forgotten when he had snapped on her for rejected his offering. ‘What was I supposed to do, kick back and snack on the front porch while Richard slowly dies’ she questioned herself.

No one knew at the time what was going on with Richard. Simon never once even bothered to check on his brother’s condition. No instead he makes a sandwich. And then when she rejected it he vanishes in to his monster lab. Rebecca and Kira fought to help Richard while Simon couldn’t be bothered with his brother’s condition. It was a time when Richard needed Simon the most, Simon just left without saying anything to anyone. At the time, no one knew what was going on with Richard and rather he would live or die. And what does Simon do, he just ups and vanishes.

For two days, Rebecca set on the edge of the lake while the Lake Spirit healed Richard. For two days she didn’t leave his side expect for the short time when Simon made her believe that he was going to be attacked by more vampires. Her scowl grew even broader as she remembered Simon’s actions. Even though she told Simon how serious the situation was, Simon didn’t seem all that interested in Richard’s condition. But for Rebecca, all she could think about was Richard. Her heart had hurt like never before as her emotions were running amuck with her. For two days and two nights Rebecca slept and set on that water’s edge.

Rebecca wouldn’t leave Richard’s side. How could she leave his side, he was after all her leader. Then again Rebecca hadn’t heard from Simon at all. Rebecca wouldn’t abandon Richard, she couldn’t. After all it was Order over Family. And this was how Rebecca had been raised. Simon’s actions simply didn’t make any sense to her. He just up and vanished without any care of Richard’s wellbeing.

The whole time, she was terrified for Richard and didn’t know how to help him. Simon, was their only healer and he had abandoned the Cabal. Rebecca placed Richard’s wellbeing in the hands of the Lake Spirit and above her own needs. She had made a deal with the Spirit to help Richard. A deal that Rebecca was more than happy to make. Healing Richard was Simon’s job, not hers. But now, each morning, one hour before sunrise till one hour after sunrise Rebecca would make it rain. Her graduated towards the Lake Spirit was beyond her emotions. Which only fueled her anger towards Simon. ‘Did Simon contact the Cabal to find out what was going on?’ Rebecca frowned, ‘NO!’ Rebecca thought as she cut another turn a bit more tightly.

But Rebecca wasn’t only mad at Simon for his actions. She was mad at herself because of her own actions. Richard had played the meeting with the vampires perfectly and did what he said he would do. But for Rebecca, Simon had done the worse crime of all. He had abandoned his Cabal when they needed him the most. A crime that Rebecca couldn’t forgive. It was in that moment that the radio started to play Renegade by STYX.

“Wonderful” she mumbled as she felt the song was more directed at her own actions for betraying Richard’s intentions. Rebecca had not only betrayed Simon to the vampires, she had betrayed Richard’s brother. She knew that her betrayal to Richard would sting and she didn’t feel as if she deserved Richard’s respect. She wasn’t even paying attention to the music anymore or for that matter anything else. She was sure if she didn’t have one mind, two thoughts up she would have caused an accident by now. With one mind solely focused on driving, her other mind raced through these emotions.

And now her emotions were in turmoil. She hated what Simon had done, but was she any different than he was now. She wouldn’t allow herself the comfort of excuses. All this took place three days ago, she had plenty of time to ‘get over’ what had happened. No, she knew all too well that there was no excuse for her actions. Unlike Simon, she had time to think. Time to plot. What did she end up doing? She decided to use the vampires as her own personal tool for revenge against Simon.

She had made sure to tell the vampires that Simon was a guilty man and was on the run. She told the vampires that she believed Simon was hiding in Japan. She knew all too well that Mr. Black was going to make sure Simon was killed. Rebecca couldn’t deny the truth, what she did was only for revenge. After all, was this not only for revenge for abandoning them? If it wasn’t to get revenge then why did she go behind Richard’s back to do it?

