Quaranteam - AU Ch. 05

Help that would do her no good.

--

That night haunted his dreams even now, months later, and Rayne shuddered at the memory of it. He hadn't done enough, in his opinion. He could have done better. He could have done more. He --

His phone rang as he spiralled into his head and he looked at the caller ID. Seamus McLachlan. One of the coders he'd texted that morning. He shook his head clear, banishing the spectre of Jenny Scarpelli from his thoughts. He had failed her then, but he had kept his word since, dedicating himself to finding a solution. One had been thrust upon him, but that made it no less viable. He certainly didn't like everything about it, but it was something to work from.

Ray answered his phone, still shaking himself out of his gloom. "Hey Seamus. Good of you to get back to me."

The Scotsman's booming voice was quite the comfort with Ray's current mood. "Heyo mate. You gave me a right surprise when you texted me this morning. You don't usually come to me with work opportunities, after all. Not really your neck of the woods."

"Yeah, I know. But another mate of mine came to me to ask if I had coders on tap. I thought of you, Benny and Derek. He'll probably need all three of you, to be honest. The thing he wants you working on is big. I can't talk about the details directly, but I'll put you onto him."

"Private?"

"Military, but you can consider it a government project."

"Alright, give me his details. I'll ring him first thing tomorrow."

Rayne shot Tiberius a text, and the response came back in seconds. "Hold that thought, Seamus. I'll see if I can get a hold of Benny and Derek and then I can put all three of you through at once. Might be a good time to conference. Let me call you back in five."

He made contact with both of his other friends and set up a voice call with all five of them in attendance. After he made his introductions, however, he fell silent, letting his thoughts drift again.

--

The letter had reached him almost a week after Jen had been laid to rest alongside her family. Postal delays had become common, but it was irrelevant. It was far too late. He opened it, and Scrappy's familiar hand greeted him.

Hey Ray,

If you're reading this, I'm too far gone. Duo's got a hold of me, and that's why I prevented you from visiting to help. I couldn't put you at risk too. The kids...when I read about the Kill Zone, my heart nearly stopped. I knew. I knew if they caught it, they were doomed. No parent should outlive his kids, Ray. If they do somehow survive, please look after them and Jenny. They'll need you.

I know Jenny is probably out of the woods, but don't let her know about me until she's out of the hospital entirely and you can keep an eye on her. I stopped the doctors from letting her know that the kids are in the ICU near her, since I know she feels guilty and has been afraid that she brought it to us. I'll make it up to her if I pull through, don't worry.

But if I don't, do me a favour. Protect her. I know you've got your girlfriend, but Jen's going to need you too. Be a friend to her, ok? I'm entrusting her to you.

I never said it enough, but thanks for getting me off my ass about her. It was the best decision I ever made, with taking your request for tutoring coming a close second.

One last thing. Promise me you won't let this situation put you off starting your own family. I know you'll work the problem and find a way through, so do it.

Thanks mate, you're a legend.

Stefano

Ray was in tears at the first line, but by the time he finished, he was nigh inconsolable. Stella had found him curled up on the floor, sobbing over the letter, and he'd just clung to her. Hours passed with them holding one another, no words, just tears. Eventually, she'd managed to get parts of the story from him, but he still baulked any time it came up.

It had left an indelible scar on his heart.

--

Everyone just stared as Stella finished talking. There wasn't a dry eye at the table, the four women reduced to blubbering messes.

"How? How can he just pick up and keep going? How can he talk about having children of his own after that?" Simone was bawling, her face in her hands.

"Because I must. Because if I just gave up, we wouldn't be here. And because I made them a promise." Ray's voice carried into the kitchen and he walked in, still looking a bit haunted. "I take it Stella filled you in?"

As everyone nodded, Rayne walked around the table and kissed everyone's temple. "Thanks for shedding tears on my behalf. I won't lie and say it doesn't hurt. I miss them. But they're my foundation. The legacy I'm working to fill."

He walked to the kitchen, pouring himself a glass of water as everyone watched. Seeing them all worried about him brought him an odd sense of calm, and he could feel the demons in his mind receding.

"You're not upset with us for discussing this?"

"Why would I be? It's definitely something I need to talk to all of you about. I was actually going to do so tonight after I finished in the study, but you've beaten me to it, so I guess we'll have to talk about something else." There was a soft smile as he said that, so the girls all relaxed. "For now, I should go and make sure Ty doesn't drive my friends insane. I'll explain that one later too, so don't worry."

As he vanished down the hallway again, Trish looked contemplative. "He looked a lot better leaving than he did walking in, I have to say."

Hasumi nodded. "I guess really seeing he's got support and knowing the people around him care helps. Can I recommend we love bomb him tonight? It doesn't have to be sex. Just show him how much he's loved."

Everyone agreed. It was a simple choice. They spent several minutes making light plans, but no one was getting too serious about it. They'd just show him every drop of love they could squeeze out.

Eventually, Simone was the one to change the subject. "I also hate to be the one who brings it up with this timing, but Trish, one of us needs to stay on our birth control, or we need to put in a request for additional security. Can't have us both getting knocked up at the same time."

Trish nodded. "I'll stay on my BC so you go first, hun. You've wanted this for a long time. I got a heads up from HQ today as well. We're getting another team member during the week, and probably a second near the end of the week. One of them will be an additional security member, so we're good either way."

"It's gonna get crowded, huh." Simone glanced at Stella, who smiled back.

"We'll make it work. You guys will help, right?"

Simone grinned. "The Chief Slut has spoken. We can but obey."