She could easily justify the action by all the times Simon had threatened her life. But she knew she wasn’t afraid of Simon, so she couldn’t justify her actions as self-preservation. She and Simon had had a bit of a blow out just before Richard got hurt, but again Rebecca couldn’t justify her actions as lashing out at him for that. ‘No’ she thought, ‘this was not revenge for any act against me’ she added. Simon had murdered vampires before and now the entire Cabal had been placed in danger once more because of it. But this was not the first time the Cabal had been placed in danger because of a member. After all, she caused the whole issue with Meatball that nearly led to the entire Cabal being killed. So this couldn’t be a justification.

Sure at first, she justified her rash and impulsive action as being a personal seeking Justice. But she could no longer use that justification. In hindsight, Rebecca couldn’t hide from the truth. Rebecca acted because of her inability to control her wrath. Simon had abandoned his own brother when Richard needed him the most. Richard, a man that was so deserving of her respect and Simon just walked away. Not realizing she was allowing her anger to slip away from her once more. She couldn’t rationalize if she felt she deserved Richard’s respect for her recent actions. Rebecca slammed her hand down on the stirring wheel hard enough to cause it to hurt. She turned and saw Richard sitting next to her. ‘Had he said anything’ she thought as she was completely unsure if he had said anything. “So um” she said not really sure what to say.

[a magical taco]

Richard left the diner making sure to keep an eye on the vampires only a few blocks away but they did not seem to move in his direction and as he passed their perimeter he allowed them to be banish from his thoughts. He thought about what he had just done with Mr Black in regards to Simon's fate but he had little other choice. Mr. Black demanded blood. However, Richard knew Simon was a strong mage and even if he couldn't accomplish the feat now eventually he would be able to regrow his limbs. Blood paid without losing Simon's life our being forced to take another. He would send word to Simon of the agreement. He could choose to go willingly or to fight. It would be his choice but Richard had fine all he could out at least all he was willing to after Simon almost killed him and then abandoned him.

Suddenly the car took a turn to sharply and Richard looked at Rebecca. She did not look well.He could see the gears turning in her mind and watched as the emotions danced around her face. It was like watching a movie in fast forward. She was angry, then guilty, then confident only to give away to guilt again. He watched her as she drove and when STYX came on the radio she looked like she might throw up.

It was obvious the decisions that were made were difficult for Rebecca and without a doubt she was still emotionally drained from the last few days. But there was something else, something he was not privy to that also troubled her thoughts. He didn't ask, not yet. He simply watched her in her internal struggle wondering where she would eventually land. He briefly considered trying to read her thoughts but decided against it, he has started to enjoy learning to rely on mind reading a little less when it came to Rebecca. That and the fact that she had really learned to fortify her mind in the last few weeks.

He watched as anger again flashed across her face and she slammed her hand down on the steering wheel. She looked up at him, "So, um".

He smiled knowingly. She had done something that she was upset about. If she had been angry with the decision her first words to him would have been loud and opinionated but she responded with a filler. She didn't know what to say which meant there was something she didn't want to say. "Want to tell me what you did that you don't want me to know about?" He voice was simply conversational though he knew he might not like what he would hear if she told him the truth. They both knew she couldn't lie to him but she could refuse to answer if she choose.

[Akirapryde]

Richard was right, she wanted to tell him what she had done. God how she wanted him to know everything. Every emotion, everything she was feeling right this moment. How much she wanted tell him. Rebecca didn't realize that the tears were flowing freely from her eyes. 'How could I have betray him' Rebecca thought of what she had done to Richard. No more was this about Simon, it was what she had done to Richard. At the time she hadn’t thought of what she was doing. She was angry at Simon over how little Richard meant to Simon. But Richard was wrong in thinking she didn't want him to know. She wanted him to know. She needed him to know. She wasn't proud of what she had done. In fact, with each passing mile, the shame of her actions grew.

Richard was so worthy of their respect. For all that he had done for everyone, Richard was more than deserving. Anger flashed across her face as she remembered how easily Simon just walked away from Richard during his time of need. Simon didn’t even have the slightest care for his brother's fate. At the time, Rebecca was beside herself with fear and concern over what had happened to Richard. Even now, Rebecca felt so guilty. If she had been there, she could have protected him. But she wasn’t. Instead, she just played in to Simon's hand and left Richard vulnerable. The last time she saw Richard he was laying on the ground unconscious and helpless. When he needed her, she wasn't there to protect him. She wasn't there because Simon had told her to leave.

The more she thought about it, the more the guilt was overwhelming her. She didn’t feel guilty for betraying Simon. No, this guilt was from the fact that Richard trusted her to have his back and she betrayed that trust. She didn’t dare to turn and look at Richard. She didn’t have the courage to face him. She felt the moister on her face before she realized she was crying. ‘Why am I crying’ she wondered. Rebecca tried to clear her eyes, but the emotions of the situation forced more tears causing her vision to become limited.

Her ability to safely control the SUV was slipping away from her. In reaction she hit the brakes hard causing the large SUV to skid as the speed dropped drastically. Using the last of her emotional control, Rebecca guided the SUV over towards the side of the road. A passing car signaled its displeasure over the sudden change in travel through its horn. The SUV hit the side of the road as the car passed along the road side. The other car’s horn continued it passed them. Rebecca brought the SUV to a stop as sounds of small rocks rattling the undercarriage of the SUV. Rebecca didn’t let up on the brake till the SUV skidded to a stop.

As the tail lights of the passing car became a distant memory, as the SUV came to a stop along the dark road. Rebecca leaned forward resting her head on the stirring wheel. She fought to control her emotions as she drew in deep breaths. Rebecca was beside herself as she didn't know what to say or do anymore. She remembered that day when she first walked in to that warehouse. Across her memory were the images of Richard and his brother. Back then everything was so different. She was so different. Richard might want to argue it, but he was different too. Everything was different.

Sure Simon and she had their differences. Yeah he angered her, but she never really wanted him to be harmed. Now, his fate was all but sealed and it was her fault. The more she thought about it, the more she felt sick over her actions. ‘Why, why didn’t I just trust him’ Rebecca thought regarding of Richard. In that moment she leaned forward and rested her head on the stirring wheel trying to control her emotions.

Rebecca closed her eyes as she felt the tears flowing. She knew he was looking at her. She didn't have to see it, she just knew it. Just knowing that Richard was next to her seemed to give her a sense of comfort. Rebecca realized now that he was her rock. A place of confidence and strength that she could come to rely on. She whispered under her breath how much she wished she had realized this before tonight. She couldn’t deny how ashamed she was over what happened tonight. The anger of her mind tried to override her heart in claiming that Simon had it coming for his actions. But she wouldn’t deny herself the truth.

With her head on the stirring wheel, “I…….” she half whispered but stopped. It was if her own shame and guilt was strangling her and preventing her voice from coming forward. For as long as she had known Richard she knew that he hated wasting time with talk. He preferred to ‘just get to the bottom of it’. She now understood why he had such feelings. But it was so hard for her to even get a single word out of her mouth. She opened her mouth to speak only to have her voice betray her. She just set there with her head leaning on the stirring wheel as her mouth opened and closed.

Rebecca drew in a deep breath as her emotions continued to run high. She fought hard to control her emotions but there would be no relief from her shame, from her guilt. Tears dripped from her eyes as she spoke in a soft whisper, “Richard, I don’t deserve your trust.” Her voice trembled as she attempted to speak, “I………” Her voice once more trailed off and she fell silent for a moment. She wanted to tell him everything. She wanted to just confess what she had done, but she was ashamed of how she allowed her anger to control her actions once more. She had tried so hard to be the calm balanced person he suggested for her. But she couldn’t and in that admission, she once more had failed him.

Rebecca turned in the driver’s seat to face him. However, her guilt and shame was too much for her. She couldn’t raise her face to make eye contact with him. Her hand slipped across the seats towards his hand. She was shaking so hard that she barely had any control over her hand as it shook. Just as Rebecca’s hand was within touching range of Richard’s hand she stopped. She couldn’t cover the last of the distance. Her hand was shaking with fear.

The kind of fear that can paralyze a person. While she no longer felt she deserved his respect or trust, she respected him. She trusted him. The guilt of her betrayal of his trust was unbearable. Her mind raced with all that had happened. In her mind, she could see Simon’s anger filled face as he snapped on her for not eating that dang sandwich. In her mind’s eye could see Richard laying there helpless on his bed. Nearly the entire time, she stood by Richard’s side. She watched over him during the entire ordeal expect for the one moment Simon had tricked her one last time. Anger filled her mind as she knew that Simon didn’t even bother to check in with his wounded brother before walking away. Then the shame of what she had done filled her eyes. Her tears wouldn’t stop as she whimpered, “I am so sorry.” She didn’t have the strength to do or say anything else.

[a magical taco]

Richard grabbed the handle above his head and thanked the universe that he had his seat beat on. As the driver behind them layed on his horn Richard tossed out a spell to make the driver think he had an itchy butt hole. 'Be a dick' he thought to himself about the other driver. Richard watched Rebecca as she began to lose control. She managed to get the suv to the side of the road for what passes as safely when a woman is driving, they didn't wreck at least, and she put her head on the wheel.

He knew that Rebecca had a tendency to be emotional, even more so than your average female and he had learned that this was part of handling her. Yet he stool found it to be exhausting and tedious. He let her cry several times she tried to speak but nothing really came out that made any sense. She finally turned to face him but her mumbling didn't improve. Once again he watched the array of emotions wash over her. Only a woman could change her emotional state so quickly.

Rebecca's first coherent words were simply, "I am so sorry" unfortunately that didn't explain anything.

"How bout communicating my way, thus time" he asked. Terror washed over her. That was a new emotion in this conversation, if it could be called that. She took his hand. She was trembling but she put his hands to her temple and closed her eyes. Richard took a breath and realised the magic. He could see and hear her struggle. The difficult car ride, outside the diner, then Mr black. He saw what she had told him. The spelled ended and Rebecca started to sob even more.

Richard took a deep breath, " I wish you hadn't done that, I mean this is not a big deal, but it does mean I will have to move faster now. I need to get home quickly, want me to drive?"

[Akirapryde]

The question about communicated his way filled her with terror. How could she stop him from seeing anything he wanted to? How could she control his actions within her own mind? These and a million other fears rocketed across her mind in such a whirlwind fashion that Rebecca was frozen with fear. Or at least she thought she was frozen. Before she realized it, she had taken his hand and was bringing it up to her own face. She wanted to stop herself but she couldn’t. Not due to any spell effect. No she needed him to understand what she had done. But most importantly, she wanted him to, no needed him to understand why she did what she did.

She pulled back to the edge of the driver’s side in a vain attempt to break the spell. It was more a primal reaction than any real attempt. She hated the idea of anyone digging so deep in to her thoughts. But she knew her emotional state had over powered her ability to communicate effectively. And right now, that was what she needed the most. He broke the silence between them "I wish you hadn't done that, I mean this is not a big deal, but it does mean I will have to move faster now. I need to get home quickly, want me to drive?"

She had no idea what he felt, or thought. It was terrifying for her not to know. He knew everything about this ‘conversation’ but she was in the dark. Rebecca set there in silence for a moment as her mind raced with thoughts. As he sat there and looked at her, she looked down at her own hands. She was still shaking. ‘I am I still shaking’ she wondered to herself. She her eyes rose up to meet his. He had asked her a question, but she couldn’t bring herself to answer. She leaned forward closer to him and lifted her hand up towards him. She was scared to even expect him to understand what she had offered him. Her mind, the only place in this entire world that was truly her own. Yet she let him have glimpse in to her very private world.

As was before, her hand shook as she reached up towards his face. Fear still robbed her voice, but her eyes never once left his. She had to know how much of his respect she had lost. She had to know his thoughts as she showed him her own. She wanted to see his own mind without defenses and cloaks as her mind had been offered towards him. She touched the side of his head as if she was touching the most fragile of flowers. Her fingers explored his face like a spider treading. Her fingers carefully moved across his face till she touched his temple. Her voice trembled with fear as she spoke softly, “p……….please.”

[a magical taco]

He closed his eyes and offered her a vision of his mind. She didn't have enough power to really read his thoughts but he could send her images and messages just the same. He sent her an image of himself standing against a white back ground. She stood before him touching his face. He imagined the image would be strange for her, seeing herself in third person but that would only add to the effect he was trying to show.

He let the image soak in for a moment before he spoke. "First off this touching of the temples thing is weird, you so know we aren't in a star trek episode right?" She began to fumble for her words but he didn't wait for her to find them. "Rebecca, no offense but you're kind of a blabber mouth. If you didn't tell Mr black today you would have when he called you in a day or two to narrow down Simon's position". He took her back to the first time they had spoken to Mr black outside his store and then showed her the phone call from a few days ago. "Lying is not your talent. I was sort of hoping for those extras couple of days but it doesn't really matter." Her eyes and the look on her face almost made him laugh. "Because you rushed me you are going to get to do the dirty work though. I need one of the human bodies from the vampire lair. I have a plan." He brought her back to reality and removed her hand from his face. They had grown closer in the last few weeks and as much as he might have taken this opportunity to try to get in her pants before now the idea just seemed...weird. "Seriously, Rebecca when have you seen me touch people just to read minds, do I suddenly have pointy ears or something?"

He sat back and reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a metal case and opened it. Inside was a single joint. He light it and took an hit. He rolled down the window and blew it outside.

[Akirapryde]

The experience wasn’t what she had hoped for but she didn’t complain. She wanted to know his inner thoughts. His emotions, but he was still guarded to her. Still, it was a start to build from and she would take that for what it was. She listened as he spoke and made the reference about Star Trek. She wanted to counter but he didn’t give her enough time to reply. She frowned a bit to his accusation that she was a blabber mouth. It stung but she respected his opinion and allowed him to speak. Filled with respect for him, she listened even though she was deeply confused about doing dirty work. Her confusion was clear but Rebecca assumed that when the time was right, Richard would tell her what he expects from her.

However as the spell faded she heard his statement and smiled. She couldn’t resist the smile, "Seriously Richard, I could so see you with pointy ears,” she said giggling. It was the first time in the past few days she really had any reason to smile. “Come on, let me give you pointy ears” she said playfully.

[a magical taco]

"If it will hero you get us home faster, go for it. There is lots of work to be done" like she has the power to make my ears pointy he thought to himself.

[Akirapryde]

Rebecca pulled back a bit at Richard’s statement. It was if Richard had flipped a switch inside his mind. Her smile faded as she moved from being playful to time to work mode. It bothered her that her attempt to be playful was shut down in such a way. But it wasn’t like she could blame him for it, after all she did rat out his brother’s location to the vampires. She didn’t say a word as she refocused her efforts on driving once more. She found herself alone in her thoughts as she continued to drive. She didn’t know what she was supposed to say or do, beyond driving. So she just remained silent and drove.

Turning on to the road that leads to their hollow, Rebecca switched up her night sight as she turned off the lights to the SUV. To make sure that she wasn’t making any mistakes, she activated her one mind two thoughts spell. She allowed one mind to see the road normally through her night sight while her other mind saw the road through her other sights. To this end, she pressed her magical sights to their limits to see the bends in the road before she was upon them. For Rebecca, her sights were like a muscle that needed to be exercised. She regularly pushed her sights to the limits of their abilities. Tonight, she wanted to drive without being able to see the road ahead. She wanted to ‘feel’ her way through the bends and turns of the road.